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Ekiti Executive Council Members Hold Valedictory Session, To Remain In Office Till Last Day

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, on Wednesday, presided over the valedictory session of the state Executive Council, with clarification that members will remain in office till last day, which is October 15.

The session, which was attended by members of the Council as well as members who served between 2010 and 2014, took place at the state executive council chamber, Governor’s Office, Ado- Ekiti. Some former members also participated virtually via Zoom.

Governor Fayemi thanked all past and current members of the Council for their sacrifices, patriotism, diligence and committment to the development of the state.

He said Ekiti State made appreciable improvement in all aspects of development, through the collective contributions of members of the Council.

“Let me thank all of us, this is a historic day and we must start by thanking God Almighty for making this day possible.

“We’ve worked hard for the success of our state, for the development and growth of our people over the past few years and all of us have contributed immensely in the various capacities we have served Ekiti and I am glad that everybody was able to honour the invitation extended by the cabinet secretariat to this valedictory Executive Council meeting.

“ I thank all of you, yes, the Governor takes all the credits and also takes all the blames, but the reality is that there is nothing we were able to do in government that I have done alone. You have all contributed your quota to the development of our dear state.

“This certainly is not the Ekiti we met when we came in October 2010. Things have improved, the GDP per capital in our state has gone up to about $3Billion, population has also gone up.

“We see some evidence of significant progress on maternal mortality, child mortality, school enrolment, school performance record and on a whole range of indices that clearly depict that we have made significant progress.

“I must thank you for your service, your sacrifice to Ekiti State and to our people, some of them may not be recognized now but in future they will be recognized.

“We also have to thank Ekiti people for giving us the opportunity to serve and for also rendering the services to the best of our ability.

“Resources are not always unlimited and as a matter of fact we have to struggle over the years to maintain all of what we have done. Be that as it may, we’ve delivered on our own task, posterity would judge us one way or the other.” He said.

EXCO members spoke glowingly about their experiences as members of the highest decision making body in the state and saluted Fayemi’s visionary and exemplary leadership.

The Governor later adjourned the council meeting sine die after a motion to that effect was moved, thus marking the end of the weekly meetings of the state executive council for the tenure which ends on October 15th.

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who was the immediate past Secretary to the State Government and Cabinet Secretary, was in attendance at the valedictory session.

He also lauded the visionary leadership of Governor Fayemi as well as his commitment to the development of the State, declaring that ” I will follow in JKF footstep.”

Former Deputy Governor, Prof Modupe Adelabu, who led members of the 2010- 2014 EXCO to the meeting, also praised Governor Fayemi for the giant strides recorded in the last four years, which she said dwarfed the achievements of the JKF first administration.

Meanwhile, while Wednesday’s valedictory session marked the end of executive Council meetings for the administration, which winds down on October 15th, commissioners and cabinet members would continue with government activities till the very last day of the administration.

