Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, speaks with KAMARUDEEN OGUNDELE about President Muhammadu Buhari’s health, his role as an opposition leader, relationship with Obasanjo and other issues

Your tenure is drawing to an end. You have one year and three months left before you are required by law to step down for another successor. How has your second coming been?

What is important is what we have made of time spent. We have demonstrated leadership by example. We have made ourselves accessible, accountable and respected by our people. If not for God and my achievements, my enemies would have gone the whole hog to attack my person. Because my people believe in me, I came back into this office based on my previous performance – during my first term as Ekiti State governor. My people have given me the trust and cooperation to serve them. Thus, I’m happy that we have made credible achievements and impact in their lives.

What are the most memorable moments for you as governor of Ekiti State?

One of them is the trust that I have enjoyed, even in the face of being a prominent opposition figure. The people have shown me love beyond my imagination. One of the things I want to be remembered for or that we have done differently is stooping to conquer. Let me tell you, even if you have 50 years in office, you cannot finish it all. You keep working and giving your best to the people. It is only God that can acknowledge your performance. We will never finish serving and there will always be a desire in an economy. Where you are managing poverty and trying to meet the expectations of the people, you have to continue trying.

What would you say are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?

Anybody can have money but it is not as important as the openness and the access enjoyed by the people. We mingle freely and allow people to have free access to us. That has given us more support than we can imagine. I sincerely appreciate the cooperation of the people.

What about your weaknesses?

I’m a mortal. I’m not infallible. Sometimes, we get angry and, sometimes, we do things the way people don’t understand. But we retrace our steps in line with the will of the people. There is no perfect man, so I can’t claim that (to be perfect). I have only decided to be humble. Today, anybody coming after me has a lot to do to be trusted by the people because the stakes are very high – the people know what they want. It is no longer about the roads we have tarred; schools and markets we have built or other infrastructural development we have brought (about); it is about our personal relationship with the people.

Your role in the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo places you as the spearhead of the opposition. Why did you take on such a responsibility?

Like I always say to people, life is not about your personal attainment of goals and aspiration; it is about being counted for the people. If you don’t stand up for something, so many things will stand up against you. Some people say it is because I enjoy immunity. What about others that enjoy immunity? A lot of leaders today are afraid of speaking the truth. But I know there is no gain without pain. We stood in the gap for the people. I am the longest-serving governor. I served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo with the likes of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former President Umaru Yar’Adua – then, former President Goodluck Jonathan was a deputy governor. I later served under Jonathan when he was the president and now under President Muhammadu Buhari. I have traversed many administrations and worked alongside some of the gladiators in Nigerian politics today.

I’m an experienced man. At different times, I have made contributions to the development of Nigeria. As an opposition figure, I’m truly expected to give the government of the day a run for their money. I must make them give value for the votes given to them. The opposition is an integral part of democracy; without that, you have autocracy. Someone has to be the voice of the people in this trying period because we cannot all see things the same way. The government must be put on its toes at all times and be made accountable to the people.

Can you speak more on the warning you gave to Nigerians that you ‘put life and death’ before them as regards voting for Jonathan or Buhari in the 2015 presidential poll?

I’m a man that enjoys God’s grace. The Bible says before I was born I was in my mother’s belly, God knew what I would be. I’m the man God wants me to be because God gave me a woman after his heart knowing my limitations, my excesses and my pains. Beyond politics, we are different people before God. Things some will do and get away (with), some will do and never get away. I have gone through so many challenges, but today, I’m still standing. Many thought that by the time Buhari got to power, Fayose would be dead. That is not a democracy. We are not afraid of battles; we are not afraid of saying the truth. Moses, Joseph, our Lord Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) stood in the gap to stand up for the truth. For me, there is no personal issue between me and the President. But I want to establish that I was a young man when he became the (military) head of state. I watched him closely with his deputy, Gen. Tunde Idiagbon.

So, I was a young man who saw tomorrow and never shied away from narrating the story. I said repeatedly that President Buhari did not have the capacity to rule Nigeria and I did not hide it. Concerning all that I have said so far, I have no regret. I always say the abundance of a man does not consist of things he possesses. Life is not in the realm of what you have achieved and what you have not achieved. Generations come and go. Everything I have said will come to pass. Our president is very old to rule. We wish him good recovery but not to return as president if he does not have the health to back it up. If I said the President was not well at the time, it has manifested. We will continue to pray for him. Anybody can get sick but one must be honourable enough to say when he doesn’t have the capacity to continue (to serve the people).

As the only Peoples Democratic Party governor in the South-West, do you see yourself at a political disadvantage in the region?

Former Governor Bola Tinubu was the only opposition governor at a time in the South-West. Today, by the cooperation of other stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress, they conquered Nigeria. I’m going to lead the opposition to conquer Nigeria like Tinubu did. The fact that you are in the minority does not make you lesser than those in the majority, in terms of wisdom, understanding, God’s backing and hope for the future.

Recently, South-West governors, including you, came out to form an alliance. How will this work with you in the opposition?

Our working together for the good of South-West has nothing to do with politics. Everyone needs to contribute to the growth of this country, so is this region. It doesn’t matter the party I belong (to). They are only saying we should stay together in terms of security, agriculture and have peer review. Hunger does not know political party. People want good roads, water, services, etc. There is no way party politics will make me not to cooperate with my colleagues in the South-West.

You said you have 11 damaging photos to prove President Muhammadu Buhari’s health is deteriorating. How do you feel when governors and aides close to Buhari are saying the President is recovering?

We thank God that the President is able to come up and talk that he is hale and hearty. My statement put pressure on the Federal Government – because since the President left no one heard anything about his health status. If you listened to the Ebonyi State Governor (Dave Umahi), he said it was a miracle that the President recovered. If something is a miracle, it means that what I said about the President’s health was the truth. With due respect, everything I have said is the truth and remains the truth. The fact that one is placed on life support does not mean that the person cannot recover. But the question should be: does one have the health to continue with rigorous work of office?

Do you think you should have been included on the list of governors invited to the United Kingdom to see Buhari?

I’m indifferent. Nigerians wanted me to be there. But I believe in the judgment of my colleagues. If Nigerians wanted me to be there but they (Buhari’s handlers) didn’t give me the access, what can I do? I have to move on and join them to wish the President well. What is important is Nigeria. When Senator (John) McCain was sick in the United States, he came out boldly to say he had a brain tumour. The health of the President is a public issue. It is the handlers that are causing the confusion. Like I said, I don’t want the President dead, but we want to know the true state of health of our president. For me, I’ll love to go there (the UK) to see (him). But if they say they are not giving me a passage, it is all well and good, as long as the President is hale and hearty. If he is not fit, let him resign.

