29th February 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,446

MONDAY, 29 FEBRUARY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Current oil prices totally unacceptable —Buhari •Wants Jerusalem as Palestinian capital •Nigeria, Qatar sign bilateral agreement

Nigerian Tribune

Olubadan: Preparation in top gear ahead Adetunji's coronation —P14

@nigeriantribune

EFCC to arraign ex-minister Moro today

Nigerian Tribune

N150

Witches, wizards behind Rev King's ordeal —Congregation

Fuel scarcity returns over dollar rate —P7

—P7

—P8

—P4 •Shortage also due to lopsidedness in import allocation —Marketers •NNPC takes delivery of 4 cargoes Buhari orders investigation into Agatu killings in Benue —P41

Historical Noah's Ark, Tower of Babel are in Ile-Ife —Ooni —P15

FG delists 23,846 ghost workers from payroll

Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai (fourth right), flanked by senior army officers while inspecting weapons recovered from suspected Boko Haram terrorists, during his visit to Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN

•Saves N2.293bn monthly —P5

N5,000 not for unemployed graduates, but one million extremely poor —Presidency —P5

Monday, 29 February, 2016

4 news Fuel scarcity returns nationwide over dollar rate

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Shortage also due to lopsidedness in import allocation —Marketers From Olatunde Dodondawa and Ayodele Adesanmi

UEL scarcity hit states and major cities in the country, on Sunday, due to nonavailability of dollar in the foreign exchange markets. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that marketers were finding it difficult to source for dollars to finance importation of the petroleum products. In Lagos, most filling stations visited on Sunday were out of stock, while those selling had long queues of vehicles at their stations. The NNPC filling station at Oregun and Capital Oil filling station situated on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were dispensing with noticeable queue. In Ibadan, Oyo State, most filling stations remained shut against motorists, as operators claimed they were out of stock. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the scarcity, which resurfaced early last week, had reached its peak as fewer cars plied major roads in the capital city. Sources, however, informed the Nigerian Tribune that the sudden scarcity was not unconnected with the rumoured price slash in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government. Despite the long queue noticed in the city last week, the product still sells within the offical price of N86 and N86.50. In Ogun, the price of the product ranges between N90 and N100 per litre in some filing stations in Abeokuta metropolis. The queue at NNPC station was endless as motorists waited patiently to buy the product. However, some petrol stations were still selling at official price of N86.50 per litre. In Osogbo, Osun State capital, while some fuel marketers were selling a litre of petrol for N100, others were selling it for N120 or N150. There were no queues in the filling stations, but the NNPC mega station, which sells a litre for N86, attracted many motorists, who queued to buy the product. Fuel queues returned to Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital and its environs, with most of the filling stations in the town closed. The few attendants in some of the stations said they were out of stock, with some of them claiming that they were unsure when the next supply of the commodity would arrive at their station. The few stations with the commodity to sell sold it for between N100 and N110 per litre.

However, the NNPC mega station in the town sold the commodity on Saturday and was also open when Nigerian Tribune visited on Sunday. End users of petrol have began to groan under the grueling situation in Warri, Delta State. Although transport fares have largely remained as they were before, most fuel stations in the state have since closed shop, hinging their reasons on lack of the product. Checks at fuel stations in Sapele axis revealed that major marketers such as ConOil and RainOil were still selling at the approved pump price of N85.60, but they hardly had the product available. Where available, long queues are the common denominator of such stations, while non-major marketers sold the product for between N120 and N130 to users. Persistent fuel scarcity in Ilorin and its environs continued unabated, just as consumers lamented inconveniences on Sunday. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune showed that

the fuel scarcity had continued to bite harder, as transporters and entrepreneurs who use the commodity for various services said they wasted several man-hour looking for fuel. It was also gathered that many of the people affected by the scarcity had to travel to neighbouring town of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, to look for fuel, as only few petrol stations dispensed fuel for sale in the metropolis. Petroleum products were, however, sold at normal price in most parts of the state, thus necessitating long queues, where available. At such locations like Murtala Mohammed way, Fate Road and Tanke Road which had more than 50 filling stations, it was observed that only three of the stations sold fuel on Sunday, with long queues. In Kogi, queues returned to filling stations in many parts of the state. Nigerian Tribune observed that only one major marketer, Forte Oil in NEPA area of Lokoja, the state capital, had fuel and was selling at N86.50.

All other major marketers within the Lokoja metropolis locked their filling stations, claiming they had no fuel to sell. However, some independent marketers that had the product were selling between N100 and N110. In towns like Ankpa, Ajaokuta, Okene, Kabba a litre of petrol was sold for between N115 and N120 with less queues. In Kaduna, long queues were noticeable in most filling stations selling the product at 86.50, while there were no queue at stations owned by independent marketers. Finding by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that independent marketers on Sunday, sold the product at N115, while few others filling stations at Rigasa and Nassarawa sold at N120 and N125 respectively. In Enugu State, independent petroleum marketers were not complying with the government’s directives on fuel price. A litre of fuel sold for between N115 and N120 in the metropolis, while in rural communities, a litre of fuel

was sold at N200. Reports from Nsukka, Udi and Agbani towns revealed that prices of fuel had also gone up as a litre of fuel was sold at N150 on Sunday. A marketer told the Nigerian Tribune in confidence on Sunday that “it is more expensive to source for dollars and finance imports with such dollars. “There is a price width which we must not exceed. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cannot guarantee all our dollar demand for the imports. “We are relying on allocations from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which is the main importer of fuel,” he said. The NNPC imports 78 per cent of fuel being consumed daily in the country. Another source, a member of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), told the Nigerian Tribune that in addition to dollar scarcity, lopsidedness in import allocation is also responsible. “The NNPC gets 78 per cent of the total allocation for fuel importation while

Motorist queue for fuel at Total Filling Station, Alapere, Lagos, on Sunday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Vandalism, abductions discouraging investments —Buhari Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari observed in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday, that abduction, murder and vandalism perpetrated on installations were a disincentives for investment in the country. Speaking at a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian community in Doha, he charged Nigerians to rekindle the spirit of patriotism and selfless service to encourage more foreign investment in the country. According to a statement issued in Doha by the Spe-

cial Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the President, Femi Adesina, on Sunday, Buhari assured them that the Federal Government would continue to create the enabling environment for investments in the country, anchored on peace and security. “We have abundant natural and human resources in the country, including huge oil and gas deposit. “But the challenge is securing those installations and to persuade some of our countrymen to be more patriotic and stop sabotaging the installations. “When people are being

abducted and some are being murdered, when installations are being blown up now and then, the incentives for people to invest in our infrastructure is quite slim,” he said. President Buhari also promised to look into the complaints of alleged blanket denial of visas to families and relatives of Nigerians intending to visit the State of Qatar. “Like I tell other Nigerians living in other countries, you must be good ambassadors of the country because globally, things are quite difficult in terms of security and the econo-

my. “If you have something doing, please hold it tight to your heart and try to improve on it because things are quite difficult all over,” he said. According to him, “for us in Nigeria, we are trying to do our best to reduce unemployment and we realised this quite early enough, that is why we campaigned on the diversification of the economy. “We have to go back to agriculture, like in the good old days of cocoa, palm oil, palm kernel, cottons, groundnuts, hides and skins.”

marketers get only 22 per cent allocation. “At it is, Capital Oil does not have enough stock at its depot while MRS had not received products in the last two weeks and it is one of the depots NNPC uses for through-put. “NIPCO that has the capacity to handle four cargoes only received one cargo since January. All these are factors affecting the supply,” the source said. Efforts to speak with NNPC spokesman, Ohi Alegbe, failed, as calls put through to his mobile lines were not answered. The NNPC has, however, assured of sufficient supply of petrol, saying it has taken delivery of four more cargoes of the product at the weekend. NNPC, in a statement, disclosed that deliveries, which amount to about 180 million litres, is part of a new arrangement by the corporation to have a cargo of PMS delivered daily as from March. The statement, which was signed by Alegbe, late Sunday evening and made available to newsmen, stated that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, warned depot owners against selling petrol above the approved exdepot price of N77 per litre. The warning came against the background of repeated complaints by marketers of sharp practices at the depots. The statement quoted the minister as warning that depot owners found to be involved in selling products above the approved ex-depot prices would be sanctioned. However, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said it will soon begin to seal off illegal filling stations across the Port Harcourt zone, including Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states. Zonal Operation Controller of the petroleum regulatory agency, Mrs Chioma Njoku, made the disclosure while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, at the weekend. “Our personnel will soon embark on an inspection of filling stations across the zone to ascertain those that are operating illegally without the authorisation of the DPR. Any filling station discovered to be operating without a license will be shut,” she said. Additional reports by Jude Ossai, Muhammad Sabiu, Yinka Oladoyinbo, Biola Azeez, Ebenezer Adurokiya, Oluwole Ige, Sam Nwaoko, Olayinka Olukoya, and Tunde Ogunesan.

5 news

Monday, 29 February, 2016

N5,000 not for unemployed graduates, but one million extremely poor —Presidency Leon Usigbe - Abuja

HE Presidency has clarified that President Muhammadu Buhari never planned to pay N5,000 each to unemployed graduates in the country, but rather to one million extremely poor people. Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune on phone, on Sunday, Senior Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, said the president had never promised to pay unemployed graduates. He said: “The president has said it over and over again, including at the Presidential Media Chat that the Federal Government is not paying N5,000 to unemployed people. “The Federal Government never planned to pay N5,000 to unemployed graduates. “The N5,000 is for the extremely poor people and in the budget, there is a provision to give N5,000 month-

ly to one million of such Nigerians.” He observed that there had been confusion regarding who the government intended to pay, especially in the social media and else-

where, noting that there was a different plan to hire half a million unemployed graduates under the volunteer teacher job. He added: “But mostly on the social media and some

other quarters, there had been this misunderstanding that the N5,000 is for unemployed graduates. “It has never been for unemployed graduates and that is what the president is

saying, that government is not going to pay N5,000 to unemployed graduates. The N5,000 is for the extremely poor. “What the government is going to do for the un-

President Muhammadu Buhari discussing with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani, at the Amiri Diwan (Emir’s Office), in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.

FG saves N2.293bn monthly, delists 23,846 ghost workers from payroll THROUGH the ongoing BVN-based staff audit and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), the Federal Government has removed 23,846 nonexistent workers from its payroll. Consequently, the salary bill for February has reduced by N2.293 billion when compared to December 2015, at which time the BVN audit process commenced. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, this figure represents a percentage of the number of non-

existent workers, who had hitherto been receiving salary from various ministries, departments and agencies. It was further explained that the investigation of other suspected cases continues in conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Federal Government is also taking action to pursue recovery of salary balances in bank accounts, as well as any pension contributions in respect of the delisted workers. This involves active collaboration with the concerned banks

and the National Pension Commission (PenCom). The ministry noted that the Military Pension Board had revised the amount payable for its due pension contributions on a monthly basis by N575 million, following its annual verification exercise for military retirees. It was gathered that this reduced the number of pensioners by 19,203 as a result of deaths since the last verification exercise in 2012. The Federal Government, in its efforts to reduce personnel cost, is determined to continue the verification

programme on a regular periodic basis. Due to the fact that personnel costs represent over 40 per cent of total government expenditure, the ministry explained that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen its payroll controls. It plans to undertake periodic checks and to utilise Computer Assisted Audit Techniques under its new Continuous Audit Programme. This will ensure that all payments are accurate and valid. Requirements for new entrants joining the Federal

Stop meddling with amnesty programme, ex-militants’ leader, Boyloaf, warns N/Delta politicians Taiwo Adisa - Abuja FORMER militant leader in the Niger Delta, Chief Ebikamowei Victor Ben (AKA Boyloaf), on Thursday, warned politicians in the area to steer clear of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, adding that the programme was a security package aimed at bringing about peace and stability to the Niger Delta. Boyloaf, in a statement made available in Abuja, said any attempt by some politicians, whom he described as “selfish and greedy” to hijack the am-

nesty programme from the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, General Paul Boroh, would trigger another round of avoidable crisis in the oilrich region. The former militants’ leader also stated that he was concerned about subterranean moves being made by some politicians to destabilise the gains of the amnesty programme, adding that such persons saw the programme as their birthright, where they must derive maximum pecuniary gains. Though the statement did not name the said politicians,

the former leader, however, said the major stakeholders, who surrendered arms under the amnesty programme, were satisfied with the efforts so far made by General Boroh to reintegrate them into the society. He said: “We are satisfied that Boroh is working closely with the main actors to bring about the needed peace and reintegration in the Niger Delta. We, hereby, warn against any attempt by politicians to turn the programme to a centre for settlement and political gains. Let the politicians look elsewhere for benefits.

“Anything that distracts from the original concept of using the amnesty office to cater for those who surrendered arms and accepted amnesty by promptly paying them their stipends and empowering them to stand on their own, would trigger new lease of crisis, which we don’t want. “We demand that all peace-loving Nigerians should join hands with the Special Adviser on Niger Delta, to ensure the success of the amnesty programme and bring about the needed peace, unity and stability in the region.”

Civil Service have also been enhanced to prevent the introduction of fictitious employees in future. The ongoing exercise, which is part of the costsaving and anti-corruption agenda of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, is key to funding the deficit in the 2016 budget, as savings made will ultimately reduce the amount to be borrowed. However, reacting to the recent call by the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) that the panel members investigating the cases of indicted civil servants be drawn from both government and labour, the ministry explained that the request could not be acceded to, as the investigations were of a criminal nature and would therefore be handled by the appropriate investigative agencies.

employed graduates is volunteer teacher job in their communities and about half a million of them are going to be given volunteer teaching job, so that while they are looking for jobs in their careers, they can be able to help the schools as teachers and that will also help us to address the issue of quality teaching. “So, they will be trained. The 500,000 graduates will be trained and they will be deployed to teach in schools pending the time they find other jobs in their careers. That is what government is doing for the graduates.” He, therefore, dismissed suggestions that President Buhari may had reneged on the electoral promise to pay the unemployed graduates. According to him, “the president is talking about N5,000 to unemployed people. I mean, this whole idea of government will give money to unemployed graduate, no. And it’s not the first time he is saying it. “The N5,000 which is in the budget is for extremely poor people. That’s what the government had been saying.” He reiterated that the plan to pay the extremely poor was already embedded in the 2016 budget before the National Assembly, as well as providing for the 500,000 unemployed graduates, saying “it’s in the budget already of the president.” Akande further explained: “What the president is saying is that there is no N5,000 for unemployed graduate. “The N5,000 which is conditional cash transfer, is to help extremely poor people and there is already a register that is being developed. “In fact, the register has been completed for about eight states by the World Bank to identify them and the money for that is already in the budget the president sent. It’s already there. “People have always been confusing the issue of N5,000 for unemployed graduates.”

Monday, 29 February, 2016

news

Monday, 29 February, 2016

EFCC to arraign Moro today Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

BARRING any change, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will arraign former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, before Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court, Abuja, today (Monday). The former minister, who served under the administration of former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, will be arraigned alongside three others and a company on an 11-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense, procurement fraud and money laundering. To be arraigned by the anti-corruption commission alongside the former minister are Anastasia Daniel Nwobia; F O Alayebami and Mahmood Ahmadu, who is said to be at large now. Also, Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited will be arraigned with the former minister and others. A source in the commission informed the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday evening that Moro allegedly defrauded a total of 676, 675,000 job seekers to the tune of

N676,675million, being the total amount realised from the N1,000 each applicant paid through epayment for their online recruitment exercise into the tragic 2014 botched recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Moro, it was further gathered, contravened the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 in awarding contract for the recruitment exercise to Drexel Tech Nigeria Limited, by not following the necessary procedure laid down by the government. According to the source, the contract was neither advertised nor had needs assessment, while a procurement plan was not carried out before award of the contract to the company. The contract was awarded through selective tendering procedure by invitation of four firms without seeking approval

JAMB UTME continues today By Laolu Harolds

THE 2016/2017 University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which started on Saturday, continues today (Monday) in

Current oil prices totally unacceptable —Buhari •Wants Jerusalem as Palestinian capital

Leon Usigbe-Abuja

N his second day in Doha, Qatar, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, in Doha, stressed that memberstates of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC must cooperate and find a common ground to stabilise crude oil prices. He made the remark at a bilateral meeting with the Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, who was also told that Nigeria backed Security Council resolutions, restoring and respecting 1,967 boundaries with Jerusalem as capital of Palestine. Buhari described the current market situation in the industry, which had seen oil prices plummet by 70 per cent since mid2014, as “totally unacceptable.’’ He added: “As members of OPEC and Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), our relations in the areas of oil and gas, which our two nations heavily rely on, need to be enhanced and coordinated for the benefit of our people. “The current market situ-

ation in the oil industry is unsustainable and totally unacceptable. “We must cooperate both within and outside our respective organisations to find a common ground to stabilise the market, which will be beneficial to our nations.” The president commended the existing cordial bilateral relations between both countries and invited prospective Qatari investors to take advantage of the abundant opportunities in Nigeria and invest in the key areas of energy, agriculture, real estate development, banking and finance. He assured prospective investors of government’s protection of their persons and investment, noting that in the course of his visit, the delegations from Nigeria and Qatar would formalise at least two bilateral agreements to boost economic cooperation between both countries. On the situation in the Middle East, Buhari commended the role Qatar was playing in resolving the present Syrian crisis, the Palestinian cause and efforts in reconstructing Gaza. He stated: “The conflicts in Yemen and Syria with

•Nigeria, Qatar sign bilateral agreements

their attendant humanitarian crisis need genuine international effort to solve. Nigeria as a peace loving country identifies with the State of Qatar in all her peace efforts in the world to end terrorists’ activities. “Nigeria is a victim of terrorism. It is with heavy heart that I stand before you and say activities of Boko Haram have led to loss of many lives and displacement of innocent people in our dear nation. “We, however, take pride to inform you that since our coming to power, Boko Haram has been systematically decimated and are in no position to cause serious threat to our development programmes. “I wish to reiterate that Nigeria rejects violence and extremism in all their ramifications, and assure your Highness that we are with the State of Qatar in your efforts to fight terrorism and injustice in your region and in the world at large.’’ President Buhari also called for a lasting solution to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict, saying, “we,, in Nigeria, like the State of Qatar, favour a ‘Two State’ solution, with the State of Palestine living side by side

with the State of Israel. “I want to assure you that we will stand side by side with you, until our brothers and sisters in Palestine achieve their desired objectives. “Our support for various Security Council resolutions restoring and respecting 1,967 boundaries with Jerusalem as capital of Palestine is firm and unshaken.” Meanwhile, Nigeria have signed Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) to pave way for direct flights between major cities of both countries. Both countries also signed an agreement to avoid double taxation and tax evasion on Sunday, in Doha, as part of activities lined up during President Buhari’s state visit to Qatar. The Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, representing the president, signed the air services agreement on behalf of the country, while Qatar’s Minister of Transportation and Communications, Jassim Bin Saif Alsulaiti, signed on behalf the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hammad AlThani.

of Bureau for Public Procurement contrary to sections 40, 42 and 43 of the Public Procurement Act, No. 65 of 2007 and punishable under section 58 of the same act. In another development, an inside source informed the Nigerian Tribune that the deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, who was arrested last week by the commission in Abuja was still in EFCC custody as of last weekend. Also said to still being in detention was the Chief Executive Officer of Mezcor Oil and Gas, Donald Chidi Amamgbo, who is said to be a cousin of the immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke. Amamgbo, is also the Executive Officer of Tridax Oil and Gas, Lynear Energy Limited and Bulk Strategic Reserved Limited.

