Bayelsa polls: Dickson ahead, wins in 4 LGs

...towards a better life for the people

N150VOL. 25: NO. 62643

ONLINE | www.vanguardngr.com

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015**

Mr & Mrs

Bayelsa polls: Dicksonahead, wins in 4 LGs

Continues on Page 5

CMYK

•Sylva wins in Brass; PDP alleges plot to manipulate outcome•Accuses APC of perpetrating violence in Southern Ijaw•No life was lost, say Police, as announcement of results continues today•Ogbia, Nembe, Southern Ijaw LGs' results awaited

COLUMNISTS:

•P.19

Malls, food andour survival

Does CBNmastermind thebrazen rape ofthe treasury?

BAYELSA POLLS—From right: Prof Zana Akpaku, Returning Officer/Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar; BaritorKpagih, Bayelsa State Resident Electoral Commissioner; Dr Muhammed Mustafa Lecky, INEC National Commissioner, South-south and AIG Musa Daura during the collation of the 2015 governorship election result of Bayelsa State, yesterday, at theYenagoa City Council Hall, Yenagoa Bayelsa State. Photo: Nwankpa Chijioke.

•P.36

LGAs PDP APC PDM

Sagbama 28,934 5382 406

Yenagoa 24,258 14,563 451

Kolokuma/opokuma 7,619 6,896 137

Brass 6,516 21,755 222

Ekeremor 14,602 7,918 44

TOTAL 81,929 56,514 1260

BAYELSA POLLS RESULT

By SamuelOyadongha & Emem

Idio

YENAGOA—WITHofficial results from

five of the eight localcouncils, GovernorSeriake Dickson of thePeoples DemocraticParty, PDP, yesterday,emerged as the frontrunner in the BayelsaState Governorshipelection having scored81,929 votes.

He is closely beingpursued by the AllProgressives Congress,APC, standard bearerand immediate pastgovernor of the state,Chief Timipre Sylva, whogot 56,514 votes.

9

$2bn arms deal: EFCC confronts Dasuki,Dokpesi, others with evidence of transactions

ONE hundred and twenty one(121) years after Derin Ologbenlapassed on in 1894, the Giesi RulingHouse rebounds with thecoronation today of Oba EnitanAdeyeye Ogunwusi as 51st Ooni ofIfe.

Vanguard brings you a specialreport on a very august occasionholding today. See details inside.

Pomp, as Ife crownsnew Ooni

ROBBERY: Two DSS operatives arrested over N310m•P.7

2 — Vanguard, 2 — Vanguard, 2 — Vanguard, 2 — Vanguard, 2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

CMYK

Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015— 3

CMYK


CMYK

POCKET CARTOONVanguard, MONDAY, DEEMBER 7, 2015—5

IT'S UP TO YOUBY AYO ADIO

TAKE HEARTBY ELLA RANDLE

Bayelsa polls: Dickson ahead,wins in 4 LGs

SAYINGS OF OUR PEOPLE

Continues from Page 1

Soon, we will know who owns the farm, thefarmer or the rodent.

Practice radical humility. He/she who masters theart of humility cannot be humiliated —Ralph W.Emerson

THE idea of “ radical humility ” from theperspective of Wayne Dyer in his writings

expands our concept of humility, making it easier toeducate and persuade the ego to willingly recognize,honour and allow the true self, Soul, into dailyexperience. We need to teach our egos at least fivemain points: Humility does not diminishindividuality. We begin development ‘by enteringthe room where humility’ is acquired. Humility hasthe quality of being unpretending. It allows us toface problems with faith, poise, and humility.

WHAT makes you special isn’t really what youdo but who you are. Strive to become better

each day and life will reward you tremendously. It'sup to you.

PRESENTATION—Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (left) presentinga gift to the Senate President of France, Senator Gerard Larcher after a bilateralmeeting at the sidelines of the GLOBE/IPU Parliamentary meetings in Paris,France. With them is the Ambassador of Nigeria to France, Mr. HakeemOlawale Sulaiman (right) and another unidentified official.

So far, results from 28polling units in the fivecouncils were cancelleddue to electoralskirmishes, over-voting,malfunctioning cardreaders and violence.

While Dickson won infour of the five councils,Sylva had the upperhand in the battle forBrass, his local council.The councils thatDickson won wereSagbama, Yenagoa,Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma.

Official announcementof the results willcontinue today at 10 am.The remaining councilsare Ogbia, Nembe andSouthern Ijaw.

This came as the PDPalleged, yesterday, thatthe APC perpetratedviolence in Southern

Ijaw area of the state andwas plotting tomanipulate the outcomeof the exercise to itsfavour.

Dickson wins inSagbama,Yenagoa,Ekeremor,Kolokuma/Opokuma

In Sagbama LocalCouncil, which has 14wards and whereGovernor Dickson hailsfrom, the PDP had theupper hand.

Out of the 35,647 validvotes, the PDP got28,934, the APC scored5,382 while the PDM got406 votes.

According to theCollation Officer, Mr.

Perekeme Bertola, alecturer at the NigerDelta University, NDU,results from six pollingunits at Asamabiri werecancelled due to allegedmalfunctioning cardreader and electoralviolence.

Total registered votersin the council stands at84,550; accredited votersare 36,892 and 726 voteswere voided

Dickson also won inYenagoa, the state capitalwith 24,258 votes whileSylva got 14,563 votes.The PDM polled 451votes.

However, results from16 polling units werecancelled due tosnatching of electionmaterials, violence andintimidation of electoralpersonnel, according tothe Collation Officer, MrVictor Torupele, alecturer at NDU.

Total registered votersin the council is135,025;Valid votes, 40,041; voidvotes 1710; accreditedvoters 44,751 and totalvotes cast 41,751.

For Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Council,the results are: PDP,7,619; APC, 6,896 andPDM, 137 as announcedby the Returning Officer,Mr Aniekwe James,senior staff of FederalUniversity Otuoke.

Sylva winsBrass

Sylva carried the day inhis Local Council, Brass,carting away 21,755votes compared toDickson’s 6,516. ThePDM had 222 votes.

The Acting chairman ofthe state PDP, SerenaDokubo-Spiff is alsofrom Brass, which has 10wards.

According to theCollation Officer, Dr DTambo, results from sixunits in ward 1 were

cancelled due to allegedelectoral skirmishes andover voting.

Total registered votersin the council is 55,923of which 30,397 voterswere accredited. Totalvalid votes is 28,616 and592 votes voided.

The ruling PDP won thetough battle forEkeremor Local Council,which has 12 wards.Ekeremor is the localgovernment area of theMinister of State forAgriculture and DirectorGeneral of the Sylva/Igiri CampaignOrganisation, SenatorHeineken Lokpobiri aswell as Fred Agbedi, theDirector General of theRestoration CampaignOrganisation of the PDPcandidate.

Breakdown of the votesscored by the politicalparties, according to theCollation officer, Dr.Johnson Dagana of theOpen University ofNigeria, Yenagoa StudyCentre are as follows:PDP, 14,602; APC 7,918;ACPN 7; ADC 5; APA 35;APGA 8; CPP 3; DPC 5;DPP 9; NP 4; MPP 1;NNPP 4; PDC 3; PDM44; PPA 15; and UPP 1.

Total registered votersis 82,783 out of which24,667 were accreditedvoters. Total valid votesrecorded was 22,664 and634 votes voided.

Delay is plot torig — PDP

The PDP, yesterday,protested the delay inreleasing the officialresult of thegovernorship election inseven out of the eightlocal councils of BayelsaState.

The PDP alleged thatthe APC was planning toupturn its victory at thepolls.

This came as thecandidate of the PeoplesDemocratic Movement(PDM) Mr. MosesSiasia, said the exercisewas fraught withirregularities, especiallyfinancial inducementand illegal thumbprinting of ballot papers.

Siasia called for thedisqualification ofparties and candidatesallegedly involved insuch irregularities.

Also, twocommissioners of police,Brigade Commander,Battalion Commanderand a DeputyCommander of theNigeria Security andCivil Defence Corps(NSCDC), wereyesterday deployed toSouthern Ijaw LocalCouncil to ensure thesafety of lives andproperty.

State Chairman of thePDP, Chief David SerenaDokubo-Spiff; theNational Vice Chairman(South-South), Dr.CairoOjougbo and the Senator

representing BayelsaWest, Senator FosterOgola, at a briefing inYenagoa said the delayin the declaration ofresults was part of theplot to rig the exercise infavour of the APC.

According to Dokubo-Spiff, investigation bythe PDP showed that theprocesses of plannedmanipulation hadcommenced.

He also accused theResident ElectoralCommissioner of theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission,INEC, Mr. Barito Pagihof partisanship.

He declared that theNational WorkingCommittee and StateExecutive Committee ofthe PDP had resolved toresist any attempt tomanipulate the outcomeof the poll.

His words: “We haveour results and it showsclearly that we have wonseven out of the eightlocal governmentcouncils. Instead ofstaying here in Yenagoaand monitor the election,the APC standard beareris in Abuja havingmeetings with someofficials of the FederalGovernment on how tomanipulate the poll.Enough is enough. Wewill no longer toleratethe effrontery of the APC.

“Our party wants toregister our concernabout the conduct of theelection in SouthernIjaw. In spite of the factthat the security of liveshave not been adequatelytaken care of, the INECwent on.

“For emphasis, the orgyof violence, perpetratedby the APC thugs in thefull glare of securityagents resulted in theloss of lives of Bayelsapeople. They shot deadfive persons in theirdesperation for power.

“The majority of theindigenes of Oporoma,headquarters ofSouthern Ijaw and othercommunities, are stilltaking refuge in theforests and swamps as aresult of the heavygunfire.”

He also claimed tohave escaped unhurt inthe hands of armed thugsduring the exercise inTwon Brass, Brass Local

Government Area.

Disqualifyparties involvedin electoralirregularities—Siasia

On his part, Siasia in astatement by his mediaaide Mr. MichaelAbimboye, said: “Noelection took place inBayelsa State. It waspolitical bazaar. INECshould immediately lookinto this and commencedisqualification ofpolitical parties involvedin the financialinducement and otherelectoral irregularities.

“I am also using thisopportunity to call on thesecurity agencies to dosomething about itimmediately. I don’tbelieve that with thelevel of commitment wegot from the INECChairman, this kind ofirregularities took place.

“I saw somegovernment officials withlarge number of PVCs onelection day. What wherethey doing with such alarge number of PVCs?For government officialsto have large number ofPVCs, then the electioncannot stand.

“Security agenciesshould do their owninvestigation and bringsuch persons to bookbecause I believe theycontravened theElectoral Act. We mustensure that such kind ofpeople are taught thelessons of their lives.”

Meanwhile, DeputyInspector General ofPolice, HashimuArgugun, at mediabriefing in Yenagoa,described as untrue theclaim that some personslost their lives inOporoma.

He said: “The reportthat some people werekilled cannot beconfirmed as corpses ofthe purported deadpersons cannot be tracedand their particularscould not be obtainedfrom any source.

“Information at mydisposal is that there wasno death in SouthernIjaw Local GovernmentArea.”

6—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 , 2015

Police nab 4 suspected traffic robbers at Oshodi Staff ofFederalMedicalCentre, Owoabducted

By Esther Onyegbula

Hoodlums bathe Lagos task forceofficial with acid, injure another

By Dayo Johnson

By Ochuko Akuopha

By Dayo Johnson

The suspects.

AKURE—NO fewerthan five gunmen

have reportedly kidnappedMrs Queen Adeyeye, awidow, who is a pharmacistwith the Federal MedicalCentre FMC, Owo, OndoState, after returning froma Church vigil.

Vanguard gathered thatshe was ambushed by thekidnappers at her residencelocated at Ishelu Quarters,Owo area of the state onSaturday.

The victim according toPolice detectives reportedlylost her husband recentlyand was abducted on herway from church where shewent for prayer to mark thefirst anniversary of herhusband’s death.

She was said to be in thesame car with her son andsister when the hoodlumsstruck.

Sources said that onreturning from the vigil at5:30a.m., the kidnapperssaid to have laid ambushedfor her at the house ascostedher and asked the other twooccupants to disengagebefore she was driven awayto an unknown destination.

Vanguard gathered thatthe hoodlums waited for thegateman of the house toopen the gate and theyquietly followed her car andasked the son and her sisterto get out of the car beforezooming off.

Sources close to the familysaid:, “They were comingfrom the church vigil onSaturday morning, as thegate was opened for them to gointo the compound, the armedmen came in with them. Theyasked the son and her sister tocome down from the vehicle anddrove only her (Adeyeye) awayto an unknown destination."

At press time, the abductorshave not contacted the victim’sfamily to discuss ransom but thematter had been reported at theOwo Divisional Police station.

Contacted, the image maker ofthe state Police Command, FemiJoseph confirmed the incident.

Fulani herdsmen kidnap 3 buildingcontractors in Delta

LAGOS—OPERATIVES of theRapid Response Squad, RRS,

of Lagos State Police Command,weekend, arrested an ex–convictand three traffic robbery suspectsfor allegedly stealing two mobilephones and a wallet frompassers-by in Oshodi area of thestate.

The suspects, Sodiq Hassan,17; Lanre Makinde, 20, AhmedKazeem, 19, and SundayOyeniran, 21, were alleged tohave connived with others, stillat large, to steal a Tecno i-Pad, i-tel 105 phone and wallets fromunsuspecting members of thepublic in traffic gridlock.

One of the suspects, AhmedKazeem, was alleged to havesnatched an i-tel phone from hisvictim, Alagbada Jerry, whileSodiq Hassan was reported tohave conspired with Awuwa, atlarge, to also snatch anotherhandset from one OyebamijiRasheedat in Oshodi, whileLanre Makinde, was alleged tohave stolen the wallet of oneOlamide Lookman, also inOshodi Under Bridge. SundayOyeniran, an ex – convict, whowas released on November 14,2015, was found in possession ofa mobile phone snatched by thegang.

Narrating his ordeal to the

Police, Alagbada Jerry, a softwareanalyst, working in Ikeja said: “Iwas descending Oshodipedestrian bridge with myearphone on. Suddenly, AhmedKazeem brushed his shoulderagainst mine. I noticed the musicI was listening to stopped. I triedfeeling my pocket to be sure, butmy phone was no longer there.

“One of the passers-by who sawhim told me Kazeem had stolenmy phone, by then he had ranaway to the middle of theexpressway, looking at me.Unfortunately for him, as we madeto chase him, he was preventedfrom running further only for himto face our direction and that washow we caught him. Upon

catching him, he confessed tohave stolen my phone but hetold us he has dropped it whenhe was being chased. Headded that one Omoga, whowas the leader of those thatarrested him, was the one wholater took the phone from wherehe dropped it.”

OLEH—SUSPECTED Fulaniherdsmen, weekend,

kidnapped three buildingcontractors at Amorji, a suburbOnicha-Ukwani community,Ndokwa West LocalGovernment Area, DeltaState.

Though the names of thosekidnapped could not beascertained at press time,Vanguard gathered that theywere abducted while workingat a fenced site in thecommunity.

“According to an eyewitness, it was these Fulaniherdsmen that kidnappedthese persons who were doingtheir job and took themhostage,” an indigene of thecommunity, Joe Ossai, said.

He said: “For some time now,these herdsmen haveoccupied almost all thecommunities in Onicha-Ukwani, particularly Amorjiand driven the people out ofthe village.

“My people are seriouslyhungry because there is nofood for them to eat, the easyaccess road to Kwale had beentaken over by Fulaniherdsmen. The worst part ofit all is that they went aheadand brought their families tobe feeding from the

communities’ crops theyinvaded.”

Also speaking on thedevelopment, President ofAnti-Cult, Ndokwa nation,

Mr. Austin Emu, said: “Theyhave been communicating forransom, but we do not know ifthey are purely Fulaniherdsmen or if our people are

also so involved.”Contacted, the Police Public

Relations Officer the DeltaState command, Celestina Kalusaid the police was on top ofthe matter.

LAGOS—UNIDENTIFIEDhoodlums’ in Oshodi, Lagos

bathed a para-military officerattached to the state Taskforce onEnvironmental and SpecialOffences, Mr. Akude Silas withacid in Oshodi axis and injured apolice officer while enforcing thestate laws.

The police officer, identified asSergeant Robert Ajayi, was

Mrs Queen Adeyeye

By Monsuru Olowoopejo

2 jailed for stealing goat in Ondo

attacked at Ojo High School, OjoLocal Government whileremoving illegal structures erectedfew meters away from the school.

Meantime, the Taskforce,yesterday, arrested over 64miscreants allegedly terrorizingOshodi and its environs.

Vanguard gathered that thehoodlums in a commercial buspopularly called Danfo attackedSilas at Oshodi-Oke Bus Stop,

Oshodi while managing trafficand enforcing the sanitationlaw.

After the attack, sources saidSilas was rushed to the LagosState Accident and EmergencyCentre, Toll-Gate end of theLagos-Ibadan expresswaybefore being transferred to theLagos State UniversityTeaching Hospital, LASUTH,Ikeja for further treatment.

AKURE—TWO persons,Mustapha Mohammed, 22

and Sarafina Ismaila, 23 havebeen sentenced to three monthsimprisonment each by an AkureChief Magistrate's Court, OndoState for stealing a black femalegoat.

They were arraigned by the

police, weekend on a two-countcharge of conspiracy and stealing.

Police prosecutor, SundayAdejuwon told the court that thetwo accused persons conspired tosteal the said goat.

Adejuwon said that the offencecommitted is contrary to andpunishable under section 516 ofthe Criminal Code, Cap.37 Vol .1Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria,

2006.The prosecution added that

the accused persons didunlawfully take a black goatwhich they could not givesatisfactory explanation for andthis was also contrary to andpunishable under section 430of the Criminal Code Cap 37,Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State ofNigeria 2006.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015—7

DSS arrests two personnel over N310mrobbery Recovers N66.4m, $6,200

By Chris Ochayi

Pipeline vandalism: NSCDC arrestsPolice officer, six others in Lagos

I'm not a vandal, police officer cries out

By MonsuruOlowoopejo

The suspects and (ABOVE) ASP Charles Atileka on sickbed in LASUTH.

George Mwatapwa IBBI Abdulrasheed Ahmadu Maigari

ABUJA— The Department ofState Services, DSS, has

arrested two out of its five staffinvolved in armed robberyoperation in which they weresaid to have snatched N310million from a bureau dechange operator in Abuja.

The service, which disclosedthis yesterday in a statement byTony Opuiyo, said a total ofN66,437,445 and $6,200 have sofar been recovered from thesuspects.

Opuiyo explained further thatthe robbery operations werecarried out by the DSS andmilitary personnel on November20, 2015 in the nation’s capital.

The statement reads: “TheDepartment of State Services(DSS) wishes to inform thegeneral public that the servicehas arrested two out of five ofits staff involved in the robberyand sharing, on November 20,2015, of the sum of N310 millionbelonging to a bureau dechange operator in Abuja.

“While three of the DSS staffare now at large, the militaryauthorities have commenced adetailed investigation of five ofits personnel involved in thecrime.

“Preliminary investigationshave revealed thatAbdulrasheed Ahmadu Maigariof the DSS, conspired with fourother colleagues of his, namely:Solomon Inusa, Peter Okoye,Patrick Ishaya and GeorgeMwatapwa IBBI, to carry outthis reprehensible act.

“The five military personnelwere led by one Capt. HusseinIshaku Mshelia. Meanwhile,the service has arrested Maigariand IBBI; and Mshelia equallyarrested by the Army authorities.Efforts are ongoing toapprehend those still at large.

“A total of N66,437,445.00 and$6,200 have so far beenrecovered, while efforts arebeing made to recover theremaining amounts. It is to benoted that security agencies nowact in concert, thus the jointinvestigation undertaken withthe Police, Army and the DSS.

“This action of the service isin line with the posture of thecurrent administration and DSSmanagement focus onprofessionalism, transparencyand accountability. Those so fararrested have been suspendedpending the completion ofinvestigations.

“For the avoidance of doubt,the service wants to reiterate itscommitment to the basic idealsand principles as established byits forebears and will not spareanyone found to becontravening the rules andregulations or the laws of theland.

“We, therefore, encourage

members of the public withuseful information that couldlead to the arrest of those atlarge to volunteer same to the

Service or other securityagency.

“The DSS also wishes to usethis opportunity to assure all

law-abiding citizens of theirsafety and urge them topartner with the Service inthe smooth discharge of itsresponsibilities.”

LAGOS— THE NigerianSecurity and Civil Defence

Corps, NSCDC, has arrestedan Assistant Superintendentof Police, ASP Charles Atileka,and six others for allegedlytransporting 12,375 litres ofPetrol Motor Spirit, PMS,illegally to Benin Republic.

Others were JimohOlusegun, 30; Fashawo Kobla,37; Akapo Joseph, 17; AmosBakom, 18; Francis Johnson,while Bederaa Isaac, 33, is aTogolese.

Vanguard gathered thatAtileka, who was attached tothe Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS,Francis Johnson and another,sustained injury during thegun battle that lasted for aboutan hour.

It was learned that thebunkerers were arrested inGberefun community, a bordercommunity in Badagry, whiletransporting the 496 gallons of25-litre to neighbouringcountries.

Speaking after parading thebunkerers, NSCDC LagosState Commandant, GabrielAbafi, said an AK-47 withNigerian Police emblem and apistol were recovered from thesuspects after the duel.

He said: “The emblemindicated that no junior policeofficer can handle such guns.”

Abafi explained that thesuspects, including the policeofficer, were arrested by a teamof the Anti-Vandal Unit of

Corps at 2 am. last Wednesday.His words: “The suspects were

caught around Badagry axisafter a tip off that they wereloading the products fromBadagry to Cotonou. On gettingthere, we arrested the boat.”

While the boat was still onshore, he said the police officerarrived and attacked theNSCDC officers with the aim ofretrieving the products.

He said: “It was during the

exchange of gun fire betweenthe officials of the corps andthe suspects that they werewounded, including the policeofficer.

“We immediately rushed thewounded suspects to theBadagry hospital because wewant them alive not dead. Butwe were advised to transferthem to Ikeja due to the solitarynature of the community,” headded.

Fuel crisis:Two diequeuing forpetrol inIlorin

By Demola Akinyemi

ILORIN — THE worseningfuel scarcity nationwide

claimed major casualties inIlorin, weekend, as acommercial motorcyclist,popularly called Okadarider, and a taxi driver diedwhile queueing for petrol atdifferent filling stations.

The two incidencesoccurred in different fillingstations in the state capital.

Vanguard reliablygathered that the death of thecommercial motorcyclistoccurred as a result of anaccident while on the queueon Saturday at Ogidi area ofIlorin where the deceasedhad gone to buy fuel,whilethe death of the taxi driveroccurred at a different fillingstation.

Vanguard also gatheredthat the commercialmotorcyclist whose identitycould not be immediatelyascertained was crushed bya tipper while trying toposition himself on thequeue.

He was said to have diedinstantly as a result of abroken skull and other fatalinjuries he sustained fromthe accident, before hisremains were evacuated byPolicemen from OlojeDivisional Police station.

The death of the taxi driver,identified as DaddyMustapha of Isale Banniarea of Ilorin, was said tohave occurred at a fillingstation where the deceased,who had been on the queuefor several hours, wasdiscovered dead shortly afterbuying fuel but could notdrive his vehicle out of thefilling station.

Anxious motorists whoqueued behind him for severalhours were said to hadapproached him for delayingothers only to discover that hewas no longer breathing.

The deceased, it wasgathered, had been buriedaccording to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile,the lingeringfuel scarcity has continued totake its toll on motorists whohave been paying throughtheir noses to get fuel.

Commuters also trekkedseveral kilometres everydayto get to their destinations. Thesituation has also forced manymotorists to abandon theirvehicles while transportershave also hiked their faresdepending on distance.

At the black market, a litre ofpetrol is being sold at the rateof N250 in the black market.

8—Vanguard, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015

Kogi: PDP, Faleke kick as INEC declaresBello gov-elect Faleke rejects dep gov position

Heads to Appeal CourtINEC erred, Wada is winner — PDPI'll hit the ground running — BelloOkene shuts down for gov-elect

The Returning Officer for Kogi governorship election, Prof. Emmanuel Kucha (right),with political parties’ collation agents after releasing the final results of the election, inLokoja, yesterday. Photo: NAN

By Henry Umoru,Boluwaji Obahopo &

Kingsley Fanwo

LOKOJA — THE deputygovernorship candidate of the

All Progressives Congress, APC,James Abiodun Faleke, and thePeoples Democratic Party, PDP,have pooh-poohed theIndependent National ElectoralCommission, INEC’s declarationof Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the APCas winner of the Kogi Stategovernorship election.

Governor Idris Wada, whocontested on the platform of thePDP and Faleke, who was runningmate to deceased APC’s standardbearer, Prince Abubakar Audu, areseparately laying claims to thegovernorship position.

Specifically, Faleke, who opposedthe Saturday supplementaryelection on the grounds that theAPC won the November 21election and he should have beendeclared the governor-elect in theabsence of Audu, yesterday,rejected the deputy governor-electposition and is expected to headto the Appeal Court this week tochallenge the refusal of the FederalHigh Court to abort thesupplementary poll.

On the other hand, the PDP saidINEC’s declaration of Bello asgovernor-elect was a waste of timebecause in the absence of Audu,its candidate, Wada scored thehighest number of votes and oughtto have been announced asgovernor-elect.

INEC returned Bello as thewinner of the Kogi Stategovernorship election, yesterdaymorning having polled 247,752votes to beat Wada, who scored204,872 out of a total accreditedvoters of 526,389.

This is the second time in thehistory of the state that anincumbent will be defeated. LatePrince Abubakar Audu of thedefunct All Nigeria Peoples Party,ANPP, was defeated in 2003 byIbrahim Idris who contested on theplatform of the PDP.

Declaring the result, the statereturning officer, Prof. EmmanuelKucha, who is the Vice Chancellor,Federal University of Agriculture,Makurdi, said: “Alhalji YahayaBello having scored the highestvotes and satisfied the law ishereby declared winner andreturned elected.”

The candidate of the LabourParty, LP, Dr. Philip SalawuOmeiza, came a distant third with8,761 votes.

A breakdown of the result of thesupplementary election shows thatAPC secured 6,885 while PDPscored 5,363 out of the 12,000 plusvotes cast.

The results of all the 22 partiesthat participated in the election areas follows: Accord 206; AA 120;ACD 480; AD 168; ADC 707; APA995, APC 247,752; APGA 1040;CPP 608; DPC 465; DPP 469; I’d179; KOWA 136; LP 8761; NCP531; NNPP 290; PDC 895; PDP204,877; PPA 3048; PPN 239; SDP90 and UDP 107.I won’t be deputy to Bello— Faleke

However, James Faleke, whosaid he has not given up on hisstruggle to be named governor-elect said he is refusing thedeputy governor slot given tohim.

Faleke, who spoke through hisMedia Assistant, Duro Meseko,said: “No one can force him(Faleke) to be deputy to YahayaBello. We are ready to pursue thiscase to a logical conclusion.

“Being a member of a partydoes not mean that we cannotfight for our rights, if they aretrampled upon. The result ofSaturday’s supplementaryelection has further confirmedour earlier position that we wonthe first election.”

Faleke, through his leadcounsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun,SAN has perfected plans to filean appeal before the AppealCourt in Abuja today to challengethe ruling of the Federal HighCourt.

The Audu/Faleke CampaignOrganisation said that the finalresult declared by the INEC hasvindicated its early claims thatthe election of November 21, 2015was already won by the Audu/Faleke joint ticket and shouldhave been declared as such.

The group which expresseddisappointment in the handlingof the election by INEC describedthe supplementary election as acomplete waste of tax payersmoney.

Director Media of theorganisation, Duro Meseko, whomade their position known in astatement in Lokoja, yesterday,said: “The result of thesupplementary election declaredby INEC shows that the APCpulled 6,885 votes while PDPscored 5,363 votes, making a totalof 12,248 votes. This is a far cryfrom the 49,353 registered votersthat INEC claimed to have basedits decision to declare the electioninconclusive."

Also, the state PDP rejected thedeclaration of Bello by INEC asthe governor-elect.

Publicity Secretary of the party,Bode Ogunmola, said asiderejecting the conduct of thesupplementary election, the partyfound INEC’s pronouncementon the election ‘laughable’

Ogunmola said: “For INEC tohave said Bello scored thehighest votes when all hegarnered at the supplementaryelection was just little above sixthousand, shows that INEC hasderailed in its constitutionalduties. He (Bello) did not scorethe highest votes, someone elsedid, and the person has died.INEC pronouncement is anaberration. We are definitelygoing to challenge the outcomeof the election at the appropriatequarters.”

Declaring Bello gov-electalien to constitution,Electoral Act — PDP

The national leadership of PDP,on its part, berated the INEC fordeclaring Bello as winner of thepolls after the supplementary,saying the action was completelyimpractical and alien to thenation’s constitution and theElectoral Act.

According to PDP, it was simplya waste of time and resources forINEC to have conducted thesupplementary election anddeclared Bello winner because hedid not participate in the overallelection, adding that it was alsoa ridiculous shadow-chasing onthe part of the electoral umpire.

In a statement by its NationalPublicity Secretary, Chief OlisaMetuh, the PDP while insistingthat Governor Idris Wada of thePDP remains the winner of theKogi State governorship election,accused the INEC of conductingthe Saturday’s election to satisfyPresident Muhammadu Buhari.

Metuh said: “INEC, in the bidto satisfy the PresidentMuhammadu Buhari-led APCFederal Government, succeededonly in making a mockery of itselfand the entire electoral process,by trying to illegally install anindividual who, apart from notbeing a valid candidate, scored,under his name, a paltry 6885votes in the so-calledsupplementary election asagainst the 204,877 votes polledby the PDP candidate, GovernorIdris Wada in the overall election.

“The declaration by INEC thatone Yahaya Bello polled thehighest number of votes is anembarrassing travesty of thenation’s democracy and electoralprocess. Not only that thisindividual is not in anyway a

valid candidate in the election,he also did not score the overallvotes declared against his nameby INEC and cannot bedeclared winner under anycircumstance within theprovisions of our laws."

Insisting that Wada remainsthe winner of the polls, PDPcharge its members andsupporters ‘’to remain calm andresist all provocations from theAPC, which is now seeking theopportunity to trigger violencein the face of their misfortune,especially as the law will soontake the centre stage, right thewrong created by INEC anddeclare Governor Wadawinner.”

I'll hit the groundrunning — Bello

Meanwhile, Bello haspromised to hit the groundrunning as soon as he is sworn-in as governor of the state onJanuary 27, saying hisadministration will reorganizethe civil service to make it moreefficient and productive.

In an interview withpressmen in Lokoja, Bellopledged to make the civilservice contribute effectively tohis economic plans for the state.

The governor-elect alsopromised to immediately ensuremassive industrialization tocreate employment for theteeming populace in the state.He reiterated his determinationto attract giant industries to thestate to tap the abundantresources and possibilities inthe state.

The accountant-turned-politician identified solid

minerals, agriculture and tourism asthe key economic drivers that cantake the state to the next level.

Okene shuts down asgov-elect visits Ohinoyiof Ebiraland

Meanwhile, Bello’s visit to theOhinoyi of Ebiraland, yesterday,caused a momentary pause in thelife of the city as thousands ofresidents trooped out to the streetsto welcome and celebrate their hero.Bello hails from Agassa in Okene.

What was meant to be a quiet visitto the palace of the respected royalhead of the Ebira nation, washijacked by the people to welcomehome the man whom theydescribed as a “jinx breaker.”

Thousands of jubilant Okadariders, taxi operators and marketwomen came out in their numbersto celebrate the man who willbecome the first non-Igala to ruleKogi State since the creation of thestate in 1991.

The jubilant crowd were heardchanting “Adoza, the glory ofEbiraland” in their local language.It took almost an hour for theconvoy of the governor-elect tonavigate through the crowd to thepalace of the Ohinoyi.

At the palace, the Ohinoyi ofEbiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim, urgedYahaya Bello to make the Ebiranation proud by being a goodgovernor. He said the entire Ebiranation was behind him.

Responding, Bello thanked theroyal father for his royal blessing,saying his emergence is a blessingto his throne. He promised to usehis position to project the quality ofEbira people to the world.


$2bn arms deal: EFCC confronts Dasuki, Dokpesi,Bafarawa, others with evidence of transactionsMay arraign suspects this week

By Soni Daniel,Northern Region Editor

ABUJA — THE special teamraised by the Chairman of the

Economic and Financial CrimesCommission (EFCC) to probe thedisbursement of $2.2 billion armscontract deal in the office of theformer National Security Adviser,yesterday, confronted the majorsuspects with evidence of theirillicit transactions.

The 27-member task force, whichhas Ibrahim Magu as a member,spent most part of the day to grillthe suspects and asked them tospeak up on any aspect of thetransactions where their names orthose who allegedly fronted forthem, appeared.

The extended questioning of thehigh profile suspects, ourcorrespondent learned, was toprepare the ground for theirarraignment this week.

However, Vanguard could notobtain a specific date of the weekwhen the suspects are likely to bedocked and the specific chargesto be pressed against them.

It was gathered that thecommission had outsmarted thekey suspects by first securing acourt order to detain them beyondthe stipulated 48-hour threshold,thereby making it more difficultfor their lawyers to secure theirearly release.

A top source said most of thesuspects, who had earlierattempted to deny theirinvolvement in the arms deal,were dumbfounded whenconfronted with concrete evidenceof all the transactions they hadmade in the office of the ex-NSA.

“Many of the suspects, whowere claiming ignorance ofcollecting huge sums of moneyfrom the office of the ex-NSA, weretongue tied when we broughtthem to face each other. I thinkthey will soon appear in court totell the world why they went tothe ONSA to sign and collect hugesums of public money that was notmeant for the purposes they weregiven,” an EFCC source said.

Dokpesi disagrees withearlier statement

Apparently to clear the name oftheir patriarch, the family of DaarCommunications owner, HighChief Raymond Dokpesi, onSaturday, disagreed with anearlier statement the companyreleased claiming that it got the$2.1 billion from the office of theex-NSA for media and publicitywork for the 2015 election.

In the latest statement released,weekend, the family turnedaround to say that the $2.1 billionwas personally approved byformer President GoodluckJonathan for a holding companyowned by Dokpesi following aprivate presentation by the owner

to Jonathan.The family also said that

contrary to claims that the moneywas collected in respect ofpromoting the People’sDemocratic Party’s campaign towin the 2015 polls, it wasactually meant to showcase theunder reported achievements ofPresident Jonathan’s

government.Vanguard learned last night

that the EFCC was makingefforts to charge the suspects tocourt so as to free its holdingfacilities for more suspects whoare to be taken up for massivelooting of public funds in the lastdispensation.

The cells of the anti-graft

agency in Abuja are said to bealmost overwhelmed withsuspects arrested and detainedin connection with the armsdeals, for which the Presidencyhas vowed to press to a logicalconclusion to prove toNigerians that many topNigerians looted the publictreasury under the guise ofbuying arms and ammunitionto fight terrorism.

TOUR: Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed (right) addressing victimsof Boko Haram at Bama Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Maiduguri whileBorno State Deputy Governor, Usman Mamman Dwikwa and others watch during theminister’s tour of Bama. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan.

SAMBISAFOREST:Troops destroy15 terrorist’scamps, rescuewomen,children

By KingsleyOmonobi

ABUJA— THE Nigerianmilitary has commenced

air and land strikes deepinside Sambisa forestdestroying about 15 heavilyfortified camps. In theensuing onslaught, themilitary killed scores ofterrorists’ and arrested someof them while most of theirweapons and equipmentwere destroyed. Scores ofabducted captives includingwomen, girls and childrenwere also rescued

Confirming the movementinto the forest, Acting Director,Army Public relations, Col.Sani Usman said: “Advancingtroops of the Nigerian Army,supported by the Nigerian AirForce were able to clear anddestroy Boko Haram terrorist’scamps at Shuari, Adembe,Yerimari Kura, Yerimari Gana,Gonin Kurmi, Kore, MainyaKore, and Lopere.

“Additionally, the multi-barrel Rocket LauncherRegiment has destroyed theterrorist’s camps at Dure, DureKore, Jokwa as well as severalother camps.

“The troops recoveredfoodstuffs, motorcycles, flags,Improvised explosive makingdevices (IED) materials andmilitary uniforms. Amongother discoveries were theterrorist’s tunnels, weaponsand equipment.

“The soldiers also recovered2,000 cows rustled fromvarious persons over time andrescued women and childrenheld captives by the BokoHaram. While the animalshave been moved to Kanwuri,the rescued persons have beenevacuated and are being givenall the necessary support andassistance.

“During the encounter withthe terrorists at Yerimari Gana,a number of Boko Haramterrorists were killed and somesuspected terrorists werearrested who are beinginterrogated.

“However, a soldiersustained gunshot wound andfracture on the leg.

“Similarly, while advancingto destroy Nefari terrorist’scamp, troops discovered andcleared three IEDs laid alongthe route.

“The camp was successfullycleared and troops havecontinued their advance whilea blocking force has beendeployed to preventinfiltration and possibleescape by the terrorists."

My frustration with Halliburton,other corruption cases — Ribadu

By Soni Daniel,Northern Region Editor

ABUJA— A former chairmanof the Economic and

Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,yesterday, expressed frustrationwith the inability of Nigeria toinvestigate and punish all whowere implicated in theHalliburton bribery case.

Ribadu, who bared his mindin Abuja, regretted that none ofthe top Nigerian culpritsimplicated in the $1.5 billionbribery scandal had beenquestioned and jailed in Nigeriawhile others from other countrieswere already serving various jailterms.