Why do you think the presidency failed to include you on the list of the latest visitors to Buhari in the UK?

The President denied drawing the list, saying it was the governors’ forum. I’m not desperate to go there. If they feel it is important I represent – if not, I’m still an opposition figure. Many people are not comfortable with me and I don’t blame them. They may feel I would want to come and tell Nigerians what actually transpired there. But I cannot lie; I can’t say what is not true; I can’t make up things. I can’t celebrate lies. That does not mean that my colleagues that went there are lying. What we are praying for is that the President should get well.

Do you have any personal relationship with President Buhari?

None whatsoever.

If you have the opportunity to meet him, what will you tell him?

I will wish him well – and that, if he is not fit to continue (to rule the country) he should resign. What else would I say? Everything I have said, I will stand by it. The offices of the president and governors require a lot of energy. Whatever interest we represent, we cannot deny that. Our adversaries – our opponents – know that we are saying the truth. But because they are the beneficiaries of what is going on, they will defend it. But I’m not afraid of speaking the truth. Truth heals and endures.

You said you are the next president. If your prediction comes true in 2019, don’t you foresee a heated polity?

I never predicted my presidency. I have a right to contest and I said I will contest and I will win. When I predicted that I would come back as governor of Ekiti State, many people doubted (my prediction). But because man has no capacity to see tomorrow, they can write you off. Those who wrote me off then see me in the position of authority today. When I was down the valley, they thought I would never rise. But the Lord said in Psalm 23: ‘I will set a table before you in the presence of your enemies.’ In this country, I’m going to the (Presidential) Villa. I’m saying that, by the special grace of God, those who doubted me today will visit me in Aso Rock as the president or the vice president – as the case may be.

What is the next step for the PDP, now that its two-year crisis seems almost resolved?

We are holding a non-elective convention on August 12 to work and extend the tenure of the (Ahmed) Makarfi National Caretaker Committee to give us a structure that will take us to the next level.

What do you think is the solution to herdsmen’s attacks on farmers?

We have the prevalence of certain crimes because they are being aided by the powers that be, either in the security agencies or otherwise. The moment the system is functional, a lot of crimes will disappear. Everybody knows the consequences of their actions and knows the system will not shield them. We should stop aiding evil in this land.

Are you in support of regional government?

I’m in support of strengthening the states. I’m in support of devolution of powers from the centre to the region or the states. As it is currently constituted, the centre is becoming dictatorial. They want to tell you what to do in your state, but we are all federating units and should be respected in line with the constitution.

You have identified with Nnamdi Kanu, someone who was accused of openly seeking money abroad to buy weapons to fight against Nigeria. Why?

I’m not aware of that fact. But let me say this, you are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. That is what the law says. Saying Nnamdi Kalu is this or that is prejudicial and unfair. I don’t believe in the disintegration of this country, but I believe in the right of Nigerians being respected. Agitation is normal. This country belongs to all of us. They should pay attention to the dwindling economy, poverty ravaging the land and hunger.

Recently, you called for sanctions against Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his group. Don’t you think this will further polarise the party?

Sheriff has no followers! That is the truth. Sheriff is a hijacker; he is an impostor. Every system must have discipline. If today, Sheriff and his co-travellers had succeeded, they would have expelled people like me and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. There must be discipline in the system. If there is no discipline in a system, one is wasting his time. These are characters that are used to scuttling truth and justice in our land. That was why I regretted supporting him initially. We should sanction them. I don’t believe in politics of lies (no winner, no vanquished) – that is a political statement. Going forward, the party must sanction some people.

What about factions loyal to him in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and others?

There is a lot of make-believe. Let the people in Ekiti come forward and tell us they are members of Sheriff’s group. They have taken to their heels and we are going to discipline them. A few of them that are enemies of the party, we will expel them. The moment they don’t show remorse, we will expel them.

How do you think Sheriff should be sanctioned?

Sheriff should be expelled. Sheriff, by his action – if you see the peace that pervaded this country after the (Supreme Court) judgment, you would see that there is peace without Sheriff. If it had gone the other way round, many people would have left the PDP. Nobody has left the party after Sheriff lost the judgment.

You once reportedly worked against the interest of Senator Ahmed Makarfi when he aspired to be president. Today, you fought to ensure he is the chairman of PDP’s National Caretaker Committee. What changed?

I never worked against Makarfi. I only said Obasanjo set up a committee and asked us to choose the presidential candidate. I was with a former Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili; others were with Makarfi. But Obasanjo told me that Makarfi would never be president of Nigeria and that I should not work for him. That is all. At the end of the day, Obasanjo moved against Odili. He knew his intention and ambition before he gave us that order.

Why have you been attacking former President Olusegun Obasanjo at every opportunity you have?

I’m not attacking him. I’m only saying things I know about him because I’m a living witness of Obasanjo’s life. I worked with him and know that Obasanjo is a sadist, an opportunist – a man who would rather put a weakling in position (of power). How would he ask Yar’Adua that he knew was sick to be president? I wonder why some media (organisations) celebrate Obasanjo. Obasanjo has no character. Obasanjo was the first president that trampled on our constitution in all ways using brute force. That is why Obasanjo does not have a (foot-) hold, in terms of human beings, in party politics in the South-West. Obasanjo is only left with the clout of being a former president. When you say human support, Obasanjo does not enjoy such in the South-West.

What are the things you did for and with Obasanjo then that, if given a second chance, you would do differently?

At the time I was the governor, I was a young man. I was avoiding Obasanjo because he was from the same zone as me. One thing I have known is that Obasanjo will run away if you can stand up against him. Obasanjo is a weak man; the moment you can stand up against him, he will chicken out. Look at Orji Uzor Kalu and late governor of Niger State. At that time, I couldn’t stand up (against Obasanjo). I have now found out that, sometimes, it is good to confront monsters. We are guided by the constitution and respect for the rule of law. Obasanjo messed up by disobeying the rule of law and removing governors at will.

As a Yoruba man with respect for tradition and a beliefs that elders should be respected, don’t you think it is time to forget the past and move on?

Elders are only meaningful when they are using their grey hair to lead the people well. Please, let us call a spade a spade. I don’t want to talk about people who are not elders by standards expected of them and (who are) not living by examples according to the true grace of their age. You only respect grey hair when the man is upright. Obasanjo is not a man to be respected; he is an opportunist.

