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Opposition Parties Drag President to Court over IG’s Tenure Udora Orizu in Abuja Opposition political parties under the aegis of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Police Service Commission, and the Inspector General of

Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, before a Federal High Court in Abuja to stop alleged plot by the president to extend the tenure of the IG that expires in January 2019.

The parties are complaining that the extension would place the outgoing police boss in

a position to be used by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to unduly influence the 2019 presidential election.

In a statement by CUPP spokesperson, Mr. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the plaintiff said the legal action is to ensure

that the constitution is not violated and that a partisan IG, whose membership of the Police Force will expire on January 15, 2019 after reaching the mandatorily 60 years retirement age, is not allowed to remain in office to avoid endangering the

electoral process, democracy and the lives of our citizens.

According to Ugochinyere, "This opposition's legal offensive, which was filed at a Federal High Court Abuja few days ago with suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/1570/2018 and instituted

by the National Chairman of Action Peoples Party (APP) and spokesperson of the opposition coalition, CUPP on behalf of the CUPP, is seeking the court's interpretation.

“Such interpretation is on Continued on page 8

NNPC: Daily Petrol Consumption Averages 53.2m Litres in Nine Months… Page 8 Friday 28 December, 2018 Vol 23. No 8654. Price: N250

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Miyetti Allah Endorses Buhari for President No vacancy in Aso Rock until 2023, says Marwa Segun James A Fulani socio-cultural group, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has endorsed

President Muhammadu Buhari as its presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections.

The endorsement came as the former military governor of Lagos State, Brig. Gen.

Buba Marwa (rtd), said all those seeking to occupy the Aso Rock Presidential Villa should wait till 2023 as Buhari would be returned to power in 2019.

The National President of MACABAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Kirowa, announced the endorsement at the 2018 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the

association, held yesterday at the International Women Development Centre in Abuja.

Kirowa explained that the group decided to unanimously endorse Buhari because of

the numerous achievements recorded by his administration in the areas of infrastructural development, youth Continued on page 10

Zamfara Killings: Yari Backs Call for Emergency Rule Saraki charges Buhari to take full, direct control FG to mobilise additional security to end carnage, says Dambazzau Deji Elumoye in Abuja Apparently overwhelmed by the unrestrained carnage in his domain, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State yesterday backed a call on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency in the state.

Yari, according to News Agency of Nigeria, spoke at a press briefing in Gusau and said, “I am also in support of the declaration of state of

emergency if it will save the lives of people of the state.”

Four university lecturers had in a statement made available to THISDAY on Wednesday called on the president to declare a state of emergency in the state over the massive violence and killings occurring in the North-west state.

The dons, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim of Centre for Democracy and Continued on page 8

Presidency Carpets Atiku for Criticising 2019 Budget ... Page 49

THE PEOPLES BUDGET...

L-R: Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa; Clerk of the House, Ms. Lyna Ocholor; and Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, during the signing of Delta State Appropriation Bill 2019 by the governor, in Asaba… yesterday

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NNPC: Daily Petrol Consumption Averages 53.2m Litres in Nine Months Chineme Okafor in Abuja Nigerians consumed a total of 479 million litres of petrol from January 2018 to September 2018, representing an average of 53.2 million litres daily for nine months, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has disclosed.

NNPC’s operational and financial results for September 2018 also showed that the country consumed 80 million litres of petrol per day in March 2018, up from the 41 million litres consumed daily in December 2017.

The corporation also indicated that its refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt, and Kaduna, which have a combined refining capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, made profit only in one

month in a period of one year - September 2017 to September 2018.

In the operations and financial report for the month of September 2018, which was obtained by THISDAY yesterday in Abuja, the corporation stated that while daily petrol consumption by Nigeria’s domestic market jumped from 41 million litres in December 2017 to 80 million litres in March 2018, the refineries were only able to make a profit of N6.3 billion in April of 2018, and recorded losses in the other 11 months.

According to the NNPC, in September 2017, daily national petroleum consumption was 31 million litres.

The daily consumption, however, moved up to 52 million litres in October; 26

million litres in November; 41 million in December and 49 million in January 2018.

According to the report, the rise in consumption levels continued in February with 67 million litres, and then hit the all time high of 80 million in March.

The report added that it dropped to 53 million in April; 38 million in May and 44 million in June.

In July, it further dropped to 39 million litres and rose again to 54 and 55 million litres in August and September of 2018, respectively.

NNPC did not explain the reasons for fluctuations in the national petrol consumption levels in the monthly report.

The corporation had explained in the recent past that most of the petrol

it imported into Nigeria was smuggled out to the neighboring West African countries where the price of product was higher than Nigeria’s N145 official price It had also stated that it was working with the Nigerian Customs to stop such smuggling operations.

ReďŹ neries Recorded ProďŹ t Once in One Year With regards to the operations of its refineries, NNPC, explained that in September 2017, they recorded a deficit of N3.5 billion; N7.7 billion in October; N11.14 billion in November and N11.095 billion in December.

The report showed that the losses continued in January

2018 with N13.5 billion; N8.05 billion in February; N11.8 billion in March, and then a profit of N6.3 billion in April of 2018.

The profit was not sustained as N20 billion, N14.5 billion, N10.4 billion, N10.7 billion and N6.9 billion were recorded as losses in May, June, July, August and September respectively. “The Corporation has been adopting a merchant plant refineries business model since January 2017.

The model takes cognisance of the products worth and crude costs. “The combined value of output by the three refineries (at import parity price) for the month of September 2018 amounted to N1.44 billion while the associated crude plus freight costs and

operational expenses were nil and N8.41 billion respectively.

This resulted to an operating deficit of N6.97 billion by the refineries.�

On transfer of funds to the joint venture cash call account for oil production between September 2017 and September 2018, the report stated: “Total export crude oil and gas receipt for the period September 2017 to September 2018 stood at $5.31 billion.

Out of which the sum of $3.94 billion was transferred to JV Cash Call as first line charge and the balance of $1.37 billion was paid into Federation Account.�

It added that within the period under review, the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) received total of N1,530, 512,921.061 from proceeds of oil sales.

must immediately come out with a proper understanding of the situation, the right strategy and deployment of the necessary troops to tackle the menace. We must within the next few days send the right signals to the criminals in that area that the Nigerian State will no longer tolerate the on-going blood-letting.�

killings in the state. “We are committed to working closely with the state government to deploy more security resources to the state,’’ he said.

Ehisienmen said the minister was further briefed by heads of security agencies in the state, in order to put in place additional proactive measures to restore peace needed to protect agricultural and mining interests in the state.

According to the statement, Dambazzau was received by the state’s Acting Governor Mr. Sanusi Rikiji, and other members of Zamfara Executive Council.

The minister later proceeded to the palace of Sarkin Katsina Gusau, Dr Ibrahim Bello, the Emir of Gusau.

He said Dambazzau, while at the palace also delivered Buhari’s message, and assured the Gusau emirate of government’s commitment to ensure law and order in the state.

ZAMFARA KILLINGS: YARI BACKS CALL FOR EMERGENCY RULE Development, Abuja; Dr. Abubakar Mohammed, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Zaria; Prof. Massoud Omar, Centre for Democratic Research and Training, Zaria; Dr. Saluihu Mustapha, Department of History, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; and Malam Mohammed Abubakar Nasiru, also of Department of History, Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria, had asked the president to intervene in Zamfara because the situation had gone out of control of the state government.

Also urging decisive action

by Buhari yesterday was the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who said the spate of killings in the state had become unacceptable.

Yari pleaded with politicians not to politicise the worsening security situation in the state.

He said, “We are talking about the lives of our people and this needs the coming together of all, so that the crisis can end. “If the provisions of my office had allowed me to carry arms against the bandits, l would have done so. “But, if I am not around, there are capable hands that collaborate with the security team in the fight against the bandits.

“The security men are doing their best. But, it is sad to know that some of the people involved in the kidnappings are close relatives or associates of the victims, which is part of the reasons the problem is persisting. “We must all come together and expose anyone or group that is part of these hoodlums, and we should also pray for Allah’s intervention . �

Bandits had continued to elude security measures put in place by both the state and federal governments, killing and maiming innocents citizens at will.

Saraki Calls for Decisive Presidential Action Speaking on the issue, Saraki called on Buhari to take decisive action towards arresting the spate of killings in Zamfara State.

The senate president’s charge come as the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdurrahman Dambazzau (rtd), assured Nigerians of the federal government’s readiness to deploy additional security resources to end the destruction of lives and property in the state.

Saraki in a statement

yesterday by his media adviser, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, said Buhari should take full, direct control as former President Goodluck Jonathan was urged by the opposition to take full control in 2014.

He argued that the president should urgently give a marching order to the various security agencies, telling them to give him progress report on a regular basis.

"The president has to take full, direct control. May be the president must widen the consultation within the armed forces on the search for solution to this problem.

He must go beyond the first line military top brass. We need to get ideas from more sources than we presently do,� he said.

According to him, there is need for us to use the Zamfara case to demonstrate to all criminal elements that the government will not tolerate those who hide under whatever guise to shed human blood in our country. “We should look at the Zamfara killings as a major threat to our democracy, particularly as we move towards election period in the next 50 days. We should not allow criminal elements to take over parts of the country. The situation

in that state is an example of why we need to overhaul our security architecture in order to bring them to a state where they can tackle emerging challenges,� the Senate president said.

He described the killings as barbaric, unacceptable and called on the security agencies to swiftly devise a strategy to put an end to the ugly situation.

Saraki pointed out that the situation in Zamfara State is a demonstration that unlike in 2015 when the only crisis point in the northern part of the country was the North-east zone, the North-west has today been engulfed by a bloody situation in which human lives are wasted on a daily basis.

According to him, the killings have gone on for too long and the situation has not been given the desired attention as well as the right strategy that will stop it, adding that there was a clear indication of systemic failure.

He said, “There is need for certain and proper profiling of the situation so that we can know whether it is simple cattle rustling, vicious armed robbery on a large scale, religious cum ethnic crisis or invasion by foreign forces. “Our security agencies

FG to Mobilise Additional Security in Zamfara Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Dambazzau, has assured Nigerians of the federal government’s readiness to deploy additional security resources to end the destruction of lives and property in Zamfara State.

Dambazzau gave the assurance in a statement yesterday by his Press Secretary, Mr. Osaigbovo Ehisienmen.

The minister said the president had commiserated with the government and people of the state, following attacks by suspected bandits, which claimed property and hundreds of lives of innocent Nigerians.

Dambazzau expressed Buhari’s deep concern about the unrepentant attitude of the perpetrators of senseless

OPPOSITION PARTIES DRAG PRESIDENT TO COURT OVER IG’S TENURE whether by the combined provisions of Section 215(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that the appointment of a new IGP shall be made from among serving officers and the provisions of Rule 020810 of the Public Service Rules, which places the cap for retirement at 60 years or 35 years of service, whichever comes first, IG Idris, who was born on 15 January, 1959 and who by 15 January 2019 will turn 60 (retirement age) and consequently cease to be a police officer, can be reappointed as IG in violation of the constitutional provision, which clearly stipulates that

only serving police officers are to be appointed.

"It is based on the above, that the suit is seeking a court declaration that IG Idris is not eligible to remain in office after 15 January, 2019 having attained the retirement age of 60. “CUPP is also seeking for an order to restrain President Buhari from reappointing or extending the tenure of the IG beyond 15 January, 2019.�

He called on the president to immediately direct the Idris to proceed on terminal leave as it is less than one month to his retirement date of January 15, 2019.

"This call is to achieve the

dual purpose of allowing the president who is usually too slow in making appointments to have at least one month to make up his mind and appoint another IG and also allow the IG time to commence his mandatory one-month pre-retirement workshop/ seminar and put his records straight so as to facilitate the speedy processing of his retirement benefits," he said.

He added that the issue of the retirement of the IG is yet another integrity test for the president, adding that the plan for the secret extension of the tenure of the IG will be

unconstitutional, unlawful and unacceptable.

He stated that it would also further expose the president’s desperation to win the elections by foul means.

Meanwhile, Ugochinyere has raised the alarm on an alleged plot by the APC to inaugurate former Director General of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, as the Head of the Security Committee of the 2019 APC Presidential Campaign Council.

He said, "This move is another assault on our democracy, the march for free and fair election and public decency. The move

has confirmed our stand years back that the former DG's anti-democratic actions especially his failed attempt to overthrow the leadership of the Parliament led by Saraki had the blessing of the President Buhari led APC government.

"This shameful move, going by the history and records of the former DG who led many illegal assaults against human rights activists, judiciary officers, political opponents, religious groups, etc. is aimed at compromising the independence of our security agencies and drag them into the APC's desperate move to retain power at all cost."

TOP GAINERS CONOIL MUTUALBENEFITS NPFMFB FORTEOIL TRANSCORP TOP LOSERS UACN NEMINSURE NIGERINSURE

NGN NGN 2.10 23.10 0.02 0.22 0.15 1.65 3.10 34.35 0.12 1.34 NGN 1.20 10.80 0.27 2.68 0.02 0.22 WEMABANK 0.05 0.56 UPL 0.12 2.00 HPE Nestle Nig Plc â‚Ś1,617.10 Volume: 452.262 million shares Value: N2.608 billion Deals: 3,521 As at yesterday 27/12/18 See details on Page 43

% 10 10 10 10 9.8 % 10 9.1 8.3 8.2 5.6

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Prove Alleged Shares Acquisition by Buhari’s Relatives, Presidency Challenges PDP Omololu Ogunmade, Adedayo Akinwale and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The presidency last night dismissed the threat by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to expose members of President Muhammadu Buhari's family who were alleged to have owned N1 trillion shares in both Keystone Bank and 9mobile.

Reacting to the allegation last night in a telephone conversation with THISDAY, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the presidency had no proof of such accusation and hence would not react to an allegation that could not be proved.

He challenged the opposition party to make real its threat by making public the evidence that it claimed to be at its disposal.

"We don't have any evidence of that allegation.

We can't react to what we don't have any evidence about. They should go ahead and bring out the evidence," Adesina insisted.

The Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation also challenged the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, to prove, with documentary evidence, its allegation that relatives of President Muhammadu Buhari illicitly acquired shares in the two companies.

The spokesman of the campaign, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), spoke again yesterday, asking the PDP to come forward with its verifiable evidence of the claim and be forever quiet.

He said, “We also urge the PDP to stop making wild, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption without a modicum of proof. We have no time to respond to any allegation by the PDP without the backing of some kind of document or proof. When we see some scintilla of proof, we shall respond appropriately. “And that is how we have treated the recent allegation of acquisition of shares in Etisalat and Keystone

Bank by some supposed ‘family members’ of the president. No name was mentioned and no document was shown. Until you mention names, addresses of properties mentioned, we cannot follow them on a wild goose chase.�

Atiku had on Wednesday in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, alleged that some family members of the president acquired shares in Keystone Bank and Etisalat (now 9Mobile) and threatened to release more details about how the said family members allegedly acquired N1.032 trillion shares in the two companies.

The PDP campaign organisation's Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, reiterated this yesterday, telling journalists in Abuja that Buhari no longer has the moral standing to seek re-election until he directly responds to Atiku’s revelation that the president’s relatives have soiled their hands in the alleged corruption scandal.

Ologbondiyan challenged Buhari to explain how his family members came about N1.032 trillion for the alleged acquisition.

He explained that it was not an issue for Buhari’s aides to howl about in the media, as it touches directly on his person, particularly his perception as a symbol of the Talakawa, while also calling on him to address the issue.

He stressed that the president should, therefore, not continue to dress himself in borrowed garb of integrity until he cleans himself of the stinking corruption of his acolytes, family and friends under his cover.

According to him, “It is a norm that he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Buhari and his family members have entangled themselves in corruption. Mr. President’s hands can no longer be said to be clean, until he proves otherwise.�

Ologbondiyan stated

businessmen and women on behalf of the First Lady.

He said Nigerians could also recall how the Buhari presidency gagged the confession of one Amina Mohammed, paraded by the Department of State Services (DSS), who stated in public that persons close to Buhari were involved in serial fraud and looting of public resources under the official cover of the Buhari presidency.

He added, “In fact, there is incontrovertible evidence, as provided by the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai that President Buhari is not as clean as his handlers want Nigerians to believe. “In October 4, 2010, el-Rufai accused Buhari of corruption in allowing 53 suitcases belonging to his ADC’s father to enter Nigeria unchecked at a time the country was exchanging old currency for new in 1984.

Ologbondiyan wondered why the president’s relatives continue to loot public treasury, and on the other

hand asked Nigerians to prepare for more hardship next year.

In a related development, Ologbondiyan has described Buhari’s desperate corruption attack on Atiku as a mere illusion.

He disclosed this in a statement yesterday in Abuja, where he said it was unfortunate that Buhari would resort to sponsoring fabrications and false allegations against Atiku just because he has been overwhelmed by Atiku’s soaring popularity and acceptance by Nigerians.

Ologbondiyan said, “Nigerians can also recall that on December 22, 2014, President Buhari in praising Atiku Abubakar’s immense business acumen, through which he provided employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians, described him as an “inspiration� and a man that has rendered ‘great service to Nigeria’.�

The PDP reminded Buhari that Atiku has never been charged, indicted nor convicted for any act of corruption by any competent authority whatsoever. “Moreover, President Buhari has been in office for almost four years and has never found anything incriminatory on Atiku that can warrant his prosecution despite being hounded under the Buhari administration,� he added.

Ologbondiyan noted that the president needs to be reminded that even the Chairman of his Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof.

Itse Sagay, after their detailed scrutiny, announced that they found no evidence of corruption against Atiku and consequently absolved him of all allegations.

He also explained that the United States Department of Justice had, in response to enquiry by a leading Nigerian newspaper in November of 2016, stated that, after scrutiny of public records, there is no criminal case against Atiku contrary to fabrications being promoted by the Buhari presidency.

Meanwhile, former military governor of Lagos State, Buba Marwa, has said that all those seeking to occupy the Aso Presidential Villa should wait till 2023 as Buhari would be returned to power in 2019.

Marwa said this while fielding questions from journalists yesterday in Yola, Adamawa State capital.

The former military governor, who is the chairman, presidential advisory committee on drugs, said he was confident that Buhari would defeat other presidential candidates in the 2019 election.

He said, “Buba Marwa Organisation was the first to organise rally in support of President Buhari in 2016,

because Buhari has done very well in three areas of economy, security and fight against corruption. “He will return for the second time by the grace of God, and for that, I have no doubt all those vying for Aso Villa should wait till 2023.�

On the recent security situation in the country, he said the Army and other security agencies have done excellently and need more support and encouragement from the public.

On illicit drugs, Marwa said the committee he was chairing had made several contacts and efforts to control the importation, consumption and dealing in such drugs and the trafficker.

Buhari categorically that Nigerians are not interested in mere rhetoric or attempts by the Buhari presidency to divert public attention from the issue at hand, but demand that Buhari, who hitherto prides himself as Mr. Integrity, squarely addresses these grave issues in person.

He stressed, “Nigerians and the whole world to note that President Buhari’s refusal to personally address this matter means consent. “We, therefore, dare President Buhari to put forth a denial on this disclosure by our candidate and we will spare no thoughts in furnishing the public with details of his corrupt activities within and outside Nigeria. “Our party has full details of how persons related to President Buhari, by consanguinity and affinity, have paved the way to loot trillions of naira from government agencies for corrupt acquisition of shares in major companies; purchase of expensive property within and

outside Nigeria, as well as to finance their very luxury lifestyles, under Mr. President’s cover. “In fact, no Nigerian has made more money in the last three and half years than relations of President Buhari, many of whom have found themselves controlling stupendous wealth frittered from our economy, yet our President is asking Nigerians to get ready for more hardship in the coming year. “Furthermore, our party is privy to the facts of how these relations of the President have been hounding government agencies, major business concerns and intending foreign investors over kickbacks as well as strangulating companies that refuse to accede to their demands.�

Ologbondiyan recalled how the Buhari Presidency muted the case of the Aide of the First Lady, Mr. BabaInna, who was arrested in September this year, over accusations of receiving N2.5 billion from politicians,

MIYETTI ALLAH ENDORSES BUHARI FOR PRESIDENT employment and security.

He, therefore, urged leaders and members of the association from local, state and national levels to mobilise support and ensure that Buhari was re-elected.

The National Secretary of MACBAN, Alhaji Baba Ngelzarma, commended the federal government for the robust measures taken by the military in eliminating cattle banditry and wanton killing of herdsmen and farmers.

Ngelzarma said the association would continue to collaborate with the security agencies in fishing out bad eggs within Fulani, saying, “As a credible organisation we do not and will not condone criminality in whatever form by our members.

“MACBAN pledges its loyalty and support to President Buhari for his laudable efforts of uniting the country, infrastructural growth of the nation and transforming the economic life of citizens for posterity.�

He, therefore, declared the support of MACBAN to the ongoing anti-corruption crusade of Buhari in its totality, stating that corruption is the harbinger of all the tension and crisis facing the country.

According to him, it is corruption that killed the livestock industry as well as other industries in Nigeria and gave rise to unemployment, low quality education, poor healthcare and high level of poverty in rural areas.

Ngelzarma expressed optimism that the federal government’s Livestock Transformation Agenda as articulated, if implemented fully, would provide a solution to the recurring herders and farmers conflict. “We appreciate government’s programmes of transforming the social lives of Nigerians through empowerment, agricultural development particularly the livestock subsector, where pilot programmes of developing water and pasture in long neglected grazing reserves has commenced,� he said.

He, however, appealed to all the Miyetti Allah officials and members to be law-abiding and avoid

frictions and utterances that are capable of heating the polity and go about their legitimate endeavour through harmonious relationship.

Ngelzarma frowned at the sensational and negative stereotyping of herders who are doing legitimate economic activity that contribute to the GDP of the country and ensuring food security.

He urged the media to be conscious of their reportage, which had the tendency to cause genocide, especially where herdsmen are described as killers and unwanted citizens even when they are victims of bigotry and xenophobia.

No Vacancy in Aso Rock until 2023, Says Marwa

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COMMENT

Editor, Editorial Page PETER ISHAKA Email peter.ishaka@thisdaylive.com

ACHILLES HEEL OF THE PHOENIX

Willy Eleje Abili writes that the nation’s weakest point is the prestige attached to power

W

e are once again at the watershed of national choice, which way to go. Our streets are awash with posters of aspirants and candidates. Some from political parties without form or traction, some debonair, some ugly, almost all aloof to the family of electorate, whose franchise is for pecuniary price or at best a guess-work. 2019 general election like others before it appears a looming ill-fate. As usual, we are left with an appalling sense of foreboding, sense of which we seldom make. As a people, the things we need to watch are best known to us. But perhaps, we are losing sight of them in a manner that does not require a seer to see. For men do not learn from history but we no longer even have history to learn in our schools. Perhaps it would do us little help to talk about them, for not to talk is the bane of the mouth.

My talking point nevertheless was not of study of facts, if any, relating to the topic. It is therefore unlikely to fit into popular narrative. Our public space has been that of institutions of counterfeit process and bogus system of expensive presidential democracy, deficient structure of fiscal federalism and insincere forbearance in inter-governmental relations.

State security, fiduciary and democratic institutional partisanship remain matters of interest of the day. We appear to have improvised a sit, on an explosive devise of vacuous youthful demography, ethnic irredentism, criminal insurgency and sensational media socialisation, stoking the embers of rancour. We are faced with judicial subservience, press encumbrance and at times with illegitimate executive. Our institutions of religion and tradition are compromised, leaving us with a down turn in moral values, malfeasance, double-standards and impunity.

We have no alphabet or lingua franca of our own and therefore lack mutual understanding a-build a babel-tower of clay footed-giant, an intractable mix of iron and clay. Our mingle in National Youth Service Corps, our only one-Nigeria interest in sports festivities, our respective unity of purpose in the commerce and municipality of Lagos and Abuja have atrophied. Our predicament is escalated by the generator mafia, transnational corporations, consulates, diplomatic missions, and other meddlesome interlopers which carry on as suzers, superintending over vested imperialism in our apparent sovereign vassal, in violation of the rules of international relations and law. These in arrears, have left us in a debt-trap peonage.

But at the root of all these matters of fact is not national interest but of self, in the prestige of power. Is it not baffling, for instance, that some ex-government functionaries, who clearly can access the top hierarchical needs of Maslow, keep looking emaciated but on up-take of public office, take on rosy and oily visage, looking kempt. They remained in obvious lavish food of the flesh but the soul stayed starved of own feed on honour, for the natural man is a victim of shame and pride. We also, as a people accord them the canvass to revel in self-adulation. We over-estimate the person which should otherwise have been ignored, if not for our value of official paraphernalia. Our juvenile values of exhibitionism, such as entourage, convoy, out-riders, siren, flag, appellations, tape-cutting and make believe. These are no ennobling values. A master would rather arrive in three-wheeler, or trekking in on

IN WHAT KIND OF HOUSE DID OUR FOUNDING FATHERS LIVE? THEY DID NOT LIVE IN CASTLES, YET WE REMEMBER THEIR NAMES

foot with both hands at the back of his hip akimbo, unheralded and hold everyone spell-bound, than riding rough-shod to a rousing and tumultuous welcome only to treat an inspired audience to a pedestrian homily. Surely, there must be a more sublime way to show form, than ostentation, for public office holders for everyone knows that the state coffer is at your disposal. In what kind of house did our founding fathers live? They did not live in castles, yet we remember their names, but how many people can tell the names of cabinet ministers in the penultimate administration? There is a certain account of a bank manager of one of the Nigerian banks in Ghana, who upon resumption at his new posting called to book appointment with the finance minister but found it was no big deal as he was casually ushered in at once by the minister’s secretary. Another account has it that, some group of African journalists were huddled together at the lobby of a five-star hotel in South Africa when the then President sauntered in, it was the Nigerian journalist that interjected, ‘is that not Thabo Mbeki!’?

The prime minister of Great Britain, boards the first class of a public train clutching his brief-case, unaccompanied. King Solomon was one of, if not the most prestigious leader of all times. The queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem, to prove him with hard questions. She came with a great motorcade bearing spices, so much gold and precious stones.

When she had seen all of Solomon’s wisdom, the house he built, the meat on his table, the sitting of his servants (as sitting governors), the attendance of his ministers, their apparel, his cup-bearers and the assent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD, her majesty was intimidated. She swooned and there was no more spirit in her. She confessed that her seeing was more than her believing of the report she had of the king. But the happiness of the king’s servants (and the constitutional role of government), was as attested by the queen, to have been defined by the king’s wisdom and not his splendour.

Similarly, the eunuch of Ethiopia was in great authority and in charge of her great treasure, but remained a show-case mannequin of Candace, until the animating of the essence of his being in baptism, on the way back from Jerusalem on pilgrimage. This was another proof, if any were needed, of the futility of material wealth and prestige of power. I believe that public office would become less attractive if we careless who one is or has, if only we would have a fair life-chance in pursuit of happiness, for it would appear to be more of prestige of power than passion for service that motivate our public office seekers, such that to get or stay there and take-all as the winner, is a do or die affair. They had no dream of their own therefore someone saw vision for them and like Simon the sorcerer, would make merchandise of sooth-saying. They are complicit in dereliction and graft and therefore impoverish our people, for he becometh poor that dealeth with a slack-hand.

But there is hope for our country in the prepared way of the kings of the east and a change in time and season. Our country is like the proverbial cat with nine lives, like the phoenix that arise on its heel out of self-cremation; from own ash we shall arise but our Achilles heel is prestige of power. But our country shall however arise and our people shall come back from the four corners of the earth‌.

ANAMBRA FLOOD, OBIANO AND FG It’s time to find a lasting solution to Anambra flood crisis, writes Chris Egbuna

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overnor of the old Imo State, the late Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe, counts amongst the leaders, living or dead, East of the Niger that many Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry. Mbakwe was the Second Republic Governor of Imo State (1979-1983). He was re-elected for a second term in 1983, and was in office until the military putsch that scuttled civil rule in late December of that year.

Like Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State today, Mbakwe was and is still acclaimed as one of the South-East leaders that dutifully accounted for his days in office, with several achievements so numerous to itemize here to his credit. However, Chief Mbakwe’s story cannot be complete without reference to the Ndiegoro flood disaster of 1980, viewed as one of the worst in the country’s recent history.

Several days of continuous downpour and the accompanying flood disaster left Ndiegoro, a suburb of Aba in the present Abia State, in ruins.

Indeed, the flooding got to roof top levels in some areas. This wasn’t a predicament Mbakwe felt he could bear alone as a state governor. He invited the then President Shehu Shagari to come down to Ndiegoro and personally witness the extent of destruction the floods perpetrated. As he was conducting Shagari round the disaster area, Mbakwe’s emotion gave way because of the extent of damage the flood did to life and property; and he started shedding tears. That was what earned him the nickname of ‘Weeping Governor’.

Mbakwe did not cry because he was a weak leader. Not at all! If anything, he was very vibrant and was also acclaimed as one of the most controversial governors of his era. He wept

because of the intense passion he had for the well-being of Imo people. For, leadership, in the reckoning of British-American author, motivational speaker and organisational consultant, Simon Oliver Sinek, “is not being in charge. Leadership is taking care of those in your charge�.

This happens to be the screen play in Anambra State presently, where Governor Obiano has found himself in a similar situation as Mbakwe’s in 1980.

Reports indicate that flood claimed four lives in the state between August and September this year. Among the latest victims was Okechukwu Osadebe, the 18-year-old son of the late highlife music maestro, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe.

Early in August, Obiano was in tears when he visited Umuria Village, Anaku in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state to commiserate with the Achebe family of Umuezechi kindred, which lost a pregnant woman and her daughter to flood recently at the Coscharis Rice Farm, Anaku following a heavy downpour.

The governor personally got to the victims’ compound, where he presented the sum of N.5 million to the family of the deceased to help mitigate the pains of the loss. He then proceeded to the farm where the victims died, and where some irate members of the community destroyed property worth over N50 million in a feat of anger. Obiano also paid condolence visits to the families of the late Mr. Michael Ejimofor Okolie of Ubaru Village, Igbariam; and the late Mr. Godwin Ezinwa of Achalla-Uno, Nteje, both of whom died in a flash flood. Another victim was named as nine-year-old Benedict Izuchukwu, a primary three girl and student of Light International School, Okoti, in Ogbaru LGA. Until the latest disaster, Anambra witnessed its last major flood crisis in October 2012, when flood sacked eight LGAs, with Anambra West and

Ogbaru LGAs completely under water. Homes, farmlands and means of livelihood and productivity estimated at billions of naira perished, though the loss of lives was minimal with just four casualties reported. In the latest disaster, the homes and farms of victims were also submerged, and four people lost their lives. Ogbaru LGA seems the worst hit, as all the 16 communities in the council area were submerged and hundreds of people now displaced.

Because of the recurrence of flood disasters in Anambra, the state administration at the last count had set up 28 internally displaced persons’ (IDP) centres. Within the confines of its resources, the Obiano administration has remained steadfast in the delivery of basic necessities to the camps.

They include buckets, mattresses, mats, mosquito nets and blankets from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). A 12-man Local Emergency Management Committee had equally been set up to ensure the effective rescue and coordination of victims, as well as the distribution of relief materials to those in IDP camps.

Governor Obiano has asked those residing in flood-prone communities to relocate, following his government’s identification of LGAs like Ogbaru, Ayamelum, Anambra West and Anambra East as flashpoints. Indeed, at a point, all primary, postprimary and tertiary schools in Ogbaru LGA were temporarily shut on the orders of the governor in response to the flood disaster.

The state government, in addition, made arrangements for the effective and efficient evacuation of residents of the affected areas and their relocation to designated holding centres.

The centres were provided with sanitary facilities, water boreholes, beds, cooking utensils, and foodstuffs. A number of water ambulances and other marine transport vehicles were on standby

as well. But like the chairman of Ogbaru LGA, Mr. Arinze Awogu lamented lately, what had been provided as aide to the displaced persons was still a far cry from what was required. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was in Anambra State to see things for self said when he was in Umueze Anam, Anambra West Local Government Area: “I flew over those disaster areas and I witnessed the rise in water level‌ We have directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to continue to deploy relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps and some homes where residents have refused to leaveâ€?.

With the Vice President’s visit also came the report that the federal government had declared Anambra, Niger, Kogi, and Delta states as a National Disaster Zone, with Taraba, Adamawa, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and Kwara States on the fringes for NEMA’s close monitoring. Such a declaration demands that the FG keeps a close watch on the latest flood-torn areas and the affected victims.

The prompt presence of the VP in Anambra State to commiserate with the victims of flood shows the national government also cares.

Perhaps, with its present classification of Anambra as one of the states that constitute the ‘National Disaster Zone’ the FG would now accord the state the urgent attention it deserves.

Governor Obiano, his government and the people of Anambra need immediate help to steer the state away from persistent flood-inflicted harm. A natural disaster like flooding requires effective and lasting containment measures, not recurring shedding of tears, showing of sympathy and catering for displaced persons.

The national emergency manger, NEMA, says it has introduced ‘preventive disaster management operations’.

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T H I S D AY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

EDITORIAL The Growing Menace Of Cultism The authorities could do more to contain the scourge

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rom Plateau to Ogun and Cross River States, the rate at which young men butcher one another in the name of cult killings has become a worrisome development.

Last week in Awka, Anambra State capital, there was a killing spree by members of rival cult groups leading to the death of no fewer than 15 persons. The state Police spokesman, Superintendent Haruna Mohammed, confirmed that the Command has embarked on an aggressive manhunt for the perpetrators of the killings “following actionable intelligence received about their hideouts.”

That cult wars and gang violence have exacerbated the climate of lawlessness and fear in our country is no longer in doubt. The menace has become so widespread that drug peddlers and other sundry miscreants are now being recruited into the fold. In many states of the federation today, cultists of various stripes act with impunity, killing, raping and maiming victims while causing widespread destruction. Yet the NO SANE SOCIETY SHOULD CONDONE THIS authorities seem helpless in dealing FORM OF BARBARITY with this crime.

THAT CONSTITUTES A For sure, cultTHREAT TO NATIONAL ism is not new SECURITY AND PUT THE in Nigeria. For a FUTURE OF OUR YOUNG very long time, several people have PEOPLE IN JEOPARDY identified with one form of cultism or another either for personal/family protection or for the promotion and safeguard of certain interests.

But today, cultism has become almost like a status symbol, especially on our campuses while members kill sometimes for reasons as flimsy as being snubbed by a student of the opposite sex. Cultism is a pervasive activity among students on our campuses, most of whom join the groups in their bid to exercise authority in addition to exacting revenge over rival groups. Young men and women unleash violence, anguish and pains on their

victims, families and the larger society. For them, the association with a cult group, usually after an oath of initiation, is a ticket to prestige and greatness.

But the menace has moved from the campuses of our institutions of higher learning to the streets and these criminal gangs operate without restraints, perhaps because they have powerful backers within the society. Not too long ago, some prominent personalities were among 67 suspected cultists arrested and quizzed in Benin City, the Edo State capital, by men of the special squad deployed in the state by the police authorities at the time, to curb the growing killings and cult activities. In the days preceding the deployment of the police team, some criminals said to be members of ‘Eiye’, ‘Black Axe’, ‘Buccaneers’, ‘Aiye’ and ‘Jurist’ confraternities had unleashed hell on the streets of Benin. The body count was 22 dead.

