05.02.15
THURSDAY
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
No. 2,340
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Chibok Diary DAY
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Politicians Must Steer Clear Of Religion, BBOG Group Cautions > Page 2
2015
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Presidential Candidates Should Tell Us > Page 13 Their Health Agenda – NMA
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DAYS T OG
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22Years After June 12 Crisis, Nigeria On The Brink Again Against the tide of history, Jonathan is set to announce polls postponement today, calling in service chiefs and indifferent elder statesmen for National Council of State meeting and stripping INEC of security cover
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All APC govs ready for showdown as White House meets on Nigeria Jega may be forced to resign International Criminal Court (ICC) on ground
Jonathan
Badeh
Minimah
Amosu
Jibrin
Postpones Annual Conference/Awards The management of LEADERSHIP Group has announced the postponement of its annual conference and awards slated for today in Abuja.
According to the management of LEADESHIP, the decision
to postpone the event follows moves by the government to shift
the election date, a move that is contrary to public opinion.
I Insist, N30trn Stolen Under Okonjo-Iweala – Soludo > Page 12
The management said it was compelled to postpone the awards after three of its leading ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 4
Gamboru Recapture: South African Contractor Provided Air Cover For Chad > Page 4
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chibok diary 297 Thursday, February 5, 2015
DAY
Chibok TweeTs @obyezeks Seventy years after #Auschwitz liberation, the world continues to be an unsafe place with devilish killings like Humanity learned nothing? @Bukkyshonibare Day 289 of abduction 17 days to Presidential Election #BringBackOurGirls @rescueourgirls 289 DAYS since the #ChibokGirls were kidnapped. We ask all of you, continue to rally. We will not be silenced. @MKabrik Very Very SAD!!RT"@Abu_Aaid: Day288 No rescue No update More abductions More deaths #BringBackOurGirls #StopBokoHaram” @EiENigeria 288! TWO HUNDRED & EIGHTY EIGHT DAYS OF CAPTIVITY! Please vote security for the #PeoplesDebateNG http:// thepeoplesdebate.ng/polls/ #BringBackOurGirls @Abu_Aaid We always repel and defend. When will we attack? When will we take the war to them? #StopBokoHaram #PrayForMaiduguri @cimcbride2014 They're not back. And more atrocities are being committed daily by those insane devils. We have work to do! #BringBackOurGirls #human @AishaYesufu Is your conscience pricking you so hard that the only way you can live with yourself is to bring down those demanding #BringBackOurGirls? Compiled by Ugochukwu Iroka
Members of the #BringBackourGirls (BBoG) group standing in solidarity for the abducted Chibok schoolgirls during a meeting at the Unity fountain abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
Politicians Must Steer Clear Of Religion, BBOG Group Cautions By Chika Mefor and ejike ejike,
Abuja The #BringBackOurGirls(BBOG) has called on the politicians in Nigeria to stop manipulating the people with the issue of religion while campaigning but rather tell the people what they have to do for them if voted for. While speaking during its normal sit-out, one of the members, Sesugh Akume who condemned the act of using religion for campaign by politicians, urged them
to inform Nigeirians on the projects they have that will bring about progress in the nation and a better country rather than engaging on attacks on the different religions of the aspirants in the opposition. “ Politicians come up with issues of religion in order to manipulate the masses. But I am happy that Nigerians now are not easy to manipulate. Politicians should know that the masses want to know what they have for them and not what religion
they belong to,” he said. He also called on Nigerians to watch out for politicians who want to manipulate for religious reasons, urging them to stand up and fight for their right by voting during the forth coming election. Recall that the group had also called on Nigerian politicians to stop inciting religious violence by what they say during their various campaign for the coming election. One of it’s member, Maureen Kabric expressed shock over
words that come out of politicians during this campaign period and added that if not curtailed, those words could cause religious violence in the country. “Are we serious? Do we understand the challenge we have? Our leaders do not want to understand the problem we are in. They are moving around campaigning and if you listen to what they say, they incite violence. Why would politicians go about inciting religious issues which could bring about violence,” she said.
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our stand Thursday, February 5, 2015
The Threat By Ex-Militants
A
n attempt to colour electioneering in the country very dangerously was recently made by a group of former Niger Delta militants, who issued a threat to make the nation ungovernable should incumbent Goodluck Jonathan lose in the forthcoming presidential poll. The threat was issued as part of the resolutions from a forum reportedly organised by the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku, and which featured Ijaw youth leaders. Of particular interest was the active participation of notable former militant warlords, while the venue was the Bayelsa State Government House with the state governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, in attendance. The ex-militants’ action, as they claimed, was provoked by the pain of marginalisation, which the oil rich Niger Delta region that produces the bulk of the nation’s wealth has suffered historically. Expectedly, the threat attracted reactions from all quarters, mostly in
its condemnation. The most significant was the present administration’s denouncement of the threat, which was supposed to have been made in their favour, as reckless. Beyond the fact that it was made before an important electoral exercise, the nation is presently contending with the horrendous insurgency ongoing in the North East that is threatening its territorial integrity. These factors, among others, therefore impose a legitimacy burden on the threat. Perhaps the threat would not have attracted as much attention as it has if not for the reported participation of public officials like Kingsley Kuku,
Editor Sadiq Abdullateef Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards ’Lara Olugbemi, Director
an appointed presidential aide and Seriake Dickson, governor of the president’s home state, in the forum where it was made. The development has garnered for the Presidency the undeserved discredit of acting in desperation to adopt everything, including playing the ethnic card, to secure victory in the forthcoming poll. The former militants’ statement was not only uncalled for, it also constitutes a major disservice to the president, who has publicly and on several occasions advised that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. So who are the militants fighting for? However and in our opinion, the effrontery with which the ex-militants made their threat is as a result of the questionable ‘dalliance’ some of them have been enjoying with the Jonathan administration, with juicy contracts reportedly awarded them under the table. Yet a lesson the ex-militants need to learn is that there is no wisdom in starting a fire in one’s homestead just to spite an enemy, real or perceived.
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4 NEWS
22 Years After June 12 Crisis, Nigeria On The Brink Again By sadiq abdullateef, Abuja
Strong indications emerged last night that the country’s journey towards a virile, democratic dispensation may be heading for the rocks as President Goodluck Jonathan is set announce the postponement of the much-awaited 2015 general elections during a historic meeting of the National Council of State in Abuja today. The elections were billed to take place on February 14 and 28. This is coming 22 years after the June 12, 1993, political crisis which plunged the country into decades of political and economic retardation following the annulment of the general election won by the late philanthropist, MKO Abiola. The president’s move is contrary to public opinion and the desires of the majority of Nigerians who have been gearing up to exercise their fundamental right to freely choose their leaders. A source confided in LEADERSHIP last night that the service chiefs would be called upon to declare that they could not guarantee public safety during the polls. It was further gathered that some former heads of state who have long-standing personal grudges against the APC presidential candidate, General Mohammadu Buhari, would either vote for the postponement of the poll or be indifferent. Former heads of state are statutorily members of the National Council of State. LEADERSHIP gathered last night that plans were afoot to strip INEC top officials of their security cover and also to withdraw security cover for the elections. INEC, which, according to the constitution, is the only body given the powers to announce changes on election dates, has insisted that it is prepared to go ahead with the poll. Prominent human rights lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, said yesterday that it was illegal for any other authority apart from INEC to announce any changes in polling dates. Our correspondent gathered that APC governors, who had hitherto shunned previous Council of State meetings, had arrived in Abuja in preparation for a showdown with the proponents of polls shift. In response to the likelihood of the government withdrawing security cover for the polls, one APC governor said yesterday that, “that might even be a welcome development, considering how maliciously soldiers have been used in past elections in this country.” LEADERSHIP’s correspondent in Washington also learnt that the White House in the US is meeting over Nigeria’s situation today while the International Criminal Court (ICC) and international election observers are on ground to monitor the situation. The situation has also taken a new dimension as pressure is being mounted on the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, from the government and
even within INEC, to resign. His tenure will expire in June, this year. In June 1993, after former military president Ibrahim Babangida cancelled the result of the election on the grounds of purported irregularities and a court ruling, the country was thrown into widespread chaos, set off by public feeling that it was the freest and fairest election so far. Observers expressed the fear last night that the country could be headed towards another major crisis, with the opposition saying the only reason why the PDP wants to postpone the poll is because its rigging machine had been exposed and it was afraid of losing. A day to the historic June 12, 1993 presidential election, a faceless group, the Association for Better Nigeria (ABN), secured an injunction restraining the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from going ahead with the poll. But NEC boss Prof Humphrey Nwosu ignored the court injunction and proceeded with the conduct of the poll. The late MKO Abiola was coasting home to victory in most parts of the country when the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida directed the electoral umpire to suspend the announcement of the results. Jonathan set to announce postponement of polls There are strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan may today announce the postponement of the forthcoming general elections barely two weeks to its conduct. The Council of State, at its sitting today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, it was gathered, has concluded plans to ratify the postponement being clamoured for in certain quarters. An impeccable source close the body revealed late last night that members of the body had been communicating at individual levels on the possible polls shift, stressing that today’s meeting would only be a formality to ratify the postponement. He said: ‘‘The reasons are not what I can disclose to you fully, but you should know the Council of State has the interest of the nation at heart. I think their major concerned is the issue of security. We know what is happening in the North East; we know how many people have been displaced. “You also have the issue with the preparation of the INEC. So many eligible voters have not collected their voter cards, and you know the implication’’. When asked when the elections would now be held, he stated that ‘it may be around June; that will be discussed tomorrow. The tension is being heightened. You see the gladiators and their supporters making all sorts of threats. This country is bigger than any individual or group. This house must not fall.’’ ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Thursday, February 5, 2015
A SHORT LIVING TO BEGUIDE 100 to a LONG LIFE Measure Yourself
Every day I read about some new gadget or app on the market that can help track my health and happiness. (At last count, there were more than seven thousand self-tracking smart-phone apps alone, and the market for self-tracking gadgetry is exploding.) How many steps did you take today? How long were you in dreamy REM sleep last night? How fast did you eat lunch? What’s your pulse? How many calories are you burning? What’s your blood oxygen level? What’s your brain’s electrical activity at night? How stressed are you? What emotions are you feeling? You can answer these questions if you have the right device. (Although I should hope you can take a good guess as to how stressed and emotional you are sans a digital reader.) If you really want to take Rule 1 to the maximum, then consider measuring yourself a bit more formally with the help of nifty devices. In 2007, a couple of brainy
Wired editors saw this coming: the day when we’d be able to track ourselves digitally as Sanctorius of Padua did manually when he weighed everything that came in and out of his body over a period of thirty years in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The Wired editors coined the term the “quantified self;’ and this kind of effort has already become a movement. Even if you don’t subscribe to the idea of wearing a piece of Star Treky equipment, most of us keep mental track of certain things in our lives such as weight, sleep quality, and activity level-if just to make sure we’re within the parameters we’d like to follow. But seriously, you might want to consider adding a tracking app or device of some kind to your life. I can’t even begin to list them all here, and by the time you read this a whole new generation of useful software programs and devices will surely have hit the market.
LEADERSHIP Postpones Annual Conference/Awards FROM FRONT PAGE
award winners indicated that they may be attending the National Council of State meeting, which President Goodluck Jonathan has purposely convened to shift the election date. “Our awards are known for their star quality. If three of the star award recipients – former President Olusegun Obasanjo, governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa – may be attending the Council of State meeting on a matter of clear and present danger to the nation, the responsible thing for us to
do is to postpone the awards,” a statement from the company said. It apologised for the inconvenience caused the invited guests, adding that a new date would be announced soon. “We warned against a shift in the election date in our front page comment of January 26. Though we consider the postponement of the conference painful and unsettling, we consider it a price worth paying as we stand with our star award winners and indeed the majority of Nigerians united against the unwarranted attempt to tinker with the date,” the statement said.
Gamboru Recapture: South African Contractor Provided Air Cover For Chad By Abdullahi Umar, with agency report
Contrary to a report in the media yesterday - that a joint military coalition comprising Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon had reclaimed Borno town, a military source stated only the Chadian troops carried out the operation
with the help of South African Air Force which provided aerial support to Chadian troops. Chad’s army has disclosed that it killed more than 200 Boko Haram militants but lost nine of its soldiers while 21 others were wounded in the battle to reclaim the border town of Gamboru in Borno State which had
been under the control of the terrorists for months, Chad defence ministry said. The Chad defence ministry, in a statement, declared that the country’s army destroyed more than a dozen vehicles equipped with heavy weapons and about 100 motorcycles used by the militants for battle in the towns
of Gamboru. Chad deployed over 2,000 troops as part of a regional effort to take on the militant group which had been fighting for five years to create an Islamist caliphate in northern Nigeria. ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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6 NEWS
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
22 Years After June 12 Crisis, Nigeria On The Brink Again FROM PAGE 4
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), at a press conference earlier yesterday, said it was aware of plans by the presidency to drag members of the Council of State into an alleged plot to postpone the general elections. The party added that the Council of State members would be cajoled to buy into the elections postponement idea during the scheduled meeting of the Council today at the Villa. The revelation was made by the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, during a world press conference. The party therefore advised Council members not to be party to attempts to derail the democratic process of the country. “Members of the Council of State are Nigerians who are held in very high esteem, and their involvement in a project that damages the democratic process will be a serious disservice to our leaders as national assets. “Our party is encouraged by the fact that INEC has restated in clear and unambiguous terms its determination and ability to conduct the elections as planned. It is the constitutional prerogative of INEC to set election dates which, nonetheless, should meet at least the minimum threshold of confidence. “We recognize that it had challenges but these are challenges that have been or are being seriously tackled by the Commission, and the engineered clamour for postponement is not helping the situation,” Oyegun said. He added that attempts to rubbish INEC’s preparations in order to achieve a postponement are, according to him, being seen for what they are: “a desperate ploy by the PDP administration to avoid certain electoral defeat. “These are part of the PDP script to deny Nigerians their right to choose their leaders on the 14th and 28th of February.” APC said it had faith in the
members of the Council of State, and advised them not to become tools in the hand of an administration that wants to subvert our fragile democratic process.” Allegation baseless – PDP PDP national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, however said, the allegation made by the APC was baseless. While speaking with reporters on the telephone, he said, “We will not glorify APC by joining issues with them on this matter. For now, our focus is on issues-based campaign towards the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan, so that he can continue to deliver the good for Nigerians.” Presidency keeps mum All efforts to get the presidency to react to the alleged plot to shift the general polls to June in today’s council of state meeting were futile. Calls and text messages sent to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, were not returned. In the same vein, the mobile phone number of Senior Special Assistant to the president on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, did not go through. INEC refutes reports over postponement of elections The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has denied reports that it plans to postpone the forthcoming general elections if the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remains low by Sunday, the deadline for the exercise. The electoral body was reacting to a report by a foreign medium, Reuters, which quoted a national commissioner as saying that the elections may be delayed if the number of PVCs collected by voters is too low. However, a rebuttal by the INEC chairman’s spokesman, Kayode Idowu, reads:”I write to refute your story in Reuters attributing national commissioner of INEC, Amina
Zakari, as saying that the 2015 general elections may be delayed if the number of PVCs collected by voters is too low’’. Falana: Council of State lacks power on Polls Shift Lagos lawyer, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) has said the Council of State lacks competence and constitutional power to decide whether or not INEC should conduct election. In a statement he issued last night to pre-empt the outcome of the council’s meeting billed to hold today following speculations that the primary agenda of the meeting is to discuss postponement of the forthcoming general polls, Falana insisted that only INEC had the exclusive right to fix date for election. He said, “With respect to INEC, the Council may advise the president in the exercise of his powers to appoint the chairman of the INEC, the national commissioners and the resident electoral commissioners. “Since the power of organizing and conducting the general election, including the fixing of dates for the election, is the exclusive responsibility of INEC; the Council of State is not competent to advise the president or direct the INEC to postpone the general elections.” Defining the role of the council, Falana noted that the council was one of the federal executive bodies established by Section 153(1) of the Constitution and vested with the power to advise the president in the exercise of his powers with respect to the national population census and compilation; publications and keeping of records and other information concerning the same. He listed other areas the council advises the president to include prerogative of mercy, award of honours, INEC, the National Judicial Council, the National Population Commission and to advise the president “whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within the federal or any part thereof and on such other matters as the president may direct”.
Gamboru Recapture: South African Contractor Provided Air Cover FROM PAGE 4
The Boko Haram uprising has become a regional crisis with the four directly affected countries Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria - agreeing to boost cooperation to contain the threat. In the last seven days, Chadian troops have been hammering the sect, and reclaimed Malumfatori, a town which had been under the sects’ control for several months as part of its campaign to create an Islamic caliphate. Nigeria’s military said on Tuesday that its fighter jets had bombed the northeast town of Malumfatori, also controlled by Boko Haram. After Chad attack, insurgents kill 70 in Cameroon village Meanwhile, hundreds of suspected Boko Haram fighters crossed over the border town of
Gamboru early yesterday and attacked Fotokol in Cameroon, killing 31 villagers. They may have been provoked by Chadian forces’ attack on their positions in Gamboru. “Soldiers pursued the militants into Gamboru town where they were completely wiped out,” a statement said. Cameroonian journalist, Malam Moussa Ledou Blaise, told the Voice of America (VOA) that the Chadian army launched an attack after the insurgents disguised as civilians. The journalist also said that the insurgents had been attacking mostly Chadian military posts since crossing into Cameroon, adding that Cameroonian soldiers had mobilized to help the Chadians fight the insurgents. Spokesman for Cameroon’s military, Col. Didier Badjeck said
that its troops and those from Chad have been deployed to Fotocol to combat Boko Haram. Six soldiers, 50 insurgents killed in Cameroon Cameroon authorities has said that it troops killed at least 50 Boko Haram insurgents yesterday and lost six of its own soldiers in clashes with the group in the border town of Fotokol, Cameroon’s information ministry said. The insurgents attacked Fotokol early yesterday, killing over 30 worshippers in a mosque and tens of others in their homes. Cameroon’s information minister, Issa Tchiroma, told the Hausa service of the BBC that fierce fighting ensued throughout yesterday morning until the militants were driven out of the town.
Jonathan In Benin, Says Nigeria Needs Transformation, Not Change
By George Agba, Patrick Ochoga, Benin and Kola Eke-ogiugo, Asaba
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday took his 2015 presidential campaign to Benin, the Edo State capital, saying what the country needed, for now, was transformation and not the change being bandied about by the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking to a mammoth crowd at the Benin Township Stadium, the president who spoke in Pidgin English, noted that his administration had concentrated its effort in building schools instead of prisons. He said it was for this reason that the federal government was building its construction technology school in Edo State to take care of young people who want to develop competent skills in the construction industry. Insisting that the country needs transformation at the moment and not change, Jonathan said that “change takes place every day. “If you move from you bedroom to your sitting room, you have made a change but you have not transformed yourself. If you move from your sitting room to your kitchen, you have changed but you have not transformed yourself.” And addressing the people in pidgin English, the president said: “As we dey talk today, it is that we go move this country forward. If you don read some books, person wey transform a country called Singapore. Singapore and Nigeria been dey the same level but e transform Singapore from third world country to first world country. “That is the transformation we are talking about. We dey talk about transformation and that is why as we dey talk about school, this is a government wey be say when we come, we know say so many Nigerian young people no fit get space for our university because we know say universities wey dey our country no plenty reach. “Them they go Ghana, go everywhere to study. Na im we come say make we get enough universities, too; make we see whether people go come here. So, we open 14 new universities. For secondary schools, if you look our law wey them dey call constitution, no be de work wey federal government dey do but because we know say we go make sure say our young people go school, we build them plenty.” Maintaining that his government was interested on building schools and not prisons, he said, “We know say if person do bad thing, government say make you no do dat thing again. That is why police dey. “But wetin we like be say we go build schools for Nigerians, no be to build where we go go lock people where them dey call prison. Prison no dey bring better thing out; na
schools. The people wey dey say them want change, ask them say when they were there, how many schools them build for us?” In his remarks, Vice President Namadi Sambo urged Nigerians not to vote for a person who cannot produce his primary school certificate. He noted that President Jonathan is a PhD holder and a scientist who can represent the country anywhere in the world. He said, “He (Jonathan) is a PhD holder and he is a scientist. By every global standard, Mr. President can go anywhere as one of the most educated people in this world. And me, Architect Sambo, a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Architect, I am an experienced vice president. Many Nollywood stars and top musicians in the country accompanied the president to his campaign rally in Edo State. President Jonathan had earlier gone to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, to seek his royal blessing for the February 14 presidential poll. 2015: Jonathan Promises Massive Youth Employment For Deltans President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday pledged massive employment for youths of Delta State, if re-elected. The president made this promise at the Cenotaph Centre Asaba, the Delta State capital, in continuation of his campaign train ahead of 2015 presidential elections. “I love Delta State. I am happy to be in Delta State,” Jonathan told the mammoth crowd, and speaking in Pidgin English, he added: “Delta no dey carry last.” He condemned opposition party supporters for burning bill boards and properties of the Peoples Democratic Party just to cause trouble. While assuring that government will support the recently established aritime university in Bomadi, the President explained: “My government will support extensively the recently established maritime university to a standard. If elected, I will ensure that the university is provided with available infrastructure that will also provide employment for the people of Delta.” Earlier, the state governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, while commending President Goodluck Jonathan for providing infrastructural development for the state, however urged him to do more in human capital development. Meanwhile, what looks like a mild drama occurred when Dr. Almadu Alli, the director-general of Goodluck Campaign Organization, openly commended Governor Uduaghan for having successfully assembled the large crowd.
news extra 7
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Elections: Don’t Relax Until Victory Is Achieved, Buhari Tells State Coordinators As part of efforts not to leave any stone unturned ahead of the general election, the All Progresives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council yesterday held a State Coordinators’ Conference in Kaduna to strategise for the election. The APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari told the coordinators from the North West and North East regions not to get carried away by the crowds attending the party rallies but to intensify efforts in spreading the message of change to every nook and cranny of their respective states until election results are announced. He reiterated that the goal of the APC is to return Nigeria to its past glory, bring back security, remove corruption and restore discipline among others. Represented by the governorship aspirant and Kaduna State coordinator of the presidential campaign council, Haruna Yunusa Sa’eed, he said “Although APC is on the verge of clinching power, there is need to work harder than ever before until the victory is finally won.” By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
Money Laundering: EFCC Declares Nyako Wanted The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako and his son, Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako, a retired naval officer wanted in a case of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering. The anti-graft agency, however, did not offer details as to the gravity of the case in a press statement sent to LEADERSHIP. Also, the commission is set to arraign Emmanuel Owoicho, managing director, Owoema Resources Ltd. and five others over an alleged N115million oil deal. Others are Michael Morowei Oghenemi, managing director, Standard Allied Universal Concept Ltd; Emeka Achielefu Nwangwa, managing director, Ann Petroleum Investment Company; Parbor Wariowei, managing director, Alien Logic Ways Unique Services; Ogboyomi Bartholomew Taiye, managing director, Unique Energy Systems Ltd. and Joseph Sunday Odega, managing director, Calibrate Inspection Services Ltd. The suspects, who operate as a syndicate, allegedly approached Bascom Energy Ltd. that they had a consignment of Bonny Light Crude Oil from the NNPC for sale and Bascom Energy Ltd. entered into an agreement with them. By Ejike Ejike, Abuja
Chadian and Cameroonian soldiers trying to cross the El Beid Bridge, which separates Fotokol from Gamboru. PHOTO BY AFP.
Feb 14: I Reserve Further Comment Until Winner Emerges – Obasanjo By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta and Abubakar Salihi, Kano
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said he has reserved further comment regarding this month’s general election until a winner emerges on the 14th of this month. He made the comment at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, while meeting with some royal fathers from Egba Traditional Council who were attending a seminar on how to generate wealth from waste. The initiator of the Waste to Wealth Seminar, Oba Olufemi
Ogunleye, the Towulade of Akinale, in a chat with journalists said the programme was to avail royal fathers the opportunity to learn new ways of generating wealth so that they in turn will educate their subjects back home. Obasanjo said he has made enough comments regarding the polls both in speech and body language, adding “if anybody is still looking to me for comment, the person probably has not been around for sometime now. I have spoken enough. Our efforts start February 14. We should go and vote that day and vote right. I will talk after the election.”
Obasanjo said Nigeria is so blessed in both human and material resources that it only takes the right people and the political will to change things positively. He lamented the situation where teachers and civil servants are being owed salaries for up to six months, specifically citing the example of Benue State. Obasanjo also said he had reserved further comment on politics till after the election, when he was in Kano to commission a flyover bridge named after him by Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, at Kofar Nassarawa and visited the permanent site of the second university built by
Kwankwaso, North West University, Kano. Obasanjo said God is kind to Nigeria, and went philosophical by quoting Shakespeare, saying “The fault is not in our stars but in ourselves underneath.” It would be recalled that in recent time, Obasanjo has made statements that are hurtful to the re-election ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan. Disagreement between the two came into public domain in December 2013 when Obasanjo in a letter titled ‘Before It Is Too Late’ accused Jonathan of corruption, incompetence and keeping of a ‘hit squad’.
Only INEC Can Postpone Elections – PDP By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation yesterday declared that the PDP is ready for election on February 14, noting however that only the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can make the decision to postpone the elections. The party also denied allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential Campaign Organisation that the PDP-controlled federal government is plotting to scuttle the process with a view to putting in place an Interim National Government. The media director of the PDP
campaign organisation, Femi Fani-Kayode, said these allegations are disingenuous, tenuous and shameful. Fani-Kayode said, “We wish to state that our party, the PDP and our government under President Jonathan, do not superintend over electoral processes and elections in this country. There is an independent electoral body in place, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the chair of Professor Attahiru Jega. It is within the purview of INEC to make decisions about the holding and/or postponement of elections. It is not within the functions of the PDP or the federal government. We take exception
to the fact that they keep on making this allegation deliberately to provoke us. When they say that the PDP is controlling INEC, they have become nothing but victims of their own delusions and they are obviously suffering from terrible hallucination.” “INEC is completely independent. We have called on INEC to ensure that everybody has the Permanent Voter Cards (PVC). We have done that public service; but as to whether election is to be postponed or not is INEC’s sole decision. Whichever way, we are very well prepared for election. Let it be clear that the APC leaders and members are the ones who are afraid of elections. We are tra-
versing the length and breadth of the country campaigning to win votes. Our candidate, President Jonathan has given a good account of himself, using the campaign platform to brilliantly articulate and showcase his sterling achievements and to place on the table those projects and programmes he intends to execute and/or implement once his mandate is renewed. “But their candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari has not been able to seize the moment to do the same. General Buhari has attended 35 or thereabouts state rallies and in all the rallies put together, he has spoken for only 57 minutes.
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
Dangerous Attempt To Shift Election Date Forces Postponement of Conference The Management of LEADERSHIP wishes to announce the postponement of its annual conference and awards following moves by the government to shift the election date against the current of public opinion. The management is compelled to postpone the awards after three of its leading awardees indicated that they may be attending the National Council of State meeting, which President Goodluck Jonathan has purposely convened to shift the election date. Our awards have been known for their star quality. If three of the star awardees – former president Olusegun Obasanjo, Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa – may be attending the council of state meeting on a matter of clear and present danger to the nation, the responsible thing for us to do is to postpone the awards. We warned against a shift in the election date in our front page comment of Monday, January 26. Though we consider the postponement of the conference painful and unsettling, we consider it a price worth paying as we stand with our star awardees and indeed the majority of Nigerians united against the unwarranted attempt to tinker with the date. We apologise for the inconvenience caused the invitees. A new date will be announced soon. Signed:
MANAGEMENT
news NATIONAL 9
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Judiciary Is Overburdened – CJN By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Mahmud Mohammed yesterday said that the judiciary in the country is overburdened. While speaking at the National Judicial Insti-
tute at a Public Dialogue on the Future of Justice Administration in Nigeria organised by the Nigerian Bar Association, the CJN said the country was struggling “to provide an efficient, fair and effective justice system that is
able to ensure that everyone, regardless of station or status, can access quality justice that is administered quickly.” He said, “The current reality paints a sobering picture. The number of cases pending before the courts
have reached critical proportions and we must use all appropriate means to stop it from spiralling out of control. “If one considers the number of cases pending high courts and other courts of record.
