27th June 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,532

MONDAY, 27 JUNE, 2016

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Nigerian Tribune

Sheriff's —P6 planned Edo guber primaries illegal —INEC •Capital Market —Pg18

•Leadership & Management —Pg19

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N150

Ikorodu mayhem: Afenifere expresses worry, says Nigerian state failing Yoruba nation •Aggressive manhunt for killers ongoing —Lagos CP —P7,30 •We won't return home —Residents

•Money Market —Pg26

•Brands & Marketing —Pg27

SGF opens up on Saraki, Ekweremadu's forgery trial •Says APC's inability to produce dep Senate president an aberration —P2 •Hearing begins today 15 states may go bankrupt —Report Boko Haram: Troops rescue 5,000 •As 36 states generated N682bn in 12 months hostages in Borno —P11

RANKING OF STATES BY 2015 INTERNALLY GENERATED REVENUE (IGR) COMPARED TO TOTAL FEDERATION ACCOUNT ALLOCATIONS FROM JUNE 2015 - MAY 2016

Continues pg11

•Kill 6 terrorists

—P4

2 news SGF opens up on Saraki, Ekweremadu’s forgery trial

Monday, 27 June, 2016

•Says APC’s inability to produce dep Senate president an aberration •Hearing begins today Sunday Ejike and Clement Idoko -Abuja

S

ECRETARY to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, has debunked claims in some quarters that he was responsible for the travail of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu, over allegation of forgery of the Senate rules.

He has also agreed to appear before the Senate to defend the list of the ambassadorial nominees forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari to the lawmakers for confirmation.

This came as the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ekweremadu and two other accused persons will be arraigned on a two-count charge of forgery and criminal conspiracy before the Federal High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Jabi, Abuja, today.

Lawal told newsmen in

Abuja, at the weekend, that he would honour the summon to appear at the Senate on the appointed date.

He said the allegation that he was responsible for the travails of the deputy Senate president because he (Ekweremadu) is from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was baseless, unfounded and diversionary, adding that anyone accused of any offence should seek ways of clearing his or her name instead of hunting who would have been behind it.

Lawal noted that probably the thinking of those trying to link him to the travails of the Senate president and his deputy in the forgery saga was that “if the SGF is made to look dirty, the president would sack him,” adding that “in my life, I have seen Ekweremadu face to face twice and the second one was incidentally in a church in Yola.

“I don’t understand the psychology of when you are accused of something and

instead of defending yourself, you waste your time hunting for who could have been the cause of your travail.

“If they remove Ekweremadu as the deputy Senate president, how will that personally benefit me?”

He noted, however, that while he was the national vice chairman of APC, it was the party’s position that it should produce all the principal officials of the National Assembly, because APC is the majority party in parliament.

“To that extent, I’m not happy that the APC has not produced the deputy Senate president. It’s an aberration.

But the senators, which is their constitutional right, decided to create the aberration,” he said.

He carpeted the Senate for stepping down the list of ambassadorial nominees forwarded to it by President Buhari for confirmation, saying the president fulfilled the provision of the law in relation to Federal Charac-

ter principles.

“Certainly, we will appear, we are law abiding. We respect the National Assembly and we respect the laws of the land.

“One thing, however, is clear, the constitution makes it clear that it is the prerogative of the president to nominate ambassadors and the criteria he will use to do so is also the constitutional right of the president.

Whatever criteria he chooses to use is constitutional,” he said.

Lawal said he would respond to the letter and also appear before the National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs, adding that the letter of invitation indicated Tuesday 10.00 a.m. but that he got a call from the Minister of Foreign Affairs that the date had been shifted to July 11.

“We will respond to that letter and God willing I will appear. We are law abiding and we respect the National Assembly and we will re-

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ganiyu Johnson (left); Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adebowale Akinsanya (left, behind) and the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Babatunde Adejare (right), during the governor’s inspection of Oworo inward Third Mainland Bridge, for construction of a modern bus park, on Saturday.

FRSC to ensure safety compliance on roads under construction Clement Idoko -Abuja CORPS Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, has vowed to ensure that safety measures are observed in the road construction areas, through adequate warning signs and effective traffic management.

He applauded the Federal Government for resumption of work on LagosIbadan Expressway, alongside other major roads across the country, following the recent mobilisation of the contractors.

While holding a joint meeting with representatives of the Ministry of Works, Power and Housing and the two construc-

tion companies handling the road project, Julius Berger Plc and RCC, Oyeyemi, according to a press release by the Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem, expressed satisfaction with the com-

mitment made by the construction companies to observe safety standards in the construction areas.

Oyeyemi, who was represented at the meeting by the Assistant Corps Marshal in charge of Policy,

Research and Statistics, Dr Kayode Olagunju, added that FRSC would ensure road users were saved from undue hardship due to omission or commission of the construction companies.

FG seeks youths’ support on grazing reserve policy Adetola Bademosi -Abuja THE Federal Government, at the weekend, canvassed the support of Nigerian youths on the proposed grazing reserve policy.

The proposed programme, it said, was to address the incessant clashes between herdsmen and local farmers which had degenerated into social tension and threat to national

peace and security.

Youth and Sports Minister, Mr Solomon Dalung, stated this in Abuja, when he received the executive members of the Nigeria Youth Parliament (NYP), led by its speaker, Honourable Ayotunde John Obe, in his office.

As against speculations, he said the proposed programme for establishment of grazing reserve and

ranches across the country would not hand over lands to Fulani herdsmen.

He explained that the Federal Government would only recruit agronomists, agriculturists and other professionals who would be charged with not only planting grasses, but maintaining them, to ensure there is pasture all year round for cattle rearers.

spect the law of the land,” he said.

He said the position of the Federal Government was that since the country has now began to enjoy goodwill from other countries of the world, it was also important to sustain that through appointment of career ambassadors to those countries.

He said most of the travels made by President Buhari was to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country, adding that career ambassadors were key to the realisation of that objective.

He said any further delay in the appointment of ambassadors would put the country at a disadvantage, while he urged the National Assembly to put the interest of the country first.

Meanwhile, Saraki, Ekweremadu and two other accused persons will be arraigned on a two-count charge of forgery and criminal conspiracy today.

This followed the order of Justice Yusuf Halilu that they be served with the court processes by substituted means, which had been done.

The arraignment was stalled last week, due to lack of service of the charges on them by the Federal Government, a situation which led to Justice Halilu ordering that they be served by substituted means, by pasting the court processes on the notice board of the National Assembly complex.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasu and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, were charged by the Federal Government with criminal conspiracy and forgery of the standing rules used for the election of the presiding officers of the Senate in June last year.

The Federal Government stated that the offence of conspiracy is punishable under Section 97(1) of the Penal Code Act; and offence of forgery with “fraudulent intent” punishable under

Section 364 of the same law.

However, there is the fear that the court might impose stringent bail conditions on the Senate president and his deputy when they are arraigned today.

The charges filed through the office of the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) by the Federal Government against Saraki and his co-accused persons read: “That you, Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, Benedict Efeturi, Dr Olubukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, on or about the 9th of June, 2015, at the National Assembly complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired amongst yourselves to forge the Senate Standing Order, 2011 (as amended) and you thereby committed the offence of conspiracy, punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law.” They were also accused of fraudulently forging the Senate Standing Order 2011 (as amended), causing it to be believed as the genuine Standing Order, 2015 and circulated same for use during the inauguration of the eighth Senate of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, when they knew that the said order was not made in compliance with the procedure for amendment of the Senate Order.

The court order for substituted service on Saraki and others followed complaints by the prosecutor, Mr David Kaswe, that he had difficulties serving the leaders of the Senate with the charges.

He, therefore, applied for substituted service which was granted by the court while arraignment was adjourned till today.

Some lawmakers, on behalf of the Senate, had petitioned the police, alleging forgery of the Senate Standing Rules 2015 that produced Saraki and his deputy, Ekweremadu, following election of principal officers for the Senate.

RAMADAN MESSAGE O you who have believed, let not a people ridicule [another] people; perhaps they may be better than them; nor let women ridicule [other] women; perhaps they may be better than them. And do not insult one another and do not call each other by [offensive] nicknames. Wretched is the name of disobedience after [one’s] faith. And whoever does not repent - then it is those who are the wrongdoers.

O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful. O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

—Surat Al-Hujurat verses 11-13

3 news 2019: Makarfi denies reserving PDP ticket for APC chieftain Monday, 27 June, 2016

PDP crisis, indication of strength —Lamido Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja , with Agency Report

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HE National C a r e t a k e r C o m m i t t e e has rejected an allegation by claimant of the office of the national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, that its chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was trying to reserve the 2019 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket for a “serial presidential aspirant” currently in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Sheriff made the allegation on Friday, in Abuja, while inaugurating three committees for the conduct of Edo State congresses and governorship primaries.

He had also accused Makarfi of paying clandestine visits to the ruling party chieftains, but in a statement by the spokesman of the committee, Chief Dayo Adeyeye, the committee accused the former Borno State governor of falsehood which, it said, was consistent with him.

The statement recalled that Sheriff had previously accused Makarfi of desperation to clinch the 2019 PDP presidential ticket, wondering why he had now changed the story.

The committee, however, pointed out that Sheriff was the one who wanted to extend his three months chairmanship tenure while plotting to use his office to secure the 2019 presidential ticket of the party.

The statement read: “The attention of the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to assertions made in the media by the former chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, that clandestine visits were made to a key figure of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In addition, he alleged that the Chairman and Secretary have a pact to reserve the Presidential ticket of the PDP to the said APC chieftain.

“The public is kindly reminded to recall that it was barely two weeks ago the former Chairman alleged that Senator Ahmed Makarfi is only pursuing his presidential ambition and not concerned about the job given the committee by the national convention. Now, he has changed the story.

“The public is also kindly reminded that one of the problems that led to the removal of Senator Sheriff

was attempting to convert himself from a three-month chairman to not only a substantive chairman, but the party’s presidential candidate for 2019. He went further to start offering running mate position to different individuals.

“It is also a fact that as soon as Senator Sheriff was appointed as chairman, many founding members of the party left it.

“On the other hand, as soon

as the national caretaker committee was appointed, people started retracing their steps back to the party.

“For avoidance of doubt, any high profile visits/meeting to/with the committee or by the committee are always reported to key leaders of the PDP. Therefore, there is nothing for Senator Sheriff to disclose.

“The committee is willing to receive any individual or group, irrespective of their

political dispositions. We are also prepared to visit anybody willing to receive us as long as it is in the interest of our great party and country to do so.

“The committee will continue to work day and night to build followership for the party during our short period of stay.

Finally, the committee still wishes to renew its call to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to embrace dialogue leading

to peaceful resolution of the situation at hand.”

Meanwhile, a former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said the current crisis rocking the PDP is an indication that the party is strong.

Lamido told newsmen in Bamaina village, in Birninkudu Local Government Area of the state, that the party would emerge stronger and bigger.

According to him, it is

From left, the Emeritus Archbishop of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese, His Eminence, Anthony Cardinal Okojie; Priest-in-Charge of Lagos Catholic Archdiocese Marian Shrine, Very Reverend Monsignor Philip Hoteyin; the celebrant, Very Reverend Monsignor Festus Ogunshakin; Emeritus Archbishop of Ibadan Catholic Archdiocese, His Grace, Most Reverend Dr Felix Alaba Job and the Parish Priest, St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Very Reverend Father Anthony Fadairo, during the 50th priestly ordination of Monsignor Ogunshakin, at St Agnes Catholic Church, Maryland, Lagos, on Sunday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

normal for people to fight for what is existent, valuable, worthy and important.

“PDP is a big party that has history and it is a party of conglomeration of all Nigerians across the devide.

“This is not our first crisis, if you go down our history from the formation of the party you will notice that this is not the first time we are having crisis.

“You can remember that the late Sunday Awoniyi had battle of leadership with former chairman, Barnabas Gemade.

“We also had crisis during Audu Ogbeh’s reign.

“You don’t fight for what is not in existence.

“PDP was in power for 16 years and the crisis and fight had always been with us,’’ he said.

He said both Ahmed Makarfi and Modu Sheriff were members of PDP and would remain members no matter what happened.

Lamido further said the party had the capacity to resolve its differences.

He gave the assurance that the discord within the party would soon be over.

The former governor, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), stated that PDP would return to power in 2019 because it is a conglomeration of Nigerians.

Violence not way out for Niger Delta, Dickson tells NDA, FG, others Sam Nwaoko -Ado Ekiti FOLLOWING constant threats from the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) against various installations in the country, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said the Federal Government and militant youths in the Niger Delta region of the country must eschew violence, saying the agitation for resource control cannot be achieved through violence.

Governor Dickson, who spoke at the 21st convocation of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado Ekiti, at the weekend, condemned the development and said the militants and the Federal Government must come to a roundtable and dialogue for peace, stability and the sake of the nation’s economy.

He had received the institution’s Doctorate Degree in Public Administration (honouris causa) in recognition of his exemplary leadership as representative of his people at the federal legislative body and governor of Bayelsa State.

Dickson said: “We are all concerned about the developments.

All the

leaders there are concerned about the recent surge of insurgency.

“We are collaborating on the way forward. Those of us who are governors in our states are working hard with traditional leaders, opinion leaders and security agencies and also collaborating with other private and corporate bodies to ensure that we put it under control.

“The way forward is not war, war. It is jawjaw. The way forward is peace and dialogue, it is consensus building and that is quite what some of us are in support of. We are not in support of violence, we are not in support of brigandage, we are not in support of destruction of strategic national assets and killings.

“We know there is an issue and this issue can only be addressed when all stakeholders work together for unity, peace, prosperity, stability and progress for our country.”

Expressing his appreciation to the university and Ekiti State, on the honour conferred on him, he said: “It is a great privileged to have been invited here and decorated with this beautiful

academic robes. And so on behalf of our people of Bayelsa, I bring warm felicitations to the people of Ekiti and my brother Governor Ayo Fayose, who is the visitor to this wonderful university and who has been doing a great job in the state, in spite of all the distractions.”

Governor Ayodele Fayose, who is the visitor to the university, also appreciated the school management for “having performed

admirably well.”

Governor Fayose said: “:I want to appreciate the governing council of the university for your efforts and outstanding performance at a time like this when financing government has become a huge challenge in the face of the dwindling federal allocations. Your performance for the six months has been commendable.”

Advising the university’s management to invest in agriculture as one of

the strategies to shore up its funds, he charged the Vice Chancellor, Professor Samuel Oye Bandele, to focus on agriculture, saying: “Let us focus on agriculture because we are not only fighting Boko Haram and insecurity, we already have food insecurity and when you have food to eat, a large part of the problem is solved.

It is not everybody that will buy blocks to build house, but everyone of us must eat, even if it is once a day.”

Gunmen release expatriate contractors kidnapped in Niger Delta SEVEN contractors, including three Australians and a South African, have been released unharmed four days after they were kidnapped by gunmen in Southern Nigeria, local police and a state security adviser said on Sunday.

According to reports, police had earlier given accounts of how many had been seized and what their nationalities were, and that they all worked for a cement company, Lafarge, on the outskirts of Calabar, Cross

River State, in the Niger Delta.

Cross River State Commissioner, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, said they were released “unhurt” on Sunday, but gave no further details.

The state governor’s security adviser, Jude Ngajim, said five expatriates and two Nigerians had been released.

“They are safe and sound,” he said, noting that a doctor had made medical checks and pronounced them “fit

and sound.”

Kidnappings of foreigners are common in the region, which holds most of the OPEC member’s crude oil and contributes about 70 per cent of national income.

Nigeria has remained Africa’s top oil producer until a recent spate of attacks on oil facilities.

Lafarge, Africa and Australian contractors Macmahon Holdings Ltd could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reuters/NAN)

4

news

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Military, vigilantes rescue 5,000 hostages in Borno, kill 6 terrorists Chris Agbambu - Abuja

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ROOPS of 21 Brigade and Civilian JTF, on Sunday, conducted a fighting patrol to Zangebe, Maiwa, Algaiti and Mainari villages, rescuing over 5,000 persons held hostages by Boko Haram terrorists and recovered

five motorcycles and bicycles.

The troops also killed six Boko Haram terrorists and wounded several others.

Similarly, troops of 7 Division Garrison Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) II, in conjunction with some elements of Mobile Police Force and Civilian JTF

also conducted Boko Haram terrorists clearance operations at Masu Yiwa, Ladin Buta, Bazaka, Kesa Gala, Tabla, Fahinde, Shirori, Gizina, Maska Aribe, Maska and Maska Lawanti villages, all in Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

During the clearance operations, the troops

encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Maska Lawanti. The troops killed two of the terrorists and recovered two motorcycles.

A Civilian JTF was killed while a soldier and a Mobile Policeman were wounded.

The body of the Civilian JTF and the wounded soldier and his police coun-

terpart were evacuated to Maiduguri.

In a statement, the army commiserated with the families of the departed Civilian JTF, and stated that the wounded are in stable condition and responding to treatment.

In a related development, troops of 192 Battalion, 26 Task Force Brigade and some vigilantes also embarked on fighting

Nigerian Tribune

patrol along Kusarha-Zalidava area.

The patrol team encountered some elements of Boko Haram around Zalidava-Weige villages and killed two of them and recovered a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with registration number FN 132125, a belt of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition containing 42 rounds.

We didn’t procure refurbished motorcycles for use in Lafia Dole —General Lucky Irabo Bodunrin Kayode - Maiduguri

Cross section of Christian faithful during an inter-denominational crusade tagged ‘Night of extraordinary wonders’, organised by the Deeper Life Bible Church, at the National Stadium, Abuja, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN.

Troops carry out armed bandits clearance patrols in Zamfara Chris Agbambu - Abuja

TROOPS of 223 Battalion, 1 Brigade, under the auspices of Operation SHARAN DAJI of 1 Division Nigerian Army, on Sunday, carried out fighting patrol to Kabaru village forest, in Maru Local Government Area

of Zamfara State against cattle rustlers and armed bandits.

During the patrol, the troops engaged armed bandits and killed three of them and wounded some.

The troops recovered 20 motorcycles, four empty cases of 7.62mm (Special)

Multiple militant groups won’t hinder dialogue with Niger Delta region —IYC THE Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Sunday assured that multiplicity of militant groups in the Niger Delta region would not obstruct the ongoing talks on renewed attacks on oil facilities in the region.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Eric Omare, spokesman of IYC, and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

He allayed fears that the existence of several groups will jeopardise ongoing peace talks.

“The IYC is also of the view that the perceived multiplicity of militant groups in the

region, as stated by President Muhammadu Buhari, is not an obstacle to engagement with stakeholders.”

ammunition and four empty cases of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.

Other items recovered included one mobile handset, some rings and a bag containing local charms.

The troops also carried out similar operation in forests at Kusa, Bayan Dutse and Gusami general area in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of the state.

Although no armed bandit was killed, it was believed some of them escaped with gun shot wounds.

The troops, however, recovered one AK-47 rifle,

one AK-47 rifle magazine, 13 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, two motorcycles, four rustled cows and a machete.

The troops also apprehended a suspected errand boy and informants to the armed bandits at Gusami village.

Thereafter, the patrol team proceeded to Maganawa forest where they equally engaged the armed bandits and killed one of them and recovered one locally made pistol, a dane gun and five rounds of ammunition before returning to base.

THEATRE Commander of Operation Lafia Dole, General Lucky Irabor, has described a recent online report on supplies of refurbished motorcycles for use of personnel of the operation as baseless and wicked.

According to him, “since January this year till now the army chief has been very much involved in providing ammunition for the theatre to make progress in wiping out Boko Haram and ensuring that allowances of every soldier working here are paid as at when due.”

Irabo described operations in the theatre as a huge success compared to previous years when so many mistakes were made because personnel were just getting used to the flow of the tides.

According to the theatre commander “for the avoidance of doubts, the chief of army staff has taken the affairs of Operation Lafia Dole to a level that showed unparalleled commitment to operational effectiveness and good welfare of troops “For example, between January and till now,

Army investigates bribery allegation against soldiers on Borno highways THE Nigerian Army, on Sunday, said it has begun investigations into an alleged bribery involving soldiers escorting civilians on highways in Borno.

The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Lucky Irabor, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri.

“I wish to use this opportunity to state that we have received reports that

some personnel are in the habit of collecting money to escort civilian motorists and goods along the major routes. These allegations are currently being investigated.

“However, should there be any officer or soldier who is seen collecting money, please, do not hesitate to report such to the Theatre Command.

“The military has a responsibility to Nigerians.

We are here to protect and assist Nigerians according to the law of the land.

In that regard, all requirements for the task to be performed are being provided.

“Therefore, please note that you do not have to pay for such escorts and do not be accomplices to the illegal payment,’’ Irabor said.

He said that soldiers found guilty would be disciplined according to the

law.

“Whoever is caught doing that will face the full weight of the law, either military or civilian.

“Also, please feel free to report such illegal activities through any of these GSM numbers: 0902-8101021 and 0808-225-2400.

“Similarly, for any public inquiry, the lines would be available daily between 09:00 am and 07:00 pm,’’ Irabor said.

he has provided various quantities of ammunition, vehicles and other equipment in the theatre.

He has equally provided uniforms and boots for all the troops. The payment of allowances and other requirements have been regular and in most cases upfront.”

He told newsmen on Saturday that the report that motorcycles inducted into the operation were fairly used and refurbished were a sad tale of lies because “the so called concerned officers do not exit and whatever they have published is a figment of their imagination.”

The theatre commander said that the report further noted that the bikes were used ones but findings have revealed that they were new and were delivered in crates and knocked down parts.

“The technicians who fixed them failed to tighten some knots firmly which was later rectified. Ever since the motorcycles have proven to be very useful in various operations of the theatre,” he said.

Irabor considered the current smear campaigns against the army chief and the theatre as “moves by disguised terrorists to deter us from getting further gains in the theatre against our main enemy, Boko Haram.”

Highlight of the briefing was a short display of slide pictures of some of the achievements across the entire theatre. These included pictures of a captured vehicle containing loads of fish meant to be transported to various markets in the state and down southern Nigeria for daily consumptions.

5

Monday, 27 June, 2016

news We didn't buy official cars with staff salaries —Kogi govt 6

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Says proposed workers' strike act of sabotage Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

K

OGI State government and the state chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), on Sunday, denied buying cars with workers' salaries for administrators and secretaries of the local government councils in the state.

The chairman of ALGON in the state, Taufiq Isa, said the allegation was baseless and false as the Ford Jeeps and Hilux vans distributed to local government officials were collected and guaranteed on loan from the company by the government.

A statement by the special adviser on Media and Strategy to the ALGON boss, Abubakar Hussain, said the allegations were deliberate attempt by the antagonists of the state to rubbish the good work embarked upon by the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello.

He also berated those behind the accusation trying to pull down the efforts of the government in providing easy vehicular movement for the newly appointed administrators and their members.

Meanwhile, the crisis between the Kogi State government and the organised labour in the state deepened on Sunday, as government described the proposed strike by the workers as an act of sabotage.

The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mohammed

Imam, while addressing newsmen on the issue, said the strike would truncate

FOLLOWING allegations of fraud and corruption levelled against the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, a rights group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has stated that the freezing of Governor Fayose's account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is lawful under section 308 of the 1999 constitution and international law.

In a statement on Sunday, SERAP argued that the freezing of the account is a preventive measure, which is necessary for the conduct of an effective investigation into allegations of corruption involving the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dazuki (retd).

gress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in the state ,had directed

civil servants to commence strike with effect from Monday (today).

From right, deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Eric Kelechi Igwe; Archbishop of Enugu Ecclesiastical Province of Enugu (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel Chukwuma; Enugu State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Secretary to the Anambra State Government (SSG), Professor Solo Osy Chukwulobelu, during the 2016 Synod thanksgiving service of the Diocese of Enugu, at the Church of Resurrection Power, New Haven, Enugu, on Sunday.

Sheriff’s planned Edo guber primaries illegal —INEC Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja THE Edo State gubernatorial primaries scheduled for Wednesday by the Senator Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will go contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.

INEC’s Deputy Director Media, Nick Dazang, said in Abuja, on Sunday, that it was inconceivable that the proposed primaries would satisfy the provisions of the

Why Fayose should not enjoy immunity —SERAP Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos

the efforts of government at paying salaries.

The Nigeria Labour Con-

According to the executive director of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the freezing of accounts of sitting governors and other high-ranking public officials accused of corruption is essential for the flow of investigation.

"It is allowed under section 308. The investigation is pointless without the freezing of the account,” he added.

Mumuni said: “Specifically, article 30 of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, entrenches a functional notion of immunity; that is, it attaches to the office and not the office holder.

Under article 30, states are required to ensure that immunity of public officials is not used as a ploy to frustrate prosecution of cases involving other persons such as Colonel Dazuki, accused of corruption," he added.

Act which requires 21-day notice to be given to INEC before it can monitor the exercise.

The electoral body also posited that it had already monitored the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that of the PDP conducted for the September 10, 2016 governorship election in Edo. Despite the conduct of the PDP primaries by the National Caretaker Committee of the party and the emergence of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the party flag bearer, Sheriff has raised different committees to begin a new process of congresses and primaries in the state.

While saying that he was not aware whether INEC

would be sending personnel to monitor the Wednesday’s primaries, the commission’s spokesman stated that INEC would take a definite position after the July 4, 2016 court judgment on the leadership crisis in the PDP. Asked whether the commission would monitor the Sheriff’s primaries, Dazang said: “Well, am not aware if INEC will monitor any primary election. In respect of which party are you talking about? because INEC has monitored the primaries of APC and PDP. “If anyone is giving INEC notice of primaries, by our schedules of activities, I mean by the Electoral Act, that notice should be for 21 days.

“I understand that one of the factional leaders wrote us to say he is going to do primaries on Wednesday but the Electoral Act says you must serve INEC 21 days notice “I can’t see how conceivable it is for someone to serve us a notice and within a week or two he conducts primaries because the notice is supposed to be 21 days.

“But what I am aware of is that INEC has monitored the primaries of the APC and the PDP and I am not also aware that it might monitor another PDP’s primaries.”

However, he added: “There’s a judgment that is coming up on July 4 in respect of the leadership crisis in the PDP.

PDP suspends Edo guber aspirant Banji Aluko - Benin City THE leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued to reverberate in Edo State as the state chapter of the party, on Sunday, suspended one of its governorship aspirants, Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, and recommended for discipline, a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ehiozuwa Agbonnayima.

The party said the entire Edo State working committee met on Sunday and ratified the suspension of Uduoriyekemwen for one month while recommending Honourable Agbonnayima to the national body of the party for appropriate disciplinary action.

The party described the behaviour of Iduoriyekem-

wen as unacceptable, irresponsible and selfish, pointing out that the aspirant teamed up with claimant to the position of the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali-Modu Sheriff, by purchasing what was described as a kangaroo nomination form for the same governorship slot the aspirant lost just a few days ago.

In a communique at a media briefing held at the state secretariat of the party, in Benin, on Sunday, state publicity secretary, Chris Nehikhare, said Iduoriyekemwen’s behaviour and utterances immediately after losing the PDP primaries on June 20 have become not only embarrassing to the party but also to the vast majority of Edo people, who are yearning for a change of government.

Nehikhare said the State

Working Committee uncovered an alliance between some people within the PDP and the Governor Adams Oshiomhole-led government to destabilise Edo PDP ahead of the September 10 gubernatorial election.

However, in a reaction, Iduoriyekemwen said the Orbih-led exco lacked the power to suspend him as they have been suspended by the national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Ali-Modu Sheriff.

He said he since realised that Ali-Modu Sheriff is the authentic national chairman of the PDP, adding that suspensions are not done at the state level but ward levels.

He said, “Orbih cannot lead us to a disaster like he did in 2012. This time around, we will resist him.”

Minister, Christian clerics join Muslims to break fast in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna MINISTER of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dallong, has led 20 Christian clerics to break fast with Islamic scholars in Kaduna as part of effort to strengthen religious tolerance and better understanding among Muslims and Christians in the country.

Dallong said this was the fourth time that he had been coming to Kaduna to break fast with lslamic scholars.

