04122017 - Atiku back in PDP; seizes party organs

Arms haul in Ondo: Buhari calls for security meeting 12

14 banks incur N368.3bn IDE S N I bad loans in 9 months

VOL. 25: NO. 63434

We’ll name, shame tax defaulters after VAIDS in March, 2018 — Adeosun, Finance Minister

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Atiku back in PDP; seizes party organs Atiku on Facebook, yesterday

I’ll continue to uphold UNN’s standards – Jim Ovia 47

•Says APC has failed on promise to positively change Nigeria •Laments 3 million jobs lost under APC •Jonathan not in 2019 race — AIDE

By Emmanuel

Aziken, Political Editor; Dapo Akinrefon, Gbenga Oke, Omeiza Ajayi & Dirusu Yakubu

AWARD...

F

or mer VicePresident Atiku A b u b a k a r, yesterday, returned to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, declaring that his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has failed in its promise of positively changing the country.

Atiku’s return immediately raised apprehension among some PDP chieftains following indications that he was taking over the structures of the party with his support for the party’s leading national chairmanship candidate, Prince Uche

PDP CHAIR: IBB 10 warns against monetisation of contest

Continues on page 5

Mr & Mrs

TERROR ATTACK ALERT:

FG assures of safety in FCT 8

Mr. Jim Ovia, Chairman, Zenith Bank Plc (centre), flanked by Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III (left) and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu (right) at the conferment of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Business Administration, DBA (Honoris Causa) by the Senate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on Jim Ovia.

Nigeria suffering from broken public finance – Soludo

10

COLUMNISTS

OWEI LAKEMFA

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HENRY BOYO 32

2—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—3

4—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—5

POCKET CARTOON telecomms sector which enabled us to increase the number of people who could access a phone from less than 1 million then to over 100 million today.

“This transformation resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs from the top-up card vendors you see on every street corner to the many new businesses that feed off the mobile phone revolution. what young people want

Why I left PDP — is to listen to them. I’m Atiku good at that. Sometimes

Former President Goodluck Jonathan (L), with Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, during the visit of the former President to Gov. Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday. Photo: NAN.

Atiku back in PDP; seizes party organs Continued from page 1 Secondus.

Meanwhile, rumours suggesting that former President Goodluck Jonathan was himself set to compete with Atiku for the 2019 presidential ticket were yesterday, dismissed by his spokesman, who affirmed that Jonathan was a principal figure in the permutations that led to the zoning of the Presidency to the North and national chairman to the South.

Atiku in a live declaration on facebook, particularly chided the APC for failing in its campaign promise to create three million jobs annually, saying the

ruling APC has rather supervised the loss of three million jobs under three years.

Atiku’s return to the PDP was immediately welcomed by the deputy president of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Chief Bode George, the party’s erstwhile deputy national chairman and national chairmanship aspirant.

In the speech, Atiku harped on the problem of unemployment, noting how he had through his personal businesses and during his stewardship as vice-president, promoted the creation of jobs.

In the address, Atiku

IT'S UP TO YOU

BY AYO ADIO - 08104802192 "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.

Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." — HELEN KELLER

TAKE HEART - ELLA RANDLE Life is journey and only you have the key— Take Heart Quotes Going through each day is a blessing and what helps when it’s rough and tumble is gratitude. It’s amazing the resilience and beauty that comes from being centered and focused in one’s own journey.

It brings an awareness to understand how to be kinder and show compassion to others and the patience to look beyond issues no matter what is thrown one’s way.

Taking the path of love in any situation is the one element which heals all things.

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE When you shake a leper for too long, he begins to crave for a hug.

said his businesses would not in any way interfere with his determination to serve the nation.

Following the facebook presentation, the former vice-president drew questions from his facebook audience.

He said: “I have found in my travels across the country that whenever I get into conversations with young people, their number one concern is whether they will be able to get a job, for without a job they have no means of sustaining themselves or begin a family.

“Without the security of a job, we cannot have security in our country.

So, without jobs, there is no future for you or for Nigeria. I also know as a parent that the older generation is also concerned about jobs for their children and, too often today, for themselves as well.

“Creating jobs is something I know about as I have created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs in my own state of Adamawa. And I also know how the government can help create the right environment for businesses to create jobs.

“When I was Vice President in 1999, I was responsible for liberalising the

“Some of you may know that I was elected Vice President under the banner of the PDP, which is the political party I had helped to found some 10 years before.

“Some of you may also know that I left the PDP four years ago when I believed it was no longer aligned to the principles of equity, democracy and social justice upon which we had founded it.

“I joined the APC as I had hoped it would be the new force that would help improve life for our people and I was excited about the party ’s manifesto to create 3 million new jobs a year.

“The result has not been the change people had been promised or voted for, as in the last two years, almost 3 million Nigerians have lost their jobs. And today, with a record 25% of people aged 18-25 unemployed, I can see how difficult it is for our youths to find a job.

The key to creating jobs is a strong economy and that is what we are currently lacking.

“So, today, I want to let you know that I am returning home to the PDP as the issues that led me to leave it have now been resolved and it is clear that the APC has let the Nigerian people, and especially our young people, down.”

What the youths want Asked how he could identify with the thoughts of the youth when he was not a youth, he said: “I meet young people every day.

I have children and grandchildren and most of my employees are youths.

“The key to knowing

when I am on the phone with my kids they ask me are you still there, because I just listen to them without interrupting.

“Young people are on social media and so I go there. They tell me that their number one challenge is job.

Terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, and other forms of exuberance that may lead to criminality are symptoms of the disease of joblessness.

“Once you can get Nigeria working again and get Nigerians working again, youth restiveness will ease and gradually disappear.”

Politics and business Asked how he would manage political leadership with the management of his businesses, he said: “I lead my businesses. I do not manage them. I have qualified managers managing them including some in their early 20s.

“As a leader, you provide direction and then you bring in skilled people and inspire them to implement your roadmap to getting to the destination of your direction.

“So, in answer to your question, I am more into leadership and this gives me the clarity I need to take in the larger picture.”

On assertions that the PDP can never return to power, he said: “Nobody knows the future other than God and to dictate what the future will be is not within man’s purview.

“But it is about Nigeria not about power. Power for power’s sake breeds arrogance and arrogance makes men say things like that.

“All I am saying is that we need a party that speaks to national sentiments not regional ones. We need a party that can make all Nigerians one till we can

boldly say that we are all brothers and sisters with only one mother, Nigeria.”

Commenting on the social media campaign to stop alleged atrocities by the police, Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, he said: “We cannot be outraged that Nigerians and other African migrants are being mistreated in Libya and then we go ahead and mistreat our people back home.

“I am very abreast with the #EndSARS issue because my young followers on Social Media keep me very much in the loop.

“Whether it is how SARS treats Nigerians or how we treat each other, we are sending a message to the outside world. We can’t expect foreigners to treat our people better than we treat them.

“We must set the minimum standard required for the treatment of Nigerians worldwide by the way we treat our people domestically. Our charity must begin at home.

“On this issue, I call on the Inspector General of Police as a concerned Nigerian to intervene, and I know that the Nigerian Police as a disciplined and well organized force will take action to address this issue.

“It will go a long way to improve Nigeria’s rating in the global ranking of Police Forces next year because this year, they were wrongfully ranked as the worst.”

Ekweremadu Bode George welcome Atiku Welcoming Atiku back to the PDP, Ekweremadu said: “The dumping of the APC by Alhaji Atiku is a welcome development for the PDP, but more importantly, Nigeria’s democracy.

“Nigeria is in dire need of a rescue mission to rekindle hope in our democracy, restore her

Continues on page 54

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 :Vanguard News

Robbers attack Guild of Editors' Dep President

T

HE Deputy President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Suleiman Gaya, was, weekend, attacked by robbers on the Gwarinpa By-Pass, Abuja.

The robbers stripped Gaya and his wife of their possessions before disappearing through a dark alley, saying they will return to kill the couple if they raise the alarm.

Narrating his experience yesterday, Gaya said: “I offered no resistance to the gun-totting young men.

And God so kind, none of us was injured.

“A taxi driver summoned the courage to stop and help us. As he was driving us to the Gwarinpa Division of the Nigeria Police Force, we saw a patrol vehicle and the policemen promptly followed us to the scene of the crime, where my car was still parked.

“All efforts by the Police personnel to trace the robbers proved abortive.”

While appreciating the efforts of the two policemen, Inspector Takai and Sergeant Kanu Ajah, for their prompt response, he urged the Commissioner of Police, FCT, to do something about the bypass, which is becoming notorious for robbery.

Hearing on Oluba’s N1bn suit against Chevron for Jan 17

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Federal High Court, sitting in Warri, Delta State, has fixed January 17, 2018 for the hearing of N1 billion compensation suit filed by Timi Oluba against Chevron Nigeria Limited.

Oluba had, in April, filed a suit against Chevron and Egbema Gbaramatu C o m m u n i t i e s Development Foundation before the Court.

Oluba is asking the Court to grant an order compelling Chevron to pay N1 billion compensation to Okoyitoru community, which has been washed away as a result of the activities of Chevron, and also an order compelling Chevron to immediately embark on piling and sand filing of the community to avoid further disaster; and for the Court to order Chevron to commence an Environmental Impact Assessment EIA in Okoyitoru community and entire Makaraba oilfield.

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Debby Akinsola: The 25-yr-old Nigerian stud M

ISS Debby Oluwatimilehin Akinsola is a 25-year-old Nigerian student, who can speak the 11 official languages of South Africa— isiZulu, Setswana, Ndebele, Isixhosa, Sesotho, Tsonga/ Xangani, Afrikaans, English, Sepedi, Venda and Swati.

Akinsola told newsmen in Pretoria, South Africa, yesterday, that she was born

Debby Akinsola

in her hometown, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

According to her, “in 2002, my parents moved to Botswana. There, we stayed in locations known locally as Metsimotlhabe in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

“We were the only Nigerians there and most locals could not speak English. We used hands

gesture to interact and communicate. As a child then, I started speaking Setswana, the Botswana language.”

Akinsola said the turning point in her ability to speak the languages was when her family moved to South Africa in February 2010.

She said: “I had just finished secondary school then. My family stayed in Soweto and the popular language was Zulu. In

Lagos Street Carnival: We make money having fun—Ambode G

OVERNOR Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, weekend, said hosting of carnivals and other entertainment shows had served as an avenue to create job for people of the state and also to boost government’s Internally-Generated Revenue, IGR. Ambode, represented by his Deputy, Idiat Adebule, disclosed this at the second edition of Lagos street carnival held in Oba Akran Avenue, Lagos, yesterday.

Ambode said the one-day carnival had fetched some people huge revenue, created job for them, ranging from the people that designed and sew the costumes to those that displayed during the carnival.

Ambode said: “I congratulate the people of Lagos State for coming out en mass to participate in this year’s carnival.

We thank God for his grace; it is eight solid hours of fun and entertainment.”

He said the purpose of the carnival was to restate what the people of the state love to do.

According to him, “we are keeping our campaign promises that with entertainment and arts we will give the best to the people of Lagos State.

“Today, you can see that it is a parade of different colours from different groups. This event is to usher in the festive period we are into. The reason why we are in government is to make people happy.”

He assured the people of Lagos State befitting and fun-filled festivities.

“Lagos festival will soon commence; we urge everyone to come out en mass to participate, “ he added.

Ambode commended the media, security agents and the organisers of the carnival for their laudable initiatives in making the event a colourful and memorable one.

Earlier, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said the carnival was about fun and relaxation to kick start the series of events lined up for the yuletide.

Ayorinde said the 2017 carnival took place on the

Toyin Aimaku (left) and Denrele.

PHOTOS: Bunmi Azeez.

Fela's band.

Lagos Carnival.

Golf time.

Youths on bicycle (above) and crowd (below).

mainland area of the state to carry residents of the area along.

His words: “The carnival is taking place on the mainland because we want every axis of

the state to experience and enjoy the fun and thrills like we had on the island in 2016.

“It will showcase and promote all the tribes and cultures in Nigeria, because

Lagos is the only state where you will find every culture.

“I urge all to have fun and relax after working so hard for 11 months and show the world that we are a happy people.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—7 :Vanguard News

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dent who speaks 11 S/African languages the shops, barbers shop, markets, churches and taxi drivers, everybody spoke the Zulu language.

“As I started school there, it took me one year and a few months to learn and speak the 11 languages in South Africa. I can also speak and write the Yoruba language fluently.”

Akinsola later read Business Management at the University of Pretoria and presently, she is

studying professional diploma at the Chartered Institute of Secretaries.

The interpreter

According to her, her fluency in the languages earned her the role of an interpreter at her local church.

Her words: “In our local church in Pretoria, Apostolic Faith Church, I am the interpreter of the General Overseer (GO).

“The GO speaks Zulu and any local language and I interpret in English to the congregation.”

Akinsola said she and her senior brother, Samuel, a computer expert, are the only children from their parents.

‘I want to marry a Nigerian’

On her future, Akinsola said she will like to marry a Nigerian to continue with her

language and culture.

She added that “the last time I visited Ibadan was in 2008. My parents are now missionaries based in South Africa. I will like to marry a Nigerian. I want my children to know my language and culture.

“My dream is to become a board member in a firm after getting my professional certificate.”

N100m worth of grains destroyed in Enugu market fire disaster

By Chinedu Adonu

E

NUGU—GRAINS worth over N100 million were destroyed in a midnight inferno that gutted Akwatta food section of the popular Ogbette Market in Enugu.

Traders were seen crying yesterday bemoaning their loses to the fire, which cause was yet to be determined at the time of filing this report.

Chairman of Corn Millers Association, Mr Augustin Ogbonna, who described the inferno as a mystery, lamented that the loss was like the end of the world to the affected traders.

“This is something we have not experienced before. Over 200 bags of Bambara nuts worth over N42,000 each were completely destroyed in the fire. All our milling machines were also burnt. The cost of all these is more than N100 million.

“This is why we solicit the urgent help of the government and other public-spirited individuals to come to our aid.

There is no electricity in this section of the market so we don’t know how the fire started,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State government has pledged to assist traders affected in the fire

disaster.

The State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr.

Sam Ogbu Nwobodo, who visited the affected section of the market to commiserate with the traders, assured that government will

take steps to cushion the effect of the disaster on the traders.

According to Nwobodo; “the Enugu State government commiserates with you because you are part of this government. We urge you to

support whatever effort the government puts in place to prevent such accidents.

“Most times, fire incidences are as a result of carelessness.

So I advise traders to be careful.”

TRAIN OFF RAIL: A haulage

train derailed at Omi-Adio area of Ibadan-Abeokuta Road, causing traffic gridlock, y e s t e r d a y.

PHOTOS: Dare Fasube.

3 die in Ogun auto crash

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — THREE persons have reportedly lost their lives in an accident involving a Honda Civic car and a white Nissan cabstar at Olorunsogo village along AbeokutaSagamu Expressway.

The Public Relations Officer, Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the incident yesterday, said the accident occurred Saturday night.

Akinbiyi said the Nissan cabstar with number plates KSF 906 XR was speeding and in the process lost control.

He said the cabstar left its lane for the other lane, which led to a head-on collision with the Honda car with number plates GBE 495 AA. His words: “The cabstar was on top speed, lost control and crossed to the opposite lane and hit the oncoming vehicle.

“The accident involved eight people: six males, two females. Three males died in the accident while two people sustained various degrees of injuries.”

The TRACE spokesman said the corpses were taken to the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, mortuary in Abeokuta, and the injured ones were admitted to the same hospital.

Mr. Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, in Ogun State, also confirmed the incident.

Fuel tanker explosion destroys missionary school in Umuahia

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LCCI WOMEN HEALTH WALK: From left (front row)— Director General, Mr. Muda Yusuf; President, Dr. Nike Akande; President, Women Group, Yeye Adenike Shobajo, and other members, all of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, at LCCI Women Group Annual Health Talk/Walk, in Lagos.

N inferno from an explosion at Saclux Paints Industry in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, yesterday, destroyed a missionary school building in the neighbourhood.

Mr. Emeka Okereke, the owner of the school, known as Love for Africa Mission, said a tanker, allegedly bearing ‘black oil’ exploded inside the company’s premises around 1p.m.

He said the fire started with an explosion shortly after they ended the Sunday service at the school.

His words: “We ended the Sunday service around 12:15p.m. and I was trying to lock up the gate, when I heard a heavy explosion,

accompanied with billows of heavy smoke and fire moving up the sky.”

He said the fire later spread into the school building, which doubles as his family residence, when oil from the tanker spilled into the compound.

According to him, “ when some youths attempted to pull down the entrance gate, I gave them the key with which they entered the compound.”

He said that the sympathisers succeeded in pushing out the two SUVs that were parked in the compound.

He said he could not ascertain the extent of damage, saying no other property was recovered from the building.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 :Vanguard News

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FG appoints Abdul Zubair acting DG of SEC

By Favour Nnabugwu

L

AGOS—THE Federal Government, yesterday, announced the appointment of Dr Abdul Zubair as Acting DirectorGeneral, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC. Mrs Efe Ebelo of the commission’s Corporate Communications Unit, who disclosed this in Lagos, said the appointment was with immediate effect.

Ebelo stated that the appointment followed the suspension of Mr Munir Gwarzo, the commission’s boss.

She assured the investing public and stakeholders, both local and international, of the commission’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted and orderly operations of the market, as well as regulation.

Until his appointment, Zubair was the Director in charge of External Relations in the commission.

Ebelo stated that the SEC would continue to ensure the stability of the Nigerian capital market and sustain the all-time high level of investors’ confidence.

She added that recent developments in the commission would not be allowed to disrupt its regulatory effectiveness and efficiency as the statutory regulator of the capital market.

She assured that the market would run smoothly, despite the development.

Ebelo said the commission patiently awaited the outcome of the assignment of the Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the Minister of Finance to investigate the allegations against the former boss.

She said at no point would the management allow operational independence of the commission to be compromised.

“This is strictly in line with the objectives and principles of securities regulations as set out by the International Organisation of Securities Commissions, IOSCO, to which Nigeria is a signatory,” she said.

Ebelo said the commission would continue to be faithful to its developmental mandates as enunciated in the Investments and Securities

Act, ISA. She added that SEC would ensure market efficiency, accountability and transparency and would proceed with all regulatory matters currently before it.

She said the commission would do that with all sense of objectivity and fairness and with the best interest of investors.

She added: “In this regard, the commission will make public its decisions on matters before it as promptly as such decisions are being arrived at.

“The role of the capital market in economic stability and growth cannot be overemphasised, hence the commission will not at any time permit the abandonment of its regulatory and

developmental responsibilities.”

The acting directorgeneral is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he received B.Sc. Economics, MBA, M.Sc. and PhD Business Administration degrees.

He also holds a PGD (Mathematics & Computer Science) and a PGD (Education) from other universities.

He has over 25 years cognate experience in the financial industry and the academia.

It will be recalled that Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the Minister of Finance, on November 29, suspended Gwarzo over allegations of financial impropriety.

Adeosun immediately set up an administrative panel of inquiry to investigate the

A

BUJA—THE Police high command has said that contrary to the ongoing social media campaign calling on it to scrap its Special AntiRobbery Squad unit, it had no such intention whatsoever.

It also said the antirobbery unit had done a lot to sanitise the country, describing those opposed to its operations as criminals.

The police also asked well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the social media campaign against SARS, insisting that the campaigners were armed robbers who resorted to the social media to drum up support to achieve their aims.

Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, a

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BUJA—THE Federal Government has assured of adequate security measures to thwart any possible terror attack in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and elsewhere around the country.

According to government, there is no cause for alarm, despite the latest travel advisories by some Western countries.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the security agencies have not let down their guard, despite the fact that there had been no terror attack in the FCT since the Buhari administration assumed office. ‘’We know that the terrorists, who have been massively degraded and put on the run, have been

looking for soft targets to attack. This is the nature of terrorism all over the world, as can be seen in recent attacks in the UK, France and Egypt, among others. ‘’That is why the Nigerian security agencies have continued to be on the alert, even if their efforts have been largely unobtrusive so as not to disrupt the daily activities of the citizenry.

Such efforts are routinely stepped up during religious festivals,’’ he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the Federal Government would continue to take adequate measures to protect the lives and properties of citizens and non-citizens alike, even as the military remained unrelenting in ensuring that terrorists neither regrouped nor regained the capacity to carry out organized attacks.

No more room for corrupt, indolent prison officers —CG

By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

A VISIT: From left—Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmed Aliyu, Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian and Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the envoy's meeting to Sokoto Government House, weekend.

We won’t scrap SARS, Police reply anti-SARS campaigners Say those calling for scrapping of SARS are criminals

By Joseph Erunke

TERROR ATTACK ALERT: FG assures of safety in FCT

Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, dared those with allegations of wrongdoing against SARS to show up with their evidence or shut up, insisting that the Police would not bow to their antics to regain freedom in their nefarious trades.

He said: “Anybody calling for scrapping of SARS is an armed robber, let him come forward so that we can investigate him.

“Any complaint they give against any police personnel, everybody knows we don’t hide.

“We have a Public Complaints Bureau which handles complaints. So if anybody is calling for scrapping of SARS, we don’t need to be reminded that they are criminals just using the social media.

“If there are robbers that are operating and Special

Anti-Robbery Squad engages them and somebody would now put something in the social media and say we should scrap SARS, I think it’s unfortunate. “ If there are specific allegations against any police officer, whether SARS or no SARS, there’s a control mechanism for any of us that violates the rights of Nigerian citizens to be dealt with appropriately.

“You have seen instances where police officers have been tried, found guilty and charged to court.

“Those mechanisms are there, so it would be mischievous for anybody to call for scrapping of SARS. You want armed robbers to take over everywhere?

"So, those who are calling for the scrapping of SARS are people to be suspected, I think they are robbers

themselves.

“If there are complaints of atrocities against any police officers, they are being dealt with appropriately, we don’t hide them. “ You have been reading how police men that misbehave in their line of duties are being dealt with.

So, anybody calling for scrapping of SARS has something to hide.

“The police authorities cannot and will not scrap the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, for these criminals to thrive because it’s not our problem.

“The people that have been fighting armed robbery, fighting kidnapping and make a lot of successes? “ Look at the number of people they have arrested along Abuja-Kaduna highway, look at the case of Evans."

BUJA—THE Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, yesterday, declared that there was no more place for any of its officials who condones corruption and indiscipline in the service.

To prove its seriousness, the NPS last week, dismissed eight officers who masterminded the trafficking of drugs and telephone into prisons in the country and aided inmates to commit offenses inimical to the operations of the agency.

The Controller General of the NPS, Alhaji Ja’afaru Ahmed, told Vanguard in

an exclusive interview that the service had put in place necessary sanctions to checkmate jailbreaks and smuggling of banned items into the prisons.

Ahmed pointed out that jailbreak and other forms of indiscipline had flourished in the past because there was no appropriate punishment of such crimes.

Ahmed said: “When I assumed duties, I observed with dismay that many people committed various offenses but were never punished in accordance with the law. For that reason, we said it should no longer be the case and insisted that every person should answer for his offenses to serve as a deterrent to others.

Innoson to begin manufacturing of high-end, affordable vehicles in 2018

By Michael Eboh & Gabriel Ewepu

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BUJA—THE Chairman of Innoson Group, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, weekend, disclosed that the company would commence the manufacturing of affordable and quality vehicles in Nigeria by 2018.

Chukwuma made the disclosure while receiving the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR’s, ‘Brands Symbol Award’, which was conferred on him by the Acting chairman of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, chapter of the institute, Aliyu Aliyu.

Chukwuma said the company would begin to roll out the brand new affordable cars from January and would significantly curtail the importation of expensive vehicles into the country.

He said: “I am going to launch a car in one month's time that people can easily buy in Nigeria with small money. I am looking at about N3 million. The car will be big size, which will have air conditioning, automatic gear and other comforts that will make it easier for all.

“I am not just interested in the Nigerian market alone but the African market."

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—9

10 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 :Vanguard News

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CONVENTION: From Left —Prof Polycarp Chigbu; Chief Andrew Oru, National President,Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association; Prof Christian Bolu, Chairman of Occassion; Mrs Vivian Bolu; Chief Eze Mark Odu, Former National President, Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association; Mr Tony Chukwu, President Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association, Ota Branch; and Chief Emeka Nwanevu, Former National Secretary, Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association, during the 96th NEC Meeting/24th Biennial Convention of the Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association, themed' "Resoring the Dignity of the Nigerian, Man in a Recessed Economy'' in Ota, Ogun State.

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From Left —Prof Christian Bolu, Chairman of the occassion, Chief Andrew Oru, National President, Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association, and Prof Polycarp Chigbu, at the 96th NEC Meeting / 24th Biennial Convention of the Univeristy of Nigeria Alumni Association. Photo: Kehinde Gbadamosi.

PDP National Chairman: IBB warns against to elect credible the rule of law without fear monetisation of contest process leadership at various levels or favour. We must begin

Nigeria suffering from broken public finance —Soludo

A

A

By Gbenga Oke

BUJA—FORMER

military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, (rtd.) yesterday warned against the monetisation of the contest for the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP saying that the party was formed with the idea that it would offer equal opportunities to all.

Babangida who identified himself as one of the founding fathers of the party warned that a good name could not be bought with gold or silver expressed concern that the party was yet to recover from the issues that led to its loss of power in 2015 said that men of stamina and character were needed to lead the party to its original ideas.

He said: “When we were conceptualizing the idea of the PDP at formation, we had in mind a party that offers platform for all Nigerians in their pursuit of legitimate political aspirations. The choice of her motto; POWER TO THE PEOPLE was in sync with our clear objective of recognizing the people as the repository of power. In any democratic engagement, the people decide the outcome of elections through popular and inclusive participation.

The monetization of our electoral process is disturbingly eroding that power which should ordinarily reside in the people.

“In the last few days, I get frightened by the monetary consideration that is likely to dictate who emerges as the National Chairman of our great party rather than what the people truly want.

The discussion is more on the side of heavy monetization of the process and ultimate “procurement” of the position of the Chairman by the highest bidder. This approach, in my humble view, defeats the whole essence of participation, free choice and voting which are the essential attributes of any democracy without inducement and outright manipulation. I wish to plead that we tread on the path of caution and common sense, conscious of our recent history of avoidable political crisis.

“At 76, and given the benefit of hindsight, my role both in context and content; is now more of advisory one to enhance any altruistic democratic

of representation. Rather than de-monetize the electoral process to provide ample room for more citizens’ participation, the idea of monetizing the process and trying to “procure” party positions defeats merit, offends good conscience and blurs fair play. At this critical stage of our political secretions, we need men of stature, discipline, character and commendable conduct to breathe fresh air into our party and not persons whose political relevance is the product of naira and kobo bargain across the counter.

We need a National Chairman that would not bend to the vagaries of individual selfish interest but one who is strong enough to apply

the process of interrogating processes that lead to outcomes and not just the outcomes. We must interrogate our leadership recruitment process and encourage our delegates to exercise the power of their thumbs in making their preferred choice among the candidates.

“Good name cannot be bought with gold or silver.

Good name is the sum total of the individual’s conduct in his trajectory and his overall assessment through life’s enduring journey. On the strength of this, I wish to make a passionate appeal to our members, party leaders and the members of the Convention Committee to be fair and just to all."

Jonathan not maintaining dignity after leaving office —Oyegun Says Atiku’s ‘last’ shot at Presidency in 2019 'll fail

By Levinus Nwabughiogu

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BUJA —For boasting that his legacies still remained unparalleled after exiting office two years ago, former President Goodluck Jonathan has come under attack of the national chairman of ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief John Oyegun.

Oyegun said Jonathan had thrown dignity and decorum to the winds and took to infantility, factors which in his estimation, gave low reckoning to his status as a former President and the office he occupied.

He also took a swipe at former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who recently resigned his membership of APC, saying his presidential ambition in 2019 would fail.

Oyegun spoke in an exclusive interview with

Vanguard on contemporary national issues in Abuja yesterday.

Jonathan had, while reacting to Governor Kassim Shettima’s remarks at a book launch last week in Abuja that his (Jonathan) regime wasted the goodwill of the people, reeled out his achievements in office, boasting that the current government in all its critiques against him was yet to match them.

