The Nation Newspaper

Tag: picks

  • Ortom picks Abounu as running mate

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has picked his deputy, Benson Abounu, as running mate for next year’s election.

    In 2015, the governor lost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship  primary and moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where the leader of the party, Senator George Akume, provided him with a platform to pick the ticket.

    Akume’s decision to give Ortom the ticket did not not down well with some aspirants, especially Emmanuel Jime, who seemed to be  coasting home to victory.

    But, Akume had his way. He also single handed chose Abounu as running mate to Ortom.

    The duo of Ortom and Abounu won the election in 2015.

    Things took a dramatic turn as Ortom dumped the APC which brought him to power for the PDP after three and half years in the saddle.

    His deputy, was silent throughout the meetings that led to Ortom’s defection .

    It took the promptings of reporters at a  function in the Government House before Abounu admitted that he will follow his boss to the PDP.

    When the governor negotiated his way back to PDP, it was a difficult time for Abounu, who was Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment under former Governor Akume.

    Abounu is not a novice when its comes to politics. He was the first politician from Benue South to contest for the position of a governor.

    Abounu’s long  silence on his next move generated controversy.

    There were rumours that he may be dropped for another candidate from Zone C.

    The choice of Abounu, as a running mate to Ortom was a hard one, but necessary for the governor. It was a matter of the “ the devil you know is better that the angel you don’t know“.

    Abounu is the chairman of Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi.

    Benson Abounu is a dutiful and loyal deputy. He never rocked the boat. He is humble, tested and trusted.

  • Pomp, as Olawepo-Hashim picks ANN presidential nomination form

    “I will unite Nigerians, fix the economy, and stop killings in the land”, he says, adding, “I respect President Buhari, but…”

    It was pomp as frontline Presidential aspirant, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim went notches higher towards the realization of his ambition yesterday as he procured the Alliance for New Nigeria’s (ANN) nomination form, promising to foster unity, fix the economy and to stop the killings in the land.

    Olawepo-Hashim who said he is full of respect for President Mohammadu Buhari for his sacrifices to the nation, however noted that what Nigeria urgently needs is a president that will be a commander-in-chief to all Nigerians.

    “I am therefore better placed to bring the country back together. I am most assured I can get the job done given my record of accomplishment” he said with a high of confidence, adding “I will restructure the economy from a dependent one to a self-reliant economy by investing in iron and steel, research and development, and in other critical sectors”

    These critical sectors, he pursued, will include “chemical and machine tools, so as to generate the production of capital goods, local capital and to bring in prosperity, through the needed multipliers”

    The business mogul with substantial interest in Oil Exploration and Energy generation also promised to implement a New Economic Development Programme (NEDP), which will lead to the expansion of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from 510 billion dollars to 4 trillion dollars within ten years.

    Besides, the NEDP will also increase the Per Capital Income (PCI) of the average Nigerian to between 16,000 to18, 000 US dollars within ten years as well. This, to the cerebral politician, will make Nigeria to be at par with middle-income countries like Malaysia, with whom we had comparable income level at independence.

    Other than this, the astute politician said NEDP would target an estimated 2 trillion US dollars into infrastructure within ten years. It will also create jobs from manufacturing, industrialization, and then link up industries with solid minerals and the agricultural sector.

    According to him, the agricultural sector will be integrated with the industrial and solid mineral sectors, to create sustainable jobs for youths employment will also be accelerated through the promotion of innovation and the knowledge economy.

    He reasoned that not all problems in Nigeria are caused by the APC. “Some are caused by the colonial masters and have been left unattended to. It is however regrettable that the former colonial masters now ridicule the nation, and even more regrettable that the APC and previous leaders lack the skill set to correct things”

    Olawepo-Hashim then noted: “I respect President Buhari. He is our baba, and we are his children. From where I come from, we do not insult elders. Truth is that he has done a lot, and should now go and rest. We are prepared to give him a befitting exit”

  • RenCap picks UBA, Access Bank as top stocks for banking sector

    RenCap picks UBA, Access Bank as top stocks for banking sector

    United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Access Bank Plc have the upside potential and valuation for the highest returns in the banking sector, Renaissance Capital (RenCap) has said.

