Leadership news

25.11.14

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

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No. 2,298

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1.5m People Now Homeless –UN Boko Haram

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Sect attacks 2 towns in Borno Bama refugees decry abandonment by Govt

Suspected mastermind of the Nyanya motor park bomb blast, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, after his appearance at the Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Nigeria’s Oil Export Suffers Setback As Shell Shuts Facility

By Chika Izuora, Lagos

Nigeria’s oil exports were disrupted after Shell’s local unit shut a pipeline that carries a

key grade after it discovered a leak on Saturday, the company

said yesterday.

The pipeline carries one of

Nigeria’s main export grades, Bonny Light BFO-BON.

DSS Explains Invasion Of Lagos APC Office > Page 12

Girls Will Be Chibok DAY Chibok Released Soon Diary 225 — Cleric >

Page 2

The facility services about six cargoes of the crude which are exported each month, or ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 5

Jonathan Has No Hand In Police, > Page 4 Reps Fracas – Presidency

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chibok diary 225

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

DAY

Chibok TweeTs

@rescueourgirls 224 DAYS since Rhoda John from #Chibok.

Will she ever come home? Never forget. #BringBackOurGirls #NOWANDALIVE

@WePushNews The chairman of #Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea-Abana, has confirmed that the military is fully in control of the town. @ Lapady 219 schoolgirls of #Chibok in den of killers for 224 days..

Those who FAIL to see how tragic it is that WE have failed them need our prayers. @BabajideFadoju Over 200 #Chibok girls unfound students bombed daily. What concerns GEJ is to impeach Tambuwal. @UNFPA We owe it to the #Chibok girls to positively support their reintegration and we are ready and committed to help achieve this C @Raliatish No #Chibok girls have been released since the girls were abducted close to 224 days ago.

Will our girls return home someday? @Joshuada No #Chibok girls have been released since the girls were abducted close to 200 days ago including the girls allegedly released today.

Compiled by Tunde Oguntola

members of #BringBackOurGirls group still advocating and protesting the release of the abducted Chibok girls and the killings in Yobe secondary school in Abuja. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Chibok Girls Will Be Released Soon – Cleric BY kunlE OlAsAnmi, ABUJA

A cleric has said that the abducted Chibok girls will soon be released to re-unite with their loved ones.

The General-Overseer of Elyon International All Christian Praying Ministry, Apostle Babatunde Oyidi, said although the Chibok girls are scattered around the world, they will soon be released.

He cautioned Nigerians against a repeat of the June 12, 1993 election scenario.

The seer, who warned MKO

Abiola not to vie for presidency then and also predicted former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s death six days after his swearing-in, urged President Goodluck Jonathan to be cautious and work in the ways of God. He said the country will be out of its present security challenge if the President listens to good advice.

He said President Jonathan is not the political messiah of the country but only a forerunner to the president who would salvage the nation by initiating workable policies and pro-

grammes.

The cleric, however, advised President Jonathan to stand firm and focused and not be afraid, adding that he should not allow the so-called godfathers of the present system to sway him.

He also urged Jonathan to always abide by the injunctions of God Most High in whatever he does while ruling the country, noting that whatever the president did now, he would be held accountable for them.

“The Lord God Almighty has revealed that President Jonathan

has surrounded himself with enemies in the form of friends. He must, therefore, be careful of his aides. Once more, the president must check and cross-check all those who hang around him because there is a leakage within the ranks,” he said While expressing disappointment over the involvement of the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor in the South Africa arms scandal, he urged Christian leaders to gather and pray for peace to reign in the country

member of the #BringBackOurGirls group, further explained that the call for the extension of the emergency rule was unnecessary, noting that the current emergency rule had moved the situation in the three troubled states from bad to worse.

“What is the use of the extension of the emergency rule because the people will suffer more while the insurgents have a field day. All these restrictions which are put in place are not necessary.

The President can deploy more troops and show more commitment,” the senator insisted.

While lamenting the impact of the insurgency and the emergency rule on his people, Ndume

noted that it is the members of the Boko Haram sect who are benefitting from the emergency rule while residents of the affected areas are holed up in their houses.

Ndume who blamed the federal government for allowing the situation in the North East to go on unbated also noted that the government should encourage youths in the region who are willing to fight against the insurgents to be part of the Civilian JTF. He also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to show seriousness and commitment to end the insurgency by deploying more troops to the affected states rather than covering up the real situation in the region.

“We are not supporting the extension of emergency rule. Our people that we represent have warned us against supporting it and they said if we support it we should stay back in Abuja and not come back home. Government is not serious about finding solutions to the Boko Haram problem. You don’t need to declare a state of emergency to execute your constitutional role. The state of emergency has moved the situation from bad to worse,” senator Ndume explained.

Meanwhile, the #BringBackOurGirls group also condemned the extension of emergency rule without proper arrangement for it to yield the necessary result.

Ndume, BBOG Group Kick Against Emergency Rule Extension

BY EjikE EjikE, ABujA

The senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume yesterday said that he and other senators representing Yobe and Borno would not support the president’s request for the extension of emergency rule in the three affected north eastern states.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP in Abuja on the current level of insecurity in the region, Senator Ndume said the Borno/Yobe Forum had also warned lawmakers from the region against supporting the request for the extension of the emergency rule.

Senator Ndume, who is also a

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our stand Tuesday, November 25, 2014

That Telecoms Jamboree In South Korea

T

he Ministry of Communications Technology is in the news again for the wrong reasons. In recent times, we have had cause to express concern about the way the ministry is being run, especially after an executive commissioner of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Dr. Bashir Gwandu, was removed for blowing the whistle on the sordid transaction that led to the under-selling of the nation’s telecoms assets by N53billion.

It appears that the ministry is not about to change its waywardness; at least not from the report of events at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) conference just concluded in South Korea.

Just on the eve of the government’s austerity programme, the federal government, through the Ministry of Communications Technology, shelled out over N100million to campaign for the election of Mr Shola Taylor as the deputy secretary-general of the ITU. Furthermore, as a mark of solidarity for the candidate, the federal government reportedly sponsored over 130 delegates at an estimated cost of well over N100million for tickets and estacode.

If, in the end, the candidate had won, the victory would still have come at a very high price. But alas, in spite of the hefty cash backing and the large contingent of sup-

porters from the ministry, the candidate lost.

The candidate, his supporters and sponsors may have had a good time in South Korea but the country is left with the short end of the stick.

Even if the ministry were growing cash on its tower masts, there must be sensible ways of spending the money, especially in austere times like these.

Let us be clear: the point is not that the candidate lost an election.

Every contest will produce winners and losers. The contest for the position of deputy secretary-general cannot be different. The point, however, is that only two years ago the same Gwandu, who was cast away from the NCC, aided and abetted by the ministry – and whose removal the court has ruled illegal – was the chairman of the Radio Communications Advisory Group (RAG) and vice chairman of the

Editor Sadiq Abdullateef Deputy Editor Kazeem Akintunde Editorial Board Safiya M. Adamu, Chairman Christian Ochiama, Deputy Chairman Standards ’Lara Olugbemi, Assistant Director

ITU Joint Task Group (JTG-4567).

Not only did he occupy these prestigious positions on merit, it is not on record that the country spent a kobo to secure the position at the time he was there.

In the typical cut-thy-nose-tospite-thy-face character of public service in the country, however, after Gwandu’s illegal removal from the NCC, the commission pursued him to ITU to have him removed from his international positions, throwing the two positions away to Kenya and the Britain, even though the matter was still in court at the time. To date, Gwandu remains the only person barred by the ministry from attending ITU programmes as a Nigerian delegate both in the public and private sectors.

Today, the same NCC is spending millions of dollars to recover what it should not have thrown away.

Qui bono?

In a world where telecommunications have become vital assets, their management at national and international levels have also become serious business. It was not a surprise, for example, that this sector accounted for 8.7 per cent of Nigeria’s rebased economy, up from two per cent.

But we can’t optimise our engagement by the sort of jamboree in South Korea. That was throwing good money after bad business and the governnment must tell the public why.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah

Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Iyobosa Uwugiaren Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Abdulmumin Balogun Zipporah D. Tanko

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

We shall never, ever for any reason forget the noble reason of our coming into being: For God and country!

4 news extra

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo APC Blasts DSS Over Party’s Data Centre Invasion The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday picked holes on the reasons given by the DSS for invading the Data Centre of the party in Lagos on Saturday, saying the reasons were plainly implausible and a witless.

Speaking at a press conference held on Monday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party APC said the security service has become a shameless apologist of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The APC scribe wondered why a self-respecting intelligence gathering secret will rely on beer parlous gossips in carrying out its onerous responsibility, especially in a politically-charged environment like what prevails in the country at present.

He said, ‘’The spokesperson for the DSS said the organization had put the building housing the Data Centre under surveillance, and that it only acted after it was convinced that ‘unwholesome activities’ were taking place.

What hogwash! If indeed they put the place under surveillance, would they not have been able to establish that it is an APC Data Centre? Even if they were not sure, what prevents them from obtaining a court order permitting them to enter and search the building instead of carrying out a Gestapo-like operation? Are security agencies above the law. ‘’To highlight their crudity and lack of professionalism, they had to go and arrest one of the staffers who was not on duty just to get the password to the servers they vandalized and took away. This speaks volumes about the limitation of the DSS’ intelligence gathering ability.

“If they had broken into the Boko Haram computer, would they have gone to arrest Abubakar Shekau or

By George Okojie, Lagos

NYSC, Gowon’s Best Legacy – Gov Aliyu Niger state Governor , Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu has declared that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is one of the best legacies of the General Yakubu Gowon administration to enhance national Unity.

Aliyu who stated this at the closing ceremony of Batch ‘C’ of NYSC orientation in Paiko, yesterday said the scheme has helped to reduce stereotypes and build bridges across ethno-religious cleavages for the promotion of unity and progress of the country.

According to him “I have always believed that the NYSC program remains one of the best legacies bequeathed for the youths of this country by its founding father venerable General Yakubu Gowon (former Head of State). This is a valuable scheme that has been the source of unity, integration and understanding among our people.”

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

L-R: Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar lll; vice president Namadi Sambo and national president, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, at a 2-day roundtable meeting with special advisers on religious affairs from the 36 states of the federation, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN.

Jonathan Has No Hand In Police, Reps Fracas – Presidency

By George Agba, Abuja

The presidency yesterday disassociated President Goodluck Jonathan from the incident that led to the Speaker of the House of Representa­tives, Aminu Tambuwal and some other lawmakers being blocked out of the National Assembly last Thursday.

Senior Special Assistant to the president on public affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe who made the presidency’s position known, while reacting to an editorial published by LEADERSHIP newspaper on Monday said it was wrong anybody to hold President Jonathan responsible for the clash between the lawmakers and the Police.

In a statement he issued yester-

day, Okupe regretted that even after the Inspector General of police had come in a statement absolving the president from the action taken by the police, it was illogical for the newspaper to insist that Jonathan was behind the events that happened at the National Assembly last Thursday.

He said, “To address innuendos and falsehoods directly, we state unequivocally that it is puerile, myopic and irresponsible for the paper to hold President Jonathan responsible for the events that transpired at the National Assembly last Thursday”.

He added that one of the greatest virtues of the Jonathan administration that had endeared him to Nigerians and the internation-

al community was his unflinching respect for the rule of law.

He said, “Since his tenure he has enjoyed a harmonious working relationship with the National Assembly more than any president before him. It is preposterous therefore as the paper goes on to argue in the editorial that President Jonathan’s ultimate ambition is to pocket the National Assembly.

“Apart from being a futile attempt to drive a wedge between the president and the lawmakers, the claim is an insult on the collective intelligence of members of the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly comprises respected Nigerians with track records and accomplish-

ments in virtually every field of human endeavour. To suggest therefore that they can be ‘pocketed’ is to insult and demean them”.

Also absolving the president from the legislative rancour in Ekiti State, Okupe said, “It is in the same vein that we condemn the attempt to link the President’s name to every incident in the country. We fail to see what connection there is between the office of the president and an incident in Ekiti State for instance.”

“The office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a high office that should be accorded due respect by all and not demeaned like the paper has attempted to do”.

Assembly Reaffirms Danladi As Taraba Acting Gov

By Andrew Ojih and Sam Tyav, Jalingo

Following the apex court judgment that ordered the reinstatement of Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi, a former deputy governor to Suntai to assumed his officer, the state house of assembly yesterday in Jalingo reaffirmed the reinstated deputy governor, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi as the acting governor of the state.

The reaffirmation followed the motion moved by the Majority leader of the House, Joseph Albasu Kunini of Lau state constituency.

According to Kunini, the house needed to do that as provided in the section 190 (2) of the 1999

constitution as amended.

He stressed that the Lawmakers within 21 days by a simple majority could mandate the deputy to act as governor if the governor fails to or is unable to transmit a written declaration to that effect.

Majority leader further referred lawmakers to the recent Supreme Court judgement which gave the deputy governor the right to administer the state, adding that since governor Suntai was still recuperating from injuries sustained during the plane crash, it was necessary for house to mandate the deputy by invoking the provision of section 190 (2) of the 1999 constitution as amended to mandate the depu-

ty governor to act pending when governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai would be fully recovered.

Ruling on the motion, the new Speaker, Mark Useni Bakko said that the house has resolved and affirmed the deputy governor of the state as the acting governor.

Danladi Swears In New SSG Meanwhile, Danladi has sworn in the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Gebon Timothy Kataps, as well inaugurated a committee to investigate the execution of contracts and policies of the state from October, 2012.

Performing the ceremony yesterday in Jalingo at the Exco chamber, government house Jalingo, the acting governor said

that all that transpired after his exit did not present the true picture of Taraba state.

Taraba Assembly Gets New Speaker Following the resignation of the former speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon Josiah Kente, the state lawmakers yesterday in Jalingo unanimously elected a new Speaker Dr. Mark Useni Bakko to take over the leadership of the house as the new speaker.

The new speaker’s election followed the resignation of Kente whose letter of resignation was read on the floor of the house.

The former speaker was said to have resigned for personal reasons.

NEWS 5

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

1.5m People Now Homeless – UN

BY Abdullahi Umar, George Agba, Kule Olasanmi, Abuja; ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York; Kareem Haruna, Maiduguri; ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos with agency report

The United Nations has said that over 1.5 million people have so far been rendered homeless by the insurgency in the north eastern part of the country, with the number increasing five times within the last six months.

The UN said the situation in the region had been steadily deteriorating over the past few months amid a spate of attacks in which over 100 civilians, mostly women and children, had been killed.

The UN urged armed groups active in the restive north east of Nigeria to “disband permanently” and warned those providing them with support of possible sanctions.

The federal government has, however, stated that the dialogue option is still on the table as part of efforts towards halting the incessant attacks by the Boko Haram group in the region.

But debunking the alleged ceasefire between the government and the sect, the sect leader in a footage last month said he had no plan to negotiate with the federal government over any ceasefire.

Minister of special duties, Tanimu Turaki, yesterday told the Hausa service of the BBC that the federal government’s commitment to ending the insurgency was unquestionable.

Human Trafficking On The Rise In Nigeria – UNODC The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has declared that cases of human trafficking are on the rise in Nigeria and some major parts of the world.

The UNODC gave this report during the launch of its 2014 Global Human Trafficking Report at the UN headquarters in New York yesterday.

The report, which was reviewed by UNODC’s executive director, Yury Fedotov, also states that data on the gender profiles of offenders in Nigeria is scarce, noting that the involvement of females in the cases is up to 50 per cent by the time of compiling the global report.

It adds that the role of male traffickers is much more prominent, and the share of females among those prosecuted or convicted for trafficking in persons ranges around 25 per cent.

According to the report, most of the persons convicted of trafficking in persons in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan Africa areas are citizens of the country where they were convicted.

“Only some 2.5 per cent of the total number of convicted offenders are SubSaharan Africans from other countries in the sub-region, and less than one per cent are foreigners from outside the region,” it noted.

In terms of flows, the global report says that domestic trafficking is the main type of trafficking in Sub-Saharan Africa, noting that this type of trafficking accounts for more than three quarters of the total number of detected victims in the sub-region - a very large proportion.

“Cross-border trafficking flows are

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Jonathan

normally of short range. Most West African victims are detected in West Africa, most Southern Africans in Southern African countries and so forth. Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa also detect a limited number of victims from other regions, especially East Asia, but these victims comprise a small share of the total number of detected victims.

“West African victims have been detected in almost all Western European countries. The share of West African victims detected in Western Europe has remained constant for the last few years, and the flows are largely comprised of women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation,” the report reads.

It, however, berates Nigeria and its counterparts in the sub-region of SubSaharan Africa for lacking legislation on human trafficking, noting that several countries still need to adopt legislation in line with the Trafficking in Persons Protocol more than 10 years after its coming into force.

“After five years, in 2008, more than half of the countries still lacked a trafficking in persons crime in their legislation, while some more countries had introduced a child trafficking offence. Most of the efforts were concentrated between 2008 and 2012, and nowadays 28 countries have legislation that is in line with the Trafficking in Persons Protocol. Still, more than 30 per cent of countries either have partial legislation or no specific offence at all.

“As a result of the late introduction of proper legislation, most of the countries in this part of the world report very low numbers of convictions, and the number of countries where this information is not available or accessible is very high compared to the rest of the world. Only two countries, Togo and Nigeria, reported convictions of some 50 persons in at least one of the reporting years. The other countries either reported no convictions at all, or less than 10 per year.”

Furthermore, the 2014 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, based on data from between 2010 and 2012, shows the share of trafficked children was 5 percentage points higher than recorded in the previous report, which used data from between 2007 and 2010.

The report notes at least 152 countries of origin and 124 countries of destination for trafficking victims, adding that although most victims had been

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levels, whereas high-GI foods cause a sudden sugar rush.

Avoid processed foods and ‘white stuff’ - white Consider installing a reverse osmosis water filter with an added carbon filter, which will remove everything. But since ‘everything’ includes minerals too, be sure to supplement.

Nigeria’s Oil Export Suffers Setback As Shell Shuts Facility FROM FRONT PAGE

around 180,000-200,000 barrels per day.

Reuters quoted unnamed Shell spokeswoman in London that force majeure had not been declared on the grade.

“SPDC is investigating the source of a leak at Okolo Launch in eastern Niger Delta which occurred near the 24inch and the 28-inch TNP (Trans-Niger Pipeline),” said Reuters quoting a spokesman at Shell’s Nigeria unit.

“The leak occurred near where one of our contractors was preparing to remove crude theft connections on the line. On noticing the leak on November 22, we deployed booms and also

trafficked across international borders, many cases involved movement over a small geographical area, often between neighbouring counties.

Boko Haram: Sultan, Oritsejafor Disagree On Islamic Leaders’ Effort The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the national president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, yesterday disagreed over the effort by Muslim clerics to sensitise the people of the region against the reign of terror on Nigerians by the Boko Haram sect in the name of religion.

This is even as President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned Nigerians, irrespective of their creed or status, to desist from making provocative statements that could create disaffection and breach of the peace in the country.

The president, the Sultan and Oritsejajor spoke at a two-day roundtable with special advisers on Religious Affairs from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

shut in the 28-inch TNP.” The 24-inch pipeline had been shut since October 18, 2013, for repair and integrity checks, the spokesman added.

Nigeria’s oil industry suffers from rampant oil theft. A report by a national conference convened by President Goodluck Jonathan in March said the country was losing an estimated $35 million a day to oil theft.

In March this year, Shell said it lost nearly $1 billion in 2013 through theft and various disruptions to its Nigerian oil and gas operations.

The oil major has since sold some of its onshore producing fields in part due to these problems.

The meeting with the theme: ‘Towards Synergising and Interfacing in the Religious Sectors for National Development’, was organised by the Offices of the Senior Special Assistants to the President on Islamic and Christian Matters.

Sultan, who is regarded as the religious head of Muslims in the country, had stated that Islamic leaders had done “so much” in preaching against the dreadful activities of the insurgent.

But Oritsejafor countered him, saying what the Islamic clerics had been doing leaves much to be desired in their effort in reaching out to the insurgents and presenting the true teachings of Islam to them.

However, Sultan noted that the current situation in the north east was not similar to the activities of militants in the Niger Delta for people to suggest that Islamic leaders should sit with Boko Haram leaders and dialogue.

He said, “In a situation where Muslim leaders condemn insurgents and they will ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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8 NEWS

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

1.5m People Now Homeless – UN FROM PAGE 5

still be told they have not done enough; that is not fair. We don’t tell ourselves the truth.

Followers are not telling the leaders the truth, and the leaders will think they are doing the right things.

Oritsejafor urged the Sultan to write to Boko Haram the way he had written to ISIS, saying the insurgents in Nigeria had killed more than ISIS. President Jonathan who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo said instead of making inciting statements, Nigerians should assist government with prayers.

Boko Haram: US Keeps Mum Over Gnoti’s Arrest There are indications that the United States government will not comment on last week’s arrest of Mahamat Bichara Gnoti who is a political associate of President Idriss Déby of Chad, for allegedly procuring weapons for members of the Boko Haram sect.

Mr Gnoti was reportedly arrested on the Chadian-Sudan border with 19 SAM2 missiles he allegedly purchased from the Sudanese army and meant for the Boko Haram terrorist network in northeastern Nigeria.

The suspect, who claimed that President Idriss Déby gave him the funds to purchase the weapons, had waved a presidential pass purportedly issued to him by Mr Deby’s office in order to get past border guards but he was stopped and searched by guards who found the deadly weapons on him.

Independent investigations by our correspondent showed that the United States government under President Barack Obama is still watching to know the true position of things before commenting. Unusually, the American government has decided to shun the incident despite that it happened more than 48 hours ago.

A reliable source within the White House told our correspondent during a telephone chat that this ‘unusual’ decision of the United States was borne out of the recent outburst of the chairman of the Chibok community in Abuja, Tsambido Hosea-Abana, where he challenged Obama take action as a world leader to save the situation in the northeast rather than just condemning Boko Haram killings.

According to reports, HoseaAbana’s comment were said to have drawn the attention of the White House last week, and officials decided to let Nigeria play the lead before the US follows.

Our source who preferred not to be mentioned for fear of retribution said that the outburst was a sign of ingratitude from the community to the US gov-

Dasuki

Minimah

Badeh

Obama

ernment despite all that the America has done to help towards the release of the female students that were kidnapped by the insurgents in April, 2014.

Asked why the White House has not reacted to the arrest, the US official hinted that the American government wanted Nigeria to be in the lead in everything that has to do with Boko Haram and the kidnapped Chibok students.

with newsmen in Abuja.

But while condemning the call, a resident of Yola, Dr. Umar Duhu, said the call by the governor was selfish, unilateral and did not in any way reflect the demands of the people of the state.

Duhu contended that the primary motive behind the call for the emergency rule extension was to cause a postponement of the 2015 general election; otherwise it was glaring that there was no need for its extension in view of the fact that for the 18 months that the emergency rule lasted the security challenges in the state only worsened.

Another native of the state, Dr. Umar Ardo equally condemned the call, saying, “I oppose it. It was needleless and we can achieve what we want to achieve without it.”

to their heels upon seeing that the gunmen had killed some of their colleagues.

“They may have killed more than 50 people because they attacked a densely populated area of the town where most of the commercial activities take place,” Salihu said.

“Many houses have been burnt down as well as shops very close to the market area.

We all had to run for our lives because even the soldiers that were armed fled before everyone.”

Muhammed Abbas Gava, an official of the Nigeria Vigilante Group who also confirmed the incident to LEADERSHIP said, “Presently, the Boko Haram terrorists have sacked everyone from Damasak, and they had packed away properties of fleeing residents.

“From the reports we got from our colleagues in Damasak, they killed over 50 persons, injured several others and burnt houses before taking away some of the young persons including females; no one is in the town including the soldiers who had also abandoned their posts and fled”, said Gava, The Senator Representing northern Borno Senatorial district, Senator Maina Maaji Lawan, also confirmed the attack while fielding questions during a BBC Hausa service broadcast.

A top official of the SSS, who spoke but wished not to be quoted, confirmed to LEADERSHIP reporter on phone that “we received a signal that Damasak was under attack and as at afternoon of Monday more than 30 persons had been killed and this include some soldiers of the Nigeria Army. The death toll might increase because the attackers targeted densely populated part of the town.”

Damasak is one of the boisterous border towns of Borno State where farm produce like beans, pepper and tomatoes are produced in commercial quantity.

ernment against Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, the alleged mastermind of the April 14 bomb explosion that killed over 75 people at a bus station in Nyanya, Abuja, for “want of diligent prosecution.”

The federal government had through the Inspector General of Police filed a criminal charge against Ogwuche.

But the trial could not commence due to confusion between the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) over who should prosecute him.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Justice Ademola struck out the suit due to the absence of the IGP and the prosecution counsel.

Justice Ademola said, “This criminal charge is hereby struck out for want of diligent prosecution by the complainant, Inspector General of Police and his prosecutor.”

In a related development, Justice Ademola yesterday granted the oral application sought by Ogwuche’s counsel, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN) for family members to have access to the alleged bomber.

The court ordered that three lawyers from Ahmed Raji’s chambers and two of Ogwuche’s family members, including his wife, be allowed access to the suspect who is being held by the SSS. The SSS counsel Clifford Osagie and the AGF’s counsel Mr. Taiwo Abidogun did not object to the request. He also granted him access to medical care at National Hospital, Abuja if need be.

He adjourned the matter till December 5 for hearing of the originating motion exparte.

Counsel to the suspect, Ahmed Raji (SAN), in an application for the enforcement of Ogwuche’s fundamental human rights, had asked the court to admit Ogwuche to bail.

He alleged that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the DSS, who are respondents in the matter, were breaching the fundamental rights of the applicant by holding him endlessly against the provision of the law without trial.