Among those arrested for their alleged involvement in the mayhem were 14 Junior Secondary School students between the ages of 12 and 15.

T T H I S DAY EDITOR BOLAJI ADEBIYI DEPUTY EDITOR DAVIDSON IRIEKPEN MANAGING DIRECTOR ENIOLA BELLO DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KAYODE KOMOLAFE CHAIRMAN EDITORIAL BOARD OLUSEGUN ADENIYI EDITOR NATION’S CAPITAL IYOBOSA UWUGIAREN MANAGING EDITOR JOSEPH USHIGIALE

T H I S DAY N E W S PA P E R S L I M I T E D EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHAIRMAN NDUKA OBAIGBENA GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS ENIOLA BELLO, KAYODE KOMOLAFE, ISRAEL IWEGBU, IJEOMA NWOGWUGWU, EMMANUEL EFENI DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS BOLAJI ADEBIYI, PETER IWEGBU, ANTHONY OGEDENGBE DEPUTY DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR OJOGUN VICTOR DANBOYI SNR. ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR ERIC OJEH ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS PATRICK EIMIUHI, SAHEED ADEYEMO CONTROLLERS ABIMBOLA TAIWO, UCHENNA DIBIAGWU, NDUKA MOSERI DIRECTOR, PRINTING PRODUCTION CHUKS ONWUDINJO

here is hardly a day when some young men and women would not fall victims to this goring spectre of criminal violence most of them as a result of battles for turf between rival cult groups. In many of the states, gang wars are now almost a daily fair with several innocent bystanders becoming victims. What is even more worrisome is that members of many of these cult gangs are also involved in armed robbery and kidnappings as the nation has, in recent months, witnessed with the ‘Badoo’ cult group in Ikorodu in Lagos State.

No sane society should condone this form of barbarity that constitutes a threat to national security and put the future of our young people in jeopardy. We therefore call on the federal government to deal ruthlessly with the problem of cultism including taking appropriate measures against the sponsors of this savagery. It should not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law in dealing with culprits involved in this depraved way of social behaviour.

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DON’T PLAY WITH OUR HEARTS

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his past week has been filled with numbers. It’s the end of the year, and that means it’s the end of the fiscal year, too. So, on top of the unfortunately all too regular number of soldiers killed by terrorists and farmers suffering at the hand of herdsmen, we also received a preliminary budget for 2019 and an update by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on the current state of employment.

And the numbers were truly frightening.

First the unemployment – an incomprehensible rise of five million people since the beginning of 2018. With unemployment now standing at 23.1%, it is no wonder that an estimated 90 million Nigerians survive on less than $1.90 (700 Naira) a day. This points to an incompetent government which, while the whole world is enjoying stable growth, missed the train and is sending us back years.

And what is their response? Feigning ignorance and distorting reality. While presenting the budget, President Buhari stated that “the

economy has recovered from recession and we have had six quarters of growth since then”.

On the first look, this statement sounds great; but digging a bit deeper, the statement reveals just how problematic it is. For example, GDP of the third quarter of 2018 grew by 1.81% compared to last year. Yet, our population has been steadily growing every year by over 2.5% for the last 20 years at least. Hence, there is not enough economic growth to provide all the adolescents with jobs – in fact we have gone backwards by 0.7%. And thus, the unemployment rate keeps on growing.

In economics, it is of utmost importance to put numbers in perspective, and to draw conclusions only after cross-referencing them with other factors of national importance.

Whoever doesn’t do so wants to lead the public wilfully astray and should not be trusted to lead our nation. I think it is time to replace that failed general who can’t even provide our country with security, let alone understand economics.

Lawrence Gemade, Abuja

THE BURDEN OF RESPONSIBILITY

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n old saying teaches that “Strong people make things happen; weak people let things happen.” We all know that the deepest wisdom lies with our elders and ancestors, and I couldn’t help but recall this saying when following the news over the weekend.

It seems to be a global trend today to shirk the responsibility for one’s actions instead of owning them up. Nobody wants to take up the burden of their actions, or lack thereof, and the ensuing consequences.

We see this regularly on a global level, especially in the West: they want economic development and to stay rich, but none of them wants to deal with the consequences of the climate change they provoked. They want to start wars and change regimes, but don’t want to rebuild the country afterwards and help the people left with a devastated country.

It is especially saddening to see our government copy exactly this character-trait

of the West. Instead of owning up to their actions during their reign which has lasted now almost four years, all we hear is complaints about the government before them!

They started with this at the vice-presidential debate, and now again VP Osinbajo claimed that all the woes that have befallen his administration aren’t his fault at all.

This leaves us with two possibilities only: either he is plainly lying publicly, which would automatically disqualify him from holding any public office. Or he is, according to the saying above, part of a group of “weak people” who “let things happen” passively instead of actively fighting for and changing our future.

I don’t know which is worse. All I do know is that in either case, there is no place for him, his cronies and his party to lead our country. We deserve straight, strong leaders, who are looking forward to tomorrow’s opportunities instead of complaining about yesterday’s mistakes. We need change.

Victoria Abuto, Abuja

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T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018

Group Politics Editor NSEOBONG OKON-EKONG

POLITICS

Email: nseobong.okonekong@thisdaylive.com 08114495324 SMS ONLY

PERSPECTIVE

PDP’s Rugged Game Changer Nosike Ogbuenyi

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or the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the recent vice presidential debate was a veritable game changer. Prior to the debate, there was a certain air of doubt and cynicism regarding the choice of Obi as the PDP presidential running mate. The skepticism was worsened by the initial propaganda against him by All Progressive Congress (APC) hawks as anti-north and his labeling by the eccentric Catholic cleric, Father Ejike Mbaka as stingy.

However, the sparkling performance of former governor of Anambra State and its vice presidential candidates’ debate has in one fell swoop erased all the cynicisms with Obi steadily emerging as a veritable game changer in favour of the presidential candidate of the PDP Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. In all the post debate online opinion polls conducted by government and public media organisations after the debate who regaled his audience with an avalanche of statistics, has beaten Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and three other co-debaters. The implication is that his profile together with that of his principal, Atiku Abubakar has been soaring since.

It was with the bolstered zest that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar declared that Nigeria has not produced leaders like himself and his running mate, Mr Peter Obi, running together on a single presidential ticket. He spoke at a town hall meeting with representatives of the business community in Aba, Abia State.

According to Atiku, he and Obi were both gurus in business and governance who can make the country work again. He averred that Nigeria has not had on a single ticket two experienced men that have the passion to develop and grow the economy since 1960, the country gained independence.

His words, “To be able to do business, you must have a secure environment. Otherwise, you will not even be able to come out of your house and go to your factory. We have two very experienced men, both in governance and business: Peter Obi and myself. I don’t think Nigeria has ever produced this type of leadership since Independence. If you are doubting us, you know what you should do?

Try the two of us.

“If you’re producing juice, I’m a manufacturer of beverages. If you’re producing plastics, I’m a manufacturer of plastics. If you have poultry, I’m a manufacturer of livestock.

Abubakar

Obi

If you’re selling food in the market, I own fast food (restaurants). If you are in printing, I have a printing industry...”

And true to Atiku’s words, Obi is a tested, toughened and experienced choice. Like the proverbial flower that bears the irresistible nectar that attracts sundry butterflies and mantis, Obi is hugging attention because of his strong character, lifestyle and mannerism which sets him apart from the typical Nigerian politician. He is a man of strong will and conviction who sticks to time honored principle and pattern of doing things. He is not swayed by exigencies and razzmatazz. To him, paraphernalia counts for little or nothing. He searches for inner qualities that create value and improve the quality of human life.

He sees himself first and foremost as a servant whose leisure and comfort come last.

Today, there is so much controversy swirling around Obi because many people have not come to understand the Peter Obi persona and what sets him apart from the lot.

Once Peter Obi has a goal to pursue, he goes about it tenaciously. Nothing demonstrates Peter Obi’s relentlessness better than his trials and triumphs as governor of Anambra State.

He holds the record of being the first person to be elected governor on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He flew the flag of APGA in the Anambra State governorship election of 2003. He contested against the candidate of the ruling party, PDP in the state, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige.

Obi and his teeming supporters adopted grassroots campaign technique in the electoral battle moving quietly and steadily from

house to house, from office to office, from village to village and from shop to shop in the commercial state marketing his blueprint for transforming the state and putting on the path of sustainable growth. On the d-day, he shocked the ruling party but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ngige winner of the contest.

Obi never bated an eye before approaching the courts in quest of justice. What ensued were long drawn legal fireworks that lasted for about three years. For him, it was no retreat no surrender until Ngige’s victory was voided by the Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu. The Court of Appeal ruled that his election victory in 2003 was a product of electoral malpractice and therefore could not stand.

That landmark verdict took place on March 15th 2006. Two days after his triumph at the Appellate Court, Obi took the oath of office at a modest ceremony on March 17th 2006. Barely seven and half months later on November 2nd 2006, a mutiny took place and he was impeached by a faction of the Anambra State House of Assembly. Obi was subsequently replaced the next day by Lady Virginia Etiaba, his deputy. That trajectory made her the first ever female Governor in Nigeria’s history. Fought from diverse angles by the powerful apparatchiks that held the state in bondage for years, Obi stubbornly refused to yield and returned to the legal trenches once again. The political atmosphere in the state at the time became more intricate and obfuscating but he struggled harder and sustained the fight for the liberation of his

home state. Again, Obi triumphed on February 9, 2007 when the Court of Appeal quashed his impeachment paving way for Lady Etiaba to hand power back to him and reverted to her original position as Deputy Governor.

Obi regained the governorship seat with only two months left before the next governorship election slated for April 14, 2007. He felt that there was no need for another election so soon and approached the court seeking to stop the INEC from conducting the exercise in Anambra State on the ground that he was entitled to a four year tenure which only began counting the year before, 2006 when the Appeal Court declared him winner of the 2003 governorship election.

INEC was in no mood to entertain such arguments and proceeded to conduct the governorship election in the state on April 14, 2007 in which the candidate of the PDP, Dr. Andy Uba was declared winner. Despite vacating the governorship on May 29, 2007 as Andy Uba assumed office, Obi pressed on with his case at the court. On 14 June 2007 the Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld Obi’s contention sacked Andy Uba and returned ‘Mr. Doggedness’ to office. According to the apex court, the office of the Governor of Anambra State was not vacant as at May 29, 2007 and that the tenure of Obi as the governor of the state was for four years and would expire on March 17, 2010. That verdict brought a sudden end to Andy Uba’s government in the state and made his tenure the shortest in history of the country spanning only 17 days from May 29 to June 14, 2007. March 2010.

For his second term in office, Obi contested the February 6, 2010 Anambra State governorship elections, where he defeated erudite Professor Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN]. He completed his second term of four years on March 17, 2014 and handed over the governorship to his chosen successor, Mr. Willie Obiano. Obi is like dark bitter leaf soup whose alluring and lasting flavor manifest when eaten. Obi is a very practical and unpretentious manager of resources who has no place for rhetoric and grandstanding. His pair with Atiku will assuredly make a difference for the better especially in the vital economic sector where Nigeria has been failing for decades.

The recent debate gave an inkling of what Obi can do on the soapbox to sway millions of supporters to his party.

-Nosike Ogbuenyi, a public affairs commentator wrote from Abuja.

Absurd Jibes of Akwa Ibom’s ‘Private Jet’ Governor Wole Arisekola

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hat will we not hear from our effusively childish modern politicians? Recently, one of the youthful governors in the South-South region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, was so proud of his achievements as the first son of the state to fly a private jet to his state from Lagos. According to his submission, “those who came back to Akwa Ibom State through night bus and the ones who came back through chartered flight, are they the same?” If Nigeria is a country where people reward achievements, I think Mr. Emmanuel deserves one or is it not an achievement to fly a private jet to see one’s parents in a mud house? Is it not an achievement to fly a private jet to where you had no single building before you became governor?

This is one of the hazards of promoting individuals beyond their intellectual capacity.

Most renowned politicians started their lives as no-bodies. I am sure Chief Awolowo did not fly a private jet to Ibadan when he became Premier of the Western Region neither did the Sardauna of Sokoto nor Dr. Azikwe. It is so disheartening that our politicians have brought governance to this level. Mr. Emmanuel does

not know the difference between the politics of elites and that of the masses. In his own opinion, he has no business with the masses, as long as he continues to fly in his private jet.

My mother taught me a popular Yoruba adage that says, “omo ti a ko to ni yo gbe ile ti a ko ta,” meaning that a child that we do not bring up well, will eventually sell the house we build at a giveaway price. That is the irony of what the AkwaIbomites are passing through in the Land of Promise state, where their Governor sees himself as an elite Governor, he turned governance to that of the elite by the elite for the elite.

Whenever he wakes up in the Government House and remembers that he flew a private jet to the Land of Promise, he is pleased and his ego is satisfied. That, to him, is an achievement. He sees himself as someone who is more fortunate than the man who came to Akwa Ibom in a night bus. He doesn’t have any contact with the masses of his state. He is running his government on the air. His achievements are also in the air. What an irony of an empty headed leader!

But His Excellency has forgotten that the road to his village was constructed by a man who came in a night bus. The bridge that leads to his father’s house was constructed by a night bus man. The airport where he landed his chartered private jet was commissioned by the

night bus man.

The person he describes as a night bus man is a friend of the masses, a grass root politician, who eats and dines with the masses because he belongs to them. He is not like a private jet passenger who doesn’t have feelings for the poor because he doesn’t belong to them.

Meanwhile, the gods are not to blame; this is where we have found ourselves in this country where we always elect people who have no connection with the masses. They don’t feel the pains, we are going through. They don’t know the prices of yam, garri and plantain in the market. They import their food through their private jets.

It is not the fault of the good people of Akwa Ibom people, but their political leaders who offended the conditions of succession in Acts of the Apostles 1:21-22. That was the real intoxication, that produce the politically novice lagos banker who is not among the boys that were raised to become men by Godswill Akpabio school of retail politics .There is always a price to pay for what we do. Sometimes it comes in a way and from a source we never expected.

But if Emmanuel is upset at his gold medal award “Governor do nothing,” he should not take out his frustrations on Senator Godswill Akpabio. He should face the umpire who gave

him the award, the ex-Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah.

Akpabio, who rode to Akwa Ibom State in a night bus is however unique. He is such a different man. He has little but gives so much to his people. He is not in the state because of the elite and private jet passengers, but on a mission to transform his people into private jet owners and not passengers.

Akpabio’s life reminds me of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, the young Argentinean doctor who fought all over Latin America for the liberation of his people without much consideration for his personal gain or safety.

He is such a committed man that he will never think of working against his people. His life is all about the welfare of people of Akwa Ibom. His mantra is always, “I am an Akwa Ibom man first and then a Nigerian citizen.”

Like the scripture says, ‘’many are the tribulations of the righteous but the Lord delivers him from them all.” The good Lord will surely deliver Akpabio from the unwarranted insults from people who denied being beneficiaries of his goodness and indeed joined detractors and political opponents to malign, castigate, denigrate, and condemn him. Amin.

-Wole Arisekola is a Lagos-based journalist

T H I S D AY ˾ FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018

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PERSPECTIVE

PDP and the Other Side of the Gombe Stadium Abubakar Aliyu Gombe

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f there are words to describe the recently held Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) North-East Zonal rally, led by the Chairman of Atiku/Obi Campaign Organisation in the zone, Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, they will certainly not be words linked to success. Signs are very important in anything we venture into in life and one must not pretend about issues when they are not right. Making people believe what is not may have dire consequence when reality comes calling. As the 2019 general elections approach and politicians are becoming tourists with talents for political athletics, while displaying uncontrollable desperation.

As it is often said, horses can be taken to the river but the task of drinking water is an exclusive reserve of the horse. There were allegations that the PDP paid some youths in Gombe the sum of N1, 000 to attend the North-East Zonal rally just to give the impression that they still own the state as such have the audacity to say they have intimidated other parties especially the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

During the rally, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, was used to beam the activities live on some media outfits and many of the PDP stalwart went on air to say they have the crowd to win 2019 and unseat President Muhammadu Buhari, and also defeat Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe. One of such persons is Gov. Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo. The governor’s media whose aide went online to describe the rally as a huge success, noting that it was an ‘unprecedented crowd’ that was recorded when Atiku came to Gombe. He emphasised that the PDP in Gombe wasn’t joking. But with the rented PDP crowd that has the heart of APC, can we really say the PDP is serious?

I am not trying to be satirical but I think the aide to the governor needs aid to know the reality of events as it is now being played out. I refuse to share in that optimism not because I am a member of the APC but for two reasons that signal the fact that APC has become a political religion whose supporters can’t be brainwashed or cajoled into going against their wish.

Dankwambo

Secondus

Horses can be taken to the river but they can’t be forced to drink the PDP water in Nigeria and Gombe State. We were made to believe that the Gombe stadium was filled as the photos rightly portrayed on the pages of newspapers and other PDP-owned media. But the first thing that the PDP ignored was ‘The other side of the stadium that was empty’ I think Nigerians would have loved to see the full stadium from all sides. In a zone, where PDP claims to be strong in Northern Nigeria: Gombe, Taraba, Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe and Borno States, they could not garner supporters to fill a 12, 000 capacity Pantami stadium in Gombe. I am not saying this because I have political honey in my mouth, but I know that an ordinary counsellorship rally by the APC in Gombe State can create enough challenge in terms of crowd control using the same venue.

For those PDP members who really needed to reflect, they should ask themselves what happened to the other side of the stadium.

The simple answer lies in what everybody in Gombe knows as captured by one of the fall out article of the PDP rally: ‘Buhari’s spirit, Atiku’s image in Gombe’. This shows that the PDP has simply become very unpopular courtesy of the APC tornado style of leader-

ship that sees social investment programme and other people-oriented programmes as sacrosanct part of President Buhari’s administration. The unpopularity of the PDP is not unconnected to the paucity of ideas and freedom to massive looting as it is being craftily engineered by the government of the day. Series of articles have been written on the debt-driven style of leadership in a state where the government nags the media that their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased in billions of naira, yet they turn around to say there is not enough money for development.

The second point that should be a cause of worry for the PDP in Nigeria and Gombe is the fact that the crowd inside the stadium kept echoing the name of President Muhammadu Buhari, whenever the MC shouts 2019!

When the PDP national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus and other stalwarts of the party were shouting 2019! ‘Sai Baba’ was heard as response alongside Atiku. For the doubting Thomas, kindly get a clip of the video and listen to the sound track properly.

The conflict in response evidently shows that you can force a horse to the river you cannot force it to drink. It is true that the strength of supporters determines the weight that any

political party can pull to win election but in Gombe today, it is better to always run a heart check of those you claim to be your supporters. From the look of things, the PDP in Nigeria and Gombe has supporters whose hearts are APC. The PDP has failed to read the writing in Gombe and I know they will pay dearly for such as far as the colour of the contemporary politics in Gombe is concerned.

To shock those in the PDP as well as justify the advice that the PDP should do a heart check of members, a stalwart of the PDP who was eavesdropped on, was caught to have said that some of the people in the PDP especially in Gombe State would do to Atiku what some of the members did to Ex- President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 elections. According to him, they will ‘eat’ Atiku’s money and leave him stranded on Election Day in Gombe State.

The PDP should face the moment of truth; Gombe is already a lost ground.

If the crowd that trouped out to grace the occasion of the APC campaign launch is anything to go by, then the PDP is in trouble.

Those that questioned Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna’s exit from the PDP should now understand better that Gwamna doesn’t belong to the loosing team and his decision to dump the PDP has been justified. Everyone in Gombe State needs change and not to stick with the same failed system with a different personality. If a senator whose senatorial district has been confirmed even by its indigenes to be the poorest zone in the state has done nothing to wield his federal might to galvanize the industrialization of his zone with all the comparative advantages in terms of minerals and arable farmlands, what then is the guarantee that he will offer the state good governance or does the hope lie in the deputy who couldn’t secure the PDP senatorial candidate seat for himself?

For those of them in the PDP that still think that the dollars that rained in Port Harcourt will do the magic in Gombe are to be pitied of all politicians because the Gombe of today have developed a thick skin against votebuying and money politics.

-Aliyu Abubakar writes from Gombe and can be reached via aaabbo74@gmail.com

The Men Destined to Start Nigeria’s Rebirth ‘Wale Oluwade

N

igeria has obviously dodged a massive grenade. How do I mean? A series of events beginning October 7, in Port Harcourt Rivers State indicate this. First, was the presidential primary of the PDP that took place that day. The free, fair and transparent process was a watershed and unprecedented in Nigeria’s history, at least, since I became politically aware from the early eighties. Second, was the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the PDP’s presidential candidate in 2019 general elections from the same primaries.

And finally, the choice of Mr. Peter Obi as the Vice President/running mate to Atiku Abubakar. These events happening reveal the definite and indubitable hand of God in Nigeria’s political affairs.

I believe in God and more so, in predestination. A time comes when a man meets his destiny. What he does with it, is another thing entirely. It is the moment when opportunity collides with preparation. Two issues have repeatedly crippled Nigeria’s manifest destiny; structural imbalance and social/criminal injustice.

The men pre-ordained to start the process of Nigeria’s socio-economic rebirth are Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi and I endorse their candidacy wholeheartedly.

Shakespeare says it this way; “There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat; And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.”

The Historic Significance of Atiku

Abubakar and Peter Obi Candidacy Atiku was VP for eight years under the most competent president in this Fourth Republic. Also, he superintended as chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), over the major socio-economic strategic decisions taken to reposition both the polity and economy in the post military era; setting up of the EFCC and ICPC, Pension’s Reforms, Banking Consolidation, Telecommunication’s revolution, Civil Service reforms, Power Sector reforms, and so much more. The several strategic sectoral reforms under the Obasanjo/ Atiku presidency unquestionably repositioned Nigeria’s economy on sound global footing from the pariah status of the military era. On a personal level, Atiku is an astute and dexterous manager of human and financial resources. It is obvious he has the fabled ‘Midas touch’. He has demonstrated proven capacity in managing and regenerating wealth! Therefore, Atiku Abubakar is the best prepared to be president at this material time based solely on the foregoing. He is different from other candidates whose ambition is anchored on theoretical postulations. As I learnt in my secondary school science laboratory, theory is worlds apart from the practical.

Even Emmanuel Macron of France now appreciates the difference.

As for Peter Obi, his value in this ticket, is more of the power of practical example of transformational leadership. I make bold to state that this man is the closest I have seen in public office in Nigeria who approximates the values and character attributes of genuine transformational leaders. He is self-disciplined, modest, prudent with resources, incorruptible, service-oriented, and accountable. The choice of Peter Obi as VP candidate is,

perhaps, the best sign yet that God truly cares about this nation and has heard the cries, anguish and sorrows of the tens of millions suffering under excruciating misery and devastation under an incompetent government.

Why is Peter Obi a game changer in 2019 elections? Here is a man who for eight years, unobtrusively revolutionised public governance in Anambra State, which hitherto, was under the firm grip of, bandits and gangsters. His legendary frugality in the use of state finances, exemplary self-discipline, prudent economic management, sense of service that is usually alien in our environment where elected and appointed state officials come to office to be served and waited on is second to none.

I am thrilled by Peter Obi as VP choice because for the first time since the demise of the liberation leaders, young Nigeria’s will understand what service-oriented and disciplined leadership truly means.

Because of Peter Obi, I am looking at the DMO list of states’ indebtedness and Anambra state has no debt burden which is in stark contrast to all the other 35 states.

The bane of our democracy has been a leadership class that carries on more like conquerors and lords rather than elected servants of the people. Our democracy has stagnated and choked under the crushing weight of a ruling band that is more in love with the benefits and rewards of office than the duties, responsibilities and demands of their offices. A leadership class that is more adept at self-worship and aggrandisement than public service.

Our democracy has not delivered tangible benefits for the citizens because of the preponderance of misbegotten rulers who lack the basic values of transformational leadership; patriotism, sacrificial service,

self-discipline, sense of history, strong moral convictions, accountability and decorum. All of these values, Peter Obi embodies.

So both of these men have been proven and tested in public office and have demonstrably acquitted themselves highly. This is the reason why I support their bid. Nigeria is at a major crossroads, the issues and challenges we face as nation cannot be entrusted into the hands of neophytes, no matter how beguiling they sound. If Nigeria were France, we could afford to experiment with a Macron, after all the socio-economic issues aren’t as dire. But even in that environment, we see what is playing out now. Moreover, the current occupant of Aso Villa has proven that governance is not for incompetent, ill prepared and untested.

Navigating the Booby Traps Now, I habour neither illusions nor am I oblivious of the dangers inherent in this historic pairing. The VP position is constitutionally designed to be far more than what is commonly referred to as a ‘spare tyre’ For instance, since the VP is designated chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), I intend to focus on this role in the second part to this piece.

So, these two individuals need each other and are both of commensurate significance to the PDP ticket. Peter Obi is not on the ballot because of politics, religion or ethnic balancing. The widespread acceptance that received his announcement from the rank of educated and enlightened Nigerians validates this assertion.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°Íś, 2018

BUSINESSWORLD R A T E S MONEY MARKET OBB OVERNIGHT

A S

A T

REPO 8.07 % 9.96 %

CALL 1-MONTH 3-MONTH

26.00% 17.50% 17.63%

D E C E M B E R S & P INDEX INDEX LEVEL 1-DAY MONTH-TO-DATE

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Group Business Editor Obinna Chima Email obinna.chima@thisdaylive.com 08024557078, 08152447875

1 4 , 2 0 1 8 S & P INDEX 1/4 TO DATE 1.02% YEAR TO DATE 6.49%

EXCHANGE RATE N306.90/1US DOLLAR* *AS AT LAST FRIDAY

Quick Takes Air Peace Decorates Captain

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

L-R: Director, Union Capital Markets Limited, Egie Akpata; Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema and Chief Executive OďŹƒcer, Stanbic IBTC Capital, Funso Akere, during the 2018 NSE CEO Award where both companies were presented with the ‘Issuing House with the largest value in a single deal’ award in Lagos ‌recently

NAHCO Appoints New Group MD/CEO

Experts Advocate JointVentures as Alternative for Ship Financing Eromosele Abiodun Experts in the nation’s maritime industry have called on Nigerian ship owners as well as other stakeholders in the shipping sector to embrace groupings and joint ventures as alternative sources for ship acquisition.

Principal Partner of the law firm, Kenna & Partners, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) stated this while presenting a paper at the second edition of the Nigeria Ship Finance Conference and Exhibition (NIFSCOE) in Lagos on the theme: “Advancing Ship & Maritime Infrastructure Financing in Nigeria: Innova-

ECONOMY tive Concepts & Sustainable approaches.�

Ajogwu, said shipping has evolved globally lamenting, however, Nigeria has continued to look at the issues from the traditional standpoint.

He argued that ship ownership has gone beyond one man owning and managing vessels to an era where group of individuals/ organisations own vessels and outsource the management to experts in the business.

Nigerian ship owners, he said, need to utilise the power pool system as it would be

better they own five per cent of a vessel working for any of the international oil companies (IOCs) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) than to own several vessels without businesses and the vessels end up making them bankrupt.

Ajogwu said: “You could either have the money to buy the ship or you have to take on debt capital or a hybrid of both equity and debt. Today’s sophisticated shipping and the resources required means that the traditional way of it is obsolete. “People need to raise funding but a ship isn’t a hotel that you build and expect

patronage. Rather, you have to secure the source of repayment upfront by having contracts within the oil and gas sector.

It is this stream of cash flow that would enable you repay the debt.�

He also warned the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) not to disburse the Cabotage Vessel Finance Fund (CVFF) to individual ship owners because the NIMASA doesn’t have the capacity to ensure repayment. “NIMASA doesn’t have to reinvent the will with regards disbursement of CVFF. They Continued on page 26

As the Christmas holidays winds down and people prepare to go back to their places of work after the New Year day, there are concerns that Harmattan haze may disrupt flight operations.

AVIATION as it was last year but there are indications that it could be worse towards January, as winds continue to bring dry dust from the Sahara Desert.

Already Nigerian airlines are lamenting that some flights have already been cancelled, while others are delayed and some airlines make adjustments to satisfy their customers, there are indications that the Harmattan haze, which lowers visibility especially during the day may cause further cancellation of flights.

An official of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the General Manager, Aero Department, Ibrahim Ishaku, told THISDAY that the interplay of wind forces from as far as Europe would determine whether the Harmattan haze would last till March in which is would continue to disrupt some flights, especially in the far north or that it would end earlier than that.

Airlines told THISDAY that, compared to last year, flight disruptions due to Harmattan haze was not yet severe in 2018,

He said whatever happens, it was expected that the haze would lower visibility the most part of January.

“We cannot actually predict how long the Harmattan will last until I see the charts but we know that it will be there the whole of January and it could be recalled that last year it lasted till March in extreme north that this also affects the rain pattern. There is interplay of forces in the weather system, which will determine how long the Harmattan will last,� he said.

Head of Corporate Communication of Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, pointed out that compared to last year, the 2018 flight disruptions due to Harmattan haze is less severe but noted that the inclement weather is still there and nobody knows how long it would last.

According to him, the Har-

TheNigerianAviationHandlingCompanyPlc(nahcoaviance)hasappointed, Mrs.OlatokunboAdenikeFagbemiasGroupManagingDirector/Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Her appointment was announced in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) by the Board of Directors of the company.

FagbemitookovereffectiveDecember20,2018,followingtheresignation of Mr Idris Yakubu, the erstwhile Managing Director.

The company said Fagbemi’s appointment was to drive the new group structure announced by the company.

AllNAHCO’ssubsidiarycompanies,includingNAHCOFreeZone(NFZ), NahcoEnergyandPower(EPI)andMainlandCargoOptionsLimited(MCO), willreportdirectlytotheGMD/CEO,astatementfromthecompanysaid.

ItnotedthatFagbemiisathoroughbredaviationmanagementprofessional andamanagementturnaroundexpertwiththeInternationalAirTransport Association(IATA),AirportCouncilInternational(ACI)andtheInternational Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certifications who would bring on board her wealth of experience in championing the agreed strategic transformation plan of NAHCO following a Board and management retreat with inputs from KMPG. “She will implement the new strategic plan, operationalise a seamless andharmonisedgroupstructurewhichwilltransformNAHCOintoone ofthebestcompaniesintheworld.ThenewGMDwillfocusonimproving customer experience, drive stakeholder value, enhance shareholders’ investmentintheCompany,integrateandcloselymonitoringoftheactivities of the subsidiaries to create synergies and better returns on capital.

Fagbemi, would, in the immediate, have the task of repositioning the company, maintaining industrial harmony, energising the staff and improving stakeholder relationships and values,� the company said in a statement.

British to Resume Pakistan Flights

Operators Fear more Flights May Be Disrupted by Harmattan Haze Chinedu Eze

Major Nigerian carrier, Air Peace has decorated the first captain on its Embraer 145 fleet, assuring its staff that it will continue to reward excellence and hard work.

DecoratingCapt.WisdomIsangadighiatAirPeaceCorporateHeadquarters in Lagos, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the airline, Mr. Allen Onyema, said he was pleased that the carrier was fulfilling its goal of servicingunservedandunderserveddomesticandregionalroutesunder its subsidiary, Air Peace Hopper.

Heassuredthattheextensionoftheairline’soperationstotheMurtala Muhammed Airport 2 (MMA2), Lagos beginning from January 2, 2019 was strategic to delivering on the carrier’s no-city-left-behind project.

AirPeacerecentlyannouncedthatitwasextendingitsoperationsfrom itshubattheGeneralAviationTerminal(GAT)oftheMurtalaMuhammed Airport,LagostoMMA2.TheairlinesaiditwouldmoveitsLagos-Akure, Lagos-Asaba,Lagos-KadunaandLagos-PortHarcourtNAFBaseservices to MMA2 from January 2, 2019.

OnyemacongratulatedIsangadighionmakinghistoryasAirPeace’sfirst decoratedEmbraer145captain,urginghimtocontinuetoworkhardto deliver the best service to the airline’s customers.

The Air Peace boss, who performed the decoration together with the carrier’sChiefOperatingOfficer,Mrs.OluwatoyinOlajide,ChiefPilot,Capt VictorEgonuandHeadofTraining,CaptNduduisiEkwempu,urgedpilots tosustaintheairline’sstrictsafetystandards,insistingthattherewasno roomforshortcutandunprofessionalpracticesintheaviationindustry.

Speaking moments after his decoration, Capt Isangadighi expressed happiness that his childhood dreams of taking to the sky were being fulfilled.

mattan haze has affected the airline’s operations, especially to destinations like Benin, where it led to cancellation of many flights and Asaba, where flights had been cancelled or delayed. “We cancelled Benin flights consecutively for days. Today (Wednesday) Asaba flights have been cancelled but we have been helped by the fact that we have more capacity in terms of operating aircraft and we bend backwards to please our customers by taking them to alternate airports. “So far our Benin and Akure flights are severely affected by the weather and the same thing with Kano and Asaba.

Owerri and Enugu this year are much better than last year.

Continued on page 26

BritishAirwayshasannouncedaresumptionofflightstoPakistanafter an absence of more than 10 years due to security concerns.

Airwise.comreportedthatthethree-timesweeklyservicefromLondon HeathrowtothecapitalIslamabadwilllaunchonJune2,2019,withtickets on sale from December 18.

Theairline’sheadofAsiaPacificsalesRobertWilliamssaid“It’sexciting tobeflyingbetweenIslamabadandHeathrowfromnextyear,whichwe believewillbeparticularlypopularwiththeBritishPakistanicommunity who want to visit, or be visited by, their relatives.�

TheroutewillbeflownbyBoeing787sanduseIslamabad’snewairport which opened earlier this year.

TheBritishHighCommissionerinPakistanThomasDrewsaidthelaunch reflects the improved security situation in the country. “The return of British Airways will give a particular boost to our growing trade and investment links. British Airways itself joins an increasing number of British companies doing business in Pakistan.�

“Government of Nigeria has done well in granting domestic airlines the rights to operate international destinations; government should also ensure that the objective is realised�

Organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market,

Ikechi Uko

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T H I S D AY Ëž Í°ÍśËœ Í°ÍŽÍŻÍś

BUSINESSWORLD EXPERTS ADVOCATE JOINT VENTURES AS ALTERNATIVE FOR SHIP FINANCING

should do onward lending to the banks so that they lend to the ship owners. The banks have the wherewithal to do the feasibility study of the projects as well as the business plan. The banks are also in better position to chase after the ship owners to ensure that they are successful and repay the loans,�he said.

He also noted that there are some ship building and ship acquisition funds all over the world that Nigeria can benefit from. “These funds help the European ship builders to sell while it helps us acquire the vessels.

We should be able to tap into such opportunities. We have to build companies or funds that own ships. Nigeria isn’t in Mars; we are in a world where some of these processes have been tested so we just have to replicate the initiatives to suit the local environment in the country, � he added.

Meanwhile, he stressed the need to separate assets ownership from operations as most Nigerian ship-owners lack the managerial skills to handle the management aspect of the assets.

On his part, the Managing Director of PAC Capital Limited, Mr. Christopher Oshiafi noted that British Airways owned less than 10 per cent of the airplanes in its fleet.

