30th May 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,511

MONDAY, 30 MAY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Troops avert militants' attack on Agip oil pipeline

•Arrest 10 suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers •Explosion rocks Borno, 4 feared dead —P8

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Nigerian Tribune

N150

Individuals,missionaries, alumni set to take over Oyo public schools •JSS1 teachers will be redistributed —Govt •We will act after Wednesday's stakeholders' —P32 meeting —NLC, TUC

•Money Market —Pg 26 •Leadership & Management —Pg19 •Entrepreneurship —Pg23 •Capital Market —Pg18 •Brands & Marketing —Pg28

Buhari confirms Naira as floating currency —P2,4

•Begs Nigerians over petrol price hike

We must resist recession —Tinubu

•Launches N500bn social investment fund

—P37

•Says Nigeria must reduce extravagance to make progress

Buhari/APC ruined Nigeria's economy —Fayose

•Militants testing our resolve, we shall bring them to justice, he says

—P38

•Details of recovered loot coming after forfeiture formalities

President Muhammadu Buhari

2016 budget, major achievement in one year —Gbajabiamila

Recovered loot: Details to be released this week without names of looters —Lai Mohammed

By Akin Durodola

T

HE Federal Government, on Sunday, said the list of looted and recovered funds would be released before end of this week.

During a programme on Channels TV, where

the station was assessing the first anniversary of the present government, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who appeared on the programme alongside his Finance Ministry counterpart, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Professor Itse Sagay and Colonel Sani Usman,

—P38

disclosed that the list of recovered fund would be unveiled very soon.

He, however, said the names of the persons involved would be withheld for legal reasons. continues pg2

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

Buhari confirms Naira as floating currency

Admits pains of petrol price increase Sanya Adejokun and Leon Usigbe - Abuja

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, confirmed the decision of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce floating exchange rate regime in place of the current fixed rate policy.

In his national broadcast to mark his one-year anniversary in office, Buhari said “in respect of the economy, I will like to directly address you on the very painful but inevitable decisions we had to make in the last few weeks, specifically on the pump price of fuel and the more flexible exchange rate policy announced by the CBN. “It is even more painful for me that a major producer of crude oil with four refineries that once exported refined products is today having to import all of its domestic needs. This is what corruption and mismanagement had done to us and that is why we must fight these ills.

“As part of the foundation of the new economy, we have had to reform how fuel prices had traditionally been fixed. This step was taken only after protracted consideration of its pros and cons. After comprehensive investigation, my advisers and I concluded that the mechanism was unsustainable.”

A floating exchange rate or fluctuating exchange rate is a type of exchange rate regime in which a currency’s value is allowed to fluctuate in response to foreign exchange market mechanisms and such a currency is known as floating currency.

Historically, naira has been fixed with its value tied to a basket of international convertible currencies like dollar, pound sterling and others.

Following the collapse of crude oil prices in 2014, foreign reserves fell from over $40 billion in August of that year to around $27 billion presently.

Introducing floating exchange rate regime is an indirect way of devaluing the naira, which the president earlier vowed never to allow as the CBN is unable to meet foreign exchange demand at the fixed rate of N199 per dollar.

Practically, therefore, CBN will no longer have a fixed rate for the naira, as the market will now determine the exchange rate at any point in time.

The president had earlier said in the speech that “we

resolved to keep the naira steady as in the past, devaluation had done dreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I support the monetary authority’s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy and fiscal policy.

“We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures affect the naira and the economy, but we cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy.

And a strong economy presupposes an industrial productive base and a steady export market.”

‘My biggest challenge’

President Buhari also spoke of the major difficulty facing his one-year-old administration, saying it was “reconstructing the spine of the state.”

Buhari said in his nationwide broadcast, that the last 12 months were devoted to ensuring that the pillars of the state and democracy could take root.

According to him, “but the real challenge for this government had been reconstructing the spine of the Nigerian state.

“The last 12 months had been spent collaborating with all arms of government to revive our institutions, so that they are more efficient and fit for purpose: “That means a bureaucra-

cy better able to develop and deliver policy.

“That means an independent judiciary above suspicion and able to defend citizen’s rights and dispense justice equittably.

“That means a legislature that actually legislates effectively and above all, that means political parties and politicians committed to serving the Nigerian people rather than themselves.

“These are the pillars of the state on which democracy can take root and thrive, but only if they are strong and incorruptible.

“Accordingly, we are working very hard to introduce some vital structural reforms in the way we conduct government business and lay a solid foundation on which we can build enduring change.”

The president said in order to move forward, the country must shun extravagance and his administration was leading the way through the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

He said: “An important first step has been to get our house-keeping right. So, we have reduced the extravagant spending of the past.

We started boldly with the TSA, stopping the leakages in public expenditure.

“We then identified 43,000 ghost workers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Informa-

tion system. That represents pay packets totalling N4.2 billion stolen every month.

In addition, we will save N23 billion per annum from official travelling and sitting allowances alone.

“Furthermore, the efficiency unit will cut costs and eliminate duplications in ministries and departments. Every little saving helps. The reduction in the number of ministries and work on restructuring and rationalisation of the MDAs is well underway. When this work is complete we will have a leaner, more efficient public service that is fit for the purpose of changing nigeria for the good and for good.

“As well as making savings, we have changed the way public money is spent.

In all my years as a public servant, I had never come across the practice of padding budgets.

“I am glad to tell you now we not only have a budget, but more importantly, we have a budget process that is more transparent, more inclusive and more closely tied to our development priorities than in the recent past. 30 per cent of the expenditure in this budget is devoted to capital items.

“Furthermore, we are projecting non-oil revenues to surpass proceeds from oil.

Some critics have described the budget exercise as clumsy. Perhaps, but it was

an example of consensus building, which is integral to democratic government.

In the end, we resolved our differences.”

Buhari was delighted at his government’s achievements in office so far, reiterating that democracy was the best form of government.

According to him, “it is one year today since our administration came into office. It had been a year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements.

By age, instinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria.

“But I believe we can also learn from the obstacles we have overcome and the progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the plans that we have in place to put Nigeria back on the path of progress.

“We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best assures the active participation and actual benefit of the people.

“Despite the many years of hardship and disappointment, the people of this nation have proven inherently good, industrious tolerant, patient and generous.”

Noting the deterioration in the economic and security conditions in the past

President mum on budget implementation Sanya Adejokun - Abuja ALMOST one month after he signed the N6.06 trillion budget into law, President Buhari, on Sunday, failed to give reasons the N350 billion first tranche of capital budget was yet to be released as earlier promised.

After several brickbats, Buhari finally signed the 2016 Appropriation Bill into law on May 7, with the Minister of Budget and

National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, giving a public breakdown on May 12.

In the Democracy Day speech, however, Buhari formally inaugurated the N500 billion social protection programme, which is part of the budget.

“A programme that both seeks to start the process of lifting many from poverty, while at the same time creating the opportunity for people to fend for them-

selves. We are committed to providing job creation opportunities for 500,000 teachers and 100,000 artisans across the nation.

“5.5 million children are to be provided with nutritious meals through our school feeding programme to improve learning outcomes, as well as enrolment and completion rates.

“The conditional cash transfer scheme will provide financial support for up to one million vulner-

able beneficiaries and complement the enterprise programme – which will target up to one million market women; 460,000 artisans and 200,000 agricultural workers, nationwide.

“Finally, through the education grant scheme, we will encourage students studying sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, and lay foundation for human capital development for the next generation.”

years, he recalled that he campaigned and won election on the platform of restoring security, tackling corruption and restructuring the economy.

He observed: “On our arrival, the oil price had collapsed to as low as $30 per barrel and we found nothing had been kept for the rainy day. Oil prices have been declining since 2014, but due to the neglect of the past, the country was not equipped to halt the economy from declining.

“The infrastructure, notably rail, power, roads were in a decrepit state. All the four refineries were in a state of disrepair, the pipelines and depots neglected.

“Huge debts owed to contractors and suppliers had accumulated. Twenty-seven states could not pay salaries for months. In the NorthEast, Boko Haram had captured 14 local governments, driven the local authorities out, hoisted their flags. Elsewhere, insecurity was palpable; corruption and impunity were the order of the day. In short, we inherited a state near collapse.

“On the economic front, all oil dependent countries, Nigeria included, have been struggling since the drop in prices. Many oil-rich states have had to take tough decisions similar to what we are doing.

“The world, Nigeria included, had been dealing with the effects of three significant and simultaneous global shocks starting in 2014.

“A 70 per cent drop in oil prices; global growth slowdown and normalisation of monetary policy by the United States federal reserve.

“From day one, we purposely set out to correct our condition, to change Nigeria. We reinforced and galvanised our armed forces with new leadership and resources.

“We marshaled our neighbours in a joint task force to continues pg4

Recovered loot: Details to be released this week without names of looters —Lai Mohammed continued from frontpage

“Nigerians will get the amount recovered by the end of the week, but for legal reasons, we will not reveal their names,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

According to Mohammed, President Buhari was advised against giving the names of looters for legal reasons. “Of course, he has

a right to reverse himself on that,” he said.

President Buhari, during his nationwide broadcast to mark one year anniversary of his government, said the Ministry of Information and Culture would publish and update Nigerians on the efforts of the Federal Government towards recovering all Nigeria’s stolen assets.

Also speaking, Professor Sagay said “there is rigorous aggression in the way the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) corruption case is progressing,” adding that within the next six months, cases would come to conclusion.

The Finance Minister, Mrs Adeosun, said it was wrong for anybody to say

the government did not have any economic blueprint.

“Its wrong to say it’s not clear where we are taking the economy, we have clarity on direction. We are working to diversify economy.”

She also dismissed the claim that foreign investors were running from Nigeria because of policies

of the government, adding that the reason many companies did not want to do business in Nigeria was corruption and assured that foreign investors would come back into the country.

“Reason for investors not willing to come to Nigeria is corruption, not forex policy; some are coming back now,” she said.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

Democracy remains best solution to national problems —Saraki Ayodele Adesanmi Abuja

S

ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has commended Nigerians for working to sustain democracy in the past 17 years, despite the various challenges the country had encountered within the period.

In a statement to mark this year’s Democracy Day, signed on his behalf by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki described democracy as not only the most globally accepted system of government, but also the best solution to the problems confronting a multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious society like Nigeria.

He said in the last 17 years, the electorate had become more discerning and sophisticated, as the nation had got to the point that people elected to the various offices were now conscious of the fact that they were under constant watch and when they fail to meet the expectation of the voters, they would be given the red card.

The Senate President further called on elected and appointed officials at all levels of government to continue to justify the confidence people reposed in them, as he said he and his colleagues in the Senate were conscious of the fact that if they failed to live

up to the expectation of the people, the next elections

were just around the corner.

He added that at this point, the nation must im-

prove on the conduct of elections in such a manner

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State (left) with the Sarkin Malamai of Sokoto, Alhaji Buhari Shirdawa, during special prayers to mark one year in office of the governor, in Sokoto, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN

Nigerians becoming despondent —Enoh •Govt has no economic blueprint— Lemo Sanya Adejokun - Abuja SENATE Committee on Finance member, John Enoh, on Thursday, warned that Nigerians were becoming despondent by the day and unless urgent action was taken to stem the negative tide of rising poverty and unemployment, they might

begin to be wistful of even the years of widespread corruption.

Also, former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr Tunde Lemo, said the administration had no visible economic blueprint to lift the country out of its present economic doldrums.

Yet, Director of Monetary Policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Moses Tule, declared it would be near impossible for government to fully implement the N6.06 trillion budget within the remaining seven months of the year.

At the inaugural edition of Nigerian Economic

Stakeholders Summit in Abuja, Enoh, who chaired the occasion, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for fighting corruption and insurgency in the first year of his administration, but insisted that attention must now be shifted to the economy.

Reeling out the nega-

Buhari confirms Naira as floating currency continued from pg2

tackle and defeat Boko Haram. By the end of December 2015, all but pockets and remnants had been routed by our gallant armed forces.

“Our immediate focus is for a gradual and safe return of internally displaced persons in safety and dignity and for the resumption of normalcy in the lives of people living in these areas.

“EFCC was given the freedom to pursue corrupt officials and the judiciary was alerted on what Nigerians expect of them in the fight against corruption. On the economy, in particular foreign exchange and fuel shortages, our plan is to save foreign exchange by fast tracking repair of the refineries and producing most of our fuel requirements at home.

“And by growing more food in Nigeria, mainly rice, wheat and sugar, we will save billions of dollars in foreign exchange and drastically reduce our food import bill.

“We resolved to keep the Naira steady, as in the

that the freewill of the electorate would be reflected in the results, adding that for the country to become a matured democracy, elections must be peaceful, free and fair.

He added that Nigeria must become a model in Africa for the enthronement of rule of law and protection of fundamental human rights of all individuals and that the country must show good example to other countries on the continent and in the Commonwealth nations in that regard.

Saraki noted that in the area of the economy, the entire world was facing challenging times and what the country needed to overcome the situation were discipline, prudent management of her resources and exploration of hitherto neglected areas in creating national wealth.

past, devaluation had done dreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I supported the monetary authority’s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy and fiscal policy.

“We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures affect the Naira and the economy, but we cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy.

And a strong economy presupposes an industrial productive base and a steady export market.

“The measures we must take may lead to hardships.

The problems Nigerians have faced over the last year have been many and varied.”

The president further assured that policy measures and actions taken so far were not to be seen as some experiment in governance, expressing fears that vested interests would resist them.

He added: “We are fully aware that those vested interests, who have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight. They

will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad, incite the public in an effort to create chaos rather than relinquish the vice-like grip they have held on Nigeria.

“The economic misfortune we are experiencing in the shape of very low oil prices has provided us with an opportunity to restructure our economy and diversify.

“We are in the process of promoting agriculture, livestocks, exploiting our solid mineral resources and expanding our industrial and manufacturing base.

That way, we will import less and make the social investments necessary to allow us to produce a large and skilled workforce.”

...Offers ‘carrot, stick’ to end Niger Delta militancy

President Buhari opened a window of negotiations with Niger Delta militants, who have renewed their campaign to sabotage oil and gas installations in the region, but has warned that any attempt to test the gov-

ernment’s resolve would be severely dealt with.

In his broadcast, he said the sabotage of infrastructure would not stop the government from parleying with the elders of the region towards a sustainable resolution to the crisis.

However, he added that government would arrest those responsible for the acts and bring them to justice.

He also stressed his government’s commitment to re-engineering the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme and implementing the United Nations Environment Programme report to clean up the pollution in the Niger Delta.

He said: “The recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems.

“If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaking.

We shall apprehend the perpetrators and their sponsors and bring them to justice.”

The president added: “We are committed to implementing the United Nations Environment Programme report and are advancing clean-up operations. I believe the way forward is to take a sustainable approach to address the issues that affect the Delta communities.

Re-engineering the amnesty programmes is an example of this.”

While he noted the progress in the ongoing effort to recover stolen funds, President Buhari, however, failed to disclose how much had been recovered so far, saying the Ministry of Information would publish the amount, which he said would be paid into the nation’s treasury when forfeiture formalities were concluded.

He spoke on the current economic hardship in the country, particularly the hike in petrol price, explaining that government needed to take tough decisions, which he said had yielded significant results in the areas of security, tackling corruption and on the economy.

tive statistics of worsening unemployment, poverty, negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, dwindling crude oil proceeds, leading to declining handouts by Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), the senator wondered what would be the fate of 2016 budget.

Also speaking at the summit organised by the Money Show and Disciples of Democracy Magazine, Tule expressed fears that while it was now extremely important to urgently reflate the economy by spending heavily on infrastructure to create jobs, pumping over N6 trillion into the system in seven months would escalate inflation.

In his view, there must be coordination among agencies and tiers of government for Nigerians to enjoy desired values, while recalling that CBN warned of the dangers ahead several years ago, but the warnings were not heeded.

Lemo, who spoke on a television interview programme said “however, I believe its important now that the economic team has been assembled for them to come up and begin to drill down what they intend to do around employment, competiveness and what they want to do by making sure that more Nigerians are put back on the job track and then how we then lift our growth path to what it used to be or what it should be.”

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No plan to effect 70% cut in workers' salaries —Niger govt Adelowo Oladipo - Minna

N

IGER State government has expressed concern at a recent media report that it is planning to effect a 70 per cent salary reduction in the state civil service or retrench some workers.

Rather, it stated that what it did, in its tradition of engaging with stakeholders on issues, was that it met with labour on the current economic meltdown to discuss the way forward.

A press statement signed by Mallam Jibril Baba Ndace, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello and made available to newsmen in Minna, on Sunday, stated that at the meeting, which was presided over by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Shehu Danyaya, government informed labour of the precarious condition of the state's finance, adding that the state had been borrowing since January to augment workers' salaries.

"It was a meeting where government presented figures of its receipts and wage bill to labour, to en-

able us jointly proffer solution in view of the state dwindling resources.

Meanwhile, barring all odds, the state government may embark on retrenchment of some members of the state civil service any moment from now, following the declaration by the government over the weekend that it will no longer resort to borrowing huge sums of money from banks to pay monthly salaries of its workforce.

The state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, disclosed during an interaction with journalists in Minna, at the weekend.

He lamented that the Bello–led administration had been borrowing money in the past one year on monthly basis to augument the statutory allocations to the state from the federation account for the payment of salaries of the civil servants.

LG system in Nasarawa dead —Al-Makura Godwin Agwam - Lafia NASARAWA State governor, Umaru Tanko Almakura, has described the local government system in the state as dead due to its inability to pay workers' salaries.

The local government staff in the state, have been receiving only 30 per cent of their monthly salaries since the beginning of 2016.

The governor said this on Sunday, in Lafia, during a media chat with newsmen, as part of democracy day celebration.

According to Al-makura, the local government system in the state, is a ghost of it self that has been

marred by over blotted staffing and corruption, hence, its inability to pay workers' salaries.

The governor said that most local government secretariats in the state are occupied by goats and rams as most staff only appear in office to receive their salaries.

He added that corruption in the system has made virtually every unemployed person in the state a beneficiary of the local government salary.

Al-makura said that for the local government in the state to regain its lost glory, a surgical operation needed to be carried out to review its staffing system.

My colleagues removed me, not Oshiomhole —Ex-Edo speaker Banji Aluko - Benin City THE impeached speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Victor Edoror, at the weekend, spoke for the first time on his impeachment, revealing that contrary to what was reported by a section of the media, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, was not behind his removal from office.

The Esan Central representative, who was on May 3, impeached by 16 out of the 24 lawmakers in state House of Assembly, said if there was any external influence at all, in his impeachment, focus should be on "some mischievous Esan leaders, who have been pursuing what they called Esan agenda."

Exonerating Oshiomhole in his political travail, he said it was Governor Oshiomhole, who at the inauguration of the assembly, reminded members of the House on the need to balance sharing of political offices in Edo State, a factor he said, made it possible for him to become speaker.

Edoror, who spoke during a media briefing in Benin, said in the wisdom of the Esan leaders, he had to be removed from office in order to achieve their utmost objective.

"It was a calculated attempt to destroy the image I have built. I consider this as an attempt to take undue advantage of an unfortunate situation in a most shameless and reprehensible manner and I condemn it in totality."

Edoror said it has become imperative to speak as many lies were slapped on his head to justify what he described as his illegal removal from office, adding that "there was no time the governor provided me with N54 million to share for House members."

He noted that his removal has altered political equilibrium in the state and that his Esan people were not happy with his removal as their representative.

Council boss distributes food items THE Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Ibadan North West Local Government, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, has been described as a transparent leader who believes in equal justice and religious harmony.

Making this assertion was the chief speaker and the Chief Imam of Basorun Akobo Central mosque, Alhaji Habeeblah Adekunle Bukhari, at the annual pre-Ramadan lec-

ture and distribution of food items to 200 mosques in the local government for the forthcoming Ramadan held at the council secretariat, Onireke, Ibadan.

Alhaji Bukhari in his presentation highlighted the importance of Ramadan to the Muslim faithful. The month of Ramadan is an opportunity for individual Muslim and even countries, to seek the face of Almighty Allah.

From left, Group Chief Executive Officer, Afromedia, Mr Akinola Olopade; Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Isiyaku and the company secretary, Mrs Ifetola Fadeyibi, during the 50th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Afromedia, in Lagos, recently.

Prince Odutola Onagoruwa (second right), with his children, from left, Ayodele, Ibitope and Simi, during the burial of his mother in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State, recently.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

Akintoye to Buhari: Employ negotiations to tackle Nigeria’s problems Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

A

N academic and historian, Professor Banji Akintoye, has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to employ peaceful negotiations to find solutions to the challenges confronting the country rather than employing the military to deploy their physical force on the people of the nation.

Akintoye, who made this call in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during a public lecture, entitled: “ The Yoruba Welfare Ideology and the Future of the Yoruba Nation,” organised by members of Pan Yoruba SocioPolitical group, Afenifere, to commemorate the 90th birthday of the leader of the group, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, urged the president to find ways to knit together

an alliance for success and prosperity.

He also called on leaders of the Yoruba nation to work together peacefully with other nationalities within the country to find ways to restructure the Nigerian nation and to revive economic and social development initiatives in all parts of the country.

“President Buhari should lead Nigeria to embark on

serious and far reaching discussions with leaders, people and the militants of the Niger Delta; the hurting people of the Middle Belts desperately in need of security; the Igbo citizens demanding Biafra, the Yoruba people intensely demanding national autonomy for the benefit of all Nigerians and the Hausa -Fulani insisting on an over -centralised fed-

eration for the defence of their interest.

“We must find ways to persuade various aggrieved people of Nigeria to stop hitting Nigeria, to lay down their arms now and forever, to join hands with the rest of Nigeria to create a harmonious structure for Nigeria, and to turn Nigeria’s destiny around for the good for all Nigeria.

“The end objective must be

to make all Nigerian peoples happy to belong to harmonious family of equal Nigerian nationalities and to give every Nigerian citizen a confident hope in life more abundant.”

The patron of Oodua Foundation in diaspora also called on the Yoruba nation and other nationalities within the country to support President Buhari’s crusade against corruption, saying

Security agents apprehend 5 cattle rustlers in Plateau Isaac Shobayo -Jos SECURITY agents in Plateau State have arrested five cattle rustlers suspected to have killed Fulani herders and rustled 32 cows and 30 sheep in Mangu Local Government Area of the state.

Plateau State Secretary of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Muhammad Adamu, who disclosed this in Jos, the state capital, said rustlers, suspected to be Berom, crossed from Fan district in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area into Mangu Local Government Area and killed 35-year-old Adamu Yusuf before rustling his cows and sheep on Sunday evening.

Adam said men of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in Barkin Ladi, who got wind of the incident in the early hours of Monday, recovered 19 of the cows and all the sheep, adding that the rustlers had agreed to take the herders and security agents to Gyel market in Bukuru, Jos South, where the remaining cows had been taken to be sold off.

When contacted, Operation Safe Heaven Media and Information Officer, Captain Ikedichi Iweha confirmed the killing of the Fulani herdsman and recovery of 19 cows.

He said five suspects were now in OPSH custody while efforts were being intensified to track down the remaining cows scattered across villages and those sold out.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khadija Ibrahim (second right), presenting some relief materials to internally displaced persons (IDPs) at their Wassa Camp, Abuja, at the weekend. PHOTO: NAN.

there was no doubt that Nigeria would be great again, while new doors of a new Nigeria would be opened only if Nigerians supported the president’s anti corruption campaign.

Akintoye called on Yoruba leaders in the South-West to work with other Nigerians to find a lasting solution to the menace of herdsmen, while he called on governors from the region to set up security apparatus which would adequately protect farmlands.

The Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, in his remarks, restated the position of the state government not give room for grazing reserves or land in the state.

The governor, who commended the guest lecturers on many issues raised in his lecture, said the proposed grazing land issue did not align with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

Mimiko, who said the grazing bill might not see the light of the day, noted that the nation’s constitution empowered state governors to allocate land and to revoke same, noting that this law had not been amended in the constitution.

Explosion rocks Borno, 4 feared dead Chris Agbambu -Abuja A soldier and four other persons lost their lives, Sunday morning, as improvised explosive devices were detonated near military checkpoint, on the outskirts of Biu town in Borno State.

The incident happened when a tricycle, unknowingly stepped on the explosive device planted by the side of Biu-Damboa Road.

Colonel Sani Usman, who is the acting director in charge of Army Public Relations, confirmed this in a statement and said four persons, comprising a woman with her baby and two other male adults lost their lives in the incident.

According to him, three other persons, including a soldier, were injured and were immediately taken to Biu General Hospital, where the soldier later died.

Usman noted that the area had been cordoned off, while Explosive Ordinance Device (EOD) team from Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Buratai have been mobilised to carry out further search of the area.

He disclosed that preliminary investigations showed that the IED was buried a long time ago undetected and only exploded when the tricycle erroneously stepped on it.

He said: “We commiserate with the families of the victims of this sad incident.

This unfortunate development has brought to the fore the need for more security

consciousness and vigilance among all.

“We will like to reiterate that the explosion will not deter us from seeing to the end of Boko Haram terror-

ists wherever they might be hiding through our ongoing clearance operations.

“We want to use this opportunity to solicit more cooperation from the mem-

bers of the public to enable us to succeed in the fight against the remnants of these criminal elements going by the appellation, Boko Haram terrorists.”

Gunmen abduct another lecturer in Cross River Anthony Ubong -Calabar GUNMEN, at the weekend, abducted a lecturer, Dr Walter Ibe of the Department of Computer Sciences, Federal College of Education, Obudu, from his residence to an unknown destination.

This is, however, coming three weeks after suspected hoodlums abducted a lecturer in the University of Calabar and collected ransom from his family before he was released.

Dr Ibe, said to be a pastor of a Pentecostal church in Obudu, was in his residence on Saturday night when gunmen invaded his sitting room and abducted him in the presence of his family.

Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Cross River chapter, Pastor Lawrence Ekwok, who confirmed the abduction of the lecturer on Sunday, told newsmen that Ibe was the Public Relations Officer of the PFN in Obudu, and that the incessant ab-

duction of men of God in the state to extort what he called “blood money” from them was abhorring.

“PFN warns kidnappers who have taken the act of abducting men of God to extort money from them to desist from such action or face the wrath of God and

we hereby call on the police and other security agencies to ensure the release of Pastor Ibe and arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of such act without delay.”