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Segun Oni has joined the governorship race. Are you threatened by his ambition?

Former Governor Segun Oni is an Ekiti son and is entitled to aspire. Because I came back as governor, some people want to try their luck. Former Governor Kayode Fayemi is there; Senator Babafemi Ojudu is there too. Let them get the party ticket first.

There is clamour by the Southern senatorial district to have a shot at the governorship. What is the position of your party on this?

No position. We will not zone. The best candidate will emerge.

With the second tranche of Paris Club refund and the expected federal allocation, how many months’ salary should workers expect?

This Paris Club refund cannot pay one month’s salary. It is money between state and local governments. The state’s salary is N2.6bn, while local government is N2.4bn, which is N5bn, and I got N4.7bn. Capital projects are there. The Federal Government has politicised it. My own is that I will declare what I get to my workers and we will discuss it together. No matter what, the Paris Club refund cannot solve the entire problem, but it will augment it.

Copyright PUNCH.               
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

A 37-year-old primary school teacher in Kwara State, Biodun Baba, who was arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Ilorin for allegedly insulting Senate President Bukola Saraki on Facebook, recounts his ordeal in this interview with SUCCESS NWOGU

Tell us about yourself.

I was born in 1980. I attended LGEA Primary School, Elemere, Malete in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State. I went to Awanga High School in Shao town between 1994 and 2000. I later went to the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin from 2002 to 2004, where I obtained the Nigerian Certificate in Education (Political Science). I thereafter proceeded to University of Ilorin to do a sandwich programme in Guidance and Counselling between 2008 and 2013. My father’s name is Abdullahi Baba, while my mother is Sarat.

Why were you charged to court?

I commented on a post on the Facebook page of the factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo.

What did you write?

Oyedepo had posted on his Facebook page the day that the Senate President was discharged and acquitted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, and I wrote in the comment section that if, “somebody believes that he is above everybody, he is not above the judgment of God. If Saraki has been discharged by the CCT, has he been discharged by God?” Abdulazeez Azeez, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, was particularly angry when he read my comment. He went to the elders of the party in my ward to report me, saying I abused the Senate President. I told them that I did not abuse him and that I just commented on someone else’s post. I told them that I merely exercised my freedom of expression. They called a meeting of the executives of the ward to discuss the matter. At the end of the meeting, they announced my suspension from the All Progressives Congress for three months.

When were you suspended?

That was about a week after my Facebook post. I have not been recalled up till now. After that, there was another post on Facebook which I shared. The message was: ‘Presidency, Osinbajo replies Saraki on Magu issue.’ I was not the one that wrote it but I shared it. They saw it on my wall, so they expressed anger again and accused me of posting another message. They summoned me to another meeting at my ward. From there, they said they would expel me totally from the party. They went to the APC local government secretariat and summoned me to the place, I went there to explain myself. I told them I wrote the first one but that I just shared the second one. They did not agree with me because it appeared that the ward chairman had poisoned their minds. After that, we went to the state secretariat of the party to meet all the stakeholders there. They included the state Chairman of APC, Mr. Jimoh Adesina; Mr. Isiaka Oniwa; Mr. Ishola Bolagun-Fulani; and the woman leader, Ramat Oganija, among others.

What happened there?

The ward chairman brought a lot of people to testify against me. I was the only one on the other side. They said a lot of things about me. They searched for my name and accused me of abusing Bukola Saraki when he was turbaned as the Baba Adinni. They alleged that I wrote many things which I did not write. Again, the state party executives did not believe me. One of them, Oniwa, stood up from where they were seated and asked me where I was working. I said I worked at the LGEA Primary School in the Moro Local Government Area of the state.  He then shouted, ‘Ahh! I am the one that built that school. I will expel you from that job. I will fire you from that job.’ He sat down. It was at that point that Adesina stood up and vowed to use his personal money for my prosecution because I (allegedly) abused the party leader in the state. He is the one that took me to court.

After that, one of those on the high table said, “This case will not stop here. Let us call security officers to arrest this boy.” He was referring to me. They called the Department of State Services to arrest me on that day. Two officials of the DSS came and dragged me to their office in Ilorin. They gave me a form to write an undertaking that I will never abuse the senate president again. That was what I wrote. Three days after, I got a call from my headmaster that the Secretary of the Local Government Area Education Primary School had said he should fire me. I immediately went to the secretary to confirm whether it was true or not. When I got there, he confirmed that the secretary was asked to fire me. My parents and family members were worried that they would fire me from my job. They took me to Oniwa to beg him. Initially, I refused to follow them, but they prevailed on me. At the end of the day, he agreed to look into the case.

But they have expelled you from APC?

Yes, completely.

Do you regret your action?

Regret? No. I do not regret my action.

Were you involved in political activism or union activities during your school days?

I was not involved in any.

How did you get involved in social media activism?

I cherish the way a lot of people use social media. It enlightens and exposes me to many things. We can use social media for social re-engineering and to positively affect governance. It is part of people’s contributions to national development, especially when it is used to check the excesses of our leaders.

How did your family members handle your ordeal?

They were really apprehensive because they were afraid that that nobody in Kwara State could defeat Saraki in the court of law. Apart from this, they also believed that nobody could abuse Saraki and go scot-free. My family members were really angry with me. However, some people advised them not to be afraid and assured them that some lawyers would support me.

Were there other sad experiences you went through apart from the litigation?

Some people lied against me, saying I wrote a letter of apology, in an attempt to swing the case in their direction. A letter was hurriedly written a night before the day I was to appear in court alleging that I had apologised. The letter went viral and people shared it on social media. Unfortunately, when I appeared in court the next day, they did not come with that letter, I was expecting them to say in the court that I had apologised but that did not happen. Even the online medium that published the fake apology letter refused to present the actual letter that I allegedly wrote and signed.

At no time did I write any apology letter. I posted the message on my Facebook page based on my conviction. I expect my children to follow my example as I believe that I did the right thing. I was guided by the provisions of the law and I did not go outside the law to do anything. We should put government on their toes.

Now that you have been expelled from the APC, what is your next political move?

I still remain a member of the APC, despite my expulsion, but I cannot participate in the party’s activities. The expulsion cannot stand because it did not go through the normal process. It is a form of persecution from people who do not like my face because I am the Assistant Secretary of the party at Gambari Ward 1. My expulsion was orchestrated by an APC chieftain in the state, Adesina.

