The Nation Newspaper

Tag: leaders’

  • ‘New generation leaders will take Chams to higher height’

    Retiring founding managing director of Chams Plc, Mr Demola Aladekomo, has expressed confidence in the ability of his successors to take the information and technology company to higher level.

    Chams Plc had last week notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) of the impending retirement of Aladekomo and new appointments that will see orderly leadership transition. Aladekomo, who founded Chams in 1985 and has served the company as managing director for almost 30 years, would be retiring effective September 18, 2015.

    The board of the company has approved the appointments of the current deputy managing director, Olufemi Williams as managing director and Luqman Balogun, who is the currently the managing director of CardCentre Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Chams Plc, as deputy managing director.

    Aladekomo said he was leaving with the conviction that the new management would move the company to greater achievements. Aladekomo had nursed Chams from a private limited liability company to a public limited liability company. Chams was quoted on the NSE in 2008.

    “After almost three decades with the company as CEO, it is time to move on and transfer execution to a new generation of leadership. I look forward to working with the chairman, board and management team during the seven-month transition period and to being available as an advisor to management after retiring as CEO. I am confident Chams has all its best days ahead,” Aladekomo said.

    Chairman, Chams Plc, Mr. Ayo Richards praised Aladekomo’s leadership qualities noting that he had been able to manage the company through its various transitions and challenges.

    “The board is grateful for his innumerable contributions to the company and his distinguished tenure as CEO over the last 29 years,” Richards said.

    Aladekomo will proceed on leave in April 2015, handing over to Olufemi Williams as the group managing director and chief executive officer. Williams takes over from Aladekomo in alignment with the board of director’s ratified succession planning which emphasizes promoting capable internal candidates to leadership positions.

    Until the announcement of Aladekomo’s retirement, Williams was the deputy managing director, and a Chams Plc veteran having joined the company in 1990 as a computer engineer. He rose to the position of general manager in January 2001, and held same until he joined SuperCard Limited as managing director in March 2004. Olufemi was appointed deputy managing director, Chams Plc in January 2012 after the merger of SuperCard Limited with Chams Plc.

    Prior to joining CardCentre in June 2013 as managing director, Lukman Balogun spent 22 years in the banking sector in a career spanning retail and commercial banking, banking operations and information technology, credit and relationship management, cards and electronic banking, and project management.

    Aladekomo is retiring as recent strategic initiatives appeared to be impacting positively on the fundamentals of the company. Key extracts of Chams Plc for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014 showed that group turnover rose by 83 per cent while the company further deepened its bottom-line with 227.6 per cent growth in gross profit. Against the loss in the previous year, the group sustained its positive net earnings position.

  • ‘Why past leaders are not supporting Jonathan

    ‘Why past leaders are not supporting Jonathan

    Former Kogi State Acting Governor Clarence Olafemi is a member of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In this interview with JAMES AZANIA, he speaks about the chances of the party in the North Central state. 

    The APC presidential campaign rally in Kogi was a huge success. How did you achieve that?

    We have no sitting governor. So, we had to carry our cross by ourselves. The whole thing is gone, but we thank God that it was a huge success. I have never witnessed the kind of crowd that I saw in Obajana alone. What I saw in Obajana was about three times what I saw in the stadium. It is unbelievable, even those ones alone vote in Kogi and they are all of voters’ age; forget about the problem of distribution of permanent voters’ card (PVC) cards, I have no doubt that the result of election, come February 14, will be too fantastic in Kogi.

    Initially, they were saying Kogi will be only 20 per cent but I told them they should aim at 80 per cent. I have been able to prove my worth, having overseen the conduct of a governorship election in 2008, that we won massively, I have proved that I am a manager of election process, by making sure that I delivered over 80 per cent of the total vote cast to my party, PDP then. There is no assignment you give me you judge me by my result. The next thing you can use in judging me was the decamping. The decamping to APC has never been so successful.