35,000 IDPs from Adamawa, Borno, Yobe flee to Plateau- NEMA The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) North Central zone has disclosed that over 35,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Taraba states have fled to Plateau State as a result of the present insurgency in the region.

The North Central zonal information officer of NEMA, Audu Yohana, who gave this figure in a press statement he signed and made available to newsmen in Jos yesterday, said a comprehensive assessment by NEMA indicates that the IDPs are camped in different locations across five local government areas of Plateau State in Wase, Kanam, Shendam and Mikan local government areas, while 11,000 IDPs from Taraba State are camped in different locations across the four local government areas.

He added that in Adamawa State, about 24,000 IDPs are presently camped in different locations across Jos North and Jos South local government areas of the state.

Adamawa Residents Chide Gov Ngillari Over Call For Emergency Rule Extension Some natives of Adamawa State have condemned appeals made by their state governor Bala James Ngilari to the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule in the state as proposed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The governor was said to have made the call on the National Assembly to extend the emergency rule while interacting

Boko Haram Attacks 2 Borno Towns Sect kills over 50 persons in Damasak The Boko Haram militants in their hundreds again attacked Damasak and Ashigarchi towns in Mobbar local government area of Borno yesterday morning, killing over 50 persons in Damasak alone.

A resident who spoke with the BBC Hausa service said the sect members came on Hillux vans and motor bikes, and while some wore military fatigues other were in mufti.

The dead, including soldiers, may have died and several others injured in the attack, security sources and witnesses said.

The gunmen, who drove into Damasak, a border community between Nigeria and Cameroon, also burnt vehicles, houses and forced hundreds of residents fleeing to the Cameroonian borders.

According to accounts of witnesses who spoke from their hideouts, the gunmen arrived in Damasak at about 10am.

Bashir Salihu, a local trader told journalists on phone that the terrorists started shooting at everyone as soon as they entered the town, while chanting Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar (God is great).

He said even the soldiers deployed in Damasak had to take

Nyanya Bombing: Court Frees Suspect Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday struck out the charge filed by the federal gov-

news extra 9

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Supreme Court Gets New Chief Registrar The chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has appointed Barrister Ahmed Gambo Saleh as the acting chief registrar of the Supreme Court.

Saleh will take over the administration of the apex court from Mr. Sunday Olorundahunsi, who recently was appointed by the National Judicial Council (NJC) as a judge of the Ondo State High Court.

Until his current elevation, Saleh was a deputy chief registrar in charge of Litigation in the Supreme Court.

Saleh was born in Hadejia in Jigawa State in 1969 where he completed both his primary and secondary schools.

He was called to Bar in 1996 and holds both first and second degree in Law from Usman Danfodio University in Sokoto and Bayero University, Kano respectively.

He worked briefly as a private legal practitioner before joining the service of Jigawa State Ministry of Justice as Senior State Counsel in 1998 where he rose to become director of Legal Drafting.

In 2008, Saleh was appointed a Special Assistant to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi,GCON. He later became a Deputy Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court in 2010 and has been in charge of Litigation of the Supreme Court until his present promotion to the seat of Acting Chief Registrar of the apex court.

By Kunle Olasanmi Abuja

NAF Promotes 16 AVS, 35 Air Commodores, Others

The Nigerian Air Force has released the promotion of its senior officers.

Those promoted includes 16 Air Vice Marshals, 35 Air Commodores, 33 Group Captains and 26 Wing Commanders.

According to a statement issued by the director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, the promotions are with immediate effect.

Those promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal are the Commander 75 Strike Group Yola, Emmanuel Anebi; Commander 79 Composite Group Maiduguri, Nurudeen Balogun; Commander 201 Heavy Airlift Group Ikeja, Christopher Okoye; Commander 97 Special Operations Group Port Harcourt, Ajibola Jekennu; Commander 106 Headquarters Nigerian Air Force Camp Abuja, and Abdul Bello; Chief of Accounts and Budget, Headquarters Nigerian Air Force.

Others are Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun; Commander 81 Air Maritime Group Benin, Air Vice Marshal Oiusoji Awomodu; Commander 203 Medium Airlift Group Ilorin, Air Vice Marshal Ndana Kudu; Commander 301 Flying Training School Kaduna, Air Vice Marshal Dayo Adeluoye; Director of Plans at Headquarters Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Samson Akpasa.

Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

Kano State governor and APC presidential candidate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso (middle), addressing supporters in Birnin Kebbi, yesterday.

PHOTO BY NAN

Chieftaincy Tussle Claims 10 In Lamurde LG

BY MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

A brawl over chieftaincy tussle in Kwah community of Lamurde local government in Adamawa State has reportedly left 10 killed while several others were injured just as properties were destroyed.

Reports from the community indicated that the latest round of crisis emanated after the son of Tamuna Nickson, the traditional ruler of the community appointed by Hama Bachama Honest Stephen Irmiya, accosted a youth from the rival ruling clan whose patriarch was earlier deposed by late Hamma Bachama Asaph Zadok.

There has been a lingering power tussle between the two

clans of Nyakwen and Dwenti following the deposing of the Patriarch of Dwenti who was the traditional ruler of the community a decision which was challenged in court.

A free-for-all ensued between youths from the opposing camps resulting in serious bodily harm inflicted on the son of the newly appointed traditional ruler Chief Tamuna Nickson which was followed by counter attacks from the rival group leading to the escalation of the crisis.

Reports had it that following the bodily injury inflicted on the son of Tamuno by Nyakwen clan, youth from Dwenti swooped on the youth of Nyakwen with dangerous weapons

setting ablaze every household on their path to avenge the injury sustained by the son of Tamuno.

But the brawl apparently reached its nexus when news filtered that the injured son of Tamuno has died as a result of the injuries he sustained sparking another round of violence and resulting to the killing of some youths of the rival clan.

Hospital sources said four bodies of those killed in the mayhem have been deposited at the morgue of General Hospital Numan.

A leader of Dwenti community Mallam Phillip said they have so far recovered five corpses belonging to Dwenti clan close to the bank of the River Benue

adding that their houses and other valuable properties have been vandalised.

“Our houses, properties have been completely destroyed by these power mongers who in their desperation to rule resorted to killing our people.

“Now look at what they have done, they have taken the lives of 10 of our people to avenge the death of one of their own.

They first instigated this mayhem, since August the loyalist of the newly appointed chief has been intimidating and harassing us in this community, but since we are law abiding we have instead gone to court to challenge the deposing of our ruler,” Phillip said.

PDP, APC Supporters Clash In Argungu

By YAHYA SARKI , Kebbi

Less than 24 hours to the one day official visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Kebbi State, political thugs believed to be supporters of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC ) have clashed throwing stones at each other and engaging in freefor-all.

LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the clash took place outside the emir of Argungu’s palace yesterday and this is also happening as President Jonathan is coming to commission the Birnin Kebbi International Airport today.

An eye witness who talked to LEADERSHIP on condition of anonymity explained that the APC supporters who were cheering the visit-

ing governor of Kano State and APC presidential aspirant, Rabiu Kwankwaso who was in Argungu for a wedding ceremony started verbal argument with PDP supporters who coincidentally were also there to cheer Governor Dakingari.

“The PDP and APC supporters started throwing stones from all direction at each other while we watch at distance” , the eye witness said.

The chief press secretary of Governor Dakingari , Alh.Muazu Abubakar Dakingari however refuted reports that the convoy of Governor Dakingari was stoned. “What happened was a minor argument or I can say verbal argument between supporters of PDP and APC who coincidentally were there to cheer both governors. Nothing happened to the governor and his crew,” he said.

Jonathan Promises To Support Awolowo’s 99th Birthday

By George Agba , Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the wife of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Mrs Hannah Dideolu Awolowo on her 99th birthday anniversary, saying he was looking forward to participate in the event.

In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Reuben Abati, the president said he and his family joined “millions of admirers of the late nationalist, renowned political leader and sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in wishing his ‘Jewel of Inestimable Value’ very happy

birthday celebrations.

“The president prays that God Almighty will grant Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo many more years of worthy service as the matriarch and moral compass of the great Awolowo political dynasty which continues to play a commendable role in national development and

progress”, Jonathan added.

The presidential spokesman said, “President Jonathan looks forward to personally participating in the celebration of Chief (Mrs.) Awolowo’s landmark 100th birthday next year to honour the highly-revered spouse.

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stories of the Tuesday, November 25, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

Communal Clash: Police Arrest 20, Recover Arms

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

Nasarawa State Police Command yesterday paraded 20 suspects arrested in connection with the recent communal clashes in the state which claimed several lives.

Also paraded yesterday were five armed robbery suspects arrested by the command in the past two months.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Ugochukwu Theodore, while addressing the press at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Lafia said 20 persons were also rescued by officers and men of the command during the recent communal standoff.

He added that the command has also arrested one Sandra Linus of Anguwan Police in Masaka who conspired and kidnapped a nine year old minor, Nnenna Ogbonna and was luckily snatched from death as the Police found her unconscious in the residence of the suspect after she was administered with harmful chemical substance.

Officers and men of the Police also recorded success on the Lafia-Awe express which has been notorious for criminal activities. One James Ayiwulu of Anguwan Ambuga from Giza Development Area was arrested in possession of one localky made pistol, live cartridges and assorted criminal charms.

“Abdullahi Mohammed, 25, of no fixed address but claimed to be an indigene of Kachako area of Kano state was caught having carnal knowledge of a six year old (name withheld) in an uncompleted building in Anguwan Sarki Ward of Doma local government.”

DEATH: Suspected Cultists Killed In Rival Cult Clash

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Three suspected cult members have been killed in Ogwashi-Uku community, near Asaba Delta State, in a rival cult clash.

Ten others were seriously injured during the clash.

It was gathered that cult related activities thrive in the state polytechnics.

The Police in the state have beefed up security network in the area since the incident occurred.

Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Celestina Kalu, confirmed that the Police arrested six others, disclosing that two rival cult group clashed over girlfriends.

DSP Kalu said that the suspects are currently helping the police with information, adding that they would be charged to court at completion of investigation. She said that six cut to size guns, including battle axes were recovered from the suspects.

A man carrying empty baskets at Kwali market in Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

LOVE SCAM: 2 Suspected Fraudsters Arraigned For €61,500 Fraud

BY Ejike Ejike, Abuja

The EFCC has arraigned two suspected fraudsters, Gabriel Osereme Xavi (a.k.a. Collins Page) and Aikhaituamen Best Junior Cyril, before Justice E.F. Ikponmwen of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin, on charges bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

While Xavi was slammed with a 12-count charge, Aikhaituamen was docked on a sixcount charge.

According to EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, “the accused persons are alleged to have fleeced a 49 year-old Belgian nurse, Goryczka Janina, whom they met on Facebook, of the sum of 61,500 Euros.”

The victim allegedly met one of the accused persons sometime in January, 2014, who

introduced himself as “Collins Page”, a Croatian Engineer resident in Wigan, England.

Within days of their meeting, “Page” contacted her with the story that he was in Nigeria to supervise a construction project in Edo State and that he was having difficulty with his credit card as it had been blocked for security reasons. He solicited Janina’s assistance for desperate cash.

Over the next few weeks, Janina kept sending him money until she had transferred a total of €61,500 through one Emmanuel Okoh based in Cape Town, South Africa and Messrs Junior Best and Cyril Ojiemen.

When ‘Mr. Page’ pressurized her for more money, Janina confided in a friend who told her that she might have fallen into the hands of scammers. The duo however pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them on November 21, 2014.

DEATH: Health Workers’ Strike Claim 3

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

Three patients on admission at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) have lost their lives to the two weeks old industrial action embarked upon by the Joint Health Staff Union (JOHESU).

LEADERSHIP gathered that the UITH recorded death of no fewer than three patients as at last Friday while other patients on admission at the hospital were said to have been abandoned to their fate.

A relative of a patient on admission, Mrs. Dupe Adeleke, said that doctors could not perform surgery on patients because surgical equipment needed for

the procedure had been allegedly locked up by the striking health workers.

“My mother is due for an operation but the doctors have not been able to perform the surgery because they claimed that the striking health workers have locked up the equipment.

A patient, who simply identified himself as Sulyman, said he had not been able to get treatment after undergone surgery owing to the strike action embarked upon by the health workers.

“I had surgery before the strike began but now there is no one attends to me.

For my X-ray, I had to go to a private diagnostic centre and paid exorbitant fee for the service,” he lamented.

TRAGEDY: Policeman, Student Killed In Jigawa

By Muh’d Zangina Kura, Dutse.

A police inspector identified as Lado Nuhu attached to Kirikasamma division, Jigawa State has been killed while trying to avert a Fulani/famers clash in the area.

Inspector Nuhu lost his life when a team of polcemen tried to stop Fulani men from taking their cows into a farm land.

It was gathered that the attack occurred after the police chased out the pastoralists from the farm lands where farm produce had not been harvested to forestall any possible herders, farmers’ clash in the area.

The herdsmen were said to have ambushed the policeman at a narrow way around the river bank where they beat and pushed him into a river.

While speaking to LADERSHIP, chairman of Kirikasamma local government area, Alhaji Mahamud Matafari confirmed the incident and said “it was unfortunate and shoking; we are just coming back from his burial”.

When contacted, the state police command’s Public Relation Officer, DSP Abdu Jinjiri, confirmed the death of the Inspector.

“Of cause, one of our officers lost his life on duty when he mistakenly drowned in a river and died,” he said.

Similarly, a 14-year-old student has died in fire accident that gutted female hostel of May Excellence Secondary School, Hadejia.

Confirming the incident, the state commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Dr. Muhammed Gidado Fari, said the fire started at about 23:30pm when majority of the student were sleeping.

day

STORIES OF THE DAY 11

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Photo News

CULT cLASH: Varsity Don, Student Murdered In Kogi

BY SAM EGWU, Lokoja

Dr Austine Otitiliaye of department agricultural economics of the Kogi State University, Anyigba has been murdered by an unknown gunmen.

A source, who spoke with our correspondent said the lecturer was killed during a clash between rival cult groups.

There has been supremacy batthel over rival cult groups in the institution.

Some lecturers and students interviewed

who spoke with LEADERSHIP expressed shock at thehacking down of the lecturer whose remains was found at Ejule in Ofu Local government , 8 Kolometers from the University town.

LEADERSHIP check revealed that the campus had been under tension over activities of cult members.

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Elvis Adegurege said ha has not been briefed about the development.

L-R: Elerin of Erin-Ile, Oba Abdulganiyu Ajibola; Kwara State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed; his deputy, Elder Peter Kisra and the wife of the governor, Mrs Omolewa Ahmed, during the Fida’u prayer of Governor Ahmed’s late step-mother, Hajia Ramotallahi Ahmed , held at Share in Ifelodun LGA of the State.

BANKING: Delta To Sanction Fraudulent Finance Banks, Others – Commissioner

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

The Delta State government, yesterday, in Asaba said it would not fail to sanction any micro finance bank (MFB) in the state that involves in any shoddy deal that tends to jeopardize easy access of the N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Development Fund of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the state.

The executive secretary of the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (DSMSMEDA) and Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Antonia Ashiedu, handed down the warning during the opening ceremony of a three-day capacity building workshop on preparation of business plans, book keeping and use of ICT in MSME development.

He said that micro finance banks and other DMBs where the state government is using as channels for the disbursement of the MSME funds should not use the

fund as a prerequisite to entice clients to open accounts with it.

She noted that where such exists, the state government may have no other option but to delist such MFB or DMB as disbursement centre for the fund.

She said, “This is a loan that is meant primarily for the ordinary people in the state. It is not a loan for the super rich in the society and we must ensure that those who are intended to get the loan get it without any hitch.

“The state government rolled out this loan at nine per cent but the state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan graciously said that the loan should be given out to clients at zero per cent. Therefore, we want to warn that no micro finance bank should use it as a precedent that clients must open account with them.”

Stressing that the loan is meant to stimulate the state’s micro-economy, Ashiedu enjoined Deltans to take advantage of the fund in leveraging their businesses.

CHARM SCARE: Strange Substance Causes Panic In Delta By kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

Strange substances capable of incapacitating unsuspecting personsacross various communities in Delta State, are currently causing panic in Kwale, Uzzere, Asaba and Obiaruku Communities in Delta state.

Reports said some persons, presently victims of the substance have allegedly developed swollen legs and have been visiting various hospitals for treatments.

Some residents who spoke to our correspondent on the situation said the substances are found at every junction, with fierce threatening materials put into boxes and dumped at the junctions.

It was reliably gathered that apart from the voodoo suspected substances, there are strong indications of possible blood bath by some group of miscreants who had two months ago threatened to frustrate the present Uduaghan led administration for what they described as mal-administration and alleged looting of the state treasury.

In a statement signed by one Wilson Ogah, Secretary of the group, a copy made available to our correspondent stated; “we are very concerned about our state treasury allegedly looted by Uduaghan and his cohorts, and we will make things difficult in 2015, if he fails to give proper account of the projects he successfully executed.”

But Barr Chike Ogeah, the state commissioner for information, described the group as faceless adding that Uduaghan legacies speak volumes.

Investigation revealed that the substances are revealed that the substances are tied in red/black threads put into clay pots that are loaded with animal meat including red oil that are dumped at junctions of Ogbeogonogo market, Interbau and Summit junctions.

Although the activities of these unidentified persons perpetrating the act, have continued to create palpable tension, elders of Asaba community have vented their anger on them with curses.

Members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) 2014 Batch C during their closing ceremony at the Kubwa orientation camp in Abuja, yesterday PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

L-R: Senior special adviser to the president on ethics and values, Mrs Sarah Jubril; senior lecturer, Covenant University, Prof Femi Adeyeye, and representatives of the SGF, Emmanuel Kissa, during a book presentation, ‘President Diary: Nigeria’s Revolution’, in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OGOH JOSEPH.

Lagos State APC governorship aspirant, Dr Kadir Obafemi Hamzat (middle) submitting his nomination form to the party’s national organising secretary, Senator Osita Izunaso (right) and the director of organisation, Mr Abubakar Kari, at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY DAMILARE ADEWUYI.

12 news NATIONAL Abia Guber Poll: Commissioner Warns APGA Aspirant Against Distortion Of Facts Abia State commissioner for Information & Strategy, Dr A. Agbazuere, has described an APGA governorship aspirant in the state, Dr Alex Otti, as a desperate and selfish politician who is trying to distort facts by claiming that Abia State is running a non-indigene policy. According to Dr Agbazuere, Abia is not and has never ran a non-indigene policy. He explained that what happened in the past was that some states sacked Abia workers from their states and Abia State retaliated.

He added that even when Abia workers sacked from other states were yet to be recalled, governor of the state, Theodore Orji, in his usual fatherly disposition, later directed the recall of the affected workers from other states.

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

Stop Politicising Religion – Interfaith Group The Inter-Faith Activity and Partnership for Peace (IFAPP), a religious non-governmental organisation, NGO, has warned against mingling religion with politics, saying the act is a time bomb only waiting to explode.

Conveners of the group, Mallam Nuruddeen Lemu and Rev. Fr. George Ehusani, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP, condemned the unfolding developments in the political arena in the run-up to the 2015 general election, describing it as merely a mask over intra-elite struggles for political power and lucre.

The group, while frowning at the manipulation of religion, argued that those losing their lives in the carnages which go on every day in various parts of the country, especially in the North East, are ordinary Nigerians struggling.

By Oluchi Nnaomah, Abuja.

Groups To Stage Sambo Support Rally In Kaduna A group, Northern Emancipation Network (NEN), has said it is leading five other groups for a rally in Kaduna to shore support for the retention of Vice-President Namadi Sambo on the 2015 PDP presidential ticket.

A statement signed by NEN’s director general, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said the rally would also dispel earlier misinformation that Vice-President Sambo has lost grip of the political environment in the north.

“We are concluding arrangements for a mass rally in Kaduna in collaboration with five other northern groups to state reasons why Sambo’s loyalty to the president should not be held against him.”

By Christiana Nwaogu, Abuja

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Delegates Election: Bomb Explosion Rocks Cross River PDP Secretariat

By LANRE ROTIMI, Calabar

The crisis rocking Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a violent dimension yesterday as some suspected political thugs threw an explosive device into the state secretariat of the party.

Confirming the incident, Police public relation officer, Mr Hogan Bassey, said no life was lost in the incident which occurred early yesterday at the party secretariat located along Murtala Muhammed Highway.

This is coming just as a Federal High Court In Abuja yesterday dismissed a suit filed by Jones Tangban on the November 1 delegate election on the ground that it lacked jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, PDP stalwarts in the state, including the minister for Culture and Tourism, High Chief Edem Duke and a leading governorship aspirant , Barr Lego Idagbo, have commended what they described as the peaceful conduct of the rescheduled delegates election yesterday.

A statement signed by the police spokesperson said, “Early to-

day, 24th November, 2014, at about 05:35 hours, hoodlums who were unable to penetrate the heavily fortified secretariat by officers and men of the command, threw an explosive device from behind the premises into the building.

“The explosion only shattered some louvres on the ground floor.

No life was lost nor did anybody sustained injury,” the statement read.

Bassey added that normalcy was immediately restored with the distribution of materials for the congresses done on time.

Describing the rescheduled dele-

gates election as peaceful, Duke and Idagbo condemned the attack on the party secretariat.

Duke urged the PDP family in the state to guard the peace in the state and shun acts that are inconsistent with the nature of the people of the state.

On his part, Idagbo applauded the conduct of the exercise, saying “it was transparent, rancour-free, free and fair, even as he regretted that the attack on the party secretariat was the handiwork of desperate politicians bent on capturing power at all cost.

2015: 4 Cabinet Members Resign in Ogun

BY Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

In compliance with the 2010 Electoral Act, four members of Ogun State Executive Council have resigned their appointments to contest for various positions in 2015 elections.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun made this known during the state executive council meet-

ing yesterday in Abeokuta.

Amosun said their resignation was to allow them pursue their political ambitions in the general elections slated for next year.

The governor said many others who are special assistants and other appointees also resigned to contest in the coming polls but only four were full cabinet

members.

The four members, according to Governor Amosun, are Dr Lanre Tejuosho who was commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr Gbenga Otenuga, former commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Alhaji Shuaib Salisu, former deputy chief of staff, and Mr Tunde Sanusi and former special ad-

viser on Environment.

Amosun, in his remarks, said the beauty of democracy is the opportunity for anybody to offer him or herself for service to the people, wishing all his former aides who will be contesting best of luck.

He also advised them to represent their people well if they eventually win their elections.

Training Of Teachers A Must For Qualitative Education – NTI DG

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

The training and retraining of teachers through upgrading of their qualification, capacity building through workshop and seminars is a must for a nation like Nigeria to have the best in the educational sector, the director general of National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, Dr Aminu Ladan Sharehu, has said.

He made this assertion while declaring open the 4th Cohort Cycle II Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) training programme for teachers from Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Benue, Imo and Yobe States at NTI headquarters, Kaduna.

PRESS STATEMENT

A

petition alleging that cloning activities of INEC Permanent Voters Card (PVC) by some unscrupulous persons with intent to hack into INEC data base, corrupt it and replace them with their own data was ongoing at No. 10 Bola Ajibola Street, off community Avenue, Allen Avenue, Ikeja LGA, Lagos State.

Consequently, the Service placed the premises which had no Sign Post under surveillance and was convinced that unwholesome activities were ongoing within.

On 22nd November, 2014,

Sharehu said that the institute is concerned about the welfare and wellbeing of every teacher in the nation and would do all within its mandate to ensure teachers nationwide get the best of everything they deserve to make their job easier and deliver the best method of classroom and out of classroom teaching techniques.

The institute, he revealed, has so far trained 413 teachers in the whole federation, with the exception of Lagos State, in seven cohorts of the first cycle of the SMASE programme. The current one, which will run for two weeks, is the 4th cohort of the second cycle, he added.

To improve on the SMASE pro-

gramme, Sharehu said the institute has introduced computer training, with a fully equipped computer laboratory for the use of the trainees.

He assured that a fully equipped science laboratory for the use of science teacher-trainees under the same SMASE is in the offing and would soon come on board.

Stressing the importance the institute attaches to improving the quality of science and mathematics teachers across the country, the DG said, “We have conducted the first cohorts with seven cycles. We are into the second cohorts with three cycles done and we are now conducting the fourth cohorts of the second cycle. We hope to continue this training until when we

get the best and improve the quality of science and mathematics teachers in the country.

“The only way you can get the best out of the teachers is to continue to engage them in capacity building and this is what NTI is doing as much as possible. But our major constraint is collaboration with the state governments.

This SMASE training programme is being conducted in collaboration with the state governments”.

He urged the participants to take the programme serious and ensure the cascading of SMASE down to the most remote part of the country is made a reality when they get back to their various states.

DSS Explains Invasion Of Lagos APC Office a search operation was executed at the above address were a Search Warrant obtained from the Court was executed. The search was carried out in the presence of one Onuchukwu Chika AUGUSTINE and twenty four (24) others, while and the following items were recovered: i. One (1) server; ii. Four (4) hard drives; iii. One (1) external hard drive; iv. One (1) HP Laptop; v. One (1) Server switch; vi. Four (4) flash drives; vii. One (1) Samsung tablet; viii.One (1) Apple computer

system without CPU; and ix. Thirty one (31) Ghanamust-go bags containing hard copies of already captured data.

All items recovered were documented at the back of the Search Warrant signed by the Service team leader and was witnessed by two (2) occupants of the premises, Onuchukwu Chika Augustine, an IT personnel and Olaposi FAYEMI, a supervisor on duty. It is also important to state that, photographs (still and video) of Service personnel entering and exiting the premises were tak-

en. The search operation lasted for two (2) hours.