According to a statement issued from Doha, by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the agreement, which was signed in the presence of both leaders, was expected to operate on the principle of reciprocity by the designated airlines on behalf of the countries. Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, also signed the agreement for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes income with her Qatari counterpart, Ali Shareef Al Emadi. According to the statement, it was also expected that the agreement on bilateral air service would promote trade, commerce and tourism between the two countries, just as Nigeria had also commenced discussions on partnerships towards establishing a national airline for Nigeria. “The agreement on the avoidance of double taxation, which has been negotiated since February 2015, will, no doubt, bring in more investments and businesses between Qatar and Nigeria,” the statement added.

about 500 accredited CBT centres across the country. This year’s exercise is the second time the examination is being conducted fully on computer-based basis. Only one session of the examination was held on Saturday across the nation owing to the national environmental sanitation exercise, but from today and till the end of the exercise, there will be three sessions. There were no serious hitches experienced in Saturday’s exercise and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is hoping to further improve on its delivery going forward from today. According to the Head of Media and Information, JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, one of the few things the board discovered in Saturday’s exercise was in the candidates’ handling of the test technology itself. He told Nigerian Tribune on Sunday: “The system is done in such a way that you can fast-forward, go back, go forth, skip questions and so on; and we noticed that some candidates were using almost all these features at the same time. And you know when you do that, sometimes the system gets confused, and then it hangs. “But we are trying to see how we can upgrade the system in such a way that even when they begin to manipulate it in such a way, it (system) will give them the benefit of the doubt and it won’t hang. But it was just in very few centres that we noticed that.”

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Lagos

Four in detention over unlawful possession of arms Gbemi Solaja FOUR men have been remanded in prison over alleged unlawful possession of AK 47 and other dangerous weapons. The four suspects: Azeez Gbadamosi, 30: Salami Rafiu, 32: Waidi

Nigerian Tribune

Oseni, 29: and Rasheed Adeshina, 44, according to the detectives at the State Police Command, Panti- Yaba, were arrested on December 30, 2015, at Mushin. The detectives further stated that they were arrested with AK 47 with serial number 0701235,

a pump action rifle with serial number 1434, and two live cartridges without licence from the appropriate authority. They all pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate court.

The offence according to the prosecutor, Sergeant Jimah Osaghele, are contrary to and punishable under section 409 of the criminal laws of Lagos state, and sections 8 and 3, and 27(a)(1), 27(b)(2) of the Firearms Act Cap F28, laws of the Federation

of Nigeria, 2004. Applying for bail for the suspects, their lawyer, Mr Spourgeon Ataene, urged the court to admit them in the most liberal terms. But in opposition to the bail, the prosecutor, Inspector Osaghele said police rely on

Section 74 of ACJA, adding that what was before the court was not a charge rather a remand warrant, pending the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution on the matter. Magistrate Ope-Agbe, ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody, while adjourning the ruling on the bail application till March 28.

60-year-old man keeps minor as sex slave for months Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin

Worshippers leaving after Sunday service at Reverend King’s church, Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), at Ajao Estate, on Sunday. INSET: Another view of the church. PHOTOS: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Witches, wizards behind our G.O.’s ordeal — Rev King’s followers

Chukwuma Okparaocha

EMBERS of the Christian Praying Assembly (CPA) have unequivocally declared that the General Overseer (G.O) of the church, Reverend King, whose real name is Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, will be back soon, irrespective of the Supreme Court’s judgement concerning him. Reverend King, it will be recalled, last week, had a death sentence passed on him affirmed by the apex court for the gruesome murder of one of his church members in 2006, an allegation that he, as well as many of his followers have continued to deny, vehemently. On Sunday, during a visit to the headquarters of the church situated at Ajao area of Lagos, by Lagos Metro,

• Says he promised us that he will come back a preacher led the congregation to pray, sing and dance mostly in honour of the controversial clergyman. The preacher who was later identified as Pastor Ifeayin King (most of the high ranking pastors of the church are often referred to as “King”) attributed the plights of Reverend King to the activities of witches and wizards, who he said should not rejoice yet because the whole development was still at the preface stage. “Our G.O. the most holiness, Reverend King is coming back. He said he would come back and we believe the words of his mouth. We believe his report that he is coming back. Everything happening now we know is the handiwork of witches and wizard, but this is just

the preface stage, soon a new story will emerge,” the preacher, who preached in both English and Igbo, said. Pastor Ifeayin, who like a few other males in the church, spotted some beard and a clean-shaven head, which was the signature appearance of the embattled clergyman, told members of the congregation that they should take delight in the fact that the whole debacle had further pushed the CPA brand and the personality of Reverend King to hitherto unreached places. “Whether people realise it or not, everybody now knows his holiness, our G.O. Reverend King. The front pages of newspapers are flooded with his name. People are yearning to read about him on the social media. I can confirm

to you that by all these, a lot of people have become endeared to him. Our Daddy G.O. shall live forever for us in Jesus name,” he said. A distinct feature of the church is the strong stance against mobile phones and hostility towards journalists, which saw the ushers warning Lagos Metro correspondent who went under the guise of a worshipper to “please put off your phones, as we do not allow phones to even ring here.” A young lady sitting close by had her phone promptly confiscated after it barely rang out while the Lagos Metro correspondent almost has his phone seized, when his phone which had been put on silent mode gave an indication of an incoming call. “If you don’t switch off your

phone now, I will walk you out,” an usher threatened. An individual sitting close by took the issue on himself as he promptly accused the correspondent of coming to the church with an ulterior motive. “You are a journalist. Where did you come from? I know you are a journalist; there are many like you here. You always come here to look for news, while pretending to be one of us,” he shouted, despite the fact that the service was still ongoing. Members of the church, who refused to allow the impeding death of their G.O. dampen their moral, also used the occasion to celebrate the birthday of Reverend King with different songs, prayers, dancing and merriment.

A 60-year-old man, Abdulahi Mohammed has been arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a 13-yearold girl. The incident happened at his home in Bankole Agagu Street, Oke Aro, a boundary town between Lagos and Ogun states from 2015 to 2016. According to the Police, Abdullahi allegedly lured the 13-year-old girl into his home and forcefully had sex with her. He then warned the victim not to tell anyone. However her parents noticed her awkward movement caused by an injury she sustained during the penetration. When she was questioned, she narrated how the suspect has been forcefully having sex with her for months. Abdullahi was arrested and then charged before an Ogba Magistrate Court for rape. He, however, pleaded not guilty to two-count charge of defilement under the Criminal Code. The presiding Magistrate, T. A. Elias granted him bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered that he be remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri until he fulfils his bail conditions. The matter has been adjourned till April 11, 2016.

Monday, 29 February, 2016

metro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Lagos launches sexual assault standing order, rape kits Bola Badmus

The suspected Awawa cultists

46 Awawa suspected cultists for trial Olalekan Olabulo NO fewer than 46 members of the dreaded cult group, popularly known as Awawa confraternity in Agege and its environs have been arrested by the police and are

to face trial soon. Many of the suspects were on Saturday arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) during raids on their hideouts along Agidingbi and other parts of Agege.

The operation which lasted three hours early Saturday morning, was led by the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Timothy Ojetunde with other policemen after RRS received reports from members of the public

of cultists maiming and attacking innocent people in the area. “Apart from incessant complaints from the residents which we received on daily basis in our office alleging that some group of young

How pure water operators, others defraud govt — Water Corporation Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba LAGOS Water Corporation has revealed that some commercial water operators failed to meet the requirements by duly registering with the corporation, thereby denying the state expected accruable revenue and robbing the state government. Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Adekunle Badmus, during a sensitisation programme with commercial water operators in the state at the corporation headquarters noted that illegal activities by stakeholders would be dealt with within the ambit of the law. He noted that to carry out their business, water operators must apply to the Corporation to be registered as a Commercial Water Operator; ensure assessment of premises and operating conditions to meet standard specification; make prompt payment for water charges,

among others. He explained that according to the Lagos Water Sector Law No. 14a of 2004, illegal act constitute, “selling water obtained from LWC pipes without clearance from the Corporation; connecting illegally to any water pipe laid by the Corporation, as well as bottling and packaging of water obtained from LWC pipes

without clearance from the Corporation. While warning water operators to desist from illegal acts, Badmus said, “this is a dawn of a new era, any operators who violate the standard of operations and who do not pay their charges as at when due will face the full wrought of the law.” He, however, enjoined

unregistered water sellers to avoid being sanctioned. The Assistant Chairman of Water Sellers Association in Lagos State, James Odedeyi, while commending the LWC MD and the Management on the initiative, said members of the association would continue to work with the corporation and prayed that all efforts will not be in vain.

Man pushes friend to death during heated argument Gbemi Solaja A 32-year-old man, Ojo Eseyin has been accused of killing his friend, one Abdullahi Ogunmuyiwa by pushing him during a heated argument. Detectives from Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of Lagos State Police Command had arraigned Eseyin before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate

Court on charge of manslaughter. In the charge, the Police alleged that Eseyin killed his friend, on January 13, at OkeIsanlu Junction, Ikotun. On the day of the incident, Eseyin and Abdullahi had engaged in a heated argument which led to an altercation. Another friend intervened to settle the argument, but Eseyin, who was reportedly furious ignored the friend

and pushed the deceased who fell and hit his head on a pavement, which led to his death The offence is punishable under Section 221 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011. The Magistrate, M. O. Oladoye granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 and two sureties and the matter was adjourned till March 29.

boys and girls with ages ranging between 15 and 22 years, were making lives difficult for residents of Agege and its environs. They equally rape, loot, snatch and dispossess law abiding citizens of their belongings. During their recent attack along Agindigbi Road, we were able to arrest 46 of them including six females while others managed to escape,” the police said. The police source also added that, “Before we could arrest these suspects, they engaged us in a fight, stoning us with pebbles and broken bottles, but our men remained unshaken and eventually led to the arrest of these suspected cultists. “On arrival at the RRS Headquarters in Alausa, the suspects were still threatening to make life unbearable for policemen, shouting vociferously that no one can arrest them and go scot free.” Some of them, who confessed to the crime, said that they were lured into the dreaded cult group by their friends. While confirming the arrest of the suspected cultists, the image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmus described the arrested cult members as “very violent.” The suspects have been handed over to Environmental Task Force, Alausa, for prosecution.

THE Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Primary Health Care Board, at the weekend, launched the Sexual Assault Standing Order and Sexual Assault Evidence Examination Kit, also referred to as rape kits. Coordinator of the DSVRT, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi said the launch was done at a training session for Health workers of Primary Health Care Centres. She listed the five pilot centres to include Ogudu, Ita-elewa in Ikorodu, Ajilete in Ifako-Ijaiye, Palm Avenue in Mushin and Oshodi in Oshodi-Isolo, which at the weekend were beneficiaries of the rape kits. Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed in a statement made available to the Lagos Metro, that the selection of the pilot PHC’s was methodically done as statistic reveals that sexual and gender based assault related crimes are most prevalent in the affected areas. “The Rape Kits contain the necessary instruments used for evidence gathering and examination, some of which include microscope slides, saline water, swabs for collecting fluids from delicate body parts like the lips, cheeks, thighs, private parts. “The kit also includes materials for blood samples, comb, paper sheets for evidence collection such as clothing fibres and hairs nail pick for scraping debris from beneath the nails, gloves. The documentation forms which include the consent form and Patient History/Sexual Assault History,” she said. Mrs Vivour-Adeniyi said the Lagos State Sexual Assault Standing Order, the first of its kind in Nigeria, was produced to guide the provision of health care services as well as set the minimum acceptable standards for the provision of quality health care to the survivors of sexual assault.

businessnews

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Naira depreciates to N330 in mixed trading Chima Nwokoji-lagos

HE Naira over the weekend depreciated to N325 at the Hadji Camp section of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, but exchanged for N330 at the Marina area of Lagos. National Treasury of the Association of Bureux De Change operators of Nigeria (ABCON) Gbadamosi Murtala in a telephone conversation told Nigerian Tribune that the exchange rate could differ based on location. He added that the local currency has reversed its earlier rebound as it depreciated against the dollar at the parallel market closing at N320 on Friday. The Friday close according to him, means the Naira lost N10 to a dollar from N310 exchanged on Thursday. At the official market, the Nigerian currency closed at N197 to the dollar. However, the Naira to the Pounds in the same market traded at N435 as against the N450 traded a day before. The Naira gained N15 to the Pounds. It also appreciated by N10 against the Euro, exchanging at N360 from the N370 sold on Thursday. Traders in the parallel market were optimistic that the Naira would recover this week. Investigations indicated that speculative demands had re-surfaced, following the huge appreciation in the parallel market last week which had lasted for

five days as demand for dollar dropped. Parallel market dealers told Nigerian Tribune that immediately the currency rate trended below N300, suppliers pulled back while demand surged. Asked why the diametri-

cal market behavior, the dealers were of the view that suppliers might have obtained their supplies at margins that could make selling unprofitable at rates below N300/$. The trend reversal was coming at the backdrop of

alleged moves by the Federal Government to enlist the support of the international oil companies (IOCs), in funding fuel importation outside Nigeria’s foreign exchange resources. This development, which a source said began pen-

From left, Executive Director, Lagos Commercial Banking Directorate, Skye Bank Plc, Bayo Sanni(left); Managing Director, Rondatoks Services Nigeria Limited, Mrs Adedoyin Osinowo; Managing Director K-Vogue, Kayode Otunola; and General Manager, Rondators Services Nigeria Limited, Gbolahan Osinowo during a forum of sub distributors/wholesalers of Rondatoks Services Limited on Friday

ELECTRICITY distribution companies (Discos) may soon declare a force majeure, the Chief Executive Officer of one of the companies has confided in the Nigerian Tribune. A force majeure is a term included in contracts to shield parties from bearing the burden of unavoidable developments which may hinder them from fulfilling contractual obligations. The CEO, who complained bitterly about the operating environment at the weekend, said, “All of us should declare a force majeure because, given the condition under which we are operating, there is no way we can meet our obligations.” Last year, the Federal Government had to take over one of the Discos, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, after the

BoI seeks states’ guarantee for SMEs loans Gbola Subair-Abuja

NIGERIA’S leading development finance institution, Bank of Industry (BoI) has come out with the strategies state governments can adopt in assisting entrepreneurs in their domains to asses funding from the bank to set up businesses. BoI Managing Director, Mr Waheed Olagunju, speaking in Abuja at the weekend during Leadership Summit on Industrialisation in the states, identified working with tested business development enterprises in the country as well as helping to guarantee the bank’s exposures to the entrepreneurs as some of the strategies that would help to mobilise appropriate funding for industrial development in the states. While the theme of the two-day summit is Industrialisation in StatesDeveloping, Harnessing and Sustaining Industrialisation Drive of the State Governments in Nigeria Towards Ensuring Rapid Economic Development.

FG saves N2.293bn monthly, delists 23,846 ghost workers from •Investigation into other cases continues payroll By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

THROUGH the ongoing BVN-based staff audit and enrolment to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IP-

PIS), the Federal Government has removed 23,846 non-existent workers from its payroll.Consequently, the salary bill for February 2016 has reduced by N2.293 billion when com-

pared to December 2015 at which time the BVN audit process commenced. According to the Federal Ministry of Finance, this figure represents a percentage of the number of nonexistent workers who had

We may soon declare force majeure —DISCOs By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

ultimate week, may have taken a lot of demand pressures off the Nigerian foreign exchange market while freeing the reserves for other end users. Foreign exchange allocation for fuel imports makes up one of the largest por-

Nigerian Tribune

core investor, Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Company, declared force majeure on six occasions between November 10, 2013 and May 13, 2015, following incessant attacks on its facilities by Boko Haram insurgents. Justifying the need for the Discos to declare force majeure, the CEO said, “We took loans in 2013 when the exchange rate was N155 to a dollar. Now, it is over N300 to the dollar. How can we pay back our debts? “Apart from having to pay back debts at a higher rate, we need equipment to run this industry. Nearly 90 per cent of what we need is imported. What makes our own case peculiar is that whenever anything goes wrong, we have to replace immediately. But can we do that if we do not have access to dollar at the of-

ficial exchange rate? “The exchange rate is also affecting our corporate customers. In my own case, my corporate customers contribute 60 per cent to my revenue. But now many of them have either closed down or scaled down their operations. If my customers are out of business how am I supposed to generate revenue? How am I supposed to embark on metering? How am I supposed to pay my staff and settle my bills?” The man said one other factor affecting the conduct of their business which might force them to declare a force majeure was the debt owed the Discos by government and its agencies. He said, “As of today, federal, state and local governments as well as ministries, departments and agencies owe Discos over N15billion. This is talking only about the debts ac-

cumulated between 2013 and now. The government and its agencies owe us so much and they want us to improve our facilities, tell me how can we achieve that?” On way out, he said the government had to give the Discos special concession concerning access to dollar at the official exchange rate. “The government has to put us on the priority list for access to dollar at the official exchange rate. We need dollar to repay our debts, we need dollar to source materials. We cannot depend on the black market for dollars. So, the government has to give us a concession. Then, we cannot continue with the government and its agencies owing us in perpetuity. So, let the government make the payment of its electricity bill a priority.”

hitherto been receiving salary from various ministries, departments and agencies. It was further explained that the investigation of other suspected cases continues in conjunction with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Federal Government is also taking actions to pursue recovery of salary balances in bank accounts as well as any pension contributions in respect of the deleted workers. This involves active collaboration with the concerned banks and the National Pension Commission (Pencom). The Ministry noted that the Military Pension Board has revised the amount payable for its due pension contributions on a monthly basis by N575m, following its annual verification exercise for military retirees. This reduced the number of pensioners by 19,203 as a result of deaths since the last verification exercise in 2012. The Federal Government, in its efforts to reduce personnel cost, is determined to continue the verification programme on a regular periodic basis. Due to the fact that personnel costs represent over 40 per cent of total government expenditure, the Ministry explained

that the Federal Government would continue to strengthen its payroll controls. It plans to undertake periodic checks and to utilise Computer Assisted Audit Techniques under its new Continuous Audit Programme. This will ensure that all payments are accurate and valid. Requirements for new entrants joining the Federal Civil Service have also been enhanced to prevent the introduction of fictitious employees in future. The ongoing exercise, which is part of the costsaving and anti-corruption agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, is key to funding the deficit in the 2016 budget, as savings made will ultimately reduce the amount to be borrowed. However, reacting to the recent call by the leadership of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) that the panel members investigating the cases of indicted civil servants be drawn from both government and labour, the Ministry explained that the request could not be acceded to, as the investigations were of a criminal nature and would therefore be handled by the appropriate investigative agencies.

businessnews

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Stable power supply: Buhari should declare operation war against darkness —Bamidele Bola Badmus-Lagos

S President Muhammadu Buhari is fighting corruption in the country, he has been called upon to direct same energy and zeal to tackle the rot in energy sector by proclaiming what could be called “Operation Let there be Light’ or ‘Operation War Against Darkness’ throughout the length and breadth of Nigeria. The president in doing this was enjoined to set up a body comprised of electricity retirees and Licensed Contractors Association of Nigeria, among others, with a proposed law backing the body, to bring to fulfilment getting every nook and crannies of Nigeria lit up as soon as possible. A National Trustee of Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Electricity Sector, Comrade Musili Alabi Bamidele, made this call while speaking with the

Nigerian Tribune, insisting that all hands needed to be on deck to achieve a turnaround in the electricity sector in the country. According to Bamidele, who expressed strong belief in bringing more investors into the sector in area of generation and distribution of electricity beyond the 11 already assigned by the Federal Government, stated that a lot of challenges facing the sector had to do with distribution which got cut off due to cables laying on one another and most times tree branches falling on power

line in the middle of thick forests. She said it would be the duties of the body being proposed to tackle these challenges as they would be largely populated by technicians and not graduate engineers who could not be saddled with entering thick forests to start tracing fault lines and fixing them. “Although Nigeria can still produce more megawatts of electricity, but the ones we are producing now are wasting away and not being distributed fully. I could recall that in one

of my trips to Kogi State recently, I could identify some fault lines, including falling wires and tree branches falling on power line which smooth distribution impossible. All this is the work of technical people if they are motivated to do it, you don’t expect the engineers to enter bush and be tracing and fixing fault lines,” she said. Besides, Comrade Alabi also identified debt recovery from electricity consumers as another challenge facing electricity distribution companies and the country at large,

saying giving her past experience in the field, both Federal Government and the National Assembly should incorporate in the proposed law the engagement of private bodies that would be charged with recovering debts owed the electricity distribution companies by the consumers. According to her, the proposed law should allow those that would be put in charge of recovering the debt to be entitled to a small percentage of whatever amount they were able to recover from electricity consumers as debt.

