Leadership Newspapers ,E_Paper ,9 /3 /2018

09.03.18

No. 252

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

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N250

NIGERIA'S FIRST FRIDAY NEWSPAPER

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CBN INTERVENTION UK TO BUILD N315M FUND HITS N1.18TRN PRISON IN NIGERIA ➔ PAGE 9

➔ PAGE 24

OPEC DAILY CRUDE OIL PRICE

NAIRA EXCHANGE RATES (AS AT MARCH 08 ) WSTATES

DOLLAR

POUNDS

EURO

INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET

INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET INTERBANK – BLACK MARKET

ABUJA

305.55

365 404.12

497 361.46

434

LAGOS

305.55

364 404.12

497 361.46

448

KANO

305.55

364 404.12

495 361.46

430

P/HARCOURT

305.55

363 404.12

498 361.46

435

“Improved market stability and strength is apparent, which is underpinning more broadly an improving global economy as well as resulting in a return of investment flows into future supply, crucial for not only meeting growth in oil demand but also offsetting natural declines in several producing regions.”

Khalid A. Al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources; and Chairman of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC).

07/03/2018 US$62.68

06/03/2018

US$63.24

President To Commission N50bn Sugar Estate In Niger State 4

FG Insists On Concessioning Ajaokuta Steel Company 6

PMB Seeks End To Violence On The Plateau

BY BY JONATHAN NDA - ISAIAH , Abuja AND ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

President Muhammadu Buhari (2nd right); Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong (left); Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko AlMakura; minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung and Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, during the president’s visit to Jos, Plateau State, yesterday. PHOTO BY STATE HOUSE

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for the cessation of the cycle of violence that has engulfed Benue, Plateau and Taraba states.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to arrest the cycle of violence in parts of the country.

The president made this call in Jos when he launched the Plateau State Roadmap to Peace and Development which is aimed at putting an end to the cycle of violence in Plateau State and other states of the federation.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that these states are embroiled in bloody clashes involving herders, farmers, ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Women’s Day: Aisha Buhari Begs Boko Haram To Spare Females 6

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Mop-up Of Illegal Arms In Nigeria

T

he unrelenting gun attacks on defenceless Nigerians seem to have spurred the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, into action to retrieve illicit arms in circulation.

This is a laudable step following the shocking report that Nigeria is awash with 350 million illegal small arms and light weapons.

What it means is that the undocumented guns in the hands of unauthorized persons considerably outnumber those in the possession of the military and paramilitary forces in Nigeria.

This illegal arms proliferation is a byproduct of the Arab Spring which threw up several militia groups in North Africa who migrated southwards after they were dislodged from their enclaves.

This macabre reality is what has translated into the serious erosion of the nation’s security, evidenced in the wanton killings of Nigerians by criminals who wield deadlier weapons than the conventional police.

That is probably why security agencies have seemed rather incapable of stopping the mass killings in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, Zamfara, Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, and other areas across the country.

However, on February 21, the Inspector-General of Police took a first step towards scaling back this problem when he gave marching orders to police formations across the county to immediately recover prohibited firearms, ammunition and weapons in the possession of all suspected militias, bandits, vigilante groups, neighbourhood watch and other groups or individual(s) or bodies bearing prohibited firearms and ammunition, illegal weapons and lethal devices, whether locally fabricated, modified or otherwise fashioned to kill.

He listed 19 firearms that should not be found in the possession of civilians, in line with Fire Arms Act of 2004.

They include, among others, artillery, rocket weapons, bombs and grenades, machine-guns and machine-pistols, military rifles, revolvers and pistols, firearms such as pump action guns of all categories.

He gave a 21-day ultimatum for affected persons to turn in their arms to the police commissioners in their states.

Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, gave further insight into the strategies of the operation. He said police squads would carry out cordon-and-search raids and seizure from premises, hideouts, dwelling houses and uncompleted buildings.

He further explained that the returned arms would be examined by ballistics

experts and those implicated would be invited for questioning.

There is no doubt that this move is a timely intervention ahead of the 2019 general election when some desperate politicians recruit private armies to neutralise their opponents in the contest for power.

But we are constrained to draw the attention of the police to certain indicators that its strategy in the mop-up operation might need some adjustment

for the force to achieve maximum success.

Interrogating those whose arms had been used to commit crimes in the past is a likely disincentive for those in this category to return them. Approaching it this way could render the project dead on arrival. They would rather bury them somewhere to escape possible arrest in future. The danger is that they can be tempted in future to retrieve and use them for nefarious activities.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Dele Fanimo

POLITICAL DIRECTOR/ STATE HOUSE Jonathan Nda-Isaiah EDITOR Winifred Ogbebo

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Christian Ochiama

DEPUTY EDITOR Chibuzo Ukaibe ASSOCIATE EDITOR Michael Oche GENERAL EDITOR Silas Ezeugwu

ASS. MANAGING EDITOR George Agba COORDINATOR, EDITORIAL BOARD Suleiman Abdullahi

GROUP LTD

CHAIRMAN Sam Nda-Isaiah GMD, LEADERSHIP GROUP Abdul Gombe GMD, LEADERSHIP HOLDINGS David Chinda GROUP EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS Dele Fanimo Felicia Ogbonlaiye Geoffrey Essien HR DIRECTOR Solomon Nda-Isaiah CHIEF PROCUREMENT & ASSETS OFFICER Mrs Zipporah Tanko DIRECTOR, HAUSA PUBLICATIONS Mubarak Umar GENERAL MANAGERS Ibrahim Halilu Femi Adekunle Ebriku John

LEADERSHIP is a national paper symbolically embedded in the nation’s capital.

We shall stand up for good governance. We shall defend the interest of Nigerian people even against their rulers, and we shall raise our pen at all times in defence of what is right. These are the values by which we intend to be assessed.

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being:

For God

and

Country!

Also, even if a fraction of the millions of illegal arms in circulation was submitted to the police, how many ballistics experts are in its fold to carry out the checks? The force simply does not have the manpower.

So the police would do well to consider granting a general amnesty to those who surrender their arms and renounce violence.

Also, the police authorities did not say how they would tackle the issue of the country’s porous borders from where most of these illegal arms find their way into Nigeria. There are about 1,487 illegal and unmanned routes into Nigeria. How would they succeed in this mission if the borders are wide open for more influx, or if corrupt security officers at the country’s ports keep clearing containers laden with illegal arms?

The police also target neighbourhood watch groups and vigilance groups set up by sub-national governments to provide some form of protection against criminals and militia gangs in their localities. In mopping up from these groups, the police must find a way to secure the affected communities in order not to leave them vulnerable to attacks.

This is more so as the police have not revealed how they intend to disarm herdsmen and other ethnic militia who reportedly launch attacks in their hundreds, armed to the teeth.

Even trickier, in our opinion, is that some threatened communities already see the police hierarchy as biased and unwilling to rein in the so-called herdsmen. Self preservation is the first law of nature; if they do not see the police willing - and able - to provide security for them, they may not be keen to surrender their arms.

The police need to, first of all, gain the trust of all sides in the ongoing violence around the country. They would need to disarm outlaw groups who raid communities to plunder and kill before focusing on those using such arms for community policing and self-defence.

It is our considered opinion that the police need to rethink its operational strategies for this very important assignment to succeed rather than premise it on people volunteering their illegal weapons and cordon and search operations. These approaches are not indepth enough for the kind of outcome the mission is intended to achieve.

We believe this kind of assignment needs careful planning, intelligence gathering and analysis, identification and surveillance of groups and persons of interest and inter-agency coordination.

It is a task the police cannot do alone to the exclusion of other security agencies.

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Friday, March 9, 2018

Group News Editor: Ekele Peter Agbo Insurgency: Reps Appeal For Return Of Aid Workers To Rann, Others

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja

L-R: Katsina State governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, and executive secretary/ chief executive officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Hassan Bello, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Katsina State, yesterday.

PMB To Commission N50bn Sugar Estate In Niger

BY KINGSLEY ALU, Abuja

President MuhammaduBuhari will on March 15, 2018, commission Flour Mills of Nigeria biggest agriculture investment in Nigeria, Sunti Golden Sugar Estate atMokwa, Niger State valued at over N50 billion.

The group said the project illustrates its desire to reduce sugar imports, save billions in foreign exchange, boost local capacity, and reduce unemployment by putting thousands of Nigerians to work.

Located on the banks of River Niger, the sugar estate features 17, 000 hectares of irrigable farmland and a sugar mill that processes 4,500 metric tons of sugarcane per day and at full capacity, the estate is expected

to produce one million tons of sugarcane which roughly translates into 100,000 metric tons of sugar yearly.

Enclosed within a 35-kilometer dyke, the production facility area is 15,100 hectares, with a cane area that features a maximum output of 10, 000 hectares. The dyke provides flood protection from the River Niger.

While noting that it has invested over N1billion in stateof-the-art irrigation system that would ensure the efficient cultivation of sugarcane, with infrastructure that includes drain pumps, pump stations, and a power grid, the group describedthe project as the purest representation of the federal government’s Nigerian Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) with an

ambitious backward integration programme that is tailored to set Nigeria on the path to selfsufficiency in sugar production.

The statement further stressed that , “The farm at peak production will provide direct employment for about 10,000 people yearly, and impact up to 50,000 people indirectly, including 3,000 small-scale out growers who will be cultivating sugarcane to feed the mill.”

This is in consonance with the company’s policy of “feeding the Nation, everyday,” and is at the heart of its strategic decisions on what they produce, how and where factories are set up, the level of care that is put into products, and how they interact with host communities and the wider environment.

“The commissioning of the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate will be the first step towards a collective dream of agricultural progress for all in Nigeria,” the group said.

In addition, it stated that the estate has brought infrastructure benefits to the surrounding community, with 28 communities in total taking advantage of a new 30-kilometer road, expansive road networks that provide a variety of access routes to the homes of the indigenes.

Drains, culverts, and floodprotection walls have also been constructed.

This investment is coming at a time when government is aggressively pursuing a diversification of the economy.

investigate the allegation of insurrection plot against leadership of the senate and the plot to destabilize the upper legislative chamber as a whole by the group of senators allegedly led by Senator Adamu.

But Senator Adamu in a swift reaction dismissed the allegation, saying categorically that he has not in any way organised a group to destabilize Senate and or hatch any plan to remove Saraki from office.

LEADERSHIP reports that the former Nasarawa State governor, Adamu who was recently removed as the chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum was indicted of

leading nine senators who had stormed out of plenary in protest over amendment of election sequence by the Senate.

Yesterday, the Committee investigating Adamu was given two weeks to report back to the senate plenary. He may likely be suspended by the Senate.

The resolution of the senate followed the alarm raised by Senator ObinnaOgba (PDP EbonyiCentral ) through order 43 of the Senate standing rules , saying documentary evidence on the alleged plot was already in his possession for the Senate to nip it in the bud.

According to Senator Ogba “ I rise this morning to bring to the

notice of the Senate that there is a plan by some people in this Senate under the leadership of Senator AbdullahiAdamu.In January, Senator IsahHammanMisau (APC Bauchi Central) made a comment here that there was a plan to remove the Senate President and the entire leadership.

“Now, I have a reliable information that some people are already planning to destabilize the Senate, including the leadership by organising demonstrations. I believe that all of us are leaders and none of us should do anything that will destabilize the country or the Senate. Anything that will destabilize our democracy, we should avoid it.

The House of Representatives has urgedfederal government to appeal to the United Nations and Doctors Without Borders, also known as Medicines Sans Frontiers(MSF), to return to the Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) camps in Rann, and other parts of Bama, Ngala, KalaBalge federal constituency of Borno State.

The House also urged the government to provide adequate security for the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) , MSF and other local and international organisations involved in the provision of humanitarian services in the area.

Member representing Bama/ Ngala/Kalabalge federal constituency of Borno State‎ , Hon Mohammed Nur Sheriff made the appeal in a motion on the need to provide adequate security for aid workers and IDPs in Bama, Ngala, Kala-Balge federal constituency.

He noted that Boko Haram insurgents recently attacked an IDPs camp in Rann, which is the headquarters of Kala-Balge local government area, leaving five aid workers dead and abducted three others.

The lawmaker added that eight officers of the Nigerian Army, Police and other security agencies were also killed during the attack, while some others are still missing.

Sheriff explained that in the aftermath of the attack on Rann, the UN and MSF, which had worked in the area since 2007 pulled their aid workers from the area and suspended their operations.

He appealed to the House to intervene, so that the aid workers can resume their operations in Rann.

According to him, the suspension of the activities of UN, MSF, as well as that of other nongovernmental organisations(NGO) would be catastrophic if nothing is done urgently.

Reps Vow To Reclaim Controversial Abuja Village Senate Accuses Senator Adamu, Others Of Plot To Remove Saraki Arts,Crafts

BY KAUTHAR ANUMBA-KHALEEL, Abuja

BY SOLOMON AYADO AND AHURAKA ISAH, Abuja

The Senate yesterday accused Senator AbdullahiAdamu (Nasarawa East, APC) and other lawmakers for plotting to overthrow Senate President BukolaSaraki and to also remove other members of the leadership of the Upper Chamber.

Already, there is tension in the Red Chamber as the Senators are divided. While some are reportedly working to remove Saraki, others are insisting that the Senate President must not be laid off.

Consequently, senate has directed its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to

FG Inaugurates Boards Of NCS, NAICOM, Others

BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja

The minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun on behalf of the federal government, inaugurated the governing boards of four agencies under the Federal Ministry of Finance yesterday in Abuja.

The boards are the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) and Agriculture Credit

Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF).

The minister of Finance is chairman of the Customs Board while CG Customs, Colonel Hamid Ali as its deputy chairman.

According to the list, CBN deputy governor will chair NEXIM Bank.

On the other hand, Mr. Emmanuel Jideofor is the chairman of the board of NAICOM, while ACGSF has Mrs. Olubunmi Siyanbola as chairman of the board.

Inaugurating the boards, the minister urged the appointees to take pragmatic steps to reposition the respective institutions entrusted to them. “Enhance performance through efficient management of accrued resources for national development. The inauguration of the board is critical to driving our mandate,” Adeosun said.

Mrs Adeosun said the mandate of NAICOM, NCS and NEXIM revolves around the five pillars of the

federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the various executive orders.

She said the reconstitution of the boards provide a platform for synergy between members and management for effective implementation of policies and programmes of government. “Board members are saddled with policy formation, while management is saddled with execution and dayto-day execution of the policies.

The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to reclaim the entire land originally allocated to the National Council of Arts and Culture, NCAC, for the construction of its Arts and Crafts Village, Abuja which is being encroached by individuals and corporate bodies.

The resolution stemmed from its meeting with the management of the NCAC on the exact position of things at the village now currently sealed on the orders of the police.

Speaking at the meeting, the chairman House Committee on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Omorege Ogbeide -Ihama who described the act as a national embarrassment, expressed support to the decision of police. ‎Ihama informed that the management of the agency was summoned to brief the committee on reasons why the village was under lock and key.

He said, “So that we can take a bold step to secure what belongs to the nation from private individuals and corporate bodies who illegally acquired the village for private use.

“Having listened to the DG, we are directing him now to liaise with the police so that they will continue to guard the village while things are being sorted out and to ensure that all those arrested at the place with weapons are also prosecuted.

“The committee will also visit the village for on the spot assessment in order to see the extent of the encroachment as well as the individuals and corporate bodies involved in the illegal act”.

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March 09, 2018

FG Insists On Concessioning Ajaokuta Steel Company …Says FG will not waste more resources on plant

BY RUTH TENE, Abuja

The federal government has declared that it would go ahead with its concessioning plan for the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, saying it would no longer waste public funds on the project.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, said the federal government would leave no stone unturned in achieving the concessioning of the steel plant.

The minister also reacted to the vote of no confidence unanimously passed on him and his minister of state, Mr. Abubakar Bawa-Bwari, following their absence at a sectoral debate at plenary.

He explained that when he received the invitation, he informed the leadership of the House that he was involved in an economic recovery growth plan (ERGP) meeting and that the minister of state was in Canada, adding that they would appreciate another time to address the plenary.

Fayemi explained that the House of Representatives had the right to seek an explanation on any matter of public interest, adding that there was nothing fundamentally wrong for the House and its leadership to request the minsters’ presence at the sectoral debate called last week.

He noted that the federal government had said it would not spend one dollar towards the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Plant and the reason was that till date, the nation had spent close to $8 billion since 1979 on the

Buhari

plant with no result to show for it.

He further explained that Speaker Yakubu Dogara had approached the ministry in order to pay a visit to Ajaokuta steel company, and that the minister of state had accompanied him on the trip on February 12, 2018.

The minister said when Dogara was at the plant with his entourage, he remarked that the steel plant was in a state of coma.

On the question of ownership of the plant, Fayemi said the central thrust of the mediation agreement was that the day to day running of Ajaokuta had been with the federal government since the revocation of the concession agreement. ‘’Some people will say Ajaokuta is 98 per

cent completed, (or that) it is 90 per cent completed, but if you probe further, you will discover that you would not get any response from the campaigners,’’ he said.

He told the House that, in the eyes of the law, Ajaokuta technically belongs to the concessioner until the agreement provided was met. ‘’As a country in the exchange, for the completion of the remaining period of the concession of the iron ore company, Itakpe, provided that when Ajaokuta is ready to operate and Global is in control of NIOCO, Ajaokuta has the first right of refusal of every iron from the company; that is the agreement we signed - that government will use its best endeavour to ensure that Global has the right to access Warri Port.

“The original concession by Obasanjo’s administration are as follows: Ajaokuta was given to Global, NIOCO was given to Global, Delta Steel was given to Global and railway from Ajaokuta from Itakpe to Warri was on concession to Global; the Warri Port was given to Global, which has nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as it was done in 2004.’’

He further noted that during the era of former President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2007, there was clamour in the country to get the entire steel plant to just one integration; and responding to the stake of Nigerians, he revoked the concession without following due process - which heralded the problem.

“As a matter of fact, if he had allowed that (the concession had about six months left to elapse), we would not have been in this mess - as they headed to London Court of Arbitration and got an arbitration injunction that Nigeria cannot do anything until the matter in arbitration was resolved.

“So we could not open it for concession,

re-concessioning or privatization. So, it was completely comatose for the entire period. ‘’Now we have reached the period when all issues are almost getting to an end. ‘’To get it right, we will get a technical audit, a transaction advisory service that will look into all this and know who really have the technical capacity, financial wherewithal to bring it back to life.”

On the matter with the House of Representatives, he said: ‘’When he (Speaker Dogara) was there with his entourage, he made remarks perfectly legitimate of somebody of his office about the comatose stage of that plant. Subsequently, we received a correspondence at the end of February intimating us of the sectoral debate of the Ajaokuta steel plant which the House of Reps will like to have and it is going to happen in the plenary, not a committee on steel development that invited us, and we responded to this request by informing the leadership that I was involved, as the lead minister, in an ERGP focus plan that will not allow me to be present and the minister of state was in Canada and we will appreciate another time to address the plenary on the Ajaokuta Steel plant interest shown.

“This is why I am surprised at how we have been subjected to vitriolic attacks in the last one week. The March 1 sectoral debate which we could not attend was the first and only one the minister of state and I were unable to attend and we duly communicated this to the leadership of the House.

“We take exception to allegations that are not backed up by evidence; allegations that officials of the ministry have had their hands tied by the concessionaire is quite unfounded.”

Women’s Day: Aisha Buhari Begs Boko Haram To Spare Females

BY JONATHAN NDA - Isaiah

Wife of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has appealed to perpetrators of abductions and various harmful practices against women and girls to stop such unwholesome activities.

According to a statement by her director of information, Suleiman Haruna, she made the comment yesterday during an event to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day at the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Abuja.

Mrs Buhari observed that, for Nigeria, the day must be marked with a difference considering the sad incidence of the abduction of girls, especially the case of Chibok and Dapchi, which must take the national spotlight.

“As a mother, I share the sorrow and agony of the parents at this time.

It is my sincere hope that efforts by government will soon lead to their release.” She said.

She introduced a local theme tagged “Leave our daughters alone” which, she said, is a strong call for the end of abductions, urging the media to own the campaign and spread the message.

She also encouraged wives of the governors to propagate the campaign in their various states, stating that the message must echo throughout Nigeria.

“Leave our daughters alone, leave our daughters alone, leave our daughters alone,” she told the abductors.

Speaking earlier, wife of the vice president, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, congratulated women as they celebrated the special day, but lamented that Nigerian women were witnessing the worst of times because of many negative things happening to them.

She, however, noted that at the same time, they are also witnessing the best of times in many respects,

as there are many good stories happening around women.

The director-general, National Centre for Women Development, Barrister Mary Ekpere-Eta, remarked that, this year, there was an unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice.

She said sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women had captured public discourse, propelled by a rising determination for change, which she noted were instrumental to the call by Aisha Buhari for an end to harmful practices affecting women and girls in Nigeria.

She drew attention to the plight of rural women who, despite their hard work, lack basic infrastructure and services, decent work and social protection, and are left more vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

She called for urgent action to reverse this trend and ensure better

Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.

― Egyptian Proverb

life for rural women.

Goodwill messages were delivered

by UNICEF, UN Women, UN Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and a host of others.

MAGNESIUM, ‘NATURE’S TRANQUILISER’ Magnesium is an essential nutrient which helps the body function well, particularly when it comes to sleep. A lack of this mineral has been linked to early waking. Magnesium helps you to relax, calming the mind and the body, and can alleviate night cramps.

Recommended daily intakes of magnesium are 270g for men and 300g for women, all of which you can get from a balanced diet.

Magnesium-rich foods include dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, nuts, beans, herbs and oats. Eat plenty and reap the benefits.

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PMB Seeks End To Violence On The Plateau ➔ FROM COVER

ethnic militia, cattle rustlers and other bandits, which have left thousands dead and many more displaced from their homes and livelihoods.

The president, while speaking at the town hall meeting with Plateau stakeholders at Government House in Jos, yesterday, described the Plateau Roadmap to Peace as packaged by the State Peace Development Agency as a welcome development that should be copied by other states of the federation, stressing that his administration would give the agency support.

Buhari appreciated Lalong for establishing Plateau Peace Building Agency as an institutional framework for the attainment of lasting peace in the state.

He said: “I wish to encourage your Excellency to continue with the good work you are doing, and I wholeheartedly congratulate you for uniting the people of Plateau State.

“I am, indeed, quite impressed with the gains and successes recorded in the area of conflict management and peace-building, which has returned this state to the path of relative peace.”

“Let me express the federal government’s commitment to support and assist the Peace Building Agency in its effort to arrest the vicious cycle of violence and lay the foundation for sustainable peace in our country.”

He further commended Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong for ensuring continuity of government and for his effort to complete abandoned projects left behind by his predecessors, saying he was impressed by the governor’s remarkable achievements in the area of infrastructural development.

The president also praised the governor for his prompt payment of workers’ salary, pointing out that he was unlike other state governors who are defaulting in salary payment despite the bailout funds released to them.

On the request for Plateau State to be included in the North East Development Commission and refund of money for the dualisation of federal roads in the state, he promised to look into the matter as soon as verifications were completed.

Buhari noted that when he came on board in 2015, he took decision to embark on tour of neighbouring countries to find a way of checking the activities of insurgents that participated in the Libya war.

According to him, the ongoing clashes between herders and farmers in Taraba, Benue and Adamawa states, among others, might have arisen from the activities of these ex-combatants that had infiltrated Nigeria, even as he gave assurance that his government was making spirited efforts to proffer solutions to the conflict ravaging parts of the country.

President Buhari also promised to look into the request by Plateau women and youths for more federal appointments.

According to Buhari, it was from Jos at 3rd Armored Division of the Nigerian Army that he was moved to Lagos after late December 1983 to become Military Head of State and expressed happiness that Jos, the Plateau state capital, has grown from one lane road to dual carriage way in recent times.

In his response, the Plateau State governor commended the president for rising up to the challenge by setting up the Vice President Osinbajo 10-member Working Committee on Farmers/ Herdsmen Conflicts in order to find a lasting solution to the age-old crisis.

He also requested the president to consider constructing some economically important amenities in Plateau.

Lalong said, “As gateway to the North East, we wish to request for dualisation and construction of the road from Abuja to Jos, given the economic viability and conveniences.

“In fact, being a gateway to the federal capital from both the North-West axis of Kano and Jigawa as well as the entire North-East, which even extends to the South-East and South-South, the traffic density is high. Executing this project will massively ease the movement of goods and complement the presence and vast potential of the dry Inland Container Depot at Heipang.

“A very critical area of request for synergy and intervention is the imperative for a major Trauma Services and Centre along the Hawan Kibo area being envisaged by my administration. It is our

Between two stools one goes (falls) to the ground.

― Egyptian Proverb

7

desire to upgrade the Riyom General Hospital to Trauma Centre. Hawan Kibo, so named with reference to the steep hills, is an axis of Federal Road but a black spot that has unenviable reputation for frequent road accidents, claiming the lives of many citizens.

“The casualties are due to lack of facilities and untimely intervention in handling critical injuries, which are life-threatening. Such major trauma centres are usually set up to provide specialised trauma care and rehabilitation. Presently, there is only one major centre in Nigeria located at the National Hospital, Abuja.”

Insurgency Ravaged States Know There’s Progress In Antiterror War - PMB

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja, said Nigerians in the areas affected by Boko Haram insurgency are in the best position to provide correct assessment of the changes that have taken place since he assumed office in 2015.

Receiving a delegation from King Salman of Saudi Arabia at the presidential villa, Abuja, President Buhari, in a statement by his senior special assistant on media, Garba Shehu, said his administration was mindful of the three promises made to Nigerians before the 2015 elections, assuring that he remained focused on securing the life and property of all Nigerians.

“From the very time we came until now, we have been able to do our best, and we remain focused on delivering on our promises,’’ he said.

President Buhari told the Saudi Arabian delegation that the priority of his administration had so far been on securing the country, buoying the economy and curbing corruption so that Nigerians would start benefitting from the rich natural and human resources of the country.

The president thanked the King Salman Aid and Relief Centre and the Saudi Development Fund for providing relief materials worth $10 million to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East.

The minister of defence, Mohammed Dan-Ali, noted that the Saudi delegation had already visited the Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters and taken a tour of IDP camps in Maiduguri as part of its schedule.

The leader of the Saudi delegation, King Salman, Nasser Bin Mutlaq, said the visit and the donation of materials was an extension of the good relations both countries had shared over the years.

“We are directed to offer materials and food for the displaced persons in the North East worth $10 million.

We have had a field visit to the places and seen the humanitarian situation ourselves,’’ he added.

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March 9, 2018

Jibrin’s Suspension: S’Court Orders Lawyer To Pay N2m For Filing Frivolous Appeal

BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

For filing a frivolous appeal to delay the hearing of a case instituted by a former chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin,‎ to challenge his suspension from the House for 180 legislative days since September 28, 2016, the Supreme Court has fined his lawyer, Mr Tolu Babaleye, N2 million.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who led four other justices of the apex court during the proceeding on Wednesday, delivered a unanimous bench judgment shortly after parties to the appeal adopted their papers.

Ejembi Eko, who delivered the lead judgment described the appeal as vexatious and frivolous ,also ordered Babaleye to pay each of the four respondents to the appeal, including Jibrin, the sum of N500,000.

Apart from Jibrin, the other respondents ordered to be paid N500,000 each were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara; the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

The court ordered that the total fine amounting to N2 million must be personally paid by the lawyer.

Babaleye had filed the appeal on behalf of two members of the House of Representatives - Nicholas Ossai and Orker-Jev Yisa - asking to be allowed to be joined as defendants to Jibrin’s case which is still pending before the Federal High Court.

Radiographers Board Gets New Registrar

BY EJKE EJIKE, Abuja

The Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) has inaugurated Dr Mark Okeji as its third substantive registrar/chief executive officer.

Dr Okeji took over from Mr Chidiebere Thaddeus who was steering the wheels of the board in acting capacity for nine months.

The handover took place at the office of the board in Gwarinpa, Abuja, on March 6, 2018 and was followed by an event to celebrate the change of guard.

Okeji, in his remarks, said radiography body had become a uniting umbrella even as he pledged to uplift the RRBN and radiography practice in general, adding that he would work with all stakeholders to ensure the achievement of the board’s mandate He was until his appointment a senior lecturer and sub dean of the Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Hon AFK Bakre, Mrs Elizabeth Balogun, Dr Felix Erondu, Alhaji Sanni Nasarawa, and Hon Francis Chukwu, among others.

In his speech, the first substantive registrar, RSJ Babatunde, said of Dr Okeji: “I have finally seen someone I am confident in as registrar/chief executive.”

Mr Fatai Oyediran, who represented the minister of health, wrapped up the session up by delivering the minister’s message.

Many pillars and stakeholders of radiog-

L-R: Kano State governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewale and managing director, Governance, Development Alternatives Incorporation (DAI), Jeremy Kanthor, during the Development Alternatives Incorporated, DAI,“Governance Matters” Roundtable meeting, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN.

Court Orders Arrest Of Andy Uba Over Forgery

BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

Justice Binta Murtala Nyako of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted an exparte application seeking the leave to bring an application for an Order of Mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and prosecute Senator Andy Uba over allegation of certificate forgery.

A civil‎ society organisation, Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum, through their lawyer, Amobi Nzelu, in suit number FHC/ABJ/ CS/175/2018 dragged the IGP and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice before the court, asking it to order the arrest of the senator.

In an order signed by Justice Nyako and dated March 8, 2018, the court said, “That leave is granted to the applicant to apply for the issuance of an order of mandamus compelling the 1st respondent to arrest, investigate and commence criminal proceedings in respect of forgery charges involving Senator Emmanuel Nnamdi also known as Andy Uba upon which a letter was written to the 1st respondent dated 12th February, 2018, urging him to exercise his power under Section 4 of the Police Act and other relevant laws.

“That leave is granted to the applicant to apply for the issuance of an order of mandamus compelling the 2nd respondent‎ to arrest investigate and commence criminal proceedings in respect of forgery charges

involving Senator Nnamdi Uba also known as Andy Uba, upon which a letter was written to the 2nd respondent dated 12th February, 2018 urging him to exercise his powers under Section 174 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”.

In the order, the judge asked the plaintiff to put the defendants on notice and adjourned the case to 26th March, 2018.

In the affidavit in support of the motion on notice, deposed to by Ikechukwu Godswill Nwaozichi, the deponent said on April 24th, 2017, the law firm of Anthony Agbolahor wrote a letter to the IGP oon behalf of Chief Victor Uwajeh‎, regarding the alleged fake West African. Examination Council Certificate of the senator.

Senate Moves Against Rice Smugglers SOLOMON AYADO AND AHURAKA ISAH,

Abuja

The Senate yesterday said it would soon reveal the identities of rice smugglers in the country.

The Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff, chaired by Senator Hope Uzodinma, said rice smuggling undermines economic growth of the country and must be checked with concerted efforts.

It, however, disclosed the report on the matter would be made public soon.

This was the outcome of the Senate committee’s meeting with the minister of state for Agriculture, Heineken Lokpobiri and beneficiaries of rice importation waivers/concessions, yesterday.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Uzodinma, noted that the committee was mandated by the Senate to identify those behind rice smuggling and at the end of the investigation,

the committee would submit its report to the Senate.

According to him, “We have identified those behind rice smuggling in the country, and have submitted the report to the Senate in plenary.

The Senate will take the decision on how best to stop those people because it has affected negatively the growth of our economy and the growth of genuine business activities.”

The lawmaker said the activities of the smugglers had hindered economic growth calling on government to stop the menace.

He further stated, “What is starling is that these people are in all the sectors of the economy. If we continue this way, it means that at the end of the day, we will be left with no economy at all and unemployment will continue to swell. So government must take courage to bring these people to book and curb their excesses and ensure that there is genuine economic growth and business activity in the country.”

For his part, the minister, Lokpobiri stated that a lot of jobs and trillions of naira had been lost as a result of smuggling.

“You cannot actually quantify what we are losing. We must do everything humanly possible to promote local production and milling of rice. We are now producing over 17 million metric tonnes of paddy (rice as harvested from the fields, and before it is milled) as against the 7 million metric tonnes produced when we came into government.

“We are still improving on the capacity of rice milling. As government that is interested in protecting our farmers, we will do everything legally possible about smuggling of the commodity.”

The minister noted that the 2014 policy with regards to rice production was meant to encourage local industries to go into rice milling, adding that smuggling was an infraction to the policy.

Zero Hunger Policy Will End Insurgency In North East – Obasanjo

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

Former president and the chairman of the Zero Hunger Forum, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday said with the good Agricultural policies on ground, the Zero Hunger Forum will help to end the scourge of insurgency in the North East.

Obasanjo blamed neglect of previous policies by past government as the cause of current hunger, even as he called for attitudinal change towards implementation of agricultural policies.

He stated this yesterday during the opening of the two-day meeting Zero Hunger of Zero Forum in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital “We have several policies that have been neglected by non-implementation and if the policies are implemented, there will be no hunger in Nigeria by 2025. “ 25 out of 26 members of Boko Haram terroriststs carried arm against government because of unemployment , poverty and with the policies put on ground , Zero Hunger will fight the scourge of

Opportunity makes the thief

Insurgency in the Northeast , as many youths will be engaged in various Agricultural skills,” Obasanjo said.

He commended the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima for hosting the event, noting that its success would send a message to the outside community that peace has returned to the state. “ All along , People were apprehensive of our meeting here, so this event taking place here today will give confidence to outsiders and investors that if such meeting can hold in Borno, then peace has returned to the state,” he said.

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NEWS NATIONAL 9

UNICEF To Honour Aisha Buhari

BY BLESSING BATURE , Abuja The United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) will today honour wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari for her strong commitment to advance children’s rights in Nigeria.

The award will be bestowed on her at an event tagged, “a night with Aisha Buhari for children” to be hosted by Blaugrana International Group and National Center for Women Development ( NCWD ) which is targeted to raise fund for quality children education and for the betterment of women and the children from poor background in the society.

Chairman, Blaugrana Group International, Mr Leslie Oghomienor, in a statement reiterated that the eminent Nigerians expected at the event include Vice President Yemi Osibajo, the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammadu Sanusi II, and wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki He urged individuals, corporate citizens, International organizations or agencies and government at all levels, even religious bodies to help achieve the desired change in Nigeria, particularly in the children education sector, which is the bedrock of a sustainable development in all areas of the nation’s life.

L-R: Muslim coordinator, Women Interfaith Council, Hajiya Daharatu Ahmed Aliyu; executive director, of the council, Mrs. Anne Falola, general coordinator, of the council, Hajiya Amina Kazaure, chairperson, Women Concern, Mrs. Rose Opawoye, during their seminar to commemorate 2018 International Women’s Day, in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO GBENGA FOLORUNSHO ABIOLA

No Plot To Truncate Democracy – Military

BY JOY YESUFU, Abuja

The Nigerian military has assured President Muhammadu Buhari of its loyalty and support for the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

This assurance is coming on the heels of Wednesday’s statement credited to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu where he reportedly warned that the army can take over the government.

But a statement by the Ag. Director of DeProtect Our Forest From fence Information, Brigadier General John said though the statement by the depuArmed Men, Emir Begs Reps Agim, ty Senate President may appear cautionary and sincere in the atmosphere of discourse, “it is

BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja however derogatory to the Army used in the exThe Emir of Kaiama, in Kwara state, Alhaji pression and by extension to the Armed ForcMuazu Omar has pleaded with Members of the es of Nigeria” House of Representatives to take a proactive step towards building a military base in Kaiama located in Kwara to save it from turning into another Sambisa.

The Emir stated this during an investigative hearing of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence , investigating the alleged BY AGENCY REPORT Invasion of parts of Kaiama and Baruten local Britain will build a new wing at the Kirikiri government areas of Kwara State by gunmen Prison in the Nigerian city of Lagos so that suspected to be cattle rustlers and insurgents. it can transfer Nigerian prisoners there, the While narrating the ordeal of his people in government in London has announced the hands of armed invaders, the Emir said inThe new 112-bed wing, which will cost cessant attacks may eventually turn the Ba- 700,000 pounds (N315 million) and be comruten, Kaiama, Borgu Forest covering over pliant with United Nations standards, will 3,970 Square Kilometres into another Samb- make it easier for Britain to comply with a isa forest. prisoner transfer agreement it signed with “We want an improvement on the security ar- Nigeria in 2014. chitecture of the area by re-establishing a military base in Kaiama as it used to be up to early 80s, more so the large parcel of land acquired by the Nigerian army for the purpose of building a permanent military barracks. The suspected BY KUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja insurgents who carried out the killings in Kaiama were believed to be in the forest for a fairly The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) yesterday, long period to the attack,” he said. adjourned indefinitely the trial of the Senate According to the Emir, the suspected insur- President, Dr Bukola Saraki on charges of false gents initially limited their activities to occa- assets declaration. sional harassment of farm settlements and According to the chairman of the tribunal, villages for the purpose of seizing food items, Danladi Umar, the decision to adjourn the case livestock‎ and cooking utensils ostensibly to was to await the verdict of the Supreme Court support their stay in the forest. on the appeal filed by Saraki and the federal gov“Following increasing complaints of the ernment’s cross-appeal in respect of the case. menace of these men, a patrol was emplaced to “The tribunal has decided to adjourn sine die monitor their movement resulting in the confrontation of the existence of their camp within the National Park. Some resident of the affected villages who were suspected to be the BY OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka source of supply of regular information and other needs of the insurgents were identified There is tension in Anambra state over the the diand apprehended hence their supply line was rective by the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano to all Commissioners and other political appoincut,” he added. tees to hand over to the Permanent Secretary or

He explained that the statement in the true sense has the capacity to denigrate the Nigerian Military in every ramification including its loyalty to the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the confidence of the general public to defend Nigeria’s democracy.

Agim also said shortly after the transition from a military to a democratically elected government in 1999, officers of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, who were quasi-political, were honourably eased out of service adding that this was done to avoid indoctrination of other officers in the Military in order to enable the democratic government commence a re-professionalisation process of the Armed Forces.

He maintained that the Nigerian Military began to take the lead at ensuring that the West African Sub Region is stable democratically

through military diplomacy and physical actions where it is highly desirable and supported by ECOWAS. According to him, the case of the Gambia last year where democracy was enforced by an ECOWAS Military Coalition led by the Armed Forces of Nigeria, under the focused and abled leadership of Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, is still fresh in our memories.

