COVER
Ohinoyi: Encomia as Tinubu, Others Send Condolences
By David Torough with Agency reports
President Bola Tinubu joined numerous sympathisers on Sunday to send condolences to the government and people of Kogi State on the passing of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, His Majesty, Dr. Ado Ibrahim.
Remains of Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, were laid to rest In Okene, his hometown Sunday according to the Islamic rites around 8.
40PM.Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Salihu Sule, explained that the burial could not hold earlier because of unforeseen challenges as the corpse left Abuja late and only arrived in Okene around 6.
45PM.President Tinubu in a statement issued on Sunday by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) described the death of the Ohinoyi as a painful loss, as he noted that the late monarch was peace-loving, affable and cerebral.
Tinubu stated, “The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was in a class of his own. He was highly respected and admired for his deep insights, wisdom, and sophistication. He had a masterful way of handling issues. He was very knowledgeable and wise.
“May Almighty Allah grant His Majesty Aljannah Firdau.”
He urged the people of Kogi State to take solace in the legacy of peace and fellowship left behind by the late monarch.
Secretary of Ebiraland Traditional Council, Alhaji Salihu Sule, explained that the burial could not hold earlier because of unforeseen challenges as the corpse left Abuja late and only arrived in Okene around 6.45 p.m.
“On arrival, there was a family meeting that was held before the final internment according to Islamic rites,’’ Sule said.
Sheik Salihu Ebere, the Chief Imam of Ebiraland, who led the burial rites and prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Ohinoyi, prayed to God to forgive the royal father his sins.
The cleric said since death is inevitable, all humans must be conscious of the fact and live a loving, peaceful and God-fearing life.
In his remarks, Dr Godwin Oyibo, National President, Ebira Development Association, described the death of the paramount ruler as shocking and very painful.
“With painful heart we have just laid to rest the remains of our leader and father, who died in the early hours of Sunday in a hospital in Abuja.
“Committing his corpse to mother earth is very painful and unbelievable.
“I have never been this close to someone who suddenly is no more. It has never happened to me till this time. He is the kind person one would not want to part with.
“I have worked very closely with him for three years and he was a very wonderful leader. He has shown me that leadership is not about occupying the position, but about making impact.
“It is unfortunate that we are greatly going to miss him,’’ Oyibo said.
Present at the funeral were sons and daughters of Ebiraland, the Kogi governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Attah of Igala, His Royal Highness, Matthew Opaluwa and other royal fathers in Kogi.
The deceased Ohinoyi of Ebiraland was born on Feb. 7, 1929 and was the fourth traditional ruler and Ohinoyi of Ebiraland.
He was a son of the second Attah (now “Ohinoyi’’) of Ebiraland, Ibrahim Onoruoiza of the Omadivi Clan, who reigned from 1917 to 1954.
Ado-Ibrahim was enthroned as the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland in 1997 and reigned until Sunday, when he died.
Before ascending the throne, Ado-Ibrahim was a successful businessman who lived most parts of his life in Lagos.
Dr Ibrahim was born to His Royal Highness, Alhaji Ibrahim Onoruoiza Attah and Hajiya Hauwawu Ozianuva.
Young Ado Ibrahim completed his Nursery and Quranic education at the age of 11 years.
He was enrolled at the Okene Native Administration School from 1934 to 1940 for his elementary education. Upon completion of his elementary education, he was admitted to Okene Middle School in 1941.
After spending two years, he moved to the famous Ondo Boys High School for his secondary education from 1943 to 1946. From 1947 to 1949, he moved to Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife, Osun where he completed his secondary education.
He was employed by the United African Company (UAC) in 1950 as a special entrant for accelerated management.
Having successfully gone through the Accounting and Sales Department in 1952, he was promoted to the post of Manager at the Kingsway Stores, Kaduna.
In January 1953, he quit Kingsway Stores and moved to Jos as Personnel Manager of Amalgamated Tin Mines of Nigeria Limited in charge of maintaining operation areas of Bukuru and Barkin Ladi.
In that same year, he attended the first Mining School in Jos and qualified as a Mining Prospector and Area Manager.
Later in the year, the company sent him on a further technical training course, organised by the Anglo-American Mining Corporation, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Upon his return, he was immediately promoted to Area manager and assigned the responsibility to excavate the Lead/Zinc Ore deposits at Izom in the Abuja district, and to lead a team prospecting for gold and base materials in the location.
He enrolled in 1952 as an external candidate for a degree at the London School of Economics, by utilising the extramural study facilities organised by the British Council in Jos.
He combined his mining and prospecting duties successfully with the undergraduate study programme and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics from the London School of Economics in 1954.