He said the kidnappers who stormed the home of the lecturer in a Toyota Camry without a registration num-

ber bundled him into the boot of his highlander SUV and drove him away.

DSP John Eluu, the spokesman of the Cross River police command said the abductors had contacted the family and made a demand of N5 million, saying the police were on their trail.

Don’t allow abducted Chibok girls to spend another Children’s Day in captivity, FG warned Ademola Adegbite -Abuja THE Federal Government has been warned to do everything within its power to rescue the remaining abducted Chibok girls from Boko Haram. The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG), which said this, also noted that government must not allow the innocent girls to spend the 2017 Children`s Day in captivity.

According to the group, it was desirable that the girls marked the next national

holiday after Democracy Day, being Independence Day, as free persons.

“As others celebrated this year’s Children’s Day, the abducted Chibok girls continue to be in Boko Haram’s slavery, because several persons and groups are making political capital and possibly economic gains out of the captives’ unfortunate situation,” the NDMG lamented.

In a statement by its UK coordinator, Mr Adeka Onyilo, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, on

Sunday, admonished President Muhammadu Buhari to order an investigation into the role being played by various stakeholders in Borno State in the intractable nature of the Boko Haram insurgency.

“The Presidency can no longer shy away from ordering a special investigation into what is truly going on in that state, particularly when other states to which the insurgency spread are now back on the way to recovery while Borno State continues to relapse.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Oshodi alleged wife-killer hospitalised after taking poison Olalekan Olabulo

Eko Bridge, National Theatre, Iponri surrounded by waste. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Hoodlums abduct, kill LUTH consultant surgeon ...native doctor too Opeyemi Owoaseye A consultant orthopaedic surgeon with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Dr Thomas Adekoya-Cole has been abducted and killed by yet-to-be identified assailants.

He reportedly met his untimely death on Sunday morning in his town near Itele, Ijebu-Ode Ogun State.

It was learnt that Adekoya-Cole, 60, was first abducted by some hoodlums before being hacked to death.

He was reportedly in the community for a social function.

He was said to have been dealt many machete blows until he surrendered his life.

The killing is thought in security circle to be a reprisal for the death of a native doctor, identified

as Omotayo Ogunbowale.

Ogunbowale was reportedly stabbed to death during a ritual ceremony on Saturday.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ogun State, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killings, adding that the corpses had been deposited in a mortuary.

According to him, “At about 4:00 a.m., we received information that some hoodlums went

to Akongi Street and attacked some traditional worshippers. On arrival at the scene, we met a corpse identified as Omotayo Ogunbowale of Odimore Ijebu Ode. He was aged 38 years and was stabbed to death. By Sunday morning, we got a call that the doctor had been killed in a reprisal attack at Itele, Ijebu-Ode.” Adejobi added that investigations were ongoing into the deaths.

Mowe, Ogun State, only three months ago.

His boss, Olayinka Oyinloye, said he had warned him against his friendship with Wasiu after he was arrested for a crime he knew nothing about.

According to the boss, “Just two months ago, the police arrested him while watching over Wasiu’s phone. The problem is that they usually smoke hemp in that place where they charge phones.

Throughout the time of his detention, this so called friend did not even check on him.

“After I got him on bail, I warned him against the friendship and advised him to be wise and not allow anybody put him into problems.

“On Thursday, Wasiu came again and asked him to help him charge his phone and watch over it. Soga refused, reminding him of what happened the last time he did that for him. That was how he became angry and started

beating him.”

The two men were said to be fighting when some residents intervened and separated them.

It was learnt that the suspect, who had a bottle of beer in his hand, smashed it on the floor and attacked Soga in the armpit.

Oyinloye said, “He fell down and started bleed-

ing. People came around and took him to a hospital, while they held Wasiu to prevent him from escaping.

“They took him to Lion Building Police Division around 11.30 p.m. I went to check Soga (Adewale) in the hospital. Around 1:00 a.m., he gave up. I quickly went back to the station to report the de-

Bricklayer kills mechanic apprentice for refusing to charge phone Opeyemi Owoaseye

A

bricklayer, Demola Wasiu has allegedly stabbed his friend, Soga Adewale, 27 to death for refusing to charge his phone for him.

Wasiu was said to have stabbed the victim with a broken bottle in the armpit for refusing his request for regarding his phone. The victim was said to have lost a lot of blood before he was rushed to the Lagos Island General Hospital where he gave up the ghost, on Friday.

Wasiu was subsequently arrested by policemen from the Lion Building division and the case is now with the State Department of Criminal Investigation (SCID), Yaba.

It was gathered that Adewale was an apprentice in a mechanic workshop on Ajele Street, Lagos Island area of Lagos State. He was said to have come to Lagos from

JAFARU Sougie, who was arrested for allegedly killing his wife in Oshodi area of Lagos State has been hospitalised, following what a police source blamed on deteriorating health.

Jafaru was on Friday arrested, after one of his children, Richmond raised the alarm, after discovering the lifeless body of his mother at the family’s residence at Araromi Road on Oshodi.

A police source at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID) of the Lagos State Police Command, Panti, told Lagos Metro that the ill health might not be unconnected with the poison that the suspect allegedly took.

It was gathered that the

velopment to the police.

Some of the officers followed me to the hospital to confirm if he was actually dead and after they did, they returned to the station.”

The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Damasus Ozoani, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation was ongoing.

Agent nabbed for duping visa seekers Oluwakemi Adebayo A man, Adewunmi Sunday Samuel has been arrested by the police for defrauding some individuals on the pretext of procuring travel documents or them.

Adewunmi was accused of collecting N640, 000 from one Abisola Fatima and also collecting N255, 000 from Adedipe Adebola sometimes in February 2016 at Ajah, promising to get them

travelling documents to South Africa.

When he was arrested, the suspect had in his possession a Nigerian passport belonging to one Agbomola Nafisat and could not give reasonable explanation what the passport was doing in his possession.

Adewunmi was also accused of giving false information to one, Michael Oyetayo about a dermatology conference

that was to take place in Cape Town in South Africa in August 2016 being fully aware that there was no such conference.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges against him when he was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s court and was granted bail of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till June 25 by the Magistrate, Aje Afunwa for mention.

police at Panti has been thrown into confusion over the ill health of the suspect. “The man is not in a good health state at all. He took poison. He is not well, so we are treating him at the police hospital. You cannot investigate someone who is at the point of death.

But once he recovers, we would begin investigation into the case. From investigations, the police gathered that he had vomited some black substances, before he was arrested,” a police source told Lagos Metro.

Richmond 16, narrating the incident said, “My three siblings, our aunt and I slept in the living room while dad and mum were inside.

Around 4:00 a.m., dad called me from the bathroom. I went to meet him but he did not say anything. I went outside to urinate and when I came back, I checked the bathroom and saw him lying down, vomiting some black substance and excreting on his body. I think he poisoned himself. I told my aunt to wake mum up to attend to him. But she didn’t wake up.

“I shone a flashlight on her and saw blood on the bed with a wide cut in her neck. I fainted when we discovered she was dead. We later asked dad how it happened, he said somebody entered and did it whereas the compound gate is always locked in the night.”

The son also added that, “It was mum that took care of us. She was the one sponsoring my elder brother, Collins, who just gained admission into a university in Abia State. I don’t know our fate now.

“The landlord of our former rented house on Michael Street sent us out because dad always quarrelled with mum. We were also sent away from Banjoko Street for the same reason.”

8 news

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Troops avert militants’ attack on Agip Oil pipeline —Spokesperson Arrest 10 suspected members of Niger Delta Avengers From Ebenezer Adurokiya and Banji Aluko

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HE Nigerian Army, on Sunday, said its troops prevented militants from blowing up Agip Oil pipeline at Gulobokri, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The troops, from 343 Artillery Regiment of 2 Brigade, 82 Division, encountered some armed militants in two speed boats in the early hours on Sunday, the army said in a press statement issued by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Sani Usman.

The statement said the suspected vandals opened fire on the patrol team.

“The troops responded with overwhelming superior firepower, and as a result, the suspected criminals sped off from the area with many of them sustaining gunshot wounds. No casualty on the patrol team.

“Unfortunately, personnel of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the team sustained gunshot wound. He has since been evacuated and he is in a sta-

ble condition.”

The statement said other troops from the same unit in 82 Division opened fire on another group of militants in three speed boats that tried to attack a “critical infrastructure” in Perigbene area.

Most of the militants, the statement said, were killed,

while others sustained injuries.

“The casualty on militants cannot be ascertained as it was raining heavily and the raging storm could not allow troops to go on pursuit of the escaping criminals,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian

Army, also on Sunday, said it arrested 10 suspected militants and pipeline vandals in the Niger Delta region.

The Commander, 4 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Benin City, Farouk Yahaya, while addressing journalists, said the suspects were arrested during a cordon and search

exercise conducted in Oporozoa community and its environs in Delta State.

Residents of the area had decried the invasion of the community since Saturday and raised the alarm over alleged intimidation of innocent residents.

A resident, who simply

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, presenting an award of Icon of Democracy to a former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, during the 2016 Democracy Sunday service and award of honour to some eminent stakeholders in the state, at the Government House, Osogbo, on Sunday.

$150m power generation project for Plateau Isaac Shobayo -Jos ARRANGEMENTS have been concluded by a multinational firm, CT Cosmos Nigeria Ltd, to set up a massive power generation project of over $150 million in Plateau State.

The Managing Director of the firm, Chief Philip Chukwuike, who disclosed this when he led the management of the firm on a courtesy visit to Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, said within the next few months, Nigeria would witness a revolution in electricity generation which would start from Panyam in Plateau State.

He said CIT Cosmos had chosen Siemens as technical partner, being a leading supplier of system for power generation and transmission and global giant in electrification, automation and digitalisation for the execution of solar photovoltaic project.

Responding, Governor Lalong said Plateau would soon become a centre of attraction for power generation with the moves to invest such amount of money on power supply.

Lalong noted that “with the protracted power generation problems we have in Nigeria, to have over 70 megawatt generated on the

Plateau is not a joke.”

Throwing his weight behind the project, he urged the Federal Government to expedite action in giving the

necessary support to the initiative, adding that with stable supply of power, quite a lot of problems confronting the country would be a thing

of the past.

According to him, many advantages that accrue to the state could not be overemphasised, adding that

aside having additional power supply, the youth would be employed and revenue would be generated for the state.

8 killed by gunmen in Rivers DapoFalade-PortHarcourt OZOCHI community in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State was thrown into mourning as gunmen, suspected to be cultists, allegedly shot dead eight of its members on Saturday night.

A community source said shops and other properties were also set ablaze in the community by the rampaging gunmen during the shooting.

The incident was separately confirmed, on Sunday, by the spokesman of the state police command, DSP Ahmad Muhammad and the caretaker chairman of the local council, Okpara Ewor.

Similarly the lawmaker, representing the council in the state House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, also gave his own confirmation of the killing.

According to the trio, the hoodlums stormed Ozochi community Saturday night shooting sporadically and killing eight persons, including the oldest man in

the community.

The police image-maker, in a sms sent to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, said “the attack occurred midnight at around 100a.m.

“The situation is now calm following the deployment of a unit of armed mobile policemen. Investigation has so far begun.”

Ewor, the caretaker chairman, condemned the ugly development, describing those behind the sad incident as enemies of the local government area and the state.

In a telephone conversation, through his media aide, Monday Oyagiri, the council chairman warned

troublemakers to leave the local government area alone and warned that anyone caught would be dealt with.

On his own part, Honourable Ehie called on security operatives in the state to investigate the killings and ensure that the culprits were apprehended and punished.

INEC declares Nasarawa/Toto bye-election inconclusive APC wins Kwara bye-election From Godwin Agwam and Biola Azeez THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the May 28 Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency election inconclusive, citing over voting as a reason.

Addressing newsmen in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state, the Returning Officer of INEC Dr Wilfred Uji of the Federal University Lafia, said the decision became necessary because the total number of cancelled votes superseded the difference in the total

number of votes obtained by the leading candidate and the runner up.

According to him, “it will be injustice to declare the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates who is leading the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate with a difference of 29,491 votes when the total number of cancelled votes is 39,491.”

He announced that, the APC candidate Jafaru Mohammed scored a total of 46,559 votes, PDP candidate Ahmed Musa scored 17,068 votes while APGA candidate Dr Joseph Ogbere scored a

total of 11,181 votes.

He disclosed that a later date would be announced by the commission for a supplementary election.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mrs Victoria Afolayan, has been declared the winner of the bye-election into the Kwara State House of Assembly in Oke-Ero Local Government Area constituency.

The Returning Officer for the election, Dr Rasheed Jimoh, while announcing the result at the council secretariat in Iloffa, said Afolayan polled 5, 344 votes.

identified himself as Raphael, said the suspects arrested were innocent people who could not run away fast enough. He said the soldiers arrested them and labelled them members of the Niger Delta Avengers while the other residents were currently taking refuge in the bush.

The Niger Delta Avengers is the group that has claimed responsibility for recent attacks on oil and gas pipelines and installations.

However, Mr Yahaya, a Brigadier General, said the arrested suspects might have links with the Niger Delta Avengers. He said guns, ammunition and other equipment were recovered from them.

He said the operation was conducted professionally, in line with the code of conduct and rules of engagement of the Nigerian Army.

The Army also reaffirmed its commitment to tackling pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta region.

The recent activities of the militants have been blamed for the worsening power situation in the country, as pipelines which transport gas to power generating stations were blown up.

Their activities also led to a reduction in Nigeria’s oil production, leading to less money available for all tiers of government in a period of economic downturn.

Also, a former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), has appealed to members of the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to sheathe their swords and seek dialogue with the Federal Government.

This is just as the Ibe-ebidouwei of Ijaw nation has accused members of the Joint Task Force (JTF) of looting to the extent of stealing pots of soup from the natives’ kitchen in Oporoza, Gbaramatu kingdom since their invasion on Saturday.

Tompolo, who is currently a fugitive and on self exile, said these in a press statement personally signed and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, in Warri, Delta State.

Tompolo, who is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged corruption, for the umpteenth time, denied membership of the group.

He begged NDA members to stop further bombing of oil and gas pipelines in order to prevent the nation’s economy from plunging into utter recession.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

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businessnews

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Nigeria’s foreign reserves falls by $1.06bn in 3 days •DMO says no cause for alarm Chima Nwokoji-lagos

E

VEN as the Nigerian external reserves remained low, closing at $25.50 billion as at May 23, the DirectorGeneral, Debt Management Office (DMO), Dr Abraham Nwankwo has said the naira and foreign exchange reserves will recover in the coming years as the impact of government’s economy diversification plan begins to crystallise in the economy.

The reserve remained low, closing at $25.50 billion as at May 23, a $1.06 billion decline from $26.56 billion level as at May 20 central bank data showed.

Speaking on Friday at a Breakfast Meeting with Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria (FICAN) in Lagos, Dr Nwankwo said governments’ efforts at revalitalising the agriculture sector, solid minerals, manufacturing and taxation will have massive impact on the economy in the next three to five years.

He said with government’s diversification project in full gear, Nigeria’s forex reserve level, economic growth and development will no longer be determined by movement in the prices of crude oil.

He said a lot of revenues will be derived from taxation, adding that the country’s low comparative tax revenue to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio which stands at about seven per cent, against 18 per cent average in most developing countries, would be improved on as the country begins to gain strength in production.

According to Nwankwo, by simply paying making individuals and corporate bodies pay taxes, government can secure the needed fund to fund major developmental projects.

“You can see that in the manufacturing sector, some factories are operating below capacity. But with the ongoing implementation of President Muhammadu Buhari policy on diversification of the economy and revitalising the power infrastructure, the sector will pick up and create more jobs for the people,” he said.

Nwankwo said achieving self-sufficiency in power will enable government generate more income; companies will be able to pay more taxes, thereby helping government diversify its revenue bases.

“In the next five to seven years, solid minerals will be exported. It is possible that in the next five to seven years, the whole picture

of Nigeria will be a complete turnaround because of government’s economy diversification plan. The difference between Nigerian and other countries facing similar economic challenges is that those countries do not have the same opportunities we have in Nigeria. Nigeria is near 100 per cent idle capacity, meaning the flexibility to grow the economy is high,” he said.

He urged Nigerians not to be depressed because of drop in crude oil prices.

“We have no reason to be depressed just because crude oil price is down.

We have to see the varieties of opportunities available for the country to grow the economy based on a well-diversified and sustainable manner. We as responsible stakeholders in the economy, should emphasise these opportunities,” he said.

“Indeed in other countries, the major source of revenue is taxation. Taxation should also be explored. Government should

be able to sustain itself with taxation revenues. Now with the better tax compliance, and effective sanctions for defaulters, we have a room to boost public revenue from taxation,” Dr Nwankwo stated.

The DMO boss said government has made significant progress in agriculture adding that in the next five to seven years, Nigeria would have reduced its reliance on imported foods, tackled unemployment and created huge jobs for the people because pro-

duction is synonymous with job creation.

On the 2016 budget, he stated that focus is to address structural challenges in the economy while providing the enablement to create diversification and self-sufficiency growth.

He said that out of the N2.2 trillion budget deficit, N1.84 trillion will come from borrowing from both local and international markets.

“This is the first time that the budget specified that all borrowed funds will be

From left: Director, Eko DISCO, Ernest Oji; Chairman, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Victor Osibodu; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr Frank Udemba Jacobs; acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Vincent Akpotaire; Chairman, Ibadan DISCO, Mr Tunde Ayeni and Managing Director, 4Power Consirtium, Mr Matthew Ederbie, after an interactive meeting of DISCO owners association in Abuja over the weekend.

FG awards N200bn single window contract to French firm •Dumps Custom blueprint T ola Adenubi-Lagos THE Federal Government has approved the handling of the nations National Single Window contract, estimated to be worth N200 billion, to a French firm Bureau Veritas, investigations has revealed. The Nigerian National Single Window blueprint was previously put together by a Ghanaian firm, WestBlue Consulting in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), even though there was no executive backing then to flag off the policy.

The NCS had organised stakeholders meetings in recent past to sensitise relevant stakeholders, including the media about the Nigerian Trade Hub, an offshoot of the country’s National Single Window.

Investigations by Nigerian Tribune have now revealed that a French firm, Bureau Veritas got the contract and is set to begin work afresh on the facility.

According to an impeccable source at the Federal

Ministry of Transportation, “the whole blueprint done and carried out by

the NCS in collaboration with West Blue Consulting in recent past has been dumped. The contract has

been given to a French firm and the Single Window process is set to start all over afresh.”

for capital expenditure.

The sharing of internal and international borrowing is almost 50/50. We have been borrowing locally, but we have to take advantage of the relatively low cost of funds externally. We do not want to borrow too much from the domestic economy, so that we do not crowd-out the domestic environment,” he said.

He said that given the challenges the economy is going through, much depends on what the media reports. “The media is critical, because what the media tells the international community will determine investment flows into the country. It is our responsibility to continue working hard to ensure the resilience our economy exhibited is sustained, until we achieve the turnaround that will come with diversification,” he said.

Nwankwo said the Nigeria economy is not supposed to be oil dependent given the level of natural resources abundant in the country. “We have to remind ourselves, that in the first instance, our economy was not supposed to be dependent on oil, yes, historically, oil revenues, has dominated our foreign exchange earnings up to 90 per cent and above, and public revenue about 70 per cent, but for many years, oil has contributed less than 20 per cent to the GDP,” he said.

He said the manufacturing commerce emerging sectors like Entertainment, Music, Nollywood and ICT contribute over 80 per cent to the GDP and should be supported.

Fear high over probable suspension of flights to Nigeria by BA Shola Adekola-Lagos

AIR of uncertainty has enveloped the country’s aviation sector over the possible suspension of flights into Nigeria by the British flag carrier, British Airways.

Sources close to the Ministry of Transportation yesterday hinted that the decision to pull out of the Nigerian market may not be unconnected with the current forex policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who I has led to the withdrawal of services from Nigeria by two mega carriers, Iberia and United Airlines.

Even though the airline has insisted that it was not planning to pull out, but a source has declared that the airline’s management may pull out having tried to retrieve its fund trapped

in the CBN, due to the Federal Government’s policy.

The policy has affected the BA’s revenues while its staff in Nigeria are unsure of their job protection.

According to the ministry’s source, apart from United Airlines, which announced the suspension of the Nigerian route last week, other carriers may follow suit soon, stressing that if this happened, the entire Nigerian aviation industry would be in disarray especially as the country does not have a capable airline at present to replace the existing international carriers on the routes.

The source declared that British Airways upon leaving Nigeria may consolidate its operations in Ghana thereby driving traffic from Nigeria to the former Gold Coast a situation which happened, may force revenues for Nigeria

especially the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria ( FAAN) and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“British Airways may leave the shores of Nigeria very soon and this will definitely mark a very big problem for the Nigerian aviation industry. The potential air travellers from Nigeria will now be going to other neighbouring countries like Ghana to board planes to London and other destinations the airline is flying into. Already, Ghana has taken over some of our passengers.

“The implication of this is that revenues will drop from Nigeria and unfortunately for us, we don’t have a national carrier of our own to ferry the passengers to and from London. I think Nigerian aviation industry will be in a big mess if this happens”, according

to the source.

However, the media consultant to the airline in an email insisted that the airline would not close the Nigerian shop saying that Nigeria remained a strategic market for British Airways, adding that its operations locally were very strong.

In a statement the consultant issued, it declared; “British Airways has a long history in Nigeria, having begun operations in the country 80 years ago as Imperial Airways. Nigeria remains a strategic market for BA and our operations locally are very strong.

“We have not issued any statements at any time indicating that we are on the verge of terminating operations in the country. We will continue daily operations into both Abuja and Lagos.”

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

FUNERAL CEREMONY OF LATE MADAM JOSEPHINE YEMISI ADESANYA (NEE SOBOIKI)

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: D’TOYIN

From right, younger brother to the deceased, Major-General Joseph O. Soboiki; his wife, Jane; Brigadier-General Olumuyiwa Okunowo, Mrs Nike Marayesa Banwo, Mr Dele Marayesa and Mrs Iyabo Temitayo Banwo, during the fueral ceremony of Madam Josephine Yemisi Adesanya, nee Soboiki, at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, on Friay.

From right, Major-General Soboiki (right), his wife, Dr (Mrs) Soboiki and Brigadier-General Okunowo.

The Right Reverend (Dr) Michael Olusina Fape, the Lord Bishop of Remo Diocese, flanked by Major-General Soboiki (second right); his wife, Dr (Mrs) Jane Soboiki; Mr Bode Bavika (left); his wife, Rita and Mr Segun Adesanya.

Major-General Soboiki, flanked by Dr (Mrs) Soboiki and Alhaja Abimbola Jakande (right).

Undertakers bearing the body of Madam Joseph Y. Adesanya.

From left, Dr (Ms) Soboiki (left), Chief (Mrs) Mercy Oluyemisi Owolana and Olori Yemisi Adeyinka Onakade.

Members of the family paying the last respect to Madam Josephine Yemisi Adesanya.

Younger brother to the deceased, Major-General Soboiki, performing the dust-to-dust.

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editorial

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Modernising cattle rearing

VER the past few months, bloody clashes between herdsmen and farming communities across the country have prompted calls for a rapid modernisation of cattle rearing in the country. When, in seeming response to the problem, Honourables Sunday Karimi (Kogi State) and Sadiq Ibrahim (Adamawa State) respectively proposed bills advocating the establishment of a National Grazing Reserve Commission (NGRC), the idea was roundly condemned both in the media and across the political spectrum. Critics pointed to several problems with the bills, among them the real danger of usurpation of state rights and the rights of ordinary Nigerian citizens. Above all, it was pointed out that the proposers of the grazing reserves bills adduced no overriding justification for getting government directly involved in the economic activities of private citizens.

Yet, from the look of things, it would seem that hopes that the idea has been laid to rest are indeed premature. Penultimate week, during a budget breakdown presided over by Budget and Planning Minister Udo Udoma, it came to light that the Federal Government has in fact set aside a princely N940 million in the 2016 budget for the development of so-called strategic grazing reserves across the country. According to the minister, the establishment of the reserves will provide a lasting solution to the problem of intermittent clashes between herdsmen and farming communities across the country.

We are extremely disappointed by the Federal Government’s move. For one, it would seem to suggest that the Federal Government is indifferent to opposition to the idea right across the country, particularly in those communities in the Middle Belt and southern parts of the country where the herdsmen have been active, sometimes fatally so. Although it may not be its intention,

the Federal Government is nonetheless sending a message that it does not really care about the welfare of people in these communities. They may have their say, but the Federal Government appears determined to have its way. The Federal Government may struggle to defend itself against accusations of rampant sectionalism.

Furthermore, we are disconcerted that the Federal Government seems to be carrying on in total disregard of the many cogent and superior arguments advanced against the move. For instance, in a previous editorial on the matter, we pointed to the sheer incongruity of mandating a government commission to systematically pursue and seize public and private property in any part of the country and hand over such to private herdsmen. Just to be clear: we have nothing against herdsmen or their cattle. The principle we are defending is that the resources of the state are wasted on transactions among private entities.

If herdsmen want to purchase land on which to graze their cattle, surely, they should be free to, once an appropriate arrangement is made with the owner of such property. The intervention of the Federal Government in the acquisition of grazing reserves is not only unwarranted, it undermines its raison d’etre as the guarantor of social goods for all Nigerians.

In the meantime, and perhaps in response to the Federal Government’s cack-handedness on the matter, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has already moved to ban cattle grazing and rearing in the state. There are suggestions in the media that Oyo State may follow suit.

Those who question whether such bans are the solution miss the point. The truth is that, absent such radical steps, it is difficult to imagine how else to force the Federal Government to see reason on this matter.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 30 May, 2016

editor

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One year after: How has APC fared?

T

HE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has come under contemptuous criticisms by the majority of Nigerians who are disenchanted with the economic situation in the country.

The recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has worsened the tide and many are increasingly of the opinion that the recent fuel subsidy removal, which has seen fuel price increase to N145 per litre, has proven that “the promises of the governing party have either been changed or cancelled.”

Have the promises changed? The answer is no, but Nigerians have put too much trust in this government, thinking that it has the magic wand that would turn around our ailing economy immediately it is sworn-in.

The promises have not changed, rather what has changed is the endemic corruption entrenched by successive governments;

we now have a clear departure from the legacy of profligacy, crass impunity, falsehood and financial misappropriation.

