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Nigeria ICT Consumer Spending To Hit $167bn

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

Increasing adoption of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tools by the Nigerian population and increasing local participation in relevant sub-sectors of the ICT industry will drive consumer spendings to about $167 billion in the next five years.

According to the minister of Communications Technology, Dr. Omobola Johnson, consumer spending in 2010 was $115bn and is projected to increase to $167bn by 2020. She noted that increasing middle class, increasing levels of disposable income and increasing levels of aspiration have spurred the growth of e-commerce in the country.

Johnson said wholesale and retail trade sector accounted for 20 per cent of gross domestic products

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(GDP) in 2012 making it the second largest contributor to GDP after agriculture. “Young population – an average of 50 per cent of the adult population is under the age of 33 years. Low (formal) salary levels mask informal/other sources of income – about 43 per cent of adult population earn incomes in the range of N18,000 to N70,000,” she said.

The minister who said that high usage of mobile phones, particularly for social purposes, increases opportunities in “culture” markets – such as music, books and films that are shaped by social influences, added that the ICT industry has significant enabling effect on other sectors of the economy contributing a combined 2.56 per cent of added value. This is apart from direct contribution of 10.44 per cent to 2013 GDP.

While the services sector as a whole constitutes over half of Nigeria’s GDP, ICT services contributed 19 per cent to the services sector. Nigeria is ensuring accelerated roll-out of robust, reliable, and cost effective ICT infrastructure to increase citizen access to ICTs. Market indicators shows that there are four undersea fibreoptic cables with combined design capacity approx. 10 terrabits per second.

Nigerian telecommunications sector has about 100,000km of terrestrial fibre-optic cable; approximate 28,000 2G; 15,000 3G transceiver stations; 134 million mobile phone subscriptions representing 96 per cent teledensity; about 74 million internet users; internet penetration of 52 per cent; existing broadband penetration of six per cent.

A young man hawking underwears on the street of Mararaba in Abuja. PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE

British Airways Gives Insight On Spending Holidays

By Sampson Echenim, Lagos

British Airways has given some hints to Brtons and its guests on how to enjoy their holidays for the year 2015.

The Shetland, Scotland Fire Festival, Europe’s largest fire festival, celebrated at Up Helly Aa and held every last Tuesday in the month of January is top of the airline’s recommended tourist spots.

“Crazy holidays conjure images of abseiling off Table Mountain or jet boating in New Zealand rather than visiting good old Blighty, but the Barmy Brits do have some wild attractions of their own.

“We Brits are not as dull as some might think and there are plenty of exciting, adventurous and just plain mad things to do in the UK”, says Kola Olayinka, British Airways commercial manager for West Africa.

When planning your holidays for 2015, Olayinka said it’s worth bearing in mind that the Saxon bits of the Anglo Saxons trace their ancestry back to the original mad marauders, the Vikings, arguably the pioneers of adventure tourism.

The locals dress up in full Viking regalia and the evening culminates

Etisalat Sponsors ABU Students To Dubai For Training

By Chima Akwaja, Lagos

Nigeria’s fastest growing telecommunications company, Etisalat Nigeria, is sponsoring the top three students from the first year of the EtisalatTelecommunications Engineering Program (ETEP) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for intensive training at the Etisalat Academy, Dubai.

Manager, corporate social responsibility at Etisalat, Oyetola Oduyemi, disclosed that further training at the Etisalat Academy would reinforce the students’ practical knowledge of Telecommunications Engineering and also provide them with a competitive edge.

“At Etisalat, we believe that the right education has the potential to impact every aspect of life, so education remains central to our CSR interventions; this is why we are sending the three best studentsfrom the Etisalat

Telecommunications Engineering Program class of 2014, to the Etisalat Academy in Dubai to expand their horizons and give them further exposure to the cuttingedge technology driving the telecommunications industry”, Oduyemi said.

“As the program continues, we plan to train 15 to 20 students yearly to give Nigerians an opportunity to learn from the best in the field. We will also develop local expertise to sustain the programme by sponsoring lecturers from ABU to study for a PhD in Telecommunications Engineering at the Plymouth University UK,” she added.

The Etisalat Telecommunications Engineering Program, organised in conjunction with the University of Plymouth, UK and Huawei Technologies Limited, is the first program offering an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering in West Africa.

role in developing and diffusing innovation and providing employment, saying ,“This is one of the several reasons why we recognise the role of women as multiplier in the country”.

The United Nations Global Compact, organisers of the programme, charged African chief executive officers to collaborate in contributing development in Africa.

In his remark, executive director, UN Global Impact, Dr George Kell,

enjoined local networks to partner to help achieve economic growth in the continent.

He added, “The UN Global Compact will support CEO’S and the Nigerian government in their efforts to sustain future businesses in Africa.

This is why we have outlined some calls to actions which include a call to governments to address corruption and foster good government.

Access Bank Pledges Support For SMEs

By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Access Bank Plc has reiterated its commitment to financial empowerment for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s) for Women and Youths in Africa.

Speaking at the African Sustainable CEO Business Round-table in Lagos, the managing director of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, who was represented by the bank executive director, Personal Banking, Victor

Etuokwu, said, “The world is embarking on a new age, the age of the entrepreneur, the agile SME owner, and the flexible innovator.

“In Access Bank, we have a team that helps drives this and add values to SMEs. Finance is not the major issue, but capacity building and understanding opportunities that abound in the business environment. We also have programmes that support women entrepreneurs because we find it interesting work-

ing with them.”

According to him, the bank aims to be a Tier 1 SME bank to young entrepreneurs and seeks to achieve this through integrated partnership and provision of proactive business banking solutions which makes our clients winners on all fronts.

He pointed out that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs are crucial for tracing new paths to more sustainable and inclusive growth with a

in the burning of a longship. Sensibly, the next day is public holiday to allow everyone to recover.

Olayinka also named the World Bog Snorkelling Championships whose modern event version has taken place in Powys, Wales for the past 30 years.

“In August competitors from around the world descend on the smallest town in Britain, Llanwrtyd Wells, to pit their bog snorkelling skills in the 115-metre course”. Olayinka said. “The sport is not quite as obscure as you might think - Lonely Planet named it as one of the top 50 ‘must do’ things in 2014,” Olayinka added.

Although the British government has improved at scaring off foreign invaders, this has been more of a recent development than historical trend. One must wonder what William the Conqueror would’ve made of the good people of Witcham in Cambridgeshire, who today host the World Pea Shooting Championships. While the skills and marksmanship on display at the annual event are incredible, it’s not surprising that it was the English bowmen rather than Witcham’s pea shooters which won the day.

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zonal watch

NIGER STATE KWARA STATE KOGI STATE BENUE STATE NASARAWA STATE PLATEAU STATE FCT ABUJA

Nasarawa Tiv Community Supports Maku By dOnATus nAdi, Lafia

The gubernatorial ambition of former minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, got a boost following his endorsement by the Tiv community in Nasarawa State ahead of the next month’s elections.

Maku, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state, met with leaders of Tiv land at the Nurses

House, along Jos road in Lafia where they promised to deliver their votes in block.

Tiv leaders and other stakeholders, who witnessed the event, expressed concern over their perpetual marginalisation by successive administrations in the state, saying their support for Maku was borne out of his track record of standing up for the oppressed since his days as commissioner, deputy

governor and until recently as a minister.

On his part, Maku promised justice and fairness to all ethnic groups in the state. He acknowledged that the Tivs are suffering injustice and have not been given their fair share in appointments, elective positions and employment, lamenting that instead, the Tivs have come under violent hostility with hundreds of them being killed.

HEADS FROM THE ZONE

dr. Bukola saraki (holding mic) commissioning the new senate building of north West university, Kano on behalf of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. On his right is Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Photo By Saraki Media office

Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Emir of Ilorin and life patron of GAMJI club.

The GAMJI club is to establish a GAMJI centre for Leadership in Ilorin, Kwara state.

Sardauna Legacies: GAMJI Plans Leadership Centre In Ilorin

By ABdullAhi Olesin, Lafia

In its efforts to mould good leaders for the country, GAMJI club has announced its resolve to establish a GAMjI centre for leadership in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

At the centre , the visionary and exemplary leadership qualities of the late premier of northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoton, Sir Ahmadu Bello, will be inculcated in the younger generation.

The president general of GAMJI in the state, Dr Abubakar Ibrahim, announced this in Ilorin during the club’s 2015 public lecture titled: “Wither; The Sardauna Leadership

Legacies?”.

Ibrahim, said the establishment of the centre became imperative because of the stark reality “that Nigeria is today suffering from lack of capable and effective leadership in all spheres”.

“Nigeria is now in dire need of good legacies for it to over come its current social, political and economic crises. Such leader must possess moral authority and esteem values of integrity, honesty and must be ready to undergo hardship and suffer deprivation on behalf of the poor masses.

Such leader must be competent and sound in the art of managing

diverse people and abundant resources and must properly understand his mandate as father of the nation, not a as a son or daughter of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw, Nupe or Ebira.

“Such leader must clearly know that Nigeria is a pluralistic society.

He must be capable of bringing out a vision of what he wishes to achieve and have the requisite knowledge and experience about how to solve the mirage of problems currently bedeviling our nation. Such leader that must be ready to be fair to all and must be capable of managing crises as they arise.

Senator Simeon Ajibola

Kogi Women charged to support Jonathan, PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara state has flagged off its campaign for February polls with special prayer at Ilorin Eid praying ground and St. Barnabas church, Ilorin.

By sAM eGWu, Lokoja

Women in Yagba federal constituency of Kogi State have been urged to vote en mass for President Goodluck Jonathan and all the Peoples Democratic candidates, from Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas during the next month’s elections.

The wife of the the state deputy governor, Mrs Tokunbo Awoniyi, gave the charge in Mopa during the inauguration of campaign committees and ward canvassers for the presidential and other elections slated for February.

Mrs Awoniyi, who was represented by Mrs Grace Ojo, senior special assistant on Inter

Governmental Affairs to Kogi State governor, charged women to vote President Jonathan to enable women asked for 50 percent affirmation for women as against the present 30.

Mrs Awoniyi said a vote for the PDP and President Jonathan will usher in more gains of democracy that will empower women in the country.

Mind Your Utterances, Group Cautions Politicians

By ABdullAhi Olesin, Ilorin

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called on politicians to mind their utterances as politics, they said is not a matter of “life and death”.

The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Alh Ibrahim Abdullahi, noted that both sides of the nation’s dominant political parties have been making unguarded statements and reckless publications capable of igniting crisis before, during and after the forthcoming elections.

It noted: “This development is worrisome as it demonstrates act of desperation on both sides.

“These statements and publications are at variance with peace-accord signed in Abuja last week.

“This group, therefore, calls on leaders of both parties to shun acts capable of igniting crisis at any stage of the forthcoming elections. In particular, President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Muhammad Buhari now need to condemn publicly any violation of campaign rules as they are flouted by their followers to convince the populace that they are on their own”.

This call is imperative because any crisis emanating from reckless statements or publications cannot absolve the presidential candidate of the two political parties from blame on any misdemaneour of their fanatical supporters”.

The group commended the federal government for reducing the price of petroleum and urged the marketers to comply with the directive.

Kwara 2015, Not About Religion – Minister

By ABdullAhi Olesin, Ilorin

The minister of National Planning , Dr Abubakar Sulaiman, has declared that the 2015 governorship election in Kwara State is not about religion, but freedom.

He also challenged all major stakeholders within the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state to support the candidature of President Goodluck Jonathan and the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Senator Simon Ajibola.

He spoke at the inauguration of the PDP governorship campaign organisation headed by Professor Shuaib Abdulraheem.

Speaking at the event, which witnessed a large turnout of party faithful, the minister said: “This election is not about religion; it is not about Kwara South, North or Central, but it’s about freedom.

It’s about the liberation of our people. “We have template for victory in this election. It’s going to be tactics for tactics, strategy for strategy and might for might. I just want to plead with all our aspirants to join forces to ensure victory for our great party”.

Also speaking, the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Ajibola, thanked all for the support and called for further support in the main election.