What do you make of the show of solidarity you enjoyed while your trial lasted?

It showed that we have reached another level in our political evolution in Kwara State. This matter has shown that not again in Kwara will people suppress others who criticise them. Why should people be averse to criticism? I advise Kwarans to speak more. We have been seen as docile people. Let us speak the truth and stand by the truth. Justice will always prevail.

How do you feel now that the case has been withdrawn?

I am very happy. From the beginning of this case, I was told that it was mere political persecution. I always believe in speaking the truth and I will always say the truth. But these people do not like people who say the truth. I am happy that justice has prevailed at last.

Was there pressure on you during the case?

Yes! There was pressure from my people at the ward, local government, even up to the state level; people really pressurised me over the case.

Can you mention some people that mounted pressure on you?

People like the Gambari 1 ward chairman, Mr. Zubairu Zubairo, and other chieftains of the party like Azeez and Ayodeji Saheed.

Do you think the Senate President has a hand in your ordeal?

I can’t say but I know it is the work of political sycophants.

What do you expect the Senate President to do?

The Senate President was careful in his statement denying any involvement or any link with my ordeal. He has only denied involvement; he has not done anything more than that. As the leader of the party in the state, I had expected him to chastise those who took me to court. He should have cautioned them and made some pronouncement that would show that he did not tolerate what they did. The sycophants have taken sycophancy in Kwara to the next level. This was a matter that should have only been addressed at the party level but when a member takes another member of the same party to court, will you say that party is united?

The Senate President will do members of the party in the state greater good by going a step further to caution those people who persecuted and prosecuted me in order to serve as a deterrent to others who would want to do the same thing in future.

How many lawyers handled your case?

We had about 30 lawyers who represented me on the first day that I appeared in court. The lead lawyer is Mr. Sambo Muritala.

How much did you pay them?

The legal team appeared pro bono. We did not pay them anything. We got in touch with one of them and he mobilised the rest. Even those who were not in court rushed from wherever they were to appear in court. Some of them were not dressed in their regalia; they were in the court to support their colleagues who handled my case. From this, it is clear that there are lawyers that still fight for the downtrodden and the oppressed to ensure that they get justice. Today in Nigeria, we can still rely on the judiciary as the last hope of the common man. There was no way I could have afforded their money if they had charged me. If they did not come to help me, I would have either been remanded in the Oke-Kura Prison or Mandala Prison. The lawyers were convinced that I had not done anything wrong but that I only expressed myself. It was just that somebody somewhere just wanted to please his godfather.

What have you learnt from your experience?

There is freedom of expression. Everybody has the right to express his or her feelings. Young people should speak out objectively and put our leaders on their toes to ensure delivery of dividends of democracy. We need to do that in order to liberate ourselves from this bondage we are in in this state. We must contribute our quota to national growth and development.

Copyright PUNCH.               
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

The Chief Executive Officer of Josla Electric Company Limited, Akinlabi Ajelabi, speaks with OZIOMA UBABUKOH on using apps to fully run the financial sector, among other issues

In this era of malware attacks, what security measures should app developers put in place to ward off hackers?

As a business, we collaborate with the best in security control because we understand that customers’ data would be at risk if otherwise. For security, we have partnered IBM to provide optimal security for our B2B partners and our B2C. This is because they have over 100 years in delivering enterprise solutions for their customers.

What is the functionality of the Casba app, which is being promoted across financial institutions?

The app will enable any user to open an account in three minutes with the Biometric Verification Number. It is a 24/7 automated customer support system. It helps one locate dispensing machines from a location map. It provides spend analytics on daily, weekly, monthly and yearly transactions, as well as credit scoring for individuals requiring funds access. It has an exhaustive list of vendors for bill payment.

What marketing segment are you targeting?

As a business, we are targeting financial institutions for our B2B (Business-to-Business) marketing for technology consultation for cognitive banking and cloud computing. For our B2C (Business-to-Consumer) marketing, we are targeting everyday users.

How long did it take you to develop the app and what challenges did you encounter in the early stages?

The application is still under development but the stage we are in took up approximately seven months to develop. As a start-up, we encountered common challenges all start-ups encounter, such as raising capital and understanding the business environment. But as a business, the major challenge we encountered at the beginning was finding synergy; and then later, human capital capacity.

What is the unique selling point of the app?

The unique selling point of Casba comes from the idea of integrating trending messaging applications (like WhatsApp) and technology (Artificial Intelligence and Cloud computing) together to create an alternative and convenient platform for our users using solutions they are already familiar with.

Our USP comes from the fact that we are selling a single interface solution application that solves two problems. One is for the financial institution; and the other, for the everyday users. On one hand, the financial institutions, through an analytics dashboard that Casba application provides, have a 360-degree view of their customers’ behaviour patterns for better decision making. On the other hand, everyday users can carry out 24-hour uninterrupted banking activities relating to customer services and queries. However, the application is not restricted to financial institutions but to any industry that requires attending its customers service and queries daily.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

’Femi Asu

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said banks and other electronic payment service providers must navigate the evolving and increasing complex regulatory environment to avoid penalty.

The Director, Banking and Payments System Department, CBN, Mr. ‘Dipo Fatokun, described fraud as the biggest challenge facing the electronic payment sector, stressing the need for banks, customers and regulators to tackle it.

Fatokun stated this at the Finance Correspondents Association of Nigeria Bi-Monthly Forum in Lagos on Saturday, while making a presentation, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent.

“Electronic payments continue to be a growth story across the world and Nigeria is not an exception, but banks and other service providers face a number of challenges in ensuring that they make the most of this opportunity,” he said.

He said the Nigerian electronic payments industry had been evolving in line with the evolution in global payments in both wholesale and retail systems.

Fatokun said banks, payment service providers, and the CBN had played various roles in developing the payments system and creating products and channels for electronic payments.

He said the Retail Payments Transformation Programme of the CBN had led to the introduction of various electronic payment products and services by operators in the industry.

“The electronic products are gradually reducing the usage of cheques and cash, as noticed consistently in the annual performance report since the inception of the Cashless Policy in 2012,” he said.

Fatokun said the volume and value of transactions based on cheques and National Electronic Funds Transfer had been consistently reducing annually since 2013, while same data for the NIBSS (Nigeria Interbank Settlement System) Instant Payment, Automated Teller Machine, and mobile money channels had been on the increase.