Of the amount involved, topNigerians got a total of $184million within 10 years from anItalian firm that got a $6 billiongas project job in Nigeria.

The case cost Halliburton $1.5billion in fines in the UnitedStates.

Ribadu said the Halliburtonscandal presented a uniquecorruption case study in which“a gang of foreigners stole fromNigeria” through the $6 billionnatural gas contract won by aconsortium of four international

companies.He said: “I first got hint of the

case in France. I got back homeand tried to investigate the casebut it was very difficult orprobably impossible because thecompanies were not here inNigeria, they didn’t have accountthere, the people were not there.They had left.

“I rushed back to Paris. I wasin Paris many times. I put in arequest letter but after a year oftrying to get French authoritiesto help us, the investigatingmagistrate told me that theycould not get anyone to translatemy letter from English to French.I knew it was a hopeless case.”

According to Ribadu, afterfailing to get Italy and Japan tohelp, he opted to go to theUnited States even though DickCheney, the then US vicepresident, was on the board ofHalliburton.

“The Department of Justice inthe United States took up thecase. They investigated andprosecuted the case. Theyplaced a fine of over $1.5 billionon the company, the biggest inthe world for corporatecorruption.”

Ribadu explained that in the

cases EFCC under his watchreferred to US Department ofJustice, including those ofSiemens and Julius Berger, theUS made over $3 billion infines.

“But the sad aspect is this, inmy own country, where thecriminal activity took place, nota single person was made toface justice, especially after Iwas asked to leave my position.Sadly, Nigeria did not make adollar out of it,” he said.

Ribadu also recounted hisexperience in investigating therenowned 419 kingpin,Emmanuel Nwude, chiefexecutives of banks and theformer Delta State governor,James Ibori, who is nowserving jail term in the UK.

He said in spite of thechallenges of fightingcorruption in Nigeria, he wasglad that Nigeria recoveredmore stolen money than anyother country in the world andgot many corrupt peopleconvicted during his tenure.

Ribadu noted that the EFCCwas successful because “webuilt strong networks globally,especially with the UK and theUS.”


Nigerian staff sue Virgin Atlantic Airwaysfor N5bn

Ambodeapproves105additionalroadmaintenancegangs

By Innocent Anaba

AnglicanBishopvisits prison,counsels govt

LAGOS—THE 20 Nigeriancabin crew members recently

laid off by Virgin AtlanticAirways Ltd, have instituted aN5billion suit against theAirline before the NationalIndustrial Court sitting inLagos.

Aviation Logistics andManagement Ltd is also adefendant in the suit.

The Nigerian cabin crew,through their counsel, ChiefFelix Fagbohungbe, SAN, arepraying the court to restrainthe respondents from layingthem off or giving effects to thenotice of termination ofemployment served on thempending the hearing anddetermination of the suit.

Wants suspension ofnotice of termination ofemployment

They are also want the courtto suspend the notice oftermination of employmentserved on them pending thehearing and determination ofthe substantive suit.

They are further asking thecourt to direct the respondentsto pay them the sum ofN5billion as damages for theact of discrimination againstthem.

The 20 cabin crew,Genevieve Mordi, UmoAkinselure, Lukman Yusuf,Ekaete Victor-Iyamu, VictoriaEnyi, George Ezemba, JamesAjayi, Rosemary Ogbor,Babajide Akinyele, RemilekunLashebikan, Yewande Salau,David Dagat, BabafemiOshifeko, BabatundeOlamuye, Juliet Ezumba,

Rachel Ideho, AdemolaOlowolade, Imelda Blankson,Halimat Odeyemi andTolumilade Sogbesan, arecontending that they were alllaid off on November 30, 2015,following an internal memoissued by the Executive VicePresident, Customer, of theAirline, Jill Brady.

Cultural expertise nolonger required

In the memo, it was disclosedthat the provision of culturalexpertise which was theprimary purpose of employing

the claimants was no longerrequired by the Airline on itsLagos-London route.

In a 36 paragraph affidavitin support of the suit,deposed to by one of theplaintiffs, Umo Akinselure,they averred that theclaimants were neverinformed by any of therespondents that the solereason for their employmentwas to provide culturalexpertise in respect of theAirline’s flight operations onthe Lagos-London route.

No survey conductedThey further averred that no

survey was ever conducted bythe Airline which revealedthat the cultural expertiseprovided by the claimants inrespect of its Lagos-Londonroute is no longer required.

According to them, theAirline’s intention toterminate their employmentwas based solely on their race,colour and social extraction,even though the Lagos-London route was said to bethe most commercially viableand most profitable route forthe Airline.

L A G O S —ARCHBISHOP of

the Ecclesiastical Provinceof Lagos, Rev EphraimAdemowo, has called onthe Lagos state governor,Akinwunmi Ambode andthe Chief justice of the state,Hon. JusticeOlufunmilayo Atilade, tolook into the cases of thoseawaiting trial.

The cleric made the callduring the annual visit ofthe Anglican Diocese ofLagos to the female prisonin Kirikiri, Apapa, Lagos.

Bishop Ademowo prayedthat Governor Ambode andHon. Justice Atiladeshould look into cases ofsuch inmates and fish outthose that needs amnestyor official pardon.

According to him, it is theresponsibility of thegovernment to ensure thatthe inmates are properly takencare of to enable them integrateproperly into the society whenthey eventually regain theirfreedom.

LAUNCHING: From left: Dr Tayo Oyedeji, MD, Media Perspectives, Mrs Iquo Uko, guestspeaker, and Mr Biodun Shobanjo, Chairman, Troyka Group at the formal launch of thebook, Nigeria Media Advertising Guide 2016 by Media Perspectives, at the Protea Hotel inLagos Photo: Biodun Ogunleye.

Nike Akande to take over as NBGN bossBy Naomi Uzor

LAGOS—FORMER Ministerof Industry, Dr. Nike Akande,

is set to take over as Chairman ofthe NEPAD Business GroupNigeria, NBGN, tomorrow, atthe 3rd Annual GeneralMeeting, AGM, of theorganisation.

She will be taking over fromthe incumbent Chairman,Chief Chris Ezeh.

Dr. Akande, two-time formerMinister of Industry, is aseasoned industrialist and anadvocate of strong and virileprivate sector as the engineand catalyst of economicgrowth.

In statement, the ActingHead, NBGN Secretariat, Mr.Oluwole Dosumu stated thatthe organisation would benefitimmensely from Dr. Akande’swealth of experience in theOrganised Private Sector andmanagement of Membership

Based Organisations, MBOs.He disclosed that the

stakeholders at the AGM wouldreceive their organisationsprogress report, particularly thefacilitation of New Partnership

for Africas Development,NEPAD, lofty objectives inthe private sector. The eventwould also provideopportunity for thestakeholders to review the

Groups progress so far andstrategise on ways to revitalizeand strengthen it foreffectiveness in theachievement of its mandates.

By Esther Onyegbula

By OlasunkanmiAkoni

LAGOS—LAGOS StateGovernor Mr.

Akinwunmi Ambode hasapproved the recruitment of105 maintenance gangworkers into Lagos StatePublic Works Cooperation,LSPWC, to boost the on-going rehabilitation of roadsin the state.

Mr Ayotunde Sodeinde,General Manager,LSPWC, while disclosingthe recruitment of thegangs, said the move waspart of the administration’sdetermination to reduce the rateof unemployment and also tackleheadlong the deplorable state ofroads in the state.

He added that LSPWCrecruited the gangs to its team soas to efficiently deliver on itsmandate of providing motorableand pot-hole free roads at all timesin the state.

Sodeinde urged the newlyrecruited staff to reciprocate thekind gesture of Ambode byremaining steadfast to their jobs,assuring them of maximum co-operation and all necessaryremunerations due to them.

Ayandele urges schools to stimulateintellectual growth with music

LAGOS—THE Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary

Education District 1 in Lagos State,Dr. Olufolayimika Ayandele, hasstressed the need for music to beencouraged in schools towardsstimulating intellectualadvancement.

She also stated that EducationDistrict 1, would continue toappeal to the intrinsic values of thestudents so as to make learningmore interesting.

Ayandele, who said this in Lagos

at the 2015 first ever annualChristmas carol concert, notedthat music is a vehicle forachieving sound and functionaleducation in Nigeria.

She said: ‘’This concert wasput together to showappreciation to our maker. It isalso aimed at showcasing theinnate abilities of our studentsand prepare them for futuremusical competitions bothlocally and internationally.

‘’The focus of the

administration of EducationDistrict 1, is to appeal to theintrinsic values of our children soas to make learning moreinteresting, even if the externalenvironment is not that conducive.

"The best legacy we canbequeath to our children andnation is a sound and functionaleducation, music is a means ofachieving this.

‘’A total of 200 mass choir wasput together by the District inpartnership with FoursquareGospel Church, Christ Embassy,Uno Noodles and other donors.”


Why I shunned partisan politics, by DiyaBy Daud Olatunji

NMA to FG:Impose moretaxes onbreweries,tobacco,GSM firms

FG to raise funds for JV cash calls

Ooni Ogunwusi unveils multi-billion naira resortBy Gbenga Olarinoye

ABEOKUTA—FORMERChief of General Staff in

the administration of formerHead of State, late Gen. SanniAbacha, Lt.-Gen. Oladipo Diy,has said that he prefers to playthe role of elder statesmanrather than being activelyinvolved in partisan politics.

Diya, who was number twocitizen of the country, spokeweekend, at the inaugurationof General Oladipo Diya PublicSpeaking Competition forSchools in Ogun State, held atOdogbolu town hall,Odogbolu,Ogun State.

He said though, age was nomore on his side for partisanpolitics, he still plays roles innation building.

He said: “It is either you arequiet or you are not partisanin politics. But, there is nohuman being that iscompletely out of politics. Allyou do is that,you remain inthe background,you sit andwatch and that’s all.

“Now, I prefer to remain inthe back seat and watch eventsfrom the sideline. When wemeet the leaders of our nation,it is not that, we just sit downand eat,we deliberate ontopical issues.”

When asked whether heshould be seen as a cardcarrying member of all politicalparties, following his decisionto remain an elder statesman,Diya declared “Yes,say it thatway. Like our president says,I am for everybody and I amfor nobody.”

When asked about hisdisposition to his former boss'action against him, Diya saidhe has since forgiven the lateHead of State and his family,adding that he thanked Godfor sparing his life in spite ofhis ordeal.

"First and foremost, we haveto realize that we are eitherChristians or Muslims.Whatever it is, we believe inone thing, God exists.

“Whatever anybody might

have done, by gone isbygone. What is importantnow is today and the future.Today, I am grateful to Godbecause I retired as aLieutenant General. Howmany people can rise to theposition of Lt General, to therank of being a former VicePresident, or being the formersuccessful governor. I giveglory to God and I willcontinue to thank my creator,”he said.

On his assessment of theBuhari administration, Diyasaid it is too early to startassessing the present federalgovernment.

According to him, “It hasnot even spent a year inoffice.

“Everybody should bepatient. This government isnew, not even up to a yearyet. So, let us be patient andanything we have to say, letus say it quietly."

RECEPTION: From left: Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka;his wife,Wumi; wife of Minister of Health, representing her husband, Dr. Bukola Adewole;Dr Bisi Fasuyi, her husband, President, Ibadan Business School, Yinka Fasuyi, at a receptionhosted by Fasuyi in honour of Minister of Health and Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan,in Ibadan, weekend.

OSOGBO—THE new Ooniof Ife, Oba Enitan

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, last nightunveiled a multi-billion nairaIfe Grand Resort and Leisureoutfit as part of the activitiesmarking the presentation ofstaff of office to him today.

Located on Ibadan-Ifeexpress road, the project alongwith the sports academy, alsoexpected to be unveiled duringthe week, are some of the plansof the new Ooni to boost youthemployment in the community.

He was accompanied to theevent by Ife traditional chiefswho wore white regalia andresidents of the town who alsowitnessed the event in theirhundreds.

Also present at the occasionwere the Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III,Dein of Agbor, BenjaminIkechukwu, ManagingDirector of the First Bank, BisiOnasanya, Obasewa of Ife,Chief John Agboola Odeyemi,Chief Balogun of Ife, ChiefBisi Omidiora, Oba Adagba ofIyanfoworogi, Oba Adebolu

Fatunmise, President of IfeDevelopment Board, Prof.Muib Opeloye and a host ofothers.

There was heavy security

provided by regular andmobile policemen, whileofficers from military andpara-military agencies werealso in the town in their

hundreds to maintain peace.Officials of the Federal

Road Safety Corps were alsoon ground to ensure thattraffic flowed smoothly.

By Michael Eboh

Pay cut: Fayose’s pro-workers stancehypocritical —APC

THE FederalGovernment, yesterday,

disclosed that it would raisefunds from internationalinvestors and the private sectornext year, to fund the JointVenture cash calls between theNigerian National PetroleumCorporation, NNPC, andInternational Oil Companies,IOCs, operating in the country.

The Federal Government, ina statement through the NNPCin Abuja, also stated that itwould launch an initiative thatwould compel InternationalIOCs operating in Nigeria toadopt global best practicestowards the maintenance of theenvironment, while adding thatit intends to make the country’srefineries semi-autonomouswithin the next 24 months.

Minister of State for PetroleumResources and GroupManaging Director of NNPC,Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, who madethese disclosures during an

interactive session withNigerians living in Vienna,Austria, stressed that the FederalGovernment had alreadycommenced high leveldiscussions with local andinternational investors to bridgethe perennial JV cash callfunding gap.

He stated that this would bedriven by the fact that the NNPC

operations are now beingtransparently and efficientlyhandled while adding that theCorporation now publishes itsmonthly account, a move whichhe said, has inspired a lot ofconfidence among investors andimprove the perception index ofthe Corporation in a positivelight in the eyes of the globalcommunity.

THE All ProgressivesCongress, APC, in Ekiti

State has slammed GovernorAyodele Fayose’s attempt toallegedly demonise fellowgovernors contemplating paycuts for their workers over failinghealth of the economy. It saidthe messianic posturing by thegovernor by urging fellowgovernors to cut overseas tripsand shun opulence instead ofcutting workers’ pay was theheight of hypocrisy by the

governor and fraud on Nigerianworkers.

Publicity Secretary, TaiwoOlatunbosun, said in astatement that Fayose wasmischievous in his pro-workersstance, noting that the governoris the most guilty of what he wasadvising his fellow governors toshun to enable them pay theirworkers.

He said: “Fayose ismischievous in his pro-workersposturing. This is a man that

travels every month end to SouthAfrica and Dubai after collectingfederal allocations even whenrecords show that Ekiti has nobilateral pact with these countries.

“This is the governor that sackedmany permanent secretaries andother categories of workers. Heis the first and only governor thatcut the salaries and allowancesof the few political office holdershe appointed in breach of the lawand also cut allowances to civilservants but increased hispersonal security vote from N150million to N250 million."

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

ADO EKITI—THENigerian Medical

Association, NMA, hascalled on the FederalGovernment to ensure theimplementation of onepercent of taxes accrue-ablefrom breweries, tobacco andt e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o ncompanies operating inNigeria to fund the healthsector.

The body also said thesecategory of companiesshould be made to paymore taxes to providefacilities in public healthinstitutions in the countrydue to the nature of servicesthey render.

Speaking after a week-long National ExecutiveCouncil meeting in AdoEkiti yesterday, NMApresident, Dr KayodeObembe, who read thecommuniqué, lamented theshortage of medicalpersonnel in the country,which ratio stands at onedoctor to 6,000 patients,instead of one to 600 asrecommended by the WorldHealth Organisation

The week-long meetingwhich also featured games,free health mission, lectureseries and other activitieswas tagged Ekiti 2015.

Obembe, who called onthe Medical and DentalCouncil of Nigeria toaccredit more public healthfacilities for the training ofinterns, added that theupgrading of some of thestate and federal hospitalsand their subsequentaccreditation by Medicaland Dental Council ofNigeria would help inpromoting residencytraining for more experts tobe available in thehospitals.

12—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

PDP celebrates peace in Rivers

Gov Emmanuel makes case for state-owned refineriesBy Tom Moses

Rivers namesstadium, roadafter Gowon

By Jimitota Onoyume

PROCESSION: Members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State during apeaceful procession in Port Harcourt, weekend.

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—MEMBERS of the

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,in Rivers State embarked on apeace procession, weekend, inPort Harcourt, celebratingpeace in the state.

The procession led to a trafficgridlock on the busy Aba Roadas vehicles were held up onone spot for hours.

Addressing party faithful andothers who participated in thepeaceful procession at theSchool of Arts and Science, thestate Chairman of the party,Mr Felix Obuah, said peacehad returned to the state,adding that Governor NyesomWike will continue to take stepsto consolidate on the newatmosphere of peace in thestate.

He lauded those who turnedup for the procession, sayingthat it demonstrated theirsupport for the stategovernment and its peacebuilding measures.

Member representing Obio/Akpor federal constituency inthe House of Representatives,Kingsley Chinda and others

who spoke, dismissed claimsby the All ProgressivesCongress, APC, in the stateduring its Black Rivers rallythat about 100 persons wereallegedly killed over issues

relating to the last generalelection.

Those who participated inthe procession were deckedin white attire, an outfit,Obuah said, symbolised

peace in the stateIt will be recalled that the

APC had a procession in thestate in memory of thoseallegedly killed during thelast election in the state.

IPAC passes vote of no confidence onCross River Exco

UYO—WORRIED by theprevailing fuel scarcity

and the difficulty of petroleumimporters to access foreignexchange to facilitate theirtransactions, Governor UdomEmmanuel of Akwa Ibom State,yesterday, recommended thatoil-bearing states be encouragedto establish refineries to addressthe situation.

Already, the governor saidarrangements had beenconcluded with some investorsto establish two refineries withproduction capacity of 100,000barrels per day in the state.

This, he said, would addressthe perennial scarcity ofpetroleum products just as theestablishment of other privaterefineries would help stabilisemarket forces as well as end fuelimportation.

Governor Emmanuel, at aPrayer Summit held at the LatterHouse Chapel, GovernmentHouse, Uyo, said that the stategovernment was working outmodalities for the payment ofseverance allowances to politicaloffice holders in the localgovernment areas across thestate.

He also announced that inter-ministerial direct labour projectswould soon commence and willbe executed in phases in viewof the prevailing economiccircumstances.

He also directed the Head ofService, Mrs Ekerebong Akpan,to look into cases of civilservants due for promotion and

promote them to theirappropriate cadres, addingthat despite the economicdownturn, his administrationhas been able to pay salariesto its workers just as gratuities

and other entitlements werebeing paid in batches.

The governor also advisedpensioners to provide theirbiometric verification numbersto the Accountant General's

office for easy access to theirbenefits and restated hiscommitment to ensure thatworkers' welfare was accordedits deserved attention.

Urhobo SocialClub to honourmonarch

URHOBO Social Club,Lagos, will on January

16, 2016, hold a reception inhonour of the Chairman ofUrhobo Traditional RulersCouncil and the Ohworode ofOlomu Kingdom, His RoyalMajesty, Ovie Richard Ogbon,Ogoni-Oghoro I.

The reception for the 99 year-old monarch, who is also aRoyal Canon of the AnglicanCommunion, Ughelli Diocese,will hold at the Palace Ground,Ogoni-Olomu, Delta State.

A statement by the chairman,Reception PlanningCommittee, Olorogun EdorehAgbah, said, the reception,which will be under thechairmanship of OlorogunMoses Taiga, is in recognitionof the immense contribution ofthe Ohworode to thedevelopment and peace ofOlomu Kingdom, Urhobolandand Delta State in general, inhis 27 years on the throne.

By Emma Una

THE Interparty AdvisoryCouncil, IPAC, has been

dissolved in Cross River State,following a vote of noconfidence passed on them bythe Chairmen and secretariesof nine political parties in thestate, weekend and a five-mancare taker committee set up totake charge of its activities.

The vote of no confidence,according to a source, iscoming on the heels of theexecutives plan to return for asecond term on the expirationof their tenure, which wassaid to be resisted by majorityof the political parties in thestate.

The five-manIPAC team isheaded by PPAstate Chairman,Mr Patrick Ali,with APGAChairman, Dr.Fidelis Okoh, asDeputy Chairmanand the stateChairman of NCP,Martin Bujor, asSecretary.

Other members of theexecutive committee includeMrs Helen Eke, WomanLeader, Labour Party and thestate chairman of ActionAlliance, Mr Eniang Offiong.

The parties that attended themeeting andendorsed thedissolutiona n dsubsequentsetting up ofa care-takercommitteei n c l u d e dPDP, APC,APGA, NCP,FDP, AA, LP,ID and PPA.

The new Secretary of IPAC,Marin Bujor, said theleadership will ensure that allpolitical parties work forpromotion of democratic idealsin the state.

PORT HARCOURT—GOVERNOR Nyesom

Wike of Rivers State hasrenamed Liberation Stadiumand the Old Aba Road afterGeneral Yakubu Gowon.

In a statement, Mr SimeonNwakaudu, Special Assistantto the governor on ElectronicMedia, said the LiberationStadium in Port Harcourt, “Isnow to be known as YakubuGowon Stadium. The Old AbaRoad is also to be known asYakubu Gowon Road.”

Governor Wike had onSaturday promised toimmortalise General Gowon(retd) for creating Rivers Statewhen he was the Head of Statein 1967.


FG to probe N270bn expended on East-Westroad project

By Jimitota Onoyume

‘46,000children dropout of school inC-Riverannually'

Urhobo monarchs, P-Gs shun UPUannual congress, dissolve factions

By Perez Brisibe

By Emma UnaPORT HARCOURT—THEFederal Government is to

probe the 362 kilometre EastWest Road project to determineif the N270 billion so farexpended on it wascommensurate with the workdone.

Minister of Niger DeltaAffairs, Pastor Uguru Usani,who disclosed this, weekend,during an inspection of theRivers/Akwa Ibom statessection of the road project, saidhis ministry would engageauditors to look at the books toensure that contractors wereguided by specifications anddesigns for the job.

Fielding questions fromnewsmen during theinspection, Pastor Usani,flanked by his Minister ofState, Professor ClaudiusDaromola and some topofficials of the Ministry ofNiger Delta, said the FederalGovernment was in a hurry tosee that the project wascompleted.

He said that the interventionby Rivers State Governmentand some stakeholders on theportion of the road betweenOnne and Eleme LocalGovernments of Rivers Statewas for the good of the country.

The minister said that the N3

billion which the stategovernment and otherstakeholders saved theFederal Government with theintervention job on the roadwould be deployed to otherneeds.

It will be recalled thatGovernor Nyesom Wikerallied some companies,

among them Intels,Indorama and a few others,to collaborate with the stategovernment to fix 6kilometres of the roadbetween Eleme and Onne ata cost of N3 billion.

The minister said: “Theintervention is for the goodof the country. We are told

by the contractors that thestate government will workwith other companies to raisethe balance. The contractorshave said that the part of theroad was part of thecontractual agreement. Thesavings made from theintervention will be appliedelsewhere.”

U G H E L L I —M O N A R C H S

heading the 24 kingdoms thatmake up the Urhobo nation andtheir Presidents-General, PGs,weekend, shunned the annualnational congress of the UrhoboProgress Union, UPU, andallegedly dissolved the executiveheaded by Chief Joe Omene aswell as the splinter group headedby Chief Tuesday Onoge.

The UPU, which is the apexsocio-cultural body of the Urhobo,had on Saturday, held its 84thannual national congress andawards of honours/carnival at theUrhobo Cultural Centre,Uvwiamughe-Agbarho, UghelliNorth Local Government Area ofDelta State.

The event which used to be abeehive of cultural activities withrepresentatives from the variouskingdoms, was devoid of the usualhustle and bustle as 22 monarchs,the PGs, clerics and a host of otherrepresentatives boycotted thecongress and held a parallelcongress at the palace of theOwhorode of Olomu Kingdom,HRM Ogoni-Oghoro I, where theUPU executive and its splintergroup were both allegedlydissolved.

Reacting to the purported

dissolution of his executive, Chief Omene, said:“The Ivie (kings) are not part of the structure ofthe UPU which is made up of the executive, thecouncil of representatives, the board of trusteesand the branches.

“Look at those who are here, I, as the PG, thenational secretary, financial secretary, publicitysecretary and treasurer. There is no single principalofficial member that is not here, the others aremiscreants and mischief makers,” he stated.

Speaking to Vanguard on the dissolution of theUPU executive and its splinter group, secretary ofUPU president generals, Chief Kenneth Iwhuwhu,said: “The kings in their wisdom believed it wasnot safe for the congress to hold owing to thealleged ineptitude and maladministration of theUPU.”

CALABAR—FORTY-SIX thousand children

drop out of primary andsecondary schools in CrossRiver State every year owingto lack of funds to continuetheir education

This figure was reeled outby The Bridge LeadershipFoundation, TBLF, an o n g o v e r n m e n t a lorganisation founded byformer governor of the state,Mr Liyel Imoke, whilepresenting scholarships to 40students of public secondaryschools in the state.

Mrs Ewa Fasina, ExecutiveSecretary of TBLF, who gavethe figures, said a surveyconducted by the foundationin conjunction with the stateMinistry of Educationrevealed that thousands ofpupils and students inprimary and secondaryschools in the state drop outof school every year becauseof their parents' inability to payfor their education.THANKSGIVING: From left: Obi of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, HRM, Obi Akaeze Ofulue II; Pastor

Tony Agafie, General Overseer, Path of GloryMinistry, Asaba; Pastor Eloke Ijeh and his wife,Ifeoma, during the 2015 annual generalthanksgiving service of Path of Glory Ministryin Asaba.

Rivers APC to beginregistration of new members

By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT—ALL Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers

State is set to commence registration of newmembers this month.

State Chairman of the party, Mr Davies Ikanya,who disclosed this while briefing newsmen,weekend, also called on old members of the partyto revalidate their membership during theregistration exercise, expressing hope of afavourable ruling on Rivers election matters beforethe court.

Ikanya who also criticised the state government’sdecision to cancel the scholarship scheme forstudents of the state origin in foreign universitiessaid it was regrettable that the government tooksuch step.


From left, Past President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, Dr. Ademola Ajayi;Immediate Past President, LCCI, Alhaji Ismaila Bello; New President, LCCI, Chief Nike Akande; herhusband, Chief Adebayo Akande, and another Past President, Chief John Odeyemi, during theinvestiture of Chief Akande as the new President of LCCI, in Lagos, yesterday. Photos: Bunmi Azeez

Chief Nike Akande's investiture as new President of LCCI

From left, Deputy governor of Lagos State, Dr. Idiat OlurantiAdebule; former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and hiswife, Margaret.

From left, New President, LCCI, Chief NikeAkande; Oyo State governor, Senator AbiolaAjimobi, and fomer Deputy Governor of LagosState, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire.

From left, Chief Folake Sholanke, Princess SarahAdebisi Sosan, former Deputy Governor of LagosState, and the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.

From left, Mrs. Tola Ojudu, Senator OluremiTinubu, and Iyalode of Lagos, Chief FatimahTinubu.

My pledge to LCCI, economy —Nike Akande...says Nigeria needs vibrant private sector•We expect nothing less from a two-time minister —Aisha Buhari•She's bringing rich blend of public, private sector experience to bear on LCCI —Bello

By Franklin Alli &Naomi Uzor

THE NEW president ofLagos Chamber of

Commerce and Industry, LCCI,Dr. Nike Akande, weekend,pledged to re-dedicate herselfto the services of the chamberand to use her tenure to pushfor fiscal and monetary policiesthat are investment friendly.

Dr. Akande, a two-timeMinister of Industry duringGeneral Sanni Abacha’s era,was decorated, Saturday, as thesecond female president ofLCCI after 127 years of itscorporate existence in thecountry.

In an interview with newsmenafter the investiture andacceptance speech, Dr. Akandesaid: “Being the LCCIpresident is both an honourand a challenge which I acceptwith utmost humility and a deepsense of responsibility.

“I pledge to re-dedicatemyself to the service of the LCCIand I assure you of mycommitment to ensure that thechamber retains its foremostposition as a leading privatesector advocacy organisation inNigeria and the flagship of the

Chamber of Commercemovement in the country.

“As I mount the saddle ofleadership of the chamber,effectiveness and positiveimpact on quality of investmentclimate will be my watch word.”

According to her, the privatesector is pivotal to thetransformation of the Nigerianeconomy, and indeed anyeconomy for that matter, maintaining that Nigeria needsthe private sector to createwealth from which governmentcould generate revenue.

“We need the private sectorto generate employment toaddress the acute andfrightening unemployment,poverty and insecurity in oursociety; we need a virile privatesector to make Nigeria arespected country in the comityof nation.

"We would not relent in ouradvocacy to promote aconducive environment for theprivate sector to play the roleexpected of it in the realisationof the Nigerian vision,”shestated.

She disclosed that LCCI willcontinue to work in closecollaboration with governmentat all levels, the media and otherstakeholders and will ensure

that their advocacy achieves theright level of effectivenesswhich will be measured by theresponse of various tiers ofgovernment to their proposalson policy direction in theinterest of the investors,whether domestic or foreign.

She said the investiture marksanother milestone in the historyof the chamber with yet anothergraceful transition, saying thatit is both an honour and achallenge for being thePresident of the chamber.

She noted that all the pastpresidents of the chamberserved the chamber withprofound dedication,commitment and uncommonpassion, saying that they leftcredible and indelible marks inthe chamber’s history.

“We would continue to buildon their worthy legacies. Theirnumerous achievements madeLCCI a household name andwell acknowledged andappreciated by the entiremembers of the LagosChamber,” she stressed.

The wife of the president ofNigeria, Aisha Buhari said theelection of Dr. Akande came ata time when the country wasclamouring for change and thatshe was indeed excited to

collaborate with a woman ofsubstance.

Rpresented by the formerdeputy Governor of Lagos state,Princess Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire, Buhari noted that newopportunities are springing up inconstruction, manufacturing,t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s ,infrastructure as well astransportation.

“This is therefore the time whenthe chamber needs a visionaryleader in the like of Dr. NikeAkande. Now I am confident thather unfailing polity, hard work,commitment and dedication bebrought to bear in this new roleand to promote the realisation ofour vision and advancement of theNigerian economy “

“Of course, the LCCI and thenation expects nothing less froma two-time minister of industryfrom the Federal Republic ofNigeria. As we all know, fightingcorruption in all aspects of ournational life, security of lives andproperty and the reordering ofallocation of our commonresources are very hard,” she said.

On the current administrationagenda, Aisha, disclosed that,government remain committedboth in the implementation of theeconomy diversification andreforms as well as enabling

environment for investors, addingthat, governance is not a one waytraffic, government and thepeople must work together.

“Nigeria is a Commonwealthand all of us owe it a duty to leaveNigeria than we meet it. Forgovernment to succeed, theOrganised Private Sector and theindividuals are of extremeimportance.

“At a time when the nation isfacing economic challenges, weneed our best brains to move usforward, we need innovation andbusinesses have to reinventthemselves and also work witheach other to achieve a sustainabledevelopment,” she added.

The outgoing President, LCCI,Alhaji Remi Bello, said theinvestiture was unique in anumber of ways, adding that thenew president is the secondfemale president of the chamberin its 127 years history.

"She is the first former Ministerof the Federal Republic of Nigeriato be president of the LCCI or anymajor business association of thatmatter. The value of this is thatshe is bringing a rich blend ofpublic and private sectorexperience to bear on the LCCIpresidency. I want to formallycongratulate her on the welldeserved election,” he said.


BIAFRA: Uwazuruike renames MASSOB•Igbo have the right to clamour for self-determination, says Kalu•IPOB women give 7-day ultimatum to FG over Kanu•S-East not advocating secession — Ebonyi govt

By Kenneth Ehigiator, ChidiNkwopara, Daniel Eteghe,Peter Okutu , Ugochukwu

Alaribe & Chimaobi Nwaiwu

IN A strategy designed to separatehimself from a controversial movement

that parades two factions, the leader of theMovement for the Actualization of theSovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, ChiefRalph Uwazuruike, has announced a newname, Biafra Independent Movement,BIM, for the group.

This came as former Governor of AbiaState, Orji Uzor Kalu declared that the Igbohave the full right to agitate for self-determination.

Chief Uwazuruike, who made theannouncement, yesterday, whileaddressing the press in Owerri, also saidthat he was irked by the bad corporateimage some dissidents of MASSOB, wereattracting to the group.

“The change in name became absolutelynecessary because of the sad introductionof violence by the disgruntled dissidentsand this is at variance with the non-violencestance of MASSOB over the years,”Uwazuruike said.

He said that real loyalists of MASSOBfeel ashamed to be associated withviolence, promising that they willrestructure MASSOB to make it the youthwing of the Biafra IndependentMovement.

While saying that there is vicariousliability in civil law, Chief Uwazuruikeequally recalled how he recruited NnamdiKanu in 1989, to head Radio Biafra.

“I recruited Nnamdi Kanu in 1989, whenI established Radio Biafra and appointedhim the director of the establishment. Hestarted preaching hatred andbrainwashing the youths. MASSOBsacked him,” Uwazuruike recalled.

Answering a question, Uwazuruike saidhe had been imprisoned 16 times in thepast and wondered why and how theheavens should fall because Kanu wasincarcerated for just one month.

He pleaded with the FederalGovernment to release Kanu and BenjaminOnwuka, a former student of EmmanuelCollege, Owerri, and chieftain ofMASSOB, who had been in prison foryears.

Uwazuruike reminded those preachingviolence that Biafra could not be achievedthrough violence, pointing out that, “theSouth East is landlocked and there is noway we can win the battle for freedomthrough violence.”

He reminded followers of IndigenousPeople of Biafra, IPOB, that if they closethe Niger Bridge for one month or more, itwill not affect activities in either Lagos orAbuja.

“Closing the Niger Bridge will onlyscuttle the business activities of Ndigbo.The protest in the South East, as arrangedand implemented by IPOB, ended upunleashing a high degree of suffering onNdigbo,” Uwazuruike said.

He, however, blamed the Directorate ofState Services, DSS, for bungling the arrest,detention and prosecution of Mr. Kanu.

“The DSS is largely responsible for theprotest. They arrested Kanu, charged himfor bailable offences and the court grantedhim bail, but the DSS refused to releasehim. They later came up with treasoncharges and asked the court to give them

90 days to conclude investigations. Thiscannot hold in democracy,” Uwazuruikesaid.

The right to clamourSimilarly, former Governor Orji Uzor

Kalu of Abia State affirmed that the rightof the Igbo had been embedded in theUnited Nation’s charter, which gave themthe full right to ask for a secession if theywere no longer comfortable in livingtogether as one country called Nigeria.

Speaking to newsmen at the MurtalaMuhammed Airport, Lagos, he stressedthat the way and manner the youths weregoing about the demonstration was wrongas they had turned what was supposed tobe a peaceful protest into violent killingsand destruction of properties.

He said: “Those boys are right, they havea right to demonstrate, but not violentdemonstration, not killing soldiers becauseif I am a Commander- in -Chief, and youkill one of my soldiers, I will kill everybody.You cannot kill soldiers. You cannot killpolice. You have a right to say no, we wantour own Republic. The United Nationscharter gives them the right to ask for self-determination. It is not a right ofdetermination to go and destroy people'sproperties, to go and destroy NigerianArmed Forces, whether it is Nigerian Army,Nigerian Navy or Nigerian Police. Theseare not the rights. They have the right tospeak for self-determination. This is thefull right.

“If I am president, I will set up eithertraditional rulers and some political leadersto go and ask the boys what they reallywant, what is really their problem, whatcan be done to stop them from asking forthis. This is how Boko Haram started killingmembers of Catholic Church, and as aCatholic, I spoke vehemently against it. Itold you airport correspondents that theywill finish killing the Catholic and will goand start killing everybody and ithappened.

"When kidnapping just started, then Iwas governor, they were kidnapping whitepeople and I spoke out. I said when theyfinished kidnapping white people andthere were no more white man to kidnap,they would start kidnapping us and thatis what is happening in the country today.

"So, I will advise the FederalGovernment. This is a federation, you needto manage the federation. Some peoplemust ask for self-determination. It is themanagement of the people that matters.President Buhari, as a matter of fact, should

set out traditional rulers, set out people,set out securities and intelligent agenciesto intervene. They should be moreintelligent than policemen or militarypeople carrying guns. They should find away and tell the boys that what they aredoing is not the right thing to do. So, it isleft for the Federal Government. This isthe right time to nip the agitation in thebud, but not by force. It is a wrong strategyhearing people saying that we will quenchit by force. We cannot quench anything byforce because it is their right to ask for self-determination.

“But is it the right thing to do in a biggercountry like ours? It is only a presidentthat doesn’t know what he wants that willwant a section of his country to go. I thinknegotiation is part of democracy . I haveseen your Enugu-Port Harcourt, Aba-Umahia express road that have not beenbuilt, I will build it in two years, I haveseen your Awka-Onitsha express way thatis not built, I will build it in two years, Ihave seen that your Umuahia-Ohafia toAruchukuwu to Cross River express wayis not built, I will do it. I have seen thatyour Arondizuogu-Okigwe express wayis not done, I will do it. I have seen yourEnugu to Makurdi express way is bad,people are dying there every day, whichwas what I quarrelled with the governmentover it in 2001.

"I said our roads are bad. Federal roadsare very bad and they are taking it forgranted. Check what I have said ten yearsago, they are reccurring today and thegovernment is still playing with it, peopleare still doing politics with it,” he stressed.