Exploitation of some of the recovered items has revealed that one particular individual had his data captured eighteen times with different names, addresses but yet the same photograph.

However, further investigation is ongoing and findings shall be made public.

Marilyn OGAR, msi Deputy Director, Public Relations, Department of State Services

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

NEWS/BUSINESS 15

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

business

70.14m

In August, Nigeria exported 70.14 million barrels of oil including condensate

Nigeria’s Oil Export Hits 70 Million Barrels In August

BY Chika Izuora, Lagos

Nigeria’s oil export inched upwards in August to 70.14 million barrels as the United States of America (USA) resumed import of oil from the country.

In the wake of shale oil discovery, the US had shunned Nigeria’s oil in July for the first time prompting the country to look to Asia and China for new markets.

In August, Nigeria exported 70.14 million barrels of oil

including condensate. This translates to an average of 2.26 million barrels per day, which was 12.4 per cent higher month on month, according to data provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Platt reports that Europe remained the biggest destination for Nigeria’s oil with the US accounting for 30,779 barrels per day as against zero in July, the report said.

“Four regions, namely Europe, South America, Asia and Africa,

remain the major destinations of Nigerian crude and condensate export,” Platt quoted NNPC as saying.

Nigeria’s oil production in August rose by 6.8 per cent month on month to 2.20 million barrels per day.

For the second month running, ExxonMobil was the biggest producer, accounting for or 435,644 barrels per day, followed by Anglo/Dutch Shell with 255,049 barrels daily.

Gas production stood at 226.26

billion cubic feet (Bcf), while the amount of gas flaring from the oil fields rose to 17.3 per cent of total production, compared to 13.1 per cent in July.

Nigeria’s four refineries operated at an average of 16 per cent of their combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day in August, down from 22 per cent in July.

Nigeria has raised its fuel import for the fourth quarter to bridge the shortfall in local supply.

BUSINESS QUOTE Ten minutes are not just one-sixth of your hourly pay.

Ten minutes are a piece of yourself.

Divide your life into ten-minute units and sacrifice as few of them as possible in meaningless activity. Ingvar Kampard, founder of IKEA (1926-)

Dangote Counsels Young Entrepreneurs

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

L-R: Managing director, Jake Rily Ltd., Mrs Funmi Ogbue; chief executive, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria and chairman, Businesses Assessment Committee, Mr Jim Obazee, and director-general, Industrial Training Fund, Dr. Juliet Chukkas-Onaeko, during a press briefing on the names of Nigeria’s top 100 businesses awards recently in Abuja.

Women Can Lead 21st century ICT Industry – Expert

BY Chima Akwaja, Lagos

With the right mix of innovation, business focus, accountability and ambition, women entrepreneurs can spear-head the on-going evolution of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry in the 21st century and relegate their male counterparts to the back seat. This bold assertion came from Chairman of Zinox Group, Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, who was the guest speaker at an interactive breakfast meeting tagged Women in ICT organised by technology distributions in Lagos.

Ekeh, who reeled out a number of

statistics to emphasise his point, made specific reference to global ICT giants IBM, which now has Ginni Rometty, a female as its CEO. He also cited the increasingly pivotal role played by women in the corporate sector in the global arena and urged the participants to become more ambitious in growing their businesses and targeting bigger ventures.

“Women are naturally more structured, trustworthy, less greedy and more prayerful than men. These innate qualities have strategically endowed women with the basic ingredients for leadership,” said Ekeh.

“As entrepreneurs, all you need to do is combine these innate qualities with absolute commitment, capacity for innovation, credibility and sound digital knowledge and very soon, the male folk will be struggling to keep pace with the women in the industry.”

He urged women to see themselves as equal partners with men even as he told participants to leverage the emerging force of E-Commerce and M-Commerce that has the potential of laying a foundation for women to control the wealth and leadership of nations in the third quarter of the century. While assuring the women

ICT entrepreneurs of support from Technology Distributions(TD) in their respective roles as business partners, the Zinox boss cautioned against excessive borrowing and emotional decisions, which he said were two factors capable of negating business success.

Also speaking at the event, chief executive officer of Technology Distributions Limited, Mrs Chioma Ekeh, urged women entrepreneurs to break out of the outdated stereotypes that have long held them back and take their rightful place in the scheme of things, especially with regards to driving the revolution in the ICT industry.

Foremost industrialist, Aliko Dangote has tasked young and up-and-coming entrepreneurs to always stay focused on achieving their dreams despite the many challenges of doing business in Nigeria.

Dangote, who gave the advice at the National Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation, with the theme: ‘Entrepreneurship, Job creation and Poverty Reduction,’ held at the weekend in Lagos urged young entrepreneurs to focus on achieving their goals of establishing their businesses instead of dwelling on the challenges militating against their enterprises.

Dangote, who was represented by the group executive director, Stakeholders’ Management & Corporate Communications, Dangote Industries Ltd, Mansur Ahmed, said that all entrepreneurs in Nigeria face similar challenges therefore, focus should be on finding ways of making the businesses succeed and move forward, rather than dwelling on constraints.

Addressing the young entrepreneurs, he counseled them to know themselves and identify their calling saying that ‘success is in your calling and character.’ He challenged them to build the necessary skills and competence required to succeed. According to him, young entrepreneurs should think big, dream big and aim high.

Dangote, speaking on the theme of the summit: ‘Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Poverty Reduction,’ said “the theme is quite apt, as the three terms are clearly interwoven.

Entrepreneurs create jobs and when people are gainfully employed, the incidence of poverty is greatly reduced.

“This forum is coming at a time when Nigeria has been rated the largest economy in Africa with a gross domestic product (GDP) of $510billion (well above South Africa’s $350billion); the 26th largest economy in the world, and the leading destination for investment in Africa.”

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/business

16 NEWS/BUSINESS

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

FG Working With NERC To Reduce Electricity Tariff For MSMES – Minister

BY KINGSLEY ALU, Abuja

The federal government is working with the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) to reduce electricity tariff for qualifying micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

Minister of Industry, Trade and Industry, Mr Olusegun Aganga, made this disclosure during the opening ceremony of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Summit in Abuja.

Aganga, who also disclosed that government has commenced the process of converting the existing 23 industrial development centres in the country to industrial MSME clusters which would “provide ecosystem for MSMEs including work space, shared services at reduced costs,” further observed that one of the challenges facing the nation was how to ensure that her strong macro-economic performances translate to improvements in the living standards of the citizenry.

The minister said this was why the development

of the MSME sub-sector has become imperative.

Aganga also underlined key milestone achievements of the federal government under the National Enterprise Development Programme (NEDEP).

Also speaking, the director-general, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Bature Masari, while acknowledging the significance of the MSME sub-sector, said that SMEDAN in partnership with critical stakeholders was organising the 2014 MSME Summit and Award to celebrate the nation’s entrepreneurs.

Masari said the summit would among other things, ignite the knowledge of participants in branding, marketing, employee engagements and other processes, familiarise operators with the need to have comprehensive health policies and safety guidelines, build the capacities of MSMEs on how to access and / or increase funds for business for profitability and sustainability amongst others.

American Tower Acquires Airtel Nigeria Masts For $1.1bn

BY Chima Akwaja, Lagos

Airtel Nigeria has finally agreed to sell more than 4,800 mobile base transceiver stations (BTSs) or telecom masts to American Tower Corp for $1.05 billion, as part of its plan to cut costs and pare debt.

Mobile operators in Africa such as Bharti Airtel have been selling masts to specialist tower firms and leasing them back to cut maintenance costs on a continent with poor access to electricity and shoddy

roads.

According to Reuters, Bharti Airtel has agreed to be the anchor tenant on the masts it is selling to American Tower initially for 10 years, the companies said in a joint statement issued yesterday.

American Tower said in a separate regulatory filing it expected the deal value to be about $1.05 billion, subject to adjustments.

The companies expect to close the deal during the first half of 2015, they said.

Stakeholders at a ministerial platform on power in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

Discos Rejecting Power Allocation Risk License Withdrawal – FG

By Juliet Alohan, Abuja

The federal government has warned Distribution Companies (Discos) to desist from rejecting power allocated to them or risk the withdrawal of their license.

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, sounded the warning yesterday during his presentation at the 2014 ministerial platform in Abuja, where he stressed that any DISCO found wanting would be sanctioned by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Nebo, who frowned at the development where some Discos are in the habit of rejecting power allocated to them, said such would not be tolerated as Nigerians cannot be starved of power when it is available.

“We have received complaints of Discos rejecting power allocated to them. I saw a query written

by NERC to one of the discos, I don’t want to embarrass them by mentioning names, but we want to call them to order, any Disco that henceforth rejects power sent to it, we will find a way of dealing with

them,” said Nebo.

“If it becomes a habitual behaviour then NERC will have to withdraw their licence because there is no point starving Nigerians of power when that power is available.”

This comes as the Chairman of NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi, has clarified that there is no plan by the Commission to increase electricity tariff for residential customers contrary to media reports.

Amadi, who was reacting to questions relating to tariff increase and metering said, “There is no plan to increase tariff for consumers by NERC or the federal government, as you know very well these tariffs have been unbundled to the various Discos.”

He explained that based on agreement with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) on Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&T) losses, NERC and the Discos have completed a study on the loss levels and found that the financial requirement of doing business for each of the Discos have increased because the benchmark for losses are higher.

While restating government

policy safeguarding consumers from experiencing harsh tariff increase, he said NERC is clearly of the view that tariff should not be increased for residential consumers until there is service improvement.

Consequently, he said, “the Discos should not give increased tariff as much as possible to residential consumers; they should find a way to recover their money. So please discountenance reports that say that NERC or the federal government has increased tariff for residential consumers.”

On metering, Amadi disclosed that NERC has come up with a policy requiring Discos to pay compensation to customers who have paid for prepaid meters under the Credit Advance Payment Metering Implementation (CAPMI) scheme and did not get supplied within 45 days.

Under the CAPMI scheme, willing customers can pay cash for electricity meters and get reimbursed through energy credit.

The scheme requires that the meters are supplied and installed for customers by the Disco within 45 days of payment.

17

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

To you,

Allah, be all the glory It has pleased Almighty Allah to make you see this

special day.

I beseech Him in His Magnificence to keep adding to your age and grant you more wisdom, robust health and increased blessings.

Amin.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, GCON

Please enjoy your day.

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RUQAYYAT ATIKU ABUBAKAR

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

19

20 NEWS/BUSINESS

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

RMARC Boss Seeks Financial Support For SMEs

By NSE ANTHONY-UKO, Abuja

The Chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr Elias Mbam has sought financial support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria through the provision of small grants and adequate credit financing to make them more viable and sustainable. According to Mbam, this became viable in the face of dwindling oil revenue and quest for

economic diversification.

Mbam made this call weekend in Lagos after his induction as a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA) following his election into the apex body of credit administration in Nigeria, the commission’s head, public relations Mr Ibrahim Mohammed said yesterday in a statement.

He also notes that SMEs were responsible for the economic success stories of Asian Tigers like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and

successful economies in South America adding that they were a potent tool for empowering the citizenry through employment generation, poverty eradication and income generation.

The RMAFC Chairman also called on the Institute of Credit administration to partner regulators and other financial institutions to promote global best practices in credit administration and management with a view to making credit financing easily accessible

and affordable to small and medium enterprises which are the engine room of economic growth and development.

Mr. Mbam expressed optimism that his election into the Institute of Credit Administration would spur him to do more in ensuring fiscal governance, transparency and accountability in the operations and management of the nation’s financial resources for sustainable development adding that no nation records

economic growth without efficient and effective credit administration and management.

Speaking earlier at the induction ceremony held weekend at Ikoyi, Lagos, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Institute, Dr. Chris Onalo explained that the election of Mr. Mbam as a fellow of the prestigious Institute by the Governing Council was in recognition of his immense contribution to the nation’s political economy in his capacity

as a former Minister of State, Finance and his present position as Chairman Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

He adds that the fellowship considered one of the highest honours in the field of corporate governance is usually conferred on Chief Executive Officers heading credit, financial and accounting portfolios in Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as the Organized Private Sector.

FG Creates 42,000 Official Email Accounts For Civil Servants

BY Chima Akwaja, Lagos

The federal government has created 42,000 official email accounts that end with .gov.ng for all officers on GL 10 to 17 in the federal civil service as part of effort to discourage the use of foreign emails accounts like Yahoo mail, Gmail, Hotmail, etc.

The Minister of Communication Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson at the weekend while presenting the ‘Switch to .gov.ng’ initiative to the Head of Service, Mr. Danladi Kifasi said the new email system is a simple but very important tool for the takeoff of the official electronic communication platform.

She noted that the new platform would foster the adoption and penetration of the unified email platform for the federal civil service.

“Collectively adopting the messaging and collaboration platform is an important pillar of the ministry’s e-government strategy. The platform will improve the speed and efficiency of official communications and provide the means for civil

servants to share, store and gain access to official documents anytime, anywhere and on any computer or mobile device,” said Johnson.

Other features of the platform include the ability to send confidential (encrypted) email, schedule meetings on line, assign and track staff and colleagues on official tasks and assignments, send circulars service-wide at the touch of a button amongst others. The minister charged civil servants to make effective use of the unified email, messaging and collaboration platform of the federal government.

Johnson reiterated that the initiative will enhance internal productivity and quality service delivery to all citizens, added that as the infrastructure and the capacity of the platform is expanded, email accounts for federal civil servants on GL09 and below will be created.

The platform can be accessed through the www. fedcs.gov.ng, a simple easy to navigate portal to enable users activate their email accounts.

aviation/BUSINESS 21

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

IATA Outlines Critical Factors In Tackling Infrastructural Challenges stories by Nkem Osuagwu, Lagos

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has outlined critical factors to effective public-private partnerships in aviation . Some of the factors include rigorous costbenefit analysis, which should determine that investments are made in the needed areas and with maximum net benefit shared among consumers, users, investors and governments; constant engagement with stakeholders/customers to validate identified benefits and ensure that customers’ and stakeholders’ need are

met, in the most efficient manner and with the right timing.

Others are: the right investment structure designed to ensure that efficiency gains to consumers’ through private participation outweighs potentially higher capital costs; Good governance structure designed to ensure fair distribution of the benefits among consumers, users, investors and governments.

This is even more critical than the ownership structure and must pay particular attention to avoiding the highly detrimental effects of excessive royalties to governments, as well as

excessive shareholder returns.

Also critical is credible independent robust economic regulation to offset the negative impacts of monopolistic behavior.

The independent regulator must keep the consumer interest paramount both in terms of price and service levels.

“Of course any investment in infrastructure must be environmentally sustainable. The aviation industry is committed to capping net emissions from 2020 to achieve carbon-neutral growth.

And by 2050 our aim is to cut total net emissions to half of 2005 levels, “ said IATA’s Director General

and CEO, Tony Tyler at a Global Forum in Toronto, Canada recently.

“In fact, infrastructure investment programs, particularly for air traffic management, will play an important role. Just one project, the Single European Sky, would save around 8 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. And there are benefits to be gained across the world in similar programs such as Next Gen in the US and Seamless Asian Skies.”

According to Tyler, IATA identified these factors based on governments’ need to encourage private sector investments in the development of aviation infrastructure globally.

Drama At Airports As Kalu Gets Waiver To Contest For Senate

There was a mild drama recently at the Lagos and Owerri airports by some supporters of the former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu following the special waiver granted him by the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) to contest the senate seat in his state.

At some sections of the airport, scores of passengers, airport workers and others gathered in groups to discuss the waiver granted the former governor to contest the senate seat. These people were particularly excited over the waiver, describing it as one of the best things to happen to politics in the state.

They said the PDP leadership has taken the best decision that would bring about harmony in the party and the state ahead of intrigues trailing preparations for the next general elections. Speaking with reporters, one passenger identified as Chief Ben Ikenna, who hails from Bende local government area of Abia State described the decision of the party as well thought out.

“I am not surprised with the decision of PDP because Orji Kalu is a great asset to the party, especially South East.

Anyway, we are very happy in Igbere that our beloved son will be allowed to contest in the forthcoming elections. I can assure you that he would win the senate seat ,” said Ikenna.

In a telephone chat with Kalu’s Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, he said PDP is a party that believes firmly in equity and fairness. As you can see, the party’s decision is just. We are indeed, very happy with this timely development”, he concluded.

Symposium To Showcase Development In Space Travel The joint International Civil Aviation Organisation and United Nation’s Office for Outer Space Affairs ICAO / UNOOSA Aerospace Symposium will bring together for the first time both aviation and space communities from around the globe to explore existing regulations and practices as well as safety management and systems engineering methods with regard to civil aviation,

suborbital flights and developments in space transportation.

The event will be an opportunity for networking, collaboration and coordination between States (countries), industry. An industry exhibition will showcase the breadth of existing technologies, research and development activities of this new aerospace industry sector.

The forum is open to the international community to explore the visions of the future, which show us traveling through space like we do through the air.

While commercial aviation is celebrating its 100th year, in another 100 more, we will do the same for civil space transport. The dream has always been to reach the stars - and aviation is a good stepping stone to start from.

BA Offers Free Club World Upgrade To Customers British Airways has unveiled its latest special offering for Nigerian passengers on its World Traveler Plus to enjoy an upgrade to its award winning Club World Cabin by booking flights until November 30, 2014 for outward bound travel to London, Europe or North America from Abuja or Lagos, till December 31, 2014.

Regional commercial manager, West Africa, British Airways, Mr.

Kola Olayinka, explained that the new offering reflects the company’s desire to continually show appreciation to its customers for their loyalty.

“We recognise that we would have very little to celebrate as a company without our valuable passengers who are essential to the success of our company. We will not relent in showing our appreciation for their loyalty,” Olayinka said.

Explaining the details of the upgrade, Olayinka disclosed that under the offering , which is the firstof-its-kind by the British airline, customers can travel for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 12months.

Upgrades to the limited number of seats are subject to availability, said the Kola. However, he noted that Bookings can be made through British Airways travel agents.

22 E-Business/BUSINESS

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

E-business REPORTS

Konga Opens Engineering Centre For Software Engineers

ICT Infrastructure

Galaxy Backbone Invests N2bn In ICT Infrastructure

stories by Chima Akwaja, Lagos

Galaxy Backbone Limited has invested more than N2 billion in Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure focused on improving data centre environment, data computing and data storage resources resulting in the Galaxy network maintaining an uptime of over 96 per cent over the last nine months. This has resulted in driving service reliability and availability of the platform to 99 per cent.

Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson speaking at the adoption and penetration of the unified email platform for the Federal Civil Service said the investment in Galaxy Backbone is government’s commitment towards the deployment of robust and secure IT network, in order to deliver value and improved quality of service to its customers and stakeholders.

Commending the partnership and collaboration existing between Ministry of Communication Technology, Office of the Head of Service of the Federation and Galaxy Backbone Ltd on the “switch to .gov.ng” initiative, the minister stated that the initiative was designed by the Ministry for the adoption and penetration of the unified email platform for federal civil servants on

grade levels 10 to 17 in the first instance.

She added that workers on grade levels 9 and below will be scaled onto the platform in a gradual and phased manner. She urged federal civil servants to embrace the unified email platform and key into its objectives in order to improve internal productivity and quality service delivery to Nigerian citizens and foreigners.

Johnson said “Collectively, adopting this messaging and collaboration platform is an important pillar of our e-government strategy. The platform will improve the speed and efficiency of official communications and provide the means to share, store and gain access to official documents anytime, anywhere and on any computer or mobile device.

“Other features of the platform include the ability to send confidential (encrypted) email, schedule meetings on line, assign and track staff and colleagues on official tasks and assignments, send circulars service-wide at the touch of a button amongst others,” she said. The Ministry of Communication Technology with the strong support of the Council of ICT embarked on a similar initiative to not only standardise the look and feel of federal government websites but also to migrate all Ministry websites to the .gov.ng domain

Galaxy is launching a Government website certification program that will ensure that all sites hosted on the Galaxy platform are kept secure and safe from hackers and malicious software

name.

The migration of websites to the .gov.ng platform and this unified email platform not only enables the delivery of government business over a more secure and robust technology platform, it also enhances our national cyber identity on the internet and improves confidence in citizens, businesses and foreigners as they seek government information and services online.

Omobola Johnson also commended the immediate past and present Head of the Civil Service of the Federation – Alhaji Bukar and Danladi Kifasi, as well as the immediate past and present CEOs of Galaxy Backbone – Gerald Ilukwe and Yusuf Kazaure for the leadership and commitment demonstrated towards the successful implementation of the initiative.

She concluded by saying that Galaxy Backbone has also been recertified for the ISO 27001:2003 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standards, which is the foremost global information security standard. In this regard, Galaxy is launching a Government website certification program that will ensure that all sites hosted on the Galaxy platform are kept secure and safe from hackers and malicious software.

Nigeria’s largest online mall, Konga.com has opened its new engineering centre in Yaba, Lagos where over 100 software engineers are developing the cutting-edge software and applications which Konga.com runs on today.

Most of Konga’s engineers are now located in the new Lagos office with a smaller hub opening soon in Cape Town, South Africa.

With a keen focus on innovation, some impressive software developed by the team range from the actual Konga.com website, to other platforms such as the ‘SellerHQ’– a trading platform which allows sellers all around Nigeria to upload pictures of their merchandise, manage stores and actively trade on the Konga.com and the Konga Shopping App which runs on Android and iOS, Mr Olatokunbo Fagbamigbe, the company’s director of products and enterprises-technology said “Konga hires the finest multidisciplinary engineers in Nigeria to design and develop the core systems for our online customer experience today; ranging from the actual e-retailer site to other back-end systems. Our team is driven by the challenge to engineer world class systems to help Konga be the engine of trade and commerce in Africa”.

CEO and founder of Konga.com, Sim Shagaya noted the role of technology in firmly establishing e-commerce as a major industry in Nigeria. “The growth potential for e-commerce in Nigeria is astronomical. We recognise that to be successful in this industry, every point in the consumer’s online shopping experience on Konga must be first-rate,” said Shagaya.

Smile Telecom Connects 25 Schools With Free Internet Service

Smile Nigeria Communication Limited, provider of fourth generation long term evolution technology (4G LTE) for internet data has connected 25 schools in the country with free internet services as part of its corporate social investment (CSI).

Chief Marketing Officer of Smile Communications, Mrs Alero Ladipo, who disclosed this at Wesley College of Science, Elekuro in Ibadan, where Smile donated free monthly internet data access to the school, said the objective is to provide students with a platform that will enable them have access to fast 4G internet access for their studies.

For his part, the commissioner for education, Oyo State, Prof Solomon Olaniran, commended the efforts of the telecom company for donating free internet services to schools, designed to boost students and teachers’ performances.

He said the initiative would further equip the students with educational tool for qualitative education that would engender all round development.

He said that the state government has concluded arrangement to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Chinese company to install e-learning facilities in selected schools of the state and also drive the process of e-learning in the schools. He said that the donation of free internet data services to schools in the state, will further boost the e-leaning initiative of the state government.

Mrs Adenike Okunade, the school principal, who expressed her joy over the free monthly internet donation, said the initiative would foster education among the students.

news Lagos 23

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Lagos To Establish e-Learning Centres To Boost Academic Activities Lagos State government yesterday said it is building an ultra modern e-based learning outfit that will incorporate e-instructional television, e-classroom and e-drama among others to enhance Information Communication Technology ( ICT) skills of students in public schools.

The state commissioner for education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, disclosed this in Lagos at the close of 2014 Festival of Instructional Materials organised by the ministry to showcase creativity and promote the use of e-based instructional materials for the educational development of children.

According to her, the e-based learning outfit, upon completion, would be accessible to all learners and teachers in the state in particular and the wider world in general.

The commissioner stressed that the platform will be accessible to all learners and teachers in the state and elsewhere in the world, adding that e-learning is a new trend in education as it offers flexibility and convenience to the .

Fashola Presents N489.69bn Budget To Lagos Assembly

By George Okojie, and TAIWO OGUNMOLA- OMILANI Lagos

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola yesterday presented a budget proposal of N489.69 billion to the Lagos State House of Assembly for approval for the 2015 fiscal year.

The budget presentation witnessed by many All Progressives Congress (APC) party faithful is the same as that of 2014, which stood at N489.69 billion.

One peculiar feature is that it

still retained its zero deficit in order to ensure that the next government does not inherit a deficit, while the capital and recurrent ratio is 51:49 for 2015 which is the same as 2014 budget.

The budget is made up of capital expenditure of N249.232 billion and a recurrent expenditure of N239.948 billion in the ratio of 51:49 respectively.

The budget breakdown revealed that Economic Affairs has the highest allocation of N146.305billion, followed

by General Service, N107.69 billion. Housing and Community Amenities, Education, have N82.14 billion; N49.033 billion respectively while Health got N44.619 billion and Environmental Protection, N34.953 billion.

Others are Public Safety and Order, N15.547 billion; Recreation, Culture and Religion, N3.118 billion; Social Protection, N1.589 billion, Planning Reserve, N2.26 billion and Contigency, N2.448 billion.

The governor said ,“As you

will observe, we have retained essentially the same budget size as 2014. This is for many reasons. One reason is that we have kept a zero deficit in order to ensure that the next government does not inherit a deficit. This will give them room to start off very quickly when their programmes begin to crystallize and they may need to raise funds in order to start off.

“Another reason is that our budgets, like all good budgets are not only defined by plans and expectations.

short news Labour Threatens Strike In Defence Ministry

By George Okojie, Lagos

Lagos Group To Obasanjo: You Lack Moral Justification To Criticise Jonathan A Lagos based group, Save Lagos Group(SLG) has told former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that he lacks moral justification to criticise President Goodluck Jonathan over the present situation of the country, stressing that President Obasanjo laid a solid foundation for bad governance of the country during his eight years tenure of office.

