Leadership thursday news

16.10.14

THURsdAy

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

Years

No. 2,275

N150

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2015 Budget: FG Targets N11.16trn Revenue

BY NSe ANThoNY-Uko, Abuja

The federal government has projected total collectible revenue of N11.16 trillion for year 2015, targeting an increase of 2.5 per cent over the N10.89

Raises oil benchmark to $78

trillion revenue approved for the current year.

According to the 2015-2017 Medium Term Fiscal Framework

(MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) submitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday, revenue projections for years

Heritage Confirms Full Payment For Enterprise Bank > Page 20

2016 and 2017 were also raised to N11.7 trillion and N12.02 trillion respectively.

Also increased was the benchmark crude oil price from ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 5

Reps Okay Referendum On State Creation 5

Reject same process on confab resolutions Approve 71 amendements to 1999 Constitution

L-R: Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura; All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); Former minister of petroleum resources, Professor Tam David-West and Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima during Buhari’s declaration of his interest to run for the 2015 presidential election in Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

See story on Page 4

Prophets From 16 LGs Lead Fayose To Govt House > Page 6

FG Holds Valedictory session For Maku, Wike, 4 Others > Page 7

Chibok Diary DAY 184

Chibok Girls: BBOG Group Takes Advocacy To Foreign Embassies

> Page 2

2

chibok diary 185

Thursday, October 16, 2014

DAY

Chibok TweeTs

@daddychelsea It's already too late for this government and PDP to want to score a political point from the release of #Chibok girls. It's late! @Karo_Orovboni #Chibok! We all know what will happen and PDP will use that for political campaign.

SMH

Some parents of the abducted Chibok girls weeping and begging President Goodluck jonathan to help rescue their children during a protest by members of #BringBackourGirls advocacy group in abuja.

@persecutionnews: Yesterday was the 6-month anniversary @rescueourgirls 184 days since Tabitha Thomas from #Chibok.

Will she ever come home? Never forget. #BringBackOurGirls #NOWANDALIVE. @ossai007 I know somebody in Aso Rock keeps telling GEJ that he will win at the polls come 2015.... but then again....this is Nigeria! @DrJoeOdumakin While #Chibok abduction is yet to have any positive outcome, we still suffer loss of citizens abroad.

And to think it is Dubai again. @estherclimate Gladly, the First Lady is the only person who has mentioned the #Chibok issue.

The summit has been declared open #wgs2014 @deo-rt I have a feeling the #Chibok girls will be back before 2015 elections.

Compiled by TUNDE OBUNTOLA

PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

Chibok Girls: BBOG Takes Advocacy To Foreign Embassies

BY Chika Mefor and ejike ejike, Abuja

As part of the activities to commemorate six months of the abduction of the Chibok school girls, the #BringBackOurGirls group visited the UK, Chad and Niger embassies to push on with its demand for increased global action to rescue the girls.

The group, which submitted letters to these embassies in Abuja yesterday, noted that the clustering of the visits was made to ensure sequencing within the same locations and not in the order of importance.

The group however, noted that the visitation continues today at the US and Chinese embassies while the embassies of France and Cameroun will be visited on Friday.

In a bid to ensure the success of the visitation, the group is considering splitting into two groups so that one group can go to Aso Drive (France Embassy) while the other would go to Lobito Crescent (Cameron Embassy).

It would be recalled that the group had also taken its protest to the presidency on

Tuesday, a whole six months after the Chibok girls’ abduction.

Meanwhile, the #BBOG has also requested a proper invitation to the National Information Centre (NIC) if the centre had any information for the group.

The group noted that when its members attempted to visit the centre, they were barred from entering and just after it released a statement of its planned visit to Jonathan, the centre quickly sent out a massage to the media, inviting the same group it had earlier rejected for briefing.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Mike Omeri, the coordinator of the National Information Centre, had releaded a press statement on Monday, where he noted that the centre was open to concerned members of the public who may wish to seek further clarifications on the on-going anti-terror campaign and the search and rescue effort in the north east.

He had gp on to invite the BBOG to NIC’s media briefing on Tuesday at the national briefing centre located at the National Orientation Agency (NOA) headquarters, Abuja.

3

our stand Thursday, October 16, 2014

Justice For Oyoms And Toba

A

nother Nigerian, O y o m s A lamieyeseig ha , was last week allegedly murdered in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE); the second gruesome death of a Nigerian student this year in that Arab country. Toba Falode had earlier been murdered in cold blood when he was thrown from the 13th floor of a high-rise building by a fellow student, a Saudi national, Faisal Aldakmary Al-Nasser and his British girlfriend, Olivia Richards, after a quarrel.

Then, despite overwhelming evidence by that country’s security agencies, the Nigerian authorities ignored pleas for justice from his distraught mother and sports journalist Aisha Falode and her lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, who petitioned President Jonathan and other relevant authorities for action.

But nothing was heard about the issue until last week when a similar incident occurred. In this instance, Oyoms was the son of a former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was also a political boss of President Goodluck Jonathan.

It is our view that, for obvious reasons, the killing has attracted an immediate reaction from the presidency.

As soon as the news of the boy’s death reached Nigeria and even before his father arrived Dubai to ascertain what happened, President Jonathan had urged the authorities in UAE to fish out his killers and assured the Alamieyeseighas that they would get justice in the matter. We commend the government for this speedy response in a matter that affected the life of a Nigerian in a foreign land, even as we ask why similar action was not taken in the case of Toba.

We strongly believe that this

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

unfortunate incident would have been averted if the federal government had taken action when the first took place.

The presidency and Nigerian embassies, have consistently treated with levity matters involving their nationals living in other countries, especially if they happen to be from ‘low profile’ families.

Even in Nigeria, the same disdain is extended to families regarded as ‘nobodys’. If the daughter of a governor or senator was among the Chibok girls abducted by the Boko Haram, for example, we believe that by now, those girls would have been rescued.

We recall that within the same period, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) suspended its proceedings, because Vice President Namadi Sambo’s brother died in a car accident.

It is our view that Nigerian missions owe Nigerians living abroad a duty to protect them when threatened.

While the government is trying to unravel the mystery surrounding Oyoms’ death, we insist that it is not too late to reopen the Toba case, in the interest of justice and good conscience.

Founder Sam Nda-Isaiah Chairman Hajiya Ireti Kingibe Group Managing Director Azubuike Ishiekwene Group Executive Directors Michael Okpere Dr Kazeem Durodoye Divisional Directors Iyobosa Uwugiaren Ademola Oladosu Salisu Alhassan Bichi General Managers Aminu Abubakar Sule Abdulmumin Balogun Zipporah D. Tanko Joy Adekanye

Leadership Holdings

Managing Director Abraham Nda-Isaiah Executive Director Nnamdi Samuel New York Office Mohammed Bello Shehu London Office Dr Bello Salihu Johannesburg Office Abiodun Oguntuase

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

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

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

4 news extra

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Group News Editor: Tony Amokeodo Alamieyeseigha / Falode: Keyamo Accuses FG Of Double Standards Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo yesterday accused the federal government of double standards in the way it responded to the news of the death of Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha the son of former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, and the son of popular sport journalist, Aisha Falode, Toba.

According to Keyamo, the death of the two young men in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) is very sad but the swift response of the federal government to the unfortunate death of Oyamuyefa showed that the government only cares for people in their circle while the Falodes were left on their own.

The lawyer, who stated this in a statement he issued in Abuja noted that it is the lukewarm attitude of the federal government towards the earlier cases of Nigerians murdered abroad like the case of Toba that has emboldened others in foreign lands to kill Nigerians without any qualms.

He also said, ’” We recall that on 15th of February, 2014, Toba (Tyler) Falode was also murdered in hazy circumstances in Dubai, the mother, Aisha Falode took it upon herself to carry out some discreet investigation into those circumstances and has since been crying out for justice for her son.

“Up till this minute, the Federal Government has not issued a single statement calling on the U.A.E authorities to fish out the killers of Toba Falode. The Federal Government has played the ostrich in the case of Toba, leaving the mother and family grieving alone. The question is, with the swift response in the case of Oyamuyefa Alamieyeseigha, does the Federal Government value the lives of some of its citizens more than others?

“It is important to note that we have written statements of witnesses who confirmed that the killer of Toba Falode confessed to the crime, and these statements have since been forwarded to the UAE Government, but it is such a shame that nothing has been heard or done eight months after.

“We hope this is a bitter lesson to the Federal Government and we hereby re-iterate our call on the Federal Government to show more interest in the quest to find the killers of Toba Falode and bring them to justice,” Keyamo added.

By Olugbenga Soyele Lagos

A 94 -year-old prisoner, Mr Canice Egbunanne (fourth right), who was granted pardon by Imo State governor Rochas Okorocha during the 54th independence anniversary being led out to freedom by some federal prisons officials in Owerri.

PHOTO BY NAN.

APC On Rescue Mission To Save Nigeria – Buhari Ba yo Oladeji and Chibuzo Ukaibe

Abuja

Former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja officially declared for the presidential race when he unfolded a nine-point agenda to rescue Nigeria if he emerges the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and eventually elected the president.

The declaration programme has in attendance Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State who spoke on behalf of the governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasarawa state governor Tanko AlMakura, another presidential aspirant and governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State, the Senate Minority Whip, Senator George Akume, Senators Oluremi Tinubu, Babafemi Ojudu, and Gbenga Asafa, former speaker, Aminu Masari, former FCT minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Mallam Sanni Zoro, Senator Kanti Bello, Senator Olorunnimbe Ma-

mora, former governor of Bayelsa State, Timpreye Silvia and a host of others.

He formally declared with 23 words when he said, “I humbly wish to present myself before you, before all of Nigeria and before God seeking to be elected as APC’s presidential candidate.”

He noted that nearly all “are in fear of their lives or safety for themselves and their families due to insurgency by the godless movement called Boko Haram; by marauding murderers in towns and villages; by armed robbers on the highways; by kidnappers who have put whole communities to fright and sometimes to flight”.

He commended the efforts of the military in the counter insurgency operations going on in the North East.

“I would like us to place on record our appreciation for the efforts of our armed forces under new leadership and police in confronting these challenges.”

He noted that “since 1999 PDP

has presided over our country in decline. Nigeria in my experience has never been so divided, so polarised by an unthinking government hell bent on ruling and stealing forever whatever befalls the country.

Mr. chairman, we in APC are resolved to stop them in their tracks and rescue Nigeria from the stranglehold of PDP.” According to Buhari, the last 16 years of PDP Government has witnessed decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria.

“He said, We in APC are resolve to bring change to Nigeria. We plan to do things differently.

“Having appreciated that the only way to relieve Nigerians of the PDP, the main opposition parties decided to pool their strengths into one party.

“We have worked very hard in the last 18 months to put up structures from the polling units to wards, local governments, states and the centre,” he added.

The whole Abuja central district was jampacked with crowd from near and far which led to traffic

dreadlocks for hours.during the event

2015: PDP Congratulates Buhari Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has welcomed Buhari to the 2015 presidential contest. while PDP congratulated and wished Buhari well in his ambition, the party expressed reservations over “some distortions and misrepresentation of facts in his speech and consequently wish to put the record straight.”

A statement by the PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh, said “According to General Buhari, Nigeria was generating 4000 mws of electricity in 1999 but has today fallen short of that capacity under the PDP. “However, the fact remains that as at May 29, 1999 when PDP took office, Nigeria was generating 1600 mws. We urge Nigerians to fact-check on this. Corroboration of this figure can also be sought from the World Bank, the IMF and multiple other authoritative sources.”

Fintiri’s Lawyer Drags Judge Before NJC Over Alleged Misconduct

By Kunle Olasanmi

Former attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), who is the lead lawyer to the former acting governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri, has dragged Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the federal High Court in Abuja before the National Judicial Council over alleged misconduct.

Justice Ademola last week sacked Fintiri as the acting governor and ordered that Bala Ngilari be installed as the governor.

But in the petition dated October 10 and a follow-up dated October 14, signed by Chief Duro Adeyele (SAN), Ojo is asking the NJC

to take a judicial notice of the fllowing conduct of the judge: “To begin with, though Tuesday October 7 was a public holiday, I got a phone call at about 6:19 pm from someone who claimed to be the secretary to the presiding judge of Federal High Court No 6, Abuja intimating me that judgement in the above quoted suit would be delivered the next day Wednesday 8th October.

“I was not in Abuja and I therefore instructed one of my junior colleagues in chambers to go for the judgement. I also emphasised that he should obtain a certified true copy of the judgement as my expectation was that His Lordship would make a copy of the judgement available to

parties knowing the constitutional and political nature of the case. However, no copy of the judgement was made available.

“On getting back to Abuja on the same Wednesday October 8, I instructed one of my junior colleagues in chambers to apply for a certified true copy of the said judgement to concretise the notice of appeal which I had instruction of my client to file.

“However, up till close of business of that day, the judgement was not made available. Nevertheless, I still went ahead to file a notice of appeal based on what my junior heard in court.

“My Lord, to my shock and surprise, up till the close of business the next day Thursday and Friday,

Ademola J. refused to release the said judgement and there is no indication from the court when it will be ready and made available to me. One would expect that in a matter such as this, his Lordship should have gotten the judgement ready before delivering same.

“What now compounded the situation is that even though I was not availed a copy of the judgement, an enrolled order of the judgement was served on INEC headquarters Abuja by 11:28 am on the date of judgement October 8 and by 2pm of the same day, a copy of the said enrolled order was taken to the chief of staff of my client at the Government House, Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State.”

NEWS 5

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Reps Okay Referendum On State Creation

By Adesuwa Tsan and Edegbe Odemwingie, Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday rejected a proposal for the recommendations of the National Conference to be subjected to a referendum, while approving for state creation to go through the process.

This is just as the lawmakers approved independent candidacy for electoral offices and life pension for former presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

The House took these decisions while voting on the report of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of the Constitution yesterday.

One of the alterations approved by the House makes it mandatory for the president to address a joint meeting of the National Assembly once a year.

Out of the 261 House members that participated in the constitution amendment voting process, 252 members voted in favour of the amendments, 8 voted against and one abstained. A two-third vote (240 of the 360-member House) is required to amend the constitution before it will be forwarded to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for concurrence.

The 71 amendments approved by the House border on: legislative immunity, local government autonomy, state creation, indigeneship and citizenship, independent candidacy in elections, budgetary process, life pension for National Assembly heads, role for traditional rulers, amongst others.

An alteration of Section 7, amongst others, stops revenue allocation from the federation account to local governments that

are not democratically elected. Local government administrations also stand dissolved at the expiration of four years commencing from the date the members of council were sworn in.

House members, while altering Section 59, also voted to bypass the president if he fails to sign a Bill presented to him within 30 days.

“Within seven days, the president of the Senate shall convene a joint sitting of the National Assembly to reconsider the Bill, and if passed by twothirds majority of members of both houses at such joint sitting, the Bill shall become law and the assent of the president shall not be required,” the alteration reads.

In other key constitutional amendments, House members also approved independent candidacy in elections in Nigeria.

The office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, Nigerian Police, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and national security agencies have now been placed on a first-line charge from Nigeria’s Consolidated Revenue Account.

The lawmakers equally approved life pension for the presidents and deputy presidents of Senate and speakers and deputy speakers of the House of Representatives, provided that they were not impeached from office.

An alteration of Section 241, which inserts a new subsection (2A), bars Nigerian courts or tribunals from staying any proceeding on account of an interlocutory appeal.

House members also voted to include seven items in the concurrent legislative list, including agriculture, railways and pensions.

Jonathan Warns Against Ministers, Perm Secs Feud

By George Agba, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday warned against what he described as existing cold working relationship between some ministers and permanent secretaries in the federal civil service, calling for the ugly trend to stop.

The president, who stated this while swearing in six new federal permanent secretaries before the commencement of the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, also decried the “high level of indiscipline and impunity’’ in the civil service and ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Jonathan

LIVING LIVING TOTO BE BE 100100

One health tip daily Use Natural Pesticides

The weed killers and insecticides we spray all around our gardens can cause cancer- especially leukaemia in children, brain tumours

and prostate cancer-as well as birth defects, arterial damage and other disorders Use ecopesticides and natural pest prevention methods.

2015 Budget: FG Targets N11.16trn Revenue FROM FRONT PAGE

$77.5 per barrel approved for the 2014 budget to $78 per barrel in 2015, and $79 per barrel for 2016 and 2017, indicating the government’s expectation to spend more money next year amidst falling oil prices in the international market which has resulted in lower revenues.

Nigeria has been witnessing declining revenues as a result of falling crude oil prices and drop in oil production caused by shutin from illegal activities in the oil sector.

By Tuesday, October 14, the price of OPEC basket of 12 crudes stood at $85.14 a barrel, compared with $85.93 the previous day, according to OPEC secretariat’s calculations.

This indicated barely a $7.6 difference from the $77.5 per barrel approved for the 2014 budget.

The government noted in the fiscal document that the global supply-demand balance of crude oil was editing out the recent spikes in oil price, with increasing supply arising from the exploitation of shale oil and gas, Iranian oil sanctions suspension as well as the emergence of new regional producers and global surplus crude oil capacity, which had increased modestly in recent times.

“We estimated the benchmark oil price to be %73.28pb on the 15-year moving average while the 10-year moving average gives a price of $92.34pb. However, we propose the benchmark of $78pb for 2015. This is lower than average of the 15-year and 10-year moving average haven, taking into account the projection balance between increasing global supply resulting from rising oil and unconventional oil production and production disruptions that may result from geopolitical risks.”

Assumptions for oil production volume indicated lower target of

2.2782 million barrels per day (mbpd) for the 2015 fiscal year, which is lower than the 2.3883 mbpd approved for the 2004 budget.

However, this target was further increased to 2.3271 and 2.4047 mbpd for 2016 and 2017 respectively, while the exchange rate of the naira to the US Dollar has been retained at N160/$ for the three years, same as that of the current year.

Revenue projections as contained in the fiscal strategy document showed that government is targeting N7.28 trillion from oil and gas revenues in 2015, and N7.5 trillion and N7.95 trillion for 2016 and 2017 respectively, all of which are higher than the N7.16 trillion budgeted for the current year.

On the other hand, non-oil revenues target has been put at N3.55 trillion for 2015, N3.8 trillion for 2016 and N4.05 trillion for 2017, all higher than the N3.288 trillion approved for the 2014 budget.

The federal government’s share of these revenues available for appropriation is estimated at N3.86 trillion, N4.01 trillion and N4.28 trillion for 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively, compared to N3.73 trillion budgeted for this year.

On the expenditure side, projections in the strategy paper show recurrent expenditures of N2.62 trillion and capital expenditure of N1.1.43 trillion in 2015. For 2016 and 2017, government will spend N2.65 trillion each year on recurrent expenditure and N1.53 trillion and N1.66 trillion on capital expenditure respectively.

“The theme for the 2015-2017 fiscal framework continues to be job creation, inclusive growth and how you can extend the prosperity embedded in this growth to as many Nigerians as possible. Looking at our revenue profile, the non-oil ➔ CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6 NEWS

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Prophets From 16 LGs Lead Fayose To Govt House

By Alo Abiola, Ado Ekiti

As former Ekiti State governor Kayode Fayemi bows out today and the Ekiti people await the inauguration of the governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, prophets, pastors and Muslim clerics from the state’s 16 local governments are expected to engage in spiritual cleansing of the newly constructed Oke Ayoba Government House where he would be living.

The multi-million naira edifice, which was built by Fayemi, was commissioned by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal.

Speaking during Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, Fayose said: “I am inviting all our men of God to follow us to Oke Ayobo Government House on Thursday (today) to do some spiritual cleansing there.”

Fayose, however, disclosed that the invitation was not meant for neophytes, but for those who are spiritually endowed.

He said, “Let me emphasise that we are only inviting pastors, who are divinely called, to lead us to Government House. They (clerics) would be in front; we shall follow them. Our men of God would use the power of prayer to conquer.”

Fayose

Jonathan Warns FROM PAGE 5

government, noting that a system without discipline was bound to fail.

Asking the new permanent secretaries to enforce discipline in their respective ministries, Jonathan observed that there had been incessant complaints in recent times about cold relationships between the political and administrative heads of ministries, agencies and departments of government and queried how the machinery of government could function effectively in such circumstance. : “If permanent secretaries don’t work with the ministers and ministers don’t work with permanent secretaries, there is no way we can do what we are expected to do,” he said.

“The ministry is meant to be run by the political head, administrative head, accounting officer and, of course, the directors. So, if there is conflict or cold relationship between the key actors in any department of government, it is a recipe for failure. So, in any ministry where the permanent secretary and the minister are not in good terms, that is another way of telling

Nigerians that both of you have failed the country.”

Observing further that some of the conflicts stem from disregard for due process by some officials in the management of government business, the president said conflict would be minimised if officials put aside their personal interests and adhered strictly to due process in their official conduct.