CBN to revise capital adequacy standard for Islamic banks Gbola Subair-Abuja

THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to revise capital adequacy standard for institutions offering Islamic banks in Nigeria. In furtherance to this, the apex bank, in conjunction with Islamic banking experts from Malaysia hosted the fourth technical workshop on the implementation of Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) standards for stakeholders in Nigeria. IFSB, like the Basel Committee is an international standard-setting organisation that promotes and enhances the soundness and stability of the Islamic financial Services industry by issuing global prudential standards and building principles for the Industry, comprising banking, capital market s and insurance sectors. Declaring open the four day workshop in Abuja, the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Dr Joseph Nnana disclosed that the workshop provided an excellent opportunity for the participants to have an interactive dialogue with IFSB team from Malaysia and exchange ideas, experience and perspectives on developments in the area of Islamic Finance and particularly how to implement IFSB standards in Nigeria.

BEDC wins CBN’s cashless payment award BENIN Electricity Distribution Plc. (BEDC) last Thursday in Lagos became the first electricity distribution company to emerge a winner in the maiden edition of the Electronic Payments Incentives Scheme (EPIS) Efficiency award caming tops as the best Cashless Driver-Corporate category. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS) Plc initiated the award, according to a statement from BEDC. The award was presented to the Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, Mr Ernest Edgar who represented BEDC at the event, for the company’s outstanding contributions to the growth of electronic payment industry in Nigeria and for pushing deeper, the adoption of e-payment platforms in the electricity distribution industry, in line with CBN’s Cashless policy anchored on electronic payment system as contained in Vision PSV 2020. The Cashless Driver Corporate category which had two corporate nominees, BEDC and Ikeja Electric, is a platform to recognize, appreciate and reward stakeholders, notably in the payment industry, such as banks, payment processors.

From left, Temitayo Olutoye, Head Products and Market Support Keystone Bank, Innocent Ike, Executive Director, Keystone Bank, Irish Amabassador to Nigeria, Sean Hoy, Thessa Brongers Bagu, Enterprise Ireland, Michael Agamah General Counsel/Secretary to the board Keystone Bank, Omobolanle Osotule Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Keystone Bank, during a visit by the Ambassador to Keystone Bank Head office, in Lagos.

SF markets launches website for investors

We are building an investment friendly enviroment —Udoma

Ayomide Owonibi-Odekanyin Lagos

THE Budget and National Planning Minister, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma has reiterated Federal Government’s determination to support the private sector as part of its cardinal move to reflate the country’s economy. The minister, who was speaking in Abuja, on Thursday, while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce,

Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said a healthy partnership between government and the private sector will see the economy grow much faster. Acknowledging the private sector as the engine room of development, Senator Udoma told the delegation that the present administration is fully committed to building an investment friendly envi-

ronment for the organised private sector, which is part of why this year’s budget gave prominence to infrastructure development. He agreed that the private sector required sound and effective infrastructure to operate and assured that government was doing everything possible to ensure that the engine room of the economy runs smoothly. This desire of govern-

Economy: Dangote wins outstanding award IN recognition of its contribution to the Nigerian economy, the Dangote Cement Plc has won the most Outstanding Company of the year award. The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) which announced the honour said the Cement Company has distinguished itself above others through its support for the development of the Nigerian economy. President of the ACCI, Mr Tony Ejinkeonye, said the award was in recognition of the company’s sus-

tained contribution to the growth of the economy. The Regional Director, North Central, Dangote Cement Plc Dolapo Alli, Abuja Representative of the Dangote Group Hashem Ahmed, Manager Dangote Cement Plc Mustafa Yelwa and Media Relations Specialist Jibrin Abubakar received the award on behalf of the company. Speaking, Mr Hashem Ahmed expressed appreciation for the award and said it would further spur the Group to sustain its

support for, not only the country’s economy, but Africa as a whole. He said already thousands of jobs are being created on the continent. Speaking to newsmen on the sideline of the award, the Regional Director, Mr Dolapo Alli said Dangote Cement has production and operations in some African countries. According to him, in Nigeria the cement company has three cement plants with a combined installed capacity of 29.25 million MT per annum.

ment, he explained, was why it deliberately decided that the 2016 budget must align with planning needs, pointing out that the structure of the budget is very good as it does not only address development needs but does not entirely depend on oil as its only source of funding. To ensure the proper tracking of the economy, the minister said government had set up a special committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, which duty also involves fully tracking the performance of the 2016 Budget, He assured that Government was fashioning out policies that would encourage Export and domestic production in its determined effort to ensure that most of the things consumed in the country are produced in Nigeria. “Our 2016 Budget is designed to have capital component of 30 per cent that will reflate our economy and provide Infrastructural growth for investors to leverage upon”, he added.

IN the bid to give a thorough breakdown of the Nigerian capital market, Scottfree Markets has launched new benchmark tradable indices that will gain exposure about the Nigeria market. Speaking at the launching of the tradable indices in Lagos over the weekend, the Chief Operation Officer of Scottfree Markets, Mr Adebusoye Sotinwa said the firm is trying to be thorough reflection of the market. He pointed out Scottfree Markets was established by experienced index professionals to create a number of innovative benchmark and tradable indices tailored specifically for the Sub-Saharan African region. “Scottfree Markets currently provides over 50 equity and fixed income indices in multiple currencies,” Sotinwa said, adding that he believes that the SFNG Equity Index Series would provide an independent insight into the performance of the equity markets in Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa.

businessnews

Monday, 29 February, 2016

NSE: Investors stake N11.7bn in bearish trend

EARISH trend persist in trading at the Nigerian Stock Exchange during last week trading as indices lost 0.8 per cent Week on Week (WoW). The fall in the market was, however, saved with slight gains recorded by blue-chip companies on the Nigerian Bourse on the Thursday and Friday. The All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation depreciated by 0.83 per cent and 0.80 per cent to close the week at 24,228.79 and N8.336 trillion respectively. A turnover of 4.476 billion shares worth N11.742 billion in 14,124 deals were traded last week by investors on the floor of the exchange in contrast to a total of 1.202 billion shares valued at N9.641 billion that exchanged hands in 13,712 deals in the preceding week. The consumer goods industry led the activity chart with 3.331 billion shares valued at N5.695 billion traded in 2,511 deals; thus contributing 74.42 per cent and 48.50 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Financial Services Industry followed with

1.008 billion shares worth N3.752 billion in 8,730 deals. The third place was occupied by the oil and gas industry with a turnover of 55.332 million shares worth N416.383 million in 1,024 deals. Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc, FCMB Group Plc and FBN Holdings Plc.

made equities that traded in top three as they accounted for 3.736 billion shares worth N4.872 billion in 2,443 deals, contributing 83.47 per cent and 41.49 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. All other indices on the Nigerian Bourse finished

higher during the week, with the exception of NSE Premium Index, NSE 30 Index, NSE Banking Index, NSE Insurance Index and NSE Pension Index that depreciated by 0.83 per cent, 3.01 per cent, 0.35 per cent, 2.45 per cent, 1.25 per cent and 1.25 per cent respectively.

21 equities appreciated in price last week, lower than 22 equities of the previous week. 35 equities depreciated in price, lower than 37 equities of the previous week, while 134 equities remained unchanged, higher than 131 equities recorded in the preceding week.

From left: Yinka Oyinlola, CEO, Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI); Tony O. Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings and UBA Plc and Taiwo Oyedele, Fellow NLI & Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers at an intimate Q&A session with Elumelu, hosted by The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), in conjunction with NLI, in Lagos.

Rates to moderate N329.93bn treasury bills issuance, maturity Chima Nwokoji-lagos

DEALERS at the money market are expectant of a moderation in interbank rates as Nigeria’s planned N329.93 billion treasury bills issuance balances out

its equivalent tenors and values maturities. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said the maturities will range between 3-month and 1-year at an auction on March 2. The bank further ex-

plained that it would issue N57.85 billion in the 3-month bill, N50 billion in the 6-month paper and N222.08 billion in the 1-year debt, using the Dutch Auction System. “This week we expect

$955.3m equity: Oando shareholders approved plan to acquire shares KehindeAkinseinde-JayeobaLagos

OANDO Energy Resources has announced that at a special meeting of its shareholders has approved the plan of Oando E&P Holdings Limited to acquire the minority shares of its Canadian listed subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources (OER) and Oado Plc. At a special meeting of its shareholders held last week in Vancouver, British Colombia, majority of the shareholders gave consent to the plan of arrangement. The company in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said, “In respect of the specific voting results regarding approval of the special resolution in connection with the Plan of Arrangement, a total of 550,456,175 votes were cast by shareholders, representing 69.15 per cent of

the total issued and outstanding Common Shares. 100 per cent of the votes cast were voted in favour of the resolution.” The company, however, said the parties have agreed to extend the outside date to March 25, 2016, while noting that the plan of arrangement was subject to the final approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia at a hearing scheduled to be held on February 26, 2016 and subject to satisfaction or waiver of various other conditions specified in OER’s management information circular dated January 19, 2016. It was also noted that copies of the arrangement agreement dated December 22, 2015, the management information circular and certain related documents have been filed with Canadian securities regulators and are available un-

der the Company’s profile on the Canadian SEDAR website.

moderation in interbank rates as the impact of N370.4billion Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) inflow lingers,” dealers at Cowry Asset Management Limited said. Nigeria issues treasury bills to help manage banking system liquidity and provide cash flow for government business. In the just concluded

week, Nigerian Offered Interbank Rates advanced despite boost in financial system liquidity due to maturities of 301 day treasury bills worth N257.93billion via open market operations. The dealers said yields on the Nigerian Interbank True Treasury Bills mostly headed northwards on renewed investor sell pressure.

Nigerian Tribune

Lagos INFOCUS PR holds all sector economic and ICT conference IN response to the Nigerian government’s commitment to positive publicprivate sector utilisation of technology to develop efficiency, InFocus PR, is organizing Sectors Economic & ICT Initiative Conference 2016, themed: Developing a Future-Proof Economic & ICT Strategy for Revolution, Reform and Enhanced Service Delivery. CEO of InFocus PR Lagos, Chi Tola, who emphasized that ICT has become so all-encompassing in the 21 century where applications can be found in practically every area of life; said the area of the economy “is becoming increasingly important on a macroeconomic level. “Not only is the ICT industry a steadily growing sector with a high economic significance, ICT-based solutions and technologies also make a valuable and very important contribution to value-creation in other sectors, such as the Public Sector and trade or manufacturing industries.” Saying that “responsive public services are critical to improving people’s quality of life and enhancing their opportunities,” Tola added that “technology is a critical component in ensuring services are high quality, efficient and continually improving to meet evolving needs. Digital media is woven into the fabric of the modern workplace thus driving the need for digital literacy for every entry job, even those once considered to be strictly vocational.”

Our outlets breed entrepreneurs —Ojo WHAT should a restaurant do? The question supposedly has a simple answer – provide sumptuous food for its customers. But, for Gruby’s Restaurants, there is more to food business than serving the stomach. That was the revelation made by Oluwakemi SeyiOjo, Managing Director of Gruby’s during the formal opening of an outlet of the company at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State. According to Seyi-Ojo, her business has over the years concentrated on making entrepreneurs of some of her staff, who are now replicating her concept of quality service, self-dependence and employment generation in their businesses. “Beyond taking care

of the stomach, we have made it a mandate to encourage younger ones, who had the privilege of working with us, to clearly see the sustaining future in taking ones destiny into ones hand. That is why we are proud to say that some of our former staffs are now business owners owing to our commitment to quality service and mentoring. Their stay here has been a sort undergoing tutelage and we also provide support to give stability to their businesses” she said. While sharing with journalists how she got into food business, the former banker noted that though she never formally trained as a caterer, her passion for cooking informed her opting for operating a restau-

rant when her marriage to Dr Seyi Ojo, a medical doctor, necessitated her leaving the banking industry. She further informed that her first outlet was opened within the premises of the University Teaching Hospital (UCH), Ibadan about 20 years ago, adding that the crave for expansion has seen her opening outlets at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun state and Ajayi Crowder University, Oyo. The latest at the OAU campus, she said, would bring to bear the restaurant’s longstanding knack for quality and reasonable pricing, saying, “we are conscious of the fact that we operate in an academic environment where we must put into consideration the economic status of our custom-

ers (mainly students) without compromising quality. I believe in giving out the best and see my signature in this environment and I know it is going to pay off at the end of the day.” Seyi-Ojo also used the opportunity to admonish governments at all levels in the country to see to the problem of multiple taxation, which, according to her, kills businesses. “The present government must address the issue of multiple taxation, if they want small scale businesses to survive. Without the small scale businesses the country cannot thrive. If multiple taxation continues, everything will collapse. That will not augur well for the growth of the country,” she submitted.

Monday, 29 February, 2016

south-westnews

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Olubadan coronation: Preparation in top gear at Adetunji’s compound

As Olubadan-designate seeks support for security agencies By Tunde Ogunesan

IVE days to the official coronation of the new Olubadan of Ibadan, the family house and palace of the Olubadan-designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, has continued to wear new look in preparation for the Friday event. Nigerian Tribune sources informed that the mood within the family, friends, associates and even among the Olubadan-incouncil is high. It was further gathered that the Adetunji’s palace is currently experiencing a facelift which may however transcends March 4 coronation date because of circumstances. However, the hustling and bubbling is unlimited as a source informed that series of high wired meetings, targeted at having a befitting outing on Friday, were held within and outside the palace environment on Sunday. Nigerian Tribune also gathered that two Aso ebi are in circulation for the occasion. The first, a “clean lace material” according to sources, is meant for the children and family members while there is also an Ankara material for the larger circle with green material of AsoOke to match. Meanwhile, friends and associates of the Adetunji, Olubadan circle and various classes of Ibadan indigenes have been picking the cream and green coloured Ankara since two weeks ago. “We’re ready for Friday and you can see that the entire Adetunji household is living the ecstasy of our father’s ascension to the throne. Insha Allah, by Friday, Adetunji will be crowned Olubadan of Ibadan,” one of the sources stated. Meanwhile, the Olubadan-designate, High Chief Adetunji, has urged members of the public to cooperate with the security agencies in their bid to promote peace and security in the land. Receiving the Oyo State Director of the State Security Service (DSS), Mr Laasan Baba and his management team at his residence at Popoyemoja, Ibadan, over the weekend, High Chief Adetunji stated that the cooperation of the public in the area of intelligence gathering had become necessary to reduce crime rate to the barest minimum. According to him, once

the intelligence gathering is accurate from willing public, the possibility of identity mix-up would be significantly reduced. The Olubadan-designate spoke through Professor Taoheed Adedoja, former Minister of Special

Duties, Youth and Sport. He spoke in the same vein when the Oyo State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr John Adewoye, paid him a courtesy visit at the palace recently. Meanwhile, the Olubadan-

designate has been admitted as a full member of the Ibadan Progressive Union, the oldest surviving sociocultural club in Ibadanland founded in 1930. He was presented a cap, plaque and constitution of the union by the president,

Pastor John Adeniji and the secretary, Fatai Olalekan Falola, with a registration number 385. Pastor Falola who noted that his union had produced five Olubadans, said his union has emerged as a stabilising factor in the polity.

The Lord Bishop of Ibadan Arch Diocese, Most Reverend (Dr) Joseph Olatunji Akinfenwa (second left) with the newly ordained priests, during the licensing of lay readers and Lenten ordination, held at St. Stephen’s Church, Inalende, Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: D’TOYIN.

...Oyediji files committal proceedings against Olubadan-designate By Tunde Ogunesan

THE head of Seriki chiefs in Ibadan, Chief Adebayo Oyediji, has filed committal proceedings against the Olubadan designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, for presenting himself for promotion and selection as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan on March 4, as against an interlocutory injunction ordered by Honourable Justice M.O. Ishola in a suit No 1/421/07, on November 21, 2008. Chief Oyediji, who filed appeal for the Form 48 through his counsel, A.G. Adeniran, February 23, 2016, in a letter addressed to the Senior Registrar, High Court of Justice Registry, Iyaganku, Ibadan, dated February 22 and entitled “Re Suit No: 1/421/07 Chief Adebayo Oyediji & ORS vs His Royal Majesty Oba Samuel Lana & ORS: Application for issuance of Form 48 on Chief Saliu Adetunji, said he has been pushed to the wall, hence his decision to take the last “unfriendly option” available to him. In the two-page letter, which was accompanied with the copy of the motion on notice and a photocopy

of the request form, Adeniran said High Chief Adetunji disregarded the order of the court by presenting himself for coronation this Friday, March 4. The said suit No 1/421/07, held at Court 19, was between Chiefs Adebayo Oyediji, Oyesola Oyeranmi, Olalekan Adisa Fakunle,

Ganiyu Oduola Sagade, Rasidi Abinupagun, Gabriel Kofoworola Amoo and Yisau Olanrewaju Ajibike (for themselves and on behalf of Seriki chiefs of Ibadanland) as plaintiffs while the nine defendants were governor of Oyo State, AttorneyGeneral of Oyo State, His Royal Majesty Oba Samuel

Lana (added by order of court made on January 14, 2008) for himself and on behalf of (1) all chiefs in the Olubadan and Balogun lines and (2) for himself and on behalf of the other members of the Ibadan South-East local government chieftaincy committee).

