08.03.19 FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 325 N250 www.leadership.ng 'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA ‘VOTE BUYING ONLINE TRANSPORT CBN, EFCC TO TACKLE ATTRACTS 12 YEARS PLATFORM, TAXIFY, ECONOMIC CRIMES CHANGES NAME TO BOLT ➔ PAGE 20 JAIL TERM’ ➔ PAGE 5 ➔ PAGE 8 APC, PDP In Fight For Their Lives In Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, , Oyo Police Deploy 15,544 Officers In Rivers 4 PDP Still Has Questions To Answer – PMB BY JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH, The president, in a statement issued by his special adviser on media, Mr President Muhammadu Femi Adesina, said that the Buhari has declared that the current administration met Peoples Democratic Party a country with dilapidated (PDP) still owes Nigerians infrastructure in 2015, explanation on how it which called to serious expended the humongous question as to what the party resources that accrued to that was in power for 16 the country from oil sales years did with the country’s between 1999 and 2014. huge earnings from oil. Buhari stated this Buhari said: “The PDP yesterday at the State House, has not successfully Abuja, when he received the explained to the country leaders of organised labour what it did with the money. who came to felicitate with There were no roads, no rail, him on his recent electoral President (middle); governor, Nasir el-Rufai (right) ; chief of protocol to the president, Amb Lawal Kazaure (left) victory, ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 and others during the i nauguration of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command Centre in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE. Oil Sector To Attract $25bn Investments In 2 Years 19 2 NEWS Group News Editor: Ekele Peter Agbo March 8, 2019

L-R: Representative of the National Security Adviser, Sanusi Galadima; chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and Acting Inspector General Of Police, Mohammed Adamu, during the INEC Meeting with Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN. Libel: BCO Asks Court To Quash Atiku’s Claims Against PMB BY ERNEST NZOR, Abuja suit it filed urging the former vice president against the 1st plaintiff (Buhari) based or on 11 other lawyers, Atiku is also claiming a to- to provide proof of evidence before a Federal the question of the 1st plaintiff’s capacity and tal of N200 billion for killings in the country by The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) has Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in or performance in the office as Executive Pres- insurgents, high tension and democratic instabil- prayed an Abuja High Court to strike out a mo- Abuja that President Buhari and members of ident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can ity in the country, in addition to lopsided appoint- tion filed by the presidential candidate of the his family own substantial shares in 9mobile only be sustained in a separate suit or proceed- ment in the country. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abuba- and Keystone Bank. ing filed by the defendant against the 1st plain- The BCO had on January 22, 2019 sued Atiku, kar, seeking to compel President Muhamma- The court has adjourned till April 8, 2019 tiff,” BCO’s counsel said. accusing him of defaming President Buhari and du Buhari to pay him damages in the sum of for hearing in the suit filed by the BCO against In his 18-paragraph statement of defence, his family. N200 billion. Atiku for defaming President Buhari and his Atiku had complained of the suit filed by BCO In the suit filed before FCT High Court, the Atiku’s demands are contained in his coun- family. not properly constituted, insisting that what plaintiff wants the court to order Atiku and his par- ter-claim in response to a N40million libel Counsel to BCO, Barr Abdulrazaq Ahmed, he said was in no way defamatory against Bu- ty to pay N40million damages for alleged libelous suit the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) said rather than leaving the substance to tack- hari since it was a matter of public interest. claims that Buhari and members of his family own slammed against him over an allegation that le the trash with a motion seeking to address Counsel to the PDP presidential candi- substantial shares in 9mobile and Keystone Bank. he defamed Buhari and his family. an entirely different matter from the substan- date said, “The defendants (Atiku and Phrank In its witness statement on oath made by its The president’s support group told the court tive suit, Atiku must provide documentary ev- Shaibu) aver that the defamatory statements Director of Communication and Strategic headed by Justice Binta Mohammed that Ati- idence and proof of evidence to substantiate are impartial observations, opinions and crit- Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the BCO ku’s counter-claim in which he challenged Pres- claims that President Buhari and his family ac- icism on a matter of public interest. The de- stated that Atiku and his media aide alleg- ident Buhari’s capacity and performance in quired substantial shares in 9mobile and Key- fendants aver that a matter of public inter- edly engaged in smear campaign of calum- office as president can only be sustained in a stone Bank with total assets of $1.916 billion est on which everyone is entitled to make ny against Buhari by willfully allowing and separate suit. (equivalent to N307.5 billion) as well as pur- a fair comment on cannot be said to be de- sponsoring the said purported defamatory In its defence to Atiku’s counter claim, the chasing about ₦3 billion worth of shares in the famatory”. and image-damaging statements to be pub- BCO said the PDP presidential candidate’s new Pakistani Islamic Bank. In the 53 paragraph counter-claim signed lished by some newspapers to members of counter-claim cannot be taken along with the “The defendant/counter-claimers claims by Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN) and the public. Alleged Forgery: Court Orders Kwara APC Guber Candidate To Defend Certificate BY OLADIPO MAGAJI, this writ on you inclusive of the day of such ser- mally abbreviate names on the school certificates sued with the purported West African Exami- vice, you do cause an appearance to be entered in issued by it. nation Council (WAEC) School Certificate No. A High Court has given the governor- an action at the suit of Adekunle Oluwafemi Abra- “ That the way and manner the defendant’s SC180683 dated June, 1967 submitted to Inde- ship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ham and take notice that in default of you doing name appears on his purported West African Ex- pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) (APC) in the state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, 30 so, the claimant may proceed therein and judge- amination Council ( WAEC) school certificate No. by the defendant. “ days to defend the authenticity of his West Af- ment may be given in your absence.” SC180683 dated June, 1976 raised my suspicion The claimant in his statement of claim rican Examination Council (WAEC) certificate. The claimant in his statement on oath said that that the said West African Examination Council( contended that “the West African Examina- The court issued the ultimatum following a suit “ while examining the personal particulars of the WAEC) No. SC180683 dated June, 1976 could tion Council (WAEC) School Certificate No. instituted against the APC gubernatorial candi- defendant, he was curious about the purport- not have been issued by West African Exami- SC180683 allegedly issued to the defendant by date by one Adekunle Oluwafemi Abraham. ed West African Examination Council (WAEC) nation Council (WAEC) and I reported my sus- West African Examination Council (WAEC) in The case with suit number KWS/73/2019 has school certificate No. SC180683 purportedly dat- picion to my political party, Peoples Democrat- June 1976 and submitted to Independent Na- been assigned to the court of Justice Adenike ed June, 1976 of the defendant particularly, the ic Party( PDP) which promised to look into my tional Electoral Commission (INEC) is a false Akinpelu. way the defendant’s name is written as” RASAQ A suspicion. document. The claimant shall apply to this Hon- In the court’s writ dated March 7, 2019, the R” which from my personal experience, the West “ That I also know as a fact that the defendant ourable court to issue subpoena on West Afri- court ordered the defendant (Abdurahman Ab- African Examination Council( WAEC) as a stan- did not sit for West African Examination Coun- can Examination Council (WAEC) to produce the dulrazaq) to “ within 30 days after the service of dard examination body in West Africa do not nor- cil School Certificate and was therefore not is- original of the said certificate.” www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 3 our stand As Nigerians, Again, March To The Polls s Nigerians go to the The fact remains that without communication approach, the within the ambit of the law and polls tomorrow to the military’s involvement, this army has opened up proactive rules of engagement. It insisted elect state governors, year’s election would not have channels of army-media interface that soldiers deployed on election Houses of Assembly been free and fair, as attested that has removed grey areas that duty were professional and members and Area to by local and international often generate critical information proactive in their conduct. CouncilA members in the Federal gaps. observers. For the first time in This clarification was in reaction Capital Territory (FCT) elections, the nation’s political history, In the prevailing circumstance, to allegations of partisanship, it is pertinent to call on all ballot box snatching and other the had deemed it coercion and shooting of voters actors in the process to abide by irregularities were reduced to the appropriate to clarify its activities in some areas across the country democratic tenets. barest minimum. in the just-concluded presidential during the elections. There had This call becomes even more We must also acknowledge and National Assembly polls, been allegations of partisanship urgent if the nation must avert that having tweaked its public explaining that its troops acted and brutality by soldiers on the the kind of violence that visited electorate and on some officials the Presidential and National of the Independent National Assembly elections. At that time it Electoral Commission (INEC). was reported that some politically Electoral officers in some states, incorrect characters took pleasure including Rivers, Lagos and in killing and maiming workers Delta, accused the military of of the Independent National CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER interfering with the elections, Electoral Commission (INEC), Dele Fanimo engaging shootings that resulted security operatives and youth POLITICAL DIRECTOR/ in deaths of many people, and corps members deployed to make STATE HOUSE other unwholesome actions the conduct of the elections hitch- Jonathan Nda-Isaiah that are incompatible with their free. constitutional duty. Ag.EDITOR GENERAL EDITOR It is our opinion that they must Victoria Omuya Usman The Chief of Army Staff, desist from such unwholesome, Silas Ezeugwu DEPUTY EDITOR COAS, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, even criminal behaviour, because Bode Gbadebo had earlier constituted a high democratic elections in the 21st COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD powered committee to probe all century are certainly not armed Suleiman Abdullahi cases of alleged misconduct by contests. Violence of any kind troops during the Presidential and goes against the grind, and National Assembly elections. perpetrators of such violence and The committee is also expected their sponsors have to be caught GROUP LTD to probe any act of misconduct by and removed from society in a CHAIRMAN personnel that may be involved legitimate way. Sam Nda-Isaiah in the governorship and House It is regrettable, to say the least, of Assembly elections slated for that during the presidential and GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Saturday, March 9. National Assembly elections, an Dele Fanimo Felicia Ogbonlaiye The Army chief added that officer and two other soldiers of Geoffrey Essien the purpose was to uphold the Nigeria Army on election duty Christian Ochiama Nigeria Army’s “credibility, were allegedly killed by gunmen professionalism and apolitical at Abonema, in Akuku Toru Local DIVISIONAL DIRECTORS stand’’. Government Area of . Tayo Adelaja As a newspaper we commend Local sources said the death toll Mrs Zipporah Tanko Augustine Paul Agbo these sincere and genuine efforts from that sad incident got to 30. George Agba by the army to rein in its men and This newspaper is out rightly women who may have gone out of against any form of extra-judicial GENERAL MANAGERS line and carried out acts that can death of any Nigerian during Femi Adekunle endanger the nation’s stability. or outside the electoral process. Solomon Alabi Mariam ogbe We call on other security agencies Though many are wont to dismiss Angela Tony-Iji to take a leaf from the army and the military as having no role scrutinise the activities of its men to play during the elections, and women on election duty so yet without the effort of the as to identify those who might security agencies, the military in have been used by desperate particular, the election would not politicians to compromise the have held in many parts of the democratic process and punish federation. them appropriately. We appreciate the fact that the As a nation, we must also call role of the military, as captured LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital. We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of on the political leadership to up in the 1999 Constitution of the Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all its game and evolve new policy Federal Republic of Nigeria (as times in defence of what is right. These are the values by templates that totally dispenses amended), is to defend Nigeria’s which we intend to be assessed. with the curious militarisation of territorial integrity as well as act We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: elections. That is why reforms in aid of civil authority when F o r G o d a n d C o u n t r y ! of the electoral system must called upon to do so. continue until this is achieved. 4 COVER NEWS www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

votes. “I am sure the votes of APC will not be less than 1.5 million in this Saturday governorship poll in APC, PDP In Fight For Their Lives In Adamawa, as far as we are concerned,” the spokesman of Katsina APC, Abubakar Gambo Danmusa, enthused. In another breathe, before the Masari administration, local and state government retirees were owed over Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo N21billion as pensions and gratuities. The APC-led government cleared the arrears and has been paying the Nigerian voters will tomorrow, return to polling units across the country to elect 29 state governors and lawmakers in the 36 states’ Houses retirees and workers’ entitlements promptly. Thus, he can count on the Katsina senior citizens, workforce and of Assembly as well as Area Council Chairmen in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. However, there will be no governorship elections women and youth votes on Saturday. in the nine states of Ondo, Kogi, Ekiti, Bayelsa, Edo, Osun, Anambra, as the tenures of the incumbent governors are yet to lapse. In this report, VERDICT: APC LEADERSHIP FRIDAY examines how the voting pattern will play out and the likely winners of the governorship polls. The governorship and state assembly elections will be a ADAMAWA real battle for relevance in the political sphere of the state. The slight victory by the PDP in the presidential and According to the assumption of many voters, the National Assembly polls in the statehas boosted the incumbent APC governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, will be morale of its governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmadu fighting the political battle of his life. Fintiri, as well as the vow by the party’s presidential Most political analysts in the state are of the opinion candidate, , to deliver the state to the PDP. that Ganduje deserves to serve again considering his good Capitalising on this development, Fintiri has continued performance in his first tenure. to reach out to the weakest links of Governor Bindow, the But as expected, political opponents see to the contrary Numan federation to re-do his homework in those areas thus posing the strong obstacles for him. Prominent among to improve party’s popularity. those who see Ganduje as not worthy of a second term is During the processes, 10 political parties resolved to the former governor of the state, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. work for the PDP in the state to ensure victory for the Kwankwaso, for some reasons, defected to the PDP party. in the hope that the political structure in the state will The candidates are Sadiq Khaliel of MRDD, Danjuma collapse under him. But Ganduje, who served as his stayed Musa of FJP, Naziru Sa’ad of ZLP, Ahmed Hassan of DA back and ensured that the party triumphed in the just- and Salihu Danjuma of APM. concluded presidential and National Assembly elections. Others are Abdullahi Usman of NCP, Bappari Umar of Since he refused to jump into Kwankwaso’s defection KOWA, Lami Musa of PPN, Elizabeth Isa of CAP and bandwagon, Ganduje has continued to work round the Frank Simon of MEGA Party. clock with the sole aim of ensuring that he becomes the While PDP could be said to be waxing stronger, Bindow man to watch in Kano. So far, the odds have worked for is battling with challenges of court cases and internal crisis Oshiomhole Secondus him. rocking the APC in the state. But Kwankwaso, who is supposed to give him Although, the move by Boss Mustapha, the secretary Fulani’s wishes in the state. On the other hand, he has be VERDICT: APC nightmares, has been faulted by PDP apologists on his to the government of the federation (SGF), on Monday, able to maintain the fragile peace in the state before the decision to make his son-in-law the party’s governorship to resolve the lingering crisis in the state APC party, is orgy of killings started again last year. KADUNA candidate in the state. widely interpreted as the last chance to enable the party, The PDP is still very strong in Plateau but the governor There are a lot of uncertainties for various and perhaps This singular act from prism of many is not only a go into the gubernatorial polls as one indivisible entity. has a slight edge in the election. obvious reasons in the state. tactical mistake but a very costly one at that. Thus, the Thus, the APC in the state is trading blames, on its VERDICT: APC Consequently, it will be difficult to declare a straight development is gradually turning to the advantage for leadership with internal crisis within its party stakeholders, win for any of the major contenders. Ganduje, as many see the act as an imposition. following the loss of presidential polls in the state. KEBBI This is because factors that played out in the presidential To make matters worse, the Federal High Court in Kano The party leadership and government however believe The March 9 gubernatorial election in election may not work in the governorship poll. sacks Abba Yusuf and declared the seat vacant. in the power of incumbency, and the mediation efforts by would be keenly contested between the ruling All The Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives The Ganduje political machine has effectively sunk that SGF are expected to give it the upper hands in the election. Progressives Congress (APC) which has Governor Congress (APC) ordinarily would have been a minus for of his opponents considering the speed and ravages with Meanwhile, the empowerment by the Social as its candidate and the the governor but as the narrative now is that it might give which it is cruising around the state. In trying to have a Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Chief opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, him an advantage particularly in Muslim-dominated areas. strong foothold on the state, Ganduje is winning virtually Emmanuel Bello, on Monday, where about 115 solar- Senator Isah Galaudu, who was the chief of staff to the However, the PDP candidate who is also a Muslim is everybody that matters in the state to his side. All the powered tricycles were distributed across the 21 LGAs to Senate President, . favoured in Christian-dominated areas, particularly for newly elected three senators are with him. farmers, can best be described as the beginning of a new This is not to say that other parties and their candidates picking a Christian as his running mate which has been In fact, one of the biggest catches that Ganduje made dawn in an attempt to get massive votes ahead of the poll. are inconsequential in the contest. the practice in Kaduna State since the return to democracy is in Mallam , the former governor The party which came third in 2015, may take the Going by the unfolding political events in the state, in 1999. of the state. Shekarau, an avowed political foe of advantages of the squabbles in the ruling APC and the stakes are high for both the PDP and APC, but Governor Some Muslims in the state who feel that the Muslim- Kwankwaso, has joined forces with the governor to PDP to emerge victorious with sympathy and protest Bagudu has better chance of retaining his seat. Muslim ticket of APC does not equal to justice in a volatile effectively neutralise Kwankwaso in the state. Even some votes. The victory of the APC in the presidential and National state like Kaduna, said, they will support a party that will top politicians who made the mistake of moving with As the battle line has been drawn, many residents have Assembly elections in the state has given the APC the guarantee religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Kwankwaso have started returning to Ganduje. taken side with the PDP impetus it requires to move to the next level. the state. Prominent among them is Ganduje’s former deputy, VERDICT: PDP While the presidential and National Assembly elections The sacked teachers have threatened to vote against Prof. Faiz Abubakar who left his master in the hope that boosted the morale and confidence of Bagudu and the incumbent Nasir el-Rufai but their replacements are Kwankwaso was going to offer him the governorship BENUE members of his party, the reverse is the case for the PDP committed to ensuring that the governor is returned to at ticket. Now, the chips are down and the good people This is a straight fight between Governor Samuel Ortom as the result has demoralised the members. least guarantee their jobs. of Kano are making their choice. Ganduje, from all of the PDP and Hon. Emmanuel Jime of the APC. Jime Another factor in favour of Bagudu is the overwhelming Again, the sacked traditional leaders who felt indications, stands tall among the motley crowd of backed by Senator is seen as the candidate support he gets from the party leadership and members embarrassed and those whose houses and properties are candidates jostling for the governorship slot. of the presidency. across the state. Kebbi from the general elections of 2015, marked for demolition are likely be disposed to voting The rest of the Candidates that will slug it out with Since Ortom stopped the re-election of Akume into the has remained largely an APC state with all the structures the PDP candidate. Ganduje are People’s Redemption Party (PRP’s) Malam Senate, the APC chieftain has been smarting from the in the governor’s control. As it stands, barring last minute change, the chances of Salihu Sagir Takai, Mohammad of APDA, loss and has vowed to stop Ortom from returning to the In fact, APC in Kebbi has politically neutralised the the two leading parties can best be put at 50/50, meaning the son of the late head of state, Gen. Sani Abacha. But Government House. opposition. The gale of defections in the state has been in any party could win at the end of the day. Governor Ortom had latched on to the killings in the favour of the party with notable PDP figures such as the VERDICT: 50-50 ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 state by herdsmen to sell his candidature. According former governor of the state, Saidu Dakingari, his deputy, to political watchers, Ortom has failed to deliver good Ibrahim Aliyu, former SSG, Kangiwa and a host of others KATSINA governance in the state. Workers’ salaries are still joining its fold. The incumbent governor of Katsina State and APC being owed and he has zero achievements in terms of Recently, some PDP stalwarts defected to the APC and candidate Aminu Bello Masari, is the man to beat. MAGNESIUM, ‘NATURE’S infrastructure. The state is basically a civil servant state pledged their allegiance to Governor Bagudu. The PDP The reasons why the APC standard bearer will defeat and the workers are groaning under pains from unpaid secretary in the state and the party chairman in Augie, his PDP counterpart, Senator Yakubu Lado, are not far- TRANQUILISER’ salaries and pensions. where the PDP governorship candidate comes from, all fetched. But for the killings by herdsmen in the state, Ortom defected to APC. Katsina State since the emergence of Muhammadu Magnesium is an essential nutrient which would have lost his re-election bid. He has made the The power of incumbency will also work for Bagudu’s Buhari as both opposition and later the ruling presidential killings a campaign issue and with sentiments and return coupled with infrastructural development he has candidate has been winning the state. Before the 2003 helps the body function well, particularly emotions on the high, it will see the pendulum swing to executed across the state. His agricultural rice revolution general elections, PDP won all the three senatorial seats when it comes to sleep. A lack of this mineral the PDP as well as the stable power supply the state enjoy, attract and 15 House of Representatives’ seats in the state. has been linked to early waking. Magnesium VERDICT: PDP more followers to him. However, when Buhari contested the 2003 presidency helps you to relax, calming the mind and On his part, Galaudu is banking on the support from under All Nigeria People Party (ANPP), the party clinched PLATEAU his emirate and the political calculation of putting eight of the 15 Reps seats and two of three senatorial seats. the body, and can alleviate night cramps. Since 1999, has been a PDP state but the Abubakar Malan as his running mate from the Gwandu It recorded the same feat in 2007. Recommended daily intakes of magnesium tide changed in 2015 due to political miscalculation of the Emirate dynasty. The plan is to split the votes of Gwandu Katsina is predominantly APC state. In 2015, the party are 270g for men and 300g for women, all former governor, Jonah Jang. For the first time in 2015, Emirate with high population of voters and the home of won the presidential and all the National Assembly seats the opposition APC clinched the state. the incumbent governor. as well as governorship and state House of Assembly of which you can get from a balanced diet. Governor Simon Lalong is up against PDP’s Jerry Galaudu may also excel in areas where the APC seats. From the results of the first round of the 2019 Magnesium-rich foods include dark green Useni who is the oldest governorship candidate in the recorded serious problems during the party’s primaries polls, it is clear that the APC will repeat the same feat, leafy vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, election. In the presidential and National Assembly from aggrieved aspirants and their supporters. having won that phase emphatically. During the February elections, the two parties went neck-to-neck. Still, Bagudu has better chances of winning the 2019 23rd presidential and National Assembly polls, the APC nuts, beans, herbs and oats. Eat plenty and The governor has also been accused of pandering to governorship election in the state. defeated the PDP with over 1.23 million votes to 300,000 reap the benefits.

Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear. ― Egyptian Proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 COVER NEWS 5 APC, PDP In Fight For Their Lives In Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo FG Orders ➔ FROM PAGE 4 The SDP candidate, Hon. Bashir Adamu, a four-term governorship candidate of the PDP. He hails from Mbutu member representing Yankwashi, Roni, Kazaure and in the Aboh Mbaise local government area and was the locals are of the view that all these contenders have slim Gwuiwa federal constituency, uses his personal profile party’s flag bearer in the 2015 elections. He is from the chances. and what he termed the failure of the PDP and the APC Imo East ( senatorial district which is favoured to to change Jigawa’s misfortune as bases for his campaign. produce Governor ’s successor in line Closure of VERDICT: APC According to political pundits, the APC candidate has with the spirit of the Charter of Equity in the state. ZAMFARA the advantage over the other candidatesl. His emergence as the party’s flag bearer is devoid of Tension is still very high in over the VERDICT: APC controversy among party members. A grassroots politician governorship election. with a strong affinity with traditional and religious leaders Borders There are indications that the opposition political parties SOKOTO in the state, Ihedioha is in the good books of the youths - PDP, APGA and NRM - have been vehement in their In , no fewer than 51 governorship and women because of the youth/women empowerment candidates are jostling for the number one seat of the state. programmes he executed while in office as the deputy readiness to counter any act of compromise on the side BY CHRISTIANA NWAOGU, Abuja of INEC and security agents before, during and after the As large as the number seems, in the court of public speaker of the Lower House. elections. opinion, 49 of the governorship candidates are jokers or Already, the state Council of Elders has adopted him as appendages for the two most prominent ones. its consensus candidate. The Federal Government has again Recent developments in the state equally point to the ordered the closure of the nation’s fact that the governorship candidates of the PDP, APGA The general believe in the Seat of the Caliphate state Another top contender for the seat is Senator Hope and NRM have been holding meetings to perfect their therefore is that, the March 9 election is between the Uzodinma, from Omuma in the Oru East local government borders for Saturday’s gubernatorial plans for the election. incumbent governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of the PDP area (Imo West), He is the governorship candidate of and state Houses of Assembly elections. The APGA governorship candidate, Alhaji Sani and his immediate past deputy, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto of the APC and emerged like a lion that wrestled with one The comptroller-general, Nigeria Shinkafi, expressed optimism that the opposition parties the APC. thousand elephants. He was able to grab power from Immigration Service (NIS), Mr. would form a common front to face the APC in the No doubt, both of them are experienced in the art of Okorocha who abinitio reserved the party’s ticket for his Muhammad Babandede, said in a governorship poll. governance as they have held various positions at different in-law - Uche Nwosu. statement in Abuja yesterday, that Though, the PDP candidate, Hon. Bello Matawalle, has times. Their marketability and acceptability amongst the Since then the governor has not hidden his deep-rooted electorate will be tested tomorrow. enmity with Uzodinma who he sees as a stumbling block the order was given by the minister been advocating for free and fair elections, a development of Interior, Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman which according to many voters has continued to endear Their experiences notwithstanding, the people are of to building his political empire in the state the views that a lot of other factors such as external and Uzodinma is in a vantage position to clinch the Dambazau (rtd). him to them. He said: “Further to the gubernatorial/ Despite the new found love among PDP, APGA and internal forces, use of federal might amongst others will governorship seat of Imo, having vowed that on the day NRM candidates, most of the electorate still preferred determine the winner. of the election he would unleash his political mastery and state assembly election taking place on the APC. For Tambuwal, he has the state apparatus at his disposal acumen to claim the office thereby proving to the governor Saturday, March 9, 2019, the minister VERDICT: APC as all the commissioners, local government caretaker that his winning of APC ticket was not a fluke. has directed the closure of all Nigerian committee chairmen, other appointees and majority of Nwosu, a former commissioner for Lands, Survey land borders with effect from 12.00 JIGAWA the serving state lawmakers, are with him. and Urban Planning as well as deputy chief of staff and noon on Friday, March 8 to Sunday, The battle for governorship seat will These persons from all indications would certainly later chief of staff –fondly called Ugwumba through his March 10, 2019, 12:00 noon.” be fought by three candidates: the incumbent governor want to retian their positions hence the need to work for godfather moved mountains to secure the APC ticket but This, according to the statement is to Muhammad Badaru Abubakar of the APC, Mallam his re-election. eventually lost to Uzodinma. The APC governorship candidate on his part, would Out of frustration, he along with other aggrieved restrict movements across the borders Aminu Ringim of the PDP and Bashir Adamu Jumbo of during the election days. the SDP. The impact of the other candidates will make not only be counting on the victory of the party in the party members defected to Action Alliance where he no difference because of their inability to even go round presidential and National Assembly elections where the grabbed the party’s ticket to run. To be sure, Action the state for their campaigns. party won all the three Senatorial and nine of the 11 NASS Alliance is unpopular in the state while many people are There are five factors that are expected to shape or seats but PMB and Wamakko’s bandwagon in the state. rabidly opposed to his godfather and mentor, Okorocha Vote Buying influence the outcome of the election in the state: include After all, the same Wamakko brought Tambuwal in establishing a dynasty in the state. incumbency, achievements of the past and present state 2015 and ensured that he won the governorship seat that Chief is of the Accord Party and ruled the governments, the popularity of President Buhari, federal is presenting Aliyu for the election. state from 2007 to 2011 and has not hidden his ambition Attracts 12 projects in the state, the integrity of the candidates and As the scheming continues to intensify, a broader to rule again. He is from , Isiala Mbano council. the bandwagon effect of the last presidential and National peep into the strengths of both camps revealed that, it is A few of his followers are bitter that Okigwe zone (Imo Assembly election. a fight to finish which a winner must emerge eventually. North) was not allowed to complete a second tenure in Years Jail - EFCC No doubt, it is generally agreed that, incumbency is However, the APC is tipped as the likely winner of the office. He was elected as a governor on the platform of poll. Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) after which he moved a strong factor capable of influencing election not only BY AZA MSUE, Kaduna in Nigerian political system but world over. Governor VERDICT: APC to the PDP, APGA and finally settled for the Accord Party. Badaru of APC is vying for second term in office and the As governor, Ohakim introduced a programme dubbed IMO Clean and Green Initiative which reportedly made Imo The Kaduna zonal head of the Economic incumbency factor is in his favor. and Financial Crimes Commission The impact of the federal government’s policies and The political scenario in presents an the cleanest state East of the Niger. programmes in the state, such as road projects, the evolving dynamism which keeps recurring each time Ohakim describes Imo as a knocked engine and referred (EFCC), Mailafia Yakubu, has said that Hadejia irrigation project, N-Power, school feeding, the governorship election holds in the state and political himself as the right mechanic to fix the state. vote buying is a crime that attracts 12 monthly allowances for the destitute, and the popularity pundits find it difficult if not impossible to predict the Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Araraume is the strongman of years in prison or an option of a fine of of President Buhari among the electorate also work for winner of the governorship election in the state. APGA. He is a serial governorship race contender having N500,000. Badaru who always describes himself as the son and The dynamics, manoeuvering and political sagacity of made his debut in 2007 under the platform of the PDP. Yakubu therefore warned politicians political ally of the president. the contenders and players make it more interesting as the Since then he has remained a recurring decimal in the race. against vote buying during the Rimgim (PDP candidate) candidate reaps from the second name of the governorship race in the state is the The two-time senator reportedly played a crucial role in unpredictability of who carries the day which is likely to the re-election of Okorocha before things went awry and governorship and state assembly popularity of former governor and also uses elections in the state. the achievements of the last PDP government as reasons be decided at the last minute of the contest. he moved to the APGA where he picked the party’s ticket In the state, the political gladiators in the race are in the most dramatic manner. During a visit to the Kaduna State why Jigawa people should vote for him. Council of the Nigeria Union of Mallam Aminu also bases his campaigns on what he expectedly doing their best within the confines of the The Imo political scenario is full of uncertainties as describes as the failure of APC government in the state law to clinch the state’s number one seat. political observers and political soothsayers are finding it Journalists (NUJ) yesterday, Yakubu and the federal to improve the lives of the people to Top among them is Hon. , former urged journalists to help in the fight canvass for votes. deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and the ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 against corruption. He said that the commission had a way of tracking down vote sellers and buyers, but would not disclose such PDP Still Has Questions To Answer – PMB strategy for security reasons. Yakubu said: “I am a friend to all in order to make my work a success. ➔ FROM COVER in the next lap of the journey, President Buhari said that he would continue pushing The election is here, and we will like to tell members of the public that vote no power. They said they spent $16 billion the “Change Agenda”, adding that he would “remain focused on our core pillars buying is a big crime. We all owe the on power, but where is the power? The state and the country a duty to expose irresponsible expenditure of that period has of security, economy, and fight against corruption.” culprits. not been explained and Nigerians deserve “Offender of vote buying if an answer on that terrible mismanagement He urged the organised labour to partner with the government to make the country eventually found guilty, he or she will of the country.” spend 12 years in prison or an option The president thanked labour “for the peaceful, prosperous, and corruption-free. support and patriotism you have shown In his remarks, the president of the Nigeria of N500,000 fine. Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba “We are ever ready to partner with during the presidential election, especially journalists and the NUJ in general in after the unexpected postponement. You Wabba, lauded Buhari for being worker- and your members stepped in to support friendly, as exemplified in the granting of the fight against corruption, as well as willing Nigerians to exercise their civic bailout funds to state governments to clear the fight against vote buying in this the backlog of salaries and pensions. election period,” he said. and patriotic rights to vote. You intervened Earlier, the NUJ state chairman, as patriots, and not for political, religious Wabba appealed to the National Assembly to earnestly pass the National Comrade Adamu Yusuf, commended or tribal purposes. You simply did the right the EFCC boss for the visit and assured thing during a difficult period for many of Minimum Wage Act, while also asking the president to thereafter sign it into law within him that the state council was prepared us.” to partner with the commission for the On what Nigerians can look forward to the shortest possible time. Buhari benefit of the larger society. Between two stools one goes (falls) to the ground. ― Egyptian Proverb 6 COVER NEWS www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 APC, PDP In Fight For Their Lives In Adamawa, Benue, Plateau, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo ➔ FROM PAGE 5 VERDICT: PDP million t of the registered 2.1 million voters across all the polling units in the 329 Wards will cast their votes for or difficult to pin down the likely contestant who will DELTA against the two major parties. eventually emerge as the governor of the state. However, In , it is a two-horse race: the incumbent A few days to the dicey exercise, key leaders of the the pendulum swings in an anti-clockwise. The battle is Governor of the PDP and Chief Great parties including former governor , possibly between Ihedioha, Uzodinma and that Nwosu. Ogboru, the APC candidate. Atuekong Don Etiebet, the APC caucus chair; Senior This will, of course, depend upon the expected Governor Okowa’s second term bid seemed threatened Special Assistant (SSA) to President Buhari on Senate collaboration between the players and contenders by the popularity of Ogboru. The chances of Okowa Matters, and the former minister of state for the VERDICT: PDP winning the election are still very high, especially as he Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator John Udoedehe, has sustained his campaigns till the last minutes. have returned to the drawing board. ABIA The incumbent factor and the all-inclusiveness his After reviewing the last presidential and National Like State, Governor Ifeanyi Ikpeazu is already administration is anchored on and the loyal, strong and Assembly elections which the PDP polled 100 per cent preparing for his second term. Although the APC won a hard working over 4,000 political aides favour him to by winning all the three senatorial slots and 10 gederal senatorial seat, it will still not stop a landslide victory for win the election. constituencies with a paltry 31 per cent votes for Buhari, the PDP in the governorship election. It is also believed that since the Delta Central and the APC leaders have vowed to wrestle the power baton According to pundits, Governor Ikpeazu has performed Delta South have governed the state for eight years each, from incumbent governor Udom Emmanuel. creditably well and his reelection is a done deal. it is only natural and equitable to re-elect Okowa from Worried by the outcome of the last exercise, which also The APC also boasts of heavyweights like former Delta North for a second term to balance the equation affected Senator Akpabio, who lost to a PDP candidate, governor Orji Uzo Kalu who won a senatorial seat on the even though, there is no constitution backing up this former Deputy Governor Engr. Chris Ekpenyong, the APC platform of the party, which will not be enough to swing arrangement. has been crying foul that the electoral umpire, Mr. Mike the tide in favour of the party in the state. Ogboru, a veteran of governorship elections, is seen a Igini, rigged the polls for the PDP. The APC is still seen as a poisoned chalice in the South victim of the PDP alleged rigging machinery. To ensure the PDP status of Akwa Ibom since 1999 East although President Buhari made appreciable gains in Yakubu A successful businessman, Ogboru has sharply divided changed for the APC toga, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the presidential election, it’s still a PDP region. the people, thus making the race very dicey. In fact, many APC national chairman, , minister of VERDICT: PDP for the election. voters have argued that Ogboru should be given a chance Budget and National Planning, , and VERDICT: PDP having been denied the opportunity to steer the affairs of other APC leaders were in Uyo, the state capital, where CROSS RIVER the state for too long. they re-assured the party supporters that the stolen votes The fierce battle for who governs RIVERS There is another school of thought which believe that would be retrieved through courts. from May 2019 is among three gladiators from three The odds favour the candidate of the PDP and the because of the potential of Delta State to national lives, it On its part, Governor Emmanuel’s camp has been on major political parties. The contenders are former incumbent governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. has no business be in the hands of the opposition. Apart intensive mop-up campaign across the 31 councils to attorney-general/commissioner for justice during the A few days ago, about 58 governorship candidates in from the sentiments of those pushing for the governor’s counter the APC’s propaganda and to woo voters to retain ’s administration, Barr. Eyo Ekpo of SDP, the state threw their weight behind Wike, even though second term on the equity and fairness, Delta deserves a the PDP and the governor till 2023. Senator of the APC, who, Governor Ben 15 other governorship candidates distanced themselves change having been led by PDP for 20 years now. From the recent hype in political activities on both sides, Ayade’s critics, claimed his appearance into the political from the endorsement. But can Ogboru break the camel’s back and give political bookmakers could not hazard a guess as to where ring has caused the governor sleepless nights as he is the The facts on the ground showed that the PDP and its Deltans fresh breath of air? The answer is largely on the pendulum would swing because the contest appears only contender with the capacity to match Ayade’s “naira candidate remain the only widely accepted among the how well the federal government headed by the APC is too close to call. But the odds still favour the PDP. for naira”. electorate, following the inability of the leading opposition able to deploy resources and strategies to outwit the PDP VERDICT: PDP Part of their fears is that Enoh like Ayade has never APC to be on the ballot. dominance in the state. failed any elections right from when he began his political INEC had to remove the name and logo of the APC as VERDICT: PDP BORNO career from the Cross River State House of Assembly to well as those of its candidates from the ballot following The battle for the gubernatorial election in Borno the House of Representatives where he spent about 12 several judgements and rulings from the Supreme Court, is no doubt a fight between the ruling APC and the years before joining the Senate in 2015. the Federal High Court and the Rivers State High Court. The governorship contest in Niger State is not a straight opposition PDP. To those conversant with political trends in the state Another political party, which would have given the fight between the candidate APC candidate, Governor While the APC fields Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Enoh is a big match for Ayade who was quoted as saying PDP a serious challenge is the Accord Party, but a few Abubakar Sani Bello and PDP’s Umar Nasko as it was a professor of Irrigation Engineering for the election, in different fora that as far as he is concerned, the election days ago, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, in 2015. the PDP presnts Alhaji Muhammad Imam, a seasoned back to Government House was a walkover as he was yet ordered INEC to substitute the name of its governorship In this governorship contest, there are candidates of not politician, who became popular while in office as to know any contender vying the seat with him. candidate, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, with that of a relatively too known political parties who are making substantial chairman, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) Ayade argued that given the stride that he had made unknown Precious Baridoo. impact on the contest. No fewer than 36 candidates of during the administration of Senator . in governance in the last three and a half years his re- However, there are several other governorship various political parties are contesting for the governorship Notwithstanding the influence of the APC and the PDP election was certain. candidates in the state who seem to be making waves seat. in Borno, other political parties also fielded candidates As optimistic as the candidates of the PDP, SDP and the on both social and traditional media but it will likely be Notable among them are the candidates of ADP, Hon. But the battle for the soul of Borno Government House APC are towards clinging to victory, analysts say that the difficult for their political platforms to give them the edge Isah Kawu and that of ACD, Barr. Bello Bawa Bwari is between Zulum and Imam. battle for who controls the Government House remains a over Wike and the PDP. who many observers believe could cause some upsets While Imam banks on his popularity among the mirage until tomorrow. VERDICT: PDP in the strongholds of the two major political parties, if youths and his achievements as a former chairman of the However, the emergence of Pastor Usani Uguru Usani availed the opportunities. Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Zulum relies on the lives on the governorship arena on the same platform of the EBONYI Consequently, Bida, the headquarters of Niger South he has touched in the process of rebuilding communities APC to counter Enoh’s ambition is no doubt a minus for A closer look at the contest shows that the incumbent will be a battle ground in the state as the area always destroyed by terrorists through the Ministry the APC candidates as this is certainly going to weaken governor and candidate of the PDP, Chief David Umahi, produce the highest votes after the state capital, Minna, of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement the party’s political machine. would face his fiercest rivalry from the APC candidate, Chanchaga local government area. Incidentally Kawu is (RRR), which have endeared him to the Borno populace. The ability of the APC to speak in one voice where a Senator Sonni Ogbuorji. from Bida and the running mate of Umaru Nasko, Barr. Zulum is the likely winner of the Borno governorship single candidate would have been presented would have Ogbuorji, a former member of the PDP before Kudu Ndayako is also from Bida. Yet the incumbent race as majority of the people are behind him. made the party more cohesive to wrestle with the PDP he defected to the APC in 2018 to contest for the governor will want to do everything possible to win the Another force that has almost cleared the coast for the and perhaps snatch the sceptre of power from the PDP. governorship position, won the senatorial position of areas germane to any victory in the state. Zulum, is President Buhari’s victory and all the APC All these would have stopped the PDP candidate from Ebonyi South senatorial seat in 2011 and in 2015. Senator Another battleground is the Suleja axis which accounts candidates in the National Assembly election in the state,. priding himself that he has no rival. Ogbuorji, who is the Senate Committee Vice Chairman for the third largest votes in most elections in the state. VERDICT: APC In all, Ayade is likely to win the election given the level on Appropriation against all odds emerged winner in the However, the recent court ruling which denied Abubakar of machinery he has put in place. APC primaries defeating the preferred choice candidate, Lado as the APC candidate for Suleja, Tafa and Gurara TARABA VERDICT: PDP Prof. Bernard Odoh, the immediate past secretary to the federal constituency after his victory in the last election In , the battle for the number one seat has state government (SSG) under Umahi. could make Lado known for his control of some youths to narrowly shifted to three political giants who have proven ENUGU With the PDP winning all the National Assembly seats move against the incumbent whom he felt worked against their capability to have keenly contested in the race since In , the PDP and its candidate, Governor in the state on February 23 with overwhelming margin him to lose the ticket to Mohammed Ado from Tafa whom the beginning of the current electioneering. , who has carried his campaigns to leaves no one in doubt that the APC cannot make any the court ruled was the authentic candidate of the APC for The governorship candidates of the United Democratic almost every doorstep in the state, is the candidate of the headway in the governorship election in the state. the constituency. Party (UDP), Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan, (Mama people. Since the PDP victory, 26 governorship candidates, In the same way, Minna, the state capital which usually Taraba), that of the APC, Alhaji Abubaka Danladi, and The APC, which would have given the PDP a hot chase 12 APC House of Assembly candidates and over 15 produces the highest number of votes will be a battle the incumbent governor (PDP) , are the in the gubernatorial election is yet to swim out of the ocean candidates from other political parties have stepped down ground because of its cosmopolitan nature and high voter three political giants that stand tall among other parties of confusion caused by a court verdict that sacked Senator for PDP candidates. This has demoralised many members education. The state capital, most times is always very in the contest. as the party’s candidate. of the party but Ogbuorji is still optimistic of victory. difficult for incumbent political party to win but recent “Mama Taraba”, a political household name who A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had last month Apart from the infrastructural and human capital developments have changed the dynamics in favour of challenged the Ishaku during the 2015 governorship declared George Ogara as the authentic governorship development, the achievements of the governor speak the incumbent APC winning in the last National Assembly election, though she lost in the race at the Supreme Court, candidate of the APC in the state. volumes. election. It is believed that the same feat can be repeated was able to pull a sounding crowd to her credit after the Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that Ogara’s name be Both Senator Ogbuoji and Gov Umahi hails from even it will not come easy. election. forwarded to INEC as the duly-nominated candidate of Ebonyi South senatorial zone and the zone being the last Notwithstanding the variables, it is the belief of many Alhassan was rewarded by her former party (APC) with the APC. to govern the state before it will start again from a different that the incumbent Governor Sani Bello will win the a ministerial slot before she resigned last year to join the Despite the ruling of the court, the APC is not ready zone. The thinking of majority of people of Ebonyi North election. governorship race. to forward the name of Ogara to INEC. As at the time of and Central is that a vote for Umahi will preserve the VERDICT: APC Before the APC governorship primary election in the filing this report, sources disclosed that the APC had not zoning structure while a vote for Ogbuoji will alter the state, Alhassan’s name featured prominently as one of submitted any name for the governorship election. arrangement. AKWA IBOM the major contestants. She was disqualified by the APC While the APC is still battling with the court verdict, Political stakeholders in the stateare of the opinion that The major gladiators are from the governing APC at at national level from the race, a move that forced her to many groups have continued to endorse Ugwuanyi. Just it is better for Umahi to complete his second term and the centre and the ruling PDP in the state. shift her political structure to the UDP. recently, 70 political parties in the state, under the auspices hand over to someone from another zone, preferably from At stake are the Hilltop Mansion (Government House), Since her decision to run under UDP, Alhassan has of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) Ebonyi North.in 2023. Uyo and the 26 state constituencies. suffered a series of political setbacks, as most of her adopted Governor Ugwuanyi as their consensus candidate So, Governor Umahi will win. The battleground is the 31 LGAs where about 1.8 ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

Between two stools one goes (falls) to the ground. ― Egyptian Proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 7 8/ NEWS March 8, 2019 Enugu Polls: APGA, SDP, PDP Deny APC Allegation Against INEC

BY NNAMDI MBAWIKE, Enugu Three political parties in Enugu State have denied the allegation by the factional chair- man of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Mr. Ben Nwoye and Director- General of Senator Ayogu Eze campaign organisation, Hon KGB Oguakwa of an al- leged plan by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hand over electoral materials to the Peoples Demo- cratic Party (PDP), ahead of March 9 gover- norship and House of Assembly elections. Reacting to the allegation, which was Ghanaian High Commissioner, published in a national daily, the state Rashid Basa (left), receiving chairman of the PDP, Hon. Augustine Emir of Kazaure, Dr Najib Nnamani stated: “It is shameful and an Adamu, during the Ghanaian insult on the people of Enugu State that 62nd Independence Day a party (APC) whose ambition is clearly celebration in Abuja, in disarray and which has not been cam- yesterday. paigning in the State could come out to PHOTO BY NAN. make such outlandish and regrettable al- legation”. The PDP chairman added that “APC leadership had openly boasted that it Why We Must Tackle Post-election Crisis – Lt-Gen Buratai would use “federal might” to win the guber- BY TARKAA DAVID, Abuja es of the civil war was as a result of election cri- ty would not like to see a destabilized Nige- natorial elections in Enugu State”, stress- sis at the time.” ria, where the lives of foreigners and Nigeri- ing that “it is curious that the same par- The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai why justifying the Army’s active role an are in danger. ty has now turned round to shamelessly Buratai has identified post-election crisis as one in quailing election violence noted that Nige- He said the impression created in some and falsely accuse federal institutions of of the remote causes of the , ria’s history has various examples of insecuri- quarters that the military is interfering in the complicity in a phantom conspiracy with from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970. ty, following post-election crisis,which if pro- electoral process is not true. the PDP to deny it victory in the upcom- Buratai stated this yesterday when he re- active measures are not taken could destabilize Buratai said only those who benefit from in- ing polls”. ceived a delegation from the European Union the country. security would cry against the military sup- In a related development, the state (EU) election observation mission for the 2019 He noted that having learnt lessons from porting the police to provide election security. chapter of the All Progressives Grand Al- general elections, led by its Deputy Chief Ob- history, the military would be proactive and He said the Army is not directly involved, liance (APGA) and its Governorship Can- server, Ms Hannah Roberts. ready to support the police and government but always on a standby to support the police didate, Chief Hon. Emma Nwankpa, ex- “The election history over the years, the out- to forestall crisis. and other security agencies should the need pressed “utter dismay over the spurious come has been volatile. One of the remote caus- He stated that the international communi- arise. and baseless media report”, stressing that “as one of the major stakeholders who have been deeply committed and involved in all Online Transport, Taxify, Changes Name To Bolt the processes of the elections, APGA Enu- BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja “Our first product was a taxi dispatch so- It was also the first company to bring ride- gu State chapter, wishes to state categor- lution that gave the company its original hailing and scooter sharing together in one sin- ically that the allegation is false, baseless Online transportation platform, Taxify has name.” gle app and is currently working on expanding and mischievous”. concluded plans to change its name to Bolt The Estonian-born tech company has the scooter sharing service across a number of According to APGA, “we wish to state and introduce a new logo, in a bid to reflect evolved in leaps and bounds since its incep- European cities. that our agents actively participated in the the company’s future rather than the past. tion to now serve 25million customers in “While we’ve made progress on our mis- inspection and distribution of all the elec- Speaking on why the company chose to over 30 countries globally, making it a leader sion, we’ve also started to out grow parts toral materials at the Central Bank of Ni- make the change, CEO and co-founder of in Europe and Africa. of our brand, including the name. Given our geria (CBN), Enugu”, and “they duly and Bolt, Markus Villig said, “Taxify launched The update brings the brand identity in line ambition to solve transportation problems formally reported to our party that the ex- five years ago with a mission to make urban with the company’s broader vision of transporta- on an increasingly broader scale, we want the ercise was transparent and that no foul play transportation more convenient and afford- tion that has already expanded from ride-hailing, brand to reflect the company’s future rather was encountered as mischievously alleged able. with cars and motorbikes, to scooter sharing. than the past. by the APC.” We’re Set For Gov’ship, Assembly, FCT Polls, Says INEC BY SUNDAY ISUWA, Abuja in 1,082 constituencies for senatorial and held two weeks ago, the commission has ef- ry elections in 14 states of the federation the House of Representatives’ seats, adding fectively tackled the challenge of logistics. “ covering seven senatorial districts and 24 The Independent National Electoral that INEC would issue certificates of return Materials for the election have been de- federal constituencies. According to him, Commission (INEC) yesterday said that it to all the winners of the 2019 general elec- livered to all the states and the FCT. Move- elections in the affected areas were disrupt- was ready for the conduct of the governor- tions next week. ment to the local government areas was ed mainly by acts of violence involving bal- ship, Houses of Assembly and the Federal “On Saturday, March 9, 2019, Nigeri- completed yesterday. lot box snatching, abduction of INEC offi- Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils elec- ans are once again going to the polls to elect He assured that all materials and rele- cials, over voting and the failure to adhere tions tomorrow. governors in 29 states, 991 members of the vant personnel will arrive at the Registra- to regulations and guidelines. INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yaku- Houses of Assembly in all the states of the tion Area Centres (RACs) today. ‘‘With this The number of registered voters in the bu, told the Inter-Agency Consultative federation, six chairmen as well as 62 coun- arrangement, we are confident that all poll- polling units involved in each constituency Committee on Security (ICCES) that all ma- cillors for the Area Councils in the FCT. ing units will open at 8.00 am nationwide,” is more than the votes received by the can- terials for the elections have been distrib- “A total of 1,082 candidates will be Yakubu said. didates with the highest number of votes. uted to strategic places. elected by citizens across the country. He further said that in addition to elec- Supplementary elections must therefore be Yakubu said that the commission Learning from the experience of the pres- tions into 1,082 constituencies nationwide, conducted to determine the winners, Yaku- would conduct supplementary elections idential and National Assembly elections the commission will conduct supplementa- bu said. Borno, Yobe People Genuinely Voted For PMB - Group BY BODE GBADEBO, Abuja East area was a true reflection of the people’s kar. “The first factor is that in the 2015 gener- love for the president and not concocted figures, The national coordinator of the group, Hon. al elections, about 17 LGAs and big towns were The massive votes secured by President Muham- North-East Alliance for Buhari 2019 has said. Kaka Bolori, in a statement sent to journalists under occupation of the Boko Haram terrorists. madu Buhari from Borno and Yobe states dur- The group further said that the Borno and yesterday, said there are facts about elections in They hoisted their flags in these towns and local ing the February 23 presidential election despite Yobe election results are not contestable by the Borno and Yobe states that Atiku was not aware governments, and had full autonomy and con- pockets of attacks by insurgents in the North- presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abuba- of, and therefore need to be put into perspective. trol of these territories in 2015.

