21st November 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,637 MONDAY, 21 NOVEMBER, 2016 www.tribuneonlineng.com

TODAY'S SPECIAL

What you can do to prevent heart attack HEART attack seems to be on the prowl, plucking many lives. Don’t wait to be a victim. You can protect your heart from attack. And it’s simpler than you might think. These 10 lifestyle changes can help prevent a heart attack and heart disease.

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Zamfara killing —P2 continues, 2 policemen, 7 others killed in fresh attack

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Gunmen kidnap Hirse, former minister, in Kaduna —P5

Ondo poll: Akeredolu, Oke, Jegede talk tough

•5 reasons I will win —Akeredolu —P36,37 •Federal might will not win election —AD •Jegede inaugurates LG campaign committees says, 'no conspiracy can stop me' TSA policy stalling research in varsities —ASUU —P34

MPC in dilemma over rising inflation, slowing economy Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele (second right), with the President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Professor Segun Ajibola (right); Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc and Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs, Herbert Wigwe, and others, at the 2016 Bankers Dinner, in Lagos, at the weekend.

•2-day MPC meeting opens in Abuja today —P12

Graduate employment: FG to publish names of successful applicants this week

•Names sent to state govts, FCT •200,000 to start work as teachers, health workers Dec 1

—P2

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What you can do to prevent heart attack Continued from front page

Eat for your future Add plenty of fruits and veggies, grains, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids like fresh tuna or herring to your diet. Eat less salt, saturated fats, sweets, and red meats.

Avoid trans fats. Avoid food with “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” ingredients. Variety in your diet is a good way to get all the nutrients you need.

Take it easy Find a relaxation method that works for you. Yoga, meditation, dedicated time to unwind after work — these can help keep your stress levels down. Stressful emotions such as anger and hostility may also lead to heart attack risk, so keep calm and be cool.

Ban smoking If you never started smoking, kudos!

If you already quit, excellent. If you still

smoke, stop. Talk to your doctor to find out what method will work best for you.

Even people who smoke fewer than five cigarettes a day can have early signs of heart disease. Start now. In just one year you can reduce your risk of a heart attack.

Keep tabs on your blood pressure If it’s too high, your risk of a heart attack and heart disease goes up. Stress management, a healthy diet, and regular exercise can help you manage your blood pressure.

Your doctor may also prescribe medications to lower your levels.

Mind your blood sugar Too much sugar in your blood can damage your arteries, even if you don’t have diabetes. Work with your doctor to control your levels. That may lower your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. Remember, you can’t tell if you have diabetes (or high blood pressure, or high cholesterol)

based on how you feel.

get there.

Be smart about cholesterol When blood flows through your heart, it can drop traces of cholesterol, fat, and calcium, creating a buildup of plaque in your arteries. Too much of it makes a heart attack more likely. If you don’t know your cholesterol levels, ask your doctor for a blood test.

Keep in mind, there are two kinds of cholesterol. One is bad for your heart (LDL), and the other can protect you from heart disease (HDL). You can improve your levels with exercise and a diet low in unhealthy fats. Some people may also need to take medicine that lowers cholesterol.

Ask about aspirin Talk with your doctor about taking an aspirin every day. In some people, this reduces the risk of heart attack.

Don’t wait to lose weight If you If you have extra pounds, it can put your heart at risk. Exercise and a good diet help. Ask your doctor or a dietitian what your weight should be and how to

Get a move on Hit the treadmill or the trail. Walk around the neighborhood or go for a swim.

Whatever activity best fits your needs, do it! Regular exercise can prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure, and improve your cholesterol levels.

Be social Stay in touch with your friends and family. Research shows that people with more social support are less prone to heart trouble. As you grow your network and make new friends, know that you might be good for their heart health, too.

Courtesy: http://www.webmd.com

Graduate employment: FG to publish names of successful applicants this week

•Names sent to state govts, FCT •200,000 to start work as teachers, health workers Dec 1 Leon Usigbe -Abuja

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HE Presidency, on Sunday, said it would soon release the names of 200,000 successful candidates to be employed in

various fields.

According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President, Laolu Akande, in Abuja, the names to be released would be the first batch of the 500,000 persons to be

recruited to work as teachers, agriculture and health workers in their communities from December 1, 2016.

It said while the 200,000 were selected about two weeks ago, their names had now been sent to state

governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which it said, would deploy them to their specific programme assignments.

The statement added that the names would also be published this week on the

N-Power internet portal, while the participants would start receiving SMS messages informing them of their selection as from today.

The Presidency encouraged state governments to post the names of the suc-

Farmers/herdsmen clashes: Sultan proffers inter-governmental partnership Sanya Adejokun- Abuja

THE Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has expressed the of the need for partnership between governments at all levels, to evolve solution that will end incessant farmers and herdsmen crisis.

Speaking at the weekend, during the kick-off of the dry season wheat farming and distribution of wheat seeds, as well as other farm inputs to farmers, under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, in Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, he also commended Governor of the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, over the bank’s initiation of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

He said the inability to resolve the crisis would frustrate government’s efforts at ensuring food security and making the exercise to end in futility.

According to the Sultan, CBN’s commitment was worthy of celebration at all times and maintained that the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme was key to ensuring food security for the nation.

The monarch enjoined farmers to continue to be diligent in their farming activities, as oil would only provide funds, but would not put food on the table.

Kebbi State governor and

chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Rice and Wheat, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said tremendous success had been achieved since the launch of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (APB) by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 17, 2015 in BirinKebbi.

Alhaji Bagudu revealed that where farmers had benefitted from the ABP, their yields had increased tremendously.

The state governor said Nigeria farmers were hard-

working, but said there had been too little funding for agricultural activities.

Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, said the state with an estimated population of about five million, almost 85 per cent of the population were engaged in farming as their main occupation.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said the objective of agriculture in Sokoto State was to reduce poverty and achieve sustenance farming to help cater for the

well-being of the farmers.

Tambuwal disclosed that with the advent of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, 12,000 wheat and 25,000 rice farmers had been registered, as well as the establishment of small holder millers for wheat in 11 local government areas and 12 local government areas for rice production in Sokoto State.

He assured that the state government would continue to pursue a policy framework that would ensure improvement of Agriculture

and its value chains.

The CBN governor, Mr Emefiele, in his remarks, said the commendation should be directed to President Buhari for showing focus and commitment in diversifying from oil and gas to agriculture and reducing heavy reliance on imported food into the country.

Emefiele commended Governor Tambuwal for the purchase and distribution of farm inputs to the farmers at highly subsidised rate.

Zamfara killing continues, 2 policemen, 7 others killed in fresh attack NINE people, including two policemen, have been killed

by Bandits in a fresh attack in Zamfara State.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Dan Awunah, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Sunday.

Awunah said seven of the victims were members of the communities where the hoodlums attacked.

He said the Police Mobile Force and the Counter-terrorism Unit had been deployed in the area to restore law and order.

The member representing Zurmi West in the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Yusuf Moriki, told NAN that the incident occurred at Dole, Tudun Bugaje and Kwangwami communities

in Zurmi Local Government Area.

According to him, 25 people had been killed, while many others were injured during the attack.

“So far, we have the record of 25 people who were killed during the attack, while many injured others have been taken to hospital for treatment,” Moriki said.

NAN reported that the bandits attacked the villages on Saturday night, after carrying out similar attacks in some communities at neighboring Shinkafi Local Government Area the previous day.

The lawmaker commended security agencies in the state over measures so far taken to restore peace and stability in the area, but

urged them to do more.

He appealed to the people of the area to remain calm as the state government, in

collaboration with security agencies, was making efforts to restore peace and stability in the area.

Speed limiters: Full enforcement begins Feb 1, says Oyeyemi THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Sunday, said violation of speed limiting devices would start attracting fines from February 1, 2017.

Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, the Corps Marshal told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the FRSC had set the date for full enforcement to commence on the device.

Oyeyemi said the commission had commenced advisory enforcement to the

road users since October 1, adding that about 131,000 road users had been enlightened on the importance of the device.

“The speed limiter is on course; by February 1, 2017, the full enforcement and implementation will commence. We commenced advisory enforcement some months back,” he said. ‘’So far, about 131,000 people have been given citation and enlightenment,” he added.

cessful first batch applicants in their local government areas while there would be further public announcements.

It added: “Between now and the end of the month, the states and the FCT would be engaged in deploying the graduates who would formally start working and earning their stipends on December 1, 2016.

“Of the 200,000 first batch, 150,000 of them would teach, 30,000 would work in the Agric sector and 20,000 in Healthcare delivery covering the three specific programme assignments.”

The statement congratulated the successful applicants and encouraged them to take the opportunity seriously by learning the skills that would brighten their future.

It also implored them to serve their communities with commitment and dedication.

It informed that for those who had not been selected at this time, there was a waiting list based on the total number of applicants, while assuring that subsequent batches would absorb more of the qualified applicants.

It explained: “All together, the N-Power will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates.

“The 500,000 graduates, under the N-Power Corps programme, will be trained in skills that will enable them to exit after two years to economically-viable jobs and business opportunities.”

“Participants will be provided teaching, instructional and advisory solutions in four main focus areas, and would be paid a monthly stipend of N30,000 during the programme.

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4 news Food security implications grave, Gowon warns

Monday, 21 November, 2016

By Wale Akinselure

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ORMER head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, has warned that food scarcity in the country will lead to social unrest and instability.

This was just as he decried that continued insurgency also dissuaded people from engaging in agriculture to produce food crops.

Gowon sounded these warnings in his remarks as chairman at the convocation lecture of McPherson University, Ogun State, entitled: “Food Security and Terrorism: Way Out for Ni-

geria,” at the weekend.

“If we cast our minds back to Biblical times, we realise that God purposefully created man and put him in the Garden of Eden. The word: ‘Garden’ is significant, for it connotes abundance, inner peace and security. Eden was lush green, meaning that there was food security.

“As we have come to know, rebels without any cause, as we can rightly describe insurgents everywhere, deliberately create panic in the land so that there is no time to produce food crops. No nation is ever stable when there is food scarcity, which, more than power monger-

ing, is one of the easiest ways to cause social unrest,” Gowon said.

Speaking further, he avowed belief that McPher-

son University would continue to showcase excellence and produce persons that were sound in character and learning.

Among guests at the event were the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who delivered the convoca-

tion lecture, while a former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade, was installed Chancellor of the university.

Reddington Hospital launches Hi-Tech MRI centre THE Reddington Hospital Group, Lagos, has, again, raised the bar in the provision of excellent health care service and patients’ management in sub-Saharan Africa, as it launched a new Hi-tech Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) centre with the acquisition of 1.5 Tesla Signa Explorer MRI scanner from General Electric (GE) Healthcare.

The new MRI Centre, which is housed at the Purple Ray Diagnostic Centre of Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, is a cutting-edge medical equipment technology which delivers clearer, accurate digital imaging and reduces the high noise level and lengthy time associated with the conventional MRI scanning machines.

“It also has technologies to significantly reduce the duration of a scan, improve patients’ comfort, gives high image quality in patients with MRI compatible metal joint implants improving its utility in certain orthopaedic patients “ says Dr. Olutunde Lalude, Group Medical Director, Reddington Hospital at the launch.

The Purple Ray Centre of the Reddington Hospital, which was also relaunched at the event, offers a 1.5T digital MRI with advanced images, 64 Slice CT Scan, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Digital Mammography, Digital Fluoroscopy, Digital X-Ray, 4D Ultrasound Scan among other diagnostic services.

The Chief Executive Officer, Reddington Hospital Group, Dr Yemi Onabowale, said the launch of the MRI centre, coming four weeks after another specialist centre, the MAXY Super Specialty Centre was launched, is an indication of the hospital’s readiness to provide seamless and quality care in the hospital’s value chain.

He said the 1.5T MRI scanner was able to ventilate a

very sick patient while undergoing scanning.

He urged doctors in other hospitals in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria to use the latest technology in the MRI Centre to ensure accurate diagnosis for their patients.

President/CEO, GE Sustainable Healthcare Solutions, Mrs Terri Bresenham, said the new 1.5 Telsa Signa Explorer MRI scan was the first of its kind in Nigeria and would enable healthcare providers in Nigeria to have the same kind of accurate diagnosis in hospitals in Europe, America and some Asian countries.

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, who was special guest at the event, lauded the Reddington Hospital management for the excellent healthcare delivery and tasked the hospital to avail people living in rural areas its excellent medical services through medical missionary.

From left, executive members from General Electric, Terri Bresenham, Farid Fezoua and Tolu Disu,with the Kaduna State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Dogo, at the kick-off of the supply of equipment to 278 public hospitals in Kaduna State, at the weekend.

Kaduna, GE launch scheme to equip 278 hospitals KADUNA State and global corporate giant General Electric (GE), on Sunday, flagged-off a programme to equip 278 health care facilities in Kaduna State. This is the biggest ever refit of the public healthcare infrastructure in the state. It represents the Kaduna State government’s effort, to provide a comprehensive solution to the healthcare challenges in the state, including maternal and infant mortality, communicable illnesses and the problems caused by the growth of chronic conditions like diabetes, heart

disease and cancer.

At its first health summit held last year, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, governor of the state, announced the determination of the government to the perils that pregnant mothers and infants face.

He said it is a priority to improve health outcomes for ordinary people. To achieve these goals, Kaduna State is striving to improve primary healthcare for all people, while at the same time, improving the quality and readiness of health service delivery, by ramping up the supply and quality of health

professionals.

Under the partnership between GE and Kaduna State, 255 primary health centres would be equipped, along with 23 general hospitals across the state. The programme also includes a package of training for the healthcare professionals and a three-year maintenance agreement for the equipment. The project will deliver at least one refitted hospital, in each of the 255 wards in the state.

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State, welcomed the flag- off of

the partnership with GE. “Kaduna State government is seeking better health outcomes for its people.

This partnership with GE will accelerate the development of our health facilities and equip them to deliver better services. The equipment, technologies and training our state is getting under this partnership, will help to improve standards of maternal and infant care, implant safer surgical standards and raise our capacity for disease prevention and infection control.”

Jonathan, shining light during, after office —PDP Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

THE National Executive Committee (NEC), the National Caucus and the entire

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family, on Sunday, congratulated former President Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of his 59 birthday anniversary.

A statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja, observed that at 59, Jonathan’s legacies and achievements

Operation to take over Sambisa forest ongoing —CDS THE Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, said, on Sunday, in Maiduguri, Borno State, that an operation tagged “Operation Crackdown’’ to take over the Sambisa forest from the Boko Haram terrorists by troops has commenced.

Olonisakin spoke while fielding questions from newsmen after he inspected some military fighting equipment at the headquarters of the Threatre Command, Operation Lafiya Dole.

He also said alongside the operation crackdown, “Operation Safe Corridor Initiative,’’ had also been put

in place for the terrorists to surrender.

“That is the corridor for them – terrorist to surrender.

That corridor is always open.

“However, we will not wait until they surrender, that is why operation crackdown, to ensure that we take over the Sambisa, clear the terrorists from those places and make the place safe for development,’’ Olonisakin said.

The Chief of Defence Staff said he was in Maiduguri for operational visit to encourage the troops to continue the fight and to commend their efforts so far.

He also commended the

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, for ingenuity and creativity in the war against insurgency in the North-East.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that before embarking on the inspection, the CDS had met behind closed doors with the Chief of Army Staff, Commander, Threatre Command, MajorGeneral Lucky Irabor and senior military officers at the headquarters of the Threatre Command.

NAN also reported that Olonisakin visited wounded soldiers at the 7 Division Hospital at Maimalari Cantonment.

in academia, politics, governance and social life remain indelible and worthy of emulation by wellmeaning people.

It said: “You are a shining light during and after office as one of the heads of state in Nigeria and Africa in general who willingly conceded power to the opposition in the interest of peace and democracy.

“Your Excellency sir, in less than two years of leaving office, Nigerians are yearning and crying for your return especially as your successor, who won the 2015 presidential election on the altar of propaganda and lies against your administration, has done no better since he took over from you on May 29, 2015.

“Your Excellency, the harvest of your electoral reforms for free, fair and credible electoral and democratic processes for which the All Progressives Congress (APC)

is the primary beneficiary, have been eroded and quickly replaced with inconclusive elections, electoral apathy, voter inducement, intimidation, harassments and unfair incarceration of judges and squeezing of opposition at all levels.

“This reversal of your achievements is also visible in all sectors of our economy as the vibrant and largest economy you left behind in May 2015 is today in great recession and near depression.

“Your Excellency sir, this is your 59th birthday anniversary, and so let us allow you celebrate instead of bothering you with the sick and comatose state of our economy.”

While wishing him a happy birthday, the PDP prayed that the Almighty God would bless him with good health and many more years of service to his home state, Bayelsa, Nigeria, Africa and the world in general.

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Gunmen kidnap Hirse, former minister, in Kaduna FromMuhammadSabiuand Isaac Shobayo

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HERE was an exchange of gunfire at Dan Amar Road, Unguwar Rimi G.R.A. Kaduna, on Sun-

day, as gunmen invaded the street where Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s uncle lives and kidnapped a former minister, Bagudu Hirse.

According to reports, the former minister, in com-

pany of a friend, had gone to pay condolence visit to the family of the late Sultan of Sokoto, Ibrahim Dasuki, on Kabiru Road, few metres away from Inuwa Wada Road and was said to have stopped over

which is fully funded by the European Union.

The overall objective of this initiative is to empower Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria and enhance their capacity, in the provision of services and participation in Anti- corruption crusade.

According to a statement signed by the Founder/Executive Director, Akin Fadeyi Foundation, Mr Akin Fadeyi, the support from the interna-

tional bodies after a rigorous screening process, is a validation that the campaign not only meets global standards and best practices but also that it is a step in the right direction “We are extremely proud to announce that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the Project on Support to Anticorruption in Nigeria which is fully funded by the European Union; have partnered with our nationwide campaign against retail and petty corruption- Not In My Country.

“This commendable support is coming after a strict short listing processes and other global standard measures. We shall be working in concert with other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), who also bring on board various advocacy projects, aimed at social reordering for a better society.