This year, he said that they were in Kaduna to breakfast with the Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi , adding that the idea was to promote peace and encourage religious tolerance and to show Nigerians that we are all created by one God The minister said,we want Muslim scholars to keep on praying for peace in the country and also pray for rapid socio-political and economic development , Also speaking, Pastor Yohanna Buru, who was part of the minister's delegation, said “we use Ramadan period to strengthening relationship between Muslims and Christian,and that is why we usually join Muslims round the world yearly in visiting them at homes.

Chairmanship aspirant commends Ambode on development projects Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare A chairmanship aspirant in Eti Osa East Local Council Development Area of Lagos state, Honourable Abdul Rafiu Olufunmi, has commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode on the ongoing construction of the flyover bridge at Ajah and other development projects ongoing across the state.

“It is one of the things that we are expecting from our governor and he has shown his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the people of the state. It’s no doubt a good development and the beginning of good things to come under Governor Ambode.

“The All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government under Ambode will strive to meet the expectations and yearnings of Lagos people irrespective of religious, ethnic or cultural differences.

“Ambode will consolidate on the good performance of former Governor Raji Fashola, by ensuring social justice ,adherence to rule of law, youths and women empowerment, improvement of security among others,” he said.

7

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Awawa cult leaders, members arrested in Dopemu I warned my sons —Suspects’ father Bola Badmus

A cart attached to a pick-up van loaded with woods on Toll Gate, Ketu. PHOTO: OVADJE ELLIOT

Ikorodu mayhem: Aggressive manhunt for killers ongoing —Lagos CP We won’t return home —Residents Olalekan Olabulo and Opeyemi Owoaseye

T

HE Lagos State police command has commenced aggressive manhunt for suspected militants who invaded Igbolomu and Ishawo areas of Ikorodu last Friday and unleashed mayhem on residents.

The gunmen, who were alleged to be from the Niger Delta, were said to have come in through the waterways close to the communities and started shooting sporadically, a development which led to the death of some people while others sustained various degrees of injury.

Addressing newsmen on Saturday, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, said an aggressive and massive manhunt had already commenced against the suspected militants, adding that investigation was going on smoothly.

Owoseni, who was personally at the scene of the incident moments after the attack, also denied conflicting media reports as to the actual number of people that were killed by the attackers.

He disclosed that the

Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Owutu responded with his men almost immediately after he was alerted, adding that mobile policemen were swiftly deployed to be patrolling the affected areas.

“I can confirm that the causality is six and no family till now has come out even while I was there to say that they have extra corpses apart from the ones that were recovered by the police in Owutu,” the CP said.

The police, also in a statement made available to Lagos Metro and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, denied that over 50 people had been killed by suspected militants in Ikorodu.

The statement insisted that only six people were

killed.

Aftermath the attack, residents who fled from their homes are yet to return as of Sunday evening.

Findings by Lagos Metro showed deserted communities on Lagos/Ogun borders and, despite a return-home plea by leaders of the affected communities, it was gathered that the fleeing residents had pointedly told the community leaders to forget about them returning any time soon.

Those contacted by phone told Lagos Metro that the heavy presence of security agencies would not inspire enough confidence in them to return anytime soon.

It was learnt that the Ogun and Lagos state governments had deployed mobile police officers in Imushin

community to keep watch over the deserted town.

The mobile police officers were said to have added to the number of the military personnel which had been on ground after the Friday attack.

Lagos Metro learnt that despite the appeal by the community leader for residents to return to their homes, everywhere in the community was still deserted as of press time (7:25 p.m).

OPERATIVES of the Lagos State Task Force have arrested 15 additional ‘Awawa Boys,’ including their kingpins numbering five, at Dopemu, Agege area of the state.

The task force made this disclosure on Sunday, in a statement issued by its Public Affairs Officer, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, saying the arrest, based on a tip-off, was directed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni.

Those arrested included Ajayi Babatunde Lukumon (29), Ajose Anthony (24), Adebayo Nurudeen (32), Olayemi Lasege (38), Sanusi Afeez (23), Popoola Fatai (30), Popoola Yakubu (27), Ajibade Oluwafemi (20), Opeyemi Oluwasola (33), Adewunmi Oluwatobi (21), Akerele Sunday (25), Timothy Ogar (32), Actor Amechi (21), Jimoh Sanni (30) and Owolabi Adediran (27).

According to Adebayo, the commissioner had directed the agency to check activities of the notorious “Awawa Boys,” who had been dispossessing members of the public of their valuables and raping young girls around Aluminium Village, Valley Estate and the entire Dopemu area.

“During the operations, which was led Olayinka Egbeyemi, chairman, Lagos State Task Force, five kingpins and 10 members of this

Man admits stealing cash, phone Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A 25-year-old man, Olawale Sehun, has admitted stealing N22,500, one Nokia phone valued at N4,500 and a Glo SIM after he was

arraigned before an Ikorodu magistrates’ court.

“I did these things but I’m sorry and I beg the complainant to forgive me,” he told the court.

The prosecutor, Kemi Ade-

Cook docked for poisoning guest’s food Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

A cook, Anthony Adomaya, accused of attempted murder, has denied poisoning the food of his employer’s guest.

Twenty-five-year-old Adomaya was charged before a Tinubu magistrates’ court on a one-count charge bordering on attempted poisoning.

The prosecutor, Mr Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 19 at about 2.00 p.m. at Justice Court, Lekki.

Ekundayo said the accused was told by his employer to prepare a meal for a guest (name withheld) but the cook allegedly poured a liquid sub-

notorious group (Awawa Boys) were arrested and the state Commissioner of Police, directed that they should all be immediately charged to court.

“Mr Owoseni said the entire Lagos police command would continue to monitor every activity of these notorious boys and all its affliated groups across the state.

“He confirmed that despite that the operations were carried out at mid-night, these notorious ‘Awawa Boys’ and its other affiliated group leaders still engaged men of the Lagos State Task Force with dangerous weapons before there were overpowered,” the statement said.

One of those arrested, a kingpin of the group, Jimoh Sanni a.k.a Last Born, confessed to participating offences such as rape, burglary, selling Indian hemp and robbery.

He also confessed to leading other boys to collect between N2,000 and N3,000 daily from individual alluminium shop owner at Dopemu area of the state.

Alhaji Musibaudeen Popoola, 66, who claimed to be the father of both Popoola Fatai and Popoola Yakubu, said he had warned his children to stop following these bad gangs around Dopemu area, declaring that “it is going to be a big lesson to other children that they must listen and obey their parents.”

stance suspected to be poison on the food.

“After the accused served the food which had an offensive odour, he fled the house and later came back in the middle of the night to pack his belongings but he was caught and arrested,” he said.

Ekundayo said the offences contravened sections 241 and

404 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The magistrate, Mr Ade Adefulire, granted the accused N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

He said the surety must be blood relations of the accused.

The case was adjourned till July 13

niran, told the court that Sehun committed the offence on May 26, around 11.30 a.m., with two others still at large.

Adeniran said Sehun stole the Glo SIM valued at N700, a Nokia cell phone worth N4,500 and N22,500 cash, totalling N29,000.

The prosecutor added that he committed the offence at Ogolonto area of Ikorodu, which contravenes Section 295 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

The presiding magistrate, A. Oshodi Makanju, remanded Sehun in police custody and adjourned the matter till tomorrow.

8

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Sources and Application of Foreign Exchange for the Period June 20 - June 24, 2016 SOURCES S/N

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Foreign Exchange Source/Customer UBA IBTC DIAMOND FIDELITY CBN UBA ECOBANK FSDH CBN SMIS (SPOT)

Amount

1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 10,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 4,000,000.00 1,714,900.00

UTILIZATION S/N

Customer 1 ELTEES FARMS 2 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 3 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 4 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 5 TRISA NIG LTD 6 TRISA NIG LTD 7 KENVEE NIG LTD 8 SAM PHARMACEUTICALS LTD 9 SAM PHARMACEUTICALS LTD 10 TAANA LTD 11 TRISA NIG LTD 12 EMEL ENTERPRISES 13 EMEL ENTERPRISES 14 HANA PACKAGING LTD 15 HANA PACKAGING LTD 16 HANA PACKAGING LTD 17 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 18 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 19 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 20 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 21 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 22 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 23 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 24 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 25 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 26 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 27 MEGA PLASTICS IND LTD 28 SAM PHARMACEUTICALS LTD 29 SANKIL PHARM LTD 30 SOLPIA NIG LTD 31 SOLPIA NIG LTD 32 ACTWELL IMPEX 33 ACTWELL IMPEX 34 SANKIL PHARM LTD 35 SANKIL PHARM LTD 36 SANKIL PHARM LTD 37 SANKIL PHARM LTD 38 SANKIL PHARM LTD 39 STANCHART 40 UBA 41 FIRST BANK 42 STANBIC IBTC 43 ECOBANK 44 CORONATION MERCHANT BANK 45 UNITY BANK 46 ECOBANK 47 BOND GLOBAL ENERGY PROJECTS LTD 48 CITIBANK 49 AARTI ROLLING MILLS LIMITED 50 AARTI ROLLING MILLS LIMITED 51 AARTI ROLLING MILLS LIMITED 52 AARTI ROLLING MILLS LIMITED 53 AKRON NIGERIA LIMITED 54 AKRON NIGERIA LIMITED 55 ANIMAL CARE SERV.KON.(NIG.)LTD 56 BODUNDE OLUWADAMILOLA 57 GODY JONAS ENT LTD 58 MORONKEJI ESTHER FOLASHADE 59 NYCIL LTD 60 PANAR LTD 61 PANAR LTD 62 RELIANCE UNIVERSAL CONCEPT LTD 63 ROYCHEM INDUSTRIES LTD 64 STARSONIC NIGERIA LTD 65 STERLING BANK PLC 66 AJUMOBI SEUN

Amount

286,818.00 35,475.65 47,367.36 47,367.36 61,455.00 52,020.00 44,000.00 46,700.00 20,840.00 44,000.00 45,260.00 130,375.00 206,260.80 92,180.00 69,132.50 44,120.00 47,644.12 97,044.98 23,822.06 100,316.17 51,490.79 38,981.54 75,714.17 94,743.05 36,343.91 36,815.91 77,463.34 64,101.00 53,478.75 496,700.00 298,020.00 42,524.80 37,375.00 50,360.00 50,360.00 37,530.00 83,325.00 7,500.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,900,000.00 1,000,000.00 835,500.00 803,300.00 24,600.00 51,500.00 31,080.00 33,600.00 35,000.00 2,960.20 239,282.75 7,000.00 117,432.00 38,800.00 99,900.00 25,512.00 113,300.00 255,000.00 2,769.19 740.05

Exchange Rate Transaction Date 283.00 20-Jun-16 284.00 20-Jun-16 282.00 20-Jun-16 282.00 21-Jun-16 282.00 21-Jun-16 282.00 22-Jun-16 282.50 23-Jun-16 285.00 24-Jun-16 285.00 22-Jun-16

Exchange Rate Transaction Date ITEM OF IMPORT 284.50 20-Jun-16 POULTRY FARM EQUIPMENT 284.50 20-Jun-16 PP COPOLYMER RESIN 284.50 20-Jun-16 PP HOMOPYMER-HRV 140 20-Jun-16 PP COPOLYMER 284.50 284.50 20-Jun-16 COPOLYMER 284.50 20-Jun-16 PP COPOLYMER 283.50 20-Jun-16 KEROSENE STOVE 283.50 20-Jun-16 ESSENTIAL DRUGS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY 283.50 20-Jun-16 ESSENTIAL DRUGS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY 283.50 20-Jun-16 WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE 283.50 20-Jun-16 HDPE INJECTION 284.50 21-Jun-16 DURAA DOOR BRAND ORDINARY STEEL 284.50 21-Jun-16 SET OF EMEL BRAND COMPLETE AMERICA STEEL DOOR 284.50 21-Jun-16 PLASTIC RAW MATERIAL 284.50 21-Jun-16 PLASTIC RAW MATERIAL 21-Jun-16 PLASTIC RAW MATERIAL 284.50 284.50 21-Jun-16 ARTIFICIAL RESIN 284.50 21-Jun-16 ARTIFICIAL RESIN 284.50 21-Jun-16 ARTIFICIAL RESIN 284.50 21-Jun-16 PP COPOLYMER 284.50 21-Jun-16 PP COPOLYMER 284.50 21-Jun-16 LLDPE RESIN METALLOCENE 284.50 21-Jun-16 HDPE FILM-ARTIFICIAL RESIN 284.50 21-Jun-16 PP COPOLYMER 284.50 21-Jun-16 LLDPE RESIN METALLOCENE 284.50 21-Jun-16 LLDPE RESIN METALLOCENE 284.50 21-Jun-16 ARTIFICIAL RESIN 284.50 21-Jun-16 ESSENTIAL DRUGS FOR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY 284.50 21-Jun-16 ASPIRIN BP 284.50 21-Jun-16 ARTIFICIAL FILAMENT TOW 284.50 21-Jun-16 ARTIFICIAL FILAMENT TOW 283.50 21-Jun-16 INDUSTRIAL MACHINE AND SEWING MACHINE 283.50 21-Jun-16 INDUSTRIAL MACHINE AND SEWING MACHINE 283.50 21-Jun-16 AMOXICILLIN TRIHYDRATE 283.50 21-Jun-16 AMOXICILLIN TRIHYDRATE 283.50 21-Jun-16 PHARMACEUTICAL RAW MATERIALS 283.50 21-Jun-16 PHARMACEUTICAL RAW MATERIALS 283.50 21-Jun-16 OXYTETRACYCLINE 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 283.00 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 283.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 282.50 21-Jun-16 GAS OIL 282.00 21-Jun-16 INTERBANK 285.50 22-Jun-16 CNC ROLL GRINDING MACHINE 285.50 22-Jun-16 CAPITAL MACHINERY-VARIOUS COMPONENTS 285.50 22-Jun-16 CAPITAL MACHINERY-VARIOUS COMPONENTS 285.50 22-Jun-16 CAPITAL MACHINERY-VARIOUS COMPONENTS 282.50 22-Jun-16 MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE 22-Jun-16 INSTATNT FAT FILLED MILK POWDER 282.50 282.50 22-Jun-16 FEED ADDITIVES 282.50 22-Jun-16 UPKEEP ALLOWANCE 282.50 22-Jun-16 MACHINERY FOR STORAGE AND REPRODUCTION 282.50 22-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 282.50 22-Jun-16 BUTYL ACRYLATE 282.50 22-Jun-16 PVC STABILIZER 282.50 22-Jun-16 PVC RESIN 282.50 22-Jun-16 HARRY BRAND INSECTICIDE 282.50 22-Jun-16 LABORATORY CHEMICALS 282.50 22-Jun-16 POLYPROPYLENE COPOLYMER 282.50 22-Jun-16 SWIFT RECURRING CHARGES 282.00 22-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES

9

Monday, 27 June, 2016 Sources and Application of Foreign Exchange for the Period June 20 - June 24, 2016 67 OKUSANYA ADEYEMI 68 ADEBAYO AYORINDE OLABODE 69 SALAKO OLUSEGUN LADIPO 70 OLORUNFEMI EBENEZER 71 KONUM FARMS LIMITED 72 EZE ELIZABETH EBERE 73 OLAIDE AKINYEMI 74 CHIDIEBERE MGBEMENA 75 ADEBAKIN MODUPEOLA MARGARET 76 ALAMU AJIBOLA & BABATUNDE 77 CHUKS PEE INTERNATIONAL LTD 78 CHUKS PEE INTERNATIONAL LTD 79 YOMATECH NIG LTD 80 ALI AHMAD 81 NASSY AKINOLA 82 OKUPE NDUKA 83 EMOKPARE OWOLABI 84 MUKOL VENTURES NIGERIA LTD 85 AUDU PAUL ROY 86 ROBERTS OLABISI BARRY 87 OLUSEGUN OYEBOLA 88 DEESBEC NIGERIA LIMITED 89 ADESOJI AZEEZ MUKAILA 90 FBN MERCHANT BANK LTD 91 ABDULLAHI AHMADU ECHOFU 92 SONVIG INTERCONTINENTAL IND 93 SANKIL PHARM LTD 94 SANKIL PHARM LTD 95 LATEEF O. FAGBEMI 96 HI-LOGIC CONCEPTS LTD 97 AARTI STEEL NIGERIA LTD 98 SOCIETE DE COMPOUNDAGE NIG. LTD 99 UNIGROW IND LTD 100 BOUSTANI & PARTNERS 101 UNIGROW IND LTD 102 NYCIL LTD 103 NYCIL LTD 104 JMG LIMITED 105 SHIVLILA POLYMERS LIMITED 106 SACVIN NIGERIA LTD 107 SARO AGRO SCIENCES LTD 108 FSDH

1,405.00 1,472.80 1,490.70 1,890.99 2,133.56 2,236.05 2,361.27 3,000.00 3,989.84 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,000.00 5,645.00 5,716.77 6,050.00 7,685.00 8,126.61 9,537.36 9,975.39 10,000.00 13,282.00 13,737.92 16,580.00 21,798.51 25,200.00 30,000.00 34,570.00 64,849.92 65,963.48 67,551.10 71,280.00 71,600.00 72,070.00 72,250.00 84,902.40 108,150.00 164,371.33 215,820.00 255,000.00 552,960.00 4,000,000.00

Contd.

283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 282.50 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 284.50 283.00 283.00 283.00 283.00 284.39

23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 MORTGAGE PAYMENT 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 HOSPITAL BILLS 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 ACCOMMODATION FEES 23-Jun-16 HOSPITAL BILLS 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 LIVING EXPENSES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIAL 23-Jun-16 FERRIC AMMONIUM CITRATE BP 23-Jun-16 DI CALCIUM PHOSPHATE 23-Jun-16 SCHOOL FEES 23-Jun-16 UPKEEP ALLOWANCE 23-Jun-16 PRIME HOT ROLLED CHEQURED STEEL PLATE 23-Jun-16 NAZZEL REPLACEMENT PARTS 23-Jun-16 RAW MATERIAL FOR TEXTILE IND.-POLYESTER YARN 23-Jun-16 STATIONARY CONCRETE PUMP 23-Jun-16 RAW MATERIAL FOR PACKAGING POLYURETHANE RESIN 23-Jun-16 VARIOUS HOMOPASTE AND PIGMENT 23-Jun-16 PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE 23-Jun-16 RAW MATERIAL FOR SOUND PROOF GENERATING SETS 23-Jun-16 POLYPROPYLENE HOMOPOLYMER 23-Jun-16 POLYPROPYLENE COPOLYMER 23-Jun-16 GLYPHOSSATE (GOBARA) 24-Jun-16 INTERBANK

10

Monday, 27 June, 2016

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA YOLA ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY PLC NO 2 ATIKU ABUBAKAR ROAD, JIMETA-YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA

INVITATION FOR TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL BIDS FOR THE EXECUTION OF 2016 CAPITAL PROJECTS 1.0

INTRODUCTION The Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, in furtherance of its statutory mandate, intends to implement some capital projects under various Goods, Works and Services in line with the approved budget for the Financial Year 2016. To this end, the Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, in accordance with the Public Procurement Act 2007 hereby invites qualified interested firms to obtain bids for specific procurement as follows:

2.0 MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS: Interested Contractors, Suppliers and Service Providers are required to submit the following: i.

Certificate of Registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); ii.

Tax Clearance Certificate corresponding with the company annual turnover for three years (2013, 2014 & 2015); iii.

Evidence of compliance with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) by inclusion of Certificate of Compliance from the Industrial Training Fund; iv.

Evidence of compliance with Pension Reforms Act 2004 by inclusion of PENCOM Compliance Clearance Certificate; v.

Evidence of VAT Registration with TIN Number and vi.

Evidence of interim registration of firm on the National Database of Contractors, Consultants and Service Providers with Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Evidence of payment of Tender fees and receipt; Comprehensive Company Profile; Technical Qualifications of key personnel (Curriculum Vitae of individual staff who will be assigned to the required services including qualifications, individual experience in handling assignments and attestation available); Evidence of Financial Capability to execute the Projects (Bank Support); Verifiable evidence (Photocopies of letters of awards and completion certificates and interim performance certificates for ongoing projects are subject to verification) of previous experience in similar jobs, at least three (3) in the last five years for Lots B1 and B2; Annual Audited Account for the last three (3) years (2013, 2014 and 2015); Evidence of Registration with Relevant Professional Bodies; Name, e-mail address and telephone numbers of contact person for the project; Affidavit of disclosure that none of the persons connected with the bid process in the procuring entity has any pecuniary interest and that the company is not in receivership of any form of insolvency/bankruptcy nor in debarment and that the company nor any of the Director (s) of the company has been convicted of financial crime; and Any other information that will further enhance the qualification of the company.

2.1

i. ii. iii. iv. v.

vi. vii. viii. ix.

x.

3.0

COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS: Tender Documents are obtainable from the office of the Head (Logistics & Supply), Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, No 2 Atiku Abubakar Road, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State, upon the presentation of evidence of payment of non-refundable tender fee of N20,000.00 (Twenty thousand Naira only). Treasury Receipt can be obtained from the Cash Office Section of Finance & Accounts Department, Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, 1st Floor, No 2 Atiku Abubakar Road, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State for each Lot.

4.0

ENQUIRIES ON THE INVITATION All enquires are to be addressed to, the Head (Logistics & Supply), Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, No 2 Atiku Abubakar Road, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State,

5.0

BID SUBMISSION:

(a) Completed Technical and Financial Documents (3 Sets of Hard Copy) shall be submitted in Two different

(b)

6.0

7.

sealed tamper proof envelopes and labeled “TECHNICAL BID” and “FINANCIAL BID” and both placed in a third envelope. All the three numbers envelopes should bear the company name at the reverse sides while the “Project Name” and “LOT No” at the Top Right Hand Corner of the Envelope and addressed to: THE MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO, YOLA ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY PLC, NO 2 ATIKU ABUBAKAR ROAD, JIMETA-YOLA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA on or before 12.00 noon, Wednesday 17th August, 2016.

The Documents should be deposited in the Tender Box at the Tender Secretariat, YOLA ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY PLC, 3RD FLOOR, NO 2 ATIKU ABUBAKAR ROAD, JIMETAYOLA, ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA. Closing time for all submissions is on or before 12.00 noon, Wednesday 17th August, 2016. Late submission shall not be entertained.

BID OPENING Tender Documents (TECHNICAL) are to be opened immediately after the closing of submission at 12.00 noon, on Wednesday 17th August, 2016 in the presence of Bidders and interested Members of the Public at Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Conference Room (Ground Floor), No 2 Atiku Abubakar Road, Jimeta-Yola, Adamawa State. All Bidders and/or their representatives, Relevant Professionals and NGOs are invited to witness the public bid opening exercise accordingly. This publication hereby serves as an invitation for the Bid Opening exercise to Professional Bodies and NGOs. FURTHER INFORMATION

(a) Contractors are not permitted to Bid for more than one lots and only technically successful bidders will be invited for the next stage of the bidding process; (b) Late submission will be rejected; (c) This advertisement shall not be construed as a commitment on the part of Yola Electricity Distribution (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) (i) (j)

Company Plc to appoint any consultant/contractor nor shall it entitle any consultant/contractor submitting documents to claim any indemnity from Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc; Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc reserves the right to take final decision on any of the document received in your proposals; No representative or agent should bid for or on behalf of any Firm as the client shall not discuss or deal with any third party; Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc reserves the right to verify and authenticate any claim by Firms.

Prospective Firms should therefore include in their submissions necessary authority for verification; Interested Suppliers/Contractors are advised to visit the Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc for Specific Procurement Notices for minor value procurement; The Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc also reserves the right to invoke the provision of section 28 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007, without incurring any liability to the bidder; All costs incurred in responding to this advert and prequalifying for the projects shall be borne solely by the bidders; and The Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc shall not enter into any debate or discussion with any party with respect to the rejection of bid not conforming to directives and accompanying documents.

Signed Managing Director/CEO Yola Electricity Distribution Company Plc

Nigerian Tribune Monday, 27 June, 2016 11 businessnews IGR: 36 states generate N682bn, 15 appear to be going bankrupt

•Lagos generates more IGR than 32 states combined

A

N investigation by the Economic Confidential has shown that fifteen states may go bankrupt, as their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) in 2015 were far below 10 per cent of their Federation Account Allocations (FAA) in one year from June 2015 to May 2016.

The report further indicates that the IGR of Lagos State of N268bn is higher than that of 32 states combined together excluding Rivers, Delta and Ogun whose IGRs are very impressive. The 32 other states merely generated a total of N257 billion in 2015.

Recently the Economic confidential, an economic intelligence magazine published the total allocation each state in Nigeria received from the Federation Account Allocation (FAA) between June 2015 to May 2016 which signified one year of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The latest report on IGR reveals that only Lagos State generated more revenue than its allocation from the Federation Account by 150 per cent and no other state has up to 100 per cent of IGR to the federal largese.

The IGR of the 36 states of the federation totalled N682.67 billion in 2015 as compared to N707.85 billion in 2014, a drop of N25.18 billion or a minus 3.56 percent.

The report provides shocking discovery that indicates that 15 states may go bankrupt and may not stay afloat outside the Federal Account Allocation due to lack of foresight in revenue generation drive coupled with arm-chair

governance.

The states that may not survive without the Federation Account due to poor internal revenues include Yobe which generated meagre N2.2 billion compared to a total of N57.4 billion it received from the Federation Account Allocation (FAA) from June 2015 to May 2016 representing about 3.9 per cent. Others are: Zamfara with IGR of N2.7 billion compared to FAA of N56.6 billion repre-

senting 4.8 per cent; Ekiti N3.2 billion compared to FAA of N50.460 billion representing 6.5 per cent; Borno with N3.5 billion compared to N78.7 billion of FAA representing 4.5 per cent and Kebbi with IGR of N3.5 billion compared to N64.8 billion of FAA representing 5.5 per cent within the period under review.

Other poor internal revenue earners are Taraba which generated N4.1 bil-

lion compared to FAA of N56 billion representing 6.4 per cent; Nassarawa N4.4 billion compared to FAA of N50.5 billion representing 8.5 per cent; Adamawa N4.4 billion compared to FAA of N62.2 billion representing 7.1 per cent; Gombe N4.7 billion compared to FAA of N49.8 billion representing 9.6 per cent.

Jigawa N5 billion compared to FAA of N73 billion representing 7 per

Continued from front page

Meanwhile Lagos State retains its number one position in IGR with a total revenue generation of N268.22 billion in the twelve months of last year.

It is followed by Rivers State N82.10 billion, Delta State N40.80 billion, Ogun State N34.59 billion and Edo state N19.11 billion.

However, these five states look good to be on top of the current economic challenges. They are: Enugu, Oyo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Kano with N18.08 billion, N15.66bn, N14.793 billion, N14.791 billion, and N13.611 billion respectively.

The Economic Confidential report further showed that the richest northern state is Kano, which is the only state from the North to be among the 10 highest IGR earners, while the rest are Southern States. The poorest southern State is Ekiti which is the only state from the South to be among the 10 lowest IGR earners while the rest in the category and bottom of the ladder are Northern States.

Meanwhile the IGR of the respective states can improve through aggressive diversification of the economy to productive sectors rather than relying on the monthly Federation Account revenue that largely comes from the oil sector.

Diversification of economy: Dangote refinery, fertiliser projects will reduce poverty WITH efforts being diverted towards the diversification of the nation’s ailing economy, the Federal Government has described Dangote Fertilizer and Petrochemical projects as credible industrial under-

taken capable of reducing poverty through generation of foreign exchange.

Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the Dangote Refinery , Petro-

chemicals and fertilizers reputed to be the biggest in Africa when completed offered hopes in the quest for diversification of Nigeria’s economy from total dependence on oil to other areas like agriculture and

CBN new exchange rate, a tragic error —Aragbada A former newspaper editor and a retired bank executive, Mr Phil Aragbada, has described the newly introduced flexible exchange rates regime as a tragic error.

Speaking to journalists in Ibadan recently, the economic analyst explained that exposing the exchange rate to the forces of demand and supply at a time when the country was witnessing economic recession would lead to an enduring economic depression with a negative impact on prices, consumption, productivity and employment.