Feb 14: 3rd Fresh Suit Seeks To Stop Buhari By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja
For the third time in about a week, another fresh suit has been filed before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja seeking the disqualification of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari. The new suit filed by Dr Ayakeme Whiskey, is seeking an order declaring Buhari ineligible to contest the February 14 election. Apart from the disqualification suit, there is a pending direct criminal complaint against Bu-
hari before an Abuja Magistrate’s Court asking the court to direct that the former head of state “be brought to book” for allegedly claiming on oath that he had a certificate he did not obtain. Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja has already fixed February 9, for hearing in the two previous suits. The judge had on Monday and Tuesday ordered that the processes be served on Buhari through publications in newspapers. INEC and Buhari are the two defendants in
suit marked FHC/ABJ/ CS68/2015. Like the plaintiffs in the two previous suits, Whiskey anchored his on the same grounds of alleged failure of Buhari to accompany his Form CF001 submitted to INEC with his certificates of academic qualifications. He contended that failure of Buhari to do so had rendered him ineligible to participate in the poll as he failed to comply with provisions of sections 131 and 318 of the 1999 Constitution and section 31(3) of the Electoral Act, 2010. In an affidavit he per-
sonally deposed today, he averred thus, “That the documents submitted by 2nd defendant did not show evidence of school certificate, whether first or secondary. “That by not providing and attaching his certificates as required, the 2nd defendant has left the question of his qualification for the election to conjecture. “There is no way to know whether or not the 2nd defendant has the requisite educational qualification necessary to contest for the position of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Osinbajo Laments Nigeria’s Woes By George Okojie, Lagos
The vice presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Professor Yemi Osinbajo yesterday took a cursory look at the various woes bedeviling Nigeria and lamented that the country was still to achieve greatness despite its natural and human resources. Osinbajo who was the guest speaker at the Annual Lecture Series in commemoration of Pastor Enoch Adoboye’s 73rd birthday held in Lagos, said the country needs visionary leaders now, more than ever before to pilot the affairs of the nation in a challenging global socio-political and economic environment. Osinbajo at the lecture with the theme, “Harmonising Virtues To Gain Heaven, Earthly Prosperity,” traced the insincerity of purpose by the leaders of the country. He added that , ”Our challenges are poverty – 112 million extremely poor despite being the largest economy in Africa - we are one of 33 of the poorest countries in the world. Infant mortality – 3.9 million children have died between
2009 and 2014 . Maternal mortality – 55,000 women die every year, diarrheal diseases – 110,000 yearly deaths. Literacy – 10.4 million children out of school, 80 per cent graduates jobless.” The former attorney general Of Lagos State added that the nation’s challenges, especially as it concerned corruption was described by Hilary Clinton, American Former Secretary of State as unbelievable. Others he identified as, “Missing funds, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), petroleum subsidy scam N2.6 trillion; Kerosene subsidy scam ; missing excess crude amounts to $1 billion. “400,000 barrels of oil stolen every day. The challenge our challenges present personal and communal obstacles to prosperity and happiness dominion over their the earth.” Osinbajo who is a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the Tree Parish pointed out that when God made trees, he stopped at that and left it to man to make furniture, boats, houses- using wood.
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
Nasarawa PDP Guber Candidate Vows To Restore Peace If Elected By Donatus Nadi, Lafia
The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, has vowed to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the state if elected governor of the state. Agabi made the commitment yesterday in Loko while addressing party supporters on the need to find lasting solution to communal clashes that have claimed hundreds of lives in the state. He said this will be achieved through building bridges of mutual trust and understanding, adding that it would be an inclusive process. Earlier, the Nasarawa State deputy governor, Hon Damishi Luka Barau challenged Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura to offer explanation on the communal violence that has erupted in
short news
Hoodlums Attack Gov Ahmed’s Campaign Train The campaign train of Kwara State governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed was yesterday attacked at Isapa in Ekiti local government area of the state. The dastardly act was carried out by hoodlums suspected to be supporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Isapa is the hometown of Senator Simeon Ajibola, the governorship candidate of PDP. During the attack, two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were shot and wounded, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin
the state for over two years. Hon Luka alleged that AlMakura should be held responsible for the wanton loss of lives and properties. He explained that for over two years that the crisis has lingered in the state, Al-Makura was always out of town before any crisis erupted. “I have been managing the crises because most times, immediately he left town, crisis began, and at a point, one began to wonder whether he had prior knowledge of the crisis and decided to run out”. “I think the governor will have some explanation to give to the people of the state”. Hon Luka said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration when elected will create a platform that will revive the state’s cultural values and reinvigorate its value system.
Election: Kogi Security Agents Assure Of Adequate Security Security agencies in Kogi State have assured the electorate of adequate security during the February 14 election in the state. The security agencies comprising the State Security Service (SSS), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigerian Army in their separate speeches gave the assurance yesterday in Lokoja during a Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that known thugs in the state would be arrested. The SSS director, Mike Fubara in his speech, said in the bid to ensure credible polls and security, the service has met with politicians, NURTW, religious leaders, traditional rulers, and identified the flashpoints as well as known thugs across the state for possible arrest whenever they are out to foment trouble. He said the service is monitoring the activities of politicians, civil society and INEC to know what they are doing pertaining to the election, adding that distribution of election materials and ad hoc staff would also be monitored so that the credibility of the election would not be compromised.
short news DSS Seeks Collaboration With Journalists Towards Violence-free Polls
The director, State Security Service in Kaduna State, Mr Yomi Zamba has stressed the need for a close working relationship between journalists in the state and security operatives to have a violencefree general election. Zamba, who presented a paper at a workshop organised by the Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), said the media (print, electronic and social) have a very critical role to play in the coming days of electioneering in Nigeria. By Isaiah Benjamin, By Sam Egwu, Lokoja Kaduna
L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Ogbonnaya Onu; APC national chairman, Chief John OdigieOyegun and a chieftain of the party, Chief Tony Momoh, during a press briefing on the party’s rejection of postponement of this month’s general elections at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO.
Mark Wants Benue, Nasarawa To End Fulani/Agatu Crisis By Solomon Ayado, Makurdi
Senate president David Mark yesterday urged the governments of Benue and Nasarawa states to put active security measures in place that will end the lingering crisis between the Fulani herdsmen and Agatu farmers. There have been incessant disagreements between the Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa State and farmers of Agatu local government area of Benue State. Scores of persons have been killed, with farmlands and properties worth millions of naira destroyed in the
crisis. However, addressing the people of Agatu in Obagaji, the headquarters of the LGA, Mark described the crisis as a major setback which requires urgent measures to enhance peace in the area. He stated this during his senatorial campaign tour of the area. He said Agatu is a core agrarian area that shares boundary with Nasarawa communities, adding that governments of both states should find possible ways to broker peace so as to foster rapid development. He said that the federal govern-
ment would continue to assist the affected states with logistics and other security requirements to sustain peace in the area, and appealed to the people to always live in harmony and eschew all manner of violence. Commenting on the ongoing construction of the Oweto-Loko Bridge across the Benue River which he said has reached 60% completion, the Senate president said the federal government is committed to ensuring that the project is 100% completed to ease the transportation challenge facing the people of the area.
Gov Aliyu Calls For Better Funding Of Varsities By Abu Nmodu, Minna
Niger State governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu has made a case for better funding of the nation’s universities to enable them perform their roles in the society. Aliyu made the call in Minna yesterday when he received the vice chancellor of the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Prof Nasir
Maiturari and management staff of the institution at the Government House. Governor Aliyu said with proper and better funding, universities will be in a better position to embark on research into various problems confronting the society with a view to finding solutions to such problems. He maintained that universities should be supported by both the government and private sector to
solve societal problems. Aliyu said problems like unnecessary killings of citizens were caused by lack of education, adding that any knowledgeable person will not want to kill another person. He, therefore, urged IBB University to ensure that its graduates are well trained to become self-employed and impact positively on the society as the era of graduates waiting for white-collar jobs is over.
INEC Takes Voter Education To Border Markets By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara State yesterday staged a walk show in border communities in the state to educate the people about this month’s general elections. At Okuta market in the Baruten local government area of the state, the electoral officer for the council, Mr Hussein Bello urged the residents to obtain their Per-
manent Voter Cards (PVCs) before the February 8 deadline to enable them exercise their civic rights on February 14 and 28. He restated the commitment of the commission towards conducting free and fair elections in the area. He said that the sensitisation exercise was to enlighten the electorate on the new rules and regulations that would guide the conduct of the elections. He warned the electorate never
to keep their cards with anybody as card readers would be used to detect the rightful owners of voter cards. Bello stated that the electoral body would designate a ballot box for each polling unit. He said that accreditation would commence in the polling centres by 8am, while voting will commence by 1pm. Other communities visited by the INEC sensitisation team included Shiya, Boriya and Tewu.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
business
NEWS/BUSINESS 11
60,000
Number of barrels of crude lost daily to pipeline vandalism
60,000 Barrels Of Crude Lost Daily To Pipeline Vandalism – NNPC
By Juliet Alohan, Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed that it loses between 50,000 and 60,000 barrels of crude oil and condensate on a daily basis to pipeline vandalism. The corporation’s spokesman, Ohi Alegbe, said there appeared to be a syndicate behind the economic sabotage, adding that the Escravos-Lagos gas pipeline was vandalised four times last weekend. The group executive director (GED), Gas and Power, Dr David Ige, who revealed this, stated
that the sudden increase in the activities of saboteurs around the Trans-Forcados Pipeline and the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline in the last six weeks has robbed the nation of several billions of naira to the detriment of the national economy. The GED stated that most of the power plants, including the Calabar Power Plant, Alaoji Power Plant, Omoku Power Plant, and Olorunsogo Power Plant, among others, have been connected to gas but all the efforts of the federal government to construct unprecedented massive gas pipeline infrastructure are
being sabotaged by pipeline vandals. Ige lamented that between January and February 2015 alone, the Trans-Forcados Crude Pipeline was attacked and vandalised four times, adding that none of the corporation’s gas pipelines have been able to run two straight days without being brought down. He stated further that the corporation was exploring a number of options on how to tackle the pipeline vandalism menace ranging from an aggressive community engagement to installation of technological gadgets to stave off the vandals.
According to Ige, “Each time a gas pipeline was brought down by the vandals, power supply across the country drops which adversely affects economic activities across the length and breadth of the nation.” He called for a holistic approach to resolving the pipeline vandalism scourge which he said will range from tightening security to expeditious judicial enforcement to bring to an end the menace which has deprived the country of several billions of revenue.
BUSINESS QUOTE The difference between a topflight creative man and the hack is his ability to express powerful meanings indirectly. Vance Packard, writer (1914-96)
N3bn Suit: Nembe Communities Sue Agip Over Breach BY Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa
The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has fixed today for the hearing of a suit filed by the pipeline surveillance contractors against Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) over a breach of contract. The plaintiffs are claiming N3 billion damages from Agip for opting out the terms of the contract. In suit No. FHC/PH/ CS/293/2014 filed by the contractors from Obama area at Okoroma in Bayelsa State, they alleged that Agip reneged on a contractual agreement entered on May, 24, 2014, between them. The contract was for a retainer ship of surveillance services against oil thieves and
pipeline vandals on Agip’s pipeline network within the Obama operational area. In the writ of summon signed by Nyenye Kuro Matthias, representing the contractors, and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, are seeking an order directing Agip to pay them N500 million being arrears for services rendered. The period of the claim was from June 2014 to October 2014 under the terms of the anti-crude oil theft surveillance agreement. “Also an order directing that the sum of N3 billion damages be awarded against the defendants for a breach of contract and L-R: Musician and ambassador for Wecyclers Nigeria Limited, Mr Eric Oboh; chief executive officer, Wecyclers Nigeria undue interference has Limited, Mrs Bilkis Adebiyi- Abiola and group public affairs and communications director, Coca-Cola Hellenic, Mrs Klaske been,” the writ read in part. De Jong during latter’s visit to Wecyclers Limited in Lagos, recently.
JAIZ, 7 Banks Pioneer New Bulk Payment System by NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja
The pioneer non-interest bank in Nigeria, Jaiz Bank Plc, is among the first eight banks to commence the Automated Bulk Payment System (NAPS). This will ensure faster processing of bulk payments like salaries, allowances, contractors’ payments and direct debit recoveries by the bank. The NAPS, an innovation of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System
(NIBSS) Plc, commenced full operations on February 2, 2015. The banks that successfully participated in the pilot run of the system are Jaiz Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Stanbic-IBTC Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and WemaBank Plc.The NIBSS said other banks would join the operations as soon they conclude on the necessary transition processes.
The NAPS is a product of a strategic alliance between the NIBSS and SystemSpecs Limited and is a direct response to market demand for Onlinerealtime bulk payment. It is a variance of the NIBSS Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system introduced in 2004 and the NIBSS Instant Payments (NIP) introduced in 2011.. It is a full endto-end credit (push) and debit (pull) transactions service deployable to corporate customers of banks.
It integrates with the NIBSS industrywide central mandate management systems (CMMS) for faster direct debit processing. The service is a 24/7 payments system operating at 15 minutes payments cycles with transaction tracking functionality, full end-to-end (STP) processing and operates on the secure NIBSS virtual private network. According to head, Corporate Communications of Jaiz Bank, Idris
Salihu, “This innovation by the NIBSS and for which Jaiz is proud to have been part of, will no doubt, position our bank to deliver on the needs of our corporate and public sector clients, especially, as it relates to timely and efficient payment of bulk transactions. It will also complement our internet and mobile banking platforms.” Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
IFC Extends $20m Facility To AIICO BY Friday Atufe, Lagos
A member of the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has announced an agreement to provide a $20 million convertible loan to AIICO Insurance Plc to support its expansion activities across Nigeria. The expansion of insurance services help increase economic security, and creates the development of new asset pools that can be invested in other ways to support economic development, including job creation. The transaction was signed today at AIICO’s corporate head office in Lagos; the company will use the loan facility to increase its agency network and retail centers and increase its reach and footprint across the country.
The facility will also enable AIICO to further strengthen its information technology platform to achieve greater efficiency in claims processing and customer services. “AIICO Insurance Plc offers life and non-life insurance products to individuals, households, and businesses with a focus on value creation. Partnering with the IFC will help AIICO expand its activities further to meet the needs of the consumers who require more options. It will improve AIICO’s operational efficiency and strengthen the economic security and prosperity in Nigeria,” the company’s managing director, Edwin Igbiti, said. IFC’s global insurance strategy aims to increase the penetration of insurance in underserved markets, promoting diverse products and
developing long-term partnerships with institutions that can help expand its developmental goals. The IFC country manager for Nigeria, Eme Essien Lore, said, “Availability of insurance coverage is an important enabler in managing economic risk and promoting the security of consumers and private businesses. The IFC’s support to AIICO’s expansion reinforces our commitment to improving social stability and economic growth in Nigeria.” The IFC encourages a diverse range of insurance products, including property, health, agro, life, micro insurance and pensions. It mobilises additional resources through global and regional insurance companies, other developmental financial institutions, and financial investors.
Dangote Cement, NB, UACN, Drive Stock Market By Olushola Bello, Lagos
The Nigerian stock market has continued to show a positive trend for the third trading day this week as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) index gained two per cent, yesterday. The share prices appreciation of Dangote Cement, Nigerian Breweries, United Africa Company of Nigeria (UACN), Nestle, among others led to the bullish trend on the stock market. The NSE All-Share Index appreciated by 599.61 points or two per cent to close at 30,617.96 as against the 30,018.35 achieved on Tuesday. Similarly, the market capitalisation went up by N199 billion to close at N10.198 trillion from the N9.999 trillion posted on Tuesday. On the same trend, market breadth closed strong on the positive stance with 29 gainers and 15 decliners. Dangote Cement recorded the highest price gain of N5 to close at N162 per share. It was trailed by Nigerian Breweries
gaining N2.50 to close at N148.50 while the UACN appreciated by N1.85 to close at N38.85 per share. Unilever rose by N1.62 to close at N35.70 and Zenith chalked up N1.31 to close at N18.11 per share. Conversely, Conoil led the losers’ chart by N23.53 to close at N32.68 per share. Guinness lost N1.44 to close at N128.46 while Presco shed N1.05 to close at N29.99 per share. Stanbic IBTC lost 89 kobo to close at N25.11 while Okomu Oil dropped by 81 kobo to close at N26.64 per share. In all, investors bought 466.045 million shares valued at N4.75 billion in 4,880 deals as against 396.808 billion shares valued at N3.81 billion traded in 4,885 deals on Tuesday. FBN Holdings emerged the most traded equity, accounting for 77.22 million shares valued at N541.19 million. UBA came second with 44.96 million shares worth N161.78 million while Diamond accounted for 35.93 million shares valued N140.03 million.
SEC Empowers Trade Groups To Develop Capital Market BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos
L-R: Director, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Mrs Ayo Otaigbe; public relations manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr Tope Ashiwaju and chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation of Nigeria, Professor Olu Akinyanju during the presentation of a cheque and products from Dufil Prima Foods to the foundation in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA
I Insist, N30trn Mismanaged Under Okonjo-Iweala– Soludo BY Nse Anthony Uko, Abuja
The former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has said that he stands by his statement that N30 trillion was mismanaged under the purview of the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “In particular, I insist that over N30 trillion has either been stolen,
is unaccounted for, or grossly mismanaged over the last few years. “This figure does not include the estimated $40.9 billion (N8.6 trillion at parallel market exchange rate or nearly two years’ federal government budget) which the African Union (AU)’s recent report claims to be “stolen” from Nigeria each year,” Soludo said. Soludo said it was evident from the debates that emanated from
his article that the country’s economic management will not be the same again. “Once our managers know that the citizens will rigorously and vigorously challenge them to render proper account, the welfare of the citizens will be better for it,” he said. The former CBN boss stressed that whoever emerges winner of the 2015 presidential poll has his work cut out for him.
The acting director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mounir Gwarzo, has said that the commission is empowering trade groups in the Nigerian capital market so that it can focus on its primary responsibilities of regulating and developing the market. Gwarzo said this in Abuja when he received members of the Association of Assets Custodians of Nigeria (AACON) and noted that one of the policy thrusts of the present management of the commission was the empowerment of the trade groups for greater and more effective role performance in the market. He said, “As long as people come together to form groups, we will support them. That is why we have reviewed our complaints management framework to enable trade groups handle complaints and resolve them and that is better for the market. “The management is working to empower self regulatory organisations (SROs) and trade organisations to enable them handle some complaints and deal with them with dispatch as the strategy of the management is not to create committees but to focus on prescriptions, ensuring that they are executed within reasonable time frames.” Gwarzo said the commission has finalised the rules on complaints management framework with one of the highlights being to allow complaints to be managed at the lower levels. He, therefore, urged the custodians to be ready for the responsibility. In her remarks, the resident of the AACON, Kemi Adewole, underlined the importance of creating a conducive environment for foreign direct and portfolio investments with a view to deepening the capital market. She commended the SEC for its regulatory role, adding that her association will continue to manage foreign investors’ impression of the market.
2015 NIGERIAdecides
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
THE CAMPAIGN FALLOUTS, THRILLS & FRILLS
www.election2015.leadership.ng
Obembe
The Nigerian Medical Association(NMA) has demanded that presidential aspirants unveil their health agenda to Nigerians. The association expressed worry that few days before the presidential elections, none of the political parties is interested in talking about health care. Addressing journalists during a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, the president of NMA, Dr Kayode Obembe, said doctors have closely watched with “mixed feelings,” the campaigns and documentaries by political parties listing their achievements, manifestos and promises in the months since campaigns took off. According to him, “It is very disturbing to note that there has not been any precise and articulate pronouncements about the health challenges confronting the health sector and how to tackle them,” NMA president Dr Kayode Obembe said at a press conference in Abuja. Obembe said among issues the health community expects to be part of campaigns is universal health coverage and per head health spending, which he noted, still lags behind figures in countries with programmes comparable to the National Health Insurance Scheme. “The reason for the stagnation is
It is indeed very worrisome how the most important tier of health care delivery—the very foundation of it—would be domiciled under the weakest, worst funded, most neglected and in some situations, absent level of governance
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Presidential Candidates Should Tell Us Their Health Agenda – NMA clearly due to the reluctance of state governors and local government chairmen to embrace the scheme” because of the counterpart funding they need to provide in order to access the fund,” said he. The association said political authorities showed little regard for the community-based health insurance which could help poorer Nigerians get basic health cover. “When politicians and their political parties describe themselves as grass roots based, it leaves one to wonder then if the true meaning of that coinage is not lost on the premise of political razzmatazz,” Obembe noted. NMA is worried about how state and local governments can provide counterpart funding required by the newly inaugurated National Health Law to ensure poor rural populations and communities get basic health benefit cover. It said local governments, which statutorily administer primary health care, would remain “comatose and dysfunctional” as long as they joint accounts with states, operated by “phantom ministry of local government affairs.” “It is indeed very worrisome how the most important tier of health care delivery—the very foundation of it—would be domiciled under the weakest, worst funded, most neglected and in some situations, absent level of governance,” said Dr Obembe. “This is indeed an absurdity.” The association has also raised concerns about unaddressed strikes in the health sector, skewed distribution of human resources for health, continuation of surveillance measures for Ebola virus disease, attempts to contain the recent outbreak of bird flu and other diseases of public health significance. By Winifred Ogbebo, and Victor Okeke, Abuja
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Petrol Tanker Kills 2 APC Supporters In Niger Gov. Martins Elechi
Thugs Attack LP Supporters In Ebonyi Thugs suspected to be members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) numbering over 50 yesterday attacked supporters of the Labour Party in Ejikewu Primary School, Owutu Edda, venue of the Labour Party rally, shot one Mr. Okporie Arisi, injured 7 persons and destroying the Labour party vehicles, chairs and other campaign materials. Confirming the incident, an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity disclosed that the suspected thugs came with a Sienna car and a Toyota Camry to the venue of the Labour Party rally where the youths were arranging chairs, canopies and tables ahead of the rally, shot Mr. Arisi, injured 7 others with other dangerous weapons, destroyed the canopies, chairs and immediately zoomed off with their vehicles. The eyewitness noted that the vvictim who is currently receiving treatment ihospital in the area is in a critical condition adding that it took the quick intervention of some security personnel in the local government area to stop supporters of Labour Party from invading the residence of the thugs. When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Chris Anyanwu said that the matter is yet to be reported to the command. By Obinna Ogbonnaya,
No fewer than two supporters of the All Progressives Congress in Tunga Kawo of Mashegu local government area of Niger State where night were killed when a Tanker conveying petroleum product rammed into them after receiving the gubernatorial campaign team of the party. An eye witness account narrated to LEADERSHIP yesterday that the incident which occurred some few minutes after 8 pm when the team departed the village burning the two to death immediately leaving 15other critically injured. It was gathered that the accident took many by surprise as the APC supporter scampered for safety and was believe to have been caused by brake failure and that the tanker exploded in flames that caught up with them Those injured were it further learnt were rushed to the Kontagora General hospital by the members of the campaign team who turned back to attend to the victims immediately they were informed of the incident. The State publicity secretary of APC Mr Jonathan Vatsa confirmed the incident and that tanker was coming from Ilorin kwara state before running into the crowd of supporter that had earlier welcome the governorship candidate Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello. and his entourage. By Abu Nmodu, Minnau
APC guber candidate, Abu Bello
Are Majority Of Nigerian Roads Now Motorable?
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan recently made several claims about his government’s achievements, including improvements to road networks in the country. “When I assumed office in 2010, out of the 35,000km of federal roads nationwide, only about 5,000km were motorable, Jonathan said on 11 November. “Today, that number
has increased to about 25,000km.” While there have been some road improvements (particularly in advance of elections, as the government seeks to win votes), there is no exhaustive proof to corroborate the president’s assertion. It would appear that the claims are exaggerated. There is no government document that
exhaustively outlines federal road projects in Nigeria, says Stanley Achonu, operations lead atBudgit, a Lagos-based start-up that tracks government spending. Budgit has found it “difficult” to track the 25,000km of claims, he says. The available evidence “doesn’t add up to 25,000km”. At the same time, Nigerians do not seem to be particularly happy with the state of their
roads. A 2013 snap poll by NOIPolls, a Gallupaffiliated agency, showed that 7 out of every 10 Nigerians consider them “unsafe”. That assertion seemed extreme, given the notoriously potholed state of Nigerian roads, so Africa Check investigated, and found that there was little evidence to support the claim. – See more on africacheck.org
14 NIGERIA DECIDES NUMBERS 2 – Senate President David Mark has been Senate President for two terms,the longest for any Senate President in the country ‘s history
Thursday, February 5, 2015
QUOTES
All For Mr President
2 – Number of Senators that have been in the Senate since 1999,Senate President David Mark and Chief Whip of the Senate Hayatu Gwarzo 7 – Number of Women in the present Senate,senators Helen Esuene( Akwa Ibom), Zainab Kure( Niger) Aisha Alhassan( Taraba) Remi Tinubu( Lagos) Nkechi Nwaogu ( Abia) Nnenadi Usman( Kaduna) Chris Anyanwu ( Imo) 7 – Numbers of the Sessions Of The National Assembly 7 – Number of Incumbent Governors contesting for the Senatorial elections on February 14 10 – Number of former governors in the present Senate 12,000 Number of adhoc staff to be used by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Taraba State during the general elections.
➔Chief John Oyegun “We recognize that it (INEC) had challenges but these are challenges that have been or are being seriously tackled by the Commission, and the engineered clamour for postponement is not helping the situation.”
Crosss section of supporters at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN
Military Not Working For Any Political Party – DHQ The Defence Headquarters has distanced officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces from politics, saying they do not belong nor work for any political party in the country. This was contained in a press statement titled “That Political Campaign Advert On The CDS Is Unfair To The Military” issued by director of defence information, Major General Chris Olukolade, in Abuja yesterday in which the military authorities took exception to a political advert currently running on some television stations, which it said has portrayed the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, in bad light. Olukolade revealed that in the said television commercials, vile references were made about the
CDS’ leadership of the ongoing counter-terrorism operation in some parts of the country, adding that the advert is typical of a common use of the media to propagate the campaign of attacking or ridiculing the Nigerian Armed Forces all with the intention of scoring political points. “The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) views with strong exception the political campaign advert by a political party which is currently airing on several television channels targeting the person and office of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh for denigration. “The Chief of Defence Staff and by extension the entire personnel of Nigerian military do not belong to or work for any political party rather they work for the overall interest of the nation. The DHQ
The Chief of Defence Staff and by extension the entire personnel of Nigerian military do not belong to or work for any political party rather they work for the overall interest of the nation
therefore urge politicians to always know when and where to draw the lines and keep the military out of their political machinations. “The issues raised in the so-called political advert have already been clarified a couple of times by the DHQ and efforts are currently being channeled towards effective prosecution of the fight against terror with a view to reversing the situation in the areas where the terrorists are showing presence. It is therefore unfortunate that a lot of fabrications, exaggeration, misrepresentation of facts and outright falsehood are being disseminated to achieve this unjust objective of tarnishing the reputation of the leadership and individual officers of the nation’s military, all with the aim of getting at the government of the day. By Bode Gbadebo, Abuja
➔ Mal. Nasir el-Rufai “God is watching all of us and we know what we are talking about. We are insiders and know the consequences of our silence, and so we are stating the fact before the world. What we are saying is, support El-Rufai and let us rebuild our battered state.
INECWATCH Again, Protesters Besiege INEC Office Over Postponement Of Elections For the second time in two days, protesters yesterday staged a protest at national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding for a shift in the elections by two months. The elections are scheduled as follows: February 14 Presidential and National Assembly election and the February 28 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election. The protesters, who came under the ae-
gis of the Coalition of Civil Societies, allege marginalisation of the Southern part of the country in the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC). They coalition led by Amanda Chisom, said the northern states have received a total of 73 percent of the PVCs, while the southern states have received only 46 percent of the PVCs. Giving a breakdown, they noted that the North West zone has total registered voters
of 18 million and has received 14 million or 75 percent of the distributed PVC, leaving behind 2.6m of voters that are yet to collect their PVCs. In the North East, the group said that the zone has received 10.4 million registered voters with a 7.4 million of PVC distribution, and 2.9 million eligible voters yet to collect their PVCs, the North Central zone has a total registered voters of 10.5 million with 5.5 million recorded to have collected their
PVCs and 5 million said not to have collected their PVCs. As for the South West, the group said that there is a total registered voters of 13.1 million, out of which 6.4 million or 48.7 percent has received their PVC and 6.7 million yet to collect their PVCs, while in the Southsouth there is a registered voters of 8.9 million, out of which only 3.9 million or 44.1 percent and 4.9 million yet to collect their PVCs. By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja
NIGERIA DECIDES 15
Thursday, February 5, 2015
PDP Won’t Exist Beyond February 14 – Hon Jimoh
voices
Jonathan Or Not, N’Delta Will Resume Militancy This Year – Briggs
Hon. Jide Jimoh was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly before he became chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Currently, the chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is vying for a seat in the House of Representatives from Lagos Mainland Constituency. In this interview with Taiwo ogunmola-omilani, he called on Nigerians to vote for change, and insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would cease to exist from February 14, 2015. You have been given the ticket to represent Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 in the Federal House of Representatives, what are some of your plans if you eventually emerge the winner?
discussion. That is where you would be able to meet with them, let them make suggestions on whatever you have, listen to them on whatever they want and add them to what you want to do.