He expressed his readiness to carry along every stakeholder in the entire process assuring that the party remains focused to carry home to victory at both the presidential and governorship levels.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

zonal watch (North-Central) 53

news behind the news

Justice Mamman Nasir presenting the gamji souvenir to the emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, during the 2015 Gamji Day in Ilorin, Kwara State recently. First right is the representative of Kwara State governor Alh. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Alh. Saka Onimago, while first left is the chairman of the occasion, Justice Abdulkadir Orire. Photo by abdullahi olesin

Wanted: Sardauna’s Leadership Style

BY Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

It is not an exaggeration to say that since the death of the late Premier of northern Nigeria and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, on January 15, 1996, subsequent leaders in the north at all levels of governance could not match his record.

Little wonder, the discussions at the 2015 Gamji Club day in Ilorin, Kwara State centred around the need for the leadership style of the late Sardauna. Therefore, the title of the lecture: “Whither the legacies of the late Sardauna of Sakoto?” was very apt.

The public lecture organised by the club to mark its day, which was graced by Justice Mamman Nasir, the Galadiman Katsina and national grand patron of Gamji, who was a cabinet minister under Sardauna at the age of 28 years, underscored the dire need for a new crops of leaders whose values will resemble that of the late Sardauna of Sokoto.

The chairman of the occasion and pioneer grand Khadi of the Sharia court of Appeal, Ilorin, Justice AbdulKadir Orire set the ball rolling when he stressed the need for Nigeria to adopt the motto of the late Sardauna: “work and worship”.

He recalled with nostalgia that the motto was the watchword of Sir Bello which is in sharp contrast to today’s values in which search for money has watered down moral and spiritual values in the act of governance.

Echoing the views of Justice Orire, Justice Mamman Nasir, whom the master of ceremony referred to as the living spirit of late premier of the north with the leadership qualities of the late premier, which were reflection of Islamic religion and traditional value of service to the people, are what the nation needs at this critical period.

These, he said, include the fear of God, moral integrity, honesty and

not acquisitive value of today that has corrupted everything saying: “If you want to be a contractor or businessman, do so and do not come into politics, but if you want to serve the people which was what Sardauna did you are welcome in politics”, he added.

The Emir of Ilorin, Alh. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari also eulogised the virtues of the late Sardauna, saying that he had promised to be associated with anything Sardauna for two reasons. Firstly, being the life patron of Gamji and secondly, being a beneficiary of the late premier’s ingenuity.

Also speaking, Kwara State governor, Alh. AbdulFatah Ahmed, who was represented by the commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alh. Saka Onimago, said that the forthcoming elections in the country have brought leadership into sharp focus.

He expressed optimism saying, “This event will explore the Sardauna’s leadership legacies especially in the context of the country’s current search for transformative leadership. It is on record that the foundation for much of the development and unification of northern Nigeria was laid by the late Sir Ahmadu Bello”.

In his opening remarks, the president General of Gamji in the state, Dr Abubakar Ibrahim, announced the resolve of the club to establish a Gamji centre for leadership in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

At the centre, the visionary and exemplary leadership qualities of the late premier of northern Nigerian and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, will be inculcated in the younger generation, he said.

Ibrahim said the establishment of the centre became imperative because of the stark reality that Nigeria is today suffering from lack

of capable and effective leadership in all spheres.

“Nigeria is now in dire need of good legacies for it to overcome its current social, political and economic crises. Such leader must possess moral authority and esteem values of integrity, honesty and must be ready to undergo hardship and suffer deprivation on behalf of the poor masses. Such leader must be competent and sound in the art of managing diverse people and abundant resources and must properly understand his mandate as a father of the nation, not as a son or daughter of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Ijaw, Nupe or Ebira.

“Such leader must clearly know that Nigeria is a pluralistic society.

He must be capable of bringing out a vision of what he wishes to achieve and have the requisite knowledge and experience about how to solve the mirage of problems currently bedeviling our nation. Such leader that must be ready to be fair to all and must be capable of managing crises as they arise.

“In fact, Nigeria requires a leader that will end insurgency in sixty days.

A leader that will lead the war against insurgency, recover our daughters from insurgents and diversify our economy. A leader that will end power problem, create industries in all state capitals to provide employment for teeming youths, a leader that will restore security to all nook and crannies of our nation, declare his personal properties and forfeit same. He must be a leader that will lead by example, will be incorruptible, honest, trustworthy and accountable.This is our search in GAMJI”, he stated.

The GAMJI president expressed delight that the late Sardauna, in spite of wielding enormous power in the First Republic, was a simple, upright and an incorruptible man whose guiding principles in public service was honesty, probity, accountability ,efficiency ,dedication and hard work. In the pursuit of these principles, he did not care whose ox was gored. In fact, after several years as premier of northern Nigeria with a land size of about 56 per cent of the present day Nigeria and undoubtedly the most powerful man in Nigeria during his time, when he died exactly 49 years ago, he left virtually nothin except the two local mud houses in Sokoto town and Rabbah which he had built before becoming premier”.

In his lecture, titled: “Sardauna and Contemporary Politics in Nigeria: What Lessons For Our Leaders”, a professor of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Ilorin, Hassan Salihu, called for a slash in the salaries and allowances of political office holders in the country.

He said public officers should make the sacrifice, especially at this time of economic crises occasioned by global fall in oil price.

Iyiola Oyedepo

News Behind The News

Kwara PDP Flags Off Campaign With Prayers

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Nigeria is now in dire need of good legacies for it to overcome its current social, political and economic crises

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked off its campaign for the 2015 general election in an unusual manner.

Instead of holding a rally, the party kickstarted its campaign with special prayers held at Ilorin Eid praying ground. Leaders and supporters of the party as well as executive members and three former governorship aspirants of the party attended the prayer led by a renowned cleric in Ilorin, Alhaji Mohammed Ali. The party also held similar prayer at St Barnabas church, Ilorin.

Other party stalwarts that attended yesterday’s prayer session included the pioneer PDP chairman in the state, Barrister Kunle Sulyman, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, Architect Kale Belgore and Alhaji Hakeem Lawal.

It would be recalled that 12 aspirants contested the PDP primary won by Senator Simeon Sule Ajibola who currently represents Kwara South in the senate.

Ajibola would be challenging the incumbent governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, in the February 21 election.

The party said the prayer was designed to pray for peace and security in the state before, during and after the election.

Speaking at the prayer, one of the governorship aspirants, Lawal, who is the son of a former governor of the state, late Mohammed Lawal, said the party was confident of victory in the forthcoming elections, saying, “Whenever you begin with prayer, definitely, success is assured”.

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1ST NATIONAL SUMMIT, YENAGOA

The underlisted persons are hereby invited to attend the 1st National Summit of the Congress for Equality and Change (CEC) scheduled to hold at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State on Monday, 26th January, 2015 at 10.00am.

SOUTH SOUTH DELEGATES 1.

Sen. Chief (Dr.) Edwin K. Clark - Leader 2.

H. E. Otuekong Idongesit Nkanga -Ag. National Chairman (SSPA) 3.

Dr. Ayakeme Whisky -National Secretary 4.

H. E. Chief D. S. P. Alamieyeseigha 5.

Chief Sunny Jackson Udoh 6.

Sen. Anietie Okon 7.

Dr. Emmanuel Akpanobong 8.

Arc. Nyah Ubokutom 9.

Rt. Hon. Nduese Essien 10.

Chief Mrs. Grace Ekong 11.

Engr. Samuel Inyang 12.

Gen. Anthony Etukudoh 13.

Gen. Stanley Diriyai 14.

Chief Francis Doukpola 15 Sen. Nimi Barigha Amange 16 Chief Douyi Douglas Naingba 17 Lady Anne Yougha 18 Hon. Vivien Ere Imananagha 19 Chief (Dr.) Ayakeme Whisky 20 Chief T. K. O. Okorotie 21 Amb. Lawrence Ekpebu 22 AVM Larry Koinyan 23 Sen. John K. Brambaifa 24 Sen. Bassey Ewa Henshaw 25 Col. P. A. M. Ogar (rtd) 26 Rev. Mrs. Grace Ekanem 27 Offiong Akpanika 28 Dr. Mrs. Anne Ugbo 29 Col. Tony Nyiam 30 Prof. Eyo Etim Nyong 31 Prof. Ivara Esu, OFR 32 Hon. Denyanbofa Dimaro 33 Charles Livinus Ibiang 34 Dr. Brown K. Adasen 35 Prof. Saliba Mukoro 36 Dr. Mrs. Esther Uduehi 37 Pastor P. Z. Aginighan 38 Mrs. Felicia Adowei-Ajagu 39 Dr. Cairo Ojougboh 40 Chief Isaac Jemide 41 Prof. G. G. Darah 42 Hon. Peter Y. Biakpara 43.

Mac Emakpore 44.

Chief Onyia 45.

Sen. Mrs. Stella Omu 46.

Gen. Ogumudia 47.

Paul Enebeli 48.

Sen. F. O. Nwajei 49.

Justice F. F. Tabai 50.

Hon. Olivia Agbajoh 51.

Gen. Samuel E. Oviawe (rtd) 52.

Sen. Rowland Owie 53.

Rt. Hon. Tunde Akogun 54.

Chief Richard Lamai 55.

Prince E. K. Okojie 56.

High Chief (Dr.) Raymond Dokpesi

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Chief Mike Ozekhome Barr. Chris Akponwanegbe Chief Tom Ikimi Chief Tony Anenih Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas Prof. Alabo Dagogo Fubara H. E. Dr. Peter Odili Sir Mike Okiro Chief Sergeant Awuse Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche Dr. Mrs. Patricia Chief Mrs. Daba Obioha Chief A. k. Horsfall Mrs. Doris MacDaniel Pastor Ebiowei Sokare Chief Austin Lugenwei Hon. Chief Bernard Agai Chief Anderson Eseimokumoh Madam Bintu Eyifeoru Chief Felix Pere Kalama Chief Kemi Prefa Chief (Barr.) Fidelis Agbiki Chief Ekiotene Mr. Council Yola Mrs. Jane Alek Prof. Mrs. Ayibaemi Spiff Mrs. Mercy Alagoa Dr. Ambily Etekpe Prof. Kimse Okoko Ayebide Fatiede Young Ayotamuno Henry Tarabina

ROYAL FATHERS 89 HRM King Edmund Daukoru, FIC, CON, Mingi XII - Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and South South Monarchs Forum 90 HRM King Alfred P. Diete-SpiffAmanyanabo of Twon Brass 91 His Eminence Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V - Obong of Calabar 92 HRM King Joshua. I. Igbagara, OON, PEN - Ebenanaowei of Ibeni/Oyiakiri Kingdom 93 HRM King W. S. J. Igbugburu X Ebenanaowei of Bomo Kingdom 94 HRM King Jonathan B. Kubor, Okumo III - Ebenanaowei of Basam Kingdom 95 HRM Alh. Aliyu K. Danesi - Aidonigie of South Ibie 96 HRM Pere Luke Kalanama VIII - Pere of Akugbene Mein 97 HRM Maj. Gen. Felix Mujakperuo, CFR, mni, Orhue II - Orodje of Okpe 98 HRM Etinyin (Dr) Etim Okon Edet Paramount Ruler of Bakassi 99 HRM Edidem (Surv) Silas Edem Akpan - Paramount Ruler of Uyo

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HRM King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Jeki V - Amanyanabo of Opobo

MIDDLE BELT DELEGATES 101.

Sen. Ameh Ebute - National Chairman 102.

Gen. Lawrence Onoja 103.

Hon Emmanuel T Nyihemba 104.

Hon Benard Ochepa 105.

Hon Ogwola 106.

Mr Ogwuche Abbah 107.

Mr. Attah Ojechema 108.

Mr .Sylvester Agbo 109.

Chief Dr. Mrs. Roseline Ada Chenge 110.

Hon Boniface Iornumbe 111.

Hon Maria Aikinola 112.

Chief Livinus Awuhr 113.

Dr. Ejeikwu Emmanuel 114.

Alphonsus Ogbeh 115.

Pharm Peter Momoh 116.

Hon. Ojone Ekeyi 117.

Hon. Akubo Paul Sam 118.

Hon. Imam Maliki 119.

Hon. Dayo Akanmode 120.

Mr. Attah Kizito Ikani 121.

Hon. Jeremiah Clement 122.

Hon. Paul Putume 123 Mr Chonu Mark 114.

Mr Ali Abuh 115.

Hon Oliver Suleiman 116.

AVM Ibrahim Kefas 117.

HE. Jolly Nyame 118.

Hon Tina Musa 119.

Hon John Luka 120.

