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No plan to take over ministries, agencies —Kwara Harmony Holdings chair /Emir Halidu Abubakar

Emir of Ilesha-Baruba and the Chairman of the Kwara State government integrated company, known as Harmony Holdings, Prof. Halidu Abubakar, in this interview with selected reporters, including ADEKUNLE JIMOH, dismissed rumours making the round that the company is planning to take over the state’s ministries, agencies and parastatals, among other issues.

What is the ownership structure of Harmony Holdings?

Harmony Holdings is solely owned by the Kwara State Government. As you know, anybody, either a corporate organisation or individuals, can come together and own a company. Harmony Holdings is an integrated company and 100 percent of its shares are owned by the Kwara State government, which again is a normal thing. If you are from Kwara, it means that you are a stakeholder because Harmony Holdings is owned by your government.

Since Harmony Holdings started its operation, what are its goals and objectives?

Let us start from a background. All over the world, in order to promote development, we have what is called DFI – development finance institution. Harmony Holdings plays a dual role. It is what the name applies, holding company for government’s business interests. The whole idea of having Harmony Holdings is because government has diversified business interests. When we started development process in this country, government has diverse business interests; government was having interest in virtually everything. Over the years, it was realised that government had no business in this kind of business. Therefore, the best thing to do for some government was, they sold outright but for some governments, they leveraged on what they had by bringing together all the investments under a holding company. That is how Harmony Holdings came into being. It serves importantly as a DFI; it helps to generate funds for development. It also serves as a holding company to bring together government investments such as Kwara Investment and Property Limited. It is a very important company.

Initially, it was just an investment company. It was a fantastic idea. People came from all over the country to monitor what was happening there, but over the years, it died down. It operated Kwara Midlands, Kwara Foods, Riverside Food etc. So, when Harmony Holdings came up, it tried to revive the initial objective of using a platform to develop the state. So, Harmony holdings’ scope is very wide. We have already existing investments like Kwara Hotel, Kwara Investment etc. But again as a virile investment company, we are looking into Green Field Investment and areas that have not been mapped out. We have that mandate from government to do what will think we bring in money and development for government and Kwara State generally. So, the scope is very diversified and the objective of course. The final analysis is to bring development to Kwara State. And I think over these three years that we have been on ground; we have done the best we can, under this circumstance.

With my experience from other investment companies, because under my former company, NNDC, I had the opportunity to virtually interact with investment companies from virtually all over the northern states and even outside the northern states. And if you look at the model with which Harmony Holdings is working, it is a very fantastic one. Because one of the problems about government investment generally is that there is usually too much interference by government. Because if you look at it in theory, there is nothing that makes private sector more efficient than government sector. And over the 30 years, I have always been asking myself, is there anything intrinsically that makes private sector more efficient than government sector? Basically none. It is just the operational guidelines and the objectives.

As an investors, you try to sell your products where the average cost meets the marginal cost. But for government, it sells below that cost. In other words, you are bringing in subsidy. So, that issue of subsidy tends to limit the scope of government. But now with Harmony Holdings, all those incumberances are removed and we work like any corporate organisation anywhere in the world in terms of everything and even appearance of the staff. So, I think we have done so well. Even in terms of one crucial issue, that is employment generation, I think Harmony Holdings has done a fantastic job. You see for a private investor, for instance, he set up and also said one of his objectives is to create employment. No private investor does that; creating employment by private investors is just incidental, but for us, creating employment is not incidental, it is part and parcel of our objectives.

What exactly can you point at as the achievements of this organisation that actually has direct impact on the state government?

Thank you, you see for a business person in a company, the bottom line is profit. If we use that yardstick, I think that best answers your question. So, in that regard, the state government I think got about N75 million or N80 million as a dividend last year. And that is fantastic. Secondly of course, if you look at a company like Kwara Investment, you will note that a lot have changed in terms of the perception of staff and the output of workers has improved. Also, another obvious one is Kwara Express, now renamed Harmony Express. Before now of course, for those of you who travel, you see Kwara Express vehicles park all over the roads from here to Kaduna, for instance, broken down.

But, about two months ago we launched about 42 or 47 brand new vehicles with state-of-the-art technology to ensure that customers are well served and reduce all areas of leakages. So, that is one of our major achievements. But also in terms of developing business ideas, I think Harmony Holdings has done a lot. So, if you look at it within the yardstick of profitability, it has declared profit and it is going to declare profit from time to time. But a finance development institution like this, it is not just about declaring profit, you; know there are two types of profit. There are nominal profit, that is, naira and kobo profit and there is real profit, that is, how many people have benefitted from that investment. For Harmony Holdings, both interm of nominal and real profits, Harmony Holdings has done well.

There is this rumour that the state government is planning to put all state-owned institutions under Harmony Holdings, how true is the rumour?

Well, first of all, rumour will continue to be rumour and let me say that we Harmony Holdings cannot speak for the state government, so that people will not say that Harmony Holdings wants to capture ministries, departments, and agencies. Anyway, there is nothing like that. And on that I am risking representing government because I am not privy to whatever decision has been taken but I know that the leadership of the state cannot do something like that. What is even the basis and rationale for that? Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed will not do anything like that; because in anything you want to do, you look at the rationale, what are your objectives? I do not see any objective there. We are a company that specialises more in business, not in running government. Yes, we run government-investments but we run investments as investors, not as government. So definitely, do not believe that rumour.