    In an investment research report titled: “Nigerian Banks: Path to Recovery”, RenCap noted that improving macro indicators points to a recovery in the Nigerian banking sector, which made the investment firm to increase its target prices for most of the stocks in the sector on the back of lower risk-free rate assumption of 13.0 per cent as against previous estimate of 14.0 per cent.

    “We believe earnings resilience will also be demonstrated by net interest margin protection. We are less concerned about the declining yield environment at Access Bank, Stanbic IBTC Holdings and FCMB Group, as we expect that improvements in the cost of funds will be more than offset asset-yield pressure. Our top picks in the sector remain UBA and Access Bank on upside potential and valuations, but we also like FBN Holdings and Stanbic IBTC Holdings, as we believe both banks have scope to report lower cost of risk in 2018. We like GTBank given the quality of its earnings, but believe that current valuations are full,” the report, anchored by Olamipo Ogunsanya stated.

    The investment firm noted that things appear to be looking up for the Nigerian economy after a challenging few years pointing out that improving macro-economic condition and high crude oil prices may lead to improvement in assets quality of banks.

    “We believe capital buffers will rise as profits improve and note that the banks are increasingly more comfortable, using an exchange rate of N330/$ – an average of the official rate and Investors and Exporters (I&E) window rate as against previous N306/$– to value their foreign currency portfolios. We take this to mean potential revaluation gains in fourth quarter 2017, which we think could offset any negative asset quality surprises,” RenCap stated.

    The investment firm, however, cautioned that the political risks might moderate performance in 2018 as Nigeria enters into election season.

    “Despite a positive macro backdrop, we believe 2018 will be a recovery story at best; earnings growth will be challenged by the declining yield environment, volatility in foreign exchange-related gains, and limited scope for cost efficiencies. Tough economic decisions are likely to be delayed till after the 2019 general elections, but the political risks that come with a pre-election year render us cautious on the recovery ahead,” RenCap noted.

    The UBA‘s board had last week approved the audited report and accounts of the bank for the year ended December 31, 2017. The directors also approved payment of final dividend for the 2017 business year.

    The bank’s Group Company Secretary, Bili Odum, confirmed the approval of the audited report and proposal for dividend payment, noting that the approved audited report has been forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for approval.

    He said the actual final dividend recommendation and the audited report would be released to the investing public after the approval by the apex bank.

    Market sources said they expected the bank to increase its dividend payout, citing the improvement in the overall performance of the bank in 2017.

    UBA had earlier paid an interim dividend of 20 kobo per share, after the audit of its 2017 half-year results. It had declared a final dividend of 55 kobo per share, in addition to an interim dividend of 20 kobo for the 2016 business year.

    Key extracts of the interim report and accounts of UBA for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2017 showed that gross earnings rose by 26 per cent while pre and post tax profits grew by 33.2 per cent and 23 per cent respectively.

    UBA’s gross earnings rose to N333.9 billion in third quarter 2017 as against N265.5 billion reported in corresponding period of 2016. Group’s operating income stood at N236.9 billion in 2017 compared with N183.3 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2016, representing a 29.3 percent growth.  Profit before tax jumped to N78.3 billion in 2017 as against N58.8 billion recorded in the similar period of 2016. Profit after tax grew from N49.5 billion in 2016 to N60.9 billion in 2017.

    The balance sheet showed that while the group closed the third quarter with total assets of N3.77 trillion, a year-to-date growth of 7.6 per cent, the bank prudently grew net loans to N1.6 trillion, a 6.0 per cent year-to-date growth in the loan book. Group’s shareholders’ fund grew by 13.3 per cent to N507.6 billion in 2017 while the annualised return on average equity stood at 18 per cent.

    Access Bank in December 2017 launched a new five-year plan that aimed at making the bank Nigeria’s foremost in the next five years.

    The new plan is the latest in a series of transformative strategies that have resulted in sustained growth. From 2013 to November 2017, Access Bank has increased its total assets at a CAGR of 18 per cent and delivered shareholder returns of 90 per cent. The bank has also grown its customer base from 90,000 in 2002 to over 8.0 million in 2017 and in the same period opened 351 new branches.

    The new five-year strategy is expected to accelerate this growth story to position Access Bank as the leading Nigerian bank by 2022.

  • KWIRS picks National Pilot as best print media

    The Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) has conferred its best print media award on Ilorin-based National Pilot newspaper.