I am not new to this game, if you are talking of politics, I am there, You have been in the legislature before you join the executive arm if you are talking of democracy, as a local government chairman, I am there, when you are talking one begins to wonder why the of legislative activities, I am very switch, were you able to affect the much there, I have been tested and lives of the people positively as a trusted. I have been very much local government chairman? involved since the last eight r years that I was in the Lagos State I achieved as a local government House of Assembly. I am a person chairman, I am a performer, it is that believes in togetherness and not about making noise, I have unity. I believe in team work and passion to serve my people. I a legislative activity is not about have been able to affect my people the person, it is about collective positively, I am a messenger of responsibility. It involves a people like I said earlier, I always number of people; I have been listen to them, carry them along given the ticket to represent and take things into consideration my party, the All Progressives and ensure I consult them before I Congress (APC) at the Federal embark on anything. I have done House of Representatives from wonderfully well and it is on record in Nigeria today that the only local Lagos Mainland Constituency. I want to tell you that a government that has embarked on legislative activity is about robust fire fighter brigade in Nigeria today debates. It is about oversight is Yaba Local Council Development function, and togetherness and Area (LCDA). I established it with personnel I regard myself as a team player. It is about law making, I have and funded it and we have been done it before and I am prepared working, no local government has to do it again. I regard myself as done it in Nigeria. We are the first a messenger to my people, I am and the only local government available to represent my people, that has done this in Nigeria, where I can be involved through if all other local governments legislation and I promise my and LCDAs had done this, we will not be having people to discharge my duties problems of fire with utmost responsibility and outbreaks, even if take the area to a greater height. it happens, it Also, I promise to have private can easily be put member bills on so many things, particularly on welfarism to our people, this is paramount to me and it is part of the cardinal points of the APC. By the special grace of God, I promise to deliver these to my people. Apart from the legislative activities, there are certain things one must do as a politician, you must ensure you collaborate with your people and embark on public orientation, public Jimoh
off. It is also on record that we are the only local government that has free medical ambulance services for its people in the local government, it happened under my administration. I also established elderly welfare package like social package that we have been witnessing in Europe, America and all that. We give N10,000 each to elderly people and up till today, it is still there because we have made room for its sustenance. If you are talking of infrastructural development, I have done well, in the health sector, educational sector, social sector, infrastructural development, and some other things. I hope I have been able to do them very well. I am a man that believes in the welfare of my people and I will continue to champion that. Let’s look at the chances of your party, the APC in the coming elections, particularly in Lagos State, what do you think are the chances of your party?
Let me tell you one thing, the first election that is coming up on 14th February of this year, which is a lovers’ day, if you marry the name of Osinbajo with Buhari, you would have 14 letters completed, if you merge that of Jonathan with Sambo, you would have 13 letters uncompleted, that would tell you that the secret of the PDP would be exposed. There are so many number of things that have gone bad in Nigeria today, if you are talking of corruption, Nigeria is nowhere to be found in the world now, we are on zero level, if you talking of insecurity, Nigeria is on zero level, if you are talking about unemployment, we are on zero level. ANSWERS
1.
General Ibrahim Babangida spent how many years in office?
2. 3.
Who is Nigeria ‘s first and only prime minister? Nigeria Civil war lasted how
4.
many years? Interim President Ernest Shonekan spent how many years
5.
in office? Who is the first minister of the Federal Capital Territory?
1. 8. 2. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa 3. 2 years, 6 months 4. 3 months 5.John Jatau Kadiya
QUIZ TEST YOUR POLITICAL IQQ
Briggs
A Niger Delta activist and the national convener of the Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement (NDSDM), Ms. Annkio Briggs, has vowed that whether President Goodluck Jonathan get re-elected or not, the people of the Niger Delta have resolved to embark on agitation for the ownership of oil resources this year. Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja yesterday, Briggs revealed that the country will definitely see agitation from the South-South region very soon. “I want Nigerians to understand that the Niger Delta people have decided that whether Jonathan is the president or not the president in 2015 is no longer an issue for us because we have to support him. Now whether he is the president or not the president, come 2015 Niger Delta will start agitating for the ownership of the oil even if everybody does not do it, some of us are going to do it and we are going to do it until we get what we want. Other countries are practicing ownership, we must practice ownership. “The land Niger Delta belongs to me and not you. You come
from a particular region and I cannot claim North-east. Why is everybody else claiming Niger Delta? Let us be realistic, I come from Niger Delta, it is my place, therefore what is there is mine. But the Constitution of the 1999 says it is not, fine, I don’t have to accept it, we don’t have to accept it,” she said. Speaking further on agitation of ownership, Ms. Briggs explained that: “We will see agitation from the Niger Delta. I am speaking to you as the national convener of the Niger Delta Self-Determination Movement, our project as we see it today is that we are going to use every legal means available both within and outside Nigeria. “We considered the oil companies and the federal government of Nigeria that are operating in the Niger Delta as people that are operating without our bonafide consent. It doesn’t mean that by the constitution they don’t have right to operate, they do but we are saying that we do not accept that they have such right. So we will pursue the legal angle. We want the Constitution to be interpreted and when it is interpreted, we want to see whether that Constitution is in our favour or not, if it is not in our favour we want to change it in our favour,” she added. By Bode Gbadebo, Abuja
trending @Zahra_Buhari: President GEJ and his team making a big deal of GMB not attending THEIR debate, should ask themselves why GEJ boycotted the 2011 debate @DrLotenna: Just look at all the shallow so-called achievements that these #GEJVictory2015 people are trying to sell Jonathan with. We can’t be fooled! @doyinokupe: Buhari will not debate anywhere. Reason:All the organisers are compromised according to him. @Princekunle: “@SegunObasanjo: GEJ and AIT went after Buhari’s late wife and daughter. How low can
Jonathan get ?” That’s ridiculous and irresponsible. @vonapochi: Why ‘ll @ buhariosinbajo refuse to participate in a presidential debate or afraid to lose political points @abati1990 @ renoomokri @doyinokupe @PdpNigeria: GMB never executed any in the region when he was head of state and has so far failed to articulate an acceptable blue-print for development.
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
AfDB Projects 6% Growth For Nigeria’s Economy BY KINGsLEY ALU, Abuja
The Country Director of the African Development Bank, Dr. Ousmane Dore, has predicted that the Nigerian economy would grow by six per cent in 2015 in spite of the oil price shock. Dore said on Monday in Abuja that the economic prospect of the country was still good, though it was going to be affected by the oil price shock. “The country’s prospect is going to be affected downward by this major oil price shock and we still expect growth to be in the range of 5.5 to 6 per cent this year notwithstanding the shock. “How is the economy going to be affected by this? “It clearly depends on how the government is going to react to this shock. “The first thing is to see if this shock or decline is going to be transitory or permanent. “To the extent that they are permanent, you need to do a major adjustment to the budget because as you know, the budget is based on benchmark price for oil. “As you know today, the price is even below the $65 per barrel that the government has budgeted. “It means that the government would require a tough adjustment to counter the impact of the decline on its revenue.” Dore warned that should the government fail to react positively to the oil price shock, the error might lead to large borrowing since the country’s economy was largely dependent on oil export. The AfDB country director said there was the need for government to view whether the price shock would be transitory or permanent, stressing that the budget adjustment was necessary should the fall become permanent. He said that a continuous fall in oil prices below the revised benchmark of $65 per barrel could reduce total federally collected revenue, of which oil contributed over 70 per cent. According to him, if the gap could not be filled by increasing nonoil sources of revenue, the situation could also
force the government to revise its Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, stating that it could mean embarking on additional and expectedly painful spending cuts, with significant consequences on the future development prospects of the country. “If the government does not react, then what is going to happen? “It may have to go into large borrowing to make up for the revenue short fall because oil – let’s keep it in mind – is still some 80 per cent of the revenue of the government.
“So you are going to be experiencing a large shortfall because the price is going from $100 plus to less than $50 dollars. “But fortunately, what the government has been doing was to readjust the budget to address those shortfalls. “So it’s been a lot of fiscal measure that have been put in place, which might raise additional revenue to non-oil, to taxation of all these private jets and tightening loopholes and closing exemptions,” he said. According to him, the
effect of the falling oil prices could also be felt in the current account, which could be in deficit for the first time in many years, adding that unless drastic measures to increase non-oil sources of export were taken, the financial account, which is already in deficit, could adversely affect the foreign exchange reserve. Dore said the deficit could also affect monetary authorities’ ability to use the reserve to meet the country’s international payment obligations, manage inflation rate and
use it as a buffer against external shocks. He said: “The current account is also likely to be in deficit for the first time because if you export revenue is low, your import bill do not change much because Nigeria is basically exporting oil. “Then you are likely to find the current account to be much in deficit but right now it is in surplus. “And we do know if the financial account is in deficit and you add that to a current account deficit, you will have a balance of payment problem, which
will translate into a decline in the reserve position. “And we should prevent the Central Bank from continuous recourse to the reserve to defend the naira, that impact on the naira value, which now has depreciated. “So this is what this price shock is doing to the economy.” He further stated that if the country’s fiscal buffer, which is the Excess Crude Account, were kept intact, it would have been a stabiliser for the economy in the face of oil price crisis.
20 commerce/BUSINESS
Thursday, February 5, 2015
‘We’ll Make Abuja Markets Shoppers’ Delight, Tourists’ Destination’ The Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) has said it would work closely with all stakeholders to fast track the goal of making Abuja markets number one shopping and tourism destination. The manager of Abuja AICL, Dr Musa A. Musa, stated this yesterday in Abuja during the inauguration ceremony of the executives of Wuse Market Traders Association (WAMATA). Musa said that the FCT Administration under the leadership of the Minister, Bala Mohammed, had made markets in Abuja a work in progress to the envy of all. “The FCT
Administration has over the years shown unwavering commitment to the development and renewal of the market environment as well as the welfare of the traders and other users. “It has through its interventionist projects/partnership, ensured that the market retains its position as number one shoppers’ delight in Abuja,” he said adding that the most recent of them was the state of the art security equipment and surveillance system (the CCTV, bomb detector, XCAT and so on) deployed to secure the lives and properties in the market.”
He added that this also included the mega solar panelled roof by the ministry of power to supply uninterrupted power to the market. “Through our facility manager, Abuja Markets Management Limited, we have enjoyed the full cooperation and support of our key stakeholders in the market-thetraders. “With the emergence of this executive, we have no doubt in our mind that we will work even closer to fast track the goal of the FCT Administration for our markets,” he said. Musa said that the market over ten years had grappled with leadership challenges
but congratulated the traders for breaking the jinx and executive members under one central umbrella. The newly elected chairman, Mr Okorie Raphel, appreciated the minister for his support in providing an environment conducive for trading. Raphel pledged the support of the association to the FCT Administration towards achieving its goal. “Let me assure you that we shall rebuild the association by leaving a legacy that it is not only truly committed to serve the interest of traders but will be owned by all traders,” he said.
NEPC Gets WCO Award For Exports Promotion The Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has been presented with a certificate of merit by the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The Service said the award was for exceptional service the agency rendered to the international customs through exports promotion in Nigeria. The comptrollergeneral of the Nigerian Customs, Abdullahi Dikko Nde, who did the presentation in Abuja to the executive director of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, said the award was part of activities marking the International Customs Day 2015 which was marked recently. According to him, a synergy between the Nigerian Customs and NEPC would ensure increase in the generation of foreign exchange by Nigeria
through exports. He further stressed the need for more collaborative efforts between the two agencies in providing security for exportoriented businesses in Nigeria with a view to enhancing the initiatives by the government for diversification of the economy. In his response, NEPC boss while thanking the World Customs Organisation for the Award, assured that his agency would always be prepared to collaborate effectively with the Nigerian Customs in promoting exports in Nigeria for more revenue generation. Awolowo also congratulated the comptroller- general on successes that have been trailing the initiatives so far put in place by the Nigerian Customs for upping the national revenue.
BUSINESS/mines & steel 21
Thursday, February 5, 2015
2015: Revisiting The Roadmap To Solid Minerals Rejuvenation The formulation and presentation of a roadmap for the development of the solid minerals and metals sectors in 2012 has continued to stimulate discussions for the development and revitalisation of the sector. But almost three years into the presentation, development in the sector remains a mirage, RUTH TENE NATSA writes.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development’s policy trust for the development of the sector had always been optimistic as it hinges on value addition, import substitution, substantial job creation, natural resource conservation, visibility of the private sector and investment in geo-science data among other issues. With the development and presentation of the roadmap, it seemed a new dawn had come for the minerals and metals sector and with the optimism witnessed at the presentation, many were of the view that the sector was gaining another level in the global economic and competitive world and Nigeria is set to take its place in the global scheme of mining nations of the world. At the presentation of the road map in 2012, the president, Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Alhaji Sani Shehu, in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP, said the outcome of the roadmap is a conclusion of the instruments needed for the rejuvenation of the erstwhile ailing sector. He acknowleged the existence of the Mineral and Mining Act, the mining legislation and the roadmap which he said “are aimed at guiding the mining sector as well as operators so that they mine and operate in accordance with international best practices with the aim of raising the standard of Nigerian mining to be compatible with world standards.” The mining sector has evolved from various stages, from the era of traditional mining during which there were no policies/ legislations governing the industry, the colonial era where all activities were properly documented, to the post-colonial era which witnessed various policies and a high level of
government policies and programmes on the sector, subsequently leading to a high level of instability. The minister of mines and steel development, Mohammed Musa Sada, during the presentation of the roadmap said that the desire for the diversification of the nation’s economy away from over dependence on oil as the principal revenue source gave rise to the evolution of the roadmap. Unfortunately even with the recent devaluation of oil and the fall in the price of oil products, both in the international market and locally, very little has been said or done to revalue and invest in the solid minerals and mining sector. Speaking on the challenges that has continually put spanners in the development works of the sector, he listed, “Inadequacies of geosciences data needed to support detailed mineral investigation, inadequacies of infrastructural facilities such as roads/rail lines, lack of adequate legislation and low institutional and human capacity, high proportion of artisanal and small scale miners (ASMs) which have led to high environmental degradation” among other challenges. He said, “The roadmap is aimed at increasing the sector’s contribution from the current 0.4 per cent to at least five per cent by the year 2015 and 10 per cent by year 2020 while creating about three million direct and indirect jobs by 2015, facilitating the production of coal needed to power the coal-fired power plants that would bring 30 per cent contribution to the nation’s power generation by year 2020.” Other aims, he said, included “revitalising the entire steel sector for the operation and production of three million tonnes of liquid steel per annum by 2015 and 12.2 million tonnes of liquid steel per annum by 2020.”
Also, producing geological maps on a scale of 1:100,000 covering the entire nation by 2020 and achieving enhanced capacity to supply 50 per cent of the skilled manpower required for all segments of the minerals and metals sector were other aims of developing the Solid Minerals Development Roadmap. Sada re-emphasised that the purpose of the roadmap is to take advantage of the rising international and local commodity prices and the global resurgence of exploration and exploitation activities with their attendant huge investments in the sector. Like magic, 2015 is here and very little change has been witnessed in the development of the sector, leaving pessimists to continue to assert that government has no interests in the diversification message it preaches. The principal technical officer of the ministry, Mr Yau Waziri, said the roadmap is all about ensuring that things are done following due processes and entails doing the right thing before mining activities are carried out. He said the roadmap was a definite plan for development, even though development is a gradual process where one stage must lead to another. For instance in acquiring a mining lease, application forms must be submitted and due processes followed and all background requirements must be made to ensure they have all technical and financial weight to fulfil their obligations before such leases are given, so all these parameters must be followed. The president, Nigeria Mining Geoscientists Society (NMGS), Akinola George, in a phone chat with LEADERSHIP said the presentation of the roadmap was a step to the next level, adding that with funding to the sector a lot of activities will soon be witnessed. He, however, noted that not much has been done in the area of funding the sector. “We are at the next level. With funding lots of activities will start happening in the sector and of course employment will now be enmass and the problems of unemployment
Dimension stones
will be drastically reduced, while lots of mining activities will take off including drilling. A plan has been set out as to how the minerals and metals sector will develop; so what we need actually is the fund. By the time the government sets in, what is necessary for investments to come in will be put in place. Take
for example the mapping of the 1:100,000 to be completed by the NGSA. They have started on a good note and will soon complete that. However, a lot of other rudimentary activities need to be done before investors come in because these are some of the things investors will like to see before they can put
in their money. The need to bring to life the roadmap is again to create awareness of the huge potential that exists in the sector as a viable substitute to oil. This will in turn lead to wealth and job creation, poverty alleviation and increasing the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), among several others.
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energy news
FG Assures Local Meter Manufacturers Of Patronage By Chika Izuora, Lagos
The federal government has said that over 55 per cent of electricity consumers in the country do not have meters in their homes but that it has taken steps to fill the gap. Government said the situation has led to cases of energy theft and estimated billing of customers The minister of power, Chinedu Nebo, who spoke through the permanentsecretary of the ministry Dr Godknows Igali, at the opening of a regional workshop in Lagos, on metering, billing and loss reduction for distribution utilities, expressed concerns over the development. The minister said that the federal government is determined to make funds available to the electricity distribution companies to procure over 750,000 meters for customers, and that government will consider local manufacturers to help close the gap. According to him, the measure would go a long way in filling the gap created by the inadequate supply of meters as well
as encourage indigenous manufacturers of meters in the country. Nebo said government has raised N18 billion revenue from the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria before the privatisation of the entity but that the revenue dropped when the new owners of the company took possession on November 2013. He attributed the development to commercial and technical losses on the distribution networks of the new owners of the company. He said the owners of the company are working hard to minimise the losses as well as injecting more funds into their operation to boost the efficiency of their business. He promised that the federal government would not rest on its oars to ensure that the hitches associated with losses on the companies’ networks. Speaking,Thomas Onyekauwah, director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said that said that company recorded about 15 per cent losses in their transmission network.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
New Owners Injecting Huge Funds Into Power Sector – Nebo By Juliet Alohan, Abuja
The minister of power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has said that since the advent of the private sector-led generation and distribution sub-sectors, there has been huge injection of funds by the investors towards revamping the inherited assets. This, he said, has led to substantial increase in capacities of the Egbin and Ughelli thermal plants as well as Kainji Hydro station, which had been in comatose for many years before now.
For instance, Nebo said an extra 220 mega watts has been recovered from Egbin as a result of the successful repair of its 6th turbine which blew up about nine years ago. In a statement by the ministry’s deputy director, press, Timothy Oyedeji, Nebo said the development has assisted government to switch attention to other areas. Nebo further urged electricity consumers with complaints to lodge such with the distribution companies through the designated business centres, and if unsatisfied to contact the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). On the new gas tariff, the minister insisted that this was the first time a cost reflective tariff that will assist all actors recoup their investment has been put in place, a development he said has encouraged gas suppliers to meet supply obligation. He further added a workable policy on renewable energy and energy efficiency, but now, is at its final stage, as government intends to energise large populations of people living in the rural areas.
L-R, Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke; director general National Information Development Agency (NITDA) Mr Peter Jack and chairman, African Time Network, Mr Fidelis Anosike during the official launching of Sola Kiosk at the art and craft village in Abuja yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO
Contract-based Electricity Market Commences – NERC
By Juliet Alohan, Abuja
The Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has attained the much awaited transitional stage of the electricity market (TEM), whereby wholesale buying and selling in electricity is based on contractual and regulatory rules. This is sequel to an order of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directing all electricity market participants on the take-off of the TEM with effect from February 1, 2015. With this development, a greater degree of business and investment certainty has been introduced into the country’s electricity market, with the welcome result of setting an even firmer basis for increasing the amount of electricity available to Nigerians. Commenting on the importance of this stage of the market, the NERC’s chairman, Dr Sam Amadi said, “This will ensure more discipline, corporate governance, guarantee recovery on investment as well as give certainty for a
sustainable and growing electricity market that would serve the need of Nigerians.” The NERC in its order stated that the conditions set out in the market rules and subsequently agreed to be necessary for effective TEM have been satisfactorily fulfilled. A statement issued yesterday by the regulatory agency said, “With effect from February 1, 2015, the amendments to the market rules and application and enforcement of the said market rules shall be in full force. With the effectiveness of the market rules, as amended, the Transitional Stage of the Electricity Market shall commence with effect from the same date.” One of the implications of the TEM is that the gas bottleneck which has constrained electricity supply would be reduced as gas will be supplied to electricity generation firms on a legally binding basis as regards delivery and payment. Similarly, the failure of electricity distributions companies to pay for energy
bought from generation firms and for deliveries on their privatisation performance obligations will now attract sanctions in line with the market rules and contractual obligations. The order further directed all relevant market participants, service providers and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading to comply with effect from February 1, 2015. From that date, the market will now be governed with the strict application of the terms and conditions of the Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) 2.1 that was approved on December 24, 2014, and became effective from January 1, 2015. This tariff order ensures that market participants now have a cost reflective tariff. The tariff order is one of the major conditions for the takeoff of the TEM. Some other conditions include the constitution of a dispute resolution and initial stakeholder advisory panels, approval of the grid code and market rules among others.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
How Government Inaction Is Crippling The Power Sector Reform In this review CHIKA IZUORA looks at issues that shaped the power sector and government’s lack of political will to drive the sectors’ roadmap. Stories By Chika Izuora, Lagos
In a recent article written by a public opinion analyst and researcher, Adetayo Adegbemle, one issue that has remained malignant and ever present in the socio-political sphere of every Nigerian is the cancerous issue of electric power, running right through the length and breadth of the power industry ecosystem. Even after half a century, no solution is still in sight, declared Adegbemle who is also the convener of a power consumer advocacy group, PowerUP Nigeria, based in Lagos. According to him, there are questions ranging from political will, policy failures, technical capability, greed, or simply lack of definite and purposeful sense of duty, systemic corruption, coupled with sabotage from a set of people (known in loose terms as cabals). In his submission, whichever position one is tempted to take, the direct and visible result is that the power sector has simply remained moribund, and nothing good seems to be able to come out of it. Barring the 20 years period from 1980 to 1999 where successive governments have made little or no investment in the sector, over $1.2 billion has been pumped annually into the sector since the return of democracy. The globally acclaimed and daring privatisation of the sector was rolled out in 2001 by the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration which succeeded in breaking down the grossly corrupt and inefficient monopolist behemoth, the Nigerian Electric Power Authority (NEPA), into 18 different companies – 11 distribution companies (privatised), 1 transmission company (ownership retained by government), and 6 power generation companies (also privatised).
Another “independent” body, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), was setup to serve as an oversight on the young and budding industry. As wonderful as the setup is, what is worrisome is the premise that the power generation policy was based on. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Power, while drawing the roadmap for the power industry, based its assumptions solely on the use of gas, which Nigeria has in abundance. Experts noted, however, that the roadmap is beautiful, no doubt, but for a nation as blessed and rich in mineral resources to put all its hope, plan and future on one source, reeks of lack of vision, or sincerity of purpose. The special assistant to the former minister of power, Prof Barth Nnaji, Mr C-Don Adinuba, in a chat with our correspondent, said that if one should examine the industry via global standards and practice, their power generation fuel mix and percentage contribution to the mix, you will come to understand why the power industry is still comatose. Both Adinuba and Adegbimle assessed the power sector in the United States of America, Brazil, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Russia, Germany, Canada, Australia and China. Bothof them pointed that one prominent feature of these countries is their dependence largely on coal and hydropower. Adegbimle posited that “except for Russia, which generates above 40 per cent from gas, no other country is solely dependent on one fuel source or even uses gas as their main source for power generation. This raises lot of questions regarding the intent, and seriousness of our policy makers to bring a lasting solution to the electric power problem of the nation,” he said. They argued that natural gas,
as source of fuel for power generation is apparently a new and developing technology while the technology for power generation from coal has been around for centuries, and is evolving to meet environmental issues to become cleaner. Adegbimle stated that it is also on record that just like the natural gas that Nigeria is touting today, coal is also an abundant resource but has been virtually and practically untouched for reasons best known to the federal government. They argued that natural Gas, as source of fuel for power generation is apparently a new and developing technology, while the technology for Power Generation from coal has been around for centuries, and Is evolving to meet environmental issues to become cleaner. Adegbimle stated that it is also on record, that very much like the Natural gas that Nigeria is touting today, coal is a very much abundant resource that the country is blessed with in Nigeria, and which has gone virtually and practically untouched for reasons best known to the Federal Government. “One key factor, however, in the effort to shove Natural Gas down our throat, is the multinational companies that operate in the Oil & Gas sector. Major Oil Giants like Shell, Chevron, Exxon Mobil and Agip, keep feeding the Nigerian Federal Government with reports that suggest that the whole world is dependent on Gas, and that it is a cleaner form of fuel compared to Coal. Sadly, Nigeria is under servitude to these ‘cabals,’” he noted. Unfortunately, these same set of companies do easily sponsor Civil Society organizations to carry this campaigns to town, just to satisfy their selfish interests. Given, however, that we MUST go with Gas, why have we not partnered the Russians in setting up a similar system, or buying their technology, so we could learn from their Experience, Adegbimle argued.