“Furthermore, the present crop of personnel in the Armed Forces of Nigeria right from the Service Chiefs to the men; are made up of the balance of re-professionalised officers and fresh intakes from 1999, who do not nurse political ambitions. They are fully committed to their oaths of allegiance to serve their fatherland Nigeria, with total submission to our democratic government.

UK To Build N315m Prison Wing In Nigeria Under that deal, eligible prisoners serving criminal sentences in Nigeria and Britain can be returned to complete their sentences in their respective countries. The British government did not indicate how many prisoners might be moved or when the project is likely to be completed.

Nigerian prisons, many of them built by British colonisers more than 100 years ago, are severely overcrowded, leading to the spread of diseases.

Britain’s own prison system has been showing signs of severe strain in recent

years, with overcrowding, rising suicide rates and a growing problem with drug trafficking and other crimes within jails that were sometimes built in the Victorian era.

Kirikiri is not one of the oldest prisons in Nigeria but it does date back to colonial times.

Last month, the federal government said the prison in the southern city of Port Harcourt, which was originally designed to hold 800 prisoners, currently has nearly 5,000. It said 3,700 of them had been awaiting trial for more than five years.

Code Of Conduct Tribunal Adjourns Saraki’s Trial Indefinitely (indefinitely) pending the outcome of the appeals at the Supreme Court,” Umar ruled.

Saraki’s counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), had earlier informed the tribunal that the Supreme Court had fixed March 15 for the hearing of the pending appeals.

The trial had resumed on February 6, 2018, following the December 12, 2017, judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which restored three out of the entire 18 counts earlier dismissed by the CCT. The Court of Appeal had partly set aside the

CCT’s ruling on the no-case submission which Saraki had filed after the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered documentary exhibits.

The court ordered Saraki to return to the CCT to defend three counts, which it stated the prosecution had led prima facie evidence to prove.

But both the Saraki and the prosecution had subsequently filed separate appeals to the Supreme Court challenging the parts of the Court of Appeal’s judgment they found unfavourable.

Tension In Anambra Over Sack Of Commissioners, Other Political Appointees the most senior civil servant in their respective ministries, department or agencies latest before March 16, 2018, as some of the affected political appointees appear to be resisting the directive.

A memo issued by the Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Professor Solo

A good deed is never lost.

Chukwudobelu,Governor Obiano in addition to sacking all the Commissioners and other political appointees, including the SSAs and SAs also ordered the affected officials to return all project vehicles their possession to the state government.

However, in a swift reaction to the develop-

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March 9, 2018

Stakeholders Seek Inclusion Of Public Libraries In TETfund

BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja

Stakeholders in the education sector have appealed to the National Assembly to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Act of 2011 to accommodate public libraries.

They made the call in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the conference on repositioning public libraries organised by the National Library of Nigeria.

President, Nigerian Library Association, Dr Ummuna Opara said public libraries are providing services to students of distance learning, off campus students and part-time students of tertiary institutions of learning and with the present state of public libraries, these categories of library users are grossly underserved.

He said: “TETfund’s intervention will greatly enhance the capacity of these libraries to serve millions of Nigerians who are presently not served or are underserved.”

Opara further appeal to the federal government to convene a special summit of the National Council on Education to discuss library development in Nigeria.

Rotary Advocates More Women Inclusion In Govt

BY HENRY TYOHEMBA, Abuja

Women in Rotary Club of Asokoro district 9125, Nigeria, has called on the federal government to include more women in the affairs of the country to overcome the current challenges.

The call was made yesterday in Abuja during a peace walk and other programmes organised to commemorate the 2018 International Women’s Day. A former president of the Club, Mrs Frances Bekey who spoke with journalists on the need for women to leave kitchen work and be more active in the society also called on government to do more to include them in the affairs of the country.

She said: “Our message for the government is to try as much as possible to include women in the affairs of the country. Let women be given the opportunity to play their role as mothers, home keepers and peacemakers. For women, we are asking them to leave the kitchen and come out to the forefront. This is the time that women are needed most. For us in Rotary we try to get women out and given them voice, that is why today we are celebrating International Women’s Day with all our members clubs in Abuja.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (middle), with staff members of his office during his 61st birthday celebration at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY NAN.

Strike: SSANU, NASU, NAAT Take Protest To NASS

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

Striking members of the three main non-teaching staff unions of the nation’s universities yesterday protested at the National Assembly to draw attention to their plight. The workers have been on strike for the last three months.

The unions operating under Joint Action Committee (JAC) are made of Non Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (NASU), Se-

nior Staff Academic of Nigerian Universities(SSANU) National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

The workers, Non-Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities during the protest called on the federal government to ensure full and proper implementation of the 2009 agreement.

Chairman of Joint Action Committee (JAC),Mr Samson Ugwoke, lamented the neglect of the work-

ers.

Ugwoke said that the continuous reneging of the 2009 agreement and other memorandum of understandings entered with the unions was affecting the effective running of the university system.

He noted that the unions have had several meetings with the federal government with no tangible results.

According to him, “We deem it imperative to draw your attention

to the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the non-teaching staff unions based on our demands for the full proper implementation of our 2009 agreement. ``The specific issues are the reinstatement of our members in the university staff schools, who were removed from the budget of the universities based on obnoxious budget call circular from National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission.

Cross River APC Congress Properly Conducted – NWC

BY ANDREW ESSIEN, Abuja

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has insisted that the conduct of the Cross River State congress that held on February 24 was properly done.

The party’s leadership overruled its national vice chairman, South-South, Prince Hilliard Eta who had described the Cross River State congress that produced Mr. John Etim as

state chairman as illegal and a charade.

APC national organising secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso dismissed Eta’s position, even as he stated that the Cross River congress was a concluded exercise.

Eta had, in an interview said, “I got a report today that one Etim John is going around calling himself the chairman of the APC in Cross River State. First of all, I am the National Vice Chairman of

the APC in the South-South and Cross River is one of the states under my supervision and I know that, that chapter is headed by Sir John Ochalla as acting chairman.”

But reacting to this, Izunaso said, “As far as the party is concerned, that exercise is already concluded.The national vice chairman South South was the only person that did not vote out of 109 delegates for that election.

Only him absented himself and didn’t vote and because he didn’t

vote he can’t say it is a charade.

Two persons bought forms and contested and one person defeated another. So, why is it a charade? And you know the party has an appeal committee, if anybody is not satisfied with the conduct of the congress why can’t he go to the appeal committee?”

On the allegation that 21 days notice was not given to INEC, the APC national organising secretary said, “Notice was given to INEC November last year.

Petrol Price: Edo Govt Vows To Ensure Compliance

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

The Edo State government has warned marketers of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), who sell above the approved pump price of N145 per litre, that its team will commence monitoring of filling stations from March 11 for enforcement of the pump price.

The commissioner, Ministry of Minerals, Oil and Gas, Hon. Joseph Ugheoke, in a statement, said that relevant law enforcement agencies have been put on

notice and will join the ministry’s team which will enforce the directive and seal erring stations.

According to him, “The state government will not tolerate the dispensing of PMS above the N145 per litre approved price for independent marketers. The team of monitors will commence monitoring to ensure compliance from Monday, March 11, 2018.”

He said, “Marketers, who fail to comply with the directive will have their stations sealed and fully prosecuted according to the

law. The steps of the state government became necessary to prevent the practice where some independent marketers cash in on the cut in supply of PMS to the state to hike the price of the product.”

Ugheoke noted that supply of PMS to independent marketers across Edo State has since increased to tackle the scarcity of the product. “In view of the increase in supply of PMS to marketers, the state government cannot tolerate marketers who sell

the product above the approved pump price, after so much has been done to ensure steady supply of PMS to marketers in the state,” he added.

“Marketers of PMS are therefore enjoined, henceforth, to ensure they dispense PMS at N145 per litre. Relevant security agencies and stakeholders in the oil and gas sector are expected to comply with the notice as marketers found to be acting contrary to the directive will be treated as economic saboteurs,” he said.

UPP Condoles With Ex-INEC Chairman Over Mother’s Death

BY PAUL UWADIMA, Abuja

The leadership and members of the United Progressive Party (UPP) have expressed sadness over the news of the transition to glory of Nneoma Eunice Nkwoada Iwu, mother of former chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof Maurice Iwu at the age of 88 years.

The party in a letter to the former INEC chairman and signed by its national chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, described the deceased as a devout Christian, who was also an embodiment of grace, integrity, humility and nobility, with abundant milk of human kindness which she generously dispensed to all those who were privileged to know her, particularly the less privileged.

“She was a woman of destiny and a role model to younger women. Indeed, the demise of an adorable Mother at any age, is always painful to her children as nobody can take her place in the family.

“No doubt her departure has created a big vacuum in the hearts of members of your family and all those she positively affected their lives. We enjoin you all to take solace in the fact that Mama lived

a fulfilled life and along with her beloved husband, raised successful children like you, Your Excellency, Professor Maurice Iwu. “Our thoughts and prayers are with members of your family in this period of grief, and pray to God Almighty to console, comfort and strengthen all those affected by her transition to glory.

For Mama, it is a celebration of life well lived,” the party said.

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NATIONAL NEWS 11

Gombe Women Want Passage Of Gender Equality Bill

BY CHUWANG DUNGS, Gombe

Women in Gombe State have ‎appealed to the state executive council and members of the Gombe State House of Assembly to hasten the passage of the Gender and Equal opportunity for all persons Bill. The Bill proposes for women to have equal opportunities and chances with their male counterparts in terms of access to services, opportunities and societal resources for sustainable development.

The women made the appeal yesterday in Gombe through the state commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs. Rabi Daniel, during a press conference to kickoff activities in celebration of the 2018 International Women’s Day. The commissioner’s speech which was read

by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Ishaku Mohammed stated that “Gombe State gender and equal opportunities for persons Bill which has made reasonable progress in the right direction is now with all members of the executive council to make their rightful inputs for onward forwarding to the state House Of Assembly.”

According to her the state government in collaboration with UN Women held series of sensitizationmeetings with various stakeholders at different levels, to ensure the passage of the bill.

She said this is the right time for the state to fully utilise the women so that collectively “we can drive Gombe State to the next level of political and socio-economic development.”

2019: Group Calls On Atiku To Officially Declare Intention

BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, Abuja

The Atiku Abubakar Leadership Development Initiative led by its national coordinator, Mr. Okechukwu Nwuzor(Don Singles) was yesterday inaugurated in Abuja, with the group calling on the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to officially declare his interest in the 2019 presidential election. The inauguration was attended by all the 36 states of the federation coordinators of the group including Senator Abaribe and Nigeria’s celebrated Nollywood actor, John Okafor(Mr.Ibu) as well as Ambassador Chris Odey.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the national coordinator of the Atiku

Leadership Development Initiative, Mr. Nwuzor said they believe the former vice president will be the best option for Nigeria in 2019.

That he is the one that will fix the dwindling economy if he is eventually elected as the next president of Nigeria. He added that Atiku Abubakar is tested and trusted to get the job done ahead of other presidential candidates in the 2019 presidential election.

LEADERSHIP Friday reports that Nwuzor recently organised a successful reception in honour of the former vice president at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, when Atiku went to the South East to attend the funeral service of the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen (right), President, International Institute for Petroleum, Energy Law and Policy, Prof Niyi AyoolaDaniels(left) and the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Engr. Simbi Wabote during the judges’ workshop on Understanding the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry Content Development Act in Abuja, yesterday.

Senate To FG: Forward Justice Kafarati’s Nomination As CJ Fed High Court

BY AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO, Abuja

Senate yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to forward nomination of Justice Abdu Kafarati to the upper legislative chamber for approval as substantive Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal High Court to avoid constitutional crisis.

Following the failure of the Presidency to nominate successor to the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta who was due to retire on Saturday September 16, 2017, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJNP Justice Walter Onnoghen, on the same Sat-

urday, swore-in Justice Kafarati, as the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

Justice Kafarati was then the next most senior Justice of that court of first instance in the country.

In his remarks after administering the oath, the CJN said, “The Federal High Court is a very critical court in the jurisprudence of Nigeria. It is very strategic.”

He said the swearing-in was done during the weekend to avoid a vacuum in the leadership of the high court.

“That is why we are here today. Even if it has not been done before it has been done now”, Justice Onnoghen joking-

ly added.

In the same light, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki said the Federal High Court cannot be left to stay without a Chief Judge. ‘’The time to do the needful by the executive is fast running out. Once the Presidency forward his name to this chamber, his confirmation or approval will be made in dispatch to avoid crisis’’.

The senate resolution followed the motion moved by the chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator David Umaru (Niger East), to draw the attention of his colleagues to looming crisis in the Federal High Court.

NGO Condemns ‘DSS Gestapo Style’ Of Handling Issues

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

A non-governmental organisation, National Patriots Forum (NPF) has condemned the Directorate of State Services (DSS) attempt to forcefully enter the house of the immediate past acting director general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Amb. Muhammed Dauda with the aim of forcefully evicting him.

The national president, NPF, Comrade Isa Tijjani in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, expressed dismay over what it described as ‘’unprofessional, despicable, barbaric and shameful conduct of the DSS.” Tijjani said the ugly scenario has fur-

ther put to disrepute the mercenary action of the said agency, which has the penchant of putting the president and his government to ridicule.

The statement reads in part, ‘’It is now evidently clear that these actions may not be unconnected with damning revelations of the corrupt tendencies and attempts to siphon and steal monies in the care of the NIA as revealed in a memo to the House Committee on Intelligence by the immediate past DG. ‘’This affront on a sister agency by another goes to tell how inter agency rivalry has gone pretty awry in the conduct of intelligence overview in our country. ‘’It is worthy of note that even his predecessor Amb Ayo Oke who was relieved

from the position of the DG of the NIA enjoys the comfort of staying in his official residence till now, making one to wonder what could have been the excuse for such an archaic method of intimidation with the aim of stifling the truth from the public. ‘’In the light of the foregoing, we want Nigerians and indeed the President to note and know that the life and safety of Amb Dauda squarely rests on the President and his apparatus of state, more over the National Assembly should take note of the ugly dimension, twist and ensure a comprehensive investigation that would be made public for the consumption of all Nigerians.’’

He said that the NGO would follow the

Senator Distributes 20 Power Tillers To Farmers In Kebbi

PRIMORG Urges FG, Others To Close Gender Gap

BY YAHYA SARKI, Kebbi

As part of activities to mark the 2018 International Women’s Day, a nongovernmental organisation, Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development (PRIMORG), has called on governments at all levels to expedite actions to close the gender gap in the country.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, chairman, PRIMORG, Agbonsuremi Okhiria, quoting the World Economic Forums’ Global Gender Gap Report, noted that it would take 217 years to close the gender parity gap.

He said this called for a

The Senator representing Kebbi North federal constituency, Dr. Yahya Abdullahi has distributed 20 power tillers worth N8million to farmers across the six local government areas of the constituency.

The event which took place yesterday in Argungu was attended by politicians and farmers from the area.

According to the Senator, the farm inputs were distributed in order to assist the farmers in doing farming with ease so as to

reduce drudgery.

He said the move would also facilitate increase productivity towards achieving self-sufficiency in food production as envisaged by the federal government.

“This is part of our effort to help farmers in doing their farm work with ease to help the diversification agenda of this government for increased food production”, he said.

The Senator represented by his media aide , Jamil Gulma,promised that he would soon bring more dividends of democracy to his people.

BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, Abuja

strong call-to-action to press forward and progress gender parity in the country.

In line with the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day which is #PressforProgress, Okhiria said women’s health and safety should be given a top priority with women having fewer opportunities for health, education, unequal power in sexual partnership, and gender-based violence.

The statement reads in part: “This year’s event calls for a global reflection on gender issues with a proper understanding that these issues are not focused on women alone, but on the relationship between men and women in

society. The actions and attitudes of men and boys essentially play a greater role in achieving gender equality.

“Although the world is making progress in achieving gender parity in education, girls still make up a higher percentage of out-of-school children than boys. Approximately one quarter of girls in the developing world do not attend school while families with limited means who cannot afford costs such as school fees, uniforms, and supplies for all of their children will prioritize education for their sons.

“Maternal health is also an issue of specific concern. In many countries, women have

limited access to prenatal and infant care, and are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Quality maternal health care would provide an important entry point for information and services that empower mothers as informed decision-makers concerning their own health and the health of their children.

“Finally, as various deliberations take the centre stage of global discourse on women’s issues, we enjoin the entire world to continue to press for a strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive.”

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UN Reiterates Commitment To Uphold Women’s Rights

BY FRANCIS OKOYE, Maiduguri

The United Nations High Commission For Refugees ( UNHCR) has reiterated its firm commitment to uphold the rights of women and girls and to ensure that it work to secure protection for displaced and stateless people.

The was contained in a statement issued yesterday by the UNHCR’s High Commissioner For Refugees , Filipo Grandi, to mark this year’s International Women’s Day with the theme “Time is Now”.

The statement reads in part, “This year’s International Women’s Day comes on the heels of a powerful global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice.

“Its theme – ‘Time is Now’ - comes at the right moment. And it also echoes UNHCR’s firm commitment to uphold the rights of women and girls, and to ensure that our work to secure protection and solutions for displaced and stateless people takes full account of age, gender and diversity. “ Our aim is to build on the rich experience, capacities and aspirations of women and girls, and to help them realise their full potential – through better access to education, decent work, and legal and health services. “ We at UNHCR do very concrete work to advance these goals. In Lebanon, women represent over 50 per cent of our outreach volunteers. In the Central African Republic, three centres are now helping displaced women to improve their literacy skills, address sexual and gender-based violence, and earn a living for themselves and their families. And in Malaysia, sustained investments in leadership, communication, and gender equality training, have boosted the number of refugee women taking part in community decision-making by 43 per cent.

Ex-Jonathan’s Aide Urges NASS To Revisit Peace Corps Bill

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s rejection of proposed Peace Corp of Nigeria Establishment Bill, former President Goodluck Jonathan’s aide, Comrade Jude Imagwe, has urged the National Assembly to revisit the bill saying it is capable of employing thousands of Nigerians.

He said the rejection of the bill was an opportunity missed and insensitivity on the part of the Buhari administration to create jobs for thousands of frustrated youths in the country.

The former special adviser to Jonathan on Youth and Students Affair maintained that reasons advanced by the president are not tenable especially in the face of the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the lack of policy direction to address the challenges in the land.

He said part of the APC campaign promise prior to the 2015 elections was to create millions of jobs for Nigerian youths and noted that the President’s rejection was not only insensitive on the part of government but inhuman and stressed that it is now left for senate to use its veto power to pass the bill.

L-R: Area Manager, Mararaba Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Alhaji Lameed Obadaki; Nasarawa Region Safety Officer, Kennedy Osakwe; Chief of Gurku, Alhaji Jibrin Waziri and General Manager Risk and Compliance, Godwin Akado during the 1st Quarter Health Safety and Environment Sensitization at Mararaba/Ado Area offices, yesterday.

Senate Summons British Coy Over $3.3bn Oil Deal

BY AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO,

Abuja

The Senate Committee on Local Content has ordered a British firm, BP Oil International Limited to appear before it to clear the air over a $3.3 billion pre-financing crude oil deal alleged to have breached the Nigerian Oil and Gas Content Development (NOGICD) Act 2010.

In the summon to the chief executive officer, Mr. Robert Dudley, the chairman of the senate committee, Senator Solomon Adeola (APC, Lagos West) stated that following complaints from a Nigerian firm, Alsaa Gas and Shipping Nigeria Limited (AGSN) on a $3.3 billion prefinancing crude oil contract, a probable infraction of the NOGICD Act 2010 and possible fraudulent acts against a Nigerian firm may

have occurred.

In a press statement signed by Kayode Odunaro, a media aide to Senator Adeola, Adeola said the Nigerian company has provided technical and local industry knowledge support for BP Oil International Limited in the contract process with an agreement for a $0.10 per barrel of crude oil of the deal which was unilaterally revoked by the British firm.

The chairman of the committee pointed out that part of its oversight responsibilities and functions includes ensuring that local companies are not undermined in their dealings with big foreign entities as well as ensuring compliance for NOGICD Act. The British company whose letter of summons was routed through Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as copied to its local represent-

ative in Lagos is expected to appear on March 28,2018 with “all emails, documents, agreements (signed and unsigned) between yourself, NNPC and AGSN relating to the contract as well as all transactional negotiation documents and offers, term sheets and any legal documents to do with dealings with NNPC in this pre-financing opportunity including all correspondences from GED Finance, Group Managing Director and Standard Chartered Bank”.

Senator Adeola who said failure of the British firm to appear before the committee may lead to invoking parliamentary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria added that it is regrettable that some of the infractions against the spirit and letters of the NOGICD Act are perpetrated with active collaboration of some Nigerians.

Appeal Court Reserves Judgement On Kashamu’s Extradition Suit

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

The Lagos Division of the Appeal Court yesterday reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Federation Government of Nigeria against the orders of the Federal High Court barring security agencies in the country from arresting and commencing extradition proceedings against Buruji Kashamu.

Two judges of the lower court, Justice Okon Abang and Justice Ibrahim Buba had in 2015 in separate rulings nullified the pro-

visional warrant of arrest obtained by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the Senator representing Ogun-East.

The judges had also restrained the NDLEA from arresting and arraigning Kashamu in furtherance of extraditing him to the United States of America to face drug related charges.

The federal government was seeking the extradition of the Senator to the United States of America to answer criminal charg-

es on drug-related offences.

At the hearing of the appeal yesterday, the three-man panel of the upper court led

by Justice Joseph Ikhegh, reserved judgement, after parties in the matter argued and adopted their written addressees.

While moving his brief, the counsel to the federal government, Emeka Ngige (SAN), informed the court that the issues raised by the respondent (Kashamu), in his preliminary objection contained ‘hearsay evidence’.

Edo Govt Created 37,000 Jobs In 1 Year – Official

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

Edo State government yesterday said it has created 37,000 jobs through the state’s EDOJOBS initiative within one year of its inception.

The senior special assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs Ukinebo Dare, disclosed this at a media briefing in Benin.

She also noted that no fewer than 650 persons have been trained on employability and connected to job opportunities through the Initiative.

She stressed that Governor Godwin Obaseki promise of creating 200, 000 jobs within four years, would be met and surpassed.

While noting that these jobs secured by the beneficiaries were in both the public and private sectors, the EDOJOBS boss said, the agency is in partnership with a number of organisations to train skilled manpower.

She said the Initiative has added another mandate of job creation to its original mandate of securing job placement for job seekers.

“The Initiative has grown from job placement to

job creation. We now assist young people to startup their businesses and also assist women with low income with loans.

“You can see that we are no longer a job matching platform but job creation platform.

“Though we have quite a number of organisations we are currently working with, we however want more of such to partner with us in the areas that will create economic prosperity,” she stated.

Mr Lawrence Agbknghie of the Law Auto Service, one of the partners of EDOJOBS Initiative, urged the youths on the need to learn trade.

Irepodun and Ekiti local government areas of the state.

According to the governor, his government had already constructed 3.6kms Aran-Orin road out of six kilometres, saying that the government would construct the remaining 2.4 kms to link Ila town in the neighbouring Osun State.

The governor who also inspected

Oke-Opin township road in Ekiti local government, Ipetu-Rore-Arandun road in Irepodun local government area, said the quality of works done on the roads were in consonance with funds released for the respective projects.

He also directed for immediate rehabilitation of Oke Opin - Epe Opin community bridge to control erosion in the area.

Ahmed Promises To Complete Osun Boundary Road

BY ABDULLAHI OLESIN, Ilorin

Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has announced his government’s decision to link Aran-Orin township road in Irepodun local government area of the state to Osun State boundary.

Ahmed stated this at Aran-Orin during the inspection of ongoing projects in

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Pastor Impregnates 2 Sisters In Delta After ‘Fake Deliverance’

BY NOSA ERESOYEN, Asaba

A 41-year-old randy pastor (name withheld) of a new generation church in Ugbolu Community, near Asaba, Delta State, has allegedly put in family way, two sisters after conducting “Fake Deliverance” for them.

It was gathered that in 1998, the said pastor had, in Enugu State, allegedly committed same act when he was said to have slept with a mother and daughter during an all-night service, and was subsequently banished from the town after he was subjected to severe beating by angry church youths. Sources said the two sisters, undergraduates of the National Open University, Asaba study centre (names withheld) had been regular visitors to Supporters of El-Zakzaky on a peaceful demonstration for the release of their spiritual leader who has been incarcerated for two years on the pastor’s church in the Community, and the street in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN. most times, attended his deliverance service before the bubble burst.

According to our informed sources, trouble started in December 2017 when the two sisters sought the pastor’s spiritual help for an undisclosed spiritual attack, a situation he allegedly respond to and hoodwinked them BY MUH’D ZANGINA, Kura lice, Mr Bala Zama Senchi, said the gesture still with police command.” was aimed at boosting the moral of oth- ‎However, five other officers, who deminto doing deliverance during night fall, an offer the unsuspecting sisters willingly Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, er serving officers to discharge their du- onstrated professionalism while on their has donated the sum of N3.6 million to the ties diligently. duty post, were given commendation letaccepted without hesitation. police officers who exhibited outstanding He said, the police commission has al- ters for excellent performance. performance in the cause of their duty in ways accorded priority to safety and welCP Zama stressed that, the IG donation Jigawa State. fare of its officers as well as supporting to the gallant officers is an evidence of high The 13 valiant police officers, who re- them and their children to have a good level of concern the police authority has on its personnel while alive and after death. ceived the reward of selfless commitment, life.

He then reiterated the commitment including those who lost their lives as a “I am today presenting these checks result of gun shots or accidents while on (donation) to families of seven officers of of the police authority to take care of the

BY NAN this command who gallantly lost their lives entitlements and welfare of its men, and duty.

Speaking while presenting the checks on duty, not as conpensation but it is in also urge the officers to uphold the conAn Ikorodu Customary Court in Lagos to the beneficiaries, the IG, who was rep- recognition of their sacrifice, also to oth- cept of professionalism and nationalism State, has dissolved a five-year-old marriage resented by the State Commissioner of Po- er five who survived the wounds and are while discharging their duties at all time. between a commercial motorcyclist, Ibrahim Adedeji and his wife, after a DNA test revealed the paternity of their child.

The court president, Mrs Funmi Adeola, ordered that the couple should go their BY ABU NMODU, ABUJA separate ways as the DNA test had revealed N300m and N170m respectively from his last cars and I have been in this for some years.”

Niger State police command, has arrested a self- two operations before concentrating on the that the motorcyclist was not the father of He said that he ran into trouble when his acclaimed chairman of kidnappers’ operation in business of receiving stolen vehicles. the child. boys received and paid N400, 000 for a car She, however advised that Adedeji may Niger State, Maitarari Isa Saidu and recovered 35 According to him, his notorious activities which he quickly took to sell at the cost of stolen vehicles from him. were spread across the states of Niger, Zamfara, N800, 000 in Kano as a result of which the adopt the child legally, if he so wishes.

Saidu, allegedly behind several kidnap Kaduna, FCT and Yobe, saying that the police police got him.

Adeola ruled that the man was free to The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said return the child to his ex-wife, so that she operations in Niger State, was paraded yesterday recovered 28 stolen cars from his depots in by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPPRO) Niger and Abuja, 15 others from Zamfara and that they were arrested by men of Operation could take the child to his rightful father.

Save Sanity, deployed to deal with criminals The petitioner had, in November2017, Jimoh Moshood in Minna along with 48 a number of other stolen cars from Kaduna.

Confessing, he stated that, “the business of within the five states including Niger State, filed a divorce suit against his wife, whom suspects including two of his children. he suspected of having extra marital affairs.

The 63 years old father of 29 children and kidnapping became too risky for me, that was adding that five AK 47 rifles were also recovered Adedeji said he had doubt on the three wives, confessed that he collected the reason for switching to receiving stolen from the suspects paternity of the five-year-old boy delivered for him by his wife shortly after their marriage.

He insisted that the boy resembles his

BY MIDAT JOSEPH, KADUNA According to Chindo, of much interest to wife’s ex-boyfriend.

Chindo is the Dean of Pharmaceutical studies him was an herbal plant that had been used in “I don’t believe the child belongs to me, of KASU. A Nigeria-based scholar of Pharmacology and he doesn’t look like me, and he resembles Speaking on the topic: “Herbal Medicine: the management of Central Nervous Systems the other man; I have seen them together Toxicology of Kaduna State University (KASU), Panacea or Agents of Mass Destruction,” Chindo disorders traditionally in some parts of Northern and thereafter, she became pregnant,” Prof Ben Chindo, has said that people suffering said, “we have studied on a considerable number Nigeria for ages: He named the plant as the “Gamji” the petitioner, a resident of Gberigbe epilepsy and schisophrenia (madness) can now of medicinal plants that revealed Central Nervous plant in Hausa whose botanical name is Ficus get treatment and permanent cure using a herbal Systems (CNS) activities including: Ficus platyphylla. community told the court.

But the 26-year-old wife, Rukayat, denied drug he discovered. platyphylla , Newboldia leavis , Hibiscus sabdariffa,” “Ficus platyphylla (Family: Moraceae) is a the allegations, insisting that Adedeji was deciduous plant that is found mainly in the The breakthrough research and development he told the audience. the biological father of the child.

Other medicinal plants he has studied were: savanna regions of the West African coast,” he said. of the herbal drug was made known during the He went on: “It is used in folk medicine “Truly, he saw me with my ex-boyfriend second Professorial Inaugural Lecture of KASU, Pavetta crassipes, Neorautanenia mitis, Nauclea at an open place and since then he has delivered by Chindo at the Lecture Theatre of laltifolia, Balanites aegyptiaca and Randia nilotica to manage epilepsy, depression, insomnia, among others. psychoses, pain, inflammation and gastrointestinal been suspecting me. Fortunately, I became Faculty of Science, KASU, Kaduna yesterday. pregnant thereafter.

A fox is not taken twice in the same snare. – English proverb

IG Donates N3.6m To Gallant Officers In Jigawa

Court Ends 5-yearold Marriage Over Son’s Paternity

Police Nab 63-year-old Kidnap Kingpin, Recover 35 Stolen Vehicles

We Can Now Treat, Heal Epilepsy With A Herbal Drug – Prof Chindo

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NEWS EXTRA 15

Alleged N650m Fraud: Court Directs EFCC To Provide ‘Necessary Documents’ On Akinjide, Others

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, LAGOS

A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to provide the defence team in the on-going trial of a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Jumoke Akinjide, accused of an alleged N650 million fraud, with all necessary documents.

The trial judge, Justice Muslim Hassan, gave the directive after the defence lawyers in the case, led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) informed the court that they had yet to be served with certain documents, including report of investigation, which the prosecution intended to rely upon in the case.

The former minister, a former Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Ayo Ademola Adeseun and a politician, Chief Olanrewaju Otiti, are standing trial before the court on a 24-count charge of alleged N650 million fraud.

The accused persons were also accused of conspiring to directly take possession of N650million, which they reasonably ought to have known, forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

According to the EFCC, they allegedly received

the money from Mrs Alison-Madueke in the build- up to the 2015 general election.

The money was said to be part of a larger sum of $115 million allegedly doled out

by Mrs Alison-Madueke to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

However, they all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, however, Ayorinde and other defence lawyers, Michael Lana and Oladeji Akinola, objected to the competence of an investigative officer with the EFCC, Usman Zakari, to testify as a witness in the case.

They argued that Zakari’s statement was not frontloaded as part of the proof of evidence made available to them by the prosecution.

They also insisted that allowing the investigator to testify as such would breach their clients’ right to fair hearing under Section 36 of the Constitution.

The lawyers cited Section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to buttress their argument.

Female Corps Member Feared Dead In Lagos Train Accident

BY KEHINDE SALLAH AND JOSEPH ONYEJE,

Lagos

A yet to be identified female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was yesterday knocked down by a moving train in Ikeja area of Lagos State.

The accident, which attracted the attention of people along the railway line, left the body of the accident victim seriously mangled.

According to an eye witness account, “the train was not moving at a high speed.

People tried to call her attention to the

incoming train but she didn’t yield to the call as she continued pressing her mobile phone”.

He also further stated that “I was looking at her from where I stood and saw her with an ear piece plugged into her ears which made her unable to hear the sound of the incoming train. Many passers-by tried to pull her out of the rail line but she ran towards the moving train which crushed parts of her body”.

Our correspondents learnt that though her case seemed hopeless, she was later rushed to the hospital for medical

Outgoing acting registrar/ chief executive of Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria, Mr Thaddeus Chidiebere (right), hands over to the board’s substantive registrar/chief executive, Dr. Mark Chukwudi Okeji, during an inauguration and handover ceremony in Abuja, yesterday.

L-R: Co-curricular division Secondary Education Board (SEB), Mrs. Mary Ajibola, HOD CoCurricular SEB, Mrs. Victoria George and acting country director Africare, Dr. Patrick Adah and principal, Model Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja, Mrs. Patricia Oti, during Power forward Africare Stakeholders meeting in Abuja, yesterday.

Sex-starved Pastor Abandons Family, Impregnates Another Woman

BY NAN

A 46-year-old pastor, Joshua Aranse, yesterday told an Alagbado Customary Court in Lagos that he impregnated another woman and abandoned his matrimonial home for four years because of sex starvation.

“I am a pastor and I counsel people. It is true that I abandoned her. For over four years, she did not allow me have sexual intercourse with her.

“This is why I went out of my way to impregnate another woman,” he told the court while reacting to a request by his 42-year-old wife, Funmilayo, who is seeking the dissolution of their 16-yearold marriage over alleged adultery.

The trader, who resides at No 18, Adebayo Oloye St, Baba Ijebu Bus Stop, Meiran, a Lagos suburb, also alleged that her husband abandoned his matrimonial home between 2010 and 2014.

Aranse, however, told the President of the court, Prince A M Kosoko, that he abandoned his wife for over four years because his wife denied him sex.

“When I sold the car, I gave her a sum of N40, 000 but she used the money to buy second hand L-R: Police Commissioner, Gombe State Command, Mr. Shina T. Olukolu addressing chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Tukur and member of the correspondent chapel during shoes to sell. his thank you visit to the chapel, yesterday.

“I did not commit adultery except the woman I impregnated,” Aranse said, urging the court to dissolve the marriage, adding “I don’t love her anymore.”

Earlier, the wife had told the court that her husband, a pastor, had in 2010, impregnated another woman.

Funmilayo said, “In 2014, he finally abandoned our matrimonial home.”

“My husband has not set his eyes on his three children since June 30, 2014. He refused to pay their school fees. They no longer go to school because I do not have money to send them to school.

“He sold our car and gave the money to the woman he impregnated. He has refused to take care of the children and me.“Please separate us L-R: PTA Chairman, Dr. Garba Safiyanu; Public Diplomacy officer, US Embassy, Mr. Lawrence Socha, director of Schools, Pace Setters Academy, Mrs. Kate because I no longer love him.”

Imansuagbon; chairman, Pace Setters academy, Barr. Kenneth Imansuagbon In his ruling, the court’s president ordered the and Head of Cultures and information, Japan Embassy, Mr. Hideki Sakamoto; respondent to pay N15, 000 for the upkeep of appreciating the performance of Pace Setters students, during school’s 2018 cultural Festival in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO. the three children until the case was disposed of.

To eat one’s heart out. – English proverb

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Former Niger Speaker, Kawu Dumps PDP

BY MBACHU GODWIN, Abuja

A former speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Isa B.M Kawu has resigned his membership of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), after being a member for almost 20 years.

In a letter addressed to his ward chairman , Cheniyan ward, dated 2nd March, 2018 in Bida and copied Bida local government chapter of the party, the former speaker, Isa Kawu appreciated the party for giving him the opportunity of carrying the party’s flag at two different elections of 2007 and 2011 where he was elected as a member representing Bida 1 Constituency for Niger State House of Assembly.

It will be recalled that Hon. Isa Kawu was elected as speaker in May 2012 but impeached within one week due to the alleged interference of the then governor Babangida Aliyu, who was said not to be comfortable with his election.

All eyes are on Hon Kawu as to which party he will join to actualise his gubernatorial ambition in 2019.

Wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari (2nd right), wife of the vice president, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo (right), wife of the speaker, Mrs. Dogara (left), and director general, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Mrs. Mary Eta, during the celebration of the International Day of the Women at the NCWD, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Niger Gets N200b Investment For Industrial Park

BY PATRICK OCHOGA, Benin City

A private investment company is set to invest N200 billion for industrial parks and airstrip in Niger State, with the state providing 524 hectares of land for it.

The company; Mainstream Energy branch, Hydropolis Nigeria Limited, is to invest on the 524 hectares of land for the project, which would be located in Kainji,

BY MAKINDE OLUWAROTIMI, Abuja Borgu local government area of the state.

The state commissioner for Commerce, The National Women Leader of the All Investment and Cooperatives, Hon Mudi Progressives Congress (APC), Hajiya Dr Muhammad, who spoke yesterday durRamatu Tijjani Aliyu, has urged the fed- ing the presentation of four hilux vehieral government to address the marginalisation and adversity facing women in the society.

In a felicitation message to commem- BY CHIBUZO UKAIBE, Abuja orate women all over the world on this year’s International Women’s Day, the The Social Democratic Party (SDP) yeswomen leader said it is disturbing be- terday formally unveiled its National cause sustainable development is vir- Working Committee (NWC), vowing to restructure the country, if it wins the tually impossible without frontally 2019 presidential election. addressing the marginalisation and adThe inauguration of the new party versity facing Nigerian women. executives took place in Abuja and the “This is disturbing to all of us; wom- event was attended by the recent defecen and men because sustainable devel- tors from the Peoples Democratic Party opment is virtually impossible without (PDP), including ex-Information Minisfrontally addressing the marginalisa- ter, Prof Jerry Gana and former Education and adversity facing our women. tion Minister, Prof Tunde Adeniran.

Both party leaders, who were Board From politics and governance to the of Trustees (BoT) members of PDP, had family and economy, the challenges defected to SDP last week. confronting our women are as real as they are daunting. Year after year, we continue to pay lip service to issues of women empowerment and gender mainstreaming. The time has come to BY AHURAKA ISAH AND SOLOMON AYADO, actually do something about them.”

Abuja She further urged the families of the abducted girls in Chibok and recently, Senate yesterday passed for the second reading, a Dapchi, to be strong because everyone Bill that will approve the use of a comprehensive and integrated approach in technology developis praying for them. ”On behalf of other Nigerian wom- ment and transfer, sustainable capacity building en, I want to further reach out to the and investment promotion for cost-effective buildfamilies of the abducted girls in Chibok ing and road construction practices in the country.