But reacting to the statement, Oyegun chided the former President for not maintaining dignity in retirement, saying he might end up losing what was left of his reputation should he continue responding to trivial issues.

He said that the sorry state of East-West road, the dilapidation of Port Harcourt airport and the menace of Boko Haram which he couldn’t tackle,

were some evident postures that Jonathan’s administration failed woefully.

Submitting that Jonathan attained the highest political position in the land with less personal effort of his, Oyegun said he blew the opportunity of the south-south geopolitical zone in the presidential zonal arithmetics, stressing that the former President who hailed from the zone did not make the people of the area proud in any way.

While arguing that Jonathan’s only passmark at the moment was conceding to electoral defeat in the 2015 presidential battle with President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC chairman, however, said that new intelligence had emerged that the former President tried to reverse himself afterward.

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

BUJA—Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has said that the nation’s economy was suffering from a broken public finance and needed urgent strategy to fix it.

He said in an interview, in Nsukka, Enugu State, that the bloated recurrent expenditure of the federal government required a courageous action to balance the capital/ recurrent budget provisions.

Federal government’s recurrent expenditures have consistently hovered around 70 per cent to 80 per cent, leaving capital with merely between 20 per cent and 30 per cent that are never fully funded.

According to Prof. Soludo, the level of borrowing must also be closely watched to avoid a situation in which all public funds would go into debt servicing in the future.

He said: “I think our public finance is broken, period. The public finance is broken and needs to be fundamentally fixed.

“I think the debt issue is simply a symptom of thatpart of the manifestation of the public finance chaos, or the broken nature.

“100 per cent of our capital is borrowed, for example, and you have a debt service ratio to the GDP or the current revenue, you do the numbers. We are on a debt cliff and something must happen to the revenue base. You have over N100 trillion economy in nominal terms and you collect between 4-6 trillion revenue. We are not

anywhere near…so the first point I make is that you look at the revenue, the revenue mix and you think the way to solve it is to borrow your way out?

You compound it to such a level that with time you would do nothing else than service debt. So the debt is only a part of it."

Bloated recurrent expenditure On the bloated recurrent expenditure, Soludo said: “Look at the recurrent expenditure. I don’t think anybody has the courage to confront the recurrent, as it were. It didn’t start today. That is the point I made when I wrote shortly before the last presidential elections.

“What I said now, I said then in my write-up, that public finance was broken.

We were borrowing for even recurrent at the peak of oil boom in Nigeria in 2012, 2013, 2014 we had oil prices in $120s and so forth and we were borrowing for recurrent.

“The point is, it is a structural problem and the question is ‘who is going to bell the cat?’ and that will require a lot of courage to confront the size and growth of the recurrent , you also tackle the revenue base, and you also deal with the composition of spending itself.”

We must think postoil Nigeria The former CBN boss said that the political elite must think post-oil Nigeria.

He regretted that in spite of the talks about how to develop a post-oil Nigerian economy, the actions pointed to the contrary, as government officials had begun to return to their old ways, the moment crude oil prices rose.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 11 :Vanguard News

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Labour tackles FG over plan to raise electricity tariff Says FG aligning with private sector to inflict more pains on Nigerians

By Victor AhiumaYoung

By Abdulwahab Abdulah

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A G O S — ORGANISED labour weekend blasted the Federal Government over plan to further increase electricity tariff, asking the government to tell the world whose interest it had been representing since the privatisation of the power sector.

Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, while speaking at the Sixth Presidential Business Forum held in Abuja last week, had said higher tariffs for Nigerians were “inevitable.”

But reacting, General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Joe Ajaero, said Nigerians deserve to know whether the Federal Government now speak for private sector or Nigerians.

Ajaero, who spoke during the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of NUEE, in Lagos, lamented that since privatisation of the power sector four years ago, the government had supported the private investors in the sector with over one trillion Naira of tax payers’ money.

According to Ajaero, the plan to further increase electricity tariff was obvious attempt by Federal Government to align with the private operators in the power sector to inflict more pains on Nigerians.

He contended that it was only in Nigeria that consumers of electricity would be told to pay higher tariffs even when power was not being supplied to homes, offices and factories.

NUEE General Secretary noted that going by the abysmal performance of the Electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs, and other operators since the privatisation in 2013, there was no justification for a further tariff hike, and wondered whether the Vice President was seeking to make more

S

BUS TOUR: From left; Executive Assistant, Sterling Bank, Enabruke Oju; Executive Director, Kayode Lawal; Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Yemi Odubiyi; Managing Director, Primero Transport Services Limited, Fola Tinubu and MD/CEO, Yemi Adeola, during the bank’s bus tour by the senior executives in Lagos. money for himself and investors.

He said: “Vice President Osinbajo should apologise to Nigerians for seeking to punish them with higher tariff. Nigerians should ask Osinbajo whether he is the spokesperson of the investors in the power sector. Is he an investor himself? I think that it is now becoming clear that some people in government have their hands in DISCOs. For how long will Nigerians continue to suffer in the name of privatization?

Nigerians are suffering and the power situation is not getting better. I ' m surprised that this is not the policy of the APC, yet they

N

IGERIA Friday failed to get elected into the category C of the International Maritime Organisation, IMO. Countries elected into that category were the Bahamas, Belgium, Chile, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand and Turkey.

are following it up 100 per cent. This shows you that there is something fishy.

“This is not the first time one of these companies is declaring force majeure, contrary to the known agreement. Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC, was sold along with Ibadan Electricity, because Yola is not very attractive to investors. So they bundled them together and put them for sale. Half way, Yola declared force majeure and the government allowed them. Since then, Yola that was not doing well is still there under government control and the power situation is better. For the past two years, the service there has been better.

“I challenge the investors to say that they are no more interested, I am telling you that we will appoint people from NUEE who will run it effectively and efficiently.

Government should not listen to that level of ‘shakara.’ ''They are making money and don’t want to declare profit to government. For four years, these private companies have not paid any dividend to the government, yet the government has paid them one trillion naira – what kind of business is that? So I think there is need for public hearing for Nigerians to come and speak on what is happening in the power sector.”

Forget the past, focus on the future, Osinbajo counsels repatriated Nigerians

By Evelyn Usman

L

AGOS—WIFE of the Vice President, Mrs Oludolapo Osinbajo, weekend, visited the Omole Phase 2, Lagos shelter of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, urging the girls repatriated from various countries, including; Libya, to forget about the

IMO: Nigeria loses Council seat

By Godfrey Bivbere, with agency report

Order EFCC, ICPC to probe privatisation corruption in public companies — SERAP

A statement from the IMO web-site showed that there are two other categories A and B and the total number of countries voted for to represent the international maritime community in the three categories were 40.

The Council is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly.

Shelter in dilapidated state past and look forward to a better tomorrow.

Addressing them, some of who were nursing mothers and underaged, Mrs Osinbajo expressed worry over their experiences in the course of their journey but was quick to remind them that it was possible for them to become what they were created to be while in Nigeria.

While addressing them, she said: “I am here to see you because you are very important and you are all our children. As a mother, I am not happy with what you are going through. I am here to know what you want me to do for you.

Many of you came from different states and Benin Republic. So, why did you leave home for another place? I want to also know the people that took you away to another land. Now that you are here, forget about the past. We are here

to discuss about your tomorrow. Yes, you have suffered yesterday, but I don’t want you to complain again because yesterday is gone, no more suffering tomorrow because you all are princesses. Those who intend to go to school must go and those who want to learn any skill will also be given an opportunity to do so”, she said, even as she commended NAPTIP over what she described as the good work it was doing.

Meanwhile, Vanguard observed that the shelter was in a dilapidated state without facility to make the girls stay conducive.

For instance, during the visit, there was no electricity and the power generating set that would power the fans were not on for unknown reasons.

All the girls, including the visitors and journalists, the visit were sweating profusely while the interaction lasted.

OCIO-ECONOMIC Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to revisit allegations of corruption and abuse of process in the privatisation of public enterprises in Nigeria between 1999 and 2011.

The appeal was contained in an open letter sent to the president by the Executive Director of SERAP, Tokunbo Mumuni, asking the President to order fresh investigation to see if there was sufficient admissible evidence, for anyone suspected to be involved to face prosecution.

Beside, the body requested the President to reform the Bureau of Public

Enterprise (BPE) to remove opportunities for corruption in privatisation process, and to instruct the EFCC and ICPC to ensure the recovery of proceeds of corruption.

SERAP said: “We request that you take the steps within 14 days of the receipt and/ or publication of this letter, failing which SERAP will institute legal proceedings to compel your government to act in the public interest.

SERAP has obtained and carefully read the full report of the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Investigation of the Privatisation and Commercialisation Activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) from 1999 to 2011, which contains damaging allegations of corruption, presidential interference, and abuse of due process in the selection of core investor, valuation of public enterprises, pricing of shares/assets, determination of workers terminal benefits, and use of proceeds of privatisation.

Agbakoba, Duke’s group vows to shape 2019 polls

By Clifford Ndujihe

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GROUP of eminent Nigerians who met in Abuja, last week, on the plank of the Nigerian Intervention Movement, NIM, has vowed to shape the outcome of the 2019 elections and save the country from political brigandage and bad leadership.

Also known as G-90, some of the leaders of the group, who facilitated the formation of NIM last Tuesday include; former President of NBA; Dr Olisa Agbakoba SAN; business mogul, Isyaku Rabiu; former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; former presidential candidate and founder of

Lagos Business School, Prof Pat Utomi; son of first Prime Minister of Nigeria, Dr Jhalil Tafawa Balewa; former Minister and youth mentor, Mr Frank Nweke, Jnr; Senator Ghada Abubakar; Dr Bisola Sodipo-Clark; Vice President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Isa Aremu; Dr Kemi Jorge Oyewusi; former President of National Council of Women Society, Hajia Ramatu Dalhatu Musa; former Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Mallam Shittu Kabir; Dr Olu Usim Wilson; Dr Bolanle Onagoruwa; and Convener of Nigeria Political Summit Group, NPSG, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi, among others.

Outdoor practitioners raise alarm over foreign incursion in sector

By Jimoh Babatunde

P

RACTITIONERS in the outdoor advertising industry have raised a fresh alarm over foreign dominance in the nation’s advertising sector; saying if unchecked will impact negatively on Nigeria’s labour market.

General Secretary, Outdoor Advertisers Association of Nigeria, OAAN, Mr. Femi Ogala, claimed Lagos State government had engaged a foreign firm to handle all outdoor advertising services in the state.

According to him, quite a

number of association members had petitioned the authority concerned, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, urging them to intervene on sudden infiltration of foreign firms into indigenous businesses.

He said: “By our findings, this outfit, which is not a member of the APCON, has been allocated some of the juicy spots by Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency, LASAA, which is a breach of process. It is quite unfair that LASAA gave such job to a foreign firm leaving out indigenous practitioners.''

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 :Vanguard News

A-Ibom: APC kicks as AKISIEC declares PDP winner of LG seats

By Chioma Onuegbu, & Emmanuel Ayungbe

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LL Progressives Congress, APC, has called for the cancellation of the Local government election in Akwa Ibom State just as the Akwa Ibom Independent Electoral Commission, AKISIEC, yesterday declared candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, winners of all the 31 chairmanship and 329 councillorship positions in last Saturday ’s local government election in the state.

APC, in a statement by its Chairman, Dr Amadu Atai, and the state Secretary, Dr Effiong Etuk, said the poll was not free and credible and called for its cancellation.

While describing the entire exercise as a sham the APC stated: “There are proven cases of electoral Irregularities and voters’ apathy that

marred the entire process, as most of the local governments and polling units witnessed non availability of electoral materials or late arrival of voting materials and low turnout of voters.’’

However, the Chairman of AKISIEC, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, announced that the PDP won all 360 positions contested for in the 31 local government areas of the state, adding that the election was conducted in line with the relevant laws. “The said election was contested by 12 political parties and the People’s Democratic Party won the 31 Chairmanship and 329 Councillorship seats respectively,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Udom Emmanuel, yesterday congratulated winners of the poll.

He said: “ By this act, we have again proved to the world that elections can be conducted under peaceful atmosphere."

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I’II work with Jonathan to build PDP —Wike

By Jimitota Onoyume

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O V E R N O R Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said he will continue to work with former President Goodluck Jonathan to firmly reposition the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for victory in 2019.

The governor, in a statement by his media aide, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, yesterday, said there was no friction between him and the former president and there is no basis for any clash since the party leaders unanimously zoned the various offices.

The statement read in part: “The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and former President Goodluck Jonathan are working together to rebuild the PDP and re-position it for victory in all future elections. Contrary to the views being canvassed in the reports planted by the agents of the APC in sections of the media, there is no premise for any political disagreement between Governor Wike and former President Jonathan, whom he served as a loyal minister. The presidential ticket of the PDP has been zoned to the North, while the National

Chairmanship of the party is zoned to the South, hence there is no basis for the speculation that there is a conflict where none exists.’’

PDP will emerge stronger from National Convention – Jonathan Also speaking, Jonathan declared that the PDP will become stronger after the party's December 9 national convention.

Addressing journalists after a visit to Governor Wike at Government House Port Harcourt, yesterday, Jonathan, who commended the governor on his provision of infrastructures across the state, said that

an elected National Working Committee will set in motion the preparation for the 2019 general elections.

He said: “God willing, we will go through the National Convention and the party will become solid.

“You know we have a Caretaker Committee.

When you have a Caretaker Committee, you are not as strong as a fully elected chairman. The party passed through some challenges.

Luckily for us, we have passed through that phase with the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.”

PDP Convention: Focus more on reclaiming power in 2019 —Dickson

By Samuel Oyadongha & Gabriel Enogholase

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OVERNOR Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called on the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to focus more attention on how to recapture political power from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2019 election.

Dickson, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that the leadership of the PDP had a responsibility to come up with a candidate from the northern part of the country to actualize the project of recapturing power from the APC. Dickson, a former Chairman of the party’s National Reconciliation Committee, advised that the leadership of the PDP should not focus excessive attention on the forthcoming national convention of the party scheduled for December 9, 2017, but rather view it as a means to an end.

The statement quoted Dickson as having made the comment while hosting Chairman of DAAR Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a contestant for the position of the party’s national chairman, at

Government House, Yenagoa.

However, the governor said that the convention was very important as the PDP needed its successful conduct to get things right in preparation for the 2019 election.

Earlier, Dokpesi had told his host that he was in Bayelsa to solicit the governor’s support for his quest to become the next chairman of the PDP. He explained that he was in the race for the position of chairman in consonance with the recommendation of the 88-man committee of the party which zoned the position of Chairman to the South and the Presidency to the North.

I consulted Edo PDP leaders before aspiring —Dokpesi Also, Dokpesi said that he consulted PDP leaders in Edo State before joining the race.

He listed those he consulted to include the former Chairman Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Tom Ikimi; Senator Yida Braimah and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

High Chief Dokpesi disclosed this weekend in Benin during his visit to the party’s secretariat along First East Circular Road in the state capital.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS: From left: Mr Ocholi Etu, Divisional Managing Director, Red Star Logistics Limited; Moarkinyo, Unity Senior High School, Isolo, Red Star Foundation Scholarship Awardee; Mr Sola Obabori, Group Managing Director, Red Star Express Plc; Okoro Vivian, Mafoluku Senior Grammar School; Lawal Suliat, Ikeja Senior Grammar School, Oshodi, scholarship awardees and Tonye Preghafi, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Red Star Foundation, during the Red Star Foundation Scholarship Award presentation for some secondary school students in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos State.

ARMS: N-Delta govs meet security chiefs, Wednesday Presidency worried over arms haul in Ondo

By Dayo Johnson

F

OLLOWING the quality of weapons recovered from exwarlords in Ondo State, last week, security chiefs and governors of the Niger Delta region are billed for a security meeting on Wednesday.

Top security personnel informed newsmen that the meeting will review the security situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

Militants behind the kidnap of the six senior secondary school students of Lagos Model College, Igbonla, Epe, in Lagos State, Arepo pipeline vandalism and several other attacks in the SouthWest, submitted their arms in Ondo State last week to embrace the

Federal Government's amnesty programme.

They were led by their leader, Ogailo Iborry Young, to the Collection and Documentation of Arms Centre in Ajapa Community, Ese-Odo area of the state.

Vanguard reliably gathered that the meeting is billed to hold at the Presidential Villa barring any changes.

The quality of weapons surrendered by the militants was said to have unsettled the Presidency and the security chiefs in the Niger Delta region.

Sources said that the meeting is to be coordinated by the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura.

Vanguard learned that the proposed meeting became necessary because it was widely believed before now that aside from the Niger Delta Avengers, no such group had the capacity to pull through a massive arms hold as witnessed in Ondo State, last week.

The recovered arms included rocket launchers, Browning machine gun, one General Purpose Machine Gun, GPMG, Daewoo K3, Colt Automatic Rifles, Breda 30, Fiat Revelli Modelling, several AK 47 rifles, one Rocket Launcher, CETME Ameli, Heckler & Koch MG4, tens of Pump Action rifles and some automatic cartridges. Also

surrendered were military uniforms, police bullet proof vests, dynamites, grenades, bombs and helmets.

The security source said: “What we saw was like a movie. No one envisaged that these young boys would amass such high caliber weapons. It is highly embarrassing, to say the least. As soon as the photographs were released alongside the story, and it was confirmed that those arms were from that community aside several others that were recovered from other villages, the President ordered that an appraisal be done immediately.

“That is why all the governors of the Niger Delta region and the security chiefs will meet on Wednesday."

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—13 :Vanguard News

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Don’t politicise Ogoni clean-up, ex-Deputy Speaker tells Wike He said: “I feel Minister under President

By Dapo Akinrefon

F

ORMER Deputy Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Leyii Kwanee, has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of attempting to politicise the ongoing UNEP clean-up of Ogoniland, even as he challenged the governor to accede the 2019 governorship to the Ogoni if he really cared.

Reacting to Wike’s comment on the issue, Kwanee, in a press briefing, faulted Wike’s narrative, stating that the clean-up is a gradual process and the President Buhari administration should be lauded for kickstarting the activity and encouraged to do more, rather than being criticised.

Wike had claimed that the Federal Government is unserious with the cleanup of Ogoniland, when he met with members of the Senate Committee on Environment in Port Harcourt, recently.

Kwanee noted that Wike,

who served as a member of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet, should have been able to push for the government to implement the clean-up if he had cared enough for Ogoni people and the effects of the pollution they had suffered for years.

disappointed that Governor Wike would even bring up the issue of the UNEP exercise in Ogoniland, not to talk of criticising the APC government over the process. He had the opportunity of making it happen when he was a

ANNIVERSARY: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State (right), receiving an award of recognition from the President, Edo College Old Boys Association, ECOBA, Dr Reuben Osahon, during the association’s 80th anniversary in Benin City, Edo State.

Atiku’s excuse for leaving APC untenable —Iriase

By Simon Ebegbulem

D

EPUTY Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr Pally Iriase, has said that former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was unfair to Nigerians when he said he resigned from the All Progressives Congress, APC, due to failed promises of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

According to him, “Buhari took over government at a time when the oil price crashed so there is no way he could have performed a miracle.

Some politicians will tell lies when they want to justify their actions. What Atiku said does not make sense to me. Look at all these billions that are being trailed, they are in the hands of Nigerians.

“Mr President lamented the other day that when he was in the military, once you were known to be a thief, he would bundle you into the prison then from there you would prove whether you were clean or not. But this time, when you see a thief looting and going away with your money, they will tell you he is

Jonathan, but he didn’t move a limb.

“The process may be slow but the implementation is on. The structure has been set up and I have had cause to visit the coordinator and he has high hopes that the project would be completed."

innocent until proved guilty by the court. He said you could see his dilemma. So you can see what is happening.

“When people say corruption is fighting back, it is serious. But I believe that given a lot of things quietly going on despite the paucity of funds, Nigerians will see the sincerity of purpose in this government. When it is time to start pin pointing what has been achieved, the greater majority of Nigerians will know the difference.’’

Iriase, who is representing Owan federal constituency of Edo State in the House of Representatives, pointed out that when campaigns

for 2019 begins, “you will see that there will be no Atiku factor in Edo State or Nigeria as a whole. This APC government is actually taking Nigeria on the right path. It is just that the rot that you need to clean up to start seeing light at the end of the tunnel is so humongous.

“We as human beings by nature want quick fix but it is not possible to do quick fix. Even now, you are talking about predicating your budget on 45 dollars bench mark, all through the last administration we were talking about 90 dollars to 98 dollars per barrel. Can we talk about that kind of money now? No. So people have to be reasonable,’’ he added.

Temi Harriman mourns Ugbaja

A

LL Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Delta State, Temi Harriman has mourned APC chieftain, DIG Donald Ugbaja (retd.) who died, last Monday.

Harriman, in a statement in Lagos, eulogised the late Ugbaja as a man who espoused conscience in

his political engagements and brought grace to bear in all his dealings with the political class.

“DIG Donald Ugbaja was a man who spoke the truth on every issue that was brought to the table.

As he aged, he never to my knowledge, departed from that path of honour,” she said.

Otuaro remains my running mate in 2019 —Okowa

G

OVERNOR Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has said that his Deputy, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro, whom he holds as “ reliable since inception in 2015," remains his running mate in his 2019 reelection bid.

Governor Okowa disclosed this at OgbeIjoh, headquarters of Warri South-West Local Government Area, when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, flagged off its chairmanship/ councillorship election campaign in the area.

While thanking the people and tasking them to re-enact their usual huge support for the PDP in the January 6, 2018 council polls, Governor Okowa assured that his SMART Agenda will positively impact on all parts of the state and sued for peace.

“I appeal to the people of Ogbe-Ijoh, Aladja and Isaba, long engaged in

inter-communal crisis, to sheathe their swords.

Government will soon be out with a blueprint to resolve the disputes and would thenceforth be decisive in dealing with attempts to jeopardise our peace agenda,” Okowa stated.

Impressed by the mammoth crowd at the campaign flag-off, the Deputy Governor, Otuaro, who hails from Warri South-West LGA, said: “Warri South-West LGA has remained a stronghold of PDP since 1999 and has always given the party the highest votes among councils in the country. Let us deliver 99% votes to the PDP candidates in the coming council polls.”

Otuaro said Delta State was lucky to have as governor, Senator Okowa, who has displayed administrative acumen and financial prudence leading to human capital and infrastructural development of the state.

14 — VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

10TH MEMORIAL CHURCH SERVICE FOR LATE ARO OF MOPA, CHIEF S.B. AWONIYI Family members, well-wishers and former political associates of a founding member of PDP, Chief Sunday Awoniyi were at the 10th memorial church service to mark his demise at First Baptist Church, Ileteju, Mopa, Kogi State. PHOTOS BY ABAYOMI ADESHIDA.

From left — Members of the Awoniyi family, Dejo; Tokunbo; Yomi; Chief Awoniyi's widows, Florence and Benedicta; Yejide Awoniyi and Tayo.

Chief Awoniyi's widows, Florence and Benedicta reading the Bible.

President, Baptist Conference, Rev. David Daniyan (left) presenting a posthumous award to Tayo Awoniyi on behalf of his father while Rev. Joshua Ige watched.

Chief Olusola Akomode (left) and Arc. Yomi Awoniyi.

Traditional rulers and Mopa chiefs

Former Kogi State Governor, Ibrahim Idris (right) and other dignitaries.

(LEFT): The congregation paying respects for the late politician.

(RIGHT) Hon. Adewale Omofaiyo with his wife, Modupe (right)

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—15 :Vanguard News

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Miyetti Allah threatens legal action over Benue, Taraba grazing laws

By Bashir Bello

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AT S I N A — T H E leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, weekend, threatened legal action to challenge the anti-open grazing laws in Benue and Taraba states.

The group described the anti-open grazing laws in both states as obnoxious and capable of engendering anarchy in the areas.

MACBAN’s National President, Alhaji Mohammed Zuru, stated this during the launch of an

animal identification and management solution scheme by the Katsina Government in collaboration with mobile network provider, MTN. According to him, “the Nigerian State must recognise that Fulani pastoralists exist and have rights to the nation’s shared resources. We must be allocated land to do our cattle grazing and settle our families, change the breed of cattle we need and improve on the technology of cattle rearing.

“My association views the current attempt by the Benue and Taraba states’

governments to criminalise our means of economic livelihood of cattle rearing through the enactment of an obnoxious anti-open grazing law, as the most wicked act any government can do to us and our economic interests.

...on rights, interests

“We want to state here that we reject those repressive and oppressive laws and we will deploy all the necessary legal means as enshrined in the Constitution to challenge them. The pastoralists, like other citizens of the country, have the right to

move freely and to reside in any part of the country and we view this oppressive law as fundamentally going against our culture, economic interests and constitutional rights.”

Launching the scheme, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, said: “This programme has all it takes to curb cattle rustling as well as farmers-herdsmen conflicts.”

Governor Masari also announced government’s decision to sponsor the micro-chipping of 6,800 cows across the 34 local government areas.

Nigerians can live happily together— Ekweremadu

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HE Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has said a united Nigeria where every citizen can actualise his or her potential in any part of the country irrespective of his or her ethnic or religious background is possible.

Ekweremadu spoke in Enugu when he was conferred with the Rotary International’s 2017 Outstanding Citizen of the World Award, weekend.

He said: “I believe we can live happily together in Nigeria and

everybody will have the blessings of democracy and all the economic gifts, which God has bestowed on this country.

“I reflect about how somebody from Kano can live peacefully in and possibly become the Governor of Enugu State.

I also reflect on how somebody from Imo State can one day become the Governor of Sokoto State.

“I reflect on the about 350 million population of West African and how we can bring meaning to the protocol on enterprise, free movement, and residency to make the sub-region unique and prosperous.”

Catholic Bishop offers solutions to Ahiara impasse

By Sam Eyoboka

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AWARD: Chief of Staff, Government House, Enugu, Rotarian Festus Uzo (left); Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (2nd right); his wife, Lady Nwanneka, and others, during the presentation of the Rotary International District 9142 Outstanding Citizen of the World 2017 award to Senator Ekweremadu.

PDP professionals reject Suswan as head of electoral c'ttee

By Dapo Akinrefon

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pressure group, PDP Professionals for the Defense Integrity and Equity, has rejected former governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswan, as Chairman of the Electoral Panel Committee for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alleging that his appointment was deliberately designed to arrive at a predetermined solution.

In a statement, Chairman of the group, Mr. Tichus Zungeru, said: “We observe with dismay and total disgust the purported appointment of Gabriel Suswan as the Chairman of the very crucial electoral panel committee at our upcoming National Convention.

“He does not represent a symbol of unbiased purity, the very image of sanitising wholesomeness without which we cannot have a

clean, equitable, unsoiled election.

“Suswan’s appointment

We don’t want pity —Physically-challenged

By Vincent Ujumadu

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WKA—THE physicallychallenged have said they do not need pity from Nigerians, but

Anambra 2018 appropriation described as ‘budget of hope, consolidation’

By Nwafor Sunday

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HE National Coordinator APGA Media Warriors Forum, Evang Chinedu Obigwe, has described the 2018 budget presented by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State as a budget of hope and consolidation for Ndi Anambra.

Obigwe told newsmen, yesterday, that the 166.9 billion Naira budget, tagged Budget of Value for Money, Economic Diversification and Job

Creation, would put smiles on the faces of the people of the state in 2018.

He also commended the governor for the effective implementation of the 2017 budget as was attested by Rita Maduagwu, Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Obigwe also said the provision of 533 million Naira for the conduct of local government elections in the 2018 budget is a welcome development and proof that Governor Obiano is a true democrat.

is flawed, erroneous and designed to arrive at a predetermined solution.”

His stament read in part: “I salute the governor for his plan to build an asphalt plant, which will reduce the cost of road construction in the state and also commend him for his plan to complete the construction of 150kilometre road in the state as captured in his 2018 budget proposal.

“With Governor Obiano there is hope of light at the end of the tunnel for the people of the state. Which is why Anambra electorate re-elected him.”

encouragement to participate fully in the country’s socio-economic and political environments.

Speaking through the Inclusive Friends Association, IFA, as part of activities to mark this year’s International Day for Persons with Disabilities, IDPD, they called on the National Assembly and the National Orientation Agency, NOA, to plan better for People with Disabilities, PWDs, in future elections by collating the appropriate data for various disabilities.