A wager is a fool’s argument. ― Egyptian Proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 9 10 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 COVER NEWS 11

➔ FROM PAGE 6 the political battle of his life. He is up against PDP’s Bala (ADC) has proven to be lacking the dexterity to overthrow their support for Adelabu. Comrade Wole Abisoye (ZLP Mohammed who has the reputation of being a giant killer. the ruling APC from power, following its very dismal chairman), Remi Olajide (Oyo South), Cheif Olaniyan associates and supporters who are strong followers of Recall that in 2007, the PDP candidate defeated then outing in February 23 exercise, as it was only able to win (Oyo Central), Mrs. Ayoka Abawani (Oyo North), Semith President Muhamadu Buhari refused to join forces with governor Adamu Muazu to emerge a senator. just one House of Representatives’ seat in his domain. Oladimeji Alao and Mrs, Monisola Tegbe have promised her in her new party. Her ambition became weak in the Incidentally, the last two governors of the state, Muazu The ADC and the APM would also end up sharing the to work for the APC. eyes of the people who earlier felt threatened by the name and , are now in the APC. votes from the Ogun West Senatorial District as they the In terms of electoral value, Alao-Akala is a force to “Mama Taraba”, though she is still pushing on to win the Although the popularity of the governor has dwindled, backing of Obasanjo and Amosun respectively from the reckon with in Ogbomosho and Oke Ogun zones of Oyo governorship seat. the Muhammadu Buhari factor may still give him an edge same zone. State, as past and immediate records confirmed that he holds Alhaji Sani Abubaka Danladi popularly known as in the election. Several factors are likely to work in favour of Abiodun, the ace in these parts of the state. “Contact-To-Contact”, the former acting governor of the VERDICT: APC the APC’s candidate. First is the choice of his deputy, Engr Also, Ladoja is a very popular leader in . But, state when the late governor had a plane Noimot Salako-Oyede, who hails from Ota town, where it was surprising and shocking that his popularity rating crash, is still a strong force in the 2019 governorship race LAGOS the bulk of the votes from the Yelwa-Awori bloc of Ogun did not earn him a single National Assembly member in in Taraba. In , despite the impressive showing of the West usually comes from. the just- concluded presidential and National Assembly Danladi’s emergence as the APC governorship PDP in the February 23 presidential election, and in spite It is expected that the Ota-born female engineer would elections. candidate created a lot of controversy among the party of the calculated gang up by the South West PDP to take enjoy the support of her kinsmen and such would have a Therefore, the permutation is that the five local members, and his fellow contestants. The forces that over Lagos tomorrow, available statistics point to an APC serious positive effect on the election of Abiodun. government areas in Ogbomoso, eight or nine local formed the “block of foot soldiers” in APC became victory in the Centre if Excellence. Also, the APC senator-elect from Ogun West, Tolu government areas in Oke Ogun, four local government displaced while many others deserted the party in anger In the first instance, many people who didn’t vote in Odebiyi, is also expected to strengthen the total number of areas in Oyo, seven local government areas in Ibadan and for other political parties. the last election are poised to do so this Saturday, with supporters and votes from the strongholds of both ADC’s two local government areas in Ibarapa will be decisively Prominent among those who left the APC as a result of many of them rooting for the APC candidate, Sanwo-Olu. Isiaka and APM’s Akinlade in favour of the APC. won by the APC, while the PDP will not fold its hands, as Danladi’s victory were a former minister, Joel Danlami The business community not only sees him as part of With the outcome of the last election, the APM being it would fight to retain its winning streak in the presidential Ikenya, David Sabo Kente, Kabiru Dodo, Prof. Yahaya, them and as having a voice in the governance of Lagos promoted by Governor has also and National Assembly elections. Ibrahim Tumba, Ezekiel Afukunyo, Garba Umar and State should he emerged victorious, they see it as payback proven to be non-existent, as it won only one House of VERDICT: APC thousands of theirs supporters. Though a few of these time to ensure his success at the polls for the roles he had Representatives’ seat. Unconfirmed reports had it that leaders are still in the APC, they are not committed to the played in the past as one of them and while in government Amosun would have lost the Ogun Central senatorial seat KWARA course of Danladi to become the governor of the state due as special adviser and commissioner. if he had contested on the platform of APM. Until recently, the PDP held all the aces in Kwara State to the manner which he won the primary election and how The Igbo, who in the last election voted massively for In Ogun East Senatorial District, the Ijebu are expected as the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, called the shots. it was conducted. the PDP, are also poised to queue behind the APC and to cast their votes for Abiodun, going by their agitation that However, the presidential and National Assembly Despite these hurdles, Danladi still poses a threat to Sanwo-Olu, knowing full well that it is in their interest, power must return to the zone after the exit of Amosun. election saw the APC making a clean sweep and Governor Ishaku in the race as thousands of the electorate especially economically, to do so. Recall that the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, demystifying the Saraki myth in Kwara. who believe in President Buhari may vote for Danladi to In a town hall meeting held with the governorship Oba Sikiru Adetona, had convened several meetings prior The “Oto’Gee” mantra swept like wildfire in the state as prove their love for the APC. candidate by the Igbo in Lagos last week, they not only to the emergence of Abiodun wherein it was resolved that the people bought into the idea. The federal might factor which is key in the politics pledged to vote massively for him, but also asked him to all politicians from Ijebuland must rally round the electoral On the other hand, Saraki may want to prove in the of today is also a serious consideration when elections consider them for at least six commissionership slots in success of an Ijebu governorship candidate, irrespective of governorship elections that he still controls the state. are conducted anywhere in Nigeria. Danladi is also in a his administration. their political platform. The APC has the momentum and is likely to complete position to enjoy that fully since he is the APC candidate. Already, the machinery of the APC national leader The APC has also made appreciable inroad to the the victory in the governorship and House of Assembly Although, his party lost the recent presidential election and former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed senatorial district of Amosun, to the extent that the party is election. in Taraba State, and in Karim-Lamido local government Tinubu, who has bestrode the state in the last 20 years of now widely accepted in the zone. VERDICT- APC area where Danladi comes from, many politicians in the the current political dispensation, still remains intact and Available indices in the state point to an APC/Abiodun state see the visit of President Buhari as a move to ensure waxing stronger. It is poised to deliver once again the victory tomorrow, even as the outcome of the presidential NASARAWA victory for his party in the state. state to the APC. election would also have very serious effect on the outcome Governor Tanko Al Makura is arguably one of the best Governor Ishaku is not willing to relinquish power to Rather than being embraced, the ‘O To Gee’ (Enough of the polls. governors in the North Central zone. He also has won his any political party as he has doubled his efforts to get his is Enough) mantra, which the PDP imported from Kwara VERDICT: APC election into the Senate on the platform of his APC. second term in the state election. State to Lagos as campaign slogan has backfired, as For the first time in recent history, President Buhari won Ishaku has used the incumbency power to touch most Lagosians have continued to kick against it, claiming that OYO in and this has boosted the confidence of of the people of the state through the Bureau for Local rather than having enough, they are clamouring for more After the loss of to the PDP in the presidential the APC in the state. Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He created new of the development the state has witnessed in the last 20 election and the incumbent Governor ’s The APC candidate, Abdulahi Sule, is up against PDP’s chiefdoms and upgraded several others, which was a years under the guidance of Tinubu. failure in the Senate race, which the people received with Emmanuel Ombugadu. Another formidable candidate is major problem to several communities in the state. The social media where the slogan trended throughout mixed feelings, the APC went back to the drawing board former minister of information, Labaran Maku, who is The governor has also expanded the scope of skills last week has been agog with condemnation for the PDP to restrategise on how it can win the gubernatorial seat and contesting the election on the platform of APGA. acquisition and youth empowerment, he engaged and its candidate, Jimi Agbaje, a pharmacist, who has been retain the state. Earlier there were moves by the elders in the state for graduates as teachers and revived some moribund alleged to be supplier of drugs to all hospitals in the state. While some people believe that the PDP will defeat the Maku to forego his ambition and support the PDP candidate industries such as Kakara Highland Tea, established Green It is not in doubt that the APC is coasting home to victory APC in tomorrow’s elections, others are convinced that since they are from the same senatorial zone, but he refused. House in Jalingo where thousands of youths are earning in Lagos this Saturday, as analysts and commentators have with strong support from the Ogbomoso axis of the state, Maku and the PDP candidate will definitely split the votes their means of living opined that perhaps, the only time any other party would the political stronghold of former governor Christopher from the district to pave the way for APC’s victory. If he The prompt payment of civil servants’ salaries will have a shot at the state governorship would be after the Adebayo Alao-Akala, the APC will defeat the PDP with had teamed up with the PDP, it would have been a straight convince the people of his ability to do more if re-elected. demise of Tinubu and even at that, only if he failed to a wide margin. victory for the PDP. The governor also stands a chance to be supported by lay down a leadership structure for his political family The first step was taken by APC national leader, Bola VERDICT: APC the people who believe in the current zoning arrangement and machinery. Tinubu, who invited the former governor and Alao-Akala, in the state. Some people agreed that since the former VERDICT: APC the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), to a governor was given eight years from the meeting, where his support was solicited. Police Deploy 15,544 northern part, the late Danbaba Suntai from the central OGUN There is no doubt that Oyo State is going to be a battle zone enjoyed eight years, Ishaku from the southern zone In , political parties which do not enjoy ground tomorrow when the governorship and House of Officers In Rivers should complete his second term. the support of the majority of the electorate are likely to Assembly elections take place between the ruling APC and Ishaku also enjoys the support of elders like Gen. commit electoral hara-kiri in tomorrow’s governorship the opposition PDP. BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt Theophilus Danjuma, Fidelis Kaigama, all the 16 local election. The political rivalry between the two leading political government chairmen and their councillors, 21 of the This is against the backdrop of what the state parties will once again be put to test and lay to rest at least The Rivers State Police Command 24- member House Assembly who are PDP lawmakers, experienced last February 23 during the presidential and for the next four years as their governorship and House of has said it will deploy a total of his appointees and other well-wishers to clinch victory National Assembly elections where a security agent, who Assembly candidates slug it out tomorrow. 15,544 personnel for this Saturday’s tomorrow. was escorting election results from Ipokia, the hometown The thrust of the battle is the race to the Agodi of Hon. Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, the governorship Government House which becomes vacant on May 29 governorship and State Assembly VERDICT: PDP candidate of Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to Ilaro between AbdulWaheed Adebayo Adelabu of the APC and elections. YOBE collation centre in Egbado South local government area Mr. Seyi Makinde of the PDP. This is as the Peoples Democratic Ahead the governorship and House of Assembly headquarters, was shot dead by gunmen suspected to be At this point, it should be noted that the two candidates Party (PDP) in the state, has called elections there have been serious concerns how the battle political thugs. have what it takes to rule the state, however, this has to be on the Nigerian Army to release the would be fought and won in the state. Notwithstanding this, the fact of the matter is that decided by the electorate. Commissioner for Education, Dr. A lot of stakeholders, especially those observing Abiodun, the APC candidate will win the governorship With the result of the presidential election in the state Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, his family and developments from outside the state, have presented a election in Ogun. This is because, going by the results of which the PDP won by 1,465 votes, having one Senate Coordinator of Arise Nigeria, Hon. rather simplistic analysis of the contest. It goes like this: the last presidential and National Assembly elections, all seat and four House of Representatives’ members, the party Benjamin Diri, who were arrested in “ will get most of the votes of the Kanuri other opposition political parties, which were believed to believes that nothing will stop it from clinching or winning Port Harcourt on Wednesday. in the two senatorial zones.” be firmly rooted in the state, were actually not on ground. the coveted seat of the governor of the state. The governorship candidate of the PDP, Ambassador Abinitio in Ogun, both APC and PDP were the political However, with the permutation and realignment among The state Commissioner of Police, Umar Iliya Damagum, on the other hand, would sweep the parties anyone would have loved to tip to emerge political parties, the battle becomes glaring as they intensify Usman Balel, spoke yesterday in Port Zone B senatorial district, almost monolithically Hausa victorious, but events in the state have rubbished that efforts and strategise on how to outsmart one another. Harcourt while addressing newsmen Fulani, Kare-Kare, Ngamo, Bolewa zones in the South assertion, except that with the performance of the APC After the presidential election, Alao-Akala became the on the preparations put together by the and glean the ethnic minorities in the state. The PDP since on February 23, the PDP may be said not to be in the new bride as the parties approached him for alliance. At command ahead of the elections. I999 has been producing the occupants of the senatorial, calculation anymore. the end, he did not only dump his ambition, but decided to Balel stated that over 1,500 personnel House of Representatives and some of the House of The PDP as constituted at present in the Gateway work for the APC at the poll. from other security agencies will also Assembly seats. State is seriously fractionalised and its supporters are in As it is, Alao-Akala’s ADP, 85 per cent of ADC and be deployed for the elections. In fact, the conclusion by analysts is that the Kanuri a quandary over who is the authentic candidate between others are for Adelabu. He said movement of persons would would vote the APC governorship candidate because 90 Senator and Hon. Ladi Adebutu. This Similarly, former Governor Rasheed Ladoja’s Zenith be restricted across the state from per cent of them are supporters of the ruling party since has caused confusion in the rank of PDP supporters, who and the remnants of the ADC are rooting the assumption of democracy in Nigeria. are not sure of reaping dividends of democracy by voting for Makinde. At least, four governorship candidates led 12:00midnight on Friday to 6:00pm on VERDICT: APC for either Kashamu or Adebutu. Arisig from this, the PDP by Senator Femi Lanlehin and Mr. Sharafadeen Alli have Saturday. may not make any appreciable impact in the election. stepped down and promised to work for the PDP and The Commissioner of Police further BAUCHI The party being promoted by former President Makinde. said all entry points into the state would Incumbent governor, Mohammed Abubakar, is fighting , the African Democratic Congress But, ZLP chairman and other candidates have pledged be closed until after the elections.

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Modibbo To Challenge Withdrawal Of Certificate Gov’ship Election: I’m Hopeful Of Of Return Winning In Kano – Abacha BY HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO, Yola Speaking to reporters, yesterday, the APDA laid down rules and regulations,” he said. BY ABDULLAHI YAKUBU, Kano gubernatorial candidate said he has introduced Muhammad Sani Abacha said though there Abdulrauf Modibbo, who won the election to new strategy of politicking devoid of violence are so many gubernatorial candidates repre- represent Yola South/Yola North/Girei feder- Gubernatorial candidate of Advance Peoples and bickering in order to defeat the incumbent. senting various political parties he is going to al constituency in under the Democratic Alliance (APDA) Muhammad Sani “That is why I am fully ready to accept de- defeat the incumbent governor. platform of the All Progressives Congress Abacha, has said that he is confident of win- feat once the election is conducted free and fair. “I am going to make sure that I give a good (APC) is to challenge the court ruling order- ning Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Kano I urge all my supporters to conduct themselves fight to Ganduje and subsequently emerge vic- ing the withdrawal of his certificate of return. State. maturely and cast their votes according to the torious,” Abacha said. Modibbo who spoke through Barrister Shagnah Pwamaddi said, that he is optimis- tic that an appeal court would set aside the ruling by the federal high court. He said the consequential order by the fed- eral high court, gave what the plaintiff did not ask for in the suit. “ We see the judgement as a new invention in our own jurisprudence which can be chal- lenged upstairs. The judgement beat our im- agination because the court is not a ‘Father L-R: Senior progamme officer, Christmas’. Policy and Legal Advocacy “Am very hopeful that, the judgement, is Centre (PLAC), Agianpe also part of our jurisprudence that can be test- Ashang; chairman, Situation ed in court of appeal.” Room, Clement Nwankwo Justice Abdulaziz Anka of Yola Federal and programme officer, High Court yesterday, asked the Independ- PLAC, Akwu Ogbadu, during ent National Electoral Commission, INEC to the situation briefing on withdraw the certificate of return issued to upcoming state election in the APC candidate, and issue same to PDP Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OLU candidate as member-elect. AREMO. NGO Educates Rural Women On Financial 35 Jostle For Kwara Gov’ship Seat

Empowerment BY OLADIPO MAGAJI, Ilorin political parties will be contesting for 24 seats Madami said the commission has de- BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, Abuja in the state Assembly election. ployed 12,409 personnel for the exercise. A total of 35 governorship candidates will The Independent National Electoral He said the commission had received all A non-profit organisation, Rich-Oak Life ini- participate in Saturday’s governorship elec- Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Com- sensitive materials for the election since Fri- tiative yesterday celebrated the International tion in Kwara State. missioner (REC) in the state, Mallam Garba day and had subsequently distributed same Women’s Day in the Kabusa area of the Fed- Also, a total of 338 candidates from 19 Madami disclosed this during a press briefing to local governments through the RAC cen- eral Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, charging in Ilorin, the state capital yesterday. tres. them to be financially empowered. The organiser, Rich-Oak Life initiative in Gov Ahmed Warns Trouble Makers To Steer Clear collaboration with Rich-Oak Life Multipur- pose Cooperative Society used the event to BY OLADIPO MAGAJI, Ilorin agencies in the state of their full the state to turn out in their num- gible voters to comply with In- sensitise women on financial services avail- readiness to curb any threats to bers on Saturday to exercise their dependent National Electoral able to them from various financial institu- The Kwara State governor, Alhaji the conduct of free and fair elec- civic obligations and right to elect Commission (INEC) regulations tions. , yesterday tions by any individual or group. leaders of their choice as security on the conduct of the elections Director of programmes, Rich-Oak Life In- warned potential troublemakers Stressing that elections in agencies in partnership with the such as orderliness at the polling itiative, Mrs Oluwatosin Idu-Okojokwu who to stay away from the state before, Kwara State are traditionally state government will guarantee booth and the use of card readers addressed the women, educated them on during and after Saturday’s elec- peaceful, Alhaji Ahmed said the safety and security. for voter authentication as securi- the micro pensions scheme that will soon be tions or face the full wrath of the state government stands ready In this regard, Ahmed urged ty agencies will be on hand to as- launched by National Pensions Commission law, even as he vowed a crackdown to provide the logistic support Kwarans not to be alarmed by the sist the electoral body in the en- (PenCom) to cater for the informal sector and on illegal voting. required by security agencies to presence of security agents de- forcement of election rules. how they can take advantage of it. Ahmed, who handed down the maintain law and order as well as ployed for election duties in the He warned that security agen- She noted that the initiative, which aims to warning during a meeting of the protect lives and property during state as he is assured that they cies would apprehend and prose- deepen financial inclusion particularly among Kwara State Security Committee the elections. will be professional, fair and law- cute anyone suspected of illegal rural women, is in line with Rich-Oak Life’s on Wednesday evening, said he The governor, who is also chair- abiding in carrying out their du- voting, double voting, ballot box on-going financial empowerment project tar- has received the assurances from man of the Security Committee, ties. snatching and other infractions getting 1,000 grassroots women. heads of security and paramilitary therefore called on all residents of Ahmed equally urged all eli- of electoral laws. It would be recalled that Rich-Oak Life In- itiative recently kick-started its 1,000 wom- en financial empowerment programme with Makinde: Group Berates Akala, Radio Station Over Breach Of Contract a number of women from Kabusa Village ben- BY BODE GBADEBO, Abuja appearance. have breached laws of con- media owners to ensure fair- efitting. A statement by the group’s tract because Engr. Seyi Ma- ness to all political gladiators The Rich-Oak team also used the event to The Coalition for Credible executive secretary, John- kinde’s camp entered into a by their media outlets,” CCP sensitise the women on available health in- Polls (CCP) has berated a for- son Olaiya, yesterday in Abu- contract with Parrot FM by said. surance schemes they can take advantage of mer governor of Oyo State ja, said Alao-Akala and his ra- pre-arranging and paying for LEADERSHIP Friday re- through their daily contributions to prevent and chieftain of the All Pro- dio station’s attitude towards an appearance on a radio talk calls that Seyi Makinde Cam- loss of business due to ill health. gressives Congress (APC), Makinde violated his person- show. paign Organisation, had on On her part, the executive director, Women Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, al right of free speech and “The National Broad- Wednesday complained that Empowerment and Reproductive Health Cen- and the management of his ethics of journalism, which casting Commission (NBC) the PDP governorship candi- tre (WERHC), Dr Ejiro Igbuzor, charged the radio station, Parrot FM Og- demand fairness and ac- should take note of the mis- date had booked and paid for women to take advantage of the opportunity bomoso, for breach of con- countability, among others. conduct by Parrot FM Ogbo- a one-hour slot at the radio to better the livelihoods of their families and tract and ethics of profes- “Former Governor Alao- moso against Engr. Seyi Mak- station 48 hours in advance, to further close the gender gap in the society. sional journalism by turning Akala and his business in- inde and take the appropriate and came to Ogbomoso for Dr. Igbuzor who is a development and gen- away the governorship can- terest called Parrot FM in punitive measures in order to the programme only to be der equality expert emphasized the need for didate of the Peoples Demo- Ogbomoso, Oyo State have serve as deterrence against turned back at the gate with women to be financially empowered stress- cratic Party (PDP), Engr. Seyi conducted themselves in a would-be offenders. The reg- the excuse that the slot had ing that when women are empowered, fami- Makinde, from the station af- manner that is undesirable ulatory organisation and oth- been allocated to his rival, Mr lies and the nation are empowered. ter a pre-arranged and paid in our political space. They ers alike should impress it on Bayo Adelabu of the APC.

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NEWSbusiness MONEY CAPITAL MARKET INSURANCE INTERVIEW ANALYSIS Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA INFLATION RATE (%) INTER BANK LENDING RATE (AS AT FEB 27) Sustained Profit Taking 2017 2018 RATE CHANGE (%) Drags Stocks Market OCTOBER 15.91 11.26 O/N 10.0417 -0.17 NOVEMBER 15.9 11.28 1M 11.3831 0.45 Down With 0.35% Loss DECEMBER 15.37 11.44 3M 12.9974 0.55 BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos 6M 14.6436 0.18 Losses in the Nigerian stocks market extended into the second consecutive Oil Sector To Attract $25bn Investment In 2yrs – NCDMB day, yesterday with a decline of 0.35 per cent following sustained decline in all BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos sectors of the market. The All Share Index (ASI) declined by Executive secretary, Nigerian Content 111.68 absolute points, representing Development and Monitoring Board a decrease of 0.35 per cent, to close at (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote, has said 32,010.06 points. Similarly, market that the country’s oil and gas industry capitalisation shed N42 billion, to close is expected to attract $25 billion at N11.937 trillion. investment in the next two years. The downturn was impacted by losses Addressing journalists in recorded in medium and large capitalised Lagos yesterday on the upcoming stocks, amongst which are; Mobil Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Nigeria, Dangote Cement, PZ Industries, Fair (NOGOF), Wabote said the oil Flour Mills Nigeria and Guaranty Trust industry is looking positive despite Bank. changing dynamics in the global Analysts at Cordros Capital said that market which is creating crude oil “the still tense political environment guides our view of cautious trading pricing uncertainties and even with in short term. However, attractive the Petroleum Industry Governance valuations and stable macro-economic Bill, PIGB, hanging in the National fundamentals provides scope for Assembly. sustained market recovery in the He said the implementation of medium-to-long term.” the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Also, analysts at Afrinvest Limited Content Development (NOGICD) maintained a positive outlook close Act of 2010 has brought tremendous L-R: Human resource director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs Grace Omo-Lamai; managing director, NB Plc, Mr Jordi Borrut Bel; to the benchmark index today transformation in the sector. He also non-executive director, NB Plc, Mrs Ndidi Nwuneli; non-executive director, NB Plc, Mrs Adeyinka Aroyewun and corporate affairs based on investor’s bargain hunting said that since the legislation came director, NB Plc, Mrs Sade Morgan at the celebration of the 2019 International Women’s Day in Nigerian in Lagos, yesterday. and positioning ahead of dividend into effect, the oil and gas industry “domiciliation” of value-adding sector and beyond to come together oil companies, investors, corporate announcements. has recorded significant Foreign activities, which has identified in the same room to support Nigerian players and independents to give Market breadth closed negative, with Direct Investment (FDI) in pipe mills investment opportunities in Content. them unique space in the country to nine gainers versus 26 losers. Cadbury and growth in Nigerian owned marine fabrication and construction; “So it is with great pride that we are network, discuss and share knowledge. Nigeria recorded the highest price gain vessels. manufacturing of component parts, able to bring together major players The potential benefits of the fair of 7.84 per cent, to close at N11, per According to him, the industry share. Dangote Flour Mills gained 4.13 equipment, spare parts, accessories, across the Upstream, Midstream include, integrating oil producing per cent to close at N11.35, while Stanbic recorded $20 billion investment in the drilling fluid, Sub-sea production and Downstream sectors of the communities into the oil and gas last two years, with various projects IBTC Holdings appreciated by three per systems, line pipes, and personal Nigerian Oil and Gas industry as well value chain, fostering institutional cent to close at N48, per share. being pursued by International Oil protective equipment (PPE) among as government agencies, industry collaboration, maximizing Companies, IOC’s. He disclosed others. regulators and the National Assembly participation of Nigerians in oil and QUOTE OF THE DAY that certain key Final Investment Speaking on NOGOF 2019, with the to showcase opportunities in this gas activities, linking oil and gas Decisions (FIDs) would be concluded theme, Maximizing Investments Into industry and present available in- sector to other sectors of the economy, before the end of the year that will The Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry for country capacity to all stakeholders maximizing utilization of Nigerian The oil set a new pattern of growth for the the Benefit of the Nigerian People”, in attendance.’’ resources, including goods, services industry industry. he said the fair is another milestone He said that one of the key and assets and attracting investments is looking Wabote said the major focus achieved by the Board, because it objectives of the Fair, is to bring to the Nigerian oil and gas sector. of the Nigerian Content Law is is uncommon to find players in the together governments, national positive despite changing dynamics in ISDA Africa Chairman, Partner At Clifford Chance, Others For FMDA Workshop the global market.’’ Chairman, International Swaps partner at Clifford Chance, that the theme is not only plan for product roll-out this Executive secretary, and Derivatives Association Derivatives and Structured timely and apt, but expected year. (ISDA) Africa, Mr. Brett Gallie, Trades, Mr. Matthew Griggs and to discuss the standardization Partner, Aluko & Oyebode Nigerian Content managing director/CEO, FMDQ of documentations in Nigeria’s Mrs. Olubunmi Fayokun will Development and Group Business Editor OTC Securities Exchange, Mr. market with the view of boosting be moderating on the topic Monitoring Board Bayo Amodu Bola Onadele (Koko) have all the integrity of markets and Transaction Netting in Nigeria 08118672002 confirmed their attendanceattract investors’ trust and – The Way Forward with other (NCDMB), Simbi Business Editor (Lagos) at the Swaps & Derivatives confidence to the market. The renowned panelists which will Wabote. Chima Akwaja Workgroup’s Financial Markets event is expected to commence also contribute to make the Workshop holding in Lagos. at 8.30am and end by 2.00pm. event remarkable among whom Assistant Business Editors The event, organised by the The opening remarks at the are Mrs. Yinka Edu - Partner, Udo Kingsley Alu Swaps and Derivatives Work event will be delivered by the Udoma Bello Osagie & Co and Tony Awunor Group of the Financial Market Chairman, Swaps & Derivatives Mr. Zeal Akaraiwe, CEO, Graeme Correspondent Dealers Association of Nigeria Workgroup and FMDA President, Blaque. Chika Izuora Reporters (FMDA) will hold at the Mr. Samuel Ocheho. The FMDA is an association Mark Itsibor prestigious in Lagos on March According to FMDA, Gallie of licensed Deposit Money Mbakaan Kwen 19. According to the organisers, and Griggs will be speaking on Banks (DMBs) operating within Bukola Idowu the event will focus on the theme: Market Documentation and the the Nigeria Financial market, Olushola Bello “Legal Documentation as Driver need for Standardization while emphasizing on regulatory Abah Adah to introducing New Products and Onadele will speak on the Need policy engagement/advocacy Chika Okeke a Healthier Financial Market in for Derivatives in the Nigerian and professional ethics in the Nigeria”. The association stated Financial Markets and FMDQ’s financial markets. Wabote 20 NEWS/BUSINESS www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA Friday, March 8, 2019 CBN, EFCC Meet To Tackle Economic Crime ...May bar culprits from opening fight against economic crimes. smuggling of commodities like rice, Other areas which the two financial sector. bank accounts in Nigeria The meeting, which took place at textile materials, fertilizer, wheat agencies are collaborating include It would be recalled that the the head office of the CBN in Abuja, and other items on the prohibition anti-money laundry and the CBN under the auspices of the BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja provided an opportunity for the list for accessing foreign exchange monitoring of politically exposed Bankers’ Committee had said that two entities to share experiences through official window, as persons in the country. any individual or corporate body Officials of the Central Bank and peculiar challenges in the fight well as tracking illicit financial The inter-agency meeting,found to complicit in economic of Nigeria (CBN) and their against economic related crimes. flows, CBN’s director, corporate chaired by the director, Governors’ crime or attempts to circumvent counterparts in the Economic and The two agencies adopted communications department, Department of the CBN, Mr. economic laws and regulations of Financial Crimes Commission strategies aimed at curtailing Isaac Okorafor said in a statement Jeremiah Abue, also agreed to the country may be barred from (EFCC) met yesterday with the the unwholesome activities of that was made available to improve the level of information- operating a bank account in any aim of strengthening the country’s economic saboteurs which include LEADERSHIP yesterday. sharing and surveillance of the bank in Nigeria. Seplat Records $746m As 2018 Full-year Revenue BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja balance sheet, continued to deleverage and preserve significant headroom in Seplat Petroleum Development the capital structure Company Plc (“Seplat” or the Successfully concluded debt “Company”), a leading Nigerian refinancing in Q1 2018, including indigenous oil and gas company, listed debut US$350 million bond which on both the Nigerian Stock Exchange diversifies the long-term capital base and London Stock Exchange, today and new four year US$300 million RCF announces its full year 2018 financial Cash at bank US$585 million and results and provides an operational gross debt US$450 million resulting in update. a net cash position of US$135 million Full year 2018 results highlights at end 2018 2018 working interest production Deleveraged further post period within guidance; license renewal end by paying down US$100 million to secured for OMLs 4, 38 and 41 bring the RCF to zero while retaining According to a statement issued by the undrawn headroom in the capital corporate communications manager, structure to support growth; as a Stanley Opara, the full year working result, current gross debt is solely L-R: Group deputy managing director, Access Bank Plc,Roosevelt Ogbonna; GMD/CEO,Herbert Wigwe; Acting chairman,Ajoritsedere Josephine interest production of 49,867 boepd the bond at US$350 million Project Awosika, and Company’s secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, during the court ordered meeting of Access Bank Plc in Lagos, yesterday. (comprising 25,669 bopd liquids and updates – FID sanctioned at the large PHOTO BY KOLAWOLE ALIU. 145 MMscfd gas) within guidance scale ANOH project range of 48,000 – 55,000 boepd; Final investment decision Uptime on the Trans Forcados System sanctioned by Seplat’s board for the Dangote Cement Targets $600m Annual during 2018 was 85% (in line with ANOH project post period end; Phase budget), while average reconciliation I to comprise a 300 MMscfd gas Exports To African Countries losses stood at 8% processing plant with accommodation License renewal for OMLs 4, 38 space for future expansion BY OLUSHOLA BELLO,Lagos countries with limited access to in all the sectors where we play; and 41 obtained with a new expiry Amukpe to Escravos alternate limestone. In addition, we also cement, agriculture, mining date of 21 October 2038. US$25.9 export pipeline nearing completion; President of Dangote Industries have new terminals coming up and petroleum. We are leaders million renewal bonus paid ensuring anticipated to be fully commissioned Limited,Aliko Dangote, at Onne and in Lagos and we are in all the sectors where we play, all conditions have been met (renewal and operational in Q2 2019, ramping has restated his Group’s hopeful the congestion at Apapa and this demands continuous bonus included in 2018 capex) up to initial permitted capacity of commitment to Nigeria’s will soon be behind us helping us improvement and partnership 2019 production guidance set at 40 kbpd during Q3 2019; access economic development through meet our export targets.” with you, our customers.” “We 49,000 boepd to 55,000 boepd (liquids to three separate export routes at continuousinnovation, value Speaking at the 2018 Dangote are front-runners in keying production range of 24,000 bopd to our western assets and two at our creation and investments. Cement Distributors’ Award into the diversification of the 27,000 bopd and gas production range eastern assets providing adequate This is just as he disclosed Night held in Lagos, he said that economy by the Government. of 146 MMscfd to 164 MMscfd) Strong redundant capacity will significantly that Dangote Cement’s exports Dangote Group is committed to We have continued to roll out profitability, cash flow generation and de-risk distribution of oil production to other countries are targeted ensure that Nigeria becomes massive agricultural projects dividend reinstated to market. to rise to $600m annually, with self-sufficient in all the sectors across the country. We have Full year revenue US$746 million; Commenting on the results Austin the management intensifying where it operates, such as started in rice, while plans are operating profit US$310 million, Avuru, Seplat’s Chief Executive efforts at actualizing thecement, agriculture, mining underway for dairy farming. Our profit before deferred tax US$238 Officer, said: “Seplat has delivered an planned increase. and petroleum. “Let me reiterate push for backward integration in million; after adjusting for deferred excellent operational and financial Declaring that his massive that our continuous efforts to providing our own raw materials tax of US$91 million, net profit after performance resulting in robust investments in Nigeria’s innovate, create value and invest on a massive scale has led to tax stood at US$147 million profitability and cash flow generation economy is borne out of in Nigeria are borne out of our the planned investment of Cash flow from operations US$502 providing us with an extremely solid his firm belief in her vast firm belief in the vast economic $4.6 billion over the next three million significantly ahead of capital foundation for growth in the coming economic potential, Dangote potential of Nigeria. This has years in sugar, rice and dairy expenditures of US$88 million. The years. At our core assets in the West, said “by next year we will be also informed our desire to production alone. That will board has recommended a final OMLs 4, 38 and 41, the extension of the largest exporter of cement invest massively in agriculture in eliminate the country’s reliance dividend of US$0.05 per share. the license to 2038 means that we can in sub-Saharan Africa with some states across the country. on imported food, and the 2018 gas revenue at a record level of confidently plan and invest long into about $600million worth of Our target is to ensure that foreign exchange outflow that US$156 million and accounts for 21% the future to realise the full potential cement export to other African Nigeria becomes self-sufficient comes with it,” he added. of total revenue in the year Refinanced of those blocks. Stanbic IBTC Holdings Grows PAT By 54% In 2018 BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos Bottomline grew by 54 per cent as decrease impacted positively the According to Sanni, strong growth leverage on our universal financial profit after tax moved up to N74.4 gross non-performing loan to total in fees and commission income as services capability, unrelenting Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has grew billion compared with the N48.4 loan ratio, which improved to 3.9 per well as write-backs, which resulted focus on cost control, digitization profit after tax by 54 per cent in its billion achieved in December 2017. cent, well below the regulatory mark from recoveries made on previously and client centricity to ensure that audited financial results for the year The group’s total assets grew of five per cent, as against the 8.6 per written off loans and reversals we continue to grow our capacity to ended December 31, 2018. by 20 per cent to N1.66 trillion cent recorded in 2017. on some non-performing loan, provide incomparable high quality Also, the board proposed a final compared with the N1.39 trillion in The chief executive, Stanbic IBTC contributed to the strong showing. end-to-end financial solutions to our dividend of N1.50 per share to its December 2017. Customer deposit Holdings, Mr. Yinka Sanni, said the Stanbic IBTC said performances customers in a sustainable manner.” shareholders for the year 2018. grew by seven per cent to N807.7 balance sheet size was impacted by across its three divisions, Corporate Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, The results, which was released to billion from N753.6 billion in the “growth in risk assets and financial and Investment Banking, Wealth member of Standard Bank Group, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), corresponding year. Of note was the investment portfolio,” a reflection Management businesses, and is a full service financial services yesterday, showed the group grew its company’s ability to reduce its toxic of investment expertise and quality Personal & Business Banking, group with a clear focus on three topline earnings for the financial year assets appreciably. The gross non- management, which saw its non- were strong and contributed to the main business pillars, Corporate to N222.4 billion, compared with performing loans decreased by 50 interest revenue rose by 15 per cent turnover. and Investment Banking, Personal the N212.4 billion it achieved in the per cent to N17.7 billion compared to N102.6 billion from N89.2 billion Sanni assured “as a financial and Business Banking and Wealth same period of 2017. with N35.3 billion in 2017. This in 2017. institution we will continue to Management. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 NEWS/BUSINESS 21