The bill which was first read on the floor of the and recently, Dapchi. We urge you to upper legislative chamber on March 22, 2017, be strong as our thoughts and prayers scaled for second reading during plenary yesare with you. We are hopeful that the terday. measures taken by government toOnce it is passed into law, the Nigerian Buildwards rescuing our daughters will soon ing and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) will be bear fruits.” established to build capacity, conduct integrat-

APC Women Leader Urges FG To Act Fast On Adversities Facing Women

cles to the state for effective monitoring of the project, said the Industrial Park will have recreation centres, air strip, golf course, private university, among others.

In order to encourage investors to the state, the commissioner disclosed that tax holidays and other incentives will be granted to new investors and therefore expressed optimism that the Industrial Park would drive employment for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.

He added that it would also boost the economic sector in the state, saying that the investment will be in full capacity in

10 – 15 years valued at N200 billion and to serve as a prelude for other investors to invest in the state The Project Coordinator of Hydropolis Investment Limited, Mariam Usman, said they have acquired 20 hectares of land to resettle the affected four villagers in Anfani, adding that the organisation has gone a long way in building social amenities that will make life comfortable for the moving villagers.

She said the project would include building of industries and residential while other commercial and economic activities will take place.

While former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae retained his position as National Chairman, Dr. Abdul Ahmed Isiaq is the Deputy National Chairman.

In his address at the occasion, Falae lamented the dearth of leadership in the country, noting that the SDP would address fundamental challenges bedeviling the Nigerian state if elected into power.

According to him, the party is irrevocably committed to justice, fairness, democracy, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption, adding that the SDP government will go the whole hog to ensure international cooperation to build a common humanity, within a secure and

peaceful world order.

“The SDP shall tirelessly pursue effective implementation of restructuring the Nigerian federation and reconciling the various peoples so as to achieve peace, harmony, security, defence and stability.

“We shall grow and transform the national economy to be dynamic, productive and sustainable, so as to generate incomes, create jobs and produce prosperity for all Nigerians.

“We shall raise Nigeria’s defence capabilities in order to ensure effective defence, peace and security,” Falae stated even as he stressed the preparedness of the party to “refine Nigeria’s foreign policy to promote international cooperation, trade and a peaceful world order.”

SDP Inaugurates NWC, Vows To Restructure Nigeria

Bill To Improve Economy Via Building, Road Construction Sectors Pass Second Reading ed applied research and development, research and development in roads, buildings and engineering materials.

In his lead debate on the bill, its sponsor, Senator Mustapha Bukar (APC Katsina North), said the need to have an established law for NBRRI Act is long overdue and necessary.

He explained that the vision of NBRRI “is to evolve innovations that will enhance job creation, wealth generation and poverty reduction as well as competitive indigenous construction companies capable of meeting global standards”.

The lawmaker added that “the mission of NBRRI is to improve the quality of life of Nigerians in the area of affordable housing and increased economic empowerment through applied integrated R&D,

A good deed is never lost.

capacity building and robust extension services”.

While explaining the rationale for the new law, he said: “since the decree establishing NBRRI in 1977, the world has witnessed lots of transformations and innovations in science, technology and engineering”.

“In roads and buildings, numerous advances have been made in construction materials and construction techniques while progress in engineering disciplines have led to the emergence of new, ideas, new approaches, new education methodologies , new R&D mechanisms and equipment, nanotechnologies, green construction solutions and materials as well as associated progress in space computer, ICT, etc”, he stressed.

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NUP Set To Commission New Headquarters

BY MICHAEL OCHE, Abuja

Yobe State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam will on Tuesday commission the new Pensioners House owned by the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) .

According to a statement signed by the NUP general secretary, Comrade Actor Zal, the Pensioners House which is the cooporate Headquarters of the union was achieved through the commitment of their members nationwide.

He said by moving to its own building, the union will be saving millions of naira which it usually spends paying rent after years of occupying a rented building.

He explained that the decision to invite the Yobe State governor to commission the building is due to his passion towards issues that has to do with the retired senior citizens.

According to him, Gaidam is among the few governors not owing pensioners and has been prompt in payment of gratuities.

He said, “This is a milestone achievement for us at NUP. We appreciate the commitment of our members towards the completion of this project.

4,700 Empowered With Vocational Skills In Katsina

BY ANDY ASEMOTA, Katsina

Self employment has received a boost in Katsina State with over 4,700 youths and women empowered with vocational and trade skills by Katsina Youth Craft Village in the last three years.

Making the presentation of resettlement packages, January - December 2017, to the 255 best trainees of the centre, Governor Aminu Bello Masari, confirmed that those who excelled during their training were given resettlement packages and start- up capital.

The governor, who stressed the need for effective monitoring of the beneficiaries across the state, said the measure will give room for necessary interventions and corrections to consolidate the successes so far recorded.

He affirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to invest on youths and women to enable them contribute towards the socio-economic development of the state and the nation.

“No project is more important than empowering youths and women. Empowering them is akin to strengthening the future,” said Masari, who encouraged the beneficiaries to put in their best to be well established and successful in their various fields.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to the governor on Science and Technology, Dr. Rabe Nasir, said the state- owned youth craft village provides free boarding, feeding and medical services among others to the youths while applauding the support of the Masari administration to the centre.

Earlier, the director of administration and supplies of fhe centre, Yusuf Muazu, disclosed that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with some universities for the training of 2500 youths this year.

Muazu noted that the centre which started with nine departments had introduced five additional trades being taught to both youths and women.

Chairman, House Committee on Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Hon. Abubakar Yunusa Ahmed(right), being decorated as a fellow, Nigerian Association of Technologist in Engineering (NATE), by the National President of the Association, Mr. Ahmed Yabagi at the National Assembly in Abuja, yesterday.

Benue Killings, Threat To Food Security – Ortom

BY HEMBADOON ORSAR, Makurdi

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that attack on the Food Basket state

by Fulani herdsmen has posed a threat to food security.

He stated this in Makurdi during a courtesy call on him by the Presidential Committee on Rehabilitation of Communities affected by farmers and herdsmen crisis.

He stated that renewed attacks on Benue communities came at a time farmers were harvesting their produce, stressing that crops seeds were being used as feeds for cattle after invading and displacing the farmers.

The governor expressed worry that people were still in IDPs camps when agricultural activities such as preparation of land for the next cropping season were approaching, saying it was a sign of famine.

While tasking the committee on amplification of the Benue voice for the need to embrace ranching as global best method of animal husbandry, the governor said what was happening in the state was an invasion for occupation and not grazing as being alleged in some quarters.

He wondered which hate speech could be worse than issuing threats of attacks and executing same.

Governor Ortom called for the recon-

struction of ravaged communities and provision of public amenities, including portable drinking water, provision of agricultural inputs and credit facilities, adding that the attacks had caused social, emotional and psychological damage to Benue people.

Earlier, leader of the delegation and Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Kayode Fagbemi said they were in the state to carry out an assessment of damages caused to communities with a view to rebuilding them.

He sympathised with the government and people of the state over the massacre of Benue people by Fulani herdsmen.

PMB Commiserates With Family Of First Village Headmaster, Ted Mukoro

BY JONATHAN NDA- ISAIAH, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with family and friends of the first actor to play the role of the Village Headmaster, Ted Mukoro, who passed on, on Wednesday at the age of 89.

President Buhari in a statement by his special adviser, media, Femi Adesina sent his condolences to the entire Nollywood family and the advertising commu-

nity over the loss of the renowned thespian, advertiser and voice talent, who spent all his life promoting effective communication, good entertainment and healthy community relations.

As one of the pioneers of radio drama at the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service (WNBS) and Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), the president commended the late Mukoro for contributing to the development of theatre in Nigeria, and sustain-

ing his interest in acting even in old age by participating in Nollywood movies.

President Buhari affirmed that the advertising industry in Nigeria benefitted from the copywriting skills and structuring of attractive narratives by the late actor, who also mentored many younger Nigerians.

The president prayed that the Almighty God will accept the soul of the departed, and comfort the family he left behind.

USAID Trains Kaduna, Bauchi Water Corporations On Service Delivery

BY AZA MSUE,Kaduna

The United States Agency for International Development,(USAID) funded WASH Coordination Project (WCP) has commenced a 3-day joint orientation retreat for the members of the boards of directors of the Kaduna State Water Corporation (KADSWAC) and Bauchi State Water and Sewerage Corporation (BSWSC).

A statement issued by Obinna Anah, Communications Specialist, DIG- Development Innovations, Nigeria, said the retreat is designed to support both the newly appointed members of both boards to better understand water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) issues and their state-based processes and laws, in the effort to improve WASH service delivery.

The statement added that the training will also prepare the water corporations for further reforms in Bauchi and Kaduna.

According to the statement, the orientation retreat, which held in Kano, focused on strengthening corporate governance among KADSWAC and BSWSC, Ministry of Water Resources’ top management, and the state regulatory institutions.

This will, in turn, promote the corporations’

relationship with their stakeholders as well as their profitability, efficiency, credibility and financial stability” “WCP is a 2-year programme being implemented by the Development Innovations Group (DIG).The project is designed to strengthen urban water, sanitation and Hygiene programming in Nigeria to improve the health and well-being of Nigerians as well as increase the confidence of Nigerians towards government’s ability to deliver basic services” The statement explained further:”The project, in the past 14 months has been providing support to Nigeria’s urban WASH utilities in Bauchi and Kaduna by delivering capacity building training to staff of both corporations and civil societies; gathering and presenting relevant baseline data across on sanitation and CSO participation; and providing technical assistance to improve understanding of factors serving as obstacles to delivering WASH services.

For instance, the WCP has been developing a community of practice to help the sector become a learning network, as a way of promoting shared knowledge to drive sector’s effectiveness and efficiency” the statement said.

A good deed is never lost.

In his presentation at the retreat, Mr Ezekiel Gomos, Director of Jos Business School, called for a paradigm shift, for board members to see the water corporations more as business entities who are supposed to generate profits, show transparency and accountability, rather than just as government parastatals who may be providing unsustainable services to the public.

Also speaking, the WASH Coordination Project (WCP)’s Chief of Party, Mr Timeyin Uwejamomere, said the exercise will orientate the boards of directors on the guiding laws, policies, and activities of the corporations and and help build a cordial working relationship, rapport, and team spirit among the group” Uwejamomere tasked the water corporations to begin to think on ways in which they can win back the markets from informal water vendors.

The Kaduna State Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. Ibrahim Hamza, who declared the event open, stated that both state governments are doing their best, but their bests are not enough to solve all the problems:”USAID has done a lot by providing a strong coordination through the WCP.”

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business

Friday, March 9, 2018

NEWS

MONEY

CAPITAL MARKET

INSURANCE

INFLATION RATE (%) 2016

OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

BY YUSUF BABALOLA, Lagos

Shipping companies and terminal operators operating at the eastern ports in Nigeria now pay $30,000 (about N10.8million) per voyage to escort ships to eastern ports due to insecurity and constant pirate attacks on vessels, LEADERSHIP has learnt.

The Eastern port which comprised of Calabar, Onne, Delta and Rivers Ports all in the restive Niger Delta region of the country have been underutilized due to high rate of attacks by sea pirates and other forms of maritime crimes which account for the discouragement of importers and exporters that would have preferred the ports for businesses activities.

However, according to the performance review for last quarter of 2017 released by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the ship traffic to Port Harcourt port is 78 with an average of 26 ships per month. With the escort of one ship with the minimum cost of $30,000 amounting to over N10 million, it then means that a whopping N260 million is expended on securing escort services on monthly basis.

LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported last week that a total of 754 vessels have dumped the Eastern Ports in three years due to shallow depth and pirate attacks in the eastern ports.

LEADERSHIP also leant that insecurity at the Eastern ports has reduced the number of vessels that berth at these ports from 2,268 vessels in 2013 to 1514 in 2016.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the number of vessels that berthed at the Delta Port dropped from 609 in 2013 to 433 in 2016 while the Gross Registered Tonnage at the Port also dropped from 8,687,160 in 2013 to 6,177,809 in 2016.

Group Business Editor Bayo Amodu 08118672002 Business Editor (Lagos) Chima Akwaja Assistant Business Editors Kingsley Alu Tony Awunor Correspondent Chika Izuora Reporters Ruth Tene Natsa Bukola Idowu Olushola Bello Suzan Nwachukwu Abah Adah George Okojie Chika Okeke

18.3 18.48 18.55

INTERVIEW

2017

15.91 15.9 15.37

ANALYSIS

Leadership Newspapers

INTER BANK LENDING RATE (AS AT FEBRUARY 28) RATE CHANGE (%)

ON 1M 3M 6M

14.3125 15.6242 16.3555 18.3514

0.71 0.07 -0.01 0.1

Insecurity: Shipping Firms, Terminal Operators Pay $30,000 To Escort Vessels To Eastern Ports

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (right), presenting the state’s plaque to president/chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Prof Segun Ajibola, FCIB during a courtesy visit to the governor, recently.

Also, vessels that berthed at the Rivers Port dropped from 439 in 2013 to 287 in 2016 while the Gross Registered Tonnage at the Port also dropped from 6,761,057 in 2014 to 4,560,844 in 2016.

The number of vessels that berthed at the Calabar Port dropped from 373 in 2013 to 189 in 2016 while the Gross Registered Tonnage which peaked at 4,087,599 in 2015 dropped to 3,803,199 in 2016. The Number of Vessels that berthed at the Onne Port dropped from 847 in 2014 to 605 in 2016 while the Gross Registered Tonnage at the Port also dropped from 43,916,846 in 2014 to 35,937,547 in 2016 Speaking at an industry event recently, the general manager, BUA Ports and Terminal, Port Harcourt, Mohammed Ibrahim raised the alarm that shipping companies and terminal operators had to make a special security arrangement to ensure the safety of their vessels going to Port Harcourt because of the high rate of attacks on ships.

Mohammed said ships going to Port Harcourt now have to be accompanied by escort boats up to 100 nautical miles and it costs as much as $30,000 per escort.

He explained that although the escort companies are accompanied

by naval men with gunboats owned

by Joint Task Force (JTF) or Navy because gunboats cannot go beyond fairway buoy, the use of escort boats became germane.

“Vessels coming from Port Harcourt now insist on gunboats escorting them from fairway buoy but some vessels still insist that the escorts must not even stop at fairway buoy because of their previous experiences of attack outside fairway buoy. These are escort vessels with armed men onboard. Those armed men are either naval men or military men and I am saying this not as hearsay but because our vessels have been attacked.

“These escort boats carry armed naval men to escort the vessels. The military doesn’t have an escort boat that can go beyond fairway buoy, so escort boats are private boats that are being used by the oil service companies and they are different from gunboats. Escort boats are like tug boats and they align with the navy who gives them men that are armed to lead them up to 100 nautical miles,” he said Confirming level of insecurity in the Niger Delta, the minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi at a stakeholders’ interactive session held in Warri, Delta State noted that

one of the factors militating against the success of the maritime sector is insecurity in the Niger Delta region, which he said is also hampering the growth and development of the region.

Niger Delta is not working because of you (Niger-Deltans). How many Lagosians a‎ re in the water in Lagos?

None, reason why vessels will not come to Eastern port is because there is war insurance Risk placed on vessels because of restiveness in the region.

“War insurance means if the goods cost N10,000 in Lagos it will be N20000 here because there is extra cost on it. There is insecurity in Lagos but not worse like we have here in Eastern port.

“Even as a minister, I can’t enter boat from Warri to Port Harcourt but I can move around Lagos at any time of the day. I asked a former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi why people from Anambra won’t import through Port Harcourt port and he said it cost less to import from Lagos and move to Onitsha even with the price they pay on the road.

It is cheaper to import from Lagos to Aba and Aba to Port Harcourt is 30 minute drive. He said it costs less even when it is evident that it will take 8 hours.

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Business 101 with MBAKAAN KWEN

Things To Consider When Planning Your Career

Planning your career will help you make the most of your time, resources, and energy each and every day. Don’t think that planning your career and future goals is the same now as it was when you were in elementary school and your teacher asked you what you want to be when you grow up. In this piece, resume.com highlighted some key things to consider thus; •FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO: Whether you have recently graduated, you feel it’s time for a change, or you want to take your next big step, you need to know what you want to do before you can achieve any of those goals. College and your past professional experiences have given you a good background and understanding about what you enjoy. But if you still don’t have any idea what you want to spend your life doing, consider shadowing other professionals, speaking with your professors from college, or attending various seminars and trade shows.

•CONSIDER WHERE YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU RETIRE: A great way to reach your career goals is to make sure some of your goals span your entire professional life. Don’t limit yourself to a 5-year plan. While you need a solid 5-year plan in place, the big picture will help shape your decisions and actions for the next few decades and allow you to retire after a satisfying professional life.

•REASSESS YOUR GOALS EVERY YEAR: The world is changing every minute of every day. What is in vogue and popular one month might suddenly become irrelevant or obsolete the next.

QUOTE OF THE DAY Over the last seven weeks, members of the ERGP implementation team have been working to map and understand the projects that exist across six core sectors of the economy.”

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said.

Udoma

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STOCK INDEX (AS AT MARCH 8) Gainers

Symbols Japauloil Wapic Unilever Hmarkins Lasaco

CP 0.89 0.63 64.60 0.37 0.40

% change 9.88 8.62 7.49 5.71 5.26

Losers

Symbols CILeasing Regalins Jaizbank Maybaker Caverton

CP 1.76 0.37 0.95 2.91 2.63

% change -9.28 -7.50 -5.00 -4.90 -4.71

STOCK INDEX (AS AT MARCH 8) ASI DEALS VOLUME VALUE CAP

(Points) (Numbers) (Numbers million) (Nbillion) (Ntrn)

43,090.55 4,340 574.81 3.39 N15.480

Equities Market Rebounds, Posts 0.33% Gain

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

The Nigerian equities market yesterday reversed the negative performance from the previous session with a gain of 0.33 per cent.

In summary, the All Share Index (ASI) gained 139.93 points, representing a growth of 0.33 per cent to close at 43,092.63 points. Similarly, the market capitalisation gained N50 billion to close at N15.480 trillion.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in medium and large capitalised stocks, amongst which are; Unilever, Stanbic IBTC, Guaranty Trust Bank, Guinness and Flourmill Nigeria.

Capital market operators attributed yesterday’s gain to bargain hunting for big capitalised Consumer Good and Banking stocks. They also expected this positive performance to be sustained till the end of the week as investors continue to seek bargain opportunities in the market.

Similarly, market breadth closed positive, recording 30 gainers against 28 losers.

Japaul Oil and Maritime Services led the gainers table by 9.88 per cent to close at 89 kobo per share. Wapic Insurance followed with a gain of 8.62 per cent to close at 63 kobo, while Unilever Nigeria appreciated by 7.49

per cent to close at N64.60 per share.

Also, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance went up by 5.71 per cent to close at 37 kobo and Lasaco Assurance rose by 5.26 per cent to close at 40 kobo per share.

On the other hand, CI Leasing led the laggards’ table by 9.28 per cent to close at N1.76 per share. Regency Alliance Insurance trailed with a loss of 7.50 per cent to close at 37 kobo, while Jaiz Bank declined by five per cent to close at 95 kobo per share.

May and Baker dipped by 4.90 per cent to close at N2.91, while Caverton went down by 4.71 per cent, to close at N2.63 per share.

NSE Calls For Gender Equality, Women’s Empowerment

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

In celebrating this year International Women’s day, the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has called for gender equality and women empowerment.

Speaking at the fourth edition of NSE International Women’s day symposium themed “Press For Progress, the chief executive officer of NSE, Oscar Onyema said that the theme of the symposium is not just another theme for another edition of the International women’s day, saying it is a call to action to spur women and men into

taking bold steps towards closing the gender gap.

Onyema said: “It is saddening to note that with over 100 years of devoting a day, to celebrating the achievements of women and discussing steps towards achieving gender parity and social justice for women, the World Economic Forum (WEF) in its 2017 Gender Gap report averred that our dream of achieving parity across gender required more than 200 years to become a reality.”

He added that “as one of Africa’s foremost securities exchanges and member of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges

Initiative (SSEI), we are deeply committed to leveraging our position to accelerate the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number five which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.”

According to Onyema, the Exchange took steps to address the lack of female representation on our National Council by electing three eminent female members at the last AGM. Today, we have 23 per cent female representation as against zero per cent representation in 2016.

MTN To List On NSE Premium Board In 2018

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Telecommunications operator, MTN has disclosed it plans to list its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) premium board before the end of this year.

This was disclosed by the company in its audited result for the year 2017. The company made it known that it had continued to make progress on its Nigerian listing and was awaiting a Corporate Governance score from the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

This would enable the

company to be listed on the NSE’s Premium Board. The listing is expected to take place in 2018, subject to market conditions and regulatory approval.

The premium board feature companies that meet the Exchange’s most stringent listing criteria of capitalisation, governance and liquidity. It provides a platform for greater global visibility for eligible African corporates to make it easier for them to attract global capital flows and reduce the cost of funding.

Reviewing the company’s result for 2017 showed

that it has bounced back to profitability as the company’s headline hit 3.3 billion rand ($278.2 million) for the 12 months ended December 2017. The company made a 1.4 billion rand loss in 2016 due to a $1 billion fine imposed on its Nigerian arm.

Headline earnings per share (HEPS) were 182 cents in 2017 compared to a 77 cents headline loss per share in 2016. 2016’s performance was impacted by the 500 cents fine imposed on MTN Nigeria.

The board has declared a final dividend of 450 cents per share.

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March 9, 2018

Nigeria Loses $235bn To Non-Passage Of PIB

BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, Abuja

The programme coordinator, Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC), Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli, yesterday disclosed that the nation may have has lost over $235 billion due to its inability to conclude work on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

Speaking at a round-table organised by the NNRC and Media Initiative on Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI) in Abuja, yesterday, she said analysts have confirmed that Nigeria has lost over $235 billion due to its inability to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law since the reform in the Nigerian petroleum industry commence almost two decades ago.

According to her, Nigeria is no longer as competitive globally or even within the

continent of Africa, stressing that “Comparatively over the last five years; Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Ghana all passed their respective petroleum sector bills in 2012, 2016, 2015 and 2016 respectively.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, has allayed fears about the sacking of workers of the agencies such as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory (PPPRA), which will be merged to form the Petroleum Regulatory Commission (PRC), stating that the staff would be absorbed into the new company to be created.

The minister, who was represented by his Senior Technical Adviser on Policy and Regulation, Mr. Adegbite Adeniji, explained with the implementation of the PIGB it would not be business as

usual as key performance indicators (KPI), would be set for the Board, management and other employees, stressing that any official found wanting in the discharge in his or duties would be sanctioned and shown the exit.

According to him, the scrapping of the DPR and the PPPRA, would provide an opportunity for new persons to be employed into the new entity to be set up, especially as new ideas are sought to fill in gaps that might exist in the company.

“Once the ball gets rolling, the question would now be if I am the manager at the helm of the institution, I would want to see who is effective and who is not. That is now the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the Board and for the Chief Executive of the institution, to make sure he runs an effective institution.” FG insists PPPRA, DPR to be scrapped.

Former executive director, Operations & Services, Premium Pension Limited, Mr Adamu Mele and his wife, former managing director/chief executive officer, Mr Wilson Ideva and former executive director, Business Development & Investment, Mr. Kayode Akande, at the sent-forth dinner for immediate past management of Premium Pension Limited in Abuja, recently.

Japaul Oil’s Share Price Gains 147% On Capital Injection

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Japaul Oil and Maritime Services Plc has recorded a share price growth of 147.22 per cent in three weeks on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

LEADERSHIP revealed that Japaul Oil’s stock opened on February 12 at 36 kobo gained 147.22 per cent to close trading yesterday, March 8, 2018 at 89 kobo.

The company share which has been inactive to poor performance of the company

has received a boost following the decision of the company entering into a binding commitment with Milost Global Inc for injection of $350 million.

Capital market analysts said the volume and the rally seen in the Japaul Oil stock is as a result of investors’ optimistic expectation of the impact of the capital injection which will lead to the growth in the company’s operation.

CEO of Japaul Oil, Mr. Paul Jegede, stated that, “We are

excited with this development and we appreciate Milost who has shown commitment to commence disbursement on the capital to be injected.”

“This is an opportunity to optimize the potentialities in all areas of our businesses especially in areas of mining which the Japaul Group has diversified. With this Capital to be injected into our company, more businesse will be done and more returns are guaranteed for all the shareholders of our company.

Brent Crude Gains 15 Cents At $64.49 Per Barrel

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

Oil prices steadied yesterday after falling the previous day on the back of record US crude production and rising inventories. Brent crude futures were at $64.49 per barrel gaining up 15 cents, or 0.2 per cent, from their previous close a slight rise that came after a more than 2 per cent fall the previous day.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were at $61.29 a barrel, up 14 cents, or 0.2 per cent. WTI also fell by more than 2 per cent the previous

session. The slight recovery came amid a US crude inventory build that was not as big as expected during the current seasonal demand lull at the end of winter, when many oil refineries shut down for maintenance.

“Oil prices bounced back immediately after the release of the weekly oil inventories data from the Energy Information Administration where the headline figure was better than expected,” said Fawad Razaqzada, market analyst at futures brokerage forex.com.

The EIA reported late on

Wednesday that US crude inventories rose by 2.4 million barrels in the week to March 2, to 425.91 million barrels, less than the 2.7 million barrel increase analysts had forecast.

Despite this, oil markets remain under pressure from the seasonal trend of rising inventories, which in the United States have climbed back above the 5-year average of 420 million barrels.

Also looming over oil markets is soaring US production, which last week marked another record, at 10.37 million barrels per day (bpd).

March 9, 2018

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We Are Designing Relevant Products To Protect Women – AXA Mansard Insurance

In this interview with MARY TITUS, the assistant manager and head, Corporate Business Group, AXA MANSARD INSURANCE Limited, Abisola Nwoboshi speaks on the relevance of International Women’s Day and why it is important to protect women in our societies.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It is an opportunity to reflect, rejoice and recharge ourselves together as one with women all across the globe. It’s also a day to connect with one another physically, virtually and spiritually – and to give thanks for the generations of amazing women who have come before us, and the generations of phenomenal women still to come!

Women have not always shared the same rights, and still do not in many respects.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the women who have paved the way towards our progress, yet at the same time, it is a reminder of the inequality that plagues society. We must continue to support our leaders, innovators, and risktakers for thinking forward and expanding the possibilities for women around the globe.

The global International Women’s day or Month allows us to celebrate women, their achievement and measure the progress we are making when it comes to the topical issues that concerns women. From Gender parity, to inclusion in leadership and politics, spousal support and generally women empowerment –allowing women to be who they want to be or allowing them to pursue their dreams What do you think is the single biggest issue currently facing the Nigerian women?

Personally I think it is the veiled patriarchy. We rarely stop to think about the ways that patriarchy shapes our daily lives as an invisible organising principle. We’re largely unaware of the way the female perspective is quietly omitted in design, business, technology, clothing and even our cities.

How does AXA Mansard empower Nigerian women?

AXA Mansard launched her SHEFORSHIELD initiative in 2016. Our objectives include partnering with women from all works of life to become their preferred insurer. Being the Preferred Insurer for women goes above selling insurance products to women. It is about redefining the way women customers view and react to insurance while being innovative and impactful. We are designing relevant products to protect women – health covers for their families and themselves, education cover for their children and wards, protection for their businesses and assets, savings products for the rainy day. We also look to provide value adding services beyond our products to help women whether in building their businesses, or developing their careers or from falling back into poverty (for low income women).

What are the objectives and benefits of AXA Mansard SheforShield initiative?

Our objectives include changing women´s insurance attitudes and behaviors — Nigerian women want help and protection against daily risk — for themselves and their family. However, perceptions of insurance

are low. They see insurance as a luxury good, with returns that are too small and too far removed from their daily realities. Many also feel that their faith serves as their insurance — regardless of denomination.

We are also seek to innovate and create long lasting solutions — Women’s priorities change at different life stages, although their needs around financial success and stability, family and personal health remain, and financial management skills remain constant. Current insurance products alone do not address these needs — and limit opportunities to increase women’s total insurance spend. Therefore we need to move from a product focus to a solutionbased approach, which will better address women’s needs and increase cross-selling opportunities over time.

We are also out to build brand recognition in women’s segment — AXA Mansard must position itself at the center of women’s lives — remaining consistently present and visible — to gain an advantage over its competitors; to develop gender-sensitive distribution models — Our agent network is a critical asset. They will be trained and leveraged to serve empathetic advisors for our customers.

Why is it important for women to be empowered?

Women are systemic thinkers and consumers. Women control 85% of consumer spending globally. Why? Because your average woman makes purchases for herself, her husband or partner, her children and also her elderly parents. Women make 70% of major financial decisions for themselves and their families, everything from auto, insurance, home and investment.

Do you feel a responsibility to mentor other younger, less experienced women?

As I have mentioned earlier, the need to empower women cannot be over emphasized but I believe it has to start with you and I. I believe strongly in guiding and mentoring women in my sphere of influence, whether in the work place, in my family, in my religious circle. Women need to help one another to succeed. While it feels nice to have someone who cheers you on, the most effective mentors are brutally honest. They would tell you what you need to hear to reach your goals, would point out your blind spots and push you to understand where and why you are making a mistake. The best mentors also possess superb EQ and know how to deliver the message so that it has the highest probability of being accepted. A mentor also provides helpful suggestions about what the mentee can do differently. The most effective mentorship sessions lead to reflection and ultimately positive change. Reciprocally, a good mentee is an open-minded thinker who craves to know what he is missing or how he could improve. Additionally being a mentor has helped me identify talent and be able to build effective teams quickly when the need arises.

Who is your biggest influence or icon?

Over the years, I have learnt to find roles

Nwoboshi

in different models. Maya Angelou is my hero because she was always positive. She was my role model because of what she had overcome and because of what she accomplished. She took life head on and she never gave up. One of my favourite quote from her is “No matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow”. However, my greatest Icon remains the everyday Nigerian Woman. To her, again I quote Maya Angelou “Stepping onto a brand-new path is difficult, but not more difficult than remaining in a situation, which is not nurturing to the whole woman.” Succeed in every aspect of her life.

What main change would you like to see for young girls in the next generation?

The new generation of women is increasingly stepping into entrepreneurship and innovation. Yet as they do so, we are seeing a wave of businesses with women centered innovation at the core — meaning, products and services that are designed to reflect women’s pain points and direct needs.

This may seem like a minor point — but keep in mind that this simple assertion disrupts thousands of years of social conditioning to “code” for the masculine. So for me it is more about more women taking their destiny into their hands and test erstwhile unchartered territories. I want the next generation to be limitless and fearless, to see the world as an equal playing ground for all and to reach for beyond the star.

What message would you like to leave for men and women on International Women’s Day? To women, it is only when you risk failure that you can discover new things. When you play it safe, you’re not expressing the utmost of your human experience. In life, we are either growing or dying. Life doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s try and keep life simple. Women take calculated risks.

We need 3 things in life “Something to do, everybody needs someone to love, we need something to hope for. There is never a right time to do the wrong thing and there’s never a wrong time to do the right thing. Let’s just be right on time. Always show people you care. #Pressforprogress, do more, be more, do not limit yourself. Challenge the status quo always!

BUSINESS/NEWS / 23

ICT Sector Can Employ Over 40m Nigerians – Shittu

BY NKECHI ISAAC, Abuja

The Minister of Communications, Barr.

Adebayo Shittu, has said that Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector has the capacity to provide employment for over 40 million Nigerians.

The minister disclosed this while inaugurating the Board members of Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Nigerian Communications Satellite (NIGCOMSAT) in Abuja, recently.

Barr. Shittu stated that the ICT Sector contributes more than 10 per cent of the GDP of Nigerian economy through economic diversification, social inclusion opportunities, job creation, youth empowerment, improved human capital and facilitation of economic competitiveness.

He said: “The ICT sector is one of the key pillars of the Nigerian economy

contributing more than 10 per cent of the GDP. The sector has great potentials for contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic recovery and Growth through economic diversification, creating opportunities for social inclusion, job creation and youth empowerment, improving human capital and facilitating economic competitiveness. It has been suggested that the Devices, Software Solution and e-Commerce sector alone could employ well over 45 million Nigerians and rake in significant revenue.”

He also said that investments in ICT infrastructure would always offer further economic growth and opportunity, hence, Federal Government has identified and would implement high impact infrastructure projects that would create businesses for local contractors, service suppliers, jobs for Nigerians every year, through infrastructure development.

Strong Performance From Nigeria Lifts MTN Group To N100.4bn Profit

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

With strong performance from its Nigerian operation, MTN Group, Africa’s biggest mobile company yesterday said it has returned to profitability as it recorded annual profit of N100.375 billion ($278.82 million or Rand 3.3 billion) in 2017 in the absence of one-off charges related to a $1.1 billion Nigerian fine.

At 31 December 2017, the group had 217 million subscribers, based on the new modernised definitions, a sharp drop of 23.4 million from the 240.4 million subscribers the group had a year ago. In Nigeria, the subscriber base at year end was 52.3 million, following both the definition review as well as lower gross connections as a result of new regulations that require all subscriber connections to take place in permanent structures.

Headline earnings rose 182 cents per share, in the year ended December, compared with a loss of 1.4 billion rand, or 77 cents per share, a year earlier. Group service revenue rose 7.2 percent to 124 billion rand. MTN said it would pay a total of 700

cents in dividend payouts for the year, unchanged from the previous year.

MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter speaking to the media in a conference call yesterday, he said “We are back in the black, with an attributable profit for the full year of R4.4 billion, as you know we had a loss of R2.6 billion in 2016.”

Reporting his first full-year results since becoming CEO, Shuter said the focus for 2018 was to slightly lower capital expenditure while setting a longer-term sales-growth target of a percentage in the upper-single-digits, driven by Nigeria.

The mobile operator said it operation anticipates that the listing on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) will take place during 2018 subject to appropriate market conditions and requisite regulatory approval. MTN Nigeria has engaged with Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission and the NSE extensively on the structure and parameters of the listing.

“The operation has also obtained its shareholders’ approval in principle to prepare for the listing, including amendments to its corporate structure.

24 BUSINESS/NEWS

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CBN’s Intervention Fund Hits N1.18trn

BY BUKOLA IDOWU And KEHINDE SALLAH, Lagos

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it has disbursed a total sum of N1.181 trillion through its several intervention schemes in an effort to help grow the Nigerian economy which is recovering from a recession, triggered by a drop in oil income.

According to the CBN, the amount represented the total monies that had been disbursed as at June 2017, through its several intervention schemes.

The Financial Stability Report for the period ended June 2017, released by the apex bank showed that N472.98 billion

used for 513 projects had been disbursed through the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) since its inception.

In the first half of last year, the sum of N79.56 billion had been disbursed to 11 banks for 23 projects compared to N35.99 billion disbursed to 13 banks for 39 projects in the preceding period. This reflected an increase of N43.57 billion and a decrease of 16 projects.

Repayments under the scheme during the first half of 2017 stood at N19.78 billion through 17 banks for 185 projects, bringing the repayments to N244.79 billion from inception. Also, a total of 21,073 loans valued at N3.03 billion had been guaranteed under the Agricultural Credit

Guarantee Scheme (ACGS)in the first half of 2017 for two commercial and 36 microfinance banks as against 34,774 loans valued N4.47 billion for three commercial and 37 microfinance banks in the second half of 2016.

This indicated a decrease of 39.40 and 32.21 per cent in the number and value of loans guaranteed. Cumulatively, 1.08 million loans valued N107.04 billion had been guaranteed from inception to end-June 2017 under the scheme. There was also a decline in loan repayment under the ACGS as the sum of N2.94 billion involving 18,600 projects was repaid compared to N5.55 billion for 34,083 projects in the corresponding period of 2016.

Director of Research, Policy & International Relations, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDICs), Dr Sunday Oluyemi (3rd left) presenting the corporation’s researched publications and souvenirs to Mr Mohamud Hussein Khalif of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Saudi Arabia, while director, NDIC Academy, Dr Azubike Okoro (1st left); deputy director, Bank Examination Unit, Mr Bashir Nuhu (2nd left) and director, Insurance & Surveillance Department, Mr. Mohammed Umar (1st right) looks on during the official visit of the IDB delegation to the corporation, recently.

FG Inaugurates Boards Of NCS, NAICOM, Others

BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja

The minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun on behalf of the federal government, yesterday inaugurated the governing boards of four agencies under the ministry of finance in Abuja.

The boards are the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM) and Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF).

The Minister of finance is Chairman of the Customs board while the Comptroller-

General of Customs, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd) is the deputy chairman. According to the list, a CBN deputy governor will chair NEXIM bank. On the other hand, Mr. Emmenauel Jideofor is the chairman of the board of NAICOM. While ACGSF has Mrs. Olubunmi Siyanbola as chairman of the board.

Inaugurating the boards, the finance minister urged the appointees to take pragmatic steps to reposition the respective institutions entrusted to you.

“Enhance performance through efficient management of accrued resources for

national development.”

“The inauguration of the board is critical to driving our mandate,” Adeosun said.

The minister particularly said the mandate of NAICOM, NCS and NEXIM revolves around the five pillars of the federal government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and the various executive orders.

She said the reconstitution of the boards provide a platform for synergy between members and management for effective implementation of policies and programmes of government.

Bankers’ Committee Adopts 30% Women Representation On Boards

BY MARK ITSIBOR, Abuja

Nigeria’s Bankers’ Committee has adopted a new quota system to increase women representation on boards to 30 per cent and that of senior management level to 40 per cent.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who made the disclosure yesterday, said the decision was in realization of male domination of senior positions of the financial industry and the need to empower the women folk.

The governor also said three out of

the 27 bank CEOs in Nigeria today were female with three women appointed as chair of the boards of three banks for the first time as a result of the decision of the Bankers’ Committee.

However, Emefiele said despite the progress, it was obvious “we have not met our goals. Therefore, we have to work much harder to improve these numbers and attain our objectives.”

He made the remarks yesterday at an event organized by the central bank to mark the 2018 International Women Day in Abuja. The theme of this year’s Women Day is: “Press for Progress.”

The CBN governor said in recognition of the fact that gender equality and diversity were powerful tools for economic growth, the CBN institutionalized policies and programmes to overcome some of the barriers that were hampering women from rising to the top of their careers.

He listed the programmes and policies to include 28 per cent of total employees are women in the Central Bank of Nigeria; an increase from 24 per cent in 2013; establishment of a staff crèche in Abuja and working towards another in Lagos and male directors have risen from only one in 2001 to six (6) at the moment.