If someone comes to you and declare that five years from now, your life would remain exactly the same, I doubt if you wilI be happy with such remark. So why are we so afraid of change?

What exactly has changed in Nigeria after 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the helm of affairs?

Change does not come without sacrifice; we can’t continue to do things same way and expect different results. When you find yourself in a tight corner where everything is going against you, no one tells you to retreat.

The APC-led government is on a retreat; a retreat on some of the promises of change, lest the country grinds to a halt. And one of such retreat is its decision to remove the subsidy on petrol.

Today, what many thought impossible is

gradually becoming possible; what some politicians avoided for political reasons has finally been laid bare. We are no longer lacking in the midst of plenty courtesy of the few faceless cabals who, over the years, held this nation to ransom in the name of petrol subsidy.

The removal of subsidy in PMS has not only discouraged smuggling/diversification of PMS to neighbouring countries, but has also made the product available across Nigeria.

This is, therefore, one of the major steps in fulfilling the promise of getting PMS sold below N50 a litre.

With perceived sincerity of purpose, which has resulted in sea of change in our democratic development, this government has begun the foundation of revitalising our moribund economy perfidiously left in shambles.

The government seems to be in tune with the temporary pains of the people and has continued to beg Nigerians to exercise pa-

tience until we find a way out of this economic turbulence facing us on all fronts.

While we wait for the much-desired and palpable change, especially now that the Nigeria La-

bour Congress (NLC) had called-off its strike for further negotiations with government, reality will continue to betray the unwarranted vituperation against this government by anti-democratic forces

who have changed APC’s acronym to “All Promises Changed.” He who refuses to adapt to change will remain bounded in chains.

•Joe Onwukeme, Abuja.

Supporting Buhari’s war on corruption How time flies! It is now one year since President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in the country.

Before President Buhari came on board, Nigeria was already heading for social and economic doom.

With Boko Haram controlling large areas in the North East, and Nigeria’s foreign reserves being depleted by those who had access to it, it was only a matter of time before everything went under for the country. The people sensed this, and immediately knew it was time for change.

However, since this government came on board, it

has been battling corruption on all fronts.

Reading through all the corrupt acts that took place during the past administration, then one will realise that Nigeria is like a ‘walking dead.’

The monies meant for developing the country had been shared by those in positions of authority.

The most painful part is that while innocent Nigerians and soldiers were dying as a result of the Boko Haram onslaught, some people saddled with the responsibility of procuring arms for the military were busy sharing the money.

I know that the Nigerian economy is not at its best at present, but President Buhari should be com-

mended for his anti-corrupion war.

It is so funny that those who had stolen our monies and are standing trial could be pleading to be allowed to travel outside the country for medical treatment. While supporting the manner in which President Buhari is prosecuting his anti-corruption war in the last one year, I hope stiffer punishments can be secured against the criminals.

It will even be better if the death penalty is applied like in China, so that future political office holders will think twice before mismanaging public funds.

•Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

Buhari, dialogue with Niger Delta Avengers I want to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue with the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. It is easy to say that the military will tackle militancy in the region, but since the renewed insurgency, how many attacks on oil installations have the military prevented?

Today, Nigeria is losing about 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day due to the attacks, and with our dwindling economy, this is a real setback.

Apart from the economic loss, I don’t think the Nigerian government will want to open another war front in the Niger Delta region, considering the fact that we are just achieving victory over the Boko Haram insurgency.

The Federal Government is not expected to open talks with the militants on the surveillance contracts, but it should just listen to their grievances in order to give

them a sense of belonging.

I believe if the government continues with the amnesty policy, then the restiveness of the youth in the region will be curbed.

Until we have sophisticated satellite systems that will alert the authorities on militants’ movements in the creeks, then there is no reason to wage a war against them.

I hope President Buhari will see reason in my suggestion; it is not every issue that force resolves.

The president should just bring the militants together, hear their own side of the story, and work out ways through which their grievances can be addressed.

Waging war against them will only continue to affect Nigeria’s economy, which is not so buoyant at this period in time.

•Olu Ajibade, Akure, Ondo State.

15

opinion

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju

P

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s four-year term is short of one year, one day today. The jury was out yesterday chalking up how well this president passed and how woefully he failed. It is still out there, prowling and banging gavels with varying stress of righteous (and unrighteous) indignation. When governments face milestone judgements like this, a caste of staffers suffer the most. This is the tribe of men (and women) with the misfortune of having to work in the government’s press office. If there are people who deserve my empathy at this moment, they should be Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, two gentlemen walking the only tight rope in the Villa. They are forever put on trial by everybody, including those who have very little knowledge of what goes on there.

But these two are lucky. The luckiest any government spokespersons could be. They have a boss who has a very huge chest of local and international support. They have a boss who is so supported that he can do practically anything and get away with it. They have a boss whose failings are rather seen as fulcrum of hope by those who ordinarily would declare war. Significantly, they have a boss who is loved, feared and respected — at least, for now.

Their boss, Buhari has done well in securing the country. He has decimated the spirit of Boko Haram. In that corridor of horror, farm owners are now reaching, once again, for their hoes.

Refugee emirs are going back to their palaces. The wayfarer is back on the way. Foreign partners who ignored Nigeria before last year are now suddenly grinning from hear to hear with us.

The boss has also decimated the spirit of impunity in public spending, catching thieves in usual and unusual places. Because of the boss, everyone is now ‘careful’ in public and private conducts. Buhari is progressively decimating that spirit of unwell which traditionally makes nothing work for the ordinary man in Nigeria. He has dealt with the North-East, knocking off road blocks but what about these avengers in the Niger Delta? What about the mushroom kidnappers and rampaging herdsmen?

This is where his experience is expected to come in this moment. Great ideas are never in short supply in government. He should identify his ‘boys’ and ‘girls’ with these great ideas. They must talk to him and he must listen to them. The boss is human and, therefore, needs help.

Buhari’s one year has been one of change, of hope for change and of ironic challenges. Wounds have been healed. Fresh wounds have been inflicted. However, that the physician is seen at work, at least doing something, marks today out from the tardiness of the immediate past. Yes, today, the economy is in one hell of turbulence. There is a rain of pain in the land but that the captain is working hard in the cockpit gives hope for sunny days

Buhari: Cooking ‘something’ in a season of famine

ahead and hope for happy landing.

We may not all agree with the big boss’ style but we cannot say that he is not there, doing something. In a season of famine, Tortoise is seen cooking and a famished community asks what he is cooking. “I am cooking ‘something,’” he says. What it is he has on fire, he wouldn’t disclose, but at least he, unlike others, is cooking ‘something’ to keep hope alive. With Buhari, Nigerians, home and abroad, know a president is in charge, doing ‘something’ to fix their broken nation. But should it end there? Landing is happy when passengers and crew get out in one piece, safe and sound. Fixing the economy in a sustainable way that ensures decent living for the majority of the people is the best strategy to defeat all ills — corruption and insecurity especially.

I hope Buhari and his people work harder on this from now on so that at the end of this epochal journey, everyone will be fine and happy.

As Nigerians assess Buhari, they are also assessing his media. The success or failure of the boss is blamed on his media people. Managing the media is a test no one is allowed to pass easily. There is no marking scheme, the whim of the examiner determines what mark the student gets. Sometimes the boss is allowed to pass but his media people get exhibited as non-performers. That job of the media person in government is one no one should want twice. It is the most powerful in government.

It is also the most difficult, even impossible. It is a job which everyone else outside the press office, no matter how dumb, thinks he knows how to do and could do even better. Every failure of government is quietly, silently and, even loudly, blamed on that office. An adviser on media matters is an adviser on all

PDP: Perish or reform

By Anthony A. Kila THERE is no other way to put it; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as it appears today is not useful to Nigeria and to students of politics anywhere in the world. As a party, it is confused; as a movement, it seems soulless and with no principles or vision, as a group it appears shapeless and with no structure or ethos. Even its brightest and most articulate minds appear not to want to associate with the party. The best of the party have developed the habit of speaking as individuals or even like mere passers-by rather than as members or leaders of a party that was in power till just about a year ago.

The party PDP, therefore, needs to either perish and allow us to forget about it or radically reform itself so that it can serve the purpose a political party should oblige in Nigeria.

Just so we remind ourselves, the main purposes of a political party in any country are to provide convincing alternative ideas of governance, coordinate and prepare people for political offices, hold accountable the party or group in power, intercept and interpret the mood of the populace, identify and lead a chart to gain power from the ruling group or party.

Please read with me from right to left. As at the time of writing these notes, the best idea the PDP has had so far in identifying and leading a chart to gain back power from the ruling party, APC, is to zone the chairmanship to the North and zone the presidency to the North.

To a people that considered the PDP as totally corrupt

and voted as president a man whose main attraction seems to be his determination to fight corruption, all the PDP can offer is that the fight against corruption is selective and aimed against their own members. They have not been able to say “No, our members are innocent and we have proof.” All they can say is “we are all corrupt.”

A former Kaduna State governor was recently arrested by the EFCC and detained in Kano. No one has come out to say “No, I know this former governor, he is a man of integrity.” Rather, a PDP chieftain in Kano had the courage to say “If the Commission is serious about the fight against corruption, it should extend its operation to some APC members because they too shared campaign money during last general elections. This campaign fund is a tradition in Nigerian politics and all political parties did the same thing in 2015 election.”

Total nonsense! They say “you are a thief”, you say “yes, but I am not the only one.” PDP needs some honest people to stand up, apologise and ask any indicted person to defend him/herself. The party needs to assert: The PDP is not a bunch of looters but a national party of ideas. If the present leaders cannot make such statements, then it is time for new ones who genuinely believe in the ideology of the PDP, whatever that ideology is, to kick out the present leaders for betraying the founding spirit and, takeover the party.

If the new, young, or untainted members of the party cannot have a say in the fortunes of the party, then maybe it is time they leave it and move elsewhere. PDP is not the first party in Nigeria and it will not be the last.

matters. That is why the boss keeps them around him almost 24 hours daily. Even when the boss hates making friends, their duty is to secretly dissent and make friends for him. That fact puts them up as cannon fodder. Contestants for political space don’t like such figures around the big boss. They are seen as intruders. So, if they suffer buffetings of hate from all sides, it is the price they must pay.

The spokesperson is forever on trial. He is the only one in government allowed to clone the boss’ mouth. That is why he is called the mouthpiece. Everything he says belongs to the boss.

He no more has any strand of personal opinion. Every opinion he pushes out belongs to the boss. That is why from all angles, every archer takes aim at him. His every word is examined, weighed and scored by reasonable and unreasonable analysts.

When you know you are there and you suffer this, you should, therefore, also weigh the words, examine and check their worthiness in political correctness before you deploy them. It helps and I hope the two gentlemen working for President Buhari get my drift.

Occupiers of that press office in the Government House enjoy no esprit de corps. Unless they consciously work for it, they lose fraternal support immediately they settle down in office.

I do not know if these guys have made any friend in the last one year, but I do know that enemies (known and unknown) won’t be in short supply one year on. Many more are considering when to unveil themselves. The one great friend they have is Buhari’s persona with a huge army of volunteer social media troops. That platform is also, ironically, their worst foe. How they and their boss smell at the end of their tenure will depend on how that turf deals with them. They should, therefore, pray and work to keep their troops there as the journey gets complex and complicated in the days ahead. But who are their friends in the mainstream media? That ‘familiar’ turf is very cold now — and I hope they feel and know it. Whatever it is, they have been there before. They should know. But I say they have managed to do well. At least, reporters now call the Villa for reactions and the calls get answered. They send texts and the texts are replied. Not all students are favorited to score a hundred percent.

Seventy percent is an A and I give them and their boss. It is my judgement. You are entitled to yours.

I’m I doing an esprit de corps stuff with this? I should, ordinarily, but I’m not necessarily doing so. I should, because these two, plus the Vice President’s Laolu Akande, with me, have all at one point or another trod same spots on the corridors of the Nigerian Tribune. If I am seen doing any esprit de corps, it is to, like the Roman legions, “arouse their ardour for battle.”

And, ahead of them and their boss, there are fiercer battles to fight. And I pray they win — as they have, so far.

Instead of always saying “where are the activists that protested against President Jonathan,” when they see a blatant error or inconsistency in the action of the ruling party, the PDP should start mobilising protests and if need be, create activists with their own political credo.

The PDP, as it stands today, has lost a lot of its voters, leaders and even founders. Some were relegated into oblivion in the years of hubris; some have left the party to join the other side to bring it down. The PDP needs to justify its existence and the way to do this, is to let names and faces that cannot be “witch-hunted” come forward to represent the party. Those who have led the party so far to electoral defeat and moral rejection by Nigerians need to move away or be pushed aside.

The party needs to be seen as an association of clear ideas put forward by passionate and articulate people who can offer clear and better solutions to what the government of the day is doing.

For the sake of the country, those who can be framed as corrupt should stay silent and let those who have nothing to fear ask the government of the day questions, proffer solutions in parliament and in the press, in the name of the party.

If the PDP cannot find people and ideas that will make it clearly better than the party in government, then it has no reason to exist. The PDP should perish or reform itself for Nigeria like any other democracy needs a good opposition for the system to work. This PDP as it stands today is not capable of such.

•Dr Kila lives in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

16

politics&policy

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Buhari should back up his hard measures with palliatives —Wabara Former Senate President Adolphus Wabara is a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and chairman, Governing Board of Abia State University. In this interview, he speaks on the crisis in the PDP and one year of President Muhammadu Buhari in office. Group Politics Editor, TAIWO ADISA presents the excerpts:

F

PDP crisis IRST of all, the PDP is just like a beetle. A beetle, they generally say, never dies. There is nothing that can kill PDP, no matter the factional politics going on there now. I think, for the problems, I don’t want to apportion blames. We have come out of it now. So, we are looking forward to seeing how we can bring the factions together.

We pray that this does not repeat itself again. PDP is not owned by any individual or group of people or organisation. PDP is very national in nature. Since we lost the presidency, it would appear that the 12 governors that we have are in charge; but in the future, the governors should reach out and consult widely before they take certain decisions.

I feel a little bit disappointed when we hear and read in the print media the reason behind the decision on the outgone national chairman of the party. Some of us kicked against that decision and wisely too, not because of any personal problems with the person in question; but because of our knowledge of that person. As a result of that singular decision, so many factions emerged. There were groups of former ministers, the PDP Rescue group, to which I belong; the Stakeholder Group and the Jerry Gana group, which tells you that that was indeed a very bad decision and it is that same decision that manifested in its unacceptable manner during the convention in Port Harcourt last weekend. But we thank God that God really salvaged the situation there and we are where we are now with seven-man caretaker committee.

The BoT has a very vital role to play and I think it has already started playing that role to galvanise the factions, get them together and then move the party forward. Senator Jubril Walid, the BoT chairman and, of course, Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe will use their wealth of experience and wisdom to really get the warring parties together, including the governors.

The governors should give part of the authority to the BoT, so that the BoT will be able to get things going in the party. I think all eyes are now on the BoT. BoT and PDP constitution The convention has taken a decision and no other organ can change that decision of the seven-man caretaker committee. The seven-man caretaker committee cannot function without the BoT. They must work hand in hand to really get things going again in the party.

Our constitution is not static. We regulate ourselves and, of course, we call it another Doctrine of Necessity; otherwise, the party would have been buried in Port Harcourt if they didn’t come out with that idea of a seven-man caretaker committee which is made up of very experienced party administrators in the person of the former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi and of course Senator Ben Obi. It’s not just about the constitution but we can regulate ourselves so that we find a way out, just as David Mark did in the National Assembly by creating the Doctrine of Necessity. That was exactly, in my view,

Wabara

what happened in Port Harcourt.

The issue of zoning It was part of the resolutions of the Convention. As a matter of fact, at the last BoT meeting, I raised the issue when we elected Walid as Chairman. I was very much in support of Walid being the Chairman of BoT. But as soon as he was elected it dawned on me and I raised it at that meeting that this party is creating a picture that it is now a Northern Nigeria party. I said congratulation Walid, but BoT Chairman is from the North; the national chairman has also been zoned to the North; then the presidential candidate of the party will also emerge from the North.

So, where is the position of the South as a whole? I raised that issue and I called for the suspension of the convention, pending the resolution of this problem. That was when they came again with the idea that in 2018, the national chairman will revert to the South as soon as the presidential candidate emerges. The problem we had up till that Saturday is a function of interest. Everybody was positioning himself or herself ahead of 2019 and that is exactly the problem. We would have fallen into the same problem we had in 2015 if they had succeeded in going ahead with the Convention, Modu Sheriff emerging and dropping in 2018. How many months will it take the new chairman to lead the party into victory in 2019? So, we would have had a repeat performance of what happened in 2015 with Adamu Mu’azu who

was there for less than one year as a game changer and nothing ever changed.

As God would have it, the Convention said that has been dropped. There will be rezoning of all the positions and everything will be clear. I want to believe that the seven-man caretaker committee will zone the national chairmanship of the party to the South and possibly to the South-West. The South-East probably will take the Vice Presidential position. If that is done, we will be ready for 2019.

APC’s success Unfortunately, the 2015 general election created an unprecedented awareness in the people. People now know their rights.

If you conduct a general election today, APC will lose that election. There has not been any publicity of what they have been doing or what they intend to do. There is no template so to speak. I’m not too sure they thought they would have won that election, just as we in the PDP have not put our acts together to have a formidable opposition because we never thought that we would be in the opposition. That’s why we are having this problem now. If you blame the APC for not being prepared to govern, you will also blame the PDP for not being ready to oppose constructively.

So, it brings us to a matter of time.

If we go to the public court, the judgment will probably be against APC as we speak today. There are so many things the

APC is doing, but they should have supported whatever they are doing now with palliatives. Everybody is suffering. You will think you are seeing a government of trial by error, but they mean well. They just don’t know how to go about it. If you look at the exchange rate for instance, it was blamed on the Bureau De Change. I think even the president said this is because the Central Bank workers own most of the Bureaux de Change. There are so many Bureaux de Change now not even functioning because almost 90 percent of Bureaux de Change have gone in. The reason was that they were the ones inflating the exchange rate. When they left, the exchange rate was about N200 to the dollar and they heaped that blame solely on Bureaux de Change. Central Bank stopped funding the Bureaux de Change. As a result, so many people lost their jobs. Bureau de Change offices closed down. But today, what is the exchange rate – N380 to the dollar; there was a time it was N400.

Are there economists in this government and why do they jump from one thing to the other within a short space of time?

Then you come into the subsidy issue.

We were happy we were buying fuel at N87 when Goodluck Jonathan handed over.

They came in, within a couple of months, just to show how prepared they were, they brought it to N86.50k. But Nigerians did not even enjoy this for one month and it has gone back to N145. There is no way foreign investors will be attracted to a place where there is no policy. In America, as we speak today, forget about what Donald Trump is talking about; if Trump emerges as the American President, he will not do all those things he’s talking about. This is because he cannot change those policies even within eight years of his rule. That is what you understand by governance. You don’t come into governance with your own personal idea. You run some policies and know why those policies are there on ground.

Now, they’ve made a lot of changes in policies. You talk of electricity, Fashola came out the other day and to Nigerians to pay 45 per cent increase in tariff if they want stable power. I have never seen in my whole economic life where you can impose more burden on the people, apart from several taxation that we are suffering now; then you come again on electricity tariff increased by 45 per cent and that as soon as we agree to pay the increased tariff, that there will be constant light. Nigerians are paying that money now and there is no light anywhere. So, all these things put together will make APC lose an election as we speak.

If they had introduced some palliatives, maybe the effect wouldn’t have been so devastating on the masses. I do not see the economic indices to suggest that they can turn around things in the next three years. You should also expect that there is a crack in APC. It’s even there now and you find that things are not moving the way they should move. I don’t want to attack the APC. I’m a constructive critic, but for now, I’m not very comfortable with the way things are being run by the APC. I feel that if you must take certain measures, you bridge those measures with palliatives.

17

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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

analysis

entrepreneuership

markets

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Democracy Day speech signals new economic direction Sanya Adejokun -Abuja

I

N many ways, the Democracy Day speech delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari, commemorating the anniversary of his first year in office, signals a radical departure from the socialist orientation of the old soldier who for decades held the belief that allowing a market determined economy was not the way to go. The President, during his campaign for office, promised to lower prices of petroleum products and often spoke about his opposition to privatisation of government assets.

Again, for many months after he was sworn in on May 29, 2015, Buhari maintained a solid stand against devaluation of the naira even when market forces had already depreciated the currency to N390 to US$1 at a point.

Speaking while on a visit to East Africa last January, the president had said he was not also ready to inflict more hardship on the poor citizens of Nigeria who have already had doses of penury. He stressed that while export-driven economies could benefit from devaluation of their currencies, Naira devaluation would only result in further inflation and hardship for the poor and the middle class in Nigeria’s import-dependent economy. Buhari said he had yet to be convinced by the proponents of devaluation that ordinary Nigerians would benefit from policy. “We will use our foreign exchange for industry, spare parts and the development of needed infrastructure. “We don’t have the dollars to give to the BDCs. Let them go and get it from wherever they can, other than the Central Bank,” he said.

However, in the reality of drying capital importation, reduced oil and export accruals that have brought about higher unemployment and lower capacity utilisation in the industrial sector, the President had to softpedal. He said “In respect of the economy, I would like to directly address you on the very painful but inevitable decisions we had to make in the last few weeks specifically on the pump price of fuel and the more flexible exchange rate policy announced by the central bank.

“We resolved to keep the naira steady, as in the past, devaluation had done dreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I support the monetary authority’s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy and fiscal policy. We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures affect the naira and the economy. But we cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy. And a strong economy pre-supposes an industrial productive base and a steady export market.”

The reality however, is that by introducing a floating or flexible foreign exchange regime, naira has been technically devalued considering that a few weeks ago, government had fixed pump prices of premium motor spirit (pms) based on parallel market rate.

Transparency and anti-corruption Even though many Nigerians are beginning to express weariness at the almost single minded pursuit of his anti-corruption agenda to the neglect of the more expedient duty of reflating the economy for the provision of jobs and arresting the near total collapse of the economy, the President was still strong on the subject in the speech.

The President said “we are working very hard to introduce some vital structural reforms in the way we conduct government business and lay a solid foundation on which we can build enduring change. An important

We cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy. And a strong economy pre-supposes an industrial productive base and a steady export market

first step has been to get our housekeeping right. So we have reduced the extravagant spending of the past. We started boldly with the treasury single account, stopping the leakages in public expenditure.”

It was a surprise, however, that a President who was minister, military Head of State, Chairman of the powerful Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and contested the presidency consecutively between 2003 and 2015 admitted ignorance of the widespread practice of budget padding. Following public outcry over his delay in appointing ministers, Buhari had described cabinet ministers as “mere noise makers”, saying civil servants were the ones who do all the work. But during his anniversary speech, said in addition to making savings, his administration has changed the way public money is spent.

“In all my years as a public servant, I have never come across the practice of padding budgets. I am glad to tell you now we not only have a budget, but more importantly, we have a budget process that is more transparent, more inclusive and more closely tied to our development priorities than in the recent past. 30 per cent of the expenditure in this budget is devoted to capital items.”

Economic diversification and CBN The President told Nigerians that he was determined to turn economic misfortune the country was currently experiencing in the shape of very low oil prices into an opportunity to restructure and diversify the economy. Said he: “We are in the process of promoting agriculture, livestock, exploiting our solid mineral resources and expanding our industrial and manufacturing base.

That way, we will import less and make the social investments necessary to allow us to produce a large and skilled workforce.

“Central Bank of Nigeria will offer more fiscal incentives for business(es) that prove capable of manufacturing products that are internationally competitive. We remain committed to reforming the regulatory framework, for investors by improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, the first steps along the path of self-sufficiency in rice, wheat and sugar

– big users of our scarce foreign exchange – have been taken. The labour intensive farming enterprise (LIFE), will boost the economy and ensure inclusive growth in long neglected communities. Special intervention funds through the Bank of Agriculture will provide targeted support.

“Concerns remain about rising cost of foods such as maize, rice, millet, beans and gari. Farmers tell me that they are worried about the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and the absence of extension services. The federal and state governments are on the same page in tackling these hurdles in our efforts at increased food production and ultimately food security.”

However, there are fears concerning the increasing role of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in funding economic activities that should normally be the function of fiscal authorities. The fear is that this may distract the bank from its primary function of maintaining price stability although Governor of the bank, Godwin Emefiele, had said in his inaugural press briefing that this would be a major focus during his tenure.

Hear him in June 2014: “the core principle here is that the CBN will act as a financial catalyst by targeting predetermined sectors that can create jobs on mass scale and significantly reduce our import bills. Some of the developmental functions will include credit allocations and direct interventions in key sectors of the economy such as power, agriculture, MSME, oil and gas and health.

The CBN will identify and link various local producers and processors with major importers of selected products.”

President Buhari also announced that the government will shortly be launching the national women’s empowerment fund, “which I have approved to provide N1.6 billion in micro-finance loans to women across the nation to assist in rehabilitating the economies of rural communities, particularly those impacted by the insurgency and conflict.”

In addition to the agriculture, Buhari is also looking towards solid minerals in the drive to diversify the economy. He stated that Dr. Kayode Fayemi had produced a roadmap “where we will work closely with the World Bank and major international investors to ensure through best practices and due diligence that we choose the right partners. Illegal mining remains a problem and we have set up a special security team to protect our assets. Special measures will be in place to protect miners in their work environment.”

Social safety nets And as the country moves toward modernizing its economy, the President formally launched the N500 billion the first formal social security system for the country, which he described “by far the most ambitious social protection programme in our history.”

It seeks to start the process of lifting many from poverty, while at the same time creating the opportunity for people to fend for themselves. “In this regard, N500 billion has been appropriated in the 2016 budget for social intervention programmes in five key areas. We are committed to providing job creation opportunities for 500,000 teachers and 100,000 artisans across the nation.”

In addition, “5.5 million children are to be provided with nutritious meals through our school feeding programme to improve learning outcomes, as well as enrolment and completion rates.

Monday, 30 May, 2016 18 Oil decline: Japaul positions for future, to raise capital Stories by Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba -Lagos THE management of Japaul Oil and Maritime plc have stated that the decline in the pace of economic activities and weak economic fundamentals in the oil and maritime industry has continued to hamper growth in the sector, resulting in underwhelming financial performance for industry players, including Japaul Oil and Maritime Plc. The unfavourable operating environment and other challenges notwithstanding, the board and management of the group have declared their desire to reposition the company

for growth and improved performance.