Executive Director of IFA, Grace Jerry, in a statement, observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had made some improvements in ensuring that PWDs were part of the electoral process, adding that they needed to do more.

IVE years into the impasse in Ahiara Catholic Diocese over the rejection of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke by indigenous priests and lay members, cracks are beginning to emerge among the ranks of the Nigerian Bishops Council against the resilient Ahiara Mbaise Catholic Diocese.

Such indications emerged on December 1, when the Catholic Bishop of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, Bishop Joseph Danlami Bagobiri, for the first time, broke ranks with his fellow Nigeria Catholic Bishops and urged relevant authorities to “give Ahiara a bishop close to their hearts.”

After over five years of Bishopric quagmire in the Ahiara Catholic Diocese, the brave bishop broke ranks with his

colleagues at the allpowerful Nigeria’s Catholic Bishops Council, to support the embattled Ahiara Diocese, who had rejected a bishop posted to them—for violation of due process.

In a statement personally signed by him, Most Rev Joseph Bagobiri, at the occasion of the silver jubilee celebration of Revenge.

He said: “The crisis that ensued with the appointment of Bishop Peter Okpalaeke as the second bishop of the diocese of Ahiara to succeed late Bishop Victor Chikwe has lingered on now for about five years.

“This could have been avoided or resolved if CBCN had been courageous enough to follow truth and justice, by listening to the aggrieved party and presenting their case positively or in an empathetic manner as a united force to Rome.”

Ugwuanyi flags off construction of 4 roads

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OVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has flagged off construction of four rural roads in the state, covering about 10 kilometres at the cost of nearly N1 billion.

In the same vein, the state Executive Council has approved the construction of five fire stations in Udi, Udenu, Nkanu West, Oji River and Igbo-Eze North Local Government areas of the state in furtherance of the desire of the Ugwuanyi administration to protect lives and properties.

Already, work has commenced on the four roads which include Obollo Eke JunctionAgala-Okpaligbo Junction, Ohom OrbaAmajioka-UmuikeohaAgu Orba, and Okpu Agu Orba Road, both in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

Others are OguruteMkpamute-IgogoroIkpamodo-Okpo-Amaja Road (phase 1), Ogurute-Umuogbo UloIsiugwu-Umuopu-Ette Road (phase 1), in IgboEze North Local Government Area of the state.

16—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 :Vanguard News

NCC urges collaboration in bridging data divide

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CONFERENCE: From left—Managing Director, The Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending, NIRSAL, Aliyu Abdulhameed; Chairman, Kunoch Ltd, Pascal Dozie; Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Head of Agric Finance desk, Diamond Bank, Lois Sankey, during the 1st Annual Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA-NIRSAL conference in Abuja.

By Emmanuel Elebeke

BUJA—THE Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Prof.

Umar Danbatta says Nigeria runs the risk of losing the benefits of emerging technologies unless private sector partner with telecommunication operators in bridging data divide.

Prof. Danbatta stated this during his presentation on the topic: Leveraging on ICT for Sustainable Economic Development, on a side line of the 16th Meeting of the Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning, NCDP, in Minna.

He said the total of 37,104

km of fiber network deployment currently is a far cry from national infrastructure needed to bridge data divide in the country.

He explained that the current 21 percent broadband penetration and 90 million teledensity in the country is unacceptable to the Commission as it is working hard to meet the 30 percent broadband penetration target in 2018.

He said: ‘‘Even with success recorded in voice, if it is not replicated in data, we cannot claim to be successful. We have 10 terabytes of fibre ready to be deployed but we cannot deploy this capacity due to the existing infrastructure. ‘‘That is why the Commission is working hard to avoid a repeat of negative effects of data divide in other countries.’’

Lagos govt makes case for leadership training

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INDUCTION: From left— Mr. David Ajibola Olorunleke; President/Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr. Cyril Ikemefuna Ede; Guest of Honour, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Service, Babcock University, Prof. Sunday Owolabi and Honorary Treasurer, CITN, Olushola Samuel Agbeluyi, at the 37th induction ceremony of CITN in Lagos.

By Fredrick Okopie

AGOS—LAGOS State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, said that leadership training will help retain and maximise the capacities of people in organisations, such as the Lagos State Public Service.

The governor, who stated this while addressing selected group of Directors from the Lagos State Service undergoing leadership training in Ikeja, weekend.

Mr Ambode who was represented by the State Commissioner of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Oke, said that: “Leadership training help to nurture future leaders, and

DBIR office, others sealed off over alleged 2 years rent

By Tare Youdeowei

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LAUNCH: From left— Secretary to the Katsina State Government, Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa; Representative of the Governor of Zindar, Niger Republic, Mammam Haru; Governor of Maradi, Niger Republic, Zakari Umaru; Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari and Corporate Relations Executive, MTN Nigeria, Tobechukwu Okigbo, at the national launch of Animal Identification and Management Solution, championed by MTN Nigeria in Runka, Katsina State.

organisations need to strategise on developing and nurturing future leaders. Without strategy, leadership roles are often given to the most forward candidates with dominant personalities.''

He told the participants mostly directors from ministries of Lagos State Public Service that leadership training can also help individual leaders develop their own personal leadership style that their team members will best respond to.

Dr. Oke advised the directors to bring the benefits of transformation leadership, productive work ethnics, and innovativeness to provide stability, inspiration, courage and direction during time of crisis.

S A B A — FOLLOWING the failure of Delta State Government, DTSG, to pay two years rent arrears of a property situated along BeninAsaba Express-way, Asaba, the owner of the property, Onianwa Family of Asaba, has barricaded the entrance to the property.

The property houses Delta State Board of Internal Revenue's headquarters annex, the Office of the Area Tax Controller, the Resident Coordinator,Tax office Training School, Fadama Coordination Office,

Pre-Audit Office and Delta State Computer Centre.

The Onianwas disclosed that they have written series of letters to the Ministry of Lands and Surveys for the 2016 and 2017 rent arrears but have not received any acknowledgement to that effect, as they described the development as an act of impunity and administrative recklessness.

The Onianwa Family urged DSG, which has occupied the property since the creation of the state, to clear the arrears before its purported packing out this month.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 17 :Vanguard News

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Olubadan chieftaincy review reversible — MONARCH

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

By Ola Ajayi

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B A DAN— T H E Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji has challenged Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State over the Olubadan chieftaincy review saying the controversial issue is reversible.

He said this while responding to a comment credited to the Oyo State Governor during Friday’s Id-el Maulud celebration at the Remembrance Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan where Ajimobi gave the impression that the review was irreversible.

The controversial chieftaincy review resulted in the enthronement of 21 new kings by the Oyo State Government.

The monarch said this when he received scores of family compound leaders from Idi Arere, Popoyemoja, Isale Osi, Igbonna, Akuro, Gbodu, Bode and adjoining areas in his palace at the weekend.

Oba Adetunji noted that he had lived long enough to know that God has the capacity to reverse the irreversible and return Ibadan chieftaincy system to the path of peace and harmony that had become the envy of people at home and abroad.

The monarch insisted that the legal tussle over the controversial matter between the Oyo State Government and diverse stakeholders in Ibadan land is alive, noting that all parties to the dispute are advised to respect the rule of law by giving the court the chance to play its constitutional role of adjudicating in disputes without hindrance.

He said: “Some people erroneously believe that the chieftaincy crisis is a personal conflict between Governor Ajimobi and Oba Adetunji. This is wrong.

There are at least five suits in respect of the chieftaincy

ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE: From left; Major Ibrahim Bantam, former Director, DIA /Cord NCA; Mr Chris Uwaje, Director General, DSIHUB, and guest speaker; chief host, Dr Ona Ekhome, President, Association of Industrial Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON); Chief Mrs Victoria Ekhome (co-host); Gen Alexander Ogomudia (retd), former Chief of Defence Sfaff; Prof Bola Akinterinwa, former DG, NIIA, during the 10th Anniversary Security Conference of AISSON in Lagos. crisis in the Oyo State High Court as we speak. What this shows is that the generality of our people believe that the issue at stake is a matter of great public interest as well as the outcome. As Olubadan, I am merely a custodian of the tradition and custom of

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BUJA—THE ambition of former spokesperson of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun State, Prince Diran Odeyemi, to emerge as the new Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party on December 9, has received blessings of the party’s delegates from the North.

Odeyemi, who recently concluded a tour of South

Ibadan people. With an oath before our forebears, I do not see how as a monarch I will compromise the tradition and custom of Ibadan people.”

The traditional ruler also said that it was in order to give peace a chance that he had allowed different

stakeholders to meet with him for what they called out of court settlement.

He was emphatic saying no peaceful resolution of the conflict could be achieved without repudiating the gazette that had further deepened the lingering crisis.

DO-EKITI— GOVERNOR of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, yesterday described plan by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to take over government in the state in 2018 as a pipe dream, saying Ekiti people would not vote for the party in next year ’s governorship election.

Fayose, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in AdoEkiti, yesterday said the APC was fond of ranting over what it knew was quite impossible.

He, however, advised the APC to stop day dreaming.

Fayose said: “How can APC win? How can it convince Ekiti people that it will do better if it gets back to power? What meaningful project does the Fayemi administration have to its credit for the APC candidate to campaign with? Maybe the huge debt it plunged the state into. Certainly, no

PDP CHAIR: It’s late for consensus S-West candidate — GEORGE Our party weak in South West — Daniel

By Dapo Akinrefon, Dayo Johnson & Daud Olatunji

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A G O S — A chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George has ruled out the possibility of the South West presenting a consensus candidate for the position saying party delegates should decide who should represent them.

This came as another aspirant, Prince Uche Secondus appealed to delegates of the party in Lagos to vote according to their conscience.

Also, former governor of Ogun State, Otunba

PDP CONVENTION: North backs Odeyemi for Deputy National Publicity Secretary

By Gbenga Olarinoye

2018: Why Ekiti people’ll not vote for APC — FAYOSE

West states to garner support for his aspiration, secured the support of the Northern delegates led by Alhaji Salisu Mogaji Arewa, after a meeting in Abuja.

According to a statement signed by Prince Odeyemi's Campaign Manager, Mr Akin Adeyi, and made available to newsmen, the meeting with the Northern delegates took place shortly after he submitted his nomination form at the PDP National Secretariat.

Secondus woos Lagos delegates Gbenga Daniel has said he decided to join the race to rescue the party.

George said this in Ondo State while meeting with 59 delegates of the party in the state.

Responding to a question on the possibility of reaching a consensus candidate after meeting with the delegates, George said “the time is a bit too late and I am talking very frankly about it. Let the people use their conscience to think about who they want to direct their ship.”

He noted that “you know because the party is in quagmire, it has been in a state of faux, those who could have been in a fatherly position are no longer there and if I have to judge by my own movements, the other aspirants must have spent a lot of time, physically, health wise and financially.

So there is no more time for such an arrangement.”

Secondus woos Lagos PDP Meanwhile, Secondus, who was in Lagos, yesterday, said he was on a mission to empower state chapters of the party.

While acknowledging Bode George as his boss, the aspirant vowed to support George if he emerges national chairman of the party.

He said: “Chief Bode George is my boss, a man of timber and calibre from

Lagos State who is also vying for the position of chairman. We have a vision to rebuild our party, to reposition it and to recover lost ground. We are selling our vision to the people of Nigeria especially the people of Lagos. We aren’t involved in mudslinging or bring down syndrome or blackmail. We cannot be involved in attacking each other.

"Our daddy, Bode George is my boss and father to us all. I believe that the choice is left for the people to make. I also believe that he is competent and able to lead the party.

If he is the people’s choice, I will give him my support.

Every individual is allowed to make a choice. Nobody will be forced to vote for aspirants. Everybody should vote freely.”

Our party weak in S'West — Daniel Also, Otunba Daniel said he decided to vie for the national chairmanship of PDP, to rescue the party and reposition it.

Daniel, who spoke yesterday in Abeokuta while addressing PDP stakeholders and delegates in Ogun State, ahead of the party ’s convention said: “the PDP national chairmanship has gone beyond individual agenda but a South West agenda.”

He noted that PDP is weak in the South West

unlike in the South East, South South and north, saying the southwest must come together and ensure the zone clinches the position of national chairman.

He also said his intention “is to empower the state chapters. We want to give the state chapters the opportunity to take their destiny in their hands by choosing their candidates.

"It is not by way of sentiments that the position of chairman was zoned to the southern states, if it were otherwise that the party ordered that position remains in the South-West, I would not have come out because I am party man.

I am a team player.”

teacher will like a return of the APC government in Ekiti.”

Reacting to comments credited to the State Deputy Chairman of the APC, Mrs Kemi Olaleye, urging the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prepare for defeat as it was not willing to remain in the trenches for another four years, the governor described APC’s statements as mere wishful thinking that would not hold any water.

He said: “For APC to be saying that it would deploy every power within its means and other strategies to win the July 14, 2018 election is a careless display of desperation that is unbecoming of an opposition party that has since lost relevance both at the centre and in the state.

For the avoidance of doubt, let me assure them that they will remain in the trenches as opposition figures in the state for many years.

In addition, he said: “Ekiti people are now wiser and won’t waste their votes on selfish characters whose stock in trade is to continually waste funds meant to develop human and material resources of the state on white elephant projects that only exist on papers and the imagination of their members.

“In 2010, the party had, through the back door, come into power and foisted itself on the people. That was a lifetime opportunity they should have used to their advantage and win the hearts of the people by providing impactful leadership, but they blew the golden chance and in spite of being blessed with fat allocations from Abuja.

“Let me assure them expressly that Ekiti people will not tolerate rigging with federal might in the state, neither are they gullible puppets that can be bought over by tokens.''

LG AUTONOMY: Ex-chairmen beg NUT to suspend nationwide protest

By Daud Olatunji

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B E O K U TA — FORMER Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria under the auspices of Association of Ex-Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria have appealed to the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, to suspend their state-to-state protest against local government autonomy.

The association, in a statement signed by its National President, Albert Ashipa and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta,

Ogun State urged the NUT to engage in a round-table discussion with relevant stakeholders, instead of mobilizing against local government autonomy.

Ashipa said NUT, at a meeting with the representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees at the instance of ASELGON, had been assured that modalities would be worked out on prompt payment of teachers’ salaries by local governments.

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

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HE decision of the Borno State Government to convert the home of Muhammad Yusuf, the late founder of Boko Haram into a museum is a welcome development. However, certain issues need to be put to rest in actualising this laudable project.

First, we must agree that the Boko Haram insurgency has become a big part of the history, not only of Borno State and the North East region but of the entire Nigerian nation and the Lake Chad subregion. The insurgency started soon after its founder, Ustaz Muhammad Yusuf, was killed while in government security custody in Maiduguri on 30 th May 2009.

Prior to this, Yusuf’s home served as the “Markaz” or meeting point of his radical Islamic sect, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (People committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teaching and Jihad), which was later popularly known as Boko

By Akintola Benson -Oke

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N a piece of advice directed at the management of organisations, Fionnuala Courtney stated that, “the success of leadership training always depends on how it is done. Think back to the best manager you have ever had. I’m sure you can remember the person because good leaders are memorable . . . and excellent leaders are unforgettable. What was it about their leadership that motivated and encouraged you? For that same reason, I bet you can also remember your worst leader. Great leaders move us and inspire us to do our best work. That said, it is important that you have effective leaders in your workplace to empower and influence your people to achieve business and team goals.”

Similarly, the great philosophical thinker, Aristotle, spoke of ‘ethos’ as a type of leadership in which a leader influences others to change their values and thus their performance. ‘Ethos’ is not what a person says or promises, but it is their way of being in the world, their presence and comportment that affects how others follow them and whether they are open to their ideas. Essentially, Aristotle exhorted that the leadership that matters is the leadership that results in productivity and positive change.

This training titled‘Impact of Transformation Leadership on Work Ethics, Innovation & Attitudinal Change’ offers participants a unique and valuable opportunity to aspire to the heights of self awareness and self development that are indispensable for the actualisation of corporate and individual goals.

Mr. Peter Reily, the notable organisational productivity consultant and the author of “In the Garden of Hearts,” shared from his rich career experience in an article as follows: “Over my career I have facilitated the development of some excellent strategic plans. A few were successfully implemented; most were not. The plans did not succeed or fail based on the strength of the ideas and strategies that were contained within them.

Borno’s proposed Boko Haram Museum Haram, a group that abhors Western values, especially education.

It is a normal practice to build museums to commemorate important wars. The Boko Haram insurgency, certainly, is a major factor that has altered the history and development trajectory of the North East. Not only that, it has also added a new dimension to the thousand year-old history of Maiduguri and the defunct Kanem-Bornu Islamic empire.

The Boko Haram insurgency has claimed over 20,000 lives, rendered about five million people homeless, dumped about two million people in Internally-

Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, made Boko Haram the third most murderous terrorist group in the world and cost billions of naira losses to the government and people of the North East and the Federal Government. Such a phenomenon definitely deserves a museum where the stories, facts and artefacts will be preserved and displayed for tourism and historical purposes.

We, however, caution that the Boko Haram insurgency must be totally stamped out before such a project is initiated. The rehabilitation of the people and restoration of good governance must be accorded top priority to

win the people fully back.

Otherwise, the terrorists might destroy the site.

Perhaps, another approach would be to preser ve Ustaz Yusuf ’s residence for future tourism, and take the museum elsewhere within Maiduguri, perhaps a fortified military zone. It is important to not only preserve the artefacts of the Boko Haram war, but also a memorial cenotaph displaying the names of soldiers and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members who paid the supreme sacrifice while defending the nation against the insurgency should be erected.

If such a facility is put up in the late Yusuf ’s former “Markaz”, future Boko Haram sympathisers might also see it as a desecration of their “spiritual headquarters” and make another dangerous issue out of it.

The museum is a welcome idea, but it must be handled with care.

OPINION Impact of transformation leadership on work ethics No, the key element in whether they succeeded. or not, was directly related to the effectiveness of the leaders who were charged with making them reality.”

Since my assumption of office as the Honourable Commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, I have regarded it as my core mission to pursue the conduct of trainings and workshops aimed at increasing the competencies and productivity of individual officers with a view to contributing to the overall productivity and effectiveness of the Lagos State Public Service.

As is well known, this core mission is in full consonance with the wider objectives of the government of Lagos State led by His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. His Excellency fully recognises the enormous value that knowledge and skills training bring to bear on the attainment of the strategic objectives of the government and the public service of Lagos State.

Leaders functioning at a high level of emotional intelligence have the perspective to make informed, intelligent business decisions Furthermore, he has always been in the vanguard of advocating for the institutionalisation of essential training programmes that benefit the most strategically-placed officers in the public service.

Thus, I am delighted that we are witnessing yet another occasion to demonstrate this noble commitment of the Lagos State government.

Without doubt, high performances have been known to increase in organisations that expose their human capital to leadership development through training programmes of this nature and I

am hopeful that the learning outcomes of this training will translate into more dynamism, effectiveness and efficiency for the public service.

The earlier-cited HR expert, Fionnuala Courtney, further stated the good news that “leaders can be created through effective leadership trainings” while articulating six of the big benefits that leadership training can offer any organisation. I will briefly discuss these points with a view to serving the participants the appetizer required to fully absorb and digest the main course to be served by the facilitators of this training.

First, it has been shown that leadership trainings Increase productivity. The right, consistent leadership can increase the productivity of the people in an organisation. At its primal level, leadership is about understanding people emotionally. In a book titled, The New Leaders, Daniel Goleman states that emotional intelligence is critical to the success of a leader. Emotional intelligence involves being smart about emotions and using empathy effectively to empower and engage employees. Leadership training that encompasses emotional intelligence can hone these emotional skills in people, managers and leaders.

Leadership trainings help retain and maximise the capacities of people in organisations such as the Lagos State Public Service. Ms. Courtney stated that 75% of people voluntarily leaving jobs do not quit their jobs but in fact ‘quit their bosses’!

This means that employees leave because of ineffective managers and managers with poor leadership skills. By investing in leadership trainings, an organisation can retain its people and reduce costly recruitment expenses.

Leadership trainings help nurture future leaders.

Organisations need to be strategic about developing and nurturing future leaders. Without strategy, leadership roles are often given to the most forward candidates with dominant

personalities. Quality leadership is a combination of the right qualities and the right training. Identify those who have what it takes and provide them with targeted leadership training. Nurturing future leaders supports succession planning and offers career pathways to employees, further increasing retention.

Leadership trainings increase employee engagement. We all like to know how we are progressing in our roles, receiving praise when it is well-earned and constructive feedback as necessary. In fact, 43% of highly engaged employees receive feedback at least once a week compared to only 18% of those with low engagement. Giving feedback is a skill of successful leaders. Through leadership trainings, organisations can teach effective ways to give feedback to motivate and increase the skill level of their people.

Leadership trainings implement an effective leadership style. Leadership trainings can assist in implementing the most appropriate leadership style for organisations and the work they do. There are several leadership styles, all with their own advantages and disadvantages. Leadership trainings can also help individual leaders develop their own personal leadership style that their team members will best respond to.

Leadership trainings help people make better decisions. Last, but absolutely not the least: Leadership trainings can result in better decisionmaking. How? Because leaders functioning at a high level of emotional intelligence have the perspective to make informed, intelligent business decisions. For that reason alone, organisations can consider their leadership training investments returned.

Continues Online @www. vanguardngr.com

*Dr. Benson-Oke, is Lagos State Commissioner for Establishments, Training & Pensions .

Cost of funds fluctuation to persist as N600bn hit interbank •Credit to private sector drops to N21.93tr on October

By Babajide Komolafe HE fluctuation of cost of funds in the interbank money market will persist this week even as the market enjoys inflow of N600 billion from matured treasury bills (TBs) and statutory allocation funds.

Last week the market experienced fluctuation in cost of funds triggered by liquidity mop-up operation of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN),

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funding for dollar purchases and inflow from matured TBs. Financial Vanguard analysis revealed that the market enjoyed inflow of N249.12 billion from matured TBs which caused short term cost of funds to drop to 11 percent from over 30 percent the previous week. In a bid to mop-up the inflow, the CBN issued N427 billion worth of TBs which was undersubscribed by 51 percent. Total

subscription stood at N209.5 billion while the amount sold stood at N189.5 billion.

In the secondary market, where existing TBs are re-issued, the CBN offered N310 billion worth of Open Market Operations (OMO) bills, while total subscription and amount sold stood at N95.7 billion and N72.3 billion respectively.

In the primary market where fresh TBs

are issued, the apex bank offered N117 billion worth of bills while total subscription and amount sold stood at N113.8 billion and N117.2 billion respectively.

These outflows, combined with outflow to fund dollar purchase in the retail intervention auction conducted by the CBN, jerked up short term funds to over 25 percent at the close of the week.

Continues on page 21

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

14 banks incur N368.3bn bad loans in 9 months •...Stakeholders in divergent views over implications

By Peter Egwuatu

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HE trending economic recovery news in the third quarter of 2017 (Q3’17)/ first nine months 2017 (9-

M’17), did not prevent the banking sector from some misery in the form of rising bad loans as 14 banks quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE recorded 8.0 percent increase in bad

loans (impairment losses), within the period, Financial Vanguard investigations revealed.

Industry stakeholders have said that the economy has not fully recovered

as banks’ credit customers were still grappling with hardships in meeting their loan repayment obligations.

It will be recalled that the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, recently announced that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, GDP, grew in Q3 2017 by 1.4 percent (year-on-year) in real terms, the second consecutive positive growth since the recovery of the economy from recession in Q2, 2017.

The report from the NBS, however, showed that the nation’s economy is still exposed to the risk of sliding back into recession, as only two out of 10 sectors grew during the quarter.

While the oil and gas sector grew by 25.89 percent, the non- oil sector contracted by 0.76 percent.

Industry stakeholders have stated that the Nigerian economy is still operationally in recession as they opined that the negative growth recorded in the non-oil sector in Q3‘17 figures indicates that the economy has not fully exited recession, and businesses are still facing difficulties in their financial performance.

Consequently, the 14 banks in this report controlling over 90 percent of the Nigerian financial market, recorded N368.3 billion impairment losses for the Q3’17, representing an increase of 8.0 percent from N341.1 billion in corresponding third quarter,Q3’16.

The banks are: United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, Fidelity Bank, Access Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC, Ecobank Group, Zenith Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, and Diamond Bank

Continues on page 20

CBN, FIRS, others meet to strategize on FSS 2020 PAGE 22

Equities to sustain positive momentum this week PAGE 24

Reinsurers to reject under-priced risks from 2018 PAGE 28

20 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

Cover

14 banks incur N368.3bn bad loans in 9 months Continues from page 19 Plc. Others are, Sterling Bank Plc, FCMB Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, FBN Holding Plc, and Unity Bank Plc. Interest income strengthens However, the growth rate on the bad loans appeared less upsetting at eight percent when compared to the net interest income of the 14 banks which stood at N1.476 trillion , representing a growth of 18 per cent or N222.4 billion from N1. 254 trillion recorded in the corresponding Q3’16.

Financial Vanguard review of the banks’ performance with regard to the impairment losses and the interest income showed that the banks recorded credit losses of 24.9 per cent of the net income realised in the period under review.

FBN Holdings recorded the highest impairment losses and net interest income of over N101.731billion and N254.345billion respectively during the period, while Wema Bank recorded the least impairment losses (apparently due to lower volume of activities) and net interest income at N256 million and N12.2billion respectively.

Meanwhile, top five banks on impairment losses for the period under review in absolute value showed that FBN Holdings recorded the largest figure at N101.7 billion, followed by Ecobank Group with N89.3 billion, Zenith Bank N47.053 billion, Diamond Bank N35.503 billion and Stanbic IBTC N20.334 billion.

However, in percentage terms, Wema Bank led the list with 220 per cent increase to N0.256 billion from N0.080 billion in the corresponding period of Q3’16. It was followed by Zenith Bank, up by 115 per cent to N47.053 billion from N21. 858 billion. Ecobank Group occupied the third position with 74 per cent at N89.3 billion up from N51.182 billion, followed by UBA with 42 per cent to N12.9 billion from N9.098 billion and FBN Holdings came fifth with 34 per cent increase to N101.731 billion from N75.666 billion in Q3’16.

Similarly,the top five banks on net interest income in absolute value for the nine months period ended September 30, 2017 showed that FBN Holdings topped the list as well with N254.345 billion, it was followed by Ecobank recording N216.311 billion.

Zenith Bank came third on the chart with N201.492 billion, followed by GTBank with N189.566 billion, and UBA came fifth with N152.297 billion.

In percentage terms, Stanbic IBTC topped the chart with 61 per cent increase to N62.947billion from N39.089billion in Q3’16; it was followed by GTBank which increased by 43 per cent to N189.566 billion from N132. 7 billion, followed by UBA which went up by 36 per cent to N152.297 billion from N112.073 billion. FBN Holding occupied the fourth position in the chart as it went up 25 per cent to N254 .345 billion from N202. 911 billion in Q3’16, while Access Bank occupied the fifth position on the chart with 14 per cent

appreciation to N121.472 billion from N106.374 billion in Q3’16.

We also know that the regulatory agencies would force them to make provisions. So both the banks and their debtors are goingconcerns; therefore, there is no cause for alarm as the capital would be recovered either now or later

Stakeholders’ reactions In his reaction to the rise in loan losses, Managing Director, High Cap Securities Limited, Mr. David Adonri, said: “Non Performing Loans, NPL are mounting because borrowers are yet to recover from the economic crisis.

Interest income for most banks is mainly from public sector lending

which is at high interest rate. For 14 banks to suffer such impairment, it means that there is danger looming.”

The spokesperson for Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Moses Igbrude said: “The implication of increase in loan losses provision is that these banks’ customers default in loan repayment is on the increase, which invariably will lead to low or no returns to the shareholders at the end of the financial year.

It is a sign that the loan facilities given are not performing and it has a grave consequence on the banking industry, which means danger looming in the sector as well.

“Managements should device ways of monitoring all processes of giving out loans. Government should try to improve the economy by diversifying the economy away from oil. They should provide a favourable forex market. Government policies should be consistent with what they preach.