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March 9, 2018

Nigeria Loses $380bn To Oil Industry Capital Flight – NCDMB

BY CHIKA IZUORA, Lagos

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) said the country in the last 50 years lost about $380 billion prior to the enactment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICDC) Act 2010 to capital flight.

Executive secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Wabote, said this was because, major fabrication, engineering and procurement in the oil and gas sector were executed outside the country.

He said at the enactment of the Act, a target was set to create 300,000 direct jobs and retain over $14 billion in-country out of the $20 billion set by the Board.

He however, regretted that so far, much of the 28 per cent local content achievement recorded since the enactment of the Act till date were done using the passion and commitment of the various directorates in the Board.

He said this at the first National Seminar for Justices and Judges on the Role of the Judiciary in the Development of the Nigerian Local Content Law and Policy, organized by the Juris Law Office and NCDMB in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute, (NJI).

Wabote further revealed that estimated job lost opportunities during the period was in the region of two million, adding that the narrative then was that nothing could be done in-

country resulting in less than five per cent of in-country value addition.

“Our next big leap from 28 per cent to 70 per cent in-country value retention will require step change in the enforcement of the law to drive reversal of capital outflow,” he said.

Henceforth, the executive secretary warned that oil and gas companies that failed to comply with the provisions of the Act would be dragged before the law courts by the Board.

He noted that the NCDMB had used administrative procedures to enforce the Act in the past eight years, but would begin to prosecute cases of infringement in line with Section 68 of Nigerian Content Act. “We are changing gear in NCDMB from writing letters of non-compliance on infractions to actual prosecution of offenders who think they can trample on the law of the land on Local Content and get away with it,” he stated.

The executive secretary said the Board delayed the prosecution option because it wanted to fully exploit the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods, develop its operating guidelines and organize capacity building workshops on the Nigeria Content Act for the Judiciary.

“After this workshop, we will begin to institute cases in the courts. If we don’t enforce the provisions of the Act, we will not be able to create employment opportunities for Nigerians from the activities in the industry,” he added.

Nigeria Can’t Grow GDP Without Women’s Support – BoI

BY TAIWO OMILANI, Lagos

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has said there was no way the nation can double its gross domestic product (GDP) at double digit if women who constitute over 50 per cent population were not supported.

Managing director, BoI,Olukayode Pitan,disclosed this at the 2018 International Women’s Day

tagged: ‘Press for Progress: Leave No woman Behind’ organized by BoI in Lagos, yesterday.

According to him, this was part of the bank’s advocacy role and a way of interacting with its potential customers.

Pitan stressed further that the bank would like to get feedback from the women on how it was servicing them and how they can do better.

March 9, 2018

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ITF Refocuses Model Skills Training Centre …Now awards national innovative diploma certificate

BY KINGSLEY ALU, Abuja

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) said it has refocused its Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC) especially in the area of educational training.

The Fund said since 2016, it has secured the approval of the National Board for Technical Education ((NBTE) to award the National Innovative Diploma Certificate which is equivalent to the national diploma in polytechnics.

This disclosure was made by

the deputy director, Training, ITF, Lami Dakwak Selle, penultimate week during a tour of the ITF Model Skills Training Centre (MSTC) facilities by the media in Abuja.

According to her, based on the approval from NBTE, under the NIDC,MSTC now offers programmes in electronics and computer networking, facility technology, mechatronics automation technology, hospitality and tourism,

building construction technology, welding and fabrication technology, computer software and computer hardware engineering.

Selle also disclosed that apart from the NIDC, the Fund sought and secured approval from NBTE to award the National Vocational Certificate (NVC).

The NVC, she emphasized, was to prepare prospective students for the NIDC. People under this programme can come in at different entry levels.

“It is a programme that is not rigid, it takes care of people that are working in the industries, it takes care of people that wants to reskill, or up skill. The NVC certificate also prepares students that maybe dropped out of secondary school and could not finish. They will be able to come in and do the part 1, part 2, or part 3 of this programme.

“The NVC programme prepares them for the National Innovative Diploma certificate, if they are able to finish the part 3 of the programme, they

will be able to enroll for the National Innovative Diploma programme.

“They can also come to the MSTC for just three months and do a modular programme and after that, they are given a certificate of competency,” she explained.

According to her, the aim was to domesticate the Institute of Technical Education programme of Singapore “So that we don’t continue running to Singapore. They are still our partner; they come in audit and

commission our equipment and then also check our curriculum provided by them.”

Shedding light on how to gain admission into the MSTC’s NIDC programme , Selle said, “Would-be candidates for the National Innovative Diploma certificate should go to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board ((JAMB) website and go through the portal under Institutions, click on Monotechnics, under that, you will see Innovative Enterprise Institutions, then click on the MSTC.” Selle also added, “For the National Vocational Certificate, you don’t need to go through JAMB.These are programmes you come to the MSTC and select. This is the current status of the MSTC. The programme is approved by the federal ministry of education.”

Selle also identified funding and the need for a permanent site as a major challenge.

Both she maintained, were necessary for the optimal performance of the agency.

“Our training is 80 per cent practical, 20 per cent theory, the challenge we have is that of a permanent site, the equipment we have here needs room .We have so many equipment but because we have limited space, we cannot mount them.

“The current director general has been discussing with the FCT minister; he has put a request for an assistance, he is leader that is very proactive, they are assessing areas that we will have for a permanent site.

“ITF wants to equip the MSTC fully .We are hoping that government can come to our aid. We believe that donor agencies, and government agencies that have the wherewithal to assist like the TETFUND, PTDF and other agencies can come to our aid.

ITF on its own is actually doing its best,” she said.

Selle described the agency’s top- of -the - line facilities especially its mechatronics department as the best in the country “We desire the public to know, we have this facilities, the ITF has done what no institution in the country has done, particularly in the mechatronics department.

The facilities we have is model 2017, it is the latest model and it takes care of the oil and gas, food industry , in fact it a complete production line,” she added.

26 BUSINESS/NEWS

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NPLs Rise To 15% As CARs Drop Further

BY BUKOLA IDOWU, Lagos

As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) raised questions over the rising non-performing loans (NPLs) in the Nigerian banking industry, the Financial Stability Report (FSR) from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the first half of 2017 has shown that average non-performing loans in the industry has risen from 12 per cent to 15 per cent.

The IMF in its report on Nigeria on Wednesday had noted the level of NPLs in the banking sector has risen

to 15.5 per cent as at October 2017 with solvency ratios declining form 14.8 per cent to 10.5 per cent between December 2016 and October 2017, “reflecting difficulties in four small and mediumsized undercapitalised banks including one insolvent bank.”

IMF noted that some of these banks are kept afloat through continuous recourse to the CBN’s lending facilities as NPLs have increased from five percent of total loans in June 2015 to 15.6 percent in October 2017. The Financial Stability Report for the first

half of 2017 ended June released by the CBN yesterday showed that the asset quality of commercial banks declined in the first half of 2017 with the ratio of NPLs to gross loans increasing by 2.2 and 4.3 percentage points to 15.0 per cent at end-June 2017 compared with the levels at end-December 2016 and endJune 2016, respectively.

Also, the ratio of nonperforming loans net of provision to capital for the industry increased to 31.8 per cent at end-June 2017 from 29.0 per cent at end-December

2016. The FSR also showed a declining Capital Adequacy Ratio in the banking industry.

The average baseline capital adequacy ratios (CARs) for the banking industry stood at 11.51 per cnet in the review period with the average for large, medium and small banks as at end of June 2017 stood at 13.13, -6.71 and 13.54 per cent, respectively. These represented a decline of 3.27, 2.34 and 19.46 percentage points for the industry, large and medium banks, respectively from the position at end-December 2016.

Udoma Inaugurates Exco, Calls For Integration Of ERGP Activities

BY MBAKAAN KWEN, Abuja

The Minister of Budget and National Planning Senator Udoma Udo Udoma yesterday inaugurated the new executive board members of Center for Management Development (CMD) and National Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in Abuja.

Speaking at the event the minister expressed delight for supervising these agencies.

He explained that amongst the

three agencies supervised by the ministry, only NISER and CMD are being inaugurated.

According to him the board of National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has been deferred to a later date pending the confirmation of the EXCO by the senate.

He urged the new executives to work as a team to actualize the mandate of their various agencies and the current administration respectively.

He stressed that the functions

of these organizations as stipulated in the Acts should be performed on a part time basis through periodic which would be facilitated by the director general of the various organizations.

He said: “I would like for those who are not conversant with the ERGP to familiarize yourselves with the document because that sets out the policies of this administration and you are expected to conduct the affairs of your council within the context and to meet objectives

set out therein.’’

Speaking further on the ERGP focus labs, Sen. Udoma said “over the last seven weeks, members of the ERGP implementation team have been working to map and understand the projects that exist across six core sectors of the economy and the stakeholders that are involved. This include requesting the private sector to submit project details to the ERGP implementation unit to review”.

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March 9, 2018

VAIDS Supported By Existing Tax Laws – Adeosun

BY CHIMA AKWAJA, Lagos

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has explained that the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) is underpinned by the existing tax laws in the country.

She gave the explanation on Thursday evening while speaking on Channels Television’s Core programme.

According to the minister, VAIDS is a tax amnesty scheme, which offers people with tax compliance issues the chance to declare honestly in exchange for waivers such as tax audit, interests on owed taxes and freedom prosecution.

“In terms of the legal underpinning, we have not passed any new law. The law has always been there and what we are doing is to recognise the extent of the non-compliance. The extent of the non-compliance is so huge that the best thing to do is to allow people to come and regularise. When you have a Tax-to GDP (gross domestic product) ratio of six per cent, it is not because you don’t have

tax laws, it’s because people are not complying and there has been no consequence for not complying in the past,” she said.

The minister also said that the best remedy for non-compliance is to allow people to voluntary declare.

“So the legal underpinnings are the existing tax laws such as Personal Income Tax Act, Company Income Tax Act, VAT Act and then supplemented with an Executive Order that gave us authority to waive interest and penalties. We needed the Executive Order to enable us to waive the penalties since they are prescribed by law,” she said.

“We had challenges and many states couldn’t pay salaries. It was a wake-up call for everybody that we can’t rely on oil anymore and we did the analysis of our economy and we said: ‘Look, oil is only nine per cent of our economy’. What about that remaining 91 per cent? What is it contributing? Why is our tax revenue so low? So, that was the prompting.

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March 9, 2018

Bernard Okhakume MC & A Weekly Digest market consumer advertising 08053040003

T

mcaandadigestweekly@gmail.com

here is something about Names that directs thought or perception about a subject, and especially in Africa, where interpretations and expressions are deeply narrative. In some disciplines, this aspect of us Africans is culturally attitudinal; we only think as thus, because that is the way we are wired. That ‘heritage’ transcends our education, innovative and technological exposure and experiences.

We just take names and draw conclusions on subjects in different directions, and seal the perception.

It is same with demonstrative resonance in advertising and marketing communication; so much extrapolation derives from The Name a brand shows up in. I can bet on the possibility of 80 per cent name-dependent derivatives among practitioners, faced with same advertising brief from same client; commonly, the first point of interest for creative process managers in many of the advertising agencies of today.

So when Heritage Bank showed up with its Brief, the first and most critical connection seemed to have been its name (looking at its campaign running on TV BigBrotherNaija).

Let us properly identify the campaign of interest here, to be that in which a beautiful eloquent lady delivered her lines so poetically, stunning viewers with the high degree of literary exactness. Her lines are also very pungent, direct on impact, historic, reactionary and revolutionary.

The campaign is largely on identifying with one’s Heritage, and in this case, a renewal on the fundamental interpretation of traditional values of those aspects of the model’s heritage that has produced (through a blend and fusion of values) the modernday African personality and character the New World must show respect. It was quite proud and protective of the good works of the model’s up-bringing.

As a piece of Commercial, Heritage Bank’s effort was well-done, especially considering the technical inputs, set design, arrangement and casting for model… all came together to make an arresting TV commercial that holds its audience attentive till the last of its about 45 seconds duration; quite interesting. To the extent that it is entertaining, it delivered on the valued areas of interest. It reminds of a good showing by a brilliant team of theatre artistes; the lines are academic in nature, apt as a revolutionary act, reactive and strong in protestation…quite entertaining.

As a piece of Brand Communication, however, Heritage Bank leaves much to be desired, especially considering the critical imperatives for an effective marketing communication. But the question is What Purpose Does That Piece Of Art Serve?

The Heritage TV advert couldn’t have been a product campaign in all-purpose and character, because as a rule, product

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Heritage Bank Campaign: The Limitations Of Creativity

campaigns ‘sell’ services or products; they dwell on tangible elements of a brand’s essence that engage the target market in real sense. In which case, such adverts will zero on the competitive variables identifiable with the given brand, demonstrating their inherent competitive advantages versus competitive offering, towards compelling audience engagement.

Therefore, the Heritage TV Commercial of interest here is a Corporate Campaign!

Characteristically, corporate campaigns dwell on the person of the brand, remotely referencing the totality of a brand’s essence, in comparative terms. Corporate adverts are characteristically elegant in nature, frontally distinctive in character, narrative and precise in personality profiling.

Functionally, however, which is where the challenge is for any creative team, corporate campaigns (advert materials) precisely establish the brand’s essence and Promise.

Not minding its duration or length, a corporate advert material delivers without that, target audience’s take-away, extoling the particular ingredients of the brand that distinguish it from competition. Corporate campaign leaves no doubt in the mind of its listening audience, though it can take advantage of suspense, especially if the story is dramatic.

Our Heritage story was narrative, demonstrative, left so much for suspense, interesting, but did not take the brand with it.

If we are to draw up a story-board from what we saw on TV, the last frame for

owner-sign-off would come across as an afterthought because the story left the brand behind from start to the end. That is where the fear of over-bearing influence of the brand’s name on the creative team came in: could it be that the team ran too far with the name Heritage Bank and left the distinctive elements of its personality behind? What does Heritage Bank stand for in character, brand person, an offering, or as a promise to the target audience? The commercial did not engage the tone-of-voice, mood, and character that support a brand that presents itself as Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Services Provider. For a bank brand born in 2013 with all the trappings of modern banking in all of its forms and equipment, but without a particular attribute of Old Tradition (neither in product offering nor trade practice) to hold on so hard to, Heritage in its corporate campaign, can only mean confusion.

Perhaps it derived its name from the Heritage Bank of Australia (we need to know). But if that is the case, then our Nigerian friend has not been fair to itself here, and in its personality profiling, because that of Australia was ‘born’ in 1875, a Mutual Bank, and known for its avowed singular business tradition (and policy) of promoting Housing Mortgage.

In fact, it started as Toowoomba Permanent Building Society, and it continued in that Tradition and Heritage. Till date, it is known for financing mortgages for its members (remember it is a Mutual Bank).

When you are telling the story of such brand, you have ample materials to work

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

along the line of Heritage in truth. In Our Nigerian case, the rationale for a Single-Minded-Proposition anchored on Heritage is clearly non-existent, hence the evident disconnect in the storyline.

Our only possible conclusion, therefore, is that the creative team behind that TV Commercial should have done some more work in aligning its creativity with the brand personality, essence and promise, for that investment to have been profitable.

Perhaps when the Client and its Agency sit down to review the commercial referred to here, there could be a measure of correction they can do to make it more purposeful for the brand, starting from the Brief, through the critical steps in the creative process (critically look at the Creative Brief Forms if there were any), the rationale and so on.

The Production Was Quite Good.

As a piece of Brand Communication, however, Heritage Bank leaves much to be desired, especially considering the critical imperatives for an effective marketing communication

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Breakthrough with

A

Prof M.K Othman (PhD) mkothman@gmail.com

s a tutor of Agricultural Engineering courses at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, sometimes, I begin my lecture of my new set of students with a question on food security. “Which is the worse form of insecurity to humanity, military or food”? The class may be momentarily silent with each student excogitating what should be the right answer while gazing at me. Sensing the confusion, I reframe the question; what is the biggest threat to a person; a loaded gun pointed at someone or withdrawal of food to that person?

Death is the limit and the maximum damage to any form of insecurity; be it military, food, social and others, if one is to make a choice of death, either by bullet/bomb or by starvation of food (food insecurity), what is the best choice for a person? Dying by bullet within few seconds or hunger that may last many weeks? Many will choose bullet to avoid the unbearable pain caused by hunger with full consciousness.

There are evidences showing that animals that starve to death experience a myriad of painful symptoms throughout each stage of their physical deterioration. Several video films showing animals dying out of hunger are pitiful, disgusting and not a pleasant show to watch.

How painful is death from starvation? After a few days without food, some chemicals called “ketones” build up in the blood. These chemicals cause a mild euphoria that serves as an anesthetic. The weakening brain also releases a surge of feel-good hormones called endorphins at first week of starvation without dehydration. Starvation wreaks havoc on the body’s immune system, mostly on account of an extreme deficiency of vitamins and minerals. Some people will become weak and die of immune-related diseases during starvation. People can die of starvation in as short as a three-week span, or as long as 70 days. During the Irish Hunger Strikes of 1981, for example, 10 men survived without food (drinking only water) for periods ranging from 46 to 73 days. Starvation is generally brought by food insecurity, either due to natural calamity or man-made calamity. Food insecurity could be sudden or gradual depending on the factors responsible for its development. Whatever the case may be, a country must strive hard to avoid the development of food insecurity, which is the worst form of insecurity to the human race.

This brings fore the question; how food secured is Nigeria? Nigeria, as a nation, is capable of producing food to feed half of African continent; yet, the country has not been producing enough to satisfactorily meet the needs of her citizenry.

However, there haven’t been reported cases of people dying out of hunger in Nigeria but there are many families struggling to meet their daily dietary needs. The country must work hard to avoid a worse situation. How can Nigeria achieve food security? A pre-requisite question, which can lead to satisfactory answer to how Nigeria can achieve food security, is “what is the agricultural performance of Nigeria? What are the performances of the different agricultural components; livestock, fisheries, crops and their value chains?”

The foregoing analysis and discussion bring

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March 9, 2018

Peeping At Research And Development Centre: NAERLS Presents 2017 Agricultural Performance In Nigeria

Lokpobiri

the import of a research conducted by National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) on the assessment of Agricultural activities during the 2017 rainy season in Nigeria. The research is tagged “Agricultural Performance Survey (APS)”, which has been an annual event that showcases the crops’ production estimates, challenges to farm inputs, technologies adoption, and constraints to production, pests and diseases situation and market information. An insight to answers on the food security questions is readily available in the APS report. Although, NAERLS has been conducting APS in the last three decades but the 2017 was uniquely done. The survey was conducted with active involvement of key agencies in Agriculture and related sectors such as National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), National Productivity Centre (NPC), NARIs, NiMet and Famine Early Warning Service Network (FEWSNET), Nigeria. Furthermore, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) provided sound support to the researchers through the provision of 200 Android tablets, which facilitated electronic data capture during survey. No doubt, the involvement of the agencies raised the scope and quality of the 2017 exercise. A total of 21 agencies, in addition to the states Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) across the nation, participated in the 2017 APS. The public presentation of the APS report was the epic of the momentous national assignment conducted

by NAERLS and partners. The presentation was done after the stakeholders’ validation workshop of the survey results. The Honorable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, publicly presented the result/report of 2017 APS before the important stakeholders of Agricultural Development in Nigeria.

The groundbreaking ceremony of the APS public presentation was made on 27th February 2018 at HQ NAF Officers’ Mess and Suites, Kado, Abuja. Fifteen States Commissioners of

Agriculture or their representatives, Programme Managers of 23 States and FCT Agricultural Development Programmes, witnessed the occasion. Similarly, the International Developmental Agencies such as GIZ, IFAD, FEWSNET, Alliance for Science, Ithaca, USA and relevant organisations graced the historic event. The Minister, Dr Lokpobiri was visibly elated for being the first to make the public presentation of the APS for the use of general public and indeed humanity. He stated that the APS report could serve as knowledge-base for research and policy decisions in areas of crop pests, disease situation, market situation, commodity price levels, agro-meteorological conditions and agro-pastoral conditions across the country. The report is a useful document for the guidance of policy, research and developmental efforts of the communities across the nation. Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Ibrahim Garba, served as the chairman of the occasion.

NAERLS, the lead partner of the survey, is one of the 12 research centres under the auspices of ABU, Zaria. This made the occasion to be very special to Prof Garba. He was thus; observably ecstatic as the survey achieved two major goals he craves for ABU and NAERLS. One of the three cardinal goals of a university is “community service” and the APS has perfectly achieved it. Additionally, the survey has achieved one of the six national mandates of NAERLS as contained in her Statue. In his opening remarks, Prof Garba thanked the Minister for the Ministry’s continuous support to research Institutes under ABU to discharge their mandates in research and extension services. He assured the stakeholders of NAERLS of the readiness to continue providing information, skill, technologies and other extension services to farmers for the economic well being of citizens through agriculture. He called on the stakeholders to take maximum benefits provided by the 2017 APS, as a credible source of information for the development of agriculture,

Temper is so good a thing that we should never lose it.

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water resources and environmental control.

What are the contents of the APS report?

How can these findings help Nigeria achieve food security? Before then, what is NAERLS? Historically, NAERLS was initially named “Research Liaison Services”. It grew out of the “Specialist Services” section of the then Northern Nigeria Ministry of Agriculture.

With the transfer of Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) in 1962 to Ahmadu Bello University, when the university was created, it became imperative to establish an organ to provide a formal linkage between IAR and the then Ministry of Agriculture of Northern Nigeria to ensure that research results get to farmers in useful, adoptable form. Thus, the Extension Research Liaison Section (ERLS) was created in 1963 within IAR. In 1975, the Ahmadu Bello University Council, in accordance with Statute 19, separated the ERLS from IAR and renamed it the Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (AERLS). Thus, AERLS became an autonomous Institute within the Agricultural Complex of the University under the aegis of the then Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST), similar to the parent Institute, IAR. In 1987, some of the mandates of Research Institutes, under the supervision of the then Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, were reorganised to remove duplication and create synergy. In recognition of the then AERLS contribution to the successful extension support services in the Northern States of Nigeria, the Institute was given a national mandate, which metamorphosed it to National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS).

Presently, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) funds NAERLS, while Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, provides its staff. This makes NAERLS to be one among four research centres with two supervisory bodies; FMARD and university. Surprisingly and pleasantly, there is no conflict of interests and the two bodies are achieving their goals. While FMARD is achieving agricultural extension policy and direction through NAERLS, ABU uses both the human resources and infrastructure of NAERLS for teaching, learning and community services.

These tasks are accomplished because of the mission and mandate of NAERLS from 1987 to date. (To be continued next week)

Nigeria, as a nation, is capable of producing food to feed half of African continent; yet, the country has not been producing enough to satisfactorily meet the needs of her citizenry

ISLAM COLUMN / 29

March 9, 2018

Ustaz Abubakr Siddeeq Muhammad Focus On Faith 08076760011 (sms only) www.abubakrsiddeeq.com, email: deedat@gmail.com

Dear Hajiya (Dr) Amina Namadi Sambo (2)

How your predominantly black, modest attire riled her! Remember how she would often insult you publicly by telling people you remind her of death because you were always in mourning. Your Excellency, in your shoes, I would have asked her why her husband also mourned, since he also wore black attires most of the time. You showed fine breeding, and it cannot be acquired merely by being catapulted to lofty positions. In the end, the foundation will reveal itself in the manners and comportment of the occupier of an underserved position. Indeed, “what got you here won’t get you there” as Marshal Goldsmith put it in his book of the same title.

The point I desire to make is, for a vice president as loyal as your husband - loyal to a fault, I must add - to concede your refusal to dance with him at the behest of his boss, President Jonathan.

He deserves accolades for respecting and appreciating the fact that his authority over his wife cannot encroach Allah’s sanctuary; and eternal honour goes to you for stubbornly sticking to what is right, and, at the same time, reverently walking shyly behind her husband, the archetype of the Muslim wife, supporting him within the Hajiya (Dr) Amina Namadi Sambo limits imposed by Allah. You did not grant a BBC interview, for instance, as is the vogue in Your ordeal at the hands of your the era of change, to expose your husband’s tormentor reminds me of the recent event political weaknesses, if there were any, in of December 12, 2017, when a citizen of order to make his adversaries triumph over this country, Firdaus Abdulsalam Amasa, him, Allah forbid! was denied the Call to Bar by the Body of Doubtless, working with Dame Patience Benchers for exercising her constitutional must have been a very hard enterprise right to don her religious garment; especially for you, who have chosen to something she has worn all her years adhere to the Divine Proclamation of not as a Law student and at the Law school appearing in public like a coquette, but without incident. The irony of lawyers in a decent manner to be recognised as a violating the law which protects one of Muslim lady in hijab (al-Ahzaab, 33:59). What their own is sad. The purported hearings psychological torture and denigration you on the matter at the National Assembly have endured, because of your raiment, did not happen. Injustice against one from Mama Peace, who is, to be fair to her, of of us is an injustice against the rest of different culture and creed, in which black is us. Precedence has been set; the seeds associated with death and mourning periods. of deeply rooted hatred and ill-feelings One could argue, as I have earlier pointed out, have been sown. that her husband was often seen wearing This country may not reap the fruits black clothes. The fact that you have worn until a generation after ours. In Firdaus’ myriad hijabs of diverse hues was lost on the case, as in yours, we saw not just the hater of ‘people from that side’. haters of our religion coalesce into a front I imagine how it must feel to be in that against her, we also saw ignorant Muslims very contracted situation where you could wondering why she could not remove the not get any succour even from fellow Muslim hijaab for just one day. The right question sisters within the State House or female should be why should she be required to members of the cabinet at that time. I can remove her religious garment at all? How only imagine what passed through your does wearing hijaab affect anything in the mind when shockingly, one of your fellow training of a lawyer? How did it affect her Muslim sisters advised you to take off your ability to collect her certificate on that hijaab to fit in and avoid Mama Peace and day? What slave mentality gave birth her barbed tongue. The throng of women to such narrow-minded, bigoted and hovering decorously around Dame Patience outright stupid adherence to a tradition? looked similar in attire, as if they deliberately How would they feel if the roles were dressed in a way that would not offend Mama reversed and Firdaus’ faith dictated the Peace - in gyale, ashobi, and tayani gantali - dress code on that day? except for the then Minister of Education, In the circumstances like the one you Prof. Rukayyah Ahmad Rufa’i, and a few found yourself in, Your Excellency, where others, who remained firm and proud of their some Muslims were advancing reasons black abaayahs. why the hijab should be jettisoned

because “you are a leader for all, so it is not fitting for you to display a commitment to religion”, you must have felt lonely in the midst of minions of the froward boss who abhorred dichotomy between decency and impropriety in dressing. You did not hearken to their noxious talk as you remained, gracefully, the moving emblem of the Muslim dress code throughout your husband’s tenure both as the governor of Kaduna State and as the Vice President.

Even now, I see you have not altered in the least.

I often marvelled at the way you were able to refrain from stretching out your hand to shake that of ‘foreigners’. Often times the cameras would beam a male dignitary reaching you for a handshake, but you would politely stay your palms over your bosom and at the same time smiling as if to say, “Sorry sir, my hand is reserved for my consort only”. I have personally been moved by this obduracy in spite of the apparent pressure exerted on you from every direction to relent.

Even Baba, the letter writer as well as his estranged “political son” did not find a way of approach to that hidden hand of yours. Anyone who deems this a mean feat should think of the endless emissaries from foreign missions, ambassadors, members of the Federal Executive Council, and heads of state and leaders from around the globe coming into the State House, and having a handshake with everybody except the wife of the Vice President of Nigeria at the time; it is not a position for the faint-hearted. I ardently hope to hear what people like Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Shittu, the

A heavy purse makes a light heart.

― Egyptian Proverb

Minister of Communication, Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education, and Sheikh (Dr) Isa Ali Pantami, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), who are the three known as the “Mallams” appointed by the current administration, will have to say about the difficulty of refusing to have handshakes with women.

Whatever difficulty they are now encountering in that regard, what Your Excellency faced was twice as great because you resided in the Villa, the powerful centre and seat of government.

You saw and came into contact with quite a number of people in a single day that Adamu, Shittu and Pantami put together cannot meet in a month. Not only that, they are males and heads of their offices; you held no political office as the wife of the Vice President, who was answerable to President Jonathan! Yet, you drew a distinct demarcation between what you could do as a Muslim woman, and what to avoid in spite of the animadversions of Mama Peace!

After the first Umrah or Hajj (I cannot remember which it was exactly) that you and His Excellency, the former Vice President performed, a friend, one of the officials in the Holy Ka’bah assigned to foreign dignitaries during their tawaaf, called me. His name is Sheikh Muhammad ‘Abd Isah, and he is also charged with the enviable task of perfuming the Ka’bah itself. ‘Abd Isah said that of all the VIPs he had served “from numerous non-Arabic speaking nations, I have not seen anyone like the wife of your Vice President, Hajiya Amina. She was virtually reciting, with the Sheikhs attached to them, all supplications during tawaaf. She knows by heart all the supplications to be said at every point and in every position. Moreover, she conversed with us in Arabic….”

Sheikh Muhammad ‘Abd Isah is accustomed to those VIPs and heads of government who know nothing about Islam besides its name, and whose wives are as ignorant; who only don the hijab when they are going for Umrah or Hajj.

However, my Dear Sister, you answered the call of Allah’s Summoner, the late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, (may Allah forgive and have mercy on him) for women to seek knowledge about Islam, as well as Boko.

You did not grant a BBC interview, for instance, as is the vogue in the era of change, to expose your husband’s political weaknesses, if there were any, in order to make his adversaries triumph over him, Allah forbid!

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March 9, 2018

LEADERSHIP FRIDAY

March 09, 2018

2019: APC, PDP And Almagamation Of The ‘Third Force’

In this report, JONATHAN NDA-ISAIAH reviews recent activities within the political arena and suggests that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) may as well be the Third Force poised to challenge the dominance of APC and PDP in the 2019 general elections.

A

head of the 2019 general elections, not a few Nigerians have expressed reservations about the ability of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to give Nigeria the kind of purposeful governance that would take Nigeria to the promised land. Out of despondency, some citizens have called for an alternative Third Force to challenge the duopoly of the governing party and the major opposition party in the country.

Political analysts insist that Nigerians have seen the best of APC and PDP and should be given another option in their quest for true democracy. At the moment, the mindset of even the common man on the street is that the difference between APC and PDP is that between six and half a dozen.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo took advantage of this new but silent agitation for a New Order when he openly asked President Muhammadu Buhari early this year not to seek re-election in 2019.

In an unusual press statement on the state of the nation, the former Nigerian leader passed a vote of no confidence on both the APC and PDP. He called for a coalition, which he tagged a third force, that will steer the country’s ship of governance to a safe harbour of good governance.

Keen observers of happenings in the polity have opined that recent activities on the political landscape of the country show that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) could possibly be the new political platform on which the Third Force would thrive. The thinking is that the gale of defections hitting the PDP and the influx of disgruntled party members to the SDP, which are imminent in the coming weeks would be unprecedented.

The SDP shot into the limelight in 1993 when the late MKO Abiola contested the presidential election on the party’s platform

Secondus

Oyegun

where he emerged victorious before the election was annulled by the military regime of former president Ibrahim Babangida. Besides, some key members of the defunct SDP like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were also founding fathers of the PDP. Meanwhile, some political observers have also opined that the Obasanjo-advocated Third Force is dead on arrival. The thinking is that, with the calibre of people currently in the former president’s coalition, his own version of the third force may end up being a mirage.

Yet, there are other close watchers who posit that the time was too short for the third force to any pull political weight and muster real challenge in 2019. They recall that it took the legacy parties close to two years before they formed the APC, hence its excellent outing in the 2015 presidential election.

As at last count, the country has over 65 registered political parties recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The PDP, which is the major contender and the leading opposition in the country, tends to be losing political height by the day, as its stock is being depleted daily.

In what seems like a deja vu, the PDP is also losing some of its members to the SDP. The acrimony that trailed the national convention of the party last December resurfaced after some Board of Trustees (BoT) members of

the party defected to the SDP and pledged to work with the coalition movement recently formed by former President Obasanjo. They also declared that the PDP, as the leading opposition platform, has reached its end ahead of the 2019 general election.

While the situation has created some disquiet within the PDP BoT, which was most hit by the defection wave, some of the members have disagreed over the impact the former president’s coalition would have on the polity ahead of 2019. LEADERSHIP Friday recall that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed last Thursday by the defecting PDP members, other political parties and other groups for their movement into the SDP at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

Some of those mentioned include former minister of education, Prof Tunde Adeniran and former minister of information, Prof Jerry Gana, who served in former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government and who were also members of PDP’s BoT. Adeniran contested the national chairmanship of PDP last December but lost to Prince Uche Secondus, who enjoyed the support of the governors spearheaded by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike.

Following allegation of malpractices that trailed the convention, a reconciliation team led

by Bayelsa State governor, Seriake Dickson,

A good thing is all the sweeter when won with pain.

met with Adeniran and other chairmanship aspirants who felt aggrieved by roles played by the governors, especially Wike. The fallout of the convention also created a division within the party’s BoT, which comprises elders and former national elective officeholders of the party.

BoT members were split along the lines of some of its members who contested the national chairmanship positin. While the likes of Jerry Gana backed the aspiration of Prof Adeniran, other members either backed Secondus or former deputy national chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George.

The BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, had also set up a reconciliation committee led by a former Senate president, David Mark, to reconcile the aggrieved members of the advisory organ of the party following Secondus’ eventual emergence as national chairman.

Confirming their defection to SDP, Adeniran told LEADERSHIP Friday that they decided to leave the PDP because they needed a platform, among other things, that is not owned by one or few individuals. He added that, while he was satisfied with the reconciliation team led by the Bayelsa State ➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

32 FRIDAY POLITICS

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2019: APC, PDP And Almagamation Of The ‘Third Force’ ➔ CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

governor, he was compelled to leave PDP because his supporters from the Southwest were miffed by the way Wike insulted them on the eve of the national convention.

“I am a member of the SDP and we have taken a decision to move to the SDP. What has happened is this: there are those of us who believe in genuine internal party democracy, who believe in social justice, equity fairness and honesty in politics and are irrevocably and uncompromisingly against impunity imposition and corruption.

We formed what we called new political order. Most of us came in from the PDP, some came in from some other parties, groups, social activist and so on.

“Those of us in the PDP felt that the PDP has gone beyond what could be redeemed in terms of its commitment to what we thought should be things of the past. But we realised that we would not be able to get justice for the people and for the things that we should be running away from, and would not move this country forward.

“So, we thought we needed a different platform that will respect the dignity of man; that will be honest in all its dealings; a platform where the love of country, genuine patriotism and interest of the masses of the people is supreme; a party that will not be easily purchasable by one individual or group of individuals.

“Those of us who believe in the future generations and the youths and the rights of women to be respected and given their rightful place in society and in the politics of the land, we felt we needed a platform that will provide opportunity for this and we considered some new parties and some existing parties and among the various parties that we considered we also thought of those that are likely to encourage national spread, that will not promote ethnicity; a party that abhors internal crisis, a party that will have good programmes and principles, whose structure is good for the country.

“That was what recommended the Social Democratic Party. As we are moving in as part of it, everybody is equal; nobody is bigger than the other, and there is room for people and others coming behind because there are so many other groups coming from all over the place and different parties that are still coming in,” Adeniran said.

Adeniran further regretted that the reconciliation committee led by Governor Dickson, did not yield the expected result. On this, he said, “What sparked my decision to move was the fact that the reconciliation committee was headed by a very honourable, honest, nice and patriotic man.”

“He is someone I respect a lot. I admire his style of leadership. He meant well, no question about that. But after all that was done, you know, politics is about people.

We represent people and so forth. I am from the South West, I have gone back to my people and they felt so insulted by some people within the PDP, and they said they do not believe that they can relate and deal with people who have no regard or

respect for them. They mentioned Wike in particular with the way he insulted the Yoruba in the TV programmes few days to the convention. So I share the sentiment of my people,” he added.

On their decision to work with Obasanjo’s coalition, he said, “We shall be working with groups that believe in the core values that we believe in. The coalition that Obasanjo is working with is a movement. President Obasanjo is an elder statesman; he will not be involved in partisan politics.”

“But members of that movement – I am also part of that movement; many of us are part of it. We want changes that will liberate this country. And we are going to work closely with him and we will also work with other patriotic groups who mean well for this country,” Adeniran revealed.

He however noted their movement from the PDP signaled the end of the party ahead of the 2019 general elections. “What this means is the end of the road. I wish the PDP well but then it will pose some challenges but then they will be the ones to say what it means for them. But as far as I am concerned, I feel they have a huge task ahead of them.”

But in his reaction, the chairman of PDP BoT, Senator Jibrin, told LEADERSHIP Friday that he was yet to receive any formal notice of BoT members’ defection.

He recalled that the BoT had set up a committee to reconcile its members following the crisis that arose from the national convention, adding that until the report is ready, they will not make comment on the defection.

Jibrin who lamented the movement of the party chieftains to SDP, however, noted that there was no cause for alarm over the perceived threat Obasanjo’s movement poses to PDP. He said, “I talk appropriately regarding Gana and Adeniran about the issue. In any contest there is bound to be a winner and a loser. And when a winner emerges, we should all rally round and support whoever he is and forget about the past. Today the serving national chairman of the party is Secondus. So we will do everything possible to ensure success for our party.

“Many people have defected to PDP; many people are coming into PDP. The number of people coming into PDP is double the number of those leaving PDP. There is no cause for alarm. Even if I am the only person remaining, I will never leave PDP. I will continue to remain in PDP. I am very consistent in my belief that PDP will never die”.

Reacting to the possible impact of Obasanjo’s coalition, he said, “The issue of Obasanjo is not a new thing at all, particularly for anybody that knows him very well. He has condemned Buhari and APC. He has also condemned the PDP. So why is he worried? Despite his position, the strongest parties today are still PDP and the APC. And so he had condemned all of us.

“I can’t see the coalition succeeding at all because the majority of the people are in PDP and APC. And these are the parties he is condemning. His is a total blanket

Obasanjo

condemnation of parties, which we will not take. So I only pity people who are moving into his type of game. This is a plot set up by some people in order to achieve their own selfishness and not with the people of Nigeria.

“We have a lot of problems in Nigeria but we have been able to put our heads together.

We have come together to make Nigeria one.

Anybody who is trying to break Nigeria, God will not give him the opportunity to do so.”