MTN Nigeria To List On NSE In H1 MTN Plans Mobile Money Service In Nigeria, 3 Others BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos Speaking yesterday, Shuter said “What we see As 2018 Revenues Top N453.1bn in the rest of the markets is we are successful … Subscribers now 58m percentage points to 43.6 per cent excluding the MTN Group said it will introduce Mobile Money when we set ourselves up to compete with cash. I simcards fine payment to CBN. service in Nigeria, South Africa, Afghanistan and think in the previous iterations of Mobile Money, BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos Chief executive officer, MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Sudan, raising the number of countries where the we were more focused on building a digital Moolman, speaking on the financial results said service will be available from 14 to 18 countries banking system that would compete with the MTN Nigeria yesterday confirmed that it “In 2018 we rebuilt the base; adding another before the end of this year. commercial banks. would list on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) six million Nigerians to our network, giving a MTN group president and CEO Rob Shuter, “So, this time, we are really going back to our in the first half of 2019 just as its revenue for full total of 58 million people access to worldwide disclosed this yesterday in a media chat in roots and will be focusing on the areas of the year 2018 jumped to N453.1 billion. communication services. Johannesburg, South Africa, after announcing country where we have large unbanked or under- MTN plans to list by introduction on the NSE “This growth was built on our sustained the company’s financial results for the year ended banked populations primarily transacting in cash. during the first half of 2019 and is looking to focus on customer centric delivery - ensuring December 31, 2018. I think that is the sweet spot for MTN Mobile simplify the capital structure ahead of this listing. that customers get much more value for their “We are going to be extending the Mobile Money,” Shuter explained. The mobile network operator’s listing on the money. This included the deployment of proactive Money markets from 14 to 18 by launching in He said MTN will “continue to extend our Exchange will create a new telecoms asset class interventions to improve customer experience, South Africa, Nigeria, Afghanistan and Sudan,” advanced services like insurance and lending. for investors and provide an opportunity for a together with the enhancement of network Shuter told journalists. He had stated last We have also announced a significant extension wider group of Nigerians to participate in our quality and coverage, and the optimization of November that that he wanted to bring the of our digital strategy: we will be launching our investment story. our services portfolio. service back to South Africa, where it previously music streaming service across the portfolio in The company’s financial results for the “We also enabled an additional eight million failed. the first part of the year. year ended December 31, 2018 indicate that people to access the possibilities that the internet MTN has last year November said the mobile “We have also announced that we have built earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation provides, bringing our total data subscriber base network operator would the group will acquire an instant messaging platform which will be and amortization (EBITDA) grew 30.8 per cent to 44 million, of which 18.7 million use more than an independent banking licence tagged Payment integrated with Mobile Money to form the to N453.1 billion excluding the simcards fine five megabytes per month. We are now even Service Bank (PSB) licence in Nigeria by 2019 first step of what we call the African WeChat payment to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). better positioned to ensure that everyone can from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and plans and instant messaging will be launched in two Also, the EBIDTA margin increased by 4.5 access the benefits of a modern connected life. to go commercial in the second half of 2019. markets in the next month or so” he added. IWD: NSE Calls For Use Of Technology In Bridging Gender Gap BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos parity. for women in key industries and share head, corporate communications, we are making sure-footed steps to This event, organised in partnership insights on how technology can bridge NSE, Mr. Olumide Orojimi stated, increase the number of women in The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with International Finance the gender gap. “as a sustainable stock exchange, our employment, especially those in has called for the use of technology to Corporation (IFC), UN Women, United It will also feature panel discussion gender balance is at the heart of leadership positions.” bridge gender gap as it joins the rest Nation Global Compact (UNGC), by experts across different fields like NSE’s corporate sustainability and The NSE IWD symposium provides of the world to mark the International World Federation of Exchanges (WFE) country director, ONE Campaign, responsibility strategy. We are building an opportunity for participants, Women’s Day (IWD) today. and Sustainable Stock Exchange Serah Makka-Ugbabe; managing a hub where employees have access to men and women alike, to partake NSE in a statement made available Initiative (SSEI), will bring together director, Chapel Hill Denham, Olukemi the same opportunities and are able to in sharing stimulating stories of to LEADERSHIP said it will host a half- male and female thought leaders from Awodein; Philanthropies lead, grow their career irrespective of their women’s achievements as well as day symposium and ‘Ring the Bell’ emerging industries to take a more Microsoft Nigeria, Olusola Amusan; gender.” inspire other women to live up to for gender equality at the Exchange holistic look at gender balance and its founder, Lady Mechanic Initiative, He said that “we promote a work their true potential. It is also an in Lagos. The event with the theme reality to businesses. Lady Sandra Aguebor; managing environment that is inclusive as avenue to showcase the NSE and its “Balance for Better”, is targeted at The symposium will be headlined director, Flying Doctors Nigeria, Dr. we believe that achieving gender partners’ commitment to supporting galvanising efforts in line with the by country director, International Ola Brown and founder, Red Media equality is paramount to developing the aspirations of women and girls as Exchange’s objective to accelerate Finance Corporation (IFC) Ms. Eme Africa, Debola Williams. the society. We have a female to male an essential component for building a progress towards bridging gender Essien, who will discuss opportunities Speaking on the planned celebration, employee ratio of one to two and more sustainable world. 22 NEWS/BUSINESS www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA Friday, March 8, 2019 36-Yr Concession: FAAN Refutes Plot To NNPC’s Shipping Subsidiary, NIDAS, Take Over MMA2 BY JOHN ADETUNJI Recorded 15 Voyages In 4 Months BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, Abuja and NIDAS recorded giant strides to commend NIDAS for beginning the company which he said, prior Following a statement released CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos by Federal Airports Authority no sooner than it launched into to make money for the NNPC. I to the GMD’s assumption of office, international freight business. am particularly elated with the had been moribund. of Nigeria (FAAN), Bi-Courtney The group managing director of Aviation Services Limited A statement issued yesterday by company’s performance which has Sade was quoted to have further the Nigerian National Petroleum the Corporation’s spokesman, Ndu seen it doing 15 voyages on clean stated that the company would (BASL), operator of the Murtala Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Muhammed Airport 2, is justified Ughamadu, said the GMD who petroleum products from October work harder to sustain the tempo Baru, has commended the charged the management of NIDAS 2018, just four months after it by engaging and soliciting the in its claim of 36 years’ validity Corporation’s shipping subsidiary, on the Build-Operate-Transfer to ensure it sustained profitability resumed international freight support of sister NNPC’s outfits NIDAS, for being commercially urged the Corporation’s partners business.” and international partners towards (BOT) concession model of the viable. airport terminal. involved in the Direct Sale Direct He called on them to redouble improving the corporation’s The company he said, successfully Purchase (DSDP) scheme to their efforts towards sustaining the bottom-line. FAAN’s reaction which was carried out 15 voyages on clean made available to newsmen patronise its shipping subsidiary. current tempo which he said, was in Sade also informed the GMD petroleum products barely DSDP is a scheme by which NNPC line with the profitability drive of that NIDAS had already signed through the company’s general four months after it resumed manager, Corporate Affairs, sells crude oil directly to off-shore the Corporation. Contract of Affreightment (COA) international freight business. refiners and receive products from Responding, the managing with BP and Socar for their DSDP Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, refuted Baru, who disclosed this during in strong terms, the allegation of same in return. director, NIDAS Ltd, Mr. Lawal clean cargoes, while discussions a visit to the NNPC office in Addressing the company’s staff Sade, commended Baru for his with Vitol, Mercuria and Petrocam a takeover of the administration Hammersmith, London, said of MMA2 from BASL. during his visit Baru said, “I wish support and efforts in revamping were ongoing. A report had emerged online alleging that a source close to the ministry of transport, Aviation Unit, had disclosed that the management of FAAN had been authorised by the ministry to take over the terminal on the expiration of alleged 12 years consensual agreement between BASL and the agency in May. In her words, Yakubu, said the agency was not aware of any plans to take over the operations of the MMA2 terminal. She was also quoted to have said that someone might be trying to be mischievous, hence the report. The agreed extension to 36 years was not disclosed, instead the report said the 12-year agreement would expire on May 7, 2019, which was the exact date the terminal commenced operations with flight service by the defunct Chanchangi Airlines. The report alleged that the planned takeover of the terminal was also causing some instability among the staff members of BASL, who were said to already looking elsewhere for alternative jobs following the threat by the government. The report also claimed, the chairman of BASL, Dr. Wale Babalakin, has been making L-R: Sales and distribution executive, MTN Nigeria, Adekunle Adebiyi; chief enterprise business officer, MTN Nigeria, Lynda Saint-Nwafor; chief marketing officer, MTN Nigeria, efforts through some of his Rahul De, and risk and compliance executive, MTN Nigeria, Cyril Ilok, at the launch of the MTN Smart feature phone, yesterday. contacts in the presidency to frustrate the takeover of the terminal on the due date, Dana Air Supports Women Entrepreneurs claiming that the concession agreement between the two was BY ANTHONY AWUNOR, Lagos at training, empowering and commitment to anything and manager of the Dana Air, Kingsley for 36 years. showcasing female entrepreneurs, everything that concerns women Ezenwa, said Nigerian women are Reacting to the report, BASL In celebration of the International women in business and particularly women entrepreneurs. strong, courageous and industrious said the MMA2 concession was Women’s Day 2019, Dana Air encouraging them to come together “We are grateful to the and any form of bias against them valid for 36 years which had yet has expressed its support to the and share their experiences in order airline because we initiated was highly unacceptable to them at to expire. Women in Media Development to shape the thought of young this program to enlighten, Dana Air. In a statement signed by the initiative 2019 and Women women in business. empower and showcase women *We believe that giving the spokesperson for Bi-Courtney, Entrepreneur Fair, scheduled to The founder of WEF, Hajarah entrepreneurs so that they can be women equal support and Eniola Ade-Solanke, on Tuesday, hold on March 29 to 30 in Minna, Alhassan, while speaking on the funded by individuals, corporate opportunities is a panacea for a said, “We will like to set the Niger State. airline’s support for the event organisations or government.’’ better and balanced society and this records straight by stating that The Women Entrepreneursaid, “We have chosen Dana Air to Commenting on Dana Air’s also resonates with the theme for Bi-Courtney Limited entered into Fair (WEF), an initiative of the fly our participants and we thank support for both initiatives, this year’s International Women’s a concession agreement with the Airmingle Media Ltd is aimed the airline for always showing The media and communications Day celebration,’’ Ezenwa added. Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the Build, Operate and Transfer of the MMA2 for 36 years.” Lexsz Plastics Takes Waste To Wealth Management According to Bi-Courtney, BY OLAJIDE FABAMISE, Lagos Akowe, revealed that the company started operations in productions not only save a lot FAAN offered it a 36-year lease company had in its eight years Nigeria in 2011, it has relied of energy and resources but in a letter dated October 12, Lexsz plastics is setting the pace of operation, took the lead in solely on waste supply by also effective for environmental 2006, and an agreement was duly waste to wealth management individuals, government agencies protection in Lagos State.” signed on the February 2, 2007, in plastics manufacturing by collecting various beverage pet by empowering public, private cleaning dump sites and its own He added that in 2011, the by the minister of aviation. sector operations in clearing waste cleaning efforts to acquire company passed the ISSO 9001 It added that the agreement bottles and classification of waste plastics for recycling. waste in thea environment which raw materials for recycling to quality management system was further confirmed at a were later bought and paid for by feed its factory. certification of advanced meeting held on July 7, 2009, Disclosing this in Lagos at a media chat, the executive the company as raw materials. According to him ,” With over production equipment and sound chaired by a former president, He stated that since the 10, 000 workers, the company’s management system. the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua. director, Lexsz, Oba Olufemi www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 NEWS/BUSINESS 23

Clearing Agents Back Shippers’ Council’s Registration Policy BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos

The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) registration policy is gathering momentum in the maritime sector as the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) said it would review the earlier stance of the association against the policy. The national vice president of ANLCA, Kayode Farinto, had vowed to challenge the registration fee recently introduced by the Council for port service providers, describing it as an illegal collection. He said while the NSC can register stakeholders to have their database, it does not have the powers to L-R: Managing director/chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo exchanges pleasantries with the vice chairman, Channels Media Group, Olusola Momoh; during a book impose registration fee. reading organised by Famfa Oil to commemorate the World Book Day at the Shell Hall, Muson Centre in Lagos, yesterday. But, speaking to LEADERSHIP, national president of ANLCA,Tony Nwabunike, said the association BPE Seeks Ways To Address Challenges Facing would support the registration policy of the council. According to him, the association would have a change of mind as the Govt Privatised Companies Shippers’ Council has the power to BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja proffer credible solutions to and observed that they occupied potential investors and relevant register stakeholders in the sector. addressing the problems, the BPE a strategic place in the nation’s MDAs would meet and chart a way He said, “My vice president, The Bureau of Public Enterprises said in a statement yesterday. They economy but had remained forward for their resuscitation when I was away mentioned that we (BPE) has inaugurated four are the committees on housing suboptimal since privatisation. through partnership between the won’t support it but I will review it committees to come up with a sector (the Bricks and Clay), mines Okoh said the NCP also took into private and public sectors, adding because if you go by the gazette that mechanism for addressing the and steel development, oil palm and cognisance, the need to resuscitate that the objective was in consonance concerns the Nigerian Shippers’ complexities and challenges automobiles. The fifth committee and reposition the enterprises in with the Economic Recovery and Council, they have the right to do hindering the growth and on paper mills had earlier been order to enhance their market value Growth Plan (2017) of the Federal that, but we will review that. There development of some privatised inaugurated. and their overall contribution to the Government. may be a change of mind,” he stated. enterprises in the country which Inaugurating the committees in economy. Okoh implored members of the Also, the National Association were handed over to the core Abuja yesterday, director - general Consequently, he said, the committees to work assiduously of Government Approved Freight investors over ten years ago. of the BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, recalled NCP directed its secretariat - and submit their report within 90 Forwarders (NAGAFF) has thrown The committees are also to that the National Council on BPE to organise an enterprise working days’ timeline. its weight behind the registration provide policy makers with further Privatisation (NCP) at its meeting stakeholders/investors forum Membership of the committees policy saying it is a move geared insight into the practical realities of April 12, 2018, reviewed the with the objective of creating a is drawn from the relevant sectors, towards boosting port efficiency. facing the sectors in which the performances of some privatised platform where the core investors ministries, the BPE and the private NAGAFF president, Increase enterprises were privatised and enterprises in the past ten years of the privatised enterprises, sector. Uche, said that the NSC registration was similar to others carried out by government agencies in the port including the Nigerian Port NSE Records IPO Worth $571.1m In 5 Years Authority (NPA), Customs and BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos (IPOs) and further offers (FOs) by Third place in terms of volume positive note with some landmark the Council for the Regulation listed companies, in which capital was the Bourse de Tunis with 12 transactions, capital markets activity of Freight Forwarding in PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was raised on Africa’s principal stock issuances, and third in terms of value declined year-on-year by 25 per cent Nigeria (CRFFN) to profile their said Nigerian Stock Exchange markets and market segments. was the Nigerian Stock Exchange in volume and 40 per cent in value. stakeholders. (NSE) raised an initial public offer The report also includes IPO (NSE) with $571.1 million. Capital markets partner at PwC, He said, “The Shippers’ Council (IPO) valued at $571.1 million in and FO activity on international Also, during these period, there Andrew Del Boccio, said, “The registration is not new in the five years. An initial public offering exchanges or non-African companies have been 130 IPOs by African positive trend recorded in 2017 in industry because when you look at (IPO), is the very first sale of stock on African exchanges, on an annual companies on both African and overall ECM activity, in terms of an the entire agencies of government issued by a company to the public. basis. international exchanges, raising increase in volume and value, was from NIMASA to NPA and PwC made this known in its 2018 Looking at African IPO market, $10.7 billion, a 14 per cent increase not sustained in 2018 despite the customs, virtually all the regulatory African Capital Markets Watch South Africa continues to lead in capital raised over the preceding strong market indications at the agencies profile the players that publication, which analyses equity African capital markets activity. five-year period, 2013 to 2017. beginning of the year. interface with them. So since they and debt capital market transactions Over the five-year period, the Overall, African equity capital “While 2018 started with made Shippers Council interim that took place between 2014 and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) market (ECM) activity in 2018 several landmark IPOs and FOs, regulator of the port, I think it 2018, as well as transactions by raised from 43 IPOs was $5.9 billion. declined both in volume and as the year progressed, companies is also good that they embark on African companies on international Egyptian Exchange (EGX) followed value in the wake of global and retreated from the capital markets similar exercise of registering exchanges. in terms of volume and value of local economic and socio-political or suspended listing plans as stakeholders. The report listed all new primary IPO transactions with 17 issuances uncertainty. uncertainty and volatility increased “Personally, I belong to several market equity initial public offerings accounting for $1.6 billion. Despite 2018 starting on a across Africa and the globe.” professional bodies and we pay annual dues every year. So for you to belong to such a group or ZOLA Electric Appoints Abdallah Khamis As Managing Director anybody that regulates you, you have the obligation of identifying The board of ZOLA Electric, of the company’s growth in the Philips of Netherlands and Bharti the Sloan School of Management, and keeping up to date with the (formerly Off Grid Electric) , a continent. He is the first African Communication – Airtel Kenya. Massachusetts Institute of requirement for them to carry out leading distributed renewable energy to be appointed to ZOLA Electric’s We’re thrilled to have him join ZOLA Technology (MIT), US and is a their regulatory role,” he said. brand in Africa, have announced Global Leadership Team. and leverage this experience to help Legatum Fellow of the Centre for Uche, who commended the NSC the appointment of Abdallah H. According to the chief executive deliver clean, affordable, reliable 24 Entrepreneurship Development, for slashing the registration fee by Khamis to the positions of managing officer, ZOLA Electric, Bill Lenihan, hour power to Nigeria.” MIT. 50 per cent, said those kicking director, Nigeria. Khamis, whose “Abdallah brings to the company Khamis is an international senior In addition, he holds a Certificate against the registration did not appointment takes immediate effect, his wide knowledge and wealth of executive with multi-industry and in Negotiation from Harvard Law have an understanding of the law would be responsible for the day- experience having worked across cross-country experience in leading School, US and Post Graduate setting up the council and its role to-day operations of ZOLA’s smart Africa in senior leadership positions blue-chip organisations across 39 Diploma in Marketing from the in ensuring that the interests of storage + solar business in Nigeria, for blue-chip companies including countries in Sub- Saharan Africa. Chartered Institute of Marketing, shippers were always protected. as well as driving the acceleration the Coca – Cola Company, Royal Khamis holds an MBA from UK. 24 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 NEWS/BUSINESS 25 Otunba Subomi Balogun: Nigeria’s Grandmaster Of Banking Shining Bright At 85 BY JOHN ADETUNJI, Abuja philosophy is unique and has accounted and his contributions to the socio- for the soaring success that FCMB has economic development of Nigeria. Founder of the First City Monument recorded since inception. A Merit Award for philanthropic Group and the Olori Omo-Oba Akile Recall that in 1987, he was the first services to Ogun State in particular Ijebu, Otunba Subomi Balogun has in Nigeria, through First City Merchant and the country as a whole, and also not only treaded on daunting paths, Bank Limited to endow a Professorial the Ijebu Development Association in some cases as pioneer, but has set Chair in a University when at the award and Council Membership of a records of accomplishments in those University of Ibadan he set up a Chair number of multi-national Chambers of paths. for Capital Market Studies in the Commerce. The Chartered Institute of The first Nigerian to single-handedly Department of Economics and Finance. Bankers of Nigeria made him a Fellow set-up a Bank, Otunba Dr Michael A Research Fellowship domiciled at the of the Institute for his pioneering Olasubomi Balogun, CON, has Legal Department of the University of and outstanding contribution to the variously been described as Nigeria’s Lagos, is also to his name, the roll call of Banking Industry. grandmaster of banking. Imagine for benefiting institutions from his milk of If you want to know where all the a moment, the several thousands of human kindness including the Olabisi expertise had come from, and the Nigerians, even foreigners that have Onabanjo University, Yaba College foundation for all the favours that been provided platforms to express of Technology, African Leadership his life has experienced, he is quick their skills and talents because Forum, the Children’s Emergency Unit to respond, “my God , the good Lord someone had provided a platform. in the University Teaching Hospital, has done it all. God has given me Think for a moment, all the difference Ibadan as well as the Ijebu-Ode General everything”, up to how he was able to that has been made because one Hospital. One of his many legacies is get the kind of extremely supportive decided to, not only dream but fight the fully equipped and air-conditioned and understanding wife that he has, to accomplish the dreams. These are 40-bed Children’s Centre at the Ijebu given that it is somewhat challenging to why, as he adds another year this Ode General Hospital, a fulfillment of make it in the corporate world without season, the bells cannot but toll, and a promise he had made earlier. a peaceful and cooperative home front. the citations cannot but roll, for the It is difficult to think of any sphere of Otunba Balogun says of his wife: “God impact that he has made and continues society where he has not left footprints. gave her to me. I believe there was a to make in life. Otunba Balogun is the pillar behind the manifestation of God’s influence on In the corporate world for example, “Otunba Tunwase Foundation” to cater my choice” Even as he celebrates, there he is the torch-bearer of the financial for all his philanthropic endeavours is no doubt as to his enduring desires. power house with numerous outlets, and services to the community. When According to him. “I want to spend the the FCMB Group. Through that alone, the construction work of the “Otunba rest of my life, giving my service to God he has become a beacon of hope for Tunwase National Paediatric Centre and humanity. I want my God to give Nigeria in the financial services sector (OTNPC), took-off in earnest, he me the opportunity of showing my of the economy. One man who has handed over a cheque of N10 million appreciation”. produced over 10 managing directors and on June 7, 2013, Otunba Balogun The Olabisi Onabanjo University, of different Banks in Nigeria, all his wholly donated the Paediatric Centre, has awarded him a honorary degree of former staff, not only is the story valued modestly at N3.7billion, to the the Doctor of Science in Management behind FCMB founding also a lesson University of Ibadan at a signing of Deed Sciences (D. Sc. Management Sciences, in perseverance and vision, its cutting- Balogun of Total Gift ceremony. These are just Honoris Causa); he is a Fellow of the edge service delivery in the sea of other specters of the several interventions he Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, equally determined competitors, is still One School Certificate in 1952, from story of the then ICON securities, a has made to life and society, the reason Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of a subject of corporate study. How else Igbobi College, and later the London merchant banking outfit which was he is a leading socialite in the country. Management, Fellow Chartered can a single life be more impactful? School of Economics (LSE) where he established in 1973 as a subsidiary of He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute Institute of Bankers, Former Deputy How else would anyone desire to pass read Law. He graduated from LSE with NIDB. He made great things happen, of Management in recognition of his President now Life Vice President through this existence! Yet, it is not the Second Class Honours Degree in June, even in anonymous ways while holding contribution to the development of of the Nigerian British Chamber beginning. The whole story goes back 1959 and was called to the English Bar the forte as the Director of operations Corporate Management & Leadership; of Commerce, Council Member of to that auspicious 9th day in March in December, 1959. in the institution. His was not devoid of Former Chairman of U.I. Ventures the Lagos Chamber of Commerce in 1934 in the Nigerian traditional With the academic feathers firmly intrigues, for while it was expected that Limited (a business group of the and Industry, Chairman, Primrose and legendary town of Ijebu-Ode in in his pocket, he returned to his he would naturally move up to head University of Ibadan recently renamed Investments Limited; Chairman, Ogun State, and the infant Subomi fatherland, promptly joining the the institution where he had invested Otunba Olasubomi Balogun Conference Bluechip Holdings Limited; Chairman, was born. The stars may not have then Western Region’s Ministry tremendous passion and diligence, the Center and Hotels); he is a recipient of Swiftdrill (Nigeria) Limited, Chairman, dimmed, but there was no doubt that of Justice, where he was a Crown opposite was happening. the American Biographical Institute Primrose Properties Investments a mortal of rare qualities that would Counsel and later, a Parliamentary Like it is said, you cannot bottle Inc’s Distinguished Leadership Award Limited and Director of a number of translate ingenious ideas and unusual Counsel. Another turning point of a man of vision, and this was what for outstanding contributions to the other companies. commitment had come to sojourn. his life dawned in 1966 for it was in precipitated Subomi Balogun’s move development of Investment Banking. Married to Olori Abimbola Adetutu It was unheard of at the time, but this year that he joined the Nigerian to leave, a move that culminated in Others are the University of Ibadan’s Balogun (nee Ayoola), the Yeye Olofin for a man that understands both vision Industrial Development Bank, a dream the founding of a Broking and Issuing Degree of Doctor of Laws (Honoris of Ijebu-Ife, the Yeye Tunwase of Ijebu, and capability of the sovereign God, work place for many young Nigerians House that was shortly to become Causa) in recognition of his outstanding and the Yeye Oba of Ode Remo, they there was no deterring. This was how, then. He invested some nine years of a household name - City Securities. achievements both in the field of Law have four illustrious sons. supported by his wife of inestimable diligent work, being the first Principal Its cutting-edge delivery saw to it value, Olori Abimbola Adetutu, he Counsel and Company Secretary, and netting business relationships with ‘waylaid’ the then Vice President, Dr also worked at the International Bank equally bluechip oil service firms and Alex Ekwueme, seeking the assistance for Reconstruction and Development institutions of the time like Mobil, of being given a banking license. (IBRD), otherwise known as the World Texaco and Total. Upon reflection in the FG Boosts Lokoja River Port The paradigm shift in philosophical Bank, and its private sector affiliate, near past, he had equally shared how it focus happened while he was schooling the International Finance Corporation was he was inspired by entrepreneurial With N1.6bn Mobile Crane at Igbobi College, and after school, (IFC) both in Washington DC. Here, feats of Siegmund Warburg, who co- BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos at the port by next year. Subomi took up employment as a he caught another vision, but it was founded S.G. Warburg. His was not According to him, the port, class room teacher, helping to groom not a vision caught while idling away, an admiration from the distance; he The National Inlandwhich will be fitted with the future hope of the nation as at that but one that flowed from the diligent actually paid an understudy visit to Waterways Authority (NIWA) state of the art equipment, time. Thereafter, he left the shores of engagement and sinking of one’s self in the firms in London, prior to birthing has awarded a contract for the has reached 75 per cent the land for the United Kingdom where the daily, but daunting work regimen of his bank for merchant financing. Then supply and installation of a completion. The port is located he studied law at the London School the financial institution. came 1979 when he took the bold step 64-ton mobile harbour crane of Economics. Thanks to the right at Jamata area of Lokoja. Thus, began an intriguing rendezvous of applying for a merchant banking at the Lokoja River Port. Mamora said that the foundation he had before traveling, with investment banking, a quest that license to establish First City Merchant Managing director of and in line with his life of vision, the has since brought a paradigm shift in Bank. The dream came to fruition four contract, which was awarded NIWA, Dr Olorunnimbe at a cost of N1, 600,344,000 young Subomi did not allow the klieg his entrepreneurial endeavours, and years later in 1983, - a new dawn in Mamora, disclosed this at the lights of Europe distract him from indeed the banking direction of the Nigeria’s banking culture had begun, to Messrs LIEBHERR Nigeria his vision of being an accomplished entire nation. Subomi Balogun’s elite in that Balogun’s new baby came with contract signing ceremony Ltd, would be executed within man. This can be attested to by the position amongst banking moguls in an infectious culture and tradition, such on Wednesday in Lokoja. one year. When completed, he fact he remained diligent in attending the country is not without a reason, but that has impacted lives and businesses He said that the project was said that the port and others fellowships in faraway UK. All through, comes from the missionary journeys he and set new vistas of service delivery in in line with government already completed and nearing he never left anything to chance; has led, and the pioneering roles he has the banking firmament. determination to enhance completion in Baro, Onitsha instead, he always demonstrated played. He is reputed to have been the Otunba Balogun established an water transportation. and Oguta would enhance readiness to give what is required, and leading advocate for the establishment entrepreneurial culture at the new According to him, the inland water transportation to pay the price necessary to obtain of investment banking in Nigeria, using bank, unique as an owner managed contract was awarded and create thousands of direct the desirable goals. Earlier, he had the auspices of the NIDB. Any Nigerian bank in contrast to the government early enough to ensure the and indirect employment passed out with a Cambridge Grade banker of note would always regale the owned banks at the time. His business commencement of operation opportunities for Nigerians. 26 COMMERCE/BUSINESS www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 Currency Swap ‘ll Strengthen Naira Against Dollar – Expert An economist, Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, has predicted that the naira would gain strength against the dollar when the Nigeria-China currency swap takes off. Ekechukwu, a former director- general, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, expressed the view during an interview in Abuja. According to him, the move on the part of the federal government was expected to reduce pressure on the dollar as letters of credit and other valid payments for imports from China would be in the Chinese currency. “Foreign currency availability will no longer delay or impede importation of goods and services, especially from China,” L-R: Company secretary/legal adviser, Vitafoam Nigeria Plc, Mr Olalekan Sanni; chairman, Dr Bamidele Makanjuola; group managing director/CEO, Mr Taiwo Adeniyi; finance director, he explained. Mr Joseph Alegbesogie and non- executive director, Mr Sam Okagbue, at the company’s 57th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Lagos,yesterday. Ekechukwu emphasised that currency swap by its nature is an agreement to exchange currency between two foreign countries or Greedy Oil Dealers Duping Nigerians – Sidi parties. He added that the agreement BY KINGSLEY ALU, Abuja and when for every 20 litres, lost 0.5 litres of fuel in every At Dan Oil and Petrochemical Nnamani, told the team that the involved swapping principal and it is short with 0.5 litres which 20 litres they bought.This Ltd on Airport Road, attendants depot has always maintained interest payments of equal value The Department of Weights and means that in a truck they will prompted them to seal three quickly adjusted some pumps high standards and would never in another currency. Measures, Federal Ministry of be making a profit of N198,500 dispensing pumps at the station immediately they sighted the compromise. ”When there is principal Industry, Trade and Investment per truck,” Sidi said. and withdrew their certificate of officials. At the 7UP Company at Idu and interest involved, there is has expressed worry that Sidi said the exercise was certification. Not deterred, the team checked Industrial Area, the team a borrowing.What it means to Nigerians who visit filling to ensure that companies “This is because the officials the pumps on the right wing weighed all the products and Nigeria and Nigerians is that at stations were daily shortchanged complied with the Weights and of Weights and Measures of the station and found that found the company compliant. the agreed repayment date, we by greedy oil dealers. Measurements Act, 2004, which discovered that for every 20 customers lost 0.6 litres for ShopRite mall at the Jabi Lake, have the option to repay in the The department noted with is line with international best litres of fuel dispensed to every 20 litres bought and was no different as the team Chinese currency of renminbi dismay that for every truck load practices and to also ensure that customers of the filling station, sealed three petrol pumps and after weighing some randomly (RMB) as against the U.S. dollar. of petroleum product, customers customers were given the right not less than 0.5 litres was found one diesel pump. picked products found the ‘More foreign exchange in lose about N198,500. quantity of goods purchased. to be a shortage to customers,” In all the stations visited, the measures very satisfactory. RMB will be available to the Director, Weights and Measures “Every weighing equipment in all Sidi explained. managers declined comments. Speaking on his overall Central Bank of Nigeria to fund Department, Federal Ministry of sectors of the economy, whether The team was also at another The team was also at Mabushi impression of the exercise, our importation and foreign Industry, Trade and Investment, oil and gas or non-oil and gas Forte Oil station, Ibrahim district cement depot where Sidi said there was a lot of settlement needs, especially Mohammed Sidi, made this must be up to the required Babangida Boulevard, after thorough examination, improvement from the non-oil from China,”Ekechukwu said. disclosure during a surveillance standard,” Sidi explained. opposite National Universities they certified bags of cement at sectors compared to what the But, he however, cautioned exercise by the department At Forte Oil Station, Maitama, Commission where they also the depot. team witnessed before. that the swap agreement to some key filling stations opposite Transcorp Hilton, recorded the same infraction The bags of cement checked by He said filling stations that were would lead to unfavourable yesterday in Abuja. Abuja, the team discovered that as in the first and sealed three the team were Bua, Dangote and found wanting would not be balance of payment for Nigeria “We have 33 litres in a truck the filling station was under dispensing pumps and one for Sokoto cement products. spared as the law would take its against China,adding that local dispensing fuel as customers diesel. Chairman of the depot, Maxwell full course. production capacities gained recently in manufacturing, agriculture and the non-oil Abuja Chamber Of Commerce Wants FG To Sign AfCFTA export might be eroded. The Abuja Chamber ofof Commerce and Industry Kayode said whether the “Nobody can use our country agreement between 49 African He said the agreement was Commerce and Industry (FWACCI), who paid a working country likes it or not, there as a dumping ground. Rather, Union member states, with the not likely to optimise export (ACCI), has said that federal visit to the ACCI. would always be businesses people are afraid of us. Where goal of creating a single market promotion and manufacturing as government’s refusal to sign “There is a lot trading between central and west ever you go, you will see followed by free movement and local manufacturers would not the African Continental Free going on ins Africa, it is both African regions, between South Nigerians transacting their a single-currency union. be able to compete favourably Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in historical and cultural. Nigeria Africa and East Africa regions. businesses,” he added. The agreement was brokered with imported goods in respect view of the prominent position is a great leader in Africa. Even “We must play the leadership According to him, the nation by the African Union (AU) and of pricing. of Nigeria in African trade was in the West Africa, the main role. We must not be allowed needs to follow the path led was signed on by 44 of its Nigeria and China sealed a not good for the image of the businesses are run by Nigerians. to be pushed out. I am using by people like Alhaji Aliko 55 member states in Kigali, currency-swap deal worth 2.4 country. “I don’t know why this opportunity to call on the Dangote, who is opening up Rwanda, on March 21, 2018. billion dollars on May 4, 2018. President, ACCI, Prince government has not signed government to sign AfCFTA industries everywhere in Africa. The agreement initially According to the Central Adetokunbo Kayode, stated the AfCFTA. The government immediately. “We can compete. We are requires members to remove Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the deal this an interview with needs to sign it immediately. “Government has delayed not lazy people. And we are tariffs from 90 per cent of would provide local currency newsmen after a meeting with We cannot play second fiddle the signing of the agreement business-like. We need to do goods, allowing free access liquidity between Nigerian the delegation of Federation in the African trade and we will for too long. Honestly, it is a our businesses,” he concluded. to commodities, goods, and businessmen and their Chinese of West African Chambers not. national shame for all of us. The AfCFTA is a trade services across the continent. counterparts. CPC Insists DISCOs Should Provide Meters,Transformers, Others The Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Irukera, made this call at the Customers’ standpoint. Power supply continues to be he added. According to him, “In spite of our effort has called on customers to desist from Engagement Town Hall meeting organised the greatest challenge experienced in our Chief executive officer, EKEDC, Mr in ensuring effective metering within our purchasing for themselves transformers, by the Eko Electricity Distribution country today,”he stated. Adeoye Fadeyibi, said the company’s network to ease customers’ complaints, meters and other relative electricity Company (EKEDC), in collaboration with According to Irukera, power is a customer service delivery system had we noticed that over 70,000 customers materials, saying the Distribution CPC in Lagos. “The town hall meeting was national challenge as all the value chain improved tremendously. have not vended (rechsarged the pre-paid Companies (DISCOs), were responsible necessary to engage electricity consumers in the sector need to come together to According to him, the company had also meter) in the last one year. for such. directly and would enable us fashion out address the challenges. stepped up on prompt response to address “Some customers are in the habit of This is also as the agency frowned at ways to listen and address their complaints “There is no excuse for the way faults and outage within its network. bypassing meters and engaging in energy arbitrary billing by the DISCOs, calling in a civilised and matured manner. consumers are treated in terms of poor He condemned the attitude of some theft.This has also affected the company for aggressive metering to curb estimated “We have taken a clear position and one power supply.If the power companies put consumers who vandalised its equipment negatively. Most of our transformers are billings. of which is arbitrary billing, which has things together and focuses on that, I am and bypass meters to short-change the being vandalised in some areas which cost Director-General of CPC, Mr. Babatunde no rational basis of support from a user optimistic that it would reduce their crisis,” company. the company huge amount to replace. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 27 28 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

Breakthrough with Commercial Release Of Pod Prof M.K Othman (PhD) [email protected] Borer Resistant Cowpea III s a conclusion to the release of the fist food crop GMO in Nigeria, reduces the yield of cotton production on the it is pertinent to enlighten the field. Today, through genetic modification general public on the genetically technology, genetically modified (GM) cotton modified product as one of the that has an improved characteristic of resisting importantA feats achieved through scientific the attack of bollworm have been successfully process. As mentioned in the first part of developed and planted. This insect and pest this article that GMO connotes dreadful fear attack is also likened to the low production of to some people because of unscientific and other cash crops that are used as both human unsubstantiated allegations that GMO is and animal feed such as Maize and Soybean. harmful to people, the contribution of Dr Rose Commercialisation of these crops in Nigeria M Gidado, in the second part of this article, will economically improve the GDP via adequately addresses safety of PBR cowpea improved textile using the GM cotton and the for human consumption. Still, the question is, agricultural industry using GM maize, soybean ‘does Nigeria need the Genetic Modification etc for food, feed and processing. (GM) Technology?’ This question is germane The Nigerian government has already considering the results of the Fifth Multiple taken care of the ill-fated public concerns of Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS5) that was this technology like environmental concerns, discussed in the second part of this article. human health concerns, socio-economic Dr Onyeka Nwosu, an Abuja-based scientist, concerns, cultural issues, religious issues amply tackles the subject of GM technology among others through the provision of a and the Nigerian quest to achieve food security strong biosafety regulatory system. According and diversify the economy through agriculture. to reports of Council on Science and Public Happy reading. health, there is no evidence to support the idea that the consumption of approved GM food Does Nigeria Need The Genetic has detrimental effect on human health. This Modification (GM) Technology? is actually because of Biosafety regulation Agriculture today accounts for about 25 that comprehensively assesses the process per cent of GDP in Nigeria and is the sector Abubakar and the products of the technology. This that offers the greatest potential for poverty makes genetically modified products the reduction and job creation, particularly of a particular specie into another organism of environmental stress like drought and flooding most extensively regulated products all over among vulnerable rural populations and urban a different specie). This is called Transgenics. conditions. This promotes better crop protection the world. Biosafety regulation is intended dwellers with limited job opportunities. The In some cases, an inserted gene may govern and improved nutritive value, which benefits the to diminish or eradicate the possible harmful growing population in Nigeria is expected to one particular trait, such as an organism’s consumer through high nutritional enrichment. effects of modern biotechnology on the cause an exponential rise in the demand for resistance to disease or pest, while in other This success from the farm to the consumer, environment, biodiversity and human health food, a warm climate, water scarcity, and arable cases; many inserted genes may determine undoubtedly positively changes the economy using policies, laws and guidelines. It also helps land shrinkage that will make the challenge characteristics. It was the understanding of of Nigeria through increased exportation, to determine in advance when hazards to human more difficult. In recent years, Nigerian and DNA that paved the way for the technology. industrialisation and food security. health and natural systems would occur if any non-Nigerian scientists and experts from The knowledge gained has allowed researchers The power of this modern breeding particular Genetically Modified Organism different fields are increasingly focusing on the to transfer genes between the cells of different biotechnology is further augmented because (GMOs) is released into the environment, challenging and threatening projection that in organisms. In other words, agricultural modern biotechnologists can add a gene conveying anticipate when a given GMO or any of its the next 30 years, Nigeria will need to produce biotechnology enables improvements that are useful characteristics from virtually any other product(s) will be harmful if it becomes part as much food as has been consumed over our not possible with traditional crossing of related organism, thus stressing the very real value of of human food, and detect whether a GMO will entire human history. Growth generated by plant species alone. wild biodiversity and solidifying the arguments actually yield the benefits it was designed to agriculture in Nigeria is believed to be more The modification in plant genes, through for its conservation. By contrast, conventional provide. effective in reducing poverty and mortality this genetic engineering, is of enormous breeding can only use genes already existing Nigeria developed her biosafety system, than GDP growth in other sectors because it is advantage to all the stakeholders ie benefits in the crop variety of interest or in closely which is consolidated legally through certain that increased GDP growth will bring the farmer, the consumer and the government. related, sexually compatible varieties. In other the assenting of the National Biosafety food security and job opportunities to the The genes are modified to introduce newer or words, the truth about modern biotechnology Management Agency Act, 2015 bill into law. country through a coordinated effort between improved desirable traits or even eliminate in agriculture and its products is the opposite This Act led to the establishment of the only the public and private sectors. However, the undesirable ones. Some of these traits include of what the public think. They are produced competent Authority in Nigeria, National agricultural sector has suffered sustained improved resistance to pest and diseases, which with methods that are more precise, predictable Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) neglect and as a result, Nigeria has gone from eventually benefits the farmers through yield and controllable than historical methods long that has the responsibility for providing being an exporter of agricultural and food increase, improved adaptation to extreme accepted as safe. regulatory framework for safety measures products to being an importer today. According to ISAAA 2016, planting of in the application of modern biotechnology Considering the increased level of poverty, genetically modified crops has increased 100- and its products like GMOs with the view malnutrition, hunger, unemployment and low fold from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 185.1 to preventing any adverse effects on human level of agricultural productivity in Nigeria, million hectares in 2016, planted by about 17 health, animals and the environment and as Genetic modification (GM) technology has to 18 million farmers making it the fastest well as sustaining the biodiversity. great potential to offer solutions. The knowledge gained has adopted crop technology in recent times. This Indeed, considering the enormous economic Genetic modification technology, which is allowed researchers to global adoption rate speaks for itself in terms importance of agricultural genetic modification also known as genetic engineering, a method of its sustainability, resilience and substantial technology in Nigeria and also bearing in of modern biotechnology, is the term given to transfer genes between the benefits it delivers to both small and large- mind the existence of a legally and technically the technology through which a gene from one cells of different organisms. scale farmers as well as consumers. The most equipped institution (National Biosafety organism is transferred to another. The inserted In other words, agricultural commercially available genetically modified Management Agency) that ensures the safety gene may be from the same species (transfer crops in the world are Maize, Cotton, Soybean of the technology, Nigeria, without doubt, of a desirable gene from an organism of specie modern biotechnology enables and Canola, which are either engineered to needs the full adoption of genetic modification into another organism of same specie), which improvements that are not be herbicide tolerant, insect resistant or both. technology. is called Cisgenics. The inserted gene can, possible with traditional crossing Nigeria’s textile industry suffered a serious This concludes my three series article on the as well, be transferred from another species setback that affected the economy of Nigeria release of the first food crop GMO developed (transfer of a desirable gene from an organism of related plant species alone. due to the severe attack of bollworm that in Nigeria for Nigerians and beyond.

Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 29 defence focus TARKAA DAVID 07039613858 (SMS ONLY) Military Clothing Line, Square Peg In A Square Hole The Nigerian military has, over the years, relied on foreign organisations for supply of hardware Though laudable, the federal government finally allocated N5.3 and accoutrement. TARKAA DAVID takes a look at the federal government’s effort to reduce this billion for procurement of ammunition dependence via promotion of indigenous products. of various types and calibres and N2.3 billion for construction of new military lobally, the military has been barracks in five geo-political zones at the renowned for pioneering end. inventions and it is believed As parts of efforts to reduce reliance that a nation, which has the on foreign supply, the chief of army desire to develop must look staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Ginwards and basically take advantage of its Buratai, in the fourth quarter of 2018, raw materials and process them into finished commissioned a newly established goods rather than rely on import from other Nigerian Army Vehicles Manufacturing countries. Company (NAVMC) and the take-off Quite worrisome is the outcry by military of the production of the prototype of personnel as regards shortage of accessories the light and heavy infantry vehicles at such as boots and other accoutrement. Rigachikun, Kaduna State. There are always rumours of either supply The then director, Army Public of substandard military accoutrement or Relations, Brig Gen Sani Usman, in a supply far below its demand. statement, said the commissioning event Though Nigeria is blessed with abundant also featured facility tour of Nigerian resources, both human and material, Army Vehicles Manufacturing Company harnessing these has remained a challenge. production line, which includes NAC-V However, this seems to be taking a new production line, B vehicles assembly turn with the signing of a Memorandum of plant, Fitter machine plant, Engine Understanding (MoU) between Defence overhaul shop, Engine testing bay, Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Fabrication, Painting and Spray shop as and Sur Corporate Wear of Turkey. well as Foundary and Metal Smith shop. This journey began in 2017 when the The COAS also commissioned some minister of Defence visited Turkey and refurbished A and B vehicles and other was conducted round companies. During equipment resuscitated by the NAVMC. that visit, he also visited a company of In a related development, the Nigerian Turkish origin and set in motion modalities Air Force, under the leadership of Air for the establishment of same in Nigeria Marshal Sadique Abubakar, last year, following the availability of raw materials embarked on an in-house reactivation of and the dire need of military clothing and Dan-Ali its platforms rather than depending on their accessories. foreign expatriate to do so. The dream was realised when the profits. military and other paramilitary organisations The director of Public Relations and minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Major General Ogunkale noted that operating in the country. Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Dan-Ali, was recently presented with the though the business aims to revive the textile “The issuance of the Full Business Case Daramola, said the Nigerian Air Full Business Case (FBC) compliance industry, it would be built afresh from a Compliance Certificate for this project has Force reactivated Mi-35P and EC-135 certificate for the establishment of military virgin land being provided by the Nigerian lent credence to the potential of the project helicopters at 115 Special Operations and paramilitary clothing and accessories government while the Sur Corporation to herald the return of a once thriving sector Group (115 SOG), Port Harcourt bringing factory in Kaduna State. provides other things. in Nigeria. the total number of aircraft that had been The director general, Infrastructure He stated that though the government “Once completed, the venture is expected reactivated within the last three years to Concession Regulatory Commission wanted to revive the docile textile industry to sufficiently meet the accoutrement needs 15, to enhance operational efficiency. (ICRC), Chidi Izuwa, while presenting factory and use its facilities, the expatriate of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other He said the reactivation, which would the certificate, said the company, when advised construction of a factory for the sole uniformed paramilitary organisations. enable the service save huge foreign fully operational, would provide over 1000 purpose of military clothing and accessories “This will further help in creating direct exchange that would have been expended direct jobs in the country besides reducing manufacturing. and indirect job opportunities for the teeming if carried out abroad, would also improve over-reliance on foreign supply of military In his response, the minister of Defence, youth in the country as well as conserving NAF’s operational capability. uniforms and others. Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali, regretted that our foreign exchange,” he said Before then, the NAF had re-inducted Mr Izuwa said the venture, which requires Nigeria has, over the years, relied heavily He, therefore, assured of the ministry’s another Mi-35P helicopter into combat N4 billion investments when operational, on importation of not just military hardware commitment to ensuring the takeoff of the duties after undergoing a comprehensive in- would become a huge revenue earner for and ammunition but also clothing and venture in the shortest time possible. country Life Extension Programme (LEP) at the government. He noted that the N4 billion accessories. According to him, “I want to assure you 115 SOG. The re-induction is the first time venture, which is a public private partnership He stated that even though the DICON that this ministry will set in motion, all such a feat would be achieved for NAF Mi- between Defence Industries Corporation of has been in existence for over a decade, it other necessary steps that will facilitate series helicopters in Nigeria. Nigeria (DICON) and Sur Corporate Wear, had not been able to meet the nation’s desire the full take-off of this project.” The Nigerian Navy, in the same spirit, has will take off within eight months to one year. in manufacturing military hardware and However, the Nigerian military, in its entered a pact with foreign firm to embark on The director general, DICON, Major ammunition. nature of acquiring a number of new assets production of local ships. Since the pact, the General BO Ogunkale, said the factory The minister noted that the reception of the with its proposed 2018 budget, including Nigerian Navy has built and inducted local would provide 1300 direct employment certificate was a realisation of a desire aimed small boats, tugs and helicopters, had ships, however; sustenance has always been opportunity when operational, adding that at changing the nation’s fortune in terms of N567 billion ($1.5 billion) allocated to the problem of many ventures in the country. the venture requires N100mn starter capital. providing for its Armed Forces. defence in the proposed 2018 budget, One can only hope that the federal He disclosed that the business venture For these reasons, the minister further including N145 billion ($400 million) for government will not only pay lip between the two parties has adopted a noted that the venture would meet the capital expenditure and N422.43 billion service to this drive but push towards its sharing formula of 50-50 per cent for sharing uniform and other accessories needs of the for salaries and overheads. actualisation.