The current inflation rate of 16 per cent, regarded as the worst since 2010, he said, would further skyrocket, due to high cost of production leading to a drop in disposable income

cent; Bauchi N5.3 billion compared to FAA of N72.6 billion representing 7.4 per cent; Imo N5.4 billion compared to FAA of N71.6 billion representing 7.6 per cent; Katsina N5.7 billion compared to FAA of N88.8 billion representing 6.5 per cent; Niger N5.9 billion compared to FAA of N74.8 billion representing 8 per cent and Sokoto N6.2 billion compared to FAA of N69.7 billion representing 8.9 per cent.

and consumption.

This scenario, he opined would manifest in the rise in industrial inventories, leading to a reduction in overall production, consequent layoffs and stagflation.

For an economy already reeling under the yoke of high interest rates, Aragbada said, “the current naira depreciation, will dampen the production capacity of both small, medium and big industries.”

The CBN policy, according to Aragbada, will also affect the 2016 budget as the increase in fiscal expansion in the area of governments’ capital projects with huge foreign impute will worsen balance of payment deficits, which is bound to further weaken the local currency.”

Appealing to the CBN to have a rethink, the economic analyst suggested the adoption of a home grown economic strategy in form of guided deregulation by creating a lower and upper band for the local currency, which will give the monetary authority the latitude to inject foreign currency into the system when the value of the naira falls below the official band and vice versa.

The analyst advised the CBN to give special attention to the critical sectors of the economy through official exchange rate and lower interest rates for agriculture, small and medium scale industries.

He concluded by saying that the hypothesis of the flexible exchange rates

pundits that the system would attract foreign investors to the country cannot stand the test of time as the prevailing socio economic spasm in the country despite unabated government’s battle against the scourge, will continue to serve as a veritable disincentive to external investors and those with surplus foreign currencies irrespective of the foreign exchange liberalisation.

These uncertainties, policy reversals and somersault coupled with paucity of viable investment windows as a result of insecurity, he said must be ameliorated in order to win the confidence of foreign and local investors including tourists alike.

solid minerals.

Osinbajo who was on working visit to the site of the projects at Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos in company with Ministers of Finance; Power, Works and Housing; Solid Minerals Development as well as the Minister of State for Trade and Investments, expressed amazement at the size of the projects and reiterated government’s preparedness to provide enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

He commended the business of acumen Aliko Dangote, saying the projects remained the most important in the country presently and must be supported as it would help Nigeria’s economy when completed.

The Vice-President explained that the Federal Government would harness the potential of the private sector to make the nation’s economy recover speedily.

Addressing newsmen on the visit by the Vice-President, Dangote explained that the diversification of Nigeria’s economy was long over due and that one

sector that Nigeria could focuse on to rejuvenate the economy is agriculture.

He stated that his investment in fertilizer is one sure way the diversification into agriculture could succeed.

“Agriculture is the way to go, but a critical component of that sector is fertiliser, Nigeria has more arable land than China which now is the biggest economy in the world, we can tap into our vast land and produce what we need and even export the remaining.

“By the time we complete this project, there will be opportunity to take on agriculture and say bye to poverty, because there will be jobs, no sector has more job potential than agriculture.”

Dangote said the project was an ambitious one and that when completed it would give Nigeria a new economic direction in the quest for diversification of the economy, as excess products would be imported to give Nigeria the much needed foreign exchange.

That is when diversification starts.

12

businessnews

Monday, 27 June, 2016

‘Brexit’ may affect trade, cause slow capital inflows to Nigeria —RenCap Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

R

ENAISSANCE Capital, a leading investment banking firm from Russia which operates in high-opportunity markets has warned that on the back of news that Britain voted to leave the European Union (EU),’Brexit’ for short,African countries, Nigeria in particular may feel the heat in several ways including slow capital flows and revisiting of trade agreements.

“We think Nigeria will be most affected via the financial channel. Here are some of our preliminary thoughts,” Yvonne Mhango; Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Economist, Renaissance Capital wrote in a report on the potential effects of Brexit on Sub Saharan Africa.

She said capital inflow, which is negative for the naira will experience further slowdown .

“For Nigeria, we think this means investors that were encouraged by the liberalisation of the country’s foreign exchange (FX) regime and were considering dipping their toes into the country, may now pause given the rise in global risk aversion, following the Brexit vote. This further delays a recovery in Nigeria’s capital inflows, which is negative for the naira,” she stated in the report.

This is even as trade agreements are expected to be revisited as Britain broker new trade agreements to reflect its status as a non-EU country which may have some implications for SSA. It further observed that Nigeria, in particular was al-

ready hit on Thursday by a double whammy – a credit rating downgrade by Fitch (to B+, from BB-), which will make it more expensive for Nigeria to borrow externally in the third quarter of 20016 (Q316).

The report stated that

when Nigeria issues its planned Eurobond, Brexit may temper appetite for Nigerian assets.

“A further slowdown of capital inflows into SSA, will result in a further deterioration of external balances that are already

reeling from depressed commodity prices.

“Confidence has been severely undermined by the uncertainty created by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union (EU). We think this may result in a slowdown in capital flow-

Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (left) and Chairman, Sterling Bank Plc and Outgoing Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA –SBL ), Asue Ighodalo, at the Annual Business Law conference sponsored by the bank and held in Abuja at the weekend.

Lafarge Africa announces N60bn bond issuance •Set to re-finance Unicem Akin Adewaku-Lagos

LAFARGE Africa Plc has announced the conclusion of its series I and II N60 billion Bond Issuance.

The company, in a statement issued by its Country Communication Director, Viola Graham-Douglas, explained that the issuance comprises of a Three-Year, 14.25 per cent, Series 1 Bond of N26, 386,000,000, due 2019 and a Five-Year, 14.75 per

cent Series 11 Bond ofN33, 614,000,000, due 2021.

The proceeds of the bond issuance, the company stated, would be used to part-refinance the debt of its wholly-owned subsidiary, United Cement Company of Nigeria Limited (Unicem) The dual-series issuance, the first of its kind and largest ever bond issuance by a corporate in the nation’s debt capital markets, was concluded following

a book bid, with the order book over-subscribed.

The transaction represents Lafarge Africa’s second bond issuance in the Nigerian capital markets, having previously issued a N11.8 billion three-year Fixed Rate Bond in 2011.

Chairman, Lafarge Africa, Bolaji Balogun noted that the bond issuance affirmed Lafarge Africa’s reputation as a prime issuer.

“We are grateful for the

Sterling Bank introduces flexible work conditions for staff Chima Nwokoji-Lagos

TO further demonstrate its philosophy of enriching lives, Sterling Bank Plc has come up with a policy to promote work-life balance among its staff as it continues to strive to build a great place to work for its workforce through the introduction of Flexi-time and Flexi-place.

The initiative which the bank says complies with global best Human Resources (HR) practices, is currently being piloted in it’s corporate Head Office and is aimed at introducing flexibility in work arrangements for the Bank’s staff.

According to a statement from the lender,the Flexitime arrangement allows members of staff the opportunity to determine their own working hours by choosing a convenient time to come to work within the

ing into frontier markets, as investors hide in safe haven assets,” it stated, adding that increased risk aversion may temper the appetite for Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) Eurobond issuances planned for second half of 2016 (2H16).

options provided by the bank. Similarly, the Flexiplace package gives staff the opportunity to choose a convenient location from which they can carry out their job functions. In this pilot phase, interested staff particularly in the Head Office are encouraged to select locations closer to their place of residence.

The Bank’s Executive Director, Strategy & Finance, Mr Abubakar Suleiman who described the pilot stage as highly successful, expressed his optimism that the initiative will enhance productivity of staff, promote bonding among family members, reduce the stress of waking very early and spend long hours in traffic to get to the office early, improve the well-being of staff and ultimately promote work life balance among staff..

“Employees in the cities

are faced with the onerous yet elusive goal of maintaining work-life balance as they are confronted with the challenge of waking up very early to beat the traffic going to the office and also pass through same stress

going home in the evening.

“We recognise that the fast-paced nature of cities is likely to continue to deprive workers of quality time with their families as they spend a lot of time commuting to and from work.

overwhelming support we have received from domestic institutional investors, especially the Nigerian pension funds. We also wish to thank the SEC for its support on the completion of the transaction,’ he stated.

In his own remarks, GMD/CEO, Lafarge Africa, Michel Puchercos explained that the proceeds of the issue will allow Lafarge Africa Plc part-refinance the debt of its now wholly-owned subsidiary, Unicem.

“These proceeds will deliver savings in financing costs to Unicem and Lafarge Africa. Unicem is currently undergoing a 2.5mtpa capacity expansion which will be completed by the end of 2016,” he stated.

Cargo clearance: FG introduces SOP, PSSP at seaports T ola Adenubi-Lagos IN order to reduce humanto-human contact which has bred corruption related activities at the ports during cargo clearance, the Federal Government has introduced the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the Port Service Support Portal (PSSP) to enhance efficiency at the nations’ seaports.

Inaugurating the initiatives, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo stated that the project will not only rede-

fine ports activities, but will also take Nigeria to the next level for greater economic performance and accountability in the ports.

The Vice President noted that the launch of the SOP and PSSP is part of the Administration’s commitment to the eradication of corruption in all areas and the enthronement of a better business culture in Nigeria.

While welcoming guests to the event, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi noted that the cardinal goal of this

project is to fight corruption and make the ports more viable for economic activities.

The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside, while delivering his goodwill message at the launch of the initiative stated that the new cargo clearance regime will further promote excellence and service delivery that will make the nation’s ports a place of reference.

Nigerian Tribune

African data processing network berths in Abuja Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

FOR the first time in Nigeria, a group of professionals have come together to end the practice of shipping out foreign currency through engaging foreigners and multilateral agencies by providing data processing solutions on population and analytical packages.

The group, African Data Processing Network, headed by Mr Ebezie Obodozie Evaristus, a retired Director of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) at National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) comprise of other professionals who left the NBS to provide the services hitherto contracted out to foreign experts.

Speaking at the launch of the organisation in Abuja at the weekend, Ebezie said the group will be particularly useful to the various arms of governments in the further breaking down of national data concerning development indices such as poverty, inflation, malnutrition, job creation and others.

He cited the instance of Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is only produced on the national level by the NBS whereas; each state should be able to determine how prices of goods and services move within its jurisdiction.

Dozie, Wigwe, others for NiBUCAA roundtable DR Pascal Dozie, Chairman, MTN Nigeria and CoChair, Nigerian Business Coalition Against AIDS (NiBUCAA), and Mr Herbert Wigwe, MD/CEO, Access Bank Plc, will be leading business leaders from different organisations in the country to a special roundtable by NiBUCAA on June 29 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, by 10am.

The roundtable, themed ‘Basic Nutrition: Tips for Healthy Living and Maintaining Healthy Living and Work-life Balance,’ will have Dr Olabisi Olaogun Technical Officer, Prevention and Mitigation, Family Health International (FHI360), as keynote Speaker.

In a statement released to the media in Lagos on Friday, Mr Gbenga Alabi, Acting Executive Secretary, NiBUCAA, said the theme of the roundtable is particularly apt with the important role healthy living plays in the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted last year by all UN member-states including Nigeria.

13

editorial

S

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The PDP crisis

INCE it lost the 2015 presidential election to the then mega opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s erstwhile ruling party, has exhibited all the nuances of a political party that was not prepared for life after its long stay in power. Ranging from innumerable defections from its fold by many of its strategic members to the now ruling party, to squabbles and blame trades, the PDP has since been riddled with all manner of internal wrangling in which its loss of governmental control is implicated.

While in office, the PDP presented itself as one of the most cohesive and impregnable political parties around. On political campaigns, it preened its own plumage as the largest political party South of the Sahara. With a powerful presidency and more than half of the 36 state governors and a large percentage of the National Assembly members in its kitty, the party had the demographics to thump its own chest. Funding and high caliber members were the least of its limitations and it was very easy for the PDP to boast that it would continue to administer Nigeria in the foreseeable future.

With its loss of the presidency, however, things started to fall apart for “the largest political party South of the Sahara” and it began to manifest teething but existential challenges that have threatened to tear it apart. First was the implication of a great number of its members in an alleged heist of arms procurement fund, money that was said to have been diverted to fund the 2015 elections. A combination of fear of arrest of its members and the widespread nature of the arrests has ensured that its strategic members are scattered in diverse places and away from the roles expected of the party in the course of deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

Perhaps of more debilitating potential is the recent war of attrition being fought in the race for the party’s executive membership. While the Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi groups in the party have fought battles on all fronts to gain ascendancy at the Wadata Plaza, the party’s headquarters, the groups have factionalised the membership of the PDP along those intra-partisan lines. The resultant effect is that, rather than forge a common front to fight the party’s cause and strategically position it for the roles expected of it in a democracy, the party is dissipating energy on internal fissures, shirking its expected national assignment.

In spite of noticeable internal mistakes of the PDP which cost it its prime position in the power configuration of Nigeria in 2015, the party deserves kudos from Nigerians for bringing

out the democratic best in the Nigerian political parties during the electioneering process. Due to the behemoth image that it had carved for itself in its 16 years of rule, the parties in opposition then, viz the Congress for Political Change (CPC), the (ANPP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), found it imperative to coalesce into a single political party to confront the political hippopotamus that was threatening to swallow them all. By the end of the exercise, it was obvious that Nigeria had effectively morphed into a two-party state, with the prospect of one standing by to give Nigerians effective political choices. This was what resulted in the APC and the subsequent victory it wrought in the 2015 elections. Kudos must also be given to the PDP for being the first incumbent political party which, upon being routed in an election, stepped down for the winner of the election without as much as a whimper from it.

Truth be told, Nigeria stands to gain a lot from a PDP that gets its acts together and puts its house in order than a party that is riddled with divisiveness and chaos. With sanity reigning within its fold, the PDP would act as a viable opposition that will keep the ruling APC on its toes, just as the APC strategically engaged it while it was in power. A virile opposition can be woven round the ruling party by a political party of the PDP’s hue and pedigree. This would make the APC to be conscious of all its pledges and its social responsibility to the people of Nigeria. There is a great danger ahead when all that the populace sees is a political party that can do no evil and which is brimming with angels. A PDP which has travelled this route before would be in a good stead to recall the itinerary and remind Nigerians of every layer of promises made on the journey to power.

A number of blame-tradings have been done by groups at the core of the PDP crisis, chief among which is the allegation that the ruling APC had infiltrated its ranks and is currently stoking the fire of the crisis. The goal, it alleged, is that, while the PDP is fussing and fighting, it could continue to meander into the hearts of the people unchecked. We are of the opinion that, whether real or imagined, the possibility of this allegation being a reality should encourage members of the party to move homewards into reconciliation.

Elders of the PDP and their sympathizers should work towards resolving the differences in the party. A strong and virile PDP, apart from enriching Nigerians’ political party preferences, will provide a virile opposition to the ruling party. The benefits therefrom for a democratic Nigeria are innumerable.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 27 June, 2016

editor

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

Brexit: A journey to the unknown

B

Y now, it is no longer news that the United Kingdom has voted to leave the European Union, but the ripple effects will be on for many decades before things return to normal.

Immediately after the result was announced, stock markets all over the world fell, while the pound sterling also fell to a 31-year low against the US dollars.

I really understand why the British people opted to leave the Union; they fear that uncontrolled immigration, which the EU supports, will ruin their country. Already, the UK is home to a large number of Polish, Spanish, Italian, and many other people from around the continent.

Why are all these people attracted to the UK? It is because of the buoyant

We need more libraries in Nigeria ALL over the world, libraries are dedicated to providing free and equitable access to information for all, be it written, electronic or audio visual format.

The historic mission of libraries is to foster literacy and learning. But it is obvious that the library, which is a vital institution in improving and developing the reading culture and literacy, has not been given much importance in this part of our world.

Libraries in many primary and post primary schools are so poor that they impede rather than promote learning and knowledge acquisition.

Public libraries suffer lack of recognition, inadequate funding and personnel. Consequently, its growth and developmental process had been largely stunted, allowing for its unabated drift towards irrelevance.

At the family level, people these days will build mansions and put everything in place, including pet’s house but forget corners for bookshelves and rooms for mini-libraries.

The result of the relegation of libraries in our homes, communities and schools is now a general disease that is plaguing the education sector in Nigeria.

Why on earth would a country like Nigeria, that is outstandingly equipped with intellectuals and academia of world class standards in all fields of knowledge, would choose to give little or no cognizance to

library development?

It should be noted that the development of our society depends on the percentage of literate citizens.

Library plays a key role in creating a literate citizenry, that is, promoting literacy by offering relevant and attractive reading materials for all ages and levels, including offering adult and family literacy classes.

Library development is critical to our national development and for the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Various efforts have been put in place by different individuals, organisations and governments to improve library development in Nigeria.

It is, therefore, important that enough energy should be directed towards addressing the decline in library development.

Massive investments in improving access to books at public institutions such as schools and libraries is a matter of absolute urgency.

Also, parents should establish private libraries in their homes in order to encourage the reading habits of their children.

Government and NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) should also support by establishing more libraries in our various communities.

•Damilare Oyedele, Osun State damoyedele@gmail. com

economy.

The UK is the second biggest economy on the continent, and after the economic crisis in Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal,citizens of these countries moved enmasse to the UK. The impact of this migration has resulted in wages being reduced, as well as a strain on British social facilities.

What actually brought about the greatest fear that made the people vote to leave was because Turkey could also join the EU anytime from now, and that means millions of Turkish citizens will also have unfettered access to the UK. While all these are genuine fears, those who voted to leave did not think of the negative effect their decision will generate. Already, many businesses are planning to move out of London, since it will be difficult to continue to transact business with the UK out of the EU, and

what this will result into is the loss of jobs.

However, if the UK is to renegotiate trade deals with the EU, they won’t have it on a silver platter, so that it won’t serve as a pull factor for other EU countries thinking of taking the same step.

Another problem is that British companies will now have to pay heavily if they want to continue to export

their products to the EU, while it is being said that whatever trade deals the UK will have with the EU, it will come with an open border into the UK for EU citizens. This, therefore, defeats the reason British citizens opted out in the first place.

There is also the possibility that Scotland and Northern Ireland could break away from the UK

since they voted overwhelmingly to be part of the EU. While those who voted to leave the EU might have won, no one is sure where this unknown journey will lead to.

•Olawale Olusayo, London, UK. mailwesco@gmail. com

Our coaches need health insurance AFTER the death of Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaib, both former Super Eagles managers, I want to call on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to institute health insurance covers for our football managers.

It is so unfortunate that these two coaches had to die at a time like this when the country still needs their services. In fact, Amodu was still working with the NFF as a technical director

as the time of his death.

Due to the work of coaches, their hearts come under severe strain, and that is why most of them are hypertensive.

I, therefore, hope that the NFF will seek comprehensive health insurance covers for its coaches. I also want local teams to also think along this line.

It is also important that fans are adequately sensitised on the work of coaches, and the stress they go

through.

Fans putting coaches under immense pressure when the team is not performing well is common, but they must know that all the boos and insults hailed on coaches definitely have effect on their health. I hope that fans will begin to be appreciative of the stress coaches pass through.

•Simon Linus, UNIJOS, Plateau State.

15

opinion

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju

T

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

HE Nigeria that got Independence from the British is not this one we live in. That one died on January 15, 1966.

What we have now is a Bamubamu l’ayo Republic. A country of bestriding giants and cowering ants. A third republic governor misbehaved so well that his people took to the streets with an old Yoruba song of reproach: Bamubamu l’ooyo/ Iwo o mo/ p’ebi npa omo eni kookan/ Bamubamu l’ooyo - (You are well, well-fed/ You do not know/ That hunger is killing the children of anyone else). That is the country the military gave us on January 15, 1966 and has since been sustained by the military. It is a country of winner takes all in everything. A country of extremes in riches and poverty; a nation of extremes in power and powerlessness. A cold-blooded nation of the well-fed not knowing that anyone else lacks.

Whether under the military or the civilian, the architecture of the post- First Republic Nigeria has remained largely exclusionary and, even, reactionary. Those who reign rule for themselves and themselves alone. The system which created it further waters it with torrents of impunity. The system suffocates patriotism and elevates triumphal, parochial sentiments. It has unapologetically been serving the interest of, only, the (economic and political) landlords of the moment. And, because it does not care who dies or who is dying, there is perpetual tension in the land.

There was a lot of drama over election money in Ekiti State last week. We will see many more of such tragi-comedy everywhere in weeks to come. Have we asked why the 2015 Goodluck Jonathan campaign had to spend billions of dollars it did not earn on the last elections? Are we asking ourselves why election is so expensive that no matter what position you want, you have to move billions in bullion vans from the first door to the last? If it was like that with the founding fathers of this country, would we be looking back at their era with so much nostalgia today? If that wasn’t what birthed this country why do we think we can grow on it?

We have seen the billions in the Dasukigate and in the other Gates unfolding across the country, and we all continue to shout in pretentious shock. We all know the system we run drinks money and monies were spent in 2015. We also know the kind of money this system demands is not what can be legitimately earned. The system constructs gates everywhere, including in the sanctimonious APC. If the APCgate is opened too, are we sure of how many millions of us would faint in utter shock? We cannot blame the politicians. We should blame the political system that made Muhammadu Buhari to campaign and spend money from Daura to Otuoke. We should condemn the system that compelled Goodluck Jonathan to canvass for votes and pay from Otuoke to Daura. You cannot run under this presidential system and say you want to successfully fight corruption. It will be a contradiction, an act of

This presidential system will kill us

hypocrisy.

It is the same system that makes presidents trust and appoint key government officials from only their places of birth. Because presidentialism is a kabiyesi system, presidents can lock out any part of the country from the power centre and rationalise it. He cannot be safely questioned by anyone on the actions and inactions of his presidency. And no matter the depth of the low they sink in governance, they sit tight. British Prime Minister, David Cameron, resigned because he lost the Brexit vote — an ordinary referendum. Why is it that we have not had any state governor in Nigeria offering to quit because they lost the economic power to meet their obligations to their people? Why is it that when we elect people under our presidential system, they start campaigning for the next election almost immediately? Why is it that the forces of Nigeria’s politics are so remote from the people and do not appear to know or appreciate the extent of the people’s suffering everywhere?

Across the land, politicians are massing money preparing for the next elections while the people are dying of hunger. What is the political implication of almost 30 of the 36 states not paying salaries?

Or, rather, what is the economic implication of these states owing months of salaries? Do we all see the atrophied lives that walk the streets from state to state, city to city, town to town, as a result of the options we took? In November 2010, the then Central Bank governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, declared that Nigeria needed to look at its “structure of expenditure” if the immediate future would not be very bleak. “If you look at the budget, the bulk of government spending is recurrent; recurrent expenditure. That is a big problem....” He said, noting that 25 percent of the country’s annual overhead budget went to the National Assembly. That was six years ago. Now, you ask: What has changed? Can we go further by calculating how much, since 1999, has gone into maintaining the opulence around our presidents and governors and ministers and commissioners and hundreds of special advisers, special and se-

nior special assistants and their personal assistants? Can we continue on this road and still believe it will lead to a future of success?

We have transited from a “conservative” party to a “progressive” party. That appears to have been the only thing that has changed in the ecology of governance in this country. Those whose populist mantra in the years of struggle was reform of the structure of the country have since pressed the mute button the moment they hopped on the high horse of power. The president last week lamented that it was disgraceful that 27 states could not pay salaries.

Now, what is the worth of that Buhari lamentation? It was not the first time we would hear him pine and whine over the paralysis of the states of the federation and it may not be the last time we hear his Job in lamentation. But was he elected to lament and lament?

He was elected to bring change to everything we have had since 1999 which we thought did not serve us well. If APC would be as helpless as the PDP was, what then was the essence of replacing one cripple with another?

Can we survive this money-sucking presidential system which feeds only the powerful? The clear way out is a fundamental change in the way we structure and run our country. The presidential system that gives all resources to persons in power can only lead to where it has led us. It has not worked for the ordinary person and will never work. My home governor, Rauf Aregbesola — although I am not a fan of many of his policies — early this year announced that he would introduce the parliamentary system as the governing option at the local government level in the state. He has my vote on that. But why has he not gone further to recommend that system for the state and federal levels, no matter what it takes? Whatever recommended the British system to him for the local governments should equally do for the states and the Nigerian nation. I hope he speaks more on this.

Some would counter that we once were onboard the parliamentary boat and it sank disastrously. Yes, we were, but it is incontrovertible that the golden era of our nationhood was that period of parliamentary democracy. We continue to benchmark whatever we do or aspire to do with the actions taken in that period. And, can we look back at the challenges that wrecked that effective ship and seek ways of making it work again?

Fela sang about “suffering and smiling.” That was decades ago.

Today, the town is no longer smiling. Life frowns upon the people’s very existence. At every level of government, what has been on the burner is pure politics. But it is not strictly the problem of the persons running the system. It is a deeper, systemic problem.

If we change our ruling parties a million times, we will likely get the same results. This presidential system is unworkable for us and it is not working for us. It kills and so must yield for something less expensive, more accountable, more flexible.

Brexit: UK’s biggest political misjudgment

By Oliver Owen SO the United Kingdom has voted to leave the EU in a 52 percent to 48 percent call for ‘Brexit’. The turnout was a very high 72 percent or 33.6 million voters, with the majority of young voters ‘In’ and most of the old voting ‘Out’. The result was welcomed by US Republican hopeful, Donald Trump, as he arrived in Scotland, which only proves what an incredibly bad development the Brexit vote actually is.

In regions of the UK which voted strongly for Brexit, core supporters are celebrating a victory they never expected as if a liberation war has been won, mixed with a sense of trepidation from those who took the ‘Leave’ option as a protest vote they thought they’d never see implemented.

Meanwhile, shocked voters in strong ‘Remain’ areas are meeting up to commiserate in a mass sense of sorrow and need for togetherness which has not seen since the London tube bombings.

The reason this happened can be summed up in one word — alienation. A quick look at the voting patterns on a map shows how the Remain camp got a huge vote in parts of the country which are well-connected to the global and European economy, such as the Thames Valley and areas south of London, cosmopolitan large cities like London, and especially those places with youthful and educated populations, including university towns like Oxford and Cambridge. However, it was dwarfed by the huge swathes of small and medium-sized towns and rural

areas where people who have suffered economic stagnation, social degradation and unmet aspirations saw the vote as an historic chance to defy the establishment on its own terms. Places like Lincolnshire and the North-East, which have barely figured on the national map in recent years, have now decided the future of the country, and it is the turn of the rest of us to feel alienated.

The Brexit vote is an indication of how two-speed the UK has become, with fears and social anxiety further stoked by a global refugee crisis which, of course, in reality, is not caused in any way by the EU, but which has been associated with it by populist right-wingers like Nigel Farage of UKIP. On the economic front, the announcement was met by a crash of the pound to a 30-year low in the currency markets, immediately causing the UK’s economy to fall behind France as the world’s fifth-largest, and not only UK, but also other European stock markets have fallen.

The Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney, gave reassurances about liquidity and said the UK was ready for a ‘new economy,’ but small businesses that had been told

by Leave campaigners that Brussels regulation was impeding them, have started feeling the pinch.

The worst risk to the UK economy in the short term would be an ensuing period of sustained instability, which would lead to speculations and wild fluctuations on the currency, and thus wipe out any of the possible marginal boost to exports which might have come from a more predictable longer dip in the pound. Unfortunately,

the long instability is what we are going to get, at the very least, up to and after negotiations begin in October.

David Cameron will be seen by history as an extraordinary figure – a man who went from riding the wave of an election he never expected to win outright, to resigning because of a referendum he chose to hold and never expected to lose, within just one year. All his other work will be overshadowed by a legacy as the prime minister who divorced from the EU and probably who also broke up the United Kingdom.

Scotland, which voted overwhelmingly to stay in Europe in all areas of the country, will now look once more at whether it wants to be tied to an English vote to leave.