OPERATORS FEAR MORE FLIGHTS MAY BE DISRUPTED BY HARMATTAN HAZE

We have diverted Asaba flights to Enugu and sometimes we take Port Harcourt flight to Owerri and wait for the bad weather to clear then we take the passengers there and leave immediately before the weather gets worse. “We do this to please the customers because when we take Asaba passengers to Owerri, we do not schedule the flight so it flies back to Lagos empty but we do this in order to satisfy our customers. Thank God for our Embraer aircraft, which has 50-passenger capacity. That is what has helped us to serve our customers better during this time,� Iwarah explained.

NEWS

NIWA Completes N2.5bn Baron River Port Cargo Equipment Eromosele Abiodun The Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has disclosed that the Baro River port Cargo handling equipment installation has been completed and ready for inauguration. The Managing Director/CEO of NIWA, Olorunnimbe Mamora stated this when he visited the Baro River Port to ascertain the level of work done so far.

The NIWA boss stated that the equipment would soon start operation.

Mamora, who was impressed by the contractors fixing the equipment assured stakeholders that the port would be ready in another one week or two.

He commended the contractors for a job well done and praised the community for being a good host and encouraged them to ensure the safety and security of the River Port.

He said the equipment at the Baro Port are first class and will bring glory not only to the Community and the state but the entire nation.

Mamora had recently directed the NIWA engineers to rehabilitate the access road to Baro Port to enable the contractors move their equipment to site and that has been achieved.

Baro River Port, which is the flagship port in the North, will be inaugurated in no distant future by Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari.

Meanwhile, the NIWA boss

has promised to improve his staff Welfare.

He made the promise while delivering a speech at the NIWA 2018 end of year party. According to him, the NIWA amendment Act is still alive with the National Assembly and all efforts are being made to ensure the successful passage of the Amendment Act. Mamora encouraged staff to always put in the best

and promised to pay the 13th month salary in order to put smiles on the faces of the workers during this Christmas season.

Highlights of the event was the award of the best Area office which went to the Lagos Area office and best staff of the year 2018 which went to Mr. Jethro John Jalgi also from Lagos Area Office.

Also, three General

Managers and one Deputy General Manager that have retired from the services of NIWA were all honoured by the management and staff of the Authority. They are Festus Ojimba, former General Manager Engineering Department, Elias Amago, General Manager (Project Management and Special Duties), Mr. Bawa Zakari, former General Manager, Audit and Capt. White

who until his retirement was Deputy General Manager (Marine).

In his response on behalf of the retired General Managers, Ojimba thanked the organisers for considering them worthy of being honoured while Jalgi express his gratitude to the management and staff of NIWA for recommending him as the best staff of the year 2018.

BUSINESS CONFERENCE

L-R: United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; President, Africa Business Conference (ABC), Babatunde Akin Moses; Vice- President, Raymond Ihuoma; CEO, General Electric Nigeria/ President, American Business Council, Lazarus Angbazo and Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Enase Okonedo, at a conference organised by the American Business Council in partnership with the LBS in Lagos‌ recently

LADOL Get ISO 45001 CertiďŹ cation LADOL Free Zone’s logistics company has been awarded International Organization Standardisation, (ISO) 9001:2015 and 45001:2018+14001:2015.

LADOL in a statement said it is the first company in the whole of West Africa to meet this standard. The wholly Nigerian owned company said it continued to break new ground and prove that Nigerian companies can lead the way and exceed international standards. “Achieving these standards took the hard work of all the staff at every level of the company and is a testament to their hard work throughout the 17 years that this company has been building

and investing in infrastructure.

The certification reflects the fact that LADOL’s success is built on hard work, consistency, longterm planning and sustainable business practices – all of which are reflected in the Company’s policies and procedures. The staff and management also believe in continuous learning, training and improvement. “ISO 9001:2015 certification was achieved after a rigorous and transparent audit process conducted by Bureau Veritaswhile ISO 45001:2018+14001:2015 was conducted by RINA between December 10 -14, 2018. According to ISO, achieving 9001:2015 certification means that an

organization has demonstrated the following: Customer focus, Leadership, Innovation of people, Systematic approach to management, Continual improvement, Factual approach to decisionmaking, Mutually beneficial supplier relations, “it said.

The company said the newest version of the ISO 9001 certification contains key updates including an emphasis on risk-based thinking to enhance the application of the process approach, improved applicability for services and increased leadership requirements. “The goal of ISO 45001 is the reduction of occupational injuries and diseases. The standard is based on OHSAS 18001, conventions

and guidelines of the International Labour Organization including ILO OSH 2001, and national standards. It includes elements that are additional to BS OHSAS 18001 which it is replacing over a three-year migration period from 2018 to 2021.ISO 45001 also follows the High-Level Structure of other ISO standards like ISO9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 which makes integration of these standards much easier, “it added.

LADOL’s Managing Director, Dr. Amy Jadesimi said: “Achieving these certifications reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, for which I thank them all. Many staff members worked long hours, and everyone was

enthusiastic and collaborative, I am very proud of us all. This is part of a long-term plan and we will continue to improve every year exceeding international standards and very soon setting them. Nigerian companies are very well placed to take the lead in several areas, leveraging off our huge untapped and under-served market, but having strong quality and safety standards is a must for all of us. The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals also provide a template on which we can build new business policies, procedures and models that are most likely to be highly profitable in the medium to long-term.

Truckers Bemoan Brutalisation, Extortion by Security Operatives Group Business Editor

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Ă—Ă—Ă‹ Ă•Ă™Ă˜Ă”Ă“ Capital Market Editor

ÙÎÎã Ă‘Ă?Ă˜Ă?

Senior Correspondent

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Truckers plying the Apapa port access roads have accused security agencies of brutalising and extorting them calling on the federal government to take urgent steps to address the situation The road haulage operators under the aegis of Containerised Truck Owners (CTO) were unequivocal in their lamentations that the persisting trauma that they are subjected to in trucks queues parked on roads/bridges seriously compromise the health of their lives and their vehicles.

CTO is a nascent amalgam of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and

the Container Truck Owners Association of Nigeria (COTOAN).

In a communiquĂŠ signed by the duo of Remi Ogungbemi, and Wasiu Oloruntoyin, representing AMATO and COTOAN, respectively, the truckers amalgam stated: “We are hereby using this platform to beg the Federal and Lagos State governments to urgently look into our plight, which has resulted in the following: untimely deaths of truck drivers while on the queues of parked haulage vehicles; inability of the drivers on those parked trucks queues to bathe, eat, sleep and rest adequately; exposure of

the truck drivers on the queues to regular harassment by street urchins, commonly known as area boys; truckers on the queues are being subjected to wanton extortion by countless security agencies at alarming rates ranging between N80,000 and N120,000 on each truck, depending on the particular operator’s power of negotiation; the trucks on the queues are also routinely exposed to vandals who constantly damage the vehicles and steal various critical parts, which replacements further drain the lean purses of the operators; and the drivers on the queues are

subjected to serial brutalisation and dehumanisation by sadistic security operatives.�

The truckers body noted that apart from the seasonal spike in imports, Nigeria also contends with increased security challenges caused by marauding criminal elements as well as high incidents of extortionate tendencies by rampaging unscrupulous security operatives along the ports access roads.

In its words: “Ideally, the Christmas season spells good tidings and joy, but, in the current poor conditions our members are contending with on Lagos ports access roads, the

Yuletide can only spell “sorrow, tears and blood� for us, except the Federal and Lagos State governments hearken to our cries and save our lives and means of livelihoods.�

They made a passionate appeal to members of the general public, especially those that reside around the corridors where trucks are either queued or parked, to kindly lend their voices to help the truckers in prevailing on the concerned authorities to do the needful by introducing an automated system to regulate movement of trucks in and out of the ports.

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NEWS

Ooni Hails Air Peace Stories by Chinedu Eze The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, has commended the Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, for his contributions to the economic development and peace of the South-west Region and Nigeria as a whole.

Speaking during a visit to Air Peace Corporate Headquarters in Lagos recently, the traditional ruler assured Onyema that the Yoruba were deeply appreciative of his role in the development of their land.

The monarch, who was represented by two of his Cultural Ambassadors, Alfred Oladotun Taylor and MorounRanti Ashabi, presented prized Ife artwork and other special gifts to the Air Peace

boss as a “sign of my heartfelt appreciation of your person and your contributions to the throne of Oduduwa.�

The artwork presented to Onyema, Ambassadors Taylor and Ashabi explained, signified the depth of the Ooni’s recognition of the Air Peace boss’ contributions to the development of the Yoruba nation. They described the gift as one of the most prized assets of Ife. On his part, Onyema said the Ooni’s gesture was a challenge to continue to work for the development and peace of the Yoruba nation and the country as a whole.

He expressed gratitude to the royal father for recognising excellence beyond ethnic considerations, urging Nigerians to emulate the Ooni’s example to guarantee the oneness,

peace and development of the country.

Air Peace, he said, was established to create massive job opportunities, seamlessly connect business and leisure travelers to their destinations and ensure that the country was adequately represented in the global aviation community.

Air Peace currently operates into and out of 14 domestic and five regional destinations, including Accra, Freetown, Banjul, Monrovia and Dakar. It is also concluding the process of launching its long-haul flights to Dubai, Sharjah, London, Houston, Guangzhou-China, Mumbai and Johannesburg.

The carrier, which recently penned a deal with American plane maker for the delivery of 10 brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, is now the biggest airline in West Africa.

As Travelers Kick against High Airfares

SAHCO Celebrates Clients The Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc has been commended for its consistency in delivering quality services and ensuring professionalism in the discharge of its duties.

Speaking at the Clients’ Appreciation Dinner organised in Lagos, for its customers, various participants from airlines and cargo sub-sector, lauded the ground handling company for improving aviation ground handling business in Nigeria and assured the management of their utmost loyalty to the company.

The Vice President, Ground Operations, Arik Air, Mr. Murat Ozcan, in his feedback comment, said without SAHCO, the airline would have been in a bad state.

He explained that the relationship between the airline and the ground handling company was beyond business partnership, stressing that SAHCO stood firmly behind it during its challenging period.

He also lauded the management for taking the audacious step to be enlisted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), describing it as a milestone for the company.

He said: “We have been with SAHCO for five years and we have been everywhere in the country with the company.

The dedication, passion and commitment to the job from bottom to the top in SAHCO is wonderful.

“I am proud to say Arik Air and SAHCO are no strangers to each other. I am happy SAHCO has taken Initial PUBLIC Offer (IPO), which is a good milestone for any company. I wish to buy some of its shares.�

Also commenting, the Country Cargo Manager, Ethiopian Airlines, Mr. Getmet Hiwat, described the company as a wonderful company worthy of emulation.

Hiwat, explained that the ground handling company was the best in all the countries it operates into and urged it to continue in that tradition.

Besides, Airport Manager, Etihad Airways Mr. Percival Uwechie, stressed that the airline had been with SAHCO since operating into Nigeria.

He said since the company started handling its services in the country, Etihad has not had any challenges with the company and charged the management to continue in that stead. “I want to congratulate the management for continually discharging quality services to its clients. It has been a honour working with SAHCO and even if we had any other choice, we won’t do it differently. “The company is distinct from the others in the industry.

SAHCO has set a very high bar for itself, which would be difficult to meet by any competitor and I can tell you,

they can’t afford to go below the current standard.�

Mr. Chris Paul of Ajulo Cargo said with the distinction created for itself by the company, SAHCO’s shares would be a sold out.

He assured that his company would buy some shares of SAHCO currently in circulation.

Besides, the Managing Director of Cargolux, Mr. Kingsly Nwokoma, lauded the company for its futuristic approach by expanding its warehouses even when there was no need for that.

He also observed that SAHCO had an excellent team, which had been working harmoniously with the clients over the years and urged the management to sustain the current approach.

Earlier, the Managing Director/CEO, SAHCO,Mr. Basil Agboarumi, in his welcome address said the company was determined to deliver world class services to its clients.

He said its forward-looking attitude had made the company to evolve from the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Limited (SAHCOL) to a Public Liability Company (SAHCO).

He commended former Managing Directors such as Dr. Oluropo Owolabi and Chike Ogeah, for piloting the affairs of SAHCO at various times and ensuring steadfastness in the company.

Emirates, South Africa Deepen Relationship South African Airways and Emirates have agreed to extend their code-sharing agreement, in a boost to the loss-making African carrier.

The enhanced agreement means the codeshare would be expanded across both carriers’ networks, with SAA adding its codes to Emirates eight daily South African flights.

Emirates flies four times daily to Dubai from Johannesburg, three times per day from Cape Town and daily from Durban.

The airlines said they would work towards adding route network synergies including cargo services and flight schedules that will improve connectivity and increase passenger numbers.

Also included in the new agreement are plans to enhance the frequent flyer programmes of both airlines. “This agreement marks a significant forward step in the execution of our strategy and in transforming our business,� SAA chief executive Vuyani Jarana said. “Our

route network and that of Emirates complement one another. The expansion of our commercial relationship will further strengthen key focus areas of the implementation of our turnaround plan.�

SAA hasn’t made a profit since 2011, but hopes to turn the situation around by 2021 with cost cuts.

The airlines started sharing codes in 1997, the first the UAE carrier had signed. The existing deal benefited 90,000 passengers in 2017/18, the airlines said.

Chinedu Eze As expected, cost of air ticket was very high as demand outstripped supply during the Christmas holidays.

Owing to this, travelers protested on social media, lamenting what they described as high and outrageous fares as even people who travelled by road also lamented that fares rose by over 150 per cent.

When THISDAY visited the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), also known as the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport 1 (MMA1), where Air Peace and Arik Air operate their major services from Lagos, there were throngs of people on December 24 through December 26 as travelers scrambled to travel to their various destinations for the holiday.

THISDAY learnt that the upsurge of passengers had been on since December 18, and travelers who spoke on the condition of anonymity told THISDAY that they were shocked by the high fares, but however admitted that they knew that there would be an increase because more people are buying tickets to travel. “But I don’t expect fares to rise to N70, 000 on the domestic route.

This is outrageous! I think this is because there are no many airlines that are flying; if there were, the fares would not have been so high,� he said.

When asked if he was sure that the N70, 000 ticket was for economy class, he said he did not have the patience to check because he was angry.

THISDAY investigations revealed that there were more passengers travelling to the Eastern part of the country than elsewhere and that most airlines operating to the routes had since been booked full before the Yuletide. In fact, Air Peace had to deploy more aircraft that returned from maintenance checks overseas in order to meet the surging demand.

The destinations that recorded the highest passenger movement included Lagos to Oweri, Enugu, Benin, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Uyo, Calabar and Warri. Also there was huge passenger traffic from Abuja to these destinations, as people from these areas travel home to spend the Christmas and New Year holiday with their loved ones.

However, a source from Arik Air who told THISDAY that the airline suddenly increased air fares because of Christmas, noted that the fares were already built into the system, from the lowest fares to the highest, “so as passengers demand more tickets the fares continued to increase as already installed in the system, using the supply and demand mix.

The more there is demand the more

the fares increase.� “People buy the tickets that cost more when the lower prices have been exhausted and let me make it clear, we don’t have tickets that sell for N70, 000. In fact, Arik Air tickets are some of the cheapest. Our airfares are very cheap. You can check it out.�

The Corporate Communications Manager of Air Peace, Chris Iwarah, told THISDAY that there was a misconception when people say that the airline’s fares rose to over N70, 000 due to high demand. He said that Air Peace does not have economy tickets that sold as high as N50, 000; that it was business class tickets that could go as far as that. “Our airfares have not increased much from the previous year. The N70, 000 they allege we sell our economy ticket is really business class tickets. “In 2017, we sold our tickets from the lowest (lima) class of tickets to the highest as programmed in the system from N21, 300 to the highest class of tickets which is N41, 300. Our business class during that period was from N56, 300 to N65, 500. “In 2018, our lowest fares are from N23, 300 to the highest class of ticket, which we call Yankee, of N42, 700.

Our business tickets are from N53, 100 to N70, 100. So even at the highest demand we never sold economy class ticket at N50,000�, Iwarah Explained.

He noted that the increase is really very marginal despite the fact that the airline spends much more money on its operations with increase in staff from over 500 two years ago to over 3000 and more money spent on international alliances geared towards improvement in safety and standard of operation.

Media and Communications Manager of Dana Air, Kingsley Ezenwa, also told THISDAY that there were more passenger traffic during the Christmas holidays in 2018 than in 2017. “My rating of passenger movement this year is more compared to last year. I must say the Eastern routes particularly Owerri has been very impressive. People connect other parts of the East from Owerri, Port Harcourt and Enugu and it has been good so far. “The seats have been sold out since late November to early December and we are happy that the extra flights we created also helped to salvage the upsurge. We are happy to have contributed to making Imo state a hub, thanks also to our marketing airline partnership with the Imo state government,� Ezenwa said.

According to him, the increase in airfares was due to market forces. “It is simple economics playing out. When demand is high, there is tendency for price to go up.�

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5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

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AVIATION

Hope Rising for Aviation Sector With improvement in infrastructure, improved regulation and less interferences from the government, the aviation industry is on the path of growth, even as 2018 held so much hope for the sector, writes Chinedu Eze There were fewer upheavals in the aviation industry in 2018. Also, there were indications that industry has started recording some growth as the sector witnessed the unveiling of two airport terminals, which served as harbinger for the opening of three more terminals all built with federal government’s collaboration with the Chinese.

In addition, after so many years, the federal government was able to settle the emoluments of retired workers of the defunct Nigeria Airways Limited (NAL), as Air Peace ordered for 10 brand new aircraft, as Max Air launched full schedule flight service in the outgoing year.

Also, in 2018, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), adopted the training school of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as international training school for aviation security for West and Central Africa.

In the same year the Nigeria Immigration Service in compliance with the Ease of Doing Business of the federal government introduced visa on arrival to enable investors obtain visa to come to Nigeria without the hurdles that were hitherto known to discourage them from coming to the country.

Early in 2018 Aero Contractors celebrated historical mileage, as it was able to successfully conduct C-check on Boeing B737 Classics. With that achievement, Nigerian airlines have the chance of carrying out the maintenance of their Boeing B737 classics in the country.

But it was not all rosy for the industry in 2018. It was the year that it became obvious that the federal government was not going to realise the pledges it made when it took over in in 2015.

The Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika in his maiden speech had said the federal government was going to concession major airports in the country; establish maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility, float a leasing company and establish a national carrier. As at December 28, 2018, none of these was realised.

National Carrier In a move that jolted local and international investors, the federal government in September 2018 suspended the implementation of the national carrier project, Nigeria Air, which was scheduled to commence operations in December the same year.

Sirika had pledged that the federal government would honour all its commitments to investors.

Sirika had further clarified that the decision to suspend the airline project was strategic and has nothing to do with politics and pressure from stakeholders.

But on November 7, 2018, the federal government explained that the national carrier, which was earlier billed to kick off in December, was suspended temporarily because the process to actualise it was delayed.

It said the transaction advisers did not complete the process on the modalities for the ownership of the new airline in time and government was unable to provide sovereign guarantee to acquire 30 aircraft for the take-off of the new airline.

Sirika said the major factor that stalled the process was the inability of the federal government to provide sovereign guarantee for the procurement of 30 aircraft estimated at $300 million in a staggered payment till 2020.

According to the Minister, “Estimated funding requirement for the establishment of the project is $300 million up to 2020. Initial start-up capital of $55 million made up of $25 million for deposit for new aircraft and $30 million for working capital from June to December 2018.

Air Peace In 2018, Nigeria’s leading carrier, Air Peace, made history when it signed an agreement with Boeing for the acquisition of 10 brand new 737 MAX 8 aircraft, thus becoming the first airline in West Africa to add the equipment to its fleet.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Mr Allen Onyema, had said the airline was now more positioned to lift Nigeria’s economy, create jobs and transform air travel. “We are excited to add the 737 MAX to our fleet as we expand our network to offer more destinations and serve more passengers,� said

New Abuja Airport Terminal

Onyema.

He added: “The fuel efficiency and superior operating economics of the 737 MAX will ensure that the aircraft will play a major role in growing our business in the years to come.�

Air Peace blazed the trail in 2018 by that order and the acquisition of four long haul equipment, Boeing B777s, which it plans to start international operations with. The airline also within a short space of one year acquired six small body aircraft, Embraer 145.

Infrastructure President Muhammadu Buhari last week in Abuja, formally inaugurated the newly- built 15 million passenger-capacity terminal at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), with an assurance that the government was committed to developing Nigeria into a regional air transportation hub, to enable it assume its leadership position in the aviation sub-sector in Africa.

Buhari in his keynote address at the event, he disclosed that his administration recognises aviation as a catalyst for economic growth and will continue to encourage and support the actualisation of projects that would place Nigerian airports among the best in the world.

He stated that with the commissioning of the terminal, Nigeria was moving towards achieving and meeting global aviation standards in facilitation, passenger processing and service delivery in tandem with international best practices.

The formal commissioning of the new terminal, he said, represented yet another significant milestone for international air travellers in and out of the Federal Capital Territory. “You will recall that on the October 25, 2018, I commissioned Port Harcourt International Airport Terminal. During the event, the Minister of State (Aviation) stated that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Terminal, Abuja would be completed and ready for commissioning before the end of the year. Today, that promise has been kept. I wish to commend the Minister and his team for a job well done.�

With the commissioning of the two new terminals, FAAN is expected to complete works on the terminals in Lagos, Enugu and Kano so that they would be commissioned by the end of 2019, as the agency said that all the facilities would be put into use before the end of 2019.

AIB Industry stakeholder and former Director of Engineering, Medview Airline, Lukeman Animaseun told THISDAY that 2018 recorded huge achievements in the aviation industry.

Animaseun said that the aviation agency

that has recorded significant improvement in the last one year is Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB).

THISDAY learnt that in the past 22 months, AIB had made safety recommendations to government agencies; the FAAN, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc, Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc, airlines and helicopter organisations among others.

As at September, 2018, AIB had released 154 safety recommendations to airlines, agencies and aircraft manufacturers since it came onboard, which have had some impacts even in the international arena, but less than average of the recommendations have been implemented by the respective authorities.

For instance, its investigations into the Bristow Helicopter crash, which occurred in Lagos on August 12, 2015 led to the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Sikorsky, the aircraft manufacturer, taking global safety actions to prevent similar accidents in their operations.

Besides, Diamond Aircraft manufacturer also took safety action following the bureau’s investigations into the serious incident involving Diamond DA 42 with registration number 5N-BKS, which occurred in Benin, Edo State, in July 2012.

So far, 73 of the safety recommendations have been released by the current management in less than two years while the other 81 were by previous managements in the bureau.

Animaseun, also observed that what has been discernible in the industry in 2018 was that government allowed “things to flow naturally in the sector without interference, which is good for the airlines and agencies.�

He said kudos should be given to the Muhammadu Buhari administration for the development of infrastructure in the sector and frowned at the habit of Nigerians not celebrating their own; rather, they would eulogise small achievements made by other countries while they refuse to recognise the milestones recorded in Nigeria. “I give kudos to government for what it has achieved in the area of infrastructure. It is good, as long as it is for the national interest, but unfortunately we do not celebrate our own.

Ghana opened a new terminal recently and Nigerians were celebrating it but Nigeria opened two big terminals in Port Harcourt and in Abuja but nobody is celebrating it. That is the problem with us,� Animaseun said.

NCAA The industry stakeholder said the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority of Nigeria (NCAA)

has done so much in 2018 but because it does not make noise, not many know the significant achievements the regulatory authority has recorded.

He said NCAA is highly efficient and remarked that while it keeps the airlines on their toes, it has not followed its mandate to the letter because if it does, no airline would continue to exist in Nigeria.

Animaseun added that while NCAA is stringent and does not compromise on safety, it makes concessions here and there in order to enable airlines to thrive. This is because the regulatory authority and the airlines are partners in progress. “NCAA has moved ahead. It monitors the airlines better and regulates them efficiently but if NCAA moves to do what it ought to do by following its regulation to the letter, all the airlines will go under, but there must be a compromise because without the airlines there would be no NCAA,� he said.

Animaseun however, urged the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to install navigational equipment like the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at more airports, remarking that airlines operate fewer hours than they ought to due to lack landing aids and airfield lighting, which ought to be provided

by FAAN. “The agencies should provide those critical equipment to the airports so that airlines can land more times till into the night. Currently airlines land maximum of seven times in most of these airports. They operate from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. It is not that they cannot land more times but the runway light is not there so they can only land maximum of seven times,� Animaseun said.

Severance Payment After several years of clamour, the federal government in 2018 paid ex-Nigeria Airways Limited workers their remaining pension that run into billions of naira. Anumaseun said that over 90 per cent of the beneficiaries have been paid and that last payment, which is Batch 5, would be done in the second week of the New Year.

Animaseun who is the coordinator of the payment explained that due to infractions with accounts of some of the beneficiaries, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) returned the payment of about 75 of the beneficiaries, adding that those problems have been corrected that they would be among those that will earn their pay in the New Year. With that the federal government would close the ugly chapter that impinged on the image of the industry for several years.

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MARITIME

Maritime Sector Records Fair Performance Eromosele Abiodun writes that aside the Apapa traffic logjam that is costing importers and exporters billions of naira, the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the Nigerian Customs Service recorded impressive achievements in the outgoing year The year 2018 cannot be said be too different from the previous year for stakeholders in the maritime sector aside the improvement in the availability of foreign exchange. The year began with the hope that the Apapa traffic logjam that has become a shame of a nation would be solved. However, despite the effort of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), not much improvement was noticed. Credit however, must be given to the NPA for its collaboration with Dangote Group and Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc to fix a section of the port access road.

Also, following the improvement in foreign exchange, vessel traffic has increased in all the ports across the country. As the vessel traffic continued to grow it became obvious that existing port infrastructure, which were allowed to rot by successive governments, cannot sustain a country that rely on imported goods for majority of its needs. Despite the fact that the maritime sector is said to be next to crude oil in terms of revenue for the government, the sectors’ contribution to the nation’s gross domestic products (GDP) is still very low if not insignificant. As a matter of fact, the sector is not even captured in the nation’s GDP by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Experts believe the Nigerian maritime sector is weak and cannot compete favourably with its contemporaries around the world. “You can’t pin down what the Nigerian Maritime Industry contributes to the Nigerian Gross Domestic Product and this is because 80 to 90 per cent of vessels that come into the country are foreign vessels. The foreign vessels owners repatriate the profit accrued from the shipping business in Nigeria to their various countries thereby making it difficult for Nigeria to retain the money in the economy,� said a lecturer at the Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr Frank Ojadi.

Despite the many troubles bedevilling the nation’s maritime, credit must be given to the NPA, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and to some extent the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for braving all to succeed in 2018.

NPA Remains Outstanding When measured against the rot that defined the maritime sector in the previous years, the efforts of the NPA at improving the maritime industry can only be described as stellar. In a bid to ensure that her reforms succeed, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman introduced quarterly stakeholders’ meeting, which was held across the country. Aside the implementation of suggestion by critical stakeholders, the NPA also introduced feedback mechanism to ensure nothing is left to chance. It is important to note that mid 2017 Bala-Usman was just one year in office.

Some critics had argued that she do not have the experience to run such a huge enterprise having only worked at the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) before being appointed chief of staff to the Kaduna state governor.

However, all the doubts have now been put to rest as the NPA boss has recorded significant achievements. Among her many achievements was the drive to ensure that operators are held accountable.

Also, she has ensured that business is done easier and cheaper across the nation’s ports.

Another major achievement of the NPA boss was the redeployment of two southerners to head the London and Abuja liaison office of the agency for the first time in recent history.

She also made effort to improve the standard of operation at the ports in order to increase cargo traffic in and out of the country.

She was quoted to have said at a forum during the year that the effort by her management to reform the ports is premised on the need to entrench efficiency, transparency and accountability in ports operations.

Ending Apapa TrafďŹ c In a bid to put an end to the Apapa traffic logjam in the New Year, the NPA last week announced some measures. Among the measures, the NPA has directed shipping companies to immediately deploy sweeper vessels to evacuate empty containers from the ports to clear the backlog within four months.

The NPA also directed the shipping companies to use of Onne Ports for such sweeper vessels.

According to the NPA the measures will reduce the attendant financial burden that the congestion at the Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports has brought

on importers.

It said there would be an increase in rent-free period for cargoes housed in the terminals from the current period of three free days before commencement of rent charges to 21 free days before commencement of rent charges for a period of four months. “With effect from Tuesday, December 18, 2018, there will be an increase in the demurrage free period on return of empty containers from the current five days period to 15 days for a period of four months. The Nigerian Customs Service is urged to immediately commence the process of auctioning of overtime cargoes. This is imperative as the ports are meant to be transit and not storage facilities. These auctions should be carried out on the spot at port locations and every buyer would be given a stipulated short period to evacuate the cargoes out of the ports after which they will be re-auctioned,� NPA said.

It added: “Terminal operators are however encouraged to negotiate and grant waivers to consignees to facilitate the evacuation of these cargoes to mitigate against the auctioning which will result in a total loss of revenue by the terminal operator and the loss of cargo by the consignee. The Authority wishes to state that these measures are emergency steps taken to immediately reduce the financial burden of congestion on citizens as the federal government proceeds to permanently resolve the congestion through the following: reconstruction of the port access road, the provision of trailer park and holding bays with e-call up system, the enhancement of cargo evacuation using rail transportation and inland waterways with barges among others. “The authority recognises the financial implications of these policies on the terminal operators and shipping companies and will consider a shift in our operational charges to ameliorate the situation of stakeholders.�

NIMASA’s Global Recognition The outgoing year can be said to be one of the best for NIMASA as the agency recorded many firsts, gaining global recognition in the process. Some of the major achievements include: the acquisition of a floating dockyard for Nigeria; improvement of security in Nigeria’s territorial waters, training of thousands cadets and most the turnaround of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Oron.

Also, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, was re-elected the Chairman of the Association of African Maritime Administration (AAMA), for another term.

According to the Chief Operating Officer and Acting CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Sobantu Tilayi the leadership style of the NIMASA boss has brought better relationship amongst the leaders of the maritime administrations on the continent. He added that there is no better way to sustain the tempo than to re-elect Peterside

to continue to lead the charge.

Also, the United States Coast Guard commended the NIMASA for its efforts to improve security and operational efficiency within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The commendation was given in Lagos by a visiting coast guard team led by Lt Commander Janna Ott. Ott, a representative of the US Coast Guard in International Port Security Programme, said NIMASA had taken laudable steps to improve Nigeria’s compliance with the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code. “You do have a really great team here. They were very helpful. I thank them for their frank and open discussion in allowing us to give them our observations. Hopefully, they can take whatever we have given them to heart and start working on them right away,�Ott said.

She, however, urged greater vigilance in terms of access to the ISPS zones at the ports. “It’s very important that you know in your port facilities who is gaining access and they are authorised to be there before they go through those gates of the ISPS zone, �Ott stated. “You also need to be consistent with the proficiencies of all the security personnel in holding people accountable that are coming through those port facilities. We already had a very good discussion with NIMASA, �she added.

Responding, the Director General of NIMASA, Peterside, said the country had made significant progress in addressing the issue of access control around the port areas.

Peterside, who spoke through NIMASA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Bashir Jamoh, said: “The issue of access control is one of the paramount areas. The access road, access control, those are very important areas. Similarly, on access control, we just introduced stickers to the ports. We started implementing it early this month.�

He said the federal government had taken measures in partnership with the private sector to ensure that all port facilities in Nigeria were easily accessed.

He said NIMASA had recorded steady progress in its implementation of the ISPS Code, stressing that Nigeria has moved from implementation to enforcement.

He told the US Coast Guard team that “The issues you mentioned, we are dealing with them. One of the things we have introduced is training. We are aware that some of the facilities have these issues.

Right now, most of them are going into biometric access control, which you observed in some of the terminals, like MRS, Five Star Logistics, etc. “We would do more in training and continuous visit to these facilities and create better awareness for them to implement effective access control strategies.

We will be consistent in the things we do because we have our executive management’s buy-in and

support to do our job. “In fact, we have gone from just implementation to enforcement, where after several engagements and if facilities do not comply with those required standards, we start to sanction them and even get them shut down.�

NCS Improved Revenue Collection The 2018 can be said to be of the best in recent history of the NCS. Aside major improvement in revenue collection, the NCS was a nightmare for smugglers in 2018. However, the NCS major drawback in the year was its inability to auction overtime cargos that was partly responsible for port congestion. Showcasing its achievement last week in Lagos, the NCS announced that it generated revenue of N1.1trillion in the last 11 months in 2018.

The NCS also said it seized goods with duty paid value of N40billion between the months of January and November this year.

National Public Relations of the NCS, Mr Joseph Attah, who announced this during said with the revenue figure, the NCS has not only broken the figure for last year which was N1.037trillion but surpassed it.

He described the figures as a clear testimony that the reforms embarked upon by the ComptrollerGeneral of the NCS, Col Hammed Ali (rtd) was impacting positively on productivity. “Today, I am happy to announce that the Service has already broken 2017 record with N1.1 trillion revenue. This is no doubt a clear testimony of the fact that the ongoing reforms of the service are impacting positively on productivity. “Rice and other perishable items are being given to the victims of the unfortunate insurgency in the North-East. So far, a total of 424,391 (50kg) bags of rice worth N4,047,615,000.00 and other seized perishables have been distributed to IDPs in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Edo states. “The Controller-General of Customs has therefore sought and obtained presidential approval to extend distribution of these relief items to other IDP camps and registered orphanages across the country.�

As part of the war against smuggling, Attah said 4,010 seizures with a duty paid value of N40billion were recorded.

He described as outstanding among the seizures the 59X40ft containers of tramadol and other concealed drugs at Appa and Onne ports.

He also said that the total number of 238,094 50 kg of bags of rice were seized across the country in the period between January to November.

Attah said so far 806 vehicles were disposed under electronic auction with the exercise producing 753 winners who paid N346,146,349.

He also added that 424,391 bags of rice worth N,047.615,000.00 and other perishable items were distributed to IDPs in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Edo states.

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5 ) * 4 % ": t FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

THIS WEEKEND Zhang Weiwei: WEEKLY MAGAZINE

NEWS METRO THISLIFE

ART WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT

Group Features Editor: Chiemelie Ezeobi chiemelie.ezeobi@thisdaylive.com 08152252325

The Hausa Broadcaster from China

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COVER

ZHANG WEIWEI: THE HAUSA BROADCASTER FROM CHINA SOLOMON ELUSOJI chronicles the path of Zhang Weiwei, a Chinese, who was re-christened Murtala after the late General Murtala Muhammed. Weiwei’s passion for languages, especially the Hausa language, which he broadcasts in, reflects a shining example of China’s increasing engagement with African languages Foreign languages have always fascinated Zhang ‘Murtala’ Weiwei. He grew up in Nanjing, a city in South-east China famous for its central role in the ancient Ming dynasty and proximity to Shanghai. And he remembers a childhood filled with pleasant experiences; a member of China’s onechild policy generation, he was an only child. “I really enjoyed my childhood,� he says.

When it was time for him to go to university, in 2004, he decided to study a foreign language. His parents did not object. “They respected my choice.�

The foreign language he really wanted to learn was Spanish, at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), but the school offered him another language, Hausa. “At that point, to be honest, I had never heard about Hausa,� Murtala says, “I didn’t even know how to spell the word.� But BFSU’s prestige as one of the best foreign language schools in the China was too much for Murtala to resist. He accepted the offer and quickly realized, after doing a quick Baidu search, that Hausa was widely spoken in Nigeria, a country whose oil wealth and footballing pedigree he was already familiar with. He didn’t know, then, that some nine years later, work would take him to its West African shores.