I don’t believe it because it does not make sense anyway. So, there is no future plan to take over MDAs. Harmony Holdings is not incorporated to do that kind of thing. No government will transfer its own responsibilities to any other person. If government does that, then we have taken over government. I don’t think legitimately or reasonably, any government will want to do that at all. When you hear any rumour, look at the common sense in the rumour. Transferring ministries means that I will not be chairman, I will become governor. These are just very stupid kinds of rumour.

What is the relationship between Harmony Holdings and Kwara Revenue Service?

There is no relationship between the two. No relationship because, first of all, I understand I do not work for government and I don’t work for the revenue service. I understand of course that the revenue service is being remodelled. I do not know the details, but the remodelling is just to make it more efficient. It has nothing to do with us as Harmony Holdings. There is no relationship; of course, if we meet once in a while we exchange ideas. We are here to advise government, whether or not there is revenue service, on how to maximise the IGR of government. So, in that part capacity, well you can say maybe we relate, but I am not aware of any formal sense of relationship. There is no relationship. Again these are two different organisations, the other one is to collect IGR for government and this is to promote development and investments of government. So, there is really no direct relationship.

What are the future plans of the Harmony Holdings?

The future plans are fantastic, because each time we meet as the board, we have to tell the management to hold on and apply some brakes because they have a lot of ideas that if we leave them and give them five years, you will see a lot of development. The future of course is to consolidate Harmony Holdings. We have, for instance, taken transport and we are thinking of courier service. We are even thinking of going into water transportation. I remember some two years back, we were toying with the idea of railways; in fact there was already a relationship with the railways from Ilorin to Jebba and some other places. I think for now it has cooled down. So, we want directly to emphasise development that will bring in profit for government and also to provide leadership in investment for everybody in Kwara.

So, the future is very wide. And I think it can be actualised if they get support and cooperation from people like you, because if we keep on listening to rumours, in fact, we will just get frustrated, that we just fold our arms and doing nothing. But I think that ofcourse is not going to be any option for us. Doing nothing is not going to be an option for us. So, we want to plead with you, anytime you hear any rumour, just contact us.

We will like you to shed more light on the ownership of Harmony Holdings

Quite clearly, Harmony Holdings is owned by Kwara State government. Kwara State government means everybody in Kwara. This company is not owned by any individual or group of individuals. It is company wholly owned, the shares are 100 percent owned by Kwara State government. Since I came on board, I have never seen anything to the contrary. Of course, if you know investment, if you know how companies are incorporated and so on, you cannot hide anything. People who are saying it is owned by some other bodies, they are free to go to the Corporate Affairs Commission to confirm.

In fact, the way they operate now, you can sit down and get a lawyer to search. Search for Harmony Holdings and it will show you who owns the place and so on. And that is the most important thing. Kwara State government is the legal owner of Harmony Holdings. There is no any individual or group of people who own Harmony Holdings except Kwara State government. And I think we should delete that from our minds. We cannot sit down here and begin to tell people lies. I cannot, for instance, and be serving any individual at this age when I am already moving towards the bus stop. Definitely, I want the public to believe us that it is owned by Kwara State government.

September 19, 2015
Our plan for Kogi, Bayelsa polls, by APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is two years old. In this interview with TONY AKOWE, its National Organising Secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso, speaks on the journey so far and the proposed governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.

The party is planning to celebrate its second anniversary. What is the party celebrating?

The party was two years by the 31st of July this year because the APC was registered by INEC on July 31st 2013. Last year when we wanted to celebrate our one year anniversary, we got tied up with preparations towards registration of our members, conducting congresses for our members across the federations, holding the national convention as well as the party primaries for the 2015 general elections which we won by the grace of God. This is the second year and the party wants to roll out the drums to celebrate our second year of existence as a party. It is unprecedented that within two years of being registered as a party, we have won the general elections. It is unprecedented that within two years of being registered as a party, we have twenty two (22) governors elected on the platform of the party. It is also unprecedented that within two years of our registration, we are controlling the two chambers of the National Assembly. These are the things we considered as giant stride and achievements that call for celebrating our great party on its second year as a political party. The event to celebrate our party at two will hold by the end of this month (August) here in Abuja and we are getting world class resource persons to speak to us on the role of a political party in emerging government as well as talk about our change mantra and what to do to effect the change. We shall hear talks on the change our party is championing, is it change of altitude or otherwise, these are the aspects we will be looking at. We have secured the date and the guest speakers are fine tuning ahead of it. I can say authoritatively that one of the guest speakers will be Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Nigeria’s former permanent representatives to the United Nations. We are also finalising the arrangements to get other speakers from outside the country. So, it is true the APC wants to celebrate its second year anniversary. But it will not be only celebration. We also want to use the avenue for internal soul search to let ourselves know that the task ahead is more than the one behind.

The Kogi governorship elections is coming up in a couple of months. How is the APC preparing for the polls?