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb 30 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

Agbaji Chinedu Business 1:0:1 Local Raw Materials’ Agrobusiness with Agbaji Chinedu 08035004617 [email protected] Supply Business t the peak of Nigeria’s recent produce commodities). According to analysts, name with a traceable address because companies deal raw material production etc, all over Nigeria such as economic recession, which lasted agriculture has the potential to sustain a more with cooperate entities not individuals. Olam, Flour mills, Sunseed, Hybrid Feed, Noodles for five consecutive quarters, equitable income growth compared to the oil · Financial capacity: you must have financial Company, Dangote etc. All you need to do is to many manufacturing companies and gas sector as well as saving valuable foreign capacity because most companies into processing identify one in your area and what they need. had to implement diverse in- exchange for the nation. The opportunities usually pay after 30-36 days of supply. Having You must be very knowledgeable about what house strategies to remain in business and for agricultural transformation in Nigeria are the ability to supply on weekly or monthly basis you are going to be supplying such as, the A immense and could boost domestic production, depending on your capacity or agreement is key to season, availability, locations etc. adequately reward shareholders, especially with the unfavourable foreign exchange situation. lower imports and act as an engine for job this type of agribusiness. Nigeria’s economic recession was a blessing in creation. · Warehouse: It is not compulsory but very Local Raw Materials To Supply disguise to the nation and her citizens. It opened Locally sourced raw materials have been important because sometimes you can improve the Soya beans, cassava and maize, palm oil, many business opportunities to Nigerians proven to be of high quality and the availability standard and quality of your raw materials before cereal and grains, sugar cane, fruits, oil seeds, because companies where sourcing their raw is assured leading to improved farming and supplying. ginger, onions, tomatoes, beans, pepper etc. materials locally as a result of high exchange storage system, this, as a result, has made · Consistency in supply: being able to be consistent There are consultants whose jobs are to get rate. The model that saved the situation was local raw material supplies business a good in supply of products. you registered and secure a place for you to backward integration model, which became agribusiness to venture into in Nigeria today. · Registration with the processing company: be a raw material supplier if you don’t want an option for manufacturers in Nigeria and Criteria For Being A Local Raw Material you must be registered with the prospecting to undergo the stress associated with the has made agribusiness fast becoming the toast Supplier processing company. Organisations have different registration process. The good thing working of many Nigerians who want to play in the To venture into this kind of business is requirements that are needed for registration. After with consultants is that they will give you all entrepreneurial space. not difficult but there are criteria you must your registration, your information will be in their the information you need about the company However, local raw material supplies possess to become a raw material supplier in a database as a supplier. and raw materials such as availability, business is the business of sourcing materials manufacturing company in Nigeria, especially transportation and locations. Attending or substances used in the primary production or those into processing of consumable goods such Processing Companies In Nigeria workshops or seminars on agricbusiness with manufacturing of goods, locally. Raw materials as:- There are many processing companies in Nigeria focus on raw material sourcing and supply is are often referred to as commodities (Agric · Company registration name (business name or that are in need of locally sourced raw materials today. key if you want to venture into this type of limited liability): You must have a registered company Some are into feed production, consumable products, business. IT World How Big Is The IT with AYODEJI OLADELE [email protected] Market

Apart from being one of the biggest creating jobs: the fastest growing with the ratio and connect them all together via the industries globally, the Information of 14 jobs to one developer with an internet. Hence we will have our cars, Technology (IT) market is becoming 1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) average of $130,000 in the US. The homes, offices, devices and mobile one of the main source of economic Existing since 1956, AI is already application of this technology is beyond phones connected and communicating growth in some countries. The market in general use as its application is cryptocurrencies. It can be used for data via data exchange on the internet. keeps expanding daily on the basis of engaging in daily activities we use it for security in simple words a chain of data The number of connected devices is advancement in technology and better navigation, streaming, digital personal that cannot be altered. Blockchains anticipated to grow to 30 billion by the enterprise solutions. are consensus-driven year 2020. The IT trends unfolding will do and there is no need The combined markets of the Internet so in an environment of higher for third parties to of Things (IoT) will grow to about $520B expectations; namely, for business value, oversee or approve in 2021, more than double the $235B security, transparency, health etc. The transactions spent in 2017. forthcoming opportunities in these fields are enormous, be it for business 3. Edge 5. E-commerce value, security, health, transparency etc. Computing With the new era of online and mobile The market is dominated by major As data use shopping E-commerce is also on the rise. market players such as IBM at the top, increases, cloud It is very difficult to estimate the number next Accenture, HPE, Microsoft, and computing is of online or mobile shops globally but SAP holding only 30% of market share experiencing the figure is very huge and still growing. altogether. However, the rest of the 70 shortcomings in There are between 2 million and 3 percent goes to other small companies, some situation and million e-commerce companies in the these include established firms to small “Global Information Technology Services Market 2017-2020: Market is Expected to Grow from edge computing is world excluding China. It’s employment start-ups and business hubs around the Over $950 Billion in 2016 to Over $1160 Billion in 2020” - Research and Markets designed to solve opportunities are on the rise with a globe. The IT market not only has room this. Edge computing market value of $22 trillion USD globally. for companies, but there is also a place assistants, ride-sharing, digital home bypasses latency in the case of cloud for freelancers too. assistants, and smart home devices. In computing by delivering time-sensitive The global market for information The largest region in the information some other forms of consumer use, AI data to the center of need at a more technology is expansive and still growing. technology market is Asia Pacific with is employed to schedule trains, assess speedily interval to a remote location Its enterprise solutions and technological 39 percent, India is a major player due business risk, predict maintenance and with limited or no connectivity. Edge applications are unlimited. Africa still has to large pollution of programmers. The improve energy efficiency, among many computing will increase alongside the smallest market share and therefore north of America accounts for about other money-saving tasks. AI is expected IOT(internet of things ) reaching a have a big opportunity to break-in if the 27% with the USA on top while the to create 73 million Jobs by 2030. It has market of $6.72billion in 2022 necessary skill set and infrastructure can smallest is Africa with about 2% of other forms such as machine learning be built. The growth of IT innovation and market play. and Robotics. 4.Internet of Things market in Africa will not only improve Below are the major trends of 2019 The internet of things is our future business automation and facilitate giving rise in today’s IT markets and 2. Blockchain today. It will help us control all the convenience it will also create jobs and Jobs related to Blockchain are things built on Wi-Fi connectivity raise the standard of living.

After us the deluge. — Australian Proverb March 8, 2019 ISLAM COLUMN / 31

Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad Focus On Faith 08076760011 (sms only) www.abubakrsiddeeq.com, email: [email protected] BY NAFI’U BABA AHMAD The Church Re-elects el-Rufai Say: If your fathers, and your sons, and “the issue of sacked workers…” your brethren, and your wives, and your In a swift reaction to Pastor David Ayuba tribe, and the wealth ye have acquired, and Azzaman’s article, a veteran journalist, merchandise for which ye fear that there resident of Kaduna and Muslim scholar of will be no sale, and dwellings ye desire are the Christian Bible, Abubakar Jiddah Usman dearer to you than Allah and His messenger described the piece as “quite disappointing” and striving in His way: then wait till Allah and “most unfortunate”. He said “the crux bringeth His command to pass. Allah of the matter is not el-Rufa’i’s Muslim- guideth not wrong doing folk. Muslim ticket or his alleged hatred of the Christians, but the Southern people’s At-Taubah 9:24 pathological hatred and disdain for Islam and Muslims..” except a few among them. Reminiscent of what happened in 2015, On Azzaman’s vaunt of demographic thanks to the Christian Association of capital Abubakar said the claim by “David Nigeria (CAN), the 2019 election is making Ayuba,” of over 900, 000 votes from Nigeria’s democracy take the form of a that area for Late Yakowa, is, to say the Crusade, turning “the pulpit into a devilish least, a shameless exaggeration, unless of podium” to campaign for the PDP in course he’s confirming the over voting that myriads of states most especially Kaduna. characterised elections in that area before Examples abound in Plateau (causing inter- the advent of card readers.” denominational conflicts), Taraba (now Abubakar further contended that the aided by mercantile judgement), Nasarawa “alleged hatred for Christians” as imputed and whatnot, but my focus will be on to el-Rufai is false. “It’s a fact”, he said, Kaduna because of its notoriety in tribal “that el-Rufai, even if he cannot be said to and religious problems. Muslims’ response be a nominal Muslim, one can certainly, in countering this evangelical onslaught never ever say he’s a fanatical one or type. on APC and its candidate, the incumbent His office secretary, his right-hand man, governor, is to regard participation in Peter, his principal pressmen and many the election as a binding Jihad on every of his closest friends, the likes of Pastor believer in Allah and His Messenger, peace Bakere, are Christians to the core. Yet, he be upon him. hates Christians and Christianity?” If Governor Nasir el-Rufai wins el-Rufai The Church, by consecrating Isa Ashiru tomorrow’s governorship contest, the as the Christian candidate, has emasculated down on the Church and undermined the among other points, that “Tactlessly using Church has inadvertently succoured effects of Christian votes in his re-election, the obscure name of one David Ayuba the will of the Muslims in the state in his re-election efforts by stirring up the but he went on to command the candidate Azzaman, the PDP, sensing impending interrogating the performance of el-Rufai hornet’s nest of religious fervour among of APGA, Polycarp Gankon, who was defeat at the scheduled governorship and determining whether or not he deserves the adherents of Islam. apparently among the worshippers in and state assembly elections of March a second term. The contest now is between In a video clip that went viral on the church to convene a gathering of all 9, attempted to change historical figures Islam and Christianity. To many Muslims WhatsApp, one Prophet Isa El-Buba, who gubernatorial candidates of other parties to and facts to fan the embers of communal the PDP candidate is Reverend Father Isa described himself as one of the “genuine step-down for the candidate of the Church distrust”. Ashiru Kudan, and thus, ensuring his defeat prophets, whose conscience cannot be in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru of the PDP. If the people behind EHA had been is a Jihad. bought or manipulated”. Quoting from Amebo News Online published an diligent in their search for his identity On the authority of the above epigraph Psalm 59:11-12, Prophet Isa El-Buba said, article by one David Ayuba Azzaman they would have found Google virtually from Surah Taubah 9, verse 24 of the “Slay them not, that is the wicked and the titled Implication of el-Rufai Returning as littered with David Ayuba Azzaman’s Glorious Qur’an, people have forgiven adversaries, lest my people forget: but one Governor in Kaduna, in which the writer articles which are an embodiment el-Rufai whatsoever infraction he might thing we are asking for, scatter them by claims that Southern Kaduna can sway of endemic enmity against el-Rufai, have committed against them, if there your power; and bring them down, from is any, even if it be the killing of one’s election results to their favoured candidate Islam and Muslims. The EHA would their place of authority, O Lord our shield. with “ about 900,000 …bulk votes”, as have found his picture, when he was parents, progenies, brethren and spouse, For the sin of their mouth and the words they did to Yakowa, together with scores ordained as a pastor, as well as his being or destruction of merchandise and of their lips let them even be taken in their of votes from Christians and of another the president, Network for the Rights of means of livelihood, or the demolition of pride: and for cursing and lying which they “close to 600,000 …non indigenous Indigenous and Marginalised People. dwellings and expulsion therefrom; el- speak”. people” living in Muslim dominated areas Still, in the Amebo News Online Rufai is blameless now that the Church “There is a man who (sic) is your in the state. article, Azzaman called on “Southern has delineated the sharp edges of belief governor”, he continued amidst Azzaman excoriated el-Rufai, “who”, Kaduna sons and daughters and non- and infidelity. thunderous, nay raucous plaudits, “who according to him, “doesn’t hide his hatred indigenes of Kaduna” to converge in the Nobody is speaking about the manifestoes lied proudly, looked down on the Church, for Christianity”, for introducing “a strange state for a showdown with the incumbent of the candidates and their parties. The spoke words… that with your votes or policy of Muslim Muslim ticket” which “if for the sake of their “children and even issue of how to tackle insecurity, reduce minus your votes, he’s still going to win. achieved will mean that governors after those to be born.” Return of the Jackal. illiteracy, unemployment and penury is He has used his mouth to wash down and el-Rufai will follow suit. A time will also Pastor David adjured “the not on the minds of the electorate. The to look down at the state of the Church. come when they will out rightly (sic) tell stakeholders in Southern Kaduna and right to question the capacity and quality Now, I want to say to all of you, I don’t us we don’t have David Ayuba Azzaman Christian leaders in Kaduna to seat of candidates in governance is lost in care your political inclination, whether in Kaduna State.” with” the candidate of the Church the cacophony of needless acrimonious you are PDP, APC or whatever you are, Unfortunately, even before the success of and PDP, Ashiru Kudan, to “start campaigns from the Pulpit and the Mimbar. it’s not about party, it’s about a person the Muslim-Muslim ticket, the handlers of negotiating” for possible dividends by Therefore, the Church has effectively that has looked down on the glory of the disenfranchised Muslims in PDP who the incumbent Governor of Kaduna State coming up with a ratified covenant of Church. Therefore, in the pride of el-Rufai, fell prey to the author’s prophesy that his repudiating el-Rufai’s anti-Christian would have otherwise voted for Isa Ashiru. you must remove him from that seat of existence will be denied, as a group, el- policies “after victory is achieved”, not el-Rufai’s handlers and some respite, power. ..you must not allow the agent of Rufai/Hadiza Ambassadors (EHA) did least, “changing of nomenclature …and religious scholars have taken over gratis the devil to continue to be your governor just that, as reported by LEADERSHIP of sacking of..traditional rulers/institutions”, campaign in favour of their principal, and if over Kaduna.” March 2, 2019. EHA said in a statement giving compensation to “the victims of indeed democracy is the game of numbers, Prophet El-Buba has not recited el- signed by its chairman, Ahmed Sani, Fulani herdsmen killings” and revisiting the Church re-elects el-Rufai by challenging Rufai’s lies or how the governor looked the Muslims to a leadership contest.

A heavy purse makes a light heart. ― Egyptian Proverb 32 FRIDAY DISCOURSE www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

MALLAM YUSUF The Mission Of Man ABDULLAH 08137666995 (sms only) [email protected] On Earth! Peace and blessings of Allah be upon His In the name of Allah who states, “He who created death and medical doctor. A doctor pronounces a man noble servant, our master Muhammad and life, that He may try which of you is best in deed; He is the dead when the various systems of his body, his oppressed progeny. such as circulatory and respiratory among Before I proceed on the topic above, let me exalted in might, Oft forgiving” Q14: 42 others cease to function. The organs are congratulate us on the advent of the sacred there but no longer function and the doctor month. Rajab is the seventh month of Islamic can neither restart nor give a kick. Allah says, calendar from the four sanctified. Muslims “They will further say Had we but listened were generally encouraged to put in more or used our intelligence we should not (now) effort to acquire the pleasure of Allah through be among the companions of the blazing fire. prayers, Qur’anic recitation and charity They will then confess their sins; but far from among others. Of the most memorable Allah’s mercy are the companions of the historic events of the month was the birth of blazing fire! Q67: 10 -11 Imam Ali in the first of its great nights in the In the light of the above verses, we can holy Kaaba. Being the head of the prophet’s understand that Listening and Intelligence household, the Ummah was enjoined to love are very important criteria for good him and his family as necessary reward for comprehension of the essence behind this prophetic guidance “... no reward do I ask life. As such, those that missed the guidance of you for this except the love of those near were perished in hell. May Allah protect us! of kin...” Q42: 23. The youth forum of the The sermon of Luqman el- Hakeem to his Islamic Movement colourfully marks the son is very relevant where he admonished event annually where the Imam’s sterling him to associate no partner with Allah, to virtues are highlighted for believers to be obedient to his parents, to be steadfast in emulate. I hope to take a look at his blessed prayers, bid people unto virtue and forbid life in remembrance of the historic event vice, bear patience with whatever may befall later. him in the path of Allah, turn not his face in scorn and pride and not be indifferent The Mission Of Man On Earth towards people. Q31;19. The psychological The piece I want to discuss this week is contribution of Dr Alexis Carrel, a French the mission behind the creation of man. It is scholar, in his book, Reflections sur le very unfortunate that most people are either conduite de la vie, Persian translation, Pages ignorant or careless about this mission for 99 -100 is very relevant here and could traced which they were created and placed on earth. Sayyid Ali el-Zakzaky, one of the sons of Sheikh el-Zakzaky that was killed, with from its sources. The philosophy behind life is very clear in lmam of al-Sahla Mosque, Sayyid Tabaetabae, in Kufa, lraq. Islam. Allah says “Behold, thy Lord said to Rewards According To Deeds the angels I will create a vicegerent on earth, Here and hereafter are two accustomed wrote during our university days on a similar So, the righteous and the wicked are they said Wilt though place therein one who expressions that simply refer to this life appellation on which many commented rewarded accordingly. “But give glad tidings will make mischief therein and shed blood? and the life after. Which of the two is more including medical students. Although we to those who believe and work righteousness, Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and important? The earthly life of course, this is know about death, but we hardly think over that their portion is Garden, beneath which glorify Thy holy (name) He said I know what because, it is the seed for the life that comes it especially with regard to what comes after. rivers flow. Every time they are fed with ye know not” Q2: 30 after it. No doubt, all messengers of Allah When the Western scientists enumerate fruits there from, they say why, this is what We can clearly understand from the verse were sent on this motive and no nation was characteristics of living things, they simply we were fed with before, for they are given above that Allah has created man to live as left. In fact, Allah has told us the answer of say death is the final but unimportant end! things in similitude and they have therein His vicegerent on earth. This means that he the rebellious in a response to angels on the One must ask himself some related questions, spouses purified; and they abide therein should run his life strictly in accordance with coming of the messengers “They will say, however. Is the death an end or a beginning? (forever)” Q2: 25 the directives of Allah as contained in the yes indeed a Warner did come to us, but we What is the wisdom behind death? Where Imam Ali has said at times one’s enemy is noble Qur’an. So, it is part of this exercise to rejected him and said Allah never sent down do we go after death? What is the relation more helpful than one’s friend because the teach the children the essence of life, which any (message); ye are in nothing but a grave between the physical and spiritual aspects of latter makes one aware of his shortcomings is to worship Allah alone and not associate error! Q67:9 a human being? And what are the lessons to leading him to overcome them. Therefore, anything with him. Allah states, “O you learn from the death of others we witness? the success behind this life is undoubtedly to people! worship your Guardian Lord, who Running A Pleased Life Regrettably, many people do not mind the live in accordance with the teachings of the created you and those who came before you; Prosperous is he who purifies the soul religious teachings about death and therefore creator and to attain His pleasure. The losers that you may become righteous. Who has and failed has he who soils it with sin and live unconscious of the related highlights. are those that wasted their lives by missing made the earth your couch, and the heavens impurity. Q91: 9-10. In a hadeeth, the prophet Most important thing I want to draw our the guidance of Allah, running their lives in your canopy; and sent down rain from the (S), every child is born on a pure nature, it is attention to is the spiritual aspect, which is accordance with their wishes. Most people heavens and brought forth therewith fruits for his parent that brings him up as a Christian or beyond the comprehension of a qualified will not perceive this until they die. These are your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto a Jew. Allah states, “we will give a pure and the ignorant, the careless that think they are Allah when ye know (the truth). Q2:21-22 wholesome life to every one man or woman in control but the real and actual controller Based on this, life has three stages; our who acts righteously and has faith and we will The sermon is Allah, the Omnipotent and disposer of all living on earth, the interim stay in the grave, reward them in accordance with the best of of Luqman el- affairs. I hope we will make the best use of otherwise referred to as the life in the unseen what they used to do” Q16: 97 our time to acquire the pleasure of our creator and the life hereafter. All these three stages On whatever capacity one lives in this Hakeem to his son in this trial so that Allah might be pleased are important but most important of all is world, he/she shall be judged based on his/ is very relevant where he with us. the life here as is the fieldwork of the two her action. So, the trial of life covers the While urging us to put in more efforts lives to come. Therefore, we must work rich and the poor, scholar and ignorant, civil admonished him to associate to achieve the pleasure of Allah, the Most harder to live as vicegerents of Allah so that servant and the farmer just as it affects all and no partner with Allah, to be High, the unconditional need for our goals, we may acquire His pleasure and attain the sundry. So, we must be very careful in our esteemed readers on the need to refer to greatest abode of His righteous servants in duty to Allah the Most High! And from the obedient to his parents, to Shi’a scholars, books and sites for more the hereafter. Therefore, in the cause of his wisdom of Allah, the linking bridge is death be steadfast in prayers, bid information and guidance, the need for life, man must make sure that he properly that all souls must taste. We may ask what is people unto virtue and forbid the unconditional release of Sheikh el- understands and gives more attention to death? Simply, death could be defined as an Zakzaky and all his disciples cannot be spiritual aspect of his being, which has end to living, Life’s end or stoppage from vice overemphasised. greater impact and determines his hereafter. being alive. I could recall a little article I Wassalamu alaikum.

A penny soul never came to two pence. — English Proverb LEADERSHIP FRIDAY March 8, 2019 Friday EXTRA How Gender Balance Creates Better, Sustainable Economies he contribution of women Never in human history has the place of women taken to deteriorate due to economic and in their households and centre stage as today but more opportunities need social decline, conflicts, and the spread national economies are of diseases. Many of the women increasingly acknowledged to be created to fully develop their roles. And the in Nigeria largely live in poverty. within Africa and by the International Women’s Day 2019 campaign theme of Their personal poverty is a lot more Tinternational community mainly #BalanceforBetter is a call-to-action for driving gender pervading than that of the male and because of their energetic efforts to this threatens the very survival and organise, articulate their concerns and balance across the world. VICTOR OKEKE writes. health of the nation. make their voices heard. According Dr Tinuke Fapohunda, At both grassroots and national of the Department of Industrial levels, more women associations are Relations and Public Administration, taking advantage of new political Lagos State University, “poverty has openings to assert their leadership a woman’s face since 70 per cent of roles. They are also pressing for an people in poverty are women.” expansion of women’s economic Fapohunda suggested that in order and social opportunities, and the for more women to reach the same advancement of women’s rights. high positions as men in various By improving their own positions, fields, more focused education and women enhance the country’s broader socialisation are needed for better development prospects. burden-sharing and a fairer division of However, women in Nigeria continue labour between the sexes in the home to face enormous obstacles. The and society. sharing of power, wealth, influence, “Not only should governments’ employment among other things, macroeconomic policies incorporate between men and women has never gender perspectives in their design, been close to equality. they also need to take into account Even in the most advanced intra-household differences in countries, gender inequality in wealth resource use and control, recognising distribution has remained a live that improvements in women’s issue. Over the years, many women incomes promote equity as well as have faced daunting challenges of child welfare.” joblessness, no source of livelihood, “Most economic programmes widowhood, and single parenthood. overlook the unpaid economy, where These challenges notwithstanding, women predominate. They also assume the roles played by women in national that males and females respond to development and in all facet of human incentives in the same way, thereby endeavour have been quite notable. ignoring gender and power relations Though there has been considerable within households and communities. progress in developing the capabilities But gender biases and rigidities may of women, their participation in strongly affect women’s access to economic and political decision- productive resources and markets, making remains very limited. ultimately frustrating economic The United Nations Development reform policies. It, therefore, makes Programme (UNDP), in its Human economic sense to take into account Development Report, listed some gender biases and tailor-planned examples to show that in spite of the unemployment among women than women develop the capacity and interventions to improve women’s considerable progress in developing men; among illiterate people in the ability to control and direct ability to take advantage of incentives, women’s capacities, women and men developing countries, the proportion those things, which affect them. thus enhancing overall economic still live in an unequal world. of women is higher than that of men; The growing recognition of their efficiency.” The examples include the following: women’s wages are below average. contributions has not translated It is worthy to note the results of poverty has a woman face, because 70 The UNDP report adds that in 55 into significantly improved access a study by Chikanele Asuru of the per cent of the 1.3 billion people living countries with comparable data, the to resources or increased decision- Department of Economics, Ignatius in poverty are women: the increasing average female wage is three quarters making powers. Neither has the Ajuru University of Education, Port poverty among women arises from (¾) of the male wage in the non- dynamism that women display in the Harcourt on Gender Equality and their unequal situation in the labour agricultural sector. economic, cultural and social lives Sustainable Development in Nigeria. market, their status and power in the In developing countries, women of their communities through their Result showed that women poverty family among other things. still constitute less than one-seventh associations and informal networks rate had continued to be on the Women have relatively low access of administrators and managers. been channeled into creating new increase in spite of Nigeria’s adoption to credit from formal banking Women occupy only 10 per cent of models of participation and leadership. of the development. This is particularly institutions because they mostly parliamentary seats and only six per Aside from the political challenges, true with regards to gender equality do not to have collaterals to offer; cent of cabinet positions. Women the material conditions under which all regions record a higher rate of development is the process whereby most women live and work continue CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE

A goodAn eyething for is allan theeye sweeter and a tooth when for won a withtooth. pain. 34 FEATURES March 8, 2019 How Gender Balance Creates Better, Sustainable Economies

CONTINUE FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE and women empowerment. The inability of Nigeria to achieve this can be attributed to the continual inequality between men and women in the distribution of resources and rewards. He said, “women are the most deprived in terms of the distribution of national wealth,” suggesting that the government, as a matter of urgency, needs to reconsider the place of women in the society especially as it relates to women participatory rate in labour force, women literacy rate, women health and participation in decision making. This can be achieved through the enforcement of the various policies, programmes and projects aimed at bridging gender inequality and equitable distribution of resource and rewards. The public and private sector economics must shy away from age- long biases on the place of women in the workplace. Indeed, there is no dearth of female talent in terms of technical capabilities but socio-cultural roadblocks are the larger obstacles in the way to achieving gender parity today. Companies must encourage women to go beyond completing task lists and aim at achieving their ambition. Organisations in this regard must increase the representation of women in Happy women, happy world significant leadership roles, and these women to come back into connected world enables us to focus on the development of women workforce and refresh their skill set connect and network seamlessly pool of work but at leadership levels. in technology as well. would be useful. within seconds. Companies should In this light, this year’s Companies must build women Engagement programmes on encourage women in their workforce International Women’s Day theme- leadership strength across all nutrition, health, finance andto network with other organisations ‘Balance For Better’- means that technical and managerial ladders. so forth encourages overall to share and learn best practices. Nigeria needs a better gender Development opportunities for development of women by focusing Companies can develop women balance in income equality, in women can be facilitated through on various aspects. Women specific leaders with area specialisations leadership, in safety and health, in improved human resource and trainings in work-life balance and through partnership with other education and all areas of life. This business practices. self-defense are necessary education organisations with similar missions. would look like a gender-balanced Further, existing leadership in today’s context. These programs As growth is not a unidirectional boardroom, a gender-balanced should encourage and promote help women employees immensely in process, inter-learning and government, gender-balanced creative confidence to enabletheir professional career and growth collaboration will enable companies media coverage, a gender-balance of innovation. Hosting interactive by tending to their personal needs. to grow faster and holistically.” employees, more gender-balance in sessions for women, with senior Senior Vice President & General Unarguably, helping women gain wealth and gender-balanced sports women leadership will motivate Manager, Manhattan Associates, the right skills and ensuring their coverage. No one should be left out. employees to develop higher Ushasri Tirumala, is of the view that fair representation is the need of the aspirations and provide the right effective communication is critical in hour. Leaders across companies and Though there has learning opportunity. This will leadership roles for women. “Many institutions need to educate their provide women with chances to rise women find it difficult to speak stakeholders on the importance of been considerable and succeed as much as their male at public forums or in meetings. right-skilling, not only for men but progress counterparts. To overcome this challenge, also for women. Employers should look to identify companies must initiate mentorship Diversity of thought, natural in developing the and bridge competency gaps and programmes, annual events, panel creative ability & perseverance, capabilities of women, improve soft skills. One should focus discussions on stress management, which are all innate gender on work-life integration of women to build effective communication advantages of women, would push their participation in employees, especially working skills in women employees. These them to be successful leaders. economic and political mothers, as it is typically seen that events create platforms for women Overall, organisations must work women tend to off ramp while family to network, share knowledge and to create transparent and enriching decision-making remains grows and family comes first in grow,” she said. workspaces in order to see more very limited certain time periods. Encouraging She added, “today’s hyper female talent not only in the future

All things come to those that wait. March 8, 2019 FEATURES 35

sometimes send some to my people back in Benue to help me knit and send back to me because the workload would be too much Traditional Knitting if I were to do it alone and I don’t want to disappoint my clients. “Each of the wrappers with its tie is N6, 000. The cap and Made Pretty With Dondo muffler costs N1500 each. A shirt I make for N4, 000. And Desperate situations, they say, calls for desperate measures. That is what the unavailability of knitting each of the mufflers does well paid jobs in the country has pushed many youths to do. In this report, ANKELI EMMANUEL not take more than 20 minutes. So in a day, I can knit about 15 narrates the story of one Nigerian youth, Dondo James, who has chosen to keep himself busy by wrappers.’’ daring the odds of embracing knitting as a means of survival. On how he was able to get the knitting machine, Dondo said it The story of Dondo James was a combination of wood which is simply a manifestation of he neatly arrange constructively audacity of faith. James, who is in a manner that could guarantee a graduate from the College of the traditional weaving. “I learnt Education, Akwanga, Nasarawa the art of using wood to construct State, is from Ushongo local this local weaving machine from government area of . the technical school like I told Like most youths, his mindset you earlier. It is very easy. You was tailored towards rural-urban do not need to buy anything. All migration where he hoped to you need do is cut some trees to enjoy greener pasture. He wasted suit your purpose, knit a thread to no time taking his destiny into assemble them in a manner that his hands and moving to Kaduna will give you result. State after school. There, he “As for the raw materials secured a teaching job in one of used in the traditional knitting, the numerous private schools in I usually buy finished cotton the city’s metropolis. products from the market. These In the beginning, his joy knew cotton materials are arranged into no bonds counting himself bunch of treads with different amongst the lucky ones after colours thanks to traditional dye. securing a job in such a short “After buying the tread, I time as opposed to the many arrange the colour in an orderly stories of long time job search, manner to give me what I which he has heard over time. want, after which I fix them After teaching for a while and on the wooden machine before enduring the hard life that the knitting.’’ merger salary afforded, James Having perfected the art, James had to go back to the drawing does not think he ever wants to board to come up with workable have a white collar job except plans for his future. Few years of course, if the package is later, he dared the odds and mouthwatering. “If the pay is resigned from his teaching encouraging and if I will have the job to embrace traditional or rent, as is the case in most people began to know about time to still knit after work I’ll knitting, a trade that he learnt instances. me and the patronage became consider it. If I am paid above after secondary school before After practicing his trade of unprecedented. Today, I have N100, 000 monthly, yes! I will proceeding to the college of traditional knitting in the hidden high patronage. be willing to work. However, I education. For him, doing so and got established in the open “Some people give me contract make above that in less than 2 at the time was just a case of by legions of customers that of 500 or more pieces and I weeks from my knitting job.’’ wild adventure into the realm of wear the native attire he makes exploring an area that had fewer to occasions, the upsurge in competitors in cities. patronage compelled him to look As the initial thought of how to for a more prominent place where generate start-up capitals often both old and new customers can serve as obstacles for intending reach him. entrepreneurs, James’ case was This desire, therefore, made no different. He was however James get an open place within able to overcome that initial the perimeter fence of Command hiccup with only N20, 000, Secondary School, Kaduna along his savings from almost a year Sabon Tasha Road, Ungwan earning from his teaching job. Romi central cemetery before According to James, his initial Kaduna Polytechnic staff motive for learning the trade was quarters. nothing short of passing time and “As far as I know, in the he never knew what he took as whole of Kaduna State, I am a part time adventure will later the only one knitting this kind become his full time venture. of traditional attire. And let me Unlike most dreamers whose tell you one very funny secret, dreams of becoming self-reliant I started with N20, 000 only but never materialise because as time went on, I am happier of unfavorable economic doing what I am doing today atmosphere, James passes as one than working for just N16,000 of the few lucky ones hence, he monthly. could start from the comfort of “When I started, the patronage any available little space without was not very encouraging but necessarily paying royalty I never gave up. In no time,

A penny soul never came to two pence. — English Proverb LEADERSHIP FRIDAY March 8, 2019 FRIDAY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, HEAD, ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM SMS ONLY: (+234) 08053686156 flavour EMAIL: [email protected] ‘Mr President’ Finally In Cinemas BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM

After enduring minor setback in cinema schedule and a mix up in debut date, a new Nollywood movie, ‘Mr President,’ is finally ready to hit cinemas this weekend. The movie which is produced by Nollywood’s new entrant, Shirley Ann Ede, is an intriguing and entertaining movie powered by Little Brother Global Entertainment. The young producer is set to become the first woman to confront political issues using entertainment as a platform to drive her message. A global thinker and trailblazer, she intends to push Nollywood to global standards with the quality of her works. Being a movie with a political theme, it is intriguing that the movie release coincides with Nigeria’s gubernatorial and state houses of assembly election. The revolutionary movie depicts how a president interrupts a football game to declare his intention to run for a second term in office. Several issues soon begin to spring up to threaten his ambition and as the cunning and hilarious game of politics begin to unfold, he must listen or ignore the advice of his cabinet to determine if he would lose or win the election against a formidable opposition party. ‘Mr President’ engages a high number of known stars like Toyin Abraham, Ayo Makun (AY), Broda Shaggi, Funky Mallam, and a host of others. Some lucky fans may have the privilege of meeting some of these superstars in a cinema closest to them. Tiwa Savage Denies Leaving Mavin Records Since Richardo Banks announced his big response, the songstress and proud mum of move from Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records, one has debunked the rumours explaining many have continued to predict that it it isn’t true. won’t be long before other big names signed Well, the rumour was ignited by Miss on the record label begin to leave too. Savage’s revelation about having a major Recently, there were rumours going announcement to make. Just saying that Ghanaian Actress Advises round which suggested that Tiwa Savage got many fans thinking that she is set to had also joined her label mate Banks to announce her exit from the record label take a big leap from the label, but in a swift that made her. Ladies Against Sleeping Around hanaian actress, Moesha Boduong, who once admitted on CNN that she sleeps with a sugar daddy to pay her Gbills, has had a change of heart and is advising other ladies against that. She gave the advice in a new social media post were she strongly advocated that sleeping with different men will never make any lady rich. “Sleeping with different men will never make you successful or rich. No man will spend on a whore!! Men love women who are exclusive,” she wrote. She concluded by advising against believing everything one reads on social media. “Don’t believe in everything you read on social media and don’t believe in rumours and gossips.” Moesha Boduong Tiwa Savage

Better be envied than pitied. — English Proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 friday FLAVOUR 37 Online Streaming, Next In-thing In Nollywood – Nwache A new TV series titled ‘Drive’ just began streaming online on Amazon. In this interview with ENEKWECHI KENECHUKWU, the director and producer of the series, Nigeria’s own Kenneth Nwache, speaks on his work and why he decided to stream it online instead of the usual way that it is done in Nollywood.

For the benefit of those who don’t really know you, tell us more about yourself? My name is Kenneth Nwache. I am a digital filmmaker, investor and content distributor. I am the founder of KNT Studios, a registered film and TV production and distribution company. I’m also the creator of Drive TV series. You can find more about me on my website; kennethnwache.com or in all my social media platforms with @ Directorkeng.

What informed your decision to create the series, Drive? Drive is designed to explore different ways social media users can take advantage of the billions of active internet users. I want to show the talented folks how to monetise their talent on various social media platforms and the entrepreneurs/investors how to leverage on the opportunity to make more sales, reach more customers worldwide and find potential investment options on the net. Drive Nwache is created for the 21st century youths, those in the internet age. working on Drive’s scripts.

Tell us about the cast and how they were What areas would you like to explore in the screened to be part of the series? future? The series follows the story of different Politics, health, crime, trust, betrayal, youths and their struggles to positively family, humanity, I have a long list. And become billionaires through social if it’s not filmmaking, I want to explore media. This is to say that you should be the world, travel. expecting to see a different set of cast in every season. In the first season, we Why did you decide to run the series online? conducted an online audition and a Drive is going to run on both online private casting and majority of those platforms and the TV/cable platforms. who made the cast were selected based Currently, two episodes from the first on the quality of their talent. season are already streaming on Amazon prime Video. The full first season will be How long is the series expected to run for? published online soon. That would be We are looking at creating a thousand followed by the TV/cable releases. episodes with the help of our research team. And at the end of this 1,000 Will you move the series to a different episodes, our mission is to show platform? viewers a hundred ways to effectively Definitely! Drive is a universal kind of make use of social media for profit and story. We intend running a strategic self-employment. marketing and distribution to ensure every Youth who uses the internet gets What do you expect to achieve with the to see it. The first season is currently series? only available in the United Kingdom My major aim is to use Drive to make the and United States. In a few weeks, it youths understand the importance of would be available for African countries social media and its potentials. I expect on AMC Series (Africa Movie Channel) to see youths learn to begin to see the and other TV channels. various platforms as being a platform to be used for other things beyond ordinary Who are your favourite characters in the likes and comments. series? Cast of 'Drive' My favourite character is Ray. Though be slowly but surely. We chose quality Are you the writer of the series? you won’t be seeing him in the first What should people expect from you next? over quantity so that if we must hit the I am the creator, producer and director. season, but you would from season two Expect great movies and series. My locations, it must be for great movies We have a list of carefully selected which the pre-production kicks off very team and I are working on some rich, or we’ll just sit in the theatre for some creative writing team including myself, soon. quality African contents. It’s going to popcorn.

A soft answer turns away wrath. — English Proverb March 8, 2019 b oks & by Chinelo Chikelu arts NEWS REVIEWS HISTORY Nobel Prize For Literature Returns he Nobel Prize for Literature Award has returned. This time, it will be a double award, one for the winner of the suspended 2018 award, Tand the 2019 winner during the award coming up later in the year. This announcement by the Nobel Foundation, is in line with last year’s decision following the scandals that rocked the Swedish Academy, the body that elects the winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature when the #MeToo movement reached Sweden, leading to the suspension of the award. Scandals of conflicts of interest, breaches of confidence, and economic misconduct, within the academy were exposed following a report by Sweden’s 2019 NLNG Prize largest daily, Dagens Nyheter, on November 21, 2017, in which 18 women Targets Children accused Jean-Claude Arnault, the husband of poet, and member of the Swedish Academy, Katarina Frostenson, Literature of sexual assault and harassment. Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), Arnault, who is friends with members Prize for Literature 2019, is focused on of the 18-member Swedish Academy, children’s literature submissions authored and founder of a performing arts group Mossaed Runesson by Nigerians living at home or abroad. that has received several supports from The literary prize, which rotates around the academy, has since been convicted issues against writer, Salman Rushdie. addition with collaborative working literary works of prose, poetry, drama, of two accounts of rape. Lotta Lotass, in 2015, withdrew from of the academy, the Nobel Foundation and children’s literature is open to works Making the award possible was the active participation in the work of the and the Swedish Royal Court) the published every four years, this time from appointment of two new members by academy; and following the #MeToo resumption of the award is made the year 2015 to the present year. the Swedish Academy, Swedish Supreme effects, three members of the academy, possible. With playwright and lecturer, Soji Court Justice, Eric M Runesson and Kjell Espmark, Klas Ostergren, and But this is only for a short period of Cole’s Embers taking home 2018’s NLNG Iranian-born poet, Jila Mossaed, who Peter Englund announced they would time – 2019 to 2020. Divisions within Literary Prize on drama, the 2019 edition are elected for life, with no room for not be participating in the forthcoming the academy, and for the moment, the focuses on children’s publication, with a resignation, but 12 of its members are work of the academy. academy’s recalcitrant stance on the deadline for submissions on April 5, 2019. required in order to decide winner of the Threat of the future of the awards demands of the Nobel Foundation, Writers are to submit 10 copies of award. heightened when two other members, and some of its members has resulted published work to the NLNG External While members of the academy Secretary of the academy, Sara Danius, in a long-term settlement of the issues Relations Division, overseers of the cannot resign, they can however, and Sara Stridsberg said they were plaguing the 233-year-old institute with competition. Works entered before in exclude themselves from participation taking their active participation under laws as old as it is. this category of the competition are not in the academy’s activities as some have. consideration. However, with three The Swedish Academy has been welcome, regardless of its further revision. In 1989, Kerstin Ekman, withdrew as members, Danius, Espmark, and awarding the Nobel Prize in Literature Winners will be announced and presented an active member in disagreement over Englund, allegedly participating in the since the creation of the award in 1899. to the public in the month of October. the academy’s handling of the Fatwa election of Runesson and Mossaed (in

It has given me a sense of legitimacy for what I am doing. The opportunity came at a time, Maintaining Flamenco Form With when I was trying to go deeper into my kind of relationship with flamenco.”

Would you expand on the creative process African Rhythm Is Difficult YEG– and experience of that untitled piece at Dancegathering? In this interview with LEADERSHIP Books & Art, Graves talks and make you think that maybe, things can I suppose part of being at dancegathering is about the challenge of maintaining the form and integrity of be done differently. It is also like how united collaborating and rethinking the way we do energies can do so much. It is making me think what we do, or even doing things they have flamenco when paired with West African sounds and rhythm, very carefully about the choices you make, as never done before. her ongoing projects, and future plans. CHINELO CHIKELU an artist. It makes me realise there are other In reality, it was a big challenge since we writes ways to do so, and it is okay to find other ways had just about two hours each day, for three to do that.” days, that’s six hours to create something. apping away to the infectious beat flamenco professional, has co-created works An illustration of her collaboration with We just started jamming, really, playing of an African drum, the oja, local on contemporary flamenco with her co- other works of expression is her global around. Awoko, on the flute, began, while I flute, a Yoruba song and the palma founders at Dotdotdot; Alvin Ailey dancer, tour with the documentary film, Gurumbe: introduced the Bulerías, a kind of flamenco with her body, shoes, and board, Ashley Thomas and currently working on a Canciones de tu Memoria Negra, which she dance, then, the drummer chimed in. Another sole representation of the flamenco, project with South African dancer, Mbulelo features in. Graves met Gurumbe’s director, nice surprise was the singer, Toby, who asked British Ghanaian Flamenco Dancer, Yinka Esi Ndabeni. Miguel Rosales, in Seville, a few weeks, after to join. So, the act just came out of nowhere. T her move from Madrid, where she had been for Graves, creates an energetic piece that seems Her openness to collaborating other We were also interested in just going from effortless and non-adherent to the strictures contemporary forms of expressions besides five years. The experience, she reveals, accords our meetings, since we came from different of the technical traditional flamenco. flamenco, she says, has evolved with the added her the opportunity to meet with audience artistic backgrounds, and didn’t have the time Graves, with her intrinsic and acquired experience of dancegathering Lagos, opening who, otherwise, would never have flamenco to create a piece about something specific. multi-ethnic background (British Jamaican her up to the reality of other ways of creating, in their radar, and of people interested in the We just wanted to see what our encounter from her paternal family and Ghanaian on her and disseminating creations out to the world. Black Arts, and those of intellectual leaning produces. It is a kind of initiation of the mother’s side, studied Afro-Caribbean dance, “It is heartwarming to meet people who are in other forms of black expression. and Senegalese dance) though a traditional likeminded to some extent, on a global scale, “The sudden attention has been interesting. ➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

At the ends of the earth.— English Proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 BOOKS&ARTS 39 Maintaining Flamenco Form With African Rhythm Is Difficult YEG–

➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE half of them are influenced by the Philippines Peinetas (intricate floral hairpins), the Asian process, that in the next few days, we worked chaussures (shoes), which was a previous on giving some sort of structure. Obviously, colony of Spain, the rhythms, which are kind we work in different languages, and the of the Americas, and the older remnants of flamenco is very specific. I knew I wasn’t what the African population left behind. You going to be dancing proper flamenco, with all are right, about globalisation, in that I am able its required structures for a piece, which, in to dance flamenco, and there are more foreign itself, is a challenge. But I felt that wasn’t the flamenco dancers, something being done all point. The point is to see how we can let our over the world. However, it always speaks to different rhythms co-exist. me as something else. That it is something that is always universal, even if it was used Were there specific challenges or ‘torn as homogenous factor. moments’ in working with the sounds, not just It has taught me about history, that we can as flamenco but also as a dancer who has to never take for granted what we are told and follow the beats and the song? taught, as often what we are told and taught, Absolutely. More than anything it is very are actually not really true. So, we believe challenging as it comes with a different Graves taps away to the beat of the local and Korean drums things are one way, when in reality, they really intention. When you dance traditional aren’t. There you are thinking flamenco is a flamenco, you are singing to a particular traditional Spanish thing, when it turns out kind of song, which is Palos, with different to be a multi-cultural art. rhythms, specific lyrics and specific terms, Although, we have to be clear, Flamenco they create an energy. For instance, Alegría, was created in a specific place, that is, Spain. as the name implies, is a celebration of oneself, There is no question that it is Spanish, but it is that people dance in a playful way, in contrast that coming together of things, cultures that to Siguiriyas, which is almost tragic, and were there at the time that made it happen. possesses a different rhythm. The musicality of the type/style of flamenco, guides the An admirer of contemporary African dancer energy of the piece and the aesthetics of the Nora Chipaumire, do you think her influence is dance, and is supported by the guitar, and the what drew you to dancegathering, to opening Palmas (the clapping). In a sense, I feel, as a up to other forms of contemporary expressions dancer, your job is to use those elements to besides flamenco? inspire your movement. For me, what I found I think it’s been happening anyways. I very difficult with the piece, because it was founded a company Dotdotdot, with two actually very false to me, is that, if I am going other dancers. I have left the company, but to keep some integrity of the form (flamenco), we co-created contemporary flamenco work. which I have come to the gathering as, were I The company uses traditional flamenco to to respond to what I was listening to, maybe sort of express different things, and approach I would have moved differently. So, it was like them differently. I also did a contemporary trying to somehow use movements of my piece with Alvin Ailey alumni, contemporary flamenco dancing but without them being dancer, Ashley Thomas, now based in Paris. triggered by the same things. That was already there, and this experience Another thing is the intention, I noticed is an evolvement. In general, when you begin that (and this is different in other parts of to look at something, you see more things West Africa), there is this idea of the bass leading further down that path. I think what rhythm, and the solos that people do; whereas is intrinsic in the African, is not seen as much, in flamenco, when somebody is going to do not that it is not valued, but it is not seen something, they need everybody’s support as if it’s anything. I am going through this around them to accentuate it. So, as a dancer experience with a company, where we are when we feel people are leaving us, what we working on something that is taking ages, and are doing suddenly doesn’t exist anymore. I am just expected to do something, because The untitled piece, was interesting for me, what I do supposedly just comes out. I am like because I almost felt like in the moment “Wait a minute, there needs to be a process.” I while I was doing other stuff, it was like “okay, feel like I want to take that time to myself and she is doing her thing”, and so they receded with myself to look at what is already within instead of coming along so we could all finish and start giving it some value as opposed to together. So, it is that sort of intention, more ignoring it or not giving it any importance. than rhythm that I think is the most difficult Graves, tapping away to the beats of the local drums at dancegathering part. If I am to come at it again, or if I had Any new projects? more time, that is an interesting thing about performative action. will continue, and I know what I am doing, I am working on South African but UK-based flamenco that would be good to use with these and I am now interested to look inwards, to dancer and choreographer, Mbulelo Ndabeni’s other forms. How much do you draw from your African roots excavate inside of me. It is to also help me piece. I am also working with Pueblo Marco in your performances in relation to your more find the clearest voice choreographically, Vargas in Spain, on a piece expected to That’s interesting because the African “We cosmopolitan background? and dance-wise, and I definitely think that is premiere by the end of the year. Then, I will Philosophy” which is about communality, That’s an interesting question. I feel like there connected to my Africanness. be touring with Dotdotdot, on a production seems to allow for individuality when it comes are certain things more intrinsic in the way I we made last year because I was in it. I am to music and seems as much as it allows for the perhaps move. I did some Senegalese dancing Do you think globalisation has had much also starting what will be my first solo piece. union of music and dance. when I was younger, and I have also lived in influence on flamenco, in terms of encouraging That is a big step for me. That, in addition No, I agree, and flamenco does that as well, Cuba, where I did some Afro-Cuban dancing. inclusion of other racial influences, like Africa to this grant process, which I know I will do in the sense that there are moments of And I know that has influenced me; because in the art form? somehow, with or without the grant, are my protagonism. But it is how that protagonism is a lot of the African-Caribbeans in Cuba are We think globalisation is modern but I plans for 2020. perceived that is different. That protagonism totally Yoruba. So, I think it might be there, think flamenco was born of a global world; is perceived in absolute correspondence to but it is quite inconscupious. Currently, I just in a place where there were African, gypsies, How do you balance work and family? other elements working in the service of that made an application (fingers crossed), for Jewish, Spanish, Moorish populations. Since I am learning. Leaving Dotdotdot was a part thing. I think it is just an energy intention which if I receive the grant, I am interested the beginning of slavery and conquest of the of that because I was too busy. I am very thing. That was just interesting, because I in spending more time, investigating ways I Americas, the world has been conversing and close to my family, even though I don’t live am aware that being so used to that, and not can utilize the memories, things in my body crossing cultures for 500 years. Flamenco, in England all the time. I love what I do, and having those prompts made me somehow that I take for granted. Flamenco is very as a new art created in the 19th century, is both feed into each other. I think as a person, lose myself. It was an interesting observation. complex, and it takes time to train, even relatively new, and comes at the end of Spain’s whatever I do, I will always be busy. That’s The musicians I worked with were absolutely with just the technique, and I am still in colonial rule. Ironically, it is used as a form of just who I am. amazing, brilliant, and were quick to grasp that process. However, I have been focused its identity. But, flamenco’s identity in and of all the rhythms I proposed, flamenco-wise. on that for a long time, and I have reached itself, is a process born out of its colonial past. Are you married? It was interesting to see the difference in a point, suddenly, where I know that work This is in the sense that the costumes we wear, I am not married but I have a partner.