7-day ultimatumMeantime, women members of the IPOB

have handed a seven day ultimatum callingon the Federal Government to release thedetained leader of the group, NnamdiKanu, or face its wrath.

The women, who were dressed in Biafranemblems and Kanu’s portraits, vowed toembark on the next stage of its struggle tofree Kanu including several activitieswhich they claimed will embarrass theFederal Government.

The group, who handed the ultimatumwhile protesting along the Enyimba areaand the Ariaria junction of the Enugu-PortHarcourt expressway, Aba, warned thatNigeria was sliding towards danger withthe continued detention of Kanu.

“We are handing a seven day ultimatumto the Federal Government to releaseNnamdi Kanu. It is either they release him

or face our wrath. In Igbo land, whenwomen embark on a protest march, itmeans that the matter at hand had becomeserious.We decided to hold this protest toappeal to the Federal Government torelease him.

“We can’t understand why thegovernment is still detaining Nnamdi Kanusince he has been granted bail. IPOB seesthis as part of the larger plot in themarginalization of Ndigbo. This is anotherproof that Ndigbo are not wanted inNigeria, if a freedom fighter like NnamdiKanu, will be detained indefinitely.”

Remain non violent —IgboezueAdding its own voice, the Igboezue

International Association of Nigeria andDiaspora had appealed to all the pro-Biafragroups in Nigeria and in Diaspora, toensure that all their protests anddemonstrations were done peacefullybecause Igbo were not known to be violentpeople, but peaceful even in the face ofmarginalization.

National President of the association,Elder Pius Okoye while briefing newsmenin Onitsha, yesterday, said there was roomfor peaceful protest worldwide and theNigerian constitution also provided roomfor peaceful protest and demonstration.

“Government is a continuum. It is not aprivate business. The last NationalConference was well represented by allparts of the country. Nigerians expectedcontinuity regarding the outcome of thatNational Conference, but we weredisappointed that no mention had beenmade of it. However, we believe theimplementation of its recommendationswould bring peace in Nigeria,” he said.

He said IPOB and MASSOB had theright to protest and demonstrate as far asit was peaceful and non-violent and withinthe ambit of the law, warning that“involving or allowing violent miscreantsto infiltrate their fold will make nonsenseof their agitations that have beenrecognized worldwide.

“It is the duty of the police to controlprotesters and prevent them fromdestroying lives and properties, orinvolving in violent activities. The militaryshould not shoot at protesters likeanimals,“he said.

Okoye told IPOB and MASSOB toscrutinize their members to avoid criminalelements infiltrating their folds and cashingin on that to rob and loot people’s property,after Nigerians and even the churcheshave testified through their publicationsthat they had been peaceful in all theiractivities.

No to secession— Ebonyi govtOver the weekend, Ebonyi State

government revealed that the South Eastgeopolitical zone of the country was notadvocating secession contrary to the waveof the agitation rocking the zone.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of thestate executive council meeting at theGovernment House in Abakaliki, the statecommissioner for Information and StateOrientation, Sen. Emmanuel Onwe addedthat the state government having carriedout a critique of the whole situation wasnot in support of secession or any act ofabuse on the government of the federation.

He appealed to the Biafran agitators tochannel their grievances to the appropriatequarters and avoid incidents of violenceand destruction of properties belonging toinnocent citizens of the nation.

TRAINING: From left, the Manager, Human Capital Development, Nigerian ContentDevelopment & Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Mrs. Michele Aiyegbusi; GeneralManager, Nigerian Content Development, ExxonMobil, Mr. Olusola Ogunsakin,and the Managing Director, Globestar, Mr. Phillipe Bonneau, at the closing ceremonyof the Nigerian Human Capital Development, NHCD, Training of ExxonMobil'sErha North Phase II Project, in Lagos, last Friday.


CMYK

Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015—17

CMYK

By Leke Adeseri, South WestRegional Editor & Gbenga

Olarinoye

Ooni Ogunwusi:

Sitting on reveredthrone of Oduduwa

OSOGBO – SINCE theemergence of then Prince

Enitan Babatunde AdeyeyeOgunwusi, as new Ooni of Ife,there has been consensus that themiddle aged real estate guru isa perfect choice for the throne ofOduduwa. In the last 80 years,Ile Ife has been blessed with twogreat kings that not only dwarfedthose that reigned alongsidethem across the country and to alarge extent, in the diaspora.

It is relevant to emphasise thatIle Ife, going by the strategicposition it occupies in the historyof one of the major tribes in thecountry, has rich history ofpowerful and colourfulpersonalities sitting on therevered stool of Ooni.

But the respect, aura andelegance both late Oba AdesojiAderemi from Osinkola RulingHouse, who reigned between1930 to 1979 and the immediatepast Ooni, Oba OkunadeSijuade, from Ogboru, attractedto Ooni stool was unprecedentedand peerless. There were evenfears at the latter days of OoniSijuade that getting anothermonarch to lead the cradle of theYoruba race and by extension theentire Yorubaland, in his mouldmight be impossible.

Fifth directdescendant

However, the belief among theIfe people that an Ooni is neverelected but emerges, cannot becontroverted, with the choice ofHis Imperial Majesty, ObaEnitan Ogunwusi as the 51stOoni. The 41-year-old ObaEnitan, was born to Pa Ropo andMrs. Elizabeth Ogunwusi of theOjaja Royal compound ofAgbedegbede, Giesi RulingHouse. He is a fifth directdescendant of the Giesi family.

The new Ooni who attendedThe Polytechnic, Ibadan, wherehe obtained a Higher NationalDiploma, HND, in Accountancywas responsible for theestablishment of the Associationfor International Business, AIB,in Nigeria and led thegovernment delegation team toCanada in 2002 for strategicalliances and partnership withOndo State Government on solidmineral potentials of the state.This would lead to the formationof Amalgamated Mining andExploration Company Limited,owned by the state government.

The monarch also facilitated thebiggest lead and aluminium

recycling plant set up in Nigeriaby National Steel Company ofIndia in Ota, Ogun State and alsofounded Essential Homes, a realestate project that deliversaffordable up-scale homes to themiddle and high income earners.The new Ooni is said to have inhis employment over 300 youthsat the Inagbe Cocowood Factoryand has over 450 directemployees in his variouscompanies and sits on the boardof Imperial Homes MortgageBank Limited, (formerlyGTHomes), GTBank Plc andFinaTrust Microfinance BankLimited, among others.

There was never a pointer tohis direction in the early days ofstruggle for the throne as the nextOoni, but as the struggle becamemore keen, the qualities of thenPrince Enitan shown andeclipsed that of other contestantsfor the throne. As rich as hisresume is, there were still fearsand concerns about the newmonarch filling the large shoesleft by his predecessors. All thesehow evaporated the day ObaOgunwusi made a triumphalentry into Ile-Ife when hissubjects reached him amidstpomp.

While those watching from afarwould conclude his emergenceas Ooni was accidental, the mainactors involved in the affairs ofIle-Ife would say the gods chosehim and that he had emergedsuccessor to the late Oba Sijuadeeven when the late monarch wasstill on the throne. ObaOgunwusi, the third monarch tocome from the Giesi RulingHouse, is coming to the throneover a century after the reign ofOoni Derin Ologbenla, a warriorwith intimidating history of

victories in many battles, willenter history as one of youngestto sit on the throne of Oduduwa.

Atiku congratulates,admonishes Ooni: Meantime,former Vice President AtikuAbubakar, who also holds atraditional title of Aare Adimulaof the Source, yesterday,congratulated Oba AdeyeyeEnitan Ogunwusi on hiscoronation today as the 51st Ooniof Ile-Ife. He also wished the newking a long and eventful reign.Atiku, in a congratulatorymessage said he had admiredthe youthfulness andresourcefulness of ObaOgunwusi since he was unveiledas the choice of the king-makersto the stool of the Ooni.

Career andreputation

Atiku said, “The choice of ObaOgunwusi venerates the totemicdeep wisdom, courage andresourcefulness which the throneof the Ooni is widelyacknowledged for. It is not indoubt that Your Royal Highnessmade an early start in building acareer and reputation in theprivate sector of the economy,which is a source of inspirationfor many young Nigerians. Yourfootprints in the real estate sectorof the economy will continue tocreate the pathways forgenerations to come that with anearly start and an eye on focus, itis possible to attain greatness.

“Kabiyesi, while wishing youa very long and prosperous reignon the stool of your forefathers,let me remind you with everysense of modesty of the additionalresponsibility that youryouthfulness has put on yourshoulders, which is to mentorand inspire youths to industrythrough education across everyparts of the African continent,especially Nigeria. Yourcoronation today is an epochalevent for many of the youths inYorubaland as it will be their firstexperience to witness thecoronation of a very high rankingtraditional ruler from that part ofthe world.’’

Osun Assembly hails new OoniAlso, the Osun State House of

Assembly through its Chairman,House Committee on Informationand Strategy, Hon. OyintiloyeOlatunbosun has congratulated

Oba Adeyeye Enitan OgunwusiOjaja II on his coronation as theOoni of Ife, asserting toweringconfidence in his ascendancywhich they affirm would serve asa catalyst for the advancement ofIle-Ife, the Yoruba nation and thecountry at large. In a statementsigned by Hon. Oyintiloye onbehalf of the legislative body, thelegislators said the credentialsand mettle of the monarch is atestimony to the ardor andtireless creativity the king wouldbring to the throne.

The Assembly commended theruling houses for the manner inwhich they harmoniouslyresolved their differences duringthe selection process. They alsocongratulated the Osun Stategovernment, the Council ofObas, and the people of the state,especially the descendants of Ile-Ife, home and abroad for thepeaceful transition. “Thespontaneous enthusiasm thatgreeted the announcement of thenew monarch across Ile Ife, OsunState , and the entire nation is asubstantiation of the better daysahead,” Hon Oyintiloyeexplained.

Goodwillmessage

In a goodwill message to theOoni during a parliamentarysession, the Speaker of the OsunState House of Assembly,Honourable Najeem Salamenjoined him to give inimitableservice, and surpass the worthylegacies of his predecessors. Healso admonished him to workwith other traditional rulers andgovernment at all levels toinspire harmony, peace anddevelopment in the country.

The parliamentarians imploredthe Ooni to use his position asthe custodian of the culturalheritage and traditions of Yorubaland for the service of the people.They urged Oba Adeyeye to befather to all, using his royal officeto foster peaceful coexistence notonly in Ife and the Yoruba landbut throughout the country andbeyond.

Similarly, Senator IsiakaAdeleke called on the Ooni torely entirely on God in thedischarge of his royal duties andbe a father to all and sundrywithout discrimination. SenatorAdeleke described the ascension

of Oba Enitan Ogunwusi to theexalted throne of Ooni of Ife, asa clarion call to service and a bigchallenge to him. The firstcivilian governor of Osun Statesaid, that Oba Enitan Ogunwusishould join other progressivelyminded Nigerians, in the changewind, now blowing across thecountry and avail his people, hisrobust wealth of experience insocio-economic fields of humanendeavours, that he was notedfor.

Adeleke was of the view thatnow more than ever before, is thetime for Ife and indeed the Yorubanation, to live together in unity,peace and concord, so as to bethe true custodians of ourcollective heritage. The Asiwajuof EdeLand, described theascension to the throne of Ife, byOba Enitan Ogunwusi as a nomean feat coming as it were, at atime when absolute cooperationamong Obas in Osun State isvery paramount for theadvancement of the state.

Indeliblemarks

Adeleke said, “Oba EnitanOgunwusi is stepping into thebig shoes left behind by hispredecessors, who no doubt, leftindelible marks during theirreigns as Obas of the Source. Heprays and wishes Oba EnitanOgunwusi, God’s special mercy,guidance and divine wisdom toexcel and surpass the enviablerecords left behind by late ObaOkunade Sijuade. OtunbaAdeleke also, pray for the graceof God for Oba Enitan Ogunwusiin the execution and realizationof the ideals of his high office asthe Ooni of Ife and his resolve totruly make Ife a modelcommunity, where infrastructuralfacilities shall be taken forgranted.

While urging Oba EnitanOgunwusi to build bridges ofunity, love and progress acrossthe Yoruba nation and indeedNigeria, Adeleke advised him toplay down on whatsoever tendsto create disharmony among thepeople of Osun State, andendeavour to close ranks with alltraditional rulers in Yoruba Landand maintain cordiality with all,which on its own should be alasting legacy for him and hispredecessors.

Oba EnitanOgunwusi isstepping into the bigshoes left behind byhis predecessors,who no doubt, leftindelible marksduring their reigns asObas of the Source

From left: Chief (Dr.) John Agboola Odeyemi the Obasewa of Ife, Managing Director of First BankPLC, Mr. Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife and others,during the launching of the grand resorts and leisure at toll gate Ife. Photo: Sola Oyelese.

18 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

OPINION

Governor Ishaku and the progress ofTaraba State

By Mike Ikpechi

THERE are certain things that serve asdream killers in life; you do not want near

you. The news of the annulment of the electionof Darius Ishaku, the Governor of Taraba State,is one of such. An amiable politician who isloved by his people, Governor Ishaku wasvoted into office in April 2015 after defeatingthe candidate of the All Progressives Congress,APC, Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan, in akeenly-contested election and runoff. Heemerged winner because the people believedin his ability and capacity to help rescue,rebuild and reposition the state.

The news of the annulment of his election bythe Taraba Election Petitions Tribunal sittingin Abuja was a rude and immense shock notonly to those of us privileged to know him, butindeed, to all well-meaning citizens of the state.In the controversial judgement, the JusticeDanladi Abubakar Tribunal announced thatIshaku did not emerge the candidate of thePDP in a properly-conducted primary electionand so must vacate office. Meanwhile, herewas a candidate who clearly won the electionsby the valid votes cast in the elections and wasso declared by the Independent National Elec-toral Commission, INEC. Now, if the surprisedecision and conclusion of the tribunal doesn’t

shock, nothing else will!What is not in doubt is that the tribunal’s

ruling continues to puzzle many close watch-ers of events in the state especially with the factthat not a single candidate in the PDP evenwent to court to challenge Architect Ishaku’semergence as the PDP flag-bearer to contestthe April 11 election! In the first run of theelection, Ishaku scored 317,198 votes whilethe APC’s Alhassan polled 262,386. The dif-ference between the votes of both candidateswas 54,812. Over 100,000 potential votes werecancelled at some polling units.

However, INEC, through its Returning Of-ficer for the election in the state, Prof. Mu-hammad Kariey, on April 13, declared it in-conclusive and announced there would be asupplementary election within 30 days. INECspecifically said it took the position followingits discovery that the total number of votes re-jected and cancelled was more than the total

votes with which Ishaku led the runner-up,Hajia Alhassan. Of course, INEC’s positionmade sense and Ishaku had no cause to argueagainst it despite the fact that he was leading.

The electoral body, through its Head of Pub-lic Affairs in the state, Fabian Yame, later an-nounced April 25 as date for the runoff whichheld in Donga Local Government Area of thestate, and some polling units in Bali, KarimLamido, Takum, Ussa, Wukari, Yorro and Zing.INEC eventually declared Ishaku the clear win-ner of the election with 369,318 votes to theAPC’s Alhassan who scored 275,984 votes. Thevictory thus cleared the coast for him tocommence his mission of rescuing andrebuilding Taraba state while seeking to posi-tion it as a state to watch in the North Eastgeopolitical zone of the country.

Indeed, immediately he was sworn in on May29, Ishaku promised to be the governor of allTarabans and asked for the cooperation ofpeople in the quest to move the state forward.He pointed out some achievements of formerGovernor Danbaba Suntai and promised tocontinue from where Suntai stopped. Heequally urged the people to set aside allpolitical, religious and ethnic differences andunite to move the state forward.

Towards tackling crime as well as religiousand ethnic crises in the state, he promised thathis government would introduce communitypolicing aside urging civil servants in the stateto be guided by the rules, adding that more isdemanded from them.

Understanding that the task of rebuildingTaraba cannot be delivered by him and his

commissioners alone, Governor Ishaku ex-pressed his intention to work with traditionalrulers in the state and always seek their father-ly advice on critical issues. A genuine patriotthat he is, and ever ready to commit his all inserving his people, Governor Ishaku also gal-vanised Tarabans and called on them to askthemselves what they will offer to the state rath-er than what the state will do for them. With allstakeholders in the state working together, headded that the job of rebuilding Taraba wouldbe easier and achieved faster.

That’s why despite the November 7 tribunalruling, Governor Ishaku appealed for calmand called on the citizens of the state to re-main peaceful even as he expressed his deci-sion to appeal the tribunal’s ruling towardsupholding the mandate freely given to him.

However, it’s clear that the Governor is notlosing any sleep on the matter. Already, hisparty, the PDP, through its Acting NationalChairman, Mr. Uche Secondus, has expressedits support for him in the quest to ensure thathis electoral mandate is not tampered with.The party decided to appeal the judgment. The party chairman stated that the PDP fol-lowed every stage of the Electoral Act and theparty’s guideline in the submission of the nameof the governor and his deputy to the INEC.

Yes, the tribunal’s ruling could come acrossto some as a setback. However, I believe it’sonly a temporary one that Tarabans and well-meaning Nigerians expect to be overturnedby the Appeal Court in the interest of justice.

*Mr Ikpechi, political analyst, wrotefrom Abuja

It’s just a matter of time.

With all stakeholders inthe state working together,he added that the job ofrebuilding Taraba would beeasier and achieved faster

Looking beyond positiveGDP growth rate

The National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) released its third quarter(Q3) 2015 Gross Domestic Product,(GDP) report recently, whichshowed that in spite of the macro-economic challenges faced duringthe period, the economy grew by2.8 per cent year-on-year.

This is heart-warming consider-ing the several down-turns in al-most all indices of economic per-formance this year. The GDP hadbeen in steady decline since thefourth quarter of 2014 with mas-sive slides in the first two quartersof this year.

It is noteworthy that the improve-ment in GDP growth was majorlyon account of increased oil produc-tion during the period which led toa rebound in oil sector growth andalso pushed the sector’s contribu-tion to GDP higher compared to thenon-oil sector. This softened theimpact of the third consecutivequarterly slowdown in the non-oilsector growth.

With continued volatility in oilprices leading to sharp declines in

government revenue and cash flowin the economy, increased oil pro-duction came in truly handy.

However, during the period, thenon-oil sector real growth decel-erated for the third consecutivequarter, hence, the contributions ofthe non-oil sector to the total GDPdeclined due mainly to the weak-er growth of the services sector.

But of more concern was manu-facturing, which is a major contrib-utor to the non-oil classificationbut which is currently in a reces-sion given the three consecutive

year-on-year contractions in thesector.

Against this backdrop we recom-mend that while government’s eco-nomic blue-print following theswearing in of the new ministersshould focus on all fundamentals,the non-oil classification and moreparticularly the manufacturingsector should be in greater focus.

We view the increased GDPgrowth rate in the review period asa positive development, but not astellar performance given that theeconomy has now recorded two

consecutive sub-3.0 per cent GDPgrowth, the weakest since the post-rebasing exercise.

Most economic analysts had fore-cast that the last quarter of 2015growth would remain subdued atless than 3.0 per cent, significant-ly lower than the 2015 budget tar-get of 5.5 per cent and global ana-lysts’ estimate of 3.4 per cent.

Though many observers and pol-icy authorities may have given upon the 2015 budget we are still con-vinced that the outlook in 2016 willdramatically improve if the feder-al government directs stronger pol-icy attention to the fundamentalsof our non-oil sector with moreemphasis on expansionary fiscalpolicy in 2016.

With the federal cabinet now inplace and the drivers of the econo-my fully installed, we call on theMuhammadu Buhari regime to ful-ly unveil its economic roadmap anddirection to enable the variousplayers to plug in appropriatelyand get the economy once again onthe roll.

CMYK


CMYK

Send Opinions & Letters to:[email protected]

Biafra agitation and divide-and-rule anticsBy Nwobodo Chidiebere

“I freed a thousand slaves; I could havefreed a thousand more if only they knewthey were slaves.”

—Harriet Tubman

FOR weeks now, the issue of Biafra agitation has been at the front burner in

the polity. Every vendor’s stand has beenturned into a theatre of arguments by freereaders and potential customers, who spendhours analysing the fresh Biafra movementbeing propelled by the Indigenous People ofBiafra, IPOB and Movement for Actualisa-tion of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB,via peaceful protests. The social media wasnot spared as it has been inundated with in-tellectual fireworks by proponents and op-ponents of the Biafra struggle. Almost everyknown and unknown columnist has writtenin support or against Biafra’s resuscitationby the promoters of IPOB led by the illegallydetained Director of Radio Biafra, NnamdiKanu.

I have been prompted to express mythoughts on the Biafra agitation by the di-mension the argument has taken, especiallywhere spin-doctors who are known agents ofdivide-and-rule have gone back to their usualwork of dividing the indigenous people ofBiafra. The major aim of these divide-and-rule elements who tend to cry more than thebereaved is to use the instrumentality of themedia to tag the Biafra agitation an Igbo“affair”. The irony of the debate is that ma-jority of those divide-and-rule advocates whohave sworn to keep inciting Biafrans againsteach other are non-Biafrans. I think the fu-ture or restoration of Biafra should strictlybe left for indigenous people of Biafra to de-

cide.I would like to expose some of the antics of

these divide-and-rule agents who only wantto keep enslaving us by creating divisionamongst us. The following thought-provok-ing questions would help in highlighting thepoints of my submission: Why is the majorethnic groups in Northern Nigeriaare alwaysreferred to as Hausa/Fulani—giving the im-pression that they are one indivisible peo-ple, instead of Hausa and Fulani? Why do wehave South-South as a geo-political zonecarved out of old the Eastern Region, but thereis nothing like North-North in Northern Ni-geria? How did the creators of this South-South mantra come about something thatquestions all the principles of geography?How come there is Niger-Delta in the Southbut nothing like North-Sahara in the North?Why is there one Northern Governors Forumin the North, but coming down SouthernNigeria, we have South East, South West andSouth-South Governors Forums? Why do wealways hear about Northern Elders Forumand 19 Northern states as one socio-politi-cal bloc and one North,but we hardly talk ofSouthern Elders Forum, 17 Southern statesor one South? Someone should put on histhinking cap over this.

The Yoruba, one of the major tribes in Ni-geria, has roots in North-Central states ofKwara and Kogi—which are outside Yoruba-dominated region of South West. Yet Yorubasin Kogi and Kwara are all seen and respectedas full-fledged Yoruba-speaking people withtheir rights and privileges protected in linewith Yoruba customs and traditions. There isnothing like Kogi and Kwara Yoruba beinginferior to Yorubas in Lagos or Ogun or otherSouth-Western states.

In line of this thought process, why woulddivide-and-rule propagandists keep on refer-

ring to Igbos in Delta and Rivers states as notbeing “real” Igbos by branding them Deltaor Rivers Igbo with the sole purpose of creat-ing division between them and their brothersand sisters in the South East? As a result ofyears of propagating these wicked falsehoodand deceits via the media owned and run bydivide-and-rule proponents, these baselessconjectures and unproven innuendos haveended up sinking deep into the psyche ofmajority of Igbo people from these statesborn after the civil war, who now ignorantlyview their brothers as strangers or even en-emies!

If Yorubas in Kogi and Kwara states are“true” Yorubas like their brothers and sistersin Osun and Ekiti, why on earth would Igbosin Rivers and Delta states—who are of Igboorigin, bear Igbo names and speak its lan-guages-- be made to believe unconsciouslyusing the media that they are “half-caste”Igbos in other not only to divide old EasternRegion but to limit the so-called “real” Igbosto five states of South-East—thereby consoli-dating and deepening the seeds of divisionand discord in the region. Could the ill-con-ceived purpose of this segregation and crea-tion of anti-geography mantra called South-South be to reduce the size of Igbo-speaking

people in the old Eastern Region or to con-tinue referring to South East as landlocked?

Unfortunately many of our brothers andsisters born during and after the civil warunknowingly bought into this gimmick. Theemergence of Radio Biafra has helped todeconstruct this mountain of falsehood anddeflate the balloon of fallacies bandied bydivide-and-rule campaigners who nowtermed the undiluted and unalloyed truth ema-nating from Radio Biafra as “hate speeches”.What an irony!

I have asked these questions several timeswithout getting reasonable answers: Why dowe have BBC Hausa Service broadcastingin the Northern Nigeria and there is no BBCYoruba Service and Igbo Service or IjawService broadcasting in the West or East?Who is afraid of Radio Biafra? Could thedifference between BBC Hausa Service andRadio Biafra be that one is propagatingdivide-and-rule antics-cum-born-to-rule ide-ology, while the other is championing resto-ration of rights of Indigenous People of Biafravia self-determination as enshrined in theUnited Nations Charter? Where were thoseanti-Radio Biafra elements when RadioChanji set up by the APC apologists in theNorth before the presidential election for theonly aim of inciting Northerners againstPresident Goodluck Jonathan by heartlesslymisinforming them that President Jonathanand General Ihejirika were the ones fundingthe dreaded Boko Haram—the same insur-gents they were fighting?

Former President Jonathan lost the lastpresidential election as a hero but the cam-paign that preceded the election unified theentire old Eastern region for once since afterthe Nigeria-Biafra civil war.

•Mr Chidiebere, a political analyst,wrote from Abuja.

Why would divide-and-rule propagandists keep onreferring to Igbos in Deltaand Rivers states as notbeing “real” Igbos bybranding them Delta orRivers Igbos...?

Malls, food and our survival

I FLOATED through the storesof a new mall opened in Abuja

12 days ago. It is sprawling;taking one side of the only water/river in Abuja. Thisordinarily should have beensome public water front park. Butthe mall has it. The crowds werethick and various food andbeverage companies offered freeproducts. I reflected that whileNigerian traders are chased onthe streets and their waresconfiscated, the foreign mallsare heavily guarded and securedby a motley of security men.

The malls sprouting in variouscorners of the country are a new colonising force set to dominateand eventually take over retailtrade like they have done inBrazil. In such cases, these mallscan determine what people eatand the cost. The traditionalsmall, uncoordinated shopswhich is the source of income formillions of Nigerians, cannot engage in a price war with thesetransnational corporations whohave huge capital and theeconomies of scale on their side. With their capital, they canbuy goods in large quantities andunder sell the small trader. Whenthey become dominant, themalls can drive down prices,

exert pressure on local suppliersto sell at low prices to them, orsell cheap products. That way,they can squeeze struggling lo-cal manufacturers such as textilecompanies, out of the market.Apologists will call this, marketforces. But in reality, the mass ofour people are being further im-poverished.

Another thought as I walkedthrough the food and fruit dis-plays was: where are they sourcedfrom? Some were foreign, andgiven the fact that the mothercountry of these malls is SouthAfrica, I wondered whether theyare not genetically modified prod-ucts. That country since itsGenetically Modified Organisms(GMO) Act of 1997, has becomethe eighth largest producer ofsuch products in the world.Eighty percent of South Africa’swhite maize, 55 percent of itsyellow maize, 85 percent soyaand 98 percent cotton, are GMOsor what they call Bt-crops. SouthAfrica also produces GMOpotatoes, wheat and food addi-tives. So its cereals and babyformulae, for instance, are likelyto be from GMO products. Someof its cassava and grape vines areGMOs; it means that South Afri-can wines are likely to be

GMO products.Part of the worry about GMOs

is that they can cause long termhealth problems, its seeds cantravel, pollination can spread itand their genes can transferor affect the DNA of bacteria inhumans. There are fears that theGM crops can affect animals andinsects who feed on them, andpenetrate the ecosystem. In oth-er words, it can penetrate nature.Many American scientists arguethat health problems in thecountry have increased since theintroduction of GMOs. Human-ity is still uncertain about theeffects of genetic engineering, butbig companies like the superretailers can influence research,and are promoting GMOs in thepublic arena.

The struggle against GMOs isgetting tougher as the transna-tional retailers are taking more ofthe retail trade shares. For in-stance, TESCO in Britain has 30percent of the market share, whilethree others: Morrisons, Sains-bury and Asda/ Wal-mart, control45 percent. The American Wal-Mart controls 20 percent of United States retail and 33 per-cent of the market in Mexico. In

Australia, Woolworths and Coles sells one third of the food.

The giant malls in Nigeria aredominated by Shoprite, a SouthAfrican Transnational Corpora-tion, TNC, operating in at least16 African and Indian Oceancountries. It started out underApartheid in 1979 when eightshops in the Cape Town areawere merged. It came to Nigeriain 2005 with the opening of itsshop at the Palms Shopping Mall Lekki, Lagos.

Its labour policies were so badthat in 2009, the workers went on strike over poor wageswhich had remained unchangedfor four years. The following yearwas worse as the Shoprite sacked250 of its staff that had protestedinhuman work conditions, in-cluding long work hours, lackof medical services, starvationwages and non- payment of bo-nuses, annual increments andovertime allowances. At this timewhen the National MinimumWage was N18, 000, Shoprite paidits staff N13,000. One of thesacked workers had complained:“We work like elephants and yeteat like ants”.

While in Nigeria, the police pro-tected Shoprite against the work-ers; and Labour officials weregoing through the long motionsof Labour dispute, the ZambianGovernment sided with its citi-zens. When the company which had 30 outlets in Zambia sacked striking staff protestingagainst poor work conditions, theLabour Minister, Jackson Sha-menda gave Shoprite ten dayswithin which to recall all thesacked workers and reach agree-ment with them or have its trad-ing licence revoked.

Shoprite had no regard for Nigerian laws. The Federal In-land Revenue Service had tothreaten it with criminalprosecution for chargingcustomers 10 percent VAT ratherthan the legal 5 percent.

All human beings protect theirhomes. Nigeria is our home; wemust protect it and our citizensagainst unfair and harmful competition, especially those thatwill further impoverish them.There must be strong pro-peoplepolicies on such malls, ourfarmers, traders and localmanufacturers. For instance, wecan insist that all fruits to be soldin the malls must be thoseproduced in the country and thatat least 70 percent of all goodssold in those shops, must be local.This way, some money willcirculate in the country ratherthan the TNCs carting every-thing away in the name ofprofit. We must know the type and standard of food and goodsthey sell. The Consumer Protec-tion Council, Standard Organi-sation of Nigeria and the Nation-al Agency for Food and DrugAdministration, NAFDAC, mustensure this.

Our policies should also en-courage our farmers to producemore food, introduce better equip-ment, assist them get theirproduce to the market, help withstorage and preservation, andsubsidise them like Europe andAmerica. We also need to mod-ernise our markets; we cannotcontinue to operate in open, un-sanitary markets. We also need apro- street trading policy like inEurope. Generally, we need arethink of our farm, food and tradepolicies.

Nigeria is ourhome; we mustprotect it and ourcitizens againstunfair and harmful competition,especially thosethat will furtherimpoverish them

20—Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

CMYK

OJUELEGBA, a highlycommercial and traffic-

busy part of central Lagos wasonce again in the news for thewrong reason following Satur-day’s tanker fire explosion thatreportedly claimed a life andrazed five cars and four build-ings houses. Several individu-als were also hospitalised fol-lowing injuries they sustainedfrom the resulting inferno. Theincident was a tragic reminderof an incident last Septemberwhen a container fell off a trail-er on the bridge at Ojuelegbakilling three persons.

The ill-fated tanker belong-ing to Forte Oil and carrying33,000 litres of Premium Mo-tor Spirit, PMS (petrol), wassaid to be ascending theOjuelegba bridge in the earlyhours of Saturday when it re-portedly fell off the bridge,spilling its contents in the proc-ess before bursting into flames.

I am finished—driver

Meantime, those directly andindirectly affected by the inci-dent have been bemoaningtheir fate and counting theirlosses. One of them, Mr.Gbenga Omobowale, who isthe owner of one of the burntfour commercial buses, couldnot control his tears as he la-mented thus: “I am finished.”

Narrating his ordeal,Omobowale said: “The vehiclewas given to me in July 2015on hire purchase of N1.8 mil-lion. I have paid N100 000. Ihad hoped that I will completethe payment before the end ofthe year. But I cannot achievethat again.”

Informing that the vehicle washis only source of livelihood, hehad queried rhetorically: “Howdo I feed my family now?”

How I escaped death——JinaduAnother fellow bitterly count-

ing his own losses is one Olu-wasanmi Jinadu. Narrating hisown experience of the tankerfire, he said: “I was sleepingwhen my mother woke me up,screaming fire! At that time, thefire was blazing uncontrollably

could remove our credentials.“My mother became hyper-

tensive following the smokeshe inhaled. All we had in thebuilding were burnt. This istragic. I haven’t felt like thisfor years. My internationalpassport and certificates wereall burnt”.

But while there has been of-ficial confirmation of thenumber of vehicles and hous-es razed, there has been con-flicting claims regarding loss oflife.

For instance, while confirm-ing the incident, the GeneralManager, Lagos State Emer-gency Management Agency,LASEMA, Michael Akindele,claimed no life was lost, evenas he affirmed that one housewas completely razed whilethree others were partiallyburnt, adding that five vehicleswere also burnt in the inferno.

His account differed slightlyfrom that of Mr. OkonMacaulay, Assistant Controller,Federal Fire Service, whoaverred that a lady died due tothe explosion. Narrating thesequence of events leading tothe incident, he said: “At 1.30am, we sighted a vehicle, tow-ing a tanker carrying fuel onthe bridge. Few minutes later,the chain attached to the tank-er snapped forcing the tankerto detach.

“We discovered that the en-

tire area was enveloped withthe smell of fuel. We moved ourtruck to the scene immediatelyto forestall any outbreak of fire,while deploying necessaryequipment. At that time,residents had run away to es-cape the disaster.

“Then commercial bus driv-ers under the bridge began toscoop the fuel that flowed fromthe fallen tanker into the drain-age channels(in the area) andstore them in their vehicles.While this went on, there wasan explosion. We had to attackthe resultant fire with foam.Several vehicles were razed bythe inferno. The content in thedrainage further escalated thespread of the fire.”

Akindele on his part had rea-son to thank God that the inci-dent occurred at night because,according to him, the tankerfire would have been moretragic if it had happened in theday time.

Speaking on those who sus-tained injuries in the fire, hesaid: “The victims are still inthe hospital. The occupants willbe resettled at the Igando re-lief camp after being dis-charged from the hospital. Icannot be exact on what waslost but millions of Naira worthof properties were saved.

He therefore appealed totanker drivers to be very care-ful while conveying such sen-sitive and inflammable prod-ucts, adding that vehicles usedin conveying such productsmust be roadworthy.

Structural test: He also in-formed that Governor Akinwu-mi Ambode had ordered imme-diate integrity test to be con-ducted on the Ojuelegba bridgeto determine its state of stabili-ty and strength. “The governor,Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode hasdirected the process of conduct-ing Structural Stability test ofthe bridge, to ascertain if the

By Olasunkanmi Akoni,Monsur Olowoopejo &Tiverua-

hor Ufuoma

Ojuelegba tanker fire:

THE Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, recorded

between September 2013 andJune 2015 about 1, 037 emer-gency incidents, according tothe Emergency Response Bays established by theNational Emergency Manage-ment Agency, NEMA.

Making this disclosure at theweekend, the Abuja OperationsCoordinator of NEMA, MrIshaya Isa Chonoko, said thebays, established by the Agen-cy for stakeholders in line withits coordination roles, have alsosucceeded in building the re-quired synergy in which theyare now working efficiently to-gether in addressing emergen-cy challenges in the FCT.

He said about 4, 040 personswere involved in the emergen-cy incidents with 1, 389 injuredand 186 deaths. He gave the

FCT records 1, 037 incidents---NEMAbreakdown of the incidentswith road traffic accidents be-ing the highest with 1, 008 fol-lowed by fire, collapsed struc-tures and drowning.

He said the bays which arestrategically located with theaim of reducing response timeto emergency situations, areequipped with urban searchand rescue tools, including thefully equipped rescue tenders,rapid intervention vehicles andmobile intensive care unit am-bulances.

Intensivecare unit

They are located in CentralArea adjacent to the FederalMinistry of Foreign Affairs,Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Ex-pressway (Airport road) Lug-

be, Kubwa Expressway andNyanya by Karu junction.

He further said the bays werebeing jointly manned with thestakeholders that have de-ployed their search and rescueofficers as well as paramedicsdrawn from the agencies, in-cluding the Nigerian Securityand Civil Defense Corps, mili-tary paramedics and FederalRoad Safety Corps, among oth-ers.

Chonoko also said that theAgency had over the years con-tinued to support operations ofthe stakeholders, includingtheir manpower development,presentation of equipment,such as ambulances, mainte-nance of their tools and expe-rience-sharing on global bestpractices in emergency man-agement.

*Gbenga Omobowale

Fire fighters battling the fire

My mother becamehypertensive follow-ing the smoke sheinhaled; all we hadin the building wereburnt; this is tragic;I haven’t felt likethis for years

Victimsbemoanlosses

and all I could dowas to run for safe-ty. It was when I ranout that I remem-bered that my inter-national passportand other creden-tials were in thehouse. Efforts to getthem proved abor-tive. None of us

bridge is safe for motorist ornot,” he said.

DECEMBER 7, 2015

Continues on page 22

N184 million in fines for contraveningvarious sections of Bank and OtherFinancial Institutions Act (BOFIA)and CBN’s circulars. The bank wasfined N174 million for a contraventionon the reporting of public sectordeposits in line with the CBNguidelines. It was also fined N2million by the CBN for weaknessesobserved in its internal process andKYC procedures, including otheroffences.

The sum of N51.5 million fine wasimposed on Sterling Bank Plc by theCBN and the Nigerian StockExchange (NSE) for violating theirvarious regulations, as fines.Specifically, the CBN fined the bankN50 million for under-reporting itspublic sector deposits as at August 29,2014, while the NSE slammed N1.5million fines on the bank forpublication of newly appointed Boardmembers without prior notificationand approval from the Exchange.