In the APC, we pride ourselves with our interest in internal democracy. The first ingredient that gave us victory in the last general elections is the openness of our presidential primaries. It was transparent and open to the extent that even those that could not make it immediately congratulated the winner and they started working together. Before the Presidential primaries, some people were thinking that APC had already anointed someone amongst the aspirants. But at the end of the day, you found out that no one was anointed because it was transparently done and the candidate emerged. That is what happened in all our governorship primaries across the federation. As the National Organising Secretary of the party, I have seen primaries conducted by the leadership without any crisis. We have done party congresses across the federation without any crisis; we had our presidential primary without any crisis so I don’t envisage any crisis springing up after the governorship primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states.

If you have been monitoring our activities so far, you’ll observe that we have painstakingly carry on in a manner that both the aspirants and the party leadership in Kogi State will be comfortable with the process. It is public knowledge that we’ve had screening where we gave equal opportunities to all the aspirants. The screening committee cleared all the twenty eight aspirants for the primaries and that is okay by us at the national level here. There are basic things they looked at and were satisfied that all of them are qualified. So, we can not stop anyone in the name of disqualification. In this country, we have seen cases where an incumbent governor was not even allowed to run for primaries of his party. That is not the style of APC.

We have made the aspirants to sign an undertaking which is optional and all of them have signed the undertaking to abide by the process of the primaries. What this mean is that we have a responsibility as a party to ensure that the primaries are free and fair. The aspirants also have the responsibility to do the right thing to ensure that the primaries are hitch free. Once you conduct a free and fair election, the losers will not mind congratulating the winner. People get upset when the process is not free and transparent. If it is free and transparent, a loser will lose gallantly and a winner win gallantly. We have put adequate measures in place and I can assure you that there’ll be no backlash after the primaries so long as we do the right thing. The party is poised to do the right thing by publishing the list of the delegates. It is not a matter of giving the numbers of the delegates, but making them known to the world. APC will publish the list of the delegates for the primaries and anyone who has questions on who is or who is not suppose to be on the list will raise the issue before the primaries and the party will address such dispassionately.

We have guidelines on who qualified to be a delegate and who is not. But, for the avoidance of doubt, we’ll go ahead to publish the list to ensure transparency. I don’t think we are expecting any post primary issues as it never happened during our presidential election primaries.

If you observed, only a few of APC controlled states are in court over primary election conflict unlike our opponents. So. in a nutshell, what the APC believe in is her cardinal objective of giving room for internal democracy to reign. As long as you don’t guarantee the membership of your party, internal democracy can not succeed. Even now that we are governing party, if we produce a bad candidate, the tendency is that the populace might vote for him or her but will he or she provide the positive change APC stands for? So when we talk about change, it must start from within. We are going to conduct a good primary and I can assure you that there won’t be a major fallout.

Is there any alliance between the party and the former first lady as far as the election in Bayelsa Is concerned?

Don’t even go far, I’m not aware of what you are talking about. It is not everything that the media report that you will take to be the truth. She (Patience Jonathan) is not even a member of our party and she has not indicated interest to support any member of our party. If there are things like that, you can just say they are media speculations.

How can the APC leadership ensure unity in the Kogi chapter?

There won’t be any crisis. A political party is just like a church. You don’t stop anyone from coming in to worship. We can’t stop anyone from coming to join APC because we are even looking for more people to join the party. If there so many bigwigs in Bayelsa or any other states coming to join our party, what that means is that our party is doing well. If we are not doing well, those bigwigs will not join us. How do we manage their entrance into the party? That is why we have code of conducts and guidelines for primaries. If anybody who is coming in now is qualified to contest, you can’t stop them from contesting the primaries. It is the delegates that will decide who becomes the candidate of the party. If you look at the delegates electoral college and those who constitute the APC delegates, you will discover that they are more inclusive than the other political party. The other political party will do a special congress to elect three people per ward. In our case, virtually all executive members of our party are delegates. If you have a large number of delegates, the tendency is that people cannot buy them over because the number is large. People cannot camp them overnight. How do you even do that when you have over four thousand delegates? If you are qualified to run for an election, you can run. We cannot stop any new person coming into the party not to contest. It is the delegates that will determine their fates.

Mind you, we are not doing a new delegate list. It is the other political party that does a special congress to elect an adhoc-delegates that will elect the candidate. The scenario in APC is different from that. Our own is to ensure that the existing executives from the wards to local and state governments levels constitute the list of the delegates. That is our guideline. It is them (delegates) that will know whether an aspirant has worked for the party or not. I wouldn’t want to stress this point. The bottom line is that everybody will be given a level playing ground to operate, whether you are a new entrant to the party or not, as long as you are qualified.

There was an incident where your party members in Rivers State took their protest to INEC headquarters, Abuja over the refusal of the State Residence Electoral Commissioner to allow them access the electoral materials, is there anything the party at the national level is doing or it is going to do on this issue?

