PDP zones 2019 presidential candidate to the north, says Secondus

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday in Abuja zoned the party's 2019 presidential candidate to the northern part of the country.

The PDP acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, stated this while receiving the party’s Post Election Review Committee led by the Senate Deputy President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.

Secondus said that the decision was important based on the zoning principle of the party and in following the recommendation of the committee.

``The NWC had agreed that for us to move this party forward, we must obey our constitution; we must follow our rule and the principle of zoning, which is very important.

``Therefore, we agree with the committee absolutely that the presidential candidate of our party in 2019 would come from the North,’’ Secondus said.

Secondus promised that the NWC would implement the recommendations of the committee’s report to the latter, without any fear, for the survival of the party.

``The NWC will commence the implementation of this report by passing it through all consultative and decision making organs of the party up to the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Convention Committee.

``Equally, you can be assured that those of us in the NWC will put in place machinery to review and implement recommendations that are very urgent,’’ he said.

Earlier, Sen. Ekweremadu, while submitting the committee’s report said one of the committee’s recommendations was that the party should strictly apply the zoning principle at all levels.

He said that in particular, since the last President of PDP extraction came from the Southern part of Nigeria that of 2019 presidential elections should come from the North.

Ekweremadu, who was the chairman of the committee, said: ``this is in accordance with the popular views expressed in the submissions to the Committee.

``This will also assuage any ill feelings in the North over any perceived breach of the Party’s zoning principle.’’

He recommended that the PDP should henceforth be ``self-funding, relying on membership registrations and enforcement of dues and levies as its primary sources of income at all levels in line with the party's Constitution.

``This is with a view to ending the prevailing situation where those who pay the piper dictate the tune.

``We have also recommended that the role of party leader, which has no basis in the constitution of the PDP, should henceforth be discontinued at all levels.

`` This is to strengthen the structure of the party at all levels.’’

Ekweremadu further recommended that the Party should adopt the direct primary method as the sole means of electing its candidates for any election at all levels.

``The use of delegates has been grossly compromised and abused, and should therefore be discontinued forthwith to return true ownership of the party to the people,’’ Ekeremadu said.

He proposed a nationwide biometric membership registration to align PDP records with modern technology.

The PDP Post-Election Review committee was inaugurated on May 5 in the wake of the party’s performance in the last general elections.

The committee was handed a nine-point terms of reference, the sum of which was to find out what went wrong and to chart a trajectory for the restoration of the fortunes of the party. (NAN)

PDP lauds Gov. Ayade for lifting ban on employment

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, has commended Gov. Ben Ayade for lifting the ban on employment and for prompt payment of salaries of civil servants.

The state chairman of the party, Mr John Okon, made the commendation on Wednesday in Calabar during an interaction with newsmen.

He said that the governor had kept to his promise of paying salaries of civil servants by 25th of every month, noting that the gesture would motivate the work force.

Okon said: ``Gov. Ayade’s first 100 days in office has shown that he has the interest of the state at heart.

``Frankly speaking, since the governor was sworn in, he has commenced the process of employing about 2,000 youths under the Green Police Initiative.

``Civil servants in the state are now smiling because the governor has kept to his promise and they now receive their salaries on the 25th of every month.

``The governor has sponsored an executive bill, the Low Income Earners Tax Exemption bill meant to exempt low income earners from paying taxes in the state.’’

The chairman added that the governor also sponsored the Social Housing Scheme bill which seeks to provide free housing for the poor.

Okon commended Ayade for strengthening labour, government relations through dialogue.

He hailed the governor successfully resolving disputes between labour and the judiciary as well as the state university. (NAN)

Landmark University is fighting hunger through agriculture, says VC

Prof. Aize Obayan, Vice-Chancellor, Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara, on Wednesday said that the institution was fighting hunger, not just in Nigeria but in Africa, through its involvement in agriculture.

This is contained in a statement signed by the university’s Head, Corporate and Public Affairs, Mrs Ngozi Osueke, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

It said that the university, established by the Living Faith Church Commission worldwide, was inaugurated in March 2011 for full commencement of academic operations.

It said that the institution had the mandate to drive an agrarian revolution through its undergraduate programmes in the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Science, Business and others respectively.

