13022020

More documents

Recommendations

Info

34—Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 GRADUATION: From left, Zonal Director, National Industrial Skill Development Programme, Hajia Hussaina Zubairu; Kaduna State Commissioner for Bussines Innovation and Technicology, Idris Nyam; Area Manager, Kaduna Industrial Training Fund , Yahaya Manu, and District Head of Makera, Alhaji Shehu Tijjani, during the graduation and clossing ceremony of Trainees 2019 Natonal Industrial Skills Development Programme, in kaduna, yesterday. Photo: :Olu Ajayi. IMO: How contractors were paid between 2011 and 2019 —Witnesses By Chidi Nkwopara O startling WERRI—More revelations of how Imo State government businesses were run between 2011 and 2019, surfaced again, during the sitting of the judicial commission of inquiry on contracts awarded between May 2011 and May 2019. The witnesses that took their turns in the witness box, at the last sitting, included Mrs. Gladys Mbagwu, a Deputy Director and Head of Accounts, Ministry of Health;Mrs. Ijeoma Nkemakolam, a retired Government House cashier; Mr. C. I. Ugbaja, Secretary of the State’s Tenders Board, and Uchenna Mgbenani, a member of the Government House Tenders Committee. Speaking from the witness box, the Head of Accounts, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Gladys Mbagwu, gave a graphic account of how N15 million, which was received from the Accountant General’s Office, for the fencing of the new General Hospital at Abo-Umulolo, Okigwe, was paid into the ministry’s Zenith Bank account, and later withdrawn from the account and paid into the personal account of the Transition Committee Chairman of Okigwe Local Government, Mr. Bennett Ilochuonwu. Asked to confirm if that act was right, even when the local government had an official account where the money could have been paid into, Mbagwu said: “The act was not right, but I had to obey my superior’s instructions.” She affirmed that apart from the fencing project, there were other payments made by her office. Before adjourning her matter to another date, the commission’s Chairman, Justice Benjamin Iheka, ordered her to produce before the commission within seven days from today (yesterday), all documents of payment made by her in respect of contracts in the state between 2011 and 2019. The commission also ordered her to produce the names of those she transferred money to, on behalf of the companies, the amount transferred, the banks and the account numbers to which the transfers were made, within seven days. In her testimony, a former cashier in Government House, Ijeoma Nkemakolam, said her duty was to make payments as directed by her superior, the governor’s Principal Secretary, Dr. Paschal Obi. Nkemakolam, under cross examination, affirmed making payments in respect of contracts, while in service, adding that she paid contractors via e-payment instructions. The commission also ordered her to produce full names of the persons, their banks and account numbers she made e-payments to, on instructions, when she was in office as cashier in Government House, within seven days. When a member of the Government House Tenders Committee, Mr. Uchenna Mgbenani took his turn, he told the commission that the committee was not established by law but via the resolution of the state House of Assembly. Asked if their committee interviewed contractors while they served, Mgbenani said: “We deal with papers and not the contractors physically.” Although the commission was not particularly happy that Mr. Stan Dara was absent at the day’s sitting, despite being served with the subpoena, Justice Iheka, however, adjourned the matter till February 18, 2020, “for the witness to appear.” Tears, encomiums as slain Lagos bizman, Odunukwe, is buried By Nwabueze Okonkwo ONITSHA — Oraukwu community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State was yesterday, thrown into mourning as the remains of their late kinsman and billionaire businessman, Chief Ignatius Odunukwe, who was murdered by bandits in Lagos on December 1, 2019 were buried amidst tears and tributes. The interment took place shortly after a burial mass officiated by the Catholic Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Hillary Okeke, at Godwin O d u n u k w e ’ s compound, Ibenabo village, Oraukwu. In his homily at the funeral mass, Bishop Okeke urged Christians to shun quest for materialism, greed and inordinate ambition, even in the face of joblessness and unemployment crisis in the country. Okeke also reminded Christians that no amount of wealth can take a man to heaven. Rather, it is only good works, faith and distance from sin that can qualify a person to heaven. According to him, good is of the Lord, while bad is of the devil. Efforts to hear from the late Odunukwe’s immediate younger brother, Charles, proved abortive as he declined to talk to the press over the killing of his elder brother. However, the late Odunukwe’s uncle, Afam, described him as a mentor and insisted