Fight against corruption: ‘Not in my Country’ gets support from EU, UNODC, UNDP

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

THE Pan-Nigeria citizen based campaign against retail corruption in Nigeria, tagged; Not In My Country, an initiative of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation (AFF), has secured partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), under the Project, on Support to Anticorruption in Nigeria,

FCT Minister, Perm Sec dragged to court over demolition of property CHRISTIAN OKEKE - ABUJA

AN Abuja-based business man and Chairman of Silver Proof Nigeria Limited, Timothy Bagwams, has dragged Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Musa Bello, and the Permanent Secretary, Babatope Ajakaiye to court, seeking an order restraining them from further demolishing his property.

Others joined in the suit, FCT/HC/CV/2020/16, were Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Director of FCT Parks and Recreation.

The Court action followed demolition of a garden facility belonging to Bagwams, situated on Plot 747 A00 at Central Area, by officials of Department of Development Control.

The business man alleged that the demolition was aimed at taking the plot of land designated as District Recreational Park away from him.

He noted that the land

Abandoned baby A baby of about four years old, was rescued at Royal B Hotel, Olomi Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, on December 12, 2015.

Anybody with useful information that could lead to the whereabouts of her parents or relatives, should please, contact the Principal Social Welfare Officer, Ibadan/Ibarapa Zonal Social Welfare Office, Iyaganku, Ibadan or the nearest police station.

Thank you.

was duly allocated to his company, Silver Proof Nigeria Limited, by the Federal Capital Territory administration, in 2007, with appropriate documents for the purpose of developing a garden on the plot.

Bagwams alleged that, there were previous attempts to hijack the land from him, on the ground that the location constituted security threat.

at the house of Daura, who was at home receiving guests and other family members.

Eyewitness said he had got out of his car and was exchanging pleasantries with some guests who were standing in front of the house, when three men inside an ash coloured Toyota Corolla car stopped, jumped down from the car and whisked the former minister away almost immediately.

“From what I could hear, they were asking him to get into their car but he was trying to seek further explanations from them but at that time, people started approaching the scene so one of them raised the gun he was holding and made to shoot but it did not fire, he tried it the second time and it failed but the third time, a shot rang and people ran for dear lives,” the source said.

The spokesman for the Kaduna Police command, Aliyu Usman, who confirmed the incident, said a team of detectives had been deployed across the state to ensure safe and unconditional release of the former minister from his abductors.

However, when the Nigerian Tribune visited the area, security had been

beefed up as stern looking police men were seen checking vehicles passing.

Meanwhile, Nigerian Tribune gathered that the abductors are yet to get in touch with the family in Jos Plateau State.

Sources close to the fam-

ily of Ambassador Hirse in Rayffield, Jos, told Nigerian Tribune that the phone, at a point was ringing but later switched off, adding that the abductors are yet to get in touch with the family or ask for ransom.

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Metro...

crime, security, court

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Oluwatoyin Malik 08116954633, 08078891950

e-mail: tribunecrimedesk@gmail.com

Task Force nabs estate agent with packs of fake Lagos State govt documents Bola Badmus- Lagos

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PERATIVES of Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation (Task Force) have arrested a fake estate agent, Sunday (surname withheld), found to be defrauding innocent members of the public with different fake Lagos State government’s letter headed documents.

Chairman of the agency, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, while parading the

CJN should sign execution warrants —Kano Gov Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has suggested that the law which mandates state governors to sign death warrants of condemned prisoners should be amended by National Assembly to enable the task to be reassigned to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

He made the call while receiving the new Comptroller of Prisons, Kano State Command, Alhaji Aliyu Achor, who complained to him that most of the governors refused to sign execution documents in their respective states, saying it was a factor contributing to prisons congestion across the federation.

“Life is valued in African culture, perhaps that is why governors are reluctant to sign execution documents.

Since judges are the ones who make the sentences, I think the National Assembly should amend the law so that the CJN signs the warrants. I think the CJN is in a better position to assent to the execution,” the governor stated.

Dr Ganduje assured that his administration would look into the possibility of allocating more land adjacent the expanse of territory already apportioned for the proposed relocation of Kano Central Prison to Janguza, the outskirts of the city, as well as for the extension of Wudil prison, to accommodate more inmates.

45-year-old suspect, a native of Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State, disclosed that the suspect was apprehended based on a complaint from Mr and Mrs Nurudeen (surname withheld), who live in Papa Ashafa, Agege, Lagos.

According to a release made available by the Task Force spokesperson, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, chairman of the agency disclosed further that the complainants reported to his office that they was served a ‘Quit Notice’ on Lagos State Task Force letter headed document, stating that the agency later discovered that the document was fake after careful investigation.

He stated further that a thorough search was later carried out on the resident of the suspect on Shita Street, Dopemu, Agege, where the agency recovered packs of different neatly printed fake Lagos State government documents.

The Task Force boss enjoined members of the public to be wary of some dubious elements within the society, who specialised in impersonating, deceiving and duping innocent members of the public with different fake Lagos State Ministries, Departments and Agencies letter headed documents.

He reminded innocent members of the public being victimised or harassed by any suspected landlord/ landlady to always visit the Lagos State Citizens Mediation Centre under the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, where disputes between landlords and tenants, as well as between employers and employees, among others were being mediated upon.

The suspect, while responding to questions, said he retired as a civil servant with the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment in year 2014.

He admitted to have been using different fake letter headed documents of the Lagos State government to defraud innocent members of the public through estate agent business and other environmental issues.

Sunday said the last one

he did was a ‘Quit Notice’ he issued and served on Mr and Mrs Nurudeen after he collected N50,000

from the landlady of same address with a fake Lagos Task Force letter headed document.

“I have made a lot of fortunes using fake documents of the Lagos State Government Ministries,

Departments and Agencies in defrauding innocent members of the public,” he said.

Some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) cuddle their babies in the camp, at the recently inaugurated Guma Shelter Support Project constructed by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Benue State government, at Daudu village, Benue State, on Sunday. The woman on the right is carrying triplets after her ninth child. PHOTO: NAN

1 person killed, police division, 15 vehicles razed in tanker fire in Zaria THE police have confirmed the death of one person in a tanker fire incident which occurred in Zaria, which also razed a police station and 15 vehicles, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The incident occurred Saturday night at Danmagaji area of Zaria in Kaduna State, when the tanker driver lost control in an attempt to avoid a pot hole.

In the process, he was said to have crushed to death a motorcyclist and in the process razed the police station and vehicles.

The NAN reported that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Agyole Abeh, confirmed the figure to newsmen after visiting the scene on Sunday.

“The incident was quite unfortunate, but we have to give glory to God because of lives involved.

This is what we should appreciate God for.

“The inferno would have claimed lots of lives, most

especially as Danmagaji usually had heavy traffic, and this police station is a place where people always patronise.

“Today, we would have been telling a different story.

“However everything

in the station have been completely burnt down, as you can see the structure, nothing is left apart from the wall,” he said.

The Police Commissioner solicited the intervention of the state government, traditional and

community leaders in rebuilding the police station.

“The state government had never let the police down; it has been given resounding assistance to the force and I believe it will find an immediate solution to the problem.”

Communal clash claims 3 in Cross River Anthony Ubong - Calabar NO fewer than three youths were at the weekend reported killed in a renewed communal clash between Ediba and Usumutong communities, both in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Over the years, both communities had been at daggers drawn over the ownership of a piece of land, Metro learnt.

A resident of one of the warring communities who craved anonymity, told Metro on Sunday that the attack of one Ediba youth, an okada rider, by suspected youths from Usu-

mutong, in the early hours of Saturday triggered the fresh hostilities.

He said though the okada rider was able to escape the attack with some degrees of injuries, but lost his motorcycle to the attackers, who were armed with guns.

Having failed to achieve their aim, the hoodlums surged towards Enusokwe and Enukwema communities, both in Ediba, where they allegedly murdered three youths in cold blood.

“The situation was terrifying because we least expected this new attack.

“My brother, who is an okada rider, managed to

escape the first attack with wounds, but lost his bike.

“Our area in Enusokwe, near water board quarters, appears to be the war theatre for now. So far, three persons have been killed and we have all fled from our home, including my father,” he said.

The Cross River State Police Command and the 13 brigade Nigerian Armyconfirmed the incident, assuring that the situation had been brought under control.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Jimoh Ozi-Obey, said “we are already aware and in charge, please.”

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Monday, 21 November, 2016

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Monday, 21 November, 2016

businessnews Slowing economy, rising inflation: MPC in dilemma 12

Sanya Adejokun - Abuja

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ITH an economy in deep recession but inflation spiraling out of control, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) meeting in Abuja between today and tomorrow ordinarily, appears in a dilemma as to how to deal with the situation without hurting the polity.

Normally, inflation is down during recession but because Nigeria is an importing country and there is a serious dwindle in foreign exchange inflow due mainly to sharp drop in oil prices, this unlikely twin evil currently bedevils the country.

Also, as a result of the inability of agencies of government responsible for generating jobs, building necessary infrastructure and generally getting the economy moving to do this, CBN has become heavily involved in wetting the economy with cash, which it has the primary responsibility to control and mop up.

As inflation began to skyrocket in July this year, MPC hiked baseline interest rate by 200 basis points to the current 14 per cent.

Some economists have expressed opinion that MPC will have to ease lending rates especially with businesses complaining of being priced out of the market even as purchasing power of the average Nigerian continues to dwindle and inventories rise in manufacturing stores.

At the same time, Committee members will have to consider rising inflation and the need to attract foreign investors who would feel discouraged if interest rate is much lower than inflation rate.

Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said, “Economic recovery should be the focus of the MPC now. They should focus on pumping more liquidity into the system rather than taking it out. Inflation is currently at 18.3 per cent but it is not caused by excess liquidity in the system, it is cost push.

“It is time for us to address economic recovery. We need to learn from what the Bank of England did last month to address inflation”.

An FSDH Merchant Bank Research report noted that “while the choice between stimulating economic growth and curtailing inflationary pressure would dominate the MPC meeting as the stability in the value of the Naira would also be a concern for the MPC members in deciding the appropriate policy measures, we expect the MPC to continue to use the Open Market Operations (OMO) to manage the liquidity in the financial system and to influ-

Monday, 21 November, 2016

ence yields on fixed income securities.”

The researchers took into consideration an IMF recent report on the current global economic outlook, which is shaped by a complex confluence of ongoing realignments, long-term trends, and new shocks. IMF World Economic Outlook (WEO) released last month pro-

jected global economy to slow to 3.1 per cent in 2016 before recovering to 3.4 per cent in 2017.

“The IMF expects the Nigerian economy to contract by 1.7 per cent in 2016, but to grow by 0.6 per cent in 2017. The economy has been impacted by negative shocks. Some of the shocks are: crash in oil price and

production; scarcity of foreign exchange; low electricity generation and distribution; and depressed consumer demand.

“The appropriate monetary policy response should be to cut rates and boost credit creation to stimulate growth. This is not practicable under the current rising inflation rate and weak

currency. A bold decision is appropriate, while the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) should increase her capital expenditure aimed at improving the business environment and stimulate growth.

“The FGN should also intensify efforts to borrow long tenored funds from multilateral organizations

From left, Tokunbo Akerele, Chairman, Style House Files/Lagos Fashion and Design Week; Aisha Abubakar, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, and Omolara Akinfolarin, Head MSME Banking, Sterling Bank Plc, at the Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2016 X-Retail on Friday.

NNPC, Shell sign $2.2 billion contractor financing scheme with Nigerian banks Olatunde Dodondawa Lagos

SHELL Companies in Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with eight Nigerian banks under the refreshed Shell Contractors’ Support Fund, the latest milestone in efforts to improve access to finance for Nigerian vendors and suppliers in the oil and gas industry.

Under the MoUs signed in Lagos in November, Access Bank, Skye Bank, Zenith Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, First Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, First City Monument Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank have set aside $2.2billion for contract execution by Nigerian firms.

The scheme provides support for contractors to enable them finance projects executed for Shell Companies in Nigeria in line with the aspirations of the Nigerian Content Act. To access these funds, the contractors must have a valid purchase order and meet the banks’ risk assessment criteria. This refreshed version is in response to market realities and will offer loans faster and at cheaper rates.

“Supporting SMEs under this scheme is for the mutual benefit of all the parties,” said Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director of The

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, at the signing ceremony in Lagos.

“While the scheme reduces the pressure from requests for advance payments from contractors on us, it also ensures optimum delivery by our contractors, leaving the banks with a de-risked client base in addition to the comfort of domiciliation of payments.”

Finance Manager, Nigeria and Gabon, Guy Janssens, added that funding is key to enable contractors deliver and grow. He also urged the banks to make the scheme work.

Managing Director, Shell

Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), Bayo Ojulari, advised the contractors to perform in order to build trust and grow.

The Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Dafe Sejebo, who was represented by Bunmi Lawson, implored the banks to make the loan facilities available to the vendors when they come for them.

In the same vein, the Chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Mazi Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, enjoined the banks to be realistic in their demands in order to engender easier access to the funds.

Responding, one of the contractors, Moritz Abazie of Strides Energy and Maritime Limited, requested that the rates charged should be comparable to that for credit sourced overseas so that they could fairly compete with foreign firms in bidding for jobs.

The idea of a Contractor Funding Scheme started in 2011 with the Shell Kobo Fund, which gave rise to the Shell Contractor Support Fund in 2012.

The scheme has been redesigned to address the current economic exigencies and to align it with stakeholder needs by merging the two initial initiatives.

Nigerian Tribune

at low interest rates to increase the stock of foreign exchange.”

FSDH then projected a hold decision by the MPC and urged fiscal authorities to increase capital expenditure aimed at improving the business environment and stimulate growth.

“We expect the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to hold rates when it meets on November 21-22, 2016.

“The inflation rate increased higher in October 2016 to 18.33 per cent, from 17.85 per cent in September 2016, and we expect it to increase further in the next three months. This will be driven by structural factors, such as: high costs of electricity, transport, production inputs and higher prices of both domestic and imported food products. A rate cut is not consistent with the short-term inflation rate outlook, while a rate increase will not be good for economic growth.

Thus, we expect the MPC to maintain rates at the current levels.

Speaking in the same vein, an analyst at EY, Mr. Bisi Sanda, said the MPC needed to address the challenge of exchange rate volatility.

“The committee must address the problem of exchange rate. The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the CBN had been giving $11bn annually to BDC operators since 2011.

That is $55bn in five years.

We need to ask ourselves whether the BDC operators are critical stakeholders in our exchange rate management. It is not like that in other climes.

“They need to look at how banks are committing infractions in the forex market and see how to impose sanctions. Steps must be taken to address the problems causing volatility in the exchange rate. In the past, some people were banned for life from the forex market. What are we doing now?” he noted.

Chevron donates N500m equipment to miners Johnson Babajide - Markurdi

IN its efforts to ensure value creation and sustainable economic growth in the country, Chevron Nigeria Limited has donated Barite equipment worth about N500million to Miners and Producers of Barite in Nigeria.

Speaking at the occasion held in Gboko area of Benue State, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development NCD, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr Olusoga Odudelu, said the donation was to increase Nigerian

content component of goods and services.

According to him, “the donation of Barite equipment was in line with strategic framework for increasing the Nigerian content component of goods and services that are needed to support our operations and capital projects in Nigeria.

“The efforts are to ensure value creation and sustainable economic growth that align with the federal government’s aspirations in Nigerian Content Development.”

Barite equipment donated include; one pay loader, one

Komatsu Dozer, one Excavator, two dump trucks one compressor, one low bed truck, Toyota Hillux and A Toyota Corolla.

The Vice President, Association of Miners and Producers of Barite (AMAPOB), Chief Mike Mku, who said that with the emphasis on diversification of economy from oil and gas to mining by federal government, “the initiative is a model of economic diversification.”

Mku, however, called on the Federal Government to ban the importation of Barite into the country, stress-

ing that the resource is more than available with high quality in Benue and other parts of the country.

Representative of Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, the state commissioner for works, Mr Emmanuel Manger, described the donation as a needed impetus to boost mining activities in the country.

He added that mining was another area of creating job opportunities for teeming youths roaming streets in the country and appreciated Chevron for the donation of the equipment.

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editorial

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Monday, 21 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The looming famine

HE alert recently given by the Federal Government that the country should expect an impending famine next year given the current experience of daily exportation of as much as 500 trucks of grains smacks of either idle scaremongering or self indictment or both. This is because the auguries have been potent enough for any serious establishment to have done something to avert such a development.

If the prices of food and consumer items have escalated exponentially in the last one year in a country where agriculture is still being run by aged peasants and by rain-fed methods, talking about a looming famine is quite preposterous because indeed the famine is already here and it can only worsen. Only a few months ago, we had cause to comment on the growing army of malnourished children in which Kaduna State took the leading position. Arguably, the impending famine to be suffered more by the downtrodden is governmentinflicted because the option of buying up the bumper harvest from the farmers through strategic reserves was open to the government, but it chose in its wisdom to ignore it. The volume of grains leaving the country daily is a phenomenon that should have been anticipated by a proactive and sensitive administration.

According to media reports, the Federal Government has asked religious and community leaders to persuade farmers to stop selling their farm produce outside the shores of the country as if it was an illegitimate business.

Asking community and religious leaders to take over government’s role where only a policy intervention can be effective is the peak of abdication and insensitivity.

The sad truth is that, for quite a long time, Nigeria has been forced to cope with a blundering leadership only reacting to stimuli from its economic environment rather than deliberately creating the determining ripples that will favour it. The crashing value of the naira has caused the grains to be cheaper than they were previously, making their movement across the borders a lucrative imperative.The country’s economic team ought to have anticipated this and prepared to stave it

off by offering a better alternative to the producers.

The Nigerian farmers, most of whom operate on a small scale, can barely wait to delay selling their farm produce but the government can offer to buy these products off them and store them in silos. That is the only way to keep the prices of these grains stable and free from the fluctuations that the vagaries of the seasons may induce.

The demand for maize for instance is very high and it is induced by both human and livestock consumption. It is a staple food across the country whose scarcity could induce a major food crisis. Knowing that, a proactive administration would have confronted this reality with plans for food security instead of groaning about a looming famine that could have been avoided by government strategy.

There is therefore a desperate need to increase food production in a modern and competitive way by involving the energetic youths immediately. The governments at the states should build silos to store the bumper extras that cannot be immediately consumed for planned and systematic release into the market. On account of their strategic importance, the government may consider a partnership with the organised private sector for the maintenance of an even keel in the general availability and prices of food items and other consumables. This is the duty of governments all over the world and there is absolutely no reason why it should be different here in Nigeria. As the world is experiencing a crash in the prices of crude oil, the next thing wisdom dictates is that an alternative source of survival be sought. Fortunately, the option of agriculture is still open to the country for both economic survival and food security.

