21st October 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,353

WedneSDAY, 21 OCTOBER, 2015

Boko Haram's recruitment ability baffling —Osinbajo —P35

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Amaechi's screening postponed again —P33

•As APC, PDP senators flex muscle

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Confusion over removal of Kifasi as Head of Service —P12

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Army probes Ekiti, Osun elections

•Gives final warning to Boko Haram

—P35

Senate crisis: Political solution may consume APC leaders •Ndume, Na'allah, others likely to resign

—P12

Reps eulogise HID Awolowo —P34

October 1 bombings: FG wants Okah chained during trial —P41

Tribunal bars Plateau lawmaker for life from contesting election —P35

Cross section of successful candidates at the April and May 2015 Bar Final Examinations, during the Call to Bar ceremony, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN.

War against corruption: Judiciary must be purged first —Fayose —P45

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

7 1. Reverend Tola Oyediran (middle), His Most Eminence, Professor Dr Solomon Alao, Supreme Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria (seventh right); His Grace, Reverend (Dr) Lekan Akintayo (sixth left) and other entourage of Supreme Head. 2. From left, the Alakenne of Ikenne, Oba Adeyinka Onakade; Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, member Governing Council, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Vice Chancellor, TASUED, Professor (Mrs) Oluyemisi Obilade and the Bursar, TASUED, Mr Ifeoluwa Odusanya. 3. Ambassador Olatokunbo Ajose and Reverend (Mrs)Tola Oyediran.

4. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran flanked by priests from Ogijo Archdeaconry and Ikenne Archdeaconry. 5. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (third right), receiving condolence letter from Council of South West Women Leader and others, led by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson. 6. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran with executive members of senior citizens of Ikenne. 7. Representative of Ifa Olokun Foundation, Mrs Jumoke Aregbe-Odumuye and Chief Fadairo Akin. 8. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran with His Royal Highness, Ahmed Sanni, leader, Hausa Community, Ibadan (Arewa) and his entourage.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Lagosmetro Cleaner charged with stealing N5.2m Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 25-year-old cleaner, Onasanya Opeoluwa, has been charged to court by the police, accused of allegedly stealing N 5.2million from his employer. It was gathered that the defendant who resides in Ogun State, allegedly stole one Piaget wristwatch, valued at $15,000 equivalent to N2,850,000, one Ramond Well wristwatch valued at $ 1,200 which is equivalent to N228,000‎. Prosecution also alleged that the defendant stole two diamond rings valued at $8,000 equivalent to N1, 520,000 and shoes, clothes valued at N600,000, property of one Prince Adekunle Adeyeba. The defendant who was employed as a cleaner by the complainant had only been employed for two months before the alleged theft took place. The complainant claimed that during Sallah celebration, the accused took leave to celebrate with his family, adding that it was while he was away that the complainant discovered that the defendant had stolen from him.

Dangerous hanging by a bus conductor and another man trying to hitch a free ride. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Gridlock: Ambode orders police

to clear Oworo to Berger

Olalekan Olabulo

he Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday directed the Rapid Re-

sponse Squad to clear the road from Oworonsoki to Berger Bus Stop of traffic and street trading. Lagos Metro gathered that the directive from the governor was part of the

efforts of the state government to reduce the wasted hours in traffic. It was also gathered that the governor also directed the RRS to rid the road of criminals and traders

along the road. A source at RRS, who pleaded anonymity, while speaking with Lagos Metro, said “the governor directed our commander to clear the road from Oworo to Berger” The RRS source added that “We have immediately drafted many officers and patrol vehicles to the road and our presence on the road is changing

things. “The operation will not be limited to just today but we will ensure routine clearing of not just this route but many roads in the state.” Efforts to get the reaction of the RRS commander, Olatunji Disu failed, as he was said to be monitoring the operation, when Lagos Metro called his mobile phone.

...Assembly fumes, Chukwuma Okparaocha and Racheal Adesokan

The deplorable state of a “white garment church” opposite Ogudu Bus Stop. Is this environment conducive for worshiping?

The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged the newly appointed Commissioner for Transportation in the state, Dayo Mobereola to direct relevant agencies to ensure free flow of traffic in the state, while condemning the constant traffic gridlock in the state. While adopting a motion moved on the issue by Moshood Olanrewaju Oshun, representing Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 during

plenary on Tuesday, the House also called on the General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bashir Braimah, to appear before it over constant traffic gridlock in the state. Speaking on the issue, the Speaker, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, observed that the state ought to device other means of transportation such as rail and sea to ease traffic congestion. “We should invite the GM of LASTMA to come and address us on the issue,

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

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Edited By Lanre Adewole olanreade@yahoo.com 0811 695 4647

Hemp dealer jailed for life Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin Justice Ofili Ajumogobia of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday sentenced a 39-year-old man, Sule Ibrahim, to life imprisonment for unlawfully dealing in 11.8 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana. The convict, 37 year old Sule Ibrahim who was arrested in 2012 was picked up on or about 9 November, 2012 at Mapo Alayo Village, Okun Ajah, reportedly without lawful authority, dealt in 11.8 kilogrammes of cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD. He was said to have committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,

2004. The convict was first arraigned before the court on 1 March, 2013 and pleaded not guilty, while on 30 April, 2014 he changed his plea and pleaded guilty. On July 7, 2015, the Prosecutor Jeremiah Aernan while reviewing the fact of the case tendered the following documents: the confessional statement of the convict, forensic report showing that the substance found on the convict was cannabis sativa, and the bulk of the cannabis sativa weighing 11.8 kilogrammes. Before he was convicted on Tuesday, his counsel, Mrs Oreofe Ogunleye, urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the convict was a first offender. In her judgement, Justice Ajumogobia, sentenced the convict to life imprisonment.

From left, Director General/CEO, Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr Fouad Oki; Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa; and senator representing Lagos West, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola when Adeola visited the speaker in his office in Lagos.

Traffic: LASG wants Senate to hasten hearing

on Tinubu’s motion Bola Badmus - Lagos Obviously not pleased with the traffic gridlock that has been the daily sight in Lagos, the state government

10-year-old accused of stealing N350,000, docked with mum Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin A 27-year-old woman, Tope Hassan and her 10-year-old daughter (names withheld) were on Tuesday docked before a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Igbosere. The duo were accused of stealing N350,000 from one Raliat Opuoro. The 10-year-old girl was

alleged to have stolen the money from the victim at 21, Ajeniya Street, Obalende, Lagos, on October 9, while the mother was alleged to have dishonestly received the money from her daughter, knowing that it was stolen. The defendants who are being prosecuted by the police pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

After listening to the submission of the prosecution and the defence counsel, the trial magistrate, O. A Ogunbowale granted bail to the mother and her daughter, in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum; the sureties must be blood relations. Further hearing in the trial had been adjourned till November 5, 2015.

summons LASTMA boss while the newly appointed Commissioner for Transportation in the state should be called upon to direct relevant agencies to ease the traffic situation in the state. “LASTMA was established to ease traffic in the state, and also provide jobs for people and any official of the agency that is not ready to work should be shown the way out. We have to urgently do something about this,” he said. Also contributing, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Sanni Eshin-

lokun said that there should be zero tolerance for driving against traffic and for okada (motorcycle) riders that drive on restricted roads, while also supporting the invitation of LASTMA GM by the House. In his view, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, stated that the intention of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in changing the approach of LASTMA officials on the way they handle traffic offenders was fair and good. He added that the gover-

nor did not stop LASTMA officials from enforcing Traffic Laws and that okada riders now ride on expressways with impunity. “We need to enlighten our people more now that we have commissioners in place. We should call on the Commissioner for Information and that of Transportation to collaborate to enlighten our people on traffic rules and the transportation commissioner should effect the genuine intention of the governor on transportation in the state.

on Tuesday has appealed to the National Assembly to hasten hearing on the motion moved by Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central on the nerve-breaking gridlock in Apapa. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, made the appeal, even as he lauded the Senate for its approval to table the motion. Ayorinde, who expressed happiness describing the development as heart-warming, saying it had shown that the state government’s effort at providing solution to the notorious traffic congestion in the axis had finally caught the attention of the Senate.

The commissioner lauded Senator Tinubu for her bold step in moving the motion and galvanizing her colleagues to address the gridlock, expressing the hope that the Senate would give it priority attention when it was tabled in view of the socio-economic hardships the gridlock had continued to cause residents of the state. He also expressed the belief that the intervention from the Senate would go a long way to also complement the various moves by the state government in finding a lasting solution to the gridlock and lessen the hardship on the people. Ayorinde explained that the state governor, Mr. Ak-

inwunmi Ambode, had visited the affected area to have an on-the-spot assessment of the situation that had become the hallmark of Apapa and had given directives that would ease traffic in the area. It would be recalled that Governor Ambode, during his maiden Town Hall meeting, declared that the traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway had been a major challenge to traffic management in the state. He said the State Government has appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the Tin Can Island Bridge as part of measures to find solution to the gridlock.

Govt set to regulate borehole drilling activities By Tunde Ogunesan Adequate and stringent measures are being put in place to checkmate haphazard drilling of borehole in Lagos State. This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), Mr Kabir Ahmed Abdullahi during a courtesy visit to the Association of Water Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), President, Mr Michael Ale. Abdullah said anybody who was interested in drilling boreholes in Lagos must

go through certain regulations, standardization, licensing, accreditation, training and enforcements of code of practice. The conditions, Abdullahi noted, would be strictly adhered to by both the drillers and the beneficiaries before implementing any borehole drilling project in Lagos. He emphasised the critical role of trained and professional drillers in the health of Lagosians, considering salt water intrusion resulting from unregulated drilling “Non-regulation of the activities of the drilling industry, where citizens engage the

services of quacks, is causing challenges to the health sector, as people drink unsafe water from the boreholes that are unprofessionally dug, causing cholera, diarrhoea and other water born diseases. “Money saved in the cost of drilling borehole through quack is transferred to the government through the provision of free medical service to the affected citizens. Government is not ready to bear unnecessary costs any longer hence the need to block all leakages and the need to enforce the power vested on the commission,” he said.

businessnews N80bn worth of electronic transactions made in Nigeria daily —EFCC 10

By Femi Ibirogba and Chima Nwokoji

ith an average of N80 billion worth of daily transactions, Nigeria has made a remarkable increase in the adoption of electronic transactions. This revelation was made by Ibrahim Shazali of the Bank Fraud Section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the 2015 workshop on “Development of e-banking, mobile payment system and deposit insurance in Nigeria,” organised by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC). According to Shazali, the adoption of electronic transactions reached 86 per cent and 82 per cent in volume and value of all transactions respectively in 2014 up from a mere 6 per cent in 2013. He said these figures are highly encouraging as they show that Nigerians are increasingly embracing cashless transactions, but these figures also call for urgent development of good standards for monitoring and securing of electronic banking transactions in Nigeria. > “With an average of N80 billion worth of daily transactions, it would be very remiss of Nigerian bank authorities not to anticipate and adequately prepare for the huge risks that accompany electronic transactions. “As technology advances, more and more financial institutions are utilising technological platforms in a bid to remain competitive and enhance flexibility; this however also makes them highly vulnerable to fraudulent activities,” Shazali said. He believes that banks should not make huge amounts of sensitive personal data readily available to customers, clients, vendors, and employees through various platforms as they rely more and more on technology, particularly those that face the most risk of compromise. In terms of those who make electronic transactions risky, Shazali identified internal and external perpetrators of fraud. He said Nigerian banks, like their global counterparts, experience more external than internal fraud. Quoting the Chief Internal Auditor of First Bank of Nigeria, he pointed out that insider fraud, while less frequent, is usually more devastating and more difficult to detect.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

According to him, while outsider fraud represented 99.79 per cent of cases in the bank at a particular period, the value of losses was N786 million while insider fraud, which only represented a small 0.21 per cent, resulted in actual loss of N114 million. “In spite of this alarming and rapidly growing figures, the lack of a well-defined legal context for prosecuting cybercrimes and financial fraud related to electronic platforms resulted in pitiful apprehension and prosecution success rate in 2014. Nigeria is still a long way off

from adequately protecting itself from threats to its cyber security,” the EFCC director stated. Also speaking, the head of Financial Inclusion Secretariat, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Temitope Akin-Fadeyi said the potential savings and benefits of electronic payments in Nigeria are estimated to be $900 million by 2020, referring to a study carried out by McKenzie in 2013 but released in 2014. According to Akin-Fadeyi, the study identified reduced leakage of funds, better access to financial services

and lower transaction costs as main benefits that will contribute to this total. Presenting a paper on ‘E-Banking and Financial Inclusion’ at the ongoing workshop which was organised for Finance Correspondents and Business Editors in Ilorin, Kwara State, Akin-Fadeyi stated that the electronic payment serves as a boost to the process of bringing more people into the financial system. Revealing that 39.7 million Nigerians are financially excluded going by the target of 80 per cent

set by 2020, she stated that the adoption of innovative technology injects a new strength in the financial inclusion drive for Banks. “Financial Inclusion enables underserved people and communities to have access to financial services that would: enhance their economic opportunities, boost productivity in various sectors and contribute to economic development,” she said. Life insurance coverage, health scheme, savings culture, contributory pension scheme are addItional advantages of e-banking.

From left, Mrs Arancha Gonzalez, Executive Director, International Trade Centre, Mr Olusegun Awolowo ED/CEO of NEPC and Mr Tunc Uyanik, CEO, World SME Forum at the on-going World Export Development Forum in Doha, Qatar.

Interswitch reiterates support for SMEs, injects N200m into SlimTrader Olatunde Dodondawa – Lagos A leading Africa-focused integrated digital payments company, Interswitch, has reiterated its commitment to supporting Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) by injecting N200million ($1million) into SlimTrade. SlimTrade is a leading turn-key e-commerce solution provider for businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the company believes the additional funding provides clear sign of SlimTrader’s flagship e-commerce platform, ‘MoBiashara’ as it expands into the hospitality sector. In a chat with the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, the Founder and Group Managing Director of Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe, said: “SlimTrader is a dynamic and ambi-

tious business dedicated to growing Africa’s e-commerce sector. This makes them an ideal candidate for investment from the Interswitch ePayment Growth Fund. “At Interswitch, we are committed to encouraging innovative ideas in the digital payments and commerce space in Africa and

are excited to be working with SlimTrader to expand MoBiashara services into the hospitality sector.” Speaking on the new investment also, Slim Trader’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Femi Akinde, stated that: “We remain committed to our mission of unlocking the potential in African busi-

nesses. This funding puts more hotels a click away from their own free property management system, website booking engine and channel manager; connecting them to multiple local and international online booking sites. We see this as transformational to the sub-Saharan Africa hospitality industry.”

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Gatwick to open phase one of US$1.5bn investment project By Shola Adekola Gatwick Airport owned by the Nigerian born Kayode Ogunlesi opened the first phase of its new departures level in the North Terminal yesterday in line with an ongoing £1bn (US$1.5bn) investment programme aimed at transforming the airport. The £36m (US$54.5m) project include the world’s largest self-service bag drop zone and the new checkin hall which will increase peak check-in capacity from 3,000 to 4,350 passengers per hour. Operational testing of the bag drop zone took place two weeks prior to the 20 October opening, while the check-in hall will be opened in two phases between October 2015 and April 2016. This follows successful trials of a self-service bag drop in the South Terminal which proved queuing times can be significantly shortened by allowing passengers to take charge of their own journey through the airport. Self-service bag drop enables passengers who have checked in online to take their bags straight to a machine upon arrival at the airport, where they can print their luggage tag, apply it to their bag and load it straight onto Gatwick’s state-of-theart baggage sorting system. Gatwick will have 60 check-in points with 48 of these being self-service bag drop units, 28 of these will be open for the October date. This means the checkin process can be completed in less than two minutes. Commenting on the development, Gatwick Chief Executive Officer, Stewart Wingate said, “Gatwick has added eight million passengers since we came into private ownership in 2009, and we are about to reach the 40 million mark.”

Stanbic IBTC widens service channels with new branches in Lagos Chima Nwokoji- Lagos Stanbic IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has opened two new cash centres at the Computer Village, Ikeja, and Orile-Coker market in Lagos. The cash centres will serve the financial needs of individuals and businesses at the two locations and their environs, in fulfillment of the bank’s commitment to broaden its service channels.

The centres according to the bank, are additional avenues for Stanbic IBTC Bank to make its products and services more accessible to many more Nigerians. “The new cash centres underpin the bank’s promise to bring banking services closer to the people for convenience and accessibility. It ties in with our brand proposition and focus to add value to the small and medium enterprises sector in Nigeria. Our target is to

ensure a wide network of access points where quality and efficient service delivery is available to our clientele as well as prospects,” said Executive Director, Personal and Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Obinnia Abajue. According to Abajue, the bank considers the Computer Village and OrileCoker Market as important and strategic locations in Nigeria as they represent the heart of what is happening

in technology and building materials, respectively, in the country today. He said the new cash centres are expected to accommodate the growing needs by businesses for electronic banking as well as other financial services at the two locations and their environs. He assured businesses as well as individuals of Stanbic IBTC Bank’s resolve to provide bespoke financial solutions that will add significant value to customers.

businessnews

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

FXTM launches investment programme for copy traders

FG, Ghana reach agreement to settle N33.8bn gas debt

By Rotimi Ige

The Federal Government on Monday reached an agreement with Ghana on the modalities to settle the outstanding N33.8bn owed by the Volta River Authority (VRA) on gas supplied for power generation by a Nigerian company, N-Gaz. N-Gaz is a joint venture company owned by NNPC, Shell and Chevron that delivers gas through the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo) to Ghana. The highlight of the agreement according to a statement by Mr Ohi Alegbe the Public Affairs Manager of NNPC disclosed that the total sum of gas supply debt will be cleared by February 2016 at the latest. The agreement which was reached between a team led by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, stipulated that VRA will pay the balance of August and September invoices by October 31 at the latest.

Award-winning international forex broker FXTM has announced the launch of its proprietary online Investment Programme, a new trading service that is at the forefront of industry innovation, taking the concept of copy and social trading to the next level. With this new release, investors and investment managers now have access to a highly advanced investment solution that is simple, flexible and safe. The investment programme was developed in-house by FXTM’s highR&D team, ly-skilled following extensive research into the products and services that traders would ideally like to see in the market, their trading needs, their opinions about existing copy and social trading services, and how such services could be improved upon. The end result is a sophisticated, high-tech investment solution that fulfils the trading needs of both investors and managers, who now have a powerful tool to maximise their earning potential. According to FXTM, no prior trading experience is needed to become an investor, so those who may not have the skills or time to trade can enter the global markets with ease by simply selecting and following the strategy of an experienced manager based on real-time rankings. Once selected, the manager’s trades will be automatically copied on the Investor’s account. A defining characteristic of the Program is that investors have full control over their accounts, from selection and deselection of manager and investment amount to easy access monitoring and the ability to deposit withdraw funds instantly.

Ayodele Adesanmi Abuja

From left, Justin Ijeh, Head, Card Products, Access Bank Plc; Tope Folayan, Chief Executive Officer, Mall for Africa and Victor Etuokwu, Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Access Bank Plc ,during a business partnership meeting between Access Bank and Mall for Africa in Lagos.

Alleged Indian $25m oil block cash: We have nothing to do with transaction —NNPC Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has dissociated his name from the failed bid by an Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited, to acquire an oil block and the consequent non-refund of the signature bonus it paid for the deal. The Corporation, in a

statement made available to newsmen on Monday signed Mr Ohi Alegbe the Public Affairs Manager explained that the reports linking it with the transaction showed a high level of ignorance on how the oil and gas industry in Nigeria works and therefore wishes to clarify as follows: “Our attention has been drawn to the repeated reports linking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation with

Market capitalisation on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) continued on upward trend on Tuesday as investors gained N37 billion to close at N10.43 trillion against the N10.394 trillion it closed with on Monday. The increase represent-

of $25 million or any payment from OMEL for the transaction. “We find the deliberate attempt to drag NNPC into the various allegations surrounding the transaction as mischievous and unfortunate. We urge those who are interested in the story to seek clarification with the relevant agencies responsible for conducting bid rounds and to whom OMEL may have paid the alleged fee.”

By Doyin Adeoye

Electricity consumers from Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Kwara States have been assured of better and improved services. Officials of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) gave the assurance at a hearing session held with its customers at the Nigerian Electricity Commission Regulatory (NERC) Ibadan forum office, Iyaganku, on Tuesday. In his remark, the Chairman of Ibadan forum,

NERC, Dr Babajide Taiwo, said that the meeting was called to address different complaints from various consumers of electricity within Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara and some other neighbouring states. “NERC was put in place to checkmate and look into issues between the electricity distribution company and its customers. Anybody anywhere that has complaints as regards electricity can come here. The service is free.” Speaking on a behalf of a nine-man representative

ing a 0.35 per cent increase indicated that capitalisation had been on a gradual move since the beginning of the week. Also equities market closed on a positive note, as NSE All Share Index (ASI) closed at 30,325.11 basis points, compared with the 1.29 per cent appreciation recorded on Monday. Wema Bank led the list of

active stocks that recorded impressive volume, trading 61.59 million shares worth N60.34 million. Investors on the Nigerian bourse bought and sold 245.39 million shares worth N3.22 billion transacted in 2,988 deals, with Trans Express leading other 25 gainers and Vitafoam ahead of other 16 losers.

from Oloke Express community, Kilometre 39, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Apostle Yomi Amoo said the community have been without light for almost 20 years. “The town does not have a transformer at all, despite being close to Sagamu and Lagos. We have been on this issue for almost 10 years now. But with the forum involved, we are hopeful that everything will be resolved soon,” he said. Baale, Oremeji Ewekoro Local Government, Baale Isaah Olayemi, also complained that he had paid for prepaid metres for a four-flat building for over eight years and metres were not supplied, with the occupants being charged excessively. “We have complained for years and nothing has been done about it. I came here to know the barometer for measuring power on which they have been charging the occupants, and also to know why the metres paid for have not been delivered. However, I am happy with the way the forum has han-

2 Arik Air aircraft brush each other at Lagos airport Shola Adekola-Lagos

IBEDC reassures consumers of better services

Market capitalisation closed positive as investors gain 37bn Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba -Lagos

the failed attempt by a certain Indian company, Oil and Natural Gas Corp-Mittal Energy Limited (OMEL), to acquire an oil block during the 2006/2007 oil bid round and the consequent failure to get a refund of the funds it committed to the deal. “We wish to clarify that NNPC is not the statutory body saddled with the responsibility of organising bid rounds and so could not have received the alleged amount

dled the matter, as I enjoyed the discussion and I hope that all that has been said will be complied with.” Reacting to complaints about IBEDC officials exploiting customers, Dr Babajide said that “it is wrong for anyone to pay to individuals. Go to their office, pay and receive your receipt. Nobody should be paid while doing house calls, because most of the people going about to collect money are touts. We cannot trace them back to the distribution company,” he advised. Speaking on why some of these complaints had to get to the forum, John Onifade of the customer care office, IBEDC, said “the NERC forum is a redress procedure to solve complaints from customers that are not satisfied with what we have done. We have addressed some of these complaints, but some are not satisfied in one way or the other. So the forum is to resolve issues and not because we are doing our jobs. “However, we will comply with the NERC forum’s directive,” he said.

Two aircraft belonging to Arik Air yesterday afternoon had their wings brush each other at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the local wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport. This came few months after a similar incidence occurred at the Terminal two of the local airport when two planes belonging to FirstNation Airways rammed into each other. Confirming yesterday’s incident, the media officer of Arik Air, Adebanji Ola said in a statement: “Two of our aircraft, Boeing 737800NG were this afternoon involved in a wingtip brush at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos. “One of the aircraft, 5N-MJP was marshalled out of the ramp for a scheduled flight when its wing brushed that of another aircraft, 5N-MJQ parked on the ramp.There were no incidences as the safety of passengers was not jeopardized. We have grounded the two aircraft and are looking into the incident.”