Osun doctors: S/West NMA threatens solidarity strike OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta

THE South-West caucus of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to commence systemic solidarity strike until Osun State government pays its members all outstanding salaries. Speaking at a press conference over the weekend, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, the chairman of the South-West caucus, Dr Adenike Odewabi, said the decision was borne out of the insensitivity of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the plight of the doctors. Odewabi, who doubles as the chairman of the association in the state, flanked

by the Treasurer, Dr Gaffar Akinsanya, said that doctors in the state were last paid in October 2015. The NMA chairman noted that the issues of backlog/ non-payment of salaries in the state dated back to the period of excess in the national revenue, saying members of the association at different times sought for peaceful solution to the situation. The association lamented the inability of the Osun State government to implement the 2014 approved corrected salary scale for doctors and condemned the introduction of its own version of the Federal Government Tax System (Personal

Income Tax System), which made doctors to pay twice the tax of doctors in other institutions. She explained that effort by doctors in the state to dialogue with government had not been successful which led to the industrial action embarked on by them. Odewabi said, “We, the entire South-West Caucus of the NMA, have observed the recalcitrant posture of Osun State government being supervised by Rauf Aregbesola, hence resolved to commence a systematic solidarity strike and public protests in all the states of South-West till the demands of our colleagues are met.”

Nigerian Tribune

Awoleye donates cash to Ibadan quintuplets By Nurudeen Alimi

LAWMAKER representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Abiodun Awoleye, over the weekend donated an undisclosed amount of money for the upkeep of the quintuplets born at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, some weeks ago. Awoleye, who arrived at the premises of the hospital at about 1:00a.m., on Saturday, in company of some of his political associates, said he came to share in the joy of the Abdulrasaq’s family and also to give a token to assist in the upkeep of the babies. “I’m here to rejoice with the family of the quintuplets. I heard the news while on duty in Abuja and I just feel it is important I come to congratulate them. Aside the fact that UCH is within the jurisdiction of my constituency, the family of the quintuplets also reside in Ward 7 of Ibadan North Federal Constituency which I represent in the green chamber of the National Assembly.

Ogun solicits support of forestry stakeholders in enhancing IGR OGUN State government has solicited support of stakeholders in the forestry sector to curb illegal felling of trees in government-owned forest reserves in order to enhance the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state. The state Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, gave the charge while addressing the Timber Contractor Association, Ogun Waterside Chapter, during his working visit to Divisional Forestry Office, Abigi, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. Chief Lawal said IGR is very crucial for development and growth of the state. “It is very pertinent to work together in order to achieve our aims and objectives in boosting the state IGR as we are all aware of the dwindling allocation from the federal account, therefore, all hands must be on deck to achieve this,” he said.

southwestnews Historical Noah Ark, Tower of Babel in Ile-Ife —Ooni

Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja 11), over the weekend, disclosed that the historic Ark of Noah and the Tower of Babel as well as many mystical signs, primeval artefacts and ancient relics are all in the ancient town of Ile-Ife. He made the disclosure in his palace, during a visit by the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Department Corporation, Mrs Sally Nwechue Mbanefo and her team. The monarch officially declared Ile-Ife town a tourism zone for the entire world. Oba Ogunwusi, who expressed optimism that the historical assets in Ile-Ife are enough to empower Nigeria and Africa at large, beckoned on all tourist lovers across the world to thrill themselves with old artefacts available in the town. According to him, “the Ark of Noah which the entire world has been searching for is in Ile-Ife. The Ark of Noah has been in existence and it is in Ife land.” While lamenting the neglect of culture, Oba Ogunwusi observed that African endowments and culture were gradually being threatened with extinction, just as he called on Africans to come together to salvage their heritage. He stated “both anthropology and archaeological findings attest to the origin of mankind from Africa,” saying that there were more

Monday, 29 February, 2016

than enough evidence to show that the actual origin of creation is Ile Ife. “The world is gravitating towards the African culture but we Africans, the custodian of culture, do not value it. The bottom line is that everything started in Africa and it has been established

by researches and historians. Wherever in Africa the origin of man started, it’s our general asset. We have to take the continent out of the poverty that we are,” Oba Ogunwusi remarked. “The positive spirit of the creation is behind the successes of sons and daugh-

ters of Yoruba across the globe. Yoruba settlements are found in all the regions of Africa, North and South America, Europe and United States of America, Australia and many other parts of the world. Yorubas are about the half of the population of Trinidad and To-

From right, wife of the Ondo State governor, Olukemi Mimiko; Governor Olusegun Mimiko; Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson and Pa Ayo Adebanjo, at the dinner/award night, in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Ondo State and seventh anniversary of Mimiko-led government, at the International Event Centre (The Dome), Akure, at the weekend.

We’ll pass 2016 budget in March —Oyo speaker By Wale Akinselure THE 2016 budget of Oyo State will be passed in March, Speaker, State House of Assembly, Honourable Micheal Adeyemo, has disclosed. Governor Abiola Ajimobi had on December 22, 2015 presented an estimated sum of N165,097,845,486 as pro-

posed budget for 2016. Adeyemo, in an interaction with the Nigerian Tribune, premised this statement on the fact that the state’s ministries, departments and agencies had continued to appear before the House’s ad hoc committees on the budget, as scheduled. He hinted that upon sub-

mission of the ad hoc committees, the House will invite the Ministry of Finance for necessary clarification. Nigerian Tribune observed that the ad hoc committees had asked some MDAs for clarification and harmonisation of budget figures, where necessary. Consequently, the House

All Nations Holy Pilgrimage participants urged to support corruption war By Tolu Olamiriki OVER 20,000 people across the globe, at the weekend, witnessed the All Nations Holy Pilgrimage to Odo-Owa, Kwara State, organised by the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) worldwide, where Nigerians were urged to support the government’s war against corruption. Speaking on the theme: “Let there be light: With signs and wonders” President of CAC worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, urged Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds to embrace Christ, being the only way for the survival of mankind. Akinosun, who used the occasion to pray for the economic revival of the state, nation, the church, as well as individual homes, urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s efforts to eradicate corrup-

bago, Jamaica, Haiti, Brazil and many other nations.” In her remark, the Director-General of the Nigeria Tourism Department Corporation, Mrs Sally Nwechue Mbanefo, said that much of the tourism potentials of Ile-Ife had remained untapped.

tion. The All Nation’s Holy pilgrimage witnessed deliverance from satanic yokes, casting off of demonic forces; removal of curses; breaking of spiritual fetters against conception; breaking fetters of economic stagnation; power against kingdom of darkness among others.

Earlier, the General Evangelist of the church, Prophet S. K. Abiara, had admonished government at all levels, to make empowerment of the youth a priority through job creation so as to reduce youths’ restiveness in the country. Prophet Abiara, who urged Nigerians to move closer to Christ, counselled

individuals to shun sinful acts capable of derailing their developmental efforts. “We need Jesus in Nigeria to have meaningful development. If you are in a society, and you fail to embrace good things, you are still in darkness. If you failed to obey God, you are in darkness and you will never enjoy God,” he said.

Oyo NUJ calls for reinstatement of sacked BCOS workers THE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), 0yo State Council, has reiterated its call on the state government to reinstate sacked workers of the state owned broadcasting outfit, the Broadcasting Corporation of 0yo State (BCOS). In a communiqué issued and signed by the chairman of the union, Comrade Gbenga Opadotun, at the end of its congress at the

weekend, the union urged the state government to respect the civil service rules and guidelines on appointment, promotion and discipline of workers in the state. The union noted that the sacked officers were employed by the Civil Service Commission and were thus bound by its edict. The congress also enjoined well meaning Nigerians to intervene in the

matter in the interest of fair play, equity and justice. “We are not opposed to restructuring, as it enhances efficiency and productivity, if properly done,” the union noted. The congress further enjoined the Federal Government to take appropriate measures to nip in the bud the fuel scarcity rearing ugly head again in different parts of the country.

Committee on Public Accounts, Finance and Appropriation, headed by Honourable Bolanle Agbaje, is expected to present a report on the floor of the House, to serve as third reading of the budget. “The state’s ministries, departments and agencies have defended their budgets before the ad hoc committees set up to scrutinise the budget. The committees will submit its report. If there is any area of harmonisation or clarification, we will invite the executive arm, particularly the ministry of finance for a discussion. “Then, the Committee of Appropriation, Public Accounts and Finance will present its report at the plenary. That will serve as the third reading of the budget and it will be passed. Going by our calendar, the budget will be passed by the middle of March, all things being equal.” Meanwhile, the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, chaired by Honourable Bolaji Badmos, has concluded the screening of nominees to serve as caretaker chairmen for the 33 local government areas in the state. The committee is expected to submit its report at the next plenary of the Assembly. It will be recalled that the House, at its last sitting, adjourned till March 8, 2016.

Mimiko’s 7th anniversary: Ondo workers get N256m car loans AS part of activities marking the seventh anniversary of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko-led government and 40th anniversary of the creation of Ondo State, over N256million was at the weekend disbursed to 659 workers, to commence the 2016 loan scheme. The scheme is expected to gulp a whooping N600million and will be in three phases. Over N4.2billion car loans have been disbursed to 7,120 workers in the state within the seven years administration of the Mimikoled government. In his address at the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries at the Accountant-General’s office, the state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Yele Ogundipe, reiterated the readiness of the current administration to provide additional car loans for more workers before the year runs out. He reiterated the commitment of the government to improve the welfare of the workforce. Registering his joy at the development, the commissioner said “I am glad to inform you that a total number of 659 officers from the core civil service and the teaching service will benefit from this batch in which a total sum of N256,660,000.00 will be disbursed. “Other batches will follow suit in the course of the year as this administration will make available additional fund for more beneficiaries.” Ogundipe stressed that the state’s car loan scheme is in place to show government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce, adding that building their capacities has been in the forefront of the administration’s agenda. The commissioner also revealed that the state government has paid the 2015 leave bonus to all its workers as against insinuations in some quarters that it has not been paid. Speaking earlier, the state Accountant-General, Elder Frederick Ajibokun, gave the breakdown of car loans disbursed to workers within the seven years of the Mimiko-led-administration as: “N2,096,135,000 to core civil servants, N1,957,394,000 to secondary school teachers and N171,188,000 to parastatals.”

Monday, 29 February, 2016

INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 29 February, 2016

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From left, Head, Public Relations,Airtel,Mr Femi Adeniran,one of the winners,Sadiq Fatai,Deputy Manager,National Lottry Regulatory Commision, Mr Onyemenam Ike Daniel, another Noel Ukueje, Director Enterprises Airtel, Tawa Bolarin and Head Lagos Office, Consumer Protection Council,Nggada Jashua Yakubu during the Airtel Redhot Promo final presentation held at Zen Garden, GRA Ikeja, Lagos ,on Saturday.

From left, former Dean of Faculty of Agricuture and Professor of Anima Science, guest Lecturer, Professor Funsho Sonaiya, his wife, former Prsidential candidate KOWA party, Mrs Remi Sonaiya, Pastor in charge of RCCG Christ Church Redemption Crescent, Gbagada, Pastor Renic Moagan, his wife Mrs Yinka Moagan and Vice Chairman C and I Leasing Plc, guest lecturer, Pastor Emeka Ndu of City of Davids during the Business Sunday lecture held at RCCG Christ Church Redemption Crescent, Gbagada, Lagos,

From left, Head Sales & Markets, KPMG; Nike Oyewolu, Partner, Audit Services, KPMG; Kabir Okunlola, Partner & Head, Tax, KPMG; Victor Onyenkpa, Partner and Head, Advisory Services, KPMG; Kunle Elebute, MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Partner and Head, Management Consulting, KPMG; Bisi Lamikanra, Partner, AuditServices, KPMG; Ayodele Othihiwa, at adinner in honour of Dr. Adeduntan to celebrate his recent appointment as theMD/ CEO of First Bank Limited held in Lagos.

ALABA IGBAROOLA: 08155975474

SYLVESTER OKORUWA: 08115708541

From left, Mrs Asli Akcinar Silivril,Dettol Brand Ambassador, Hellen Paul,Marketing Director Dettol,Mr Oguzhan Silivrili, GM, RB West Africa, Mr Rahul Murgai, Mrs Tanu Murgai, Human Resources Director RB West Africa, Abel Idonije and RB Sales Director Dele Adeyole during the RB Save the children Charity Ball held at Intercontinental Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday.

From left: Marketing & Communication Lead, Accenture Nigeria, Mr. Segun Olalandu; Supply Chain Lead, Accenture Nigeria, Mr Tunji Gomes; CEO Wildfusion, Mr Abas Idaresit; Business Group Director Application & Services; Microsoft Ade Ajayi; and Senior Manager Technology, Accenture Nigeria, Akintunde Sawyer, during the Master Class of 2016 Social Media Week in Lagos.

Aliko Dangote, Bimbo Ashiru and Niyi Adebayo at Ben Bruce 60th birthday, held at Eko Hotel Victoria Island, Lagos recently.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 29 February, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Towards reducing societal disorder

HE present age is daily dared by innumerable overpowering criminal offences. Many youths are often arrested for sex-related offences while many are involved in terrorist activities. These vices have

almost ravaged the nation beyond repair. If we do not take serious steps, it is very certain the nation will witness untold catastrophe in the future. We should always remember that idle hands are devil’s workshops.

Most of the youth who joined the insurgents were idle, and as such, they were easily co-opted. They were children with persistent, disruptive and aggressive behaviour, who often violated fundamental human rights and vandalise

properties of other fellows. Yet, we can fix such by restructuring the characters of such children. We can teach them how to be tolerant, thereby, reducing the socio disorder in the society. All we need do is to build their character because the

Let’s patronise made-in-Nigeria products EARLY this year, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, a Nigerian businessman and member of the National Assembly, started the ‘buynaijatogrowthenaira’ campaign. This initiative came as a result of the fall in the value of the naira against other world currencies. The drop in oil prices, which has reduced our foreign exchange earnings by almost $50billion, is part of the reason the naira is falling, but Mr

Bruce believes that we are the architect of our misfortune, as our love for imported goods is the major reason we are having economic difficulties today. I, however, agree in a way; we keep spending billions of naira importing goods that we can easily source or produce here in Nigeria. We spend millions of naira patronising foreign firms when we have alternatives here in Nigeria.

On Sunday Oliseh’s resignation BEFORE Sunday Oliseh was appointed as the Super Eagles coach, he was an analyst on SuperSports whenever Nigeria was playing. He was so sound that everybody saluted him for his knowledge of the game, and I think this was what those in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) saw that made them appoint him as coach. Now, less than a year after his appointment, he tendered his resignation, citing lack of support from the NFF. In my opinion, I think Oliseh lacked certain qualities, and this was why he had a turbulent reign. The manner in which he informed former captain, Vincent Enyeama, that he would no longer lead the team led to crisis, which then forced the former number one goalkeeper to retire from the squad. The coach’s rant on social media after the exit of the team at the CHAN Nations Cup in Rwanda also exposed him as someone who is temperamental, and who doesn’t want to be criticised.

The truth is that Nigerians love football, and whenever the team is not doing well enough, they vent their anger on the coach, and as a former player himself, Oliseh should have known this. It is unfortunate that he has chosen to resign just when the country is about to play a very important match against the Pharaohs of Egypt. The impact of his resignation will definitely be felt by the team. However, the NFF has swiftly drafted Samson Siasia to the Super Eagles as interim coach. The NFF, under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick, should start searching for a world-class foreign coach from now on. Our local coaches may be good at the age-grade levels, but we need an experienced coach to take the senior team to the next level. I hope our football managers have learnt their lessons the hard way with Oliseh’s resignation. •Nugwa James, Lokoja, Kogi State.

The campaign to reduce the rate at which we import goods has been on for years now, but it is high time we saw a sense in it. When we buy ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods, we are providing money for such companies, thereby saving the jobs of many Nigerians, but when we buy foreign products, we are creating jobs for foreign firms at the expense of our local companies. One good thing about

this campaign, however, is that we have the population to consume/use whatever we produce. So Nigerians should get behind the economy by buying ‘Made in Nigeria’ products, so that we can reduce the pressure on the naira. It is also a way of creating employment for the hundreds of thousands of youths who are unemployed. •Orija Oluwaponmile, Ibadan, Oyo State.

totality of a child hinges on his character make-up. It is high time we invested heavily in changing the lives of our young ones. We need to develop their character in order to prevent avoidable tragedy in the future. Recent findings have shown the reasons we need to pay more attention to the younger ones. According to The Denver Youth Survey on the study of more than 1500 highrisk youths, children between the ages of 11 and 12 had police contact because of delinquency. The U.S. Department of Justice, in collaboration with the education system, does not take the case of the youth with levity. That is the reason the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention works daily, both in enlightening and sensitising youths on

the advantages of embracing good character. We need to wake up now and begin to train our children on wholesome character so that they will not rise up tomorrow and destroy all we have built today. We need to start from the family and then move on to the school system. We must also reach the community and the religious societies. They too have great innate potentials that can benefit the nation. Steadfastly doing this, they will surely change instead of joining hoodlums and insurgency groups. It will make them have good choices in the world of confusion; it will make them patriotic to their nation and our land will be free of threat. Oyewole Jeremiah, oyewolejeremiah@yahoo.com

editorial

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

NLC’s proposal on recovered looted funds

ISING from its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos penultimate week, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had a word of advice for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on how to manage the funds reportedly recovered from the Federal Government’s ongoing anti-corruption drive. In a communique signed by its president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, and General Secretary Peter Ozo-Eson, the NLC recommended that all monies recovered from “looters of our national treasury should be invested in building new refineries and revamping existing ones” so that the refineries can “work to optimal capacity in order to meet local needs.” Similarly, the NLC did not mince words on what it thinks about current proposals to remove the official subsidy on petroleum. Apart from finding it in direct contravention of the due process, the umbrella body of Nigerian workers argued that “subsidy removal will not add value to the economy. Rather, it will create more hardship for Nigerians, especially the poor and the weak.” We are in broad agreement with the NLC on the issue of subsidy removal. Not only has the Federal Government failed to make a convincing case for removal, its cloak-and-dagger approach fuels suspicion that it has something to hide. On such an important matter, the Federal Government can least afford to have its sincerity doubted, and it behooves it to provide copious information in a timely manner. Until then, we make bold to nail our colours to the mast of the NLC and Nigerian workers. Where we feel obliged to express our disagreement with the Congress is in its proposal regarding

how to disburse the funds recovered from the government’s anti-corruption campaign. The NLC has suggested that such funds be diverted to the construction of new refineries and the revamping of existing ones. But we doubt that it has given itself sufficient time to think its proposal through. For one thing, a case for new refineries rests on the assumption, if not expectation, that the country will remain a mono-logic economy for the foreseeable future. A recommendation that all the funds recovered from looters should be ploughed into the building of new refineries contradicts the NLC’s previous insistence that the country should, as a matter of urgency, diversify its economy. How will the economy be diversified if the focus is on building new refineries? Second, while indeed existing refineries should be revamped (it is tragic enough that this is even up for debate in the country), there is no guarantee that this will lead to cheaper oil prices. As we have realized in the past, and as should be crystal clear from ongoing events, the price of oil in the global market is the uncertain outcome of a concatenation of local and global forces. Thus, while it is important to revamp existing refineries, it is even more crucial to embark on innovations that will make the country less dependent on oil. Finally, even if refineries must be built, nothing says that only the Federal Government should be involved in their construction. The country should borrow a leaf from the experience of major industrialized powers where oil production in general is in the hands of the private sector. Such an arrangement will free the government to concentrate its energy on the more important task of ensuring a level playing field for all players in the economy. AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

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opinion

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

President Buhari in Mecca Lagos joins Odu’a Group

“Everywhere I go, when I look at my right, I see Commissioner of Police; I look at my left, I see Controller, Prisons. I hope these people are following me in good faith.”

