We’ve resolved Nigeria must not break, say governors

State governors, on Wednesday , said they had resolved that they would not allow Nigeria to break up , stating that those fanning the embers of war were wasting their time . The governors spoke after their meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa , Abuja, in continuation of Osinbajo ’s consultations on the recent tension in the country as a result of several agitations.

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who spoke on behalf of the other
governors, said the governors and
other stakeholders had agreed that
despite the agitations being witnessed in parts of the country , Nigeria must not break. Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting, Osinbajo stated that any Nigerians expecting the country to break was only wasting his time . “ The message is for Nigerians to work more together and collaborate . We have more to gain when we are united . “ We cannot afford to break , and anybody that is thinking of that, is wasting his time, and we will not allow it, not in this country . All of us are unanimous about that, ” he added.

He said the governors resolved that the unity of the country “ is sacrosanct, non- negotiable and we have all agreed to work together to educate people. ”Ajimobi added, “ Any time you have agitation, usually, there will be poverty; there will be unemployment ;
there will be hardship . So , we should address fundamentally these areas of poverty, unemployment and hardship.

“ Nigerians are by nature a united
people; nobody cares whether you are from the north , south or the east.” The governor also warned against the consequences of war, urging Nigerians to learn from Rwanda and Somalia. Osinbajo had appealed to the governors to always be ready to speak up against statements from individuals or groups capable of setting the nation
on fire. He said they must be ready to protect the nation and its democracy from the hands of those who were bent on dividing the country.

He spoke before the meeting, which
was held inside the old Banquet Hall
of the Presidential Villa , Abuja, went
into a closed- door session .
He stated , “ We must not allow the
careless use of words, careless
expressions that may degenerate into crisis .
“ We are a people that like to talk and we express ourselves loudly but it is expected for us to recognise that it is those same words that can cause conflagration; that can unfortunately lead to calamity . We must be careful on how we express ourselves. “ What we have seen in recent times is that some of the languages (words ) used have tended to degenerate badly and I think that we must begin to speak up against some of these things and ensure that we protect our democracy and our nation from the
hands of rhetoric that may just divide us.

Osinbajo, who had earlier met
separately with leaders of thought and traditional rulers from both the North and the South - East , said those who participated in the previous consultations agreed that Nigeria ’s unity should not be taken for granted . He said nobody wanted the nation to witness bloodshed or war. While describing the previous
meetings as frank and open, Osinbajo said they were able to agree on most of the critical issues that were discussed , and in most cases, changed perceptions that might have been long embedded in their minds .
He added that the participants also
agreed that under no circumstances
should hateful speeches be condoned
and that government should take all
steps necessary to bring to book all
those who preached violence.
The acting President stated that they also agreed that government needed to do more to engage youths
productively , create some jobs and
multiply the economic opportunities
available.

Osinbajo added, “ More importantly,
we agreed on the need for leaders to
speak out forcefully to counter divisive
speech or any kind of warmongering.“ We agreed that leaders , at all levels , must speak out forcefully against any kind of divisiveness or divisive speech. And we expect that our political leaders will do so without waiting to be prompted.
“ All of those who spoke felt that
sometimes when leaders do not speak up promptly , it always results in degeneration, no matter what the
problem may be .
“ This applied to both the statements made by the young people in the
South - East as well as the youth in the northern states . We discovered there was a need for much greater
resonance in the way that these things are done and for the leaders to speak up more forcefully .
“ We believe that if the leaders do not speak up forcefully enough, if for any reason , matters are allowed to
degenerate, not only does leadership
lose their legitimacy , they run the risk of things going completely out of control.”

He commended the leaders from the
North and South - East for their
openness at the consultations, saying they were extremely responsible even in their criticisms of what they felt were issues that should have been better handled. While saying their criticisms were fair and balanced, he commended them for their sense of responsibility and their leadership.

Osinbajo mentioned the issue of
herdsmen and farmers crisis ,
especially the way that some of these had resulted in flashpoints across the country , as one of the issues raised at the previous meetings .
He said it was important that lasting
and satisfactory solutions were found to the problems identified .
Describing the problems as
multidimensional , Osinbajo said state governors had important roles to play especially because they were in control of their territories.