The group also absolved President Jonathan of the present woes of the country, stressing that the present woes did not emanate from Jonathan’s administration but from Obasanjo’s administration between 1999 and 2007.

The group expressed this view through its convener, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman, in a signed statement made available to newsmen in Lagos yesterday. It maintained that President Obasanjo should serve as unbiased statesman and desist from instigating the public against Jonathan’s administration even if he (Obasanjo) had personal scores to settle with the president.

By Taiwo Ogunmola- Omilani, Lagos

APC publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed briefing the press over the vandalised office of the party, at Bola Ajibola Street in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY BENEDICT UWALAKA.

2015: No Gang Up Against Any Aspirant, Says Ikuforiji

By Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, Lagos

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji yesterday debunked claims that governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are ganging up against one of the aspirants, saying it is a figment of the imagination of those who have nothing to offer the people of the state in the next election.

Speaking to reporters against the backdrop of reports that some of the aspirants met at Maryland, Ikeja Lagos, to con-

spire against Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, an APC governorship aspirant, Ikuforiji said their meeting was in continuation of the one earlier held at Ikoyi with the national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, where he enjoined the aspirants to work together in the interest of the party.

The speaker said that was the context with which the Maryland meeting was called by Dr. Olufemi Hamzat, one of the aspirants. “That was why we came together. We did not discuss about someone stepping down for any-

body. That was not discussed”, he said.

Speaking further he said, “We however did understand that only two options at this point in time appear visible. One is direct primary, where all APC card carrying members participate in the process leading to the emergence of the candidate and the only other option is a consensus candidate. That was all we discussed and we agreed to meet again very soon and be in touch with our leaders and national secretariat.

Disturbed by the insensitivity of the management of the Ministry of Defence over welfare issues for its civilian employees, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has lent its weight behind the resolve of thousands of workers in the ministry to embark on strike to redress the situation. In a press statement issued in Lagos yesterday and signed by its secretary-general, Comrade Alade Bashir Lawal, the union regretted that the culture of denying workers their legitimate wages and allowances had crept into the Ministry of Defence.

By Taiwo OgunmolaOmilani, Lagos

Impunity: Civil Society Coalition Threatens To Report FG To AU

by OLUGBENGA SOYELE,, Lagos

A coalition of civil society organisations, under the aegis of Stop Impunity Nigeria (S.I.N.) yesterday threatened to report the federal government to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union if the government failed to stop disruption of constitutional order in

the country.

According to the group, it is hard to remember any other occasion in Nigeria’s history when electoral politics fell this low and when this level of desperation was apparent.

The coalition, which is made of civil society organisations, religious bodies, and the National Orientation Agency,

stated this in Lagos at a press conference to outline activities to mark its week of Action Against Impunity.

The group noted that ahead of the 2015 general elections the country have witnessed the worst form of impunity across the political spectrum more than what was seen for 30 years.

They stated that what we are witnessing now in the country can be compare to what happened in the Second Republic when the then Inspector General of Police, Sunday Adewusi, became a tool in the hands of the then ruling National Party of Nigeria (NPN) for perpetrating electoral fraud and violence.

24 news north-East, north-west

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

PDP Is A Failed Party – Kwankwaso

By Yahya Sarki, Kebbi

Kano State governor and one of the APC presidential aspirants Engr Rabiu Kwankwaso has described the ruling PDP as a failed party which has only brought misery to Nigerians and deserved to be sacked in the 2015 election.

Kwankwaso made the remarks

while addressing the Kebbi State leadership of the APC and party supporters yesterday at the APC state secretariat in Birnin-Kebbi, the state capital.

He lambasted PDP for the current insecurity in the country, abject poverty and poor educational standard which, he said, characterised our schools.

“We

should hold PDP responsible for the insecurity facing Nigeria, poverty and falling standard of education. It is my hope that come 2015, Nigerians will sack PDP from government,” he said.

The APC presidential aspirant also called on Kebbi APC delegates to use their votes wisely to vote for the candidate with prov-

en qualities during the APC presidential primaries who will salvage the country from its woes.

The Kano governor also told journalist shortly after their meeting with Kebbi State APC stakeholders at Modiyawa Guest Inn that he was able to transform Kano into a mini-London due to prudent management of the state

Participants at the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) consultative meeting in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

short news Burning of Sen Makarfi’s House, LG Boss Debunks Rumours Chairman of Makarfi LGA of Kaduna State, Abdu Bala Gangara has denied rumours doing the rounds across the state that the youth in Makarfi and Kaduna attacked Senator Makarfi’s and burnt down his houses in Kaduna and Makarfi respectively.

Addressing newsmen in his office at Makarfi LGA secretariat, Gangara expressed disaffection over the rumour peddled by those he described as “political detractors of the senator” and said such rumours could ignite crisis in the area and state.

By Aliyu Yusuf, Zaria

Atiku Storms Sokoto, Woos Delegates

By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto

Former vice president and one of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Atiku Abubakar yesterday stormed the Sokoto in his nationwide campaign tour during which he splashed millions on the party.

The former vice president, who had a meeting with APC party chieftains at the Presidential Lounge 1, donated no less than N50, 000 to each of the over 50 delegates for the forthcoming APC presidential primary election, N5 million to the

Sokoto APC and additional N1 million to party elders.

Insisting that his visit was simply an interactive session with party faithful on the state of the party, Atiku further revealed that the presidential aspirants of the APC had resolved to support whoever wins the primary.

Responding to question, Atiku said, “First of all, I came to pay a courtesy call on the governor, but earlier on, I had a meeting with our party members in an interactive session.”

When asked on the nature of the meet-

ing and what was discussed, the former vice president said, “It was simply on the state of the party and the forthcoming primaries. So far, the primary is coming up and we have various committees all over the state, including screening committee.”

Earlier, scores of party loyalists in the state had told LEADERSHIP that should the party and Nigerians truly deserve a change for good as the APC professes, then politics of money should be discouraged and that of love for one’s country encouraged.

Gov Shema Tasks Residents On PVCs, Presents Vehicles To LG Bosses

By Muazu Elazeh, Katsina

Katsina State governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema has appealed to residents of the state to ensure they obtain their voter card, insisting it is the only means to elect credible leaders at all levels.

Shema, in a meeting with council chairmen and other government officials, yesterday, urged residents to make themselves available at respective collection centres ahead of the planned distribution of the permanent voters card scheduled to take place in the state from November 28

to 30.

He stressed the need to give the exercise all the deserved support, noting that it is an essential part of the nation’s democratic process that needs the cooperation of all.

The governor enjoined local government chairmen to mobilise their respective citizens to come out en masse to obtain the card as well as participate in the continuous voter registration slated for December 3-8 for those who did not register in the previous exercise.

Meanwhile, the governor has presented 34 brand new Hyundai Elen-

tra vehicles to the 34 council chairmen in the state.

In a brief speech before the formal presentation, Shema said the vehicles which were bought at the rate of N185 million was presented to the council boss so as to support them in the discharge of their duties.

“I want our local govermment chairmen to discharge their jobs effectively and since mobility is an essential factor. We deemed it necessary to purchase these vehicles for them so as to assist them in doing that,” Shema said adding, “Each of the vehicles cost a little above N5 million.”

Gov Yari Chides FG Over Insurgency Zamfara State governor Abubakar Yari has said it is ridiculous and shameful for the federal government to continue in its failure to bring the persistent insurgency to an end.

Yari made the observation today soon after returning his nomination form to the APC state headquarters as the sole candidate to vie for his second term.

He said it is even more embarrassing for a country like Nigeria to see its soldiers being shamefully chased around by the insurgents, and innocent citizens massively murdered every day.

The governor also decried political thuggery, pledging that he will not allow such attitude to prevail during his electioneering campaign.

Governor Yari also raised eyebrows against the PDP-led central administration for its deliberate attempt to suffocate his state by refusing to settle some financial claims due to the state.

He said the attitude is aimed at sabotaging his APC admintration ahead of 2015 elections.

He however noted that “it is too late the PDP to make any political breakthrough in Zamfara considering the achievements recorded by my APC government.”

By Abba Abubakar Kabara,

2015: Northern Group Lends Support To Female Senate Candidate A group under the aegis of Northern Agenda for Sustainable Democracy has said that female politicians in the north should be supported to aspire for political office, hence it resolved to support the former House of Representatives member ,Hon. Halima Hassan, to vie for the Kebbi South Senate seat.

The secretary of the group Alhaji Isiyaku Umar Danko made the remarks in Birnin Kebbi yesterday after the North West zonal meeting of the association while fielding questions from news men.

He said the association was lending support to Halima to vie for the Senate seat in view of her gender position as the only woman politician in the North West who served as a former legislature with cognate experience.

“Our case for Hon. Halima is objective. In Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara, she is the only woman politician among men to have risen to such a position, and in the interest of fair play, we are saying that the Kebbi South Senate seat should be reserved for her by the PDP,” he said.

By Yahya Sarki, Kebbi

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

What a pleasant coincidence Your being called to the Nigerian Bar today, my birthday, is surely something we couldn’t have planned, if either of us wanted to surprise each other.

I rejoice with you on your attainment as you do with me on this milestone.

May Allah make us remember this day in gladness – always.

Congratulations, darling wife.

Atiku ABUBAKAR

DR (MRS)

JENNIFER JAMILAH DOUGLAS-ABUBAKAR

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

We share in your

joy

Please accept our sincere and warm congratulations as you are called to the Nigerian Bar, today, which is also the birthday of our boss.

May you find fulfillment in this new calling.

Very best wishes.

Barr. Abdullahi Nyako Dr A C Ndukwe Umar Pariya Abdullahi Mahmoud DSP Usman Arzika Yahaya Zango Dr Andy Okolie Garba Shehu

DR (MRS)

JENNIFER JAMILAH DOUGLAS-ABUBAKAR

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

KEBBI STATE GOVERNMENT

MR. PRESIDENT

On behalf of the Government and the entire people of Kebbi State, the Executive Governor, Alhaji Sa'idu Usman Nasamu Dakingari, CON, today welcomes Mr. P r e s i d e n t , ( D r. ) G o o d l u c k E b e l e Jonathan, GCFR, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria on a one day ofcial visit to Kebbi State.

While in Kebbi, the President is expected to, among others, commission the newly constructed Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi.

Mr. President is also expected to ag off the erection of "GREAT GREEN WALL PROJECT" at Bachaka border town to run across several other states of Nigeria to form a buffer zone against the annual encroachment of the Sahara Desert in to Nigeria.

Mr. President, you are once again welcome to the LAND OF EQUITY. His Excellency,

Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President/Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria

His Excellency,

Alhaji Saidu Usman Nasamu Dakingari Executive Governor, Kebbi State

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

WE THANK GOD FOR THIS DAY – AND YOUR LIFE.

ATIKU ABUBAKAR, GCON Turaki Adamawa Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria -

We, on behalf of ourselves, and all your teeming supporters, rejoice with you today on your birthday, Turaki, and give thanks to Almighty Allah, for keeping you alive to see this day and make you a blessing to many in our land.

Happy birthday and many happy returns.

Alh Babawuro Barambu Zonal Co-ordinator Abubakar Ahmad Kaltungo () - Chairman

Jamilu Muhammad Gombe () –Secretary Abdullah Ahmed Funakaye () - Treasurer

NORTH-EAST HARMONISED ORGANISATION FOR SUPPORT ATIKU  Dankoli Plaza Along Biu Road, Gombe, Gombe State

politics today Tuesday, November 25, 2014

33

REPORTS ANALYSES REVIEWS INTERVIEWS

Jonathan

Tambuwal

Kawu

Impeachment Plot: Jonathan Or Tambuwal, Who Goes?

At another corner inside the chambers, APC House members hurriedly gathered signatures to impeach Jonathan after the police and DSS blockade of the National Assembly aimed at fencing out Tambuwal failed

The violent and comical scenes that played out last Thursday in the National Assembly have since gone viral on the social media and the traditional press - local and international.

But behind all the tough talk from both sides of the fracas is a developing impeachment threat on Jonathan and Tambuwal, EDEGBE ODEMWINGIE reports.

C

omical video recordings and photographs showing well-fed federal lawmakers and political aides climbing the National Assembly gate have thrilled many.

“Right there, we had to contend with the threat of being bludgeoned and pepper sprayed to death. Nobody wants to be a dead hero,” a lawmaker, Victor Afam Ogene, who successfully climbed over the gate, stated a day after the attack on the National Assembly by the

police and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

A major fallout of the fracas are heightened moves and counter moves by the camps of the speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and that of President Goodluck Jonathan to impeach each other.

Still managing to catch his breath after teargas canisters were fired at Tambuwal and his supporters, Hon. Sumaila Kawu (Kano/APC), charged angrily at the House deputy speaker,

Hon Emeka Ihedioha inside the House chamber, “Let me see you move any motion for impeachment (on Tambuwal) here”.

At another corner inside the chambers, APC House members hurriedly gathered signatures to impeach Jonathan after the police and DSS blockade of the National Assembly aimed at fencing out Tambuwal failed.

A different plot to impeach Tambuwal using a few PDP members who were at the chambers at the time was later made public that day.

For now, not fewer than 200 House members have endorsed the motion to impeach Jonathan, according to the House minority whip, Hon. Samson Osagie.

Osagie (Edo/APC) stated in a monitored report that the 200 signatures far exceeds the number required by the constitution to serve president

Jonathan an impeachment notice.

He said there are over 20 impeachable offences against the president which include: “Gross incompetence in the administration of the nation, mismanagement of the nation’s resources resulting in untold hardship on the citizens and inability to recover stolen funds from various ministries and agencies”.

Other offences, according to Osagie, are: “unconstitutional use of security agencies against perceived opponents, nonimplementation of the budget, entrenchment of corruption and defiling of the institution of the legislature, among others.

“The constitution says we need only one third of members ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 34

Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor ojogodonald@yahoo.com

34 POLITICS TODAY

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Impeachment Plot: Jonathan Or Tambuwal, Who Goes?

Ogor ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

of the National Assembly to serve the president an impeachment motion and I can confirm that we have surpassed that number”, he stated.

Traditionally, the House minority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/APC) is expected to lead the plot to impeach the president. In the past, Gbajabiamila has not shied away from calling for Jonathan’s impeachment.

Tambuwal also has a staunch ally in Hon Aliyu Gebi (Bauchi/ APC).

Of course, Jonathan’s supporters in the House, backed by the federal security apparatus, are poised to counter impeachment moves against the president. Some of Jonathan’s House loyalists stand out.

Of course, Jonathan’s supporters in the House, backed by the federal security apparatus, are poised to counter impeachment moves against the president.

Some of Jonathan’s House loyalists stand out

The President’s Men Deputy House leader, Hon Leonard Okuweh Ogor.

Tagged the ‘real’ House majority leader, the Delta lawmaker has been a veritable bridge between the House and the presidency in times of crises involving the two asrms. Ogor said on Thursday that any move to move against the president is “totally inconsequential” and that he president should be isolated from the turmoil that engulfed the House on Thursday.

He added that, “If for any reason anybody wants to talk about impeachment, that person should come out and address the issue. But I can tell you categorically that an attempt to raise the issue of impeachment in respect of the House, it’s going be a very difficult one because the president has not committed

Ogoriba

any offence against anybody in that House, neither has he violated any constitutional provision.

“The issue of impeachment is inconsequential because he who is alleging must be ready to prove. You can’t just come and say you want to impeach without having anything to prove against the president.”

Chairman, Niger Delta Affairs Committee, Hon Warman Ogoriba Weri.

He represents Yenagoa/ Kolokuna/Opokuma federal constuency in Bayelsa State, Jonathan’s home state. They are of the same Ijaw ethnicity.

Ogoriba, who chairs the SouthSouth caucus in the House of Representatives, is visible in the circles of the special adviser to the president on Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku and the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, known as Jonathan’s henchmen.

Reps Chief Whip, Hon Isiaka Bawa Bawa chairs the House adhoc committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), a position that brings him in close quarters with powerful interests, many of them Jonathan’s backers.

A major power broker in his home state, Taraba, and the House of Representatives, it is learnt that he has already been pencilled by Jonathan’s camp as an influential stakeholder expected to attract audience and subsequently swing support for a Jonathan candidacy in 2015.

Hon Kyari Gujbawu In the North-East, Jonathan has a staunch ally in Gujbawu, a Borno lawmaker. He has faced stiff criticism from his home state over his support for

Osagie

Jonathan. A group, Maiduguri Patriotic Front (MPC), has in the past, cautioned Gujbawu to focus on legislation and desist from “selling out his constituency of Borno” to please the presidency for his selfish interests.

Chairperson, House Committee On Environment, Uche Ekwunife Regarded in the president’s camp as a “friend of the house”, the Anambra lawmaker who chairs the House Committee on Environment is known to junket regularly with President Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience.

The others Two Rivers lawmakers, Hon. Kingsley Chinda and Betty Jocelyne Okagua-Apiafi have taken the side of Jonathan over governor Rotimi Amaechi in the political crisis that engulfed

Rivers. Other supporters include Hon Ralph Igokwe (Imo), hon Tajudeen Yusuf (Kogi) and Hon Sunday Karimi (Kogi).

Number Games As the House inches close to its December 3 resumption date, the situation in House is still fluid. The gale of lawmaker’s defection, which has tossed majority status between the PDP and APC in the House, remains a reference point as far as the impeachment threats are concerned.

For now, Tambuwal’s defection to the APC puts the opposition in the leadership of the House over a PDP dominated House (in term of numbers), a first since 1999. PDP lawmakers have a majority with 189 members to APC’s 159. The remaining 12 lawmakers are from other parties.

POLITICS TODAY 35

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

5 More Councillors To Dump PDP For APC In Kaduna

BY MIDAT JOSEPH, Kaduna

Five more councillors in Kagarko local government council of Kaduna State would soon dump the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), LEADERSHIP has gathered.

Recall that only recently, the leader of the Northern Caucus in House of Representatives and the House Committee chairman on Drugs/Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon Jagaba Adams Jagaba from the area dumped the PDP for the APC. Jagaba, in a letter dated November 8, 2014 and addressed to the state PDP chairman, said his withdrawal from the party was a ‘compulsory withdrawal’.

The five councillors said they were leaving the PDP for good over an alleged financial reckleness of the incumbent chairman of the council, Hon Danjuma Y. Akuso.

The councillor of Kushe ward, Hon Joel Paul, however confirmed to LEADERSHIP that the five of them were leaving the party following consultations with their people.

Paul said the alleged financial recklessness of the council chairman and mismanagement of the SURE-P funds accruing to the local government were among many other reasons for which they have decided to dump the PDP. “I can confirm to you that arrangement has been concluded for our formal declaration to join APC. We have spent almost two years in office as elected representatives of our people with nothing to show for it. The councillors don’t know what is going in the local government, no projects, no council meeting. We felt we were no longer needed in the party, so we have to leave and join the party we believe is serious and willing to help Nigerian masses.

“As as a councillor in the local government, I do not know how our SURE-P fund is being used.

The proceeds from the sales of fertilizer have not been accounted for, we don’t know what the monies realized from fertilizer sales was used for, the only thing I know is that all the councillors were given 20,000 naira each from the sales of this year’s fertilizers,” he said.

To this end, he added that: “We have decided to join Hon Jagaba Adams Jagaba to the APC for a better Kagarko local government, and a better Kaduna State.”

Meanwhile, when contacted, the council chairman described the allegations as “unfounded” which has no merit at all. He also described his accusers as “illiterates” who lack the knowledge of governance.

According to him, the SURE-P funds and fertilizer monies have been expended on meeting the needs of the people of the local government ranging from rural electrification, road construction and many more.

2015: Presidency Denies Endorsing Groups’ Assessment Of PDP Aspirants

BY CHIBuzO ukAIBE, Abuja

As the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gears up for its primaries, the Presidency has denied reports that it has endorsed moves by some proPresident Goodluck Jonathan groups to conduct risk assessment of aspirants contesting elections on the platform of the PDP. Special Adviser to the President on political matters, Prof. Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, in a statement yesterday in Abuja said it is not the responsibility of any support group to assess or screen PDP aspirants as it is exclusively the prerogative of the national secretariat of the party to undertake such task.

Alkali

“The attention of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President, Political Affairs has been drawn to publications in some of the National Dailies of November 22, 2014 claiming that the Presidency has endorsed plans by some Support Groups to carry out a so-called risk assessment of aspirants contesting elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“While the Special Adviser recognizes the patriotic zeal of all the Support Groups and their activities in favour of the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 Presidential Election, the office wishes to warn all Groups to desist from using the Office of the Special Adviser to the

President, Political Affairs to carry out programmes or activities without due authorization or permission from the office.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to make it abundantly clear that the function of determining the suitability of candidates for elections belongs exclusively to the National Leadership of PDP and not to any other group. My office is aware that the party has put in place Screening committees for all offices and they should be left to perform their functions.

“We wish to therefore call on Support Groups to adhere strictly to the policies and principles of President Jonathan in the conduct of their activities and wish to also advise all groups

Jang

Orji

rooting for his re-election to always refer to the Office of the Political Adviser who is also the National Coordinator of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) before embarking on any project or programmes that has serious policy implication in the Party or government.

“May I once again salute the Support Groups for protecting our democracy and supporting our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR in his Transformation Agenda. We believe that President Jonathan is the only candidate in the forth coming Presidential Election that can sustain the momentum of the current Transformation Agenda,” the statement said.

Yero

Plateau PDP Receives Dariye, Tallen, 61 Other Returnees

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

The Plateau State chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday received former governor Joshua Dariye, former deputy governor Dame Pauline Tallen and 61 other returnees to the party.

Plateau state governor, Jonah

David Jang, represented by the state commissioner for education, Paul Wai, at the occassion which took place in Pankshin local government area, said the PDP was an accommodating party and he urged the returnees to bring their experience to bear in order to add value to the party.

He added that: “The party has

zero tolerance for in discipline. I urge you to play the game according to its rules in the forthcoming elections. I urge you to work towards victory for the party in the state in the forthcoming coming elections.”

The acting state chairman, Hon Raymond Dabo, said there was no other party in the state except the PDP. He called on the returnees to

work towards victory for the party in the forthcoming elections in 2015.

One of the returnees, Arch Pam Dung Gyang , who spoke on behalf of others, said they were glad to be back in the PDP fold while assuring that they would work to ensure victory for the party in the forthcoming general elections.

Abia North PDP Stakeholders Reject Automatic Ticket For Serving Senators

BY MATTHIAS NWOGu, Umuahia

Stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the five local government areas that make up Abia North senatorial zone have vowed to reject any move to grant automatic ticket to serving senators by the Party.

In their resolution read by one of the stakeholders of the party in the zone, Chief Ugochukwu Uwaeke, at the Ohafia local government headquarters, Ebem, weekend, they said even if it is accepted in other zones , it would not be acceptable in Abia north where the incumbent has served them for 12 years.

The group, at a rally at Ebem announced their adoption of Chief

Mao Ohuabunwa as their sole candidate for the 2015 senatorial election in the zone.

They said that automatic ticket deprives the electorate the right of choosing their representative while imposing on them candidates whose performance might be below expectation.

While pledging their support to Ohuabunwa who had represented Arochukwu\Ohafia federal constituency in the House of Representatives, they said at that level, he demonstrated purposeful and vibrant representation and also related closely with his constituency “We hereby unanimously and unequivocally adopt Hon Chief

Mao Ohuabunwa, as the senatorial candidate for Abia North senatorial seat come 2015,” they said.

In his remarks the senatorial aspirant, Chief Ohuabunwa, said he was overwhelmed by the support given his aspiration by the people of Abia North senatorial zone.

He said that the zone required a change in their representative as according to him “the senate all over the world is a place for tested and vibrant people, as the disposition of the representative determined what his people got.”

He said the zone has suffered enough of bad representation, saying that the time for positive change has come for the zone.

The former chairman of the ECOWAS parliament said representation was all about keeping touch with the people and assured that the impact of his representation would be felt in the first two years.

“I have accepted to be your senator; come out in larger numbers in December 7 for the primaries and the election in February, you will not regret it .

He said that if there is automatic ticket elsewhere there will be no automatic ticket in Abia North and urged the people to ensure that they collected their permanent voter card to enable them vote the candidate of their choice.

36

labour matters Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Labour Leaders With Conscience Will Not Take Bribe – Adeyemi Comrade Peter Adeyemi is the General Secretary of Non-academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions (NASU). In this interview with Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, He spoke on why labour leaders should not take bribe and other related matters.

There are speculations that some labour leaders have compromised their positions and now collect bribes from government officials. What’s your take on this?

TOP LABOUR UNIONS IN NIGERIA

1. The Radio Television Theatre and Art Workers Union of Nigeria (RATTAWU) is an umbrella Union comprising of all Radio, Television presenters and producers 2. The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Registered as an umbrella body of judiciary workers across the country 3. The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) Umbrella union of health workers across the country

That’s a mere allegation that has to be proofed because I don’t want to work on allegations. I am not aware of that because you see the truth of the matter is this, ‘who is giving the money and who are you giving the money to?’ If you believe that you can stop the movement from becoming what it ought to be by bribing labour leaders, then you are wasting your time. Let me tell you something, if a labour leader has conscience and he has the conscience of the followership then if he takes bribe, the followership will stone him. They will deal with him. I cannot take bribe in NASU because my members are very articulate and conscious, and if I fail to do what I am supposed to do, they will send me away. I think that the problem is not about whether people are collecting money, but the problem is about how conscious we are because I do not want to believe that Nigerian workers are fools.

I think if it is established that people are actually trading the rights of Nigerian workers, then the workers have their rights to stone them and even remove them from office, but for your statement, it is a mere allegation and I don’t want to believe that one labour leader has sold out or collected money from government.