that all his killers must not go unpunished. Afam, a Lagos-based lawyer, commended the police, particularly officers and men of Zone 2, Lagos for their efforts in arresting all the suspected killers of the deceased and explained that justice must surely take its course at the end of investigations. The deceased’s youngest brother, Chukwujekwu, who also spoke to newsmen at the ceremony, noted that the bereaved family would leave no stone unturned until all the masks behind the scene were unveiled and prosecuted to logical conclusion. Chukwujekwu who described Odunukwe’s death as very devastating to the family said the family is still battling to overcome the trauma associated with his murder. Ndokwa youths pass vote of confidence on Okowa, Ezechi IKOLOBIE Ndokwa (Ndokwa youths) have passed a vote of confidence on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on his inclusion of Ndokwa youths in his government and Nnamdi Ezechi, Executive Assistant on Youths Development for appointments, job creations and employment opportunities for Ndokwa youths. The youths met at the country home of Mr Ezechi, Okpai, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State to deliberate on issues to move Ndokwa nation forward. Speaking after the Alleged N525bn fraud: Abia APC demands justice By Ugochukwu Alaribe & Eric Ugbor UMUAHIA—The All Progressives Congress, APC, Abia State chapter, has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to ensure the prosecution of the former governor of the state, Senator Theodore Orji, and his son, Chief Chinedum Orji ,who is the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, if found guilty of the alleged N525 billion fraud against them. The party, in a statement by its state Publicity Secretary, Ben Godson, called on the EFCC to prove to Abia people that nobody is above the law, stressing that it will not keep calm until justice is served on the matter. It said: “The amount we’re talking about is outrageous and we must not keep calm until Maiden edition of W-Africa Agribusiness show holds in Lagos By David Royal ALL is set for the maiden edition of West African Agribusiness Show later in February. According to the Managing Director, Agri Supplies Limited, Idowu Asenuga, who is the convener of the show, the event was conceptualised based on the need for West African countries to come together to showcase the rich agricultural heritage of their subcontinent and contribute to its Gross Domestic Product, GDP. meeting, Nwogor Chukwutem, the group’s Public Relations Officer hailed the progress of Ndokwa youths led by the Executive Assistant to the Governor in the areas of appointments, job creations and employment opportunities. He commended Governor Okowa on his inclusion of Ndokwa youths in his government and the relationship he has created with the Executive Assistant on youth Development, Mr Ezechi, adding: “Ezechi is the best thing that has happened to Ndokwa youths.” justice is done. We cannot just allow things to end at investigation and revelation. Abians will want to know what will actually happen at the end. “The senator representing Abia Central and his son, the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, should be made to face the music if found guilty of the outrageous crime because Abians are waiting. "One person cannot steal the money meant to feed his fifth generation and expect to go free. We urge the EFCC to please make Abians see that Nigeria belongs to all of us and nobody is above the law. “Many persons may politicize our stand on this matter as either too early, political or even late as the case may be. But the reality of the matter is that we can’t play politics with Abia State. Enough is enough.” Idowu, while addressing the media said submission recently made by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, the West African sub-region has an abundance of natural and human resources. He said: "The maiden edition of the West Africa Agribusiness show (WAAS) is, therefore, a radical development as stakeholders connect to share ideas, see and experience the latest in equipment and technical know-how as well as supplies and services deployed in the production and processing of agriculture-related products. “It is my pleasure to inform you that farmers, product research organizations, agriculture equipment and product suppliers and buyers, agric innovators and other stakeholders and decision-makers in the industry are expected from 15 countries in the subregion." The countries include Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Niger, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Togo and Mali. Nigeria is the host country for the event which is billed for landmark centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020 — 35 :Vanguard News :@vanguardnews :@vanguardnews NEWS HOTLINES: 08052867023, 08052867058 LAUNCHING: From left — Mr. Isreal Amuzie, Co-Founder, Isrina Schools; Mr. Okewole Lawal, PTA Chairman, Isrina