On the high level of indiscipline and impunity in the civil service and government generally, he said, “These days, you hardly see a permanent secretary querying a director or a director querying an assistant director; assistant director querying a principal officer or principal querying a senior officer, and in a system where there is no discipline, definitely, you cannot get the best output.

“You can’t assume that everybody will do the right thing.

We must be able to bring discipline to bear in the service if we must give our country the best.”

The new permanent secretaries are Aminu Bisala (Niger), Sunday Echonor (Benue) Amina Shamaki (Kebbi) and Nana Mede (Edo), among others.

2015 Budget FROM PAGE 5

revenue is a major contributor to government coffers, and that is because a lot of efforts by the administration over the last few

years in engaging the various entities that are associated with collecting revenue have begun to have very good results,” the document noted.

Mutiny: Trial Of 60 Accused Soldiers Begin In Abuja

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

The prosecution of 60 soldiers accused of mutiny began yesterday, as they appeared before a general court-martial sitting at the Army Headquarters Garrison, Mogadishu Cantonment, Abuja.

However, 59 of the accused soldiers were at the trial; the remaining one was said to be medically unfit for the trial yet.

All the 59 soldiers pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges bordering on and conspiracy to commit mutiny.

In a matter brought by the Nigerian Army against Cpl Andrew Ogolekwu and 59 others, the prosecution led by Capt J. E. Nwosu, in an oral application to the court, said that it was amending the charge sheet to strike out Lance Cpl Anthony Simeon as he was medically unfit to take his plea as required by law.

The prosecution said it was relying on Section 153 of the Criminal Code which required the accused to be in court to take plea personally and not through his counsel, and also taking solace also on rule 82, rules of procedure, to strike out Simeon’s name.

This did not go down well as the defence counsel led by Maj Oluwafemi Oyebanji, retd, who held brief for Femi Falana, SAN, lawyer to the 60 accused soldiers, objected on the grounds that the accused were not standing trial individually but as a group.

However, it was upheld by the court presided by the president, Brig-Gen. M S Yusuf and LtCol Ukpe Ukpe, who, having listened to the application, said the charges should be amended to exclude Lance Cpl Anthony Simeon.

He said the prosecution was right to strike out any accused person and represent the person for trial when it chooses to do so.

In view of this, the defence counsel prayed the court to stand down the matter for 45 to 60 minutes to enable it prepare as the new charge sheet was now strange to it, a request the court readily granted.

Upon resumption, the medical representative of Defence Headquarters Medical Centre announced that Cpl Andrew Ogolekwu and 58 others were fit to stand trial, and the prosecution, in a preliminary statement, declared that it was

ready to arraign the accused and open its case today (yesterday).

It also asserted that, by the end of the trial, the court would be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offences they are accused of, a claim Femi Falana, counsel to the accused soldiers, dismissed.

Reading out their charge of conspiracy to commit mutiny, the judge advocate said that the accused soldiers, at Muleyi Primary School, Borno State, on August 4 conspired together to commit mutiny against the authority of the Nigerian Army 7 Division, Maiduguri.

On the second charge of mutiny, he said at the same primary school and on the same date, the soldiers refused an order from the commanding officer, 111 Special Forces Battalion, SFB, to go on an operation in Delwa in a bid to capture Damboa in Borno State.

Announcing to the court that it had compelling evidence to this effect, the prosecution invited its witness and commanding officer of the accused soldiers, Lt-Col Timothy Opurum, who testified that the soldiers committed the said offences.

In his testimony, Lt-Col Opurum identified the accused as soldiers in his battalion who rebelled against his orders and conspired together not to go to battle.

He said that on the said date, at the said primary school they were using as their camp, he had addressed the soldiers on the task from the 7 Division to advance and fend off enemies along the routes to enable the 251 and 254 Battalions pass through there for their operations to capture Damboa .

However, after the briefing for the task slated for 0500 hours, by 0445 hours, the soldiers were still hesitant to partake in the operation.

He told the court that he gave an order five minutes to the commencement of operation for the soldiers to enter the five Hilux vehicles and Armoured Personnel Carrier, APC, to embark on the task but that while some obeyed, others, together with all the drivers, refused. Consequently, he ordered the four officers under him to drive the vehicles while he drove one and left for the operations with five officers and 29 soldiers, while 68 of the

soldiers refused to embark on the operation.

He said that 47 of them, however, joined the reinforcement which he requested for from 7 Division headquarters, after the initial party faced superior firepower and were out-numbered by insurgents at Delva, where they lost some of their equipment, but no soldier was lost.

The commanding officer told the court that 13 of the soldiers who refused to embark on the operation were later arrested by Military Police, while eight of them are presently at large.

Commencing his defence, Femi Falana told the court that there was no atom of evidence to back the prosecution’s claim.

He also remarked that this was the largest number of soldiers ever tried in Nigeria for mutiny, and that by the time he and his team were through, they would convince the court-martial of the soldiers’ innocence.

He applied to the court for the records of the ammunition used in the said operations, which the court said would be looked into, and the matter was adjourned to today.

news extra 7

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Senator Esuene Escapes Death During Campaign The Senator representing Eket Senatorial district and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 governorship aspirant in Akwa Ibom state, Senator Helen Esuene, yesterday escaped death as her campaign team was attacked in Essien Udim Local government Area of the state by hoodlums.

The incident occurred at about 3.45 pm when the Senator was addressing a crowd of party enthusiasts including the state PDP Chairman Elder Friday Udoh who had gathered at the party secretariat in Afa Ikot Ebak to listen to her campaign message.

As Esuene was addressing the PDP faithful, thugs brandishing different types of weapons suddenly invaded the place, attacked everybody in the hall and upturned tables and chairs including that of the senator.

But her supporters who surrounded her quickly intervened and whisked her away from the scene of the incident.

The thugs were said to have shot severally into the air and queried why the state party chairman should allow another candidate to come and campaign in Essien Udim. They claimed that no any other candidate apart from the government anointed aspirant, Mr. Udom Emmanuel would allowed to come to Essien Udom to campaign.

Commenting on the incident, the Deputy Director General of Senator Esuene campaign team and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Bassey Essien, decried the incident, saying that such a ugly incident in the governor’s community was uncalled for.

But efforts to get the comment of the state Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Etim Dickson, over the incident failed as he could not be reached at press time.

By Bernard Tolani Dada, Uyo

Terrorism: FG Reviews Obsolete Firearms Act

The presidency is about to complete works on the proposed amendment of the 1959 Nigerian Firearm Act and the Firearms Act CAP F28 LFN 2004 to end the menace of terrorism.

The chairman, Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM), Amb. Emmanuel Imohe, made this known yesterday in Abuja at the started of the two-day Experts Roundtable on the Repeal of the Nigerian “Firearms Act.” According to him, the Act is obsolete and does not reflect the realities and challenges associated with armed violence and Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) proliferation.

He explained that the effectiveness of the implementation of the ECOWAS Convention on SALW depended largely on the potency of the member states’ national gun laws.

By Bayo Oladeji, Abuja

L-R: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.- Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Cameroonian Chief of Defence Staff Lt.-Gen. Claude Rene and Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh at the Nigeria/Cameroon bilateral conference on trans-border operations in Abuja

FEC Holds Valedictory Session For Maku, Wike, 4 Others Jonathan urges them to think twice before resigning

By George Agba, Abuja

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday gave the nod to seven of his ministers to resign their position and pursue their governorship ambitions in their various states.

He noted, however, that the outgoing ministers were still considered as council members who could still return to their duty post between now and next week since they had not formally written to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, indicating their intention to resign.

Jonathan led the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to hold a valedictory session for the departing ministers and members of the cabinet who are aspiring for governorship positions in their various states.

He listed the outgoing minster to include Labaran Maku, Prof. Onyeabuchi Chukwu, Barr Nyesom Wike, Samuel Ortom, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Arch. Dairu Dickson Ishiaku and Emeka Wogu.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, and two others May have chickened out of the governorship race despite being touted as nursing such ambitions in their respective states, as the president did not list their names. The others include minister of state for Finance,

Bashir Yuguda, and his Special Duties counterpart, TaminuTuraki Addressing the council members, Jonathan said: “If you are a public officer or you are a civil servant, if you have to go into an elective office, you have to disengage on or before 20th of this month. Going by that, that means that any of our colleagues who has the interest to contest any level of election may not be with us the next council day, that is next Wednesday.

“I want to make it very clear that, by this morning, about seven members of council may - and I use the word ‘may’ - not be here next Wednesday if their plans continue.”

Noting that they still had between yesterday and next

Wednesday to make up their mind, the president said, “As we are talking, nobody has written and we have not dropped anybody.

“People should not say we have dropped ministers ; no, we have not dropped any minister.

They are still ministers of council but assuming between now and next council if they decide to go on with their plans, it is only proper we wish them well assuming we don’t see them again.

“But if they change their plans they will continue to be with us, but after receiving the letters and they change their minds it will be too late. So, if they have to change their minds they have to change their minds before sending the letter to the secretary government.”

Jonathan Has No Tenure Elongation Plan – Okupe Says Buhari, Atiku, others are serial losers

By George Agba, Abuja

The presidency yesterday refuted a report that President Goodluck Jonathan was trying to extend his tenure through undemocratic means, saying there is no iota of truth in the story.

It also said that the President was not bothered about the likes of former head of state, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, both aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying apart from being serial losers, they

are people Nigerians lack confidence in because they are bereft of leadership qualities.

An online paper had in the report alleged that Jonathan was trying to use the security challenges in the North East as basis for avoiding election and that the president was trying to extend his tenure for another two years.

Senior special assistant to the president on public affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, told journalists in Abuja that the said report was an absolute falsehood and part of an attempt by the opposition to throw everything into the arena to embarrass the President.

He said, “They have done it for the past four years and it has not

worked. It has not deterred him; he has remained focused with his eye on the ball and the Transformation Agenda, which to the glory of God has remained a success. I want to say categorically here that there is no iota of truth in that report.”

Okupe recalled that while over 12 million Nigerians had so far come out openly to prevail on the president to contest the 2015 general election, there was no reason for the president to think of extending his tenure in any other way.

He said, “This is the President that as you must have recently heard, over 12 million Nigerians have put their signatures to paper

that he should come out and run.

“All the agencies and stakeholders of his party, the PDP, have endorsed him and are actually asking him to come out and run.

“This is the logical thing to do because there is no reason for anyone to try to change a winning team. As it is every where in the world, endorsement itself is not undemocratic, because it is the normal pattern in democratic parlance: if you have a sitting president and who is interested in running, usually, he is given the right of first refusal.”

Asked why Jonathan was yet to declare his intention to contest, Okupe who said the biggest masquerade always comes out last .

8 PHOTO NEWS

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Scenes from 2013 LEADERSHIP Conference/Awards in Abuja On Tuesday Photos by Adefemi Adewuyi, Remi Akunleyan, Patrick Ebi-Amanama, Oyedele Omokagbo, Joseph Ogoh and Jane Okeke

APC presidential aspirant and Founder of LEADERSHIP Group Sam Nda-Isaiah, Delta State governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Hon. Ndudi Elumelu.

L-R Group Executive Director LEADERSHIP Group Mr Michael Okpere presenting an award to the representative of Diamond Bank, Sufianu Garba.

Managing Director LEADERSHIP Holdings Mr Abraham Nda-Isaiah.

LEADERSHIP General Manager Adverts, Aminu Abubakar Sule presenting an award to Aliyu Ma’aji

L-R: Member, Sokoto State House of Assembly Hon Abubakar Amzuzwa, another guest and Special Assistant to the Sokoto State governor, Audu Saleh Sama.

L-R Chairman Sabon Birni LGA Hon Idris Gobir and chairman Rabah LGA of Sokoto State Hon. Zayyanu Bello.

A customised cake for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of LEADERSHIP Newspapers

L-R: Delta State commissioner for information Barr. Charles Ogeah, SSA to Gov Uduaghan, Mary Oyibocha and S.A. (Media) to Edo State Gov Kassim Afegbua.

news south-west 9

Thursday, October 16, 2014

APC Alerts Police Over Threat To Peace In Osun

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has alerted security agencies to be prepared to nip in the bud, the threat to peace and security which the Peoples Democratic Party made over the ruling of the Appeal Court in Akure which struck out INEC’s appeal against its resident electoral commissioner, Amb. Toyin Akeju, from supervising the 2011 legislative elections in the state.

A release by Osun APC’s director of Publicity Research and Strategy, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi which was made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday stated that the call became imperative because of the information at the disposal of the party.

“From competent information we have and the intelligence deductions we could make from the PDP chairman, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa’s statement to forcefully stop the lawful business of the State House of Assembly, it is obvious that the PDP planned to orchestrate mayhem in the state,” the APC alleged.

The party claimed that it has published the Certified True Copy of the ruling (not judgment) of the Federal Court of Appeal in a national daily.

Fayemi Bows Out, Thanks Ekiti People For Their Support Returns to Isan country home amid celebration

By Alo Abiola, Ado Ekiti

The former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi has said that his administration, through its eight-point agenda, has reduced poverty to the barest minimum in the state over the last four years.

The governor, in a valedictory speech entitled ‘The Promise Kept’, which was relayed on the state owned media yesterday, said his government was able to

win the war against poverty owing to the selfless service he rendered to the people.

Fayemi, who thanked the people of the state for supporting his administration, stated that the “8-point agenda of our government was not a campaign gimmick. It served as our compass. We kept faith to the direction in which it pointed”.

Meanwhile, Fayemi has made a triumphal entry into Isan Ekiti, his country home after leaving the Government House in Ado Ekiti.

The outgoing governor, the second in the history of the state to complete his 4-year term, was received yesterday by a mammoth crowd of Isan indigenes, friends and well wishers who had been awaiting him at Ilafon boundary of the town since 10am.

Fayemi alighted from his vehicle at the boundary around 2pm and trekked with his kinsmen to the palace of the Onisan of Isan, Oba Sunday Ajiboye, who thereafter prayed for him. The crowd also followed him to his residence thereafter.

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

‘231,000 Children Die Of Diarrhea, Pneumonia Annually In Nigeria’ Justice, Development and Peace Initiative (JDPI) has said that about 231,000 Nigerian children under the age of five are dying of pneumonia and diarrhea yearly.

The Water and Sanitation Department programme officer of the non-governmental organisation, Mr. Bamikole Adegbite, disclosed this yesterday at St. Joseph Catholic Nursery/ Primary School, Ado Ekiti, during an event marking the World Hand Washing Day. The United Nations General Assembly had in 2008 set aside October 15 of every year for the practice of hand washing with soap or ashes as a way of promoting hygiene.

At the ceremony, pupils of the school demonstrated proper washing of hands with soap.

Lamenting that the two killer diseases were rampant among children under age five due to unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation and hygiene, Adegbite noted that children as agents of change, should cultivate the culture of hand washing with soap in order to remain healthy.

By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

A crowd that gathered to receive former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi inside the palace of the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, during a ‘welcome-home’ reception in Isan-Ekiti, yesterday. PHOTO BY GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

Police Beef Up Security Ahead Of Fayose’s Inauguration

By Alo Abiola, Ado-Ekiti

Police in Ekiti State have beefed up security around Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital ahead of Thursday’s inauguration and swearing in ceremony of Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose as the governor of the state.

The state commissioner for Police, Mr Taiwo Lakanu, who disclosed this yesterday said that adequate security measures have been put in place by the command to prevent breach of law and order.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations in the state,the

commissioner has ordered the deployment of adequate manpower and equipment to secure the town and venue of the event.

He added that bomb disposal units, counter terrorist units, police mobile force (PMF) and swift response squad (SRS) have been also strategically positioned to ensure an eventful and hitch free ceremony.

He said that the police personnel have been mandated to embark on thorough stop and search operation on persons and vehicles to prevent trouble makers from infiltrating the venues.

In readiness for the ceremony, armed mobile and regular policemen, detachment of armed solders in Hilux vans had also arrived the state capital.

The armed men, including officers of the Civil Defence Corps and men of the State Security Service were seen patrolling some major streets on Wednesday, apparently to announce their arrival and send warning signals to trouble makers.

The venue of the event, Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, was wearing a new look as platform, sounds and visuals equipment have been put in place to in preparation for the ceremony.

short news Jonathan Runs A Regime Of Impunity – Akande The regime of President Goodluck Jonathan has been described as one of impunity and power tyranny.

This assertion was made on Wednesday by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, in Abeokuta while making remarks as chairman of the 1st Inaugural Lecture of Dauda Adegbenro Foundation Memorial Lecture, in honour of late Chief Dauda Adegbenro, former premier of the Western Region.

Delivering a speech titled, “Adegbenro Fought Against Regimes of Impunity”, Akande, who is the pioneer chairman of APC, said with Jonathan in power, Nigeria is back under regimes of impunity where the president imposes leaders on states as he wishes.

He traced the origin of imposition of leaders on states by federal authorities to the crisis that engulfed the western region in the 1960s.

By Gbenga Adeboye, Abeokuta

Assault: Adeleke Wants Omisore, Adesiyan Others Cautioned

By Joshua Dada, Osogbo

First executive governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke has called on the Osun State Standing Commission of Inquiry on Disturbance of Public Peace to invite the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the last governorship election in Osun, Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore, the

minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan and a chieftain of the PDP, Chief Sogo Agboola and caution them over alleged assault on him.

Appearing before the commission at the State High Court,Osogbo, Adeleke also urged the commission to make appropriate recommendations that would serve as deterrent to others.

Explaining his ordeal, Senator Adeleke alleged that the respondents had, at a meeting held at Ideal Nest Hotel in Osogbo ahead of the PDP governorship primary for the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun, assaulted him.

Adeleke, who presented two witnesses before the commission, said he informed the police, the state governor, Public Complaints Com-

mission and the presidency immediately after the incident for necessary actions.

Adeleke alleged that beside the assault on him on the fateful day, the Police Affairs minister threatened to deal with him at the end of his tenure as contained in a national newspaper, adding that Adesiyan confessed that Sogo actually slapped him on the day in the newspaper.

10

stories of the Thursday, October 16, 2014

...NEWS WITH A HUMAN FACE

DEATH: Cholera Kills 8 In Adamawa

BY MOHAMMED ISMAIL, Yola

Eight people in Murke village of Song Local Government Area of Adamawa State were confirmed dead by an epidemic suspected to be cholera while about 117 people are currently receiving treatment in public and private hospitals in the area.

Residents told our correspondent that the epidemic struck the village following the vandalization of the solar-powered borehole provided by the government in the area by vandals making them resort to the use of the only water source in the area which is contaminated due to rainfall.

A resident of the area, Mohammad Chubado said the epidemic struck the town early this week where two people lost their lives but within the next two days, many people were affected, leading to the death of eight people. Many afflicted residents were admitted at medical facilities in the town.

Residents of the area condemned the attitude of the member representing the local government in the state House of Assembly, Simon Issa, as they said he failed to show any show of remorse either through sympathy visit or assistance with drugs, adding that instead, it was the member representing Fufore/Gurin in the House of Assembly, Sadiq Dasin, who deemed it fit to come to their rescue.

In the wake of the epidemic, the member representing Fufore in the state House of Assembly Sadiq Dasin, donated drugs to the village to provide succor to the community.

While donating the drugs, Dasin urged the people to be extra vigilant in protecting infrastructural facilities in other to guard against similar ugly occurrence in the future.

The village head of Murke who confirmed the death of eight people also showed dissatisfaction with the member representing Song for avoiding them in a time of distress.

Also commenting on the issue, the Assistant Director, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Primary Health Care, Eban Mozan Local Government, said eight people have died from the epidemic, adding that blood samples of the affected people have been taken to Abuja and Lagos for test to identify the ailment.

An accident scene along Ibrahim Tahir Lane, opposite the headquarters of the Directorate of Road Transport Services at Mabuchi, Abuja, yesterday.

PHOTO BY jane okeke

BOAT MISHAP: 10 Teenage Girls Killed In Kano

By Abdullahi Umar, Witjh Agency Report

The Kano State Emergency Service Agency has confirmed the death of 10 teenage girls while two were reported missing after a passenger boat capsized on Lanjan river in Garun Malam local government area of the state.

The state SEMA Director, Abdullahi Aminu told Hausa service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that only the captain escaped the incident.

“We went to the scene and 10 bodies of the girls were recovered while two others remain missing, we are still searching for the remaining two,”

Aminu said.

He said the boat was ferrying the girls, aged between eight and 14, across the river to the market on Monday when it capsized and sank following a rainstorm.

He said “the operator of the boat swam to safety but was unable to save any of the girls in the turbulent water.”

IMPERSONATION: Army Parade 2 Fake Officers

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

The 3 Amoured Division of the Nigerian Army, Rukuba Maxwell Khobe Cantonment in Jos, the Plateau State capital, has paraded two fake soldiers who specialized in impersonating army generals to dupe government agencies and parastatals.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the suspects, identified as Aliyu Haussaini Bre and Ibrahim Mohammed, were paraded at the headquarters of the division by the division’s army public relations officer and the commander, Provost Group, Col. Texas Chukwu and Col. Arnold Okoro, respectively on behalf of the GOC, Major General John Zaruma.