OR the period he was Military Administrator of Oyo State, I covered Colonel Ahmed Usman for my newspaper. That was a military officer in government who was always in the news saying so many profound things — some very controversial, some very soul-searching. One of those things he said which I have found difficult to throw away was the joke above about people following him wherever he went. “Everywhere I go, when I look at my right, I see Commissioner of Police; I look at my left, I see Controller, Prisons. I hope these people are following me in good faith.” He said it and everyone laughed. And he went further: “Each morning as I come out of Agodi Government House, I look down and what I see is Agodi Prisons and I pray, God, when I leave here, don’t let me end up there.” Again, his audience laughed. I laughed too but quickly gathered my thoughts around that statement. We could crack our ribs laughing at any apparent joke, but should the statement be just drowned in peals of laughter? Some jokes could be prophetic. Usman was lucky. Those guys around him had no need to hook him after office. However, from that joke and the very rich lessons I learnt firsthand in human relations in my almost eight years in government, when I see people milling around men of power, fawning at their feet and worshipping in their shrine, I remember Colonel Ahmed Usman. I remember his question, his prayer and I ask how long and how far these people would go with this leader. I saw photos of President Muhammadu Buhari praying in Medina, Saudi Arabia, last week. His media office said he was praying for Nigeria. Around him were some governors. They were also said to be praying for Nigeria. Presidents have no choice, they must pray for their countries. Their fate and that of their country are barely separable. And Buhari hinted at such a few days earlier. If Nigeria failed, he said, it would mean he had failed. He was right. He wasn’t the first to so do for his country. Several others did and more will do. There was Mansa Musa hundreds of years ago who, like Buhari, also stormed Mecca “not only for his own religious fulfillment, but also for recruit-

ing teachers and leaders for his realm.” But, what were the missions and prayer points of these people around the president? People go to holy sites and holy cities for different reasons. They join public prayers in such places with motives that are never uniform. I remember Admiral Mohammed Lawal, a former governor of Kwara State. At the onset of his crisis with Kwara strongman, Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, he told a select group of newsmen in his Admiralty Drive home in Ilorin how Saraki took him and others to Mecca to pray for the right choice of candidate in the 1999 governorship election in Kwara State and how he positioned himself directly behind the leader while the prayer was on. Lawal said he heard Saraki as he prayed that God should show him who he would give the governorship ticket “in his pocket” to. He said he quietly, promptly, counter-prayed that the governorship “in Saraki’s pocket” God should give it to him. And he became governor. So, if you can have another look at the video or the photo of the praying Buhari in Medina, read the lips of the men around him. Were they also praying for you and for me or for themselves, their after-office and the next elections? And will these men join this Buhari with this same religious fervour after office?

Lagos joins Odu’a Group

There was this report some weeks ago about Lagos State joining the Odu’a Conglomerate. There was a lot of excitement in several places at this news which some felt was long overdue considering the supposed historico — cultural and economic bond between the owner South West states and Lagos State. I would have joined in the

celebrations if the details of the deal were available for all of us to weigh. And I have reasons to tremble in fear. As contained on its website, “Odu’a Investment Company Limited was incorporated in July 1976 to take over the business interest of the former Western State of Nigeria, now Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The company commenced business on the 1st of October, 1976” and “since inception has been operating as a conglomerate with over 70 per cent of her business as investment/joint ventures with reputable multinationals. It is involved in “property development and management, hospitality, telecommunications, printing and publication, agriculture, training and personnel development, capacity building, among other things.” It also owns “substantial properties in choice locations in the Ikeja residential/Industrial Estates and Apapa in Lagos State as well as a number of residential and commercial properties in Ibadan, including the Aje House. In addition to all these, it also “has investments in properties in various parts of the country.” That is the company that has brought Lagos into its ownership fold. While you may be excited at this for whatever reasons, I am exactly not. Not when Lagos with its famed “wisdom” (Eko akete, ile ogbon) is involved. Sometime between 1994 and 1998, some people thought the way to salvage the company was sell off some of its prime assets. And some big scandals soon followed because some of the big “saviours” cornered the juicy assets. I remember Premier Hotel was to go for something like N10million. There were probes and, as a reporter, I covered some of these probes. Some of the sold assets were retrieved, some never came back, and today, when some big men talk about their love for Yorubaland and the Yoruba people, I flip back to that chapter and smile. The same smile I had on my lips when the news broke that Lagos has joined “us.” I do not know at what point the Yoruba stopped being very vigilant, and asking the right questions, the right time. And now, may I ask: On what terms is Lagos joining this conglomerate? What is Lagos bringing into this business? Is Lagos’ Ibile Holdings joining Odu’a too? And why not since, “we are one and the same?” And if it is merging with Odu’a, shall we know the equity holding of each of the owner states? Can we have the details of this deal, especially from the big men who brokered the deal?

For a more prosperous Nigeria By Mike Bisuga FOR decades, the general assumption of most Nigerians is that the problem of the country is that of leadership. We have seen instances whereby a political candidate had planned on contesting to serve his people in the National Assembly, but by political arrangement, he finds himself as the governor. In a case like this, should one blame the politician if he fails to deliver as governor? In the case of President Muhammadu Buhari, he had contested three times before; he knew what he wanted, and what he wanted to do in office, so after ruling the country as a military head of state, and now as a democratically-elected president, no one can say he “gatecrashed” himself into the Presidential Villa. One thing is sure for Nigeria, as soon as the issue of right leadership is sorted out, our development will be rapid, and now that we appear to have been blessed with the right calibre of President, then we should expect an exponential development of the country. However, with this new leadership, and with the fact that we are blessed with professionals, technocrats, suitable land, accommodating weather, among others, why are things not moving as expected? This is due to certain factors, and which may take some time for the current leadership to tackle. It is easy for a house to be destroyed in a day, but it is not easy for it to be reconstructed in a day; it will definitely take time. However, I believe for us to return the country on the path of growth, we need to revert to regionalisation, us-

ing the present six geo-politcal zones as basis of a sincere and pragmatic federation, such that we will now have six governors and six Houses of Assembly; the present six states in each region can then be made constituencies. The Federal Government will, therefore, function in the areas of monetary policy/Central Bank, foreign policy, military, while education, trade, economic/social issues, and even the police, are left to the regions to administer. With this, there will be competition among the regions, and within two years, we will begin to experience real economic growth. Breaking up Nigeria will do nobody any good, but allowing each geo-political region to thrive will bring about a bet-

ter and more prosperous Nigeria. A good example of what I am discussing is the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Dubai being a unit among the seven that make up the emirate. Today, Dubai’s development is a model for other emirates in the UAE, and as such, others are striving towards being competitive as well. In the South West, there appears to be a growing interest in deeper integration in all areas of endeavours — political, economic and even in the traditional aspect. On the political turf, the recent visit by the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, to his Osun State counterpart, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, is a positive stimulus that will bring about political unity. Also, the admission of Lagos State into the Odu’a Conglomerate, at the economic level, as well as the ongoing visits by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to other traditional rulers in the region, are veritable pointers that regionalism will bring positive dividends to the South West. Now, these steps by the South West should elicit complementary, parallel actions from other zones. They should come out to initiate edifying projects or programmes that will lead to the development of their zones. Once the regions operate on their own, the inter – regional competition will spring positive surprises. The present “feeding bottle” economic system of the Federal Government bailing out some states at intervals will be a thing of the past. Our powerful Federal Government kills initiative and is a disincentive to bringing about the best from each zone. •Bisuga, a retired Army Colonel, lives in Sagamu, Ogun State.

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Monday, 29 February, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

Managing Director, Hygeia Community Health Care, Dr Peju Adenusi; Deputy Ambassador, Neitherland to Nigeria, Michel Deelen; Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed and the Country Director, Pharm Access Nig., Mrs Njide Nididi, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Ilorin, on Friday.

Fears in OAU as 75 students troop to hospital with similar symptom Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

THERE was apprehension at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe at the weekend, as no fewer that 75 students of the institution visited the health centre for the treatment of suspected a strange malaria epidemic. Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that students of the university had, last Friday, raised the alarm that there was ‘malaria epidemic’ on their campus. Credible source informed

the Nigerian Tribune that majority of the students that fell sick showed similar symptoms. The symptoms included headache, stomach ache, body weakness, irritation, fever, vomiting (in some cases), sore throat and loss of appetite. When the Nigerian Tribune visited the health centre on Sunday, some students were brought by their friends to the hospital for treatment, while others were spotted leaving the hospital after receiving

Lagos Assembly amends LASIEC Law 2008 dependent National ElecChukwuma Okparaocha - Lagos

THE Lagos State House of Assembly has taken a bold step to amend the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Law 2008 in order to prevent a recurrence of the Kogi State debacle. It will he recalled that the entire House was thrown into perplexity when a candidate of the APC for the governorship elections in Kogi State, the late Audu Abubakar died before result of the election was announced by the In-

toral Commission (INEC). Speaking at a stakeholders meeting on the issue, the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Honourable Funmilayo Tejuosho, said the call for the amendment of LASIEC law was very important, adding that it would avert future occurrence of what led to the crisis in Kogi State. According to her, the rules must be dynamic and it must be reviewed from time to time just like laws.

treatment. Speaking on the development, the acting Director, Medical and Health Services of OAU, Dr Adedayo Irinoye, admitted that though some students were sick, there was no outbreak of strange disease. “If there is any outbreak, we will be the one to first inform the public. Malaria is endemic on the university campus but there is no epidemic. The cause of the students sickness is multifacet. Some are caused due to anxiety over examination coupled with poor nutrition, increase in stress and change of climate. “We have doubled our manpower and adjusted our roaster to meet the increase in traffic. As we speak, we have not referred anyone to OAU Teaching Hospital. The symptoms are those of malaria and the students get treated before leaving to their hostel in good health. There is nothing strange happening, there is only increase in traffic,” he said. Reacting to the issue, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of OAU, Mr Biodun Olarewaju, said the situation was not peculiar to the OAU community alone.

Chief Presiding Prelate, Liberty International College of Bishops, Bishop John Adeyemo Ojekunle, congratulating the newly installed Bishop Oluseun Adeoye, after the consecration and enthronement service at Sufficient Grace and Truth Ministry, Okinni, Osun State, at the weekend. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Olubadan-designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji (middle); Olori Kudirat Adetunji (third left); Chairman, National Association of Micro-Finance Bank (NAMB), Mr Femi Jegede (fourth right); vice chairman of the association, Mr A.O. Adekunbi and other members of the NAMB, during their visit to Olubadan-designate’s house, at Popo area, Ibadan, on Friday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

President, International Right of Way Association (IRWA), Chapter 84 Nigeria, Eze Odigbo (left), presenting a gift to Master Instructor, Donnie Sherwood, at the end of a five-day Pioneer Credentialing Course 2016, organised by IRWA, in Abuja, recently.

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

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Monday, 29 February, 2016

Echoes from Kemi Mimiko’s Divine Agenda

From left at the praise night: Modupe Adelola, wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Rotimi Adelola, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and wife, Olukemi. By Yemisi Aofolaju

EBRUARY 19, 2016 has come and gone, but the memories of the monthly Divine Agenda will linger on in the minds of those who have the ambition of serving or otherwise ruling Ondo State and by extension, Nigeria in different capacities/levels and ultimately remind them of the need to be committed to serving the electorate. This month’s Divine Agenda, 84th edition, coincided with the 40th anniversary of the state and the seventh year of Dr Olusegun Mimiko as governor of the state. The programme, which has been seamlessly uninterrupted since inception of Mimiko’s administration and tagged Divine Agenda, had this month’s edition sub themed: Praise Night. The venue, hitherto named Dome of Shame (courtesy opposing voice), now Dome of Fortune /International Event Centre (DOME), was filled to the brim. The night of a new beginning as prophesied by Evangelist Bola Are lived up to expectation as worshippers wished the programme lasted for days unending as it was fulfilling and explosive. Mrs Olukemi Mimiko, the co-initiator of the Divine Agenda since her better half’s coming on board as the number one citizen of the Sunshine State and her team, brought their expertise in event management and spiritual matters to the fore when they rolled into a night a lot of life changing activities. As it is written in the scriptures that there is neither North nor West in Christendom, Mrs Mimiko, as the mother of the state, brought choristers from different denominations and even professional bodies together, using their voices in different languages to appreciate the Master of the universe for what He has done thus far for in the state and ask Him to do more. A barrister at Law and Chairman, Intercessors for Africa/Nigeria, who was also the guest minister, Emeka Nwakpa, while congratulating the Ondo people for

the feat achieved, said that Nigeria had not broken up because Nigeria is God’s choice. Going further in his admonition, entitled The testimony of David, Nwakpa, however, gave a caveat that God is set to deal with corruption and occultism. “As God has promised to do a new thing in Nigeria, Ondo State inclusive, it is imperative for our leaders to always examine themselves as they ask ‘can the spirit of God speak by us?’, said Nwakpa. Before going to the assignment that took her to the podium, Kemi Mimiko started by appreciating God who has stood by the Ondo State’s first family, the government and the entire citizenry in the last four decades through thick and thin. “I am appreciative of all who have interceded and who are still interceding on our behalf for the feats achieved in the state in the last seven years in making Ondo State a reference point in terms of stemming the tide of maternal /infant mortality through the establishment of Safe Motherhood Initiative in every nook and cranny of the state,” observed the governor’s wife. The celebrated gospel maestro, Evangelist Bola Are, demonstrated the awesomeness of God the way she blended her songs with modern dancing steps. To many, Dr Are is an Ekiti woman, but in her estimation, she is a bonafide daughter of Ondo State. “Many would be surprised by my claim to be from Ondo; after all my husband was from Owo and by extension, I am qualified to be from Ondo State. By birth, I am from Ekiti

State. I am also from Oyo State, or how do you describe my nativity after spending over seven decades in Ibadan? I am a true Nigerian”. Her mastery of the career she has chosen over 40 years cannot be controverted as she, in commando style, ordered all in attendance to be on their feet to appreciate the all sufficient God who is still interested in the affairs of men. The night, generally acclaimed to be first class by the worshippers apart from being praise- centred, had in performance The Cymbals, who presented a dance drama tagged God’s Generals, which made a clarion call on both the clergy and laity to check themselves in the light of what Christendom has become based on survival instinct and worldliness as the church is not free of the scourge of corruption. Adding pep to the night not to be forgotten were the Bois Olorun who displayed their dexterity in using a genre of music (Apala Music) that is almost gone into extinction to praise God Bois Olorun, clad in white attire with touch of black embroidery, gave the scenery of the originator of Apala music as the duo band’s leaders sat with microphones while their backers (drummers) stood behind them with their Bata, gangan, omele, sekere to worship God on behalf of Dr Segun and Mrs Kemi Mimiko and the entire people of Ondo State. On hand to spice up the gathering were the choir of Fellowship of Christian Nurses, School of Nursing, Akure who are mainly in their early 20s. They exhibited

By the special grace of God, who is our foundation, we have been the cynosure of all eyes because God has been faithful to us and we are trusting Him for more blessings in our dear state

the youthful exuberance in their choice of praise-laden hits that threw the hall into total dancing hall as the oldies followed the latest trending dancing styles. The praise night did not come to a conclusion until about 4.45am when the host, Governor Mimiko who was accompanied by his wife came out for testimonies to appreciate God and the people of Ondo State for turning the fortunes of the state around for good. He also took time to caution them not to be carried away by the opposition propaganda, but to continue with the government that had positively transformed the state from a province to a place of pride. “I want to appreciate God and all of you for the remarkable successes recorded in all sectors and we will continue to work until all our youths are fully engaged in wealth and job creation, until every child has access to good and qualitative health and education in the state and until we build infrastructure to a level that will continue to make people happy with good governance. “By the special grace of God, who is our foundation, we have been the cynosure of all eyes because God has been faithful to us and we are trusting Him for more blessings in our dear state”. In cautioning Ondo people on who succeeds him later in the year through the ballot box, Governor Mimiko has this to say; “I am praying to God to choose a successor with a good heart and the burning passion to serve the people as you have all made me a success.” In attendance at the epoch-making event were the executive members of Mimiko’s cabinet, state Assembly members, church leaders, CAN, Senator Iyiola Omisore, advisers, the governor’s brother, Professor Mimiko, former Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba and sister, wife of Osemawe of Ondo, Olori Kiladejo, politicians and Ondo citizens. Choiristers from Chapel of Grace, Government House, Alagbaka, Akure Anglican Diocesan Mass Choir, Christ The Redeemer International, Akure, Fellowship of Christian Nurses, School of Nursing made the night outstanding.

Monday, 29 February, 2016

38 news

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Metuh’s ‘no case’ submission punctures EFCC’s charges against him •Evidence against him overwhelming —Prosecutor Sunday Ejike - Abuja

UBLICITY Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) failed to establish the essential ingredients of the offences with which he was charged alongside his company, Destra Investments Limited. In the ‘no case’ submission filed by his team of lawyers, led by Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, Metuh said the charges, as constituted, did not disclose a prima facie case against him. Metuh was charged with criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering, for allegedly receiving N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The PDP spokesman

pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the anti-graft agency. After the prosecution closed its case before the Federal High Court in Abuja, Metuh was called upon to enter his defence, but he chose to raise a ‘no case’ submission. If the ‘no case’ submission succeeds, the trial terminates there. In count one of the seven-count charge, Metuh was charged with “taking possession of N400 million paid into the account of Destra Investment Limited with Diamond Bank Plc, from the account of the ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without contract award, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), the then National Security Adviser

(To wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption) and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2),(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 20111 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.” The PDP spokesman argued that for the prosecution to establish a prima facie case, it must be established that he took possession or control of funds, knowing that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act or reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act. According to him, there was no evidence by any witness that at the time, the sum of N400 million was paid into the account of his company; he was notified directly or indirectly that the said money was

paid from the account of ONSA. He also said the prosecutor failed to lead evidence to show that the defendants were notified by ONSA that money was paid into their account by ONSA for whatever purpose. Metuh said following a presentation to the then former president, Goodluck Jonathan, on how to shore up the image of the PDP, he expected payment to execute the presentation, but not from the ONSA. He argued that the idea he ought to know that the funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act did not arise, adding that EFCC admitted that he had no business dealing with the ONSA, no contract and wondered how the commission expected him to have known that funds paid to him was for illegal purpose.

Fire guts 4 houses in Kano Kola Oyelere - Kano ABOUT four houses were gutted by inferno on Saturday, at Danladi Nassidi Estate, in Kumbotsho Local Government Area of Kano State, with property worth millions of naira also destroyed. However, residents of the largest estate in the ancient city, with over 3,000 houses, were enraged for lack of fire service station in the estate, as they waited over an hour before the arrival of the state fire service from another part of the town. Speaking with a source, who preferred anonymity, said they were attending a security meeting with some police officers “when we heard about the fire outbreak and we did everything

possible to extinguish the fire, but could not.” According to him, “we made distress calls to the fire service and waited more than one hour before they arrived and at that time, the damage had been done, so we were very angry with them. “But when they explained to us that there was another fire incident at a government school in Gwale Local Government Area, which they went to attend to before coming here, we understood with them,” he said. A staffer of the state fire service, Adamu Mustapha, confirmed that there was no casualty, saying it took time to arrive at the estate because they had to “refill the tank after the Gwale incident before embarking on the

10-kilometre journey to the estate with series of traffic on the way because of weekend wedding activities “ The four blocks of houses, it was gathered, belonged to a Senior Admin and Finance staffer of the National Orientation Agency (NOA); an engineer, a staffer of the Kano Electricity Distribution (KEDCO) and one other person. Occupant of the house where the fire initially started, Kabir Ibrahim, who is also a staffer of KEDCO, said the fire outbreak was mysterious, because no one was suspected and the two children left behind in the house, the eldest being three years, had nothing to do with cooking. “There was no light or generator, as well as gas

cylinder or cooker in the house to influence the rapid spread of the fire. “I lost most of my documents and that of my wife. alongside other household items,” added Kabir. Another victim, Stanley Regge, whose property was completely destroyed, said: “I thank God that my four children in the house, including a one-year and two months old boy escaped, unhurt. All my properties, running to hundreds of thousands of naira were completely burnt.” He urged Governor Abdulalhi Ganduje to pay attention to the needs of the estate, as it is mostly inhabited by middle and low income earners in the state, who desire safety of lives and properties.