N1trn ABP Loans: CBN Sends EFCC After Farmers

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has threatened to send the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after farmers who failed to pay back loans obtained under the Anchor Borrowers Programme.
The federal government has loaned out over N1 trillion to farmers under the agriculture interventionist programme in the last few years, according to checks by the Magazine.
Speaking on Wednesday, on the efforts of the federal government to recover loans under various interventionist finance programmes the Director, Development Finance of the CBN, Yusuf Yila said “every person(s) or state that took that loan (ABP) is going to pay”.
He said the apex bank has started deducting the loans directly from debtors’ accounts.
For instance, Yila disclosed that state governments have already liquidated over N400 billion out of the N700 billion they obtained from the CBN, through the Federation Allocation Account Committee, FAAC.
It has been very difficult recovering the loans from farmers who benefitted from the ABP as well, as the Commercial Agric Credit, CAC, he said, adding that the apex bank would do Al in its powers to ensure that the loans are fully recovered.
He spoke during a post-Monetary Policy Committee, MPC in Abuja on Wednesday, assuring that the apex bank is poised to recover loans from states and farmers who were beneficiaries of any of its interventions.
According to him, the CBN will activate its powers under the Global Standing Instructions, GSI to ensure that money kept in various banks by defaulters are recovered to pay their loans. The recovery, he explained, will continue for six months,
Yila said, “Under the ABP, the CBN gave out about N1 trillion but recovered only N400 billion. But under the CAC, the bank lent out about N800 billion and recovered N700 billion,” he added.
“We have started recovering loans from state governments. We have been doing a loan workout programme with them, and we are debiting their monthly FAAC accruals directly for the loans.
“If a state government has taken N1 billion and is already in default, over six months, we debit them N150 million every month. So, we’ve started that programme.
“So, every single loan that has been given out through any of our intervention programmes must be paid back.
“There is absolutely no mercy. We have started; we are in recovery mode. At the development finance department, we have begun to recover the loans.
“There is the ABP which is a primary consumption element of our interventions. We lent out N1 trillion for the ABP, of which we have gotten over N400 billion back.
“Every single person or state that took that loan (ABP) is going to pay. We have their BVN. In fact, we have started implementing the Global Standing Instruction (GSI).
“We will continue to pull the account in the bank that they lent to or whichever bank that they have. Anytime we see money in that account, we will recover it.
“We are working with the EFCC. The CBN governor has approved the collaboration with the EFCC on loan recoveries.”

APC Chairman ‘Bombshell’ Letter Warns Tinubu Could Lose Presidential Election

By
James Orji
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The letter written by the chairman of the ruling APC Abdullahi Adamu to the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is causing serious ripples within the top echelon of the party.
In the letter to Tinubu, who is currenly in London for an undisclosed reason, the APC National Chairman accused the presidential Flagbearer of sidelining members of the party’s NWC which he heads from his presidential campaign team.

The Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council, PCC released the list of members of the council with President Muhammadu Buhari as it’s chairman, and Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State as it’s director general, amongst others.
The ruling party has since withdrawn the list owing to complaints by some chieftains of the party that they were sidelined.
The magazine also learned that the controversy caused by the list forced the party to postpone the official kick off of its campaign earlier scheduled for Wednesday, September 28 indefinitely.
The reason, insiders in the party said is to enable the party’s leadership to harmonise major interests and build confidence before the campaign starts full throttle.
Adamu had warned in his letter to Tinubu that he cannot win the president election next year without everybody on board, saying “that winning election is a cooperative as well as a collaborative effort, that is done in a transparent and disinterested manner by all parties concerned, by respecting established boundaries and acknowledging the contributions of everyone”.
He said he was surprised that Tinubu breached an agreement he reached with him to appoint members of the NWC to hold key positions in the 422- members PCC.
The APC chairman said the list released last week was in breach of the agreement Tinubu reached with him after he emerged the presidential candidate of the party that everybody will be brought on board for the party to win the 2023 president election.
“The purported list not only came as a complete surprise to the NWC and the Party’s leadership, but also contravened the principles and purposes of the arrangements that you and I had led towards the adoption of the Organogram of the PCC, and its principal officials,” Adamu said.
He described the current division in the party as “manna from heaven” which the opposition could capatalise on to defeat the APC next year.

The Letter

“On behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), I present my compliments to Your Excellency, and have the honour to convey to you, in truth and respect, the Committee’s opinion and position, regarding the above-mentioned subject matter, with a view to having a clear understanding about the respective roles and responsibilities of the principal organs of the Party charged with the duties of conducting the campaigns in the forth-coming general elections,” the letter reads.

“This correspondence has become necessary in view of developments that took place over the last few days around the purported appointments into the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) that was announced precipitately by officials of the Council, without making recourse to the NWC for approval. All along, the NWC had been disposed towards the campaign in a cooperative spirit that is driven by the overall interest of the Party and the singular desire of victory for our candidates, in the persons of your esteemed self and your running mate.

“It is against this background that the NWC received with astonishment and regret, the press release by the PCC on 23rd September 2022, in which a purported list of appointees was announced, which effectively served as the approved roster of participants in the Party’s Presidential Campaign Council.“The purported list not only came as a complete surprise to the NWC and the Party’s leadership, but also contravened the principles and purposes of the arrangements that you and I had led towards the adoption of the Organogram of the PCC, and its principal officials.