It is a national shame that Nigeria is exasperated to the point of seeking help from religious and community leaders by the mere threat of a looming famine despite its natural endowments in terms of climate and fertile soil. A little bit of strategic planning is all that is needed to change the narrative of hunger, vulnerability and despondency to a prevailing dominion over the odds and hope for a brighter future.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 21 November, 2016

editor

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

ASUU, strike is not the solution

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HEN will members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) learn to use other means to make their demands to the Federal Government known other than by embarking on industrial actions every now and then? Just last week, ASUU members embarked on another strike, and all efforts of the Federal Government to make them see reason not to down tools have so far failed.

While I am not saying that it is not right for ASUU members to make demands that will improve the state of education in the country, these frequent strikes are doing more harm than good to the system.

If the Federal Government promised that it would be giving a certain

amount to the university system, and it fails to fulfil the promise, will embarking on strike bring about the solution to the problem?

It is so unfortunate that Nigeria’s education system is collapsing by the day as a result of the ‘connivance’ between the government and ASUU. I said ‘connivance’ because the government is responsible for the terrible state of education in the country, but ASUU has also not helped matters with its frequent strikes. There was even a time when students were jokingly asking that which ‘strikes’ the most between ASUU and thunder.

Therefore, the current strike which members of ASUU have embarked upon is not in the best interest of university education in the country. At a time when Nigerian students are finding succour

in foreign universities, which is resulting into over $1billion annually in capital flight from the country through tuition payment, ASUU is making things worse in the education system by embarking on another strike.

The truth must be told, Nigerian students, and Nigerians in general, are tired of the ‘annual’ ASUU strike, and unfortunately, it has reached a situation whereby nobody seems to be concerned when the union declares a strike to press home its demands.

ASUU members should note that the political office holders who administer education in this country do not have their children in these public universities. So the frequent ASUU strikes are only at the detriment of the children of the masses. While ASUU and the Federal Government will

begin negotiations, children of the masses who attend these public universities are kept at home doing nothing. We shouldn’t forget that these are youth who are so technologically and socially advanced, and when they have nothing doing, they will find themselves in illegal acts to keep themselves engaged. This sums up the saying that

an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.

After several negotiations, promises of money will follow on the part of the Federal Government, and the strike will be called-off. Who then loses in this scenario? It is the students who lose, and the education system. What are we projecting to the international community

as far as tertiary education is concerned in Nigeria? I, therefore, hope that ASUU will soften its stand during its negotiations with the Federal Government on this current strike, while calling-off the industrial action with immediate effect.

•Dr Tajudeen Kareem, Ilorin, Kwara State.

On Niger Delta militants’ hostilities AFTER the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and some leaders of the Niger Delta, led by Chief Edwin Clark, some militants have resumed the bombing of oil installations in the region.

What this tells us is simply that they are not in support of those who visited the president in Abuja.

Consequently, the resumption of attacks on oil

facilities is a way to tell the Federal Government to appease and recognise them as well. I keep wondering why some people are not interested in the development of the country, but its destruction.

In every aspect of our national life, when there is chaos, some people smile to the banks, and a good example is the Boko Haram insurgency, which turned some military officers into overnight billions after pocketing the funds meant for the procurement of arms.

So what is happening in the Niger Delta is just an attempt by some disgruntled people to get audience with the Federal Government.

It is important that we

know that money is not everything, but we should strive to work harder to leave a more conducive country for our upcoming generation.

If some Niger Delta militants have problems with the Federal Government, then there are channels through which they can follow to reach the leadership of the country. However, destroying oil pipelines is like compounding our problems. The environment is polluted every time a pipe is blown, and it is not the politician in Abuja who suffers it, but our people who rely on the rivers for fishing, and the land for farming.

•Nsikan Preye, Nsidon_don@yahoo. co.uk

On Trump’s policy of ‘America first’ DURING US Presidentelect, Donald Trump’s campaigns, he emphasised that he would focus on ‘America first,’ meaning he will shun globalisation in favour of a more prosperous America. Unfortunately, the world is a global village now, and such policy is bound to fail. No country is an island to itself now, and the US needs other countries, as they also need the US. We should not forget that as the ‘world’s policeman,’ the US has the moral duty to continue to fight against global terrorism. Trump should not only be concerned about stopping terrorism on American soil, but eradicating it globally.

The world needs America’s super intelligence and fire-

power in combating global terrorism, and creating a vacuum with the ‘America first’ policy will only lead to the strengthening of terrorist organisations in the world. While I believe it is still early to say how the Trump presidency will be like, I, however, want him to think twice, as focusing only on America will have far-reaching implications around the world. Even when the news that Trump had won the election, all the major stock markets in the world crashed, so we can imagine what will happen economically, or security wise, when Trump turns the US into a ‘snail,’ while making it to coil back into its ‘shell.’

•Yemisi Soares, Surulere, Lagos.

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opinion

Monday, 21 November, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju

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Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

OR Nigerians living through these times, asking which is better between the past and the present is like asking which is better between women and wine. In treatment and in effect, both are the same. Both intoxicate and are very dangerous to your health ­— especially when taken in excess. And you can’t be more careful really. The bad stories are the same. Poor Edo State awards N200 million retirement mansion to each of its ex-governors, including the khaki-wearing Comrade. So what? I read worse versions of that story years ago when the big men in Lagos and Port Harcourt exited office as governor, so it’s not new. Nothing really is new or news anymore. This is the post-news era when nothing is truly new and nothing honestly shocks nobody again.

Former presidents have unpaid salaries. Billions stolen by big men in big places. These are not new things. “Time past and time present are contained in time future and time future contained in time past.” The same sad tales have always dominated our nights of dark moons. We read of billions missing in 1979 when Shehu Shagari took over. We read of even more billions stolen when Shagari was overthrown by the military.

After the military was overthrown by the people in 1999, were there not horrific tales of billions stolen? So, why should we be shocked when politicians eat the yam and the yam seeds. They own the future just as the past served them.

Sambo Dasuki diverted billions of dollars as the National Security Adviser. Story, story, stories. Have you forgotten there was an NSA under Abacha — Gwarzo? Didn’t we read of billions of dollars ferried directly from the vaults of the Central Bank by the office of the NSA during that period? Can’t you remember all the sleaze and the noise and our arrogant vow that never would such happen again in this country? The big men of those eras, where are they now? If they are not in some government houses somewhere, they are in Abuja, serving us, graciously.

Nothing is new under the sun. Three years ago, I wrote that all you need to do to know that our world has refused to move an inch from its horrid past is to just read any old newspaper, no matter its age. The headlines would always fit into any date with disturbing exactitude. Three years ago when the Nigerian Tribune was 64 years old, the story of the day was about teachers protesting bad treatment. Last week as the newspaper clocked 67, was one of the dominant stories not about university teachers on warning strike? Sixty-seven years ago, the lead story of Tribune’s maiden edition of November 16, 1949 was: “Chemists protest.” You just substitute “chemists” with “teachers” and you succeed in perfectly grafting Nigeria of 1949 to 2013 and 2016 Nigeria.

Edo House of Assembly is dashing the state’s former governors mansions of N200 million in any city of their choice. This

N200 million mansion for comrade governor, so what?

is apart from other perks, known and unknown. I searched for the perks the ordinary retired worker enjoyed under these hard-working ex-governors. What popped up were cries of hunger and hopelessness. Just three months ago, they were on the streets, demanding their pensions. A national newspaper quoted some of them telling tales of poverty and of neglect by angels in government. As if one of them giraffed what his representatives in the House were planning for the big men in the government house, that person showed he wasn’t only hopeless, he was homeless too. “Some of us are tenants; we have been ejected. We are living in the apartments of friends.

A man at 60 still squatting with a friend is a terrible situation”, he cried. Three months after his ejection, some well-housed dudes have new mansions donated to them by everybody, including the homeless.

Another hungry, angry pensioner at that protest was one Osa-Aighobarueghia. Angry, hungry, hopeless, he was quoted in that report as saying: “My pain is that the governor has not paid me my arrears. He is owing me almost 30 months arrears and he only started paying in April this year. What happens to the previous ones? We have borrowed money to keep the family alive. It is disappointing.” Pullen Noruwa, leader of the pensioners claimed, in that report, that his people had been living on a meagre N2,000 monthly and then appealed to the then exiting comrade governor to pay their outstanding pensions as a “parting gift”. And did they get the parting gift? Does it really matter if they got anything? At least one person got a mansion as his own parting gift, ironically, from these same homeless people. That is an achievement. It is marvelous in our eyes.

And we have not read it that the comrade turned the mansion

down. We have also not read it that the hungry and homeless have not been clapping for the makers of this law dashing the ex-governors houses of gold.

As I said in 2013, nothing has changed. Nothing will change.

Edo was not the first state to give palaces of gold to its ex governors. It will not be the last. Very soon, a healthy competition will ensue from the north to the south. The refrain among our ex-governors will be ‘my mansion is bigger than yours’. And the hungry will also compete with the hungry as they clap for their over-fed saviours. We have never really learnt any lesson and may never learn. We think every preacher has God›s anointing. We take every winged monster for an angel. We take serpents for friends. Whatever answers snake is no belt for holding trousers. What happens to the one who ties his load with a snake? We have been doing just that, scratching our itching noses with the teeth of a black mamba. Every offer made with smiles is accepted as made in good faith. It is not so.

The mind of man is dark. It is darker when he comes offering to be your servant pro bono.

There is the old joke of the wine connoisseur who rams his car into a lady’s. The story, author unknown, goes: “Both of their cars are totally demolished but amazingly neither of them is hurt. After they crawl out of their cars, the woman says, ‘So you’re a man. That’s interesting. Wow, just look at our cars!

There’s nothing left, but fortunately we are unhurt. This must be a sign from God that we should meet and be friends and live together in peace for the rest of our days.’ The man replies, ‘I agree with you completely. This must be a sign from God!’ The woman smiles and continues, ‘And look at this, here’s another miracle. My car is completely destroyed but this bottle of wine didn’t break. Surely God wants us to drink this wine and celebrate our good fortune.’ Then she hands the bottle to the man.

The man nods his head in agreement, opens it and drinks half the bottle and then hands it back to the woman. The woman takes the bottle, immediately puts the cork back in and hands it back to the man. The man asks, ‘Aren’t you having any?’ The woman replies, ‘No. I think I’ll just wait for the police.’” The man is the guilty party. He is drunk. The evidence is right there in his hands. Wine and women...

We are the drunk man. Never learnt anything. Even when providence saves us from a tragedy, we quickly drag ourselves into another. We give every stranger with the right smile access into our inner rooms. We take every being with a stethoscope to be a doctor. We throw out the old wisdom in not using the cassock to judge the monk. We invest in a promise that actually fulfills the past we are running from. Nothing will change.

Hunger will stay and breed its monstrous like unless we accept this moment that the future will be the past unless we truly work hard and well to break the chains.

Of democracy and youth integration

By Michael Ogunjobi

THE world is yet to get over the shock of the emergence of Donald Trump, the man tagged as underdog by the news media despite his promising campaign slogan- ‘Make America Great Again’ as the newly elected President of United States of America. But of much concern to our polity at this dire economic season, is the shock in realizing that our law makers can identify with the plight of Nigerians resolute on making our fatherland great again! Ironic? Well, sadly, this is the sorry state of affairs in our fatherland. While rejoicing over the move by the Nigerian Senate to mandate the private sector and MDAs to deemphasize age and cognate experience for employment purposes, we cannot hastily forget the relevance of the Age Qualification Bill which the move of the Senate sufficiently complements.

Hence this discourse would be tantamount to arguing that dirty water is useless for all purpose and cannot quench fire, without a précis of the #NotTooYoungToRunBill sponsored

by Hon. Tony Nwulu representing Oshodi/Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos State. This bill is commendable in view of the fact that Nigeria’s life expectancy is about 53 years.

Moreso, since the youth of our fatherland have been relegated to the background for decades, the season of growing up appears to have finally come to subplant the era of ‘Eze’ growing old in bound booklets.

Some cynics have expressed reservations, opining that only the offsprings of our present recycled leaders and their stooges would be the ultimate beneficiaries since they possess the financial muscle, godfathers and the wherewithal to pull through the rigorous path of sourcing for campaign funds, political party primaries, among other electioneering processes.

But the law makers have demonstrated sincerity of purpose by this latest move. There appears to be a silver lining in our pregnant clouds. More so, there is greater consciousness amongst youths today who have become weary of recycled leaders and are bent on recreating Flora Shaw’s concept- Nigeria.

The introduction of ‘independent candidature’ by the Bill will foster the emergence of energetic vessels of national revolution and serve as the long awaited ladder for the marginalized yet acclaimed ‘leaders of tomorrow’. Remarkably, the #NotTooYoungToRunBill seeks to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, and 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), thereby reducing the age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate 35 to 30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25.

No doubt, Nigeria’s fledgling democracy has failed to integrate the youth. This has made it impossible for the youth in our fatherland to take up different leadership roles --- whether in government, business, the professions, non-profits, teaching, or the arts. The result of this is evident with the unrest in the South-East and South-South regions precisely, which is threatening to uproot our common heritage.

Now, it is believed that upon the passage of the Age Qualification Bill into law and implementation of the directive seeking to mandate the private sector and MDAs to deemphasise age and cognate experience for employment purposes, in the nearest future, enabling legislations would be enshrined in our statute books leading to the realisation of the aspirations of young Nigerians to make a difference in our polity, and broaden our horizons. This will be a great relief for young Nigerians as the rate of unemployed and underemployed graduates is reported to have risen from 24.4 million to 26.06 million in the second

quarter of 2016.

Of importance is the N-Power Teacher Corps designed to engage unemployed youths. Happily, the youths now have a calling, which is to cease to be miscreants, militants, political campaign objects, perverts, thugs and e-rats.

However, a major milestone would be the passage of a bill to drastically reduce the remuneration of elected political office holders so as to discourage dishonest politicians who seek political offices to enrich themselves.

Otherwise, the proposed legislation will not be worth the paper accommodating same, since the current political climate in our fatherland which is in dire need of reforms would be distasteful to any sincere youth having the charisma, the finesse, and the popularity to win in a free and fair election.

Without mincing words, even in this austere season, we must keep our hopes alive and never stop believing that Nigeria will be great again! Happily the Nigerian Senate have suddenly realised the need to have all clogs in the wheels of progress of job seekers expunged with alacrity. Of note, cognate work experience and age limit were rightly identified as barriers for job seekers. However, of importance is ensuring transparency in the employment process and expunging the dichotomy between HND and BSC. Also not forgetting that the minimum wage is due for review! Moreso, one wonders if there are available jobs in the first place for the graduates being churned out by our ivory towers for them to reap the fruit of this gesture. To be frank, there are only few available job openings for fresh graduates, hence the need for youths to be creative, think outside the box and embrace entrepreneurship.

•Ogunjobi, a lawyer, writes from Lagos.

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communitynews

Monday, 21 November, 2016

Alakuko residents, police harp on partnership Olalekan Olabulo - Lagos

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ESIDENTS of Alakuko and other communities in Alagbado area of Lagos State and the police have harped on the importance of Police-Community Relationship to ensuring security of lives.

The Area Commander in charge of Area G, Ogba , ACP Lanre Ogunlowo, the Baale of Alakuko, Chief Sarumi Dada and other residents stated this during the inauguration of the Eminent People’s Forum in Alakuko and neighbouring communities .

While speaking on the occasion, ACP Ogunlowo described the establishment of the Eminent People’s Forum by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris as a good initiative to ensure effective community policing.

ACP Ogunlowo also pointed out that the creation of the forum is not to rival the Police Community Relation Committee, but to ensure a better relationship between the police and the different communities.

He also emphasised the need for communities to always cooperate with the police in their effort to combat crimes and to ensure safety of life and property.

The police boss further said that the cooperation between residents and the police in Lagos State has led to the reduction of crime rate in the state.

He said: “Let’s clear an impression among our people about the Eminent People Forum. It is not an alternative to PCRC, but to bridge the gap between police and the community

and to request for more cooperation and support from them. Also, it is a community driven initiative and not a police affair thing.

“Residents know the communities and their challenges more than the police. Policemen are visi-

tors and could be transferred at anytime. But whatever good done by the police in the communities is to the good of the residents,” the area commander stressed.

The DPO in charge of Alakuko Police Station, Ke-

for his readiness to work with law-abiding residents of the communities.

He also called on the police to prevail on the Nigeria Customs Service to be cautious of their invasion into communities, which often leads to loss of lives.

From left, President, Eko Club International, Dr. Bissy Gaji; Sole Adminstrator, Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs. Oshikoya Abimbola; Oba of Epeland, Oba Safiu Adewale; Commissioner for Health, Lagos State, Dr. Jide Idris; Sole Adminstrator, Iru-Victoria Island LCDA, Princess Aderemi Adebowale and the Asolo of Isolo, Oba Kabiru Alani Agbabiaka, at the kick-off ceremony of the Eko Free Health Mission and Commissioning of Nurudeen Olowopopo Isolo Public Health Centre, at the weekend, in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Oyo govt reassures commitment to provision of potable water

By Adewale Oshodi

THE Oyo State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, has reassured the government’s commitment to the provision of

potable water and clean environment for the people of the state.

Chief Ishola stated this when a team from the Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese

Sewage channelisation: Owerri residents risk cholera outbreak CHOLERA outbreak seems imminent in Owerri, Imo State, following the channeling of the sewage pipe containing faeces and urine from the Nigerian Prisons into the public drainage system.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the smell from the sewage produces very offensive odor around Okigwe Road/ Wethderal Roundabout, Owerri axis, where traders sell fruits, bread, foods and other consumables.

Investigation conducted

by NAN revealed that the ugly occurrence had lasted for more than eight months but its impact was being felt now with the dry season.

The Nigerian Prisons Service is close to the Govern-

hinde Ajayi commended the residents of the area for their support to the police and urged them to continue to partner with them (police).

In his remarks, Baale of Alakuko, Chief Sarumi Dada, commended the DPO

ment House, St. Lazarus Catholic Church and a hotel at the heart of Owerri.

In his reaction, the Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), Owerri command, Mr James Madugba, told NAN that it channeled the mess into the public drainage due to the collapse of its existing facility.