We at the national level find it very reluctant to comment on issues before the Tribunal. Our people in Rivers, Imo, Akwa-Ibom and other states who are having issues at the tribunals have been advised on what to do legally and they are doing that right now. However, I must say that it is condemnable to see some of our members being teargassed by the police. Nigerians have condemned it and we also joined Nigerians to condemn such treatment. They went to INEC to make a specific request and not to demonstrate. So, why won’t they be admitted to state their mission and for INEC to answer them? We know that it is not everything you request from INEC that it will oblige you. Buy if the court gave an order that such should be done, why can’t they obey the court order? We will refrain from commenting on those sensitive issues because it has gone beyond our domain and is now a judicial matter and we will allow them to finish and if there are issues, we’ve advised our people on how to follow them legally. We pride ourselves as law abiding citizens of this country. Our party is first and foremost a believer in the rule of law and that is the only way the system can be sanitised and nothing beyond that.

Is there any other thing the party is doing to get the women more involved in the affairs of the party, especially in elective positions?

Anything that has to do with gender is somewhat of agitation. When you are agitating for something, you will surely become an Oliver Twist. If you get this, you’ll still agitate for another one. If you say our women are complaining, then I’ll say it is not true.cIf there is any party in Nigeria that is more women friendly, then I’ll say it is our party. No major political party in Nigeria has ever given a woman the governorship ticket, but the APC gave it’s governorship ticket to a woman in Taraba State. She would have emerged as a governor. Even at that, it is never too late because her case is still in court. What does that mean? It means APC as a party doesn’t do lip services to the issue of gender. If we do, we wouldn’t have given our governorship ticket to a woman. The same APC elected a woman as the chairman of our party in Adamawa State. Today, the same person is now an elected senator from the same state. During the interim administration of our party, a woman in Enugu State was also appointed as the chairman of the party in the state. Within the last two years when the APC was formed, we’ve had two women as chairmen of our party in the states. Has that happened anywhere before? Even our major opponent, have they produced a woman chairman before; have they produced woman governorship candidate before? Even in the appointment that we are doing, you wouldn’t say women are relegated. A woman is currently the Acting chairman of INEC, the most sensitive electoral body in the country. Mr President has not appointed his ministers and I believe when he does, women will be.

We don’t joke with the issues of our women. The APC is the only party than takes the issue of her women seriously. It is public knowledge that we don’t charge money for nomination form from any of our women who wish to vie for elective positions and the Kogi primary is a clear example. One of the contestants is a woman and the party didn’t collect a dime from her to obtain the form. If a woman is qualified to contest for any elective position on the platform of this party, she’s free to do so.

September 17, 2015
Ondo alleges plan to attack Mimiko

Ondo State Government has alleged plans by the state’s “enemies” to embark on “massive propaganda” to undermine Governor Olusegun Mimiko and his administration.

Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, in a statement issued in Akure yesterday, said the state government had uncovered the planned attack, which, he claimed, has been scripted to begin with series of petitions against Mimiko and his administration.

Akinmade said the plan followed “several failed attempts by adversaries to indict the governor through petitions written against him to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)”.

He alleged that a meeting was held in Abuja in the house of a prominent Ondo politician, where a lawyer was assigned to write frivolous petitions against Mimiko using framed up allegations, especially as it concerned the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The commissioner said the “lawyer is expected to begin his assignment with a petition against the governor over what the meeting said should be another framed up allegations on the spending of funds allocated to the agency”.

He said a meeting also took place at the Lagos Airport hotel few days ago, where lawyers and rights activists were recruited for a massive campaign Mimiko on radio, television, social media, and newspapers .

Describing the plans as “ mere shadow chasing that will fail like the previous ones”, Akinmade said Mimiko has become the subject of attack because of his role as a rallying point of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akinmade said: “Mimiko, who is no doubt, one of the most credible conscience of the PDP in this country and a reliable rallying-point for members of the party, will not be distracted by anybody or group who are out on political vendetta.”

August 31, 2015
Lasun: no plan to strip me of my powers

The Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, has denied that the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, is planning to strip him of some responsibilities.

It was reported yesterday that an Ad Hoc Committee set up by the Speaker had recommended that the Deputy Speaker ceases being the chairman of the Committee of the Whole House.

However, in a reaction by his Chief Press Secretary , Wole Oladimeji yesterday, the Deputy Speaker said there was no plan by the Speaker, Dogara, to strip him of his powers.

Besides, the report of the Ad Hoc Committee had neither been considered nor adopted by the House, he noted.

It reads: “The House is constitutionally-empowered to amend its rules as it deems fit and the process is aimed at enhancing the activities of the House.

“The Eighth Assembly set up an Ad Hoc Committee to review its rule, inaugurated by the Speaker with the Deputy Speaker in attendance and once the review is concluded, the report is expected to be presented to the House for debate before it becomes the new House Rule for the Eighth Assembly.

“It should be stated clearly that this has not been done, so the rule being referred to as stripping the Deputy Speaker of his function by the Speaker is a figment of the imagination of the writers.

“It must be stated clearly that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have an uncommon bond that cannot be threatened nor broken by unsubstantiated reports, such as this, just as others before it.

“The entire members of the Eighth Assembly is united and solidly behind the leadership they elected and no amount of sponsored reports can threaten the bond and unity that is now reigning supreme in the House.”