According to Chukwu, the suspects

were arrested on September 17, 2014, in Bauchi State, after a tip-off, adding that while Aliyu, a 46-year-old Fulani man from Adamawa State posed as brigadier-general, Ibrahim, 40, and a Kanuri by tribe served as his assistant.

Chukwu said that a search conducted at Aliyu’s house in Kaduna led to the recovery of Nigerian Army uniforms and various ranks and a 406 saloon car.

He said the suspects confessed that the reason for their impersonating as military officers was to give them easy access to the corridors of power and help them secure contracts.

Chukwu further disclosed that, upon interrogation, the suspects who have been in the business since 2006, listed the contracts they had so far

executed through impersonation to include construction and renovation of Adamawa State University’s clinic in 2010 at a cost of N2.45m, rehabilitation and overhaul of 250KVA MARAPO generator and two units of 160 KVA CUMINGS for Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Abuja in 2011 at the cost of N2.2m as well as supply of Mili beverage for the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) also in Abuja in 2012 at the cost of N1.8m Col. Arnold Okoro, who corroborated Chukwu’s account, warned the general public to be vigilant, adding that the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution to serve as a deterrent to others.

STORIES OF THE DAY 11

Thursday, October 16, 2014

day

Photo News

REFORM: CP Wants Policemen Above 5 Years In A Formation Redeployed

BY MATTHEW DIKE, Lagos

Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr Cornelius Aderanti, has said that police officers and men who have stayed over five years in any police formation should be redeployed.

Aderanti, who is said to be advocating for reforms in the in the command was not happy during a lecture at the command headquarters that some police officers and men don’t want to vacate a particular position or formation for another place.

The source, a police officer who disclosed the information, said the police boss meant well for everybody and wanted everybody enjoy the job.

A source at the radio control room in Ikeja, told LEADERSHIP that the police boss had motivated them as he visited the place and was disappointed that the air conditioners were not functional, saying that the place was not suitable to be called police control room. He said the commissioner ordered that they should install new air condition and furnish the place.

The CP would be marking the remembrance of his parents who died 42 years ago on Saturday, at the Anglican Church of All Nations, Oniru, Victoria Island, while the reception will take place at Red Carpet Events, on Yusuff Abiodun Road, Oniru, Victoria, in Lagos, on Saturday.

MURDER: Gunmen Kill Private Security Guard In JUTH

BY ACHOR ABIMAJE, Jos

Tragedy struck at the Jos University Teaching Hospital In Laminga, Jos, as a private security personnel attached to the hospital was shot dedd by unknown gunmen at his duty post at the hospital yesterday.

LEADERSHIP investigation revealed that the development created panic at the hospital early yesterday morning as gunmen, trying to force their way through the rear gate of the hospital, shot the security man when he discovered arms in their car boot.

The security man died while receiving treatment in the hospital while the gunmen escaped. Their mission was not clear.

The Police Public Relations officer, DSP Abu Emmanuel, while confirming the development to our correspondent in Jos, said, “The Police commissioner, Nasiru Oki has deployed security personnel to the hospital following the incident.

“Efforts are in top gear to ensure that the perpetrators of the act are brought to book “.

He appealed to citizens of the state to remain calm as the police were out to ensure the safety of its citizens.

AMNESTY: Freed 94-year-old Inmate, 15 Others Promise Good Conduct

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

A 94-year-old man, Canice Egbunanne, alongside 15 other freed inmates pardoned by the Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha in commemoration of the nation’s 54th independence anniversary, recently, yesterday signed a bond to be of good behaviour.

The pardoned inmates also lauded Governor Okorocha for his compassion in granting them amnesty.

Some of the freed inmates, who spoke at the Owerri Prisons while signing their Bond of Good Conduct, expressed joy that they had been given an opportunity to re-unite with their families and pledged to behave well in the society.

Addressing the inmates at the Owerri prison, the Chairman of the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and Attorney General of the state, Mr. Chukwuma Machukwu Ume (SAN), who was represented by the

Secretary of the Committee, Barr. Jude Nwokonkwo, said the event was to properly document records as regards the process of their release and ensure that appropriate records are kept.

He said the governor’s decision to free the deserving prison inmates was borne out of his desire to extend magnanimity to them as was recommended by the committee and warned the beneficiaries to steer clear of all forms of criminal tendencies as they are integrated back into the society, while assuring them that government has made plans to assist in their rehabilitation.

In his remarks, the Controller, Imo State Prison Command, Mr. Ifeanyi Amaliri noted that the occasion was to formalize the release of the 16 inmates granted prerogative of mercy after five years that such exercise last took place in the state.

He commended the Imo State Government for its magnanimity and enjoined the inmates to refrain from crime.

L-R:Outgoing ministers, Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu (Health), Dr Samuel Ortom (Trade and Investment), Mr Labaran Maku (Information) and Chukwemeka Wogu (Labour), during the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO

BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

L-R: Amb. Bulus Zom Lolo, Dr. Shamaki Amina Mohammed Bello and Mrs. Mede Nana Fatima during their oath of office as permanent secretaries, at the Villa, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY REMI AKUNLEYAN

Kogi State First Lady Hajiya Halima Ladi Wada marked the Global Handwashing Day (GHWD) by donating a handwashing station to Bishop Delisle College, Lokoja, Kogi State. Here a pupil of the school assists her as she showed example by washing her hand with soap and water, yesterday.

L-R: Member House of Representatives Hon Sokonte Davis; chairman, Publicity Committee on National Breakfast Prayer Sen Ita Enang; Sen Joshua Nidani; Sen Sonni Ogbuoje and Sen Emmanuel Bwacha during the press conference on National Breakfast Prayer, at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. PHOTO BY OYEDELE OMOKAGBO

12 News north-central

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Zagbayi Ruled Out Of Senate As Gov Aliyu Gets Form

By Abu Nmodu, minna

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Niger East has ruled out Senator Shem Nuhu Zagbayi from the 2015 senatorial race for the zone, as the Talba Success Movement (TSM), a political movement for Governor Babangida Aliyu, has collected the zone’s nomination form of the party for the governor.

Before the collection of the form by TSM for the governor, the stakeholders in Niger East, led by the vice chairman Mamman Gambo, and supervised by the PDP deputy chairman Barrister Tanko Beji, had resolved that Suleja Emirate of Niger East should take the ministerial slot, the Minna Emirate where Governor Aliyu comes from should take the senatorial seat while the Kalgara Emirate will take the state assembly Speaker.

Apparently restructuring the arrangement to pave way for Governor Aliyu at the meeting of the PDP stakeholders of the zone yes-

short news Kwara Assembly Passes 2014 Revised Budget The Kwara state House of Assembly yesterday passed the state’s revised 2014 appropriation bill of N115, 601, 272,274 into law.

The original budget size passed by the House at the commencement of 2014 was N130, 262, 850, 907, The passage of the revised appropriation bill was in response to the request sent to the House in August

by Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed .

The revised budget which represents 11.6 percent decrease from the earlier budget was passed after the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation on the bill.

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

terday at the party secretariat, Minna, the five local government PDP chairmen in Minna Emirate narrowed the race to Chanchaga local government area of the governor.

The chairman of PDP in Gurara LGA, Mallam Yakubu Garba informed the stakeholders that the nine local government chairmen in the zone had conceded the senatorial seat to Chanchaga which made it impossible for Dr. Zagbayi, who is from Suleja emirate, and currently in the Senate to contest.

According to Garba, the decision was taken to ensure equity, justice and fair play to ensure that the party became victorious in 2015 in all elections.

Also at the meeting, Alhaji Shehu Gominaty, chairman of PDP Chanchaga, said narrowing the senatorial seat to Chanchaga local government was to enable Governor Aliyu to emerge the sole candidate of the party, a request which was granted.

Kwara To Return Schools To Missionaries The Kwara State government yesterday said it was ready to return missionary schools to their owners as demanded by churches and Christian denominations.

The state governor, Alh aji Abdulfatah Ahmed gave the assurance in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Ahmed’s clarification came on the heels of protests by some Christians who demanded that government return their schools to them.

The governor said the government had reached out to the state House of Assembly seeking the repeal of the 2006 education law which would give the government the power to return the schools to their original owners.

He described the protest as unnecessary because government, based on request from Christian leaders, had started the process of returning the schools.

Ahmed explained that government would be contravening the law to return the schools without the law being passed.

He said, “Once you build a school, either a faith-based, community-based,individuals or groups and you desire to seek for grant aiding by government, then you would be run under Kwara State Education Law on grant aiding of schools.”

By Abdullahi Olesin, Ilorin

short news Youths Hail Onolememen Over Road Transformation A group of young professionals under the auspice of Concerned Nigerian Youths Development Organisation (CNYDO), yesterday, hailed the Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen, for transforming roads in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

This commendation was made by the executive of CYNDO led by its President, Mr. Joel Edegba, while appraising development in the road sub-sector.

Edegba said Nigerian roads before the minister came, were open graves that swallowed hundreds of lives and property annually according to the report of the Federal Road Safety Commission.

By Ebriku John Friday, Abuja

Church leaders barricading the entrance to St. Paul’s Primary School, Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, Kwara State, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN

We Don’t Need Gov Aliyu – APC

By Abu Nmodu minna

The All Progressive Congress in Niger State has stated that the party in the state does not need politicians like Governor Babangida Aliyu to make the desired impact in the state.

Publicity secretary of the party in the state, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, while reacting to the declaration

by Governor Aliyu on Tuesday that he will not move out of the PDP, said the governor cannot be

a political asset to APC. “We don’t need politicians that cannot be trusted, people who will lead a group and abandon them; politicians who can not win their polling units, their wards, their local government.

APC wants trusted leaders who can win election without buying votes, without rigging.

“We want politicians who don’t betray their people but carry their people along,” Vatsa said.

Vatsa said that APC in the

state was popular and did not need a politician who had the antecedent of being “committed to self alone without any feelings for the less privileged people, a politician that is not people-oriented but only say what he does not believe in sincerely”.

He therefore urged the people of the state to beware of politicians that would try to intimidate them with their power and not because they mean well for the people.

Saraki Dynasty Died With Olusola – Oba

By Chibuzo Ukaibe, Abuja

Former chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and governorship aspirant, Prof.

Abdulraheem Oba, yesterday declared that the Saraki dynasty has lost its potency in Kwara state politics since the death of the Patriarch, Pa Olusola Saraki.

He added that genuine people of Kwara State have decided to part ways with the inheritors of the name and have decided to find and pursue a destiny of their own.

Oba stated this yesterday at the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when he picked the forms for Kwara State governorship election.

Oba said: “The Saraki name was when the owner of that name, the revered Waziri of Ilorin, was

alive, but even before his departure, his supposed inheritors decided and have been acting in manners that have rubbished that name.”

“We agonise over the desecration of that name but we are saying to the world that that influence, which is perceived, belonged only to yesterday and it is buried with the man who owns the name. Whoever pretends to be using that name now is only doing so to deceive the people.

“The original and genuine people of Kwara State have decided to part ways with the inheritors and have decided to find and pursue a destiny of our own, free of opposition, free of coercion, free of politics of money bags. We have decided to take our destiny into our own hands and that is the belief of the people.”

Oba also disclosed that he submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Monday afternoon in preparation for the governorship election.

Oba, while reacting to the sack of 49 lecturers at the University of Illorin in his tenure as vice chancellor said: “If 49 persons were sacrificed to bring 4,900 into full employment, have we done wrong? What we did at the time was to sanitise the system,” noting that the university was now adjudged the best in the country.

He, however, kicked against zoning of the governorship seat in the state.

“Kwara belongs to all Kwarans; it is only detractors that call us south or west when it comes to politics of division,” he stated.

2015: Protect Your Votes, APC Chieftain Urges Electorate

BY DONATUS NADI, Lafia

The strong woman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state, Hon. Mary Enwongulu, has appealed to eligible voters to protect their votes during the forthcoming 2015 general election towards ensuring that the jinx of bad leadership bedeviling

the nation is broken.

Hon. Enwongulu who made the call yesterdsay in Lafia, shortly after picking her Expression of Interest (EoI) form at the state secretariat of the All Progressive Congress (APC) said the time had come for the electorate to be more active in deciding the outcome of electoral pro-

cesses rather allowing a few elite to shortchange and subvert their wishes.

Enwongulu, a former minority leader in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly (NSHA) between 2007 and 2011, said that the call had become imperative in order to ensure free, fair and acceptable election in the country.

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business

Thursday, October 16, 2014

$50m

The private sector arm of the World Bank, has invested about $50 million (about 13 percent ) in the $400million bond issued by Seven Energy International Ltd

Stock Market Sheds N133bn As Sell Pressure Weighs High

By OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

Sell pressure continued to impact on the performance of Nigerian equities as the value of listed equities decreased

by N133 billion after trading on the floor of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday.

The market capitalisation dropped to N12.970 billion from a high of N13.103 billion recorded the preceding trading day.

The NSE All Share Index (ASI) dipped by 1.02 per cent or 403.24 points to close at 39,278.47, from the 39,681.71 achieved on Tuesday. The development caused the NSE ASI’s year-to-date return to

decline to -4.96 per cent.

Nestle recorded the highest price loss of N20, to close at N980 per share. Total trailed with a loss of N3.34 to close at N172.16, while Nigerian Breweries dipped by N3 to close at N171 per share.

Glaxosmith lost N2 to close at N58, while Cadbury depreciated by N1.50 to close at N52.50 per share.

On the other hand, Forte Oil led the gainers’ chart by N9, to close at N218 per share as it released its third quarter result on NSE. Zenith Bank gained 72 kobo to close at N22.10, while International L-R: Immediate past president, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Mr. Abiola Popoola; national Breweries grew by 47 kobo to treasurer, Mrs Ifeoma Adeniyi, and president/ chairman of the council, Mr Victor Famuyibo, at the 46th annual national conference of the CIPM in Abuja on Tuesday. close at N31.47 per share.

IFC Invests $50m In Nigeria’s Seven Energy Bond

BY Chika Izuora, Agency Report-Lagos

The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank, has invested about $50 million (about 13 per cent ) in the $400million bond issued by Seven Energy International Ltd., a Nigerian oil and gas company, with some proceeds earmarked for a

Calabar Port Contract Followed Due Process – Director

By Ejike Ejike, Abuja

The award of the contract for the Calabar Channel by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to a joint venture, Calabar Channel Management Limited (CCM) and Niger Global Engineering Services Limited, followed due process and not in contravention of any law, a director of Niger Global Engineering Services has said.

Reacting to allegations by some firms which lost out in the bidding process for the contract that the process did not follow due process, the

pipeline in Africa’s biggest economy.

According to Bloomberg, Seven Energy raised $400 million in bonds, of which the IFC bought $50 million, the Washington-based lending unit of the World Bank said in an e-mailed statement.

This month’s sale of 2021 debt included $300 million senior secured notes and the remainder were private director, Engineer Popoola Ayeni, said the bid process was handled by Mobotek, an internationally acclaimed consultant based in Holland in line with international best practices.

He said about 49 companies bided for the contract with the active participation of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and that after a rigorous exercise, the best company, the Calabar Channel Management Limited (CCM) in partnership with Niger Global Enginerring Services Limited emerged.

“It is the same consultants that handled the Lagos Channel Management Company

bonds, according to a statement from Standard & Poor.

Companies in Africa’s biggest oil producer are selling debt to boost operations in an economy set to expand 7 per cent this year, faster than the sub-Saharan African average of 5.1 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The IFC invested $105 million in

and the Bonny Channel Management Company that produced the same process for the Calabar exercise.

Our company passed the financial and technical bids and was duly handed a ‘No Objection’Certificate by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

“It is therefore completely erroneous for anyone to insinuate that Calabar Channel Management (CCM) Limited was not subjected to a prequalification test to ascertain its competence as required by the law before being awarded the contract”, he added.

Ayeni maintained that contrary to insinuations , his

equity in Seven Energy earlier this year to support the World Bank’s Nigeria energy business plan to double power capacity within five years, according to the statement.

Seven Energy will use some of the debt proceeds for the Oron-Calabar pipeline to carry gas for power projects in southeastern Nigeria, the IFC said.

company has been involved in many dredging activities in the country which it had successfully executed and that for the dredging of the Calabar Channel, it was in partnership with world’s best, Westminster Dredging and Royal Bokalis of Netherlands.

It would be recalled that the contracts for the management for four channels in Nigeria namely Lagos, Bonny, Calabar and Warri were advertised.

The bid was conducted internationally by Mobotek, a Holland consulting firm where about 49 international companies applied.

At the end of the prequalification exercise involving

the technical and financial bid verification with series of bid clarification meetings between NPA and federal ministry of transport, some companies emerged.

These include: DEPASSA, leading a consortium of companies for Lagos Channel, Dredging International Services, leading a consortium of companies for Bonny Channel and Niger Global Engineering, leading a consortium of companies for Calabar Channel. Though the management of Lagos and Bonny Channels were executed, the ones in Calabarand Warri were not executed.

Umar

BUSINESS QUOTE When you concentrate on agriculture and industry and are frugal in expenditures, Heaven cannot impoverish your state Xun Zi, Confucian philosopher (312 – 230BC)

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REPORT OF THE

TRANSFORMATION

AGENDA

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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.

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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.

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.

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To participateh:photographs, charts and graphs and call

amin: 07064552766 hievements along wit nj ac ’s Be o on ti ay sa eb ni Ad ga 4, or e 94 th 40 le 86 Simply compi 6, Henry Ubimaja: 0806 24 er 31 92 09 08 or 4 16 80 resident newspap ja u b A t n a in Reginald Ibe: 080378 m o nd tell it in the d Show a

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Heritage Confirms Full Payment For Enterprise Bank

By Bukola Idowu, Lagos

Heritage Bank’s investment arm, HBCL Investment Services told LEADERSHIP last night that it had paid the 80 per cent balance of N44.8 billion into the account of AMCON. The bank confirmed the payment through its public relations agency, PR Redline. Lekan Isola, managing director of PR Redline, who spoke with LEADERSHIP in a phone interview confirmed the transfer of the balance into AMCON’s account from Heritage’s First Bank account.

A M C O N ’ s spokesperson however told LEADERSHIP as at press time yesterday that

the bad bank’s account was yet to be credited, although he added that transfers could take up to midnight to reflect.

The deadline had been extended by two days form the initial date of Monday, October 13 to Wednesday, October 15 to make up for the two days public holiday to mark Muslim festival, Eid-el-Kabir.

HBCL’s investment arm had emerged the preferred bidder for Enterprise Bank last week 15 months after the bank had been put on sale, and had signed the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with AMCON, paying off the initial deposit, two days before the September 21 date.

Heritage Bank, former Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria, had been announced as the preferred bidder over Fidelity Bank and 22 other interested investors

by AMCON. Heritage Bank bought the bank under its investment subsidiary, HBCL Investment Services Limited and would now acquire the entire issued and fully paid up ordinary shares of Enterprise Bank Limited, following the approval of the board of directors of AMCON. The statement by AMCON noted that the emergence of HISL and Fidelity Bank as the preferred and reserve bidders respectively

resulted from a rigorous and competitive bidding process, coordinated by its financial and legal advisers, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Vetiva Capital Management Limited and G. Elias & Co. Enterprise Bank commenced operation in August, 2011, as a fullservice commercial bank with a national banking license, after it was nationalized and acquired

by AMCON. The Bank operates via a sizeable distribution network of over 160 branches spread across major markets and commercial centres in Nigeria, and with over 177 ATMs, 57 Cash Centres and 2,000 POS terminals.

Exxonmobil Investment In Hydrocarbon Hits $40bn

BY Chika Izuora, Lagos

American oil major, Exxonmobil said it has spent about $40 billion in oil and investment in countries where it exploits hydrocarbon including Nigeria in 2012.

The company said it intended to improve on the expenditure but would urge a bilateral trade harmonisation among nations to improve on oil trade.

Speaking on the company’s energy outlook in Lagos yesterday, Mr Olatodun Isiaka, general Exxonmobil’s manager, deep water operations in Nigeria, said major discoveries were being made in countries in Asia and Africa and by 2040, about 60 per cent of oil reserves based on 78 million barrels daily production (mbpd) would be largely untapped.

Isiaka’s position on this issue has put paid on speculation of possible dry up of oil wells in Nigeria.

According to him, new

technologies were helping to uncover oil reserves in ultra deep horizons and Nigeria would be benefitting from this if the right environment was put in place.

“What is needed is for countries to take practical steps, promote transparency, adopt open market, foster innovations, implement sound and cost benefit analysis to engender growth, security and environmental protection and above all open trade channels to promote demand and supply,” he advised.

Isiaka said by 2040, there would be monumental rise in demand for electricity especially from Africa and Asia.

The factor to drive this include, population growth, change in standard of living, migration from rural communities to urban cities, he said.

The GM said certain petroleum products like gas apart from oil would be on high demand for electricity generation.

