03092019 - FG weighs options as another $2.3bn fine looms

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16—Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019 LUNCHEON: From left;Lion Abdulganiyu Adediji, Multiple Council Chairperson, International Association of Lions Clubs; Lion Lekan Babalola, immediate past District Governor, District 404B 1; Lion Eboreimo Bernard, District Governor, District 404B 1 and his wife Linda Eboriemo during the public presentation and fund raising luncheon for Lions projects held in Ikeja, Lagos. How Oshiomhole rescued Benin, by Esogban By Alemma Aliu BENIN CITY—THE Esogban of Beni Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri has lauded the national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole describing him as his son who did not not disappoint him when he was governor of Edo State. Edebiri stated this while making remarks to mark his 90th birthday which the celebration formally ended yesterday. OMPALAN counsels Ihedioha over loot recovery By Emmanuel Elebeke PORT HARCOURT—AS the disagreement between the Imo state Governor, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and his predecessor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha over some looted funds and property takes dangerous dimension, the chairman of Imo State caucus of the Oil and Solid Minerals Landlords’Association of Nigeria, OMPALAN, Bishop Udo Azogu has advised the state Governor to thread with caution on the ongoing recovery of Government property allegedly under the custody of Senator Rochas Okorocha and his family members. In a statement on Sunday, Bishop Azogu said since the Governor had petitioned the two anti-graft agencies viz: the ICPC and Oshiomhole had praised Chief Edebiri for adopting him as a son and supporting his emergence as governor and promised he would use any available opportunity to empower people from Benin Kingdom and the state in general. Edebiri said "Before his coming as governor, Benin City was a large village community but when Oshiomhole became governor, he brought life, he brought civilisation because Benin for the first time know what is called EFCC to investigate the former Governor of Imo State and members of his family, which have commenced ernest investigation on the strength of the petitions before them, the onus lies on the Governor to allow the anti-graft agencies do their job and come out with their verdict. It will be recalled that the EFCC had questioned Avwenaghagha emerges 1st President of Rotary Club of Saba Gateway By Festus Ahon ASABA—A Director in the Delta State Ministry of Oil and Gas, Mr Aweka Avwenaghagha has been elected as first President of the Rotary Club of Asaba Gateway, District 9141 with a promise to embark on projects that would add value to human walkways. "He constructed superior roads, roads that will last many many years. In my own case, the road that he constructed along my street, German contractor told me that it is 50 years guaranteed if maintained. He did not disappoint me as a governor" Oshiomhole had in a speech recalled how Chief Edebiri before the last general elections helped solved problems within the APC. He said "Chief Edebiri speaks truth to power, never afraid, never bending it, it doesn’t have to be convenient, he simply says it. I Sen. Okorocha, his wife and daughter resulting in the sealing off of a sizable portion of their vast properties in Imo State. The OMPALAN chairman noted that the security situation in Imo State is spiraling out of control, hence the need for caution by all sides to the imbroglio. He called on the Governor to disband immediately the lives. The installation of Avwenaghagha who is also the sole candidate of Odukpor ruling House for the position of Ovie of Idjerhe clan in Ethiope West local government area, was performed by the Charter President, Rotarian Adekola Abiodu, supported by the District Governor nominee, Rotarian Andy N-Delta group lauds Buhari on signing of electricity contract By Elizabeth Uwandu PORT HARCOURT— FOLLOWING the recent signing of an electricity contract with the German company, Siemen to put an end to the perennial electricity crisis in the country, the Joint Association of Niger Delta Youth Forum, JANDYF has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the feat as a forever achievement. Stating the need for all Nigerians irrespective of political party affiliation to support the president on the bold step taken to end decades of electricity calamity in the country, the group said with the signing of the contract with a reputable German firm believed to be one of the best electricity solution provider in the world, it has become more obvious the good intention of the president to develop or build a new Nigeria of quality infrastructure. In a separate statement, the National President and Legal Adviser of the group, Hon Mark Wariota Ikpuri and Barr Olushola Iyogun, who spoke to our correspondence at the end of its leadership committee meeting in Benin, Edo State, said the group has watched the other events of the government, the cleanup of Ogoni in Rivers State, construction of the second Niger bridge, appointments from the Niger Delta and come to the conclusion that the president is a man who truly wants to bring the country out of the woods. Explaining that the group is a sociopolitical association that embraces members of different political parties and non-politicians alike, Ikpuri said it’s aimed at providing support services to government in terms of idea generation just as he cited some of its past proposals to government, the proposal for the creation of Niger