“Perhaps it has become necessary owing to the passage of time, that I should draw Your Excellency’s attention to the agreements that we reached in principle around the final adoption of the PCC list, based on the understanding that it was a work in progress, until such a time that the Joint NWC/PCC Committee that was established to formalise the structure and populate the list, submits its report.

“Your Excellency will no doubt recall our meetings in my office and also at the NWC Conference Room at the Party’s National Secretariat, on Wednesday, 7th September 2022, during which we discussed the details of the Organogram of the PCC and its composition, as a collaborative project between the two entities. Our recollection of those meetings clearly leaves us in no doubt that a breach of agreement has occurred, and that a return to the principles of cooperation and respect for each other is required.

“In Your Excellency’s own words, which I take the liberty to quote here, which I also hold dearly, you stated that “there is a burden on everyone’s shoulders towards delivering the elections to the Party and the candidate”. This has been the view of the NWC and myself all along since Your Excellency’s emergence as our Great Party’s Flagbearer.“The NWC is striving under trying circumstances to keep faith with this vision, and to take our Party and candidates to victory, not only in the Presidential elections but in all others across the elective strata of offices.

“May I, therefore, point out to Your Excellency, that winning election is a cooperative as well as a collaborative effort, that is done in a transparent and disinterested manner by all parties concerned, by respecting established boundaries and acknowledging the contributions of everyone. The NWC believes that any sign of disarray in the Party’s ranks will undermine the spirit and ethos of the campaign and give the undue alarm to faithful members and followers of the Party across the country.

“At the same, such a development would undoubtedly come as “Manna from Heaven” for the opposition parties, whose only desire when all else fails, is to see the introduction of rancour, division and disinclination in the leadership of our Great Party.“I am sure Your Excellency will agree with me that this is an eventuality that we must do all in our power to prevent from happening. You will also agree that we owe it a duty as leaders to provide guidance by example to the rest of the Party including the PCC, to abide by agreements and adhere strictly to the work ethos that has been adopted by all of us. It is only by doing so that we will establish the premise for victory and gain the trust and confidence of our dear countrymen and women.

“Without further admonishment or complaints, I wish hereby to call upon Your Excellency to restrain the PCC from undertaking solo projects of this nature and agree to work with all stakeholders towards taking our Party to victory. I shall not find it necessary to reiterate the importance of the Party in the overall scheme of things in these campaigns, and the singular position of the NWC in driving the process towards our securing of victory in the polls.

“It suffices for me to convey the general and overwhelming sentiment of the NWC with regards to the ill-timed and unfortunate release of the PCC list, which confounded rather than pleased the members and whose withdrawal will assure the NWC of Your Excellency’s respect an
“It suffices for me to convey the general and overwhelming sentiment of the NWC with regards to the ill-timed and unfortunate release of the PCC list, which confounded rather than pleased the members and whose withdrawal will assure the NWC of Your Excellency’s respect and disposition towards the Party, as well as the magnanimous spirit of cooperation towards achieving victory together with the NWC.

“Please accept, Your Excellency, my own personal regard and consideration, as well as the assurances of the of NWCs’ warm and sincere felicitations”.

2023: Buhari, Lalong’s Absence Affecting APC Campaign

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Edo State Governor, Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, who is the Deputy Director-General of the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday night explained the reason for the delay in the commencement of the party’s campaign inauguration.

He attributed the rescheduling of the landmark event to the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Governor Simon Lalong, who were both in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

Oshiomhole made this disclosure when he appeared on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Wednesday.

He said, “As far as I know, the campaign council has not been inaugurated because the Chairman of the campaign Council, President Muhammadu Buhari was not in the country.

“He was in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly. The Director General of the Campaign was also in New York for the same purpose and there is no way you want to inaugurate a Campaign Council in the absence of the President who is also the Chairman of the Campaign Council.

“What do you expect of the Council when the Director General who heads the operational wing of the campaign is also out of the country?”