For four years, Murtala studied Hausa at BFSU. The name ‘Murtala’ was give to him by one of his professors, Balarabe Shehu, a Nigerian instructor. “My Chinese name ‘Weiwei’ can be translated to mean great, so he decided to name me after a great man in Nigerian politics, Murtala Muhammed.� His other professors were Chinese, but they had all studied Hausa in West Africa, most at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.

In 2008, he graduated from BFSU and joined the Hausa Service at China Radio International (CRI), one of the largest multi-language broadcasters in the world.

In 2013, Murtala was posted to Nigeria as a Chief Correspondent for CRI. The first thing that hit him, as he alighted from the aircraft at the Nnamdi Azikwe Airport in Abuja, was the hot wind. But, inside the terminal and beyond, he felt at home hearing the language he had learnt for almost a decade being spoken in casual conversations. “Everything felt familiar,� he says. “My driver, a man from Nasarawa, was familiar. From that day, I fell in love with the country.�

Murtala’s job as a reporter in Nigeria brought him in contact with a lot of local people. And wherever he went, people were shocked that he could speak Hausa. The idea that a Chinese man was Hausa-fluent was almost unimaginable; perhaps he was not real. But he was there, in the flesh; the evidence could not be thrown out. Once, he was designated to interview the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi. A day before the interview, the Emir’s handlers were worried he might not be able to pay proper respects to the Emir in the local language. He proved them wrong. A five-minute interview was extended to more than twenty, as the Emir praised his fluency. It was one of Murtala’s proudest moments during his time in Nigeria. “I couldn’t believe I could get a chance to get close to such a dignified personality,� he says.

He worked in Nigeria for almost four years, during which he interviewed several important personalities across the country. But he was also interviewed by a lot of people. Everyone wanted to know the story behind the Chinese man who could speak Hausa. He appeared on television shows and within the lines of newspaper articles. When he left the country, he wrote a blog for a national newspaper expressing his profound gratitude to all the locals who had helped him navigate the past years.

The bewildering reactions to

Murtala at a cultural function at the China Culture Centre in Abuja

Murtala working with broadcasters at Aso Radio in Abuja

Murtala with Shehu Shagari in Sokoto

Murtarla’s Hausa-fluency are a pointer to how little contact there is between Nigerian languages and Chinese. This

Murtala’s job as a reporter in Nigeria brought him in contact with a lot of local people. And wherever he went, people were shocked that he could speak Hausa. The idea that a Chinese man was Hausa-uent was almost unimaginable; perhaps he was not real. But he was there, in the esh; the evidence could not be thrown out

reporter, who recently spent ten months in China, had similar experiences.

Without even a basic grasp of Chinese, a simple ‘Nihao’ (Hello) drew gasps from most Chinese people – a Nigerian who can say ‘Nihao’ is a unicorn. But that might be changing too, as China ramps up the promotion of Chinese language and culture across the world through initiatives such as the Confucius Institute.

But the reactions can also show how little we value our local languages.

If a foreigner lives and works in a place, should he not be expected to communicate in the tongue of the locals? “We no longer teach local languages in the country, in our secondary and primary schools, which is a shame,�

Mr. Kola Tubosun, a linguist, told this reporter in an email. “Not only that, we rarely speak these languages to our children anymore.�

Mr. Tubosun, who has emerged as, perhaps, the most important language advocate in the country within the past half-decade, was responding to a question about the quality of local language promotion in the country, compared to China’s.

“China is doing something right,� he said. “But the reason why they succeed has nothing to do with our own nonchalance. We can acquire as many languages as we choose to. The question is why we aren’t as proactive as they are.

For China, there is an economic incentive to teach Africans their language.

They want to exploit our economic opportunities. Maybe when we find out what we want to do in the world, how we want to exploit the benefits in other lands, then we will use our language as an entry point as well.�

When Murtala was asked whether he thought Nigerians were doing enough to promote their local languages, he acknowledged that a lot needed to be done. “The colonial language – English – has had a very big influence,� he says. When the locals speak Hausa, he notes, it is riddled with a lot of English words and phrases. “Nigerians have to make the teaching of local languages compulsory in schools, starting from the primary education. On our part as Chinese people, we translate so many TV shows and series into Hausa and we also broadcast in the language. That’s our way of encouraging the people to develop their language.�

This reporter first met Murtala last May during a function at Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU). He had been transferred back to China and was happy to see a Nigerian. When he realized this reporter wasn’t fluent in Hausa, he said a greeting in Yoruba. Over the course of the interviews for this article, which was conducted once in person at CRI headquarters in Beijing and via exchanged messages on social media, Murtala was quick to show basic competency in several local Nigerian languages, including Idoma and Igbo. “My cleaner when I was in Nigeria was Idoma,� he says.

He reminisces about his time in Nigeria, where he made a lot of friends – some still send him messages on Facebook – and enjoyed pap and akara, and spicy suya. “My understanding of Hausa gave me more access to the local people,� he says, “a lot of people want me to return.�

The relationship between Nigeria and China, during the past decade, has grown tremendously both in economic and political terms. China is now the country’s largest trade partner and people-to-people exchange numbers are rising. But it is not a relationship without its question marks, despite stable and cordial diplomatic engagements at the highest levels. Worth mentioning is perception of the other among average people. Namvula Rennie, in an article in the Journal of African Media Studies, notes that some Chinese tend to distrust Nigerians, ascribing to them notions of criminality, including illegal drug trafficking.

Since he has returned, Murtala has had to fend off untrue, blanket opinions about Nigeria or Africa held by people he meets. “I tend to defend Africa,� he says. “I tell them ‘you don’t know my life in Abuja or Kano’.� This is why, he admits, more people-topeople exchanges are important for the promotion of a better relationship between both parties. The more we interact with each other, the more we can bring about “more mutual understanding,� he says.

During conversations with this reporter, it was easy to observe that Murtala had assimilated a lot of Nigerian-ness, finishing sentences with ‘we thank God’. Of course, Murtala is not religious (“I am a communist�), but such religious sentences are woven into the fabric of most Nigerian languages and, in extension, the country’s psychological framework. “Language,�

Murtala says, “opens a new window.

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E-TRENDS

MUSIC SHOWBIZ

‌Your weekly entertainment delight

NOLLYWOOD

Queen Moremi Revives the Spirit of Patriotism Vanessa Obioha

I

In its opening night, the cast of Queen Moremi the Musical took to the Terra Kulture stage with a sense of pride in bringing to life the strides made by 12th century princess Moremi Ajasoro, who, through her love for her people and sacrifice helped the people of Ile-Ife regain glory.

Two-hour long, the evening’s opening by a soloist was a daring tribute to the Queen Moremi. Regally donned in blue apparel, the performer captured the bravery and selflessness of the queen, shifting between high and low vocal ranges to accentuate the aforementioned qualities. Showered with an accolade of thunderous claps from the audience, the opening helped shaped the expectation for the evening, leaving most persons readjusting into comfortable positions for what was about to come.

Whilst it follows the tales in many historical books in an unaltered presentation, a major aspect of the play was the costume set and stage. Lush with varying cultural pieces peculiar to the Yoruba people, the angle of costuming afforded a surreal experience: ranging from the raffia ensemble and grotesque face masks of the Ugbo warriors to the fin-like details to depict the marine form of the Esimirin and her acolytes. The stage backdrop projections and stage lighting too, aptly projected themes and moods for each scene, immersing the audience into that era when she existed.

Plagued with doubt, Bolanle AustenPeters was at first hesitant about directing the epic, being that a good body of her work leaned towards contemporary stories like SARO the Musical and Wakaa the Musical.

Meticulously exploring the nature of the project for up to six months, and a further nudge from First Lady of Ogun State, Olufunso Amosun, she considered directing the musical. Thus, making it her first venture into the traditional/epic genre. “Princess Ronke... she brought the script to me and I said ‘no, no, no, I only do contemporary plays.’ And you know

Actors on the stage of Moremi

obviously all the conflict between religions; Christians, all the traditional beliefs. So I told her I cannot do it, she was persistent for over six months. I am glad I did this. It is essential for us to know our roots; and celebrate our history and heritage.�

A fusion of dance, singing and acting, the set manages to identify with modern day lifestyle through its use of satire and various musical genres like gospel, jazz, soul, and opera, all mixed with traditional African influences whilst preserving culture through ‘Bata’ dancing, and simulating the rituals ascribable to the Ile-Ife people.

With the spirit of nationalism, Queen Moremi global ambassador Ronke Ademoloye felt a strong need to bring the story of Moremi to theatre, hinting that through ventures like these, youths will be

empowered and inspired into taking up acts of selflessness and prioritising them for the greater good of the society. “The story of Moremi that we have out there; it doesn’t capture a lot, and when we were putting the story together, we had to go to Ife to do a lot of research because there wasn’t really anything on the internet,� explained Ronke, detailing the inaccessibility to historic information. “It is a story of ultimate sacrifice; it is a story of leading. So, we are telling the younger generation that they should try and do away from this ‘me, me’ culture, and do whatever they can do to give back to the people around them. They don’t need to start with the nation, but they can help people around them; how they can have a positive impact, and that is what the story of Moremi

Everything He Touches Turns to Gold

Vanessa Obioha At a time when most artistes are saving their energy for a one-night show, singer and songwriter Adekunle Gold dove into the uncharted waters and created a style that could only be peculiar to him. For three nights, the ‘Ire’ crooner performed to his music fans who crawled out from many parts of the city to witness his dynamic show.

Since he released that heart warming ballad ‘Sade’ in 2014, the former YBNL artiste has continued to push the envelope, creating sounds that are unique and pleasant to the ears.

At his three-night show at Terra Kulture, he didn’t fail to amaze. Playing with his 79th element band, Gold proved to the audience why everything he touches turns to gold. From posing as a rock star with his guitar slung over his shoulders to trying his hands on the wheels of steel. Whatever character he chose to play at the last night of his show, the ‘Ire’ crooner endeared the crowd more to himself.

The beauty of Gold’s musicilal prowess is his stage craft. Only few artistes are blessed with that rare talent.

He literally enjoys himself on stage, endearing the audience with his lyrics and dance

moves. On that stage, every other person is forgotten except Gold.

One of the highlights of the night was the emotional rendition of ‘Damn Delilah’ which he performed with a lucky fan. The song which is about exes had the fan calling her ex on stage, who unfortunately didn’t pick her call.

After their performance which elicited teary eyes, the fan became the crowd’s fan as they yelled an expletive at her ex.

Over the course of his residency, Gold was joined by singers Aramide, WurLD, Dyo and Sir Dauda. Fans were also surprised with performances from singer/songwriter Falz and an extremely rare sighting of musical legend A a. In addition, Gold shared the stage for the first time with his mentor, Olamide, who initially signed him as a YBNL Nation export.

The three-day event was a remarkable way for Gold to end the year which has been a good one for him in a way.

First, his sophomore album ‘About 30’ got critical acclaim and he also got a Grammy recognition as a potential nominee in the World Music category. If anything, Gold has proved to his fans and other doubting Thomases that he got the golden touch.

Adekunle Gold

is all about – being able to go out of your way and give.�

Impressively, the first show went off without any technical glitches and managed to gain and maintain the attention of nearly 400 seated guests through its seamless plot of cultural heritage and resplendence. For its first show on Friday, December 21, it clearly sets the standard of what is to be expected from the rest renditions of the play which is scheduled to hold at the Terra Kulture arena from Saturday, December 22 to Wednesday, January 2, 2019, with the exclusion of Christmas day.

Queen Moremi the musical marks the third project launched by the House of Oduduwa in promoting the rich culture of Yoruba people, and also help empower women generally.

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NEWS

Bumper Christmas for BIC Shaver Loyalists Mary Nnah It’s sure going to be a bumper Christmas for the regular users of the BIC Shaver brand as many of the lucky winners in the just concluded promo smiled home with bountiful prizes.

The prizes were won during the grand finale of the raffle draw for BIC Shaver “Shave and Win�

Promo held last weekend in Lagos.

Being the second and the last draw for the year, many winners have emerged so far. A lot of people won instant airtime, while many others won great prizes through a previous raffle draw and the grand finale held recently.

Prizes won included washing machine, home theatres, bedside fridge, table top gas cooker, mobile phones, Plasma TVs, generator set and cash prizes ranging from N250,000 to N1million.

Product Manager for Lighter and Shaver, BIC West Africa, Ms Bigue Diouf, who came all the way from Dakar, Senegal, to attend the grand draw of the BIC Shaver national consumer poromotion in Nigeria, said, “It is a very big event for us at BIC�.

She explained that the aim was to reward loyal customers, noting, “BIC Shaver is a leading disposable shaver in West Africa and we have a huge amount of consumers everywhere in West Africa. So it is important for us to reward the royal customers by doing this kind of promotion that would enable them to win great prizes and also to give op-

BIC Country Business Development Manager, Adeyemi Ojo; Business Development Manager, BIC West Africa and Central Africa, Mr. Groues Guillaume; Product Manager, Shavers and Lighters, BIC West Africa, Bigue Diouf and DGM Commercial NIPEN, Adedamola Adelabu during grand ďŹ nale draws for the BIC Shaver “Shave and Winâ€? Promo held in Lagos recently

portunity for non-user to try it for the first time. “So, the promo is nationwide and the team has visited every region in Nigeria giving the consumers the opportunity to participate in this promo.�

Expressing gratitude to the numerous BIC Shaver consumers for their loyalty, Diouf noted that it is because of them that the BIC Shaver brand has remained in the leading position in Nigeria all along. “BIC Shaver is easy to find in all neighbourhoods in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa and it remains the best value added product, so we can

guarantee the quality of our BIC Shavers. “So, because we are very serious in investing a lot of time and efforts to test the quality of our products and that is why we have a lot of consumers in West Africa�, she said.

She revealed further that the BIC Shaver promo has had a great impact on the sale of the product during the promo, noting however that, “as a product manager, I am much more concerned about the long term impact in terms of brand equity. “So, for me, it is more impor-

tant to access the impact in terms of adoption by consumers. We want to be closer to consumer to increase affinity with them�.

Business Development Manager, BIC West Africa and Central Africa, Mr. Groues Guillaume, said Nigeria is the company’s biggest market in the region, revealing that the company has been distributing BIC lighter and shavers in Nigeria for the past 50 years out of the 70 years that the company has been in existence.

Guillaume who came all the way from Dakar, Senegal to attend the event said, “It is a honour for me to be here

Felix King Bags President Trump’s Lifetime Achievement Award in the US Mary Nnah For an umpteenth time in 2018, the Africa rising entrepreneur-cum-philanthropist, Dr. Felix King Eiremiokhae, has been honoured with the lifetime achievement award by the United States of America President, Donald Trump.

Eiremiokhae was decorated with the honour in America recently.

According to the letter to the Honoree from the White House and signed by President Trump, the US President said: “Congratulations on receiving the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “You have served as a model of the American spirit. Your many hours of service have strengthened the bonds of cooperation and trust that bring people together, while helping to address some of the greatest challenges of our time. “One of our nation’s greatest strengths remains the compassion of our everyday citizens, who give so willingly of themselves and their lives for the benefit of others. “Thank you for your enduring commitment to serving your

Felix King Eiremiokhae displaying his award

community and our nation. I trust that you will continue to work for the betterment of others and even stronger future for the people.�

Eiremiokhae who had brought back to conscious of the people in Nigeria, the International Widows Day through the Felix King Foun-

dation, works in empowering indigent widows across Africa and has won several awards and honours in that regards.

After receiving the award, Eiremiokhae stated that the least he could expect this year was an honour from his mentor and president of the US.

“It was delightful to be one of the African entrepreneurs and philanthropists to earn this award. This will only invigorate me to do more and help the indigent women across Africa,� he added.

Eiremiokhae started his foundation in 2015 without enlisting the support of people and institutions, but with key objective of giving hope to the poor and vulnerable widows and their children in communities across Nigeria through different programmes such as business start-up initiatives, farm aids programme, free food distribution, educational grant and medical aids are in line with the principles the people of Georgia live by.

In the process, the foundation has helped more than 1000 women and 3000 children.

In 2016, Eiremiokhae through his foundation presented a bill to the Edo State House of Assembly, to help more widows.

He is the founder of Mayor Biscuit Company (MABISCO), a growing biscuit brand in Nigeria, Oracle Experience, the number one 360 experiential marketing agency in Nigeria with capacity to compete globally.

FoundationScalesupScholarshipstoTrainMoreProfessionals Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia Lively Hope Outreach Ministries has kept faith with its philanthropic activities by helping so many indigent people to become professionals in various fields of human endeavour over the last 14 years.

This it has consistently done through its foundation which

awards scholarships to bright but indigent undergraduates who needed such lifeline to graduate and become core professionals in such fields as medicine, law, accountancy, architecture, law, pharmacy, nursing and science education.

Chairperson of the scholarship board, Lady Elizabeth Uhuegbu told journalists in Umuahia that the scholarship

scheme has been expanded to accommodate undergraduates from all parts of Abia state although the beneficiaries were originally limited to people from Ubakala community in Umuahia South Local Government.

To this end she stated that the 2018 edition of the scholarship programme would accommodate victims of the pipeline explosion in

Osisioma as four slots would go to them.

Explaining the genesis of the scholarship programme, the board chairperson said the founder of the foundation, Rev Benson Ezem, who is an architect decided with his wife, Patricia, to give back to the society by embarking on human capital development and skill acquisition programmes, among others.

to witness the reward for our loyal consumers and to meet with some of them. “BIC as a group is focusing on Africa and we have very strong brand equity in Nigeria but we need to ensure that the quality always stays the best. “BIC stands for quality product but good value for money, so you can buy a good product at an affordable price everywhere for everyone. “That is really our vison and we want to ensure that we give best products to Nigerians and of course the whole of Africa.�

Deputy General Manager

Commercial, NIPEN, partners to BIC, Adedamola Adelabu said the sales in Nigeria has been quite interesting. “Within the year that we are reviewing, despite the challenges with the economy, around the liquidity with our partners and the consumers’ disposable and discretionary income that is quite under pressure, we have been able to weather the storm�, he noted, adding that the promo goes beyond the brand to the experience that people have by using the number one shaver brand in Nigeria.

BIC Country Business Development Manager, Nigeria, Adeyemi Ojo, explained why the focus has been on one of the company’s products, BIC Shaver. “The BIC Shaver is one of our biggest and most important brands and so we felt we should reward our loyal customers and also to say thank you, especially now that Christmas is coming.

We wanted to put smiles on their faces�, Ojo noted.

Mr. David Isabemoi, National Sales Manager, CFAO/ NIPEN, the company in charge of the redistribution of BIC products in Nigeria, said the promo has been exciting, being a way to reward loyal consumers. “Over the period of time, we have given them the opportunity to consumers to win something and the promo has been on for three months and would be ending this December. And whenever there is a promotion, people are excited to participate. They see it as a benefit for using the product�, he noted.

Winning Teams Unveiled at EmergeOndo Innovation in Governance Hackatho Mary Nnah The EmergeOndo “Innovation in Governance Hackathon� took place over a three-day period from Thursday, December 6, to Saturday, December 8, within the three innovation hubs located in Akure, Ondo State - Akure Tech Hub, Curators Hub and Premier Hub Innovation Center.

The EmergeOndo Hackathon focused on four thematic areas, namely, agricultural accessibility, business linkages, education and renewable and clean energy. The “Innovation in Governance�

Hackathon was born out of a unique partnership between the Deutsche Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Make-IT in Africa programme and the Ondo State Government. Make-IT sponsored the Hackathon and provided technical support while the Ondo State Government provided the experts across the thematic areas, that served as jurors and judges.

The hackathon sought to explore creative solutions and policy recommendations within the thematic areas that the State government could adopt and implement.

The hackathon hosted an array of over 220 Nigerian software developers, programmers, data specialists, designers, agricultural experts, education experts, policy experts, as well as business and sales professionals who were distributed into 28 teams.

After three days of working on solutions and policies, four teams emerged as the winners across the four-focus thematic areas of the EmergeOndo “Innovation in Governance� Hackathon.

Serve Consulting supported the event by giving each winning team USD 1,000 in prize money. Four other teams also went home with winning USD 250 each for the solutions with the highest social impact, most innovative use of technology, best pitch, and the highest overall score in the pitch competition.

The winning teams were: Team Gadges, who emerged winner in the clean and renewable energy category, cashing home USD1, 000 with their solution, which is to provide access to affordable solar solutions. Team Psyche emerged the winner in the Education category cashing home 1, 000 dollars with their solution, which is a device to monitor students’ psychological state as it directly, correlates to academic performance.

Team FarmCred emerged the winner in the Agricultural Accessibility category, taking home 1, 000 dollars with their solution, which is an application that improves access to agri-finance by creating credit profiles for smallholder farmers.

Team Dunalinks emerged the winner in the Business Linkages category, taking home 1,000 dollars with their solution designed to link small scale technicians with contractors for better jobs and growth opportunities. Other winning teams include: Team FarmCred as the team with the highest score in social impact; Team Gadease as the team with the highest score in the innovative use of technology; Team FarmSense as the team with the best pitch, while Team Podra won the award of team with highest overall score in the semi-final pitch.

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ART WEEKEND

‌For pure art enthusiasts

A Whole New World of Art Yinka Olatunbosun reports on the multi-layered fiesta-styled solo art exhibition by a new visual artist, Onyema Okwodu with 2Baba, Adekunle Gold headlining the accompaning all-night music concert at a residential property in Ikoyi, Lagos, serving as a nice wrap to the year

performing his hits such as, “Ihe Neme�, “African Queen� and then it was 2Baba’s turn to pretend to be done with the performance without singing his smash hit, “Amaka�.

Even the quiet side of the audience became animated when he returned dramatically to end with, “I like woman o, I dey straight-forward.�

MusicA-Z: Critics’Pickof 2018 2Baba

T

hose piercing headlamps from the arriving Rolls Royce and other exotic cars were indeed enough to light up the miniatures on display inside the home of the oil and gas business tycoon, Abdulrazaq Isa recently at the Christmas party with a resort theme.

Naturally, the fresh collection of artworks from Onyema Okwodu was carefully tucked behind the wine stands where beautiful, smiling ladies received guests with champagne glasses and white wine.

Not blinded by the shimmering view ahead, this reporter stepped on the lush garden where some of the monochrome paintings by the artists were arranged.

Okwodu, presumably in his early twenties, was testing waters with this first solo exhibition.

Influenced by abstract realism, his idea was to use a simple form to

Yinka Olatunbosun Just when the memories of a recent guided tour of Lebanon began to dim, a new set of photographs of the 2018 participants at the Study Abroad in Lebanon (SAIL), were released by the President of the Cedars’ Institut, Dr. Joseph Rahme.

The photographs are iconic as they captured a multi-racial collective in their on-site experience of the relic of a city which had seen Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Crusader and Mameluk conquerors.

The hippodrome in Tyre is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Lebanon.

The areas covered during the tour include Al-Mina, the former island before the coast holding the Roman ruins, the vestiges of Venetian Cathedral and the walls of a Crusader Castle. While on the mainland is Al-Bass, consisting of the necropolis of El-Bass, the triumphal arch and the hippodrome.

Rahme, who was more equipped with history than the touring students, said

Okwodu introduces his works to the guests

create a detailed work.

Being on a break from art school at a university in Pennsylvania, US, he took his time to explore his philosophy of life.

Using graphite and ink pen, Okwodu seems to be on the path of carving a niche for himself with his style, while positioning visual art as something that can have a broad appeal. A case in point is his body of works on fabrics. T-shirts and shirts provided the ground for transplanting his creativity pieces from just wall paintings to fabrics, in a similar way that the trailblazing New York-based Nigerian artist, Laolu Senbanjo had done for his afro-mystic expressions.

Taking it further, Okwodu’s works were paraded on the electronic stage flats that constituted the backdrop for the fashion show that followed.

Meanwhile, Okwodu took his viewers through the visual journey with many untitled works.

One of them bore the image of two hands, in firm handshake. What was really significant was that one hand was white while the other was black. The subject matter of racial unity in this painting may have been unintended but is not exactly a surprise coming from a budding artist who is an eye-witness to the racial polarity that marks the current temperament in the US. Okwodu would later talk about his work titled, “Domesticated� and the philosophy behind it. “This one is in prison- a prison from which he is trying to escape from. He is comfortable with the prison. He’s not affected too much by it. The idea of being imprisoned in a place you’re comfortable with is what inspired this work. “It’s a feeling of being restrained even in the area I’m familiar with,� he explained as others who were admiring his works politely eavesdropped. Okwodu started

drawing at the age of four alongside his brother. Both of them were fascinated by comic characters. “Later, I started drawing portraiture of human faces. I began drawing from my imagination and later discovered the black and white style.

People love my work and wanted to see more of it.

Although some people prefer to see what they can easily understand to these abstract works,� he said.

Later, on the concert-size music stage that doubled as a runway, he engaged his audience in a softertoned conversation about his works.

To give the night its tropical taste, Adekunle Gold rolled out his medley of ethnic vibes which resonated with some of his fans in the crowd. Perhaps, sensing the aesthetic distance between him and his audience, he respected it and danced to his own enjoyment on stage with his hits such as, “Pick Up�, “Ariwo Ko�, amongst

others.

The biggest surprise of the night, 2Baba, created a few minutes of suspense before showing up on stage with his monochrome shirt on black pants to the screams from some lively ladies in the house. 2Baba, a very discerning artist was quite sensitive to the shrinking voice of female fans who crave his attention since his marriage to his-long time girlfriend, Annie Macaulay, especially when he ventures into singing, “True Love�.

At a point in his performance, he was compelled to ask his female fans to at least pretend that he was still searching for true love. That appeal changed the momentum as the multi-tiered white building was besieged by ladies and guys arriving from clubs perhaps on the tip-off that 2Baba was in the building.

2Baba broke away from the stage, pulled by the fans for selfies while

Snapshots from the Hippodrome

In no particular order, some songs listed below which were released by Nigerian artists (or collaborations featuring Nigerian artists) this year will go down in history as trendsetters for their lyrical content, mass appeal, culture shock or unusual engagement with the public. For this reason, they enjoyed reviews online and in traditional media. Here is the list in no particular order: A. This is Nigeria - Falz the Badt B.

Ye- Burna Boy

C.

Amaka – 2Baba

D. Magun- Niniola feat.

Busiswa E.

Ire- Adekunle Gold

F.

Soco-Wizkid

G. Boy H.

Heaven’s Gate-Burna Assurance-Davido

I. Science StudentOlamide J.

Case- Teni

K.

Askamaya- Teni

L. Issa Goal -Naira Marley, Olamide, Lil Kesh M. Legbegbe-Mr Real N. Bad Energy- Skepta ft. Wizkid O.

Fever- Wizkid

P. Diet- DJ Enimony ft. Tiwa Savage, Reminisce, Slimcase Q. Onyeoma- Phyno ft.

Olamide R. Baba- DJ Spinall ft.

Kizz Daniel S. maya

Ah Blem Blem- Ti-

T. Davido

Kpa- Dremo ft.

U. Billion Dollar WomanMadrina V. SAIL 2018 Participants along the pillars of the Hippodrome

he would point out the best places to take shots at Tyre. It was believed that the purple dye was invented in Tyre while it served a pivotal role in commerce for the Phoenicians.

Of course, the Old Roman graves were not on list of

options of where to strike a pose for the photographs.

Though deserted, the ruins at Tyre are guarded closely like a commercial bank, as protected by the Antiquities Law. Perhaps, the best one could do was to engrave one’s

Ebeano- Mr P.

W. Wayward- Ajebutter name on some of the pillars at Hippodrome or pick a little stone or some sand from the ruins to travel home with or simply smile at the thought of walking on the same sand as Alexander the Great.

For an artist, it was mind-

blowing to see the Roman hippodrome of Beirut, which is considered as the grandest of the existing five hippodromes in Eastern Mediterranean. It has amphitheatres that are several metres high and a race track.

X. Lova Lova- Tiwa Savage ft. Duncan Mighty Y. I Never Know SayTimi Dakolo Z. Selense II- Harrysong ft. Iyanya, Dice Ailes

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38

FERTILITY

with DR. KEMI AILOJE Info@lifelinkfertility.com; Ă?ĂŒĂ?Ă“ĂžĂ?Ë? lifelinkfertility.com 08033083580

WHAT MEN NEED TO KNOW ABOUTTHEIR SPERM (Part 2) THow do I know a healthy sperm? hen you and your spouse are trying to conceive, you will be inundated with information on what you can do to improve your chances of getting pregnant. It is important to ensure that your sperm is healthy as measured by: Sperm movement (motility): sperm need to travel through a woman’s cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes before they get to the ovum for fertilization. Motility is measure by how many sperm are moving.

Sperm shape (morphology): sperm should have long tails and oval-shaped heads. A higher count of normal-shaped sperm means a higher chance of conceiving with your partner.

To know how healthy your sperm is, you need to do semen analysis test.

W

What is Seminal Fluid Analysis test?

The analysis will determine if normal sperm count, low sperm count or sperm dysfunction. A semen analysis helps ascertain if a man needs treatment for infertility issues. The test will help a doctor determine the reason behind infertility.

How to prepare for semen analysis Your doctor will let you know what you should do in preparation for the semen analysis. It is very important to follow these instructions for accurate results.

To get the best sample: r "WPJE FKBDVMBUJPO GPS DFSUBJO TUJQVMBUFE days. r "WPJE BMDPIPM DBGGFJOF BOE ESVHT TVDI BT DPDBJOF BOE NBSJKVBOB UXP UP Ă WF EBZT before the test. r 4UPQ UBLJOH BOZ IFSCBM NFEJDBUJPOT r "WPJE BOZ IPSNPOF NFEJDBUJPO BT instructed by your healthcare provider.

Discuss any medications you are taking with your doctor.

How is semen analysis conducted?

You will need to provide your doctor with a semen sample for a semen analysis. There are four ways to collect a semen sample: r .BTUVSCBUJPO NFUIPE r 4FY XJUI B OPO TQFSNJDJEF DPOEPN r 4FY XJUI XJUIESBXBM CFGPSF FKBDVMBUJPO r &KBDVMBUJPO TUJNVMBUFE CZ FMFDUSJDJUZ Masturbation is considered medically the preferred way to get a clean sample.

Getting a good sample

Two main factors are crucial to having a good sample for testing The semen must be kept at body temperature. If it gets too warm or too cold, the results will be inaccurate.

The semen must be delivered to the testing facility within 30 to 60 minutes of leaving the body. Certain factors that can negatively affect the test include: Semen coming into contact with spermicide from condoms, taking the test when you are ill or stressed, lab technician error, contamination of the sample.

What is a normal result?

A normal result for sperm is the one that has a good shape that is more than 50%. If a man has a greater than 50% of sperm that has an abnormal shape, this can reduces his fertility.

A normal result must have more than 50% PG TQFSN NPUJMJUZ BO IPVS BGUFS FKBDVMBUJPO Sperm movement or motility is important in fertility because sperm must travel to fertilize an egg in natural conception process.

PH level of a normal sperm should be between 7.0 and 8.0. A higher level than 8.0 could indicate an infection. A result less than 7.0 could indicate the specimen is contamiOBUFE PS UIBU UIF NBOzT FKBDVMBUPSZ EVDUT may be blocked.

The volume of semen for a normal result should be greater than 2mls, a low semen volume could indicate a low amount of sperm to fertilize an egg. An excess volume could also mean the amount of sperm present is diluted.

It should take 15 to 30 minutes before TFNFO MJRVFĂ FT 8IJMF TFNFO JT JOJUJBMMZ thick, its ability to liquefy, or turn to a watery consistency, helps sperm to move. If semen does not liquefy in 15 to 30 minutes, fertility could be affected negatively.

Sperm count in a normal semen analysis should be between 20million to over 200million. This result is also known as sperm density. If this number is low, conceivJOH DBO CF NPSF EJGĂ DVMU 4QFSN DPVOU NBZ be low (oligospermia) and sometimes semen fluid may not contain any sperm cells, a condition referred to as Azoospermia The appearance of semen should be whitish to gray and opalescent. Semen that has a red-brown tint could indicate the presence of blood, while a yellow tint could JOEJDBUF KBVOEJDF PS CF B NFEJDBUJPO TJEF effect.

For couple who have been trying for babies taking Semen Analysis Test is highly recommended as a necessary step towards starting or expanding your family.

PERSPECTIVE

A Day With The ‘Flying Doctors’

By Olusanya Ademiluyi Recently, I got an invitation to attend the 'MZJOH %PDUPST 0QFO )PVTF BU UIF &YFDVKFU Hangar, International Airport Lagos. I looked forward to an interesting experience as I get acquainted with what an air BNCVMBODF BDUVBMMZ JT MJLF Ă STUIBOE 5IF day was Friday, December 14,2018 5IF &YFDVKFU )BOHBS * BN UPME JT POF PG UIF MBSHFTU BOE NPTU TPQIJTUJDBUFE Ă YFE CBTF PQFSBUJPO IBOHBST JO 8FTU "GSJDB 5IF 'MZJOH %PDUPST PGĂ DFT BSF MPDBUFE PO the top floor of the hangar. It consists of a large airy boardroom, a crew lounge, an PQFSBUJPOT PGĂ DF GPS ĂĄJHIU QMBOOJOH BOE taking emergency phone calls, several other BENJOJTUSBUJWF PGĂ DFT BOE BO JNQSFTTJWF equipment storage room. .Z Ă STU MFBSOJOH FYQFSJFODF XBT LOPXing how much equipment is required to transfer a critically unwell patient from one area to another. It is literally a whole room full! The Flying Doctors Nigeria air ambulance contains perhaps, all the equipment normally found in an intensive care unit of a standard hospital facility. It is a flying intensive care unit!

Staff of The Flying Doctors Nigeria introduce me to equipment-- ventilators, infusion pumps, monitoring machines and even a pacemaker.

Indeed,to my surprise, the air ambulance aircraft looks the same as a typical private KFU GSPN UIF PVUTJEF #VU JU JT B UPUBMMZ different ball game on the inside. The air ambulance is choked with life-saving medical equipment. The most obvious being oxygen cylinders, and especially designed medical stretchers. I am informed that a single stretcher in an air ambulance can cost up to $100,000, which is about N36m at current exchange rate! And the combined cost of the intensive care equipment such as the ventilators, monitoring machines, infusion pumps, loading devices

Dr. Ola Orekunrin Brown

and baby incubator can easily run over $200,000,which is roughly N72 million. This could be more expensive than cost of setting up a basic conventional clinic! .Z UPVS BMTP JODMVEFE UIF A&56 &NFSHFODZ 5SBOTQPSU 6OJU PO "SJL BJS which happens to be another key facility deployed by Flying Doctors Nigeria. The &56 JT B TQFDJBMMZ EFTJHOFE NFEJDBM DBCJO UIBU Ă UT JOUP BO "SJL QMBOF PO B TDIFEVMFE commercial flight. It is an advanced custom designed unit that can transform a small section of a regular commercial flight into BO JOUFOTJWF DBSF VOJU JO KVTU NJOVUFT *U uses the same equipment as the air ambuMBODF BJSDSBGU %VSJOH BO PQFSBUJPO UIF &56 section is usually cordoned off to allow for patient privacy.