“The NPS, Imo State command is aware of the problem. We channeled the sewage pipe into the drainage because our facility collapsed and we do not have any other option.

“We have this issue of overstretching of our facilities by the inmates population resulted in the breakdown of the available facilities,’’ he said.

Madugba disclosed that

the prison, which was constructed in 1904 with 500 inmate capacity, now accommodated more than 2,300 inmates.

He said following the pressure, the facilities could no longer serve the inmates, adding that the truck which the command used in evacuating the faeces had also broken down.

Madugba said that already the management had awarded a contract for the reconstruction of the soak away pits serving the inmates and the NPS command.

When contacted, the Imo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, Mr Udo Agoha, denied any knowledge of the problem.

of Ibadan, recently engaged the commissioner on government’s plans as far as the ministry is concerned.

The commissioner, who received the team in his office alongside other top officials of the ministry, led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Gabriel Oguntola, said that the current administration in the state would continue to give top priority to the provision of clean, safe and affordable water supply to the people of the state.

On the Ikere Gorge Dam, a Federal Government project at Iseyin, the commissioner revealed that though the state government, in the 2016 budget, allocated some funds for the project, but lamented that the decline in revenue has affected the implementation.

He further revealed that “both at the formal and informal levels, the state is engaging the Federal Government to develop the electricity potential of the dam. Already, there is a promise by the Federal Government that the electricity component will be looked into.”

Ishola further disclosed that the Ikere Gorge Dam

has the capacity to provide irrigation for over 3,000 farmers, while it also has tourism potential that could become a good source of income for the country.

On the management of flood in the state, the commissioner said when government was alerted to the fact that the state was among the 14 states that may be affected by flood in the later part of the year, it immediately embarked on the sensitisation of the people and implored them not to block the drainage and to avoid construction of illegal structure on the drainage.

He further added that Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (1UFMP) was mandated to identify likely streams and rivers that have potential to flood and 14 of such streams and rivers were identified and dredged.

Speaking earlier, the JDPC Programme Officer for Democracy and Governance, Mr Jide Bamgbose, who led the team to the policy dialogue, requested for some information concerning the provision of potable water, clean environment and flood management in the state.

Imafon residents hail Akure/ Owena Lions Club Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE indigents and residents of Imafon in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State have commended the Akure/ Owena Lions Club, over the free eye screening and treatment.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr Ade Adegbehingbe, appreciated the gesture, saying it remains one of the good things the people of the community enjoyed in recent times.

He called on other spirited individuals and groups in the state to emulate the spirit of giving and also show interest in the welfare of the common man.

Speaking during the exercise, the President of the club, Ola Amure, said the exercise became imperative to save the sight of the elderly and indigents with sight challenges living in the rural communities According to him, “I decided to embark on the campaign on Saving Sight and preventing Blindness campaign, immediately after my inauguration as the president of Akure/Owena Lions Club.

Amure said that aside from the eye test, the club also gave a free health talk, free test on Diabetes, HIV test, blood sugar, among others.

He said: “Aside giving out thousands of eye glasses, more than 50 cataracts surgeries were carried out freely across the state.

“The saving sight and preventing blindness is the cardinal programme which I embarked upon immediately after the public presentation and fund raising as the president of Akure Owena Lions Club.”

Amure commended Mr Kayode Ajulo, who collaborated with the club by donating N1 million for the execution of the project.

The District Governor of the Lions, Ayodele Ajayi, who also witnessed the surgeries described the programme as laudable, saying it will go a long way to save the lives of the beneficiaries.

Ajayi also commended Ajulo over his spirit of giving to the people and called on individuals, groups and corporate bodies to emulate Ajulo.

17

tribunebusiness

Monday, 21 November 2016

Nigerian Tribune

ICSAN at 50: ‘How we’re helping to build Nigeria’s economy’

In celebration of 50 years of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) in the country, the national vice president of the institute, Mr Samuel Kolawole and Chairman, Ibadan chapter of the institute, Mr Oludayo Adeoye, engaged RUTH OLUROUNBI in a chat highlighting the institute’s impact on national economy, among others.

I

N the 50-year history of the Ibadan chapter of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), the chapter has its first formally constituted executive, the chairman of the chapter, Mr Oludayo Adeoye, said as a way of familiarising this reporter with the institute.

Originally founded in England in October 1891 and known as the Institute of Secretaries, the institute became the Chartered Institute of Secretaries in 1902, after it was granted its Royal Charter, according to the chairman.

The name has since been changed to the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators to “more fully describe the status and capabilities of the members,” the institute’s, national vice chairman, Mr Samuel Kolawole, explained, adding that ICSA has divisions in South Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Zimbabwe and associate branches in many countries of the world.

In an interview session with this reporter, the duo of Adeoye, the state chairman and Kolawole, the national vice president, they explained that the institute in Nigeria, which was established about 50 years ago as an associate of the international body, granted autonomy in August, 1988, was incorporated under the Companies Act 1968 and became chartered by Decree 19 of 1991 (Now ACT CAP I13 LFN 2004).

With a mission to promote and advance the efficient administration of commerce, industry and public affairs “by the continued development of the study and practice of corporate governance, finance and administration of public, private and non– governmental establishments,” the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) “is a leading recognised professional body dedicated to enhancing the status and practice of corporate governance and administration in both the public and private sectors of the economy,” the national vice president said.

The institute, the national vice president said, has made some significant impact in improving the country’s economy.

Speaking on how the institute is impacting the economy, Kolawole said the institute ensures that on thoroughly trained individuals are certified by the institute to practice as a chartered administrator and those, he said, would have been indoctrinated in the values of corporate governance.

“Good corporate governance is necessary for any organisation to move forward. If you have any organisations in Nigeria that are moving forward, it will have an impact on the economy. In the institute, corporate governance is one of the modules that confer the right to be able to be a member of the institute,” he said.

The good thing, he said, is that there are numerous members of the institute holding several key positions in the private sector and are putting to use, the key elements of good corporate governance.

According to him, “you also realise that to attract foreign investments into the country, they want to be sure of what we are doing because they want to be sure they’re safe. So, any organisation that is involved in promot-

The National Vice President, ICSAN, Mr Samuel Kolawole (right) and Chairman, ICSAN, Ibadan chapter, Mr Oludayo Adeoye

ing good corporate governance is helping to build the economy because corporate governance helps to build the trust in the economy that when we bring our many here, we won’t have a managing director that will squander everything, we won’t have people that we squander everything because that is what corporate governance is supposed to guide against.”

Apart from working with corporate entities to ensure good corporate governance is practiced, the institute, at the national and state levels, is also working to impact the public service to embrace good corporate governance, Kolawole said.

“We are trying to make sure that the public

We want to ensure

corporate governance is seen and felt in our chapter. So, in every two years, new executive committee must be constituted.

service understands what proper corporate governance is because corporate governance is not just about private companies and institutions.

“We are engaging government, civil service across the country to ensure that those who are in charge of the affairs in this country understand what corporate governance is all about and they’re encouraged to apply the corporate governance practices to ensure that the nation moves forward,” he said.

Speaking further, Kolawole said: “In recent times, our focus has really been on corporate governance, if corporate governance is properly instituted in organisations, corruption will give way because people who do the right things and do what they’re are supposed to do,” adding that as the institute rounded off celebration off its golden jubilee celebrations, in which it gave honorary fellowship to some deserving Nigerians, the first in the institute’s history, moving forward, the Kolawole sees an institute that would, in another 50 years, be reckoned with “in policy decisions in Nigeria because people we come to recognise us as people who are in there for professionalism and interest of country as a whole. We are looking at an institute that will in 50 years time, will have influence even outside Nigeria, across Africa. We should be able to have that influence.”

Mr Oludayo Adeoye, speaking on Ibadan chapter’s firsts and vision, said as a state chapter which “used to have a coordinator for many years,” without any formal exec-

utive, constituting an elected executive to drive the 50-year-old institute’s mission to be the most professional institution in corporate governance and public administration “is the first and is history and this why we are proud of it,” Adeoye said, smiling broadly.

Explaining further, Adeoye said the new executive has actually and we have recorded some firsts in the last few months. For instance, he said, the state recorded the largest participants on any of the institute’s MCPs, with more than 300 participants “and this shows the potential that the state has,” he said. He added that “at the national level, the state chapter is now coordinating itself as a formidable force because all the programmes at the national level,” among other firsts it has recorded.

The state chapter, Adeoye said, is leveraging on its student forum to expand the pool of young professionals in Nigeria who would practise corporate governance as it should be practised and the state chapter, as well as the institute as a whole is relying on linkages with universities in Nigeria to increase the professional pool, added Kolawole.

“In the institute, corporate governance is one of the modules that confer the right to be able to be a member of the institute. It means we are building a reservoir of people who are trained in proper corporate governance, who can be able to project corporate governance when they walk in organisations; they push their organisations towards ensuring proper corporate governance and in that way we are contributing our quota.

If companies do what is proper, the country will make progress,” Kolawole said.

Speaking on the vision he has for the state chapter of the institute, the chairman said: “We want to ensure corporate governance is seen and felt in our chapter. So, in every two years, new executive committee must be constituted. We are already putting in place a succession plan to ensure that before the chairman finishes his tenure, another is being recruited so that there will be continuity and sustainability. Apart from that, membership drive is a function of the activity of the chapter so we want to start and continue to organise interesting, value added programmes that will attract members out there. If we preach good corporate governance, we must practise it.”

Kolawole, the national vice president, who is a member of the Ibadan chapter and has played significant role in the chapter for a number of years, according to Adeoye, touched on the national institute’s, as well as the state chapter’s plan to help in the national building towards growth and development.

The plans, which entail working on improving the internal structure of the institute to advance the institute’s goal of ensuring that good governance is practised, among others, include expanding and promoting the professional principles, values, ethics and system of behaviour and the interests of the chartered secretaries and administrators; as well as promoting prospective chartered secretaries and administrators to obtain professional qualification, and arrange ongoing education programme and refresher courses for the profession.

18

Monday, 21 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

NSE reiterate commitment to transparent, sustainable market IN its commitment to developing a sustainable market, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has reiterated the need for the capital market operators and other business leaders in the country to ensure that they protect valuable intellectual property and business information in digital form against theft and misuse.

Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr Ade Bajomo, stated this at the 4th Nigerian Capital Market Information Security Forum (NCMISF), themed “Does your business have

the resilience to withstand a disaster? The Business Case for Business Continuity Management”.

He said that cyber security is an increasingly critical management issue, which must be addressed head-on. Bajomo noted that NCMISF was born out of the need to provide a platform for stakeholders and thought leaders in the information security space to share knowledge on Information Security, best practices and cyber breaches in Nigeria and the world at large.

Bajomo noted that as technology evolves

and businesses become more prone to attacks, it was evident that business continuity could no longer be treated as an afterthought or a surplus cash flow item.

“It should become an integral part of operational planning and operational cost. The need for business continuity planning has grown rapidly in today’s fast-paced, volatile business climate and as such organisations cannot afford the risk of not having a continuity plan in place”.

Business continuity, which is the capability of the organisation to continue

delivery of products or services at acceptable predefined levels following a disruptive incident is now considered a societal security issue, essential to protect a society or economy.

“At The Nigerian Stock Exchange, we remain committed to executing several key innovations that are aimed at developing a more transparent and sustainable market, with structures to support the delivery of a wide range of investment products and ensure continuity,” Bajomo further noted.

AshakaCem seeks delisting from the Nigerian Bourse

From left, Favour Femi-Oyewole, Chief Information Security Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Rex Mafiana, Chief Executive Officer, FPG Technologies and Solutions Limited; Ade Bajomo, Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE; Jinmi Oluanuiga, Vice President, DBH Solutions Limited and Oluyemi Obadare , Information Security, NSE at the Nigerian Capital Market Information Security Forum (NCMISF) in Lagos.

THE Board of Directors of AshakaCem Plc has passed a resolution proposing to its shareholders, a voluntary delisting of the company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The resolution, if adopted by the shareholders of AshakaCem at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) scheduled to hold on Monday, 19th December, would shield the company from sanctions by NSE At the conclusion of the Mandatory Tender Offer (MTO) in 2015, AshakaCem’s free float fell to 17.54 per cent. This further reduced to 15.03 per cent at the conclusion of the Voluntary Tender Offer (VTO) in Septem-

Equities market records 5 weeks low trend, 2.42% Wow Stories by Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba - Lagos

F

OR the fifth consecutive trading week, metrics of traded equities continued on a decline, as The NSE All-Share Index (ASI), Market Capitalisation, total volume and total value of equities traded all depreciated.

The ASI and Market Capitalisation both dropped this week by 2.42 percent to close at 25,537.54 points and N8.791 trillion respectively with the Year-to-Date return at 10.8 percent.

Similarly, turnover declined to 823.547 million shares from 2.847 billion shares transacted previous week.

According to market analysts at Cordros, last week’s performance was very disappointing, as trading closed negative in all five sessions.

“Once again, decline in the shares of high-capped stocks across consumer goods, cement, oil & gas and banking sectors was responsible for the huge loss,” the

Cordros weekly report said.

Total value for the week exchanged in 11,634 deals stood at N5.444 billion in contrast to N7.420 billion obtained previously in 16,065 deals.

The sector indices also finished lower during the week with the exception of the NSE Insurance Index that appreciated by 0.49 per-

cent while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat As expected, the Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 616.999 million shares valued at N2.667 billion traded in 6,142 deals; thus contributing 74.92 percent and 49.00 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value

respectively.

The Conglomerates Industry followed with 47.741 million shares worth N43.735 million in 510 deals.

The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 42.674 million shares worth N1.735 billion in 2,112 deals.

Forte Oil Plc raises N9bn bonds to finance short term loans, expansion FORTE Oil Plc, has said it has successfully raised nine billion naira as the first series of its proposed N50 billion bond issuance programme.

According to the foremost integrated energy service provider, the funds raised will be used to refinance existing short term commercial bank loan obligations and to finance the retail outlet expansion of the company.

The company has an Issuer rating of A- long term and A1- short term rating by the Global Credit Rating Company (GCR).

Commenting on the success of the capital raised, Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil, Mr Akin Akinfemiwa said “With the raising of this initial capital which has been fully underwritten shows the confidence the investing public has in Forte Oil Plc as an investment of choice.

This bond programme being the first in the downstream sector, is testament to Forte’s position within the downstream sector and allows the company to actualise the vision of the Board to continue to provide value to its

shareholders regardless of the economic climate.”

In his remarks, the Group Executive Director, Finance and Risk Forte Oil, Mr Julius Omodayo-Owotuga CFA, stated that “This series provides us with the necessary liquidity to actualize our growth strategies and positions the company for the years ahead. The pricing of this debt instrument demonstrates the markets’ belief in us and the pricing would help reduce our borrowing cost and increase profitability in the short and long term.”

ber, 2016.

Hence, AshakaCem has been unable to meet the NSE Rule requirement for every publicly listed entity to have a “Free Float” (i.e tradable shares) of not less than 20 per cent on the Exchange.

Through the voluntary delisting of AshakaCem, the directors of the company will be shielding the Company from any enforcement action that the Exchange may effect, for example by way of a Regulatory Delisting in light of the outstanding free float deficiency.

Furthermore, through the voluntary delisting process, the company will be providing an opportunity to minority shareholders, who do not wish to be members of an unlisted company, to exit the Company and therefore be shielded from being members of an unlisted company Upon conclusion of the EGM, shareholders of AshakaCem may exit the company prior to the delisting by either, trading their shares on The Floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange through their nominated Stockbroker or accept exit terms as were offered for the MTO and the VTO, that is 202 shares of AshakaCem for 57 shares of Lafarge Africa plus a cash consideration of two naira per every AshakaCem share. In line with regulation shareholders will have 90 days period post the EGM to exercise these options.

Under the proposed delisting and settlement of consideration, minority shareholders in AshakaCem will be offered benefits, including revenue diversification by geography as a result of Lafarge Africa’s operations in Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana.

This is in addition to revenue diversification by plant location due to wide spread operations across the North East, South East and South West regions of Nigeria.

19

moneymarket

Monday, 21 November, 2016

Emefiele laments $2.3bn fall in average monthly forex inflow to CBN Stories by Chima Nwokoji - Lagos

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LAMING drop in crude oil prices, geopolitical tension among Nigeria’s critical trading partners and the effect of monetary policy regime of the United States Federal Reserve Bank, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele has revealed that average inflows of foreign exchange into the apex bank has fallen by $2.3billion every month, over the last 26 months.

According to him, due to the sharp drop in oil prices, Federation Account Allocation to States have dropped by an average of about N2billion per state.

He lamented that Nigeria could have been better prepared for a time like this if the country did not open up the economy to all comers during economic boom and dropped all capital controls.

At some point he said, Nigeria received more than $23billion in hot money from foreign portfolio investors in a particular year.

This fund according to him, was temporary as the owners quickly take them away at the slightest sign of economic slow growth.

Emefiele recalled that in September 2008, Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) reserves stood at $62billion “even after we have spent about $12billion settling our external debt obligation.

What did we do with $62billion?.”

He regretted that at a time when crude oil price was at about N120 per barrel, the country could have saved the money.

“If we couldn’t save the money, we can Invest it in infrastructure, invest in industry; invest them in infrastructure and industry that

would grow productivity and the wealth of our people,” he said.

Instead he emphasized, the Central Bank of Nigeria of that time went about licensing class

‘A’, class ‘B’, class ‘C’ bureau-dechange owned by powerful Nigerians.

“For class ‘A’ bureau-de-change, Central Bank was allocating

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor

FirstBank advocates mandatory entrepreneurial training in school curriculum CONSISTENT with its commitment to drive sustainable economic growth in the Country, First Bank of Nigeria Limited has called for the inclusion of entrepreneurial training in school curriculum.

This is as the Bank joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) - an initiative that celebrates the contribution and passion of entrepreneurs who bring ideas to life, drive growth and contribute significantly to expand human welfare.

The Bank has also birthed several

initiatives and interventions to celebrate the pivotal role played by entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and development in the country.

