Monday, July 31, 2017
2018 budget: FG to deploy online, real time, solutions
…Trains 4,250 staff on budget preparation
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
abuja—The Federal Government would deploy online, real time, solutions for Budget 2018 preparation, the Director-General of Budget Office of the federation, Mr. Ben Akabueze, has disclosed.
He spoke at the opening of a training workshop organized for Budget Officers, drawn from various Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), in Abuja, yesterday.
According to him, 4,250 officials from 800 MDAs would be trained in the requisite Information and Communications Technology (ICT) mapped on the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to drive the new budget preparation process.
Mr. Akabueze disclosed that the training would take place in the six geo-political zones in Ibadan, Kaduna, Gombe, Uyo and Enugu, in addition to the one being held in Abuja for North Central.
He said: “You will recall that the current administration adopted the Zero Based Budgeting ( ZBB) methodology to help ensure more optimal utilization of government resources on projects. To improve the quality of our budgeting process, we are committed to making the most use of technology and automation tools. For the 2017 budget, MDAs prepared and submitted their budgets online and in real time using a ZBB-compliant web-based application. It was the first time that MDAs were using an online system to prepare and submit their budget with no manual intervention. The use of the web based application helped eradicate a lot of the challenges encountered in previous years.
“For 2018 budget preparation, we intend to improve on the experiences of the 2017 budget preparation process. Based on the feedback from the 2017 budget preparation, we have simplified the ZBB structure. Programs and Sub-programs have been merged in to activities and mapped to the GIFMIS platform,“ said DG budget.
He expressed delight that for the first time since its procurement, MDAs shall be using GIFMIS for budget preparation module . Previously, he said MDAs merely used it for budget execution.
“We believe, it will help enhance the smooth and seamless linkage between budget preparation, submission, execution, monitoring, evaluation and reporting compared to when the budget was prepared outside GIFMIS and then imported in to GIFMIS for execution”, said Akabueze.
He added that his office was ready to provide the right leadership for a 2018 Budget that would meet the early submission to the National Assembly, as envisaged by the executive arm of government.
In his remarks, Director of Expenditure, Budget Office, Mr. Suleiman Hassan charged participants to take advantage of the training to equip themselves with the IT knowledge for online, real time budget preparation.
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Saving our bridges from collapse
THE Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has raised the alarm that gridlocks created by tankers, including other articulated vehicles on bridges in Lagos and other major cities are dangerous and capable of damaging them. The Lagos State Sector Commander, Mr Hyginus Omeje, harped on the need to preserve the bridges to last longer. For years, intractable traffic lockdowns have bedevilled the Apapa axis of Lagos. The impact of the congestion is weakening the bridges daily.
Stationary vehicles left on the bridges over long periods predispose them to quicker pace of deterioration, fatigue and the danger of outright collapse. This threat exists in other parts of the county. Recently, Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, inspected the repair of a collapsed major bridge along the Abuja-Lokoja road which disrupted distribution of petroleum products and other essential goods across the country. Large concentrations of bridges and the existence of the busiest seaports and tank farms in the country make the Lagos situation peculiar. The infrastructure attracts articulated vehicles, trucks and tankers into the metropolis from all over the federation.
Their presence on the roads complicates the traffic situation and sometimes leads to lawlessness as recently witnessed in Apapa where a life was lost and two banks set ablaze by a mob over unruly parking by drivers of these heavy trucks.
There is a need to quickly address the situation to save the bridges from total collapse. The Third Mainland, Carter, Eko, Apapa Bridges and others across the country require huge financial resources to repair when structural defects are detected. Besides, the collapse of any bridge will bring the entire Lagos metropolis to a standstill, perhaps for years. This we must prevent.
Unravelling the gridlocks goes beyond rather feeble traffic-control efforts alone. There is a need to fix the drainages and bad roads in the area. The Federal and Lagos State Governments must demonstrate the political will to relocate the tank farms and remove these heavy vehicles from the roads and bridges.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) the Federal Government signed with three companies namely, Dangote Group, Flour Mills Nigeria PLC and the Nigerian Ports Authority to restore access roads to the Apapa ports should be hastened.
These three good corporate citizens should also be encouraged in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) efforts which will help make the road network in the area more motorable.
We urge the FRSC, Police and Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to deploy and intensify special traffic control strategies in Apapa in order to ease the unending gridlocks. We must unclog the main arteries to our non-oil economic zones and remove anything that would harm the nation’s critical infrastructure such as bridges and roads.
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Mother allegedly abandoned 5-month-old baby to die in Lagos inferno
By Monsuru Olowoopejo
A five-month-old baby was yesterday burnt to death after fire engulfed a one-storey building in Agbado-Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos State.
Vanguard gathered that the inferno that engulfed the building at 28 Adeyoola Street, Kola Bus Stop, started at about 12:10p.m., yesterday, when many of the occupants had left for work.
Eyewitness blamed the mother, saying the incident was as a result of carelessness on the part of the baby’s mother, who was cooking inside her room at the right wing of the house.
It was learned that the baby, who was already asleep, was left in the room by her mother before the fire that razed the top floor of the building started.
Residents narrated that the mother left the room without putting off the stove, which later caught fire that engulfed the room, burning the baby to death.
Aside the baby, eight rooms were also razed by the inferno, destroying property worth millions of Naira.
Vanguard learned that the fire would have escalated to other building, but for the combined intervention of emergency responders, including Lagos State Fire Service and the State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, that salvaged over 15 rooms.
It was learned that the deceased baby’s corpse was recovered and handed over to the Policemen from Alakuko Police Station.
Confirming the tragedy, Director of the State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe, urged residents to desist from cooking in their rooms.
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Property Dispute: Task Force flouted court order, respondents tell court
By Onozure Dania
Lagos—The son of late Clifford Imoh, Chukwuka Imoh and his nephew, Ifeanyi Imoh, who were arraigned before a mobile court at Oshodi on July 10, over their father’s property on the allegation of landgrabbing, have accused the Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers of disobeying court order made by Justice Taofiqat Abdullahi-Oyekan of a Lagos high court on June 19, directing parties to maintain status quo.
The duo, who were arraigned before a magistrate’s court sitting in Oshodi on a three-count charge of landgrabbing, contrary to Section A in Land Grabber of the Lagos State Law 2016, alleged that some officials of the Task Force were trying to unlawfully evict them from their father’s property at 129, Olaitan Odularu Street, Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, which has been in court since 2007, and it’s still pending at the Supreme Court.
They also alleged that following the legal battle between their late father and Abiodun Onanuga, Onanuga approached the Special Task Force on Land Grabbers’ officers that threatened to forcefully evict the occupants of the property, if they failed to vacate the premises on or before three months from January 18, when the Secretary of the Task Force, Mosunmola Balogun, made the order.
Their arrest, they alleged, contravened a Lagos State High Court order directing the parties to maintain status quo, pending the determination of the dispute which is pending at the Supreme Court.
Joined as co-respondents are Attorney-General of Lagos State; Bakare Protem Chairman Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers and Abiodun Onanuga.
The case has been adjourned till November 10 for hearing.
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Dr. Leton on how Federal govt cheated Niger Delta (1)
By Eric Teniola
PRESIDENT Shehu Usman Shagari on November 23, 1979 inaugurated the Presidential Commission on Revenue Allocation.The Committee was headed by Dr. Pius Charles Nwabufo Okigbo (1924-2000). Dr. Okigbo was former Economic Adviser to the Federal Government in the First Republic. Other members of the Commission were Usman Bello, Balarabe Ismaila, Garrick B. Leton, Adedotun O. Phillips, Ahmed Talib, W. Okefie Uzoagba while Ambrose A. Feese served as secretary. Mr. Feese was from New Nigeria Development Company Limited in Kaduna. He was assisted by Messers C.C. Chukwura , I.O. Dada, F. D. O. Enweafah, A.O. Garba, Tunji Olutola from the Federal Public Service and Mrs. M. N. David Osuagwu from the public service of Anambra state.
Mr. Isaac Olushola Dada, a member of the Secretariat of the Commission died of heart attack last week in Lagos shortly on arrival from the United States of America. He will be buried in Lagos next week. He was a competent civil servant.
Two members of the committee wrote minority reports. They were Dr. Leton and Professor Adedotun Phillips. Dr. Leton, who was Minister of Education in 1978-1979, was an Ogoni activist. His minority report was titled MINORITY RECOMMENDATIONS. And those views of his are still relevant in today’s Nigeria as it relates to revenue allocation. Dr. Leton died in March 2013 in Port Harcourt. Till his death he was the President of the Movement For the Survival of the Ogoni people, MOSOB. I was close to him during the Okigbo panel sitting which I covered extensively for The PUNCH.