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Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Senate crisis: Political solution may consume APC leaders Ndume, Na’allah, others likely to resign Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

HE leadership crisis that has rocked the Senate since June 9 appears set to take another dimension, as the current holders of the majority leadership positions might be replaced any moment from now. Sources in the chamber said the political solution being worked on by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, is about to be implemented. Dogara and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Senate were locked in a meeting at the new wing of the Senate complex on Tuesday evening. Sources confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the Senate president had been under pressure to communicate his allies in the Senate, including the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume; his deputy, Bala Ibn Na’allah and the deputy majority whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, on the need to toe the party’s line as regards the composition of the Senate majority leadership. Sources said on Tuesday that Saraki had communicated with the trio of Ndume, Na’Allah and Alimikhena and the insistence of the party that they should vacate the offices. It was also gathered that Senator Ahmad Lawan has been told of the readiness of the Senate President to announce him as the new Senate Leader. The National Chairman of APC, Chief John OdigieOyegun had on June 24 written the Senate President and Speaker Dogara, listing the names of proposed occupants of the leadership positions in the Senate and the House of Representatives. While Dogara kept faith with the party’s list after some hesitations, Saraki’s allies in the Senate named different persons and their nominations announced on the Senate floor in July. Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in the letter to Saraki, named Senator Ahmed Lawan as majority leader; Professor Sola Adeyeye as chief whip; George Akume as deputy majority leader and Abu Ibrahim as deputy chief whip. Sources close to the Senate, however, said: “the Senate is set to experience

a change of leadership any moment from now. “The political solution being worked on by

the Speaker, Honourable Dogara, has yielded results with the leadership of the Senate set to change co-

lours. “There is the decision that Ahmad Lawan should emerge as majority leader,

while George Akume may emerge deputy leader. It means the other leaders are set to resign,” he said.

From left, Ogun State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga; National President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, Mr Gabriel Fasooto; Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the outgoing chairman, APBN, Ogun State chapter, Mr Bimbola Alagbe, during a courtesy call on the governor at his OkeMosan office, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

Confusion over alleged removal of Kifasi as Head of Service Clement Idoko -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has allegedly removed Danladi Kifasi as the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, to entrench the federal character principle as enshrined in the Nigeria’s constitution. Unconfirmed sources said the letter authorising Kifasi’s removal emanated from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Babachir David Lawal. He was allegedly asked to proceed on his terminal leave with immediate effect. Kifasi, who hails from Taraba, is from the same North-East zone as the SGF who hails from Adamawa State. The outgoing Head of Service was appointed by former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan He had served as permanent secretary in several ministries, including Federal Ministry of Finance and Petroleum and was said to have prepared for smooth handover in an event of the announcement of new Head of Service, who may likely be from the southern part of the country. Kifasi, who was then a permanent secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, took over from Bukar Goni

Aji, who had retired from the service, having attained the mandatory age of 60. When contacted, however, neither the Office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation nor that of HOS Office could confirm the alleged removal. Director, Communications, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Haruna Imrana, told the Nigerian Tribune that no official letter got to the Head of Service on the alleged removal from either the Presidency or the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. He said he was surprised to read online that Kifasi had been removed, stressing that there was no letter from any source to that effect as of Tuesday night. He, however, said he would contact the SGF Office, to further verify the information, which was

reported emanated from David Lawal. It could not, however, be established as of press time if the Head of Service was due for his mandatory retirement from the Service. Imrana could not also confirm this. Meanwhile, indications to the removal of Kifasi emerged early on Tuesday, when the continuation of his unscheduled visit to ministries was abruptly postponed on the heels of his invitation to Aso Rock Villa by President Buhari. Some select journalists were invited to cover a proposed unscheduled visit by Kifasi to one of the ministries before the sudden announcement that he was summoned to the Villa. Kifasi had paid a similar unscheduled visit at 8.00 a.m. to the ministries of Power and Aviation on Thursday, in a bid to as-

sess worker’s compliance to work ethics. At the Ministry of Power, the HOS met the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Godknows Igali, busy at his desk. The surprised permanent secretary summoned all the directors in the ministry and welcomed him. In his address, Ambassador Igali said the ministry was working hard on its responsibility to supply power to the country. At the Ministry of Aviation, Kifasi met the Permanent Secretary, Hajia Binta Bello and her directors on seat. At both ministries, Kifasi stressed the need for civil servants to be ICT compliant, uphold work ethics and to be conversant with the zero-based budgeting system to ensure transparency.

Police arrest 3 suspects in Osun for beheading 2-yr-old boy Oluwole Ige -Osogbo

THREE suspected members of an Islamic sect have been arrested by the Osun State police command, for allegedly beheading a two-year-old boy in Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area of the state. Credible sources informed the Nigerian Tribune that the sect members, led by one Mosudi Aremu, had been operating at a mosque around Oke Mori area of Iragbiji, though they resided in another part of the town. The suspects, Tajudeen Ganiyu of Aropoko compound and one Wasiu Danku, led by Aremu, were said to have abducted the victim at Agbelekale compound of Iragbiji and murdered him by slicing his throat. According to one of the sources, the suspects subsequently severed the deceased’s head and drained his blood into a bucket. The suspects were, however, not caught while perpetrating the act, but their deed was exposed when someone who secretly recorded the scenes with mobile phone handed the recordings to some people. Speaking with journalists on the development, a resident of Otapete area where the leader of the sect lives, said “no one knew who recorded the scene, but people have been suspecting their actions around here. “Not long ago, Mosudi Aremu, their leader, was expelled by his Islamic sect and he subsequently established his own sect and has been leading them since then.” Meanwhile, a top security source said the suspects had owned up to the crime at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Folasade Odoro, confirmed the development, saying the suspects were already at the SCID, just as she promised to give more details over the act later.

Stallion, Olams deny duty evasion allegations MULTINATIONAL companies, Olam and Stallion, have denied any wrongdoing in the current investigation by the Senate ad hoc committee on waivers on rice importation into the country. Representatives of the two companies, in their presentations before the committee on Monday, gave detailed explanation of their alloc-

ated quotas for rice importation, to the effect that they had fulfilled all remittances to the Federal Government. Controversy has trailed the implementation of the import waiver policy by the Ministry of Agriculture which issued retrospective quotas in December 2014 when the country’s peak demand rice season was almost

over. On Monday, the companies submitted their reports, denying any abuse of the rice policy and had, indeed, paid in the stipulated duty of 30 per cent applicable to them. Stallion Group specifically underlined the fact it had fully remitted N17.15 billion in duties and levies to its imports and, therefore, had not

evaded any due to the government. Olam, on the other hand, claimed that it had the largest rice farm in Africa and that it had been operating in Nigeria in the past 35 years, arguing that given its long period of business operation in Nigeria, the company would not consider short-changing the nation.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

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Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

Adebutu Kesington aka Baba Ijebu

CHURCH BOY

FUNOLOGY

• Born on October 24, 1935 at Iperu Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of O g u n State. He completed his primary education in 1942 and had his secondary education between 1951 and 1955. • He is the Chairman of Premier Lotto Limited, also known as Baba Ijebu. • He is also the founder of Kesington Adebukola Adebutu Foundation, a Foundation that caters for the underprivileged and supports hospital patients and education for the poor.

SEGELUULU

• Chief Adebukola Adebutu Kesington , the billionaire philanthropist will be joining the octogenarian club this Saturday, October 24, 2015 as he clocks 80.

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18 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

editor

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

Boko Haram: Intelligence-gathering will help us win

N the last couple of weeks, many people have been killed in bomb blasts in Maiduguri. This has shown that Maiduguri is the stronghold of the terrorists, and the military should deploy its intelligence experts to the city. I believe if the military can break the terrorists’ network in the Borno State capital, then the war would come to an end immediately. The military should start by sending its best intelligence gathering experts to Maiduguri. The war has now shifted from when Boko Haram was creating a caliphate

Ambode, focus on security PERMIT me to use this opportunity to call on the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, to give security a priority in his administration. This is important going by the increasing rate of crime in the state. Mr Ambode, being the chief security officer of the state, should empower the police so that they will have the necessary equipment to fight crime. I want the governor to hold a security summit where stakeholders in the state will deliberate on how to curb the rising crime rate. Special attention should be given to those who commit crime in the traffice. In the last two weeks, about three people I know very well were robbed while in traffic. One even had his window smashed because he didn’t want to cooperate with the criminals. Urgent steps must be taken now so that Lagos is not taken back to the years when crime was the order of the day. I hope this will also pose a challenge to the police to up their game in the war against crime. •Ibidun Ayokunle, Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

a couple of months ago to an intelligence warfare. In any war, the ability of the opposing groups to work underground is what brings about success. At the moment, the terrorists believe they are still winning the war because they are still causing destructions despite the fact that the Nigerian military is trying its best to overcome them. As things stand now, I hope the Nigerian military can send more personnel on intelligencegathering courses in the United States, Britain or Israel. These are great military nations that have what it takes to gather information from the most difficult areas. For the US, we should just imagine how it trailed former Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden for several years before he was assassinated in Pakistan.

Before now, many felt Osama was living somewhere in the mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Osama was trailed to an affluent neighbourhood in Abbotabad in Pakistan, where he continued to direct the affairs of his organisations.

The Nigerian military also needs the intelligence to win the Boko Haram war. What we should ask ourselves is that: Who are the girls being used as suicide bombers? Are they the girls forcibly taken from their families, like the Chibok girls? These are some of the

things the military should know. There was also a female suicide bomber who was arrested earlier this year when her bomb failed to detonate in Kano. It was learnt that the girl’s father had personally taken his daughter to where she would cause maximum

destruction with her bomb, but fortunately, it failed to denotate. With this, the military needs to know if some citizens are still sympathetic to the cause of the terrorists. I know those in charge of the military are professionals who know what they are doing. I hope by December, this war would have been won.

many Africans, particularly Nigerians who are residing illegally in Europe will come under intense scrutiny. I am, therefore, calling on our people to get information before wanting to migrate to Europe at all cost. The government should also make the country conducive for its citizens.

•Dr Tajudeen Alalade, Ilorin.

Europe’s migrant crisis THE influx of Syrian migrants into Europe will definitely bring back racism. So far this year, we have had about 800,000 migrants who have entered Europe, with most of them heading towards Germany and the Scandinavian countries. While some Europeans may be welcoming, many are already getting frustrated with the situation. They are wondering how the migrants’ arriv-

als would impact on social welfare in their respective countries. This has, therefore, resulted in the introduction of strict laws in many European countries. Already, some countries are beginning to build borders to curb the migrants entering their territories, while the United Kingdom has also introduce several laws to deter those in the country illegally. With this situation,

•Awuza Stanley, Wuse Zone 11, Abuja.

On payment of gratuities for retirees I want the National Assembly to propose a law that will make it mandatory that gratuities are paid within the first six months after retirement. Having worked for 35 years, or reached the mandatory 60 years, senior citizens deserve better treatment from political leaders, particularly governors. Today, our government treat retirees as if they are no longer useful to the society. Many retirees are being owed several arrears and gratuities, and many of them were left out of the bailout payment. It shouldn’t surprise no one that some governors are already saying that the bailout fund obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had been exhausted. I was happy when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) issued a statement that it would monitor how the governors spent the disbursement; it is, therefore, necessary for the apex bank to look at how the governors spent the bailout. It is believed that some governors had even diverted the fund, while some have had to fix it in banks to yield interests. In the interest of fair play, I think retirees should also benefit from the bailout fund. •Ese Osahon, Benin, Edo State.

editorial

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

IBB’s dead witness

ELF-styled Nigeria’s first and only military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who ruled the country between 1985 and 1993 and only had to step aside after the electoral fiasco at the end of his absurd political experiment of June 12, 1993, seems to still savour his legendarily repugnant repasts. Their well-known recipe of deliberate falsehoods and caprices in various sizes of dollops may still be effective garnishing for the meal, but its taste is now sour, even bitter. Though he successfully bruised his friend’s face in the 1993 presidential election, rubbing his face in the mud for full effects as Hope 93 was effectively trounced and dashed, thus denying billionaire businessman, Chief MKO Abiola his political ambition, it would, however, seem IBB is not done yet. While commiserating with the family of the late Mubashiru Abiola, the younger brother of MKO, who had died at 74 during a protracted illness, IBB sent a personally signed condolence message in which he revealed that the late Mubashiru was an accomplice in the annulment of the results. IBB wrote in his condolence message that “despite the annulment of June 1993 elections, presumed to have been won by his elder brother and irrespective of the backlash, our relationship still blossomed, largely because he understood the circumstances that necessitated our action. He was a very frank family man who abhorred malice to a great extent.” Approximately 15 years ago when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission headed by the late revered Justice Chukwudifu Oputa was assigned to soothe the bruised nerves inflicted by the country’s national history and ethnic grudges, IBB pointedly ignored all entreaties to appear before it with a contemptuous and disdainful attitude. IBB in his so-called letter of condolence conveniently reduced the national tragedy, which the annulment of the 1993 presidential elections results represented, to a family misfortune as if it was only the Abiola family that suffered the loss of an election that was run on the national purse. This is nothing but blatant, deliberate mischief. How can a former president of Nigeria possibly fail to recognise the national significance of his own misguided experiment which culminated in the death of several Nigerians in its aftermath? How can he reveal the late Mubashiru as an accomplice

of such a national tragedy only after the man had died and as such could not refute it if indeed it was, as suspected, a lie? IBB, truth be told, owes the country as a whole an apology for the tragic events to which he is fond of returning at will for relevance. If the late Mubashiru knew — as IBB claimed – “why he annulled June 12 election”, don’t other Nigerians also deserve to know? On the other hand, IBB thinks his military antecedents may absolve him of his responsibility to both history and the country’s sovereignty; therefore he treats the matter with an offensive levity that easily galls decent people. For how can any leader, by any stretch of definition, be so capricious as to reduce a national tragedy to a family feud? And in the same breath, how can he turn a man he described in his letter of condolence as “a very frank family man who abhorred malice to a great extent” into a traitor who, like him, betrayed the national conscience? In any event, the June 12, 1993 saga was a historic national event, not confined to the Abiola family because the country’s citizens trooped out to cast their votes including those innocent souls who eventually died in its aftermath that were not even remotely connected to the Abiola family. So why did IBB choose to involve a dead man who was neither alive nor in a position to confirm or deny his assertions? This is a Freudian slip that shows the underbelly of the concept of leadership in Africa which presupposes that political positions should be appropriated as family patrimony. Did IBB also intend to cast an aspersion on the late Mubashiru Abiola in order to confuse the whole family that he was indeed the reprehensible mole who sold his elder brother out in that tragic and regrettable June 12, 1993 saga? IBB had an opportunity during the tenure of the Truth and Reconciliation Panel to explain before the whole country what transpired during the annulment of what, till date, remains the most peaceful and credible election in the annals of the country’s political history, but he blew it. His recourse to elegy at the graveside of a dead man in order to paper over his historic gross treasonable felony, which any military intrusion into the civil political life of any country is by definition, clutching at the straws of sentiments so as to garner attention or relevance was certainly indecent and in poor taste. But then, how else would he have proved that he is, indeed, ‘the evil genius’?

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20 opinion

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

With cabinet, Buhari puts party before reforms By Alexis Akwagyiram

igeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has chosen a cabinet dominated by political veterans, opting to strengthen his power base rather than surround himself with technocrats who could overhaul Africa’s biggest economy. Buhari won March’s election on promises to usher in a new era in the West African nation where a rich elite has controlled key state jobs for half a century. Most Nigerians live in poverty despite the enormous oil wealth of Africa’s top producer. The former military ruler had asked Nigerians to be patient and get ready for “change” as he took four months to pick his cabinet while a plunge in oil prices triggered the worst economic crisis for decades. But in the end the 72-year-old has selected many familiar faces - those who helped him win the election and some who had hoped for jobs at a national level since he first ran for office in 2003. Out of 36 nominated ministers, about 20 are veterans from Buhari’s party, former state governors, ministers or associates from his military career. A dozen could be classified as ‘technocrats’. “It is a cabinet that seems to have been drawn from different interests that brought Buhari to power,” said Clement Nwankwo, director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, a think-tank in Abuja. Buhari will unveil portfolios only after the Senate has approved his list. But his nominations show a desire to close ranks in his All Progressives Congress (APC), an alliance of powerful Nigerians united by a desire to remove the People’s Democratic Party of his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan rather than a shared vision. While he promised during the election campaign to take on the establishment in order to root out corruption, Buhari’s priority was to overcome APC divisions and reward allies such as party spokesman Lai Mohammed with cabinet jobs, analysts say.

To reinforce his power base, Buhari has even taken on the controversial figure of his campaign manager, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, who has been accused of corruption. Amaechi has denied the accusations. “It was the political trade-offs which definitely cost a lot of time. There was internal wrangling within Buhari’s party,” said Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Lagos consultancy Financial Derivatives. As a result, most ministers have had careers that span decades making Kemi Adeosun, a 48-year-old former investment banker and one of the technocrats, his youngest nominee. Other prominent veterans include Babatunde Fashola, former governor of the commercial capital Lagos, who won praise for getting infrastructure projects off the ground but also criticism for clearing slums. Buhari’s cohort must stave off a recession next year due to a collapse in oil revenues that has weakened the naira and driven up inflation. The government also needs to win back investors upset by hefty foreign currency restrictions imposed by central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, who filled a vacuum in the absence of a finance minister. Buhari’s selection process was complicated by the fact that

he was constitutionally bound to select a minister from each of Nigeria’s 36 states to reflect the character of a nation of 170 million people from 250 ethnic groups. Despite this, he picked some fresh faces from outside the establishment with backgrounds in accounting, law, medicine and finance. “Those expecting a list formed wholly of technocrats were being unrealistic,” said Kayode Akindele, a political consultant and partner at private equity firm TIA capital. “He has a good mixture. You could have key portfolios with technocrats, which would help to drive reforms.” Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, head of state oil firm NNPC and a former ExxonMobil manager, is expected to become junior oil minister as Buhari wants to head the oil ministry himself. Reform-minded observers are likely to have been cheered by Kachikwu’s Senate hearing appearance in which he vowed to take action regarding poorly performing refineries, which force Nigeria to import most of its fuel. Okechukwu Enyinna Enelamah, a former Goldman Sachs banker who heads Nigeria’s biggest private equity firm, African Capital Alliance, is a candidate for the finance minister. Adeosun, a UK-trained accountant and finance commissioner in Ogun State, is also a candidate for the finance portfolio. At her hearing, Adesoun sought to assure investors that central bank controls aimed at preventing a collapse of the naira would be accompanied by measures to stimulate growth. “So what the CBN governor has done just brought in some breathing space ... (but the) exchange rate is not the silver bullet,” she said. “It would have to be accompanied with fiscal policies, monetary policies and industrial policies.” But with no sign of any increase in oil prices, the reliance on crude sales for 70 percent of government revenues will make it difficult for Buhari to keep his promise to diversify the economy. “Public finances are so fragile that there are a relatively limited number of policy options,” said Antony Goldman of Nigeria-focused PM Consulting. •Akwagyiram writes for Reuters.

Making the Nigeria nuclear power programme feasible (2) By Imoh B. Obioh

Challenges associated with current NAEC approach Of the activities in NAEC road map document to actualize the NP infrastructure between 2006 and 2017 only site appraisal and initial training have been attempted. Both are yet to be fully realized. Most planned tasks remain pending. Since appraisal teams visited proposed sites in 2009, no single follow-up has been made to any site. Apart from media reports media, the Governments of States and communities to host NPPs are yet to be formally briefed to allay fears. How then and when would specific site(s) be delineated and mapped to allow for characterization and site-specific NPP design to commence? Failure to consult with stakeholders to ensure that they align with the project is a major discrepancy that could jeopardize the project if stakeholders decide to reject it. The slow pace of the NP programme appears to result from the fact that the Chairman had set himself apart from the other members of the commission appointed by the President to work with him in decision making. This would easily create “a house divided against itself” scenario which remains a major risk for the programme and its ability to achieve its goal. In such situations there is a strong likelihood that due processes in decision making would not be followed and in the process, progress, which reflects the real work, takes a back seat. R&D institutions have within this period not been able to integrate their financial requirements into the Commission’s budgets and are highly constrained to play their role in the Programme. This raises the challenge on how to actualize the programme without R&D inputs in training, infrastructure development, and domestication, which remains much slower than expected of a country that expected commissioning its first NPP in 2017. The Commission has not formally articulated any NP financing model(s) to the President for approval. The adoption of such framework is a process rather than deci-

sion of an individual. Media report indicate that Nigeria has adopted the build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) model for its first NPP. The President may not be availed of the options and prospects for each financing option. The project stands the risks of rejection if the Government does not understand its role and responsibility enough in the programme to plan how to meet them effectively. From Section 3(2) of NAEC Act, “no policy initiated by the Commission shall be implemented without reference to and prior approval of the President”. It is not clear if the President is aware of some strong policies like the financing model currently “adopted”. Nigeria has commitments to be made irrespective of the financing template. Examples include transport of heavy equipment to site on arrival at the port, grid expansion, etc. If some expected equipment are too heavy for road, inland waterways (as currently dredged) or the current rail gauge, further inland waterways dredging or enhanced rail gauge to site(s) would be required. Such investments shall be on the shoulders of the government and planned a-priori. Machineries would otherwise remain at ports until transportation routes are ready leading to unwarranted delays. The President is not to be informed. The buck must stop at him in final decision and the ownership of the project in line with NAEC Act. The Way Forward Going forward, the time appears right for the Government to ensure that NAEC operates as a strong national

institution rather than remain a governmental individual. Its enabling Law of 1976 is too old to allow current national aspirations to be met and hence overdue for review. This would give the Commission a new vigour to make the programme viable and able to bring the economic transformation the nation needs in reasonable time. The programme would only remain feasible if implemented with full stakeholders’ consultation and ownership. The President must be adequately consulted and so must political players, MDAs, NGOs, CBOs, and labour who must be partners its implementation. This programme cannot also deliver without R&D institutions giving full support and playing their role in training and technology domestication. The co-benefits needed to reposition the economy and meet local content targets for 2020, 2030, 2050 etc in a wide range of sectors lie strongly on the shoulders of R&D institutions. Nigeria must not only have NPPs to contribute to energy security, it must do so within a template that enhances economic prosperity and sustainable development through the application of its co-benefits in the wide range of sectors where potentials abound. As it may be difficult for foreign investors to feel the sense of security immediately to show strong interest in financing the project, Federal Government must take a front seat in its initial financing and use this to leverage on national capacity development. Government must however quit the scene after the first NPP or when its sustainability is assured. Government shares in the project could then be sold with a minimum retained to protect national security interest. •Obioh is of the Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and Former Executive Commissioner International Cooperation and Liaison Directorate, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Abuja. (Concluded)

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015 Editor: Bayo ALADE featuresdesk@yahoo.com 08055001747

features

Kwara roads in desperate need of FG attention Biola Azeez-Ilorin

T is a tale of agony, woes and losses for vehicle owners, business owners and residents of Jebba in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State as the deplorable condition of Ilorin-Jebba Road remains a serious concern. The road which is the only major road that links the Northern part of the country to the Southwest is said to have been in a dilapidated state for many years. According to residents of the area, lives are lost on a daily basis while criminals use the opportunity of the bad condition of the road to commit atrocities. Many businessmen and women, dealing in cattle, beans, pepper, onions who daily ply the road, have harrowing experiences to tell as vehicles transporting their goods had at different times been involved in accidents due to the deplorable condition of the road, while daylight armed robbery operations are usual occurrence. Another road begging for the attention of the government is the Ajase Ipo-Offa-Erin Ile Road in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. Interestingly, all these roads are Federal Government roads, and that is why those who ply them are calling on the Federal Government to urgently come to their assistance by rehabilitating the roads for improved socioeconomic life in the communities. Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, a community leader and district head of Lanwa

community, Bode Saadu in the Moro Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Saad Gambari, expressed deep concern over the deplorable condition of Bode Saadu-Jebba Road traversing the state, saying it had gone intolerably bad. Alhaji Gambari said that many lives were lost on a daily basis, adding that criminal activities were on a high level. During the visit to the road traversing such communities as Bode Saadu, Iyana Oloko, Ayekale, Sabo-n-gida, Araro, Lakanla, Kanbi, and Jebba, a cross section of motorists and community leaders lamented on their experience and plights on the road. The people also appealed to the Federal Government to fix the deplorable road in order to make life meaningful for them. “The situation of the road is terrible and government has not showed concern despite our frequent request and plea to the Federal Government. The road is causing a lot of problems to all the communities affected including problems like frequent armed robbery, losses incurred due to damaged vehicles and accidents. Asthmatic patients that live by the side of the road are also affected by the dust especially during the dry season. A number of people have lost their lives as a result of these developments. We are using this period to call on the Federal Government to come to our rescue as a matter of urgency,” he said.