Hon Oliver Wubon 121.

Emma Ola 122.

Dauda Kunle 123.

Bolajoko Kola 124.

Akande James 125.

Sen Hassan Tadanyigbe 126.

Hon John Adayilo 127.

Hon Haggai Kaka 128.

Hon Zakari Tukura 129.

Hon Salihu Kakamba 130.

Hon Joseph D. Baba 131.

Isua Azaki 132.

Mr. Abubakar B Samo 133.

Mr Adamu Yaro 134.

Mr. Malo Garba 135.

Mr Sara Ibra 136.

Mr Luka Jandi Dawa 137.

Mr Paul Bassi 138.

Hon Inuwa Bwala 139.

Hon Hamza Nganjiwa 140 Gavs Katiya 141.

Mr. Oliver Nkeki 142.

Usman Bagudu 143.

John Mamman 144 Dogara M Egube 145 Idris Gani

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Luka Damishi Sadanu Akiri Alh. Musa Ewa Tanimu Adabson Isa Bukar Bukar Mr. Matthew Akwe Mrs Martha Tonga Hon Yohana Hon Emmanuel Gujul Hon Aminu Zang Hon Nandang Bako Hon Nanpon Tom Hon Rahila Beleri Mrs Laraba Luka Siman Hon Dinah Lar Gen. Zamani Lekwot Gen. Yunana Nom Hon. Jonathan Asake Joshua Bawason Chris Dash Auta Lydia Dandaura Comrade Caleb Samuel Abbott Elisha Gode Alex A. Andrew Mrs. Mariam Alkali Amb. B. W Juta Amb. Dan Suleiman Gen. H. A. Hananiya Barr David Barau Mr S. P. Kaigama Hon Nelson Ndoya Capt Altine Inuwa Engr Kube Dawna Mr Edward Wabundani Mrs Bege Ajia Dr Christy Silas Zainab Yakubu Mrs Annah B Iganus Ahj Sani Yakubu Dr Ishaku Iliya Prof. Suleiman Bogoro Gen. Ibrahim Sabo Mrs. Rhoda Jibrin Y. Doko Lt. Gen. Bamaiyi

SPECIAL INVITED GUESTS 1.

Sen. Femi Okurounmu 2.

Hon. Moshood Salvador 3.

Mr. Emmanuel Adelana 4.

Hon. Muyiwa Oladimeji 5.

Dr. Kunle Olajide 6.

H.E. Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife 7.

Prof. Ihechukwu Madubike 8.

Prof. Anya O. Anya 9.

Sen. Sylvanus Ngele 10.

Dr. Ifedi Okwenna RAPPOTUERS 1.

Alphonsus Ogbeh 2.

Ayebide Fatiede 3.

Young Ayotamuno

All Delegates are to arrive on Sunday, 25th January, 2015 for Accreditation. You are welcome to the Glory of All of Land.

Signed: Dr. Ayakeme E. Whisky National Secretary

56 Christian perspective

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

The Study Of God’s Word info@deeperlifeonline.org

Faith In God’s Spoken Word (2) ...such a Mighty God can recreate, refashion, transform and renew your entire life.

Surrendering your whole life to Him, all things will come under the irresistible power of His Word

2. THE POTENTIALS OF CHRIST’S SUPERNATURAL WORD Hebrews 11:3; 1:1-3; John 1:3; Colossians 1:1519; 2:9,10; Luke 4:32-36; Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 11:1214, 20-24; John 5:1-9; 11:3945; Mark 4:39-41; 9:17-27.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, was involved in the creation of the world. “All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. For

by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him”. Christ, our Saviour, our Sanctifier, our Healer, our Deliverer, our Baptizer,

our Defender, our Provider, is powerful and mighty beyond any limit. In fact, the whole creation, the entire universe is being upheld and sustained by Christ. “...His Son, by whom also He made the world; Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His Person, and upholding all things by the word of His power”. (Hebrews 1:2,3).

Everything in the universe is sustained right now by Jesus Christ. By His powerful word or command, He upholds or sustains all things – rocks, mountains, seas, animals, men, earth, stars, planets, all distant worlds, the universe – by the word of His power.

Christ, with the prevailing word of His pre-eminent power upholds and sustains all things. Nothing can resist His Word. Surrendering your whole life to Him, all things will come under the irresistible power of His Word.

Neither sin nor self, Satan nor evil spirit, sickness nor satanic affliction, disease nor plague, infirmity nor infertility, curses nor bondage can resist His authority and power. We have faith in Him because He cannot fail.

3. THE POSSIBILITIES OF OUR SPOKEN WORD Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:19,20; Acts 3:1-10; 9:3243; 13:6-12; 14:7-10; Matthew 17:20; 21:18-22; Mark 11:2224; Luke 17:5,6; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Romans 4:17-21.

“Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” God’s creative words called all things into existence, calling “those things which be not as though they were”.

(Romans 4:17). God’s words are creative words; Christ’s words are miracle-working words. The Lord has bestowed divine authority and power on His servants and His believing

children. The spoken words of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, Isaiah, Samuel, Jeremiah and many others in the Old Testament had power (Exodus 14:13,28-31; Joshua 10:12-14; 1 Samuel 12:18; 17:45-47; 1 Kings 17:1,8-16; 2 Kings 7:1,2,16-20; Isaiah 37:33-38; Jeremiah 28:1517). The Apostles and New Testament believers also did great exploits with spoken words of faith, power and authority. To possess and manifest such authority, let us fully give ourselves to the Lord and receive the gift of faith.

Then, let us learn not to speak our own words. Speak God’s word. Give voice to God’s supernatural Word. Say what Christ would have said to the mountain, to the sickness, to the situation. Speak only what the Holy Spirit says in every situation. The Almighty God will confirm His Word in the believer’s mouth.

THE NARROW WAY THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN Matthew 7:13,14 “Enter ye in at the strait... because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”. Before Christ came, the religious leaders among the Jews assumed and assured themselves and others that they had already entered the gate of heaven through circumcision, and were already walking in the way that would lead to eternal kingdom through their religious activities (Luke 18:914; John 8:33-44; Romans 2:17-29). As the Jews thought that they were already citizens of God’s kingdom from infancy, likewise, many people erroneously think that they have already entered through the gate of infant baptism. ➔ TO BE CONTINUED

Brother Gbile Akanni

Living Seed

trifect2000@yahoo.com +234 806 126 1907

Needed: A Body For The Master’s Use (2) ...another ‘man’, so to say, began to occupy and use the body and direct it with the new source of ‘the knowledge of good and evil’. Though the body remained the same old body that the first man used before he died, it is now being subjected to the use of another man - which the Scripture calls, “Mr. Flesh”; “The Self’; “The Old man” or “The Human Nature”.

This is the situation that resulted after the fall of man.

The body remained intact as a container, but the content is now a rebellious man - the old man, whose will and purpose is contrary to God’s plan and purpose for forming the body (out of the dust of the earth) in the first place. On the outside, it was the same body, but inside a different man. This new man now living within the body God made for His delegate to use is a rebel. He seems to say continually: “I will live only

for myself; I will be god in myself and to myself; I am not going to be a delegate for anybody even if it be the God of heaven; I want to be the sole entrepreneur of my life”.

Thus, this man left God’s own employment for the service of himself carrying away the body for a service that is alien and contrary to God’s original purpose.

In the light of this rebellion, man on earth, cut away from the purpose of God, began to bear a carnal life in the body; and the Scripture confirms again and again that “the carnal man or human nature is enmity against God- he does not obey God’s law, and in,deed he cannot”. (Rom. 8: 7).

Decrease, Disease, Decay, and Death: God’s Response To Man’s Rebellion.

In response to this, God took a decision: “And unto Adam, He said,

‘Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it, cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herbs of the field; In the sweat of thy face, shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever’.

Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken”. Genesis 3:17-19,

22,23.

1. Malnourishment First, the ground that brings forth the herbs and the trees, which were good for food for the man, without any effort is now cursed for his sake.

“In toil you shall eat of it, all the days of your life.”

Also, man was removed out of his free supply of provision.

“Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden”.

The ground will only yield thorns and thistles. Weeds would be the normal things that would grow out of the ground, whereas while he was in God’s service, what normally grew out of the ground was edible. All the beasts of the field would now run away from man.

None would agree to become meat for him except if he would run about hunting for them. All creatures that were

submissive and obedient before became antagonistic.

They hid themselves away.

If man will henceforth find food to eat it shall be, “in the sweat of your face”. In toil and sorrow will he find sustenance all the days of his life.

The long-time implication of the above was the gradual decrease in the correct standard of living and nourishment of the body.

Correct food became scarce (the kind he was provided in Eden), since he had to struggle so hard to get it. Sometimes, he had to improvise and take something else and sometimes, he went without.

(You only need to visit some parts of the world today and see the poverty level, especially in places where drought, famine, prolonged war, and inter-tribal clashes have taken their toll. You may never fully imagine what a malnourished body can sometimes look like).

This is the situation that resulted after the fall of man.

The body remained intact as a container, but the content is now a rebellious man

ChrIStIan perSpeCtIve 57

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Bishop Matthew Daniels Insight For Living bishopmatthewdaniels@yahoo.com 09029692720, 08111896866

Eight Basic Principles Of Prosperity Prosperity consciousness means practicing all these principles consistently and regularly without neglecting any

1. Recognition of God – The Supreme Owner.

Live with the understanding that everything belongs to God. We are created to be stewards of God’s resources, energies and talents.

2. Careful Stewardship We are obliged to use God’s resources, energies and talents for His service. Prosperity is for us to consciously perform the duty of taking care of others, family, self and community as an act of worship. Realise you’ve been entrusted with family, talents, wealth etc, that are really not your own. So, God expects you to “plan your work and work your plan,”

through budgeting, keeping good financial records, and reaching a vision of prosperity through goal setting.

3. Thriftiness “Waste not, want not”. Know that everything you waste has consequences, such as producing scarcity. Sometimes, just a little care or thoughtfulness will prevent great waste. There is no waste in God’s kingdom. True prosperity requires reducing waste.

4. Give and you will receive This is the most misunderstood principle of prosperity. Tithing and consistently giving of your net

income to further good causes and assist the needy is a fundamental principle. This tithing is an investment in the divine bank of God. Sometimes, when we feel scarcity, there is a tendency to hoard. This is really the time to give. Giving of your time is also important. Make donation to charity.

5. Live simply, but think highly Adopting a simple lifestyle, give up the tendency to over-collect, to buy things you don’t need and to hanker for what others have.

Simplicity leaves room for more important things.

6. Cultivate a “prosperity

consciousness”; eliminate the “poverty consciousness” Realise that God, our Creator, wants us to prosper. It is directly the will of providence that we have abundant health and the capacity to care for ourselves and fulfill our responsibilities. Prosperity consciousness means practicing all these principles consistently and regularly without neglecting any.

7. Share your success with others Be a good example for anothers.

Teach someone how to do what you have done. Share the benefit of your successful techniques and skills with others.

Dr. Obinna Iheanyichukwu Life Discovery Series obirt@yahoo.com, dovechurchinternational@yahoo.com 08033454006

Praying For Goodluck & Buhari, Dr Andy’s Plan Let’s make the change as we pray in one accord.

Your voice matters,your prayer is a significant addition

Our nation is at a crossroad. Many of her citizens are perplexed as to what the future holds. Some have prophesied one thing and others another. There is mobilisation going on in the physical, political and more importantly, the spiritual realm. I have been wondering what I can do to contribute my quota to significantly influence the course of events these coming weeks. We look like a nation under seige,and rightly so we are. The forces of light and darkness are positioned for the contest for Nigeria. Several years ago, I had a dream of this era. It was very terrifying at the beginning, but it ended with the disappointment of the wicked. Yet there was much warfare to secure the victory. “For those that know

their God shall be strong and do exploits”( Dan 11:32b).

So now, here I am thinking about the dream God showed me about the present tension of forces at this time and how to approach the battle. Little did I know that God was already orchestrating an army of warriors led by His servant, Dr Andy Osakwe, Snr Pastor, Summit Bible Church, Abuja. I recieved an invitation to join him in a prayer chain for the nation and I thought, this is it . The key is prayer. It is not in relocating to the East or West; its not in travelling abroad.