After us the deluge. — Australian Proverb 40 / OPINIONwww.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 President Buhari’s Re-election And Civil Service Reforms BY KENNETH JOEL sector, revamping the health sector Presidential directives to newly Citizens have long waited on and ensuring regular supply of water sworn in federal permanent government to roll out programmes Continuity is a legitimate process to to rural and urban centers. secretaries by president Buhari that have direct bearing on the people stability in governance. Economic These are all deliverables that recently asking them to be more to get involved in private enterprises, and infrastructure policies heralded require seeing through better committed than ever before to developing business concepts in by the incumbent administration end results, so it’s only applicable strengthen the new order to build agriculture, marine, oil and gas, road therefore will not be truncated. that the present administration and restructure the fundamentals sector development, health, education, Ironically, some critics are of the had a chance to be back in power of good governance, a product of water, power, solid minerals and social opinion that this administration through the people’s votes efficient, productive, incorruptible investments. did not do well to deserve a second towards sustainable growth and and citizen-centered world class civil Apparently, these initiatives have term in office, but defeating its main development in all sectors of our service was a direct testimony to the been reasonably considered by the opponent clearly undermined the national life. successes recorded in the ongoing present administration, which explains clamor of a section of Nigerians Having said that, it’s also civil service reforms. why the head of service commenced a with diverse political and economic about the first time the country’s At the wake of 2019, the federal training programme for civil servants interests who long for a new public service reforms has had a civil service outlined and made public that were set to be disengaged from government. comprehensive structure with eight domain the performance index of service at the end of 2018, creating The stiff opposition to unseat the strategy areas of prioritisation that federal government efforts within a future and hope for them and their present government was indeed a simply addresses the lethargy of the last three years to restore values families. wakeup call to improve performance the old order in the civil service, to and enhance a more productive and A society with low production in all sectors of governance, pave the way for growth driven civil growth driven civil service addressing capacity and absence of effective especially a focus on the less service with optimal performance. deliberate plans to enthrone good measures for increase in output privileged in society, that constitute The President had given node to governance and create jobs through is likely to experience increase in the bulk of the majority in terms structural reforms in the public its reform agenda. poverty without option. And that is of numbers. Women and youth service with a terminal period Over the years, the country has the scenario in Nigeria presently, the empowerment took center stage of 2020, beginning from 2017, remained less productive, with high economic indicators are not strong towards the end of the first four revelations emerged that the level consumption indices found due largely to redundancy that has years of this administration too. This handlers of the reforms may not be within working ages 25-65, people culminated into poor living condition, made some Nigerians, especially given an extension, and therefore around this age bracket today are which of course will have negative opposition critics, insinuate that the performance contract to deliver redundant with no jobs, though a impact on the political and economic funds released to market women on the core modules by the Office of creation of successive misrule but also sphere of the nation. and youths for trading activities and the Head of the Civil Service is an a weak society that rely on government In the end, the present skills acquisition was to induce votes onerous task. to create intervention schemes for administration through its public from the electorates. From records available to sustained earnings. service reforms has demonstrated But this administration is the public, so much work and Statistics available to the public the willingness and preparedness to confident about delivering on core commitment to beat the deadline shows clearly that less that five per cent tackle headlong issues of effective mandate of road infrastructure, has been made by sub-committees of college and university graduates get participation in governing process by workable rail system, boosting of the project including federal employed yearly while the rest roam the private sector as contained in one power generation, transmission permanent secretaries who are by the streets for a reasonable number of its core modules in the ongoing and distribution of electricity, ranking, permanent members of of years in search of jobs that are not reforms. systemised rice and general crop sensitive committees trusted with available. Some take to all forms of production in the agricultural the responsibility to ensure delivery. criminality to satisfy intending ego. Joel, wrote in from Abuja State Elections: The Need To Support IGP Adamu And His Men BY BALA ITODO highly experienced and complete value for human life and it will help agencies. gentleman to manage the Nigerian in preventing breakdown of law IGP Adamu has set the standard The presidential and National Police Force at this critical time in and order by political thugs during for every individual to follow and to Assembly elections have come and our nation. The rest is for every well- the elections considering what learn from. As we go into the state gone, but one question remains meaning Nigerian to give maximum happened in these states during the elections this Saturday, politicians and it is if the Inspector General of support to the police and save our presidential and National Assembly should know that the world is Police (IGP) and his men can keep country from crime. elections. watching us especially foreign to their promise of providing a level To ensure free, fair and peaceful Placing an embargo on covered observers who are on ground playground for all political parties states elections tomorrow, IGP plate numbers is another good to monitor the elections. Our during the states’ elections. The Mohammed Adamu has rolled out step in the right direction. This politicians should educate their answer is absolutely yes! some measures for the successful will reduce crime rate and help supporters on the need for peaceful The way the IGP Mohammed conduct of the elections. He has in identifying vehicles used in elections and avoid acts that will Adamu, his officers and men chosen to provide armed officers committing crimes and it will also cause loss of life and property as managed the last elections in terms to patrol the polling units. This help law enforcement agencies to we have no other country than of security, has been adjudged the is a welcome development in identify with ease, vehicles used Nigeria. The loser should be able best performance by the police a situation where two or three to perpetrate any form of crime. A to accept defeat and congratulate since the return to democracy in policemen without arms are situation where a vehicle number the winner for nation building to 1999. This was possible because attached to a polling unit to protect plate, both front and back are go ahead unhindered. Power comes we have an IGP who is not partisan voters against political thugs in covered by few individuals in the from God and He gives power to in carrying out his mandate of their large numbers who might society, and in some cases with whomever He chooses. All the ensuring peace and security for invade polling units to harass the tinted glasses is unacceptable. candidates cannot be winners at the smooth conduct of the general police, and in some cases, attack The duty of granting such the same time. Somebody must elections. them and prevent voters from permission and privilege lies with emerge winner. IGP Adamu has proved to the rest performing their civic duties. It will the Police Force. If the IGP himself, May God continue to guide, of the world that Nigerians and also increase the turnout of voters who is the chief security officer protect and provide for IGP Adamu indeed the Police Force under his because no person will like to go of the nation can move around and his men the wisdom needed to watch, without interference by the out to vote when he or she is not without covering his official vehicle manage the security of the country. executive arm of government can protected, this is a right step in the plate number, there is no reason for May God also grant our President get it right. This is one of the key right direction. any unauthorised person to cover the wisdom to provide the needed areas in which every well-meaning The IGP has also ensured the his or her vehicles plate number support for our security agencies Nigerian should commend our deployment of more security especially now that the country is in their concerted effort to make president, Muhamadu Buhari. personnel to crisis prone states like facing security challenges, which Nigeria safe. God has helped Nigerians through Rivers, Bayelsa and others. This is a by the grace of God is being tackled the president in identifying this clear indication of love, respect and by the president and the security Bala Itodo wrote from Abuja After us the deluge. — Australian Proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 41 WOMAN ON THELoose with HAUWA BOOTH

Email: [email protected], Website: www.diaryofastupidwoman.com, 08055241197 (text only)

Another 'First Time' To Akwa Ibom And Mike My Train Ride Igini With Love Now that the elections of elections have come and gone with relative calm I so love the people of Akwa Ibom right now; a small case of the builder building a beautiful house and then and peace, we can get back to other facets of our lives. I had never used the state that is showing us the power of the collective. begins quarrelling with the land. train service from Abuja-Kaduna before but a few weeks prior to elections, They have come up as the number one state to watch, While this is playing out, Mike Igini, the INEC REC I made a trip to Kaduna. Without a doubt going by train is much safer than come Saturday. Lagos comes in at number three because in Akwa Ibom, has shot to fame for a reason worth by road. Delta State is at number two (after that confident emulating, one which led 44 parties to pass a vote of The train was billed to leave at 7am, so I had to be at the station latest speech). Let’s not be in any doubt about what the people confidence on him. His predicament at the moment 6.30am. The road leading to the Idu railway is clothed in utter darkness. I feel for their son; Akpabio. They do love him. He was shows that doing the right thing, being upstanding, hope the Next Level minister of the FCT will finally correct the wrong and instrumental to what the state became when he was having integrity and being good and laudable actually injustice done to the construction of this Idu road that has 29 annoying speed in PDP. He was also instrumental in the emergence requires bravery, courage and insight. Being bad requires bumps instead of a divider with streetlights!!!! Alas, the drive to the station of the current governor, but the people of Akwa Ibom little effort; we came rigged that way. He has stood his was by no means a better experience. The road was shrouded in darkness, in have shown that they can think for themselves and that ground and will not be intimidated or distracted by the this era of heightened insecurity, no small comfort when a small settlement despite the fact that they love their son, he has gone calls by the Akwa Ibom chapter of the APC to have emerged and was already bustling with life. The road had no shoulders and no ‘astray’ and therefore they cannot follow him. This him removed. We have found another man that has that allowance for streetlights and so I wondered, did someone actually approve is the kind of electorate we want to see in future. As wonderful integrity that our dear president has. Our the road with no provision for streetlights. The Chinese did it. There were someone put it, this Akpabio & is a politics is primitive. Let us keep him in prayers. two sharp corners that had barricades that were visible with headlights and not reflective! By the time I got to the station, I was more distressed, again but for the one light shining above the entrance of the station, the station To Go Or Not To; The People’s President, was also in darkness. Once it was time to board, the use of the lift was restricted. I couldn’t believe it. You were only allowed access if you had some luggage and even Atiku Abubakar? at that the lift was small and could only accommodate not more than 6-8 There are legitimate reasons the former vice president people depending on the goods. Once overhead the platform, the lift going should go to court. There are also valid fears driving down was out of order, so you were forced to use the steps. I wondered the other half of the divide that is urging Alhaji Atiku what a physically challenged person would do. Once on the platform, the Abubakar now going by the moniker, The People’s destination display was in Chinese. I quietly got onto the train. It was an President, not to go to the courts. uneventful, smooth journey. It depends on what the former VP intends to achieve On my return leg, which was the last train to Abuja, we suddenly stopped by going to court. I hear him when he says he wants to in the middle of nowhere. Not once was there any announcement as to recover his stolen mandate. He has that right. However, why. Eventually, we got to our destination but noted that no one gave any sometimes our right might not be what is good for information, the onboard screen, had a badly translated display message that us at that moment. Currently, we have a country of was neither here nor there since it wasn’t announcing the stopovers; I won’t frayed nerves, unhappy voters, angry, disillusioned bother writing what the display said. A quick scan of the platform showed Nigerians, gloating Nigerians, a country where post- there was no sign. We disembarked. The platform was poorly lit, which election jubilation looked like riots, a judiciary that is was bright in comparison to outside, which was in complete darkness. The struggling and in disarray, a country with two Chief drivers/family members/friends who had come to pick up their wards were Justices of the Federation and intrigues and the killing using their phone torchlights to either light the way for people or identify fields just became bloodier. their wards. The place looked odd but since that was my first time, I was On one hand, Buhari went to court all three times more concerned with where I would meet my driver. As I walked ahead of he lost. The Judiciary was engaged in the process, it my friend, she asked a silly question: “are we in Abuja?” to ram home my kept lawyers practising, earning and strengthening an retort, I dramatically turned round to answer her: ‘No, we are in Paris!” As I institution. This is another chance for electoral laws turned, my eyes miraculously caught on the terminal building overhead with to be put to the test. the letters KUBWA!!! We had disembarked at Kubwa Station!!! I didn’t even And then again, this is his last chance at having a know there was a Kubwa station!! When we started running back to catch shot at the presidency and in a country like Nigeria, the train, I was proud of my legs in that instance, but I was livid! anything and everything is possible. No Tribunal or court has ever overturned a presidential election, but “if wishes were horses, beggars would ride.” The place looked odd but since that was my first time, I was more Interswitch And 'God Network' concerned with where I would meet I am sure every Nigerian has been transaction. I would like to know how this my driver. As I walked ahead of my frustrated by ‘God Network’ in the last works because while GTB was reversing (insert your own timeline). It has been the declines and debits, Firstbank required friend, she asked a silly question: horrendous, and no one is taking note to I filled a form that would take 10-14days “are we in Abuja?” to ram home my sanction the company, from debits and for the issue to be resolved. By this time, I declines, sometimes multiple times to bad would have forgotten that between the two, retort, I dramatically turned round connections. I don’t even get why I could my money is stuck somewhere. The bottom to answer her: ‘No, we are in Paris! not get a reversal once Interswitch decided line is that network has been bad; when will not to take the money and declined the the use of network be seamless?

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 42 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

THE INSTIGATOR By Nnimmo Bassey When Real Is Fake [email protected], twitter: @NnimmoB

he need to deepen the our future. conversations that grabbed my attention relationships in which nations exploit interrogation of the current One of the highlights of my were the ones on the intersection or lack other nations, then seek to wall and tensions between truth participation was a visit to a chocolate of it of civil society activism and politics. insulate themselves from the exploited and falsehood cannot be factory, Zotter Schokoladen Manufaktur, The second conversation was on climate and wounded nations. overemphasised. With the which is more than just a place for making refugees. On the other hand, civil society groups Trise of fake news and alternative facts, and eating the delicious stuff. With a The exchange of views in the session sometimes run fragmented programmes reality has come to be doubted. What is hands-on leadership provided by its on civil society and politics was framed that are tailored to meet targets favoured real could turn out to be fake and what is founder, Josef Zotter, the establishment around the questions: “How does by donors. We also see undue pressure true could turn out to be false. This was produces up to 500 varieties of chocolates progressive or ecological politics actually on the youth to be apolitical, imbibe the thematic focus of a recent Elevate and admits 270,000 visitors a year. come about? Is it political parties and entrepreneurial spirit and expect little or Festival held in Graz, Austria, that this Among the attractions on the sprawling parliamentarians who have prevailed nothing from the state. Self-employment writer participated in. grounds of the establishment is an here? Or are NGOs and civil societies the and individualism are taught as the Strands of conversation covered Edible Zoo, restaurant and a Choco Shop ones that provide the necessary pressure? ultimate virtue. Public institutions are music, arts and political discourse. It Theatre. What is an edible zoo? If you are And how does the cooperation look often encouraged to be self-financing, was at this event that I got to hear of, curious about this, you definitely have like? Is it necessary or should too much build watered down ethics and open and experience, fake music for the first company. The ‘zoo’ provides the meat proximity among NGOs, grassroots themselves to privatisation. When we time. In the performance at the opening served in the onsite restaurant. Yes, the movements and politics be avoided?” understand that being political is not the session of the festival, the music was meat comes from the animals that roam The lead conversation was between same as being partisan, it becomes clear jarring, arresting and unforgettable. Was the farm here. When visitors that visit yours truly and Thomas Waitz, member why being apolitical is not an option. this music or was it a clash of sounds, here see the connection, they either get of the Green Party of Austria and The commercialisation of science is light and vocal gymnastics? This was drawn into eating more meat or they may member of the European Parliament. one obvious outcome of pressure of the sort of creativity that creeps on decide against meat. Waitz is an organic farmer, activist and vested interests in universities around you and leaves you wondering what The cocoa beans used in making politician all rolled into one. He makes the world. This situation has sometimes you just experienced. In other sessions, chocolates here are sourced mostly from politics look so good. His positions drive pushed scientists to work for commercial participants were immersed in a clash cooperatives in Ecuador, Belize and other home the truth that politics remains a or even political interests. This explains of words, more words, concepts and yet Latin American countries. A fraction dirty game when those that can help why some persons speak and act the way more words. Interestingly, they were also of the cocoa beans is sourced from transform it stand aside rather than step they do. The revolving doors between concrete. Africa. These come from Congo DR and into the fray. corporations, governments and research According to the organisers, ‘Elevate’ Madagascar. Not one cocoa bean from While politicians tend to seek to institutions continue to complicate our is an annual interdisciplinary festival… Nigeria. The company uses only organic maintain the status quo and their grip search for safe and just societies. With its unique combination of critical cocoa beans and is strictly concerned on power levers, activists tend to be more The ‘Elevate Festival’ was a space political discourse and contemporary about fair trade, good quality beans and disposed to be disruptive in response to to make dreams come to life. It was a music and art, the ‘Elevate Festival’ the working conditions of the farmers broken or iniquitous systems. The undue space for confrontation of ideas and the stands out of the ‘usual’ festival circus. and harvesters. influence exerted by corporations force questioning of what truth and falsehood Amongst the guests are human rights Back at the festival, there were some politicians to support the pursuit is in a world where the lines are getting experts, climate researchers and activists important discussions on topics such of competition and exploitation rather increasingly blurred. One truth that from all over the world, who gather in as climate truth/climate lies; conspiracy than the building of cooperation and stood out in my heart is that colonialism Graz once a year with musicians and theories and conspiracy facts; echo the common good. This has given rise is alive and well, but often wears different artists, illuminating pertinent issues of chambers and bubble breakers. Two of the to right wing politics and dominant clothes and bears different names.

“I have to make the bed now”, said when you play songs, spiritual messages Anike, in a calm voice. etc in the background, it can really This was while three months’ old help to bring down the stress level of Ishola was still on it even though he PARENTING everyone in the family. That shift in was awake and just cooing away in that energy will make you more aware of familiar baby tune. This was 6:05am. using your calm voice. “You are so determined to be early With Third, it can also help to reduce to today lovely; this is really good for you. volume and pace of your speaking. I So why not put your brother on his speak pretty fast and I find out that rocker and go ahead?” said mom as she when I speak more slowly and softly, beamed a smile and those encouraging SURUURAH OGUNFEMI I’m more likely to use my calm voice and words on Anike. my kids will usually follow suit. The previous days had been like a war +234 8032012783 [email protected], [email protected] Fourth, it also helps to speak with a zone. Anike seemed to be determined to smile. It’s hard to have an edge in your be in slow motion mode for God knows voice when you are speaking with a why and consistently making it late to smile- even when you are telling your school- perhaps to escape her morning kids to do something or not to do chores. However, mum refused to be A Yell-free something- that smile can go a long boxed into a corner. Irrespective of the way in helping you to speak with a calm time, she wasn’t bending on the early voice and diffusing a power struggle. morning chores. Yesterday, as Anike Little wonder one wise man said: smile, seemed all set without laying the bed, Home its charity and that wise man is the using her calm voice, mum reminded you have made the decision to maintain this is a powerful tool to gradually live prophet of Islam- Muhammad (peace her that she couldn’t be set until her and use your calm voice irrespective of it. So, the next time you want to raise be upon him). bed was set. Anike knew she had no what the situation throws? your voice, stop in your tracks- if you Next, whenever possible, walk into choice but to do the needful. This gained First, you need visual cues. Just as have to do some deep breathing, count the room your child is before speaking her some two more minutes still in the a vision board propels you to achieve 1-10, leave the room for a moment- to him or her. When we shout from house from her already delayed time, your goals, these visual cues will be your that’s okay- you would be setting a room to room as it’s tempting to do, which was going to add like seven more reminder to maintain and use your calm great example for your children on how we are really raising the tension and minutes to her commute time. voice. So stick them up everywhere to calm your body and your emotion volume in the household and the As a recovering yeller, I can assure that matters- on your mirror, on your when you are upset. tendency is that when they do not hear you that the calm voice is an extremely fridge, on your dashboard, as your Our kids tend to mirror us. When us the first time, we yell our request. useful parenting tool. computer and phone screensaver, on they see you keep calm in the heat of This is a good recipe for stress for all Children can self-correct. One of the the bathroom door and just about the moment, they will be much more of us! tricks is to stay calm when you want to everywhere… it could be as simple as likely to stay calm as well. Once you see the impact of your calm yell. This may sound simple and we all a message to self: I am choosing calm Second, look for ways to make your voice on your children, I bet you will be know it’s not. So, what can you do when today. Constantly being at face with physical environment more soothing- motivated to use it all the time.

After us the deluge. — Australian Proverb LEADERSHIP FRIDAY March 8, 2019

Guber Poll: Issues As APC, PDP Battle For Soul Of Kano he race for who presides As voters in head for the poll to elect their of two political gladiators - Kwankwaso and over the affairs in Kano Shekarau - led to the reversal of the party’s State Government House has governor for the next four years, ANDREW ESSIEN writes fortunes as the latter returned to APC. always been keenly contested on the fierce battle between the two dominant parties in As if that was not enough, the PDP again by gladiators in the state from relapsed in another dispute largely from theT First Republic. The strategic location the state vis-a-vis their strengths and weaknesses. the conduct of the governorship primary and cosmopolitan nature of the ancient election allegedly highjacked by a faction city makes political activities there highly of the party. vivacious and unpredictable as anything The contest produced about six could happen at any time to tilt the political governorship aspirants at a go. They are pendulum either way. the former governorship candidate of the As it stands today, the front-runner parties defunct All Peoples Party (APP), Alhaji for the gubernatorial election are the All Ibrahim al Amin Litte, a one-time aide of Progressives Congress (APC) and the former President , Dr. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Akilu Indabawa and a former governorship stakes could not have been higher. On the candidate of the PDP in the state in 2015, surface, the race seems predictable and even Alhaji Sagir Takai, easy but the realities on ground are different Others are a one-time managing director depending on the perculiar perspective from of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Alhaji which an analysis is being done. Aminu Dabo, a relative of Ambassador At one level, a school of thought posits Aminu Wali, Alhaji Sadiq Wali, a young that the APC will, with a very wide activist, Alhaji Jafar Bello and Alhaji margin, traunce the opposition to retain the Abba Kabiru Yusuf, who is a former governance of the state, just as it did in 2015 Commissioner of Works in the state under with considerable ease. Governor Kwankwaso. To this school of thought, several factors Crisis erupted in the party after a support this point of view. Undoubtedly, clandestine meeting held in Kaduna and Kano is majorly an APC state, while rooted for Alhaji Abba Kabiru Yusuf as the recognising the well-known fact that choice of a faction of the party faithful for President Muhammadu Buhari is well 2019 gubernatorial election. His choice was received and loved by the people of Kano roundly rejected by the stakeholders of the and this will have direct bearing on the party. This singular decision displeased political fortunes of whoever is the APC’s Ganduje Kwankwaso so many, who refused to buy into the standard bearer in Saturday’s election. explanation that his choice was informed Another factor is that, with the almost National Assembly polls where it literally from another world, and such does not exist. by “competence.” 1.5 million votes garnered by the APC for swept all the 3 senatorial seats and the 24 On the flip side, at a time the thinking The resultant consequence was that President Buhari in the last presidential poll House of Reps slots as indicative of future was that Kano had all the indices of a many leading members of the PDP, such as as against PDP’s almost 400,000 votes, victories to come. battleground state. This line of thought Professor Hafiz Abubakar and Alhaji Sagir those sympathetic to the party are quick to Again, the APC chaired by Alhaji was hinged on the political calculation that Takai went their separate ways. say that the high figure is an endorsement of Abdullahi Abbas, a prince of the Kano the combination of Senator Rabiu Musa They first moved to some other factions the party and its candidate by the ordinary Emirate and a force to reckon with in the Kwankwaso, a formidable former governor of the party in the state, from where they people in the state. politics of Kano state. of the state and the factor of another former together demanded for the conduct of a To narrow it down even the more, the Another factor working in favour of the governor, Ibrahim Shekarau were enough to fresh and transparent governorship primary governorship candidate of the APC and party in the state and of important mention check the combined arsenals of President election by the PDP. When that did not incumbent governor, Dr Umar Ganduje is the influence of some key personage and Buhari and Governor Ganduje. work, they resigned their membership of polled over 2.7 million party votes in the actors on Kano voters. One of such notable However, many waters have since gone the party. primary election that produced him the of these personalities is President Buhari, under the bridge and the PDP in Kano State Ahmed Usman, a political analyst, will APC governorship candidate. Votes that who is seen by many in Kano state as a has since fell from its vantage position, however caution that “Until it is over, it is can ordinarily give him a comfortable lead messiah of the poor plus the huge advantage analysts averred. never wise to say it is over” insisting that, in the contest. This, the party is quick to of the factor of incumbency. Until recently, the PDP bolstered the “It is too early to give a verdict on what the point out that the man is on ground and at As it stands, the APC has two former face of a serious contender for the seat future holds for the state.” home with the populace. governors, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau and of government and a formidable political In the final analysis, the people of Kano The party is also quick to remind the Senator Kabiru Gaya who have secured party in the state. That was shortly after the will have the opportunity to decide who citizens of the Kano about the current senatorial seats for Kano Central and Kano party’s headquarters in Abuja conceived governs them until 2023. They must seize government’s giant strides in education, South respectively. This has added value to and executed the defection of the former the opportunity with both hands and make health, empowerment and infrastructural its quest no doubt. governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu the choice that is set before them. The sectors which, they insist, are being felt For APC, it will be an herculean task Musa Kwankwaso and his followers to the delicate peace and security of the state hang across the length and breadth of the state. for any other political party to dislodge party. in the balance and with the strategic location To buttress this point, the party leverages the present political structure and setting. It is believed that the failure of the party and importance of the state, nothing must on its performance at the presidential and Such political party would have to come to successfully manage the coming together be left to chance.

A good thing is all the sweeter when won with pain. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 44 POLITICS ANALYSIS March 8, 2019

abide by the use of the card reader will be prosecuted. INEC states categorically that any vote that emanates from the Between Smart Card Reader gubernatorial, State Assembly and the FCT Area Council elections on Saturday without the use of the Smart Card Reader would be voided. INEC National Commissioner and And Elections In Nigeria chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr Festus Since the introduction of the Smart Card Reader in Nigeria’s electoral process, Okoye also said that the allegation the commission was selective in the the 2019 general elections will go down history as the low water mark of the use use of the card reader in the February of this technology, SUNDAY ISUWA writes. 23, 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections was untrue. “There have been allegations from certain quarters that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was selective in its use of Smart Card Readers (SCRs) in its conduct of the electrons. These allegations have led to speculations that INEC may be forced to jettison their use in the March 9, 2019 Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and Federal Capital Area Council elections. “INEC hereby states categorically that the allegations are absolutely false and the speculations are without any basis whatsoever. The use of the Smart Card Readers is not only mandatory but its deliberate non-use attracts the sanction of possible prosecution of erring officials in accordance with the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections,” Okoye said in a press statement. INEC said it voided results that emanated from units and areas where card readers were not used in the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 23, 2019 and Election officials test voter card readers in preparation for elections won’t hesitate to do same during this Saturday’s elections. “The general public and all officials ith the introduction Even though Atiku is challenging the Bugaje was not alone. His co- engaged for the elections are hereby of the Smart Card outcome of the presidential election agent, Osita Chidoka had said that informed that the commission is not Readers (SCRs) in court, the election had a total of the number of registered voters INEC reconsidering the use of these Smart by former INEC 82,244,17 registered voters. While published and the one that was used Card Readers which has greatly chairman, Prof 29,364,029 were accredited, only has a difference of about 1,0669 voters improved the credibility of our WAttahiru Jega, into Nigeria’s electoral 27,324,583 votes were valid. Rejected missing from it. elections and instilled a high level of system, the technology is meant to give votes were put at 1,289,607 While the He said the total valid votes cast public trust In them. credibility to elections. total vote cast were put at 28,614,190. of 28 million also has a difference of “To clear any doubt or ambiguity, we The 2015 general elections, Akwa Ibom had the highest number about 750,000. wish to state that the deployment and especially the presidential poll was of cancelled votes put at 195,799, “The 5.1 million votes missing mandatory use of Smart Card Readers adjudged one of the best in Nigeria’s Kaduna 189,865, and Nasarawa, is greater than the votes the APC in next Saturday’s elections will not history because an incumbent had 157,591 votes. candidate leads with. We recorded only be uniform but also universal, to call an opposition leader that was In Plateau State, 146,355 votes were many states with votes without card and the provisions of the Regulations winning at the time to congratulate him cancelled, Lagos had 141,652, Kogi readers. In Bauchi, Jigawa, Borno and Guidelines will be strictly and even when the electoral umpire was recorded 89,101, Imo had over 89,000 and other states, card readers were not vigorously enforced. All stakeholders still announcing the results. votes cancelled. used. are to note and be guided accordingly, The same process has been adopted In Niger State, 71,237 votes were “If the card readers were used, it “ Okoye added. by the present INEC led by Prof cancelled, Anambra - 69,395, Imo would have made it difficult for the “Nigerians should just ensure that Mahmood Yakubu. A lot of votes were - 63,488, Delta - 54,120, Zamfara APC to get such numbers of votes in they do the right thing by ensuring their cancelled in the 2019 presidential - 57,871, Taraba - 45,066, Ebonyi those states,” Chidoka said. PVCs are captured in the Smart Card and the national assembly elections - 54,668, Kano - 43,900, Sokoto - According to some political pundits, Readers to avoid voiding of votes,” a conducted on the February 23, 2019 33,057 and Bayelsa had 21,380 votes the use of the card reader in the last political analyst, Sambo Ezekiel said. because the use of smart card readers cancelled. election is still an issue of concern. “If politicians are advising some was not complied with. In Katsina,12,027 votes were While stakeholders are calling for people not to adhere to the provisions As alarming as this might sound, out cancelled, Jigawa 16,014, Ogun - the release of the total number of of the law by getting their accreditation of about two million votes that were 9,680, Kebbi - 6,293, Kwara - 3,342 accredited voters via the Card Reader through the smart card readers I think voided, the large chunk of it came as in three local government areas, while across the country, some politicians are that is a disservice. If you remember, a result of non-usage of card readers. Oyo state’s cancelled votes were put now deceiving Nigerians not to abide most of the cancelled votes arising President Muhammadu Buhari of at 3,273. by the use of card readers in tomorrow’s from the presidential election are votes the All Progressives Congress (APC) PDP agent at the national collation gubernatorial, State Assembly and the that were not captured by the smart polled 15,191,847 to emerge winner centre, Dr. Usman Bugaje had requested Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Area card readers,” Yacham Charles said. while Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the the opening up of the back-end of the Council elections. He advised Nigerians to ensure Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Smart Card Readers to ascertain the But the commission has swiftly that they follow all the laws guiding polled 11,262,978 to trail behind. actual number of accredited voters. warned that any of its staff that did not election in tomorrow’s polls.

A man’s behaviour is the index of his mind. March 8, 2019 NEWS NATIONAL 45

Nasarawa PDP Gov’ship Candidate Rejects Maku’s Endorsement BY DANJUMA JOSEPH LADIES

The governorship candidate of the Peoples L-R: Chairman, Capital Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state, Market Master Plan Hon David Emmanuel Ombugadu, has re- Implementation Council, jected the purported endorsement of Mr La- Mr Olutola Mobolurin; baran Maku, governorship candidate of All acting director-general, Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) by Egg- Securities and Exchange on nation. Commission (SEC), Ms Ombugadu, who made his position known Mary Uduk and minister in a press briefing in Lafia, yesterday said the of Finance, Hajiya alleged endorsement of Maku by the Egg- Zainab Ahmed, during on Nation through the Eggon Cultural De- a meeting between velopment Association (ECDA) was a failed SEC Management and democratic coup carried out by supporters the minister in Abuja, of Maku in a bid to sway public opinion and yesterday. win the largest votes from the Eggon tribe PHOTO BY NAN. in the forthcoming governorship and state assembly elections. “I was told that some personalities were Shake Up: Army Redeploys 13 Senior Officers already celebrating the annexing of the divi- BY TARKAA DAVID, Abuja sion, Major General OG Adeniyi from De- from Headquarters Nigerian Army Engi- dend of an aborted coup in the media houses. fence Headquarters to Theatre Command neers (Sappers Engineering Nigeria Limit- To me, their actions should be condemned. The Nigerian Army on March 7, 2019, re- (Operation Lafia Dole) and appointed Depu- ed) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Engineers As far as I am concerned, I am a popular leased the postings and appointments of 13 ty Theatre Commander, while Brigadier Gen- and appointed Director Army Works, Briga- choice of the entire people of Nasarawa state. of its senior officers. eral GK Nwosu, the Chief of Staff Headquar- dier General AD Gbadebo from Headquarters I am the right person to take Nasarawa state A statement by the Acting Director Army ters 82 Division has been posted to Nigerian Nigerian Army Engineers to Nigerian Army Public Relations Col Sagir Musa said those Army Special Forces School as Acting Com- School of Military Engineering and appointed to their new height. affected by the development include, Major “I was presented with a video of the ECDA mandant, Brigadier General CA Apere from Deputy Commandant, Brigadier General SS General ECN OBI who has been posted to Nigeria Army Special Forces School to 82 Di- Araoye from Nigerian Army College of Logis- President and in it, the man did not come Defence Headquarters as Chief of Defence to say that we Eggon Nation having exhaus- vision as Chief of Staff. tics to Nigerian Army Central Workshop and Standard and Evaluation, Major General LF In a similar vein, Brigadier General KI Yu- appointed Commandant, Brigadier General tively consulted widely with other national- Abdullahi from Headquarters Nigerian Army ities in Nasarawa state hereby endorse the suf has been posted to Nigerian Army School CA Thomas from Military Hospital Lagos to Education Corps posted to Defence Head- of Finance and Account and appointed Com- Defence Headquarters (Office of the Chief of candidate of APGA in the person of Mr La- quarters as Director Veteran Affairs Divi- mandant, Brigadier General MNB Mamman Defence Staff) and appointed Gender Adviser. baran Maku. Oyetola Reiterates Support Election: Again, A’Court Strikes Out Rivers APC Appeal

For Small Business Owners BY ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt by Justice Kolawole Omotosho had on that the appellate court based its deci- January 7, 2019, nullified the primaries sion on judgments and rulings of the Su- BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Har- conducted by APC in the state and or- preme Court on similar issues concern- court, yesterday struck out the appeal by dered the Independent National Elector- ing the APC in Rivers State. governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola has that All Progressives Congress (APC) in al Commission (INEC) to remove the par- Speaking to newsmen outside the expressed the readiness of his administration Rivers state over the judgement of the ty’s logo and candidates from the ballot court, counsel to the Peoples Democrat- to continue to support the growth of medium Federal High Court, which barred APC and other electoral materials. ic Party (PDP), Dike Udenna, said the APC and small scale businesses to boost the econo- from fielding candidates for the 2019 gen- Delivering judgement of the appeal by is not entitled to field candidates in the my of the state. eral elections. the APC, Justice AM Lamido described 2019 general elections because of their Oyetola stated this in Osogbo yesterday while The Federal High Court, presided over the case as an academic exercise, saying disobedience of the Electoral Act. declaring open the 2019 Osun Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise opportunities, with the WFP Urges Gender Equality For Food Security theme “Expanding Market Frontiers for MS- BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja en’s Day – think equal, build smart, innovate help empower women so they can have more op- MES”. for change – resonates with WFP’s gender-trans- portunities to not just improve their lives, but those The governor in statement issued by the infor- Putting women and girls front and centre in pol- formative approach: working to give everyone of their families, communities and nations,” Beasley mation officer, Ministry of Finance, Mr Kingsley icy decisions and in programmes to tackle hun- lives of dignity, choice and opportunities. Bea- in a statement that was issued by the organisation’s Omoyeni stated that Oyetola who was represent- ger and poverty is vital for reaching our goal of sley said the organisation’s integrated pro- National Communications Officer Kelechi Onyema- ed at the event by the Supervisor for Finance, Mr a Zero Hunger world by 2030, World Food Pro- grammes using cash transfers contribute to obi yesterday. Bola Oyebamiji described Osun economy as one gramme’s executive director, David Beasley, has reducing gender-based violence, strengthen- Mr Beasley pointed to the milling machines project dominated by the informal sector. said. ing women’s decision-making and increasing implemented by WFP in as a demonstra- He described SMEDAN as an agency that has While calling for deliberate reduction in in- women’s leadership. tion of how working with women and girls contributes performed tremendously well since it was cre- equalities and removing barriers that exclude “International Women’s Day reminds us towards food and nutrition security in Nigeria. ated through the various programmes that has women from influencing development in all sec- about the immense and valuable contribu- Under the programme, 5,000 displaced touched millions of lives across Nigeria, stress- tors, Beasley added that such will advances food tion women make towards a more peaceful, families in Borno State received 766 milling ing that it is a testament of their performance security. prosperous and well-fed world. machines from WFP to ease problems associ- on the stimulation and development of MSMEs This year’s UN theme for International Wom- “All around the globe, WFP programmes ated with processing grains. across the country. Oyetola explained that his administration will in the next few weeks role out series of empow- Obaseki Shrinks Gender Gap In Edo erment programmes for women and other small BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City Edo, Ogun, Niger, Taraba, Abia and Kebbi states. According to Obaseki, “when women are em- scale enterprises in the state. Expatiating on the benefits which the pro- powered, it has a multiplier effect on the nation’s In his address, the director general, SMED- Efforts to bridge gender gap in has re- gramme holds for women, the governor main- economy and poverty reduction.” AN, Mr Umar Dikko commended Osun state ceived a boost as 54,000 women from the three tained that his administration was committed to He stressed the importance of a robust data government for creating the enabling environ- senatorial districts are set to benefit from the pi- bridging the economic and social gaps that exist base for the committees’ work and charged mem- ment which has allowed SMEs to grow rapidly lot phase of the Nigeria for Women Project, Gov- between men and women in the state. bers to come up with modalities on how the pro- in the state, noting that this has made their job ernor has said. “We are addressing all forms of gender gaps jects will be executed. easy in Osun. Obaseki, who inaugurated the State Steering which have encouraged extreme poverty in the “We need to come up with specific action plans He explained that the major priority of the Committee and State Technical Committee of the state. and monitoring mechanism so we can measure agency is to promote, “made in Nigeria products Nigeria for Women Projects at government house “So much is being done to ensure that women outcomes,” he urged, and tasked the various Ward and services” as well as enhancing the compet- in Benin City, said the project is supported by the and girls are empowered with relevant skills to en- Development Committees to be part of the screen- itiveness SMEs which he said the state govern- World Bank in collaboration with the federal gov- able them to become self-reliant and contribute ing of the project beneficiaries, to allow for fair ment of Osun has done tremendously well on.’’ ernment and designed to empower women across more to the economy,” he said. representation, he said.