Also speaking, the president of Jebba Descendants Union, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulkareem, who said that Jebba-Bode Saadu Road is a Federal Government road, urged the Kwara State government to intervene with palliative measures that could help the condition of the road. Alhaji Abdulkareem, who said that the condition of the road got worse three years ago, added that, “A construction firm brought equipment to the road last year to work on it and to our surprise they could not do anything and they disappeared with their equipment immediately after the general election,” he said. Also speaking, the representative of the communities in the state House of Assembly, Mathew Okedara, representing Lanwa-Ejidongari constituency said that he brought a grader to work on the road when the condition was becoming unbearable, adding that he had informed the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) both in Ilorin and Abuja without any response yet.

“If not for the assistance of the local government which put laterite sand on the potholes, it would have been worse than the present condition, because the potholes are just too many and they are increasing by the day and if nothing is done urgently, the road may soon be filled with ponds. And if the road completely becomes impassable the economy of Nigeria will be affected. And I pray that the Federal Government will come to the rescue of the communities and motorists plying the road, in no distant time,” he said. Speaking on the Offa-Ajase Ipo-Erin Ile road, the Offa Descendants’ Union (ODU), a socio-cultural organisation of indigenes of Offa town in Kwara State, has cried out over the deplorable condition of roads leading to the ancient town. While speaking with journalists in Offa during activities marking the 80th anniversary of the ODU, the Secretary-General of the group, Chief Wosilat Mccarthy, urged the Federal Government to release funds for the rehabilitation of the road to ameliorate suffering of the

If not for the assistance of the local government which put laterite sand on the potholes, it would have been worse than the present condition

vehicle owners plying the road. The ODU chieftain, who said that the people were concerned about the present condition of road, added that business owners had suffered losses resulting from damage and destruction of their goods and vehicles, especially when rain falls. The organisation, which commended efforts of the state government at rehabilitating the road in the past, said that several letters of appeal had been written to the concerned authorities over the nagging problem. Speaking on the high level of insecurity situation in the ancient town, characterised by armed robbery and kidnapping, Mrs McCarthy blamed the situation on the bad road and growth in modernity in the ancient town. Meanwhile, the Kwara State House of Assembly has called on the state government to liaise with the Federal Government as a matter of urgency to include Oloru-Bode Saadu-Jebba section of Ilorin-Kaduna Highway in the 2016 budget to put an end to the untold hardship being experienced by users of the road. This is part of the resolutions reached by the State House of Assembly following a motion on notice on the terrible conditions of Federal roads in the state especially Oloru-Bode Saadu-Jebba highway raised by the Deputy Speaker Dr. Mattew Okedare and co-seconded by the leader of the House. Alhaji Hassan Oyeleke and a member representing Owode-Onire constituency Alhaji AbdulRasheed Taiwo.

features

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Niger flood of death, destruction

Affected areas in the state.

Adelowo Oladipo- Minna

HE rains have stopped in Niger but experts are of the opinion that residents could be facing imminent food scarcity due to the massive destruction wrecked on farmlands, crops and live stocks in about 16 local government areas where hundreds of people were also rendered homeless and displaced by flooding. Tragedy struck recently in Niger State, as two pregnant women were reportedly swept by flood and killed at the Koro District of Borgu Local Government Area during a heavy downpour. This incident, which was said to have occurred on Monday 12 October, 2015, took place when both women, in a frantic effort to cross over to safer grounds after their village was destroyed by flood, got overpowered by the wave and met their untimely death. Though the names of the victims are yet to be ascertained, the officials of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Audu Husein and Garba Salihu, confirmed the incident at a media parley in Minna, adding that this year’s flooding was similar to what happened in 2012 in some parts of the state. The Public Relations Officer of NSEMA, Ibrahim Husein, said, “So far, 16 local governments have been affected out of the 25 local governments of the state.” He stated further that out of these 16 LGAs, 460 communities were seriously affected by flood, saying that “We recorded deaths of two pregnant women in Koro District of Borgu Local Government on Monday. At present, we are working round the clock with our Local Governments Emergency Committees to ascertain the exact number of individuals that were affected.” He added that the state governor, Abubakar Bello has directed the agency for an

immediate assessment to be conducted so that post disaster recovery recommendation can be submitted to his office for immediate intervention by the government. Accordingly he said, “We are already compiling a comprehensive report for the Federal Government so that it can intervene on the matter because the situation is already beyond the capacity of the Niger State Government. “In 2012, the number of the local governments affected by flood was 20 and now we have 16 affected local governments. In most of the places affected, crops and farmland including livestock were equally destroyed. This is the harvest period of farmers and most of them have had their entire farm produce destroyed by flooding,” he maintained. Husein pointed out that in view of the foregoing, there could be a looming food scarcity situation in the state if urgent measures are not put in place by the government to address the situation. Following loss of no fewer than 100 hectares of rice farms completely submerged by the flood, a Niger State based businessman, Alhaji Saba Agaie, said it is a very serious problem. The businessman who employs as many as 100 people on

This is the harvest period of farmers and most of them have had their entire farm produce destroyed by flooding

his farmland stated that with what has happened to his finances recently following the destruction by the flood, the livelihood of the people working for him will be greatly affected. Meanwhile, the Head of Relief and Rehabilitation Department of the State Emergency Management Agency, Garba Salihu, has said that the agency was not only considering getting the victims relief materials, but was also thinking of providing the youths in the affected communities in parts of the state with skills acquisition and equipment as a temporary measure to alleviate their sufferings. However, he added that more permanent measures need to be taken to tackle the problem and alleviate the sufferings of the people. “We are calling on both the national and international disaster management organisations to come to our rescue because we have been overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster and the number of people involved,” he maintained. Salihu disclosed further that the Aliko Dangote Presidential Committee on 2012 Flood Relief, gave Niger State two hostels to be constructed at new Muregi resettlement sites in Mokwa Local Government of the state at the sum of N78 million each

totalling N156 million. He said two indigenous construction companies, Sokodio and Amroc Limited have been awarded the contracts by the Committee for the construction of the two hostels in the council areas highlighting that the job was already at an advanced stage, nearing completion. He stated this while conducting newsmen round the construction sites, emphasizing that the sub-committee members of the Dangote Presidential Committee on Evaluation led by the Acting DirectorGeneral of NSEMA, Alhaji Isah Usman had also visited the projects sites to evaluate the level of developments there so far. He further explained that during the visit by the sub-committee, the contractors complained that they have had to stop work at the projects sites. This, he said was a resultant effect of the torrential rainfall in parts of the state and the poor condition of the roads leading to the site. “In fact the contractors informed the sub-committee that as a result of the poor condition of the roads, they were finding it difficult to transport building materials to the site. But they have agreed to resume work at the end of this month when the rainy season must have come to an end,” Salihu said.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

by Wale Ojo-Lanre 0803 349 0986 waleojolanre@gmail.com

S/West Hoteliers will change the face of hospitality service —Jamiu Talabi Mr Talabi Bosede Jamiu the Public Relations Officer, (PRO) South-West Hoteliers Association is a thorough bred hotelier who is not only grounded in the business, but has exposed himself to the cosmopolitanism of service delivery in hospitality business . His two hotels, Onas Hotel and Bose Talabi Guest House, all in Lagos have been identified as centre of excellence in service delivery. Talabi in an interview with WALE OJO-LANRE laid bare some of the challenges facing hotel business in Nigeria at the maiden Retreat of South West Hoteliers Association held in Abeokuta last week. Excerpt.

slept in four hotels in two weeks and my experience is ....... so Nigerian hotels are not bad after all. Yet I agree there is room for improvement. This is one of the reasons why we came up with this regional formation.

rogrammes like these are designed for a purpose. Can you tell us what you intend to achieve with the retreat organised for hoteliers in the Southwest? One of the reasons we formed the association is to ensure unity of purpose, have a common vision and pursue the vision from a coordinated platform recognised by all. Secondly, we believe having an association which is legally recognised in law and by law will provide and facilitate quick access to the government at all levels. You will agree with me that it will also earn us the needed visibility which we needed to assert the association as a strong player on the economic field of the nation. Most importantly is the fact that we are coming together to change the face of hospitality service in the South West.

From observation some of the giants in the industry are not here, why? Are they not aware or they are not members of Hoteliers Association of Nigeria? What do you mean by the giants? Let me first inform you that we have two associations. We have Hoteliers Association of Nigeria and Hotel Employers Association of Nigeria, the so called giants belong to that group. Obviously majority of us here considered ourselves to be medium and small scale hoteliers.

Why the South West? The South west is the major gateway to Nigeria either by air, sea or land. After the plane and the taxi, the next connect of a visitor is the hotel. The hotel to us is the country’s first impression manager after the airport. The hotel tells it all. It tells the visitors what the country is without asking anybody. Thus we are emboldened not only to make more money, but to set the pace in service delivery and image improvement of the country. Do you think you can achieve this? Yes, we can and we have started. Going by the turn out for this programme which planning kicked off just a few weeks ago via a suggestion at a gathering , and the turnout is as populous as this? This is the maiden edition. Even, going by the responses to posers on the frequency of such retreat, going by the presence of government officials from almost all the states in the South West, Lagos did not only come to warm the seats, but offered meaningful goodwill messages, all these are pointers to the fact that the association has come to stay. You heard the response when the question was asked how often they want this retreat. Despite my personal belief that it should be once in two years, but the response was, no, it should not be once in a year, just to show the popularity of the retreat. It showed that despite the fact that it is a maiden edition; the majority has seen the import and usefulness of such an association and holding a retreat. It is also an indication that those that have attended the programme are going home more learned, more enlightened and of course they won’t go home the same and of course many of them won’t mind having this kind of event every month. Don’t you think it is almost too late for you coming together now? I don’t think so. Nothing is too late. It is not that we do not have platform where we meet, we have this association in the states. But we believe we can achieve better having a regional platform and a powerful regional voice which can and should encourage regional integration, development and growth in the hospitality sector. It will also accentuate regional business networking and wealth.

Jamiu Talabi This is the time for us to pool our efforts together for sustainable growth. But do you agree with the opinion that Nigerian hotels are sub-standard? I will shock you here, I am sure you are expecting me to say with anger or passion that yes it is true or false, far from this. However, I don’t want you to fall into the fallacy of generalisation and stigmatisation neither do I want you to go away with the notion of unbridled patriotism nor selfish economic patronage. 98.5 per cent hotels in Nigeria are run by Nigerians. Are you now telling me that all the hotels in Nigeria are sub-standard? All these depend on taste, perception, indoctrination and propaganda. I am a well travelled person and I stay in hotels for variety and experience. I have been to the four points, five stars, the rated and unrated just for me to feel the service and I came to the conclusion that Nigerian—run hotels are not on the lower part of the ladder. Yes. Though we are not just there yet, but we are not at the back seat. The problem that militated against us being there yet is infrastructure—sourcing for water, and security. Then, tell me why you will be in my hotel that I should ration supply of light or water? I am not saying that happens in my hotel, but I am telling you the rating indices adopted or assumed by the so called rating agency. Yet, we are not in the deep. I was in Ghana, and I

The issue of multiple taxation and other challenges facing hospitality sector were addressed at the conference and solutions are being proffered, how you will ensure that the resolutions not end on the paper? Yes, we are going to come out with a communiqué that will be forwarded to all the state governors in the Southwest and luckily for us particularly those of us from Lagos State we had the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Arts Culture and Tourism here. In a couple of days apart from presenting the communiqué to the governor through her, we will pressurise her to look into the communiqué and see what they can do for us on multiple taxation and help the industry to grow. We started barely two years ago, various states have started more than 10 years ago and we cannot just start one day and the following day we put up a programme. We need to take one step after the other and that is what we have done and thank God for the outcome of this event programme. What is the membership strength of the southwest Hoteliers Association? The membership strength for now is over 10, 000, and we still have a whole lot outside the fence and I am sure by the time we have the outcome of this, many of those out there will start calling us. What do you think will attract other people in the industry to join the association? The attraction is the fact we have been able to bring ourselves together which will attract those outside the fence. The fact that we are poise to enhance their service delivery and network business for them, bear part of their burden in respect of challenges, care and advocate for those values that will ensure them making more business in a less cumbersome way than before. The fact that they now belong to a regional association which they can cry to when depressed. The fact that there is an umbrella association where they can run to during rain and hotter sunshine, that South West Hoteliers Association is about their business growth, welfare and development on a practical mode will lure them. Hotel service and delivery in the South West is in for a revolution.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

tribunetourism La Campagne hosts Felabration with London Afrobeat Collectives T he Coconut trees which sprout happily on the sandy beach of Atlantic Ocean in, Ikegun Village, Ibeju Lekki, Area, Lagos State were, on Saturday, 17 October, 2015, rustled by the vibes and beats bellowing from the hitech musical instrument compacted by ZMirage to blow the vibes from the corps of artistes arranged to commemorate the death of Afro beat ‘gospeller’ Fela Anikulapo Kuti at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort. The President, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye, a pan – African who believed that Africans should use her enormous cultural – tourism potentialities to retrieve and reinstate whatever the years of colonialism must have taken away invited eminent and distinguished Nigerians, diplomats, tourism buffs to the resort to celebrate the golden human of Afrobeat late Fela Anikulapo, packaged as “FELABRATION TOURISM ‘Ambassador Akinboboye ensured that the set up for the programme showcased indigenous inputs and materials. The stage hosted several carvings, effigies, masks and other materials which sell the cultural heritage of Africa. He pointed out that late Fela Anikulapo was one of the most foremost cultural – tourism ambassadors “who unfortunately we could not celebrate while alive, but who suffered persecution. Thus we spare nothing today in packaging a befitting remembrance and commemorations. True to his words, the Felabration Tourism Night will stay a long while in the memories of those who partook of the night. The stage was carved out from the epicentre of a building planted inside a colony of Coconut trees which shot out in a rectangular form on which were foisted the musical

Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye dancing with some of the foreign visitors instruments for churning wonderful performance. The flood gate of the night of fun was opened by Olo Omoge Onibata, from the Atunda Musical Group who thrashed the bata as if there was a deep seated hatred between her and the drum which the night provided an avenue of revenge. “I cannot believe this. I have never seen a lady beating the bata in this form. Not only

did she beat the bata skilfully and masterly, she danced, sang and controlled the stage perfectly well with non-verbal gestures which ensured seamless synchronisation of vocal, instrument and stagecraft. This is sheer talents on parade,” said Thompson Sean, a Briton who was a guest. The night was spiced by two comedian and stand up artistes, MC Kirikiri who ensured spewed out rib-cracking jokes, which

was fuelled by Koko, a Port Harcourt-based Comedian who had to leave his Garden City to spice the night in Lagos for Felabration Tourism. As Olo Omoge Onibata was wildly applauded out of the stage for a scintillating and exciting tall performance, the guests were dazzled by the sonorous voice of a tall, beautiful Anu, the only girl who beat the Ikwue musical instrument as if she was there when the instrument was designated for festival. The artistes from the stable of Atunda Entertainment Group raised the bar of the night mood so high by their spectacular performance and stagecraft wizardry which was however lifted up by the visiting London Afrobeat Collectives.

The London Afrobeat Collectives is the world renowned Afrobeat dispenser based in the UK which is made up of eight whites and a black lady, Funke Akindele from Ibadan, Oyo State, who is the lead singer. This group rendered effectively some of late Fela’s songs with passion and dexterity which lured some of the guests jumping up doing the songs Fela’s way. As the music was hitting the waves and the cool breeze from the Atlantic Ocean was tending the nerves of the guests, the bonfire put in place moderated the environment which engendered the total consummation of fun on a grand style. By the time it was getting hotter, the cloud was brightened with sporadic, colourful and fascinating fireworks which spread unto the sky like a canopy of many colours spread on bare ground, a memory which all went with to sleep. As if the night event was not enough, Ambassador Akinboboye on the morning of Sunday 18, October woke up the guests on a tour of the African resort and offered a superlative breakfast beside the swimming pool facing the beach. Ambassador Akinboboye beat the imagination of the guests who were, having sumptuous meals when their breakfast was neatly interlude by a cultural group whose songs and music lured the men and women on the tables to their side. The Ondo State Cultural Group treated the visitors and guests to a wonderful and soul lifting indigenous music and songs which the foreigners could not ignore as they took over the dancing floor. Zabaka Thompson, one of the foreign visitors declared “This has been one of my best of time on earth. I am happy to be here. I am happy to be at La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort. I am happy I witnessed the colourful FELABRATION Tourism which was packaged by Ambassador Akinboboye and most intriguing is the spectacular breakfast spiced with the group from Ondo State. I am happy to be in Nigeria, I am happy.”

Pupils of Sonbean Prep School at Idanre Hills

Sonbeam Prep school visits South West Tourism Sites For students to be well educated, they must have not only passed through the school, but also allowed the school to pass through them. Education is incomplete if it is restricted to the curriculum without a full dose or half a dose of extra-curricular activities and engagements. And no institution or educational body worth its salt will ever plan educational programme without injection of extra –curricular activities for total development of the students. Although, some privately-owned institutions particularly in the primary and secondary sectors are not in tune with the stated opinion above as they consider extra-curricular activities as waste of time thus end up producing one way traffic students who are sound in academic, but deficit and deficient in mannerism, cosmopolitanism, civil responsibility and obligation and absolutely oblivion of essential history sites and stories of societal importance. However, there are a few private institu-

Come for leisure in Nigeria, NTDC boss tells Brazilian investors

Olo Omidan Onibata performing at the event

Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mrs Sally Mbanefo, has encouraged Brazilians and other foreign investors to come to Nigeria, not just to invest, but to also enjoy leisure. Mbanefo while speaking during the Brazilian Trade Mission to Nigeria’s Inaugural Session/Business Forum, held at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Head Office, Abuja on Monday noted Nigeria has a lot to offer in tourism and relaxation. According to her, all the geo-political zones in Nigeria are richly endowed with fascinating tourist sites, both natural and man-made, and cultural festivals which are

worth visiting and participating in. Discussing the tourist sites, Mrs Mbanefo said: “South West, for instance, has Osun Osogbo festival, Oyo Festival, Sango Festival in Oyo town; beach tourism and boat Regatta in Lagos; slave route in Badagry, and Osun Osogbo Groove in Osun State. “Also in the South East zone we have, Nmawu Cultural festival, Ugbo Uku New Yam Festival, Azumini Blue River, Arochukwu Long Juju, Ogbunike Cave and Oguta Lake, and in the South South are Obudu Cattle Ranch, Tinanpa Business Resorts Ibeno Beach and Cross River National Park, among others, with Sukur World

Heritage site in Adamawa State, Dubars in Kano State and Mambila in Plateau State, just to mention a few.” Mbanefo described Nigeria as the best country for any serious investors, saying the country has a large and friendly population, good weather and climate for all kinds of business, unique and diverse cultures which are good incentives for investors; she encouraged expatriates to invest in Nigeria for huge return on investment. “I can assure you that Nigeria is richly endowed, we have many attractions, festivals and every other thing that can propel the survival of any investment in this country,” Mbanefo said.

tions which tenaciously ensure that whoever passes through their walls will not only be found worthy in academics, but fit and proper in extracurricular, values and ethics and civil responsibilities. Sonbeam Preparatory School , New Bodija, Ibadan is one which has distinguished itself from others by ensuring that any pupil passing through it is sound in academics and well grounded in extra-curricular activities. It is one school which fervently believes in the testament that ‘Travelling is not only part of education, but an integral part of the educational system which must be religiously embraced and experienced by its students. Hence, since its inception, the school has made it a policy of conducting their students on both local and international tour not just for the fun of it, but in furtherance of knowledge acquisition and environmental awareness. In line with the policy, the Proprietor of the School, Mrs Bunmi O, Obajimi accompanied by two medical doctors, security officers and a parent, led some students of the school on a “Tour for Knowledge “to Ooni of Ife’s palace, a national museum and Obafemi Awolowo University Museum, all in, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, Erin-Ijesa Waterfall, Erin-Ijesa, State of Osun, Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring, Ikogosi-Ekiti State and Idanre hills, Idanre, Ondo State. The tour facilitated a robust interaction between the students and some scenic and cultural heritage sites of the South-West part of the country. The young stars were taken round the Ooni of Ife’s palace where they were informed with support of historical relics why Ile-Ife is being credited as the Cradle of Civilisation and the source of the world. They also fed their eyes with antiquities and historical monuments being protected at the National Museum, Ile Ife as well as the precious ones being stored at Obafemi

Awolowo University, Ile Ife respectively. Having being grounded in History of Yoruba land and seeing with their own eyes evidential materials which supported the glory of the Yoruba race, the students also travelled to Erin-Ijesa, the State of Osun where they had a fascinating moment at the site of Erin Ijesa Waterfall. The students were dazzled at The Ikogosi Warm and Cold Spring Resort in Ekiti State as they touched and felt with their own hands warm water and cold spring flowing side by side and converged at a point. The geographical knowledge of the students were broadened and enriched by the time they got to Idanre Hills in Ondo State when they saw the relics of the old Idanre and heard the story of how the people lived on the hills for several years Acknowledging the benefit of the tour, Master Demilade Ogunbode said “I specially thank Mummy (Mrs Obajimi) for creating this unique opportunity of visiting these wonderful places which we only got to read in books. But now, I am privileged not only to have read them, but to have visited them and seen them with my own eyes. I can now write with vivid description and speak boldly of these places if and whenever the time arises. I have learnt a lot and fed my eyes with spectacular things which will remain in my memory forever” To Enifeolorun Pinheiro “The whole package was not only educative, informative but also inspiring. It is learning and having fun all the way from Ibadan to Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states. We cannot quantify what we gained during the tour. We had interaction with theory and reality. We went, we saw and we are happy... We resumed to school, refreshed, lively and better exposed. Kudos to Sonbeam School, kudos to Mummy Obajimi and kudos to our parents who strive hard to put us in a school where total education is the watchword!

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

energy

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

anchor Tunde Dodondawa

m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

OPEC predicts

3.4% increase in global energy demand Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

HE world economic growth, a major index for measuring oil demand, has been forecast at 3.4 per cent in 2016. Key emerging economies are increasingly facing challenges and while the growth forecast for China and India remains unchanged, both Brazil’s and Russia’s growth have been revised down by 0.2 percentage points for 2015 and 2016. However, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) maintained in its October 2015 report that world oil demand growth in 2015 is foreseen to rise by 1.50 million barrels per day (mb/d), following an upward revision of around 40 tb/d, mostly due to better-than expected data in 3Q, 2015. It indicated that total oil demand is now forecast at 92.86 mb/d. In 2016, world oil demand is anticipated to rise by 1.25 mb/d, following a downward revision of 40 tb/d, mainly to reflect the high base-line effect. The group disclosed that non-OPEC oil supply growth in 2015 now stands at 0.72 mb/d, following a downward revision of 0.16 mb/d from the previous report, attributed mainly to a downward adjustment in the US. It maintained that for 2016, non -OPEC oil supply is expected to show a clear contraction of 0.13 mb/d, following a downward revision of 0.29 mb/d compared to the previous assessment.