To this end, it stated that it would be proposing to its shareholders during the AGM in June, capital raising either by way of rights, foreign investors, private placement among others.

It stressed further that in order to achieve profitability in 2016, the company plans to restructure its operation to focus on its core competences.

In this regard, some of its equipment’s either under-utilized or not functioning as a result of the business environment would be sold and the proceeds plugged

Nigerian Tribune

back into areas of its operations with better prospects for growth.

The financial statement shows that the Company’s Revenue dropped from N10.57 billion in 2014 to N8.15 billion in 2015 operating (loss) profit stood at N3.98 billion against N897.33 million profits in 2014, administrative expenses jumped from N3.5 billion in 2014 to N6.36 billion for the year under review as a result of impairment losses of N1.62 billion and foreign exchange loss of N2.43 billion, while loss before tax stood at N7.89 billion in 2015 against the 2014 figure of N2.25 billion.

with Kehinde Akinseyinde-Jayeoba

m: 08057336640 e: kehinde_07@yahoo.com

FBN restates commitment to shareholders value, gives N5.4bn dividend THE management of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings Plc has once again given its commitment to ensuring returns to its shareholders investment, just as it declared N5.4 billion dividend.

At the Annual General Meeting of the company on Thursday in Lagos, shareholders approved the N5.4 billion dividend translating to 15 kobo per ordinary shares to be paid on the Monday, May 30, 2016.

According to the Group Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings, Oba Otudeko, despite the arduous environment that 2014 presented, the management team and employees worked under intense pressure to deal with a number of complex business issues, noting that the board made some major leadership changes within the institution with the appointment of new CEOs at both the Holding Company and the commercial banking group.

On the revenue synergies, he explained that despite the economic performance, the group realised an additional N2.3 billion from revenue synergies through collaboration among the various strategic business units and cross-selling.

Otudeko, however, remained optimistic that in 2016, the board will achieve its growth aspirations by a sustained sharp focus on strategic priorities, adding that operating efficiency would remain at the heart of decisions made, to ensure that our disciplined growth meets the strictest hurdles of shareholder returns.

Capital market, the platform to support Economic Growth —Aig-Imoukhuede

From left Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, President, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr Tayo Orekoya, President/CEO, The Pearl Awards Nigeria & Chairman, CITC Group; Dr Hayford Alile, Former Director-General, NSE and Mr Oscar Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, NSE, at the 12th Annual Pearl Awards, Public Lecture for Capital Market Development in Lagos, recently.

12% MPR retention: Equities market improves by 6.6% in 5 days

T

RUE to the predictions made by analysts that the adoption of a flexible foreign exchange rate regime and retention of Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 12 per cent will boost investment in stocks, equities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) improved by 6.59 per cent in five days.

The NSE All-Share Index, a major indicator of development on the Bourse hinged towards 29,000 basis points having gathered a momentum of 1,886.28 in fiveday trade to close on Friday at 28.902.25 basis points.

Also market capitalisation improved by adding a wholesome of N647.9 billion to close at N9.926 trillion.

Similarly, for the first time in a long while, all Indices on the Nigerian Bourse finished higher during the week.

The Managing Director of APT Securities Limited, Alhaji Garba Kurufi had predicted that with the retention of 12 per cent MPR, investments would shift to the capital market rather than money market.

“Considering current inflation rate of 13.72 per cent, investors will prefer investment in stocks than money market

instruments. Some people investment in bonds at 12 per cent couple but the inflation rate is now higher than the interest rate, so investment in stocks is better,” he said.

It will be recalled that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, while giving details at the end of the two-day Monetary Policy

Committee (MPC) meeting held in Abuja, said the decisions to retain MPR, Cash Reserves Requirement (CRR) and Liquidity Ratio at 12 per cent, 22.5 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, were taken in the best interest of the country in order to stimulate economic activities and ensure macroeconomic stability.

PRESIDENT of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has once again tasked the government integrate the nation’s capital market for economic development of the nation.

Speaking at the 12th Annual Pearl Awards public lecture for capital market development held in Lagos, Aigboje said since the capital market is a barometer for measuring the state of a nation’s economy, the Federal Government need create policy that would create environment for investment.

According to him, presently, NSE services the largest economy in Africa being “the second largest exchange in Africa by market capitalisation at N16.1 trillion,” thus “championing the development of Africa’s financial markets.”

While noting that the economic growth was the panacea to most of the country’s challenges, he said government economic policy must be based on fact and financial principles to achieve success, addinng that public and private sector cooperation, collaboration and partnership were also required.

Stanbic IBTC explains delay in issue of 2015 financial result STANBIC IBTC Holdings PLC has said that in the running of its business it will continue to exercise its constitutional rights to seek redress and protection through the legal process and the law courts.

The organisation made the clarification in response to the expected publication of its 2015 audited financial statements, over which it

is in dispute with the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC).

In a letter to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) dated May 27, 2016, the organisation said it was imperative to bring all stakeholders up to date on why the issuance of its 2015 financial statement is being delayed.

The organisation said

that on March 24, 2016, it informed NSE, shareholders and other stakeholders about the reporting challenges it was experiencing with FRC regarding its 2015 financial statements, which subsequently led to the engagement of its external auditors on the appropriate presentation of certain items in its financial statements, which are the

subject of ongoing legal proceedings.

It will be recalled that Stanbic IBTC had instituted an appeal at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal following allegations of misrepresentation of its financial report, over which FRC had announced a regime of sanctions against Stanbic IBTC Holdings, including a fine of N1 billion.

Monday, 30 May, 2016

INSIDE PAGE 20

The 60-second

business coach

PAGE 20

Leaders’

forum

PAGE 20

The leader and his team

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

O

NE is too small a number to achieve greatness, says leadership expert, John Maxwell. The import of this is that there is a limit to what an individual operating all by himself can accomplish, irrespective of his vigour, passion or talent. Anyone working alone can only realise a fraction of his potential.

Nothing of significance has been achieved by lone rangers. It takes the collaborative efforts of a group for the best in individuals to be realised.

Hence, the Chinese proverb, “Behind an able man there are always other able men.”

To maximise their potential and make it easy for them to achieve their set objectives, great leaders raise great teams. They bring on board persons who they believe can contribute significantly to the realization of their goals. By so doing, they multiply their capacity and efforts and get a result that would ordinarily have been beyond them.

One good thing about a team is that the collaboration benefits everyone involved in the process because synergy is built and the output outstrips individuals’ inputs. That is the basis for the definition of a team as together everyone achieves more. It also informed the statement credited to former President Lyndon Johnson of the United States of America that “there are no problems we cannot solve together and very few that we can solve by ourselves.”

Continues on pg20

Ladi Balogun, Group Managing Director, FCMB

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

How leaders raise successful teams Continued from pg19

Building successful teams But having a team is not a guarantee for success. Teams have the same capacity for failure as they have for success. What puts a team on the path of success is the rigour that goes into its composition. Unless properly selected and carefully managed, a team can foist failure on a leader rather than propel him to success. So, to build a winning team, a leader must bear the following in mind.

Great teams are built around a vision, not a person The secret to building a successful team is to build it around a vision, not a person. Teams fail in their mission when they are built around individuals because that would be veering off the purpose of the group. An individual does not constitute a team. In the same vein, though a vision may proceed from the bosom of a person, that individual is not the vision; the group must be distinguished from its leader. So, it is important to understand that every team exists to achieve a purpose, not to pander to the leader. Building a team around a person is a recipe for failure because eventually the team will crumble like a pack of cards. Therefore, it is critical that the leader gets on board people with the right skill sets, those who can move the group towards the realisation of its goals rather than people who the leader feels comfortable with. While, amity is important among team members, the focus of the leader should not be populating his team with people he has affinity for, but people with the requisite capacity to help the team deliver on its mandate.

Football clubs are very good at this; they go for whoever they think will give them the result they want.

It does not matter to them whether the person does not speak their language or share their cultural or religious belief; what matters two them is what the fellow can bring to the table. The driving force is the vision.

Everything they do is about the vision to raise a tournament-winning team. Lionel Messi is an Argentine, Luis Suarez is a Uruguayan and Neymar da Silva Santo Junior is a Brazilian. The three play for FC Barcelona, a Spanish club. The club could have made do with Spaniards and resigned itself to whatever it is able to accomplish with players from the country of its location. But because the club is committed to raising a world-beating team, it resolved not to build its team around Spanish

Quote LEADERSHIP

the leader. Apart from what others say about a team member, the leader must make his own findings on how to get the best value from engaging the individual. It is important to find out where the individual had been, what he had done and other similar information that can help the leader to assign the right tasks to him.

It would be a terrible waste to get the world’s best right wing player and put him in a left wing position.

Avoid those with hidden agenda People aspire to join a team for various reasons; some noble, some ignoble.

A team is like a chain and a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If a team member has other reasons for joining the group aside achieving the corporate goal, he becomes a weak link because he would be working at cross purpose with the rest of the team. So, it is important that the leader carries out an independent investigation about the motivation of an individual for wanting to be part of the team. Getting to know the rationale behind every team member’s desire for wanting in on the team is critical to the sanctity of the team. A good leader does not joke with this.

Leo Stanley Ekeh, Chairman and CEO, Zinox Group nationals but around a vision and has gone beyond its shores to get the best legs that are delivering to it its desires.

Look out for the attitude It has been said that attitude is everything.

It is hard to fault the statement because attitude forms the worldview which determines how an individual comports himself and conducts his affairs. While possession of skills is good, combining this with the right attitude is better. With the right attitude, working in a team becomes easy and contributing to the success of the group is a given. However, when the attitude is wrong, the skills would be of little value because collaborating with other members of the team to achieve a common goal becomes difficult. It is for this reason that it is important to have a peep at the attitude of a prospective team member before bringing such on board.

The effect of a wrong attitude is not limited to the individual because it spreads fast in a team like a gaseous poison. Once the spread starts, it is quite difficult to stop it. Hence, smart leaders guard against enlisting people with the wrong attitude on their teams.

Communicate the vision After assembling a team, it is important that the leader communicates the vision to the members with a view to helping everyone understand what is ahead, how it would be done and their role in the whole enterprise. Without the communication of the vision, there cannot be a buy-in by members of the team. Until members buy into the vision, they cannot release the whole of their ability to its actualisation.

Dupe Olusola, CEO Teragro Commodities Limited

The secret to building a successful team is to build it around a vision, not a person.

An individual does not constitute a team.

Seni Adetu, former GMD, Guinnes Nigeria

A great leader seizes every opportunity to intimate team members with the vision of the group. This is very important because aside providing the needed information about where the organisation is headed; it also motivates the team members concerning the task at hand.

Nearly everyone will want to be part of a great move. Being told about what the organization aspires to accomplish and the individual’s role in this is a fillip for commitment to the task.

Match skills to tasks It is not enough to get the best available hands to be on a team, it is equally im-

BOOK

portant that the individual be properly positioned to perform the task for which they have been engaged. Can you imagine Lionel Messi being put in the full back position in a football match? While he may display some brilliance in that position, the team will be denied the full benefits of his ability. Messi is a striker. To get the best from him, he has to be given a striking role. The same goes for other engagements. Individuals have their areas of strength; unless they are allowed to operate in their areas of strength, they can’t give their best.

This puts the task of getting to know every member of the team fairly well on

Be the model A leader must be a model. He must set examples for other members of the team. He must live the vision he wants to accomplish. He must walk the talk.

Getting a team to work for a goal is easy if the leader is transparently committed to its actualization. Every member takes a cue from the leader. If the leader does what is right, most of the team members fall in line. If the leader compromises the process, he has shown others what to do. A leader is a mirror that reflects the aspiration of his organization; whatever he does is what others will practise.

That is why Mahatma Gandhi said leaders should be the change they want to see.

“A closed mind is a one-way ticket to failure” —Sulaimon Olanrewaju

THE 60-SECOND business coach

5 ways to transform your life

By Jack Canfield Focus on yourself first If you want to change the world, you must begin with yourself. When it comes right down to it, you have control over only THREE things in life: the thoughts you think, the images you visualize, and the actions you take. If you focus on thinking positive thoughts, visualizing more successful outcomes, and taking positive action to achieve those outcomes, you are guaranteed to experience better results in your personal and professional life. Not only that, you will impress and inspire others who want to experience better results in their own lives.

Commit to continuous selfimprovement Gandhi once said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow.

Learn as if you were to live forever.” The joy of learning lies in the process, not the end result. When you dedicate yourself to a life of continuous self-improvement and growth, you remain curious and open and in a state of constant expansion. Not only does this make your life more interesting and meaningful, it inspires others to follow in your footsteps. And the more people who choose to continuously improve rather than remain in a state

of stagnation, the better it will be for the world.

View challenges as opportunities People say they want to create a better life for themselves, but all too often they give up at the first sign of trouble. The road to success has obstacles and challenges – that one’s a given. But it’s in the process of overcoming those obstacles that you become the kind of person who is capable of creating the kind of life you want to live.

When you cultivate perseverance and welcome challenges as opportunities to grow and expand your learning – as opposed to excuses to give up and stay exactly where you are, you will be able to achieve so much more in life. And you will motivate others to have the confidence and perseverance to overcome their own obstacles as well.

Be generous with your wisdom Imagine if everyone in your family gave up complaining, took full responsibility for their actions, and created the life of their dreams. Or if every one in your company practiced the time-honored principles of success.

What if every member of your softball team approached life this way? What if every high school student in America knew these prin-

ciples and put them into practice in class, on the playing field, and in their social life, so they became confident adults who had a clear vision of what they wanted and the resources to make their vision a reality? What if every man and woman in prison learned these valuable principles before they were released back into society?

You can help create this world by actively facilitating the growth of others.

As a student of success, you have so much wisdom to offer the people in your life – and the greatest gift you can give them is to share what you’ve learned and help them achieve more success in their own lives.

Go after your dreams – and inspire others to do the same Each of us has the power within to create the life we want, the life we dream about, the life we were born to live. Each of us deserves to fulfill our full potential and manifest our true destiny. It is our birthright.

But many people don’t understand this. They think that they’re stuck where they are, subject to the whims of a cruel and indifferent universe, and that they lack the ability and/or the right to break free and create a better life for themselves.

Serve to Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom

By Lee Hark THIS book is about a re-orientation toward service leadership, which, while not especially radical advice for leaders, is certainly an important principle to remember.

The book’s first section recounts Tenney’s ill-advised attempt to defraud the U.S. military of millions of dollars and his eventual capture and incarceration. He doesn’t give much of an explanation for this near-disastrous decision, other than his hankering for “achieving financial freedom” , a goal that seems tough for Tenney to relinquish, even after six years in the brig.

At some point during his imprisonment, Tenney literally decides to “C’mon, get happy.”

“I decided that it must be possible to be just as

happy in the brig as I could be anyplace else” , he says. The tool for this transformation?

Mindfulness! “Awareness training sets us free from the pull of our comparative thinking,” he continues.

Tenney frames his mindset this way: “Imagine that you are in a brig cell sitting on your bed.

You are not in any pain, you are not hungry, and the temperature is comfortable. If you’re not comparing that moment to the memories of the past, or the hopes of the future, what’s wrong with that moment? Nothing.”

Nothing indeed, as long as you don’t have cause to fear being shivved in the yard or have a family outside the brig dependent on your financial support. For most of his prison term, Tenney had a fairly cushy gig (by prison

standards). He writes, “We went to work each day as most people do. In our free time, we had access to books, magazines, music, television, movies, and games.”

Truth be told, Serve to Be Great isn’t really much about mindfulness anyway, other than Tenney’s assertion that “It worked for me, and it will work for you.” His link to mindfulness in the book is ultimately indirect – it’s more of a general application of the importance of staying centered, present, and focused on others.

Part I of the book, entitled My Journey from Prisoner to Monk to Social Entrepreneur, ought to be re-titled The Semi-Charmed Life of Matt Tenney. Tenney leaves prison after almost six years and moves to Mexico (probably not a bad idea), where he finds work as an English

teacher in an orphanage. Miraculously, he lands squarely on his feet. “Despite having a felony on my record, job and business opportunities have seemed to come very easily. It seems that most people I meet offer to help me once it becomes clear to them that my focus in life is helping others”.

Part II of the book – which is much stronger than the first -- presents an analysis of a variety of businesses that have leaders with a strong service orientation and the innovative programs they establish for their employees. Some of these case studies, especially that of Nextjump, and the lessons imbedded in them are quite interesting and potentially useful. For instance, Nextjump has a laser-like focus not only on hiring talented people, but also those who fit into

their corporate culture.

The lessons aren’t always transferable, though; some of these companies are extremely well-resourced, a fact reflected by their generous and creative employee benefit programs.

Tenney wisely places the emphasis on dispositions, mindsets, and values rather than dollars, perks, and benefits, but still it’s sometimes hard to find inspiration in less expensive suggestions like “starting a leadership library.” I want the in-house sushi bar and free laundry service!

Throughout, Tenney is nothing if not a true believer. The stories he tells of corporations and their innovative and compassionate leaders are heartwarming and run counter to the standard notion of unfeeling bureaucracies that care only about the bottom line.

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leadership&management

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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

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

Leadership and the sycophancy trap - 1

If it’s untrue, disregard it; if it is unfair, keep from irritation; if it is ignorant, smile; if it’s justified, learn from it” - Harry Truman on how to handle criticism SEVERAL years ago in my early post-graduation working years, I had a boss who was the Provost of the educational institution where I worked. He served for only one year but in that space of time, he left an imprint that has remained indelible in the minds of those who worked with him. Among his many qualities, one thing stood out. He could not tolerate sycophancy and backbiting. Whenever anyone came to him to tell stories about another staff, my boss would smile, thank the talebearer and ask him to wait in the office while he stepped out briefly. He would then mandate one of his office staff to go and call the one talked about to his office immediately. Then he would step back into the office and engage the one who had come to talk about another person in lively conversation until the arrival of the subject of discussion. Seeing the one being talked about entering the Provost’s office at that time literally scared the living daylights out of the gossip. Asking the new entrant to sit down, my boss would then ask the gossip to repeat everything he had said earlier. More often than not, it was all a tissue of lies! This happened for the first two months of his tenure by which time word had gone round. From then on, people who sought his attention and favour by running others down had learnt their lesson.

A few years ago, when I was living in Lagos, I was invited to a reception hosted by the governor of my state for indigenes of the state resident in Lagos. I listened as the state cultural band played and punctuated every chorus with the governor’s name. Speaker after speaker got up to eulogize the man whose ‘Midas touch’ had brought “unprecedented development” to the state. I was very worried. I raised my hands requesting for the opportunity to talk. When I was called upon, I am not even sure I observed protocols before I gave the warning that His Excellency should be wary of all the nice things being said about him. Why? They did the same for his predecessors. Yet none of them was ever

returned for a second term. When I eventually moved to the state, the story on the street was different from what I was hearing around the corridors of power! I deliberately courted the company of both sides. At public events, the governor was eulogized to high heavens especially by public servants and political acolytes as if he could never put a foot wrong. The women groups sang different songs to eulogize the governor’s wife as the emancipator of the womenfolk in the state. Yet, the narrative on the streets and in the marketplaces was totally at variance with what was in official circles! Thus, his sterling performance notwithstanding, he was voted out of office and lost elections with an embarrassing margin. It was personally painful to me and many others who believe in his capacity because several attempts to prevent the damage were practically fenced off by a few of his trusted associates who prevented him from seeing or hearing the alternative narrative. Even though there have been allegations of that election being rigged, the narrative on the streets is different! Up till now, many of his “close supporters” are yet to accept the reality that they goofed and were largely responsible for that loss! The winner did not need to bother with rigging if he did any!

This is the kind of damage that sycophancy does to leadership. Sycophancy stems from a morbid desire to always please a leader or influential person and say what he likes to hear in order to remain in his good books or to gain a measure of attention, personal favour or advantage over others. It is nothing but self-serving, self-seeking fawning behaviour towards an authority figure. The intent is always far from altruistic although it never appears so from the onset. Of course if it did, it would not achieve its purpose.

Sycophants usually begin their entrance into a leader’s life through what appears to be well-intentioned praise or complimenting of a particular virtue or deed of the leader.

Sycophants take their time to be well informed about their subject and his likes and dislikes. If they see that the leader is one given to flattery, they simply dig in their heels as they get closer to their prey. In time, compliments become flattery. Flattery graduates to full-blown and sometimes full-

time sycophancy, especially when they have seen the leader express wrath at someone who dared to defy his authority even in the most insignificant way!

In time, even when the “emperor is dancing naked” none of his associates would dare to tell him. Even when he farts openly, it is said to smell like sweet perfume.

Leaders with strong temperaments and mood swings usually attract sycophants to themselves like sugar attracts ants! This is because leadership sometimes can be lonely. Every leader likes to be seen as benevolent and liked by his followers. In the midst of a plethora of opinions about his performance, he may not be able to discern who is being sincere with criticism and who is merely bellyaching.

A weak, approval-seeking leader also easily falls prey to the antics of sycophants. In time, they simply weave a web around him, serenading him in the symphony of his personal ego trips and goading him as he moves unchecked from faux pas to faux pas. Sycophancy also thrives around leaders who listen to tales of perceived disloyalty about others around him. The aim of the sycophant is to breed distrust that eventually distances the perceived “traitor” and further ingratiates the sycophant to the leader. In time, the sycophant becomes the “emperor’s ear to the ground” even if such is an illusion created deliberately by the sycophant. This lopsided input into the leader’s life makes his life a cycle of subjective irrationality that ensconces him in a bubble of invincibility.

According to Sitaram Yechury, “subjectivism lays the fertile ground for sycophancy to rise.” He goes further to say “This phenomenon of strong likes and dislikes on the part of the leadership produces its natural counterpart of encouraging sycophancy and a behaviour of ‘pleasing the leadership’ on the part of the cadre. This tendency leads to a dangerous phenomenon of reporting from lower levels being guided by ‘what the leadership wants to hear’ rather than giving a proper objective description and assessment of the situation” This is the classic story of all dictatorships as well as effete leadership....continued.

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

How to become a rock-solid leader

THERE are so many types of leaders out there, so many that a single piece of literature will not be a sufficient amount to cover them all. However, in this diminutive article, I have taken my time to reduce all the various types of leaders into five wide-ranging groups. And I am sure that after reading through today’s article and put what you read through into practice, you shall eventually become a rock-solid leader.

Get ready for a major shift in your life and leadership!

This categorization will not only tell you what makes real leaders become rock-solid, it will also leave you with a clear assessment of your kind of leadership and whether you need to switch , stay in or step up your game. The taste of the pudding they say is in the eating. Kindly follow me as you relish and take pleasure in what I have got to serve you today.

The first type of a leader I am touching on briefly is the authoritarian. He is the boss. He sees himself as the boss, and expects everyone else to see him as such. He makes the rules, sets the targets and takes key decisions himself. He accepts blame for failure of administrative or executive projects, but claims all praise for successes as well. He bosses his followers and gets things done through them directly. The goals of his administration are set by him and people only live his dream. Most leaders in Nigeria are authoritarians!

This is what makes him rock-solid: His followers are confident that he knows what he is doing. They believe in him.

His authority over others makes them twice as small before him, and thus makes him twice his size before them. He is also able to absorb a whole lot: pressure and shortcomings. This leader ends up 69% successful. This is because in most cases only him sees his visions and is the best person to achieve them. His followers can only help him to a certain point while he does most of the work himself. Does this

sound like you?

The team player is the second type of a leader. He likes team work. He carries everyone along. He wants everyone to share in his ideals and so tries to plant his goals into as many of his teammates as possible. He believes things go better on the condition that they are tackled as a group.

What makes him rock-solid? He absorbs the failure of his teammates better than the authoritarian. He spreads credit across his team giving praises to whom is due and in most cases accepts the blame for failure. This leader is also about 71% successful most of the time as indeed not all members of his team wants his visions to be achieved as badly as he wants it.

The delegate boss is the third type of a leader. He likes to delegate authority. He is the head of heads. He divides his followers into groups and lets a different individual head each group. That way he discusses with the heads of each group and tries to ensure they head their groups efficiently.

This makes him rock-solid. He sees the potential in each and every one of his followers to determine who is best suited to lead who. He is distant from the people because his delegates bridge the gap between him and the people but to his detriment as these delegates take credit for the achievement of their groups in most cases. He is 45% successful because his success greatly depends on the success of his delegates.

The democrat is the next type of a leader. He leads by example and carries everyone along. He believes in the potential of everyone and so he allows everyone have their say and as such have their shot at leadership. He picks up dirt when he sees it and drops it in the trash. He worries about how to please his people, the people. He does not tell you to do what he cannot. He devices methods to do everything

and achieve everything with everyone. What makes him rock-solid? He has a big heart and is closer to the people. He solves personal needs as well as the organizational needs of the people. He is more than 69% successful as well because he does most of the work himself while getting ideas from everyone on his or her team.

The long con is the subsequently type of a leader. He is selfish. He leads alone for the benefits what he stands to gain. He believes in the laissez-faire approach of leadership: live and let’s live. He is there to amass wealth or fame or name for himself, and does not stand in the way of those who are there for personal gains as well. He plots his magnificence and works for the splendor of himself. Everyone likes him because he gives the impression that he is working for everyone, but those who know hate him and hate him a lot. He tends to be successful because in the bid to make his profit—he tends to embark on a couple of projects that impress the people in the process. What makes him rocksolid? He is a crowd puller among his faithful. He spends on them or helps them out for self gain and they adore him in return. He is creative and innovative and does not embark on projects that will not end up profitable. He is about 76% successful most of the time because as they say, “Bad things are more attractive.” Does this sound like you?

Lastly, that said, it is spot on that a leader can be more than one of these categories at the same time. It is also factual that a leader might exist somewhere—who has neither of these characteristics. It is left for you, having read through this piece of writing, to make yourself the best the type of a leader that Nigeria and Africa need at this crucial time in our history.

See you where great leaders are found!

23

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 30 May, 2016

‘Why sustainable economy is impotant to us’ PAGE 25

SMES:

Leap Africa, Buffet’s $1bn Stanbic IBTC investment in partner on Apple growth PAGE 25

PAGE 24

Data shows why SMEs should invest in tourism now!