In 1955, he won a Ford Foundation Sponsorship to undertake a six-month course in Marketing and Business Strategy at the Business School of Harvard University.
On the strength of his performance, he was readmitted into the Master’s Programme of the school as a full-time student. He thus earned the celebrated Harvard MBA in 1959.
Having fortified himself with practical industrial experience and sound academic training, he settled into marriage with Miss Abimbola Solomon on Nov. 1, 1959.
Ohinoyi Left Indelible Mark on Ebiraland — Says Ganduje
National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje expressed shock over the demise of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, saying his reign has left an indelible mark on his kingdom.
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, the APC national chairman described the traditional ruler as a father figure, who lived his life for the growth of Ebiraland in Kogi state and Nigeria in general.
The statement stated that late Ohinoyi’s leadership reflected his humility, adding that he was passionate, hardworking, and hospitable towards his subjects both at home and diaspora.
The statement partly read, “The late Ado Abdulrahman Ibrahim’s reign as the 4th Ohinoyi left an indelible mark on Ebiraland, while his commitment to discipline serves as an inspiration for generations yet unborn.
“We noted that the fascinating life and journey of Ado Abdulrahman Ibrahim’s life is a testimony of his resilience, wisdom, and dedication to tradition.
“The ruling APC also commiserated with Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, the immediate family of the late monarch, and Kogites in general over the loss. We pray unto Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant the departed soul eternal rest.”
Dino Melaye Suspends Campaign
Sen. Dino Melaye, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, has described the death of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr. Ado Ibrahim as a national loss.
Melaye said in a statement signed by the Spokesman for his Campaign Council, Mr. Omoyemi Gold Olumudi, on Sunday that the late traditional ruler’s death was a personal loss to him as one who watched over his life and career.
He said that as a mark of respect and honour to the late royal father, he had suspended his campaign activities for the next 48 hours.
“He treated me as a son just as his counsel and guidance will remained etched on my memory.
“The Ohinoyi will be remembered for his image and achievements which loomed larger than his immediate family, the Okene traditional Council and our dear Kogi State.
“The revered late monarch stood out in business, politics and in Traditional Administration, where he was distinguished in panache, class and finesse,” Melaye said.
He said the late traditional ruler’s “exposure and world outlook reflected in his broad mindedness, cordiality and accommodation of others within and outside his domain”.
The PDP candidate said the late royal father would be missed and prayed God to comfort and bless his family and the people of Kogi State.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Former Governor of Kogi State Yahaya Bello yesterday honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A statement from Bello’s Media Office signed by Michael Ohiare said that the decision was made after due consultations with his family, legal team and political allies.
The statement read, “The former governor, who has great respect for the rule of law and constituted authority, had all the while only sought the enforcement of his fundamental rights in order to ensure due process.
“The case has been before a competent court and Alhaji Yahaya Bello had been duly represented by his legal team at every hearing.
“It is important for the former governor to now honour the invitation of the EFCC to clear his name as he has nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
“The former governor believes firmly in the efforts of the administration of President Bola Tinubu to place Nigeria on the path of sustainable economic development and support the fight against corruption in the country.
“It is on record that he was the first Governor of Kogi State to put in place an anti-corruption mechanism to check graft and ensure that the resources of the state work for the people of the state.
“He was accompanied to the EFCC Headquarters by high profile Nigerians.
“It is our hope that the commission will be as professional as necessary and respect his fundamental rights as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Details of his engagement with the operatives of the anti-graft agency will be disclosed later.”
However, EFCC denied that the former governor was in its custody.
The commission, in a statement by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale said that Bello remained wanted with a subsisting warrant of arrest.
He said, “Media reports today that a former Governor of Kogi State, Mr. Yahaya Bello is in the holding facility of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is incorrect.
“The commission wishes to state that Bello is not in its custody.
“Bello, already declared wanted by the commission for alleged N80.2 billion money laundering charges, remains wanted with a subsisting warrant for his arrest.”
Bello was declared wanted after the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo helped the embattled former governor to escape arrest in April.
Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at the residence of the ex-governor in Wuse, Abuja prevented the EFCC men from effecting his arrest.
Ododo’s entourage drove out with Bello in the governor’s car.
Since then, it was said have holed up in the Kogi State Government House, Lokoja.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State yesterday handed over a truck of palliatives he recently confiscated in Makurdi to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) with a charge on them to conduct a thorough investigations bordering on alleged diversion.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had on Sept.
11 through the office of the representative of House of Representatives for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Terséer Ugbor deployed two trucks of palliatives to his constituency for onward distribution to IDPs and vulnerable households.However, one of the trucks containing several materials worth millions of naira was confiscated by the state governor.