Some labour analysts have said that workers have not received the benefits Nigerian independence. What’s your take on this?

Assuming these labour analysts are correct, then the labour leaders and government should be blamed because the national cake is there and the politicians are the ones that want to eat everything. It is my view that for the workers to benefit from this cake, the leadership of the trade union must struggle towards ensuring that the proportionate part of it that belongs to the workers are given to the workers is given to them. I am also of the view that for the workers to get what belongs to them then we must take the responsibility as labour leaders to get what is due to them from the national cake. We do not need to even blame the government because there is no benevolent government in the world that will give to the workers, what is due them without the needed struggles.

The issue of slave labour is still high in the country. What is your take on this?

I think the government will have to take responsibility for signing different types of trade agreement without putting into consideration, the interest of our country. The Federal Government signed trade agreements with China, for the country to come and construct railway to the extent of agreeing

Adeyemi

with the companies to bring even their cooks, cleaners and every other jobs that Nigerians can do at the risk of the unemployed Nigerians. It is unfortunate that the government because of its collaborative tendencies is ineptly rooted in corruption to the extent of not protecting the interest of an average worker in the country. It is because of the naivety of some trade union leaders the some of the contractors will believe that they will go and settle labour leaders, but in the Universities where NASU operates or in the colleges of education, you cannot do that because we will fight the contractors to a standstill. Slave labour is only possible in the private sector where people can do all sorts of things and get away with it, but I assure you that both the government and the trade unions should share the blame.

There are insinuations that the

Federal Government is talking about labour reform. Do you think labour sector needs reform, if so, in which areas?

I am a little bit skeptical when government talks about labour reform. One wants to find out the basis for the reform. You also want to know the criteria to be used.

You also want to find out what is motivating government in this direction. Is it for political interest or an attempt to hijack the labour movement?

I think labour has the responsibility of reforming itself rather than surrendering itself to government for reform. So, my opinion is that, government appears to be chewing more than it ought to chew, more than what its mouth can actually contain. Government appears to be putting its nose and its mouth virtually everywhere. They are talking of reform everywhere but there is no positivity in all these attempts to reform everything.

I think if it is established that people are actually trading the rights of Nigerian workers, then the workers have their rights to stone them and even remove them from office

Trustfund Pensions Organises ‘Needs Assessments’ Forum For Retirees

By michael Oche, Abuja

Trustfund Pensions Plc over the weekend in Abuja organised a forum for its retirees to inform them about latest pension practices and also provide an avenue for them to say their minds.

The forum, organized for its retirees in the North Central geopolitical zone was attended by hundreds of retirees, with some of them seeking clarification on

issues surrounding next of kin and even how to fill in the correct address.

Most of the pensioners commended Trustfund for its consistency in payment and the regularly meetings it organizes, but urged the Federal Government to amend the Pensions Act so as to allow an increased pension payment.

A retired police officer, Mr Atuluku Gabriel said “in terms of their monthly disbursements,

I think it is okay. From the 18th, 20th to 22nd of every month, they have sent our money but the problem is the monthly take home which is very meagre.”

Another retiree, High Chief Aki Okpara Mba commended Trustfund for its service but also called on the Federal Government to increase the pension period from the current 18 years to 30 years “They are talking about 18 years; they consider that to be life. But

somebody can live more than that.

It should be reviewed.”

Mrs Felicia Obili, who retired from the Ministry of Police Affairs, also called for immediate upward review of the monthly salary.

Trustfund’s Zonal Manager Mr Maurice Ogar said the platform was basically to allow pensioners “express their feelings on challenges” for the company to address them expeditiously.

On calls by pensioners for increased monthly payments,

Ogar said “the Pension Reform Act 2004 empowers us to operate this scheme and everything that we do is within the confines of this law.

We cannot do anything outside of this law. For now, the law does not provide for increase in their monthly pension.

“However, we pay consistently because you know some of them are fully retired and don’t have strength to do any other thing. So they rely solely on this monthly pension.

News north-central 37

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

I May Not Have Been Governor Without Zoning – Gov Aliyu

By Abu Nmodu, Minna

The governor of Niger State Dr. Mu’azu Babanagida Aliyu has stated that if not for the zoning arrangement in the state he may not have been governor adding that the people of the state have defeated opponents of the current zoning arrangement in the state.

Aliyu who spoke while receiving some female aspirants over the weekend in Minna said that the current arrangement in the state has conceded the governorship position to Niger North and every body in the party working for Niger north to produce the next governor.

According to him those against the arrangement have been defeated with superior arguments as he has been a beneficiary of the zoning arrangement.

“I am an advocate of zoning formula in Niger State. If not for

short news

PDP Grants Cheto Waiver To Contest The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has granted waiver to Mr Jimmy Z. Chetto to contest elective office under its platform.

A letter to that effect dated 3rd November, 2014 and signed by the national secretary of the party, Prof Wale Oladipo and made available to LEADERSHIP in Jos said the party had at its 388th meeting held on 29th October, 2014 considered his application for waiver.

The letter reads in part, “Having satisfied the relevant provisions of the party’s constitution for the granting of waiver, Iam pleased to inform you.

By Achor Abimaje, Jos

the zoning arrangement, maybe I wouldn’t be governor today. We have defeated most of the opponents of the existing zoning arrangement in the state but some are still against it but am happy they are yielding already. Whatever position you are looking for, we must stick with the zoning arrangement,” he declared.

He also expressed delight over the development where women in Niger State have been able to overcome all odds to seek for elective positions saying they must however observe the zoning arrangement which affects all elective positions in the state.

Aliyu said there was need for women to continue to vie for elective position and that it will promote girl child education, ensure gender balance and reduce negative impression against women in politics.

He further said that women have done very well in his administration since 2007.

Disquiet In Benue As Ortom Plans To Dump PDP There is uneasy calm in Benue State as political stakeholders and supporters have resolved to constitute a committee to evolve alternative platform for the actualisation of the governorship aspiration of Chief Samuel Ortom.

Ortom, a former minister of state for trade and investment is facing challenges which may mar his ability to win PDP’s forthcoming governorship primaries.

However, the supporters of Ortom held a meeting at the weekend, at Smile View Hotel in Makurdi and advised the former minister to remain undeterred in exploiting avenues from the opposition to actualise his gubernatorial ambition.

Led by the director general of Ortom Campaign Organisation, the stakeholders noted that it has become obvious that the PDP leadership is not ready to address the complaints that emanated during the party’s ward congresses.

Meanwhile, in a press statement signed by the media adviser of the organisation, Mr. Tahav Agerzua it said that it “Had also received reliable information that there was a deliberate plan to exclude Chief Ortom from the governorship primaries in the PDP.

By Solomon Ayado, Makurdi

short news

Kogi NUT Seeks Royal Father’s Intervention

Over Plight

Kogi State chapter of Nigeria Union of Teachers ( NUT) has called on the Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Michael Ameoboni 11 to intervene in the plight of teachers especially in the payment of salary and allowances.

The state chairman of the union, Comrade Suleiman Abdulahi who led other executives of the union to the palace of Attah Igala in Idah yesterday, stated that the call has become imperative in view of non payment of salaries and allowances which has led to unspeakable suffering of the teachers and their dependants.

By Sam Egwu, Lokoja

Niger State governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (middle); emir of Suleja, Mallam Awwal Ibrahim (first right) and commissioner for agriculture, Prof Mohammed Yahaya Kuta (left) cutting the tape during the flag off ceremony of construction/ rehabilitation of 198 kilometer rural roads in the state at Izom, Gurara Local Government.

Saraki, Clinton Raise $500m For Global Clean Cooking

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

The chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki has joined former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in raising about $500million comprising of $286million in grants, $127million in investments and several millions in guarantees for the global clean cooking sector during the Cookstoves Future Summit’s inaugural commitment roundtable last weekend.

The aim of the fund raising

according to a statement by Saraki’s media aide, Bamikole Omisore is to accelerate market-based clean cooking solutions through targeted investment entrepreneur support, and capacity building to transform the way the world cooks.

The statement explained that the summit laid emphasis on continuous elevation of global awareness of the issue of household air pollution, the benefits of clean cookstoves and fuels, mark the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the Alliance’s stra-

tegic road map, and mobilise $500million in grant and financial resources for the sector for the period 2015-2017.

“The summit convened more than 400 stakeholders from around the world to reflect on the strong progress made in Phase 1 and the key areas of intervention and focus as the Alliance and its partners go to scale in Phase 2.

“Over 70 commitment makers came to support the sector during Phase 2, covering several areas.

Unijos Students Protest Increase In Development Levy

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

Students of the University of Jos yesterday morning in their thousands stormed the Main Campus of the institution and shut down academic activities demanding the reversal of the decision of the management to increase the development levy.

According to the president of the Student Union Government (SUG) Abel Nok Du the students are not happy with the increment and have written to the school authority on the de-

velopment.

“We are calling for the removal of ten thousand Naira (10,000) development levy from our school fees, we are also calling for the reduction of N25,000 acceptance fees for admission.”

According to him, in the northern part of the country University of Jos students pay the highest development levy, including acceptance fees.

Meanwhile the management of the university has denied increasing the school charges and

postpondment of the second semester exams which was slated for yesterday to next week Monday in order to address the issues raised by the students Vice chancellor of the University Professor Hayward Mufuyai while addressing journalists yesterday in Jos called on the students to disregard the rumours being peddled that the management intends to review school charges “There is absolutely no plans by the University of Jos to review any school fees.

Kogi Farmers Decry Delay In Agric Loan Disbursement

BY SAM EGWU, Looja

Farmers in Kogi State have called on the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada to appeal to the state commissioner for agriculture, Mr Zaccheus Atte to release the N750 million loan secured from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) meant for the farmers.

The farmers under the aegis of Cassava Association Growers of Nigeria, yesterday in Lokoja said the loan flag-off distri-

bution by the state governor in August has not yielded any results saying despite concerted efforts by farmers, the commissioner of agriculture is bent on frustrating the effort of the governor in his avowed agriculture transformation.

The commissioner who said he has to conduct another verification exercise before disbursement of the funds stated that he would not disburse the fund from his office while genuine farmers for whom the gover-

nor flagged-off the loan scheme are wallowing in idleness.

However the spokesman of the farmers, Mr. Alhasan Abubakar has alleged that the commissioner has instead commenced distributing another loan forms to politicians and political associates, which he intends to share the money to.

According to him, “It is four months now when Governor Idris Wada flagged- off the distribution of the 2013 N750 million to farmers in the state.

38

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

39

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

REPORT OF THE

TRANSFORMATION

AGENDA

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

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LEADERSHIP in a bid to provide a true and objective picture of the successes and challenges of the Transformation Agenda is publishing THE REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA as told by the key actors themselves in their own words unedited.

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The Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has been hailed as successful in several areas like agriculture, power, roads, macro-economic stability, foreign-direct investment inflow, and the health sector, among others. Critics cite poverty, youth unemployment, insecurity and the contracting middle class as evidence that the Transformation Agenda is not working. So who and what do you believe? Welcome to the Situation Report.

Ministries, Paratatals and Agencies who have made impactful contributions to the Transformation Agenda are invited to tell their success stories in the REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA. Private sector companies and contractors who have successfully executed Transformation Agenda projects are also invited to show and tell their success stories in the historic REPORT OF THE TRANSFORMATION AGENDA.

To participwaithteph:otographs, charts and graphs and call

ng nisation’s achievements90alo2, Henry Ubimago: 08068640944, Simply compile the orgaUw 3143 Iyobosa ugiaren: 08:03 Allen: 08052116707 sin To 6, 76 52 45 06 07 in Adebayo Benjam ent newspaper d si re ja u b A t n a the domin Show and tell it in

40 BUSINESS/CUSTOMS

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Border Management Focus Of Customs In 2015 Coordinated border management will be the focus of global Customs administrations in 2015, said the World Customs Organisation (WCO).

The focus for 2015 is driven by a commitment to improving trade facilitation, a crucial aspect of Customs operations involving cross border trade between countries.

It is hoped that the choice of the 2015 theme will help in safeguarding the lives and properties of citizens of countries by protecting the borders against the influx of dangerous arms and ammunitions.

The Secretary General of the WCO, Kunio Mikuriya, who announced that 2015 will be dedicated to promoting coordinated border management with the theme: “Coordinated Border Management - An inclusive approach for connecting stakeholders,” said WCO members will have the opportunity to promote an enhanced coordination of practices and mechanisms that have been implemented within their administrations and with other Customs administrations and government agencies, as well as with economic operators involved in cross-border trade.

The term Coordinated Border Management (CBM) refers to a cooperative approach by border control agencies, both at the national and international level, in the context of seeking greater efficiencies over managing trade and travel flows, while maintaining a balance with compliance requirements.

CBM can result in more effective service delivery, less duplication, cost-savings through economies of scale, enhanced risk management with fewer but better targeted interventions, cheaper transport costs, less waiting times, lower infrastructure improvement costs, wider sharing of information and intelligence, as well as strengthened connectivity

between all border stakeholders.

In a statement on the WCO website, Mikuriya said that it behoves border agencies to work together for the common good despite varying regulatory mandates.

“With this in mind the WCO and Customs administrations have long supported the notion of Coordinated Border Management which aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the multiple public service functions undertaken at borders,” said Mikuriya.

“Over the course of 2015, I invite all WCO members to promote and share information on their domestic and international coordination efforts with other border entities, including economic operators involved in cross-border trade.”

The 2015 theme will be launched on International Customs Day, which is celebrated annually by the global Customs community on 26 January in honour of the inaugural session of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) which took place on 26 January 1953.

Consequently, the WCO boss has called on the global Customs community to save the date in their diaries.

Mikuriya had in one of his visits to Nigeria advocated a better coordinated border management as a way to improve the country’s trade facilitation efforts.

Speaking against the background of his interaction with the business community in Nigeria, the WCO boss submitted that a better coordinated border management at the country’s entry points will go a long way to boost economic activities.

He said that his position was informed by the traders’ complaints about the multiple agencies at the ports that cause delay in business.

Mikuriya further pointed out that the trading community also indicated that they wanted better transparency and predictability in doing

customs focus

By JULIET ALOHAN

business in the country.

“When I visited Apapa ports I saw that the business community is keen on improving the functionality of the port to make it gain economic competitiveness and Customs can provide the big push for that economic competitiveness because Customs are at borders and Customs issues are about connectivity,” said Mikuriya.

“Traders Dikko also want transparency and predictability. Traders also noted the multiple agencies at the borders are causing delay in business.”

While stating that stakeholders were highly positive and supportive of Customs modernization, he advised that a more coordinated border system using the Single Window environment and information technology system could help address the situation.

Mikuriya, who was also conducted round the Nigeria Customs Ruling Centre in Abuja said after the tour of the facility: “The IT that we just saw at the Customs Ruling Centre can really provide the basis for the connectivity; we are living in the 21st century so we have to make the best use of IT that can connect Customs to Customs and Customs to business, through that we can live up to e-commerce world.”

He consequently called on the business community to be more compliant because that will ensure a winwin situation to increase competitiveness in a globalised world.

While restating the WCO’s commitment to ensuring that governments of member countries realise more revenue for economic development, Mikuriya said by providing better investment environment with WCO’s support, Customs can contribute to providing more source for future revenue.

“If we will like to increase revenue efficiency Customs should simplify procedures using more technology and in that way enhance efficiency.

This is what we are doing and by providing investment environment Customs can contribute to providing more source for revenue in the future,” said Mikuriya.

He also advocated for diversification of the source of economic development, noting that it is necessary for any country even as he added that Customs Service can help to promote ease of doing business and therefore, enlarge the tax base which will go a long way in boosting government’s revenue base.

He added that Customs can also help small and medium size enterprises engage in

more export and import activities as well as help the informal sector to move into the formal sector. This, he said could be achieved by using information technology system to identify compliant traders, who can then be supported to expand.

For his part, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Abdullahi Dikko said of Mikuriya ‘s visit : “The Secretary General has had interaction with officers and stakeholders in Lagos on arrival in Nigeria; he was impressed with what he has seen.”

“In terms of manpower we have done so well, we have no complain from the stakeholders, in terms of revenue generation we have seen the positive impact and the additional efforts the service has put in to make sure there is now better performance than what it was. In terms of capacity, officers are now better developed and motivated to deliver,” Dikko said.

Meanwhile, coming at a time when the federal government has terminated the service providers’ preshipment inspection contract, and the Nigeria Customs taken over full responsibility of the entire import and export value chain, it is expected that the tools and frameworks which would be deployed by the WCO in 2015 in support of the year’s theme, would further boost the operations of the NCS in this regard. The federal government, had on the 2nd of December 2013, expressed its confidence in the NCS to fully handle its responsibility by terminating the service providers contract.

The Service has since then developed and deployed tools aimed at simplifying the entire import and export process with a view to facilitating trade. These tools which include the Nigeria Trade Hub Portal and the PreArrival Assessment Report (PAAR) have been hailed by the business community as very effective.

Shippers Join Seaport Regulator In Legal Tussle Over Container Storage Charges

By Samson Echenim, Lagos

Lagos Shippers’ Association has applied to be joined in the suit brought against the seaport economic regulator, the Nigerian Shippers Council

(NSC) by shipping companies and terminal operators over shipping and container storage charges at the seaports.

The shippers association applied to join as a codefendant with the NSC, as the

Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned the suit brought by the Association of Shipping Line Agencies (ASLA) against the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) till December 1 for hearing.

The shipping lines had filed a case against the Shippers’ Council about two weeks ago in protest against a public notice reversing containers and other cargoes storage fees at the ports to existing rates as at May

2009 and as approved by the transport minister.

The NSC, as the port economic regulator, also ordered an increase in the free storage period at the ports from three to seven days.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

41

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

43

44

Tuesday, November 25, 2014 USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY

Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, Illegal / Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747.

Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754, 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833, 08191778888.

KANO STATE GOVERNMENT

176th KANO STATE EXECuTiVE COuNCiL MEETiNG PREPARED BY COUNCIL AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, KANO.

ENGR. RAbi’u MuSA KwANKwASO, FNSE Executive Governor, Kano State

Digitalization and general incorporation/utilization of Information Communication Technology (ICT) enhances the delivery of services by the Government in line with International best practices, which is currently undertaken in the State with the capable leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. All Government activities are transparently executed while relevant decisions taken by the Kano State Executive Council at its sittings are placed on the Internet (on line) via the publicly open and updated official Kano State Website, Twitter, Facebook, Kwankwasiyya online etc. kano.gov.ng – Any interested person across the entire world can browse, keep track and assess the general performance, its quality and superlative speed of execution. Again, careful recapitulation on and following subsequent publications weekly in the Print and Broadcast Media from inception to date would certainly keep one abreast with the commendable performance of the present administration.

Continuing with the impeccable developmental trend across all sectors inherent in quality services delivered by organs enshrined in Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) is the main focus of the present administration.

Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE is on the verge of completing the delivery of all the promised resolutions to transform the State for the better.

Meanwhile, the good work was progressively continued as Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE presided over the one hundred and seventy sixth (176th) sitting of the Kano State Executive Council on Thursday 20th November, 2014 (27th Muharram, 1435 AH). Nine (9) MDAs submitted thirty eight (38) memoranda for deliberation of which Council approved sixteen (16) cutting across five (5) sectors for execution with an expenditure of Two Hundred and Twenty Nine Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Seventy Naira (N229,484,270.00) covering eleven (11) projects while the remaining five (5) are on policy issues. Thus; 1. THE EMPOWERMENT SECTOR Importantly, emphasis is placed on the empowerment of the citizenry across all segments of the society by the Government in the State under the leadership of the present administration unlike any other. In this regards, Government acknowledges the vital requirement to empower the entire society towards self actualization to ensure self reliance where the youth, small and medium scale entrepreneurs, the underprivileged women, the physically challenged, the civil servants etc. are the main targets of the policy, programmes, schemes, projects already executed and sustained. Prominent examples are as follows; • Provision of access to professional/academic education locally and broad – over 5,000 beneficiaries.

• Provision of access to viable skills acquisition training – over twenty four (24) Institutes established which have graduated an impressive number of beneficiaries.

• Provision of training for employable skills and take – off capital to women, butchers, traditional barbers, etc.

• Establishment of and sustaining the “Lafiya Jari Scheme”, etc.

Essentially, no Government in Nigeria generally and particularly at State level performs as creditably as what obtains in the State under the present administration.

The Empowerment Sector continues to be accorded priority attention among several others as State Executive Council approved the execution of six (6) more memoranda related to the Empowerment Sector as follows; a) Provision of Access to Education/Professional Training:i. Request for Funds to Procure One Way Tickets in Respect of Eighty Nine (89) Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Eighteen (18) Months Training on Aircraft Piloting at Mid East Aviation Academy, Jordan to Enable their Return Home on Completing their Course by End of December, 2014:The administration of Gov Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso drafted and implemented an elaborate empowerment program for the good people of Kano state especially young men and women. This plan recognizes the need to expose our teeming youth to partake in all economic sectors particularly areas hitherto dominated by elites.

In this respect 100 youth male and female young graduates were sponsored for commercial piloting course in Mideast Aviation Academy MAA in Amman, Jordan.

The Government Spent the sum of N10,170,000.00 on each Pilot on Tuition, Feeding and Accommodation bringing the total amount spent on the pilots including other expenses to over One billion four hundred million Naira only. Equally 25 young men and women have been sponsored for Marine Engineering course at Tyneside in United Kingdom at a total cost of over 350 million Naira only.

By now every Nigerian knows the importance Gov Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso attaches to Education being the first, second and third priority of his administration.

This trend begin to manifest itself in the gradual increase in performance of our students at both internal and external exams. In fact the ratio of students in school to those outside has improved tremendously as a result of the abolishing of Almajiri and street begging. This has ballooned the population of pupils in primary schools from a little over one million in 2011 when he take over as the State’s cheif executive officer to over Three million now. While in 2010-2011 external exam students was at 6%, in 2013-14 the state has recorded 38% score a clear indication that all the investment made to revive this sector did not go to waste. This was achieved through improving the infrastructure, quality and quantity of teachers, staff training and retraining, construction of over 3000 brand new classrooms, over 800 staff offices, laboratories fully equipped, workshops, School Buses and many more. All abandoned public buildings which were allowed to waste some for the last 30 years were completed, rehabilitated and modified into schools. Considering Education as a very potent and powerful tool fir empowerment, His Excellency in his ingenious approach established 44 Technical Colleges and 44 School for Islamic Studies one each in all the Local Governments of the state.

The pilots have already completed their course and are due to return back, consequently, the Office of the Secretary to the State Government submitted this request for consideration by Council. Details were presented along with the request for the release of the sum of N11,125,000.00 for the stated purpose.

Congruence of the request with the empowerment policy to provide access to professional/academic training by the present administration, Council considered and approved the release of the sum of N11,125,000.00 for the purchase of one way tickets in respect of eighty nine (89) Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored for the stated course in order to enable their return home on completing their course. ii. Presentation of the Analyzed Results of Kano State Indigenous Students Sponsored for Studies at Crescent University, Abeokuta; Bells University, Otta and Igbinedion University, Okada:The present administration in Kano State sponsored over 1,080No. Eligible/qualified indigenous students for undergraduate courses at various institutions of higher learning in Nigeria irrespective of whether they are public or privately owned provided they are properly accredited and considered appropriate for effective/ qualitative learning. In fact the Government secured admission in all tertiary institutions for our students including private universities. 200 Students each have been sponsored to read various undergraduate courses in Engineering, Technology and science related courses, at BELLS and CRESCENT Universities all in Otta, Ogun State. Another 250 Students have been sponsored to Igbenedion University in Benin, 400 at Al Kalam University in Katsina and 25 At ABTI university Yola. At the moment, 100No. Students are being screened for admission to Bells University for the commencement of their studies.

However the state Government continues to monitor their progress while in school.

In order to ensure proper monitoring, a Committee set up by the Council visited the authorities the three (3) privately owned Universities and submitted the analyzed results of the Kano State Indigenous Students sponsored for studies with them. The details submitted were summarized and presented to Council for perusal as follows; Crescent University, Abeokuta: First (1st) Batch First Class second Class Upper

Second Class Lower

Third Class

Pass Probation

Total

2

18

25

17

73

6

5

Second (2nd) Batch First Class second Class Upper

Second Class Third Class Lower

Pass

Probation Total

5

28

5

5

28

19

90

Bells University, Otta: First (1st) Batch First Class second Class Upper

Second Class Third Class Lower

Pass Probation

Total

0

19

14

92

11

36

12

Second (2nd) Batch First Class second Class Upper

Second Class Lower

Third Class

Pass

Probation Total

3

36

26

5

1

29

100

Igbinedion University, Okada First Class second Class Upper

Second Class Lower

Third Class

Pass Probation Total

1 53 103 77 8 1 243 Accordingly, Council acknowledged the presentation of the report with appreciation and promised to settle all the outstanding school fess and allowances in respect of the students. iii. Presentation of Report and Request for Permission to Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Nigerian Turkish International College Foundation (NTIC) and the Kano State Government:This presentation was delivered to Council for consideration as endorsed by the Kano State Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments.

Essentially, the two (2) parties are respectively committed to responsibilities that were summarized as follows; • The Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) Committed to.

- Arrangement and distribution of one hundred (100) packages of stationery to needy students in public schools across the State.

- Construction of four (4) Hand Pumps Water Boreholes in selected public schools in the State.

- Arrangement and distribution of two hundred (200) packages of meat during each of the two (2) Eid (Sallah) Celebrations.

- Performing ten (10) operations on eye cataract free of charge in the Nigerian Turkish Nizamiye Hospital.

- Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC) to provide funds for the execution of the four (4) issues under its commitment.

• Kano State Government Responsibilities.

- Selection of public schools to benefit the distribution of one hundred (100) packages of stationery from Nigerian Turkish International College (NTIC).

