07 nov 2014

SATURDAY

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Friday, November 7, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 262

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

FG releases fourth quarter allocation to fuel marketers }7 Front Page Comment

Mubi: A dangerous dimension W ar is a series of surprises, agitations spiral to bouts of spleen induced brawls, then come the violent protests which eventually gain momentum, before the guns and other weapons of mass destruction boom, to change the course of history.

Our country has had a fair share of all these. Nigeria went to war, from 1967 -1970, an event that shook the foundation of our existence. Today, the scars are all

over, reminding compatriots of the need to keep away from those things that divide us and instead, work towards those ideals our founding fathers stood for.

Recent happenings show that we may be heading towards another round of bloodletting, far beyond what the Civil War shed.

The red clouds of disintegration are hanging all over the sky, portending a gruesome picture of our immediate future.

What started like a drop in the

ocean of religious fundamentalism, has grown to mammoth movement of blood thirsty head cutters and brigands, with no discernable ideology. At best, what comes out of the huge crowd of contradiction is terror and more terror.

Insurgency is not a new word in our climes. In the early 1980s, there was a vicious group known as Maitatsine, which hovered round the North, from Kano to Jimeta, to Bulunkutu. The Shehu

Shagari administration was not cowed. Our forces lived up to the task and crushed the zealots.

The nation has also gone through hellish times of militancy. The Niger Delta groups in the South-South, MASSOB and their Zionist sidekick in the South-East and even the OPC in the South-West. Somehow, either through peace deals or coercion, some of these gangs were sterilised.

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B’Haram: American troops storm Nigeria

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Quick Read

FG extends 13% derivation to Ogun, Enugu, }3 Kaduna We’re no threat to senators’ re-election –Akpabio }5 Respite for Mu’azu as plaintiffs withdraw suit

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Children of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) queuing up for enrolment into primary school at Damare Camp, Yola, Adamawa State…yesterday.

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B’Haram: American troops storm Nigeria Emmanuel Onani and Ahmed Miringa

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bout 40 United States troops arrived in Nigeria yesterday to assist in checkmating Boko Haram, which has seized more local governments in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States in the last few months.

New Telegraph gathered from a highly-placed source at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) that the troops were sighted at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Abuja in combat gear.

Another top military source also informed New Telegraph that arrangements have been concluded to bring in Egyptian pilots to fortify the aerial bombardment of captured territories, particularly Mubi, which has since been renamed, Madinatul Islam, by Boko Haram.

Also, additional helicopter gunships were said to have been received to complement troop on ground.

The sources expressed optimism that the ugly development in the NorthEast, will soon be reversed.

“I can confirm to you that about 40 US military personnel, all in combat gear, have arrived in the country.

“In fact, they arrived at the DHQ today (yesterday), and I’m sure they met with the military high command, for briefing and other necessary operational issues,” one of the sources said.

Asked if they may be deployed for real combat, he stated: “I think it might be to boost intelligence gathering and they may not necessarily be ground troops.”

Washington had offered to assist Nigeria in defeating Boko Haram following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, last April.

Although it could not be ascertained yesterday if more US troops are on the way, US had promised to send intelligence officers and other resources to Nigeria to defeat terror.

In furtherance of efforts to rout Boko Haram, it was also learnt that the military might bring in Egyptian pilots, reputed to be one of the best in Africa, to partner their Nigerian counterparts in the anti-terror campaign.

Another source said yesterday that the military was not sparing any effort in engaging the insurgents who have grabbed many towns, including the Vitim hometown of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, in Adamawa State.

He said: “We are not taking chances and that is why Egyptian pilots are to be brought in to boost the capacity of our Air Force in its aerial bombardment.

“Let me assure you that the military high command is very worried about this situation and that is why they are not sparing any efforts to ensure that we regain every territory of the country

that has fallen to the insurgents.

“For your information, more helicopter gunships have arrived and are ready for deployment.”

He frowned on what he described as “the nature and attitude of politicians”, vowing that “the military will not be distracted.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has released over 42 suspected Boko Haram members, arrested

since the beginning of the insurgency in 2009.