He stated, “ We must resist the
temptation to play politics especially with matters of security , but to reach for simplistic narratives that might be originally expedient and satisfying but false, deceiving and sometimes unhealthy to proper understanding of the issues. ”
Governors , who attended the meeting, included Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Dave Umahi (Ebonyi ); Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto); Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano ); Nyesom Wike (Rivers ) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).
Among others are governors from
Borno, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom , Adamawa , Benue, Plateau , Kogi, Lagos , Kebbi, Ondo, Imo, Taraba and Anambra states among others .

Why I resigned as Stanbic IBTC Chairman – Atedo Peterside

http://cdn1.dailypost.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Atedo-Peterside-445x400.jpg The Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Plc , Mr. Atedo Peterside, Tuesday, announced his resignation from the board of the bank after serving for 10 years. In a message to the board, Peterside, who set up IBTC at the age of 33 in 1989 said “this is the ideal time for me to move on”. His resignation takes effect on March 31, 2017 Peterside served as chairman of the financial service holding company with subsidiaries in banking, stock brokerage, investment advisory, pension and trustee businesses. Full text of his resignation Letter: Dear Directors, Having served as the Chief Executive Officer of IBTC from inception in 1989 and all the way up until the merger that created Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc in 2007 and as Chairman thereafter, I believe this is the ideal time for me to resign from the Board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc with effect from the close of business on 31 March, 2017 and to move on. We have a strong tradition of careful succession planning at both Stanbic IBTC and the Standard Bank Group. I look forward to a new chapter where my interactions with Stanbic IBTC will be exclusively from the outside and/or from Johannesburg, i.e. looking in from the outside like every other parent company Non-Executive does when looking at all the Group subsidiary operations across the Africa regions. Our protracted dispute with the Financial Reporting Council FRC led me to stay on as Group Chairman in Nigeria for much longer than I would have liked, as everything was on course for my planned departure in 2015 from the Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc Board following my appointment to the Board of Standard Bank Group Limited and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited in August 2014. However several directors advised that there should be no change of guard at the top in Stanbic IBTC in the midst of such a dispute. Thankfully the FRC matter is now behind us and our Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc audited accounts for 2015 were approved late last year, whilst our audited accounts for 2016 have already been approved by the authorities this week. I would like to seize this opportunity to thank all the Directors of Stanbic IBTC for your support through the years. Some of you have been on this journey with me as investors since 1989. I am leaving the Stanbic IBTC board, but being a part of the parent company board in South Africa, means that I still have some indirect oversight functions. Some of you know that I am a stickler for following due process and so, from01 April, 2017, I will not be available to discuss our Nigerian operations unless required to do so by the parent board. In business terms in Nigeria, I would like to be able to concentrate largely on ANAP Business Jets Limited, which I founded a couple of years ago and where I am Chairman. I wish you every success as you pilot the affairs of Stanbic IBTC into the future.”

Makarfi attempting to bribe Supreme Court justices – Sheriff

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has accused the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of plot to purchase judgement at the Supreme Court. Sheriff, however, expressed confidence that the justices would not now bow to those he described as desperate politicians. Makarfi-led faction had filed a suit at the apex court over the‎ ruling of Port Harcourt division of the Appeal Court that Sheriff is the authentic PDP national chairman. Addressing newsmen at the PDP national secretariat on behalf of Sheriff, deputy national chairman, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh alleged that the Makarfi group had perfected plans “to do anything in order to secure the judgement in their favour”. “We make bold to say nobody can buy the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court cannot be bought, and that the party has implicit confidence in the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen and his colleagues in the Supreme Court,” he said. Meanwhile, Bayelsa State governor and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee, Henry Seriake Dickson, has stated that he never demanded the resignation of Ahmed Makarfi as caretaker chairman of the party. Dickson explained that during a chat with journalists on the PDP crisis, he only argued that for PDP to bounce back, its leaders must make sacrifices.