It also has a unique window of opportunity to make the decision. If Brussels signals willingness any time during the two-year Brexit period, Scotland could leave the UK and stay in the EU on the advantageous terms the UK government currently has, with a range of exceptions from the rules. If it waits until the UK goes out and then reapplies, it has to accept all conditions for new entrants, including the damaged Euro currency and the controversial Schengen free movement agreement. So it has every incentive to go sooner rather than later; therefore, the Brexit vote has thus already hastened the likely breakup of the United Kingdom in its current form.

•Owen is research fellow at Oxford University Department of International Development.

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

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

Alleged treasury loot: Brickbats on the Plateau The resolve by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration into probe the immediate past Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government has thrown up critical issues in the politic s of the state, writes Isaac Shobayo.

I

T is crystal cleat that Governor Simon Lalong and his predecessor, Senator Jonah Jang, have never been on the same political page. Even when they were members of the same political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2007, Jang had a running battle with former Governor Joshua Dariye, who is a political ally of Lalong, over the structure of PDP in the state.

Jang contested the gubernatorial primary of the party in 1999 and lost to Dariye. When it was obvious that he could not secure the mandate of the party to run for the governorship, Jang, in 2003, dumped the party for the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) but only to return to the PDP in 2006. There was an insinuation that Jang, former deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, along with others, were instrumental to the plot to recall Lalong, who was then the Speaker of the state House of Assembly for allegedly shielding Dariye from impeachment.

Without support of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo-led Federal Government, Dariye was schemed out and Mantu and others had full control of the party structure which produced Jang as the candidate of the PDP and eventual winner of the gubernatorial election.

The state lawmakers then, along with the speaker, Lalong, paid dearly for their alleged determination to shield their principal, Dariye, from impeachment. Their ordeal was believed to have been orchestrated by the Federal Government using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an instrument to drive home the objective. On assumption of office as governor in 2007, Jang did not hide his intention to probe the Dariye administration. Apart from various committees that were set to unearth financial misdemeanours allegedly perpetrated by the Dariye administration, a commission of inquiry was also set up for the purpose.

However, by sheer providence, eight years after, one of the traumatised associates of Dariye, Lalong, is in the saddle. Like his predecessor, he hurriedly set up a 12man Transition Committee headed by his deputy, Professor Sonni Tyoden, to look into the record of the Jangled administration in eight years. The committee, in its report, alleged that Jang incurred a debt of N22.3 billion Apart from this, since his inauguration, Lalong has repeatedly vowed to prosecute all those that allegedly looted the state’s treasury in the past eight years and further threatened that if anti-graft agencies failed to respond to the petitions before them, his government would seek for alternative means of prosecuting all those allegedly involved in the looting.

Last week, the government took a step further by inaugurating a committee to investigate the tricycles and

Let Senator Jang not lose sleep yet, for the days ahead will give him enough tough time, said Lalong.

Lalong

vehicles doled out as loans to the public under the programme “Tracking Poverty Together,” by the Jang administration. From all indications, Lalong’s attempt to probe his predecessor has ignited altercations. Irked by the development, Jang, through his aide, Mr Garuba Clinton, described the investigation as a diversionary tactic after one year of searching for wrongdoings of the last administration, aimed at bringing his hard-earned reputation into disrepute.

He said: “We had thought we would just watch and see how APC displays its incompetence and ill-preparedness for governance with high tendencies of scoring own goals, but we were wrong as we have become the whipping child of APC in Plateau State as a cover up for its non-performance.”

Jang told the Lalong government to learn that nobody goes up by pulling anybody down, adding that it was elected to correct the perceived wrongs of the last administration and if it lacked capacity, it should apologise for betraying the people of Plateau.

Lalong, in a swift reaction through a statement by his Director of Press Affairs, Emmanuel Nanle, advised his predecessor to brace himself up for more probes as more committees would be set up and Jang would be invited to give account of his eight years in office. Lalong said he was only following in the footsteps of Jang who, upon assumption of office, had set up a committee to probe the Dariye administration, and wondered how a simple task of reviewing a revolving loan empowerment programme guided by terms of reference could elicit the kind of reaction it did from Jang.

“As the days role by and the EFCC settles to address the issues of the state SURE-P funds, state primary education funds, CBN N2bn SME funds meant for youth empowerment, the deductions for five-km road projects in 17 local

Jonah

governments areas, ASTC Project, several bank charges and payment of commissions beyond regulatory limits, among the many politically motivated contract beneficiaries with the loop financial benefits to government officials; we shall see how he (Jang) retreats into his cocoon. Let Senator Jang not lose sleep yet, for the days ahead will give him enough tough time,” said Lalong.

A lot of people are disturbed by the exchange of words between Lalong and his predecessor. While some see the investigation as a welcome development and in line with the fight against corruption, others perceive it as a ploy by Lalong to take his pound of flesh from Jang and his associates.

A staunch member of the APC, who craved anonymity advised, Jang and his political associates not to see investigation of some of their actions while in government as personal or a revenge but a normal exercise aimed at injecting sanity into the system. He said: “I wonder why Jang is making an issue out of nothing. He carried out a similar exercise when he was elected nine years ago.”

Analysts posited that the state’s politics is cyclical in nature and has the tendency of breeding hatred and vendetta. According to them, there is the possibility of using rightful and legal means to drive home personal agenda. A human rights activist, Abdullahi Musa, said the hype around probes and investigations in Nigeria is capable of heating up the polity, adding that such exercise could be done without injuring the feelings of those being investigated.

From all indications, the battle line is drawn. Lalong has reiterated on several occasions that he will ensure that all those who allegedly looted the state’s treasury during Jang’s eight years as governor are prosecuted. Nigerian Tribune also learnt that Jang has assembled an array of seasoned lawyers for the battle ahead.

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju | 08055001708 | lanresulaimon@yahoo.com | @lanresulaimon

analysis

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele

entrepreneuership

markets

leadership & management

Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun

President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Segun Ajibola

Sacking in banks:

How to reverse the trend

By Jude Akano

A

S some banks in the country embark on shedding of their staff weight (of which many more are expected in the coming weeks), the exercise runs counter to the age-long belief that banking jobs are among the safest in the country. The banking industry globally is believed to be the barometer through which a country’s economy is adjudged to be healthy or in distress. As early as the second quarter of this year, some banks had shown signs that some far-reaching measures would be taken due to the unhealthy economic environment.

While some have adduced reasons for their poor performances, others, shortly before embarking on disengagement of staff had hinted their shareholders of the inevitability of certain actions they might take, in view of the current economic challenges.

These challenges include non-performing loans, economic headwinds and a cocktail of hostile fiscal and monetary policies that led them to the non-profitability route.

Some have even attributed their plight to the TSA policy. Does this mean that without the Federal Government money, the banks cannot do business?

The current economic challenge is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is a global phenomenon.

However, before the fall in the oil revenue of the country, many of the Nigerian banks can be held responsible for their current fate. While the apex bank had on several occasions admonished them to lend to the productive sectors of the economy in order to stimulate growth, some of them were busy funding non-productive ventures which today has accounted for many of the bad loans. Few of the banks doing well

today saw the need to fund the real sector.

Some were involved in agriculture, not knowing that the economy would be this hit for Nigerians to come alive to the much touted economic diversification. We need a change in taste and increased patronage of home made goods.

Many of the MDBs top executives are living large and have mismanaged their resources. Some depended on government funds to trade, abandoning their mandates.

While they are expected to be innovative agents of development and partners of the CBN in ways to grow the economy, some of them undermined the institution. Many recruited unfit staff based on political or ethnic considerations that are against their mandates. Some gave out loans indiscrim-

The CBN at this juncture must be commended for deploying its resources to some developmental projects some of which are already yielding fruits.

inately and subsequently put their banks in trouble. Employees are key assets to the industry and some have contributed in no mean measures to the success of individual banks, and thus required to be adequately rewarded for their good performances and at the same time open up new opportunities for the talented, committed people to join the industry as permanent staff not as contract staff. One cannot castigate some of the banks for doing away with ‘dead wood’ employees in their repositioning efforts, which is in line with the industry standards; it is the arbitrary way many of them went about it just because of the banks’ inability to fulfill their industry mandate that is a matter for concern.

The threat by the Minister of Labour to withdraw the operating licence of banks engaged in sacking of its employees was a misplaced threat. The government has no right to have issued such a directive that is capable of pitching labour against management of the banks. It is not only in the banking industry that mass sack has been taking place in recent time. It must be noted that when other businesses in the economy were shutting down and many of them relocated to Ghana, did the government stop them? Is the government saying that people should continue to retain expenses that are injurious to their operations? The banks are not an extension of government’s MDAs. Rather, what the government should have done was to appeal to the banks to be patient for the emerging implementation of its policies aimed at repositioning the economy and enjoin them to join efforts with the CBN in its developmental agenda. And more importantly, let the government align its policies with the monetary authorities for

a coordinated repositioning blueprint of the economy.

The CBN at this juncture must be commended for deploying its resources to some developmental projects some of which are already yielding fruits. In particular is its recently launched Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) for rice farmers in Kebbi State. Deposit money banks in the country can equally finance similar projects without necessarily waiting for government funds. The banks should therefore desist from flooding the already saturated unemployment market; neither does it have to come to the point where the apex bank has to make an appeal to the banks to halt this trend. This is the right time for the deposit money banks to be creative in fashioning people-oriented products, fund productive businesses necessary for the desired economic prosperity. It is thus glaring that financing oil and gas projects is no longer profitable with the unpredictable falling prices of oil. Billions of banks’ funds are presently trapped in this sector with no hope of recovery soon. Deposit money banks should as a matter of urgency begin to finance projects with value, not minding the level of profitability.

The banks should broaden their minds, employ professionals as project officers to assist them in exploring other profitable and enduring projects in agriculture, mining, SMEs for wealth and job creation and for the growth of the banking sector.

The banks should be development partners with other agencies of government in rebuilding the Nigeria economy.

Akano, an economist, wrote in from Lokoja, Kogi State.

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Kehinde Akinseyinde-Jayeoba

m: 08057336640 e: kehinde_07@yahoo.com

Equities trading leaps 4.79%, awaits brigther days Stories by Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba - Lagos

E

QUITIES transactions on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) last week continued on a positive trend as the market indicator, All Share Index (ASI) increased by 4.79 per cent in a three-day gain.

Investors were however on the look for greater gains even as Britain voted to exit the European Union, spreading jitters across emerging markets including Nigeria.

Analysts believed that if the Brexit holds better opportunity for investing in the Nigerian Bourse as the British economy might dipped.

According to the Managing Director of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, an economics advisory firm, Mr Bismarck Rewane, if the UK leaves the European Union, the British economy may shrink, and if it does, they may be unable to do the same level of business they used to do with Nigeria.

Market Operators believed this would facilitate re-entrance of foreign investors into the Nigerian Bourse as a greater gains awaits.

It is also believed that the Brexit would foster forex policy, which would be a good one for Nigeria.

The Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs Sarah Alade told Reuters that the apex bank expected Britain’s vote to exit the European Union to be good for its forex policy as interest rates are likely to stay low in the United States, thus channeling foreign investors to Nigeria.

“We only need to take advantage of this opportunity to grow the economy,” she said.

Meanwhile, the NSE ASI and Market Capitalisation appreciated by 4.79 per cent to close the week at 30,649.66 and N10.527 trillion respectively.

Similarly, all other Indices finished higher during the week, with the exception of the NSE ASeM Index that closed flat.

From left, Ex-Officio, National Council, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Oscar Onyema; Council President, National Council, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Council Secretary, The Nigerian Stock Exchange, Mojisola Adeola at the Annual General Meeting of the Exchange, recently.

United Bank For Africa Plc, Zenith International Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc were the top three traded equities, measured by volume, accounted for 887.282 million shares worth N12.894 billion in 7,483 deals, contributing 37.17 per cent and 48.88 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

A turnover of 2.387 billion shares worth N26.381 billion in 28,072 deals were traded this week by investors on the floor of the Exchange in contrast to a total of 2.158 billion shares valued at N20.394 billion that exchanged hands last week in 24,369 deals.

The Financial Services Industry, measured by volume, led the activity chart with 1.951 billion shares valued at N16.832 billion traded in 17,226 deals; thus contributing 81.75 per cent and 63.80 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The conglomerates Industry followed with 223.156 million shares worth N477.064 million in 1,461 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 91.705 million shares worth N6.253 billion in 4,433 deals.

40 equities appreciated in

price during the week, lower than 44 equities of the previous week. 32 equities depreciated in price, higher than 24 equities of the previous week, while 108 equities remained unchanged lower than 112 equities recorded in the preceding week.

Also traded during the week were a total of 121,501 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N90.716 million executed in 34 deals, compared with a total of 519,199 units valued at N6.582 million transacted last week in 42 deals.

A total of 9,439 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N10.429 million were traded in seven deals compared to a total of 4,170 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N4.413 million transacted last week in three deals.

NSE to hold AGM on demutualisation, reappoints president

FOLLOWING the stepping down of discussion on the process of full demutualization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), at their 55th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos, members has agreed to NSE Councils proposal to have an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) on the demutualization to allow for more consultation.

The suggestion was supported by Emeka Madubuike, President of Association of Stock broking Houses of Nigeria and Mike Itegboje. The speakers further urged the Council and Management of NSE to fast track the demutulaisation process and pick a date for the EGM. Also, members of the Exchange has re-elected to the National Council Mr Aigboje AigImoukhuede, as the Pres-

ident, while Muhammad Daggash; Mr Oluwole Abegunde (Representing Meristem Securities Limited); Mr Oladipo Aina (Representing Signet Investment & Securities Ltd) were elected members of the National Council.

On the financials, the Chief Executive Officer Mr Oscar Onyema said “We recorded an operating surplus of N1.86 billion as a result of management diligence in managing the budget as well as strategic prioritization and execution of key initiatives based on efficiency, scale and growth potential.

Total assets of The NSE grew by over 10 per cent, while net assets grew by 11 percent, year-on-years.

By the end of year, the Exchange\’s asset base exceeded N22.78 billion, with N19.29 billion in accumu-

lated funds, providing us adequate financial flexibility to support strategy execution in key business areas for the road ahead,” he added.

According to him, the Exchange illustrated its resilience during the year amidst prolonged economic uncertainty, diminishing commodity prices and volatile securities markets. “Despite declines in our core income streams, alternative sources of income continued to play an important role in supporting the financial performance of our business.

In 2015, revenue excluding transaction fees and listing income grew by 15 per cent contributing 40 percent to total revenue. The greatest drivers of this growth were revenues from our proactive investment strategy and income generated from our market services business”.

Fidson targets N1.9bn addition to turnover FIDSON Healthcare Plc, a major pharmaceutical company, listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange has promised it’s investors greater returns as it commenced operations in its recently completed World Health Organisation (WHO) Compliant, Ultra Modern Brand New manufacturing plant, which is arguably the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Africa.

According to the company, the expected financial contribution from this project is such that would grow the Company’s turnover by additional N1.9 billion at 75 per cent Activity Level by the third year of production, N2.9 billion at 90 per cent Activity Level by 6th year and N3.6 billion by the 10th year at same 90 per cent Activity Level.

It added that overall, this project would contribute handsomely to the Overhead Recovery of the Company thereby growing shareholder value significantly. This will be in addition to increased capacities (almost two-fold) for the existing five product lines that will open up opportunities for contract manufacturing.

According to a statement released by the company, the facility provides an opportunity to export some of its products to other countries (Africa and beyond) and grow its FOREX income while also extending affordable quality medicines to some of the poorer nations within the continent.

The statement noted that “an overarching benefit in job creation as additional 300 jobs are being created while, profitability is expected to improve as a result of increased efficiency.”

Adding that asides from increasing production capacity, the new factory would enhance Fidson’s business prospects by enhancing the ability to tender for WHO sponsored programmes, which Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturers are unable to access, losing out to foreign companies in these tenders.

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

Bolaji Edu, CEO Broll Consulting

The 60-second

business coach PAGE 24

PAGE 24

Leaders’

forum PAGE 24

Why leaders fall short of expectations

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

A

common parlance in the legal profession is that there is no case so good that it cannot be lost. This is definitely a variant of Murphy’s

Law which states that whatever can go wrong will go wrong. This law applies to leadership because even with the best of ability and intentions, leaders still find themselves on the road that leads south.

Hardly does any leader set out

to fail. Most leaders ascend their offices with great plans to effect a great change in their organization or nation. They know that occupying a leadership position is a rare opportunity to write their names in gold by stretching themselves to

accomplish a lot for their organizations. But quite often that does not happen; in the course of carrying out their functions, many leaders act contrary to their avowed intention and experience a slide.

Continues on pg20

20

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

Why leaders fail

LEADERSHIP

for the interest of his erstwhile constituency and ensure that he operates as an overall CEO, not a sectional one.

This is the Waterloo of many star performers. Having excelled in a function, a leader is given high responsibility but more often than not leaving behind the former role mentally and moving into the new role becomes a challenge.

A former Chief Finance Officer, who suddenly is made a CEO, continues to think and act like a CFO, forgetting that he has moved up. This will definitely affect the performance of his new function.

There must be a new thinking for a new level. There must be a different strategy for a different level. Hence the appropriateness of Marshall Goldsmith’s counsel to leaders that what got them to the current level will fail to move them to the next stage. When functions change, thinking should also change. Refusal to effect appropriate change could result in failure to meet expectations.

Continues from pg19

Bisi Omoyeni Mr. Adebisi Omoyeni could not believe his good fortune when he was named, in 2005, by Mr Ayo Fayose, Ekiti State governor, as his deputy.

For Omoyeni, who was an executive director at Wema Bank Plc and had narrowly missed being appointed the bank’s Group Managing Director a year earlier, his nomination as Deputy Governor was a great compensation, knowing that if he cooperated with his principal he could even become the state governor later.

However, he soon had to exit that exalted seat. His former employers came begging to have him run the bank he had left to pair up with Governor Fayose. There were leadership issues in the bank which necessitated the recruitment of a new CEO. As the story went, those saddled with the responsibility of getting a new head for the bank believed the best man for the job was Omoyeni. So, they went to Ekiti State and implored Fayose to release his deputy for the purpose of salvaging the ailing banking institution.

Omoyeni’s trajectory at Wema reads like a page from the Book of Uncommon Accomplishments.

He was recruited into the bank as a management trainee and rose rapidly through the ranks to join the C-Suite. He was promoted 12 times in 13 years, meaning he consistently exceeded expectations. A year after being made Assistant General Manager, he was promoted to the position of General Manager, skipping the level of Deputy General Manager.

He was barely a year as GM when he was promoted an Executive Director. So, those who went to lure him out of Ekiti Government House had no doubt about his competence and capacity.

His return to Wema Bank in December 2005 probably saved the bank from the hammer as Omoyeni was said to have mobilized late funds with which the bank was able to meet the N25billion recapitalization deadline. But a little over two years after, in January 2008, the resounding applause that had heralded him back to the bank suddenly stopped as he was suspended by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), a regulator of the banking industry, over some issues. His attempt to force his way back to office without the resolution of all issues made the then CBN governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, evoke his powers as contained in Sections 32 and 33 of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 1991 as amended, to sack Omoyeni as Wema Bank GMD. That was a deep low for someone who started on a great high.

Posers Why do leaders experience a 180-degree turn in their rating? Why do star performers suddenly lose

Mai Atafo, CEO, Mai Atafo Inspired their magic wand? Why do experienced and exalted executives fail to seize the moment to improve the lot of their organization? Why do leaders sometime fall short of expectations?

Leaders fall short of expectations for various reasons. Some of them are considered hereunder.

Loss of focus Most leaders assume office with specific plans on what they intend to accomplish while in office. As a matter of fact, before a leader is appointed in most companies, he is asked to make a presentation on what he hopes to accomplish in office and the strategy to be deployed for that. If his presentation does not gel with the board, he is unlikely to get the appointment.

However, soon after getting into office, the leader realizes that he has other issues to contend with apart from what he had decided to devote his attention to. Oftentimes, the pressure of office forces him to abandon his original plan. Thus, instead of taking initiative on what matters most to the organization, he becomes reactive. Invariably, he loses momentum and begins to slip.

Unless the leader is disciplined enough to consistently put the accomplishment of his stated mission

A leader who fails to proffer solutions to an organization in crisis has failed the basic test of leadership

Quote

Ademola Aladekomo, MD, Chams Plc on the priority list, he will soon find out that he has little or no time to attend to those issues. Meanwhile, the board will assess his performance primarily by what he had promised to do.

So, probably more than anything else, it is incumbent on a leader to keep in focus the stated mission to ensure that his energies and other resources are not misdirected.

A way out of this is for the leader to be resolute about devoting his time only to those things that nobody else in the company can do and delegate every other task. By so doing, he extricates himself from being bogged down by seemingly important routine matters and concentrates only on issues that are critical to the progress of the organization.

Inability to respond to changing times The business environment is dynamic. What worked hitherto may fail to work henceforth. A leader must be versed enough to realize this and proffer workable solutions. Leaders get executive pay essentially to solve problems. A leader is not expected to leave a company at the same level it was handed over to him. Great business leaders understand this; hence they stretch themselves no end to ensure that their organizations never have a better last year.

A leader who fails to proffer solutions to an organization in crisis has failed the basic test of leadership.

That is what happened to Douglas Ivester, former Coca Cola CEO. He got into office hoping to use the same system employed by his predecessor in a different economic environment to solve a nagging problem. His strategy failed the first year but he did not know enough to try another strategy.

When the trend continued the following year, the board had to show him the door.

A leader must not only be able to

Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, CEO, First E&P

Folorunso-Alakija, CEO, Famfa Oil read and interpret the times accurately, he must also be able to proffer solutions to the problems that the changing times throw up. That is a core function of leaders, especially at the topmost echelon of an organization.

Employing situational ethics Leaders fail when their reputation does not line up with their character. One of the key responsibilities of a leader to the rest of the crew is modeling integrity. A leader must always live by his word. A leader must never allow himself to fall into the rut of situational ethics, the suspension of the universal law on the altar of exigencies. The greatest capital of a leader is his integrity; once that is lost, not much is left. If a leader loses the trust of his followers, he has lost the followers.

Leaders find themselves adopting situational

ethics when they don’t have strong convictions on some issues. Leaders who will go far always cross the bridge before they get to it. What most people do is to wait till they get to the bridge before crossing it. Anyone who operates like that will be unable to make right decisions because of attending pressure. Great leaders don’t allow themselves to be boxed into a corner, they act before it is necessary; they are always a step ahead of the situation. That gives them the opportunity of being clear-headed on issues and to take decisions based on merit and not any extraneous consideration.

Failure to make the right move at the right time Many a leader gets to a point that he does not want to rock the boat. He is comfortable with merely maintaining the status quo and managing to get by rather than taking a risk and losing what has been accomplished. But history has repeatedly vindicated leaders who took risks. A leader who fails to make the right move at the right time loses momentum and may never recover from that. For a leader, opting against risk-taking is a risky venture.

Inability to move into the new role Every leader has a background in an area. But Gauging the people wrongly by the time he is appointed as the CEO, he ought A leader must learn to gauge the to leave his old role and allegiance to it behind followers correctly otherwise what is him. He should desist from working primarily meant for their good could be turned

to the leader’s woe. Before carrying out any major policy change that will affect the followers, a leader must ensure a buy-in by the people first. Until that is done, he should not embark on any fundamental change.

As once observed by General Colin Powell, former US Secretary of State, “No good idea succeeds simply because it is a good idea. Good ideas must have champions – people willing to believe in them, push for them, fight for them, gain adherents and other champions, and press until they succeed.”

That will not happen until there is a buy-in.

Lack of people skills Leaders love to sound and act tough so as not to be viewed as a weakling by those they lead. Consequently, they lose their soft power. A leader should not only be technically sound, he should also have a high level of people skill. A leader must be able to touch base with those he leads; otherwise he stands the risk of losing the followers or his seat or both.

A leader must be emotionally sound; he must be able to feel his people; he must be able to connect with them beyond official matters. He must resist the temptation to build a wall around himself. He must avoid getting a group that will be tagged ‘the leader’s gang’ or some other derogatory terms. If he does not do that, he will one day look behind him and find out that he is all alone.

A leader who has mastered the art of people skills will tell his people to go to hell and they will look forward to the trip because they know him enough to join them on the expedition. For leaders who want to go the distance, developing people skills is sine qua non.

THE 60-SECOND business coach

5 attributes of outstanding leaders LEADERSHIP is not about personality; it’s about behavior. Outstanding leaders have distinguishing attributes. Here are five of them.

Model the Way Leaders must be willing to serve as models for their employees’ behavior by matching their words with their actions.

“Through their daily actions, they demonstrate their deep commitment to their beliefs and those of the organization,” James Kouzes and Barry Posner, authors of The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations, say.

Leading by example can help top-level managers and executives earn their employees’ trust. It also sends the message that leaders are not asking their employees to do something they wouldn’t do themselves.

Inspire a shared vision A leader’s vision should be clear to

employees and why it should matter to them.

“Unity of purpose is forged when you show your constituents how the dream is a shared dream and how it fulfills the common good,” Posner and Kouzes say.

One way to identify shared values is through consensus-building exercises.

One manager of a multinational internal audit team asked team members to complete a questionnaire that asked about several personal topics such as hobbies and favorite foods as well as the type of work each member preferred and their typical roles on teams.

The exercise helped align the team around a common set of values.

Challenge the process Don’t be afraid to change from the status quo.

“Leaders venture out; they don’t sit idly by waiting for fate to smile on them,” Kouzes and Pozner say…. “Leaders are pioneers, willing to step out into the

unknown.”

But with risk, of course, comes possible failure. Leaders can mitigate the impact of potential failures by “generating small wins and learning from experience.” A one-step-at-a-time approach can help build confidence and form “a consistent pattern of winning that attracts people who want to be allied with a successful venture,” they say.

Enable others to act Employee empowerment has become one of the key characteristics of innovative and ultimately profitable companies.

When leaders give other people around them a voice in the decision-making process, they foster collaboration and, again, build trust.

“Constituents neither perform at their best nor stick around for very long if you make them feel weak, dependent or alienated,” Kouzes and Pozner say. “Giving your power away and fostering their personal power and ownership will make

them stronger and more capable.”

Seeking input from others builds their capabilities and helps leaders gain a more comprehensive understanding of their operations.

Encourage the heart The best leaders recognize their employees for their accomplishments.

For example, a career services and recruiting firm in the U.K. asked each consultant to write his or her successful new placements onto a whiteboard in the office.

Each time a consultant wrote on the board, the entire office would cheer, said Jade Lui, an employee at the firm, Ambition Group. The office also held regular celebrations for everyone in the firm, including monthly birthday parties and holiday bashes.

“All exemplary leaders make the commitment to recognize contributions,” Kouzner and Pozner wrote in The Leadership Challenge.

Successful leaders see the opportunities in every difficulty rather than the difficulty in every opportunity. —Reed Markham

BOOK

Execution: The

Discipline of Getting Things Done ByLawrenceBossidyandRamCharan

HOW do companies like GE, Wal-Mart and Honeywell succeed? What is the secret of Jack Welch, one of the most legendary CEO in the business world today?

The secret, according to Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan, is Execution. Subtitled The Discipline of Getting Things Done, the New York Times bestseller emphasises the importance of execution in business, how companies with an execution culture conduct their business affairs, and its three core processes: people, strategy and operations.

Laced liberally with stories from the warfront, the book is heavy on pragmatism and short on management theory.

Written by former CEO and Chairman of Honeywell Larry Bossidy and academic Ram Charan, it drives home the point that a CEO must be wholly immersed in his business – from the topmost rung of corporate strategy to the nuts and bolts of operations.

In the section on the building blocks of execution, we’re taught that a leader needs to have seven essential behaviours.

These are: Knowing one’s people and business; Insisting on realism; Setting clear goals and priorities; Following through; Rewarding the doers; Expanding people’s capabilities through coaching; and Knowing oneself.

A leader also needs to create a framework for cultural change. He/she needs to set the tone for the employees’ attitudes, beliefs and behaviours from the top down.

Getting the right people in and building an “A” team is highlighted repeatedly as a core tenet of execution. Leaders must spend their time understanding their staff’s strengths and weaknesses, coach and mentor them, and be unafraid to highlight sensitive issues when the time arises.