Another BoT member of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, however, expressed displeasure over the defection of his former BoT colleagues to the SDP. He also noted that the former president’s coalition was coming rather late ahead of 2019 general election.

He said, “Frankly speaking, Prof Jerry Gana and Prof Tunde Adeniran are highly respected people in the party. They are both good friends of mine. They didn’t tell me.

I didn’t know theywere going away. If they had told me I would have offered my own advice because two heads are better than one.

“In all the parties today you will notice that there is general disaffection within them.

Even in the APC there are a lot of problems.

I know a lot of people in APC that want to defect to PDP. My philosophy of democracy is different. I believe that before you join a party you must know the philosophy and try at all times to protect it. This Idea of people jumping from one party to the other does not show democratic conduct. If democracy must be preserved, even if you have not got what you want in the party, you have to stay”.

While this is playing out in the PDP, some keen observers of the happenings in the polity also observed that there are some members of the APC who are also disenchanted with the way things are going in the ruling party and may leave the party anytime soon. LEADERSHIP Friday also gathered that about four governors and National Assembly members on the platform of APC are planning to defect to the SDP. One name that keeps coming up is that of

A handsome shoe often pinches the foot.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, who is said to have perfected plans to move to the SDP. It was gathered that the presidency is not happy with Ortom over the way he handled issues bordering on the killings in Benue earlier this year.

It was also gathered that the APC is propping up the Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Authority, Emmanuel Jime, to fly the party’s flag in Benue state come 2019 in the governorship contest.

For instance, Ortom was advised not to go ahead with the mass burial of the 73 victims allegedly killed by Fulani herdsmen because it would inflame passions, but the governor went ahead with the mass burial.

Since then, he had been seen frolicking with PDP members who have turned on the charm offensive to lure him back to the party.

It was also gathered that the SDP is currently prevailing on the former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to defect to its fold and fly its presidential ticket in 2019. The former governor is having a running battle with his successor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and may be denied the senatorial ticket in 2019. Although, Senator Kwankwaso is apparently eyeing bigger offices like the presidency.

Recall that Kwankwaso came behind President Buhari in the APC presidential primaries election of 2014 in Lagos. He is also bidding his time in the APC and in the event that President Buhari decides not to seek reelection, he would not hesitate to declare his intention.

The PDP, on the other hand, is wooing Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal to come back to the fold and fly its presidential ticket in 2019. Tambuwal is considered as young and urbane and would fit the bill of a modern politician.

The SDP now seems the best bet for Kwankwaso who is regarded as an ‘Obasanjo Boy’. The SDP steam is gathering momentum and it remains to be seen whether it can gather the needed numbers to muster any challenge come 2019. Only time will tell.

March 9, 2018

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POLITICS INTERVIEW 33

We Have Made Significant Progress In Stopping Grand Corruption – Osinbajo Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in this interview with journalists and social media practitioners, said the federal government had made tremendous efforts in stopping grand corruption in the country today. He also spoke on a wide range of national issues. JONATHAN NDA- ISAIAH presents the excerpts.

The President has no choice in that, it is a constitutional requirement…

Idris

On Nigeria’s latest rating by Transparency International on the Corruption Perception Index

I think that by even Transparency International’s own assessment, Transparency International uses nine different indexes to come to a conclusion. In four out of those indexes, Nigeria moved up, in another four Nigeria stabilized & dropped in only one index. So in aggregation, it (T.I) then decides that it has fallen in certain number of points below where we were.

I think the important thing to bear in mind about Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight is that the government has done what it ought to do by focusing on grand corruption. Grand corruption is the type we experienced years before when, for example, $15billion was lost in defence contract. Two, three weeks to election, N100 billion in cash was taken out, and again $293 million in cash, two weeks, three weeks to election. That’s the kind of impunity. And of course you are also familiar with the scam that went on in the NNPC at the time; the so called statutory contracts, that’s grand corruption. That is the corruption that crippled the economy of the country.

Let me tell you very quickly how you can recognize that we have scaled a good deal on grand corruption today: despite the fact that we are earning 60 percent less in revenue, we are actually able to spend more than ever before in the history of this country on infrastructure. In 2017, we spent about N1.3 trillion on capital.

That’s the highest in the history of the country.

So we are able to do far more with far less because we have controlled the impunity that went on, the grand corruption, and all of that.

Now, how does that translate to perception; because grand corruption is a big aspect of corruption. It’s a big one because if you cannot control grand corruption, you can’t do what you want to do. But then you cannot address the corruption as you go through our airports, our ports or as you go through government offices, in many cases. That’s where the whole perception emerges.

We must have a deeper and much wider way of dealing with corruption. How are you going to do that? You must have an efficient way of doing that; like automation, removing discretion from individuals.

What is the institutionalized process of fighting corruption?

Institutionalization is not a one-off thing,

Osibanjo

it’s a process, and we are dealing with that, that’s exactly what we are doing. For example, the TSA and being able to look at government accounts and all of that is one way of institutionalizing a process by which you can be sure of what people are doing, how this things are happening. The process of allowing the EFCC to do its work without dictation, saying that “look, this what the EFCC is doing”, and giving them every support that you can. These are ways of institutionalizing.

And it is that same process that we are taking in the public service - Automation.

For example, look at all that we have done in the ease of doing business. The whole point of doing that is institutionalizing processes, so that when you come into Nigeria you can get your visa after applying online; so that Customs don’t have to sit around the airport, that is why we are putting in the I-check and we are putting all sorts of other processes. That is to institutionalize; it’s not a one-off process.

What’s the national strategy on anti-corruption?

That’s a long conversation, but put simply, the national strategy is to ensure that public officers in particular are not able to privatize public finances. And how do we intend to achieve that? We intend to achieve that by ensuring that there is consequence for corruption and also by automating processes, removing discretion from individuals because if you don’t remove discretion from individuals the individuals can have discretion as whether or not they will grant certain approvals through certain processes; then you continue to encourage corruption at one level or the other.

Asides from the EFCC, it seems the other anti-

corruption agencies such as the ICPC are doing nothing…

Well, I don’t agree. I think that you will find that alongside the work of the EFCC, in fact one of the critical things we do is, we try and re-direct the ICPC. We appointed the executive secretary of the Presidential AntiCorruption Advisory Council, PACAC, Prof.

Bolaji Owasanoye, to head that body and we believe the ICPC is the important part of the whole fight against corruption. We revamped the leadership of the ICPC. Unfortunately we were stalled because it requires Senate confirmation, that hasn’t been done. That is the area of focus for us because the ICPC is supposed to be involved, not just in corruption, but in orientation and re-orientation of the public service. So, it’s an important part of our work.

On allegations of nepotism against the Buhari administration

Look at the cabinet, for example, from the point of view of the religion, it has an equal number - 18 Christians, 18 Muslims; but, we have the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as well as the Head of Service who are Christians. So we have 20 Christians to 18 Muslims; that’s the structure of the cabinet.

So if you take that narrative you may argue that perhaps the Christian have the upper hand; that’s a possible narrative.

Let us look a little deeper into that, so there are those who may argue, for example, that the north has an upper hand or perhaps one section has an upper hand in the cabinet as one narrative. The South East, for example, has five states. Four of the South Eastern states have senior ministers; all of them, except one, who is Minister of State for Education.

A man’s behaviour is the index of his mind.

In assigning particular portfolios he does. In the north, seven northern states have no senior minister, including the President’s home state, Katsina. Now, there are those who will say, if you are nepotistic; surely seven northern states have no senior minister. It’s a narrative depending on how you want to run it.

I give you another example; I’m from the South West. There are people who will say “I am from the South West, the North has everything.” The South West, for the first time in the history of this country, has one Minister who is in charge of three ministries: Power, Works and Housing. The Ministers of Finance & Communications are also from the South West. These are critical ministries.

You can run the narrative in whichever way that you choose. There are those who will say, for instance, look at the number of CEOs of agencies of government; the highest number of CEOs in our nation today comes from Ogun State, the state has the largest number. There are those who will say that’s his state (i.e VP’S State). So you can run the narrative depending on how you want to run it.

The President has admitted that, yes there are situations where you can find certain things as true and he intends to have a look at that.

For example, you’ve given the example of security positions and he said he is going to take a look at look at it. I believe that is the way to go because you can run any narrative that will suit the figures you are showing. And that is where we have legal process. There are people who don’t know that the number of CEOs from Anambra State are more than the number of CEOs from Katsina State or anywhere else, except Ogun.

On the delay of 2018 budget

We have a democracy that has, as you know, three arms. The two relevant arms for budget are the executive and legislature. If you recall when I was Acting President, I signed the 2017 budget and, at that time, I made the announcement with the full consensus of the National Assembly that, from 2018, we are going to have a budget that is going to apply in January and end in December the normal financial year. We agreed that we will submit our proposal in good time, and we did that first week of November. The President did so.

We fulfilled that part of the agreement. The budget is with the National Assembly. There is very little we can do to control that. That’s the system that we have.

Seeming rift between the Executive arm of government and the Legislature

Well, I’m not so sure that the tensions are unknown. The democratic system anywhere as, for example, in the US where we borrow our bicameral legislature from, you find that despite the fact that the Republican Party controls major part of parliament, it still doesn’t mean that bills are necessary going to go through. ➔ CONTINUES ON THE NEXT PAGE

34 FRIDAY POLITICS INTERVIEW

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We Have Made Significant Progress In Stopping Grand Corruption – Osinbajo ➔ CONTINUED FROM THE PREVIOUS PAGE

So one must assume that the responsibility of the National Assembly is to scrutinize what the executive is doing and not just to be a rubber stamp. But I also agree with you entirely that it’s important for us, for the sake of our country, our economy and for the sake of many young people who are relying on us to deliver. We ensured that we released our budget on time. I want to believe that the executive has done its part and we wait on the National Assembly.

On Nigeria’s debt reportedly now being higher than what was inherited by this administration

No, No, I don’t think so. First let me explain that we have a government that is very prudent, a government that believes in financial prudence, a government that condemns impunity - the way that the thing was practiced before now, and a government that spends resources on the right thing. For the first time in the history of our country, we are spending about N1.3 trillion on capital; it means that we are investing in the right place.

We are not just borrowing money anyhow; no, we are investing in the right place.

Every government or most governments anywhere probably look for some points to borrow, but the important thing is what are you borrowing for? And that’s why we building the Lagos-Kano rail, doing the Lagos-Calabar rail, the second Niger Bridge and the Mambilla hydro project that has been abandoned for almost 40 years.

We are improving capacities in power, we are investing in social investment, we are investing long-term in the things that will create an economy that can support a large number of young graduates, who are coming in the market every day. That’s a process that needs a lot of thinking; that needs a lot of investment.

I think the most important thing is to ask that when there was a N9 trillion debt, where is the infrastructure to account for that? I think that is the most important question to ask. It’s not whether you borrow, but what you spend that money on. I think we should be able to prove that the earning is 60% less than the earning in the past five six years. So we are spending far more on the right thing and we are able to ensure that we build a future that young people can truly look forward to.

What about the 50% revenue reportedly being spent on settling debts?

No, we are not spending 50% of our revenue servicing debt. Let me explain that, we have a deficit somehow in the region of about N2.6 trillion now, a lot of our revenue has to be spent on capital and recurrent, and recurrent is 70% of revenue. But for the first time we are spending 30% on capital. Before now when oil was a $115 a barrel, we were spending 11% or 15% on capital, and capital is the most important expenditure because that is where you do the infrastructure in order to be able to build the economy. So the reality is what we are spending is to provide the infrastructure that will last.

Abduction of 110 Dapchi girls in Yobe and the killings in states like Benue and Zamfara. Why didn’t the President or you visit these places

earlier?

Let me say it first that no amount of condolence can compensate for the loss of life, whether in Calabar, Mambilla or Benue or where people were killed in Adamawa or Zamfara, any of these states. There is no amount of condolence that can compensate for the loss of life. Benue killing is one set of killing far too much; there is no amount of condolence that can compensate for that. And I want to say that it’s a massive tragedy. But the question that you seem to ask I’ve been to Zamfara, I’ve been to Adamawa when this killing took place. There are those who said, ‘oh, why don’t you visit the Fulani settlement, why do visit only where Christians were?’ I even visited Benue in September where there have been killing before; then I’ve visited them when the flooding took place and we looked at all the issues and tried to address many of these. There have been several of these issues in different places, recently Dapchi. We have expressed condolences, but no amount of condolence would do.

The more important thing, and our focus has been, is first of all ensuring security in these places.

We have to address the security question in a much more robust way; that the police are able to do these effectively. We have deployed the military to Kaduna, two battalions to Kaduna. In Benue and Taraba axis, we have the 93 battalion, we have 72 Special Forces.

We have full concentration in Taraba and all of that, and by the way, the military is fighting in most of the North East. So there is a situation where the military is overstretched. So I think the most important thing is first of all to ensure they actually address the security of the people.

The second Niger Bridge and Buhari administration’s efforts to win the South East

Let me just say that the President has pointed out that the South East wasn’t the region that voted heavily for the APC, but that is not in any way stopping the President from appointing four senior ministers from that part of the country. He could have appointed junior ministers. By appointing four senior ministers, I think that it shows that he is interested in the South East region of Nigeria.

Secondly, previous government merely talk about the second Niger Bridge. We have moved to site, we are working on the second Niger Bridge. We’ve provided for the second Niger Bridge in our budget we have also provided infrastructure fund for the second Niger Bridge. Also, we are doing the Lagos-Calabar road. The Lagos-Calabar road goes through the South East region, that’s one of the very important thing we are doing and we put money behind it. The President himself negotiated the loan from the Chinese government. He actually went to China to negotiate and these are ongoing projects.

Ariaria market today is possibly the largest MSME hub in the whole of West Africa. The Federal Government, with the private sector, is powering Ariaria market so that every of the 21,000 shops in Ariaria market has power. The roads to the market are in the budget. Let’s bring it down to what we are doing; the first of our MSME clinics was in Aba and we are committed to ensuring Aba is a hub that it ought to be.

Osibanjo

This is where we spend a lot of time and energy to move regulatory agencies so that they actually have a one-stop centre there, so that NAFDAC, SON can move into that place.

There is a lot of work that’s going on. The truth is that we do what needs to be done. We were elected to do the right thing by everyone and we are doing it. I’ve gone to the South East several times. I’ve visited Nnewi and many parts of Anambra as well, where we look around and look at ways of supporting industries there and we are still committed to that zone.

Areas that Federal Government could have done better

Let me say that one of the very important things for me, I think we could have done far more in terms of jobs, direct jobs now, because we’ve done enough. We first created jobs in agriculture. Perhaps we are hoping we would be able to provide by now 500,000 of our N-power jobs, but because of the income we are able to provide 200,000. We have another 300,000 waiting to be employed. So maybe a year into our government, we could have done 500,000. So for me I think if we have the kind of resources that people had 10 years ago when oil was $115 per barrel we could have provided far in excess.

I also think that, perhaps in the area of power, especially trying to do much more, but power is privatized. A lot of the power companies, a lot of the GENCOs, the DISCOs in particular, simply don’t have the resources to replace assets, so they slow down. How I wish they have more funds to pump into assets and we hope they have more resources to do so. We’ve put in place the over N700 billion payment assurance scheme, but that is insufficient.

DSS disagreement with the NIA in the past, recommendation of EFCC Chair, Ibrahim Magu, by the President and DSS’ letter against that; these point to discord within the administration...

That’s not true. Let me put it this way; first let’s take the Magu example. One of the things that the President decided to do is to ensure that every agency does its work without

A man’s behaviour is the index of his mind.

direct interference from the President. So the President does not call the EFCC, and say, “Go and arrest Mr Ekpeyong”, no. And that’s one of the most important things about the style of this government, and we want the agencies to do their work. No one has showed up and called Magu and say, “Look go and arrest.”

That’s what it is.

While you will find, for example, that the DG, SSS, upon the request by the Senate, wrote a security report and sent it, yet it is up to the President to decide whether he’s going to present this candidate. Interfering with the process of a security report is not leadership, that’s obstructing. He is not supposed to interfere. If you say, “Send your report”, whatever report you want to send, the man defends himself, and we still believe he is the right person for the job. That is the position that we took when he was presented the second time.

Of course, the Senate has had their own say on that and they are entitled to take some of the positions they are taking. But the President believes that this is the right man for the job, so he presented him the second time.

Arrest of DG of NIA by the EFCC

With respect to the arrest of DG, NIA, and some of what took place, I think the fair thing to say is that the President has said that the EFCC has the absolute right to go ahead and do whatever it needs to do to ensure that anybody who has committed a crime, or who is suspected to having committed a crime, is brought to justice, and that’s the position that the EFCC has taken. You know the EFCC has issued a notice for the DG, NIA, and SGF to attend interview with the EFCC; but we are sure that that process would be followed to a logical conclusion.

To ensure that you allow government agency do their business, that’s very important; that’s institution building. Look at what is happening in the US today; the President is sometimes angry with the FBI because the FBI is doing its independent work, and that’s what we hope to achieve: when you see countries where agencies are doing their work the way they are supposed to do it.

FRIDAY DISCOURSE 35

March 09, 2018

BY MALAM YUSUF ABDULLAH

I

08137666995 (sms only)

n the name of Allah who states “O men!

We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another; verily, the noblest among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is deeply conscious of Him. Behold, He is all knowing, all aware. Q49:13 May the everlasting peace and blessings of Allah be upon His chosen servant, our master Muhammad and his purified progeny.

Yaumul Mar’ah, refers to International Women’s Day as marked by late Imam Khomeini of blessed memory. Consequent to the light of the grand Islamic cleric, the day is colourfully celebrated in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Yemen and other Shi’a awakened societies. The magnitude of the celebration by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria is largely influential. On the other hand, the UN celebrates same on the 5th of March yearly. However, in most cases in the latter, accusing finger is pointed at Islam whenever issues on gender are analysed.

The allegations revolve around hijab, polygamy, women’s education, inheritance and the like.

The theme for this year’s UN 62nd event is ‘Time is now: rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives; aiming at appraising women’s rights towards equality and justice.’ On nearly the same phenomenon, last year’s was “A woman in the changing world of work, planet 5050 by 2030. Generally speaking, the SecretaryGeneral and other world leaders, express their well wishes to mark the day. In addition to that, women advocacy groups, nongovernmental organisations and human rights activists, celebrate same at various capacities.

Flashing back at the historic past, a little comparison could be made on the conventional status of woman in Western society. The journey is of hundreds of years of struggle against injustice. It was not until late 19th century, that international coalition of women’s rights in the US, was recognised leading to the formation of advocacy groups. The agitation for women’s rights was taken to UN, then League of Nations in 1935. Remarkable wane was clearly observed in the late 1960’s when they began to work for equal rights. In fact, the historic women’s march - Equal Rights Amendment, (ERA) - chanting for equality was held in 1970 in New York!

That spelt how the woman was excessively oppressed particularly in the United States and Europe! Regardless of any political right, woman was unabatedly denied socio-economic considerations by men. The philosophy was deep-rooted in Western civilisation which is connected to Judao-Christian traditions that culturally allowed them very limited roles.

Such radical ideas about equality and the rights as citizens, inspired both American and French revolutions in 1775 and 1789 respectively.

However, the ideas of the enlightenment initially had little impact on the legal and political status of women. Most enlightened thinkers thought that the position of women and many of their followers as regards liberty, equality, and political representation, applied only to men. The French influential philosopher, Jean Rousseau, claimed that women were sentimental and frivolous, arguing that they were naturally suited to be subordinate companions

yusmab@

Marking The International Women’s Day: On The Great Occasion Of Sayyidah Fatima’s Birthday!

of men. It was not until 1920, American women gained right for voting following constitutional amendment, added to subsequent improvement in their condition in US and Europe.

Woman From The Islamic Point Of View:

Apparently, the exalted position Islam accords woman, cannot be compared with any other civilisation. A female is given utmost care and protection at all stages of her life. Even those Islamic concepts such as polygamy, hijab and the inequality in ratio of inheritance among others, grossly misunderstood or ridiculed by enemies of the religion, were borne of great wisdom considerations. One can appreciate the significant position only if he or she studies the status of woman, not in the Arabia before the advent of Islam, but entire world civilisations.

I cannot be graphical, but most relevant was her status in the Arab Jahiliyyah, when she was considered subhuman and a disgrace to her family; buried alive and considered a property inherited by heirs! From the Islamic point of view, superiority has nothing to do with sexes.

Allah states “O men! We have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another; verily, the noblest among you in the sight of Allah is the one who is deeply conscious of Him. Behold, He is all knowing, all aware. Q49:13. The criterion for Allah’s reward is based on individual’s performance accordingly “we will give a pure and wholesome life to every one man or woman who acts righteously and has faith and we will reward them in accordance with the best of what they used to do” Q16:97.

On this perspective, the day is observed on 20th Jimada- thani, the birthday of Sayyidah Fatima (AS). The event is used to remind the Ummah in particular and the world, of her exalted life, embodiment of sterling qualities worthy of emulation by all. Some traditions in her respect include; “Fatima is the chief of the women of Paradise.” (Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. V, chapter 29. Mother of believers A’isha has said “I have not seen a person more similar to the Prophet’s appearance, conduct, guidance, and speech, whether sitting or standing, than Fatima. When she enters, the Messenger of Allah stands up, kisses and welcomes her, then takes her hand and asks her to sit in his place.”

(Tirmizi and Ibn Abdurabbeh in Eqd al-Farid).

She has also narrated: “(I declare) By Allah that I have not seen anyone more beloved to Allah’s Messenger than Ali, or a woman on earth more beloved to him than his wife (Fatima).” Narrated

by Mustadrak al-Hakim: V.3, p.154, Khasaes alNasaee: p.29. The Messenger of Allah (S) said: the best of the women of Paradise are: Khadija, daughter of Khowailid, Fatima, daughter of Muhammad, Asiyah, daughter of Muzahim (Pharaoh’s wife), and Maryam, daughter of Imran, mother of Jesus.

Her sincerity, worship, good neighborliness, patience, perseverance, hospitality, family life and children up-bringing are exemplary lessons for all! The love of the prophet’s progeny is mandatory on all Muslims. Allah stated “... no reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin...” Q42:23. In a prominent tradition, the prophet (S) has said “the messenger

Malama Maimuna

of my Lord is about to come to me and I shall answer. I am leaving with you the two weighty things; the first is the book of Allah, in which you find guidance and enlightenment, and the people of my household. I remind you by Allah, of the people of my household”. Al-Tabarani related from Ibn Abbas that “no one shall be able to move from his place of reckoning on the day of Judgment until he has stated four things: how he spent his life and his wealth, where he got his wealth from and he shall also be asked about the love of the Ahlul-bait. However, it is imperative to raise some questions here; where are Sayyidah’s narrations? Didn’t she narrate?

How and why did others narrate including her children’s peers that were born at Medina? And what was her crime that she was persecuted to the extent of martyrdom? We strongly advice all justice-seeking people to revisit history so as to differentiate the actual lovers of the noble messenger from his enemies.

Shaikh Uthman Bn Fodio (RA) The Islamic revivalism and societal reform achieved by Shaikh Uthman Bn Fodio was unarguably great. According to Professor Y M Adamu in a paper: Learning and Scholarship in the Sokoto Caliphate: Legacies and Challenges.

The Shehu set to fight the misinterpretation of Islam and the tyranny of Hausa leaders and transform the society on the teachings of Qur’an and Sunna. The Ulama of the time, otherwise called Ulama al-Su’ by the Jihad leaders in their attempt to maintain status quo, posed a great challenge to the Shehu intellectually.

According to Sulaiman, 1978, p 78, the Shaikh said, “the evil of leaving women in ignorance, not knowing what is incumbent upon them, nay, not knowing Islam at all, is greater than the evil of their mixing with men, for the first evil relates back to religion, which is faith Islam and good works (Ihsan) and the second evil relates to genealogy.”

In response to the far reached revivalism, there was positive response evident from the Shaikh’s family. Nana Asma’u, his popular daughter, authored tens of poems which made

A penny soul never came to two pence. — English Proverb

a lot of impact, not only to the academic and moral excellence of women but men inclusive.

Her books, collected and compiled by Jean Boyd, are more easily obtainable in Britain and America than Nigeria, the impact of her works on women’s education, of her time and to date. Boyd and Mack (1997, p. 7) described her contributions as being “in transforming the women’s organisation that had existed among the non-Muslim women prior to their capture, and channeling their interests and needs into organising representative of the Jihadic community’s values. Through her organisation of itinerant women teachers of other women (the ‘Yan taru), Nana Asma’u made working of the community both desirable and honourable.

Her legacies are with other Jihad leaders and the caliphate itself. In contrast to the West’s incessant criticism against Islam on woman’s rights, the religion attaches unique attention to her morality and education, which helps them to grow to become mothers as the moral standard of every society largely depends on its women.

As such, they should be given more support and enlightenment to enable them play their expected roles in the society.

While commending the efforts of sisters’ forum of the Islamic Movement in pursuance of moral and academic excellence, I strongly urge the society to give the women more respect -as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters and relatives- educate, protect and empower them for the socio-economic growth and stability of our nation. We use the medium to sympathise with the actual victims, parents and relatives of the Chibok and Dapchi girls and other victims whose honours were violated on no cause. We pray to Allah to bring an end to this inhumanity, and take avenge on whoever has hand in the very embarrassing atrocity.

The Islamic Movement uses the memorable occasion to reiterate the urgent need for the unconditional release of its leader, Shaikh elZakzaky (H), his indefatigable wife, Malama Zeenat -mother of martyrs- and other disciples illegally behind the bars.

Wassalamu alaikum.

36 OPINION

BY AINOKO ISRAEL AYE-EBENE And DAUDA GARUBA

In 1954, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardaunan Sokoto, became the first (and only) Premier of Northern Nigeria. In the 1959 independence elections, Sir Ahmadu Bello led the (NPC) to win a plurality of the parliamentary seats.

The Sardauna’s NPC forged an alliance with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroon’s NPC to form Nigeria’s first indigenous federal government, which led to independence from Britain. In forming the 1960 independence, federal government of Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello as leader of the NPC, chose to remain Premier of Northern Nigeria and devolved the position of Prime Minister of the Federation to the deputy leader of the party, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

The choice to remain as the Premier of Northern Nigeria was a conscious one; a keen understanding of the fact that the building block for national development is regional development.

His major priority was to push for the realisation of a Northern region that can politically and economically compete with Western and Eastern regions of Nigeria. In 2018, this has proven both prescient and foresighted, as the clamour for restructuring of the federation to grant greater powers to the sub-national entities grows even louder. The North, as we know it, is too large and important a component of Nigeria to lag behind the rest of the country. If allowed to lag, it would constitute a dead weight and drag the rest of the country back.

Prof Isah Odidi and Dr Baba J Adamu, have, in a well-researched compilation entitled Sir Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto: The seasons of a man’s life, summarised the approach of Sir Ahmadu Bello to governance as follows: “The development strategy of the government under Ahmadu Bello may be summarised as trying to achieve regional parity through affirmativeaction politics. This “northernisation policy” was the basic agenda for development, and reflected a profound belief on the part of Ahmadu Bello that northerners had the capability for rapid development, if given the opportunity. Hence, education was a top priority, and the foundation of all other development efforts. Education and human resources were encouraged at all levels, and in all fields, and between 1954 and 1965, considerable progress was made. Importantly, Ahmadu Bello was able to diffuse the latent resentment and suspicion at the grassroots level among Muslims over the nature and purpose of western education. He was able to mobilise

Were he to be with us today, Sir Ahmadu Bello would evolve with these trends and promote a socio-cultural revolution in Northern Nigeria that would ensure that the North adopts the twin policies of education and entrepreneurship at the grassroots as the new way of competing

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The Ahmadu Bello Way local leaders in the “war against ignorance,” and lay the educational foundations for the future. His crash programs in professional education in Kano and Zaria and Kaduna, and his insistence on the establishment of a northern university at a time when many felt it was premature, attest to his forward-looking view of development.

He recognised that “catching up” would take at least a generation, and hence tried to provide the political climate wherein northern youth could be encouraged and even initially protected in their opportunities for education. The decade from the mid 1950s to the mid-1960s produced the first mass-educated efforts in the north, which in turn have produced the first broadly based generation of northern professional and educated leaders.”

Sir Ahmadu Bello pursued a program that sought to modernise the delivery of Islamic education in and integrate it with secular education in Northern Nigeria. He was pro-education and promoted an aggressive policy of building world-class educational institutions all across Northern Nigeria as well as incentivising attendance at these schools. He prosecuted a war against illiteracy (“yaki da jahilici”).

Unfortunately, what we have witnessed in recent times in parts of Northern Nigeria is a reversal of the gains attained through the innovations pursued by Sir Ahmadu Bello in education and the all out war he prosecuted against illiteracy and ignorance. We are witnessing a reinstatement of pre-colonial attitudes towards secular education in parts of Northern Nigeria, which has led in part to the emergence of the phenomenon of ‘Boko haram.’

Under Sir Ahmadu Bello, various institutions were created to drive economic growth in Northern Nigeria. These included among several, the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC), which was created to assist in industrial development in Northern Nigeria. The Bank of the North and the Northern Nigeria Investments Limited (NNIL), a partnership with the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Commenting further on Sir Ahmadu Bello’s approach to socio-economic development in their compilation, Prof Odidi and Dr Adamu wrote:Beyond education, the top development priorities were agriculture, industry and infrastructure. Ahmadu Bello believed that agriculture was the backbone of the north. He took an active interest in farming throughout his life, and was particularly concerned with issues of water, and the introduction of new technology into grassroots-level farming. He believed that local farmers would seize the opportunities for selfimprovement if provided with resources and incentives. He also saw agriculture as providing a basis for industrialisation in the north, especially in the cashcrop areas of cotton and groundnuts.

His search for capital and technology in the areas of textile mills, groundnut oil mills, etc., was always accompanied by an insistence on indigenisation of business opportunities, and local After us the deluge.

Bello

staff-development training schemes.

He also saw the need for improved infrastructure and communications as part of the need to develop a productive agricultural economy, since without feeder roads and inter-city connections, produce could not be moved to markets.

His concern for infrastructure, however, was also related to strategic concerns about community consolidation, both within the north and at a national level.

The passion and commitment of Sir Alhaji Ahmadu Bello to the welfare of persons of Northern Nigerian descent and his pragmatic approach to the development of Northern Nigeria described above, can be termed “the Ahmadu Bello Way” which summarises ensuring the competitiveness of Northern Nigeria within the larger construct of the Nigerian federation.

To achieve this, he united the ethnoreligiously diverse people of Northern Nigeria under a single political agenda and led a cabinet that pursued the twin policies of mass education and capacity building of the citizens on the one hand, and economic development and industrialisation of the region with agriculture as the back bone on the other. It is worthy of note that this approach to the growth and development of Northern Nigeria, pursued by Sir Ahmadu Bello, largely mirrored the approach to growth and development in Western Nigeria and Eastern Nigeria. Sir Ahmadu Bello, therefore ensured that Northern Nigeria did not lag behind the rest of Nigeria and in fact competed favourably with the rest of the country.

In our opinion, the present crop of Northern Nigerian elites, who claim descent from the Sardauna’s political philosophy and claim legitimacy by his name, have in fact departed from the Ahmadu Bello Way. By fixating almost exclusively on holding on to political power and office at the federal level, the present crop of Northern Nigeria elites, demonstrate a lack of passion and commitment to the people and the pragmatism depicted by the Ahmadu Bello legacy. Otherwise, they would have observed that the socio-economic and political landscapes have shifted, both nationally and globally. They would have observed that political power and office alone serve only their selfish interest, and as such, grossly inadequate to lift the people of Northern Nigeria out of poverty and set them on

— Australian Proverb

the path of economic prosperity. They would have observed that Western and Eastern Nigeria (which is inclusive of today’s South) have evolved a system for growth and development that is based on the foundation of human capital development and almost independent of the federal government.

Coming out of the civil war, the itinerant tailor (called Obioma), who peddled his trade with a mobile sewing machine perched on his shoulder, was almost entirely someone from Eastern Nigeria as suggested by the name. Today, almost 100 per cent of the itinerant tailors are from Northern Nigeria. The commentary here is obvious – ie a metaphor of social mobility of two people in diametrically opposed directions.

While the Northern elites were grabbing political power with single-minded focus, the Igbos ensured that every child either acquired education and thus became ‘employable’, or learnt a trade and became self-employed. The result, in half a generation, was that the people of Eastern Nigeria exited low paying menial tasks for higher paying employment, thus lifting thousands out of poverty. Western Nigeria has a similar socio-economic structure that emphasises education and entrepreneurship.

Were he to be with us today, Sir Ahmadu Bello would evolve with these trends and promote a socio-cultural revolution in Northern Nigeria that would ensure that the North adopts the twin policies of education and entrepreneurship at the grassroots as the new way of competing. His passion and commitment for the people and pragmatic approach to life and governance, would have led him to realise that political power by itself was inadequate to lift the people out of poverty. He would also have come to terms with the fact that in a constantly shifting socio-political landscape, political power at the center is not guaranteed to any section of the country. Therefore, a strategy that is hinged exclusively on holding on to political power at the centre is either mischievous or myopic and unrealistic at best.

By way of conclusion, I join wellmeaning Nigerians, especially those of Northern Nigerian descent, to implore their elites and leaders of their regions to return to the Ahmadu Bello Way. We must stop blaming other people for our travails and seize our destiny by the scruff of the neck. We must use our influence with the people to promote a socio-cultural revolution that would ensure that no child is left behind. We can christen it ‘No Child Left Behind’ or any other name, as long as it ensures that every child is employable or self-employed through education, vocational training and skill acquisition programs. This will provide a basis for regional and national development that would see the north realise its true potential.

– Aye-Ebene is a lawyer, entrepreneur & development enthusiast, while Garuba is a researcher & development

37

March 9, 2018

The STANDPOINT

With

Igboeli Arinze arinze.igboeli@gmail.com, 09096635077 Imagine each of the political parties presented a presidential candidate; 98 presidential candidates each campaigning with promises like the Four Tops to reach out to the Nigerian people; clowns, jesters, marabouts and what else have you, people who we know, will even lose elections in their bedrooms all angling for the nation’s most prestigious job!

Imagine the bedlam, imagine the harrowing logistical problems created for INEC? What if a candidate dies midway into the elections, are we likely to shift the elections and what happens if INEC makes the error of not properly placing just one party’s logo, even if the party is just a mushroom party with no hopes of ever getting even a millionth of the vote, would we willingly sink in fresh funds of our tax payers’ money whilst reintroducing the tensions much laden in our electoral system upon the psyche of the ordinary Nigerian?

What of the cost of running another election borne by the politician: All Nigerian Politics is funding, where does the poor politician get his funds from to run another election, godfatherism lurks and if that path is taken, where nothing goes for nothing, then it is our system that will lapse again into another cycle of underdevelopment!

So, on Saturday evening, I went with Lakhia to visit my neighbour and as usual, we had some quality ‘girly’ time out.

As we stepped out of their gate, I felt Lakhia didn’t greet my neighbour good bye ‘properly’. It only came out as an almost silent ‘bye’, which I felt was not only as one would say to her peer group, I wasn’t also sure my neighbour heard her.

As a Family Life Engineer, it rubbed on my ego that my daughter couldn’t even greet ‘well enough’!

I began to jumpstart her to say ‘odaro ma’.

All she did was a mere whisper. Say it louder, I encouraged. Yet, all that came out remained so docile.

I was getting ashamed. However, I had learnt that blowing hot in such a scenario may be counter productive.

So, yesterday morning, as I shared the story of Prophet Zakariyya as told in the beginning part of Surah Maryam with her, I was excited at verse 14: “He (Yahya or John) was dutiful to his parents and he was not arrogant or disobedient.”

Then yes, we started to flesh out ‘dutiful’ and ‘obedient’ to one’s parents.

Naturally, I took it back to the previous day’s event. “Is it obedience when one ignores her parent’s request to show good manners?”

And she said to me: I was shy to greet her in Yoruba because one day, when Aunty K came to our house and I said “ki le wi?”, she laughed and I was somehow shy and thought I should not do it (speak Yoruba) again when outsiders are there.

Children like and crave for the validation of adults who they value. Apparently, the laughter of Aunty K, who she held in high

INEC, I Need My Own Political Party (2)

Thus, there is need for INEC and the National Assembly to up their game, let’s have electoral laws that allow for registration of parties, but for these parties to be allowed to contest elections, such as the guber polls or the presidential elections, they must get a percentage of the number of votes in say, Federal or State legislative elections. Failure to get these set of percentages, would limit the parties to those polls until they are able to obtain such percentage of votes. This way, parties would put in more efforts to win elections rather than clown around doing nothing, even the big parties would not rest on their oars as there could also be a chance that in an election, the voters might just deal them the relegation blow.

Readers and cynics might pooh pooh this idea, pointing to what I call the “Nigeria of things”, the fact that 2+2 in Nigeria might not equal 4 but say 6,8,10 or even 3; where the ludicrousl happens, and where institutions are weak and pander to the control of the elite rather than assert theirs. I agree, but going this way would then ensure that we fix our focuses on strengthening our institutions to ensure that the electoral process is as fair as the word fair!

This way, we will restore sanity to our system, and spare Nigerians the trauma of such a democratic joke. What are we doing with 98 political parties? When even the nations that have been practicing democracy for hundreds of years, have few political parties? Beats me!

As Hannibal Achuzia Goes Home!

Charles Enochong’s, The Nigerian Biafran War, a film on the circumstances that led Nigeria into the civil war and the events that were to dictate the trajectory of that war, described him as “perhaps the most gifted commander ever known in modern Black Africa”. Whether Air Raid, Joseph Patrick Achuzia, was a subject to be debated in a nation desperate to distort and suppress history.

However, the name ‘Achuzia’ will forever reverberate in the annals of our nation’s history. Yes, he may, as a military commander, have had his own share of flaws, every military genius has had his own canteen of foibles Was Achuzia reckless? Yes! But perhaps recklessness may have been his own way of ensuring that the war was won on the Biafran side, even Grant and Patton, America’s finest generals, were largely reported to have been reckless on the battle field.

PARENTING With SURUURAH OGUNFEMI +234 8032012783

suruurah@guidedbeginnings.com, suruurah@yahoo.com

When Curiousity Doesn’t Kill The Cat esteem, had given her a kinda limiting belief which told her that it wasn’t as cool (or expected) to speak Yoruba in public. And here, I was telling her to do the exact thing!

So, obviously, she didn’t want my neighbour too, to think she wasn’t ‘cool’.