Folake Ani-Mumuney, Group Head Marketing and Corporate Communications at FirstBank stated that “FirstBank as a responsible corporate citizen will continue to foster partnerships that build sustainable businesses. Recognising that entrepreneurs are at the heart of national development, contributing greatly to the gross domestic product of our country, we remain focused on empow-

MPC policy decisions, FAAC allocation to keep rates moderate THERE are high expectations that there will be moderation in interbank rates, from expected Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements, just as the decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee(MPC) decisions tomorrow will influence market pricing of T-bills.

Dealers at two investment research and securities company, Cowry Assets Management Limited and Afrinvest (West) Africa Limited said in their notes to investors that: “In the week ahead, MPC’s policy decision at Tuesday’s sitting will influence market pricing of T-bills. Barring any OMO auction, money market rates are expected to hover around current levels.

“This week,we anticipate ease in financial system liquidity,and resultant moderation ininter-

$1million per week, for class ‘B’ bureau-de-change, Central Bank was allocating $750,000 per week, and for class ‘C’ bureaude-change, Central Bank was allocating $500,000 per week to each bureau-de-change to the extent that between 2005 when central bank of Nigeria started selling dollar cash and 2016 January when we stopped it, the CBN had sold dollar cash of up to $66billion to BDCs. In 11 years, CBN allocated $66billion averaging $6 billion per year.

“Non of these were used to build factories and create jobs in Nigeria. Non of these were used to build hospitals in Nigeria.

Imagine what this money could have meant to us if had that in our reserves today,” the governor regretted.

He stressed that due neglect of hospital and education sector, Nigerians travel abroad for ordinary medical check up and “we send our children overseas, even for primary school education; costing the country over $2billion per annum.”

bank rates,from expected Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements.”

Also, dealers expect activities to remain soft in the local bonds market in sessions ahead with yields trending higher.

Contrary to bearish sentiment across Sub-Saharan African sovereign Eurobonds in previous week, performance was broadly positive last week as the instruments pared previous week’s losses following improved buying interest in high yield Eurobond debt securities.

Yields fell on all Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA) Eurobonds within coverage but for South African Eurobond instruments which remained under selling pressure due to speculations that the Country’s credit rating would be downgraded to junk status by S&P Ratings. Average yield on

all South African Sovereign debts rose 32bps W-o-W on average.

Earlier in the week, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen signaled an interest rate hike which puts a halt to speculations surrounding interest rate outlook. With the anticipation of a rate hike by the US Fed by December, Afrinvest expect this bullish trend to be short-lived.

It was a bearish week for Nigerian corporate Eurobonds as yields rose on all instruments save for the FIDELITY 2018 (down 0.1% W-o-W) and the DIAMOND 2019 (down 1.1% W-o-W) bonds. The GUARANTY 2018 still has the highest YTD return of +7.5per cent with the ZENITH 2019 lagging behind with YTD return of +6.6per cent. DIAMOND 2019 Eurobond remains the worst performing instrument with YTD loss of 6.1per cent.

ering entrepreneurs towards capacity building and development to contribute to the growth of our economy in providing employment to people, adding to our GDP and repositioning the national economy for sustained growth. That’s why we serve as enablers providing the relevant platforms for entrepreneurs particularly in the MSME/ SME space to exchange ideas and acquire knowledge to thrive through all seasons and we are imploring government at all levels to start the introduction of entrepreneurial training in Schools curriculum as this has the capacity to build more employers of labour and reduce the unemployment gap among the your graduates.

FirstBank is committed to the success of SMEs and has through many years groomed SMEs into large corporations. Some of the Bank’s support programmes for SMEs include African Start-Up on CNN, a sponsored TV documentary on CNN showcasing SME success stories across Africa; Ignite (an afterschool graduate employability and enterprise training initiative); Sponsorship of SME Radio Programme, The Economy & You, SME conferences and seminars across various states in Nigeria as well as the SMEConnect website which is at the heart of FirstBank’s SME activities.

Through strategic partnerships, FirstBank has collaborated to build the business of the arts through our First@Arts initiative exemplified in our unique partnerships on FirstStars Reality TV show with Ebony Life TV, Performing Arts with Freedom Park and British Council. The bank also supports the food value chain through our sponsorship of food fairs including Fiesta of Flavors and Street Food Fair.

Nigerian Tribune

Sterling Bank rolls out Core Banking Solution across 185 branches TEMENOS (SIX: TEMN), the software specialist for banking and finance, has announced that Sterling Bank Plc, has successfully gone live with Temenos UniversalSuite, just as it simultaneously rolls out Temenos Core Banking Solution across 185 branches.

The Geneva based software specialist in a statement made available over the weekend explained that the Bank’s move to replace its existing legacy systems with Temenos core banking solution will support ambitious growth plans, including reaching customers in new geographical locations and improve its ability to bring new products to market.

“The bank went live with an ambitious ‘Big Bang Approach’ across all its 185 branches simultaneously, allowing the whole business to benefit from the new technology in the quickest time frame”. Temenos said in the statement.

Jean Paul Mergeai, Regional Director at Temenos commented: “We are very pleased with Sterling Bank’s trust in our products and services which will enable the bank to execute its growth plans – attracting new niche customers and expanding regional operations. By selecting Temenos core-banking solution to underpin its IT transformation, Sterling Bank is leveraging the technology that should give them a competitive edge in a fast moving market, increase operational efficiency, reduce risks and improve customer service. I would like to congratulate Sterling Bank on the achievement and delivery of such an important program and milestone.”

Yemi Adeola, the Sterling Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive in the statement also commented: “Technology has become the backbone of the global banking system today and as an institution, we are committed to continuously making the necessary investments to ensure we deliver the one-customer experience to all our customers. Our choice of Temenos is founded on their impressive track record and reliable service delivery; a trait synonymous with the core values we hold dear”.

Temenos Group AG (SIX: TEMN), headquartered in Geneva, is a market leading software provider, partnering with banks and other financial institutions to transform their businesses and stay ahead of a changing marketplace. Over 2,000 firms across the globe, including 38 of the top 50 banks, rely on Temenos to process the daily transactions of more than 500 million banking customers. Temenos customers are proven to be more profitable than their peers: over a seven year period, they enjoyed on average a 31per cent higher return on assets, a 36per cent higher return on equity and an 8.6 percentage point lower cost/ income ratio than banks running legacy applications.

20

Monday, 21 November 2016

Nigerian Tribune

USAID, partners test new ways to support entrepreneurs with $100 million Stories By Ruth Olurounbi

B

UILDING up on several investments aimed at improving entrepreneurship in Africa and around the world, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners are testing new ways to support entrepreneurs across the globe.

Leveraging on $100 million in combined public and private investments “over their lifetime,” four new partners – MCE Social Capital, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), Villgro and Root Capital – announced in September this year, are expected to join about 17 previous partnerships through the Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) Initiative, to help find new ways to support entrepreneurs solves respective challenges confronting their businesses.

These new ways aim at finding specific-targeted solutions at helping entrepreneur solve specific problems, Rob Schneider, the Division Chief, Global Partnerships within USAID’s U.S. Global Development Lab, said in a blogpost, USAID’s Global Entrepreneurship Week Blog Series, on gew.co. The blogpost is in partnership with the Global Entrepreneurship Network towards promoting global entrepreneurship.

The MCE Social Capital

Open Capital Advisors, a USAID partner through the Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) Initiative, supports high-potential businesses, investors, and scalable approaches to economic growth across Africa. PHOTO: GEW.CO

and USAID for instance, are working to help entrepreneurs access appropriate finance through MCE’s innovative loan guarantee model, Schneider said, just as the USAID is partnering with Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) to capitalise locally funded and managed impact investing firms in West Africa.

“With USAID’s support, Villgro is piloting its highly customized early-stage incubation support to enterprises in Kenya and Vietnam” and Root Capital “aims to promote increased impact investment by identifying ways to improve cost effectiveness and limit the

need for subsidies through its research on the true cost of acceleration,” he added.

“By working with partners to test new approaches for impact investing, and business acceleration and incubation, USAID is supporting conditions and tools that enable entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles and implement market-based solutions to global problems,” he also said.

Although there have been increased support and investments global entrepreneurship from the development community, USAID is noticing that “determining how donors should help is a challenge” as, “entrepre-

neurs everywhere require different types of support at different stages—business development services for early-stage enterprises look quite different from consulting support for medium-sized businesses.”

To add to the aforesaid, “entrepreneurs in developing countries face a myriad of obstacles—from accessing appropriate finance at reasonable interest rates, to finding the right incubator or accelerator program to provide the support needed to grow,” Schneider said.

To address the gap, Schneider said the Partnering to Accelerate Entrepreneurship (PACE) Initiative,

a program within USAID’s U.S. Global Development Lab, is working with “intermediaries who are searching for new ways to help support entrepreneurs that are navigating a complicated and challenging operating environment.”

Admitting that “there is no silver bullet or a one-sizefits-all solution that can solve all these problems, Schneider said “we know that solutions do exist, and it is important that we keep trying new approaches to find the best way to help entrepreneurs succeed... and by testing ways to catalyse private investment and foster entrepreneurship, PACE

Health entrepreneurs to win $100,000 from Johnson & Johnson competition

WITH its focus on consumer health care, Johnson & Johnson through its Africa Innovation Challenge (AIC), is aiming to tackle “important issues impacting local communities” – health wise and as such, is orga-

nising an idea competition among health entrepreneurs across Africa to help provide solutions to such important issues.

Johnson & Johnson in a written statement, said: “We are looking for an idea

that has a clear project plan to progress towards commercialisation. Commercialisation is the process of introducing a new product or solution into commerce – making it available on the market. As you are submitting your application, you will find a downloadable project plan template that will guide you step-bystep so that we can better understand the feasibility of your idea. If you have a business plan to share, that is great.”

Therefore, entrepreneurs who are above 18 years of age and work in the following fields promoting early child development

and maternal health, empowering young girls and improving family wellbeing are encouraged to apply before January 17, 2017.

According to the company, participants with the best solutions will receive up to $100,000 in funding and mentorship from scientists, engineers and researchers in the Johnson & Johnson Consumer Research & Development organisation.

“The winner(s) of the challenge could also receive dedicated space at a lab facility in Africa throughout their product or service development,

dependent on the needs of the solution submission,” the company added.

It should be noted that selected candidates will be judged based on solution that addresses at least one of the three critical health areas mentioned earlier and is innovative and creative.

Also, the company said it is looking for solutions that are scalable and must outline commercialisation plan and how the award would help the applicant reach a critical milestone within the timeframe of a single year.

Intended applicants can submit their application through the company’s website.

is addressing the challenges that entrepreneurs face by combining the innovation of a start-up and the convening power of the U.S. government.”

It will be recalled that USAID, at the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit, held in June this year, announced in a press statement that it was making four new investments totalling more than $38 million to help mobilise the power of global entrepreneurs and innovators in the fight to end extreme poverty.

These investments, it said, will connect innovators around the world with investors and capital to increase access to energy and expand food security in developing countries, the agency said.

“USAID is committed to engaging entrepreneurs, innovators, and other private sector partners in developing countries around the world to advance development outcomes. Over the past seven years, USAID has directly supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and has partnered with other donors, international organizations and local governments to develop entrepreneurial ecosystems.

In 2015, USAID had over 360 active public-private partnerships that leveraged more than $5.9 billion from private sector and other partners,” the agency said in the statement.

The new investments include: Scaling off-grid energy: a grand challenge for development, a $36 million investment to empower entrepreneurs and investors to grow a market to connect 20 million households in sub-Saharan Africa that live beyond the reach of the electricity grid with modern, clean, affordable electricity; Feed the future call for cool storage solutions, a $2.5 million in funding and mentoring to entrepreneurs to help them adapt, pilot and scale their proven cool storage solutions to prevent food loss and waste; Geeks on a Plane and Global Innovation Exchange an over $72 million in available funding opportunities, to help innovators and entrepreneurs accelerate their innovation to impact.

Nigerian Tribune

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Dealing with problems? Don’t mistake symptom for cause

By Chris Myers AS the CEO of a rapidly growing company, I spend a good portion of my time dealing with problems. I’m not complaining, of course; it’s simply part of the job.

As with most things in life, the challenges I face vary greatly regarding source, severity, and sensitivity.

While the details of the problems vary, they all have one thing in common: they’re never as simple as they appear. Whether you’re dealing with investors, clients, competition, or employees, there’s usually more going on in a situation than meets the eye.

Good leaders recognize this and help their teams dissect

problems accordingly.

Only by understanding the complexities of an issue and separating them out can a team find the right longterm solution to the problem at hand.

Don’t mistake the symptom for the cause In business and life, we tend to notice the symptoms of a problem before we understand its cause. If you react instinctively and without deep thought, you’ll make find yourself mistaking that symptom for the problem itself. When this happens, any solution you implement acts as a temporary and often misguided fix.

I encountered this just earlier this week, as a matter of

fact. The team and I started brainstorming ideas around helping our institutional partners better manage the deployment and marketing process.

Focus on the big picture What we discovered that all of the hiccups and frustrations we were experiencing stemmed from our failure to set proper expectations with our clients at the onset of the engagement.

First, we did not specifically require our partners to adhere to our proven marketing plan. The plan was interpreted as a suggestion, rather than an expectation. As a result, some of

our partners implemented only aspects of the overall strategy, which of course led to underwhelming performance.

Second, our contracts were structured in such a way that partners had relatively little skin in the game, which led them to play it safe and take their time.

When an incomplete marketing implementation collides with poor incentives, problems ensue.

challenges we face.

We accomplish this by adopting an integrated approach that includes virtually every aspect of our organization. First, we modified our standard contract so that going forward

our customers agree to certain marketing efforts up front. Additionally, we ensured that they have enough skin in the game in order to make the rollout a success.

Culled from forbes.com

Adopt an integrated approach Of course, “it’s your fault” is never the right answer in business. Our job as a trusted partner is to help our clients find the right path forward, in spite of the

Ruth Olurounbi

0811 695 4637 (sms only) e:ruth.olurounbi@tribune.com.ng t:@Olurounbi

Folorunsho Alakija

4 reasons you shouldn’t start own a business TWO weeks ago, I discussed identifying reasons for starting a business in ‘Answering the ‘why’ question’ and I concluded that knowing why you started a business what influences customer loyalty.

If you recall, I stated that “customers don’t buy what you are sell, they buy why you sell. Your “why” influences your ad placements, it informs your vision and mission statements. Today, I want to discuss five reasons why you shouldn’t start a business. Don’t get me wrong, starting a business is one of the beautiful and rewarding things anyone could do. How could it be then that I, who has been encouraging people to start their own businesses, is discussing reasons you shouldn’t start one?

My reasons are simple, entrepreneurship is not meant for everyone, and most certainly not for some certain people. For instance, if you’re risk averse, entrepreneurship is not for you.

Knowing this will prevent you from taking decisions that would probably lead you through unprofitable path in life.

So, why shouldn’t you probably start a business?

Egoticism Egoticism is being excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself as Oxford Dictionary put it. Some synonyms include: self-centredness, self-interest, selfishness, self-obsession and narcissism among others. One of the major characteristics of a narcissist, Dr Kola Salami, a behavioural psychologist is lack of empathy. According to him, a narcissist is almost always unwilling

should not start a business.

to recognise or identify with other people’s feelings and needs. Now, an obsessively egotistical person who almost always seek to have control over situations and in many instances, would most likely not give into account the needs of his/her customers. In his/her case, the customer is not the king, he or she is and that is bad for business.

It is advisable that people with unmanageable ego such stay off starting a business because such business is already failed before starting.

Control If you’re a control freak, who wants

Quick money The other day I was listening to an interview on the TV. The interviewee, who says he’s an entrepreneur, swore that people could make millions from doing business online with a few months and urged his listeners to join him in the said online business. Here is where I have an issue: no legitimate business that I know of makes anyone millions of naira in a few months of starting. There are so many “success stories” out there that gives the impression that one can make cool millions almost immediately one starts a business, which I find false and misleading at best. In a situation where 80 per cent of businesses fail in the first two years of their lives, how is it possible that you can make quick cash while starting a business?

Am I saying there are no millionaire entrepreneurs? No, they exist. In fact, there are billionaire entrepreneurs but I am guessing they didn’t make their millions or billions overnight.

So, if your reason is to make quick money, you are probably going to fail. You may want to save things done in a particular way at a partic- yourself the trouble. ular time, entrepreneurship is not for you.

Lack of ability to make good judgement No one has control over everything, no One of the requirements for success is the matter how much they tried. And you will ability to consistently make good decisions. If find this to be unpleasantly through when you run your own business. The only two you’re a person who is not entirely sure you things guaranteed in businesses are taxes can make great decisions (that will benefit your business and yourself as an individual) at every and death, every other thing is not. given time, you may want to stay away from For instance, you can’t control when starting a business. Decision-making process your customers will pay you, you can’t only gets more complicated as you progress in control when supplies will be delivered your business. And as you progress, you realise and you most certainly can’t force your employees to meet your crazy standards. that you will have to make decisions that will affect lives of your employees and clients and If you’re one of those people who can’t yield and accept that they can’t have con- even your family and friends. Those are not decisions you make lightly. trol over everything, then you probably

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BRANDS &

Nigerian Tribune

with Akin Adewakun

MARK TING m:08054683584 e:akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk

AAAN set to hold 11th edition of LAIF awards THE Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has announced plans to stage the 11th edition of its annual creative award, Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival Awards (LAIF), in Lagos.

The association’s Vice President and who is also the Chairman, LAIF Board, Mr Ikechi Odigbo stated that as a way of staging a more impactful festival, this year, the as-

sociation had secured the commitment of reputable creative personalities from leading creative agencies, to serve as seminar facilitators, jurors and advisors.

The AAAN Publicity Secretary/Vice Chairman, LAIF Board, Mr Steve Babaeko said the objectives of LAIF Awards include the need to reward and recognise outstanding creativity in advertising and brand building.

“For this year’s edition, the LAIF Management Board will be organizing three major events namely the LAIF Seminar/ Exhibition, Young LAIFERS Award and the LAIF Awards Dinner,” he stated.

The LAIF Seminar, according to him, is a pre-award seminar targeted at the senior executives of advertising, media and marketing industry, with over 500 delegates

from various sectors of the industry, being expected to attend.

One of the major highlights of this year’s edition is the introduction of new categories, which include Young Agency of the Year, Agency of the Year, Marketer of the Year, Creative Personality of the Year and Creative Effectiveness Category (LAIFFIES).