They should focus on local production, especially agriculture so that Nigeria can feed itself as a nation.

Government should encourage export by paying for the EEG (Export Expansion Grant) as they promised the exporters. They should pay local contractors. Also federal and state governments should pay their workers

regularly. This will jump-start the economy and raise the purchasing power of the people. Then the NPL will reduce and banks impairment losses will reduce.

In his comment, former National Publicity Secretary of Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, NSSA, Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo, said: “The reasons for these NPL is well known. Some of the NPLs comes from loans to telecommunication/oil companies and others, while most of the companies if not all were performing.

“But we also know that the regulatory agencies would force them to make provisions. So both the banks and their debtors are going-concerns; therefore, there is no cause for alarm as the capital would be recovered either now or later.

“The implication of these is that investors should brace up for the results of a bad economy, although, investors invest in the market for a long term, and don’t forget that the banks are making cool profits in other areas of their operations and some if not many banks will still deliver but not as much as expected.

This means that we may have good dividends, but not bumper-harvestdividends.

“We should note that Nigeria just got out of recession and inflation is a by-product of bad economy. It will take some time to fix and improve bad economy and as it improves, then inflation would be tamed. One very bad attitude of Nigerians is that we so much believed in miracles, which doesn’t work with the economy.

Economic policies must be well formulated and executed to impact on banks performance.

“We’ve been down economically and so government must follow the due process, with serious improvement in the implementation of good policies in order to achieve a good result and it will take some time to get the economy back on track and never through miracles; while the citizen must be seen to be supporting the economic recovery agenda.’’

Perspectives on positive GDP On the impact of the positive economic indicators, Managing Director/Chief Executive, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane said: “If you take away petroleum, it means that all other sectors are actually technically in recession, therefore something has to happen, and the only way to make things happen is to increase electricity output as well as stimulating the nation’s economy. We need to do more as a country in improving access to electricity.”

Cordros Research, a Lagos base investment house, in its reaction on the recovering economy stated: “It is difficult to expect a significant rebound in services GDP, as activities in the largest subsector, telecommunications (23 per cent of services GDP), may likely stagnate at current levels or decline further as limited scope for expansion exists in the segment. That said, we think other subsectors in the sector will benefit from continued government effort at improving the ease of doing business and the CBN’s sustained commitment to forex stability.”

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 21

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

Cost of funds fluctuation to persist as N600bn hit interbank Continues from page 19

However when compared to the level in the previous week, average short term cost of funds closed lower by 424 basis points (bpts). Data from Financial Market Dealers Quote (FMDQ) showed that interest rate on Collateralised (Open Buy Back, OBB) lending dropped by 498 bpts to 25.85 percent on Friday from 30.83 percent the previous week. Similarly, interest rate on Overnight lending dropped by 350 bpts to 29.08 percent from 32.58 percent during the same period.

This week the market will enjoy inflow of N109.35 billion from matured TBs, and over N500 billion from statutory allocation funds. These inflows are expected to boost market liquidity and lead to decline in cost of funds.

The decline in cost of funds might however be short-lived, as the CBN will likely step in with special TB offer aimed at mopping-up the liquidity.

Credit to private sector drops toN21.9tr in October In apparent reflection of the crowding out effect of government borrowing activities, and the attractiveness of yields on government securities, credit to the private sector dropped marginally by 0.42 percent to N21.93 trillion in October. Credit to the government however rose by 5.69 percent to N5.25 trillion during the month.

These were highlights of the Deposit Money corporation survey of the CBN released last week.

The survey showed a 2.49 percent month-onmonth (MoM) increase in Broad Money to N22.50 trillion in October – as Net Foreign Assets (NFA) increased MoM by 23.35 percent to N12.40 trillion, thus offsetting a MoM 15.12 percent fall in Net Domestic Assets (NDA) to N10.10 trillion.

The increase in NFA resulted from increase in foreign exchange reserves position as well as increase in foreign portfolio inflows (FPIs).

On domestic asset creation, the increase in NDA resulted from a 0.70 percent MoM rise in Net Domestic Credit (NDC) to N27.17 trillion, accompanied by a 13.19 percent increase in Other Liabilities (net) to N17.07 trillion. A breakdown of NDC showed a 5.69 C M Y K

•Depository Corporation Survey

•Interbank Interest rates

•Yields on FGN Bonds percent MoM increase in Credit to the Government to N5.25 trillion accompanied by a 0.42 percent decline in Credit to the Private sector to N21.93 trillion as the public sector continued to crowd-out the private sector.

Increase in Broad Money also followed a 1.83 percent MoM increase in Quasi Money (near maturing short term financial instruments) to N12.11 trillion, accompanied by a 3.27 percent rise in Narrow Money to N10.39 trillion of which Demand Deposits increased by 3.48 percent to N8.93trillion. Indicative of tightened monetary policy conditions, Reserve Money (Base Money) also increased MoM by 3.65 percent to N5.76 trillion as bank reserves increased MoM by 5.62 percent to N3.62 trillion while currency in circulation rose MoM by

0.57 percent to N1.79 trillion.

Naira depreciate as investors inject $749m in I&E The naira depreciated by 65 kobo in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window last week, in spite 2.9 percent increase in dollars traded in the window.

Data from FMDQ revealed that the indicative exchange rate of the window rose to N360.65 per dollar last week from N360.25 percent the previous week. The naira however remained stable in the parallel market.

In apparent reflection of increased confidence in the I&E window, investors injected $749.17 million in the four days of trading, as against $727.9 million recorded in the previous week. On its part the CBN sustained its intervention in the foreign exchange market by injecting $210 million

•Exchange rates into the interbank foreign exchange market.

In a statement announcing the intervention, Acting Director, Corporate Communications

Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor said: “$100 million was offered to the wholesale segment, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment got an

allocation of $55 million.

The invisibles segment (i.e. tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others) was also allocated $55 million.”

22 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

FINANCIAL VANGUARD CBN, FIRS, others meet to strategize on FSS 2020

By Babajide Komolafe

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other agencies involved in the implementation of the Financial System Strategy (FSS 2020) will meet this week to re-strategise on implementation of the Financial System Strategy 2020.

The CBN disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday.

The statement reads : The objective of the event, which is scheduled to hold in Lagos, is to review the status of the FSS2020 programme and deliberate on the priorities and strategies for the next three years (2018-2020).

“During the forum, the CBN and the various implementing

agencies such as the National Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Stock Exchange, National Insurance Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission will take stock of the progress so far and address challenges in forging an international financial system. Participants are expected to come up with an outlook for the next three

years (2018-2020) and beyond in helping to evolve an economy that is one of the 20 largest economies in the world.

“Highlight of the event to be declared open by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the delivery of the keynote address by the Coordinator of the FSS2020 Project Office and CBN Deputy Governor in charge of Corporate Services

Directorate, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, whose tenure as Deputy Governor ends later this month.

“In 2007, the CBN launched the FSS2020 aimed at calibrating the financial system as a means of ensuring economic growth and development with the view of growing the Nigerian economy to become one of the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020.”

CBN mandates IFIS to increase agent network to 150,000 by 2020

By Princewill Ekwujuru

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has mandated Interswitch Financial Inclusion Services (IFIS), a subsidiary of Interswitch Group to grow its agent network to 150,000 by 2020, as it fulfilled all Approval-in-Principle requirements.

Trading as Quickteller Paypoint, IFIS aims to increase the availability of digital financial services in financially-excluded locations in Nigeria from 44 percent to over 70 percent in five years. Quickteller Paypoint has now crossed a symbolic milestone by breaking the 10,000 activated agent mark.

With this feat, Quickteller Paypoint now has the second largest agent network in Nigeria.

Confirming the license update, Divisional CEO, IFIS, Mike Ogbalu said: “With excitement, we are proud to announce this feat. We are conscious of the fact that work is only just starting. We would not be resting on our oars and remain fully dedicated to our cause and business mandate.

By way of investment in people and technology, we continue to reaffirm our commitment to this ambitious project.

L-R: First Deputy President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) Alhaji Sani Umar presenting a gift to the Managing Director/ Chief Executive, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim at the NDIC Special Day during the 38th Kano International Trade Fair 2017 in Kano.

UBA Group emerges African Bank of the Year at The Banker awards

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NITED Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has been crowned the “African Bank of the Year 2017” by The Banker Magazine. This Banker Award is premier for Nigeria, as it marks the first time a Nigerianheadquartered bank will be winning the prestigious and highly coveted regional award.

To further demonstrate the group’s strength and dominance in the financial sector on the continent, four of UBA Group’s operations in Africa also led contenders in their respective countries to emerge the Best Bank of the Year 2017 in their respective markets. UBA Congo, UBA Tchad, UBA Gabon and UBA Senegal emerged the Best Bank of the Year in Congo, Tchad, Gabon and Senegal, reinforcing

the strong franchise of the Group across its chosen markets in Africa. Notably, UBA Gabon and UBA Senegal won the same awards in 2016, as both subsidiaries of UBA Group remain the Banks to beat in Gabon and Senegal.

Explaining the rationale behind UBA carting multiple categories in its December issue, The Banker Magazine noted that Africa’s economic landscape has been unpredictable in recent times which resulted in recession in some of Africa’s best performing economies, while the region as a whole only expanded by about 1.3 percent in 2016. “In these conditions only the most diversified and innovative of regional banks can prosper. And this is precisely why the United

Heritage Bank extends agent banking frontiers to Ogijo

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ERITAGE Bank Plc has registered its presence in Ogijo in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State with the commissioning of Dunmop Ventures as agent banking partner under the financial inclusion policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is designed to bring banking services to the underbanked in Nigeria. The bank recently inaugurated the corner shop as its agent banking partner to carry out agent banking transactions beside the 74th Battalion of the Nigerian Army and PZ manufacturing outfit along the Shagamu Road in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The agent bank will handle account opening, cash deposit, funds transfer; cash withdrawal and bills payment among others.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs.

Oluwakemi Adewunmi, who is in charge of agent banking in South West and South-South for the bank, said the bank has signed on more than 500 agents since it commenced the programme about two years ago.

She noted that the bank was using the agency banking system to bring banking services to the door steps of the rural communities in the country.

According to her, based on the market survey Heritage Bank carried out on the neighbourhood, the people living in the community used to travel over a distance of a minimum of 7km before reaching the nearest bank in Ikorodu anytime they needed to do banking transaction.

Again, she added that financial transactions could now be carried out seven days a week without regard to weekends and public holidays.

Bank for Africa (UBA) has scooped the 2017 regional winner award. For one, the lender registered impressive topand bottom-line growth over the review period,” it noted.

The magazine went further to enumerate the various achievements recorded by UBA Group during the period, noting that earnings for the year reached N384 billion ($1.07 billion) signaling 22 pecent growth from its 2015 performance while profit before tax also grew, by 32 percent, to reach N91 billion.

According to the organisers, “Equally impressive is UBA’s capital adequacy ratio which, at the end of 2016, stood at 20 percent, while its nonperforming loan ratio was a healthy 3.9 percent. Operating across 19 markets in Africa, the bank serves more than 14 million customers. For these reasons, and others, UBA is the winner of our 2017 African Bank of the Year award,” the magazine stated.

Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, who was delighted by the recognition from The Bankers said, “These awards mark another milestone for UBA Group and is a testament of the diligent execution of the bank’s strategic initiatives on customer service. Being recognized as Africa’s best bank complements positive feedback from customers and is a recognition of our improving efficiencies, service quality and innovation.”

FirstBank achieves PCI DSS Version 3.2 recertification

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IRST Bank of Nigeria Limited has successfully recertified to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 3.2, having been one of the first top-tier banks in Nigeria to obtain the PCI DSS certification in 2014.

This recertification reaffirms the bank’s leading position in the payment card industry in Nigeria. Recently, FirstBank was named the first financial institution in Nigeria and the West-Africa sub-region to issue 10 million cards to customers across the country.

This makes FirstBank the second bank in Africa to achieve this feat. With this milestone, the bank has maintained a 95 percent active card ratio and currently processes about 33 percent of card transactions in the entire banking industry.

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of requirements designed to ensure companies that process, store or transmit credit/debit card information, maintain a secure environment thereby guaranteeing the protection of cardholder data throughout the transaction process.

Transaction process The award of this certificate is a strong indicator that FirstBank consistently has its customers' interest at the core of its business operations, is committed to securing customer information as well as maintaining a safe and secure environment for customer transactions.

Consequently, the Bank presently has a card transaction volume of over 2700 per minute with one in every three card transactions being a FirstBank card.

According to the Managing Director/Chief Executive, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the bank’s recertification is a testament to the high level operational standards and its strict adherence to international security standards and other regulations. ”In an era of increasing sophisticated attacks on systems; adhering to the PCI DSS represents an organisation’s best protection against cybercrime.

FirstBank remains committed to excellent information security management and would continue to apply the PCI DSS in its business practices” he further stated.Durotoye amongst others.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 23

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

Equities to sustain positive momentum this week •As analysts bet on Access Bank, CAP, others

By Nkiruka Nnorom

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PERATORS in the capital market have said that the equities market will record another week of positive momentum after two consecutive weeks of rally.

The anticipated bullish run, according to them, followed increasing investors' confidence in equities.

According to analysts at Vetiva Capital, “With a positive close across all but one key sector and consistently strong positive market breadth to close out the shortened week, we expect this upbeat sentiment to filter into the start of next week.’’

Similarly, analysts at Meristem Securities stated: “We attribute the positive close to the bullish sentiments observed on counters in the consumer goods and banking space. We expect the current trend to be maintained in the coming week, following increased investors’ confidence towards the Nigerian bourse.”

Specifically, Meristem Securities said that the positive mood in the banking and the consumer goods sectors will be sustained throughout the last month of the year.

This comes as analysts at Cowry Asset Management have placed a buy rating on the shares of Access Bank Plc, Chemical and Allied Products, CAP Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Eterna Plc, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, ETI, and Fidelity Bank Plc with a full year price target of N12.42, N43.00, N371.87, N8.51, N25.20 and N4.19 per share respectively..

Others are Flourmills of Nigeria Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Zenith Bank Plc with price target of N41.29, N1,612.56, N14.74, N83.11 and N34.58 per share respectively.

Meanwhile, a breakdown of transactions last week shows that with dominance of positive sentiments in the equities market for the second week in a row, the All Share Index, ASI, gained on three out of the four trading days.

Consequently, the index advanced by 1.55 percent to close at 37,944.6 points. From 37,365.91 points, settling the year-to-date return at 41.19 percent.

Similarly, the market capitalisation advanced by N206 billion or 1.58 percent to close at N13.215 trillion from N13.009 trillion last week.

All sectored gauges closed in green territory with the industrial goods sector rising by 1.15 per cent, propelled by 1.66 per cent and 1.63 per cent increase in Dangote Cement and Lafarge Africa Plc respectively. The consumer goods sector appreciated by 1.32 per cent on the back of 11.59 percent gain in Dangote FlourMills Plc and 9.75

percent growth in Cadbury Nigeria Plc. Analysts at Meristem Securities opined that the rally in the sector was driven by buy pressures on several other companies, saying that the bulls would continue to outpace the bears in the sector in the coming

weeks. The banking and the oil and gas sectors increased by 1.43 percent and 1.37 percent to close at 470.74 points and 290.76 points respectively.

Market activities also improved, causing both the number of deals and volume of

transactions to advance by 2.09 percent and 36.64 percent respectively.

Fidelity Bank Plc closed as the top performing stock in the week, after gaining 21.18 percent to close at N2.06, followed by Forte Oil Plc with 14.98 percent

increase to close at N45.99. Law Union & Rock, Caverton Offshore Group and Dangote Flourmills Plc closed as the last three on the top five gainers table, appreciating by 14.75 percent, 14.40 percent and 11.59 percent to close at N0.70, N1.43 and N10.30 per share respectively.

Lafarge’s N131.65bn offer to reduce foreign debt, boosts profitability — Lafarge boss

By Peter Egwuatu

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AFARGE Africa Plc has disclosed that the net proceeds from its Rights Issue of N131.65 billion will enable it to refinance a portion of the company’s foreign currency denominated shareholder loan, by way of a debt-to-equity conversion and also boost its profitability in the future.

Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Michel Puchercos, who revealed this at the company’s ‘facts behind the Rights Issue’ presentation on the Lagos floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, stated that the company has started to overcome some of the challenges facing it as it has returned to profitability in the first half of this year, 2017.

According to him:“Despite the challenging economic and regulatory operating environment, our company has continued to

make significant progress on a number of fronts; thereby ensuring solid operating performance. I am pleased to inform you stockbrokers and other stakeholders that the results of the company’s transformation are already evident, as seen in first quarter, Q1, and second quarter,Q2, 2017 unaudited results of the company. We have returned to profitability and we hope that part of the proceeds from this Rights Issue will further boost our profitability in the future.”

He enjoined shareholders to exercise their rights as the offer was in their best interest and the company at large.

While, answering questions from stockbrokers on why the company’s performance went down in the past, the Group CEO of Lafarge, said : “ The harsh operating environment, lower sales due to recession faced in Nigeria and turbulent macroeconomic conditions including the naira devaluation, amongst others,

affected the our performance.

However, the company has robust cash flow generating capability, as evidenced by operating cash flows of N57.8 billion and strong balance sheet at the end of the 2016 financial year. But, in half year 2017, we have grown Profit Before Tax, PBT to N18.160 billion, Profit After Tax, PAT to N34.803 billion from losses recorded in 2016.”

Production capacity Continuing, Puchercos, stated: “ The company’s performance shows that revenue grew at Compound Annual Growth Rate, CAGR, of 20 percent between 2012 and 2016 driven by improved operating activities, increased production capacity and operational consolidation.

Revenue jump in 2013 was largely due to increased production in Ewekoro II cement plant;

Earnings, Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation , EBITDA, declined to N29.1 billion in 2016 from N67.3 billion in 2015 in line with general market conditions.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE, who presided over the Facts behind the Figure presentation, said: “Lafarge Africa’s N131.65 billion Rights Issue is the highest offer in the history of the Nigeria’s capital market in recent time and we encourage their shareholders to participate in the offer as the proceeds from the offer would reposition the company for greater height. We also encourage other companies to approach the market for funds to boost their businesses.”

According to him:“Lafarge’s Rights Issue will help the company to finance working capital and expand operations that will yield better results to shareholders in the form of dividend in the future.”

24— Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Stringent measures necessary to sanitize capital market —CEO, Highcap Securities David Adonri, Managing director/CEO, Highcap Securities Limited, in this interview with Financial Vanguard, spoke on some actions taken by the apex regulator of the Nigerian capital market, investors’ confidence and his expectations on the third quarter corporate performance in 2017, among others. Excerpts

•David Adonri

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HAT is your take on some actions taken by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC against some operators in the Nigerian capital market in recent times?

Activities of Capital Market Operators (CMO) are firmly regulated because of the delicate and sensitive nature of the capital market.

To sustain investors’ confidence and uphold the trust and integrity of the Nigerian capital market, the regulators, especially, apex regulator, SEC enforce the rules and regulations that guide operations vigorously.

Contraventions are mercilessly dealt with.

Investors confidence There is zero tolerance for infractions hence the severe sanctions on lawless CMOs and their principal officers.

Stringent measures are necessary to sanitize the Capital Market and enhance continued issuers and investors confidence.

How will you assess the third quarter results of companies already released?

The third quarter results of companies should be better than half year since economic indicators have largely been positive. The business environment has become more conducive especially for banks to recommence import finance and other short term projects. The agriculture

The banks are likely to surpass other sectors as we have seen some improvement in the economy sector will also continue its impressive run since their protection by the Central

Bank of Nigeria, CBN is still in force.

Manufacturing may also improve due to availability of hard currency to import raw materials. The equities market which bounced back in the second quarter is expected to close the year on a positive note.

Remember that a lot of the first half results were impressive, part of the reason

the market went into a rally in the second half. You know the rally started around April because those results were impressive.

How has the market fared so far and has investors’ confidence returned to the market?

Investors’ confidence, if anything, is improving when compared to last year. One of the best things that happened to the economy was the investors and exporters forex window that was opened.

For foreign investors, the ease with which they can repatriate their money is more important to them than the money they are making. So, as soon as that investors’ window was opened, a lot of things began to change. You will also observe that the window was patronised heavily and it is still being patronised.

Do you see the banks

dominating other sectors given the results released so far?

Yes, the banks are likely to surpass other sector as we have seen some improvement in the economy.

Some of the banks even came up with interim dividend and the market responded very well. So, the banks in aggregate should perform well more than they did last year.

There should be positive development for the sector because most of them have started cleaning up their books. The good thing is that they have the profit they are using to clean up their books.

So, all those non-performing loans are now being removed from their books so that their books will be cleaner and their profit will be more reliable and ascertained.

So, they are moving in line with prudential guideline.

FINANCIAL VANGUARD Why ageing population accounts for over 60% equities holders

By Nkiruka Nnorom

C

APITAL market operators have said that availability of higher investible income to the older investors compared to the younger generation of investors could account for possession of over 60 percent equities holding by the ageing population.

Statistics from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, NIBSS, shows that out of 433,164 mandated accounts with validated Bank Verification Number, BVN, 66.1 per cent of the number are investors in their retirement and near retirement age, while the remaining 33.9 percent are made up of investors between the ages of 24 to 44.

The data from NIBSS on age distribution of investment in the market showed that investors between ages 45 to 54 represent the highest

percentage of investors in the equities market, accounting for 31.3 per cent of the investors in the market , followed by people between the ages of 35 to 44 at 24.9 per cent. The data further showed that another 22.6 per cent of investors are people between the ages of 55 to 64, while 12.2 per cent comprise of investors from 65 years and above. People between the ages of 25 to 34 make up another 8.1 per cent, while ages 15 to 24 account for 0.9 per cent of the investors.

Reacting to the development, Mr. Chinenye Anyanwu, Managing Director/CEO, Dependable Securities said that young people are not necessarily shying away from the market, rather investible income is not with them.

“The older people are more comfortable. Ordinarily, that is the way so many economies work. People become more

comfortable later in life than when they are grappling with a lot of issues. So, the investible income is simply not available for the younger people to invest. I am not sure that it is confidence or lack of it on the part of young people,” he said.

According to David Adonri, Managing Director/CEO, Highcap Securities, “It is so because the elderly people came into the market long ago, during the indigenization period and those shares have since multiplied in their favour.

So, that is why they have higher holding more than the younger generation Others highlights of the data indicate that the ratio of male to female investors is approximately two to one with 65 percent comprising of male investors, while the remaining 35 percent are made up of female investors.

By state of origin, Anambra

State makes up about 10 percent of investors, the highest state represented in the equities market. Nine percent of the investors hail from Imo and Ogun states, while seven percent and six percent of the investors hail from Delta and Edo states respectively. Lagos State has the highest concentration of investors with 38 percent residing in the state, 0.4 per cent are non-resident in Nigeria.

According to Mounir Gwarzo, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, the commission is taking steps to change the equation by attracting more of the young population into the capital market.

He said that the commission would commence sensitisation of the younger ones and also focus more attention on female related activities.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 —25

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

INVESTORS FORUM

Guinness, Nigerian Breweries weak financials:

Investors’ sentiment in Nigerian Breweries improves … wanes in Guinness

By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor

T

HIS report, last week, indicated a positive run of confidence in the stocks of Guinness Nigeria Plc as against the lull in the key competitor, Nigerian Breweries (NB), apparently as a result of seeming better performance and prospects in the Guinness’ financials.

But the investors appear to be switching sentiment now as the marginal gains in Guinness was reversed last week despite the bullish run in the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Conversely, sentiments improved for NB though the stock remains significantly in the negative.

While Guinness closed November last weekend in the negative of -2.5 per cent month loss, NB reduced its losses in the month to -11.8 percent from previous week’s record of -13.3 percent.

The two beverage giants in Nigeria are amongst the leading multinationals in the Nigerian Stock Exchange, but their stocks and, recently, their financial performance are no longer in leading positions.

Consequently, the short-tomedium term outlook for equity investments in the companies appear hazy going by current analysts’ permutations.

Last week we presented the details of the lack-luster interim results of NB along with analysts’ permutations which were adverse. In this concluding part of this report we present the Guinness’.

Beside the last week’s negative sentiment on Guinness stock, investment analysts have also expressed discomfort with the financials.

Already they have reversed performance metrics for the brewing and beverage giant especially in earnings and profitability in the near-tomedium terms while stock price targets have also been downgraded.

Stock investor sentiments For Guinness the investor sentiment has been favourable as against its unfavourable results including the 2017/18 first quarter results announced in the last week of October.

Guinness’ financial year starts July.

Though return on equity investment in Guinness was still positive and better than NB, the Year-to-Date, YtD, has began to go down, touching 17 per cent at close of business last week, down from 22.8 percent previous week.

•Guinness Nigeria Chairman, Babatunde Savage

•Nigeria Breweries Chairman, Kolawole Jamodu

GUINNESS INCOME STATEMENT (Actual & Estimates)

NB PLC INCOME STATEMENT (ACTUAL & ESTIMATES)

The stock had declined marginally by 1% upon the announcement of the result considered to have fallen behind consensus estimates, following elevated costs.

The stock further went down post-results by -3.5 percent last weekend.

The overall picture of the two beverage giants is that of uncertainty in stock pricing with analysts revising almost all estimates downward at the backdrop of negative surprises in their most recent financial statements.

The Guinness financials Guinness reported a 29.9 percent rise in turnover to

N29.9 billion ahead of analysts’ average estimate of N28.1 billion, but after tax earnings for the quarter came in at N41 million from a loss after tax of N2.2 billion in Q1’16/17, underperforming analysts’ estimate of N500 million by a huge -91.7% deviation.

Though the company ’s management had attributed the rise in turnover to sustained growth in its spirits business, analysts at CardinalStone Partners Limited, a Lagos based investment house, said they believe higher product pricing played a role in the double digit turnover growth.

Analysis of the result also shows that cost of sales, which

added 33 percent Year-on-Year (YoY), rose at a much faster pace than revenue and as a result, gross margin contracted by 153 basis points (bps) to 34.7 percent.

But despite the contraction in gross margin, operating margin expanded by 588bps YoY to 8.9 percent, driven by a 728bps YoY moderation in operating expenses-to-sales ratio, apparently, as a the result of a 16.6 percent YoY decline in administrative expenses.

Significant to the overall cost pressure was the net finance cost which rose by 10 percent YoY, following a 38.2 per cent YoY increase in interest expense to N1.6 billion as well as a modest 1.2 percent YoY increase in foreign exchange losses to N2.2 billion. Though interest income rose by 163 percent YoY to N1.2 billion, it wasn’t strong enough to offset the increase in finance cost.

Analysts’ verdict on Guinness In its recent analysis of Guinness’ profile, analysts at Cordros Capital Limited, another Lagos based investment house, expressed serious discomfort with the company ’s stock.

Consequently, they effected a rating downgrade on downward revision to their estimates.

They stated: “Despite higher YoY EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation) and net profit in Q1-18, we revise 2018 forecasts for Guinness lower by 15 percent and 26 percent respectively, on negative surprises on gross margin and finance cost lines, which more than offset better-thanexpected revenue. “The realized net profit in Q1 was

below consensus by 97%.

Estimates for 2019-2020 were also revised lower by 3% and 5% average. On net, we cut our TP (target price) for the stock by 16% to NGN76.70/share and downgrade rating to ‘SELL’.

“We cut gross margin estimate for 2018 by 405 bps to 39% and by 200 bps average to 41%, for 2019-2020. Compared to Q417, Guinness’ Q1-18 gross margin was lower by 1,000 bps, and the margin has declined consistently since the surprise surge to record 55% in Q3-17.

The gains from stable FX, efficiency measures (via productivity saving programs and ZBB), and product mix strategy, aimed to mitigate margin headwinds, are being offset by consumers growing preference for value beer (estimated to currently represent more than 50% of market volume).

“In addition, key raw material input prices (Sorghum in this case) were higher month-onmonth in key markets in July and August, although September data show some moderation. “Our forecast for finance cost was increased by 68% to NGN5.9 billion, following the sharp spike (249% quarter-on-quarter, QoQ) at the beginning of the year.