So I said to Lakhia: Language is a skill- it isn’t something to be shy or ashamed about.

Shyness is a conversation that sometimes goes on in our head that holds us back from showing up in our full regalia. Being a multilingual speaker is a great thing!

It can open new possibilities for you!

Consider that you are fluent in Yoruba, English, Hausa, Ibo, Arabic and Chinese,

have you taught of the advantages these could bring?

You may be asked to represent your country in some international event just because of your language versatility!

Lakhia nods and wears a smile that depicted agreement.

When you begin to hear that voice telling you to be shy, I continued, mentally stretch out your hand like you are blocking/stopping/ telling it to hold on. Say thank you to it and tell that voice you appreciate its positive intent but hey, you don’t need it here!

Now, where would you need shyness? When you are faced with a situation to do what God dislikes or forbids. Then you are shy of God’s

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

Away from the battle field, Achuzia, even after the war, continued to identify with the interests of the Igbo nation. At a point when it seemed politicaly expedient for him to have denied his Igboness as a number of Igbo speaking people did then and have continued to, Achuzia identified with NdiIgbo with immense pride.

The civil war loss never dissuaded him, perhaps if he had recanted his role in the war, and denounced the defunct Biafra and what it stood for, he would have passed for a politically correct Nigerian and would have been handsomely settled, but no, he had no regrets, what was there to regret save for the loss, he once opined.

Achuzia was also a bridge builder. At one point, he lamented the exclusion of the Western Igbos ( Igbos on the West side of the Niger River by the core Igbos). It is alleged that he wept at one occassion, where he asked if the sacrifices of the Western Igbos, during the civil war, were not enough to be seen as kith and kin of the core Igbos. The speech was an emotionally laden one that rising from the meeting, the Western Igbos, as well as Igbos in Rivers State, were immediately incorporated into the pan- Igbo group, Ohanaeze NdiIgbo.

Presence and you back off.

Fast forward to later in the evening and we met with some other families.

Lakhia came to me and said: what you taught me today has helped me here!

Moral: Notice that of the hundreds of communication our children receive daily, a huge percentage is instructional- wake up, brush, pray, take a bath, get dressed, eat, wash the plates, go to school, do your homework, do this chore, help him out, put it there, bring it here etc.

This means that the average child receives communication that are more on correcting, criticizing or arguing.

This leaves only a few for guidance on morals, values, ethics, attitudes and selfesteem.

Children are our future and we have the obligation to guide them as well as we can so they reach their full potential.

Unfortunately, we unintentionally model behaviour that is not resourceful to them and give them limiting beliefs.

When our children show up with certain traits, there’s always a why. Be curious to see beneath the surface (behaviour) and understand what is really going on and their why. When this appears limiting, empower them with something more compelling.

Now, does this mean Lakhia will always be on point about my new teaching?

I can help her by anchoring this event for her so that when the limiting beliefs creep in again, all she’ll do is to fire her anchor and she’ll be repositioned to be at her best again & again!

38

www.leadership.ng

Business 1:0:1 Agrobusiness with Agbaji Chinedu

A

griculture should be seen more as a business venture that has a lot of opportunities.

Agriculture is widespread and many people might take to this sector with a modern, business mind. We have to see how to invest and make more money in agriculture. Agriculture is not for poor people, not for uneducated people, it is for the new generation educated people, with interests in villages, rural areas and in exploiting the full potential of the land resources, deploys new business techniques, to identify markets and produce things which have assured market.

Agro input shop makes it possible for availability, accessibility and affordability of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, agro-chemicals, quality seeds, livestock feeds, veterinary drugs, tractor hiring, primary processing and extension services which are available for farmers to purchase, both in the rural areas and in cities. It is a growing business opportunity that federal government and international agencies are interested in by establishing and commissioning of One-Stop-Shop Agro-inputs Centres. Their purpose is to promote food security programs.

Feed the Future Nigeria Agro-Inputs Project aims to attain a private sectorled agricultural input market supporting farmers to access quality and affordable agricultural inputs. The project is funded

by Feed the Future Initiative/USAID.

Agbaji@yahoo.com

Project partners include ECOWAS, FMARD, AGTHO, FEPSAN, Interproducts Link, Maslaha Seeds, MBS Fertilizers, NAIDA, NABG, Notore and The Stallion Group which is the major focus of the Federal Government in pursuance of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of Mr President.

Profitabilities Of Agro Input Shop It is a profitable business venture to go into because of high demand of agro input by farmers, without farm input there will be no output. This is a business one can start with little capital base but it will turn out to be a big venture in a short while. This is because of demand for high yield agro inputs and services, etc. Most agro input companies prefer middle men (shops) to deal with rather than farmers who are the direct consumers of their products.

Opportunities Agrochemical (or agrichemical), is a term for the various chemical products used in agriculture. In most cases, agrichemical refers to the broad range of pesticides, such as the herbicides (weed killers), animal food additives, veterinary drugs, and related compounds, which have become absolutely integral to the production of large-scale agriculture.

There are wild reneges of them one can deal on and make good return on investment.

@leadershipNGA

March 9, 2018

Agro Input Business

Agbaji Chinedu 08035004617

Leadership Newspapers

Seed: Seeds are one of the least expensive but most important factors influencing yield potential. Crop seeds contain all the genetic information to determine yield potential, adaptation to environmental conditions. These days, we have hybrid seeds that are resistant to insects, pests and diseases such as maize, soya bean, cucumber seeds, Tomato seed, lettuce, cabbage seeds, onion seeds, hot pepper seeds, okro seeds, ewedu seeds, efo seeds, watermelon seeds, pepper seeds etc.

Seedlings: A seedling is a young plant sporophyte developing out of a plant embryo from a seed. Seedling development starts with germination of the seed. Some plants are better planted with hybrid high yield seedling such as cashew seedlings, cocoa seedlings, coconut seedlings, oil palm seedlings ( dwarf tenera), suckers like plantain and banana suckers that will start fruiting from 10 months, pineapple sucker (smooth cayenne) that will start producing from 18 months.

Fertiliser: These are plant nutrients, existing naturally in the soil, atmosphere, and in animal manure. However, naturally occurring nutrients are not always available in the quantities needed.

So, we add to them by applying fertiliser, to make plants grow to their maximum potential.Fertilisers can be classified into two categories: organic or inorganic.

Equipment Hiring: Such as tractors,

harvesters, planters, and other agro related equipment.

Farm Extension services: Agricultural extension officers are intermediaries between research and farmers.

They operate as facilitators and communicators, helping farmers in their decision-making and ensuring that appropriate knowledge is implemented to obtain the best results ie Agribusiness consultants. For example, on natural resources, animals, crops, on how best to utilise the farmland, how to construct proper irrigation schemes, economic use and storage of water, how to combat animal diseases, and save on the cost of farming equipment and procedures, marketing.

Animal feeds and additives: Animal feed is food given to domestic animals in the course of animal husbandry. There are two basic types, fodder and forage.

And additives are used to promote and improve in livestock.

Finally, we have to do things without government help; we have to organise our agricultural activity as a business activity for profitability and food security. With today’s reforms and direct subsidies, it has become a competitive industry.

There is now latest information; latest agribusiness activities are available through business consultancy services.

NAIDA (Nigeria Agro-Input Dealers Association) is a body you can join for easy access to products, information etc.

Bello: Systematically Changing The Face Of Abuja

A

s the federal government of Nigeria marches towards its third year in office of the Buhari-led administration, one of the shining stars of this administration is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Mohammed Bello.

Despite the fact that the FCT has developed over the years as a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi religious city of cohabitation, today, the FCT can be proud that it has a minister that represents that categorisation, both in outlook and in the provision of good governance and developments. With the change mantra of the Buhari-led administration, this minister, in my view, has no other option than to be determined and make concerted efforts to mould a vibrant FCT that all Nigerians can be proud of. He sets out to concretise the noble objectives of the President to make Abuja a federal city that Nigerians can be proud of.

A lot of development has happened in the FCT during the period under review that has been a factor that has secured the city, making it environmentally friendly and above all, responsive in terms of service delivery to the people. Though the minister acknowledged that there are challenges as in all human endeavour, he has pragmatically and systematically gradually solved those challenges inhibiting the developmental speed of the FCT. If you look at the developmental strive of the minister sectionally, you will agree that reasonable

milestones have been achieved. Some of the achievements of the minister can be seen in the total aggregate development in all sectors of the FCT. In the area of the environment, by all standards, the city is now cleaner and greener. The minister hopes to achieve a more greener and cleaner city by dialoguing with the ministry of finance to be part of those cities that will benefit from the green bond projects.

The project will ensure the deployment of more buses to the central business units of the FCT, Suleja axis and Zuba axis. The importance of this green bond projects is to make the environment friendly and free from pollution.

In the area of infrastructure, the minister has successfully reached a milestone particularly with the development of the Abuja light rail systems. The tracks of the rail have been laid and completed. The ministry is in the process of procuring the locomotives. The communications and signaling facilities are almost completed. With this development, the movement of passengers towards the end of the year, shall commence. When this is achieved, it is expected to be the game changer of the city.

This rail line is expected, with the approval of the federal executive council, which the minister sought and got, to extend to Kubwa from the Central Business District and Wuse.

When completed, Abuja then, can truly be called a city that has urban rail system and thus enhance its developments.

On road construction and rehabilitation, the

minister has developed a programme of actions that have led to the completion of the airport road and the Bill Clinton bridge leading to the airport. The Kubwa road project and the circle road which envelopes the city, as well as the B6 and B12 roads, has virtually been completed. This road development programme of the minister has led to the easing of traffic and by extension, the security and increase in economic activities of the city.

On the provisions of water and improved access by the inhabitants of the city, the minister sought and got approval for 470 million dollars for the execution of the greater Abuja water projects and the Karshi Water Works that will boost water supply to the FCT when completed. The health sector also received the attention of the Minister. The minister completed the Zuba cottage hospitals and the Karu hospitals and increased the bed spaces in some of the hospitals.

The infrastructural decay in some of these hospitals also received attention because it has led to increased level of health care delivery to all and sundry in the FCT. One of the critical areas that has received attention of the minister, is the sector of land allocations. He stopped the allocation of lands in the FCT to correct the mistakes of the past land allocation administration. The administration used the opportunity of this allocation stoppages to correct and resolve about 500 pending issues within this period.

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

This has brought sanity to land administration within the FCT and thus enhanced the system of land administration based on law. In the area of bureaucracy and the civil service, the minister has enhanced the institutional framework for the FCTA, which he strengthened to ensure service delivery and institutional memory.

He did this by deliberately allowing the bureaucracy to work. This has effectively stopped the mentality of staffs having to wait for ministering directives to do their work.

The Minister, also approved the training and retraining of staff of the ministry to enhance their capabilities and effectiveness.

On the contentious issues of demolition. The minister advocated and developed a system whereby buildings are not to be demolished anyhow but rather preferred the global best practices which entails the upgrading and integration of infrastructures for the benefits of the people.

Finally, Mallam Mohammed Bello has, by words and deed, convinced a large enough section of the people and residents of the FCT in particular, about his vision for the FCT and for a greater tomorrow. While the experience of the past has been disappointing, today with this minister, we have every reason to believe that the future of the FCT is likely to be better.

Thank you, Mr Minister. – Jamila Musa wrote this piece from Abuja.

LEADERSHIP FRIDAY

Friday EXTRA

Buhari

March 09, 2018

Jonathan

Obasanjo

Abacha

A Vista On Anti-corruption War Since Independence WINIFRED OGBEBO writes on efforts to fight corruption in the country and what needs to be done to eliminate it.

“W

e have to kill corruption or else corruption will kill us,” has been the refrain of the All Progressives Congressled (APC) government and a toga with which it came to power in 2016.

The impact of corruption on the Nigerian society and economy has been devastating. It continues to affect the government’s ability to provide basic services and negatively impacts the well-being of the population and its ability to rise out of poverty.

Many are of the opinion that the corrupt tendencies of its leaders is the bane of Nigeria’s development and the reason the country is way behind since it attained independence.

It was reported that the country’s total foreign assets at independence were

$174.2 million, and by March 1964, less than four years after, the assets depleted to just £76.8 million.

In his coup speech, January 15,1966, Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu (1937-1967) accused the politicians of “being profiteers, swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 per cent; those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds.”

Of course the coup failed and Major General Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi who became head of state abolished the federal system and adopted a unitary system. Six months later, he was killed and Gen Yakubu Gowon took over.

His government was accused of being corrupt and he was kicked out in July 15, 1975 by Murtala Ramat Mohammed.

Before his death, it is on record that Murtala Ramat Mohammed launched

a massive war against corruption in Nigeria.

He was killed February 13,1975 and his deputy, Gen Olusegun Obasanjo succeeded him.

Later in his regime, Obasanjo launched “Low Profile” to curb what he described as flamboyant living.

He handed over to the first Executive President of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, in October 1, 1979, who appeared helpless in the face of mammoth corruption in his regime.

He initiated what is called Ethical Re-orientation” and to help Nigeria in agriculture, he launched the Green Revolution.

Shagari’s civilian rule, despite its scorecard of competent hands and experts that were strategically embedded in key positions of the technical sectors, was obviously characterised by how officials embarked on reckless and thoughtless white elephant projects, misplacement of priorities, nepotism, capital flight and mismanagement of public resources.

There was, indeed, gargantuan fleecing of Nigeria through the planning

A good An eye thingfor is all an the eyesweeter and a tooth whenfor wona with tooth. pain.

and execution of, often, ill conceived projects. The level of corruption in the second republic was the key reason for the return of the military to power on December 31, 1983.

A new leadership of stern General Muhammadu Buhari came into place, and initiated what he called War Against Indiscipline (WAI) as the cardinal principle of his regime; an article of faith, which of course, included unflinching determination to clean the Aegean stable of corruption in both the formal and informal sectors of the Nigerian economy.

His regime almost became paranoid in its drive to stem the tide of corruption in the Nigerian society as creative and imaginative means of waging corruption fight were ignored for a regimented type of approach to issues.

Maj Gen Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida would later overthrow Buhari’s regime on 27 August 1985 in a military coup that relied on mid-level officers that Babangida had strategically ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 40

40 FEATURES

March 09, 2018

A Vista On Anti-corruption War Since Independence ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 39

positioned over the years.

As his own way of social engineering, he established Mass Mobilisation for Self Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER) and National Orientation Agency (NOA).

He was not known to have been keen to combat corruption during his regime and many commentators tag him with ‘institutionalising’ corruption in the country.

In August 1993, Babangida handed over to Chief Ernest Shonekan who was quickly overthrown by General Sani Abacha in November of the same year.

However, Abacha didn’t set up any anti-corruption outfit. He died in 1988 and Abdulsalami took over and handed over to a democratically-elected President Olusegun Obasanjo in May 29, 1999.

Upon taking the oath of office, Obasanjo said it was no longer business as usual and left no one in doubt regarding his commitment to fighting corruption to a standstill.

He stated as follows, “Corruption, the greatest single bane of our society today, will be tackled head-on at all levels. Corruption is incipient in all human societies and in most human activities. But it must not be condoned…. No society can achieve anything near its full potential if it allows corruption to become the fullblown cancer it has become in Nigeria.

The rampant corruption in the public service and the cynical contempt for integrity that pervades every level of the bureaucracy will be stamped out.

You, the good people of Nigeria elected me, a man who had walked through the valley of the shadow of death, as your president, to head a democratic civilian administration. There will be no sacred cow. Nobody, no matter who and where, will be allowed to get away with the breach of the law or the perpetration of corruption and evil.”

To follow it up, Obasanjo set up the ICPC, EFCC and Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU), the latter headed by Oby Ezekwesili.

He also established the Debt Management Office. In those days, affluent Nigerians and politicians lived in the fear of Nuhu Ribadu, the first chair of EFCC backed by Obasanjo. Even PDP members were not spared. Governors Ayo Fayose, Diepreye Alamiyeseigha and Joshua Dariye, and Chief Bode George were brought to account.

It was these structures put in place by Obasanjo that the late President Umaru Yar’adua, who took over in May 2008 and his successor President Goodluck Jonathan in 2009 -2015, presided over.

Though it is on record that the Jonathan administration originated the Treasury Single Account (TSA), sceptics say because he lacked the strength and courage to fight corruption, he failed to

implement it.

It is reported that many of his cronies both in and outside government practically helped themselves to the nation’s treasury while he held sway as Nigeria’s helmsman.

According to the opposition, Jonathan’s “body language” supported corruption.

It was this perceived inefficiency against the anti-corruption war coupled with the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls amid the insurgency in the North East that cost President Goodluck Jonathan the second ticket and ushered in Muhammadu Buhari to power.

But almost three years into the Buhariled administration, there is still much to be desired in its anti-corruption crusade.

In fact, a lot of Nigerians are disenchanted with his much-touted anticorruption war, saying the president may have been over-rated.

Their angst is borne out of what they described as his ‎selective fight, with opposition figures being harassed here and there by anti-graft agencies while those in the president’s are spared.

Even a member of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Shehu Sani, was reported to have accused the president of using insecticide in his anti-corruption war against the opposition while using deodorant for members of his cabinet.

Besides, the president has been accused of nepotism, which is not allowing him to move against certain kinsmen of his who have been accused of graft. All these have caused people to write off his anti-corruption campaign as a selective move against perceived opponents.

In his inauguration lecture entitled, “ Leadership, Governance and the Challenges of Development in Nigeria: The Way Forward” on the inauguration of the Olusegun Obasanjo Good Governance and Development Research Centre, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), former President Obasanjo said the lack of successful prosecution of “high profile” corruption cases involving some politically exposed persons (PEPs) was giving serious cause for concern both for Nigerians and the international community.

He said despite the efforts in place and subsequent ones by successive governments, corruption still poses a daunting challenge to the progress and development of Nigeria.

“We must have an acute and common perception of our problem and do all that is necessary to mitigate the impact of corruption in our society. We must stop pointing accusing fingers, shifting blame or passing the buck,” he said.

But a government must not wait for corruption to become a rock that can only be smashed by a dynamite before acting.

How is it possible then? By immediately bringing a corruption suspect, however, highly placed, to immediate trial - a fair trial as it is done in other countries.

Babangida

Mohammed

Shagari

Nzeogwu

For example, Mr Spire Agneu, Vice President to President Richard Nixon of the United States of America in the 1970s, was removed and tried for tax evasion.

He was taken to court and the judge told him, “Go and pay the tax, the arrears and interest” and he was booted out of office and replaced by Senator Gerald Ford, who later became president when Richard Nixon was swept away by the Water Gate Scandal.

There’s no immunity for the American president and his vice as we have here where even governors are untouchable.

The last female president of South Korea, Park Geun-hye is in prison now, found guilty of corruption. Another female president of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff was swept away by corruption.

A former president of Israel, Ehud Olmert was in prison for curruption.

There are many more examples but the aforementioned will suffice for now.

Immunity should be expunged from the constitution as it emboldens political office holders to steal from the till. Even

when they leave office, they become sacred cows. Even though to carry out a coup d’état is illegal and carries a death penalty or a life imprisonment, all those who had successfully done so in our country became winners and holders of the country’s highest awards and are paid gratuity.

Trying a big man in Nigeria is an uphill task. Many pundits are wondering why Sen Bukola Saraki is still president/ chairman of the National Assembly when he still has a corruption case in court. What happened to the case of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu?

In the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, “we must take away the proceeds of illicit enrichment and remove negative role models in our society.”

He said the aim of fighting corruption is to correct certain wrong doings; and most importantly, to remedy the dark sides of bad governance, such as poverty, unemployment, hunger and disease; as well as improve the well-being of the citizens.

All things come to those that wait.

March 9, 2018

www.leadership.ng

Buhari

T

he Judiciary is very keen about precedents. Most of what obtains presently in the judiciary, derives from long standing precedents.

Legal cases are usually determined on the basis of precedents, judicial decisions are often made based on precedents, and everything else that forms a part of the judicial processes and system are sufficiently founded on precedents.

This explains why during a trial in the court of law, the judge strictly ensures that the judgment he is going to deliver shares a very close resemblance with another erstwhile judgment that was ruled on a case whose facts are very similar to the one he is entertaining.

Unless he does this, his judgment may be discountenanced and his reputation marred. He may even be culpable for what is legally referred to as ‘Abuse of Court Process,’ if he takes decisions that do not conform to the laid down precedents governing it.

But recently, the Nigerian Judiciary has decided to set a precedent that may go down in history as the most unconventional decision it has ever taken; a decision that may alter the status of the Judiciary forever, and either make or mar it.

This same decision will shape the course of the future of the Nigerian Judiciary, and also have a ripple effect on the nation by extension. The decision in question is the one concerning the direct appointment of practicing lawyers to the bench; whether it would

Leadership Newspapers

FEATURE 41

@leadershipNGA

Onnoghen

Malami

Appointing Lawyers As Judges: Matters Arising The decision last year by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, to appoint registered lawyers to the Bench, sparked off a great debate among legal practitioners. CHIDI NWACHUKWU (Abuja) in this analysis takes a look at the implications of setting such a precedent. prove to be a veritable alternative to the age long style of appointment that follows a hierarchical order of gradual ascendancy from the Magistrates Court to the Supreme Court.

Legal practitioners are categorised into two major classes – the Bar and the Bench. The Bar comprises the lawyers who either appear in court to defend their clients, or perform other legal services such as registration of contracts and property management.

The former kind of lawyers are referred to as Advocates, Attorneys or Counsels, while the latter kind are known as Solicitors. Whereas the Bench comprises the Judges who sit in court

to give judgment on cases. The Judges are civil servants who are appointed by the State to exercise jurisdiction over matters that are brought to court. They are paid by the State and are forbidden from engaging in any other businesses except the ones that pertain to their profession as members of the Bench.

In Nigeria, the highest appointment a member of the Bench can attain is that of the Chief Justice of the Federation, while a member of the Bar can be said to have reached the peak of his legal practice if he is conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The title of SAN distinguishes a lawyer who is so conferred from other

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

lawyers who are not conferred with the title as a legal egghead whose opinion on legal matters must be held in high regard. The SAN enjoys some privileges that ordinary lawyers do not enjoy. For instance, his case is mentioned in court before that of an ordinary lawyer even if the case of the latter was filed before his. The reason for this seeming favouritism is to grant him the opportunity to argue his case to the end that the junior lawyers learn from his style of practice and wealth of experience.

Secondly, the senior advocates are privileged to land briefs that tend to pay far higher than the briefs accessible to ordinary lawyers. Their legal fees far outweigh the contingency and service charges of ordinary lawyers. They enjoy so many more privileges by virtue of their being senior advocates.

Attaining the enviable status of ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

42 FEATURE

March 09, 2018

Appointing Lawyers As Judges: Matters Arising ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

senior advocate requires that the lawyer who seeks it must have being in practice for at least 10 years. He must meet other stringent conditions and requirements before he is considered worthy of being conferred with the enviable title. The title is not his right, but a privilege that is handed him by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), implying that he may not still be given the title if the LPPC does not deem it fit to award him with it. That is why it is often referred to as a privilege, not an automatic right.

Many of the private lawyers who advocate in courts prefer to do advocacy because of the benefits that accrue to representing clients and getting judgments for them, or filing cases that tend to raise questions over the legal adequacy of certain government policies and decisions. They usually do not have interest in the Bench, as they tend to see it as restricting and limiting. So many private lawyers are very contented with their private practice and do not aspire to going to the bench, and there are yet a great number of those who desire very much to grace the Bench. It was based on this fact that the decision to incorporate private lawyers into the Bench was last year taken by the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen.

The CJN had called the attention of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to his decision, and sequel to his request for indication of interest, the President of the NBA, Mr Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, dispatched electronic mails to all registered lawyers inviting the suitably qualified ones to indicate their interest in taking up appointments to the Bench. Though the decision is supported by the Constitution, there are yet so many dissenting voices negating the decision.

Many lawyers are of the opinion that appointing lawyers directly to the Bench, particularly the Supreme Court, rather than following the conventional process of appointing hierarchically through the rungs from the Magistrate Court to the Supreme Court, would inadvertently demoralise members of the bench who strongly believe that gaining ascendancy through the rungs of the ladder of practice is the perfect way to go.

Now, the legal compass to this issue can be taken from Section 231 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which clearly supports the appointment of judges directly from the bar and states thus, “A person shall not be qualified to hold the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria or of a Justice of the Supreme Court unless he is qualified to practise as a legal practitioner in Nigeria, and has been qualified for a period of not less than 15 years.”

By this provision, the Constitution

Mahmoud renders it sufficiently clear that appointment to the Supreme Court or to the Bench as the case may be, must not follow the age long hierarchy of appointments. It is only required that the person being appointed must have being in practice for at least 15 years, must have a sound knowledge of the law, and must have contributed immensely to the development of legal practice in Nigeria.

Now, while there is a cacophony of voices hailing the proposed move to appoint lawyers directly to the Bench, there is yet a significant number of legal practitioners who do not support the idea, including Senior Advocates.

Chief Wale Babalakin SAN, for instance, is one member of the Inner Bar who strongly objects to such unhierarchical appointment.

His views are that such a privilege is reserved for very exceptional people, and that there are only very few of such people around. He said, “The fact that you are a brilliant lawyer doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be so exceptional as a Supreme Court judge.”

Speaking further, he argued that the proponents of such motion have taken precedent from the case of Hon. Justice Teslim Olawale Elias, who was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria from the position of Attorney General of the Federation and minister of Justice in 1972, and insisted that Elias’ antecedents and track records were impeccable, unprecedented and

excellent, being the reason he was able to escape the protocols.

His views contrast sharply with that of the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof Itse Sagay, a constitutional lawyer and a Professor of Law, who thinks that a lawyer can be appointed Chief Justice of the Federation or a Justice of the Supreme Court directly from outside the Bench, in so far as the legal practitioner has been actively involved in practice for at least 15 years.

He said, “It is wrong to say that the Constitution made the CJN’s appointment a matter of seniority among the Justices of the Supreme Court. It was the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) that embraced the seniority syndrome.”

Mr Sabastian Hon, another senior lawyer, described the move to directly appoint lawyers to the Bench as having very good precedents. He cited the appointment of Hon. Justice Augustine Nnamani (JSC), a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to the Supreme Court, as a very good precedent.

Following the request for expression of interest, 89 lawyers among whom are Senior Advocates, applied for the slots, and only 9 out of the entire number were shortlisted for the 4 vacant positions in the Supreme Court.

Among these 9, are 6 Senior Advocates, and only 4 out of the 6

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Senior Advocates will emerge as Justices of the Supreme Court. There are other considerations for appointments to the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court. The Supreme Court by constitutional requirement, is supposed to comprise of at most 21 justices. But there are only 17 justices in it at present, with 4 short of the required number.

The 6 Senior Advocates who scaled through the preliminary screening include Chief Olisa Agbakoba SAN, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Anthony Idigbe SAN, Prof Awa Kalu SAN, a former Attorney General and commissioner of Justice of Abia State, Mr Yunus Usman SAN, Mr, Babatunde Fagbohunhu SAN, and Mr Miannayaaja Essien SAN. The remaining three are Prof Auwalu Yadudu, Prof Tajudeen Oladoja and Mr Ayuba Giwa. Their names have since been sent to the National Judicial Council (NJC) by Justice Onnoghen for recommendation, and after which they would be appointed by the President, following their confirmation by the Senate.

Following the shortlisting of the names of the successful lawyers, controversy broke out among legal practitioners, particularly the Lagos based lawyers, who claimed that the process was marred by irregularities, they further claimed that enough notice was not given to as many lawyers as would have wanted to have their names shortlisted.

They insisted that a whole 3-months’ notice is usually being given to legal practitioners in the case of appointments to the Federal High Court, and therefore, faulted the recent shortlisting process for the Supreme Court, which they claimed was barely circulated within 3 weeks, with a clandestine motive to bar a large number of interested lawyers from partaking in the process. They have since called for the cancellation of the initial shortlisting, and asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria to ensure that a fresh process was carried out.

The newly appointed Senior Advocates of Nigeria turned Justices of the Supreme Court and members of the Bench, would be sworn in to service in the near future.

It is wrong to say that the Constitution made the CJN’s appointment a matter of seniority among the Justices of the Supreme Court. It was the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) that embraced the seniority syndrome

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s governments across the country continue to place premium on finding solutions to the perennial clashes involving herders and sedentary farmers, some farmers are beginning to adopt the idea of ranching as a major antidote, not only to avert but also put an end to the incessant farmers-herdsmen clashes in parts of Nigeria.

The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbe, had recently revealed that no less than 16 states governors across the country, have already pledged support for cattle ranching while donating, at the same time, five hectares of land each for the purpose.

It will be recalled that Audu Ogbeh had, in 2016, told Nigerians that 11 states had provided 55,000 hectares of land for the establishment of ranches to curb clashes between farmers and pastoralists in their states. He listed the states to include Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Katsina, Taraba, Niger, Adamawa, Jigawa, Sokoto and the FCT. The minister had then also stressed the need to improve livestock and dairy industry in the country, revealing that the country had more than 19 million cattle, 41 million sheep and 72 million goats as at 2011.

“The way forward is to strive to attain selfsufficiency in animal protein by checking constant exposure of our cows to long distance trekking in search of pasture which affects their productivity.”

He also assured that the government was doing everything possible to establish ranches to be planted with high quality improved tropical grass and legume species and make provision of irrigation for all year commercial fodder production to enhance settlement of pastoralist and ensure cattle, sheep and goat improvement through an expanded breeding programme that would use artificial insemination.

Corroborating this development in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Friday, the special adviser, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Femi Adesina, said state governments are already making provisions for ranching and such is the first step expected to address killings between herdsmen and farmers.

“You are aware that 16 state governors recently consented on ranching. This goes to show that we are moving forward,” Adesina told LEADERSHIP Friday during a recent visit to a farm settlement owned by a farmers’ group, Nigerians Farmers Group and Cooperative Society (NFGCS) in Mararaba Gaate in Kokona local government area of Nasarawa State.

While some states have keyed into the federal government’s cattle colony initiative, others are already establishing laws prohibiting open grazing in their respective states.

The idea to establish cattle ranches started gaining wide acceptance recently when clashes between farmers and herdsmen were taking tolls, not only on the lives of innocent citizens, but also having huge negative impacts on agricultural activities in affected states.

The House of Representatives had also recently backed the idea for the establishment of cattle ranches in states instead of colonies as initially proposed by the federal government, while calling on both the federal and state Ministries of Agriculture, to educate and encourage herdsmen on the benefits of ranching.

Femi Adesina on a visit to the farm settlement

As Cattle Ranches Gradually Gain Acceptance

As the nation seeks solution to the protracted herders/farmers’ clashes that has claimed thousands of lives and property, EMAMEH GABRIEL (Abuja) takes a look at developments in some farm settlements where ranches have begun to gain acceptance.

Clearly, most of the clashes between the herders and farmers, especially in Benue State, was due to the practice of herdsmen roaming across the length and breadth of the country in search of pastures for their cattle, which most cases led to trespassing and damaging of crops and farm produce.

Analysts have suggested that the federal government must have reasons for keeping the herders in established expanses, preventing them moving from one point to another in search of grazing fields.

They have also observed that it is safer to curtail the movement of the cattle since such movement often results in the destruction of crops and clashes between the herdsmen and the farmers.

They said ranches are capital intensive and successful bid for ranches must involve mass investments from governments and other stakeholders.

What it implies is that government must ensure that there is enough water and all-yearround grass for grazing. The Fulani herdsmen must also be encouraged to cut grass in the rainy season and store same for use during the dry season in addition to being educated on how to manage limited space.

While it is agreed that ranches are capital intensive and there is the need for governments at all levels to encourage the practice with the provision of the necessary facilities to herders, the gains go beyond ending herdsmen/famers’ clashes and the killings involved.

Farmers who have adopted the ranch model, said the benefits are numerous but government must be responsive by providing the orientation for the average Fulani herdsman to shift from the mindset

of roaming and adapt to the reality on ground.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP Friday during a recent inspection by Mr Adesina to their farm settlement, the National Coordinator, Nigerians Farmers Group and Cooperative Society, Comrade Retson Tedekhe, said while he cannot ruled out the idea of open grazing, which would depend on understanding between all parties involved, there must be a process of integration and adaptation and the government must also be ready to come in and cut cost.

Retson, who walked LEADERSHIP Friday round the ranch in their farm settlement to look at how they have been able to manage their cattle, creating a method that caused them to adapt, said it is a process that will take time but at the end of the day, it pays better.

He further revealed that they have been able to sustain this because of the synergy they built between them and herdsmen in the settlement, who have eventually adapted to the ranching model.

“I am an advocate of common sense approach to solving the farmers-herdsmen clashes in Nigeria. What do I mean by common sense approach? You cannot move from one form of open grazing to another form of ranching and think there would be no conflict.

“There would always be conflicts in situations like that. How do you eliminate that conflict? The only way to eliminate that is to create a highbreed between ranching and open grazing. And whether you like it or not, that is what the government suggested in what it called the cattle colony option.

“Look at it in contest; how many herdsmen can confidently say today that they have the capacity to seclude their cattle and feed them

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

considering the cost? They are very few.

“So, what do you do? You create an opportunity for them to assess what is vital for the cattle to have food and water. And also be able to give them the ability to go out once in a while if they need to.

“Once you create these processes of integration and process building, you then have a system that is capable of accommodating what they want to do and capable of telling them what they should do,” said Comrade Tedekhe, who spoke more of their success story of integrating herdsmen in their settlement, making them part of the process they are building to address a likely breakout of clashes.

He also said, “What we have been able to do at the Nigerians Farmers Group and Cooperative Society, is that we pulled together some herdsmen; set out the dynamics associated with ranching and made them understand that we can provide you water, we can provide you the ability to ranch; we can provide you the ability to have access to that which it requires to feed them.

“This will however pull them from going after people’s farms. It will give them the insight to the need to be able to utilise the important factors of feeding and water. Once we created that relationship, we eliminated the challenges associated with forcing them out of that which they have been known for.

“Around us now, you see the cows and the rate of growth and the fattening process, they love it, they enjoy it and they want theirs to be like this, he said.

“We have also provided them with other supports to help them out. We have provided them with barbed wires for proper perimeter fencing for the places where their cows will stay. Once you provide them this including security, boreholes for water and then you wet a certain area where they can take their ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 44

44 NEWS FEATURE

March 09, 2018

Day Dr Ahmadu Ali Clocked 82: The Thrills And Frills Friday, March 1, 2018, has come and gone but the memories of the day will linger for some time. That Friday was Dr. Ahmadu Ali’s 82nd birthday anniversary and his biography, The Many Colours of A Rainbow, written by Gideon S. Tseja was presented to the public. The celebration attracted very powerful Nigerians. BODE GBADEBO writes on the news behind the news at the memorable event.

Obasanjo, Na’abba’s Rare Public Outing:

Two previously known political strange bedfellows, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and an erstwhile Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba, sat side by side on the ‘high table’.

It was arguably one of the rare occasions when the duo would be seen on the same table in the public. Many politically active Nigerians especially in the current dispensation, will not forget in a hurry the no love lost relationship between the Obasanjo presidency and Na’abba’s ‘renegades’ House of Representatives members. Seeing the two exchange banters last Thursday and in another instance, laughing together over only Godknow-what, was a sight to behold.

How Obasanjo Protested His Role:

Trust Baba Obasanjo. There can be no dull moment with him. His sense of humour is legendary any time, any day. He was the chairman of the occasion while former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), was the Special Guest of Honour. But Obasanjo was not comfortable with the arrangement, which he blamed on the celebrant, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, whom he said was known for doing ‘bizarre’ things. The former president argued that Gowon ought to have been the chairman of the occasion while he (Obasanjo) should have been a ‘mere’ guest instead.

L-R: The celebrant, Dr Ahmadu Ali; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of the celebrant, Dr (Mrs) Mariam Ali; former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (rtd); and Mrs Paulen Tallen at the public presentation of Ali’s biography to commemorate his 82nd birthday anniversary in Abuja penultimate Thursday. PHOTO BY DELE OMOKAGBO

Drama as Ali’s Biography Surfaced Before Public Presentation:

When Obasanjo was speaking at the occasion, he threw jibes at his friend and celebrant. At a point, he claimed he did not know the contents of the book slated for public presentation. While he was still speaking a copy of The Many Colours of A Rainbow was handed over to Obasanjo. Then, the main hall of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, venue of the event, erupted in thunderous laughter.

Beware Of Ali The Boxer:

Until his death, the legendary black American boxer, Mohammed Ali, apparently did not know during his lifetime that another boxer was living in Nigeria with the name ‘Ali’.

Also, Nigerian-born popular boxer, Bash Ali, may not know that his name-sake and erstwhile national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was a boxer. General Gowon and others who knew Ali during his Barewa College

days in Zaria attested to his boxing prowess.

“He was a short man devil,” Gowon jocularly said. In fact, Prof. Jibril Aminu recalled how Ali once ‘short-changed’ a boxing opponent when he took him by surprise and knocked him down during the greeting formality.

Of Ali-Must-Go and Ali-MustStay:

When Ali was the Federal Commissioner of Education, university students went on violent demonstrations in 1978 over an additional five kobo to their meal fee. The protest led to the death of some students. It was tagged ‘Ali-Must-Go’ and the objective was to embarrass Ali and influence his sack from office as commissioner. But at the book launch on Thursday, one of the students who participated in the 1978 protest recanted.

His name is Mahmud Jega, now a senior journalist and newspaper columnist, who turned out to be Ali’s Book Reviewer. Jega, to the admiration of guests, said having

gone through the book and, given Ali’s good memory for rich history, he was convinced that this ‘Ali-Must-Stay’ now.

Ali and the Three-time Phenomenon Unknown to many, Ali was a three-time Federal Commissioner for Education in three successive governments during the military regime. Also, he was a three-time Senator with combined tenures in the Second and the aborted Third Republics. It is worthy of mention that he was the pioneer Director of the National Youth Service Corps, established in 1973 by the Gowon regime.

Father of Kogi State:

A lot of things were revealed about Dr. Ali, although they are open secrets. An interesting one was the fact that he was the sole founder and chairman of the Movement for the Creation of Kogi State, hence he remains the father of the Confluence State, created in 1991 by then President Ibrahim Babangida regime.

As Cattle Ranches Gradually Gain Acceptance ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 43

cattle and graze, you will realise that, even when they graze, they will realise that thing they are looking for out there, they already have it.

“You have to give them an insight that the solution you are providing is better than what they are used to. Once you establish that relationship and understanding, the problem is as good as solved,” advised Tedekhe.