Delta Ministry with the Office of Special Adviser to the president on amnesty attached to it. am forever indebted to the Omo N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, the institution of the Oba of Benin, the paramount traditional ruler of Edo land. You guided me, you prayed for me and by the grace of God I left without issues. I remain committed everything that is within my discretion to do to uplift this great kingdom and uplift and creat opportunities for men and women of this kingdom I owe it as irreducible minimum duty to do so because this kingdom has been great, this kingdom has been kind and generous to me." Jasper Ndubuaku committee for recovery of Government property for what he called its lawless behaviour in order to halt the state’s imminent collision course with anarchy. He pointed out that the recovery of Government property committee appears to be doing a hatchet job against the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and his family. Uwejeyan, amid cheers from other Rotarians, friends, family members and well wishers. The elated Rotarian Aweka Avwenaghagha, who is the Director of local content and promotion, Delta State Ministry of Oil and Gas and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliator, said he would vigorously pursue the core mandate of rotary club international which is giving help to the needy in the society. Rotarian Avwenaghagha who highlighted some projects he intends to embark upon within this rotary year, appealed to colleagues and well wishers to fellowship with him to actualize the dream., He said he will concentrate more on the rotary foundation of complete eradication of polio in the society which has remained the flagship project of rotary international. The District Governor nominee, Rotarian Andy Uwejeyan who also delivered a goodwill message from the Delta State Commissioner, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Chief Emmanuel Amgbadugha, asked all to embrace the work of rotary clubs as putting smiles on the face of others is a divine responsibility. Deutsche CEO to invest 15% monthly net pay in bank's shares DEUTSCHE Bank's (DBKGn.DE) chief executive Chris tian Sewing will spend 15% of his monthly net salary buying the German lender's shares starting in September, a regulatory filing showed on Monday. The filing makes official a pledge Sewing made in July, when he announced a major restructuring of the bank. Sewing said at the time he would invest a "substantial amount" of his fixed salary in the bank. The CEO, who is shaking up Deutsche Bank to try to revive its profitability, said in July he wanted to put his money where his mouth was. Sewing will buy roughly 21,250 euros ($23,681.00) in shares around the 22nd of each month through to the end of 2022, the filing said. That would result in a total investment of around 850,000 euros, based on monthly purchases up to the end of 2022. Global stocks slip on tariffs, Argentina hit by capital controls GLOBAL markets remained subdued on Mon day after the United States and China imposed new tariffs on each other, while the spotlight returned to emerging-market risk as Argentina imposed capital controls. Argentina's international dollar bonds dropped to record lows, its financial stocks tumbled and risk premia shot up after President Mauricio Macri re-imposed capital controls on Sunday as the country battled to avoid its ninth sovereign default. The about-face by Macri, who had previously lifted many protectionist practices of his predecessor, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, came after the government failed to stem heavy investment outflows and to shore up its tumbling currency. MSCI's All-Country World Index, which tracks shares across 47 countries, was down 0.04% on the day. S.Africa's Old Mutual to buy back $158m more shares OLD Mutual Ltd will launch its second share buyback of the year on Sept. 3, South Africa's secondlargest insurer said on Monday after posting a 10% rise in half-year profit. The company will buy back up to 2.4 billion rand ($157.51 million) worth of shares subject to market conditions. "The board believes that the share price is trading at a discount to its intrinsic value and is of the view that a share repurchase programme will deliver longer term incremental value to shareholders," Old Mutual said. In the past few years, the 173-year-old company has broken up an international conglomerate structure to return to its roots as an African financial services group with its primary listing in Johannesburg. Shareholders had hoped this homecoming would bolster the value of the group's stock, but instead it has dropped amid a damaging public dispute with sacked Chief Executive Officer Peter Moyo. Dutch Ministry to support small scale farmers in Nigeria DUTCH Ministry of Agriculture has disclosed it plans to support small scale farmers everywhere, particularly in Nigeria to achieve financial freedom. Agricultural Assistant Policy Officer, Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr.Brian Udoh, disclose this during the regional consultative meeting on popularising the National Agricultural seeds act in Lagos, organised by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) in collaboration with the National Agriculture Seeds Council (NASC) and the Alliance for a Green Revolution (AGRA). Udoh, representing the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, stated that his country is very focused on helping small scale farmers everywhere, particularly Nigeria achieve financial freedom. He stated that, "seeing how farmers from other countries are progressing, it is