FIFA Rankings: Super Eagles Move Up Despite AFCON Miss

The Nigeria national team have moved up nine places in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday by the world football governing body. The Super Eagles are now occupying the 41st position in the world and seventh in Africa. This massive leap is coming despite the fact that the Eagles were conspicuously missing at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Gabon. Egypt, who were beaten in the AFCON 2017 final are the highest ranked team on the African continent at the moment and are 23rd in the word. Senegal, who lost in the quarter-final to eventual champions Cameroon, are second the Indomitable Lions are the third ranked team in Africa in the February rankings. Cameroon’s victory at the AFCON tournament actually helped them climb 29 places into 33rd position in the world. According to FIFA, a total of 60 matches counted towards the latest ranking. These included the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (32 games), the 2017 Copa Centroamericana (15 games) and international friendlies (13 games). The top five teams remain unchanged for the February ranking. Argentina (1), Brazil (2), Germany (3), Chile (4) and Belgium (5). The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 9 March 2017

Ministry Tourism, Arts And Culture: Lagos Unveils Statue Of First King And Prince Olofin

Lagos State Government has demonstrated commitment towards the promotion and development of cultural tourism in the State with the unveiling of statues of the first crown king of Lagos, King Ado and the legendary Prince Olofin Atekoye, referred to as the first migrant from Ile- Ife the cradle of Yorubas to settle in Lagos. The statues were unveiled today, Thursday, February 9, 2017 at Ijora Olopa and Moloney roundabout respectively. The Acting Commissioner/Special Adviser to the Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola said “the unveiling of the Statues validates His Excellency, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State ’s vision of beautifying Lagos landscape with befitting monuments as the State marks 50 anniversary of her creation, tagged Lagos @ 50”. According to the Ag. Commissioner, the monument sites will continue to serve as a destination for tourists in need of historical information to enrich their knowledge of the Arts and Culture of Lagosians. Giving an insight into the history, Prince Olofin Atekoye was said to be the grandson of Oduduwa, a powerful hunter, warrior and a renowned blacksmith and the first settler in Lagos. The shrine of Olofin Atekoye still exists at Iddo where he first settled. The Children of Prince Olofin are today known as IDEJO’S who are the popular white cap chiefs of Lagos. King Ado was the first crowned King of Lagos, son of Asipa, a warrior that came to Lagos from Benin (the capital of present day Edo State). It is of note that the Oba of Lagos has remained in the lineage of King Ado, the first King of Lagos. Hon. Akinsola however, enjoined residents around monuments sites in Lagos State to take responsibility and ownership of the highly important sites. According to her “their cultural and historical value should not be eroded by vandals and miscreants”. Mr. Olurotimi Ajayi of OModupe Studio, head of the firm that sculptured the statues explained that the fiber glass that form the major component of the statues will last a century if well maintained. The unveiling was attended by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Jamiu Adewale Ashimi alongside Directors and management staff of the Ministry.

Soldiers Raid Calabar Timber Market

Calabar — SOLDIERFS drafted from 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Calabar, Cross River State, have raided the Calabar timber market and carted away illegal wood brought into the market through illegal routes by timber merchants. The soldiers, who went into the market in four vans, were led by the Chairman of Cross River State Anti- Deforestation Task Force, Air Vice Marshall Eko Osim, who told Vanguard that the market was raided to enforce the state policy on zero logging of wood in the state. “Logging of wood is banned in the state and there is a law to that effect but some timber dealers aid illegal loggers to bring in fresh wood through hidden routes in ungodly hours of the night.” He said that the timber merchants were supposed to work in collaboration with the anti-deforestation task force to enforce the ban on logging of wood in the state but they were colluding with the illegal loggers to destroy the forests which are being specially conserved to provide biodiversity. “The market has not been shut down, what we are doing is part of the work and we do follow them to the jungle and the forests where they do the logging and if they escape our dragnet we confiscate the illegal ones here in the markets,” he said.

Kanu, Aiyegbeni Included On List Of 100 Best Foreign Premier League Players

Celebrated English football magazine Four Four Two has compiled a list of the 100 best foreign Premier League players ever, with three players of Nigerian descent mentioned. At this point, only numbers 61-100 have been revealed. Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor, who played for Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace is rated 62nd. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who turned out for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers is ranked 76th. Ex-Nigeria striker Nwankwo Kanu played a key role for Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth clocked in at number 78 on the rankings. He won the Premier League and FA Cup with Arsenal twice each and is best remembered in England for netting a hat-trick in a Premier League game versus Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

FIRST BANK: Customer queries N50 stamp duty, failed money transfer.