By Ruth Olurounbi

T

HE tourism sector is seen as the fasted growing sector of the global economy. In fact, the belief is that tourism has the potential to catalyse the economies of developing nations, thus, there have been countless researches and report to support the hypothesis that if sustainably developed; the sector has the enormous potential for driving the developing nations toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Based on tourism’s multibillion dollar

revenue to global, as well as respective national economies, its importance and relevance to economic growth and development, countries across the world are branding and promoting some brand of tourism to sell. Who wouldn’t?

In 2015 alone, travel and tourism in total contributed $7.2 trillion to world GDP, representing 9.8 per cent of global GDP, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) said. WTTC is the global authority on the economic and social contribution of Travel & Tourism.

Continues on pg24

How OilOff Africa’s CEO plans to revitalise Ogoniland

By Ruth Olu

rounbi

With a com p meet the tr any that strives to iple bottom lin accounting framework e, an with three parts - soci al, ecological) environmental (or and financi al - President and F ou Ended Ven nder of Opentures (Afric a) Ltd, alongside h is foreign p artners, are in the p rocess of cl ean oil spillage in Ogonilan ing up d, and revitalising th e environm ent at the same time, through a su bsidiary, OilOff Afric a Ltd. Continues

on pg25

24

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Continued from pg23

And according to it, 2.5 million new jobs were generated directly in the sector in 2015, taking the number of direct jobs to 108 million. In total, 7.2 million new jobs were created as a result of direct, indirect and induced activity, the body said.

The sector’s contribution to GDP is forecast to grow by 3.3 per cent in 2016, with the projection that it will outperform the global economy throughout the next decade, growing by an expected four per cent on average annually over the next ten years.

In Nigeria, direct contribution of the sector to GDP was put at 1.7 per cent of total 2015 GDP, that is, N1,632.8 billion, with the potential to rise by 4.8 per cent t in 2016, and to rise by 6.4 per cent pa, from 20162026, i.e to NGN3,189.7 billion. While the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was 4.2 per cent of GDP in 2015, that is, N4 billion, it is forecast to rise by 5.0 per cent in 2016, and to rise by 6.4 per cent pa in 2026. Estimated revenue stands at a little more than N7 billion.

Despite expected macroeconomic conditions and other challenges in the industry, it is expected to “perform at a solid growth rate and outperform global economic growth once again,” the WTTC noted.

With the industry forecasts pegging annual growth rates at four per cent over the next 10 years, this pres-

Nigerian Tribune

Why SMEs should invest in Nigeria’s

tourism

ent quite an opportunity for SMEs to operate in the industry, Kayode Adesola, who owns travel business in Abuja for nearly 10 years said.

What is more, “the sustained demand for travel and tourism, coupled with the sector’s ability to consistently outperform the wider global economy and be resilient in the face of shocks, continues to underline its great significance and value as a key sector for economic development and job creation throughout the world,” WTTC added.

It is foregone conclusions that travel and tourism is a lucrative business, with several options to pick from – there are transportation services, which involves transporting tourists to, from and around the tourist destination; travel agencies; the one stop shop for everything involved with visiting a place, including transportation, accommodations and attractions;

accommodations, which include hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, hostels, and other place tourists may stay while travelling; guided tours and tour guides; hospitality, among others – the fact remains that, for every SMEs owner/entrepreneur who invests in this sector,

he/she not only help grow and develop the sector nationally, but continentally.

Investing in any industry may seem crazy, especially with harsher economic realities in Nigeria; however, statistics show that major components of travel and tourism are expected to

record faster growth in 2016 and beyond. For instance, statistics from WTTC shows that investment is already forecast to grow by 4.7 per cent this year, while domestic and international travel and tourism spending are forecast to grow by 3.3 per cent and 3.0 per

Stanbic IBTC, LEAP Africa partner on funding SMEs for growth Chima Nwokoji - Lagos STANBIC IBTC Bank, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, and LEAP Africa, a leadership development and non-profit organization, are partnering to organise forum, with a focus on how Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) can attract funding for sustainable growth.

Termed the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Forum, initiated in 2005, the 11th edition of the CEOs brings together local and international speakers for knowledge sharing with entrepreneurs on building sustainable local businesses.

The event is targeted at SME founders, captains of industry, private and public sector leaders as well as CEOs drawn from different sectors of the economy. The forum is currently organized as an annual event within the SME space.

“SMEs constitute the pivot of the

economy. We have consistently demonstrated our commitment to the development of the sector.

However, SMEs should realise that attracting financing and ensuring sustainability is only guaranteed by planning, delivery and profitability, and we remain committed to supporting them in this regard,” Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank said.

With the theme,“Attracting financing for your business: strategies and opportunities,” the forum is slated for Lagos on June 2, 2016, and will attract eminent speakers from different sectors of the economy, including Bismarck Rewane, CEO, Financial Derivatives Company Ltd; Yewande Sadiku, Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Bank; and Tayo Oviosu, Founder/CEO, Paga Technology.

Sanni welcomed the collaboration, saying: “We value this partnership

with LEAP Africa, especially as the focus of this year’s forum resonates well with our own goal of building a new cadre of leadership among business leaders in Nigeria and Africa.”

Executive Director, Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, Iyadunni Olubode, said underlining this year’s theme is the recognition

that many Nigerian entrepreneurs struggle with sourcing funding due to both internal and external challenges. However, successful business development requires additional sources of capital to support growth and enable strategic investments.

LEAP Africa, she said, is available to help business owners gain deeper insight and acquire the relevant skills in entrepreneurship and business.

“Among others, the 11th CEOs forum seeks to expose entrepreneurs to the breadth of financing options available in the African context, including angel investors, venture capital, private equity, challenge funds, development financing and the stock market. The forum will also equip emerging entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and tools to enhance their business readiness to attract financing and effectively manage investor relationships,” Olubode said.

cent respectively. Domestic travel and tourism spending growth is again “expected to buck the longer-term trend by outpacing international spending in 2016, before international spending growth will again exceed domestic spending growth from 2018,” the body said.

If not now, when? By 2026, the sector is expected to support 370 million globally. Statistics show that while South Asia will be the fastest growing sub-region at 7.1 per cent, India

Learning Known for his frumpy appearance, it’s not obvious at first glance that Warren Buffett is today worth more than $65 billion. At 85-years-old, the CEO is a true nonconformist among his leadership kind, and he continues to surprise us. His most recent splashy move that made news was his unexpected investment of $1 billion in Apple stock. Buffett has a

25

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘Sustainable economy is important to us’

Continued from pg23

will record 7.5 per cent, outpacing China’s 7.0 per cent growth for total travel and tourism GDP in 2026; Southeast Asia will record 5.8 per cent, followed by Northeast Asia; 5.6 per cent; Sub-Saharan Africa, 5.2 per cent; the Middle East, 4.9 per cent and North Africa 4.2 per cent. Meanwhile, growth in Latin America, North America, the Caribbean, and Europe, is expected to average below the global average of four per cent, per year.

Olabode Akindeji-Oladeji, founder of the 20-year-old company (Open-Ended Ventures (Africa) Ltd), with interests in agriculture, construction, information technology, oil and gas, among others, said in an interview with Entrepreneurship+ that his company, founded for national economic and sustainable development, in 1996, went into partnership with foreign partners not only to revitalise the environment, but also to set the community on a path to economic prosperity, because he believes that creating sustainable projects is an antidote to the economic development of Africa.

“My main thrust is to see a major developmental growth in Africa,” he said of which the socio-economic empowerment of the Ogoni people plays a great role. “We are constantly thinking about economic sustainability – how do we

make our business friendly to the ecosystem and make it viable at the same time? That is what our business is all about,” he added.

He, alongside his foreign partners, has the much needed technology to clean the oil economically and equitably, he said, adding that “our technology will totally clean the oil off the soil and restore the soil back to its original position so that they can farm the land. We will clean the oil from the creeks and waters so that vegetation can grow back there.”

Devastation from the oil spillage has had severe impact on Ogoni people. Reports have it that billions of dollars are lost annually to the death of fishes in the area, as well as thousands of jobs lost every year. Aside the crippling economic effect of the spill, environmental costs are as large as well. “Where a number of entrepreneurs had set up fish farms in or close to the creeks, their businesses have been ruined by an ever-present layer of

floating oil,” the 2011 United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report said.

To clean up the creeks of Ogoniland, Akindeji-Oladeji said his company has entered into an economic and equity agreement with the community, as well as the government. “When I met with the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) President recently, I told him that my company, OILOFF AFRICA LTD, has the answer to restoring the clean environment Ogoni people once enjoyed, so they can start farming and fishing again,” he said.

With a degree in Civil Engineering at the Prairie View A&M University and a Masters Degree in Construction at Columbia University, Akindeji-Oladeji says he is passionate about restoring the sustainable, functional, durable and aesthetically pleasing environment Ogonis deserve. Therefore, for him, it was important that his businesses engage in development

projects that ensured enduring and holistic economic development, to help accelerate the growth of the African continent. Thus, Fiat International Ltd, which he presides over, was launched in 2002 to do primarily construction work – roads, housing estates, power projects, etc, to help the economy create infrastructures.

In 2001, “we started soft tools scholars scheme to help students in secondary schools learn off internet, so they can learn at any time they want,” he says and in 2006, the programme was officially launched as Softool Scholastic Ltd. Through the programme he said, 10 subjects have been developed for Junior Secondary Schools across Nigeria.

Speaking on entrepreneurs’ role in national growth and development he said entrepreneurs have a responsibility to, at the start of their company, build a business that will run without them, as well as outlast them.

“Nigeria’s young entrepreneurs need to know that the lives of 180 million Nigerians are at stake,” he said, and therefore, must “build a company that is not only durable, but sustainable. I said to a friend last night that it is a known fact that we came into this world with nothing and we are returning with nothing, when death come we are going with nothing, so if we are taking nothing why don’t we make sure that what we leave behind is sustainable?”

According to him, business survival is not for entrepreneurs’ children or immediate family; it is about the consumers. “It is not about your children being engineers; there might be over 201 people that are better than them.

What we need to do is to put them in the business structure, and collectively the managers will help your children to build the company. All of us as Nigerians must start thinking about the community - communal growth, because the lives of all the other people depend on us all as entrepreneurs,” he concluded.

from a man who just invested $1bn into Apple well-known reputation for staying away from tech stocks. But for him, this is just par for the course. The finance titan’s life is the realization of living by his own rules and leadership wisdom. Buffett is a true radical and visionary. Here are five leadership lessons we can glean from his life.

Mine your area of expertise Buffett is a long time

value investor, considered a somewhat stodgy, old-fashioned strategy versus the more new-fangled growth investing that is associated with tech investing. He invests in stocks that has been undervalued by the market but have good instrinsic value and then waits for the market to recognisse the value. His approach sometimes takes years for a payoff, but his

success motto is that he’ll take a certain payoff over a big one any day. And his investment philosophy has certainly paid off, with a 22 per cent annual return for Berkshire Hathaway from 19642005.

Some of his best known investment successes have been with American companies, such as Coca Cola, Geico and Gilette, but Buffett also saw the fu-

ture in China and did very well investing in China’s main oil company PetroChina in 2002 and 2003, which earned Berkshire Hathaway back $3.6 billion when he unloaded the shares four years later.

Fight for what you believe in Buffett has been a long-time advocate for a tax hike on the rich. Or more specif-

ically, for the government to create two new tax brackets for those who make upwards of $1 million and $10 million, as he wrote in a 2011 oped in The New York Times: “My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice… while most Americans struggle to

make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks.”

For the upcoming 2016 election, Buffett remains firm on taxing the country’s highest income earners and endorses Hillary Clinton, however he has hat tipped Bernie Sanders’s integrity and constancy of message.

Culled from preneur.com

entre-

26

Monday, 30 May, 2016 CBN Bills

Inflation Rates (Per cent) 2016 Month

January

February

March

All Items (Year on Change)

9.62

11.38

12.77

All Items (12 Months Avg. Change)

9.13

9.39

9.75

Food (Year on Change)/1

10.64

11.35

12.74

Food (12 Months Avg. Change)/1

10.02

10.18

10.47

All Items Less Farm Produce (Year on Change)/2

8.84

11.04

12.17

All Items Less Farm Produce (12 Months Avg. Change)/2

8.39

8.73

9.13

All Items Less Farm Produce and Energy (Year on Change)/3

8.53

9.48

10.31

All Items Less Farm Produce and Energy (12 Months Avg. Change)/3

8.28

8.48

8.72

7.40

7.30

7.20

Date of Auction Security Type Tenor Maturing On 11/13/2003 2/20/2003 11/21/2002 9/19/2002 Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate True Yield

5/15/2003 CBN Certificate 204.7868 91 180 180 180 26.7127 82227 37767

2/25/2002 CBN Certificate 205.4112 170.7672 1.4001 0.3028 240.1376 26.7946 15000 4161

FGN Bonds 11/26/2001 CBN Certificate 206.0355 171.2862 1.4044 0.3128 240.8675 26.8765 5000 2740

17019

4161

2740

0

20.5

20.5

9/24/2001 CBN Certificate

1155 1155

Date of Auction

5/11/2016

5/11/2016

5/11/2016

4/13/2016

Security Type

FGN Bonds

FGN Bonds

FGN Bonds

FGN Bonds

Tenor

5 Year

10 Year

20 Year

5 Year

Maturing On

2/13/2020

1/22/2026

3/18/2036

2/13/2020

2/13/2020 1/22/2026 3/18/2036 2/13/2020

Amount Offered (N mn)

15

40

50

20

Subscriptions (N mn)

35.40

51.71

72.49

58.53

Tot. Successful (N mn)

7.50

20.00

25.00

20.00

Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates

10.9900 - 18.0000

11.0000 - 18.0000

11.0000 - 18.0000

10.0000 -

10.9900 - 13.2490

11.0000 - 13.7430

11.0000 - 13.9000

10.0000 -

13.249

13.743

13.9

12

18.0000

19.5

Successful Bid Rates 12.0000 Marginal Rate

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

Despite currency crisis,CBN clears 299 BDCs in 5 months

F

RESH facts emerged over the weekend that a total of 299 Bureau De Change (BDC) operators has been cleared by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) between January and May 2016 to continue operating in the financial market despite currency crisis ravaging the economy.

Finance experts describe currency crisis as a situation in which the value of a currency becomes unstable, making it difficult for the currency to be used as a reliable medium of exchange.

The effect of a currency crisis can be mitigated by sufficient foreign reserves.

The apex bank on Friday, 27 May, listed 2,998 confirmed Bureau De Change operators, ahead of the revelation of its new foreign exchange policy.

The newly listed BDCs represents an increase of 299 from 2,699 operators that complied with the new CBN requirements for operations in the country by 31 December, 2015.

As the Nigerian market

awaits modalities for new foreign exchange policy, most stakeholders are wondering why more operators of the BDCs are still interested in the business after CBN had halted sales of forex to them.

Announcing the ban of sales to BDCs in January, Emefiele said the BDCs had risen from 74 in 2005 to 2,786 in 2016, with about 150 new BDC applications coming in every month, with same promoter owning multiple BDC outlets.

The bank published on its website a list entitled, “Confirmed BDCs in compliance with the new requirements for the operations of BDCs in Nigeria as at 27 May, 2016.”

The CBN had earlier in September 2015 published a list of 2,765 licensed BDCs, which it said complied with its new N35 million capitalisation requirements and another N35 million cautionary deposit for operators.

Checks revealed that there were 3,208 registered BDCs in the country before the expiration of the deadline on

July 31 2014 for operators to recapitalize.

Nigerian Tribune recalls that the CBN had, in a statement in June 2014, raised the minimum capital requirement for BDC operations in Nigeria from N10 million to N35 million.

The regulator said it introduced the new requirements in a bid to correct observed deficiencies in the operations of BDCs in Nigeria which, it noted, had led to gross inefficiency and sharp practices in the foreign exchange market, rentseeking, depletion of the external reserves, financing of unauthorized transactions and dollarization, among others.

At its last MPC meeting, the bank’s monetary policy committee recommended greater flexibility in the foreign exchange system.

While Emefiele didn’t specify what he meant by “greater flexibility,” analysts at Renaissance Capital Ltd. predict the central bank will allocate dollars at a fixed rate to strategic industries, such as energy and agricul-

ture, while letting the Naira weaken in the interbank market, where everyone else would buy their foreign currency. The central bank may also try to control the new interbank rate by imposing a trading band of about 5 or 10 percent around it.

At the time of halting forex sells to BDCs, President Muhammadu Buhari accused CBN directors of using BDCs to short-change the government.

“We found out that some directors of CBN owned Bureau De Change and when foreign exchange comes, they take it to their Bureau De Change and give government the change. We had to stop the federal government giving bureau the change,” Buhari had said.

With no plans to devalue the naira, the CBN leaves the financial world anticipating its new forex policy.

Back in January, the apex bank said it was going to refund BDCs’ N35 million mandatory cautionary deposit, leaving them to seek forex from autonomous sources.

GTBank wins 2016 Most Innovative Bank in Africa GUARANTY Trust Bank plc has been named the “2016 Most Innovative Bank in Africa” by African Banker Magazine at the prestigious African Banker Awards which took place on the sidelines of the AfDB annual meeting on Wednesday, 25 May, 2016 in Lusaka, Zambia.

Now in its 10th year, The African Banker Awards is internationally recognized as the landmark finance event to reward achievements, commend best practices and celebrate excellence in African banking. The award provides a platform to bring together industry leaders from across Africa, celebrate the achievements of those driving economic

growth and shaping the future of Africa.

Commenting on the awards ceremony, Publisher of African Banker Magazine; Mr Omar Ben Yedder said “Technology is constantly shaping the banking landscape and the bank of tomorrow will be those who continually leverage advancements in technology to pioneer innovative products and services, to create sustainable value for their stakeholders and improve the overall customer experience.

“GTBank through the introduction of its Bank 737, a products that allows customers perform basic banking functions from the comfort of their mobile phone without the need for

data - has redefined the traditional bricks and mortar experience to a swift, convenient and mobile userfriendly experience. He further stated that “In today’s banking, there is no room for complacency as there is so much expectation for growth and development to ensure we achieve the transformation we all desire and work towards. Seeing a local African bank take the initiative in leveraging technological advancements to drive inclusive banking across Africa is highly commendable.

Receiving the award on behalf of the bank, Segun Agbaje, Managing Director/ CEO of GTBank said: “We are delighted and honoured

to be recognised as the Most Innovative Bank in Africa.

For us, winning this award is an attestation of our commitment to continually pioneering new innovative products and services that enable us push the frontiers of service delivery.

“Our vision has always been to create an oasis of excellence in Africa, and buoyed by this accolade, we are determined to achieve more and consolidate our leading position in the banking industry by radically adopting innovative solutions, pursuing collaborations, and maintaining a high standard in creating sustainable value for stakeholders.”

Nigerian Tribune

Money Market Review Financial market liquidity last week opened at N186.0 billion on Monday, higher than N144.1 billion the previous Friday. Liquidity levels improved to N198.4 billion on Wednesday but declined to N156.6 billion on Thursday, as a total of N80 billion worth of Open Market Operation (OMO) maturity as well as the weekly Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) maintenance impacted on system liquidity. However, system liquidity improved on Friday as foreign exchange (FX) refunded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) drove opening balance with Banks/ Discounts houses to N202.5 billion.

Driven by liquidity dynamics during the week, the Open Buy Back (OBB) and overnight (O/N) rates settled at 4.8 per cent and 5.5 per cent on Friday, down 3.7 per cent and 3.4 per cent week on week (W-o-W).

Activities in the Treasury Bills market last week was broadly driven by the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to retain key policy rates. Market sentiment started the week bearish as investors traded cautiously ahead of the MPC meeting. Thus, average T-Bills rate stood at 10.7 per cent on Monday. Bearish sentiment was sustain on Tuesday as MPC concluded its 2-Day meeting. However, sentiment turned bullish on Wednesday and Thursday following MPC’s announcement to retain benchmark rate at 12 per cent.

Average Treasury Bills (T-Bills) rate settled at 10.0per cent on Friday as against 8.5 per cent in the previous week. With the decision of the Apex Bank to keep key rates unchanged, dealers at Afrinvest West Africa Limited said they expect money market rates to remain determined by liquidity dynamics in the system.

Foreign Exchange Market The foreign exchange market last week was majorly driven by the outcome of the MPC meeting in which the Committee decided to introduce greater flexibility in the pricing of foreign exchange at the interbank market while retaining a small window to fund critical transactions.

In excitement of the news, analysts at Afrinvest said they noticed improved sentiments within the equities and fixed income segments of the market though few pressures are still noticed at the parallel market while the official/interbank market remains inactive.

The CBN’s weekly intervention window opened on Thursday with the Banks submitting their pent up demands for foreign exchange while the Apex Bank intervened at N197.00/$1.00. At the parallel/BDC segments however, the pressure on exchange rate remained elevated in the week more so that the market awaits the CBN’s guidelines on the new FX workings at the interbank market.

The naira depreciated by 1.4 per cent W-o-W at the parallel market after closing at N351/$1.00 as against the previous week’s close of N346/$1.00.

In the week ahead, “we believe the forex market will be defined by the expected roll-out of the modalities for the operation of a new “Flexible Interbank Market” which the CBN has promised will be communicated in the coming days.

Bond Market In anticipation of the same MPC meeting, the bonds market had expected a rate hike which had defined the yields dynamics in the previous week.

However, dealers said they noticed some moderation in yields at the beginning of the week as investors, who perhaps got a hint on the possibility of no rate hike, took position in medium to long term bonds instruments.

Following the decision of the MPC to retain Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 12 per cent, the bonds market gained traction on Wednesday as average yields declined from 13.6 per cent on Tuesday to 13.4 per cent. But on Thursday average yields further moderated to 13.3 per cent before closing at 13.7 per cent on Friday.

The sovereign bonds yield curve also shifted downwards W-o-W on account of a generally bullish market in which case average yields moderated to 13.7 per cent from 14.0 per cent in the previous week.

“Our price analysis across term structure of bond yield curve shows that ten bond instruments are still selling at attractive discounts to par value as against only seven instruments that are trading at premium to par.

Afrinvest believes the bonds market will likely trade bullish in the coming week as it is expected that most Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and other institutional investors would pump in liquidity in order to take advantage of current low prices.

“We advise investors to continue to consider longer tenured bonds instruments with high modified duration in their portfolio as they tend to offer the highest return in a declining yield environment.

“To this end, we recommend the 20-year benchmark instruments (JUL-2030, JUL-2034 and MAR-2036) which are currently trading at discount to par values of N78.86, N90.93 and N94.05 respectively,” the investment banking and securities company wrote in a note to investors.

27

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

FCMB to prioritise use of technology to increase revenue FIRST City Monument Bank (FCMB) has said that its business priority in the current financial year is to increase revenue while putting into optimal use, its robust world-class technology to enhance operations across its diverse business segments.

The 33-year-old financial institution which is playing vigorously in the sector’s retail space said a key part of its business direction is to reduce cost to income ratio, while focusing on taking its core customer promises of being helpful, reliable and customer focused to a new industry benchmark.

Defining key challenges to achieving the feat as including the changing business environment and regulatory pressures, the Assistant Vice President and Group Head Information Technology at First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mr Emeka

Eboegbune, said the technology landscape in Nigerian banks is trending towards providing convenient products and services to customers on mobile devices while utilising cloud technologies for more reliable services.

Eboegbune opined that a key game changer for banks is their ability to utilise social media to reach a growing and diverse online population, the banked and unbanked. He described some of the technology challenges faced by financial institutions in Nigeria to include lack of availability of reliable network infrastructure across the country, security of the banks’ infrastructure as well as reliable power supply.

For them at FCMB, the information technology expert said, “Our present focus is the upgrade we have achieved in our core banking and other business applications to the latest avail-

able versions to meet and exceed customer demands and expectations, including a Customer Relationship Management(CRM) system,” Eboegbune stated.

The financial institution, in the launch of its “world of opportunities” thematic campaign, had highlighted the values of FCMB as a bank that helps to identify, connect and harness opportunities unique to each individual, social class and other segments of the society.

The bank was said to have adopted a technology strategy that is aimed at consolidating FCMB’s focus as a technology driven-bank where banking services are very easy to use, seamless and accessible to all segments of the society. In other words “For our customers, we want banking to be so simple and fun to do. Our investments are channeled in

this direction” the Group Head of IT at FCMB stated.

As to what new and innovative services and products the market should be expecting from FCMB, it was disclosed that the bank is channeling its energy towards simplified banking services and products.

It will recalled that recent research reports have unanimously identified FCMB as offering, among a few other banks, the best of social and alternate channels banking services in Nigeria, with some mobile apps for services that are second to none. FCMB is one of the few banks in Nigeria today practising instant Visa card issuance and the financial institution has also been issuing its Verve and Mastercard products for a while with instant account opening via various channels, mobile, web etc.

Ladi Balogun, Group Managing Director, FCMB

Experts foresee arbitrage opportunity in CBN’s proposed forex policy

E

VEN as the modalities for effective take-off of flexible exchange rate system of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) were yet to be defined, financial experts have expressed concern that the planned ‘official window for critical transactions,’ would give room for abuse, buying foreign exchange (forex) in one market and simultaneously selling in another,thereby profiting from a temporary difference (arbitrage).

They also say it will fuel further divergence between official and unofficial markets.

The Nigerian Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in its just concluded meeting of May 23-24, 2016 among other decisions, decided to keep the Central Bank’s forex window open for critical transactions.

Edger Ebinum Head, Investment Research at Cowry Asset Management Limited said though stakeholders appreciate the decision to adopt a more flexible foreign exchange regime, they however expect CBN to eliminate every arbitrage opportunity in its bid to retain a window for critical imports in the short term. “We are strongly of the opinion that the window for critical transactions would create opportunities for arbitrage and abuse as well as fuel further divergence between the official window and the alternative market,” he said. the analysts from Cowry Assets Management Limited wrote in a note to investors that, the policy decisions will impact the economy in several fronts.

“We expect current inflationary pressure to continue as budgetary disbursements commence.

Also, Interest Rate is expected to continue to hover at current levels with a downside risk of further increases in response to inflationary pressure.

“We however anticipate a likely increase in liquidity mop up

through Open Market Operation in response to expected increase in budgetary spending. In the same vein, we expect Naira to remain under pressure as market forces adjust the fixed CBN’s clearing rate towards the more realistic parallel market rates.

“Lastly, we predict likely improvement in foreign exchange liquidity particularly from conversion of domiciliary account balances estimated at $20 billion, as currency exchange risk minimises.”

Other experts from Afrinvest

West Africa Limited believe that speculators are likely to study flexible forex regime and capitalize on loopholes.