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24 OPINION
Thursday, February 5, 2015
2015: Memo To Nigerians By danlami alhaji wushishi
`We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools` – Martin Luther King Jr Nigeria is on the march again, in search of a new president whose tenure begins on 29th May, 2015. Already, about 14 presidential candidates have emerged including a woman. But the tough contest will be between General Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. In fact, they are recognised as the gladiators. This might not be unconnected to the fact that despite our multi-party system arrangement, the duo of Jonathan and Buhari in 2015 contest is the much talked about within and outside the nation. We have less than a month to the polls, Nigerians are looking forward to Feb. 14, the international community now place close watch on turn of events in the country. Even our statesmen, elites, traditional rulers, academics have expressed great concern on the outcome of 2015, in view of our experience after the 1993 Abiola/ Tofa contest and 2011 Buhari/ Jonathan contest. The US secretary of state just paid an official visit to Nigeria, all geared toward a smooth transition. Dear Nigerians, the 2015 election is generating lots of tension attributable to the change in mentality of a typical Nigeria that “ours” must win, coupled with threats and counter threats from the two divide. The escalating spate of insurgency is another issue of great concern. At the moment, thousands of Nigerians are settled in IDP camps in North East Nigeria whether they would be allowed to exercise their franchise is another big question. Though, INEC has given us its words that they will vote. It is important that all Nigerians irrespective of our religious belief, tribal inclination, party affiliation and economic interest place the corporate existence of Nigeria topmost in our words and conducts. Though, the office of the national security adviser organised a one day workshop on the need for violence free election, and the subsequent signing of “Abuja Accord” by all presidential candidates on behalf of their parties, there is need to create a meeting point between our words and conduct. Least it turn out to be “do as I say but not as I do”. It`s amazing that despite the pact, some aides to the contestants are still caught in the web of fomenting troubles through the social media or newspaper advertorial. Similarly, some provocative statements have been made at various campaign rallies; this is tantamount to breach of the peace accord that was beamed live to Nigerians. In fact, we have no other country
Jega
than Nigeria, and I don’t believe that the amalgamation of Nigeria was a mistake as proclaimed by some people. God knows why He brought us together, we must appreciate that fact, and any attempt to challenge this union the resultant consequence will be unnecessary crises. So, the more we see ourselves as one, the better for us as the largest democracy in Africa. Politics in Nigeria has taken an ugly direction in the recent times; a lot of energy is being wasted in condemning a candidate based on his religious belief or tribal/regional background. As Nigerians, we should desist from such politics. We should look at the pedigree of each candidate, what are his antecedents, can he deliver? This politics of ‘our son must win’ is affecting our effort towards industrialisation. Our contemporaries are moving forward in boosting their economy. Despite being OPEC member, we suffer amidst plenty. A group of Nigerians now use the social media to insult and threaten those opposed to their views with all sort of negative possibilities like cessation. The uses of facebook and twitter have become a platform where the images of our leaders are being castigated. The social media ought to serve as a platform where we share ideas, understand our differences and take concrete path towards moving Nigeria forward. In the last couple of weeks, we are all living witnesses to the rising spate of defections from PDP to APC and vice versa. While all these are part of democratic practices, hence freedom of association is guaranteed by the constitution, Nigerians must look at the antecedents of defectors; they will go back to their former party after winning election where “old” business thrives. Intra party injustice has been attributed as the cause of several defections. That be as it may, Nigerians should yearn for the best candidate irrespective of the party he/she belongs. This attitude of throwing stones on the convoy of Mr president is highly condemnable. We must respect him as commander in chief of the
As Nigerians, we must eschew rigging in whatever manner, lets allow all votes to count so that the results returned will be the representation of actual votes cast
Armed forces of Nigeria. As Nigerians, we must eschew rigging in whatever manner, lets allow all votes to count so that the results returned will be the representation of actual votes cast. I believe there can’t be a perfect election but we must exhibit substantial compliance with electoral rules and procedures. We must not hide under the pretext of the imperfections to thwart the wishes of the people. The loser should accept defeat in an adjudged free, fair and credible election. Election is also not about who is our next leader, it should be what the person and his party has to offer, that he`s a member of the ruling party, so there’s need for continuity shouldn’t be a yardstick. Similarly, it is not enough for the opposition to chant “change”, they must lay bare their manifestos to the electorate. When an aggrieved person defects, that shouldn’t be an automatic ticket to his victory at the poll. We shouldn’t recycle same wine in new bottle, let`s go for the best. Furthermore, the conventional security outfits must live above board, they must refrain from partisanship. They should remember that they are statutorily created to ensure peace and unity. They must be seen to be fair to all. It is unfortunate that in previous elections, some security personnel were caught on camera playing some unconventional roles for a political party. Similarly, other civil servants should not also be seen in partisan activities. The most important thing is exercising one’s franchise. Even parents have serious roles to play in cautioning their wards not to engage in any form of violence. They should advice them to be of good manners in their polling units/wards, while party stalwarts must not insist that they must deliver their ward to their party. Politics is all about winning peoples vote but not coercing them into what is at variance with their wishes. In a credible poll, we don’t need any litigation to determine who the actual winner is. After all, the judiciary can only act on what was presented before it and, despite the infallibility of the judicial officers, they should equally do substantial justice to all so that the public confidence will be restored. I understand about three suits have been filed before the Federal High court all in the bid to halt the conduct of February elections, I pray our judges to be mindful of the tricks being played. Finally, Nigeria is currently at a cross road because some calls have been made to postpone the general polls. This reminds me of similar call by Chief Arthur Nzeribe’s ABN. – Wushishi, a barrister, wrote in from Minna
Inside Out
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Good-locked Nigeria
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igeria has never had it so rough. In the next couple of weeks, it would be time to either re-elect President Goodluck Jonathan or pull back General Muhammadu Buhari (retired) to take over the governance in a civilised manner. Either way, Nigerians and Nigeria are at crossroads. According to Afrobarometer, Jonathan and his main challenger, GMB are tied at 42 per cent of support among likely voters next month. The election will be the nation’s closest presidential election, according to a survey by Afrobarometer, which is funded by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID), among others. That is my bugaboo. If elected, GMB may not have the dictatorial latitude of 1984-5, but the change can only be imagined. His response to issues of international economic relations may also not be as swift as it was 30 years ago. He would be tempered by democratic demands of checks and balances. Again, that is being presumptuous. We are all living witnesses of the style of democratic governance under General Olusegun Obasanjo. Presently, Buhari is surrounded by a retinue of quasi-progressive forces that broke away from the PDP and a handful of conser-progressives linked to one form of scandal or another in previous administrations. I don’t see any progressivism in politicians who called others filthy names in the past now hobnobbing together as sharers of welfarist and pro-people principles. They are simply self-serving individuals desperate to seize power, fair or foul. The second alternative is to continue this business of governance as usual. Two unpleasant options, you may want to say. In my heart of hearts, the two leading parties – APC and PDP – are two sides of the same coin. My angst against the president is not farfetched. He’s simply too simplistic about his ‘transformation agenda’ and impotent in the face of corruption and terrorism. His team is also peopled by conservatives whose any-governmentin-power mindsets do not recommend them as principled individuals. They capitalise on the gentlemanly disposition of Jonathan to fill their pockets and are clearly apathetic where development and improvement in the lives of the citizens are concerned. Nigeria may have pulled a stunt by becoming Africa’s largest economy, but the yawning chasm between the haves and the have-nots is almost unimaginable. The SURE-P programme has become a toll gate and money-spinning venture for another class of Nigerians. Christopher Kolade, reputed for his honour, had to throw in the towel when the heat became too much. The transformer of our airport got kicked out for buying bullet-proof cars for N225m. Others pushed up by Jonathan are bare-faced thieves and he encouraged his kinsmen to make the polity more volatile via war-mongering, at every twist and turn. Shouldn’t these be enough reasons to change him? May be, maybe not. By February 14, Nigerians will decide that. Again, my concern is that the elections will neither be free or fair, therefore it cannot be credible. As many as three million people have been displaced and now take refuge hundreds of kilometres from their ancestral homes. At least one million will be eligible voters. The Electoral Act makes it abominable for people to vote outside places where they register. INEC is still grappling with issuing PVCs to as many as 25 million members of the electorate. By simple arithmetic, not less than 26 million eligible voters stand officially disenfranchised.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Register your Business Today at the Nearest FIRS Tax Office
Just like in your business, you want to win. To win, you must play by the rules. So be a better player, Pay your Tax. To register your business as a taxpayer; Call 08115902218 or 08115902227; Log on to www.firs.gov.ng; or visit the nearest FIRS Tax Office today.
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28 THE NATION’S CAPITAL
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Beneficiaries Hail FCT SURE-P By Catherine agBo
Beneficiaries of skills acquisition training programmes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) have commended the federal government and the FCT administration for the initiative, which they said, has taught them how to be selfreliant. Speaking during the graduation ceremony of 120 residents of the FCT from training in different vocational skills, the beneficiaries noted that the effort would boost youth empowerment in the territory. One of the beneficiaries in dress making, Mrs. Alisabatu Yakubu, said through the training she received, she had been able establish a business of her own. Speaking at the graduation ceremony, FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu, who was represented by the Director of Policy, Strategy and Coordination in the FCT administration, Alh. Nuhu Ahmed, said what the FCTA started a year ago had yielded tremendous and fruitful results, even as he called on the graduating students to pass the knowledge acquired to others. Also speaking, FCT SURE-P Coordinator, Mr. Isa Ari, who noted that nation building goes beyond infrastructural development, said the efforts put in by FCT SURE-P have a ripple effect on the economy and lauded the efforts of the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed in ensuring that SURE-P funds are timely released. He said the FCT SURE-P had in the last one year, trained over 1,200 beneficiaries in different vocational skills, adding that more training would be embarked on this year. “This journey started a year ago, and we at FCT SURE-P are happy to report to you that within this period, we have trained over 200 beneficiaries in skills for the entertainment industry, 800 in industrial training and today, we have over 120 others in different vocational skills. The essence of nation building does not lie with infrastructural development alone but largely on capacity and human development. To a very large extent, the scheme has achieved that,”Ari said. The coordinator revealed that plans had been concluded for further training and the FCT administration will open a widow of microcredit with the Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) aimed at sustaining the businesses of the beneficiaries. During the event, certificates were presented to the graduating students and 140 sewing machines were donated to beneficiaries across the six area councils of FCT, who 84 of whom were trained in dress making, 3 in monogramy, 20 in hair styling and 19 in media branding and printing.
a fish seller attending to customers at gosa Market, yesterday. photo by jane okeke
AICL Restates Commitment To Wuse Market Development By nkeChi isaaC
The Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), a subsidiary of the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) has restated its commitment to make Wuse Market the number one shopping and tourism destination in Nigeria. Speaking during the inauguration of new executives of the Wuse Market Traders Association (WUMATA) at the market premises, the group managing director ofAICL, Dr Musa Musa, represented by the managing director of AMML, Alhaji Farouk Usman, said the market is a work in progress to the envy of all others. AMML, the market managers, said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has shown unwavering commitment to the development and renewal of the market environment as well as the welfare of the traders and other users. He said, “It has through a number of its interventionist projects/partnerships ensured that the market retains its position as number one shoppers delight. The most recent
of them are the state-of-the-art security equipment and surveillance systems like the CCTV, bomb detector, XCAT, etc, deployed to further secure the lives and properties of the market users, as well as, the mega solar paneled roof donated by the Ministry of Power to supply uninterrupted power to hair dressers and other ancillary users within the market.” He further said that market managers will work together with the newly elected executives to fast track the goal of the FCTA to make the market a number one shopping and tourism destination in Nigeria. Earlier in his remarks, the outgoing chairman, Chief Mathew Nwigwe, said the association, fashioned after the famous Onitsha Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA), was inaugurated in November 1994, to promote and cater for the welfare of traders. Nwigwe said, “The inaugural meeting of the founding members of WUMATA was held in November 1994, with the aims and objectives of bringing all the various commodity units in the market under one
central umbrella, so they can all speak with one voice, and to solicit for the welfare of the traders through dialogue.” According to him, “It was through the instrumentality of this association that we were able to negotiate for the welfare of traders during and after the demolition of temporary shops in the market between 1995 and 1998, and for the first time traders were given direct shop allocations.” Delivering his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Chief Raphael Okorie, reiterated his commitment to build a market of their dreams, where every traders opinion will count. “We shall protect the poor and weak amongst us while upholding the principles of justice and respect for the fundamental human rights of all traders. These we hope to achieve through dialogue, consultations and negotiations with superior arguments for the overall benefits of all members,” he added. He called for the cooperation of traders to achieve the onerous task, saying the success of the leadership mandate is a collective responsibility.
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news north-East, north-west 29 UDUS Matriculates 4133, Abolished Pass Degree
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Nigeria Has To Diversify Its Source Of Revenue Generation – Tambuwal By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Speaker of the House of Representatives and Sokoto State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said yesterday that the country has to speedily diversify its revenue generation without delay. Tambuwal, who spoke during an interactive session with Sokoto members of the academic community, also maintained that what was needed most in Nigeria today is good governance.
While stressing that government alone cannot create job for everybody, Tambuwal said, creating enabling environment as well as incentives to boost agricultural output will help in employing large percentage of the populace. “We have to diversify our source of revenue generation. And one of the best way globally is to focus on mechanised large scale agriculture.” Lamenting the worrisome rate at which Nigerians go abroad for medical treatment, Tambuwal said, they will soon make Sokoto a medical hub for
Nigerians and even people outside the shores of this country. “We intend to make Sokoto a medical hub in Nigeria hence we want to have some of the best medical facilities in the state. And we shall soon establish a medical school in the new Sokoto State University”. The speaker noted that government is for the generality of the populace, saying that they will block all leakages to allow for collective interest rather that individual interests. “We must seek the understanding of
the bureaucracy to block all leakage for the collective good of the people. We know individuals are benefiting but we most allow for the generality of the populace to benefit”. Earlier, chairman of the occasion and APC north west zonal chairman, Inuwa Abdulkadir said, Nigerians seem to have previously neglected the place of the intellectual community in runing the country’s affairs. Inuwa, therefore noted that, the paradigm shift in APC is such that would give due recognition to all and sundry.
L-R: Leader of delegation of Itsekiri leaders, Chief Isaac Jemide (SAN) with the national chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomasie, at a joint meeting in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO BY GBENGA ABIOLA
short news Katsina Distributes Economic Empowerment Materials As part of its determination to empower the less privileged, Katsina State government has begun distribution of economic empowerment materials to some select indigenes across the state. The items comprised sewing machines, grinding machines, water pumping machines, pasta making machines, generators, fridges, and set of knitting wares and, bags of flour. By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina
Political Violence: ACF Cautions Northern Youths By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has urged youths of northern extraction to avoid any form of violence or allow themselves to be used as political thugs before, during or after the forthcoming general election. The chairman of ACF, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmadu Coomassie who said enough is enough of political violence when the Arewa Youth Coalition for
Peace group paid a courtesy call on ACF yesterday stressed that since 2009, Northern Nigeria has suffered from series of violence. He further said, “Northerners are known for peace and for we northerners, causing violence is not in our character. “ He therefore emphasised that violence does not pay or do anybody any good, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair
and credible polls and allow a winner who has the mandate of the majority of the electorate to emerge. He said, Nigerians are now fully sensitised and yearning for positive change in the country. Commassie who appealed to the youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause violence, urged them to put heads together and vote for the right candidates of their choice.
INEC Receives 2,898 Card Readers, Relocates 681 Polling Units In Kebbi By Yahya Sarki, Kebbi
The office of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kebbi State has received 2,898 card readers meant for the 2015 general election from its headquarters in Abuja. This was made known to newsmen yesterday by the new resident electoral commissioner (REC) for Kebbi
State, Jibril Ibrahim Zarewa at the INEC office in Birnin Kebbi. The Kebbi REC explained that the commission has so far distributed 1,250,296 permanent voter cards out of 1,306,405 in the state. On relocation of 681 polling units in Kebbi State, the electoral commissioner averred that it has done so in order to move such units away from
individual houses and places of worship to open public places considered to be neutral which will not be used by the politicians as places to induce the electorate during the election. Kebbi has 2,398 polling units, he said. Other activities which the commission has done in the state ahead of the 14th February presidential polls included distribution of non sensitive materials.
short news
Catholic Priests Give Conditions To Guber Candidates In Taraba Conference of Catholic Priests in Taraba State has resolved to support only a governorship candidate that would sincerely tackle insecurity, unite and promote peace among the people and partner the church in providing education and health care services to the people. They made their position known yesterday in Jalingo. By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo
The Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) yesterday matriculated no fewer than 4,133 students into the over 13 Faculties and Post Graduate school of the institution. The matriculation which was the 36th since the inception of the institution in 1957, according to the vice chancellor, Prof Abdullahi Audu Zuru confirms the leading role of the university as the most peaceful institution in Nigeria. “Every year, we witness an increase in the number of students seeking admission into this important institution. This is attributed to our track record of excellence, peace, high moral values and absence of cultism which the university is well known for since inception. This is attested to by the remarkable performance of the university in various assessments and evaluations by different educational regulatory and professional bodies in Nigeria”. Speaking to the matriculating students, the VC said, nation building is one of the cardinal aim of university education, therefore, they should shun extremism, bigotry, violence, ethnicity, political intolerance as well as religious prejudice. On the recent changes in the university’s grading system by the National University Commission (NUC) Prof. Zuru said, pass degree is now obsolete. By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Suspension Of JOHESU Strike: Full Service Delivery Restored In FMC Yola Normalcy has returned to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Yola as delivery of medical services peaked up following the unconditional suspension of the industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU). JOHESU members comprising the entire non doctors in the Nigerian public hospitals had embarked on industrial action for close to three months resulting to the paralysis of health care delivery in Nigerian hospitals. Confirming the restoration of full health care delivery at the hospital, the principal information officer of the centre, Malam Adamu Muhammad Dodo, said that full healthcare delivery services have been restored in the centre from 3rd February, 2015. According to him “Full medical services have been restored in the facility sequel to the announcement of an unconditional suspension of the strike. By Mohammed Ismail, Yola
30 news Lagos PDP Using Police, Other FG Agencies Against Us – APC The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of using the Nigeria Police Force and other federal agencies against it. The APC publicity secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe who disclosed this at a press briefing in Lagos, alleged that PDP members and their supporters are committing atrocities with impunity, purportedly with the aid of policemen. He noted that PDP is not in Lagos to win election but to pull down the state and cause mayhem since they are aware that the forthcoming elections will not go in their favour. Igbokwe said: "Like a thief in the night, they have waylaid our supporters, humiliated, intimidated, maimed and even killed with reckless abandon. We are appealing to the law enforcement agencies to rise to the occasion before it is too late. "On Thursday, January 22, 2015 in Agege, an APC supporter, Mr Eyitayo Peter was shot dead while Lanre Ogunjimi sustained serious injuries after a brazen attack by the supporters of Niyi Raheem, a House of Representatives candidate of PDP. "The matter was reported at Elere Police Station and up till now, we are yet to get a clear picture of what transpired on that fateful day. The human rights community in that area has asked the police to deploy all powers within their fold to unravel the killers of Eyitayo without success." Igbokwe went ahead to narrate another incident of violence and impunity allegedly committed by PDP and one of its notable candidates without any caution from the men of the Nigeria Police Force. He observed: "Recently, we witnessed another brazen display of impunity and lawlessness when our governorship candidate, Akinwumi Ambode and his grassroots supporters at Musan Okunola LCDA who were on a door-to-door campaign were attacked, leaving more than 10 vehicles damaged and scores wounded. "On Sunday, February 1, 2015, Mr Segun Adewale, the PDP Senatorial candidate for Lagos West, led armed thugs and supporters to the Ikeja Office of the APC candidate in the same zone, Solomon Adeola Olamilekan, alias Yayi, and fired shots into the office, and in the process destroyed the rear windscreen of Yayi's Toyota Land Cruiser and other properties. "It was an assassination attempt on the life of our candidate, Yayi but Adewale failed woefully. Segun Adewale in an apparent display of impunity and brigandage brazenly admitted that he went to attack Yayi because his campaign materials were being removed by Yayi's supporters. This matter has been reported to the commissioner of police, Lagos State and we are waiting for action." By George Okojie, Lagos
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Parents Forum Wants Schools Closed During Elections By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos
The Parents' Forum of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has opposed the decision of the federal government to keep schools in session during this month's elections. The general secretary of the forum, Chief Ayo Ashafa disclosed this yesterday while
reacting to the government's directive that schools should be in session during elections. He condemned the directive of the federal government to keep pupils and students in schools when it cannot adequately guarantee their safety. According to him, government should release students and close down schools to enable the
students to be in the custody of their parents like it did during the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease. Chief Ashafa argued that since teachers, lecturers and school managers would also want to exercise their voting rights on election days, leaving the children unguarded in schools will constitute danger to their lives.
He further stated that since many of the students in the universities are of voting age, they should be allowed to go home and exercise their voting rights, adding that apart from exposing them to danger by keeping schools in session, the students would be disenfranchised by the federal government's directive to keep them in school.
short news Mainland Ndigbo Drum Support For APC
L-R: Lagos State deputy governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire; Lagos APC governorship candidate, Mr Akinwumi Ambode; chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale; wife of Lagos State governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola; Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola; APC Lagos central senatorial candidate, Sen Oluremi Tinubu and House of Representatives candidate, Surulere Federal Constituency 1, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, at the APC rally in Surulere, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.
Tinubu's Ex-Associate Asks Court To Reopen Investigations Into Funsho Williams' Murder By OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos
A former political associate of former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Bashir Junaid has urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to order the inspector general of police to reopen investigations into the murder of former gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Engineer Funsho Williams. Junaid, a former secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Mushin local government area of the state, specifically in the application for a Mandamus Order, accused members of “Team Lagos Killer Squad" of being the perpetrators of the crime. The plaintiff, who claimed he was one of those arrested for Williams’ murder, is praying the court to compel the attorney general of the federation to direct the appropriate organ in the Criminal Justice Administration in Nigeria to commence prosecution of the al-
leged suspects in the murder of Engr Funsho Williams. Joined as defendants in the suit, which will come up before Justice R. N. Ofili-Ajumogobia on March 19, are: Inspector-General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Mr Sunday Ehindero (former I.G.P & I.P.O. of Funsho Williams’ murder case, AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Mrs Modupe Shasore, Peoples Democratic Party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dr Muiz Banire, Mr Babatunde Edu, Mr Dele Alake, and Henry Oladele Ajomale. Junaid in an affidavit he personally swore to and attached to the suit cited Tinubu and Banire as the coordinators of the activities of the “Team Lagos Killer Squad" allegedly put together by the former governor and his administration in Lagos. Other alleged members of “Team Lagos Killer Squad", according to the plaintiff, include the general manager of Lagos State
Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), Babatunde Edu, who the plaintiff described as the “Team Leader of the Team Lagos Killer Squad", former commissioner for information and strategy under Bola Tinubu’s government, Dele Alake, and former chairman of Action Congress (A.C.) now Lagos State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Henry Oladele Ajomale. The plaintiff wants the court to declare that all defendants in the suit should pay him compensation for his illegal detention and the psychological trauma he suffered for a period of over one year for the unmitigated actions of the defendants both jointly and severally. The plaintiff is further urging the court to compel the defendants to pay him N5billion as compensatory and exemplary damages for their actions or inaction in his illegal detention and dehumanisation over the murder of Engr Williams.
Ndigbo in Mainland, Lagos have drummed their support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying they must be part of change in Nigeria. This was disclosed by the Ndigbo leader, Comrade Mba Temple when he paid a courtesy visit to the APC candidate contesting the House of Representatives election, Hon Jide Jimoh at Yaba. He said, "We promise to come out en masse to vote for APC candidates in the forthcoming elections. "We told them our plea which all the candidates both in the Federal House of Representatives and the Lagos State House of Assembly have agreed to correct. They should carry us along but as I am talking now, we are going to work assiduously to make sure APC wins the forthcoming elections in Mainland and Yaba. By Taiwo OgunmolaOmilani, Lagos
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Elections: A/Ibom Monarch Warns Politicians Against Violence Few weeks to the commencement of the 2015 general election, the Paramount Ruler of Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State, Edidem Ufot J. Ntukobom, has stressed the need for politicians to eschew violence by playing according to the rules as enshrined in the Electoral Act. The royal father handed down the charge in his palace when officials of the Transformation Initiative for the Empowerment of Ibom People (TIEIP), a coalition of support groups for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan and Udom Emmanuel, as the next governor of the state, paid him a courtesy visit. According to Ntukobom, this period calls for absolute decorum and total commitment to ensuring that elections were free, fair and devoid of all malpractices that could give way to violence. Worried by the attitude of desperate politicians, especially the younger ones, the paramount ruler advised them against any inflammatory remarks during their electioneering campaigns, noting that such sweeping statements were capable of igniting crises in the polity. By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo
Okorocha Denies Plan To Islamise Imo State Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha has denied report in one of the local tabloids in the state that he plan to make Imo State an Islamic state. Okorocha who denied the report during a political debate organised by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) Imo State chapter at Lifeline Assembly, Owerri, condemned the recent attack on him, alleging that he converted some Christians to Islamic religion. He described himself as a devoted Christian pointing out that he has assisted in building the national worship centre in Abuja, and wondered why opposition parties should level such allegation against him. Governor Okorocha described the allegation as false and baseless and was aimed at causing problem between him and the Catholic Church and challenged those behind the publication to provide the video clip where such event took place in Abuja as claimed. The governor also made it clear that he has no hand in such act and will never be a part to such acts and urged Imo indigenes to disregard the rumour while maintaining that his administration is anchored on God who he added has been his source of strength. By Stanley Uzoaru,Owerri
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IPAC Praises Jonathan For Rejecting Postponement Of Elections By OKECHUKWU OBETA, Awka
The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Anambra State chapter yesterday praised President Goodluck Jonathan for refusing pressures on him to postpone the scheduled February general election. In a statement issued to newsmen in Onitsha, the state’s com-
mercial hub by IPAC, an umbrella body of all registered political parties in Nigeria, and signed by Chief Bartho Igwedibia and Chief Peter Okala, chairman and publicity secretary respectively, it said with this action, Jonathan had shown that he is truly a democrat who is not after power through fraudulent means.
The three-page statement reads in part, “We salute President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on his courage and refusal to succumb to the pressure on him to postpone the schedule Feb. 14 and 28 general election. “Mr President’s steadfastness and his desire to keep the electoral time-table sacrosanct, reflects his truthful desire to avert societal and
constitutional crises in the country,’’ it said. The statement, however, urged every eligible Nigerian to ensure that he or she collects his or her permanent voter cards (PVCs) to be able to participate in the forthcoming elections, even as INEC has extended the issuance of PVCs date to Feb. 8.
short news Polls: FDP Partners Labour Party In C’River Cross River State chapter of Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) yesterday in Calabar entered into a partnership with Labour Party ahead of the 2015 polls in the state. The state chairman of FDP, Pastor Samuel Erete, disclosed this during a chat with our People queuing to buy kerosene at N50.00 per litre at NNPC Mega station, during the Kero-correct programme in Port Harcourt, correspondent in Calabar, Cross yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN River State. According to Erete, FDP arrived at the decision after scrutinising the pedigree of Labour Party’s Flyover with empty jerry women told LEADERSHIP of conniving with some atBY OSA Okhomina, Yenagoa candidates cans, others were seen en- yesterday that the sale of tendants at the stations they shortlisted for the Hundreds of women and gaging black market opera- Jonathan’s subsidised ker- also flayed the lawlessness of February 2015 other residents of the Bay- tors and security operatives osene has become a source some security operatives. polls. elsa State capital, Yenagoa, over their alleged involve- of agony, despair and night- They alleged that the secu“I and the yesterday expressed dismay ment in the illegal buying of mare for them as most of rity officials usually come executive over the hijack of the sale of the kerosene products with them could not get the com- with more than the required council of Fresh President Goodluck Jona- huge numbers of jerry cans. modity because they failed 25 litre jerry can and would Democratic Party than’s subsidised kerosene The kerosene sold at the to go through the black mar- head straight for the pump have decided scheme in the state. The ker- NNPC Mega Filling Station keters. and stampede attendants to to support osine sells at N50 per litre. in the state capital, at the One of the women, Mad- sell to them. LEADERSHIP candidates of While most of the an- rate of N50 per litre, was al- am Ebiere told our corre- gathered that some consumLabour Party. gry women were seen lying legedly being sold at N100 spondent that aside the ers got to the station as eardown under the newly con- per litre. activities of the black mar- ly as 5 am, yet they could not By Lanre Arotimi, structed State Government Some of the concerned keters, whom they accused buy the product. Calabar
Bayelsa Residents Cry Out Over Hijack Of Jonathan’s Subsidised Kerosene
Why Ohakim Assaulted Me – Ajumbe
By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
Agent of former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim during the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship primary in the state, Vitalis Ajumbe has alleged that he was assaulted by Ohakim to keep his lips sealed on the alleged dud cheque he issued to him for the part payment of money owed him. Ajumbe who briefed journalists
in Owerri on the purported incident yesterday maintained that he was physically assaulted by Ohakim at his Owerri residence. He claimed that Ohakim owed him the sum of N1.05million, and had gone to his residence that fateful day on the invitation of Ohakim alongside two of his relations, Raymond Anyanwu and Chibuzo Opera as well as Ohakim’s personal friend, Okey Afurobi. Ajumbe who was the former na-
tional publicity secretary of the Progressive Peoples Alliance(PPA) the party Ohakim won his governorship ticket in 2007 on its platform, explained that Ohakim hit him with a metal object on the head for asking him why he gave him the dud cheque. “I have tried to cash the cheque on two occasions and was uncashable before I wrote him thus ‘your Excellency, I respectfully write to inform you that the Fidelity bank
cheque with number 00956739 for N500, 000 which you gave me on January 13, 2015 as part payment of the N1.05million you are owing me, was returned by my bank as a dud cheque” Ajumbe stated. But Ohakim in a radio programme in the state denied issuing a dud cheque to him but admitted that Ajumbe visited him that fateful day but not because of the cheque.