- Choose relevant/proper sites for location of four (4) hand pump water boreholes.

- Arrange/select relevant locations for the distribution of the two hundred (200) packages of meat during the Ed (Sallah) Celebrations.

- Identifying, screening and transporting/conveying the ten (10) cataract patients for surgery at the Nigerian Turkish Nizanmiye Hospital (NTMH).

Accordingly, Council acknowledged the presentation with appreciation and approved for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (M o U). b) Access to Capacity Building for Efficient Service Delivery:i. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Furniture Allowance to the Special Adviser Micro Finance Banks:The Office of the Secretary to the State Government endorsed this request as the statutory entitlement of the appointed Special Adviser Micro Finance Banks and presented it to Council for consideration. Details were presented along with the request for Council to consider and approve the release of the sum of N3,750,000.00 as furniture allowance to the Special Adviser Micro Finance Banks.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. ii. Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Conduct the Second (2nd) Batch 2014 Civil Service Examination (CSE) for Three Hundred (300) Staff at the Kano State Polytechnic:The Office of the State Head of Civil Service endorsed the cited request and presented it to Council for consideration on behalf of the authorities at the Kano State Polytechnic.

Reportedly, the first (1st) Batch of the same examination was conducted in the month of May, 2014 commensurate with the existing rules and regulations as mandatory to ensure timely progression for all cadres of staffs in the State Civil Service.

In this respect, details of three hundred (300) staff of ten (10) cadres serving at the Kano State Polytechnic due for the second (2nd) Batch 2014 Civil Servants Examination (CSE) was presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N1,855,000.00 to cater for the four (4) items required to enable effective conduct of the stated examination.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested. iii. Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Accrued Allowances to Additional Midwives and Community Health Environmental Work Superintendents (CHEW) Deployed to Kano State:This request was originally submitted from the State Ministry of Health but was endorsed by the State Head of Civil Service and presented to Council for consideration.

The genesis and details that prompted the submission of the request were presented along with financial implications which resulted in forwarding two (2) categorical prayers on the issue for consideration as follows; • Council to consider and approve the immediate release of the sum of N27,170,000.00 to enable payment of accrued/outstanding allowances/ arrears to the newly deployed/omitted personnel according to the details presented.

• Council to consider and approve continuous payment of monthly allowances at the rate of N20,000.00 to the midwives and N15,000.00 to the Community Health Environmental Works Superintendents (CHEW).

Relevance of this request to empowering the required staff to professionally dispense the services required at the State Ministry of Health prompted Council to approve the execution of the two (2) prayers forwarded on the issue.

45

Tuesday, November 25, 2014 2. THE EDUCATION SECTOR This all encompassing sector is the most prominent of considerations among others.

Track records indelibly kept confirm this. The series of approvals granted for the execution of projects, programmes, schemes and policies related to the Education Sector transcends the expectations/aspirations of the people of the State, the Nigerian Federation and the entire world. The positive developmental trend under the education sector is celebrated by the declaration and sustenance of the delivery of education at all levels free of charge. The good thing is that all the requirements are provided be them physical/infrastructural; material/consumables; personnel; etc. within Government financial capacity.

This way, two (2) memoranda related to the Education Sector were approved for execution at the sitting as follows; a) Request for Funds to Enable the Flag – Off/Commencement of the 2014/2015 Annual School Census (ASC):The Kano State Ministry of Education originally submitted this request which was endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

Council was assured that conformity with the requirements from the Nigerian Education Information System Process prompted submission of this request. The process maps out, summarizes and designs activities to be performed monthly according to the details presented.

Related to this, the Kano State Ministry of Education requested for the release of the sum of N8,714,210.00 by Council to enable the flag – off of the Annual Schools Census (ASC) for the year 2014/2015. Details were presented on the ten (10) items required.

Relevance and credibility of the request to planning and strategic approach in handling educational issues prompted Council to consider and approve as requested. b) Presentation on the Rationale of Affiliation of Sixteen (16) of the Newly Established Institutes in Kano State to the Two (2) Universities owned by the Kano State Government:Offices of the two (2) Vice Chancellors (i.e. that of Northwest University and that of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil) respectively made a submission for consideration by Council as presented by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government as follows; • Office of the Vice Chancellor KUST proposed the transfer of eight (8) of the Institutes to utilize the KUST for their sustainability. They include; - Kano State Informatics Institute, Kura.

- Kano State Livestock Institute Bagauda.

- Kano State Irrigation Institute Kadawa.

- Kano State Poultry Training Institute Tukwui.

- Kano State Fisheries Training Institute Bagauda.

- Kano State Hospitality and Tourism Institute.

- Kano State Sports Institute Karfi.

- Kano State Corporate Security Training Institute Gabasawa.

• Office of the Vice Chancellor Northwest University presented the rationale to affiliated four (4) of the Institutes to the Northwest University, Kano. They include; - Kano Entrepreneurship Development Institute Dawakin Tofa.

- Qur’anic and Western Education Institute Bompai.

- Kano Development Journalism Institute Hotoro.

- Kano Reformatory Institute Kiru.

Further details presented prompted Council to approve execution of the two (2) respective proposals so as to ensure proper sustenance of the programmes/curricula offered in all the concerned twelve (12) Tertiary Institutes owned by the Kano State Government.

3. THE INFORMATION/COMMUNICATION SECTOR Transparency and dissemination of correct information to the public especially on Government activities is a principal guiding policy of the present administration.

This Sector is the main custodian in the execution of the policy. The banner was carried along as the State Executive Council approved the execution of three (3) memoranda under the Information/Communication Sector as follows; a) Request for Funds for the Production of Fifty (50) Roller Banners to Publicize the Achievements of the Present Administration:Cognizant of the transparency policy of the present administration in the State, the Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youths, Sports and Culture submitted this request for consideration by Council. Details on the proposed fifty (50) Roller Banners to be produced were presented to Council for consideration along with the request for the release of the sum of N3,750,000.00 for the purpose. The banners are to showcase achievements of the present administration in areas of potable water supply, health care delivery, education, physical/infrastructural development and maintenance, etc.

Council noted, considered and approved as requested. b) Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable the Establishment of “Kano State Consultative Committee on Statistics”:The Office of the Secretary to the State Government endorsed this request and presented it to Council for consideration.

Council was appreciatively informed, through contents of this memorandum that, section 18 of the Law establishing the Kano State Bureau of Statistics emphasizes that Government is to set – up a Consultative Committee on Statistics under the Chairmanship of the State Statistician General with membership from Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics of 14 sectors of the State Development Plan; Directors of Planning Research and Statistics of the 44 Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) and representatives of Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerian Customs Service, Development Partners and three other persons with relevant background in Statistics representing various interest groups. Already, preparations are underway cognizant to which two (2) prayers were forwarded to Council for consideration. Viz; • Council to consider and approve the establishment of the State Consultative Committee on Statistics in line with the provisions of section 18 of the Agency Law No. 2 of 2014.

• Council to approve the appointment and rotational meetings of the members of the State Consultative Committee on Statistics as specified in the provisions of section 20 of the Agency’s Law. Council acknowledged the presentation and approved as requested.

c) Request for Funds to Enable Purchase/Production of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day 53,292 Emblems of Two (2) Categories:The Office of the Deputy Governor/Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Governments submitted this request for consideration by Council.

Details on the genesis and reasons that prompted submission of the request for consideration by Council were presented along with the request for the release of the sum of N10,663,400.00 to provide for two (2) items as follows; SN

Categories

Number

Rate (N)

Total (N)

i.

General Executive Emblems

100

500.00

5,000.00

ii.

New General Emblems

53,292

200.00

10,658,400.00

Council noted, considered, appraised and approved the release of the of the trimmed sum of N10,000,000.00 as Government kind gesture for the production of emblems.

4. THE FINANCE/ECONOMIC SECTOR This sector is the main power house that provides the fuel/blood that energizes the performance of the present administration across all sectors by systematically and prudently supplying/providing the necessary funding approved for the execution of all projects, programmes, schemes and policies in accordance with provisions of the approved budget for any particular year. In this vein, Council approved the execution of one (1) memorandum under the Finance/Economic Sector. Thus; Request for Funds to Enable Commencement of the Preparation of the Kano State Government Budget for the Year 2015:The Office of the Secretary to the State Government reminded Council, through contents of this memorandum, of its approval granted for the commencement of the preparation for the year 2015 Budget.

In line with the above, the State Ministry of Planning and Budget submitted the request which was endorsed by the Office of the Secretary to the State Government and presented to Council for consideration.

Details on the ten (10) items required estimated to cost the sum of N12,799,500.00 which was requested for release by Council for the stated purpose were presented for consideration.

Accordingly, Council noted, appraised the request and approved for the release of the trimmed sum of N6,000,000.00 for the undertaking.

5. THE INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT/MAINTENANCE SECTOR Typical of the present administration, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of yet another set of four (4) memoranda under the infrastructural development/maintenance sector. This is in continuation with the laudable feat in the effort to provide the people of the State with qualitative infrastructure for use to ease conduct of their daily activities and ensure their socio – economic wellbeing. The list of the commendable achievements recorded under this sector by the present administration in the State is impressively lengthy of which only the following few can be itemized as examples; • Construction of numerous new roads across the State (the municipality and rural surroundings inclusive).

• Renovation of numerous major roads and expansion of many others in the Metropolis.

• Construction of flyovers; conduit drainage/road; pedestrian overhead bridges; laying of interlock tiles along pedestrian walkways of numerous major roads in the Municipality; installation of street lighting along streets in all nooks and corners of the metropolis.

• Construction of 5KM dual carriage ways with street lighting in the 44 Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) of the State.

• Provision of steady potable water supply to greater urban Kano and the regional water supply schemes.

• Establishment of the Independent Hydroelectricity Projects owned by the Kano State Government at Tiga and Challawa Gorge Dams.

• Renovation of several public buildings/facilities across all Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs) including the Government House; Deputy Governor’s Office; the Cabinet Office; the Gidan Murtala and Audu Bako Secretariats, etc.

• Provision of the physical infrastructure required and renovation of several others in the Health Sector, Education Sector, etc.

• Construction/establishment of affordable residential housing at Kwankwasiyya, Bandirawo and Amana Cities, etc. the list can continue forever without being exhausted.

Relentlessly, the Kano State Executive Council approved the execution of four (4) memoranda under the Infrastructural Development/Maintenance Sector at the sitting as follows; a) Presentation on the Activities of Growth and Employment in States (GEMS 3) Project:The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted this presentation for consideration by Council.

Essentially, Council was informed, through contents of this memorandum, of the support provided to Kano State by the Department for International Development (DFID) through the Growth and Employment in States (GEMS 3) project. The project is a reform programme that implements interventions in three (3) areas Land, Tax and Investment. The emphasis of this memorandum is on Land as related to its titling and registration (STLR). The main aim is to make land registration/ transaction less cumbersome, cheaper, faster, and transparent so as to enable the State to have a comprehensive data base. In fact, the Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) and GEMS 3 initiated the implementation of SLTR projects in two (2) States of the Federation which include Kano and Ondo.

In Kano State, Fagge and Ungogo Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) were selected as pilot Local Government Council Areas (LGCAs) with the intention of providing each of them with 5,000 titles.

Importantly, GEMS 3 collaborated with Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform (PTCLR) to provide support for the successful take – off of Kano Geographic Information System (KANGIS). Details were presented to Council for perusal. Again, a summary of the achievements recorded from the intervention provided by the SLTR were summarized and presented to Council for consideration. Viz; Activities

Total to Date Ungogo

Total to Date Fagge Overall

Parcels demarcated

3,308

2,898

6,206

Parcels records gathered

3,308

2,898

6,206

Parcels ready for C of O

400

787

1,187

Certificates printed

100

10

200

In the same vein, Council was presented with five (5) notations for consideration on the issue most important among which States that Council should note the collaboration between GEMS 3 and PTCLR provided support that contributed to the successful take – off of KANGIS. Council appreciatively acknowledged the presentation and its positive implications to the infrastructural development/maintenance sector regarding Land Titling. b) Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty (20) Items/Structures Affected by the Construction of Kofar Nassarawa Road:The content of this memorandum is recalling the Council on the ongoing effort of the present administration in the provision of the solid infrastructures in the State which is aimed towards uplifting the living standard of the populace.

The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning submitted the valuation exercise of the twenty (20) affected structures for compensation to the tune of N29,824,800.00.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. c) Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty Five (25) Items/Properties Affected by the Establishment of a Mosque, Hisbah Office, Police Station and Playground at Kurna Asabe Quarters:The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning is notifying the Council on the ongoing effort of the current administration towards institutionalizing community development projects that will assist the citizenry in providing comfort and security.

In this respect, the valuation exercise report of the of the twenty five (25) affected structures due for compensation in the sum of N22,753,620.00 is submitted to Council for consideration.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested. d) Request for Funds to Enable Payment of Compensation for Twenty Eight (28) Items/Properties Affected by the Re – Adjustment of Ibrahim Taiwo Road in the Course of the Construction of Overhead Bridge at the Site:The content of this memorandum is inviting the Council to recall the laudable objectives of the present administration in the provision of basic infrastructures to the teeming citizenry at various locations in the State most especially in the construction of flyover bridges.

The Ministry of Land and Physical Planning assessed the twenty eight (28) structures affected and submitted a valuation report exercise in the sum of N104,843,640.00 for compensation to Council for consideration.

Accordingly, Council considered and approved as requested.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES AT THE 176TH KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SITTING 1. VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH BILL GATES AND ALIKO DANGOTE Council noted the successful video conference held between the Deputy Governor as the State Government representative, Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote towards reviewing the Tripartite agreement reached by the Trio to improve the routine immunization exercise in the State. The parties appreciatively acknowledged the Kano State Government’s commendable leadership and commitment to ensure total eradication of Polio in the State. Accordingly, Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE commended the relentless efforts by Bill Gates and Aliko Dangote and calls upon well meaning Nigerians and Organizations to partner with the State Government to ensure a Polio free society, while the parties agreed for an extension of the Polio exercise by another one (1) year.

2. 2014 NATIONAL SCHOOLS SPORTS FESTIVAL IN BENUE Council noted the successful completion of the sports competition among Secondary Schools in the National Secondary Schools Sports Festival ‘2014’ held at Benue State. Accordingly, Council appreciated/commended the State contingent from various Secondary Schools that made the state emerged the Seventh (7th) position in the Country by winning the following prizes; i. Gold = twelve (12) ii. Silver = twenty three (23) iii. Bronze = twenty one (21) Bronze.

3. REQUEST FOR EXTENSION BY SEVEN (7) DAYS FOR THE ON – GOING NEW VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE IN THE STATE Council acknowledged the problems faced in the execution of voter registration exercise in the State related to which the State Government requested for an extension by additional seven (7) days. This is to ensure that all eligible voters get their permanent voters card (PVC). The State Deputy Governor as Chairman of the Executive Committee on the issue observed certain shortcomings related to the conduct of the exercise which includes the following; a. The number of computers provided were inadequate and many of the available were obsolete causing delays that resulted in the registration only few voters per day. b. That the exercise starts late across most of the registration centers and efforts to extend the closing time beyond 4:00pm proved difficult. c. That some of the ad-hoc staff employed by INEC are not sufficiently competent computer operators which caused the delay in the registration process. d. Other logistics problems ranging from lack of efficient transportation for the ad – hoc staff, obsolete printers, computer batteries and poor arrangement of electricity generating sets tampered with the successful execution of the exercise.

Accordingly, the State Government assures the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of its readiness to continue providing support in the discharge of their duties to ensure maximum registration of eligible voters.

Signed:

Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports & Culture

www.kn.gov.ng/new

46 news south-South south-East TAN Not Out To Unseat Dickson In

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City ess of graduating with first class Bayelsa – Egba

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

22-Year-Old Omunwa Beats All At Law School

The director of publicity for the Bayelsa State chapter of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Chief Nathan Egba has said the claim by some politicians in the state that the wife of the president, Dame Patience Jonathan has concluded plans to use the organization to unseat the state governor, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson is false.

He explained that TAN is a sociopolitical organization set up with the primary aim to inform and mobilize the people of Nigeria towards the re-election of the President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 and nothing more.

Egba, who was reacting to a report in a national daily about a plot to unseat the state governor, using TAN in Yenagoa yesterday said the appointment of the former deputy governor of the state, Hon. Werinipre Seibarugu was not to antagonize the present administration in the state.

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

Twenty-two-year old Edo born Osarieme Anita Omonuwa who graduated with first class degree from the University of Reading, England has done it again beating all 6883 fellow students in the 2014 Nigerian Bar final examinations to come tops.

She is said to be the first Nigerian to achieve the academic prow-

BL degree, in the University of Reading, England “What is equally impressive is that of all the admitted Nigerians from overseas, she alone scaled the hurdles with a First Class. And when the final computation of prizes at the graduation ceremony, which held on the 26th of November 2014 was done, the overall best student prize again went

to Osarieme Anita Omonuwa.

“Osarieme is not new to winning, she has been piling success after success since her younger days at her Kindergarten school at Our Lady of Apostles, along Airport Road, Benin.

“At the Igbinedion Education Centre, she won the 2008/2009 Certificate of Merit as the overall best graduating student in Accounting, English, Yoruba, Com-

puter Science, Biology, Literature, Government, Economics, Food and Nutrition.

“It is all in her streak for she always does her academic sprints as if there is no effort. In the history of the 121-year old University of Reading, England, UK, Anita is the first black woman to win the Reading University Chancellor’s Award”, her publicist, Tony Abolo said.

short news Irate Youths Disrupt Work On East West Road

Striking Edo Workers Laud Renaming Of CoE Akiadolor After Akpata The coalition of unions of Edo Stateowned tertiary institutions yesterday expressed satisfaction with the renaming of the College of Education, Ekiadolor to Tayo Akpata University of Education.

The president of the unions, Comrade Fred Omonuwa who spoke to newsmen yesterday described the state government’s move as being in the right direction, but insisted that government must address the real issues in dispute and not just the renaming of Institution.

He said “we don’t really have much problem with the renaming of the institution. In fact, it is a welcome development. The government should also use the same speed in addressing workers’ demands which resulted in the two and a half months’ strike.”.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

Youths Protest Alleged Plot To Give Umahi APC Governorship Ticket A group of youth of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State yesterday staged a protest in Abakaliki, the state capital over what they alleged was a plot

by Governor Rochas Okorocha and some leaders of the party in the state to get the Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Chief Dave Umahi to defect to the party and subsequently fly the party’s ticket in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The youths carried placards with inscriptions, “We would not allow hijackers into APC”, “Our great party is not for rejected persons”, “We need a credible and free primary in APC”, APC is not for sale.”

By Obinna Ogbonnaya, Abakaliki

L-R: Chairman, Sam Onyishi Campaign Organisation (SOCO), Sir Chike Ngwu; managing director, Peace Mass Transit Company, Mr Sam Onyishi and SOCO secretary, Chief Agu Chinemere, during the formal declaration by Sam Onyishi to run for Enugu State governorship in Enugu, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.

Anambra Budgets N165bn For 2015 Fiscal Year

By Okechukwu Obeta, Awka

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday presented the sum of N165 billion to the state lawmakers for approval as the state budget for the 2015 fiscal year, representing an increase of 3.7 percent over the 2014 budget.

Tagged “Budget of Wealth Creation and Social Cohesion” it is made up of capital estimate of N110.979 billion and recurrent estimate of N53.517 billion.

The governor said N1.8 billion was set aside in the budget for the pension scheme because the state

government had starting from 2015 made the welfare of its work force a priorty.

He said his administration had plans to strengthen the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, machinery for improved revenue generation and urged the state lawmakers to be ready to back the government’s plans by making the necessary laws.

He expressed worry that the major source of the state revenue is allocation from the federation account which according to him forms about 65 percent of the government actual receipt, lament-

ing that the state in recent time had not been getting much from the federation account due to the combined effects of the insurgency in the North East geo-political zone of the country and the dwindling revenue from oil. There are strong signals that the situation would linger for most part of the coming year.

Obiano told the lawmakers that as at October, his administration had implemented the current budget up to 46 percent and expressed optimism that before the end of the year, its implementation would hit 50 percent.

Youths from Eket in Eket Local Government Area yesterday disrupted construction work on the Eket urban section of the East West road in Akwa Ibom over what they described as shoddy manner in which Gitto Construction Company, handling the project was executing the job.

Numbering over 1000, the irate youths whose action affected the free flwo of traffic carried various placards calling on the company to leave the site and allow the Federal Government re-award the construction of the road to a more competent firm.

Speaking with our correspondent, the secretary of the youth group, Iniobong Udota said the company had not measured up to the people’s expectations.

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

No Looming Crisis In South-East APC – Okorocha

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has dismissed as untrue the story in a national daily of a looming crisis in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the south east said to be as a result of an alleged power tussle between him and Senator Chris Ngige over the control of the party in the zone.

His denial was contained in a

press statement issued by his senior special assistant on media, Sam Onwuemeodo and made available to LEADERSHIP in Owerri.

Saying there is no iota of truth in the story, Okorocha said those behind it were only trying in vain to introduce popularity contest between him and Ngige with Tinubu at the centre.

He accused the sponsors of the publication of trying to cause dis-

affection among the three of them, having seen the cordial relationship existing among them, emphasizing that what they saw as crisis was a normal political group or individual interest pursuit.

“Let us make it snappy. There is no looming crisis in the South-East APC for which Governor Okorocha, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Ngige could be accused of being responsible. Whatever anybody feels

that is happening in the South-East APC cannot be seen as strange but as the normal politics of group or individual interest pursuit.

“As far as we are concerned, the claimed looming crisis in the APC South East is a media creation. It does not exist. The idea of bringing in the names of Okorocha, Tinubu and Ngige was aimed at adding value to the false alarm,” the statement stated.

news south-west 47

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

N100 Note: Jonathan Blasts MURIC Says Aso Rock not saturated

by Israeli operatives President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday refuted the allegation made against him by the Muslims Right Concern (MURIC) that a Jewish symbol in the proposed commemorative new N100 note which will be officially issued on December 19 was his ploy to promote a Zion nation.

MURIC had in a statement issued by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola on Sunday, made some allegations against the president, including that the security system in Aso Rock was saturated with Israeli security operatives, while Jonathan had chosen to marginalise the North as was seen in at the national conference.

But the president in his reaction explained that, while the purported symbol MURIC’s statement was referring to is the Star of David, “there is no where on that proposed note as indicated in the specimen that has been widely publicized where there is any Jewish or Zionist symbol or the Star of David”.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan accused MURIC of attempting to cause disaffection because on the design of the note, “the value of the note is written out in the three major languages in Nigeria, recognised in the constitution: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa.

Abati said, “No attempt has been made to use this proposed naira note to discriminate anybody and the attack on President Jonathan is undeserved, unwarranted and totally unkind. I believe that MURIC will see the need to quickly apologise for misleading the public and for issuing that kind of statement that can cause disaffection against the President”.

He described the claim by MURIC that the security system in Aso Rock is saturated with Israeli security operatives as “a blatant lie”, just as he maintained strongly that “there are no Israeli security operatives saturating the security system in Aso Rock”.

In a statement he issued yesterday evening, Abati said, “To convince himself that this is true, we will like to invite Prof. Akintola on a visit to the Presidential Villa, to see whether indeed it is Israelis that are in charge of security.

“The security operatives in the Villa are not foreigners, they are Nigerians and there is no connection with Israel whatsoever. The premised of the issue that formed the basis for Akintola’s vituperation is wrong and he is misinformed”.

Noting that the group’s allegations against the president were rather curious, the presidential spokesman said the Akintola needed to be told that “President Jonathan is not anti-Muslim as he alleges.

By George Agba, Abuja

Ex-OPC Leader Arrested Over Aderiye’s Murder

By Alo Abiola, Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Police Command yesterday arrested the former coordinator of the Odua People’s Congress in the state, Mr Adeniyi Adedipe over alleged complicity in the murder of the former state chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr Omolafe Aderiye.

Aderiye, an associate of Governor Ayodele Fayose was assasinated by unknown gunmen last September in front of his office at Ijigbo Area of Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

The former OPC boss said to have been arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State capital at the weekend by the special

anti-robbery squad mobilized from Ekiti would join three others already charged to court by the police over the same offence.

Addressing a news conference yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the police commissioner, said Adedipe would be charged to court on two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

He said the police was relied on direct and circumstantial evidence to arrest Adedipe in connection with the murder.

“Available direct and circumstantial evidence necessitated the arrest, interrogation and prosecution of the suspect. Detectives are making frantic efforts to arrest other suspects

who are presently at large”, he said.

The police boss also listed Chinedu Ugwu, Adekunle Osho, Eniola Sunday, Afolayan Segun, as other suspects arrested for alleged conspiracy and robbery as well as a notorious land grabber Igimoney Oladapo, saying they would soon be arraigned in court.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has restrained the police from rearresting the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Jide Awe, and four others for the alleged murder of Ayo Jeje and Juliana Adewumi during a political crisis in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State.

L-R: President, Naval Officer’s Women Association (NOWA) Mrs Lamin Jibrin (right) and the vice-president, Mrs Uju Akinwale, presenting a gift to a patient during the visit of NOWA officials to Obisesan Naval Medical Centre in Apapa, Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

short news 5,000 Home Owners Get C of O In Ogun The homeowners charter programme of the Ogun State government yesterday gave the first batch of beneficiaries of the programme totalling 5000 their certificate of occupancy (C of O).

The programme held at Arcade Ground of the Oke Mosan, governor’s office, in Abeokuta had in attendance majority of the beneficiaries, government functionaries and royal fathers.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun said the programme was a fulfilment of a vision to streamline the process of C of O acquisition, pointing out that it was designed to enable people acquire genuine property.