“Although proceeds from the recently concluded Rights Issue have been applied to significantly reduce borrowings (-67% QoQ), it is unlikely that Guinness will be completely unlevered going forward.

“However, we retained our lower finance cost forecasts for 2019-2020, reflecting the significantly de-leveraged balance sheet and the reduced FX headwinds from repaying large portion of foreign currency loans (-61% QoQ).

“We raise revenue growth estimate to 20% (previously 5%), after realized Q1 sales came ahead of our estimate by 20%.

“Whilst noting the continued subdued beer consumer market, with competition remaining intense, we would also mention tailwinds from the increasing visibility of Guinness’ newly launched mainstream spirits and premium scotch, amidst continued strong growth of the value beer segment – driven by Satzenbrau and Dubic.

“Net impact of the above changes is for EBITDA and net profit growth of 23% (previously 45%) and 260% (previously 384%) respectively in 2018F, and 2019- 2023 CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 8% and 8.6% respectively.”

26—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

FINANCIAL VANGUARD Stories by Rosemary Onuoha

From left: Ademola Adenekan, Creative Manager; Atinuke Jose, Head, Strategic Marketing & Communications; Phil Maduagwu, Head, Corporate Services; Adewale Kadri, Executive Director, Technical; and Akinsola Akinsola, Principal Manager, Non-Life Business, all of AIICO Insurance at the Pearls award where the company carted away four awards.

F

ROM next year, reinsurance companies will no longer accept risks that are priced below the standard threshold of risk pricing by insurance companies.

Vanguard investigations reveal that this move was prompted by sharp increase in industry claims ratio which has continued to outpace premium income, leading to dwindling profits.

Accordingly, the National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, is planning to come up with a framework to ensure that risks are adequately priced to beef up retention capacity in the sector.

Reinsurance is insurance that is purchased by an insurance company from a reinsurer directly or through a broker as a means of risk management. Hence, it is the practice of insurers transferring portions of risk portfolios to other parties by some form of agreement to reduce the likelihood of having to pay a large obligation resulting from an insurance claim.

An operator who confirmed this development to Vanguard on condition of anonymity stated: “If you look at some of the key accounts in the industry, you will find out that the claim ratio is more than 200 percent. Unfortunately, at renewal, the insurers will charge a rate lower than the previous year.

Such occurrences have prompted the regulator to take the issue of pricing serious which is one of the things that the regulator will look at next year.”

Another operator who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “We are going to start

Reinsurers to reject under-priced risks from 2018 charging the right premium rate from next year because one of the things that is affecting us is that we are not charging the right premium rates. Operators have held series of meetings with the regulator as regards that and NAICOM has set a target on premium for the industry going forward.’’

Speaking recently at a media parley in Lagos, the Principal Manager, Non-Life Business at Aiico Insurance, Mr. Akinsola Akinsola said: “The bane of our industry is that we are not charging adequate premium. Ratecutting is the order of the day due to stiff competition in the industry and this is a major challenge for the industry.

“If Aiico and other players, for instance, refuse to accept

If you look at some of the key accounts in the industry, you will find out that the claim ratio is more than 200 percent; unfortunately, at renewal, the insurers will charge a rate lower than the previous year.

any risk, you will still find some other players accepting those risks on very

uneconomical terms. Such is the challenge that we are facing in the industry which at the end of the day reduces economic profits for the entire industry.”

Also speaking recently at a forum in Lagos, Chairman of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, said that the unhealthy competition in the industry has robbed the sector of great fortunes, stressing that about 90 per cent of the industry ’s supposed revenue are lost to unnecessary discounts and other unfair pricing.

Ogunbiyi said, “There was a business we were underwriting for N1.4 billion in Mutual Benefits, at the last renewal, somebody took that same business for N250 million.”

PenCom to increase retirees’ monthly pensions

T

HE National Pension Commission, PenCom, said it is set to increase the monthly pensions of all retirees on programmed withdrawal from December, 2017.

The Commission, however, said that 30 per cent of the retirees would not benefit from the increase due to insignificant income earned on the small balances in their respective Retirement Savings Accounts, RSAs. Acting Director-General of PenCom, Aisha Dahir-Umar who disclosed this at a public hearing to amend the Pension Reform Act in Abuja last week said, “Indeed, the Commission has just concluded an exercise to increase the monthly pensions of all retirees on Programmed Withdrawal due to the income earned on investing their pension assets. The outcome of this exercise showed that 30 percent of the retirees would not benefit from the increase due to insignificant income earned on the small balances in their respective RSAs. “The payment of enhanced pension would apply only to those retirees that left reasonable balances in their RSA, which has earned income over time. The payment will commence in December, 2017. This indicates that, indeed, the return on investment of pension fund is being utilized for the benefit of RSA holders.”

Speaking on the proposed amendment of the bill which is being sponsored by a member of the National Assembly, Dahir-Umar said, “Rather than canvass for payment of 75

percent lump sum, we believe that the remedy lies in the implementation of the provision of Section 4(4)(a) of the PRA, 2014 dealing with payment of additional benefits upon retirement.’’

The section of the PRA stated: “Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Act, an employer may elect to agree on payment of additional benefits to the employee upon retirement”.

According to Dahir-Umar, ‘‘This would enhance the amount that employees may receive as lump sum upon their retirement.’’

Addressing the National Assembly on this, she had stated: “Distinguished Senators, experience has shown that about 99 percent of the retirees who collected huge lump sums from their RSAs squandered the money quickly after retirement and left with meagre amounts as pensions. This category of pensioners are currently bitterly complaining against their low pensions and advancing this situation as justification to calls for exemption from the CPS. We therefore believe that it is not in the overall interest of the retiree to saddle him with the responsibility of managing 75 percent of his total benefits after retirement, when he should have been resting and enjoying the fruits of his long years of labour.”

Aiico Insurance to venture into micro insurance, bancassurance

A

IICO Insurance Plc will in 2018 venture into micro insurance and bancassurance businesses as talks are on high gear with a bank on the bancassurance operations.

Chief Operating Officer of the company, Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun, who disclosed this at a media parley in Lagos last week, said that the demand for annuity products has continued to rise in spite of challenges witnessed some months ago.

On the firm’s 2017 financial performance, Fajemirokun said the gross premium earned in the life business reduced by 25 per cent to N10 billion from N13.3 billion in 2016, adding that the benefits in the firm’s life business, which make up 76 per cent of total claims recorded in 2016 grew 44 per cent compared to 2016.

According to him, this is because the life business is much larger today than it was in 2016.

He stated: “The importance of investments to our life business operations thus becomes apparent – we must invest the premiums efficiently to make sure we can meet our obligations.

Investment income is therefore an important indicator of performance in a life insurer and trading in a volatile investment climate such as ours is not only recommended, it is wise.

“In our general business, which consists of short term products and policies, combined ratio reduced from 122 per cent to 102 per cent comparing Q3 2016 to 2017.

Our claims ratio also reduced in 2017 from 55 per cent in 2016 to 49 per cent.’’

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—27

28—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—29

30 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

We’ll name, shame tax defaulters after VAIDS in March, 2018 — Adeosun, Finance Minister Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, still pushing through the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), scheme aimed at getting more Nigerians into the tax net voluntarily, in this interview throws more lights on the issues involved.

Excerpt:

By Adaeze Okechukwu

V

AID is a few months to lapse. Don’t you think that the time left for people to respond to this scheme is quite short, taking into consideration Nigerians in the diaspora?

It is a 9 months program that we started on the 1st of July.

We have four months left. So, there is enough time for anyone who wants to comply to pick up the asset declaration form. I filled my form two weeks ago, and it took less than 20minutes to complete.

The typically tendency of our people is, to defer things.

I am not sure that extending the time makes any difference because Nigerians will still leave it to last minute. There is plenty of time from now till March for those who want to get involved in the scheme.

It’s been 5 months into the program. How has the response been?

We have had very good responses from companies. So far, we have received $110 million from just 2 companies.

One of them paid a liability of $55 million, while the other paid $44 million. Let me give this illustration. If you live in Lagos, Lagos government does not know you run a business in Abuja.

Level of non-compliance Lagos does not know that you have a property abroad, or that you moved some money to Dubai. Meanwhile Lagos state does not have the jurisdiction to go to the Emirates and say ‘this is my resident. What affiliation does he/she have with your country?’ Largely, no one was really paying the right tax because of these many loopholes.

When we did the analysis, only 241 people in the country were paying above N20 million. South Africa has 950,000 people paying that equivalent amount. Whereas, some of the richest Africans are Nigerians living very good lifestyles, but because the tax system is so lose, people decided not to pay. The level of non-compliance informed

the design of the programme.

In jurisprudence, they say if nine out of ten people comply with the rule, there is nothing wrong with the rule. But, when nine of the ten people are not complying, then there is a problem with the rule. That’s why we designed the amnesty program, to let people come in and do the right thing. So take that illustration I gave earlier of someone who resides in Lagos and runs a business in Abuja. Maybe the only thing he declares is a salary of N500,000 monthly, meanwhile, he has a private jet, an expensive yacht; his children are in school abroad, but government doesn’t know.

Now, we have pooled all the data together and profiled people.

Once the lifestyle of the person does not match the tax paid, then the person has under paid their taxes. So far, the response has been very good because people now know we have the data and we proven that we are ready to use it. So we have given people until March 2018 before we call them tax evaders. After March, we can officially call them tax evaders; hence we can then name and shame them.

Candidly, the response has been very good especially from high net-worth people.

One of the main reason Nigerians do not pay tax is because of lack of social contract. Why should Nigerians be propelled to pay tax when the basic amenities are not even available?

It is a good argument but it is a flawed one. Today, of the 14 million taxpayers, 90% of them are salary earners and they pay their taxes via P.A.Y.E (Pay As You Earn). Salary earners are taxed whether they enjoyed amenities or not.

So, why is it right for billionaires to make the decision whether to pay tax or not. Should billionaires pay taxes only when government does what they like, while salary earners are forced to pay regardless? Interestingly, these billionaires pay taxes on their property and rents abroad, and they don’t complain. We have to change that mind-set. Tax will help

•Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun deepen the social contract between the government and citizens. When people pay taxes, they will take interest in how their leaders are elected.

As long as it is oil money, nobody knows how much it was and what to expect. Then the social contract is broken; it

When people pay taxes, they will take interest in how their leaders are elected, as long as it is oil money, nobody knows how much it was and what to expect

is then very difficult to hold government accountable. So, we need to break the cycle of, ‘I will not pay tax until government constructs the roads’. The truth is that those arguments do not benefit the middle class. It benefits the high class people who choose when and when not to pay tax.

Most of the billionaires here made their money in Nigeria, so why should they evade?

They make billions in Nigeria and take it to an offshore haven where they still pay tax.

How determined is the government to prosecute tax defaulters after March 31,

2018?

What then will be the advantage to those who complied with the scheme if we don’t prosecute? We must name and shame the defaulters after the deadline. We will definitely prosecute them. In addition, the worst court is that of public opinion. So we have about 500 letters ready, when I spoke to two people that I know of the 500 people, they were begging me to give them the letter personally. The truth is that people don’t want to be embarrassed. Tax evasion is a criminal offence and we will prosecute evaders after March 31, 2018.

Do you reckon you may have to deal with a significant number of people not complying?

It will be very disappointing if a large number of people that should comply do not.

That will mean that this work of getting the message out has failed. We are using every means, namely; social media, videos, adverts, website. We have done a lot to get the message out. When we were designing this program, the team went to Indonesia, Turkey, India and other countries that have done big tax amnesties; we found out that once people know you have the data, they will comply. Lagos, Ogun state and FCT have given us their Land registry.

We have also gotten data from CAC, FIRS, SEC, CBN, Remita, NIBBS, FRSC, NCAA, among others. There is really no hiding place, frankly. We are in no hurry. Nigerians have until March to declare, while the government has from

March going forward to prosecute.

How about people in the rural areas? How do you plan on getting them into the scheme?

Using the 80/20 principle, the people in the villages are not my problem, honestly.

When I was Ogun State Finance Commissioner, even after I chased and chased people in the villages to pay tax, at the end of the day, each person about N2000 at most. I am not after chasing people like them. As mentioned earlier, 2 companies declared their assets and income, and paid a liability of $55 million and $45 million. So, we are concerned with big people that made their money from Nigeria.

Government contractors Let me give you an example.

We asked the Office of the Accountant General to send us the data of every payment over N100 million in the last 5 years. We then checked FIRS for the data on taxes they paid.

These government contractors had declared less than the amount the government actually paid them.

This does not even include their other income streams which would have included the transactions they had done with the bank and personally.

This was business with the government, yet they weren’t declaring their income aptly.

Nigeria’s tax to GDP ratio is just 6 percent, while Ghana and South Africa are at 15 per

Continues on page 32

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—31

FINANCIAL VANGUARD THE market is there and the manufacturers of meters are there. They have positioned themselves strategically and manufacturing quality products.

Unfortunately, the demand is not even commensurate with what they have in stock…

—Mr. Muyideen Ibrahim,Executive Secretary, Electricity Meter Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, EMMAN. Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not that who would be free must strike the first blow? —Lord Byron, 1788-1824.

I

T has taken three groups of Nigerians to enslave power consumers to the Distribution Companies, DISCOS – the Federal Government (including the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, the DISCOS and the Nigerian power consumers as a whole. As consumers, we have put up docilely with what is essentially government approved daylight robbery of millions of Nigerians by the DISCOs. We have become consenting accomplices in the rape of our fellow citizens. We are served bogus bills, we mildly complain; but we meekly pay. The Federal Government is aware of it; NERC makes appropriate noises, the Ministry of Power issues threats to DISCOs to provide meters which are routinely ignored and no penalty follows.

It has been a conspiracy between the FG and the DISCOs to allow the latter to go unpunished for their grand larceny. Why is it that electricity is the only commodity sold in Nigeria without any measurement to enable the consumer to know that he is receiving a fair deal?

Supermarkets have scales to measure beef, vegetables, cheeses etc; filling stations have meters and even the Post Office weighs parcels. The consumer

Time has come for a revolt of power consumers pays for the goods and services delivered. Why has it been so difficult for the FG to enforce the universal laws governing

Obviously, the FG will not help us; Fashola is not on our side; and the DISCOs love the status quo. That leaves us “the hereditary bondsmen”, that means slaves by the way, to stand up for our rights on this matter transactions between consumers and marketers of good and services when it comes to the DISCOs? One reason we can quickly discard is lack of awareness.

Everybody in government -- from President Buhari to Minister of Power Fashola to NERC officials – was once a private citizen and had been subjected to those “crazy bills” which have lasted for decades. Buhari met and left them in 1984-5; returned 35 years after to find them still there bedevilling Nigerians in 2015. So, he is aware. Yet, almost three years after returning to the helm, they are still there. A better definition of a nation stuck in a rut will be difficult to imagine.

And, the charge that his government like its predecessors is not in a hurry to do anything about it cannot be refuted.

Fashola, in particular, sounds more like a sales man for DISCOs than a Minister for the people of Nigeria.

Until recently, I had assumed that consumers were stuck; that there was no remedy. The DISCOs lacked the funds to import and install meters because power supply remains well below 5000 MW per day and consumers could not on their own import meters.

The interview with Mr.

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

Muyideen Ibrahim, published in DAILY INDEPENDENT on November 2, 2017, page B5, changed everything. Now, we know that there are meters available in Nigeria and the DISCOs are refusing to patronize the manufacturers. Apart from sabotaging the Buy Made In Nigeria effort, the DISCOs, wit FG as accomplice, are depriving Nigerian power consumers of receiving a fair deal because the crooked situation profits them handsomely.

Obviously, the FG will not help us; Fashola is not on our side; and the DISCOs love the status quo. That leaves us “the hereditary bondsmen”, that means slaves by the way, to stand up for our rights on this matter.

Our first collective resolution must be that those meters available in Nigeria must be bought and installed – unless they fail to meet standards. If the DISCOs cannot afford to buy them, then consumers should be empowered to procure them for their own use and protection.

That should be out minimum demand. As a people, we owe

ourselves a sense of obligation.

Since the FG will not willingly save us, we must save ourselves.

Working with the National Assembly, NASS, we must demand that the DISCOs should as a matter of urgency start clearing the meters available in Nigeria; or in the alternative consumers should be authorized to buy them and use them. Thereafter, DISCOs which refuse to read the meters installed by the users should stop sending those insane bills to consumers.

Furthermore, they should have no right to disconnect anyone with a meter or face class action suits by affected customers. One thing is certain; there is no consumer today who will not gladly buy his own meter, if allowed, to put a stop to the problem of crazy bills.

Patronising local manufacturers will provide the extra dividend of creating jobs for thousands of people.

Meanwhile, it is my intention to get in touch with the meter manufacturers to ascertain the fact that there are meters for sale.

I hope they are not deceiving all of us. This matter is too serious for bogus claims to be made by anyone.

MICRO-FINANCE

Low income stratum must adopt digital banking to deepen financial inclusion — CBN

By Providence Emmanuel

C

ENTRAL Bank of Nigeria has said that low income people must adopt digital banking to deepen access to financial services in rural areas.

Head, Financial Inclusion Secretariat, CBN, Mrs. Temitope Akin-Fadeyi, said this at the 2nd Annual Conference of the Association of Mobile Money Agents in Nigeria, AMMAN, in Lagos with the theme: “Spurring Mobile Money And Agent Banking Activities: Opportunity Options For Financial Inclusion Growth In Nigeria.”

She said that globally, about two billion people do not use formal financial services and more than 50 percent of adults in the poorest households are unbanked, adding that financial inclusion is a key enabler to reducing poverty and boosting prosperity.

“Financial inclusion is achieved when adult Nigerians have easy access to a broad range of formal financial services that meet their needs at an affordable cost.

Globally, there were two billion unbanked adults in 2014, while 350 million of them were in Sub-

Saharan Africa,” she noted.

Fadeyi who was represented by Mr. George Ogudu, from Strategy/Coordination Office of the Secretariat, stated: “The quicker the poor and low income people are willing to adopt Mobile & Agent Banking because it is cheap, accessible and secure, the deeper the access to financial services in the rural area and the better the life of people in that income bracket.’’

To spur mobile money and agent banking growth in Nigeria, she said that mobile money and agent banking should be seen as a rational channel for financially including un-banked and underbanked population.

She said that financial inclusion is a pre-requisite for inclusive growth just as entrepreneurs are critical to the optimum utilization of resources to produce goods and services and create the much needed jobs in the economy towards sustainable economic development. She added that financial inclusion is essential to allow citizens at the bottom of the pyramid benefit fully from economic opportunities.

“The stark reality is that most

poor people in the world still lack access to sustainable financial services, whether it is savings, credit or insurance. The great challenge before us is to address the constraints that exclude people from full participation in the financial sector. Lower-income countries such as Nigeria have the largest potential, with the opportunity to add ten to twelve percent to their GDP, given low levels of financial inclusion and digital payments today. In comparison, middle-income countries such as China and Brazil could add four to five percent to GDP. Digital finance has the potential to provide access to financial services for 1.6 billion people in emerging economies, where more than half of them is women. It could increase the volume of loans extended to individuals and businesses by $2.1 trillion and allow governments to save $110 billion per year by reducing leakage in spending and tax revenue,” she said.

In his welcome remark, President AMMAN, Mr. Victor Olojo, said that the conference is an opportunity to re-evaluate

•National President AMMAN, Mr Victor Olojo, presenting award of recognition to Dr Olayinka David-West, at the just concluded 2017 AMMAN Annual Conference in Lagos. and re-examine its approach so far and most importantly gain new knowledge and insight of the newest trends in the digital financial markets and the many opportunities that are open to agents across the country.

He added that despite constant intimidation and harassment by authorities like the Nigerian Police, tax and revenue boards, local government authorities, among others, agents have continued to deliver impeccable digital financial services to the best of their capacity.

Olojo stated: “We strive to give our best without considering who

gets the credit. For us, seeing more unbanked Nigerians access basic financial services and solving their basic financial problems isn’t just money making scheme, but a thing of passion and excitement.

Highlighting some of the challenges with digital financial services, Dr. Olayinka DavidWest, of the Lagos Business School, said that there is a need to build commercial activities around mobile money due to harassments faced by mobile money agents when transactions does not go through.

32 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

(08052201997)

Pyrrhic victory of any rise in minimum wage P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday 27th November 2017, inaugurated a 30 member tripartite National Minimum Wage Committee, to negotiate a new minimum wage.

The Committee comprises six serving State Governors and other members from both the public and private sectors, as well as leaders of organized labour.

The President conceded, at the occasion, that the current (N18, 000) minimum wage has since expired; Buhari, also confirmed that on completion of the work of the Committee, an executive bill would be sent to the National Assembly, for “scrutiny, before being passed into law”.

Hereafter, the impact of any significant increase in the present minimum wage, on some sectors of the economy will be examined in an interrogative format to facilitate a clearer picture of the unfolding dilemma. Please read on: The present N18, 000 minimum wage presently buys less than 50% of its 2011 value, so would N36, 000 minimum wage restore the purchasing power lost to inflation since then?

Indeed N18,000 which was well over $100 (over $3/day) in 2011, has since depreciated to $50 or US$1-50/day); so although, N36,000 may seemingly restore parity to the purchasing power of the 2011 minimum wage, nonetheless, N36, 000 is still short of Labour’s demand for N56, 000. Ultimately, however, the Tripartite Committee might reach a consensus, that is just above N36, 000/month, if labour refuses to accept anything below this amount.

What would be the impact of N36, 000 as minimum wage on workers?

Initially, there would be jubilation, but such celebration may be short-lived, as the sudden

increase in nominal salaries, will make more money available to quickly expand consumer demand and drive higher retail prices for most goods and services. Over time, however, the N36, 000 minimum wage will also depreciate, if the Naira rate remains under pressure, particularly if petrol price becomes market determined (around $1/litre instead of the present below $0-50/litre).

Regrettably, the plight of retired civil servants and pensioners may

The impact of any significant increase in the present minimum wage, on some sectors of the economy will be examined in an interrogative format to facilitate a clearer picture of the unfolding dilemma

not also be accommodated by any increase in minimum wage, as there is presently no arrangement for the augmentation of pensioners’ incomes, which have clearly been savagely ravaged by inflation over time; consequently, increasingly more pensioners will sadly, become economically challenged elder citizens until death!

What would be the impact of N36, 000 minimum wage on government budgets?

Indeed, with the notable

exceptions of Lagos and Ogun States, recurrent expenditure, which comprises, mainly salaries and administrative expenses still consume about 70% of annual budgets; regrettably, Federal budgets also have the same ratio of allocations, which invariably leave less than 30% for socially rewarding investment on more vital capital and social infrastructure.

Instructively, a 100% increase in wages across board, will expectedly double and raise recurrent expenditure well beyond 70% of total spending in most states, including the budgets of federal establishments. Consequently, the presently decried paltry Capital votes for infrastructure, may become further reduced, and deepen our plight for better educational and health institutions, with safer transportation networks, and adequate power infrastructure, which will more successfully drive Nigeria’s economy towards inclusive prosperity.

It is no secret that most states owe several months’ arrears of salaries to their workers, so, how will such states fare if N36, 000 is adopted as minimum wage?

Well, statutory allocations and the presently modest, internally generated revenues have never been adequate to run the affairs of most states; ultimately, State governments may be compelled to increase their debt burden, in order to fund salaries and other recurrent expenses. Clearly, it is socially suicidal to spend funds borrowed with almost 20% interest, on just salaries and other such consumables, which add little value to mass social welfare; besides, the burden of steady increase in accumulated unserviceable debts, will invariably, unfortunately, cripple

succeeding governments and generations of Nigerians yet unborn.

Ultimately, State governments, may also, unwisely become apostles of foreign loan accumulation, in the belief that such loans optically cost less; however, in the long term, it may become very troublesome to service or repay such foreign loans, if Naira exchange rate suffers further depreciation, in such event, the huge allocations to debt service may become suggestive of irresponsible governance of people and resources.

In view of the modest incomes of states, isn’t it more realistic for states to determine their own minimum wage in line with their individual capacity?

Yes, this should be the rule in truly Federating states, where State administrations do not depend on a federally controlled central purse for monthly allocations to survive.

Nonetheless, as indicated in President Buhari’s speech, to the wages Committee, “the subject of a national minimum wage for the federation is within the Exclusive Legislative list of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (amended).

What would be the impact of N36, 000 minimum wage on the Private Sector?

Well most companies in the organized private sector, already probably pay around N30, 000 minimum wage; consequently, N36, 000 will cause additional irritation to the existing burden of already high cost of borrowings and very expensive self provision of power, in a market which is characterized by weak consumer demand driven by double digit inflation rates for several years.

Notably, however, the wage structure in the informal, small

FINANCIAL VANGUARD

ECONOMY

We shall name, shame tax defaulters after VAIDS in March, 2018 — Adeosun, Finance Minister Continues from page 30 cent and 24 per cent, respectively. The numbers do not lie; people are not paying taxes. Let’s get to the deadline first, before we start asking for deadline extensions.

Interestingly, on the list of the 500 addressees, the people that are most worried are the politicians. They are the ones pushing to comply before the deadline.

We have built in payment in instalments. We understand that a lot of people may not have the money at their disposal now. As long as

people are ready to do the right thing, we will give them time to pay up.

What is the aggregate amount that has been realized from the VAIDS? The scheme has not ended, so it is difficult to answer that question. The declaration forms are filled on a daily basis and we review the declarations against our database. By human nature, people may not declare honestly, so we write back to them telling them that what they had declared is inaccurate. The experience

and micro enterprises subsector is seemingly more flexible and may not respond positively to any law which increases minimum wage to N36, 000. Indeed, the labour force, employed even by road sweeping government contractors in some favoured states, still receive well below the present N18, 000 minimum wage.

Ultimately, the net effect of N36, 000 minimum wage will be spiraling inflation, which will regrettably, significantly reduce consumer spending, and discourage domestic production to ultimately fuel an already combustible unemployment rate, with unsavory and horrendous social and economic consequences.

So if increasing the minimum wage is so fraught with danger, how do you then improve real wages and spur consumer demand?

Well, the taming of inflation below 3% from the present over 15% rate will achieve the same object of increase in purchasing power across all sectors, and also reduce the cost of borrowing to below 10% across board for all sectors to provide a heavy dose of economic respite nationwide.

How can inflation be brought down below 3%?

CBN does not deny that the high inflation rate is driven by persistent excess money supply in the system. Consequently, the identification of the source and elimination or reduction of surplus money supply will ultimately tame inflation to best practice levels below 3%.

Instructively, the scourge of systemic excess Naira supply will be significantly reduced when CBN stops substituting Naira allocations for Dollar denominated revenue.

SAVE THE NAIRA!! SAVE NIGERIANS!!!

from the study tells that people will want to wait till last

minute to declare. We are expecting a big rush towards the end. There is something in the psyche of Nigerians that leaves everything to last minute. It is fine nonetheless,

because we will be fully ready when the rush comes. A lot of the processes are automated, hence, there won’t be challenges when the rush comes.

CIPM urges members to leverage technology •Inducts new members

By Providence Emmanuel

T

HE Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPM, has urged its members to leverage technology as over 400 new associate members were inducted last week.

The institute also charged member to use their professional

skill for effective service delivery.

In a statement corroborating the institutes 28th Induction Ceremony in Lagos, President, CIPM, Mr. Udom Inoyo, advised the new members to leverage technology so as to make CIPM attractive to Human Resources, HR practitioners.

“Don’t ever underestimate the value you have made in

yourselves. There is a stronger demand from us as HR professionals to respond to what has become unpredictable sense of environment in which we operate and indeed deliver value to all stakeholders. It means HR business is constraints to begin to support the business we are into,” he said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 -- 33

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Slaves in our Papa’s Land

S

INCE 2011, the hoodlums, religious fanatics and terrorists coupled together in Libya by the ‘international community’ have subjected blacks, especially Nigerians to torture, summary execution, rape and slavery. This has been an open secret which many Nigerian returnees from Libya have recounted countless times. The outcry today in our country and across the world is primarily because the CNN showed the actual auction of blacks for as little as $350.

What is going on in Libya is doubtlessly horrendous, but not surprising and is not new. I generally discountenance claims of outrage from Western countries and the United States who militarily and economically destroyed Libya and handed it to the current bandits running various sections of the country.