Schools; Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability Manager, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited; Alexander Akhigbe, Chief Environmental Officer, African Clean Up Initiative; and Emeka Mbah, Community Affairs Manager, Coca-Cola, during the Recycles Pay Launch, sponsored by the Coca-Cola Foundation, Lagos. AbdulRazaq, breath of fresh air — Kwara PDP leaders Asset Declaration: Coalition chides Kukah over comment on Buhari By Dapo Akinrefon LAGOS — HUMAN rights groups, under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Justice, CGGJ, yesterday, berated the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah over President Muhammadu Buhari’s alleged failure to publicly declare his assets. The group, in a statement by Emmanuel Umohinyang, said such weighty allegation, from a man of Kukah’s stature was most uncharitable. The statement reads: “Most of those who read or listened to the statement credited, Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah on public declaration of assets by President Muhammadu Buhari would definitely be wondering where got his facts • Suspended council chairmen laud Gov’s tolerance ILORIN — SOME lead ers of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Kwara State, have pledged loyalty to Governor AbdulRahman Abdul- Razaq of the state, saying his leadership style, humility and attachment to the poor have brought a breath of fresh air to the state. The PDP leaders, who also comprised at least six suspended council chairmen, women and several youth leaders, spoke when they visited AbdulRazaq in Government House in Ilorin, the state capital. “We can see a difference and people can feel that they have a government. The situation has changed in the area of road construction, water, health. You have also brought unmatched humility to governance,” Obalola Suleiman, a top PDP chieftain from Ifelodun local government area, said at the meeting. “You have started very well and our people are happy. We urge you to continue along that path. We are willing to work with you for the overall interest of our state.” Ben Duntoye, a former commissioner and PDP chieftain from Irepodun local government area of the state, aligned with Obalola. “You are a silent achiever. We can see things for ourselves and we want to be a part of this success story. We can see that you are doing more work than talk. This is evident in our various communities,” Duntoye said. Yahya Yinusa, a prominent PDP chieftain from Kwara North popularly called ‘Bulldozer’, also commended AbdulRazaq’s leadership and said the next few months would record influx of thousands of opposition figures into the ruling APC on account of the Governor’s sterling effort to reposition Kwara. “I am not surprised at the positive turn of things in Kwara. We were in CPC together and I can tell the great roles you played in assisting many of us who were contesting at the time. from. For a man who holds such a high office, one would have expected him to check his facts before going public on sensitive issues. How can Fr. Kukah claim that President Buhari promised to publicly declare his assets, when the old man never said so? “This is falsehood from the pulpit and it is most regrettable that a man of God would publicly accuse a fellow citizen of something he never promised to do, even before the entire world, without proof. It is sickening that he even made statement like “Nigeria was not worth dying for, at a time patriotic Nigerians are daily putting their lives on the line, at the risk of losing such. “This is most uncharitable and has very serious implications for us as a nation, especially coming from a man like Kukah. That Kukah is partisan and in bed with opposition, is not in doubt, but he should not drag this nation to the edge of precipice, as he is now a priest in a political garment. “At a time when the likes of Clergy should be supportive of government, all we have been hearing from him are words of hate. “In fact, the allegation that this President has not confronted Boko Haram frontally is far from the truth, going by investments in the security sector in the last few years, though we still have challenges, which the administration is confronting to the best of its ability. “It is in the best interest of all Nigerians, including Fr. Kukah, to support all efforts at making Nigeria better than beating the drums of war.” Your work is really speaking for you,” Yinusa said. Garba Labaka, suspended chairman of Ifelodun local government area, commended the Governor for his “unrivalled tolerance and political maturity”, saying the Governor has neither stopped their salary nor subjected them to harassment as was the case in some other states. “This clearly sets you apart as a great leader. We are very grateful to you for your tolerance and largeheartedness,” he said, adding that he has the mandate of all his colleagues to thank the Governor as well as appeal to him to return them to office. Bilikisu Sanni, a retired permanent secretary and PDP