Similarly, FCMB Group Plc paidcash penalty amounting to N6 millionfor contravening some sections of theprovisions of the BOFIA and relevantCBN circulars. A subsidiary of thebank – FCMB Limited, according toFinancial Vanguard findings, failedto satisfactorily implement prior-yearexternal auditors’ recommendationsand was fined N2 million; it alsorendered incorrect returns to CBN onits MTR 202 and also failed to complywith ATM operation standard at ATMlocated at Lekki, Lagos, and was finedN2 million each for both of theoffences. During the 2014 financialyear, the United Bank for Africa paida penalty of N0.29 million for ‘delayin remitting unapplied funds tobeneficiaries’.

Already, this year (2015), the CBNhas imposed combined fine of N4.8billion on UBA Plc and First Bank ofNigeria for Treasury Single Account(TSA) breach. In the same vein, SkyeBank Plc was fined N4 billion for thesame offence.

The companies involved in the NSEsanctions include: Aso Savings andLoans Plc (N3.7m); Mutual BenefitAssurance Plc (N3.8m); AfricanAlliance Insurance Plc (N4.2m);Resort Savings and Loans Plc(N4.3m); Nigeria Enamelware Co. Plc(N1.6m); eTransact Int’l Plc (N2.7m);Universal Insurance Plc (N5.3m);Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (N5.6m);C & I Leasing Plc (N1.3m); NigerianRopes (N100,000.00); N.E.Minsurance (N300,000.00); FortisMicrofinance Bank (N600,000.00);

From left: Director, Fidelity Bank Plc., Kayode Olowoniyi, His Excellency, Deputy Governor, Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo and Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High ChiefBiodun Kola Daisi at the Regional SME Conference - South-West organised by Fidelity Bank Plc in Ibarahim.

By NKIRUKA NNOROM

As CBN fines 4 banks N241.53m for sundry offences - 2014Another 33 firms get N63.8m fines from NSEShareholders want concerned boards, management sanctioned

Stakeholders in the financialmarket have expressed

d i s m a yover the rate at which public

companies violate extant rules of theirrespective regulators, therebyattracting heavy fines.

According to a cross-section of keyshareholders that spoke withFinancial Vanguard, recklessness andcarelessness on the part of companies'chief executives that give rise to such

penalties should be curtailed, or theboard and management of suchcompanies should either be sacked orbe made to pay the fines instead ofusing shareholders'fund.

They said that shareholders bear thebrunt of their carelessness as thecompany’s profit is reduced as aresult and in effect lowers thedividends accruing to members of thecompany.

Financial Vanguard investigationshowed that, a total of N241.529million was paid as fines by four banks— FCMB Group Plc, Sterling Bank

Plc, Access Bank Plc and United Bankfor Africa (UBA) for flouting theCentral Bank of Nigeria (CBN)directives in 2014 financial year alone.

Also, this year, the Nigerian StockExchange (NSE) fined 33 quotedcompanies N63.8 million. Theiroffence was reneging on their post-listing rules requirement in relationto timely submission of yearly andquarterly financial statements.

Financial Vanguard findingsshowed that Access Bank suffered themost penalties among all the listedentities surveyed and was made to pay

Finance sector worriesover rising rules violations

CMYK


CMYK

Cover

Continued from page 21

LASACO Assurance(N400,000.00); EquityAssurance Plc (N500,000.00);Japaul Oil and Maritime Plc(N400,000.00); RegencyAssurance Plc (N700,000.00);Staco Assurance Plc(N700,000.00); NigerInsurance Plc (N700,000.00);Daar Communications Plc(N6m); Linkage AssurancePlc (N900,000.00); StudioPress Plc (N900,000.00); andR.T Briscoe, which was finedN1.5 million for latesubmission of its 2014 fullyear result.

Others are; NASCON Alliedand Industries Plc(N100,000.00); Vitafoam Nig.Plc (N1.4m); UnionDiagnostic and ClinicalServices (N100,000.00); LawUnion & Rock Insurance Plc(N100,000.00); Multiverse Plc(N1.8m); Flour Mills ofNigeria Plc (N300,000.00);Standard Alliance InsurancePlc (N2.4m); Arbico Plc(N1.8m); Conoil Plc (N1.8m);Omoluabi Savings and LoansPlc (N1.6m) and Oando Plc(N6.2 million).

Reacting, Mr. AbayomiObabolujo, President, AvidShareholders Association,described it as a mark of highlevel of indiscipline amongthe management staff of thosecompanies, saying that itshows that they are notcompetent enough. “As amatter of fact, any of themthat erred should be removedbecause at the end day,whatsoever fine the companypays, the salaries andallowances of thosemanagement staff that areresponsible for the act stillremain the same.

“At the end, we have tosuffer it as shareholdersbecause the company’s profitcomes to zero or lower thanwhat it should have been. Asa result, the dividend they

Finance sector worries over rising rulesviolations

ought to pay will either not bepaid or the dividend becomessmall. So, it is very sad newsand it portends danger for theentire industry.

He urged the Securities andExchange Commission (SEC)to rise to the defence of theshareholders by ensuring thatany management whoseorganisation is found to havecontravened any rule to havemade the organisation to payany fine should be dealt with.“This could be done byensuring that such money isconverted to loan from thesalaries and allowances of themanagement concerned andthen they pay back. If not, atthe end of the day, it is theshareholders that haveinvested; that are not part ofthe management that have topay. They contravene, theystill collect their allowancesand salaries, and at the end,they have nothing to suffer,”he lamented.

“Depending on the gravityof the offence, the first thingis that such management staffshould be suspended withimmediate effect because if

nothing is done, others will goahead and continue to do it,but if it happens thatsomebody did it and he waspunished, others will be verycareful.

“If you look at MTN forinstance, as we speak today,it is only in Nigeria that suchgoes unnoticed. As at today,the managing director ofMTN global is no longerthere; so, it is now that thechairman took over theexecutive position for a periodof six months. If it is inNigeria, the managingdirector will continue, thechairman will continue,everybody will continue. So,if such managing directorcannot pay, he should besacked and all his entitlementforfeited. That is the idealcompensation toshareholders,” Obabolujoadded.

Speaking in the same vein,Alhaji Gbadebo Olatokunbo,a founding member, NigeriaShareholders SolidarityAssociation, said that insteadof placing the fines on thecompanies, the Board andmanagement of thecompanies concerned shouldbe penalised, adding that itwould call them to order.

“If they flout regulatorydirectives, they should pay,but I will appeal to theregulatory authorities not toalways fine the company butto fine the managementbecause they are being paidto do certain things and whenthey are not doing the rightthing and the regulatoryauthority fines thecorporation, it is the companythat pays; the managementstaff don’t feel the pain.

“If there is a way they couldmake those in the helm ofaffairs to pay, that will gingerthem to do the right thing.They don’t feel the pain when


Theycontravene,they stillcollect theirallowancesand salaries,and at theend, theyhave nothingto suffer

CEREMONY - From left: Korede Adenowo; Head, Financial Institutions, Nigeria and WestAfrica, receiving the award on behalf of Standard Chartered Bank for Best Banks for Gambia,Botswana, Zambia and Sierra Leone at the 17th Annual Global Finance ceremony in Lima,Peru.

Nigeria is a country of absurd economic realities. The13th largest crude oil producer in the world and the

second largest economy in Africa earn an estimated $2.2million a day in oil revenue. Yet, its GDP per capita, at justover $1,400, is among the lowest for the continent and 54% ofits 148 million people live on less than $1 per day. The figuresare especially shocking because of the abundance of naturalresources primarily oil and natural gas, and massiveagricultural potential based on its climate and significant ruralpopulation.

Human development data for Nigeria has remainedpersistently bleak despite a considerable upturn in thecountry’s economic fortunes since 2000. The UNDP rankedthe country 80th in a poverty survey of 108 developing nationsthat focussed on severe deprivation1. The agency gave Nigeriaa Human Poverty Index of 37.3, placing it below moreimpoverished African neighbours with far smaller economieslike Rwanda and Malawi. Significantly, the study looked notjust at income destitution, but also at secondary aspectsincluding education, access to health care, standard of livingand life-expectancy. More than 67 million Nigerians aredocketed as poor according to standard definitions, while 35%of the total population live in extreme poverty.

These recent trends are especially worrying because theyparallel a significant but contradictory improvement inNigeria’s macro-economic performance. Before the currentglobal financial crisis set in, Abuja had been successful inwielding substantial positive change in its overall balancesheets through a process of re-prioritisation and economicreform since 1999. A slew of measures, including privatisationof several steel, petrochemical, mining and port entities helpeddevelop the non-oil sector, bring down inflation and boostinternational currency reserves. Nigeria also successfullynegotiated with the London and Paris clubs to do away with alarge part of its foreign debt.

However, World Bank research confirms that even duringperiods of relative prosperity, poverty levels remainedunabated in the broadest sense, and actually worsened duringsuccessive positive growth periods.

Between 1972 and 1980, for instance, the Nigerian per capitaincome shot up from $1,300 to $2,900 based on rapidlyescalating oil prices. A subsequent decline in global oilrevenues dragged down per capita income, consumption andexpenditure to critical levels. However, Nigeria neglectedinvestment in human development projects and continued topump borrowed finances into capital-intensive enterprises. Thefallout was that the dramatic rise in national fortunes bypassedthe majority of Nigerians, as evident from the negligible risein per capita consumption figures for the same period.

The differential effect on poverty levels in rural and urbanareas for the coinciding period is equally startling. Becauseof a simultaneous worsening of income distribution, ruralpoverty declined slightly while the number of urban poorgained. However, the worst-off were also the worst losers, asthe population living in extreme poverty across Nigeria swelledup from 10 million to 14 million. The obvious explanationbehind this is that policy makers sorely failed to share theincrease in wealth equitably.

Till 1985, a variety of local factors (political turmoil and socialunrest) and foreign influences (falling oil prices andmismanagement of state assets) was responsible for increasingpoverty and a widening disparity between rural and urbanincomes. Even by 1995, per capita income and consumptionremained lower than at the beginning of the oil boom in the‘70s.

It was only towards the end of the 20th century that Nigeriabegan to press forward a concerted though gradual effort atreform and regulation, made possible by relative politicalstability and the establishment of a democratically electedgovernment. The advent of more inclusive policies truly beganwith the adoption of a proactive manifesto that sought to weanaway Nigeria’s exclusive dependence on non-renewableresources and promote micro and macro level entrepreneurshipas the only viable means to durable economic prosperity.

This change of stance pertinently describes theentrepreneurial spirit in general: the insistence on uniqueand creatively challenging business models for rapidlysustainable wealth creation.

Breaking the Nigerian povertycycle through entrepreneurialrevolution Part 1

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 — 23

CoverFinance sector worries over rising rules violations

Continued from page 22

the company pays becausethey don’t pay from theirpocket,” Olufemi insisted.

Speaking further, he said:“Every assignment in allcompanies is attached to aparticular directory and theyknow those that are in-chargeof the directory, so those thatare paid to do the job shouldbe fined.

“Before, we were shoutingthat the regulatory authoritiesare imposing too much fines

on companies, but if thesepeople are not fined and theyare flouting the rules, theshareholders will suffer it.And don’t forget, theregulatory authorities havemore power on thesecompanies than we dobecause they see their booksmore than the shareholders.We don’t see their books; it iswhat they decide to show usthat we see.

“The regulators go there forexaminations, so, they have

more authority over them thanus though we are the ownersof the companies. So, myappeal is that they should beimposing the fines on themanagement instead of thecompanies because if theyfine the companies, theoffenders will not feel thepain.”

In his own contribution,Amb. Olufemi Timothy,National President,Renaissance ShareholdersAssociation of Nigeria, said:

“All these sanctions,especially in the last fivemonths in 2015, are veryterrible and we are not happyabout it because they willhave adverse effect on themargins of the companies.”

He, however, cautioned theregulators, saying that heavyfines could hamper the abilityof companies to declare goodprofit and pay dividends.“Look at what happened inSkye Bank Plc, (N4 billionfines at a go by the CBN), are

you telling me that it will notaffect the bank’s profit nextyear. It will definitely affectthat bank and shareholders’cash dividend. So, we arelooking into it and very soon,we will address the issue.”

He further stated thatimposing huge fines wouldjeopardise the going concernof such business, adding thatit is disincentive toinvestment. He also notedthat such officers should besuspended and should losetheir entitlement for theperiod the suspension lasted.

Here are some very interesting arguments put forwardby readers on the above topic that wasdiscussed in this column in the last two weeks

Is there nothing good about the socalled illegal refineries?

Abdu MaikanoIf there are illegal refineries

in Nigeria, they should beseen as a blessing. Let us faceit; it is better for our crude oilto be refined in our country,by indigenous companies thanto be exported at great cost toforeign capitals. The solutionlies in the regularisation of theownership of such refineries.We should give the culprits aperiod within which to striveto register ownership of theirrefineries and enter into thecompetitive market ofpetroleum products marketing.

James GrimPlease, there is nothing good

about illegal refineries. Getthat straight. We have to takeNigerian sense out of thingsand start respecting ourselves.Those things are destroyingthe environment for childrenunborn. Some components ofcrude oil are carcinogenic andyou should not be in contactwith them over a long period.The processes are verywasteful of the very resourcesthe people say they want tocontrol. Underground water isdestroyed. Fishing which is amore important economicactivity than crude oil isdestroyed. The mangroveswamps they are destroyingare almost impossible to re-grow. People should stop beerpalour talk that romanticises ortolerates mass scale idiocy.

Even the most sophisticatedrefineries in the world mostcommunities in Europe andthe US will not allow in theirbackyard but Nigerians, theromanticisers of poverty anddegradation of man wouldsomehow justify crudedistillation refineries.

Dahiru BashirShould others be identified

they should be destroyed.There’s nothing good aboutillegal refinery. Why are youeven thinking twice about this?If anyone wants to invest lethim follow the due process, noshort cut.

JosephWhere there is no legal

refinery illegal refineriesshould be allowed to exist.

Onyeka Edmond-OkaforIllegal refinery should be a

course in the University.Ayo OgundimuThe government must tap

into people’s industry to beginto employ them in the oilindustry.

Temi OlasehanFuel scarcity. Illegal

refineries to the rescue

Mc Enos CilanoIllegal or legal, let there be

fuel & kerosene for the poormasses.

Christian IworiNigeria as a whole cannot

refine fuel so why are theydisturbing local people thatare trying to survive.

Gbenga AtitebiIf I were the President of

Nigeria, I would legalise theserefineries and empower theoperators if this will solve theacute fuel shortage in thecountry and end oil theft. Nonoil producing countries are not

in this horrible, hopelesssituation we are in. We areover due for a revolution inthis country. .

Bamidele OlakunleI think it is high time for the

government to bring these socalled illegal refinery ownerstogether for partnershipbecause we need to developour own brain to make thingswork. After all, we have peoplethat are refining palm oil forour use and if they can do itperfectly, then we havenothing to fear about these socalled illegal refineries.

Nzikkiss EtimVanguard you are sick of lack

of gasoline right?Hahahahahahahaha it ischange, so bear it. Very soonyou will go back to tiger batteryfor energy. Hahahhahahaha;sorry, it is called change. Evenwhen you lose your job forwalking long hours because

there are no taxis, yes, it iscalled change. Hahahah, bearit. But please do not fail toupdate us for we depend onyour news for credibility. Sorry,I know how you feel takeheart, it is change.

DOIIf there are operators in the

informal sector of the Nigerianeconomy that have developedindigenous ways of refiningpetroleum products, would itnot pay the nation more toinvestigate the technologyused and adopt it for localrefining? Nigeria will bebetter for it if it employs localskills to develop the oil sector.

This is definitely the rightthing to do. Make provisionfor acquiring crude oil legallyfor this group of persons. Thiswill certainly create newbusiness lines not just forNiger Delta people but for theentire country. But I can tellyou that CORRUPTION will

not allow the concerned peopleto see it from this side of thecoin. Let them keep destroyingthem, kill the young men /women doing it and kill thecreativity that is inherent inthe very soul of our youth. Letsomeone wake up, someoneneed to speak up for ouryouth.

OmenalaYour federal government is

making billions of naira fromfuel importation that ends upin private pockets, theydestroyed the refineriesthemselves. Let no onedeceive you, Nigeria have thecapacity to build 10 refineriesin one year.

Pawa2Treating petroleum to get a

refined product is basicchemistry. The productobtained can be used to powercars and other engines but isnot anywhere close to thequality of modern refinedpetroleum and is neither goodfor the engines nor theenvironment. The fact thatsomeone produces somethingthat works does not inferinnovation that should beencouraged. In most cases, aswas the case with Biafra, theproducts developed were onlygood for desperate situationsbut do not form the basis forinnovation that is worthdeveloping.

FrankNero UfomaduIs their any product that is

of best quality on earth?When Japan started

manufacturing those funnycars years back, if theirgovernment had bannedToyota from production, justbecause their cars could notmatch the likes of MercedesBenz then, where would theyhave stayed to improve to thismodern days Toyota that hasalmost sent Mercedez out ofmarket in the early 2000s?

Illegal refinery

CMYK

24— Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

CMYK

Business & Economy

Hi-Impact Planet (HIP)has invested over

N6billion on constructionand purchase of amusementpark facilities, just as itannounces plans to createabout 2000 jobs to benefityoung Nigerians.

Hip is an amusementtheme park located at KM 12Lagos- Ibadan Expresswayopposite MountaintopUniversity and would beofficially launched onDecember 18, 2015.

Speaking during thefacility tour in Ogun state,Chairman, Solution Mediaand Infotech, Mr. AdeyanjuLipede, said that the tour isa strategy to intimategovernment, stakeholdersand the general public of thePark.

According to him “theinvestment portfolio up tillnow is in excess of N6 billionand then it is not going tostop there, that is why we arehappy to have the financialinstitutions here, even theland here is more than N2billion, so you can see howexpensive it is.

Some of the rides you seethere are in excess ofN500million but the goodthing is that the biggestbusiness in the world all overtoday is entertainment, eitherin foot ball, music and filmacting, they are still thehighest paid in the worldincluding amusement park.”The world Disney landstarted with television seriesmedia and then went intoamusement park today theyare in trillion dollar profitsharing. But here in Nigeriawe have what we call thepopulation relatively inaverage form and we canalways take it from there andyou can imagine if we have10,000 people come to thepark, in a day that’s a lot ofmoney.”Lipede said.

He also stated that thefacility has enhanced thevalue of the area, adding thatin a short while it’s going tobe the reference point. “Inthe next one year you willhear people say I am fiveminutes away from Hi-Impact planet.”When westarted this facility four yearsago, the value of the landhere per plot was just aboutmaybe N3milion orN2million, now it’s about N6to N7million and am sure inthe next two years they aregoing to start selling atN10million, you will findout that people who havesmall businesses will catchin on the patronage of thisplace.” he said

VISIT: Victor Gotevbe, Administration Manager, Vanguard Newspapers, Her Excellency, Mrs.Inger Ultvedt, Ambassador and Trade Promoter in Sub-Saharan Africa and His Excellency,Mr. Svante Kilander, Ambassador, Embassy of Sweden on the occasion of the visit to Nigeriaof H.E. Ambassador Ms. Inger Ultvedt and the Swedish Energy Delegation to Nigeria.

World food prices fall 1.6% in November — FAO

World food prices fell inNovember for the first

time in three months, pulleddown by a strong dollar andample supplies, the UnitedNations food agency said onThursday.

The Food and AgricultureOrganisation’s (FAO) foodprice index averaged 156.7points in November, againsta revised 159.3 points themonth before. The indexmeasures monthly changesfor a basket of cereals,oilseeds, dairy products, meatand sugar.

The 1.6 per cent decreasefollows two consecutivemonths of gains, althoughfood on international marketsin November remained 18 per

cent cheaper than one yearago, FAO said. The index hasbeen sliding for most of thepast 20 months, thanks partlyto an abundant global supply,and is still less than twopoints above a six-year low hitin August.

A strengthening dollar,which is the benchmarkcurrency for commodities,may drive prices lower incoming months, FAO senioreconomist AbdolrezaAbbassian said.

“All the indications are forthe (dollar) exchange rate torise, especially if the Fedraises interest rates,”Abbassian said. Exchangerates have been driving thedecline in prices. One cannot

exclude further downwardpressure on prices in comingmonths,” he said. “Oneexception may be sugar.”

Federal Reserve Chair JanetYellen said on Wednesday shewas “looking forward” to aU.S. interest rate hike that willbe seen as a testament to theeconomy’s recovery fromrecession. Her commentsdrove the dollar to its highestlevel since March 2003.

FAO cut its forecast for worldcereal output in 2015-16 to2.527 billion tonnes, from aprevious estimate of 2.530billion tonnes. It lowered itsworld wheat output forecastfor 2015/16 to 734.5 milliontonnes from 736.2 milliontonnes previously.

Empowering SMEs through franchising will driveNigerian economy

By ONOZURE DANIA

By EBELE ORAKPO

Small and Medium ScaleEnterprises (SMEs) are

unarguably the biggestemployers of labour butunfortunately, most hardlysurvive the first five years ofexistence due to myriad ofreasons. As a result, theemployees are sent back intothe labour market.

To help SMEs survive andprogress, Informa LifeSciences Exhibitions

organised first ever SMEand Franchising NigeriaExhibition and Congress inNigeria.

In his keynote address atthe event held at Eko HotelLagos, the Director-Generalof Small and Medium ScaleEnterprises DevelopmentAgency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji BatureMasari represented by theagency’s Director, StrategicEnterprise and Liaison, DrFriday Okpara, noted that“SMEs play a pivotal role ineconomic development that

goes beyond job creation.They not only improve livingstandards but alsosubstantially, local capitalformation.”

Fielding questions fromjournalists, the Director,Informa Life Science Group,Africa, Jamie Hill, said theiraim is to change the face ofSMEs in Nigeria by co-locating franchise with SMEs.

“The biggest problem hereis access to finance. That iswhy we are co-locating thefranchise with the SMEsbecause the franchise modelis a proven, tested model thatworks all over the world.

Hi-Impactinvests N6bn inamusementpark to create2,000 jobs

Auditor General seeks passageof audit law to fight corruption

BY CHRIS OCHAYI

The Auditor General ofthe Federation,Mr. Samuel Ukura has

called for an amendment ofthe constitution to pave wayfor passing into law, the auditbill, noting that the existingaudit law is obsolete havingbeen passed over 55 yearsago. Mr. Ukura, who madethis known at a two-day retreatbetween the Public AccountsCommittee of the NationalAssembly and the Office of theAuditor-General of theFederation, AGF, in Abuja,said the new audit law wouldfurther empower the office todischarge its mandateeffectively.

The retreat was organisedby the Office of the AuditorGeneral of the Federation andDepartment of InternationalDevelopment (DFID) forPACs of the NationalAssembly in Abuja. Besides,the Chairman, UnitedKingdom Parliament on PublicAccount Committee, PAC,Hon. Margaret Hodge saidthe UK parliament is ready topartner the NationalAssembly NASS and Office ofthe Auditor General of theFederation (OAuGF) to ensurethe success of anti-corruptioncampaign of PresidentMuhammadu Buhari.

Mr. Ukura, whilecanvassing for the quickpassage of the audit bill,noted that the war againstcorruption is stronglydepended on works of thePACs, adding, “This is at thecore of president Buhari’sagenda for change.”According to him, “Aneffective partnership betweenthe office of the Accountant-General for the federation andthe Public Accounts

Committees of the NationalAssembly is crucial for theimproved publicaccountability andgovernance that all Nigeriansare yearning for,” he said.

The Chairman, UnitedKingdom Parliament on PublicAccount Committee (PAC),Hon. Margaret Hodge, who

also spoke at the retreat,stressed further that, althoughthe present administration hasbeen committed to reducingwastages and inefficiencies inthe public service but therewas need for more assurancefrom the public accountcommittees. According to her,“Beyond inefficiency and

wastage, we know thatcorruption has hindered theperformance of a number ofpublic agencies over recentyears and we welcomePresident Buhari’sprominentanti-corruptionagenda. The PAC has thepotential to be one of the keyparliamentary champions ofthe anti-corruption agenda,and demonstrate NASS’commitment to help clean upthe public service.

“The opportunity is there butwill need real leadership fromthe committees andpartnership with the auditorgeneral in order for this to beachieved. And we need towork together to stamp outcorruption. Corruption ispresent in every society. Nocountry is immune. But thesolution is not simply toaccept it. The solution isbetter, more accountablegovernment.”

Hodge, who was representedby Ukaid Head of Office, BenMellor emphasized that thepublic account committees areone of the strongestparliamentary tools to driveaccountability andtransparency in government.She said if the NigeriaExtractive IndustriesTransparency Initiative (NEITI)report can be made public,nothing should stop PACs frompublicising their audit reportsif genuinely they represent the

CMYK


Corporate Report

Seven Up BottlingCompany closed lastyear’s operations with a

profit slowdown. This year,the company faces theprospects for a drop in profit.Slowly moving sales andrapidly growing interestexpenses are the problem.The company’s balance sheetborrowings have beengrowing since last year asrevenue slowdown causedcash flow gaps. The companysustained profit growth overthe past five years but thisyear looks like the end of thegood trend.The summary of thecompany’s trading at the endof its second quarter inSeptember is that salesrevenue is failing to pick upand the company is devotingincreased share of earningsto meet finance expenses.Rising cost of sales hasresulted in a significant lossof profit margin and a dropin profit at the end of thesecond quarter.Sales revenue improvedmoderately by of 3.7% year-on-year to N39.57 billion inthe second quarter inSeptember- the lowestrevenue growth rate in manyyears. Sales revenue isprojected at N82.14 billionfor Seven Up BottlingCompany in its 2015/16financial year. That will be aslight decline in turnoverfrom the turnover of N82.45billion in the prior year. Salesrevenue slowed down lastyear from over 30% in thepreceding year to 5.9%. Salesvolume may accelerate in thesecond half, which is thecritical selling period for thecompany.The profit weakness facingthe company is induced bytwo major rising costsagainst the weakness in salesrevenue. Cost of sales, whichrose by 14.5% at the end ofthe second quarter – nearlyfour times as fast as salesrevenue. Its share ofturnover grew from 63.3%last year to 70% at the end ofthe second quarter. Thiscaused a drop of 15.6% ingross profit and slashed grossprofit margin from 37% to30% over the review period.Interest expenses rose by92.2% to N1.66 billion at theend of the second quarter andalso undermined profitcapacity. This follows a rapidgrowth in balance sheetborrowings - 378.8% upsurgein bank overdraft to N2.70billion and a rise of 78.2% inshort-terms borrowings toover N14 billion.Cash flow pressure arisingfrom inability to grow salescompelled the company toincrease borrowings. Changein inventories was the criticalfactor in a shift from a netcash generated fromoperating activities of N7.66billion last year to a net cash

Seven-Up: Profit looking downutilised in operating activitiesof N329 million at the end ofthe second quarter. Thecompany ended the secondquarter operations with a netcash decrease of over N2.4billion. A step up of salesrevenue in the second halfmay ease the company’s cashflow pressure and permit apull back from rising debt.Management applied drasticcost cutting in the other costlines to counter the effects ofrising input cost and finance

charges. A drop of over 25%in selling/distributionexpenses and a cut by morethan 29% in administrativecost are the indications of asuccessful costmanagement initiative. Theeffort enabled the companyto prevent a more rapiddrop in profit than actuallyrecorded in the secondquarter.Seven Up BottlingCompany posted a netprofit of N1.82 billion at the

end of the second quarter,which is a drop of 26.6% year-on-year. After tax profit isprojected at N4.12 billion for thecompany at full year in March2016. That will be a drop of42.2% from the net profit ofN7.13 billion the companyrecorded in March 2015. Thecompany grew profit by 11% inthe 2014/15 financial year.Profit growth may pick up in thecompany’s second half and thefull year actual position mayturn out better than projected.Of its full year profit of N7.13billion for the preceding year,only N2.48 billion or less than35% was earned in the first half.The ability to convert revenueinto profit has weakened onaccount of rising costs. Net

Presco Plc, the oil palmproducing company, haslifted profit

margin and set profit on thepath of another strong growththis year. The company iskeeping revenue growing andalso stretching out profit marginwith after tax profit alreadystanding at 35% above the fullyear figure in 2014. It started thecurrent financial year with astrong growth in earnings,which it has maintained so far.

The company followed anearnings pattern last year thatenabled it to nearly double profitin 2014. It is following the samepattern in the current year. Ithas lowered further the cost-income ratio that enabled toimprove profit margin last yearand with that it grew profit morethan three and half times as fastas sales revenue at the end ofthe third quarter. The companycannot meet local demand for itsproducts and the restriction of

Presco promising for anotherimpressive profit growth

profit margin is down from6.5% in the same period lastyear to 4.6% at the end of thesecond quarter. Thecompany ended last year’soperations with a net profitmargin of 8.6%.Earnings per share amountedto N2.84 at the end of thesecond quarter, a drop fromN3.87 in the same period lastyear. Earnings per share isprojected at N6.43 for SevenUp Bottling Company at fullyear. The company earnedN11.10 at the end of the priorfinancial year. It paid a cashdividend of N2.50 per sharefor the year and hasmaintained regular dividendpayment in recent years.

TRAINING: From left: Olumide Ekisola, Principal Adejumo & Ekisola Law firm, Rotimi Olaniyan, EXMAN President, AuduMaikori, CEO Chocolate City and Ayo Elias, Vice Chairman Training & capacity building of Exman at the Experiential Market-ers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) organised practice group session on Intellectual Property Right and Experiential Market-ing in Lagos

Continues on Page 29

importation of palm oil underthe Central Bank’s measuregives it a new advantage.

Sales revenue growth hasbeen weak for the companysince 2013 when there was asharp fall of close to 25%. Amoderate growth of 7.7% wasrecorded in 2014, while anaccelerated growth isexpected in 2015. Turnoveramounted to N8.04 billion atthe end of the third quarter,which is a year-on-yeargrowth of 16.2%. The full yearoutlook indicates salesrevenue in the region of N10billion for Presco at the endof 2015. That will be anincrease of 9.4% over theclosing sales revenue figureof N9.14 billion in 2014.

Due to uneven quarterlyearnings pattern, actual salesrevenue is subject to a widedeviation from actual. The


CMYK

Banking & Finance

By BABAJIDEKOMOLAFE

E-payment fraud down by 63percent — NeFF

Nigeria ElectronicFraud Forum(NeFF) has said

that loss arising fromelectronic payment fraud hasfallen by 63 percent.

Chairman of the Forum andDirector, Banking andPayment System Department,Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Mr. Dipo Fatokundisclosed this at the annualDinner of the Forum in Lagos.

Speaking on the progressrecorded by the Forum in itsattempt to combat electronicfraud in the country, he said,“We have now seen newresult, which shows that someof the decisions taken at theforum have had a positiveeffect in securing ourpayment system in 2015.

“A report from the NigeriaInter-Bank Settlement SystemPlc showed clearly that therehad been a reduction by 45.98per cent in attempted fraudwhile there is 63.07 per centreduction based on actuallosses for 2014 figures,” headded

Speaking further, Fatokundisclosed that NeFF hascommenced moves toestablish an e-fraud riskinformation centre in thecountry. The establishment ofthe center, he said, is part ofthe Forum’s agenda for 2016.

He said a SteeringCommittee meant to drive theprocess of establishing thecentre had already submitteda report on the proposal,adding that the growth of e-payment transactions inNigeria had necessitated theneed for such informationcentre.

He said the centre would bepatterned after the SouthAfrica Banking RiskInformation Center, addingthat the centre will help thebanking industry in its fight

against unrelenting e-fraudsters.

He said, “The NeFF visitedthe South Africa Banking RiskInformation Centre, where wegained useful insight towardssetting up a protectivesituation like the SABRIC inNigeria.

“And as we speak, membersof this forum have beenconstituted into a harmonisedcommittee, which has written

a report on how we are goingto have an organisation thatwill look the SABRIC.”

Also speaking the occasion,Deputy Governor,Operations, CBN, Mr.Sulaiman Barau,congratulated the Forum itsachievement in the past fouryears for making the e-payment platforms safer inNigeria. He stated that thework of the Forum has helped

to boost public confidence inthe industry.

Barau said, “It is heart-warming to see that as the e-payment increases in year2015, there is a reduction inthe e-fraud recorded.”

He assured stakeholders atthe event that the NeFF, whichcomprises of representativesof banks, CBN and otherstakeholders in the e-payment space, wouldcontinue to enjoy necessarysupport from the centralbank.

CBN seeks law to strengthen payment system

BY JONAH NWOKPOKU

The Central Bank ofNigeria, CBN has said

it will soon send to theNational Assembly, a paymentsystem management bill thatwill give legal backing to itspolicies and guidelines onpayments in the country.

Deputy Governor,Operations, CBN, SuleimanBarau stated the CBN/SWIFTexecutive meeting in Lagos.He was represented by theDirector, Banking andPayment System Department,CBN, Mr. Dipo Fatokun.

He said: “The draft bill seeksto provide the necessary legal

structure for the paymentsystem in Nigeria that willcover all areas. You know,currently, the Central bankAct, 2007 has a line on thestability of the financialsystem which includes thepayment system. But thenitty-gritty of the operationsof that system like who isqualified to be a provider, aservice provider, what are theduties and responsibilities ofa service provider on thepayment system, what is therelationship between thevarious service providers,how should collateralmanagement look like and alot of other issues that are

available in legislation inother countries that is notcurrently available inNigeria.

“So in order to give a legalbacking to the guidelines andthe policies that are beingchurned out by the centralbank, that is why we have thatdraft bill. It has been in theworks but as I said, thepayment strategy board hastaken a final look at it andonce it is Okayed by theCommittee of Governors ofthe CBN, it will go to theappropriate arm ofgovernment for presentationto the National Assembly.”

Managers target N1tr investment inmutual funds

By BABAJIDEKOMOLAFE

The Fund ManagersAssociation of Nigeria

(FMAN) is seeking toattract N1 trillioninvestments into the variousmutual funds in the countryby year 2020.

Immediate past President ofthe Association, Mr. MichaelOyebola stated this whilespeaking to Vanguard on thesidelines of the group’sannual general meeting andelection of new executivesheld in Lagos.

Oyebola who is also theManaging Director/Chief

Executive, FBN Capital AssetManagement Limited, said,“The N1 trillion targets hasmore to do with the collectiveinvestment schemes. As anindustry, segregated accountshave done up to N650 billion,while mutual funds have donealmost N250 billion. So we areclose to N1 trillion, howevermutual funds is only N250billion. It is mutual funds thatwe want to grow to N1 trillionand at N250 billion, we stillhave a long way to go.”

Meanwhile the Associationhas elected Dr. Ore Sofekun,Managing Director/ChiefExecutive, Investment OneFunds Management Limited.In her acceptance speech,Sofekun said the executiveswill consolidate on theprogress made by theoutgoing executives. Theexecutives include: BunmiDayo-Olagunju, as VicePresident and Fela Popoola asTreasurer. Non-Executivesmembers of the executive areJames Ilori, Eno Atoyebi, AdeBuraimo and MichaelOyebola.

A stellar line-up of globalbusiness and political

leaders will next weekdescend on Lagos for the2015 Access LeadershipConference which is beingorganised by Access BankPlc.

This year ’s AccessConference which holds onDecember 10, is titled“Leading in atransformational world – theimperative of innovation” and features a host ofspeakers from around theworld who will discuss themajor issues facing Africa,the global economy and thesocial transformation whichis being wrought bytechnological change.

In both Nigeria andaround the world everyindustry is grappling withthe disruption thataccompanies technologicalinnovation. The financialsystem is no exception andfaces changes that willfundamentally alter not justthe operations of banks, butthe nature of theirrelationships with customers.

A statement from the Bankindicated that public officedecision-making is rarelystraightforward. “Competinginterests, rapidly changingcircumstances and electoraldependencies mean thatuncertainty is the onlyreliable constant in publicpolicy. The discussion willlook at what it takes to makebold, and sometimesunpopular, decisions in theface of complexity andopposition.”

Drawing on their variedexperience from careers thatinclude central banking andmicrofinance, panellists atthe Conference according tothe Bank, will discuss theimpact of innovation so far,and where the next wave ofdisruption will take thesector.

The Access Conference2015 closing ceremony willfeature the W Awards, whichhave been set up torecognise and celebrateNigerian women who defy allodds to stand outsuccessfully.

Key categories include theW Entrepreneur award, theW Young Professional Awardand the W SeasonedProfessional Award. Inaddition to the awards,Access Bank will provide apreview of its new book, The Power of 100, whichcelebrates the positivecontribution made toNigerian society by womenfrom all walks of life.

Access Bankleadershipconferencediscussesinnovation

COMMEMORATION - From left: Executive Director, Centre for People with Disabilities, Mr.David Anyaele; Director, MTN Foundation, Mr. Dennis Okoro; Director of Rehabilitation,Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Ms. Victoria Akintaro; and Representative,Minister of Health Dr. Akin Afolabi, at the commemoration of the 2015 International Day forPeople with Disabilities held in Abuja recently.

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015— 27

Corporate Finance

FORUM: From left: Ayodeji Ogunyemi, Director, Ernest & Young; Noble Ekajeh, CEO, ShiraanNigeria Ltd and Joseph Alabi, General Manager, Oyo State Waste Management Authorityduring the World Bank Investors’ Forum on Solid Waste Management in Ibadan.