Here are his views: Sharing of the Federation Account(1) An amount from the Federation Account equal to 30 per cent of mining rents and royalties each year should be set aside for distribution among the mineral producing States on the basis of their contribution to the Mining Sector revenues. (2) In doing so, there should be no distribution between on-shore and off-shore mining. (3) The balance in the Federal Account(ca. 95percent) should then be shared among the three tiers of Government as recommended by the Commission.
2. Mineral rent is already conceded by the Commission as an attribute of the States of origin, in accordance with the Land Use Decree. It must be pointed out that this is a very small piece of the rent-royalty cake. Royalty, as it is usually defined with respect to mining, is a “payment made to a landowner for the extraction of minerals from beneath his land”. Therefore, it too is an attribute of the State of origin. The mineral producing States thus have an intrinsic right to mining rents and royalties.
They, however, should realise that they are part of a Federation in which they must necessarily share what is due to them with their brother States. It is on this basis that I recommend only 30 percent of mining rents and royalties. This amounts to 6.3 percent of the Mining Sector contribution to the Federation Account by the 1980 Federal Government Revenue Estimates.
3. The 1.5 percent (of the Federation Account) Revenue Equalisation Fund recommend for Bendel and Rivers States by the Commission, apart from being too little to offset the usual benefits the two states derive from rents and royalties, would if accepted, permanently destroy their claim of even a modest percentage of revenues from this source. It is therefore doubly unacceptable.
4. Enough has been said about off-mining and the adjoining States elsewhere in this Report. It is, however, worth noting areas of the world (certainly of Britain) today.
As the saying goes: you cannot (or rather, should not) bite the finger that feeds you. Our general lack of concern for the oil producing areas is simply alarming.
5. As I have already expressed above, I do not believe that 1.5 percent of this special provision should be used as proxy for what the oil producing States should have been receiving from mining rent and royalties. Accordingly, I recommend that the 7 per cent provision should be shared as follows- Federal Capital Territory-2.5%, Fund for Mineral Producing Areas-3.0%, Other Ecological Problems (e.g. erosion, desert encroachment, etc)-1.5%.
6. Successive Commissions have recommended a special fund for the oil producing areas to take care of the continuing damage being done to life and property and the ecology of these areas in the process of our winning the oil. Ideally the cost should be charge on the production of oil; but since our laws did not foresee this, our next best approach is to take it from the Federation Account, which anyhow consists essentially of oil revenues. I do not think that the 2 percent recommend by the Commission is sufficient for the decades of damage and neglect that these areas have experienced. That is why I am recommending 3 percent, which is indeed only 3.4 percent of the Mining Sector contribution to the total revenue of the Federation.
7. In sum, I am recommending 5 percent of the Federation Account as proxy for 30 per cent of rent and royalties and 3 percent for the Special Fund for the mineral producing areas. Together they amount to only 9.7 percent of the mineral producing areas’ total contribution to the revenue of the Federation. The case for the Mineral Producing areas is articulated fully in the following pages.
A case for the Mineral Producing Areas- 1. Although coal and especially tin/columbite have been produced and exported by Nigeria for several decades, when we talk of mineral these days, in particular with respect to revenue generation and sharing, we think of mineral of oil (petroleum) and associated or natural gas. Petroleum producing States at the moment are Bendel, Rivers, Cross River, Imo and Ondo. An oil mineral survey map of Nigeria, however, shows that Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gongola, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Plateau and Sokoto States are potentially oil producing.
2. It does not, therefore, require a soothsayer to predict that, before long, mining of this precious commodity will no longer be the preserve of a few States. Besides, there are no serious indications of uranium (another priceless) mineral these days) in Bauchi, Cross River and Sokoto States. With this type of spread of mineral producing areas, the general antipathy towards mineral producing states is likely to change and with that (hopefully) a change of the mineral laws of the country.
3. The Minerals Ordinance of 1946 (now variably referred to as the Minerals Act.) vested in the Crown the control of and property in minerals, mineral oils and in water by providing under Section 3(1) that”The entire property in and control of all minerals, and mineral oils, in, under or upon any lands in Nigeria, and of all rivers, streams and water courses throughout Nigeria, is and shall be vested in the Crown, save in so far as such rights may in any case have been limited by any express grant made before the commencement of this Ordinance”. Several amendments have been made since then, notably”State” replacing “Crown” with our attainment of independence. It is, however, surprising that the spirit and letter of this colonial legislation was carried into the Republican Constitution of 1963. The ownership of minerals was still vested in the State not the Regions!
4. The next major amendment was the Petroleum Decree (No 51,1969), which vested “The entire ownership and control of all petroleum in , under and upon any lands to which this section applies” in the State. It went on under Section 1(2) to provide that” This section applies to all land (including land covered by water) which-(a) is in Nigeria, or (b) is under the territorial waters of Nigeria, or (c) forms part of the continental shelf. This is obviously an extension of the Minerals Act in respect of petroleum, to cover our territorial waters and the continental shelf.
5. Section 40(3) of the 1979 Constitution, tightening both the Minerals Act and the Petroleum Decree, then provides that “the entire property in and control of all minerals, mineral oils and natural gas in, under or upon any lands in Nigeria or in, under or upon the territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone of Nigeria shall vest in the Government of the Federation and shall be managed in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly”. Thus, apart from bringing in natural gas and the Exclusive Economic Zone, the Constitution rather significantly replaces”State” with the “Government of the Federation” and the National Assembly. Minerals then, be they solid, mineral oil or gas, are the property of the Government of the Federation.
6. The Land Use Decree (1979), on the other hand, vests the ownership and control of all lands in a State in the Governor, who holds them in trust for the people of the State. The Governor (and thus the Government) of the State has therefore a perpetual interest on the land it allows a Company or any agency of the Government of the Federation to use for the purpose of mineral exploitation.
7. It is this dualism of ownership and control that makes the Nigerian situation so intriguing. In other Federations, ownership of minerals is vested either in the State (Australian situation) or in the individual land owner(as in the USA). In both cases the Central Government has powers to tax the mineral proceeds as is deems necessary and adequate. In that way it loses nothing and yet, apart from providing necessary legislation, does not actually get itself involved in the complex and costly operation of winning and marketing the minerals. Nigeria may have something to learn here; because if we take the Nigerian situation to its logical conclusion, a landowner may not farm on his land without a Federal Government permission. The soil consists essentially of minerals (nitrates, sulphates, etc.) which are needed for plant growth. By farming therefore the landowner is indirectly using up (stealing!) Federal Government property. This type of situation ought to be resolved.
8. The principle of derivation has dominated revenue sharing in this country since 1946 when we began moving from a unitary to a federal system of Government. Thus, the Phillipson Commission of 1946 applied, effectively, only the principle of derivation. Hicks-Phillipson(1951) proposed derivation as one of three principles while Chick (1953) adopted derivation only; but, for the first time, extended it to cover 100 per cent of mining rents and royalties to the Region of origin. Mining rents and royalties has remained with us since in varying degrees as derivation principle of revenue allocation.
9. The principle, be it in the glorious days of cocoa in the West and groundnut pyramids in the North or the oil boom seventies in the Rivers and Bendel States, has always aroused envy not because it is illogical or unjust to give more to him that contributes more: but simply and solely because it gives more money to these States. The situation has been aggravated by the sudden dominance of the economy by the oil sector, resulting in much larger sums of money accruing from rents and royalties, being shared essentially between two minority States. After reducing the factors from 100 per cent to a mere 20 percent(Decree No. 6 of 1975) and the residue was still sizeable, we had to look for reasons why it should not exist at all. Thus in the arrogant language of Aboyade” the principle of derivation has little or no place in a cohesive fiscal system for national political and social development”. This was indeed regarded by many as a “mercy killing of a terminal patient” as we expressed in one of the memoranda we received.
10. What then are the arguments against derivation? Perhaps the most often and readily advanced is that oil is a gift of Mother Nature (what on earth isn’t). It was not put there by anybody and therefore nobody should have any claim to it. It belongs to everybody. If we want to carry this type of argument to its logical conclusion, then the oil should belong to the United Nations! It however, should be borne in mind that the oil (any oil field) belongs to Nigeria not just because of any law made thereto for but more so by virtue of the fact that the people who own that part of the country, the people who live there are Nigerians. If, as in the case of the Southern Cameroon, they could decide not to be Nigerians, then they would carry the land and the minerals with them.(See off-shore mining below). We could not say that, because the oil belongs to Nigeria,they should leave it behind. This exposes the illogicality of this law.
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Police cordon off Anambra PDP office, abort party’s SEC meeting
By Vincent Ujumadu
Awka — A detachment of the Anambra State Police Command, yesterday, cordoned off the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and stopped members of the State Executive Council, SEC, of the party from conducting their scheduled meeting.
The PDP officials had gathered from the various local government areas of the state for the meeting only to see stern-looking policemen barricading the entrance to the party office.