According to the statement, agriculture is the way to go, if the country's youth and the nation as a whole would embrace it, and pay attention to it.

It said that the future of Africa and Nigeria lay in Agribusiness, saying that the proprietor was deeply committed to agric-business.

``This university has the basic requirement to turn out engineers for tomorrow's Nigeria, and I think our emphasis should be on science, technology or engineering.

``I will always add innovation because it is not every time we can invent, but improve on what already exists, and that is where innovation comes in.

``It is interesting to know that the university, despite her age, has all her 23 programmes, which are Agric Extension & Rural Development, Agricultural Economics, Animal Science, Soil Science, Crop Science and others, accredited by the National Universities Commission and other relevant professional bodies,’’ it added. (NAN)

Time for Buhari to lay out his administration’s tone, says NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged President Mohammadu Buhari to take advantage of the country’ 55th independence anniversary to set tone of his administration’s policy thrust.

Its General Secretary, Dr Peter Oso-Ezon, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.

``This is the first major national celebration of Mr President, since his inauguration; this will be a great opportunity for Mr President to set the tone of his administration's broad policy framework.

``So, I would expect that his address would be telling us in some majored way, what concrete steps (they will take), what type of goals they are setting for themselves and what the broad policy thrust on the economy are, what they will do about the security situation, and all that.

``Even issues that you hear some debates on, as to whether he is going to negotiate with Boko Haram towards the issue of the Chibok Girls and all that.``

Ozo-Eson called on the President to also use the independence day celebration to lay out his administration’s plans for the country in the next four years.

He commended Nigerian workers for their resilience in difficult times and urged them to remain committed to making the country greater.

He said: ``We salute our workers and our members; even in the most difficult times in which a number of them were owed months and months of salary arrears, they continued to labour.

``So, we salute their resilience and we will continue to look forward to a better tomorrow.

``For Nigerians, generally we will also congratulate ourselves even with the challenges the nation has had, we are still where we are,`` he said. (NAN)

God Could Destroy America Over Gay Marriage, says Michele Bachmann

 

By Curtis M. Wong

Michele Bachmann is still vehemently opposed to same-sex marriage. 

The former Minnesota rep, who once dismissed the fight for marriage equality as "boring," blasted President Barack Obama's "dangerous policies," including those pertaining to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, in an “Understanding the Times with Janet Markell” interview last weekend. 

Michelle Bachmann

"When we raise our fist to holy God and say that we are going to redefine marriage, we are going to be okay with paying a Planned Parenthood to cut up innocent baby parts and sell them for research, that clearly is a problem," Bachmann said, according to Right Wing Watch. "As we have seen God render judgment in the days of Noah, in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah and so forth throughout history, what the prophets have told every generation is that there is a just God and the people must repent and turn to him. So, too, in this day of wickedness in our own culture, we need to do the same."

You can listen to Bachmann's remarks in an audio recording of the interview, courtesy of Right Wing Watch, below. 

Markell agreed with Bachmann, and went on to suggest that she and the former Republican presidential hopeful could witness "the Lord’s literal return" before the broadcast was complete.  

Given Bachmann's history, of course, her comments aren't particularly surprising. Earlier this year, she predicted that Obama's support of same-sex marriage, as well as his policies on Iran’s nuclear program, would bring about "the rapture."

“Any nation that accepts God and his principles is blessed, and those who push away are cursed. That’s what we’re seeing happen to the United States,” she told Markell in an April interview. “We will suffer the consequences as a result.”  

We'll be waiting with bated breath, Michele! 

Tribunal rejects APC, Emerhor’s Objection, admits INEC’s documents in Evidence

·         Smart card reader data upload accreditation status as at Thursday, April 16, 2015 admitted

·         Polling units without accreditation figures as at April 15, 2015 admitted

·         Petitioners, respondent’s counsels to address Tribunal October 13, 2015

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Wednesday morning announced the closure of case for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after it rejected objection by Chief Thomson Okpoko (SAN), lead counsel to the petitioners, All Progressive Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor to the tendering of two documents by INEC from the bar.

APC and Emerhor are challenging the declaration of Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa as winner of the Delta State governorship elections held on April 11, 2015.