Therefore, Sensing the importance of this project, I have requested his permission to extend this invitation to everyone who wants to see the nation triumph at this

critical time; you and other likeminded people of great courage and dream. Join us in this National Prayer Chain in your home, between 5-6am daily. Let us take the destiny of Nigeria to where God wants it to be. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, makes tremendous power available”.(James 5:16b).

PRAYER POINTS 1 . God’s own choice as president; the one appointed to move Nigeria forward. 1st Samuel 16:7.Matt:6:10.

2. God’s supernatural protection over every single one of us and over Nigeria throughout this period.

Isaiah 60:18, 2Corinthians 1:8-11.

3. The peace of God prevailing

in Nigeria especially during the election period. 1st Timothy 2:1-4.

Crush every agents of destruction, violence and confusion. Romans 16:20.

4. That Nigeria will rise now out of confusion, corruption, chaos and shame to become one of the greatest nations on the face of this planet. Amen.

Let’s pray for the next 3 wks and we will see the effect.

Let’s join this great man of God in this national assignment.

Let’s make the change as we pray in one accord. Your voice matters,your prayer is a significant addition. Let’s pray with Pastor Andy and Friends. Nigeria matters to God. Let’s talk to Him about it.

You are lifted.

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Zainab Jaji Zee’s Corner zeescorner@gmail.com,Twitter. @addazee

It’s Open Season ‘Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity’- Martin Luther King Jnr

What we, as the citizens, must guard against is to be caught up in the web of lies of politicians

It is certainly an ‘open season’ in the political arena. Tempers are heating up and our politicians are aiming for each other’s jugular. Last week, we saw the most disgusting front page advertorial placed by the povernor of Ekiti State all in the name of sycophancy. From there, we saw the hostile reception the presidents convoy received in Katsina. The effrontery of the advertorial was simply an assault on our sensibilities.

It is often said that we have the leaders we deserve and in this case on, could not agree more. One was even more disgusted with the response of Femi Fani-Kayode to the entire matter.

Politics, no doubt, is a high-wire game where leaders are prepared to go to any length to secure victory. The objective is to win and play dirty along the way. So, what are we to make out

from all this?

All political parties came together last week to sign the Abuja Peace Accord to ensure a violent-free election. That is a step in the right direction. A commitment to this accord will go a long way towards ensuring that the elections go as smoothly as possible and the electorates get their desired outcome.

What we know, for sure, is that the situation is volatile. The current opposition will feel disenfranchised if it looses while the incumbent will feel it is their election to win. Implosion, I feel, is not likely despite all the doom and gloom. I always say the elites in this country have too much invested to want a war scenario. They would rather play ball with the winning team to ensure vested interests are protected. Nothing much will change once the elections are over even if the opposition legitimately forms the new government.

What we, as the citizens, must guard against is to be caught up in the web of lies of politicians.

Electioneering is a time when even ice is sold to the eskimos and they remain grateful. We have a large illiterate population who are more than happy to be told where to place their thumb once they collect a sack of rice or a bag of soap. Or the youths that will be promised heaven and earth, but once results are declared, cannot even see the people they voted into office.

Nigerians have also embraced social media and the power it holds in disseminating information at the click of a button. Recently, we have seen robust debates and counter arguments on twitter from the office of the presidential spokesperson to the ordinary citizens. We recognised that it is our way of reaching them within government circles to raise questions. A large and unsettled young population is now understanding that this is one way for their voices to be heard and is the best way to discredit misinformation.

We are not yet sophisticated enough in our internet use to understand deceptive campaign tactics where

the wrong information is deliberately released to confuse the electorates.

Marking out boundries when it comes to campaign rhetorics is important. There must be a limit to what we can tolerate. In Nigeria, campaign rhetorics is emotive and visual. We have seen the adverts on TV telling us how things were not easy for certain leaders, yet they prospered. If some are moved by this and cast their votes in favour of that candidate, then I guess the objective has been achieved. So far, the newspapers here are the ones with more negative campaign propaganda than the electronics media.

As much as it is open season for politicians, we have to ensure that we have a responsibility to filter what we deem is the truth. As dirty as politics is, it cannot put food on our table or send our kids to school. It is a social process that is simply incumbent upon us to participate in. In a few weeks, it will all be over and we will be left wondering what all the fuss was about.

Hamza Atta Isn't It Funny? hamzolo@yahoo.co.uk 08181091784

Secure Economic Commonsense

It is a fancy position for the minister, but its futility is exposed when the same OPEC has refused to cut down oil production

It is often said that commonsense, that intuition to respond in a conventionally ideal way to certain stimuli, is the most uncommon thing in the world. Following the reduction of petroleum pump price from 97 naira to 87 naira per litre, many Nigerians misunderstood it as a political inducement by President Goodluck Jonathan. However, those who understand the dynamics of global oil prices and its economic implications to oil-producing countries are in a better position to educate the general public on how the government is not doing us any favour by reviewing downward the price of petrol.

Great empires and countries are feared and respected for their ability to sustain themselves. In the holy books, records of prudent empires abound. We know for certain that one of the greatest empires of all time, the Roman Empire, had the resources to feed its people and prosecute wars for years, even if the production process was disrupted or earnings dropped. It is ancient practice to store wealth in times of surplus, to save for times of paucity. It is, indeed, for this reason that sustainability is one of the basic prerequisites for national security.

It is actually basic math: When oil sold at $110 per barrel, Nigerians were buying subsidised petrol at 97 naira per litre. Now that the same oil is sold at less than $50 (i.e. over 50 percent price drop) we should be buying petrol for somewhere around 48 naira per litre. Even if subsidy is completely removed, a litre of PMS should not sell above 60 naira according to current market trends. However, the contradiction of our situation is that we are an exporting and importing country. We produce crude oil but import refined products because we lack the capacity to refine what we produce and consume.

While other members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) were busy studying the markets and devising stopgap measures to tackle dwindling oil prices, we were depleting our meager foreign reserves and lobbying for our beautiful petroleum goddess to become OPEC chairman. From the standpoint of moral appropriateness, isn’t it a shame that Nigeria is presiding over an organisation of self-sustained countries while we ourselves import fuel for use? It is a fancy position for the minister, but

its futility is exposed when the same OPEC has refused to cut down oil production. This is because they are protecting their future by ensuring that the price is too low for countries that are engaged in fracking to pursue their course. Saudi authorities said they could sustain their economy for the next 6 years if oil prices slide to 20 dollar per barrel. The country has over $700 billion reserve fund. Other forward-thinking OPEC countries, such as Kuwait and the UAE, are also prepared.

Our economic planners don’t seem to appreciate the significance of sharp revenue loss. We may not all drive cars and motorcycles or run generators, but we all rely on petrol in one way or the other. If the nation’s revenue continues to drop and there are no alternative sources to make up for it, demand for goods and services will drastically reduce and prompt redundancy. Big companies will down size; many SMEs will pack up. When these happen and poverty levels increase, national security will be threatened. This is why sustainability is a matter of national security. We are already witnessing the effect of this in the north east and government

shows its lack of capacity to secure the situation.

Countries whose wealth heavily relies on oil prices, such as the Gulf States, are diversifying their economies. Huge oil consumercountries, such as USA and China, are seeking alternative ways of sourcing for energy. We, Africa’s largest oilproducing country, are standing by watching the world move away from us. For how long will our less than $40 billion foreign reserves sustain us if prices continue to drop? What plans have we to revamp our decrepit refineries and build new ones so that we can earn more on our exports by selling refined oil and gas, as well as attaining self-sufficiency in local consumption? Commonsense is indeed uncommon!

There are other worries associated with the drop of oil prices. Oil prices are denominated in dollars, and since our economy solely depends on oil, a strengthened dollar indicates a devalued naira; a further source of inflation. Today, our biggest challenge as a nation – insecurity – is proving insurmountable. It will be dangerous to slum into economic recession while fighting insurgency on another front.

kiddies 59

Sunday, January 25, 2015

MAze

kiddies kingdom

By Chika mefor

08156719304 (SMS only)

The Golden Touch

Puzzle

T

here was once a king named Midas who did a good deed for a Satyr and was granted a wish by the God of wine, Dionysus.

For his wish, Midas asked that whatever he touched would turn to gold. Although Dionysus tried to dissuade him, Midas insisted that the wish was an excellent one, and it

was granted! excitedly, Midas went about touching all sorts of things, turning them into gold.

Soon Midas became hungry. he picked up a piece of food, but he couldn’t eat it, for it had turned to gold in his hand! “i’ll starve,” moaned Midas, “Perhaps this was not such a good wish after all!”

Midas’ beloved daughter,

seeing his dismay, threw her arms about him to comfort him, and, she too turned to gold! “The golden touch is no blessing,” cried Midas. he went to the river and wept.

The sand of that river turned as yellow as “fool’s gold” for it is there, they say, that King Midas washed away the curse of the golden touch with his own tears.

hAPPY BirThDAY

Lovely twins Angel and Angelica Igwe were one year old on January 11, 2015. Kiddies Kingdom wishes them many more happy years ahead.

SPOT The DiFFerence

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Sunday, January 25, 2015

chibok diary 286 DAY

chibok tweets @AishaYesufu The blood of the Buni Yadi boys killed in their hostels will make President Jonathan lose this election #BringBackOurGirls NOW & ALIVE @Shangudar I'm more ashamed about Nig celebrities. Same people that carry placards for #BringBackOurGirls have gone to wear uniform 2 support GEJ @DlaminiZuma We shall not give up on our campaign to #BringBackOurGirls #Chibok, and to prevent the use of our girls as the spoils of war. @Karo_Orovboni Now that you've seen Buhari's statement of result, can you please ask the government to #BringBackOurGirls? @obyezeks DAY285 of OUR #ChibokGirls. Their global icon friend @aliciakeys continues to DEMAND: #BringBackOurGirls!!!! @stanleyazuakola So much passion; so much pain at this #BringBackOurGirls meeting in Lagos. God bless these women who have stood for these kids for so long @obyezeks The wrong person to attack for an innocent advocacy is a person like me. I LIVE and HAVE ALWAYS LIVED for MY CONVICTION. #BringBackOurGirls @abdulhabiba 12 Day 278 of #Chibokgirls Abduction please #BringBackOurGirls

Alicia Keys To Honour The Dead In Baga – BBOG Group

BY Chika Mefor and ejike ejike, Abuja

American grammy-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys is preparing to honour people who were killed by Boko Haram militants in an attack on Baga town in Borno State, recently.

This was disclosed recently by Dr Oby Ezekwesili during the normal sitout organised by the #BringBackOurGirls (BBOG) group.

Ezekwesili stated that Keys who had chosen to stand with the group in its advocasy to bring back the 219 girls abducted by the Boko Haram sect, April 14, 2014, had also chosen to honour the people who were killed by the sect in Baga.

"She (Alicia Keys) said that we should get in touch with the people of Baga to know anything special she can do to honour the people whose life has been cut short by the Boko Haram sect recently. She has always been with this group in the call for the release of the Chibok girls and now she wants to do something for the Baga people," she said.

Recall that Keys had held a protest in New York City last year to raise awareness about the abducted girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in April.

Keys had kicked off the protest with 30 others at the consulate general of Nigeria, holding signs that read "We Are Here" and "Safe Schools Now!" They had chanted "Bring back our girls" and "When do we want them? Now! Now! Alive!" as New Yorkers walked up the street during lunch hour, while others stopped to capture photos and video.

Keys had also recently launched the movement "We Are Here," which fights for social justice. She also recorded and released a song with the same name.

Also recall that BBC has reported that over 2,000 people were killed by Boko Haram sect in Baga, Borno State on January 7.

@EiENigeria Join the Lagos family in today's #SpeakoutSaturday as we continue to find ways to #BringBackOurGirls @JBaiata Boko Haram likely conscripting girls as young as ten as suicide bombers. #BringBackOurGirls @BBOG_Nigeria If we don't help nigeria to be restored to a respectable nation, then we will lose this country - Christopher Kolade #BringBackOurGirls COMPILED BY MIChaEL OChE

Member of the #BringBackourGirls group in a village square meeting, demanding for the rescue of the abducted Chibok girls at the Unity fountain in abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

alicia keys

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62 news across the states

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Armed Soldiers Takeover Rivers Stadium

By ANAYO ONUKWUGHA, Port Harcourt

Ahead of the January 28, 2015 planned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, heavily fierce looking armed soldiers and policemen on Saturday took over the 40, 000 capacity Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium at Igwuruta-ali, Ikwerre local government area of the state.