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commerce REPORTS

Over 1,000 Exhibitors For 2014 Lagos Fair

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

An apple seller at Gosa market, Abuja. PHOTO BY JANE OKEKE

Nigeria Contributes N8.5bn To Receding Lake Chad Basin Project Stories BY Kingsley Alu, Abuja

The Federal Government of Nigeria has contributed the sum of N8.5 billion ($5 million) for the feasibility study to restore Lake Chad Basin which receded from about 25,000 square kilometres in 1960 to about 2,500 square kilometres at present, a reduction of 90 per cent.

The amount would be used for the feasibility studies for water transfer from the Central Africa Republic (C.A.R) to the lake.

President Goodluck Jonathan, announced this at a Roundtable Donors Conference for the restoration of Lake Chad Basin organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in partnership with member states in Italy over the weekend.

Represented at the

conference by the minister of water resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, the president said that the Donors’ Conference was organised to source for fund for the five-year investment plan and for the preparation towards the Inter Water Transfer to resuscitate Lake Chad. He explained that the receding of Lake Chad has impacted negatively on agricultural production, pastoral and fishery activities, constituting huge threat to the economy of over 30 million people living within the catchment.

According to him, safeguarding the Lake Chad for the benefit of millions of people would impact positively on poverty reduction in the region, translate to saving the livelihood of the people of the region, reduce insecurity, improve waterways navigation,

boost communication and also increase agricultural production in the region.

Jonathan said that the fiveyear investment plan includes five activities that would cost a total sum of £926 billion for the development of socio economic infrastructure, conservation of the ecosystem, restoration and protection of natural resources, capacity building and the involvement of stakeholders in the integrated water resources management, and sustainable use of water resources and restoration of the environment and thus assured that Nigeria would continue to support the programme towards restoration of Lake Chad Basin.

He added that Nigeria would encourage governments, corporate bodies and individuals to effectively contribute and support the national effort.

ITC Tasks FG On Value-addition To Export Goods, Services An agency of the United Nations (UN), the International Trade Center (ITC), has urged Nigeria to employ competiveness agenda, standards and value-addition in order to achieve greater economic transformation.

The executive director of the centre, Ms Arancha Gonzalez, made the remark at a stakeholders’ roundtable meeting organised by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in Abuja.

The Abuja session was an offshoot from discussions in Geneva when the chief executive officer (CEO) of NEPC, Mr

Olusegun Awolowo, paid her a courtesy visit, early this year.

Gonzalez said that the valueaddition approach to trade would help in leveraging the abundant potentials of the country’s small and medium enterprises.

“Our focus is on how to better leverage the potentials of the small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. They are the future engine for growth, but most importantly, for job creation for the many women and youths that are in the job market.

“In productivity, building on quality, building on standards, building on branding, making

sure that the skills of Nigerian entrepreneurs are up to internationally acceptable standards are important,” she said.

Also, Gonzalez said that Nigeria must ensure that business activities develop along the strength of the country, adding that what would make Nigeria a greater nation is within the country. She identified that Nigeria has a huge untapped potential in the agro process and services sectors. The ITC chief executive promised to assist the country in capacity building of entrepreneurs.

Over 800 local companies and 200 foreign exhibitors from countries like, Japan, China, Taiwan, Argentina, Vietnam, Cameroun, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, India and European Union countries are expected to participate in the 2014 Lagos International Trade fair.

This year’s fair which will take place at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, from November 7-16, 2014, with the theme “Promoting the Nigerian Economy as a Preferred Investment Destination” will be declared opened

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Addressing newsmen at a press briefing in Lagos, yesterday, the vice president and chairman, trade promotion board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI), Dr Michael Olawale-Cole, said, “We are set to host not less than 1,000 exhibitors which would occupy the targeted 40,000 exhibition spaces of the three interconnected ground namely the TBS Main Bowl, the Cricket Pitch and Arcade Car Park.

Indomie Rewards Independence Award Winners With N6m

By Bukola Idowu and Chisom Eze, Lagos

Dufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Nigeria’s leading noodles brand – Indomie Instant Noodles – has rewarded three outstanding children who emerged winners of this year’s Indomie Independent Day’s Award, with the sum of N6 million at this year’s Indomie Independence Day Award ceremony held in Lagos.

The grand event, which witnessed a large turnout of dignitaries, saw some renowned personalities as the group managing director, First Bank, Bisi Onasanya, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, chairman, Masandola group, Chief Bode Akindele, throw their weight behind Indomie, donating N2.25 million, N500,000, and N1 million, respectively in their personal capacity.

Jonathan, Aganga, Others For IoD Conference

BY OLUSHOLA BELLO, Lagos

President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to declare open the 2014 Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria annual directors conference and exhibition on October 23 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, while the minister of industry, trade and investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga will be addressing top-level directors, technocrats and captains of industries at the event.

According to a statement signed by the directorgeneral of the IoD Nigeria, Mr Victor Banjo, and made available to LEADERSHIP, the theme of the event is “Imperatives of Good Governance in Promoting Investment Opportunities.”

It also listed names of selected speakers from various business sectors some of which include the head of global corporate governance forum, International Finance Corporation, Washington DC, United States of America, Mr Phil Armstrong, chief executive officer (CEO), Bank of Industry, Mr Rasheed Olaoluwa, and the managing director of Financial Derivatives Limited, Mr Bismarck Rewane.

ENERGY /BUSINESS 23

Thursday, October 16, 2014

energy news

$3.3bn Egina FPSO Project Faces Delivery Challenges There are serious concerns that the Egina oil field start up may further experience delay due to seeming challenges facing the company which was awarded the $3.3 billion Egina Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) project, the SAMSUNG Heavy Industries (SHI).

The company flagged off the facility in Lagos last week, two years behind schedule and LEADERSHIP learnt that

the SHI had submitted a $300 million cost variation to the investment arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), for the engineering work of the Egina FPSO project.

The company is not certain when it is going to set up a yard in Bayelsa and also admitted it still has not trained

any welder or fitter for the execution of the Nigerian content component of the work, but was planning to do so in the future.

Speaking at the ceremony, the group general manager of the NAPIMS, Mr Jonathan Okehs, noted that the project which is set to hire over 1,500 welders would also create over 50,000 employment through direct and indirect jobs.

AITEO To Boost Local Content With $2.85bn Investment One of Africa’s leading conglomerates leading a consortium of five other companies, AITEO Group, has won the bid for the Royal Dutch Shell’s prolific Nigerian oil block, Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 and an associated pipeline with a bid of $2.85 billion.

The acquisition of the OML 29 as well as the Nembe Creek Trunk line, a 60-mile pipeline which has served as Nigeria’s major crude oil transportation channel moving oil through the Niger Delta to the Atlantic coast, is a major boost for the Nigerian local content development initiative.

The trunk line is also an extremely valuable asset as it is also a vessel for other oil exploration companies in Nigeria which pay to use it to transport their oil to international markets.

This acquisition has deepened Nigeria’s indigenous participation in oil and gas exploration.

AITEO, the major shareholder in the consortium in the purchase of Shell’s assets, has promised to put its competence to bear in this new deal, which will see it execute the local content to the letter. This is expected to translate to the creation of over 20,000 jobs in the exploration and production sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry.

The Nigerian content implementation had increased the level of participation of Nigerians in oil and gas contracts to 87 per cent.

According to investment analysts, AITEO by this development, has shown that it is committed to the development of the Nigerian oil and gas sector in accordance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act 2010 (NOGICD Act) enacted by the Federal Government of Nigeria in April 2010 for Nigerian Content Development.

Ghana Forum To Review Africa’s Bankable Energy Projects Ghana is set to host global leaders to a summit to review Africa’s bankable energy projects.

About 16 bankable energy projects ranging from Nigeria’s vast gas reserves to hydropower in Uganda would be presented at The Global African Investment Summit (TGAIS) scheduled for this October in Ghana.

To meet the growing demand of energy in Africa, major energy players will convene in the country for the TGAIS to review the continent’s most bankable energy projects.

The summit is seeking to direct funds from some of the world’s largest institutional investors into projects across the continent,

focusing on Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. While Ghana would focus on renewable energy projects, Rwanda would present methane and hydropower projects, Kenya biofuel projects and Nigeria, a gas-fired project.

The chairman of Seplat, Dr ABC Orijiako, who will be speaking at the event, said that “there is no region with the same investment prospects that Africa presents, especially in the extractive, infrastructure and services industries.

“Because of the infrastructure gap in the continent and growing domestic demand, we find that there is a huge potential for investment in the energy market.”

Power plant

NERC,NIQS To Harmonise Partnership in Power Sector Reforms

STORIES By Chika Izuora, Lagos

The Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has said that the profession is ready to play a pivotal role in the ongoing power sector reform, and should, therefore, be offered space to offer its professional contribution.

The body noted that quantity surveying professionals have very critical roles to play in every facet of the power businesses.

The chairman/chief executive, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr Sam Amadi, who also corroborated this position during the 6th Annual Distinguished Lecture series of the NIQS, Lagos State Chapter, stated that though the revamping

of the power sector presented a very big challenge, it has provided ample opportunities for investors and professionals like the quantity surveyors.

Identifying areas of opportunities for the body, Amadi said that private sector investors have been encouraged to pay attention on other generation options including clean coal, large and small hydro, solar, wind, waste-to-power, biomass and tidal energy, among others.

He described the forum as a step towards appraising the power sector reforms and finding lasting solutions to the aftermath arising therein. Amadi, who was represented by an official of NERC, Mr Abdul Mohammed, stated

that the present administration understood why a holistic and fundamental transformation agenda was necessary.

He said government obviously understood the integrated nature of infrastructural development as against targeted development, which, he said, often failed because of the chained and interdependent nature of economic development.

“Therefore, the horizon is certainly good for our country as there is a knowledge-driven and concerted effort to establish the structures on which enduring industrialisation can sustainably thrive; that is the thrust of the transformation agenda and the power sector reforms which the commission regulates,” he said.

NPDC, Seplat JV Earmark $200m For Azura IPP

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and Seplat Joint Ventures will be investing $200 million in Azura-Edo Independent Power Producer (IPP)) to deliver gas infrastructure.

The minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison Madueke, who disclosed this, said, “The Nigerian Gas Company would be providing gas transportation to the power plant using the 50 kilo meter (km) stretch of the Escravos Lagos Pipeline Spectrum.”

According to the minister, the Azura-Edo power plant gas transaction is a pioneer in the two-

tier gas pricing arrangement as proposed in the gas master plan which envisions a willing buyerwilling seller pricing.

She said that the Azura and Seplat exemplified the success stories of this administration in the power and oil and gas sectors.

The minister was commenting on gas supply to the upcoming AzuraEdo Power plant in Ihovbor/Orior Osemwende communities near Benin City which foundation laying ceremony was performed by President Goodluck Jonathan. She maintained that 450 mega watts (mw) IPP would be supplied with 120mmscuf/per

day through the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) and the Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc joint venture from its new gas processing facilities at the Oben Gas Plant.

The minister, who recently announced the N213 billion interagency initiative to facilitate the liquidation of legacy gas debts in the power sector, stated that the NNPC alongside its joint venture partners were determined to surpass its mandate of providing the required fuel gas as well as gas infrastructure for the smooth operation of power plants in the country.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

We Did Not Tell Minister To Stay – Natives

By Igho Oyoyo

Following claims by the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, that he had been approached by natives of the FCT who requested that he continue to stay in office and not return to Bauchi to pursue his ambition to become governor, the natives, under the auspices of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), have branded the statement “disrespectful and a lie”.

The OIDA has advised native communities and residents in the FCT to disregard the crusade of “sycophants” who have embarked on a media campaign, calling on Mohammed not to leave the office of the FCT minister to pursue his political ambitions in Bauchi State due to his alleged positive impact on Abuja natives.

In a statement signed by its media adviser, Shagari Sambo, the pan-FCT group cautioned political sycophants in the FCT, especially supporters of

Mohammed, to stop playing politics with the constitutional and socio-economic demands of Abuja natives.

“Certain policies and mega projects of the present FCT administration, like the landswap, Centenary City Project and many others are all aimed at short-changing Abuja natives and we see no reason why some unknown groups should claim that our people have benefited from such elitist policies that do not even benefit ordinary Nigerians resident in Abuja.

“Abuja indigenous people remain cheated without proper resettlement and compensation for their seized lands as enshrined in Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Hence, OIDA’s rejection of such policies as the land-swap which, in our view, debases the humanity of the original inhabitants whose lands continue to be illegally taken away for over 38 years now by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” it stated.

OIDA further said that it has

repeatedly drawn the attention of the Senator Bala-led FCT administration to the huge developmental challenges facing Abuja natives and communities such as lack of schools, teachers and hospitals or roads in interior townships and villages without receiving a reply.

The indigenes said, while they do not hold personal grudges against Mohammed for the lack of democratic laws for proper governance of the capital city, they however feel slighted by the groups using his name to hoodwink Nigerians and Abuja residents into believing that the territory cannot function without him.

“We feel these unknown groups are being sponsored by fifth columnists to influence President Goodluck Jonathan into reappointing their mentor in the event of a cabinet reshuffle or after winning the 2015 election. We want such groups to be called to order. OIDA also cautions these groups not to turn FCT natives into a laughing stock before other Nigerians.

FCT Women Commend FG Over Approval Of MSMEDF

By Igho Oyoyo

Women in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have commended the Federal Government over the approval of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) which has the capacity to boost the lives of people at the grassroots.

A coalition of 160 multipurpose women cooperative societies under the aegis of Global Women Association in Abuja, who gave this commendation added that access to the fund was not tied to any physical collateral, but solely on trust of the people thereby making access a reality.

National Coordinator of the women group, Mrs. Chinnonso Nwachukwu who spoke on behalf of the women during the formal launching of the group at Kabusa ward of the FCT said the move by the federal government was a bold and realistic way to combat poverty at the grassroots, even as they said the action has engendered more trust between Nigeri-

an lowly women in the FCT and the federal government.

Nwachukwu stated that with the N220 billion Central Bank of Nigeria loan for small and medium businesses by the federal government, such businesses will survive and expressed gratitude to the federal government for not politicising the process.

“No nation thrives without small scale business.

All successful nations in the world start from somewhere.

That is why we are commending President Goodluck Jonathan for taking this positive initiative that will soon drive Nigeria economy. But, we must advice that he should not use politicians for this noble exercise because they may hijack the process for their own selfish goal,” she said.

Nwachukwu who addressed the community women at the Superstar International Academy, Federal Housing Lugbe told the women that while the loan is accessible through cooperatives, it is not a free cash

but a loan that would be revolved.

She insisted that the bank to which the women will be registering their respective cooperative accounts will be bound to the Central Bank Guide which tasks them to only disbursed cash to competent small scale business operators that have the capacity to pay back in a maximum of 5 years with an interest rate of 9 per cent.

“We have over 160 registered cooperatives in the territory with different skills, but the problem the women are facing is that of funds and packaging of the products. As soon as the CBN loan is disbursed, I can assure you that the women will take their businesses to the next level,” she affirmed.

She used the occasion to reveal that plans have been concluded to stage Cooperative Fair in Abuja aimed at showcasing the various products of small scale businessmen and women, noting that the proposed fair will open doors for foreign investors in Nigeria.

1000 FCT Pilgrims To Leave For Israel On Saturday

By Igho Oyoyo

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Christian Pilgrims Board has said that 1000 FCT Christian Pilgrims will be leaving for the Holy Land in Israel on Saturday, 18 October, 2014.

The chairman Ministerial Delegation, Senator Phillip Aduda, who made this known yesterday in a press briefing on the arrangement for 2014 FCT Christian Pilgrimage, said that during the preparation for movement to the Holy Land, about five intending pilgrims were disqualified, due to their inability to pass

the medical test.

According to Aduda, the FCT Christian Pilgrims Board has gotten assurance from the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr Kennedy Okpara, that the date for departure would be Saturday, 18 October, 2014.

“That we should go ahead with our schedule of orientation of our intending Pilgrims, which will come up on Friday, 17 October.

The group visas are ready for the departure of our pilgrims and the inspection of aircraft is been done by the NCPC. “The Executive Secretary of NCPC, Mr. Kennedy

Okpara with his team have left, so that they can come back with the aircraft for the departure our pilgrims.

Medical teams have been constituted to accompany our pilgrims and ensure their well-being in the Holy Land, because, it requires physical fitness and movement to and fro various sites in the land.

“A befitting accommodations for the intending pilgrims have been secured. Things are in place to ensure that we have a very hitch free pilgrimage. Until our pilgrims are airlifted to the Holy Land and back safely to Nigeria after the pilgrimage, we will not rest.

Health: Come To Our Rescue, Residents Plead With Government

By Chika Mefor

The residents of Kassanki Community in Gwagwalada area council, have called on the government to come to their aid, especially as regards the provision of health care facilities, in order to ensure to enhanced healthy living in the community.

Residents who spoke with LEADERSHIP stated that they had to travel far distances, in order to acess health care, adding that it always took a toll on the sick

and pregnant women who undertake the journey.

One of the residents, Murna Adamu, stated that the community not only needed a health clinic but also potable water, as their only source of water was a river.

“I know the water from the river is not healthy for us to drink, but the fact is that we do not have any alternative, so we make do we with what we have, waiting for the government to help drill a bore-hole in

our community,’’ she said.

Another resident, Isa Bello, lamented that the community had, since its existence, not felt the impact of government, as the nature of the road leading to the community had hindered easy transportation and access to the community.

Bello said that the absence of a junior secondary school in the community had also resulted to making enrolment remain at an alltime low, particularly among young girls in the area.

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SECURITY REPORT for

World Food Day 2014

A

SPECIAL PROJECTS PUBLICATION

PROJECT DIRECTOR: ABDULMUMIN S. BALOGUN 08069727798 NATIONAL COORDINATOR : ANGELA TONY-IJI 08033890255 CREATIVE MANAGER: CHUKS NWABUEZE

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Tribute

Thursday, October 16, 2014

80 Gun Salute For The General

BY CLEM BAIYE

His action had very little to do with the state of his cash flow; it spoke much about his generosity of spirit

General Yakubu Gowon turns 80 on October 19th. A couple of things stand out when you meet him for the first time. Firstly, he is a people person. His gregarious nature is such that you know he loves good company, though he does not seek to dominate proceedings. Secondly, he can be disarmingly humble, offering you his handshake in a respectable rather than condescending manner as some of our “very important personalities” tend to do. Thirdly, the General can be wickedly funny. He would make fun of you, but not before he has poked fun at himself. Once in a while I hold my breath until the punch line is delivered. I have myself been at the receiving end of his barbs particularly as regards my height or my silver hair.

I first met General Gowon in October 1980 at Warwick University where I had enrolled for a master’s degree while he was pursuing a doctoral programme in Politics. To be candid, I did not know what to expect. After all, the last time I saw him was about six years before in Kaduna at a public function which I covered for the New Nigerian. Then, as Head of State, he had the panoply of Nigerian officialdom, the ceremonial outriders, the security detail and the equipage. As a reporter among my colleagues, I think the best we got was a smile, his trademark grin, towards us.

At Warwick what would be the story? How do you relate to your former Head of State now turned fellow student? Would he be friendly? Do you keep punctuating your discussions with “your excellency”?

If only I had known that with Gowon such thoughts, no matter how felicitous were unnecessary.

Firstly, he actually left a word for me that he was on campus from his base in London. Secondly, he insisted on being on first name basis like every other student. So, if you cared, call him Jack. If my memory serves me well, I believe we had tea together on the ground floor of the University library. Any lingering doubts that Gowon had adjusted after a nine year stint as Nigeria’s military head of state, all

were blown away by his unaffected simplicity and charm.

There were no nostalgic references to “when I was in power”, nor did he seem to miss the trappings of it. Of course you cannot forget his patented “honestly” or “sincerely” as he spoke. We drank from disposable plastic cups with the obligatory plastic spoons. He would stand up to greet fellow students, engage in small talk about the weather, the train ride from Euston Station to Coventry and whatever was of interest. He took in good spirit, criticism of his regime, displaying a loyalty streak to his much-criticized subordinates, particularly most of the governors.

On a personal level, Gowon reminisced about times with my maternal uncle, the late Mr Abdul Aziz Atta who had been Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and later Secretary to the Federal Government under him. He would also ask after my elder brother, Mr W. O. Baiye who was his French interpreter and translator. For the one year I was at Warwick we saw each other fairly often. And when it seemed too far between, he would call or leave a note in my carrel or at the department. His capacity to relate very well has spun many a yarn and will still do, but a few factual encounters will be adequate.

Once, a friend, Mohammed Sagagi (a doctoral student in Economics) and I were in the supermarket on campus. Then, we saw Gowon across several aisles in the shop. Our concern was that no matter how hard we tried, Gowon would not let us carry his basket to the till. So, to avoid the embarrassment of not being seen to be courteous and helpful to a former head of state and an elder at that, we opted to feign ignorance of his presence.