When I watched the United Nations, UN, Secretary General, Antonio Guterre wax lyrical about the slave trade and other criminal acts being perpetuated in Libya, as acts that “may amount to crimes against humanity”. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh because the current situation in Libya was imposed through the instrumentality of the UN Resolution SC/10200 of 17th March, 2011.

Civil war had broken out in Libya when in another attempt to remove President Moamar Ghadaffi, then President Barack Obama of the United States, and Prime Minister David Cameroon of Britain supported by France and the Arab League had unleashed a welltrained and armed "opposition” on the country. At a time, these characters were termed ‘democratic forces’ that will enthrone democracy even when their major backers in the Gulf are dictators and monarchs who do not allow elections in their own countries.

Beyond claims of democracy and human rights, it was well known that America and its Western allies had their sights on Libya’s rich oil reserves. The war had begun as 'protests’ especially in Benghazi.

Arms had quickly appeared in the ‘Protests’ and when in the course of the war, the government had the upper hand, the sponsors of the violence decided to take direct action to give the ‘opposition’ victory over the government, and as it has turned out, destroy Libya itself.

Under the UN, Ghadaffi was accused of bombing parts of Libya and a case was made to “protect civilians”. The UN then banned Libya from using its Airforce, and authorised other countries to effect

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

O

N September 19, 2017, a prominent Nigerian and one-time member of the Nigerian senate asked me two questions via a whatsapp post. The questions were: “How do you see 2019? What are your permutations in APC and PDP?” I received the post at 9.31 am. Initially, I wanted to answer the questions in one or two sentences, but by the time I decided to reply the post at 11.41 am after I was done with the task on my table, I ended up writing something close to a thesis.

As to the question on how I saw 2019, my answer was that “God is set to do a new thing in the affairs of Nigeria in 2019.” But as to the question on the permutations within the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, I provided the following answer: as for my permutations, I speak as a man: whether it is APC or PDP, the people power will be a determining factor. After all, they say: “vox populi, vox dei" (the voice of the people is the voice of God).

I proceeded to ask two critical questions: one, are the vast majority of Nigerians satisfied with their economic and social conditions? Two, has there been any progress in tackling poverty, hunger, and unemployment in our nation? I posited that the APC government has become very unpopular on those scores. I further stated that the only thing it is selectively doing is its so-called anti-corruption war, which has become a whimsical tool of blackmailing the oppositional elements and stigmatising the PDP platform. I submitted that the war has lost the critical integrity capital.

The rest of my thought process on that day and in response to the questions reads: the APC government has also not been able to manage its electoral success. The greatest opposition to APC is itself. It is an agglomeration of disparate groups separately seeking to control the soul of the party. The Congress for Progressive Change,

C M Y

this ban. With this, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, moved in to bomb the Libyan Armed Forces and allow the hoodlums seize the country. It also bombed Ghadaffi’s convoy injuring him and allowing him to be captured and summarily executed.

Apart from seizing Libyan assets across the world, imposing an arms embargo and completely isolating the Libyan government, the UN also played a very dangerous card which

Libya is a conflict economy in which everything including human beings are commodified; it is ruled by violence and the persons who can muster the most violence, get away with anything is partly responsible for the criminal handling of blacks in Libya today including selling them as slaves. The Libyan ‘opposition’ had claimed that Ghadaffi had over the years expended huge resources on Africa and encouraged blacks to work in Libya. It claimed that as a result, the blacks were fighting on the side of Ghadaffi and that many were racing across the continent to join Ghadaffi.

The UN propagandists labelled these blacks as “mercenaries” and said it “Deplores the continuing flows of mercenaries into the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and calls upon all Member States… to prevent the provision of armed mercenary

personnel to the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya”. As a result, all blacks found in Libya were designated “mercenaries” and tortured, shot, raped, kidnapped and made to do forced labour. The slave trade is an extension of forced labour.

Tragically, Nigeria had supported the plot to destroy the legitimate Libyan government and backed all the UN resolutions including the one that designated Ghadaffi supporters, especially blacks as ‘mercenaries’. Our then Nigerian Permanent Representative in the United Nations, Mrs. Joy Ugwu in supporting the plot against Libya had argued that: “The current State of affairs (in Libya) leaves an indelible imprint on the conscience and compels us to act”. After the Resolution was passed with Nigeria hypocritically ‘abstaining’, Mrs. Ugwu declared: “Today, we have sent an unequivocal message to the Libyan people that the dignity and safety of every man woman and child is paramount”.

So with our country ’s active connivance, NATO moved in to destroy Libya and we are left with its aftermath including trading Nigerians in that country as sex or economic slaves. Libya became a failed state with no security, armed forces or government, and food and fuel shortages, unpaid salaries, kidnapping, rape and slave trade.

Libya is a conflict economy in which everything including human beings are commodified; it is ruled by violence and the persons who can muster the most violence, get away with anything. The allocation of resources is by violence and appropriation is by seizing what others have produced and defending what you have produced.

I have read that the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Ministry says it is taking up slavery and related issues with the Libyan government, and I

Atiku: My response to 2019 posers CPC, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, new PDP, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and the super minority faction of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, are fighting to stymie one another.

Unfortunately, the CPC which should have had an upper hand is encumbered on two fronts: its members are not tested politicians and their leader, Buhari, is unable to focus on governance due to his debilitating ailment. And this is the crux of the matter and the greatest problem of the APC. As long as Buhari remains and is encouraged to seek re-election in his doubtful state of health, the more attritional internal responses within the APC will be, moving towards 2019.

Sampler: Minister of women affairs, Senator Aishat Al-Hassan’s open declaration of support for former vice

He should let Atiku know that the 2019 presidency is in his kitty and that it is left for him to keep it or lose it president Atiku Abubakar for the presidency in 2019 is just a tip of the iceberg of the bludgeoning internal resistance. Atiku is interested in the presidency. The senate president, Bukola Saraki is interested.

Governor Abdulkadir Yari of Zamfara state is interested. The governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal and his Kaduna state counterpart, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, are hiding behind a finger. In APC, Buhari's underbelly is exposed. If he hangs on and the presidential power is mustered to present him as candidate in 2019, then the implosion will hit the APC and the opposition can harness the fallout to its advantage.

2019 presents an APC national leader,

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with the last opportunity to reinvent his waning factor.

He had already said he would seek the presidential ticket of the party if Buhari is not running. If that scenario happens, he is not going to get the party's ticket since the north is yet to exhaust its eight years. His reaction to his loss at the party primary will be to recede into the southwest regional enclave to see how to control and use it for alignment and realignment in the context of a new presidential power bargain. If Buhari runs, Tinubu will still have to be prudent about how he deploys his critical southwest support in 2019. (He has recently echoed his position that there would be no automatic ticket for Buhari).

I see Atiku moving to the PDP. If he gets the critical support of the PDP governors, he is as good as becoming the candidate. If he becomes the candidate, he will win. As it is, this is his last best chance of becoming president. The advantage Atiku will have over the likes of former Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido, governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, former Kano state governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, etc, is his cosmopolitan nature, whereas they are provincial in nature. To that extent, there is no difference, for instance, between Buhari on the one hand and Lamido on the other.

Both are Hausa/Fulani hegemonists.

Shekarau and Dankwabbo do not present a nationalistic outlook either.

Atiku has experience and nationwide structure. He is one presidential aspirant that is prepared and ready for the job, not an accidental aspirant. I understand he has always had an organic economic blueprint with which he plans to address Nigeria's economic problems. I understand he is considering a single term in office given his age. His restructuring advocacy is in sync with the position of the south. If he has the support of the south, the north-central and

ask, which of the five governments; the Government of National Accord, GNA, and the Islamist National Salvation Government (the two in Tripoli) the one in Tobruk, the new one around Sirte or the one in Benghazi run by renegade General Khalifa Hafter? It depends on which government controls a particular slave market.

Generally as Nigerians, we have to re-examine ourselves, stop the propaganda, and ask how we have produced citizens who are so desperate that they embark on suicidal journeys. How did we produce fellow Nigerians who borrow money to pay traffickers and cross the desert, where some perish, cross into Libya where they are prostituted, tortured and enslaved and then get into leaky, unsafe boats in which many perish? All to get to Italy which itself may be the beginning of a punishing journey to other European countries where there are no shelter or jobs waiting for them and where they are treated at best, as second class citizens. Quite simply, the African ruling class has abdicated its responsibilities and failed the people. Africans are simply enslaved in their own land.

As solution, first, we have to do all that is possible to bring back all Nigerians in Libya including those that cannot freely leave because they are the property of some Libyans, we have to devise means of freeing them to return. We also need to make the bandits in Libya know that Nigeria will defend its citizens and that we will come after all those who kill or dehumanise Nigerians. We need to realise that no matter the rhetoric, the West will not put its citizens in danger in order to stop the slave. In the long term, Nigeria needs to lead an African force to retake Libya from the bandits to whom the Obama and Cameroon governments gave Libya.

his north-east zones, then the traditional opposition by the north-west's Hausa/Fulani hegemony to his and northeast's quest for presidential power will pale into insignificance.

I want to believe that the PDP will do everything that is possible to take advantage of the APC's lingering bind to retrieve power at the centre. The APC succeeded in 2015.

The PDP can replicate the same in 2019 by taking advantage of popular sentiments that Buhari has failed to dazzle and is now encumbered. The PDP needs to put its act together.

You must be strategic in the unfolding political alignments and realignments.

There are no permanent enemies. There is permanent enlightened self interest. Once PDP is able to get its act together and become a strategic hub to galvanize other opposition parties for a mega platform to wrest power in 2019 and with the certainty of support by the masses of Nigeria, then the APC can, as well, begin to sing its Nunc Dimittis.

By 11.52 am, my friend sent to me another poser: What about Markarfi (for president)?

At 11.56, I sent to him the following response: former governor of Kaduna state, Ahmed Makarfi does not fit the bill. He does not have the capacity beyond Kaduna. Even if he has the capacity, I understand, he is managing a health situation that may get aggravated if saddled with the problems of leading Nigeria.

In 2019, I cannot see a better candidate than Atiku. Forget about former president Olusegun Obasanjo's spurious narrative and invectives on Atiku as being corrupt. I laugh.

It is sad that Obasanjo pontificates about corruption and sits in judgment over others.

But if he must sit, should he not be equitable?

I rounded off by saying that he should let Atiku know that the 2019 presidency is in his kitty and that it is left for him to keep it or lose it. *Mr. Ojeifo, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.

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Ugwuanyi flags off construction of 4 more rural roads INVESTMENT: Tambuwal, Releases fund for construction of 5 fire stations

E

NUGU—IN keeping with his administration’s drive to open up more rural areas to enhance the well-being of the people of the state, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has flagged off construction of four additional rural roads in the state.

About 10km distance would be covered in this latest set of roads awarded for construction and they will cost the government nearly N1 billion.

In the same vein, the state Executive Council has approved the construction of five fire stations in five council areas of the state in furtherance of the desire of the Ugwuanyi administration to protect lives and property.

Already, work has commenced on the four roads which include Obollo Eke Junction-AgalaOkpaligbo Junction, Ohom Orba-AmajiokaUmuikeoha-Agu Orba, and Okpu Agu Orba Road both in Udenu Local Government Area of the

state.

Others include OguruteMkpamute-IgogoroIkpamodo-Okpo-Amaja Road (phase 1), OguruteUmuogbo Ulo-IsiugwuUmuopu-Ette Road (phase 1), in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

These came on the heels of many other road projects awarded for reconstruction within Enugu metropolis and flagoff ceremonies performed about a fortnight ago, and these are in line with the promise the governor recently made to the people of the state that the current dry season window would witness massive work on infrastructure upgrade across the state.

Also, the state Executive Council has approved release of fund for the construction of fire stations in Udi, Udenu, Nkanu West, Oji River and IgboEze North Local Government Areas of the state to contain fire outbreaks.

Speaking at the flag off

ceremony at Igbo- Eze North Local Government Area, the governor who was represented by the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Greg Nnaji, an engineer, said that it is the cardinal objective of this administration to reach the rural areas and extend access to the locals through construction of quality roads and provision of other basic infrastructures in the rural areas.

He said the state government has worked out the template for the contracts and has fully mobilized contractors to sites, adding that there is clear weather window for construction to guarantee speedy completion of the projects.

He further stated that “the roads are standard single-carriage roads that would traverse our communities to provide access, mobility and economic value”, assuring that his ministry would ensure that every contract would be executed in line

with the specifications.

While shedding light on the construction of fire stations in the five local government councils, Engr.

Nnaji said, “His Excellency the governor has approved the construction of modernfacility fire stations in 9th Mile, Igbo-Eze North, Oji River, Orba and Agbani.

“As we speak now, funds have been released to the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure for the construction of these stations with immediate effect.

“Our governor, right from the time he was in the House of the Representatives has had the interest of the people at heart, so we should continue to pray for his administration to ensure the continuity of the dividends of democracy being enjoyed in the state today,” he said.

Some stakeholders and politica leaders who wutnessed the flagoff ceremonies expressed their appreciation for the projects and applauded the governor for being a symbol of good governance in the

Chinese envoy seeks closer ties

S

O K O T O — GOVERNOR Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has reiterated his administration’s determination to make Sokoto an economic and industrial hub, making it a preferred investment destination in the country.

He stated this when the Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Sokoto.

He said: “We are working round the clock to engage new development partners and attract more direct investments into our state.

This visit offers both our governments an ample opportunity to build stronger ties and establish a more beneficial working relationship.

“Our policy thrust is to open our doors to willing investors. We are keen on sharing ideas and partnering the Chinese Embassy on ways to boost trade, agriculture, energy,

rural development and improve economic relations among our peoples."

According to the Governor, Sokoto is endowed with natural and human resources that offer abundant investment opportunities for all willing investors.

With particular reference to energy, Tambuwal the state has five viable sources of energy which include hydro, wind, solar, gas and coal.

While thanking the envoy for supporting the state government with instructional materials after it declared a state of emergency on education sector in the state, Tambuwal said government is working assiduously to implement past MoUs entered into with Chinese entities.

In his remarks, the Ambassador said it’s gratifying to note that Nigeria and China have a long diplomatic history, stressing the need to build on such history for the mutual benefit both countries.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 43

I will definitely beat Buhari in 2019 – Atiku deny Atiku. Anybody that is not comfortable with Atiku’s ambition can take it that way.

•Buhari

A

laji Sulaimon Have you done your homework very well?

Because it’s very easy to talk than to achieves John-Paul Abuchi Okpala I don’t think it is possible for you to beat President Buhari

•Atiku Frankbuttrue David Adeniran If President Buhari contests for the Presidency in 2015 was a desperate move after he had cried and vowed not to contest again, then Atiku has every right to be “desperate”. As nobody denied Buhari of his “desperate” right, nobody can

OLUSOLA_IDOWU THEARGUMENTATOR1 We shall try Atiku. He has made a very good point which was raised severally.

President Buhari could not run his own very life. His home and economy are in very bad shape. This same issue Atiku has raised again. Buhari with all the opportunities he has had including being a Head of State was poorer than the church’s mouse because he could not run his personal economy.

We shall collectively try Atiku. Enough of failures running this country to a standstill! progressive David Atiku just wanted to waste his money . It shows that he doesn’t have an ambition.

The gang-up against Peter Obi him as the best governor, Anambra has ever had.

I

fediba Ofuonye Maduabum To the writer, there is no gang up in Anambra state.

Anambra state is one state that speaks with one voice. Mr Peter Obi and Sen. Ngige should return to APGA if they have plans for a better political future.

Anambra state is a based for Igbo future and mixing it up will not do them any good.

Kennedy Peter Obi is not a good politician.

He became governor through the love Igbos have for late Ojukwu.

How can he leave a party that pledged allegiance to, joining the PDP and hijacking the structure of the party giving the ticket to a wrong candidate his former aid Obaze while there are old PDP members? The party with great structure, if you want to challenge the incumbent governor, you have to go for a popular candidate.

Chibuzor Gladys The man that is inconsistent with his words. He told the world that he has retired from politics.

What then is the meaning of all these political drama you cannot fool people forever Mr Peter. Your time is up in politics. I honestly liked Peter before.

Ekwuojo Micheal Nothing you will tell us about Peter Obi that can wash him clean of Anambra politics. Peter knew Obiano is not good and he presented him to the people of Anambra state.

•Peter Obi

Nkem Onyekwena Who and who are ganging up against him? He ganged up against himself up. Let us not apportion it to anybody. I still like

Collins I truly didn’t have to read your article that this Peter Obi is surely a good man so wish we have leaders like him at the center.

Goodluck Jonathan is a good and

•Jonathan

Jonathan dares critics to show records to match his achievements Hyman Hyman From today, let us show the record, record matters and in the record we stand.

Tunde Emmanuel Oyintiloye He is right. Let us show record. osagiejacobs Omoekoogidi He has by this article presented some of his achievements. Counter them one by one if you can. efo don Sucess Keu How is it hard to recover the money former President Jonathan was supposed to

have given out? By the way, why didn’t he accumulate the money for himself? The money cannot be recovered because there was no money in the first place, it was all APC propaganda. Let them recover it and prove to Nigerians that they were not lying and simply leading people astray to satisfy their political interest. You can’t be shouting money was stolen yet there is no evidence, no convict.

WJasper efo What Metu confessed he collected must be part of APC propaganda! Yes, you are very correct!

humble man but see how he allowed people around him to hijack his powers for selfish reasons. So when I see leaders like Obi why won’t I celebrate him

can’t blame his party men that worked against him. Though Obi has good intentions, but him having his way in that election would have been to retire those political bigwigs from politics

Chibuzor Yes, Obi is highly celebrated in Anambra state, the best governor I have seen in the South East over a long period. But then, I

Prince Prince Ofuzo The gang up against Peter Obi in the last governorship election in Anambra goes beyond the dramatis personae in Anambra.

TRENDING ON THE TWITTER

F

emi Fani-Kayode Verified If there were ever a reason or cause for us to go to war, the Libyans have provided it by enslaving our people and buying and selling them like Christmas turkeys and sallah goats. No human being deserves to be caged like an animal and roasted like suya meat.

Lere Olayinka - Aresa Even right here in Nigeria, there is slavery. If not, why is it that when Fulani herdsmen kill people, the FG keeps mum, but when there are reprisal attacks against the

Fulani herdsmen, FG acts promptly?

Ben Murray-Bruce How can you run a nation if you cannot run your own business? I run my businesses to international standards.

Let any of those who want to compete with me show what they have managed successfully. I’ve lifted over 45,000 families out of poverty@atiku Akinwunmi Ambode The Experience has become an event for people from all walks of life and different

faiths. The event continues to dismantle the barriers of political affiliations, ethnicity and doctrinal differences through music. #TE12 John Lewis 62 years ago today, Rosa Parks stood up for what is right, what is fair, and what is just, by sitting down on a Montgomery city bus and refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Her actions took raw courage and helped ignite a movement. #goodtrouble

WHO There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.

John Nichols The new prime minister of Iceland is Katrín Jakobsdóttir: a 41-year-old democratic socialist, feminist, antimilitarist who says Iceland will expand its health-care system, “go farther than the Paris Accord” in fighting climate change and striving for increased gender equality.

The Obama Foundation “The single most important

thing I want to focus on is lifting up, identifying, working with, and training the next generation of leadership. Not just in the United States, but all around the world.” —@BarackObama to young people in India today.

IWHC No woman should have to beg for an #abortion: As Brazil considers a constitutional amendment to ban abortion in all circumstances, HRW calls for renewed protection of women’s #reprorights.

44—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Man, 25, seeks N2.5m for artificial limbs

By Oluwaseyi Adeshina

A

*Centre, is the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, flanked by members of the Medical Guild, association of doctors under the state employ during their 2017 Annual General meeting in Lagos recently.

Play your role towards quality healthcare, LASG tasks doctors

By Chioma Obinna

T

HE Lagos State Government has challenged medical doctors under its employ to play a role towards improving standards of healthcare at their various facilities in the state.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris who made the call at the opening of the AGM/Scientific Conference of the Medical Guild with the theme: Restoring Order and Balance in Hierarchy of the Health Sector, charged members of the Guild to make their facilities more competitive in the global healthcare space.

Idris also urged them to work together as a team, share knowledge and create collaborations and partnerships that would place Lagos on the map as a healthcare destination of choice.

Commenting on the theme, Idris called for collaboration among healthcare professionals.

He said failures in interprofessional teamwork and communication have led directly to compromised patients care, staff distress, tension and inefficiency.

“They also make a substantial contribution to medical errors and are a contributory factor in 61 per cent of sentinel events, which is why the principle behind the movement toward patient-centered care is growing.

“To me, there is no doubt that physicians are the clinical leaders of the healthcare organisation.

However, such leadership role must engender true

professionalism and ethics, appropriate knowledge base, professional collaboration and team spirit,” he said.

Chairman, Medical Guild, Lagos, Dr. Saliu Oseni lamented that nonmedical personnel have continued to try to own prescription rights against professional ethics and standards.

“It is important to re-set the balance to correct the

distorted hierarchy in the health sector with proper hierarchical distribution in

Non-medical personnel are trying to own prescription rights against professional ethics and standards

the sector and correct the wrong impression of the existence of professional autonomy in the hospital setting as being peddled by some groups within the health sector and ensure the institution of appropriate clinical governance,” Oseni stated.

Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga called for unity amongst doctors.

FTER losing one of his limbs to an unfortunate reckless driver right in his office premises, 25-year-old Mr. Nnamani Okechukwu is in dire need of N2.5 million for artificial limbs to enable him move around and fend for himself.

Okechukwu, an orphan, is currently helpless.

Formerly a gateman, Okechukwu was on duty when an altercation with one of the regular customers occurred.

Unfortunately for Okechukwu, he had another encounter with the same customer while exiting the hotel at about 2:00 am the next day.

The customer’s vehicle brushed him aside, crushing his leg in the process. Okechukwu was rescued by the hotel workers who later rushed him to Fate City Hospital, Ajao Estate for First Aid and referred him to National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi, Lagos at 4:00am. He was taken to the theatre where his veins were reconstructed but the nerves were totally

damaged. After one week of monitoring, there was no improvement and the leg was amputated.

He stated that the doctor gave him two prescriptions of artificial limbs of N1.9 million and N2.5 million.

Okechukwu alleged that since the incident, the man who caused his predicament has refused to assist him.

“I am appealing to the state government, corporate organisations and well meaning Nigerians to help me acheive my dream. I want to go back to school. I am an orphan and my uncle and relatives have refused to help me.”

If you are touched, please send you rdonation to Mr. Nnamani Okechukwu Charles, Zenith Bank 2080837895, or Nnamami Okechukwu Charles, FCMB: 4786921017 or call 08037274540.

Affordable drugs: PharmAccess introduces soft loan to Community pharmacists

By Gabriel Olawale

I

N its bid to assist pharmacists make available quality drugs to Nigerians, PharmAccess Foundation in partnership with Anadach Group has introduced soft loan designed to make drugs available at affordable prices in the country.

Speaking during Pharmacy Industry Roundtable tagged, Strengthening The Value Chain, Country Director of PharmAccess Foundation, Ms. Njide Ndili emphasized the role of community pharmacists in ensuring quality drugs that would make patients get well, noting that conversation on health insurance is ongoing.

Ndili said: "PharmAccess is trying to give them access to finance and also provide technical support to help them to improve their practice.

"Through our Medical Credit Fund in partnership

with our local banks, we are offering loans to stakeholders across healthcare value chain and at the moment, we have given over 300 loans to pharmacists alone (about $2.5 million) and the repayment is 99.7 per cent."

She explained that all stakeholders across healthcare value chain are

eligible to take up the loan, including pharmacies and hospitals. "All eligible need to work with us and take the loan through our partner banks because we don't give loan directly. We also build capacity for those that take up the loan as value-added service.

Corroborating her views,

Business Development Director, Medical Credit Fund, Fisayo Okunsanya said that fake drugs has become a big challenge in Nigeria adding that they are working through the initiative to achieve a community where source of drugs can be guaranteed as well as stimulate local manufacturing.

*Nnamani Okechukwu

AIDDN, CDC partner to rescue 1m Lagosians with disability

W

ITH over 1 million Lagosians living with one form of disability or the other, Association of Intellectual Disabilities in Nigeria, AIDDN, and the Children Developmental Centre, CDC, have trained parents of children living with disabilities, particularly, cerebral palsy with a view to assisting them in managing their wards living with such conditions.

Speaking at the 2017 seminar organised by the association in Lagos, the Special Adviser on Social Development to the Lagos

State Governor, Mrs. Joyce Onofowokan disclosed that presently, over three million persons residing in the state have one form of disability or the other.

Onofowokan said the Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has also ordered the collection of data of those living in Lagos State so that the state can get the actual figure of persons living with disabilities.

"The Governor recently gave people living with disabilities the sum of N500 million to help them establish their own businesses.

The

government is presently carrying out advocacy to educate people living with disabilities on how to manage them and also how to prevent parents from having children that will later become disabled.

She further disclosed that the government was planning to build an intervention centre in Lagos that will help to diagnose cerebral palsy in new born babies as early detection and treatment will help to reduce the effect on the child as he or she grows up.

Onofowokan advised women to attend antenatal clinics, eat fresh food and avoid junk foods and also avoid three days of labour when they are pregnant, as these, according to her, are some of the causes of children being born with cerebral palsy.

Speaking, the National President, AIDDN, Prince Segun Joseph, said the programme was organised to educate parents with children living with cerebral palsy on how best to manage their wards living with disabilities.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—45 :Vanguard News

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MEETING: From left—Mrs. Aduke Maina, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP chairmanship candidate, Chief Bode George, Lagos State PDP Chairman, Moshood Salvador and Director-General, Bode George Campaign, Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu, during Bode George meeting with Lagos PDP executives and Lagos PDP convention delegates in Lagos, yesterday.

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DONATION: From left— Marketing Manager, LG Electronics West Africa Operations, Mr. Paul Mba; Branch Manager, Fouani Nigeria Ltd, Abuja branch, Mr Morhaf Ghazaly; Head, Clinical Services, Kuje General Hospital, Dr. Musa Ishaku; Chief Matron, Kuje General Hospital, Mrs. Ike Okoli and the hospital Secretary, Tolulope Ajimobi, during LG Electronics CSR donation to the hospital in Abuja.

GAC Motors unveils second generation vehicles

A

By Emmanuel Elebeke

BUJA—CIG Motors company limited, the distributors of GAC brand of Motors has increased its range of vehicles with the second generation cars in Nigeria.

The GAC second generation vehicles which are available to Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja residents include GA3S model a1.6Litreengine4doorSaloon andtheGS4a1.5Lturboengine compact SUV with five passenger seating.

Also available is the GS8 flgship luxury seven seater vehicle a 2.0L turbo engine largesuvwithmanyinnovative features, safety guarantees and so much pleasure.

Inhisaddress,theManaging Director of CID Motors, Mr. Felix Lee said the key motivation behind the introduction of the new vehicle modelsisthecost,whichis40% lower compared with Toyota, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.

He also said the company pridesthenewentrantsontheir three way steering pole mechanism as an added value to the safety features, which he said disintegrates during crash to avoid death.

Speaking after the test drive activities,theheadofmarketing forthebrandinNigeria,Kayode Adejumo, said: ‘‘With the fuel efficient and economical turbo engines, the accent and decent on the hills were no match for the vehicles as it easily showed itsclass,boastingofitsHillHold Controls with the vehicle ‘fully stable during Uphill and downhill starting and stopping not to talk of its great handling and comfort’ remarked one of the customers.’’