I have always had in my head the perception that air ambulance services of any form are quite expensive and only for the XFBMUIZ 5IJT NBZ CF USVF TPNFXIBU #VU XJUI UIF &56 XIJDI * BN UPME UBLFT VQ POMZ six economy class seats on Arik, it is up to 90 per cent cheaper to transport a patient than with an air ambulance private aircraft.Thus, opening the door of air ambulance services to not-so- rich Nigerians.

Flying Doctors Nigeria staff who provide

the tour guide chip in that the air ambulance services,apart from its critical life –saving role – also reduce the cost of any healthcare system, while increasing the quality. The Air Ambulance does this by bridging the gap between areas that lack state-of-theart,world class medical facilities and areas XIFSF UIFTF BSF SFBEJMZ BWBJMBCMF 8JUI BO FGà DJFOU BOE SFMJBCMF BJS BNCVMBODF TFSWJDF governments may not need to build new specialist hospitals therefore, saving billions of dollars that can be used to provide other social services. Specialist medical skills that are scarce can also be concentrated in certain hospitals, which can be reached by air ambulances when required.

0GĂ DJBMT PG 'MZJOH %PDUPST /JHFSJB BMTP reveal that they are helping to reverse ‘medical tourism’ out of Nigeria. They say medical tourism is no longer a one-way USBGĂ D PVU PG UIF DPVOUSZ BT DSJUJDBMMZ JMM QBUJFOUT GSPN MFTT FOEPXFE 8FTU "GSJDBO countries are flown into the country to receive life-saving medical intervention.

They say the current administration is helping in this regard by making it easier for sick patients arriving the country, after being flown in by air ambulance from Mali, Chad and other countries within the region, to get visas. On average, I am informed, each patient airlifted into Nigeria for medical treatment spends about over $30,000, about N11 million. Now, I am doing some mental calculations. Imagine if 5,000 patients are flown into the country for medical treatment yearly we could generate close to / CJMMJPO 5IF CFOFĂ U UP PVS IPTQJUBMT BOE the economy would be immense.

I realized how much of a team effort air ambulance work really is. The team that ensures that patients get to the right medical facility within the right timeframe consists of engineers, ground staff, pilots, admin staff, operations staff not only the doctors and nurses.

After the tour of their facility I then had the opportunity to have a chat with Dr Ola

0SFLVOSJO #SPXO UIF GPVOEFS PG 'MZJOH Doctors Nigeria. The young medical entrepreneur and adventurist already has nearly 10 years of air ambulance operaUJPOT UVDLFE VOEFS IFS CFMU 5IF #SJUJTI Nigerian born Ola Orekunrin, who also USBJOFE BT B NFEJDBM EPDUPS JO UIF 6OJUFE Kingdom started Flying Doctors ten years ago, to provide a then, virtually non-existent air ambulance services in the country. Since then, she has not looked back on this mission.

I asked her how she balances practicing medicine, flying the helicopter and running the business side of things together.

She explained that although she used to do all that stuff rolled together, she has not long ago, decided to stay off medical practice or flying hours and concentrate almost exclusively on managing the business. ‘’There is no way that I would be able to do everything’, she laughed,� that’s why I have a team of ‘rockstars’ that work with me.� “ I love flying and medicine, but I made the hard decision to focus on my most valuable task, my mission: making sure every patient across our region gets to the right medical facility, within the right UJNFGSBNF u %S 0SFLVOSJO #SPXO TBZT determinedly.

Flying Doctors Nigeria now has a separate chief pilot and a medical director who focus on the technical areas of aviation and medicine, while Orekunrin #SPXO EFWPUFT IFS UJNF UP UIF CVTJOFTT side of things. “At some point in the future,I would maybe go back to medical practice. I still would like to work with a charity like doctors without borders, in a conflict zone or remote village,’’ OrekunSJO #SPXO TBZT XJUI B XSZ TNJMF

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

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39

COLLAGE EVENTS

Arewa Festivals and Award to Hold in Lagos

L-R:Group Head Corporate Communications, Access Bank Plc, Amaechi Okobi; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe and Executive Director, Livespot Group, Darey Art Alade at the Born in Africa Festival in Lagos...recently

Over two centuries ago, the Hausas made their first contact with the Yorubas of the South-West. The story behind the migration of the Arewa people to Lagos led to the coinage of the name ‘AGEGE’ which justifies the history of the socio-economic ties between the Hausas and the Yorubas.

The Arewa migrated to Lagos basically for trade. This was aided by the railway line which bridged the gap between the North and South-west. History said trains brought cattle from the North, and conveyed kolanuts up North from the South-west.

In no time, theArewa people in Lagos established socio-economic relationships with their host communities thereby contributing immeasurably to the growth of the state. It is altogether pleasant to mention the political contribution the Arewa community and its political loyalty to her wonderful host, the Yorubas.

His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohammed Dogon Kada the seventh Sarkin Hausawa of Agege confirmed that His emirate inherited a fantastic relationship with her host community, just as he promised to continue the tradition of mutual respect and inter-relationship between the Hausas and Yorubas in Lagos.

On a visit to the Sarki Fulani, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammed A. Bambado, led byDirector Ethnic Affairs,BOS-ICG, the Central Organising Committee of Arewa Festival and the Project Consultant; Xmedia Group, His Royal Highness equally confirmed a great history of migration to Lagos and a wonderful relationship with the Yorubas.

In view of the above history and the quest to maintain mutual trust, peace, and prosperity between the Hausas and the Yorubas, and most importantly to confirm sustained political loyalty to the good people of Lagos who have being a magnanimous host, the group has thus introduced Arewa Festival & Awards (AFA) Lagos 2018.

The Chairperson for the organising committee, Barr. Fatima Bako, said the ideals of AFA are hinged on the virtues of ethno-religious cum socio-cultural mutual tolerance, as the foundation for national peace, unity, and prosperity.

Golibe Mega Yuletide Festival Holds in Onitsha

Former Miss Motunrayo Omodolapo Odusanya with her husband Olawuyi Olufela Odeyinka, son of Ogbeni Goke Odeyinka, during their wedding ceremony, in Lagos....... recently

L-R:Members, Uuniversity of Lagos Law Class of 1986, Mr. Wale Adesokan (SAN); Justice Adedayo Oyebanji; Representative of the Vice-President, Dr. Aina Salami; Chairman of the Occasion, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; and Justice Boyede Akintola, at the Unilag Law Class of 86 reunion dinner held in Lagos recently ETOP UKUTT

L-R: The celebrants, Master Divine Igbanoi ,10 years, and MasterJeremy Igbanoi 8 years anked by their parents, Mr and Mrs Jude Igbanoi, during the celebrant’s birthday party in Lagos ...recently KOLAWOLE ALLI

The yuletide season in 2018 will be different especially in Onitsha as the ancient city gears up to host the maiden edition of Golibe Festival, the first of its kind in South-east Nigeria and one of the biggest in West Africa. Sponsored by indigenous energy multinational, Aiteo Group.

The Golibe Festival Onitsha is positioned as a family-friendly, funfilled festival with high educational content to showcase the city’s rich cultural heritage. It promises to fill the gap in entertainment offering available to over 20 million residents and visitors to the South-East, especially from the diaspora, during the yuletide. ‘Golibe,’ the name adopted for the festival has captured, in its totality, the essence of what the people in Onitsha would be seeking. The yuletide season is the time for enjoyment and ‘golibe,’ the Igbo word for rejoice, is assured.

The festival slated for a period of 10 days, commenced with the Onitsha Choral Rendition, an event created to thrill all and sundry in the spirit of Christmas.

Specially put in place for the young and the young at heart for those who just want to relax in a comfy environment, is the Chill Zone, a hang-out arena for youths and adults which features a cozy lounge arrangement with music, games and gastronomy.

Besides entertainment, it provides avenue for promoting local talent and identifying new ones. The chill zone will opened from Christmas day will run till December 30, at the Festival Arena, Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium.

The festival will also feature the prestigious Ado League, a football competition among the 18 Onitsha villages. It started in the 1990s and has remained an annual event ever since.

The highlight of the festival will be the Golibe Carnival, the largest street party in South Eastern Nigeria and one of the biggest in West Africa. The carnival will feature a pageant for the Golibe King and Queen, as well as the Golibe Homecoming King and Queen. This will be on December 27.

As part of the carnival is the Street Arts Festival which will involve Visual Artists and Musicians performing at various venues throughout the carnival route. This event slated for December 28, is for the purpose of the revival of Onitsha as the geographical-cultural cross section of what Omambala people used to be and what the town could become.

FashionOne Styles Zenith Bank International Premium fashion, lifestyle, beauty and entertainment TV Network, FashionOne, has announced its collaboration with apex financial institution Zenith Bank Plc, on the latter’s flagship lifestyle and fashion fair, “Style by ZENITH�.

The fair which will hold on December 29 and 30 at the Open Ground by Four Points Hotel, Oniru, Victoria Island, is a twoday lifestyle, beauty, fashion, accessories and entertainment fair, which will mark the first of many future collaborations between the two iconic brands.

Speaking at the launch, Kaycee Kennedy, CEO of FashionOne Africa said: “The collaboration with Zenith Bank to develop the “Style by Zenith� platform not only emphasizes our resolve to build and strengthen the fashion ecosystem but to drive the business of fashion. “We need to heed the call to focus on Fashion Trade,

by making fashion Africa’s biggest export to the world.�

The collaboration with Zenith bank was in keeping with FashionOne’s dedication to creating captivating, fashion, entertainment and lifestyle engagements, towards developing the local fashion and lifestyle industry.

The two-day event would be a medley of lifestyle activities such as, runway shows featuring leading local and international models that would be accessorised by top designers and beauticians in the industry, exhibition of beauty and lifestyle products, accessories, food and confectionaries, entertainment for adults and children as well as performances by top Nigerian artistes among many other activities. The event would also mark the unveiling of ‘the Zenith model search’, another collaboration between Fashion one and Zenith bank, which promises to spice up the fashion world in 2019.

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METRO

‌Your city life in print

At Xmas, Foundation Gives Succor to the Poor The Emmanuel Umohinyang Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, recently marked its 10th anniversary on December 28, which afforded it another opportunity to provide succor to the poor and less privileged

Umohiyang (right) with Alilu and others at the event

R

oll out the drums, weave the garlands of gold was the song on lips of many as Emmanuel Umohinyang Foundation, a nongovernmental organisation, marked its 10th anniversary on December 23, 2018.

A day before, signs that something spectacular was in the offing was evident as the Maryland area of Lagos especially the Adebayo Dejonwo Estate neighbourhood was upbeat with activities leading to the D-day.

Within and around the environment, people waited eagerly to see how things would eventually turn out. This was not helped by an increase in vehicular traffic, as visitors to the environment increased human and vehicular traffic.

The upsurge was not unconnected with the fact that many visitors from outside Lagos including Abuja came to be part of the epoch making event and celebrate with Umohinyang, who was also celebrating his birthday.

Though it was a Sunday, and the event was due to start by 2pm, beneficiaries of the event which marked the foundation’s 10th anniversary had started arriving the Bayo Dejonwo Estate long before.

Like someone observed, the Emmanuel Umohinyang Foundation literally brought down the wall between the rich and the poor by coming in as a leveller right from the estate entrance into the highbrow estate, as security officials courteously screened visitors before allowing them in.

Though they were complemented by regular policemen, it was more than clear that the organisers had far more than they bargained for in terms of visitors.

This may not be unconnected with the fact that the foundation upped its ante in terms of what it gave out as gift items to mark the anniversary.

And like Jacob in the Bible who said

he would not go until he was blessed by the angel, some women pointedly showed that though they were not invited officially, they were there to receive.

At the event ground, a very conspicuous part was devoted to stocking several gift items including about 2,000 bags of rice, different kinds of musical equipment, air conditioning units, chairs and many more.

This was even as over 20 cows had been slaughtered for distribution for Christmas and entertainment among the people. There were also millions of 60 leaves exercise books and higher education notes promoting the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari and supporting the police.

This was not surprising as Umohiyang, a lawyer is a die-hard supporter of the president for whom the Re-elect Buhari Movement, wwhich he leads has so far registered over 8million members for Buhari’s re-election.

Curiously, the foundation left many, especially church with jaws widely open for long as they never imagined the surprise waiting for them. This was because without their knowledge, the foundation had procured items such as

In my place, a man cannot be said to be serving God without serving people around him...I am always happy when I am in a position to give. It makes me so happy

musical instruments and chairs, which some of them lacked.

Some of these churches included The Lutheran Church of Nigeria, Christ Embassy and The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

The wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, who was represented at the event by Usman Alilu lauded the foundation for sparing a thought for the less privileged in the society. Alilu who is younger brother to the First Lady, who was out of the country, tasked well-to-do Nigerians on the virtues of sharing.

He said: “The First Lady is always happy sharing with the less privileged and this is what Barrister Umohiyang is emulating. The First Lady is happy with what he is doing and wishes him well.�

AAs the announcement of cutting of the birthday cake was announced, a visually impaired man, Mr. Olusola Ofoyetan pleaded to be allowed to speak. Ofoyetan who had all along showed excitement by cracking jokes severally where he sat on the front row said “Today, all of us are rejoicing with Barrister Emmanuel, we are happy that he is putting smiles on our faces again at this time. We are happy to see you sir and we are happy to be here.�

This was even as he prayed for Umohiyang and his foundation for more successes in the years ahead.

More torrential prayers came from Pastor Charles Igbafe of Christ Embassy, Lagos Mainland who also thanked the foundation for sparing a thought for the needy.

According to him, Umohiyang is a member of the church family and Christ Embassy is happy with what he is doing.

For Mr. Nkem Itor of Lutheran Church, joy was boldly written all over him as he assisted his wife in ferrying items donated by the foundation.

He said: “Christianity is love.

What you are seeing here today, is a demonstration of the love of God. Barrister Umohiyang has used his resources for the betterment of people’s lives, so I am happy. You can see smiles on the faces of most people here today because they have something to keep body and soul together this season.�

As dining and wining went on into the wee hours of the day, even though those who tried their luck to see whether they could get something after the documented 400 beneficiaries went home happy, as the foundation was gracious to accommodate them.

Perhaps, the happiest were hundreds of widows whose children were given scholarship to further their education as they could not hide their excitement, even as Umohiyang’s wife, Esther was all over the place to ensure all went well.

Umohiyang told journalists that “in my place, a man cannot be said to be serving God without serving people around him. Prophet T.B. Joshua also said when we give, it makes us like God who gives to everybody, yet collects from no one. “You will be shocked to see the impact the foundation of President Buhari, Katsina Foundation has made so far in Kastina State even with his meagre salary as a soldier, and even when he retired. His deep seated love for the downtrodden speaks volume. “If you also look at future assured programme of the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, it is a source of inspiration. “Look at the medical facility the foundation built in Yola, yet this is a woman who does not get subvention from anywhere. It means the office can be better than it was in the past. Her deep passion for widows and the needy is very commendable. “I am always happy when I am in a position to give. It makes me so happy.� he concluded.

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LIFE

Celebrating Gov. Ajimobi at 69 Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

W

hen GovernorAbiolaAjimobi of Oyo State recently rolled out the drums to celebrate his 69th birthday anniversary, it was certainly the case of a prophet being honoured in his hometown. His kinsmen under the umbrella body of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), apart from being part of the celebrations which lasted for about three days, also hosted the governor to a lavish reception to appreciate what they referred to as his uncommon contributions to the development of the ancient city of Ibadan in particular and Oyo State as a whole.

The birthday programme started with the organisation of the maiden Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable with the theme, “The imperatives of Building lnstitutions for Lasting Legacies�, where eminent personalities, notable politicians and scholars agreed on the need for the country to move away from building strong individuals to building strong institutions, as a means of achieving sustaintable national development.

Present at the event included a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.), who was the father of the day/chairman; National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was the special guest of honour; the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington and wife of the governor, Dr. (Mrs) Florence Ajimobi. Others were former Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; former Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola; Senate Majority Leader, SenatorAhmed Lawan; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi and an industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi.

Various speakers while harping on the theme of the roundtable affirmed that while strong individuals were necessary for visionary leadership, it was only strong institutions that could enhance proactive leadership, good governance, effectiveness of the rule of law and inclusiveness of the citizenry.

General Gowon in his contribution, identified the civil service as one of the key institutions that any government must strengthen, noting that “protecting the integrity, confidentiality and impartiality of civil servants would enable them give political leaders the right advices�.

On his part, the APC National Leader, who insisted that institutions are important, said a leader cannot be deemed to have succeeded, no matter how much he has achieved infrastructural renewal and other areas of development until he develops people who can succeed him and nurture the institutions that he had built.

He said; “We have seen infrastructural renewal across the state; we have seen demolitions, emotions, expressions, reforms of traditional institu-

L-R: Governor Abiola Ajimobi, his wife Florence and General Yakubu Gowon, at the roundtable

tions. You have proved that you don’t lack courage but you can be successful as a leader not only in terms of bricks and mortars but how many other leaders you have developed who can succeed you and build on your legacies; otherwise, as you leave, the empire crumbles; the institutions you have built will go into ruins.�

Talking about Ajimobi, the former Lagos State governor declared him as a leader who demonstrated the rare combination of thinking and doing, maintaining that he had exhibited the quality of a good leader who had the courage of not only taking actions, but being ready to face the consequences of his actions.

Chief Akande who agreed on the need to build strong institutions, however warned against what he called the growing institution of bullies who, he said, derived satisfaction in benefitting from the public purse without providing the commensurate value.

He said: “Regardless of your profession, if you take money for the job you have not done, you are a thief. In other countries, when people go on strike, they do not take salary for the period. All you leaders who allow people to steal from public purse should henceforth watch it.�

In the submission of the immediate past governor of Osun State, he recalled that one of the reasons why a former US President, Barack Obama shunned Nigeria and chose to visit Ghana during his visit to Africa was due to the lack of will by our leaders at the time to support the growth of institutions.

He said: “During that visit, Obama observed that African leaders should look at building institutions and not individuals. And for me also, even though we need strong, thoughtful, resilient, idealistic and iconic people to look up to as pace setters, but Africa can only be great if we shift our focus to building institutions which will outlive these individuals.�

The US ambassador, who addressed the gathering via an amplified telephone call from Abuja, said

it was time for the people of Oyo State, Nigeria, development partners and business associates to shift attention from sustainable development to profitable development because without profit, development cannot be sustained.

He further noted that oil and land were not the important asset of the country but the people of Nigeria themselves, stating that “how the people of Nigeria, working together to transform and strengthen institutions from inside out is the only way for creating trust that will ensure development, trust for people to take their hard earned capital and their very lives and invest in the country because they will be welcomed and well treated.� The envoy added that institutions don’t have memories and reputations, it is the leaders that drive them.

The Senate Leader, Lawan, in his own submission, said strong institutions were created and nurtured by strong men; leaders of vision and integrity who were focused, noting that after Tinubu had created strong institutions in Lagos, he made sure that strong and competent leaders succeeded him to make the institutions sustainable.

He said, “We also have such a leader in Governor Ajimobi. He came with a vision; he had courage and competence; he believes in probity and that is why Oyo State has had a smooth primary; the governor is more interested in people who can sustain his institutional reforms and other legacies and not in his own personal preferences.�

ObaAdeyemi while speaking about the governor, said “Ajimobi is the 20th governor that I have worked with. I have worked intimately as a son and as governor. If you are brilliant, truthful and hardworking, he will work with you. He runs an inclusive government but you can only get something from him if you key into his vision of RTR, meaning reformation, transformation and repositioning�.

During the panel discussion that was moderated

by Prof. I. A. Adeyemi, the discussants including

Prof. Tunji Olaopa, a retired federal permanent secretary and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof.

(Mrs.) Oluyemisi Bamgbose, also harped on the need for building institutions that would ensure sustainable development.

Adeyemi while expressing gratitude to the guests, said, “all developments are sustained by visions, intellectualism, principle and the courage we need to implement what we have envisoned; we started this roundtable because we believe no social or physical development can be achieved without intellectual and human capital development. No leader is successful until he has chosen a worthy successor; all actions that I have taken were guided

by God and the determination to make a difference.

When we came, we saw broken bricks but we are leaving Oyo State with marbles.�

Another activity organised to mark the birthday was the commissioning of a Central Mosque built by the governor at the Oke Ado area of Ibadan, the state capital, where he was turbaned the Basorun Musulumi of Oyo State.

Present at the commissioning and turbaning include the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar; Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Duad Akinola Makanjuola; Chairman Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni; Prof. Kamil Oloso, Alhaji Lateef Oyelade and Chairman of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Alhaji Taofeek Akewugbagold.

Others are the Executive Secretary, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Prof.

Daud Noibi, APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2019 general elections, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu and Sheik Muideen Bello.

The Aare Musulumi, Alhaji Akinola Makanjuola, while presenting a gift to Ajimobi on behalf of the Muslim Ummah, said the gesture was for his contributions to the religion while also eulogising him for remaining committed to the development of the state. The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Olalekan Alli, who welcomed guests to the event, said it was organised in recognition of his achievements in the last seven years.

He said, “His legacy, we are taking about sustainable development which has taken the state to the next level. Governor Ajimobi is the architect of modern day Oyo State, thus celebrating his birthday is celebrating a man who has committed himself to the development of Oyo State.�

At the birthday reception hosted by the CCII held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, it was a roll call of who is who in Ibadanland led by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Senator) Lekan Balogun; the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakuleyin and the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Eddy Oyewole.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

Friends, Family Celebrate Late Somolu, Inaugurate Foundation Sunday Okobi

F

riends, family and associates of late Foluseke Abiodun Somolu recently gathered to celebrate the life and times of one of Nigeria’s most distinguished electrical engineers and former president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), who they lauded as premium Nigerian engineering professional.

These groups of close people in Somolu’s life, also, in their efforts to keep his legacy, philosophy and goals alive, inaugurated the Foluseke Abiodun Somolu Foundation aimed at uplifting the engineering profession as well as the power sector at a well-attended ceremony held at the Afe Babalola Hall in the University of Lagos.

Somolu, who died on August 24, 2015, was described as a brilliant, hardworking and meticulous professional electrical engineer, as well as a resourceful and well-researched professional in his eloquent presentations, outstanding writings and numerous publications.

In his address, the chairman of the occasion, Moses Kupolokun, noted that Somolu devoted his private time and personal resources for the upliftment of engineering practice and power solution in Nigeria, adding that he was engaged in a lot of extra-curricular activities to fix the industry.

According to him, “He served at various times as National Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) which he worked assiduously to establish and later as President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE). He was also a distinguished Electrical and Electronic Engineers Award Laureate of the NIEE. He was a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Engi-

Family and friends of late Somolu at the launch of his foundation

neering (FAEng), as well as Fellow of the Institute of Engineering Technology ( FIET) of the United Kingdom, where he served for many years as the Nigerian Chief Examiner and Representative.�

Kupolokun, who was a close friend of the late engineer, stated that Somolu was an unusually patriotic Nigerian, “who was ready at all times to sacrifice personal comfort for the upliftment of people in need. He recognised and promoted excellence in others, irrespective of tribal background or political inclinations, hence the inauguration of the foundation. Therefore, let me seize this opportunity to implore all of us to support this notable cause in order to ensure its sustainability�.

Also, one of his associates who graced the ceremony, the Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Kola Adesina, described himself as Somolu’s mentee, adding that his first interaction with the deceased was very powerful and instructive, where the late engineer charged that if they (Nigerian engineers) couldn’t convert their passion and intellect into generating power

for industrialisation in the country, then they have wasted their time on earth.

He stated that Somolu’s life was that of principle, success and passion to see things done effectively, adding however that upon all his efforts to achieve constant power in Nigeria, the government has failed him (Somolu) by its failure to provide electricity for industrialisation an the populace.

Adesina, who also lamented that Nigeria is in darkness because of lack of alignment, promised to donate N2 million yearly to the foundation in order to achieve its goals.

In her remarks, Chairperson, Board of Trustees (BoI) of the foundation and wife of late Somolu, Dr. Olatokunbo, said although he had lived a truly fulfilled life, when her husband passed, she was greatly saddened by the fact that Nigeria had lost someone who was so passionate about the electricity industry. “How I wished he had lived another 20 more years!� She exclaimed.

She noted that the foundation, registered as notfor-profit organisation in Nigeria, is envisioned to

ensuring that the goals for which Somolu worked relentlessly during his life time would be achieved.

While highlighting the main objectives of the foundation, Mrs. Somolu, who is also a doctor of engineering, further explained that among others, the organisation would support the education, teaching and research in the Nigerian electrical and power engineering(generation, transmission and distribution) sector; promote and celebrate excellence in power engineering profession in Nigeria; promote the adoption and advancement of technology in Nigeria; support upcoming generation of engineering students and aspiring power engineers, and also promote leadership and entrepreneurship in Nigerian power engineering sector.

She expressed her deepest gratitude towards her husband’s associates and friends for wanting to still carry on his research work, in the hope that gradually, the country would begin to witness positive changes in the electricity industry.

Members of the inaugurated Board of Trustees (BoI) of the foundation include Dr. (Mrs.) Somolu (Chairman); Emmanuel Akinwole (Honourable Secretary), while other members are Renben Okeke, Otis Oliver Anyaeyi, Professor Segun Aderingbe , Mr. Kola Adeshina, Mrs. Oreoluwa Lesi and Mr. Seke Somolu. While delivering his paper on the topic: ‘The Nigerian Electric Power Supply Question: Development, Challenges and Solution, at the event, a guest lecturer, Professor James A. Momoh, said: “About 1.2 billion people, or 17 percent of the global population had no access to electricity in 2013. More than these 50 percent of these are in countries of sub-Sahara Africa.

NOTE: Interested readers should continue in the online edition on www.thisdaylive.com

42

F R I DAY Ëž DECEMBER 28, 2018

BUSINESS/MONEYGUIDE

CBN Injects Fresh $210m in Forex Market The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday intervened in the interbank sector of the foreign Exchange market, injecting $210 million into the wholesale segment and other sectors of the market.

Figures released by the Bank indicated that the wholesale sector of the market got another injection of $100 million, while the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and invisibles sectors each received $55 million.

The Director, Corporate Communications Department at the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said the forex interventions, in continuation of the Bank’s resolve, were aimed at sustaining the high level of stability in the Forex market and continually ease access to the currency by customers in the different sectors. While lauding actors in various sectors of the forex market for the level of stability, in spite of activities of

speculators, Okorafor assured that the CBN was ready to play its interventionist role in the market. The CBN had in its last interventions earlier in December 2018, injected the sum of $299.82 million and CNY 143.60 million into the Retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS).Meanwhile, one United States Dollar (US$1) exchanged for N360 in the Bureau De Change (BDC) segment of the market yesterday.

Diamond Bank Appoints Babade Acting Chairman Diamond Bank Plc yesterday notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that following the recent resignation of Mr. Oluseyi Bickersteth as Director/ Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors of bank has appointed Mr. Dele Babade as acting Chairman effective December 24, 2018.

Babade holds Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Laws from University of London and was called to both the Nigerian and English Bar. He started his career with Midland Montagu London (the predecessor of HSBC Investment Bank) on the Graduate Training Programme in 1988 and at various times worked in the UK and Greece mainly in Corporate and Merchant Banking. He joined Citibank in 1993 and garnered experience from Citibank’s Emerging Markets business focusing on businesses beyond Africa and became Vice

President in charge of all cross border/international deals for Africa in 1996, statement on the NSE website explained. In 1998, he joined Nomura International in London as a Director for Investment Banking for Africa.

After re-joining Citibank in 2000, he was moved to Nigeria and Ivory Coast in 2001 as Executive Director covering Nigeria and West Africa and was a board member of Citibank Nigeria from 2001 to 2006.

He also served as Citibank’s Director & Regional Head SubSahara Africa Corporate Finance & Investment Banking based in South Africa from 2002 to 2006.

He started his own investment advisory firm in 2007 but left briefly to join Ecobank Transnational Inc as Head of Ecobank Capital from 2010 to 2012 and was also a member of the Group Executive Committee, the top executive body for overall

direction of the Ecobank Group.

Since 2012, he has been running his firm focusing on inward cross border transactions across the African continent.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Africa Risk Capacity Pan African Insurance Company (ARC Ltd) and is also the Chairman of its Finance and Investment Committee. ARC Ltd is a financial affiliate of the African Risk Capacity, a specialized agency of the African Union (AU), an initiative designed to improve current responses to climate-related food security emergencies.

Babade was nominated by First Carlyle Growth V (Carlyle) and his appointment as a NonExecutive Director was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria effective April 20, 2017.

Diamond Bank is currently in a business combination deal with Access Bank Plc

FCAM’s Legacy Debt Fund Gets ‘A+’ Rating The Legacy Debt Fund, a mutual fund managed by First City Asset Management Limited (FCAM), has had its credit quality risk rating upgraded by one notch, from A(f)) to A+(f), by Agusto & Co, the foremost pan-African rating agency.

The Fund which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was also assigned a fund volatility rating of FV3. The higher ratings indicates low to moderate exposure to downside risk (impairment to the net asset value) in the medium term.

FCAM is a subsidiary of FCMB Group Plc. The ratings assigned to Legacy Debt Fund was based on Fund Credit Quality Rating which is an evaluation of the degree of protection an

investor has against losses arising from credit risk, and Fund Volatility Rating, which assesses the Fund’s exposure to downside risk arising from changes in market conditions.

A statement explained that the “A+(f)� credit quality rating reflects the Fund’s minimal exposure to downside risk arising from credit defaults, while the “FV3� volatility rating indicates the Fund’s moderate sensitivity to changing market conditions.

According to Agusto & Co, “the upgrade in the credit quality rating of Legacy Debt Fund is based on the Fund’s consistent practice of allocating more than 75% of the net assets in FGN securities.� Other reasons given

by Agusto & Co for the Fund’s new ratings are investment in good quality assets, low exposure

to liquidity risk, and moderate exposure to interest rate risk.

The rest include no currency risk exposure, robust investment processes, and an investment team with adequate expertise, with its portfolio manager possessing over 19 years of experience.

Commenting on the upgrade, the Chief Executive Officer of FCAM, Mr. James Ilori, said, “Legacy Debt Fund has been upgraded by three notches, in the last one year.

We thank the rating agency, Agusto & Co, for recognising our consistency, professionalism and hardwork, in the management of Legacy Debt Fund. In addition, we thank investors in the Fund, for trusting us to assist them in meeting their investment goals.�

Union Bank Partners Connect Nigeria to Reward 100 Nigerian SMEs Union Bank Nigeria Plc has entered into a partnership with Connect Nigeria to reward 100 Nigerian small and mediumscale enterprises (SMEs) in the Top 100 Emerging SMEs awards ceremony held in Lagos, recently.

The award ceremony is an initiative of Connect Nigeria and was sponsored by Union Bank. It was organised to challenge, encourage and recognise Nigerian SME businesses.

A statement said the campaign for the awards kicked-off in February 2018 with a call for nominations of emerging SMEs that have distinguished

themselves in providing excellent products and services for due recognition, honour and celebration.

Union Bank said it recognised the 100 emerging businesses as part of its yearlong celebration of 100 years of operation from a record total of 13,470 nominations in 25 broad categories.

The Head, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Union Bank, Ogochukwu Ekeide, commended the recipients for their hard work and dedication and expressed the bank’s willingness to partner,

support and reward SMEs. On his part, the Managing Director, Connect Nigeria, Emeka Okafor, said businesses in Nigeria were beginning to understand the dynamics of doing business in a global economy and putting systems and structures in place, to be able to compete globally.

Okafor, who was represented by the Head, Business Development, Connect Nigeria, Uzo Anekwe, said Connect Nigeria was committed to investing in SMEs because they would be the future of Nigeria.

L-R: Chief Technology Officer, Lotto Nigeria, Andrew Olowude; Kehinde Oresegun, Judith Egbai winners of iPhone Xr in a raffle draw by Pepsi and Senior Brands Manager, Seven-Up Bottling Company Limited, Segun Ogunleye, at the Pepsi Rhythm Unplugged 2018 held in Lagos‌recently

MARKET INDICATORS MONEY AND CREDIT STATISTICS

(MILLION NAIRA)

MARCH 2018 Broad Money (M2)

24,303,049.86

-- Narrow Money (M1)

10,912,604.10

---- Currency Outside Banks

1,668,378.21

---- Demand Deposits

9,244,225.90

-- Quasi Money

13,390,445.76

Net Foreign Assets (NFA)

15,619,134.18

Net Domestic Assets(NDA)

8,683,915.68

-- Net Domestic Credit (NDC)

26,267,136.53

---- Credit to Government (Net)

3,823,345.45

---- Memo: Credit to Govt. (Net) less FMA

5,433,209.43

---- Memo: Fed. and Mirror Accounts (FMA)

-1,609,863.98

---- Credit to Private Sector (CPS)

22,443,791.08

--Other Assets Net

-17,583,220.85

Reserve Money (Base Money)

6,746,646.49

--Currency in Circulation

1,668,378.21

--Banks Reserves

4,357,551.58 Ëž Ă™Ă&#x;ĂœĂ?Ă? Ě‹

Money Market Indicators (in Percentage) Month

March 2018

Inter-Bank Call Rate

15.16

Minimum Rediscount Rate (MRR) Monetary Policy Rate (MPR)

14.00

Treasury Bill Rate

11.84

Savings Deposit Rate

4.07

1 Month Deposit Rate

8.82

3 Months Deposit Rate

9.72

6 Months Deposit Rate

10.93

12 Months Deposit Rate

10.21

Prime Lending rate

17.35

Maximum Lending Rate

31.55

Ëž Ă™Ă˜Ă?ĂžĂ‹ĂœĂŁ ÙÖÓĂ?ĂŁ Ă‹ĂžĂ? Ě‹ ͯ͹Ϲ

OPEC DAILY BASKET PRICE AS AT THURSDAY, 20 DECEMBER 2018

The price of OPEC basket of ďŹ fteen crudes stood at $53.92 a barrel on Thursday, compared with $55.13 the previous day, according to OPEC Secretariat calculations.

The OPEC Reference Basket of Crudes (ORB) is made up of the following: Saharan Blend (Algeria), Girassol (Angola), Djeno (Congo), Oriente (Ecuador), ZaďŹ ro (Equatorial Guinea), Rabi Light (Gabon), Iran Heavy (Islamic Republic of Iran), Basra Light (Iraq), Kuwait Export (Kuwait), Es Sider (Libya), Bonny Light (Nigeria), Qatar Marine (Qatar), Arab Light (Saudi Arabia), Murban (UAE) and Merey (Venezuela).

SOURCE: OPEC headquarters, Vienna

43

F R I DAY ˾ DECEMBER 28, 2018

MARKET NEWS

Forte Oil Share Price Hits New High on Sustained High Demand Goddy Egene Shares of Forte Oil Plc surged further yesterday as investors continued to react positively to the news of Mr. Femi Otedola’s planned divestment.

Otedola’s intention to sell his 75 per cent direct and indirect shareholdings in the company, was disclosed on Monday in a notification to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

According to the notification, “Forte Oil Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Securities and Exchange Commission, shareholders and the investing community that its majority shareholder, Mr. Femi Otedola, has reached an agreement with the Prudent Energy team, investing through Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited, to divest of his full 75 per cent direct and indirect shareholding in the company’s

P R I C E S MAIN BOARD

F O R DEALS

downstream business.