While handing over the 42 suspects to the Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, in Maiduguri yesterday, the spokesman of the 7th Division of the Nigeria Army, Maiduguri, Colonel Sani Usman, said the suspects were interrogated and were not found guilty, hence their release.

Those released included students of the Univer-

sity of Maiduguri, Ramat Polytechnic, traders, commercial drivers, tailors, mechanics, civil servants and artisans.

“Their release is in line with the law and the determination of the Nigeria Army to ensure justice, equity and fairness to all,” the army spokesman said.

He commended the public for their cooperation with the military and other security agencies in fighting the insurgency

and called on them to continue to give information to the security agencies on any suspicious movement or person in their midst.

Responding, Shettima commended the army for releasing the suspects and for giving them N100, 000 each.

He added that the state government would complement the efforts of the army by assisting the suspects to be re-integrated into the society.

L-R: Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Foluso Phillips; Group Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan, at the inauguration of the NESG building in Lagos...yesterday.

FG extends 13% derivation to Ogun, Enugu, Kaduna, others Philip Nyam Abuja

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olid minerals producing states have won their battle for the Federal Government to pay them 13 per cent derivation fund, currently being enjoyed by their oilproducing counterparts.

Under the new regime, announced yesterday in Abuja by Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Elias Mbam, states such as Ogun, Kaduna, Enugu, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, Osun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will now get more funds from the Federation Account.

Mbam, who broke the news when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance visited his commission on oversight function, said the modalities for sharing the accrued funds among the solid minerals producing states.

He told the committee that RMAFC had liaised with the Ministry of Mines and Steel to get the solid mineral sector to contribute to the Federation Account, for the first time.

“The result of the collaboration is that the solid minerals sector is now contributing to the Federation Account for the first time.

“The contributing states will henceforth enjoy the 13 per cent derivation on the amount of revenue accruing from their states. The commission is preparing a template for the sharing of the 13 per cent derivation for solid minerals,” he stated.

New Telegraph investigation reveals that there is an estimated reserve of over 100 million tonnes of talc in Niger, Osun, Kogi, Kwara, Taraba and Kaduna while over three billion tonnes of iron ore are found in Kogi, Enugu, Niger, Zamfara and Kaduna States.

Benue is said to house a total reserve of 1.5 billion tonnes of rock salt and

large quantity of limestone while Plateau, Kaduna and Bauchi are said to have a large concentration of gemstones.

Nasarawa, Gombe, Kogi and the FCT also have tantalite, which put them in the league of solid minerals producing states.

Enugu controls a large concentration of coal while Taraba and Bauchi have bentonite and barite.

Other solid minerals found in Nigeria include lead zinc, gold, bitumen gypsum and kaolin.

Mbam lamented that the commission was hamstrung in effectively discharging its statutory responsibilities because it lacks the power of enforcement.

He described RMAFC as “a toothless bulldog” while calling for a comprehensive review of the Act establishing the commission “to bring it in conformity with the 1999 Constitution and to give it the power of enforcement.”

He also called for the establishment of the Office

of the Accountant General of the Federal Government as distinct from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

According to him, when this is done, “the Accountant General of the Federal Government will be in charge of the operations and management of the Consolidated Revenue of the Federal Government while the Accountant General of the Federation will be in charge of the Federation Account.”

He equally called for the amendment to the constitution to allow for statutory allocation to be paid directly to local governments to avoid possible diversion and illegal deductions by states.

Mbam, who expressed appreciation to the National Assembly for including the commission on the first line charge, however appealed that it be adequately funded to ensure effective discharge of its statutory mandate.

Responding, Hon. Abdulrahman Terab (PDP,

Borno), who represented the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibril, said the House was aware of the limitations facing the commission and had taken measures to grant it necessary powers in the ongoing constitution amendment.

He said part of the amendments to the RMAFC Act include the introduction of penalties for erring agencies and parastatals, adding that the House was also making concerted efforts to ensure that the commission is well funded.

“We believe that unless the commission is empowered, it will not be able to discharge its functions. That is why we have ensured that the ongoing constitution amendment takes care of this concern.

“We will continue to ensure that the issue of nonrelease or poor release of allocation to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) was being addressed,” he added.