FMDQ OTC pledges to broaden fixedincome market

BY NKIRUKA NNOROM

FMDQ OTC SecuritiesExchange (FMDQ)has pledged to

further broaden the over-the-counter (OTC) fixed incomesecurities market throughinnovations that will benefitall the stakeholders.

The Managing Director/CEO, FMDQ OTC, Mr. BolaOnadele.Koko, gave theassurance at the 2015 annualworkshop of the CapitalMarket CorrespondentsAssociation of Nigeria(CAMCAN) in Lagos.

He spoke through theHead, BusinessDevelopment, FMDQ OTC,Ms. Tumi Sekoni, saying thathaving succeeded in turningaround the market within twoyears of its operation; theExchange is set to bring moreinnovations that will make theplatform more attractive toissuers and investors.

According to him, FMDQOTC has not only deepenedthe fixed income debtsecurities market, but has alsomade it very liquid forinvestors to participate.

Onadele.Koko affirmed thatFMDQ will play a pivotal rolein implementation ofFinancial Sector Reform: FSS2020 Blueprint, saying thatits aspiration is to be the safestand fastest growing financialsystem among emergingeconomies. of FSS 2020

He explained that part ofthe Exchange’s objectives isto strengthen the domesticfinancial market, enhanceintegration with externalfinancial market, as well ascreate a solid internationalfinancial centre, adding thatto-date, FMDQ captures 98per cent of Nigerian OTCfinancial market turnover.

He emphasised that in linewith its mission, FMDQ iscommitted, as part of itsstrategy to the transformationof the markets, to drivechange and impactknowledge throughtransparency, integration,regulation and education.

He listed some of the keymilestones covered already bythe securities exchange in thearea of transparency andsustainability to include:codification of market andtrading rules; introduction ofdaily quotations list (DQL);publication of the FGN BondIndex; activation oftransaction fees and collectionof weekly trade data.

Others, according to him,are website launch; change inboard members frominaugural to substantive

Board (represented byshareholders).

In the area of markettransparency and serviceenhancement, he said FMDQhas successfully launchedFMDQ Bloomberg E-BondTrading System (E-Bond),undertaken the activation of

quotations service on itswebsite, commencedpublication of “Daily MarketActivity ” and “FinancialMarket Research” ReportsDebut of FMDQ Newsletter“Spotlight” and OTCMonthly Report.

The rest are publication ofOTC market turnover,introduction of dealingmembers’ League Table, Bi-annual All Members’

Meeting on FMDQ MarketArchitecture and pricediscovery trajectory amongothers.

It has also launched theFMDQ e-Discovery, E-Bondprice global display,commencement of FGN andcorporate bonds listings andNigerian treasury billsquotation and launch ofFMDQ e-Market Data & e-Analytics

The acting President, Chartered Instituteof Stockbrokers (CIS), Mr OluwaseyiAbe, has reassured both individuals and

institutional investors to take advantage of thecurrent low share prices to beef up theirportfolios.

Abe, who responded to media enquiresexplained that the market had always been abarometer that gauges the mood of the economy,noted that the Nigerian economy would pickup soon as indices of prior uncertainties werefizzling out, especially, with the appointmentof the new ministers.

According to him, “Chief Executive Officersof quoted companies are working round theclock to ensure shareholders’ value.” Abe statedthat due to the lull in the economy and the needto boost disposable income and meet otherexigencies, many investors had dumped shares,thus inducing bearish trading.

But he asserted that market fundamentalsremained strong and share prices of many bluechip companies were trading below theirintrinsic values and urged investors to takeadvantage of the cheap prices to increase theirstakes in the quoted companies.

He explained that the prices would soon pickup. “New Ministers have been sworn in,securities issues corruption are being addresseddaily, the management of the Naira exchange rate is being looked into as well, while thecurrent administration would hopefully utilizethe market to fund the infrastructural gap in theeconomy in the wake of dwindling revenue fromcrude oil,” he stated.

Abe also said that the innovative efforts of theNigerian Stock Exchange and Securities and

Market fundamentals are good —CIS boss

Exchange Commission combined with theawareness creation by the CIS wouldultimately strengthen the on-goingglobalization of the Exchange.

Commenting on the recent stockbrokers’conference, Abe said the main target wasentrepreneurs and the conference was verysuccessful in both the form and content. Hestated that the Exchange had become amajor platform for entrepreneurs as themarket possesses all parameters that canattract an entrepreneur.

‘The conference was well attended and thepresentations were not only robust, but welldiscussed. The communiqué would be outsoon and the process of implementing thecollective decision would be fast tracked asmany entrepreneurs would soon approachthe market for investment opportunities ‘,he said.

Speaking on the institute’s DiplomaProgramme in Securities and Investment,Abe explained that it was a strategic way ofnot only attracting young entrepreneurs fortraining but a veritable platform formembership drive. He noted that the CIShad put in place series of activities aimedat boosting drive.

According to him, activities such ascustomized presentations in secondaryschools and tertiary institutions as well aschurches and mosques among others wereaimed at reinforcing investor confidence inthe market.

He urged the federal and stategovernments to take advantage of the capitalmarket to finance the economy.

Stanbic IBTCBank expandsretail network,commissionsSatellite townbranch

Stanbic IBTC Bank hasopened a new branch at

Satellite town in Lagos. Thenew branch is expected toserve the financial needs ofindividuals and businesses inSatellite town and itsenvirons, in fulfillment of thebank’s promise to bringbanking closer to the peopleby expanding its servicechannels. The Satellite townbranch will avail customers ofStanbic IBTC Bank as well asprospects the opportunity toenjoy quality and efficientbanking services throughinnovative financial solutions.The commissioningdemonstrates the bank’scommitment to strengtheningits business banking portfolioand add value to businesses,said Mr. Obinnia Abajue,Executive Director, Personaland Business Banking,Stanbic IBTC Bank.

Only recently, the bankcommissioned two cashoffices at Orile-Coker andComputer Village, Ikeja, bothin Lagos.

GTBank unveilsNigeria’s firstvirtualMasterCard

Guaranty Trust Bank plchas reaffirmed its

position as a leading providerof e-payment gatewaysolutions with the recentlaunch of its Virtual PrepaidMasterCard. The card, whichis issued instantly via InternetBanking, provides an addedcomfort for security consciousonline shoppers who prefernot to use their regular debit/credit cards when makingonline payments.

The GTBank Virtual cardhas all the essential featuresof a physical card and can beused to make bothinternational and local onlinepayments. It also serves as afall back option for customerswho have forgotten or losttheir card, but need to performurgent online purchases. Theintroduction of the virtualcard has bridged the gapbetween traditional e-walletsand bank accounts byproviding a low costalternative to physical debitcards. Customers also havethe option of converting thevirtual card to a physicalcard.


CMYK

CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 — A1

A2 — Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

CMYK


CMYK


CMYK


CMYK


CMYK


CMYK


CMYK

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015—B1

B2—Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015

CMYK


CMYK






CMYK


CMYK


CMYK








Corporate Report

critical earning season is the first halfof the year and a slowdown in salesrevenue is therefore likely in the finalquarter.

After tax profit came to N3.52 billionat the end of the third quarter, anincrease of 58.9% year-on-year. Netprofit is projected at N4.83 billion forPresco at the end of 2015. This will bea rise of 85% from the net profit figureof N2.61 billion the company recordedin 2014. The profit forecast is subjectto a wide variation from the actual dueto the uneven earnings pattern of thecompany across quarters.

The strength to grow profit camefrom a drop of 16.6% in cost of salesagainst the increase of 16.2% in salesrevenue. This enabled the company tolift gross profit margin from 42.2% inthe same period last year to 58.5% atthe end of the third quarter. Grossprofit rose by 61% to N4.71 billion atthe end of September and net profitmargin widened from 32% to 44% overthe review period.

Another favourable development sofar in the year is a gain of N2.23 billion

in biological assets, which is anincrease of 36.3% over the same periodlast year. On the other hand, selling/administrative expenses rose ahead ofsales revenue at 20.3% and claimed anincreased share of sales revenue.Again, other operating incomedropped by over 22% during the periodin spite of which the company achieveda leap of 62% in operating profit toN5.41 billion.

A major issue to contend with is arise of over 73% in interest charges,which is hurting the cash flow position.Cash flow difficulties created the needto borrow and short-term debts haveexpanded by 345% and long-termborrowings have grown by 19.4%.

The company earned N3.45 per shareat the end of the third quarter,increasing from N2.22 in the sameperiod last year. Full year earningsper share is projected at N4.85 forPresco in 2015, an expected rise fromN2.68 in 2014. The company paid acash dividend of N1.0 per share at theend of its 2014 operations.

Continued from Page 28

The strength togrow profit camefrom a drop of16.6% in cost ofsales against theincrease of 16.2%in sales revenue.This enabled thecompany to liftgross profitmargin from42.2% in the sameperiod last yearto 58.5% at theend of the thirdquarter


Homes & Housing Finance

Builders Mart boss urges CBN toenforce COT directive

Stories by YINKAKOLAWOLE

The Central Bank ofNigeria (CBN) has been

called upon to enforce itsdirective to all banks toreduce Commission onTurnover (COT) because it isthreatening the existence ofSmall and Medium ScaleEnterprises (SMEs).

Mr. Ayobami Biobaku,Chairman of Builders’ Mart,a frontline provider ofbuilding equipment andhomes solutions, who madethe call, noted that the apexbank had not enforced theCOT directive since it wasissued in 2013. He added thatthe CBN’s inaction gave animpression that it had decidedto look the other way whilethe banks engaged in allforms of unapproved practicesas well as collect spuriouscharges.

Biobaku said the CBNshould check the banks onCOT charged so as not tocripple SMEs, adding that“COT is like cancer that isslowly and silently killingSMEs.”

COT is a charge levied oncustomer withdrawals bybanks, and it is calculated atthe end of every month,applying the percentage on acustomer ’s aggregate

withdrawals from the first dayof the month to the last day ofthe month.

On June 11, 2014, the CBNin a circular to all depositmoney banks titled,‘Implementation of the

Revised Guide to BankCharges- Commission onTurnover’ reminded all banksthat “The CBN, inconjunction with the BankersCommittee, issued theRevised Guide to BankCharges (the Guide) onMarch 27, 2013. The Guidesought to standardise chargesfor various products arcservices offered by banks.Section 3.1 of the Guideprovides that Commission onTurnover (COT) is negotiablesubject to a maximum of N3per mille in 2013; N2 per millsIn 2014; N1 per mille in 2015;and that no COT would becharged from 2016.Information available to theCBN indicates that somebanks are still charging COTat the rate of N3 per mille -which was the agreed rate for2013.”

The CBN reiterated in its2014 circular that themaximum COT allowed bythe Guide for 2014 is N2 permille. “Consequently, allbanks that have chargedexcess COT since the effectivedate of the Guide are herebyrequired to refund same to theaffected customers not laterthan thirty (30 days from thedate of this circular.”

Biobaku alleged that nobank has heeded theinstruction of the CBN torefund money collected fromthem since 2013 and that theywere still being charged bythese banks in violation of theCBN directive, urging theCBN Governor to come totheir rescue because they arelosing a lot of money thatshould improve their businessto the banks.

TrustBond Mortgage Bank Plc hasconcluded plans to put a smile on thefaces of the suffering widows across

Nigeria by designing a special mortgageproduct for them, just as the primarymortgage institution (PMI) will soon formallylaunch its mobile App and ATM Card toenhance its operations.

Mr. Adeniyi Akinlusi, Managing Directorof the bank made the disclosure at the sixthAnnual General Meeting (AGM) of the banklast week in Lagos. He said the initiativesbecame imperative because this is the onlyway it can demonstrate its corporate socialresponsibility to the society as well asenhancing its operations.

Akinlusi noted that the special product isaimed at alleviating the suffering of widowsin the country, as they often get thrown outof their houses after they are bereaved. Heassured that the widows’ special product thatwill be launched soon will be made so simplethat all widows can benefit from it.

In his address, Chairman of the board ofdirectors, Mr. Etigwe Uwa (SAN), said thepilot scheme for the mobile app and ATMCard is already being tested, adding that itslaunching will come up early next year. Hepointed out that both products will add morevalue to the shares of the bank and enhanceits operations.

Uwa noted that the Nigerian mortgageindustry which is critical to the developmentand growth of the country had continued toadapt to regulatory changes designed tostrengthen the mortgage sector. He pointedout that under the new CBN guidelines,

TrustBond mortgage bank unveilsinitiatives to enhance business

BY KINGSLEY ADEGBOYE permissible activities for PMIs are mortgagefinance, real estate construction finance andacceptance of deposits. According to him, thisshift in policy on operational guidelines seemedto have brought the re-awakening thatmortgage banks are “banks” and not real estatemanagement firms with the need to continuallyrefocus operations in line with the guidelines,informing that his bank has been committed todedicating resources to ensure compliance withthe relevant regulatory requirements.

The chairman added core competenciesrequired have now shifted to improving andenhancing areas like deposit mobilisation,creation of risk assets, assets and liabilitiesmanagement, risk management, financialregulatory compliance, etc. He emphasised thatwith a national franchise that enables the bankto engage in affordable home financing in allparts of the country, offer of innovative productscatering to different needs of the populace andcoupled with their growing brand in theindustry, the bank is poised to take theopportunities that the estimated 17 millionhousing units Nigerian housing deficit presents.

On the performance of the bank for the yearunder review, he noted that despite theheadwinds of 2014, gross earnings of thecompany increased by 5.3 per cent from N802.36million in 2013 to N844.83 million in 2014. Hesaid loss from continuing operations After Taxin 2014 reduced to N40.98 million from N76.26million in 2013, while Profit After Tax in 2014for discontinued operation reduced to N69.17million from N139.56 million in 2013. Hedisclosed however, that Profit After tax and othercomprehensive income for the financial yearincreased to N113.94 million from N63.77 millionin 2013.

“Access todata key tomortgagesectorgrowth”

The growth ofN i g e r i a ’ sMortgage Banking

sub-sector depends on accessto strategic data insightwhich results in mortgagesolutions that addressmarket needs.

Chief Executive Officer ofCreditRegistry (CR)Services, Mrs. JameelahSharrieff-Ayedun, disclosedthis at the just concluded11th Annual MortgageBanking Association ofNigeria (MBAN), CEO’sRetreat at Epe Resort andSpa, Epe, Lagos State.

Speaking on the theme:“Sustainability of theMortgage/ Housing Sub-Sector: Critical Issues,Impediments, Prospects andPotentials”, Sharrieff-Ayedun said that through theMBAN partnership andcollaborative efforts withcredit bureau firms,mortgage banks will gainbusiness intelligencethrough the data shared withthe bureau. She added thatthis would enable the banksto become more CBNcompliant and the ensuringtransparency will accelerategrowth sustainability in themortgage banking sub-sector.

Sharrieff-Ayedun notedthat CR Services provide richstrategic data insight,industry growth trends,target market opportunitiesand credit information toevaluate and score obligorperformance in terms ofrepayment amongst otherthings to other financialinstitutions that have 100per cent coverage of datasubmission to the Bureau.

The CreditRegistry bossemphasised that the growthof Nigeria’s economydepends on depth ofinformation sharing andtransparency amongst itsfinancial institutions. “CRServices (Credit Bureau) Plcrecognises the value ofsharing information toprotect the integrity of thefinancial system and this iswhy it is partnering withMBAN to deliver totalcoverage of the sub-sector,”she stated.

In his closing remarks, thePresident of MBAN, Dr.Femi Johnson, encouragedall mortgage banks to adoptcredit bureau serviceswithout further delay.

RECEPTION- From left: President, Oxford and Cambridge Club, Nigeria, Mr. Akinfela Akoni;British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Ray Kyles and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof.Bolaji Akinyemi, during the cocktail reception where the British High Commissioner hostedOxford and Cambridge club members in Ikoyi, Lagos.

CMYK


Micro-Finance

“Looking from the fact thatthe funds from the FederationAccount are not judiciouslyutilized by the states and theyare not accountable to thepeople and the statelegislature, our concern isthat even if they get moneyfrom bonds and it is notinvested, the state will be leftwith a huge debt burden ,which will hurt in the longterm.” Dr Usman Muttaka,Head of Department ofEconomics, Ahmadu BelloUniversity, Zaria.

“Osun’s federal allocationcan’t pay electrical bill –Aregbesola.

Punch, November 30, 2015;page 12.

Governor Aregbesola,went on to disclose to thepeople of the state, andNigeria, that “Osun Statereceived only N55m from theFederation Account for themonth of September 2015.”For a state which haddeclared a monthly wage bill

Can Nigeria states gobankrupt? (2)

totaling N2.4 billion, this isnot only frightening, itnaturally leads to thequestion: from where will thestate raise the funds to fulfillits obligations to its workersand others? It is pertinent topoint out that Gross Allocationfrom the Federal Governmentto Osun State was actuallyN2,461bn, but deductions forexternal debt (N59.6m),contractual obligation(ISPO)(N946m) and otherdeductions (N1.4bn), allamounting to N2.405bn,reduced the states “take homepay” to a mere N55m. So it isnot the Federal governmentthat is responsible for OsunState’s predicament, it is thedebts and contractualobligations entered into bythe government which hadgot it into deep trouble. And,the problem can only getworse as allocations fromAbuja decline.

The revenue allocationfigures for September

published in Novemberreveal how states which areheavily indebted can easilybecome bankrupt. Mostpeople don’t bother to readthese publications whichremain one of the bestlegacies of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala when she came in asObasanjo’s Minister ofFinance. Even those who takea glance conduct no deepanalysis of the report. Let meuse that report to illustratehow much information onecan get from it.

Columns 7, 8 and 9 listdeductions from source madefrom states allocations by theCentral Bank. All threerepresent decisions made bystate governments to whichthe CBN gives effect whencalculating what each statereceives as net revenue foreach month. Column 7represents external debt,column 8 lists contractualobligations (ISPO) and, 9 isfor other deductions. Whenstates enter into financialagreements and authorize theCBN to deduct as and whendue, they cannot complain iflater the deductions arekilling them. What they sowis what they reap.

For September, thefollowing facts emerge forselected states:

RIVERS N1.728bnBAYELSA N2.252bnLAGOS N2332bnDELTA N2.355bnO S U N

N2.404bnSource: Federal Ministry

of Finance, Abuja. As everybody knows

Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers areoil producing states whichreceive the highest federalrevenue allocation. Lagosmeanwhile enjoys the highestInternally GeneratedRevenue, IGR, in the country.Those states can survive withdeductions of N2bn permonth. Can Osun survive

with N2.404bn monthlydeduction? Osun is not alone;but it presents the mostpuzzling case of a state withlow revenue base competingwith relatively rich states indebt acquisition. Granted, thecase had been made forinnovative programmes onwhich these sums ahd beenspent. But, the truth remainsthis: for states to avertbankruptcy, they must tailortheir spending ambition totheir ability to fund thoseprogrammes in the long term.How for instance will OsunState now continue to feed thekids with N55m received forOctober.

There is a lesson here forthose who are still keen ongetting the Federalgovernment to provide “free”lunch and “free” money to thejobless. It is a sound ideawhich makes no economicsenses. It will bankrupt us inthe end.

States started defaultingon payment of salaries whenthe price of crude oil was overUS$70 per barrel. Thesituation got worse when thecrude price declined to underUS$50. In 2016, Nigeria willbe fortunate to receive US$35per barrel for its crude. Canthe states avoid bankruptcy?The way I see it, three arealready bankrupt andanybody extending themcredit or signing a contractwith them is wasting hismoney.

You can bet on that.

All threerepresentdecisions madeby stategovernments towhich the CBNgives effect whencalculating whateach statereceives as netrevenue for eachmonth

Why Nigeria SMEs die with first generation, by Omoigui-Okauru

STORIES BYPROVIDENCE OBUH

The question of whyNigeria has not been

able to sustain generations ofsuccessful businesses hasbeen addressed differently byexperts, but former FederalInland Revenue Service(FIRS) Executive Chairman,Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui-Okauru, attributed it to poorvisual ability.

She cited Germany asexample of country that hasmaintained fifth generation ofSMEs, global and familybusinesses, in her keynoteaddress at the 2015 WISCARend of year graduation and4th award presentationceremony with theme:“Women Leading Change” inLagos.

Speaking on “Paradigm andLens: Through Which WeSee” Okauru said, “We don’tbuild on our successes, I havepondered on why after thefirst generation of successfulbusinesses, it is very difficultto move from one generationto another generation in thiscountry, compared toGermany, which is dealingwith fifth generation of SMEs,global businesses, familybusinesses. The way we seeaffects what we do and the

results that we get.”To this end, she said that to

lead a change, there is theneed to first champion achange in mindset, not just atthe societal level, “but inourselves.”

She added, “We really havenot sat down to reflect whatdrives successes, we need tochampion a change inmindset. We need to build amindset of continuousresearch, innovation, inquiry,progress, learning,improving, capturing, forinstance capturing recordswhether public or privatesector. We are not good atcapturing records; we don’tvalue records because we

don’t understand and valueits importance. You cannotfight corruption withoutrecord,” she said.

The discussants at the eventinclude Prof. Remi Sonaiya,first female presidentialcandidate, Mrs. Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief TechnicalOfficer, MTN Nigeria andMrs. Yewande Sadiku,Executive Director, StanbicIBTC Bank, shared their

experiences, advising on theway forward and how tosucceed as a career womanwithout reflecting negativelyon the home.

Founder, WISCAR, Mrs.Amina Oyagbola, stated , “Inmy several years as aprofessional, I have come tothe full realization of the hardwork, diligence and creativityof the Nigerian Woman.WISCAR will continue to

deploy programmes andprovide frameworks to enableyoung female professionalsachieve their potential andtheir aspirations.”

Meanwhile, WISCARgraduated its sixth stream ofmentees and inducted theseventh set who will gothrough the intensive twelvemonths structured Win withWISCAR mentoring program.

The Association of MicroEntrepreneurs of

Nigeria, AMEN has called onthe Federal Government to

Micro entrepreneurs call for enabling environmentprovide enabling environmentto ensure continuedproductivity by localmanufacturers.

Speaking at a one dayawareness campaign organisedby the association in Lagos,President, AMEN, PrinceSaviour Iche, told press menthat the awareness campaignwas to sensitise youth that theycan start up a business of theirown rather than relying onwhite collar jobs that are notthere According Iche, The issueof unemployment is on theincrease, a country as Nigeriawhere we have graduateslooking for jobs is notencouraging, we are askinggovernment to look inward andcreate enabling environmentfor local manufacturers because

this is the only platform thatcan get millions of Nigerianyouths to be employed. About97 percent of what we consumeis imported given that we area consuming nation.

“If amenities, especiallypower and funding are madeavailable for us, we will beemploying a whole number ofyouths. I alone employ about40 staff aside from indirectworkers.” On N5,000 paymentto unemployed youths, hestated: “Whether they aregiving N5000 to theunemployed youths or thevulnerable in the society, it isan act of encouraging laziness,Nigeria is raising youths offuture gamblers. That moneyis not the answer, what theyneed is employment,”he said.

CEREMONY - From left: Mrs. Yewande Sadiku, ExecutiveDirector, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Prof. Remi Sonaiya, first femalepresidential candidate, Mrs. Lynda Saint-Nwafor, ChiefTechnical Officer, MTN Nigeria and Mrs. Amina Oyagbola,Founder, WISCAR, at the 2015 end of year graduation andaward presentation ceremony.

CMYK


Insurance

Stories byROSEMARY ONUOHA

Chairman of NigerianInsurers Association,

NIA, Mr. Godwin Wiggle hasassured that the Associationwill continue to support theChartered Insurance Instituteof Nigeria, CIIN, to move theinsurance industry forward.

Wiggle made the assertionwhen the CIIN President,Lady Isioma Chukwuma paid

NIA, CIIN bid to repositioninsurance in financial servicessector

a courtesy visit to the NIA inLagos.

Wiggle said, “We welcomeyou to NIA and do assure youof our support as always. TheCIIN and NIA have enjoyedvery cordial relationship overthe years and your visit hasfurther strengthened thebond. The insurance industryis one big family and we haveto co-operate at all times in theinterest of the insuranceprofession” he stated.

“Insurance is our businessand as the President of ourprofessional body, the onus ison all of us to support you tosucceed so that our professionwill get the kind ofrecognition it rightlydeserves” he added.

Meanwhile, Chukwuma inher address said that the CIINis not resting on its oars in thedrive to promote insuranceawareness and education inNigeria.

Chukwuma said, “The2015 edition of theInstitute’s annual educationseminar with the theme“Synergizing Branch OfficeOperations and InsuranceAwareness” was held justlast week in Port Harcourt.The event was followed byour donation of 750 copiesof the CIIN published‘Insurance Textbook forSecondary Schools’ to boththe Rivers and Imo States’Ministries of Education foronward distribution to allthe senior secondary schoolsin both states. The donationof the textbooks to Riversand Imo States follows priordonations to thegovernments of Lagos,Ogun, Edo, Ondo andKwara States.

“All of these represent ourarticulated efforts atexpanding the capacity ofinstitutions offeringinsurance programmesthereby guiding thempragmatically towards theimprovement of theircapacity to deliver superiorand qualitative insuranceeducation.

“I must reiterate at thispoint that the Institute isfully committed to placingthe insurance industry in aprime position in thefinancial services sector andthe national economy as awhole. Let me thereforeassure you that the Instituteis receptive to ideas andsuggestions geared atguaranteeing success.

Premium

pension

appoints chief

marketing

officer

The Board of PremiumPension Limited has

approved the appointment ofMr. Kabir Ahmed Tijjani intothe newly created position ofChief Marketing Officer aspart of its continuedrepositioning efforts towardhaving a greater market share.

In a statement signed by thecompany’s Head of CorporateCommunications, Mr. PaddyEzeala, the move is inresponse to the everexpanding markets in theContributory PensionScheme.

The company said that theappointment which takesimmediate effect is expectedto enhance businessdevelopment and customerrelationship management.

“There is no doubt that thepension industry has beenfirmly rooted in the country”said Mr. Kayode Akande, theCompany ’s ExecutiveDirector, BusinessDevelopment andInvestment. “There is everyreason for us to respond toindustry exigenciesoccasioned by the impendingextension of the contributorypension scheme to theinformal sector and theassociated rise in micro-pension possibilities.

“By this appointment, we areproactively responding to themedium and long-termbusiness challenges that willbe emerging in the industry”Akande further stated. “Theindustry has been growing byleaps and bounds and we areonly being strategic.

“Tijjani joined PremiumPension since its inception in2005 as a management staff.As a seasoned corporate legalpractitioner, he first served asCompany Secretary andHead of Legal ServicesDepartment. As the ChiefMarketing Officer, Tijjani isnow saddled with theresponsibility of facilitatingthe business developmentfunctions, customer basegrowth and all activitiesgeared towards marketingdrive.

“Tijjani is an alumnus ofLagos Business School,(LBS), Howard UniversityWashington DC and AhmaduBello University, Zaria. Heattended several professionalcourses, seminars andworkshops on CorporateLegal practice,Telecommunications, PensionMatters, InformationCommunication Technologyand Finance within andoutside Nigeria.

International Health

Management ServicesLtd (IHMS) has received theWest African Quality HealthMaintenance OrganisationCompany of the Year 2015Award presented by theQuality ManagementDevelopment Institute(QMDI).

The award, which waspresented to IHMS in Lagosduring the annual WestAfrican QualityEndorsement, Products/Services Awards(WAQEPSA), was institutedto recognise products,services, individuals andorganisations that haveexcelled when measuredagainst the framework ofexcellence.

Chief Operating Officer ofIHMS, Dr. Chidi Ukandu,who expressed happiness atwinning the award, describedthe achievement as furtherproof of the commitment ofIHMS to delivering totalquality service to all itssubscribers.

“Over the last 14 years,IHMS has dedicated itself toserving our enrolleesnationwide with best-in-class

IHMS gets recognition for excellencehealth insurance services witha view to promoting healthand wellness in our areas ofcoverage,” Ukandu said.He stressed that “The awardhas affirmed our capacity todeliver on our promise and itwill spur IHMS and itsmanagement to reach forhigher quality of service to allits enrollees in accordancewith global best practice.”

Ukandu explained that thevision of IHMS is to be thepreferred provider ofintegrated and quality

healthcare solutions inNigeria. This, according tohim, is in tandem with thegoals of the National HealthInsurance Scheme (NHIS).

“From inception, IHMS hassupported its vision with thelatest and most effective ICTtools and a nationwide selectgroup of primary, secondary,tertiary and ancillaryhealthcare providers that offerus necessary leverage to meetthe needs of our customers.”

The Award Board Chairmanand former President of the

Certified Pension Institute ofNigeria, Dr. Olu Ige, said:“IHMS clinched the awardfrom amongst severalorganisations recommendedto QMDI’s selectioncommittee in a public surveythat was based on severalparameters that includedinternational best practice;operational excellence;quality and focusedleadership; quality products/services; sound businessethics and Customers’satisfaction.”

Managing Director/Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc,

STI, Mr. Wale Onaolapo has finally taken a bowafter 21 years of meritorious service.

An astute and thoroughbred professional,Onaolapo joined the company from inceptionin 1994 as an Assistant General Manager,Technical, and rose through the ranks.

In a statement, the company said thatOnaolapo was appointed to the Board of thecompany in 2004 when he became an ExecutiveDirector and later rose to the position of theManaging Director in 2008. In 2009, he becamethe MD/CEO when the pioneering ManagingDirector/CEO, Mr. Oluseun Ajayi became theExecutive Vice Chairman of the organisation.

Onaolapo bows out of Sovereign TrustWale Onaolapo’s invaluable contributions

to the development and growth of SovereignTrust Insurance Plc has been described as veryphenomenal by watchers of the industry. Hewas part of the management team that tookthe company’s shareholders’ fund from

N20 million at inception to over N4 billionto date while growing the balance sheet sizefrom N25 million to N9.6 billion as at the endof third quarter of 2015. The gross premiumincome of the company grew from N36 millionin 1995 to over N7 billion in 2014. Under hisleadership, the company executed twosuccessful rights issue in 2011 and 2015respectively in shoring up the capital base ofthe company.

BAZAAR - From left, Alexander Tifase, Accounts Officer and Tunde Olabiyi; RelationshipManager, both of Access bank; Mrs Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, Executive Director of Ovie BrumeFoundation; Ezeanya Franca, Research & Development Technologists, Mr. Cheff; and Abayo-mi Karounwi,Head Of Programmes, Ovie Brume Foundation at the Foundation's Christmasbazaar.

CMYK


CMYK

Economy

National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has recorded anexplosion in the demand for data and statistical

information both from international and local interests.Key data request indicators at the NBS show that in 2005,

just under 50,000 reports were downloaded from the NBS

Global economicchanges, accountabilitydrive high demand fordata — KALE

website compared to overthree million in 2014, just asrequests for data by walk-inusers which was 23 in 2005rose to 1,817 in 2014.

Last year NBS had thehighest freedom ofinformation requests andsubmissions amongst allgovernment agencies in thecountry.

Furthermore, in 2005 visitsto NBS website was recordedat 36, 280 but at end of 2014,this was 7.5million.

Dr Yemi Kale, thestatistician general of thefederation, who disclosedthese during the combinedsession of the nationalconsultative committee onstatistics, NCCS, last weeksaid the external componentof the demand pressure wasdominant due to the declininggrowth and businessopportunities in most parts ofthe developed world at a timegrowth was increasing inNigeria and some otherAfrican economies.

As a result, he stated“several internationalinvestors are seekinginvestment opportunitieselsewhere and attention isturning to emerging marketsincluding those in Africa”.

After the onset of the 2008global financial crisis, growthslowed to an average of lessthan two percent in thedeveloped world, while manyAfrican countries includingNigeria recorded over 5.0 percent growth rates.

According to Kale “theAfrican rising story reallystarted after this period. Theresult was a huge inflow ofinterest and capital inflowinto the region. At the sametime a huge number ofinternational brands havecome in and are now doingbusiness in Nigeria as haveinternational developmentagencies.

“Foreign investors anddevelopment agencies,however, require huge

amount of data to make theirdecisions and with thisincrease in interest Africanand Nigerian statisticaloffices are being put underpressure to meet the demandand accordingly are beingforced to raise the bar higherin the quality of dataproduced.

On the domestic front, datademand is being fueled bywhat Kale call “endogenous”factors.

According to him, “one canpoint to an increased demandfor data due to the increasedinsistence for accountabilityand good governance bycitizens, as well as thewillingness by governmentsat all levels to demonstrateprogress and democraticdividends in various sectors.Nigeria just completedsuccessful elections recentlyand huge parts of thecampaign were argumentsabout data.

“Endogenous demand fordata is also being driven by aresurgence in strategicplanning and renewedemphasis on key performanceindicators for outputs and

outcomes rather than solelyon inputs. As we are allaware, after many years ofneglect, Nigeria, both at theFederal and across manyStates, has embarked on aprocess leading to a returntowards strategic planning,monitoring and evaluationand accordingly, the use ofevidenced-based policy as ameans of transforming thesocial and economic well-being of our country.

“Accordingly, thesignificance of statisticalinformation for makingevidenced-based decisionsthat guide theimplementation of newpolicy, monitoring of existingpolicy and evaluation of theeffectiveness of policydecisions cannot beoveremphasised.

“This point is especiallyrelevant to Nigeria today aswe are in an era of change. Itis however, when we are ableto collate, understand andinterpret data correctly, aswell as develop our ability toidentify key areas in oursociety or our economy thatrequire change, that our

policy prescriptions anddirection are more likely torespond to the real needs ofthe community and the realchanges our country needs”.

Kale noted that theunderpinning of this entiresystem is timely and reliablestatistics, adding that as anation Nigerians havebecome more aware thatmeasuring progress isinstrumental in ensuring thesuccess of any developmentprogramme or process.

He also noted that Nigeriaas a nation is faced with manydevelopmental challenges inthe areas of health, education,security, governance amongother challenges andmeasuring the success orotherwise of theseinterventions and initiativescan only be substantiated byaccurate and reliable datawhich is as important if notmore than the programmes orstrategy itself.

According to him the factorshave created a scenario wherethere is immense attentionand interest in Nigeria, asone of the major destinationfor growth and opportunities,and with it has comeincreased demand forinformation and consequentlysignificant efforts over the lastfew years to improve thequality, timeliness andreliability of statistics.

Against the backdrop of thecrucial role of statistics fordevelopment and theincreasing demand forreliable and timely data andthe need to meet that demand,Kale stated that NBS hasdeveloped the NationalStrategy for the Developmentof Statistics, NSDS, aninternationally recognisedframework for statisticaldevelopment in severalcountries.

•Dr Yemi Kale

STORIES BY EMEKA ANAETO, ECONOMY EDITOR

Contrary to expectations inflation ratemay become stable in fourth quarter

2015 as indicators point to slower pace inincreases in the prices of commodities inboth international and local markets.

Despite fuel crises that had hit theeconomy since second week of Novemberinflation rate (year-on-year) is forecast toremain unchanged at 9.3 per cent, samelevel as October.

Inflation rate has been on upswing sincethis year but it toned down in October asagainst 9.4 per cent peak recorded inSeptember.

Economy observers said there has beenslower increases in the prices of most foodand non-food items, except fortransportation due to the fuel shortage.

Food prices in the month of November atthe international market dropped after aspike in October. The Food and AgricultureOrganization (FAO) Food Price Index,FFPI, for the month of November 2015released last week, shows that the Indexaveraged 156.7 points, about 1.6 per cent

Inflation stabilizes in Nov, Q4 despite fuel crises

lower in October 2015.According to the FAO, all the commodities

included in the FFPI dropped except for sugarprices.

Vegetable oil prices recorded the highestdrop. Abundant supplies and lower energyprices were responsible for the drop in theIndex.

The Dairy Price Index fell for the first timein three months by 2.9 per cent. Milk powderand butter were the main commoditiesaffected.

The FAO Cereal Price Index declined by2.3 per cent from the previous month, due tothe continued fall in the prices of coarsegrains, wheat and rice.

FAO Meat Price Index was down 1.6 percent supported by oversupply within theEuropean Union.

However, the FAO Sugar Price Index wasup 4.6 per cent, the highest level sinceFebruary 2015. The increase was due largelyto weather conditions in Brazil, the world’sleading sugar producer.


E-Commerce

Stories byJONAH NWOKPOKU

A survey by onlinevehicle marketplace,

Carmudi.com has shown thatNigeria ranks high on globalmileage ranking.

TheCarmudi team in asurvey compared averagecountry mileage and foundout that population growth;rise in the price of real estateand petrol subsidy affects thedistance cars travel. The carsexamined ranged from 2 to 5years old.

The research revealed thatNigeria’s average is 22.8 percent higher than the globalaverage. The averagemileage for used cars inNigeria amounted to 51,764km. After the first two yearsof driving, cars in Nigeriaaveraged 35,714 km. Thenumber of miles on averagealmost doubles after five yearsto amount to 59,938 kmshowing a steady increase inthe distance travelled bycommuters.

accordibng to the survey,the leading contributor to thehigher than average mileagein Nigeria is Lagos. Thecity's population has grown20 per cent since 2006 dueto urban migration, favorablebusiness conditions and highbirth rates. Due to thepopulation increase, theformer capital is experiencinga significant housingshortage, as well as highlevels of migration from thecountryside, pushing realestate prices up. Lagos stategovernment estimates that 4million homes must beconstructed to close thecurrent housing gap. Theoutskirts of Lagos havebecome preferable in terms ofresidential areas and peopleprefer to travel from theoutskirt to the city and backon a regular basis to avoidsky high real estate prices.This has increased thecollective millage for Lagosstate and ultimately Nigeriaon the global ranking.