In their words: “In our view, a truly market determined exchange rate should be devoid of any peg and should reflect the real supply and demand dynamics. Whilst we hope the CBN’s move will take this into consideration, especially in reducing the rate of diminution of the external reserves, market speculators will still continue to study the market pending the information from the CBN.

Sterling Bank tops management fetes with IDPs in Jos MOVING forward in the resolve to give back to the society,top Management of Sterling Bank Plc, joined children at the Internally Displayed Persons (IDPs) Camp in Jos, the Plateau State Capital in the celebration of the 2016 Children’s Day. Apart from celebrating and dining with the children at the Camp, the Bank’s Management team, headed by its Executive Director, Finance and Strategy, Abubakar Sulaiman, represented by the Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr Shina Atilola, also donated various food items,

Heritage Bank celebrates children, launches book on financial litracy AHEAD of the Children’s Day celebration on May 27, Heritage Bank launched, The Protector, a comic book to deepen financial literacy among school children.

The initiative is a fall-out of the declaration of May as “Children Banking Month” by the bank.The project, according to the bank, is in recognition of the pivotal role children play as leaders of tomorrow.

At the unveiling of the book in Lagos, the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank, Ifie Sekibo, who was represented by Executive Director, Lagos/South West and Corporate Banking, Mrs. Mary Akpobome, explained that Heritage Bank has been at the forefront of driving the CBN financial inclusion initiative and is constantly thinking of creative and innovative ways of introducing the younger generation to the concept of wealth creation through financial literacy Sekibo added: “With this Comic book project, we envisage the birth of creative writers, voice over artistes, motion graphic producers among children.

“Dear young ones in our midst, Heritage Bank remains committed to your development because you

represent the future, if we do all we can to support you and equip you, our country will be a much better place to live in.”

He stressed that financial education is a key success indicator for socio-economic development, adding that the bank believes in empowering the youth with requisite skills to make solid financial decisions in adult years The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, commended the bank for the initiative, which he described as a strong foundation for the nation’s development. She maintained that the state is desirous of an organization that is ready to educate the youth and help them realise their potentials.

“The idea is commendable, because it is a building block for development. It will help to instill the culture of discipline, saving and financial management,” he said.

Mr. Seye Awojobi, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, also praised the bank for his support for the financial in-

clusion mandate of the CBN. The apex bank, few years ago, came up with a mandate to reduce the number of financially excluded Nigerians from 46.3 per cent in 2010 to 20 per cent by the year 2020. The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, in a study carried out in 2012 also found out that financial literacy appeared lowest among students and the unemployed.

As a key implementation priority of the Financial Inclusion Strategy, the CBN developed a Financial Literacy Framework (FLF) in January, 2013. The document articulates a strategic direction for a multi-stakeholder approach to the delivery of financial education programmes across various target groups of the population in Nigeria.

Consequently, as part of the Global Money Week celebration, the Bankers’ Committee designated March 13 every year as Financial Literacy Day. The day is marked to focus attention on children and youth in primary and secondary schools nationwide and to empower them by enhancing their financial knowledge and planning skills.

clothes and toys to the delight of the kids.

In other activities to mark the day, the bank according to a statement, also hosted students from both public and private schools to a party at its corporate head office in Lagos. It also donated its financial literacy books; ‘Funds’ and ‘My Little Money Book’ to the Lagos State Government for onward distribution to pupils and students of the schools in a bid to promote financial literacy among the students.

Ensuring the online community were not left behind, a ‘selfie campaign’ encouraging parents to post ‘selfies’ taken with their children was initiated; such that family and friends of contestants were encouraged to vote and the top three posts were awarded prizes. A ‘selfie’ is a photograph taken of oneself with a smartphone or webcam and shared via social media.

Speaking at the reception held for the children in Lagos, Mr Abubakar explained that as a responsible financial institution, the Bank will continue to support any worthy initiative that would impact children positively irrespective of the financial institutions the kids or parents bank with.

At the IDP camp, the Bank’s Director stated that the kids were a product of circumstance. He therefore called on all to support these ones to ensure their dream of a bright future can become reality.

The bank’s Director who noted that the future of the country can only be guaranteed when “we invest rightly in our children as future leaders“, explained that the Bank will continue to commit resources towards supporting the value adding activities especially those focused on education and the learning of our children.

“At Sterling Bank, we are passionate about avenues that would add value for learning in all areas and that is why we are investing heavily in the area of education,” he said.

28 Hollandia Soya Milk wears new look THE nation’s health drink market segment received a boost, recently, as Chi Limited unveiled its newly repackaged Hollandia Soya milk, one of the brands in its stable.

The Soya drink, which now wears a new design and size, the company says, is designed for its health conscious consumers, desirous of a nutritious and health-en-

hanced milk drink.

Now endorsed by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) as a rich source of Calcium and Vitamin A, one of the unique selling points of the new offering, according to the company’s Managing Director, Mr “Deepanjan Roy, is its zero-cholesterol, noting that as a soya- based drink, it also

BRANDS &

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Nigerian Tribune

•Reiterates health benefit helps lower cholesterol levels in the body.

He explained that the decision of the company to come up with the Soya Milk product was informed by the realisation that health remains one of the biggest motivating factors in consumers’ decisionmaking process.

‘This is clearly amplified on the pack,

which features a strong blue colour combination and an assortment of small icons that typify various sporting activities that connect with the health conscious consumers,”WW he stated.

He stated the product comes in two sizes of 1 litre and 315ml pack, which make it handy for the average consumer.

with Akin Adewakun

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

Jitters, blame games, as another foreign outdoor advertising firm debuts Stories By Akin Adewakun - Lagos Again, the nation’s outdoor advertising sector seems to be in turmoil! And, this is not unconnected with the planned debut of the biggest outdoor advertising firm in the world, Jean Claude Decaux, on the nation’s outdoor ad landscape.

What ordinarily should have been a pleasant tiding in the ears of industry stakeholders, is fast becoming a huge subject of debate and controversies among practitioners, the state and market watchers.

Ordinarily, the coming on board of a new company into any economy should, be an indication of the potential the economy holds for such investments, and its gradual acceptance by investors; a development that is expected to have some positive trickle-down effects on that business environment.

But, for some, such optimism and positivism, may not really apply here. The news of the coming on board of JeanClaude Decaux, has continued to generate some controversies, occasioned by mutual suspicion and distrust among critical stakeholders.

For instance, rumours are rife that the new company is being surreptitiously backed by the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), a development, other outdoor practitioners, in the state, believe would give the company that undue competitive advantage, even before opening its doors for business in the country.

Curiously, such allegations may not be unfounded. Brands & Marketing learnt that LASAA had, few weeks ago, written a letter to the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), asking the apex regulatory body in the industry to confirm the status of the profiles of the referees submitted by Jean Claude Decaux, a development seen, by many, as outside the purview of the regulatory agency.

“Why would a regulatory agency be seen pitching tent with one of the agencies it is supposed to regulate, especially a foreign one? Does that not give such agency an edge over others in that market segment?’ argued a practitioner, while commenting on the issue.

According to the practitioner, who is also one of those still being owed for the last Buhari/Ambode campaign carried out in the state, since APCON is the apex regulated

President, Outdoor Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr Babatunde Adedoyin body, any firm that is coming into the country should get its endorsement from there and not through any government regulatory agency, as it is being done through LASAA. Interestingly, sometimes ago, as part of the industry reforms carried out under Lolu Akinwunmi, the then APCON chairman, the apex regulatory body had insisted that foreign agencies and practitioners must be properly certified and regulated, like their local counterparts before being allowed to do business in the country.

This, APCON had noted, would present a level-playing ground for all players, while at the same time guaranteeing that the country was not turned into a haven for quacks by both local and foreign ad practitioners. ‘‘As part of the need to ensure strict professionalism within the advertising industry

and the practice of it, it has become necessary to consider the current operating rules and environment with a view to ensuring that advertising, like other recognised professions, was regulated in such a way as to protect the integrity of the local interests and global standards,’ the former APCON Chairman had said.

But some practitioners believe that LASAA is not ‘protecting the integrity of the local interests and global standards’ by registering J.C. Decaux Nigeria Advertising Ltd and helping it prepare the necessary take-off papers.

The practitioner, who would not want his name in print, argued that, unfortunately, LASAA had not extended such hand of fellowship to local practitioners and agencies in the country, but rather its policies had

been anti-business.

According to the practitioner, for the past few months, the policies of the regulatory agency had not helped the business, noting that a lot of practitioners are presently struggling to be in business due to the agency’s harsh economic policies.

“For instance, we are being made to pay for vacant boards. And, interestingly, those boards are vacant because the fees being charged on each of the boards, even when they are not occupied runs into millions of naira,” he argued.

But, the agency’s Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Tope Akande, in an exclusive interview with Brands & Marketing, explained that it was normal for the agency to inquire from APCON, the status of any company it received a Notice of Interest from, irrespective of where such company is coming from, and therefore would not know why that of the company in question should be different.

“We only wanted clarifications. We wanted to know the status of the firm, whether it is qualified to operate here or not and nothing else. This can never mean we brought the company in. We do this for every company that wants to practice outdoor business here. That is the standard rule, because we recognise APCON as the apex regulatory body in the industry,” he stated.

He added that contrary to claim that the agency’s policies had been against outdoor advertising investment in the state, Akande stated that the agency had been doing everything within its powers to create an enabling environment for the business.

“For instance, we recently introduced the Vacant Board Discount that would enable practitioners enjoy a 50 per cent discount on any of their vacant billboards within the state,’ he stated.

But as the blame-game continues, Brands & Marketing authoritatively learnt that the company, in question, had successfully registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the only thing hindering it from commencing operations is the reluctance of APCON to issue it an operating licence.

And interestingly, not a few stakeholders are still expressing their reservations about circumstance surrounding the advent of this global outdoor ad company in the nation’s outdoor space.

29 BRANDS & MARK

TING

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DSTV price slash: we shall ensure compliance —Dstv

From left; Business Development manager, natnundO Foods, Mr Bobby Lamb, Marketing Manager; natnundO Foods, Miss Ibekwe Ophylia; Secretary, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Mr Olusola Malomo and General Manager, natnundO Foods, Mr Toromade Francis at the natnundO Foods Children’s Day enlightenment event, in Lagos, recently.

Advertisers charged on focused communication

T

HE Director-General of the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), Mrs Ibm Semenitari has charged advertisers in the country on the need to embrace focused communication and brand-building culture, in their development and deployment of government communications.

Semenitari, who made the charge at the Annual General Meeting of the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN), held in Calabar, Cross River State, recently, stated that such had become imperative to enable the country effectively project its positive brand essence to the world.

The former River State Commissioner for Information argued that while the government should carry the people along in its Brand Nigeria Agenda, there is the need for advertising practitioners to competently advise, guide, process and execute ideas at every level.

‘The government, being the first brand face of Nigeria, will eventually carry its people along, making them the first advocates for Brand Nigeria. The result of this would be a boundless subscription by all Nigerians to brand Nigeria, an affirmative position which is accompanied by pride, sincerity, and collective responsibility knowing that no

truly big or successful brand can be built in isolation.

“National pride, advocacy, behavioural changes and support for government initiatives are part of the benefits we would receive as internal benefits of course while naturally, encouragement to foreign investors, tourist attraction and an overall belief in brand Nigeria are just coming attractions for what the big play could turn out to be.

“The process of competently advising, guiding, processing and executing ideas at every level is the strongest challenge for advertising agents. Considering the peculiar challenges the Federal Government is presently tackling,” he stated.

She however noted that for any government, on its part, to gain legitimacy in public spheres, it must develop and maintain effective communication capacity.

This, she explained, allows such government to take stock of citizens’ needs and preferences, and foster a more deliberative public space for multi-stakeholder participation, informed policy debate and development effectiveness.

She however called on members of the association to always make themselves available when called upon for special public duties.

Ahead Copa America, StarTimes set to dole out $1,500 cash, other prizes

AS this year’s edition of the Copa America Centenario draws closer, pay Tv platform, StarTimes, has announced plans to reward viewers with different gifts and prizes during the one-month exclusive broadcast of the tournament across Africa, in June.

Some of the prizes, according to the company’s Marketing Director, Oludare Kafar, include a star prize of $1500 cash, Bundesliga VIP ticket, daily cash rewards to be given to viewers after every game totaling millions of naira and N500 recharge cards given daily to 100 customers.

To win any of these prizes, he added, viewers must watch the Copa America championship on dedicated channels of the pay Tv platform, while such viewers are also expected to answer Predict and Win Questions on any of the pay Tv’s platforms.

“We are using this opportunity to offer very interesting sporting content to our viewers on a very affordable bouquet and with a promise to reward them with mouth-watering gifts.

“With a token, viewer can access StarTimes basic bouquet which offers the sports channels that will air the Copa Centenario, a landmark edition that commemorates 100 years of existence of Copa America, and will have most of the world’s best footballers in action,” he stated.

In his opening remarks, the immediate past president of the association, Mr Kelechi Nwosu, explained that the conference was designed to articulate options and identify strategies for addressing national issues, particularly those relating to the nation’s advertising industry.

One of the highlights of the Conference was the election of Mr Kayode Oluwashona, Managing Director, Harmonee Concepts and Mr Ikechi Odibo, Managing Director, DDB Lagos, as association’s new President and Vice President respectively,

THE management of pay Tv channel, Dstv has stated that it would ensure a full compliance with the new price so as to enable its teeming subscribers avail themselves of the rare opportunity.

Recently, the pay Tv platform has announced a price slash of the full unit of the HD Zapper decoder, which comes with a one month free subscription, at N9,900.

But, unlike in the past when such subscribers never got to get them at the promo price, the management of the company had assured that plans had already been concluded to ensure many Nigerians benefit.

Speaking with Brands & Marketing, in an exclusive interview immediately after the announcement of the price slash in Lagos, the General Manager, Marketing, Multi Choice Nigeria, Mr Martins Mabhuto stated that one of the company’s plans is to generate a huge publicity around the development.

“We believe once we are able to bring it to the consciousness of Nigerians that there is a price reduction, I assure you people will insist on the new price,” he stated.

According to him, “the offer which had since taken effect, would last till the duration of the tournament.”

He also announced plans by the pay Tv channel to broadcast live the 2016 Euro tournament taking place in France and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

natnudO fetes children on Children Day Educates on benefits of egg consumption ONE of the nation’s food processing companies and producer of Super Eggs, natnudO Foods, celebrated with select pupils across the state at the 2016 Children’s Day in Lagos, while also educating them on the benefits of good nutrition and consumption of an egg per day.

The company assured the audience, comprising of the children, their teachers and the parents, of its commitment to children’s nutrition, by constantly innovating its products to reduce the prevalence of stunted growth amongst Nigerian children.

Sharing a report published by the Population Reference Bureau, putting the figure of the nation’s malnourished children at 11 million, the company’s Managing Director, Mr Toromade Francis, stated that topmost on the company’s agenda would be how to address the situation and tackle the scourge.

According to him, the brand is already at the forefront of supporting the Federal

Government’s plans to provide an egg a day for every Nigerian student, through its the company’s Super Eggs, a special breed of eggs.

He added that non-availability of the right food or nutrients, available in egg in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can stunt such child’s brain and body, noting that while the country had made progress in micronutrient deficiency control, about half of the children aged 6 to 59 months still do not receive vitamin A supplementation (supplement).

“We are dedicated to providing our customers with high quality food products that will provide great health benefits for the whole family as well as great value for money,” he stated.

Toromade described this year’s edition of the Children’s Day celebration as very symbolic, since it provided that platform to celebrate future success of all children and provide an unforgettable experience for them during the period.

Okhma Global retains 2016 Calabar Carnival marketing rights DUE to its successful marketing of last year’s edition of Carnival Calabar and Festivals, event and destination marketing agency, Okhma Global has again won the marketing rights of this year’s edition of the carnival.

The Chairman, Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr Gabe Onah and Mr Ken Anklah, Special Adviser to the governor on Festival and Events, acting on behalf of His Excellency, the governor of the state, Professor Ben Ayade, recently announced the retainership agreement with the Mary Ephraim-led agency.

Okhma, they stated, introduced some

very interesting activities towards the funds drive for the carnival, one of which was the CEOs breakfast meeting with the governor that saw captains of industry and top business leaders from 84 organisations in the country, signifying their interests in not only investing in the carnival, but also in the economy of Cross River State, in tune with the governor’s vision of recreating and repositioning the economy of the state.

Some of those organisations included, Airtel, MTN, Lafarge, Nigerian Breweries, UBA, Zenith Bank, Heritage Bank, 7-UP Bottling Company, Coca Cola, Coscharis,

Dana Motors and Flour Mills.

“We are very excited to be retained on this beat. Last year, we had challenges of having little time to work with. I recall we put together the CEO’s meeting with the governor barely fourteen days to the commencement of the carnival.

“Even though the turnout was impressive, few of them did mention the short time left to D-day. Many got involved, but promised bigger volumes this year,” she stated.

She however assured stakeholders of the company’s determination to improve on last year’s performance in this year’s edition.

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PHOTOS:TOMMY ADEGBITE

THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF OGBO ARCHDEACONRY

Archdeacon’s wife, Mrs C. Kehinde Oladiran, presenting “40 years plus marriage experience award” to Chief Ayo Adebanjo, during the third year anniversary of Ogbo Archdeaconry, held at the Chirst Anglican Church, Okelamuren, on Sunday. With them is his daughter, Mrs Adeola Azeez.

From left, Mr Abiodun Azeez, Mrs Adeola Azeez and Chief Adebanjo.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo (right) and the chairman, planning committee, Prince Wale Ayanlaja.

Wives of the clergymen ministering at the service.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

2016 Western Regional Convention of Methodist Church Nigeria

PHOTO: D’TOYIN

1 Prelate, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr Samuel Emeka Uche, flanked by Bishop, Diocese of Remo, Right Reverend Michael Akinwale (right) and the chairman, Convention Committee, Most Reverend Amos Akindeko, during the 2016 Western Regional Convention, held at the Conference Centre of Methodist Theological Institute, Ijoku, Sagamu, Ogun State.

3 Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Most Reverend M. Kehinde Stephen (right), welcoming Prelate (Dr) Samuel Uche to the event.

5 The Onijagba of Ijagba, Sagamu, Oba S.A.A. Adesanya (right) with the Onigbepa of Igbepa Sagamu, Oba S.O. Dawodu and his Olori at the event.

7 Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu (left) and Sir (Engr) Odutola Adelana at the event.

9 From right, Reverend Gbemileke Bolatito, Right Reverend John Adeleke Bamigboye and Most Reverend Luke Olukayode Odubanjo, the Archbishop of Lagos.

2 Dr Uche (left) with the Right Reverend Akinwale at the event.

4 Most Reverend M. Stephen (left) with Very Reverend (Dr) Egbetokin Williams, Dean Immanuel College of Theology, Ibadan, at the event.

6 A cross section of bishops at the event.

8 From left, Bishop Obafemi Adeleye; Bishop Olugbenga Fateyiwa; Bishop Kehinde Adeyemi and Bishop Bamidele Ibikunle.

10 From left, Bishop Edoka Amuta, Right Reverend Titus Omoniyi and Bishop Michael Akinwale.

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Individuals, missionaries, alumni set to take over Oyo public schools •Jss1 teachers will be redistributed —Govt

By Wale Akinselure

O

YO State government has resolved to allow missionaries, interested individuals and associations to take over the running of some of its 631 public secondary schools.

The state government noted that this decision stemmed from applications from various missions, requesting for return of their schools, while also providing the opportunity for old students’ associations and individuals to apply for such schools’ take over.

It will be recalled that the government in a recent advertorial entitled, “Expression of Interest in the Management of Public Schools” had called on interested stakeholders to collaborate with government in a public/private partnership and the ownership of schools.

Secretary to the state government, Mr Olalekan Alli, speaking with Nigerian Tribune, said that the development would take the form of the interested stakeholders providing infrastructure, managing personnel and materials, charging and collection of fees, while the state government only regulated and set conditions of operations.

Noting that the decision was aimed at raising the standard of education in the state, he said the government would ascertain the financial wherewithal and proven managerial acumen of such individuals/missions before government gives the approval for the takeover of public schools.

“We are inviting stakeholders to join us in managing our schools. We will allow individuals, corporate bodies, participate in schools management, they will co-host the schools with us. We will regulate; they will take over infrastructure from us and manage both the personnel and materials.”

“We will provide the regulations. It is for quality assurance and quality enhancement and funding too. We are giving the school to people who are interested in educational enhancement. We have alumni associations, school associations that have indicated interest.

“We will fine tune everything. Government will not charge anything; they will do the charging and collection of fees. They will administer the schools as if they were the owners, we will now regulate. Government will produce the con-

ditions under which they want to operate.”

On what the government will get in return, Alli said, “What we will get back is quality education, quality assurance, in terms of the upbringing of the students. The government is not commercialising education. What we are doing is attempting to raise the standard of education by allowing relevant stakeholders to participate in the management and running of schools.”

Adding, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs A. O. Makanjuola, said the takeover would commence in September with government not placing students in the affected schools into JSS1 class.

She noted that the government would not approve requests to take over schools in areas where there were no other schools in the area to place

students.

So far, she said the ministry had received applications from four missions and one old students’ association. On the fate of teachers in JSS1 class, Makanjuola said teachers would be given an option to either be with the new owners or remain in the service of Oyo State.

She noted that affected teachers who remain in the employ of the state government would be redistributed. “The takeover will commence in September and affect JSS1 students only for now. So government will not place students in those schools we are returning to the missions in September, but their JSS2 class and above will continue. It will be a gradual process.”

“We will allow the missions or individuals that have taken over to do their own admission into JSS1 while our JSS2 class will

continue to move up till they graduate from the school.”

“Even after they have satisfied the criteria to take over the schools, government still decides whether to approve or not. For example, if there is a request to take over a school in a populous area where most of our students are learning, it may not be possible to return such if there are no schools around the area to place our students. They should have board of governors, quality assurance must be ensured just like we regulate and monitor in private secondary schools.”

“We have applications from about 4 missions, and 1 old students’ initiative. That is why we have decided to throw it open.

Perhaps individuals who want to partner in rehabilitating school buildings, teachers’ training, among others, why not?”

“We give the teachers an

option to either go with stakeholders or stay in the service of Oyo State. If they decide to stay in the service of Oyo State, we start by redistributing the JSS1 teachers to other government schools. Then the following year, the teachers in the next class will be redistributed and so on, as the need arises. This will even enhance the availability of teachers,” she said.

To this end, the state government is to hold an interactive session with stakeholders on Wednesday.

The leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in the state have said that the unions would withhold action till after Wednesday’s stakeholders’ interactive session.

The NUT leadership however, hinted its reservations for the return of schools to missionaries.

Oyo veteran journalists get new exco

THE League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State branch, has elected new officers to pilot the affairs of the association for the next two years.

The new executive is headed by Alhaji Wale Adele, who has Alhaji Layiwola Lawal as his vice.

According to a statement signed by new publicity secretary of the body, Mr Wale Adelowo, other elected officers were Mr Segun Omilabu-Gandhi, treasurer and Mr Yomi Akintade as welfare officer.

Adelowo, who had served as the spokesman for the association, also returned elected unopposed.

In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, Alhaji Adele said his vision for the League would focus on welfare of members, adding that it was unfortunate that most of the members who served the nation meritoriously were not adequately compensated.

He called for cooperation from all members, especially the elders, for his dreams to come through.

Highlight of the event was the swearing in of members of the new executive conducted by Barrister Steven James.

Ondo 2016: APC caucus supports Abraham Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

Mr Ajayi Johnson of the Nigerian Tribune and former Miss Fasua Jolayemi Janet, at their wedding in Ado-Ekiti, recently.

Strike: Ekiti workers condemn ‘divide and rule’ by Fayose Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

WORKERS in Ekiti State have condemned the “divide and rule tactics” they alleged that Governor Ayodele Fayose of the state had employed in the ongoing strike embarked upon by the workers for salaries owed them.

They had reacted to an announcement by Governor Fayose on Saturday that only workers that were not on strike would be paid “with the little amount we are getting as federal allocation.”

The leadership of the unions after a meeting in Ado Ekiti, at the weekend, decried the planned decision to pay only the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), “a section of workers in the state, which had

decided to pull out of the ongoing strike action.”

Paul Olayemi of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); John Adebayo of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Blessing Oladele of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), had stated this in a release in response to the governor’s declarations, made during his monthly media chat broadcast live on electronic stations in the state.

They blamed the governor for mentioning “just four of the 10 demands earlier presented to him by the unions,” while, according to them, “no solutions were given to even the four.”

They said: “On the issue of outstanding salary, it is

common knowledge that all workers have performed their duties efficiently and effectively for the period of January to May 2016 and hence, they deserve their pay without further delay. Therefore, contrary to government decision to pay the sector that opted out of current struggle is tantamount to divide and rule tactics usually employed by government in situations like this.”

They added: “It should be noted that Labour has neither suspended nor call ed off the ongoing industrial action in the state, hence, we are using this medium to implore the entire workers of all categories in all sectors to stay at home and observe the strike action until the lead-

ership of organised Labour gives further directives.”

They charged the entire workforce in the state to remain in their various houses until otherwise directed by their respective unions.

They claimed that Governor Fayose told lies against the unions “to court sympathy and whip public sentiments against workers on their ongoing strike.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), said “the ongoing strike is not an ego trip or politically motivated, but about the rights of workers and pensioners who are dying daily out of hunger and frustration.”

AHEAD of the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State towards the governorship election, the APC caucus in the state has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of Dr Olusegun Abraham.

The caucus, which included some loyal members of the party, who have been in the party from the days of Alliance for Democracy (AD), to the defunct Action Congress (AC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), endorsed Abraham in Ile -Oluji in Ile Oluji/ Okeigbo Local Government Area of the state.

The leaders of the caucus, Chief Olorunsola Adesoji, and former gubernatorial aspirant in state, Comrade Sola Iji, said the decision to pick Olusegun Abraham came after an assessment and consideration of the aspirants for seven months.

The two leaders specifically said some five cardinal parameters were considered before pitching their tent with Abraham, which included acceptability, eligibility, sellability, sincerity, and integrity.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016

INEC plots to allocate legislative seats in Rivers, Wike alleges

Are the declared results allocated to him? —REC Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

G

O V E R N O R Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had perfected plans to allocate legislative seats in the state.