On the issue of security, he said, “When we came to this community, the first thing we did was to identify with the Fulani herdsmen.

You can see in our ranch, most of the people in that sector are Fulani herdsmen. They are beginning to see that you can actually do this business differently from what they are used to.

“Once they trust you are able to do this for them, it would be difficult for them to try to antagonise you with the solution you put on the table. But if you go with the mind set of killing the man before providing a solution, you are always going to have issues with him.

“Once grazing fields are provided, water is made available; the next thing is adaptation on their part. Once this is done, there comes the paradigm shift in their minds. Their

minds begin to think that now they can actually secure their cattle in a place where they can feed and there is water. Once you create that conflict in his mind, you have won him over.

Nikita Muhammed, a herdsman who also spoke to our correspondent, said he was beginning to learn how to adapt to the process of ranches. He said from the little experience he has gathered, ranching is better than open grazing.

According to Nikita who spoke through an interpreter, “I have less work in protecting and looking after the cattle, though we take them out occasionally to graze because they

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

are still not fully used to a ranch, they are better than when they used to travel for miles looking for what to eat.

“You can how see the cattle are looking very nourished because here, they eat well and have a lot of water to drink. They are even secure against rustlers. That makes the job easier for us,” said Nikita who revealed that there are other economic benefits in ranches.

“I did not know until recently that we could make good money selling cattle dung. You can see today alone, two trucks came all the way from Kaduna looking for dung to buy for famers. They used them as fertiliser to grow their crops.

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nternational Women’s Day 2018 was marked yesterday with the campaign theme: #PressforProgress.

The annual occasion, which takes place on 8 March and celebrates the achievements of women everywhere, comes at a time when women’s health is a global concern. LEADERSHIP Friday sees light through the dark stories of women fighting to prevent breast cancer.

Cancer has become a major health concern and cause of death globally. According to GLOBOCAN, a project of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as far back as 2008, there were 12.7 million new cases and 7.6 million cancer-related deaths.

Most, 56 per cent of these newly reported cancer cases occurred in developing countries and it is projected that by 2030, 70 per cent of all new cases of cancer will be found in developing countries. Most of this increase in incidence is a result of population growth and increased life expectancy.

In Nigeria, Dr Elima Jedy-Agba of the Institute of Human Virology, Abuja says that some 100,000 new cases of cancer occur every year, with high case fatality ratio.

With approximately 20 per cent of the population of Africa and slightly more than half the population of West Africa, Nigeria contributed 15 per cent to the estimated 681 000 new cases of cancer that occurred in Africa in 2008. Similar to the situation in the rest of the developing world, a significant proportion of the increase in incidence of cancer in Nigeria is due to increasing life expectancy, reduced risk of death from infectious diseases, increasing prevalence of smoking, physical inactivity, obesity as well as changing dietary and lifestyle patterns.

According to the American Cancer society, over 250,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed each year in women in 2018 and over 2,400 in men and approximately 40,000 women and 440 men died of breast cancer in 2015.

There are several types of cancer but the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria says that breast cancer is presently the leading and the most common disease that ranked as number one cancer scourge afflicting Nigerian women because the ratio of breast cancer is 1:25 women in the country, due to the failure to organise effective health programmes on prevention and health control on the scourge.

Here, most of the diagnoses are done too late when the disease has progressed uncontrollably and it is sad to note that breast cancer is accountable for about 18 per cent of all cancer-related deaths in Nigeria, because of late presentation of patients at the advanced stages, when application of any forms of therapies to control and manage the spread of the disease become ineffective and very worrisome. The end result amounts to painful and tragic deaths of loved ones.

Put simply, breast cancer is a worrisome condition when a harmful cancerous growth occurs in the tissues of the breast or invariably, it is the condition of abnormal formation in the body cells leading to a disease situation capable of causing lethal effects on the body, as the affected damaged cells divide or separate uncontrollably to grow lumps or masses of tissues called tumours.

And it is necessary to sound out that not all tumours are cancerous, as mild tumours do not attack neighbouring tissues and are not spreadable to other parts of the body.

Celebrating Women On Int’l Women’s Day Through Breast Cancer Awareness Breast cancer is a malignant tumor (a collection of cancer cells) arising from the cells of the breast. Although breast cancer is deadlier in history than ever before, this article recommends regular screening to prevent the scourge. VICTOR OKEKE writes.

Dr Foluso Ademuyiwa, medical oncologist and associate professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, says that breast cancer tumours may be caused by changes in genes.

“The modification in the gene—that results in cells splitting rapidly and growing out of proportion—can be inherited or acquired [from aging, environmental factors and lifestyle],” he said.

Being black makes you less likely to develop breast cancer but more likely to die from it. And blacks get a deadlier form of breast cancer than whites. Not having children or choosing to have them later in life—say over 30—also increases your risks. Risk factors also include starting period early, having a high number of periods, long period in life, and late menopause.

The density of the breast is also a factor for black women as they tend to have higher breast density. Use of alcohol is one risk, and not breastfeeding is another.

Changing your lifestyle where possible minimises the risks that can be modified. Not all. You simply have to be on the lookout, says Ademuyiwa.

Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in the sheer number of people it affects or kills, and it is the greatest killer of women worldwide.

But it is preventable and also 100 per cent curable, once the cancerous tissue is found and excised. That stops the cancerous cells from swimming through the bloodstream to deposit in other locations where it threatens

life-sustaining organs.

“The breast is not a life-sustaining organ [like the heart, lungs, liver, brain], and it [the cancer] can be fully cured,” says Ademuyiwa.

Screening is crucial. A self-examination, once a month, makes you aware of the texture and shape of your breast, so you can note any changes and seek medical attention once you notice what you know looks odd. But it is not a test in itself.

“The cornerstone for management of breast cancer is to create awareness,” says Dr Chris Otabor, chief medical director at Alliance Hospital, which rolled out a programme for women to screen for breast cancer.

“Fourteen thousand women die every year from breast cancer and, to a large extent, a good number can be prevented if women know what to do early.”

During clinical examinations, trained clinicians could pick up irregularities a woman might miss during self-examination.

A mammogram is quite expensive but it becomes useful. High-sensitivity tests like magnetic resonance imaging are even more expensive.

“If breast cancer is picked up early, we will not need chemotherapy, radiotherapy. Just taking out the cancer in a simple surgery can help. Early detection is the message we need to pass to our women,” says Otabor.

“If we pick it early, it will save lives, save cost.”

According to Otabor, breast cancer symptoms are most standardised, as it depends on the size, location and where it

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

has spread.

The mere presence of a lump on the breast could be an indicator of a sign of cancer in the area.

Lump is the first noticeable indicator which feelings differs from the rest of the breast tissue, as majority cases of the early signs of breast cancers are discovered by the notice of the lumps.

Other symptoms include increase in size from other breast tissue, whereby a breast becomes larger or lower in size than the other; experiencing constant pains around the armpit, in part of the breast or collar bones; having a rash around the nipple; skin puckering and changing positioning of the nipple.

Basically, knowledge of the symptoms and access for immediate medical attention can be a life saver for Nigerian women and all women in general, as chances of controlling the deadly multiplication and spread are earlier contained.

Although breast cancer can be diagnosed by the above signs and symptoms, the use of screening mammography has made it possible to detect many of the cancers early before they cause any symptoms.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has the following recommendations for breast cancer screenings: Women should have the opportunity to begin annual screening between 40-44 years of age. Women, age 45 and older, should have a screening mammogram every year until age 54. Women, 55 years of age and older, should have biennial screening or have the opportunity to continue screening annually. Women should continue screening mammography as long as their overall health is good and they have a life expectancy of 10 years or longer.

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Jaiye Kuti,Yemi Solade, Others Storm Ibadan For Historical Movie

BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, Abuja Another ground breaking television show; Borokini The Telenovela is set to debut on the television screen.

The set and crew of the show has been on location since December 22nd 2017.

The production parades an amalgam of sterling performers, veterans and quintessential Nollywood stars, such as

Taiwo Ibikunle, Tunde Oladimeji, Jaiye Kuti, Bimbo Oshin, Akin Lewis, Antar Laniyan, Alex Osifo, Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya Igwe) and Yemi Solade, who recently turned 58, while on set of Borokini The Telenovela.

Borokini, according to information available to LEADERSHIP, captures the story of three elite friends and business partners; Laolu Deji and Supo who go through different journeys and travails in their families, careers and aspirations.

The story takes us through the trio’s

connecting travesties in strengths and weakness. Borokini is a masterfully told story of Laolu (Akin Lewis), an extremely ambitious industrialist who wants to be king of his hometown Pakuro at all costs, Deji (Antar Laniyan), a calm looking university Professor who sleeps with Laolu’s wife Yetunde (Bimbo Oshin) to help make babies for him. Supo (Yemi Solade), on the other hand, is a wifeless, carefree Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court who loves the fast life and wants to be governor of his state. Their

30 Teachers Groomed In Art Worship

...as KCCN welcomes new ambassador

BY ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM, Abuja

from across schools in the FCT, Abuja, on Tuesday who underwent an arts training workshop which is a prelude to an annual drawing competition by the Korean Cultural Centre, Nigeria.

LEADERSHIP learnt that

the training for the Fine Arts teachers focused on imaginative drawings and martial art, which are a prelude to an annual drawing Korea Cultural Centre in competition by the KCCN. collaboration with Federal The Arts Coordinator, FCT Capital Territory (FCT) State SUBEB, Mrs Okafor Isioma, Universal Basic Education said the training afforded the Board has trained 30 teachers teachers the opportunity to learn new skills and impact such on their pupils.

She said, “We are here for the ninth edition of Korean Arts Painting and D r a w i n g Competition for all schools in the FCT comprising the six area councils.

It will benefit us to adopt new methods of lecture, drama, The new Korean Ambassador H.E LEE with some FCT Art teachers during the art music and workshop organised by Korean Cultural Centre. painting into

arts.

“The pupils will be impacted through these new methods.

We are going to bring back some of these pupils for a drawing competition.”

The KCCN Director, Han Sungrae, said the training would be passed on by the teachers to pupils to enhance skills and cooperation between the two countries.

He said, “The centre invites primary and secondary pupils in Abuja every year for them to experience the Korean culture and share information about the two countries. For example, we continuously host drawing competitions and we also train the teachers. When they return to their schools, they deliver to their pupils the skills that they have learnt.”

The new Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Lee In-tae, was also at the event to inspect the activities. He enjoined the participants to make good use of the trainings.

The ambassador commended Nigeria for taking the initiative for the first time to participate in the Winter Olympics which was hosted

by South Korea.

Better be envied than pitied.

— English Proverb

lives seem to have a semblance of calm till an old friend and brother simply referred to as Major (Alex Osifo), having retired from the military at that rank, miraculously returns, to the shock of the three friends,, who, having presumed him dead in a car crash, proceeds to appropriate his share of their oil business to themselves neglecting Major’s family completely. Major’s return set about a lot of disturbance in the trio’s life. Thus, their interactions with themselves and all those connected to them is filled with various dramas of romance, intrigues, betrayal and above all,, murder as each try to survive in the labyrinth of chaos which characterize the typical life of the upper-class elites. The ingredient of this storyline such as crime, romance, glamour, power play and intrigue is believed will ensure that the audience have fun and learn a few things during its broadcast run.

LEADERSHIP authoritatively gathered that the television show is being produced by Rare Edge Media, who is also the producers of other flagship television shows such as Aajiirebi, Awon Aladun De, Family First and A ‎ koni Obinrin.

Just like the other projects from Rare Edge Media, Borokini The Telenovela also provides the platform for emerging talents via a careful admixture of various other young actors hitherto unknown, some of whom are trying out their acting skills for the first time; hence Rare Edge Media is using this production platform as a proper mentoring tool for young people thereby creating opportunity for young and emerging actors to work with established names in the industry.

The result is a high end enjoyable, entertaining and educative drama show which is expected to be able to retain audience discussion for as long as possible.

Tommy Lee Claims Son Brandon, 21, Assaulted Him: ‘My Heart Is Broken’ Tommy Lee and 21-year-old son, Brandon allegedly got into a physical altercation that left the rocker with a bloody lip.

PEOPLE report that officers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to an incident at Lee’s Calabasas, California, home on Monday evening. The Mötley Crue band member was transported to the hospital that same night.

Authorities say Brandon, whose mother is Pamela Anderson, has been named a person of interest in the ongoing investigation and has been cooperating with the police.

No arrest has been made.

“My fiancé and I were in bed when my son busted into the room and assaulted me. I asked him to leave the house and he knocked me unconscious. He ran away from the police. That’s the truth,” Lee tweeted on Tuesday about the reports regarding the incident.

(Lee and fiancé Brittany Furlan announced their engagement on Valentine’s Day.)

March 9, 2018

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My Songs Sound Spiritual – Ben Priest

Nigeria’s Reggae star , Ben Osa Bush aka Ben Priest, known for his songs “Mr Freeman”, “Strangers”, “Oh Mama” and “Tribute to Lucky Dube” and a Honouree of the Obaland Royal Awards 2018 for Nigeria Best Reggae Songwriter. He is a notable band mate to leading late iconic reggae legend, Lucky Dube. He speaks to ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM after receiving the most prestigious monarch’s award in Africa “Obaland Royal Award”.

So far so good. I give thanks though it has not been an easy road amidst obstacles and challenges. I’m not really where I wanna be yet but I’m making progress with tangible results due to hardwork and the grace of Jah. I am grateful to all fans who put smile on my face, it wasn’t easy selling Physical Cd’s, mostly in this era of digital downloads, I think 400,000 sold units wasn’t child’s play , thanks to all Africa merchants who turned my dreams to reality, I will always be loyal.

How would you describe the music industry when you started?

Well I think the music industry back when I got into it, there were not many artistes then. There were also very few radio and television stations available then. And there was not much competition back then. Sometimes there could be about only five main artistes being celebrated, unlike it is now.

As music legend, where do you think Nigerian artistes should pay attention?

My concern is the message.

What is music without message. I cool with groovy beats and all of the danceable hits. But Nigerian artistes should make message as key priority. When I say message, I mean positive and meaningful messages that people can learn from. Enough of the garbage i keep hearing about nudity and sexual activities in almost every song.

There are so many things to sing about in a country under distress and recession. Music is supposed to be a medium to educate, inform and, of course, entertain.

Ben Priest

Tell us about your background...

I am a Reggae artiste originally from Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Southern Nigeria. But I would prefer to say I’m an African. My father is a pastor and my mom was a school head teacher, both retired now.

What stirred your interest in the music industry?

I have always been drawn to music back in the days of my youth, as much as I can remember. It’s been so much a part of me that one time that when my parents would get me is clothes to wear Christmas, I Education background... was the only one amongst my other I never acquired a formal brethren that would rather prefer education. Academic wizardry has being bought a an acoustic guitar never been my style. Everything as my Christmas gift. Nothing else about my scope of knowledge comes mattered to me but music. Against from life’s lessons and experiences all odds, I took to music. Besides, as I socialize. I have been able to I find much happiness in music educate myself by deep researches i and see it as the perfect vehicle to make. To me, certificates and degrees convey my message to people. hung on the wall don’t always show one’s level of education.

How has the journey been so far?

What are you working on presently?

Much work to do at the moment.

For a while now I have been working on video shoot of songs from my brand new album, “Jah Live” First video from the same album titled “I Wanna” critical acclaimed, is been noisy all over Africa, now is been play listed on Trace Africa 10 Sound system. Still on with more videos soon come Any plan of relocating to Nigeria soon?

Yea I’m still considering that but I’m still focused on promoting my new songs l all over Africa and Europe. The success weather of the ongoing promos and videos would determine where I would be based afterwards How did you come about your stage name?

My stage name is Ben Priest.

Most of my fans had always called me “Priest” much because my kind of songs sound more spiritual with deep messages that only the mature minds can digest the deeper meanings from them. I gave it a thought and had to add Priest to my original name, Ben. The name stuck with the passage of time and boom... Ben Priest.

What’s your advice to upcoming reggae artistes?

To all upcoming artistes, I say it’s not always gonna be easy. But never give up. Believe in what you’re doing. Trust in Jah and always be firm with clean hearts. Some day, you’re gonna make to the hills.

Are you still doing music, and how do you handle competition, given the fact that there are lots of talented artistes in the country today ?

Well to me, I believe in everyone’s individual uniqueness in their various abilities. Music is so vast that no two artistes can be exactly the same in their excellence. I believe, given the right platform for any artiste to operate, they are bound to do well no matter the level of competition. Jah made it so.

Congratulations for the Obaland Royal Awards. What is the difference between other awards and this?

Honestly I feel even more humbled to be honored with this one coming from royalty. It makes the big difference for me. I feel so special and happy. And to my fellow awardees like Sizzla Kalonji, Seun Kuti, Winning Jah, Daddy Fresh, Queen Ifrika and many more, I say respect large to you all. Blessed Love!

What personal traits have helped you become a successful artiste?

Well, I can say my voice. Frst of all, I listen to myself and I also hear people say “wow, great voice” I can also say I got the confidence and personality of a potential superstar and this is felt everywhere I go to.

Above all, Jah has enabled me in more ways than one.

After your hit song “YES You CAN “ are you willing to do similar songs?

A hit always worth listening to over and over again. So, yea, I intend recording more of similar hits in the near future and much better.

Blessed.

Any more we need to know?

Nothing much. Kindly allow me extend my condolence to Empress What are your other traits?

Adesuwa Omoyemwen Obatta, the Besides music, I’m very good with Ceo of E.R.F. Inc, on behalf of all fine arts and the ability of making Nigeria Reggae artistes, as her portraits and professional sign lovely son Romeo Chike, a.ka small writings and paintings in general. Patoranky, just passed away. May But the musical side of me seems to the most high king revive her and get hold of me more. family.

A soft answer turns away wrath.

— English Proverb

b oks&arts NEWS REVIEWS HISTORY

ART Gets Full Production Sponsorship For Ibsen’s An Enemy of The State

The Embassy of Norway, will sponsor the full production of world renowned playwright, theatre director and poet, Henrik Johan Ibsen’s, An Enemy of The State. His Excellency, Ambassador Jens-Petter Kjemprud, made the pledge following the embassy’s collaboration with Arojah Royal Theatre (ART) in a play reading session of the title.

Set in Norway, An Enemy of The State, tells of the actions that took place in a conflict between a politically appointed medical practitioner and an official, when the former discovers that the public baths, the source of the state’s economic revenue, is polluted. Resulting in the stalemate – to either halt the use of the baths to save the peoples’ lives but lose the town’s source of revenue, or save the source of revenue with no guarantees to human health. A stalemate that leads to an unfortunate end.

Featuring a seven-member cast, reading in turns as the dialogues dictate from Act 2 of what promises to be a long but satiric relevance to our present times and society, An Enemy of The State, speaks to political leaders, opinion leaders or societal influencers who represent the people and transmit their ideas into policies that serve their interest.

It draws a thin line between ‘what is right’ and ‘self-serving ego’’, of the necessity of genuine communication and feedback between the authorities and opinion leaders to better serve the public. And of utmost importance, it broaches questions on the duties of the public to themselves and to their society. Do the people truly know what they want? Are they properly informed to understand what is best for them? Or do the leaders who represent them truly understand their needs and aspirations?

Resulting in an engaging interaction with the audience at the reading which reflected on the Nigerian society from the authorities, lay men, and professionals’ perspectives, the play got the pledge of sponsorship for a full theatric production from Ambassador Kjemprud.

Hailed as the most important playwright since Shakespeare, the

March 9, 2018

by Chinelo Chikelu

Senator Ahmadu Ali: The Educationist, Politician & Living History Many of Nigeria’s younger generations may have come across Senator Ahmadu Ali as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the periods of the ex and late presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Shehu Musa Yar’adua. But the man is apparently a living history, encountering past leaders, influencing education system in the country, while pursuing a full medical certificate which ironically, was not where he made his most notable achievements, rather in politics.

In The Many Colours of A Rainbow, A Biography of Senator Ahmadu Ali, the biographer, Professor Gideon S Tseja, traces the life and attainments of the politician and lawmaker to reveal amongst the parts known, the unknown parts of Ali and h i s

contributions to Nigeria’s history.

In present times, when the nation’s education system is in shambles, it is interesting to know that Ali had a hand in initiating the first national policy on education and the establishment of the National Universities Commission (NUC), during his tenures as Commissioner for Education under three Presidencies, Rtd General Yakubu Gowon, Late General Murtala Mohammed, and expresident Olusegun Obasanjo. During his tenure under the Obasanjo regime, the Education Ministry had the largest budget allocation than any other ministry, including the Defense Ministry.

It also saw the expansion of agencies under the ministry - Universities, Colleges of Technology and Education, the Teacher Training Colleges and the Federal Government College System. As the first National Youth Corps Director (NYSC), he travelled on many occasions across the geopolitical zones to enlighten students on the benefits of the corps.

It becomes an irony that the man who made such marks on education in the country, was booted out of that office in

the infamous Ali Must Go Saga, which the author, in the book portrays that Ali had no hand in the

decision t h a t birthed t h a t controversy.

Tseja details Ali’s foray into student activism and political leadership as early as his days in the higher institution, where he went on to become the General Secretary of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). It was during his tenure as the secretary of NUNS that he aided in the establishment of the NPC Club. The club went on to host Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of Northern Nigeria, at the University of Ibadan, which the author deduced, garnered the latter some southern support. Elected Senator of the Federal Republic thrice in 1979, 1982, and 1991, he led the movement for the creation of Kogi State on the 27th of August 1991 under General Babangida’s regime and as a result, he has become something of a kingmaker in the Kogi Governorship elections.

At the ends of the earth.— English Proverb

Author Tseja also speaks of the military and medical profession of Senator Ali, interwoven at some points of his life.

Commissioned into the Nigerian Army Medical Corps in 1963, before his graduation from medical school, he was the only doctor for war situation in the Nigerian Army. He went to head the Medical Reception State and run the First Battalion, Ibadan clinic. With a postgraduate degree in Medicine f r o m Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities and a house job at the University College Hospital Ibadan, he was able to return to the medical profession, after his military career in 1979 to open a private practice, establishing Medical Clinics, Kaduna.

His practice was dedicated to addressing private hospital abuse of drips and over reliance on surgical intervention.

Meantime, the author unveils the lawmaker’s penchant for philately (the study and collection of postage stamp), and numismatics (the collection and study of coins) both expensive hobbies. According to Tseja, Ali’s love for stamps led to his being the President of Nigeria’s Philately Association for 18 years; in addition, his coin collection holds the coins from different eras in Nigeria, Britain and other countries. Alongside, these unusual hobbies, is his interest in research of his historical background, the Aboko clan.

The author expands on reasons and extent of his hobbies.

Stressing the calibre of Nigerian Ali, is and in extension, his politics, the author delves into his family life, of three wives, three sons and eight daughters. Although Muslim, two of Ali’s wives are practicing Christians and from the south eastern Nigeria. His third wife is a medical doctor.

An attitude, the author indicates, he carries over to his politics, whereupon during his tenure as the PDP Chairman, ushered in the Shehu Musa Yar’adua and Ebele Goodluck Administration.

Although it is obvious the author tackled lightly Ali’s part in subjects like the Ali Must Go saga, and his leniency on the Obasanjo’s third term elongation, the book holds considerable information for younger generation and policymakers, who particularly wish to know the history, in the aim of deciphering what went wrong not just in our education system but NYSC program. It further provides an interesting viewpoint of the man, and what makes him tick besides politics.

March 9, 2018

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‘They Sell Nigerian Cultures Via Songs, Yet Are Hanging By A Hair’ They travel the world selling Nigerian cultures and traditions to continents and cultures, yet they are hanging by a hair, barely scraping by to attend rehearsals and meet-up with preparations for international competitions with the sometimes little or untimely support government offers them. This is the story of Capital Voices, the FCT Choir.

Since its establishment in 1999, Capital Voices, a group of music educated and trained singers under the Arts & Culture Council, have travelled the world representing Nigeria successfully. The choir’s aim is to ‘sing the Nigerian culture. To show the world what Nigeria sounds like in form of songs.’ “We sing about the cultures and traditions of Nigeria through our cultural repertoire of native, folklores, then classical and foreign music repertoire,” says the choir’s assistant leader, Chimezie Chibuzo. Indeed, they have gone on to represent the country excellently in its first global outing at the international singing competition in Warsaw, Poland in 2005, nabbing the second place at the competition; and took double position, first place at the folklore category, and second in the classical music genre, at the World Choir Championship in South Korea in 2009. In 2014, at the behest of the Chinese government, they visited and sang in different provinces across China as well as participated in the local music competition.

That’s when the trips abroad stopped.

Since 2014, the choir, it appears, hasn’t had any international appearance, and it’s become more difficult to self-fund rehearsals and equipment, in addition to the personal sacrifices members of the voluntary group make to keep the fires of their passion, to represent the nation with their talents, burning.

Nigeria has such bad press abroad, the role of groups like Capital Voices, which is to offer a point of first contact to people who have neither heard of nor known anything about Nigeria, the chance to hear what Nigeria, in extension, what Africa sounds like, is crucial.

One can think of it as a way of making a first impression.

Capital voices assistant, Chimezie Chibuzo, speaks to LEADERSHIP BOOKS & ARTS of their challenges, and how they cope with the difficult times, after their impressive performance at the Chinese New Year Festival in Abuja.

What is the most challenging aspect of being in a choir, a state choir, such as this one?

And what has made the challenge bearable?

We have many challenges. To be a professional singer, you must rehearse. Most of us are responsible, family people. We have other responsibilities, but to be in the group, one has to push some of these responsibilities aside, and give attention to learning to become a good professional singer. Owing to our interest in this class of music, some of our other challenges suffer a little. Second is financial challenge. Things are not that easy for us. We know the way we struggle to go for rehearsals. Although, we are a part of the Arts and Culture, the government does not offer us financial support the way they should.

So, if you have a trip or competition abroad, you fund your way yourselves, doesn’t the government support the choir?

Government does support us, but oftentimes, the monies they are supposed to give us don’t get to us on time, and sometimes we don’t get the money at all. The trip to South Korea in 2009, we are yet to receive the money

meant for us till date. These and so many other problems are what we are facing. We are volunteers in this line we have chosen. Since they don’t pay us salaries, they should give us little monies (stipends) for transportation and other logistics, but they don’t do that.

We fund these things ourselves. Government should help us in a way to ensure that these things (representing Nigeria) are easier for us.

How do you all cope at the moment?

This is something we have taken upon ourselves, something we have chosen to do, because we have the interest, and so we sacrifice whatever we can to ensure we are in good shape and ready whenever we are called upon.

Meantime, the group is doing tremendously well in the local scene, having performed on many platforms and at diplomatic events. One of its strength is the ability to sing foreign songs which Mr Chibuzo talks about the process, below: People say it is easier to learn a culture/ language through songs. It is difficult to learn and sing in a new language. How has the choir been able to do so hearing you perform Chinese and other foreign songs over the years?

We have performed Chinese songs, at the world choir championship in Korea, we sang German songs, Italian songs etc. I must tell you, however, of all the languages, Chinese language is the most difficult we have sung in. We started performing Chinese songs around 2004/2005 when they asked us to sing their national anthem. It took us sometime to scale through the music and perform it.

They were happy with the performance and began sending their folklores to us. Once in a while, they sent someone from the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria to help us pronounce the

words because they are difficult to enunciate.

The words are not enunciated as they are written, Q is often pronounced as T, and so on. They send their staff to guide us in the pronunciation, and with time, we got better.

Walk us through your process of rehearsing a new song be it classical, folk, opera, traditional?

Most members of the group are music graduates. Our leader, Ngozi Okokon studied music and is quite knowledgeable in her area of expertise. We all have a knowledge of music, even those who aren’t music graduates, and we teach one another all we need to know about music. Any song that comes our way, we approach from a professional perspective.

When we get a new music or song, most of us ‘sight through’ it. During rehearsals, we go through the songs, the music, the lyrics and whatever it takes. We put in time to learn the songs. Wherever we have problems, and we have people who know more than us, we invite them to help us.

Regardless of the little to zero support it

gets, the choir is committed to the path it has chosen, doing whatever it takes to keep the group afloat, by sacrificing personal time and finances. It is still open to membership for those who wish to ply their musical talents in a meaningful manner.

To be a member, newcomers must have some background or experience in music, enough to ‘sight through a song, that is interpret a song,” without being handheld through the Do Re Mi’s part,” Chibuzo frankly admits.

“The choir is not where we train freshers.

They must be good singers in their local choirs. I, started singing at my local church in Owerri, that’s besides initial musical history.

I had been with the Imo State choir for many years and it helped me come up in music, before coming to Abuja to join the Capital Voices – the FCT Choir. You must be an active singer in your local church or you have been part of a musical group that has brushed up your music skills to a point. You are able to interpret a song and flow along with others,” the singer and conductor concluded.

Capital voices

...An Enemy of The State From The Norwegian Embassy

three-time Nobel Prize for Literature nominee, Ibsen is one of the founders of Modernism, and Realism Theatre. His plays focused ‘a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and on issues of morality,’ considered scandalous in an era when his European contemporaries modeled theatre to project morals of family life and propriety. Although, he lived 27 years in Italy, in Germany, and throughout his productive years, his dramas are set in Norway, and shaped after his family background.

Ibsen influenced many popular theatrists including George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, Arthur Miller, James Joyce, Miroslav Krleza among others.

His repertoire of works holds A Doll’s House, Emperor and Galilean, When We Dead Awaken, The Master Builder, The Wild Duck, Ghosts, Hedda Gabler, The Lady From The Sea, Rosmerholm etc.

An aerial view of the audience and Arojah Royal theatre’s playreading cast of An Enemy of State, a play by Norwegian Playwright, Henrik Ibsen at the Norwegian Embassy in Abuja

After us the deluge.

— Australian Proverb

L-R: Arojah Royal Theatre (ART), Artistic Director, Jerry Adesewo speaking to the audience at the playreading last weekend

50 TOURISM NEWS Tour Nigeria Set To Celebrate “Nigerian Flavours”

March 9, 2018

NCAC To Collaborate With Diplomatic Missions On Culture, Art

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation is set to celebrate the Tour Nigeria with “Nigerian Flavours” an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Culture, the event is a collaboration between NIHOTOUR, NTDC and NTA. Nigerian Flavours showcases the rich culinary diversity in Nigerian cuisine and delicacies. It focuses attention on Nigeria’s rich and diverse culinary heritage and tradition.

According to a press release issued by NTDC, the landmark event would hold in Abuja, a safe family oriented, clean, peaceful and fast growing tourism destination; #MyAbujaWeekend.

Highlights of the event includes over 60 food and beverage vendors across the six geopolitical zones, with Musical performances by Nigerian artists.

Meanwhile, the event promises merchandising opportunities for arts, crafts and fashion with a safe Children’s games area, affordable Farmers market and Comedy.

The National Council for Art and Culture (NCAC) has made its commitment to collaborate with all diplomatic missions in Nigeria to promote cultural and artistic relationship.

Director general, Segun Runsewe, made this known to journalists at a twoday training organised by the NCAC in collaboration with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to showcase the creative works of Mahdi Razi and the artistic works of some renowned artists in Nigeria and further training of art in Abuja, recently.

Runsewe said, “We will continue to build strong relationships with all the diplomatic missions in Nigeria to boost cultural and artistic relationship. This collaboration is in keeping with the mandate of the NCAC, with specific commitment to consolidating and strengthening our relationship with other nations of the world and using culture as a tool for international diplomacy. Today is a day of showcasing the strength of the two countries, speaking one language of culture. This mission we have taken here today, will further boost the relationship between the arts of Nigeria and Iran.

Nigerians have unknowingly been missing

NFC Commences 2018 Film Training Series In Jos

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) is set for its series of training workshops for film, television and media practitioners for the year 2018, with the first set of seventy (70) trainees from across the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.

According to a press release made available to LEADERSHIP by Head, Public & Intergovernmental Affairs, NFC, Brian Etuk, the first shot with 70 trainees is scheduled to arrive Jos, the Plateau State capital for a one week intensive training in film & television production.

The training workshop commences on Monday, March 12th and ends on Saturday March 17, 2018 and venue is the National Film Institute, Jos. Brian stated that other participants for the weeklong film/television training workshop are drawn from relevant MDA’s as well as film and television stations, production studios and companies.

Meanwhile, the training workshop is intended to provide opportunities for practitioners to horn their skills as well as up their professional competencies.

Trainees are expected to apply new skills to be learnt and improve on their film and television productions.

The statement added that the training workshop is part of NFC’s response to the skills gap analysis of the Nigerian film industry. It also fits into one of the core mandates of the NFC of providing training and capacity building for film and television practitioners. “The training workshop will offer opportunities for film/television and communication specialists/practitioners to perfectly fit into emerging global trends and best practices as a result of digital revolution”, NFC’s spokesman further said.

out on the scholarship opportunities provided by Iran for Nigerians. The histories of Nigeria and Iran has a lot of similarities and this particular type of calligraphy is about 3000 years old” Responding to the Director General NCAC, Ambassador, Islamic Republic of Iran, Morteza Rahimi Zarchi, used the opportunity to invite Nigerian artists through the NCAC to come to Iran and exchange artistic works. He added that art is a very powerful form of integration.

“Callio-painting started in Medina and Mecca and was the type used in writing the Holy Quran. Iran had played a major role in terms of development in callio.

Islamic Republic of Iran had thousands of calligraphy and callio-arts and paintings which were thousands of years old. Culture also plays an important role in uniting countries and nations. Iranians appreciate Nigerians for their good gesture, diverse languages and so very many natural resources”.

Amb. Morteza Rahimi Zarchi (2nd left), Mahdi Razi, Iranian Artist 2nd right, DG NTDC Runsewe 1st right.

NICO Presents 1st Quarterly Public Lecture For 2018

BY STELLAMARIES AMUWA, Abuja

The National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), in furtherance of its statutory mandate of promoting, reviving, developing and sensitizing the citizenry on Nigeria’s cherished cultural values is set to organize the 1st edition of its Quarterly Public Lecture 2018 with the theme, “Culture, Economy & Good Governance: The Nigerian Experience” According to a press release made available by NICO, through the media assistant to the Acting Executive Secretary, Caleb Nor stating that the event is scheduled for Tuesday, 13th March, in Abuja.

The NICO Quarterly Public Lecture series was initiated as one of the Institute’s flagship programmes, in pursuant to NICO’s objective of carrying out public enlightenment campaigns on various facets of Nigeria’s culture.

The Public Lecture series is also aimed at providing a platform for intellectual discourse on topical issues, as they relate to culture, socio-economic and national development of Nigeria.

Expected dignitaries includes Orji Uzor Kalu, Former Executive Governor of Abia State as the Guest Lecturer; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is the Special Guest of Honour while the Chairman, Senate Committee on Culture & Tourism, Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki, is the Chairman of the occasion with the executive Secretary of NICO, Louis Eriomala as the Host.

FCT students’ cultural display organised by NICO

A soft answer turns away wrath.

— English Proverb

March 9, 2018

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flashpoint

with Jonathan Nda-Isaiah jonesdryx@yahoo.com 08054518774 (SMS only)

On PMB’s Rejection Of Peace Corps Bill Last week, President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the Peace Corps Bill. The president cited security and financial concerns as reasons for rejecting the bill.

A presidential aspirant of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr Thomas Wilson lkubese, claimed that Mr Gambo Timothy Dogo, in Nappe, Dukku Local Government Area of Gombe State, committed suicide on the grounds of the president’s refusal to assent to the bill as passed by the National Assembly.

The Commandant of the Nigerian Peace Corps, Dickson Akoh, on his part, said he believes President Buhari “may have been misled” into rejecting the Peace Corps Bill.

He said “The functions of the Nigerian Peace Corps, as succinctly captured in the bill, do not in any way conflict with the functions of any existing security agencies but is absolutely civil, which is to observe as an arbiter of peace, youth volunteerism, maintaining and sustaining a level of pro-activeness and courier of information for impending nefarious activities and plots that can lead to the breakdown of peace and order anywhere in Nigeria.

“The role of the Peace Corps is clearly distinct from that of conventional security and paramilitary organisations, hence its placement under the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youths Development. The powers conferred

Akoh

on the Nigerian Peace Corps in the Bill do not also involve arms bearing, investigation, detention and prosecution.

“Similar organisations like the Nigerian Peace Corps, exist in several other countries of the world, including the American Peace Corps, Canadian Peace Corps, Bangladesh National Cadet Corps, Peace Officers Commission in China, Chinese Labour Corps, Lera Uniform Corps of Malaysia, Malaysian People Volunteer Corps, Production and Construction Corps of China,” My views on this, I support the president 100 per cent on this. Creating another security outfit is not what we need at this particular point in time. The proliferation of arms in the country is one of the major reasons for the orgy of killings going around in the country.

With time, the Peace Corps will ask for arms to carry out their duties.If I remember correctly, the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) were even asking for arms to perform their duties.

Peace Corps members and even the Civil Defence should be integrated into the police. We have a shortage of police men, less than 400,000 of police to 180 million persons is poor. We need at least 1 million policemen.

Peace Corps members should be automatically converted to police, with that we will kill two birds with one stone- reduce unemployment and improve the security situation in the country.

Buhari

Dapchi Abduction: Heads Must Roll Sleep was murdered last month when Boko Haram insurgents abducted 110 girls from Government Science and Technical college, Dapchi in Yobe State. Since the incident, it has been a blame game galore between the military and police.

What I have been waiting for is to see key actors in our security agencies tendering their resignation for failing the country but instead, what I see is gloating from our security forces claiming to have defeated Boko Haram.

Let’s get something straight, I am proud of the Nigerian military. They have recorded significant achievements in the fight against Boko Haram. Some years ago, the insurgents were in control of local governments in Adamawa and Borno states, and were even hoisting their flags - an affront on the sovereignty of Nigeria. But the military have pushed the insurgents out of the local governments although there are reports that they still control two local governments in Borno.

The military has performed admirably well in the fight against insurgency and like one of my former editors used to say, “you have done well but you can still do more.” The military still needs to do more in the final push for total victory against Boko Haram.

For starters, Boko Haram war is not yet over.

A completely defeated Boko Haram abducted over 100 girls in Dapchi and gave new meaning to the word bestiality when they attacked an IDP camp in Rann, Borno State killing medical doctors and even abducting some of the medical personnel, prompting doctors without borders to suspend services in Rann. At this rate, we would be having a major humanitarian crisis at hand.