NIMN: Tony Agenmonmen steps in The prospects, the challenges

F

OR the nation’s marketing practitioners, the ancient city of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, would not be forgotten in a hurry, at least for some time to come. Besides serving as the venue of the recently-concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), the umbrella body they all belong, it also turned out to be a city where the institute succeeded in making history by, for the first time, electing its officers in a wellcontested, but transparent election, over the weekend.

But, while the elections had succeeded in throwing up winners, with the not-so-lucky ones ‘living to fight another day’, not a few believe that the task before the newly-elected president and chairman of Council of the institute, Mr Tony Agenmonmen and officers at the council is herculean, and would require more than mere marketing prowess to surmount.

Though the immediate past president of the institute, Chief Ganiyu Koledoye had succeeded to a large extent, in enhancing unity, by reconciling the different factions of the institute, under one umbrella, not a few still believe that the new leadership still needs to consolidate on this achievement.

For instance, in his valedictory speech before handing over to Agenmonmen-led council, Koledoye had charged members of the institute, to desist from acts that would rub off negatively on the NIMN brand.

“We have to shed the toga of clannishness and tribalism. It is no longer an institute within Lagos, it is an institute that now enjoys a national spread. We are professionals, we assimilate all spheres of knowledge, sales, marketing, advertising and others and therefore should not discriminate any individual that can deliver value.

“Mails and petition writers are not helping the cause of the institute. You are damaging the brand, each time you do this. This is an

institute that creates value, how can we, therefore, degenerate to a level of being an institute of petitioners?” the former NIMN boss had asked rhetorically.

Koledoye was only saying the obvious. While there seem to be some semblance of peace in the institute, the rumour mills, within the nation’s organized marketing space seems to be perpetually alive, perhaps due to mutual distrust and suspicion.

Besides, not a few stakeholders have reached that consensus that the institute needed a clean break from the past, a rebranding of some sort that would see it positioned for the opportunities the 21st Century marketing avails itself of in advanced climes.

One of the reservations of many stakeholders is the building that presently serves as the institute’s corporate office in Lagos. For a practice that prides itself as a bastion of value-creation, amny see

the location as belittling and a far cry from what should be the norm.

The ascension of Tony, as the new NIMN boss is popularly called should no doubt provide a lasting solution to one of the perennial challenges the institute confronts from time to time. It is obvious that the institute has not been able to break the glass ceiling

as far as getting significant corporate sponsorship and support for its activities is concerned, a development that had not allowed the institute to carry out its avowed mission of creating value in the past.

The need to shore up the institute’s purse should also be a major priority for the new leadership.

While the former President of the institute was able to turn the fortune institute from a debtor institute three years ago to the one that could showcase the sum of N7million as profit in the last financial year, many still believe a lot must still be done.

The finances of the institute are in dire strait, with Brands & Marketing’s checks within the institute revealing that some of the institute’s personnel still being owed between five to six months salaries.

Interestingly, the positive in all this is that the new leadership is not oblivious of these gargantuan challenges.

“I’m committed to every letter on my manifestoes. I’m determined to overcome most of these challenges, especially with the support of other members of council of the institute,”, Agenmonmen had said in a post election chat with the media.

Gratifyingly, what the new leadership has going for it is the quality of members of the Council and the renewed enthusiastic spirits among members today.

MWA to go Pan-African in 2017 ORGANISERS of the annual Marketing World Award, Instinct Wave, have announced plans to extend award’s searchlight beyond Nigeria as from next year.

Briefing the media on this year’s edition of the Award, scheduled for December, this year, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akin Naphtal explained that the decision to make other marketing communication practitioners in the continent, eligible for the award, as from next year, was informed by the need to further make the annual event more competitive.

According to him, extending the dragnet of the award beyond Nigeria, would also give organisers the much-needed opportunity to benchmark individuals and corporate organisations in the nation’s IMC industry against their peers across the continent.

One of the key features of this year’s award, he stated, is the conferment of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mrs Yomi Ifaturoti, ? a marketing communication guru and Corporate Affairs and Admin Director at PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. Besides, he stated, Mrs Juliet Ehimuan, the Country Manager for Google had also been confirmed as the keynote speaker of the event, as a way of creating a buzz around digital marketing and its dynamism in the nation’s IMC.

StarTimes launches low energy consumption capability HD TV STILL basking in the euphoria of the success of its recentlylaunched 2-in-1 combo decoder, pay tv service provider, StarTimes has, again, announced the launch of a High Definition (HD) Digital Television.

Besides further enhancing the viewing experience of its teeming subscribers, the introduction of the latest offering, with an in-built decoder into the market, according to the company, is a way of

also preparing the nation’s paytv subscribers for forthcoming digital switchover.

Unveiling the product in Lagos, over the weekend, the company’s Sales Director, Mr. John Esoimeme, described the product as combining effectively, for the first time, the features of both digital terrestrial (DTT) and direct to home (DTH) satellite television technologies.

“This is a game changer from

StarTimes, deliberately designed with latest global technology with 60% energy consumption capability to lavish subscribers with unprecedented access to good firmware.

“Interestingly, this new television works with an in-built decoder and grants our esteemed customers access to over 100 channels across the genres with an enhanced high definition (HD) picture quality,” he stated.

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Nigerian Tribune

Over 150 companies to feature in Nigerian mining summit —Minister

As ministry partners Afrocet, Deloitte, others

N

O fewer than 150 companies and operators would be participating in the National Mining Summit billed for the first quarter of next year, as part of plans by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to scale up activities and drive investment in the sector.

The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Honourable Abubakar Bawa Bwari, disclosed this on Friday during a joint press briefing by the ministry and other international partners on the planned national mining summit .

The Minister stated that the exhibition and summit is a joint-venture between the Ministry and Afrocet Montgomery, IMAG and Deloitte Consulting scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja from April 25 to 27, 2017.

According to Honour-

able Bwari, the Summit would be centred on the recently approved Mining

Road Map, adding that it would be an international platform for the Federal

of robust mining legislation, pro-growth policies and supporting regulatory

Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Honourable Abubakar Bawa Bwari; Director, Mines Inspectorate, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Mr Dauda Awojobi and the Regional Director, West Africa, Afrocet Montgomery, George Pearson, during a press briefing on the launch of CONMIN West Africa and the National Mining Summit, in Abuja, on Friday.

TSA policy stalling research in universities —ASUU chairman THE Treasury Single Account (TSA), introduced by the Federal Government to check corruption in the system, is stalling research in the universities, according to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that exempting the universities from the TSA is among the demands of ASUU, whose members embarked on a one-week warning strike on Wednesday, November 23.

According to its National President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, other demands included the payment of Earned Academic Allowances, effective funding of the universities, an end to the payment of fractions of salaries to some institutions, among others.

Ogunyemi had already warned that ASUU would embark on an indefinte strike after the warning strike, if their demands were not met.

Speaking specifically on the TSA, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr Christopher Piwuna, chairman, Jos chapter of the union, said the policy was of utmost concern to the universities because it was impeding their core mandate – research and breakthroughs.

“The TSA is a good policy, but its bottlenecks are too much,” Piwuna told our correspondent on Sunday in Jos. “International and corporate bodies send research grants to universities, which

Government to introduce to the international mining community a regime

are paid into the acounts of the institutions, but they get trapped in centralised TSA accounts that are not accessible.

“Such grants come with timelines and the granting institutions get agigated and start asking questions which we can neither answer nor explain. Often, this leads to forfeiture,” he said.

He regretted that the development had led to the loss of many research opportunities and possible breakthroughs, adding that it had also ruptured the confidence between the angry granting institutions and the helpless supposed recipients.

“ASUU has nothing against the TSA, we are only saying that the unversities should be exempted from it in view of the speed with which universities’ activities are carried out and also because lots of funds paid into the schools’ accounts come in

from foreign sources,” he explained.

Piwuna admitted, however, that the TSA policy had checked a lot of excessess in the system and should be sustained.

“Some institutions have been found to have up to 25 accounts, some of which are not even known to their Chief Executive Officers.

The ASUU chairman accused government of not giving education the attention it deserved, and vowed that the union would stand its grounds until the right thing was done.

He wondered why government would wait until lecturers began a strike before listening to their concerns.

The ASUU official expressed the union’s readiness to work with stakeholders willing to shore up the fortunes of the educational sector, pointing out that the nation’s fortunes were tied to its growth.

Rejection of ambassadorial list an opportunity —FCT indigenes Christian Okeke - Abuja

NATIVES of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have said the recent rejection of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees

by Senate is an opportunity for them to be given a sense of belonging and inclusion in subsequent ambassadorial list.

In a statement, the President of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empower-

ment Organisation, Isaac David noted that there was no better opportunity for the indigenes to be given equal opportunity with other citizens than now.

According to him, the rejection of the nominees would serve as an opportunity for the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, to fulfil his promise to Abuja indigenes.

AYENI

AYENI

framework that would create a globally competitive platform for stakeholders in the nation’s mining and mineral processing sector.

He stated further that the summit would also attract key local, regional and international mining stakeholders ranging from the Federal Government, state governments, International diplomats, policy makers, investment funds, financial institutions, consultants, mining operators, among others.

Bwari disclosed that the summit would attract over 150 companies that would exhibit their products/services through custom-built exhibition booths, noting that about 3,000 visitors are expected from West Africa mining and construction sectors.

He, however, said the summit would be at no cost to the ministry, adding that the ministry would provide high level support towards the success of the event.

IDODE

I, formerly Miss Ayeni Bamidele Agnes now MRS. TAIWO BAMIDELE AGNES. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Ayeni Oluwaseyi Olayinka now ATTE OLUWASEYI OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. The National Youth Service Corps and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Idode Flora Dupe now MRS FLORA DUPE IZEGAEGBE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Olalere Abisola Grace now OLALERE ADIJAT ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gazal Aminat Abiodun now MRS. ABDULAZEEZ AMINAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Salami Ajoke Titilayo am the same person bearing Ajoke Morakinyo.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAMI AJOKE TITILAYO. My correct date of birth is 11/6/1982 and not 10/1/1982. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OLALERE

OLOTEDE

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General public take note.

SHOLA

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EHIKIORIA

I, formerly Ohue Samuel Ehikioria now EHIKIORIA SAMUEL OHUE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note .

AND I, formerly Miss Evaghoghome Benita Uzazormaro now MRS EHIKIORIA BENITA UZAZORMARO. All former documents remain valid.

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GAZAL

ABIMBOLA

I, formerly Miss Abimbola Taiwo Victoria now MRS OYADINA TAIWO VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

AKINFUNMILOYE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Akinfunmiloye Josiah Akinbamijo am the same person bearing Akinfunmiloye Josiah Akin. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AKINFUNMILOYE JOSIAH AKINBAMIJO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. N.C.A.T, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

ADEMISOYE

I, formerly Ademisoye Dayo now ADEMISOYE ABDUL JIMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

GANIYU

SALAMI

OBAFEMI

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs Obafemi, Beatrice Olutokunbo now wish to be known and addressed as MRS OBAFEMI, BEATRICE TOKUNBO. All former documents remain valid.

ARM PENSION, Ogun State and general public take note.

FANIYI

I, formerly Faniyi Roseline Temitope now AREMU ROSELINE TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Ministry of Education and general public take note.

CHIMA

I, formerly Chima Pamela Ijeoma Offor now IJEOMA PAMELA OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. University of Abuja, Federal College of Education, Okene and general public take note.

JIMOH

I, formerly Mr. Ganiyu Moshood Babatunde now MR. OLAYIWOLA MOSHOOD BABATUNDE. My correct date of birth is 6th August, 1972 and not 6th August, 1970. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jimoh Adejoke Folorunsho Tawakalitu now MRS. OYEYEMI ADEJOKE FOLORUNSHO HEPHZIBAH. All former documents remain valid. Ducal Oil Nig Ltd., UAC Restaurants and general public take note.

I, formerly Atanda Titilayo Kafayat now ATANDA ADEJOKE KAFAYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oladoyin Ahmad Abdurrasheed am the same person bearing Mallam Abdurrasheed Ahmad.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLADOYIN AHMAD ABDURRASHEED. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My name, Ogunfowora Shola Funmilayo was written as Ogunfowora Funmilayo.

That henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGUNFOWORA SHOLA FUNMILAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

EcoBank and general public take note.

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ATANDA

OGUNFOWORA

OLADOYIN

CHIOMA

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Monday, 21 November, 2016 DENNIS

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General public take note.

OGUNDEJI

TANIMONURE

I, formerly Miss Tanimonure Olaide Bukola now MRS ADESINA OLAIDE BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

WAHAB

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Wahab Lukman Olanrewaju am the same person as Wahab Lukman.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as WAHAB LUKMAN OLANREWAJU. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

LATEEF

KOLAWOLE

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Mrs Kolawole Bosede am the same person as Jegede Comfort Bosede.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS KOLAWOLE BOSEDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

ALAO

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Alao Hawa Oyebola am the same person as Alao Hawa and Hawa Oyebola Alao.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as Alao Hawa Oyebola.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

SAFIYAT

LAWAL

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I formerly Miss Lawal Ozohu Mariam am the same person as Mrs Mariam Ozohu Abolarin.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS ABOLARIN OZOHU MARIAM. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

ADENIYI

OYETUNJI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Oyetunji Zainab Ashake am the same person as Oyetunji Zainab And Zainab Ashake Oyetunji. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OYETUNJI ZAINAB ASHAKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

OLALEKAN

OGUNYEMI

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ogunyemi Adunola Abigeal am the same person as Ogunyemi Adunola. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OGUNYEMI ADUNOLA ABIGEAL. WAEC wrongly registered my date of birth as January 30th, 1993 instead of January 31st, 1993. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

ALADE

I, formerly Miss Olalekan Oladoyin Margaret now MRS AJISAFE OLADOYIN MARGARET. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Alade Bukola Oluwatoyin now ALADE JANET OLUBUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akintola Abigail Modupe now OLADIPUPO ABIGAIL ARINOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ademola Esther Adenike now MRS OLAOYE ESTHER ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Olaode Dolapo Bolade now MRS OLATUNJI DOLAPO BOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Oparah Joy Onyinye now MRS OBA JOY ONYINYE. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Taiwo Adeolu Josiah am the same person bearing Taiwo Adeolu. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as TAIWO ADEOLU JOSIAH. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Rasak Babajide now MR RASAK AMINU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME/DATE OF BIRTH: I, Azzez Rafiu Yadafi, that my name was wrongly written as Azzez Rafiu Ogunrin. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AZZEZ RAFIU YADAFI. My date of birth is 23/10/1975. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeniyi Oluwakemi Grace now MRS DADA OLUWAKEMI GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

Staff of Local Government Service Commission, Osogbo, Osun State and general public take note.

RABIU

AKINTOLA

ADEMOLA

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Lateef Gbadamosi am the same person bearing Badmos Lateef Taye. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as LATEEF GBADAMOSI. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Safiyat Ahmed Mohammed now MRS SAFIYAT AHMED AKALA. All former documents remain valid. Federal Road Safety Corps and general public take note.

I, formerly Ijiola Sarah Funmilola now MRS AKINBODE SARAH FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Olalere Taiwo Timothy now OLADIPUPO DEJI SEUN. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adebisi Omolara Mary am the same person as Adebisi Omolara.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEBISI OMOLARA MARY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Adeniyi Adenike Princess am the same person as Adeniyi Adenike and Adenike Princess Adeniyi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADENIYI ADENIKE PRINCESS. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

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I, formerly Adedoyin Olu Solomon now ADEDOYIN OLU COLUMBUS. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Miss. Benson Elizabeth Adedayo am also the same person as MRS. ALADE ADEDAYO ELIZABETH. That the two names still remain valid.

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I, formerly Kehinde Adeyoola Olaleye now AJOKE OLADUNJOYE OLALEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adebiyi Funmilayo Sarah now MRS OLAPADE FUNMILAYO MODUPE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Obasanya Kehinde Abimbola now AJAYI-OBE KEHINDE ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Kasali Yemisi now ANJOORIN OLUWAYEMISI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

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CORRECTION OF NAME: My correct name is Badmus Adesina Fatai not Badmus Fatai as mistakenly written on my BVN. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as BADMUS ADESINA FATAI. All former documents remain valid.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Olaniyan Olusesan Olukunle am the same person bearing Olaniyan Isaiha Olukunle. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OLANIYAN OLUSESAN OLUKUNLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Owese, Joy Isioma Angela now ODAFE, JOY ISIOMA ANGELA. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Alabi Winner Ojichukwu now ALABI WINNER ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME: My correct name is Abdulsalam Hawau Mosunmola not Robiu Hawau Mosunmola as mistakenly written on my BVN. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ABDULSALAM HAWAU MOSUNMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Asipa Abigael Omowumi now MRS ADEDAPO ABIGAEL OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Ogundeji Wasiu Oladayo am the same person as Ogundeji Wasiu Olawale and Ogundeji Oladayo Wasiu. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGUNDEJI WASIU OLADAYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

OMOTOSHO

I, formerly Omotosho Kazeem Bayonle now OMOTOSHO MOHAMMED MURITALA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ADEBISI

ISSA

BENSON

ADEBIYI

YARDA

I, formerly Yarda Istifanus now YARDA ISTIFANUS JULIUS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OKUNLOLA

IJIOLA

ADENIYI

ADETUNJI

AJANI

ROMOKE

RASHEED

I, formerly Mr. Rasheed Apase Dele now MR. RAJI RASHEED APASE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ODUNSANYA

I, formerly Okunlola Emmanuel Olayinka now OKUNLOLA EMMANUEL ADEYINKA. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Odunsanya Adebola Chidinma Cynthia now ODUNSANYA ADEBOLA CHIDINMA THELMA. All former documents remain valid.

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EXCLUSION OF NAME: I, formerly Moses Igho Ighotegwulor now MOSES IGHOTEGWULOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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MOSES

RHODA

ADEYINKA

ADEGBITE

IDOWU

FOLORUNSHO

I, formerly Miss Adeyinka Olufisayo Olubukola Juliana now MRS. ADEKUNLE OLUFISAYO JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Folorunsho Gbenga Imoleayo now FOLORUNSHO EMMANUEL OLUWAGBEMIGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adefalu Adebola Bolanle now MRS MAKINDE ADEBOLA BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid.