This, he said, the national electoral umpire planned to do instead of conducting election in the remaining local government areas where the legislative rerun exercise was suspended on March 19, 2016.

The governor made the allegation while speaking at a thanksgiving mass to mark the first year anniversary of

his administration, held at the Our Lady of Holy Rosary of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, on Sunday.

He said that was why the state did not celebrate the Democracy Day, accusing INEC of destroying the foundation of democracy with the alleged plot.

The governor however, declared that his administration would deliver more pro-people projects and programmes in his second year in office.

“We will not celebrate democracy because INEC wants to determine who will represent Rivers State after two months of cancellation of elections, so that it can allocate some seats to APC and others to PDP. Is that democracy?

“We beg INEC to hasten to conduct elections in the remaining seats. We want our representatives in the Senate. We want our representatives in the House of Representatives.

“We are not saying that

INEC should allocate seats to us. We don’t want allocation, we want voting. We will not accept allocation of seats.

We will only accept elections for the remaining seats,” he said.

Reacting to the allegation however, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, said there was no truth in Governor Wike’s claim.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune on the telephone, the Rivers REC said the governor should

be asked if the results of the legislative rerun election already declared were allocated to him or PDP. “I will not have bothered myself responding to such an allegation, but I’m still assuring you that the remaining election would be held at a yet-to-be fixed date.

“When the governor says such a thing, the media should probe further by asking him if the declared results of the legislative rerun election were allocated to him or his party.

‘Assist govt tackle moral decadence’

By Tolu Olamiriki

THE president of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, has tasked the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and other traditional rulers across the country to assist government in proffering pragmatic solutions to moral evils in the country.

Akinosun said this on Wednesday, when he led a delegation of CAC leaders on a visit to the traditional ruler at his palace, Popoyemoja, Ibadan, the state capital.

Akinosun, who lamented high rate of vices in the country such as kidnapping, child-trafficking, armed robbery as well as ritual killings, said such were not prevalent during the pre-colonial era and urged the traditional ruler to collaborate with other rulers to instill moral value and the need for hard work among youths in their respective domains, so as to stem the tide.

While commending him as a God-fearing traditional ruler, Akinosun said that the wisdom and the experience of the traditional ruler were needed at this critical period when the nation was passing through economic crisis and urged him as a relevant stakeholder to assist the government in his domain.

The traditional ruler, while speaking through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief (Dr) Femi Olaifa, commended the CAC leadership, adding that the church was noted for its fervent prayers decades ago and extolled the leadership qualities of its founding fathers, promising to take measures to assist the government in addressing social problems in the country.

The traditional ruler urged the church to continue to pray for him, Ibadan, Oyo State as well as the nation to witness unprecedented peace.

From left, Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose and the Chief of Staff to Ondo State governor, Dr Kola Ademujimi, at the 15th annual convention of Riches in Christ Evangelical Mission (RICHEM), in Akure, at the weekend.

Mimiko hints on successor as Fayose warns Ondo electorate THE Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has expressed optimism that God would bring a man after His heart to continue with the good work he is doing as governor of the state, assuring that the state would never go back to “Egypt’, just as his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr Ayodele Fayose, advised the people of Ondo State to vote for the continuity of the good legacy of the incumbent governor.

While speaking on the coming gubernatorial election coming up in the state in November, at a thanksgiving service of the 15th Annual Convention of the Riches in Christ Evangelical Mission, Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday, Mimiko noted that God that made his reelection the most peaceful one would make the November 26 gubernatorial election in Ondo State very peaceful.

Mimiko, who said the church was richly blessed

by God with their act of celebration, despite economic challenges everywhere in Nigeria, said God would heal the land and put an end to all the security challenges in Nigeria.

Speaking in the same vein, the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, who

was also present at the event, urged the people of Ondo State to vote for the continuity of the good legacy of the incumbent governor of the State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, as the governorship poll approaches.

He warned the people of the state not to repeat the mistake Nigerians made during the last presidential election by voting for a

candidate that has put the nation in total hardship.

According to Fayose, “the people of Ondo State must not make the mistake we made during the last presidential election in Nigeria. My advice is that you don’t allow yourselves to be carried away by repeating the mistakes of last year that we are paying seriously for now.”

He advised the electorates of Ondo State not to allow themselves to be misled by voting wrongly, saying that it would be a big mistake on their part if they made the mistake of voting for opposition parties.

He noted that the best that could happen to Ondo State was for the people to vote for continuity of Governor Mimiko’s good legacy.

By Tunde Ogunesan

non-fiction titles, Evans ebooks provide you with core classroom titles in all subjects contained in the education curriculum at all levels of education in addition to fiction and non-fiction titles.

“Invariably, students can now access and read our Modular English and other subject series at more of give-away prices at their convenience through the various devices whose applications are android or blackberry bases, just to start with.”

Dauda said the great benefit was the availability of time usage options for book purchase. He added that a student or any reader could opt for monthly options between one, three and six months or even buy for one year for keep at modest and affordable prices.

He noted that the company sees this as our additional

contribution towards improving the education standard through the provision of easy access to books at affordable prices. The product is complementary to the schools’ effort at ensuring outstanding performances by pupils and students and should therefore, be keyed into it by the government, owners and management of schools as well as parents and guardians.”

In her comment, a lecturer from the University of Ibadan, Professor Nike Osofisan, however, advised governments in various states to close down private schools in their states which prohibit speaking of Nigerian languages.

She said unless, a strict measure was taken against them, most local languages would soon go into extinction.

Evans Publishers launches e-book

THE Managing Director, Evans Brothers (Nig. Publishers) Limited, Alhaj Lukman Dauda, has disclosed that the recently launched e-book

by Evans Publishers is made to provide core classroom titles in all subjects contained in the education curriculum at all levels of education.

Dauda disclosed this at an event organised to launch the company’s e-book at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, recently.

He said “Evans has ventured into the provision of e-books with the use of same gadgets being used for irrelevancies to bring books closer to the students. There have been e-books all around; there is however, a distinguishing feature between Evans e-books and the ones you’ve known.

“While the known ones give you access to fiction and

Nigerian Tribune

UI holds stakeholders’ meeting on students’ resumption

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE management, Senate and Council of the University of Ibadan, will on Tuesday, June 7, hold a stakeholders’ meeting with parents and other stakeholders to discuss ways of finding lasting solution to the on-going crises following the sudden closure of the school.

The management, in a statement signed by the institution’s registrar, Olujimi Olukoya, titled “towards reopening of University of Ibadan- Invitation to a parents/stakeholders’ forum,” the meeting will hold at the Trenchard Hall, by 11a.m.

Olukoya said the meeting is expected to be an interactive session with the parents and all stakeholders to resolve the issue on the closure of the school.

According to the statement, “Following the recent development that led to students being advised to vacate the campus, the Management, Senate and Council of the University of Ibadan, have at various levels been deliberating on ways to address this problem with a view to finding lasting solution and ensuring resumption as soon as possible.

“Parents and other stakeholders in the UI project are cordially invited to this forum.”

“We specially covet your presence and valuable input at this important meeting.

“Kindly note that students are yet to be recalled and as such should still stay away from the campus.”

‘Inter cultural marriage, tool for national cohesion’ THE Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has described inter cultural marriage in a pluralistic society like Nigeria as a veritable tool for national cohesion.

The monarch stated this at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace while receiving the former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja and his newlywed wife, Hajia Jamila (nee Bamanga Tukur).

According to Oba Adetunji, it takes a lot of guts for two individuals from different socio-cultural backgrounds to decide to come together and live as one for the rest of their lives.

Said he, “While Prof (Taoheed Adedoja) is a Yoruba man from the South West, Jamila, on the other hand, is a Fulani woman from the North East. It takes cosmopolitan individuals who have risen above pettiness and primordial sentiments to build bridge across tribes at a very crucial and critical time in the annals of our country.

34 news PDP crises: Dickson, Lamido in closed-door meeting Monday, 30 May, 2016

As Niger PDP holds another state congress From Adamu Amadu Adelowo Oladipo

and

A

S part of efforts to resolve the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lingering leadership crisis, the Bayelsa State governor and the party’s chairman Reconciliation Committee, Honourable Seriake Dickson, has met with former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, in his hometown, Bamaina.

Dickson, on arrival at Dutse International Airport, at around 2:30 p.m, headed straight to the former governor’s residence in Bamaina Village, in Birninkudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State, where he had a closed-door meeting with Lamido, which lasted

for over two hours.

Speaking shortly after the meeting, the Bayelsa State governor, noted that our elder came up with so many solutions and would put in action, saying “we believe it would work and make the party unite, stronger and remain the biggest party in Nigeria and Africa.”

Dickson described Alhaji Lamido as one of the founders and elder of the party, whom he said, could play a vital role to solve the lingering crisis in the party.

“We are in Jigawa State as members of reconciliation committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to meet with our elder, Alhaji Sule Lamido and discuss the possible

solution to the recent misunderstanding among our party members.

“We all know that our party PDP is in crisis of leadership and we believe that Lamido can intervene as a father to end the crisis,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PDP national vice chairman North-West, Ambassador Kazaure, said the meeting was a successful one, saying “I’m optimistic that it would yield a fruitful result.”

In a related development, the lingering crisis bedeviling the Niger State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deepened at the weekend, following the conduct of another parallel state congress at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Interna-

tional Conference Centre, Minna, by some grieved party stalwarts in the state, led by a former state chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Enagi in conjunction with a former Secretary to the State Government, Honourable Saidu Idris Kpaki, among others.

Enagi in an interactive session with newsmen prior to the commencement of the congress billled to be supervised by Mr Sado D.Sunday a Returning Officer from the national secretariat of the PDP, in Abuja, threatened that he and his aggrieved members were prepared to run a parallel exco in the state, while also threatening court action.

Enagi while addressing journalists at the venue of the ‘Niger State 2016

Dangote moves to end drivers’ illegal activities Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja FOLLOWING the complaints over the recklessness of drivers of the organisation, Dangote Group, owners of the Obajana Cement Factory, Obajana in Kogi State, has set up a new department to monitor and supervise activities of the drivers of the company.

The department, known as the Coordination, Monitoring and Supervision of

Dangote Transport Company, has been divided across the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The coordinator of the new department, who is also a former commissioner of police in the state, Alhaji Abdulahi Magaji, told newsmen in Obajana, that the move was also meant to check the drivers of the company against conveying humans and private properties, which is detri-

mental to the company’s procedures.

He said the illicit activities of the drivers had caused serious setback for the company, saying these had also been painting the company in bad light because of the recklessness of some of the drivers.

According to him, “Some of these drivers just because of their selfish interest of picking people and goods for their private

There’s a lot more in the offing for workers —Ajimobi

By Wale Akinselure OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has decried the impacts of the current economic recession on the administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare assuring that there is “a lot more in the offing for the workforce.”

Noting the hitherto practices of his administration’s payment of salaries on or before the 25th of every month, payment of 13th month salary, regular local and foreign trainings for public servants, Ajimobi, in his Democracy Day speech, assured of improved wellbeing of the workers, given the ongoing structural and financial reengineering.

Furthermore, he assured of bequeathing “a lasting legacy of an inspired workforce, a state dotted with modern infrastructure, enduring peace and security, a solvent economy and a state that would serve as

the food basket of Southern Nigeria, in the first instance.”

Ajimobi expressed empathy with workers and pensioners over the delay in the payment of salaries and pensions, assuring of efforts to bring an end to the “painful and undesirable situation.”

Contained in his Democracy Day speech, Ajimobi bemoaned that the state continued to grapple with dwindling revenue and inadequate internally generated revenue due to “pilfering and fraudulent activities of some civil servants and conniving corporate bodies.”

On efforts to improve the situation over the course of the past one year, he noted the reorganisation of the Board of Internal Revenue to ensure the expansion of the state’s tax net.

He echoed his administration’s commitment to creating employment opportunities for its citizens through the current agri-

cultural initiative, “AgricOyo” as well as the import of investors in different industrial and agricultural programmes in the state.

He also assured that the ongoing staff verification exercise in the public service was not aimed at retrenching workers but to verify the credentials of its employees and bring about an effective and efficient workforce.

pockets, do drive recklessly and most often over speed just to offload the cements they carry and move to engage in their personal business.

“Their activities have resulted in reckless driving, avoidable accidents that have given bad image to the company and on many occasion; monetary and human losses.

“These sort of illegal activities and antecedents accidents have given concern to the chairman of the Dangote Group of Company, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who set up this unit to checkmate their activities.”

Mogaji said the unit had set up four monitoring spots in each of the six geographical zones of the country to checkmate these drivers’ illegal activities, saying “we have identified the flashpoints of these drivers’ activities across the country. Monitoring spots have been set up and we are going to arrest them whenever they are caught.”

Special Congress’ on Saturday, described the last state congress of the party conducted earlier this month, as being allegedly marred with irregularities, impunity, imposition by a former governor in the state(names withheld), which he said, was not acceptable by his group tagged “the concerned PDP members” in the state.

He intimated further that the whole process was viewed with dismay based on perceived attitude of some individuals whom he accused of trying to make the same mistake the PDP made, that led to a total failure of the party in last year’s general election in Niger State, and in the country as a whole, insisting that such would not be allowed to repeat itself.

The factional leader expressed worry over the hijacking of the whole process by an individual to the detriment of the entire party stakeholders in the

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state, accusing a former governor of single-handedly sidelining everybody by installing only his candidates in the past the congresses.

The visibly angered former PDP chairman in the state, emphatically said 900 delegates were accredited at the last congress, but noted that one of the candidates scored 1,700 votes. He added that there was enough evidence at the disposal of his group to disqualify the said candidate, saying there was the need to bring sanity into the system.

Also in his remarks at the media briefing, an immediate past secretary to the state government, Honourable Idris Ndako Kpaki said the party had learnt its lessons from what happened during the last general election, advocating for corrections by party members and allowing power to go back to the people regarding the slogan of the party.

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I, Abdulrazak Jamiu Adeniran, I opened a saving account with the name Razaq Jimoh Adebowale that my name was written as Abdulrazak Jamiu Adenira on voter’s card instead of ABDULRAZAK JAMIU ADENIRAN. Now, my correct names are ABDULRAZAK JAMIU ADENIRAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Lawal Toyibat Abike now LAWAL TAIBAT ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Oloba Ibrahim Aderemi now RABIU IBRAHEEM ADEREMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, OJUOLAPE MULIKAT ADEFUNKE am the same person bearing JIMOH MULIKAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Azeez Saidat now AZEEZ SAIDAT APEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abdul Azeez Rukayat now ABDUL AZEEZ RUKAYAT KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I formerly Miss Ojo Janet Abosede now MRS. ADEDIGBA JANET ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Aremu Titilayo Omolade now MRS. ADEJUMO TITILAYO OMOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Lubabatu Nuhu Jubril now LUBABATU SALISU GARUBA. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Oshagbemi Grace Iyabo now BAMIDELE GRACE IYABO. All former documents remain valid. FCE, Kano and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Ogunbiyi Eunice Yemisi now MRS IBIRONKE EUNICE YEMISI. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Ope Eunice Funke now MRS MICHAEL EUNICE FUNKE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Oderemi Bukola Esther now MRS. IYIOLA BUKOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain.

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I, formerly Miss Abiola Damilola Modupe now MRS ADEMOYEGUN O L U WA D A M I L O L A MODUPE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Ajibade Dorcas Adebisi and Ajibade Dorcas Bisi now MRS. ATILOLA DORCAS BISI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB, ATISBO LGUBEA and general public take note

35 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akanbi Iyabo Anna now MRS. ADEDEJI IYABO ANNA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Abiodun Sadiat Ibraheem now MRS. ABIODUN SADIAT ADERINSOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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Monday, 30 May, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Tosin Serah Adepomola now MRS. OYELADE TOSIN SERAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Badiora Bosede Olusola now MRS ISOLA BOSEDE OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Adepoju Ademidun Rachael now BABALOLA ADEMIDUN RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Hassan Habibat Titilayo now MRS BELLO-HASSAN HABIBAT TITILAYO. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Mr Sarafa Adebayo Akingbade now MR SARAFA KARONWI ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Oyetunji Tope now MRS OLADAYO TEMITOPE RACHAEL. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Education Authority and general public take note.

I, Monilola Olapeju Olatunji am the same person as Monilola Olapeju Adenuga, Monilola Olapeju Ogundele and Monilola Olapeju Olatunji. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MONILOLA OLAPEJU OGUNDELE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jennifer Nneoma Ukeje now MRS JENNIFER AMADI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME I, Oyatunde Funmilola Grace wish to correct my name as OJO OYATUNDE FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid.

BVN: First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Ademola-Abioye Olulayo Ronke Grace now MRS ABIOYE OLULAYO RONKE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Olawale Olufunmilola Moji Ruth now MRS OKEGBEMI RUTH FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Mr. Denis Kuachia now MR. DENIS ACHIA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Iyabo Saudat Akinyo now MRS. IYABO SAUDAT ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Ministry of Lands and Housing, Secretariat, Ibadan and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Akinde Moyosore Racheal now MRS OJO MOYOSORE RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Adewale Elizabeth Oluremi Oni now ADEWALE OLUREMI ONI. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Lawal Ramota Folake now MRS. OLANREWAJU RAHMATALLAH FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Saibu Rafiu Ayinla now SAIBU RAFIU OLASUNKANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

Formerly my name is Kadiri Taofeek Abolanle, but the name on my First Bank Account is Quadril Taofeek Abolanle.

Now, my name is AKADIRI TAOFEEK ABOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. Ibarapa Central Local Government, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Badmus Ladi Christianah Olusola Yemisi now MRS BHADMUS-LADI CHRISTIANAH YEMISI. All former documents remain valid. Pension Board, Oyo State, Post Graduate School, University of Ibadan and general public take note.

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I formerly Adeleke Idris now ADELEKE IDRIS OLOYEDE. All former documents remain valid. Ibarapa Central Local Government, Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

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I formerly Adetunji Aderonke Mary now YEROKUN ADERONKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I, Mrs Akinpelu Victoria Olufunke Adenike am the same person bearing Mrs Akinpelu Victoria Oluwafunmike Adenike. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS AKINPELU VICTORIA OLUFUNKE ADENIKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

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I, Ayodabo Kayode James am the same person bearing Ayodabo Kayode.

Henceforth, I want to be called and addressed as AYODABO KAYODE JAMES. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Olanipekun Kehinde Sodiq now RAHMAN SODIQ KEHINDE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Ukah Nnenna Augustina Chidinma now MRS CHIDINMA AUGUSTINA EFESHODIAMHE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Kassim Monisola Olamide now MRS AKINTAYO MONISOLA OLAMIDE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Adetunji Esther Abosede now AJAYI OLUFUNKE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Olatunbosun Folasade Adebunmi now OLATUNBOSUN SHERIFAT AFOLASADE. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Miss Afolashade Oyebola Banjo now MRS AFOLASHADE OYEBOLA ADEKAWONISHE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Oladoyin Yewande Rafatu now MRS ADENIJI YEWANDE OLADOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Mr Idowu Adewale Jamiu now MR IDOWU ADEWALE JAMES. All former documents remain valid. State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Abeokuta and general public take note.

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My name was mistakenly written as Hassan Sainab Adenike instead of Hassan Zainab Adenike on my INEC Voters Card.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN ZAINAB ADENIKE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Igboora, C&S School 1, Tapa, Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

I, Omilana Funso A. am the same person bearing Omilana Funso, Olatunji Asimiyu Funso and Omilana Funso Asimiyu. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OMILANA FUNSO A. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. FCMB Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mrs Deborah Oyewale now MRS TAIBAT LADI OYEWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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CORRECTION OF NAME

I, Johnson-Obamina Kelvin Kayode my name was erroneously written as Johnson Kelvin Kayode instead of Johnson-Obamina Kelvin Kayode. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as JOHNSON-OBAMINA KELVIN KAYODE. My correct date of birth is 30th day of May, 1975 and not 30th day of May, 1978.All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, Mufutau Moshood Alaji am the same person as MUFUTAU MOSHOOD. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MUFUTAU MOSHOOD ALAJI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

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I, formerly Aikola Olusegun Samuel now AIKOLA OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain valid.

Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I, formerly Ganiyu Basirat Omotayo now OMOTOSHO BASIRAT OMOTAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Afolabi Omodolapo Omolara now MRS OLAYIWOLA OMODOLAPO OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, formerly Miss Adisa Idayat Olamide now MRS OLOKUN OLAMIDE IDAYAT MORONRANTI. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Fabowale Tosin Ayoola now MRS BOROKINNI TOSIN AYOOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Miss Oyetade Titilope Olusola now MRS MUIBI TITILOPE OLUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

I formerly Miss Okediran Oluwatoyin now MRS QUADRI OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. OYSHMB and general public take note.

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CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Rabiu Akinlabi Ibrahim am the same person as Rabiu Ibrahim.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RABIU AKINLABI IBRAHIM. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Salami Saudat now MURITALA SAUDAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid.

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I, formerly Raymond Aderogba now RAYMOND GBOYEGA BALOGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, Oyewumi Gbemisola Silifat am the same person bearing Olayide Gbemisola Silifat. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OYEWUMI GBEMISOLA SILIFAT. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

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I, Iteme Onoriode Joshua am the same person as Iteme Joshua, Iteme Isaac O. Iteme Onoriode. Now, I wish to be known as ITEME ONORIODE JOSHUA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Nduka Nwokedi Augusta Ngozi now NGOZI RECHEAL NDUKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Arowolo Iyabo S. now AROLOWO IYABO SADIRAT. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Apata Temitope Blessing am the same person bearing Olarewaju Temitope. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as APATA TEMITOPE BLESSING. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc, EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaoye Abimbola Esther now MRS OLATUNBOSUN ABIMBOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. Oluyole Local Government Education Authority, Idi-Ayunre, SUBEB, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oluokun Oluyemisi Adejoke now MRS AYINLA OLUYEMISI COMFORT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, Olayimika Olusoji James am the same person bearing Olayinka Olusoji James.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OLAYIMIKA OLUSOJI JAMES. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. SUBEB, Oyo State, Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Education Authority, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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General public take note.

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CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE/RECONCILIATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

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I, Miss Oladepo Christianah Olukemi am the same person bearing Folahanmi Christianah Oluwakemi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS FOLAHANMI CHRISTIANAH OLUKEMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Ogunfayo Elizabeth Adebimpe now ADEYEMI ELIZABETH ADEBIMPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

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General public take note.

I, formerly Edouye Napoleon now BRUCE NAPOLEON EDOUYE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ojolo Olufemi Olamide now OJOLO OLUFEMI OLUKAYODE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Pelemo Yetunde now MRS LAWAL YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid.

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I, Badmus Toyin Adunni am the same person bearing Badmus Toyin Mujidat. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as BADMUS TOYIN ADUNNI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adedeji Adedayo now ADEBAJO ADEMOLA GODWIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Falope Oladunni Abeke now MRS AWOLUDE OLADUNNI ABEKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Amaka Joy Agbo now MRS FRANCIS OKPA AMAKA JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

My name was written as Ojediran Olufemi Taiwo instead of Ojediran Olufemi Mojisola.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OJEDIRAN OLUFEMI MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

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I formerly Adeyemi Olufemi Akanji F. now ISMAIL MURITALA AKANJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Owoeye Mercy Bukola now AKINTOLA MERCY BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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I, Ayantola Sakirat Akorede am the same person bearing Monilola Sakirat Akorede. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MONILOLA SAKIRAT AKOREDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Wema Bank Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

fortherecord ‘Many oil rich states have had to take tough decisions similar to what we are doing’ 36

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Being full text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech to mark 2016 Democracy Day “My compatriots, “It is one year today since our administration came into office. It has been a year of triumph, consolidation, pains and achievements.

“By age, instinct and experience, my preference is to look forward, to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead and rededicate the administration to the task of fixing Nigeria.

“But I believe we can also learn from the obstacles we have overcome and the progress we made thus far, to help strengthen the plans that we have in place to put Nigeria back on the path of progress.

“We affirm our belief in democracy as the form of government that best assures the active participation and actual benefit of the people. Despite the many years of hardship and disappointment the people of this nation have proved inherently good, industrious, tolerant, patient and generous.

“The past years have witnessed huge flows of oil revenues. From 2010 average oil prices were $100 per barrel. But economic and security conditions were deteriorating.

“We campaigned and won the election on the platform of restoring security, tackling corruption and restructuring the economy.

“On our arrival, the oil price had collapsed to as low as $30 per barrel and we found nothing had been kept for the rainy day. Oil prices have been declining since 2014 but due to the neglect of the past, the country was not equipped to halt the economy from declining.

“The infrastructure, notably rail, power, roads were in a decrepit state. All the four refineries were in a state of disrepair, the pipelines and depots neglected.

“Huge debts owed to contractors and suppliers had accumulated. Twenty-seven states could not pay salaries for months. In the North-East, Boko Haram had captured 14 local governments, driven the local authorities out, hoisted their flags. Elsewhere, insecurity was palpable; corruption and impunity were the order of the day. In short, we inherited a state near collapse “On the economic front, all oil dependent countries, Nigeria included, have been struggling since the drop in prices. Many oil rich states have had to take tough decisions similar to what we are doing.

“The world, Nigeria included, has been dealing with the effects of three significant and simultaneous global shocks starting in 2014: A 70% drop in oil prices. Global growth slowdown. Normalisation of monetary policy by the United States’ federal reserve.

“Our problems as a government are like that of a farmer who, in a good season harvests ten bags of produce. The proceeds enable him to get by for the rest of the year.

However, this year, he could only manage three bags from his farm. He must now think of other ways to make ends meet.

“From day one, we purposely set out to correct our condition, to change Nigeria. We reinforced and galvanised our armed forces with new leadership and resources.

“We marshaled our neighbours in a joint task force to tackle and defeat Boko Haram.

By the end of December 2015, all but pockets and remnants had been routed by our gallant armed forces.

“Our immediate focus is for a gradual and safe return of internally displaced persons in safety and dignity and for the resumption of normalcy in the lives of people living in these areas.

“EFCC was given the freedom to pursue corrupt officials and the judiciary was alerted on what Nigerians expect of them in the fight

President Muhammadu Buhari

It is even more painful for me that a major producer of crude oil with four refineries that once exported refined products is today having to import all of its domestic needs. against corruption.

“On the economy, in particular foreign exchange and fuel shortages, our plan is to save foreign exchange by fast-tracking repair of the refineries and producing most of our fuel requirements at home.