When examining diesel vs.petrol cars in Nigeria, it isseen that cars powered bypetrol fuel are clearly drivenmore. Petrol cars in Nigeriawere driven 77 per centfurther on average than dieselcars. The main contributingfactor is petrol state subsidies,which make driving petrolcars cheaper on average. It’salso the reason for continuousincrease in amount of petrocars on Nigerian roads.

Training, key to unlocking e-commercepotential in Nigeria — AKINDE

Chief ExecutiveOfficer of e-commerce solution

provider, Slimtrader, FemiAkinde has identifiedcapacity building as a criticalingredient to unlocking thepotential of e-commerce inNigeria.

Akinde who was speaking atthe Africa Technology Summitin Ghana highlighted theneed for employers to trainpeople in order to achieve setbusiness goals, whileidentifying talent acquisitionas one of the major challengesconfronting the sector.

According to him, theNigerian market doesn’t havepeople who are equippedwith the right skills for rolesin the-commerce sector,adding that his experience asa major player in thehospitality industry, shows that lack of talent hasconstituted major hindranceto growth.

He however said that,“Slimtrader has been able toovercome this challenge bygrooming talents for theindustry with a trainingprogram in partnership with

West Africa VocationalEducation (WAVE) to getNigerian youths equippedwith the right skills for jobsin the hospitality industry,especially, bearing in mind,the sector ’s potential tocontribute up to 5.8 per centto Nigeria’s GDP within thenext decade.”

He added: “Ecommercesolutions such as

SlimTrader’s MoBiashara forHotel marketplace platformwill therefore help the sectorgrow, giving hotels greatervisibility.”

Speaking further, Akindesaid: “In recent times,Slimtrader has taken furthersteps to ensure theMoBiashara service is offeredto hotels around Africa. Withthe recent funding of $1

million through Interswitch’se-payment growth fund,Slimtrader plans to expand toother African countries. Tofurther boost expertise,Founder and Group-Managing Director ofInterswitch, Mitchell Elegbehas also joined the Board ofDirectors of Slimtrader.”

Konga rakes in N1.2bn from Yakata sales

Nigeria’s online mall,Konga.com, said it

recorded over N1.2 billion insales during the 2015 Yakatasales which held onThursday, November 26 andcontinued on Friday,November 27, 2015.

Yakata is Konga.com’sversion of the globally famous

‘Black Friday’,and during thesales promo, online shopperswere offered good dealsacross several items.

Speaking on the success ofthe promo, Konga.com's ChiefOperating Officer, SholaAdekoya said: “We are morethan pleased with the successrecorded with the recent

Yakata sales. The success isnot for Konga alone, it is for amyriad of small and mediumsized businesses acrossNigeria that are selling onKonga’s platform today.Thisis also a reflection of theoutstanding team of peoplewe have here and the supportfrom our customers.”

He added: “Konga isbecoming more and more ofa positive force to be reckonedwith in the Nigerian economyand we are grateful to allNigerians that have chosenus as their trusted ecommerceplatform.”

Adekoya stated that salespeaked at N1 million perminute: a growth of 113percent compared to 2014sales.

Highlighting otherhighlights of the two days salesevent , Adekoya said: "At it’speak, Konga had 25,000 usersconcurrently engaged on theplatform; mobile was thedominant channel, contributing58 percent of visits, with 42 percent from desktop; and 40percent of first day ordersshipped within 24 hours, withcustomers tweeting proof ofreceived orders even before thesale promo was over."

Also speaking, Konga's CEO,SimShagaya, disclosed thatbuyer traffic more than doubledfrom what was recorded a yearago, and over N110,000,000worth of orders were placedduring the first 4 hours ofKonga’sYakata. He noted thatmost of these transactions werecompleted through thecompany’s new online paymentsolution, KongaPay.

Pass.ng rewards top 10 UTME 2015outstanding students

Nigeria’s examinationspreparatory and e-

testing platform, Pass.ng hasrewarded its top 10 users,who excelled in this year’sUTME JAMB during themaiden edition of Pass.ngExcellence Award held inLagos.

Speaking on the awards,Chief Executive Officer,Pass.ng, M r. Samson Abioyesaid the aim of the award isto underscore the importanceof excellence in education tonational development.

He said: “The excellenceawards are geared towardsrewarding our users who notonly made us proud but didexcellently well in this year’sUTME JAMB. This year,

about 1.5 million studentswrote UTME and a 100,000 ofthem used our platform toprepare for the exam. We areglad to say that over 60 percent scored 200 and above.This is a remarkableachievement. We hope toincrease this figure yearly.

“With the excellence award,we hope to encouragestudents to be committedtowards hard work anddiligence, especially in thepursuit of their careers. Webelieve the award will createa healthy competition amongstudents and also reducemassive failure rateexperienced yearly in theUTME exams.”

Also speaking, the Product

Manager, Pass.ng, Mr. ImoleOluyemi, said the excellenceaward would rekindlestudents’ love for academicexcellence.

“We want this to be the verycatalyst of change for acomplete overhaul of oureducation system. Thecelebration is not just for theurban setting; we are lookingat celebrating students wholive in remote villages. Webelieve this will have adomino effect on theeducation system,” he said.

The top 10 students willeach be awarded pricesincluding laptops andscholarship for the overallbest.

Lagos placesNigeria ontop globalmileageranking

AWARD - From left: Chief Executive Officer, Pass.ng, Sampson Abioye, Co-Founder, Pass.ng,Joshua Adegbagbo, 2nd Best scorer, 2015 UTME, and Pass.ng Top Awardee, Faith Bamidele,Top Scorer and Awardee, Joshua Ani and Vice President, Airtel Nigeria at the maiden editionof Pass.ng Excellence Award held in Lagos.


Media & Advertising

Stories byPRINCEWILL EKWUJURU

Pioneering rapid growth intechnology via CSR

The technologicalrevolution of the past150 years has given

people around the world easyaccess to everything fromsmartphones to life-savingmedical devices. While onemay not yet be aware of all theimplications of our hyper-connected society, it isabundantly clear that the rapidgrowth in the capability andavailability of smarttechnology is a net positive foreveryone. However, despitethe progress that hasaccompanied bringingfuturistic technology to somany homes, thetechnological revolution hashad a negative impact on theenvironment and emergingmarkets still lag far behindtheir developed peers.

The rise of mobile technologymeans more consumers arespending more time with moredevices and powerconsumption has risen aroundthe globe, particularly inemerging markets. Theincreased demand forsmartphones has also fuell edexploitative labour practicesand environmentallyhazardous strip mining forcoltan and other minerals inunderdeveloped parts ofcentral Africa. Unfortunately,the costs associated with themassive steps forward intechnological development arebeing borne by those living inemerging markets.

The solution to these difficultissues is not to give up ourtechnology. Rather,technology has the power tosolve these problems andprominent firms are takinghands on roles in affected

RELAUNCH: From Left: Babaloja of Gbagi Market Ibadan, Alhaji. Akeem Kareem, RegionalSales Manager, PZ Cussons,Mr Oni Bashiru, Iyaloja of Gbagi Market Ibadan, Mrs. AminatAdewunmi and Senior Brand Manager, PZ Cussons, Mr. Olalekan Aro during the PZ CussonsCanoe Relaunch at Gbagi market, Ibadan recently.

communities and seizing theinitiative in creating productsand projects that areaffordable, sustainable andethical. One of suchcompanies is LG Electronicswith its extensive CorporateSocial Responsibility, CSRactivities aimed at giving backto its host communities. LG ishelping to lead the way withits highly energy efficientproducts and CSR activities

that are helping to redefine thecompany as both a greeninnovator and a humanitariancrusader. LG’s involvement incharitable causes has set thecompany apart from profit-driven competitors and helpedimprove countless lives.

Speaking at the openingceremony of the Academy,Managing Director, LGElectronics West AfricaOperations, Mr. Seonghak

Kim said: “As a sociallyresponsible and purposedriven organization, LGElectronics believes that inorder to get the best out ofstudents, the right learningenvironment ought to becreated, which is whatinformed the establishment ofthe LG Commercial AirConditioning Academy in theUniversity of Lagos. Indeed,we believe this will go a longway to boost the intellectualand technical capabilities ofthe students.

“This scholarship is beingawarded to 10 students of 400and 500 levels from the Facultyof Engineering who emergedas best students after a carefulselection by both theuniversity authority and LGElectronics based on theirGrade Points of 4.0 to 5.0,which made them stand outfrom their colleagues.”

Also speaking, ViceChancellor, University ofLagos, Professor RahamonBello said: “on behalf of theUniversity of Lagos, we arehighly appreciative of thisgesture from the people at LGElectronics- for counting usworthy to be the site for thisiconic academy. All over theworld there is a great push formore of our young people tobe involved in engineeringand it is good to see a companyof this magnitude investing inthe development of NigerianYouths, giving them theenabling platform to live theirdreams”.

Speaking further, ProfessorBello said that the annual LGscholarship grants todeserving UNILAGEngineering students which isin its third year is reallyempowering its studentsenabling them focus on thethings that matter.

LAIF 2015: Insight consolidates position,wins 25 awards

Insight CommunicationsLimited at the justconcluded 2015 Lagos

Advertising and IdeasFestival, LAIF Awards cartedhome 25 awards.

The award which held inLagos saw the companyemerge the most awardedcompany for the year, goinghome with 25 awards,comprising five gold, tensilver and ten bronze awardsrespectively.

Feyi Olubodun, ChiefOperating Officer at InsightCommunications, was quick todedicate the awards to theclients who continue to entrustthe company with briefs overthe years. “The successfulexecution of these briefs,” saidhe “has given birth to theseawards.”

He gave kudos to theAssociation of AdvertisingAgencies of Nigeria (AAAN) for initiating and sustainingthe awards, which accordingto him have improved thepractice of advertising inNigeria.

The secret behind thecompany’s consistent strongprofessional performance is

the hunger to satisfy clients soit looks forward to measuringitself against other competentprofessionals regularly.Olubodun disclosed that “theLAIF Awards is something welook forward to every year. Itaffords us the opportunity tohave the industry undertakean independent assessment ofwhat we have done for clients,thereby measuring ourselvesagainst fellow professionals.”

He explained that eachwork entered by his companyfor the awards must first passthe critical test of publicacceptance, then clientsatisfaction and approval.

According to him, “clients’endorsement of ideas andcreatives is very complex, asclients trust you with theirbrands and pay for services.To earn formal approval ofservices from paying clientswould always be tough, whichis why I also commend theemployees who give their all,functioning as a welllubricated machine on dailybasis to achieve these.”

Recalling that his companyhas consistently emerged themost awarded company at the

LAIF Awards for ten yearsrunning, Olubodun attributedit to a strong system put inplace by the founding fathersof the company – BiodunShobanjo and Jimi Awoshika.This according to him “hasevolved into a functionalsystem where everybody isaware of his/her roles anddelivers on them for thecommon good of the business.The creative team, the accountmanagement team, thestrategic planning team, eachdepartment brings value to thetable to make Insight a greatcompany. This is whatreinforces our confidence thatthis dominance issustainable.”

Similarly, Chima Okenimpe,Executive Creative Director atInsight CommunicationsLimited, while applauding theLAIF and its contributions tothe advertising industry inNigeria, counselled theorganisers to strive toencourage creativity with aview to “identifying andcelebrating adverts thatshowcase true Nigeriannarrative, so as to gain globalrecognition for the Nigerian adindustry.”

SmartphonemarketwelcomesInfinix NOTE 2

The smartphone marketwill welcome the entrant

of a new device Infinix NOTE2, the latest in its NOTE seriesfrom the manufacturing line ofInfinix Mobility.

According to Seun Ajiboye,E-Commerce Manager,Infinix Mobility, at a briefingin Lagos prelude to the formallaunch of the device in Lagosthis week, said Infinix NOTE2 was introduced to raise thebar in smartphone brands inthe Nigerian market.

He said: “since we enteredthe Nigerian market threeyears ago, we have hadpositive response fromcustomers and with the InfinixNOTE 2. We intend to raisethe bar because it is one of ourmost advanced smartphone yetin terms of design andfeatures”.

While listing the features ofthe NOTE 2, Ajiboye statedthat the NOTE 2 comes withexciting specs customized fordaily use.

In his words: “The InfinixNOTE 2 offers a bright andlarge 6.0 inch screen with slimbezels that maximizes thespace of the display. Itsstunning HD 720 X1280resolution display reproducesnatural colors with deepcontrast andThe 6.0 inchscreen enhances productivity.

StarTimesbegins year endpromo

StarTimes Nigeria haslaunched a special year

end offer that would allowmany Nigerians recharge forcontent and get a decoder forfree as well as get extra TVviewing time.

The new offer which starts byNovember 21 and valid whilestock lasts would be availablefor both digital terrestrial anddigital satellite packages andwould have new customersrecharge N3990 for digitalterrestrial and N4800 digitalsatellite.

The free decoders wouldcome preloaded with excitingcontent on a bouquet desiredby the customers, includingbasic, classic or unique ondigital terrestrial or smart,super on digital satellite.

Existing subscribers can alsodo an instant recharge for twomonths and get two monthsfree access to watch sportsplus worth N2,400.

StarTimes MarketingDirector, Mr. Oludare Kafar,said the special offer isdesigned to give opportunitiesfor more Nigerians toconveniently own a decoder,enjoy great entertainment withfamilies and friends duringthe festive season.

Omoh Gabriel - Group Business Editor

Babajide Komolafe - Deputy Business Editor

Clara Nwachukwu - Energy Editor

Peter Egwuatu - Asst. Business Editor

Yinka Kolawole - Snr Bus. Correspondent

Favour Nnabugwu - Insurance Correspondent

Godwin Oritse - Maritime Correspondent

Godfrey Bivbere - Maritime Correspondent

Michael Eboh - Energy Reporter

Franklin Alli - Industry/Agric. Reporter

Ifeyinwa Obi - Maritime Reporter

Rosemary Onuoha - Insurance Reporter

Nkiruka Nnorom - Capital Market Reporter

CONTRIBUTORS

Princewill Ekwujuru - Media/Marketing

Jonah Nwokpoku - E-Commerce

Naomi Uzor - Industry

Providence Obuh - Micro Finance

LAYOUT - Graphics Department

(0805 220 1997)


Business & Economy

It would come as a hugesurprise to Nigerians if

anyone suggested thatsurplus money constitutes thegreatest impediment to thecreation of more jobs toenhance the quality ofeconomic and social welfareof our people. Nonetheless,the constitutional custodian ofmoney supply, i.e. CBN,would readily admit that theincurable presence of surplusmoney supply is actually themajor challenge to bestpractice inflation rate below2% and cost of funds below5%, to successfully drive oureconomy.

Expectedly, persistentexcess money supply is alsoresponsible for the unendingslide in Naira exchange rate,even when our Nationalcoffers are fortuitouslyendowed with best everaccumulated dollar reserves.In this regard, in a pressbriefing on the outcome of theMonetary PolicyCommittee(MPC) meeting of16/6/2005, former CBNGovernor, Prof CharlesSoludo, noted as follows:

“The major source of hugeliquidity injection has been“the monetization (read as thesubstitution of Naira for dollardenominated revenue) of 2004Excess crude earningsamounting to over N160bnand this has contributed to theliquidity surge”; Soludotherefore warned that....”the(adverse) consequences ofexcess liquidity stare us in theface”.

Regrettably, CBN hashowever, failed, so far, toreduce the extent of liquidityand restrain inflation andNaira depreciation with itsusual strategy of borrowingand warehousing some of themarket’s surplus liquidity asidle funds, despite theattendant cost that isinconsistent with risk free

Does CBN mastermind the brazen rape of the treasury?sovereign debts, incurred bya resource and reserves richcountry like Nigeria. Clearly,even though this trade ingovernment securitiesremains the most profitableinvestment for Nigerianbanks, it also discouragesfacilitation of low cost creditto the real sector. Curiously,while the real sector strugglesto survive, the banks continueto declare bountiful profitswhich are primarily derivedfrom loans to government;current indications are thatwhile fiscal debts may requirealmost N900bn to serviceannually, the banks, primarily,will also earn over N600bnfrom the related high interestcharges from buyinggovernment’s Treasury Bills.

It is pertinent, to interrogatewhy such loans cost theTreasury so much despite thealleged surfeit of moneysupply in the market.Undoubtedly, if CBN does notborrow trillions of Naira tostore away as idle fundsannually, the banks wouldhave no choice than toeagerly seek out real sectorinvestors for patronage withcheaper credit.

Incidentally, after the MPCmeeting in July 2013, LamidoSanusi, the past CBNGovernor also ‘remorsefully’observed that:

“First of all, you have gotliquidity surplus in thebanking industry.... there isover N1.3Tn or so sitting inbanks belonging togovernment agencies. Nowbasically, they (these funds)are at zero percent interestand the banks are lendingabout N2Tn to governmentand charging 13 to 14%; sowhy would I, as a bank, goand lend to anyone?”

Similarly, Godwin Emefiele,the present CBN Governor, inanother press briefing afteranother MPC meeting in

November 2015, alsodisdainfully noted that:

“We have discovered that,instead of banks to deploytheir liquidity to the realsector to create credit, (and)stimulate growth, what thebanks do is to dump theirmoney on CBN AND EARN11% FOR DOINGNOTHING”! Admittedly, thepertinent question, however,is whether or not it makesbusiness sense forgovernment to borrow at even1% if such loans are ultimatelysimply kept idle fromproductive use? Indeed,Central banks in successfuleconomies now, conversely,charge a token fee from banksto warehouse their excessfunds.

Incidentally, before therecent introduction of the

liquidity and subsequentreduction in unproductivegovernment borrowings. Thereality, of course, is that anypayment made by MDAs asrecurrent or capital expensesto staff and contractors willultimately migrate to privatesector bank accounts and stillinvariably compound marketliquidity. The marginal impactof TSA on banks’ liquidity wasalso recently underscored byNnandi Okonkwo, Chairmanof the Bankers Committee; inhis reaction to CBN’s earlierharmonisation of CashReserve Ratios for public andprivate sectors deposits withbanks to 25%, in October 2015,Okonkwo happily declaredthat:

“CBN made Nigerian banksricher as it returned N740bnto sector, and in the processmade liquidity available tothe banking system”,consequently, Okonkwoconcluded that “we can saythat there is no alarm onaccount of moving TSA funds;and ‘I am (therefore) pleasedto inform you that after thereview and after compliance,industry liquidity remainedstrong”.

Sadly, however, there is stillno assurance that theresultant liquidity surplus,reported by Okonkwo wouldreach the real sector, as theCBN re-entered the moneymarket soon after the review,to once more borrow andstore, as idle funds, hundredsof billions of presumedtroublesome Naira surplus inthe system.

Curiously, despiteOkonkwo’s confidence onadequate market liquidity, theCBN, nonetheless, still setout, nonetheless, to createeven more liquidity withfurther reduction of theharmonised CRR to 20% fromthe previous 25% rate that wasadjudged by the Banker ’sCommittee Chairman as

providing comfortableliquidity cover for the bankingsector.

Nevertheless, the CBN maycontend that the additionalreduction in CRR, isdesigned to guarantee thatbanks will not be starved ofliquidity, despite Okonkwo’sassurances of sufficientmarket liquidity; however,this strategy certainly becameinexplicable, when, the CBNon 2nd December 2015, soonafter reducing CRR to 20%,again forayed into the marketto once more provide bankswith the usual ‘awoof’ incomeby selling N129bn worth ofTreasury bills, allegedly tomop up an obviously stillcompounded market liquiditysurplus and restrain aninflationary spiral.

Evidently, the challenge ofexcess liquidity is also clearlyrecognised in the monetarypolicy thrust of vision 2020which states as follows:

“Dealing with the excessliquidity challenge requiresinnovative approaches... onepotentially enduring solution,which would avoid thecreation of new money andboost the naira value in theforeign exchange market,relates to the allocation offoreign exchange earned fromoil to the three tiers ofgovernment rather thanmonetising it.. but this may bea recipe for capital flight.therefore, the central bankwould need to developcapacity for LIQUIDITYFORECASTING ANDPROGRAMMING.”

In retrospect, however, withinflation at almost 10% andcost of funds at over 22% tothe real sector and a slidingnaira rate, clearly the CBN’sliquidity forecasting andprogramming have failed asmonetary strategy to induceprice stability.

SAVE THE NAIRA! SAVENIGERIANS.

Treasury SingleAccount(TSA), the availabilityof idle government depositsin various banks ironicallyfacilitated the farcical processof government borrowing backits own money from banksdespite the oppressive cost.With the adoption of TSA, onewould expect reduced market

CBN madeNigerianbanks richeras it returnedN740bn tosector, and inthe processmade liquidityavailable tothe bankingsystem

Governor Emmanual Udom of Akwa IbomState has called for more innovation to drive

adoption of electronic payment in Nigeria.He made this call at the ongoing annual retreatof the Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads(CeBIH) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.Represented by the Commissioner of Finance,Mr. Akan Okon, the Governor said that whileCeBIH has contributed significantly to thegrowth of epayment in Nigeria, there is need todo more in terms of sound policy framework,innovation and awareness.He said, “I will like to urge you to incorporateglobal best practices in the promotion of adoptionof electronic payment, and this requires thecooperation of every stakeholder. Furthermorethere is need to evolve policies by the regulatorsand the agencies that will promote innovationin the electronic payment industry.”He noted that, “Beyond a sound regulatory

Governor Udom calls for increased innovation in epayment industry

framework, we cannot drive the adoptionof electronic banking without the righttechnology, the right standard, and aboveall, a sustained and robust awareness of theNigerian public.“I think we have not done enough in lettingour people see the need to embraceelectronic banking, which is the best for oursociety. Granted that we are still in thetransition period, more commitment isrequired to strengthen the consumerconfidence that these policies will enhanceefficiency, transparency and sustainabledevelopment.“I enjoin you to carry the public along inthis vision. Let them know and tap into thetremendous benefits in the electronicbanking industry. Continue to work towardsunlocking the opportunities that lie fallowin the economy. This should remain yourfocus as you sail along.”


CMYK


Fuel Scarcity: DPRseals 97 stations inLagos, Ogun

THE Nigerian Guild ofEditors (NGE) has asked

the Senate to suspendunconditionally, all proceedingswith respect to a proposed Bill,“Frivolous Petitions (Prohibitions,Etc.) Bill, 2015.

In a statement issued yesterdaysigned by its president, GarbaDeen Muhammad, the Guildsaid,”the broad objective of thiscuriously accelerated Bill is tooutlaw the freedom of expressionof all Nigerian citizens andfreedom of speech of all mediaorganizations operating in print,electronic and on-line platformsin Nigeria and beyond.Appallingly, the Bill has alsoincluded as its target verypersonal and private means ofcommunication such as SMS ortext messages and WhatsApp,among others. The freedom ofspeech and expression isguaranteed in section 22 and 39(1)of the 1999 Nigerian constitution

respectively.“Therefore, to enact any kind

of law under any guise that willcontradict these fundamentalprovisions is to deliberately seekto undermine the Constitution ofthe Federal Republic of Nigeria.We are, therefore, concerned thata group of persons elected byNigerians to ensure that theirrights, privileges and interestsare protected, should gleefullymisuse the mandate given tothem to the detriment of the samepeople that elected them”.

According to the Guild, “asother concerned individuals andgroups have pointed out, theSenate should note that there arealready existing laws in ourConstitution that canaccommodate all the concerns,real or imagined, that theproposed Bill is expected toaddress. These laws include theCyber Crime (Prohibition,Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, theLibel law, etc. In view of this and

the glaring danger posed by theproposed Bill, the NGE is stronglyadvising the Senate to drop allproceedings on the proposed Billand turn its attention instead tocritical areas in need of urgentintervention.

''While believing that membersof the Senate have a right bothindividually and collectively toexpress their concerns about theabuse of the cyberspace byunscrupulous people andorganizations, we advise them toconsolidate or strengthen theexisting laws and enforceimplementation. We call on allNigerians that are justifiablypeeved by the very considerationof enacting such obnoxious lawto remain calm and express theiropposition through lawful means.However, we frown at on-linefraudsters who take advantage ofthe vulnerable cyber space to carryout cyber bullying, stealing,stalking and all manner ofcybercrimes.''

MEANWHILE, the Senatesaid, yesterday, that

those opposed to the social mediacensorship bill were free to makecontributions to the red chambers.

In a statement by theChairman, Senate Committee onMedia and Public Affairs, SenatorAliyu Sabi, the Senate said,“members of the public, includingthose for or against the Anti-Frivolity bill or parts of the billwill have the opportunity to shapeits final outcome as there is anelaborate process which the billmust undergo before it becomesa law. It noted that some of thecomments on the bill emanatedfrom misconception andmisunderstanding of the objectivewhich it said is meant to protectall individuals and institutions,including journalists and socialmedia users.

“The senate is committed tofreedom of speech and a fullyinclusive and participatorydemocracy. The process ofpassing a bill is comprehensiveand provide for inputs to be taken

••Critics of the Bill can make input—Senate

from all and sundry. The first stageis merely to read the short title ofthe bill. The second stage is purelyto debate the general principles.The next stage is committal of thebill to appropriate committee orcommittees for further detailedlegislative action where the details,intendment and clause by clauseimplications of the bill is dissectedby the committee.

This stage also involves publichearing in which members of thepublic, civil society, nongovernmental organizations andall interested parties for or againstthe bill have the opportunity toshape and influence its content.

“The outcome from thiscommittee stage is what will befinalized and then represented tothe chamber for clause by clauseconsideration and approval ordisapproval by the Senate.Thereafter, if the bill is approved,then the clean version of the bill isforwarded to the House ofRepresentatives for concurrence orotherwise.''

NGE asks Senate to suspend frivolouspetitions billBy Henry Umoru & Joseph

Erunke

From left;Garuba DeenMohammed,President,NigeriaGuild ofEditors, ProfRalphAkinfeleye,Dr. DoyinAbiola andAremoOlusegunOsoba,formerGovernor ofOgun Stateat the 24thDiamondAwards forMediaExcellence inLagos. Photo:Akeem Salau

GLOBACOM has unveileddetails of its strategic

partnership with Vodafone,assuring its subscribers of a newphase of innovation-leadershipand unprecedented quality ofservice.

Under the Partner MarketAgreement covering Nigeria andBenin Republic, Globacom andVodafone will work together tosignificantly enhance theexperience of individual andcorporate customers in terms ofaccess to more robust bouquet oftelecom products and services aswell as improved service qualitylevels.

Speaking at the ceremony,Group Executive Director,Globacom, Mrs. Bella Disu, said,“This partnership is somethingthat we both have been yearningfor. Globacom is known to be aleader of innovations and, wereally have the hunger to

increase our subscriber experienceto the highest level possible.Vodafone has the scale; it has theexperience and we both have thesame customer-obsession to makethat experience even better for ourcustomers. We are very excited.”

Also speaking, Vodafone’sRegional Director, PartnerMarkets, Vik Patel, said thepartnership will help deliverenhanced roaming benefits forGlobacom’s consumer andmultinational corporate customers.He said Vodafone will gain fromGlobacom’s expertise and deepunderstanding of African markets.The British High Commissioner,Mr. Thomas Arkwright said theGlobacom-Vodafone relationshipis in continuation of decades ofpartnership between Nigeria andUnited Kingdom, which hasmanifested in over two millionNigerians living in the UK, 18,000Nigerian students and fivemembers of Parliament.

Globacom enhances customer satisfaction,signs agreement with Vodafone

•Fines erring stations N100k and above

By Clara Nwachukwu

ABOUT 99 filling stations inLagos and Ogun states

have been sealed for variousmarket infractions and sanctionedaccordingly for taking advantageof the current fuel supplyshortages.

Industry regulator, theDepartment of PetroleumResources, DPR, in a statementweekend, in Lagos, said the retailoutlets violated variousregulations and indicated thesanctions imposed on them,including:

•Selling above governmentstipulated prices – N100K/ perpump; •Under-dispensing ofproducts – N100K/pump;

• Operating without licence –seal/shut down; • Diversion ofproducts – N200/litre, and;

•Hoarding – dispense to thepublic at no cost.

The surprise of the list is not somuch in the number of thoseaffected but more in the fact thatquite a number of the majormarketers’ branded outlets werecaught violating DPR marketregulations as shown below:

Lagos area include:•NNPC Retail, Lagos/Abeokuta

Exp. Way, Alakuko - diverted45,000 litres of petrol from NNPCDepot Ejigbo on 9/11/15,penalised with N200/L andsuspended from lifting from depot

• Mobil, Idimu/Ikotun Road,Ikotun - petrol under-dispensing

•Mobil, Akute - petrol under-dispensing. •Mobil, Isawo Road,Ikorodu - selling petrol in jerrycans at N100/L, collecting tolls ofN100 per motorists/cyclists to sellat N87/L •Mobil, Airport Road,Ikeja – petrol under-dispensing

•Conoil, Airport Road Ikeja -petrol under-dispensing

• Conoil, Opp. Hajj CampAirport Rd Ikeja - petrol under-dispensing •Conoil MM2 LocalAirport Road Ikeja – petrol under-dispensing. • MRS, JakandeRoad, Ijegun Alimosho - sellingpetrol & kerosene at N110/L,operating with DPR licence

•Total, Lagos/IbadanExpressway, Old toll gate, Alausa– under-dispensing, andhoarding petrol. • Forte Oil,Ewuelere Ikorodu - sellingkerosene at N110/L

The rest of the defaulters wereindependent outlets, who aremostly known for suchmalpractices: • Gods Decision,Abaranje/Ikotun Road, Alimosho– selling petrol at N100/litre

• Lado Oil, Ejigbo/IkotunRroad, Egbe – petrol underdispensing

• Ladiji, Ejigbo/Ikotun Road,Egbe - selling kerosene at N100/L. •Carol & Asma’u Oil, Lagos/Badagry Exp. Way – dieselunder-dispensing, no lience,

removal of DPR seal•Olaoluwanishola,

Igbogbo, BayekuRoad, Ikorodu -selling kerosene atN130/L. •Be Happy,Ijede Road, ItamagaIkorodu – petrolunder-dispensing

• MUKKY, 50,Ikotun/Ijegun Road,Alimosho - sellingpetrol at N100/L,kerosene at N105/L

Ogun StateThere were more incidences of

products diversion in the Ogunarea than in Lagos as shownbelow: •Adeyanju, Sango-Ota -diverted 33,000 liters of petrolfrom PPMC Mosimi on 18/11/15

•Mofab, Sango/Ijoko Road,Sango Ota, Ado Odo/Ota -diverted 33,000 litres of petrolfrom PPMC Mosimi on 18/11/15

•Ademayor Eyenla J4 -diverted 33,000 litres of petrolfrom PPMC Mosimi on 18/11/15

•Johntomme, Ipokia - diverted33,000 litres of petrol from PPMCMosimi on 18/11/15

•Hope Okerinja - diverted33,000 litres of petrol from PPMCMosimi on 18/11/15. All of theabove stations were surchargedwith N200/L and suspended fromlifting from depot. Otheroffenders include:

•MRS Agbado Ijoko Road -hoarding and under-dispensingpetrol. •MRS Km 4, ItamopeIjebu Ode Road – hoarding andselling kerosene at N100/L. •Unicorn Oil, Alagbado Ota/Ifo -selling kerosene at N100/L. •JFInvestment Orudu AdeyanAgbado Road - selling petrol atN100/L.


Widow cries out as fire guts her shop in

UmuahiaBy Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—A widow, Mrs.Oluchi Emeka of

Umuokoroala village, Afugiri,Umuahia North Council Area ofAbia State has cried out to publicspirited individuals after she lost

goods worth over N500, 000 to astrange fire that razed herprovision shop .

Narrating her ordeal, one Mrs.Emeka said that she heard somestrange noise at about 1 a.m butthought the noise was comingfrom her neighbour’s house and

when the noise persisted, sheopened her window anddiscovered that her shop was onfire.

“It was beyond mycomprehension. When I raised analarm , my neighbours came outto help me put out the fire. But by

the time we opened the shop, allmy goods were already burntdown.

“Nothing was rescued from theshop and I just stocked my shopfor Christmas sales. I have nomoney to restock my shop again,”she lamented.

On the possible cause of thefire, she said , “We don’t usecandle in the shop and nothingwas plugged to any electricsource. Besides, there was poweroutage all through the night.Even the fuel and kerosene in theshop were not burnt. I can’texplain the cause of this fire. Iam a widow with six children. Ireally need help and support tostart over again.”

A resident of the communitywho did not want her name inprint alleged that such fireincident must be the handiworkof some evil people who do notappreciate the progress of others.

“This lady lost husband last yearand this Christmas, they have alsoburnt her shop. Her enemies areat work and I will only advise herto be strong in prayer,” she said.

U M U A H I A — Agroup, Abians for

Good Leadership hascommended Senator ChrisAdighije, representingAbia State at RevenueMobilization, Allocationand Fiscal Commission,RMFAC, for helping thestate to get the refund ofN12.7 billion that accruedfrom the 22 Oil Wellsformerly ceded to RiversState.

The group also said thatAdighije assited the Stateto recover the sum of N226million said to haveerroneously debited to AbiaState Government.

On account of theseachievements, ‘Abians forGood Leadership hastherefore calleed for thereappointment of SenatorAdighije for a second term,saying that he has donewell for the State.

According to Dr.Nwokoma Ihediuwa,Senator Adighije hasrepresented the Statecreditably and deserved tobe reappointed “ tocontinue his good work forthe State.”

Abia Gov's mother dies at 87

UMUAHIA—MRS. BessieIkpeazu (Nee Nwagwu), the

mother of Abia State Governor, Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu is dead, aged 87.

According to a statement on hisbehalf by his Chief Press Secretary,Godwin Adindum, Governor Ikpeazuconfirmed the death of his mother lastSunday at the University of NigeriaTeaching Hospital, UNTH, Enuguafter a brief illness

Born on May 27, 1928 to Mr. &Mrs. Nwagwu Anaba of Umuafor

Christian Hospital,Onitcha Ngwa in Abawhere she served asthe matron until sheretired in 1994.

During this period,she also served as thenursing supervisor forthe Motherless BabiesHome, AdventistHospital, Aba.

Mrs. Ikpeazu wasthe founder and ownerof Ulari MaternityH o m e / C l i n i cUmuobiakwa, a clinicwhere she saved manylives for no charge anddelivered thousands ofbabies for little or nocharge.

She is survived bychildren, GovernorOkezie Victor Ikpeazu,Mrs. Ocheze EdithUgboaja andI h e a n y i c h u k w uIkpeazu.

Late Mrs. Bessie Ikpeazu

GroupcommendsAdighije forhelping Abiato recoverN12.7bn

By Anayo Okoli

ABAKALIKI—THE wife ofEbonyi State governor,

Chief Rachael Umahi,yesterday, revealed thepreparedness of the stategovernment to grant automaticemployment to 260 indigentwidows from across the 13 localgovernment areas.

Umahi’s wife made thisknown while addressing thewomen of the state during a oneday workshop held at theWomen Development Centre,Abakaliki, WDC, where shedistributed over 400wheelchairs to disabled personsthrough her pet project, ‘FamilySuccour and UpliftmentFoundation Programme’.

She assured the commitmentof her foundation to build 171houses for widows, one in eachof the 171 wards in the 13 localgovernment areas of the state.

“I told my husband that youcan’t say there is economicchallenges. I assured him thatEbonyi women must benefitfrom the government. And as alistening governor, hegraciously approved that 260

widows from the 13 LGA’s beplaced on salary.

The wife of the governorfurther noted that herfoundation has started to build171 houses for widows acrossthe 13 local government areasso as to alleviate poverty andsuffering of widows andindigent children in the state.

She urged the people of thestate, especially women to bepatient with the governmentand stop being too critical of it,noting that there are great

opportunities and benefit to getfrom the present administration.

The wife of the governor notedthat God who called them intopower would bring changes butwarned them to stop gossipingaround the state and should beambassador of goodness to thepoor and the widows.

Earlier, Dr Ntem Mbam whowas a guest lecturer at theoccasion said over 1.3billions ofpeople in Africa are sufferingfrom acute poverty just as henoted that Ebonyi has the

highest poverty rate in south-east.

He said that poverty is causedby incessant war and communalcrisis, especially in south-eastwhere people prefer crisisinstead of using dialogue tosettle land dispute.

Ntem called on widows whoare still young to re-marryinstead of staying in theirhusband houses to engage inprostitution which according tohim will increase their povertyrate.

New VClamentsABSU's pooracademicranking

UMUAHIA—THEnew Vice

Chancellor of Abia StateUniversity, ABSU, Uturu,Prof. Uche Ikonne hasdecried the university’spoor ranking, which hesaid is at a low ebb andvowed to enhance thenational and internationalranking of the university.

Addressing themanagement, academicand non-academic staffmembers of the Universityat the institution’sauditorium, Prof. Ikonne lamented that the status ofthe univerity in national andinternational ranking wasnot cheerful.

“The ranking ofuniversities by the nationaland internationalcommunity underscoresthis point and it’s a veritableindex for measuring theachievements of any orsuccessive universityadministrations”, the newVice Chancellor said.

By Anayo Okoli

Ebonyi first lady pledges lifeline to widowsBy Peter Okutu

Village in ObingwaCouncil of AbiaState, late BessieIkpeazu was a careernurse and midwife.