INEC counsel for the day, Mr. O. Anumonye in opening the defense for the electoral body which is the third respondent applied to the tribunal to tender the following documents:

·         Smart card reader data upload accreditation status as at Thursday, April 16, 2015, and

·         Polling units without accreditation figures as at April 15, 2015.

The INEC counsel also sought to tender all the accompanying receipts and the certificates of certification for the documents.

Counsel to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, the first respondent told the tribunal that he had no objection to the tendering of the documents as they are duly certified. The same position was also taken by Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is also the second respondent.

Okpoko in his objection based his grounds on the submission that the documents are inadmissible having been previously rejected by the tribunal. He argued that a document tendered and rejected cannot again be retendered. He then cited a Supreme Court decision to buttress his objection and urged the tribunal not to allow the document to be tendered.

Replying to Okpoko’s submissions, Anumonye told the tribunal that the APC and Emerhor’s counsel’s objection is misconceived. He argued that in dealing with a document tendered and marked rejected, he submitted that the difference must always be drawn between a document that is inherently inadmissible and the one that is not. “These documents tendered are not inherently inadmissible. Incidentally, the relevant decision is that of the Supreme Court in Talib v. GTB 2011 AFWLR part 602, page 1502, where the Supreme Court held that the document should be tendered and received in evidence having fulfilled the conditions necessary for it to be admissible.”

Anumonye also cited the case of Aribisala v. Ogunyemi, 2001 AFWLR, part 31, page 2867 at pages 2875-2876, where it was held that the document sought to be tendered is not the same document that was rejected.

The tribunal then called for the documents and after taking time to examine them said in their ruling that although the two documents are similar, but that they could find any mark of rejected on them. It accordingly dismissed Okpoko’s objection and admitted the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibits R32 and R32A.

Anumonye then stood up and told that the tribunal having reviewed the evidence given at the tribunal, INEC as the third respondent will not be calling any witness. “We rest our case on the evidence we have elicited under cross examination,” he submitted.

Accordingly, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Nasiru Gunmi announced the closure of the case for the third, fourth and fifth respondents, namely, INEC, the Resident Electoral commissioner and the Chief returning officer for Delta State. Gunmi also announced the schedule to be followed by both the petitioners and the respondents present their addresses to the tribunal.

The tribunal subsequently adjourned till October 13, 2015 for the presentation of address by the petitioners and respondents.  

Court orders Immigration to restore salaries of aggrieved officer

The National Industrial Court on Tuesday ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ``immediately’’ restore the payment of salaries and other entitlements of and officer, CSP Mars Abiaziam.

Justice Peter Lifu gave the order at the resumed hearing of a suit filed by Abiaziam against NIS over the non-payment of his salaries, victimisation and attempt by the service to sack him.

The judge also ordered the service not to subject the officer to any punitive action or any form of victimisation as a result of the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the order of the court followed an out of court settlement agreement reached between the claimant and NIS and other respondents to the suit.

``The court is satisfied with the contents of the terms of settlement by the parties and will enter such as final judgment in the case,’’ Lifu held.

It will be recalled that Abiaziam had dragged NIS before the court over non-payment of his salaries, victimisation and attempt by the service to sack him.

In the suit, he joined the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Assistant-Comptroller of Immigration, Mr. S. C Baikie and a Chief Inspector of Immigration, Tanko Nuhu as co-defendants.

The claimant said that the respondents stopped paying his monthly salaries since Nov. 2014 on an allegation that he did not comply with demands of harmonisation of service record.

He said he had complied with the said harmonisation and filled the relevant forms for over four times, adding that he had severally appealed for a reinstatement of his salaries but all to no avail.

At the last hearing of the case on Sept. 17, counsel to the defendants, Silas Amon, had prayed the court for adjournment to enable parties to explore out of court settlement of the dispute.

Counsel to the claimant, Kelvin Okoro, did not oppose the application while the court adjourned for report of settlement. (NAN

 

 

Buhari seeks NASS approval of $200m loan for Lagos State

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sought the approval of the House of Representatives to obtain 200 million U.S dollars loan from the World Bank for Lagos State.

This is contained in a letter to the House of Representatives written by the President and read by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, during plenary.