It was gathered that the soldiers had moved into the facility early on Saturday morning and kept vigil till dawn.

The APC-led Rivers State government and the state PDP have been

engaged in war of words over the planned use of the stadium by the opposition party in the state.

It would be recalled that the state chairman of the PDP, Felix Obuah, had said that the state government turned down the request of the party to use the facility for its presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday, January 28.

Speaking on the issue, governorship candidate of the PDP, Nyesom Wike, at a meeting with the Goodluck-to-Goodluck Political pressure group in Port Harcourt, recently, assured that the APC used the same facility for theirs and there-

fore, the PDP will host President Jonathan there.

The APC had used the facility to flag-off the party’s presidential campaign for the South-south earlier this month, even as it was used late last year to celebrate the anniversary of the Supreme Court judgment.

Wike said: “The PDP presidential rally will hold at the Amiesimaka Stadium on Wednesday, January 28.

“The APC held their own presidential campaign rally on January 6, 2015 and an earlier rally on October 25, 2014 in the same stadium.

“Our presidential rally will hold

at that stadium because it belongs to the people. It was built by tax payers’ money. We are working with all stakeholders to ensure that the right thing is done to move the nation forward.

“We are committed to the peaceful use of the stadium for our presidential campaigns,” the state PDP governorship standard bearer said.

But the state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, at a rally for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Etche local government of the state explained that the PDP cannot use the stadium, saying it was under construction.

Dr Jaafaru Sa’ad, Galadiman Ruwan Zazzau in company of guards during the 40th durbar anniversary of the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji (Dr) Shehu Idris on the throne in Zaria recently.

INEC Distributes 1,422,595 PVCs In Delta State

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday said a total of 1,422,595 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have, so far, been distributed out of 1,911,332 registered voters in Delta State.

The administrative secretary of INEC in the state, Mr. Owhor Nathan, who disclosed this at the training workshop of mobilizing officers of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Asa-

ba, said the distribution of the balance of 488,337 PVCs is ongoing and would be completed before the general elections next month.

According to him, distribution of the PVCs has been further decentralised with the directive on electoral officers to move to the various communities to ensure that all registered voters get their cards.

Specifically, he stated that distribution of PVCs for Ika South local government where

fresh registration of voters was carried out, would be done on unit level for everybody to receive the card.

Mr Owhor also disclosed that consignment of card reading machines for accreditation and tracking of information on PVCs were yesterday received in Asaba.

The INEC Chief said the election would hold between 8.00 am and 1 .00 pm while ballot papers and result sheets would be shared a day before the elec-

tion.

He affirmed that the commission needs 21,000 adhoc staff to be able to cope with the election holding in 3,624 polling units, 270 wards and 943 voting points in the state.

Earlier in his address, the state director of NOA, Sir Isaac Ezechi, said the workshop was necessary to equip the officers with the necessary information to further carry out aggressive voters’ education at the grassroots.

Cnn Verdict Affirms Global Confidence In Nigeria’s Economy – Pdp ...Urges Nigerians To Continue To Support Jonathan

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the grading of Nigeria as the third fastest-growing economy for 2015 after China and Qatar by the CNNMoney, a business analysis programme, is a referendum on the prudent management of the Nigerian economy by the President Goodluck Jonathanled administration, describing it

as a verdict of a winning party.

A statement by the national publicity secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, yesterday said the assessment coming from the world leading media institution is a confirmation of an earlier evaluation by other international institutions that proclaimed a thriving performance and a bright future for our economy and added that it was another sign that Nigeria is safe and well-led under the PDP. “The grading by the CNNMon-

ey is another witness to the reality of positive changes brought to all sectors of the national life and whose cumulative impact formed a consistent growth driver for the economy. Here again is the reality of the global confidence in the vivacity of Nigeria as Africa’s largest economy.

“For those in opposition, who for expediency of politics, found it convenient to deny what is as clear as daylight and even denounce what ought to be applaud-

ed, the CNN verdict is a reminder once more that constructive criticism is the mettle of credible opposition.

“The tremendous progress that Nigeria made in the socio-political and economic sphere under our great party has continued to receive commendation and popular acclaim locally and internationally. The message to all Nigerians, therefore, is to keep hope alive; that things can only get better”, the PDP said.

Call For The Suspension Of Election By PDP Despotic – Modibo Campaign Group The director general of the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) in Adamawa State, Barr Sunday Joshua Wugira, has accused the Peoples’ Democratic Party-led government of trying to undermine the conduct of the election in the state.

While making the submission, Wugira noted that the move to suspend the conduct of election in the state was selfish and does not reflect the realities of the security situation in the state.

He noted that the law has stipulated that elections can only besuspended in a country if it was at a war adding that the last visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Borno State when he went to many places is an indication that Borno, the epicentre of the insurgency in not at war.

He chided the government for double standards having told the people that it was on top of the insurgency only to reverse itself and portray insecurity as out of hand because it does not want the election to hold just for selfish motives.

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola

Feb 2014: Okereke Commences Confiscation Of Illegal Arms The national chairman in charge of the recovery of illegal arms and smuggling, Dr Osita Okereke, has announced the commencement of the recovery of illegal arms in the possession of non security agents in the country ahead of next months general elections.

Okereke, who announced this while briefing newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital, at the weekend, said that this has become necessary following the commitment of his commission to avert a violence election in the country come February, 14.

He noted that the illegal arms influx in the nation has become enormous due to the unchecked activities of some importers. He called on all the security agents in the country to join hands in the fight against illegal arms and equally warned politicians who may have recruited and empowered thugs with arms for the purpose of rigging elections to desist from it as his team, he added, would descend on such individuals.

Henceforth, he added that road blocks would be mounted in every parts of the country to check users of illegal arms. Also, he revealed that all polling units in the country would be manned by his men.

“Election is not a do-or-die affair; To most of the governors who have acquired arms to protect their votes or rig election, I want to tell them that it will not work as we have planned to man every polling boots”, Okereke said.

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Sunday, January 25, 2015

news across the states 63 RTEAN To Create 45,000 Jobs Through Mass Transit

Arise News Debut On DStv, GOtv By chika okeke, Abuja

MultiChoice has announced the launch of emerging global news and entertainment channel, Arise News on DStv and GOtv. According to a statement from MultiChoice, Arise News will be on DStv channel 416 and GOtv channel 44 respectively and will join other global news channels such as CNN, BBC, SKY News, Al

Jazera, CNBC and Bloomberg on the MultiChoice platforms.

Managing director, MultiChoice, John Ugbe, said on the launch of Arise News, “We are glad to welcome Arise News to our bouquet of news channels on both DStv and GOtv. We have demonstrated over the years our support of ‘Africanness’. And what better way to prove this than to celebrate as Arise News

comes home to Africa through our network. We have no doubt that uptake will be immediate, owing to its success across countries and continents for their immediacy in breaking news about world events”.

Nduka Obaigbena, chairman and editor-in-chief of the media outfit said: “Today, Arise News comes home to Africa by launching, for the first time, on

African platform following on its very successful launch in over 80 countries and territories including the United Kingdom, West, East and Central Europe, Middle East, North Africa and the United States telling the stories and experiences of underserved communities especially of the African continent while covering issues of the day and world events that matter.

L-R: Rep of KOWA Party, Alh Saidu Bobboi; rep of Peoples Democratic Party, Prof Tunde Adeniran; rep of Hope Democratic Party, Alh Haruna Yahaya Shaba and rep of United Progressive Party, Hon Chambers Okorie at the 2015 Nigeria Elections Debate Group organised Town Hall meeting: NIGERIA DECIDES, in Abuja yesterday.

short news Violent Free Polls: Try To Disappoint Prophets Of Doom-UN ScribeTells Nigerians

PHOTO BY DELE DAMISA

Maku Has Betrayed Jonathan, PDP– Sen. Mark

by DONATUS NADI, Lafia

The senate president, Sen David Mark, on Saturday said that the former minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku, has betrayed President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by dumping the party for the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Sen Mark made the remark in Keffi while addressing PDP supporters during the Nasarawa State governorship campaign flag-off saying Jonathan is not in support of his gubernatorial ambition in APGA. He called on the people of the state to disregard all claims, name dropping and insinuations making the rounds that President Jonathan is in support of Labaran

Maku’s gubernatorial aspiration under the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in the state.

“I want to call on you and other Nigerians to disregard insinuations going round the state that our president is supporting Mr. Labaran Maku in the state for his governorship ambition under APGA”, adding that, “President Jonathan is in PDP and will never support any candidate outside the PDP”.

“The former Information minister, after he benefited a lot from the PDP government has defected to APGA; such decision is not in the best interest of the PDP and nobody should say that President Jonathan is supporting his governorship ambition in the state”.

“President Jonathan is only supporting all the PDP candidates in the country and I call on you and other Nigerians to disregard any information regarding supporting Maku as it is not only false but unfounded and created by those who want to create division in the party”, Mark said.

Mark called on Nigerians to vote President Jonathan and all PDP candidates during the February election regardless of ethnic, religion, adding that it is only PDP that would bring the much needed dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

He said a vote for PDP is a vote for quality education, peace, development and a vote for transformation in all the sectors of the economy and assured Nigerians of the federal government commitment.

Sen Pwajok Cautions Plateau Politicians Against Divisive Tendencies

By Achor Abimaje, Jos

Sen Gyang Pwajok, the PDP governorship candidate in Plateau State, has cautioned his opponents against campaigns aimed at dividing the people along the lines of religion, tribe and senatorial zone.

“The people of Plateau want to hear what the candidates have for them and how they plan to tackle basic concerns like low agricultural yields, poverty, unemployment and security.

“They also want candidates to tell them what they would do to check infant and maternal mortality and other health chal-

lenges in the urban areas and the rural settlements.

“But my opponents seem more attracted to issues around senatorial zones and tribe.

“Such divisive tendencies are not in tandem with the greater and new Plateau we all aspire for’’, Pwajok told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos. He argued that the “zonal obsession’’ was futile since each of the senatorial zones had produced a candidate for the Feb 28 poll.

“Mr Bagudu Hirse (LP) is from the cen-

tral, Simon Lalong (APC) is from the south while I am from the northern zone.

“We should not encourage a situation where each zone will go for its own person because that will polarise the populace. Besides, we do not want a zonal governor”, he said.

Pwajok said that his candidature was broad-based and devoid of any sentimental attachment, pointing out that the key officials of his political structure were not even from his northern senatorial zone.

“My support base cuts across all religious, tribal and senatorial zones”.

The representative of the United Nations secretary general in West Africa and United Nations representative in Nigeria, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, said yesterday that Nigerians should try to disappoint all prophets of dooms who are hell-bent on seeing Nigeria in chaotic condition after elections.

Mohammed, who spoke while on a courtesy visit on Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, also divulged that Nigeria played a critical role in not only Africa but also world at large. Therefore, the need for its stability and peace cannot be over emphasised.

Hence, the UN resolution to defeat Boko Haram in 2015.

The UN scribe representative was accompanied on the visit

by Dauda Ture, UN resident and Humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, Ahmed Ruffai Abubakar, director, Political Affairs UN office for West Africa, Falmata Liman.

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has said it hopes to create about 45,000 jobs though its nationwide mass transport scheme.

The union appealed to the federal government to grant a further six months extension to the full implementation of the national automotive policy in Nigeria and also seek a 70 per cent waiver on the over four thousand commuters vehicles including high capacity buses that will be imported into the country as part of the transport scheme.

The union said though it supports the federal government auto policy which seeks to encourage local manufacturing of cars, but stated that the reality on ground shows that local manufacturers can’t meet the production demands of Nigerians at the moment.

President of RTEAN, Chief Musa Shehu Isiwele, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja said, “We are running a nationwide mass transit scheme in which most of the vehicles will be dedicated to students, workers, disabled and the less privileged at a low price in order to support the transformation agenda of the federal government of Nigeria for the benefit of the people.

By Michael Oche, Abuja

APC Accuses PDP Of Sponsoring Attacks On President To Shift Elections The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of deliberately sponsoring the attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan in Katsina and Bauchi states as part of its plan to demonise the opposition and force a postponement of next month’s general elections.

The party, in a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the co-ordinated hysterical reactions to the attacks by the presidency, senate president, David Mark and the leadership of the Ijaw nation have exposed the sponsors of the attacks.