August 21, 2015
APC not aware of Ndoma-Egba’s defection plan

The leadership of Southsouth All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied a report that former Cross River State Governor Clement Ebri and former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba with their supporters will soon defect to the party.

A statement by Bassey Ita, the media aide to APC’s Southsouth National Vice Chairman Hilliard Eta, said the party’s leadership was not aware of the defection plan.

The statement alluded to the report that Ndoma-Egba, Ebri, Senator Bassey Otu, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo and other, who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) were planning to join APC.

Eta said: “I am not aware of anyone defecting to our party. In fact, to the best of my knowledge, nobody is crossing over from any other party to our party in Cross River State. Since I do not know, the report that anyone is defecting to APC in Cross River State is not true.”

The zonal chairman urged APC members and the public to discountenance the report, adding that it emanated from the figment of the writer’s imagination.

Reports had said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; APC National Chairman Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, among the party’s top chieftains, would receive thousands of PDP defectors in Cross River State into the APC at a rally billed for September 26 at the U. J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar.

August 21, 2015
Berger Paints’ new CEO unfolds growth plan

THE new Managing Director of Berger Paints Nigeria, Peter Folikwe, has outlined the company’s strategic growth plan aimed at enhancing shareholders’ value.

Folikwe, who assumed office in March, said Berger Paints has modernised and upgraded its production with the acquisition of new machinery that will position the Nigerian company as one of the best paints manufacturers in Sub-Sahara Africa.

He said recent investments in new production facilities, human resources and innovation were all aimed at enhancing the company’s earnings and shareholders’ value.

According to him, the new production facility is designed to produce top quality and innovative products at reasonable prices, which will help the company to reduce inefficiency and increase the company’s turnover and market share.

“Specifically, we are on the track to build the first automated paint manufacturing plant in the Sub-Sahara Africa. When completed, it will revolutionise our production and distribution processes, enhance product quality and delivery and reinforce our competitive edge,” Folikwe said.

He assured that Berger Paints would continue to uphold the sanctity of the post listing requirements of the NSE, which place premium on full disclosure at all times, adding the management of the company is committed to creating better returns for shareholders.

In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema commended the board and management of Berger Paints for sustaining a long legacy of corporate excellence.

He urged the company’s management to uphold the highest standard of corporate governance in order to be on the Exchange’s Premium Board Index for companies that excel in corporate governance.

Folikwe spoke during a visit to the NSE, during which he also performed the ceremonial ringing of closing bell for the stock market.

He had earlier assured shareholders of Berger Paints that the company would sustain its profitability, noting that the performance of the company in the first half of 2015 indicates that the company has been waxing stronger despite the harsh operating environment for manufactures in Nigeria.

He pointed out that the company is setting up a multi-billion Naira factory to expand its operations while working on innovative products that would not only appeal to Nigerian consumers, but the entire global markets.

Folikwe reiterated that his pre-occupation is to drive Berger Paints as a brand whose products would continue to define quality and acceptability in Nigeria.

In a related development, Folikwe called on the government to support the development of the Nigerian real sector by providing enabling environment for manufacturing companies to thrive.

He said Nigerian manufacturers are contending with several obstacles, which have reduced their competitiveness and limit their growth potential.

Folikwe urged the Federal Government to address the issues of foreign exchange rate, infrastructural deficit, multiple taxation and enforcement of enabling rules by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in order to create the much-needed enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

“The real sector is the major sector that can drive economic growth and development. But in Nigeria, the sector has consistently suffered a setback in the scheme of things.

The sector is bedeviled with myriad of issues which include infrastructural deficits such as bad road, epileptic power supply, multiple taxation, Naira exchange rate volatility and the extent to which the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is actually tracking and sanctioning those who compromise standard in their product quality. All these increase production cost and force producers to pass the cost to consumers who are already struggling with weak purchasing power. Government should address these issues without further delay,” Folikwe said.

He added that efforts should also be geared towards instituting a virile consumer advocacy framework in order to promote culture of quality products among manufacturers.

According to him, quality products are necessary condition for competitiveness in the global market and it enhances consumers’ loyalty and higher turnover.

He said Nigeria would compete more favourably in the global market if the country leverage on consumer advocacy approach through which consumers of products are made to know that while inferior products appear cheap, they are actually more expensive than quality products in the area of durability and utilitarian value.

August 17, 2015
Berger Paints’ CEO unfolds growth plan

Mr. Peter Folikwe, the new managing director of Berger Paints Nigeria has outlined the company’s strategic growth plan, which is aimed at enhancing shareholders’ value.

Folikwe, who assumed office in March, said Berger Paints has modernized and upgraded its production with the acquisition of new machinery that will position the Nigerian company as one of the best paints manufacturers in Sub-Sahara Africa.

He said recent investments in new production facilities, human resources and innovation were all aimed at enhancing the company’s earnings and shareholders’ value.

According to him, the new production facility is designed to produce top quality and innovative products at reasonable prices, which will help the company to reduce inefficiency and increase the company’s turnover and market share.

“Specifically, we are on the track to build the first automated paint manufacturing plant in the Sub-Sahara Africa. When completed, it will revolutionize our production and distribution processes, enhance product quality and delivery and reinforce our competitive edge,” Folikwe said.