According to Dogara, the loan which is for Development Policy Operation (DPOII) was approved in 2010 by the World Bank and is expected to be implemented in three tranches per annum.

He said that the first tranche was approved by the National Assembly in the 2010 to 2012 Federal Government external borrowing plan while the second tranche was approved in the 2012 to 2014 plan.

He said that the letter stated that DPO 1 was successfully implemented by Lagos State government in 2014.

``Following the successful implementation as adjudged by the World Bank, the bank’s Board of Directors approved the second tranche of the DPO on April 29, 2015.

``DPO 111 was captured in the Federal Government external (rolling) borrowing plan of 2014 to 2016 which was discussed with the National Assembly, but was not concluded,’’ Dogara said.

He solicited the support of the members to facilitate the consideration and early approval of DPO 11.

``This is to enable the state to consolidate on the gains of the second tranche of the operation (DPO 11).’’

Similarly, Buhari also requested approval for increase in the amount to be raised through the Diaspora bond from the international capital market.

``This is in line with the Federal Government’s effort to mobilise capital to finance critical infrastructure in the country,’’ the letter stated.

It letter stated that the request was crucial in diversifying Federal Government’s sources of funding and encourage Nigerians in the Diaspora contribute to the development of the economy.

It added that the reason for the request to increase the issuance amount to 300 million dollars was to meet the huge capital needed to bridge the infrastructure gap and ensure growth and development. (NAN)

 

NDIC pays N6.8bn insured deposits to 528,277 depositors of closed banks, says MD

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says it has paid out a cumulative N6.831 billion insured deposits to 528,277 depositors of 49 closed Deposit Money Banks (DMB) as at Dec. 31, 2014.

The Managing Director of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, announced this at the NDIC special day at the on-going Abuja International Trade Fair on Tuesday in Abuja.

Ibrahim said the payment, which was in line with the act establishing NDIC, was also to ensure that un-insured depositors of closed DMB recovered their money.

According to him, NDIC has paid a cumulative liquidation dividend of N94.737 billion to 250,592 to un-insured depositors of same 49 closed DMB as at December 2014.

He said that NDIC had declared in full, a final liquidation dividend of 100 per cent of total payments in 14 of the failed banks out of the 49 closed DMBs.

He explained that payments were on-going for the depositors of Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) and Primary Mortgage Banks(PMBs).

He said that the prompt payment of the insured sum was designed to reduce the impact of bank failure and also build public confidence.

Ibrahim said that the participation of NDIC at the fair also provided a unique platform for public awareness on the benefits and limitations of deposit insurance scheme (DIS) in Nigeria.

He explained that the DIS was one of the financial safety net in the economic system designed to protect uninformed bank depositors and ensure safety, soundness and stability of the banking system.

According to him, in the event of any bank failure, each depositor was entitled to a maximum claim of N500,000 per depositor of DMB and non-interest or Islamic banks.

For MFB and PMB, he said that each depositor was entitled to receive N200,000 in the event of any failure from the banks.

He added that the insured sums covered over 90 per cent of bank depositors.

Ibrahim said that depositors with claims above the insured sums were entitled to liquidation dividends from the proceeds of sale of the physical assets and recovery of debts owed to such failed banks.

He noted that the theme of the 2015 Abuja fair: ``Entrepreneurship as a panacea for economic growth,`` would drive greater business opportunities and promote financial empowerment.

He said that the fair would open up new avenues for industrial development and ultimately improve the life of Nigerians.

The NDIC MD said that in a bid to send strong signal to bank operators against unethical practices in the banking system, NDIC was conducting risk-based supervision.

He said that the supervision, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), had led to the supervision of the 22 DMBs, 882MFBs and 61PMBs in the country.

Ibrahim called on Nigerians whose deposits were trapped in failed banks to visit NDIC pavilion at the trade fair to receive information on how to recover and claim their deposits.

Responding, the Vice-President of the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry limited (ABUCCI), Mr Osi Imomoh, noted that credit was the main driver of growth, economic progress and development.

He said it was important to ensure proper credit administration in the financial sector.

He said improper management of credit administration could inhibit growth in businesses.