The CBN director said, “The ATM channel accounts for the highest volume of transactions, while the NIP accounts for the highest value of transactions annually. This is because the ATM is usually the e-payment channel that new and lower value account holders always interface with, while corporates and upwardly mobile middle class customers make transfers using NIP.”

According to Fatokun, banks and other e-payment service providers operate in a highly regulated environment.

He described regulation as necessary to ensure that “operators focus on delivering products and services that enable compliance, efficiency, financial stability and a positive customer experience.

“The regulatory landscape remains complex for operators; they not only need to comply with existing regulations but also adhere to new regulatory initiatives, some of which affect established operating or business models.

According to him, increased complexity in the regulatory landscape sometimes creates the need for banks to leverage new technology for compliance purposes.

“Required rate of policy review is increasing due to technology changes and innovations. This creates disruption in the smooth flow of implementation, where a policy becomes ineffective as a result of better technology,” Fatokun said.

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Peter Dada, Akure

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria has expressed its displeasure over what it calls unimpressive performance of developers of some federal housing estates in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The bank stated that the developers failed to hand over the estates to the off-takers after completing them, but instead rented them, adding that this might attract sanctions.

The Managing Director, FMBN, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa, who said this to journalists after inspecting some of the Federal Government’s estates in Akure, alleged that the developers, after completing the estates failed, to hand them over to the off-takers.

It was gathered that the developers were given millions of naira by the FMBN to develop the estates after which they were expected to hand them over to the off-takers

Dangiwa said, “Once you complete an estate, you are supposed to hand it over to the off-takers, who will mortgage it. But most of the developers in Akure, after completing the estates, they prefer renting out the estates and start collecting money.

“That is wrong and that is why we have to summon the developers who are overseeing the mortgaging of these houses to our office in Abuja. There will be punishment for them. They have to pay back the money they have collected, because it is not meant for them.”

Dangiwa, who also paid a courtesy visit to the Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, said the essence of coming to the state was to talk to the state government on the need to key into the National Housing Fund scheme.

He explained that the state government workers were supposed to be part of the NHF contribution, adding that the scheme had lots of benefits for the contributors.

“These are some of the benefits they are losing. We have about 700 houses that ready for offtake but no off-takers, because the states are not in the NHF contribution scheme,” the FMBN boss stated.

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Ted Odogwu, Kano

Some residents of Burma Road, in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State, have been displaced after fire gutted their homes on Sunday.

While some tenants lamented that they lost household items such as refrigerators, furniture, sound systems and other electrical appliances, others said they could not salvage anything from their property.

A businessman in one of the apartments was reported to have lost a cash of N500,000 to the fire.

Property destroyed by the inferno was said to be worth millions of naira.

A witness told PUNCH Metro that smoke was noticed billowing from one of the five rooms in the building.

According to the witness, the smoke started moments after the Kano Electricity Distribution Company restored power to the area.

He said, “The owner of the room from where the fire started, Mr. Robinson Ayor, was away for church service. The room was locked, so people attempted to break the door open. They could not because of the burglar-proof bars.”

Moments after, the fire was said to have spread to other rooms, which were in clusters, destroying property.

Some sympathisers reportedly alerted firefighters from the Kano State Fire Service.

However, before the firemen could arrive, the fire was said to have wreaked havoc, as many people could not salvage any of their property.

Some policemen later arrived at the scene to stop hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation.

As of the time of filing this report, all victims of the fire incident had returned home from church and started making arrangements to relocate, as all the rooms in the building were destroyed.

The spokesperson for the Kano State Police Command, DSP Musa Majiya, confirmed the incident, adding that investigations had started to ascertain what caused the fire.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi

The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has said that he will issue Certificates of Occupancy to all qualified applicants under the Homeowners’ Charter before the end of his tenure in 2019.

Amosun, who was quoted to have said this during the presentation of land title documents 500 applicants in Abeokuta, stated that the Homeowners’ Charter had been improved by making the issuance of Cs-of-O and other land title documents seamless.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Abiola Kufile-Okonji, said thousands of successful applicants had benefitted from the programme in the last three months.

“I believe this programme has surprised people who thought it will not go far after it commenced in 2013, but we are moving forward, waxing stronger and getting better. Other successful applicants will soon get their Cs-of-O and building plan approvals,” he added.

The Director-General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, Mr. Biyi Ismail, said properties of participants under the scheme would be enhanced as they would have authentic title documents to confirm their ownership of such landed properties.

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Alvaro Morata missed a penalty on his Chelsea debut as Arsenal won an uncharacteristically feisty Community Shield in a shootout at Wembley, BBC Sport reports.

Record signing Morata – a late substitute – dragged a poor effort wide moments after goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had blazed over in a first use of a new penalty shootout system.

Premier League champions Chelsea had gone ahead through Victor Moses, before Pedro was sent off for an ugly lunge on Mohamed Elneny.

From the resulting free-kick, debutant Sead Kolasinac headed the Gunners level to take the match to penalties.

The shootout – the first in English football to follow the ABBA format – saw Chelsea miss back-to-back penalties to allow Olivier Giroud to win the match from the spot.

Level at 90 minutes, the match went straight to penalties, which were taken in the ABBA format.

After Gary Cahill’s opener for Chelsea was cancelled out by Theo Walcott, Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal stepped forward, correctly, to take his kick. However he was waved back by several of his Gunners team-mates, who seemed confused by the new format.

Monreal scored, before Courtois and Morata both missed horribly, to the delight of the Arsenal fans behind the goal.

That allowed first Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and then Giroud to score and start the Arsenal celebrations.

Until the red card, it looked like being victory for the champions, who shook off a sleepy first 20 minutes to have the better of the game.

They deservedly took the lead in the opening minute of the second half as Granit Xhaka’s dreadful clearance from a corner was headed back in by Gary Cahill for Moses to finish with opportunism.

It looked a long way back from there for Arsenal, especially as they were without key duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, left out of the squad altogether by Arsene Wenger.

Sanchez only returned to training on Tuesday after illness, having taken an extended break following his participation in the Confederations Cup with Chile, while Ozil picked up a minor knock in training in the week and was not risked.

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Samson Folarin

A suspected robber, Ayobami Adedeji, has blamed his criminal life on his father, who he claimed never took care of him after the death of his mother.

Adedeji was arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command shortly after allegedly robbing a woman of her handbag on Friday at Kola bus stop, in the  Alagbado area of the state.

The suspect was said to be in company with an accomplice, identified as Aboki, who, however, escaped arrest.