Unfortunately, we did not reckon with those giant mirrors in the supermarkets. Gowon not only identified us, he walked towards where we were! After pleasantries he not only insisted on carrying our items to the cashier’s till, he offered to pay. His action had very little to do with the state of his cash flow; it spoke much about his generosity of spirit, something those who have been

Gowon

much closer to him can adduce copious evidence of.

On another occasion, Gowon was on a visit to Nigeria sometime in the mid-80s. I went to visit him at the State House Marina where he was lodged. He apologised for not ever inviting me to visit their home in London. While I was trying to negotiate my way through an apology, Mrs Victoria Gowon, rightly handed me a rebuke for not visiting as she believed that a formal invitation was not necessary. I am sure I would not be the first to say that the charming, thoughtful, and warm-hearted Victoria is a straight talker. After the visit, Gowon saw me to the car, waited till we drove off and waved goodbye. My driver was so chuffed by the by the fact that the Gowon he had heard about so much came to the car to greet and see us off.

So carried away was Alabi the driver that I had to advise him to calm down and focus on the traffic!

One of my time consuming

habits is to read about the subject of Leadership. For me, memoirs and biographies provide the substance of that subject. Some great leaders wrote very helpful and thoughtful stuff but so did some not-so-great leaders such as George W. Bush, America’s President from 2000-8. His book DECISION POINTS is a readable account of his stewardship. On the contrary, former President Richard Nixon wrote that “leaders are uncommon men. They should not try to appear to be common. If they do try, they will come across as unnatural-not only phony, but condescending.” So wrote Nixon in his book LEADERS, published in 1982. Happily, Gowon has retained the common touch without being phony. That is why he deserves an eighty gun salute.

Happy birthday, General Gowon.

—CLEM BAIYE, formerly Managing Editor with the NEW NIGERIAN, is a business executive based in Lagos.

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the law Thursday, October 16, 2014

Jonathan’s Eligibility Not In Doubt – Kalu tiong very well, even, during military rule.

Fomer Attorney-General Abia State and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN) in this interview with KUNLE OLASANMI, bares his mind some burning legal issues including the eligibility of President Goddluck Jonathan to contest the 2015 Presidential election.

The Judiciary has remain fearless

I

think the judiciary deserves a pass mark having survived and done very well in the last 54years. There has been un-interrupted judicial action.

It is the only arm of government that has not experienced interruption since independence in 1960. Unlike

Kalu

the legislative arm, which was suspended during the military rule, the judiciary has always been functioning and func-

in anticipation of food from the kitchen because of the aroma, you cannot say that person is eating. So, to that extent, to the best of my knowledge, no campaign is taking place.

If oath could kil, he would have died long time ago. The framers of the 1999 Constituion were also careful by not limiting the years in office to the number of oaths a person takes

If oath taking could kill, President Jonathan would have died long ago My view is that the 1999 Constitution does not limit the tenure of a person in the office as President by the number of the oath of office he has taken. President Jonathan started by being a deputy governor and moved on to become the Governor. As governor, he moved on to become the Vice President and also swore to an oath of office from where he also moved on to become the Acting President and later the president after the demise of late President Umaru Yar'Adua. If oath could kil, he would have died long time ago.

The framers of the 1999 Constituion were also careful by not limiting the years in office to the number of oaths a person takes.

The Constition recognizes four years in the first instance and another four years in the second instance, if re-elected. The question is, has President jonathan been re-elected? If you do a calculation and look at the circumstace that brought him into office and find out that he had spent more that 8years, you will have a legal question to answer.

Jonathan Has been elected only once He served out the tenure of his late boss, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, so, it is debateable whether a person who served out the tenure of his boss was elected into office. If you were a deputy governor and by circumstance you become the governor, it does not mean that you have been elected as a governor. So, when Jonathan became the President by virture of the death of Yar'Adua, it would be difficult in law to claim that he was elected. The 1999 Constitution is very clear by saying "after being elected",

The CJN is a woman of history It is on record that she is the first female Chief Justice of nigeria and that alone deserves a place in the history of the country. She is also the one who has been able to instill discipline among judicial officers and has also attacked corruption in the judiciary headlong. Within the short period she has been in office, she has been able to rid the judiciary off corrupt element.

Only Political Parties can beg for votes The question is whether what people described as campaign actually qualifies as a campaign. The constitution recognizes a political party as the only organization that can canvass for votes for political office. So, when you have a non-political party doing rally in their own name, it is debateable whether that amounts to a campaign.

Since no date has been fixed for electionn, no one can vanvass for votes. For instance, if a man watches his hands

CJN Counsels Court Registrars Over Corruption The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mariam Aloma Muhktar. has charged court registrars to maintain high standard of integrity, incorruptibility, fairness and transparency in the discharge of their duties.

The CJN gave this charge in Abuja during the opening ceremony of a workshop for Chief Registrars and Secretaries of Judicial Committees organized by the National Judicial Institute NJI. Speaking at the workshop which has its theme as ‘Promoting Transparency and Integrity in the Judiciary’, the CJN urged participants to maintain a high level of accountability in terms of monetary dealings with regards to contracts, procurement, resource management, effective time management and other related fields.

“On the other hand, as potential Judges, these and some other factors will be taken into consideration during and even after your elevation.

“In addition it is essential to state at this point that the roles of Directors and Inspectors of Area/Sharia/ Customary Courts in the dispensation of justice are enormous. Their duties require due care and diligence, and it is only by so doing that miscarriage of justice can be prevented”, the CJN stated She further charged participants on the need for hard work, competence, comportment and diligence, which are the hallmark of a good administrative officer.

“You must in your own interest shun corruption in all its ramifications, as it has no place in the judiciary. The Code of Conduct for Court Employees should remain your help-

Mukhtar

ful guide and it is my advice to you to study it carefully and abide by its rules”, she added.

In her own address, the administrator of the NJI, Justice R.P.I Bozimo stressed the importance of the workshop adding that it is very significant to the development of the caliber of officers responsible for the day-to-day running of our Courts.

She said, “It is designed to create an avenue for the participants from different jurisdictions to cross fertilize ideas on gray areas in the administration of justice.

“You will all agree with me that the theme for the 2014 Workshop “Promoting Transparency and Integrity in the Judiciary” is most apt especially if we take into consideration that transparency enhances public knowledge about the judicial system and provides recourse for redress when problems occur. “ Similarly, the need to be transparent and objective be it in appointments, complaints, promotions and disciplinary matters should at all times be of paramount importance”.

BY KUNLE OLASANMI

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politics today Thursday, October 16, 2014

for the records

Rebuilding The Nation: Lessons From Other Lands morbid desire for naked power and domination; abuse and misuse of power and office; greed, selfishness, and intolerance; nepotism, favouritism, jobbery, bribery, and other forms of corruption; and erect, in their places, probity, tolerance, altruism, and devotion; equality of treatment, justice, equity, and fair play to all.”

This speech was given by Chief Obafemi Awolowo For those who still need to be persuaded, I ask further, why would we gather to celebrate the 80th birthday anniversary of General Gowon, who led us through a bitter civil war, inaugurated a rebuilding process built on 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation and 44 years after that process we will gather to discuss a topic such as “Rebuilding the Nation: Lessons from other Lands” if all was well with Nigeria.

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Being the text of an address by Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, San, Governor of Lagos State, at the Leadership Annual Conference and 2013 Awards presentation on Tuesday October 14, 2014 at Thisday Dome, Abuja. hey say lightning does not strike in the same place twice.

For the sake of all of us, I sincerely hope that this saying holds true for Nigerians.

Whilst thanking my hosts, the Leadership newspaper, for inviting me to speak at this event to celebrate General Yakubu Gowon, a patriot and public servant of no mean repute, I apologize that I must open with such words of what I may call frugally measured hope.

This is because the circumstances which thrust a young General Gowon upon our Nation as a leader in the 1960s are not too different from what appears on Nigeria’s political and social landscape from what any honest Nigerian can see.

Indeed the dark clouds that gather are this time prefaced by an ominous prediction about the continuity of our union from a place far away.

If anybody has any doubt about what I say, I will recall history and go back to a speech delivered on Sunday 5th February 1970 in which it was partly said as follows:“Before and since the end of the civil war, we have heard a good deal about physical reconstruction, with

T Ladies and Gentlemen, Nigeria has not changed.

It is us Nigerians who have changed.

As one commentator put it, we have lost our innocence

particular and almost exclusive reference to the reconstruction of roads, bridges, airports, buildings, market-places and other suchlike material and concrete objects which were damaged during the war.

I know, and I want to assure you, that all the Governments of the Federation are already busy making gargantuan preparations to the end that every trace, however slight, of the extensive physical damage done during the war shall be totally erased within the next year or two. But, if the rebuilding of roads, bridges, etc. were all that needed to be done, then the task of reconstruction would be an exceedingly easy proposition.

For Nigeria has the requisite material and financial, as well as the human resources to tackle these jobs effectively and expeditiously. In addition, it has a large circle of friendly countries which are prepared to come to its aid as and when required.

But before we have travelled far on the road of material reconstruction, we must realise, and do so vividly and truthfully, that the most crucial areas of reconstruction are the minds of Nigerian citizens on both sides of the fighting line.

In other words, in addition to material reconstruction, there is an urgent and massive need for moral and spiritual reconstruction as well: the kind of reconstruction which will help to demolish

Why are we not at this occasion celebrating our arrival on the moon?

I do not know how General Gowon feels inwardly as he continues to lead prayers for Nigeria, but I would not be happy that today’s Nigeria is what lives were sacrificed to keep together, if I were him.

Nevertheless, I personally know that all is not lost. I am an optimist.

I am convinced that the problems are man-made, and therefore men and women can and will solve them.

I have believed as a child and continue to believe as an adult in the great promise of Nigeria.

Whether we like it or not, the promise of Nigeria will be fulfilled. What I do not know is when. Whether it will happen in my lifetime or after.

It would be nice to experience it.

I can visualize it.

The world’s largest collection of black people, blessed in many more ways than one, diverse in human and material resources, and if only it can unite in its purpose and mission.

I would love to live that dream.

And it is possible. But it must start with us.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Nigeria has not changed. It is us Nigerians who have changed. As one commentator put it, we have lost our innocence.

The assets of Nigeria, in men and material resources, have

continued to grow or at least remain undiminished.

What has diminished in many vast quantities are our values.

We have refused to look in the mirror because we know what we will see and we are not ready to confront it.

What we will see is a people who appear unsure again how to define good and bad.

In order to avoid the confrontation that we must have with ourselves, amongst ourselves and within ourselves, we have thrown up false reasons.

The constitution is bad. It is our diversity. It is our religion or it is our ethnicity.

So, in order to avoid the truth, we have lived in our own bubble, amending constitution after constitution as if that was the problem.

Instead of the many Constitutional Conferences that we have had, what we really need is a conference of values.

Nigerians have not experienced the promise of this country because our values and moral codes have gone in different directions.

Ever so often, when the Nigerian people have asked the leadership for a better life, we seem to miss the question or we avoid it; we give them a new law or a new document, or we set up one Committee.

The ordinary Nigerian will not be as interested in what is written in the Constitution, as he will be interested in safety, food, shelter, prosperity, education and work.

But when we finally agree to look in the mirror, we will see that these things have been denied by our values.

From the shortage of electric power, to the deficit of roads, insecurity and crime, sub-optimal economy, high interest rate, poor exchange rates, the poor value issues and misuse of power, greed, selfishness, intolerance, nepotism, favouritism, bribery and other forms of corruption identified since 1970, lie at the heart and as root-cause.

Therefore on discussing my topic, as chosen by my hosts, which is: Rebuilding the Nation, lessons from other lands, my approach ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 38

Donald Ojogo, Group Politics Editor ojogodonald@yahoo.com

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Rebuilding The Nation: Lessons From Other Lands ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37

Among the things that caught my attention is the President’s claim that ‘we have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy. We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process

today will be to share some of the problems that we are all too familiar with as examples of what must change.

Then I will proceed to look at other places and make possible comparisons, in order to show what they have experienced, and what they did, as lessons that we may consider; if we must re-build our nation.

Let me start with some of the problems.

And I will not say anything that comes from me. I will only repeat what some ordinary Nigerians have said and what some of you may have read.

I will start with Alade Fawole who writes on the back page of Tribune Newspapers and what he said in the Tuesday edition of 7th October 2014, which he titled “The Mo Ibrahim index exposed the ugliness of Nigeria’s underdevelopment.”

He said in part as follows; “A few months ago, after the Nigerian economy was officially rebased, a mere statistical abracadabra that placed Nigeria as having the largest economy in Africa ahead of South Africa which had rightly occupied that position for decades, our national officials were giddy with celebration, effusively touted the wielding of that magic wand called rebasing as another evidence of the success of President Jonathan’s transformation agenda.

And they did their level best to persuade us of the ‘benefits’ of this newly minted status.

Many perceptive analysts advised cautious jubilation at the time, stating that the mere statistical manipulation or creative accounting exercise neither reflected the actual economic realities on the ground in the country nor would it make any meaningful impact on the lives and living standards of the 70 percent ordinary Nigerians who survive on less than two dollars a day.

Fancy economic statistics that fail to translate into positive improvement in the living conditions of the mass of the people is at best useless.

Every commentator with a contrary view was at the time regarded in official circles in Abuja as either working for the opposition party, (the accusation routinely leveled at anybody who disagrees with government), or he/ she was downright unappreciative if not also unpatriotic.

But the reality is that this rebasing did not, and has not, addressed chronic poverty, infrastructure decay, creeping authoritarianism, mass youth unemployment, adult underemployment, burgeoning insecurity and overall bad governance, and other challenges that confront the country.

The 2014 Ibrahim Index on African Governance (IIAG), an annual review on governance

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in Africa of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, released on Monday, September 29, ranks Nigeria among the worst governed countries in Africa. It has revealed the stark ugliness of Nigeria’s underdeveloped status in the world.

Of the 52 countries profiled, Nigeria is placed number 37, far below its principal competitor and continental rival, South Africa, which ranks number 4, after Mauritius, Cape Verde and Botswana in that order. Nigeria scoring 45.8 not only ranks below the West African average of 52.2, it ranks scandalously lower than the overall African average of 51.5!

What makes this highly atrocious and humiliating, in my humble view, is that Nigeria is the undisputed sub-regional ‘superpower’ by several statistical considerations. It all shows that the rebasing was just another statistical hocus pocus contrived to hoodwink the people that they are actually more prosperous than previously imagined.

Let’s return to the 2014 Ibrahim Index. Eleven West African countries, among them postconflict states like Liberia and Sierra Leone still coping with the devastating consequences of civil wars, rank ahead of Nigeria!

How much more scandalous can things get’ All the 52 African countries were judged on four basic premises, namely: Safety and Rule of Law, Participation and Human Rights, Sustainable Economic Opportunity, and Human Development, and Nigeria ranked poorly in virtually all of them.

It is customary during major national celebrations for our governments to reel out their wonderful achievements. This year’s nationwide independence anniversary broadcast by President

Goodluck Jonathan on 1st October did not disappoint ----- as usual it was full of self-praise and effusive celebration of the government’s fantastic achievements.

Among the things that caught my attention is the President’s claim that ‘we have been able to sustain a big, strong and influential country with a robust economy.

We are currently in our sixteenth year of uninterrupted democratic rule, daily improving on the consolidation of our democratic process.’

Add to that sundry claims of the power sector reforms that will bring us electricity, ‘giant strides in the agricultural sector’ and sundry policies meant to fast-track job creation, inclusive growth and industrialisation, upgrade existing infrastructure, and all that. Coming just two days after the release of the Ibrahim Index, the speech and all the fancy claims rang rather hollow and unconvincing.

While a little self-congratulation may not be completely out of place, it’s high time the government came down from its high horse to acknowledge the ugly realities of Nigeria’s underdevelopment, and begin to come up with innovative ways of solving them so that Nigeria can in the next few years emerge from this sorry state.

Not much will be achieved by wallowing in self-congratulations instead of facing the facts. I don’t know about our government, but I consider it shameful, scandalous and unacceptable that a big country endowed with abundant natural and human resources like Nigeria would place thirty-seventh in Africa and tenth out of sixteen in the West Africa sub-region. The only appropriate appellation for it is ‘big for nothing country’.”

I will also quickly refer you to the views expressed by Abimbola

Adelakun who writes on the back page of Punch Newspapers and this is part of what she had to say in the Tuesday October 9th 2014 edition about security (on which we have received a poor rating) in a piece she titled “The battle the Army needs to win.”

She said; “How, one wonders, does a fundamentalist sect without any training in modern warfare defeat Army officers?

Boko Haram, ab initio, is a copycat organisation; no original thought.

They are as vicious as any psychopath armed with highoctane weapons can be. Their videos portray them as a disorganised band whose major strength is the worthlessness of their lives which they never hesitate to throw away.

On this page some weeks back, I noted that now that ISIS beheads people on video, Boko Haram too will soon follow suit – and they did! Boko Haram is asymptotic of the spectacularisation of violence elsewhere. Even their triumph is barely original.

How can such a group endlessly confound the Nigerian Army if not for the politics of war?

For now, the evidence that Shekau had truly been killed is weak yet cuts at the heart of the credibility of the Army. The Army has been caught in several blatant lies that believing they actually killed Shekau sounds like ‘tales by the moonlight’. Worse, the evidence they presented works hard at saying nothing but destroying their claims.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, I did not say this. Two Nigerian citizens said so. I have resolved for a long time not to speak badly about my country.

But that resolve also comes with another resolve not to pretend about its problems, because I believe they can be solved.

So I cannot pretend that the problems highlighted in these words by two Nigerians indicate that they exist.

Many words summarize these comments. Inefficiency of Government, mistrust between the Governed and those Governing at the national level.

And nothing typifies this more than the Transformation agenda and the Transformation Ambassadors, who seem to see what all of us and perhaps the rest of the world do not see in our country.

Yes I agree that Nigerians need to unite around an idea or a vision, but for that to happen, the idea or vision must be SHARED and our efforts must be united towards realizing it, while our actions must be consistent with that idea. This is the kernel of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s speech that I referred to.

Has this happened? I cannot answer this question alone. ➔ CONTINUES ON PAGE 39

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Rebuilding The Nation: Lessons From Other Lands ➔ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 38

If Nigeria needs any type of conference or dialogue at all, it is a conference about our National values and ethical codes

Indeed the answer lies in a joint examination of Nigeria’s current realities and expressed vision; in a Transformation Agenda.

Is this a shared idea, vision or agenda? Was it discussed with you? Do you know what it means?

Let us start from the definition.

The word derives from the verb “Transform” which means: “to completely change the character or appearance of something,…so that it is better.”

So if we paraphrase, to transform means ‘to change for the better.’

In the last four years, has Nigeria changed for the better?

I do not know about you. But the signs that there was not going to be any transformation were obvious to me since 2011 or thereabouts.

As a mere slogan perhaps yes.

As a call to purposeful action, the deception is obvious if you look at the budgets we have presented as a nation, and more critically at how much of it, we have been able to implement.

For any serious public officer, nation or Government the budget is the article of faith.

It is the easiest place from which the seriousness or lack of seriousness of the people in that country or region are valued.

It determines what investors locally and internationally will do.

In a nation where we need to increase the supply of good road networks, where power needs to be produced in multiples of thousands of megawatts, where specialist health care facilities are needed, one would expect a massive investment in financing public infrastructure at a time when oil has been selling for around $100 per barrel.

But details of the Federal Budget pieced together between 2010 and 2013 show that every year in those four years we have budgeted at least 62% and at most 74% on recurrent spending, while the maximum budget for capital expenditure, from which roads, rail, power, hospitals, bridges, etc can be executed have received at most 38% in 2010 before this administration started, and as little as 26% in 2011.

If truly there was a desire to make a change for the better which is what transformation means, it should be obvious as a statement of intent from the budget.

But contrary to what we profess, our budgets spend more on recurrent; payment of salaries, travel, importing kerosene, petrol, rice and every other imaginable thing. What is transformational about that?

For the record, since around 2011, I have made a conscious effort not to use that word, and whenever I have succumbed to the unconscious use of it, it has been with very deep regret.

The truth is that we are not “transforming” for the better. Our own definition of the word seems to be different from the one in the dictionary.

It is obvious in all spheres of our national life, the evidence stares us in the face. No patrol vehicles for Policemen, arms are being rushed in purchase because none was budgeted for until we hit a crisis.

So we have heard of wives of soldiers protesting deployment of their husbands, soldiers making tactical withdrawals, small nations that are not as big as some local Governments in Nigeria embarrassing us.

Yet some Nigerians, who claim they are more patriotic than us, say that they are Ambassadors of this transformation and that we are wrong because all is well.

Really is all well? When last did Sudan, a nation that has been caught in civil strife, go to the Nations Cup, not to talk of defeating Nigeria?

I know that they won the Nations Cup in 1970 when they hosted it. But I cannot remember when last Nigeria lost a match to Sudan. But it happened on Saturday.