He explained that high interest rate structure, abstract classification of non performing credit and administrative recall of credit, especially without regard to business cycles, could slow down growth in businesses.

Imomoh said more collaborations among regulators, the banks and ABUCCI would do the economy a lot good.

He called on NDIC to extend their technical assistance to other underlying institutions like ABUCCI.

``We will like to see more activity in the area of restructuring, turnaround and technical assistance extended beyond first line (banks) to other underlying institutions,`` he said. (NAN)

No more collection of drivers' license by proxy - FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Tuesday said it would no longer accept the collection of driver's license by proxy.

Mr Vincent Nwokolo, the Commanding Officer in-charge of Zone one, comprising Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa states, made this known while speaking at the Road Safety Stakeholders Summit in Dutse.

Nwokolo said anybody seeking the issuance of the drivers’ license must be present at the FRSC's on-stop-shop for his biodata to be captured.

"I want to tell you that no more collection of drivers' license by proxy, nobody will sit at home and collect it.

"There must live capture for it to be real," Nwokolo said.

He explained that the measure was to check the issuance and circulation of fake drivers' licenses among motorists.

The commanding officer added that most of the licenses produced by proxy were illegal and were not in the commission's database.

"This is because there are many fake drivers' licenses circulating and fake licenses are not in our database," he said.

According to him, the corps will henceforth prosecute any persons found in possession of such licenses.

"In future, when one produces such license as a form of identity, it has to be tested in our data bank, and if it is fake, then we have to prosecute the holder," Nwokolo warned.

He, therefore, warned people to stop patronising those who paraded themselves as agents for the issuance of licenses and number plates.

"We want to warn people to stop using touts and agents as the FRSC has not approved or accredited anybody to serve as its agent for the issuance of drivers' license or number plates," he said. (NAN)

Embrace peace or face more assaults, Military warn Boko Haram insurgents

The Defense Headquarters, Ministry of Defense, said Boko Haram insurgents would face increased military assaults if they refused to surrender their arms and embrace peace.

This is contained in a statement signed by Col. Rabe Abubakar, acting Director, Defense Information, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to Abubakar, the Nigerian Armed Forces are committed to continue the ongoing coordinated joint assaults on the insurgents in the North-East.

``The military is committed to continue the coordinated assaults on Boko Haram members in the North-East until the operation of guerrillas is totally impaired and collapsed.

``The operation of the security forces in the contested area is designed to dismantle technical preeminence and capabilities of the terrorist groups.

``For optimum success in the counter offensive, 7 Brigade of the Multinational Joint Task Force(MNJTF), in the Lake Chad Basin will ensure a total blockade of terrorists escape route," he said.

Abubakar added that the efforts would forestall further infiltration of the terrorist elements into the country and its neighbours.

The statement warned the sect members to stop their mindless act of violence and embrace peace in order to become useful citizens with positive contribution.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) recalls that over 200 Boko Haram members surrendered to the Nigerian Army troops in Banki town of Borno, recently.(NAN)

Union decries non-payment of 10-year retirement benefits to members

The Joint Union of Nasarawa State Tertiary Institutions (JUNSTI) on Tuesday decried an alleged non-payment of 10 years retirement benefits to its members by the state government.

Mr Samuel Bashayi, the Chairman of the union, said this when members of the union appeared before the state House of Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology in Lafia.

He said that non-payment of the retirement benefits to its members had affected their lives and their families negatively, hence the need for the assembly to intervene, to improve on their standard of living.

“Our honorable members, we are here to present to you our demands as well as the numerous challenges affecting members of Joint Union of Tertiary Institution in the state so as to improve on the standard of education in the state and the country at large.

“For the past ten years, there is non-payment of retirement benefits to our members who have retired after they contributed positively to the development of the state and the country at large.

“Apart from that, there is backlog of promotions on ground for several years, non accreditation of some courses, under staffing in most of all the higher institutions.

``For example, the staff strength has continued to drop due to retirement and there is no employment.

“We also want the state government to grant us autonomy because if we are autonomous it would go along way in addressing the problems and challenges confronting us as well as improving the standard of education in the state.

``The autonomy of higher institutions would also give them the right to organise convocation as when due, ensure timely accreditation of courses, prompt promotion of its workers and ensure improved welfare package to its members.”