46 —

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

CHANGE OF NAME

IJAMAH I, formerly known and addressed as Johngold Ijamah, now wish to be known and addressed as Johngold Oghenechowho Ijamah. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

OTERI

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Oteri Ejiro Marieta, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Ahworegba Ejiro Marieta. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

SOPHIA

I, formerly known and addressed as Agbani S o p h i a Ogheneoborakpororo, now wish to be known and addressed as Agonor Sophia Ogheneoborakpororo.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OK OYE OKO I, formerly known and addressed as Okoye, Esther Chinenye, now wish to be known and addressed as Salami, Esther Chinenye. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

IBHASHEMOJIE

I, formerly known and addressed as L o v e t h Ibhashemojie, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Loveth Okuofo. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

EKEKWE

I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Ekekwe Chinenye Precious, now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Alogo Chinenye Precious. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

AZOLO

I, formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Azolo Janefrances Jessica Chiamaka, now wish to be known and addressed as Miss E z e n n a e r i k a Janefrances Jessica Chiamaka. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

Gains by Kano, Buhari's vote bank and secure political base

A

By Garba Shehu

S President Muhammadu Buhari embarks on a two-day visit to Kano, his strongest political base this week, a simple question the Kano man or woman should answer for himself/herself is: How well did you fare in two years, six months after Muhammadu Buhari took power?

When Kano gave Muhammadu Buhari about two million votes, the highest by any state that swept him into office in 2015, one issue had dominated election-time discourse, and still remained: Security.

A few morons who did not in any way represent Islam, a religion of peace had launched a series of horrendous gun and bomb attacks on he city as they did on a number of northern towns and villages.

No where was safe in Kano. A place that was safe today, can be site of a deadly attack tomorrow. The police, the other security agencies and the general civilian bore the brunt of a largescale insurgent offensive.

The security situation was intensely volatile.

Men and women leave home to fetch food for the children and later in the day, their dead bodies are brought back.

Deadly attacks The casualties mounted to dramatic levels. On a particular Friday in February 2012, Boko Haram launched a deadly attack on police and other security establishments leaving its trail, hundreds of deaths and thousands with various degrees of injury. In December 2014, suicide bombers and gunmen launched yet another deadly attack on the city Juma’at mosque killing 300, leaving hundreds of others injured.

Kano residents, as did nearly everyone across the country had by 2015 lost confidence in the incompetent, corrupt Jonathan administration which they said was not doing enough to protect them against Boko Haram.

Nigerian soldiers with centuries old reputation for courage, valor and accomplishment were starved of needed arms and ammunition. They recorded their first-ever failure to bring peace and stability.

It is instructive to remind ourselves that the people didn’t just fold their arms doing nothing about their plight. Given that they had a government that failed to govern, in the circumstance, they did the most they could to overcome the life of fear and anxiety clamped upon them. They imposed security rules on

President Muhammadu Buhari themselves and listened to their own instincts.

They erected high blast protection walls and barbed wire around homes, institutions and public places.

After years of murderous campaign by the terrorists, what everyone wanted from Candidate Muhammadu Buhari was security first, security second, security third, then economy and jobs and the fight against corruption which only a man with his credentials of impeccable personal integrity could wage.

Group after group of voters promised him that if only you show us a plan for ending the dislocation and disruption of our lives, we will give the kind of support that no others will give.

On the day he assumed power, there and then on the inaugural Dias, President Buhari began the war against terrorism and insecurity.

After billions of Naira sunk and thousands of the lives of our servicemen and women lost, he has put the terrorists out of business, albeit a part of the mopping remains. Boko Haram designs for Kano and as many other cities has come to naught.

Return of peace Peace is back and the people are enjoying freedom all over again. This freedom and democracy is what people are expressing when they go on radio and social media to say nothing has changed in their lives; that nothing has been achieved.

Peace is back and people are no longer preoccupied with the fear of when the next bomb attacks will happen.

They are fighting over their favorite football teams.

Our men and women are squabbling over who is the best player.

In the two-and-a-half years in office, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is putting Kano State through a revolution in the way projects are being assigned and executed.

Kano, long one of the fastest growing economies in the country , had begun to lag in the years

preceding Buhari due to problems occasioned mainly by the acute shortage of power.

Neighborhoods spent weeks without electricity; factories sent workers home and shut down because they had no money to sustain production using diesel generators.

Now, things are getting better. The numerous projects put in place to enhance power generation and transmission in particular are being brought to fruition. Records indicate that Kano today enjoys a daily cumulative power supply of about 18 hours.

To bring a permanent solution to the problem of power epilepsy, the Buhari administration has been discussing the idea of a contract for the laying of gas pipelines from Ajaokuta through Abuja and Kaduna

The state of AbujaKaduna-Kano dualcarriage way which has attracted so much public criticism is now receiving attention.

But the President, it has reliably been gathered, has a different plan for the road. It is expected that in the course of this visit, he might be making a s i g n i f i c a n t pronouncement on the future of this road.

The Aviation sector has also given Kano good deal.

Presently, Construction is ongoing of a new international terminal building at the Kano International Airport, as well as rehabilitation of car parks and service roads.

President Buhari just approved the construction of rail tracks connecting Kano to Maiduguri.

A brand new standard gauge rail line will connect Kano and Lagos.

This railway development funded through partnership between Nigeria and China has delivered Kaduna-Abuja and the Lagos-Ibadan sector is under construction, to be delivered by the end of the year 2018.

Actually, Kano-Kaduna contract would have been signed months ago, but was postponed following Chinese, the funder ’s insistence that they wanted to take KanoIbadan in one stretch.

Major beneficiaries

Nigerian soldiers with centuries old reputation for courage, valor and accomplishment were starved of needed arms and ammunition

to Kano. This should meet the needs of manufacturing industries as it has been for the coastal areas including Lagos and Ogun states industrial zones.

Road projects that are ongoing include the following: ·Dualisation of KanoMaiduguri Road Section IV (Postikum – Damaturu) with over 58% now completed; ·Dualisation of Kano – Katsina Road ( From Dawanau – Katsina) · Kano – Western Bye Pass ·Rehabilitation of Saminaka – Doguwa Road; and Doguwa – Tiga Road.

Kano, as to be expected, is one of the major beneficiaries of the administration’s Social Investment Programs.

Following successful awareness creation among the state’s large population of the unemployed and the downward revision of the entry requirements to accommodate NCE and Diploma certificates holders, Kano entered more than 80,000 applications for the current wave of N-Power recruits.

On the Conditional Cash Transfers, Cash Transfer Facilitators have been giving orientation and training; State Cash Transfer Offices have already been set up in the state and enrollments have commenced from the 23rd of November. The payment of beneficiaries is expected to start this week, that is the first week of December.

The Implementation of the Home Grown School Feeding Program is commencing soon. The month of December has been set as the target month.

The Government Enterprise and

Empowerment Program, GEEP loans through the Bank of Industry are currently being received by traders, artisans and small scale business men and women in the State. The special intervention fund for textile manufacturers is already making possible the return of the industry in Kano and other states.

Before I end this discourse, let me address an issue of frequent interest in radio talk shows in the city’s vibrant broadcast industry. Hardly do you have a day without one hearing such claims as, “we gave Buhari two million votes. That is the highest by anyone. What special consideration is he giving us?”

Philosophy of integrated development Although Kano appears to be well served from the litany of projects illustrated here, and truly deserves even more, it is evident that government's effort in developing the state, and indeed all parts of the country is driven by the party, APC’s philosophy of integrated development. Kano remains President Buhari’s strongest political base. The President will however be the first to say he does not consider any community or state a vote bank.

He will not treat any section or community as a vote bank because he is bent on pursuing a policy of inclusiveness. If one part develops and the other lags, then the country cannot be said to be truly on the path to sustainable development.

Instead of treating parts of the country in any preferential way, President Buhari has

stuck to his themes of development and uplifting the poor and the marginalized , saying over and again that he belonged

to everyone and he belonged to no one. To that extent, the man at the bottom of society would continue to be at the centre of development.

The people of Kano should themselves grow out of the feeling that they are tools or items of vote bank but a people who are just and fair to themselves and to others forming a part of the mainstream of development; a people who want to be treated as equals and who do not expect or demand anything special, over and above what is due to them.

Although this essentially is an official visit, millions of Kano people will turn up to see and listen to the President with decorum. And given the high level of political consciousness in the state, expect our people to sport Buhari masks, T-Shirts, banners and buntings saying “we love Buhari.” Don’t even rule out a shouting match between splinter groups. It is a way to show true love for the President.

Garba Shehu, SSAP, (Media and Publicity).

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—47 :Vanguard News

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I'll continue to uphold UNN 's standard —JIM OVIA beaten their performance and current S U K K A — T H E of this great and noble and N chairman, Zenith institution for bestowing on competitors to the game. I'm results arguably puts him Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Jim me this Honorary Doctoral always lucky to be on their as the best Central Bank Ovia, has said he would continue to uphold the high standards of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN .

He made the promise in his acceptance speech during the 47th Convocation ceremony of the university where he was given an honorary doctoral degree, Ovia said: ''I am truly honored and humbled to accept this honorary doctoral degree from the great Den of the Lions – the University of Nigeria, Nsukka – on this auspicious occasion of your 47th convocation ceremony. In this regard, I sincerely thank the Vice Chancellor, the Council and the Senate

Degree of Business Administration. ''The University of Nigeria as a center of excellence, is an institution that has produced industrious individuals in the private as well as public sectors of this country. ''In my role at the helm of one of the leading financial institutions in the country, I have had the privilege of meeting several alumni of this great university. The “Lion” appears as a symbol of strength on the university banner. ''In reality and particularly in the corporate steeple chase, the lions have always devoured their prey

side. ''I can attest that this university is indeed a training ground for capable, committed, and compassionate change agents, having witnessed first hand, the quality of a product of this institution, in the person of Dr. Godwin Emefiele, who was the Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc., between July, 2010 and May, 2014. During which time the bank witnessed exponential growth and phenomenal profitability. ''As the present Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele’s

Governor in the history of Nigeria.

These performance is no doubt due to the excellent training he received at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. ''To the graduands, I say a very big congratulation to you all. The sacrifices and the sleepless nights finally paid off. However, you should know that it is not over yet. ''The long hours you spent studying in and outside the classrooms; the early mornings and the late nights you endured; and all the hard work that culminated into today’s success story are all a

preparation for the life you are about to embark on. ''Be good ambassadors of this great institution wherever you find yourself and continue to display those positive attributes that saw you through. ' I commend your parents and guardians for the sacrifices undertaken to support your education. I also extend my commendation to the University Administration;bothteachingand non-teaching staff, for the effort put towards realizing today’s achievement. Without your contributionswewouldn’tbehere today. ''As we move on after the ceremony,Iwilllikeforustoreflect on the fact that we are now saddled with the responsibility of holding up the reputation of this great institution, which we are all so proud to be associated with. A responsibility that will be guided

Mr. Jim Ovia. by the mindset to seek truth, teach truth and preserve truth while endeavouring to restore the Dignity of Man. 'It is my great honor to be part of this event and to share this experience with you today as SuperLionsandSuperLionesses oftheUniversityofNigeria! This honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration, (Honoris Causa) is an award I will cherish. I am very grateful to the University of Nigeria for this recognition.''

48--VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 08070524223

VPAN organises exhibition to honour Onobrakpeya …for his National Award

By John Chukwuma Ajaka

T

he Visual Printmakers Association of Nigeria (VPAN) is organizing series of art exhibition tours to celebrate the 2017 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) Award winner in the Humanities, Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya MFR, using the momentum created by the award to intensify its awareness campaign about the enormous potentials in print arts.

According to the schedule released by the association through the Vice President, Dr. Kunle Adeyemi, in a press briefing held last Thursday at the Ovuomararo Gallery, Mushin, Lagos, the maiden edition runs for two weeks from 9 – 23 December, 2017 at the Resource Place, 1, Badagary Street, Ikeja. The exhibition, which opens at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 9th December and continues from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on subsequent days, will feature the works of the legendary artist, Bruce Onobrakpeya, along with other notable artists.

Adeyemi said VPAN considered the recent recognition of the octogenarian who has been at the forefront of popularizing printmaking for over five decades, a quantum leap for members of the art com-

munity. He pointed out that the recognition would encourage young artists to be tenacious in plying their trade despite the daunting challenges, as well as inspire prospective ones to explore the vast opportunities in printmaking.

Dr. Adeyemi further explained that printmaking allows the replication of the original work according to set ethics, thereby making it available and affordable. The advocacy campaign, he said, had started yielding results with the emergence of more collectors and incorporation of printmaking into the accredited art courses of many tertiary institutions.

The curator of Quintessence Gallery, Ikoyi, Moses Ohiomokhare, who was at the briefing, commended the Federal Government for bestowing the award on the octogenarian in his life time. Ohiomokhare said the multimedia experimental artist has been using art to promote Nigeria’s culture since the early 60s. He extolled the renowned artist for his sterling qualities and cutting-edge techniques which has distinguished him as an inspiration to a horde of followers across the continent. Ohiomokhare revealed that subsequent editions of the exhibition tour will

*Professor Bruce Onobrakpeya MFR, hold at Yaba College of Technology and Ibadan in March and July, 2018, adding that the show will be a platform for sensitization of the public on the potentials in printmaking.

Eldest son of the celebrated artist, Mr. Mudia Onobrakpeya, also a printmaking artist, revealed that Nigerian artworks rank among the best globally. He noted that the

country’s printmaking art is developed, across all genres, and features in foreign exhibitions with a competitive edge.

The organizers lined up the works of over 30 artists for exhibition at the maiden edition. Participants include Uche Okeke, Salubi Onakufe, Tayo Quail, Mike Omoighe, Kunle Adeyemi, Olu Amoda,

NANS confers excellence award on Ogun culture commissioner He also disclosed that one of the reasons why he was conferred with the award was as a result of the tremendous support he had been given to students across the country.

“We’ve checked when he was speaker, we have been following his antecedents as Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly and as the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, he has done much in benefiting youths, benefiting students, empowering youths and students, and that’s why we deemed it fit to honour him, we are aware of scholarships he had given to students, so we just deemed it fit to honour him for having exceedingly helped students to attain a great height, “ he said.

In his remarks, Rt. Hon Muyiwa Oladipo thanked the National Association of Nigerian Students for honouring him with an award of excellence, adding that the body should continue to ensure that peace reigns in campuses in the country.

By OSA AMADI

T

he National Associa tion of Nigerian Stu dents, (NANS) has conferred an award of excellence on the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Rt. Hon Muyiwa Oladipo, for his role at ensuring that culture continues to thrive in the country.

Comrade Ejiro Ayigbe, President, Delta State chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students said the decision to honour Rt. Hon Muyiwa Oladipo with an award of excellence was reached at the Senate of the association.

Ejiro noted that his impact was felt across the country and the continent with the introduction of the Nigerian Drums Festival now African Drums Festival.

“We felt his impact, the first African Drums Festival was organised by him, in Africa today, Nigeria seems to be setting the pace in the revitalization of our culture, he has done well for culture in Nigeria,” he said.

Rt. Hon. Muyiwa Oladipo (r) Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism with members of National Youth Council of Nigeria @ AFAC 2017 in Abuja

Meanwhile, the Ogun state Government has disclosed that it would continue to sup-

Juliet Ezenwa, Moses Unokwah, Bode Olaniran, Patrick Akpojokor and Daniel Ajibade. Works to be exhibited include lithography, etching, relief, serigraphy, plastocasts plastography, etc.

Dr Kunle Filani, former Provost of the Federal College of Education, Osiele,Abeokuta,wouldbetheguest speakerwhileElderJeromeEloihois thedesignatedspecialguestofhonour.

port programs aimed at revitalising the richness embedded in Yoruba language, culture and tradition.

The Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun made this known during the 2017 Gbagede Ewa Ede with the theme :’Yoruba Culture and Heritage; A priceless Gift to Humanity’ held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, kuto Abeokuta.

Governor Amosun who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Taiwo Adeoluwa noted that the state government would continue to support programs aimed at promoting the richness in Yoruba culture, language and tradition.

“We will not relent by the grace of God. Next year, we will surely support the program more than we’ve done this year. Government alone cannot do it. It shouldn’t be the organiser alone. We should all come together and support this great initiative.

As a government, we will not come last in our effort to ensure that our language does not go into extinction” he said.

Amosun noted that the state government on coming into power had changed the departments of culture and tourism to a full-fledged ministry in a bid to create a friendly environment for culture and tourism to thrive.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 49 08070524223

Rebranding Nigeria with the entertainment industry

By Lari Williams

N

i g e r i a ’ s entertainment industry should be the arrow head for rebranding the nation.

Militarizing the nation’s youth should be the sanitizing factor. Every graduate from our tertiary institutions should undergo mandatory military training in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force or the Police.

It is unfortunate that the moral fiber of the youth of this nation has been contaminated by bad example displayed by the generation of Nigerians that grew into the jamboree of independence and the oil boom in the 60’s and 70’s respectively. The subsequent rot of squander-mania led to social injustice and moral decadence. Nigerians, at home and in the Diaspora, are concerned about corruption in the country. Recently,

Nigerian youths performing at the 2017 African Arts & Crafts Expo, Abuja Reverend Father Evaristus Eshiowu, a Nigerian resident in America, titled his book Integrity Campaign, Antidote to Corruption. Yet, there is great joy in the reality that the tendency towards corruption can be reversed by reorientation to legitimate approach to the pursuit of wealth and achievement.

The duty of the entertainment industry in rebranding the nation would help to inculcate moral, cultural, and ethical virtues into the populace through high quality writing of scripts for film, drama, music, satire and comedy. These creative works will function in deliberate and constructive

patterns that reflect and demonstrate the goodies of our rich and glorious culture. The foundation of discipline would have been laid during the compulsory one year military training.

A robust character that recognizes and embraces the virtues of hard work and a positive imagination with delight is the product of a fundamentally disciplined mind. In the life to the youths and Nigerians at large, if the inclination towards dishonest behaviour in the immoral bid to acquire sudden wealth is a reflection of the negative influence of the bad examples of the past, exposure to the military discipline would curtail this unfortunate rot and, in the process, reestablish our moral values in honesty and truth.

By the same token, military training will help reduce manpower waste which has also been detrimental to the nation’s economy. Half truth is a whole lie. The nation’s ruler-ship and leadership need to apply the whole truth to make new footprints for future glory, hence the CHANGE. One excellent example of habitual indiscipline is the culture of ignoring red lights when driving on our roads.

Whether it is at night or in daytime, this behaviour is tantamount to gross indiscipline and should be discouraged.

On the other hand, the

government should help societal discipline by providing enough public conveniences like toilets and urinaries, especially along high streets like Ikorodu Road, Nnamdi Azikwe Street and Broad Street, also on bridges linking the Islands to the Mainland. Hooded gutters would help. This will make life easier for late night workers such as entertainers and the entertained.

Kudos to the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), for spearheading the proper organization of the music industry in Nigeria and shining a bright light of hope and glorious expectations to the Nigerian music industry.

Let us hope that other segments of our entertainment industry would move in the same direction.

This would help in the drive for a more lucrative entertainment industry.

No bird flies high with one bald wing. Therefore, “the stage” needs reawakening to give more solid foundation for Film and Television to thrive on. The stage is the bedrock of entertainment. Nigeria can borrow a leaf from America’s Broadway from whence came musicals, movies and overflooded stage productions which metamorphosed from Broadway to off Broadway.

Chief Tony Okorogi’s COSON move is a pointer to the growth potential of the entire entertainment industry.

Kudos again to COSON.

‘Books are not sold by titles,rather their contents’---Jimanze Ego-Alowes

By Japhet Alakam

J

imanze Ego-Alowes is a prolific writer, he has written many books.

One thing about him is that most of his titles look controversial and his latest book, Nigeria: The Unreported Genocide Against the Igbo, a book that dissects the unreported postcivil war genocide against the Igbo by past Nigerian rulers is making waves now.

Jimanze who was one of the authors that participated in the symposium at the just concluded Lagos Book Art Fair, in this interview with Vanguard Art, talks about so his choice of titles, the coup of the two generals and other issues in the book.

The titles of your books are somehow controversial for eg Economics as Assassins, How and why Yoruba fought and lost the Biafra/Nigeria civil war, and now The unreported Genocide against the Igbo, Why is it so?

The titles are indicative of the contents of the book. And that is what drives the choosing of my titles. Well,

* Jimanze Ego-Alowes one man’s controversies are another man’s veracities. What is important is not title. Rather it is the meat of the book.

What are the issues you feel that have not been reported despite many write up about the Igbo in your latest book,

The unreported Genocide.......

They are in the books. That is what we have devoted the book to.

Why take on the two Generals as the cause of Igbo problem when there are more ethnic social and political problems in Igbo?

Of the two generals we made specific allegations. The phrase cause of the Igbo problem is strange to what we are saying. The accusations are specific. And there is not one reader of the book who has not agreed with our facts, logic and conclusion. As to taking on the generals we say as follows. What they did as coup made and or coup maker generals they did in the open.

And it is our contention that whatever is done in the open can be taken up in the open.

So what they have done is one of the pathologies of our time. And it is open for the taking. I am a lay historian.

And I have chosen to treat the matter amongst others.

Are you not afraid that some people might come up against you?

Come up against me? Well nothing is impossible in

Nigeria. But to the extent what conclusions we come to are driven by facts in the open one may be afraid for his life.

But that will be the worse form of cowardice. It will be worse than death. That is to be afraid to speak of what is in the open openly is worse than death. I have nothing for or against them generally. I only insist that no man escapes into history as a hero or saint when he is not one. Yes a guy may be a rogue nationalist a rogue africanist even rogue saviour but that does not preclude us from discussing whatever he or she did in the open.

From the look of your titles, it seems many will not like to buy the books, who are your target audience?

I am and have been a publisher too. Books are not sold by the titles. Titles attract yes. But books move more by their content than by their titles. If you Google the list of bestsellers you will run into books with titles that outsold all others. And some of those titles are not the prettiest titles in the world. And we have not been complaining about sales anyway.

50 --- VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

2019 is still a long journey – Tambuwal

By Abdallah el-Kurebe

R

t. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State and former Speaker of the House of Representatives in this interview reviews developments in the state even as he poohpoohs talks about his stance on 2019.

Excerpts.

W

hat is your plan for 2019? Are you seeking re-election or thinking of contesting something else?

I don’t know why you are asking me to comment about 2019 elections when we only just crossed the half way mark of the mandate entrusted to us in 2015.

Talking about politics of 2019 in 2017 is not helpful. The journey to 2019 is still long. When we get to that bridge, we will cross it.

This is what I can say for now.

People clamouring for political activity at this stage are only distracting mandate holders. We have over a year plus and I wonder why people are trying to jump start political activities.

Elective office holders need to discuss more about governance.

By the time you raise issues of 2019 in 2017, you are distracting the entire polity. Discuss 2019 when the election season is upon us. But for now, let us discuss governance issues. We cannot move from governance to politics, it is a complete distraction because campaigns are full time.

So, I don’t encourage anybody in the state to try to disengage us from governance mode and take us into politics mode. We should wait for the appropriate time to do this.

What is your relationship with the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress?

My relationship with the state chapter of the APC is very smooth and cordial. The party and government are working closely.

We consult the party leadership on most of the policy issues in the state and our relationship has been sound and healthy.

What is your assessment of President Muhammadu Buhari and the impact of his policies in Sokoto?

President Muhammadu Buhari campaigned on three issues namely to fight against insurgency, corruption and boost the economy. Sokoto has benefited tremendously from the efforts of the president to bring

•Tambuwal

peace. We know what the situation was before 2015 but today Boko Haram has almost been defeated, it has been brought to its knees. What we have now are sporadic attacks and not the usual suicide bombing that we had before or capture of whole towns and LGAs like what was obtained in the past. It is now only confined to Borno State. The fight against corruption is still ongoing and it has impacted on the issue of

Discuss 2019 when the election season is upon us. But for now, let us discuss governance issues.

We cannot move from governance to politics, it is a complete distraction because campaigns are full time

governance here. If you are talking about infrastructural development, I think the SokotoIllela, Sokoto-Jega road and Sokoto-Gusau roads are all in good shape. Generally, we have no issue of road infrastructure in the state. I believe the government of Buhari has impacted on us positively. The economic downturn that has affected the country is improving

and people of Sokoto are not left out. We are benefiting from various social intervention programmes of the federal government in all ramifications.

What has Sokoto done with the Paris Club refund it received from the Federal Government?

We have complied with the President’s directives by using the funds to address issues of workers’ welfare, salaries and gratuities. We also used the money to pay pensioners. In fact, we have complied with the president’s directives from state to local government level. We have also applied some of them to capital projects in the state.

Some of the projects have been completed and inaugurated while some are still ongoing.

The state government is making efforts to establish a Heart and Kidney Centre. What is the situation with the project so far?

The Heart and Renal Centre is a project the state government conceived in collaboration with some Indians. It was supposed to be a public-private partnership arrangement. The Indians have procured their own resources for the project. We have started a process to get approval from the Debt Management Office of the Federal Ministry of Finance but the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Finance wrote to us that we are not on the borrowing plan. So, we have to go back to the drawing board that is actually what stalled the process. It is still in the works and we have not let go.

Secondly, a bill has been sent to the state House of Assembly for the establishment of Murtala Muhammed Teaching Hospital in the state which is part of the

requirement for the medical college. We are partnering with the Sultan Foundation for the establishment of Nana Asmau Medical College in the Sokoto State University. And we are expecting some provisions to be made in the 2018 budget for the construction of that particular college. We are going to approach the Education Trust Fund and other funding agencies to fund the project. So, it is on stream.

When will the State Independent Power Plant commence operation?

We have done more than 80 percent of the job on the IPP project. Only few days ago, a committee under a former minister of power Alhaji Bello Suleiman, reviewed the project and made recommendation which was approved by the state’s executive ccouncil. The timeline for the completion of the project is between six and eight months but the problem is funding. We require about N1.7 billion to complete the project and we are talking to some of our bankers for us to get the money and release them on piecemeal to the contractors based on performance. But another main thing is that for us to even testrun it as a diesel- consuming machine, we will require N500 million worth of diesel to test- run it for a period of time. This is the cost of diesel required and that is what the experts told us. So, we are thinking of converting it to LPG so that we can get cheaper means of running the IPP. We have been receiving interested investors into that and they are coming to Sokoto to inspect the plant. So, we are committed to that and I can tell you that there is no way we will allow the huge funds invested to

be wasted.

Tell us the progress made so far since the declaration of state of emergency in the education sector in the state?

The declaration of state of emergency in the education sector is still on course. Take your time and go to the Shehu Shagari College of Education and Sultan Abdulrahman School of Health Technology, what you will see there is a state of decay of infrastructure. The general state of infrastructure like libraries, laboratories and classrooms are in state of dilapidation in a lot of schools and this is because these concerns were not addressed in the past. If you remember, I recently received the report of the technical committee on the needs assessment of about 400 schools in Sokoto and we need about N47 billion to turn them around.

I can tell you that we have no less than 2300 schools comprising primary and secondary in the state. This estimate is only covering about 400 schools. The funding gap is very high. We are approaching World Bank to see how we can get funding. We are aware of the level of dilapidation in the schools but we need a lot of resources to fix them. The general infrastructure of these schools such as laboratories, libraries, teachers’ accommodation, hostels are in dire need of attention. But overall, the declaration has helped us in Sokoto to fully appreciate what is needed and the roadmap to take to fix them. Already we have received positive marks from international agencies like the UNICEF, ActionAid, World bank and others.We will continue with what we are doing until the desired objective is achieved.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 51

PDP CHAIR: Yes, we have family differences — Bode George

By Dapo Akinrefon

CHIEF Olabode George is one of the aspirants seeking to lead the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the national level. In this interview, he insists this is not the time for the party to experiment on who emerges as its national chairman. He also bares his mind on his aspiration and the need for the party to get it right this time around. Excerpts:

•Bode George

Y

OU have been going round the states to woo delegates to vote for you at the December 9 National Convention of your party.

What has been your message?

The message is clear and the message is that if we all work together, we can lift the party back to the envy of other political parties. I have also been telling them that we must avoid the pitfalls of the past.

Impunity was exacerbated in the past in the lack of respect for the party’s constitution and the rules of the party. We have all done an x-ray of what happened, we know where we erred and we are trying to convince our people on the way to go which is the way of the founding fathers.

The reception has been very refreshing and absolutely rewarding because I toured the country ten years ago when I was the Director-General of the campaign organisation. The people are waiting for us and once we get our acts together, it will be quite an interesting challenge and an interesting election. The competition will be challenging.

But what happens if the PDP does not get it right?