It was not clear at press time who gave the order to stop the meeting, as the leader of the police team, Superintendent William Odumu, declined explanations.
Though the national leadership of PDP had, last week, announced the dissolution of the party’s caretaker committees in some states, including Anambra, some members of the state executive committee, who were barred from entering the PDP premises, yesterday, described the dissolution as illegal because, according to them, they emerged through properly conducted congresses at the ward, local government and state levels.
The dissolved state chairman of PDP, Prince Kenneth Emeakayi, was not present, but his deputy, Mr. Uchenu Ofokansi, said: “We came to hold a meeting only to discover that policemen had cordoned off our state secretariat and we had no other option than to call off the meeting.
“We had asked the police why we should not hold our meeting or if there was any petition from anywhere, but their leader told us that the order came from above and this made us to be confused.
“We don’t know about the dissolution of our state executive because Senator Stella Oduah and Mr. Chuka Onyema who are the current leaders of the party in the state in the absence of a governor, did not know about the purported dissolution. We have not been communicated the fact that we have been dissolved either.”
Meanwhile, the state PDP had vowed to challenge the purported dissolution, regretting that some people were still bent on continuing the crisis in the party.
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4 siblings killed in kerosene explosion: Mother roams about begging for help
By Jimitota Onoyume
PORT HARCOURT— A woman, who lost four of her children in a kerosene explosion at her residence in Rumukwucha community, was seen yesterday around GRA Junction half-naked and appealing to passers-by to help rescue her children from the inferno.
Vanguard gathered that the woman, identified as Iya Samson, lost her four children last Friday night in an explosion that resulted from the adulterated kerosene she poured into her cooking stove.
A resident in the neighbourhood, who gave his name as Uche, said the lady was cooking when the stove suddenly went up in flames, consuming her four children and other valuables in her apartment.
Uche’s words: “We heard people saw her around GRA area of Port Harcourt begging that they should help recover her children from fire.
“Those who saw her did not know we were looking for her. They mistook her for a mad person.“
Husband begs
Meanwhile, her husband, Mr. Ademola Danaogun, has appealed to Port Harcourt residents to help bring back his wife wherever they see her.
He said they told him they saw the wife half-naked, urging people to help rescue her four children from an inferno.
He passionately appealed to the public not to attack his wife or mistake her for a witch, stressing that she had not recovered from the shock of the sad and painful loss
His words: “We have been looking for her since. Some said they saw her at Ogbogoro; we have gone there to look for her, but didn’t find her.
“Yesterday evening, some people said they saw my wife at GRA. They said she was shouting that her four children were burning in fire.
“Please, if you see my wife, don’t kill her. People may conclude that she is a witch and had killed the children.
“No, it is not like that. I want to see her and take her home. We are going back to our state because we have lost everything.”
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Intensive Care Units in Nigeria not for palliative care — EXPERTS
By Chioma Obinna
Experts in Critical Care have called for the strengthening of Intensive Care Unit, ICU, from a mere palliative centre to a transformed maintenance of high- need patients in order to improve clinical outcomes.
The experts who noted that perception about ICUs has been a place for dying people stated that the Unit should be a centre where high patient recovery is recorded and higher standard of health care services delivered.
They regretted that the country’s health sector is suffering from systematic collapse for various reasons, including lack of state-of-the-art technology, adequate man-power supply and inadequate funding.
The experts, who gathered during the Mid-Year Guest Lecture 2017 of the Campbell Street Clinical Group, further noted that the systematic crisis will take time to change as investors are presently being careful due to the state of the country’s health insurance.
In his lecture entitled: “The Intensive Care Unit: The Nigerian Experience”, a Consultant, Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Medical Simulation, Dr. Seyi Oyesola said in order to improve clinical outcomes, in order that patient should not die, in order that patient recovery has higher standard and is quick, intensive care unit must be developed and maintained. “Nigeria will begin to see the state of intensive care improve.”
According to him, a person in an ICU needs constant medical attention and support to keep their body functioning. They may be unable to breathe on their own and have multiple organ failure but medical equipment will take the place of these functions while the person recovers.
“Healthcare is expensive, so is intensive care. Improving clinical outcomes in Nigeria, we have to look at the way we make our ICUs a reality.”
Oyesola who listed how hospitals and health systems can address the challenges of acquiring an effective ICU maintained that the cornerstone for healthcare was funding.
“We should start protesting about the poor state of healthcare in our country that should be our first port of call. Now where money is concerned there are several philanthropic and non philanthropic cooperate social responsibility methods for raising funds, but for me the cornerstone is this, when you say you are going to raise funds for health care whether ICU or any other thing, don’t ask them for money, ask for equipment, the moment you start asking them for money, the attitude is different. You can request they should pay for the cost of the x-rays etc., I think you will have a lot more of success.
Oyesola said palliative care is care of patients with active, progressive, far-advanced disease with limited life expectancy. “It is a vital component of the basic essential services within the Universal Health Coverage as defined by the World Health Organisation, WHO.
“End of life care should be part of our patient management strategy in the system of healthcare in Nigeria and we really need to stop using ICU as a palliative centre”
He warned that only a patient with high chances of survival should be admitted into the ICU.
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2018 FIFA World Cup: Adepoju optimistic of Eagles qualification
Former Super Eagles midfielder, Mutiu Adepoju has said that Nigeria’s chances of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is ‘very realistic’.
After securing wins in their first two qualifying encounters against Zambia and Algeria, the Super Eagles find themselves at the top of Group B of Africa qualifying series with six points.
The three-time African champions face Cameroon in their next game on September 1, and the former Super Eagles midfielder in a series of tweets, is upbeat about the team’s chances of being one of Africa’s representatives in Russia.
“In a few days time, attention will shift to Nigeria versus Cameroon World Cup qualifier,” Adepoju tweeted.
“No matter who is invited for the game, we must all support the Super Eagles. Qualifying for Russia 2018 Fifa World Cup is very realistic.
“I’m very optimistic that the Super Eagles will tame the Indomitable Lions home and away, but our support is very crucial to make this happen,” he added.
The ‘Headmaster’ also responded to a fan who asked that the game be moved away from the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
“No need to panic. Even if the game is played in the ocean. The Super Eagles will triumph. Mark my words!”
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The Chronicles of Conakry
By Obadiah Mailafia
I AM writing this piece from Conakry, capital of Guinea. It’s my first time here, and I’m enjoying it. The locals are friendly. The only snag is that, at this time of year, it seems to rain all the time in Conakry.
Of all our West African “Francophone” countries, Guinea remains closest to Nigeria. The country is a member of the West African Monetary Zone, WAMZ, the grouping of English-speaking countries that are pursuing the ambition of a common currency. A fortnight ago President Alpha Condé requested all mosques to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari. When push comes to shove, our Francophone brethren go out of their way to oppose Nigeria in international forums; taking their orders from the Quay d’Orsay in Paris. Guinea has remained a faithful friend, come rain come shine.
Those who remember their history would recall that in 1958 the nationalist leader and founding-father president Ahmed Ahmed Sekou Toure led his people to say a resounding “Non” to President de Gaulle’s option of independence within membership of “la Communauté Française”. Guinea paid a heavy price for making that historic choice. For preferring freedom to serfdom, the French carted off all they could from the country. What they could not take they either destroyed or dumped into the Atlantic ocean – typewriters, furniture, photocopiers, vehicles and all. It was a tragedy for Guinea.
Sekou Toure, a former labour leader with deep pan-Africanist, Marxist revolutionary convictions, turned to the Communist Bloc. Sekou Toure became the vortex of liberation movements on the continent. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, known by its Portuguese acronym as the PAIGC, was headquartered in Conakry. Its leader, Amilcar Cabral, was assassinated by Portuguese and French agents in January 1973. He was, in my opinion, the greatest political theorist to have come out of our glorious continent.
France financed all sorts of opposition groups, exploiting the inevitable ethnic fissures that characterise the social structure of Guinea. The Fula or Peule, are the majority, with nearly 40 percent of the population. The Malinke make up 36 percent while the Susu and others make up the remaining 24 percent. The Fula, who dominate the economy and make up the bulk of the intelligentsia, have never ruled Guinea. They are believed to be highly clannish in nature. The Malinke and others believe that once the Fula get power the rest of them will become their slaves. As such, they have vowed never to surrender power to them. It is part of the open wound of Guinean society and politics.
In 1970, the Portuguese Armed Forces, with the aid of local opposition elements, launched Operation Green Sea, an amphibious military operation, to oust the regime. It failed. When the threats became unrelenting, the regime was transmogrified into a monstrous killing machine. Perhaps as many as 50,000 perished while many more fled into exile. The infamous Camp Boiro in the outskirts of the capital became the last bus stop for many a hapless political prisoner. For the sake of my mental health, I could not bring myself to visit its museum.