Once the building blocks are completed, a leader needs to institute three

core processes which must all be closely inter-woven with each other, namely: The People Process – The most important processes in any organisation, a robust people process evaluates individuals accurately and in depth, helps leaders to identify and develop talent, and creates the pipeline for a strong succession plan.

Non-performers must be adequately dealt with while rewards must be closely linked to business results.

The Strategy Process – Here, the “Hows” are just as important as the “Whys” and “Whats”. An executional leader has an intimate understanding of his/her customers, competitors, environment, and critical issues. Good strategies must consider both short (1 to 3 years) and longer term (3 to 5 years) plans, and be realistic about an organisation’s ability to implement the strategy.

The Operations Process – Spread out over a year with quarterly reporting (in the case of public listed companies), the operating plan needs to closely align performance targets with resources and budgets. Execution savvy companies will develop action and contingency plans to accommodate various outcomes. They will also conduct quarterly reviews to reallocate resources according to varying market conditions.

Perhaps the most insightful lesson I’ve learned from the book is the need for business leaders to follow through while ensuring that their people meet their promises.

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leadership&management

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

TOPE POPOOLA is a Human Capital developement Consultant and Pastor. Please feel free to send questions, feedback comments on this column to

topheritage@yahoo.com or visit http//turbochargedforsuccess.blogspot.com

A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the LORD. - Proverbs 19:3 (NIV) Something significant to global direction happened last week Friday. It was the momentous decision of Britain to exit the European Union. Long before the referendum took place, British airwaves had been suffused with propaganda from the two possible positions; to exit or not to exit. The British Prime Minister had done his level best to convince his countrymen and women to vote to stay in the Union.

Unfortunately, the voting went against him and those who stood with his position by a margin of about four percent of votes cast. Before the actual referendum took place, officials of the European Union had warned that should Britain decide to exit, the decision would be irreversible. In other words, whatever decision Britons took, they should be ready for attendant consequences. In the exercise of the power of choice, you usually cannot eat your cake and have it. Britain voted to exit the Union. Pundits have been pontificating on possible consequences of this decision. But that is no longer important. Britain has made its choice and so must live with the consequences. Part of the consequences of that choice is the resignation of David Cameron, the British Prime Minister. This choice by Britain will have definite consequences on the larger spectrum of global inter-relationships.

Choices can be defined as the decision we take after all options have been considered. Choice is impossible without options. A lady who gets married to the first and only man who proposes to her can hardly be said to have made a choice. When such a union is faced with a crisis, she is likely to think that things might have been better if she had waited for someone else! Most people I have met who are frustrated on their job are like that because the establishment they are working with is the only one that hired them out of the several that they applied to. But they easily forget that the choice to accept the offer or not was available for them to make!

The power of choice

The power to choose is given to all men and women.

More often than not, it is the exercise of this power that distinguishes us from beasts of the field. There are several things in life over which we largely have little or no choice even though some of those things too are consequences of choices. Nobody chooses to be involved in an accident but it should be noted that the accident was a consequence of a decision to travel! We did not have a choice over where and into which family we were born or where and how we will die. We did not have a choice over who our parents are. We did not decide our destiny. That is within God’s purview but the choice to discover and embrace it is one we must make.

Our lives oscillate from one choice to another. The average human being makes over a thousand choices every day. Getting out of bed after waking up, taking a bath, what and when to eat, where to go, who to visit or talk to are all choices we make daily even without giving it much thought.

Effective leadership is a product of the leader’s choices.

Just like knowing what is right and doing it, great leadership does not just happen. It is the reason why leaders need to ponder thoroughly the possible options available to them before they take a decision because whatever option they choose will have ripple effects not only on them and their close associates but on the people and the organization that they lead. A leader who is cognizant of the consequences of his actions on both himself and the collective weighs his choices and exercises the power of choice with an unusually high sense of responsibility. When leaders make bad choices, the corporate vision and destiny are at risk.

The paradox of life is that we make our choices and our choices eventually make us. A very interesting story in the Bible illustrates this scenario. After the death of King Solomon, his son Rehoboam took over the reins of leadership in Israel as a united nation. The reign of Solomon had been characterized by mind-boggling prosperity across the land.

But this abundance had come on the backs of the people who had had to labour excessively to work on Solomon’s

various building projects. After his demise, the people came to Rehoboam to ask for a respite in exchange for their unflinching loyalty. Rehoboam asked them to give him three days to consult with his trusted advisers. The advisers who belonged to the older generation gave him counsel that still remains germane and valuable for every leader who desires to succeed.

“If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants.”

His younger advisers also came with their own counsel.

“Tell these people who have said to you, ‘Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’-tell them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist. My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’”

Rehoboam chose the latter counsel and wasted no time in relaying same to the representatives of the people when they came three days later. That singular faux pas led to the division of the nation. In a move reminiscent of Brexit, Jeroboam, who led the people’s delegation, simply led 10 of the 12 tribes out of the commonwealth! This marked the beginning of the decline of the nation of Israel and laid the foundation for the eventual Babylonian captivity as well as the dispersion to various nations of the earth.

Consequences are the harvest of choices. Today’s obesity is the consequence of poor dietary choices. A first class degree is a product of the choice of consistent study over every other potentially distracting option. Today’s performance is a product of yesterday’s preparation. Excellence does not just happen. It is a product of deliberate, calculated choices.

Nobody climbs the ladder of success with his hands in his pocket. You can never make progress walking backwards!

Simply put, every choice to go forward demands corresponding disciplines...continued.

Remember, the sky is not your limit, God is!

How African leaders can become successful

THE more I write and teach about leadership in Nigeria and on this continent as a whole, the more I get to understand that the major problem that the African man has is that he does not know how to lead. There are too many African leadership experts, but true leaders are scarce as an Eagle.

I make bold to say that what Nigeria and Africa as a whole need aren’t leadership experts, but true leaders. Nigeria is the way she is because true leaders are in short supply.

Remember, you can be a leadership expert without being a leader!

Leadership is learned behavior that becomes unconscious and automatic over time. For instance, leaders can make several important decisions about an issue in the time it takes others to understand the question. Many people wonder how leaders know how to make the best decisions, often under immense pressure. The process of making these decisions comes from an accumulation of experiences and encounters with a multitude of different circumstances, personality types and unforeseen failures.

More so, the decision-making process is an acute understanding of being familiar with the cause and effect of behavioral and circumstantial patterns; knowing the intelligence and interconnection points of the variables involved in these patterns allows a leader to confidently make decisions and project the probability of their desired outcomes.

The most successful leaders are instinctual decision makers. Having done it so many times throughout their careers, they become invulnerable to the pressure associated with decision making and extremely intuitive about the process of making the most strategic and best decisions. This is why most senior executives will tell you they depend strongly upon their “gut-feel” when making difficult decisions at a moment’s notice.

Beyond decision making, successful leadership across all areas becomes learned and instinctual over a period of time.

Successful leaders have learned the mastery of anticipating business patterns, finding opportunities in pressure situations, serving the people they lead and overcoming hardships. No wonder the best CEOs are paid so much money.

If you are looking to advance your career into a leadership capacity or you have already assumed leadership responsibilities, I am here today to unveil a few things you must do automatically, every day, to be a successful leader in either the workplace or wherever you find yourself a leader: Many times, leaders intimidate and coerce their colleagues with their title and power when they walk into a room, but successful leaders do deflect attention away from themselves and encourage others to voice their opinions. They are experts at making others feel safe to speak-up and confidently share their perspectives and points of view. They use their presence as a leader to create an approachable environment. True leaders do not make people become voiceless. Over the years, does your presence take people’s voice away or does it help them to find their voice? It is failure in leadership when people lose their voice just because you are leading them.

Winning leaders are expert decision makers. They either facilitate the dialogue to empower their colleagues to reach a strategic conclusion or they do it themselves. They focus on “making things happen” at all times – decision making activities that sustain progress. Successful leaders have mastered the art of politicking and thus do not waste their time on issues that disrupt momentum. They know how to make 30 decisions in 30 minutes!

Successful leaders are great communicators, and this is especially true when it comes to “performance expectations.”

In doing so, they remind their colleagues of the organization’s core values and mission statement – ensuring that their vision is properly translated and actionable objectives are properly executed. I have met with many leaders—who are very poor—when it comes to communicating the company’s core values, vision and mission statements to those under their leadership. On the condition that you want to become a successful leader, you shall need to keep honing your capacity to communicate clearly. This is non-negotiable.

I had a leader who managed the team by reminding us of the expectations that she had of the group. She made

it easy for the team to stay focused and on track. The protocol she implemented – by clearly communicating expectations – increased performance and helped to identify those on the team that could not keep up with the standards she expected from us. Many leaders do not know how to communicate their expectations clearly to their followers, and they are wondering why their groups, teams, companies, institutions and nations are not doing very well.

The most successful leaders understand their colleagues’ mindsets, capabilities and areas of improvement. They use this knowledge to challenge their teams to think and stretch them to reach for more. These leaders excel in keeping their people on their toes, never allowing them to get comfortable and enabling them with the tools to grow. If you are not thinking, you are not learning new things and if you are not learning, you are not growing – and over time you shall become irrelevant in your work.

Successful leaders allow their colleagues to manage them. This does not mean they are allowing others to control them – but rather becoming accountable to assure they are being proactive to their colleagues’ needs.

Beyond just mentoring and sponsoring selected employees, being accountable to others is a sign that the leader is more focused on others’ success than just his own success.

Leading by example sounds easy, but few leaders are consistent with this one. Successful leaders practice what they preach and are mindful of their actions. They know everyone is watching them and therefore are incredibly intuitive about detecting those who are observing their every move, waiting to detect a performance shortfall.

Lastly, successful leaders always have a strong “pulse” on business performance and those people who are the performance champions. Not only do they review the numbers and measure performance ROI, they are active in acknowledging hard work and efforts (no matter the result). Successful leaders never take consistent performers for granted and are mindful of rewarding them.

See you where successful leaders are found!

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MainOne, others partner on solution for SMEs

Monday, 27 June 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Mercy Corps, MasterCard empower 18,000 young Nigerian women M Sanya Adejokun - Abuja

Working together:

ERCY Corps and MasterCard are partnering to register 18, 000 young girls and women in Nigeria to receive a NeID card, giving most access to their first formal identity.

This will both give the vulnerable girls entrepreneurship skills and financial inclusion by transferring their monthly stipends while undergoing training and skills acquisition through bank accounts.

Currently over 2,000 young women have gone through the Mercy Corps/ MasterCard programme. Over 6,000 participants from across Mercy Corps programs have been registered for the multi-functional eID card, and nearly 100 have already received their card.

The MasterCard-funded Accelerating Savings and Strengthening Entrepreneurship Training and Skills (ASSETS) program, is implemented by Mercy Corps and seeks to improve the lives of young women by connecting them to financial literacy and entrepreneurship training and financial services. Programme participants are registered to receive a NeID, which in turn is linked to a mobile savings account. “By connecting young women with resources and education to boost their financial literacy, leadership skills and economic opportunities, we can help them see that a bright future is possible,� says Iveta Ouvry, Nigeria Country Director for Mercy Corps.

Why partnership is important

Continues on p24 Daniel Monehin, Division President of Sub-Saharan Africa, MasterCard. PHOTO: MASTERCARD

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Monday, 27 June 2016

Ruth Olurounbi

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

Nigerian Tribune

How coys are empowering Nigerian women Continues from p23

Working together:

Why partnership is important “If you want to go quickly, go alone.

If you want to go far, go together.” – African proverb IN a couple of months, I would have reported entrepreneurship for four years. I remember the days leading to me taking the first steps that would redefine my journalism career as the pioneer entrepreneurship reporter in Nigeria, covering SMEs, interviewing hundreds of start-up founders, small business owners, and travelling the world for entrepreneurship conferences, like it was yesterday. It was a Monday morning, my boss had told my colleagues and I to brainstorm on innovative ideas to improve our desk.

Somehow, entrepreneurship crept into the conversation. It seemed odd at the time, especially as the desk I was on, was nowhere near the business desk that I now work at.

We came up with different ideas and my boss said: “Ruth, you take entrepreneurship,” as he gave each one of us what would become our beats till today. I remember going to my boss at the end of the day to express a few concerns and something he said stayed

with me till today. He said: “Ruth, wherever you go, you will need to leverage on partnerships because that’s how you will go far.” He was right, I could not have gone this far without the people who have partnered with me along the way, people who have voluntarily given me their shoulders to stand on. And I am grateful for and to these wonderful people.

If you ask me, partnerships are what make the business world go round. And I am sure Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Andela, will say the same thing to you. On June 16, like over 64 million people who follow Mark Zuckerberg, I read the announcement that the Facebook founder and his wife, Priscilla, were, through their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, investing in Andela, a Nigerian tech company based in Lagos. I later learned that investment sum was $24 million.

Five days ago, Iyin, Andela co-founder told us the story of how Andela was founded, via Medium. Iyin is not that guy that talks to the press. He would rather you visited Andela and you wrote about the work going on in

there. For him to have taken the time to tell us the story was important and the take home for me and I suspect, many people who read the story, was how integral partnerships are to building a business that not only attracts global attention, but also stands the tests of time. In Iyin’s concluding paragraph, he wrote that Andela came to be through “a melding of people, cultures, and circumstance...

I am grateful to have built an amazing team, partnered with supportive investors and worked with outstanding colleagues who have made Andela what it is today.”

Partnerships – if you will, strategic partnerships – help and embolden you to grow your business. Like that African proverbs, you can go fast alone, but to go far, you need people, partners who can provide you with the capacity to achieve what may not otherwise be achieved.

Be careful though when going into partnerships. Make sure your partners share the same goals as you. We will talk more extensively on partnerships in the coming weeks.

“Adolescent girls play a key role in transforming their communities and countries for good, which is why we’re focused on empowering this key demographic.”

MasterCard, Mercy Corps and the NIMC are committed to providing participants in the ASSETS program with access to financial tools and entrepreneurship training.

To date, 2,219 girls have been reached.

This NeID card enables electronic transactions, which gives them access to a wide range of financial tools and services for the unbanked and under-banked.

The partnership has made real strides to empower young women by encouraging them to take control of their own future. The reality is that for many young girls, school is not seen as a priority, but through the Mercy Corps programme they are able to access the alternative resources they need to learn, grow and build a brighter future.

For 22-year-old Tawa, the prospect of a successful future seemed unobtainable when she was forced to drop out of school at the age of 16 because of the lack of funds for a uniform, or even basic necessities.

You can backed

By Ruth Olurounbi

AS has been established, entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of any economy and as cities and countries around the world look to stimulate economic growth, there is a need to simplify the process for entrepreneurs to start and scale their enterprises for optimal success.

To this end, the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), United Nations Conference on Trade Development (UNCTAD) and the U.S State Department have partnered on a system that could help entrepreneurs across the world register

Felix King Foundation launches N24m entrepreneurship scheme for widows Akin Adewakun - Lagos A not for profit organisation, Felix King Charity Foundation, has flagged off a N24 million Endowment Fund.

The fund, which in itself is an entrepreneurship scheme, was launched in commemoration the International Widows Day, held recently, all over the globe.

Announcing the launch of the

scheme in Lagos, the Founder and Chairman of the Foundation, Felix King Eiremiokhae, explained that it had become imperative going by the hardship some women faced on losing their loved ones, to launch the foundation.

According to him, the fund is designed to encourage such widows to go into small scale businesses, provide them with a means of livelihood

and bridge the yawning financial gap left behind by the demise of their husbands.

He emphasised that the fund, which is not a loan, and therefore not expected to be paid back, is released to the widow-beneficiary, after a thorough feasibility study had been conducted by the Foundation on the type of business such widow intends to run.

“We believe this entrepreneurship scheme and fund has become imperative because widows become vulnerable immediately they lose their husbands; since their lives are always built around their husbands while alive.

“What we do is to give such widows some skills by training them and asking them the kind of business they think they can do, while helping them fund such business,” he explained.

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Monday, 27 June 2016

Nigerian Tribune

OSC College of Fashion committed to raising skilled entrepreneurs — CEO

By Doyin Adeoye

From left: Charles H. Rivkin, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, Frank Grozel, business facilitation program manager for the UN Conference on Trade and Development and Jonathan Ortmans, president of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the development, maintenance, expansion and promotion of the Global Enterprise Registration portal (GER.co).

now register your business on US GER portal their enterprises with ease.

Thus, Nigerian business owners, as well as those in Mali, Uganda, United States of America, Cairo, etc can now register their business on the Global Enterprise Registration (GER) portal.a It will be recalled that the trio had, at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), held at Stanford University, United States of America, announced the expansion of a public-private partnership that is making it easier for start-ups to register their new businesses all over the world.

The portal, ger.co, according to GEN, focuses on business registration because 1.8 billion workers – 60 per cent of the global workforce – are employed in the informal economy. These individuals do not have access to worker’s protections or bank accounts to grow their businesses, which translates into a huge untapped economic potential.

According to information obtained by Entrepreneurship+, the portal will help businesses by encouraging governments to develop

simple online procedures, starting with business registration. “GER.co has links to all business registration websites in the world, and a rating of the user-friendliness of each. A simple green

dot rating lets businesses immediately see whether an online process is clear and complete, which saves them time and money,” the statement said.

The signing of the GER.

co MOU demonstrates thr trio’s commitment to promote entrepreneurship globally by making business registration a simple, easy process for even the smallest firms.

won a brand new sewing machine courtesy Zinsu Tech and will be showcasing at the 2016 edition of the Nigerian Student Fashion and Design Week.

The first runner up was Airvy Atelier showcasing the ‘Motley Collection,’ while the second runner up was Crafts of Eden who showcased her ‘Haute Collection.’

Other graduating designers were: Maya Essie, HSL Haute Couture, Menuyone Couture, Wealthy Designs, Seam Dazzle, Posh Gold, Fanta Apparel, Flare by Maylieta, Strict Street Clothings, Sarah Lani and Ashillarozae.

Also at the event were Ade Ogunlesi of Sofisticat and Hamma Kwajaffa, Director General, Nigeria Textile, Garment and Tailoring Employers Association (NTGTEA).

FOUNDER of the OSC College of Fashion, Sola Babatunde, has said the fashion house is committed to creating the right platform, as well as providing empowerment, skill development support and the training in the fashion industry, for girls, women, and youth.

She made this known at the fourth graduation ceremony of the College, which was held recently at the Trident Suites in Ikeja, Lagos, where amazing designs were showcased by the fresh talents.

OSC equips its trainees with employability skills, economic self-sufficiency skills and entrepreneurial skills, while they in turn create jobs for the populace of Nigerian and Africa at large.

Presenting the certificates of training to the 16 graduating students who also showcased their end of training collections at the event, Babatunde, advised the intending fashion designers to always endeavour to sharpen their skills so as to remain relevant in the ever growing world of fashion today.

Pamela Keku of ‘Imi Taj’ emerged as the best graduating student after been evaluated based on class work, attendance, final class examination and her showcase at the fashion show. She Sola Babatunde

MainOne, others partner on cloud-hosted services for SMEs IN line with the National Broadband Strategy to enable local content and increase job creation in Nigeria, West Africa’s leading connectivity and data centre solutions company, MainOne has entered into a strategic partnership with Whogohost, Nigeria’s premier hosting domain provider, and Intel, the world’s leading technology company (known for its innovation in processors), to provide Cloud hosted Servers for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in Nigeria.

This service is delivered through the cloud platform of MainOne’s data center company, MDX-i, which is

powered by the Intel Cloud Processors and is aimed at bringing the advantages of in-country cloud services to Nigerian businesses.

Speaking during the press launch of the service, Senior Marketing Manager, Tayo Ashiru highlighted the revolutionary impact of cloud solutions on businesses in terms of efficiency, cost savings and flexibility.

According to him, the service provided by this partnership is a welcome development for Nigeria’s start-ups and small businesses. He said “There are many obstacles for businesses in Nigeria which impact their ability to scale up and maintain an online

presence within the country.

Our partnership with Whogohost, a leading web solutions company provides domain registration, web hosting and cloud services out of our Tier III certified data center, MDX-i allowing businesses to scale up on their IT needs on an on-demand basis. This service is specifically targeted at the lower segment of the enterprise market and leverages Intel’s cloud technology and infrastructure. In addition, the collaboration is designed to minimize SMEs dependency of using forex for domain registration and web hosting, which is a recurring and unpredictable expenditure.”

26

Monday, 27 June, 2016 CBN Rates as at 6/24/2016

Currency US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL DANISH KRONA SDR

Buying 280 384.888 310.716 286.8265 2.733 0.4679 398.1152 42.2505 74.6547 41.7406 391.44

NITTY

CBN Bills as at 29/4/2016 Central (NGN) 280.5 385.5753 311.2709 287.3387 2.7379 0.4779 398.8261 42.3264 74.788 41.8151 392.139

Selling (NGN) 281 386.2626 311.8257 287.8509 2.7428 9.4879 399.537 42.4023 74.9213 41.8897 392.838

Date of Auction Security Type Maturing On Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn)17019 Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate True Yield Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate True Yield

5/15/2003 CBN Certificate 11/13/2003 82227 37767

2/25/2002 CBN Certificate 2/20/2003 15000 4161

4161

2740

0

20.5

0

20.5

Nigerian Tribune

11/26/2001 CBN Certificate 11/21/2002 5000 2740

9/24/2001 CBN Certificate 9/19/2002 1155 1155

Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

1M

12.1948

-0.37

2M

12.6784

0.01

3M

13.0889

0.15

6M

13.4254

-0.20

9M

13.5112

-0.22

12M

15.6226

1.57

Tenor

Rate (%)

Change (%)

O/N

42.6667

-31.75

1M

15.0691

0.38

3M

15.9648

0.29

6M

17.2872

0.52

9M

13.5112

-0.22

12M

15.6226

1.57

NITTY 20.5 2740

20.5

19.5

19.5

with Chima Nwokoji m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

Banks ignore interbank for transactions on naira debit cards

F

RESH facts emerged over the weekend that despite the adoption of a single interbank foreign exchange (forex) market, some deposit money banks have ignored the demand and supply-determined exchange rate at the interbank market for dollar transactions on Naira Debit Cards (NDC) in cross border transactions.

Cross border transactions are payment for goods and services or cash withdrawal through Automated Teller Machine (ATM) outside the country through debit cards linked to naira account in Nigeria.

These banks Nigerian Tribune can authoritatively report, have continued to charge rates close to that of parallel market for such transactions .

A surprised investment banker who preferred not to be named told Nigerian Tribune that it seems the banks want to quickly make all the gains they could from customers before CBN’s attention could be drawn to that area.

“We observed that some deposit money banks continued to charge rates close to parallel market rates for dollar transactions on naira debit cards abroad. At the parallel market, the naira traded at N345/$1.00 on most days during the week, save for Wednesday when it appreciated to N335/$1.00.

“But banks which naira debit cards were used for dollar transactions charged rates as high as N320 whereas the highest market determined rate at each 2pm closing day of last week was N284 to a dollar.”

It should be recalled that a couple of weeks before the introduction of the new forex policy, Banks protested to

From left: Retail Head, South-West 2 Region of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, Mr Bamidele Ojo; Manager, Challenge, Ibadan branch of the bank, Mrs Oluseto Opayemi; winner of N1 million at the South-west Regional draw of the ‘’FCMB Millionaire Promo Season3,’’ Mrs Abimbola Olayinka; the bank’s Regional Director, South-West, Mr Adelaja Adeleye; Regional DSA Sales Co-ordinator, Mr Olaniyi Onikute and the Retail Head, South-West 1 Region, Mr Banjo Aboluwoye, during the cheque presentation ceremony to the winner recently in Ibadan, Oyo State. the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over harassment of their staff by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They claimed their staff were been harassed over foreign exchange rates charged for cross border transactions on Naira Debit Cards (NDC).

The normal practice is that Deposit Money Banks set the card rates based on a daily market competitor scan, thereby leaving market forces to dictate what

the banks can charge their customers.

Investigation revealed that the EFCC in recent times arrested some bank staff based on petitions by card holders accusing banks of charging parallel market exchange rates for cross border transactions via naira debit cards.

However, in a protest letter to the CBN, the banks dismissed this accusation, saying that since the dollar for settlement for such transactions are not sourced from

the CBN but from autonomous sources, they cannot use CBN rate to settle such transactions.

However, the thinking of most industry watchers is that under the new forex policy, banks cannot continue to claim that they bought dollars from autonomous sources since the CBN guideline has introduced a single market structure whereby, even the players at the autonomous market are incorporated.

Rates to moderate on May FAAC allocation, special FX interventions STAKEHOLDERS in the money market are expectant that money market rates will moderate slightly as a result of liquidity surge that will arise from the inflow of May 2016 Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation and the frequency of the special foreign exchange intervention auction of monetary authorities.

“In the week ahead, we believe money market rates will moderate slightly as the May 2016 FAAC allocation (between N180 billion-N200billion) to hit the

system. We also expect the frequency of the special FX intervention auction to reduce and the impact of the debits on liquidity levels tapered whilst interbank market remains liquid,” dealers at an investment securities company stated in a note to investors.

Similarly, contrary to penultimate week when the Nigerian corporate bonds witnessed selloffs as investors worried about their default risk due to the new FX framework, most corporate bonds witnessed buying sentiments last week save

for the Diamond Bank 2019 bond (+0.2 per cent) and the FBN 2021 bond (+3bps) as investors weigh the fundamentals of the issuers.

“In the week ahead, we see the bonds market witnessing increased buying pressure, thus we expect yields to soften. Yields of the Nigerian sovereign Eurobonds are expected to moderate as the impacts of the FX reforms will strengthen investor sentiment despite Fitch Rating’s decision to downgrade Nigeria’s credit rating,” dealers at Afrinvest said.

Heritage Bank empowers 100 start-up entrepreneurs HERITAGE Bank Limited (HBL) in partnership with the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) has empowered 100 aspiring start-up entrepreneurs under the Young Entrepreneurship Business Training Programme (YEBTP).

The 100 young entrepreneurs will graduate this week from the programme which involves grooming, mentoring and financing.

Managing Director/Chief Executive, Heritage Bank Limited, Mr Ifie Sekibo said, “The Young Entrepreneurship Business Training Programme (YEBTP) is a demonstration of Heritage Bank’s commitment to using financial inclusion to boost entrepreneurship development, which is critical to our mission to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

“At Heritage Bank, we believe that the essence of financial inclusion is not only about opening accounts for the unbanked and under-banked (low-income) people, but it is also significantly centred on financially and socially emancipating them for the common good of the community. This is the ultimate objective of the programme.”

YEBTP is a programme aimed to empower young entrepreneurs, and deepen financial inclusion in Ajegunle Community in Lagos state. Specifically the programme, which started six months ago, involves grooming, mentoring and financing about 100 aspiring and start-up entrepreneurs in Ajegunle, Lagos State. The business lines of focus for the programme are largely: hair dressing, footwear cobbling, tailoring, and catering services.

Skye Bank celebrates 36 millionaires, re-launches promo ONE of Nigeria’s leading banks with focus on retail and commercial banking, Skye Bank Plc, has celebrated its giant feat of making 36 millionaires from its customers nationwide.

Tagged, ‘Reach for the Skye’ Millionaire promo, the bank said this is a record in the history of Nigerian financial industry’s savings reward schemes.

In celebration of this landmark achievement, the bank hosted a cross section of the promo-made millionaires at the Protea Hotel, Ikoyi on Thursday, as part of activities marking the successful conclusion of the first phase, and relaunch of the second phase of the promo. The millionaires were drawn from various parts of the country.

Sharing his experience as a beneficiary of the promo, Mr Job Abiona Fatunbi, a truck driver who won N1 million in the April draw held at Ikotun, enthusiastically described how his life has been transformed.

Abiona said, “I had no idea that 2016 would be a year of tremendous blessings for me; but thanks to Skye Bank, my dreams of financial freedom finally came true. Winning a million naira in the promo turned my family’s circumstances around and it has changed my perception about the difficulty involved in saving.”