Oshiomhole also confirmed that he is not aware of the present location of the Presidential Candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu, as he doesn’t report to him directly.

“Well, I don’t report to him (Bola Tinubu) every day so I am not sure if he is around or not.” he stated.

When asked about the possible date for the campaign inauguration, the former Edo Governor stated that consultations would be made to fix a new date.

“I am aware the President is back now. I am also aware that the DG is not yet back but will be back by the weekend and I expect that upon his return, there will be consultations looking at the President’s and DG’s schedule. And once we have a clear date, that will be done,” he said.

Why Laolu Martins, Bukka Hut Executive Director, Committed Suicide

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Laolu Martins commits suicide

By Adesina Soyooye

Everybody thought he was doing well. In deed, he was. An upwardly mobile man, he had the world before him, and he grabbed it with two hands.

After years of working in the Coporate world, including 12  years as a banker, Laolu Martins struck out and started his own business.

He and his business partner, Rasheed Jayeola,  co-founded  the Bukka Hut, a high profile restaurant which became an instant hit

Recently, they opened the 15th branch in Ikorodu Lagos.

But in the uncivilised hours of Tuesday, September 27, 2022, Martins decided to end it all. At about 3.00 am when men and women of goodwill were asleep, Martins, allegedly, took his own life.

He, allegedly, committed suicide. And left his family devastated and shattered.

Nobody has been able to put a finger on why he decided to exit the world in a most painful manner. The story out there is that he had been battling with depression.

The family has not confirmed that, but it has confirmed his sudden death, and asked for privacy, in their mourning, and prayers for strength.

Said the family in a statement:

“We hereby solicit the support and understanding of everyone as the family grieves the loss of our beloved Laolu in our privacy.

“Our kind request is that you support the family – wife, children, aged mother and father and his siblings with your prayers at this difficult time.

“Further announcements will be made by the family.”

Martins, a successful man by any standard, was a Chartered stockbroker and a Chartered Accountant. He had a 12-year of experience an  investment banker, corporate banker, stockbroking, asset management and pension fund management.

He began  his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in 1999, and later joined Investment Banking & Trust Company Plc now Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. There, he  served in the Financial Control and Trade Finance/Foreign Operations units of the Bank and was seconded to Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd. At  various times at Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Ltd, Martins was Financial Controller, Head Asset Management and, Head Stockbroking.

In 2005 he  joined Shell Nig. CPFA Ltd, the Fund Manager of the Shell Companies in Nigeria Pensions Scheme. He was Head, Investments up till 2008 when he resigned and joined Nigeria International Security Limited, NISL, an independent financial services firm which  specialises in investments within Nigeria.

Uzodinma To ASUU:  Allow Our Children Return To School

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma with FUTO Governing Council

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State  has pleaded with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to allow our children to go back to school, saying any sacrifice made to achieve that should not be seen to be misplaced.

The Governor made the appeal, Wednesday, when he received in audience members of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), who paid a working visit to him at Government House Owerri.

Governor Uzodimma who appealed specifically to the FUTO branch of ASUU to “allow students studying in the university to go back to school” urged all parties in the ASUU/FG saga to sheathe their sword and allow the sleeping dog lie. 

 Led by the Pro-Chancellor and the Chairman of the Governing Council of FUTO, Senator Jack Tilley-Gyado, the Governor said that “education is the key ingredients for national development, so it is the responsibility of leaders in the country to resolve issues and controversies that tend to impede the academic progress of her youths.”

“What the leaders of Nigeria owe our future generation is to ensure that they are given the opportunity to acquire knowledge and be better citizens in future.”

The Governor who acknowledged that education is an expensive project to acquire said that “when the foundation is laid and infrastructure like that of FUTO is put on ground as a platform, it is the civic responsibility of the leaders to support the institution to maximize their objective.”

He expressed delight receiving the Governing Council and assured the members that he will support FUTO to thrive like her counterparts elsewhere.

On the controversies surrounding land allocation in FUTO, the Governor noted that he has gone the extra miles to investigate the problems and related matters, noting that he believes the problems can be resolved amicably.