As a nurse, Mrs.Ikpeazu worked atAhoada CountyHospital, Ahoada,Rivers State,Okpuala NgwaGeneral Hospitaland Nigerian

SHOW: From left, ICT Director, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Olisa Okeke; Comedian Okey Bakassi,and Hon. Celestine Ogbu, Speaker of Nsukka Local Government Legislative Council, at the Glo LafftaFest comedy show in Nsukka, Enugu State, last Friday.


CMYK

Vanguard,Vanguard,Vanguard,Vanguard,Vanguard, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, DECEMBER 7, DECEMBER 7, DECEMBER 7, DECEMBER 7, 20152015201520152015 — 41

By Rakesh Kapoor

AROUND the world more than 2.5billion people do not have access to a

toilet, and more than 1 billion peopledefecate in the open, impacting humanhealth and leaving women and girlsvulnerable to the risk of gender basedviolence. Poor sewage filters contribute tothe spread of diseases such as typhoid,cholera and diarrhoea.

Last week, was World Toilet Day, a daydedicated to raising awareness of thehundreds of thousands of preventablechild deaths caused every year by poorsanitation. An estimated 64 childrenaround the world die every hour fromdiarrhoea alone.

To many in the developed world, thethought of losing your child to a diseaselike diarrhoea is unthinkable. Indeveloping countries like Nigeria andIndia, it is reality. Children suffering fromchronic diarrhoea also face stuntedgrowth, impairing their ability to realisetheir true potential. Poor health also has asignificant economic impact, withcountries like Nigeria losing as much as1.3 percent of national GDP to poorsanitation according to a 2012 desk studycarried out by the Water and SanitationProgramme (WSP). A serious economicburden is also placed on those affected bydisease.

So far, despite significant efforts to buildtoilet facilities by governments ,preventable child deaths have continuedunabated. At Reckitt Benkiser, RB webelieve that sanitation products targetedat the world's poorest, within the right pricebracket, can provide a sustainable way toencourage the essential behaviouralchange needed to stop child deaths fromdiarrhoea.

Some countries of the world, like Indiahas embarked on an ambitious mission toprovide access to toilets for more than 60million Indian households by 2019. Whilethe efforts are commendable, this essentialwork is not having the impact on publichealth. Building toilets does not provide asustainable solution to keeping themclean.

While some may think that issues

OPEN DEFECATION: About 110 million Nigerians do not use modern toiletfacilities.

surrounding sanitation should fall tonational governments and theinternational development communityalone, there is a role for the private sector.Firms like RB, are using our expertise inhygiene and sanitation to solve problemsfor consumers at all levels. This includespeople who may not yet understand theneed for hygiene.

After two years of research and

Ending child deaths from preventable diseases

development, and working with some ofthe world's leading chemical scientists,enzyme specialists, and fragrance expertsfrom a number of leading businesses, wehave developed two new affordablehygiene products: a multipurpose soapthat can be used for washing hands,clothes, surfaces and bathing; and a toiletpowder for open pit latrines that reducesfaecal matter and the transmission of

germs.These two products, which arecurrently being piloted in Nigeria andPakistan will later be introduced in India.They are specifically developed forconsumers at the bottom of the pyramid.They are highly affordable and effective,without compromising on quality. Forexample, market research demonstratedthe importance consumers placed onscent, as well as affordability. Our toiletpowder has a citrus fragrance, reducingunpleasant odours and encouragingconsumers to make use of the hygienicpit latrines, as opposed to defecatingopenly in public areas. To contribute toending these deaths, we have decided toinvest into new product and fund our 'StopDiarrhoea' campaign in collaboration withSave the Children, which aims to applythe World Health Organisation andUNICEF's 7-point plan for diarrhoeatreatment and prevention in Nigeria,India and Pakistan.

Too many people die unnecessarily fromdiarrhoea. It is a problem we can solve -but only if we harness the best ofgovernment, charities and the privatesector. By taking a market approach tosome of the world's most intractableproblems, the private sector can be at theheart of developing innovative solutionsthat empower some of the world's poorestpeople and give them the products tosignificantly improve their own lives.

Rakesh Kapoor is the Global ChiefExecutive of RB, the world's consumerhealth and hygiene company.

SOGON takes expertise to rural health centres

THE Society of Obstetricians andGynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON)

is commencing work in primary healthcentres nationwide under a newlyinaugurated volunteer scheme as part ofefforts to improve maternal and newbornhealth in the rural areas.

SOGON President, Dr Joseph Adinma,who disclosed this during their 9thinternational congress and annualgeneral meeting in Abuja, said thevolunteer obstetrician's scheme, whichhas latched onto the National PrimaryHealth Care Development Agency, "is

currently being implemented in a numberof states and is soon going to be formallyflagged off for nationwideimplementation."

Under the scheme, experts in obstetricsand gynaecology working in tertiaryhospitals will commit regular hours freeof charge to consult in primary healthcentres nearest to their place of work inefforts to afford rural women expert care.

SOGON is also pushing for nationalobstetrics and gynaecology unions acrossWest Africa to band into a regionalassociation as has been done in LatinAmerica and East and Southern Africa.

The sub-regional association of

obstetricians and gynaecologists of WestAfrica could be prelude to a college forthe speciality, which as yetis subsumedunder the West African College ofSurgeons.

"Every country has a SOGO. There arelots of things that can bring us together inthe sub-region," said Adinma, insistingSOGON was looking to create a commonfront in obstetrics and gynaecology andmove the frontiers in women andchildren's health. SOGON said itsmembers have already begun aprogramme for free maternal healthservices for internally displaced peoplein Borno, Bauchi and Yobe states.

WITH about 1,000 Nigerian childrendying of malnutrition-related causes

every day and a total of 361,000 each year,Nutrition experts have stressed the needto prioritize nutrition in children with aview to averting 53 percent of deaths ofchildren under the ages of five annually.

Recent statistics from the United NationsChildren’s Fund, UNICEF, showed thatthere are approximately 1.7 millionseverely acutely malnourished childrenunder five in Nigeria – accounting for a10th of the global total.

The experts who gathered last week atthe 2015 Nestle fortification workshop,titled: “Hidden Hunger Nigeria SilentCrisis” posited that there is need forNigeria to invest more in nutrition,particularly in the first 1000 days of achild’s life.

They maintained that the cause ofmalnutrition in the first 1000 days of aninfant is almost irreversible. According tothem, malnutrition is not exclusive to thepoor as recent reports have shown that 13per cent of children born to rich people inNigeria are malnourished.

In the views of a ConsultantGastroenterologist, Lagos UniversityTeaching Hospital, LUTH, Dr. AdeniyiOlufunke, with good nutrition, the countrywould be able to reverse the current

research which showed that 1 in 10Nigerian children never get to the age of15.

Olufunke, who spoke extensively on the

health indicators of hidden hunger, saidsome of the signs of malnutrition arehidden. “The nature of malnutritionburden facing the world is increasingly

complex. Most malnourished childrenlack vitamin A and this is the cause ofnight blindness.

Earlier, Managing Director, NestleNigeria, Dharnesh Gordhon noted thatmore than two billion people around theworld are suffering from one sorts ofmicronutrients deficiency including, iron,zinc, Vitamin A and Iodine.

Represented by the Director CorporateCommunications and Public Affairs, DrSamuel Adenekan, he said micronutrientdeficiencies remain a major public healthconcern in Nigeria.

To address the problems, Gordhon saidNestle is committed to developing foodsand beverages fortified withmicronutrients – vitamins and minerals –that can help to tackle under nutrition.

“We are producing a growing numberof fortified popularly positioned productsthat provide nutritional value at a pricethat lower – income consumers, the sectormost vulnerable to deficiencies, canafford.

In what seems like a score card, he saidin 2014, Nestle reached over 18.3 millionhouseholds with iron – fortified magicubes while over 8 million householdsbenefitted from iron fortified and vitamin– A enriched golden-morn.

Appropriate nutrition will prevent 53% under-5 deaths —EXPERT

By Victoria Ojeme & Samuel Ujah

WORKSHOP: From left; Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs,Nestle Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Adenekan; Ag Head, Dept of Human Nutrition,University of Ibadan, Dr. Folake Samuel; Manager, Nestle Nutrition Institute AfricaAnglophone Countries, Mrs. Chioma Emma-Nwachukwu and ConsultantGastroenterologist LASUTH, Dr. Olufunke Adeniyi, recently at Nestle’s FortificationWorkshop on “ Hidden Hunger Nigeria Silent Crisis at Nestle office, in Lagos.



I don’t thinkanyone will befair to think thatunder a fewmonths of thisgovernment allthe misdeeds ofthe PDP over aperiod of 16years will bewiped out

WE have not heardanything yet on the

committee set up by the FederalGovernment to look into thebooks of the immediate pastPeoples Democratic Party, PDPled administration and you arethe leader of that committee.What is the situation?

Like we told Nigerians earlier,we have appointed PPMG tocarry out a professional forensicaudit and we have to allow themto finish the audit and the numberof parastatals involved such asthe NNPC, NPA. They are many.So, we have to allow professionalsto carry out the audit. It is beyondwhat you can do on part time basis.

That has been accepted by theNational Economic Council andwhen they finish their work thereport will be published andgovernment will take action onthe basis of the report. The report,I can assure you, will not be likethe previous one. Under PresidentBuhari you will not investigateanything and allow the report togather dust on the shelf.

But Nigerians are still sufferingfuel scarcity, epileptic powersupply, which we thought will beover under an APC ledadministration. What is yourparty doing about theseproblems?

The President just inauguratedthe National Executive Councilmade up of men and women ofenormous strength and capacity.After our governors meeting, wesaid there may be need for anational conversation on the stateof the economy. But the truth isthat some of these things you arebeginning to see are the mediumto the long term manifestations ofthe abuses of yesterday.

Just like any public policy, thereis always a time lag between whenyou take an action and when theresult of that action begins to

IN this interview, Governor Adams Oshiomholeof Edo State spoke about the administration ofPresident Muhammadu Buhari, his quarrel withhis predecessor, former Governor LuckyIgbinedion and his strategy to ensure that hehands over Osadebey Avenue to an AllProgressives Congress (APC) governor in 2016

By Simon Ebegbulem

manifest. So the massive lootingthat took place in the recent pasthas created a huge hole in thenational treasury with a huge debtprofile and that has affected thefinances of the state. I don’t thinkanyone will be fair to think thatunder a few months of thisgovernment all the misdeeds ofthe PDP over a period of 16 yearswill be wiped out. I am sure thatthe Federal Government isaddressing the problems one afterthe other.

Business ofgovernance

We have ministers, many ofthem are not strangers to publicservice, they are people of proventrack record. That is why I diasgreewith some some commentatorssaying we already know thesenames. The business ofgovernance is not forapprenticeship and when acountry has been run down likethe way the Nigerian economywas run down, you are not goingto bring untested materials tocome and do apprenticeship atthe Federal level, that is not theplace you try knew hands. Thesituation requires tested handsand that is what the President hasassembled. Very many of themhave track record of performancein public office, so they are notstrangers to governance and theyhave shown passion for thecountry. I believe that we have ateam that inspires confidence and

I am very confident that they havewhat it takes to drive the changesthat APC promised.

The opposition PDP hasaccused the APC ledgovernment of targeting only theopposition in its war againstcorruption, what is your take onthat?

Don’t forget when PDP was inpower they were always storiesabout selective application but myargument is simple, if youmonopolise power for 16 yearsand you were in charge and theNigerian project wasmismanaged and compromised,is it not those who were in chargethat you will go after? You want togo after those who were not in-charge? The PDP had monopolyof governance for 16 years so theyhave to be responsible for themismanagement of the economyand the massive looting thatcharacterized the period. But youknow Nigerians, once they are introuble they whip up sentiments.If they don’t say it is ethnic theywill say it is selective war againstcorruption.

For me, I don’t think it isselective. It is when they can provethat an innocent person has beencharged that this can make sense.I had said this when I was in theNLC even the period NuhuRibadu was EFCC chairman, Isaid, is it really worth debating,‘if some armed robbers areshouting in court that my Lord weare not the only armed robbers,why didn’t they arraign other

armed robbers?’ But I said thefact that there are other armedrobbers does not mean that thosearraigned should be excused.

People are saying for sevenyears you never said anythingabout your predecessor, formerGovernor Lucky Igbinedion,until now, what went wrong?

I think there are some truth inthat because in the past the PDPhad accused me, why are you notmentioning the name of theformer governor and his fatherwho presided over the state foreight years? And I said I don’tknow about the former governoror the father of the formergovernor but I know about thepolitical party that governed thisstate, which is the PDP.

Politicalenvironment

But I think what happened wasthat as the political environmentgot more liberalized with thechange that has taken place atthe national level, there is politicalre-alignment of forces and thosewho could not cope with the logicand politics of change haverelocated to PDP and they werethe people who also perpetratedevil in PDP. Now you find themtaking advantage of the socialmedia to try to change history andthrow the mess they forced on thestate at my direction. For example,one of their perpetualgovernorship aspirants, said theindustries they set up because he

was the SSG then, that I ran theindustries down, yet they knowthat not only did they use thesethings as conduit pipes to syphonmoney, they also know that fromday one those industries neverworked and they were notprogrammed to work.

The worst is that they sold themoff at prices below cost. Now ITVwhich is owned by the Igbinedionfamily, dedicates substantial airtime to recycling this falseinformation and they keptrepeating them. I said okay nowthat the ITV is the main vehiclefor falsifying this information, allI needed to do is to ask theCommissioners to go and publishthe facts. Namely, where werethese industries established,which governor sold them? It willshow that it was the Igbinediongovernment that sold them. It willshow that they sold them belowthe cost. So, if you did that howcould you turn round to accuseme? It is like you commit murderand when I am passing by yousay I was the one that killed theperson.

For me, it was time to tell Edopeople the truth. Everybody wholived in this state knows myendless battle with the PDP, youknow how they killed my PrincipalPrivate Secretary Olaitan and theway the investigation wascompromised.

Sometimes,I ask myself , whoare you reporting to? And youknow the fraud that was going on

•Oshiomhole: Nobody will return Edo to Egypt

STATE OF ECONOMY:

Why we neednationalconversation— OSHIOMHOLE

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015—43

in Abuja, so there was no pointreporting them to their criminalbrothers. I said I will ratherconcentrate on what will bringcomfort to the people of Edo statethan on the misdeed of mypredecessors.

However, that does not meanthat I will allow you to continueto recycle false information andmisleading the public. They wenton last time to say I beat up aRev.Father thank God that theCatholic Church issued astatement that there was no suchincident whatsoever. That is howfar they went. They have gone onto say I have estates here andthere, they even said within sixmonths of my wife’s death Iimpregnated a girl.

Questionablecircumstances

People who stole from the Edostate people are the ones throwingmud at me, I decided to call offthe bluff and it will be of no use forme to end my tenure withoutspeaking on those issues. Likethe issue of $31 million, it was anoperation they succeeded intaking that money out of Afribankthrough questionablecircumstances.

Nobody gave me hand over noteon that, it was through our internalaudit effort that that withdrawalwas discovered and we have beentracing it since them. I even hiredsome Senior Advocates of Nigeriato check the Corporate AffairsCommission and see what legalwindows exist for us to recoverthat money.

Continues from page 42 For me, I always stand on theside of Edo people because it isthe greatest honour for someoneof my back ground to be entrustedwith the collective well being ofthe people of this state. So, I willnot compromise public interestand I will not bow before anybody,I will respect but not fear. Wherepeople see fear I see challengesand challenges are to beovercome.

Up tillNovember 12, 2016, Edostate must be governed under therule of law, nobody must say he isabove the law. During hiscampaigns, President Buhari hesaid he was going to end impunityand as a proud member of APCand a believer in the mantra ofchange, it is the end of impunityand therefore the end ofexemption. So, Mr Exemptionhas to accept that he can no longercontinue, this is the end. And Ihave no apologies whatsoever.

The question in town is howwill these developmental projectsin the state be sustained afterOshiomhole, what efforts areyou making to ensure that yourlegacies are not destroyed?

I don’t think it is a realistic thingfor anyone to expect that an outgone governor can ensure thathis successor sustains anything.That is not realistic. It is theresponsibility of Edo people toensure that the next governortakes the development of Edo tothe highest level that he doesbetter than my tenure. That is theresponsibility of the Edoelectorate, it not the responsibilityof a predecessor to ensure thatthe successor performs, it is thepeople and that is the beauty of

The only role Ican play is toensure that fromnowtillNovember 12,2016, I remainfaithful to thecause of Edopeople andwithin my partylike any otherparty member Iwill play my partin seeking tohave a say in thechoice of APCcandidate

Thechallenge ofthe nextgovernornow is towork onsome feederroads, wehave donesome of thembut not all

EDO 2016:

I'll handover to anAPCsuccessor— OSHIOMHOLE

democracy.I have always argued that

democracy does not end at votingand counting and declaringresults, it also entails an activistcitizenry that engages thestewards that have been entrustedwith the management of the affairsof state to hold them accountableand ensure that they don’t derail.Only Edo people can do that.

Enoughmaterials

The only role I can play is toensure that from nowtillNovember 12, 2016, I remainfaithful to the cause of Edo peopleand within my party like any otherparty member, I will play my partin seeking to have a say in thechoice of APC candidate. And thegood news is that the party hasenough materials, veryresponsible and competent handsthat are passionate about thedevelopment of this state. So wedon’t lack materials in house interms of intellect, capacity, weprobably have much more thanwe need because we need oneperson.

I am very confident that theperson that will emerge will beone that has passion for the state,the managerial competence todrive and ensure that the statewitness more growth anddevelopment than during mytime. What we have done overthe years is trying to rediscoverthis state and giving our peopleconfidence that Edo is viable.

Tasks before my successor:Today, the Edo man has regainedconfidence, there is no question

now that the state is capable ofdeveloping and that we can dosomething about the problem ofinfrastructure, flooding, restoringintegrity to public schools,restoring integrity to public healthcare system. The challenge of thenext governor is to work on somefeeder roads, we have done someof them but not all. The nextgovernor will not need to work onAirport Road or Akpakpava roadbut he can connect all theadjoining streets. If the road wehave done overt the past sevenyears, if the PDP did half of themin 10 years we would have addedthose ones to the ones we havedone.

The problem we are having inEdo today is that PDP cannotshow you one clean road withstreet light and drainage thatthey did that is still there. Theonly thing you can see are theones Ogbemudia did. If thePDP had laid some foundationswe would have gone far today.We started from minu-minus tozero.

But the next governor is goingto build on plus plus plus. Thekey answer to you question isthat the people must be vigilantto ensure that the next governorremains focused.

And I am confident that thenext governor will come fromAPC because the PDP hasneither the messenger nor canthey have a credible message.

Crediblemessage

I know that we are living in aworld of so called born againbut like I said during the 7thanniversary, when a woman isfound guilty of serial adulteryin the community and 10 yearslater she says I have repented,I am now a Pastor, I shall commitno more adultery, can youentrust your wife to such aperson? I know Edo people willanswer that question in aresounding manner. No bodycan return Edo to Egypt andPDP cannot be the answer. Andmy joy is that the next electionwill be the easiest we shall everhave.

Of course we are not takingEdo people for granted but Isaid it because our mainopponents have no credentials,and we will remind them of theirhistory. Edo people have notforgotten what happened beforeseven years ago and the PDPhave no control of theinstrument of rigging they havealways ruthlessly deployed. Sofor the first time they will belearning the language ofcanvassing for votes or winningvotes. They will no longer beholding midnight meetingswith Commissioner of Police, orINEC officials. I am lookingforward to the election and Ibelieve the wheel of progresscannot be put on the reverseany more. Edo has moved onand we have the duty to protectthe gains we have made.

Oshiomhole: Edo man has regained confidence,


CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 , 2015—45

Scale of destruction in Bama, Konduga have humbled me – Minister•described Nigerian soldiers as unsung heroes

•as reconstruction begins in recaptured areas

By Emmanuel Elebeke, inMaiduguri

MINISTER of Informationand Culture, Alhaji Lai

Mohammed has showeredencomiums on Nigerian soldiersfor what he called their gallantfight and bravery in dislodgingthe elements of Boko Haram inBama and Konduga LGAs ofBorno state, saying that theDecember deadline given by thePresident will be achieved.

The minister gave thecommendation, yesterday, duringan official visit to Bama andKonduga Local GovernmentCouncils of the State.

Mohammed who led a team ofinformation reporters to the visitsaid, he was humbled by the highscale of destruction and damagesleft behind in the areas by theinsurgents as well as the palpablesuffering and poverty undergoneby the surviving victims of theBoko Haram war.

He commended the Nigerianarmy for rising to the occasionwhen it mattered most inrestoring the integrity of federalgovernment by rooting out theinsurgents and the ongoingefforts to recapture the remainingareas before the Decemberdeadline. “They are very happy

about what we are doing and arevery committed to restoring peacein North-East and unity of thiscountry. We went to Bama andKonduga and saw firsthand, thescale of damage and destructionthat the Boko Haram terrorists leftbehind.

“It humbled many of us, and weall came back very very sober. Ihope that with this visit, mycolleagues in the media will showmore restraint, moreunderstanding in reporting theefforts being made in the waragainst terrorism. We are alsoconfident that by today, we aremuch more informed about the

corruption war,” he said.On the visit to the IDP camp in

Bama, where the team saw thevictims of the war, old people,women and kids, the Ministerlamented the impact of the waron the victims, and promised thatgovernment would do everythingpossible to rehabilitate them soon.''Many of them they are victimsof war they did not know aboutand many of the kids were their

clapping without understandingwhat were being said. We sawabject poverty with sorrow, fear inthe eyes of all the people there.

“I must publicly commend ourmilitary because it takes one tobelieve here the enormity ofchallenges they are facing. Theyare not only winning the waragainst insurgency but are alsowinning the peace, and even thehumanitarian burden is probablyheavier than the military burden.I saw a soft side of the commanderof the Theatre, who was moved bythe condition of the IDPs andsuggested that the kids be adoptedto reduce their sufferings.''

IPMAN protests sealing of members’filling stations

THE Lagos chapter ofIndependent Petroleum

Marketers Association, IPMAN,has protested the harassment and

sealing off of its members’filling stations over allegedhoarding and inflation offuel prices in the country.IPMAN said in a statementsigned by chairman of theSatellite Depot, Ejigbo,Lagos, Alhaji Alanamu AyoBalogun, that the action ofthe DPR was uncalled for,irrational and unjustified.

Alhaji Balogun chidedthe DPR for harassing andaccusing the IPMAN’s fuelstations and directing itsaction against innocentmarketers when it knewthat the depot owners werethe culprits allegedlyhoarding and inflation fuelprices. He said the depotowners should be blamedfor selling fuel to IPMANat the rate of N117 per litre.He asked: “If the fillingstations get the fuel at N117per litre, is it possible to sellto the public at N87 per litre.They have to add theirrunning costs before sellingto the public?''

Balogun said the DPRshould confront the depotowners instead of givinghis members a bad name.While stressing thatIPMAN controls 85 percentof all the filling stations inthe country, he questionedthe rationale behind the fuelsubsidy, noting that at alltimes, IPMAN bought fuelabove the governmentcontrolled price from depotowners. “Depot owners willtell the IPMAN members topay N77.66 kobo into oneaccount which is thecontrolled price and pay theremaining money intoanother account. At otheroccasions, depot ownerswill sell all their productsto one dealer at a higherprice, and this dealer willsell to IPMAN at his ownprice, which negates thegovernment controlledprice of N87 per liter.”

The IPMAN chairmanasked the FederalGovernment to look into thefuel subsidy mattercarefully, to avoid taking thenation for a ride by the fuelimporters.


CMYK

Vanguard, MONDAY , DECEMBER 7, 2015 — 47

SAYINGS OF OUR ELDERS

Send us your Sayings of Our Elders. They must be African sayingsor proverbs. Biblical or English proverbs are unacceptable.

Address your sayings to: [email protected]

I have sown a riga without a neck. Let him whocuts a neck for it put it on.

- Hausa proverb

`

Fuel scarcity and NNPC’salleged missing funds

Why the fuel scarcity nationwide? Itis unfortunate that the proceeds madefrom our NNPC which are supposedto be used for development of thiscountry and our refineries, end up inpockets of some greedy and corruptindividuals.

I hope President Buhari or his aideshave read these stories and should actaccordingly.

Mercy writes in via email

N2 billion payroll fraud inNigerian Police

Nigerians have not heard anythingregarding the payroll fraud, when abody that should help curb corruptionis itself enmeshed in the act , then thecountry is doomed.

No matter how one wants to arguefor or against it, the truth is that theaverage policeman on the street is cor-rupt because he does not get what isdue to him either from the governmentor from his bosses. We have heard ofpolicemen killing each other becauseof illegal money derived from roadblocks.

Also we have heard of policemenkilling innocent citizens of this coun-try just because of N100 extortion.When such happens, you hear thatthe police hierarchy would fire theofficer and charge him to court,meanwhile top police officers continueto enjoy their loot from the sweat ofthe poor cops with impunity.

Nobody questions them. The IGPshould prosecute all involved in thesescams.

Segun 08039240765

On minimum wageState govnernors should please ex-

plain what they do with their inter-nally generated revenue, I.G.R. They‘ve no excuses why they can’t pay#18,000 minimum wage which is lessthan $90 dollars.

They are not expected to owe work-ers salaries. Amazing most of the pre-vious governors cannot give accountof their stewardships.

Anonymous +2348085679627

On Kogi State inconclusiveelections

The Independent National ElectoralCommission, INEC, should put a stopto the election rescheduled for 5th Dec2015, since the leading candidate is

no more on planet earth and fix anew date for a fresh election.

Barr Anthony O.Obi+2348056009586

NNPC’s reform andGaius-Obaseki’s advice

It is very pertinent to re echo theadvice of former GMD of NNPC tothe Kachikwu team not to implementforeign structure in Nigeria (Van-guard Nov 15,. p8) as timely. Inother countries, the oil belongs tothe community where it is found, butin Nigeria people that are thou-sands of miles away from where itis located, lay claim to the oil.

The Minister of State/GMD shouldknow that in Delta state it is onlythe Ijaws,Itsekiris, Isokos,Kwales arethe major oil communities.Thusrecruitments and award of contractsmust follow that order to reduce theagitations . Dedemo+2348033783758

Calls on Gov Okowa to payDelta state pensioneers

It is high time we discussed thecondition of living of Deltapensioneers and what to do to im-prove it in the new democratic dis-pensation.

To improve the living condition ofour pensioneers, they must be payedregularly to avoid the high deathrate recorded among pensioneers.

I really want to seize this opportu-nity to implore Gov. Ifeanyi Okowato embark on the journey ofprosperity for all Deltans especiallyour helpless Pensioneers to reducethe death rate among DeltaPensioneers.

Anonymous +2348039531605

Biafra protest and need forunity

The problem is that the cost offragmentation is greater. Who wouldbelieve that India and Pakistan nowat each others throat were once onenation? The same goes for the Bal-kan states in Europe etc.

Even here in Nigeria the minori-ties are often at each othersthroats.That this corrupt nation re-mained united to date looks like agrand cosmic plan.

There are also secession move-ments in Spain,UK and by someblacks in USA but they still managealong, so Nigeria needs to beunited.

Anonymous 2347067515592

J Lawani

IDIOTS would read,hear and seethe evil atrocities of the Fulanis’ in

this Lugard’s creation but shamelesslylook the other way. Are they scared of theFulanis because of their brutality orwhat?Let one Idiot please answer thisquestion that needs urgent answer.

They will prefer to show their hate,strength and anger on peaceful Igbos’that believes in live and let live. Their hateagainst Igbos’ are obviously because oftheir success in this contraption. I believethat Igbos would have been loved by theirhaters,had it been they were as wretchedas the murderous Janjaweed.

Why do people prefer darkness tolight?You will hear them urge NigerianMilitary to crush the Biafran peacefulagitators but kept quiet when Fulani kill-ings are mentioned..Riding on the backof the same evil Fulanis’ to attack andthreaten Igbos’..

I will love to see a One on One confron-tation of the Igbos’ by any tribe withoutthis united evil front. Conspiracy andtreachery should be made an abomina-tion in Yorubaland before it becomes a wayof life. Anyway,we still have people withgood conscience in SW,so all hope is notlost..

Sunday OdehIt is possible that Fulani may have been

wronged. But if a man is always righteverywhere he goes, and as such takeslives at any slightest provocation, don’tyou think that person is actually a bundleof trouble in himself? No man can be al-ways right in all conflicts he is involved.Trust me, your comment is unpatrioticbrother.

Ekpe MahmudIt is weakness and laziness of the com-

munity concerned. They did this to Hausaand d Hausa dealt with them and todaythey are at peace. They will continue solong as no resistance is on ground to putpaid to their madness

Fr. Mbaka creates 4,500 jobsfor unemployed

Donabilly 771Pope must hear this. What! Is Mbaka a

business man or a priest? Wonders shallnever end. People of God listen and goand read. Luke:18:22, Mathew 19;21,Mark 10: 21, Listen to the word of Godand obey them than following an ordi-nary business politician father. Open youreyes end time is near.

Followers of this man must be careful, Aman that call his people evil is today pro-viding jobs to evil, all are wonders. Openyour eyes. This is another way of enslav-ing people for not support their freedom,He is evil and we must say it; let thosewho have ears hear. How much is theirsalary?

When did Jesus employ workers or havea company? Nnamdi Kanu is the Mansent by God to take you to promise landwhere you will work and get paid. Don’tabandon him as he is suffering for you inprison. Go get what belongs to you thansearching for peanut. God bless Biafra.

LukesonOguchiLukeIs Mbaka a business man? How come

he suddenly is now so rich after?

Boko Haram: FG urged toban use of veils

Ladan Zakari MuhammedNo way! Enemies of Islam.

Muhammad Mamman GargaHow did Mary in the bible use to

dress please?

Munonye Ifeoma OnyinyeYes my dear but She didn’t cover her

face. It was open. The banning is forthe good of us all, if only it will bemaintained.

Odiaka GodsownA Muslim fundamentalist one like

Buhari cannot accept that, he can sac-rifice all Nigerians instead.

JeleelabasBan hijab. It is being used to commit

evil. Let us start from there. Whyshould women wear hijab anyway? Itis oppression. Why should men forcewomen to cover themselves when themen are free to walk around and com-mit immorality in brothels all over? Re-public of Chad has banned hijab.

They are more Islamic than Nigeriabecause the percentage of Muslimsthere is more than that of Nigeria. Theybanned it because of terrorism. Nige-ria should ban it too. All these rubbishstarted a few years ago nationwidewhen they started their sharia non-sense.

Then we have all these terrorism allover. Yes, the ban will not completelysolve the terror issue. But it is one ofthe ways of dealing with it. This is nota matter of religion. This is a matter ofnational security.

Stop threatening public peaceor…, IGP tells MASSOB

Promise Onwudiwe NweluMr IG! release their leader if you

need peace.

Abuabakar S. UmarIgbo people don’t deceive your-

selves, you can not win this war . itsbetter for u to come back to your sense

Milky Victor Chukwuemeka‘Who is terrorising public peace, the

people doing a peaceful demonstra-tion or the ones violating the laws bymaking the zoo a lawless society

Moweta TonyTell that to Boko Haram in the north

and not unarmed civilians. CowardNigeria Police.

Frank IykeWho gathered infested firewood

should not complain of the conse-quences... Thank God for technology!because all there killing against peace-ful protesters are been documented!

Governors and the mini-mum wage

Dangkat IdrisAny governor that cant pay the min-

imum wage should immediately resignAghahowa Igiebor MabelThe incompetent Governors should

quit office, if they don’t know theirwork. Governors have to reduce theirown Salaries by 50% and cancel everyother allowances they collect alongwith their monthly salaries, so that thepoor minimum wages of #18,000 canbe successfully paid to the workers.

Fulani herdsmen kill palm wine tapper,injure one other in Delta

VIRGINIA

KAPTAIN AFRIKA in “Pretty Lunatic’ By Andy Akman

[email protected]

TERROR MUDA in “Never say goodbye” By Lanre Kehinde

HOME & ABROAD By Lawrence Akapa

ASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGASTROLOGICAL COUNSELLINGSend ySend ySend ySend ySend your datour datour datour datour date and place of bire and place of bire and place of bire and place of bire and place of bir th tth tth tth tth to the Aso the Aso the Aso the Aso the Astrtrtrtrtrologicalologicalologicalologicalological

Counselling, PCounselling, PCounselling, PCounselling, PCounselling, P.M.B 1.M.B 1.M.B 1.M.B 1.M.B 100000000007, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos7, Apapa, Lagos

YOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAYYOUR LUCK TODAY

By Joshua Adeyemo Phone 08056180139


L E I S U R ETHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAYTHOUGHT FOR TODAY

By Richard EromoseleTAURUS: EVEN, if friends and others are helpfuland pledging loyalty today, they may be forced andget on your nerve tomorrow when effects of full-moon’ll come to play.

GEMINI: WHATEVER can lead to avoidable troubletomorrow, either at home or along your career/business lines, should be well taken care of today.Be very open.

CANCER: YOUR best bet today is to seek importantco-operation of influential people and that of yourspouse/partner. The more legal conscious you are,the better for you.

LEO: IF others want you to conclude an importantfinancial transactions that can possibly be donetoday, you’ll need to say no and go ahead astomorrow may not be as conducive as today.

VIRGO: IT’S important you don’t take things andpeople for granted now because they may not be asco-operative tomorrow as they are now. Be moreloving.

LIBRA: ALTHOUGH there seem to be an air ofunderstanding within your working arena today,tomorrow’s full-moon may turn the whole thing theother way.

SCORPIO: HERE is an exciting day that will climaxtomorrow. After a long time, others will see howpassionate you can be even in love. Don’t gamble,please.

SAGITTARIUS: IF your desire is to make moneytoday, you will need to be less emotional and preparefor domestic challenges tomorrow. Enjoy your lovelife.

CAPRICORN: GOOD relationship between themoon in Capricorn and lucky Jupiter in your starsign will bring you good opportunities. Be lessargumentative.

AQUARIUS: THIS is your day when things will goaccording to your plans. Financial success indicatedbut if you wait till tomorrow, opposition’ll bringdisappointment.

PISCES: THE moon in your star sign thatencourages you to be as assertive are likely tooppose you tomorrow. Try to be more friendly.

ARIES: HAPPENINGS within your working arenashould be taken more seriously now or else,avoidable trouble would start tomorrow. Again, it’simportant you are more practical about your health.Be more loving.

Dear Joshua,I have been following your works in the newspapersfor many years and the truth is you are very good. Itherefore want your in-depth analysis and tell meabout my social life, luck and the time I am likely tohave my much desired break-through in life.Anonymous, Nigeria.Dear Anonymous,What you will find here-under will answer yourquestions. Social life will always bring you attentiongood luck envy opposition and possibly fame.Aquarius and Leo are two most active social Starsigns. And you will notice that your natal Venus inTaurus, Moon in Aquarius and Uranus in Leoformed T-Square aspects putting Venus as point-focus, meaning that the best way for you not to beconstant loser in the social world is to always studysituation practically and know that your financewill not suffer (if it can not be beneficiary) from thesetting before taking responsibility.As for influential friends you will have them butnever always take them for granted. Yes you can bea self made man but it is indicated that there will betimes when both human and divine assistance willlift you up. You will have more to gain by your beingspiritual .Saturday born people are favoured byBLACK and golden colours.Sudden SUCCESS will come your way during your44th year on earth and will serve as a break-throughyear you can build great foundation of endlesssuccess on. But the same 44th year will bring loverelated challenges you must manage with allmaturity or else it will linger till after your 46th yearon earth.

What’s my immediate future

Do you really love God?I guess your answer

will be yes.But let me ask you

directly,do you loveOkoro?

Do you also loveAhmed? How aboutWale,do you lovehim too?I ask this be-

cause the reason whyNigeria is the way it istoday is because we donot practise love. Truelove does not seek itsown. True love is self-less. True love knows

no ethnicity. True loveis kind. The holy writsays, if you love Himyou should feed Hissheep. How manyhave you fed?Now,it’svery easy to give ex-

cuses on why we denysomeone love.

The truth is that loveis not earned.

Can you imaginewhat would have beenyour fate if you need toearn the love of God?

If you truly loveGod,you will loveyour neighbour.

VANGUARD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 —49

Collapse of Palestinian Authority’llthreaten security— John Kerry

THE US secretary ofstate has warned Is-

rael on the danger of apossible collapse of thePalestinian Authority,saying its demise wouldthreaten the security ofthe Jewish state.

John Kerry said callsfrom some Israeli politi-cians to let PalestinianPresident Mahmoud Ab-bas’ administration with-er are counterproductiveand self-defeating for Is-rael.

If it were to happen,Kerry said, Israel wouldbe forced to assume allgovernance in the occu-pied West Bank.

Kerry also said withouta two-state solution, Is-rael would be forced intoan unsustainable posi-tion of perpetual occupa-tion that would be reject-ed by Palestinians andthe international commu-nity.

“If there is a risk thatthe PA [Palestinian Au-

thority] could collapse -and it is in Israel’s inter-est for it to in fact survive,as the prime ministersuggested - should moretherefore not be done to

help sustain it?” saidKerry, speaking at theBrookings Institution inWashington DC on Sat-urday.

Governor of Aden killed inIslamic State attack

ISLAMIC State militants say they carried

out a bombing that killedthe governor of Yemen’sport city of Aden.

Jaafar MohammedSaad and several aidesdied when their convoywas hit. IS says it deto-nated a car laden withexplosives as he droveby.

The group has estab-lished a presence in Ye-men since its civil warbroke out.

It is opposed to thegovernment and Irani-an-backed Houthirebels who have seizedmuch of the country,including the capitalSanaa.