According to a report, Boko Haram killed close to 1000 persons in 2017 alone, more than

All things come to those that wait.

the 2016 figures. Let’s not kid ourselves, Boko Haram is still waxing strong. We are losing good soldiers daily to Boko Haram.

I know there is a place for propaganda in warfare but not at the expense of the lives of the citizens.

Heads must roll in this Dapchi abduction.

Having extended the tenure of service chiefs for the third time, I think it’s time the Service Chiefs resigned honourably and new people brought on board to prosecute the war against Boko Haram.They have performed their best especially the Chief of Army Staff, Turkur Burutai, who I admire very well, but it’s time to move on. We need to rejig the Boko Haram war to achieve optimum result.

Right now, we don’t have a choice but to pay ransom for the release of the Dapchi girls , remember some Chibok girls are still in captivity. A commando style operation to storm where the girls are located will not work as they are bound to be casualties.

Right now, the federal government will have to negotiate from a position of weakness as the Boko Haram insurgents have us by the balls.

All saying we should not pay ransom for the release of the Chibok or Dapchi girls would not be singing that tune, if their daughters or family members were involved.

Like I said in this page last week, all boarding activities in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States should be suspended, especially female schools. Students in schools in remote villages should be relocated to the state capitals for now, until we completely defeat Boko Haram.

For now, I will consider as hate speech or an act of terrorism, if any government official or the service chiefs come out to say Boko Haram is completely defeated. Enough of this deceit.

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March 09, 2018

WOMAN Loose

ON THE

with HAUWA BOOTH

Email: diaryofastupidwoman@gmail.com, Website: www.diaryofastupidwoman.com, 08055241197

Airtel, Deactivate This Service: Dnd!!!!!!!!: One Woman’s Plight I was in the process of completing the line up of the service providers by adding Airtel, when a current user of the line literally broke down and narrated the harassment she is currently suffering in the hands of Airtel. Poor lady, thought that she was communicating with real people each time she wrote a complaint. Each time she would get a response ( which was really an automated message with different names as the ‘authors’; the responses were all the same drone.

It all started in November 2017 when she received an unsolicited message telling her that she could borrow airtime. She ignored it till she received five more in quick succession. She wrote several times but got no response till Dec 20th “My name is Xxxxxxxx and my number is xxxxxxx Can you deactivate the service which has been hounding me to get extra credit? This comes from the number 14495. I have sent about 50 “Stop” messages to your 2442 DND number but it has failed to stop this useless and harrasing message to my phone.

Thank you for your cooperation.”

“Customer Care, Please can you stop these harassing messages?

Happy weekend! Are you out of Airtime? No problem. Just dial 14495 now to borrow extra credit from Airtel and Pay Later.

Esteemed Customer, do you need extra credit? simply call 14495 now to borrow Airtime from AIRTEL and PAY BACK LATER. Congratulation! You are now qualified for extra credit from Airtel.

Kindly call 14495 now to borrow and pay later.

Congratulation! You are now qualified for extra credit from Airtel.

Kindly call 14495 now to borrow and pay later.

Dear Customer, don’t wait till you recharge to stay connected, just borrow EXTRA CREDIT now and pay later.

Dial 14495 to get started.

Dear Customer, You are now qualified for Airtel’s extra credit.

Kindly call 14495 now to borrow and pay later.”

She would copy the harassing mails and send as mail to the Airtel customer service Dear Sir/Ma, Thank you for contacting AIRTEL customer care.

In response to your mail, please be informed that issue is currently being worked on for your Airtel mobile number to stop receiving messages from the credit loan service.

Kindly exercise patience.

Thank you for your continuous patronage on the AIRTEL network.

You may also wish to contact us through our other channels: Like our homepage on Facebook: AirtelNigeria Follow us on Twitter: @Airtel_care Internet: www.ng.airtel.com Yours Sincerely, Banjoko Ayoola For: Airtel Was their response. After some back and forth, Airtel “responded” with a message that announced the stoppage of the unsolicited text messages. As she made to celebrate, a deluge of the texts came in!!! For space constraint, I can’t reproduce the entire correspondence.

The head of NCC has gone absolutely quiet! There was a time when ‘DND’ used to work; not anymore and Nigerians are left to their devices. Maybe she should try the legal system; she could make some money in the process for a number of infractions: harassment, overuse of her data ( all the time she sent mail), unproductive use of her time, emotional stress etc

(text only)

“I Have Your Type At Home” I saw this story and decided to share it because at one time or another, a man has said this to a woman...the next popular sentence in a man’s vocabulary after the world famous word used to describe even a nun if she as much as irks the wrong man.

Anyway, as we celebrate Happy Women’s Day; women let’s learn the important lesson in this story. It was heartwarming to say the least. And when a man tells you, ‘I have your type at home”, retort- “I don’t have Your type at home. I have a man at home” and if you don’t have either a man or a man at home; remember this world is not your home you are just passing through and walk away.

Yesterday morning, traffic was at a standstill. Everyone was looking for a way out; lots of people taking the untarred roads off the highway to find a better, shorter road.

A woman wanted to drop off her kids at a school that was literally 20 metres away from where she was, but one man came out from nowhere and blocked her, insisting he had “right of way” and that she should turn back.

She explained that she only needed to drop off her kids, if he could just reverse a little, she’d manoeuvre her car and just be on her way. This man refused. The person behind him reversed so he could reverse so the woman could go on to drop her kids so the traffic would flow and everyone would suffer less in this unbearable situation.

Baba said no.

He came out of his car and began to berate this woman, began to shout at her; telling her to respect him because he is a man, calling her a stubborn woman who didn’t know her place, who was not submissive and how “he had her type at home” and that he would Not move; that all of us would remain in that traffic till she got out of his way.

The woman was undaunted. She matched him word for word, energy for energy and when he refused to move, stubbornness for

stubbornness. There was no way she could go back; many cars were behind her. There were no cars behind him; just reverse na Oga. He said Never!

Toh, the woman got into her car, got all her kids out, their lunch boxes, school bags and what not. Accompanied by her maid (or younger sister, hard to tell), she locked her car and walked away.

The man was stupefied. He could not believe it. He became even more furious.

He and the other men there then moved towards her car and attempted to deflate her tyres.

Then the unexpected happened.

Suddenly, all the women in traffic, as if some signal had gone off, as if following a planned script, flew out of their cars and rushed to attack the men, defending the car, surrounding it, ready to draw blood.

I don’t think the men expected it. The surprise fury made them back off but the women were not fooled. They stayed around the car, daring anyone to touch it, providing a united front. When the stubborn man saw it, he that said he would Never reverse till the end of time, got into his car, reversed and drove off.

The women protected that car till the owner got back. Then they all got back in their cars and drove off as the traffic began to move. The remarkable thing is, none of them went to this woman and told her “Madam, look we defended your car when the men wanted to deflate it”. The woman did not even know of the attempt by the men to deflate her tyres. She did not need to. Her sisters, random strangers, women whom she had never met, whom she might never meet, fought for her, had her back while she went to take care of her children.

Women whom the world said they never support each other. That lie, like so many others told for a long time, that women are their own worst enemies was debunked.

We became her Dora Millaje.

Happy Women’s Month.( yes, we’ve taken a whole month!)

Credit: Kutu Ameji.

Gender Neutrality The last decade has been a wash with an advancement of human disintegration. First, we have been bullied, harassed and had our right to have a contrary opinion and position snatched from us so that the world population of less than 1per cent of humans, who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender

Questioning/Queer(LGBTQ), can be comfortable.

As if the upturning of the balance of nature isn’t bad enough; gender neutrality berths. Yes, you’ve come into the world clearly as a male or a female but no, don’t let the child be guided. Let the child ‘decide’ what he or she wants. Sweden is the country

leading in ensuring that we have humans running round with unisex names, they refer to the children as ‘Hen’ instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’. Hen? Then Finland now has gender neutral clothes for school children.

In British Columbia, a SHe complete with breasts, moustache, beard with long hair is raising its kid

An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

as gender undetermined (officially the first human) and will refer to the kid as ‘they’ until it can choose a gender.

If not because God has already promised He won’t destroy the earth with water again, the ark would have been a boat! There would have been no need for an ark. We have even corrupted the animals!!

March 9, 2018

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G

egbulefutony@gmail.com | 08033250560

oing by the assurance of Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate president, the bill that seeks to sever the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) from the apron strings of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and grant it the Egmont Group’s prescribed independence, would be the next law to expect.

In fact, the National Assembly understands that the bill needs to be passed before the Sunday, March 11 meeting of the Egmont Group if the country must head off a possible expulsion from the group.

The Attorney general and Minister of Justice has blamed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the suspension of the NFIU from the group but before us now is the compelling question of who takes the blame if the presently swirling Sword of Damocles from the Egmont Group finally descends on the country as the group gears to sit in judgment over the status of the country’s NFIU in a few days’ time? Is it still the EFCC or the National Assembly that has been procrastinating in bringing about an enabling act that would fashion the NFIU in the format prescribed by the Egmont Group?

H

ate him or like him, President of the Senate, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has proved to everyone that he has the charisma and doggedness to lead the National Assembly, against all odds. Those who dare to undermine his authority, power and influence have different stories to tell.

Depending on an individuals’ political view, Saraki could be the good, the bad or the ugly.

But, it is certain that the Kwara State born power broker, is in charge of the 8th Assembly.

Last week, Saraki deployed his enigmatic prowess to ensure that the Nigeria’s Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) bill was passed ahead of the March 11 meeting of the Egmont Group where the faith of Nigeria will be decided by the body.

Saraki, via his Twitter handle, @ Bukolasaraki, on Sunday said the committees of both houses would sit and pass the bill this week, and it was done. This, I must say, is one important factor lacking in the current administration, and it is impressing to see the Senate President, who is the Chairman of the National Assembly, demonstrate this will power.

Anyone who followed the bill, will recollect that chairman of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption & Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi recently accused the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, Hon Kayode Oladele of sabotaging progress of the bill.

Saraki, following his meeting last Thursday with the Speaker, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, Utazi; and Oladele, announced that the Conference Committee meeting for the NFIU bill would hold on Monday and the Report

The consequences of NFIU’s expulsion from the Egmont Group are both dire and severe on any economy and may be aggravated on that of Nigeria that is still gasping in recession aftershock.

The Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units provide Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) of countries of the world, a forum to exchange information confidentially in the combat of money-laundering, financing of terrorism “and other predicate offences.” With about 153 countries as members, the Egmont Group is the highest inter-governmental association of intelligence agencies in the world of which the NFIU is Nigeria’s representative.

Expulsion from the Egmont Group means a straightaway withdrawal of seals of integrity and credibility from the country in global financial transactions and replacing it with those of suspicion and doubt. In an instant, it would erode the confidence of the international community in doing business in or with Nigeria and Nigerians.

Barring those who bear diplomatic passports, every Nigerian who ventures outside the country, would be flagged on the suspicion of being a possible money launderer or conduit for funds to terrorist cells. The expulsion will also hobble the country’s ability to recover stolen

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Egmont Group: Who Is To Blame If Nigeria Is Expelled? funds hence the nation will be interdicted from carrying out international monetary transactions.

For these reasons and more, the Senate, last July, hurriedly passed the NFIU Bill without even conducting a public hearing but disagreements with the House of Representatives over procedures, ensured that the Conference Committee of both chambers did not sit and harmonise the bill for adoption until this week.

The Senate’s knee-jerk reaction, followed NFIU’s deserved suspension from the Egmont Group.

Aside making NFIU an independent entity, the bill: Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (Est, etc.) Bill, 2017 would establish a new entity called Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA), situate the NFIU in the Central Bank and make it derive its funding sources from international grants and federal government’s budgetary allocations.

Since July last year, the NFIU has been on suspension from the Egmont Group following the non-establishment of the NFIA as a selfcontained entity and for domiciling the NFIU in the EFCC in breach of Egmont Group’s prescription.

This January, the group threatened to expel Nigeria permanently in March if the Nigerian government failed to grant the NFIU the autonomy that is sine qua non for membership of the group. More than ever before, the threat of Nigeria’s expulsion from the group has become

National Assembly And Politics Of NFIU would be presented in both Chambers on Tuesday.

In order to have a vivid understanding of the faith that almost befell the bill, a little insight into the background is necessary.

Egmont Group is a global financial intelligence gathering body made up of 156 Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) representing 156 countries.

It is a platform for members to share expertise and financial intelligence to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

NFIU, which is the Nigeria’s intelligence unit, is domiciled in the EFCC. But in July 2017, the unit was suspended by the Egmont Group of Financial Intelligence Units for allegedly not being independent.

The group demanded autonomy for the NFIU as a condition to lift the suspension, failure of which Nigeria would be expelled in 2018.

Controversy however ensued among stakeholders, on the best way to handle the situation at hand, in line with international best

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practice.

While the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) opined that the unit should be separated from the EFCC and granted full autonomy, the EFCC opposed this view and proffered that the unit should operate as an independent unit under the anti-graft agency.

Sequel to this, bills were introduced at both chambers of the National Assembly, to address this international concern. This brings the raging battle as to whether the NFIU should remain under the EFCC, with autonomous operational framework, or to make it completely separated.

It is needless to delve into the faceoff between the EFCC and the 8th Senate, but political observers could effortlessly predict that the Senate would oppose the position of EFCC’s acting Chair, Ibrahim Magu on the matter.

Meanwhile, Magu had repeatedly canvassed the view that NFIU can indeed remain within the EFCC and enjoy autonomous operational framework, but the senate would do the opposite.

The House of Representatives, on the other

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

manifestly present as the group meets next week.

The group will, most certainly, be chagrined that nothing concerning all that aggregated to result in the country’s suspension in July has changed.

The NFIU Bill and the issue of the unit’s independence have earned the country all sorts of embarrassments; the latest being the humiliating rating the country earned from Transparency International (TI) 2017 corruption perception index. Out of a total of 180 countries, TI put under its radar, Nigeria earned a despicable 148th position, translating to the most woeful rating from the global anti-corruption monitor in about a decade.

The index that ensured that the country slipped from its 2016 position of 136th out of 176 countries with a score of 28, is the “Economic Intelligence Unit Country Risk.” This index, which accounted for Nigeria’s fall in the overall 2017 TI’s corruption perception, has everything to do with the NFIU. Away from this index, Nigeria improved or remained stable in all the other indexes. Was it a case of one bad apple spoiling the whole bunch?

My answer is yes! A given is that corruption perception index of the country will worsen if the Egmont Group expels it.

Apart from the boost, the legislature and the executive need to give the anti-corruption fight in terms of accelerated passing and assent to the NFIU Bill, some other aspects of the anticorruption fight also require a rejig. hand, has an EFCC appendage as the chairman of its committee on Financial Crimes.

Oladele, who was a staff of the EFCC, and Chief of Staff to a former Chairman of the commission, would rub Magu’s back on the issue, therefore the Senate was set against the House.

This is clearly evident in the bills presented and passed before the two chambers. While the Senate passed the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Agency (NFIA) which was meant to upgrade the unit to an independent agency, the House passed the Nigeria’s Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to modify the operational framework and make it autonomous under the EFCC. With no common ground in sight, it was difficult for the pro-Magu House committee to harmonise its position with that of anti-Magu’s Senate, hence Utazi’s outcry and Saraki’s eventual intervention.

Although, certain provisions of the bill, which emanated from the House were retained, the major issue at stake was ceded to the Senate as the EFCC lost the domiciliary right over NFIU. Nevertheless, an agency would not be created, rather it will operate as an autonomous unit in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Irrespective of this, Hon Oladele did not hide his reservation about the bill as passed.

According to him, his preference for NFIU to be domiciliary in the EFCC was to enable the intelligence unit enjoy the policing powers of the commission.

“There is nothing wrong with domicilation, if you check the recommendation of the Financial Action Task Force, it says that it can be domiciled in a bigger agency, as long as it has operational and financial autonomy.”

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March 9, 2018

defence focus WITH JOY YESUFU

08092588622 (SMS ONLY)

Boko Haram Total Defeat: What Went Wrong?

S

ometime in early February, there was jubilation in most parts of Nigeria, especially in the North -Eastern part as there was a confirmation from the military high command that the once dreaded Boko Haram Islamic sect had finally been brought to its knees and defeated.

Most Nigerians were happy because they could now travel to any part of the country for business or educational pursuit without fear of losing their lives and also, those at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps could return to their homes and lead a normal life like they used to before the era of Boko haram.

Barely two weeks after this cheering news, suspected members of the same sect (in same February) went to a Girls Secondary School in Dapchi, Yobe State and kidnapped 110 girls with several other girls fleeing into nearby bush.

Reports have it that the kidnappers followed the same pattern that was used to kidnap girls from a secondary school in Chibok in 2014.

Boko Haram fighters were said to have opened fire as they drove into Dapchi, which is in Nigeria’s Yobe State, on machine-gun mounted trucks.

They then headed for the Government Girls Science and Technical School, sending students and teachers fleeing into the surrounding bush. The attackers were in camouflage which made a number of students to think they were soldiers.

Shortly after the Dapchi incident, four UN aid workers were killed last week in a night attack by Boko Haram insurgents in Rann community in Kala Balge Local Government of Borno.

A female aid worker was also said to missing while another sustained injuries in the attack.

Samantha Newport, Head of Communications, UNICEF Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Maidguri.

Newport said two of the deceased were personnel of UN client organisation, International Organisation of Migration (IOM), deployed to Rann as camp managers.

She added that others killed were a medical doctor working as a consultant with UNICEF and an aid worker with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) affiliate organisation.

The UNICEF communications head said a female nurse was abducted,

Shuibu Moni

while another female aid worker was injured in the attack.

She explained that all the deceased personnel were Nigerians, adding that the world body would soon issue a statement on the incident.

Meanwhile, sources in Rann said the insurgents attacked the town at about 7 pm on Thursday.

The source added that the insurgents, moving in gun trucks and motorcycles, infiltrated the town and attacked a military base and a displaced persons’ camp.

These two incidents by the Boko haram insurgents happened less than a month of assurances from the military high command that the sect had been smoked out of the country.

Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, while addressing the 8th edition of the National Security summit, organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College in Abuja on 6th March 2016, with the theme “Fighting Tomorrow’s Warfare Today”, said the Nigerian Armed Forces should focus on intelligence gathering capacity and at the level of the military and intelligence agencies, intelligencesharing must become the rule and not the exception.

Speaking on the Dapchi and Rann incidents he said “If anything, rekindle your determination, as Nigeria’s Armed Forces, and ours, as the Government

entrusted with the protection of the lives and property of Nigerians, to permanently subdue terrorism in Nigeria.

“I’m aware that since the incident happened, Nigeria’s security and intelligence chiefs have all mobilised to Yobe State and environs, and have been re-assessing their strategies and approaches to securing lives and property and containing the ongoing threat that is Boko Haram. More than ever before, we are mobilising to ensure that schools in the Northeast are kept secure from Boko Haram.

“President Buhari is deeply concerned about the security situation across the country, and has repeatedly expressed this. Uppermost on his mind is the fact that he was elected to a large extent based on his vow to secure Nigeria and restore the pride of our military. As commander, at various times in his career, of three of the four Divisions of the Nigerian Army that existed at the time, the President fully understands the threats and the issues.

“He also understands the importance of not being driven by panic, and of taking the time to build the coalitions and collaborations without which enduring security would be impossible in Nigeria”.

At the moment, one Shuibu Moni, a Boko Haram commander, who was allegedly freed in exchange for some

Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself. — English proverb

82 kidnapped Chibok girls in a deal facilitated by the Swedish government last May, has issued fresh threats against the Nigerian state in a video.

He spoke in Hausa and Arabic and stated that contrary to claims by the Nigerian government that Boko Haram fighters have been chased out of Sambisa forest in Borno state, they (Boko Haram terrorists) remain firmly on ground also threatening to unleash further violence on Nigeria in coming days.

What really went wrong after all the promises and assurances given by the military high commands that Nigerians can now sleep with both eyes closed as they had chased the insurgents out of the Nigeria territory?

As at the time of this report, no single girl, out of the 110 kidnapped from the Girls’ Secondary School in Dapchi has been rescued and despite all the air assets deployed by the Nigerian Air Force, there’s still no trace or iota of idea of the location the girls were taken to.

Observers are of the opinion that, this Dapchi kidnap might end up like the Chibok case as days are already rolling into weeks and before you know, weeks will be months then months into years.

The question on the lips of Nigerians is why did the military high command give such assurance when the sect has not been totally defeated?

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Sierra Leone Elections: Police Raid Offices Of Main Opposition After a rather peaceful election, the tallying process has kicked off on a dramatic note as Police raided the offices of the main opposition candidate, saying they were tipped off of a possible hack.

Local television station, AYV media, spoke to Julius Maada Bio of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party (SLPP), who told them that Police sought to search his offices without a warrant and when denied entry, they were reinforced by riot police.

Maade Bio talking to AYV TV says po tried to search premises without a war and returned in riot gear when refused entry.

Claims it is effort to interrupt SL tallying of vote to cross-

check results.

Bio who said all they have at the office are computers and a mobile phone to verify results as they trickle in, believes the raid is an attempt by the ruling government to interrupt this process.

Bio’s team insists that they have a right to establish an independent tallying center, declaring the police raids as a form of intimidation.

The government spokesperson refuted allegations of intimidation, insisting that the national police doesn’t work for the ruling All Peoples’ Congress (APC) party, but rather has a a mandate to preserve law and order.

Danish Inventor Denies Murder In Swedish journalist Death Trial Danish inventor Peter Madsen denies murdering Swedish journalist Kim Wall aboard his homebuilt submarine in August but admits indecent handling of a corpse, his defense lawyer said at the opening of his trial in Copenhagen on Thursday.

Wall, a 30-year-old freelance journalist who was researching a story on the entrepreneur and aerospace engineer, went missing after Madsen took her out to sea in his 17-metre (56-foot) submarine in August last year.

Later that month, police identified a headless female torso washed ashore in Copenhagen as Wall’s.

“The accused denies voluntary manslaughter, but admits violating the law about indecent handling of a corpse,” his lawyer Betina Hald Engmark said in court.

Under the Danish penal code, manslaughter is used to describe the deliberate killing of a person and there is no distinction between manslaughter and murder.

Involuntary manslaughter is used when the killing is not intentional.

Madsen is charged with murdering and dismembering Wall, along with a charge of sexual assault without intercourse of a particularly dangerous nature.

UK Border Stance Threatens To Stall Brexit talks Brexit negotiations risk stalling if Britain does not present a realistic solution for the future of the Irish border after London rejected an EU fallback proposal last week, European Council President Donald Tusk said yesterday.

Britain’s government has said it does not want a customs union with the EU, without which the EU says it would need to regulate Northern Ireland’s trade to avoid a return of customs checks.

However British leader Theresa May, backed by her hardline pro-British Northern Irish parliamentary allies, said that no prime minister could ever agree to such terms as they would “threaten the constitutional integrity of the UK”.

“When I was in London last week, I heard very critical comments by Prime Minister May, and others, about the way the Irish border issue was presented in the draft Withdrawal Agreement,” Tusk told a joint news conference with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin.

“While we must respect this position, we also expect the UK to propose a specific and realistic solution to avoid a hard border.

As long as the UK doesn’t present such a solution, it is very difficult to imagine substantive progress in Brexit negotiations.

“If in London someone assumes that the negotiations will deal with other issues first, before moving to the Irish issue, my response would be: ‘Ireland first’.”

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March 9, 2018

Africa Should Avoid Forfeiting Sovereignty To China Over Loans – Tillerson US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson government.

If a government accepts a Chinese said yesterday that African countries should be careful not to forfeit their loan and “gets into trouble”, he sovereignty when they accept loans said, it can “lose control of its own from China, the continent’s biggest infrastructure or its own resources through default.” He did not give trading partner.

Tillerson is using his first examples.

The growing Chinese lending to the diplomatic trip to the continent to bolster security alliances on a continent has also attracted criticism continent increasingly turning to from some Africans, who say China’s Beijing for aid and trade.

He may also seek to smooth relations after US President Trump reportedly dismissed some African nations as “shithole countries” in January. Trump later denied making the comment.

“We are not in any way attempting to keep Chinese dollars from Africa,” Tillerson told a news conference in the Ethiopian capital. “It is important that African countries carefully consider the terms of those agreements and not forfeit their sovereignty.”

The United States is the leading aid donor to Africa but China surpassed it as a trade partner in 2009. Beijing has pumped billions into infrastructure projects, though critics say the use of Chinese firms and labor undermines their value.

Tillerson said Chinese investments “do not bring significant job creation locally” and criticized how Beijing structures loans to African Tillerson

agenda is to feed its appetite for African raw materials like oil, timber and minerals, and secure contracts for its firms.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, visiting Zimbabwe on Thursday, told reporters it was inappropriate for Tillerson to criticize China’s relationship with African countries.

Poland Warns EU Pressure Over Legal Reforms

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki yesterday defended Poland’s controversial court overhaul and brought a warning to Brussels that the European Union’s heavy criticism of the reforms could backfire.

Morawiecki was meeting European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker, in the latest high-level contact between Warsaw and Brussels aimed at resolving their row over concerns around democratic standards in the biggest excommunist EU state.

Juncker gave Morawiecki a brief bearhug before the

Pole presented him with Warsaw’s “white paper” on the new laws. Morawiecki later told journalists he expected the Commission to analyze the text thoroughly, which could take weeks.

The reforms by his ruling nationalists have been criticized by civil society campaigners, international democracy watchdogs, the EU and opposition parties in Poland for subjecting the courts to more government control.

“These talks were very constructive and very promising,” Morawiecki said after meeting Juncker.

“We will certainly continue them and I hope that, sooner or later, our views will converge even more, will converge enough to reach a full agreement on the judicial reform we proposed to our citizens.”

The Polish document says the reforms are needed to improve efficiency and remove judges “entangled in dishonorable service” in Poland’s pre-1989 communist regime.

But it also warns western, more liberal EU states not to push Warsaw too much at the risk of “strengthening anti-European sentiment” in Poland.

Germany’s SAP Admits Misconduct In South Africa Gupta Deals German software maker SAP found compliance breaches and “indications of misconduct” in $50 million of public sector deals in South Africa involving the Guptas, friends of former president Jacob Zuma accused of corruption, it said on Thursday.

Outlining the findings of an external legal review of five software deals with staterun electricity firm Eskom and rail-freight company Transnet, SAP said three executives suspended last year had resigned without

severance pay.

Eskom said on Thursday it would launch its own probe into the SAP contract.

SAP admitted it paid more than $9 million to intermediary companies controlled by the Guptas. One of the Gupta brothers, Atul, was declared a fugitive from justice and fled South Africa after Zuma was forced out of office by his party last month.

However, the company said there was no evidence of direct payments to South African government officials.

As a result of the

investigation, SAP said it had tightened up its compliance and anti-corruption procedures, including banning sales commissions on public sector contracts in countries with poor graft ratings, including South Africa.

“The investigation has confirmed that even strong compliance systems are vulnerable and therefore require eternal vigilance,” SAP board member Adaire FoxMartin said in a statement.

“While we cannot turn back the clock, we can promise to do better.”

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Alampasu Unfazed Over Poland, Serbia Snub Former Nigeria youth international, Dele Alampasu is unperturbed about his non inclusion in the Super Eagles team for the preWorld Cup friendlies later this month against Poland and Serbia.

The trio of Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and Francis Uzoho made the cut while Alampasu who has not played for his Portuguese top flight club CD Feirense, this season, was understandably overlooked.

The shot stopper told allnigeriasoccer.com that he is not disappointed by his omision from the list and heap praises on Francis Uzoho, Who was hie lieutenant at the 2013 U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates for his impressive show of form in Spanish side, Deportive La Coruna.

“I am not disappointed by the outcome of things,” Alampasu begins.

“I just want to be who I am. I want to work harder than I am doing now so I can be among the next team (in possibly, the friendly against England on June 2) and eventually be in the squad for Russia.”

“He (Francis) is doing so good at Deportivo and he is working so hard. We all saw what he can do in the friendly against Argentina.

“There has been talk of him deserving to play in the club’s first team and if he should change clubs. But I feel for now, no.

“For now we see him with the team (Eagles) so we all pray he succeeds.’’

Alampasu then identifies crocked Eagles keeper Carl Ikeme as perhaps the goalkeeper with the greatest impact in his career.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers custodian was in 2017 diagnosed by the club medics to have leukemia which cruelly has put his World Cup in jeopardy.

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NFT, TMC Sign Pact To Hold Nigerian Tennis Majors WALE AYENI, ABUJA

The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and Tennis Management Company (TMC) have signed an ambitious Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to put Nigeria’s tennis on the global map.

The partnership agreement which was wrapped up yesterday at the Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja in the presence of both parties and witness by newsmen will see introduction of two Nigerian Tennis Majors, Abuja and Lagos Opens respectively to the national tennis calendar, beginning from June, 2018.

Speaking during the signing of the MoU, president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Ifedayo Akindoju, said the two National Major Opens which will hold in June and October, in Abuja and Lagos respectively, will be highly rewarding as the winners will smile to bank with cash prize of N10million.

“The plan is to have two big tournaments in 2018 calendar year, one in Abuja and the second in Lagos and it will be the biggest prize money national tournament put together by TMCL in

conjunction with the federation.

“The aim is to make tennis attractive to people and let them see that you can have a lively hood from playing tennis, with the prize money of N10 million against the last tournament of N1million. We to get more people inform that there is a lot on the table for the winners, tennis is not as football where big money signing exit, but this is a good step in the right direction which will continue to improve as we progress’’ he added.

The president of TMC, Barrister Anire Kanyi was optimistic that the initiative will expand to four Tennis Major Opens in four Nigerian cities annually, with each major having a junior version in nearest future.

“Nigeria is blessed with talents in the game of tennis and we to take Nigeria’s tennis to the next level and create a more compelling future for our youths.

The tournaments is open to only Nigerian players from 14years and above both male and female categories, more also the schedule and timetable for the tournament will be made known in due cause.

France 2018: Falconets Face Germany, China, Haiti Nigeria’s U-20 girls, Falconets have been drawn in the same pool as perennial foes Germany, China and Haiti in Group D of the 9th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup taking place in France from August 5 to 24, 2018.

At the Draw Ceremony held inside the Opera House, Rennes on Thursday, Africa’s other flag-bearers Ghana were thrown into the same Group A as hosts France, New Zealand and The Netherlands.

Group B is headed by Korea DPR and also has England, Mexico and Brazil, while USA, Japan, Para-

Barca Fear Rivals Could Meet Messi’s €700m Release Clause

Lionel Messi’s €700 million release clause may not be big enough to prevent rivals clubs from matching it, Barcelona’s financial and strategy director Pancho Schroder says.

The Argentine committed his future to the club in November after coming perilously close to the time at which he could have started to negotiate with other sides, given his previous deal was up in June 2018.

Included in the fresh terms, which run until 2021, is a €700m release clause designed to put rivals off mak-

guay and Spain will battle it out in Group C. Two –time runners –up Falconets begin their campaign with a huge test, against Germany at the Stade de Marville in Saint-Malo on Monday, 6th August. Germany edged Nigeria to lift the trophy the two times Nigeria got to the championship final – in 2010 in Germany and 2014 in Canada.

Chris Danjuma’s maidens will then be up against Haiti three days later at the same venue, before moving to Dinan-Léhon, where they play

China at the Stade du Clos Gastel on Monday, 13th August.

Ghana will go up against hosts France in the tournament’s opening match in Vannes on Sunday, 5th August. Concarneau is the other city that will host matches during the championship.

Nigeria’s Group D opponents Haiti will be taking part in their first – ever FIFA women’s tournament, and FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura said: “I’d like to send my regards and warmly congratulate Haiti, who just qualified for

ing a move for the club icon, just as Paris Saint-Germain did to sign Neymar for €222m last August – a fee that many thought was impossible.

“We set up a clause which we think is enough to have Messi retire at FC Barcelona,” Schroder told Sky Sports.

“But having said that, we thought a year ago that the clause for Neymar was also good enough to retain the player and that proved last summer not to be the case.

“Looking at the future, I think, is

difficult, but I don’t have a crystal ball and these days things are getting a little bit crazy.”

Messi has enjoyed another prolific season for the Catalan club and remains as one of the leading pack chasing the European Golden Boot, having netted 24 goals in La Liga so far this term and 32 overall.

Barca are in a strong position to regain the Spanish league title, while they are still in the running for both the Champions League and Copa del Rey.

their first-ever FIFA women’s tournament, on their remarkable road to France. Well done, girls, for taking this huge step.

“It’s so encouraging to see these young girls pointing the way forward through playing football. For FIFA, increasing the participation of women in football is an imperative.

The development of women’s football is at the top of our list of priorities in our strategy ‘FIFA 2.0: The Vision for Future’.”France will also host the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals.

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in in May 2015, Coomson would call me nearly every week and t was the other way round. tell me just how Buhari’s postJust three years ago, my election fever had caught on in friend and publisher of Accra. the Ghanaian Chronicle, At last he would say, here was Kofi Coomson, had almost a man who would not only bring given up on Ghana. He wanted change to his country but one to move. whose moral force would shake After only one term, John things up in West Africa and Mahama’s government had around the continent. brought the country to the brink That fever is gone, and Ghana was, once again, disappearing almost without a near its second major wave of trace as Buhari arrived in Accra emigration after the first in 1982. on Tuesday to join celebrations Corruption was rife and for Ghana’s 61st independence poverty – worsened by the anniversary.

Home and away, hope and devaluation of the cedi and the fall in commodity prices – was expectation have been replaced by a nagging feeling of anger, widespread.

Coomson wanted out. A regret and disappointment. survivor of Jerry Rawlings’ Coomson’s question, What dictatorship, during which period happened to Buhari?, is not he was forced to go into exile for being answered in Abuja and his uncompromising journalistic might never honestly be. But by work, Coomson had seen some strange twist of fate, that hardship, but feared something question is being answered in worse was coming.

Accra, where President Nana For some reason, the election Akufo-Addo is showing what is of President Muhammadu Buhari possible when preparation and reawakened in him hope for effort meet opportunity. a revival in Ghana, where the It’s the other way round. I’m general election was about 18 now in my Coomsonseason, months away at the time. wondering exactly what I’m Even before Buhari was sworn doing here and whether I should AZU ISHIEKWENE

Mmahama

not be going to Accra.

In just over one year of taking office as president, Akufo-Addo has inspired the sort of confidence that Ghanaians were looking for in Buhari; and Nigerians are taking lesson notes and sharing videos of what might have been, if Buhari had the quality they thought they voted for three years ago.

Even after he reluctantly visited Taraba, where dozens had been murdered in a farmersherders clash months ago, to condole with the bereaved on his way to Accra, the dust stirred by his words unsettled the shallow graves of the dead, dispirited the grieving and trailed him all the way.

Sometimes you don’t know which one to choose: Buhari’s speech, his silence or his indifference.

It’s not just a Nigerian thing; quality appears to be missing around much of the continent.

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma did not understand the difference between the state treasury and his own wallet; and until Robert Mugabe was led out like a bull out of Zimbabwe’s china shop, ordinary Zimbabweans bore the brunt of his misrule, including paying for the First Lady’s fake doctoral thesis.

Yet, if Zuma and Mugabe

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SPACE FOR SALE

Will Akufo-Addo Save Buhari And Co? are past, a good number of such rulers are still present tense: from Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea to Paul Biya of Cameroun, and from Denis Sassou Nguesso of the Republic of Congo to Yoweri Museveni of Uganda – leaders who give old age a bad name and don’t care by what name they or their countries are called.

In a recent video on leadership on the continent, Mo Ibrahim described them as leaders who are not only too old to lead but are also determined to take their countries with them to their graves.

At 74, age is not on AkufoAddo’s side, but he appears to hold out a different promise from the club of gerontocrats.

I’ve been following him with the same interest that my Ghanaian friend was following Buhari. It’s the other way round now.

I watched Akufo-Addo telling France’s President Emmanuel Macron when the latter visited Ghana in December, that even though Africa was grateful for the tons of aid pouring into Ghana and the continent, Africa should take responsibility for its own future.

The continent has had enough of carrying around a begging bowl for 25 per cent of global development aid; its leaders must be held to account. His own stewardship in Ghana, he said, was not an exception.

Though Macron knows Africa well, the look of disbelief and shock and excitement on his face as Akufo-Addo spoke suggested that he had not heard an African leader speak with such candour for a long, long time.

The same thing happened during an international conference in Senegal on how to replenish funding for education, where Akufo-Addo narrated how his government’s free education programme up to secondary school level had led to 90,000

more children enrolling in high schools in less than one year.

While other African heads of state and government hardly noticed the passing away of Hugh Masekela during the January meeting of the AU in Addis Ababa, the significance of Bra Hugh’s contribution to global music, culture and entertainment was not lost on Akufo-Addo.

On his way back to Accra, he stopped over in Johannesburg where he paid his last respects to Hugh and other African greats, including Fela, who had gone before him.

It was the Ghanaian President’s speech at the US National Governors 2018 Winter Meeting in Washington in February, that cleared any remaining doubts that he was a serious guy.

In a speech that earned him a standing ovation and one that should have made every African proud in the same country where President Donald Trump had cast a slur on the continent only a few months earlier, Akufo-Addo repeated his theme of responsible and accountable leadership, saying in clear terms that trade was better than aid.

He has shown it in Ghana. The economy has grown from 3.6 per cent in 2016 to 7.9 per cent in 2017.

The cedi has stabilised and inflation reduced from 15.6 per cent at the end of 2016 to 10.3 per cent last year. “Nuisance taxes” have been abolished and emphasis is now on production and improvement of infrastructure.

And without making too much noise, the Ghanaian president appointed a Special Prosecutor, the first in the country’s history, to deal with matters of corruption “and hold public officials, past and present, accountable for their stewardship” of public finances.

Ghana is small, and by comparison, far less complex than, say, Nigeria or South

The continent has had enough of carrying around a begging bowl for 25 per cent of global development aid; its leaders must be held to account Africa. It’s not even among Africa’s Top 10 economies. If, however, size and complexity were disincentives to growth and development, then India, the world’s largest and arguably most complex democracy, would not be among the world’s top 10 economies.

With general elections coming up in 31 or so African countries in the next 18 months, from Sierra Leone to Gabon, from South Africa to Senegal and from Mali to Nigeria, the worst disservice citizens can do to themselves and their children, is to stand idly by.

The Africa of Muhammadu Buhari, Paul Biya and Teodoro Obiang Nguema, is also the Africa of Nana Akufo-Ado. Poor leadership deserves a red card: There’s no other way around it.

GHANA MUST GO UK to build N315m prison in Nigeria — News

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