“Mr. Otedola’s divestment from the downstream business is pursuant to his decision to explore and maximise business opportunities in refining and petrochemicals.

“The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter (Q l ) of 2019 subject to the satisfaction of various conditions and receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.”

Owing to this, the market

S E C U R I T I E S

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N )

received the divestment news positively with the share price rising by 9.8 per cent to N31.25 per share. However, when trading resumed yesterday after the Christmas break, shares of Forte Oil appreciated by 9.92 per cent to close higher at N34.35, indicating sustained demand by investors.

Otedola, through his company, Zenon Petroleum & Gas Limited, bought the stake of Incorporated Trustees of NNPC’s Pension Fund in Forte Oil, then known as

T R A D E D MAIN BOARD

A S

Africa Petroleum Plc 11 years ago. That acquisition made him the majority shareholder of Forte Oil Plc and the company was rebranded in 2010 to its new name. But the company early this year announced plans to restructure its business by divesting its upstream services , power generating businesses in Nigeria and downstream business in Ghana.

Forte Oil Plc had said its decision to divest from upstream

O F

services and power generating businesses would boost its distributable earnings for the benefit of shareholders.

According to Forte Oil Plc, following the significant changes in the oil and gas industry in recent years, it believed that only downstream operators with huge investments in both storage and distribution infrastructures can remain competitive and operationally efficient in the long run.

2 4 / 1 2 / 2 0 1 8 DEALS

MARKET PRICE

QUANTITY TRADED

VALUE TRADED ( N)

˾ FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

44

Friday, December 28, 2018

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 INDEX

Thisday Afrinvest 40 Index drops 0.14%

Fundamental Performance Metrics for THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 Index

Yesterday, the Thisday Afrinvest 40 index shed 0.14% at the close of trade, weighed by losses in DANGCEM (-

Ticker

3.2%), FBNH (-4.7%) and ACCESS (-2.8%). The top three

Current Price

Price Price Previous Current Change Change Price Weighting YTD Index to Change Date

THISDAY AFRINVEST 40 1,327.24

decliners jointly account for 15.4% of the index.

Equity Market Resumes Lower͙ ASI down 0.9% dŚĞ ůŽĐĂů ďŽƵƌƐĞ ĐůŽƐĞĚ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ LJĞƐƚĞƌĚĂLJ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ůů Share Index (ASI) dipped 0.9% to 31,692.63 points while YTD loss worsened to -ϭϳ͘ϭй ĂŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ĐĂƉŝƚĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶ

ROA

P/E

P/BV

Divinden Earnings d Yield Yield

-14.0%

32.7%

20.8%

7.4%

6.2x

0.8x

6.5%

1

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

34.40

0.3%

21.0%

-15.6%

-15.2%

34.1%

5.6%

5.1x

1.9x

7.8%

19.5%

2

Zenith Bank PLC

23.30

1.3%

13.8%

-9.1%

-10.1%

23.7%

3.4%

4.0x

0.9x

12.0%

25.0%

82.50

0.5%

6.4%

-38.8%

-38.9%

13.8%

6.4%

27.6x

3.9x

4.5%

3.6%

1,617.10

0.0%

9.7%

3.9%

3.9%

85.8%

26.3%

29.2x

22.8x

3.0%

3.4%

3

Nigerian Brew eries PLC

4

Nestle Nigeria PLC

5

Dangote Cement PLC

6

FBN Holdings Plc

-0.14%

ROE

12.7%

187.70

-3.2%

5.9%

-18.4%

-18.4%

20.1%

9.8%

19.6x

4.2x

5.6%

5.1%

8.20

-4.7%

6.0%

-6.8%

-6.7%

6.6%

0.8%

5.9x

0.4x

3.0%

17.0%

7

Access Bank PLC

7.00

-2.8%

3.5%

-33.0%

-34.0%

14.1%

1.7%

2.9x

0.4x

9.3%

34.3%

8

United Bank for Africa PLC

8.00

0.0%

4.0%

-22.3%

-23.2%

15.4%

1.8%

3.6x

0.6x

10.6%

27.6%

14.00

-1.8%

3.2%

-17.6%

-14.0%

12.1%

1.0%

4.4x

0.5x

642.90

0.0%

3.7%

5.2%

2.7%

25.9%

15.3%

2.8x

0.7x

2.8%

35.6% 13.4%

9

Ecobank Transnational Inc

declined by N100.2bn to N11.6tn. Market performance

10

SEPLAT Petroleum Development C

was dragged by losses in FBNH (-4.7%), DANGCEM (-3.4%)

11

Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC

50.60

0.0%

4.1%

21.9%

23.7%

35.7%

4.6%

7.5x

2.4x

2.0%

37.00

and ACCESS (-Ϯ͘ϴйͿ͘ ^ŝŵŝůĂƌůLJ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů ĨĞůů ĂƐ ǀŽůƵŵĞ

12

Unilever Nigeria PLC

0.0%

2.7%

-9.8%

-8.0%

24.7%

11.5%

17.2x

2.6x

1.4%

5.8%

13

Guinness Nigeria PLC

72.00

0.0%

2.1%

-23.4%

-23.4%

8.8%

5.0%

19.3x

1.8x

2.6%

5.2%

and value dipped 36.7% and 49.8% to 452.3m units and

14

Lafarge Africa PLC

12.50

0.0%

0.5%

-71.3%

-71.3%

-53.7%

-7.9%

0.8x

11.7%

-50.4%

15

Fidelity Bank PLC

2.04

4.6%

1.2%

-17.1%

-20.9%

11.3%

1.5%

2.7x

0.3x

5.5%

16

Oando PLC

4.95

3.1%

1.3%

-17.4%

-17.4%

10.9%

1.7%

4.1x

0.3x

17

Dangote Sugar Refinery PLC

15.35

-0.3%

1.0%

-23.3%

-24.6%

32.6%

16.4%

6.1x

1.8x

11.4%

16.3%

18

Okomu Oil Palm PLC

76.20

0.0%

1.4%

12.6%

12.6%

39.3%

29.7%

7.3x

2.5x

3.9%

13.7%

19

International Brew eries PLC

30.50

0.0%

0.5%

-44.0%

-44.5%

24.6%

7.4%

31.9x

7.3x

20

Flour Mills of Nigeria PLC

21.10

-2.1%

0.5%

-27.2%

-27.2%

7.6%

2.3%

7.2x

0.6x

4.7%

13.8%

21

Transnational Corp of Nigeria

15.7%

22 23

EϮ͘ϲďŶ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ͘ dŚĞ ƚŽƉ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƐƚŽĐŬƐ ďLJ ǀŽůƵŵĞ were MEDVIEWAIR (146.9m units), NEM (45.9m units) and TRANSCORP (37.5m units) while ZENITH (N646.2m), GUARANTY (N345.6m) and MEDVIEWAIR (293.9m) were the top traded stocks by value.

9.8%

0.6%

-8.2%

-9.5%

13.6%

3.0%

6.4x

0.8x

1.6%

10.80

-10.0%

0.4%

-36.1%

-36.1%

0.4%

0.2%

85.0x

0.5x

6.0%

Diamond Bank PLC

1.81

9.7%

0.7%

20.7%

15.3%

-5.8%

-0.7%

196.00

-2.0%

0.5%

-14.8%

-14.8%

34.6%

7.5%

Total Nigeria PLC

25

FCMB Group Plc

WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌƐ ǁĂƐ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂƐ ϯ ŽĨ ϱ

26

11 PLC

27 28

index gained the most, up 1.3% due to gains in FORTE (+9.9%) and CONOIL (+10.0%). The Banking and Consumer 4bps

Goods

indices

trailed,

up

0.2%

and

ƌĞƐƉĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ƉƌŝĐĞ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ

NIGERIAN

BREWERIES

(+0.5%),

NASCON

(+1.4%), DIAMOND (+9.7%), FCMB (+8.6%), GUARANTY ;нϬ͘ϯйͿ͘ KŶ ƚŚĞ ŇŝƉƐŝĚĞ͕ ƐĞůů ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞƐ ŝŶ DANGCEM (3.4%), NEM (-9.2%) and NIGERINS (-8.3%) dragged the

;ĂĚǀĂŶĐĞͬĚĞĐůŝŶĞ ƌĂƟŽͿ ĚĞĐůŝŶĞĚ ƚŽ ϭ͘ϵdž ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ϳ͘Ϯdž ŝŶ ƚŚĞ prior session which was consequent on 30 stocks advancing against 16 decliners. The top performers were NPFMCRFBK (+10.0%), MBENEFIT (+10.0%) and CONOIL

performance over the last few days of the year to be ƐůŝŐŚƚůLJ ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ĂƐ ƉŽƌƞŽůŝŽ ŵĂŶĂŐĞƌƐ ƌĞ-balance ƉŽƌƞŽůŝŽƐ͘

14.6%

0.7%

19.6%

6.7%

1.0%

2.5x

0.2x

5.3%

40.6%

0.6%

-5.0%

-5.0%

38.0%

16.8%

6.2x

2.1x

4.3%

16.2%

Forte Oil PLC

34.35

9.9%

0.4%

-21.0%

-18.2%

84.6%

8.3%

14.1x

2.6x

PZ Cussons Nigeria PLC

11.00

0.0%

0.2%

-46.6%

-48.0%

7.1%

1.0x

1.4%

29

Cadbury Nigeria PLC

10.00

0.0%

0.3%

-36.2%

-35.9%

4.7%

1.9%

34.9x

1.6x

1.6%

2.9%

30

Presco PLC

62.15

0.0%

0.4%

-9.3%

-9.3%

37.0%

24.8%

2.5x

0.8x

3.2%

40.7%

31

NASCON Allied Industries PLC

18.00

1.4%

0.4%

-2.7%

-6.3%

47.0%

17.5%

9.4x

4.2x

8.3%

10.7%

32

UPDC Real Estate Investment Tr

6.60

0.0%

0.3%

-34.0%

-34.0%

0.6x

8.4%

33

Union Bank of Nigeria PLC

5.60

0.0%

0.3%

-28.2%

-25.4%

5.3%

1.0%

10.2x

0.6x

34

Julius Berger Nigeria PLC

20.10

0.0%

0.3%

-28.2%

-28.2%

17.3%

1.8%

5.6x

0.9x

35

Sterling Bank PLC

1.82

0.0%

0.5%

68.5%

61.1%

10.6%

1.1%

4.8x

36

Dangote Flour Mills Plc

6.90

-0.7%

0.2%

-43.2%

-43.2%

0.0%

0.0%

37

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Niger

14.50

0.0%

0.2%

-32.9%

-32.9%

12.1%

7.2%

38

Chemical and Allied Products P

34.85

0.0%

0.3%

2.5%

-2.4%

66.2%

39

Beta Glass PLC

68.30

0.0%

0.2%

33.1%

33.1%

17.7%

40

Transcorp Hotels Plc

6.10

0.0%

0.1%

-15.4%

-15.4%

6.9%

3.8%

T o p 10 G a i n e r s

9.8% 4.8%

18.0% 20.9%

0.5x

1.1%

0.9x

2.9%

11.6x

2.0x

51.7%

30.2%

16.3x

10.9x

5.9%

6.1%

11.5%

8.3x

1.4x

1.6%

12.0%

11.9x

0.8x

2.0%

8.4%

8.6%

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V o l u m e

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

NP FM CRFB K

1.65

10.0%

M B EN EF IT

0.22

10.0%

C ON OIL

23.10

10.0%

FO

34.35

9.9%

T R A N SC OR P

1.34

D IA M ON D B N K LEA R N A F R C A

T ic k er

Vo lum e

P ric e C hg %

M ED VIEWA IR

146.9

0.0%

N EM

46.0

-9.2%

T R A N SC OR P

37.5

9.8%

F ID ELIT YB K

30.7

4.6%

9.8%

A C C ESS

30.4

-2.8%

1.81

9.7%

FCM B

29.0

8.6%

1.51

9.4%

Z EN IT H B A N K

27.9

1.3%

C A VER T ON

2.01

9.2%

WEM A B A N K

15.0

-8.2%

LA WUN ION

0.60

9.1%

FB NH

10.3

-4.7%

N EIM ET H

0.86

8.9%

GUA R A N T Y

10.0

0.3%

T o p 10 L o s e r s

T o p 10 T r a d e s b y V a l u e

T ic k er

P ric e

P ric e C hg %

UA C N

10.80

-10.0%

N EM

2.68

-9.2%

N IGER IN S

0.22

-8.3%

WEM A B A N K

0.56

-8.2%

UP L

2.00

NCR FB NH VER IT A SKA P

A C C ESS

(A Dealing Member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange)

8.6%

8.6%

D A N GC EM

Afrinvest Securities Limited (RC 603 315)

2.2x

0.0%

(+10.0%) while UACN (-10.0%), NEM (-9.2%) and NIGERINS (-8.3%) declined the most. We expect market

6.8x

1.2% -38.8%

184.80

T ic k er

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ ǁĞĂŬĞŶĞĚ ĂƐ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ďƌĞĂĚƚŚ

0.2x

1.89

Industrial (-2.1%) and Insurance (-0.7%) indices.

/ŶǀĞƐƚŽƌ ^ĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ dĂƉĞƌƐ

3.1%

UAC of Nigeria PLC

24

37.6% 24.3%

1.34

>ĂƌŐĞůLJ WŽƐŝƟǀĞ ^ĞĐƚŽƌ WĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ

indices under our coverage closed higher. The Oil & Gas

22.8%

T ic k er

Value

Z EN IT H B A N K

646.2

P ric e C hg % 1.3%

GUA R A N T Y

345.6

0.3%

M ED VIEWA IR

293.9

0.0%

NB

214.1

0.5%

-5.7%

A C C ESS

213.0

-2.8%

6.00

-4.8%

N EM

135.6

-9.2%

8.20

-4.7%

FO

122.8

9.9%

0.23

-4.2%

FB NH

85.0

-4.7%

187.70

-3.2%

D A N GC EM

71.1

-3.2%

7.00

-2.8%

F LOUR M ILL

61.8

-2.1%

Investment Research

Brokerage Ayodeji Ebo | aebo@afrinvest.com

Robert Omotunde |

Bolaji Fajenyo | bfajenyo@afrinvest.com

Jolomi Odonghanro | jodonghanro@afrinvest.com

romotunde@afrinvest.com

T H I S D AY Ëž Ëœ ÍşÎ€Ëœ ͺ͸͚͜

45

MARKET NEWS

Oyetunji: Continental Reinsurance Not Delisting from NSE Goddy Egene The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Continental Reinsurance Plc(CRe Nigeria), Dr. Femi Oyetuniji has assured investors and capital market stakeholders that the company will not delist from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

The reinsurance firm is embarking on capital restructuring whereby Reinsurance African Investments Limited (CRe Investments) has proposed to

buy all the outstanding shares of CRe Nigeria through a scheme of arrangement.

There were apprehension among shareholders that the scheme of arrangement may eventually lead to the delisting of the company from the NSE. Although at the court-ordered meeting, the shareholders voted in favour of all resolutions in the scheme of arrangement, Oyetunji has said the company would not be delisted from the exchange.

According to him, the purpose

A Mutual fund (Unit Trust) is an investment vehicle managed by a SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) registered Fund Manager.

Investors with similar objectives buy units of the Fund so that the Fund Manager can buy securities that willl generate their desired return.

An ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) is a type of fund which owns the assets (shares of stock, bonds, oil futures, gold bars, foreign currency, etc.) and divides ownership of those assets into shares. Investors can buy these ‘shares’ on the

of the proposed restructuring is to enhance the growth of the company’s business and provide sustainable increase in its profitability. “We have no interest in delisting from the NSE. We are presently expanding our business in Nigeria.

We are also building new corporate office here in Lagos. All these are indications of our intention to continue doing business in Nigeria.

This scheme of arrangement will not affect any of our staff because no one is losing his or her job,�

floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

A REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) is an investment vehicle that allows both small and large investors to part-own real estate ventures (eg.

Offices, Houses, Hospitals) in proportion to their investments. The assets are divided into shares that are traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

GUIDE TO DATA: Date: All fund prices are quoted in Naira as at 2412-2018, unless otherwise stated.

he said.

Oyetunji said the company desires to have an A rating because the base of their business is rating. “That is the global practice.

Presently, we are rated B+ and that is limiting us in terms of the kind of businesses we can underwrite.

For instance, we are only able to underwrite oil and gas despite not been an A rated reinsurance company because of the special considerations from the Nigerian Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

So, what we are presently doing

is capital restructuring,� he said.

He explained that over the last 10 years, the company has consistently recorded business growth and increased its footprint across the entire African continent. “Under the present corporate structure, CRe Nigeria has subsidiaries in Kenya, Botswana and Cameroun with regional offices in Cote D’Ivoire and Tunisia. However, in order to consolidate our gains and reposition the Company for enhanced competitiveness, it has

become imperative to restructure the Company with the aim of enhancing capacity, which will drive significant business growth and profitability for the group. Today, the key driver of competitiveness is financial strength underscored by ratings and capital. Ratings and capital increasingly determine business quality and volume and confer preferred status by ceding companies, thereby creating access to profitable big ticket business,�

Oyetunji said.

Offer price: The price at which units of a trust or ETF are bought by investors.

Bid Price: The price at which Investors redeem (sell) units of a trust or ETF. Yield/Total Return: Denotes the total return an investor would have earned on his investment. Money Market Funds report Yield while others report Year- to-date Total Return.

NAV: Is value per share of the real estate assets held by a REIT on a specific date.

DAILY PRICE LIST FOR MUTUAL FUNDS, REITS and ETFS MUTUAL FUNDS / UNIT TRUSTS AFRINVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD aaml@afrinvest.com Web: www.afrinvest.com; Tel: +234 1 270 1680 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Afrinvest Equity Fund 157.84 159.32 -10.95% Afrinvest Plutus Fund 100.00 100.00 11.00% Nigeria International Debt Fund 276.59 278.32 19.68% ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL PARTNERS LTD info@acapng.com Web: www.acapng.com, Tel: +234 1 291 2406, +234 1 291 2868 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ACAP Canary Growth Fund 0.84 0.85 2.18% ACAP Income Funds 0.63 0.63 7.27% AIICO CAPITAL LTD ammf@aiicocapital.com Web: www.aiicocapital.com, Tel: +234-1-2792974 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AIICO Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.80% AIICO Balanced Fund 2.22 2.24 -3.40% ARM INVESTMENT MANAGERS LTD enquiries@arminvestmentcenter.com Web: www.arm.com.ng; Tel: 0700 CALLARM (0700 225 5276) Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn ARM Aggressive Growth Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Discovery Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Ethical Fund N/A N/A N/A ARM Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A AXA MANSARD INVESTMENTS LIMITED investmentcare@axamansard.com Web: www.axamansard.com; Tel: +2341-4488482 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn AXA Mansard Equity Income Fund 101.32 102.03 -13.01% AXA Mansard Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.63% CHAPELHILL DENHAM MANAGEMENT LTD investmentmanagement@chapelhilldenham.com Web: www.chapelhilldenham.com, Tel: +234 461 0691 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Chapelhill Denham Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.90% Paramount Equity Fund 11.58 11.88 4.45% Women's Investment Fund 101.34 103.93 0.70% CORDROS ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmgtteam@cordros.com Web: www.cordros.com, Tel: 019036947 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Cordros Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.56% Cordros Milestone Fund 2023 95.81 96.04 Cordros Milestone Fund 2028 98.40 98.72 CORONATION ASSEST MANAGEMENT investment@coronationam.com Web:www.coronationam.com , Tel: 012366215 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coronation Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 12.34% Coronation Balanced Fund 0.86 0.87 Coronation Fixed Income Fund 1.16 1.16 11.01% EDC FUNDS MANAGEMENT LIMITED mutualfundng@ecobank.com Web: www.ecobank.com Tel: 012265281 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class A 100.00 100.00 12.12% EDC Nigeria Money Market Fund Class B 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00 11.51% FBNQUEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD invest@fbnquest.com Web: www.fbnquest.com/asset-management; Tel: +234-81 0082 0082 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn FBN Fixed Income Fund 1,179.51 1,180.27 11.74% FBN Heritage Fund 140.70 141.88 0.87% FBN Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 13.62% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Institutional 113.18 113.73 3.85% FBN Nigeria Eurobond (USD) Fund - Retail 112.91 113.46 3.73% FBN Nigeria Smart Beta Equity Fund 146.50 148.58 -7.78% FIRST CITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD fcamhelpdesk@fcmb.com Web: www.fcamltd.com; Tel: +234 1 462 2596 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Legacy Equity Fund 1.23 1.25 -4.90% Legacy Debt Fund 3.24 3.24 11.99% Legacy USD Bond Fund 1.03 1.03 2.87% FSDH ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD coralfunds@fsdhgroup.com Web: www.fsdhaml.com; Tel: 01-270 4884-5; 01-280 9740-1 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Coral Growth Fund 2,946.44 2,975.36 -1.31% Coral Income Fund 2,756.01 2,756.01 12.57% GREENWICH ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED assetmanagement@gtlgroup.com Web: www.gtlgroup.com ; Tel: +234 1 4619261-2 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Greenwich Plus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.80% Nigeria Entertainment Fund 107.51 108.34 6.61% INVESTMENT ONE FUNDS MANAGEMENT LTD enquiries@investment-one.com Web: www.investment-one.com; Tel: +234 812 992 1045,+234 1 448 8888 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Abacus Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.04%

Vantage Balanced Fund 2.14 2.16 1.56% Vantage Guaranteed Income Fund 1.00 1.00 15.44% Kedari Investment Fund (KIF) 124.41 124.60 8.08% LOTUS CAPITAL LTD ďŹ ncon@lotuscapitallimited.com Web: www.lotuscapitallimited.com; Tel: +234 1-291 4626 / +234 1-291 4624 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Lotus Halal Investment Fund 1.22 1.24 6.27% Lotus Halal Fixed Income Fund 1,095.76 1,095.76 13.39% MERISTEM WEALTH MANAGEMENT LTD info@meristemwealth.com Web: http://www.meristemwealth.com/funds/ ; Tel: +234 1-4488260 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Meristem Equity Market Fund 11.50 11.59 -11.40% Meristem Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 12.30% PAC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD info@pacassetmanagement.com Web: www.pacassetmanagement.com/mutualfunds; Tel: +234 1 271 8632 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn PACAM Balanced Fund 1.34 1.37 12.71% PACAM Fixed Income Fund 12.21 12.28 10.64% PACAM Money Market Fund 10.00 10.00 11.90% SCM CAPITAL LIMITED info@scmcapitalng.com Web: www.scmcapitalng.com; Tel: +234 1-280 2226,+234 1- 280 2227 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SCM Capital Frontier Fund 128.19 128.62 -1.17% SFS CAPITAL NIGERIA LTD investments@sfsnigeria.com Web: www.sfsnigeria.com, Tel: +234 (01) 2801400 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn SFS Fixed Income Fund 1.70 1.70 14.48% STANBIC IBTC ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD assetmanagement@stanbicibtc.com Web: www.stanbicibtcassetmanagement.com; Tel: +234 1 280 1266; 0700 MUTUALFUNDS Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Stanbic IBTC Balanced Fund 2,324.55 2,338.94 5.74% Stanbic IBTC Bond Fund 189.72 189.72 8.94% Stanbic IBTC Ethical Fund 0.96 0.98 -3.96% Stanbic IBTC Guaranteed Investment Fund 246.77 246.81 14.32% Stanbic IBTC Iman Fund 166.13 168.04 -7.23% Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund 100.00 100.00 12.18% Stanbic IBTC Nigerian Equity Fund 8,595.98 8,700.69 -9.63% Stanbic IBTC Dollar Fund (USD) 1.11 1.11 7.19% UNITED CAPITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD unitedcapitalplcgroup.com Web: www.unitedcapitalplcgroup.com; Tel: +234 803 306 2887 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn United Capital Balanced Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Bond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Equity Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Money Market Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Eurobond Fund N/A N/A N/A United Capital Wealth for Women Fund N/A N/A N/A ZENITH ASSETS MANAGEMENT LTD info@zenith-funds.com Web: www.zenith-funds.com; Tel: +234 1-2784219 Fund Name Bid Price Offer Price Yield / T-Rtn Zenith Equity Fund 11.28 11.44 -6.90% Zenith Ethical Fund 12.50 12.62 -3.33% Zenith Income Fund 20.74 20.74 12.39% Zenith Money Market Fund 1.00 1.00 11.12%

REITS NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

9.00 139.60 51.74

-20.11% 5.39% 1.79%

Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

10.82 120.97 91.43

10.92 123.51 93.41

-8.73% -15.32% -16.19%

Fund Name FSDH UPDC Real Estate Investment Fund SFS Skye Shelter Fund Union Homes REIT

EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS Fund Name Lotus Halal Equity Exchange Traded Fund SIAML Pension ETF 40 Stanbic IBTC ETF 30 Fund

VETIVA FUND MANAGERS LTD Web: www.vetiva.com; Tel: +234 1 453 0697 Fund Name Vetiva Banking Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Consumer Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva GrifďŹ n 30 Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva Industrial Goods Exchange Traded Fund Vetiva S&P Nigeria Sovereign Bond Exchange Traded Fund

funds@vetiva.com Bid Price

Offer Price

Yield / T-Rtn

3.97 7.61 15.02 12.65 142.85

4.01 7.69 15.12 12.85 144.85

-16.11% -20.34% -14.00% -35.49% 6.20%

NAV Per Share

Yield / T-Rtn

107.13

17.03%

INFRASTRUCTURE FUND Fund Name Chapel Hill Denham Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund

The value of investments and the income from them may fall as well as rise. Past performance is a guide and not an indication of future returns. Fund prices published in this edition are also available on each fund manager’s website and FMAN’s website at www.fman.com.ng. Fund prices are supplied by the operator of the relevant fund and are published for information purposes only.

46

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

INTERNATIONAL

19 Killed, 219 Wounded in Sudan Bread Price Protests Clashes between Sudanese anti-riot police and protesters in demonstrations against a rise in bread prices have killed 19 people, including two security force personnel, the government said Thursday.

“Nineteen people lost their lives in the incidents including two from security forces,” government spokesman Boshara

Juma said on state television, adding that 219 people were wounded.

Sudanese authorities had previously said that eight people have been killed in clashes in Khartoum and several other cities since the protests began on December 19.

Sudan Islamist party urges probe into the killing of protesters

London’s Gatwick Airport Sold to French Vinci Conglomerate French conglomerate Vinci said Thursday it had bought control of Gatwick Airport, Britain’s second-busiest, for nearly three billion pounds only months before Brexit.

Vinci said it will own a 50.01-percent stake in Gatwick thanks to the deal worth £2.9 billion ($3.7 billion, 3.2 billion euros) by the end of June.

Gatwick made headlines last week when it closed its runway repeatedly due to reports of mystery drone sightings nearby, impacting nearly 140,000 passengers.

The French purchase of Gatwick, which is Europe’s eight-biggest airport and runs the busiest single runway in the world, comes ahead of Britain’s departure from the European Union on March 29.

The proximity of Brexit “probably helped us close the deal”, Nicolas Notebaert, Vinci Airports chief, told a telephone conference.

The absence of a Brexit deal with the EU could cause major air travel problems as both sides would no longer recognise each other’s aviation safety standards.

London and other EU capitals are, however, working on special permissions to allow European carriers to keep flying even if no overall air travel deal is struck by that date.

Vinci is best-known for being one of the world’s biggest construction companies, employing close to 200,000 people across the globe, and for

The general public should take note that Mr EWERE FRANCIS EWEFRAN is also the same person AS EWERE FRANCIS GODWIN. All documents remain valid.

I formerly known and addressed as MOHAMED SAMIR EI-BOUSTANI, now wish to be known and addressed as MOHAMED EI-BOUSTANI. All former documents remain valid. The general public should please take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME This is to inform the general public that my name AMARACHI ANN EZEAMUZIE Was wrongly written as AMARACHI WILLOW EZEAMUZIE, and now wish to be known and addressed as AMARACHI ANN EZEAMUZIE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should please take note.

operating motorways in France.

But the company has also been buying up airports — most recently in Brazil, Japan and Serbia — making it “a top 5 global player in the international airport sector”, according to a statement by Gatwick.

One of its best-known airports is the hub of Portugal’s capital Lisbon.

With the latest acquisition, Vinci Airports will control 46 airports in 12 countries with a total traffic of 228 million passengers a year.

Gatwick, which in Britain is second only to Heathrow, will become the biggest airport in Vinci’s portfolio, making the purchase “a major strategic move”, the French company said.

“The transaction represents a rare opportunity to acquire an airport of such size and quality and fits extremely well with Vinci Concessions’ longterm investment horizon,” it said. Gatwick’s CEO Stewart Wingate said there would be no management or operational changes to the “immediate” running of the airport. He said the deal would mean “continuity but also further investment for passengers”.

Global Infrastructure Partners, the current owners of Gatwick, will hold on to 49.99 per cent in the airport.

Gatwick’s only runway hit a world record of 950 flights in a day in 2017, Vinci said.

“The airport constantly innovates in all areas of operations (for example passenger self-baggage drop, aircraft queueing systems, parking products) and reaches very high level of operational efficiency,” it said.

Some 24,000 people work for Gatwick which is used by around 50 airlines and offers more domestic destinations than any other British airport.

Gatwick is also low-cost carrier EasyJet’s biggest hub.

The British government in 2016 rejected a plan to build a second runway at Gatwick airport, which is situated south of London, opting instead for a third runway at Heathrow.

On Thursday, Gatwick said it had taken steps to protect the airport from disruptions like the one caused by drone sightings last week which created travel chaos for more than 120,000 people in the run-up to Christmas.

“I know this unprecedented criminal activity caused huge inconvenience to thousands of people,” said Wingate.

Sudan’s top Islamist party, a member of President Omar al-Bashir’s government, called Wednesday for a probe into the killings of protesters in demonstrations that have rocked the economically troubled country.

Angry crowds have taken to the streets in Khartoum and several other cities since December 19 when the government tripled the price of bread Sudanese authorities had said eight protesters have been killed in clashes, but Amnesty International has put the death toll at 37.

At a press conference in Khartoum, Popular Congress Party senior official Idris Suleman

said his party’s own reports indicated that 17 people “were martyred” and 88 wounded in the demonstrations.

Condemning the killings, the party, founded by late Islamist leader Hassan Turabi, urged the authorities to find those responsible.

“We call on the government to launch an investigation into the killings,” Suleman said.

“Those who committed these killings must be held accountable.”

Popular Congress Party is part of Bashir’s government and has two ministers of state in the cabinet and seven lawmakers in parliament.

Turabi, who died in March 2016, was a leading force behind

the 1989 coup that brought Bashir to power, ushering in an Islamist regime that hosted Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden from 1992 to 1996 in Sudan.

Turabi founded Popular Congress Party after he was dismissed from Bashir’s National Congress Party amid a power struggle a decade after the coup.

Police and security officers remained deployed in several parts of the Sudanese capital on Wednesday, but no new demonstration had been staged so far.

Bashir has sought to tamp down the discontent by vowing to “take real reforms” to solve Sudan’s economic woes.

But his statements appear to have done little to appease

protesters angered by financial hardships.

Sudan is mired in economic difficulties including an acute foreign currency shortage and soaring inflation.

The crisis has worsened despite the lifting of an economic embargo by the United States in October 2017.

Inflation is running at close to 70 percent and the Sudanese pound has plunged in value, while shortages in bread and fuel have been reported across several cities including Khartoum.

Since the start of the protest movement, Sudanese authorities had arrested several antigovernment figures with liberal and communist backgrounds.

Sudanese anti-riot police clashing with protesters during a demonstration against a rise in bread prices where about 19 people were killed…yesterday.

AFP

Congo Expels EU Ambassador Ahead of Presidential Election Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday said it had expelled European Union Ambassador, Bart Ouvry, in response to the recent renewal of EU sanctions against Congolese officials, including the ruling coalition’s candidate in a presidential election.

The decision, announced by the Foreign Ministry after a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Kinshasa, came two years after sanctions were first imposed, and just three days before the longanticipated election is due to take place.

The government’s move comes amid tension in the central African country ahead of long-delayed elections on Sunday, that some opposition groups say are skewed in the ruling party’s favour.

The EU announced it was renewing sanctions earlier this month, including against Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the ruling party candidate and long-time ally of current President Joseph Kabila.

Shadary was “involved in planning, directing, or committing acts that constitute serious human

rights violations,” the EU said.

The body said it would review the sanctions again after the elections, which they hoped would be credible.

Aside from Shadary, another 13 individuals in Congo are on the sanctions list, meaning they are banned from entering the EU and their assets have been frozen.

Shadary is competing against a divided opposition which is fielding two main candidates, Felix Tshisekedi and Martin Fayulu.

The elections had been delayed for two years by

Kabila and were being seen as a test for the troubled country, but have hit major stumbling blocks in the past two weeks.

Originally scheduled for December 23, the vote was delayed until December 30 due to a fire that destroyed polling materials.

This week, it was further delayed in three areas until March, despite the fact the president is due to be sworn in January - effectively disenfranchising more than a million voters.

Spanish Supreme Court Rejects Catalan Separatist Trial The Spanish Supreme Court referred Thursday the trial of six Catalan leaders charged with involvement in last year’s failed independence bid back to a court in Barcelona.

The court ruled that the six former lawmakers in Catalonia’s regional parliament should be tried by a local tribunal.

They include one from the far-left, pro independence CUP party and five others who were a part of a bureau charged with organising the assembly’s work.

Putting the six on trial in Madrid would “superfluously amplify” a case that is already

expected to be long and complex, the court said in its ruling.

It responded to an appeal by the six defendant’s lawyers.

The defendants were deputies in the Catalan regional parliament that was dissolved by the Spanish government in October 2017 after the assembly declared independence.

They have been charged with disobedience for putting bills deemed unconstitutional to a vote in the parliament.

The bills included one which called an October 1, 2017 independence referendum

despite it having been banned

by Spanish courts.

Catalan separatist leaders declared independence based on the results of the referendum, prompting Spain’s central government to suspend the region’s autonomy.

Twelve other Catalan leaders charged with the more serious crimes of rebellion and/or misuse of public funds related to last year’s separatist push are be judged by the Supreme Court however.

Nine of those defendants are being held in pre-trial detention.

Public prosecutors are seeking

prison terms of up to 25 years in the case of former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras.

The Supreme Court held a preliminary heading in midDecember to settle procedural issues ahead of the sensitive trial, which is expected to get underway in early 2019.

That trial does not concern seven other Catalan leaders who fled abroad following the independence bid, such as deposed regional president Carles Puigdemont, because Spain does not allow for trials in absentia.

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NEWS

Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike Email Ejiofor.Alike@thisdaylive.com, 08066066268

Presidency Carpets Atiku over Budget Criticism Omololu Ogunmade in Abuja The presidency yesterday in Abuja castigated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his scathing criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 budget, saying he lacked the capacity to evolve any superior argument.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi

Adesina, in a lengthy statement, itemised various criticisms of the budget as reeled out by Atiku, picking holes in each of them and proceeding to educate him on each of such criticisms.

According to Adesina, Atiku was quick to identify perceived flaws in the budget while failing to come up with a single idea on how each of such flaws could be addressed.

He also pointed out that the

APC Flags off Presidential Campaign Rally in Uyo Today Buhari appoints Akpabio coordinator support committee Omololu Ogunmade and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The All Progressives Congress (APC) would today in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom capital, flag off its presidential campaign in a rally to be graced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

This is coming as President Buhari has appointed former Senate Minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, as the National Coordinator of the Presidential Support Committee.