The group disclosed that OPEC Non -Gas Liqiuds (NGLs) are expected to grow by 0.17 mb/d in 2016, following growth of 0.19 mb/d this year. It disclosed that in September, OPEC crude production increased by 109 tb/d to average 31.57 mb/d, according to secondary sources. The organisation maintained that product markets in the Atlantic Basin weakened during September due to a sharp drop in the gasoline crack spread following the end of the US driving season. Combined with increasing inventories, this caused the refinery margins to fall in the region. The group indicated that Asian margins strengthened on the back of tightening sentiment, fuelled by the onset of regional refinery maintenance and a downward correction in Dubai crude prices. “Dirty vessel spot freight rates saw mixed movements in September, with VLCCs showing the strongest growth. Compared to the previous month, VLCC and Suezmax spot freight rates increased by 27 per cent and five per cent while Aframax rates declined. Chartering activities in the Middle East and West Africa, along with port delays, supported the gains. “In the clean tanker market, West of Suez activities were behind the marginal increase in spot freight rates, while East of Suez rates remained weak. At this level, inventories were

Ikeja Electric rolls out programmes for efficient service delivery P29

Continues on pg27

Power consumers express concern as supply slumps P28

Conoil supplies kerosene to consumers at N50 per litre P27

energy

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Conoil supplies kerosene to consumers at N50 per litre Stories by Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

leading downstream player in Nigeria, Conoil, has started dispensing kerosene to consumers in Lagos and its environs at N50 per litre. The action is said to be based on the desire of the company to reduce the suffering in which households and other users of the product encounter. The company disclosed in a statement that many consumers have already benefited from the geture which is in line with the Federal Government policy. “It has been so much relief and succor brought to hundreds of homes in the suburb areas of Lagos these past weeks as Conoil flooded its stations in these neighborhoods with kerosene sold at the government controlled price of 50 naira per liter. “People trooped out in their hundreds at these stations, in endless queues of humans and jerry cans, albeit in an orderly manner in the spirit of the change in the country to buy,” it added. The company maintained that indicated that it remains a Nigeria’s oil marketer, providing fuel for transportation, energy for heat and light, ad retail services for everyday needs. “Conoil is one of the most formidable names in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry. We are engaged in the marketing of refined petroleum products and also in the manufacturing and marketing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) otherwise called cooking gas for domestic and industrial use. The company is reputed for its unwavering commitment to excellent products and service delivery for maximal customer satisfaction. “As the first and largest indigenous oil marketing company in Nigeria, we have over the years gained a unique understanding of research and quality control, which we continuously apply in all our businesses in order to offer the best propositions to customers. We have also developed innovative means of manufacturing and distributing our products through our wide network of outlets,” it added.

A market survey showed that while many other companies did not have the product, others which had it sold in excess of N50 per liter. But the Nigerian National

Petroleum Corporation, NNPC had created a scheme aimed at getting kerosene to consumers across the country at the regulated price of N50 per litre. The Corporation had indi-

cated that the scheme ‘Kero Correct’ initiative’ was also aimed at cutting off the several layers of middlemen who made it difficult for the end user to enjoy the subsidy on the product.

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (middle) flanked by President-Elect, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Nosa Omordion (right) and President of NAPE, Chikwendu Edoziem (left) and other members of NAPE during a courtesy visit to the governor, at his office, in Lagos.

NAPTIN reiterates lack of adequate manpower in power sector The National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has reiterated that the power sector is in dire need of manpower and would require 6,069 trained power fitters, jointers and linesmen by 2020 to match the ongoing investments in the nation’s privatised power sector. The Director General, NAPTIN, Reuben Okeke, said this recently while unveiling the ‘TE Connectivity of France’ in Abuja to train 20 installers and jointers. Okeke said with more investments in the 10 National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs) and from other investors in the sectors, there is a huge need to have commensurate power installers. He said the Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) alone would need 685 cable jointers, 741 electrical fitters and 4,643 linesmen by 2020 when power generation is expected to have hit

OPEC predicts 3.4% increase in global energy demand Continues from pg26

around 194 mb higher than the five-year average. Crude and products showed a surplus of around 167 mb and 27 mb, respectively. In terms of days of forwardcover, OECD commercial stocks stood at 63.3 days in August, some 4.5 days higher than the five-year average. “Demand for OPEC crude in 2015 is estimated to stand at 29.6 mb/d, 0.3 mb/d higher than the previous report and 0.6 mb/d above the previous year’s level. In 2016, demand for OPEC crude is forecast at 30.8 mb/d, an increase of 0.5 mb/d over the previous report and around 1.2 mb/d higher than the current year. Last year, non-OPEC oil supply witnessed a recordhigh growth of 2.24 mb/d. OECD Americas saw the highest output of all regions with an increase of 1.92 mb/d, much of which came from non-conventional sources,” OPEC stated in a statement. Meanwhile, the West African crude price differentials were expected this week to come under downward pressure from ample remaining November-loading cargoes and high shipping costs. While lower offers helped some Angolan cargoes find buyers at the end of last week, there are about 15 November cargoes available of

55 originally offered, days before the December loading schedule is issued. “Considering new programmes are coming out soon, the market is pretty long. Freight is expensive and that has put the brakes on,” said a trader. The December loading programme for Angolan crude is expected to be issued on Thursday or Friday. State oil company Sonangol was heard to have sold its November 26-27 Nemba cargo late last week. The grade was last on offer at dated Brent minus $1.20. Girassol was last on offer at about dated Brent minus 10 cents. Nigerian cargoes have sold relatively slowly and around 35 of the 63 November cargoes are still available, a trader said. Qua Iboe was offered at about dated Brent plus $1.50, a trader said, in line with an offer on Friday. Sold prices are likely to be Besides, proceeds from the nation’s oil receipts fell by two-thirds between September 2014 and July this year, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said in a report recently. Nigeria, which relies on crude sales for around 70 per cent of government revenues, has been hit hard by the fall in global oil prices over the last year. “The dwindling oil price has negatively affected the

NNPC dollar contribution to the federation account,” the report said. “The receipts witnessed a sharp decline of more than 67 per cent from September 2014, when the receipt was at its peak, to July 2015 with dire consequences to the federation,” it said. The report showed that total receipts for crude oil and gas exports between January and August 2015 were $3.4billion. NNPC has begun the monthly publication of provisional financial and operational reports after the Group Managing Director (GMD), Emmanuel Kachikwu, pledged to introduce the approach as part of a drive to crackdown on corruption in the oil sector. “Illustrated with tables, graphs and charts, the report vividly throws light into aspects of NNPC’s operations that were once described as ‘opaque’,” NNPC spokesman, Ohi Alegbe, said in a statement. Under Nigeria’s constitution, NNPC is supposed to hand over its oil revenue to the federal government, which then pays back what the firm needs based on a budget approved by parliament. Of the total receipts, $608 million was remitted to the federation account as dollar proceeds while the balance of $2.8 billion was used to fund joint venture cash calls

Nigerian Tribune

for that period. Kachikwu, a former Exxon Mobil Executive who was appointed NNPC chief by President Muhammadu Buhari in July with a brief to root out corruption was asked to be in the cabinet last week. Although a specific role has not yet been assigned to him, Kachikwu is expected to become state minister of petroleum to oversee daily operations under Buhari.

20,000MW. The trainer said NAPTIN partnered with the firm, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to train 20 installers and jointers from various power firms next week. “From there, we will quickly expand the training to our other facilities where we can reach a broader audience. There has already been strong response and we are excited to see this programme expand,” he said. NAPTIN said the programme which would be replicated to train more hands in the industry will help to reduce the significant technical losses experience across the electricity transmission and distribution value chain. Okeke, who noted that government is targeting having 5,000MW by early 2016, said “all installation joints that are not properly fitted constitute technical losses. So expertise training is important to ensure that joints are well fitted and they do not over heat. This will help to reduce the energy losses to the barest minimum. “NAPTIN is dedicated to training workers who can provide turn-around training. We will also continue to explore solutions to address the challenges in the power sector. We boldly say that with this partnership, we are looking forward to a warm relationship that would enhance the dynamism of Nigeria’s power sector,” Okeke said.

Ikeja Electric rolls out programmes for efficient service delivery IN other to address the challenges of estimated (crazy) billings, the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja Electric) has rolled out plans that will enhance its efficient service delivery to its numerous customers. Under the plan, the company said it will install about 600,000 new improved tamper proof smart meters to customers. The initiative, known as Customer Enumeration Technical Audit and Asset Mapping (CETAAM) which kicked off on Monday in Lagos, will enable the company to capture its customer base, confirm status of assets and electronically keep asset register electronically. Within same period, over 592 new customers would be connected to the system in a bid to improve power supply to consumers.

Speaking at a media interactive session to explain the CETAAM objectives, the Managing Director of Ikeja Electric, Abiodun Anifowobaje, lamented the dilapidated assets of the company prior to privatisation. Ajifowobaje, recalled that on take over after unbundling of the defunct PHCN, there was inadequate power, overloaded feeders, over extended low/high tension lines, under sized network while average power availability was nine hours. He revealed that under former management, only 78 per cent of about 636,160 customers was actually being billed. “However, with significant investment in skill and equipment replacement, power supply gap as at August this year, less than 50 per cent of customers are currently unmetered,” he said.

energy

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Power consumers express concern as supply slumps

Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

HE much celebrated improvement in power supply seems to have been cut short. Many were very happy earlier in the year when power supply rose to over 6,400 megawatts (MW). The in¬crease was mainly as a result of increased gas supply to power plants. Consequently, no fewer than 60 per cent of Nigerian households experienced significant improvement in power supply over the third quarter Q3 2015 (July-September 2015). This value represents a huge increase by 37 points in this category of Nigerian households from second quarter of 2015 which only 27per cent of households saw improvement. The NOIPolls Limited confirmed in its latest findings that 69 per cent recorded an all time high improvement in power supply to households over 33 months of power tracking by NOI Polls. It noted that the opinion poll was conducted from Q1 2013 to Q3 2015. It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. According to the poll, a total of 33,000 phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country were interviewed within a 33-month period. The increase in available generation from 4,517 megawatts (MW) to 4,545MW within two weeks as announced by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), may have further confirmed that the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) is developing. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, maintained that the reason for the noticeable relative stability in supply is attributable to improvements across the electricity supply value chain, including gas supply, reduced vandalism and upgrade of generation facilities by the new investors. Pipeline vandalism, which has been a major challenge to increased output from the power plants, it was gathered, has reduced drastically. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Joint Venture companies

also confirmed that there have not been any incidents of vandalism of pipelines in the past one month. This has resulted in increased and sustainable gas supply to the power sector. Besides, the result of investments made by the privatised successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has started to manifest after one and half years the companies were handed over to them. For instance, Egbin Power Plc and Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited added more than 1000MW to the capacities they inherited at the time of handover. As at the beginning of this week, generation from Egbin power plant rose from 1000MW two weeks ago to 1016MW as against a maximum output of 500MW at handover. Sahara Power Group and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), owners of Egbin power plant and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, indicated that gas supply to the plant increased considerably. They said the improvement in generation was also due to continued investment and upgrade activities on the plant. They assured that the improvement in supply will not only be sustained, but improved upon adding of the six turbines of the power plant that are currently operational. Egbin’s Chief Executive Officer, Dallas Peavey said about N50billion has been invested in the power company post-privatisation with continuing investment in new

The result of investments made by the privatised successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), has started to manifest after one and half years the companies were handed over to them.

technology, innovativeness, professionalism and human capital development. The owners of Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited also maintained that it has increased output from the asset from 160MW on takeover on November 1, 2013 to 635MW and plans to expand it to 2,200MW in the next three years. As at the end of May, the NNPC and its JV partners were supplying over one billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) of gas to the power sector, adding that by now the production could have risen significantly. The expectation is that it will make significant increase in supply by the end of the year, adding that cumulative production for domestic use is about two bscf/d. “Over the next couple of months, Nigerians will see increase in gas supply and power. For example, we have gas at Gbarain-Ubie power plant; we have gas at Omoku, which is awaiting the power plant and we have gas at Egbema power plant. When you bring all these gas volumes together, we have close to 2bcf/d, but not all of these are in active generation today. It is either the power plant is not ready or the power evacuation is not ready. “On the western side of Nigeria, the Lagos pipeline is almost completed. We have completed and commissioned Lagos to Oben; completed Emure to Itoki and the line from the Benin end to Emure is progressing very well. The expectation is that before the end of August, the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline would have been completed. With all these on stream power supply will improve considerably,” NNPC added. But it is doubtful whether this would be as supply has started to fall because of increased vandalism of pipeline, leading low reduced gas supplies to power plants. Consequently, the electricity supply has dropped significantly in Nigeria because of low gas and poor states of some power stations. The power generation which had surged to over 4,600MW in the past few weeks dropped to 3, 682.78MW as at Monday. The Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) which indicated this in its latest report puts the nation’s electricity supply at 3,630.25MW. The report maintained that

about 200MW was conserved to maintain system stability in the nation. A top official in the ministry of pow¬er who confirmed the development maintained: “We are aware that some of them are having challenges. But they have also said efforts were being made to tackle them. We hope that very soon, the challenges will be solved to enable them increase generation and supply of electricity to consumers.” Already, the chairman, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi has inaugurated a 9-man committee on how to make electricity available to the real sector. Amadi said that the idea to improve power supply to the manufacturing sector came up last year. “We have a written policy on how to support industrialization by increasing electricity supply quantitatively. The whole idea is on having a dedicated power to the industries. “The next stage is thinking about micro-grid; NERC will like to be the champion for this innovation and we are happy to have MAN as our partner,” he said. MAN’s President, Dr. Frank Jacob, who read the terms of reference to the committee, noted that electricity challenge to industries can be surmounted if a legal framework can be provided to help the association reduce cost of production. He urged the committee to complete its assignment within a week so as to fast track further processing of engagement with the Federal Government. The terms of reference for the embedded power generation and micro-grid for industrial clusters include; development of policy and regulatory framework models for viable and feasible micro-grid, development of business models for prioritising the financial viability of micro-grid technologies within existing framework and identifying relevant stakeholders and key interest groups and describe what they will likely contribute to the micro-grid industrial cluster initiative. It also includes development of a framework for grid interface, evacuation agreement, purchase obligation as well as encouragement of renewable energy sources based projects.

energy

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Ikeja Electric rolls out programmes

for efficient service delivery Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

N other to address the challenges of estimated (crazy) billings, the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (Ikeja Electric) has rolled out plans that will enhance its efficient service delivery to its numerous customers. Under the plan, the company said it will install about 600,000 new improved tamper proof smart meters to customers. The initiative, known as Customer Enumeration Technical Audit and Asset Mapping (CETAAM) which kicked off on Monday in Lagos, will enable the company to capture its customer base, confirm status of assets and electronically keep asset register electronically. Within same period, over 592 new customers would be connected to the system in a bid to improve power supply to consumers. Speaking at a media interactive session to explain the CETAAM objectives, the Managing Director of Ikeja Electric, Abiodun Anifowobaje, lamented the dilapidated assets of the company prior to privatisation.

Ajifowobaje, recalled that on take over after unbundling of the defunct PHCN, there was inadequate power, overloaded feeders, over extended low/high tension lines, under sized network while average power availability was nine hours. He revealed that under

former management, only 78 per cent of about 636,160 customers was actually being billed. “However, with significant investment in skill and equipment replacement, power supply gap as at August this year, less than 50 per cent of customers are

currently unmetered,” he said. The Managing Director also noted that part of the initiative is to further reduce losses from current 33 per cent to 14 per cent. He said, about 700,000 certified customers are under the Ikeja Electric con-

trol. “The company has successfully installed about 6,000 meters across its network under the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and will ensure monthly installation of about 15,000 meters to meet the 600,000 target,” he assured.

NNPC GMD intesifies transparency in NNPC Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has started the disclosure of statistics aimed at enhancing transparency in the oil and gas industry. The Corporation recently commenced the monthly publication of its provisional financial and operational reports. The publication which is available on the Corporation’s official website provides an overview of NNPC’s operations across the oil and gas value chain (Upstream, Midstream & Downstream) as well as NNPC’s agency function on behalf of Government of the Federation from the period January to August 2015. Specifically, the report

provides detailed and unprecedented statistical insight into crucial aspects of the Corporation’s activities ranging from National Crude Oil & Natural Gas Production, Lifting and Utilization; Refineries Plants Operations; and Petroleum Product Supply & Distribution to NNPC Budget Performance Report and Federation Crude Oil & Gas Revenue. Illustrated with tables, graphs and charts, the report vividly throws light into aspects of NNPC’s operations that were once described as‘opaque’. Issues like the status of the once misunderstand JP Morgan Foreign account, management and custody of revenue from crude oil sales, actual production capacity of the refineries, dollar accruals

to NNPC/FGN from export crude oil and gas, as well as receipts & payments are laid bare. The report indicates that a total of $607.8 million has been paid so far to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC in the year 2015 from sales of export Oil and Gas as dollar proceeds. A further breakdown indicates that the total export crude Oil & Gas receipt for the period of January – August 2015 is $3.420billion. Of the total receipts, the sum of $0.61billion was remitted to Federation Account as dollar proceeds while the balance of $2.815billion was used to fund the JV Cash Call for the period. The report notes that the receipts witnessed a sharp decline of more than 67 per cent

from September, 2014, when the receipt was at its peak, to July, 2015 with dire consequences to the Federation. The NNPC informed that the continued decline in oil price led to insufficient cash available to meet monthly JV Cash Calls obligations of about $615.8million as appropriated by the National Assembly. To mitigate this effect, NNPC was compelled to sweep all the export receipt to JV Cash Call funding implying a zero dollar proceed remittance to the Federation Account since the month of April 2015. The sum of N723.82billion for Domestic Crude Oil and Gas Sales proceeds has been paid to the Federation Account from January to August 2015 as Naira proceeds.

Nigerian Tribune

Delta Oil agrees to takeover of Mart Resources By Agency Reports NIGERIAN oil company, Mart Resources, has agreed to a $124.9million takeover by Delta Oil Nigeria. Mart, which is focused on production and development in the Niger Delta, says the deal was fair and in the best interests of shareholders. The offer price of CAD$0.35 is lower than the price offered to shareholders under the previously terminated transaction with Midwestern Oil & Gas. But Mart said it was reasonable due to oil price falls and their effect on industry investment and the company’s increased cash flow volatility. The company also cited significant constraints on available working capital due to ongoing obligations to service its debt. At closing of the deal, if it proceeds, Mart is expected to have about $200.5million of outstanding bank debt. The deal with Nigerian partner MidWestern was worth C$0.8 per share but fell through in August after oil prices tumbled and Midwestern could not get the finance to complete within the scheduled timetable.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Buhari

Saraki

The executive, legislative relationship The ongoing screening of ministerial nominees by the Senate is throwing up some salient issues in executive, legislative harmony in this dispensation, writes Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA.

UST before October 1, 2015, when Nigeria marked her 55th Independence anniversary, President Muhammadu Buhari had made history by being the first President to shut out the President of the Nigerian Senate from Aso Rock Villa in four months of his presidency. Buhari had taken offence at the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President of June 9, against the wishes of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). His loyalists also did not fail to hide their disapproval of Saraki’s emergence. At least on three occasions, when his main allies in the Senate attempted to broker a truce, the President was said to have foiled the move, even when sources said that appointments were already fixed. As the President increasingly came under pressure from Nigerians who continued to decry the delay in appointment of ministers, it was becoming clear that the days of animousity between the Villa and the National Assembly were drawing to a close. But the President’s camp was said to have given the Saraki issue a last dose of treatment with the invocation of powers of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to put Saraki in his place. The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) had

on September 16 filed charges against the Senate President at the CCT, alleging faulty declarations in his Code of Conduct form submitted to the Bureau in 2003 and 2007. The Tribunal, a creation of the constitution, is empowered to remove from office, public office holders who are found to have contravened its provisions after summary trials. It also has the power to confiscate the assets of any indicted office holder. It was a tough call for Saraki, whose lawyers had to dig into the depth of their legal knowledge by first filing charges at the Federal High Court against the CCT and later at the Court of Appeal, to preserve his fundamental human rights and fault the procedure adopted by the CCT. The tension generated by the planned arraignment of Saraki reverberated across the land and

also in the Senate chambers. Loyalists of the Senate President asked him to draw a line between party loyalty and legislative autonomy. They asked him to take up the battle and fight for the independence of the legislature. To many of the lawmakers, the issue at stake had to do with the leadership question in the Senate. They insisted that since the issue of who should lead the chamber was concluded on June 9, Buhari should be prepared to work with whoever the lawmakers had freely chosen. The options open to Saraki were manifold. He could take up the battle frontally and declare himself an opposition to the executive, the same way former Speaker AminuWaziriTambuwal battled the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan; he could continue to present a conciliatory style in the hope

Which way would the Senate screening go? That was the question on the lips of many.

that the President and his men would have a change of heart; and then he could concentrate on the efforts to save himself through the courts. Debates were ongoing, just as issues began to unfold. Saraki was able to defer his appearance at the CCT for some three says and sources insisted that that achievement saved the day for him so far. Sources had argued that if Saraki had appeared at the CCT on the originally appointed date of September 18, he might have been ordered remanded in Prison Custody, while the matter would be adjourned for some two weeks. The period of that adjournment, according to sources, would have been used to perfect his removal from office and imposition of a beloved candidate as Senate President. Indeed, it emerged that the President’s men had projected that Saraki would not be presiding over the Senate on September 30, when the ministerial list was expected to be submitted to the chamber. The involvement of the Court of Appeal by Saraki, which fixed its hearing for October 8 and then 16 was said to have informed the long adjournment by the CCT, which also fixed Saraki’s trial for October 21, 22 and 23. Thus, at the time the ministerial list arrived the Senate on September 30, a lot of grounds were yet to be covered between Buhari and continues pg32

31 politics&policy

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Why Nigerians must be patient with politicians —Rep Honourable Solomon Ahwinahwi represents Ughelli North/ Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives. In this interview with KOLAWOLE DANIEL, he speaks on a number of issues in the polity. Excerpts.

given the one-man-one vote mantra, the people will vote PDP massively. So, I think the party has done so well in the best of my knowledge. If you have your way, which areas do you think you will advise the governor of Delta to concentrate on? If I have my way, I will tell him to invest on human capital because today if he invests on it, he can’t get it wrong. I also want him to look into agricultural sector to create more jobs for our teeming youths and step up effort on the programme called looking beyond oil. If he concentrates on agriculture, we will have more food and will even supply to our neighbouring African countries.

ECENTLY, some PDP members in your state defected to the APC, what does it portend for your party in

2019? It is normal to decamp. Some People have decamped from the APC to the PDP. It is not a new trend. People are decamping everyday, it does not mean that they are disgruntled people. Obviously, PDP cannot accommodate everybody in the state. APC too cannot accommodate everybody in the state. PDP is Delta and that is why if you watch, the governor of the state is from PDP, the senators are from PDP, the 10 House of Representatives members are PDP; majority of the House of Assembly members are PDP. And if you look at the local government council chairmen, they are all from PDP. So, decamping from the PDP to the APC doesn’t really make any difference because people are also decamping from the APC to PDP.

How feasible is Dogara’s nine-point legislative agenda? Dogara, like I said, is somebody that has so much experience in the House. He is not just a first timer. For him to have come up with all those agenda, he knows National Assembly in and out and the intricacies and the workings therein. I can tell you that with those things, I am very sure of him; he doesn’t say what he will not do; he is a man of his words; he is a man of integrity. He is always cautious of what he says. For him to have come up with such a blueprint, I can categorically tell you that he is going to work on them and he is going to achieve them and then we will have a different House from the last Assembly.

Don’t you think that the defection may affect the chances of the party in 2019? In 2019, as I speak to you, PDP is getting stronger, we are one family, I can assure you that if we run on election again, PDP will win all the seats, just like we did in the last elections as long as we are with our governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. He supported every candidate and ensured that those that got the PDP tickets emerged. And in the end, they won their elections. If this same family goes into election in 2019, I can categorically tell you it’s going to be ten over ten. Do you think those on the ministerial list are really people of integrity as the president promised? I really don’t want to go into that, trust me. You know we have to be careful, we are only waiting to see as a PDP man to ensure that if they come out with anything that EFCC says they have something to answer, then people can start making comments from there. This is my appeal to everybody because you know as an opposition, we have to be careful, we have to come out to deliberate and also help the government in the areas where they are not doing well, so that we can also assist. What is your assessment of the House under the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara To start with, we just started in the House and you can see that our Speaker, Dogara is somebody who has the listening ears, who also wants to ensure that he carries everybody along, who also wants to ensure that we engage in a robust debate. With that we cannot start apportioning blames at this time of the day because we just started having passed through the crisis their party had in settling differences which made us

Ahwinahwi not to start on time. We have started on a very good footing. Let us see what will happen, But I can assure you that with Dogara, we are going to have a good team in the House to debate on issues that concern Nigerians. The PDP has been in power in Delta State in the past 16 years. Do you think that the people have really felt the impact of good governance in the

state? I can tell you the reason the PDP has been in power in the past 16 years is because the party has been doing so well. In a situation where the party is not doing well you cannot see them winning the elections because the other contestants, the other parties too are also contesting. But come to think of it, we had a landslide victory because we are doing so well. We campaigned and if the party is not doing well, I am not that

We have started on a very good footing. Let us see what will happen. But I can assure you that with Dogara, we are going to have a good team in the House to debate on issues that concern Nigerians.