The most prominent victim of Camp Boiro was Diallo Telli (1925—1977), first Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity, OAU. A brilliant Fula jurist who earned a doctorate from the Sorbonne age 25; by 28, he was Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In 1963 he was elected pioneer OAU Secretary-General.
Sekou Toure was never comfortable with that appointment. After his first term in office, Diallo Telli needed the backing of his country for a second term. He did not get it. Instead, Sekou Toure invited him to return home to serve in his cabinet. His wife Hadja Kadiatou Diallo Telli warned him that he was being offered a poisoned chalice. She even had a mental breakdown when she realised her husband would not listen to her.
He was made Minister of Justice in 1972. It was not before long that he was accused of being part of a Fula complot to assassinate the President. He was summarily gaoled in Camp Boiro. All his cloths were removed and he was tied in chains in a dark, solitary cell. The keys were thrown away. He had been administered what was notoriously known as “the black diet”, consisting of no water and no food. Boubacar Diallo Telli died of hunger and starvation in February 1977.
Sekou Toure himself died in March 1984. Colonel Lansana Conteh seized power in a coup d’état. He himself was no better. He amassed a vast fortune by cornering most of the rent from the mining companies. Guinea became an attractive destination for all kinds of vultures, drug dealers and soldiers of fortune. One or two other strongmen were to follow. The country was soon engulfed into even more darkness. As the novelist Camara Laye once lamented, “My perplexity was boundless as the sky, and mine was a sky, alas, without any stars…”
Today, Guinea’s fledgling democracy is being countermanded by the mild-mannered Professor Alpha Condé. He has shown himself to be a compassionate leader. But I fear that the problems of this wonderful country remain intractable. The people of Guinea have suffered untold tragedy. Everywhere one goes, poverty and destitution stare one in the face. It was not too long that the youths of Guinea fought the battle of their lives against the dreaded Ebola pandemic. They face even more formidable foes in the seven-headed incubi of poverty, disease, illiteracy and malnutrition. At US$558, the country’s per capita is among the lowest in the world.
Ironically, Guinea has more than 40 percent of the world’s bauxite deposits; with vast quantities of iron ore, uranium, gold, diamonds and cobalt. The agricultural potentials are immense. Futa Djallon, the source of the Niger River, has a near-temperate climate. Guinea’s waterfalls can generate enough hydro-electricity for all her needs.
What is needed is bold, visionary leadership. It is imperative to stabilise the country by forging a new coalition who subordinate ethnic chauvinism for national solidarity. There is also need to reform the key public institutions while building the foundations for the rule of law and good economic and political governance.
Les enfants de Conakry et de toute la Guinea, je vous aimer avec tout le chaleur de mon coeur.
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Taraba PDP wins all LG cases, as Kona insists APC’s dead
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Taraba State has won all local government elections cases at the appeal tribunal.
Speaking on the victory, Mr. John Okezie, who led the party to victory at the tribunals, said the verdicts showed that democracy is still the best system of government. He said the wins did not come as a surprise as the appellants had no concrete case.
His words: “In dismissing their cases, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Joel Agya, said they lack merit and are incompetent.”
The cases involved four local governments chairmanship and 12 councillorship.
In a related development, Chairman of PDP in the state, Victor Kona, has said All Progressives Congress, APC, is dead in the state.
He said the opposition is in disarray and does not have a place in the state politics. He mocked those with federal appointment, noting that they are merely seeking relevance, adding “even you as a journalist know that we cannot have opposition in this state. They are dead.”
Members of the appeal tribunal included Justice Joel Agya of the High Court of Justice who served as Chairman. Others are Justice Nuhu Adi, Justice Alfred Yakubu, Justice Musa Babajo and Barrister Mike Tyonongo.
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Group faults destruction of houses by soldiers in Rivers
By Emma Amaize
WARRI—IJAW People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, in Warri, Delta State, yesterday, faulted the reported invasion and burning of 15 houses at Touma community, Bille Kingdom, Rivers State, by soldiers hunting for suspected criminals that killed a military officer and two other persons at a military checkpoint in the kingdom.
The group, in a statement by the acting Spokesperson, Mayor Ogobiri, said: “We want to state that invading and burning of the communi-ties over an attack, which the people knew nothing about is scandalous and criminal and, as such, the military men involved should not go unpunished.
“We condemn this attack, maltreatment of innocent civilians and destruction of property. We call on the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to be wary of the consequences of attacking and burning innocent communities in Niger Delta and, therefore, withdraw the military currently causing turmoil in Rivers communities in the interest of peace.”
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Centre wants old age study included in schools’ curriculum
By Chris Njoku
lagos—As part of efforts to curb abuse of the elderly in the society, Centre For Happy People, CHEP, has called for inclusion of the study of old age – gerontology- in the school curriculum.
Speaking during 2017 World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day, WEAAD in Lagos, CHEP Coordinator, Mrs. Lilian Jiringho said that the main reason why elderly people are being abused was as a result of a lack of knowledge of how to care for them.
Jiringho said that gerontology is the study of ageing and older adults, “that is the scientific studies of processes associated with the bodily changes from middle age through later life. Gerontology is multidisciplinary and is concerned with physical, mental, and social aspects and implications of ageing.
“Although gerontology and geriatrics have differing emphases, they both have the goal of understanding aging so that people can maximize their functioning and achieve a high quality of life,” she said.
The coordinator said that a person with the knowledge of gerontology, can make plans for his or her own life course and needs, while communities and legislators can make necessary public policy choices.
She said that there is no gerontological course studied in schools here in Nigeria, except at masters level.
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Freestyle football: Feet ‘n’ Tricks redeems prizes worth over N20m
By Jacob Ajom
Organisers of the first Nigerian National Freestyle Football championship, Feet ‘n’ Tricks International Limited in conjunction with its major sponsor, GAC Motors, Federal Inland Revenue and VFD Group yesterday redeemed prizes worth over N20 million to the winners in both male and female categories.
First prize winners in both categories got N1million each. Apart from the N1m prize money, McCarthy Obanor who won in the male category was also handed keys to a new GAC Salon car. He was also presented with a return ticket to Prague, Czech Republic to represent Nigeria at the World Super Ball Championships.
Mayowa Bababunmi, a medical doctor, who placed second, got N750,000, the 2nd runner up, Austine Abariode went home with N500,000.00 while 3rd runner up, Ifeanyi Nwabeke, was also rewarded with N250,000.00 for his effort.
In the female category, Rasheedat Ajibade, the captain of Nigeria’s Under 17 Women National Team clinched the title, winning the sum of N1m. Ajibade, a professional footballer, defeated Chidinma Okeke, her teammate in the national team in the final. Okeke got N750,000. Nduibisi Esther and Unamba Augustina were 2nd and 3rd place winners, received N500,000 and N250,000 respectively.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of Feet ‘n’ Tricks Limited, Valentine Ozigbo, said the redemption of the prizes was an eloquent demonstration of his organisation’s capacity to organise events of that magnitude. He thanked sponsors for identifying with their dream despite the short notice.
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LCCI commends Customs for removing check-points on highways
By Naomi Uzor
Lagos—The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI said yesterday that the removal of Customs check-points on highways was a reflection of the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting the ease of doing business in the country.
The Director-General of LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, made the remark in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos.
According to him, the directive will reduce extortion and disruptive activities to domestic trade, and end needless embarrassment to motorists for import duty receipts and revaluation of duty payments.
He said: “The streamlining of their operations is therefore a welcome development. Their activities are most times arbitrary, especially on issues of vehicle valuation and documents, certifications on the highways, which often result in extortions.
“The development is a clear demonstration of the responsiveness of the present administration to complaints of the Private Sector on business environment issues.”
The director-general called for an effective implementation framework for the policy geared toward improving the ease of doing business and restoring order in the way public institutions discharge their responsibilities.
He said LCCI would collaborate with other private sector bodies to monitor and track implementation of the directive.
Yusuf noted that domestic trade generates the largest number of jobs in the economy, next to agriculture and also contributes 16 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“It needs all the protection that the government can give because the sector is very critical in the value chain of the real sector, such as manufacturing, agriculture, solid minerals and oil and gas,” he said.
Yusuf commended the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for the bold step and urged other security agencies to emulate the NCS by dismantling irrelevant checkpoints.
He urged the Customs to strengthen surveillance and effectiveness at the various sea ports, airports and Borders, to ensure that prohibited items were not allowed into the country.
The LCCI boss urged the Service to ensure that scanners and other equipment necessary for effective inspection were available and functional.
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Nigeria has become Africa’s table tennis hub — Derek Abrefa
Ahead of ITTF Nigeria Open: Nigeria is fast becoming Africa’s table tennis hub, says Ghana’s Derek Abrefa
The staging of the annual ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open ‘Lagos 2017’ coupled with the rating of its players among the best in the world, Nigeria is fast becoming the hub of table tennis in Africa, says Ghana’s Derek Abrefa.