“And by growing more food in Nigeria, mainly rice, wheat and sugar, we will save billions of dollars in foreign exchange and drastically reduce our food import bill.

“We resolved to keep the Naira steady, as in the past, devaluation had done dreadful harm to the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, I supported the monetary authority’s decision to ensure alignment between monetary policy and fiscal policy. We shall keep a close look on how the recent measures affect the Naira and the economy.

“But we cannot get away from the fact that a strong currency is predicated on a strong economy. And a strong economy pre-supposes an industrial productive base and a steady export market.

“The measures we must take, may lead to hardships. The problems Nigerians have faced over the last year have been many and varied.

“But the real challenge for this government has been reconstructing the spine of the Nigerian state. The last twelve months have been spent collaborating with all arms of government to revive our institutions so that

they are more efficient and fit for purpose: “That means a bureaucracy better able to develop and deliver policy “That means an independent judiciary, above suspicion and able to defend citizens’ rights and dispense justice equitably.

“That means a legislature that actually legislates effectively and “Above all; that means political parties and politicians committed to serving the Nigerian people rather than themselves.

“These are the pillars of the state on which democracy can take root and thrive. But only if they are strong and incorruptible.

“Accordingly, we are working very hard to introduce some vital structural reforms in the way we conduct government business and lay a solid foundation on which we can build enduring change.

“An important first step has been to get our housekeeping right. So we have reduced the extravagant spending of the past. We started boldly with the treasury single account, stopping the leakages in public expenditure.

“We then identified forty-three thousand ghost workers through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information system. That represents pay packets totalling N4.2 billion stolen every month.

“In addition, we will save Twenty-Three Billion Naira per annum from official travelling and sitting allowances alone.

“Furthermore, the efficiency unit will cut costs and eliminate duplications in ministries and departments. Every little saving helps.

The reduction in the number of ministries and work on restructuring and rationalization of the MDAs is well underway. When this work is complete we will have a leaner, more efficient public service that is fit for the purpose of changing Nigeria for the good and for good.

“As well as making savings, we have changed the way public money is spent. In all my years as a public servant, I have never come across the practice of padding budgets.

“I am glad to tell you now we not only have a budget, but more importantly, we have a budget process that is more transparent, more inclusive and more closely tied to our development priorities than in the recent past.

“30% of the expenditure in this budget is devoted to capital items. Furthermore, we are projecting non-oil revenues to surpass proceeds from oil. Some critics have described the budget exercise as clumsy. Perhaps.

“But it was an example of consensus building, which is integral to democratic government. In the end we resolved our differences.

“We have, therefore, delivered significant milestones on security, corruption and the economy.

“In respect of the economy, I would like to directly address you on the very painful but inevitable decisions we had to make in the last few weeks specifically on the pump price of fuel and the more flexible exchange rate policy announced by the Central Bank.

“It is even more painful for me that a major producer of crude oil with four refineries that once exported refined products is today having to import all of its domestic needs.

“This is what corruption and mismanagement has done to us and that is why we must fight these ills.

“As part of the foundation of the new economy we have had to reform how fuel prices had traditionally been fixed.

“This step was taken only after protracted consideration of its pros and cons. After comprehensive investigation my advisers and I concluded that the mechanism was unsustainable.

“We are also engaged in making recoveries of stolen assets some of which are in different jurisdictions.

“The processes of recovery can be tedious and time consuming, but today I can confirm that thus far: significant amount of assets have been recovered. A considerable portion of these are at different stages of recovery.

“Full details of the status and categories of the assets will now be published by the Ministry of Information and updated periodically.

“When forfeiture formalities are completed these monies will be credited to the treasury and be openly and transparently used in funding developmental projects and the public will be informed.

“On the Niger Delta, we are committed to implementing the United Nations Environment Programme report and are advancing clean-up operations.

“I believe the way forward is to take a sustainable approach to address the issues that affect the delta communities. Re-engineering the amnesty programmes is an example of this.

“The recent spate of attacks by militants disrupting oil and power installations will not distract us from engaging leaders in the region in addressing Niger Delta problems.

“If the militants and vandals are testing our resolve, they are much mistaken. We shall apprehend the perpetrators and their sponContinues page 37

Nigerian Tribune Monday, 30 May, 2016 37 fortherecord news ‘We are fully aware that those vested interests We must resist recession —Tinubu who have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight’

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

Continued from page 36

sors and bring them to justice.

“The policy measures and actions taken so far are not to be seen as some experiment in governance. We are fully aware that those vested interests who have held Nigeria back for so long will not give up without a fight.

They will sow divisions, sponsor vile press criticisms at home and abroad, incite the public in an effort to create chaos rather than relinquish the vice-like grip they have held on Nigeria.

“The economic misfortune we are experiencing in the shape of very low oil prices has provided us with an opportunity to restructure our economy and diversify. We are in the process of promoting agriculture, livestocks, exploiting our solid mineral resources and expanding our industrial and manufacturing base.

“That way, we will import less and make the social investments necessary to allow us to produce a large and skilled workforce.

“Central Bank of Nigeria will offer more fiscal incentives for business that prove capable of manufacturing products that are internationally competitive.

“We remain committed to reforming the regulatory framework, for investors by improving the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, the first steps along the path of self-sufficiency in rice, wheat and sugar – big users of our scarce foreign exchange – have been taken.

“The Labour Intensive Farming Enterprise will boost the economy and ensure inclusive growth in long neglected communities.

“Special intervention funds through the Bank of Agriculture will provide targeted support. Concerns remain about rising cost of foods such as maize, rice, millet, beans and gari.

“Farmers tell me that they are worried about the cost of fertilizers, pesticides and the absence of extension services.

“The federal and state governments are on the same page in tackling these hurdles in our efforts at increased food production and ultimately food security.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the increasing role that our women are playing in revitalizing the agricultural sector.

“Modern farming is still hard and heavy work and I salute our Nigerian women in sharing this burden. In this respect I am very pleased to announce that the government will shortly be launching the national women’s empowerment fund, which I have approved to provide N1.6 billion in microfinance loans to women across the nation to assist in rehabilitating the economies of rural communities, particularly those impacted by the insurgency and conflict.

“With respect to solid minerals, the minister has produced a roadmap where we will work closely with the World Bank and major international investors to ensure, through best practices and due diligence, that we choose the right partners. Illegal mining remains a problem and we have set up a special security team to protect our assets. Special measures will be in place to protect miners in their work environment.

“For too long, ours has been a society that neglects the poor and victimises the weak. A society that promotes profit and growth over development and freedom.

“A society that fails to recognise that, to quote the distinguished economist Amartya Sen “ poverty is not just lack of money. It is not having the capability to realise one’s full potential as a human being.”

“So, today, I am happy to formally launch, by far the most ambitious social protection programme in our history.

“A programme that both seeks to start the

process of lifting many from poverty, while at the same time creating the opportunity for people to fend for themselves. In this regard, Five Hundred Billion Naira has been appropriated in the 2016 budget for social intervention programmes in five key areas. We are committed to providing job creation opportunities for five hundred thousand teachers and one hundred thousand artisans across the nation.

“5.5 million children are to be provided with nutritious meals through our school feeding programme to improve learning outcomes, as well as enrolment and completion rates.

“The conditional cash transfer scheme will provide financial support for up to one million vulnerable beneficiaries, and complement the enterprise programme – which will target up to one million market women; four hundred and sixty thousand artisans; and two hundred thousand agricultural workers, nationwide.

“Finally, through the education grant scheme, we will encourage students studying Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Maths, and lay a foundation for human capital development for the next generation “I would like to pay a special tribute to our gallant men and women of the armed forces who are in harm’s way so that the rest of us can live and go about our business in safety.

Their work is almost done. The nation owes them a debt of gratitude.

“Abroad, we want to assure our neighbours, friends and development partners that Nigeria is firmly committed to democratic principles.

“We are ready partners in combating terrorism, cyber crimes, control of communicable diseases and protection of the environment. “Following on the Paris Agreement, COP 21, we are fully committed to halting and reversing desertification. Elsewhere, we will intensify efforts to tackle erosion, ocean surge, flooding and oil spillage which I referred to earlier by implementing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report.

“We are grateful to the international community notably France, the US, UK and China for their quick response in helping to tackle the recent Ebola outbreak in our subregion.

“We also acknowledge the humanity shown by the Italian and German governments in the treatment of boat people, many fleeing from our sub-region because of lack of economic opportunity. We thank all our partners especially several countries in the EU. “We appreciate the valuable work that the UN agencies, particularly UNICEF, ICRC and the World Food Program have been doing.

We must also appreciate the World Bank, the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund and Educate A Child of Qatar for the excellent work in our health, education and other sectors.

“Fellow citizens, let me end on a happy note. To the delight of all, two of the abducted Chibok girls have regained their freedom.

“During the last one year, not a single day passed without my agonizing about these girls. Our efforts have centred around negotiations to free them safely from their mindless captors. We are still pursuing that course.

“Their safety is of paramount concern to me and I am sure, to most Nigerians. I am very worried about the conditions those still captured might be in.

“Today I re-affirm our commitment to rescuing our girls. We will never stop until we bring them home safely. As I said before, no girl should be put through the brutality of forced marriage and every Nigerian girl has the right to an education and a life choice.

“I thank you and appeal to you to continue supporting the government’s efforts to fix Nigeria.”

T

HE National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, in celebration of this year’s Democracy Day, has called on Nigerians to apply all democratic tools and techniques available to fight recession, adding that the fight against recession is a collective one which the country must win Tinubu, in a release from his media office on Sunday, stated that restructuring the nation’s economy is the most complex challenge before Nigerians and on which so much depends, explaining that all Nigerians must contribute if the battle is to be won.

“In the spirit of this day and of the discourse necessary to enliven the democratic spirit, I would like to share some thoughts with you about how I think we should address this economic challenge. This might be the most perilous of all that confronts us. If we lose this battle, democracy may become so weakened.

“To accomplish our economic rescue, we need a fiscal policy that stands unrivalled in its range and objectives. Government must dedicate unprecedented amounts for productive expenditure in our transportation infrastructure, power generation, food security and job creation. We have entered a period of stag-

flation where recession or shrinkage of the economy is accompanied by higher prices. Unfortunately, if we try to fight both at the same time, we fight neither effectively,” Tinubu said.

According to him, given the rate of joblessness and poverty, it is more fitting to fight recession at this point than to focus on inflation.

“We must resist recession; it is harder to shake off once it takes grip of an economy. Moreover, if we are bold enough not to allow fear to paralyse us, we can start projects that bring people into the work force, we can modernise our infrastructure which will reduce the cost of living and doing business. We can institute policies that create new in-

dustries and businesses as well as improve old ones.

These measures will form the foundation of a diversified economy that will become more resistant to inflation because it is less reliant on imports,” he said.

Tinubu said this is not the time to lament, murmur or give in to despair but time to summon once again the political and social courage.

“We stand between success and failure; but we cannot maintain this middling position forever. We must turn one way or the other. To me, there is but one option. The other is unspeakable. We must be bold enough not to accept an inferior destiny. We must win,” the APC national leader said.

We are committed to people’s welfare —Enugu gov GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Sunday reiterated his government commitment to better the lot of the people in spite of the staggering economic crunch in the country.

Ugwuanyi who spoke at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, while marking this year’s Democracy Day, remarked that irrespective of the dwindling economic fortunes owing to the continued decline in oil revenue in the world market which occasioned the paucity of Federal Allocation accruing to the state, he had not failed

in providing democracy dividend in the past one year.

The governor painted an ugly picture as regards revenue accrued to the state from the federal account which he said had fallen to less than 38 per cent of what it used to be but said he was not deterred from meeting the obligations of the state to its citizenry.

He lamented that instead of excess crude fallouts, now it is bailout funds.

“The situation has become so bad that many states are unable to pay salaries and meet other obligations,” he lamented.

vive drought, we who have intelligence should be able to adjust amidst adversity.

Our situation is not beyond redemption,” Sani stated.

While lauding Buhari for pushing terrorist to the fringes of Sambisa forest in three states in the NorthEastern part of the country, he however, cautioned against treating any group of persons undermining the peace and security of the nation with kid gloves.

Sani, who was also the spokesman for Northern delegates to the 2014 National Conference, equally warned against ethnic coloration to insecurity so that criminals do not hide under

ethnicity to perpetrate their atrocities.

“Stick and carrot style derives from the old adage which says, if one kills a human being, he is charged for murder; if one kills 10 persons, he is examined for insanity; but if one kills a thousand people, one is invited for peace talks in Geneva.

“But as the president applied the strategy of carrot and stick in dealing with militant activities, he must be mindful of the implications of promoting a culture whereby people make crimes veritable means of securing concessions from government.”

Jude Ossai —Enugu

Buhari raised hope for better Nigeria —Sani

By Kunle Oderemi

ERSTWHILE national publicity secretary of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Colonel Anthony N. Z. Sani (retd), said the president’s speech raised hope for Nigeria bouncing back to glory shortly.

“Somehow, I share the sentiment of the regime that if animals can hibernate in order to survive adversity and plants can defoliate in order to sur-

Ezeife lauds govt on Naira policy FORMER governor of Anambra State, Dr Ckukwuemeka Ezeife, has welcomed the new policy of the government concerning the Naira.

He said that “without reservation, the policy of free float of the Naira is as near perfect as any economic policy can be. It helps in many areas, especially on state government funding.

“Besides, it supports the anti-corruption policy. The round tripping of the Naira cannot pay. It is superior to any alternative.”

We’ll prioritise education —Gov Bello Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

THE Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Sunday, said his government had made education a priority in the “New Direction” blueprint developed to guide the administration.

The governor, in a statewide broadcast to commemorate the Democracy Day celebration, said government had developed a

holistic approach that would help to revamp and reposition its educational sector for better productivity.

He said, “Education leads the priority list on our New Direction Agenda. We have continued to pay salaries, renovate school buildings and infrastructure and acquire instructional materials which we distributed to schools across the state.”

news Buhari, APC ruined Nigeria’s economy —Fayose 38

E

KITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has lamented that in just one year of the President Mohammadu Buhari-led government, the country’s economy was ruined so much that states could no longer pay workers’ salaries.

Monday, 30 May, 2016

Fayose said “millions of jobs were lost, prices of essential commodities skyrocketed to the extent that Nigerians could no longer afford common tomato to cook and the middle class wiped away completely.”

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on

Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said: “Despite President Buhari’s electoral promise to reduce petrol pump price from the N87 per litre that he met it and make life more bearable for Nigerians, he increased the price to N145,

increased electricity tariff in spite of lack of power supply.”

“Food scarcity last experienced when Buhari was military Head of State between 1983 and 1985 has returned to the country, with Nigerians being unable to feed.”

The statement read in

part: “Today, power generation is less than 1,400, foreign reserve has reduced to $26.5 billion, dollar is now over N350, petrol has increased to N145 per litre and one bag of rice is now over N15, 000!”

“I read the president’s speech and all that I saw was a president still sounding like he was campaigning for votes more than one year after winning election.

It is disappointing that the president’s speech was once again about promises, not about what has been done.

Nigerian Tribune

“Not even a mention of one kilometre of road tarred by this administration. No single job was created except the ones created in Central Bank of Nigeria for cronies and children. Not a single megawatt of electricity generated. This is shameful.

“The reward Buhari gave to Nigerians for electing him as president was to increase petrol pump price

by N58.50 and get the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to justify the increment by saying Nigeria was broke!”

Pray for govt, Okowa advises Nigerians Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba

Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (second right); his wife, Edith (right); deputy governor, Kingsley Otuaro and his wife, Ebiere, during an interdenominational thanksgiving/praise session to mark the governor’s one year anniversary, in Asaba, on Sunday.

Conoil canvasses hope, unity FRONTLINE petroleum products marketer, Conoil, has enjoined Nigerians to keep hope alive while calling for unity and understanding on the 17th anniversary of democratic rule in the country.

In its message of hope to Nigerians, Conoil noted that Nigeria has indeed come a long way and made notable progress since the return to civil rule 17 years ago; the longest period of sustained democratic governance in the country.

The oil major observed that despite the challenges experienced along the way, Nigerians have remained strong, resilient and courageous, and ensured that the country weathered the

storm.

“It is noteworthy that despite our socio-economic and political challenges, Ni-

SOME residents of Borno on Sunday expressed their satisfaction over President Muhammadu Buhari’s political will to end all forms of insurgency in the country.

A cross section of the residents who listened to the president’s Democracy Day broadcast, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri that

Ongoing change’ll benefit people, democracy —Senator Adeola THE senator representing Lagos West, Senator Solomon Adeola, has called on Nigerians to persevere in the face of economic and security challenges.

Senator Adeola said the

Akinlabi Lincoln, and made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti.

The APC chieftain, while speaking on the current increment in the pump price of petroleum, called on Nigerians not to be in a hurry to forget where the country was coming from as he noted that the past administration mismanaged resources.

policies of the APC-led Federal Government were geared towards laying a solid foundation for the battered national economy.

The senator commended the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State for executing peopleoriented projects, stressing that his senatorial district is a beneficiary of major projects of the state government.

IN spite of threat by some airliners to stop flight operations in Nigeria, the Federal Government has assured Nigerians that government is determined to revamp

the aviation sector to make it contribute more to the Gross Domestic Product.

Minister of State, Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, speaking on the one year anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,

they have seen improvement in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

Malam Muhammad Babagana, a resident, said “indeed, one year of Buhari’s government has recorded remarkable improvement in security and fight against corruption.

“The president has also performed well in a bid to regaining our national image in the eyes of the world.”

Another resident, Mr Asiwaju Abiodun, said “more grease to the elbow of Mr President, though the economic hardship is alarming and the patriotic and intellectual Nigerians understand the numerous factors that caused it.”

Bola Badmus - Lagos

LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said on Sunday that his ascension into office one

gave the assurance in a statement he issued on Sunday.

Sirika said the anniversary was only a starting point for the administration as the period has been used to establish a solid foundation for good governance.

year ago as the 14th governor of the state was an assignment from God, declaring his avowed commitment to continue to serve humanity selflessly throughout his tenure and lifetime.

This was just as the governor, earlier in his Democracy Day Broadcast message to Lagosians, entitled: “Daring to Dream and Ready to Actualise,” promised to pay greater attention to health, edu-

Buhari lacks knowledge of N/Delta —Ijaw chief Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

SECRETARY to the Gbramatu Traditional Council and spokesperson, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, has described the May 29 speech of President Muhammadu Buhari as evidence that he lacks a deep knowledge about the problems of the area.

The Ijaw chief and activists also flayed the president’s stick and carrot approach to resolve the spate of pipeline bombings in the region as lacking in carrot, but stick.

Gbenekama reacted to the president’s speech on the resurgence of militancy in the region on Sunday in Warri, Delta State.

2016 budget will facilitate Nigeria’s economic diversification —Gbajabiamila THE Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday said the 2016 budget was a good economic policy that would facilitate Nigeria’s economic diversification.

My governorship, an assignment from God —Ambode

Aviation will contribute more to GDP —Minister Clement Idoko - Abuja

tinued to demonstrate the sterling qualities of a dogged, energetic, industrious and brave people,” Conoil stated.

Boko Haram: Borno residents commend Buhari

Buhari needs prayers —Ekiti APC chief AN All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has stressed the need for Nigerians to continue to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government in its bid to restore peace to the country.

This was contained in the democracy day message signed by his media aide,

geria has made appreciable progress in its journey to nationhood. Nigerians have remained resolute and con-

GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has appealed to the people of the state to continue to pray for those in authority even without food on their tables.

The governor made the appeal in Asaba on Sunday at an interdenominational thanksgiving service to mark his first year in office, urging Deltans not to curse or abuse government but to pray for the situation to improve for the better.

“We as a people have contributions to make individually to move the state forward. Even when you are unable to put food on your table, do not curse government, but pray for government because when things get better, everyone will be affected.

“In Delta State, we are beginning to have a very troublesome situation because pipelines are now being vandalised and people are being kidnapped. Those of us in government, we are working seriously to restore peace.

“Despite the very challeng-

ing times, as a state, we have reasons to be grateful to God after one year. We are staying on course to actualise our programme of prosperity for all.”

cation, housing and transportation.

Ambode, who spoke at a thanksgiving service, held at the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, Ikeja, in commemoration of his first year anniversary, said his election, despite many challenges, was a clear indication that God was involved right from the beginning and as such would continue to draw strength and inspiration from God.

Gbajabiamila told newsmen in Abuja, as President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration marked one year in office, that the budget was a major achievement of the government.

According to him, the budget is a good economic policy of the current administration and it will facilitate economic diversification.

He also commended the Federal Government for its strides in the anti-corruption fight.

Gbajabiamila urged Nigerians to be patient with the government, saying that there were signs of positive socio-economic developments.

He said that the government needed time to work, and that it was early for critical assessment of its efforts.

39

Monday, 30 May, 2016

SIDELINES

NO 16,511

MONDAY, 30 MAY, 2016

O

N Tuesday, May 10, 2016 in faraway London in the UK, David Cameron, the prime minister of that once prosperously prosperous country, whose colonial tentacles were everywhere that was everywhere beyond its tiny shores, called Nigeria, our dear country, a “fantastically corrupt country.” He so described our country when he spoke to Queen Elizabeth II of his country ahead of the anti-corruption conference that took place in London.

Since David Cameron made his famous remark of clear truth, which even our president admitted, several of our compatriots, especially members of the political class, in their usually pompous moods, have berated him – I mean the British prime minister. And the prime minister, arguably the primus inter pares of British international diplomacy, has since offered his apology to our president and country for his frank remark which, however, he uttered with little precaution, which he uttered per incuriom (through carelessness) - unknown to British international diplomatic etiquette.

Our president’s reply to the British prime minister’s apology, which he didn’t really accept because, I assume, it was almost like a post festum venisiti (“sorry, too late!”) one, was ‘’I don’t need apology from British PM. I need return of stolen money” (See Nigerian Tribune and other major dailies of Thursday, May 12, 2016). In other words, the return of stolen moneys by various Nigerian political personages and leaders was more enchanting to our president than the British prime minister’s apology, ardent or not ardent. Of course, the stolen money our president referred to is in British banks and other ones in European and non-European countries outside the shores of Africa.

But we must ask here: Was Cameron’s thumbs down for Nigeria not right? Was Cameron’s description of Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt country’’ off the mark? Clearly not, and our president

N150

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has commended Nigerians for working to sustain democracy in the past 17 years.

But Nigerians will be asking themselves what they have gained when they read that the presidency, NASS and the judiciary were allocated N2 trillion in 10 years out of the nation’s resources.

Who exactly have Nigerians worked for?

in&out with Tony Afejuku 08055213059

The ‘fantastically’ corrupt country in which we live admitted this in-to-to. His enchanting proposal, however, is one that we, as Nigerians of the present un-enchanting times, must accept with a pinch of salt.

What has all our leaders, including the current ones, done with the stolen moneys that have been returned to Nigeria from diverse banks outside our shores? To what use have the moneys been put? What has changed in the life of the common man since the stolen moneys that have been returned reentered the coffers of our Central Bank?

What has changed in the emotions and moods of the Nigerian masses and people generally? And what is the proof that the returned moneys did not enter and re-enter the private pockets of the leaders and their cronies and acolytes?

Who can provide us with a prima facie evidence that all the millions and billions and trillions of moneys that have been recovered from looters of our commonwealth are in the public coffers?

In fact, we must query still: What infrastructure in terms of good, excellent, motor-able roads, first class hospitals, healthy drinking water, excellent educational facilities, and more and many more and much more

Was Cameron’s thumbs down for Nigeria not right? have we enjoyed or are enjoying? And where are the jobs for Nigerians youths and non-youths who are ready and ready to work for them-selves and for our country?

Oh! Oh! Oh! How many election promises has the current regime kept?

Every blessed day, is the goal post of the pre-presidential election promises not being shifted and shifted to where we can no longer see? By Jove! What can we say is truly out of place in David Cameron’s description of Nigeria as a “fantastically corrupt country”? Is this not the country we live in? Say nay at your peril.

Recently, pump price of petrol has

I may return to active football —Yobo

By Nurudeen Alimi - Who was in Port Harcourt FORMER Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, has hinted he could still make a comeback to the game after he celebrated his 101 games for the national team at the weekend.

The 35-year-old was honoured in Port Harcourt on Friday with a testimonial to celebrate his illustrious career and while it is expected to be his swansong, he says he misses football and may stage a return.

“I am very undecided regaeding football because I miss football,” he said.

“I have been out for quite sometime due to injuries and this is my first time of coming out in almost a year and you never can say, I might be back in football again.”

Yobo last played for Norwich City on loan from Fenerbahce and retired from international football after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

He has also featured for Standard Liege in Belgium as well as Olympique Marseille of France.

Former Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo (Right) during the testimonial match in his honour at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Hacourt last Friday. PHOTO: NURUDEEN ALIMI

skyrocketed beyond our widest and wildest and wildest expectations despite all the assurances and promises that have become winter tales in a winterless Nigeria that is now a wonderfully winterful country. What a fantastic country peopled and led by fantastic political leaders. Mr. Cameron should kindly delay the release of the stolen money in British banks until a more auspicious time. Or what do you think?

Those who want to flatter President Buhari can flatter him ad infinitum.

I will not. I will not be part of their bandwagon. All I wish all of us to know is this: “pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes” (flatterers are the worst type of enemies).

Jonathan did not believe when we told him all we told him. May Buhari retrace his steps before it is well, well too, too late for him to realise that Aso Rock is not a place to be or remain in against all odds. Then we shall tell him “post festum venisiti.’’. He better believes!

Yes, he better believes! And you better believe, you flatterer!

•Post Scriptum: The columnist is still at large. You cannot reach him.

Injured Oduduwa doubtful for Rio Olympics

A major knee injury may rule defender Segun Oduduwa from the Rio Olympics as he has already been dropped out of next month’s Suwon Invitational Tournament in Korea.

“The NFF will come out with a position on the player’s injury,” Nigeria U23 media officer Timi Ebikagboro informed AfricanFootball.com The Nath Boys of Lagos star suffered the injury in training with the Nigeria U23s and he will require

surgery overseas as he races against time to be fit for the Rio Games, which begin in August.

He has effectively been ruled out of the Suwon tournament after he was initially named in a 20man squad to fly out from Abuja Monday afternoon.

The highly promising central defender has featured at the U23 AFCON in Senegal in December and also the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

NPFL RESULT (Rescheduled)

Enyimba

2 Warri Wolves

1

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. 30/05/2016.