O.A.U.T.H.C Ile-Ife, O.A.U Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Raifu Saidi now AMOLE SAHEED OKEGBEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

MAKINDE

RAIFU

OLALERE

OLADEJO

ADEDOYIN

KEHINDE

OBASANYA

BADMUS

OWESE

ITODO

I, formerly Itodo Ene Vera Veronica now ELLAH ADA VERA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

AKINMOLADUN

CONFIRMATION OF NAME: I, Rabiu Taiwo Christiana am the same person bearing Rabiu Abimbola Taiwo. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RABIU TAIWO CHRISTIANA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

OLAODE

RASAK

ORENUSI

OPARAH

AZZEZ

WASIU

TAIWO

OGUNGBENRO

I, formerly Miss Ogungbenro Rukayat Bunmi now MRS MOUDINI RUKAYAT BUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OJEGBENRO

I, formerly Miss Orenusi Foluke Bose now MRS OYEDOKUN FOLUKE MODUPE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Wasiu Latifat Bolanle now AJENIFUJA LATIFAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Elizabeth Mobolaji Onifade now MRS ELIZABETH MOBOLAJI AKINWALE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Koyejo Toyin Wumi now MRS BALOGUN TOYIN WUMI. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, Zenith Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunkoya Musiliat Damilola now MRS. OTUKOYA MUSILIAT DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, FCMB and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adedokun Omolara Toyin now MRS ODEGBILE DEBORAH OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Olubode Oluwaniunyo Olaitan now OLUBODE NIUNYO TOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

ONIFADE

KASALI

OLANIYAN

HUSSAIN

ABDULSALAM

BUKOLA

KOYEJO

ADEDOKUN

ADEKUNLE

I, formerly Miss Adekunle Adebisi Oluwamodupe now MRS ADEWUNMI ADEBISI OLUWAMODUPE. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan and general public take note.

ALABI

ASIPA

MOSHOOD

I, formerly Miss Ojegbenro Oluwaseun Grace now MRS AWODIRAN OLUWASEUN GRACE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

OGUNKOYA

OLUBODE

MUHAMMED

I, formerly Miss Muhammed Mutiyat Bukky now MRS ADETONA MUTIYAT BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

ALABI

EMMANUEL

AWOSANMI

I, formerly Akinmoladun Janet Bola now MRS ATANDA JANET BOLA. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bukola Feyikemi Durodola now MRS BUKOLA FEYIKEMI DURODOLA OJO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Moshood Basheeroh Oyenike now MRS RAJI BASHEEROH OYENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC, Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Awosanmi Oluwakemi Tosin now MRS ADEMOLA OLUWAKEMI TOSIN. All former documents remain valid. Immigration Office Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Comfort Sandra Musa now MUSA SANDRA KAFI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omojola Folashade Ajoke now MRS FOLORUNSHO FOLASHADE AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Fadulu Oluwabukola Abiola now BABALOLA OLUWABUKOLA ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Fadulu Olajide Adebayo now BABALOLA OLAJIDE ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Awoyode Christopher Akin Akanni Olaolu Sunday Layioye now MR. OLAYIWOLA CHRISTOPHER AWOYODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Idiaro Risikat Abimbola now YUNUSIDIARO RISIKAT ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Banjawe Ranti Esther now MRS ADELEKE RANTI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

COMFORT

IGURE

I, formerly Igure Olusegun Joseph now ELIJAH OLUWASEGUN JOSEPH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMOJOLA

AWOYODE

FADULU

YUNUS-IDIARO

FADULU

BANJAWE

36

politicsnews

Monday, 21 November, 2016

PoliticsNews

6 days to Ondo election: Akeredolu, Oke, Jegede talk tough

By Kunle Oderemi

L

EADING candidates in next Saturday’s governorship poll in Ondo State, on Sunday, talked tough, as the countdown to the election took a dizzying height.

Each of the candidate expressed confidence about victory and possibility of creating an upset at the poll, which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had said its November 26 date remained sacrosanct.

While the standard-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Akeredolu, reeled out five key reasons behind his confidence of trouncing other contenders for the coveted seat at Alagbaka House, the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Oluwole Oke, said the will of the people and not federal might would determine the election.

On the other hand, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, said no form of conspiracy could stop him from flying the flag of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election on Saturday.

He asked his supporters and admirers to keep hope alive, as the battle by him to reclaim his mandate was within reach, even as he said the PDP remained the party to beat in any election in the state.

Indeed, he told PDP stakeholders at a meeting in Akure that he was confident of victory, “even if it is going to hold today,” because God and the people were behind his quest to be the next governor of the state.

Meanwhile, the Ahmed Makarfi-led PDP is to launch the local government campaign committee today, as part of fresh effort to put Jegede in a good stead for the election.

The committees, which are expected to hit the ground running immediately, will intensify door-to-door campaign throughout the 18 local government areas in the state.

While the candidates made brisk moves to shore up their individual chances ahead the elections, their campaign organisations and sundry groups engaged in a battle of wits, bordering on accusations and counter-accusations

of plot to shortchange the electorate.

5 reasons I will win —Akeredolu

Akeredolu has listed five key reasons he is confident of victory.

Fielding questions from newsmen in Akure, the state capital, on Saturday night, he said there was a hand of God in his aspiration, coupled with an overwhelming support from the people.

Other reasons, according to him, included loyalty as a party man, desire of the Ondo people for change, his five-point cardinal programme and his pedigree as a professional.

He said everything pertaining to his ambition was working as planned by him and his party in readiness for the poll, because it had the hand of God, and not because of insinuations that some powerful forces had made his victory a foregone conclusion.

“When they say powerful people behind me, that will not be my basis for saying I would win this election. I am telling you, I would win this election because God is behind me.

“He started this work and I believe He would complete it. Who are the powerful people? The president is almost disconnected from what you are doing because he believes in his reputation. He would never try to influence anything and we have come to accept it in the party.

When you talk of powerful; it is the Almighty that is the power behind me,” Akeredolu stressed.

He explained that his first governorship attempt in 2012 was based on a clarion call by the people of his constituency, who, again, had asked him to contest for the position this year.

“So, again, I have yielded to the clarion call of our people. I believe they are not having the best as we would expect of an oilproducing state. The state capital, there is nothing to write home about it.

“You need to get to Imo State and see how developed the state capital is and I don’t believe our people had the best. They have been on the wrong side of everything,” he stated.

He accused APC leaders in the South-West who op-

posed him after emerging as the party’s candidate through the party primaries, saying that “by the grace of God, they will be washed away, ostensibly by his victory at the poll.

“Almost immediately we won, we met with people.

Those who believe in the party remained, but those who do not have left. Some are still here pretending because they are holding offices in the name of the party and they know that if they go out and say they have defected to another party, they would lose their seat, so they are pretending. So, there is nothing we can do about it.

“We have tried our best.

We have made efforts to see whether we can bring them back to see reason but since they are being propelled from areas that I least expected; people that you took as leaders of the party are the ones encouraging this; they are the ones sponsoring this and they are encouraging antiparty activities, there is nothing anybody can do,” he said.

The former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president said such party leaders involved in the anti-party activity would be dealt with at the appropriate time by the APC organ after the election, regardless of their individual status.

According to Akeredolu, part of the low side of politics he had observed since he ventured into party politics five years ago was the absence of trust, “as those individuals one holds in high esteem will try to stab you in the back.”

His words: “My experience has been that people love you - people respect you but there are other low sides of politics that I don’t buy.

That is where people get treacherous. Treachery in politics is not one of my ways of life and this is what is happening. And it gets on my nerves as a person that you will see people at the highest level involved in shenanigans and they have no respect for themselves.

“They are treacherous people and cannot be trusted by anybody. It is an unfortunate thing but you see it. Though they will think they are playing politics, they are not playing politics, they are more or less going to destroy

themselves at the end of the day and we will watch them.

“Politics, to me, is loyalty. Politics should be like a love affair in which whatever it is you love you hold on to it. Friendship is something that you take dearly. It’s been my life but this is not so in politics. This is what I have experienced,” he said.

The APC candidate said he was not bothered by the clamour by some PDP leaders for the postponement of the election, because of the pending cases surrounding the party’s ticket for the poll.

“If they [INEC] have reasons to postpone it, it is no problem for us. Hold the election today; do it in December; any day, we are going to win. So, we are not bothered. Any day they fix the election, we are going to win,” Akeredolu declared.

On whether the PDP crisis would enhance his chances during the election, he said there was no way the combined forces of Jimoh Ibrahim and Eyitayo Jegede could stop him from winning.

“If Jimoh had been the candidate and Jegede his running mate, you know they are from different zones, I will still defeat them, though it might not be wide. No doubt, with Jegede out of the equation, it is a bit lightened but again, politics is not predictable.

“Who says that other members of PDP will still say that we want PDP to be in government and so let’s support Ibrahim? It can happen overnight.

Jegede people can move back to Jimoh as long as it’s their party. So, like I said, it’s not something one can predict, but I believe that yes, Jegede would have been a formidable opponent with Mimiko’s support but I would still have won.”

Decrying the state of affairs in the state over the state of economy, despite being an oil-producing one, Akeredolu said he had endeared himself to the people through his fiv cardinal programmes code named JMPPR. These include creation of jobs; massive infrastructural development; promotion of functional education and technical growth; the provision of healthcare services, as well

as rural development and extension services.

Federal might will not win this election for APC —AD The Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State, on Sunday, reaffirmed its assurance that the will of the people and not federal might would prevail in the next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

Director-General of Olusola Oke Campaign Organisation, Bola Ilori, who stated this in a statement in Akure, Ondo State capital, said the outcome of the election would convey an unequivocal message that the democratic and sovereign powers belonged to the people.

Ilori, who said powers of the people were mightier than those in power, said the ego of the APC would be deflated by the people of the state in the election.

He said relying on federal might by anyone was like living in a fool’s paradise, with the level of democratic awareness and sophistication of the Ondo electorate.

Ilori recalled that the misfortune of the PDP in the 2015 general election was still fresh in the country’s history, explaining that the party relied solely on federal might, rather than the people’s power.

He expressed optimism that a similar fate would befall the APC in the state, adding that the AD had become a darling party ringing bell in the hearts of the Ondo residents.

Ilori said: “APC is gradually toeing a ruinous path by its boast that it will use the federal might to intimidate and overrun the collective will of Ondo people.

The same story we heard from the PDP during the countdown to the 2015 general election. Today, the PDP that controlled over 25 states at a time now has 12 states, with Ondo State gradually slipping off its hands.

“The evil plot that manifested during the APC primaries in Ondo State had shown lucidly that both the makers and the product are laced with indelible taint and the APC candidate will be consigned to the electoral trash-bin on Saturday by Ondo electorate.

“In case they don’t know, the South-West people, from time immemorial, had the history of flexing muscles with the federal might and they had always won.

“The Action Group triumphed over the forces of national Congress Party (NCP) during the First Republic. The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) did same to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1979. The AD trounced the PDP in 1999 and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) overran the PDP before the consummation of APC, which is now becoming a contraption.

“In terms of political trajectory and configuration, federal might has no place in South-West politics and this election will never be an exemption.

“The fact that APC had resolved to capture the people of Ondo like animals had increased their electoral venoms and these they shall unleash against APC on Saturday,” he added.

Ilori implored the people to remain resolute by casting their votes for the candidate of AD and be vigilant to stave off any act of malpractice.

“Our people have resolved to stand by Olusola Oke of the AD and there is no way APC can make inroad even if the Kaduna State governor, Mr Nasir el-Rufai, is appointed the INEC chairman; the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi is made the Inspector-General of Police, and the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, is hurriedly made the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS),” Ilori said.

He, however urged the electorate to troop out on Saturday to perform their civic responsibility towards the socio-economic redemption and restoration of the State.

...No conspiracy can stop me —Jegede The candidate of the Markafi-led faction of the PDP, Eyitayo Jegede, on Sunday, said no amount of manipulation and conspiracy would stop him from contesting in the election, saying, the will of God for the people of the state will be fulfilled.

Continues on pg37

37

politicsnews

Monday, 21 November, 2016

APC to PDP: Put your house in order Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

S

IX days to governorship election in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Sunday, opposed the call for postponement of the election by a faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying that the party should rather put its house in order.

A statement by national secretary of APC, Honourable Mai Mala Buni, noted that the crisis tussle within the party was self-inflicted, hence it should not hold the state and, indeed, the country hostage on account of its internal crisis.

Instead of making the ridiculous election postponement request on INEC, the PDP, it said, should focus and redirect its energy towards putting its house in order.

The statement read in part: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is drawn to a bizarre request by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State on account of the PDP’s internal crisis.

"The PDP in continuation of its wild conspiracies on the Ondo Governorship Election has also accused the APC of colluding with the judicial system, INEC and security agencies to “manipulate” the outcome of the Ondo State governorship election.

“The PDP crisis and the aftermath governorship candidate tussle within its ranks are self-inflicted and the PDP cannot hold Ondo state and indeed the country hostage on account of its internal crisis. Instead of making the ridiculous election postponement request on INEC, the PDP should focus and redirect its energy towards putting its house in order.

“The APC is not party to any scheme to subvert justice and undermine the very progressive and participatory democracy

which the APC fiercely stands for.

"The APC calls on INEC to ignore PDP’s bizarre request and concentrate

on delivering a free, fair, credible and transparent ballot on election day.

"The Ondo electorate are wise and will vote for the

candidate with a proven track record of performance on election day. A vote for the tested, trusted and credible APC gover-

norship candidate, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN will bring about massive multi-faceted development which has eluded the state.”

Ondo State chapter of the Makarfi-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, addressing his supporters during a stakeholders’ meeting, at the International Events Centre, Akure, on Sunday.

Ajimobi hosts South-West governors’ economic forum THE six governors from the South-West will converge on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, today, for an economic forum, aimed principally at discussing and promoting issues of common concern and interest.

A statement, on Sunday, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka, said the meeting was at the instance of the state governor, Senator Abiola Aji-

mobi.

It explained that the meeting would discuss issues of common concern to the region, in view of the challenging economic circumstances confronting the nation and its constituent parts.

The statement stated: “These issues include security of lives and properties of all citizens and our peoples; the economic development of the states by leveraging on common resources and the com-

petitive advantages of the region.

“Other issues to be discussed will include the identification and development of critical infrastructure, especially road networks and the need for a regional rail network for transportation of goods and services within the region.”

Other governors expected at the forum are Senator Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Mr Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Dr Segun Mimiko

(Ondo); Mr Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos); and Mr Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

The statement added that the conversation would be facilitated by the DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Professor Dosu Adeyeye; DirectorGeneral of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN Commission), Mr Dipo Famakinwa, and the Group Managing Director of O’dua Investments, Mr Adewale Raji.

APC grand rally, a failure —AD Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State on Sunday described the mega rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as an “ignominious failure,” despite the presence of President Muhammadu Buhari at the event.

The state secretary of AD, Dr Sola Agboola, who stated this in a statement, noted that the intractable crisis

within the APC was noticeable during the rally, adding that the APC supporters and crowd at the rally were imported from the neighbouring South-West and Edo states.

The party said the failure of the National Leaders of the party, Senator Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Vice President Yemi Osibajo, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, and three out of the four APC governors in the South-

West at the grand finale of the APC campaign, indicated that there was division in the party.

According to him, it will make APC lose by a wide margin in the election to AD candidate, Chief Olusola Oke. It stated: “When they held their mega rally in Akure last week, it was obvious that the party was in tatters as virtually all its leaders stayed away from the event.

“Because they were afraid of our own rally which witnessed an unprecedented crowd in the annals of politics in Ondo State, they decided to have a second bite by holding this rally only for their highly polarised party to be exposed again as party chieftains and public office holders loyal to APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, again shunned the mega rally of the APC candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, in Akure.”

No going back on Ondo Poll —INEC boss Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

CHAIRMAN of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Yakubu Mahmood, on Sunday, said there was no plan by the commission to postpone the Ondo State governorship slated for Saturday this week.

He said arrangements for its smooth conduct in all the local government areas of the state had been put in place.

The INEC boss, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, in Abuja, on the call by the Senator Ahmed Makarif-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the shift of the poll pending the determination of all the suits relating to the poll pending before both the Appeal and Supreme courts,”the preparations for the Ondo governorship election started over six months ago and the date fixed for it was well advertised long before now.

“The grounds for postponing any election are enshrined in the Electoral Act. Certainly, internal squabble, within a political party is not among the grounds so stated the Political Party and the individuals calling for the postponement,” he said.

Yakubu also debunked speculations that the commission planned to rig the election in favour of a particular political party and its candidate.

“The commission, as a responsible body created by law of the land to oversee the smooth conduct elections in the country, is not into the rigging business and it will not be under my leadership.

“The commission hereby appeals to all Nigerians to disregard inflammatory comments being made by faceless persons or groups against it, which are intended to derail the electoral process.”

6 days to Ondo election: Akeredolu, Oke, Jegede talk tough Continued from pg36

Jegede, who stated this during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the International Event Center (The Dome) in Akure, expressed optimism that his candidacy would be restored, as he was not only having a just course but God and people were on

his side as regard the case in court Jegede, who stated that PDP in the state remained a party to beat in any election, assured the party faithful that he will win the election “even if it is going to be held today.”

He, however, urged members of the party to continue to preach the gos-

pel from ward to ward, unit to unit and house to house to ensure victory for the party at the poll next Saturday Speaking at the meeting, the state chairman of party, Clement Faboyede, said local government campaign committee for the party would be inaugurated today (Monday) say-

ing the committee would be in charge of the houseto-house campaign He said the plan of the detractors was to disenfranchise the people of the state but expressed the hope that God would not allow such to happen.

The chairman, however, charged the people to go out and work, saying that

the court would rule in favour of Eyitayo and would be on the ballot on the election day.

In a telephone message to the people, the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, charged them to intensify their efforts to ensure that Jegede won the election The PDP stakeholders meeting was attended by

members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Honourable Jumoke Akindele; members of the state executive council, Honourable Akintoye Albert, South-West chairman of PDP, Chief Eddy Olafeso; Dr Tayo Dairo, Dr Jacob Gbakinro, Mr Saka Lawal, Professor Olu Agbi, among others.

38

south-westnews

Monday, 21 November, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Labour to Oyo govt: Don’t coerce workers to accept 60% salary

Nobody discussed 60% salary payment, it’s betrayal —Govt

By Wale Akinselure

L

ABOUR centres in Oyo State have objected to recent meetings between heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, government’s functionaries and civil servants, noting that the meetings were aimed at convincing workers to accept 60 per cent salary.