    Speaking at the KWIRS’ End of the Year event tagged: “From Press to Praise” at Whitefield Hotel, Ilorin, KWIRS Executive Chairman Muritala Awodun said National Pilot and other recipients of the awards were carefully selected.

    He said: “We realised from the beginning that we can’t do the job given to us alone.  That’s why we are bringing the stakeholders to appreciate you for what you have done for us.

    “What we are here to do basically is to recap on the activities of the service that has brought us here so far and to put across our efforts to solicit for continuous support from stakeholders.

    “As we appreciate everybody we believe that those who have standout should be rewarded for their support to us.”

    The KWIRS boss added that “National Pilot was selected as the Best Print Media for its consistency and extensive reportage of our activities in the out gone year.”

    Awodun urged the medium and other media houses in the state to continue to support the revenue agency in the area of dissemination of information on its activities.

    Speaking on the theme of the event, the KWIRS Chairman said, “We adopted the PRESS strategy, whereby P stands for Persuading and Patronising, R means Raising and Recruiting support from stakeholders, E to Elicit and Energise commitment from our staff, while S stands for Statutory and Selection in terms of selecting people that can actually deliver the required service and the last S stands for Systematic and Sequential reporting of our activities.

    Also honoured at the event were Radio Kwara as the Best Broadcast Media, Garuba Abdul-Akeem of Channels TV as Best Male Journalist of the Year and Mrs Sikirat  Shehu of BusinessDay Newspaper as Best Female Journalist of the Year.

  • APC picks Yahaya Bello as Audu’s replacement

    APC picks Yahaya Bello as Audu’s replacement

    After extensive consultations, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday submitted the name of Yahaya Bello as the party’s new candidate for Kogi governorship supplementary poll.

    Bello replaces Prince Abubakar Audu, who died last weekend after leading the poll with 41,000.

    It was also learnt that the APC has retained Hon. James Abiodun Faleke as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.

    Mohammed Audu, the son of the late governorship candidate, was dumped by the party because the party felt that fielding him might vitiate the entire governorship poll in the state.

    But the people of Kogi West were mounting pressure on Faleke yesterday not to accept the nomination of Bello.

    Although they asked Faleke to withdraw from the race, the deputy governorship candidate was yet to make up his mind on the next step at press time.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that APC leaders, with the backing of some forces in the Presidency, opted for Bello because he came second in the party’s primaries behind Audu.

    It was also gathered that the APC leaders felt there was no way Mohammed Audu could be fielded as a compromise candidate since he was not a candidate in the primaries.

    A top source in APC said: “Our leaders met and after consultations reached a conclusion on the choice of Yahaya Bello from Kogi Central as the party’s governorship candidate to substitute the late Prince Abubakar Audu.

    “The leaders arrived at the conclusion because Bello was second to Audu at the validly conducted governorship primaries of the party. Instead of running into crisis with fresh primaries, the party opted to dust up the result of the previous one which was witnessed by INEC.

    “A letter, signed by the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, on the choice of Bello has been submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday.”

    Asked of other factors behind the choice of Bello, the top APC leader said: “Our leaders bought into the idea that Faleke is strange to the politics of the state, having had most of his political career in Lagos. They felt it is better for him to learn the ropes in the state before becoming a governor.

    “They also argued that the choice of Bello will ensure power shift in the state and since the Ebiras were behind Audu, it won’t be difficult to foster understanding between Kogi East and Kogi Central Senatorial Districts.

    “Do not forget that Kogi East had already produced the minister from the state.

    “Another important factor is that some of the 91 polling units where elections were cancelled are in Kogi Central, and it will be easier to mobilize the electorate in the district to get the required votes to defeat the PDP candidate, Governor Idris Wada.

    “There was also some conspiracy behind the refusal of the ticket for Faleke. Some presidency forces stamped their feet that he must not be allowed to step into Audu’s shoes because of internal power struggles in APC.

    “I won’t give you names but the forced were more powerful than Oyegun and other NWC members.”

    On the dumping of Mohammed Audu, the source said: “Our leaders were guided by Section 141 of the Electoral Act. If we choose him, the entire election will be voided.

    “The section says: ‘An election tribunal or court shall not under any circumstance declare any person a winner at an election in which such a person has not fully participated in all the stages of such election.

    “We love the Audus but we cannot take such a big risk. If Wada and PDP go to court, they will win against Mohammed Audu.”