    The records are there. The leadership of the APC were so happy. In Kogi, we can get this crowd? There was no sort of insinuation that was not made; they said we rented crowd. Even if we borrowed, we borrowed from PDP and PDP cooperated? Is that not interesting? Even if to say we rented it means that the people we rented they have agreed to be hired. But the truth of the matter was that it was a fantastic success, the decamping was also centred around me, with the likes of Baba (John) Oda who was the leader of the group. He is a leader but the engine room is somewhere, and this one now has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Clarence Olafemi is capable of managing any political activity or structure. My concern is that let Clarence Olafemi not work and some sycophants will go and take the credit somewhere. The only leader ahead of me is Prince Abubakar Audu and he was not around, he came two days to the day. I have to give the credit vintage information because you don’t value what you have until you don’t have it again. I predicted to one of my closest political friends, Barrister Haruna, that there is going to be a Tsunami two weeks to the election and it is happening now. It has not even gotten to two weeks; people are going to start moving because we are tired of the government that is inactive. Why is Ekwueme not supporting Jonathan? It’s in the papers. Why is Obasanjo not supporting Jonathan?

    It’s in the papers. Why is Shagari not supporting Jonathan? Why is Babangida saying vote wisely; not supporting Jonathan? Why is Abubakar not? All these are past leaders that are still living by the special grace of God. They know that the country is not the country they wish and whatever is responsible for what is happening today is very unfortunate, its condemnable, that Chad will now be spearheading security safety of Nigeria. Chad! A state in Nigeria is richer than that country called Chad. We have crashed and collapsed the country called Nigeria; economically, politically, militarily, every sphere of this country has collapsed and people are paying lip service.

    What were your achievements when you were Acting Governor of Kogi State?

    When Clarence got into power as Acting Governor of Kogi State, he left a legacy; he established a college of education, staff and student today over 3,000 are feeding from it. Let everyone who steps into the corridor of power be able to say this is what I have done. We voted in the state house of assembly for state fund to be deducted at source to increase electricity supply in this country. Today, where are we? The money was deducted, the electricity has not come. I was Speaker of the House. I know what I am talking, Today, I spend an average of N8, 000 per day buying fuel and I have three generators in my house, yet I can still go without light. Eight times 30 will give you 240 Today, NEPA is charging me N8, 000. I am saying, NEPA please, charge me N30, 000, charge me N40, 000, but give me regular light, it is better than the diesel I am buying. I went to UK, I spent 31 days for holiday they never took my light and my computer was working on my computer Wi-Fi. Nigeria, Obasanjo gave us a platform for IT but we cannot develop it, we are retrogressing. You go to petrol station in UK that will be manned by nobody but by yourself, you plug your card, you put the nuzzle in your car, as soon as it sells the amount you want to you it cuts off and you go, whether it is 12 midnight, whether it is 11pm, you buy your fuel and you go your house. Our people go there they see them, why are they not able to allow that thing to happen in Nigeria?

    My ticket is what make me to enter the airport. I put it on something, once it picks the ticket it opens the gate for me I pass. These are IT and technology base that could revolutionize Nigeria.

    How do you respond to allegations by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode that the APC presidential candidate is batting serious health challenges?

    Let me just tell you, my problem with Fani-Kayode is that he is the most inconsistent Yoruba politician that we have in Nigeria. He’s the ‘jeun jeun’ kind of politician, he moves by the current. I will not be surprised if tomorrow the good people of Nigeria decide Buhari should be the president and he won that election, he will criticise Goodluck Jonathan as the worst president Nigeria has ever had. So, for you people that are taking Fani-Kayode serious, I don’t take Fani-Kayode serious. I don’t see him as a politician of substance. He knows how to make noise. What has Fani-Kayode been able to electorally change in this country? Nothing. Since 2003 that I have come home to come and play politics are you not able to tell the story of Clarence Olafemi politically? Are you not able to say how he has impacted on the life of the average Kogite? I have a list here, which my lawyer was talking about, of how I have been able to transform the live of Kogites. Fani is an opportunist. Full stop. Is he a medical doctor? Which hospital diagnosed Buhari of cancer? And who told him that the law of nature cannot even make him to be sick tomorrow? Anybody, no matter who the person is, can fall sick. The man who owns the body has said that he only has cold, and in this changing of weather, catarrh and all these things, it is natural in African, in a tropical country. Even my little kid, Princess Tinu Olafemi, she has cold now. Are you going to say she has cancer? Can you be more Catholic than the pope? Anybody who is reckoning with Fani is wasting his time. He is an unnecessary distractions at these age of our election. He cannot gain any vote for Jonathan.

    There was a time the Kogi Elders Forum wrote a letter to the President that if something is not done to right, there will be repercussions. Your decamping with others, is this part of the repercussions you talked of?