Earlier this year, Adenwas recaptured by gov-ernment troops backedby a Saudi-led coali-tion.

Mr Saad was ap-pointed Aden governorin October.

Jimmy Carter says his braincancer is gone

FORMER US President Jimmy Carter

has said that his braincancer is gone, US me-dia report.

The 91-year-old madethe announcement dur-ing a Sunday schoolclass in Plains, Georgia,the Atlanta Journal-Con-stitution (AJC) newspa-per said.

Mr Carter, who waspresident from 1977 to1981 and won a Nobel

Peace Prize in 2002, an-nounced his illness inAugust.

Last month, Mr Cartersaid he was respondingwell to treatment andthere were no signs offurther cancer growth.

Jill Stuckey, a memberof the congregation atMaranatha BaptistChurch in Plains,toldAJC that Mr Carter wasteaching the class ofabout 350 people whenhe made the announce-

Myanmar: Ex-military leader backsSuu Kyi

MYANMAR’s formermilitary ruler sees

erstwhile foe Aung SanSuu Kyi as the country’s“future leader” and haspledged support for herin a secret meeting, thegeneral’s grandson said.

Details of Friday ’smeeting between the twowas revealed by GeneralThan Shwe’s grandson,who acted as intermedi-ary.

He said in a Facebookpost the meeting hadlasted two-and-a-halfhours.

Ms Suu Kyi led herNational League for De-mocracy (NLD) party toa landslide election vic-tory in November.

The election was the

first openly contestedgeneral election in My-anmar (also known asBurma) in 25 years.

His grandson NayShwe Thway Aung quot-

ed him as having saidin the meeting: “It isthe truth that she willbecome the future lead-er of the country,” and“I will support her withall of my efforts”.

France holds first electionssince Paris attacks

FRANCE’s far-rightNational Front (FN)

is widely predicted towin control of at least oneregion for the first time,as the country holds re-gional elections threeweeks after the deadlyattacks in Paris.

Both FN leader MarineLe Pen and her niece,25-year-old MarionMarechal-Le Pen, wereexpected to performstrongly in the first roundof the poll on Sunday, as

they capitalise on their anti-immigration andsometimes Islamopho-bic message.

Polls opened at 08:00(07:00 GMT) and willclose at 20:00 (19:00GMT), with some 44mpeople eligible to vote.

Ballots are cast undertight security withFrance in a state ofemergency after theParis attacks on Novem-ber 13, in which 130people were killed.

B/Faso charges former coupleader over murder of Sankara

AUTHORITIES inBurkina Faso have

charged a general wholed a failed coup in Sep-tember with complicity inthe 1987 assassination ofPresident Thomas Sanka-ra, senior security sourc-es told Reuters.

Sankara’s murder is oneof the most high-profilekillings in Africa’s post-in-dependence history andthe charge against GeneralGilbert Diendere appearsto represent a break-through in a case that hashaunted the West Africancountry for decades.

It follows a pledge bythe transitional govern-ment to investigate themurder and a decision in

May to exhume the re-mains of a body believedto be Sankara’s, whichwas buried at a cemeteryon the outskirts of thecapital Ouagadougou.

“General Gilbert Dien-dere is formally chargedin the Thomas Sankaracase,” said a senior se-curity source with directknowledge of the case.Diendere was chargedlast month with complic-ity in assassination andattack, the source said.

Diendere’s lawyer,Mathieu Some, told Re-uters on Sunday his cli-ent had been chargedover Sankara’s deathand he would preparehis legal defense. The

charges are yet to bemade public.

Ten others, less seniorthan Diendere, have al-ready been charged. Thesenior security officialsaid most were soldiersin the elite presidentialguard of former Presi-dent Blaise Compaore,who was ousted in Octo-ber 2014.

Diendere was Com-paore’s intelligencechief and right-handman. In September, heled the presidentialguard in a short-livedcoup in which soldierstook transitional Presi-dent Michel Kafandoand the prime ministerhostage.

Libya’s rival parliament reachtentative agreement

LIBYA’s two rival parliaments have reached

an initial agreement aimedat resolving the political cri-sis that has plagued thecountry for years.

The deal, agreed at talksin Tunis, is intended to leadto a single government andelections within two years.

It needs to be endorsed byboth the internationally rec-ognised parliament in east-ern Libya and the Tripoli-based General NationalCongress (GNC).

The agreement is separatefrom UN efforts at media-tion in Libya.

The United Nations spe-cial envoy to Libya, MartinKobler, called it a very goodbasis for going forward.

In October, the UN sub-mitted its own blueprint fora deal leading to a unifiedgovernment, but neitherside has endorsed it.

The UN is due to hostpeace talks between the

two factions next weekin Rome.

Libya has been unsta-ble since long-servingstrongman Muammar

Gaddafi was toppled inOctober 2011, with mili-tias ruling various partsof the country.

Seychelles heads for anelection run-off

THE Seychelles willgo to an unprece-

dented presidential elec-tion run-off after all sixcandidates in the firstround failed to secure a50 percent share of thevote, the electoral com-mission said on Sunday.

“We will have to go intoa second round,” saidHendrick Gappy, chair-man of the SeychellesElectoral Commission.The next vote begins onDecember 16.

The Indian Ocean ar-chipelago nation of 115islands and 93,000 peo-

ple went to the polls topick a new president onDecember 3 in the three-day vote.

The incumbent Presi-dent James Michel, 71,won 47.76 percent of the62,004 votes that werecast, while his closestchallenger, WavelRamkalawan, a 54-yearold Anglican priest,scored 33.93 percent.

Michel, who touted hiseconomic credentialsduring the campaign,said the result showedhis Parti Lepep, or Peo-ple’s Party in Creole,was still dominant.

Senior Pastor of House on the Rock Church, Pastor Paul Adefarasin stand-ing second left on the back row alongside some international and local gospelartistes shortly before the commencement of International Gosptel Concert,The Experience which was held in Lagos.

Recently appointed governor of Yemen's Port Cityof Aden, Major General Jafar Mohammed Saadwho was reportedly killed yesterday in a bombblast by ISIS.

VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardCLASSIFIED

BENSON—I, formerlyknown and addressedas BensonA k p o r m e j e m eAdjenughure, nowwish to be known andaddressed as ElliotOjeme Adjenughure.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

OTU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Affiong Otu,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Affiong DaniellaOkolie. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

UGAGBE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Idiagbor AzubikeUgagbe, now wish tobe known andaddressed as IdiagborAzubike Favour. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

A N Y A N W U — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissCelestina AmarachiAnyanwu, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Celestina AmarachiOnyejiaka. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

EBIWONJUMI—I,formerly known andaddressed asEbiwonjumi IfeoluwaGrace, now wish to beknown and addressedas Alabi IfeoluwaGrace. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

AGBAJE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Agbaje AbideenAdio, now wish to beknown and addressedas Shokunbi AbideenAdio. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

P A T I E N C E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as PatienceUkanwa Ugah, nowwish to be known andaddressed as FavourUkanwa Ugah. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

ANI—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Ani EuchariaAmauche, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Okafor EuchariaAmauche. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Confirmation of NameI hereby confirm thatOkorie Mark Chinuais the same person asOkorie MacmayfordChinua. All formerdocuments remainvalid. WAEC, AccessBank, Diamond Bankand general publicplease take note.

F A D O L A P O — I ,formerly known andaddressed as Mr.Fadolapo DavidAkinola, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mr.Aboyeji David Akinola.All former documentsremain valid. AccessBank and generalpublic please take note.

OKPARA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Okpara ChristianaUgochi, now wish tobe known andaddressed as TimothyChristiana Ugochi. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

Confirmation of NameThe names, ObasiDaniel Odinakachi,Odinakachi Obasi,Obasi Odinaka D. andObasi Odinaka refer toone and the same me.I now wish to beknown and addressedas Obasi OdinakachiDaniel. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Correction of Name

I hereby wish to affirm

that my name was

wrongly written as

Umaru Faruk, instead

of Umar Farouk. All

former documents

remain valid. General

public please take

note.

O K E S A N Y A — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissOkesanya EstherMotunrayo, now wishto be known andaddressed as Mrs.Obialor EstherMotunrayo. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

NKECHUKWU—I,formerly known andaddressed as AnthonyJohn Nkechukwu,now wish to be knownand addressed asAnthony JohnOgeleka. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

J O S E P H A T — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MaryJosephat, now wish tobe known andaddressed as YaahayaMaria Ojochide. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

O R E K O M I — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissOrekomi BukolaSenami, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs. IgeBukola Senami. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

Correction of NameOBIAJULU—I wish tostate that my name waswrongly written asMmuogboh ObiajuluEjike, instead ofMmuogboh EjikeVincent. I now wish tobe known andaddressed asMmuogboh EjikeVincent. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ORITSESEYIGBEMI—I, formerly known andaddressed asO r i t s e s e y i g b e m iEkwejunor-Etchie,now wish to be knownand addressed asSheyi Ekwejunor-Etchie. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

FA DA H U N S I — I ,formerly known andaddressed asFadahunsi Remi, nowwish to be known andaddressed as AjayiRemi. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

AWUBA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Idoko RoseAwuba, now wish to beknown and addressedas Miss Idoko RoseEne. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

JABORO—I, formerly

known and addressed

as Miss Jaboro Dorcas,

now wish to be known

and addressed as Mrs.

Ikpeni Dorcas. All

former documents


public please take note.

Confirmation of NameThe names OnojeruoSamson Tega andOnojevwiona Samsonrefer to one and thesame person. I nowwish to be known ansaddressed asOnojeruo SamsonTega. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ALFRED—I, formerly

known and addressed

as Miss Alfred Hope,

now wish to be known

and addressed as Mrs.

Njidda Hope. All

former documents


public please take

note.

Confirmation of NameThe names OkotietieSunday and OkotietieTimothy Eseoghenerefer to one and sameperson. I now wish tobe known andaddressed asOkotietie TimothyEseoghene. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O N I Y A M A H — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissBlessing GoddayOniyamah, now wishto be known andaddressed as Mrs.Blessing GoddayAbutor. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ESONU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss ChinwenduFavour Esonu, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Chinwendu FavourNdukwe. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

A R E O M M B I — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissFavour Areommbi, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Favour Nikateri. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

OKE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Kareem WasilatAdejoke, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Kareem-Oke Wasilat Adejoke.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

MKPARU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss IfeyinwaAugustina Mkparu,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Ifeyinwa AugustinaOkpala. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Confirmation of NameThis is to confirm that IkpiEdet, Ikpi Edet Eteng, IkpiGodfrey Eteng is the sameperson. The BankVerification Number(BVN) 22175704978,registered in Ikpi GodfreyEteng is valid. That IkpiEdet Godfrey Eteng isvalid. All formerdocuments remain valid.Nigerian Police Force,University of Nigeria,Nsukka; UBA Plc, FirstBank and general publicplease take note.

E K P E R I G I N — I ,formerly known andaddressed as HildaEsinjolomi Ekperigin,henceforth wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs Ifeoluwa HildaIgun. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General Publicplease take note.

C H I J I O K E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as Mr.Gozie ChijiokeEzughalu, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mr.Gozie ChigiokeEzughalu. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

P A T I E N C E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissMercy Okujo Patience,now wish to be knownand addressed asMercy PreciousOmorogie. All formerdocuments remainvalid. Banks andgeneral public pleasetake note.

OGADIE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Ogadie PhilipOkeoghene Helen,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.E g h w u b a r eOkeoghene Helen. Allformer documentsremain valid. Anyauthority it mayconcern and generalpublic please takenote.

E F F I O N G — I ,formerly known andaddressed as EffiongSunday WilliamsObot, now wish to beknown and addressedas Idongesit SundayWilliams. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

E D E R A R O — I ,formerly known andaddressed as VeraOsaruemen Ederaro,now wish to be knownand addressed as VeraO s a r u e m e nEkhorutomwen. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

I B R A H I M — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MrsJemila Sadat IreneIbrahim, now wish tobe known andaddressed as MissIrene Nwamaka Osemeka. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publictake note.

B A B AT U N D E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissBabatunde AbimbolaFunke, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. OshodiAbimbola Funke. Allformer documentsremain valid. ContactMarketing ServicesLimited and generalpublic take note.

IGBO—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Igbo EstherChinenye, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Chimereze EstherChinenye. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Reconciliation of NamesThe names CalistusGabriel and CalistusChibo Ofuegbu refer toone and the sameperson. I now wish tobe known andaddressed as CalistusChibo Ofuegbu. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

O D I M E G W U — I ,formerly known andaddressed asOdimegwu AnneOnyemaechi, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Igwegbe AnneOnyemaechi. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

50—Vanguard, MONDAY , DECEMBER 7, 2015


Delta Airlineflies over900,000passengersfrom Nigeria in8years

By Lawani Mikairu

LAGOS — Delta Airlinehas airlifted over 900,000

passengers from Nigeria inthe last Eight years. Thiswas revealed by the airlineCommercial Director, Eastand West Africa, Mr. BobbyByran while fieldingquestions from aviationreporters and giving anupdate of the airlinesactivities during the yearand its projections in thecoming year.

Byran also said that Deltawill continue to fly theLagos route as Nigeria as adestination is one of theairlines strong markets,adding: “Africa is the futureand Nigeria is the future ofAfrica.The Nigerian marketalways comes back againstthe run of play. In otherclimes, other markets haveperiods where there istraffic peak and when it islow but the Nigerian marketis the exception.

“Delta started servicebetween Nigeria and theUnited States in December2007, since that date wehave carried over 900,000passengers on the route.Delta is now the only airlineto operate a daily year-round service between theU.S. and Lagos. Onaverage we carryapproximately 10,000passengers per month."

IbacommunitycelebratesOseni's 40th

coronationanniversary

INDIGENES of Ibacommunity recently

went agog as theycelebrates the 40thcoronation anniversary oftheir paramount ruler, HisRoyal Majesty, AlayeluwaOba Yushau Goriola Oseni1, JP, the Oniba Ekun ofIbaland, who ascended thethrone at the tender age of32 years.

Under His Royal Majesty,Ibaland has witnessedcomplete transformationfrom a remote village settingto a modern town attractinginvestors and visitors fromother part of the country astheir second home.

In a released, HRM ObaYushau Goriola Oseni, said:“When I ascended thethrone at the tender age of32 years, I saw the task ofleading the political andspiritual affairs of Ibalandand Awori Ajeromi districtcouncil as absolutelyenormous for me toshoulder."

VanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardVanguardCLASSIFIED

A K H O G B A — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissAkhogba OnoMaureen, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Amende Ono Eda. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

BOMO—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Bomo YawoNelson, now wish tobe known andaddressed as BomoCharles YawoNelson. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

Confirmation of NameI, Apodobeyai

Ebiarede Jonathan dohereby confirm thatthe names ApodobeyaiEbiarede refer to oneand same me. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

Confirmation of NameI, Diseye Isaac

James do herebyconfirm that thenames Diseye IsaacJames Obas,ObasIsaac Diseye andDiseye Isaac refer toone and same me. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

IBANGA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Dorcas VictorIbanga, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs Dorcas VictorIkonoh. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

E K E O C H A — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissJuliet .N. Ekeocha,now wish to be knownand addressed as MrsJuliet .N. Iheanacho.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

ALLI—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss HalimatOlanike Alli, now wishto be known andaddressed as Mrs.Halimat Aliyu Ibrahim.All former documentsremain valid. NYSCand general publicplease take note.

NJOKU—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Mr. Njoku JustinChimezie, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mr.Gabriel JustinChimezie. All formerdocuments remainvalid. First Bank,Diamond Bank,Ecobank and generalpublic please takenote.

E K A N D E M — I ,formerly known andaddressed as JosephSamuel Ekandem,now wish to be knownand addressed asJoseph SamuelJoseph. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O N Y E A K U S I — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissOnyeakusi Joy Ngozi,now wish to be knownand addressed as MrsIbanga Joy Ngozi. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

ONAH—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss OnahNkiruka Rita, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Ikewuibe NkirukaRita. All formerdocuments remainvalid. Institute ofManagement andTechnology (IMT),NYSC and generalpublic please takenote.

OKOH—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Okoh HelenChinenye, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.I k e c h u k w uOnuchukwu HelenChinenye. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

OKOSUN—I, formerlyknown as Miss OkosunPhilomina Ekeoseya,now wish to be knownand addressed as MrsErobomhan PhilominaEkeoseya. All docu-ment remains valid.General public pleasetake note.

Confirmation of NameI, Mr. Onobrenufe JohnUvwo, wish to state thatOnobrenufe John Uvwo,Onobrenufe Uvwo Johnand John Okiamu Uvwoare the same. Alldocuments bearing any ofthe above names are mineand remain valid andauthentic. The generalpublic and whomever itmay concern shouldplease take note.

O M A S A N — I ,formerly known andaddressed as AdidiRebecca Omasan, nowwish to be known andaddressed as AkpedeRebecca Omasan(Mrs). All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

OKONTA—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss OkontaIsioma Fidelia, nowwish to be known andaddressed asAmakubukuro IsiomaFidelia (Mrs). Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please takenote.

A N T O I N E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MedjiAntoine, now wish tobe known andaddressed as MedjiAnthony Friday. Allformer documentsremain valid.Diamond Bank Plc,Ecobank and generalpublic please takenote.

ENUENWEMBA—I,formerly known andaddressed as MissE n u e n w e m b aChukwutem Favour,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Chukwutem FavourEfiri. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

UZOR—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Uzor AlmasNneka, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. Nneka AlmasEnairuoghene. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

U M U K O R O — I ,formerly known andaddressed as PrincessCecilia CynthiaEyifoma Umukoro, nowwish to be known andaddressed as CeciliaEyifoma. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

EGODO—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss EgodoTemituokpe Blessing,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Agbada TemituokpeBlessing. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

IDEHEN—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Itohan MaryIdehen, now wish to beknown and addressedas Mrs. Itohan MaryOsakwe. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

EYEKOMIOGBA— I,formerly known andaddressed as MissSarah OniovosaEyekomiogban, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Sarah Oniovosa Aya.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

OZOBE— I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss LuckyOghenerobo Ozobe,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Lucky Oghenerobo Odiete. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

O M O D I A G B E — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissOmodiagbe GladysIyenguwhena, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Nwachukwu Gladys.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

BETHEL— I, formerlyknown and addressedas Bethel ComfortNgozi, now wish to beknown and addressedas Nwagu ComfortNgozi. All formerdocuments remainvalid. Diamond Bankand the general publicplease take note.

G O D S P O W E R — I ,formerly known andaddressed as MissGodspower Evelyn, now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Obukowho Evelyn. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

E S E M U E D E — I ,formerly known andaddressed asM i s s E s e m u e d eJennifer, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs.Aminaghan Jennifer.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

BASSEY—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss Toby JoyBassey, now wish tobe known andaddressed as Mrs. JoyAkaniyene Paul. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic please take note.

AKPOFE—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss AkpofeMariagoretti Ebere,now wish to be knownand addressed as Mrs.Agunwa MariagorettiEbere. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

ONAH—I, formerlyknown and addressedas Miss OnahPatience Ifeoma, nowwish to be known andaddressed as Mrs.Ihejiawunze PatienceIfeoma. All formerdocuments remainvalid. General publicplease take note.

FORENQUIRIES

CALLADVERT

HOTLINE:01- 4544821

YOU CAN BOOK YOUR ADVERT AT: TRINITY MALL,

79/81 OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY, IKEJA.

CALL: 08035449960, 07031322957MURPHÝ'S PLAZA

27, SANUSI FAFUNWA STREET,VICTORIA ISLAND.

CALL: 08038092373, 08033163424


On paper we are as good as thethird place match against SouthAfrica and a remote chance of

smuggling ourselves to Rio

Rough road to Rio

I DO not think Nigerian coaches and players know my age. If they did, they would not have

conspired to send me to my grave before my time.After the Federation Cup Final, I told a colleague

that I cannot count the number of matches I havewatched, a situation that should save me from un-necessary tension and fear, yet the last five min-utes of that match was hell for me as Lobi Starswere on the rampage threatening to draw level.

Yesterday I was all nerves as Manchester Unitedstruggled to ward off an ambitious West Ham team,preventing us from going top of the table ( Yes“us”ahahahahaah)

I remember Pointe Noire and the struggle to qual-ify for the CAF U-23 Nations Cup and how we sweat-ed, waiting anxiously for the referee’s final whis-tle.

Of late,the National teams have also not helpedme. Imagine our U-2O girls leaving it till the re-turn leg in South Africa to qualify for FIFA. Whatabout the national team? The unexplained woefuloutings against Tanzania and Swaziland?

Perhaps the one that beats them all is the current“Dream Team” campaigning in Senegal. I watchedthe team take a commanding three goal lead againstMali, only to leave me a nervous wreck at the endof the match with Mali at the point of coming back.

Then came the Egyptians, two penalty goals inthe first half and before we knew it, Egypt was onthe verge of beating us after drawing level

Despite Coach Siasia’s assurances that they weregoing to make amends ( Said the same after theMali match ) yesterday I told my wife I was notgoing to watch the match against Algeria. I told herI was certain Egypt will go all out to beat Mali,while we could not swear on our team anymore, soshe should keep me posted.

The first good news I got from her was that Maliwere leading the Egyptians and they maintainedthe position till the end, while we struggled to holdthe Algerians thanking God for the draw that hasexposed us to a possible ouster by the host.

When God damned kidnappers held Siasia’s moth-er hostage, my heart bled for him. I knew there wasno way he could concentrate on the job at hand andI feared for the worst. As God would have it, his

dear mother was released in time to allow him facethe task at hand. With the current results however, Iam led to believe that Siasia could not do muchwhile the mother was in captivity.

That brings me to the Amuneke example. Last weekI received a call from him and in the course of ourdiscussion , he was grateful to all those who stoodby him in the course of his travails. He was particu-larly pleased with the NFF leadership for believingin him after he could not pick even a bronze in theAfrican U-17 qualifiers. Today he is a World Cupwinning coach.

Siasia has wobbled and fumbled into the semi fi-nals. He is one match away from a Rio ticket andthe challenge are the rampaging Senegalese com-plete with home support.

On paper we are as good as the third place matchagainst South Africa and a remote chance of smug-gling ourselves to Rio.

Let it be said however that you underrate a Nige-rian team at your peril. It would have been okay for

them if they had bundled us out. Now that theyhave given us a window to peep in, we are set toopen the door wide and walk in, boldly.

That was the nature, character and spirit of ouryouth and women teams. Now, things seems to befalling apart. Eagles free fall, All Africa Games dis-aster, and Olympics miss by the women.....time toarrest the situation. Over to you Sia Sia, anotherchance beckons.

History... Honour... Houses...Money... God... Thanksgiving...Africa...

Yesterday, the Government of Akwa Ibom State wentto church to give Thanks to the Almighty God forthe success of Akwa United.

Quoting Governor Udom Emmanuel the Thanks-giving marks the end of celebrations. “ Back to busi-ness. Africa calls.” He ordered.

Represented by the Sports Commissioner SirMonday Uko, Governor Udom thanked AkwaIbomites for their prayers and promised that theFederation Cup was just the beginning of a greaterfuture for the state.

In his sermon, the Field Superintendent of theApostolic Church in Akwa Ibom State apostle ImeGeorge attributed the victory to God’s favour andacceptance of the leadership of the state. To thedelight of those present, he chronicled the historyof Challenge cup from inception to the present dayand thanked God for making His light to shine onAkwa Ibom.

In his own speech, the Chairman of the club, Ak-parawa Nse Ubeh gave God all the glory for thevictory. He said left for the team alone, there wasno how the team could have won the cup but thatwith God all challenges were surmounted.

He thanked the state Governor, the Commission-er for sports, his board members, management, staffand players for making him an history maker, whilepromising that with God on the side of the teamand the state, Africa will be conquered.

The service was marked with songs and dancesgalore. See you next week.

AFTER almost eight months of absorb-

ing tennis action acrosssome states of the coun-try, Team Tombim wereweekend crownedchampions of the inau-gural NCC TennisLeague.

In the grand finaleheld at the Lagos LawnTennis Club and watch-ed by the creme-de-la-creme of the society,comprising the first vicepresident of Nigeria, Dr.Alex Ekwueme and Pro-fessor Bolaji Akinyemi,the Abuja based TeamTombirin carted homethe whopping N5mprize money after beat-ing Team Civil Defence4-2 in the seven matchchampionship deciderwith the final mixed dou-bles match becoming in-consequential.

The hero of the finalday turned out to be 22year-old Christian Paul,who with a lowly rank-ing of 27 in the nationalrankings as certified bythe Nigeria Tennis Fed-eration, stunned DavisCup regular ad former

O’jez aims at world champs

Fanfare as Team Tombim win NCCTennis Cup

By John Egbokhan

Nigerian number one,Abdulmumuni Babalolain the first singles andthen immediate past na-tional champion, Chris-tian Enosoregbe in thematch that clinched thetie for his team.

The Abuja-based TeamTombim had taken a 2-1lead into the final daybut national ladies’champion, ChristieAgugbom, squared the

tie after defeating SarahAdegoke in three en-gaging sets1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Team Tomirin assertedtheir advantage whenMoses Michael outlast-ed Babalola 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the fifth rubber andPaul ended hopes of alate-fightback by win-ning the second reversesingles. For their effort,Civil Defence got N3million.

ON the backdrop of the dominance of

his players in the justconcluded 47th AsojuOba Table Tennis Cham-pionships, financier ofO’jez Sports Academy,Joseph Odobeatu, sayshis objective is to nurtureAfrican and world cham-pions in table tennis andother sports as his con-tribution to Nigeriansports development.

O’jez players seizedthe stage in the AsojuOba Championships,producing all four men’ssingles semifinalistswith Adeyinka Ahmedand Ayo Omotara pro-viding a dramatically

pulsating final that keptspectators on edge forthe duration.

Club chairman ays it isa great beginning to hiscommitment to contrib-ute his quota in the de-velopment of Nigerianathletes. “We have juststarted and our successin this outing is very en-couraging. This is asports academy and ouraim is to catch themyoung and make Niger-ia and Nigerians proudon the local, continentaland world stages. wepreparing them for thefuture to make Nigeriagreat again in the sport,”Odobeatu said.

THE courts of theLagos Lawn Tennis

Club will literally burnfrom today as

15th Governor’s CupLagos Tennis Champi-onship serves off, withNigerian players scram-bling for precious worldranking points to boosttheir stunted careers.

About 20 matches inthe Men and Womensingles main draw areon the card, with nofewer than eight Nige-rian players enteringthe main draw, courtesyof wild cards extendedto them by the SaniNdanusa-led NigeriaTennis Federation.

Gov’s Cup: Nigerians scramblefor ranking points

But for the wild cardsgranted them, most ofthem would have playedthrough the qualifyingdraw often seen as a tor-tuous path to get into themain draw of tourna-ments of this nature.

Moses Michael will bechampioning Nigeria’sbid of an unlikely shot atthe top prize in the firstweek of the tournament.As the highest rankedNigerian in the draw andstill fresh from helpingTeam Tombim win theNCC Team Tennis title onSaturday, Michael willface treacherous watersin the hands of betterequipped players fromEurope, Asia and Amer-

ica, who have all con-verged on Lagos for theonly international rank-ing event in the country.

Also in the spotlight isRussia-based Nigerianangel, Melissa Ifidzhen,who marked her entry inthe local scene in a bigway after winning theladies singles title at theCentral Bank of NigeriaChampionship, held ear-lier in the year in Lagos.

Bosnia and Herze-govina player, Aldin Set-kic is the highest rankedplayer in the tourna-ment. With a singlesranking of 231, he is thefavourite to win themen’s tittle while Frenchlady Sherazad Reix isthe women’s top seed,all thanks to her currentranking of 247

By John Egbokhan

CHAMPS... Former Vice President, Dr. Dr. Alex Ek-wueme and other guests during the trophy presenta-tion to Team Tombirin at the final of the NCC TennisLeague on Saturday.


Govt reject Naira rain for victorious Eaglets

Areward package proposed by the

sports ministry for Ni-geria’s team to the re-cent FIFA U-17 WorldCup in Chile has beenrejected by the country’sgovernment as “too out-rageous”, sources at thePresidency have re-vealed. The governmentof President Muham-madu Buhari has sound-ed it loud and clear thecountry ’s coffers arehugely depleted and assuch it cannot afford un-necessary expenditure.

The Golden Eagletsreceived cash gifts aswell as national honourswhen they clinched a

record fourth World Cuptwo years ago in AbuDhabi. But the team whoretained this champion-ship in November maynot be that lucky.

“The proposal sent tothe presidency on what

should be given by gov-ernment as reward tothe Eaglets followingtheir victory in Chile hasbeen rejected. Govern-ment said it does not re-flect the current econom-ic realities,” a source

simply informed.It was earlier reported

that the team would befeted by President Bu-hari on November 29 atthe Aso Rock Presiden-tial Villa, but that did notcome to pass.

lese at the 1992 AfricanCup of Nations at theLepold Sedar SenghorStadium, and go all outwith confidence onWednesday, to get a re-sult that will secure theirpassage to the Rio 2016Olympic Games.

“I would have preferredto play Senegal in the fi-

nal but I have to do at thesemis. It will be a greatmatch because they willhave the public behindthem and we have to playand win.

“At the Africa Cup ofNations in 1992, I scoredhere (Leopold Sedar Sen-ghor Stadium), and this

is why most Senegaleseremember me. I will bearound my players to re-peat it next Wednesday,”said the former SuperEagles striker. He statedthat he was happy theteam reached the semi-final.

“I congratulate my teamfor not conceding andqualifying for the semi-finals. The most impor-tant was to qualify and wehave achieved it. We wishwe could garner the threepoints but I’m happy withqualifying and gettingcloser to Rio de Janeiro.”Siasia fulfilled his pledgeof rewarding the teamwith 100 dollars each.

Nigeria are undefeatedafter three matches, afterwinning their first gameat the tourney againstMali and drawing the lasttwo with Egypt and Alge-ria. Only the top threecountries will representAfrica at the 2016 Olym-pic Games .

Continues from BP Siasia

S/Africa coach dreams final slot

na’ will battle Algeria inthe CAF U-23 AfricanNations Cup semi-finalson Wednesday night inDakar, Senegal.

“The dream lives on.When we left home themission was to qualifyfor the Rio OlympicGames, and we are stillon track,” Da Gama saidfollowing Amagluglug’s1-0 defeat of Tunisia inM’Bour this past Friday.

“We mentioned that we

will take it one game at atime, and it has workedfor us. We did not wantto get ahead of ourselvesby thinking about the fi-nal before we had evenqualified for the last-four.Now we are just onematch away from achiev-ing our dreams.

“It would make life somuch easier if we wereto qualify for the finaloutright and eliminateall the pressure. Thatwould also be killing two

birds with one stone –qualifying for the Olym-pics and playing in thefinal.” The Bafana Bafa-na assistant coach is con-fident his outfit can over-come the North Africansat Léopold Senghor Sta-dium. “We have to bevery optimistic. We haveto be very positive andtell ourselves that wehave a very good chancein this game and mostlikely the opposition willbe saying the same.

Continues from BP

Victor Moses out six weeks

they are the only sidewith a 100 per centrecord after defeatingSouth Africa (3-1), Tuni-sia (2-0) and Zambia (1-0) to finish top of GroupA. It was apparent thatthe 55-year-old Swissfeared that a semifinalclash with Senegal willbe too much of a contestfor his men after theirgruelling 0-0 match-upwith Nigeria.

The former FC Sionmanager is pleased thathis Algerian under-23sare facing South Africaand is already focusedon the match.

“Now we will prepare

for the match againstSouth Africa because itwas important to avoidthe host country in thesemifinals,” he said.

He is also talked abouttheir “match aftermatch” approach as wellas coming off a difficultgame with Nigeria.

“I am glad we endedthe top of the group andqualified for the semifi-nals of the Under-23 Af-con. Our approach ismatch after match. I amsatisfied with our per-formance overall, andagainst a tough oppo-nent like Nigeria,” saidSchurman.

Algeria coachContinues from BP

out with a hamstring in-jury after the 0-0 drawwith Manchester United.Moses hobbled off in thefirst-half of their stalemateas the Hammers avoideddefeat at another of thePremier League heavy-weights following wins atArsenal, Manchester Cityand Liverpool.

The winger joins anever-growing injury listwith Dimitri Payet, EnnerValencia, Diafra Sakhoand Manuel Lanzini allfacing spells on the side-

lines.Bilic bemoaned his

team’s luck, but said thewell earned point at OldTrafford was made morespecial due to the lack ofattacking options.

“We have to wait for ascan but it doesn’t lookgood,” he said.

“It’s not like cramp. Idon’t know if it’s three,four, five or six weeks. Itis painful to be withoutDimi Payet, Enner Valen-cia, Diafra Sakho,Manuel Lanzini and nowVictor Moses.

Continues from BP


CMYK


CMYK

Printed and Published by VANGUARD MEDIA LIMITED, Vanguard Avenue, Kirikiri Canal, P.M.B.1007, Apapa. Phone: Newsroom: 018773962. Deputy Editor: 01-4548355. Advert Dept Hotline: 01-4544821. Abuja Advert Hotline: 09-2921024. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Advert:[email protected]

Website: www.vanguardngr.com (ISSN 0794-652X) Editor: MIDENO BAYAGBON. Phone: 01-7742861, All correspondence to P.M.B. 1007, Apapa Lagos.

How to Play Sudoku

Place a number (1-9) in each blank cell. (No line canhave two of the same number).

Each row (nine lines from left to right), column, (alsonine lines from top to bottom) and 3 X 3 block within abold block (nine blocks) contains number from 1through 9. This means that no number can appear twicein any block, column or row.

No mathematics is involved – no adding, subtraction, divisionor multiplication, just plain logic and your imagination.

FRIFRIFRIFRIFRIDDDDDAAAAAY'S ANSY'S ANSY'S ANSY'S ANSY'S ANSWERSWERSWERSWERSWERSTTTTTODODODODODAAAAAY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLEY'S PUZZLE

Vanguard, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7 , 2015

CMYK

QUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORDQUICK CROSSWORD

YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS

ACROSS1 Formula (6)5 Strengthened (6)9 Fish (5)10 Allow (6)11 Interior (6)12 Inclined (5)14 Pace (4)17 Colour (3)18 Lake (4)20 Consumer (5)22 Drilled (5)23 With claws (7)24 Started (5)26 Principle (5)29 Hero (4)30 Crowd (3)32 Entice (4)33 Aviator (5)35 Lecture (6)36 Aeroplane (6)37 Memorise (5)38 Knocked (6).39 Costlier (6)

DOWN1 Rest (6)2 Floor-covering (6)3 Bucket (4)4 Go in (5)5 Unseeing (5)6 Tear (4)7 Stove (6)8 Dashed (6)13 Air-spray (7)15 Domesticated (5)16 Leaf (5)18 Pattern (5)19 Allude (5)21 Managed (3)22 Wager (3)24 Lodgings (6)25 Tattle (6)27 Figure (6)28 Tormentor (6)30 Booby-trapped (5)31 Plank (5)33 Staff (4)34 Prong (4)

ACROSS: 4, Fling 7, Callow 9, Too 10, Rat 12,Owner 13, Chef 15, Irate 17, Guitar 19, Role 20,Agent 22, Dip 24, Derided 27, Met 28, Roost31, Fear 33, Siting 35, Actor 37, Erse 38, Cavil39, Nag 41, Saw 42, Pursue 43, Hewed.

DOWN; 1. Acacia 2, Allege 3, For 4, Foot 5,Lower 6, Needless 8, Wait 11, Tradition 14,Fund 16, Arid 18, Item 21, Generate 23,Peri 25, Rest 26, Done 29, Ogress 30, Teemed32, Raise 34, Trap 36, Clad 40, Gun.

AS Nigeria prepare to take on hosts

Senegal in the semi-finalof the CAF Under-23 Af-rica Cup of Nations,coach Samson Siasia hasacknowledged that itwill be a tough task fac-ing the Senegalese infront of their vociferousfans.

However, he has urgedhis team members to rollback to 1992 when hescored against Senega

CAF U-23 AFCON:

Senegal will be a high hurdle —Siasia

Algeria coach happyto avoid Senegal

*Schurman

ALGERIA Under-23 head coach Pierre-

Andre Schurman has nothidden his joy at facingSouth Africa in the sem-ifinals of the Under-23

Afcon, and not Senegal.The Senegalese are the

hosts of the ongoing Un-der-23 Africa Cup of Na-tions and apart from that,

Govt denies Naira rain for victorious Eaglets—

Pg.

53

EPLNewcastle 2 Liverpool 0SERIE ABologna 3 Napoli 2Atalanta 3 Palermo 0Fiorentina 3 Udinese 0Frosinone 0 Verona 2Hellas 0 Empoli 1LA LIGAR/Sociedad 2 Eibar 1Villarreal 2 R/Vallecano 1BUNDESLIGAVfBStuttgart1 W/Bremen 1LIGUE IMarseille 2Montpellier 2

RESULTS



SOUTH Africa U-23 coach Owen da

Gama says the team isone match away fromachieving their Olympicdream.

The ‘Baby Bafana Bafa

S/Africa coachdreams finalslot

Victor Mosesout six weeks

WEST Ham coachSlaven Bilic has

revealed that Victor Mo-ses could face six weeks



*Samson Siasia

*TOUGH CALL...Nigeria’s NdifrekeEffiong Udo (3)Muhammed Usman(10) restrainAlgerian attackerZinedine Ferhatduring their CAFU-23 AFCON match.

Documents

Bayelsa polls: Dickson ahead, wins in 4 LGs