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Akpabio to senators: We’re no threat to your re-election bid lMark leads PDP senators on peace talks with Jonathan Chukwu David and Onyekachi Eze

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kwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, yesterday

told aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators that they should not consider the bid by outgoing governors with senatorial ambitions as a threat to their re-election

bid.

He said in Abuja while submitting his nomination form to run for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election that whereas there were about nine out-

going governors with senatorial ambitions, there was still enough room for senators seeking re-election to return to the National Assembly.

He spoke just as Senate

L-R: Executive Secretary, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Mr. Toba Akinmoladun; Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. Knut Ulvmoen and Group Chief Executive Officer, Forte Oil Plc, Mr. Akin Akinfemiwa, during the chamber’s 2014 seminar in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Mubi: A dangerous dimension CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Boko Haram creates fear in the ears of all and sundry. Their method is not only crude, these terrorists are so cruel that the Was of old Burma whose roads in the Nineteenth Century were always paved with human skulls, would shrink in rating.

Nigeria just must wake up to the stark reality that is starring us all in the face. We are in a state of war, with an enemy that grows in confidence while we stand, hands akimbo, waiting to be devoured.

That is the sad truth. Where else can citizens groan in bloody pains, over cases of abduction, as in the case of the Chibok schoolgirls, dehumanisation, desertation and destruction? A country that boasts of hundreds of well trained Generals, is being gradually taken over by what sprang up as a rag tag band of preachers.

Government must rise up to the occasion now. Rhetorics should be thrown into the Lake Chad, this is time for action. Oc-

casion demands that the Commander-inChief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan take the bold step of stemming insurgency.

It is worrisome that, the government and the military High Command, seem not to know how to handle the situation.

Most of the unclear pictures we get from this fight come from Abuja. There was supposed to be a Peace Deal, the next Week, the insurgents overran Mubi.

The man who told the world that peace was on the way, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Sabunda Badeh, got the height of humiliation when Boko Haram sacked his town.

With the right frame of mind and necessary equipment given to them, our soldiers can sack these zealots. At least, we did it in the past.

Maj-Gen. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, in 1960, flew in a military aircraft, all alone, to Katanga, Congo to free his troops and some Austrian medical

workers, from rebels while on a peace mission with the United Nations. The Austrian government honoured him with the Ritter Kreutz medal for bravery. In 1964, Aguiyi-Ironsi became the first African to be appointed Head of UN Forces.

Col. Adekunle Fajuyi was also a hero in Congo. He remains the first compatriot to bag the Military Cross for Courage and Bravery. Col. Joe Achuzia fought for the British in Korea, as George Taylor, before returning to join the Biafran Army.

And the very first military officer in the world to rise to the position of UN Under Secretary is our own Lt.Gen. Chukwukadibia Obiakor.

What then is stopping government from saving the country from this danger called insurgency?

It was Gwoza yesterday, today it is Mubi.

Tomorrow could be Yola. It could go on and on, until this country eventually turns to the Islamic Republic the terrorists are fighting for.

In 1962, United

States Secretary of State, Robert McNamara, said: ”No nation wants war or any kind of war, but war is necessary in protection of virtual national interests.”

Nigeria is under threat, our collective national interest as a one country is in danger. With flags being hoisted, and towns being renamed, the die is cast.

When Afro beat king, Fela Ransome Kuti, created what he called Kalakuta Republic in 1977, the Army descended on him and burnt down his republic. In 1990, Gideon Orkar excised some Northern states from the country. He paid the supreme price with some officers.

Nigerians are asking questions. The Jonathan administration must provide not just answers, it is our right to be under the protection of our government. Citizens are tired of excuses and semantics. We demand action and more action, even if it means declaration of war to stem the tide of insurgency. We so move.

President David Mark prepared to lead his aggrieved colleagues in the PDP to a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan to find a way of resolving the crisis.

The PDP senators had since Tuesday embarked on work-to-rule to protest their defeat at the ward congresses, for which they blamed the president.

They accused Jonathan of masterminding their defeat by handling over party structures in their states to governors.

They also threatened to frustrate the passage of executive bill and vowed to sustain their protest until their grievances are addressed.