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F E AT U R E S
‘Every Nigerian Must Rise Against 2015 Post–election Violence’
W
ith only one week to the crucial 2015 general election, apprehensions have heightened over the possibilities of electoral violence marring the exercise. The major political parties in the polls, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the leading opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have not shown any pretence about their capacity to match both threat and terror equally when push comes to shove. Political watchers from both within and outside the country have not spared words in describing the brewing mayhem and eventual catastrophe which may erupt, if the politicians throw caution to the dust and allow their desperate bid to win by all means, get the better of them. However, the voices which are rising up against violence during and after the elections seems to be more stringent than those raucous voices shrieking out their venomous coercions and throwing nearly everyone into disquiets over the fate of the elections. Most prominent among the voices calling for peace and unity against the scavengers for the booty and largesse of a ‘winner takes all’ election, are traditional, religious and opinion leaders in the country who are anxious that any cataclysm may result in enormous casualty for their teeming innocent subjects and adherents. The ugly retrospect of the 2011 postelection violence and the urgent need to nip in the bud any scenario which may become a ready excuse for mayhem in the 2015 election led to the historic signing of a peace agreement by all the presidential candidates in the elections, an action which many stakeholders see as a the biggest blow against the impending violence. To, however, ensure that the peace accord did not end up as a flash in the pan, a committee comprising of some of the most prominent Nigerians was set up to oversee compliance with the tenets and spirit of the accord. Members of the committee which has former military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar as chairman include former second-in-command to Gen Ibrahim Babangida, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (rtd), Catholic Archbishop, Cardinal John Cardinal Onaiyekan, His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and CAN president, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. Others are Anglican Prelate, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, business mogul, Aliko Dangote, former UN envoy, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former minister of foreign affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, former Supreme Court
Jonathan and Buhari after the peace accord agreement
The 2015 general elections is taking the appearance of a conquest between the harbingers of peace and war, unity and break-up of the country, CHIKA OTUCHIKERE writes on why every Nigerian must line up behind peace and unity of the country. Judge, Justice Rose Ukeje (rtd), Prof. Ameze Goubadia, Prof. Zaynab Alkali, Vanguard Newspaper publisher, Mr Sam Amuka, Dame Priscilla Kuye, Alhaji Muhammad Musdafa, and convener of the committee and Archbishop of the Sokoto State Catholic Dioceses Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah. Briefing journalists during the public presentation of the committee members, founder of the Kukah Centre for Faith and Leadership Research, Kukah said it was mandatory for President Goodluck Jonathan and the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari ( rtd ) to adhere to the peace accord they signed. “The two presidential candidates and other contestants in the February general election are compelled to adhere to the principles of the peace accord as means through which the polls would be devoid of crisis. “We must note that this initiative is
meant to build on the historical gesture which the candidates themselves demonstrated by not only signing the peace accord document but going further to embrace one another, thus, showing their commitment to putting the nation before anything else,” Kukah said. Kukah stressed that the contestants must abide by the peace accord document, saying that the National Peace Committee on 2015 elections is to put in place a monitoring mechanism to ensure compliance. While urging Nigerians to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Kukah said the committee would insist that nobody digresses from the rules and principles governing the peace accord. In his remarks, Prof. Akinyemi who said that threats and violence were not new in Nigeria’s elections history, averred that the signing of the peace accord by Jonathan and Buhari depicted serious
commitment to ensure peaceful 2015 general election. The committee which met with service chiefs during the week got the assurances of all of them including the Inspector General of Police, IGP Sulaiman Mohammed and extracted from the security eggheads assurances that they would be none partisan and ensure that there would be zero tolerance for violence before, during and after the elections. Chairman of the committee, Gen Abubakar, warning against a repeat of 2011 post-election violence, said, “When I was approached to chair this committee, I did not hesitate. Since I left office, I have been involved in a lot of engagements in Nigeria and across Africa. If you go to many African countries, you will see the kind of carnage going on as a result of post-election violence. We must live in peace. Whenever there is election violence, people blame politicians. “But the people are the ones inflicting violence on themselves. If we destroy properties and other things, we will still have to come back and rebuild what we have destroyed. I am very happy that the contestants in the forthcoming Presidential elections have signed a peace accord and are expected to follow up in keeping up with this agreement. “We all have roles to play. The media has a role to play in ensuring that they preach peace. People tend to believe in what they read. Avoid sensational stories and help preach peace tomorrow our people. “We have seen the security agencies. They have briefed us on the measures put in place to ensure there is peace during and after the election. But no matter what the security agencies put in place, if we Nigerians do not support them, there is nothing they can do. “We are not taking the utterances of those threatening violence lightly. There is freedom of speech and everyone has the right to speak, but there is a limit to freedom of speech. We are addressing these issues and we will ask the political gladiators to call their people to order. I appeal to Nigerians. “The buck stops with them. Any Nigerian who loves this country must preach peace. There is apprehension and there is no need for that. Nigerians, please, I beg you. Learn from the former mistakes. We must ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past. We must ensure February elections are peaceful and secure.” Chairman of the Intra - Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Dr Yunusa Tanko in his remarks during the committee’s meeting with the Service Chiefs, said efforts have been made to build consensus on the need for political parties to obey the peace accord.
If you go to many African countries, you will see the kind of carnage going on as a result of post-election violence
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
‘How Criminal Kingpins Compromise Senior Police Officers’ By CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, Abuja
A top official of a police related agency has revealed how senior police officers deployed to places of their primary assignment are compromised shortly after their arrival at the place by suspected criminal kingpins who want to ensure that the officers do not come after them. Chairman of the Police Stakeholders Assisted Projects, Chief Ifeanyi Nwankwo told LEADERSHIP that immediately after a senior police officer is posted to a new place of duty in any state of the federation, the first set of persons who want to court their friendship are the criminal suspects who begin to make overtures with juicy offers of a hotel or residential accommodation. According to Nwankwo, the motive for the courtship by these kingpins is to morally disarm the officers whose duty, he said, is to smoke out criminal elements in his place of jurisdiction. “You remember that last year, Police Sap was created by the Nigeria Police supported by the Police Service Commission and the Senate
Committee on Police Affairs. When we were created, we were charged with the responsibility to interface between the Nigeria Police and the police service commission to look into the state of infrastructure of the police especially accommodation. “We were made to crisscross the length and breadth of all the local governments in the country to see how the foot soldiers of the Nigeria police were faring and we got to know that the major cause of insecurity in this country is as a result of policemen and women who are the foot soldiers of the Nigeria police being hijacked by individuals. “This is because when they are on transfered as a Divisional Police Officer, DPO, as a Divisional Crime Officer or Area Commander, to their various divisions, they don’t have accommodation to stay and sometimes people who provide these accommodations to them turn out to be criminal kingpins. And when they are being given these accommodations by these unscrupulous persons, you find out that the officers hands are unwittingly tied. “The criminal elements use the
gesture to work on the conscience of the officers to make them compromise their duties. This is because somebody who gives you accommodation is like somebody who gives you a lifeline. We started meeting the stakeholders of the police to see how they can come together to provide accommodation to these gentlemen of the police to be able to wrest policing from these men that have hijacked police for many years now. Nwankwo disclosed that at the moment, five state governments including a politician, Chief Great Ogboru, have donated residential buildings to accommodate police officers in different parts of the country. This, he said, was part of their contributions to ameliorate the accommodation crisis facing the personnel of the Force. The buildings which are under construction would be occupied by Divisional Crime Officers, Divisional Police Officers and Area Commanders, when completed. The chairman, Police Stakeholders Assisted Projects, listed the states which have keyed into the programme to include, Imo, Anambra, Abia,
Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba and his 2-i-C, DIG Dan-Azumi Doma in close chat during an event.
Enugu and Akwa Ibom states which he said have all agreed to construct new buildings to accommodate the senior police officers to enable them do their jobs more effectively. Nwankwo stated that Ogboru through his company, Fignet Limited, importers of fish, had mobilised contractors to start the construction of seven residential apartments for the police officers, valued at N140 million. He said that Anambra State government is constructing 21 buildings for the police, while other states are constructing an unstated number of buildings to assist the men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force who are on transfer to different parts of the country. The PSAP chairman, who observed that government alone cannot fully find accommodation for the police and other security services in the country lauded Ogboru and the states that had indicated interest in supporting the police, noting that other indigenous and multinational companies should borrow a leaf from them to encourage security personnel perform their responsibilities better.
PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE
3000 Casual Teaching Staff In Police Schools Get Appointment Letters by CHIKA OTUCHIKERE, Abuja
The Inspector General Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba has approved the regularisation of teaching appointments of over 3000 civilian teaching staff, who have been casual workers in most police secondary and primary schools across the country. The director Police Education Directorate, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ibrahim Kabiru made this known yesterday in Abuja during the presentation of promotion letters
to eight Assistant Directors promoted within the police education system. DCP Kabiru stated that, “The IGP has also approved money for the regularisation of about 3000 staff, these staffs have been with us, and any moment from now we are expecting the commencement of this process from the Office of the Head of Service.” “Today we are presenting the 2014 promotions to eight, assistant directors, we also have 72 junior officers between grade level 3 to 5, who sat for
the exams and the results is still being awaited, any moment from now, we have another 350 between grade level 6 to 13 who are going to write for the 2015 promotions exams,” he added. DCP Kabiru further said another 116 officers between grade levels 14 to 16 will also be writing for promotions exams in the directorate. “I hope every staff both teaching and non teaching staff will put in their best to make the schools pace setters that they are today.” He also assured all workers
in police schools and learning institutions across the country including all teaching and none teaching staff that the promotion exercise will be a continuous one. “I’m just appealing to every staff, to continue to work very hard and to prepare very well for these examinations, because for you to benefit from these promotions, you have to write for promotion and you have to pass, this is going to be continuous,” the director Police Education Directorate said.
There Will Be No Way Out For Speed Limit Offenders – Oyeyemi The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has reiterated its commitment to ensure the enforcement of June 1, deadline for the use of speed limiters for commercial operators in line with the agreement reached by the relevant stakeholders during a forum held in September, 2014. FRSC corps marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, who disclosed this when he visited the headquarters of LEADERSHIP newspaper in Abuja, yesterday, said it has become necessary to enforce this policy so as to avoid road crashes resulting from over speeding. Oyeyemi, who lamented the role of speed violations, as a major cause of road traffic crashes on Nigerian highways, also explained that the policy would be applied for the commercial vehicles for now, while other vehicles would be considered later. While giving a breakdown of the ember months patrol operation data, Oyeyemi disclosed that 257 persons were killed in road crashes across the country during the 2014 yuletide nationwide patrol, translating to 49 per cent reduction when compared to 2013 figure of 504, within the same period. He also noted that the FRSC recorded 42 per cent reduction in the number of road traffic crashes within this period, which stood at 439, in comparison with 760 road crashes in 2013 while 42 per cent was also recorded in injuries in 2014 with I,481 injured persons as against the 2013 figure of 2,542. On the offenders, the corps marshal also disclosed that the FRSC apprehended 25, 742 traffic offenders, as against 23,339 arrested in 2013; which shows an increase by 10 per cent. Reacting to the increased figures of apprehended offenders, Oyeyemi noted that these figures clearly show the level of success recorded in the operations, pledging the FRSC’s determination to sustain the tempo of the enforcement this year towards attending safer road environment for all road users in the country. While responding to the corps marshal, the group managing director, LEADERSHIP group, Michael Okpere, while pledging support to the commission, tasked the corps marshal to always ensure that they kept up the good work of road crashes reduction. Also, the head of human capital, LEADERSHIP, Zipporah Tanko tasked the commission on proper partnership with the Federal Road Management Agency so as to ensure the repair of pot holes on the highways which have also contributed to road crashes. By Ejike Ejike, Abuja
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
Christians, Beware Of Dogs! ➔ CONTINUED from yesterday By Sharon Faliya Cham
The plot was published as a full page advertorial by the NORTHERN ELDERS’ ASSEMBLY, and, according to them, ‘’A patriotic Nigerian who claims to be of Ijaw ethnic extraction found it in the national interest to forward to our organisation a copy of the strategic plan drawn up by some Ijaw prominent figures towards capturing, retaining and consolidating their grip on the political and economic landscape of the country.’’ But before I proceed, let me acknowledge the fact that most Nigerians, including myself, who read that advertorial at that time must have felt or thought that it was one of those advertorials being used at that time to drum up support for or against the PDP zoning that heated up the political atmosphere at that time, and you wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking like that because such advertorials were coming in torrents all across the geopolitical divides then. I was compelled to remember this particular advertorial in the light of the intensity of attacks by ‘’Boko Haram’’ in their campaign to completely destroy northern Nigeria, and the fact that it is overwhelmingly suspicious that our military that has always excelled in both domestic and international soldiering became deliberately weakened and turned into an object of local and international scorn and ridicule because they were always easily overrun by this ‘’Boko Haram’’, and all of this under a Commander – in – Chief of Ijaw extraction, and all of this in spite of the fact that all previous governments before Goodluck Jonathan’s have been spending money on defence. As a matter of fact, the same military, SSS and police that crushed Boko Haram in 2009 at the command of President Yar’adua are the same security institutions Goodluck Jonathan inherited with the same weapons all previous governments have been buying, and, of course, it was out of those weapons that some were massively stolen for Niger Delta terrorists in 2007 as stated above. So, again, why did Boko Haram that was effectively crushed by President Yar’adua rise up overnight destroying a part of the country just after President Jonathan has carefully chosen his key security chiefs in lopsided manner? Well, the Ijaw plot under consideration reveals that, apart from their resolve to capture the NNPC and all other key finance
institutions, they were to also capture all the key security sectors, and then execute their master plan of action which they listed as (a.) April 2010 – May 2011: Capture Presidency (b.) May 2011 – May 2019: Run two terms and (c.) After May 2019: Handpick successors; jettison rotation principle Now, look at that again and you will realise why President Jonathan did all he could to, first, deny zoning in his party, and, secondly, deny he agreed to serve for only one term in spite of overwhelming evidence that he did indeed commit himself to a one-term pact, which only means he was dancing in accordance to the tune of this conspiracy. But remember the question I asked much earlier that, since President Jonathan has twice snubbed northern Nigeria on power sharing deals he has been part of, and has agreed to, how was he planning on winning votes in the north, considering the very large voting population in the region? Were they going to lift up their hands in hallelujah praise to vote for him in spite of him slighting them twice? Well, again, the revealed plot under consideration provides the answer. Under the heading titled STRATEGIES, which listed steps of how they were going to achieve their objectives, the number one strategy states: ‘’Rest (sic) power from the north; form alliance with smaller ethnic groups nationwide to isolate the north (this has been referred to as the Okar solution) Did you see that? Now, don’t you wonder why President Jonathan and his supporters have always sought to widen the gulf of unity among Nigerians, and usually the sentiments are always whipped up against the Hausa/Fulani Muslims? All the ‘’Boko Haram’’ bombings and attacks are always used as tools
of propaganda against northerners, and to further intensify such hate and propaganda, soldiers somewhere down south could even be ordered to detain bus after bus carrying northern traders from morning till evening, and when they reach a significant number like 486, they are branded before newsmen as ‘’Boko Haram’’ members travelling down south to wreak havoc. Some people can even walk into a big church in Owerri on a SATURDAY and plant bombs against Sunday worship service, and you are left wondering which Muslim could walk into a church on Saturday to plant bombs primed to explode the following day! Nothing has been spared by the Jonathan presidency to manipulate religion and tribe against northerners, and you can see that it conforms to the agenda that says to ‘’wrest power from the north’’ and even ‘’isolate the north’’ through a strategy called ‘’the Okar solution’’. But what is ‘’the Okar solution’’ they want to use? Merely isolating the north within Nigeria wasn’t what Gideon Okar the coup plotter did, or intended doing in his mercifully aborted April 1990 coup. Major Gideon Okar and his accomplices announced the expulsion of some northern states out of Nigeria – a break up of Nigeria was their aim, and the main target of the break up was northern Nigeria that everybody suffering from inferiority complex hates. So, if the Ijaws want to ‘’wrest power from the north’’ and then ‘’isolate the north’’ through ‘’the Okar solution’’, it only means they want to expel the north out of the country called Nigeria, and this is the only explanation why a ‘’Boko Haram’’ that uses so many armour tanks, many military trucks, helicopters and AA Guns
is busy destroying towns, villages and committing genocide against northerners with millions of them becoming refugees outside and inside the country without the Nigerian military making any effort to retake the towns and villages seized by ‘’Boko Haram’’. It is a huge lie for anybody to say the Nigerian military is ill-equipped, and that’s why the ‘’terrorists’’ always overran them. If the Nigerian military were truly ill-equipped, our soldiers wouldn’t have been protesting that they were being deliberately given inferior and weaker weapons to confront those mercenaries hired to destroy and expel northern Nigeria from the country, for these soldiers have a sound idea of what is in stock in their armouries. So, isn’t the Ijaw agenda of capturing the security sector at play here? And, hey, a major player in the aborted Gideon Okar coup that sought to expel the north from Nigeria in 1990, Lt. Col. Tony Nyiam, is now a close ally of President Jonathan, and isn’t this strange in the light of what is happening against northern Nigeria now? So, with a vast portion of northeast Nigeria virtually or tactically expelled from the country and dashed to Chad through ‘’the Okar solution’’ and with President Jonathan desperately seeking for another term in office, what could happen if he succeeds? With the security sector firmly in his grip and his people, I have a gut feeling that ‘’the Okar solution’’ will be frankly and brutally executed. Remember that the first stage was executed even with Jonathan seeking for another term, how much more will it be when he wouldn’t be seeking any other term? And doesn’t this rhyme with what MEND leader, Henry Okah said in a sworn affidavit at a South African court that one of President Jonathan’s right hand men, Mr. Godsday Orubebe, told him that ‘’President Goodluck Jonathan was determined to ensure that political power never returned to the North’’, which Mr. Orubebe himself described as ‘’parasites’’ which is just what every hate merchant in the country calls northerners. So, if you look at the logic and philosophy of calling some human beings as parasites, it goes that the people calling these human beings as parasites wouldn’t mind wasting them through a carefully waged proxy war with ‘’Boko Haram’’ being the proxy, for parasites are always destroyed, which is also evidenced by the fact that someone has said he was ➔ CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
Christians, Beware Of Dogs! ➔ FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
determined not to return power to the north, and if power can never ever be returned to the north, it only means you have an agenda of turning them into a minority through population reduction or an agenda of outrightly expelling them out of the country. You can never ever successfully analyse or investigate ‘’Boko Haram’’ without the October 1, 2010 bombings in Abuja, for while Jonathan and his supporters have always lied that northerners created ‘’Boko Haram’’ to make the country ungovernable for him, the October 1 bombings were also designed by President Jonathan’s men for the same purpose of blackmailing northerners as revealed by Henry Okah in his famous affidavit just as much as the contents in Henry Okah’s affidavit also agree with the Ijaw plot under consideration here. Okah said Orubebe told him Jonathan was going to pretend to do only one term but once he got entrenched in power he was going to insist on another term, and isn’t this what exactly played out? And isn’t this contained in the Ijaw strategic document we are analysing now? Well, going further, the other content under STRATEGIES as contained in their plot include: ‘’Seize control of sources of funds and military power; Strengthen grip on the media, already mainly under control of the Niger Delta (Guardian, Thisday, Sun, Vanguard, Daily Independent, Champion, as well as electronic media AIT, CHOICE, SILVERBIRD etc owned by the Niger Delta indigenes); Discredit possible challengers in every sphere of endeavour.... ; With the presidency in Niger Delta hands use ‘’divide and rule’’ tactics to gain power across the nation’’ Can you see where the agenda of using ‘’Boko Haram’’ to discredit people like General Buhari and, in fact, all northerners emanated from? Otherwise, what do they mean by to ‘’discredit possible challengers in every sphere’’? And do you also see why President Jonathan goes from church to church to announce government policies and present himself as a ‘’Christian’’ politician so that their divide and rule tactics for gaining power across the nation can be fulfilled and sustained? And can you see why some media outfits in the country appear somewhat mild to the monumental corruption and incompetence of the Jonathan presidency? And one of the reasons why crude oil theft grew astronomically under the Jonathan presidency was also revealed in the plot. Among other things under the heading of how they were going to fund their evil plot is ‘Oil bunkering’, which should explain why ships and barges are used to steal crude oil but they are never arrested for prosecution, and which confirms the revelation of the sponsors of
‘’Boko Haram’’ by the Lord Jesus Christ more than two thousand years ago wherein He said in John chapter 10 verse 10 that ‘’The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy....’’ Therefore, anybody looking for the sponsors of any crime or terrorism in Nigeria or elsewhere should always look in the direction of thieves and corrupt members of the society, for they steal because they are corrupt, and they kill and destroy to sustain their corrupt lifestyle. You can never fault the Lord Jesus Christ, can you? Well, to confirm that this Ijaw agenda is clandestine, the last part of the document says ‘’(a.) The organisation to run the programme shall remain unwritten; (b.) Emergency meetings will be called whenever necessary. Members will recognise each other through meetings and by word of mouth and on a ‘’need to know’’ basis (c.) Monthly, quarterly, semi-annual and annual meetings shall be held to review results and progress and to address issues concerning the people. (d.) Notice of meetings will be passed through the established network in place.’’ So, ladies and gentlemen, doesn’t this sound like we have some Mafia in place? I must point out that special gratitude must be paid to that patriotic Ijaw that revealed this plot about five years ago, even though his or name is unknown for their security, and it confirms what I said much earlier in this piece that it is one thing for a group or person to hold a dream, and it is another thing to have everybody believing in that dream, and that is why it is always wrong to stereotype everybody in any group as bad. Every tribe, religion or whatever has their good and bad people. What the world should always do is to strive to look out for the good instead of promoting the bad. What appears to make President Jonathan look so harmless in spite of his association with people like Tompolo, Asari Dokubo and other Niger Delta militants is his deceptive innocent appearance, which, unfortunately, even some Men of God probably mistake for some godliness or some niceness, conveniently forgetting that even prophet Samuel almost fell to such deceptive appearance when he was set to anoint a wrong king for Israel and God had to remind him that while men look on the physical appearance, He God looked on the inside, that is the heart, and that’s why the Holy Bible eloquently said in Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9 that ‘’The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?’’ It didn’t say the face of man is desperately wicked, rather it is the heart that cooks and hides wickedness but which it manifests in works as fruits of the heart, and that’s why the Lord Jesus Christ said in Matthew chapter 7 verse 17 that ‘’....every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
Kumuyi
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.’’ So therefore, the evil fruits of monumental corruption and insecurity currently ravaging Nigeria are the fruits of which person’s heart? The leaders or the lead? That brings me to this question: Has President Jonathan ever benefitted from violence as means of advancing his political career? NUMBER ONE: The court affidavit sworn to by MEND leader, Henry Okah, in a South African court says yes to this question. Okah swore that the October 1, 2010 bombings in Abuja that killed a number of people was done to blackmail northern Nigerian politicians and to present Jonathan as a victim of northern conspiracy, and therefore draw public sympathy for him. Of course, when MEND claimed responsibility for the attack President Jonathan said it wasn’t MEND, which proves that a scapegoat was being scouted for blame, and since then bombings have mysteriously and quietly disappeared from their traditional base to northern Nigeria, and the blame game against northerners also continued with renewed frenzy in spite of them being the victims. NUMBER TWO: A story on the front page and page 4 of the LEADERSHIP newspaper of Monday, August 24, 2009 is titled ‘PDP Armed Militants For Elections – MEND Commander’. In the story, a commander of MEND called, Nwaeze Adiele, who was in charge of the Tombia front and who was surrendering to embrace the amnesty programme of President Yar’adua said ‘’I was first introduced to gun in 1999, during the elections, when we were asked by the PDP to help them during the elections. They gave us guns and promised us big money. “But when the election finished, we did not see any money. So, with the gun we did not return, we went into this thing....’’ So, have you seen another evidence of how the PDP criminalised our country, and does not balk at the use of violence
or terrorism to advance their morbid political cause? Evidently, President Jonathan as a member of the PDP since 1999 must have benefitted from what this Niger Delta militant said considering that he became Deputy Governor to Governor Alamieyeseigha in 1999. In any case, a letter written to President Jonathan by some Niger Delta militants in November 2010 wherein they were expressing their displeasure to him for calling them ‘’criminals’’ lends credence to the fact that he benefitted from their violence. The page 2 of THE NATION newspaper of Saturday, November 20, 2010 quoted them telling him that ‘’For record purposes, it is the armed agitation of the Niger Delta youths over the years, whom you have called criminals, that triggered the pressure for the agitation of southsouth president in 2007 between the Niger Delta leaders and the northern political leaders....’’ NUMBER THREE: An interview granted the BBC by former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in May 2013 and which was graciously published by the SUNDAY TRUST newspaper of May 12, 2013 also confirms the use of violence by politicians in Rivers and Bayelsa States to win elections. In fact, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar said ‘’..... However, let me tell you when we created the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and started the campaign and those who wanted to contest all emerged, Rivers and Bayelsa State governors, at that time, released huge amounts of money and recruited youths and bought guns for them in order for the governors to win the election. I went and met them and told them that those boys you gathered, if you win the election and if you do not give them jobs they will start attacking people and they are the ones called Niger Delta militants now. — To read the full article, visit: www.leadership.co.ng ➔ TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW
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job search Thursday, February 5, 2015
INTERVIEWS NETWORKING PERSONAL BRANDING JOB SEEKER PROFILES
motivating fellow employees and leading them to work toward a common goal. In addition, leaders analyse tasks and set priorities for the other employees as well as identify and allocate resources that employees need.
5 Transferable Skills Job Seekers Need
With unemployment rising in the country, looking for a job has become relatively tough for many people. Even some people with advanced academic qualifications, such as bachelor’s degrees and even MBAs are currently having a rough time on the market. However, there are still plenty of jobs out there for the right candidates. With that in mind, one of the ways of differentiating yourself from other job seekers is by having transferable skills. Broadly speaking, a transferable skill is expertise that you can use across a wide range of industries. According to a study from a reputable university in the West, many graduates change jobs as many as four times within a period of five years. If you are a job seeker, identifying your transferable skills and articulating them to employers is likely to increase your chances of getting a job. Some of these skills include:
1 Communication In almost every career, from banking to the hospitality industry, good communication skills are vital. As such, it would be to your advantage if you have the ability to articulate your ideas in writing as well as orally. Since communication normally involves more than one party, you should be a good listener as well. Employers often look for people who can negotiate with employees in an objective manner.
of data stored on-site. Employees can access company data on the go knowing they have secure storage for their information. In such an environment, analytical skills are likely to come in handy when clients face problems such as uploading data or updating certain files. To solve those issues, one would have to identify and define the problem’s parameters. This skill also involves collecting and analyzing data in order to design creative solutions to complex problems.
2 Analytical Skills This is a vital skill in almost every field of work mainly because the majority of businesses generate revenue by solving problems that clients face daily. For example, cloudcomputing companies provide data storage solutions, thereby ensuring that their clients have a backup
3 Leadership Most organisations and business enterprises employ more than one employee. Because of this, it may not be possible to have all the employees in leadership positions. Therefore, a few employees who show the ability to lead generally take charge of the others. Leadership is all about
4 Information Management Skills Traditionally, businesses kept a few records such as sales, purchases, and salaries in-house. In most cases, this data was no more than a few gigabytes. However, the emergence of social networking, adoption of e-commerce by consumers, and the large number of data points generated by businesses and corporations has upended the traditional model of managing information. As a result, most employers need employees who can sort and present data objects in an understandable manner. Information management also involves evaluating and synthesising information against industry standards. Industries where you can apply this skill set include finance, education, manufacturing, and print media. 5 Project management Project managers are in high demand in many industries. Your work as a project manager will involve planning projects, assessing potential risks associated with the project, allocating project finances appropriately, and overseeing the execution of the project on time. You can use this transferable skill in industries such as education, energy, consulting, and even the military. The job sector is becoming increasingly competitive with every passing day. With this in mind, jobseekers need to broaden their horizons when searching for a job. Leverage the power of transferable skills acquired in previous jobs to get ahead of the competition. These include analytical skills, project management, communication, leadership, and information management skills.
5 Transferable Skills Job Seekers Need
1. Communication Employers often look for people who can negotiate with employees in an objective manner. 2. Analytical Skills Analytical skills are likely to come in handy when clients face problems such as uploading data or updating certain files. 3. LeadershipLeadership is all about motivating fellow employees and leading them to work toward a common goal.