    As press time, there was pressure on Faleke by the people of Kogi West to opt out of the race.

    A different source said: “There are many options open to Faleke but the people of Kogi West want him to withdraw from the race. If Yahaya Bello gets the ticket, he might be reduced to a dummy deputy governor.

    “Unless Faleke can fight his cause in court and claim his mandate, he will be frustrated as a deputy governor. If he quits, the party will have justification for bringing Mohammed Audu and Kogi West will be politically alienated.”

  • Pre-World Cup training in Argentina: Amuneke picks 25 Eaglets for trials

    Pre-World Cup training in Argentina: Amuneke picks 25 Eaglets for trials

    Nigeria have named a provisional squad of 25 players for a pre-U-17 World Cup training camp in Argentina.

    The squad led by skipper Kelechi Nwakali departed Abuja on Thursday for Buenos Aires. They are due to take on the Argentina U-17 team as well as the U-20 team of either Boca Juniors or Racing. Four players will be dropped before they head off to Chile.

    They are drawn in Group A in Santiago along with hosts Chile, USA and Croatia.

     

    The squad:

    Goalkeepers: Udoh Akpan, Benjamin Amos, Chiaha Chisom, Yunusa Abdullahi,

    Defenders: John Lazarus, Halilu Lukman, Tochukwu Okoli, Ibe Tobechukwu, Ejike Ikwu, Samuel Opeh, Michael Edidiong Ndochukwu Anumudu

    Midfielders: Kelechi Nwakali, Kingsley Michael, Taiwo Alimi, Joel Osikel, Agor Chukwudi, Chinedu Madueke

    Strikers: Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Ebere Osinachi, Orji Okonkwo, Gavi Thompson, Funsho Bamgboye, David Enogela

  • Battle of Dar es Salaam: Oliseh picks six NPFL players

    Battle of Dar es Salaam: Oliseh picks six NPFL players

    • Gbolahan Salami, Adeniji miss cut
    • Coach impressed with Eagles performance against academy

    The Nigeria Football Federation released the list of 6 NPFL players picked for the Tanzania qualifier after Day VII at their Abuja camp on Friday.

    The list includes Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Sunshine Stars), Solomon Kwambe (Warri Wolves),Chima Akas (Sharks), Austin Obaroakpo (Abia Warriors), Usman Mohammed (Taraba) and Prince Aggreh (Sunshine Stars).

    The surprise omission from the list is captain of the team, Gbolahan Salami who is reported to have Passport issues with the Norwegian embassy.

    “After impressing playing for Warri Wolves, Salami submitted his passport with the embassy of Norway as his agent reportedly secured him a contract with a club in Norway’s elite division.

    However, despite the fact that he should have been either given a visa or had his passport returned over three weeks ago, there has been no additional contact from the embassy.”

    The now select 6 will await the 18 foreign pros invited by Sunday Oliseh from the week commencing August 31.

    Sunday Oliseh is expected to lead his players from Abuja for Tanzania via a chartered flight on Thursday September 3, 2015.

    After the Dar es Salaam mission the team will move straight to Port Harcourt from Tanzania to continue preparations for the Sept.8 international friendly against Niger Republic.

    However, Oliseh has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his NPFL-based players’ performance following Yesterday’s 3-0 win in a practice match against Amakson Academy in Abuja.

    Sunshine Stars and the current League season’s top goal scorer Tunde Adeniji got a first half brace against the academy team and Wikki Tourists’ Godwin Obaje completed the easy win.

  • France star Olivier Dacourt picks Flying Eagles

    France star Olivier Dacourt picks Flying Eagles

    Former France international Olivier Dacourt has said Nigeria’s Flying Eagles are the team who have most impressed him after a first round of matches at the AYC.

    The Flying Eagles beat hosts Senegal 3-1 to get their campaign underway on Sunday.

    “Nigeria have stood out for me as a team, they play collectively,” said former Inter Milan and Roma star Dacourt, who is now a TV pundit for Eurosport and Tf1.

    “I watched them beat Senegal even though their goalkeeper had to make three big saves. Their players are all on the same level.”

    However, he said he believes the host nation could still stage a comeback and win the tournament.

    “It is now difficult for them after they lost their opening match in front of their fans, but we have also seen a team like Spain lose their first match to Switzerland and still go on to win the 2010 World Cup,” he argued.