PDP chairmanship crisis: I am ready to meet Modu-Sheriff in court —Fani-Kayode Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe - Abuja FORMER Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Femi Fani-Kayode, on Sunday, declared that he was ready to meet the national chairman of the party, Senator Ali ModuSheriff, at the court of law, over his comment regarding the Boko Haram activities in the North-East. The former Aviation Min-

ister, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Sunday, by his spokesman, Mr Jude Ndukwe, said though he was yet to receive a formal letter from Modu-Sheriff’s lawyers, he was not losing any sleep because of the threat. Fani-Kayode declared that the days of silencing people with arrogant threats and frivolous litigation were long over. Fani-Kayode was reacting to newspaper advertisement, where the PDP

national chairman allegedly threatened to sue him for linking him with Boko Haram. According to him, “we read the newspaper advert in a newspaper in which Ali Modu-Sheriff had threatened to sue Chief Femi FaniKayode. “Though we have not received a formal letter from his lawyers to that effect, we wish to inform him and members of the public that we stand by everything that we have said about Sheriff,

we have briefed our lawyers, we welcome the suit and we shall gladly meet him in court. “The days of silencing people with arrogant threats and frivolous litigation are long over. We cannot be silenced by Modu-Sheriff’s threat to sue and we are not losing any sleep over it. “Such a course of action will prove, not only to be counter-productive for him, but by the time it is all over, he will get the shocker of his life.”

“Put in another way, with respect to the issue of ‘no case’ submission, that essential element of the offence (which is the unlawfulness of the act) must first be established against the persons who perpetrated it. The prosecution cannot put the cart before the horse, which is what they are doing in this case,” he added. In his response, the prosecutor, Mr Sylvanus Tahir disagreed with Metuh, saying he led an overwhelming evidence against him and expressed surprise that he (Metuh) was raising a ‘no case’ submission. He said EFCC received a complaint from the ONSA

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that money was paid under the immediate past NSA to individuals and companies without any document supporting such payments and that the commission investigated the petition. According to him, a charge was filed against Metuh after a prima facie of money laundering was established against him. He urged the court to dismiss the ‘no case’ submission and ask the defendants to enter their defence, adding that they had an explanation to make. The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang Okon, has fixed March 9 to rule on the ‘no case’ submission.

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I, Onoja Ele Dorcas am the same person as Onoja Gift. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ONOJA ELE DORCAS. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Olaniyan Toyosi Bukola now MRS. OKE TOYOSI BUKOLA, born on 29-05-1984 and not 29-05-1985. All former documents remain valid. SEAP, Eco Bank Plc., UBA Plc., and general public take note.

Islamiyyat Motunrayo Gbenoba, same person as ESTHER AYO-LAWAL GBENOBA, wish to be known and addressed as the latter. All documents remain valid. ANN Plc., and general public note.

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I, Taiwo-Oduwaiye Elizabeth Aduke am the same person as Mrs. Taiwo-Oduwaiye Elizabeth Adepate. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. TAIWO-ODUWAIYE ELIZABETH ADEPATE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

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I, Manu Lawal also known as Oladeji Wale Manu am the same person as Oladeji Oyewale Emmanuel. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLADEJI OYEWALE EMMANUEL. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc., Stanbic IBTC Bank, Wema Bank Plc., Skye Bank Plc., UBA Plc., C.A.C and general public take note.

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I, Okagbare Edwin Ejiroghene am the same person as Okoturoh Edwin Ejiroghene. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OKAGBARE EDWIN EJIROGHENE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

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Monday, 29 February, 2016

Saraki, Dogara reject N10bn budget for official residence Taiwo Adisa - Abuja

ENATE President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, have rejected a N10 billion budgetary provision for construction of their official residences in the 2016 budget. The budget proposal, which was included in the 2016 budget estimate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was meant for the completion of the ongoing construction of their official residences. The buildings have been abandoned since mid-last year after the swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari in May last year.

While the sum of N6 billion was allocated for the completion of the Senate President’s residence, the sum of N4 billion was allotted for the completion of the residence of the Speaker. It was gathered that the duo of Saraki and Dogara met last week and agreed that the allotted fund should be reduced to N1 billion each. The two presiding officers were said to have agreed that the sum of N10 billion

be reduced to N2 billion, thereby saving the sum of N8billion. The two presiding officers were said to have reached the FCT Committees in the two chambers to effect the changes. The two committees have in turn reported to the Committees on Appropriation, which is expected to redistribute the savings to other sectors in the FCT. Sources close to the Senate President and the Speaker said that in view of

the prevailing economic situation in the country, there was every need for every public officer to be frugal. A source said that the presiding officers found the amounts allocated for the buildings as unnecessary and insensitive. It was learnt that the presiding officers insisted that the FCT Ministry should find a way of scaling down the cost of the buildings, a development that could slow down the completion of the projects.

Sources said that Saraki and Dogara were not in a hurry to occupy the official residences, and have indicated their intention to continue to occupy the current accommodation even till the end of their tenure. Until November last year, Saraki was living in his personal house, but a fire incident in the house forced him to relocate to a guest house in Maitama area, while Dogara is currently occupying a rented apartment.

Senate President assures on sustainable economic policies To receive report on business environment in Nigeria Ayodele Adesanmi, Abuja

SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said that the eighth Senate would collaborate with the Executive to ensure that the policies and programmes of the present administration, aimed at reviving the economy were sustained on a long term basis. Statement from his media office in Abuja, which made this known when he received the national executive of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), led by its President, Professor Olugbenga Okunola, added that the Senate was on a mission to ensure that the country harnesses her non-oil resources and achieve full diversification of the economy. The statement explained that “For us in the eighth Senate, we have said it that our focus is to continue to give support to those sectors of our economy that will provide employment, increase the earnings of government and the growth of the economy in general. Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr Saraki will on Monday (February 29th) formally receive the Business Environment Legislative Review Report developed by a team of Legal Advisers to the ENABLEDFID programme, led by Professor Paul Idornigie (SAN). A statement from the Office of the Senate President in Abuja stated that the report, initiated by the Senate President, was in fulfilment of the Legislative Agenda of the eighth National Assembly, geared towards creating a business friendly environment in the country.

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and former governor of the state, Senator Aliyu Wamakko, at the kick-off of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) local government election campaign, at Tureta, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN

2016 budget: Reps to meet Finance Minister, DG budget March 3 ...As 7 committees fail to submit report Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel, Abuja

THE House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation on Sunday, said that, the committee would interface with officials of the Ministry of Finance led by the minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and Director General Budget Office, Mr Aliyu Gusau, on March 3. This is coming just as the committee named seven committees that failed to submit their reports as mandated by the House leadership. The committees include: Public Accounts Committee (PAC), loans, aids and debts, Gas Resources, Public service matters, Maritime and Safety, Interior and National Security. A statement issued and signed by the committee’s chairman, Honourable Abdulmunin Jibrin, said that, after 12 hours of grilling, the Committee on Appropriation formally closed the collation of reports on the 2016 budget from standing committees of the

House (sub-committees to the Committee on Appropriation) Friday, February 26. According to him, it is regrettable that some committees still did not meet the deadline and have not submitted any reports.

He added that, due to pressure of time because we have to tidy up the final report with the Senate, the Committee on Appropriation would have to take over the work of such committees by appropriating funds for the MDAs that

they supervise. He noted that, in all, 60 substantive-committees presented their reports and recommendations, covering improvements, shortcomings and actions to be taken in their respective MDAs.

Foreigners have taken over critical sector of our economy —Lasun Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel, Abuja

DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Sulaimon Yussuff Lasun, at the weekend, called on the Federal Government to give Nigerian graduates opportunity to be in control of the economic sector in the country, decrying a situation whereby foreigners are in control of the economic sector like oil, constructions and technology. According to him, no nation could develop if its people were not allowed to be in control of the

economic sector, noting that a situation whereby less than 10 per cent of the graduates were given opportunity was not the best. The Deputy Speaker made the observation when the representatives of the Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association paid a courtesy call on him in his office. A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Mr Wole Oladimeji, quoted him as saying, “Where are our trained engineers, technicians, medical doctors from the nation’s universities, they are not giv-

en opportunity rather our people believe so much in foreigners who stark away our hard earned money to their countries. “We need to operate from that level of superiority and believe in the nation’s tertiary institutions if we want the country to develop. Nigerians are not in control of economic sector. We are in servitude permanently. We claim to have oil but we are not in control,” he said. He expressed concern over the quality of education in the nation’s university and the way the operators are regulating university institutions.

Nigerian Tribune

Alumni Association should rescue neglected education sector —Adeniyi FORMER Special Adviser on Media to late President Musa Yar’Adua and chairman, Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspaper, Mr Segun Adeniyi, has charged alumni associations of Nigerian universities to brace up and rescue their Alma Mater from the brink of collapse due to neglect of the education sector by the government. Adeniyi said budgetary allocations to the education sector by past governments in the country fell short of the UNESCO recommendation of 28 per cent allocation. According to him, past administrations have always allocated less than 10 per cent of the budget to education, leaving a big gap, which alumni associations should fill. Delivering a lecture titled “The Roles of Alumni Association As Drivers of Social, Economic and Cultural Change in Nigeria,” at the Welcome Dinner / Lecture of the Abuja Chapter of the Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association held at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja, on Saturday, he said funding of education in Nigeria has been compromised and that public schools have been neglected.

Group condemns military invasion of Rivers communities Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri

THE Centre for the Vulnerable and the Underprivileged (CENTREP) has condemned the recent military invasion of Yeghe and Bori communities in Khanaand Gokhana Local Government Areas of Rivers State, which resulted in the loss of several innocent lives and the wanton destruction of properties running into billions of Naira. National coordinator of the group, Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a statement signed and made available to Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, in Warri, Delta State, described the invasion as “barbaric and an act of pure evil.” Ikimi called on the Federal Government to immediately institute “an inquest into the incident with a view to determining its immediate and remote causes and the extent of the culpability of the military in the operation which lasted for two days with a view to preventing a reoccurrence in the near future.” The human rights activist warned that if the FG shied away from instituting an inquest into the incident, his group would carry out its own inquest to determine the extent of the culpability of the military in the said operation.

41 news

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Agatu killings: Buhari orders investigation Leon Usigbe - Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into last week’s clashes between Fulani herdsmen and indigenes of Agatu Local Government Area of in Benue State in which hundreds of people were reported killed. According to a statement signed by Senior Special Assistant (Media and Public-

...His silence worrisome —Fayose

ity) made available to the media in Abuja on Sunday, President Buhari, “who expressed deep shock at the latest incident during the past week, which led to hundreds of deaths in four communities in Agatu, Benue State, ordered security agencies to get to the root causes of the problem.” The statement further quoted him as saying; “We will conduct an investigation to know exactly what happened; the only way to bring an end to the violence once and for all is to look beyond one incident and ascertain exactly what factors are be-

hind the conflicts.” Buhari added that all Nigerians must learn to live together as one, in peace and unity, saying:“We are all one nation and one people.” According to him, “There should not be any reason why Nigerians of any group or tongue cannot now reside with one another wherever they find themselves after decades of living together.” The President further expressed condolences to the government and people of Benue State, particularly the people of the Agatu communities, assuring them that the government would do

everything possible to ensure that no such incident ever occurred in their midst again. “Once the investigations are concluded, we will act immediately to address the root of the problem,” he said. The state governor, Samuel Ortom had, last Thursday, briefed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the persistent Fulani herdsmen attacks on the communities, saying they were getting out of hand and called for something urgent to be done to stem the menace. The governor said he could no longer sit back in his state while the communities were

being constantly attacked. He said it was impossible to carve out grazing area in the area because of shrinking landmass, due to everexpanding population but advocated the setting up of ranches to limit animal movement. Ortom had explained: “There are issues in my state, especially the invasion of herdsmen in one of my local governments, Agatu Local Government “While we are making our own efforts to ensure that we maintain law and order, I thought it was necessary to also brief the Presidency.

Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, has decried what he said was “the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari” on reported killings allegedly by Fulani herdsmen and described the development as “worrisome.” Fayose said in a statement on Sunday that “the silence of President Mohammadu Buhari on the alleged killing of harmless Nigerians by Fulani Herdsmen is worrisome,” saying “wanton murder of over 300 Agatu people of Benue State and the silence of the Federal Government on this genocide is a clear invitation to chaos.” The governor in the statement by his special assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said “activities of the Fulani herdsmen as inimical to the revival of agriculture in the country.” According to him, “Farmlands costing billions of naira have been destroyed in states in the South-West, South-East and North-Central zones of the country. One wonders how Nigerians can go back to farming when those already in the farms are losing billions of naira worth of crops to destruction of their farmlands by the Fulani Herdsmen and the Federal Government is not doing anything about it.”

A socio-cultural group comprising Fulani youths who are herdsmen under the aegis of “Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association”, has alleged plot to dent the image of Fulani herdsmen across the country, through a conspiracy to tag them criminals. The Fulani herdsmen in some localities in the country have been embroiled in crises with the natives, over grazing and other matters,

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Mr Sunday Aghaeze, as Personal Assistant to the President, State Photographer. The appointment according to a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, took effect from June 1, 2015. Aghaeze, an awardwinning photojournalist, prior to his appointment, was a photo editor with THISDAY Newspapers in Abuja. He holds postgraduate diploma in Business Administration of the University of Abuja, Higher National Diploma and National Diploma in Mass Communications, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra and Auchi in Edo states, respectively. A widely travelled photojournalist, Aghaeze had covered the UN, World Bank, IMF, African First Ladies’ activities in several countries in the America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

Army trains 200 soldiers for special marine operations in Niger Delta Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt Some women and children at the displaced camp in Otukpo, Benue State, at the weekend.

...IDPs turn palace into refugee camp Johnson Babajide - Makurdi THE palace of the paramount ruler of Idoma nation, His Royal Majesty, HRM Ekias Ikoyi Obepa has been turned into refugee camp in the wake of the Fulani attacks on some communities in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State. Agatu communities were, last week, invaded by sus-

pected Fulani herdsmen, resulting in scores of dead people, burnt houses, including churches, destruction of farm produce and killing of domestic animals, among others. When th Nigerian Tribune visited the Och’Idoma Square in Otukpo one of the places where thousands of the displaced persons are taking refuge, Elder Sani Echioda, an indigene of Ayila, called on the Federal Govern-

ment to come to their aids. He added that their condition was very critical, as according to him, they could not even feed, beside the fact that thay also lacked beddings to sleep properly at night. “We sleep on the bare floor since we don’t have mattress or mat. It is quite a difficult situation as we are exposed to mosquitoes and all kinds of insects at night,” Echioda said. The absence of medical of-

Fulani youths allege conspiracy to tag herdsmen criminals Isaac Shobayo - Jos

Buhari appoints Aghaeze as personal assistant

the latest being in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State, where over hundred people were recently killed. The national president of the group, Saidu Maikano, while speaking to journalists in Jos, said though there were some criminal elements among the herdsmen, it was unacceptable to tag all herdsmen criminals, especially in the SouthSouth and South Western parts of the country.

“Criminality is not peculiar to one ethnic group, criminality has no ethnic or religious attachment and therefore should not be used as a Fulani identity,” Maikano said. The group alleged a grand conspiracy to evict Fulani herdsmen from other parts of the country, declaring: “this country belongs to all of us, there is no part of the country that has accommodated other ethnic groups like the North, and when

some of these people commit offence in the North, we don’t brand an entire ethnic group as criminals because as civilised people, we should only ensure that the criminals are prosecuted and justice is done.” On the issue of cattle rustling, Maikano said “cattle rustling has become a booming business headed by a cartel, and security agents must connect the dots so as to get to the real sponsors.”

ficers at the crowded camp was also a disturbing factor, even as the area is unkempt and inhabitable for humans. Echioda, however, expressed gratitude to Alhaji Usman Abubakar, alias Young Alhaji, Chief Peter Eikwodani and other well-meaning Idoma personalities, who he said, had responded in cash or in kind to their plight. Recalling the sad incident which started last week’s Tuesday, the farmer said scores of people were killed by the herders, lamenting that “till today, the Fulani herders are still in our community causing mayhem. As am talking to you, the herdsmen and their cows have taken over our land. “We have been forced to suspect that it is the government of Nasarawa State that is fighting us, the peace the Nasarawa State government claims to be making is a fluke. It seems that the government in Nasarawa is behind two helicopters which flew in to Abogbe and Okokolo to provide ammunition to the Fulanis,” Echioda further stated.

THE Nigerian Army has disclosed that it had trained about 200 soldiers to perform various special marine operations and rescue missions in the Niger Delta region. Commander of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Brigadier-General Stevenson Olabanji, said this at the weekend, at the graduation ceremony of 200 soldiers of the 73 Regular Recruit Intake in Harry’s Town, Degema Local Government Area. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the soldiers received training in various swimming techniques in survival and endurance, freestyle stroke, breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly stroke. Olabanji said the exercise by the Operation Pulo Shield Sector 2 was aimed at equipping soldiers with requisite marine skills and boost troop’s readiness at combating oil theft in the region. According to him, the army leadership had taken seriously personnel training in view of the current security challenges confronting the nation, especially in the North-East.

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Monday, 29 February, 2016

I have hope in Nigerian youths —Buhari Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said that there is hope that the Nigerian youths can make the nation greater and better than it is currently , just as he said that he does not have the magic wand to effect change alone. Speaking during the 25th convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Technology, (FUT),Minna, on Saturday, the president said that the youth are the greatest asset and pillar of the nation, saying that all hope is not lost. "Nigeria still has hope and promise because our youths are vibrant, energetic and creative "Today may be rough and tough, but tomorrow will be better. I have hope because I see in our youths inventors, problem solvers and leaders that will one day make Nigeria greater than my government will make it." Buhari ,who was represented by the Director of Science and Technology in the Federal Ministry of Education, Sandy Chega, stated that changing the country from the path of corruption in high and low places, is a task that all Nigerians must be committed to. "Changing our society from the path of corruption in high and low places is a task we all must be committed to. Change is not a magic wand that a single leader alone can use. We all have to believe in it and we have to work for it." The president called for value re-orientation of higher education, stressing on the need to improve the standard of education in the country.