Interviews How To Prepare For A Job Interview 1. Do Your Homework Most companies have an online presence, so it should be relatively easy for you to learn about the company. You should also familiarise yourself with the position for which you are interviewing. If possible, print out a copy of the position description and take it with you to the interview. Be sure to bring a few extra copies of your resume in case an interviewer needs a hard copy during the interview. 2. Practice Makes Perfect Interviewing is a learned skill and the best candidates practice, practice and practice some more to prepare for a job interview. For college candidates, there
may be opportunities through career services to participate in mock interviews. A mock interview is usually conducted by an employer, a career services professional or a professor. Essentially, you will be interviewing for a pretend job. Mock interviews are helpful because they can relieve you of nervousness and the interviewers usually are able to provide some feedback on your interview skills. For more seasoned candidates, opportunities to prepare for a job interview may also exist with local workforce services offices and career coaches. Another option is to ask a friend or family member to “role play” an interview with you. If you have access to a webcam or video camera, try
recording your “performance” and reviewing the areas where you need improvement. 3. Know The Interview Lingo Many companies are utilising behavioural interview techniques. Behavioural interviewing requires the job candidate to provide a situation and then describe the task that comprised the situation, the actions that were taken and the result or outcome. Questions may be posed to you in a format of “tell me about a time when…” or “give me an example of a time when…” This allows you to share previous work (paid or volunteer) or classroom experiences and the interviewer is able to ascertain what
you learned from the experience. Many companies prefer to use this interviewing technique because it provides information on a candidate that isn’t likely to be included on a resume. 4. Sell Yourself And Build The Business Case Candidates should think about the business case of why they should be hired. The interviewer needs to have a compelling reason to extend an offer to a candidate. Job candidates should think about their knowledge, skills and abilities and how these would benefit the organization that is hiring. Compiled by Olujide Olusola
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Junior Advisor Trade and Customs Deutsche Gesellschaft Fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Abuja 1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395960 Or send your CV to: 3c0c8@jbng.me
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH(German Agency for International Cooperation) or GIZ is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal Government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries.In Nigeria, GIZ’s portfolio includes among others, a programme to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its regional integration goals.The programme aims to strengthen sector-specific capacities in the areas of Peace and Security, Customs and Trade as well as Strategic Management and Organizational Development in the ECOWAS Commission.GIZ is currently recruiting to fill the Junior Advisor Trade and Customs role in its ECOWAS support programme. Responsibilities • The Junior Advisor provides support for the team leader and other experts for whom the junior advisor performs technical tasks • Coordinating programme activities carrying out specific research tasks which are required for planning the implementation of programmes • Carrying out specific tasks in connection with knowledge management for the programme • Puts together an overview of programme activities, deadlines etc. and presents this regularly at team meetings supports project monitoring and updates information on project progress, documents and reports regularly on the status of results • Assists with recording and documenting the results of all activities • Assists with planning, coordinating and documenting meetings, workshops, seminars and other project activities with a focus on Trade and Customs activities in the ECOWAS region. • Assists short-term experts assigned to programme in completing their tasks • Any other duty that might be assigned by the superior related to the scope of work • Develops training materials for training workshops on the ECOWAS common external tariff, common trade policy, ECOWAS Trade liberalization scheme • Coordinates the execution of the training workshops in the Member States and liaises with the country offices in the region capacity building on trade policy and negotiations. Requirements: • University degree in Law, Economics or a related field. • Working experience with relevant Trade and Customs organizations in the ECOWAS region • Experience of working with international organizations • Other knowledge, additional competences • Good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet) and computer applications (e.g. MS Office, Access or other database programme) • Experience of project management and research experience in Trade and Customs
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in the ECOWAS region • Willingness to upskill as required by the tasks to be performed – corresponding measures are agreed with management
Architect AIM Consultants, Abuja
7 - 10 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395926 Or send your CV to: 3c0a6@jbng.me AIM Consultants is in need of a suitable candidate to fill this position Responsibilities: • Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, and construction time. • Consult with client to determine functional and spatial requirements of structure. • Direct activities of workers engaged in preparing drawings and specification documents. • Plan layout of project. • Prepare contract documents for building contractors. • Prepare scale drawings. Requirements: • Degree in Architecture • MNIA- Full member • ARCON – Registered member • Conversant in the use of Auto-CAD • Working Hours : Mondays – Saturdays • Minimum of 8 years post qualification experience in; • Design and Projects
Driver Eltoda Farms Limited, Abuja
Entry Level Visit: http://jbng.me/395939 Or send your CV to: 3c0b3@jbng.me A firm in the agricultural sector seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Responsibilities: • Will be responsible for distribution of poultry farm products and collection of payment • Try to make contact with new customers • Ensure that products get to customers on time. Requirements: • Minimum of SSCE • Must have a valid drivers license • Must be able to navigate around lagos easily • Must have a valid drivers license.
Retail Manager/Fashion Merchandising/Social Media Advertising Locatierge, Abuja
3 - 5 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395981 Or send your CV to: 3c0dd@jbng.me Locatierge Ware House seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Responsibilities: • The key role is to create and manage a team of customer service and product knowledge experts who are committed to building and sustaining a long term relationship with our customers by providing an environment that enhances the buying experience. • The Store Manager is responsible for
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the overall operation and performance of the store, which includes sales, merchandising, operations, marketing, supervision, training and development, loss prevention and expense control. They are fully accountable for driving sales and profitability while supervising sales associates and directing all aspects of store operations. Our Store Managers must adhere to all company guidelines, procedures and applicable state and federal laws to ensure efficient daily operations. They establish high standards of performance and act as a role model by exhibiting those standards. The manager will facilitate the expansion of our warehouse by developing and maintaining marketing campaigns using ambitious, innovative and effective marketing strategies. Develop, foster and maintain a store culture focused on the customer. Enhance the customer buying experience by building relationships that lead to long term business growth. Must demonstrate detailed knowledge of all products and services. Monitor and positively affect profitability in the areas of sales, inventory, expense control and risk management. Hire and sustain a superior sales team that supports the continued enhancement of our stores and our brand. Train, develop and coach associates on selling skills and behaviors and operational procedures lead by example! Provide on-going coaching and counseling, create succession plans and effectively manage performance and corrective action processes. Empower associates to use their skills, experience and good judgment as an effective customer service tool. Direct and coordinate their activities to meet sales, productivity and profit goals. Responsible for effective implementation of all visual merchandising standards and operational direction. Ensure that standards are being followed including floor sets, cleanliness, marketing, signage and sales promotion. Manage all aspects of social media marketing campaigns including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Create merchandise presentations and displays that have impact, are customer focused and maximize sales. Effectively manage personnel to ensure strict adherence to company policies and procedures. Individual must be high energy and of uncompromising INTEGRITY.
Qualifications and Requirements: • Some retail experience desired, supervisory capacity . • High school diploma or equivalent, college or university degree preferred. • Excellent interpersonal, creative problem solving, organizational and time management skills. • Proven ability to identify top talent, create teams and train, develop, retain great people. • Demonstrates high quality service techniques and philosophy, including customer service, problem/complaint resolution. • The ability to read, analyze and interpret company policies and procedures. • Ability to write business correspondence, performance appraisals and corrective action documentation and communicate
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effectively with all levels of the organization. Strong basic math skills and solid computer skills. Ability to learn, interpret, apply and retain a variety of instructions and policies and procedures furnished in written, verbal, diagram or schedule form. Should have a passion for clothing and fashion and the ability to sell and market a broad range of merchandise The ability to develop and maintain long term customer relationships is also critical.
Site / Building Supervisor GOZPROP LTD,HALCON BUILDERS LIMITED, Abuja
5 - 7 years Visit: http://jbng.me/396013 Or send your CV to: 3c0fd@jbng.me A firm in the Construction / Real Estate sector seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Job summary: Will supervise our building projects Requirements: • Ordinary National Diploma / Trade Test Certificate • Minimum Experience:5 Years on site in a Building Construction site • Must be able to work independently with little or no supervision. • IT Knowledge and experience an advantage
Senior Manager, Legal and Human Resources Fort Knox Guards Limited, Abuja 5 - 7 years Visit: http://jbng.me/396036 Or send your CV to: 3c114@jbng.me
A leading private guard company and security service provider with Headquarters in Nigeria and branches around West-Africa is looking to hire qualified candidates to fill this position to manage its operations across Nigeria. Responsibilities: • Manages the setting up of a functional and competent HR department in the organization. • Maintains human resource staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training employees. • Maintains Management guidelines by preparing, updating and recommending human resource policies and procedures and consolidating same in to a workable staff handbook. • Assesses the training needs of staff; technical, managerial and behavioral and prepare an annual training plan. • Designs and implements a result oriented performance appraisal system that will help managers set clear measurable targets for their staff with inputs from staff. Also review appraisals with managers and staff and identify performance gaps annually. • Develops and maintains a system of disciplinary procedures, grievance handling and termination in consonance with labour laws in the country • Ensures the organization meets legal compliance with its operations and documentations and represent the organizations at hearings and legal engagements. • Interprets and advises on general, contract and employment laws.
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• Maintains the organizational structure by updating job requirements and job description for all positions and maintains appropriate reporting lines for all staff. • Develops a filing and retrieval system to track information on each employee and to document hiring and selection procedures. • Uphold excellent work ethics and maintain an effective communication channel between staff and management and vice versa. Requirements: • Minimum qualification is LLB. An LLM or MSc in HRM and certification in CIPM will be an added advantage • Strong interpersonal, Problem solving and relationship management skills. • Suitable candidates must have cognate experience of 6 - 10 years in Human Resources management roles and must have worked with a diverse workforce.
Executive Assistant Abuja
1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/396045 Or send your CV to: 3c11d@jbng.me A leading private guard company and security service provider with Headquarters in Nigeria and branches around West-Africa is looking to hire qualified candidates to fill this position to manage its operations across Nigeria. Responsibilities: • Manage day-to-day operational and administrative duties to support the MD Manage hectic calendar and meeting schedules, using prioritization skills and a high level of interpersonal refinement • Plan and optimize all travel plans for the MD • Draft memos, letters, e-mails, documents and other responses as directed by the MD • Creates and Publishes presentations by gathering information; preparing and editing articles, and content. • Completes project and special assignments by establishing objectives; determining priorities; managing time; gaining cooperation of others; monitoring progress; problem-solving; making adjustments to plans. • Attend meetings, take notes, transcribe notes, derive action plans and follow up with all attendees to reinforce the meeting purpose, outcome and expected responses/actions • Serve as a primary point of contact (POC) for the administrative needs of the MD • Review and process expense reports and invoices • Maintain professional knowledge base and seek opportunities to enhance skills and abilities; seek new areas of responsibility and perform new tasks; recommend process improvements • Handle all duties with a high degree of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality • Demonstrate commitment to providing customer-focused quality service • Perform other duties as assigned by the MD Qualifications and Requirements: • B.Sc or BA degree in a relevant social sciences discipline • Minimum of at least 2 years of experience supporting a MD, CEO or Executive Management • Required Skills • Possess outstanding administrative and
organizational skills • Must be customer-focused, flexible, and forward thinking. • Strong attention to detail and accuracy are Paramount for this role. • Must be extremely proficient in MS Word and other MS Office Suite applications. • Able to plan, prioritise, and organise a heavy workload, adjust to changing priorities. • Able to exercise discretion and keep strictest levels of confidentiality. • Must have excellent oral and written communication skills • Must be ready to travel
Project Manager NAZEEF ISA AHMED ENTERPRISES NIGERIA LIMITED, Abuja 3 - 5 years Visit: http://jbng.me/396050 Or send your CV to: 3c122@jbng.me
A firm in the trade and services sector seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Responsibilities: • To perform a wide range of duties including some or all of the following: • Plan the project • Define the scope of the project in collaboration with senior management • Create a detailed work plan which identifies and sequences the activities needed to successfully complete the project • Determine the resources (time, money, equipment, etc) required to complete the project • Develop a schedule for project completion that effectively allocates the resources to the activities • Review the project schedule with senior management and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revise the schedule as required • Determine the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated at its completion. Requirements: • At least 4 years’ experience in software project management • Experience in Agile Methodology • Fair understanding of Web Applications Development • Experience in a Banking Application • PMP certified is an added advantage
Manager Omega Gardens, Kwara
Entry Level Visit: http://jbng.me/396058 Or send your CV to: 3c12a@jbng.me Omegreens Garden is based in Offa. It is Garden with fine flowers, excellent landscapes, some animals, pool, a river with a boat tour and a park. There is also a restaurant, a bar and event spaces. Responsibilities; • The Manager of the Garden is the Chief Strategist for Garden and will be reporting to the CEO. • He/she is to organise, supervise and direct all the operations and staff of Omegreens Park and Gardens • He/she is to ensure that services on offer is aimed at achieving a global standard in customer service and excellence in quality of service delivery and achieve fast growth and profitability for the gardens such that all clients are motivated to visit the Garden. • He/She is to work in close and harmonious
relationship with the CEO and existing team of staff in a productive manner. • He/She is to ensure a very conducive working environment that will guarantee high productivity. Requirements: • No experience required • Qualifications: NCE, OND, HND, BSC etc • Accommodation may be provided close to the Garden
Business Development Manager Quorum Experience Managers, Abuja 3 - 5 years Visit: http://jbng.me/396101 Or send your CV to: 3c155@jbng.me
We’re an event management company that conceptualizes, plans and executes events for a range of clients in Nigeria, particularly large firms. Summary: Managing the setup of the venue, coordinating and managing vendors and personnel, liaising with client reps, interacting with guests where necessary, ensuring deliverables are met, documenting and reporting on the event and pretty much doing whatever is necessary to ensure the event goes smoothly. Attributes: • Excellent communication skills, • Self Starter, focused, self-motivated and innovative • Ability to work on his/her own initiative and as a member of a team • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Capacity to work well under pressure • Understanding of the industry • Outgoing and Sociable • Personable and stylish. Requirements: • We need people who can take charge and take responsibility,manage personnel perform under high pressure, solve problems, be flexible and have a good sense of organisation. • Male or Female, no age requirements. • Minimum Qualification – HND • Years of experience – 3 - 5 • The work will very often entail late nights, and setup often requires being overnight at venues. Skills/Competencies: • Strong communication and interpersonal skills • Deductive reasoning abilities and eye for details. • Persuasion and negotiation skills
Technical Research Assistant PGL Group, Abuja 1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/396132 Or send your CV to: 3c174@jbng.me
PGL Group, a leading ICT/ Telecommunications Firm in Abuja requires the service of a Technical Research Assistant; Major Responsibilities • Conduct online and physical research; collect data, analyze, and summarize notes • Conduct research as needed during the software development cycle • Provide support by performing market analysis • Monitor company/sector news and events and perform other related duties as
assigned • Assist in conducting thorough literature review and systematic documentation Requirements General Requirements • Candidates should be resident in Abuja; or have the capacity to fund their relocation if needed • Creativity, imagination, drive and initiative • Good teamwork, numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills • Strong writing, communication, and analytical skills • Very strong computer skills • Specific Requirements • Minimum of Second Class Upper (or equivalent in HND) in Computer Science, Mathematics, Information Technology or related courses • 2 years relevant work experience • Ability to demonstratecareful attention to details • Experience in using the internet to search for varied information successfully • Ability to think outside the box and take initiative • Knowledge of computer programming languages such as PHP, HTML, CSS will be a very huge added advantage
Clinical Nurse Manager Spinecare Hospital, Abuja
5 - 7 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395879 Or send your CV to: 3c077@jbng.me Our hospital is highly specialized in spine and orthopedics, we currently seek qualified candidates to fill this role Responsibilities: • The post holder will have full managerial responsibility of the clinic. • He/she will provide professional, clinical and managerial leadership to the clinical staff. • Implement the Code of Professional Conduct of nursing, ensuring they are embedded into everyday practice and evaluate their impact on the customer experience. • The post holder will have full responsibility for the quality of care, cleanliness, environment and infection, prevention & control within the clinical area. • To manage the work within the clinical area effectively and make the best use of resources; encouraging and leading service development accordingly. • Collaborate with top management and other stakeholders in order to develop, implement and evaluate programs and services. • Apply evidence-based healthcare practices and nursing standards. • Maintain inventory of medicines, equipment and supplies. • Demonstrate strong leadership, communication and negotiation skills. • Coordinates activities by scheduling work assignments, setting priorities, and directing the work of subordinate employees. Requirements: • 5 – 10 years experience as a Matron in either a Government or Private Hospital. • Retired Nurses preferred • RN required. • BSc Nursing preferred. • Can speak English and Hausa fluently. • Should reside in Gwagwalada or environs.
Hotel General Manager Abuja 7 - 10 years
40 Visit: http://jbng.me/395890 Or send your CV to: 3c082@jbng.me A firm in the hospitality sector seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Job Description: As the General Manager you will be responsible for the overall guest experience within the hotel. The goals of the General Manager are to achieve the financial targets (including revenues and operating expenses), ensure guest satisfaction, to motivate and lead a multi-skilled team. This will be achieved by ensuring that all the correct standards are implemented and adhered to throughout the hotel including all operating areas, reporting principles and marketing strategies. Requirements: • 7 years minimum direct level background with a resume that shows loyalty and appropriate tenure and progression to • Executive position. • Experience with quality hotels a definite plus • Excellent working knowledge of revenue achievement; fiscal accountability is required for success in this role • Strong focus on operations and guest interaction • Leading sales and marketing acumen is to be demonstrated.(Must understand Abuja Market) • Able to build strong contacts with travel agents, travel operators and officials • Excellent people and language skills, able to manage HOD to achieve results • Proven record of building high performance teams, setting expectations and achieving goals • Must Live in Abuja.
Pediatric Nurse Tender Years Preparatory School, Abuja 1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/382561 Or send your CV to: 38c71@jbng.me
Tender Years Preparatory School requires urgently the services of qualified candidate for this position. Responsibilities: • Initial diagnosis of a child’s condition by observing and analyzing symptoms • Administering necessary vaccinations, STARTING intravenous fluids, checking the child’s vital signs and charting the observations • Maintaining accurate records and reporting the same to the physicians • Performing basic duties like dressing of wounds, collecting samples, etc. • Educating the child’s family about the illness and the course of further treatment • Giving emotional support and comfort • Working with doctors, medical teams and even social services arrive at the most effective solution or plan of treatment Qualification and Requirements: • RN/RM • Minimum of 2 years’ experience with children
IT Hardware Sales / Distribution Sales Officer Abuja
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Requirements: • Candidate should have PC’s , Non PC’s PSG (business PCs and accessories, consumer PCs and accessories) , IPG Product sales experience (personal computing devices, enterprise and industry standard servers, related storage devices, networking products, software and a diverse range of printers and other imaging products for small- to medium-sized businesses and enterprises directly as well as via online distribution, consumer-electronics and office-supply retailers, software partners and major technology vendors) . • Should have strong hardcore Sales Experience of 2-10 Years IT sales/ Distribution Industry. • Should have good communication and presentation skills. • Should have good Excel Knowledge. • Should be able to identify and develop new Distributor/wholesale and retail channels
Architect SIAO PARTNERS, Abuja
10 - 15 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395918 Or send your CV to: 3c09e@jbng.me A consulting firm seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Responsibilities: • Prepare information regarding design, structure specifications, materials, color, equipment, estimated costs, and construction time. • Consult with client to determine functional and spatial requirements of structure. • Direct activities of workers engaged in preparing drawings and specification documents. • Plan layout of project. • Prepare contract documents for building contractors. • Prepare scale drawings. Requirements: • Minimum of HND • Minimum of 10 years’ experience • Must be a registered member with Nigeria Professional Architect Body.
Pediatric Nurse Tender Years Preparatory School Job Level Fresh Graduate/Entry Level/Graduate Internship Industry Education Specialization Healthcare / Pharmaceutical Job Level Fresh Graduate/Entry Level/Graduate Internship Preferred Years of Experience 1 - 3 years Available Slots 2 Application Deadline 4 weeks from now Fast Apply http://jbng.me/382561 Email Apply 38c71@jbng.me
1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395912 Or send your CV to: 3c098@jbng.me
Tender Years Preparatory School requires urgently the services of qualified candidate for this position.
A consulting firm seeks qualified candidates to fill this role
Responsibilities: • Initial diagnosis of a child’s condition by
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observing and analyzing symptoms Administering necessary vaccinations, STARTING intravenous fluids, checking the child’s vital signs and charting the observations Maintaining accurate records and reporting the same to the physicians Performing basic duties like dressing of wounds, collecting samples, etc. Educating the child’s family about the illness and the course of further treatment Giving emotional support and comfort Working with doctors, medical teams and even social services arrive at the most effective solution or plan of treatment
Qualification and Requirements: RN/RM Minimum of 2 years experience with children
Hotel General Manager Abuja
7 - 10 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395890 Or send your CV to: 3c082@jbng.me A firm in the hospitality sector seeks qualified candidates to fill this role Job Description: As the General Manager you will be responsible for the overall guest experience within the hotel. The goals of the General Manager are to achieve the financial targets (including revenues and operating expenses), ensure guest satisfaction, to motivate and lead a multi-skilled team. This will be achieved by ensuring that all the correct standards are implemented and adhered to throughout the hotel including all operating areas, reporting principles and marketing strategies. Requirements: • 7 years minimum direct level background with a resume that shows loyalty and appropriate tenure and progression to Executive position. • Experience with quality hotels a definite plus • Excellent working knowledge of revenue achievement; fiscal accountability is required for success in this role • Strong focus on operations and guest interaction • Leading sales and marketing acumen is to be demonstrated.(Must understand Abuja Market) • Able to build strong contacts with travel agents, travel operators and officials • Excellent people and language skills, able to manage HOD to achieve results • Proven record of building high performance teams, setting expectations and achieving goals • Must Live in Abuja.
Clinical Nurse Manager Spinecare Hospital, Abuja
5 - 7 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395879 Or send your CV to: 3c077@jbng.me Our hospital is highly specialized in spine and orthopedics, we currently seek qualified candidates to fill this role Responsibilities: • The post holder will have full managerial responsibility of the clinic. • He/she will provide professional, clinical and managerial leadership to the clinical staff. • Implement the Code of Professional Conduct of nursing, ensuring they are
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embedded into everyday practice and evaluate their impact on the customer experience. The post holder will have full responsibility for the quality of care, cleanliness, environment and infection, prevention & control within the clinical area. To manage the work within the clinical area effectively and make the best use of resources; encouraging and leading service development accordingly. Collaborate with top management and other stakeholders in order to develop, implement and evaluate programs and services. Apply evidence-based healthcare practices and nursing standards. Maintain inventory of medicines, equipment and supplies. Demonstrate strong leadership, communication and negotiation skills. Coordinates activities by scheduling work assignments, setting priorities, and directing the work of subordinate employees.
Requirements: • 5 – 10 years experience as a Matron in either a Government or Private Hospital. • Retired Nurses preferred • RN required. • BSc Nursing preferred. • Can speak English and Hausa fluently. • Should reside in Gwagwalada or environs.
Admin and Accounts Officer Abuja 1 - 3 years Visit: http://jbng.me/395845 Or send your CV to: 3c055@jbng.me
TwinkleStar Photography: is a National studio chain focused on capturing keepsake memories of expectant mothers, newborn, baby, children and family events. Event design and marketing. Job Description • Daily accounting reports • Inventory management • Cash management • Basic admin & human resource roles. Requirements: • Years of Experience: 2 years and above • Qualification - HND and above
news NATIONAL 41
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Call For Postponement Of Election Satanic – UPP Presidential Candidate The presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie has taken a swipe on those calling for the postponement of the forthcoming election, describing the call as satanic. Chief Okorie bared his mind in Abuja while addressing journalists at the party’s national secretariat. He said, “I condemn in the strongest terms the recent mischievously contrived clamour for the postponement of the 2015 general election to another date outside the dates and timetable announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February 2014, over twelve months ago.” By Paul Uwadima, Abuja
We’re Surviving On Charity – IDPs By Igho Oyoyo,Abuja
Over 700 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the camp at New Kunchingoro in Abuja are lamenting over what they described as neglect by the federal government. They said that they have been surviving on charity from churches and individuals, since they no longer have any means of survival. Spokesperson for the IDPs, Mr Philemon Emmanuel, an indigene of Gwossa local govern-
ment of Borno State, made this known when delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) led by the chairman of CAN in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Rev. Isreal Akanji took relief items ranging from seven cows, 200 bags of rice and clothes among others to the IDPs’ camp. Emmanuel lamented that since they have been in the camp since January 2014, only once did the officials of National Emergency Manage-
ment Agency (NEMA) visited them in October 2014, to register their names and also give them some food. He said that after they registered their names and gave them food, they also promised them that they were going to create special camp for them, so that they can live a normal life pending when the security challenges is over for them to return to their original homes. “We are still waiting for the government till today. We
have been surviving on charity, because some good people, churches and individual organisation come here to help us on daily basis, with food items, clothes and some other things. While some churches use to bring some health personnel to take care of our health situation the government has not done what they promised us, we have been living on charity. We are over 700 people here, including men, women and children.
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Buhari Youth Organisation Says Borno APC Chair Sabotaging Campaign
Goodluck Support Groups Decry Lack Of Campaign Fund
The Buhari Youth Organisation (BYO) in Borno State yesterday accused the state chairman of All Progressives Congress(APC) Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori, of alleged sabotage of the success of General Muhammadu Buhari at the February 14 presidential polls. This accusation was made at a press conference organised by the BYO zonal coordinator, Garba Umar, after the group had staged a protest rally against the call for postponement of elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Umar said the Borno State APC chairman had persistently frustrated the activities of the youth wing of the party.
Lack of disbursement of campaign funds to the appropriate support groups at the grassroots may affect the actualisation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, going by the expressions from various pro-Jonathan support groups in Abuja. The various groups represented by their coordinators cried out for lack of funds to advance their campaign ahead of the Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (middle) with the Kano State governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso (right) commissioning the presidential election. multi-billion naira ‘Obasanjo Bridge’ constructed by the Kwankwaso administration in Kano, yesterday. PHOTO BY GOVERNMENT HOUSE. In an interaction with newsmen, the coordinators also lamented lack of recognition of their efforts towards the president’s re-election. Speaking to reporters, the founder, Unity By Igho Oyoyo, Abuja ployee Date of Birth and Date of from various Ministries, DepartProject of Nigeria (UPN), Chief First Appointment on the IPPIS ments and Agencies (MDAs), Igwekala Leo Ugomaduefiele, The federal government has in- Platform”, was issued yester- that the requests are usually expressed his dissatisfaction. troduced more stringent mea- day from the office of the Head predicated on the claim that a By Paul Chiama, Abuja sures towards protecting data of Service of the Federation and mistake was made at the time integrity on the IPPIS platform, sent to all Ministries, Depart- of capturing the employee’s rein order to ensure that officers ments and Agencies (MDAs) of cords on the IPPIS Platform. in the Federal Public Service are the federal government. Kifasi said, “All Permanent not able to manipulate their reIn the statement, the Head Secretaries and Heads of Agencords. of the Civil Service of the Fed- cies are required to thoroughly In a statement signed by assis- eration, Mr. Danladi Kifasi said scrutinise the documents pretant director of Media Relations that it has been observed with sented by officers for any change President Goodluck Jonathan’s for the Head of the Civil Service serious concern the incessant of data on the IPPIS Platform, as home traditional ruler, Chief of the Federation, Mohammed requests for correction of Dates they would be held personally liAsara A. Asara yesterday reactManga, a circular titled “Inces- of Birth (DOB) and Date of First able for any information or falsied to the bombing incident at By Kareem sant Requests for Change of Em- Appointment (DOFA) of officers fication of such application.” the Peoples Democratic Party Haruna,Maiduguri (PDP) presidential campaign rally in Gombe State saying it was an attempt to kill the president. The Aki IX, Obanema of Akipelai, in Bayelsa State who stat- By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja According to the leaders which could cause Nigeria incal- ferent shades of sponsored agied this in a statement insisted culable damage. tations, we know that the overall “There have been several plots to that the target of the bomber Civil Society Organisations inIn a joint press briefing in objective is to create an atmo- harass the INEC into postponing was the president. cluding the Transition Moni- Abuja yesterday, leaders of the sphere of uncertainty to justi- the 2015 elections; attempts to He said, “This is barbarism toring Group (TMG), Civil Soci- CSOs, TMG chairman, Comrade fy the shift in the polls, we are use the judiciary to scuttle polls; in its nakedness. This is savage- ety Legislative Advocacy Centre Ibrahim Zikirullahi and secre- also not unaware of the fact that campaign of calumny launched ry, impunity and, raw, crass and (CISLAC) and the Centre for De- tary general, for Women’s Rights the prime target of this mischie- on credible CSOs as well as use senseless assault on everything mocracy Development (CDD) Advancement and Protection Al- vous and perfidious campaign is of public funds to hire women that is civil, decent carried out have described the attempt to ternative (WRAPA) Hajiya Sau- the Independent National Elec- and youths to protest against by a people or groups. forcibly postpone the February datu Shehu-Mahdi said, “In the toral Commission (INEC) chair- the INEC at both national and By Millie Ibe, Abuja 14 polls as a treasonable offence last few days we have seen dif- man, Professor Attahiru Jega.” state levels”.