    You have mentioned Chief John Oda, you mentioned others, the three of us were part of the six that signed the letter and in fact, they even took us to court that we are not elders from this state and the court ruled that we are elders. You know we did not come back to tell you the end of that judgment? We won. How will you say Clarence Olafemi, who is 64, who has been governor of this state, who has been Speaker of this state, is not a stakeholder of Kogi State? And, how do you define elders? Baba Oda is about 70.

    I saw long time ago that the PDP was going to crash. When you see an umbrella that the cyclone is blowing and you say you are looking for cover, I will not stay under the umbrella that is torn. We saw this thing coming and more will come. PDP has collapsed due to mismanagement.

    The impression is that you are nursing gubernatorial ambition. Is this true?

    Is it a crime for somebody of my age, who has acted as governor of the state to want to contest? Even if I say I will not, you will say I should and do so. Let me tell you, I am going to contest. Look at what is happening in Kogi, where nothing is working and you say that you are happy.  Kwara gets about N200 million per month less than Kogi in terms of allocation but go to Ilorin and see what they have done. The other state you should be thinking about is Nasarawa, go to Nasarawa, go to Niger, go to Plateau; don’t go and talk of Rivers, don’t go and talk of Akwa Ibom; they will say they have oil advantage. My brother, what we have here is a desert, and if some of us do not stand up, our children, children yet unborn will ask us, ‘they said your father was very prominent’, prominent doing what? Looking for what he will come into his pocket. I remain the only Acting Governor that returned over N3.7 billion back to government purse. If I’m looking for how to make millions, I would have made two out of it to my private pocket and leave 1.7 and they would still have praised me. Or, I could have attempt to transform to become the governor.

  • Clark slams PDP leaders over Jonathan’s re-election bid

    Clark slams PDP leaders over Jonathan’s re-election bid

    IJAW leader Chief Edwin Clark has doubted the sincerity of Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) leaders about President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    Clark, who is a strong backer of the president, however, said his fate was in the hands of the nation’s youth.

    Speaking in Abuja at the weekend when members of Northern Youth Vanguard visited him, he alleged that most of the PDP chieftains have not shown any seriousness in the ongoing presidential campaign.

    He also predicted that the last primaries might spell doom for the party, if urgent steps were not taken to address the injustice in the exercise.

    He argued that most of the people, who emerged at the end of the primaries, were candidates with no political value to add to the PDP presidential bid.

    Clark did not also spare the PDP governorship candidate for Adamawa State and former anti-graft boss, Nuhu Ribadu, citing his case as one of the injustice in the party.

    He said: “When there are more qualified people who can win votes for Mr. President, but they were asked to step down. For what? Why must Adamawa Governor Bala Igilari be thrown out and the ticket given to Ribadu? Is there any justice there?

    “These are some of the problems we are facing. Those who parade themselves in PDP uniform, some of them are anti-PDP.

    “So that is why you people must act quickly. It is the youth of Nigeria that will deliver the presidency with the good elite, who are not mischief-makers.”

    Clark urged the youth to put the nation first before any other considerations, adding: “Let’s work for the best man; no matter where he comes from.”

    The elder statesman also appealed to the media to help douse the nation’s political tension ahead of the presidential elections.

    He also reminded the youth that Buhari of today was not the military General that the nation used to know.

    On allegations of corruption against Jonathan’s government, Clark noted that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was only shouting just to discredit the president.

  • Group demands apology from leaders

    Group demands apology from leaders

    Ahead of next month’s elections, a group, The Build A Nation Initiative, BAN, has demanded an apology from past and present leaders for what it described as their failure to provide effective leadership.

    BAN is an advocacy group and change agent comprising people who desire the birth of a new Nigeria of their dream. It also aims at promoting accountability in leadership, advancement of citizenship rights and creating awareness against corruption.

    Speaking during the group’s inaugural media parley at the City Hall in Lagos Island, last weekend, the Convener, Mr. Mr Emmanuel Ehiemma, said a nation without a visionary leadership was doomed.

    He said: “Most Nigerians are dissatisfied with the current state of the country. Nigerians are daily confronted with economic, social, political and security problems. The injury is mostly self-inflicted by a greedy and selfish leadership that is unable to mobilise the people to achieve their full potentialities and destinies. As a first step in the process of reconciliation, the people demand an unreserved apology from past and present leaders for their failure to provide effective leadership and stewardship to Nigeria. The apology will affirm the supremacy of the people over the leaders, restore confidence and trust of citizens in order to mobilise against the challenges ahead. This, I believe, is the essence of democracy.”