What message do you have for your constituents? I really want to thank my constituents because they have also shown love not only to me as their son and their brother, they have also shown love to the party itself because they also voted for the senator. Not only Senator Ighoyota Amori, they have also voted for our aovernor and the House of Assembly members. If you look at the history of Delta politics, this is the first time people from my constituency actually came out en masse to vote for our governor, our senator, Reps and House of Assembly members. I can tell you that I’m very proud of them, I know that they are yearning for development and they are also waiting for the governor to come and kick-start immediately, I want to appeal and assure them that the promises we made, we will fulfill them. They should exercise patients; this government is a new government. What is your own agenda for your constituents? First, my agenda is to ensure that I create job opportunities and also encourage my attachments to engage in skill acquisition, and by so doing, you will find out that when the people have something doing, there will not be crisis, they will not be fighting each other, hence I will appeal to them to be patient with us. Already, I have started the skill acquisition by even empowering somebody to learn something to do. The best you can do is to empower human beings, teach them what to do, not to give them all the time. So my own agenda is to ensure that one, we create employment for the teeming youths like I always said to them when I was campaigning that I am going to ensure that I fight to bring the revival of Delta Steel Company so that they will get jobs.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Why I am investing in education —Nasarawa lawmaker Honourable Kasim Mohammed Kasim,, a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, representing Akwanga South Constituency under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is the chairman, House Committee on Security, Sports and Youth Development in the Fifth Assembly, in this interview with ADEMOLA ADEGBITE, he speaks on his plans for his constituents and other issues. Excerpts.

OU launched the Honourable Kasim Muhammed scholarship scheme for your constituency! What motivated you to embark on it? As a young man, I believe it is very important to put smiles on my contemporaries and my brothers and sisters, especially in my constituency, who are seriously in need of school fees to keep their education going in tertiary institutions. Looking at what is happening in Nasarawa State, you will agree with me that for about four months now, our parents have not been able to collect their salaries and their salaries are even paid based on percentage. So, the parents lack despite that the salaries are too meagre; they are not getting it at appropriate time! They cannot pay their children’s school fees. It is in the light of this that I decided to come to their aid with this new scheme, which kick started with the payment of 500 students from my constituency in various tertiary institutions in the country. In the history of the state House of Assembly, you are the first to offer scholarship to 500 students for a pioneering scheme. How did you source for the funds for the programme? How I got the fund for the project will amaze you. I want to make it known that members of fifth Assembly of the Nasarawa

ing my house yet, and for those who know me know that I am still living in a rented one-bedroom apartment that has no inbuilt toilet or bathroom; but that is nothing compared to the sufferings of parents and youths whose educational future is nosediving. So, it was from the money I realised after disposing of my property with the fund I saved. That was what I used to set-up the scheme. How much was the scholarship scheme per student? Each of the 500 students will be entitled to N10, 000 and if you multiply that by 500 students, you will arrive at N5 million. Is it on per semester or per section basis? It is per-section basis.

Kasim

What is the lifespan of this project? The programme will last as long as I live.

State are yet to get any tangible from the state government to run their constituencies, especially we the new lawmakers. So, what I did was to sell the plot of land I had kept for my building project and used the money for the scholarship scheme. What is the essence of wealth when you cannot help those in desperate needs, especially within your political jurisdiction? I am not build-

What are the modalities to access the fund? The benefitting students are to provide their admission letters; indigene certificates and Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) number. Each polling unit within my constituency will be given free forms to fill, after which the forms will be returned for verification and subsequently pay them.

How many wards make up your constituency? I have five electoral wards, namely Moro; Gudi; Gwanje; as well as Akwanga-East and Akwanga –West. Effective funds distribution has always been a bane, especially in a programme like this. What assurance are you giving the beneficiaries that your scheme will honestly disburse the funds effectively? Let me assure them that this is not a political trick. Everyone is going to get whatsoever is due for them, without regards for tribe; religion or class. But of course, all recipients must be screened to be sure of coming from my constituency and already a tertiary institution’s student – be it college of education; polytechnic or university. But for the physically challenged recipients, they need not pass through any of such verifications as they are automatically considered. In case a particular ward does not have students in tertiary institution(s), what do you do? I am also planning for that. By the grace of God, subsequently, I will do something about that. I know it won’t take long. I have a case of some Law Students, about 20 of them. I also had to place them on a N50, 000.scholarships each. Let me quickly add this, scholarship is not the only programme that I have for my constituents. I also have projects on health, sports, provision of potable water and many others which I believe would have direct benefit on the people of my constituency.

Between Presidency and the Senate continued from pg30

Saraki. Three appointments said to have been fixed in a bid to bring Saraki face to face with the President were said to have been cancelled at the instance of the Presidency, while communication between the two arms of government was actually at near zero. But the signals from the Senate were a bit worrying to the Villa. On September 23, 2015, 83 Senators passed a vote of confidence on Senate President BukolaSaraki, two more than the 81 that gave a similar endorsement on July 28. The senators, whose names were listed on the order paper of the senate cut across the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). What this means is that any move against the Senate President would first contend with the solid backing he appears to be enjoying in the chamber. When it, however, became apparent to the Villa and the APC leaders behind the plot that Saraki’s removal may not meet the September 30 deadline, a change of strategy, akin to a force majeure, was put in place. The Senate President was called in to the Presidential chambers after the October 1 celebrations which held at the Forecourt of the Villa. Some discussions were briefly held and the rapprochement between the executive and the Senate was set off. Indeed, consultative meetings which have been held in abeyance since June were immediately put in place; the leadership of the Senate and that of the House of Representatives were in attendance alongside President Buhari at the Presidential Villa. Even at that, no one was sure of Saraki’s disposition towards the ministerial list which was unveiled in the chamber on Oc-

tober 6 and 13. The list, unusually had no input from the Senate President, contrary to what we have seen in the last 16 years. Even the nominee from Saraki’s home state, Kwara, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was said to have been picked without Saraki’s input. Which way would the Senate screening go? That was the question on the lips of many. Some of the expectant public thought they had got the answers when on October 8, Senate spokesman; Dino Melaye reeled out the conditions each minister-nominee must fulfill before the screening. Some media outfits actually headlined the conditions thus: “Saraki fights back.” Melaye had stated after a two hour closed session of the Senate that the Senators had resolved that each ministerial nominee must get the backing of at least two senators of his state of origin before the screening by the senate. He also highlighted the need for nominees’ compliance with some constitutional provisions including Section 14(3) and 147(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended as conditions to be fulfilled before screening. But on October 13, when the screening flagged off, Saraki betrayed no emotions as he gave no signals of the stress he had gone through all along. At another closed session in the morning of October 13, Saraki was said to have guided his men to lowering down the conditions earlier spelt out so as not to give room for Nigerians to impute emotional dispositions to the conditions for screening. The senate at that one hour meeting resolved to technically bypass the demand that a nominee must secure the backing of at least two senators from his or her state of origin. The PDP caucus had presented a leeway

for Saraki to vent his anger on the presidency if that was the way he chose to go when the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu told the Senate President to communicate the President to ensure that henceforth, states of origin of the nominees should be added to the nomination letter. The Senate Minority Leader, GodswillAkpabio had also moved a motion on the floor of the senate indicating that the President should be told to submit a complete list of nominees to the chamber so as to clear insinuations that some states are to be marginalized in the process. After those two hints, the PDP caucus later met behind closed doors and resolved that the ministerial screening would not go through if Buhari failed to fulfill the two conditions hinted at by the Deputy Senate President and the Senate Minority Leader. They also noticed a number of lapses in the process of forwarding the nominations and insisted on corrections. At a stage, it was resolved that if Buhari failed to fulfill all the conditions communicated by the opposition Senators, the PDP should walk out of the chamber on the day of screening. Saraki, having got wind of the plot by the PDP, which has 49 members on the floor as against 59 by the APC, was said to have created the closed session of Tuesday October 13 to calm frayed nerves. Ekweremadu was also said to have calmed his colleagues on the need to review the extreme position of staging a walk out. Besides the ‘failure’ to include the state of origin of the nominees in his letter of nomination, Buhari also failed to attach their documents, including security clearance, contrary to the practice in the past. The situ-

ation left the nominees scrambling into the office of the Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, to complete the documentation. Despite all the observed infractions, Saraki was able to calm the senators to begin the screening without a hint of the contentions. It was an unusual show of statesmanship by the Kwara Senator, who was not given a chance of survival by loyalists of the APC and the Villa. Saraki apparently lived up to his words when he declared at Ikenne, Ogun state during a condolence visit to the Awolowo family on the demise of the matriarch, HID Awolowo, that the lawmakers would be moved by patriotism and exhibit maturity in handling the screening. Observers of the emerging executive/legislature relationship under Buhari had said that Senate’s disposition was an indication that neither Saraki nor the senators have problems working with him in ensuring the needed cordial relationship between the executive and legislature. Said an observer: “The Senate President and the chamber actually bent over backwards to satisfy the Presidency in the ongoing screening. A simple comparison of the nomination letters of the era of President Goodluck Jonathan with the letters sent in by Buhari would easily lead to a rejection, but perhaps, in search of harmonious executive/legislature relationship, the Senate president overlooked such. “If such dispositions continue to pervade executive/legislative relations in the years ahead, there could be greater achievements in the areas of budgeting, constitutional amendment, law reforms and policy initiatives to improve lives for the people.”

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Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Amaechi’s screening postponed again As APC, PDP senators flex muscles Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

ENATORS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their counterparts in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continued their muscle flexing on Tuesday, as the senate deferred the screening of many of the ministernominees forwarded to the chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Senate had, on Tuesday, initially presented an Order Paper which listed eight nominees for screening, but the Order Paper was withdrawn and re-

placed with another which contained the names of three senators. While senators of the APC had met on Monday night and resolved to screen the former governor of Rivers State, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, their PDP counterparts were said to have sent words of resentment to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, to back off the planned screening of Amaechi or risk their wrought. It was learnt that the Business and Rules Committee had produced the Order Paper based on the understanding that the Sen-

ate would receive the report of the Ethics and Privileges Committee on the former governor and consider the report same day. But sources said that words got to the Senate President that the PDP senators were planning to cause commotion on the floor if Amaechi’s name appeared on the Order Paper. Sources said that to calm frayed nerves, the Senate had to hurriedly produce another Order Paper with only three names. It was gathered that the trial of the Senate President by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) also played a

role in the unfolding developments in the Senate, as senators expressed sadness over the continued trial of the Senate President. Many of the senators were said to have argued that Saraki did not need to appear at the CCT on Wednesday, but sources said the Senate President insisted on appearing before the Tribunal, thus prompting the resolve of many of the lawmakers to accompany him to the Tribunal. That development forced the Senate to announce the suspension of plenary for Wednesday.

A statement by the acting Clerk of Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, indicated that the Senate would resume plenary on Thursday, October 22. The statement read: “This is to inform all distinguished senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the resumption of the Senate in plenary has been rescheduled from Wednesday 21, October till Thursday, October 22. “All distinguished senators are, by this notice, requested to resume sitting in plenary on Thursday, October 22, at 10.00 a.m. prompt, please.” The Senate Caucus of the

Alison-Madueke, senators responsible for rot in NNPC —PENGASSAN Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja THE Petroleum and Natural Gas Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), declared on Tuesday, that the former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke and senators were responsible for the rots in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the oil and gas industry in general. Besides, the trade union accused the immediate past administration of looting the NNPC to fund its campaign, while it was largely responsible for the corruption that characterised that period in the oil industry. These were disclosed on Tuesday at the opening session of the fourth Trien-

nial Delegates’ Conference of PENGASSAN, PPMC Branch, held in Abuja. The PENGASSAN president, Comrade Francis Johnson and the branch chairman, PPMC PENGASSAN, Comrade Odesanya Saheed, spoke on the challenges facing the NNPC, especially the issue of vandalisation, oil theft, refineries and the corruption of the past. They also called the Federal Government to open up, deforest, create a specialised security agency and provide a military barrack in Arepo for security and protection of the pipelines. On the challenges facing the NNPC, Comrade Odesanya said too much

inteference from the past administration killed the corporation and alleged that the past government looted the fund for political campaigns. He pointed out that the immediate past minister, Diezani, ran the industry like her private enterprise, saying “nobody could query her authority, she was just doing what she liked and that was how they finished our treasury in NNPC. “We faced many challenges and most of them were unavoidable in an organisation; there were some frictions in the area of administration. We are talking about political interferrence, as that is one of the serious challenges.

“The former administration is interferred too much with what was going on in NNPC. You can imagine, they wanted to go on campaign, they have to be looking for money to loot from our place. It is physical, we saw it; and the people who were management could not say anything because they were afraid of losing their jobs. “So many things happening in NNPC which made it to be what it is today were from the Federal Government. If anybody is coming to work in an onomic pillar of a nation like that, a minister or GMD to be posted must be tested and trusted, but unfortunately, I must confess to you, the

N3.1bn debt: Court bars Zamfara from withdrawing funds from 21 bank accounts Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos JUSTICE Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, gave an order barring the Zamfara State government from withdrawing funds from its accounts in 21 banks in the country. The judge ordered all the banks involved to disclose the amount of money which the state had in its accounts with them. He ordered the 21 banks to appear before him on November 6, to give reasons, if they have any, why such funds should not be withdrawn to defray a debt of N3.1billion with interest, which Zamfara State owed Ecobank Nigeria Limited. Abang had, on September 30, entered judgment in favour of Ecobank in a N3.1 billion debt recovery suit

the bank filed against Zamfara State government and six others. The judge had granted the bank’s claim of N3.1billion with 30 per cent interest from March 1, 2013 till judgment day and 10 per cent thereafter, until the final liquidation of the debt. In the said judgment, Abang said the papers before him showed that Zamfara State obtained a credit facility in sum of N1.5 billion in 2009 from the defunct

Ocean Bank Plc, which was later acquired by Ecobank. The judge said Zamfara State neither denied being indebted to the bank nor proved that it had liquidated the loan, which it obtained to execute a water project. He then ordered the Accountant-General of the Federation to ensure that the judgment sum, with interest, was deducted from funds accruable to Zamfara State in the Federation Account and be paid into Eco-

bank until the debt was fully liquidated. But both Zamfara State and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) went on an appeal and subsequently urged Abang to stay execution of the judgment pending the determination of the appeals. In a ruling on Tuesday, however, Abang dismissed both applications and asked Ecobank to proceed with the process of recovering the debt from Zamfara State.

‘Babcock heart centre will end overseas medical trips’ Naza Okoli - Lagos PRESIDENT/Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Professor J.A. Kayode Makinde, on Tuesday, said the institution was set to commission a heart centre that would put an end to foreign medical trips often embarked

upon by wealthy Nigerians. Makinde was speaking at a press conference on the university campus on Tuesday. He said: “Babcock University has taken the initiative of redeeming our health care system. I felt very bad when a former Governor of one of our states died and

the sitting governor said they were just on the verge of flying him abroad when he gave up the ghost. The question I asked myself is: when are we as a people ever going to have the public shame of not advertising our incompetence, our weaknesses, our inadequacies, to the world?”

last minister we had was the worst. Nobody could query her authority; she did what she liked and that was how they finished our treasury in NNPC.” He said the new GMD had started well with his reform and should be left to do the job. PENGASSAN national president, Comrade Johnson, said crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism had become major dents to national and business integrity, adding that the menace was the chief cause of incessant shuts in production. As the nation continues to groan in unimaginable economic and revenue losses to the federation account, he regretted that the menace continued to build up, weaning confidence of industry’s operators and players. He commended the efforts of the present government and the military in curtailing this manace and called for the creation of a specialised security agency for monitoring and securing pipelines. He pointed out that political interferrence affected the operations of the NNPC and PPMC greatly, thereby resulting in huge losses to the corporations. The PENGASSAN’s president also commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts at sanitising the nation’s oil and gas industry. He also applauded the new leadership of NNPC, under the leadership of Dr Emmanuel Kachukwu and his management team for reorganising and re-engineering the various arms of the corporation to enable them function effectively and maximally towards global competitiveness.

PDP met on Tuesday afternoon to further affirm their opposition to the nomination of Amaechi. The PDP senators, who held a meeting at the Senate Hearing Room 1 of the White House for two hours resolved to block Amaechi on two fronts. A source said that the senators were raising Section 66(h) of the 1999 Constitution, which indicated that a person might not be qualified for election into the National Assembly if he had been indicted by either an administrative panel or a Judicial Commission of Inquiry. The PDP senators, according to sources, were also insisting that Order 53(5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended, also stopped Amaechi from being screened since his matter was in court. It was gathered that senators of the PDP were of the view that since the report of the Senate Ethics Committee indicated that the issue of the petition against Amaechi was in court, then the senate should not touch the screening at all. Sources, however, said the leadership of the APC had directed their members to toe the party line and ensure that all minister-nominees were screened by the Senate. Those whose names initially appeared on the first Order Paper included Barrister Adebayo Shittu (Oyo State); Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa State); Chibuke Amaechi (Rivers State); Honourable Khadijah Abba Ibrahim (Yobe State); Honourable Bawa Bwari (Niger State); Ocholi Eneojo James (Kogi State); Mansur Muhammed (Zamfara State) and Zainab S Ahmed (Kaduna State). But when the Senate changed the Order Paper, only the names of Shittu, Abba Ibrahim and Claudius Omoleye Daramola (Ondo State) were included. The Senate, however, screened only Shittu and Abba Ibrahim. There was, however, drama when Honourable Khadihjah Abba-Ibrahim appeared before the Senate, as she only read her resume and asked a question by her husband, Senator Bukka Abbah Ibrahim. She was simply asked to take a bow and go. Mr Adebayo Shittu, who was drilled for one hour, forty minutes, said he would not forget the people if he got into government.

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Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Reps eulogise HID Awolowo To pay condolence visit to family Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

HE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, extolled the virtues of the matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, Chief HID Awolowo, describing her as the mother of the nation, one worthy of emulation by all. The House also observed a one-minute silence in her honour for the repose of her

soul and condoled with the members of the Awolowo family and the entire nation over the death of Mrs Awolowo. It also resolved to pay a condolence visit to the family in Ikenne, Ogun State, at a later date. The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “HID Awolowo: Exit of a matriarch,” by Honourable Olusegun Adekola, representing Ekiti South/ West/Ikere/Ise/Orun Fed-

eral Constituency of Ekiti State, under matters of urgent public importance. Moving the motion, Honourable Adekola noted that Mama lived a life worth of emulation by all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity and political affiliation, a life of total service to the cause of humanity. He said Mrs Awolowo was a successful businesswoman, an astute politician and the first Nigerian distributor for the Nigerian Tobacco

Company (NTC) in 1957 and also to import lace materials and other textiles into Nigeria. According to him, “as an astute politician, she played an active role in the politics of Western Nigeria, where she stood by her husband in the alliance formed between NCNC and the AG, called the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA), while he was tried and in jail.” He pointed out that “Mama was not only a pillar

of support and custodian of her husband’s tremendous political and cultural legacy, but also served as a rallying point to all, even after her husband death.” He explained that HID “was the voice of reason and the stabilising factor behind her husband towering success, thus necessitating Chief Obafemi Awolowo to opine in his book entitled: “My early life,” written in 1958, in which he said “I do not hesitate to confess that

HID Awolowo, a legendary woman —Prophet Alao By Saheed Salawu “CHIEF Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo was a legendary woman and there are not sufficient words to convey to the world, the invaluable lessons which her life represented.” The Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria and Overseas, Prophet (Dr) Solomon Alao, made the remark, on Tuesday, in Ikenne, Ogun State, during a visit to the Obafemi Awolowo family over the passing of the Yeye Oodua. Prophet Alao urged women, especially those whose husbands are charged with public responsibilities, to take a leaf from the disposition of Mama Awolowo, when her husband, the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, oversaw the Western Region. “You cannot describe Mama sufficiently; there are not enough words to describe this legend of a woman. Nigeria misses her. Womanhood misses her,” Prophet Alao added. In the same vein, the Vice Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijebu-Ode, Professor Oluyemisi Obilade, who led the institution’s delegation to the Awolowos, said the matriarch was iconic and trail blazing in diverse ways. “Mama was an icon, a trail blazer, an achiever, a woman who persevered in the face of challenges and overcame challenges. Her life is a lesson to very many of us, with her never-give-up and never-say-never spirit. “She has also taught us how to be supportive while also making a name for oneself. She was able to leave worthy legacies. We celebrate Mama today for what she was in the life of Papa (Obafemi) Awolowo, for what she was able to achieve in her own right and for the lessons she taught us as women and

young Nigerians,” Professor Obilade said. Also, Zonal Coordinator, National Sports Commission, South-West, Dr Steve Olarinoye, led a team from the commission on a condolence visit to the family. “I want to thank Almighty God for the life of Mama. We are here to represent the sports fraternity in this country, because through

the support of Mama for Papa, we were able to have the first stadium in the whole of West Africa, to assist our youths. “For this singular honour, we at the National Sports Commission are part and parcel of the Awolowo family and that is why we are here. We pray that Almighty God will give the Awolowo family generally the forti-

tude to bear the loss,” Dr Olarinoye said. Also, the Iyalode of Egbaland and Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson, led Iyalodes and Iyalojas (women market leaders) across the South-West on a visit to the Awolowo family. During the visit, Chief Lawson presented a “letter of celebration of life” to Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran,

who expressed the gratitude of the family to the women for their gesture. Also at the Ikenne home of the Awolowos, on Tuesday, were Ambassador Olatokunbo Ajose; gospel singer, Evangelist Funmi Aragbaiye and executive members of Sagamu Development Association, led by their president, Chief Olumuyiwa Sonuga.

I own my success in life to three factors— grace of God, spartan self-discipline and a good wife.” When the motion was put into voice vote by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, who presided over the plenary, it was unanimously carried. Speaking with newsmen on what motivated him to move the motion, Honourable Adekola said: “Firstly, I am a Yoruba man from Ekiti State and Papa Awolowo’s works were spread all over the states, even beyond Nigeria. Most Nigerians, including me, benefitted immensely from his free education policy introduced in the Western Region. “Mama HID was a woman of virtue, because for a man to succeed in life, he needs a good wife, a woman who will give him good advice. Mama was a peaceful woman, as she stood by her husband at all times and Papa Awo tapped into her wisdom. We need to emulate and celebrate her,” he stated.

Ooni: Ife elders call for caution, reject kingmakers’ candidate By Moses Alao AS the processes for the selection of a new Ooni of Ife continue, Ife kingmakers have been warned of the need to be cautious of their actions and to, especially, desist from announcing the candidate of their choice without carrying along the Ife community. This was just as the kingmakers were urged to ensure compliance with the requirements of the law and tradition, as well as moral and ethical standards in the selection of a new monarch for the historic city. Making these calls on Tuesday, the Ife Elders’ Forum, a high-powered body, comprising leaders of thought across different sections of the Ile-Ife society, including royal fathers, Ife development organisations, Ife elite, religious leaders and other traditional groups, such as Ajo Sooko, Ajo Mefa, Ajo Baale, expressed reservations at the conduct of the Ife kingmakers, who the forum accused were taking steps that could lead to the imposition of an unacceptable candidate. The elders, who accused the kingmakers of planning to announce a certain contestant (names withheld), despite litigations and other complexities sur-

rounding the selection process, especially following the death of the Obalufe, warned that the kingmakers should refrain from sending the candidate’s name to the government for endorsement without ensuring the acceptability of such by the Ife community as represented by Ife Elders’ Forum, citing the candidate’s link to a cor-

ruption case, as well as the failure to follow due process by the kingmakers. According to the forum, in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune and signed by its chairman, Chief Mosadoluwa Iyiola Omisore; Sooko Adewoyin Owoyomi; Otun Balogun of Ife, Ambassador Olagunju Adesakin and the Asiwaju of Ife, Chief O. Alex

Duduyemi, among 30 others, after attempts by the elders’ forum to meet with the kingmakers to iron out knotty issues surrounding the selection of the new Ooni were rebuffed, a development which it noted translated to the kingmakers choosing not to be accountable to the Ife people. The elders noted that on its part, it had mandated

the Sookos to appeal to the ruling houses to withdraw the cases in courts in order not to cause undue delay in the selection process, adding that though there was need for review of the Ooni’s chieftaincy declaration, “the review should wait till a new Ooni is in place since chieftaincy declaration cannot be amended during an interregnum.”