Our correspondent had earlier reported that the seized truck was conveying assorted relief materials meant for IDPs in the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency was caught offloading its contents at a private residence around Kilometre 2 in Makurdi.
Further checks revealed that the palliatives, which were loaded from a NEMA warehouse in Jos found their way to a private residence under the directives of Ugbor.
The governor explained that he gave a standing order that the truck be impounded and moved to Government House Makurdi so as to know why goods released from NEMA for distribution to IDPs in Kwande and Ushongo could be offloaded at a private residence in Makurdi.
Alia who spoke at NEMA headquarters upon his return from the United Kingdom expressed displeasure over the discovery of some hidden facts regarding the matter.
He explained that preliminary investigations revealed that the goods were coming from NEMA and were meant to be sponsored by the state government and lifted by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
In a letter from NEMA headquarters addressed to the representative of the Kwande/Ushongo constituency, Ugbor, who lobbied for the materials, the agency specified that the state government should pay for the expenses of lifting the materials in Jos and that the materials be taken to the state by NEMA and handed over to SEMA.
Alia who discovered that some of the trucks conveying other materials such as mattresses were still missing, directed anti-graft agencies to liaise with a three-man committee from the state and conduct a thorough investigations to uncover more facts.
“It was also discovered that the materials were to be distributed directly to the affected persons by officials from the agency’s North Central Zonal Office in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency team.
“I have directed that the Acting Executive Secretary of SEMA, James Iorpuu, officers of the EFCC, and a few others should monitor the situation and ensure that due process was followed and that the materials were distributed to the rightful people.
“I thank President Bola Tinubu for having Benue people at heart. I therefore use this opportunity to call on the National Assembly members to consider the conditions of vulnerable people in their states and ensure that they provide for their constituents whatever the federal government gives,” Alia stated.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Tersoo Kula in a statement in Makurdi, said the Director General of NEMA through a phone call, thanked the governor for being vigilant and also promised to continue to collaborate with the state government to ensure the fair distribution of materials coming from the Federal Government.
Similarly, last month, the governor uncovered the diversion of relief materials for an IDPs camp in Makurdi by SEMA officials.
The diverted food items include: 55 bags of rice, 24 bags of garri, Indomie noodles, beans among others.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA was perplexed, wondering how the governor got wind of the development.
Three staff of the agency were arrested in connection with the incident.The IDPs said diversion of relief materials by staff of SEMA was a common happening.
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reconstituted the board of directors of Keystone Bank.
In a statement by the bank on Wednesday, the move is part of the apex bank’s strategy to ensure sustained growth for the financial institution.
According to the statement, Ada Chukwudozie is the new board chairman alongside five other non-Executive Directors.
They are Abdul-Rahman Esene, Fola Akande, Akintola Ayodeji Olusoji, Obijiaku Samuel, and Senator Farouk Bello.
In addition, the CBN named two new Executive Directors, Ladi Oluwole and Abubakar Usman Bello.
Chukwudozie, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s corporate sector, brings nearly three decades of experience in business strategy, management, and administration.
Her expertise cuts across multiple industries, including De-Endy Industrial Company Limited, Dozzy Group, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and Vogue Afrique Magazine.
Esene, with over 43 years of experience in banking, investment management, and corporate finance, has held leadership roles in major institutions including Fidelity Bank, Afrinvest, and Global Arbitrage International Inc.
Akande boasts over 25 years of experience in legal, compliance, and risk management, having worked with global brands like Cadbury, Stanbic Chartered Bank, and Shell.
Olusoji has a distinguished 30-year career in accounting, finance, and business development, having served at institutions such as Sterling Bank, Access Bank, and Intercontinental Bank.
Samuel with more than 35 years of experience in banking and treasury operations has left a significant mark on Nigeria’s financial sector, previously working with Zenith Bank and Fidelity Bank.
Senator Bello, a seasoned banker with over 20 years of experience, has led initiatives across both the public and private sectors, including the National Assembly and Guaranty Trust Bank.
The two new Executive Directors bring their vast expertise to the table. Oluwole, the new Executive Director of Risk Management comes with over two decades of experience in credit and enterprise risk management, including previous roles at Bank of America.
Bello, Executive Director for the Northern Directorate has extensive experience managing corporate, retail, and public sector clients.
Speaking on the appointments, Keystone Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Hassan Imam expressed confidence in the new board members, adding that their wealth of experience would play a crucial role in the bank’s continued repositioning and growth.
“We are pleased to welcome the new chairman, non-executive directors, and executive directors to the board of Keystone Bank.
“We are confident that their extensive experience will be invaluable as we continue to reposition the bank to seize emerging economic opportunities while maintaining strong corporate governance and providing our customers with a secure and reliable banking experience,” Imam said.
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