He assured that Berger Paints would continue to uphold the sanctity of the post listing requirements of the NSE, which place premium on full disclosure at all times, adding the management of the company is committed to creating better returns for shareholders.

In his remarks, chief executive officer, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr Oscar Onyema commended the board and management of Berger Paints for sustaining a long legacy of corporate excellence.

He urged the company’s management to uphold the highest standard of corporate governance in order to be on the Exchange’s Premium Board Index for companies that excel in corporate governance.

Folikwe spoke during a visit to the NSE, during which he also performed the ceremonial ringing of closing bell for the stock market.

He had earlier assured shareholders of Berger Paints that the company would sustain its profitability noting that the performance of the company in the first half of 2015 indicates that the company has been waxing stronger despite the harsh operating environment for manufactures in Nigeria.

He pointed out that the company is setting up a multi-billion Naira factory to expand its operations while working on innovative products that would not only appeal to Nigerian consumers but the entire global markets.

Folikwe reiterated that his pre-occupation is to drive Berger Paints as a brand whose products would continue to define quality and acceptability in Nigeria.

In a related development, Folikwe had called on the government to support the development of the Nigerian real sector by providing enabling environment for manufacturing companies to thrive.

He said Nigerian manufacturers are contending with several obstacles, which have reduced their competitiveness and limit their growth potential.

Folikwe urged the Federal Government to address the issues of foreign exchange rate, infrastructural deficit, multiple taxation and enforcement of enabling rules by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in order to create the much-needed enabling environment for businesses to thrive.

August 13, 2015
NFF, NPFL plan to storm Governors’ Forum

Chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League Shehu Dikko has revealed that the Nigeria elite league led by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has concluded plans to storm the Governors Forum of Nigeria to make presentations to the governors in Nigeria how they can help the league and the clubs owned by the state governments.

The elite league boss disclosed this in a joint parley with the NFF at a media briefing held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

“We have arrangement to make presentations to the Governor’s forum as a group because that is how to solve a lot of problems these clubs may be having (since majority of the clubs are owned by the states). We didn’t want to make it public until we have done it. ‘We already have consultations with some governors and they are eager to help. The question is not about the premier league clubs alone. If a state doesn’t have a club in the Nigeria Professional Football League such state will surely have a club in either the Nigeria National League or the Nigeria Nationwide League.

Dikko assured that the discussions with the governors would be based on “the Nigeria Football Federation will have to make a presentation to the governors at the Forum based on these are the things we believe the clubs should do and this is how the clubs can go about it to achieve success. “We need to work as a group and it is a long plan to bring private sector to invest more in Nigerian leagues. We are going to do that. We will even bring along with us some clubs when we are going to the meeting with the Governors’ Forum so that they can explain the kind of problems they go through. If you know the kind of issues some clubs go through as club chairmen regardless of what you feel about them you will also give them some credits.

“For instance if a state governor has not paid his workers for six to eight months so what will the club say and the clubs are owned by these states. Until when we get to a point in our leagues where we can do away the states (in involvement and sponsorships) we have no choice than to agree on some models. The state governments can provide some structures, get some interested companies within the states to invest in the clubs. They can do what will call club membership where fans pay fees to be members to help such club or clubs. A real lot could be done within a state. These are part of what will present and discuss with the governors”, Dikko.

July 2, 2015
Okowa unveils development plan

Delta Governor Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has unfolded a development plan. But, the dwindling allocation from the Federation Account and the state’s huge debt burden may hamper the implementation of the five-point agenda. OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE writes.

Following his inauguration on May 29 as the 12th governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has hit the ground running. He has received approval from the House of Assembly on two executive bills.

The bills are: Delta State Contributory Health Commission Bill, 2015, Technical and Vocational Education Board Bill, 2015, and the Asaba Capital Development Agency Bill, 2015.

The House has passed into law the bills for Technical and Vocational Board and Asaba Capital Development Agency.

Former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, his deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), and their spouses, thronged the Cenotaph-venue of the event.

Also present at the occasion were traditional rulers including, Ogiame Atunwase 1,Olu of Warri ,Asagba of Asaba, Prof Chike Edozien, Obi of Owa, Obi Efeizomor 1.

Okowa, shortly after taking the oath of office, inspected a guard of honour mounted by a detachment of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) after which he took a salute during a parade to mark the ceremony.

He assured Deltans of an all-inclusive government where there will be no discrimination, and there will be equity, justice and fairness.

The Governor who credited his emergence to the collective commitment of Deltans, and the will of God, said, “We regard the entire state as our constituency and we will work for the common good of all Deltans.

“We will create opportunity for our people to participate in the act of governance, I promise to govern our people with respect and fear of God, greed must give way and sacrifice must take its place.’

Continuing, Dr Okowa said, “We will enthrone a legacy of wealth and prosperity for our people based on our five point agenda.”

Okowa said the five-point agenda with the acronym S.M.A.R.T: Strategic wealth creation and provision of jobs all; meaningful peace building platforms aimed at political/social stability; Agricultural reforms and industrialisation; relevant health and education policies and transformed environment through massive urban renewal.