By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

Ajimobi Talks Tough, Vows To Tame Masterminds Of Violence

No Life Was Lost – Police

By Adebayo Waheed, , Ibadan

Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi yesterday warned that as the chief security officer of the state, he would not stand by and allow anyone, no matter his status, to jeopardize the hard-won peace of the last three and half years in the state.

In a statement in Ibadan, signed by his special adviser on media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, he said the trend of orchestrated violence in the state in the last few days pointed to a despera-

tion by some politicians to destroy the flagship of the government’s performance which is peace and security.

The governor said that the Friday violence in the state where a policeman was shot and some other people were wounded in Oke Ado area of Ibadan while his meet-the-people-tour train was still in Ido Local Government was a calculated attempt to “pollute the river of peace” in the state and give the impression that the Ajimobi government was not different from its predecessors whose governments were known to encourage thuggery, blood-letting and gangsterism.

He said the violence which occurred at the

Popoyemoja area of the state capital two days after where some thugs unleashed mayhem on the residents of the area could not be divorced from the bitter politics of the past and attempt to destroy the image of the government.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State police command yesterday debunked claims that three lives were lost on Sunday during a violent clash in Ibadan.

The command’s spokesperson, Olabisi Ilobanafor who briefed the media on behalf of her boss, the commissioner of police, Kola Sodipo on the clash as well as other current security matters in the state said the police was investigating to know the source of the gun used in the clash.

Osun To Witness More Development During My Second Term – Gov Aregbesola

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has assured his people of monumental achievements during his second term in office despite the current economic challenges facing the country.

He made the promise yesterday at the official disbursement of N2 billion under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N220 billion Micro, Small

and Medium Enterprises Development Fund and distribution of 22 mini buses to transport unions in the state in Osogbo, the state capital.

Aregbesola expressed his determination to keep the economic ship of the state afloat against all odds, adding, however, the task to move the state forward on all fronts is a duty for all the residents.

He noted that the establishment

of Micro Credit Agency was a deliberate decision taken to have a virile, all embracing empowerment platform that would guarantee easy access to credit facility by operators.

The governor explained that the 22 mini buses distributed to the transport unions in the state was the promise he made to the unions when the government gave out the first batch of 40 mini buses in July

2014.

He said the 22 buses were the remainder of the 62 buses requested by the unions, including NURTW and RTEAN. Meanwhile, ahead of Thursday’s inauguration of Aregbesola for a second term in office, the state chapter of the APC has urged the citizens of the state to embark on spiritual exercise to ensure a hitch free transition.

48 news NATIONAL Amaechi To Fix Federal Road In Etche Due to the enormous difficulties in accessing their communities, Rivers State governor and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Mr. Chibuike Amaechi has promised that his administration would fix a federal road, the UmuechemChokocho road in Etche local government area of the state.

Amaechi stated this on Sunday at the 2014 Adult Harvest Thanksgiving Service of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Province of Niger Delta in Okomoko, Etche.

He said although the road is a federal road, the Umuechem-Chokocho road is in a very deplorable state and must be fixed to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

The governor said, “We will fix Umuechem-Chokocho road. The road is a federal road including the Igbo road. I will try and fix the bad spots before elections.”

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Rivers: Unknown Gunmen Kidnap Court Registrar

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

Unknown gunmen on Sunday kidnapped the chief registrar of the Rivers State High Court, Mr. Leonard Adoki from his home-town, Amalem-Abua, in Abua/Odual local government area of Rivers State.

This is as the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has appealed to the new chief justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to intervene in the crisis that have paralysed the state judiciary.

LEADERSHIP gathered that Adoki, who is the traditional ruler of

Amalem-Abua community, was attending a memorial service in honour of a deceased member of the community before he was abducted.

It was gathered that the kidnappers shot sporadically to scare people away before taking their victim to a steaming speed boat at the community’s waterfront, from where they sped off to an unknown destination.

A source in the community, who confirmed the incident, however, said some youths from Abua communities gave a hot chase to the kidnappers and arrested one of them, who was immediately handed over

to the police.

Meanwhile The Rivers Police Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of Adoki in his home town, Abua, Rivers State.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who confirmed the incident, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the abduction, adding that investigations were on to track down the fleeing gang members..

Muhammad said, “Efforts are on to rescue him as two suspects involved in the abduction have been

arrested.”

Meanwhile, the ruling APC in the state has congratulated Justice Mohammed on his appointment as the chief justice of Nigeria, and requested for his immediate intervention in the crisis that has paralysed the state judiciary.

Chairman of APC in the state, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt yesterday, said, “The news of Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed’s appointment as CJN came to us as a big relief as we are aware of his forthrightness and commitment to upholding the rule of law.

NILS Seeks Improved Legislature, Executive Relations

By Anayo Onukwugha, Port Harcourt

Technical Aid Sends 49 Volunteers To Uganda Barely three months after the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) sent 48 Nigerian professionals on a volunteer mission to Uganda, another batch of 49 left yesterday on the same mission to Kampala University in Uganda.

Speaking at a brief ceremony in honour of the volunteers, director general of TAC, Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi disclosed that a total of 250 volunteers have been sent to Uganda alone to lecture and gather experience.

Osunyikanmi said, “These people you see now are eminently qualified and like I told the previous volunteers they must be good ambassadors.

“Though the task ahead is enormous I want to assure you that by the time you return to Nigeria with the experience gathered you will be hot cake in the Nigerian labour market”.

By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja

‘I’m Still National Chairman Of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore’ The national chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Bodejo , who was purportedly suspended last week , has said that he was not aware of any meeting convened by the members where his suspension was discussed, and as such he remains the national chairman.

In a statement personally signed by him and made available to newsmen in Abuja at the weekend after their executive meeting, Bodejo said “Those who carried out the suspension are mischief makers who want to cause disaffection among Fulani in the country. I am not in anyway distracted by such media propaganda as I remain focused and resolute.

By Millie Ibe, Abuja

L-R: Supervising minister of information, Dr Nurudeen Muhammad minister of power, Prof Chinedu Nebo and minister of state for power, Mr Mohammed Wakil, at the ministerial platform on power in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

Babalakin: We Can Prosecute In State High Court – EFCC

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, , Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday told a Lagos High Court in Ikeja that it has constitutional right to prosecute the chairman of BiCourtney Limited, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) before a state high court.

The anti-graft agency stated this before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo, through its lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) in opposition to an ap-

plication filed before the court by Bi-Courtney Limited and Babalakin challenging the jurisdiction of the court to conduct the trial.

Babalakin (SAN), Stabilini Vision Limited, Bi-Courtney Limited, Alex Okoh, and his company Renix Nigeria Limited are standing trial before justice Lawal-Akapo on alleged N4.7 billion fraud brought against them by the commission.

The EFCC alleged that Babala-

kin and his co-defendants fraudulently assisted convicted former Delta State Governor, James Ibori to transfer huge sums of money through various parties to Erin Aviation account in Mauritius for the purchase of a plane.

The 27 count charge border on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and corruptly conferring benefit on account of public action.

The National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) has called for enhanced relationship between the legislature and executive arms of government.

Against the backdrop of recent frosty relationship between the two arms of government in the country, the institute submitted that a healthy relationship will translate to good governance and ensure democratic dividends to citizens.

Declaring open a three-day workshop for ECOWAS parliamentary staff and legislative aides under the NILS Capacity Building Project (NILS-CAP), a member of the project’s technical committee, Mr John Azumah, said the programme was designed to improve legislative works.

By Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja

Orji Kalu Withdraws From Senatorial Race Demands refund of nomination fees

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Former Abia state Governor Orji Uzor Kalu has withdrawn his senatorial ambition for Abia North senatorial district under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that Governor Theodore Orji has concluded plans to impose aspirants on members of the party in the state.

Kalu, in a letter to the PDP national chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, dated November 24, accused his successor and incumbent governor of making some influential members of the party to resign their juicy positions to contest positions under the PDP whereas the governor already had aspirants he handpicked for the PDP ticket.

The former governor however requested a refund of his nomination and expression of interest forms, noting that contrary to earlier arrangements he never went through

any of the stipulated processes that leads to the emergence of candidate.

Senatorial aspirants in the PDP paid N5.5million for the purchase of the funds. The letter reads in part “ It became apparent that the Abia state governor, Chief T.A Orji wants to handpick all candidates, both into executive and legislative position.

He wants to choose his own successor, fill the 24 House of Assembly seats, the eight federal constituencies and the three senatorial seats.

“Governor Orji knew ahead of time that he had a candidate in mind but

deliberately allowed eminent Abia citizens like Dr. Alex Otti, GMD of Diamond Bank to resign from his lofty position when he should have advised him to remain there.

“He also allowed Chief Emeka Wogu, minister of labour to resign and lose Abia slot in the Federal Executive Council and other ministerial committees; he equally allowed two Senators: Nkechi Nwogu and Enyinnaya Abaribe to pick gubernatorial forms when he should have advised them to go for re-election in the Senate.”

SCIENCE/interview 49

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Private Sector Not Ready To Invest In Real Enterprise – NASENI Boss

Mohammed Haruna by nkechi isaac, Abuja

The power sector has been identified as the key sector needed for the complete industrialisation of Nigeria, yet the government has been battling to get it on its feet. What do you think we can do to tackle this present need and what effort has the NASENI made in this direction?

short BIO OF Engr. Dr. Mohammed Sani Haruna

Haruna was born November 20, 1963 in Keffi town, Nasarawa State. He attended Abdu Zanga Primary school Keffi, vocational and Relevant Technology Jos and Extra Mural School University of Jos for West African school Certificate.

He holds a PhD and masters of engineering degrees in electrical engineering from Bayero University kano.

The deterioration of structures and lack of capacity of the operators of the sectors did not come overnight.

It is as a result of very long neglect of the sector. To ameliorate the situation, corrective measures will also take a long time for the effect to be fully manifest.

The government is doing everything it can to ensure successful privatisation and the management of the transmission, the new generating stations coming on board, those about to completed and those that have been completed, as well as several sub-stations which have been built by the IPP and those still under construction.

The effect, as I said, will take time to come. A lot of power is being generated, but the transmission to the appropriate sub-stations is always difficult, because the transmission facilities have been under-utilised for very long. Some of them have never supplied up to 50 per cent of their original carrying capacity. For this reason alone, they are not expected to remain intact. Performing for appropriate loading becomes an issue for the system. This needs to be expanded, repaired, upgraded, completely replaced and all that. So, it will take some time before we can have sufficient power supply, but I am saying that the government is taking action in the right direction.

From the NASENI point of view, we have been requesting that the NASENI should be considered, especially through its power development centre, as a component of the IPP, because it is through there that local content in the sector an appropriately emerge. We need to build some equipment locally, build adequate capacity locally, build some tools locally and carry out some forms of diagnosis and

trouble-shooting on faulty components and do repairs. In fact, we need to design some truly indigenous components, based on our peculiarities. It is only by our participation in this that local content can be guaranteed; the privatization will not guarantee that. They still import machines and other equipment and because we are in such a mad hurry to meet the demand, get adequate power generation to meet the yearnings of the populace, we are forgetting the research and local component that will show true, local ownership of this industry.

The NASENI is intervening in the main power sector by via the research and development activities of the Electrical Machinery Development Institute, Okene, where we design and produce equipment like mounted transformers for the distribution of electricity. We also have the capacity to do more and build more capacity if adequately funded and roundly supported. Again, we have ventured successfully ventured into renewable energy by design and production of small hydroturbines that can be deployed to appropriate small streams and river bodies within the country to ensure that what is being generated can supplement what is available on the grid. The good thing about is that it will also help to supply power to areas not connected to the national grid. The off-grid system was the encouragement for NASENI to research and develop and embark on the production of solar modules and factories, to the extent that we now have a factory of limited liability status wholly owned by the federal government, producing solar-panels in Karshi. Other auxiliary equipment for solar energy are also produced in our Electronic Equipment Development Centre in Awka and Power Equipment And Electrical Development Institute in Okene.

Again, we have developed capacity and produced designs and models for appropriate, suitable wind blades and turbines in our locality, as far as renewable energy is concerned. All we have to do is find locations in the country where wind can be successfully employed and install them, if appropriately and fully supported. We are saying this, because there is now where in the world where power generation is by one method. People normally utilise and see to all their available power-generating resources.

That is how Nigeria can get it right when all these things are appropriately employed.

The NASENI has a power turbine somewhere in Nasarawa State.

Are there plans to go to other states in the federation?

Yes. However, let me say that it is our target and we will be happier to

keep improving capacity; not only of NASENI’s day-to-day working, but of of others and even of smallscale industries, so that they can take over these productions. Unfortunately, we are limited by resources. In fact, to install the one we did in the Mada River to Gada Village in Gudi, I must say that we paid heavily through our noses. We do no even have money to go there for inspection, monitoring or performance. Now, we are compelled to begin work on remote devices which will help us monitor our devices from the NASENI headquarters, so that we can reduce the number of staff members we always send to go take readings and upload our performance. That is our performance scheme.

We went the extra mile, sacrificing our personal resources to see to the commissioning of that as proof of concept, because Nigerians will not believe in ability until it is demonstrated. That is the reason why, without asking either the federal government, Akwanga local government, the ministry of power or the Nasarawa State government for a kobo, we took the pain to electrify the community by providing materials and labour to do all the wiring in the houses of the villagers, as a demonstration that this can and is working in Nigeria. We are willing to help the federal government by taking this to many other communities where power has not really been supplied to. Let them have it as their own share of the dividend of democracy and as a testimony to the transformational agenda of this government.

All we need is to be supported by funds to reach as many as possible.

Also, we are willing to train others and support SMES to mass-produce this. Note, I am not saying that the government can provide electricity free-of-charge for everyone. What I am saying is that we can generate power in Nigeria by Nigerians, thereby generating other chains of economic activities.

We have identified other places, some even close to Abuja, where electricity supply is news to them.

To make this a reality, we have identified 81 candidate rivers across the country. We have been able to optimise resources to get one working and, if helped on, we can get the others to produce our electricity.

You just revealed that funds undermine the activities of the agency.

Yes. You mentioned some alternatives and options for power generation and renewable energy development. Has the private sector been able to key into any of these?

After the Karshi Parktree was commissioned, we wanted to hand

it over to the private sector as consultants. We thought of concessions, we thought of leases and all other options. We even had high hopes of producing equipment for the private sector. When we saw nothing coming forth, we had to convert that to convert the pilot plant into a limited liability company. We also came to understand that the private sector participants would like to see reports, financial reports and our score-cards. We had none of these.

The factory is rarely one year old and when it becomes one, we will have documents for everything, from finance to operation and all that, so as to use them as a guide for any willing investor. This is one of the reasons why we are at trade fairs and exhibitions, to demonstrate to the private sector that there are investment opportunities available at NASENI. We are blessed to have major players in the Nigerian economy on our board; the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Small and Medium-scale Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), SON,as well as a number of other.

Does this mean that the private sector is dragging its foot in investing?

My assessment of the Nigerian private sector is that many of them prefer trading to manufacturing.

No one wants to invest as a true entrepreneur. They prefer buying and selling, as well as contracting for the government. The typical Nigerian investor is no true entrepreneur. Very few of them look for appropriate opportunities to invest for the long-run; everyone wants a quick return. They will prefer to go buy machines from China or other parts of the world to go see where some form of mineral water and begin production. They do not mind that the imported raw materials for their business are mined here and taken to other countries for complete refining or purification. They just go ahead and use them, adding little value to the nation’s economy.

Elsewhere, the entrepreneurs even bombard bodies like NASENI with assignments and proposals for patents which they want to be made; they just come together to work for the good of the country and protect the country’s interest. Over here, they do not care one farthing.

The founding fathers of this institute thought it wise to make the major players in the private sector members of this board for a reason.

It was for them to be informed of the goings-on in the industry and to aid in fashioning out how to be a part of the whole thing.

The good thing about that is, it will also help to supply power to areas not connected to the national grid

50

tribute

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Happy Birthday Atiku

by Professor Margaret Ensign

As President of the American University of Nigeria, I have been asked for my reflections on the occasion of the birthday of our university’s founder and benefactor, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar.

I know I speak for the entire University community when I say that our Founder’s generosity-which I daily experience first hand--has been astonishing and truly humbling. I am, therefore, very happy to have been given this opportunity to express our gratitude for all that he has done for AUN, for education in Nigeria, and even the rest of the world.

However, I have a problem.

How do you begin to thank someone whose generosity has reached such truly epic proportions, proportions quite without precedent or parallel in Nigerian history?

How do you thank someone who, beginning with the distinguished ABTI (now AUN) Academy, has created the finest educational endeavor—from preschool to the doctoral level—in all of Nigeria?

How do you thank someone who has financed the building of the entire AUN infrastructure?

From power plants to student hostels, from computers to desks to security guard uniforms, from roads and classrooms to the greatest assembly hall in northern Nigeria, all were made possible by his largess.

Just this fall, we finished the construction of our revolutionary new e-library, in a wonderful and elegant new building. That library has won international awards and global recognition. He built this award winningLibrary.

How do you thank someone who has gone on to underwrite major scholarship aid for countless talented Nigerian students who would otherwise have lacked the means to attend the American University of Nigeria? Growing up a poor orphan himself in the Yola area, he has never forgotten those in need, nor the road out of poverty that education provided him.

One of the most influential educational experiences of his youth came from American Peace Corps teaching volunteers, young men who taught the boy Atiku to think for himself, and

Atiku

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to believe in himself. The former Vice President of Nigeria, His Excellency is now paving the road out of poverty for other deserving young Nigerians, employing the same American pedagogy that helped to transform his life, and his future. AUN is the only American-style university south of the Sahara, and in only ten short years has established itself as one of the most important universities in West Africa.

Nor has his generosity been limited to the support of the schools and university that he himself has founded.

He has personally provided scholarships to thousands of young Nigerians, scholarships to fund their study both in Nigeria and abroad. He has built hundreds of schools throughout the country. He has even funded

a Professorial Chair in African History at Oxford University, extending his educational philanthropy to the United Kingdom!

His exemplary record of public service and private philanthropy lead the American National Peace Corps Association to award him the Harris Woffard Award in 2012. The citation read in part: “No private business man in Africa has worked harder for democracy or contributed more to higher education than Atiku Abubakar.”

On a more personal note, let me confess that I have often urged him to take greater public credit for his generosity. As a university president, I know that, in general, the way one rewards major donors is to provide “naming opportunities.”

Donors like to see their names in prominent places, usually on sports facilities and other large buildings. Not His Excellency.

No, he said. Do not name the new Commencement hall in my honor. No, he said. Do not name the new Library in my honor.

But there was one project particularly close to his heart.

On this one he relented.

Since its inception, our Founder had envisioned AUN to be not only an Americanstyle university (and one with world-class standards and expectations) but also to be something quite new. It was to be Africa’s first “Development University.” It would have as its singular mission the fostering and supporting of research, teaching, and practice in how to bring sustainable development to the peoples of Africa; economic development, political development, educational development.

AUN would be fully involved in its community and its nation, not only training its students in information technology, public health, entrepreneurial skills, petroleum chemistry and the like, but sending those students out to learn first hand about their society and its problems and potential. They would learn about its environmental challenges, about its illiteracy, and the barriers to economic progress. But perhaps most importantly, they would learn about Nigeria’s people, so eager for a better life and the opportunity to build it for themselves and for their children.

Our various development efforts in peace-making, teaching, environmental restoration and poverty eradication have now been brought together in one place, located in the gleaming new Robert A. Pastor Library and e-Learning Center. And that Center now, with his permission, bears our founder’s name.

It is the “Atiku Center for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Development.”

Thus it is with boundless appreciation, respect and great affection--on behalf of everyone at the American University of Nigeria and the Atiku Center-that I send His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, our founder and patron, our very best wishes and prayers on the occasion of his birthday.

– Ensign, is the President, American University of Nigeria, AUN, Yola

51

issues Tuesday, November 25, 2014

By Josiah Idowu-Fearon

History, it is often said, “repeats itself”; on the contrary, it is people who refuse to learn from history who repeat the past. Nigerians are being prepared to face another round of elections in February 2015 in order to usher in a new government that will be in place for another period of four years. How prepared are we, what do we need to do in order to avoid the carnage that was unleashed on the Northern parts of Nigeria and Akwa Ibom immediately after the results of the presidential election were announced to the waiting nation?

Nigerians must learn from the mistakes of the very last general elections and do all possible to avoid those mistakes. As we await 2015 – the wounds from 2011 are yet to heal. From what we gather, • Hundreds of the lives lost will never be brought back and the wounds never fully healed.

• Thousands of businesses lost are yet to be re-started.

• Hundreds of residential buildings destroyed are yet to be rebuilt.

• Most of the places of worship that were destroyed are yet to be rebuilt due to inadequate assistance from both the state and federal governments.

While these are personal losses that will never be fully replaced, Nigerians must all come together and learn lessons from the findings of the presidential committee – Sheikh Lemu Committee. The writer of this article was privileged to have served on that committee as well as the Kaduna State committee of 70 members that focused on the 2011 crises. These reflections therefore are made so as to draw the attention of the various stakeholders to their role in making the forthcoming general elections violent free.

Nigerian Politicians We draw the attention of all our politicians in this country to the following observations from the findings and recommendations of the two committees mentioned above that investigated the crisis that erupted during the last general elections.

Internal democracy All political parties are called upon to please allow for internal democracy; by that it is meant that the following should be avoided in order to prevent implosions that will certainly affect all Nigerians.

Imposition of candidates by party leadership – candidates should emerge democratically through a process that involves all cardcarrying members of each political party.

Agreed modalities by each political party membership for

As Nigerians Prepare For 2015 Elections sharing political positions must be adhered to and respected by all members. For example, where there is an agreement on which zone is to fill which political office, we plead that our politicians should honour that agreement. This was a major cause of 2011 post presidential and gubernatorial elections in one particular state.

Our politicians should resist the temptation to enforce themselves on the electorate, we plead that they resist the temptation to remain in power or come to power at all costs!

To all politicians seeking election or re-election, remember, leadership is a trust from God. The Arabs say: la haula wa la quwwata illa billahi ( there is no power but God). God delegates and therefore all leaders will give an account to this God eventually.

The desire to be in power at all cost brought about the deaths of 943 lives and 838 injured Nigerians following the last presidential riots! This time round, this must be avoided.

Lemu’s committee came across a state where lives were lost and property worth millions of Naira destroyed because politicians refused to abide by a previous arrangement. This must never be allowed this time especially as parties go into their primaries. We plead with our politicians to abstain from inflammatory language and the campaign of calumny, they must not see an opponent as an enemy that must be exterminated.

Political campaigns should and must be based on issues and promises that can be fulfilled. We call on those who have money among them to use their money to develop their areas and refrain from sponsoring unpopular candidates seeking political power. This has always resulted in the deaths and destruction of the properties of innocent Nigerians to the exclusion of members of sponsors of such wicked schemes!

Unfortunately, no government in this country has ever either fully compensated for or given enough assistance to victims of these avoidable crises.

Religious Leaders We plead with religious leaders to refrain from the negative use of religion as a way of getting their members elected into political positions. From our findings, this is a way many religious leaders in this country today have amassed

Jega

Our politicians should resist the temptation to enforce themselves on the electorate, we plead that they resist the temptation to remain in power or come to power at all costs! so much wealth to the point of competing with their members in every facet of materialism. This practice has and, unless stopped, will continue to pitch one religious community against the other, simply because a political leader who owns his/her being in power to his/ her religious community will always give preferential treatment to that community.

For Nigerian electorate to be rightly guided, religious leaders should call for honesty, integrity, transparency on all politicians irrespective of their religious professions.

Nigerians are a religious people, the writer of this article is pleading with our religious leaders to avoid a religious war erupting in 2015 by resisting hate preaching and divisions among Nigerians along religious lines. Our religious leaders are called upon to encourage the electorate to vote according to their convictions and not to sell to the electorate any candidate on the basis of being Christian or Muslim.

It is rather unfortunate that some of our senior religious leaders are today pitching one tribe or

section against the other within the same geographical area. This has become very pronounced in the last few years. Various tribal and ethnic compositions that had lived and respected each other are today strange bed-fellows as a result of the use of religion to divide various tribal and ethnic groups within a given area. This has become very pronounced in certain parts of Nigeria today.

The Muslims preach ummatun wahidatun ( one community) while the Bible talks about ( one faith, one Lord, one baptism) irrespective of tribe or ethnic origin. We plead with these religious leaders who, for selfish and pecuniary reasons are fanning the embers of racial superiority to please desist as we prepare for the next general elections. Like the politicians, when crises break out, neither they nor their families suffer!

Traditional Rulers On the side of our traditional rulers, we call for sincerity, honesty and fairness. Traditional rulers are to see themselves as fathers to all within their domains – they

should be above ethnic and religious sentiments. A traditional ruler who is Muslim is not the traditional ruler of the Muslims in his domain alone, he is the leader of all Muslims, Christians and those who do not belong to either of these two major religions of our country. Traditional rulers are therefore called upon to resist the temptation to side one politician against the other. When traditional rulers are seen to be fair and just to all, those being led or governed will follow suit.

As the individual politician visits our traditional rulers, we plead with them to be sincere in their counsels, put the needs of their subjects to each and admonish them on the failure to carry the electorate with them on getting to power. Our traditional rulers are respected as the voices of their subjects, they are therefore to represent their subjects to all seeking their support without discrimination. When our traditional rulers play this father-forall role without discrimination either on religious or tribal grounds, their subjects will obey and cooperate with them.

The Press The members of this sacred profession have a major role to play as we pray and plan to avert the disaster that visited 15 states following the 2011 presidential election results. We affirm the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that guarantees every citizen the freedom of expression.