Abiona’s happiness was echoed by Mr Bashiru Adeyemi, another winner from the N1 million naira category, who emerged in the May draw at Akure. The pensioner disclosed that his business was on the verge of collapse just before he participated in the promo.

27

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Chivita reiterates commitment to youth development SUPPORTS Lagos State Principal Cup Chi Limited, owners of Chivita brands, has explained that its decision to participate at the just-concluded Lagos State Principal Cup, was informed by its commitment to youth empowerment and development through sports.

BRANDS &

The company participated in the finals of the just concluded tournament, an inter-secondary school soccer amongst schools in Lagos, that prides itself as one of the biggest grassroots football competitions in Nigeria.

Besides being entertained with delight-

ful skills at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, venue of the tournament, the company also provided Chivita 100 per cent fruit juice as refreshments for thousands of students that thronged the stadium, while ambassadors of the brand were on hand to attend to enquiries from some students on

the Chivita 100 per cent “JuiceBall” campaign.

The company’s Head of Marketing, Probal Bhattacharya, expressed the company’s readiness to always offer refreshment and nourishment necessary for youth development and sports.

with Akin Adewakun

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

43RD AAAN AGM, beginning of a repositioning journey?

F

ROM the theme of the re- time to birth and nurture landmark tion, was expected to pay special at- Odibo can be described as correct cently -concluded 2016 edi- projects conceived by them, before tention to the constitution of a new appointments, given their wellExco, particularly who emerges as known frontline positions in the tion of its Annual General yielding the stage for another.

Today, the association has several the association’s Treasurer, since Marketing Communications inMeeting and the focus of the welcome remarks by its outgo- landmark developmental projects the post constitutes the totem on dustry, Akintunde, a self-effacing ing President, Mr Kelechi Nwosu, it languishing at various stages of non which the secretariat and the entire but highly tested change agent with was clear that the Association of Ad- -completion. It has often been ar- association’s performance rest. nearly two decades experience spanIn addition to picking Mr Kayode ning client servicing, finance and vertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) gued by members that no meaninghad gathered its members in Uyo, ful development could be achieved Oluwashona, the chief executive of administration, human resources Akwa Ibom State to devise strategies by an Exco whose tenure is just one Harmonee Concepts and Mr Ikechi management as well as general that would enhance its relevance and year or, if renewed, two years, since Odibo, MD, DDB Lagos, as Pres- management has emerged a clear aid its push for vantage space for the project design and implementation ident and Vice President respec- testament to the depth of untapped tively, AAAN did not settle for less talents within the association. engagement of its services and those requires long gestation period.

Given the biting economic and quality when its members unaniof its member agencies by governCredited with masterminding the ment at various levels in the unfold- financial environment which has mously voted Mr Wale Akintunde, re-emergence of Centre-spread as ing socio-political environment being compelled organisations in the the current Chief Operating Officer a strong industry player on the heel created by the Muhammadu Buhari country to embark on strategic fi- of Centre-spread Advertising, to oc- of a three year period of turbulence nancial and non-financial re-engi- cupy the position of Treasurer for that nearly crippled the giant adAdministration.

While participants at the confer- neering in order to remain effective, the next two years. vertising agency, Akintunde brings If the choice of Oluwashona and to the AAAN Treasurer’s office, a ence segment dissected government’s AAAN, going into the Uyo Convencommunications mechanism and proffered a way forward on how best to market Nigeria’s beautiful attributes and potential, Nwosu observed that the conference was organised to articulate options and identify strategies for addressing national issues, particularly those that relate to the advertising industry and the Nigerian economy, by suggesting clear ideas on how government can effectively engage the hearts and minds of Nigerians through the services of AAAN and its member agencies.

“Our request is that the Federal Government and state governments should all employ the services of AAAN agencies because we have built solid brands in this country; we are experts in strategic communication and most importantly the regulating law of APCON is clear that only licensed Agencies should Mr Kayode Oluwashona, MD,Harmonee Concepts; Mr. Ikechi Odibo, MD, DDB Lagos and Mr.Wale Akintunde of Centrespread, being sworn in as the practice advertising in the country,” new President, Vice President and Treasurer of the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN), respectively, at the Association’s 43rd AGM, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, recently. he stated boldly.

The brilliant dissections as well as the loud and bold proclamations from the conference segment notwithstanding, the greatest and most important message from the AAAN MRS Nkechi Brayila has emerged a family of five to an exotic loca- pinaWAMCO, Mr Tarang Gupta Uyo Convention was the Associa- the 2016 Three Crowns Milk Mum tion with one-year supply of Three stated that the Three Crowns Milk Mother’s Day campaign is deeply tion’s demonstration of a readiness of the Year. Nkechi was declared Crowns Milk. to reposition for greater effective- winner ahead of four other finalThe Panel of Judges, made up rooted in the brand’s purpose of ness. This resolve was conveyed ists at the grand finale of the com- of Nollywood stars, Mercy Aig- recognizing and rewarding the key in two major decisions reached by petition, held in recently in Lagos, be-Gentry, Annie Idibia and pop- roles which mothers play as an members. having scored overall highest mark ular Chef, Uzor Orimalade also Mrs enabler in the daily upkeep of the First was the review of renewable in the three stages of the competi- Olabisi Owolabi second place win- family. tenure of Exco from one year to tion- the Fitness, Smartness and ner, with a reward of a double door Gupta noted that as a low cholestwo years. This has been described the Fun Tests.

Refrigerator, while the third place terol milk brand that cares for the by most members as a strategic By emerging the 2016 Three winner went home with a Washing health and well-being of its consummove by the Association to ensure Crowns Milk Mum of the Year, Machine. ers, the Three Crowns milk brand is that each administration to be put Mrs Brayila would be rewarded Speaking at the grand finale, the joining the rest of the world to put in place henceforth has reasonable with an all-expense paid trip for Marketing Director, FrieslandCam- a smile on the faces of mothers for

string of academic and professional qualifications that perhaps makes him the most qualified occupant of the treasurer’s post in the entire history of the association to date.

A Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Institute of Data Processing and Management of Nigeria (IDPMN), he is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Cisco Systems Networking Academy and, of course, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria. Additionally, he holds a first degree in Accountancy, an MBA as well as a certificate in International Marketing and Law of International Trade.

A cross section of industry watchers have noted that, in its choice of the officials to run its affairs for the next two years as well as the upward review of Exco tenure, AAAN may have begun a pragmatic journey of repositioning, aimed at addressing major issues that have plagued it for a while. Some analysts said for long, member agencies have often complained of not deriving any tangible membership benefits, thereby affecting their commitment to the association. The new Exco, they opined, is better placed to begin to address this complaint by devising sound financial and non-financial strategies to pursue projects that could bring immediate benefits to members in the area of business management strategy consulting, talent development and opening of business frontiers to assist especially small and medium agencies to survive the harsh business environment.

2016 Three Crowns Mum of the year emerges their love and care for the family.

Also speaking on the Mum of the Year initiative, the Senior Brand Manager, Three Crowns Milk, Maureen Ifada, stated that the campaign is hinged on the brand’s repositioning ideology, noting that with a tagline Healthy Mums, Happy Family’ and also the belief that mothers are the pillars of the house, it has become imperative for the brand to continuously engage and enlighten mothers on the need to maintain a healthy family always.

28 BRANDS & MARK

TING

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Consumers commend Peak Milk on Ramadan campaign

From left; Founding Partner, RedMedia Africa, Mr Adebola Williams; General Manager/Editor-in-Chief Vanguard Newspaper Mr Gbenga Adefaye and Managing Director, Integrated Indigo Limited, Bolaji Abimbola, at the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Awards & Annual Summit 2016 held in Lagos, recently.

Global Tech Partners wins Visa Prepaid Service Provider of the year

G

LOBAL Technology Partners (GTP), a processor of Visa prepaid debit cards in over 30 African countries, has been awarded the ‘Visa Prepaid Service Provider of the Year’ at the Prepaid Summit Middle East and Africa 2016.

Head of Prepaid and ATM – Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA) at Visa, Fiona Duncan congratulated the company on winning the award,

noting that the company is playing a key role in bringing cashless efficiencies to the largely untapped Africa region.

‘The mission to make the Middle East and Africa among the first cashless regions in the world is closely aligned with Visa’s strategy of leading the development of convenient and secure digital payment options, and we look forward to partnering with GTP in bringing these next-gen-

eration services to the prepaid industry,’ Duncan stated.

This year’s award was presented recently at the Shangri-La Hotel in Dubai as part of a larger conference that brought together the leading players in the region to discuss the future of prepaid and review practical case studies of successful banks and retailers, generating new revenue streams and offering customers added value through their prepaid portfolios.

Wakanow thrills consumers with new summer deal ONLINE travel portal, Wakanow, has launched new and exciting summer deals that offer both old and new customers an opportunity to enjoy various travel packages with the ‘Pay Small Small’ option.

The Pay Small Small scheme, which is one of the many products in Wakanow’s rapidly

expanding portfolio, gives the travelling public savings as much as 150% on their travel expenses with a flexible payment plan.

It is designed to allow customers lock down choice travel deals by making only a 25% down payment of the travel cost and paying the balance in convenient installments

Why we named Flavour as brand ambassador —Life Beer THE Nigerian Breweries Plc, brewers of Life Continental Lager Beer, has ascribed its choice of Flavour N’abania as the beer brand ambassador to the unique ability of the leading Nigerian musician and highlife exponent, to sing fluently in Igbo language and resonate with that community, an attribute the South East beer brand represents.

Explaining this at the unveiling of the artist, recently in Lagos, the company’s Corporate Affairs Adviser, Mr Kufre Ekanem, stated that brand decided to make this choice to further reinforce its commitment to the heritage, essence, connection and affinity with the people of South-east.

“We are excited to announce that Flavour has joined the Life Continental Beer family as brand ambassador. Flavour, who is known globally for his unique ability to sing fluently in Igbo language, strongly represents what the brand stands for,’ he said.

He described the partnership as underscoring the brand’s dedication to the Igbo values of industry, resourcefulness and enterprise, which are key values that the artist aptly embodies.

Expressing his delight at the partner-

ship, the musician described the brand as a symbol of the Igbo heritage and a brand pushes the frontiers of progress.

before the travel date.

Chief Marketing Officer of Wakanow, Mrs. Victoria Onwubiko, said the new payment scheme reflects the company’s commitment to continually exceeding customer expectations with custom-made solutions.

She added that the Pay Small Small scheme alleviates the burden of one-off payments with flexible payment options ranging from two weeks to as much as six months.

Commenting on the rationale behind the scheme, the company’s Executive Director of Strategy, Mrs. Toyin Odutayo, said the new product is targeted at travellers, who require flexible payment options.

MILK consumers in Nigeria have commended Peak milk for the launch of its Goodness of Milk campaign, describing the corporate social responsibility initiative as a laudable project that has reinforced the practice of healthy living in the country.

A cross section of customers spoken to, described the initiative as praiseworthy because it connects on a personal level with the milk- loving public, as well as portrays Peak milk as a brand that cares about the physical and spiritual wellbeing of customers.

The campaign was launched a couple of weeks ago to herald the Ramadan fasting season and provide nutritional support for the Muslim community through a radio programme that empowered and offered nutritional tips on how fasting Muslims can remain strong and healthy throughout the holy month of Ramadan so that they can make the most of the season.

“I have followed the programme from the beginning and enjoyed every bit of it. Thanks to the broadcast, this year’s fasting has been a lot easier and enjoyable for me and my family because we are daily enlightened about the nutritional requirements we need to stay fit throughout Ramadan,’ Toluwani Ahmed, an Abuja based trader said.

Another consumer, Mohammed Suleiman also affirmed that Peak Milk’s consumer-centric campaign was a well-timed initiative.

“There is no better time to consume milk than during the season of fasting.

That is why this campaign by Peak Milk during the holy month of Ramadan is a welcomed development,” Suleiman said.

Produced by FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Peak Milk has also initiated other consumer-centric trade activities in selected states and cities in the North and South West Nigeria.

Why brands should position for the digital age —Experts FOR brand custodians and enthusiasts, at the recently-held Marketing Edge Summit and Awards, organised by the Marketing Edge publications, the common marketing axiom, innovate or die, holds sway for any brand that truly desires to resonate with its target market, especially in this era digital revolution.

Almost all the speakers at the summit, tagged Brand Buildings in A Digital Age; Challenges In A Developing Market, believed that the advent of the digital space, its growing influence among the youth demography, has made it imperative for brand custodians to effectively leverage the space to enhance its equity and deepen its market share in whatever market segment their brands find themselves.

Stressing the need for brands to embrace the digital culture, due to what he described as a huge number of target market, domiciled on this space, the former Managing / Director of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Seni Adetu noted that recognizing the fact that

the digital space has come to play a major role in the success of any brand remains the first task for the average brand custodian.

Besides, the former Guinness Nigeria Plc boss argued, the Nigerian community should not be seen as a single unit where one marketing solution could be employed for every part of the country.

He believes the different cultures and beliefs, constituting the Nigerian nation, pose their prospects and challenges for any brand, adding that it is only through deeper insights to those cultures that would help the marketer to effectively enhance his brand’s fortunes in those areas.

While comparing the different parts of a fish to the different areas of marketing, the Guest Speaker argued that just as the consumer represents the eye of the fish and its tail remains its most potent part, brand managers should also be well-versed in the different areas of marketing to be able to build a formidable brand in this digital era.

‘As a manager, you must own the whole.

You must have an idea of what is happening in every department and be a free citizen of the company. Besides, you must be ready measure yourself against the best,’ he counseled.

Reiterating the importance of the digital space to the success of any brand, another discussant, Mr Chude Jideonwo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Red Media Africa, narrated how his agency, as the public relations agency, managing the campaign communications of President Muhammadu Buhari then, was able to use the social media to douse controversies generated by the All Peoples Congress’ presidential candidate’s certificate, then.

According to him, rather than spend quality time refuting the allegations on the pages of the newspapers and other media platforms, the agency simply allowed Nigerians, especially youths on the social media, take ownership of the issue, by letting them vent their feelings on the controversy.

29

Monday, 27 June, 2016

E-payment industry still largely untapped —Obi, eTranzact boss

Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) Access to Financial Services in Nigeria 2012 survey showed that 34.9 million adults representing 39.7 per cent of the adult population were financially excluded. eTranzact, Africa’s premier e-payment solution provider, has strived to ensure that the figure is reduced through mobile money products that engage the unbanked. eTranzact’s CEO, Valentine Obi, spoke on the company’s recent rebranding and the future of e-payment industry in Nigeria. PAUL OMOROGBE brings excerpts:

W

HY the rebranding?

First, it is to reaffirm our leadership position in the electronic payment industry, not only in Nigeria but across Africa. If you look at the new ‘e’ in our logo, it represents electronic, empowerment, ease and efficiency, showing where our company is today, and that is what we want to reaffirm clearly to the public. eTranzact has evolved and grown significantly since inception in 2003. The strategic rebranding of our identity, vision, mission, products and people, reaffirms our leadership position in transaction switching, mobile banking, mobile money, bulk payments, remittances, bills and utilities payments, collections and other payment technology areas.

What is your strategy to reach out to the unbanked?

That is what PocketMoni is all about.

Of course, we must create use-cases.

You can’t just give them a product without telling them what they will do with it, and we do that through the use-cases.

Secondly there is the need to be in the face of the people; get to the market men and women and show them how to use the product. We ran a pilot programme right inside Ketu Market to show people how to use the product, and it has been growing. We had others in Kano and Abeokuta. The idea is to get to the masses themselves and to try as much as possible to remove any fear they have.

The moment you show them the ease, security and control they have over their money, and how it works, you have empowered them.

What should be expected as a result of this rebranding?

There is an attempt to make mobile money go beyond being a means of transaction to become a means of saving money. How are you preparing for this?

We are introducing new and refreshed product offerings for business-to-business, business-to-government and business-to-consumer segments of the market that will ensure that we continue to stay true to our vision. What you are going to see is that we will be more visible in the market; not just being visible, but being visible with creative and innovative solutions to empower people, and make payments easier and more efficient.

Last year, your firm handled epayment transactions amounting to N30billion. What will happen this year?

This year, our plan is to double it and ensure users get a better experience using our platform. N30billion is about 30 per cent of electronic transactions in the whole of Nigeria. It tells me something: that the market has come of age, because I remember the first years, our total transactions were less than $100,000.

In the first year, it was actually N35million! So if you look at how it has grown, there a lot of people coming on board, there is traction. People are beginning to see that this is really working; the fear people had seems to have diminished.

All of us in the industry have not scratched the surface; there is still a lot of untapped potential and a lot of people that are still not in the system. And that is what the Central Bank is trying to change, to see how we can get as many people as possible in. That is the reason they registered a lot of mobile money operators. They know that one person or two cannot do it. They want to give a lot of opportunities to see how we can bring more players into this space, and reduce the amount of money in the unbanked sector and bring it into the banked sector. I think that is good for us.

What are your plans to reduce the cost of electronic transaction in order to attract more people to use e-payment solutions and increase the volume of such transactions?

Our costs of transactions are among

Right now, the licence just allows you to transact. It is an ongoing discussion with the regulator to see how indeed users can store money and earn interest on it. Mobile money at this stage in Nigeria only allows you put money in a mobile wallet, just as you would keep cash in a physical wallet.

The next stage is how this mobile wallet can generate money by earning interest.

Obi the lowest because we have always believed we need to incentivise people to come onto the platform. Even the Central Bank has also made effort to see how we can bring the cost down, all in an effort to encourage more people to use electronic systems. We are bringing cost down already; we are enabling some free services just to encourage more people. We are partnering with universities to get more software developers and reduce cost of solutions development.

What challenges do you face in the industry?

When you mention challenges we see them as opportunities. They may tell you that SMEs are not growing or

the networks are not working. There are numerous integrations that need to take place among the institutions involved. That is a challenge for some, but it is also an opportunity. Challenges will come, there is no business that won’t face them, all you need to do is device a means that will overcome them. When we look back, we see challenges that came and passed!

Are you seen as a third party between banks and their customers?

When dealing with the unbanked - they have no banks, not even a microfinance bank! Mobile money is actually to target the unbanked, not those who are banked.

The idea is to get to the masses themselves and to try as much as possible to remove any fear they have. The moment you show them the ease, security and control they have over their money, and how it works, you have empowered them

What are your growth projections considering economic challenges in the country?

People still need to be able to do transactions. What we are going to do is to make it easier to do, more convenient and cost-effective so that using it does not impact on finances because we know that their economic power is somewhat low. We are constantly innovating, creating solutions that have driven growth and development across different areas in government, private, SME and international markets. We have consistently maintained our mission of providing secured, convenient and efficient means to make and receive payments, which has differentiated us in the marketplace.

Where do you see your business in the future?

We are committed to our vision of powering payments for our partners across Africa. Taking a look at the opportunity in mobile for example, the gap between mobile banking and traditional banking has closed significantly, with Gartner Inc., the world’s leading information technology research and advisory company predicting that the global mobile transaction market will be worth $721 billion and more than 450 million users by 2017. These opportunities in payments exist primarily in Africa and we understand the key role we have to play in making the process seamless.

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south-westnews

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Afenifere expresses worry over fresh killings in Igbo Olomu by militants Says Nigerian state shamelessly failing Yoruba nation Bola Badmus - Lagos

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Pan-Yoruba socio- political group has expressed deep worries over the reported killings last Thursday by militants who swooped on neighbouring

communities in Elepete and Igbo Olomu, the borderline communities in Lagos/Ogun, few days after suspected militants killed 15 persons in Imushin community in Ogijo area of Ogun State.

The group expressed this

concern on Sunday, in a release issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yinka Odumakin, even as it declared that the Nigerian state was now shamelessly failing the Yoruba nation with the police, up till now, failing to make any arrest,

but instead coming up with feeble denial of casualty figure and other excuses.

Afenifere, while pointing out that report indicated that a large number of the victims were landlords in the area, who were reported to be keeping security watch

Pastor and Pastor (Mrs) Dele Balogun (middle); Pastor (Mrs) Mobisola Adeseolu (fourth right); Pastor N.O. Adeseolu (third right); Pastor M.A. Amure (second right) and members of the convention committee, cutting the anniversary cake, during the Zonal Family Convention 2016, at Redeemed Christian Church of God, Trinity Zone, New Adeoyo Road, Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

Olubadan advocates speaking of Yoruba language THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, has called on parents in the land to encourage their wards in the speaking and learning of Yoruba Language, noting that any tribe whose language is dead is as well as perished.

The first class monarch made this call at his Popoyemoja Palace, while receiving about 15 American students under the aegis of 2016 Yoruba Group Study Abroad (YGPA) of the University of Ibadan.

Oba Adetunji pointed that the rate at which Yoruba Language was dying by the day was alarming and thereby called on parents to cultivate the habit of teaching and speaking the language to their children at all time.

“I am always worried at the rate at which our language is dying by the day due to the insensitivity of some of

our parents who now reject their mother tongue and also prevent their children from speaking it.”

He however said, “because of the condition we met our language and observed that both the parents and government are not doing anything to salvage our dear language from going into extinction, I made it a standing order that official language in the palace is Yoruba and absolutely,

Yoruba.”

He also called on all the South Western state government to as a matter of urgency, make the teaching and learning of Yoruba Language a must in all public and private primary and secondary schools in the region to safeguard the future of the language.

Earlier in their addresses, leaders of the team, Professor Moses Mabayoje of

Let us fight food insecurity, Fayose charges Nigerians EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has called on Nigerians to pay more attention to agriculture, saying there was food insecurity in the country that must be tackled.

He stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, during the 21st convocation ceremony of the Ekiti State University, AdoEkiti.

A statement by his Chief

Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, quoted the governor as urging fresh graduates and school leavers to see different segments of agriculture as fertile ground to secure employment.

“Let us focus on agriculture because we are not only fighting Boko Haram and insecurity but we already have food insecurity and when you have food to

NULGE challenges Ogun govt to publish spending of N9.1bn bailout fund Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

THE Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), in Ogun State, has challenged the state government to publish how it spent the N9.1 billion bailout fund out of N18.9 billion meant for payment of outstanding

the University of Florida and Miss Tolu Ibikunle of the Yoruba Language Centre, University of Ibadan, thanked the Olubadan for the opportunity given them to visit him. The duo explained that the visit of the students was part of arrangement for them to have a firsthand feel of the language of their love and cultural immersion.

deductions, allowances in the 20 local government areas of the state.

This was sequel to a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, last week, that government did not divert the fund for any other purpose than to settle outstanding arrears

of salaries, leave bonuses/ deductions of local government workers.

The SSG, at a meeting held with Heads of Local Government Administrations and the leadership of the union at the state level, maintained that the fund was judiciously expended on what it was meant for.

eat a large part of the problem is solved. It is not everybody that will buy blocks to build house, but every one of us must eat, even if once a day.

“Those that are graduating, the queue out there is long and white collar jobs are rare, those who even have such jobs, are they paid regularly. The situation is getting tougher every day, and we must all invest more in agriculture,” he said.

Fayose, who lauded the EKSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Oye Bandele and his team for their efforts, said they still needed to look inward to generate more revenue.

He commended them for being able to clear arrears of salaries in the institution and being able to pay salary up to date.

over the communities, due to incessant armed robbery attacks when the marauders struck, said, “Just like in the first attack, the police had failed to make any arrest and instead has engaged only in feeble denial of the casualty figures by ridiculously insisting that “only two people were killed.”

“The latest police claim is as ridiculous as the remarks of Ogun Police CP, Abdumajid Ali, after the earlier attack. The police boss, who claimed the same militants, had been behind the recent spate of pipeline vandalism and economic sabotage had said, ‘It’s not true that 15 people were killed there. The DPO Ogijo was on ground; he reported that only three people were killed and their bodies have been recovered from the scene.

“He (Ali) argued that if adequate measures were not taken, the militants, activities may snowball into insurgency. He added: ‘The militants are finding it difficult in Niger Delta and Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

They are now moving to our side in Ogun. They are the ones involved in kidnapping and all sorts of crime. These boys are becoming lawless.

It is the same group that killed NNPC officials, SSS and Navy officers in Arepo.

They are responsible for lots of criminal activities in the area. Honestly, they should be treated like Boko Haram,” Afenifere recalled.

It queried, “Who has stopped him from treating them so, if we may ask?, describing the Ogun State police boss’ outburst as “Empty lamentations, absurd denials and shambolic accusations with no suspect held to prove the top cop is doing what he is being paid for.”

Afenifere said it was deeply troubled that all accounts from the communities showed that the security forces had not been of any assistance to the affected communities in all their travails.

The group said its fears were now heightened that these nibbling attacks might be precursors to organised campaign of violent attacks to seize the peace of Yorubaland and destabilise the peaceful region.

Afenifere, while sympathising with all the families that had lost their loved ones in what it described as “these mindless and beastly attacks,” appealed to the people living in the area to be more vigilant than ever about movements around their communities as the

Nigerian state was daily showing that it could not protect them and yet would not accede to the quest for State Police.

“We want to appeal to our people to be more vigilant than ever about movements around their communities as the Nigerian state is daily showing them that it cannot protect them and yet would not accede to our quest for State Police,” it said.

“We must also let them know that we have embarked on top level consultations with our neighbours whom police sources have pointed fingers at without any arrest to get to the bottom of these needless, unprovoked and unwarranted attacks and investigations are going on all sides and our findings will be made public in the next few days.

“It is important to know the source of these attacks less we fall into a possible trap to set off war between us and our neighbours by fifth columnists.

“To the Nigerian state, we say: You are shamelessly failing the Yoruba nation in this decisive moment and we are losing confidence in your capacity to guarantee our safety. Act now!” the Afenifere charged.

CAN calls for return of schools to original owners CHRISTIAN Association of Nigeria, (CAN) Oyo State chapter, has demanded for unconditional return of schools to original owners while appealing to the state government to dialogue with labour in resolving current tension in the state.

Chairman of Oyo State CAN, Pastor Benjamin Akanmu, stated this in a press briefing while reading out a communiqué at the end of an emergency meeting.

Pastor Akanmu noted that researches have shown that only meaningful partnership would improve the quality of education in the state.

CAN also expressed concern over the plight of workers in the state, especially the six months arrears owed workers and urged government to reach a peaceful accord with workers.

CAN also assured government and the public that the church would willingly participate in development of schools in the state.

south-westnews Ondo guber: Resist inducement from politicians, NYSC DG warns corps members

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Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

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HEAD of the governorship election in Ondo State, the Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Suleiman Kazaure, has warned corps members deployed to the state to resist all forms of inducement from politicians during the election.

Kazaure, who gave this warning in Ikare Akoko, in Akoko North East Local Government Area of Ondo State, during his visit to the batch A, Stream II orientation corps member at the Ondo State permanent orientation camp, disclosed that there was a partnership between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and NYSC. He said “Election is coming up in the state soon and we are in partnership with INEC so you are going to serve as INEC ad hoc staff, try and be neutral in whatever you’re doing. Don’t be partisan, I don’t want you to take side, be neutral.

“Some of you would be engaged by INEC as electoral officials, you are therefore warned to reject any inducement from politicians. Do not allow yourselves to be used for any selfish gains.”

The NYSC boss stressed the need for the corps members to ensure a free, fair and credible election in the November governorship election in the state, saying it is part of the corps members’ con-

Monday, 27 June, 2016

tribution to national development.

Kazaure also called on the corps members to take advantage of the self employment training skills introduced by the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Develop-

ment Programme.

He said the programme was introduced to corps members during their orientation exercise to afford them the opportunity to acquire a skill or the other and equip them on how to be self reliant during and

after their service year.

The NYSC DG said, “The skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme in the orientation course content is designed to curb the increasing unemployment among graduates of the

TRAGEDY struck at Isale Aro area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, over the weekend, when a young commercial motorcyclist, otherwise known as okada rider, simply identified as Joshua, committed suicide inside his living room.

His corpse was found dangling on the deck of his sitting room, with foam, oozing out of his agape mouth.

Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered the incident occurred on Thursday evening before Joshua’s wife returned from her workplace.