Okowa said that promises made during the heat of the campaigns are meant to be kept as it is the only way to maintain the trust and confidence that is necessary between the people and their leaders.

The governor (PDP) congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and promised a robust working relationship with him and the Federal Government.

Okowa said his administration will give strength to the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Law by restructuring the board and management, in line with the Niger Development Commission (NDDC) model through an amendment bill.

Okowa has taken many far-reaching decisions since he mounted the saddle.

The appointment of the Secretary to Government by the governor, analysts say, was an attempt by Okowa to stamp his authority and whittle the overbearing influence of the PDP in his administration.

The PDP had pencilled down two Urhobo sons-a former Commissioner of Finance, George Orogun and pioneer Economic Planning Commissioner and ex-governorship candidate, David Edebvie.

But, Okowa pulled a fast one by announcing his choice as Secretary to Government (SSG), Festus Ovie Agas, taking Deltans by surprise by the announcement.

Okowa said: “Exactly three days ago, I announced the appointment of Hon. Barrister Festus Ovie Agas as the SSG. It was an announcement that many were not expecting at the time it was made. But, the element of surprise only served to excite the audience, who broke into spontaneous jubilation.”

Okowa had during the handing-over ceremony, reiterated his desire for a ‘commitment to a new order, an era of love for all, where the good of all takes precedence over the gain of one.’

Okowa has held consultations with key contractors handling the multi-billion naira airport. He met Commissioner, Austin Aiyemidejor and Managing Director, ULO, Uche Okpunor, the indigenous contractor handling the project.

The Okowa regime in taking some keys decisions, appears to be reflective, cautious, and adventurous.

The new administration is also spearheading a reform of the board and management of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), in line with the NDDC model through an Amendment Bill.

Okowa is not afraid of controversy. He has suspended the recruitment into the Civil Service.

The move prompted protests from the over 4000 affected Deltans who have given government ultimatum to rescind the decision or face legal action.

He said the suspension was sequel to the flawed recruitment process, adding that such the process was not credible.

In a statement signed by the Head of Service, Mr Patrick Origho, Okowa said the process was fraught with sharp practices ranging from abuse of office to sale of jobs slots.

According to him, the recruitment cannot by any stretch of imagination be adjudged credible, ‘no flawed process produces a credible exercise’.

The governor appealed to Deltans for support and understanding on the suspension of the exercise assuring that” action will be taken to study the report of the Administrative Panel at the appropriate time with a view to strengthening the Delta State Civil Service Commission and ensuring transparent recruitment process.

Ex-Governor Uduaghan had sacked the Chairman, Dr Tetsola and other members of the Civil Service Commission [CSC] over gross mismanagement of the recent recruitment exercise.

Aside the sack of new employees by the State Government, the Okowa administration must deal with a bloated civil service with a staff strength of over 40,000 workers.

Civil servants have not received May salaries in Delta State, but Okowa has sought the understanding of the labour union in the State. But will the unionists heed his call?

Despite his recent administrative success, the state’s parlous economy, huge debt overhang have been a nightmare for Okowa.

He said , ‘The national economy is in dire straits as a direct consequence of the turbulence in global oil market, resulting in dwindling oil prices with negative impact on the revenues of the State. The picture that is emerging is that available funds hardly meet payment of salaries. We will need to borrow to pay salaries and may have nothing left to run the government or attend to capital development.’

During the last allocation from the Federation Account about N1.5 billion was deducted at source from a N9 billion allocation accruable to the State by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The government must be inventive in finding funding to for his S.M.A.R.T programmes and for uncompleted projects left behind by his predecessor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan such as Independent Power Plant (IPP), Oghareki, Asaba Airport, Asaba Capital Development Agency, Ughelli/Asaba dualization programme and a host of others.

Or funding the free primary and post-primary education and free maternal healthcare and free medical care for 0-5 years.

But Governor Okowa has remained undaunted, urging Deltans that, ‘the downturn in the economy could be a blessing in disguise as we embrace the timeless virtues of hard work, excellence, integrity ,foresight ,teamwork, creativity , accountability and discipline’.

June 17, 2015
My plan for second term, by Ajimobi

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi has broken the second term jinx. In this report, BISI OLADELE, who covered the swearing-in at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, the state capital, gives an insight into the governor’s plans for the Pacesetter State in the next four years

Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, particularly those living around Liberty Road, will not forget Friday May 29 in a hurry. A carnival-like atmosphere pervaded the area, as a procession of dignitaries, politicians, supporters, ordinary folks, traders, beggars, itinerary drummers, entertainers and security operatives took over the streets. Guests and supporters parked their vehicles up to one kilometre away from the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium), venue of the swearing in ceremony for the Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his deputy. Only few vehicles were allowed to drive to the venue.

There was congestion around the main gate to the venue, as pedestrians struggled to gain entrance into the main bowl of the stadium. Pandemonium was almost let loose when Governor Ajimobi drove in. People struggled to catch the glimpse of the man a former Deputy Governor, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, described as “a man of history”. Ajimobi happens to be the first governor to win a second term in the state.

When the ceremony got underway, they were not disappointed. They listened to the governor with rapt attention, as he eulogized them for their support and also laid bare his plans for them for in the next four years.