He therefore appealed to both the natives and the visitors to the school, the management, staff and students to see the need for the school to operate in a peaceful environment by creating a win-win situation for all interested parties. “This will allow FUTO Community to enjoy the adorable Imo hospitality.”

Governor Uzodimma highlighted the unwarranted traffic that criss-crosses the University premises and expressed the need for it to be stopped.

Reiterating his believe in synergy between the policies of the State and Federal Governments, the Governor said “there is every need to understand that government is one and that is why State Governments always try to domesticate Federal Government policies to ensure that States can synchronize what the Federal is doing to give the citizens a uniform development.”

He then challenged the FUTO Governing Council to “think out of the box and see the university as a business school that will be able to fund itself and even make profit so that the reliance on Federal allocation or subsidy will be far reduced.”

Governor Uzodimma described FUTO as one of Imo State, South East and Nigeria’s most cherished Universities and declared his government’s willingness to support the university to succeed.

In his remarks, Senator Tilley-Gyado said they come on the visit as a “mark of respect and protocol to the landlord and to assure him that FUTO will work in synergy with the Government and people of Imo State under the present Governing Council.”

The Chairman noted: “That there is need to end the land crisis in FUTO, ensure security and remove all distractive atmosphere of uncertainty enveloping the university that have hindered both local and foreign investments in the school.”

He appealed, on behalf of the Council, to the Governor to help them in settling the issue of land once and for all “by giving them a certified Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the FUTO lands.”

Sen. Tilley-Gyado thanked the Governor for gettng the Federal Government to approve Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri as a part of the Faculty of Medicine and Clinical Training of FUTO. 

He expressed their sincere gratitude to the Governor and the President Muhammadu Buhari for the gesture.

Sen. Tilley-Gyado took time to laud the Governor on the landmark achievements associated with his government, particularly on road infrastructure,  describing the two Federal roads commissioned by Mr. President recently as “one of the best in Nigeria today.”

“This is in addition to the foresight of the Governor in developing the balloon technology that has gone a long way in controlling flood in the State capital,” he said and appealed to the Governor to avail him the opportunity of the technology to be replicated in his State.

Senator Tilley-Gyado who described Governor Uzodimma as a “gift to Imo State and Igbo race” said that “Igbos have a special role to play in Nigeria when they listen and adhere to the advice of people like Hope Uzodimma.”

Thanking the Governor for giving them the opportunity to visit, he commended him for his efforts in making Sam Mbakwe Cargo airport a true International Airport with night-landing facilities.

The Deputy Governor,  Prof. Placid Njoku, the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu, the Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and other members of the State expanded Exco joined the Governor to receive his visitors.

The 17- member Governing Council, both external and internal was led by Senator Tilley-Gyado and Prof. (Mrs.) Nnenna Otti the Vice Chancellor of FUTO.

“It Is A Lie, I Neither Talked Down On Obi, Or Called His Followers Saboteurs” – Ihedioha

By
The Source
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Emeka Ihedioha
Emeka Ihedioha

By Charles Igbo

The bar of the bitter politics of hatred in Imo State which has seen to the reign of fabricated stories and utter lies, including fake press releases falsely attributed to political aides or their principals, was raised on Tuesday when stories, suddenly, emerged that former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, had taken on the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Ihedioha, a staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was quoted as dismissing both the LP and Obi, as inconsequential in the race to 2023. He said, allegedly, that there were only two Political Parties in Nigeria, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, APC.

To worsen it, Ihedioha was, also, quoted as saying that any South-easterner supporting Obi is a saboteur.

He was said to have made these comments in Accra, Ghana, where he went, on invitation, to celebrate the Mbaise New Yam Festival.

Since the news hit the headlines, Ihedioha has come under fire by not a few people, many of them, very angry with him.

But in a Press Release on Wednesday, signed by his Media Aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, Ihedioha said nothing could be further from the truth. He denied talking down on Obi, or calling his supporters in the South-east saboteurs.