Shocked by the sudden discovery of her husband’s dangling corpse, the deceased’s wife was said to have raised the alarm, which attracted the attention of their neighbours.

Credible source informed

looking for job while you can also create jobs for others.

“We are collaborating with the CBN, Trade Bank and Bank of Industry to give loan to you to start one form of business or the other. “

Ekiti APC petitioned FG to scuttle state’s bailout from FG, PDP alleges Fayose did not meet bailout conditions —APC Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State

on Sunday alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had written a petition to the

Federal Government, asking that its application for a bailout be scuttled.

Ekiti PDP in a statement

on Sunday said “the attempt by the APC to block the fresh bailout to Ekiti State for the payment of

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (second right); member representing Ondo East and West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Honourable Joseph Akinlaja (right) and others, during the monitoring of the ongoing continuous voters registration exercise by Governor Mimiko, at Ward 7, St Patrick Primary School, Ondo town, at the weekend.

Voter registration: Mimiko visits centres, urges INEC for more time THE Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the

continuous voters’ exercise which ended in the state yesterday, to enable all willing eligible voters to exercise their franchise.

Governor Mimiko, who was on inspection tour of the exercise in wards 1, 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11 in Ondo, the headquarters of Ondo West

Okada rider commits suicide in Osun Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

scheme.”

“I want you to give serious attention to skill acquisition while you are in camp. This scheme was created to empower you with various skills because we don’t want you to be roaming about the street

that Joshua tied a rope to the wooden deck of his parlour and climbed on two big paint buckets and put the rope round his neck before kicking away the buckets to pave way for his hanging.

According to one of the residents of the area, the deceased’s marriage was yet to be blessed with any

child and this might be one of the reasons that prompted him to take his own life.

Joshua had lived in the house for many years and some of the neighbours said the problem of lack of child had been a source of worry to him.

However, some traditional worshippers were reportedly invited to perform

some rituals before the body of the deceased could be removed, which was subsequently deposited at a mortuary.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr Babawale Afolabi, confirmed the incident.

Ondo guber: I am still in the race —Alasoadura Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure THE lawmaker representing Ondo Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, at the weekend, said he has not dumped his ambition to contest in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

Alasoadura, who is one of the aspirants jostling for the governorship ticket

on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), dispelled the rumour that he had decided to opt out from the race.

There had been rumours that the lawmaker had abandoned his aspiration over the death of his wife, Olajumoke, who died in April this year.

But Alasoadura, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), debunked the

rumours while presenting a bus and N1million cash to the party at the state secretariat of the party.

He said: “Today makes it exactly 38 days since the demise of my wife. She struggled while on earth for me to become governor of the state. In keeping her memory alive and in order not to demoralise my supporters, I will continue with the gubernatorial race.”

Local Government Area of the state on Sunday, in company with the member representing Ondo East/ West in the House of Representatives, Honourable Joseph Akinlaja, noted that the number of enthusiastic eligible voters might not be captured within the five days stipulated time for the exercise which elapsed on Sunday.

He submitted that if INEC wanted to fulfill its ultimate aim of allowing every eligible Nigerian to exercise his or her franchise, the electoral body must extend the time of the exercise.

The governor expressed happiness at the large turnout of people in all the areas visited, stressing that the impressive turnout portrayed the enthusiasm of Nigerians to perform their responsibilities in spite of the current challenges facing the nation.

“You can see that today being the last day of the exercise, see the number of people still waiting everywhere I have been to, it’s the same story of many young men and women waiting to register to vote.

salaries of workers is condemnable.”

In the statement by the publicity secretary of the PDP in Ekiti, Mr Jackson Adebayo, the party described the petition allegedly “written by the All Progressives Congress against the state government to President Mohammadu Buhari not to grant the request for the bailout to pay the arrears of the salaries of the civil servants in the state as wickedness.”

Adebayo said the alleged attempt to block the bailout was “wickedness manufactured in the name of politics without minding the consequences on the civil servants who are mostly the breadwinners in their families.”

PDP claimed that “by the petition, the opposition APC in the state has confirmed that its penchant for poor life for the public servants in Ekiti is very paramount to them even when Governor Ayodele Fayose is working out an alternative to the economic mess which the Buhari-led Federal Government has dragged Nigeria into.”

Reacting to the allegation, Olatunbosun faulted the insinuation that APC had petitioned President Buhari not to grant Ekiti State another bailout to pay workers’ salaries, saying “the blackmail was to set the workers against APC leaders instead of the governor to come clean that he could not meet the conditions set by the Federal Government to be qualified for another bailout.”

He said, “Fayose has not audited account for the past 18 months. His IGR has no records. He refuses to implement TSA. The debt profile of the state he sent to the CBN is inconsistent with official records in the Debt Management Office (DMO) while fake workers’ BVN numbers were discovered in records Fayose sent to CBN,” Olatunbosun explained, adding that these are the CBN conditions that cannot be met by the governor but over which he was mischievously blaming APC leaders.”

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE

21ST CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY, ADO EKITI

From left, Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the governing council, Ekiti State University, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye; Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Mr Gbenga Oyebode; Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson and the host governor, Dr Ayodele Fayose, after conferment of honorary doctorate degree of Public Admin on the Bayelsa State governor and Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa) on Mr Oyebode, at the school auditorium on Saturday.

Nigerian Tribune

Thanksgiving service to mark 20th coronation anniversary of Oba Adesesan Afolorunso Oguntayo, the Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife

The Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife, Oba Adesesan Oguntayo, with the Yeyeluwa at the thanksgiving service held at Christ Anglican Church, Iwade, Ijebu-Ife, on Sunday.

Professor Samuel Oye Bandele, EKSU Vice Chancellor congratulating the school chancellor, Oba Adegoke Olu Adeyemi, after conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degree of Public Admin on the monarch, at the school auditorium.

Right Reverend E.Ayo Awosoga, Diocesan Bishop of Ijebu Anglican Diocese, delivering his sermon on the occasion.

Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Dickson (middle) being decorated by the EKSU vice chancellor, Professor Oye Bandele. With them is the school’s registrar, Mr Akin Arogundade.

From right, Oba Adesesan Afolorunso Oguntayo, Yeyelua and other guests at the thanksgiving service.

Professor Bandele, EKSU vice chancellor (left), presenting school scroll to Mr Oyebode, after conferment of Doctor of Laws (Honoris Causa) on him.

Cross section of chiefs at the thaksgiving service.

Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) (Development), Professor Olufemi Victor Adeoluwa (left) and the DVC (Academic), Professor Ibiyinka Ogunlade, on the occasion.

Otunba Femi Deru, immediate past president, ICAN (right); Chief Mrs Dupe Dosunmu and others at the thanksgiving service.

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Monday, 27 June, 2016

Bridging the gap between nomadic and formal education

While government at all levels strives to make basic education and skill development accessible to Nigerian youths in rural and urban areas, similar effort must be made to integrate nomads in the country into national life. This set of people needs education that will change their attitude and orientation towards nation building. In this piece, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Nomadic Education in Nigeria, Professor Rashid Aderinoye, keeps in perspective the efforts, the challenges and the way forward for the commission.

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HE word “nomadism” refers to any type of existence characterized by the absence of a fixed domicile. In this context, nomadic groups found in different parts of the world fall into three categories — the hunter/food gatherers, itinerant workers and the pastoralists.

For the purpose of the Nigeria situation, nomads include three major groups. These are the pastoralists, the migrant fisher folks and the migrant farmers. The National Commission for Nomadic Education is primarily responsible for providing access to functional basic education for the children of nomads, as well as adult literacy for their youths and adults.

But Nomadic Education Programme is faced with inadequate classroom structures, shortage of furniture and generally un-conducive learning environment. Teaching, in most cases, is conducted under tree shades and in public places. These adhoc arrangements constitute serious impediments to effective and efficient teaching and learning.

Over the years, nomadic education programme has not enjoyed the much expected support from the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) and the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) as stipulated by the laws. It is on record that few SUBEBs provide good classroom structures for nomadic schools. While majority of them only provide good classroom structures for the conventional primary schools, nomadic schools are often left out, being that they are located in very remote and inaccessible areas.

This general neglect over the years has greatly affected the provision of basic and functional education to nomadic children.

Consequently, many nomadic children learn under tree shades and other dilapidated structures.

Available records show that out of the more than 3.1 million nomadic children of school age, only 561,752 are in school. The drop in enrolments in 2014 till date was as a result of insurgency, conflicts, cattle rustling leading to destruction of schools, killing and maiming of parents and their children, forcing them to relocate from their original settlements.

The commission has taken some steps towards stemming the incessant conflicts between farmers and herdmen. The measures have opened up a line of dialogue between the leadership of herdsmen both at the national level and at the community levels.

At the national level, the commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the leaders of Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for consultations to stem the clashes between herdsmen and farmers across the country. Similarly, the commission has been organisng sensitisation fora at the national level for active community leaders for peace building.

UBEC Intervention The leadership of the National Commission for Nomadic Education had to appeal to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to allow for direct intervention as is operational in the areas of girl child,

Professor Rashid Aderinoye, NCNE boss boy child and Alamajiri schools. This made the board and executive secretary of UBEC to support the NCNE from 2014 to date.

The 2015 intervention fund was the second in the series from the year 2014 to 2015.

This was used to provide few essential infrastructural facilities for the effective delivery of education to nomadic children. These included monitoring vehicles, textual materials, capacity building for both teachers and staff of the commission, as well as conduct of advocacy for members of school-based management committees, representatives of MACBAN and selected community leaders. The support has changed the hitherto unfriendly and non-conducive school environment to not only conducive but now child friendly.

For the commission to record a greater success in the implementation of the Nomadic Education Programme, there is the need for the full implementation of the provision of the UBEC 2004 Act as long as the Nomadic Education Commission remains a parallel parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Education. The 2004 Act states in Paragraph 9 (b) “ receive block grant from federal government and allocate to the states and local governments and other relevant agencies implementing the Universal Basic Education in accordance with an approved formula as may be laid down by the Board of the Commission”.

Nomadic Education Commission represents relevant agency in the implementation of UBE and thus deserves a percentage of the 2 per cent allocation from CRF. This position is not asking for additional funding for basic education but only calling for a re-distribution of existing fund for basic education.

It is, therefore, the humble hope of the commission that better days are ahead of nomadic education programme if government would empower nomadic children of school age the more with functional basic education with support from other stakeholders in the society, the development would go a long way to bridge the gap between nomadic and formal education in Nigeria.

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news

Monday, 27 June, 2016

NIS seeks access to interpol database Clement Idoko-Abuja

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HE Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mr Muhammad Babandede, has said it has become imperative for the service to be granted unfetted access to the INTERPOL portal, in order to win the war against terrorism, insurgency and other organised crimes.

He made this remark when the acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, paid him a courtesy visit at the Immigration Headquarters in Abuja, a statement by the Service Public Relations Officer, Mr King Ekpedeme, said.

Babandede said why it

was imperative was because NIS provided the frontline officers at our land, sea and air borders in the security architecture of Nigeria as in other countries.

According to him, “Access to the Interpol database would improve our border security considerably. The Interpol I-24/7 network enables the 190-member countries to search and crosscheck data of suspected criminals, wanted persons, stolen or lost travel documents within seconds.

The Interpol I-24/7 is installed at all the 190 national central bureaus which are under the police. However, in realisation that in some countries Immigration and

Customs are not under the police, INTERPOL is now focusing on extending access to these other agencies.

He said though access to Interpol database would be most welcome, the CGI revealed that “NIS has achieved tremendous success in border control at our airports through the electronic passenger registration system (e-pars).”

The e-pars has integrated components that simultaneously cross-checks the data of a passenger against NIS watch list, as well as registers his arrival or departure real time when the passenger’s passport is placed on the document reader at the immigration control point.

Okowa decries elaborate post-thanksgiving party DELTA State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has advised Christians to give more to God rather than engaging in elaborate post-thanksgiving reception.

The governor gave the advice, at the weekend, at the Christ Anglican Church, Umunede, during a special thanksgiving service and dedication of church hall cum children’s chapel, donated by the member representing Ika North-East in the Delta State House of Assembly, Honourable An-

thony Elekeokwuri.

According to Governor Okowa, “the actual thanksgiving is what we do for the Lord, not what you do after coming to the church for the thanksgiving.

“We must know that whatever we are was made possible by God,” the governor stated at the service which was attended by retinue of legislators from within and outside the state.

He added: “I must congratulate Honourable Elekeok-

wuri for the church hall. We must always remember our beginning; with the church building, both the church and the community are happy and I thank our traditional rulers for ensuring that their communities are peaceful.”

The governor used the occasion to call for prayers for Nigeria, especially, those holding political offices, while also disclosing that times were tough but, with prayers, God would intervene.

Speaking further, the CGI emphasised the need for the NIS and police to collaborate at the lower level, especially as he intends to send a memo to the Minister of Interior, Lieutenant General Abdulrahaman Dambazau (retd) requesting to use the instrumentality of the Immigration Act 2015 and the Immigration Regulation to commence registration of all foreigners from the local government areas.

“At this level, it will be productive to share intelligence between the two security agencies,”he said.

Earlier, the IGP told his host that his visit was to seek collaboration in the area of internal security.

He said: “if criminals can work together to inflict pain on the society, there is no reason security agencies should not come together to present a stronger front.”.

While acknowledging the cordial relationship that exists between officers of the Nigeria Police and Immigration, he proposed “the establishment of a centre where officers representing CONFIRMATION OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Akinnawonu Adedoyin Deborah now MRS IMHANLUOHAN ADEDOYIN DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeosun Deborah Omotanwa now MRS FEHINTOLA DEBORAH OMOTANWA. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogunlana O. Emmanuel now OGUNLANA OLUWAFEMI ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Koyinado Abdul Waheed now AZEEZ WAHEED AYIKI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Thompson Winifred Funmi now EKUNDAYO WINIFRED FUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ibiyemi Funke Funmi, henceforth wish to be known and addressed as FRANCIS FUNKE ALIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

activities in providing internal security.”

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aremu Sikiru Ademola now ABRAHAM WILLIAMS ADEMOLA. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Judiciary and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Abolupe Emiola now FOLASADE ABOLUPE OYENIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adegbite Oluwadara Esther now ADEGBITE OLUREMI ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Yekini Saheed Amoo now ADELERE SAHEED AMOO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abdulyekeen Latifah Bimpe now MRS AZEEZ LATIFAH BIMPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Alimi Najeemdeen Olaide now OLAIDE NIFEMI HEPHZIBAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Amao Esther Omolola now MRS OWOADE ESTHER OMOLOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Isau Salaudeen am the same person bearing Salau Yisau Oyelere. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as SALAU YISAU. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

35 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abdul-Ganiyu Buniyaminu Olawale born on 4th January, 1979 now wish to be known and addressed as MAJEKOBAJE BUNIYAMINU ADEWALE born on 4th January, 1985. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abiola Oyebiyi now MRS AREMU ABIOLA ABIKE. All former documents remain valid. Living Faith Church, WAEC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Idowu Arimiyau Adeniji now ADENIJI IDOWU ADENIYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Bobagunwa Lateef now WAHEED LATEEF. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Apejoye Dorcas Anuoluwapo now MRS OGUTUGA DORCAS ANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Eyo, Emem Joseph now MRS LLOYD, EMEM SALVATION. All former documents remain valid.

Regina Mundi Girl’s Secondary School and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Aderemi Abass Adeyinka now TIRIMISIYU ADEREMI ABASS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Adebayo Bolanle Rebecca now MRS BOLOWOTAN BOLANLE REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. Lagos SUBEB and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Monday, 27 June, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Morakinyo Ibironke now MRS ADEKUNLE IBIRONKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Yusuf Ayisat Adedoja now MRS ADEBAYO AYISAT YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Olusoga Omolola now MRS. MODINAT ODUBOTE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Tajudeen Awawu Ajoke now AZEEZ HAWAU OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olatunbosun Tunde Alabi now OLATUNBOSUN BADMUS TUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oki Temitope Eunice now MRS OYEBAMIJI OKI TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adetunji Rukayat Adenike now MRS OLAOBA RUKAYAT ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Ebi Timi now OGUNDERE ROTIMI OYE. All former documents remain valid.

UBA Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Mrs Omolara Onaolapo now MRS SIKIRAT OMOLARA ONAOLAPO. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Plc and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ogundele Isaac Odunayo am the same person bearing Ogundele Isaac.

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

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Tunde Muhammad Yekeen now YEKEEN ZAKARIYYA TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akindejoye Omonike Anike now MRS OBASANMI OMONIKE. All former documents remain valid.

Wema Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Kehinde Esther Ajisafe now MRS AGUNTASOLO KEHINDE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olayinka Latifat Mojisola now ADEDEJI LATIFAT OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Omoyibo Voke now OMOYIBO E M U E J E V O K E PRECIOUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Oyekale Lydia Olajoju now MRS OYELAMI LYDIA OLAJOJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Oyewumi Fatimoh Oluwaseun now OJO FATIMO. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Adeyemo Samson Oluwafemi now BANKOLE SAMSON OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Oladosu Akinola David am the same person as Oladosu Akinola.

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

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Oguaju Ifeanyi now OGUAJU IFEANYI CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Mrs Olayinka Ayo Fagunwa now MRS OLAYINKA AYO OLUWAGUNWA. All former documents remain valid. Canadian Embassy, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigerian Immigration Service and general public take note.

I formerly Olanrewaju Adeoye now OLANREWAJU ADEOYE CLEMENT. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Boboye Titilayo now BOBOYE TITILAYO OLUGBENGA. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Michael Ajiromoke Aguda now ELIJAH MICHAEL. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Mr. Tai Yinka Adeleye now MR JOEL OLAYINKA TAYE ADELEYE. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank, UBA Plc, Access Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Abinogun Elohor Anthony now SAMSON ELOHOR ANTHONY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Oladejo Raufu Adeola am the same person bearing Oladejo Adeola Matthew. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLADEJO ADEOLA MATTHEW. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Jeleel Rofiat Temitope now MRS ANIMASAUN ROFIAT TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Usman Muhammed Obaje now USMAN MATHIAS. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Oyetoki Yetunde now OYETOKI YETUNDE SADIQ. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I hereby declare that my full names are MOSES OLUMUYIWA IDOWU and not Olumuyiwa Idowu.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

This box is for sale

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Coker Titilope Olamide now MRS OMISORE TITILOPE OLAMIDE COKER. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Mrs Ubaezuonu Justina Chinwe now MRS UBAH JUSTINA CHINWE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Christiana Oluremi Olatinpo now MRS CHRISTIANA OLUREMI SADIQ. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Jemilehin Mojisola Fadekemi now MRS AINA MOJISOLA FADEKEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Sabina Kurama now MRS SABINA ONUOHA. All former documents remain valid. The Nigeria Police and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Akanbi Zainab Janet now KOLADE OMOWUMI AFIZAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ayodele Idowu Lovely now OLADAPO AINA IDOWU. All former documents remain valid.

Sterling Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Abiona Lateefat Omowumi now MRS ADEBOYE LATEEFAT OMOWUMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Adedokun Oluwaseun Janet now MRS ONALEYE OLUWASEUN JANET. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Essien Mbuotidem Onon now ESSIEN MBUOTIDEM OKON. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Jebutu Olakunle now JEBUTU OYEWUMI OLAKUNLE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Bamiji Micheal Arowolo now RASAKI AJADI AROWOLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ojulari Samson Olawale am the same person as Ojulari Samson.

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

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Osuolale Johnson Olumide am the same person as Osuolale Johnson A. (as wrongly written by WAEC). Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OSUOLALE JOHNSON OLUMIDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I formerly Ola, Oluwatosin Daisi now OLA-OJO, OLUWATOSIN DAISI. All former documents remain valid. Yabatech, The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Sule Adigun am the same person as Sulaimon Ayangbade Adigun. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SULE ADIGUN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Stanbic IBTC Plc, BVN and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Oluwatosin Deborah Bamgbelu now MRS OGUNGBEMI OLUWATOSIN DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ogheneovo Eseoghene Isaac am the same person as Ogheneovo Eseoghene Princess and Ese Isaac. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGHENEOVO ESEOGHENE ISAAC. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Esan Eyitayo Olatundun now MRS OYEWO EYITAYO OLATUNDUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Obianuju Nwanneka Momah now MRS OBIANUJU NWANNEKA EJIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Ajayi Lydia Funke now MRS OGUNWUYI LYDIA FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. Lagos SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Oluwatoba Banke Seyi now MRS OLISA BANKE SEYI. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Odulukwe Ann Chikaodili now MRS UGOKWE ANN CHIKAODILI. All former documents remain valid. IBTC Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Dada Saidat Omobolaji now MRS ERUBAMI SAIDAT OMOBOLAJI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Miss Osiefa Fawusatu Mary now MRS OKOTIE FAWUSATU MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Oduola Rafiu Adigun am the same person bearing Oduola Rafiu.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ODUOLA RAFIU ADIGUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Amos Comfort Niyilola now MRS ADEGBOLA COMFORT NIYILOLA. All former documents remain valid. State Universal Basic Education Board, Ministry of Education, Lagos State and general public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Sodiq Olalekan now ADEWUMI SODIQ OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Ogoko Mary Nkechi now MRS OKORO MARY NKECHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Miss Chidinma Jessica Amacha now MRS. CHIDINMA JESSICA LOUIS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I hereby declare that my full names are ALADE FATIMO not Fatima Alade and my correct date of birth is 5/11/1979 and not 19/11/1981.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Miss Dairo Damilola Alaba now MRS AWE DAMILOLA ALABA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Chinedu Cyprian Ihedirimmadu now CHINEDU CYPRIAN UKACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Maria Olanipekun now MARIA ALADE BOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Omoijate Emmanuel now OMOIJATE INEGBENEHI EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Mr Oluwamuyiwa Lawrence Fagunwa now MR OLUWAMUYIWA LAWRENCE OLUWAGUNWA. All former documents remain valid. Canadian Embassy, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Nigerian Immigration Service, United Bank for Africa Plc, FUTA Branch and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Opawale Teslim Adisa now MOSHOOD ADISA TESLIM and my correct date of birth is 06th October, 1993 and not 10th June, 1996. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Miss Akinrole Oludayo Mary now MRS OTEPOLA OLUDAYO MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Adeyemo Lamidi Moradeyo now ADEYEMO HAMMED MORADEYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I formerly Miss Abifarin Bukola now MRS OLUKOKUN OLUBUKOLA REBECCA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Morakinyo Akinleye Bolanle am the same person bearing Morakinyo Fatimo Bolanle. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MORAKINYO FATIMO BOLANLE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Lois Chigozirim Ihedirimmadu now LOIS CHIGOZIRI UKACHUKWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Adisa Morufu am the same person bearing Adisa Morufu Adewale. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as ADISA MORUFU ADEWALE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I formerly Oyelami Funke now MRS IBIGBAMI REBECCA OLUNIKE and my correct date of birth is 6/8/1964 and not 7/11/1964. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

news Mobilisation fee: Civil rights group sues NYSC 36

Ayimide Owonibi Odekanyin - Lagos

A

civil rights group, the Citizens Advocacy Initiative For Accountable Leadership (CAIFAL), has filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos, against the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), over alleged mobilisation fraud.

Also joined as respondents in the legal action are The Director -General of NYSC, Sidmach technologies Ltd, Minister of

Monday, 27 June, 2016

Youths and Sports and the Attorney General of the Federation.

CAIFAL in its suit number FHC/L/CS/840/16, is seeking a declaration, that by virtue of the provisions of the NYSC Act 1993, the first to third respondents, have no statutory rights to demand a pre-mobilisation fee from prospective corps members.

In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Mr Mike Ogie, the group averred that sometime in 2014,

the NYSC introduced an electronic registration programme, where prospective corps members were required to register online with the sum of N3,000 as precedents for mobilisation.

He further averred that the NYSC entered into a memorandum of understanding with a company, Sidmach Technologies, to collect the fees on behalf of the NYSC, through the issuance of scratch cards to prospective corps mem-

bers.

According to him, under the memorandum, 70 per cent of the monies collected, would be ceded to the company (Sidmachy), while the balance of 30 per cent was reserved for the NYSC. He also claimed that the company had since 2014, collected over N1.3 billion on behalf of the NYSC, without remitting any of its proceeds to the scheme or federation’s account.

The group further averred

From left, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, Professor A. M. Arogunjo; Deputy Registrar, Mrs Helen Atunwa; Vice Chancellor, Professor Friday Okonofua; Chief Security Officer, Mr O. V. Olagbeinde and S.A. Library Resources, Mr W.A. Akinfolarin, during the press conference of University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, held recently.

that the acts of the first to third respondents, contradicts the true intent of the NYSC Act, which makes it mandatory for prospective corps members to be compulsorily mobilised for service of their fatherland.

They also stated that the Act establishing the NYSC scheme does not provide for the payment of any fee, as condition precedent for mobilisation corps members.

The group is therefore, seeking a declaration, that both the previous collection, and continued collection of the monies from prospective corps members, is illegal, wrongful and most improper.

They also seek an order, directing the first and second respondents to immediately render account of all monies so far realised from corps members since the inception of its collection in 2014.

The group also seeks an order of perpetual injunction, restraining the NYSC from further collecting any money from prospective corps members, as a premobilisation or re-deployment fee.

Delay in salary payment caused by BVN verification —Kwara govt Biola Azeez - Ilorin

THE Kwara State government said only civil servants and pensioners that are yet to undergo Biometric Verification Number (BVN) clearance are the category being owed by the state government, adding that all cleared workers and pensioners in the state, will continue to receive their entitlements.

In a statement issued in Ilorin, at the weekend, on behalf of the Kwara State Personnel Database Development Committee, by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the governor, Dr Muyideen Akorede, the state government said 15 per cent of the 83,000 workers and pensioners that were yet to be BVN verified, had their entitlements warehoused pending clearance.

The statement clarified that while the state government was one of the least affected by the huge drop in federal allocation, and which has been paying salaries regularly, certain categories of workers and pensioners who did not supply their details on time were temporarily affected.

The state government said having gone through physical verification,

workers and pensioners had to be subjected to BVN verification at the Nigerian Interbank Settle System (NIBSS) which is also verifying workers from other states and the Federal Government.

It also disclosed that the salaries and pensions of the affected individuals had been warehoused, adding that it would pay those verified as soon as the exercise was completed.

While urging the affected workers to exercise patience, the government stressed that the necessity of the verification was to ensure only authentic workers and pensioners who have worked for their

wages were paid in the state.

The government expressed optimism that expected savings from the exercise would enhance its efforts to end salary crises in the state.

Looters must return stolen funds to build Nigeria —Cleric Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

THE Archbishop Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, Most Reverend Mathew Man-Oso Ndagoso, has called on those who had allegedly stolen the nation’s money kept in America or elsewhere to repent and return the funds to rebuild the country.

He made this known on Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Kaduna, during the commemoration of the worldwide Year of Mercy.

Archbishop Ndagoso explained that there are very clear signs that people are experiencing hardship in the country, noting that the hardship was caused by recklessness and lack of consideration for others.

“If it is returned it should be properly used to make a life worth living for Nigerians. Recovered looted funds if re-looted again would be dangerous.

“Our nation is almost like a begging nation now,

because workers cannot be paid, pensioners are dying while everybody is suffering, and people are asking again, what do we do with these people? Well again, we are people of hope, for those who have stolen our wealth; I know mercy and

justice go together. God is merciful and just God. “For us Christians look at what happened to good thief on the cross at the very last minute that he made paradise. So the point simply is that you can never say it is over un-

til somebody breaths his last.

“We all know what is happening in the country, even myself as Archbishop, I am feeling the pinch, there are very clear signs that people are suffering in the land,” he stated.

UNIMED to raise N1bn annually for development projects —VC

By Tunde Ogunesan THE University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State, has concluded plan to raise N1 billion on a yearly basis for development projects.

This was made known by the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Friday Okonofua, during the launching of Friends of UNIMED Fund (FUF), recently.