He also appealed to the government to increase the retirement age from 60 to 65 years to enable the members to contribute positively to the development of the state, considering the importance of education to the society.

The chairman restated the commitment of the union to support government efforts in improving the standard of education.

Responding, the Chairman of the house committee, Mr.Daniel Oga-Ogazi, said the assembly decided to invite relevant stakeholders in the sector to improve the standard of education.

“We heard all of your problems and challenges; we promise you of our collaboration with you, other stakeholders and the state government to see how to address these problems because no society will achieve meaningful progress without sound education.'' (NAN)

Confectioner urges FG to ensure easy access to funds by SMES

A Lagos-based Confectioner, Mrs Precious Aremu, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to provide small and medium entrepreneurs with funds to help them to remain in business.

Aremu, the proprietor of Palinio Cookies Ltd., told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that many small businesses were going under due to paucity of funds.

``To sustain one’s business under the prevailing Nigerian economy is quite a challenging task,’’ said Aremu whose industry exports biscuits.

``Even the institutions that are supposed to support enterprise with finance are contributing to the death of small businesses because of their nonchalant attitude to give out loans.’’

Aremu also urged the Federal Government to review its policy on the ban of importation of certain items needed by bakers.

``For example, the cost of baking bread will go up and affect affordability if government bans the importation of margarine.

``It is counterproductive to ban items that one has not been able to produce in quality standard locally because industries that depend on such material input are likely to groan,’’ she said.

She added that the dearth of skilled bakers and auxilliary personnel needed to create boom in Nigeria’s baking sub-sector was contributing to the low productivity in the industry.

``The amount of fund expended on training and retraining of personnel by bakeries is worrisome when one considers the profit as motivation to go into business.

``It is the more worrisome that those that have been trained do not remain in the sector to contribute their quota to its growth,’’ she lamented. (NAN)

Onosode was an icon of best of Nigeria’s national values, says Anyaoku

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Emeka Anyaoku has described the late Gamaliel Onosode as a true symbol of integrity, an outstanding patriot and an icon of the best of Nigeria’s national values.

``An iroko in the corporate world has fallen,’’ he said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while reacting to Tuesday’s passing away of the late former presidential adviser.

NAN reports that Onosode, a chartered stockbroker, administrator and financial consultant, had passed on early Tuesday.

``Gam, as he was called by his contemporaries, was a true symbol of integrity in the boardroom. He was an outstanding patriot and an icon of the best on Nigeria’s national values,’’ Anyaoku said.

He also said Onosode was outstanding in his support for religious activities.

``He was a man of God who deployed a significant part of his righteously acquired resources to supporting the church in his hometown of Ughelli and in Lagos where he lived an exemplary modest life,’’ Anyaoku said.

The former Commonwealth Secretary-General further said Onosode would be missed by the very many people whose lives he touched in many beneficial ways.

``Gamaliel was my best man at our wedding almost 53 years ago. My entire family, which enjoys close relationship with his family, joins his wife Susan and their children in mourning this virtuous man.

``We thank God for his remarkable and fulfilled life, and pray that his soul will ret in perfect peace,’’ Anyaoku said.

Onosode, an Urhobo-born financial consultant was born on May 22 of 1933 in Sapele, a sub-urban city in the current Delta.

He was educated at Government College, Ughelli and the University of Ibadan.

Onosode later emerged in the 1970s as one of Nigeria's leading educated chief executives, when he was at the helm of affairs at NAL Merchant Bank of Nigeria.

Over the years, he rose to become a leading boardroom player in Nigeria's corporate environment.

He was a Presidential Adviser to the then President Shehu Shagari and a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Management, and chaired several private and public sector businesses and initiatives.

These include Dunlop Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Presidential Commission on Parastatals and Nigeria LNG Working Committee and Nigeria LNG Limited and the Niger Delta Environmental Survey.

Onosode was a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank, the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

In addition, Onosode was immediate-past and inaugural President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, immediate past Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Uyo.

He holds Honorary D.Sc. degrees of Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Benin and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

Before his death, he was Chairman of Delta State Think-Tank on Development, Global Missions Board of the Nigerian Baptist Convention and Governing Council of Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.(NAN)