Abrefa, who was voted the 2016 Ghana’s Table Tennis Star of the Year, believes hosting of the Nigeria Open has given more African players the chance to make it to the world ranking as well as improve their rating in the globe.
The 25-year-old University of Cape Coast undergraduate said: “I must say Nigeria is becoming the home of table tennis in Africa. But I must also say Ghana is also on the verge of becoming one of the top African countries that will first be mentioned when we talk of table tennis. The Nigeria Open gives Africans the opportunity to meet world top table tennis players as well as give and expose African table tennis players on what the game is all about. Since most African countries are developing countries, most sports athletes don’t get the opportunity to be exposed outside the continental level to meet higher and experienced players due to inadequate support from the government.
And since Nigeria Open is a recognised ITTF tournament, it enables others who are battling with sponsorship issue to be able to participate and secure a good ranking in the world.”
The Ghanaian star is also not giving up on his team chances in Lagos, saying, “Ghanaians have prepared for this competition and I must say our efforts will pay us off well. Our target is to come and return back to Ghana with a medal. We stand a chance of winning a medal.
For his expectations in Lagos, he said: “My expectation for this tournament is to be able to move a step ahead of where I was in my last participation. I have prepared so well for this competition and all I hope and pray is that draw favours me also because in every competition, one needs to get a good place in the draw. I am expecting myself to put up a better performance.”
On African players’ chance, the Ghanaian number one said: “I am expecting Africans to fight for the ultimate prize since Europeans always defend every trophy that falls within their continent. We can make it and we must make sure we keep the trophy in Africa.”
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Re: Banire and APC not understanding restructuring
By Yinka Odumakin
THANK you for the two articles.. They are thought provoking. You have revealed that even the “progressives” and “non progressives” are guilty of imposition of unpopular candidates on their party members. I thank God that people like you still stand by the things you learnt from the late sage Pa Awo.
The actions of party leaders to lmpose unpopular candidates remind me of what I witnessed in a secondary school where I taught as an auxillary teacher many years ago. There was a nearby boys school to the girls school where I taught. On the visiting days, the boys will descend on the compound of the girls school like birds of prey. There was this old man who comes to the girls’ school to observe the boys and girls hold hands and do their “talking to”.
After watching them for a period of time, the old man will call them ” Deceive boys and girls”and then he will go home. Having watched our politicians both the “progressives” and “non progressives”, I have decided like that old man to call them ” DECEIVE BOYS and GIRLS”. They should remember that they can deceive the people some of the time, but not all the time. The game must be over some day.
– Tony Ekwe
My brother Yinka. I have heard about you all these days but I have to rate you and Banire highly. I don’t know you are this principled. Please continue to say the truth no matter who is or are involved. I know that you will be a reference point very soon. I am proud of you and Banire. Let the love of devil’s money continue to guide and rule some of our shameless colleagues. The trap we set for them will soon catch them. They will soon need our support and will fail to get them. God bless you
-Larry Ugochkukwu
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Scientists invent tool to distinguish between viral, bacterial infections
By Oluwaseyi Adeshina
Scientists from the University’s National Institutes of Health-funded Respiratory Pathogens Research Centre identified 11 genetic markers in blood that accurately distinguished between viral and bacterial infections (antibiotics help us fight bacterial infections, but aren’t effective and shouldn’t be used to treat viruses).
The finding, published in the journal Scientific Reports, is important because physicians don’t have a good way to confirm bacterial infections like pneumonia and more-often-than-not default to an antibiotic.
“It’s extremely difficult to interpret what’s causing a respiratory tract infection, especially in very ill patients who come to the hospital with a high fever, cough, shortness of breath and other concerning symptoms,” said Dr. Ann R. Falsey, lead study author, professor and interim chief of the Infectious Diseases Division at UR Medicine’s Strong Memorial Hospital. “My goal is to develop a tool that physicians can use to rule out a bacterial infection with enough certainty that they are comfortable, and their patients are comfortable, foregoing an antibiotic.”
Falsey’s project caught the attention of the federal government; she’s one of 10 semifinalists in the Antimicrobial Resistance Diagnostic Challenge, a competition sponsored by NIH and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to help combat the development and spread of drug resistant bacteria. Selected from among 74 submissions, Falsey received $50,000 to continue her research and develop a prototype diagnostic test, such as a blood test, using the genetic markers her team identified.
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PDP’ll win at all levels in 2019- Oduaran
By Festus Ahon
ASABA—CHAIRMAN of Ughelli South Patriots, Chief Vincent Oduaran, has advised members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Delta State, who are planning to join opposition parties, to have a rethink, saying the party has all it takes to win the 2019 general election at all levels.
Oduaran, in a statement by the Secretary, Chief Aghogho Kpokpodu, after a meeting of the group, also commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his achievements despite the economic recession.
His words: “I also thank the immediate past Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, Senator Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, former Minister of State for Education, Chief Kenneth Gbagi, and other notable PDP leaders in Ughelli South, for taking the party to greater heights.”
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Custodian and Allied grows PBT by 31%
Custodian and Allied Plc has announced a growth of 31 percent in its profit before tax (PBT) for the half year ended 30th June 2017.
The profit before tax of the Group, with investments in life and non-life insurance, pension fund administration, trusteeship and property holding businesses, rose from N3.6 billion in the first half year of 2016 to N4.7 billion in the same period in 2017, while profit after tax (PAT) rose to N3.8 billion from N2.9 billion of 2016.
In the statement filed with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), the directors of the company have recommended payment of an interim dividend of 10 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary share of the company, an increase of 43 percent over the 7 kobo interim dividend paid in 2016.
The directors are confident that, barring unforeseen unfavourable circumstances, the positive trend would be sustained for the rest of the year.
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Man appeals to Edo CP to take over probe of his wife’s murder
By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN — Mr. Issac Omomoh, whose wife was allegedly murdered by some assailants (names withheld) in Uhenzuwa village, Obagie Nevbese in Ikpoba/Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, has appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Haliru Gwandu, to urgently take over the investigation of the matter.
He also appealed to the CP to transfer the case file from the Etete Police Divisional Station in Benin City to his office to allow for a more discrete and thorough investigation into the murder.
He alleged that those who murdered his wife have boasted that he cannot do anything about her death as they were the custodians of justice in the area and have the money to influence the investigation.
The distrust husband in a petition to the Commissioner of Police through his counsel, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi, alleged that the assailants, who were armed with dangerous weapons including an AK-47, came to his house about 1 p.m., on the sad day while he was already sleep with his wife and ordered everyone in the compound out at gunpoint.
He stated that while he and other occupants were all standing in the front of the house, he heard a gunshot and shortly after the gunshot, they were taken to the house of a former chairman of the outlawed Community Development Association, CDA, where they were beaten and molested by thugs.
Omomoh added that an hour later, they were taken to Aro-Ogba by OPC Junction where they were handed over to a team of policemen from SARS Unit, AIG Zone 5 Benin City that was already waiting.
He told the CP that it was after he was released on bail by the policemen in AIG Zone 5, where he was detained that he received the news that his wife had been murdered.
He stated that it was the Enogie of Obasgie Nevbese who informed the Police at New Etete Police Division of the death of his wife and that her remains were deposited at Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Benin City.
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GOtv Boxing Night: Ogunsanya dangles N20m prizes
By Chioma Nwafor
In a bid to make GOtv Boxing Night bigger, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya (SAN), Chairman, GOtv Boxing Night and MultiChoice Nigeria, is set to splash N20million on participating boxers. This was announced in a statement by the event organisers, Flykite Sports.
GOtv Boxing Night, Africa’s premier boxing event, disclosed organisers will return in with the 12th edition in September.
The 11th edition of the show held in Ibadan on 26 March, delivering the biggest ever pay day in the country’s boxing history when Rilwan “Baby Face” Babatunde won the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and a cash prize of N2million for the best boxer, a shade higher than N1.5million and N1million won by previous winners of the award. The 13th edition is billed for 26 December.
According to Flykite Sports, Mr. Ogunsanya has given a mandate for the acceleration of the event’s progress by ensuring that African and Commonwealth title fights are staged this year, while a world title fight is staged at the event next year.
“Our Chairman, Mr. Adewunmi Ogunsanya, is passionate about the development of the sport and the personal growth of the boxers,” said the organizers in the statement.
Towards the realization of the mandate, Mr. Jenkins Alumona, Managing Director, Flykite Sports, travelled abroad last week to seal agreements with top-tier international boxers in line with the mandate given by Mr. Ogunsanya. The organisers added that the details of GOtv Boxing Night 12 will be unveiled at a press conference in August.
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ICSAN tasks FG on alternative revenue sourcing
By Yinka Ajayi
President of Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), Mr. Samuel Kolawole, has called on the Federal Government to seek for alternative source of income to shore up the economy, insisting that over-reliance on oil should be ended.