The vice chancellor said the decision to “establish a “Friends of UNIMED FUND (FUF)” is for the purpose of obtaining the resources to grow the university to attain its mission and vision statements. FUF

was taken at its meeting of February 18, 2016, by the governing council of the university under the chairmanship of Professor O.O. Akinkugbe, a renowned medical icon “The objectives of UNIMED FUF are two fold; to build a multitude of friends for the university, who will see themselves as joint owners and therefore, be willing to make regular contribution towards the development of the university; and to manage the fund in a transparent, effective and accountable manner for specific identifiable projects on research, service delivery and development .”

“The idea is to generate a cohort of friends for the university, who will make regular, small and determined financial contribution towards the implementation of specific projects in the university.

“It is not the size of individual contributions that will matter but rather, the number and consistency of the contributors.

“The goal of the university is to attract one million faithful friends, who make annual donations of at least N1,000 each.

“This will amount to about N1 billion yearly and it will be enough to embark on major developmental projects.”

NYSC to establish 37 major skills acquisition centres Adamu Amadu - Dutse

AS part of the current administration’s efforts at creating job opportunities for the teeming youths, particularly tertiary institutions’ graduates, the Federal Government plans to build 37 skills acquisition centres across the country, for the training of Youth Corps Members in various skills during their service year.

This disclosure was made by the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier- General Suleman Zakari, at the weekend, while speaking with newsmen during his maiden visit to Yobe State, at the Yakubu Gawan NYSC Orientation Camp, Dutse, Jigawa State.

The Director- General said the introduction of skills training to Corps members during their service year was in tandem with the Federal Government’s policy on job creation, poverty eradication and self-reliant.

Niger LG workers begin 3-day warning strike Adelowo Oladipo-Minna

ECONOMIC and social activities in the 25 local government areas of Niger State, last Wednesday, suffered serious setback, as members of the state chapter of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) began a 3- day warning strike.

Niger State NULGE branch, had earlier on Thursday, June 16, 2016 directed the entire workforce of the 25 local government areas of the state to commence the 3-day warning strike on Wednesday, June 22 to Thursday, June 24.

This directive was contained in a statement issued and signed in Minna, by the NULGE state secretary, Sa’ad Muhammed, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune.

When contacted, the NULGE President, Niger State chapter, Comrade Sa’adu Aliyu Kala, said they decided to embark on the 3-day warning strike following alleged refusal of the state government to pay May, 2016 salary.

“We decided to embark on the strike because we are yet to collect the payment of our salaries despite negotiations we had with the government,” he stated.

The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace, while speaking on the issue, disclosed that the meeting between the organised labour unions and the state government was still ongoing.

37

Monday, 27 June, 2016

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Fallout from British EU vote alarms Asia, deepens party conflicts

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn David Cameron

T

U R M O I L unleashed by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union heightened anxiety in Asia on Sunday, with China, Japan and South Korea all fretting over the risk to world financial stability a few hours before markets reopen.

China’s finance minister said fallout from Thursday’s referendum “will cast a shadow over the global economy” while a senior official in Tokyo warned of the danger of “speculative, violent moves” in currencies.

In Britain, open political conflict spread from the ruling Conservatives to the opposition, and senior Labour lawmakers attempted a coup against their leader after traditional supporters rejected the party’s pro-EU stand in droves, Reuters said.

Splits widened across the nation. Over three million Britons signed a petition demanding a re-run of the referendum, with the number climbing by the hour, and an opinion poll showed a large majority of Scots now want to break with the United Kingdom.

China’s President Xi Jinping

Scotland’s leader promised she would do whatever it takes to keep her strongly proEU country in the bloc, including potentially vetoing legislation on a British exit from the world’s biggest single

market.

But French President Francois Hollande declared there was no going back on “Brexit”.

“What was once unthinkable has become irreversible after the vote of a majority of the British people,” he said during the inauguration of a World War Two memorial in central France.

Hollande called for France and Germany to use their strong friendship for seizing the initiative, warning that “separated, we run the risk of divisions, dissensions and quarrels”.

British Prime Minister David Cameron resigned

Scotland aims to stay in EU, may block Brexit — Sturgeon

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks during an emergency cabinet meeting at Bute House in Edinburgh, on Saturday. PHOTO: REUTERS.

SCOTLAND will do whatever it takes to remain in the European Union, including potentially blocking the legal process behind Britain’s exit from the bloc, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Sunday.

Reuters reported that Scotland, a nation of five million people, voted to stay in the EU by 62 to 38 per cent in Thursday’s referendum, putting it at odds with the

United Kingdom as a whole, which voted by 52 to 48 per cent in favor of an exit from the bloc, or Brexit.

Sturgeon has said a new Scottish referendum on independence from the rest of the UK is “highly likely” if that is the best option to keep Scotland in the bloc.

“There are going to be deeply damaging and painful consequences of the process of trying to extricate the UK from the EU. I want

majority.

The left-wing Unidos Podemos alliance is tipped to beat the Socialists (PSOE) into second place, with the coalition between the two a possibility.

The vote comes days after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has sought to portray the poll as a choice between economic stability and the uncertainty offered by Unidos Podemos, a party that emerged just two years ago in protest against austerity measures demanded by Brussels.

Podemos’ leader, Pablo Iglesias, has denied his party is eurosceptic, telling the BBC he was “sad” to see the referendum results.

“We hope for a different Europe, we will fight for a Europe with social rights as a reality and we are for Europe and the people in Europe.”

Spanish voters head back to polls in bid to break deadlock

ELECTIONS are being held in Spain after the four main parties failed to break the political deadlock from December’s inconclusive general election.

Opinion polls suggest the conservative Popular Party (PP) will win, but fall short of a parliamentary

on Friday after voters ignored his appeals to stay in the EU by 52 to 48 percent, delivering the biggest blow since the war to the European project of forging greater unity.

Cameron, however, left formally notifying the EU of Britain’s intention to leave to his successor, who is unlikely to be in office for about three months. That signals a long period of limbo.

Sterling fell as much as 10 percent against the dollar on Friday to levels last seen in 1985, while more than $2 trillion was wiped off the value of world stocks.

(Centre) Spanish Minister, Mariano Rajoy. PHOTO: GETTYIMAGE

to try and protect Scotland from that,” Sturgeon told BBC television.

Scots voted against independence by 55 to 45 percent in a 2014 referendum, after a campaign during which remaining in the EU was presented as a key reason to stick with the UK. Scottish newspaper the Sunday Post published a poll by research firm ScotPulse, taken on Friday, that suggested support for independence had surged to 59 per cent since the Brexit vote.

Sturgeon said she would seek a way of negotiating directly with the EU on the best way to achieve Scotland’s aim of staying in the bloc.

She said it would be “completely unacceptable” for whoever succeeds David Cameron as British prime minister to try and stop Scotland from holding a second independence referendum on the basis that the issue had been settled in 2014.

Under the UK’s complex arrangements to devolve some powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, legislation generated in London to give effect to the vote to leave the EU may have to gain consent from the three devolved parliaments.

Asked whether she would consider asking the Scottish parliament to block a motion of legislative consent, Sturgeon said: “Of course.”

otherNEWS Iraqi commander declares defeat of Islamic State in Falluja Iraqi soldiers rendering help to civilians who flee their territory because of ISIS. PHOTO: REUTERS

IRAQI forces recaptured the last district held by Islamic State militants in the city of Falluja on Sunday and the general commanding the operation declared the battle over after nearly five weeks of fighting.

Iraqi forces reached the centre of Falluja last week but militants remained holed up in some parts of the city west of Baghdad, including in its Golan district, which Iraqi forces retook on Sunday, Reuters said.

The assault is part of a wider offensive by Iraqi forces against Islamic State militants who seized swathes of territory in 2014, but are now being driven back by an array of forces backed by a United States-led coalition.

The success of the Falluja operation launched on May 23 gives fresh momentum to Iraqi forces in the campaign to retake Mosul, the largest city anywhere in the militants’ self-proclaimed caliphate spanning Iraq and Syria.

Pope genocide comments show crusader mentality – Turkey

TURKEY says Pope Francis’ description of the WW1 mass killing of Armenians as genocide shows “the mentality of the Crusades.”

The pontiff’s remarks have “no relation to reality”, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli said.

Armenia and many historians say up to 1.5 million Armenian Christians were killed by Ottoman Turkish forces in 1915. But Turkey disputes

the figure and denies the deaths constituted genocide.

It says the deaths were part of a civil conflict triggered by WW1.

BBC stated that the row continues to sour TurkishArmenian relations, drawing in other countries such as Germany, whose parliament recently declared the killings to be genocide Pope Francis made the comments on Friday during a visit to the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

China bus fire: Dozens killed in Hunan province AT least 35 people have been killed and 11 injured after a bus crashed and caught fire in China’s central province of Hunan, according to Chinese state media.

The bus burst into flames after crashing into a barrier along a highway on Sunday morning in Hunan province’s Yizhang County, the official Xinhua PHOTO: China bus Caption: Remains of the bus that got burnt in China.

PHOTO: AP

news agency reported.

Two children were among those killed, while four of the 11 people taken to hospital were seriously injured, Xinhua said, adding that the driver of the bus, which carried 55 people, had been detained.

Al Jazeera reported that earlier reports had said that 21 people were hospitalised.

communitynews Resolve Niger Delta crisis, monarchs urge FG

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Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

T

HE Delta State traditional rulers council has appealed to the Federal Government to adopt the carrot and stick approach in ending the wanton destruction of the

Monday, 27 June, 2016

nation’s assets occasioned by renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region.

Addressing journalists at the end of a meeting of traditional rulers in Asaba, the acting chairman of the council, Dr. Emmanuel Efiezomor II, urged the Niger Delta Avengers to

lay down their arms and embrace the peace moves initiated by the Federal Government.

The traditional rulers acknowledged the efforts of governors of states in the Niger Delta region to end the crisis and emphasised

the need for a more collaborative efforts by stakeholders towards proferring an enduring solution to the Niger Delta question.

The council cautioned against the conferment of titles on persons of dubious character even as it set

Philanthropist donates N2m equipment to Omu-Aran general hospital A philanthropist, Mr Gbadebo Popoola, has donated hospital equipment worth N2 million to Omu-Aran General Hospital, Kwara State.

He presented the equipment to some officials of the hospital, led by the Chief Medical Director, Dr Ibrahim Kolawole, at the palace of the Olomu of OmuAran, Oba Charles Ibitoye.

Popoola, who is the President of Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), UK chapter, said the gesture was inspired by his long time desire to give back to his

community.

He said the donation was also to eliminate some difficulties encountered by health personnel in the discharge of their duties.

Popoola disclosed that the association was already collaborating with its local chapter to ensure the socio-economic development of the community.

“Part of such collaboration is the plan to donate academic and instructional materials to some secondary schools in the community later in the year,’’ he said.

In his remarks, Dr Kolawole thanked the donor for his foresight and promised to inform the appropriate authorities of the donation as a mark of appreciation, promising the judicious use of the facilities.

Oba Ibitoye and the ODA National Secretary, Mr Bidemi Olawuyi, respectively, commended Popoola for his philanthropic gesture and urged other wealthy individuals to emulate the initiative.

up two different committees to visit members with health challenges with a view to taking measures to address their health concerns.

Inaugurating the committees, Dr. Efiezomor II charged the committee members to be thorough and interface with affected council members in the three senatorial districts, saying that the welfare of traditional rulers in the state remained a top priority of the council.

The second vice chairman of the council and Orodje of Okpe, Orhue the first, said the setting up of the committees was in tandem with the determination of the council to promote oneness and love among tradi-

tional rulers.

In his remarks, the Pere of Akugbene-mein Kalanama the VIII, re-affirmed the irrevocable commitment of the council to promote unity and friendship among traditional rulers as members of one indivisible body.

The committee for Delta North is headed by the Obi of Ubulu-Unor while that of Delta South and central is chaired by the Ovie of Ozoro.

They are expected to visit the Obi of AkwukwuIgbo, Obi of Ebudu-Akah, Ovie of Iyede, the Pere of Ngbilebiri-mein and the Osuivie of Agbarho and come up with a detailed report of the health status of the traditional rulers for further action.

OPC to empower members in Kwara A Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), has announced its plan to empower 500 members in Kwara State before the end of July.

The Kwara State coordinator of the group, Comrade Maruf Olanrewaju, announced this at a meeting of the group in Ilorin.

Comrade Olanrewaju, who said the state government was aware of the programme, added that government would render the needed support.

The OPC leader, who said that beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme would be mainly women and some selected men, asserted that each beneficiary would get between N50,000 and N100, 000.

He, however, said that the group would monitor beneficiaries to ensure that the money was not diverted.

“This is also to distance our members from accessing loans from those that charge excessive interest,” he said.

The state OPC leader warned members against social vices in their zones, saying the group frowned on acts that could disrupt the peace of the land.

Speaking on the sideline of the congress, Comrade Olanrewaju said the empowerment programme was to im-

prove the economic status of benefiting members.

He said the money was sourced from donations and contributions into the coffers of the group in the state after it had stopped remitting such into the account of the national body.

The meeting also featured the decoration of 11 members of the group’s monitoring team with new ranks for their outstanding performance.

This bad spot is a source of headache for motorists on the Old Ife Road, Sawmill area of Ibadan, Oyo State. PHOTO: BODE ADEWUMI

Wailing as govt demolishes roadside market in Port Harcourt Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt

THERE was wailing and gnashing of teeth as the Rivers State government demolished a popular roadside market an Afikpo Street, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.

Traders at the roadside market had, for years, blocked the road, even as law enforcement agencies often find it difficult controlling human and vehicular traffic on the road.

After weeks of quit notice, government demolition team, the Urban Guard from the state Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, led by the commissioner in the ministry, Chinyene Igwe, were seen burning heaps of market tables, stools and other items.

The traders were also

seen lamenting their losses and misfortune as caused by the demolition, even as they appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike to save them from hunger and joblessness that would resort from the demolition exercise.

One of the affected traders, 67-year-old Mrs Erebi Horsefall, claimed that her wares, including fish, cow head, stock fish, melon and others, had gone with the demolition.

“I went to market yesterday (Monday) to buy things. All the fish I bought, the melon, cow head and many others have been taken away by government. I did not pay my customers one naira for the things I bought. Even my handset has been taken away. At my age, where do I start

from?

“I am a widow. My only son has just died. People should beg them to return my wares. Let me look for where to sell them to feed myself and pay my customers. They have made me useless,” she said in tears.

Chairperson of Afikpo Market Traders Union (AMTU), Madam Comfort Ikhlioju, who claimed to be 75 years old, pleaded with the governor to temper justice with mercy by allowing them to trade by the roadside from 4 p.m. daily, rather than sacking them outrightly from the place.

“I have been trading in this market since 1969.

When Ken Green was the chairman of the Port Harcourt City Council, he used to collect one penny from us as table levy. In this market,

we pay levy to government through the city council. Police come here everyday to collect money from us.

“Many of the politicians today got their training through the proceeds from this market.

“I am begging Wike to help us. Things are very hard in Nigeria. All of us feed and fend for our families from the profit we make from our sales . I hope they don’t want to turn us to beggars,” she said.

Also lamenting, the secretary of the union, Mrs Amaka Eze, said the traders were given just one day to quit the market because business activities contributed to traffic gridlock on Afikpo/Ikwerre link road.

“This is evening market; they should allow us to do business here in the evening. They did not give

us enough time to prepare ourselves before they brought caterpillars to destroy our market.

“We pay all manner of levies to this same government. We pay table levy and sanitation levy. Let them give us a new place to settle down for business,” she said.

Speaking however, during the demolition exercise, the Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning simply said, “I have addressed this matter enough. I am here to effect the order (demolition).”

It will be recalled that Governor Wike had promised to create an area for roadside traders when the construction of the second phase of the Rumuoji Market, popularly known as Mile One Market, is completed but work is yet to start on the project.

39

Monday, 27 June, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Oyo SWAN adopts Ajayi as South-West VP candidate

SPORTS Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State Chapter, has adopted Mr Adeboye Ajayi, a staff of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as its vice-presidential candidate (South-West) for the forthcoming national election of the association.

At its congress in Ibadan, the association adopted Ajayi, a Sport Editor with NAN to contest the position of Vice President, South West in the forthcoming SWAN national election schedule to hold in Ilorin on 13 July.

It would be recalled that Ajayi was a former Public Relations Officer, SWAN, Lagos State Chapter, former Member, National Olympics Marketing Committee and former Media Officer, National Volleyball federation.

Ajayi has covered several sports competition across the globe for NAN and other media organisations in the country as a Sports Correspondent before he became an editor with NAN. Mr Adeniyi Alebiosu, the Chairman, SWAN, Oyo Chapter said that Ajayi was adopted after series of consultations and considering his experience in sports journalism and administration.

Speaking after his adoption, Ajayi promised to be a good ambassador of SWAN in the South-West and the nation as a whole if elected.

Maiden Oba Saliu Adetunji football tourney begins July 2

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji(left) his wife, Olori Rasheedat and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick during the match between 3SC and FC IfeanyiUbah at the Lekan Salami Sports complex, Ibadan on Sunday. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN.

Olubadan watches as IfeanyiUbah FC forces 3SC to 2-2 draw

By Olawale Olaniyan

S

HOOTING Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, on Sunday bungled its two goals lead to allow FC IfeanyiUbah secure a 2-2 draw in a match day 24 of the Nigeria Premier League decided at the Lekan Salami Sports complex, Ibadan, just as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick were among the dignitaries present at the stadium.

The Oluyole Warriors shot into the lead barely nine minutes into the game as Agogo Ebitimo beat goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa after collecting a loose ball on the edge of the box.

Ismaila Gata wasted a

NFF crisis:

Sports minister berated over nonimplementation of court order

By Nurudeen Alimi A group under the aegis of NITO Sports Organisation, has berated the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, for failing to effect a Writ of Execution recently issued by a Federal High Court sitting in Jos which ordered the ouster of the Amaju Pinnick-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from the Glass House, Abuja.

Addressing newsmen in Ibadan over the weekend, NITO Sports Organisation through its spokesperson, Adebowale Adeoye, informed that it had forwarded a formal petition to President Mohammadu

Buhari listing serial breaches of court orders by the minister, stressing that such actions, if not checked, are capable of bringing the executive in collusion with the judiciary and cast aspersion on the nation’s democratic credentials.

According to Adeoye, the minister has no excuse whatsoever for not effecting a court order served on him personally by a court bailiff.

He further hinted that the organisation had also sent a petition to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), saying there was the need to call on the NBA to reprimand Mr. Dalung who as a lawyer swore to defend the integrity

of the court and uphold the chastity of judicial decision.

“You can imagine the rot that has been on in the NFF for upward five years now. The NFF is either broke today or it is insolvent tomorrow. It is either one hotel or an airline is blacklisting the national teams. Debts mount daily.

National coaches are owed even up to the point of death. Our performances in international competitions have nosedived.

We slide down daily in FIFA ranking and we are no longer a force to reckon with even in Confederation of African Football (CAF) competitions.

chance to draw parity as he went late to connect Wasiu Jimoh’s cross.

On resumption, Gata, one of the leading scorers in the NPL with 13 goals also missed another scoring chance as his header missed the target.

The Anambra Warriors brought in Albertico Da Silva in place of Bright Onyedikachi and the inclusion of the Brazilian added bite to their attack.

Sunday Adetunji wasted two scoring chances in succession as he failed to connect a cross also from Ibrahim Ajani in the box.

Jimoh, a former 3SC player wasted what would have been a leveller in the 60th minute as he shot wide in the box.

Afolabi Wahab came on to replace Adetunji as Agogo Ebitimo was replaced by Tayo Adebogun, while the visitors introduced Tamen Medrano in place of hotshot contender, Gata.

Substitute Afolabi doubled the lead for 3SC in the 76th minute as he shot into the far angle which caught keeper Ezenwa helpless.

Two minutes later, IfeanyiUbah was awarded a penalty after Jimoh was fouled in the box while the resultant spot kick was converted by substitute

Medrano, who sent 3SC keeper, Charles Tambe to the wrong side.

Another former 3SC player, Tope Orelope was replaced

by Ajunwa Onyebuchi as the visitors continued to search for an equaliser.

FOOTBALL enthusiasts and administrators on Sunday stormed the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji’s palace to witness the draws of a football competition in the name of the tradituonal ruler. reports Tribunesport that the competition was the maiden edition of the championship to be held in the honour of the 41st Olubadan of Ibadaland.

Tribunesport was reliably informed by the project coordinator, Prince Ganiyu Adetunji that the event which was scheduled to hold from Saturday July 2 to Friday, August 26 has both Ibadan and Lagos centres, where the competition would hold simultaneously.

The championship which is being supported by the Oyo State Sports Council, Oyo State Football Association and National Association of Nigeria Professional was aimed at discovery talents.

The competition would feature the Under 13 with both Free Age Male and Female categories.

Speaking at the draws, Adetunji urged the youths to make use of the opportunity at promoting peace and reducing youth’s unrest in the society.

7 players, coach injured in Anambra auto crash NO fewer than seven persons escaped death when a vehicle conveying players and Coach of Community Secondary School (CSS) Aguluezechukwu, Aguata Local Government Area had an accident along ObaNnewi road.

The team was going to the final of this year’s Anambra Academicals Football competition on Saturday, when 7 of the affected persons sustained various degrees of injuries, including spinal cord.

Those injured in the crash where rushed to a private hospital at Oba but were later referred to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka due to the seriousness of their cases.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, the Chief Medical Director, COOUTH, Dr

Lawrence Ikeako, who was personally attending to the patients, said that efforts were being made to save the situation.

Ikeako said the hospital could manage some of the cases but for the Coach of the team, Benson Udeh, who had a spinal cord injury and needed to be referred to a specialist hospital.

He described Udeh’s case as complicated and promised to provide every medical assistance possible to ensure he was stable and moved to an appropriate facility.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, described the accident `as unfortunate’ and that the state government was doing everything possible to save their lives.

Omenugha said the victims were children of the state and that government was deeply concerned about their plight.

SIDELINES

NO 16,532

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MONDAY, 27 JUNE, 2016

I

have been thinking about this topic for quite some time. It certainly is an appealing and appetizing topic for a book that historians and authors of Nigerian history of our modern times may want to pen or ought to pen. But who is interested in history anymore in this country that un-forward-looking political gladiators have killed in the minds and hearts of pupils and students in our schools and colleges?

Who, among our teeming, prolific population of students, is truly interested in the great subject and discipline that our politicians and non-politicians in power and authority have banished from the academic thoughts of many a bright student in our colleges and universities? My hope, our hope, is that in no distant time the glory days and years of history, a subject and discipline of glory, return to us; may this earnest wish be.

The story and history of our vulnerable and doomed years in the ruling epochs of slave catchers and slave traders (who are one and the same persons) of our country must be told, written, re-told and re-written with true, correct, accurate historical bigness and daringness. The characters who have presided over our affairs of ruins in every part, place and region of our country since the past years beginning from the 1980s up to when we shall get our spectacular regime that would give us liberation shall be given the full concentration of history. Those of them that will be alive to read about the brutal horror they made of our country in their bloody years in power when they turned themselves into slave catchers and slave traders of blessed Nigeria shall be overwhelmed. Their characters shall be vividly drawn with novelistic talent and poetic gift that shall glow and glow and live and live for eons to their eternal consternation.

History and historians shall explore frankly and thrillingly our years of anguish when outlandish, bizarre political and economic policies and decisions turned Nigerians slaves and living corpses in their beautiful country. The years of Nigerian slave catchers and slave traders who called themselves leaders of thought, of politics, of economics, of security, of all what-not, but, in fact, were adepts of deception and exploitation, who debased the people with words, instructions and actions that compelled the masses of people to flourish in the hell of impoverishment only fit for sub-humans, shall be dazzlingly told ad infinitum.

World’s longest-serving president, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodora Nguema has appointed his son as vice president. His family has been ruling since 1979. Nguema must learn from David Cameron’s disposition after Britain’s exit from EU. Even if Cameron’s personal wish to remain was against the slight majority’s decision to leave the EU, there was no rigging or violence. Cameron resigned, honourably. In a true democracy, a leader is not the state.

in&out with Tony Afejuku

08055213059

Slave catchers and slave traders of modern Nigeria Regimes of leaders who demonstrated irritatingly poor judgments that spectacularly worked Nigeria backwards shall be exhilaratingly told and re-told in exactly the same manner that their downfall shall be delivered in accounts upon accounts that shall be devoted to their years and times of unholy despotism.

Of all the regimes that we have known since the 1980s perhaps the one I should inveigh against and disavow most is the current one even though it is still in its infancy. The reason for my statement is simple and needs immediate qualification.

Buhari’s presidency was the one we pinned our hopes on to change our hopeless lot forever. We expected the erstwhile no nonsense military general to free us from the bondage of the slave catchers and slave traders of yester-years and of our contemporary times. I remember vividly some regular readers of this column who called me, among many things, a HausaFulani slave for standing fully and erect for Buhari instead of for Jonathan. They clearly and certainly must be gloating over my Buhari call and score now.

Yes, President Buhari is keeping to his promise of eradicating the corruption of our country’s locust years and of negatively despotic regimes of the past, but why is this at the expense of our economic freedom and salvation? What Dr. Jonathan, for instance, couldn’t dare or dared not dare, has President Buhari not dared it despite

He must not allow anyone to halt his spectacularly spiritual mission

his pre-election promises? The present worthless state of our currency, that has more or less been “devalued,” and the unprecedented high cost of petrol as a result of the removal of petrol subsidy are only two examples of his un-kept, broken promises to us. Of course, we are knowing too late that no politician keeps his word.

We are learning too late that a politician’s promises are meant to be broken. We are realizing too late that a politician’s mindset is to lure the masses with promises that would turn them into slaves. But that Muhammadu Buhari could do what he is doing to us is something I am finding difficult to understand. Somehow I still believe that he is a good and pious man who

is surrounded by presidencynologists who have steadily and cleverly taken his heart from the masses and people of Nigeria. That is why he is also not keeping his security promise to us. His failure in this direction is helping other slave catchers and slave traders called kidnappers and chameleonic Avengers to ensnare us as Boko Haramites did and are still doing. I can go on and on, but why? What will my doing so fetch my fellow suffering people and masses of Nigeria? Answer me, comrades.

Perhaps historians will eventually mark Buhari’s regime as one of double-speak, no, of triple-speak - of odd, odious triplespeak - mainly on account of his more than numerous broken pre-presidential election promises.

May I at this point remind our pious president to release the names of the greatest economic criminals in Nigeria’s history? Some of them were recently compelled by our good Mr. President to return their loot in terms of moneys and different types of property to the country, yet we are being told that their names will not be divulged. They are not more human than Colonel Dasuki and company. We must continually gauge Buhari’s moral pulse as he endeavours to consign the vampire plague of the past to eternal hell. He must halt his triple-speak. He must not allow anyone to halt his spectacularly spiritual mission. Or is he a slave catcher and slave trader? History’s time will tell.

Rio Olympics: Dream Team’s captain worried by team’s poor form NPFL RESULTS

Okechukwu

CAPTAIN of the Nigeria national U-23 football team, Azubuike Okechukwu has said that the poor run of the country’s Olympic team is a cause for concern.

The African U23 champions were pathetic at a recent Suwon International Tournament in South Korea, where they lost two games including suffering a 6-2 hammering at the hands of Denmark.

On Saturday, the Dream Team VI lost the second time to their U20 counterparts in a test game.

Captain Okechukwu said the team’s slump has got everyone worried.

“I am very concerned and it’s the same with the other players and we have

been holding meetings on how we can improve,” he told AfricanFootball. com “We are really having a bad time now,” he said.

Coach Samson Siasia has already released a provisional list of 35 players, from which a final squad of 18 players and four standby players will be selected.

The team will leave the country tomorrow for the United States, where they will train before heading to Brazil for the Olympics.

They are drawn against Sweden, Japan and Colombia at the Rio Olympics in August.

3SC

2

IfeanyiUbah 2

Sunshine

2

MFM

Pillars

5

Abia Warriors 0

0

Plateau Utd 2

Wikki

0

Nasarawa Utd 1

Tornadoes

0

EURO 2016

France

2

R. of Ireland 1

Germany

3

Slovakia

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Telephone: 08165728976; 08073598322. 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. 27/06/2016.

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