APC pointed out that those, who have gone into a frenzy in condemning the attacks, should direct their anger at the PDP, which hired the hoodlums who attacked the president in Katsina and Bauchi and gave them brooms to make them look like APC supporters.

The party said, “Information is now in the public domain that these attacks were self-inflicted, with the aim of demonising the APC and instigate retaliatory attacks in the southern states.

By George Okojie, Lagos

64 news across the states

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Ex-Militants Threaten To Retaliate Attack On Jonathan

BY Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

Leading former Niger Delta Militia Commanders led by the ex-war lord, Chief Government Ekpemopulo (a.k.a Tompolo) yesterday regrouped in Yenagoa,the Bayelsa State capital to deliberate on the alleged coordinated attacks on the campaign team of President Goodluck Jonathan in some Northern states, vowing to take up arms and engage in armed confrontation with anyone or group plotting to derail the second term ambition of the President.

The meeting of the ex-militant Commanders, held at the Banquet Hall of the Bayelsa State Government House, was attended by the special adviser to the president and chairman of the Presidential amnesty programme, Hon Kingsley Kuku, Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, Chief Government Ekpemopulo (a.k.a Tompolo), Ebikabowei Victor Ben (a.k.a.

Boy loaf), Comrade Eris Paul known as General Ogunboss, Comrade Pastor Reuben known as General Pastor Reuben.

Also in attendance was the State governor, Hon Seriake Dickson, his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah and the president of the umbrella body of Ijaw Youths, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and Engr.

Udengs Eradiri.

Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo in his speech at the event declared that the recent incidence of stoning of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign convoy by suspected paid youths from some

Northern States is an open declaration of war, “this action is calling the Niger Delta youths to war.”

“Every Niger Delta youth should go and prepare for war. For the past four days, I have not slept well nor have I had a change of clothing. I have not been to my house. This is the time, the Northern Youths are trying to know how important you are. After this time, no one will play with us. After the 2015, no Governor will play with us. We are saying we will fight with anything and everything that we have. Ijaw people cannot continue to suffer while other people enjoy.”

Also speaking, the former deputy commander of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben (Boyloaf), declared that the recent decision to resign from the administration of governor Seriake Dickson as director general of the State Youths Development Centre was based on the anticipated “call to war”, as all of us are strategists.

“I am not a politician and no politician can intimidate me. I resigned my appointment because I know this day will come.

“They want to use issue of insecurity along the waterways of the Niger Delta to keep us busy. And today, they are intimidating our own (Jonathan). I am Boyloaf, I have retired but not tired. I will go back to the creeks if possible. Whether they like it or not, President Goodluck Jonathan will win. Now that the oil is below $50 per barrel, they want to use Boko Ha-

ram to take power. If they take power, we will demand for all the years of benefitting from oil. Nobody can intimidate the Niger Delta. Gone are the days you will intimidate people with the rifle,” he said.

The foremost ex-militants leader, Chief Government Ekpemopulo (a.k.a Tompolo), while delivering his brief speech in his local dialect, said he will not comment on the issue of recent cases of intimidation and attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan, but that the Youths and the Political leaders in the region should forgive one another and unite, “let us unite and within now and seven days, you will see what will happen.”

The president of the IYC, in his speech, argued that though there are various issues that have polarised the fold of the Ijaw ethnic nationality since the ascension of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President. He called on the youths of the region to come together towards the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan during the Febuary 14 Presidential Election.

The special adviser to the President and chairman of the Presidential amnesty programme, Hon Kingsley Kuku, while announcing the resolutions of the served meeting, announced that the Youths of the region have resolved to support the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and will not take lightly the attack on the campaign entourage of President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to him, “the meeting noted

that while a decent and cordial reception was accorded the APC presidential candidate, Gen Muhammadu Buhari in Bayelsa and other South-South states, the Ijaw people and other ethnic nationalities in the region will no longer accept the .The meeting also called on all political actors to unite and give leadership where it is necessary.

In his speech at the event, the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson noted that, the time has come for all stakeholders and interest groups in the Niger Delta, especially, the Ijaw Nation to pull their resources together and work in one accord to ensure victory for the President in the February 14, 2015 general elections.

Dickson described the re-election of President Jonathan as key to the developmental aspirations of the nation and the Niger Delta. “The victory of President Goodluck Jonathan at the forthcoming polls will afford him the opportunity to consolidate on the achievements already recorded in the various sectors of the economy.”

Governor Dickson condemned in strong terms, the unwarranted attack on the President’s convoy in two Northern states, pointing out that, the opposition presidential candidate was allowed to campaign peacefully in Bayelsa and wondered why same gesture was not extended to the President in Katsina, the home s tate of the Presidential candidate of the main opposition party.

Mass Exodus Hit Hausa Communities In Bayelsa

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

There is a noticeable panic among residents of the Hausa Community in Bayelsa State following the mass exodus of northern indigenes from the state.

The leader of the Hausa Community in Bayelsa State, Alhaji Dahiru Yau Katsina, while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, said though they have appealed for calm among Hausa indigenes, the mass exodus is worrisome.

Alhaji Dahiru Yau Katsine, said the Hausa Community in the State had met with authorities of the Security agencies and have been assured of adequate security of lives and property during and after the elections. He said they were also cautioned against travel-

ing which might result in accidents and loss of their properties.”

He wondered why people could still embark on these mass exit when they have been living with their host communities in harmony and peace, stressing that he called the managers of most of the Northern states transport companies over the development, but they said they were performing their duties of transportation.

Alhaji Yau who has been in Bayelsa State before its creation, averred that the Hausa community has resolved to mobilise to vote massively for the candidates of their choice devoid of ethnic or tribal sentiments in the forthcoming election, saying that whether

Moslem or Christian what Nigerians want are leaders who would address the problems of the masses such as unemployment, insecurity and infrastructures so that Nigerians can live happily in any part of the country they chose to settle to do their businesses.

He disclosed, while conducting journalists round Tombia market where majority of the Hausa traders do their businesses, that due to the insurgency in some parts of the north many Hausas had fled to Bayelsa State to take refuse and eke out a living. He added that their leaving may be because of the need to go home and vote for the candidates of their choice and not for fear of any violence during the elections.

Presidential Election: Kerry Meets Jonathan, Buhari Tomorrow

By Abiodun Oluwarotimi, New York

United States Secretary, Senator John Kerry, will tomorrow meet President Goodluck Jonathan who is also the presidential candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja in order to discuss the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.

According to a statement by the US Department of State, Kerry will also meet with the presidential candidate of the All Peoples Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, on how to ensure that the polls are bloodless in the country.

The United States government has always been emphasising the importance of

ensuring the upcoming elections are peaceful, non-violent, and credible.

During his meeting with President Jonathan and General Buhari, the United States official is expected to make an appeal to them to urge members and supporters of their individual political parties to shun activities that can lead to post-election violence.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

Presidential Campaign: That Massive Turn Out In Katsina

By Hassan Bauchi Muhammed

On Tuesday, January 20, 2015 history was made when millions of PDP supporters thronged the streets of Katsina and brought the entire city to a standstill. These massive crowd were out to voice their support for the PDP candidates in both the gubernatorial and presidential elections scheduled to hold on February 14 and 28, 2015 respectively.

The supporters show of commitment to the ideals of the ruling party is clear message sent that the pendulum will continue to swing in favour of a party that has been able to transform the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state as well as the infrastructure to a level not seen before.

Speakers after speakers who spoke at the occasion were amazed at the warm reception accorded to the PDP team by the hospitable people of the state.

The speakers were all quick to marvel at the levels of change the Shema administration has been able to bring to the state in the 6 and half years of his administration. So satisfied were the Katsina people with the PDP and its government that on that day, all economic and social activities were suspended to welcome people’s

august guests.

In his speech at the occasion, Governor Shehu Shema hammered on his social and infrastructural transformation that have placed the state amongst the most visible beneficiaries of the current democratic dispensation in the country. The appreciation of his efforts by the people of the state has been responsible for the repeated victory of the party since 1998 when the current dispensation began. These millions of people who came out to show their support and appreciation were only paying back to a government that has transformed their lives for the better.

It is a well-known fact that society’s equilibrium of balance is based on security, economic reliability, social justice, development in this scale of preference. For this to be achieved, good governance has to become the watchword of an administration. It is this basic principle of governance that Barrister Ibrahim Shema mastered and applied during his years as the governor of Katsina State and today the state is considered as one of the most stable, successful and viable in the country.

Another reason for the massive support, was the obvious secure and peaceful coexistence being enjoyed amongst the various people

of the state despite the growing insecurity in the country. Katsina has been spared largely due to deliberate but conscious efforts of the administration through youth empowerment programme, women development, infrastructural growth, social justice and good governance generally.

Millions of youths who were hitherto roaming the streets begging, or engaged in political thuggery were mobilised, trained, or undergoing training in local and international training centres.

The responsiveness of the Ibrahim Shehu Shema’s administration to the yearnings of the people has yielded so many policies such as the state’s youth empowerment programme to carter for the needs of the most vulnerable groups, the youth. The women empowerment programme and projects for the handicapped that are all geared towards improving the living standard of the various people of the state. The government’s responsiveness to the yearnings of the several categories of the people including minorities is responsible for the peace, tranquility and economic development presently being enjoyed in the state.

The infrastructural achievement recorded in the last seven years across the length and breadth of the state is so unprecedented

that communities who hitherto are unaware of government presence are now dancing to the euphoria of enjoying the dividends of democracy they have never dreamt will be possible. Rule of law is one area that has been dogmatically adhered to by governor Ibrahim Shema who himself is a product of rule of law as a lawyer and advocate of legality. This could be seen from the administration’s reactions to legal issues especially as regards its relations with labour in the state. If good governance is therefore yardstick for measuring the success of democracy then there is no state in the country that could count itself near the achievements recorded in the areas of good governance in the last seven years as seen in Katsina State under the tutelage of governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema.

Women and girl-child education are other areas that have received the greatest attention ever since the creation of the state, with millions of hitherto drop out of school girls, now lured back to the classroom through the condition cash transfer system which not only provides for a free education to girls but also a monthly N5,000 support cash for mothers of the girls. This is to ensure double edge advantage to the family of girls attending schools. Job op-

portunity is provided to the family while the child is rescued to attend school with free books, uniform and feeding.

This system has been tremendous since its introduction jerking girl-child school enrolment by over 500% from an obscure 800,000 statewide to over 1.8 million in 2013.

The state under this administration has also witnessed improved health delivery system with upgraded general hospitals, specialised centres and improved working conditions for health service workers. Rural ambulance system was introduced to carter for the needs of millions of rural dwellers who find it hard to access the available health centres across the state. The ambulances now available in each local government area have a Doctor, a nurse and medical equipment and supplies that enable rural dwellers to have access to health facilities in their villages.

No wonder the massive voters that came out has sent shivers to the spine of opposition and they have now retracted as a message of convincing victory was sent on that day, it is only the election day that is now the day of reckoning.

Bauchi wrote from Katsina and can be reached at habauchi71@yahoo.com

Parliment As The Second Estate Of The Realm

By Alozie Anaekwe

The pivotal position that the legislature occupies as the second estate of the realm cannot be over emphasized as they exist as a way of checking the exercise of executive power and balancing the power equation necessary for the smooth functioning of constitutional, democratic and statutory institutions. For one, there is no way funds can be appropriated or expended without recourse to parliament. Witness the numerous ‘government shutdowns’ in the United States of America where various executive bodies and agencies had to temporarily close down and lay off their workers due to dispute between the White House and Congress particularly the House of Representatives over the appropriate federal debt ceiling leading to a refusal of the House to pass the quarterly budgetary proposals. Previously the U.S. Congress had also clashed with the White House during the Vietnam War over the latter’s authority to conduct military opera-

tions in the South-east Asian country and neighbouring states like Laos and Cambodia.

As for the United Kingdom, the doctrine of separation of powers does not exist as parliament is supreme and it exercises executive and legislative powers simultaneously with the Prime Minister’s executive cabinet composed of members of parliament who automatically return to their parliamentary seats in the event of their resignation, dismissal or dissolution of parliament.