Speaking at ICSAN’s 26th investiture ceremony, Kolawole said: “There is an urgent need to find alternative source of income to run our economy but the fact is; there are vested interests across board who would work not to make it happen. The government should be focused and resilient in making sure they deliver on all promises being made to the people. The government needs to be resolute because all their promises to the people are appealing but it comes with the challenges of bringing it to pass.”
According to him ,In other to achieve best practices and ensure that appropriate things are done, ICSAN has undertaken to organize public lectures to educate Nigerians and liaising with government authorities and agencies responsible, saying corporate governance is essential to the economic and social development of our nation.
“There is a need to incorporate corporate governance into our lifestyle as a nation, making sure Nigeria get to its desired height among leading nations globally. There should be more focus on governance and less acrimony between the Executive, the Legislature and Judiciary.”
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Payment cards hit 14bn globally — SURVEY
…1bn new cards issued in 2016
By Destiny Eseaga
THE number of payment cards globally increased by 8 percent in 2016 to 14 billion with one billion new cards issued in 2016, according to a survey conducted by London-based research firm, RBR.
The survey titled, Global Payment Cards and Forecasts to 2022, indicated that UnionPay, Visa and Mastercard accounted for 80 percent of issued cards while the remaining 20 percent are travel and entertainment card schemes (American Express, Diners Club and JCB), Discover and domestic-only bank and private label cards.
According to the survey, the global market remains buoyant and Asia-Pacific remained the fastest in terms of growth as a result of their financial initiatives, with China contributing by far the most to the rise in card numbers.
The study revealed:’’The number of cards globally is projected to increase to 17 billion by 2022, as many people particularly in parts of Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa still do not hold a payment card.’’
“The continued rapid expansion of the Chinese cards market has helped UnionPay to increase its market share to 43% in 2016 and extend its lead over Visa and Msatercard.
‘’UnionPay has been the largest scheme globally for card numbers since 2010 and by the end of 2016, more than six billion UnionPay branded cards would be in circulation. However, UnionPay remains a predominantly domestic scheme.
Less than 1% of its cards are issued outside China, mainly in other parts of Asia-Pacific countries but also in Europe. It expansion drive to new markets and adoption of its chip standards in six Asia-Pacific countries point to UnionPay plans to step up international growth.
‘’UnionPay stand to face greater competition in China, as Visa and Mastercard await clarification from the Chinese regulator before submitting their applications to operate domestically in the country.’’
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Sani, Hunkuyi accuse El-Rufai of doctoring APC convention delegate list
…Congress was free, fair—Kaduna APC
By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA— Two senators from Kaduna State, Shehu Sani and Suleiman Hunkuyi, have taken their case to the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress APC, accusing Governor Nasir el-Rufai of manipulating last Saturday’s local government congresses held in the state.
They also accused the governor of playing violent politics, blaming him for the attack on them and some journalists in the state a few days ago.
But Kaduna State chapter of the APC dismissed the allegations that the party delegate conference was manipulated to favour the governor’s candidates.
Sani said they came to register their objection over attempts by the governor to write the names of delegates inside his room and send them to the national leadership as delegates for the yet to be scheduled national convention of the party.
“We are opposed to that and our concern is the fact that the guidelines of the party stipulates that delegates should be elected or emerge through consensus. But none was followed. They sat down in the palace of their thugs, wrote names and sent it to Abuja for us to accept hook, line and sinker, but that will never happen.”
However, Kaduna State chapter of the party has dismissed the allegations that the party delegate conference was manipulated to favour the governor’s candidates.
In a statement in Kaduna, Acting Publicity Secretary of the party, said those complaining about the congress were losers who had wanted to hijack the affairs of the party.
He said: “The good conduct of our party stalwarts and members across the state has been consistent and notable, and the state executive wishes to place on record its gratitude to our members.”
“We appreciate and commend the dedication of the team from the national headquarters of our party who organized the exercise, and officials of INEC that monitored the congress.”
:”The APC in Kaduna State welcomes the outcome of the Congress, an exercise that demonstrated and consolidated the party as a united entity, vibrant and supportive of the values that brought the APC into being. We call on the national headquarters of the party to expedite action towards enabling us to fill party offices that are currently occupied by officials in acting capacity, as provided for in the APC constitution.”
He said those complaining were those who “want to tarnish the reputation of the party. In fact, these persons have been unrelenting in their effort to destroy the party and sap the spirit of its members. They have failed over three years, but they continue trying. They abuse the party process, and accuse the party of every ill, but their real goal is to hijack it.”
“As leaders of the APC, charged with the duty of managing the party in Kaduna State, it is obvious that we are obliged to reject and dismiss any attempt to hijack what is entrusted in our care
“The party is aware that these disloyal persons feel frustrated that they were not able to sabotage the congress we just conducted. As is their habit whenever party spirit defeats their politics of ego, these persons will soon be making wild claims. They cannot be considered serious.”
“The APC cannot indulge those who wish to destroy it. It cannot take things lightly with power mongers, who ascribe powers and dubious privileges to themselves without the legitimacy of any democratic mandate or altruistic leadership.
“If these disaffected persons have any legitimate grievances, they are advised to follow proper channels. The APC will not tolerate anti-party activities. Politicians must learn that a party will not die just because they did not win internal elections or secure places for their preferred cohorts.”
“This party will not be hijacked or derailed by those wedded to a medieval conception of politics. The APC wishes the general public to note that anybody or group that needs to add an adjective to the APC name thereby confirms that it is nothing but an illegitimate contraption. The door of the party remains open to those ready to accept party discipline. Our arms stand ready to embrace those who value party loyalty and democratic values.
“Let it be known that we the executives and stakeholders of the APC in Kaduna State remain loyal to the government that our party has produced in Kaduna State.” Wusono maintained.
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Floods wreak havoc in Gombe
By Vincent Ekhoragbon
Gombe—No fewer than 22 persons, including a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member, have been killed and five others missing in different flood disasters across Gombe State this year, the state’s Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, has said.
Commenting on the development in Gombe metropolis yesterday, Mohammed Garba, Acting Head of SEMA’s Rescue and Rehabilitation, said some of the incidents were influenced by human factors.
He said the flooding, which occurred on June 7, July 1 and July 25, killed a total of 22 per-sons; six at Dadinkowa town in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area and 15 persons and one other in Gombe metropolis.
“Only a few persons were injured in all the flood incidents,” said Garba.
On other property affected, he said well over 450 bags of assorted grains were washed away. He added that over 300 of the bags were washed away at Dadinkowa, while 108 other bags, alongside 11 bags of fertilizers, were recorded at the Kamo Ward disaster.
The NYSC member that drowned, who was serving in Jigawa State, was holidaying at their Tunfure residence in Gombe metropolis and had volunteered to run an errand for his grandmother during a heavy rainfall, when the unfortunate incident happened.
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6 Amnesty students bag first class in UK varsities
…As Osinbajo predicts bright future for Niger Delta
By Soni Daniel & Grace Udofia
Abuja—No fewer than six students out of the 144 sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Programme to pursue various courses in British universities have done Nigeria proud by emerging with first class honours.
Twenty three others bagged second class upper division, further adding to the growing list of honours garnered by the students sponsored by the Presidential Amnesty Office worldwide.
At a reception held by the PAP in conjunction with the Nigerian High Commission at the Nigerian House in London to honour the proud students, acting President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the brilliant performance by the graduates was an indication of a brighter future for the Niger Delta.
The acting president, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Ade Ipaye, charged the graduates to see themselves as Nigeria’s ambassadors and work harder in order to make the country proud in their chosen fields of endeavours and assured them that the government will continue to give them the necessary support to excel.
Commending them for their perseverance and resilience while in their respective universities, Osinbajo pleaded with them to make Nigeria their catchment area and not see themselves as coming from a particular section of the country.
The acting president reaffirmed support for the presidential amnesty programme, lauding the successes of the various components of trainings under the programme.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of PAP, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (retd) described the event as a presentation of some of Nigeria’s best talents and a showcase of the nation’s bright future.
Boroh said that the outstanding performance of the student delegates was made possible through the unique leadership style and support structure provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, who has ensured adequate release of funds to the Amnesty Office since the inception of the administration.
He also appreciated the effort of the acting President Osinbajo, who has reached out to the people of the Niger Delta by touring the states on fact finding missions and conflict resolution in order to achieve peace and security.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki represented by Senator Philip Aduda , said that Nigeria was proud of the delegates and urged them to remain resilient, focused, calm and supportive of the Buhari administration.
He also enjoined them to promote harmonious co-existence and keep bilateral agreements wherever their success takes them.
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War on terror: Israel trains 450 special forces for NAF
By Kingsley Omonobi
Abuja — The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has approved the training of 450 regiment personnel as Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Special Forces by Israeli instructors in three batches.