In our group with Congo and South Africa, we are the only nation that has not defeated Sudan. They lost by 3-0 to South Africa, and by 2-0 to Congo. FIFA has threatened to ban us, given us ultimata more times in a year.

This is happening when we are defending champions.

But how did we consolidate our success as African champions? We removed a young minister who was rebuilding our sports and connecting with his generation.

His offence? He did not attend a political rally.

How consistent is this action with the transformational agenda to empower the young people of this country?

Again you will see inconsistency; words leading in the opposite direction of action.

How can we transform if we spent over N2 Trillion on importing fuel. This is approximately $12.5 Billion.

For those who are curious enough, please simply Google the cost of building the Burj Khalifa.

It was the tallest building in the world when it was completed about four years ago and quickly became a foremost global tourism destination. It cost $1.5 Billion and an oil producing Emirate like our country used the same income source to send a strong statement of development and Excellence to the whole world.

According to our own Government, our transformation is evident in the handful of billionaires and the number of their private jets.

In order to understand our transformation, you might wonder what kind of ideology this transformation is, which makes it difficult to buy arms to pursue and

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diminish criminals.

Every person who cares to ask will easily find out that conflicts around the world are pursued with small arms which are in proliferation in the hands of criminals.

Yet we have been unable to get legally or illegally, what criminals get readily.

If this is the case, what does it say of our ability to apprehend them, if they can do illegally, what we cannot do illegally or legally?

Some transformation.

My heart bleeds when I recount how we move from one avoidable embarrassment to another and so I will say no more.

What I have said is only necessary to contextualize what I think we should do.

In order to preface my solution, I will make a final reference to the arms purchase scandal and the Evangelical thread that trails it.

I know that all the scriptures abhor violence and killing, so I will focus on the ethical and moral message of that thread.

The last time I checked, arms and ammunition were not being used for making peace, giving life, treating sick people or providing spiritual renewal.

Arms are used to perpetrate violence or repel it. Usually they cause death. They are the antithesis of the spiritual injunction that, thou shall not kill.

The inconsistent purpose of arms and ammunition with this injunction is, for me, the most important reason why there should never have been that Evangelical thread.

It threatens the foundations of morality and values; and this is my message for all of us.

What we need most in order to rebuild our nation is to reclaim our lost values, re-define our moral codes, agree on a common definition of what is good and what is bad, pursue the development of our nation along these codes and refuse to accommodate any ethnic, kinship, tribal, religious or

other coloration whenever these moral codes and ethical values are violated.

We have done it before. An example which I readily cite is a story told to me by my friend and I will repeat it: About 40 years ago, when my friend was Ten-Years-Old, he recalls that his father had a close friend who was also a neighbour.

For many years, his father and that friend constantly exchanged visits and after work drinks in each other’s homes.

My friend’s paternal grandmother lived with them.

One evening, it was reported in the news that the neighbour, his father’s friend, was suspected of some impropriety in his office.

His grandmother had heard the news. When the friend walked over for the usual evening drink with his father, his grandmother refused to open the door.

In the exchange between son and mother (my friend’s father and his grandmother) as to why the wellknown friend and neighbour could not enter, my friend’s grandmother replied that he must go and clear his name.

This was in Lagos, Nigeria. This was forty years ago.

So how many of us can and will be ready to be like Mama?

If Nigeria needs any type of conference or dialogue at all, it is a conference about our National values and ethical codes.

If we agree on this, it seems to me that many other things will fall into place.

All those things that Chief Obafemi Awolowo referred to in his 1970 speech which undermine a nation, will reduce or disappear because history has shown that they cannot withstand the compelling purpose of a people united around high ethical and moral values.

In order to complete my task, I will only now refer to extracts from other lands. ➔ To be continued on Friday

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

news south-South south-Eas 41

Thursday, October 16, 2014

FRSC Begins Prosecution Of Traffic Offenders In A/Ibom As part of measures to curtail road accidents, the Akwa Ibom State command of the Federal Road Safety Commission(FRSC) says it has commenced the immediate trial of road traffic offenders in the state.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Uyo on the preparation of the commission as the yuletide season approaches, the public relation officer (PRO) of the command, Mr. Godsgift Owen said the prosecution of road traffic violators would help curb the excesses of recalcitrant motorists and wayward drivers.

He explained that the command in the last couple of weeks has prosecuted over 22 road traffic offenders.

By Bernard Tolani Dada Uyo

2015: Oshiomhole Can Rescue Nigeria – Aide

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

As presidential aspirants under the platform of the All Progressives Congress(APC) jostle to fly their party’s flag in the 2015 presidential election, the Edo State commissioner for information and orientation, Mr Louis Odion has said that his boss, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, is in the race to rescue Nigeria.

Odion, who spoke in Benin, Edo State capital yesterday said that

Oshiomhole is better equipped to lead the nation with his pan-Nigeria perspective, asserting that he has better credentials than other APC presidential aspirants to pick the party’s ticket.

He said, “It is not a rumour, it is a fact, Oshiomhole is in the race. But if you expect the kind of jamboree that is currently taking place, where people embark on road show, promising heaven and earth, Oshiomole is not going to do that. I can tell you he is

in the race. And it is in response to the yearnings of well-meaning Nigerians that our country need somebody of his pedigree at this point in our history to move Nigeria forward.

“You will even recall early this year when Governor Fashola said the nation needs somebody like Oshiomhole as president to change Nigeria. And Fashola as we all know is a performing governor but he said being some body that has stayed in Benin

City before as a student of University of Benin, he knows what Benin is then and today. And that is why he said Oshiomhole is a good material.

“As a journalist myself, I take time out to read reports and I have looked at the parade of some of the APC leaders who have so far declared interest in Presidency. Of course you have somebody like General Muhammadu Buhari, you have somebody like Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State.

short news 2015: Why We Are Supporting APC – Niger Delta Youths

PDP Meets With Defecting APC Members In Bayelsa The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State yesterday met with the leaders of the defecting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, promising to provide level playing field for the members of the party ahead of the 2015 general elections in the state.

The meeting which was convened by the state executive council of the PDP led by Col. Sam Inokoba (rtd), was attended by nine representatives of the over 8,000 defecting members of the APC led

by Comrade Miriki Ebikibina and Hon. Sunday Frank-Okputu.

Sources at the meeting confirmed to leadership that the defecting members of the APC included the One time Board of Trustee member of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Former Treasure of the Interim Executive of the APC,Elder Harold Zuokumor.

By Osa Okhomina, Yenagoa

A/Ibom Guber: ‘Akpabio Can’t Impose His Candidate On Us’ A former minister for lands, housing and urban development, Nduese Essien has said that it is impossible for Governor Godswill Akpabio to impose any governorship candidate on the people of Akwa Ibom State.

Rather he insisted that the governor can only support somebody whom he knows would be able to carry on with the good works he has done.

He made this clarification during the reception held for the secretary to the Akwa Ibom State government, Mr. Udom Emmanuel by the people of Eket federal constituency at Eket Township Stadium.

By Bernard Tolani Dada Uyo

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji (right) receiving the PDP Senatorial nomination and expression of interest form presented to him by the stakeholders from Abia Central Senatorial Zone in Umuahia, yesterday.

Delta Assembly Restates Confidence On Gov Uduaghan, Speaker

By Kola Eke-Ogiugo, Asaba

The Delta State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the speaker, Hon. Peter Onwusanya, for their efforts in promoting the well-being of Deltans.

The House also dispelled rumour of impeachment notice against Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan as being peddled in some quarters, saying the vote of confidence passed on him was an affirmation that the governor is working to uplift the wellbe-

ing of Deltans.

The vote of confidence passed on the duo stemmed from a motion of matters of urgent public importance moved by the deputy majority leader, Hon. Prince Johnson Erijo and seconded by the member representing Warri South constituency II, Hon (Barr) Dennis Omovie.

The motion which came at a time when the excellent performance of the governor’s administration had again been acknowledged by one of the most critical voices in the media industry, The LEADERSHIP News-

papers, was unanimously supported by the House presided over by the speaker, Hon. Peter Onwusanya.

Leading debate on the motion, Hon. Erijo, noted that the vote of confidence on the governor is apt on the day he was being honoured by the LEADERSHIP Newspapers as the paper’s Man of The Year.

According to him, “The governor has effectively used his threepoint agenda to touch all facets of the economy for even development of the state”.

Okorocha Denies Dumping APC For PDP

By Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha yesterday denied report of his alleged plan to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

The denial was contained in a statement issued by his senior special assistant on media, Sam

Onwuemeodo, insisting that Okorocha is a committed member of the APC. According to the statement “Nigerians, and indeed, the good people of Imo State in particular must have read some newspaper reports alluding that the Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha is at the moment negotiating to join the

PDP, and which would mean his leaving his party, APC. The report was credited to an ultimately strange group, Imo Progressives and Consultative Assembly, and also with two vague names, Nze Benjamin Irohah, and Benjamin Ogoke, signing as coordinator and secretary of the group respectively.”

The statement further main-

Niger Delta Youths under the aegis of Ijaw Global Policy Network (IGPN), said they have resolved not to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration of President Goodluck Jonathan owing to unfulfilled promises by the government to the people of the region.

They cited among others the alleged failure of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs responsible for the implementation of the amnesty programme of the federal government to fulfill its mandate of bringing development to the region in spite of its huge deposit of oil and gas.

By Patrick Ochoga, Benin City

tained that the sponsors of the publications were attributing the presence of the governors of Abia State, Theodore Orji and Governor Godswill Akpabio who represented President Goodluck Jonathan recently at the wedding of Okorocha’s daughter as their reasons for the speculative report.

42 news Lagos NYSC Disengages 5,448 Corps Members For 2013 Batch C

By OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos

Thursday, October 16, 2014

$1.69m Fraud: Court Frees Ajudua

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will today (Thursday) hold Passing-Out Ceremony for the 2013 Batch ‘C’ corps members of over 5,448 deployed in Lagos for the one year service.

A statement signed on behalf of the state coordinator by Mrs. Belinda Faniyi directed the Batch C 2013 corps members in Lagos who will be disengaged from national service to report at the various designated venues in the state at 7.00a.m in accordance with the arranged procedure to collect their Certificate of National Service.

According to the statement the exercise which will draw the curtain on the activities of 2013 Batch ‘C’ corps members will be low-keyed nationwide and devoid of the usual parade and fanfare.

Citing the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce witnesses to substantiate its allegations of fraud against alleged fraud kingpin, Fred Ajudua, a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja yesterday discharged him.

The trial judge, Justice Kudirat Jose put an end to the protracted case which started in 2003 after the EFCC told the court that its witnesses most of whom are

foreigners are refusing to come to Nigeria because of the fear of contracting the Ebola Virus.

However, Ajudua cannot go home yet, as he was returned to prison custody because another case where he is accused of allegedly defrauding former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi of $8.4million while they were both in custody at Kirikiri Prison in Lagos between November 2004 and June 2005 is still pending before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye.

EFCC had rearrainged Ajudua

and his co-defendant, Charles Orie in 2013 for allegedly defrauding two European businessmen, Remy Cina and Pierre Vijgen of the sum of $1.69 million (N287 million).

EFCC is accusing Ajudua and Orie alongside Rasheed Adekunle, Abisola Fawehinmi, and Stephen Joiner (who are still at large) of committing the crime between 1999 and 2000.

Ajudua, who is also known as Isa Audu, and the others allegedly obtained the money from the businessmen as sundry payment

to various government officials for payment of an $18 million contract No. FMA/EED/3040/S92, according to the EFCC. They both pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and obtaining money by false pretence. The court however refused to grant them bail.

It would be recalled that the defendants were first arraigned on 24th July, 2003, before Joseph Olubunmi Oyewole (now of the Court of Appeal).

short news

Attack On Edo Lawmakers Act Of Insurgency – Lagos Assembly

By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos

Lagos Counsels Students Over Hand Washing Culture Lagos State commissioner for education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye has charged students in the state to imbibe the culture of frequent hand washing with soap and clean water as a precursor to the spread of diseases particularly the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EDV).

Oladunjoye disclosed this yesterday at a symbolic hand washing exercise organised by United Nations Information Centre in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Education to commemorate 2014 Global Hand Washing Day celebration at the premises of Falomo Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi.

The commissioner reiterated the need for students to maintain a good personal and environmental hygiene stressing that the outcome of their academic performances depends largely on their state of health.

By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos

NHIS To Register 40m Nigerians Under Healthcare Scheme National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has targeted to register 40 million Nigerians by 2015 through its experiential campaign across the six geo-political zones.

The experiential marketing campaign is aimed at reaching the generality of Nigerians, especially the grassroots and the informal sector with the NHIS valueessence programme, ‘easy access to health care for all’. This was disclosed yesterday in Abuja by the acting general manager, media and public relations NHIS, Mr. Femi Isinlu.

By Olushola Bello, Lagos

Nigeria Association of the Blind, Lagos State chapter, on a charity walk to mark 2014 International White Cane and Safety Day in Lagos, yesterday. PHOTO BY NAN.

NUC Okays Entrepreneurship In Varsities’ Curriculum

By Taiwo Ogunmola-Omilani, Lagos

The Nationa Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the proposal by the Association of Business Executives (ABE) to include Entrepreneurship inthe Nigeria universities’ curriculum.

In a letter dated October 2, 2014 and signed by the, executive secretary of the NUC Pro Julius Okonjie. and addressed to the chief executive officer of Association of Business Execu-

tives, Mr. John Goldup, it conveyed the endorsement and formal approval of the commission to ABE’s request to partner with NUC to promote entrepreneurial education in Nigerian universities.

Okojie in the letter said, “The commission in consideration of your pedigree as a reputable international organisation and professional body, wishes to convey its formal approval of the proposed ABE international certification programme for de-

livery in Nigerian universities.

Please accept the assurance of the executive secretary’s highest regards.”

Every student is expected to undergo relevant general and specific programme in Entrepreneurship which will help them in setting up profitable business ventures. along their professional line or on a new different idea entirely after graduation The signing of the MoU will take place at the Annual Nigeri-

The Lagos State House of Assembly has condemned in strong terms last Saturday’s attacks on the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers at their residence (legislative quarter) in Benin.

The spokesperson and chairman House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity condemned the action of the hoodlums calling it act of terrorism and insurgency.

“It is nothing but terrorism and insurgency. It was carried out in the broad-day light; massive weapons were used and the perpetrators dare the existing government security agencies in the state. So what more do you call it?

By Taiwo OgunmolaOmilani, Lagos

Gov Fashola Promises More IPPs In Lagos

By GEORGE OKOJIE, Lagos

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has promised the construction and commissioning of more Independent Power Plants (IPPs) to increase electricity supply in the state. Fashola who made the promise while commissioning the Lagos Energy Academy assured that more

IPPs will soon be commissioned in the state to boost power supply to different parts of the state.

The governor while inspecting the facilities at the academy located at the State Electricity Board, Works Yard Road, GRA, Ikeja added that the academy is expected to train many batches of power engineers and artisans who will provide the necessary

human capital for lighting Lagos and the country.

According to him, the Lagos Energy Academy will provide training for young people to become technicians and electrical engineers and provide training in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

Fashola explained that inside the academy, there are modules

on the sub-station that people see outside which has been simulated as well as transformers and all sorts of learning equipment and tools. Harping on the Mainland Independent Power Project, he said it is the sixth IPP that the state is completing , hinting that it is now going through the pre-commissioning testing.

news NATIONAL 43

Thursday, October 16, 2014

NOA Cautions Against Abuse Of Social Media With the aim of encouraging ethical and conflict sensitive online content, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Stability And Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), has engaged stakeholders on safeguarding the nation’s cyberspace from its detrimental effects.

NOA director-general, Mr Mike Omeri, who stated this at the Nigerian Bloggers and Social Media workshop organised by NOA and NSRP yesterday in Abuja, said the NSRP study had revealed that social media had been increasing exponentially in certain areas of the country.

He noted that the social media had also become an avenue for transforming hate speeches and radical messages, adding that some online publications and press articles had reported the current security challenges and other challenges in the country in embellished tones, sometimes bordering on sensationalism and provocation which may potentially cause unrest.

By Patience Ivie Ihejirika, Abuja

‘Impunity, Biggest Challenge Confronting Nigeria’ The Stop Impunity Nigeria (SIN) campaign yesterday welcomed the decision of the Governing Council of the National Human Rights Commission “to work towards addressing the culture of impunity in the country,” saying impunity was the biggest challenge confronting the nation.

In a statement to LEADERSHIP yesterday signed by Media Rights Agenda (MRA) executive director Edetaen Ojo, the group revealed that the governing council of the NHRC had over the weekend issued a communiqué at the end of its meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, wherein it expressed the determination of the commission to work towards addressing the culture of impunity in the country.

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

Contract Scam: EFCC Docks Man Over N32m Dud Cheques The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned one Husein Tahir and his company, Kamisa Nigeria Ltd on a six-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and issuance of dud cheques before Justice Farouq Lawal of the Kano State High Court.

The accused allegedly received the sum of N22, 650,000 from the petitioner for the execution of a contract with the Nigerian Customs Service but after the contract was concluded and money paid, he fraudulently converted the money to his use.

According to the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the accused person later issued the complainant five Diamond Bank cheques to the tune of N32, 650,000.

By Ejike Ejike, Abuja

Poor Attendance Stalls Constitution Review Report Consideration In Senate

By Jonathan Nda-Isaiah, Abuja

Poor attendance by Senators yesterday stalled the constitution review report consideration as the report was deferred to Tuesday next week.

According to Senate rules, the Upper House must form a quorum of two-thirds before any bill is passed and the number of lawmakers present yesterday could

not form the required quorum LEADERSHIP recalls that the ongoing constitutional amendment is regarded as the most inclusive and consultative process ever undertaken by the National Assembly with alterations made to about 71 sections of the Constitution.

Senate President David Mark decried the poor attendance by senators, noting that constitu-

tion review is a very important issue that affects almost all Nigerians and considering that the required number is not met, the report was subsequently deferred to Tuesday.

Senator Mark also appealed to his colleagues to be around next week and urged the senators present to pass the message to their other colleagues.

Meanwhile, the Senate passed

for a second reading a Bill for an act to regulate the business of equipment leasing in Nigeria.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ita Enang, said that, globally, equipment leasing is recognised and established as a creative financing alternative used in meeting the world’s equipment needs, and many developing countries are equally using it to stimulate investment and create jobs.

short news FG Worries Over Increased Number Of Slums The federal government has lamented the plight of Nigerians living in slums across the nation and has said the situation calls for urgent attention.

The minister of Lands, Housing and L-R: Minister of Water Resources Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, representative of IGP, AIG Mamman Tsafe and Wash Ambassador Mrs Urban DevelopEbere Okeke with pupils of POWA Children’s International School, at the 2014 Hand Washing Day commemoration in Abuja, ment, Mrs Ekon yesterday PHOTO BY NAN Eyakenyi made this known while speaking during the 2014 World Habitat Day with the theme, ‘Voices

BY ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New icalization - which focuses on understanding the causes of youth from the Slum’.

York community engagement and ed- disillusionment.

She noted that ucation-based projects, de-radiHe further stated that states slum and slum The national security adviser calization which aims to integrate must also understand the need for dwellers had been (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), extremists and their families back adventure and search for meaning around for a while yesterday said that any response to into society through a number of that is at the heart of a lot of radnow as shown terrorism in Nigeria must be long activities, including prison inter- icalization narratives, while also in the study by term, holistic and robust enough ventions and vocational training, addressing more structural sociWorld Bank that to address its root causes. and strategic communication, etal defects that make it difficult identified 42 slum The NSA,who made this com- which seeks to produce a counter for some youth to access jobs, edcommunities in ment while addressing diplomats narrative, presenting moderate Is- ucation or social security.

Lagos alone. at the United Nations headquar- lamic views as a stark contrast to “While there is no defined pathShe said, “The ters in New York, also used the violent extremism and promoting way to terrorism, poverty, lack of reality that slums medium to unveil Nigeria’s soft core national values. opportunities for self actualization co-exist with well approach to countering violent Speaking further, Dasuki said it for youth, political and social marplanned areas in extremism. was his belief that a military ap- ginalization, poor understanding most of our cities is He named the federal govern- proach could only be part of a solu- of religion, the pull of a charismatworrisome.” ment’s approach as: counter rad- tion, and that states must begin by ic leader all play a role,” he added.

By Evelyn Okoruwa, Abuja

Response To Terrorism Must Be Holistic – NSA

War Against Boko Haram Progressing – Adefuye

BY ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York

The Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Professor Adebowale Adefuye has told the international community of the plans of the federal government to curb Boko Haram and other acts of terror in the country.

Speaking at the just-concluded Global Town Hall Meeting which was held at the Nigerian Embassy Washington DC, yesterday, Ambassador Adefuye used the medium to inform participants that the feder-

al government was still battling to return the abducted Chibok school girls to their families safely.