In any case, any major decision of the Prime Minister’s cabinet must be approved by Parliament and in several cases the latter has balked on authorizing some controversial policies, the most recent being it’s refusal to authorize British military involvement in the Syrian war. Also the collapse of Margaret Thatcher’s government in 1990 was as a result of her majority Tory backbenchers in Westminster rebelling against her authoritarian leadership style after the dramatic ouster of Sir Geofrey Howe as Chancellor of the Exchequer and his

subsequent denunciation of ‘Thatcherite’ rule as ‘divisive and ‘autocratic’.

Even in our relatively nascent democratic dispensation, parliament as represented by the National Assembly and other state and local legislative bodies have continued to play their constitutional roles and in many cases, collision and conflict between the executive and legislature has become the norm rather than the exception as none wants to cede authority to the other in order not to be marginalised in the constitutional order of affairs. The National Assembly has at times being at daggers drawn with the Executive over the implementation of the budget, the passage of key legislation, the conduct of oversight functions and the appointment of key government officials e.g. ministers, service chiefs and ambassadors. The implementation or non-implementation of the budget as well as the over-sighting of the vast MDA bureaucracy has been the main sticking points between the two arms of government and barely have one shifted ground for the oth-

er on those key issues, each eager to protect and advance it’s constitutional duties and prerogatives.

Happily, it must be noted, that while the various political arms of the executive and legislature have been jostling for advantage against the other, the administrative apparatus underpinning both arms have been operating and interacting with each other optimally to move the democratic process forward. For instance, the administrative arm of the National Assembly headed by the Clerk to the National Assembly and Chiroman of the Keffi Emirate, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa has provided critical support services and infrastructure for effective legislation as well as providing the platform for free flowing interactions and consultations between and among the lawmakers and political stakeholders through public hearings and investigative tours around the country which has resulted in relevant alterations of various sections of the 1999 constitution and the Electoral Act as well as speedy passage of the year-

ly budgets.

The committee system has been thoroughly revamped and overhauled with a greater emphasis on hard work, professionalism, competence and exemplary performance leading to the placement of round pegs in round holes at the headship of the various committees. The old arcane system of past CNA administrations where favouritism, cronyism and sectionalism was the order of the day has been long discarded and consigned to the dust heap of history.

As a result, the various committees are performing at the optimal and invigorating levels thus leading to quick passage of numerous bills that have impacted positively on the welfare of the people. Various federal legislators including the leadership of the National Assembly have had to commend the vision, focus, fortitude and patriotic fervor of the CNA in pushing the National Assembly reforms to their logical conclusion.

ANAEKWE, a constitutional expert, sent in this piece from Port Harcourt.

opinion 69

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Critique Of Tambuwal’s Agenda For Sokoto

By Imam Imam

The ongoing campaigns by various candidates seeking elective posts and their political parties have provided Nigerians with the opportunity to assess those seeking to rule over them for the next four years.

When politicians come to the people directly for a face to face interaction, citizens can evaluate their programmes and suitability for the office they are seeking.

In Sokoto State, attention of voters is now fixed on the plan of action rolled out by the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the governorship contest, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. At the flag-off of his campaign penultimate week, Tambuwal, better known to Nigerians as the ever-smiling and no-nonsense Speaker of the House of Representatives, promised to take the state on a journey of prosperity already started by the incumbent governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.

The greatest treasure the state is currently enjoying, according to him, is the peace and tranquility found in abundance within its borders. Located in a region bedeviled by the Boko Haram insurgency, Sokoto’s ability to steer off crisis has been a source of admiration for sociologists. Considering its unique position as the centre-point of Islam in Nigeria, Sokoto has in the past taken the lead in finding lasting solutions to the menace of terrorism in the country. Political and religious leaders have, at various times, given a true interpretation of all the tenets of Islam, and have openly abhorred wanton killings and destruction of property.

The citizens of Sokoto have at various for a harped on the need to ensure continuity of government policies. Many who gave their inputs into the Tambuwal agenda emphasized that coming to start afresh will be detrimental to the prosperity of their state. Their claim followed a close observation of the achievements of Wamakko in critical areas like education, healthcare, social reorientation, youths and sports development and infrastructural delevlopment.

The economic potential of Sokoto is enormous. With the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria factory located in the state and various small and medium scale industries scattered all over, Sokoto has already charted a path to industrialization. As Tambuwal noted in Shagari and Tureta LGAs during his campaign stop, there are also abundant water resources for irrigation farming and other agro-allied activities. The Sokoto Rima Riv-

er Basin Development Authority has its headquarters in the capital and so far, there are plans to enhance its capacity to meet the growing needs of the people of the area.

The people of Sokoto are known for their entrepreneurial disposition. Tambuwal said when elected, the state government will complement their efforts by creating an enabling environment to boost investment and other commercial activities. He said this can be done by ensuring that parameters for ease of doing business are enhanced for both local and foreign investors.

Given its huge economical potential, it is pertinent to ask: what will the incoming administration do to further harness them to advance the socio-economic development of the state and its people? The initiatives of the present government are numerous. Let us look at a few. The first is the vision of the administration in developing the human resource capacity to meet its development challenges.

Since its inception in 2007, the administration has invested handsomely in education, based on a vision premised on developing skills for the future industrialization of the state. The state has its gaze fixed on developing the mining industry in the state in the very near future.

Today, the human resource to drive that industry is being prepared. For example, quite a number of youths have been abroad to study various courses in Mining and Mineral Engineering. Others went to other parts of Nigeria and Africa to study agricultural extension.

All these are done with the aim to ensure that those trained contribute their quota towards the development of various sectors of the state.

As a leader, the Speaker has promised to lead from the front, working in tandem with other progressive Nigerians from all walks of life to bring about needed change in the socio-economic landscape of his dear state in particular and Nigeria in general. This he said, can be done by fully implementing the policies of the APC as espoused in its manifesto.

In Sokoto today, many are confident that Tambuwal will leverage on his experience and contacts in national and international circle to the benefit of the state. In him, they see a person who will not only redesign the economy of the state, but will also redefine its politics.

Imam wrote from National Assembly, Abuja and can be reached on twitter at @imamdimam

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Tomorrow in for god and country

N300 Only On Sale Nationwide Giant BillBoards of PdP, aPC, et al and Candidates flood Ghana As election tension heats up in Nigeria in preparation for the 2015 general elections, the fever appears not to be limited to the Nigerian political landscape alone. Like the Ebola virus that until recently was fast ravaging the West Coast Africa, so also is the Nigerian election fever heating up in other parts of West Africa, especially Ghana… only in GOVERNMENT.

a General and his CertifiCate Brouhaha In times like this when other nations the world over are making tremendous achievements in space, technology, health, agriculture and good governance, Nigeria, the most populous nation in Africa, is still making a cacophonous noise about certificates. According to General Buhari, the real issues are the scandalous level of unemployment of millions of young people, the state of insecurity and the pervasive official corruption in the country.

BiG-sPend niGerians lavish n310Bn on duBai vaCations

Waoh! Nigerians spent aboutN60bn on flights, N90bn on visas, N120bn on accommodation and N110bn on shopping during vacations in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE) in December 2014. These cumbersome sums of money are more than the annual budgets of most states in Nigeria. exPosed: real reasons Jonathan’s nsa samBo Wants eleCtions PostPoned The National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Goodluck Jonathan, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), wants the 2015 general elections postponed because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) still has at least 30 million voting cards to distribute to voters.

IT’S A BUMPER EDITION!

news across the states 70

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Lagos Records First Successful Cochlear Implant Surgery

by GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

For the first time in the history of the country , Lagos State government, at the weekend, recorded a successful cochlear implant The state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who revealed this at the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally held in Badagry area of the state said the state government will sponsor the cochlear implant for many

Nigerians with such hearing impairment. “ I start on a happy note. Yesterday, in this state, for the first time, we successfully carried out a cochlear implant surgery. What that means is that our doctors in our hospitals have restored hearing back to somebody who was deaf.

“Before, you have to travel out of Nigeria before you can get that kind of service, but a Nigerian doctor came back home at my re-

quest, joined LASUTH and working with all our staff, this is the feat that has been performed at home. So, it means now that the door is open for a lot of our brothers and sisters. Our children, who have never heard a sound before would begin to hear because we would expand that project.

“So, it shows you that our law to support disabled and physically-challenged people is not about lip service; it’s about a deep com-

mitment about how people can get on with their lives if the government does what it should do.

Those who are physically challenged are not disabled and they crave for a chance and opportunity to compete, and so we have continued to intervene.

“At the blind schoool in Oshodi, we have built dormitories and workshops there and this is the kind of government you have elected here.”

Presidential Election: Sylva Lobbies Former Aides, Others For Buhari In Bayelsa The former governor of Bayelsa State,Chief Timipre Sylva, has intensified lobbying of his former top aides and leading members of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to support the election of the Presidential flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC),Gen Muhammudu Buhari in the state.

Sylva has won over the former Nigeria’s ambassador to Venezuela, Felix Oboro, one of the founding fathers of the PDP in Bayelsa State into the APC. LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that he also led a team of senior party leaders on a call on his former special security adviser,Chief Richard Kpodo to solicit his understanding in the current political dispensation.

By Osa Okhomina,Yenagoa

NGO Provides Medical Help To 2000 IDPs In Jos

Youths in support of the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan performing at Area Eleven in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY DELE DAMISA.

Striking Health Workers Urged To Resume Work In The Interest Of Masses

by Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

Public health workers in the country have been urged to end the nation-wide strike entering three months now for the sake of the suffering masses.

The chief medical director (CMD), University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Prof. Etete Peters, who made the call at the weekend at a media chat with newsmen said that the federal government had engaged the leadership of the union in series

of constructive negotiations with a view to resolving the lingering contentious issues.

He noted that the federal government has agreed to address the grey and contentious grievances of the workers especially those bordering on payment of arrears of allowances, clinical governance and professionalism.

“We strongly feel that it is quite important to take another look at the scenario in view of the suffering and hardship the strike is causing the masses”, he stressed.

According to him, the government has agreed to settle the main outstanding issues bordering on the payment of arrears of their allowances following court judgment obtained about two years ago.

The money for the payment of that allowance, he said, had been captured in the 2015 appropriation now pending before the National Assembly for passage into law.

Equally too, he said a high powered committee set up by Presi-

dent Goodluck Jonathan on inter-professional relationship in the public health sector has submitted its report.

“From the report of the committee submitted to Mr President and the white-paper committee set up, we expect that the white paper should come up in the next few days.

“The report of that committee has summarily dealt with all the issues of varius conflicts in term of professional practice within the health sector”, he said.

Niger APC, State Govt Trade Word On Election Rigging

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger State has stated that it will not accept any result marred with discrepancies in the next general election as against the admonition of the state governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, that politicians should accept the outcome of the elections, no matter what.

APC in the state in a statement by the publicity secretary, Jonathan Vatsa, chided the governor whom

they claimed in a recent statement said that Nigerians should accept any result of the election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) saying that it was a pointer to the fact that the ruling PDP is out to rig the election and declare result that is contrary to the wishes of the people.

“APC views the comment by the governor as not only undemocratic but a clear message to Nigerlites and, indeed, Nigerians that the PDP has made up its mind to declare any re-

sult and want Nigerians to accept it in good faith”, the statement reads in part.

The chief press secretary to the governor, Israel Ebije, however, said for the party to make such reaction to the call of the governor, it indicated that the APC is ready to cause trouble in the state.

According to the statement by the APC, “It is clear now that the PDP in the state has lost the hope of winning the coming elections in a free and fair contest because of the re-

ception it has received from Nigerlites and the ongoing decamping of its members (over 300 of them in one week) to APC and has, therefore, resulted to rigging of the elections as the only way out.

“In view of this, APC wants to warn and make it clear that our party will not accept any result of the forthcoming election which does not represent the will of the people of the state and Nigerians in general, ‘Enough is Enough of election rigging in this country’”, it added.

Over 2,000 internally displaced Persons (IDPs ) taking refuge in Jos, the Plateau State capital were, yesterday, offered free medical treatment by two non-governmental organisations NGOs, Tina Bawa Ministries International and the Stephanios Foundation.

Speaking to newsmen at the IDP camp in Jos, Mark Lipdo, co-ordinator, Stephanos Foundation, said that the IDPs camp was opened in Jos for displaced families from North-east on the November 1, 2014 at the Zang Secondary Commercial School, Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Council.