A good deed is never lost. 46 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

with Jonathan Nda-Isaiah [email protected] flashpoint 08054518774 (SMS only) Time To Amend The Law On Political Parties n the just concluded presidential by most of these jesters, anyone who election, over 70 parties withdraws from a presidential election presented candidates. At the a month or two before the election end of the day, the ballot paper should pay a fine of N50 million. With looked like a booklet, making that kind of law, parties would think Ithe voting process cumbersome twice before presenting a presidential and befuddling for rural voters. candidate. We have had cases of We all knew the election was a some candidates, a week or two to the straight fight between President presidential election, stepping down Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku and endorsing the candidate of the Abubakar. The other pretenders were PDP or APC as if their endorsements delusional waiting to cut deals with the would make any difference. There major candidates. Some of these clowns should be a stringent fine to deter all cannot even win a family election. these jesters from contesting. There I think it is time the National should be a limit to buffoonery by Assembly amended the law on political these mushroom political parties. parties. We don’t need 100 political Another option also should be that parties. Even advanced democracies any party that does not win a state like the United States have two major house of assembly or a National political parties, while the other Assembly seat should be deregistered. smaller parties just contest for the We should stop hiding behind the county and municipal elections. It is law to create confusion in the polity. only in Nigeria that you can find where If we have just two or three parties a political party has a single room in and work towards electronic voting, I the outskirt of town with a husband and see no reason presidential results should wife as chairman and vice chairman, not be ready 24 hours after the election. Yakubu presenting a presidential candidate. Even India that has a population of The law is made for man, not man over 1 billion people gets to know the archaic and should be discarded. I With electronic voting, it will reduce for the law; that part of the constitution new president latest 48 hours after the see no reason elections should not the incidence of ballot box snatching, should be amended. We don’t need election. Electronic voting should be hold on a working day. We don’t thuggery and violence during elections more than two political parties at the way to go and manual transmission need to shut down the whole country drastically. INEC should work most three. To also reduce clowning of results from states to Abuja is because we want to hold elections. towards electronic voting in 2023. 9th NASS: APC Should Not Repeat Mistake Of 2015 As at last count, the All Progressives saw itself as an alternate government. the party. It should also be zoned should produce the deputy senate Congress (APC) already has a majority Sometimes you wonder if we had to regions and not individuals. president. The Speaker and deputy in the National Assembly. In the senate, two presidents in the country. Equity and fairness should come should be between the North central the APC already has about 64 senators Now, the APC also has the into play when sharing the spoils. and South south. The Northwest and about 220 in the House of Reps. majority and the sooner they zone The Northeast should produce the and Southwest should perish any In 2015, the APC had the majority, the principal offices, the better for senate president while the southeast thought of producing the four yet bundled the leadership of the principal officers of the National National Assembly. We had a Assembly by virtue of having deputy senate president from the the president and vice president. opposition Peoples Democratic I read somewhere that Speaker of Party (PDP) and one of the most the House of Representatives, Yakubu antagonist legislature in the history Dogara, is planning on retaining his of the country. The 8th Assembly seat in the 9th Assembly. I hope it is arguably the worst in the history is fake news or another beer parlour of the country. It was a case of one gist. If he is habouring that ambition, week, one controversy in the senate. then I think he is overestimating The constant bickering and himself. The APC is not that stupid power tussle, blind ambition by the to allow him return as Speaker leadership of the National Assembly where they have over 200 members, affected governance. Budgets and with the PDP, a little over 100. key appointments were delayed. He should perish that thought, The executive and legislature as our democracy is not yet were always at each other’s neck. matured for a bipartisan legislature. Suffice it to say that the executive The experiment in the 8th and legislature are not expected to be Assembly failed spectacularly. on the same page. That’s where the With an Adams Oshiomole as principle of separation of power as chairman, I don’t think the party well as checks and balances come in. will repeat the mistakes of 2015. However, the 8th Senate, because To avoid the same mistakes of of the blind ambition of its leaders, Oshiomhole 2015, the time to act is now. Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it. March 8, 2019 NEWS NATIONAL 47 Fashola Endorses Sanwo-Olu For Lagos Governor

BY OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU, Lagos since 1999. in the private and public sectors, Fashola said that Sanwo-Olu asking Lagosians not to jeopard- All Progressives Congress, APC, and Hamzat’s candidacy is the ise their future by allowing novic- goveenorship candidate in La- best that can happen to Lago- es to take over governance. gos State, Mr Babajide San- sians, as the two men are not Responding to questions wo-Olu, has reiterated that his novices to the workings of gov- from viewers, Sanwo-Olu as- government will be people ori- ernment. sured Lagosians that their needs ented, just as the minister of He said, “They are not only are captured in his planned Power, Works and Housing, Mr tested, but have also been part programme tagged project , urged La- of the process of development “THEME”, noting that the man- gos electorate to vote for him that Lagos has witnessed since ifesto was the products of broad and his running mate, Dr Kadri 1999 till date.” consultations the team embarked Obafemi Hamzat in tomorrow’s Saying that Lagos cannot af- on during the campaign. gubernatorial election, saying no ford to experiment at this point He said, “Our government is to one should trade experience for in it’s history, Fashola added that serve the people. Not necessar- someone who is merely desper- the people had gone beyond that ily from our own point of view ate to be governor. stage where governance will be alone, but also from what people Speaking during a live tel- left in the hands of inexperienced want. We campaigned vigorously evision interview programme individual. throughout the state where huge on Television Continental, Imploring Lagos voters to cast consultations were made. We vis- TVC, where he, Sanwo-Olu and their ballot for the APC, Fasho- ited all the local governments, Hamzat were guests, Fasho- la said it is not that Sanwo-Olu interacting with many groups la, who was the immediate past and Hamzat are the most bril- that included the artisans, mar- governor of Lagos, noted that liant, but they have what it takes ket men and women, tradition- voting for the APC candidate is to provide good governance by al rulers, transport operators, in- a guarantee to continuity of the the virtue of the experiences they cluding every cultural and ethnic great strides that Lagos has made have garnered over the years both groups and many more. el-Rufai Has Sanitised Hajj Operations – DG Inter faith BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna Musa also said that the He further pointed out governor has never interfered that Governor el Rufai’s re- Kaduna State Muslim Pil- in the running of the pilgrims election will ensure continu- grims Welfare Board (KMP- welfare board but only insists ity in the good works that he WB) has won several local that to ensure square pegs are has started in the health and and international awards in put in square holes. education sectors, including the last four years because ‘’For this reason, the board the smooth running of the Governor Nasir el-Rufai has has always placed priority on hajj operations. sanitised hajj operations, the the competence of hajj offi- Earlier, the overseer of director general of Bureau cials when sponsoring them KMPWB, Imam Hussaini of Interfaith, Engr Namadi for the yearly pilgrimage Suleiman Tsoho said that Musa, has said. to cater for pilgrims in the since 2015 when el-Rufai as- The director general who Holy Land, without regard to sumed office, hajj operations spoke at a stakeholders fo- their political leanings or oth- has been getting better. rum which was organised by er considerations,’’ he added. According to him, al- the board yesterday on how The director general there- though Governor el-Rufai is to ensure a successful hajj op- fore advised the people of the only new person in the eration this year, promised Kaduna State to vote for entire chain of hajj exercise, that Governor el-Rufai will Governor el-Rufai during his assumption of office has continue to give pilgrims the next Saturday’s governorship made all the difference be- necessary support when re- election based on his compe- cause the yearly pilgrimage elected. tence. has changed for the better. Election: Police Uncover 4 Flashpoint Areas In Ebonyi the polls. “I am using this opportunity BY OBINNA OGBONNAYA, Abakaliki Awotinde, who said that rele- to warn troublemakers to de- vant logistics have been put in sist from it or relocate because The Police com- place to ensure that the state they are not going to find it mand, yesterday, said that it records hitch free elections in easy as we have been dealing has uncovered about four flash- the state, further said that of- with them already, we will con- points were serious violence ac- ficers have adequately been tinue to deal with them. tivities were perpetrated by po- motivated for the election. “We also want to inform the litical thugs in the state during The CP, therefore, warned general public that if there is the last presidential and Na- troublemakers to desist from any breach of the peace they tional Assembly elections. fomenting troubles during the should call the numbers we The state commissioner of polls as the command would have already made available to Police, CP Awosola Awotin- not take it lightly with any- them for quick response. de, who made the disclosure one breaching the peace in the “We have join operation room in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state state. with the military, Nigeria Se- capital during a media briefing The CP said: “We the police, curity and Civil Defence Corps though did not disclose the in conjunction with other secu- (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety flashpoint areas. rity agencies, are ready as usu- Corps (FRSC) and others. They The CP said that serious Se- al to provide adequate security will be on throughout the elec- verity’s has been beefed up in for them before, during, and af- tions. They have about two pa- those areas to forestall possible ter the election. People should trol teams that will respond to repeat of the security challeng- go and exercise their franchise distress calls throughout the es recorded in the state during that day. election”, he said. A good deed is never lost. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 48 NEWS EXTRA March 8, 2019 One Killed, Others Injured In Fisticuff Among Youths BY HUSSAINI HAMMANGABDO, Yola

The police has confirmed the killing of one John Jada and two others seriously injured in a free for all fight in Jambutu community of Yola-North local government area of Adamawa State. The police image maker in the state, Othman Abubakar, who confirmed the incident, said Jada was killed at night during a clash among youths returning home from a party. “Youths returning from a night outing engaged each other in a fight at Rumde Baru in Jambutu. One John Jada was fatally wounded and he later died,” the PPRO said. He said the injured had been taken to a hospital for treatment while three persons have so far been arrested in connection with the act. “Those arrested are Shamsudeen Abubakar, Aliyu Musa and Muhammed Abba.” He called on the public to stay away from An Okada rider answers nature’s call stretched out on his bike at GRA in , yesterday. trouble especially during the gubernatorial and state assembly elections. Notorious Criminal, Ariyo, Others Police Arrest 2 Men For Diverting Goods To Die By Hanging BY OLADIPO MAGAJI, Ilorin ry to section 6 (b) and 1 (2) of the Robbery mit armed robbery and armed robbery respec- Worth N14.4m and Firearms Act, Laws of Federation of Ni- tively. An Ilorin High Court has sentenced a no- geria 2004 and sections 337 and 286 of the Making appearance for the prosecution torious criminal, Olatunji Ibrahim Ariyo Penal code. are the state director of Public Prosecution, BY ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan and four others to death by hanging. The court held that on 25th April, 2015, the Barr Abdulmumini Adebimpe Jimoh, sen- Ariyo, who is popular in the state capital for convict committed the said offences at Ag- ior state counsels, Kayode Adekeye and B The Oyo State Police Command has arrested his nefarious activities, was sentenced along- barere area, in Ilorin. O Banigbe. two suspects, Adenuga Michael (21) and side, Ganiyu Sulyman Yaro, Timothy Oye- “Each of the convicts was sentenced to im- Barr Toyin Muhammed Onanolapo ap- Saheed Yekini (27) for allegedly diverting banji, Lukman Olateju Sanda and Akeem prisonment for a term of two years and the sum peared for the first accused while Barr Ayo- goods worth N14.4 million. Olayinka (deceased). of N25, 000 was imposed as fine on each of deji Azeez represented the second accused The suspects were said to have diverted According to the judgement delivered by them on count 5 for causing mischief by fire. in the matter. a fully loaded truck of tricycles worth N14, Justice Adenike Akinpelu, the convicts were “Each of the convicts has been sentenced According to the proof of evidence, Ari- 400, 000. tried on a six-count charge for the offenc- to death to be executed pursuant to Robbery yo, with his gang, invaded home of no few- Another suspect was also arrested for es of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and Firearms Act on counts 1, 2, 3 and 4 for er than eight families in Ilorin metropolis to allegedly hijacking a truck fully loaded with causing mischief by fire and theft contra- the offences of criminal conspiracy to com- carry out robbery attacks. Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as Petrol. The state commissioner of police, Shina Olukolu, who paraded the suspects with A/Ibom Police Confirm Arrest Of 153 Suspected Thugs exhibits recovered from them, at the BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo state. of causing havoc during the March 7th Command Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, Represented by the police public relations governorship and State House of Assembly said they were arrested at different locations. Police, in Akwa Ibom, have confirmed the officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, the CP said elections. Out of the two suspects who diverted the arrest of 153 suspected political thugs. the suspects, who were found in 11 buses “I enjoin all Akwa Ibom people to go out truck loaded with tricycles, Adenuga Michael Addressing newsmen, yesterday, at Ikot and led by one Jerry Egom, were on their and cast their votes without any fear of was the truck driver and his accomplice, Akpan Abia in Uyo, the state commissioner way from Edo State on to Uyo. molestation and intimidation as police in Saheed Yekini, a motor boy. They were of police said the thugs were arrested along He explained that the suspects were the state would leave no stone unturned in arrested at their hideout at Odo Ona Kekere Ikot Ekpene local government area of the believed to be coming for the purpose providing water tight security,” he stated. area of Ibadan, while offloading some brand new tricycles from a Mark Truck with registration number, Lagos KTU 400 XB, 51-year-old Engineer Impregnates House Help which was suspected to have been hijacked. “This operation was made successful based BY BLESSING BATURE, Abuja The development came on the heel of warning deal with her if she talks to anyone about it. on information that reached our Special Anti- by the director general of NAPTIP, Dame Julie According to her, the first time was when his wife Robbery Squad (SARS) office at Dugbe, that A 51-year-old Civil Engineer, based in the Okah Donli, that parents will henceforth be held travelled and the man sneaked into the parlour some hoodlums were seen offloading some Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Oluwadare responsible for any reported case of child abuse where she was sleeping, touched her and forced brand new tricycles from a truck and the Adesanmi, has been arrested by operatives or defilement, saying that it is the responsibility his way into her after covering her mouth so suspects were arrested on the spot”, he said. of the National Agency for the Prohibition of of parents to protect and shield their wards from that she would not scream. That was the day he However, one of the suspects, Adenuga Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), for alleged any form of abuse. deflowered her and it was the man who cleaned Michael, while speaking with journalists sexual abuse of his 15-year-old house help that She gave the warning in her office while reacting up the blood stains and took away the bed spread said, “though we did not have intention of has resulted in pregnancy. to the report of increase in the cases of child she used to cover herself. diverting the whole goods, we only wanted to The victim, a Junior Secondary School Student abuse and sexual exploitation across the country. The school teacher intervened when she noticed remove just four out of the goods and sell it (JSS) of one of the government schools in Dutse Also speaking, the victim, whose name was not some of the changes in the girl and decided to on our own for our own gain and I think it is area of the Federal Capital Territory, was hired disclosed, said that the -born man take her to the hospital where a pregnancy a normal runs for we the drivers but we had by the family as house help about two years forced her to have sexual intercourse with him test was done and it came out positive. not even removed the four tricycles before we ago and has been living with them in their one- on two occasions in the sitting room where she Upon interrogation, the man confessed but were arrested on the spot.” bedroom apartment before the incident. sleeps. On the two occasions, he threatened to maintained that he only slept with her once. A fox is not taken twice in the same snare. – English proverb www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 NEWS EXTRA 49 13 Die In Suspected Meningitis Outbreak In Katsina Community

BY ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina strain because there are different strains of meningitis. No fewer than 13 people lost their lives “Those that reported at the PHC and in an outbreak of communicable disease were started on the relevant drug, have suspected to be meningitis at Karfi recovered. To further emphasise on the Village in Malumfashi local government level of preparedness of the state, already, area of Katsina State. we have drugs ready for any sign of any L-R: Senator Idris Abdullahi; APC gubernatorial candidate of Gombe State, Alhaji It was gathered that 12 of the victims outbreak. So, the state is ever ready to Muhammad Yahaya and former governor of the state, Senator Muhammadu Danjuma died at their home while one out of the move in and respond to any outbreak that Goje, during the stakeholder meeting in respect of tomorrow’s governorship and State three persons rushed to the Primary comes our way,” Dr Mustapha Assured. Assembly elections in the state, on Thursday. Health Care (PHC) Centre in the village He, however, noted that the health reportedly lost his life while receiving authorities could not ascertain if those treatment at the health facility. who died in their homes were actually The PHC coordinator of the area, Lawal casualties of meningitis in the absence Dabai, was said to have made this known of the disease-causing organism being while briefing the state Emergency isolated. Preparedness Response Team that visited “Unless these people take the already the affected community. existing precautionary measures in the Consequently, the state medical team sense of immunisation, environmental had mobilised to the area to contain the hygiene and their life style, then a lot of spread of the disease, the permanent diseases will continue to be our problem. secretary in the State Ministry of Health, Unless these things are tackled, we Dr Kabir Mustapha, told LEADERSHIP would ever continue to have problem Friday, yesterday. of disease outbreak. “On the issue of Karfi, we heard “It’s not that these vaccines are not people died in the village but unless available, vaccines have been sent to there is isolation of that disease-causing- health facilities at the lowest level, at L-R: Godfrey Gaya; Barr Mark Jacob; comrade Danjuma Sarki and Baba Lawal Aliyu, after the court case between Kaduna PDP campaign director general on media, Mr Ben Bako organism, you cannot say it is meningitis the PHC, but you find that people don’t and department of state security at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday. but if it is meningitis, for you to be able go there, you will find continuous PHOTO BY GBENGA ABIOLA to manage it in terms of vaccines and awareness creation like the government what have you, you have to identify the is doing,” he warned. Police Arrest 10 During Feb 23 Polls In Katsina BY ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina The Katsina CP, who assured that Police arrested 10 persons in Katsina proper arrangements had been made to State for various electoral offences provide adequate security for all voters during presidential and National to come out en masse and cast their Assembly elections, the state votes without fear of harassment or commissioner of police, Sanusi Buba, molestation, emphasised that the nine has said. frontline LGAs bordering Rugu forest in Buba, who made this known, yesterday, the state had been fortified with roving in Katsina, while briefing the press on patrols to protect voters and safeguard total restriction of movement of persons INEC staff and materials. L-R: Chief medical director, Dr Hassan’s Hospital, (DHH) Dr Shabihul Hassan; director, Lab and vehicles from 6am to 6pm during “We have senior police officers, some Services, Dr Godswill Okara; Trustee, Manal Hassan Foundation, Mr Salman Hassan and chief operating officer, DHH, Dr Girija Pandey, during a free blood donation awareness campaign to tomorrow’s governorship and state deployed by IGP from Abuja to re- encourage Nigeria’s to donate blood and save lives in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO house of assembly polls, warned that enforce our strength for the purpose the suspects would face the wrath of of ensuring effective supervision of Electoral Act. men on the ground and this was done He said: “They are going to face the effectively well and I assure you, this music according to the electoral law; coming Saturday, we are not only going they were arrested for various offences to sustain that but we are going to like attempting to disrupt the elections improve on it adequately,” he declared. with weapons and what have you and On the number of personnel deployed the weapons were recovered. Some were for the purpose, Buba insisted that arrested for violating the no movement it would be strategically unwise to order and sundry offences but no case mention the number so that criminal of ballot box snatching or vote buying elements would not take advantage of or under age voting.” the information and strategise against LEADERSHIP Friday recalls that some it. of the suspects have been arraigned He also revealed that the alleged ad hoc before a Katsina Magistrate’s Court for staff of INEC said to have been abducted unlawful criminal conspiracy, unlawful during presidential election in the state, assembly, public nuisance and being in was a volunteer and he had since regained A cross-section of participants during an introductory session to provide information possession of dangerous weapons. his freedom. on scholarship guidelines and procedure for Masters’ Degree Programme sponsored by KOICA in Abuja, yesterday. To eat one’s heart out. – English proverb 50 NEWS NATIONAL www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

Ogun Guber: Court Upholds Dapo Abiodun As APC Candidate

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

Justice Olukayode Adeniyi of the Federal Capital (FCT) High Court yesterday refused to disqualify the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ogun State, Prince Adedapo Abiodun from next Saturday’s governorship race. Justice Adeniyi dismissed a suit filed by a member of the APC in Ogun State, AbdulRafiu Adesina Baruwa, who prayed the court to dis- qualify Abiodun on the grounds that he supplied false information to INEC in his Form CF 001. Baruwa in the suit alleged Abiodun concealed and deliberately refused to supply details of his educational qualifications to INEC as required by law. The plaintiff who alleged that APC governor- ship candidate claimed to have graduated from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo Some women from Ogu/Bolo local government area in Rivers State, protesting the alleged arrest of their youths and men by unknown University when he contested for the Ogun East ‘Military men,’ yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN. senatorial election in 2015, said in the 2019 gov- ernorship form, Abiodun claimed to possess only secondary school education. A’Ibom Govt Decries APC’s Plot To Take Over State By All Means Baruwa explained that Abiodun deliberately concealed his university education because of his Akwa Ibom State government has called on that the extent of boastful pronouncements of gerians, especially the people of the state by alleged non participation in the mandatory Na- President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the much vaunted plot to capture Akwa Ibom preventing any form of bloodshed in Satur- tional Youth Service (NYSC) scheme. security agencies to bring to book, everyone by force; even if it means spilling human blood day elections. He prayed the court for an order to disquali- arrested for disrupting the peace of the state and destroying properties was worrisome. “We hope the lives of the people will be well fy the candidate for an alleged willful conceal- amid worries over what it describes as a plot by “The pronouncements of war against the protected. We trust that security agencies will ment or refusal to disclose detailed education- APC to take over the state by all means during state has assumed an unprecedented dimen- ensure that they fulfil their social contract with al background amounted to false information. the governorship and house of assembly elec- sion especially since the last National Assem- the people they swore to protect without fear He also sought another order of the court to tions slated for tomorrow. bly and President elections where the PDP or favour. No election is worth the lives or replace Abiodun with one Jimi Lawal who was In a statement signed by the state Commis- clinched all the National Assembly seats in blood of any human being. We don’t want an- said to have come second in the primary election sioner for Information and Strategy, Charles the state.’’ ything that will disrupt elections in Akwa Ibom conducted by APC for nomination of governor- Udoh, the government accused the ruling par- The state government said the security as this seems to be the script being acted on in ship candidate for Ogun State. ty of declaring war on the peaceful state, adding agencies in the country should work for Ni- order to capture the state by force.’’ However in his judgment, Justice Olukayo- de Adeniyi held that Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution cannot be invoked to disqualify Polls: Appeal Court Clears APC Gov Candidate In Taraba the APC candidate because participation in the strained the Independent National Elector- steps towards the execution of the judgment NYSC scheme is not a condition for qualification BY JOHN NKOM, Jalingo for governorship election. al Commission (INEC) and the APC from of the federal high Court delivered in the suit making any step towards the execution No. FHC/JAL/CS/1/2019 on the 6/3/2019. An Appeal Court sitting in Yola, Adamawa of the judgment/order of the federal high “That an interim order of injunction is Buhari Will Decide State has vacated the judgment of a Fed- Court in Jalingo that disqualified Danladi hereby ordered, restraining all the respond- Who Becomes Next eral High Court in Jalingo, Adamawa State from contesting the governorship contest ent from any step towards the execution which disqualified the gubernatorial candi- pending the determination of the motion of the judgment /order of judgment of the Senate President date of the All Progressive Congress (APC) on notice filed by Sani Abubaka Danladi and federal high Court Jalingo Taraba State – Sen Omo-Agege Sani Danladi from contesting Saturday’s APC at the Appeal Court. pending the determination of the motion governorship election. “The parties are to maintain the status on notice filed by the applicants on the BY AHURAKA ISAH, Abuja In an order of interim injunction, the pre- quo ante bellum and are to stay all actions or 7/3/2019.” siding judge Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uva re- Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) yesterday declared that President Muhammadu Buhari shall be given the opportunity to deter- Saraki, CNA Risk Jail Term For Refusing To Swear-in Alfa The presiding judge then, Justice Gabriel Kola- der of June 13, 2018 is still valid and subsisting. mine who becomes the next Senate President. BY AHURAKA ISAH, Abuja Senator Omo-Agege who was voted back wole (now Justice of the Court of Appeal) in ad- Justice Anwuli Chikere who presided held dition ordered Independent National Electoral that the judgement delivered by Justice Gabri- to the Senate during the February 23 Presiden- A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday, tial and National Assembly elections said that Commission (INEC) to re-issue certificate of re- el Kolawole (now JCA) on June 13, 2018 which threatened to commit the Senate President, Bu- turn in favour of Alfa. declared Alfa as the validly elected flag bearer of the next Senate President must have ability to kola Saraki and Clerk of the National Assembly, work harmoniously with the President. Despite the validation of the Federal High the PDP for the Kogi east senatorial seat in the Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori to prison if they Court judgement by the Court of Appeal and 2015 election and consequently affirmed by the Senator Omo-Agege who said this during further fail to obey its order of June 13, 2018. the Supreme Court, Aidoko had through his law- Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court must a chat with journalists in Abuja added that the The court had ordered Saraki and Sani-Omol- yer, P.I.N. Ikwueto (SAN) on January 28, 2019 be obeyed. All Progressives Congress (APC) would work to- ori to swear-in Air vice Marshal Isaac Moham- filed another suit before the same Federal High But Alfa’s lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba on March wards avoiding the issues that led to the emer- med Alfa (rtd) as the Senator representing Kogi Court, asking it to set aside its order of June 6, 2019, applied for ‘‘Form 48’’ which is a ’’no- gence of Bukola Saraki as Senate President. East, just as it ordered Senator Attai Aidoko 13, 2018. tice of consequences of disobedience to order He said: “Anybody who is going to be Sen- (PDP, Kogi east) to vacate the seat because he The Federal High Court on February 22, 2019 of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and ate President in the 9th senate, must be some- was not validly elected. struck out the suit on the grounds that its or- the Supreme Court.’’ body who is loyal and able to harmoniously work with Mr. President, the party and the constitution. Zamfara: 40 Political Parties Kick Against REC’s Removal “The Senate President will be determined The spokesman of the parties, Alhaji Shehu the recent peaceful conduct of free and credi- by Mr. President. Mr. President will indicate BY UMAR MOHAMMED, Gusau Hussain said the leaders of the parties have met ble elections in the state. to us through the party who he wants to work and reviewed the performance of REC during Husaini who is also chairman of Hope Dem- with. No fewer than 40 political parties in Zamfara the last presidential election. ocratic party ( HDP) expressed confidence in “What I can tell you is that we are going to State have distanced themselves from the call “We have reviewed the performance of INEC the conduct of the last elections. have a Senate that will work with Mr. President. for the removal of the state’s Resident Electoral and security agents during the presidential and He maintained that, after careful review of The era of allowing renegades who rode on the Commissioner (REC) Dr Asmau Sani Maikudi. National Assembly elections. It was alright”, the performances of INEC and security agen- back of Mr President, who rode on the back of In a swift reaction to agitations for the he added. cies, leadership of Concern Political parties the party to go in there and trade the party’s REC’s removal, leadership of the parties said According to him, the parties have applaud- gave them a pass mark, considering the situ- mandate, I think that era is gone. such calls were misleading and uncalled for. ed the efforts of INEC and security agencies for ation in state. A good deed is never lost. March 8, 2019 NEWS NATIONAL 51

Adeleke’s Petition Riddled With Confusion, Olanipekun Tells Osun L-R: Senior Pastor, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Tribunal Bayo Oyeyemi; chairman, BY JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos State, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Apostle Alex Bamgbola; Olanipekun yesterday told the Osun State general superintendent, Election Petition Tribunal that the peti- Deeper Life Bible Church, tion filed by Senator , Pastor William Kumuyi the governorship candidate of the Peo- and chairman, Pentecostal ples Democratic Party in Osun guberna- Fellowship of Nigeria torial poll was nothing but a bedlam rid- (PFN), Lagos State branch, dled with confusion. Bishop Sola Ore, during Delivering his final written address as a press conference to the leading counsel to Governor Adeg- herald the 1st Ministers boyega Oyetola before the Tribunal, Ola- Development and nipekun thrashed the petition for being Networking Summit held inconsistent and confusing. in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO Chief Olanipekun called Senator Adeleke BY KOLAWOLE ALIU. as a self-confessed petitioner who cannot benefit from the wrongs he admitted to have committed during the Osun gover- norship poll. N25bn Fraud: EFCC Arraigns Ex-Skye Bank Chair, Ayeni Submitting that Senator Adeleke ad- BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja mount Ventures Ltd, for allegedly conspiring mit an offence to wit, money laundering by mitted that he committed illegalities, the at different times to fraudulently divert de- transferring the sum of N3,000,000,000 Silk told the Tribunal that he could not positors’ funds domiciled at the defunct Skye from the defunct Skye Bank Plc Suspense be allowed in law to benefit from his own The Economic and Financial Crimes Commis- sion (EFCC) yesterday, arraigned a former Bank Plc. account to the First City Monument Bank wrong. One of the counts reads: “That you, Tunde Plc of Control Dredging Company Limited, “My Lords, the petitioners have admit- chairman, Board of Directors of Skye Bank Plc., Tunde Ayeni, before Justice Ijeoma Ojuk- Ayeni, whilst being Chairman, Board of Di- which money you reasonably ought to have ted to committing illegalities. A self-con- rectors of the defunct Skye Bank Plc and Tim- known forms part of the proceeds of an un- fessed petitioner or litigant who has ad- wu of a Federal High Court, (FHC) Abuja on a 10-count charge, bordering on money laun- othy Ajani Oguntayo while being the Manag- lawful act, to wit: fraud and thereby commit- mitted to have breached the Electoral ing Director, MD, of the defunct Skye Bank ted an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and Law cannot be heard to be asking to be re- dering to the tune of about N25,415,080,000. Ayeni was arraigned along with Timothy Plc, on or about 24th December, 2014at punishable under Section 15(2)(b) and (3) of turned as the winner of the election”, the Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 SAN said. Ajani Oguntayo and two companies, Control Dredging Company Ltd and Royaltex para- this Honourable Court did conspire to com- (as amended).” INEC Issues Ultimatum To Card APC Accuses Kaduna PDP Of Forgery, Spreading Fakes News news, forgery, and mudslinging”. notes that the PDP could not disassociate it- Readers’ Thieves In BY AZA MSUE, Kaduna Bayelsa “The PDP has repeatedly exposed itself self from repeated incitement to violence by The All Progressives Congress (APC) Cam- as the party of violence, rigging and divi- their spokesman. Also, their very weak candi- sion. Their latest gimmick of circulating date has been talking of the content that were BY OSA OKHOMINA, Yenagoa paign Council in Kaduna State has said that the state’s chapter of the opposition a fake memo alleging payments to certain eventually contained in the fake documents Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) does not Imams is part of their addiction to everything they are circulating, showing that the PDP The Resident Electoral Commis- unholy. The memo attributed to the Direc- is the instigator of the forgery. sioner (REC), Mr Monday Tom Udoh, has de- have any positive agenda to campaign on. Samuel Aruwan, Director Media and tor General (Interfaith) is not only fake but “The PDP candidate is a guy around clared a two days amnesty to alleged card read- laughable. We pity a party that is so short of whom the stench of incompetence oozes ers thieves during the last Presidential and Publicity Directorate of the APC Campaign Organization, in a statement, said since ideas that the have adopted fake news and so badly that many PDP members are leav- National Assembly elections in the State, warn- the opposition was unable to offer the Ka- forgery as their manifesto. This will fail be- ing the party. People are defecting from ing that they should return the election card duna people any credible programme, the cause Kaduna people have rejected the poor the PDP because they are embarrassed by reader in their possession. PDP is now “desperately clinging to fake legacy of the PDP’s 16 years in power. the utter absence of quality in their can- Pastor Monday Tom Udoh also disclosed “The APC Kaduna Campaign Council didate. that the commission has retrieved 22 smart card readers out of the sixty nine stolen by po- litical thugs in the February 23 Presidential and EFCC Faults UK Agency Over Comments On Anti-graft War NASS election in the state, noting that manage- BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja Emmanuel alluded that the Economic and Fi- (ICPC), recently recovered assets worth over ment will take strict penalties measure on ar- nancial Crimes Commission, EFCC and other N771million from oil marketers, who had un- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commis- anti-corruption agencies in the country were der-paid it for petroleum products supplied eas where card readers are yet to be recovered. sion (EFCC) has faulted the report in the me- The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Pas- frustrating the corruption fight by an alleged to them. dia that Nigeria’s anti-corruption war is frus- lack of synergy among them, and their incli- “As a commission, we are horrified that tor Monday Tom Eden, while speaking yester- trated by the EFCC and others. nation to operate as islands unto themselves. a ranking official of the British Council, in day in Yenagoa during the stakeholders meeting Reacting to the report, spokesperson of “It is striking to note that the General Man- charge of rule of law and anti-corruption pro- with leaders political parties, further explained the EFCC, Tony Orilade said “we observe ager, Public Affairs of the Nigerian Nation- gramme, who ordinarily should be abreast of that out of the twenty four missing in Nembe that the report contains several illogicali- al Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr Ndu the robust interface that exists between the local government area, only fourteen was re- ties, credited to the Programme Manager of Ughamadu, in the same forum where Mr. EFCC and various local and international law covered while Sagbama out of eight, three have the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoL- Emmanuel threw caution to the wind with enforcement organizations is the one we are been recovered, Southern Ijaw LGA out of twen- AC) Programme of the British Council, Mr. his unsupported allegation disclosed that painfully subjecting to this type of schooling.” ty four, two was returned and Yenagoa out of Uche Emmanuel, which if ignored are capa- the corporation through the combined ef- The EFCC further explained that “fact is six, only three have been seen. ble of misleading both Nigerians and the in- forts of the Department of State Security that Nigerian anti-corruption agencies collab- Udoh, while commending the Civil Lib- ternational community.“Without the slight- (DSS), EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Prac- orate in many ways that Mr Emmanuel can- erty Society (CLO), religious leaders, commu- est of attempts to cross-check his claims, Mr tices and Other Related Offences Commission not comprehend. nity chiefs, youths, women groups and major stakeholders for reaching out to electoral thugs before some of the cards were returned, add- PDP Chieftains Defect To APC In Ekiti alongside a former Assembly member (2003- Ayo Fayose while the former Assembly mem- ing that INEC will continue to perform the role BY ALO ABIOLA, Ado Ekiti of the unbiased umpire in the elections in the 2007), Hon. Segun Ola, alongside their sup- ber was also a former member of the House of porters. Assembly Service Commission. state. A chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) The REC, also urged the people of the state The two PDP bigwigs were received into the The former SUBEB chief said he was attract- in and former National Assembly APC at a rally held in Okeyinmi area of the city ed to the APC because of the impact the ad- to leave the incident of the past elections and es- member, Senator Bode Ola, yesterday, dumped chew violence for a better election in the state, by party leaders led by the Deputy Governor, ministration of Governor has the party for All Progressives Congress (APC). Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi Wednesday evening. made in the lives of the people of Ekiti State. adding that election is not war but a process for Ola, who represented Ekiti Central in the leaders to emerge, so if those you are to lead are The former Senator is the immediate past Senator Ola said: “The way this administra- Senate between 2009 and 2011, joined the chairman of the State Universal Basic Educa- tion has started revealed that they have the all dead what is the gain. APC at Ward 6 in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, tion Board (SUBEB) under former Governor love of the masses at heart. A good deed is never lost. 52 NEWS NATIONAL www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

Foundation Makes Case For Gender Equality

BY CHIKA MEFOR, Abuja

As the world celebrates this year’s In- ternational Women’s Day (IWD) to- day, an Abuja-based nongovernmental L-R: Acting managing organisation, Helpline Foundation for director, 9mobile, Stephane the Needy, has called for gender equal- Beuvelet; managing ity that would create more opportuni- director, Nigerdock ties for women. Limited, Pade Durotoye Briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, and director, Enterprise to mark the occasion, president of the Segment, 9mobile, Plato foundation, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, noted Syrimis, during a courtesy that the struggle for gender equality be- visit by senior management longs to no single person, gender or any team of 9mobile to organisation, but a collective effort of all Nigerdock, Snake Island, who cares about human rights. Lagos, recently. Ahmadu noted that women are still being paid less than their men coun- terparts, while there is less number of Obaseki Canvasses Roles For Women In Devt women in business, politics, education and health sectors, adding that the vio- BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City celebrated every March 8, by the United Na- The governor also said that the state govern- lence against women is worse than that tions and its sister organs, urged developing ment has enacted the Violence Against Persons of men. Edo State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has countries to prioritise women development to (VAP) Law to mitigate abuse in homes and pro- “As we speak, every March 8 is a great said that Nigeria and other developing coun- unleash their potential. tect vulnerable people in society, stressing, and important time in history to do eve- tries would need to rejig their developmental The governor said that this year’s theme for “We are very particular about violence against rything possible to help forge a more models to accommodate more women if they the celebration, “Think equal, build smart, in- persons in Edo State because we care about our gender-balanced world. Women have are to record substantial progress and harness novate for change,” is not only apt but aligns people dearly. That is why with the VAP, wom- come a long way, yet there’s still more to the full potential of their human resources. with the state government’s enduring poli- en and other vulnerable persons will be pro- be achieved. The story of women’s strug- The governor said that Edo State has shown cies on gender balance and equality. He noted tected by the law. gle for equality belongs to no single per- the light in this regard with his prioritisation that, “The celebration is something we look for- “We have empowered women through sci- son or gender nor to any one organisa- of women in development through robust gen- ward to every year because we value our wom- ence and technology, by training them on in- tion but to the collective efforts of all der mainstreaming policies and programmes en in Edo and have worked to empower them. novation and technology at the Edo Innova- who care about human rights,” she said. as well as the enactment of laws that protect We have demonstrated this by appointing an tion Hub. At the same time, we are opening She described this year’s theme, “Bal- women and other vulnerable persons from adviser on gender and assistants in all the lo- up the space for women to participate in de- ance for Better”, as a call to action to abuse. cal government areas of the state to interface velopment by expanding the space for repre- drive gender balance across the world. The governor, who said this in commemora- with women and ensure that their affairs are sentation and participation through our Ward She advised women not to see them- tion of the International Women’s Day (IDW), brought to the limelight.” Development Committees (WDC),” he said. selves as weaker vessels. KOICA Begins 2019 Masters CDD Tasks INEC On Functionality Of Card Readers BY ORJIME MOSES, Abuja ers in some parts of the country even though of smart card readers in line with the pro- Degree Scholarship INEC said that it was pleased with the card visions of Snow 49 (2) of the Electoral Act, Programme Ahead of the March 9, 2019 governorship and readers’ “functionality” in authenticating 2010 (as amended).” millions of voters “within a short time.” He further called on INEC to ensure that BY BLESSING BATURE, Abuja State House of Assembly elections, the Cen- tre for Democracy and Development (CDD) “Smart card reader must be made compul- collation at all levels follow the legal frame- The Republic of Korea through its grant has called on the Independent National Elec- sory nationwide rather than in some parts work and election guidelines in Nigeria. and technical cooperation agency, Korea toral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the of the country and zero should be recorded “We also condemn the do or die attitude International Cooperation Agency (KOI- card readers function effectively to avoid rep- for all polling units where it was not used. of political class who sometimes use thugs CA) yesterday organised an “Introductory etition of what happened in the Presidential “The patchy use of SCRs further caused to disrupt voting. Session of Masters Degree Scholarship Pro- and National Assembly elections. voting delays that has affected the smooth “We also appeal to the army to steer clear gramme” for Nigerian government officials The director of the CDD, Idayat Hassan said conduct of elections and even violates IN- of elections and only comes in when their from various Ministries, Departments and this yesterday during a media briefing held in EC’s regulations and guidelines for the attention is needed so as to avoid intimi- Agencies (MDAs), in partnership with the Abuja. Hassan said that in the just concluded conduct of elections issued on January 12, dations to voter. Police personnel are the Ministry of Budget and National Planning. Presidential and National Assembly elections 2019. leading group for election matters,” the di- The country director, KOICA, Mr there was reports of selective use of card read- “These regulations call for mandatory use rector added. Woochan Chang said that the overarching objective of the workshop was to provide proper information for the 2019 KOICA Master Degree Scholarship Programme, Kebbi Gov Loses Younger Brother as well as to encourage Nigerian govern- BY YAHYA SARKI, Birnin Kebbi a brief illness. four children and had been bur- Kebbi people and the business ment officials to take advantage of the op- According to a family mem- ied in accordance with Islam- sector of the state. portunity by applying for the scholarship The immediate younger brother ber he died a day after return- ic rites. Senator Abdullahi prayed Al- programme. to the Kebbi State governor, Al- ing from Abuja hospital where Meanwhile, Senator Yahaya lah to grant him, Aljanna and He said KOICA Scholarship Programme haji Faruku Bagudu is dead. he was taken for treatment. Abdullahi has condoled with the family courage to bear the is one of the prestigious fully funded schol- The chief press secretary to The late Bagudu was 56 years Governor Bagudu over the death loss. arship schemes provided by the Republic old before his death. He was the of his younger brother. Hundreds of people includ- of Korea. The scholarship covers a round- the governor, Alhaji Mu’azu Dakingari said he died in the managing director of Jihab, a A statement signed by his me- ing important dignitaries are trip air ticket, tuition fees, accommodation, communication company based dia aide, Muhammed Jamil Yu- trooping to condole with Gov- monthly allowance, medical insurance, and early hours of yesterday at his residence in Birnin Kebbi after in Birnin Kebbi and Sokoto. suf Gulma said the death of the ernor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu meals during the participants study in Ko- He is survived by a wife and business icon was a great loss to over the death of his brother. rea. Over 150 government officials from relevant ministries attended the workshop. The participants were very interested in the presentations of KOICA Scholar- Gov’ship/Assembly Polls: NSCDC Deploys 3,700 Personnel In Kaduna ship Programme 2019 by KOICA officer, and presentations from KOICA Scholar- BY ISAIAH BENJAMIN, Kaduna House of Assembly elections scheduled out, which requires the operatives to “As part of the security measures to ship Alumni who shared their experience to hold tomorrow. ensure professional crowd control. ensure safety of materials and securi- in Korea. It is Korea’s hope that Nigerian Kaduna State command of the Nige- According to a statement by the He explained that the personnel are ty of officials and electorate, all flash- government officials who are able to par- ria Security and Civil Defence Corps spokesperson of NSCDC, ASC Orndi- expected to contain potential threats points have been identified across the take in the KOICA Scholarship Programme (NSCDC) in collaboration with sister ir Terzungwe, the state commandant, to the polls, warning the youths and state, and possible steps shall be taken would gain professional and systematic agencies are to deploy over 3,700 per- Alhaji Modu Bunu said the deployment party supporters to exercise restraints in forestalling lawlessness,” the com- knowledge that will play key role in Nige- sonnel for the gubernatorial and State is in anticipation of higher voter turn- in their conducts. mandant said. ria’s development. A good deed is never lost. March 8, 2019 NEWS NATIONAL 53

Elections: A/Ibom Govt Declares Today Public Holiday

BY BERNARD TOLANI DADA, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State government has declared today, Friday, March 8, 2019, a public holiday ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and State House of As- sembly elections. A statement issued by the state commissioner for information and Strategy, Mr Charles Udo and made available to newsmen in Uyo stated that the public holiday is to enable public servants to travel to their respective local government areas to par- ticipate in the elections. Udo explained that the government has put in place adequate security measures to ensure peace- ful atmosphere in the state before, during and af- ter the elections. “All eligible voters are enjoined to go to their re- spective polling units to cast their votes in an or- derly and peaceful manner without fear or intim- idation,” Udo stated. Army Warns Hoodlums In Abia Against Election Violence BY KALU EZIYI, Umuahia L-R: Manager, Winners Golden Bet, Abuja branch, Mr Babatunde Dosunmu; winner of the Golden Bet, Mr Andrew Fabian and The commander, 14 Brigade, Nigerian Army, assistant general manager, Winners Golden Bet, Lagos, Mr Adedeji Beecroft, during the presentation of N25m cheque to Andrew Ohafia, Brigadier-General Abdulkarim Ibra- Fabian by Winners Golden Bet in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN. him, has warned that the Army will not stand by and watch hoodlums disrupt the Governor- ship and State House of Assembly elections in ‘Hard Work, Reverence For God Score High In Values’ . BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja January and 9 February, 2019. our sense of values has been evolving over the He said unconfirmed reports reaching the Apart from hard work and reverence for years and over different epochs, the survey is Army indicate that some politicians have sown A new survey has revealed that hard work and God, three other values highlighted in the an “indicative poll, that should prepare the military uniforms for their thugs for use to reverence for God are amongst the two most survey, according to the statement is integri- grounds for a more comprehensive test.” cause violence during the election, assuring highly prized values among Nigerians. ty which polled 23 per cent; honesty 15 per A retired director of the Nigeria Deposit In- that the Army will go after such persons. The survey, conducted by the Foundation for cent; and kindness 13 per cent. surance Corporation and public speaker, Dr. Ibrahim spoke yesterday, at a joint press Values and Normative Change was designed to Responding to the survey, the executive di- Pascal Ebohohimen, said the findings have briefing by the military, Nigeria Police, and test the value preference for a better Nigeria. rector of Aflon Digital Institute and former “implications for our families and leadership the paramilitary ahead of the elections at the A statement made available to LEADER- Secretary to the Government of the Federa- quality.” Nigeria Police Officers’ Mess in Umuahia, the SHIP Friday yesterday in Abuja, and signed by tion, Dr. Akin Fapohunda said it was quite sur- Ebohohimen, also a Values Volunteers so- Abia State capital. the founder, Values Volunteers, Mr Tunde Fag- prising that 25 per cent of the respondents cial analyst, said families should imbibe key The commander, who maintained that the benle, said while 25 per cent of the respond- thought ‘hard work’ best represents the un- spiritual and cultural values, adding that the Army would remain neutral and apolitical in ents or 54 of them said “hard work” was the derpinning of their values. values highlighted in the survey were inked the discharge of its constitutional duties, add- most important value, “reverence for God, was ‘’This may be quite strange indeed, in the to and rooted in the family, from where lead- ed that it would cooperate with other security next with 24 per cent or 51 of the respond- context of our ‘It is well’ or ‘God is in control’ ers emerge. agencies to ensure the success of the election. ents.” mentality of leaving most things for supernat- “Parents, guardians and religious bodies Similarly, the Deputy Inspector General of LEADERSHIP Friday gathered that the Face- ural intervention,” Fapohunda said. have a responsibility to inculcate in their mem- Police (DIG), supervising the general elections book poll was conducted among 214 random- Fapohunda, who also doubles as Values Vol- bers these espoused values that would make in the South East zone, Mr. Anthony Ogbisi as- ly chosen Nigerians, and was done between 27 unteers social analyst, said in a country where them effective leaders,’’ he added. sured that there will be police presence in eve- ry polling unit to provide security. Labour Ministry Gets New Polls: FCT Police Restrict Movement Tomorrow Permanent Secretary BY EJIKE EJIKE, Abuja lice Command wishes to inform the public the Command wants to assure residents that sequel to the Area Council election in that proactive security measures have been BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja Ahead of the March 9, elections in FCT and FCT slated for Saturday 9th March, 2019, put in place to facilitate the peaceful con- other states, the Nigerian Police Force have there will be the restriction of vehicular duct of the election.” The new permanent secretary, Federal Min- announced the restriction of vehicle move- movement across the Federal Capital Ter- The Nigerian Police also stated that in istry of Labour and Employment, William ment from 6am to 6pm on election day. ritory as from 6:00am to 6:00pm. case of any distress, residents can contact Nwankwo Alo, has described teamwork as a Announcing the restrictions by the Police “However, Ambulances, Fire Service the Joint Operations Centre comprising catalyst to national development. PRO in Abuja, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, the trucks and others on essential duties will all the security agencies on the following This was contained in a statement by the Police said ambulances, fire service trucks be exempted from this enforcement because hotlines: 09052397880, 08024130926, acting director of Press at the ministry, Iliya and other essential duties will be exempted of the sensitive nature of their services to 09051488448 and 07014951751. Rhoda. from this enforcement because of the sen- the public. The Command Control Room can also be Alo stated this in Abuja as he formally took sitive nature of their services to the public. “While regretting the inconveniences reached on: 08032003913, 08061581938, over duties from the outgoing permanent sec- The statement reads in part, “The FCT -Po this restriction might cause FCT resident, 07057337653 and 08028940883. retary, Mrs Ibukun Odusote. Describing himself as an advocate of team- work, he assured the management and staff of Group Calls For Peaceful Elections In Kaduna the ministry of a harmonious relationship as they work together towards a common goal. BY RUTH TENE NATSA, Abuja man of Miyetti Allah and vice chairman Peace Foundation in Northern Nigeria, According to him, “We have to work together of the committee, called on the people of Sheikh Halliru Maraya and Rev. Joseph as one family because we have one goal of con- The Southern Kaduna Peace and Reconcil- Southern Kaduna to conduct themselves Hayab called on the people not to allow tributing our quota towards the development iation Committee has called on all stake- peacefully during the elections. themselves to be used as tools for violence of this country, as civil servants.” holders to ensure that the general elec- They urged security agencies and Inde- but see and treat each other as members The permanent secretary said his experience tions in Kaduna State on Saturday are pendent National Electoral Commission, of one family under God irrespective of through the years, from the state to the federal conducted peacefully. INEC to be unbiased in the discharge of ethnic, political or religious differences. civil service, and his ethics of hard work would In a joint interview by officials of the their responsibilities to ensure that the The Southern Kaduna Peace and Rec- stand him in good stead in accomplishing the committee, SOKAPU president, Solo- elections are peaceful, free, fair and cred- onciliation Committee is a project of the task before him in his new port of call. mon Musa and chairman of the commit- ible. Global Peace Foundation (Nigeria) with tee, Haruna Tugga, Kaduna State chair- Also, co-coordinators of the Global support from Irish Aid and KAICIID. A good deed is never lost. 54 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