FG Introduces Measures To Protect Data Integrity
Elections: Monarch Decries Attack On Jonathan
Calls For Feb Polls Postponement Treasonable – CSOs
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stories of the Thursday, February 5, 2015
...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE
IMPRISONED: Footballer Jailed For Drug Trafficking By OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a Brazilian based Nigerian footballer, Umeh Henry, to two years imprisonment for trying to import 15 grams of cocaine into the country. The court handed down the jail term after the convict pleaded not guilty to one count charge brought against him by the National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to the NDLEA Henry was arrested by operatives of the agency on October 6, 2014, during an inward clearance of Emirate Airlines from Brazil via Dubai, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos. After the plea of the convict was taken the prosecutor, Vembe Emmanuel urged the court to convict the accused as charged in line with section 218 and 285 of the Criminal Procedure Acts, CPA. The convict’s counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy because his client is a first time offender. Ndakara also informed the court that the convict was a Nigeria professional footballer in Brazil, and that the drug he was caught with for personal use not for commercial purpose. The lawyer further told the court that the convict was introduced into drug by his friends. The convict, who also pleaded for mercy, said he started used drug because of the numerous problem he had. And that the quantity he was caught with while coming into the country was for personal use. Justice Idris expressed happiness on the fact that the convict did not waste the time of the court, he, however advised him on the effect of drug use. He said, “I’m happy that your story was constance, and you do not use it for commercial purpose. “I like it that you had said the truth and God will forgive you. But don’t take drug anymore, any relieve it gives is just temporary. “So, when you get out of jail don’t use it again”, the judge warned him. In related development, a trader, Obijiofor Jones, was also on Wednesday, sentenced to five years imprisonment by the same court, for attempting to smuggle 1.82 kilogrammes of Methamphetamine to Malaysia. The prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, had informed the court that the convict was arrested on May 31, 2014 during the outward clearance of Ethiopian Airlines flight to Malaysia at the screening point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Man selling pears at Gosa Market, Abuja, yesterday. Photo By Ogoh
NABBED: NSCDC Arrest 5 For Raping 14-year-old BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia
The Nasarawa State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, yesterday arrested five suspects for allegedly raping a 14-yearold-girl. The NSCDC state commandant, Mr. Andekin Musa, who paraded the suspects before newsmen in Lafia, explained that the suspects were artisans working at a construction site in Doma local government market, while the girl was a sachet water vendor. Musa said four of the the suspects on January 30 lured the girl into an uncompleted building beside the Doma market and took turns to rape her. “The suspects raped her in an uncompleted building near the market. They lured her to the building saying they would buy her water, and raped her,” Andekin said. According to Musa, officers of the command in Doma had received a complaint on February 1, leading to the arrest of two the suspects near Tudun Laraba community in Doma, while the three other
suspects were later arrested on the same day from the Doma market. “The rape took place on the 30th of January while arrests took place on the 1st of February. They are all around and they have all confessed to committing the offence.” He said Musa said the suspects, Mr Wada Mohammed, 37, Mr Tanko Adamu, 36, Mr Abubakar Ogachi, 40, Mr Yusuf Ogar, 35, and Mr. Samaila, Ali 35, would be prosecuted after investigation had been concluded. “From our investigation, the suspects have been in the habit of raping underage girls and we have been receiving reports of similar cases in that area”, he said. One of the suspects, Mr Samaila Ali told newsmen that the devil had pushed him to commit the crime as it was not in his habit to rape women. “I have a wife and thre children and I have never done this kind of thing before. It is the devil that pushed me to do it,” he said. Mallam Umar Mohammed, father of the girl, thanked the NSCDC for their prompt intervention in arresting the five suspects and expressed optimism that justice would be done.
INFERNO: Fire Guts TV Station, Destroys Documents BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos
A fire which began yesterday afternoon has detroyed vital documents in the zonal office of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Jos. LEADERSHIP gathered that the Marketing and Finance departments as well as the offices of assistant director (News) and assistant director (Programmes) were affected by the fire which started at 3pm. According to eyewitness, it took about 30 minutes to put the fire under control. The development brought chaotic traffic situation in parts of the Jos, the capital city of Plateau State.
The eyewitness also said that it took men of the Plateau State Fire Service 25 minutes to reach the NTA office close to the Secretariat Junction from the fire service station near the Jumat Central Mosque, a journey that would normally not take more than 10 minutes. Duty officer of the fire service, Dawang Patrick, said his men who responded to a distress call from the NTA, arrived at the scene about 3:20 pm and that it took them more than two water tanks of the fire service to put out the fire. Our correspondent report that a water tanker belonging to PW Ltd also supported the fire service.
Joseph.
KIDNAP: JTF Confirms Abduction Of Oil Workers by Osa Okhomina,Yenagoa
Authorities of the Joint Niger Delta Military Task Force, code-named Operation Restore Hope, yesterday confirmed the abduction of four oil workers by suspected sea pirates along the Ogbinbiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The Four Oil Workers,according to the JTF,were in the employment of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NOAC). It was gathered that suspected sea pirates,operating with a speedboat, attacked a boat conveying four employees of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and abducted them. LEADERSHIP gathered that the workers were traveling on a speedboat from Amasoma to Ogoimbiri, all in Southern Ijaw.”Their speedboat was double-crossed by gunwielding men who shot in the air to frighten them. The gunmen took them into their boat and zoomed off. Our river is a death trap”, the security source said. Confirming the incident to newsmen yesterday in Yenagoa,the spokesman of Joint Military Task force,Lt.Col. Isa Ado said the oil worker were kidnapped around Osisama community and were without security escort. According to him,”” workers were kidnapped during an official operation in the area before the sea pirates launch attack on them .” It is regretted that were kidnapped and were not informed of their visit maybe we would have provide an escort team to avert the incident.” Lt.Col. Isa Ado, however, said the JTF had commence search and rescue operation along the creeks and waterways of the Southern Ijaw area to secure the release of the Agip staff,” we have started a rescue mission to secure their release and also bring the captors to book.”
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STORIES OF THE DAY 43
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Photo News
DEATH: Artisans Die In Soak-away In Ibadan By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan
Two artisans, a bricklayer and vulcaniser, yesterday died in a soak-away in Ore Meji area, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State. The third person, also an artisan, escaped death by a whisker. The deceased, identified as Wasiu and Solomom, met their untimely death while trying to evacuate the waste in the soak-away after they were invited by the residents of the house for the evacuation of the soak-away. When our correspondent visited the scene, an eye witness, Mr Akamo Oladimeji said the third person, whose identity was not clear,
at the time of filing this report ,had gone for a pumping machine when the incident happened. According to him, the deceased had earlier poured chemical on the soak away before stepping on it. He said the victims decided to do the job because they were not getting much money from their own trades. He said men of the state fire service were later invited to come and remove the corpses which were then taken to a morgue. Also, some policemen from Sango Police Division were seen at the scene of the incident.
L-R: Chief Wale Babalakin; younger brother of the late Molade Okoya-Thomas, Alhaji Rasaq Okoya, and Vice Admiral Jubril Ayinla (rtd), during a condolence visit to the home of the late Okoya-Thomas in Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BENEDICT UWALAKA.
DEATH: Thugs Kill 2 Siblings, 5 Others BY MATTHEW DIKE, Lagos
People wept uncontrollably in Ajeromi/Ifelodun local government area of Lagos State, where a clash between political thugs claimed the lives of seven people last Tuesday. LEADERSHIP gathered that the thugs snatched a new born baby from its mother and robbed people of their valuables including mobile phones, cash, among others at Layinka, Oduduwa, Arumoh, street, in Ajegunle. An eyewitness, Kayode said, “The hoodlums also killed and robbed innocent people at Imam, Aro, Market, Olumokun streets, among others.” “The two siblings killed in Ajegunle were
Abeeb, a.k.a Abere, and Idris - popularly called Malou. They both lived at Alayabiagba area of Ajegunle. They were killed at Olowojeunjeje junction of Oduduwa street, Ajegunle. The two people who died on the spot, including Abeeb, were moved to the Ajegunle police station while others died later. “One was said to have died at Cemetery market and was removed by policemen from Ajegunle police station.” Another eyewitness, Taiye explained, “Two were killed at Imam street, Amukoko, while another corpse was brought to Amukoko police station and was still there now (yesterday afternoon). The family members of the person brought to the station were said to have come from Badagry area.
L-R: Regional head, North Central, Bank of Industry, Jack King; special assistant to the president on job creation, Josephine Washima, and manager, National Programme on Federal Public Administration Reform Programme (FEPAR), Ben Orokpo, during a press briefing on job creation report and figures in the last three years in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUUYI
ASSAULT: Soldiers Brutalise Journalist by ALO ABIOLA, ADO-EKITI
The Ekiti State correspondent of the Sun Newapapers, Mr Wole Balogun, was yesterday brutalized by soldiers deployed to Ado Ekiti, the state capital to provide security. Narrating his ordeal in their hands, Balogun said he was driving in his car at about 10:05am around Okeyinmi roundabout in the town when the soldiers accused him of obstructing the free flow of traffic. He said his explanation to them that a motorist had blocked his way and caused a gridlock was unacceptable to them as two of the soldiers swooped on him and began to beat him with their belts. The reporter further said all attempts to explain the situation to the soldiers fell on deaf ears as they whipped him continuously on his head and body till he rushed into his car and drove off to avert further beating. “This morning I was driving from my place on Ajibade lane to the Ekiti State University (EKSU) campus for an event of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) I was invited to cover. As I approached the Oke yinmi roundabout directly opposite the First Bank office in the area, I noticed a small hold up on the way to Adebayo and then tried to
negotiate the bend so I could pass through the Okeyimin road as link to Ifaki Road. Suddenly a motorist, obviously a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who was driving down from the same road, blocked my way. “I hooted several times to him to reverse so the road could be free but he was adamant. Thinking he was not hearing the horn, I came out of my car to go and meet him and tell him to reverse the vehicle that it was already causing a hold up. “It was at this point that two young soldiers appeared from my back and started beating me with their belts and boots. They whipped and kicked me several times and even hit me with their belts and ordered me to enter my car and drive to anywhere. “All efforts to explain what really happened to them fell on deaf ears and even infuriated them the more as they continuously beat me on the head and all over the body. “ I had to run back to my car, enter it and drove away. In a couple of minutes, my head was covered with my own blood and I had to seek help at a nearby hospital. I must have lost a lot of blood from the cut on my head which was caused by the metal on the belt of the soldiers. Right now I’m feeling very weak and feverish”, he said.
L-R: Chairman, Partners on Electoral Reform, Ezenwa Nwagwu; executive secretary, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA),Hajiya Saudatu Mahadi; chairman,Transition Monitoring Group (TMG),Ibrahim Zikirullahi and national coordinator, Protest to Power Movement,Jaye Gaskia, at a joint press conference against election postponement and violence ahead of 2015 elections in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE
L-R: Cancer survivors, Banwo Khadijat; Gloria Orji and Fatima Maina during the World Cancer Day 2015, tagged “Walk and Race Against Cancer” in Abuja, yesterday. Photo by OGOH JOSEPH.
44 news south-west Ajimobi Declares Public Holiday For PVC Collection The governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has declared today and tomorrow as public holidays in the state. According to a release issued by the governor’s special adviser on media, Dr Festus Adedayo, the holidays are to enable the people of the state to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The governor enjoined the people to take full advantage of the public holidays by coming out massively to collect their PVCs, reiterating that it is an opportunity for them to connect with their future through voting for candidates of their choice
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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UNESCO Seeks Osun’s Permission To Adopt, Reproduce Opon Imo by JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has approached the government of the State of Osun, seeking to adopt the e-learning device created by the Rauf Aregbesola administration, Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge). UNESCO, in a letter dated 15th November, 2014 to the Osun commissioner for education and signed by Prof Hassana Alidou, director and representative, UNESCO’s Regional Of-
fice in Abuja, said the organisation is impressed by the components of the Osun e-learning project. UNESCO also requested to reproduce and adapt the educational learning resource material and content of Opon Imo to promote its educational programmes in Nigeria. The United Nations organisation held that the concept and educational contents of Opon Imo are in line with UNESCO’s objective to promote open access to quality education in the country.
It added that it was fascinated by the three major content categories of the e-library. The integrated test zone, the virtual classroom containing 63 books covering civic education, Ifa on ethics and morals among others in Opon Imo. According to UNESCO in the letter of request, “as you may be aware, UNESCO is a specialised Agency of the United Nations with a broad mandate in promoting education, science, culture, communication and information.
By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan
I’ll Involve Non-indigenes In My Govt – Folarin The Oyo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Teslim Folarin, yesterday assured non-indigenes resident in the state of equal treatment. Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Seriki Hausawa in Ibadan land, Senator Folarin regretted the way the past and present administrations had neglected the Hausa community. While promising to reform the community in less than six months of his administration, he decried the poor intervention of the state government in ensuring that the Hausa community enjoys the dividends of democracy. The former Senate leader who noted that most of the people in the community were born in Ibadan, said there was no need for any government to discriminate against them or deny them social amenities. By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan
Hijab Day: Women Urged To Shun Nakedness
As Muslim women around the world marked the 2015 World Hijab Day, a call has gone to all women in the country to embrace modesty in their outlook and shun all forms of nakedness which had pervaded the society in the name of civilisation. The Amirah (chairperson), Believing Women Organisation, Remo, Ogun State, Hajiya Salimot Ibrahim-Adekomaya, made the call while addressing the gathering of various Islamic organisations at a Rally marking the World Hijab Day in Sagamu, Ogun State. Hajiya Salimot decried the discrimination, intimidation and molestation being meted out to Muslim women because of their Hijab (headscarf) by some overzealous government officials who are fond of harassing Muslim women to uncover the hijab before being attended to, especially in the process of obtaining international passport, driver’s licence, National ID Card. By Adebayo Waheed, Ibadan
Chairman, medical advisory committee, Dr Adefemi Afolabi; former minister of sports, Prof Taoheed Adedoja; chief medical director of UCH, Prof Temitope Alonge, and FCT minister of state, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, at a forum with the UCH management in Ibadan, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN
Osun Tribunal Delivers Judgement Tomorrow JOSHUA DADA, Osogbo
The much-awaited verdict on the winner of the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State would be delivered tomorrow by the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led Election Petition Tribunal. One of the candidates at the election, Senator Iyiola Omisore and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the tribunal to challenge the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of All Progressives Congress (APC) in 17 local government areas of the state.
He alleged that the August 9 governorship election was characterised by irregularities, urging the tribunal to nullify the election in the purported local governments and declare him the winner of the election. Speaking on telephone with our correspondent yesterday, the secretary of the tribunal, Mr Adamu Aliyu, confirmed that the tribunal will deliver judgement on the petition tomorrow. Governor Aregbesola and his party, APC are respondents in the petition while the Independent National Elec-
toral Commission (INEC) was joined as third respondents. At the adoption of final written addresses by counsels, the lead counsel to Aregbesola, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), had submitted a table, saying that even if elections were cancelled in the purported local governments, APC still had an edge. According to the table which was given to our correspondent, Olujimi said APC will have 394,684 while PDP score will be 292,747 after deducting the challenging local governments.
Disengaged Ondo Workers Protest Unpaid Salaries Disengaged workers of the Owena Motel Limited in Akure, the Ondo State capital, yesterday took to the streets to protest the nonpayment of over 20 months salaries allegedly owed by the state government. The protesters, both junior and senior former workers, who were armed with placards with various inscriptions, chanted solidarity songs for many hours, thereby paralysing activities going on in the premises. The Ondo State government had in August last year awarded a contract for the conversion of a section of the motel into a shopping mall and a car park to kick-start a commercial centre for economic growth in the city. The protesters under the auspices of Hotel and Personal Services Senior Staff Association were also demanding proper disengagement letters, gratuity and other entitlements from the state government after many of them had spent close to 30 years in the motel. They alleged that the state government owed both the senior and junior workers salaries of 18 and 20 months respectively.
By Tope Fayehun, Akure
Fuel Scarcity Looms In Ondo, Ekiti As NUPENG Begins Strike By Tope Fayehun, Akure
Members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ore Depot Branch will from today embark on a threeday warning strike. A communique issued at the end of the meeting of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and Ore Depot Stake-
holders, signed by leaders of the two branches including Comrades Yemi Akinde, the PTD chairman and Olakunle Ajulo, the IMB chairman among others said the decision to embark on the strike was due to the failure of PPMC to make products available at Ore Depot, Ondo State since 2013. They said the association had made several efforts at address-
ing the problems and several appeals made to relevant authorities yielded no results. Following this development, the association has vowed to stop any trucks bringing petroleum products to Ondo and Ekiti states from any depot and ground any tanker attempting to bring fuel into the states so as to ensure full compliance.
They also urged the federal government and the PPMC in particular to as a matter of urgency make efforts at ensuring pumping of fuel to the Ore Depot within three days that the strike would last and quickly intervene in the settling of 11 months salary arrears of the pipeline surveillance security outfit amounting to N22 million as at January 2015.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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politics today Thursday, February 5, 2015
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The leader of the group who is also the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the February election, Bar. Godson Okoye, said that not up to 50% of PVCs have been collected by the electorate
arely 10 days to the general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the agency charged with the responsibility of conducting general elections in Nigeria, has been under attack by some Nigerians over what they describe as the poor handling of the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the country. The electoral body is also facing wide criticism over its preparation for this month’s elections which has resulted in the call by some Nigerians for the postponement of the polls, to enable INEC get its acts together and deliver credible and acceptable elections. One other area that has created more problems for electoral body is the issue of internally displaced persons (IDPs) arising from the activities of members of the dreaded Boko Haram sects in the northern part of the country, who fled from their villages to the urban areas, for safety. Those calling for the postponement of the elections have dwelled more on the lingering insecurity in the North-East where the insurgents have captured some territories. They argue that election cannot hold in the country now excluding these troubled areas where there are eligible voters, noting that no part of the country should be disenfranchised if the election should hold. Again, the fear of a possible outbreak of electoral violence following inflammatory comments and threats of war by some politicians is also cited as a reason why INEC should allow temper or frayed nerves to calm before an election could hold. The National Security Adviser,Col. Smbo Dasuki, had last month far away London called for the postponement of the election citinginsecurity and fear of electoral violence . His call was, however received with mix feelings by Nigerians. Before his call, Pastor Tunede Bakare of the Later Rain Church, Lagos and former vice presidential candidate to General Muhammadu Buhari in the 2011 elections had made similar call of extension which was some people viewed as unpatriotic. Prince Chude Chukwani , former national chairman of the defunct Nigerian Democratic Party (NDP) had criticized INEC’s ill-preparedness for the elections accusing her of not been ready for the election. In an interview with LEADERSHIP, Chkwuani said that INEC was not sincere in its approach to the election, adding that the electoral umpire lacks the capacity of conducting a credible
REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS
Jega
Call For Election Postponement: Will Jega Bow To Pressure?
Calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the postponement of the February 14th and 28th general elections have been intensified in certain quarters. In this write up, MBACHU GODWIN NNANNA examines the development and asks the pertinent question, will the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attairu Jega, bow to pressure? election. There were also protests at INEC headquarters, Abuja, yesterday by some youth groups who equally called on Jega to push forward the election. A group, Forum for Democratic Change led by its national coordinator, Mr Solomon Chuks, claimed that going ahead with the election this month would disenfranchise many Nigerians. Chuks, while presenting the group’s letter to the INEC chairman said the PVCs that are supposed to be one of the instruments of election have not been fully circulated. Also, a group of political party leaders under the auspices of Concerned Leaders of Political Parties and Presidential candidates (CLPP) yesterday added its voice to the agitation for the postponement of the February polls even as they vowed to boycott the election if INEC goes ahead with the planned
elections. The group, however suggested that elections be shifted to sometimes in March or April to enable INEC overcome some of its logistics problems, insisting that such postponement will not breach the provisions of section 25 and 26 of the Electoral Act. At a press conference in Abuja yesterday, the leader of the group who is also the presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the February election, Bar. Godson Okoye, said that not up to 50% of PVCs have been collected by the electorate, adding that going ahead with the election without addressing the lapses in the distribution of the cards will affect the outcome of the election and democratic principles. The group noted that a lot need to be done by INEC to ensure that the cards are collected by Nigerians. It claimed that about 3.5 million
PVCs are yet to be collected, adding that going ahead the elections will amount to disenfranchising such a large chunk of the electorate. The party leaders further stated that the level of violence, threat of violence and use of foul languages by some notable politicians in the country in clear breach of the Abuja peace accord does not guarantee a peaceful election. He said that “it appears that Nigerians are not ready for the election but rather war”. It called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to provide adequate security for Nigerians to collect their PVCs in order to exercise their civic duties. Dr. Sam Eke, presidential candidate of the Citizens Popular Party (CPP) explained that shifting the elections with one or two months will calm frayed nerves as the tension is high with exodus of Nigerians for fear of a possible outbreak of violence, especially in the north. He said it will afford INEC the opportunity of accommodating the internally displaced person (IDPs). Meanwhile, Jega has consistently rebuffed such calls maintaining that elections will hold as scheduled, assuring Nigerians that the commission is capable of overcoming the logistics problems encountered in the distribution of permanent voter cards and the procurement of card readers. During a press conference in Abuja, Jega said that about 65 million PVCs have been collected, leaving about 3.5 million uncollected. In its bid to correct the lapses and beat the deadline for the collection of the cards, INEC announced an extension of the exercise to enable more Nigerians collect them before February 14th. Even as Jega made this assurance and clarification, there are still more the calls for the postponement, thus casting doubts and confusion in the minds of Nigerians about whether the elections will be held as planned. Leadership findings indicate that INEC which has stuck to its earlier position of not shifting the date of the election appears to be a a crossroad as the pressure continues to mount on her by certain forces to bow to pressure and postpone the election. Concern are being raised by political pundits of the consequences of postponing the elections INEC was said to have prepared for in the last four years. Whether INEC will succumb to these calls of postponement lies in the days ahead.
Muyiwa Oyinlola, Group Politics Editor
oyinlolamuyiwa@gmail.com
education
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
2015
The Year of Education For All in Nigeria
F E AT U R E S N E W S R E P O R T S I N T E R V I E W
Some teachers at a seminar
MOCPED: As ERC Calls For Release Of Students’ Results, Certificates By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos
This is an evidence that students agitation is having an impact
The Education Rights Campaign (ERC) has called on the management of Michael Otedola College of Primary (MOCPED) to release both the result and the certificates of the students. This was contained in a statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Hassan Soweto. The statement read, “students of the Michael Otedola College of Primary (MOCPED) embarked on a peaceful protest, demanding for the immediate non-release of their results and certificates by the school administration. MOCPED is located at Noforija, Epe in Lagos is an
affiliate college of EKSU. The group explained that since the degree programme started about eight (8) years ago, MOCPED has not issued statements of results and certificates to any of the students who have completed this program and neither has any proceeded for the National Youth Service. It added, “This is because the authority of MOCPED is heavily indebted to EKSU, and as a result is unable to present students’ results to EKSU Senate for approval. This is in spite of the huge amount realized from the high tuition the degree students pay. We must put it on record that a similar degree program of EKSU is affiliated with Adeniran
Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED) and there are no complaints about non-release of results or certificates. “Confirming the above, the management of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) issued a public statement on the 22nd January 2015 in which it distanced itself from the on-going problems in its degree program affiliated with the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, Lagos. “The management of EKSU “strongly condemns the nonchalant attitude of the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education on the huge indebtedness to EKSU and nonpresentation of the students’ results to EKSU senate for
approval”. This indebtedness is alleged to span several years and the EKSU Vice Chancellor had on occasions visited MOCPED “on debt recovery mission and the result issue without positive results”. The statement added: “The Management of EKSU would want to make it clear to the whole world that the problems between students and MOCPED authority were caused by the Management of that Institution”. “To start with, this is evidence that students agitation has begun to have an impact. For years now, students have been agitating over this issue but both the MOCPED authorities and Lagos State government have generally ignored them.
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
Edo: Tertiary Institutions Vow To Strike Over Salaries
short news
Nasco Foods Honoured By TETFund
By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City
Members of the Coalition of Edo state Union of Owned Tertiary Institutions yesterday threatened to resume strike against the state government for non-payment of salaries to workers of colleges in Edo state and the alleged sacking of over 34 staff of these institutions. It would be recalled that workers of the Colleges of Education, Ekiadolor, Institute of Management Technology, Usen, College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, and College of Education Igueben had last December suspended it protracted strike following an agreement reached between the state government to meet the demands of the workers in the affected institution. However, indication emerged yesterday that staff of the affected institution may not resume academic activities over what they described as lack of insincerity on the part of government in redeeming it earlier promise. Speaking on the matter, Chairman of Union, Comrade Fred Omonuwa, alleged that workers of the affected institution were being marginalized while some have been sacked on account of their agitation for better welfare for it members adding that their families had to go cap in hand begging to celebrate the Christmas. He said “the situation is pathetic as far as we are concern, there is a war going on. We believe that the state government is waging war against workers of Edo state tertiary institution. We have not receive our salaries even when the state government came up with what is referred to as federal grant to pay the back log of salaries management was owing and it is just that once. “We are wondering if it is just that one they owe even as we speak our own subvention has not come. Last December, we didn’t celebrate with salaries. Primary and secondary have received their salaries while some are even owed up to four months.
BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos
L-R: District head of Malumfashi and former court of appeal president, Justice Mamman Nasir, about to receive a Holy Qur’an as an award from the chairman, Malumfashi LGA Council, Alhaji Muktar Ammani, on behalf of Tijjaniyya Youths Association over his commitment to the development of education and religious tolerance in the area Photo By Nan
Expand Your Research Base For National Development, Jonathan Charges Varsities … As TETFund chairman, others bag UNN doctorate degeree President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has called on Universities in Nigeria to widen their scope of research to areas that will fast track the developmental quest of the country. The President made this call during the 44th Convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where the Chairman, Board of Trustees of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr. Musa Babayo bagged a Doctorate Degree in Public Administration alongside other Nigerians. Speaking at the event, President Jonathan who was represented by the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Sherakau said that there is need for Nigerian Universities to broaden the scope of their professional concerns so as bring out innovative means of teaching to help
push the country towards competing favourably with other advanced countries. He urged the varsities to keenly focus in the areas of scientific and technological development, so as to aid the mechanization and automation of processes in all production sector of the country. Pointing out that the present administration had carried out re-appraisal and re-examination of existing educational policies in order to generate new realities and provide a sound policy capable of standing the test of time, the President said that “This is the only way we can join the comity of nations in the inevitable march to distinctive progress. this “Through this method, administration has succeeded in eliminating bureaucratic rigidity and regimentation in the education sector. “I am pleased to re-affirm our resolve to continue to support the education system, especially the universities, to assist them to overcome their challenges
in the areas of capacity building, knowledge dissemination, research and infrastructure” he stated. On the 44th Convocation ceremony, the President expressed delight that the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) since inception in 1960 has maintained its superiority in the nation’s educational arena. On the part of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, the convocation of the institution was an opportunity to celebrate excellence to deserving persons. Aside the Chairman, Board of Trustee of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr. Musa Babayo who bagged a honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration, others that were honoured with Honorary Doctorate Degree of the University included the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Dr (Mrs.) Valerie-Janette Azinge, and Mr. Ojunekwu Augustine Avuru.
MOCPED: As ERC Calls For Release Of Students’ Results, Certificates
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Last year, the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) intervened and sent letters to the authorities of EKSU, MOCPED and the Lagos State government demanding to know why degree students of the college were not getting their statement of results and certificates. Unfortunately we got no response until now. “However this allegation of indebtedness raises pointed questions including whether or not student fees are not being mismanaged or embezzled by the Prof. Olu Akeusola-led
administration of MOCPED. The best way to allay this fear is for the College administration to be probed. The ERC hereby calls for an independent probe panel to be constituted and include elected representatives of students union and staff unions of the College to probe the administration of Prof. Olu Akeusola in order to ascertain how the College managed to default on payment to EKSU despite the huge amount degree students pay as tuition. “ The Education Rights
Campaign (ERC) for the umpteenth time calls on the Prof. Olu Akeusola-led administration of MOCPED to immediately release the final statements of results and certificates of all those who have completed EKSU’s degree program affiliated with the College. The situation has now gotten to a stage where further refusal to release the results and certificates could warrant mass protests and demonstrations by the concerned students who have been patient for so long. ”We condemn the Lagos State
government which is the owner of MOCPED for failing to come to the aid of the degree students of MOCPED who have been suffering this ill-treatment from the authorities for years now. We believe that it will amount to gross irresponsibility if officials of the state government continue to feign ignorance of the happenings in MOCPED. We call on the Lagos State government and its relevant departments to intervene on behalf of the degree students of MOCPED who are suffering immensely”, it added.