He said most of the major challenges in the camp include malnutrition, typhoid, malaria diabetics, hepatitis and high blood pressure among other illness adding that recently 47 (IDPs) tested positive to hepatitis.

By Achor Abimaje,Jos

Unknown Gunmen Destroy APC Campaign Venue In Rivers Unknown gunmen yesterday invaded the National School field in Okrika, venue of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign rally for Okrika local government area of Rivers State and destroyed equipments set up for the rally with explosives.

Chairman of APC in the area, Christian Asifamaka, in a statement issued in Okrika, yesterday, said the gunmen invaded the venue in the early hours of the morning and started shooting and later came back to blow up the already set musical equipments with explosives.

“In the wee hours of the morning of Saturday 24, 2015 at about 3:45 am, some armed youths started shooting at the venue of the APC governorship rally National school field Okrika”, he said.

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

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Sunday, January 25, 2015

sports

news

FA Cup: Chelsea, Man City Suffer Shock Defeats Premier League leaders Chelsea yesterday surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at home to third tier Bradford City while Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough on a day of seismic FA Cup shocks.

Goals from Gary Cahill and Ramires had Chelsea cruising after 38 minutes of the fourth-round tie at Stamford Bridge but John Stead pulled a goal back before the break and former Chelsea player Fil-

ipe Morais equalised.

Andy Halliday made it 3-2 before Mark Yeates’ late goal sent the Bradford fans into raptures.

Manchester City could have few complaints as they were outplayed by Championship (second tier) promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough for whom Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford scored the opener and Spaniard Kike wrapped it up.

The surprises continued as Tottenham

Dejected Chelsea players look on after losing 2-4 to Bradford during the FA Cup Fourth Round

Hotspur lost 2-1 at home to Leicester City while in another all-Premier League tussle, third-placed Southampton lost 3-2 at home to Crystal Palace.

Top-flight Swansea City went down 3-1 to second tier Blackburn Rovers, the visitors ending the match with nine men.

Super Six: Pillars, Flying Eagles Off To Winning Start

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Nigeria Premier League champions, Kano Pillars and U-20 national team, Flying Eagles yesterday began their Super Six campaign on winning note, beating Dolphins of Port Harcourt and Enyimba International of Aba 2-0 respectively.

In the opening match, two quick goals in the first 10 minutes of the game from the boots of Samuel Tswanya and Christian Obiozor ensured Kano Pillars put Dolphins

to the sword. The Kano based club were simply the better side as they were in control for the better part of the game, and held on to their two-goal lead.

After the match, Kano Pillars head coach Okey Emordi commended his players for their performance, especially new player Obiozor, who joined from Enugu Rangers.

“It was his first game and I needed to see how he would play alongside his new teammates. He has

not had much time to train with the team. In all it was a good performance by the team,” said Emordi.

In the second game, 10-man Flying Eagles shot down twotime African champions with their commanding performance, beating them 2-0. Flying Eagles captain Musa Muhammed scored from the spot and Musa Yahaya came off the bench to put score beyond the People’s Elephant.

Manu Garba’s under-20s be-

gan the match on a high octane style against Enyimba and barely allowed the Aba club the chance of possession. Flying Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi was a constant threat to Enyimba’s back line with his mazy runs.

Enyimba will now have to redeem their image tomorrow when they take on Warri Wolves while the Flying Eagles will look to continue their impressive perfor- Omo Johnson of Dolphins mance against Nigerian champi- (left) is tackled by Issac Loute ons, Kano Pillars. of Pillars

Tunisia Snuff Out Siasia’s Dream Team

DG of NSC Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye (5th right), director of Physical Training and Sports, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Efiok and his staff at the Commission.

2016 Olympics: NSC Calls For Collaboration With Military

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

The director general, National Sports Commission, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye has solicited for synergy with the Military to ensure Team Nigeria’s success at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in Brazil.

He made the call when a 10-man delegation from the Council for Defense Sports of the Nigeria Armed Forces Headquarters led by the director of physical training and sports, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Efiok paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Elegbeleye, who lauded the military for their involvement and glorious representation of the country in the past recalled that the Nigerian military had produced outstanding sportsmen and women through various competitions who had represented Nigeria in differ-

ent components of sports competitions and won laurels.

According to him, as the 2016 Olympics is at the threshold, it is imperative to collaborate with the military, noting that the involvement of military in some sports federations have helped in entrenching discipline among athletes. “The more we get collaboration from the military, the more we get trainers from the military, the better for Nigeria sports.”

He therefore promised that the Sports Commission will liaise with the Council for Defense Sports to fish out athletes from the military that will join others in the camp in preparation towards the 2016 Olympic competition. “This will engender better representation at the Olympics and guarantee the hauling of medals by the Nigerian contingents.”

Elegbeleye who identified the

strengths of Nigerian athletes in various sports such as combat sports promised to tighten every loose end towards 2016 Olympics so that the country will surpass her previous achievements. He reeled out the outstanding performances of Nigeria’s sportsmen and women and noted that “Nigeria is performing much better in sports”.

Speaking earlier, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Efiok explained that the purpose of the visit was to call for synergy with the National Sports Commission in the area of sports administration and participation of military sportsmen and women. He recalled that the military had been a dependable ally in the past in the development of sports in the country and was willing to contribute athletes towards the attainment of 2016 Olympic dream.

Nigeria’s U-23 Team, Dream V1, who are in Tunisia for a two-game friendly with their Tunisian counterpart, lost 5-3 in the first game of the series yesterday.

Coach Samson Siasia flew to Tunisia with a 19man squad with Coach Fatai Amoo taking charge of another batch of players who will participate at the on-going Super Four Glo Premier League showdown in Abuja.

Tunisia took the lead in the first minute of the game through Jouini Slim but Effiong Etim equalised for Nigeria two minutes later.

Femi Ajayi Junior put Nigeria in the lead in the 15th minute but the Tunisians soon hit back a minute later to tie the game at 2-2 in a pulsating first fifteen minutes of the game.

Ghrab edged the Tunisia U23s ahead but Femi Ajayi Junior was on hand to equalise again for Nigeria in the 33rd minute as the first half ended that way.

The second half was all Tunisia as goals from Haj Hassan and a Khaoui penalty put the Dream Team to the sword and they just couldn’t battle back as the Tunisians won 5-3.

Siasia

AMUSEMENT PARK

man was made at the end of the week’s work, when god was tired — Mark Twain

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

25.01.15 No. 467 N300

Aniebo Nwamu

the sunday Column

S

The naira will keep depreciating so long as Nigerians import all manner of goods and services but export little or nothing

aniebo@leadership.ng

omewhere in the streets of Abuja and Lagos, each of several people is paying N202.50kobo for one American dollar. I have for long expected this exchange rate; in fact, it came one year late. In this space on September 29, 2013, I wrote: “By December or January, one United States dollar will exchange for N200 or thereabouts. You can imagine what one would make by buying at the current rate (N162) and selling in December or January.

It means that if I borrowed $1m now (N162m), I would make upwards of N38million profit – in just three months! Shouldn’t someone put me to the test by lending me $1m tomorrow?”

That was when former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (now His Royal Highness Muhammad Sanusi II, Emir of Kano) hinted of devaluation, as the naira came under pressure in that September.

I looked for a loan so I would buy up all the dollars I could get in Abuja and then wait for a day like this. At the time, $1 equalled N162; so if I had succeeded in getting N162m then, I would have been N40.5m richer now – without doing any work.

2015 should be renamed “locust year” – the year costs will increase but revenues will decline for almost every Nigerian individual, business or government. Already, money left in banks has lost value instantly. Employees now earn less. Traders are not selling because buyers’ purchasing power has dropped. Then, school fees have risen, as have the prices of most commodities. Landlords are watching the moods of their tenants in order to know when to strike and succeed. Almost every breadwinner is dying under the weight of dependants most of whom are unemployed, unmarried or too young to earn an income.

In an Arab nation, a similar situation is sure to spark an uprising. No wonder everything else has been unstable in our country: politics, security,

Year of the Locusts

highways, airways, families, marriages, kinship, sanity. Who says Boko Haram will ever go away?

Our policymakers blame it all on the falling price of crude oil in the international market. Although it is partly true, the danger has been with us for the past 42 or 43 years. We have heard the gospel of “diversification” – moving away from being a mono-product or oildependent economy – for at least 40 years. In reality, little has been achieved. The other day, I watched a minister as he was cultivating kilometres of rice and wheat on television. Cocoa and palm trees were growing fast in the radio too. Millions of jobs were being created in newspapers.

Is Nigeria not a nation of the damned? Truth is scarce. All we’ve learned from western education is how to package lies as truth. In the end, falsehood would give way to truth – we would come face to face with reality.

In this same space last week, I directed the searchlight on fuel “subsidy” which the government had promised to cut by 50 per cent from January 1. If subsidy existed when oil was sold $120 per barrel, I asked, would it exist when the price had come down to $45?

Apparently responding to such clear reasoning, the government spoke that Sunday through petroleum resources minister Diezani Alison-Madueke: she announced a reduction in the pump price of petrol from N97 to N87. But I hear that we still enjoy a “subsidy”.

The managers of the country’s economy are hard workers indeed.

We cannot wish for economists that are better than finance minister Okonjo-Iweala, current CBN governor Emefiele and scores of others who sit daily in air-conditioned offices and cars while they steer the economy towards calm waters. Monetary and fiscal policies, exchange rates and lending rates, foreign reserves and excess crude account, consolidation and appropriation – these are everyday terms that the ordinary person has no business

0805 410 0220 (sms only)

with, however. The best measure of success of each is the good life that we enjoy.

Is it not said that the value of money is what it can buy? That is elementary economics which nobody needs to be taught. It is therefore easy to know that the naira will keep depreciating so long as Nigerians import all manner of goods and services but export little or nothing. Even the oil that fetches 90 per cent of our revenue is extracted by foreigners with foreign equipment. The same oil is brought back into the country as refined products. Chei!

The coup plotters of the 1980s and ‘90s missed mentioning this paradox in their coup speeches, obviously because our refineries were working then. For no nation that protects its pride would let this happen: an oil-rich nation importing almost all of its fuel needs.

It is amazing how things have been left to depreciate – our national pride, sense of value, morality all gone! Nobody thought the naira would lose its value to this extent probably because we believed that Nigeria was on auto pilot. [It is the same faith that is driving millions of our children today: everyone wants to go to university even if there is nothing to learn in the university. But I reserve this matter for another day.] At the time of Shagari’s “austerity measures” in 1981, N1 exchanged with $2. I paid 10kobo then for a packet of detergent that now goes for N250. Today, my children are yet to understand what the kobo looks like because they have never seen it. I tell them that N1=100kobo and that when I took my first flight in 1982, from Enugu to Lagos airport, the fare was N43.

Nigeria, I believe, is not yet beyond redemption. It only requires a leader with courage.

My fear is that the Nigerian soil and climate have been made toxic for any such leader. Who would seize all private jets, all privately owned billions hidden in banks and not get shot? Who would end fuel “subsidy”, overinflated

contracts and nepotism without being poisoned? And who would abolish importation of rice, sugar and luxury items without being overthrown within days?

When I consider the fate awaiting incoming governors, I shudder. Right now, they are borrowing money to campaign for elections. By June, there may be nothing for states to share, as the plunge in oil prices is not likely to stop by then. None of them is likely to be popular without money. They may still pinch the treasury, but they won’t get enough to offset their election expenses and still pay workers’ salaries, even with the weak naira.

This, finally, is the year of the locusts. I have seen a locust but only in a laboratory, I think. But I have heard stories of how the grasshopper-like things used to invade farms and trees in the distant past. They ate up all green leaves within minutes! Whenever they wreaked such havoc, our ancestors faced famine and starvation. Thank God the vile things have been chased off our shores. In our day, unfortunately, the insects have been replaced by human locusts.

Follow me on Twitter: @aniebonw Visit our website: www.eyeway.ng

GHANA MUST GO Nobody can stop me from visiting Bayelsa — Patience Jonathan

You wan waka go dia?

• LEADERSHIP (ISSN 0331-328X) is published in Abuja by LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Off Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Way, Utako District, Abuja P. O. Box 9514, Garki II, Abuja. Lagos Office: 34/36 Adegbola Street, Anifowose, Off Oba Akran, Ikeja. E-mail: info@leadership.ng, advert@leadership.ng, newsroom@leadership.ng