Senate honours Alamieyeseigha, observes a minute silence, sends 8-man delegation Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja THE Senate, on Tuesday, honoured a former governor of Bayelsa State, late Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who died last week. The Senate, which observed a minute silence in honour of the departed, also sent an eight-man delegation, to be led by Senator Francis Alimikhena to go and commiserate with the people and government of Bayelsa State. This was sequel to the motion moved by Senator Foster Ogola (Bayelsa West) and 18 others, describing the late Alamieyeseigha as a generous and loving man, whose death was not only a loss to Bayelsa State, the Izon people, the SouthSouth geopolitical zone in particular, but the nation at

large. He noted that Alamieyeseigha was the first democratically-elected governor of Bayelsa State, having been elected in May 1999 and re-elected in 2003, adding that “before becoming governor, he served the

nation as a member of the Nigerian Air Force, where he retired as a Squadron Leader. Ogola added that he held various other public positions, including Sole Administrator of Pabod Supplies in Port Harcourt and

Head of Budget, Planning, Research and Development in National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria (NAFCON), saying he was widely acknowledged as a voice of unity in Ijaw nation, as well as the South-South geopolitical zone.

60% of out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls —UNICEF ACTIVITIES commemorating this year’s International Day of the Girl Child ended on Tuesday, with the investiture of the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha, as the Grand Patron, High Level Women Advocates for Girls Education in Nigeria, during an advocacy visit of 50 adolescent girls to her. Hajia Buhari, at the inter-

active session with the girls, promised to advocate publicly for legislation against child marriage. She encouraged parents to keep their daughters in school for at least 12 years. “No single girl will be left behind in my movement to get every girl into school,” she promised. With the theme of this year’s International Day of

the Girl Child being “The power of the adolescent girl: Vision for 2030,” UNICEF and other partners, including the Federal Ministry of Education, focused their activities on the transforming power of education to empower adolescent girls to overcome all challenges that affect their lives and inhibit their prospects of advancement. continues pg35

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Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Boko Haram’s recruitment ability baffling —Osinbajo Leon Usigbe - Abuja

HE Federal Government is baffled that despite the warped nature of Boko Haram’s ideology, the group is still able to recruit followers. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who voiced this concern in Abuja, on Tuesday, revealed that the Federal Government would, therefore, set up a crisis communication centre which would provide information countering violent extremist ideology, especially in the North-East. He was speaking when he received the United States (US) Special Envoy on Counter-Terrorism Communication, Rashad Hussain, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. “For some strange reasons, something that appears so completely mindless and almost insane gains currency in a way that gets regular recruits,” he said, wondering “why the completely mindless ideology gains the kind of currency it gains.” He said it was critical to define and disseminate positive narratives that exposed the evil of terrorism, expressing confidence on the ultimate victory of good over evil. Osinbajo said it would have been understandable if the campaign of the terrorists preached better life, equity and such other lofty ideas, noting when the narratives of the insurgents had no such hope, it was intriguing that the message gained any currency. Although he noted that there had been those who were lured into participating in terrorist acts for money, he pointed out nonetheless that “I have seen people who are wellto-do being recruited into terrorism.’’ He disclosed that gov-

ernment would put up a campaign involving civil societies, young people and non-governmental organisations, coming together and interacting to provide positive counter narratives against those of

violent groups like Boko Haram. Earlier, Hussain observed that based on the American experience and the happenings in other parts of the world, Boko Haram had a strong propaganda in the

media that had to be countered. According to him, the majority of the people had already rejected Boko Haram, but voices of the minority were being played and replayed in the media,

causing content imbalance. He said there was the need in Nigeria to develop and disseminate content which educated and informed audience about efforts to counter Boko Haram insurgency and pro-

Air Force pledges determination to end Boko Haram Chris Agbambu - Abuja THE Nigerian Air Force (NAF), on Tuesday, assured that the military remained determined to defeating Boko Haram. This came as it noted that normalcy was gradually returning to the North-East as a result of the achievements being recorded against the terrorist group. Speaking when the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Sani Sidi, who paid him a courtesy call in his office, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, noted that the Nigerian Air Force had renewed its air operations and restrategised to make the service more effective in the conduct of its operations in the battlefield. He stated that whether in support of the Army or while acting singly, the NAF had made tremendous gains in ensuring that the terrorists were degraded and no longer able to move freely within the theatre of operations. Abubakar said the effect of the successes had further reassured the citizens, who had started returning to their villages. He assured that the December deadline set by the Federal Government to end the insurgency in the country would be achieved. The Air Chief further stated that the NAF was committed to supporting NEMA in taking care of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the various camps throughout the North-East.

He said the Air Force had already provided a level two hospital at the Dalori camp, with over 34 highly specialised medical personnel. Earlier in his remarks, Alhaji Sidi, said he was at the Air Force headquarters

to solicit for more support and cooperation from the NAF in the discharge of the agency’s responsibilities of managing and coordinating disaster in Nigeria. He said NEMA was struggling with the task of man-

aging over 2.1 million IDPs in conjunction with the International Organisation for Migration and support from other donor agencies. He noted that NEMA was moving to the stage of rehabilitation and reconstruc-

THE number of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Plateau State House of Assembly has been depleted, following the nullification of election of a member representing Langtang South, Mr Vincent Bulus, by the national and state House of Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Jos, the tribunal as well blacklisted the lawmaker for life from contest-

ing future elections. The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the April 11 governorship and state House of Assembly Election, Mr Jackson Danladi, had filed a petition before the tribunal, challenging the victory of Mr Bulus in the House of Assembly election, alleging that the lawmaker was not fit to vie for the election, as he is an ex-convict. Chairman of the tribunal, Justice O O Akeredolu, in

tion, in collaboration with other agencies of government as normalcy gradually returned to the area. Sidi further said that many of the IDPs were voluntarily leaving the camps and returning to their villages.

Army issues final warning to Boko Haram

Probes alleged officers’ compromise in Ekiti, Osun polls Chris Agbambu - Abuja THE military, on Tuesday, issued a final warning to Boko Haram insurgents wherever they are, asking them to desist from all acts of terrorism, surrender themselves and face the law. It equally appealed to members of the international community and the world at large to kindly persuade Boko Haram members, as well as their international collaborators, to desist from acts of terrorism and renounce their membership of the terrorist organisation forthwith. Colonel Sani Usman, who is acting director in charge of Army Public Relations, in a statement, said they should also immediately and unconditionally release all abducted persons in their custody, including the Chibok schoolgirls. “We wish to inform them that we are aware of all their hideouts, camps and enclaves. They should follow their colleagues who had so far surrendered. Failure to do so will result in serious consequences, as our troops have closed up with them,” he said. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has set up a high-

powered board of inquiry to investigate, among other things, alleged malpractices and involvement of its personnel in Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections in 2014. As part of its terms of ref-

erence, the investigation team is to also review the involvement of the Nigerian Army formations/units and its personnel in elections and other duties in aid to civil authority. The essence of the Board is

her judgment, said the respondent was not qualified to contest the election, having being convicted of an offence, in line with Section 107(1)(d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The chairman said: “The respondent having been convicted of an offence involving fraud and dishonesty by a court of law was not qualified to contest the election into the Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South

to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance of the constitutional roles while strengthening Nigerian Army’s support to democratic values and structures in the country.

9-yr-old fights terrorism in Nigeria WORRIED by the plight of persons displaced by insurgency, a nine-year-old student of Unique Blossom Schools, Maitama, Miss Splendour Joe King, has written a book on the effect of terrorism on children. A letter made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Tuesday, said the book, which had already been presented to the public, is entitled: “Effects of terrorism on children.” The author said in the letter that she was inspired by happenings around her and the need for children to be enlightened on the impact of the crisis on the society. “My vision is to see that our world is rid of terror through child education on terrorism. “My mission, therefore, is to launch the book that

will educate children on the dangers and effect of terrorism in Nigeria. “My mission is to also reach out to children globally with this vision and to collaborate with relevant agencies and government of nations on how to turn children away from activities of terrorists,” she said. King’s letter urges individu-

constituency. “That the election and return of the first respondent as member of Plateau State House of Assembly to represent Langtang South is a nullity.” However, the tribunal, while observing that the petitioners scored the second highest number of votes, however, held that the only order it could give was for a fresh election to be conducted into the constituency. Also, the tribunal upheld

als, non-governmental organisations and multinational companies to support her dream of enlightening children on the need to be upright and disciplined at all times. The letter also drew the attention of Nigerians to the fact that the fight against insurgency was one that required the cooperation of all, including children.

60% of out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls —UNICEF continued from pg34

The 2013 National Demographic Health Survey indicated that there were about 20 million adolescent girls in Nigeria and there was very low education rate among them, especially those in the lowest wealth quintiles in the society. In Nigeria, 60 per cent of

Tribunal sacks Plateau lawmaker, bars him for life from contesting election Isaac Shobayo - Jos

jected Nigerian democratic processes as well. To achieve this, he suggested that the social and traditional media should be engaged in addition to satellite television, among others, in a credible way.

the election of the Speaker, Mr Peter Azi of the APC. The tribunal struck out the petition filed by Mr Peter Choji of the PDP, which sought to nullify the Speaker’s election as member representing Jos North-West in the Plateau State House of Assembly. The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh elections into the seat within 90 days.

the 10.5 million children out of school are girls. Data indicates that among other factors, one reason for low enrolment and retention of girls in schools, especially in the North, is the lack of female teachers in the rural areas. In response to this, UNICEF, with funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development and counterpart funding from five participating states, started the Girls’ Education Project. The Girls’ Education Project Phase 3 aims to achieve one million enrolment of girls into school by the end of 2020. The project is currently running in five northern states of Bauchi, Katsina, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara. Since implementation commenced in 2012, the project had contributed to the enrolment of additional 360,000 girls in primary schools in the five states.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Edited by: ‘Gbenga Opadotun olojaekuro@gmail.com 08037149731

Edo NULGE urges Oshiomhole to investigate council chairmen

HE Edo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to investigate all local government chairmen in the state.

The call made by the NULGE Secretary in the state, Mr Chukwuemeka Aguonye, was at the backdrop of recent suspension of four councils’ chairmen for alleged unwholesome acts. Aguonye, who lauded the

LG plans drains for flood control THE Chairman of Guri Local Government Area of Jigawa State, Alhaji Haruna Dauda, said the council had concluded plans to construct drains at Musari community in order to control flood in the area. Dauda stated this in an interview with newsmen in Guri, Jigawa. He said that the project was designed to ease flow of water and control flood in the flood-prone community. The chairman said that the project would be captured in the 2016 budget. “We recorded 525 houses and 248 farmlands de-

stroyed by flood at Musari village recently,” he said. He added that the council would adopt proactive measures to control flood by sensitising communities in the area to desist from erecting structures and dumping wastes on waterways. Dauda said that the council had so far distributed relief materials provided by the national and state emergency management agencies to the victims. He said the items distributed to the victims include; foodstuff, money, clothing and building materials.

two-month suspension of the chairmen, told newsmen in Benin that it had become necessary for all the councils’ chairmen to be probed. He recalled that the affected chairmen were said to have been unable to account for internally generated revenue in their respective areas and nonpayment of staff salaries. Oshiomhole had in a letter to the state’s House of Assembly said the suspension of the councils’ chiefs was to enable a panel of inquiry to conduct investigation. Those suspended were Osaro Obazee (Oredo), Victor Enobakhare (Egor), Roland Ibierutomwen (Orhiomwon) and Emmanuel Momoh (Estako Central). Aguonye alleged that many council chairmen had failed to demonstrate efficiency in the management of funds, adding that many of them inherited huge sums of money when they took over.

He alleged that the chairmen failed to adopt suggestions offered by the union for them to ‘’look inwards in order to fashion out measures to improve internal revenue. Aguonye commended the governor for the suspension of the councils’ bosses, saying ‘’these were the same chairmen, who met millions of naira when they assumed office. “The governor was able to save a lot of money for all of them; some even had as much as N40 million, N60 million and within few weeks, all of them squandered it, without making provisions for the rainy day. “I know that some councils are actually in problem financially, but majority of them failed to plan for the rainy day,” he said. He said that the probe of the councils was a ‘’wakeup call’’ which the government must extend to every council so that there would be sanity in the management of funds in the councils.

Zamfara Assembly extends tenure of council chairmen THE Zamfara State House Assembly has extended the tenure of local government chairmen in the state, by three months. The House approved the extension during its plenary session after resumption from Hajj recess. The second time that the assembly would extend the tenure of local government chairmen in the state. The tenure of chairmen had expired on June 29 and was extended to September 29 by the House as the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) could not conduct election due to financial constraints. The letter requesting for another extension of the tenure of the local government chairmen was sent to the House by the state government through the Secretary to the State Government. Speaking while moving the motion, the House Leader, Alhaji Isa Abdulmumin, called on members to accede to the request of

the state government. Abdulmumin said the assembly had the powers to extend the tenure if election could not be conducted for whatever reason. “As we know, we extended this tenure by three months which expired last month, based on financial challenges that affected the state government and now we are extending for the second

time, to December 29 by another three months. ‘’The extension is to enable the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) prepare and conduct election into the councils,” he said. He, therefore, urged the house to grant the request considering its importance to political development in the state.

Speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Abubakar Gummi, who presided over the session, said the House had granted the request of the state government. Gummi said the local government election in the state would hold in November while handover to the newly elected chairmen would take place in December, 2015

LG boss urges youths to support development programmes THE chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, Alhaji Suleiman Ukandu, has called on the youth to support the state government’s development effort. Ukandu made the appeal in a statement issued by the council’s Information Officer, Mr Ralph Igbokwe. He commended the

youth for their contributions to the success of the last general elections and urged them to continue to make positive contributions toward the overall development of the state. The chairman said this was necessary as current global economic recession had necessitated the public-private partnership option in addressing the challenge.

He also urged wealthy people in the state to support the government’s empowerment programmes and encourage the youths to form cooperatives to attract sponsorship. Ukandu said that being self-reliant and self-employed still remained the key to solving the problem of unemployment in the state and the nation at large.

Gov. Adam Oshiomhole, Edo State

Ministerial-nominee: Ex-LG boss lauds Buhari A former chairman of Saki West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Honourable Tiamiyu Alarape, has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari, over Barrister Adebayo Shittu’s nomination for ministerial post. Alarape who is also the chairman, Saki Defenders Union, spoke at an enlarged forum consisting of the National Union of Saki Students, artisan groups and representatives of all associations in Saki West Local Government Area. “Infact the needed change has come. The era of the fewest people having more money than the country has ended with the coming to power of President Muhammadu Burahi. “In order to achieve his target of making the country a better place which Nigerians would be proud of, the president had taken pains and time to recommend for appointment people who shared in his vision and mission. “I have no doubt in my mind that Barrister Shittu had acquired wealth of experience as an ex-member of Oyo State House of Assembly, ex- Commissioner for Information and exCommissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state,” he said. Reacting to some people objecting to the ministerial nominee, Hon Alarape said that people were not sincere as the nominee had not committed any crime. “If they have any fact of corruption or any criminal

case against the nominee, let them come out with their evidence, as demonstrations and peddling unfounded stories about the person of Barrister Shittu are manifestations of greed and exploitative characters,” Alarape added. Speaking at the programme, one of the chairmen of the artisan groups, Chief Yekeen Adebayo, wondered why people were always interested in blocking the ways of others, not for incompetence, but, because they did not want others to surpass them. He said that many bad things were said about the personality of President Buhari, while billions of naira was expended on propaganda to discourage Nigerians from voting for him, but, God disgraced the enemies of truth and development. “Today, their families are also benefiting from N50 per litre of Kerosene, reduction in fuel price, improvement in electricity and stabilizing economy,” he stated. Chief Adebayo enjoined the people of Oke-Ogun to eschew politics of bitterness and learn how to work together irrespective of their political lineages to promote the region. He regretted that the entire 10 local government areas in Oke-Ogun could not boast of any higher institution apart from the recently upgraded Polytechnic after 33 years of being a satellite campus.

37 communitynews

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Omi-Adio community cries over power outages

ince August this year, Omi-Adio community in Oyo State has been in blackout . The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office which was incharge of power supply to the community directly from Ayede, left the community sometime in August, 2015. This was contained in a release signed by Alhaji R.A Alongbeja, Alhaji Tiamiyu Ajanibako and Mr D.A Ogunjobi, Chairman, vice chairman and Secretary of Omi-Adio Community Development and Landlords Association and made available to Community News. Accoding to the release, investigations by OmiAdio Community Development and Landlords Association revealed that the Technical Manager and the Business Manager of Apata Business Unit of IBEDC

made the decision to cut off the community from the main source in Ayede. The community’s source of power is now being routed through the Business Unit office at JITALEX, Apata undertaking of IBEDC, which does not have the capacity to supply electricity to the said community. Furthermore, issues relating to the supply of electricity to Omi-Adio community and environs are ignored by the staff of IBEDC. The release further stated that the office provided for IBEDC staff by the community in OmiAdio has been abandoned by the staff without any explanation having relocated the IBEDC office to the Business Unit office at JITALEX, Apata undertaking. “Sequel to this, members of the community are served electricity bills with ridiculous amounts that cannot be matched with performance. “It is instructive to say

that these bills came on the heels of lack of power supply to the community for over two months. “It is on this note that we are urging authorities of IBEDC to come to our aid by restoring our community to its original power supply unit at Ayede. “We are also asking for the removal of the incompetent staff attached to the Business Unit office at JITALEX, Apata undertaking, office of the IBEDC because they cannot properly manage the supply of electricity to Omi-Adio community and are only creating problems for the community and its environs. “We urge the authorities to urgently look into this matter to prevent breakdown of law and order and destruction of power plants and installations by aggrieved members of the community,” the release added.

Alaafin marks 77th birthday, inaugurates projects By Moses Alao

In commemoration of his 77th birthday, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi OlayiwolaAdeyemi II, at the weekend, commissioned the e-library and vocational training centre projects of his lawmaker-son, Honourable Hakeem Adeyemi, popularly known as Skime, just as he appeared on a one-hour programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Oyo, which had earlier received the donation of video and audio mixing machines from the lawmaker. The royal father lauded the community development initiatives of the law-

maker, just as he promised to continue to support him in his efforts to empower the people and develop Oyo land. Oba Adeyemi, who clocked 77 on 15 October, appreciated the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo and the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, for accepting the candidature of his son, noting that God had used the governor for the progress of Oyo communities and the state in general. Honourable Adeyemi, who represents Atiba/Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency in the House of Representa-

Foundation celebrates International Day of the Girl-Child By Gbenga Olumide

Founder and President of Asabe Yar’Adua Foundation (ASYARF), Dr (Mrs) Asabe Shehu Yar’Adua, has said that the rights of the girl-child and adolescents should not be overlooked on neglected, especially for those in rural areas. Mrs Yar’Adua said this during the celebration of this year’s International Day of the Girl-Child She said one of the foundation’s aims and objectives

is community development. The programme with the theme: “The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2020”, was organised for school girls in Abuja, Lagos and Imo states. Yar’Adua further stressed the need for girls’ proper training and social engagement, especially at adolescent age. According to her, “training our girls is more or less training the nation, because girls of today are mothers of tomorrow.”

tives had, in fulfillment of his electioneering promises, opened an e-library centre in Ojongbodu Secondary School, Oyo, where he donated 16 desktop computers furnished with educational resources, past questions and examination prototypes for WAEC and UTME candidates. The library, equipped with generating set, inverters as well as photocopier machines and scanner, among others, Adeyemi said, is a follow-up to the 100 NECO GCE forms he donated recently as well as the establishment of extramural classes for senior students resident in Oyo. The multi-pronged event also witnessed the commissioning of Honourable Adeyemi’s Ogo Oyo Free Skill Acquisition Scheme, a scheme that is meant to train about 240 indigenes of the four local government areas in sewing, soap making, makeover, shoemaking and computer operation on quarterly basis. Speaking at the event, Honourable Adeyemi praised the royal father for his love for education and the progress of Oyo, noting that while the e-education centre was to commemorate the monarch’s 77th birthday, the vocational centre and educational projects were to appreciate the people of Oyo.

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I, formerly Emmanuel Anuoluwapo now OBIWOLE ANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Osuntoyinbo Faith Kehinde now MRS. ORIOLOWO FAITH KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Water Resources, Abere, Osun State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olugbogi Abigail Alayo now MRS. ABOKEDE ABIGAIL ALAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Government and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Dikoru Owumi Collins now MR. IKUEJAWA OYEWUMI COLLINS. All former documents remain valid. ICAN and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

news

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

How Ohakim bought house with N270m cash in Abuja Sunday Ejike Abuja

he Federal Government on Tuesday commenced the prosecution of a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, on charges bordering on alleged money laundering when he held sway as the governor of the state. The Federal Government through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday began Ohakim’s trial before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja by calling its first witness. Ohakim, who was Imo State governor between 2007 and 2011 is facing three-count charge of money laundering, arising from his alleged purchase of a house at Asokoro District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with cash payment of dollar equivalent of N270 million in November 2008. The first prosecution wit-

NASU suspends 5-month old strike in Osun tertiary institutions Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) of Osun government-owned tertiary institutions on Tuesday suspended their five-month old industrial strike action after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the government. This was contained in a press statement signed by the director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Mr Semiu Okanlawon Signing the MOU that signaled the end of strike, at the Governor Office in Osogbo, the governor pledged that his administration will not relent in its efforts to make life more meaningful for the people and the welfare of its workforce. Government and NASU members of the institutions during the MOU signing admitted that the current financial challenge resulting from dwindling revenue from the federation accounts will continue to affect the payment of salaries, pensions and critical expenditures of government, hence the suspension of the industrial action.

ness, Mr Dauda Ishaya, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, appeared before Justice Ademola when the matter came up on Tuesday, giving his report of investigation on the charges against the former governor. Dauda, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr Festus Keyamo, accused Ohakim

of initially lying to be a tenant in the property until he was confronted with the statements of those who were involved in the purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral Zone A 04, Asokoro District, Abuja. He said, “Intelligence report revealed that there was no bank transfer on

purchase for that property – that was against the provisions of the Money Laundering Act. We took the accused person to the said property and we returned to the office. He was questioned on the same property and he said he was just a tenant in that property. “He said he rented the house from a company called Tweenex Consci-

ates through the Managing Director of the Company called Abu Sule.” The witness said Sule was invited by the EFCC and also denied ownership of the property but went on to narrate “the real story of what transpired.” The case was adjourned till November 12 and 13, 2015 for continuation of trial.

Nigeria’s ace comedian, Omobaba, during the Glo Lafta Fest comedy show in Ikorodu, Lagos, on Sunday.