    Eizu Uwaoma, a strategist with the BAN, said: “In Nigeria, we need a solution because we all know the problem. We are concerned about the leadership rather than the election because our leaders are the same set of people. We need people who are affected by their everyday decision. People are upset and are trying to find solutions to the socio-economic problems plaguing the country, but their voices are not heard.”

    Jacob Somoye, a participant, said Nigerian leaders had yet to realise that ultimate power resides with the people.

    Another participant, Clement Nwankwo, said without a strong political activity, the system cannot work. “Leadership is a quality. True leadership is not being served, but it is in serving. If a leader is not committed, there can’t be satisfaction on the part of the citizens. We need to train one another and educate the people. We don’t know when our leaders are wrong because we don’t know our rights”, he said.

    The event featured a documentary, a lecture and an interactive session.

  • Opportunity to pick right leaders has come, says Labour

    The Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Issa Aremu, has said next month’s election has created another opportunity for Nigerians to pick the right leader. He said the nation is being given another opportunity to go to the poll next month.

    Speaking with reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while marking his 54th birthday, Aremu said: “People should judge politicians at the election based on what they have to deliver. We have always been at the forefront of the struggle and we urge Nigerians to ensure that the country survives; our patriots should fight for their votes, we should all ensure that the votes count.”

    Aremu, who also presented two books at the event, decried the poor state of the economy due to poor infrastructure, which has put the youths at great disadvantage. “We should get the youths back to the industry. If Nigeria does not work, Africa will never survive. When Nigeria was working it liberated Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. But we are no more on duty, our leaders have been docile. They steal money. Nigeria must wake up to return to the good old days of Shehu Shagari, Gowon, Murtala,” he said.

    Aremu, who is also the Textile Union General Secretary, emphasised that for Nigeria to emerge an industrialised nation, Nigerians must consume what they produce and produce what they consume. He warned that without that the country cannot get out of poverty.

    He recalled that  in the 70s and 80s Nigeria used to be the leader in the manufacturing sector, but now Nigeria is fast becoming poorer, while poverty has forced youths to riding Okada as alternative, which could not be considered a decent work.

    He, however, commended the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who was the guest of honour at the event, for his efforts at reducing the unemployment rate in the state and creating a better public school. He said: “Osun has the lowest unemployment rate because of the efforts of the governor. There is Omoluabi Garment Factory, which produces the free uniforms  for the students. The state has also shown to us that a public school can be better. The governor is building better schools than some in Europe.”

    Governor Aregbesola, who presented of the books, corroborated Aremu’s view on industrialisation. According to him, the way out for Nigeria’s economy is to look inward.

    He said: “Until we process what we produce here in terms of agricultural outputs, make it abundant and affordable, we will continue to be poor. There is no productivity, and productivity ensures that what we consume is produced here. We should produce things that are relevant to us. Failure of Nigeria is directly proportional to failure of blacks globally.”

    He maintained that the forthcoming election is paramount as it would afford Nigerians the opportunity to say no to corruption and maladministration through their votes.

  • Alleged N750m bribe: Two PDP leaders on the run

    Alleged N750m bribe: Two PDP leaders on the run

    Abuja billionaire in custody

    Aspirants to testify against officials

    Who got the N750 million nomination bribe that has caused a huge scandal in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)?

    Two key officials of the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC) fingered in the deal are said to be on the run.

    A manhunt has begun for them as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) cast its net wide to recover the cash.

    House of Representatives member Ndudi Elumelu was said to have given the cash to win the party’s Delta State governorship ticket.

    An Abuja billionaire, who collected the money from Elumelu, is in police custody.

    He is said to be a friend of a PDP National Vice Chairman and son-in-law of a former Minister of Aviation.

    The suspect was arrested last Friday and some exotic cars were taken away from his Abuja home.

    While EFCC is looking into Elumelu’s petition, more aspirants have volunteered to testify on the huge cash-for- nomination deals during PDP’s primaries.

    Elumelu petitioned EFCC when he could not get the party’s governorship ticket.

    A source in EFCC said: “So far, we have been able to get clues that two members of the NWC of PDP had direct link with the collection and disbursement of the N750 million.

    “We have their names and we may invite them for interrogation any moment from now. The suspect said he was just helping a friend and the money was handed over to some NWC members.