"We need value re-orientation as far as the pursuit of higher education is concerned. Our education would be meaningless if it does not advance the cause of humanity. We want to build a Nigeria where citizens with competencies would be proud of themselves and their country can attain heights because

NIGER State government has said that its recent decision to engage the services of a Human resource consulting firm, to carry out verification exercise on the state civil servants was meant to block leakages associated with salaries and emoluments of its workforce. It stated further that the money saved as a result of detection of ghost workers when the exercise lasted ,would be used for job creation among the youth and other developmental projects. It stated this in a press statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Alhaji Shehu Danyaya and made available to newsmen in Minna, while expressing appreciation on the progress

retical. "I salute the vision of my predecessors for establishing and sustaining these specialised universities in Nigeria. Our administration recognises the importance of science and technology in national development." In his address, the vice chancellor of the university,

Professor Musbau Adewumi Akanji ,said earning a degree is not an end in itself ,adding that it should be a means to unleashing their immense potentials. "Occasions like this calls for a reflection. At a time of economic crisis ravaging the country, several posers must be in the minds of our graduating youths," he said.

Soldiers of the 25 Task Force Brigade, Nigerian Army, riding combat motorbikes, on the re-opened Maiduguri-Damboa-Biu Expressway, after inauguration of the bikes by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, on Saturday. PHOTO:NAN.

Demolition of Lokoja roundabouts not spiritual —Bello Harps on industrialisation YinkaOladoyinbo-Lokoja KOGI State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday, said there was no spiritual attachment to the demolition of roundabouts on major roads in Lokoja, the state capital. He said rather ,the demolition was part of efforts of government at giving Lokoja a face lift to be able to meet the standard of modern day state

Verification: We involved consulting firm to block leakages —Niger govt Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

of what they know and can deliver." Recognising the importance of science and technology education in national development, Buhari stated that the real test of a university's standing is on the positive impact on the society, urging universities to ensure that training is more practical than theo-

so far recorded in the on going screening exercise. Danyaya, however, warned that the government would not fold its hands and allow some disgruntled elements to cast aspersion on some principal officers in the state civil service, who had painstakingly earned their reputation and integrity in the civil service over the years as well as offering meritorious service to the state in their respective fields He stated further that the All Progressives Congress (APC)–led administration in the state will not succumb to threat and nefarious activities of some people, who were working round the clock to subvert the good intentions of government designed to deliver the state from underdevelopment.

capital. No fewer than seven roundabouts, including the one in front of the Lugard House, have been demolished with the exercise carried out in the night. The development, has however, led to various insinuations, with many saying the roundabouts were ordered to be pulled down because of revelations of marabout to the governor. Some people claimed that the clerics were brought into the state capital from Senegal to perform the cleansing of the Government House, adding that this was why the governor was yet to move to the Government House, since his inauguration on

THE Managing Director of AG-Dangote, Ashif Juma, has urged the Nigerian government to embrace the use of concrete in road constructions instead of asphalt, saying the usage of concrete for road construction is more cost-effective than asphalt mixture. He stated this after leading members of the Nigerian Institution of Highway Engineers, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), on an inspection of a 23- kilometre Ibeshe-Itori Road con-

JohnsonBabajide-Makurdi

AS the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), continues to hold in its custody,the former Minister of Imterior, Comrade Abba Moro, youths in Benue South senatorial district, have vowed to mobilise to protest the continued incarceration of the erstwhile minister. Moro was arrested last Monday by EFCC and had since been in its custody. The arrest triggered protest by some youths in the senatorial district who described it as witch hunt coming a day after the re run where former senate president, Senator David Mark, won the election. The secretary general of a Pan Idoma socio-cultural group, Idoma Collective, Dr Adakole Elijah, who decried the continued incarceration of the former minister, called on EFCC to charge the former minister to court within the stipulated constitutional requirement of 24 hours or release him unconditionally.

BSN calls for support of stakeholders Biola Azeez - Ilorin

January 27. However, debunking the insinuations, Bello said the demolition was meant to give way to new ones that would befit Lokoja as a state capital, adding that the move was aimed at replacing them with those that meet the architectural requirements of the town's renewal plans. He said his administration was committed to improving the beauty of the city, adding that aesthetic would be added to make the town attractive to investors. The governor in a statement in Lokoja signed by his Chief Press Secretary, (CPS), Kingsley Fanwo, said the old roundabouts have contribut-

Expert canvasses concrete roads OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta

Idoma youths vow to protest Moro's detention

structed by AG- Dangote Construction Limited. Juma said his company partnered Dangote in using cement and other materials to construct concrete roads in Ogun communities. The managing director stated that the road was built to solve the problems of Dangote trucks and also to serve as the company's corporate social responsibility (CRS) to its host communities. He urged government to consider the option of concrete roads,arguing that this would solve the problem of infrastructure as regards

ed to the dehumanising and unattractiveness of the city that once served as Nigeria capital. Meanwhile, Alhaji Bello has reiterated his plans to turn the state to an industrial giant that is capable of leading the nation to a new era of economic prosperity. The governor said this after some strategic meetings with the key players in the agriculture and mining in sectors in Abuja. According to a statement by the CPS to the governor, Kingsley Fanwo, on Sunday, said the governor had identified the key drivers to rebound the economy of the state. roads construction in the country. Juma explained that the durability of using concrete to build roads, was far much better that asphalt mixture. "I think the option for concrete roads would be the solution to solve the infrastructure problem in Nigeria. In our study, what we found out is that concrete is less expensive than asphalt, almost 23 per cent. And also, we have time frame for the project, we build concrete roads in less time. The important thing in Nigeria is about the maintenance.

THE Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), has called on its stakeholders to provide more support at achieving national growth and development through knowledge of the Holy Bible. In his lecture on the occasion marking 50th anniversary of the association in Ilorin, at the weekend, a leader of the BSN, Reverend Isaac Zokro, said Holy Bible had continued to play roles in the nation's growth and development. Zokro, who said that stakeholders should intensify efforts in such areas as education, economy and health, added that development was an ongoing process. The BSN leader said the society should ensure that the Holy Bible is read in every home and in mother tongue, adding that the step would help people interact with the word of God. "The Holy Bible introduces us and opens our eyes religiously to know the true God and endows us with spiritual gifts given by God through the Holy Spirit. The use of the gifts by the gifted individuals had led to national growth and development in many aspects of our national life such as politics, education, economy, health, religion among", he said.

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Monday, 29 February, 2016

Public Procurement Act: Reps summons FIRS, Pencom, Defence, Customs, others •Urges Buhari to constitute procurement council Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

ORRIED by the gross violation of Public Procurement Act by the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, which has caused the nation to lose several trillions of Naira over the years,the House of Representatives has summoned the heads of some of the affected MDAs retired or serving over the development. Some of the MDAs involved in the first batch of the invitation are: Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Ministry of Defence comprising the Army, Navy and the Air Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Nigeria Prison Service (NPS). Others are the Nigeria Oil and Gas Local Content Monitoring Board, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Pension Commission, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Nigeria Energy Regulatory Commission (NERC), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) and the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), among others. The Chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement, Honourable Wole Oke, representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency of Osun State, who confirmed this, during the committee’s meeting in Abuja, at the weekend, said the action became necessary in order to arrest the situation and prevent future occurrences in the MDAs where several trillions of Naira had gone down the drain. Honourable Oke, who disclosed that already letters of invitation had been dispatched to all the affected MDAs, vowed that all identified culprits during the committee's investigations would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Creimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) for prosecution to serve as deterrent to others. According to Honour-

able Oke, “Within the short time of the our committee coming on board, we have discovered several wrongdoings being perpetrated by the MDAs, through which several trillions of naira had gone to private pockets.” “No respect for the Public Procurement Act, hiding of books from legislative scrutiny, lack of trained manpower, over invoicing, splitting of contracts and collusion with Bureau of Public Procurement officials and lots of sharp malpractices have been the order of the day in the MDAs, which are punishable offences under the Public Procurement Act that attract a minimum of five years imprisonment without an option of fine,” he stated. “It is not going to be business as usual in the eigth Assembly as emphasised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, during our official inauguration. Enough is enough, if things

are properly done in line with the Public Procurement Act, there will be no room for the kind of the arms’ deal scam rocking the nation now. I can say it categorically that by the time we start looking into the MDAs’ books, the current arms’ scam, otherwise known as Dazukigate, will be a child’s play,” the lawmaker declared. According to him, “As part of the solutions, we are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency and in line with his current anticorruption crusade, constitute the National Procurement Council and compel all the MDAs to open up their books for legislative scrutiny, as all the MDAs have deliberately circumvent the Procurement Act over the years without any checks and balances.” “If President Buhari must realise his dream to combat corruption within government circle and public places,he must abide and

adhere by the provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007. He must use the provisions as a veritable tool to fight corruption squarely in Nigeria,” he stated. “As the chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement, I have submitted a Bill before the House that seeks to amend Public Procurement Act 2007 to make the president the chairman of the National Procurement Council in place of the Minister of Finance, who is also the procurer while the appointment of its DirectorGeneral should be done by the president, but subject to the confirmation of the National Assembly,” he added. The committee is saddled with the responsibilities of over sighting the implementation of the Public Procurement Act, oversight the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit,monitor the implementation of all capital projects in the Appropriation Acts and ensure that

all procurement of goods and services carried out by agencies and parastatals, on behalf of the Fed-

NASoW tasks affiliate chapters on social work day THE Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), an umbrella body of Social Workers in the country, has enjoined social workers and state chapters of the association to brace up for the forthcoming Social Work Day billed to hold on March 15. The association directed all chapters of the association to celebrate the day in their respective areas and support the national body in organising a recordbreaking Social Work Day. NASoW gave the directive on Friday, at the end of its National Executive Meeting (NEC). The meeting, which took place in Abuja, on Thursday and Friday, at SGF

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); President, UNILAG Accounting Students’ Association Set of 84, Chief Adejare Shobayo (left) and the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, during a reception in honour of the Head of Service, in Lagos, on Sunday.

Armsgate: Lawyers, family demand Badeh's release from EFCC James Bwala-Maiduguri

LAWYERS to former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, have expressed concern over his health, following his continued detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), even as they faulted the too stringent bail conditions being sought to ensure his freedom. In a letter to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Badeh's lawyers alleged that the EFCC might be acting out a script by placing obstacles in the former

CDS’ path to freedom, even when he had cooperated with the commission since the commencement of his interaction with them over alleged corrupt practices under his watch. The position of the lawyers seems to confirm earlier reports that the EFCC is out to humiliate the former Air Force Chief and later Chief of Defence Staff for yet unclear reasons. According to the lawyers, the EFCC was aware of the health challenges being faced by Badeh, and managing such ailments while in detention, may tend to further worsen

his situation, even as they expressed surprise at the sudden change in story by the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who had earlier given his words that Chief Badeh would be released immediately. They faulted the application for the extension of his detention at a Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, where he was whisked to, immediately the EFCC refused him coming from his house to attend sessions with them, cutting possible witching and attempts to further embarrass the man against whom nothing incriminating had so far been estab-

eral Government, comply with the Procurement Act, among others.

lished. Sources in the EFCC confirmed that there were further plans to move Badeh from Lagos to Portharcourt, even as there seemed no immediate plans to release him, even on health grounds. Members of his family are also said to be apprehensive, as their bread winner may not have been getting the deserving medical attention, calling on the EFCC to consider the man' s contributions to the country and allow him to return home and face charges against him if any.

Main Conference Hall, Federal Secretarial Complex, Abuja, had the attendance of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by Federal Director Social Welfare, Mrs Temitope Bamgboye, who delivered a goodwill message during the meeting. The statement read: "NASoW directed all her chapters to join the national body to celebrate or Mark 2016 World Social Work Day coming up in March 15th." The association also welcomed the inclusion of Institute of Social Work of Nigeria (ISWON) to social work community as one of the affiliates of NASoW and also to work with NASoW to ensure the passage of social work regulatory bill into law, among others. "Welcomed Institute of Social Work of Nigeria (ISWON) to social work community. The Institute was represented by Mr John Emaimo. The Institute resolved to be one of the affiliates of NASoW and also to work with NASoW to ensure the passage of social work regulatory bill into law, among others. NASoW also has recognised the contributions of some social workers; Mr Thomas Akintayo, a PhD Student in Social Work from University of Eastern Finland and Mr Musliudeen Adebayo, an Ibadan-based social worker and journalist, who is also the Oyo State correspondent for The Nigeria Standard newspaper for their selfless service to humanity and promoting the image of the association. "Commended the efforts of Thomas Akintayo, a PhD Student in social work from University of Eastern Finland on his Familiarity Survey to create awareness among the Honourable Members of Nigerian House of Representatives on social work regulatory bill. "Recognised the contributions of Mr Adebayo Muslideen Atanda to the media coverage of NASoW's programmes. "Resolved to get the support of stakeholders, including ISWON, to push for the passage of the social work regulatory bill as soon as possible.

communitynews

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Ogun unveils logo of maiden edition of Nigerian drums festival

GUN State government has unveiled the logo and launched the raffle draw of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Drums Festival which will be held from April 19 to 21, 2016 in Abeokuta, the state capital. While unveiling the logo and launching the raffle draw at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, represented by his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga, stated that the event would foster the development and unity of the country, as it would draw participants from the 36 states of the federation and Abuja. Governor Amosun said the Nigerian Drums Festival would also promote the cultural heritage and tradition of the people, apart from showcasing their talents and skills on drum beating, dancing and performances. He stated further that it would enhance tourism opportunities for the state which would in turn create employment for the teeming unemployed youths. In his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Otunba Muyiwa Oladipo, expressed optimism about the event, saying that

the Nigerian Drums Festival would turn around the face of culture and tourism not only in Ogun State but in Nigeria and Africa, as it would promote the cultural heritage of the country from which other African countries would take a cue. “The drum is a common factor that binds tribes and ethnic groups with different cultures and traditions in Nigeria and the Nigerian Drums Festival will be an avenue to bring the different types of drums together”, Oladipo stated. He said the unveiling of the logo had set the ball rolling and placed an official stamp on the planning and organisation of the event which had since began in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. He said “ the event is purely an initiative of the Ogun State Ministry of Culture and Tourism supported by Ogun State government and some stakeholders, but more stakeholders and sponsors are welcome on board, the more the merrier.” The commissioner, however, said that the raffle draw was launched to create awareness and promote the festival among the people of the grassroots, adding that it would be an opportunity

for buyers to win fascinating prizes. “This is part of the side attractions of the festival.

There are other side attractions; they will be unveiled as time goes on” the commissioner said.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaja Salmotu Ottun, enjoined intending participants to be steadfast and focused as the event

Road construction: Christian community commends Ganduje Kola Oyelere-Kano

Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose (second right), watching some people fetching water at Aramoko Ekiti, on Thursday, 12 years after water stopped getting to the town.

Royal families appeal against distortion of Ilorin history Biola Azeez-Ilorin

AN appeal has gone to elders, leaders and stakeholders in Ilorin emirate, Kwara State, not to allow any individual or group to distort the historical facts of the emirate. Making the call in Ilorin were representatives of the royal families of Sheikh Abubakar Basambo and Sheikh Khalifa Daniyalu, both of Sheikh Alimi Descendants Union of Ilorin emirate, Alhaji Basambo Maliki and Alhaji Daniyalu Yusuf. The representatives, who said Sheikh Alimi Descendants Union of Ilorin comprises four families that are entitled to the stool of emir of Ilorin, added that both Basambo and Daniyalu families are part of the four because they are children of Sheikh Alimi. They said the two families had never been disqualified from assuming the emirship position, adding that they never folded their arms whenever the stool was vacant and the position was be-

ing contested for. “History, undisputedly has it that Sheikh Alimi was survived by four sons: Abdulsalam, Shitta, Abubakar Basambo, Khalifa Daniyalu and a daughter, Asiat. Abdulsalam became emir after Sheikh Alimi. Abdulsalam was succeeded after his death by Shitta. By that arrangement, Shitta, at his demise, was to be succeeded by Abubakar Basambo and thereafter Daniyalu. Abubakar Basambo, who was expected to rule after Emir Shitta died before his turn. At the demise of Emir Shitta in 1861, Khalifa Daniyalu, the only surviving son of Sheikh Alimi whose turn it was to occupy the throne as the fourth Emir was denied the opportunity for being a district head,” one of the representatives said. The royal families, who said that they were not the only families whose members became district heads, added that the succession to the throne of Ilorin emirship had nothing to do with the appointment of district head, which they said started in 1907 during the colonial era.

would bring about the cultural and traditional promotion of their respective states, saying that the event was the first of its kind in the entire Africa.

It will be recalled that the Ahmed lineage of Abojumeji family of Agaka area in Ilorin, in a recent statement, said Basambo

and Daniyalu families were “unconcerned” with succession to the Ilorin emirship throne. The Basambo and Dani-

yalu families had since denied the report, calling on leaders in the emirate not to allow anyone distort historical facts.

Itesiwaju LG caretaker boss promises unprecedented development By Tunde Ogunesan

THE chairman nominee for Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State, Mr Niyi Adeagbo, has promised to bring unprecedented development to all the towns within the council area when he evetually assumes office. Adeagbo made the pledge while speaking with newsmen moments after he was screened by members of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. The security expert expressed his readiness to begin the process that would turn things around in the council, noting that “nobody will develop our towns if we fail to do so.” He said it was evident that towns in Oke-Ogun needed

development, promising to ensure that people in his local government area enjoy the dividends of democracy as envisoned by the state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. The committee began the screening on Tuesday with nominees from the 10 local government areas of OkeOgun area of the state. Adeagbo also commended the panel that screened the nominees, saying “members of the panel that screened us are highly intelligent and wonderful. They did not only check our credentials, they also asked questions to confirm our readiness for the job.” He added: “As for me and my people in Itesiwaju Local Government Area, it is a new dawn. My focus is to contribute to the socio-economic development of the

council through initiation and implementation of policies that will enhance the growth of agriculture, improve educational standard and healthcare delivery and boost the economy. The chairman of the screening committee, Honourable Bolaji Badmus, who represents Akinyele State constituency II in the state assembly, expressed optimism about the crop of nominees, adding that “the candidates presented original copies of their documents for perusal and were interrogated on their past records and other activities. All those we have screened are competent and qualified to be council chairmen. We carried out our functions according to the dictates of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

THE Christian community in Kano State has commended the incumbent governor of the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for his developmental projects, especially the reconstruction of roads in Sabongari in Fagge Local Government Area of the state, saying that the non-indigenes who are the main residents of the area were now convinced that government has not neglected them. The chairman of the state Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Bishop Ransom Bello, gave the commendation recently while speaking with journalists. According to him, residents of Sabongari were particularly impressed by this singular action of Governor Ganduje because the immediate past government neglected the people of the area, as if they were not part of the state, despite the huge amount of government revenue generated from the area. He observed that by the time the ongoing reconstruction of Court Road and other roads are completed, it would open up the area for more development, a situation that would also encourage residents to pay their taxes without hesitation. While noting that the development was due to the fact that Governor Ganduje is a listening governor, Bishop Bello noted that it was also as a result of the interaction the state CAN had had with the state governor. He added: “With the ongoing reconstruction of Court Road and other roads by the Dr Ganduje administration, the hope of non-indigenes resident in the area is being rekindled.”