After taking the oath of office with his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo, he assured everyone that he would be fair to all residents of the state, irrespective of their political leanings. He added that his victory for second term humbled him.

In a long address laced with rhetorical fervour, Ajimobi emphasized: “One thing I assure you all is that, I will be the governor of all; the governor of my friends and foes. I will offer all my shoulders to lean on in time of your sorrow and my palm for a ‘high-five’ in your moments of exciting happiness. I will care for the vulnerable in our state, protect those afflicted by existential hazards and misfortune and bring smiles to the faces of those hit by the harsh sun of the time.”

The inauguration ceremony was, however, low-keyed, reflecting the economic situation in the country. Ajimobi, who arrived at the stadium in company of his family members around 11:36 am, took his oath of office at exactly 12:33 pm. The oath was administered by the state’s Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ladipo Abimbola.

While expressing his gratitude to God and to the electorates for giving him the opportunity to be the first governor to take the oath twice, Ajimobi said his victory was a call to re dedicate himself to the good people of the state. His words: “I am eternally grateful that you rose above the massive hate and smear campaigns designed to demonize our huge sacrifices and achievements of the past four years. You cared not for the tale that no governor was ever re-elected in our state. You would not allow that past history to determine your approaching future. You chose not to succumb to fear or fable. You voted as your conscience and beliefs led you. You used your votes to break the alleged jinx that hovered over our politics.

“We clearly heard you when you said that, like every human being created by the Most High God, our human limitations as individuals and as an administration were inconsequential, placed side by side our monumental commitment and passion to make a difference in Oyo State. We heard you clearly.

“Since 1976 when our state was created, seven of us have stood before you to take the governorship oath; 26 in all have administered our state, either as the defunct Western Region or its eventual reincarnation as Oyo State. The Almighty, in His wondrous ways, ably assisted by the audacity of your votes, has made me the only of those numerous men to take the governorship oath a second time.”

Thereafter, he rolled out a six-point agenda for his second term, in line with the manifesto of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor laid bare his plan to consolidate on his achievements in six cardinal areas. These are: peace and security, transparent governance, infrastructural development, quality education and healthcare, financial re-engineering and agriculture.

He said: “The policy thrust of the government from 2015-2019 shall be guided by the manifesto of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as our personal desire to leave imperishable legacies that will carve out immortality for us as individuals and government. We will productively utilize our learning curves of the first four years to transform Oyo State into a place of pride. The cardinal thrust of our administration from today till May 29, 2019 shall be: Consolidation of peace and security in the state; deepening inclusive and transparent governance; widening the scope of infrastructure development and upgrade of the 2015 Urban Renewal Initiatives; Human Capital Development founded on quality education, skill acquisition and healthcare delivery; re-engineering of our socio-economic infrastructure for economic emancipation and progress, with a goal to repositioning the finance of the state; and revitalization and development of agriculture and agro-allied industry for value addition.

“In a bid to achieve these, we will make human capital development the cornerstone of our policies. Indeed, every of our cardinal programmes shall be founded on a solid superstructure that is fixated on human capital. Thus, none of the programmes shall be executed without firmly prefixing within them the quest to better the lives of our people.

“We will take seriously the upgrade of schools to functional, modern models of learning. Their physical infrastructure will be ensured and our commitment to the mental development of our children, as well as upgrade of their teachers, will be irrevocable. We will rededicate ourselves to a healthcare programme that is premised on qualitative health for a greater number of people.

“Our urban renewal initiative will be consciously primed on the need to create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed people in the state, as well as capitalize on the need to ensure a surging traffic of investors keen on platforming on the transformation of the state into an urban metropolis. Our urban renewal programme will be founded on a waste-to-wealth initiative that will utilize waste for generation of electricity and exploit its urea by-product

“With the realization of the paucity of funds from the federal purse, we will re-engineer our finances and economy towards the financing of our lofty milestone projects. We will in this wise restructure our finance to improve the economic viability of the state and reduce our dependence on federal allocation without which we, at present, cannot meet our financial obligations, not in the least payment of salaries and wages.

“In all these, the widely tested and effective Public Private Partnership will be explored in bringing development to our people. We will utilize the effectiveness of the tripod of purposeful political leadership, unalloyed commitment to a peaceful Oyo State and exploration of the God-endowed arable lands at our disposal for the realization of our goals.”

Despite the low-keyed nature of the ceremony, dignitaries and residents of the state from all walks of life trooped out in large number to witness the historic event.

Dignitaries present at the ceremony include: the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, who was represented by High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola; Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Abdul-Ganiyu Ajinase Ologunebi; legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) and industrialists Chief Bode Amoo and Chief Kola Daisi.

Others are; Oyo State Head of Service, Mr. Soji Eniade; Chief Adebayo Akande, Archbishop Alaba Job; Pastor Samuel Abiara; Bishop Taiwo Adelakun; Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdul-Ganiyu Agbotomokekere; former military administrator of the state, Col. Ahmed Usman; heads of security agencies in the state, politicians, artisans teachers, civil servants and the masses.

As usual, traders enjoyed good business around the stadium on the day.

June 8, 2015