    “It is too early to prejudge the affected NWC members. But when we invite them, we will let you know.

    “But the suspect is still with us giving vital information on how he tried to help Elumelu as a friend.”

    As of press time, the affected NWC members were trying to wield influence to resolve the matter amicably.

    A party source said: “There is tension everywhere, the NWC members are calling for amicable resolution of the issue at stake.

    “They do not want anything that can affect the image of the party. I think they want to refund the cash quietly to avoid any backlash on the party and their political career.

    “I think the luck with Ndudi Elumelu is that he is from a well-connected family which will make cheating him difficult”.

    Findings also revealed that a chartered jet was also on standby for some of those behind the deal in order to get the governorship ticket for Elumelu.

    Another source added: “They embarked on many shuttles with a chartered jet during the transaction.

    “The N750million deal was one of the reasons why Tony Obuh, the hitherto  anointed candidate of the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan lost out.

    “To some extent, those who collected the cash assisted in scheming out Obuh from the race. But they could not rout out the party’s eventual governorship candidate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, whom they did not know had been a friend of the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, for many years.

    “They really cheated Uduaghan without knowing that they were digging their graves.”

    Other aggrieved aspirants are also seeking their pounds of flesh. They are said to be ready to squeal on how some PDP leaders negotiated nomination deals with them.

    A third source said: “Since this incident became  public knowledge, more aspirants have volunteered to go to EFCC with more information about the activities of the Screening, Electoral Committees and Appeal Committees.

    “You could see that during the primaries, some aspirants were disqualified but miraculously they were cleared again.

    “Some said they parted with huge sums without getting the party’s tickets for offices aspired to.

    “They said they have records of how the monies were paid or wired. I think there will be more revelations in the days ahead.”

  • Leaders for Oodua students

    Leaders for Oodua students

    Yoruba students have been urged to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and love wherever they are. By so doing, they would be promoting the age-long values for which the Yoruba are known.

    This was the advice given when Oodua Sandwich Students’ Association (ODUSSA) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) installed its Oba (king).

    The event was held at the Faculty of Education Building. Members converged on the building at 2pm for the installation, tagged: Be identified with the struggle of elevation of Yoruba culture.

    Declaring the event open, Adetunji Olorunyomi, said the association was created to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange among the Sandwich students. He said ODUSSA had been the megaphone of Yoruba students since it was established.

    During the inauguration, members  resolve aspiration to reach out to new students and prominent Yoruba people in Enugu to strengthen the group.

    The outgoing Oba, Adeniji Obu, implored members to show good example during their stay in the university. He, thanked the authorities of the university for providing security for members of the group.

    The new Oba, Aina Olu, sought cooperation from members, promising them programmes that would improve their lot. Aina pledged that his administration would run an “open-door policy” to ensure that every student benefited from the association.

    Highlights of event included distribution of the association’s constitution to members and presentation of certificates to the outgoing leaders.

  • Party leaders drum support for Ambode

    Party leaders drum support for Ambode

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode’s quest for the governorship has received a major boost.  Party leaders  in Ikorodu, Alimosho, Badagry and Ojo local governments adopted him, ahead of the primaries. Amobode is on the last lap of his tour of the 20 local governemt areas and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    In Ikorodu, the former deputy governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye, led other notable leaders, including Olorunfemi Basorun, the Secreatary to Government (SSG), former Agriculture Commissioner Asipa Kaoli Olusanya, and Mrs Aderenle Ogunsanya to welcome him.  Ambode told them that his bid  is borne out of his passion  for service. He promised to implement the manifesto of the party for the welfare of Lagosians. He also promised to give government back to the people by strengthening the LGAs and the LCDAs  to take government nearer to the people. Ambode said he decided to start his tour from Ikorodu because of its socio-economic importance. He promised a good welfare package and infrastructural development.

    Ogunleye thanked Ambode for the visit. He said the leaders have no doubt on his capacity to rule Lagos and promised him their support. He advised him to carry the party leaders along in his programmes and policies.

    At Alimosho local government area, which is one of the biggest local governments in Africa, High Chief Solomon Ogundola  led other  leaders, including Titi Adebayo, the woman leader, Alhaji Waheed Orire, Alhaji Abdulahi Enilolonbo, Alhaji Yisa Yusuf, Hon. Femi Adebanjo, and  Olusegun Sodiya to receive the aspirant.