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MOHAMMED KURE EMMANUEL TERKUMA OYERINDE ABDULLAHI I, formerly known as MUHAMMAD I, formerly known as AMEDU. I, formerly known as BULUS GIWA I, formerly known as WERGBA I, formerly known as ABDULLATEEF I, formerly known as ABUBAKAR HADIZA IBRAHIM now wish CENTIC now wish to be known EZEKIEL now wish to be known PRISCILLA MSENDOO now OLOMILEKAN OYERINDE now KHADIJAT now wish to be to be known and addressed as and addressed as EMMANUEL wish to be known and addressed and addressed as KURE. wish to be known and addressed as OYERINDE ABDULLATEEF known and addressed as MOHAMMED HADIZA YAKUBU. CYNTHIA WEBIYE. All former EZEKIEL, DOB: 11TH NOVEMBER, as TERKUMA YAADO JANET. ADEYEMI. All former documents ABDULLAHI MARYAM. All All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 1998. All former documents remain All former documents remain remain valid. Access Bank and former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. KINGSLEY FOLASHADE OGUNKUADE BADMUS-ADEBAYO OGUDU CONFIRMATION OF NAMES I, formerly known as UDUAK CLEMENT I, formerly known as IBRAHIM I, formerly known as I, formerly known as ADEBAYO I, formerly known as OKONKWO This is inform the general public that MONDAY now wish to be known and SHADE now wish to be known OGUNRUADE. O. COMFORT now BASIRAT now wish to be JUSTINA CHINYERE now wish to EJIOFOR DIKE DAVID and PETER addressed as KINGSLEY CLEMENT wish to be known and addressed be known and addressed as MRS. DIKE DAVID refers to one and same and addressed as FOLASHADE known and addressed as person, now wish to be known and TOBY. All former documents remain OKEWOYE. All former as OGUNKUADE COMFORT. All BADMUS-ADEBAYO BASIRAT. OGUDU JUSTINA CHINYERE. addressed as EJIOFOR PETER DIKE valid. UBA PLC, OTHER BANK and documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain DAVID. All former documents remain General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid. General public take note. OBI HASSAN ONWUTALU ISRAEL OMOARE UMOH I, formerly known as OBI I, formerly known as HASSAN I, formerly known as AZUBOGU I, formerly known as OFORKANS I, formerly known as EDEVBIE I, formerly known as ADEGOKE AUSTIN’S TAIWO now wish SHAIBU now wish to be known JOY NNEDI now wish to be known NGOZI ESTHER now wish to be TOBORE ADA now wish to JANET JESSICA now wish to be known and addressed and addressed as HASSAN and addressed as ONWUTALU known and addressed as ISRAEL be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as OBI AUGUSTINE TAIWO. SHAIBU IDRIS. All former JOY NNEDI. All former documents NGOZI ESTHER. All former OMOARE TOBORE ADA. All as UMOH JANET JESSICA. All former documents remain documents remain valid. remain valid.Banks and General documents remain valid. Banks former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. Public Take note. and General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. SAFIYATU ABDULLAHI FATIMA CONFIRMATION OF NAMES GWAZA DYMPHINA I, formerly known as SAFIYATU I, formerly known as I, formerly known as FATIMA This is to inform the general public that I, formerly known as ORBAN I, formerly known as DYMPHINA ABDULSALAM now wish to ABDULLAHI SALEH now wish UMAR BABAKURA now wish MERCY SUNDAY and CHRISTIANA SARAH MEMBER now wish EKENE RAYMOND now wish to be SUNDAY ENEJOH refers to one known and addressed as DYMPHINA be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as and same person but prefer to be to be known and addressed SAFIYATU ABDULLAHI. All ABDULLAHI SALEH MATO. FATIMA ABBA KAKAMI. All CHRISTIANA SUNDAY ENEJOH. as GWAZA SARAH. All former EKENE EFIONG EMENYI. All former former documents remain valid. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid documents remain valid. documents remain valid.General General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. general public please take note. General Public Take note. Public Take note. MARY ADAMA CONFIRMATION OF NAMES HAFSAT LOIS JOSHUA I, formerly known as MARY I, formerly known as ADAMA This is to inform the general public I, formerly known as HAFSAT I, formerly known as VICTORIA I, formerly known as HAM YAHAYA now wish to be VERA DENNIS now wish to that KISITMWA JOSEPH and ABDULLAHI MACHIKA now IBRAHIM now wish to be KISITMWA JOSEPH GOGWIM refers JOSEPH now wish to be known known and addressed as be known and addressed as to one and same person but prefer wish to be known and addressed and addressed as LOIS BELLO. known and addressed as MARY HASSAN. All former ADAMA VERA ADEYEMI. All as HAFSAT SHEHU ISHIYE. All JOSHUA JOSEPH AUDU. All to be called KISITMWA JOSEPH All former documents remain documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. general public please take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. MAIJIDDA OLUWATOSIN CONFIRMATION OF NAMES CONFIRMATION OF NAMES TIMOTHY RUTH I, formerly known as HAUWAU I, formerly known as OLUWATOSIN This is to inform the general This is to inform the general public I, formerly known as TIMOTHY I, formerly known as BEGE ABDULMUMINI now wish to VERONICA AGBOOLA now wish public LADI WILLIAMS, LADI that CHRISTIANA ZAKARIYA BAKO MICHEAL now wish to be IRIMIYA YUSUF now wish to be known and addressed as .K. WILLIAMS and LADI KISHA and CHRISTIANA BAKO refers to be known and addressed as refers to one and same person but one and same person but prefer to known and addressed as to be known and addressed MAIJIDDA ABDULMUMINI. All OLUWATOSIN VERONICA SHELU. prefer to be called LADI KISHA. be called CHRISTIANA ZAKARIYA TIMOTHY MICAH. All former as RUTH YUSUF ADAMS. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid BAKO. All former documents remain documents remain valid. All former documents remain General Public Take note. General Public Take note. general public please take note. valid general public please take note General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. MADU CONFIRMATION OF NAMES CONFIRMATION OF NAMES CONFIRMATION OF NAMES CHISOROM KAFAYAT I, formerly known as OKORONKWO This is to inform the general public This is to inform the general public that This is to inform the general public I, formerly known as CHISOROM I, formerly known as KAFAYAT that ABDULRASHEED YUNUS HASIYA ABDULRAHMAN and ASIYA that KHADIJA HAMISU and CATHERINE CHINENYE now wish TUNDE, RASHEED YINUSA TUNDE JENNIFER EKWEGH now wish USMAN now wish to be known to be known and addressed as ABDULRAHMAN refers to one and KHADIJA KHAMIS refers to one and and ABDULRAFIU YUNUS refers to same person ASHERBI, now wish to same person, now wish to be known to be known and addressed as and addressed as KAFAYAT MADU CATHERINE CHINENYE. one and same person, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULRAFIU be known and addressed as HASIYA and addressed as KHADIJA HAMISU. CHISOROM OMAWUMI UME. USMAN IBRAHIM. All former All former documents remain valid. YUNUS. All former documents remain ABDULRAHMAN. All former documents All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain documents remain valid. General Public Take note. valid. General public please take note. remain valid. General public take note. General public take note valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. FRANCISCA LIZZY IHEUKWUMERE IHEUKWUMERE AMADA NENKIMUN I, formerly known as ANI I, formerly known as MRS I formerly known and addressed as I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as AMADA I, formerly known as AISHA IBRAHIM FRANCISCA UCHE now wish ELIZABETH ELEOJO UDEH now OGUOMA KINGSLEY NNAEMEKA UGWOMAJU NNEKA JOY of FAITH ENEGELA now wish to SANTALI now wish to be known of Ishiuzo Village Egbu Owerri, now Oburo Umeze Ogwa, Imo state now and addressed as NENKIMUN to be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed wish to be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as FRANCISCA UCHE OKONKWO. as MRS. LIZZY ELEOJO UDEH. IHEUKWUMERE KINGSLEY NNAEMEKA. IHEUKWUMERE JOY NNAEMEKA. AMADA FAITH NWACHUKWU. SULEIMAN GOSHWE AISHA. All All former documents remain All former documents remain All former documents remain valid. The All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. general public should please note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. DINATU SALAHUDDEEN ALIKU HASSAN IGBOANUGO IGBOANUGO I, formerly known as ABUDI I, formerly known as I, formerly known as USMAN I, formerly known as SADIYA I, formerly known as IGBOANUGO I, formerly known as UGWU ADI now wish to be known and SALAHUDDEEN UBA LAU DOMINIC now wish to be OLAJOKE OLAWUMI now wish SUNDAY now wish to be known OBIANUJU ANTHONIA now addressed as DINATU DANJUMA now wish to be known and wish to be known and addressed addressed as SALAHUDDEEN known and addressed as to be known and addressed as and addressed as IGBOANUGO OYIKAGBADU, DOB: 01/01/1991. UBA, DOB: 20/03/1994. All ALIKU ABACHA MAGA. All HASSAN SADIYA. All former IFECHUKWU SUNDAY. All former as IGBOANUGO OBIANUJU All former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain documents remain valid. documents remain valid.General ANTHONIA. All former documents General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. NELSON-JOHN ADDITION OF NAME CORRECTION OF NAME ABDULRAHEEM DAVID DAVID I, formerly known as OFOMA I, formerly known as AMINA This is to inform the general public that I, formerly known as I, formerly known as DAVID DOGO, I, formerly known as ADAH IFENYINWA AUNTHY now wish to IBRAHIM now wish to be my correct name is ANTONIOS CHARBEL MUHAMMAD BIN now wish DOB: 11/03/1980 now wish EDE OLOJE now wish to be be known and addressed as NELSON- and not ANTONIOS CHARBEL HARB as to be known and addressed as known and addressed as was stated in my Company Registration to be known and addressed as known and addressed as JOHN IFENYINWA AUNTHY. All AMINA IBRAHIM. All former LAROCA ENGINEERING LIMITED ABDULRAHEEM MUHAMMED. DAVID YOHANNA DOGO, DOB: DAVID JAMES. All former former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. RC:1503966. All former documents All former documents remain 02/12/1989. All former documents documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. GODWIN AJAYI CHIGOZIE SAMAILA BADARU LYDIA I, formerly known as AKPOLOGUN I, formerly known as AJAYI I, formerly known as MRS. I, formerly known as ISMAIL I, formerly known as UMAR I, formerly known as LYDIA GRACE OMOWERO, GODWIN AISHA MUHAMMAD now wish NJOKU CHIDINMA now wish MUA’ZU now wish to be known SAFIYAH ZAIDU now wish to USHIE THOMAS now wish GRACE OMOWERO now wish and addressed as SAMAILA to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as to be known and addressed GODWIN GRACE AKPOLOGUN. AJAYI AISHA ONASEREMU. All MRS. CHIGOZIE CHIDINMA. All MU’AZU, DOB: 1-1-1993 NOT 1-1- BADARU SAFIYAH ZAIDU. All as LYDIA AGBO THOMAS. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. 1985. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 55

IRENE LAUWALI UCHENNA AISHA AISHA AGWU I, formerly known as IRENE I, formerly known as LAUWALI I, formerly known as UCHENNA I, formerly known as AISHA I, formerly known as AISHA SANI I, formerly known as AGWU WAJI KEFAS now wish to be HOMA now wish to be known JOYCE EFUGHI now wish to be AMIRU JA’AFAR now wish to be MANI now wish to be known and JOHN ODEGWU now wish known and addressed as IRENE and addressed as LAUWALI known and addressed as MRS. known and addressed as AISHA addressed as AISHA LAWAL MANI. to be known and addressed WAJI KEFAS ORIJI. All former MUHD HOMA. All former UCHENNA JOYCE JAMES. All BABAMAN ABDULLAHI. All All former documents remain valid. as AGWU JOHN. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and General documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note.

ZAINAB ABDULLAHI MUHAMMED BILKISU ABDULRAHMAN DENSHEP I, formerly known as ZAINAB I, formerly known as I, formerly known as I, formerly known as BILKISU I, formerly known as I, formerly known as DENSHEP KADALA UMAR now wish to ABDULLAHI ALI now wish to MOHAMMED NGAMDUS now HABIB HARUN now wish to ABDULRAHMAN AHMED now HAPPY VONGSING now wish to be be known and addressed as be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as known and addressed as DENSHEP ZAINAB ALIYU ISA. All former ABDULLAHI ALIYU. All former as MUHAMMED KANUMBU. All BILKISU HARUNA SALEH. ABDULRAHMAN AHMED IMAM. HAPPINESS VONGSING. All documents remain valid. documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. DAUDA NWANIKWE BLESSING IBRAHIM RASHEEDAT UMAR I, formerly known as HAKURI I, formerly known as NWANIKWE I, formerly known as GRACE GOMA I, formerly known as I, formerly known as RASHEEDAT I, formerly known as UMAR YOHANNA now wish to be FRANCIS now wish to be known and BISSALLAH now wish to be known IBRAHIM UMAR now wish MUHAMMED ONOZARE now MUHAMMAD now wish to be known and addressed as DAUDA addressed as NWANIKWE FRANCIS and addressed as BLESSING AJIK. HAKURI YOHANNA. All former NWAFOR. All former documents to be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed known and addressed as UMAR documents remain valid. All remain valid. Authorities concerned, All former documents remain valid. IBRAHIM TUKUR. All former as RASHEEDAT STEVE. All MUHAMMAD JIBRIN. All Authority Concern Access Bank National Identity card registration Authorities concerned and the documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. and General Public Take note. and General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. FATIMA SIMON DUNG CATHERINE OYIBO OMAKI I, formerly known as HAUWA I, formerly known as SIMON I, formerly known as ADAMU I, formerly known as CATHERINE I, formerly known as ALIH I, formerly known as SALISU MUHAMMAD GIMI now wish NWORIE now wish to be DANTALA DUNG now wish AJIFA YUSUFU (MISS) now wish HASSANA now wish to be SALAMATU SAMBO now wish to be known and addressed to be known and addressed known and addressed as as DUNG ADAMU DUNG. All to be known and addressed as known and addressed as to be known and addressed as as FATIMA ALIYU. All former SIMON ITUMO. All former former documents remain valid. CATHERINE AJIFA SANNI (MRS). OYIBO HASSANA. All former OMAKI SALAMATU SAMBO. All documents remain valid. documents remain valid. All concerned authorities and the All former documents remain documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note.

OMAGBEMI ISAMOTU ABDULMALIK UBAM NNENNA THOMAS I, formerly known as I, formerly known as AKINDE I, formerly known as ABDULMALIK I, formerly known as GUPADA I, formerly known as NNENNA EZE I, formerly known as YAKUBU ONYEKACHUKWU VANESSA OLUWATOYIN OLAJUMOKE now MUSA OMIZA now wish to RAHILA now wish to be known now wish to be known and addressed RUTH ANZALLU now wish ANAMALI now wish to be known wish to be known and addressed as as NNENNA ESTHER SIDNEY. All and addressed as OMAGBEMI be known and addressed as and addressed as UBAM to be known and addressed ANAMALI ONYEKACHUKWU. All ISAMOTU TOYIN OLAJUMOKE. ABDULMALIK MUSA. All former RAHILA ASAUTA. All former former documents remain valid. as THOMAS RUTH KASU. All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid.General documents remain valid. Abia state University uturu and the former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. OMAGBEMI ESTHER MUSA BELLO UMAR FATIMAH I, formerly known as OMAGBEMI I, formerly known as AKPATA I, formerly known as MUSA I, formerly known as BELLO I, formerly known as MISS. I, formerly known as FATIMAH ENEJU COLLINS now wish ESTHER ERAJERAYO now wish FATIMA ALEWO now wish to DEBORAH now wish to be ABDULLAHI AMINA LEMUTA now MUHAMMAD now wish to wish to be known and addressed to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as known and addressed as as MRS. UMAR MOHAMMED be known and addressed as as OMAGBEMI COLLINS. All ESTHER ERAJERAYO OKOLI. All MUSA FATIMAH EDEJE. All BELLO DEBORAH LADAM. AMIMA LEMUTA. All former FATIMAH MUHAMMAD IDRIS. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain documents remain valid. NYSC and All former documents remain General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. the General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note.

PETER EMEKA OCHIULOR ANIMBA EBBAH HASHIMU I, formerly known as MISS. I, formerly known as I, formerly known as OCHULOR I, formerly known as ANTHONIA I, formerly known as MICHAEL I, formerly known as ALH OPANWA EUNICE AJUMA now CHINONYEREM AMARACHI now CHIMAOBI EBENEZER now wish REGINA CHIWUZIE now wish OTOBO SULE now wish to HASHIMU .D. JADA RIBI now wish to be known and addressed wish to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as MRS. PETER EUNICE NNENNA. as EMEKA AMARACHI. All former OCHIULOR CHIMAOBI CHUKS. ANIMBA ANTHONIA REGINA. EBBAH MICHAEL OTOBO. as HASHIMU JADA DANBURAN. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. NYSC, All former documents remain All former documents remain All former documents remain All former documents remain General Public Take note. Banks and General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note.

OKAFOR AGWUCHKWU EGWUCHUKWU OKWUDILI VICTORIA MARKUS I, formerly known as AZU I, formerly known as AGWU I, formerly known as ODO SAMSON I, formerly known as OKWUDILI I, formerly known as I, formerly known as KEME OGBEYALU ANYA now wish OGHONNAYA JOSIAH now wish ONYEBUCHI and ODO NWAEGWU SYLVESTRE MONDAY now wish VICTORIA BITRUS now wish LYDIA JAMES now wish to to be known and addressed as SAMSON NWAODO now wish to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as OKAFOR OGBEYALU ANYA. All AGWUCHKWU OGHONNAYA as EGWUCHUKWU SAMSON OKWUDILI SYLVIA UCHE. All VICTORIA PETER. All former MARKUS LYDIA EMMANUEL. former documents remain valid. JOSIAH. All former documents ONYEBUCHI. All former documents former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. All former documents remain General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. MUHAMMAD ISAAC AKERELE EZEKIEL PHILIBUS OKECHUKWU I, formerly known as USMAN I, formerly known as ISAAC I, formerly known as AKERELE I, formerly known as EMMANUEL I, formerly known as PHILEMON I, formerly known as OKECHUKWU SANI now wish to be EMMANUEL now wish to be AKEEM OWOYELE now wish EZEKIEL now wish to be known EZEKIEL now wish to be known and AZIKE now wish to be known known and addressed as known and addressed as ISAAC to be known and addressed as and addressed as EZEKIEL addressed as PHILIBUS EZEKIEL, and addressed as OKECHUKWU MUHAMMAD USMAN SANI. EMMANUEL IRIKEFFE. All AKERELE AKEEM OWOYALE. YAKA EMMANUEL. All former DOB: 1 JANUARY, 1991. All former EMMANUEL AZIKE. All former All former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain documents remain valid. Diamond documents remain valid. Access documents remain valid. UBA and valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. Bank and General Public Take note. Bank and General Public Take note. General Public Take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAMES MUSA BENSON GRACE AYUBA JOSEPH This is to inform the general public I, formerly known as MUSA I, formerly known as PEACE I, formerly known as GRACE I, formerly known as AYUBA I, formerly known as JOSEPH that SANI HALIMAT, SANNI HALIMA MUHAMMED now wish to be OYEDO now wish to be known MAMMAM RABIU now wish DOEBAGAL DADAL now wish ISAOYIZA refers to the same person OJIJI now wish to be known and but now wish to be known and known and addressed as MUSA and addressed as BENSON addressed as GRACE OKEKPE. to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as MUHAMMED-MUSTAPHA. All PEACE OYEDO. All former as AYUBA RABIU. All former JOSEPH D. DAYON. All former addressed as SANNI HALIMA. All All former documents remain former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. documents remain valid. documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. UDOSEN CHRISTIANA ANGELA CISSE OMANG VICTORIA I, formerly known as BASSEY I, formerly known as CHRISTY I, formerly known as ANGELA I, formerly known as COULIBALY I, formerly known as OMANG I, formerly known as VICTORIA KUFREnow wish to be known DAVID now wish to be known and OBEHI OMOIKE now wish to be YASSONGO NAMON now wish MOSES ENEJI now wish to YATASA AMINA IBRAHIM now and addressed as UDOSEN addressed as MRS. CHRISTIANA known and addressed as ANGELA to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as BASSEY KUFRE. All former DAVID ADEKUNLE. All former OBEHI STANLEY ENOMA. All CISSE YASSONGO NAMON. All OMANG JOSEPH ENEJI. All VICTORIA YATASA AMINA GANA. documents remain valid. documents remain valid.General former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. IDACHABA RAKIYA ALIYU CONFIRMATION OF NAMES IDAKWO ZAKARIYA I, formerly known as UGBEDEOJO I, formerly known as RUKAYYA I, formerly known as ISAH This is to inform the general public that I, formerly known as IDAKWO I, formerly known as ZAKARIYA AJUMA GRACE now wish to ABUBAKAR now wish to DAUDA now wish to be KALU CHINAZA UCHE, UCHE CHINAZA, ABUBAKAR SADIQ now wish MUSA now wish to be known be known and addressed as UCHE GABRIEL ELIJAH refers to the same be known and addressed known and addressed as person but now wish to be known and to be known and addressed as and addressed as ZAKARIYA IDACHABA AJUMA GRACE. All as RAKIYA KABIR YARI. All ALIYU ISAH DAUDA. All addressed as UCHE CHINAZA GABRIEL IDAKWO ABUBAKAR YARO. All ALHAJI MUSA. All former former documents remain valid. former documents remain former documents remain ELIJAH. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. DANLADI REMOVAL OF NAME ONU DORCAS CECILIA CORRECTION OF NAME I, formerly known as DAN This is to inform the General Public that I, formerly known as OKEREKE I, formerly known as DORCAS I, formerly known as CECILIA ENE I RUNSHEWE OLADIPUPO MUYIWA,That my name is ANETOR AKHUEMOKHAN on my BVN, my name and DOB were wrongly JADUWA now wish to be known SAMSON, I wish to remove the name JUDITH now wish to be known OMEDE now wish to be known ODEY now wish to be known written as ABAYOMI WASIRU ADEWUMI DOB and addressed as DANLADI “AKHUEMOKHAN” from my name, I and addressed as ONU JUDITH. and addressed as DORCAS and addressed as MRS. CECILIA 1/1/1987 instead of RUNSHEWE OLADIPUPO JADUWA, DOB: 13\08\1999. All now wish to be known and addressed YUSUF UKWUMONU. All ENE ODEY-MOSES. All former MUYIWA DOB 4/8/1981.That my correct as ANETOR SAMSON.All former All former documents remain name and DOB are RUNSHEWE OLADIPUPO former documents remain valid. documents remaind valid. concerened former documents remain documents remain valid.NYSC MUYIWA and 4/8/1981. All former documents General Public Take note. authorities and General public take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. and General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note.

HASSAN SAIDI CORRECTION OF NAME ABDULMUMIN OB’LAMA EBUKA I, formerly known as HASSAN I, formerly known as SAIDI SIMEON This is to inform the general public my name I, formerly known as ABDULLAHI I, formerly known as OB’LAMA I, formerly known as OKPALA was wrongly spelled SAIDI SOLOMON ADIL SHAMSUDDIN ARABI now BABATUNDE now wish to be known OLUWASEGUN. Now I wish to be MARYAM MAYA now wish to OJIMAGOCHO now wish to be SAMUEL EBUKA now wish to wish to be known and addressed and addressed as SAIDI SIMEON known and address as SAIDI SOLOMON be known and addressed as known and addressed as OB’LAMA be known and addressed as EKUNDAYO BABATUNDE. All OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain OJIMA GABRIELLA. All former as HASSAN ADIL ARABI. All valid. CAC and general public should take ABDULMUMIN MARYAM. All EBUKA OKPALA CELESTINE. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. note. All former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid.GT documents remain valid. GT Bank Plc All former documents remain General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General public take note. Bank and General Public Take note. and General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. 56 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

ONYEJIAKA SYLVESTER AL AMIN CORRECTION OF DOB ASMAU MOSES I, formerly known as ONYEJIAKA I, formerly known as EKENNE I, formerly known as AL AMIN I, JOHN AHULA BLESSING hereby I, formerly known as MISS ASMAU I, formerly known as ROSE OZIOMA GOODNESS now wish SELVESTER now wish to SALEH now wish to be known notify the general public that my TUKUR ABDULLAHI now wish to ARRAY MOSES now wish to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as and addressed as AL AMIN correct Date of Birth is 15TH MAY be known and addressed as MRS. to be known and addressed ONYEJIAKA OZIOMA GOODNEWS. SYLVESTER EKENE EKENE. SALEH USMAN. All former 1992 not 15TH APRIL 1992. All ASMAU ABDULLAHI TUKUR. All as MOSES RABI. All former All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain documents remain valid. former document remain valid. former documents remain valid.NSUK, documents remain valid. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. NYSC and General Public Take note. General Public Take note.

SHUAIBU JOHN LAWRENCE EDWARD SEKINAT DAVID I, formerly known as SHAIBU I, formerly known as REJOICE I, formerly known as LAWRENCE I, formerly known as EDWARD I, formerly known as SEKINAT I, formerly known as SEGUN M-HUDU, DOB: 02/08/1982 now OGBEBOR now wish to be IBIBO now wish to be known and ODELLE BISONG now wish to ABDULAZEEZ ARGUNGU AKERELE now wish to be wish to be known and addressed addressed as LAWRENCE IBIBO now wish to be known and as SHUAIBU HUDU, DOB: known and addressed as JOHN be known and addressed as addressed as SEKINAT known and addressed as DAVID 18/07/1996. All former documents REJOICE VICTORIA. All former BENSTOWE, DOB: 1/10/1982 NOT EDWARD BISONG. All former ABDULAZEEZ MOUSTAPHA. SEGUN BANKOLE ADEREMI. remain valid. BVN,UNITY BANK/FIRST documents remain valid. 1/10/1979. All former documents documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain BANK and General Public Take note. General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. HASSAN AISHA IORKYAA ZARAU LILIAN AWOBONA I, formerly known as HASSAN I, formerly known as MUSA I, formerly known as IORKYAA I, formerly known as ZARAU I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as AWOBONA AYODELE now wish to be known AISHA HASSAN SULEIMAN MICHEAL TERNENGE FRANK ALI now wish to be known and LILIAN CHIKA OGU now wish to FLORENCE AYODELE now wish to be HUMAN IORKYAA now wish known and addressed as AWOBONA and addressed as HASSAN now wish to be known and to be known and addressed as addressed as ZARAU ISAH. be known and addressed as MRS. AYODELE OGUNTADE. All addressed as AISHA HASSAN. LILIAN CHIKA AZUOKEKE. All FLORENCE AYODELE IBIRONKE. IORKYAA TERNENGE FRANK. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. OSALENKHOR RABIU THOMAS MARKUS AHMED NGBEHA I, formerly known as I, formerly known as BASIRU I, formerly known as YESE I, formerly known as MARKUS I, formerly known as ADEBAYO I, formerly known as NGBEA OKOROMI VIVIAN now wish USMAN now wish to be known IEMBER JOY now wish to MALLO RAFAN now wish to BLESSING now wish to be TERSEER now wish to be known to be known and addressed and addressed as RABIU be known and addressed as be known and addressed as known and addressed as and addressed as NGBEHA as OSALENKHOR VIVIAN. BASIRU USMAN. All former THOMAS JOY. All former MARKUS MALLO. All former AHMED DUPE BLESSING. All PETER AONDOAKULA. All All former documents remain documents remain valid. documents remain valid. documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note.

SAMUEL RE-ARRANGEMENT OF NAME MASAUDU IJIKE ABDULLAHI LAWAL I, formerly known as OGUNDIPE I, formerly known as NWAGBARA I, formerly known as MASAUDU I, formerly known as ONOJA I, formerly known as TANKO I, formerly known as LAWAL OLUWASEYI ABOSEDE now BRIGHT OKECHI now wish to SULEIMAN now wish to be known GABRIEL AGADA now wish to ASIRA ABDULLAHI now wish LASISI now wish to be known wish to be known and addressed be known and addressed as IJIKE as SAMUEL CHRISTIANA be known and addressed as and addressed as MASAUDU GABRIEL JAMES, DOB: 12- to be known and addressed as and addressed as LAWAL OLUWASEYI ABOSEDE. All NWAGBARA OKECHI BRIGHT. SULEIMAN DANLAMI. All former 06-1980 NOT 12-06-1982. All ABDULLAHI HASIRA BARDE. IFEANYI ABDULAZEEZ. All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain documents remain valid.General former documents remain valid. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. LYDIA CHUKWUEBUKA OKWORI IWEDIEBO NWANKWA DAINA I, formerly known as LYDIA I, formerly known as RAPHAEL I, formerly known as OKWORI I, formerly known as IWEDIEBO I, formerly known as NNANKWA I, formerly known as DAINA FITIMI JULIUS now wish to be OKAFOR now wish to be known FRIDAY now wish to be known BLESSING now wish to be known HELEN IHECHI now wish to MOMOH now wish to be known and known and addressed as and addressed as CHUKWUEBUKA and addressed as OKWORI, and addressed as IWEDIEBO be known and addressed as addressed as DAINA FITIMI EKULE LYDIA JULIUS UDEMBA. All RAPHAEL OKAFOR. All former FRIDAY HYACINTH. All former BLESSING ALEXANDER. All NWANKWA HELEN IHECHI. All MOMOH. All former documents former documents remain documents remain valid.General documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. remain valid. All Authorities Concerned valid.General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. and General Public Take note.

FATIMA USHIE EPHRAIM USMAN EWALIEFOH EDIDIONG I, formerly known as FATIMA I, formerly known as ACHU, I, formerly known as ORINGANJE I, formerly known as USMAN ABBAS I, formerly known as JAMES I, formerly known as EDIDIONG ABDULLAHI WUSHISHI now wish MARY TAKIM now wish to PEACE CHINAZA now wish to be now wish to be known and addressed VALENTINE STEVEN now wish ANTIA EFFIONG now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. be known and addressed as known and addressed as EPHRAIM as USMAN ABBAS BELLO, DOB: to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as FATIMA ABDULLAHI MAIRIGA. USHIE MARY ASHIBIBIYE. GIFT CHINAZAEKPERE. All 22/05/1995 NOT 8/05/1991. All EWALIEFOH VALENTINE JAMES. EDIDIONG ANTIA UDO. All All former documents remain valid. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. NYSC and General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note.

OGUNNIYI VICTORIA SAMAILA HAJIYA MUHAMMAD NAMO I, formerly known as OGUNNIYI I, formerly known as VICTORIA I, formerly known as MOSES I, formerly known as HAJIYA I, formerly known as NURA I, formerly known as NAMO ABDULGANIYU INYASS now KTIRA EDWARD now wish SAMUEL now wish to be known AMU ABDULLAHI now wish BALA MALUMFASHI now wish DANIEL DANIEL now wish to wish to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as VICTORIA MANASSEH and addressed as SAMAILA to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as OGUNNIYI GANIYU EBUDOLA. TIMOTHY. All former documents SABO YARI. All former documents as HAJIYA AMU SAGIR. All MUHAMMAD NURA BALA. All NAMO DANIEL AKUADEN. All former documents remain valid. remain valid. Authority Concerned remain valid. Access Bank and former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain General Public Take note. and the General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. NANA FATIMA APIE MAGRET BLESSING MARIAM I, formerly known as NANA I, formerly known as FATIMA I, formerly known as USMAN I, formerly known as MISS AHMED I, formerly known as ABU I, formerly known as ABUBAKAR SHERIMA NDAHI now wish SALEH now wish to be ISMAILA MADAKI now wish AHUOIZA MAGRET now wish to SANI FATIMA now wish to MARYAM YAGANA now wish to be to be known and addressed as known and addressed as to be known and addressed be known and addressed as MRS. be known and addressed as known and addressed as MARIAM NANA DOMSHAK DANJUMA. FATIMA IDRISS. All former as APIE ISMAILA. All former MAGRET AHUOIZA CHRIS. All BLESSING ABU. All former YAGANA MUHAMMED, DOB: All former documents remain documents remain valid. documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. 03]3]1975. All former documents valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. HASSAN ABDULLAHI NWOBODO CORRECTION OF DOB SANNI NDIDIAMAKA I, formerly known as SURNAME: I, formerly known as USENA I, formerly known as GBANDE RITA This is to inform the general public I, open bank accounts with name as I, formerly known as NDIDIAMAKA ACHIBO MAIKASUWA now wish SHAIBU now wish to be MBAFAN now wish to be known that I, MISS FAVOUR ELISHA, ABUBAKAR NADAMA. Now wish CYNTHIA ELEODIMUO now that my actual Date of Birth is to be known and called as SANNI wish to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as known and addressed as and addressed as NWOBODO MUHAMMED. My Date of Birth is as NDIDIAMAKA MAUDLYNE SURNAME: HASSAN KARATU. ABDULLAHI USENA. All GBANDE RITA MBAFAN. All 02/06\1995 NOT 02/06\1989. 2/2/1992. NOT 12/11/1985. Former ELEODIMUO. All former All former documents remain former documents remain former documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid. Stanbic bank documents remain valid. Banks valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General public take note. PLC and general public to take note and General Public Take note. AMINA MAGDALENE DANJUMMA SHAMSIYA HAUWA SAMIRA I, formerly known as AMINA I, formerly known as MAGDALENE I, formerly known as MOHAMMED I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as AISHATU I, formerly known as MISS, GARBA now wish to be known CHRISTOPHER now wish to DANJUMMA now wish to SHAMSIYA MUSA SHU,AIBU now UMAR UBAN,DAWAKI now SAMIRA AHMAD now wish and addressed as AMINA be known and addressed as be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed to be known and addressed GARBA ABDULRAFIU. All MAGDALENE STEPHEN. All DANJUMMA MUHAMMED BUK. MRS. SHAMSIYA AKILU ADAMU. as HAUWA,U ABDULLAHI. All as MRS. SAMIRA AHMAD. All former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. SEKAV OLATUNBOSUN ANDE UKAR GBISE UBAIDAT I, formerly known as AGU I, formerly known as ZOZO NGUFAN I, formerly known as TYAV I, formerly known as MFANYI I, formerly known as IORLUMUN I, formerly known as UBAIDAT MSAANATER PRISCILLA now LOVETH now wish to be known DOOWUESE now wish to be NENSHA now wish to be FATSAV EMMANUEL now wish FARUK HALIRU TAMBUWAL now wish to be known and addressed as and addressed as OLATUNBOSUN known and addressed as MRS. known and addressed as UKAR to be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as SEKAV MSAANATER PRISCILLA. NGUFAN LOVETH. All former ANDE DOOWUESE. All former NENSHA GEORGE. All former GBISE EMMANUEL FABSON. UBAIDAT HALIRU TAMBUWAL. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid.General documents remain valid. documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. SAFIYA SAMUEL OMONOWA GRACE MOSES SA’AD I, formerly known as SAFIYA I, formerly known as SAMUEL I, formerly known as FAITH I, formerly known as MISS.GRACE I, formerly known as MOSES I, formerly known as SA’AD AHMED ABBA MURTALA now wish DANIEL EBENZER now wish USMAN now wish to be known OMOYEMI FADAYOMI now VINCENT now wish to be DANLAMI now wish to be known wish to be known and addressed and addressed as SA’AD AHMAD to be known and addressed to be known and addressed as and addressed as OMONOWA as MRS. GRACE OMOYEMI known and addressed as as SAFIYA ABDULHADI. All SAMUEL DANIEL ZARUMI. All OJORHOGWN USMAN. All OGAGAOGHENE ISODJE. All MOSES DELIGHT. All former DANMALLAM, DOB: 10/09/1992. former documents remain former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid.Bank documents remain valid. All former documents remain valid. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. and General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note.

ONMONYA OKWUDILI OWOLABI RAPHAEL YUSUF OLADIMEJI I, formerly known as ONMONYA I, formerly known as OMEH I, formerly known as OWOLABI I, formerly known as ADENIKE I, formerly known as ADETUNJI I, formerly known as OLOWE CHRIS IDI now wish to be HARRISON now wish to be USMAN EMIR now wish to SUNDAY now wish to be ROFIAT FOLASHADE now wish to FUNMILAYO now wish to be known and addressed as YUSUF known and addressed as known and addressed as be known and addressed as known and addressed as ADESOLA ADEFUNKE ROFIAT, be known and addressed as ONMONYA CHRIS. All former OKWUDILI HARRISON OMEH. OWOLABI USMAN ADEWALE. RAPHAEL GRACE. All former DOB: 3RD MARCH 1986 NOT 3RD OLADIMEJI FUNMILAYO. All documents remain valid. All former documents remain All former documents remain documents remain valid. MARCH 1989. All former documents former documents remain valid. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 57

HADIZA UNOGWU FREEDOM DANLADI FELIX HADIZA I, formerly known as MISS I, formerly known as UNOGWU I, formerly known as GODIYA I, formerly known as IDRIS I, formerly known as FELIX I, formerly known as HADIZA HADIZA SALEH now wish to be PRECIOUS EHI now wish to be FREEDOM now wish to be known ADAMU now wish to be known HALIDU now wish to be known ALKALI MAMU now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. known and addressed as UNOGWU and addressed as FREEDOM DINGIS and addressed as DANLADI and addressed as FELIX HALIDU known and addressed as HADIZA HADIZA MUSA SALEH. All PRECIOUS EHI GAVRIELLA. All GODIYA, DOB: 7/08/1995 NOT IDRIS ADAMU. All former ULEA, DOB: 19 APRI, 1991. All ALKALI MAMU~MOHAMMED. former documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. 5/09/1996. All former documents documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. All former documents remain General Public Take note. General Public Take note. remain valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. KABIRU CONFIRMATION OF NAMES CHUBE CHRISTIE ANDREW ROTIMI I, formerly known as KABIRU This is to confirm thatGOODNESS PREYE I, formerly known as MISS AROH I, formerly known as CHRISTIE I, formerly known as JOHN I, formerly known as ARIKE HASSAN now wish to be and GOODNESS TODIESONUME PREYE NGOZIKA IFUNANYA now wish to AHANI OWAH now wish to REBECCA GBAZHI now wish KUBURAT AYODELE now wish refers to one and the same person, now be known and addressed as MRS. be known and addressed as known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed as MRS. CHRISTIE AHANI OWAH to be known and addressed as to be known and addressed as KABIRU MUHAMMED. All GOODNESS TODIESONUME PREYE. All CHUBE NGOZIKA IFUNANYA. All AJIBADE. All former documents ANDREW REBECCA. All former ROTIMI KUBURAT AKIKE. All former documents remain former documents remain valid. General former documents remain valid. remain valid. Union Bank PLC and documents remain valid. former documents remain valid. valid.General Public Take note. public take note. General Public Take note. the General Public Take note. General Public Take note. General Public Take note. ANTHONIA AWALU AJASA UMAR HABIBAH HADIZA I, formerly known as ANTHONIA I, formerly known as ABDULAZIZU I, formerly known as OSSAI I, formerly known as UMAR I, formerly known as HABIBAH I, formerly known as HADIZA ODION MUKAIRU now wish DANKABAWA now wish to be OMOTOKE RAHMAT now wish MOHAMMED now wish to DANAZUMI IBRAHIM now ALIYU now wish to be known known and addressed as AWALU to be known and addressed ABDULAZIZU, DOB: 1/5/1998 to be known and addressed as be known and addressed as wish to be known and addressed and addressed as HADIZA as ANTHONIA MUKAIRU. All AND NOT 1/1/1996. All former AJASA OMOTOKE RAHMA. All UMAR ALIYU ADEBAYO. All as HABIBAH TANKO. All former MOHAMMED ALIYU. All former documents remain valid. documents remain valid.General former documents remain valid. former documents remain documents remain valid. former documents remain General Public Take note. Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. General Public Take note. valid.General Public Take note. OKLO VERA HELEN I, formerly known as AYAKA I, formerly known as VERA I, formerly known as HELEN AINANA now wish to be known MDEVAAN ODAMA now wish BASIL now wish to be known and and addressed as OKLO AYAKA. to be known and addressed addressed as HELEN CHIDINMA SPACE FOR SALE ICHIDA PROGRESS UNION FEGGE ANAMBRA as VERA ODAMA EBRIKU. All BASIL. All former documents All former documents remain former documents remain valid. remain valid. Authority concern This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the valid.General Public Take note. Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of General Public Take note. and the General Public Take note. Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: LOSS OF DOCUMENT 1. Chief Ezeani Anthony Sunday 2. Barr. Uba Okechukwu Dominic THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS 3. Prof. Orakwe Jideofor Chukwuma OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY WITH 4. Evang. Azombe Peter Zubby 5. Mr. Okpalaeke Francis Chukwurah CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY NUMBER KD. 18462 IN 6. Sir Okafor Nathan Amamchukwu RESPECT OF PLOT 73A EMIR ROAD GASKIYA LAYOUT 7. Chief Ezudogu Peter Elochukwu ZARIA KADUNA BELONGING TO ALHAJI DAUDA 8. Chief Ogbue Emeka Emmanuel 2 X 2 SPACE FOR SALE 9. Chief Okolo Chuma Prince SULEIMAN WHICH WAS ISSUED BY KADUNA STATE ON 3/SEPTEMBER/2003 AND THE SAID CERTIFICATE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: OF OCCUPANCY GOT MISSING 2/12/2018. ALL 1. To promote progress and development in ichida community. EFFORTS MADE TO TRACE THE SAID CERTIFICATE OF Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar OCCUPANCY HAVE PROVEN ABORTIVE PLEASE, IF General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi FOUND RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE. SIGNED: CHAIRMAN UBIAJA DIASPORA FORUM MEE & YOU ELDERS FORUM IJEGUN BRIGHTER FUTURE CLUB OF NIGERIA This is to notify the general public that the above named has applied for This is to inform the general public that the above named has This is to inform the general public that the above named has Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Part “C” of applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, TRUSTEES ARE: Act, 1990. 1990. 1. Chief Robert Imafidon Okharedia 2. Chief Wilson Asobormhe Egbudin TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 3. Mr. Peter Illuobe Aisagbonhi, 1. Ali Chima Stephen - Chairman 4. Dr. Anthony Bamidele Bello 1. Alhaji Bamishe Abayomi. 5. Dr. Martin Oziegbe Obinyan, 2. Alhaji Rasaq Adelanwa Oki. 2. Ugwu Bro Sunday Emmanuel - Vice-Chairman 6. Mr. Gabriel Ozique 3. Alh. Saheed Amussah 3. Chukwuma Jude Ogbonna - Secretary 7. Mr. Frederick Ebakoleane Ijewere, 4. Omi Ugonna Simon - Treasurer

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: AIM AND OBJECTIVE: AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To promote unity between Ubiaja sons and daughters at home and 1. To care for the welfare of its members. abroad. 1. To protect the interest of the members. 2. To promote the development of Ubiaja through individual and public solicitation. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Any objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar- Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Abuja within 28 days of this publication. 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: TRUSTEES. SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: SECRETARY

SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS TECHNIQUES WINDING UP PUBLIC NOTICE AND TECHNOLOGIES INITIATIVE THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. CAP C20, LFN 2004 THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration MEMBERS VOLUNTARY WINDING UP PUBLIC OF THE DEATH OF ASP under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. NOTICE OF A SPECIAL RESOLUTION FOR VOLUNTARY WINDING UP OF MERA TRUSTEES ARE: AGRIC AND FOOD LIMITED (RC: 969663) AYUBA SABO WITH AP/NO 1. Alh Yusuf Abdullahi . (PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 457 & 458 OF THE 2. Hajiya Laure Hussain Buhari. COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT) 101365 OF THE NIGERIAN POLICE 3. Aminu Mohammed Dz 4. Ali Iliya At an extra ordinary meeting of MERA AGRIC AND FOOD LIMITED held on the 4th FORCE LAGOS, WHO DIED ON THE 5. Uddin Nasir day of March, 2019 following the statutory declaration of solvency. it was duly resolved as follows: 29/8/2016 IN APAPA BARRACK AIM AND OBJECTIVE: That MERA AGRIC AND FOOD LIMITED be and it is hereby voluntarily wound up 1. To help the less privilege in the society due to volatile economic environment as a result of natural disaster which affected LAGOS. THE NEXT OF KIN IS 2. To give awearness and technological education to the poor the optimal performance of the company and persistent operational loses and that Barrister Ahmed Giragi Esq. is of House 3, Block 4, Berger Quarry, Mpape, Abuja, FCT MARY AYUBA, DAUGTHTER OF be and is hereby appointed the liquidator for the purpose of winding up. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the THE DECEASED. AUTHORITIES Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Dated this 8th day of March, 2019 Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL days of this publication...... Director PUBLIC TO TAKE NOTE. SIGNED: BARR. OMACHOKO ALHASSAN IDOKO

GATEWAY TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN INITIATIVE ANDY LINKS FOUNDATION THE DIVINE LIGHT WORSHIP CHURCH THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the This is to inform the general public that the above named has INITIATIVE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for (CAC),ABUJA, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: 1990. 1. Chief Dr. Andrew Bassey Ubong (JP) - Chairman THE TRUSTEES ARE: 2. Mr. Ojor Sunday Okwu - Secretary TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ALOZIE LOVEDAY - CHAIRMAN 3. His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Edet Akpan 4. Very Rev. Fr. Paul Philip Eniekop 1. Maha Godwin Bameyi 2. OKERE UGOCHI LOVE -SECRETARY 5. His Royal Highness Chief Sunday Umoh Ibanga 2. Maha Mercy Paulina 3. EMMANUEL JOSEPHINE OYIBO 6. Dr. Mrs. Chinenye Chime Ngozi 3. Momoh Matthew Umoru 7. Miss Patience Bassey 4. Agada Gabriel AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. TO ENGAGE IN CAPACITY BUILDING FOR YOUTHS AND WOMEN IN AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 5. Abah Isaiah Ojochona THE SOCIETY 1. To conduct baseline studies [community diagnoses] to identify Health and 2. TO ENGAGE IN HEALTH AWARENESS EDUCATION AMONG YOUTHS Felt the needs. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 2. To provide basic Health Education and Information training to Women, and 1. To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. AND WOMEN AT THE COMMUNITIES Youths for development, Economic Growth and Poverty alleviation. 3. To raise Awareness on STD/HIV & AIDS, promote and provide Home/ ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO Community Based Care Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: OKERE UGOCHI LOVE- SECRETARY SIGNED: UDO TOCHUKWU ESQ - 08038067903 SIGNED: ENE IDOKO (ESQ)- SOLICITOR 58 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