sad to see Nigerian farmers suffering." He pledged the support of his ministry and charged the NASC to continue its consultative meeting and ensure that farmers get all the information they need about the agriculture seeds act. While delivering a presentation on "Understanding the National Agricultural Seeds Council Act, 2019", Mr.FolarinOkelola made it known that the mission of the NASC is to transform the Nigerian seed system into a leading seed industry in Sub-Saharan Africa worthy of generating foreign exchange, a key employer of labour and also a place that contributes positively to the Nigerian economy. He revealed that a lot of seed production is done by a lot of people ignorantly, and that led to the implementation of the Seed Act, Section 19 which states that "a person shall not engage in seed production, processing, marketing or importation for commercial purpose unless the person is registered under the NASC Act." He revealed that the NASC is setting up a centre for excellence of seed accreditation and plant variety protection in West Africa, and has been identified as the first in awarding seed certification to registered businesses. Some stories credited to Reuters
Republic of bandits These bandits strike at will, maim at will, destroy lives and property — Governor Bello Masari of Katsina (April 2019) I HAVE always had this friendly exchange with my brother, Adeyinka Olumide Fusika, SAN, for some years now that Nigeria is a failed state, but he would always tease me that lawyers are still going to court and judges are ruling on disputes. I don’t know whether the learned silk has seen the image of Katsina Governor, Aminu Bello Masari and a gunwielding bandit after His Excellency finished a closeddoor round table with bandits in the home state of the President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria this past week. The meeting with representatives of bandits terrorising the eight front line local governments in the state was a condescending session to find a lasting solution to incessant attacks and kidnappings in the state. Incessant attacks The meeting which was held at the State Secretariat had different stakeholders in attendance which included heads of security agencies, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Manir Yakubu; traditional rulers and districts heads led by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin kabir Usman; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa; Transition Committee Chairmen of the affected front line local government areas; representatives of Miyeti Allah and Fulani herdsmen. It was gathered that attendance of the representatives of the bandits was made possible by the recent amnesty declared for the bandits by the North West Governors at a recent meeting held in the state. Masari stated that the insecurity rocking the affected LGAs in the state has become embarrassing to both the state government and President Muhammadu Buhari who is also an indigene of the state. The meeting, according to the governor, is expected to go a long way in restoring peace, not only in the affected LGAs, but also the entire 34 LGAs in the state. He said: “We are ready •Bandits...terrorising states in the north to dialogue with the bandits and are ready to go anywhere they invite us, because we are not afraid to meet anybody to end this problem. As a leader, I must find solution to the problem so that if today I die I will know how to defend myself before God. I will not allow this to continue; enough is enough. I have directed the security operatives to take all necessary measures to change the narrative on insecurity in the state, by any means necessary.” It is interesting that the The first direct signal we got that this is no longer a country was from Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State shortly during the start of this dispensation governor was holding dialogue with bandits two months after the criminals requested for a session under an administration that has refused to take a look at the reports of the 2014 National Conference in four years or facilitate a meeting of leaders across the country that daily descends into the abysmal edge of the precipice. All dissenting voices come under hammer in Nigeria except bandits who are treated specially! The leader of the bandits, Malam Idris Yahaya, during an arranged meeting with newsmen near a primary school in Dankolo Village, Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State two months ago said his members were tired of violence and suffering from deprivation imposed on them by the local security vigilance groups in the area. He said the peace pact recently entered into between the local communities and the bandits to achieve uninterrupted farming activities, was what prompted the meeting with the media. He said: “We are tired of violence. Again, we have discovered that the real benefactors of this violence include highly placed government officials and security personnel, who will want it to go on for their pecuniary benefits. We want Governor Masari to talk directly to us.” Masari has talked to them directly and they are still wielding their weapons of violence in a way that captures the total victory of criminals over the Nigerian state. I recall the beautiful review of Kunle Ajibade’s What a County! done by my friend, Prof. Wale Adebanwi, at the Muson Centre years back. After a profound racing through the book and raising poignant questions such as Nigeria being a country where thieves headhunt for chairmanship of anti-corruption agency, he declared that Ajibade’s book should have been titled Not A