First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Oyetunde Oyeleke, please send us a private message of your account number to enable us view and advise. Engr Akogwu Godwin M I don’t really know what this First Bank Facebook page is meant for because I laid a complaint here and up till now no response from anybody unlike other companies where once you complain they will pay attention to you. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Engr Akogwu Godwin M, Kindly relay your complain again please. We are here to serve you. Engr Akogwu Godwin M I said that on 27th of last month month I reached my phone through my mobile app. The money was deducted from my account but the credit was not credited. Your Acct 310XXXX424 Has Been Debited with NGN500.00 On 27-JAN-2017 11:48:55 By AIRTIME/10942510999740/08062220474/MTNCR That was the message I received and it has not been credited back. I have called MTN they said that it is from my bank. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Engr Akogwu Godwin M, thank you for your response. We will look into the matter. Farida Ibrahim I transferred money from my account to someone’s account. The money was deducted from my account and he did not receive it for about 2 months now and it is not a small amount. Please First Bank, what’s the problem. Every time I go to your branch, it is the same story. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Hello Farida Ibrahim, We are here to help! Kindly send us your account number, amount, date, beneficiary’s account number and bank through private message to enable us advise appropriately. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for banking with us Esiso Fredrick Mefenaye I used the mobile app to purchase MTN airtime on the 1st of February at about 9pm. I was debited N930 but my mobile number was not credited with the airtime. Secondly, I was charged transfer charge of N105 on 2nd of February at about 11am and the transfer was not successful due to insufficient funds. Kindly attend to these issues and ensure appropriate reversal of N1035 is made to my account as soon as possible. First Bank of Nigeria Limited Read m

Cameroon Came From Behind To Beat Egypt 2-1 And Seal A Fifth Africa Cup Of Nations In A Thrilling,

SERAP Writes Trump, Demands Return Of Nigeria’S Stolen Assets

A civil society group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to the US President Donald J. Trump urging his “Administration to attach and release to Nigeria some $500 million worth of US-based proceeds of corruption traced to former Nigerian dictator General Sani Abacha.”

The organization said that, “these proceeds are separate from the $480 million of Abacha-origin funds that have been forfeited to the US under an August 2014 US federal district court order. SERAP’s request is fully consistent with the UN Convention Against Corruption, which both the US and Nigeria have ratified.”

SERAP in the letter dated 3 February 2017 and signed by the organization’s US Volunteer Counsel Professor Alexander W. Sierck and executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, told Mr Trump that, “the US Department of Justice must promptly initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings against these proceeds so as to fulfill several non-controversial commitments by the US to assist Nigeria in recovering assets looted by former Nigerian government officials.”

The letter, a copy of which was sent to the US ambassador to Nigeria Stuart Symington, and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, reads in part: “SERAP urges your new Administration to initiate discussions with the Nigerian government to fulfill these objectives within an agreed framework and timeline. Simultaneously, the Administration should instruct the Justice Department to initiate civil asset forfeiture proceedings in regard to the above-referenced $500 million in assets described above.”
“Any bilateral discussions between the US and Nigeria concerning these assets should include clear acknowledgement of the significant role that civil society plays in asset recovery matters.”

“To that end, the respective governments ought to commit to promptly sharing information with relevant civil society organizations on stolen assets of Nigerian origin located in the US or otherwise subject to US jurisdiction. This proposed commitment is similar to one between the US and Kenya as well as consistent with Articles 46(4) and 56 of the UN Convention Against Corruption.”

“SERAP notes that Article 51 of the UN Convention against Corruption provides for the return of “corrupt” assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle. Article 43 provides likewise. Similarly, under Articles 47(3)(a) and (b) states parties have an obligation to return forfeited or confiscated assets in cases of public corruption, as here, or when the requesting party reasonably establishes either prior ownership or damages to the states.”

“In SERAP’s judgment, some or all of these requirements have been met with respect to the $500 million in proceeds described above. A resolution adopted by the Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption in Panama in November 2013 reaffirms this obligation, by requiring state to make “every effort” to return such proceeds. to the victim state.”