Monday, 29 February, 2016

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08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Afghan Ex-IS commanders say money, not ideology drove them

Clinton

Trump

Clinton eyes November 8 showdown with Trump

RESH off a runaway win in the South Carolina primary, Democrat Hillary Clinton turned her sights to a possible match-up with Republican front-runner DonaldTrumpintheNovember 8 presidential election. Without mentioning Trump’s name, the former secretary of state made it clear on Saturday she was already thinking about taking on the real estate mogul whose recent string of victories made him the favourite to be the Republican nominee for the White House race, Reuters reported. Clinton shot down Trump’s campaign slogan of “Make America Great Again” and his plans to build a wall on the U.S.Mexican border. “Despite what you hear, we don’t need to make America great again. America has never stopped being great,” she told supporters in her

victory speech in South Carolina, pausing for applause then adding, “but we do need to make America whole again.” “Instead of building walls, we need to be tearing down barriers,” said Clinton, who would be America’s first woman president.

Clinton said she was not taking anything for granted after crushing Democratic rival Bernie Sanders on Saturday by 48 points and likely setting herself up for a good “Super Tuesday” night on March 1, a key date in the nomination battle.

TWO former Islamic State (IS) commanders who defected recently to authorities in Afghanistan told VOA’s Ashna TV that they joined the extremist group not because of ideology but largely for money. The revelations underline a discrepancy between those who join IS in Syria and Iraq and the fighters in Afghanistan, analysts say. It underscores too, they add, that IS is a complex

his ally former president Hashemi Rafsanjani lead the winners in the assembly of experts, which is responsible for selecting the country’s next supreme leader. It remains unclear if the results in Iran will be replicated in other parts of the country. But a Reuters tally, based on official but partial results, also showed independents winning 44 seats, reformists 79, and hardliners 106 in the 290seat parliament.

paying us a monthly salary of 10,000 [Pakistani rupees or approximately $100]. So we joined them.” VOA could not independently verify the accounts of Arabistan and former fellow commander Zaitoon. The men were interviewed in a comfortable compound provided by Afghan intelligence. Afghan officials and tribal sources confirmed to VOA that men worked with IS.

IS attacks kill scores across Iraq SCORES of people have died in attacks across Iraq as fighting rages between pro-government forces and the Islamic State group. In Sunday’s latest attack, a large explosion hit

Iran: Hope rises for Rouhani reelection IRANIAN President Hassan Rouhani has earned an emphatic vote of confidence and reformist partners secured surprise gains in parliament in early results from elections that could accelerate the Islamic Republic’s emergence from years of isolation. As of 0900 GMT on Sunday, latest results showed reformist candidates have taken all of the 30 seats in the capital Tehran, while Rouhani and

phenomenon and operates differently from region to region. The two men, former Taliban, said they had no contacts with IS in Syria and do not back the IS idea of spreading a caliphate throughout the world. “I was in the mountains. There was poverty; we were helpless and living with our guns,” Arabistan, one of the commanders told VOA. “There was no work. They [IS] started

A number of seats could be decided in run-offs in late April if no candidate wins the required 25 per cent of votes cast. Eight of the initial winners were women. A loosening of control by the anti-Western hardliners who currently dominate the parliament could strengthen Rouhani’s hand to open Iran further to foreign trade and investment following last year’s breakthrough nuclear deal.

the predominantly Shia neighbourhood of Sadr City, just north of the Iraqi capital Baghad. At least 15 people were killed in the blast, caused by two roadside bombs, and several injured. Elsewhere across the country, Iraq’s military came under attack from ISIL fighters. In Abu Graib, west of Baghdad, a number of policemen were kidnapped

after an attack there. A nearby village was also raided by the group in addition to as a silo and a water plant in the town, military sources told Al Jazeera before adding that both areas are now under IS control. In yet another incident, 18 policemen were killed in an IS assault on a military barrack near Fallujah in the western Anbar province.

Iraqi soldiers manning one of the gateways to the city. PHOTO: REUTERS.

otherNEWS

Zimbabwe celebrates Mugabe’s birthday ZIMBABWE President Robert Mugabe, the world’s oldest leader, hosted a lavish public event in the south-eastern city of Masvingo on Saturday to celebrate his 92nd birthday. Thousands of Zimbabweans are travelling to the celebration on Saturday to feast on game and beef, in what has become an annual event at the historic Great

Zimbabwe Monument, ruins of a historic settlement of Bantu and Shona tribes that is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to VOA, Mugabe released a bouquet of 92 balloons at the celebration. But critics of Mugabe say the feast and festivities, just the latest of a string of celebrations this week, are inappropriate, given that

many in Zimbabwe live in poverty and hunger. The government in Harare recently declared a state of disaster for parts of the country due to drought and the poor economy. Masvingo, ironically, is one of the areas worst-hit by the drought. Given the president’s advanced age, Zimbabwe’s political community is divided over what

will happen after his death, as he has refused to name a successor. Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwe is seen as the likely next president. But Mugabe’s wife Grace, who is several decades younger than her spouse, has been pursuing her own political ambitions and could be a rival to Mnangagwe for the presidency.

Robert Mugabe

Deadly new trend developing in African migration to Europe Migrants are rescued by the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea by Italian Navy. PHOTO: REUTERS.

THE International Organisation for Migration reports a sharp increase in the number of subSaharan Africans making the dangerous sea journey from Libya to Italy. But the organisation says a deadly new trend is developing on board the boats that

smuggle these migrants. The International Organisation for Migration calls death by asphyxiation on board smugglers’ boats sailing from Libya to Italy a horrific new trend. The latest incidence came to light in the last few days when more than 1,000 migrants were

rescued at sea and brought to two different Italian seaports, VOA reported. IOM spokesmen, Itayi Viriri said that among those brought ashore by rescuers were five bodies — three women and two men from Sub-Saharan Africa. They apparently had died from asphyxiation during

the journey. “The vessels that they are being put on are quite overcrowded. So, whereas normally you hear of migrants drowning in large numbers, now we are seeing more and more being squashed in these vessels that they are being put into,” he said.

Monday, 29 February, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

ITTF Championships:

LMC, TUC to partner on improving players welfare By Niyi Alebiosu THE League Management Company(LMC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have met in Abuja with a resolve to collaborate in seeking ways of ensuring better working conditions to secure welfare of players in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). The resolution was reached during a courtesy visit by a delegation of the TUC led by its President, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama to the Chairman of LMC, Shehu Dikko. The TUC President commended the LMC for repositioning the NPFL and by extension Nigeria Football through the adoption of policies that has led to improved welfare of football players and Coaches. Hesaidtheimplementation of documented contracts for players is one policy that has ensured that players’ entitlement cannot be denied and gave the assurance that “the TUC is willing to support the LMC in reaching all state governments whose Clubs are indebted to the players and Coaches to resolve the such pending matter”.

While responding, Dikko thanked the TUC President and his delegation for the visit, saying that the LMC is open to the joint venture initiatives with the labour centre that will see to improved welfare of players and Coaches. The LMC Chairman went further to reiterate the League body’s commitment to work with the players Union, NANPF in establishing a social security scheme such as pension Funds and Insurance for Players and Coaches. Accompanying the TUC President on the visit were Comrade Francis Olabode Johnson, President of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, Comrade Aliyu Musa , Chairman TUC FCT Council, Comrade Anka, Head of the TUC Liason Office FCT, and the President and General Secretary of NANPF, Comrade Dahiru Sadi and Austin Popo.

Pinnick wins praises at Harvard conference PRESIDENT of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was the cynosure of eyes at this year’s Africa Business Conference of the Harvard Business School, which took place at Harvard Business School’s campus in Boston last weekend. Pinnick, who was

Pinnick

in company with the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Chinyeaka Christian Ohaa, served as a distinguished panelist for the paper, Football in Africa. Organisers of the conference, which was sponsored by the school’s Africa Business Club, later hailed Pinnick as having “contributed immensely to the success of this conference and provided new insights into overcoming the challenges in Africa.” Foremost sports marketer/promoter and Chairman of Hotsports Media Group, Mr. Taye Ige was also at the conference.

Nigeria beat Turkey 3-0, as women’s team risks demotion

IGERIA men’s team began their campaigns in Group F of the men event at the ongoing ITTF World Team Championship with a 3-0 bashing of Turkey. The trio of Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun claimed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Turkish trio of Gencay Menge, Ibrahim Gunduz and Batuhan Ulucak. The Nigerian side were calm against the youthful European to begin their quest for promotion to the elite division on a good note. However, Nigeria will

Aruna Quadri

face their biggest foe in the group – India on Monday, which is a repeat of the bronze medal tie of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. A match the captain of the Indian side, Sharath Achanta has tagged ‘crucial’. Meanwhile, Nigerian women team risk demotion after the team failed to make it to the tournament in Kuala Lumpur over the inability of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to fund the trip to Malaysia while their men’s team had to sponsor themselves to be part of the championship.

NOGIG Games: Glo calls for fair play, healthy rivalry THE main sponsor of 2016 NOGIG Games, Globacom has advised contingents participating in the 2016 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games (NOGIG) to adhere to the principle of fair play and make healthy rivalry their watchword. Globacom who made this remark in a press statement on Sunday

and made available to Tribunesport said that the essence of the games which comes up in Lagos between February 28 and March 5 is to promote bonding, friendship and camaraderie. The company added that the NOGIG games nurtures the culture of participation and brotherhood rather than the rabid spirit of participating

to win at all costs. Globacom said it was glad to sponsor the event as part of its support for the promotion of sportsmanship in the country in particular and Africa in general. Celebrating the importance of NOGIG games, Globacom said: “The Games strengthens the bond of unity and friendship

Zenith Bank bankrolls Women League with N35m THE 2015/2016 Zenith Bank Women National Basketball League is set to dunk-off next month as huge sum of N35million was eramarked as sponsorship fee for the league. Speaking at the presentation of N35million sponsorship cheque to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), the Group Managing Director, Peter Amangbo expressed the bank’s satisfaction with the growth of the league.

“Today is very important day for us (Zenith Bank) because when we started the sponsorship of league 12 years ago with just five clubs, down memory lane, now we have 18 clubs participating in the league, this is very encouraging ” he stated. He also thanked the media for their support for the league and the bank over the years. Also speaking, President of NBBF, Tijani Umar revealed that the federation will work

hard to ensure that they improve on the league this season. Speaking further, he thanked the sponsors for their support and belief in the federation over the years, saying that the federation is working hard to not only maintain the standard of the league but to improve on it to an appreciable standard. He submitted that N18 million out the N35million will be shared among the participating clubs.

amongst the personnel in the Oil and Gas Industry and we urge participants, contingents and supporters to work hard to sustain the value of the Games.” According to Glo, “As ardent believers in the axiom that a sound mind resides in a sound body, we urge contingents participating in the 2016 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games to give it their best shot and make fair play and healthy rivalry their watchword. “In Globacom, we have been in the vanguard of supporting rapid sports development on the African continent, whilst providing the bandwidth requirements for businesses through our Glo 1 international submarine cable and thousands of kilometers of fibre optic cables laid across the length and breadth of Nigeria.”

Monday, 29 February, 2016

Thank You... for honouring our departed King

On behalf of the family of the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr.) Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, as well as the Government and the good people of Oyo State, I wish to formally thank The Almighty, the distinguished personalities, communities, institutions and students that joined us in the week- long transition ceremonies in honour of dearly departed monarch who left us to join the Saints on January 19, 2016. The glorious transition ceremonies consequently held between Friday 5th and Friday 12th February, 2016. Our most profound thanks go to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), who was represented by the Vice President, H.E. Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. Our gratitude also goes to the following distinguished Nigerians and other well-wishers across the globe: - President of the Senate, H.E. Dr. Bukola Saraki - Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara - Esteemed Members of the National Assembly - Past Presidents, including President Olusegun Obasanjo - Members of the Diplomatic Corps - Our national leaders, past and present, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Bisi Akande, among others - My brother-Governors Rauf Aregbesola, Akinwunmi Ambode, Ibikunle Amosun and others who sent messages and representations - Service Chiefs and their various State Commanders - Past Governors of Oyo State, including General David Jemibewon and Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala - Eminent Traditional Rulers - The Olubadan-in-Council - The Honourable Speaker and Members of the Oyo State House of Assembly - Elders and Leaders of Ibadanland - Exco & Members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and all its affiliate Clubs - Retired and Serving Public Functionaries - Captains of Industry - Past and Current Local Government Chieftains Distinguished Leaders of Professional Bodies and Associations including the Academia - Chieftains of the Media and members of the Press - Boards and Management Committees of Educational, Health and Social Institutions in Oyo State - Citizens of Oyo State - Fellow Nigerians at home and abroad While thanking you all for your generosity and goodwill during the ceremonies, I pray God's enabling grace and continued guidance for you and all yours. May God honour you far more than you have honoured us on the occasions. Thank you. Senator Abiola Ajimobi Governor of Oyo State.

SIDELINES

NO 16, 446

N150

MONDAY, 29 FEBRUARY, 2016

HE vivid interest of so many persons who are watchers, historians and chroniclers of our current times may one day, at the appointed time, be transmuted into legendary wisdom. As I am writing this, in a state of merry humour, I can’t really state, for sure, when that appointed time will want its tale to be told by an age-less minstrel. For now, the new popular or un-popular story – regardless of what you want to hear or of who you are and what your conviction or politics is – relates to the story of the Devil Dollar mangling our economy. And this story relating to our mutilated economy is closely tied to that of our general crushing social condition induced, according to some erroneous sources, by the new central government causing boohoos in many quarters. And this is not at all a story to be wished away by anyone who loves our country with passionately patriotic and patriotically passionate intensity. Recently, on my usual Tuesday noon of reverie and contemplation, I was in a wondrous feeling of conversation with elation that mounted on my thoughts, as a rider on a horse of victory, when I was touched by the breath of prophecy. Of course, the story elation was transmitting to me was far from a prophetic one – even though it was a wonderfully powerful one about the current circumstances of our country: the strivings and sufferings of honest men and women in our country who have nothing to show for their honesty; growing up children who don’t seem to be at peace and whose pain seems so ancient and so mysterious until a man of destiny comes to turn them into beautiful children reborn; the stupidity and resentment pervading our polity. The themes of that noon conversation are ones I can go on counting and re-telling here, but they are not the real focus of today’s writing. On the Tuesday aforesaid, in the drowsiness of a little after mid-day, the

Whatever side one belongs to in the naira devaluation debate, there can be no doubt that, as pointed out by Ndi Kato, a discussant at a summit organised by the Ondo State government last week, that the Nigerian life has long been devalued!

in&out with Tony Afejuku

08055213059

Buhari’s spiritual mission breath of prophecy touched and re-touched me ceaselessly until I acquiesced to make its revelations public – as I hereby do. You see, the prophecy, actually prophecies, came in the shape of an Australian wonga-wonga whose sound of cooing perplexed me with perplexities. First, I saw a spiritual scroll of governance given to Dr. Jonathan, a pre-presidential spiritual scroll which our former president jettisoned – and which his refusal to follow and implement to the letter led to his being jettisoned from power. In my serene state I was too perplexed to ask questions or to doubt the touching revelation that was absolutely more than a revelation. Next, surprise, surprise, the wongawonga cooed to me the next president of the United States of America: Mrs. Hillary Clinton. And I remembered the fleeting sensation in times past, long before this column came into being, in respect of a black one with African roots who shall be the president of the United States of America. Now, this revelation about Hillary Clinton is not a conjecture. It shall come to pass. President Barack Obama is handling the American presidency to Mrs. Hillary Clinton. This is a spiritual reality that we all shall soon witness as America is historically and spiritually ready for its first ever woman

Buhari, our John the Baptist, will fulfill his mission. president. And the scintillating one about our country which shall affect our spirits with the touch of superbly crafted wonder from the perfect womb of the spiritual universe is this: President Muhammadu Buhari’s spiritual mission is to usher into our life and polity accountability and transparency that shall be the measure of all subsequent attempts in accountability and transparency in our dear country. All those, from private business people to public personages and officials up to those in the judiciary, who have not kept (and are not keeping) their conduct within measure are in for it – for the un-failing doom that definitely shall consume them. No measure that they may take – or that they are taking – shall prevent the measure of perfect doom that is their lot. We have seen nothing yet from the well endowed president of moral rightness.

Buhari, our John the Baptist, will fulfill his mission. This is a must. Let all the hiding ones hide, let all the knaves, aided by the best intellectual and professional lawyers in the country, do as they please; let the judiciary mess up our polity with all kinds of fugacious rulings in protection of those they are protecting, Buhari shall fumigate everywhere, and none, including the same justices, shall escape from this president’s fumatorium. This is his spiritual mission which he shall and must fulfil for our country. This is his spiritually-given presidential ideology to redeem our country. If he was aware of it, he is now. Those who are furious can be furious, and they may play their political or “military” or judicial or rebellious furioso for as long as they wish, and as it pleases them, Buhari’s destiny and spiritual mission are assured in every right, positive, moral, and spiritual measure. And measure your strength against his at your peril. I have delivered, meantime, my story from the cooing wonga-wonga. Further powerful stories of spiritual, moral and emotional truths shall be told until what must be, must be. But that is until I am given the permission to speak again in the rhetoric of prophecy. I wait for the auspicious time. And I enjoin you to wait with me.

Continental championships:

Enyimba, Nasarawa advance as Akwa Utd crashes out By Oluwabunmi Ajayi TWO-Time African champions, Enyimba on Sunday moved to the first round of the CAF Champions League following a 2-0 win over Vipers Sports Club of Uganda. The People’s Elephant after losing 0-1 in Kampala, rose to the occasion in the

Garden City by scoring two unreplied goals through Mfon Udoh to advance in the competition. Earlier on Saturday, Nasarawa United in the CAF Confederation Cup held Generation Foot of Senegal to a barren draw, to grab the first round ticket of the competition 2-1 on aggregate having won

the first leg tie in Abuja. The Solid Miners will now face CS Constantine of Algeria in the first round with the first leg tie scheduled to hold in Abuja on March 13. However, Akwa United also featuring in the Confederation Cup fumbled before their teeming fans at the Nest of

Man City wins League Cup after shootout MANCHESTER City lifted the League Cup at Wembley after beating Liverpool 3-1 on penalties after the game had finished 1-1 after extra-time. Fernandinho struck the opener after 49 minutes, Sergio Aguero feeding his overlapping run inside the box and his shot across goal going through Simon Mignolet and into the far corner. City threatened to double their lead on the hour mark, Raheem Sterling guilty of firing wide against his former team when clean through on goal and with only Mignolet to beat. Minutes later and Aguero was denied a penalty after tangling

with Moreno before Sterling was guilty of another glaring miss when inside the box. Manuel Pellegrini’s men were made to pay for their profligacy, Phillipe Coutinho firing Liverpool back on level terms with their first shot on target on 83 minutes and forcing the game into extra-time. Aguero thought he had fired City back into the lead at the end of the first period but his flicked effort was brilliantly saved by Mignolet before Caballero denied Divock Origi in a frantic finale.

Champions in Uyo, as they lost 4-5 via penalties to Club Mokanda of Congo, after losing 0-1 at regulation time. The Promise Keepers it will be recalled, raised their hope in the competition when they won 1-0 in Congo, just as a draw would have earned them a ticket at home.

NPLF RESULTS

Rivers United Heartland Kano Pillars Plateau United Rangers Ikorodu United

2 0 2 2 2 1

FC Ifeanyiuba Abia Warriors Wikki Tourist Warri Wolves Niger Tornadoes Lobi Stars

EPL RESULTS

O 1 1 1 1 0

Manchester United 3

Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur 2

Swansea City

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. 29/02/2016.