Country! The first direct signal we got that this is no longer a country was from Governor Nasir El- Rufai of Kaduna State shortly after this dispensation started. While fielding questions from some reporters in his office on December 2, 2016, El-Rufai stated that his government had traced some violent, aggrieved Fulani to their countries and paid them to stop the killings of Southern Kaduna natives and Vanguard, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 3 2019 —17 the destruction of their the law usually caught up with communities, saying that the them and they turn jelly before renewed violence was carried the temple of Justice. That was out by bandits. the end of Ejigbadero, He said: “For Southern Lawrence Anini, Shina Rambo, Kaduna, we didn’t understand et all. But in the dispensation what was going on and we of “we against them”, bandits decided to set up a committee are now being pampered in a under Gen. Martin Luther way that suggests that: “if Niger Agwai (retd) to find out what Delta boys got Amnesty, our was going on there. What was bandits deserve same established was that the root of treatment.” the problem has a history Beko Ransome-Kuti must be starting from the 2011 postelection having a belly-laugh wherever violence. he is now. In the last days of “Fulani herdsmen from across his life, whatever discussions we Africa bring their cattle down had with him on Nigeria had a towards Middle Belt and standard response: “Nigeria o Southern Nigeria. The moment le work.” (Nigeria can’t work ). the rains start around March, No way as presently constituted April, they ! start moving ...Seme Border them up to go Users of the borders between back to their South West Nigeria and Benin various Republic have been subjected communities to untold hardships since the and countries. closure of the borders. Students Unfortunately, from Badagry who daily cross it was when the borders to school and return home are having a hellish time of it. Legitimate business people are crying daily. The reason for the closure, according to President Buhari, is that the borders are being used to smuggle rice into the country and instead of firing his Customs boss for not being able to stop smuggling, he has decided to make the people suffer this way. Yet, we have not heard the closure of the Niger border where illegal arms and undesirable aliens daily make their ways into the country. These double-standards stink! they were moving up with their cattle across Southern Kaduna that the elections of 2011 took place and the crisis trapped some of them. Some of them were from Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Mali and Senegal. Fulanis are in 14 African countries and they traverse this country with the cattle. So many of these people were killed, cattle lost and they organised themselves and came back to revenge. So a lot of what was happening in Southern Kaduna was actually from outside Nigeria. “We got a hint that the late Governor Patrick Yakowa got this information and he sent someone to go round some of these Fulani communities, but of course after he died, the whole thing stopped. That is what we inherited. But the Agwai committee established that. We took certain steps. We got a group of people that were going round trying to trace some of these people in Cameroon, Niger Republic and so on to tell them that there is a new governor who is Fulani like them and has no problem paying compensations for lives lost and he is begging them to stop killing. "In most of the communities, once that appeal was made to them, they said they have forgiven. There are one or two that asked for monetary compensation. They said they have forgiven the death of human beings, but want compensation for cattle. We said no problem, and we paid some. As recently as two weeks ago, the team went to Niger Republic to attend one Fulani gathering that they hold every year with a message from me.” Nobody asked El-Rufai to produce the killers he was doling cash to and Masari meeting with bandits has now confirmed the new profile of criminals in Nigeria. When we had a country and there were criminals who terrorised society, ...Islamisation includes Salafisation? The charge against El- Zakzaky’s IMN by the Federal Government of planning the 1979 type of Iranian revolution in Nigeria to islamise the country would have ended the whole argument about the body language of the present government suggesting an islamisation plot. Cynics are pointing out, however, that if indeed IMN has such a plot, it may just be that all the government has against it is the idea of a Shiites islamisation that is anathema to the Salafs. For those who think all Muslims hold same beliefs, here it is. The Shiites are members of the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the successor to Prophet Mohammed and reject the first three caliphs. They are the dominant sect in Iran. The Salafs also known as Sunni are the first three generations of Muslims. Salafis today consider the earliest practice of Islam to be the purest form of the religion and are the most prominent in Saudi Arabia. The Sunnis detest the Shiites and the sectarian war has been playing out in Nigeria. This is why cynics hold that the rejection of alleged islamisation plot by Shiites may just be that the Salafs are not comfortable with Shiites. They would want to know if this rejection of Islamisation plot by Shiites also includes any such agenda by the Salafs. C M Y K
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03092019 - FG weighs options as another $2.3bn fine looms

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