However, we would plead with the media to help avert a repeat of 2011 by displaying responsible news dissemination. We urge the ladies and gentlemen of the press to avoid false or malicious reporting and adhere to factual reporting.

We would even go as far as pleading that even with factual reporting the security of our nation; peace and peaceful co-existence must be their criteria before any factual reporting is made public.

Nigeria seems to be at another crossroads as she approaches 2015 general elections, the vibes are not encouraging but, if suggestions in this article to these selected stakeholders are taken seriously and implemented, we may just survive and not have another blood-letting experience lke we had in 2011.

The current situation calls for sacrifice from these selected segments of our communal life as a country. These groups must be willing and prepared to let go their ambitions for the well-being of this nation. Who knows, the Lord may give them better and rewarding positions or opportunities to be relevant in the future.

– Idowu-Fearon is Bishop of Kaduna Diocese, Anglican Communion

52 ISSUES

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Ganduje: Kwankwaso’s Natural Successor?

By Bashir Ibrahim Hassan

In 2007 Nigeria had every reason to celebrate the smooth civilian to civilian transition of power for the first time in its chequered history. This historic smooth transition heralded the beginning of the consolidation of a fledgling democracy in a country that had, for most part of its post-independence history, run by military junta of different hues. Consolidation presupposes some democratic gains. Indeed, despite, it’s avoidable recurrent sectarian stripes, militancy and in recent time insurgency, Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 has brought with it lots of blessings particularly in terms of institutional and infrastructural developments.

Gradually the institutions of democracy are being developed, albeit with awkward staggering steps of a toddler. Routine elections are now held after every term of four years. They may not present the freest and fairest of elections but, at least, they give the Nigerian electorates the chance to participate in an exercise that produces their leaders and the hope to exercise that voting power to oust underperforming politicians.

Cumulatively, between the states and federal government, Nigeria’s infrastructural development projects have surged in the last 14 years. Educational institutions, for example, across the country have multiplied many folds. More classrooms and new secondary and tertiary institutions, both public and privately run, have sprung up in almost all the states. These are all dividends of democracy, which the many years of military rule failed to provide.

However, a closer look of the whole thing will show that, in terms of infrastructural development, the states have individually outperformed the federal government. More roads and fly-over have been built by state governments than by the federal government. More states have in the last four years moved to provide themselves with befitting airports while the federal government is struggling to maintain those under its care.

States like Kano have excelled in both educational and infrastructural development in the last four years.

It is clear that Governor Kwankwaso has put the state on the path of true federalism. He has shown the state can and should be independent of the federal government in many ways. He revived the state emblem, establish parallel traffic agency to that of the federal government and is more or less in fierce competition with federal government over infrastructural development. But, most importantly, is his prudent and effective management of the state’s scarce resources that made the many development projects possible.

Barely days after Governor Kwankwaso’s assumption of duties, he introduced measures that will block leakages of public funds by cancelling security-vote, avoided frivolous expenditures by MDA’s and cutting recurrent expenditures (from Government House, Deputy Governor’s office and all MDA’s) saving up to N500 million monthly.

Due to the public’s confidence in the judicious, prudent and accountable management of their resources, the Internally Generated Revenue of the state experienced a significant improvement from a mere N400 million to about N2

Kwankwaso

Billion monthly. The prudence paid as Gov. Kwankwaso was able to make capital expenditure higher than recurrent votes (2012: 63% capital, 37% recurrent; 2013 75% capital, 25% recurrent) and achieved 83% budget implementation in 2012.

Kwankwaso’s keen interest in education, particularly technical education, dates back to his first tenure between 1999-2003 when he established the first state university specialized in science and technology known as the University of Science and Technology Wudil. On his second coming he has established a second state owned university the, North West University. In addition he established 23 new Institutes for vocational training and building the capacity of the outof-school youths in areas such as Farm Mechanization, Film, Sports, Horticulture, Co-operate Security, etc. He has so far sponsored over 2000 students to universities and

professional Institutions across the world to study Piloting and Aeronautical Engineering, Marine Engineering, Medicine, Pharmacy etc.

In the area of infrastructural development, 3 new cities; Kwankwasiyya, Amana and Bandirawo have been created with the aim of decongesting the metropolis. Construction of a 220Km (5km in each of the 44 LGA) is nearing completion as well as many dual carriage way roads completed with street lights and three Flyover among them a 1.7Km Flyover bridge.

Similarly, in the area of provision of safe drinking water supply in and around Kano; Kwankwaso’s administration is targeting 80% of Kano population and it is doing this by procuring and laying 600mm diameter ductile pipes covering 42km for Watari - Kano Water supply; 1000mm diameter 15km ductile pipes for Challawa GoronDutse water supply; 3.85Km of 1000mm ductile pipes from Tamburawa to Eastern By-pass to Hadejia road; 5 km of 400mm Ductile pipes for Watari – Tsanyawa; 24km of 600mm diameter ductile iron pipe from Joda Regional water plant to Gezawa; and 22km of 400mm diameter ductile iron pipe from Kafin-Chiri Regional water plant to Sumaila.

The sad note is Kwankwaso is in his last and final tenure as Governor of Kano State. So the natural questions on the mind of the people centres around who will succeed him and continue with this excellent performance.

One question leads to another; will there be same-party transition that will guarantee continuity or will there be disruption and

sudden departure? If the state is lucky to get same-party transition; who among the many candidates vying for the covet position is most suitable? If loyalty is anything to go by in choosing a successor then Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the current deputy Governor (was the deputy also during Kwankwaso’s first tenure) is most suitable. In addition to his loyalty Ganduje is one of Kano’s finest educationist and administrator.

Dr. Ganduje started his career as college teacher rising within five years to position of lecturer I at Bayero University, Kano. But greater part of his career was spent as an administrator with Federal Capital Development Authority ((FCDA), which he joined in 1993. He put 17 years of meritorious service at the FCDA. He came back to Kano to hold a position as Commissioner of Works from 1994-1998 and when finally civilians took over found himself as the deputy Governor of Kano State from 1999-2003.

Excelling as an educationist and in public administration and being part of the first and second tenure of the Kwankwanso’s administration inner circle made Dr. Ganduje the natural successor of the red cap revolution in Kano State.

Consolidation may be on the lips of everyone, but Ganduje may have to take note that, he needs to do more than consolidating on the gains of Kwankwanso. There are many new political permutations in Kano‘s body politics that may require charting of a new course of action. More than consolidation, Ganduje needs to be his own man to ride on top of the changing political dynamics in the state.

– Hassan contributed this piece from Abuja

Gantsa And The Buji/Birnin Kudu Nomination

BY ABDULLAHI HASSAN

Buji, Birnin Kudu is one of the eleven federal constituencies, in Jigawa State preparing to present credible candidate for the forthcoming general election scheduled for February next year.

Democracy means different things to different people, but to the lay man, democracy means representation through electoral processes so as to have a voice in the operation of government.

The fifteen year of uninterrupted democracy in the country has yielded development, in different aspect through the provision of basic infrastructures and respect from the international community despite the all odd.

Presentation of credible candidate by parties to serve as their flag bearers in various political officers is an issue of prime concern.

With conduct of ward congress by the ruling P.D.P the processes is in

top gear for the selection of delegate from word level to represent their constituencies in choosing aspirant aiming to contest in various political offices.

The nomination and endorsement of Ali Mohammed Tukur Gantsa to represent Buji Birnin Kudu Federal Constituency at the House of Representative under the platform of P.D.P is a clear testimony of presenting a credible candidate who can deliver, and represent his people so as to change things for better, through Bills and legislation.

The candidate with track record, accountability, and sound educational background, is capable of holding any political officers going by the position he held, and committees he headed at both State and Federal Government.

The said federal constituency Buji Birnin Kudu is one of the densely populated constituencies with high level degree, of education, and awareness by the teeming electorate.

Medias especially print and electronic has played a crucial role towards mobilizing the electorate in Democratic processes, through the introduction of various political programme by the broadcast media, and dedicating of columns and pages by the print media, to feature political activities and no doubt people has been fully mobilized in this respect, to air their voice and present their views as every citizen is entitle to his own opinion as enshrined in section 39 of the 1999 constitution.

Buji Birnin Kudu happened to be the largest federal constituency is opportune, to have a progressive politician with track record in his political career, his political struggle began in the past four decade during P.R.P aft to the current political dispensation, he held several position in P.D.P, such as Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Need, Member Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Governing Board, Chairman

Kila Cassava Processing Company, he participated in various committees set up by the Jigawa State government and work credibly, currently he is the State Secretary of P.D.P in Jigawa State.

The most important is his sound academic background he was formerly a lecturer at Kano State Polytechnic, Jigawa State Polytechnic College of Engineering Kazaure, he is at Ethiopia in Bahidar University for a two year technical aid corps, while in Technical Aid he contributed greatly in various sector which lead him to an award.

Education been the most important tools for national development, he participated actively in the development of education in the state, through the provision of assistant to student who cannot sponsored themselves for further study, offering of professional advise to interesting student who want enroll in tertiary institution and university, so as to enhance their future career, he deeply

participated in all issues that has to do with development at all level in respect of who is involved in the issue, his main concern is societal development.

He introduce series of innovation that has to do with youth awareness, and political development, such as campaign, to shine drug abuse, political vandalism, thuggery and indiscipline, and no doubt the campaign has played a crucial role towards reducing menace among youth in the state and change things for better.

Politicians and intellectuals the environment he represent believe that, Ali would played a crucial role if voted in the National Assembly through the presentation of Bills that would enhance his constituency the state and the nation at large, considering his sound educational background his achievement in any assignment he was assign to deliver the result is achievement and credibility.

– Hassan write from Dutse

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

53

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

world

news ➊

➍

➌ ➏ ➎

➐

➋

➎ US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel Resigns

Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has resigned, US officials said, ending nearly two years in the Pentagon’s top job after a bruising mid-term election that undermined President Barack Obama’s Democrats in Congress.

Hagel, who had struggled to improve his ties with Congress after a contentious 2013 confirmation hearing, submitted his resignation letter after lengthy discussions with Obama that began in October, officials said.

Flash flooding in southern Morocco has reportedly killed at least 31 people, with many others still missing.

Heavy storms have swept across several regions including

tourist hub Marrakesh, where torrential rain destroyed many mud homes.

Roads and highways were blocked off, making it hard for emergency crew to reach people.

Egypt’s leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has met Pope Francis, kicking off his first European trip since ousting his predecessor and overseeing a crackdown that has killed

hundreds.

Sisi’s visit to the Vatican on Monday will be followed by a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at 1800 GMT, Renzi’s office said.

➊US Police Shoot ➋Unidentified Jet Dead Boy Carrying Strikes Libya Airport At least one unidentified jet has Pellet Gun A 12-year-old boy shot by police after apparently grabbing what turned out to be a pellet gun died from his wounds.

Deputy Police Chief Ed Tomba said that one officer fired twice after the boy pulled the weapon - which was lacking the orange safety indicator usually found on the muzzle - from his waistband but had not pointed it at police.

carried out an air strike, targeting Mitiga International airport in the Libyan capital Tripoli, witnesses and local media have said.

The extent of damage of yesterday’s attack was not immediately clear. The airport is under the control of Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn) militia group that installed a parallel authority over the summer in Tripoli to the elected government sitting in the eastern city of Tobruk.

➏ Morocco Flash

Floods Leave Dozens Dead

➌ Iran Nuclear

➍ Portuguese ex-PM

The deadline for an Iran nuclear deal has been extended to the end of June after talks in Vienna failed to reach a comprehensive agreement.

UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said good progress had been made, but it was “not possible to get an agreement by the (original) deadline”.

Jose Socrates, Portugal’s centreleft prime minister between 2005 and 2011, is being questioned again in court on suspicion of corruption, money laundering and tax fraud.

He was detained on his return from Paris on Friday and has spent three nights in jail.

Investigators are looking at suspicious money transfers and banking operations.

Talks Deadline Extended To June

Jose Socrates Back In Court

➐ Egypt’s Sisi Visits

Pope On First Europe Trip

55

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Nestlé MILO Sec Sch Basketball Holds Dec 1- 6 The grand finale of the 16th edition of the Nestlé MILO Secondary Schools Basketball will hold from December 1 to 6 at the indoor sports complex of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, organisers have said.

Annually, the competition provides the opportunity for Nestlé MILO to reach thousands of secondary school students with the platform both to play basketball at its best as well as to learn livelong values that help to shape the youngsters to

actualise their dreams. Values gained at the competition include teamwork, determination, discipline, honesty and respect.

This year, nearly 100,000 students from 7,530 schools participated in the championship from the state preliminaries to the regional conferences across Nigeria.

The schools that will feature in the finale include Dutse Model International School and Government Girls Secondary School, Gwawaran, both from Ji-

gawa State, St Augustine Seminary, Ezzamgbo of Ebonyi State; Osadennis High School Asaba and West End Mixed Secondary School, Bayelsa State. Others are St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Jesus College, Oturkpo, Government Girls Secondary School Gboko and CAC Grammar School, Akure. Henson Demonstration Group of Schools Benin, Ilupeju Grammar School, Lagos and Yejide Girls Secondary School, Ibadan complete the list of finalists.

Golf: Heritage Cup Starts December 5 The Port Harcourt Club Golf Section and the Heritage Bank Limited have concluded plans to host the 2014 edition of the Port Harcourt Amateur Open Golf Championship tagged ‘The Heritage Cup.’ The championship has been slated to tee-off on December 5 at the Golf Section of the Port Harcourt Club 1928, while the closing ceremony has been fixed for December 7.

The event described as the

most coveted golf trophy in Nigeria by the Chairman Organizing Committee of the Championship, Abiye Amakiri, would see top amateur golfers from across the country storm the Force Avenue, Old GRA venue of competition.

Amakiri noted that the Amateur championship for players across the country is aimed at developing the skills of the players and helping them to network at the same time.

“We believe strongly that as the professionals gather regularly to do their thing, the amateurs should also be encouraged to play in top class competition like this.

“The standard of last year’s edition was very high, but we shall try as much as possible make it bigger. The 2013 edition was full of surprises; we expect more of this in the Heritage Cup this year with the class of players who have confirmed their participation in the Ladies, Professional, Men’s

Amateur, Special Guests and Major Sponsors categories.”

In last year’s competition, Ocheje Ibrahim of the Air Assault Golf Club, Port Harcourt emerged winner in the gross over 18 holes with 70 points in the Amateur class, while Gureteh Barimame of Port Harcourt Club was the overall winner in Amateur best gross over 36 holes with 147 points. In the Major Sponsors’ Class, Bollori Logistics Africa won the best Net over 18 holes with 68 points.

Golf action

GOtv Boxing: Skoro Wins National Featherweight Title Waidi Skoro on Sunday night at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Lagos emerged the national featherweight champion at the GOtv Boxing Night, a professional boxing event aimed to revive the sport in the country.

The event, which featured six fights in five weight divisions, drew fans from across the social strata and the biggest fight on the night was the National Featherweight title contest between Dare “Fighting Machine” Oyewole (reigning champion) and Waidi “Skoro”. Skoro emerged the new champion, after knocking out Dare ‘Fighting Machine’ Oyewole in the fifth of the 12-round bout. Skoro, who controlled proceedings in the fifth round, produced a devastating blur of right and left punches that dazed Oyewole at the end of the round. The impact of Skoro’s punches on Oyewole forced the latter’s corner to call off the fight and Skoro was announced as the new National Featherweight champion.

An elated Skoro, 22, disclosed

Pillars, Enyimba Want League Resumption Before Champs League GOtv Boxing Night action

that his immediate ambition is to take a shot at the African Featherweight title crown. “I thank all the fans. I am going to keep this title for a long time. Next, I am going for the African title and Commonwealth title too,” he said after he was declared winner. Skoro, winner in seven of his last eight fights, is building a reputation as a knockout specialist. Six of those seven wins, including over Oyewole, have been via knockout. In the Light Middleweight category, Sunday “Capo” Olalekan saw off

the challenge of Chijioke “Painless” Ngige, while Stanley “Edo Boy” Johnson did same to Saheed “ Happy Boy” Olayiwola in the Junior Welterweight class by a split decision of 74-77, 77-72 and 79-71. Rasheed “Afonja Warrior” Abolaji put up an eye-catching performance against 26-year-old Dele “Lagelu” Adeleke. He defeated Adeleke by an unanimous decision of 79-71, 80-71 and 79-69.

Abolaji also walked away with a trophy after he was adjudged the night’s most outstanding boxer.

Federation Cup: Glo Congratulates Enyimba National Telecommunication operator, Globacom, has congratulated two-time African Champions, Enyimba Football Club of Aba for winning the 2014 Federation Cup at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Sunday.

Enyimba, who recently lost the Globacom Premier League title to Kano Pillars Football Club, defeated Dolphins Football Club of Port Harcourt 2-1 in an enthralling encounter to cart away their fourth Federation Cup title and will now represent Nigeria at next year’s CAF Confed-

eration Cup. “We congratulate the management, technical crew and players of Enyimba Football Club of Aba for their resilience and resolve, and look forward to the Club making Nigeria proud in the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Monday.

Enyimba went ahead in the 52nd minute through Glo Premier League top scorer, Mfon Udoh and increased the tally in the 73rd minute when Chinonso Okonkwo collected a pass from Victor Ezuruike and beat Dolphins’ goalkeper flatly.

Dolphins’ only goal was scored in the 80th minute by Emem Edouk who emerged the Most Valuable Player of the final match.

“We particularly appreciate Enyimba’s success because this season has been one of the toughest for them as they struggled earlier on in the Glo Premier League.

But the manner in which they bounced back to reckoning and almost clinched the Premier League trophy said a lot about the team’s pedigree in Nigerian football,” the statement added.

Players of both Kano Pillars and Enyimba have said they will hope the new Nigeria league season begins before they are involved in next year’s CAF Champions League. Pillars and Enyimba will fly Nigeria’s flag in next year’s Champions League after they finished as champions and runners-up, respectively. Isaac Loute of Pillars and Femi Thomas from Enyimba have told AfricanFootball.com that it would be better if the Nigeria league began before they are involved in the Champions League because then they will be in a good fighting shape. “We fought hard to get the Champions League slot and we are in it to

prove that we are still the best in Nigeria. I am praying and urging the league organisers to see that the league starts before Champions League so that it can help the teams who are representing Nigeria on the continent next year,.”

Thomas told AfricanFootball.com Similarly, Pillars left back Isaac Loute said it will put the players in match fitness. “Lack of league action affected the teams who represented Nigeria in the African cups last season. It would therefore be great if the LMC could do everything to see that we start playing the league before the continental matches start,” advised the Benin Republic international defender.

Over 150 Clubs For Gov Shema Unity Cup Over 150 youth football teams tor of the competition, Ayuba will compete at this year’s Gov- Umar, all necessary arrangeernor Ibrahim Shema Unity ments have been concluded for Cup scheduled for Thursday at the success of the competition the Katsina Township Stadium. which is expected to attract all The youth football clubs have the 34 local government counalso pledged to support the gov- cils in the state. ernor’s revolutionary strides in Umar said that the participatsports development in the state. ing teams will enjoy free sets of The tournament which was ear- jeyseys aimed at motivating lier scheduled to commence on them to excel in the tournament November 1, 2014 but post- adding that the organising componed due to logistic problems mittee would do everything poswill now hold this Thursday. sible towards ensuring the sucAccording to the Coordina- cess of the championship.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

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AMUSEMENT PARK women who want to be equal to men lack ambition

25.11.14 www.leadership.ng

comrade Timi Frank

Tuesday Column:

FoR GoD anD countRY

No. 2,298

— Anon

TUESDAY

N150

Police Invasion Of NASS And Executive Tyranny 08070888888 (text only)

L

ast week’s desecration of the nation’s hallowed legislative temple marks the beginning of the Nazification of Nigeria.

In January 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany and

by August 1934, he had declared himself Führer - the leader of Germany. What happened during the period that allowed Hitler to take the ultimate position of authority? The setting of the Reichstag - German parliament in Berlin - on fire, the passing of the Enabling Act that set up the the SA, also known as Storm Troopers or Brownshirts to intimidate nonNazi deputies and the populace, the abolition of trade unions and the weeding out of other political parties, among others. Under Hitler, Germany was a Big Brother totalitarian police state that ruthlessly repressed freedom and individual liberty. It also adopted socialism, dramatically increased government spending and raised taxes to astronomical levels. I am afraid that Nigeria is presently at this sordid and frightening threshold of totalitarianism should the anti-democratic tendencies of the present administration continue.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its near 16 years in power has tried unsuccessfully to asphyxiate opposition political parties. They have successfully emasculated the apex labour organisations and rigged themselves into power countless times. They have mismanaged and continue to mismanage the nation’s economy through brazen corruption and lack of vision to the detriment of the electorate. Now they are out to take out democracy itself (God forbid).

The recent madness exhibited by the police at the precincts of the pristine National Assembly cannot but be situated in the current bizarre desperation by the PDP to muzzle all opposition and drive all political dissent underground just like in the devious days of Hitler.

The police said it ran amok and invaded the National Assembly to prevent “hoodlums” from gaining entrance into the premises. Let’s cast our minds back to the events that led to this unholy invasion.

Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had summoned the emergency session to consider and approve the request of President Goodluck Jonathan for a fourth extension of the emergency rule in the three Northeast states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. But the police exhibiting an unmitigated level of bias and acting a prepared script ambushed Tambuwal by blocking the gates when it was his turn to gain access. Most honourable members who came before Tambuwal were allowed to proceed. But when it came to Tambuwal’s turn the police said no, citing orders from ‘above.’

Tambuwal and the lawmakers in his entourage were mercilessly poison-gassed after they managed to find their way into the premises of the National Assembly. They later falsely accused Tambuwal of having arrived the gate with a “motley crowd.”

Earlier, the police and the SSS withdrew their men attached to the Speaker for daring to cross over to a political party of his choice, citing nebulous constitutional provision to justify its partisan action. Yet no reprimand for the unconstitutional withdrawal of the Speaker’s security details and the toxic gassing of the Senate President, David Mark, Speaker Tambuwal, Senators, House members and the staff and visitors to the National Assembly alike. The Presidency and the Office of the National Security Adviser have dissociated themselves from the action of the police but with no sanction being meted. Nigerians are no fools. The present administration has infected our government with a disease now made manifest in tyranny of the security forces.

I make bold to say that the police invasion of the National Assembly is not only a violation of the constitution but a rape on the

institution of the legislature as an arm government. How come the Legislature is being so mindlessly assaulted by the Executive? Under the present administration the resolutions of both chambers are tagged “mere advisory”. Their summons are disobeyed and disregarded by serving ministers with impunity. The majority of bills they have passed are only worth the paper on which they were written having not been assented to by Mr. President and fear of their imminent lapse in June next year when the 7th National Assembly is expected to wind up. Even Mr. President had accused the federal lawmakers of engaging more in politiking than legislation. This is the predicament of our governance and democracy. That ambush of Tambuwal by the police is utterly insulting, provocative and an ambush against democracy. The threats to cause his arrest by whosoever may well represent the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Even though the police and the Office of the NSA have denied ordering the arrest of Tambuwal, it is clear to discerning minds that the police still harbour sinister plots against Tambuwal. The statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, denying the plot was mere doublespeak meant to confuse and divert the attention of Nigerians. Ojukwu claimed that the IGP did not give such a directive but added that “rather, it lies with the investigating police officers to determine who to invite, quiz and prosecute as the case may be.”

The unprofessional conduct of the Nigeria Police in its attempt to criminally subvert the nation’s democracy did not start today. It could be recalled that during the ignoble reign of the self-styled ‘lion’ and former Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Mbu Joseph, the people of Rivers State were practically under siege. The actions of Mbu had culminated in the near fatal shooting of Senator Magnus

Neither President Jonathan nor the leeches in his administration ever partook in the struggle to relit the flame of democracy in this country.

Those who did not know how the battle for democracy was fought and won should not be allowed to truncate it Abe during a rally.

The Ekiti State elections also brought to the fore the use of the police and other security agencies to intimidate, harass and curtail the freedom of Nigerians. APC governors billed to attend the grand finale campaign rally of former Governor Kayode Fayemi were prevented from entering Ado Ekiti for the rally. Specifically, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State was not allowed to leave Benin airport, while the planes carrying Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto) were not allowed to land at the Akure airport. The convoy of Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, was ordered to turn back at the border between Ondo and Ekiti States. During that particular episode while Amaechi’s convoy was detained and forced to turn back, the convoys of the former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, and that of the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, were granted unfettered access.

There is no gain saying the conclusion that the present administration has become a false friend, an unjust judge, hypocritical, tyrannical, hateful, jealous, vain, revengeful, false in promise, suspicious, ignorant, infamous and hideously corrupt. Corruption corrodes democracy because no democracy can succeed without credible leadership. Under the present administration, the nation’s

timifrank@leadership.ng prized institutions have been corrupted. The system has been corrupted. The actors have been corrupted as our democracy can no longer guarantee freedom and the common good for the people.

Moreover, it has come to a critically juncture in our country that we have to ask whether the powers that be are those that ought to be. The present administration has succeeded in turning our democracy into a scare tactics through the instrumentality of the security forces. With the current anti-democratic tendencies and happenings prevalent in the land, our democracy appears doomed like a flickering candle sitting in an open window with the winds in the offing. Our democracy has turned to a mere slogan in the hands of those who were not there when valiant souls engaged the military and prized power out of their forceful grip. It ought not to be so. I want to say that if our democracy must thrive in this country then it must be full-blooded and unconditional.

Neither President Jonathan nor the leeches in his administration ever partook in the struggle to relit the flame of democracy in this country. Those who did not know how the battle for democracy was fought and won should not be allowed to truncate it.

GHANA MUST GO No Nigerian territory has fallen to Boko Haram in one week — Jonathan

And we are supposed to clap for him for that?

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