The first batch was flagged off last weekend, with the training taking place at the NAF Regiment Training Centre in Kaduna and is being conducted by ‘Four-Troop’, a reputable foreign military training organisation in Israel.
Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Olatokunbo Adesanya, who disclosed this, said: “The training is aimed at further developing the capacity of the personnel to fight under all types of terrains and weather conditions.
“At the end of the nine-week course, successful participants would be deployed to defend NAF air assets and bases as well as critical national infrastructure and assets like airports and oil installations, among others. The special forces would also be required to take the battle to the adversaries whenever necessary.”
Speaking at the flag off of training of first batch of 150 personnel, Air Officer Commanding Ground Training Command, Air Vice Marshal Samson Akpasa, said: “A robust counter-force to respond to any contingency was vital in Nigeria’s contemporary security environment, which was characterised by insurgency, militancy, oil theft, cattle rustling, kidnapping and other vices.”
He added that as conflicts become more complex and diverse, a force multiplier unit, such as the special forces, would enable the tactical commander gain an upper hand in battle.
He, therefore, urged the trainees to be physically fit, mentally alert and psychologically sound in order to learn and assimilate instructions that would be passed to them in the course of their training programme.
AVM Akpasa then commended the foreign partners, especially the ‘Four-Troop’ company, for accepting to conduct the training.
Earlier, Commandant of the NAF Regiment Training Centre, Group Captain Isaac Subi, disclosed that the NAF Regiment Specialty was a blend of the Army Infantry and Artillery Corps.
Adesanya said: “The decision to invite the Israelis to conduct the training in Nigeria, in conjunction with other Nigerian instructors, rather than conducting the training overseas, is aimed at further developing the instructional capacity of NAF personnel, while also saving the nation additional expenses in foreign currency.”
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Sokoto orthopaedic hospital conducts knee transplant
By Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Sokoto Orthopedic Hospital has successfully conducted total knee transplant on a 50-year old woman. Disclosing this in Wamakko town Monday, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Nuradeen Altine Aliyu said the surgery was to correct severe degenerative disease.
“The surgery was conducted by surgeons of the hospital and their colleagues from the National Orthopedic Hospital, Dala in Kano, Kano State. The procedures on the two knees were done at a subsidised sum of N2 million rather than nearly N5 million per knee if done in India, Egypt or Germany,” he said.
Aliyu commended the state government for providing the subsidised implants needed for such surgeries.
According to the State Health Commissioner, Dr Balarabe Shehu Kakale: “This is better than embarking on medical tourism which is more costly and highly inconveniencing.
“The state government will continue to support the hospital to function effectively, to bring more succor to patients in the state and other parts of Nigeria,” he noted. Two similar surgeries were conducted in March, 2017, one on both knees and the other on one knee.
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In India: Lightening strikes 21 dead
Two brothers in Kharswan district, Jharkhand, were killed when the lightning penetrated the thatched roof of their house.
Eastern India has reportedly seen 21 persons struck dead by lightening.
AFP reports that the lightning struck several parts of the country, reportedly killing 18 in Odisha state, and another three in Jharkhand state.
ALSO READ: Woman killed by lightning while sweeping church
According to the reports, 10 people most of whom were farmers working in their farms, were also injured by the widespread bolts.
Two brothers in Kharswan district, Jharkhand, were killed when the lightning penetrated the thatched roof of their house.
State disaster management officials said that 213 people in the western state of Gujarat, were killed in weeks of flooding, which is almost twice the death toll after about 100 bodies were found when the water started receding.
West Bengal’s top disaster management official, Suresh Kumar, said 31 deaths were reported in a week of flooding in the state.
“Heavy rains have caused massive damage in several districts,” Kumar told AFP.
AFP also reports that landslides and flash floods in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam since April have left scores dead, while Jharkhand and Bihar have also suffered. Since May, almost 140 lightning deaths have been reported in Bihar.
ALSO READ: Families mourn as lightning kills two women during prayer session
According to the reports, death by lightning is not as rare as one would expect.
Lightening kills thousands of Indians every year, especially during the June-October monsoon — most of them farmers working the fields.
Boska reaches out to traders in Kano
HUNDREDS of traders at the Wappa market in Kano weekend benefitted from the ongoing nationwide free medical services organised Dexa Medica makers of Boska, under its Pain Free Day initiative programme.
The Pain Free Day event was extended to residents around the market. The programme designed to offer free medical consultations was also used to educate the beneficiaries on simple health tips for them to stay healthy.
Brand Executive Dexa Medica, Mr. Joseph Christopher, said findings have shown that 70 percent of people often catch flu during rainy season which also results in body breakdowns. “This Pain Free Day edition is specially designed to keep consumers fit over the rainy season. I am confident that Dexa Medica will continue to improve the delivery of quality health care for consumers in the months ahead.”
Besides rendering free health services, Boska team also leveraged the opportunity to educate consumers on how to live stress-free while at their various duties.
High-point of the event was distribution of free eye glasses as well as prescriptions of drugs to treat eye, ear and nose defects.
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Firm sues bank, 7 others for $14.6m over alleged trespass
By Innocent Anaba
Giant Tyre Manufacturing Company DN Tyre and Rubber Plc, formerly Dunlop Nigeria Plc, has instituted a $14.6million suit on a commercial bank, a church and five others over alleged illegal acquisition of its land.
The claimant, the owner of 20.22 acres of land at plot 23, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja in the suit before a Lagos High Court, is alleging complicity of the bank, Word of Power Global Ministries International (The Triumphant Christian Centre) and other defendants in the alleged forceful acquisition of 12,500 square metres from its land.
Apart from the bank and the church, other co-defendants in the suit are Rev. S.O. Olubiyo, Pastors Harriet Olubiyo, Akin Ayanwale, Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Lagos State Land Use and Allocation Committee for an alleged forceful invasion of its property.
Meanwhile, the bank in its response to the suit, has insisted that the property in dispute was offered to it by the claimant to liquidate multiple loan facilities to the time of N600 million granted the claimant.
The bank in its consequential statement of defence denied D.N.Tyre’s allegations, claims and damages, saying it was not in any way whatsoever liable as claimed.
It urged the court to dismiss it as not only unconscionable, misconceived, gold digging, frivolous, abuse of process but lacking in merit.
On its part, the church contended that the claimant has neither legal nor equitable interest on the whole land as it had offered a portion of the land measuring 12,500 square metres to the bank to liquidate its indebtedness to it.
D. N. Tyre in the suit is asking the court to compel the defendants to pay $14, 659, 116 in damages and restrain them from further entering, blocking, encroaching on or further entering, building, developing the land which is the subject matter in the case or otherwise howsoever, interfering in any manner whatsoever with the claimant’s possession of the premises.
It specifically asking the court to compel them to pay an interest of 20 per cent per annum on the $14, 659, 116 until judgment and 10 per cent until debt was fully liquidated.
The property, Plot 23, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, comprising of 20.22 acres, was leased to the tyre company in 1962 following a Deed of sub-lease by the Western Region Housing Corporation.
The property, however, became a subject of litigation following an alleged tampering of a loan facility granted it by the bank, which it allegedly terminated prematurely on the grounds of failure to repay the loan facility as at when due.
The claimant also accused the bank of deliberately blocking it from accessing the facility.
D.N. Tyre told the court in its amended claim that “by a Deed dated December 18, 2009, the claimant purported to assign to the 1st defendant (bank) an unidentified (unspecified) portion of the claimant land for the total sum of N625million.
“During their negotiations, as witnessed in the letter dated March 1, 2010, in order to induce the claimant to enter into the contract, the 1st defendant made the following false representations to the claimant: a. That the claimant (D.N. Tyre) was owing 1st defendant the sum of N615,905, 390.69, arising as aforesaid; that the above debt represented the true debt owed the 1st defendant by the claimant and its subsidiary (Pamol Nig. Ltd) and c. That the balance over and above the purchase sum of N625million would be paid over to the claimant.
“Induced by and acting in reliance upon each of the representations, the claimant entered into the contract and purported to assign the property as set out above.”
It claimed that the bank gave an unsubstantiated excuse that it was a directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
“In addition to the other incidences of breach that will be set out hereunder, arising from false accounting, the 1st defendant further breached the terms of the transaction and also breached the law when; . It prematurely called up the facility by a final demand for repayment of the outstanding indebtedness by a letter dated 8, September 2008; It created a false debit balance of N377,818,126.29 against D.N. Tyre and Rubber Plc. for settlement; It created an alleged debit balance in Pamol Nigeria Ltd account of N238,087,264.40 and transferred the same to D.N. Tyre and Rubber Plc.”
It added that “Consequent upon the insistence of the claimant (D.N.Tyre) that all issues must be resolved before possession could be handed to the bank, the 1st, and 2nd defendants commenced a legal action against the claimant at the Ikeja division of the Lagos High Court.