The union, in a statement, noted that the ongoing meetings involving Permanent Secretaries/Directors, commissioners and civil servants, on payment of salary/

pensions, contravened ethics of industrial labour relationship, In the statement, signed by the state chairman, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Waheed Olojede; his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Mr Andrew Emelieze and Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Mr Olusola Ogundiran, the labour centres urged the state government not to coerce workers into accepting 50 or 60 per cent salary proposition.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, JNC Chair-

man, Ogundiran said the labour movement maintained its stand that the state government should continue to access the budget support facility monthly coupled with the federal allocation to pay workers, with the hope that the financial situation of the state would improve.

He said the state government offered to receive the entire budget support facility upfront to defray the outstanding salaries which the labour movement declined, arguing that the entire sum was inadequate to clear the backlog and would also

further hamper payment of salaries.

“The government sent commissioners, permanent secretaries to workers to deliver the message of being paid 60 per cent of their monthly salary and our members insisted on receiving full salary. Ethics of industrial labour relationship does not permit such interaction. These workers have their representatives but government goes behind the union to discuss with them.

“All our members in the teaching service under the aegis of Public Service Joint

Negotiating Council, including those working in Ministries, Department and Agencies, insisted on receiving full salary. We are not interested in the Osun and Ogun states experience,” Ogundiran said.

Meanwhile, Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, has said the meetings between government functionaries, heads of MDAs and workers did not centre on just salary and pension but also addressed issues of verification, restructuring, security, personnel policies and improving the economy of the state.

Alluding to continuous interactions between the state government and the labour movement, Alli said the government did not offer a 60 per cent salary proposition as stated by the labour movement.

Noting the existence of a committee to deliberate on the issue, he said the labour movement’s statement betrayed government’s trust and was capable of inciting workers against govern-

ment.

Alli, however, stated that the state government was considering several options to clear the backlog of salary, and would boldly inform the people if it had reached a decision.

Alli said: “Every MDA head was saddled with the responsibility to interact with their respective staff on not just the issue of salary and pension but also on other issues like verification, restructuring. We have been discussing with labour on the state, global economy, national economy, security, personnel policies, restructuring and our attempts to improve the economy of the state.

“Nobody has talked to them about 60 per cent salary payment. We have been meeting with them and it remains an interaction between us and them. Until labour and government take a decision on an issue, we won’t come to public to say this is the situation. We shouldn’t just be misinforming the public for whatever reasons.”

Ajimobi, govt officials to engage stakeholders in town hall meetings

By Wale Akinselure

From left, Chief Lateef Fagbemi; Chief Mabinuori Adegboyega, the Aare Latosa of Ibadan; President, Egbe Agbasaga Ile Yoruba, Chief Yemi Ogunyemi; Chief Niyi Akintola and another member, during the launch of the association, at the Bank Anthony Hall, University of Ibadan, on Sunday.

PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

Oyo State government has resolved to regularly engage relevant stakeholders in town hall meetings to deliberate on issues relating to economy, security and

UNESCO steps in to protect Yoruba culture

By Femi Olukunle

In order to salvage Yoruba cultural heritage that is being threatened with extinction through infiltration of foreign cultures and traditions, the United Nations Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has decided to salvage and also raise the bar of black soap production, traditional drums production and calabash carving.

Retired Archbishop of Methodist Church, who is also a prince of Oyo Kingdom, Ayo Ladigbolu, disclosed this on Sunday at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, during the launch of Egbe Agbasaga Ile Yoruba Agbaye, an association whose objective is to revive the moribund Yoruba Language and culture.

The cleric disclosed that UNESCO was worried that Yoruba Language and culture were threatened due to refusal of Yoruba people to preserve and develop the language and culture.

Ladigbolu as well as other people who witnessed the launch like Barristers

Lateef Fagbemi and Niyi Akintola, both of whom are Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Mabinuori Latosa, retired Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Bolajoko Adeniji, Alhaji (Imam) Zakkariyau Balogun, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, Dr Tunde Adegbola, High Chief Adebayo Akande, Chief Alabi Ogundepo,

Chief Olatunbosun Oladapo, agreed that it was high time the Yoruba nation woke up to the task of embracing its culture and subsequently transmit it to the younger generation.

They urged Yoruba parents all over the globe to speak the language to their children at home in order to preserve it. It was also stressed

that there was no collision of any sort between religion and Yoruba culture and that Yoruba people should avoid a situation where white men would come and teach their (Yoruba) children their culture.

President of the association, Chief Yemi Ogunyemi, in his address, told the gathering that the associa-

tion took it upon itself to revive Yoruba culture and promote the speaking of the language among Yoruba people and their children, so that the Yoruba nation would not lose its rich cultural heritage.

He then solicited the cooperation of all Yorubas across the globe to achieve this feat.

Reported contempt ruling, an embarrassment —Ekiti Speaker •Says matter pending before Court of Appeal Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, has described a Federal High Court ruling purporting to order him to appear before it on November 24 as an embarrassment.

Newspapers had reported on Friday that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday, ordered Pastor Oluwawole to appear before it “over his refusal to swear in Toyin Obayemi as a lawmaker in the state.”

But the Speaker, in a state-

ment by his Special Assistant (Media), Stephen Gbadamosi, on Friday, declared that all he had done, as the head of the state House of Assembly, over the matter, remained within the ambit of the law; hence, the report came to him as an embarrassment, especially as he was yet to receive a copy of any such order.

“That report came as an embarrassment to me. All we have done, as a House of Assembly, over the matter, remains within the ambit of the law. Besides, as we speak, I have not received a copy of any court order to

that effect.

“At the height of the matter, we consulted with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, who is the chief law officer in the state. He categorically made me to understand that the matter is a subject before the Court of Appeal; and that until that appeal is dispensed with, it would be sub judicial for me to take any action on it.

“Hence, the AttorneyGeneral had advised us to leave the matter for the court process to run its full and normal course. In the House of Assembly, we are

lawmakers; we don’t break the law. We are waiting for the appeal to be decided and there is no court order sent to me over any matter whatsoever.

“That is why we have not been able to act on Mr Obayemi’s matter. So, why this embarrassing report,” he queried.

Oluwawole said further, “inasmuch as the courts are the last hope of all citizens, it would be wrong, and even dangerous for our democracy, for any individual or institution to pre-empt the outcome of their decisions.”

social infrastructure of the state.

According to the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, in a statement, the meetings, to hold on a quarterly basis, is geared towards conveying government’s plans, policies, efforts and actions taken to surmount the various challenges faced by the state.

Alli, who noted that Governor Abiola Ajimobi, alongside other top government functionaries, will be involved in the discourse, urged all stakeholders to prepare to bring up ideas that would enhance socioeconomic development of the state.

“As a matter of policy, there will be public engagements with focus on issues such as security of lives and property; social and infrastructural services such as health, water supply, roads, energy, education and the environment.

“To this end, all heads of ministries, departments and agencies, including commissioners and permanent secretaries shall formally hold a briefing and interactive session with their respective members of staff once in a month.

“All local government chairmen and heads of local government administration are advised to formally hold a briefing and interactive session with their respective members of staff once a month. They should also engage the citizenry in a town hall meeting once in a quarter,” Alli said.

39

Monday, 21 November, 2016 Editor: Wale Emosu tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08111813054

Rohr praises Omagbemi’s work on Falcons

G

ERNOT Rohr has urged coach Florence Omagbemi to take advantage of her quick attackers at the ongoing African Women’s Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Rohr who hopes to cheer the team to success at the continental showpiece expressed worry over Ghana’s threat but asked them to emulate the team spirit in the Super Eagles.

“She [Omagbemi] has done a good work because I see beautiful things with this team [Super Falcons],” Rohr told Goal.

“They did well in the training because they have a good team to win the title. It is not going to be easy because a lot of good teams are going to be there. Already, Ghana is in their group.

“But they gave good spirit and can do something very good for Nigeria, I hope they win.

“A lot of teams are in the group, I will go there to go and see one or two games and to help them if they want.”

“My advice to the team is to play simply, play together and have a good philosophy, good spirit - just like we have in the

Super Eagles,” he continued.

“Everybody must play for the team at first. Not just running. I see they have a very fast attack, so they must play to profit from the speed of the attackers.

“I think behind they are okay and play without any risk which is good. They can play simpler and go quicker with the next pass. I see the movement is good and the spirit of this team is okay.”

Falcons on Sunday beat Mali 6-0 in their opening AWCON game.

Anichebe at times like Drogba —Moyes Anichebe

3SC’s staunch supporter, Olootu dies at 74, buried

Odo-Ona Elewe Muslim Community cemetry on Sunday at about 11:15am.

A former Shooting Stars Sports During his lifetime, Olootu, who was also Club (3SC) of Ibadan enthusiast a former board member of the Oyo State and four-time board member of Sports Council, dedicated the better part of the club, Alhaji Abidoye Olootu, his life to the success of 3SC, as he sacrificed is dead. his time, financial and material resources to Olootu, a staunch supporter the growth and development of the club. of 3SC died at his Joyce B road, Even during his sickness, he was still very Ibadan, residence at about much concerned about how his darling 7:30pm on Saturday during an club was faring. Speaking shortly after the undisclosed illness at the age of burial, his younger brother, Oyelayo Abioye, 74, and has since been buried a staffof the Oyo State Sports Council, said according to Islamic rites at the his demise would be greatly missed by the family and most especially the 3SC family.

In a short sermon by one of the clerics present at the burial site, Alfa Alausa, noted that death was a necessary end

By Niyi Alebiosu “The victory of last Saturday was re- and would come unannounced! He addEL Marino, a Lagos based Sports club, freshing, I am proud of the team and ed that the only preparation for death are whose aim is to promote physical devel- we look forward to more successes in good deeds and total submission to the opment of members through sporting the race towards Russia 2018 World worship of the almighty God. activities, has commended members Cup, the Federal and State governThe cleric, then prayed to Allah, to of the Super Eagles of Nigeria for their ments should not leave any stone grant Olootu Aljanat Fridous and grant sterling performance which resulted in unturned in our quest to be at the the family the fortitude to bear the loss. the defeat of the Desert Warriors of Al- World Cup in Russia”, he stated.

In his own remarks, Oyo State Sports “The victory means that Nigeria geria by 3 goals to 1.

Commissioner, Mr Abayomi Oke, deThe Club also appealed to all Ni- retains top spot in Group B having scribed Alhaji Olootu as a good man amassed maximum points from their gerians including the Federal and state governments to give the Super first two games. As lovers of sports, It whose contributions to sports developEagles the desired support in their is a situation that we all at El Marino ment in Oyo State cannot be quantiquest for qualification for the 2018 Sports Club are proud of”, he said. fied. He commiserated with the family Adefarati, who recently emerged and prayed that God Almighty will be World Cup in Russia The team manager of El Marino the El Marino team manager is also with them.

Sports Club, Mr. Seyi Adefarati who a member of the National FootSpeaking on behalf of 3SC, the Team spoke on behalf of the Club, described ball Supporters Club. Other elected Manager, Dimeji Lawal and Akinwumi members of the new executive comthe victory in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, mittee of the club include Adelokun Akinyele, welfare officer said Alhaji Abias a sign of better things to come.

While commending the dexterity and Lawal (Secretary General), Igho doye Olootu would be greatly missed. the winning mentality displayed by the Obajuwana (Financial Secretary), Also, the Chairman Shooting Stars team, Adefarati particularly eulogised Uchech iOkere (Provost), Benjamin supporters club, Alhaji Sina Inaolaji, the team captain, Mikel Obi, who scored Ogbekhilu (Welfare Officer), Chris said Olootu’s death has closed a chapthe second goal, describing him as a Anazia (Team Captain) and Edirin ter in the history of the club as everyYugbovre (Auditor). player of unrivalled quality. body would miss his fatherly role.

By Nurudeen Alimi

El Marino Sports club calls for more support for Eagles

SUNDERLAND manager David Moyes has described Victor Anichebe as “a young Drogba” after his brace gave his team their second straight win in the Premier League this season.

Anichebe fired a second-half double for Sunderland to beat fellow strugglers Hull City 3-0 on Saturday.

It was a result that took ‘The Black Cats’ off the basement of the league for the first time this season.

Moyes will compare Anichebe to Premier League legend Didier Drogba.

“He was like a young Drogba at times, he was that good,” hailed Moyes, who snapped up the Nigeria striker on a free in the summer after he was released

by West Bromwich Albion.

Sunderland next face a daunting trip to second placed Liverpool.

It will be something of a homecoming for both Moyes and Anichebe as they were both first at Liverpool city rivals Everton.

Onigbinde lectures Kajola youths on football talent development ERSTWHILE Super Eagles coach, Chief Adegboye Onigbinde has admonished youths in the various football clubs in Kajola local government area of Oyo State to rediscover themselves and put in their best in order for them to improve and excel in football.

Chief Onigbinde gave the admonition at a day workshop for grassroot footballers tagged first Kajola Football workshop organised by the Deputy Chief Whip of Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable John Olaleru at Okeho town hall last week in the council area.

According to him, now is the time they can begin to rediscover their proficiencies and work hard to become a star in football game in the future.

In his lecture, “ Sport as A vital engine of Youths Empowerment, Economic Development and Leadership”, Chief Onigbinde who lectured the youths of the 13 clubs present at the pro-

gramme on various techniques in football said the game remains a unifying factor in the country.

He said essence of the lecture was to enable those with the proficiency to tap the opportunity of development in football and other sport activities.

“I can tell you that if you work and train hard, sky will be your limit.”

“I can pick and select players who will represent Nigeria in football and other sport activities in Okeho.

“That was how I discovered Vincent Enyeama in Abeokuta during a match between Enyimba and Julius Berger in those days.”

While commending Honourable Olaleru for his foresight and genuine spirit to advance football and sport in the area, Onigbinde called on the people to always support the lawmaker in order to achieve all round success in his quest to develop football and sports in Okeho.

SIDELINES

NO 16,637

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MONDAY, 21 NOVEMBER, 2016

Report claimed that suspected kidnappers in the Dansadau Emirates of Zamfara state are demanding 400 cows to free 42 traders being held in captive: an average of nine persons for a cow. What a barter!

Not even in George Orwell’s fabulous Animal Farm is such submission disguised as dialogue. In times like this, there is no clear-cut difference between negotiation, manipulation or implied threat.

My City place not under threat —Iheanacho

By Dipo Ogunsola

N

I G E R I A forward, Kelechi Iheanacho, says he is not afraid of his place at Manchester City, even with the coming in January of Brazilian forward, Gabriel Jesus.

Manager Pep Guardiola, is thinking of easing scoring pressure on Sergi Aguero who has netted eight times in the League and has cast his net wide for Jesus, the Brazilian teenager, who currently plays for Palmeiras.

“It is good for the club if we can have a young

player l i k e h i m , ” Iheanacho told his club’s website.

“I don’t think my situation is in any jeopardy, I have the trust of the coach and my teammates. I am happy everyday I spend with this club and that is because I am learning and improving. If anything, I am looking forward to January to have somebody like Gabriel Jesus in this team.”

Jesus, 19, will cost City £25 million in the winter transfer window to underscore importance the club attaches to the player who has scored four goals in seven international appearances for Brazil .

Iheanacho, since making a substitute appearance against Southampton last month where he scored a face-saving equaliser for the Citizens, has yet to find the net.

“It’s all about opportunities. A striker should not just be thinking of scoring but also of

helping his team to win.

The team is scoring and winning. The last time I scored the team was on a fivem a t c h winless run, so it is more a b o u t this team than individuals’ The Nigerian was also happy for Yaya Toure who scored the two goals for City in a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

“Yaya is not just one of us, he is a leader. When he was not playing, he stayed committed to the team and offered suggestions, so we were so happy to see him score those crucial goals’’

Iheanacho

Costa goal sends Chelsea atop

AWCON: Oshoala nets 4 in Falcons 6-0

spanking of Mali NIGERIA began their title of the Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon) in solid fashion by smashing six goals past Mali at the Stade Municipal de Limbe on Sunday.

Asisat Oshoala scored four while Francisca Ordega and Uchechi Sunday got among the goals.

Head coach of the African champions, Florence Omagbemi, named a startlist without Desire Oparanozie with Sunday preferred upfront alongside Arsenal Ladies striker, Oshoala. Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi, Ordega, Halimatu Ayinde and captain Rita Chikwelu completed Nigeria’s list of overseas-

•Falconets out of W-Cup

based team.

With the contest surely won by Nigeria,the Oumar Guindo Mali’s team can only look forward to their next game with Kenya on Wednesday while the Super Falcons face Ghana in a clash of heavyweights on same day.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Falconets’ 2-1 win over Spain on Sunday failed to take them past the group stage of the 8th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals.

They needed to win and for Japan not to win in the other Group B match, but the Asians steamrolled their Canadian opponents 5-0 just across the city in

Port Moresby, meaning the Nigerian girls would be heading home instead of heading into the quarter finals after wins over Canada and Spain.

Although they finished with six points, same as Japan, Nigeria had a deficit of three goals while the Japanese had 10 goals to their advantage In the end, the Falconets would look back at their opening match against the Japanese (in which they performed poorly and lost 0-6) and wish they had played the Asians the way they played the Canadians and the Spaniards Nigerian forward Chiwendu Ihezuo was selected as Player of the Match.

Oshoala

DIEGO Costa’s 10th goal of the season moved Chelsea top of the Premier League as their sixth straight win saw off Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

After an even start, Chelsea upped the tempo and deservedly led at the break when Costa reacted quickest to drill in a loose ball inside the Boro box.

The Blues continued to create chances, Pedro going closest when he smacked a rising drive against the crossbar.

Boro’s best chance came when Alvaro Negredo’s 78th-minute volley was saved.

It was the only time the home side forced Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois into a serious stop as they lost for the first time in four matches.

Chelsea leapfrogged Liverpool and Manchester City to go a point clear, while Boro remain one point above the relegation zone in 15th place.

Following the arrival of former Juventus and Italy coach Conte, many expected to see a defensively-focused approach adopted by the Blues.

However, they were porous in the opening two months of the season, culminating in the chastening 3-0 defeat at Arsenal on 24 September.

Since then, the Blues have been impregnable in the Premier League.

Now back-to-back matches against Tottenham and Manchester City will be another measure of their recent improvement.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 21/11/2016.