He further said that there was no iota of truth in the claims from some quarters that the fate of the abducted students had become worse as a result of a purported slowness of the government to act on the incident.

Briefing participants at a wellattended meeting, Adefuye noted that the federal government had done what every responsive government would have done to en-

sure that the captives regain their freedom.

The ambassador however faulted those politicizing the abduction, saying that such act was not good for Nigeria’s democracy.

“What again do they want the president and members of his administration to do that they had not done since the students were kidnapped?” he asked.

He also noted that there was no way the activities of Boko Haram would spoil the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the

United States, stressing that, instead, the American government was fully ready to support its Nigerian counterpart in its quest to curb the insurgents.

On the forthcoming 2015 general elections, Adefuye stated that President Goodluck Jonathan had promised free, fair and bloodless polls. ”I see no reason why anyone will doubt Mr. President’s promises to make the elections the most remarkable in the history of Nigeria,” the diplomat said.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

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46 news north-East, north-west

Thursday, October 16, 2014

I’ll Govern Kaduna With Justice, Fear Of God, Says El-Rufai

By Midat Joseph, Kaduna

The former minister of Federal Capital Territory and All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Kaduna State has urged the people of Kaduna State to shun attacks on his person, saying he intends to run a government of justice and fear of God if given the opportunity.

El-Rufai who spent close to two weeks in Southern Kaduna told members of his party to jettison politics of blackmail and bitterness.

The former minister, who addressed APC members in

short news Relationship Between Legislative, Executive Arms Cordial – Ngilari

Kafanchan, also condemned killings in the area which he described as ungodly and desecration of humanity.

On the way forward for Kaduna State, El-Rufai said, “We shouldn’t personalise issues, it is not about El-Rufai, it is about the state and the people.

It is about getting capable leadership to run government with justice, fear of God and vision.

“In the name of God, don’t blackmail any one; don’t engage anyone in harsh words, instead play issue-based politics. Like I said, it is not about me. I also thank you for ignoring fabricated hate messages

being attributed to my person.

Thank you for also not replying sponsored campaign of calumny, the beauty is, once you do thorough checks, you will realise that it is politically motivated, they have helped this project immensely because the society knows the truth.

“What we need immediately is a government that must sincerely invest in education, health, good governance, economy, infrastructure, population structure and demographic dividend so as to save the future.”

On the killings in Southern Kaduna, El-Rufai, while com-

miserating with affected communities, said “the killings is troubling and stand condemned because life is sacred and only God creates human beings and there is no reason whatsoever for any man to take the life of another person.

“All these killings are barbaric and unfortunate and so we must defy all odds to live in peace, accommodate and respect one another. Government must stand up and protect citizens they took an oath to protect; representatives must also take concern of their constituencies as basis of their representation.”

Kano Guber: Electorate Pledge To Purchase Form For Ex-CJN’s Son

By Abubakar Salihi, Kano

People running into thousands from Babura and Garki constituency in Jigawa State have expressed commitment to make financial contributions to purchase forms for the son of the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapha to represent them at the Federal House of Representatives in 2015.

The declaration at a rally that took place at Babura town signals a new development in the politics of the state, as they pledged to con-

tribute not more than N1000 each to purchase contest form for Musdapha.

Our reporter who was present at the rally gathered that two third of the gathering were housewives and young men and women below 40 years of age.

A young lady who spoke with our reporter at the rally, Amina Abdullahi, said she is giving Musdapha her support because she believes he has brilliant political ideas to take their rural community to the next level and that the exam-

short news

ple set by his parents will be reflected in his leadership style and things will be better for their locality and the state.

She explained that the idea of purchasing the form was to make him accountable to them if he steps out of the way, if elected.

Responding to the decision in a chat with LEADERSHIP, Kaloma Musdapha said he is of the belief that if his people contribute from their pockets to send him to the federal legislature, it will keep reminding him that he owes them a duty.

2015: Adamawa PDP Begins Sale Of Forms

4 Taraba Lawmakers Defect From APC To PDP Four All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers in Taraba House of Assembly yesterday announced their defection from APC to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defected lawmakers are Alhaji Ibrahim Imam, Jalingo 1 constituency, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulkarim, Ibi, AlhajiYahaya Abdulrahman, Gassol 2 and Alhaji Aminu Jalingo,Jalingo 2, whose announcement was made by the speaker, Mr. Josiah Kente.

Announcing his defection on the floor of the House,Abdulkarim said he only returned home, adding that the PDP was his initial party.

Also, Imam described his defection to PDP as a necessary decision informed by a popular demand from his constituency.

Reacting to the defection, Mr. Edward Baraya of Karim 2 said the defection of the lawmakers was long overdue.

He stressed that the former APC lawmakers had never been antagonistic to motions moved by their PDP counterparts in the past.

The lawmaker representing Zing constituency said PDP, being the largest party in Africa, was big enough to accommodate every member in the House.

A head of the 2015 general elections, Adamawa State chapter of the PeoBy Andrew Ojih, Jalingo ple’s Democratic Party (PDP) have commenced sales of nomination forms Wednesday for Senate, House of Representative and House of Assembly positions.

The Deputy Chairman of the party in the state, Kaduna State House of AssemHon Jingi Rufai bly’s leadership yesterday set up while making the a seven-man committee to invesdisclosure at the tigate media reports on alleged

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola deputy governor to Bala Ngilari, lari has asked the party to produce party’ s secretariplots to impeach the speaker, Althe substantive governor of the two nominations out of which he at yesterday in Yola haji Shehu Tahir and other prinAnxiety has gripped Adamawa state. will choose one. said the exercise cipal officers of the House.

State chapter of the Peoples DemVarious groupings and blocks The two names have already been will end on the 2nd The seven-man committee is ocratic Party (PDP) as the jostle to within the party have been in- sent to the governor as the party November, 2014. expected to report its findings secure the deputy governorship of volved in last minute scheming to awaits his final selection.

Rufai added on the media reports in two the state narrows to two people. ensure that their candidate is seAn insider source hinted that the that three commitweeks time.

The court verdict that sacked lected to hold the coveted office. two persons that were nominattees have been conThe committee has Philemon acting governor, Ahmadu Umaru In other to save the party from ed are Barr A. T Shehu who is the stituted to superUsman Gidan Mana, member Fintiri, has changed the political fragmentation in view of the multi- current secretary of the party and intend the sales of representing Makera as its chairpermutations of the PDP and ne- farious interest vying for the num- Habu Lawal , a former chairman of the nominations ac- man while other members incessitated the selection of a new ber two office, Governor Bala Ngi- Girei local government. cording to the poclude Ahmad Hassan Juma’are sition one is vyrepresenting Makarfi; David BLESSING HORN HORN OF OF HOPE HOPE VISION VISION FOR FOR ingBLESSING for.

Umar representing Kachia; Dr. AUCTION! AUCTION!AUCTION!!

AUCTION!!AUCTION!!!

AUCTION!!!

I, Formerly I, Formerly known known EBERE as EBERE PEACE PEACE AND AND COMMUNITY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT The sale as ofwish nomMato Dogara representing Lere BLESSING BLESSING GABRIEL GABRIEL wish to be to be TheThe general general public public is hereby is hereby notifi notifi ed that ed that thethe above above named named n.G.O n.G.O hashas applied applied ination form for West; Nasiru Abdullahi Maiknown known and and addressed addressed as EBERE as EBERE to the to the Corporate Corporate Affairs Affairs Commission Commission (CAC) (CAC) Abuja Abuja for registration for registration under under partpart “C” “C” This Thisis istotoinform informthethegeneral generalpublic publicthat thatthere therewill will BLESSING BLESSING OLIVIA OLIVIA CHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER the Senate is bekano representing Ungwar Saof the of the Companies Companies andand Allied Allied Matters Matters ActAct of 1990. of 1990.

OKECHUKWU. OKECHUKWU. All former All former be be an an auction auction sales sales of of some some unservicesable unservicesable vehicles vehicles ing chaired by Runusi; Yakubu Yusufu representdocuments documents remain remain valid valid and and the the THE THE TRUSTEES TRUSTEES ARE: ARE: general general public to please towhile please take note. note. faipublic Jingi, Mr.take 1. 1. Bishop Bishop Ransom Ransom stephen stephen - Chairman/Director Chairman/Director ing Zaria Kewaye and Barrister and and offi offi ce ce equipment equipment belonging belonging to to the the offi offi ce ce of of 2. 2. Rev.Rev. (Mrs) (Mrs) Kate Kate Ransom Ransom stephen stephen Seth Danfillo is to Kantiok Irimiya Ishaku repre3. 3. Rev.Rev. engr. engr.

Victor Victor Anam Anam thethe Head Head ofof Civil Civil Service Service ofof thethe Federation Federation (Federal (Federal 4. 4. Pastor Pastor Chidi Chidi elele elele serve as the secsenting Zonkwa constituency.

5. 5. BroBro Odunlade Odunlade Adebowale Adebowale Training TrainingCentre, Centre,Ilorin).

Ilorin). retary.

The motion for investigation 6. 6. Barr.

Barr.

(Mrs.) (Mrs.) Clara Clara Katabs Katabs - Legal Legal Adviser Adviser 7. 7. evangelist evangelist Barau Barau Gabriel Gabriel into the media report on alleged By Mohammed 8. 8. elder elder Augustine Augustine Agbenyi Agbenyi - secretary secretary Date: Date: Tuesday Tuesday21st 21stOctober October2014 2014 Ismail, Yola impeachment plot was moved at AIMS AIMS AND AND OBJECTIVES: OBJECTIVES: the plenary by a member repreTime: Time: 3 pm 3 pm 1. 1. establish establish Tuition Tuition freefree school school 2. 2. Adult Adult education education senting Zonkwa constituenBLESSING HORN OFforHOPE VISION FOR Venue: Venue:Federal Federal Training TrainingCentre, Centre, Ilorin Ilorin 3. 3. Care Care andand support support for widows, widows, orphans orphans andand vulnerable vulnerable children children (OVC) (OVC) AUCTION! AUCTION!!

AUCTION!!! cy, Kantiok Irimiya Ishaku and I, Formerly known as EBERE PEACE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLESSING GABRIEL wish to be AnyAny objection objection to the to the registration registration should should be forwarded be forwarded to the to the Registrar Registrar General, General, seconded by Ahmad Hassan The general public is hereby notified that the above named n.G.O has applied ForForenquiries enquiriescontact contact known and addressed as EBERE Corporate Corporate Affairs Affairs Commission, Commission, PlotPlot 420Tigris 420Tigris Crescent, Crescent, Aguyi Aguyi Ironsi Ironsi street, street, to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Abuja for registration under part “C” This is to inform the general public that there will BLESSING OLIVIA CHRISTOPHER Juma’are, representing Makarfi Maitama, Maitama, Abuja, Abuja, within within 28 days 28 days of this of this application. application. of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Auctioneer AuctioneerRasaki RasakiA.A.Adunbarin Adunbarin OKECHUKWU. All former constituency. be an auction sales of some unservicesable vehicles signed: signed: Adamawa State Governor Bala James Ngilari has assured the people of Adamawa State that there is no rift between the legislative and Executive arms of Government stressing that the two organs are enjoying best of relationship.

Ngilari who spoke through his Director of Press and Publicity Mr. P. P. Elisha said in order to enhance harmony between PDP faithful in the state he has opened doors of reconciliation aqs he strives to strengthens relations with the Legislative arm of government.

By Mohammed Ismail, Yola

Anxiety In Adamawa PDP As Tussle For Deputy Gov Position Narrows To 2

THE TRUSTEES ARE: Barr.

Barr.

(Mrs.) (Mrs.) Clara Clara Katabs Katabs 1.

Bishop Ransom stephen 2.

Rev. (Mrs) Kate Ransom stephen 3.

Rev. engr. Victor Anam 4.

Pastor Chidi elele 5.

Bro Odunlade Adebowale 6.

Barr. (Mrs.) Clara Katabs 7. evangelist Barau Gabriel 8. elder Augustine Agbenyi

-

Chairman/Director

-

Legal Adviser

-

secretary

08034549779, 08034549779,08094463477 08094463477 and office equipment belonging to the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (Federal Training Centre, Ilorin).

documents remain valid and the general public to please take note.

Impeachment Saga: Kaduna Lawmakers Set Up Committee To Investigate Media Reports

By Isaiah Benjamin, Kaduna

Thursday, October 16, 2014

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52 Bussiness/WORLD NEWS

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Toyota Recalls Another 1.75m Cars

Toyota has issued three new recalls covering more than 1.75 million vehicles, the latest in a string of safety setbacks for the automaker.

The largest of the three recalls, which mostly covers vehicles sold in Japan, is needed to fix a problem in

the brake systems of select Crown Majesta, Noah and Voxy models, the company said in an email. In some cases, brake performance could begin to gradually degrade if the problem is not fixed.

A second recall of 759,000 vehicles includes 423,000

Lexus models in the United States made between 2005 and 2010. The automaker is seeking to fix an issue with fuel delivery pipes that could increase the risk of a vehicle fire.

The third recall is restricted to 190,000 cars sold in Japan that may develop fuel leaks.

In all three cases, Toyota said it was not aware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities that have resulted from the issues. Nearly two-thirds of the recalled vehicles were sold in Japan.

The new announcements will add substantially to Toyota’s total recall number for the year. The company has already issued recalls over software problems and faulty airbags.

Earlier this year, Toyota agreed to pay a $1.2 billion fine -- the largest of its kind -- to settle a criminal probe into its conduct during its unintended acceleration recall of more than 10 million cars four years ago.

Health workers evacuating a dead victim for burial in Liberia

Ebola: Second Texas Health Worker Tests Positive ABIODUN OLUWAROTIMI, New York

A second health worker in the US state of Texas has tested positive for Ebola, health officials say.

Both health workers treated Liberian man Thomas Duncan, who died last week after becoming the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the US. Meanwhile, the UN’s Ebola mission chief says the world is falling behind in the race to contain the virus.

The World Health Organization

(WHO) says 4,447 people have died from the outbreak, mainly in West Africa.

Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have been hardest hit by the outbreak, which began in December 2013 but was confirmed in March.

Anthony Banbury told a special session of the UN Security Council on Tuesday that if Ebola was not stopped now, the world would “face an entirely unprecedented situation for which we do not have a plan”.

Digital Jewels Unveils Information Support: Canada Partners Girl Hub To Celebrate Security Awareness Resources

By Tunde Oguntola, Abuja

An Information security management system (ISMS) certified IT value chain consulting and capacity building firm, digital jewels, has unveiled a set of global standard information security awareness resources to combat cyber-crimes, which has deface

Nigeria internationally.

In a statement made available to Leadership, signed by Mr Paul Umukoro, lead consultant, public affairs, Digital jewels, it said “Due to high rate of cyber-crimes in the country the launch of ‘Online Wisdom’ and ‘Secure Sense’ was geared towards equipping Nigerians with the knowledge,

skills and techniques to prevent or detect fraud and ensure online safety.

Speaking during the launching, the Managing Director, Mrs Adedoyin Odunfa said that lack of awareness has made it easy for fraudsters to operate leading to significant loss of finances, reputation and international credibility.

Also, speaking during the launching the Director, eGovernment, federal ministry of communication technology, Mr. Tope Fashedemi in his keynote address, stressed the need for collaboration between the public and private sectors towards fighting cybercrime.

Speaking on a topic, ‘Enhancing Information Security Nationwide: Awareness As a Strategic Tool’, Fashedemi averred that in the issue of cyber security, the Ministry through one of its agencies, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is doing a lot.

International Day Of The Girl

By Ruth Tene Natsa and Tunde Oguntola, Abuja

The High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Perry J. Calderwood yesterday celebrated the International Day of the Girl by hosting a roundtable to discuss how media and private sector partners can invest in adolescent girls to promote girl safety and empowerment.

In a statement to LEADERSHIP signed by the Public Affairs office of the High Commissioner it revealed that ‘’In line with this year’s theme, Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence, the principal objective of this roundtable event was to motivate, inform, engage, and equip the media and private sector to focus on girl safety, a key dimension needed for adolescent

girls to thrive.’’

The discussion was led

by Girl Hub, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) working in three African countries to address the needs and rights of adolescent girls.

Mr Calderwood and Girl Hub welcomed representatives from the media and private sector and encouraged all parties to find innovative ways to achieve tangible and sustainable results on protection and empowerment of girls.

According to him “Violence against women and girls is pervasive in many communities worldwide and takes many forms.

We must redouble efforts to overcome such violence and to create societies in which women and men are equal. Today’s discussion launches a new and promising collaboration between

civil society and business that has the potential to unleash a ripple effect of change,” a phenomenon that Girl Hub popularly refers to as ‘The Girl Effect’.

The statement added that “Canada is committed to the view that equality between men and women is not only a human rights issue, but is also an essential component of sustainable development, social justice, peace, and security. Canada is a world leader in the promotion and protection of women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality”.

The International Day of the Girl is celebrated on October 11 annually. The day promotes girls’ human rights and aims to draw global attention to the gender inequality and abuse that many girls suffer worldwide.

Ebola Outbreak: Passengers Alert Over US Nurse US health officials are seeking 132 people who flew on a plane with a Texas nurse on the day before she came down with symptoms of Ebola.

The nurse, the second person to catch Ebola in the US, fell ill on yesterday.

Both she and nurse Nina

Pham, 26, had treated Liberian Thomas Eric Duncan, who died on 8 October, in Dallas.

Meanwhile, the UN’s Ebola mission chief says the world is falling behind in the race to contain the virus, which has killed more than 4,000 in West Africa.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it wanted to interview the people who flew on Frontier Airlines flight 1143 from Cleveland, Ohio, to Dallas, Texas on 13 October.

It said it was taking the measure “because of the

proximity in time between the evening flight and first report of illness the following morning.”

The nurse, who has yet to be identified, was not showing symptoms of the disease when she flew, the crew has told CDC investigators.

53

crime Thursday, October 16, 2014

F E AT U R E S

In Search Of Understanding Between Security Agencies And Media

S

ince the country’s return to democracy, it has been an apparent case of no love lost between the members of the fourth estate of the realm, the media practitioners and the security agencies and their operatives. If anything, it has presented a façade of mutual sense of distrust and disrespect between both parties in the discharge of their respective national duties.

While the security agencies are always grouchy that the media practitioners are in the habit of reporting more than expected of them thereby heightening the tension in the society and threatening the security of their operations and by extension, the national interest, the media practitioners on the other hand, accuse the security agencies of holding back more information than is necessary thereby leaving the practitioners with no option than to speculate or at best, rely on outside or anonymous sources.

In the final analysis, each group believes the other is not patriotic enough and so a real threat to peace and security. This situation leaves them gnawing at each other occasionally and pushed to the wall on some occasion, security operatives have had to apply the jackboot method to beat the reporter or media organisation in line.

This action which usually results in altercation and subsequent infringement on the both the human and constitutional rights of the journalist also leaves the image of the security agencies battered in the eyes of the public. The question which has always generated controversy during every parley between members of both institutions is which institution is more important than the other.

The media practitioners would say the military needs the media more than the media needs the military while the military operatives believe that the reverse is the case.

The need to harmonise the activities of members of the both institutions and create a cordial working relationship was at the heart of the retreat organised by the office of the National Security Adviser, NSA in collaboration with a private firm, Trim Communications.

The retreat drew both security and defence correspondents as well as heads and some members of staff of the public relations unit of most of the military and paramilitary agencies in the country.

The participants identified the contributions of security agencies

Sambo Dasuki

The Office of the National Security Adviser, last week organised a three-day retreat to find a lasting solution to the seeming war of attrition going on between the security agencies and the media in the reportage of war-like situations, CHIKA OTUCHIKERE writes on the outcome. and the media in promoting peace and harmony in any society, stressing that both the security agencies and the media have common gate keeping roles and common grounds that must be fully explored for greater mutual understanding, harmony and effective co-ordination, among themselves and for common good of the society.

Part of the objectives of the retreat were to among others explore possibilities of establishing an acceptable process between the media and security agencies for disseminating information to the public without compromising national security and understand the impact that new and webbased social media have on crisis management.

The retreats expectations included better understanding of security implications of the media reportage thus enhancing greater synergy, mutual respect and singularity of purpose in promoting harmony among citizens without reducing their rights to be informed, demystification of the concept that the media and the security are philosophically at variance in promoting national goals and objectives and the elimination of the tension in the relationship between these two sectors of our national life.

The chairman of the opening

session and former Chief of Army Staff, retired General Martin Luther Agwai and SURE-P in his speech, commended the roles of the security agencies and the media in promoting peace in the country and reflected on a similar conference held about two months ago organised by the Chief of Defence Staff where emphasis was made specifically on effective collaboration between the security agencies and the media.

In his remarks, the National Security Adviser who was represented by Prof. Soji Adelaja affirmed that the retreat was holding at a time the country was facing serious security challenges. He acknowledged that the media have so far done a good job on security reportage in the country, but however, cautioned that more was needed to be done. “As gate keepers, the international community is looking up to you for balance reportage,” he said.