    Ambode said he is not a stranger to Alimosho LGA, having served there for three years as a treasurer. He expressed his total commitment to the advancement of the LGA and pleaded that the leaders should give him their support during the forthcoming primaries. He promised, if he becomes the governor, he will open up Alimosho to provide opportunity for the people, including youths and women.

    In his response, Chief Ogunsola, welcomed Amobde to Alimosho ,which he described as the “country home” of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the National leader of the APC. He said that the local government could produce the votes, which determine who becomes the governor. He said this is the first time any aspirant will be given a full complement of the party leadership  in the local government. He pointed out that the LGA has continued to enjoy the infrastructural development, right from the time of Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola. He urged Ambode to initiate new projects in the area to better the lot of the people.

    At Badagry, it was an awesome event. Ambode was received by former Head of Service and Special Adviser Hon. Sunny Ajose . The leaders assured him of their support. Ambode expressed his readiness to take Lagos to greater heights, if given the opportunity to govern the state. He said he is conversant with Badagry and its environment and the critical place it occupies in Lagos. He promised an all-inclusive governance where the less privileged and rural communities will enjoy the dividends of democracy. Ambose said the massive infrastructural transformation going on in Badagry will not only continue, but new projects will also be initiated to open up the ancient town.

  • Dankwambo challenges leaders

    Public officers will restore people’s confidence in governance if they can deliver good democratic dividends.

    This was the view of the Governor of Gombe Sate, Ibrahim Dankwambo, at the annual public lecture organised  by the Department of  Public Administration and Local Government,  University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with the theme: Governance and public policy process: Transforming Nigeria into a modern society.

    The governor said without the provision of adequate infrastructure and improving people’s standard of living, the achievements of public officers would be a mirage. Dankwambo, who was the guest speaker at the event, said: “It is through good governance and building institutions that development can be achieved. Functional infrastructure is one best legacy any government can leave behind, because without it, democracy would make no meaning to the voters.”

    Gov. Dankwambo noted that the nation never lacked good policies, but the challenge, he said, remained implementation, stressing that regular training and re-orientation of public officials saddled with implementation responsibility had become necessary to change the situation. He said effective policy implementation was the bedrock of good governance.

    The governor praised the Federal Government for its effort at improving the condition of infrastructure and subsidising agriculture, saying the policy had paid off in eradicating poverty.

    He added that his administration was emulating President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda to improve the standard of living of the people.

    The governor appreciated the university management for finding him worthy to deliver the lecture, pledging assistance in addressing issues that would enhance teaching and learning in the school.

    In his lecture entitled: Governance and public policy process: The contributions of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to the Transformation Agenda, Corps Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi, said the body had improved its operations through electronic data managements.

    “To achieve safety on our roads, we need to re-emphasis our value system and road users must maintain discipline when driving. We must remain open and proactive to new technologies to cope with expectations of future,” he said.

    Oyeyemi said the body would continue to maintain a fair-reward incentive scheme to motivate the staff for higher productivity.

    In his remark, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, praised the Department of Public Administration for the lecture, which he said had generated fresh idea on how society should be governed.

  • English students elect leaders

    The Abia State University (ABSU) chapter of the National Association of English and Literature Students (NASELS) has, on Wednesday, elected new set of leaders, who will steer the affairs of the association in the 2014/2015 academic session.

    The election stated with an accreditation of the electorate. The exercise was chaired by a lecturer in the department.

    All the positions were keenly contested, but at the end of the election, Chisom Awa, a 300-Level student, emerged the president with 133 votes. His opponent, Peter Okereke, had 32 votes.

    Others elected include Marydoris Asonibe, Vice President, Kate Ehiogu, General Secretary, Francis Ogbonna, Director of Socials and Favour Obi, Financial Secretary, among others.

    In his speech after the election, Chisom thanked his colleagues for supporting his vision to make the association better. He said the mandate was divine, promising to take the association to a new height. He said he would maintain cordial relationship with other members of the executive and students of the department.

    The outgoing president, Michael Olughu, in his valedictory speech, urged his successor to focus on his vision and work for students’ interest.

    A lecturer in the department, Dr Austine Amanze, said the election was free and fair. Nwabuike Arinze, a 200-Level student, said: “The process was devoid of hitches. I wish our leaders could learn from this and ensure free and fair election in 2015.”