Supreme Court upholds Ambode’s election It’s a final nail in PDP’s coffin —Lagos Speaker By Bola Badmus, Sunday Ejike And Chukwuma Okpoaraocha

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the election victory of the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the April 11, 2015 governorship election held in the state. The apex court, in its judgment held that Ambode was validly elected as the Lagos State governor as proclaimed by the Independent National Elec-

toral Commission (INEC), which conducted the election. Ambode’s main challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje, had gone to the Supreme Court to contest Ambode’s election as Lagos State governor at the poll. This was after the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal dismissed Agbaje’s claim to the seat. It would be recalled that

the Tribunal had on July 1, 2015 struck out the petition filed against the election of Ambode by Agbaje, following a preliminary objection filed by the counsel to the APC candidate, Chief Wole Olanipekun. The Appeal Court also on August 26 upheld the ruling of the State Election Petitions Tribunal and also ordered the PDP candidate to compensate each of the respondents in the sum of N50, 000 each. In his reaction to the de-

Awka residents relish Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert The Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert packaged by the Next Generation Network, Globacom, on Friday night hit the Anambra State with top officials of the state government and other Glo subscribers in the state capital, Awka, in attendance. They include Mr Obi Nwankwo, Anambra State Commissioner for Public Utilities; Mr Emeka Okoye, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obaino on Project Monitoring and Compliance; his counterpart in Creative Media and Nollywood veteran, BobManuel Udokwu; Special Assistant on Protocol, Obiano Evans; Senior Special

assistant on Environment, Ms Tochi Obi and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Anambra Broadcasting Service, Mr Uche Nworah. Others were Willie Nwokoye, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works, Honourable Umeh Ikechukwu, and Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr Hosiah Karma. The event was opened with performances by Awka-based up and coming artistes, Chuks-D, Thiotee, C1- Osinachi, Young Breeze, E Neutral, D Prince, Sir Fair,

SP and Omega Inspired Dance group. The event, which was spiced with Miss Anambra Beauty Pageant saw Glo brand Ambassador, Bez, perform several of his hit songs and also sang his hit track, Stupid Song. Renowned rapper, MI, entered the stage with his Bo Se Danfo track and also thrilled the crowd who joined him in singing many of his tracks such as Let’s Go There, If Nobody Talk About You, Gbabe. MI also surprised everyone when he brought one of the beauty pageant contestants to the stage and made a mock marriage proposal.

cision of the apex court, Governor, Ambode, described the ruling upholding his victory at the April 11, 2015 governorship election as a welcome development. Ambode said the people’s mandate, which was expressly demonstrated on election day, has been reaffirmed by the highest court in the land. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, the Governor said: “The decision of the Supreme Court has put all issues on election matters to rest once and for all.” “Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has described Supreme Court verdict on the governorship election in Lagos State as the final nail in the coffin of the state chapter of the PDP. Reacting to the verdict by the nation’s highest court which affirmed the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode’s victory in the election, Obasa stated that the court verdict had put the final legal seal on the victory of the governor in particular, and the party, the APC in general in the election.

Tribunal upholds election of 2 Ondo PDP lawmakers Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

The 2015 Ondo State election petition tribunal sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Tuesday upheld the elections of two lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the State House of Assembly. The lawmakers include Fatai Olotu, representing Akoko North East constituency and Tuyi Akintimehin from the Idanre constituency. The Tribunal, in the separate judgments filed by the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ruled that the petitioners failed to tender enough oral and documentary evidences to prove that the re-election of the PDP candidates were characterised with electoral irregularities. The Tribunal led by Justice Ojonor Ogar also held that the APC candidate in Idanre constituency, Adeuyi Omotadowa equally failed to prove his petition beyond reasonable doubt that the election of the PDP lawmaker was marred with electoral frauds.

YABATECH to graduate 11,957 Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) will on Thursday, October 29 graduate a total of 11, 957 students. The rector of the college, Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo disclosed this at a press conference at the college on Tuesday. According to Ladipo, the figure represents the combination of the 2012/13 and 2013/14 sessions, both from the full time and part time programmes. A further breakdown shows that 5,527 graduates are of the 2012/13 session, while 6,430 are of the 2013/14 session. A convocation lecture entitled “The Role of the Entrepreneur in Developing Nigeria through Renewable Alternative” will precede the graduation ceremony. She said: “The 29th Convocation Lecture is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, October 28 and the guest speaker is the former Vice Chancellor of University of Uyo, and a distinguished alumnus of the college, Professor Fola Lasisi. Dr Frank Jacobs, the Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria will be the chairman of the occasion.”

news Reps to probe NNPC’s joint venture agreement over leakages

By Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel

HE House of Representatives, on Tuesday, set machinery in motion to investigate the operations of the Joint Venture agreements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) and other oil companies over alleged revenue leakages. To this end, the House mandated its committees on Petroleum Upstream and Downstream, when constituted, to carry out the investigation. Part of the investigation will cover a forensic assurance review of the NNPC books to establish the amounts of income that ac-

I won’t contest elective position again –Ajimobi By Wale Akinselure

OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has assured that he would not contest for any elective position again at the end of his current term in office. Ajimobi who acknowledged that God had granted his utmost desire which was to be governor for a second term, he doused tension in some sections of the public that his second term was yet to kick off with the nonformation of a cabinet. Ajimobi emphasised that he would not betray the trust reposed in him by the people of the state who voted for him. He reiterated that he did not oppose the nomination of Mr Adebayo Shittu as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying that all he desired was to be governor and not minister, vice president or president. Apart from delivering on his promises to the people of the state, Ajimobi said all he prayed for was good health, long life and peace of mind. “I am a governor, nothing can happen to me. I have peace of mind. There is nothing I desire anymore other than good health, long life and peace of mind, and observe my daily prayers. “God forbid that I become minister, God forbid that I become president, God forbid that I become vice president. All I wanted was to be governor, and I have achieved my desire. God has answered my prayer.”

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

crued to the Joint Venture Partners in the past seven years and actual amount remitted to the Federation Account and report to the House in seven weeks. The House resolution was

sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Nicholas Ossai entitled “Recovery of revenues payable to the Federation Account from the Nigerian Nation Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC)

and its joint venture partners.” In the motion, he noted that the NNPC and oil companies are expected to fund the joint venture and share

the oil produced and other benefits with their interest holdings as contained in the agreement. According to him, Section 162 (1) of the Nigerian constitution requires all

One of the ministerial nominees, Mr Adebayo Shittu (middle), after his screening by the senators at the National Assembly, Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO.

Oct 1 bombings: Chain Okah during trials, FG urges court Sunday Ejike - Abuja

THE Federal Government on Tuesday asked Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court in Abuja, to put the alleged mastermind of October 1, 2010 Independence Day bombings, Charles Okah, under chains. Okah, who is standing trial on charges of terrorism alongside Obi Nwabueze, had on October 6, 2015, caused a commotion at the court as he attempted to end his life by attempting to jump down through the

window of a Federal High Court in Abuja, located on the third floor of the court’s complex. When the matter came up yesterday, the Federal Government through its counsel, Dr Alex Iziyon, made an oral application before the court, requesting that Okah be chained in view of what transpired during the court’s proceedings of October 6, 2015. In making his application, Iziyon referred the court to Section 269 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and urged the

court to grant the application that Okah, who is the 1st defendant in the matter be put under fetters while the trial is in progress. “Where a defendant or an accused person misbehaves or misconduct in the course of proceedings, such a person can be placed under fetters. I urge the court to take judicial notice of the proceedings of October 6, and grant our request,” Iziyon prayed the court. In his response, Okah’s counsel, Mr Samuel Ozidiri, apologised on behalf of his client and urged the

Navy impounds 108,000 litres of diesel in 5 stolen vessels Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

THE Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, Port Harcourt, has disclosed that it has impounded five vessels and a Cotonou boat ladened with illegally refined diesel at a private jetty in Port Harcourt. It was gathered that the vessels and the boat were caught while discretely discharging about 108,000 litres of diesel into badges without licence. Commodore Sanusi Ibrahim, Commander of NNS Pathfinder, made the disclosure while parading 19 crew members of the vessels before newsmen in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday. According to him, naval troops stormed the area after it got intelligence report

of activities of suspected oil thieves at a private jetty located opposite the rowdy and busy Slaughter Market in the city. “We discovered on Monday that the vessels, MV Denis, MV Faith, MV Lum VII, MV Eliora, FP Comfort and a large Cotonou boat were discharging illegally refined products into five badges. “This is a clear case of illegal bunkering going by the position of the Federal Government on sourcing and distribution of illegally refined petroleum products. “Investigation is ongoing to unravel involvement of individuals and groups behind this illicit trade,” he said. The naval chief said intelligence report revealed

that oil thieves now connive with owners of private jetties to transport stolen petroleum products and illegal wares. He said the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas, had ordered constant checks on both public and private jetties to ensure drastic reduction of oil theft.

court to discountenance the prosecution counsel’s request. He argued that the application was premature and not worthy of any sympathetic consideration, arguing that the prosecution failed to put the defence on notice before coming up with such an application. Delivering a bench ruling on the application, Justice Kolawole said granting the prosecution’s request may turn out to be the greatest distraction in the suit. He said: “By the provisions of Section 6 Subsection 6 paragraph 8 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, this court as one of the superior courts of record created by the constitution, is imbued with discretionary jurisdiction which can be exercised without the need for an application from the prosecution once it is of the view that the conduct of the 1st defendant (Okah) is such that it may impede a smooth administration of proceedings on the charge of which the defendants are standing trial.”

collectable revenues of the government of the federation to be paid into the Federation Account. He said that besides the lifting of oil in the agreed sharing ratio, there were associated incomes or miscellaneous revenues accruable to the joint venture for which the Federal Government is entitled to a good share in accordance with the agreements. “The operator companies net off these income against expenses (already settled) allegedly in collusion with officials of the NNPC to avoid the remittance of the income to the federation account. “The joint operation agreements largely favour the operator companies to the detriment of the non operator, the NNPC which is the agent of the Federal Government,” he said. When the motion was put to vote by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, it was unanimously supported by the majority of the members. Meanwhile, the House has also summoned the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Taiye Haruna, to appear before it with a view to explaining the reason(s) why Nigeria did not send any delegate to the Zero Routine Gas Flaring Initiative which held on April 17, 2015 in Washington DC, USA. The House also mandated its committees on Gas Resources and Petroleum Resources (downstream), when constituted, to conduct a comprehensive review of relevant government policy initiatives aimed at curbing gas flaring and assess such in order to determine if they conform to global best practices. The House resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Uchechukwu Nnam-Obi where he declared that “the Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 Initiative was launched by the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon and the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, as part of the World Bank’s Spring meeting in Washington USA.”

Nigerian Law School churns out 3,600 new lawyers Sunday Ejike - Abuja

A total of 3.600 students of the Nigerian Law School, who were successful in this year’s Bar final examinations were on Tuesday called to the Nigerian Bar. The number included 14 candidates from the previous Bar final examinations,

the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Olanrewaju Onadeko, said at the Call-to-Bar ceremony held yesterday at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Onadeko said that students’ performance at the April 2015 examinations vindicated the decision of the Council of Legal Edu-

cation for a compulsory intensive revision exercise for students. According to the Nigerian Law School boss, four candidates came out with first class, 109 obtained the second class upper grade, 418 were classified in the second lower division and 1,422 attained the pass grade.

news

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

US efforts helped peaceful transition in Nigeria —Ambode •Seeks greater economic ties Bola Badmus-Lagos

agos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has commended the efforts of the United States of America (USA) in ensuring peaceful democratic transition in the last general elections in Nigeria. Governor Ambode gave the commendation when he received the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, who paid him a visit at the Lagos House, Ikeja. Ambode said the concern of the United States and steps taken to ensure peaceful transition went a long way to ensure the

elections were successful. Speaking further, the governor noted that his commitment was to ensure that the rule of law was enshrined into governance in the state, just as he restated his administration’s determination to ensure that the ease of doing business in Lagos was enhanced through enduring security and judicial sector reforms. Ambode said the establishment of the office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, which would directly be administered by his office, was geared

towards making the state more investor-friendly and safer. “I want to say that the relationship we’ve had with the United States has been longstanding and you’ve always been a friend indeed. We just quickly want to recommit ourselves to that relationship so much that the security of every American that comes into Lagos is of utmost importance to me. You’ll see that in the last four months what we’ve been trying to do is to recommit ourselves to security and judicial sec-

tor reforms,” he said. “Beyond the fact that we want to improve infrastructure to allow Lagos to become globally competitive, we want to make sure that everybody that comes here must be able to work safely, live safely and must be able to do everything they want in a peaceful manner,” he added. The governor, therefore, welcomed the cooperation of the United States towards ensuring a more secured Lagos as well as deepening the democratic system.

He said Nigeria as a whole could learn from the relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government to deepen its democratic institutions. Ambassador Earlier, Entwistle reaffirmed the commitment of his country to ensure that the excellent relationship between the City of Lagos and the United States was extended for the mutual benefit of both, saying that the United States would continue to identify with the state government and its policies.

Investigate Osun’s failure to pay workers salaries, pensioners tell ICPC By ’Ronke Sanya

The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has been called upon to investigate failure of Osun State government and other state governments who failed to pay their workers and pensioners from the bailout fund as directed by the Federal Government. The secretary, Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) Ife/Ijesa Zone, Pastor J.A.T Aluko disclosed this recently, while speaking with Nigerian Tribune adding that the Osun State government has failed to pay its workers and pensioners from the bailout fund, which negates the purpose for which the Federal Government intervened in the payment of arrears the state governments owed their workers and pensioners. “The ICPC should hold the Commissioner for Finance in Osun State and other states in the same categories, accountable for non-payment of the arrears from the bailout fund because the state government is covered with immunity,” he said. The cleric also expressed sadness at the trend of unpaid salaries and pension in the state adding that “many pensioners have died while many would still die as a result or lack of good medical attention, resulting from non-payment of arrears with six months now left unpaid.” Aluko, therefore urged the state government to consider the old age of the pensioners and pay the remaining six months arrears owed them.

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (right), in a handshake with the acting Consul General, United States (US) Consulate, Dehab Ghebreab (left), while the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle (second right) and the Counselor for Economic Affairs, Embassy of the US, Mr Alan Tousignant (second left), watch during Entwistle’s visit to Ambode, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday.

Osun Assembly passes Public Procurement Bill The State of Osun House of Assembly has passed the bill establishing the State Public Procurement Agency. The bill, tagged, Osun Public Procurement Bill 2015 was passed at the plenary on Monday, sequel to the presentation of its clean copies to the house.

Deputy Leader, Honourable Dejo Osuolale moved a motion that the bill be read for the third term and seconded by the member representing Ifedayo constituency, Honourable Azeez Olanrewaju. The Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam commended members for the efforts put into the consid-

eration of the bill, saying, it would guarantee transparency in the award of contract. According to him, the contract would ensure quality service delivery for the government and the people of the state. He directed that the bill be forwarded to the governor for his assent as soon as possible, just as he

Era of god fatherism is gone for good —PDP Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday declared that the era of god fatherism in realising one’s ambition in the party was gone for good as it had resolved to return the party to the grass root, ahead of the 2019 general election. The acting National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secondus disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving members of one of the Pressure Groups in the Party, PDP National Rebirth Group, who paid a visit to the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party. Prince Secondus assured

that to this effect, all the recommendations of the Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led post election review committee report, approved last week by the National Executive Committee (NEC) would be implemented to the letter by the NWC. According to him, “the first step toward returning the party to the grass root is to kick starts the biometric membership registration, nationwide, in two weeks time. We have done the pilot scheme in Edo State and it was very successful. With this, we are going to move to the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja for mem-

bership derives,” he said. “With this development, there will be no remote control of the party by any influential individual member or groups. No one will stop anybody from realising his or her ambition of becoming anything in the party,” he assured. Prince Secondus, who said that the party would pick its presidential candidate from the Northern part of the country, in line with the Committee’s Report also assured that in the new dispensation, the youths would be deeply involved in all the party’s programmes and allowed them to seek for elective offices at all time in the future elections.

charged the executive arm of government for its effective implementation. Also, 13 bills have passed through the first reading at the plenary. They are rules of criminal conduct and regulation of public order bill, criminal Justice administration in High and Magistrate Courts bill, amendment of Cooperative Societies law, Volume 1, Cap 31 bill, and street trading and illegal market Prohibition Bill. Others are urban and regional planning development bill, public private partnership bill, waste management authority bill, regulation of sand drilling and dredging operation bill and agricultural land holding bill. Education district offices and teachers’ establishment pension offices, Osun State University development fund establishment amendment bill, Primary Healthcare development board establishment bill and partnership bill also passed through the first reading.

Housing allocation: Ogun targets first time buyers Ogun State Government has pledged to accord priority to first time buyers in the allocation of houses at its various estates across the state. The General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, Mrs Jumoke Akinwunmi stated this in her officer at Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Mrs Akinwunmi, in a statement signed by the Corporation’s Press Officer, Mrs Waliyat Odemakin, noted that the step became necessary to give those who really need the houses the opportunity of enjoying and accessing the state government’s gesture in the provision of affordable housing and not for those who intended to tie them down for business reason. She added that government would no longer condone excessive accumulation of houses by individuals, saying that its mission to make housing available to all social strata remains undoubted. The General Manager affirmed that Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has subsidised housing in order to enable more people have access to houses of their own, adding that the corporation builds qualitative and affordable housing units across the state with essential facilities to make living more conducive for would be buyers. Mrs Akinwunmi also emphasised that the agency would soon deliver the ongoing workers estate at Laderin in Abeokuta, adding that the State had secured international and private organisations’ support for the construction of low cost housing to meet the yearning’s and aspirations of the people on housing.

Mimiko condoles with Oni’s family The Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has condoled with the family of the former Education Minister and exchairman of Labour Party in Ondo State, Dr Samuel Olaiya Oni, who died at the weekend. In a statement issued by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, in Akure on Monday, Governor Mimiko described the death as shocking. He thus prayed God to give the family the fortitude to bear the loss. The late politician died, on October 18.

news Superhighway ’ll boost Nigeria’s economy, says Buhari

Ubong Anthony - Calabar

resident Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, said the 260 Km superhighway proposed by the governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, would boost the nation’s economy. Buhari, who spoke in Obung Village, Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State, during the groundbreaking ceremony of the superhighway project, also promised to partner the state government to ensure speedy completion of the project. He said: “The deep seaport and the superhighway is a significant milestone in the development of the economy of not just Cross River but Nigeria as a whole. The project would boost the economy of Nigeria and create room for foreign investment.” He, however, commended Governor Ben Ayade and his team for the initiative

Edo PDP chairman, judge in auto crash Banji Aluko - Benin City The Edo State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, and some prominent indigenes of the state on Tuesday, narrowly escaped death as his convoy was involved in an auto accident at the notorious Ewu hill section of the Benin/Auchi expressway. The accident reportedly occurred at about 10:00 a.m. when an articulated fuel tanker that was descending the Ewu hill ran into his convoy and about five other vehicles from behind, pushing the vehicles off the road into the ravine. Among those in the convoy were the PDP senatorial candidate during the 2015 general election, Honourable Pascal Ugbome; a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly and commissioner, Honourable Abass Jega. A serving judge of the Auchi High Court division, Justice Ehigiamose, whose vehicle was also involved in the accident. Orbih, who spoke on telephone with Nigerian Tribune, said the driver of the articulated truck as well as two other passengers in one of the affected vehicles, sustained various degrees of injury and were taken to the Irrua Specialist Hospital.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

and promised to come back to commission the road. Earlier, Governor Ben Ayade commended President Buhari for coming to perform the groundbreaking ceremony of the superhighway, adding that it is an indication that he truly

belongs to everybody. Ayade said: “We commend you because you have proved to be a president for everybody. Despite party affiliation, you have decided to make Cross River State your first port of call.” He said the road would be

funded through a Public Private Partnership arrangement. “The project would not depend on the finances of the state but would be funded with support from the bank of infrastructure and several commercial banks and we know it would

come to reality.” Ayade said the road would serve as an evacuation route for goods from the deep seaport in Bakassi in southern part of the country to the northern part of the country and would be completed in four to five years time.

President Muhammadu Buhari (with shovel) performing the groundbreaking ceremony of a 260-kilometre superhighway in Obung Village, Cross River State, on Monday. PHOTO: UBONG ANTHONY.

Kukah decries ‘distortion of nationhood’ Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said that Nigeria’s major problem has remained the distortion of its nationhood, saying getting it right in the education sector would serve as a basis for transformation of values and a positive generational change. Bishop Kukah, who stated this on Tuesday, while delivering the third convocation lecture of the Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), said the revival of the education sector was capable of launching Nigeria into the league of the most developed nations of the world. In the lecture entitled: “Education and Leadership Recruitment for a Plural Society: A Case for Nigeria,” the cleric said “Nigeria must learn to manage her diversity and maximise it for the purpose of meeting its goals for sustainable development and fulfil the dream of its founding fathers.” Speaking on the anti-corruption war of the Federal Government, Kukah said fighting corruption could only guarantee a stable

nation when it is complemented by entrenchment and protection of social justice and the rule of law. He stressed that corruption, poor leadership, nepotism, tribalism, sectarian crisis, armed robbery and other ills confronting Nigeria could be traced to the fundamental problem of distortion of nationhood. Kukah said: “A distorted society cannot expect the

reward of a decent society. Happily for us in Nigeria, we are turning a new page. We must therefore not be seduced into thinking that we should hand over our hope, our dream and our aspiration to President Buhari and go to sleep. “Corruption is a symptom of the disease of the distortion of our nationhood. We may have a transparent election but the most per-

fect electoral outcome does not translate to the right result. “When people receive the licence to govern, what does it mean to them and what do they do with it. We must acknowledge the opportunity of the concession of defeat by (former) President Jonathan; we need institutions that can save voters from the excesses of the Nigerian politicians.”

Oyo assembly fails to end protracted IPMAN crisis By Wale Akinselure Efforts by the Oyo State House of Assembly to proffer a lasting solution to the protracted factional crisis rocking the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ibadan depot, may have proven abortive as the House, on Tuesday, suspended further actions on the brawl, quoting some power brokers who do not want the resolution of the crisis. Chairman, Adhoc Committee on the IPMAN crisis, Honourable Kehinde Subair, rendering the findings of the investigations, added that the committee stalled further intervention

in the matter as the two parties held their grounds that the pending court case on the matter stay till a verdict is given. He revealed that the Committee sought to harmonise the Busari Olakunle and Raheem Rasaq factions through a sharing formula of the association’s positions from time to time, but the certain stakeholders constituted an albatross in efforts to resolve the crisis out of court. “We discovered during our investigations that there are some power brokers and we met some stakeholders to harmonise these positions. We found

out that what we can do is harmonise the positions such that we recommend that one faction holds the position and the other faction holds another. But during the process we found out that some power brokers do not want the resolution of the crisis. We cannot intervene if the two parties have not agreed to resolve the crisis. So we have to leave the case to be decided by the court.” Consequently, the House charged the IPMAN members of the two factions to desist from utterances and actions that could result into crisis and to maintain peace in the interest of the state.

Ogun LG chairmen charged to improve IGR Transition committee chairmen in the 20 local government areas of Ogun State have been charged to device means of generating revenue to meet the short fall from the Federation Account in order to fulfil their obligations to the citizenry. The chairman, State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Olusola Sonuga, gave the charge during the 2015 assessment tour of the local government areas in the state. Sonuga, who led the committee members to Sagamu and Obafemi/Owode Local Government Areas, noted that there was a need for the third tier of government to evolve strategic means of improving their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) as the dwindling finance accruable to the councils from the Federal Allocation Account (FAAC) was not enough to meet their financial obligations.

Abuja IDPs committee boss visits Maiduguri camps James Bwala - Maiduguri The chairman, Committee for relocation of 500 Borno Internally Displaced Persons from Abuja to Maiduguri, who is also the Director General FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Mallam Abbas Garba, on Tuesday, led other members to Maiduguri and ascertained the facilities at various camps. Mallam Garba, who was accompanied by the FCT chairman of the IDPs, Mr Chakule Lawan, visited Bakassi and Gubio camps in the Maiduguri Metropolis, where they all expressed confidence that the camps visited have adequate facilities to accommodate the IDPs and their safety. Briefing journalists at the Zonal Office of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Garba said, the relocation of the IDPs from Abuja to Maiduguri was necessitated by agitations from the displaced persons in Abuja, who graciously indicated their interest to go back home following relative peace enjoyed in the state. He noted that already, the Federal Government had to heed to the demands of the IDPs, in which, about 500 of them will soon be relocated to Maiduguri in batches.

news

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Biafra protesters shut down Port Harcourt Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

conomic activities in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, were paralysed on Tuesday as thousands of Igbo youths and separatists took to the streets, protesting the arrest of the director of the Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. The protesters had gathered at the Ikokwu Market axis of Ikwerre Road as early as 8. a.m, from where they moved round some other parts of the Port Harcourt metropolis, chanting protest songs and demanding for the recognition of the Biafran Republic. Many of the commercial banks operating in the state capital, especially on Ikwerre Road, Olu Obasanjo Road and Water-Line, as well as traders and spare parts dealers, hurriedly closed their offices and locked up their shops to prevent looting. From Ikokwu, the antiNigeria agitators moved to Rumuola, passing through Aba Road and took their protest to the Government House area, through Lagos and Ikwerre Road and ended up at Ikokwu. The protesters said they were operating under the aegis of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), adding that the protest was being carried out simultaneously in all Igbospeaking states across the country, as well as by people who believed in the Biafran cause.