Adedeji was reportedly chased by policemen, who were on routine patrol in the area at the time of the incident.

The 23-year-old in his statement to the police said he took to crime due to lack of good parenting.

He said, “I was a bus conductor. I went to Kotangora Market to meet my friend, Aboki, to discuss how to raise money.

“At about 2pm on Monday, we perfected the plan to operate together on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, but our focus were Adura and Council bus stops. Our priorities were only handbags and purses. We had snatched two bags and my friend kept the money, before the botched operation. It was the first time we would be doing this.

“I didn’t know RRS operatives were monitoring us. I snatched the woman’s bag and they chased us into the streets. My friend escaped after abandoning his motorcycle, while I was arrested.

 “I dropped out of school in SSS 1 after losing my mother. My father was just a ceremonial father. He never cared about me after the death of my mother. He never assisted me; I had to fend for myself after the death of my mother.”

In another development, the RRS said it recovered an AK-47 rifle from three suspects in the Apapa area of the state.

The operatives, who were on routine patrol of the community, reportedly sighted the men at about 11pm on Friday carrying a bag.

The policemen were said to have accosted them to make enquiries on the content of the bag.

“The suspects, on sighting the cops, dropped the bag and fled the scene. We found an AK-47 rifle in the bag. No ammunition was found in the bag,” the police said in a statement.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the incidents, adding that while Adedeji had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for further investigations, the recovered rifle had been deposited in the RRS headquarters.

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

American Tori Bowie won the women’s 100m  world title on Sunday making up for her silver in last year’s Olympics while Rio 2016 Olympic Games  gold medallist Elaine Thompson struggled home in fifth place, AFP reports.

The 26-year-old made up metres on long time leader Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast to edge her with the final dip on the line.

Bowie fell to the ground after crossing the line and initially it was Ta Lou who celebrated only for the board to say otherwise.

“I had no idea that I had won,” said Bowie, who has a habit of hurling herself at the line in major championships finals having done a similar thing in the Olympic 200m final last year which saw her take the bronze.

“The only thing I knew was that tonight I was going to lay it all on the line.”

The Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers finished third while hot favourite and 100m Olympic champion Thompson faded to fifth.

The 25-year-old Jamaican had started well but by halfway she had been swallowed up and was unable to find an extra gear as she had done most of the season.

Ta Lou then emerged as the clear leader but Bowie ate into her advantage and then produced the dip of her life to take the title from under the diminutive Ivorian’s nose.

Ta Lou’s compatriot and 2013 world double sprint medalist Murielle Ahoure also suffered frustration in being edged out of bronze by Schippers, who will look to retain her world 200m title later in the week.

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Samuel Awoyinfa

Former Managing Director, Chams PLC, Demola Aladekomo, has called on the National Assembly to enact a law that would ban public office holders from accepting awards or chieftaincy titles in order to curb corruption in the country.

 He made the call on Thursday as the guest speaker at the 41st anniversary lecture of Egba Diocese (Anglican Communion) Abeokuta, Ogun State.

 He observed that once someone was appointed or elected into a position, his community, other communities and even institutions would start “bombarding” him or her with different titles and honorary degrees.

 He also blamed religious organisations.

He said, “If a member of a religious organisation is given a political appointment or elected into public office, every day we invite him to be the chief launcher to raise funds for projects and we know how much such person earns; are we not indirectly telling the person that we need money from him, no matter how he gets it?

 “If the religions are ready to fight corruption, they must ask themselves how they are directly and indirectly fuelling corruption by the unnecessary and unhealthy demands they make on public office holders.”

On chieftaincy and honorary titles, he said, “When somebody is elected into a public office, his community honours him with a chieftaincy title; another community does the same, just as a university wants to give him an honorary degree!

 “These honorary titles have financial tags. Invariably, the society is encouraging corruption. We should look forward to a society in which people occupying elective positions are not allowed to take chieftaincy titles until they complete their terms in office.”

 “The National Assembly should enact a law that when somebody is holding a public office, the person should be banned from accepting any awards until he completes his term in office successfully.”

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Everest Amaefule, Abuja

The Federal Government will today (Monday) offer for subscription two-year and three-year Savings Bonds to investors at 13.54 per cent and 14.54 per cent, respectively.

A statement issued by the Debt Management Office in Abuja on Sunday said the two-year bond would be due in August 2019, while the three-year bond had a maturity date of August 2020, adding that the offer would end on Friday.

The offer has a minimum subscription of N5,000, with increases thereafter in multiples of N1,000 up to a maximum subscription of N50m.

According to the DMO, the bond is backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government, with quarterly coupon payments to bondholders.

The DMO said that the savings bond would help broaden the country’s funding base.

It added that the FGN Savings Bond was targeted primarily at retail investors to enable them to contribute to the development of the country, while also earning good return on investment in a sovereign instrument.

The FGN Savings Bond was introduced by the DMO in March 2017. It is issued every month through stockbroking firms trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Since its introduction, the FGN Savings Bond has attracted a lot of new investors to the FGN Securities market with its attractive features.

The income earned on the FGN Savings Bond is exempted from taxes. It can also be traded in the secondary market on the NSE.

According to the DMO, the FGN Savings Bond is promoting the savings culture, while enhancing financial inclusion in the country.

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Enyioha Opara, Minna

THE Niger State Police command has arrested three notorious kidnappers in Kaffin Koro community, Paikoro Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were said to have been apprehended by the command’s Anti-kidnapping and Violence Crime unit.

Those in custody include Abubakar Mohammed, 22, of Kaffin Koro in Paikoro Local Government Area;  Ali Buba, 34, of Dadin Kowa in Kebbi State; and Abu Umaru, 20, of Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

Northern City News learnt that the suspects confessed under interrogation to have carried out a series of kidnapping in various parts of the state.

It was gathered that one of the suspects, Mohammed, shot the son of one Ardo whom they had reportedly informed about their plans to kidnap.

The gunshot victim was said to have been taken to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital for treatment.

Mohammed in an interview with our correspondent blamed ‘evil spirit’ for his involvement in crime and pleaded with the police to have mercy on him.

“I have done evil things more than the present offence I committed but may Allah forgive me,” he said.

Another suspect, Buba admitted he had been engaged in crime for over seven years.

“I am from Kebbi State but I joined a kidnap syndicate based in Bangi Dogo Fadama in Mariga council of Niger State. I regret my action and I beg the government to forgive me,” he said.