President Buhari challenged us and said the nation and their party require a vibrant opposition and not an opposition that is asleep. If you don’t have a counter voice, the whole nation will drive in the wrong direction but if you have a strong and vibrant opposition, that will be like a

corrective semblance for the party in government. But right now, there is no vibrant opposition; everybody is heading towards one direction.

So, there is need for us to get our acts together and if we don’t, it will be a pity.

Everybody is challenging us and this is not the time for experiments, this is not the time for any emotional thing, this is real, we must get this platform stabilised.

I have nothing against Makarfi, infact I wrote a personal letter to him trying to tell him that this is a mistake on his part and that this is not the policy of the party

It was thought that the contest will be only for the South West but the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led NCC suddenly threw it open to the entire Southern Zone. What is your take?

You know, that was one sore point. When he said that, I wrote a personal letter advising that such has never happened

in the history of this country.

This was going to disrupt the systemic way of handling party positions. For you to take the position of national chairman and equate it with the position of the president, it is not done.

It is the position of the president that is not micro zoned. Once it is zoned to the north or to the south, anybody can contest because it is subject to a national election.

The chairman of the party is just another position in the party, it is not an executive chairman and he does not have veto powers. He is not any executive; he is just first among equals. That is the position of the national chairman of the party. So, he cannot make himself an overlord. It must rotate but when you zone it to the south, you are saying we would go to the convention with a lot of acrimony and infighting. That is not the essence of the convention, it is a family reunion; it is a time to re-establish the camaraderie and togetherness of the family and not to pitch a zone against another zone. We must exhibit that oneness.

That is not the norm, that is not the practice. That was what made PDP different from any other party. A year ago, it was zoned to the Southwest, so, what has happened between that time and now? The position of the national secretary of the party is equally important. Why was that not left hanging? Why was it not micro zoned to a particular zone?

These mistakes can be

calamitous if not well managed. It is a bit tight but let that mistake never be made again. It is a mistake and they can check the records; the only position that is never micro zoned is the position of who becomes the president. It must be north or south but any party position must be micro zoned.

But what is your grouse with Makarfi, your campaign organisation recently called for his resignation?

Makarfi is my good friend and my younger brother. I have nothing against him. You know when people talk about a policy and you disagree with the policy, it does not mean you disagree with the person. What I am saying is how do you manage the fall out, the queries and questions from the people from your zone? It has nothing to do with Bode George; it has everything to do with our party.

I am an irredentist lover of this party because it is national in outlook.

I have nothing against Makarfi, infact I wrote a personal letter to him trying to tell him that this is a mistake on his part and that this is not the policy of the party. Imagine if it goes to the South-South, how do you explain to the South West people? So, I have absolutely nothing against him.

These are the issues that I regard as family differences, which can be settled through robust debate, discussions, come to a decision but this is already late. What we will be thinking in our mind is how to

manage the fall out of the crisis.

It happened once, we suffered the consequence and the party equally suffered the consequences. Are we going to allow a repetition of that and we are saying we want to go to the villa? No. So, there is nothing personal.

One of the aspirants, Prof Tunde Adeniran said there are plans by the South West PDP to come out with a consensus candidate. How true is this and is there a possibility?

Well, I hope it will be true. If he said there will be a consensus, which will make a lot of political sense to me. I hope he is honest with it.

What is driving your aspiration because some have argued that age is not on your side?

The party is not okay, the ship of state is in a very bad sea state. This is not a time for any experimentation. How old am I? I just passed 70. How old is Chief John Oyegun, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC? How old are Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton, Theresa May and Vladimir Putin? When Dr Ahmadu Ali was chairman, how old was he?

Look, am I physically disabled? I am a retired general. In my health, in my faculties, I am still razor sharp, there is nothing in my five senses that are defective and we must get the ship stabilized. We need an experienced captain now to tidy up. The way the nation is going now, if we are not courageous, we may not make it. We have barely six months. I have transversed this country and having been on the top of most mountains and having been at the worst of valleys in this country, I believe in the divine intervention that I have seen both sides.

If I go back home without giving back and allow this system collapse, I will never forgive myself. That is the drive.

52 –Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

LEISURE

YOUR LUCK TODAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139

AQUARIUS; Tomorrow will prove more rewarding financially but you will have good opportunity to do things rightly within your working arena. Be loving.

PISCES; Although tomorrow may be your best day good opportunity to enhance your financial prospects will come your way even today. Try to be more practical however.

ARIES; This is your day when both your personal efforts and element of good luck will bring you much desired result. The more self assertive you are today the better for you.

TAURUS; Tomorrow is your day; although there will be some challenges within your base of operation today, eventual success will be yours. Be more family minded.

GEMINI; Even if friends have failed to live up to expectation in the recent days you will need to leave the past behind you and forge ahead. Lovers are fairly favoured.

The attainment of a genuine peace should not be beyond the reach of human wisdom inspired by human goodwill. Winston S. Churchill, The World Crisis, Vol. 1 - Peace e angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you always have the power to choose either.” Marge Powers, Anger: What’s Up With That?

- Laughter To develop courage when you are facing an audience, act as if you already have it. Dale Carnegie To develop courage when you are facing an audience, act as if you already have it.”

Dale Carnegie, Develop Self-Confidence, Improve Public Speaking - Courage

TERROR MUDA

in “Never say goodbye”

By Kola Fayemi

CANCER; Business challenges of yesterday notwithstanding pleasant surprises are possible. The more financially ambitious you are today the better for your cause.

LEO; Better opportunities indicated for those of you willing to be as self assertive as possible, and it could turn out to be a happy day to be remembered by real lovers.

VIRGO; Although you will need to keep your secrets for the next few days that is not to say you should not pursue your financial interest. Take care of your health.

LIBRA; Don’t wait till tomorrow before you make an important move because good luck and success are closer to you today than you image. Be hopeful.

DUDU THOMPSON

in

“Rolling Hot’

By A.O.Olaide

SCORPIO; Professional advice may be needed over your finances but if you are sure of what you are doing you can go ahead. Be more family minded.

SAGITTARIUS; Some of you who are travelling purposely for love are in for a rewarding day. All of you will need to take your social life more seriously.

CAPRICORN; Unusual co-operation may come your way today but if you are carried away by this the whole thing may change soonest. Respect your spouse.

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLING Send yyour our dat tr ological datee and place of bir th ttoo the As Astr trological Counselling, PP.M.B .M.B 1100 00 7, Apapa, Lagos 007,

Who is in me?

Dear Joshua, Please keep my birth data secret, but I want you to analyse my horoscope bluntly so that I can know who am I; talking about my personality. Who am I? Kuburat, Mina.

Dear Kuburat, Astrologically what you will find here under will prove useful if you take them seriously and utilise them.

ANALYSIS OF YOUR HOROSCOPE DATA/PLANETARY PLACEMENT Aries that hosted the most important heavenly body (the Sun) together with indicator of mental focus lens-Mercury, is known for special leadership quality and higher degree of positive aggressiveness. Yes you were endowed with leadership talents which can manifest either in the business world or POLITICS and probably both.

It is true that Aries can be very aggressive, but with many planets placed in more mild Star signs, with less than 50% of push-full influence, loving Venus as most influential planet when you were born, certainly aggression of Aries is greatly water down to the minimum . That is not to say you the timid type but yours is a balanced personality. You are gentle, honest and straight forward person. Preponderance of fixed and earth in your chart are pointers to the fact that you are the careful type who will not change his mind just for the fun of it. Then as peace loving Venus was the most influential planet when you were born, peace and harmony will always come first whenever you want to take any (important and/or) decisive action.

Placement of mighty Sun (indicator of basic-self hood) the Moon (indicator of sub-conscious self/emotion) and the Stellium (that is more than two planets in one Star sign} in Aries, Pisces and Taurus respectively meant that basic characteristics of the three Star signs stated in this paragraph are highly pronounced in your inner-self.

VIRGINIA

dadadekola@yahoo.com

HOME & ABROAD

By Lawrence Akapa

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017—53

US quits talks on global migration pact over sovereignty clash

Trump hits out at FBI over Russia inquiry D

ONALD Trump lashed out at the FBI on Sunday, issuing a fresh denial that he asked former director James Comey to drop an investigation into the conduct of one of his top aides, Michael Flynn.

In a Twitter tirade, Mr Trump said the FBI’s reputation was “in tatters”.

His attack came amid a flurry of developments in Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’s inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the US election.

Mr Trump denies that his team colluded with Russia to get him elected.

Reports emerged over the weekend that Mr Mueller, a former FBI director, had dismissed an FBI officer from the investigation during the summer after he was discovered to have made anti-Trump remarks in text messages.

The president seized on the officer ’s dismissal, tweeting: “Report: ‘ANTITRUMP FBI AGENT LED CLINTON EMAIL PROBE’ Now it all starts to make sense!”

A spokesman for Mr Mueller said the officer was dismissed from the investigating team as soon as the messages were discovered.

Michael Flynn, the president’s former national security adviser, announced on Friday that he was co-operating with Mr Mueller ’s investigation, in return for pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

The former general admitted lying to the FBI and has been offered a reduced sentence of six months. Analysts say the deal indicates that Mr Flynn has incriminating information about one or more senior members of the

•President Trump gestures as he walks towards Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017. Trump spent the day in New York attending a trio of fundraisers. (AP Photo/Susan Trump administration.

In a series of tweets posted on Sunday morning, Mr Trump again attacked his former rival for the presidency, Hillary Clinton, who was investigated by the FBI ahead of the election after it emerged she had used a private email server to conduct state department

business.

In another tweet, the president accused ABC News of “horrendously inaccurate and dishonest reporting”, after one of the network’s reporters acknowledged making an error in a story about the president.

Chief investigative reporter Brian Ross

Families of lost Argentina submarine crew decry government response

D

OZENS of relatives of the 44 crew members of an Argentine submarine that went missing on November 15 marched from a naval base on Sunday, demanding to know what happened and criticizing the government’s response to the tragedy.

Dozens of relatives of the 44 crew members of an

Argentine submarine that went missing on November 15 marched from a naval base on Sunday, demanding to know what happened and criticizing the government’s response to the tragedy.

The disaster has spurred soul searching over the state of the military in Argentina, which now has one of Latin

‘Ireland has no desire to delay Brexit’

I

RELAND’S deputy prime minister has said his country has “no desire” to delay the UK’s Brexit talks.

But Simon Coveney also warned that not enough progress had been made on the border with Northern Ireland.

While Ireland was not looking for “full detail”, it was seeking the parameters within which a solution could be found.

His comments came ahead of a week of crucial decisions on whether the UK and EU would move ahead to the next phase of Brexit negotiations.

UK Prime Minister

reported that Mr Trump was a candidate when he directed Michael Flynn to make contact with Moscow.

He later corrected his report to say Mr Trump was president-elect when he gave the order to Mr Flynn.

Mr Ross has been suspended by the network for four weeks.

Theresa May is due to meet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday to assess whether sufficient progress has been made on three core issues of citizens’ rights, the “divorce bill” and the future of the Irish border with Northern Ireland.

The 27 other member states will then meet on Wednesday to make a decision on going to a second phase of talks.

Mr Coveney has been heavily involved with Ireland’s stance on Brexit since becoming the foreign minister during the summer.

He was also appointed as tánaiste - deputy prime minister - following the resignation of his colleague, Frances Fitzgerald, over a political row that threatened to bring down the government.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, he said Ireland did not want to exercise its veto on the issue.

“There is no desire, I can tell you, in Ireland, to delay this process,” he said.

“But at the same time, we have a responsibility as a government to represent the interests on the island of Ireland.

America’s smallest defense budgets in relation to economic size after a series of financial crises.

“Our disagreement is with the government, not with the navy,” said Marcela Moyano, wife of crew member Hernán Rodríguez, during the protest. “Whoever is responsible needs to be held responsible.”

Spokesman Enrique Balbi said on Thursday the navy had abandoned hope of rescuing the crew alive, noting the ARA San Juan had air supplies for a week while 15 days had passed since it last reported its position.

Some family members complained they were not advised before the general public of the end of the rescue mission and have also demanded more contact with President Mauricio Macri in Mar del Plata, where the San Juan was scheduled to end its journey.

While local media have speculated Macri will soon declare a period of national mourning for the submarine crew, he has been silent in recent days.

T

HE United States has quit negotiations on a voluntary pact to deal with migration because the global approach to the issue was “simply not compatible with U.S. sovereignty,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.

In a statement, the U.S. mission to the U.N. noted that President Donald Trump made the decision.

“No country has done more than the United States, and our generosity will continue,” said Haley, whose parents are immigrants from India. “But our decisions on immigration policies must always be made by Americans and Americans alone.”

“We will decide how best to control our borders and who will be allowed to enter our country,” she said.

Trump campaigned last year on a promise to deport large numbers of immigrants and build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico to help tackle illegal immigration and crime in the United States. Since he took office in January, he has also moved to ban U.S. entry by people from select Muslim countries.

With a record 21.3 million refugees globally, the 193member U.N. General Assembly adopted a political declaration in September last year in which they also agreed to spend two years negotiating the pact on safe, orderly and regular migration.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration backed the resolution, known as the New York Declaration, which also asked U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Zeid Ra‘ad al-Hussein to propose a global compact on refugees for adoption in 2018.

“The global approach in the New York Declaration is simply not compatible with U.S. sovereignty,” Haley said.

Afghan leader apologises for headscarf remark

T

HE Afghan president has apologised to women for remarks he made about the traditional headscarf.

On Saturday, Ashraf Ghani responded to claims that some government officials have links to so-called Islamic State. He said people should provide evidence or wear a woman’s headscarf.

It provoked a backlash from people who viewed the comments as sexist.

Mr Ghani later apologised to women who felt offended and said his comments had been misinterpreted.

In a statement, the Afghan presidential palace said: “The president is a very prominent advocate of women’s rights and has taken unique steps to strengthen and preserve their position since his tenure as the president of Afghanistan.”

It said Mr Ghani’s use of the word “Chaadar ”, scarf in English, had been misinterpreted.

It is “a common saying which is never aimed to offend the highly valuable place of women in the country,” it added.

Zuma says S/Africa, Morocco will resume diplomatic ties

S

OUTH Africa and Morocco will resume diplomatic ties more than a decade after Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria, South African President Jacob Zuma said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday.

Morocco recalled its ambassador from South Africa in 2004 after former South African president Thabo Mbeki recognised a breakaway region in the Western Sahara which Morocco claims as part of its territory.

“Morocco is an African nation and we need to have relations with them,” Zuma told City Press in the interview.

“We never had problems with them anyway; they were the first to withdraw diplomatic relations.”

Zuma met Morocco’s King Mohammed last week on the sidelines of an African Union-European Union summit.

“They felt that even if we differ on the Western Sahara issues, the two countries should have a relationship,” Zuma said about Moroccan officials’ position at the meeting.

South Africa’s official government position - as re-affirmed

by Zuma in one of his state of the nation addresses - is to support “self determination and decolonisation for the Western Sahara”.

The decision to re-establish ties with Morocco is likely to go down badly in South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, of which Zuma is leader.

54—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Atiku returns, takes over PDP World Cup: Rohr already knows Continues from Page 5

on the path of prosperity, and halt the worsening divisiveness that threatens our corporate existence.

“I, therefore, enjoin all former PDP faithful who left for various reasons as well as other progressive-minded Nigerians to emulate Alhaji Atiku, to reunite under the umbrella to salvage the nation because I see a new and better Nigeria coming in 2019.

“I see a country where corruption will be eradicated, a nation that will be a pride to Africa and admiration of the international community, and a nation where no man will be oppressed, intimidated, persecuted or sidelined on account of ethnicity, religion or political persuasion.

“No amount of desperation will stop the will of God for Nigeria in 2019.”

Atiku’s declaration for the PDP was also immediately welcomed

by Bode George who said: He said: “The beauty of it is that when you are a landlord in a house, you now say because of the cockroaches and rats in the house, you want to go and become a tenant.

The house Atiku built is PDP, this is his home, and he was part and parcel of those who built the PDP. “Some people annoyed him and he left, he went to be a tenant and he was treated like every tenant would be treated.

This is his home. He is not the only one. They were angry because of the impunity perpetuated in the party by the managers. So, Atiku coming back is like him returning to his home. The APC is a contraption, a congregation of very strange bed fellows. I welcome him back home and there are still so many we are in contact with. He is most welcome, I have no qualms about it, I have nothing objectionable about his return to the PDP because this is his home.”

Atiku takes over PDP Atiku it was gathered started plotting his return to the PDP as far back as 2016 when Prince Secondus was acting national chairman of the opposition party.

The imminent dominance of the Secondus campaign and perceptions that it would also be a boost for

Atiku’s presidential aspirations has left some PDP veterans in bad taste while others have resigned to fate.

“His people are everywhere promoting Secondus and also laying down structures for Atiku,” a Wadata Plaza source said.

“Atiku is a pragmatic politician who likes to sow anywhere he can reap. Yes it is true that he is supportive of Adeniran, but his people are everywhere in support of Secondus and using him to get a grip on the party leaving people like Makarfi helpless,” a source said.

It was further gathered that with many of the governors struggling with finances to run their states that the emergence of someone like Atiku with money to run the party came like a lifesaver.

A source familiar with the development disclosed that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who has carried a significant proportion of the party’s obligations, was one of the first people Atiku was able to win over into the project.

Governor Wike is also known to be a primary promoter of the Secondus project through whom many of the governors bought into the project.

Atiku, it was learned, has also successfully penetrated the National Assembly caucus of the party through the facilitation of his former aide and former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha. The former vice-president met with the National Assembly members about two weeks ago during which he reportedly told them of his plan to return to the party.

A move by the old hands in the party to resist Atiku and the Secondus project was on Friday manifested when party grandees from the North led by a presidential aspirant, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau addressed a press conference where they called for the microzoning of the office of national chairman to the South- West.

M e a n w h i l e insinuations that former President Jonathan was plotting to make a bid for the 2019 presidential contest were, yesterday, dismissed by his spokesman, Mr. Ikechukwu Eze.

“The party has taken a decision that the president would come from the North and the national chairman from the South. Dr Jonathan as the father of the party was privy to the decisions and there is no way that he can compromise the interests of the party,” Eze said, yesterday.

Atiku’s coming to PDP does not exclude me from running – Makarfi Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, has said he could still contest the party ’s presidential ticket, in spite of the defection of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to the party.

In an interview in the current edition of The Interview magazine, Makarfi said: “Atiku left before, he’s on his way back before the (party’s) Convention.

“I have heard the rumour, it has been there since 2007…I have thought of it. By the time I leave as caretaker committee chairman on 9th or 10th, there’ll still be 10 months to the party primaries. By any law or the party’s guidelines, I’m not excluded.”

Makarfi also said that Fayose’s declaration of interest in the party’s presidential ticket, was uncalled for and unhealthy, since the party already zoned the Presidency to the North.

He said the PDP was expecting a harvest of defections, after Atiku’s move from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. “For some strategic reasons, don’t expect a lot of people to move to the PDP now. People are in APC for different reasons. Wait for the time when people will be on their own, you will see the influx of people into the PDP,’’ he said.

Makarfi, who came close to being the PDP’s presidential nominee in 2006, revealed that for the first time, how former President Olusegun Obasanjo schemed him out, even though an internal party assessment had returned him as the most favourable candidate.

the players he wants — Agali N

IGERIANS ex pecting Super Eagles handler, Gernot Rohr to introduce new players into the team as serious preparations for the Russia 2018 World Cup is set to begin should forget about it if the statement of Rohr’s Chief Scout, Victor Agali is anything to go by.

Speaking on a sports programme, SportsVille on Channels Television monitored in Lagos yesterday, Agali in response to a question on whether new players will be injected into the team ahead of the World Cup, he said there would be

no need to do so as Rohr already knows the players he wants.

“The players are fired up now, the bonding is strong and they understand themselves, there would be no need to disrupt that understanding,” Agali said, adding, “Rohr already has the players he will need at the World Cup”.

He said that the group the Eagles found themselves after the Draw held on Friday was a good one but that the team would prepare well for the matches and ensure they qualify for the second round.

Former goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro who also spoke on the programme said he was not comfortable with the goalkeeping department of the team, blaming the goalkeepers handlers for not doing a good job on the choices they have at hand.

“I must confess that I am not comfortable with the three goalkeepers we have in the team now.

They are not the best the country has and the coaches handling that department are not doing enough on them,” he stressed.

City beat West Ham •Seal 13th straight victory

Silva celebrates his goal against West Ham yesterday.

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ANCHESTER City left it late again as David Silva’s 83rd minute strike sealed a 2-1 victory over West Ham and made it 13 wins in a row in the Premier League.

David Moyes’ Hammers went into this game on the back of seven games without a victory, but they put on a brave resistance against the runaway leaders and took a surprise lead late in the first-half.

Angelo Ogbonna went unchallenged in the box as the Italian nodded in a corner on the stroke of half-time to give West Ham hope of a stunning three points.

After the break, the visitors put up a decent fight and continued to frustrate Pep Guardiola’s side, but the introduction of Gabriel Jesus off the bench turned the game in City’s favour.

The hosts were level on 57 minutes when defender Nicolas Otamendi poked in at the near post from Jesus’ ring-wing cross.

CDF Kiddies boxing competition for talent discovery — Awogu

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HE Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym was occupied by an assemblage of unusual boxers Saturday, December 2. Kid boxers from across Lagos State came out in their numbers to compete in the annual Kiddies Boxing Competition organized by the Child Dignity Foundation (CDF).

The sport empowerment program tagged ‘Potential’ is designed for children boxers in Nigeria to find vent for their talent and pursue their dreams in amateur and possibly to professional boxing. The

one day event encompasses not only fights but also boxing tutorials and mentorship.

Nigerian boxing legend and distinguished Olympian, Jerry Okorodudu was the head coach.

The 2017 edition was the sixth in the series as the first edition was launched December 2012.

Chief Executive of the foundation and initiator of the competition, Amaka Awogu said the event provided the children more progressive career

e n h a n c e m e n t opportunities as they continued to build on the successes of previous years.

“We Are encouraged by the progress we have made through the years and the contributions we have made in the lives of our participants to continue to invest in and grow this programme.

Several of our boxers have been picked up by the Lagos team as well as other institutions and academies while some have been awarded scholarships. These are very encouraging,” Awogu said.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017 — 55

Menotti writes off Eagles against Argentina A

RGENTINA 1978 World Cup winning coach, César Luis Menotti, has said that Argentina are assured of three points in their 2018 World Cup clash against Super Eagles on June 26.

Both countries have met four times in the group stage of previous editions of the World Cup, and it has been a close affair with the South Americans winning by a single goal-margin each time. ‘’’The group is satisfactory, we are better than in the 78 World Cup that we had Italy, Hungary and France,’’ Menotti said in an interview with Súper Miter Deportivo. ‘’It would not be surprising if Argentina lose to Croatia, but against Iceland, Nigeria, six points guaranteed. ‘’The friendly with Nigeria does not count too much, they are dangerous but they never reach their potential.’’

Now 79, El Flaco was in the dugout when Argentina won their first Fifa World Cup in 1978, beating the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespuci.

Croatia coach wary of ‘unknown’ Nigeria

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•CONTEST...Super Eagles defender, Ola Aina (L) battles for the ball with Argentina's Paolo Dybala during a friendly match in Russia

Moses one of the best wing-backs in the world —Redknapp

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ICTOR M o s e s has become one of the best wing-backs in the world under the guidance of Antonio

Federer hints at retiring

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OGER Federer, arguably the greatest player to set foot on a tennis court, recently talked about how it’s highly unlikely for him to represent his country at the Olympics again.

As he slowly moves into the twilight phase of his career, he has been facing a lot of questions from the media on when he plans to bid goodbye to the game he loves so much.

He was quoted as saying, “I haven’t officially retired from the Davis Cup. It’s just because it’s always highly unlikely that I’ll play at this stage of my career. You know, I haven’t set Tokyo Olympics as a goal either.”

He added, “It hurt not being in Rio, but I was okay without it, too."

I was flag bearer twice. I won gold. I won silver. I feel

•Federer like I achieved a lot of great things at the Olympics. I’m not thinking that far ahead.”

Onyekuru fires Argentina, Croatia warning •scores winner in Belgium

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UPER Eagles striker, Henry Onyekuru has again shown why he is attracting interest from top clubs across the world as he was yet again the matchwinner for Belgian champions Anderlecht in their 2-1 win at Lokeren at the weekend.

The goal by Onyekuru which was scored in the 52nd minute was his eighth league goal this season even as the

ANDLER of the Fiery Ones Zlatko Dalic believes the Super Eagles will pose a big challenge for his side, hence they must do all it takes They will be facing the Super Eagles for the first time ever in Kaliningrad on June 16 and the 51-year-old discloses the Fiery Ones are cautious of taking on the unfamiliar three-time African champions.

“The Nigerians are an unknown team and we have to study them well,” Dalic told Croatian Football website.

“They are the first in their qualifying group without defeat, they are young, with the German leader at the helm. We have time to prepare everything, including the choice of camp.

“We are starting with the analysis to be ready for the World Cup, and the most important thing is for our players to be healthy and true, and we will be looking for friendly rivals outside Europe, from Africa, because we all know most about Europeans. Argentina, but our strategy has to come down to strong rivals and strong matches.”

Everton loanee continues to turn heads with his displays.

The goal by Onyekuru is also a perfect response by the Nigeria international to the recent criticisms levelled against him by the Anderlecht coach.

The 20-year old was joint top scorer in Belgium last season.

Despite the latest win, Anderlecht remain third on the table with 34 points from 17 matches.

Conte, according to Jamie Redknapp.

Moses suffered a hamstring injury during Chelsea’s defeat to Palace in September and only returned to Conte’s side as a substitute during the narrow win over Swansea last week.

The Nigeria international was handed his first start in Saturday ’s win over Newcastle and set up Alvaro Morata with a teasing cross in front of the defence before later winning a penalty.

And Redknapp believes Moses has “taught himself ” to be one of the best wingbacks in the game.

“He missed a large chunk of the season with a hamstring [injury],” Redknapp told Sky Sports.

“He makes a huge difference. With the system they play with wing-backs, he’s taught himself - and the manager’s obviously helped him - to be one of the best wing-backs in world football.

“It suits him that position, and there’s no surprise that he was involved with the penalty, he’s involved with the goal. I thought he was brilliant [against Newcastle] and he is top class.”

•Moses

World Cup qualifier: Flamingoes, Ethiopia settle for draw

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IGERIA’S women’s U17 team, the Flamingoes, secured a morale boosting 1-1 draw with Ethiopia in the first leg of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Addis Ababa on Sunday.

Joy Jerry gave Nigeria the lead in the 18th minute before Tarikow Debiso got the equalizer for the home team in the 63rd minute of the match.

Both sides tried to grab the match winner but all their efforts proved abortive.

The Flamingoes will host their Ethiopian counterparts in the second leg match which will be played in a fortnight at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The cracker in Benin City will be the second stage of the qualifiers which will see the winner facing Cameroon or Algeria in the last round to the U17 World Cup in France next year.

Nigeria have qualified for every single edition of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, five in total.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2017

Sudoku TODAY’S PUZZLE

QUICK CROSSWORD YESTERDAY’S ANSWER

TODAY’S CROSSWORD

Across 1 Flagrant (7) 5 Hillock (5) 8 Compass bearing (5) 9 Type of biscuit, (4,3) 10 Replies (7) 11Killed (5) 12 Occur (6) 14 Fired (6) 18 Odour (5) 20 Skilled worker (7)

How to Play Sudoku

YESTERDAY’SOLUTION

22 (7) 23 24 25

Gods and goddesses Possibly (5) Crop (5) Fingerless gloves (7)

Down 1 Below (7) 2 Scare (anag.) (5) 3 Accomplish (7) 4 Song bird (6) 5 Thrills (5)

6 Remote parts of Australia (7) 7 Gain knowledge (5) 13 Exact (7) 15 Endeavour (7) 16 Perils (7) 17 Kidnapper ’s demand (6) 18 Unfortunately (5) 19 Owner of a Scottish estate (5) 21 Characteristic manner (5)

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line can have two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (also nine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within a bold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1 through 9. This means that no number can appear twice in any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, division or multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

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