HEART OF SAPPHIRES LOSS OF DOCUMENT INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION LET LOVE LEAD FOUNDATION THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under PUBLIC OF THE MISSING DOCUMENTS, FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990. MATTERS ACT OF 1990. STATUTORY RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY, TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Stephanie Alelosa Iyamu RECEIPT OF PAYMENT BELONGING TO 1. OGUNNUSI ADEBOLA OLUFIKAYO 2. Obayuwana Confidence MR. TITUS OKUNOYE AJANI TOMORI. 2. ADERETI ADEBOLA TOYOSI 3. Momudu Ehigie 3. ONIBON IBITOLA TEMILADE - SECRETARY 4. Johnson Oladayo Bolaji COVERING PLOT NO. 693, CADASTRAL 5. Phillips Blessing Ozioma AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: ZONE A07,WITH FILE NO. 0S 10024 WUSE 1. TO PROVIDE HUMANITARIAN SERVICES TO THE LESS PRIVILEGED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: PEOPLE IN THE SOCIETY. 1. To provide empowerment programme for youths and teenagers, skils LL DISTRICT ABUJA. IF FOUND, CONTACT 2. TO ASSIST THE YOUTHS, THE DESTITUTE, POOR, VULNERABLE acquisition programmes. THE NEAREST POLICE STATION OR MR. A. PEOPLE WHO HAVE INNATE ABILITIES AND POTENTIALS. 2. To engage in charity work, social and environmental development and services in locations across Nigeria. S. ANYEBE AT 08096571375. OR RETURN ANY OBJECTIONS TO THIS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, Any objections to this should be forwarded to the Registrar General, TO ABUJA INFORMATION SYSTEM (AGIS). OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi PUBLICATION. Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. SIGNED: MR. TITUS OKUNOYE AJAYI T. SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: SECRETARY

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN’S SOCIETIES NIGERIA LOSS OF DOCUMENTS PILGRIM GOSPEL MISSION INC. THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA, A REGISTERED NGO WITH This is to inform the general public that the above name Organization has applied for CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (IT NO. 784) IS HEREBY NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC THAT IT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE Change of Trustees to Corporate Affairs Commission under part C of the Companies INTENDS TO DO THE FOLLOWING: LOSS OF THE LETTER OF ALLOCATION, LETTER and Allied Matters Act No. 1 of 1999. AMEND THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION, CHANGE OF NAME FROM OF OFFER, AND FINAL REPAYMENT CLEARANCE OLD TRUSTEES: NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN’S SOCIETIES NIGERIA TO NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR WOMEN 1. Pastor Eyo Edet - Disqualify and Removed SOCIETIES NIGERIA, APPLY FOR CERTIFIED TRUE COPY OF CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AND RECEIPTS IN RESPECT OF THE PROPERTY KNOWN 2. Elder Anthony Ngadoanye - Appointment Terminated and Removed EFFECT CHANGE OF TRUSTEES. 3. Elder removed Oche - Appointment Terminated and Removed AS HOUSE 2, A CLOSE, 69 ROAD, OFF 691 MODEL 4. Elder Augustine Okezuruonye - Disqualify and Removed THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: CITY, ADKAN ESTATE, GWARINPA II, ABUJA. THE 5. Late Elder Charles Tar - Disqualify and Removed 1. DR. (MRS.) GLORIA LARABA SHODA - (PRESIDENT) 6. Late Elder Etebom Tom - Disqualify and Removed 2. CHIEF (MRS.) AMONU CHARITY CHERYL - (NATIONAL SECRETARY SAID PROPERTY WAS WILLED TO SEGILOLA EYO- 3. MRS. JONAH DORIS OBED 4. UDENSI CHIKWENDU UKAOBAS AWAN AOKO (NEE ADEYEMI) AND OLAYINKA NEW TRUSTEES: 5. SIR (DR.) KESINGTON A. ADEBUTU 1. Pastor Gabriel Wilson - Elected and Appointed 6. TUMSAH TIJJANI MUSA INYANG OFFO (NEE ADEYEMI) BY LATE MRS. 2. Pastor Isaac Koduah - Elected and Appointed 7. DAME PAULINE KEDEM TALLEN 3. Pastor Lambert Offor - Elected and Appointed RITA ARUK OSIJO. THE SAID DOCUMENTS WERE 4. Pastor John Opkara - Elected and Appointed THE REMOVED TRUSTEES: 5. Pastor Sunday Chanyere - Elected and Appointed 1. OLOROGUN MICHAEL IBRU DISCOVERED MISSING/LOST/MISPLACED OR 6. Elder David Achiko - Elected and Appointed 2. PRINCESS TEJUMADE ALAKIJA DESTROYED AFTER HER DEATH. ALL EFFORTS 3. MRS. MBADINE C.N Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, 4. ALH. ALIKO MOHAMMED MADE TO RECOVER THE MISSING DOCUMENTS Corporate Affair Commission. 420 Tigns Crescent Off Aguyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198, 5. ADELUYI JULIUS ADELUSI HAVE PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND KINDLY Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this public notice. THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION IS TO BE AMENDED. SIGN: TRUEST CHAIRMAN TRUEST SECRETARY RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. PASTOR GABRIEL WILSON PASTOR LAMBERT OFFOR SIGNED: JIBRIL TANKO, ESQ. - 08056353636. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE. 07034565621 08175622912

DAISY ACCESS TO HEALTH FOUNDATION AVIARY NEIGBOURHOOD ASSOCIATION, WINNER HEIGHT FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR NAMED BODY HAS APPLIED TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS Corporate Affairs Commission CAC( ), Abuja for Registration under part ‘C’ of REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. 1990. COMMISSION, ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF TRUSTEES ARE: THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, NO. 1 OF 1990. 1. Mr. Eboreime Victor Osamaye - President 2. Mrs. Eboreime Bridget Arho - Vice President TRUSTEES ARE: 3. Mrs. Akpirin Felicitas Erhuvwe - Secretary 1. OKONOFUA IMAZEHIKHOR DAISY TRUSTEES ARE: 4. Eboreime Ebenezer Ikhide - Member 2. POOH PRINCESS NKECHI 1. UVIEJITOBOR JOHN OGHENEVWEGBA 5. Eboreime John Ifidon. 3. OKONOFUA IVIE JENNIFER FRIDAY 6. Mrs. Lilian Osibanjo 2. IYERE CHRISTIAN EWOOACHE 7. Mrs. Odion Agbonware 4. GHARORO EDAFEAGHOR ETEDAFE 8. Miss Omon Eboreime 3. IGBUDU BENSON OHWOFASA 9. Miss Omizu Isaba AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 10. Pst. Jeff Okotete 11. Mr. Maxwell Osikoribia 1. TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN OF PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF DEATH IN AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 12. Mr. Jesse Eboreime NIGERIA CITIZENS THROUGH HEALTH PROMOTION, ADVOCACY, AND 1. TO PROMOTE THE INTEREST OF THE MEMBERS. 13. Mr. Joshua Eboreime VOLUNTARY PROVISION OF QUALITY AND QUANTITATIVE HEALTH 14. Miss Joan Eboreime CARE TO THOSE LESS PRIVILEGED. 15. Mr. Tega Akpirin ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED AIM AND OBJECTIVE: ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 1. To help the less privileged. REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, THIS PUBLICATION. Maitama, Abuja within 28days of this publication. SIGNED: SECRETARY. SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: SECRETARY.

MARIAN ELOHOR THE PAPAS INTERNATIONAL EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION KANO FOUNDATION (GIDAUNIYAR KANO) DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED Commission (CAC), Abuja for Change of Trustees under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA Act, 1990. APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR FOR REMOVAL AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE RETAINED TRUSTEES ARE: REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990. 1. Alhaji (Dr.) Aminu Alhassan Dantata, Con ACT, 1990. 2. Alhaji Sulaiman S. Baffa, Con 3. Alhaji Bashari Muhammad Gumel 4. Professor Shehu Galadanci, Con TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 5. Alhaji Muhammadu Ibrahim, Ofr, Jp 1. FRANK EMENIKE OKAMIGBO 1. OGHENEOVO MARIAN ELOHOR - RETAINED 6. Alhaji Umar Faruk Abdullahi 7. Alhaji Bashir M. Borodo 2. GOLD NJIDE OKAMIGBO 2. AIRENDE - OGHENEOVO FLORENCE - RETAINED 8. Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim (Iyan Kazaure) 3. DUPE EFUA KRAKUE 9. Alhaji Isyaku Umar Tofa, Oon (Dan Adalan Kano) 3. UPARAN EJIROGHENE LILIAN - REMOVED 10. Alhaji Abubakar Sadauki 4. ABDULLAHI UWEMEDIMO ESQ. 11. Professor Tijjani Isma’il 5. OMOLARA UWEMEDIMO 12. Alhaji Sa’idu Garum Babba Zakari NEW TRUSTEE: 13. Senator Ahmad Zakari 6. JUDE EZEOBI ESQ. 1. ISENU OBUKOHWO LOIS - APPOINTED. 14. Alhaji Yusuf Hassan DECEASED: AIM AND OBJECTIVE: THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME. Alhaji Isiyaku Rabiu (Khalifa) 1. TO MAKE SOCIETY A BETTER PLACE FOR THE BENEFIT OF SUCCESSIVE APPOINTED: GENERATIONS. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO Alhaji Auwalu Ilu Ahmed BOARD SECRETARY: ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT Bello Umar Gwangwazo THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA ANY OBJECTION TO THIS APPLICATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY. SIGNED: BELLO UMAR GWANGWAZO - DIRECTOR-GENERAL. SIGNED: SECRETARY.

SPIRITANS EDUCATIONAL ALTAR FORCE EVANGELICAL MISSION FOUNDATION SABON-LUGBE ABUJA SAIDEA FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART 1990. ACT, 1990. ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 1. FR. AYO AYENI C.S.Sp 1. ITIMI ANDREW 2. FR. INNOCENT AWULU C.S. Sp 2. OFONGO RITA VIVIAN 1. UKUEWU TUOYO - CHAIRMAN 3. FR. BENJAMIN OMALE C.S. Sp 3. ITIMI STEPHANIE EJIROGHENE 2. UKUEWU HARRIENTA - SECETARY 4. FR. VINCENT IDANWOJO C.S. Sp 4. ITIMI FRANCISCA ESE 5.FR. BENEDICT OGBUEVULE C.S. Sp AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. 1. TO INITIATE AND PROMOTE STREET TO SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR 1. TO EMPOWER WOMEN AND YOUTHS WITH DIGITAL SKILLS CHILDREN WHO OUT OF SCHOOL. 2. TO ESTABLISH PLATFORMS AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT 2. TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIP TO INDIGENT BRILLIANT STUDENTS IN THE UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN AND YOUTHS ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE 3. TO FOSTER GENDER EQUALITY, WOMEN/CHILDREN’S RIGHTS FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE SOCIETY. AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN THIS PUBLICATION. THIS PUBLICATION. 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY. SIGNED: SECRETARY. SIGNED: SECRETARY. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 59

THE ARK OF TESTIMONY RURAL HELP INITIATIVES GLOBAL REVIVAL MINISTRY LEADER JOE 1808 FOUNDATION THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990. ACT, 1990. 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ROTIMI BABAWALE OLATUNJI (SECRETARY) TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ONUS JOSEPH DANIEL LEADER. 2. ALHAJI IDRIS BELLO (CHAIRMAN) 1. PASTOR OKEREAFOR BRIGHT NNAJI - PRESIDENT 2. ONUS CHARLES. 3. JAKE SCHUAL-BERKE 2. PASTOR MRS OKEREAFOR MARY JANE NNAJI 3. GIRISH TIRUPILLAPPA. 4. LIONEL PIERRE 3. LONGINUS OKEREKE 4. CHUKU WINIFRED NYEGUSIRIM. - SECRETARY. 4. MORADEYO EBUNOLUWA CHRISTIANA - SECRETARY 5. THECK ALHAMDU MAKERI. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: 5. NZURUMIKE ERNEST ODIRACH 6. AKPOYOVWARE ODAFE NICOLA. 1. TO ROUTINELY CARRYOUT OPERATIONAL RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY IMPORTANT PROBLEMS FACED BY PEOPLE LIVING IN HARD TO REACH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: RURAL AREAS AND HARD TO REACH LOCATIONS IN NIGERIA. 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. 1. TO EMPOWER,CONDUCT IN TRAINING THROUG ENTREPRENEURSHIP 2. TO ROUTINELY CONDUCT RESEARCH TO SOLVING THE IDENTIFIED 2. TO PREACH THE GOODNESS OF THE SALVATION IN CHRIST JESUS SKILLS ACQUISITION FOR DISABLE PERSON. PROBLEMS FACED BY PEOPLE LIVING IN HARD TO REACH RURAL 3. TO ENCOURAGE CHRISTIANS TO SERVE GOD. 2. TO SUPPORT DISABLED PERSON OR PERSONS LIVING WITH AREAS AND HARD TO REACH LOCATIONS IN NIGERIA. DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING AIDS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. 28DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: IBRAHIM O IBRAHIM, ESQ. SIGNED: BARR. GEORGE IHEJIRIKA - 08037035205 SIGNED: SECRETARY

BASHAR CHIEFDOM COMMUNITY ORGANISATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION EMPOWERMENT OF LADIES IN SPORT LEGAL NOTICE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC), ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, UNDER PART ‘C’ OF COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990. JALINGO TARABA STATE 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OYEDIRAN FATIMAH IBUKUNOLUWA - CHAIRMAN IN RESPECT OF LATE ASP IBRAHIM AMINU OF TRUSTEES ARE: 2. OYEDIRAN OLANIRAN BUKOLA AISHA - SECRETARY 1. ZAKARI MUHAMMED ABDULLAHI - PRESIDENT NIGERIA POLICE FORCE JALINGO COMMAND 2. ALIYU YUNUSA - SECRETARY AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: WHO RETIRED AND DIED ON 1/02/2O19. WITH F/ 3. ABDULLAHI MUSA NYALUN - FINANCIAL SECRETARY 1. TO CREATE AWARENESS ON THE ISSUES THAT WILL BRING ABOUT NO.115527. DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT TO WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN SPORTING AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE: ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA . 1. TO PROVIDE OUR MEMBERS WITH THE DIRECTION, CONFIDENCE AND 2. TO SENSITIZE CITIZENS OF NIGERIA ON THE NEED FOR THE CREATION AND HE WAS BURIED IN SAMUNAKA JALINGO TARABA CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS TO CONNECT WITH THEIR GOALS AND PROMOTION OF FAIR AND CONVENIENT ATMOSPHERE TO ENCOURAGE OBJECTIVES WITHIN BASHAR CHIEFDOM COMMUNITY. HIGHER AND BETTER PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SPORTING STATE. 2. TO PROVIDE DIRECT BUILDING SUPPORT SERVICES BY TRAINING AND ACTIVITIES IN NIGERIA . BUILDING AMONG MEMBERS IN BASHAR COMMUNITY CHIEFDOM. 3. TO PROMOTE AND SUPPORT SPORT AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES AND RELATED OPPORTUNITIES TO WOMEN AND GIRLS IN NIGERIA. NEXT OF KIN: ELIZABETH IBRAHIM AND EUNICE IBRAHIM WHO ARE THE NEXT OF KIN TO THE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS REGISTRAR_GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS DECEASED. CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS CRESCENT , OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET , MAITAMA , ABUJA WITHIN 28DAYS OF OF THIS PUBLICATION. THIS PUBLICATION. ALL AUTHORITY CONCERNED AND GENERAL SIGNED: SECRETARY. SIGNED: SECRETARY. PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

LEGAL NOTICE DEFENDERS CARE FOUNDATION ESTHER’S HELPING HANDS FOUNDATION. IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied This is to inform the general public that the above named has JALINGO TARABA STATE to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration under applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. IN RESPECT OF LATE. NATI CHINENYE IKEBUDE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Uche Vincent - President OF FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTRE JALINGO TARABA 2. Izuchukwu Boniface Okolie - Member /Secretary TRUSTEES ARE: STATE. SHE DIED ON 9/08/2018. 3. Uche Patience - Member 1. Mrs. Dorothy Eno Bassey 4. Dr. Sunday Yomi - Member 2. Mrs. Enyinna Teresa Ehisianya PLACE OF BURIAL: DONGA LGA AREA OF TARABA 5. Emmanuel Emoruwa - Member. 3. Mr. Osime Ehireme.

STATE. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To support and care for orphans,widows,and less privileged. 1. To help empower the youths, aged and the vulnerable in our NEXT OF KIN: NEBOLISA MICHAEL IKEBUDE OF 2. To support and care for members of families,who lost bread winners society. MALLUM QUARTERS OF BE/B4 ARDO-KOLA LGA to death. AREA OF TARABA STATE IS THE TRUE NEXT OF KIN Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris TO THE DECEASED. General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. ALL AUTHORITY CONCERNED AND GENERAL publication. PUBLIC TAKE NOTE. SIGNED: MATTHEW ONOJA. ESQ . SIGNED: ETTA & CLYDE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

KANO UNIVERSAL MAKE - SHARP ARROWS OF GOD PRAYER MINISTRY. UP ARTISTS ASSOCIATION FAMILY DIVINE DESTINY LIBERATION MINISTRY. This is to inform the general public that the above named has The general public is hereby notified that the above named Organization The Public is hereby notified that the above name has applied to applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Registration under Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for registration under Part C of Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. the companies and allied matters. Act 1990. 1990. TRUSTEES ARE; 1. Maryam A. Tafida TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 2. Muhammad Sunusi Musa 1. Pastor (Mrs.) Ngozi Elizabeth Ariaye - General Overseer. 1. Okpani Edwin Arua. 3. Bahijja Shehu Bawa 2. Mr. Ariaye Friday Ikiyoworde. 2. Okpani Justin Okpani. 4. Ummi Rahama Shehu 3. Mgbame Kenneth Chibuikem 3. Edwin Ogechi Favour 5. Fandy Hassan 4. Enaborhire Nelson Simon - Secretary. 6. Bilkisu Ibrahim Abubakar 7. Naima Abduulahi AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to all the nations of 1. Preparing men for great Harvest of souls in the Nations of the AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: the earth. world by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to men. 1. Promoting Make - Up art. 2. Capacity building for Make - Up artist to meet Universal standard. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Any objection(s) to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar Registrar, General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris General Corporate Affairs Commission at 420 Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within –Ironsi Street .P.M.B 198 Maitama, Abuja within 28 days from the date of the date of this publication. 28 days of this publication. this publication SIGNED: PASTOR (MRS.) NGOZI ELIZABETH ARIAYE SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: USMAN LAWAN BELLO ESQ. - GENERAL OVERSEER

EMMANUEL ORIRI LATTER SIGN LIBERATION MINISTRY AWARENESS OF GOD INITIATIVE BENAIAH HEALTH FOUNDATION The Public is hereby notified that the above name has applied to The Public is hereby notified that the above name has applied This is to inform the general public that the above named has Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for Registration under Part to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for Registration under applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for C of the Companies and Allied Matters. Act 1990. Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters. Act 1990. Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Aghahowa Festus Osarenmwinda - Chairman TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 2. Eriabie Godstime Joshua - Secretary 1. Sunday Emmanuel Oriri 1. Agoboye Francis Monday - Chairman. 3. Aghahowa Magdalene Osarugue - Member 2. Sunday Lucky Ewere 2. Sotonye Godwill Diamond - Secretary. 3. Ingoerenfagha Deborah Worikuma AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To preach god’s word, heal the broken hearted and preach 1. To assist the less privilege. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: deliverance to the captives. 1. To provide health care and support for the poor in the society. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the the Registrar, General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar, General Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days Tigris Crescent off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within from the date of this publication. 28 days from the date of this publication. 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED: AGHAHOWA FESTUS OSARENMWINDA - CHAIRMAN SIGNED: SUNDAY EMMANUEL ORIRI SIGNED: OLUFUNSHO ISAAC 60 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019

TRUSTEES

NDUHU-UMUODA NGURU CENTRE FOR ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY MBAISE DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION NELO DREAMS FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to This is to inform the general public that the above named has This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration under part applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for Registration Under ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. Registration under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, part ‘’C’’ of Companies and Allied Matter Act,1990. 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Mr. Chris Ananaba Isiguzo - Chairman 1. Danladi Jonathan Dastu 2. Mr. Emereole Godson Obilor - Secretary TRUSTEES ARE: 2. Dastu Ishaku Niamdukur Chakan 3. Okenze Desmond Agbaegbu O.C 1. Eluwa Anselm Onyekachi 4. Chief Donatus Agoha Uzoma 2. Edwin Henry Chika AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 5. Mr. Oliver Nwachukwu Ejike 3. Eluwa Edwin Cynthia Chinelo 1. To spearhead the growth and development of Nigeria through 6. Mr. Achionye Reuben Okechukwu 4. Mr. Jude Osayi evidence-based research 7. Mr. Tobias Akobundu Agbaegbu 2. To create an outlet of employment opportunity for the teeming AIM AND OBJECTIVE: population of Nigeria AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. To help the less priviledged in the society. 3. To conduct qualitative research that will create awareness about the 1. To promote the social, economic and cultural development of Nduhu- way out of the growing poverty incidence in Nigeria. Umuoda Community Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Any objection to this Registration should be forwalded to the Registrar Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris General Corporate Affairs Comission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. 28 days of this publication. publication. SIGNED: EMMANUEL NWAGWU, ESQ. SIGNED: SECRETARY SIGNED: TRUSTEES.

MUASSASAT NASRUL THE REDEEMED CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF GOD. ILM WA DA’ WAT FOUNDATION CAC/IT//NO 919. This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied The general public is hereby notified that the above named has to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Abuja for Registration applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for Ammendment of its under part ‘C’ of Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990. Constitution under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990. TRUSTEES ARE: Amendment of Article 10(b) of the church constitution herein 1. Usman Adebayo Giwa - Chairman reproduced: “ Such Trustees (hereinafter referred to as the trustees) 2. Nuraini Olaniyan Aderibigbe - Secretary shall not be less than four (4) and not more than Ten(10) in number 3. Abdur-Rahim Adebisi Giwa band shall be known and and called “The Incorporated Trustees of the 4. Suleiman Alani Oladape Redeemed Christian Church of God”. 5. Ibraheem Olayinka Adigun 3 X 2 SPACE FOR SALE To Now reflect. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Such trustees shall not be less than 3 (three) and not more that 13 ( 1. To acquisition of western and islamic education for the betterment thirteen) in number. The said trustees shall be known as the Incorporated of mankind. Trustees of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Any objection to this APPLICATION should be forwarded to the Registrar Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this days of this publication. publication. SIGNED: OSOBA OLUPEJU - 08023204097 SIGNED: OLUFUNSHO ISAAC ESQ. Friday, March 8, 2019 www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA 61 Why We Decided Not To Destroy Indian Submarine – Pakistan BY KINGSLEY OPURUM, Abuja intrusion into Pakistani air space, entering into Pakistani waters. world India continues to embark upon a The Submarine was detected and Pakistan has explained that the series of provocative actions against localised in Pakistan’s maritime reason it decided not to destroy Pakistan. zone on March 4, 2019. the Indian submarine it recently “Indian Navy has deviously “The submarine could have been detected in Pakistan’s waters is deployed its submarines against easily engaged and destroyed had because of its policy to exercise Pakistan in line with Indian it not been Pakistan’s policy to restraint in the face of Indian nefarious designs. However, exercise restraint in the face of aggression and to give peace a Pakistan Navy detected and blocked Indian aggression and to give peace NEWS chance to prevail. Indian Navy Submarine from a chance to prevail. Pakistan gave the explanation Egyptian Forces Kill 7 Militants in a press statement signed by the director general, Public Near Cairo Relations of Navy and made available to LEADERSHIP Friday Egyptian security forces killed seven but the ministry said they were by Pakistani High Commission in suspected militants in two operations members of the Hasm group, which Abuja, yesterday, where Islamabad in Giza, across the Nile from central emerged in 2016 and has claimed lamented how New Delhi has Cairo, the interior ministry said on several attacks on security forces. continued to embark on series Thursday. Egypt accuses the group of being a of provocative actions against Three of the militants had disguised militant wing of the outlawed Muslim Pakistan. themselves as electricity workers to Brotherhood. The Brotherhood Condemning India’s deployment plant explosives, but were killed in an denies this. of its submarine into Pakistani exchange of fire after their truck was Authorities frequently announce waters, Islamabad also commended intercepted, a ministry statement deaths of suspects identified as its navy, saying that the incident said. One police officer was wounded. Islamist militants in clashes or reflects high vigilance and Four more were killed when raids, often in remote areas including competence of Pakistan Navy. security forces raided an apartment the Sinai Peninsula, where the The statement read in parts; they were using. armed forces have been battling an “Sequel to Indian Air Force The suspects were not identified insurgency. Chief of Pakistan Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi on a Navy Warship UK Calls For Credible, Peaceful Governorship/State Assembly Elections BY BLESSING BATURE, Abuja Senior Communications Officer, commend INEC staff and the “We were concerned by reports together to provide a peaceful Press and Public Affairs of British National Youth Service Corps, of high levels of violence in some environment for Nigerians to Britain has called on Nigerian High Commission, TinuOluwa who play a critical role in the states across Nigeria during the vote on March 9. We remind electorate to come out en masse Adelegan, where it noted that delivery of elections, often in recent presidential elections, all actors that anyone involved and cast their votes in peaceful these elections are an important difficult circumstances. We hope including reports of violent in violence or inciting violence, and credible governorship and opportunity for citizens to that they will be given every clashes involving the military including on social media, could State House of Assembly elections exercise their democratic rights support and protection necessary in Rivers State. We condemn face restrictions on their ability to slated for Saturday March 9, and choose their leaders. to ensure the smooth and peaceful all acts of violence and call for travel to the UK. 2019. “We hope that the causes delivery of elections free from fear those responsible to be brought “The UK again pledges to field United Kingdom made the call of logistical issues during the of intimidation or interference in to justice. We call on all actors, observer teams across Nigeria on in a press statement signed and February 23 election have been the electoral process. including political parties and March 9, as part of our efforts to made available, yesterday by the identified and addressed. We According to the statement security personnel, to work support Nigerian democracy.” Venezuela’s Guaido Seeks More Sanctions After German Envoy’s Expulsion Venezuela’s opposition Russia and China, “I hope that Europe reacts vote. Maduro says he is victim would not change. is already happening at the leader, Juan Guaido, urged meanwhile, continue to sharply to this serious threat of a US-led coup attempt and Guaido, however, said border to Brazil,” he said in Europe to tighten financial support Socialist Maduro against an ambassador,” an “economic war.” he had asked Kriener to reference to recent violence sanctions against the and urge no outside Guaido said. “Above all, they German Foreign Minister, stay on as ambassador in there. government of Nicolas interference. should tighten financial Heiko Maas, on Wednesday, Caracas, since Maduro Juergen Hardt, foreign Maduro after it expelled Caracas declaring sanctions against the called Venezuela’s action was not empowered to policy spokesman for Germany’s ambassador. Ambassador Daniel regime.” “incomprehensible” and said expel a diplomat as he was the conservative bloc in His comments to a German Kriener persona non grata, Germany is among the Germany and its European “occupying the post of Germany’s parliament, magazine marked the “represents a threat against many nations backing partners would continue to president, illegally.” backed Guaido’s call for latest flashpoint in a global Germany,” Guaido was Guaido’s plan to install a back Guaido. The internationalfurther sanctions against showdown over Venezuela, quoted on Thursday as transitional government On Thursday, he said the community should act Maduro and said the goal with Western nations largely telling Der Spiegel. Kriener ahead of national elections. ambassador would return to prevent Maduro using should be for Kriener to recognising Guaido’s claim to and other diplomats had He denounced Maduro as to Germany tomorrow Venezuelan taxpayer funds return to Caracas as soon be considered the country’s welcomed Guaido home at a usurper whose re-election (Saturday) for consultations, to “kill critics of the regime as possible. Maas did not legitimate head of state. Caracas airport this week. last year resulted from a sham but that Berlin’s position and indigenous peoples, as address the sanctions issue. Deadline Looms As UK Pushes For Brexit Deal The UK’s attorney general says checks on the border between proposals are not clear; they are as passionate about ensuring that is that what’s inside the codpiece is Brexit negotiations will continue Northern Ireland and the Republic clear as day, and we are continuing we leave the European Union on in full working order,” he quipped. as EU officials call for “acceptable” of Ireland. to discuss them.” time, it surely must be something But Brexiteer, Mark Francois, ideas today to break the impasse. Mr Cox, who was in Brussels Earlier, when speaking to BBC that they need to think very, very who is a member of the Eurosceptic Geoffrey Cox said plans to on Tuesday to push for further Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr carefully about now because they group of Conservative MPs, the solve the deadlock over the Irish changes to the Brexit deal, said Hammond refused to be drawn on run the risk of us moving away ERG, said Mr Cox had taken charge backstop were “as clear as day”, talks would “almost certainly” how he would vote if Mrs May’s from their preferred course of of the negotiations and would with just days until MPs vote on continue through the weekend. deal is defeated. action if we don’t get this deal “effectively be examining his own the Brexit deal. He said there had been “careful “If the prime minister’s deal through.” codpiece in the Commons”. Commons Leader, Andrea discussions” with the EU and does not get approved on Tuesday, In the Commons, Mr Cox He questioned how Mr Cox Leadsom, confirmed the vote stressed it was government policy then it is likely that the House of also noted that his proposals to could provide objective advice would be held on March 12. to seek the legal changes to the Commons will vote to extend the change the backstop had been when he was “in effect marking Chancellor, Philip Hammond, backstop. Article 50 procedure, to not leave referred to in some quarters as his own homework.” has warned Brexiteers to vote for “We are discussing text with the the European Union without a “Cox’s codpiece” - using a term Mr Cox replied that “the law the deal or face delay to the UK’s European Union,” he said. deal, and where we go thereafter to describe a pouch attached to a is the law”, and that he would exit from the EU. “I am surprised to hear the is highly uncertain,” he told BBC man’s breeches worn in the 15th judge documents relating to The backstop is an insurance comments that have emerged Radio 4’s Today programme. and 16th Century. the backstop “entirely and policy designed to prevent physical over the last 48 hours that the “For those people who are “What I am concerned to ensure impartially.”

Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear. ― Egyptian Proverb 62 March 8, 2019 Exclusively WOMAN International Women’s Day: Women Demand Balance For Better Society It has been said that to achieve sustainable development, peace and security, emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI). Eta said the NCWD, in collaboration women must be carried along every step. As the world celebrates the International with the office of the wife of the Women’s Day, JOY YESUFU looks at how the society will be better with balanced president, has established a Gender- Based Violence Electronic Dashboard participation of women. to improve documentation and set up mechanism of Gender Based Violence trends across the country to better track efforts at prosecuting offenders, rehabilitating offenders and compensating victims and their families. This, according to her, is part of efforts to achieve this year’s theme and provide social protection for the Nigerian women and the girl child’s ever increasing rate of gender-based violence. The DG said the NCWD, in partnership with the University of Abuja, is currently running a Master’s degree program in Gender Security Studies and Youth Advancement to develop a Crop of experts in addressing gender gaps and proferring solutions to existing gender challenges in Nigeria. Minister of Women Affairs and Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Abubakar, flanked by members of Queens College Old Girls Association, during their Social Development, Hajia Aisha visit to the minister in her office in Abuja on the celebration of International Women’s Day Abubakar, while receiving members of the Queens College Old Girls nternational Women’s Day is economic arenas. Development (NCWD), Mrs Mary Association, Abuja and North, celebrated on March 8, every The Charter of the United Nations, Ekpere-Eta, said this year’s theme, speaking on the IWD, urged women to year. It is a focal point in the signed in 1945, was the first “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovative come out and be seen so they would be movement for women’s rights. international agreement to affirm For Change: Balance For Better”, carried along in governance process. After the Socialist Party of the principle of equality between focuses on the innovative ways to Abubakar said though Nigeria America organised a Women’s Day on women and men. Since then, the UN advance gender equality and the has not achieved the 35 per cent I affirmative action, the country has February 28, 1909 in New York, the has helped create a historic legacy empowerment of women particularly 1910 International Socialist Woman’s of internationally-agreed strategies, in the areas of social protection moved further from the percentage it Conference suggested a Women’s Day standards, programmes and goals systems, access to public services and had earlier. “It is a work in progress,” be held annually. to advance the status of women sustainable infrastructure. she added. International Women’s Day is worldwide. She said the theme also resonates Earlier in her address, president celebrated in many countries around Over the years, the UN and its the efforts the NCWD is making to of the Queen’s College Old Girls the world. It is a day when women are technical agencies have promoted empower and strengthen women’s Association, Abuja, North, Hajia recognised for their achievements the participation of women as equal agenda towards gender equality and Fatima Hassan, said their main focus without regard to divisions, whether partners with men in achieving sustainable national development. for this year is the rise on substance national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, sustainable development, peace, She further said with the dismissal abuse and its effect on women and economic or political. International security, and full respect for human performance of Nigerian women in girls particularly in the north. Women’s Day first emerged from the rights. the 2019 general elections, the theme She said drug and substance abuse/ activities of labour movements at the The empowerment of women for this year’s celebration is quite apt addiction is a serious epidemic in turn of the 20th century in North continues to be a central feature of as it speaks to current day realities Nigeria and in the north adding that America and across Europe. the UN’s efforts to address social, women face in achieving equity and this is more rampant among women It is a focal point in the movement economic and political challenges equality with regards to women’s and girls. for women’s rights. After the Socialist across the globe. representation, information and Hassan said research has shown Party of America organised a Women’s By this, member nations are to communication technology and the that women are turning to drugs to Day on February 28, 1909 in New observe to focus attention cope with social issues like divorce, York, the 1910 International Socialist on the role of women in nation abuse and depression. She urged Woman’s Conference suggested a building. As a member nation of the The rationale behind the honourable minister to support Women’s Day be held annually. United Nations, Nigeria, like her them to achieve their aim of taking Since those early years, counterparts, world over, observes this celebration is women off this vice. International Women’s Day has this special day to celebrate women. to provide women As the world celebrates assumed a new global dimension for The rationale behind this celebration International Women’s Day 2019, women in developed and developing is to provide women an opportunity with the opportunity there is a need to celebrate women’s countries alike. The growingof evaluating their contributions in of evaluating their achievement. Right now is a great international women’s movement, all spheres of human endeavour and and important time in history to do which has been strengthened by to plan strategies for further effective contributions in all sphere everything possible to help forge a four global United Nations women’s participation. of human endeavour and to more gender-balanced world. Women conferences, has helped make the Addressing journalists on the have come a long way, yet there’s commemoration a rallying point to importance of the International plan strategies for further still more to be achieved. Women build support for women’s rights Women’s Day (IWD), Director General effective participation demand a balance for better society and participation in the political and of the National Centre for Women as the world celebrates them today.

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. www.leadership.ng Leadership Newspapers @leadershipNGA March 8, 2019 63

How Nigerian Fans Were Deceived Into Prostitution They were under the strict supervision of a madam, also a Nigerian, who confiscated the passport of the victims and forced them to work to pay off certain debts. In Obuson’s case, she had to work to pay off a debt of $50,000. “I cried really hard. But what choice did I have?” were the words on 19-year- old Blessing Obuson, a Nigerian ‘Super Eagles fan’, forced into prostitution in Russia. Another 21-year-old woman said: “They don’t give you food for days, they slap you, they beat you, they spit in your face... It’s like a cage.” In roughly three months, it’ll make it one full year thousands of fans flew across countries to cheer the Super Eagles as they participated in the World Cup which took place in Russia in June D’Tigers 2018. However, contrary to expectations, not only are thousands of supposed FIBA World Cup: D’Tigers To Know Group Foes March 16 Super Eagles fans missing, it turned out BY WALE AYENI, to win the championship, so no some members of the Nigerian fan base Abuja Alex Nwora’s side was the first that we were going to be the first to qualify for the World Cup on country can be underrated, “Nwo- team in the world to qualify, but were sold into prostitution. Nigeria’s D’Tigers will know their the back of a nine-match winning ra told the NBBF media depart- here we are.” One of such victims is 19-year-old group foes of the 2019 FIBA Bas- streak. ment. Meanwhile, host nation Chi- Obuson, who went to Russia in the hope ketball World Cup in China when The team will be making their “This is a historic moment for na, USA, Spain, France, Ser- of finding a job. the draw for the competition holds third appearance after a 12-year me as the head coach and as a Ni- bia, Argentina, Lithuania, and According to a report by Reuters, in Shenzhen, China on Saturday, absence since 2006. gerian. Before the qualifiers start- Greece have all been announced Obuson had nursed dreams of working March 16, 2019. “Nothing good comes easy and ed, nobody knew that we would by the Federation of Internation- as a shop assistant to help with her two- The tournament will hold from I am waiting to see the teams that have qualified with four games left al Basketball Associations as top year-old daughter and younger siblings Saturday, 31 August to Sunday, will be drawn against us. The 32 to play and also as the best team seeds and the D’Tigers of Nige- resident in Edo State, but she ended 15 September 2019 in eight Chi- teams which have qualified for in Africa.” ria will be hopeful for a favour- nese cities. up locked up in an apartment in the the World Cup have the potential “Nobody could have thought able draw. outskirts of Moscow and forced into becoming a sex slave alongside 11 other Nigerian women. Lagos Ready For Largest Motorsport Showdown In Nigeria They were under the strict supervision of a madam, also a Nigerian, who The organisers of the Tough form which encourages and pro- est Riders” would take off from points racking up over 2500km confiscated the passport of the victims Tourers Awards yesterday, said motes motorcycle touring and Akwa-Ibom through some nota- in five days). and forced them to work to pay off that Lagos City would witness long distance riding in Nigeria ble places along the route to the “The Tour will test the endur- certain debts. In Obuson’s case, she had the largest gathering of Nigeri- and beyond her borders through finishing point in Lagos. ance and resilience of a Rider and an Adventure Riders ever, adding a variety of carefully structured “The #ToughTourersAwards is his/her machine,” she said. to work to pay off a debt of $50,000. that the residents were looking tours. the climax of the second edition Sanni said there would be oth- Reprieve, however, came the way od forward to the event with great The platform also celebrates of the Tough Tour across Nigeria, er side attractions to the event Obuson and other victims when she told excitement. riders who are able to success- tagged #TT2019 Epic Adventure which include entertainment her story to a client, who spoke English The media coordinator of the fully complete its tours, as they Renewed. and banquet. and involved anti-slavery activists, event, Temitope Sanni, told the record new milestones in the pro- “The tour is a five-day motor- “With an exciting line-up of leading to a raid on the apartment. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in cess. cycle ride across Nigeria, with comedy, music and dance, the According to the case, which is still Lagos that the event would have Sanni said that the tour with the take-off point at Uyo, Akwa- Banquet is set to hold at the pres- under investigation, a police officer had in attendance riders from across the theme, “Tough Tourers Ibom and end destination in La- tigious Sheraton Hotels and Tow- posed as an interested client willing the country. Awards and Finishers Banquet – gos. Tourers will ride across over ers, Ikeja on Saturday, March 23, to buy off Obuson for 2million rubles The Tough Tourers is a plat- A Celebration of Nigeria’s Tough- fifteen towns (with only five stop 2019. (around $30,000), which led to the arrest of two Nigerians. Eight other Nigerian women, between Neymar Criticises Late Penalty Decision the ages of 16 and 22, also told Reuters how they were victims of violence and The decision to award Manchester the penalty “doesn’t exist”. went over the crossbar. also came into the country as Super United a penalty in the 94th minute of He added: “It’s a disgrace. Four guys Skomina received a signal to check Eagles’ fans. The fan identity cards grant their win over Paris St-Germain in the who know nothing about football the incident again for a possible hand- Champions League was a “disgrace”, watch a slow-motion replay in front of ball in the box and after watching a them access to the country without says the French club’s forward Neymar. the television. pitchside monitor, changed his deci- necessarily needing visas. The 27-year-old raged about the call, “What can [Kimpembe] do with his sion. According to the Police in Russia, made after using VAR, on social media hand while his back is turned?” asked Romelu Lukaku’s strike after two 1,863 Nigerians had not left the country as United reached the quarter-finals. the former Barcelona player, who minutes gave Manchester United an as of January 1, 2019 — six months Marcus Rashford’s goal earned a missed both legs through injury. early lead but the French champions re- after they came into the country for 3-1 win and United went through on The penalty was awarded after ref- stored their two-goal advantage in the the World Cup, and at the time the IDs away goals after the tie ended 3-3 on eree Damir Skomina had initially giv- tie when Kylian Mbappe fed a pass to aggregate. en United a corner after Diogo Dalot’s the unmarked Juan Bernat, who slot- expired. But Brazilian striker Neymar said shot struck Presnel Kimpembe and ted home at the back post. Neymar AMUSEMENT IF YOUR ONLY OPPORTUNITY IS TO BE EQUAL, THEN IT IS NOT OPPORTUNITY. PARK — Margaret Thatcher, Conservative Prime Minister, 1979 – 90

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No. 325 N250 08.03.19 SPACE FOR SALE NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER Guest Voters’ Right Of Choice Is Columnist Sacrosanct - Justice Not For Sale IBRAHIM MAGU

he Economic and Bar and Bench, and other stake the ongoing elections, monitoring Financial Crimes holders, is hereby drawn to the the process daily and constantly Commission (EFCC) dangers and perfidy of allowing on the lookout for any form of congratulates the corrupting influence of infraction that may compromise Nigerians for coming money and other inducements the process. Therefore, we have a Tout en-masse to vote in the to influence the process and patriotic duty to act responsibly, Presidential and National determine the outcome. This is and portray a good image for Assembly elections held on necessary because many Judges our country in the eyes of the Saturday, February 23rd, 2019. wrongly see Election Tribunals international community. The We urge all registered voters and Appeal Panels as potential principal actors at the Tribunals to come out in even greater gold mines, desperately lobbied comprising petitioners, numbers on Saturday, March 9 and continue to lobby, to be defendants, lawyers and Judges, and vote in the Gubernatorial included as members. Some have greater roles to play in this and State Assembly elections. “smart” Judges lobby and salivate than the rest of us. This is the only way we can to be posted to states, criminally Finally, the EFCC wants to collectively build a free, stable and conceived as the juiciest gold strongly state that the rights of prosperous democratic society mines. This uncontrolled and Nigerian voters to freely choose for the benefit of all citizens. The suicidal temptation of acquiring their leaders are sacrosanct and EFCC is always ready and willing undue riches overnight is already that their choice should not be to positively contribute to this enticing and trapping a certain thwarted on the altar of corrupt process in whatever way it can. number of lawyers and Judges material inducement by anyone. As a law enforcement agency, our with possible prosecution I conclude by recalling what Chief first duty is to advise all parties and certain professional Robert Clarke, SAN, said recently in the electoral process to abide ruin. Therefore, all lawyers, on the centrality of the judiciary by all rules and regulations of Judges, state governors, top and corruption to our nation’s the electioneering process. This government officials, politically- quest for survival. advice is necessary, because, aligned businessmen and other He said, “Corruption has eaten following the conclusion of the stakeholders should be wary of deep everywhere in Nigeria, and elections held last week, the this undesirable and ignominious if corruption creeps into the battleground is now shifting fate. The Tribunals should be judiciary, that is the end of the to the courtrooms for election allowed to operate in accordance nation.” This is a warning we litigations. This will be more so with due process, devoid of must all take very seriously. when the Gubernatorial and State using illicit monies and means to Assembly Elections are held this negatively influence the course of – Magu is the acting chairman weekend. justice. of the Economic and Financial In anticipation of the flood of The EFCC possesses ample Crimes Commission (EFCC) petitions that may be received information on how the Magu at the end of the elections, the perversion of justice with ill- the services of a lawyer (SAN) funds because there is a huge Conversation with Azu Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, gotten money is initiated, to file a petition at the Election price to pay for such. The EFCC continues tomorrow Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, has organised and executed by Tribunal over the outcome has the statutory powers to already sworn in the members of individuals and groups within the of the election. When he was monitor, track, investigate, arrest GHANA MUST GO the Election Petition Tribunals political, bureaucratic and judicial eventually sworn into office, he and prosecute such and other on January 26th 2019. As the systems of the nation. The EFCC paid an astronomical and heart- offences. Our Commission shall Tribunal members get set to also possesses information on Obasanjo is 82 years old wrenching N1.4 billion to the exercise such powers throughout — News begin handling complaints how the beneficiaries of corrupt lawyer from the coffers of the this election period and beyond in from aggrieved parties and monies receive, hide, transfer state for “services” rendered the interest of building a corrupt- contestants, millions of Nigerians and invest the loot at home and before he became governor. The free democratic society where are placing high expectations on abroad in order to conceal their EFCC was following the money probity and accountability are its just and fair outcome. Hence, true source. We want to make trail and discovered that a large enthroned for good governance. the EFCC has the responsibility it clear that in this day and age part of the sum was diverted The guiding principle of the of reminding all those that may of information technology, and shared between several EFCC on this matter is simple be involved in the litigations that international legal instruments accomplices, all of whom are now and straightforward: the right the courts are temples of justice and Mutual Legal Assistance standing trial at the Federal High of choice of Nigerian voters is where only the facts of the case(s) between countries across the Court for violating the provisions sacrosanct, and justice is not for should determine the outcome. globe, there is no hiding place of the Money Laundering Act sale. All lawyers and judges at the Deploying monetary and other for corruption and money 2011. Tribunals have a responsibility non-monetary externalities laundering, no matter how witty Consequently, we want to to dispense justice without will be a fruitless and harmful or crafty the perpetrators may be. remind all lawyers, Judges, elected inducement, fear or fervor. exercise that must be avoided by Here is one good example: public officials and members of Apart from millions of all means. after the 2015 elections, a the wider society not to use the Nigerians, members of the Besides contestants, the gubernatorial candidate from one 152 years old is more Election Petition Tribunals as international community have like it! attention of members of the of the South-South states hired conduits for siphoning public demonstrated keen interest on

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