The NSA encouraged the media to portray good image of the country especially at the international level, cautioned them to be very careful in using images in security reporting and also not to divulge information (no matter how useful) that will compromise national security.

Some of the observations made at the retreat include that the media had made considerable progress on security reportage;

that there would be continued inevitable interactions between the media and the security agencies in any security situation; and that the media was working to strengthen and protect the integrity of security operations while security is a public policy for the people and by the people and their opinion must be respected.

Others include that economies of the media limit how well reportage is done; there are structural challenges in the way the military presents itself and how the media cover stories; and that it is the duty of the media to hold key security actors accountable, bearing in mind that effective communication can affect how this important duty is performed; that accessibility to source of information by the media in crisis situation is extremely important and that the media must be part of military operations and be trusted to report objectively.

The retreat further observed that silence in crisis situation was not an option as engagement of the media even on the face of bad news was extremely significant.

Criticisms made on policies that affect security are not meant to be personal or to portray the policy makers in bad image. Strategic communication can also be applied during insecurity situations and the need to create confidence and trust among Nigerians on security reportage.

Part of the recommendation of the retreat include effective collaboration between the security agencies and the media in promoting peace and harmony in Nigeria, both the media and the security agencies should cooperate to establish good relationship with the communities and to update them regularly on security challenges.

Others are that the media organisations shall support the training of their staff as defence/ security correspondents on specialised security reportage; while the media should cease providing prominence to unpatriotic individuals whose statements may pose significant threats to unity of the country.

Also, the media should always verify the authenticity of stories especially from the social media before reporting while the security agencies should engage the services of media consultants to handle information management before going out to the public via the media.

Both the security agencies and the media have common gate keeping roles and common grounds that must be fully explored for greater mutual understanding, harmony and effective co-ordination, among themselves and for common good of the society

54 DEFENCE FOCUSs

Thursday, October 16, 2014

defence focus

‘Our Strategic Communications Engages The Press For Responsible Reporting’

A

dvancements that have come with modernity such as technology and science have opened up the world in ways that our ancestors could not imagine. But with these advances have also come existential threats, which require us to come up with innovative solutions. As our world becomes smaller, problems are no longer isolated by region, state or even neighbourhood, the same technology that allows us to communicate with relatives thousands of miles away, and to witness events unfolding in distant shores as they happen, is also used to transport extreme ideas that entice youths to pick up arms against their country and fellow citizens, and in some cases abandon their homes to help others fight a war in a distant land.”

Nation’s that have been directly affected by terrorism whether it is the IRA in Britain, or the FARC rebels in Columbia, or ETA in Spain and more recently IS in Iraq have shown us how difficult it is to eradicate. The terrorist lacks neither imagination nor capacity for evil, they operate outside of the bounds of conventional morality, while states must be guided in their responses by rules, the law, their own values and respect for civilian lives and property.”

It is my belief that any response to terrorism must be long term, holistic and robust enough to address its root causes. A military approach can only be part of a solution, more importantly states must begin by understanding the causes of youth anomie, disillusionment, need for adventure and search for meaning that is at the heart of a lot of radicalization narratives, while also addressing more structural societal defects that make it difficult for some youth to access jobs, education or social security. While there is no defined pathway to terrorism, poverty, lack of opportunities for self actualization for

youth, political and social marginalization, poor understanding of religion, the pull of a charismatic leader all play a role.”

Before I outline Nigeria’s attempt to address these issues, I will just like to take a minute to explain the threat we face.

The current threat we face is mainly from a radicalized and fundamentalist Islamic group, the Jama’atul ahlul Sunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad, popularly known as the Boko Haram sect which emerged in Borno State North Eastern Nigeria in 2000.

The group was founded by the late Mohammed Ali who moved to Kanamma, a small settlement in Yobe State, close to the border with Niger Republic in 2003 at a base dubbed ‘Afghanistan’.

The movement then known as the ‘The Nigerian Taliban’ targeted the Police and other security agencies sourcing for weapons, creating fear and a sense of insecurity in the locals. This group was initially contained by the security forces but later metamorphosed into the Boko Haram Sect under the leadership of a very charismatic young man known as Mohammed Yusuf.”

Today, Boko Haram, is seeking to impose an extreme violent Salafist Sharia legal system in the North while holding strong abhorrence for Western ideas. Under the leadership of Abubakar Shekau, the profile of the sect continued to assume martyrdom status. In the past few years the group has targeted both Muslims and Christians, killing more than 10,000 civilians including women and children. The group has kidnapped hundreds of people, including the more than 200 young girls taken from their school in Chibok as they sat for their final year exams.

In the last two years, Nigeria has had to innovate to meet the challenges posed by this deadly group. We have worked very hard to develop a National CVE Program which was unveiled on March 18th, 2014. The National CVE Program is the soft approach identified by the

By BAYO OLADEJI

Jonathan

prevent strand of Nigeria’s Counter Terrorism Strategy. This aspect of our counter terrorism approach seeks to raise awareness of the threat of violent extremism, as well as shape policy and programming. While we have studied different CVE models around the globe we understood that we had to answer tough questions that are specific to our particular situation in countering violent extremism and it is with this in mind that we developed what we believe is a four pronged approach that encompasses peace, security and development. It is a totally non military approach that involves actors, within and out of government, civil society as well as religious institutions.

The de radicalization program involves the training of a new generation of practitioners in the areas of forensic psychology, religious instruction with particular emphasis on extremist narratives, art therapists, social workers and vocational and educational counselors. The government of Nigeria is refurbishing a number of prisons that are being configured specifically for this program.

We have identified and are training a multi-disciplinary prison based treatment team to manage terror suspects. This team is responsible for developing curriculum and training in religious education, cognitive behavior therapy, anger management, relapse prevention, empathy, risk management and risk assessment.

Additionally Imams are being trained on dealing with ideologically driven conflict.

Strategic Communication seeks to produce counter-narratives, by presenting moderate views as a stark contrast to violent extremism and promoting core national values. Through Strategic Communications we are working to

Dasuki

counter extremist ideology and narratives. Extremists’ views are often based on ignorance, misconceptions, willful misinterpretation and twisted ideology. In the case of Boko Haram, narratives are founded on a set of core beliefs that are opposed to the state and aspects of western education.

Our response targets those that hold radical views, without necessarily being violent, and the population at large; aiming to further diminish tolerance for extremist rhetoric. Media content for TV, radio and the internet is being developed in order to raise public awareness of the illegitimate claims of the terrorists.

Our Strategic Communications approach engages the press to ensure that reporting of terrorists’ activities are done responsibly. A voluntary code of conduct on reporting national security issues is being developed that will regulate crisis reporting especially with regard to terrorism. Furthermore we are creating a rapid response media team that will promptly address extremist messages in print or electronic media .

We are currently in the process of strengthening our public diplomacy efforts through the institutionalization of strategic communication capabilities across the civil service. We have begun this effort by training small groups of civil servants, with the aim of reaching over 500 over a two year period across 22 government agencies. This training is being carried out through the Public Service Institute of Nigeria. A parallel program is being developed and institutionalized through the Nigerian Defence Academy. It is envisioned that this will provide long term strategic communication capabilities for our armed forces.

Additionally we are develop-

ing messaging desks for the production of counter- narratives (This includes the production of a Website, CDs, Books, TV and Radio programs) including messages targeting youth at risk of radicalization.

In order to further our understanding of Boko Haram we have commissioned a documentary on Boko Haram and research on the Pathways to Radicalization Economic Regeneration- Based on our understanding of the economic root causes of terrorism and global best practices in addressing them, we worked with the Governors of six north eastern states of Nigeria in designing an economic revitalization program targeting the states most impacted by terrorism. An inter-ministerial committee consisting of the Ministries of Agriculture, Power, Finance, Works, Water Resources, Health, Education, Transport, Communication, Culture and Tourism, Industry-Trade and Investments, Solid Minerals Development, Science and Technology, Youth Development, and Lands and Housing, along with the National Planning Commission, development partners and my office are currently working with the region under the aegis of the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast (PINE).

The activities of PINE include providing support and succor to a large quantum of internally displaced persons in the conflict areas in the form of emergency relief through the provision of food and medicines in designated camps. In this we are closely working with the State Governments. ...Being text of a speech delivered

by Sambo Dasuki, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations in New York on Monday October 13, 2014.

55

Thursday, October 16, 2014

7 Nigerian Referees Set To Get FIBA Badges Nigeria may boast of 10 FIBA referees by the end of October should Lagos referees Lai Alimi, olusegun Adekanmbi, Samuel Sofoluwe, Razak Okedeyi, Joseph Patrick alongside Musa Gambo from Kano and FCT referee Opeyemi Ogunleye successfully complete the FIBA referee clinic and examination which started October 15-17 2014.

The 3-day assessment slat-

ed for Cotonou, Benin Republic will see the Nigerian 7 regional referees join their other African colleagues to be assessed on their knowledge on the newly revised 2014 Official Basketball rules approved by the FIBA central board as well as physical evaluation.

Today, Nigeria currently has 3 FIBA referees, Kingsley Ojeaburu who stands as the first Nigerian referee to offi-

ciate any senior World organised event, when he arbitrated at the maiden FIBA World Cup in Spain in September.

Oyo State’s Tunde Popoola and Yinka Famogbiyele from Osun State make up the Nigerian FIBA BIG 3. Success for the seven will mean Nigeria will have a total of 10 referees eligible to officiate both continental and international competitions come 2015.

Controversy OverBack KanoInPillars Basketball Team Travel3-1 Plans AFCON: Eagles Contention, Beat Sudan

By Ishaku Salifu Usman, Abuja By Kigbu, Abuja

African The travelchampions, plans for Super Kano Eagles Pillars yesterday basketball relatively club to got for azonal tickthe their Zonecampaign 3 basketball et to the 2015 Africa Cup of championship in Burkina Nations (AFCON)controversy in Morocco Faso is generating back on with trackallegations with a 3-1 that win in Kano over Sudan at the National the club is scheduled to hit Stadium, victory the West Abuja.

AfricanThe nation by gave the Coach Stephen Keroad rather than air.

However, shi tutoredcoach, squadSani who were the team’s Ahmed on brink ofhimself elimination has the distanced from following last weekend’s 1-0 the allegations that the team loss in Sudan four points but with their remaining matches must win. The two games are

against Congo and South Africa respectively; must preparing for and the they Zone 3 win them to ensure a place in basketball club championship Morocco 2015. are beinginshortchanged and Former Kano Pillars man, made to hit Burkina Faso Ahmed gaveofNigeria by roadMusa instead by aira lead in the 51st minute allegedly planned for byafter the a scoreless first half.

The visistate government.

Concerned tors responded almost immebasketball enthusiasts diately, drawing through had raised the level alarm that, star striker,Nigeria’s Salah Ibrahim to Pillars, most the disappointment the successful basketball of club homearefans.

Notbound happyatwith side failure the the equaliserzonal

by Sudan, the continental showpiece home fans who were shouting slogan of ‘Keshi Must Go!’ began to boo Nigerian play-

ers and the Coach in particular before new boy, Aaron coming up in Burkina Faso Samuel restored hope forthey Nithis month end because geria through a lead before will have to travel by road to birthday boy, via Ahmed Musa Ouagadougou bus which netted second goal for to will not his be comfortable put over the score beyondonreach the 25 persons the of the Sudanese.Keshi made trip including most of them four changes the team above 6 feet.toThey fear that the lost players 1-0 in Sudan Readtall will bewith cramped inga midfielder Hopebus Akpan, in Toyota Coaster for a China-based journey that isstriker over 25 Aaron hours Samuel, by road. Raheem Lawal, and Juwon Oshaniwato all startAccording the ing the game. Both preferred fullbacks Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile were dropped

with Ogenyi Onazi playing in the right back for the first time.

Despite the victory, Keshi was roundly booed and jeered by the Abuja who thronged into the stadium to watch the Eagles fans.

The angry fans who started with the booing before the start of the match to register their displeasure mobilised themselves and pressured the country’s football authorities to do what they say is needful; which is to get a suitable replacement for the Big Boss.

Keshi

NOC’s AGM, Merit Award, Elections For Asaba Asaba was overwhelmingly voted for after President Sani M Ndanusa announced that the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had accepted to host the AGM

The Executive Board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, yesterday approved Asaba, capital of Delta State as the venue for its Annual General Meeting and elections as well as a Merit Award Night. The election will hold on November 20, 2014.

Asaba was overwhelmingly voted for after President Sani M Ndanusa announced that the State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan had accepted to host the AGM. To this regard, nomination forms to the Executive positions

would be available at the Secretariat of the NOC, National Stadium, Surulere and the NOC’s Liaison office in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory from October 20, 2014.

The deadline for the return of Nomination forms would be two weeks from October 20, 2014.

At the AGM meeting in Asaba, the NOC would confer the Best Current Athlete Award to speedster Blessing Okagbare while the Distinguished Athlete Award would go to Table Tennis

Trojan Segun Toriola. Sportsloving Governor of Delta State Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan would be conferred with the Olympic Sport Friendly Personality Award for his outstanding performance in Sports. President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Evangelist Solomon Ogba would be conferred with the Sport Administrator Award. Post humous awards on Promotion of Olympism would go to Late Alhaji Raheem Adejumo, late Chief Abraham Ordia and Alhaji K. A. B Olowu.

Ndanusa

Danagogo Inaugurates Hall Of Fame El-Kanemi’s Obioma Arinze Clinches Wonder Goal Award Committee

By Salifu Usman, Abuja

Danagogo

Minister of Sports and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Tammy Danagogo has inaugurated technical committee on Nigerian Sports Data Base and Hall of Fame. The committee is headed by ex-international, Idah Peterside.

The minister charged the committee to work out modalities of having a thorough database of both present and past athletes’ record performances and also develop a befitting hall of fame where the nation’s heroes will be celebrated. The committee is also expected to monitor virtually all the

serving and retired sports men and women living in Nigeria and abroad and to ascertain the level of their living conditions and to determine if the Sports Commission should offer assistance to them if necessary. “We want to monitor our sports men and women wherever they are in the country, continent and abroad and to help those that need help if needs be. “The only way we can do this is to have a data base where their names and profile/data would be captured. There is also dire need to honour our heroes and heroines past and present through the establishment of Hall of Fame,” he stated.

El-Kanemi Warriors Arinze Obio- of Osaguona Ighodaro and Emema has emerged winner of the 5th ka Eze and Bayelsa United’s OgGlo Premier League Wonder Goal hogho Oduokpe and Enyimba’s Award, beating off challenge from Rasheed Olabiyi.

The award is an initiative of Heartland’s Julius Ubido and Super Eagles invitee and Dolphins the League Management Company (LMC) aimed at deepening forward, Emem Eduok.

In the latest poll for the Won- Clubs and Community engageder Goal Award, Arinze attract- ment and to showcase some of ed 59.3% of the votes by fans the quality goals scored by playwho participated in the online ers in the Glo Premier League as voting while Heartland’s Ubido well as the team effort behind came second with 23.7 votes and those goals.

Arinze was nominated for his Eduok finished third with 17% of the votes. goal against Lobi Stars in a Match He is the fifth to win the award Day 6 fixture played at the Kano previously won by Rangers duo Pillars Stadium on April 13.

Follow these reports on leadership.ng/sports

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— Norman Cousins on Richard Nixon

16.10.14 www.leadership.ng

The Thursday Column

FOR GOD AND COUNTRY

No. 2,275

O

The economy is not growing because there is no production, no manufacturing base, no power

N150

Never Wrestle With A Pig… 08052407030 (SMS only) abba@leadership.ng

Abba Mahmood

ne of the reasons most members of the elite class in the north do not like to be called or addressed as “chief” is because another definition for chief is “a leader in the tribe of baboons”!

That was why the British address those they referred to as noble savages “chief”. That was precisely the reason the first-generation leaders do not quote any foreign philosopher or scholar. This is because we already have our own home-grown philosophers and scholars. After all, even the whites know that civilization began in Africa. Africa is not only the cradle of civilization but indeed the cradle of mankind, regardless of what any latter-day racist will say.

Among the greatest African philosophers of all time is Shehu Usman DanFodio, the leader of the reform movement that founded the Sokoto Caliphate, one of the greatest empires that ever got established in Africa. The leaders of the Sokoto Caliphate were scholars and great philosophers who authored many hundreds of books on virtually all branches of knowledge known to man at that time -- books that are still quoted by modern scholars in various centres of learning around the world.

In one of his works, Usman Danfodio wrote: “The crown of a leader is his integrity; his stronghold in his impartiality; and his wealth is the prosperity of his people.” Now, how many leaders have any integrity? How many leaders are impartial? And which of the people in our communities are prosperous now? In terms of maternal mortality, Nigeria ranks second highest in the world after India. Nigeria accounts for 13.5 per cent of the global burden of HIV in pregnant women, as access to anti-retroviral drugs in the country is still very low. In short, the most vulnerable group -- women and children – are not cared for.

At independence in 1960, the last ministries to be handed over to Nigerians by the British colonialists

THURSDAY

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were Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Finance, which clearly shows the importance of these key sectors to any nation’s sovereignty. Today, Nigeria’s finances are hopelessly being stolen. Budgets are not implemented. National development plans are brought to Nigeria by foreign institutions. In fact, the national economy is being coordinated by agents of the Bretton Woods institutions – those who were trained by them, worked for them and are securing their interests. To make matters worse, corruption is at its highest level ever on the watch of these so-called economic geniuses but who in essence are glorified textbook operators with no concern or any touch with the local economy. The economy is not growing because there is no production, no manufacturing base, no power; the more megawatts they write on billboards the greater the darkness enveloping the nation.

It is no more a secret that the Nigerian military has been hopelessly mismanaged. Soldiers are not properly trained, are not properly equipped, are not properly imbued with patriotism, and their welfare is not taken into account. The current domestic security has exposed the weaknesses of the Nigerian defence system. And it appears that the higher the budgetary allocation to defence, the lower the performance of the military to defend the nation.

Unless there is a serious overhaul urgently, the military is now a huge joke -- and that is a painful fact. In fact, even the US assistant secretary of state for Africa, Ms Lynda Thomas Greensfield, had to say there was no need for pride or denial, and that the Nigerian military was not functioning as it should.

There is a clear link between domestic and foreign policy and there is need to treat these as two sides of the same coin. With so much insecurity, corruption, weak technological base, declining manufacturing base, high rate of unemployment and crimes and generally bad image, Nigeria is not respected anymore abroad. This is the worst time

to be a Nigerian diplomat as the country battles with terrible image everywhere. Thus, just like there is correlation between corruption and underdevelopment, there is a wellestablished nexus between domestic policies and the nation’s foreign policy. Nigeria’s foreign policy is now incoherent and the country lacks confidence to project anything anywhere anymore.

But nothing has exposed the low esteem of Nigeria in recent times like the issue of the smuggling of $9.3m into South Africa and the collapse of the building belonging to Pastor TB Joshua in Lagos, killing over 150 people, a majority of whom are foreigners, mostly South Africans.

In the case of the money, those arrested alleged that it was meant to procure arms for the Nigerian government. How come the South African authorities were not aware, or has that country become a place of purchasing from black market and smuggling of arms? So many things do not add up. Why take cash? Why take private aircraft? Why not do it government-to-government? What is the role of that Israeli in such sensitive national security matter?

With regards to TB Joshua of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, it was clear that the authorities granted him permit to build a two-storey building but he ended up building six storeys and the superstructure gave way; thus, he has clearly violated the government’s building regulations.

He gave a cock-and-bull story that an aircraft flew over the building. Even if this is true, would aircraft flying collapse a building unless it is a bad structure? And who is in charge of aviation and air security that could not detect the violations of the nation’s airspace as alleged by the pastor? And why did they stop rescue operations and police investigations?

The levity with which this issue was handled is unimaginable and a national disgrace! Even in war, South Africa has never lost 84 of its citizens in one day as their government said.

Senator George Akume had this to say on the attempt to smuggle

money into South Africa using Pastor Oritsejafor’s plane: “This was a private jet for spiritual work but, as the owner himself has confessed, it was leased out for financial gain. The jet was on mission to buy arms, or so we are told. The arms merchants who hired the jet behaved as outlaws by brazenly breaking the laws of Nigeria, South Africa and the United Nations. This is against all the teachings of Christ who urged all his followers to be law-abiding and give unto Caesar what is his.” Senator Akume further said: “Since the present CAN leadership came on board, CAN has become politically partisan, obscenely materialistic and the voice of the oppressor rather than the oppressed.”

There is no more seriousness in governance. We are becoming a lawless society as anyone can kill or steal, knowing that he or she can go free. We are just glorifying and celebrating mediocrity. If this is the transformation we are being inundated with, then, it means we are transforming to anarchy. I remember a local philosopher who once said, “Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty and the pig likes it”.

History is on the side of the oppressed.

GHANA MUST GO Obasanjo has not endorsed or condemned any candidate — Fashawe

Except the one in Aso Rock he condemned!

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