Unilorin produces 69 First Class graduates at 40th anniversary Biola Azeez- Ilorin The University of Ilorin has turned out a total of 69 First Class graduates to mark its 31st convocation and 40th anniversary. Speaking with journalists in llorin, on Tuesday, the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, said that out of the total number of 6,710 graduating students, 1,392 bagged Second Class (Upper division), 2,884 got Second Class (lower division), 932 were awarded Third Class while 82 got Pass. Professor Ambali, who described the university as the fastest growing university in Africa, said that a total of 22 development projects built by about N2 billion TETFUND grants, would be commissioned to mark the 40th anniversary of the institution. He mentioned part of the projects to include lecture theatres, laboratories, medical assessment centre, 200- bedspace private hostel, among others.

While there was no form of intimidation of passersby during the protest, the protesters were however seen tearing and destroying the Nigerian flag hoisted on some buildings along their path, even as they also ordered motorists who hung the flag in their vehicles to destroy same. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, one of the protesters, Harrison Onyema from Pipeline Rumuokrushi, said the protest was against the alleged persistent and continued marginalisation of the Ndigbo.

“This is a genuine and sincere protest by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB). We are protesting because the so-called President of the Zoo Republic kidnapped the director of Radio Biafra. When reminded that the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) had denied any link with the operator of the Radio Biafra, another protester, Ogbonnaya Ugochukwu, simply said the issue at hand was not about MASSOB, but about the Biafran Republic. “This protest is not for

MASSOB or any individual but about the interest of the Ndigbo in general. We want freedom; we don’t want money. We have reached out to the United Nations (UN) and several other international bodies. They are all aware of what we are doing today. “All we are saying is that they should give us Biafra. There is no alternative to our freedom,” he said. Though the protest was peaceful, there was tight security at the Government House where two Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were mounted and with heavy

presence of security agents to prevent breakdown of law and order. While there was no form of arrest or harassment while the protest lasted, the protesters were however later dispersed at the UST Junction/Ikokwu axis by some policemen who shot canisters of tear gas into their midst. The spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad, however denied insinuations that arrest were made but noted that there was security presence to maintain law and order.

Nigerian Tribune

Fayemi to deliver Akintola Williams lecture Immediate past Ekiti State governor and minister designate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will deliver the 2015 edition of Akintola Williams Distinguished lecture series, on Thursday, in Lagos. The lecture is held annually to celebrate the doyen of Accountancy profession in Nigeria, Chief Akintola Williams. According to the organisers of the lecture, Fayemi will be speaking on “Leadership Factors and Good Corporate Governance: Key to National Growth and Development”, at the event which will hold at 10.00a.m, at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. Elder statesman and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku will chair the event, while Chief Akintola Williams, the foremost Nigerian Accountant, is Father of the Day. Chief Akintola Williams, 96, is renowned as the first African to qualify as a chartered accountant.

Revival

Igbo youths protesting the arrest of the director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday. PHOTO: DAPO FALADE

Fuel scarcity hits Kano •As 4 litres sell for N700 Kola Oyelere -Kano RESIDENTS in the ancient city of Kano are grappling with fuel scarcity with four litres of the product now selling for between N650 and N700 at the black market. This was just as the shortage of fuel in the city, had compelled few buses and tricycles plying the roads, to hike fare by 50 per cent. Commuters in the city according to findings, now pay N70 fare for a journey that was hitherto N50,while the fare from Kano to Kaduna that earlier attracted between N800 and N900 now go for between N 1000 and N 1200. Also affected is the Kano to Jos route which now attracted N1500 as against N1200 before the scarcity, even as many passengers had resorted to trekking long distances. Most of the filling stations visited by the Nigerian Tribune, were under lock and key while idle petrol attendants were seen hanging around. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the office of the Department of Petroleum Resource (DPR), a staff who spoke under condition of anonymity, however, said there was enough fuel to sell

to motorists. According to him, “the scarcity was because we just entered a new week,” adding that “within a short time, most of the filing stations

would be offloading their products.” When the Nigerian Tribune contacted IPMAN over the scarcity, it said the scarcity might not be uncon-

nected with the fuel pump price of N86 per litre it was getting the product from Lagos, which it said, had denied them of any profit from its loading.

THE Kogi State governor, Idris Wada, on Monday, blamed the delay in the release of the N51 billion bailout funds to the state on some enemies working against the interest of the people of the state. The governor accused some people of deliberately frustrating the efforts of the government at assessing the fund meant for the payment of outstanding salaries of teachers and local government workers in the state. Wada said this at the palace of Agbana of Isanlu land, in Yagba East Local Government Area of the state, Oba Aaron Ikuborije, during his electioneering campaign ahead of the November 21 governorship poll. The governor explained that government had completed the necessary documentations to assess the fund but could not get the money because of the activities of “some wicked” people. He, however, said he would continue to strive

towards the release of the money despite the plot by the said people, who, he said, took delight in making life difficult for the beneficiaries of the bailout. The governor added that he had already met with Muhammadu President Buhari and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,

Godwin Emefiele, over the issue, saying they had assured him of the release of the money. Wada also said the government had drawn N8 billion out of the N20 billion bond approved for it, adding that the money was being spent on 12 projects across the state.

Biola Azeez- Ilorin

before December. He used the forum to clear the air on the rumour making the rounds that the government was introducing new tax regime to deliberately put more burden on the masses, saying there was no any iota of truth in the insinuation. He said the government needed to block leakages in its internally revenue generated mechanism to enable it to have more funds to complete abandoned projects.

Enemies behind delay in bailout release —Wada

Kwara to commence work on abandoned projects Dec

Kwara State government has said that work will begin on abandoned projects across the 16 local government areas of the state in December. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the special adviser to the governor on Political Matters, Alhaji Bibire Ajape, expressed the hope that the monthly allocation accruing to the state, would have been jerked up from the federation accounts

The Sanctuary of Christ Evangelical Church (INC.) will hold a three-day ‘Weekend of Power’ programme starting on Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, 2015. The programme tagged: ‘Manifestation of the Sons of God (Ifarahan awon omo Olorun) will begin with a revival by a South African-based guest minister, Bishop Immanuel Leo Donkon in the church auditorium, Olabiyi Agoro Street, Semi-N-bio Bus-stop, opposite CAC Grammar School, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Adesola, Ibadan, at 5.00 p.m prompt. The revival continues on Saturday, October 24, at the same venue, at 5.00 p.m prompt. It will be rounded off with a powerful worship service on Sunday, October 25, by the guest minister, Bishop Donkon, at 9.00a.m and 12noon, at the same venue .It will also feature prayer sessions and music ministration by Eagle Vision Psalmist, Testimony of God Music Ministry and Sanctuary Voices. The revival also holds on Sunday, at 5.00p.m.The host pastors are Dr Gbade and Dr Ronke Ojo.

Pastor (Dr) Gbade Ojo

news

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

Corruption: Judiciary must be purged first —Fayose Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

overnor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State on Tuesday, again, stirred the hornet’s nest when he declared that the fight against corruption in the country can only be successful when the Judiciary arm of government is purged of corruption. Governor Fayose, who spoke at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel,

My visit to EFCC office voluntary ... —Akpabio

Okesa, Ado Ekiti at a service to mark the beginning of the 2015/2016 legal year in the state, noted that “if the battle against corruption is to be won in the larger society, it must first be won in the Bar and Bench.” Fayose, who read a rare prepared speech at the service conducted by the Bishop of Ekiti Diocese (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Christopher Omotunde, said: “The corruption in the Judiciary is so endemic that judges lobby to be appointed to serve in election petition tribunals in order to make money and as well influ-

ence judgement in favour of their political friends. “It gets more worrisome when facts have revealed that some of the judgements were written by lawyers for some compromised judges. Some cases were and are still being assigned to judges by their godfathers in the judiciary purposely to do hatchet jobs against the innocent. According to him, “the judiciary has the power of life and death, but this sensitive arm of government has been compromised and most judgements in Nigeria today are monetised. If the battle against corruption can be won between

the Bar and the Bench, it will be won in the society. “Due to the cancer of financial inducement that has eaten deep into the fabric of our judicial system, it is only in Nigeria that a political armed robber will orchestrate the trial of somebody before a corrupt judge, all in the name of waging anticorruption war. “When there are glaring facts on the table of anticorruption agencies, they will pretend not to see or look the other way, especially if the culprit is a member of their political party or under the directive of power that be. That is why some judges are timid in giving

judgments against the ruling party of the day. “Such individuals are judged on the pages of newspapers and consequently confirmed by the willing judges.” The governor again reiterated his example of allegations against the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe State, saying “after so much evidence before the EFCC that the bank account of the Yobe Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was credited with money to influence the last governorship election, no action was taken because it is an APC-controlled state.”

Taiwo Adisa And Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

The former governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio has disclosed that his visit to the office of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) was voluntary saying that his invitation by the anti-graft agency was long time ago. Akpabio told the National Assembly reporters that he got the invitation before he was involved in an accident saying “ I told them that okay that when I am fit that I will go to see them to respond to the allegation that they said a young lawyer wrote petition against me, so when I was chanced on Friday, I went there on my own to listen to them, go through the petitions and make my response” He added “I was allowed to go and I was admitted on bail, I think that is in line with their procedure, it wasn’t a function of an arrest. It was a voluntary decision on my part as a law abiding citizen to go there. That is why when I heard that some youths were very disturbed in various parts of the Niger Delta, l was worried.” The former governor insisted that “It wasn’t a problem” adding “I feel as a law abiding citizen people write petitions against you. As a lawyer, we believe in let the other side be heard. The problem we have is the way sometimes things are publicised, allegation is not guilt and then of course the blotted figures that we see. If somebody has a petition against you for N20 bn, they will write N200bn or N10bn they will then say trillion, “In fact it was almost like judgment, the way the press reported it. Outside that I think it is a civic responsibility and the right thing for me to do as a senator that if a petition is written against me, I should go and answer so that they will have an informed judgment but that does not mean that is admission of guilt, no.”

IGP sets up scholarship foundation for police officers children IN a bid to further guarantee the welfare of officers and men of the Nigeria Police for a robust quality service delivery to the members of the public, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon E. Arase, NPM, fdc, has set up and offered to sponsor talented children of serving and deceased police officers, both at primary and secondary school levels. The forms for the scholarship scheme are available at all Police children primary and secondary schools for collection by interested pupils and students. This is to equally state that the scholarship scheme is in line with the policy thrust of IGP Arase, which is aimed at improving the standard of living of police officers and men, including their services to Nigerians.

Insurgency: Red Cross Society to empower 200 widows Isaac Shobayo-Jos

From left, Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose; Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola; his wife, Omonike and the deputy governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola, during the 2015/2016 legal year service, held at the Anglican Cathedral, Okesa, Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SAM NAWOKO

FG maps out strategy for implementation of SDGs Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

The Federal Government (FG) has commenced development of a national strategy for the transition to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the current Millennium Development Goals MDGs framework.

It said, unlike the MDGs whose implementation was delayed for six years, the SDGs as a matter of fact, take effect from 1st January, 2016. The Director/Secretary of Programme, in the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, OSSAP-MDGs,

Ochapa Ogenyi, made this known at a stakeholders’ validation workshop on the national strategy for transitioning to the SDGs, held in Abuja, on Tuesday. Ogenyi said with the adoption of the successor framework at the recently concluded 70th session of the United Nations Gener-

PDP is for a peaceful Nigeria —Metuh Jacob Segun Olatunji And Leon Usigbe-Abuja

National Publicity Secretary of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, on Tuesday, declared that the party represented national interest and how to build a peaceful Nigeria. Speaking at one-day intensive workshop on external communication for zonal publicity secretaries and some state publicity secretaries of the party, held in Abuja, Chief Metuh maintained that the philosophy of the party “is centred on how to transfer wealth to the entire populace.”

The workshop was organised by the party in collaboration with the International Republican Institute (IRI), as part of efforts to rebrand and rebuild it ahead of the 2019 general elections. According to him, “while some think PDP represents impunity and share the money, the fact that the party represents national interest has not been questioned.” “Our philosophy has been transfer of wealth for the entire populace, we pray that it will not get to the time when they will not ask this government where the money is,” he insisted.

Chief Metuh advised the participants at the workshop to apply a lot of integrity on information that emanate from the party in their day to day activities in a bid to rebuild the party as its image makers. “You must level with the public, it is when Nigerians see that the party believes in truth that they will believe you,” he advised. Chief Metuh noted that the PDP had benefited a lot in the past from the IRI, stressing that the participants should make themselves accessible to the media on the decisions of the party.

al Assembly (UNGA), “Nigeria must immediately hit the ground running from 1st January, 2016.” According to him, the national strategy document, which was considered at the session, will clearly stipulate the essential elements for effective transition. He also stated that it will outline the required enabling policy, legal, funding, capacity mechanisms and pathways for effective implementation of the new development agenda. “As the SDGs take effect on 1st January, 2016, it is now time for action and implementation. This time around, all hands have to be on deck to ensure early and smooth transition to the SDGs. With your collective support, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs (OSSAP-MDGs) stands ready to mainstream the SDGs in Nigeria. In this regard, we have undertaken a number of activities to ensure effective transition.”

AS part of the efforts of the Red Cross ociety of Nigeria to uplift the standard of living of Internally Displaced Persons, the society had concluded arrangement to help 200 female IPDs, who lost their husbands as a result of the insurgency in the North eastern part of the country. The Deputy Director, Disaster Management of the Society, Mrs Atilina Simon, who disclosed this to newsmen in Bauchi, on Monday, said the society has registered 200 female IDPs in Borno and Bauchi states respectively. According to her, the society was in Bauchi for livelihood intervention for IDPs living in host states and with the help of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was able to identify 100 IDPs women who lost their husbands in the insurgency at Wuntin Dada and Inkil. “We are targeting two states which are Borno and Bauchi, and we are looking at women who lost their husbands in the insurgency prone states, we are looking for a hundred in each of the states, so we concluded the exercise in Borno and have now arrived in Bauchi,” she said.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

CSKA not afraid of Man U —Musa

UPER Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa has said his Russian army club, CSKA Moscow will not be intimidated when they host Manchester United tonight in a UEFA Champions League game. All the four teams in the group have three points each with no goal difference, scored the same number of goals and conceded the same number of goals. Musa said he is ready to score goals and assist his team-mates nail the

EPL team as he admits it will be a tough duel. “We are not afraid of Manchester United, why should we? We are a strong side and a professional team. It is going to be a tough game no doubt but we are equal to the task,” he said. “I am ready and the team is ready for the game. I am looking forward to contributing goals and assists to win the game for my club. “We have been preparing for the game just like every other game we

have played,” he said. The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, Musa has scored four goals in the UEFA Champions League this season. He had a brace in the 3-2 win at Sparta Prague in the third round qualifying game second leg, a goal in the 3-1 win over Sporting Lisbon in the playoff second leg and another during the CSKA Moscow’s 3-2 win over PSV on match day two in the group stage.

Musa

Oyo SWAN election still October 30 —NUJ By Nurudeen Alimi THE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council has again reiterated that elections into various positions in the state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) will still hold on Friday October 30, 2015 as earlier scheduled. This followed a move by some desperate members of the association who are bent on causing trouble through the election as reliable information has it that they are planning to conduct an election today as against the October 30 date the NUJ had scheduled for the poll. According to a letter signed by the secretary, Oyo NUJ, Comrade Rotimi Babalola and sent to major stakeholders involved in

the election, a copy of which was made available to Tribunesport, the statement reads: “Following series of abnormalities that marred the first attempt to conduct the election on October 9, it was resolved at an enlarged meeting of stakeholders that the state council of NUJ will compile the list of authentic SWAN members from across the chapels. “The new list which will be forwarded to NUJ and SWAN national secretariat in Abuja, will be displayed on October 23, while the election proper holds on October 30. We stand on these and will not allow any election to hold. We are using this medium to inform SWAN members in the state that no election will hold except on October 30, 2015.”

From left, captain of Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club, Mr Kunle Yusuf; captain of Abeokuta Sports Club Tennis section, Chief Bayode Kehinde; ex-international Chief Segun Odegbami, ex-tennis international, Coach Adepeju Faboyinde and Mr Gboyega Osinlaru, after featuring at the tennis friendly last weekend in Abeokuta. PHOTO: GANIYU SALMAN.

Odegbami shines as Abeokuta Club beat Awolowo Tennis Club in friendly By Ganiyu Salman FORMER Nigerian international, Chief Segun Odegbami (MON), stole the show last weekend as Abeokuta Sports Club hosted Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club in a return leg tennis friendly which ended 5-2 in favour of the hosts. Odegbami, a member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Green Eagles winning squad, combined with Gboyega Osinlaru to defeat the pair of ex-international tennis player, coach Adepeju Faboyinde and Kunle Yusuf of Awolowo Tennis Club 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. Speaking after the game, Odegbami said he embraced tennis in Ibadan over three decades ago while playing

active football. “I started tennis in 1982 incidentally in Ibadan, when I first retired from football before I went back to football and eventually stopped in 1984. I thank members of Awolowo Tennis Club for reminding me of my root through this visit. “I enjoy playing tennis as you can all see and I enjoyed today’s match. I actually played against two men because coach Peju is equally a man on the tennis courts,” said the IICC Shooting Stars legend who is gunning for the FIFA presidency seat. Former chairman of Oyo Football Association, Barrister Leye Adepoju had recorded the first win of the day for OATC when he came

from behind to outstroke Mr Kehinde Oladeinde 1-6, 6-3, 6-3. Captain of OATC, Yusuf lost to Kehinde Ijaola 1-6, 1-6 as Barrister Leye Olubajo also lost to Raufu Akinwunmi 6-0, 6-0 in another singles match. The pair of Engineer Abitoye Benjamin and Wale Alayande of OATC lost to the pair of Dr Akinbo Dayo and Dr Kayode B. Olurin 7-5, 0-6, 4-6 to round off the morning session. The visitors got their second victory in the doubles when the pair of Oladimeji Olatunde and Sofumade Babatunde defeated Mr Leke Bada and Dr Sokefu Eniola 6-2, 7-5. However, the pair of Kehinde Ijaola and Raufu Akinwunmi claimed the

fifth victory for Abeokuta Sports Club when they defeated the pair of Leye Adepoju and Leye Olubajo in two straight sets, 6-0, 6-0 in the last match of the day. Chairman of the organising committee of the friendly tennis tourney, Dr Akinbo Dayo while speaking at a dinner said “we appreciate your visit in many folds” adding “the tournament has ended and I am happy to say that there is no victor, no vanquished”. Earlier in his address, the vice president of Abeokuta Sports Club, Mr Akin Ajayi had lauded the spirit of Awolowo Tennis Club for the return visit, just as he urged OATC to extend such visits to other clubs across the country.

Wednesday, 21 October, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

7 1. Supreme Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria, His Most Eminence Professor Dr Solomon Alao (right), Reverend Tola (Mrs) Oyediran adn Mr Olumide Oyediran. 2. From left, Chief Stadium Manager, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, Alhaji Ahmed Jumare; Zonal Coordinator, South West National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Steve Olarinoye, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and the Head, Admin, Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Mrs Grace Majoyeogbe. 3. From left, Evangelist Funmi Aragbaye, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and His Eminence Professor Dr Solomon Alao.

4. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (middle) with Council of South West Women Leaders, led by the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs) Alaba Lawson. 5. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador Ajose, with members of Sagamu Development Association, led by Otunba Olumuyiwa Sonuga. 6. The entourage of the Head, Cherubim and Seraphim Unification Church of Nigeria with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran. 7. Members of Unification Church of Nigeria, Cherubim and Seraphim, Remo, with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran. 8. Primate Olapade Agoro signing the condolence register at the Tribune House, Ibadan.

SIDELINES

NO 16,353

WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER, 2015

N150

A young man, Austin, has reportedly been nabbed for stealing many phones. After being nabbed he begged the police not to let his loving mother know about his criminal activities because she would be devastated. Instead of begging the police he should have begged the media to kill the story. Unfortunately his mother must have known by now.

FIFA confirms Feb 2016 presidential poll FIFA’s presidential election will go ahead as planned on February 26 next year, the governing body’s executive committee has confirmed. The provisional 90-day suspension handed to at incumbent, Sepp Blatter - as well as secretary general Jerome Valcke - as part of FIFA’s anti-corruption investigations had led to calls for the elections to be brought forward or suspended. Following an extraordinary meeting of the executive committee on Tuesday, however, FIFA has announced the extraordinary elective congress will be held on the original date at the end of February 2016. FIFA has also confirmed that the code of ethics will be subjected to an amendment in order to create “more transparency” relating to the organisation’s activities. The change will be made to article 36 of the current code, which specifies the levels to which executive committee members must keep the details of their operations confidential. Blatter was re-elected as FIFA president in May, though he later announced he would step down from his position after claiming he did not feel he had the support of football at large. The 79-year-old was provisionally suspended earlier this month following the launch of a criminal investigation into his actions. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Toure

TODAY’S MATCHES Globacom Premier League El-Kanemi Wikki Tourists Heartland Shooting Stars Nasarawa Utd Kwara United Abia Warriors Warri Wolves Dolphins FC Sunshine Stars

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Giwa FC FC Ifeanyiubah Sharks FC FC Taraba Enyimba Bayelsa Utd Lobi Stars FC Akwa United FC Kano Pillars Rangers (pp)

Champions League CSKA Moscow Atlético Madrid Juventus Galatasaray Malmo PSG Wolfsburg Man City

Emenike

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Man United Astana Mönchengladbach Benfica Shakhtar Real Madrid PSV Eindhoven Sevilla

Emenike joins Enyeama in retirement, quits Eagles By Ganiyu Salman

ARELY two weeks after after the captain of the Super Eagles, Vincent Enyeama called it quits with the senior national team, another prominent member, Emmanuel Emenike has followed suit. Emenike, on Monday night like Enyeama on October 8, announced his retirement from international football through the social media. The Al Ain of UAE player (on loan from

Fenerbahce of Turkey) who was instrumental in Nigeria’s triumph at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa, where he also emerged the goal king of the tournament, said he took the decision after he considered the atmosphere in the camp of the senior national team as no longer friendly. He wrote on Instagram: “No more Eagles career! After five great years, I am happy to announce that I have put full-stop to my national team career for the sake of national peace. “It’s a pleasure for me to have played for this

Toure emerges Africa’s only Ballon d’Or candidate YAYA Toure remains the only African player shortlisted for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award. The Manchester City midfielder alongside his teammates, Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne are among five English Premier League players on the 23-man Ballon d’Or shortlist. Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez are also in the frame to be named world football’s best player. Ballon d’Or holder Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi,

who have won the past seven awards between them, lead the nominees. Wales and Real Madrid forward, Gareth Bale is the only British player named among the contestants. Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger are on the 10-man Coach of the Year shortlist. They will contend with Barcelona manager, Luis Enrique, who guided his side to the treble of Champions League, Spanish league and Spanish cup titles, and Bayern Munich coach, Pep Guardiola. There are few surprise names on the players’ list, with QPR midfielder Massimo Luongo and Bournemouth winger Christian Atsu, who both reportedly made the 59-man longlist, overlooked.

great country. I never regretted it and I think it’s the best time to end it. Million thanks to all the fans who have been very supportive during the good and bad times. “I am very proud of my performance, I am proud of my team-mates and I am very proud of the nation called ‘Nigeria’. My AFCON gold medal is a sign of great achievement, My AFCON topscorer award speaks a lot about my commitment and dedication to the team. Super Eagles is a camp not a family house, and it shouldn’t be a threat zone for any individual. “I have done according to our national anthem. All my dreams came true in the national team, I dreamt (sic) to win Nations Cup for Nigeria after 20-years, I dreamt to played at the World Cup as well as to make a name for myself… In the space of five years, I got them. I’m a winner! “For every disappointing fans, maybe due to my inability to re-establish my goal scoring instinct for Super Eagles, I will like to say I’m sorry but the ones I had scored counted well for the team. ”As long as Nigeria remains, you and I will always remember the name ‘Emenike’. “Finally, I am happy to make a bow and continue supporting the team every time,” said Emenike who featured at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The bulky forward who made his international debut in February 2011 in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos, had 37 caps with 16 goals to show as of his last game against Cameroon in a friendly in Belgium on October 12.

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