    The one-time defensive midfielder will pick out three players thus far – Moussa Kone (Senegal), Patrick Ngoma (Zambia) and Yaw Yeboah (Ghana).

    “The Ghana No.17 (Yaw Yeboah) is exceptional and it is not a surprise he is already attached to Manchester City,” he said.

  • 2014 Commonwealth Games: Nigeria picks 30 wrestlers

    2014 Commonwealth Games: Nigeria picks 30 wrestlers

    The Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) is poised to make the 2014 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow in July and August the best for Nigeria as the Federation has named 30 wrestlers for the competition. The lucky wrestlers emerged at the weekend in Warri, Delta State after the conclusion of the 2nd Chief E. K. Clark National Wrestling Championship that ended on Saturday morning.

    President of the federation, Olympic silver medallist Daniel Igali expressed satisfaction saying that his federation had assembled the best wrestlers who were ready to shake the world with an unprecedented medal haul in Glasgow. Igali was pleased after watching the raw talent displayed by the athletes during the trials stressing that most of the wrestlers were African champions.

    Nigeria won 10 medals in wrestling at the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, but Igali disclosed that Nigeria would double the medal haul this time, beating his chest that wrestlers like Blessing Oburududu, Soso Tamara, Adekuoroye Odunayo and few others were gold medal hopefuls. He insisted that Glasgow would be Nigeria’s best outing at the Commonwealth Games.

    Although the Commonwealth Games organisers have yanked off Greco-Roman style from the Games, Nigeria is happy with the calibre of wrestlers going for the Free Style bouts in both male and female.

    From the list, 16 male wrestlers and 14 females scaled the hurdle and have been directed by the National Sports Commission to be in Abuja today for the commencement of preparations for the Games, even as Igali expressed hope that the wrestlers would embark on a foreign training tour, even if for only three weeks.

    For the 48kg female event, Nweke Rosemary and Samuel Bose will represent Nigeria while Adekuoroye Odunayo and Mercy Genesis will feature in the 53kg. Others are Nwoye Ifeoma and Makanjuola Bisola (55kg); Adeniyi Aminat and Opuene Patience (58kg); Blessing Oborududu and Dawodu Balikasu (63kg); Rueben Annah and Iheanacho Ifeoma (69kg) and Blessing Asiah and Helen Okus (75kg).

    In the male category are Ebikewenimo and Hudson in 57kg while Amas Daniel and John Emmanuel will wrestle for gold in 61kg. Samson Clarkson and Romeo Joseph (65kg); Isaac Boaz and Arasafa Ziwareten will fight in 70kg.

    In the 74 and 86 kg categories are Melvin Biobo and Job Jordan, Dick Adibo and Adewu Asanaka respectively. Others include Soso Tamara and Kurah Goerge in 97 kg, Sinivie Boitic and Ikpom Paul (120kg).

  • Kwara Utd picks semi-final ticket

    Kwara Utd picks semi-final ticket

    The Kwara United FC have booked a place in the Semi Finals of the 2014 State Federation Cup with a 2-0 win over Lubcon FC of Ilorin.

    The match which was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex saw one of the Afonja Warriors most experienced defender, Adigun Lateef score a goal in each half to United the 2-0 win.

    The former Shooting Stars of Ibadan defender registered the first goal in the 38th minute through the spot kick after one of the Lubcon defenders had fouled in the 18 yard box.

    Lateef stepped forward again in the 82nd minute to slot home a beautiful curling freekick after himself and Dare Ojo had deceive the Lubcon defense of which of them would take it.

    Kwara United will lock horns with Offa United of Offa in the Semifinals while Kwara United Feeders would slug it out with Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS FC) in the other clash of the semifinals.

    Meanwhile, the secretary of Kwara United, Elder Dele Oguntokun, has said that the 5-1 battering of Adamawa United last Saturday is a signal to the rest of the teams in the division that the team is focused on its mandate.

    Elder Oguntokun while speaking with the newsmen before the team departed for Jos Plateau State where they are scheduled to pit their wit with Plateau United on Saturday said the Afonja Warriors are ready to take the league by storm.

    He said his players are in the right state of mind and are ready to pick their first victory on the road in Jos.

    Kwara United battered Adamawa United 5-1 in their week 10 clash of the Nigeria National League last Saturday in Ilorin.