The Niger State police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said investigation is in progress, adding that the suspects would soon be arraigned in court.

He advised parents to give their children proper home training “that will help them in future.”

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Success Nwogu, Ilorin

Two hundred and twenty-two Muslim pilgrims, who were being airlifted by the Medview Airline from Ilorin International Airport to Saudi Arabia escaped death after birds attacked the aircraft.

Our correspondent in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, gathered on Sunday that the Boeing 767 aircraft conveying the 222 pilgrims was taxiing for take-off when it was struck by a brood of birds.

It was further learnt that the pilot displayed a high sense of  professionalism by aborting the flight while the pilgrims, who were said to be unhurt were de-boarded.

It was also learnt that the incident took place between 7 and 8pm on Saturday.

Our correspondent also gathered that following the delay the incident had caused to the pilgrims, Medview Airline arranged a Boeing 747 aircraft to airlift the 460 pilgrims including the affected ones.

Medview Airline media consultant, Obuke Oyibotha, in a statement confirmed the bird strike.

He said, “Birds strike on Saturday night forced a Medview Airline to abort a Saudi bound flight at Ilorin airport. The B767 aircraft carrying 222 pilgrims was taxiing for take-off when it was struck by a brood of birds forcing the pilot to abort the flight.

“The 222  pilgrims were de-boarded without incident, and arrangements were made to provide another aircraft to airlift them. The airline assured all pilgrims that the schedule for their airlift to the Holy Land will not be affected by the incident. The airline on Saturday night flew a  team of engineers and rotables to Ilorin to get the aircraft back to service.”

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Medview Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole,  said  the airline had already airlifted 675 pilgrims from the Ilorin International Airport.

He stated that 460 pilgrims departed from the airport about 12.30pm on Thursday while   215 pilgrims of the second batch were also airlifted.

He said the airline would also airlift pilgrims from Ondo and Ekiti states with three categories of aircraft, adding that Medview Airline would continue to maintain its adherence to safety standards and convenience of its passengers.

According to him, the airline will airlift between 11,000 and 12,000 pilgrims nationwide for this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Fidelis Soriwei, Abuja

The Nigeria Labour Congress has said it will bring the issue of the delay in the constitution of Minimum Wage Committee by the Federal Government to the attention of workers during the next meeting of its National Executive Committee.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, who made the comment in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Sunday, did not give a specific date for the next meeting of the NEC but said it would hold soon.

Ozo-Eson said the NLC had complained repeatedly that the constitution of the committee to commence the process for the negotiation for the new minimum wage for workers was being delayed without cause.

He said, “We have complained about this delay (in the constitution of the Minimum Wage Committee. We believe that the constitution of the committee and the work of the committee have been unduly delayed by the government.

“We don’t understand what they (government) are doing, they make promises but they don’t fulfill them. They tell us they are going to constitute it but they don’t constitute it, and all that it takes is for them to announce a chairman and the secretary for all the stakeholders to bring in their own members and that is all.

“We don’t constitute the committee, but where government fails to act and the facts are presented to the meeting, workers themselves will direct us on what to do and we will do it.”

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, had said on July 6, 2017 that the Federal Government would constitute the Minimum Wage Committee before the end of July.

Neither the minister nor his Media Assistant, Mr Nwachukwu Obidiwe, responded on the matter when our correspondent contacted them on Sunday to give reasons for the delay in the constitution of the Wage committee.

The minister and his aide did not pick the calls to their mobile telephone lines. They had not also responded to the text messages sent to them on the issue as of the time of filing this story by 6.50 pm on Sunday.

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Justin Gatlin may have sensationally regained the world 100m  title denying superstar Usain Bolt a golden farewell but like the crowd in the London Stadium the British  media slammed the fact the former drugs cheat had gatecrashed the party, AFP   reports.

The 35-year-old American – the Olympic 100m champion in 2004 and world champion in 2005 (also winning the 200m world crown to achieve the double) –  showed great character to shut out the jeering to storm home and beat young compatriot Christian Coleman and Bolt, who for once was unable to find the gas to make up for a woeful start.

Some saw it as the ultimate redemption for Gatlin to have prevailed after serving a four year ban – reduced from eight – from 2006-2010,  having also been barred during his college days though his medication was for his Attention Deficit Disorder.

“Take GAT – Usain Bolt sunk as drugs cheat Justin Gatlin ruins his golden goodbye,” headlined The Sun.

Never one to mince their words the newspaper described how Bolt received the adulation of the crowd whilst Gatlin – who had brought a finger to his mouth after being named the winner to hush the crowd – slunk off.

“Gatlin disappeared from view after a brief run down the home straight, but when he returned for interviews he was greeted with chants of “cheat, cheat cheat” while he was live on air.”

The Mail on Sunday took a similarly dim view of Gatlin ruining the 30-year-old Jamaican’s bid for a 12th world gold.

“A terrible silence met the end of the men’s 100m final here,” wrote their correspondent.

“Not only was Usain Bolt, the great hero of the sport, denied victory in his final individual race, but it was won by two-time drugs cheat Justin Gatlin. Athletics’ worst nightmare had just unfolded in front of a watching world.”

The broadsheet press was largely in agreement although The Guardian believed that chickens had come home to roost for the sport itself.

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

Chairman, Senate Joint Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and Marine Transport, Hope Uzodinma, has denied the allegation by former Military Administrator of Kaduna State, Col. Mohammed Umar (retd.), that senators were trying to sabotage the anti-graft war by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Uzodinma, in a statement on Sunday, described Umar’s comment as “reckless and unstatesmanly.”

The lawmaker said he was surprised that “an otherwise highly respected public figure” like Umar could make such sweeping remarks about an institution like the National Assembly, relying on fiction.

Uzodinma said, “I have a lot of respect for Col. Umar. In fact, I see him as a nationalist. But on this one, he goofed. While appreciating the relationship between the NPA MD and Col. Umar’s daughter, I still felt that the statesman in him should have moved him to look at the issues on ground very dispassionately without bias.

“Honestly, I still don’t understand why the Senate is being blackmailed for performing its constitutional role. A petition was written to my committee by a company which alleged that they imported rice and paid the relevant duties to Customs. Then, when the rice came in, the Customs seized the containers. So, we discussed the petition at the committee’s level and decided to forward a letter to Customs.