“Nigeria’s Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption has recently informed SERAP that the US Government has identified another $500 million or so proceeds of Nigerian corruption subject to US jurisdiction.”

It would be recalled that last month the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay had raised the alarm that Nigeria risked losing another $550m recovered from the Abacha family to the government of United States.

Sagay said that the amount represented a separate tranche from the earlier $480m forfeited to the US following a court judgment. According to him, “Nigeria presently stands to lose another $550m recovered from the Abacha family to the US, contrary to the earlier promise by the US to return same to Nigeria.”

Hurray, Saidi Balogun Clocks 50 As Fathia Balogun Celebrate 48 Today

Saidi Balogun was born on February 5, 1967, in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria but hails from Oyo state, Nigeria where he had is primary, secondary and tertiary education. He graduated from Kwara State Polytechnic (now Kwara State University). He began acting in 1978, when he presented his first television program titled “Youth Today” onNTA.He produced his first film titled City Girl in 1989 but had featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films.
He has featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films over the years.

He was married to his colleague,Fathia Balogun and the union is blessed with kids. She was also born in Ikeja on February 5th 1969. She is a descent of Okpara, Ethiope East local government area of Delta State. She attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive High School in Lagos state, where she obtained the West African School Certificate before she proceeded to Kwara State Polytechnic where she received a diploma certificate.

She has starred and produced several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.On April 2014, she won theAfrica Movie Academy Award, having emerged as best actress of the year along with Odunlade Adekola who emerged as best actor of the year.
Saidi Balogun was born on February 5, 1967, in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria but hails from Oyo state, Nigeria where he had is primary, secondary and tertiary education. He graduated from Kwara State Polytechnic (now Kwara State University). He began acting in 1978, when he presented his first television program titled “Youth Today” onNTA.He produced his first film titled City Girl in 1989 but had featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films.
He has featured, produced and directed several Nigerian films over the years.

He was married to his colleague,Fathia Balogun and the union is blessed with kids. She was also born in Ikeja on February 5th 1969. She is a descent of Okpara, Ethiope East local government area of Delta State. She attended Maryland Primary School and Maryland Comprehensive High School in Lagos state, where she obtained the West African School Certificate before she proceeded to Kwara State Polytechnic where she received a diploma certificate.

She has starred and produced several Nigerian films over the years. In 2008, she won the Africa movie Academy Award for the Most Outstanding Actress Indigenous and her movie Iranse Aje won the best indigenous film of the year.On April 2014, she won theAfrica Movie Academy Award, having emerged as best actress of the year along with Odunlade Adekola who emerged as best actor of the year.

Ooni Wants Compulsory Teaching Of Culture In Schools

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II, has appealed to both Federal and state governments to make the teaching of culture a compulsory subject for students of primary and secondary schools as well as higher institutions.

“The learning of culture needed to be impacted on the younger generation right from when they are young so that it will become part of them,” he said.
Oba Ogunwusi stated this in his palace at Ile Ife Osun, that this would also allay the fears that the African culture was gradually going into extinction.
The monarch said that he was not ashamed to project his cultural heritage inherited from his forefathers to the world.
“I am proud of my cultural heritage and I am proud to showcase it to the world.
“ The river that does forget its source never runs dry,” he said.

He said that Africans were gradually killing their cultural heritage due to their embracing the western culture.
“ Nigerians should stop the habit of imbibing foreign cultures at the detriment of their own cultures.

“Africa has the richest and most valuable cultures in the world, especially, Nigeria to be precise, “he said.
Ogunwusi prayed that the cultural heritage Nigerians and Africans inherited from their forefathers would not go into extinction.
The Ooni also pledged to support the promotion of the ancient city’s traditional festivals a world class standard as part of projecting the Yoruba culture and tradition.
He said that was why he had commenced the on the beautification of 201 traditional shrines and heritage centres in the town.

“The only way we can sell our festivals, culture and heritage to the world is to give it a good packaging.
“ We are blessed with several cultures and festivals that can attract tourists and visitors into the country.
“Nigeria has the highest and richest cultures in the world but they require we give them the needed publicity and promotion,” he said.