Answering questions from journalists yesterday in the State House, Abuja, the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomohole, said the decision to kick-off the rally in the South-south was significant, pointing out that the people of Akwa Ibom State are in good mood and are not only anxious to see the president but also to hear his message.

“Campaigns will start tomorrow in Uyo, we are flagging off with the South-south and it is going to be the first rally of the president and taking place in the South-south is particularly significant. From all the feelers we have I think the people of Akwa Ibom State are anxious to receive the president and to hear the message. We are all in good mood,” he said.

Asked about the president’s chances of re-election, Oshiomhole said such question was unnecessary, arguing that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which was dismissed by the electorate on account of gross misconduct and financial maladministration in 2015 could not be recalled by the same voters who laid it off.

“Of course, how can you ask what the chances are? If PDP was doing well after 16 years, they wanted to do it for 60 years but they were terminated. No employer will recall an employee dismissed due to gross misconduct and abuse of finances. You don’t recall such employee back.

“I remember that the best (Uche) Secondus had to say was that he was apologising to Nigerian people and I have not heard anybody saying they have accepted the apology, and people who have robbed you, they don’t apologise and say, ‘allow me back into your store room.’ You don’t do that.

“So, we are certain that even as we can’t talk of any perfect situation, nothing can make Nigeria get so confused as to think that yesterday, there was mismanagement and those who were at the heart of that mismanagement can be entrusted

with providing leadership for tomorrow.

“I don’t think that is the question at all. PDP is out of this calculation as far as I am concerned...PDP is just not an option particularly when their candidate is not a new face. There is basis for benefit of the doubt. You can give benefit of the doubt to a stranger, not to someone who was at the heart of it, perhaps one of the most powerful vice-president we have ever had. So, I am clear that Nigeria will never ever have basis to give PDP the benefit of the doubt,” he added.

President Buhari had earlier unveiled a documented details of his administration’s achievements and a new action plan titled:’ Next Level,’ with which he hoped to woo the electorate to support him for a second term.

The much-awaited event, according to sources, would be used to prove the popularity of President Buhari in South-south zone.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, the party said President Buhari would use the occasion to present the scorecard of the administration and its successes on its three cardinal objectives, which include security, economy and fight against corruption.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has appointed Akpabio as the National Coordinator of the Presidential Support Committee The Akwa Ibom state Coordinator of the committee, Pastor Mfon Okon, who disclosed this in Uyo, said four indigenes of the state have also been appointment into the committee.

They include Lady Valerie Ebe, a former deputy governor of the state as chairman, National Advisory Committee; Senator John Akpanudoedehe as National Director, Planning and Strategy; Senator Aloysius Etok – National Director for inter-party affairs, and the party’s South-south zonal woman leader, Mrs. Rachael Akpabio, as the National Assistant Welfare Secretary.

Okon said appointments were a reflection of the confidence President Buhari reposed on their ability to successfully work for his re-election in the forthcoming presidential election.

He called on the people of the state to fully key into national politics by supporting the APC to return the president, and ensure that the party wins Akwa Ibom State in 2019.

former vice president’s perceived baseless criticism of the budget underscored his level of ignorance on the working knowledge of the economy.

Beginning from Atiku’s description of the underlying assumptions of the budget as “generous, wild and untenable” with further claims that the economy was yet to recover from the recession of 2016/2017 fiscal years, Adesina took on Atiku, saying the PDP presidential candidate lacked understanding of recession.

He said: “Atiku describes the underlying assumptions of the budget as generous, wild and untenable but does not propose alternative assumptions that would have been more appropriate. He argues that the economy is yet to recover from the 2016/2017 recession.

“Unfortunately, he cannot create his own definition of an economic recession, which is a technical term with a universally applicable meaning. When an economy experiences two consecutive quarters of negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, it is said to be in recession and whenever it returns to positive

GDP growth of whatever rate, it is said to have exited recession.

It is doubtful if he understands the simple meaning of recession.

“Atiku attributes the sustained accretion to foreign reserves to ‘increases in international prices of Brent crude and foreign borrowing’. But he conveniently forgets that under the immediate past federal administration oil prices were at an all-time high with substantial growth in foreign borrowings, and yet foreign reserves nose-dived from a peak of $62 billion to as low as $24 billion.

“His repeated reference to the price of Brent crude throughout his statement may be indicative of his lack of knowledge that Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude trades at a premium of at least $2 per barrel over the price of Brent; just as his reference to Nigeria’s OPEC quota may also suggest that he does not know that condensates do not count in measuring compliance with the quota.”

Furthermore, Adesina examined Atiku’s criticism of the provision of N305 billion for fuel subsidy in the budget, insinuating that the criticism was only political as according to him, the former vice

president failed to state in clear terms how he hoped to address the issue of under-recovery.

According to him, even though Atiku Campaign Organisation had promised to reduce the pump price of fuel to N87 if elected, Nigerians would await how he hopes to fulfil such promise with apparent impossibility to make the refineries perform optimally.

He wondered how Atiku would reduce burdens on ordinary Nigerians such as ‘keke,’ ‘danfo’ ‘okada’ riders and small business entrepreneurs whom he said depended on fuel to conduct their economic activities without subsidising the cost of fuel and yet promised to reduce pump price of fuel cost to N87.

Also reacting to the criticism that the budget size was very small, Adesina believed that such claim was misplaced , as Atiku failed to offer what he described as “any implementable options for improving domestic resource mobilisation, which is the only sustainable means to achieving larger budgets,” adding that: “It does seem that he does not understand or is just feigning ignorance about the critical role of revenue in budget preparation.”

He also rejected Atiku’s claim that the budget did not reflect “current realities,” saying what Atiku claimed to be current realities were issues already raised by Buhari in his budget speech.

“For instance, the president recognised that the revenue performance of the federal government up till September 2018 has been less than spectacular. Leaving aside for a moment the fact that there has been a remarkable increase in Federal Account receipts in the last three months, a look at the budget speech will show that the president specified a number of actions to tackle revenue weakness, including strengthening ongoing efforts at tax collection, liquidation of recovered assets, immediate recovery of past due oil royalties charges and deployment of the National Trade Window to improve customs collections,” he said.

Furthermore, Adesina said “The most laughable” of Atiku’s criticism is the claim that “there is little evidence to show that increased investment in agriculture has yielded positive results,” arguing

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GRAND RALLY...

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, addressing a mammoth crowd, during the flag off of his campaign for election to the Ogun Central senatorial seat, at the Post Office, Abeokuta...yesterday

Ten Killed, Five Injured as Gunmen Attack PlateauVillages Bandits invade Kogi community, kill six, burn 50 houses Seriki Adinoyi in Jos and Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja Ten persons have been confirmed dead while five others were injured in two fresh attacks carried out by gunmen in Barki Ladi Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State.

This is coming as armed bandits reportedly killed six persons and also razed down over 50 houses in Sheria, Landu, Ankura and Oguma under Bassa LGA of Kogi State.

The attacks on Plateau villages came less than one week after the Special Task Force (STF) returned over 200 persons from one of the Internally Displaced Persons ( IDP) camps in Jos to their villages which they deserted earlier as a result of frequent attacks on their communities.

THISDAY gathered that five of the victims were killed last Wednesday night as they were celebrating the Christmas at Rawuru community, while five others died after the gunmen attacked them in a hotel located at Gwol the previous day.

Spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr. Mathias Terna, who claimed that only five died in the attacks, said he was attending a security meeting when contacted over the development.

But a community leader in the LGA, Mr. Francis Chong, confirmed the fresh attack to THISDAY last night.

“I can confirm to you that the attacks actually took place. What happened was that last Wednesday, seven people were moving about

in Rawuru community after celebrating the Christmas party organised in the locality when they suddenly came under attack by the gunmen. Five of them died as a result of gunshot wounds while two others are still in the hospital “Before the attack in Rawuru, five other villagers were shot and killed the previous day while they were also celebrating the season in a hotel in Gwol community. From the look of things, this is a clear case of resumption of terror attacks on the people, and we are calling on the security agents to rise up to the occasion and stop the fresh onslaught against our people,” he said.

In a related development, an armed militia has reportedly killed six persons and razed

down over 50 houses in Sheria, Landu, Ankura and Oguma under Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State.

The Vice Chairman, Mozum Concern Youth Advocacy, Mallam Hamzat Mohammed, who confirmed the attack on Kogi community in a statement made available to journalists in Lokoja yesterday, said the attack was accompanied by sporadic shootings, which sent many scampering for safety on Christmas day.

Hamzat, who allegedly accused Bassa - Komo militia of carrying out the attack, noted that the widespread burning and destruction were effectively carried out in Oguma in-spite of government’s effort in bringing

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INEC: Politicians Desperate to Buy PVCs Says security remains major concern Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alleged that politicians are making desperate efforts to buy Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from officials of the commission.

The electoral body has also raised the alarm that adequate security remains a major concern ahead of the 2019 general elections in the country.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo

State, Mutiu Agboke, made the disclosure yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State, while addressing reporters on the preparations of INEC for next year’s election.

The event was a one-day seminar organised by the Oyo State chapter of the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (ONPAN).

Agboke, who declined to give details of the politicians involved, said he got to know through a security report.

The REC however assured that no politician can get PVCs

Amosun: Buhari Will Record HighestVote Ever in Ogun Femi Ogbonnikan in Abeokuta The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, flagged-off his campaign for the Ogun Central Senatorial District with a promise to create a synergy between the state and federal government to further accelerate development of the senatorial district.

The occasion which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd including representatives of interest groups was the first campaign effort of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which has been afflicted by crisis since the conduct of the party primaries in the state in October.

Senator Amosun also used the flag-off to campaign for the second term of President MuhammaduBuhari who he said was poised to reposition Nigeria for greatness. He said President Buhari has pursued the war against corruption and emphasised infrastructure development which he said is the bedrock of every economic development.

“From 2015, President Buhari has focused on delivering on his three major campaign promises: Security; Curbing Corruption; and the Economy. President Buhari has systematically plugged leakages through which enemies of our country siphoned our resources.

We all know that there are many

who are ‘uncomfortable’ with the current environment as it is no longer ‘business as usual’. But I attest to the fact that we in Ogun State stand for what is right, for collective prosperity, for the good of all, and this is why you have supported me and President Buhari in the past seven and a half and three and a half years respectively.”

Governor Amosun who warned against attempts by some forces outside the state to hijack the government of the state for selfish ends spoke about his achievements as governor which he said spurred him to seek to represent the senatorial district in the upper federal legislative chamber.

“All sectors of our state’s economy have received tremendous boosts. Many more of our children are in school and can compete favourably with their counterparts anywhere in the world. Our people are healthier and have far better access to basic healthcare. We now have physical and social infrastructure that support businesses to thrive and attract new businesses.

“There are signs of development and growth in all parts of our dear state. It is on record that Ogun State alone attracted 75% share of the total Foreign Direct and Local investments in Nigeria in last year (2017). Our investment portfolio as a state includes over

Police Investigate Five Suspects over Murder of Former CDS, Badeh Alex Enumah in Abuja The police yesterday said investigation of five suspects arrested over the murder of former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh, is still ongoing, and that the parade of the suspects would take place once investigation is concluded.

Badeh was killed by gunmen on December 18, 2018, along Abuja-Keffi road while returning from his farm in Nasarawa State.

The police had earlier scheduled December 27, 2018, for the parade of two principal suspects along with three others but had to suspend the idea in order not to jeopardise investigation, adding that other suspects are still at large.

“On the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Ibrahim Idris, the Joint Police Investigation Team (IG Intelligence Response Team

and the Special Tactical Squad) mandated to within the shortest possible time arrest all those responsible for the killing of Badeh, two principal suspects who participated in the killing and three others are now in police custody undergoing investigation.

“The investigation into the killing of the former Chief of Defence Staff is being intensified to arrest other suspects still at large.

“The parade of the two principal suspects and the three other gang members now in Police custody will not come up today (yesterday) so as not to jeopardise the on-going investigation,” a statement by the spokesman of the Force, DCP Jimoh Moshood, said.

The statement noted that the Nigeria Police would not relent nor leave any stone unturned in getting to the root of the killing and bring all perpetrators to justice

to buy from INEC. His words: “Politicians are looking for PVCs to buy. That is the security report we get.

They are looking for what is not available.

“They have seen that this election will likely be neck-to-neck. We will allow a process that will not allow anyone to use violence to the disadvantage of another candidate.

“For those looking for PVCs to buy, there is none. No INEC staff will sell PVCs to anybody. We are monitoring all of them and they all know.”

Agboke also alleged that some politicians have requested for the uncollected cards, promising to distribute to owners who they claim are their supporters.

He however, said the commission will never release PVCs to anyone

that is not the real owner.

He said INEC rule does not allow collection by proxy.

The REC said voter education and sensitisation being carried out by the umpire have raised the awareness of voters, stressing that politicians have realised that INEC would provide a levelplaying ground for every party and candidate.

He said the situation has further made them realise that no political party or candidate can boast of easy victory, which now makes them work and campaign hard for the election.

According to him, a total of 914,529 cards were yet to be collected while only 248,064 have been collected since after the 2015 elections.

He explained that the number

of uncollected cards include those belonging to deceased registered voters.

Agboke called on voters to collect their cards, stressing the need for them to play their role in choosing leaders of their choice for the society.

Meanwhile, INEC has raised the alarm that adequate security remains a major concern ahead of the 2019 general elections in the country.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a security training workshop for state training officers organised by The Electoral Institute (TEI), noted that it would be difficult to have peaceful and successful elections without adequate security.

Yakubu, who was represented

by INEC National Commissioner,

Dr. Mustapha Lecky, emphasised that for a peaceful election to take place, there must be peaceful environment.

According to him, “Security always remains a concern for a massive process like the election which is coming up next year.

Without adequate security, you won’t have a peaceful environment for people to exercise their franchise.

“So, security is sine-qua-non. It is very important. It underscores why we holds the workshop for our state trainers who will go back and engage at different levels with all DPOs and their teams to understand the terms of engagement.

“For a peaceful and credible election, we need to secure environment for people to have a very happy and pleasant experience,” he said.

RECEIVING ROYAL BLESSINGS...

L-R: Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed; President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; and Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambar, during a courtesy visit to the Royal father in Ilorin... yesterday.

Akwa Ibom Govt Rejects Police Anti-terrorism Unit Okon Bassey in Uyo Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected the plan by the state Police Command to set up anti-terrorism unit, saying such outfit is part of the ground work and ploy of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to illegally intimidate, harass and arrest government functionaries and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Udoh, alleged in a statement yesterday that in view of all indices that precede the creation of such sensitive anti-crime unit, creating an anti-terrorism unit in the state at this time is suspect.

The commissioner wondered what an anti-terrorism unit of the police would be used for in one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

He further alleged that as the 2019 general elections approach and political tempo assumes a crescendo pitch, a functional anti-terrorism unit in the state, will certainly arrest and detain whosoever it wills, on trumped up charges of acts of terrorism.

The state government also raised the alarm that a former Chief Security Officer to former Governor Godswill Akpabio, has been redeployed to the state, with tactical instructions on how

to successfully execute the unholy agenda of the APC leadership in the state.

“While acknowledging that the Force retains the right to create units as it deems necessary, Akwa Ibom State government frowns at attempts by the Police hierarchy to portray Akwa Ibom State as a terrorist enclave in Nigeria, by its planned establishment of an Anti-Terrorism Unit. It is the consensus of Nigerians that such sensitive section as the Anti-Terrorism Unit be activated and logistically mobilised to effectively function in parts of Nigeria where insurgency is rife, especially in the North-Eastern region, where lives of innocent Nigerians are lost on

a daily basis.

“The activities of members of the Anti-Terrorism Unit will undoubtedly cause unwarranted tension among the peace-loving citizens and residents of Akwa Ibom State. This is absolutely unnecessary at this point in time especially if you take into account, the comments of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army; who during a visit to the state publicly described Akwa Ibom State as the most peaceful in the Niger Delta region. It is also on record that not too long ago, the Emir of Kano led a team of investors seeking investment opportunities to the state. “

ANP Presidential Candidate, Shittu Mourns Badeh Femi Solaja Alliance National Party (ANP) Presidential candidate, Moshood Shittu, has mourned the death of former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, and expressed concern over the incessant killings of military personnel in recent time.

In a statement sent to THISDAY yesterday, the presidential hopeful further tasked President Muhammadu Buhari not to treat the brutal murder of the Defence

chief just like others that ended without any body brought to justice.

According to him,: “The death of Badeh needs to be investigated and the killers must be brought to face the law. The present government needs to explain to Nigerians what is happening.

“This is the third high ranking military personnel being murdered in cold blood and we in Alliance National Party condemn the perpetrators of this dastardly

act, at this time the country is preparing for an election and people are condemning any form of violence at this time,” he stated.

He noted further that the reoccurrence of situations like this could post a major threat to the security of the election and could bring about fear that could discredit the election and put the country in bad light before the international community who are very much interested in the happenings in the country.

“We are looking forward to an error free electoral process but incidence like this will no doubt be a stumbling block to the credibility of the whole electoral process and it would be a bad publicity to the country that is struggling to put its head above the water in both economic and socio/political trauma,” he noted.

Shittu however, consoled the family of the bereaved and other families who had lost their loved ones lately.

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Falana Threatens to Sue NCC over Software Contract Letter Hamid Adedeji Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has threatened to sue Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC), over its refusal to issue contract award letters to enable the successful consultant to deploy software and save Nigeria from further loss of huge revenue in the telecoms sector.

In a letter addressed to the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, the senior lawyer dated December 18, 2018, said the refusal of NCC to issue the contract award letter is causing the country to lose revenue of over N600 billion per annum.

The lawyer, therefore, issued a two-week ultimatum to NCC to release the contract award letter to facilitate the collection of NCC’s 2.5 per cent annual operating levy and other

government taxes from the Nigerian telecommunication industry.

The letter read: “We have confirmed that Nigerian Communication Commission under your management has since concluded the procurement process for the deployment of the revenue assurance solution that will aid the government to block the leakages associated with the revenue collection and ensure that the revenue of over N600 billion that ought to accrue to the government from the Nigerian telecommunication industry is monitored, analysed and collected automatically and deposited in the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“We are, however, surprised to note that several months after the issuance of the Concurrence/Guidance on the award of the contract to the successful consultant by the Federal Ministry of Finance, your commission has

deliberately refused to issue the contract award letter to enable the successful consultant to deploy the software and save Nigeria from further loss of huge revenue.

“As you are no doubt aware, the federal government has announced its plan to diversify the economy by generating revenue from the non-oil sector. It is our belief

that the speedy deployment of the revenue assurance solution will greatly increase the country’s non-oil revenue and reduce her dependence on loans from China, Western countries and International Financial Institutions to fund the annual budget and the infrastructural development of the country.

“In the circumstance, we are compelled to request you

to use your good offices to ensure the immediate release of the contract award letter to the successful consultant for the deployment of revenue assurance solution to facilitate the collection of the Nigerian Communication Commission’s 2.5 % annual operating levy and other government taxes from the Nigerian telecommunication industry.

“Take notice that if you fail or refuse to accede to our request within two weeks of the receipt of this letter we shall be left with no other alternative than to apply to the Federal High Court for an order of mandamus to compel the NCC to issue the contract award letter to the successful bidder in line with the provisions of the Procurement Act.”

Military Launches Three-pronged Attacks on Terrorists Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja HFollowing a terrorist attack on the 7 Brigade of the Joint Multinational Task Force (MNJTF) in Baga, Borno State, culminating in the death of a naval personnel Wednesday night, the Nigerian Army and Navy reportedly engaged insurgents in a fire-fight, which raged all-night.

The Nigerian Navy has a naval base in Baga.

This is coming as the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said it would deploy jet fighters in Zamfara State in a bid to contain spiralling banditry in the state.

The terrorists attacked the headquarters of MNJTF at about 7p.m. prompting a counter attack from the two services.

The battle lasted far into the night while reinforcements came from Sector 3 Command of Operation Lafiya Dole.

The Nigerian Air Force later mobilised and neutralised the insurgents, who fled the battlefield.

An update on the confrontation issued by the Army Headquarters said a “search and rescue team has been constituted”.

“Unfortunately, a naval

personnel was killed in action.

So far, no further details of casualties yet as efforts are on going to clear the terrorists hiding in Baga and environs.

“We enjoin all to remain calm as the troops conduct clearance and mop up operations. We implore members of the general public to disregard any contrary information circulating on the attack.

“We will keep you posted with development on the pursuit and mop up operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said NAF had concluded plans to deploy jet fighters and other air assets in order to contain banditry in the North-west.

Speaking during a tour of North-west states of Zamfara and Sokoto, he said the Air Force would be conducting air operations from the Sultan Abubakar III Airport in Sokoto.

He was also conducted on an inspection tour of facilities at Sultan Abubakar III Airport, by the Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command, AVM Oladayo Amao, preparatory to the massive deployment of NAF aircraft to further boost air operations in the North-west.

66-years-old NewspaperVendor Declared Missing in Lagos A 66-year-old newspaper vendor, Bernard Chikezie Mba, has been declared missing by the Newspapers and Magazines Distributor’s Association of Nigeria (NDAN).

He was said to have picked up his daily newspaper supply at the Lagos Island Newspaper Deport at about 6a.m. on December 14, 2018.

The Chairman, NDAN, Godwin Akpan, in a statement made available to THISDAY yesterday, said Mba mysteriously disappeared after collecting

his papers for the day.

He said: “Mba hawks his newspapers at the Bode Thomas, Surulere axis.

He is believed to have been kidnapped while his Newspapers worth N70,000 was missing along with him.

“His wife, his four boys and a girl keep crying for the quick returns home of their daddy.”

He called on Nigerians who know his whereabout to contact the nearest police station, report to the nearby media houses, or call 08033515335 immediately.

GIVING BACK TO SOCIETY…

L-R: Pastor, RCCG City of David, Oscar Onu; Deputy Controller in Charge of Maximum Prison, Kirikiri, Mr. Oluwaniyi Emmanuel Oluwayomi; representative of General Overseer Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Joseph Obayemi; Medical Director, Reference Hospital/ Deputy Controller of Prisons, Beatrice Ateniola and Pastor Trevor Akindele, RCCG, City of David after the dedication of the Reference Hospital donated by the RCCG in Lagos… yesterday.

Don’t Fritter Away Chances of Igbo Presidency in 2023, VON DG Tells Ohanaeze Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr. Osita Okechukwu, has advised the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, not to allow the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023 be lost by the Igbos.

He said Ohaneze should understand that the Presidency

of this country is negotiated in several ways.

According to him, the Presidency “is either negotiated by votes or what you bring to the table and you must negotiate from the position of strength” While reacting to the statement of Ohaneze Ndigbo to the effect that 2023 Igbo presidency quest is a plot to hoodwink Ndigbo, Okechukwu said: “May I once more appeal to the leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo to start organising for Nigeria president

of Igbo extraction in 2023, instead of agonising”.

He said going by equity and natural justice, it is the turn of the South-east to produce President in 2023.

Okechukwu said South-east is the only geopolitical zone in the Southern Belt that has not presided over Nigeria from the Aso Villa, since the rotation of the position of president between Northern and Southern Belts commenced in 1999.

“All we need do as the

needful is for the Ohaneze Ndigbo leadership to think out of the box, reflect deeply, and dust off ancient stereotypes and prejudices by voting for President Muhammadu Buhari. The real politics is that voting Buhari will better galvanise and strengthen our alliance with the North, more than voting for Atiku Abubakar.

Buhari has a vote-bank of 10-12 million voters, mostly his cult followership reflected in his bids in - 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections.”

50,000 PDP Members Defect to APC in Sokoto Fifty thousand members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the defectors were received by Senator Aliyu Wammako, the APC strongman and Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s former godfather.

Among the defectors were former Special Advisers to Tambuwal,

former local government chairmen and former State House of Assembly members, as well as many other officials of PDP in the state.

Wammako welcomed the new entrants into the party and assured them of equal treatment with all the existing members of APC in the state.

Wammako further said that many more members of the PDP had already joined the APC, promising to unveil them soon.

He warned the Tambuwal

government against intimidating the workers who have pitched their loyalty with the APC. “No amount of intimidation would deter the people of the state from massively loving and supporting APC and all its candidates at all levels.

“Moreover, in a matter of weeks, the APC will take over the state, while President Muhammadu Buhari, including all the party’s candidates at all levels will be massively voted by Nigerians,”

he said.

APC governorship candidate and Tambuwal’s former deputy, Ahmed Aliyu, said, “All the PDP members who initially went astray have now come back to the right party.”

He congratulated them for joining the APC and assured them of equal treatment.

He promised to emulate Wammako’s leadership qualities if elected.

Lagos NBA Charges Citizens to Defend their Rights OluchiChibuzor The Human Rights Committee (HRC) of the Nigerian BarAssociation (NBA), Lagos State chapter, recently took to the streets of Lagos metropolis, calling on citizens to stand up for their rights as the legal practitioners commemorated the seventieth International Human Right day anniversary.

Addressing journalists at the road show, the Vice President of the chapter,

Bolatumi Animashaun, who doubles as the chairperson of Human Right Committee, said the purpose of the rally was to remind members of the public that they have rights as human beings which was declared in 1948 by the United Nations charter of which Nigeria is signatory to, adding that people must be conscious of such rights and should stand up for them at all cost.

“We are matching round the cities of Lagos to sensitise the people about

their inalienable rights and the need to stand up for them any time no matter who tries to trample on them.

Our focus for this year’s anniversary is anchored on article 25 and 26 of the Universal Human Right which gives every citizen of Nigeria the right to live a healthy and decent life and have quality education respectively.

“However, that does not mean other articles are relegated, not at all, but all the 30 articles are indispensable and enforceable,”

she stated.

Animashaun also added that the committee is ready to offer free legal services to anyone whose right is violated in the country.

“We have the mandate to fight and defend the rights of our fellow Nigerians who feel that their universal rights are abused by another person; all the person needs to do is to knock on our offices and be rest assured to get it redressed,” she maintained.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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FG Vows to Rid Kwara of Criminals Hammed Shittu in Ilorin The federal government yesterday vowed to rid Kwara State of all criminals ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

This, the government said would assist the electorate to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice without any hindrance or molestation.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this yesterday in Offa,in Offa Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, during the official inauguration of the ultra modern mobile police barracks solely built by the community at the cost of N700 million and donated to the Nigeria Police.

The project was approved by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to beef up security within and around the community following the killings of 33 persons on April 5,2018 by a gang of armed robbers in a coordinated attack that shook the town.

Mohammed who expressed the determination of the government to rid the state of all criminals, said it was unfortunate that the state has been in the news for negative reasons in recent times.

According to him, “Those who witnessed what happened few days ago in Ilorin, the state capital will agree with me that cultists, hoodlums, hooligans and

brigandage are all still very much active in Kwara State”.

He said, “So, my appeal to the police; as we are approaching elections days, there must be peace; every inch of this state must be free for people to cast his and her vote.

“Votes must not only be counted, it must also count. So,the way to achieve this is to rid this state of all criminals.

“We will not stand by, and allow this to continue; we will rid this state of all criminals ahead of the forthcoming elections” He therefore urged authorities of Nigeria Police Force to redouble their efforts, towards ensuring that crimes and criminalities become a thing of the past in the entire state.

He however said that,”there is no controversy over the years about what the people of Offa can do to bring development to the community.

According to him, “I am not unmindful of what Offa can do through community help; I think all the communities should borrow a leaf from Offa community.

“What we are doing today is a strong message of support, and it is very apt considering what happened. We all remember the sadness, massacre that claimed innocent lives in Offa and what Offa has done; never again should this tragedy repeat itself in Offa again. “ I want to call the police in Kwara State to redouble their efforts in ensuring that the state is safe.

No Going Back on Termination of State-owned Power Plant, WikeVows Davidson Iriekpen River State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, yesterday declared that no amount of blackmail and propaganda would alter the termination of the sale of valued state assets to Sahara Energy Limited.

Wike said: “No amount of blackmail will change the situation.

The courts are there for them to seek redress.

“Rivers and Lagos States are not the same. No single man can dictate what happens in Rivers State. We have different ethnic groups and culture.”

The governor said the termination of the sale of valued state assets to Sahara Energy followed due process.

He called on those aggrieved to seek redress in court.

The governor spoke during the 2018 Ogbakor Etche December Convention at Obiri Etche, Umugwu, Okehi.

He said: “The Rivers State Government was not vindictive in terminating the sale of valued state assets to Sahara Energy Limited. One company used three subsidiaries to illegally acquire state assets.

“If there was any vindictiveness, it was on the part of those who used the state government to deny Rivers people their valued state assets.”

The governor said the state government resolved to implement the White Paper on the recommendations of the Justice Omereji Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the sale of valued state assets because there is no stay of execution stopping the administration.

He said the godfather of Tonye Cole and Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, lost at the High Court and Court of Appeal when he tried to stop the implementation of the recommendations of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Wike said the minister and his business partner illegally bought over the state assets with a plot to install Cole for the purchase of more state assets.

“Rivers people have come to know that only one person bought all their assets. He came and took what belongs to the entire state. Now they want to acquire more”, he said.

Speaking further, the governor said he would continue to support Etche ethnic nationality and develop their communities through key projects.

He said more than any other administration in the past, he has executed key projects in the area.

On the forthcoming elections, Wike urged Rivers people not to vote APC because the federal government has not executed any single project in the state.

President General of Ogbakor Etche, Machy Nwodim, said the Etche people would re-elect Wike because of his outstanding projects delivery. They urged the governor to execute more projects in Etche land during his second term.

In his remarks, Onye-Ishi Etche and Paramount Ruler of Etche Kingdom, Ochie E. N. B. Opurum, said Etche people are reaping the benefits of their support for Wike in 2015.

He said Etche people would support the governor again in 2019.

It is unfortunate that our state in the recent times has become notorious for criminalities.

“Kwara State in the recent times has made headlines. It is either because of armed robbery, killings and all forms of acts of cultism and this is why I believe that the police have a big responsibility to do to rid their communities of all criminalities because without peace there won’t be development.

Nobody will come and invest in a community controlled by thugs, cultists and criminals” The sate Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bashir Makama who represented the Inspector general of police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, commended the efforts of the community for the construction of the edifice, saying that government alone could not provide for all the needs of its citizens.

He urged other communities across the country to emulate the efforts of the children of Offa, because it is an action that portends development for the country.

The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, in his speech commended the sons and daughters of the community for pooling resources together to construct the barracks .

The monarch recalled that when the incident happened, he requested from the Inspector general of police, to construct a mobile barracks in the community, which was graciously approved.

“I told the IG that it would be completed within six months since Offa community is known for self-help project and here we are today,” he said.

THE FIRST RITUAL...

Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, laying the 2019 Appropriation Bill at the State House of Assembly, Osogbo, the state capital...yesterday

Okowa Signs 2019 Budget into Law Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, yesterday signed into law the 2019 Appropriation Bill of N390.3 billion with assurance that his administration will utilise the window of opportunity provided by the current dry season to execute many infrastructural projects across the state. ‘’This is very important for governance because it gives us room to utilise the dry season to construct roads and provide other infrastructures before the commencement of the rainy season,” Okowa noted.

The 2019 budget is made of capital expenditure estimates of N233.2 billion and a recurrent

expenditure of N157.1 billion.

He commended the state House of Assembly for the early passage of the Appropriation Bill, describing the state legislature as great partners in the delivery of dividends of democracy to Deltans.

According to the governor, “With the signing of the appropriation bill into law, it means power has been given to the executive to start implementing the budget; we now have enough room to perform.

“With the cooperation and partnership of the state House of Assembly in the course of 2018, we have worked in harmony putting the state first; together in

the last three years plus, we have been able to impact positively on infrastructure development; we have constructed roads, built a lot of schools, improved on the health facilities and provided a lot of jobs for Deltans. ‘’Due to our achievements, there is peace in the state, and we thank Deltans for the partnership which has yielded great results, and we are confident that as we are leaving office in 2023, so by then, we would have left a lot in the state that we would be proud of and Deltans will be happier.”

Okowa had on October 17, 2018, presented a budgetary proposal of N367 billion to the state House

of Assembly, but the legislature passed the Appropriation Bill with an increase of about N23 billion.

Presenting the approved bill to the governor for his signature, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, accompanied by the Clerk of the assembly, Mrs. Lyna Ochulor, and other principal officers, disclosed that the bill as presented by the governor passed through rigorous process before it was approved.

“The bill passed through all the processes as it was designed to consolidate on the achievements of the governor,” Oborevwori said.

PRESIDENCY CARPETS ATIKU OVER BUDGET CRITICISM that “even the worst adversary of the Buhari administration would acknowledge that significant progress has been made in the agriculture sector.’”

He alleged that in his desperate attempt to rubbish the budget, Atiku combined foreign direct investment with capital inflows, describing it as wrong as “capital inflows covers foreign direct investment, foreign portfolio investments, international borrowing and short-term deposits in money market instruments.”

He added: “He complains about movements in foreign portfolio investment which are often volatile and reflect monetary policy normalisation in the United States, meanwhile he is silent on the positive trade surplus mentioned in the budget speech which truly reflects living within our means as a country.

“Atiku also calculates the budget deficit as a percentage of current revenue rather than

as a ratio of gross domestic product which is the preferred standard for inter-temporal measures of the deficit. Using this more appropriate measure the national fiscal deficit is 1.3 percent of GDP which is well below the 3 percent specified in the Fiscal Responsibility Act and well within the best global norms. So much for those who claim they have the magic wand to grow the economy...

“To further show Atiku’s lack of knowledge about basic issues in the petroleum market, he contradicts himself in his quest to make a non-existent point. He complains about the benchmark price of $60 per barrel used for crude oil exports in the budget and tries hard to show understanding of the dynamics of the global oil market by referring to US shale oil production and pressures on the Saudi regime. Yet Atiku expects that OPEC quotas will come into force, in which case the price of

crude oil may rise in international markets.

“What is obvious is the fact that low oil prices impact negatively on shale oil production. For instance, recent reports from a Permian producer show that with West Texas Intermediate at near $45 per barrel, they have already cut back on rig count and use of completion crews. There is more over the demand side which remains extremely strong in the United States, while large economies like China and India will continue to grow at over 6 per cent and 7 per cent respectively in 2019, which will also impact on crude oil prices.

“Finally, Atiku moans about the capital budget without acknowledging the historically high capital expenditure over the past two budget cycles continuing into the current 2018 budget cycle. Apart from the fact that the federal government has kept to its promise to keep capital

expenditure at 30 per cent of the budget, the PDP Presidential candidate is quiet about his plans to raise capital expenditure and reduce recurrent spending.

“The reality is that it can only be done by retrenching public sector workers and by not increasing the minimum wage to which this government is fully committed.

“It is therefore obvious that Atiku’s statement on the budget was a poor attempt at playing to the gallery. Without a doubt, the country faces significant fiscal challenges. “The administration of President Buhari understands these challenges, as well as workable solutions thereto. The implementation of some of the solutions however needs to be paced and well-timed to avoid dislocating the growth trajectory of the economy. Atiku’s criticism of the 2019 budget proposal can best be described as high on populist rhetoric but low on any real solutions to the identified challenges.”