chieftain, said the Governor has made history as the most gender friendly leader in the history of the state. “We will continue to be grateful to you for this singular honour you’ve done to us as women. You have also changed the face of governance. It’s an entirely new pleasant experience for the people of Kwara a State,” she said. AbdulRazaq, for his part, commended the opposition leaders for the visit and said he sees everyone as critical stakeholders for a greater Kwara. “The situation we have found ourselves in Kwara is such that all hands must be on deck to move the state forward. We need everybody on board in this task. That is why I treat everyone as fellow Kwaran. From the civil service to other sectors, my concern has been how to stabilise our state for posterity,” he said. Lack of data, bane of rising unemployment in Nigeria — PIND By Cynthia Alo LAGOS —A non-govern mental organisation, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, PIND, has attributed lack of available data on unemployment as the bane of increasing unemployment in Nigeria. Deputy Executive Director, PIND, Mr Tunji Idowu, who stated this at the maiden edition of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, LSETF, called on the federal and state governments to invest in data to address unemployment in Nigeria, while advocating partnerships to solve the problem of unemployment. Idowu said: “Data will let you know what is happening in the market, how many people are gainfully Delta Assembly approves differential increase of N2.5 billion facility for contractors By Festus Ahon ASABA—DELTA State House of Assembly, yesterday, approved differential of N2.5 billion to increase the global facility limit guaranteed by the state government for select contractors from N15 billion to N17.5 billion. The approval was sequel to a request by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in a letter to the House and read at plenary by the Speaker, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori during plenary of the House. The governor in his letter to the House, said the approval was to vary and increase the facility limits assigned to participating banks in respect of the state government’s guaranteed global contractors finance Youth leader seeks unity amongst Bayelsa oil communities to fast track devt employed, how many are not, how many are unemployed, what kind of skills do the market requires, what needs to happen and what you need to pay attention to. Data helps to plan and design interventions so that they are relevant to the market space.” He stressed that the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, that looks at things from the national and regional point of view was not doing enough, adding “State governments either individually or collectively should invest in data to ensure there is valid data from their areas because when data exists, they themselves will be able to benefit from better quality decision making and better analysis to form their own decisions. and invoice discounting support facility from deposit money banks to major contractors. Okowa said some Deposit Money Banks were unable to meet the term loans offer of the major contractors in the state earlier pegged at N15 billion as approved by the Delta State House of Assembly. He said that the need to increase the guaranteed loan became necessary due to accruing interests and unavailability of funding banks, noting that in the course of executing the transaction, it became apparent that some of the Deposit Money banks were unable to meet the term loans offer to the major contractors in the state. By Samuel Oyadongha Y ENAGOA—THE Youth President of Agbidiama community, Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Mr Torke Ekpetun, has sued for peace amongst oil communities to attract development and improve standard of living. Ekpetun yesterday, in Yenagoa said, the greatest problems facing oil communities were disunity and selfish community leadership agenda which made development elude oil rich communities across the state. The youth leader, who was recently inaugurated in office said, he would pursue a policy of unity among the people and ensure that international oil companies in the area would work with community leadership for the common good. He said: "Disunity among the oil communities is an ill wind that does no good to anyone and provides opportunity for selfless leaders to emerge and usurp the commonwealth of the people for selfish ends."
Page 1 and 2: OLU FASAN 31 26 Music The parliamen
Page 3 and 4: Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 20
Page 5 and 6: vanguardnews @vanguardnews @vanguar
Page 9 and 10: Borno killings: Govs call for great
Page 17 and 18: When a PFA goes beyond the call of
Page 19 and 20: BPE to raise N267bn from privatizat
Page 31 and 32: WHY do most countries have prime mi
Page 33: Vanguard, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 20

13022020

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?