Said the statement: “For clarity purposes, His Excellency, neither referred to members of any other political party, especially the Labour Party as saboteurs. He only spoke in the context of the PDP and the emphasis was on the need for members of his party to remain consistent and committed.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

IHEDIOHA RESPECTS PLURALITY OF OPINION AND CHOICES

Few days ago, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, on the invitation of his kinsmen, was in Accra, Ghana to celebrate this year’s Iri Ji festival with the Mbaise community in that country.

As a founding member and one of the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, he seized the opportunity of that visit to address PDP issues nationally but particularly in Imo State and assuage the anxiety of the members his party who have been apprehensive of the developments within the party.

In doing so, he decried what at best is the insouciant attitude and worse, the outright sabotage of some acclaimed party leaders who are engaging in acts that are inimical to the success of the PDP, especially in the Southeast by working in cahoots with the other parties. He was only talking about members of his own political party.

For clarity purposes, His Excellency, neither referred to members of any other political party, especially the Labour Party as saboteurs. He only spoke in the context of the PDP and the emphasis was on the need for members of his party to remain consistent and committed.

It is inconceivable that he will refer to anybody who is supporting Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, his long time friend, with whom he shares close political affinity and has utmost respect for, as a saboteur.

It is unfortunate that his well-intentioned speech which addressed the specific issue of happenings within his own political party was, again, manipulated by fifth columnists to suit their mischievous scheme of bringing him on a collision with Mr. Peter Obi, whose unwavering political philosophy of “Taking Back Nigeria” from the draconian stranglehold of the failed ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, he wholeheartedly shares.

His Excellency respects the aspirations and passion of members of other political parties, even as he remains committed to the cause of his own political party and it is not in his character to cast aspersions on those who hold contrary political opinion.”

Sterling Bank To Expand With Holding Structure

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Sterling Bank Plc has received unanimous support from shareholders to transform into a holding company to be known as Sterling Financial Holdings Company.

The bank said the transformation is aimed at expanding its financial services footprint from traditional banking to deliver more value to its teeming shareholders and customers.

According to the bank’s filings to the Nigerian Exchange Limited, NGX, the lender said upon final ratification by the regulators, the commercial banking subsidiary of the holding company, Sterling Bank, will continue to operate with its current name as a limited liability company, with shares transferred from the publicly traded company to the newly formed Sterling Financial Holdings Company.

At a recently held court-ordered meeting where the resolution was approved by the bank’s shareholders, the chairman of the bank’s board, Asue Ighodalo, said, “Following the implementation of the scheme, shareholders will exchange their shares in the Bank for shares in HoldCo in the same proportion as their current holdings in the Bank, which will be a regulated entity for CBN purposes.”

Ighodalo added that the scheme would provide several benefits to the shareholders of the Bank, some of which include facilitating diversification into other permissible business lines, thereby promoting growth and enhancing shareholder value and facilitation of a consolidated financial strength of the group, which will improve access and ability to raise capital.

On his part, the chief executive of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman, said the advantages of the newly formed holding company include value creation to maximise earnings through new businesses, agility to optimise for opportunities and adapt to a rapidly changing market, maximise current and future talent potential with opportunities within the group and subsidiaries to nurture and engage its wealth of young and innovative talent.

The holding company, the bank also said, will afford Sterling another opportunity to leverage its successful HEART strategy, which has seen the bank make consolidated investments in the Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation sectors, growing the company’s year-on-year profits to record highs despite strong economic headwinds

With the adoption of a Holdco structure, Sterling now possesses the latitude to make inroads into other sectors within financial services, such as pensions, asset management, payment services, real estate, and different verticals, along with the current banking licenses held by the commercial and non-interest banking subsidiaries, Sterling Bank and The Alternative Bank.

The commercial bank has doubled down on digitisation with specialised products through the development and introduction of Specta, OneBank, I-invest, Gazelle and Omni X to fulfil the market’s needs for innovative retail and commercial banking solutions.

Security Challenges Compel State To Insist On Armed Corps – Akeredolu; Says Garba Shehu Ignorant Of Situation

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Chairman, Southern Governors Forum and Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has reacted to statement created to presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu on the position of federal government on carrying arms by state security outfits.