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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UNICEF Scores Nigeria Low on Child Protection Urges terrorists, troops to abide by international standards on child rights

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stated that Nigeria has failed in the protection of children as far as 2018 is concerned, thereby mortgaging the future of tomorrow’s 455,000

who have so far been affected.

It added that armed groups, including Boko Haram factions have continued to target girls, who are raped, forced to become wives of fighters or used as human bombs.

UNICEF Director of

Igbo Monarchs, Leaders End Osu Caste System Today The controversial Osu caste system will end in south-east states as the final ceremonies for its abolition holds in Nri, the ancestral home of the Igbo nation today.

The protracted plan for the spiritual exercise was initiated more than six months ago by Nollywood actor, Joseph Okechukwu’s Celibacy International in partnership with the Nri ruling dynasty and received the support of traditional rulers, church leaders and civil society organisations who queued behind the December 28 ceremony in Agukwu Nri. The Obi of Idumuje Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Charles Chukwunwike Anyasi III, who confirmed his attendance with his entire cabinet in a statement, disclosed that he would be launching a historic book in which he traced the origin of the Anioma people of Delta State to Agukwu Nri. “I have been in contact with Mr. Joseph Okechukwu of Celibacy International on this issue…I wholeheartedly believe in the total eradication of this evil and therefore willing to partner along,” he said.

“I have agreed on the proposed presentation of my book, Anioma: Resolving the Identity Crisis” at the event.

Let me state right away that, by divine orchestration, this book, written 11 years ago, has been produced with the intention, among other things, to highlight the interesting parallels between Nri and most of Anioma land, particularly my own

kingdom”.

The Ohu, Ume and Osu caste systems are obnoxious practices in the Southe-east and much of the South-south regions of Nigeria, which has torn families and friends apart for generations. The Osus are allegedly dedicated to deities (Alusis) while the Ohus are said to have inherited slavery or servitude in perpetuity. Neither Osu nor Ohu is allowed to intermarry with the so called Amadi (the freeborns) in communities where these practices are upheld.

The December 28 proposed abolition of these obnoxious practices at the ancient kingdom of Nri, in Anambra State is seen worldwide as the most robust effort until now, to summarily abolition the divisive practices.

People from all works of life are expected at the upcoming event.

The event convened by Celibacy International in conjunction with Njikota Umunri worldwide and Eri Dynasty Traditional rulers has been widely publicised and generally accepted and endorsed by all Igbo sociocultural organisations, including World Igbo Congress, Alaigbo Development Foundation, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Lower Niger Congress, Global Igbo Alliance, Igbo Civil Societies Coalition, etc.

Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Scripture Union (SU), the Methodist church, Anglican Church, Catholic Church etc. have equally endorsed overwhelmingly and shall all be in attendance.

Afreximbank, AGF Sign $30m Facility for African SMEs Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and African Guarantee Fund (AGF) have signed an agreement for a $30 million re-guarantee facility in support of African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The facility is designed for SMEs in the trade value chain to access funds for their activities.

The Director, Trade Finance, Afreximbank, signed the agreement on behalf of the bank, while the Chief Risk Officer of AGF, Constant Nzi, signed for AGF, during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the recentlyconcluded Intra-African Trade Fair in Cairo, Egypt.

According to a statement by Afreximbank, the agreement provides for the facility to be used to support the financing needs of African SMEs by

enhancing their access to long-term financing, thereby acting as a catalyst to enable them to grow, create more jobs, sustain the existing labour force and develop intra-African and extra-African trade.

The re-guarantee facility is aimed at providing comfort to financial institutions in lending to SMEs, which tend to be regarded as a risky segment; enabling the financial institutions to transform their short-term deposits into long-term financing to SMEs; and supporting Afreximbank’s SME support initiative and AGF strategic plan.

The facility is expected to support positive social-economic changes among the more than 6,000 SMEs that are expected to gain access to guaranteed loans from African local banks, thereby contributing to trade development, economic growth and poverty reduction.

Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine, who disclosed this in a statement signed by UNICEF Communications Specialist, Eva Hinds, said in the Northeast Nigeria, as well as other neighbouring countries, at least 1,041 schools have been closed or non-functional due to violence, fear of attacks, or unrest, affecting nearly 445,000 children.

He said the future of millions of children living in countries affected by armed conflict are at risk, as warring parties continue to commit grave violations against children, and world leaders fail to hold perpetrators accountable.

Fontaine said: “Children living in conflict zones around the world have continued to suffer through extreme levels of violence over the

past 12 months, and the world has continued to fail them.

“In North-east Nigeria, armed groups, including Boko Haram factions, continue to target girls, who are raped, forced to become wives of fighters or used as ‘human bombs’. In February, the group abducted 110 girls and one boy from a technical college in Dapchi, Yobe State. While most of the children have since been released, five girls died and one is still being held captive.

“For too long, parties to conflict have been committing atrocities with near-total impunity, and it is only getting worse. Much more can and must be done to protect and assist children.

“Today in Northeast Nigeria, the Lake region of Chad,

extreme north of Cameroon and Diffa region of Niger, at least 1,041 schools are closed or non-functional due to violence, fear of attacks, or unrest, affecting nearly 445,000 children.”

He also added that 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the landmark Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions; yet, more countries are embroiled in internal conflict than at any other time in the past three decades, with children being the most affected.

UNICEF therefore urged warring parties to abide by their obligations under international law to immediately end violations against children and the targeting of civilian infrastructure, including

schools, hospitals and water infrastructure.

It also called on states with influence over parties to conflict to use that influence to protect children.

He said: “Much more needs to be done to prevent wars, and to end the many disastrous armed conflicts devastating children’s lives. Yet even as wars continue, we must never accept attacks against children.

“We must hold warring parties to their obligation to protect children. Otherwise, it is children, their families and their communities who will continue to suffer the devastating consequences, for now, and for years to come,” he said.

ALL FOR CHRISTMAS…

L-R: Madam Matilda Ibru; wife of the late Felix Ibru, Dr. Cecilia Ibru; Co-Founder of Michael and Cecilia Ibru university (MCIU) Agbarha- Otor Delta State/President General, Urhobo Progressive Union, Olorogun Moses Taiga; and Ignatius V. Edema, at the Ibru’s 2018 Christmas gettogether in Lagos, yesterday

TEN KILLED, FIVE INJURED AS GUNMEN ATTACK PLATEAU VILLAGES Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area who according to him, gave unconvincing excuses when the remaining houses in Biroko were burnt and destroyed for four days.

“The Divisional Police Officer who could not carry out any arrest claimed that only a few houses were burnt whereas over 50 houses belonging to Egburas were burnt down by the Bassa-Komo militias.

“Before now, the same DPO gave unconvincing excuses when the remaining houses in Biroko were burnt and destroyed for good four successive days.

We are therefore worried that, this act could be accomplished

unrestricted and in full glare of the DPO who is the chief security officer of the area and Aguma of Bassa-Komo who doubles as the chairman of Bassa traditional council without any arrest,” he said.

The chairman while commending Governor Yahaya Bello for the efforts made so far particularly the setting up of the judiciary commission of enquiry on the crisis, called for a full implementation of the report, adding that, the government should urgently come to their rescue and resettle the affected people in the community.

In a swift reaction, the chairman Bassa Cultural Development

Union (BCDU) Samuel Nyizona, while debunking the allegations, said several houses were burnt by suspected militia allegedly loyal to the Egbura’s in a village called Kebe in Kwomo district which led to the death of six people.

“As I speak to you, six people have been confirmed dead. This attack was carried out by the Egbura’s. We were surprised when some group in a military uniform stormed Bassa-Komo community to attack our people. They are not military men but dressed in military uniform. Many are still missing as I speak to you. The allegation that houses were burnt by Bassa-Komo could

be a reprisal attack,” Nyizoma added.

According to him, two persons are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.

Meanwhile, the special adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello on good governance and due process, Ademu Ibrahim, while confirming the attack in Egbura community, said the perpetrators of the act will be brought to book.

The special adviser added that, when he contacted the divisional police officer, he was told that few houses were razed by the suspected hoodlums who attacked the community.

Ugwuanyi Donates N6m, Relief Materials toVictims of Fire Outbreak Tears of joy flowed on the faces of the devastated victims of the recent fire outbreak at Ugboezeji and Ugboye in Abakpa Nike, Enugu, which burnt down the apartments of three widows, those of two other families and shops belonging to four furniture makers, a yam seller and bean-cake (Akara) fryer, respectively, when Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited them to sympathise and offer assistance to overcome their challenges.

Ugwuanyi who was represented by the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon.

Edward Ubosi, while at Ugboezeji, sympathised with the victims and gave the five tenants the sum of N500, 000 each to start a new life and N1 million to the landlord to assist her rebuild the property.

At Ugboye, the four furniture makers got N500,000 each, while the yam seller and bean-cake fryer got N300, 000 and N200,000 respectively, totaling N6 million.

Relief materials, such as food items, mattress, blankets, buckets and others, were given to the Ugboezeji victims at the Government House, Enugu by

SEMA, immediately after the visit.

The victims who could not hold back their tears of joy, asked God to continue to bless the governor and grant him his heart’s desire for coming to their rescue. They also prayed for the governor’s re-election in 2019, describing him as “a good and kindhearted governor”.

According to one of the victims, Mrs. Patience Eze, “I am very happy today because the Governor of Enugu State has come to rescue us from this trouble.

God will pay him back for this

assistance and all of you that came in Jesus Name. Amen”.

Another victim, Blessing Onyefuru said: “God will continue to bless our governor for his quick intervention. He will continue to succeed. May God of the widow continue to answer your prayers.

God of the fatherless will always remember you, for remembering a poor widow like my mother. May God bless and honour you in everything you do in Jesus Name. Amen”.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

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Judicial Panel Grills Three Rivers Commissioners over Collapsed Building Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt The Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, to investigate the collapse of a sevenstorey building under construction in Port Harcourt, yesterday started sitting and questioned three serving commissioners in the state.

The three commissioners questioned were Commissioners for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Dr. Reason Onya; Health, Professor Princewill Chike; and Special Duties, Dr.

John Bazia.

This came also as the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the affairs of the state-owned Integrated Medical Industries Limited also started sitting with a witness stating how the directors of the company frittered away more than N35.7 billion fortunes of the firm.

Testifying before the Commission on the collapsed building which had claimed about 17 lives, the Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Onya said the ministry

Obi: We Need a New Nigeria David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, has charged Nigerians to work together towards enthroning a new Nigeria that will in turn take care of all the needs of Nigerians.

Obi enumerated some of Nigerians’ unmet needs which include provision of security through job creation to constant power supply.

The former governor of Anambra State stated this during an interactive session among PDP faithful at Ekwunife Centre in Awka.

He encouraged Nigerians to vote for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, saying from his rich pedigree

of wealth creation, employer of labour as well as his political and administrative experience, he (Atiku) has the capacity of enthroning the new Nigeria that Nigerians yearn for.

In her speech, the convener of the event, Senator Uche Ekwunife, who described Obi as “our project,” said all Nigerians interested in the progress of the country must join hands to deliver Atiku and Obi. Corroborating Ekwunife’s statement, Professor ABC Nwosu said Obi’s candidacy had gone beyond Igbo land, concluding that Obi, being a recognised international figure, should be the project of all Nigerians.

revalidated the 2014 approved plan for the collapsed building following the disappearance of the file of the building plan.

He said: “We couldn’t get the file of the approved plan for the building in the Ministry. So we had to revalidate the approved plan in 2018 following requests from the developer. We suspect that the movement of the Ministry from Moscow Road to State Secretariat could have led to the disappearance of the file.”

The commissioner, who insists that he had stepped aside to allow for proper investigation into the cause of the collapsed building, said the plan of the building was duly registered in the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning.

Testifying before the Commission also, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Princewill Chike, said a total of 17 persons died in the collapsed building, pointing out that out of the number, only eight corpses could be identified by their relatives.

Chike stated that 12 of the corpses were deposited at the Ashes To Ashes Mortuary of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, while three others were deposited at the morgue of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

He said three corpses were deposited at Kpaima, a privately owned morgue in Port Harcourt, adding that one of the corpses

at Kpaima Mortuary, has been retrieved and buried by his relatives.

The Commissioner stated that a total of 31 persons, including a female were rescued alive from the collapsed building located along Woji Road, New GRA, Port Harcourt, saying that almost all the victims had been discharged from the hospitals.

Earlier, Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Hon. Justice Adolphus Enebeli, said part of the terms given to the Commission is to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the collapse of the building.

Meanwhile at the Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the affairs of Integrated Medical Industries (IMI) Limited, headed

by Justice Douye Green, a witness, Dr. Ikedife Uba, also recounted how the management of the company frittered away the N35.7 billion fortunes of the company.

Uba, a professional economist, said at the inaugural sitting of the commission directors of the company were still disbursing funds from the company years after their tenures expired.

He said the state government had invested about N35.7 million in the company started by the Dr. Peter Odili administration but said the rot was uncovered when the Project Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Amenya Wokoma, was arrested by security agents in June while trying to sell assets of the company.

Senate Committee: $1.05bn NLNG Dividend Not Missing The Senate Committee on Gas has again confirmed that no $1.05 billion NLNG dividend was missing.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Bassey Albert, had clarified that the ongoing investigation of the application of $1.05billion Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividend to support the importation of petroleum products into the country had nothing to do with any missing funds since no such money was missing in the first place.

Downstream operators who spoke on the controversy

said the efforts of NNPC in ensuring that there was no scarcity of petrol during Christmas yielded positive results as Nigerians had a hitch-free celebrations.

“It was evident that the NNPC judiciously utilised available resources to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol,” said a CEO of oil marketing company, who spoke on anonymity.

Senator Albert, who doubles as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Application of the NLNG Dividend, had clarified that the mandate

of the Committee was to determine the instrument under which NNPC relied upon to affect the said withdrawal and subsequent application of the NLNG dividend to meet pressing national demand for fuel supply, noting that the Committee relies on NNPC to provide informed perspective on the issues.

The Senate Committee Chairman emphasised that the engagement with NNPC was to understand the rudiments of the account flow and also to discover how the Committee, working

in harmony with NNPC, could make the NLNG dividend more effective and beneficial to the nation.

Responding, Mr. Isiaka Abdulrazaq, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of NNPC, who represent the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, pledged the willingness of the corporation to support the Committee in its assignment, saying that relevant documents have been supplied to the panel to enable it determine the veracity or otherwise of NNPC’s perspective.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY

NEWSEXTRA

Tension in Ekiti as Suspected Gunmen Kill Commuter Fayemi declares emergency in water sector

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti Tension rose at the Ajilosun area of Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital yesterday, as suspected gunmen shot and killed an unidentified commuter.

This is coming as the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, yesterday declared emergency in water sector, saying the people must be saved from preventable illnesses through provision of potable water.

The Ado Ekiti incident, according to eyewitness, occurred around 6.15 a.m when the man said to be driving along Ado-Ikere highway was shot dead .

The incident, which created panic among the residents of the area, occured at the front of the popular Tosin Aluko Motorpark at Ajilosun, Ado Ekiti metropolis.

The deceased was shot in the head and stomach by his assailants.

His corpse was later evacuated by the police at ologede police station and taken to the morgue of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.

A source at the scene of the incident said: “The deceased was in the car and the vehicle conveying the gunmen hit his car at the back at that spot. “ The deceased then alighted from the car to complain over the reckless driving not knowing

they were armed robbers and the daredevil bandits opened fire on him and he died immediately”.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident.

The police spokesman said: “we have received report about the killing and our men have swung into action. “ We are yet to know the identities of the deceased but investigation has begun into the killing “, he stated.

Meanwhile, the state governor yesterday promised to take legal and institutional steps to make the state open defecation-free before 2030.

Also in a bid to reduce the level of water borne diseases in Ekiti, Fayemi has also declared emergency in water sector, saying the people must be saved from preventable Illnesses through provision of potable water.

He said the emergency was in line with the step taken by President Muhammadu Buhari, who had initiated similar policy under a programme called Water Supply Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in partnership with the World Bank.

Fayemi spoke in Ikun Ekiti , Moba Local Government Area (LGA) while kicking off the turn-around maintenance of Ero Dam and rehabilitation of main

transmission pipelines from Ifaki Ekiti to the state capital.

The project , which will gulp $55 million was awarded to Sagittarius Henan Engineering and is to be completed within 18 months.

He said the WASH programme of the federal government and World Bank was initiated to reduce amount being paid by Nigerians on hospital bills after contacting all forms of diseases from unhygienic water sources.

Fayemi said statistics had shown that water supply to urban cities and rural areas in the country have reduced by 15 and four per cent respectively, in spite of geometric increase in the population.

The governor added that the state had paid a staggering sum of N700 million counterpart fund to complete the project that was approved by the world bank in 2014.

“It was because of the safety of the citizens that the federal government declared emergency in WASH. So, Ekiti has keyed into the programme with this project.

“Ekiti was ranked second in Nigeria as state that practice open defecation . We shall put up institutional and legal frameworks to ensure Ekiti is open defecation free before 2030,” he said.

Oyetola Presents N152.7bn 2019 Budget Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo Infrastructure development and education got a big chunk of allocation as Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, yesterday presented his 2019 fiscal plan to the House of Assembly.

The overall N152.7 billion ‘Budget of Hope’ is lower than the N179.2billion budgeted for the outgoing year.

The governor said he would build on the giant strides of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Oyetola also prioritised agriculture, healthcare and provision of water in the rural area.

The governor told lawmakers to the admiration of those present that “the era of payment of modulated salaries and allowances and other benefits has become a thing of the past. Workers and pensioners are now collecting their full salaries.”

The state is expecting an Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N36 billion at “a minimum of N3billion monthly out of the projected total revenue of N150billion. The rest will come from other sources, including the Federation Account, grants, aids, investment and others.”

The fiscal plan is heavy on the side of capital projects which got N91.5billion –65 per cent of estimated expenditure.

Education was allocated N10.4 billion or 11.36 per cent of the planned spending.

On the sector, Oyetola said: “We shall review the school curriculum to achieve value reorientation and create a sense of belonging in our youths. Consequently, History shall be re-introduced in our secondary schools while Civic Education shall be expanded to incorporate the Omoluabi ethos.

“Focused attention shall also be given to technical and vocational

education to inculcate relevant skills for the youths to make them job creators rather than job seekers.

“Our administration remains irrevocably committed to the joint ownership and co-funding of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and the College of Health Sciences, Osogbo, with the Oyo State Government.”

On healthcare, emphasis will be on Health insurance “to provide effective, quality and affordable services to all and sundry.”

The Health Insurance is a contributory scheme in which the government will pay three per cent while the worker will contribute 1.5 per cent.

There is also a plan to revitalise and equip 332 Primary Health Care (PHC) centres-one in each ward -and 57 secondary health care centres across the three senatorial districts, he added.

The governor said the Ede water scheme would be rehabilitated to enhance supply of portable water to at least 12 local government areas.

He added that the Ilesa water project, whose work restarted with the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari, is to get full attention.

The governor also pledged to give utmost attention to agriculture to generate jobs for the youths and empower farmers who constitute 70 per cent of the population.

Partnerships with the federal government, development partners and agencies are expected to give the needed boost to the sector.

Oyetola said: “Given the committed leadership this administration is bringing to the table and the unwavering following we have been getting from the citizenry, the state is poised to set the pace in economic independence.

“We shall put strategy in place to further promote food security, employment and create wealth by investing heavily in agriculture, mining, infrastructure, commerce and industry, education and technology.”

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public of the loss of Original Letter of Offer,Right of Occupancy for Plot MF 13 within Dale district File No. MFCT/ LA/MISC 9692,dated 12/08/2018 bearing Jimbut Nissi Enterprise Limited belonging to Finbong Nathaniel Lar.All efforts made to trace the said documents proved abortive. If found, kindly return to the nearest Police Station, Authorities Concerned and the general public should please take note.

55

ÍşÎ€Ëœ ͺ͸͚΀ Ëž T H I S D AY

FRIDAYSPORTS

Group Sports Editor Duro Ikhazuagbe Email duro.ikhazuagbe@thisdaylive.com 0811 181 3083 SMS ONLY

Ndidi Targets 70th EPL Appearance for Leicester City Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report Super Eagles midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi, is set for a historic 70th appearance in the English Premier League for Leicester City tomorrow when they host Cardiff City in a match-day 21 game at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester is seventh on the log behind Manchester United on 28 points from 19 matches.

The former RC Genk player in Belgium’s topflight joined the Foxes in January window of 2017.

The combative midfielder has succeeded in establishing himself as a key player for Leicester City, starting 68 of the 69 games he has played for the club in the Premier League.

He made his debut on January 14, 2017 in the Foxes’ 3-0 loss to Chelsea.

On Saturday, the Nigerian will be seeking to make his 19th start in 20 appearances for Leicester City so far this term and possibly add to the only goal he has scored this season.

The Nigerian starred in the back-to-back wins against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend and Manchester City on Boxing Day and a third victory on the bounce will give him his 27th win in the EPL in 70 games.

Ndidi has been yellow carded 10 times and got the marching order twice.

In April this year, Ndidi beat compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho, Demarai Gray and Ben Chilwell to emerge as the best young player at Leicester City.

It was the second time Ndidi will win the young player award after he won it in his first season.

Interestingly, while Ndidi is enjoying regular playtime, his Super Eagles teammate, Kelechi Iheanacho who joined the Foxes from Manchester City has not been that regular on the starting line up.

Iheanacho was signed by Premier League club Leicester City on a five-year contract on 3 August 2017, for a reported ÂŁ25 million fee.

He made his debut for the club in a 4–3 defeat to Arsenal

Ndidi is set for his 70th cap for Leicester in the English Premier League.

on 11 August 2017. He scored his first goal for Leicester in an EFL Cup tie against Leeds United on 24 October 2017.

On 16 January this year, Iheanacho became the first

player in English football to be awarded a goal due to VAR, as the referee deemed that the player had been incorrectly ruled offside for his second goal. The goal was Iheanacho’s

second in a 2–0 win over Fleetwood Town in the FA Cup Third Round replay.

Ahmed Musa was the third Super Eagles player at Leicester after switching

to the English team from CSKA Moscow. But in the bid to have regular starting shirt elsewhere, Musa left Leicester for Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia.

Tennis: Serena’s Plaudits for Rule Change to Protect Mothers Serena Williams has praised the introduction of more ranking protection for new mothers on the WTA Tour.

Players coming back from childbirth or injury can use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period.

In addition, they will not face a seeded player in an opening round.

“I think it’s great,� said Williams who gave birth to daughter Alexis Olympia in September 2017 and returned to action in February 2018. “Women that are younger can go out there and have kids and not have to worry about it, and not have to wait until the twilight of their years to have children, and I think it’s a really great rule.�

Williams, 37, was not

seeded at the French Open, her first Grand Slam appearance following her return, but was given a seeding of 25 for Wimbledon, despite being outside the top 32 in the rankings. She is now ranked 16th and will be seeded for next month’s Australian Open.

The WTA’s rule change comes after the organisation canvassed the opinions of

players earlier in the year.

World number one Simona Halep and five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova had both offered their support to Williams, but others like Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka and Johanna Konta expressed reservations.

Williams added: “I think having gone through the experience myself really

opened my eyes. Would have I done it sooner had there been different rule changes? I don’t know. But now there is an opportunity, people don’t have to ask that question.�

The 23-time Grand Slam champion will be in action against sister Venus in Abu Dhabi on Thursday in her first match since September ’s US Open

Hope for Grassroots Soccer as Joe Udofia Unity Cup Ends The prospect of Akwa Ibom State becoming a major football hub in the country received a boost at the recently concluded 3rd Joe Udofia Unity Cup Football Tournament on Wednesday.

The month-long grassroots football tournament for teams in Use Abat Clan, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State funded by a foremost philanthropist in the area and Chief Executive of Vandrezzer Energy Services Limited, Joe Udofia came to a close on Wednesday at the Use Abat Primary School football pitch.

The tournament which began as a talent hunting show piece three years ago with eight participating teams from the nearby communities, this year had an increased participation from 8 to 15 teams gunning for the ultimate N2m prize money.

In the final match, which featured the best of soccer team from Inyang Isong community defeated last year’s champions, Ikot Obio Okon 4-1 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes of play.

Inyang Isong who emerged champions carted home the trophy and the star prize of N2 million at stake.

Ikot Obio Okon the runners-up received N1.5 million while the third placed team Ikot Amba got N1million.

The ďŹ nancier of the 3rd Joe UdoďŹ a Unity Cup Football Tournament, Joe UdoďŹ a (left), his wife and Senator Bassey Albert (right) presenting the winners’ trophy to captain of Inyang Isong community at the ďŹ nal of the tournament in Akwa Ibom‌ on Wednesday

Speaking at the trophy and award presentation session, the tournament financier, Joe Udofia expressed gratitude to God for the ability to give back to the society especially his immediate community and pledged to extend the frontiers of philanthropy beyond grassroots football development.

He disclosed that the tournament has initiated a working partnership with the Kanu Nwankwo Football Academy

for the purpose of channeling talents discovered at the competition to greater heights while adding that four players have already been penciled down

by Kanu Nwankwo himself for take off.

Also speaking, a member of the State Executive Council and former Finance Commissioner, Akan Okon commended the sponsor of the tournament for his positive attitude while appealing to more private

individuals to emulate him.

He commended the organizers and players for the high standard exhibited.

In his speech, Senator Bassey Albert described Joe Udofia as a man of unlimited benevolence who has broken the records in the state in terms of grassroots intervention and human empowerment citing his numerous good works such as rural electrification and other life enhancing ventures to the

people. The encounter was beamed live on Kanu TV, Comfort FM, Uyo and other media channels to a record international audience. The occasion was also graced by Nollywood diva and Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Entertainment Ini Edo; stakeholders in sports across the country; lawmakers; top government functionaries and lovers of football across the state.

final defeat by Japan’s Naomi Osaka. That match was overshadowed by her outburst at chair umpire Carlos Ramos, whom she called a “liar� and “thief�.

She was docked a game for verbal abuse following a point penalty for racquet smashing and a code violation for coaching. She was subsequently fined for her outbursts.

Boxing Meets Music as GOtv Boxing Night 17 Holds Today The much anticipated 17th edition of GOtv Boxing Night (GOtv Boxing Night 17) holds today at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.

The event, a confluence of boxing and music, will feature eight bouts and live musical performances by Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni Da Entertainer and Daddy Showkey.

The headline bout is the World Boxing Federation (Intercontinental) super featherweight title between Nigeria’s Seun “The Machine�

Wahab and Issa “Peche Boy�

Nampeche of Tanzania.

In the other international duel, Ghana’s Victor Kemavor will confront US-based Nigerian, Femi “The Eagle�

Oyeleye.

The domestic scene is represented by top stars like Olaide “Fijaborn�

Fijabi, Oto “Joe Boy� Joseph, Rilwan “Real One� Oladosu, Nurudeen “Prince� Fatai and Ridwan “Scorpion� Oyekola among others.

The best boxer at the event will win a cash prize of N1.

5million.

TR

Friday, December 28, 2018

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Price: N250

MISSILE Oshiomhole to Imo People

“I bring a message of hope that appointments into your government will be made on merit and not on family connection. I bring a message of hope that when we talk of happiness, we will not domesticate it in the hands of a sister.

I bring you a message of hope that in constructing buildings and roads, one contract will not be awarded to three people” – APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, throwing darts at Governor Rochas Okorocha, for working against the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the state.

AKINOSUNTOKUN DIALOGUE WITH NIGERIA

akin.osuntokun@thisdaylive.com

Ending The Year in Ignominy I f any other indication of the corruptionridden nature of this governmental dispensation is needed, this can be inferred from the conduct of the Ondo, Ekiti and Osun States’ elections.

Beyond other atrocious manipulations, the attribute that stood clearly to be counted by observers in those dress rehearsal elections, was the unanimity of opinion on the distinct and unprecedented subversion of the election by outright vote buying. Intuitively and analytically, the generalization can be made from this typical behavior that there is a positive correlation between pervasive vote buying and the degree of corruption in public life. In other words, the greater the degree of corruption in public life, especially governmental corruption, the more pervasive the incidence of outright vote purchase. By the same token, the lesser the degree of corruption in public life, the less pervasive will be the subversive role of the highest bidder culture.

Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, one of the observer groups in Ekiti, said: “the incidences of vote buying and inducement became so prominent than it has never been during the Ekiti governorship election…This portends a great danger, not only to our electoral process, but also to democracy as a whole…It will simply mean that the choice of leadership will no longer be on the basis of programmes or party manifestos but rather, the highest bidder on election days, no matter how incompetent.” “Nwagwu pointed out that politicians used to go to the homes of voters to bribe them and sometimes administered oaths on them to get their votes. He said that the difference in the case of Ekiti was that there were voters willing to sell their votes to party agents ready to pay the highest price within the vicinity of election area”.

“The activities in Ekiti and other states is worrying the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) both of the U.S. which have warned that vote buying and insecurity constituted a threat to the 2019 general elections…It also heard repeated frustrations about the continued role that money plays in Nigerian politics, from how candidates are selected to how parties seek to influence voters.

Mr. Jan Surotchak, Regional Director for Europe, IRI, said that the Ekiti election witnessed vote buying which raised concern among Nigerians and added: `Vote buying is a frightening development in elections”.

The political adviser to President Mohammadu Buhari, Babafemi Ojudu, lent Participant-observer credence to this degenerate situation in his condemnation of the APC governorship primaries in the run up to the governorship election proper earlier in the year, he said “Dr Kayode Fayemi during his declaration vowed that he was ready to use every underhand means to secure the ticket but our people have come out to say a resounding NO! No amount of intimidation, brigandage and crude display of wealth will stop the people’s will to install a fresh hand in our state”.

Given this inclusive and specific

Buhari

antecedence, it stretches the imagination beyond credulity for the same individual who bore witness to the role of his own party in this degenerate situation bastardisation to now presume to sanctify and separate the party presidential candidate from the same culture it has, more than any predecessor, come institutionalise. The lesson to learn from its own prior conduct on what constitutes a winning formula in Nigerian elections is not probity and integrity but the exact opposite. Begging the question-on what pedestal and track record do the APC and Buhari stand to project their platform as the exception to the cash and carry rule it has instituted-going forward to the 2019 elections? Where is the logical and consistent thread from the conduct of APC in the previous state elections to the shameless hypocritical posturing of advertising itself as the harbinger of public probity in the consequential 2019 elections? The particularly worrisome dimension to this persistent penchant for making claims that are wildly at variance with reality is the party wide adoption of duplicitous double talk as party trademark. And so it came as no surprise when the mostly silent political adviser to the President, Babafemi Ojudu

On what pedestal and track record do the APC and Buhari stand to project their platform as the exception to the cash and carry rule it has instituted-going forward to the 2019 elections?

typically embarked on this flight of fancy: “Quote me: the coming presidential election will be the cheapest ever in the history of our country.

“This government will not loot the treasury or empty the Central Bank to buy votes. Money meant for arms will not be diverted to buy prayers from pastors and Alfas. INEC officials are not going to be paid to manipulate figures in favour of the president and his party. Security men will do their job as stipulated by the terms of their engagement. Above all, voters will be allowed to vote according to the dictates of their conscience. About this time in 2015, the nation was awash with cash, both in local and foreign currencies. Money meant for arms, for infrastructural development and for the provision of good life for the people was diverted and shared out among the big shots in the ruling party. A bit of it trickled down to the people and everyone had a big party”.

Like a guerrilla army, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is surfacing in market places, doing street walks and entering the homes of the disadvantaged and listening to their challenges, gets firsthand information on what is important as valuable to them.

Like a guerilla army indeed! What an apt metaphor for the political insurgency and electoral subversion inherent in the tradermoni scam and similar clever by half gimmicks of a desperate vice president sneaking around foodstuff markets and motor parks. ` The problem with this crass display of a rough and ready willingness to pretend that facts and logic don’t exist or matter is the general applicability of the same character flaw to the rank and file of the APC and the Buhari government. It is a disposition that has come to define the conduct of the APC and its presidential standard bearer whose clumsy affectation of the illusion of grandeur only serves to confirm his status as a falling angel-if ever he was mistaken for one. Take for example the debacle of the fictive catalogue of achievements in his budget presentation at the national assembly. On the penchant of this president to play fast and loose with facts and figures here is the testimony of a self-confessed disciple of President Buhari by name Dr Aliyu Tilde: “The 150 km Bauchi-Gombe road, which I have been using for 44 years now and my vehicle plies every 10 days, is an example.

Its rehabilitation was awarded in 2016. When I used it two months ago, only about 7 km was resurfaced, that little too was just outside Alkaleri towards Gombe, a portion that has been a smooth ride for decades, leaving the 60 km where urgent rehabilitation is needed between Alkaleri and Bauchi. I have the pictures in case anyone would deny it. Today, his government couldn’t achieve more than resurfacing 7 km in two and a half years, that too came after protests from Bauchi. What else can better depict the incompetence of his government?”

“There are many projects awarded since 2016 which have not taken off to date. This is not Buhari my mentor… He is PMB

who abandoned his life-long principles for cheap political gains, whose party is impatiently threatening to beat the record of PDP in corruption and deceit in just four, instead of 16 years. A figure that until then I literally idolised since 1975 for his integrity is today condoning the corruption taking place right under his nose and in far-away places like Kano, cases proven by victims and journalists beyond the reasonable doubt of anyone with an iota of sincerity and goodwill for this country, allegations his conscience must have told him are true, cases that his EFCC has shamefully failed to take any action on, cases that are daily destroying every bit of his image as Mr. Integrity…The APC today has, with its poor performance and record of corruption, emboldened the PDP that it devastated in 2015 with abusive language, claims and promises. As a ruling party today, this arsenal is depleted. It is now a case of the kettle calling the pot black.”

Another random check on the authenticity of the enumerated phantom achievements the Buhari government resulted in this report from Ebele Goodluck…”In his 2019 budget presentation today at the National Assembly, President Buhari listed Ogwashi-Uku Dam amongst other projects completed and/ or commissioned by his administration in 2018. Mr. President, this is a fat lie from the pit of hell, Sir. Ogwashi-Uku is my hometown, and where the dam is located is my village. I can tell you for a fact that no government official has set foot on that project since the beginning of your administration. The road leading to the dam has since cut into two and has become hazards to motorists, bikers and pedestrians. I swiftly reached out to the LG chairman, Chief Isaac Anwuzia to know if the DAM project was miraculously completed and commissioned between last night and this morning. The LG chairman categorically said the project was abandoned since 2015.”

And another disappointed erstwhile promoter of Buhari summed up as follows-“It took only months for Buhari to be unveiled not as the lion he claimed to be, but as a deeply-flawed Nigerian politician who would not have been out of place in the PDP. If WAI was in 1984 thought to be indicative of hope, Buhari has dimmed every flicker, as everything is being re-interpreted and regurgitated by people who fly the world in government airplanes they had said were anachronistic and wasteful. They measure achievement in propaganda mileage…

But this is really another illustration of how a government that arrived with the best opportunity since independence has reduced itself to the sorriest and soggiest.

Buhari advocates like to raise the flag of “integrity,” one they cannot substantiate.

But integrity is when whom you are, is found to be whom you said you were, and credibility is when you are still standing when you are found out. It remains true that PDP is wrong for Nigeria. But so is APC, and certainly Buhari, and Buhari himself knows it. To suggest otherwise is to support Nigeria’s continued decay.”

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