The governing board of Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has conferred its award of recognition on one of Africa’s leading foods and cereals production companies, Nasco Foods Limited. NASCO Foods, a subsidiary of Nasco Group of Companies was conferred with the award in recognition of its immense contribution to improving the quality of education in the country through consistent payment of education tax over the years. According to a statement signed by the marketing communications consultant and public affairs advisor to NASCO group of companies, Haroun Harry Audu, the award ceremony held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos was hosted by the executive secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Elias Bogoro. On the occasion, Bogoro described NASCO Foods as committed to bequeathing sound and holistic education to Nigerian youths, adding the company had done a lot to improve the education sector. Present at the event were members of TETFund governing board and top management and staff of NASCO group of companies, among others.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
BADEH, MINIMAH DON’T... CREDIBLE MEDIA SOURCES FURTHER CONFIRM THE DESPERATION OF JONATHAN/PDP TO RETAIN POWER BY ALL MEANS
THE OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED ARE ILLEGAL AND UNDEMOCRATIC THE RELEVANT SERVICES SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE AND STEER CLEAR OF VENTURES THAT ARE UNPATRIOTIC DON’T BE ALLOWED TO BE USED TO CAUSE CHAOS BY THESE GREEDY PEOPLE NIGERIANS WILL RESIST ANY MILITARY INTERVENTION AT THIS PERIOD OF OUR HISTORY
WE CALL ON THE MILITARY TO BE CAREFUL OF THESE MAGGOTS THAT HAVE EATEN UP NIGERIA’S TREASURY REFER TO RECENT SOLUDO’S EXPOSÉ ON THE TRILLIONS OF NAIRA MISSING NIGERIANS, BE ON YOUR GUARD, PROTECT DEMOCRACY AND KEEP YOUR FREEDOM
VOTE BUHARI! VOTE APC! VOTE FOR CHANGE! BY THE VANGUARD AGAINST UNCONSTITUTIONALITY
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50 news extra NECO Releases Nov/ Dec SSCE Results, Records 30% Pass The National Examination Council (NECO) has released the results of 2014 November /December External Senior School Certificate Examination with 30.5 per cent of the candidates who sat for the examinations having 5 credits and above including Mathematics and English Language. Addressing a news conference yesterday in Minna to release the result, the registrar, Prof Promise Okpalla, disclosed that 63,445 candidates registered for the examination but only 61,386 actually sat for the examination. The registrar disclosed that 18,500 candidates passed with five credits and above including English language and Mathematics which represents 30.5 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examination. He disclosed that the percentage of those with the pass level is better than 28 per cent recorded in the last year’s Nov/Dec examination while the number of those who passed both English and Mathematics have increased in the examination. Okpalla disclosed that 55 per cent of the candidates passed Mathematics in 2014. As against 53 percent in 2013 while in English Language 52 percent passed with credit as against 48 percent in 2013 external SSCE. According to him as the results of candidates in NECO /SSCE continue to improve so also the level of examination malpractices will continue to decrease Aadding that the council recorded no leakage in the examination. He said “the council introduced innovative quality control mechanism at the various stages of our examination. By Abu Nmodu, Minna
I Live In ‘Market Place’– Wamakko Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko said yesterday that of all the 36 state governors in the country, he is proud to be tagged a governor that lives in the ‘market place.’ Wamakko, who stated this while on an unscheduled interaction with newsmen in his private residence, did not hide his feelings when he said, his personal residence is as good as a market place. Maintaining that he attends to people till late into the night on daily basis, Wamakko said, the multitude of people that gather in front of his house all through the night waiting to see him is unprecedented. He therefore stressed that, seeing him requires no protocol hence even the peasant farmer in Sokoto has direct access to him. Collaborating the position of the governor, a destitude, Shehu Amanawa told LEADERSHIP that Wamakko was not just a governor but a leader with no equal. By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Corps marshal and chief executive, Federal Road Safety Commision (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, during his courtesy visist to LEADERSHIP Group headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY ADEFEMI ADEWUUYI.
Edwin Clark To Jega: Tell Nigerians Your Level Of Preparedness By Kunle Olasanmi, Abuja
Elder statesman and Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark has said that the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is important in the debate for the postponement of the election. The former federal commissioner said that INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega needs to speak out on the position of the commission so as to avoid a repeat of the 2011 election where INEC was not able
to provide voting materials on the day of the election. He called for the arrest of any one who made provocative and inciting statement that threatens the unity of the country. Clark, who spoke to journalists in Abuja also denied making or supporting the call for war should Jonathan fail to secure second term of office. He said that INEC should be able to tell Nigerians its level of preparedness for the elections. “Presidential election has been
fixed for 14 February, I don’t want to comment on whether the election should be postponed or not. But what is more important, is INEC ready? That is the most important statement. “You remember in 2011 when INEC messed us up in the election for National Assembly and it had to be postponed. “If they are ready let them tell us. But if they are not ready, let Jega come out and tell Nigerians that they are not. “If permanent voter cards
(PVCs) that are to be used by those who are to vote and those cards have not been properly distributed and we have also seen a situation where these cards are not evenly distributed.” Reacting to General Theophilus Danjuma’s call for the arrest of Asari Dakubo and Tompolo over their war threat should President Goodluck Jonathan lose the election, Clark said in as much as he was against the threat such condemnation from Danjuma should not be selective.
US Cautions Dokubo, Tompolo, Others Over Inflammatory Statements By ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has cautioned former militants of the Niger Delta, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo-Asari, Victor Ben Ebikabowei aka Boy Loaf, and Government Ekpemupolo, aka, Tompolo, over all the inflammatory statements that are being credited to them in the build up to the presidential
election that is coming up next week Saturday. The commission while making this warning in its latest report which its chairman, Dr. Katina Lantos Swett, made available to correspondents of the Department of State in Washington, DC during the week, added that such statements coming from the former militants who have been threatening wars if Presi-
dent Goodluck Jonathan loses the election, could lead to a religiously-motivated violence if proper measures are not taken by politicians and security agents in good time. Reacting to the inflammatory statements that are being credited to the former militants, the USCRIF warned President Goodluck Jonathan and other candidates to prevent the looming
electoral violence by calming their supporters as well as warning them against such statements. USCIRF also called on all Nigeria’s political parties to hold responsible their members who are issuing statements inciting violence along religious lines. It also called on the Nigeria’s police and judiciary to impartially hold accountable all perpetrators of electoral violence.
N6bn Bribery: You Lied, PDP Tells Amaechi By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said the Director General of All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Governor Chibuike Amaechi lied over his claim that they (PDP) offered N6 billion bribe to some pastors to help President Goodluck Jonathan win the pres-
idential election. The party further dared Amaechi to name the pastors that benefited from the alleged largesse, advising the governor to ask for God’s forgiveness. PDP national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, at a press conference yesterday said the party is astonished that APC is trying to bring religion into politics.
Metuh said “Pastors are revered people and to bring their character into disrepute is a sin before God. We do not think anybody not to talk of somebody who is a Christian can make such statement. “We challenge the Director General of APC to name such pastors and where the money is coming from. “This attack is capable of bring-
ing Christians and Muslims into a major disagreement and major dispute. If truly the person who issued this statement is a Catholic as he said, we are asking him to go for confession”, he said. PDP also accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of conniving with APC to deny non-indigenes in Lagos State permanent voter cards.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
27 ECOWAS Court Decisions Awaiting Compliance From Member States – Odinkalu By Chinelo Chikelu, Abuja
The Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu has enunciated that issues crippling the enforcement of the decisions of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice lies on it’s ability to enforce sanctions on members and of the commission to abide by its decision as an example to member states. He made this declaration yesterday, at the official opening ceremony marking the beginning of the 2014/2015legal year. Odinkalu explained that Nigeria is the only country out of the 15 member states to set up National Authority for the enforcement of the judgments of the court accordance with the Article24 of the Protocol of the Court. As such, he said there about 25 cases awaiting decisions that 14 member states are yet to comply with.
He asserted that the commission must dutifully subject to its decisions of the court and trigger the mechanisms of sanctions as a way of ensuring sanction without which it lacks credibility, and is open to impotency in the defiance of its will or compliance in such defiance. “Compliance is about the legitimization of our institution. Thus, the decision of the court is respected and enforced”, he said. The newly installed president of the court, Her Lordship Maria Do Ceu Silva Monteiro, addressed the commission’s awaiting position on the Rules of Arbitration of the Court submitted in March 2011, to be submitted to Council of Ministers for approval further affects the mandate of the court and its ability to provided assured legal safeguard of the law “to West African citizen who seek justice in the court”. Odinkalu proposed the
The newly installed seven judges at the opening ceremony of the ECOWAS Court of Justice 2014/2015 legal year.
court through expulsion, trade blocks, denial of duty tariffs can sanction outlaw countries that fail to comply with the decisions of the court they voluntarily agreed on in the revised Treaty, the Protocols and Conventions of July 24, 1993. He further advised that the court employ
a staggered tenure of judges, provision of a judge rapporteur for the court and Technical Advisory services to enable states comply on time and effectively with the decisions of the court. A staggered tenure allows the situation whereby not all judges of the court are new to
the system after every election. It means the court could elect three judges for three years, another three for four years and the other two for five years. That means when the one elected for three years leave office, those elected for four are still in place. The advocated office
of rapporteur, Odinkalu advised will ensure notes and monitoring of member states compliance in every sitting while the Secretariat Technical Advisory services will motivate member states not only of its obligation to designate competent national mechanisms but to do so within an agreed timetable. The newly elected Vice President of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, Hon. Justice (Prof) Friday Chijioke Nwoke also called upon the media to aid in the enlightenment of Nigerians and other peoples of the community of the activities of the court, to encourage the realization of the commission’s vision – ECOWAS as a community of people. In support of the call, Odinkalu urged organized media bodies, Nigerian Bar Association NBA, and the court to embark on advocacy, and new media departments respectively to engage Nigerian youths.
ISIS: Killing Of Jordanian Pilot ‘Abhorrent’ Revenge Executions Not The Answer By Abdullahi Umar, With Agency Reportf
The vicious summary killing of a Jordanian pilot who was burned alive by the armed group that calls itself the Islamic State (IS) is an atrocious attack against humanity, but responding with executions is not the answer, Amnesty International said in a statement. The video showing Muath al-Kasasbeh being burned alive in a cage has sent shockwaves across the world.
The Jordanian authorities executed Sajida alRishawi and Ziad al-Karbouli, two Iraqis linked to al-Qa’ida, in apparent revenge for his killing. Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme, Philip Luther said that the abhorrent killing of Muath al-Kasasbeh is a war crime and an all-out attack on the most basic principles of humanity. “The Jordanian authorities are rightly horrified by this utterly reprehensi-
ble killing but the response should never be to resort to the death penalty, which itself is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. “The death penalty should also not be used as a tool for revenge. The IS’s gruesome tactics must not be allowed to fuel a bloody cycle of reprisal executions, AI said. Under international humanitarian law holding hostages is a war crime and all detainees should be treated humanely by their captors.
Polls: ‘2015 Elections, A Chance To Move Nigerian Democracy To New Level ’ By Chinelo Chikelu, Abuja
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock has emphasized the importance of the 2015 elections as the turning point which can make or mar the nation’s image. The High Commissioner in his remarks yesterday at the welcome reception organised in honour of Nigerian students who have just completed their
Masters programme under the Chevening Scholarship Scheme, said that the development of the Nigerian democracy rests on the ability to conduct non-violent, transparent and credible elections. “This election is a chance to move Nigerian democracy into a new level. If it works, it is a huge success. If it turns violent, the difficulties it will bring to Nigerians and to Nigeria’s im-
age abroad will be severe”. He added that the British High Commission is aiding the election process via sensitization of the media, political parties and their supporters on nonviolence and the need for credible, transparent election process, bolstering the election process and the aid International observers through the EU, which UK and other countries are involved.
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
NBBF Prospect Camp For 2015 BWB Starts Tomorrow BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Prospect Camp tagged ‘Basketball Without Borders’ BWB will be commencing tomorrow at the Old Parade Ground Abuja. This was contained in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP Sports, signed by Mike Akuboh. It explained that the announcement was made at the NBBF Stakeholders Meeting In Abuja and it is aimed at discovering young talents,
whom will be available for nationalassignments in the future. “Some of which include identifying players for the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) program will start from the 13th to 15th February, 2015. “The prospect camp will be coordinated by Emmanuel Odah and Michael Akuboh of the FCT Basketball Association, while Ahmed Aliyu Danmama (Kano State), Spencer Chileh (Benue State) and Ahmadu Abba (Taraba State).” it informed.
Also as part of the resolutions from the forum, it was disclosed that League Sponsors of the male league DSTV, hinted that they will now cover live games from Abuja in the new season, following the promotion of FCT Rocks, joining last season’s runners-up Mark Mentors. “The national team will participate in a four-nations invitational tournament in Johannesburg which will feature South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique and Nigeria from 18th to 22nd March, 2015.”
CAF Championship: Pillars Urged To Make Nigeria Proud BY ONJEWU DICKSON, Abuja
Kano Pillars FC players have been charged to ensured that they make Nigeria proud in this year’s CAF Championship. The Nigeria High Commissioner in Ghana, Ademola Oluseyi Onofowokan made the plea while receiving the club’s continental committee, players and technical crew in the embassy’s conference hall at Accra the capital of Ghana. Oluseyi said there was need for the Pillars FC players to be focused in the challenges ahead of them and advised them to do everything possible to revive the glo-
ry of the then Kano Racca Rovers FC. He said being three times champions in the Nigeria Glo Premier League, all Nigerians especially football family are not expecting anything less but the CAF Championship. “I want to assure you of my support and the entire staff of the embassy throughout your stay in Ghana,” the high commissioner emphasized. He then expressed his appreciation for the visit and commended Kano State Government for its financial and moral support to the team and urged other state
governments in Nigeria to emulate same in that direction. Earlier the leader of the delegation, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima MFR said they were at the embassy to register their presence and solicit the blessings of the high commissioner for the hitch-free one-week pre-season tour. Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima said the tour was arranged to make the team prepare well for this year’s CAF Championship which is to commence between 13 to15 of this month across the continent. He explained that the choice of Ghana as the venue for the tour was to pay tribute to the for-
mer technical adviser of the club, Malik Jabril who is a Ghanaian and the long history of Ghana in football activities in the continent as well as to promote the relationship between the two country. He added that the Kano State Government has made all necessary arrangements for the success of the club to make Nigeria proud during the championship. In another development , Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima and the permanent secretary in the Kano State deputy governor’s office Alhaji Usman Bala held a separate meeting with the technical crew and the
players of the club at Lizzy Sports Complex Accra, urged them to be good ambassadors to Kano State and Nigeria in general and assured them that their committee would not relent its efforts in promoting their welfare. Responding, captain of the club, Afelokhai Theophilus expressed their delight with the committee for the early preparation for the task ahead and pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them. The team is billed to play a friendly match today with Accra Hearts of Oaks FC by 3pm GMT, 4PM local time.
Taekwondo: NTF, CCSF Partner FCT would see the NTF and the CCSF train over 400 students from four Government Secondary Schools (GSS) in the FCT in taekwondo. “When we did our research, we found out that almost every private school had taekwondo but the public schools did not; I also found out that there are lots of bright students in government schools. “This made us to write an elaborate plan to the secondary education board; they looked at it and said it will expand their curriculum, and that it was good they give it a trial.
BY SALIFU USMAN, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secondary Education Board has sealed partnership agreement with the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) to develop taekwondo in the FCT and its environs. The initiative which was facilitated by the Chika Chukwumerije Sports Foundation (CCSF) will make the martial arts sport as part of the secondary school curriculum in the FCT. According to founder of CCSF, Chika Chukwumerije, the idea
Chukwumerije
“So, they approved it in four of the government secondary schools in Garki, Lugbe, Maitama and Wuse Zone 3. “The programme has been fully introduced in Garki and in Zone 3 and in the coming weeks, Maitama and Lugbe will follow,’’ Chukwumerije said. He said the programme which would be launched in March in conjunction with the secondary education board was aimed at inspiring the kids and interact with some international taekwondo athletes.
YSFON Mourns Abdullahi BY onjewu dickson, Abuja
Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) has expressed regrets over the death of former Flying Eagles coach Musa Abdullahi describing his demise as a big blow to Nigerian football. Coach Abdullahi who passed-on more than a week ago after several years of battle with stroke led the Golden Eaglets to a second place finish at 2001 Fifa U-17 World Cup staged in Trinidad and Tobago, after his side bowed 3-0 to France in the final. Abdullahi’s travails started on the eve of U-20 World Cup in 2007 when he suffered stroke and subsequently became partially para-
lyzed; he was relieved of the coaching job after he took ill. A statement from the federation signed by its national President, Nasiru Gawuna noted that the death came at a time when the country needed the technical input of people like Abdullahi to move the country’s football forward even as it appealed to the National Sports Commission to give financial succour to members of his family. “Coach Abdullahi during his life time was a complete gentleman, very humble, highly dedicated and tireless professional who had real passion for the job especially development of grassroots football. “His death came at a time when
the country is looking for qualified coaches to take care of the various national teams and we at YSFON are sad over his death. “We are particularly sad because, he assisted Coach Fanny Amun to lead the U-17 national team to a second FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Japan in 1993, before leading the team, several years later, to win the African title in Seychelles in 2001 and silver at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago the same year. He also served at different times as Assistant Coach of the senior national team, the Super Eagles and that is why we are appealing to NSC to come to the aid of his family at this trying period.
Abdullahi
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Thursday, February 5, 2015
AFCON 2015: January 17 - February 8 CAF Suspend Rajindrapasard The Confederation of African Football’s Referees Committee have confirmed the suspension of Seechurn Rajindrapasard following his poor showing at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations. The match official has been the target of much criticism after he awarded host nation Equatorial Guinea a highly controversial penalty in their eventual quarterfinal victory over Tunisia at the weekend. The referee was also accused by CAF of failing to maintain control of the encounter after both sets of players, and supporters, threatened to turn violent following numerous questionable decisions from the man in black. The Referees’ Committee have since decided: - To end the mission of Seechurn Rajindrapasard as a referee for the Orange AFCON 2015 - To suspend him for a pe-
riod of six (6) months for poor performance - To de-list him from the CAF “A” Elite Referees panel. Meanwhile, host nation Equatorial Guinea also found themselves in hot water with African football’s governing body after their fans stormed the pitch following the full-time whistle of this past weekend’s encounter. According to CAF rules: Considering the pitch invasion by some Equatoguinean fans and the lack of security measures observed, and based on Article 151 para 2 of the CAF Disciplinary Code, the Disciplinary Jury of CAF imposed a financial penalty of US$5,000 (Five Thousand US Dollars) on FEGUIFUT, and asked them to ensure that all security arrangements are taken to ensure the smooth running of the matches of the semi-finals and finals of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.
Gyan To Miss Semi-final Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan has been ruled out of today’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-final against Equatorial Guinea after suffering a serious injury in their quarter-final win over Guinea. The Ghanaian talisman was on the receiving end of a dangerous challenge from Naby Yattara during the closing stages of the Black Stars’ 3-0 victory in Malabo on Sunday, with the Guinea goalkeeper receiving a straight red card. Gyan has since flown out to Mongomo to undergo scans on his midriff, and Ghana’s team doctors have seemingly confirmed the Al Ain striker will be unable to feature against the host nation this week.
Gyan
“The MRI scan doesn’t look good and it’s sad he cannot play on Thursday in the semi finals,” a member of the Black Stars management committee told Football411’s Ghana corresponded Russel Wiafe on condition of anonymity. “It’s going to be a big blow for the entire team because he is the team captain and they take inspiration from him. “Although he can walk on his own, he cannot train, he couldn’t train yesterday (Tuesday) and he cannot train today (Wednesday) too so automatically he is ruled out of the game. “We have other players we can rely on come Thursday in the game against Equatorial Guinea.”
Sakho
West Ham Fined €95,000 Over Sakho Saga West Ham have been fined €91,000 for fielding Diafra Sakho during their FA Cup clash with Bristol City, but will not be expelled from the competition, Fifa have confirmed. Sakho pulled of the Africa Cup of Nations because of a back problem but then went on to score for West Ham in their 1-0 win over the League One side on January 25. Senegal’s Football Federation subsequently lodged a complaint with Fifa after learning of Sakho’s involvement in the
contest but the world governing body has opted not to expel the London club from England’s most prestigious cup competition or punish Sakho with a suspension. Instead West Ham have been fined 100,000 Swiss Francs, which works out at approximately €91,000, while Sakho has been issued with a reprimand. The decision does, however, cost West Ham most of their €120,000 prize money for winning in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
A Fifa statement read: “The Fifa Disciplinary Committee has found the club and the player to have violated art. 5 of Annexe 1 of the Regulations in relation to the match played by Sakho on 25 January 2015. “The club has been fined 100,000 Swiss Francs in accordance with art. 10 c) and art. 15 of the Fifa Disciplinary Code (FDC) and issued with a reprimand, while the player has been sanctioned with a reprimand in accordance with art. 10 b) and art. 14 of the FDC.”
Bougherra Quits Algeria Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra has confirmed his retirement from international football following Sunday’s 3-1 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final defeat to Ivory Coast. The Al-Fujairah defender announced last October that this year’s Equatorial Guinea showpiece would be his last involvement with the Fennec Foxes, and Bougherra has now lived up to his word, confirming his decision to walk away from international football. “It was my last official game. In soccer, you have to know to turn the page. I would like to thank the coach and especially the national team for all the marvelous moments spent with ‘Les Verts’,” Bougherra said. “I am proud and happy to have been able to wear this jersey during all these years.” Of Algeria’s AFCON exit, the former Gueugnon player admitted that he was sad to be bowing out without a continental title.
Bougherra
“This elimination in the quarterfinals of the AFCON is very painful,” added Bougherra. “We have a lot of regrets as we dominated the encounter. We
could have won this match and continue our journey. “We deserved a better result given the chances we created. Unfortunately, we couldn’t put them in.”
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AMUSEMENT PARK when i asked my accountant if anything could get me out of this mess i am in now, he thought for a long time and said, “yes, death would help”
— Robert Morley
05.02.15 www.leadership.ng
The Thursday Column
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
No. 2,340
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Nigeria has been like a big brother to us but at this crucial time, to vote to end the occupation, they abstained
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Palestine And Nigeria’s Strategic Blunder 08052407030 (SMS only) abba@leadership.ng
Abba Mahmood
or a long time to come December 31, 2014 will remain a historic date of shame for Nigeria’s foreign policy, when Nigeria abstained from a vote at the United Nations Security Council that would have set a clear timeline and road map for the end of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. Nigeria jettisoned a fundamental principle of its foreign policy which since independence in 1960 was built on aversion to colonialism, racism, discrimination and apartheid. Clearly, expediency took precedence over principle that day, a deed that is set to destroy a long-term relationship with long-term friends. It is a shame of a nation which otherwise is the anchor nation of the black race. This was how Mr. Charles Onunaiju put it on page 48 of Daily Trust, Wednesday January 7, 2015: “there were credible reports that foreign ministry officials, were fully geared to exercise Nigeria’s traditional vote in favour of the resolution for a timetable to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. That was until the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu placed a direct call to President Goodluck Jonathan. The call evidently threw the country’s foreign policy machinery into disarray, with explicit instructions for Nigeria’s permanent delegation to the UN to vote against the resolution, or at best retrain from any voting at all. And, with Nigeria’s abstention, the resolution fell apart, falling short of one vote to sail through, though with only a potential Washington veto to thwart it.” “Of course, Nigeria’s traditional pro – Palestine stance is not based on unqualified support for the Palestinians or any existing antipathy to the Israelis, but from a principled stance with explicit commitment of Nigeria’s foreign policy to oppose any form of colonisation and racial discrimination. There is no other way to describe Israeli seizure of Palestinian lands than colonial occupation. Based on this principle, Nigeria recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) which
THURSDAY
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also operates a mission in Abuja. It is a pity that with just a phone call from the Israeli Prime Minister, President Jonathan destroyed one of the core enduring principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy,” Mr. Onunaiju continued. If a country or government cannot stand by any principle or give its word and stand by it, it has lost any credibility and can never be trusted by all its friends and allies. In fact, Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Montazer Abu Zeid was quoted to have said, “It is a shock for us why Nigeria abstained… it is a sad day for us. Nigeria recognised the State of Palestine since 1988, when the times were even more difficult. They voted for the two-state solution; they voted for us on all issues on Israel and Palestine. Nigeria has been like a big brother to us but at this crucial time, to vote to end the occupation, they abstained.” What a shame! Nigeria’s abstention not only goes against long standing positions of the OAU/AU and the NonAligned Movement of which Nigeria is a member, but even against the interests of Nigeria and the African Union. As the statement by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) put it: “there was an unwritten commitment between the North Africans and some Middle Eastern countries and sub – Saharan Africa to mutually support one another on two principles: (a) the right to self-determination and (b) liberation of territories occupied by force. That is why on their part, the North African/Middle Eastern States have supported decolonisation efforts in Namibia, Mozambique, Angola and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as well as the struggle against the Apartheid in South Africa. In return, African countries have continued to support the struggle of the Palestinian people. “Furthermore, it is strange that Nigeria would abstain on the latest UN resolution on Palestine at a time when the five veto – wielding permanent members of the Security Council are deeply divided on the
issue, with the US voting against, Britain abstaining, and France joining China and Russia in voting for the Resolution. Under this circumstance, Nigeria would have stood out as a country that consistently acts on principle and votes accordingly on matters affecting the rights of self-determination of people and rejection of the indefinite occupation of Palestine territory by Israel,” the statement added. There is a price for such things and the cost of this strategic blunder is potentially enormous to Nigeria. For those who may not know, 75 percent of the total Arab population in the world is here in Africa. The Arabs are collectively the single largest group in Africa. Thus, if Nigeria is said to be having a foreign policy that is Africa – centered, what the country did on 31st December 2014 is a great betrayal of a major component of Africa. Suppose the UN Reform which is expected to take place this year eventually materialises does Nigeria realise that she would lose the critical support of this bloc in her bid to be on a permanent member of the Security Council eventually? Did anyone consider this before this suicidal abstention? For sentimental reasons some people think supporting Israel is like supporting Christians while supporting Palestine is like supporting Muslims. This is far from the truth. If anything, at least one – third of the total population of Palestine is Christian. The current rulers of Israel under the war – monger Benjamin Netanyahu are not Christians but Zionists who are distorting the real teachings of Judaism, a great religion that does not subscribe to the land grab, violence and killings that the current Israeli leadership perpetrates, including the killing of women and children. This is the regime that Nigeria is supporting blindly instead of voting for the historic two- state solution for Arabs and Jews to live in peace. Nigeria has always taken principled position on any global issue
over the years. Abstention is sheer hypocrisy and in this case amounts to a veto because that single vote would have sent a clear and unequivocal message to the Israeli leadership that it is time to stop violence and embrace peace which in this case is the two-state solution where Palestine and Israel will have defined boundaries and lands to call theirs. As it is, Nigeria is now known for inconsistency and hypocrisy even on a fundamental issue of racism and discrimination for Zionism is Apartheid. By this singular act, this government has undone relationship that is centuries old. By this blunder Nigeria has shown that she has no guts to defend even her national interests let alone standing up for Africa. By this suicidal mistake, Nigeria has shown that this country has no courage to stand up for the oppressed people anywhere. The only thing that Israel exports is security equipment which will have no demand where there is peace, that is why it has a violent regime now. Government did not even take into consideration the domestic implication of this foreign policy blunder in an election year. However, history is on the side of the oppressed, abstention or no abstention.
GHANA MUST GO Presidents do better in 2nd term — Jonathan
You will do better in Otueke!
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