“The claimant avers further that on April 2, 2012 about 2.25p.m., while suit no.ID/264/2011 was pending, persons, who the claimant’s staff later identified as the staff, workmen, servants, agents and privies of the 1st to 5th defendants accompanied by two busloads of armed policemen led by the 3rd to 5th defendants, who are leaders of the 2nd defendants and some others broke into the premises of the claimant at No. 23, Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
“The claimant contends that the actions of the 1st to 5th defendants in concert with the 1st defendant in forcefully breaking into and occupying the claimant’s premises while their suit was pending in court amounted to gross violation of the rule of law, extreme lawlessness, self-help and contempt of the judiciary.”
D.N. Tyre, however, sought the following declarations among others;
*A declaration that the alleged memorandum of sale dated December 23, 2010 is unlawful, illegal and void and therefore be set aside;
*A declaration that the actions of the 1st and 2nd defendants aided by bus load of armed policemen under the supervision of the 3rd to 5th defendant on April 2, 2012 are wrongful, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”
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FG projects paid for, not executed — ACE
By Dirisu Yakubu
ABUJA—A non- governmental organization, Alliance for Credible Elections, ACE, has tracked 182 federal capital projects captured in the 2015 federal budget, in Benue, Imo, Ekiti, Jigawa, Cross River, and Gombe states, with some of the projects poorly executed, abandoned or not executed at all.
ACE Acting General Secretary Ms. Mma Odi, who disclosed this in Abuja while presenting a-152 page report on budget tracking of the 2015 Appropriation Act, said the motive was to improve citizens’ participation in the implementation of capital projects by federal ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs.
While promising to make the report available to the leadership of the National Assembly in due course, Odi said: “In the course of our intervention in promoting citizens’ participation in the fight against corruption and good governance in Nigeria through mobilization and building capacity of citizens and groups, as well as tracking capital projects in the six states, we mobilized 899 citizens, built the capacity of 1,232 stakeholders and identified and tracked 182 capital projects in the these states.
“We discovered that some capital projects have been completed, some of the completed ones are not being used by the communities, some are on-going, some abandoned and some not executed at all.”
‘’We also discovered that some of the citizens we are encouraging to take ownership of the governance process and fight against corruption to ensure that Nigerians enjoy the proceeds of good governance and dividends of democracy, are not interested.
‘’Four traditional rulers in Imo and one in Ekiti States refused to allow our project teams in their states to access their communities.”
A breakdown of some of the projects yet to be properly identified include; “Sensitization of Human rights abuses for 10,000 persons in conflict areas of Gboko/Tarka Local Government Areas (LGAs) with a sum of N85, 000,000; Skills acquisition training & empowerment, at Oju/Obi Federal Constituency at N12, 250,000 and HIV/AIDS awareness campaign/free medicine outreach at Apa and Agatu LGAs, amounting to N50, 000, 000,” among others.
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Ortom promises better service delivery to Benue people
Abuja—Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has promised to redouble his efforts at providing effective service delivery to the people of the state.
The governor made the pledge yesterday, shortly on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja from a two-week leave which he spent in the United Kingdom.
He said having recreated and reappraised his performance in the last two years in office during the leave, he has resumed with a renewed zeal to improve on service delivery to the people of the state.
Governor Ortom said while away, he and his Deputy, Engr. Benson Abounu were in touch to ensure that 80 percent of the second tranche of the Paris and London Club refunds received were dedicated to payment of salaries.
The governor explained that such commitment was in compliance with his administration’s earlier decaration of a state of emergency on payment of workers salaries in the state.
While expressing appreciation to the people for the cooperation his government had received in the last two years, Governor Ortom appealed that they sustain such support and prayers for him in order to continue to achieve success.
Commenting on the return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country after he visited him in London, the Governor said the President who was recovering was awaiting medical advice from hisl doctors to take such a decision.
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Sharp Guy: 40-year-old docked over alleged N480,000 auction fraud
The accused is standing trial on charges of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences at an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.
A 40-year-old man, Johnson Oke, who allegedly defrauded a woman of N480,000 on the pretext of supplying her soft drink scrap crates, was on Monday in Lagos released on a bail of N100,000.
The accused, a resident of Akute in Ogun, is standing trial on charges of stealing and obtaining money under false pretences at an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court.
The accused pleaded not guilty and the Magistrate, Mrs I.O. Raji, asked the accused to produce two sureties as part of the bail condition.
Raji said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and should also show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, the accused committed the offences sometime in February at 7up Bottling Company, Oregun, Lagos.
He said the accused collected N480,000 from the complainant, Mrs Casmir Ezeri, with a promise to supply her scrap crates.
“The accused, a safety officer at 7up Bottling Company, presented himself to be in charge of auction and told the complainant that his company was auctioning scrap crates.
“He told the complainant to give him money so that he can supply her crates of soft drinks.
“After he collected the money, he did not supply the crates and the complainant was forced to go to the company to verify if actually the company had scrap crates to sell.
“The complainant was told by the manager that the company did not have scrap crates to sell and that the accused was not in charge of auction even if the company had crates to sell.
“Efforts made by the complainant to recover her money were unsuccessful,’’ he told the court.
The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences.
The case was adjourned until August 9 for mention.
Good For You: Man docked for alleged misappropriation of printing papers worth N250, 000
The prosecutor said that the complainant gave the printing papers to the defendant based on trust, but he converted same to his use.
A 30-year-old man, Lateef Lawal, was on Monday arraigned in a Gudu Upper Area Court, for alleged misappropriation of printing papers worth N250, 000.
The defendant, a resident of Area 10, Garki, was docked for criminal breach of trust and misappropriation.
The prosecutor, Joshua Ayanna, told the court that one Inyang of the said address reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on June 30.
He said the complainant entrusted some printing papers worth N250, 000 to the defendant sometime in March and June.
Ayanna added that the complainant gave the printing papers to the defendant based on trust, but he converted same to his use.
The prosecutor said all efforts to retrieve the papers from the defendant proved abortive and that he could not give satisfactory account for the papers.
He said the offence contravened Sections 312 and 309 of the Penal Code.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty.
The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N260, 000 with one surety in like sum.
He adjourned the case until September 18 for hearing.
Good For Nothing: 24-yr-old driver in court for stealing employer’s money
The complainant gave the accused some cartoons of noodles to deliver to one of her customers but failed to deliver the money from the delivery of goods to his employer.
A 24-year-old driver, Sefiu Oladokun, who allegedly absconded with his employer’s N144,000 was on Monday brought in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused is facing a count of stealing.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Yomi Egunjobi, told court that the accused committed the offence on July 24 at Oke-Odo market, Abule-Egba, Lagos.
Egunjobi said the N144, 000 belonged to Oladoku’s employer, Mrs Ronke Olorunda.
“The accused was a driver to the complainant but ran away with his employer’s money,’’ he said.
Egunjobi also said the complainant gave the accused some cartoons of noodles to deliver to one of her customers but failed to deliver the money from the delivery of goods to his employer.
“The complainant gave the accused some cartoons of noodle to deliver to a customer who needs them urgently.
“He delivered the goods, collected the money and absconded with it.
“Thereafter, the accused refused to pick the calls from the complainant, but he was later arrested by the police,’’ he said.
The offence contravened Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).
The accused pleaded not guilty.
The accused risks three-year jail, if found guilty of stealing according to the provisions of Section 287.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.I Raji, granted the accused N 50,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.
She said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The Magistrate adjourned the case until August 9 for mention.
In Lagos: 2 transport company assistants docked for giving man deafening slap
The accused, who lead passengers into the vehicle, gave the complainant, Murhtar Shuaibu, a humiliating slap on the left ear, causing momentary deafness.
Two men — Moses Nwaba and Timothy Amadi — on Monday appeared before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, charged with giving a man a resounding slap.
The accused — Nwaba, 29, and Amadi, 21 — are facing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, assault and stealing.
The duo, however, pleaded innocence of the offences.
According to the Prosecutor, Insp. Chinalu Uwadione, the accused committed the offences on July 30 at 7.00 a.m. at Right Time Transport Company, Iddo in Oyingbo.
He said the accused, who lead passengers into the vehicle, gave the complainant, Murhtar Shuaibu, a humiliating slap on the left ear, causing momentary deafness.
“The accused and Shuaibu had an argument over who was inviting passengers to board buses in their transport company and in the process, Shuaibu was given a resounding slap on his left ear.
“His phone valued at N25,000 and N56, 800 cash was also stolen,” he told the court.
The offences contravened Sections 175, 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 provides three years imprisonment, while Section 411 prescribes two years.
The Magistrate, Mrs A.S. Okubule, admitted the duo to a bail of N50,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
Further hearing in the case has been fixed for September 4.