To Governor Akeredolu, “The reasons adduced by Garba Shehu in his Press statement for the continued refusal to approve of the use of sophisticated weapons by state security outfits can no longer be plausible in the face of increasing security challenges being faced by the people.”

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Richard Olatunde in a statement on Wednesday maintained that “The assertion of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity on the use of automatic weapons by State Security outfits betrays the current realities across the country.

“His attempt to justify the use of AK47 by the Vigilantes of Katsina State for training stands logic on it head.

“The report by the TVC News that went viral showed the Kastina State Vigilante training with AK47. This is the same weapon which approval has vehemently been refused  for the use of Amotekun Corps and other State Security Outfits.

“The questions Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, asks are: Where did the guns come from? Who approved their use?Were the guns returned to the armoury after use?

“The AK47, as seen from the TVC news report, was about usage. If not, what purpose does training with the guns serve?

“It is rather suspicious that Garba Shehu elected himself as the spokesperson for the Kastina State government. Whereas, the Katsina State has not come out openly to deny the statement of Governor Akeredolu on the use of AK47 by

Vigilantes of Katsina State during training.

“Governor Akeredolu has reiterated that State Security outfits backed by law whether in the Western Nigeria, Katsina, Borno, Benue or any Northern State must have access to the same sophisticated weapons that the criminals have. It is time to face down these enemies of the people.

“It is illogical to continue to fight hardened marauders who bear sophisticated weaponry to kidnap and maim our people with bare hands. We cannot fight armed enemies of the people with our bare hands.

“It is our firm belief that the government has a fundamental duty to protect the people. It is a task that must be accomplished without excuse.

“Governor Akeredolu is determined to spare no efforts in protecting the people. He has vowed to explore every available legal and constitutional means to secure the state and its people.

“The Southern Nigeria Governors Forum has called for the establishment of State Police. The 19 Northern State Governors and Northern Traditional Rulers Council have also supported the call for State Police.

“The call by the sub-national should be heeded and change effected where necessary.

“Every Governor sworn to an oath to protect the state and the people. The sub national must be allowed to put in place security forces as a counter balancing force to face these marauders who have unchecked access to sophisticated weapons.

“It is high time we tackled these conflict entrepreneurs and restore the confidence of the people. We can not do the same thing time and again and expect different result.

“Governor Akeredolu is irrevocably committed to the security of the people, particularly his state. He will continue to speak up in defense of the people.

“He is very much committed to the realization of constitutional amendment to reflect the current realities.”

Lagos Metro Train Services Begins Soon

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Lagos state government has announced the arrival of two trains for its Metro Red Line rail system.

The trains arrived three months ahead of the December deadline set by the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to complete the rail line project embarked upon by the state government.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has set the first quarter of 2023 for the take-off of both the red and Blue Lines of the multi-billion naira rail project started by the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola but was slowed by the Governor Akinwumi Ambode administration.

The rail project received a boost in January this year, after Governor  Sanwo-Olu disclosed that his government has purchased two trains from Talgo, a train manufacturing plant based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., for the Lagos Metro Rail project.

According to a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso,  the state government said TALGO SERIES 8 Trains acquired for the Red Line have finally arrived in Lagos, saying “The 2 Nos. Ten and Eleven Car trains which were bought from Milwaukee are here”.

Omotoso explained that it was necessary to decouple the train into 21 individual cars for effective transportation to Lagos, adding that the trains will be recoupled with the help of rolling stock Engineers from Talgo, the company that manufactured the trains in the United State of America.

He said: “The Engineers will also take the opportunity to train our local Engineers whilst they are here to equip our young people with the requisite skills. Once the recoupling is complete, the testing and commissioning will commence followed by full passenger operations in the first quarter of 2023.

“Each train can carry 1500 passengers and is expected to run on the Red Line Rail from Agbado to Oyingbo, with the journey taking less than 30 minutes.”

Meanwhile, transport analysts insist that when completed the rail system will have the capacity to transport millions of people daily, apart from reducing congestion on the ever-busy state roads, as most commuters will now prefer the train services to other modes of transportation.

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