“In the letter, we said we received a letter from this company alleging maltreatment and we implore you to look at the merits or otherwise through your internal mechanisms. We never directed the cargo to be released anywhere in the letter.  I still have a copy of the letter and the reply from Customs. Col. Umar would have even spoken with Col. Hameed Ali of Customs to verify this before rushing to press with fiction.”

Speaking on the alleged scam in the contract for dredging of Calabar Channel, Uzodinma said his panel had yet to begin investigation into the project.

He added, “We are not even investigating NPA on Calabar dredging; we are investigating infractions in the import-export circle where vessels would come into the country and offload goods and return without a dime paid into government coffers. How should this investigation not excite any patriotic Nigerian? Why the sustained blackmail from the stable of the NPA, whose MD has refused four invitations by the committee to appear before it and answer to these alleged infractions?

“We have identified some vessels with some identification numbers confirmed to have come into Nigeria and left without paying Customs duties, terminal charges and all other revenues that were supposed to accrue to the Federal Government were not collected.

“What we did was to simply forward these particulars to the MD of NPA to come and explain what happened; and because of that, the institution of the Senate is being accused of frustrating anti-corruption war. Who is frustrating the anti-corruption war in this instance? Or is the NPA MD above the law? This can only happen in Nigeria!”

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers has disclosed plans to commence a nationwide strike in protest against the non-payment of the severance package of Aero Contractor Nigeria Limited’s sacked workers.

Aero Contractors had in March issued letters of redundancy to about 60 per cent of its total workforce.

The airline said it had been grappling with huge and unrealistic personnel costs as well as other operational challenges worsened by lack of enough aircraft to keep all the workers meaningfully engaged.

The association said the strike action would commence at a soon to be announced date after it finalised consultation with other aviation unions and stakeholders.

The National President, NAAPE, Abednego Galadima, said on Sunday that the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, which took over the management of the airline, had yet to pay the sacked workers, five months after they were asked to go.

He added that in defence of the rights of the airline’s workers as well as in keeping with its duties and mandate under the law, NAAPE decided to declare a nationwide strike action in demonstration of its abhorrence of the inhuman treatment meted to the sacked workers.

“The association is inviting the government and other relevant bodies and stakeholders to prevail on AMCON to do the needful with regards to the rights of the workers of Aero Contractors in order to avert the imminent crisis of shutting down Nigeria’s aviation industry,” he said.

Galadima stated that the high level of unemployment of pilots and engineers in Nigeria suggested that to address the problem, the government needed to encourage or assist in the development of Maintenance Repair Organisations and give serious consideration to facilitating low interest capital and providing enabling environment for the industry to grow.

He also stated that the association would support the Federal Government’s effort to have a private sector national carrier and on the planned concession of four international airports, adding that this would create employment for pilots, engineers and other professionals in the industry.

A source within Aero told our correspondent that the non-payment of the severance package was due to lack of funds as the airline did not have enough money to pay the sacked workers.

 Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Gibson Achonu, Owerri

 EMPLOYEES and students of Imo State College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Orlu, have accused the Acting Provost of the institution, Reverend Sister Grace Agu, of executive high-handedness and certificate forgery.

 The acting provost was also accused of arm-twisting, victimisation, lies and abuse of public service procedures among other ills on campus.

 They further stated that Agu was plotting instability on the campus by allegedly instigating some students to go against established government procedures.

The employees, who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of being victimised, said the acting provost used some students in her good books to harass the ousted provost, Princess Ngozi Duru, by locking the campus gate against her on a day she (Duru) visited the institution.

But in a swift reaction, Agu maintained that the accusations were false, malicious and sponsored to drag her image into the mud.

 She said, “Those who peddled the rumour are enemies of progress. I came on board by the state government’s directive to correct the anomalies bedeviling the institution. “I was not in any way connected with the dismissal of Princess Ngozi Duru as the provost of the institution.

“The peddlers are not happy because they wanted the irregularities for which I was appointed to correct to continue, not knowing that my administration will not be business as usual. I am applying both my wealth of academic experience and catholic convent training to put things aright on campus.

She added, “It is very unfortunate and disheartening that instead of the staff and students to key into my mantra towards the sustenance of the institution, they revert to raising calumnies and invectives against me and my led administration.

“However, I am not deterred about that, but must maintain the good way forward towards achieving the essence for with His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the state governor established the institution.”

Agu further dismissed the rumour on her certificate qualification, just as she described herself as a certificated registered nurse and midwife.

“I also have B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Nursing Sciences. Currently, I am doing my Ph.D in the same discipline in Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki,” she said.

Also, the Public Rotations Officer of the institution, Mr. Akwari Onwukwe, stated that the acting provost was not involved in the removal of her predecessor.

 He contended that the time before Duru was removed as the Provost, Agu was the Head of Department of Nursing Sciences of the institution.

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

Suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, said in Abuja, on Sunday, that he had been vindicated by the recent comments credited to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the Senate President, Dr.  Bukola Saraki, over the happenings in the party.

Frank, in a statement, commended the two men for summoning the courage to speak out against what he described as “undemocratic tendencies of the current National Working Committee led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.”

He declared that the APC “is dead but not yet buried under the current national chairman.”

Frank said the real lovers of the APC were the ones speaking out their minds having waited for two years without any improvement on the part of the working committee.

He accused the working committee of “practically leading the party to destruction.”

Atiku and Saraki came down hard on the running of the APC by the current NWC under Odigie-Oyegun last week.

Specifically, Atiku decried the party’s inability to hold meetings of its different organs,  or constitute institutions prescribed in the party’s constitution.

The former Vice-President had said, “In the absence of those meetings and elections, their existing leadership, often under the direction of the executive at the state or federal level, fill the void.

“That’s not party building but party bullying. And it’s certainly not a way to democratise parties and aggregate their members’ opinions, interests and aspirations.”

Saraki, who spoke at the News Agency of Nigeria Forum two days later, said the APC leadership headed by Odigie-Oyegun, lacked focus.

Frank said, “I’m happy that some of our leaders are now speaking out against the lack of internal democracy I have been fighting for all this while.

“It is still not too late if others will shun sentiments and see reasons to quickly rescue the APC from the current handlers, who are merchants and without minds of their own.”

Frank also condemned the suspension of the APC Chairman in Bayelsa State by the NWC, saying the party leadership had committed what he described as an unforgivable error against the constitution of the party.

He said, “If there are allegations against the state party chairman, it is expected of the NWC to set up a panel of enquiry to investigate these allegations and give the chairman in question a fair hearing and not suspend like in this case.”

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: editor@punchng.com