But Akpabio, apparently faulting the aggrieved senators, said: “The Senate has 109 members and the serving governors of PDP who are interested in going to the Senate are not up to nine. So, we have at least 100 chances for incumbent senators and if it is possible for us to return more than 75 per cent of our senators to the National Assembly, it will help a lot in legislation to deepen democracy.

“So, there is no threat to any senator where the governors of PDP have interest to go into the Senate because I believe just like the sky, there is enough space for every bird to fly and I think politics is about people and the people’s choice should be allowed to prevail.”

According to him, his

decision to contest the election is to answer the yearnings of his people who are happy with his achievements as a governor.

However, Jonathan and the PDP leadership have launched a bid to pacify the senators as they all parties in the dispute were billed to meet yesterday night.

New Telegraph learnt yesterday that the meeting, earlier slated for Wednesday, could not hold as scheduled as the president, who travelled to Burkina Faso to mediate in the political crisis rocking the country, returned late to Abuja.

A member of the PDP caucus in the Senate, who asked not to be named, told the New Telegraph that the senators would maintain their stance until the matter is satisfactorily resolved.

It was observed that most of the senators stayed away from the National Assembly complex yesterday sequel to the abrupt adjournment on Wednesday to protest their alleged unfair treatment.

The source pointed out that the tonight’s meeting would focus on how to convince both Jonathan and the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) to accord the senators the same recognition as governors as far as the 2015 general election is concerned.

He said: “We were already at the Villa last night for the meeting before a message came that CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Amaechi to Jega: Conduct free, fair election Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

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he Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has urged the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Attahiru Jega, to organise free and fair elections in 2015 in order to uphold his reputation.

Amaechi also said that the 2015 general election cannot be declared fair until the results have been announced and the candidates and the parties see the elections as being fair.

Amaechi, who spoke in Port Harcourt, noted that “it is assumed that INEC will conduct a free election believing and trusting that Jega will do what is right, just and proper.”

He said: “INEC said they are conducting continuous registration and collection of the perma-

nent voters’ cards (PVC) in seven out of the 23 local government areas in the state due to technical problems. We sympathise with INEC and we join them to pray that they will quickly find solutions to their problems.

“In my unit in Ubima, the names of some of those who had earlier registered were not seen in the voters’ register. We expect INEC to register them again. We look forward to a fresh registration anywhere such problems are noticed.

“We hope that from their preparations, INEC wants to conduct a proper election in 2015. I did not say fair election. Election may be free but at the end of the day, it may not be fair. If they use police and the army to chase away those who want to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC), is that election fair?

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opposition plots to destabilise Nigeria –Presidency Felix Nwaneri

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he Presidency yesterday dismissed the call by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for President Goodluck Jonathan to resign, describing it as ill-motivated and a calculated attempt to destabilise Nigeria.

Former governor of Lagos State and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, had on Wednesday called on the president to resign over his failure to tackle security challenges confronting the contry.

But, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who stated this in a statement made available journalists, berated the opposition saying they are desperate politicians who have lost focus and relevance.

According to him, this explains the very reason they have been clinging to a plot to destabilise the country, with the forlorn hope of reaping from it.

He said: “The leadership of the opposition is troubled while their members now contend with travails. They had better

be advised to face their troubles and travails and should leave the president out of their organised confusion.

“Nothing less should be expected from a group of discredited, directionless, selfish and desperate turn coats who pretend often to have the magic wand to take Nigeria to their wishful and hollow Eldorado.”

He said the opposition knew it had lost out in the modern day political race and are now barely holding on to straws. The Presidency also said that the only way the opposition could make up for its

glaring political failures at this point in time, is to depend solely on banal propaganda and false posturing.

Alkali said no right thinking Nigerian would ask a democratically elected president to resign based on cheap sentiment, more so at a time the rating of the president has kept soaring.

He said: “President Jonathan has performed creditably in many areas, contending that his commitment to keep Nigeria united despite efforts by the enemies of government to plunge the country into a chaos of

unimaginable proportion has made him the president of all times.”

He urged Nigerians to appreciate the total devotion of the president to the task of keeping the transformation programme on course and disregard the antics of do-or-die politicians.

“While we call on the opposition to stop the antics of rabble-rousing, buoyed by its wilful and sustained casting of aspersions on President Jonathan, it is high time members were advised to face the multiple problems confronting them as a group.

“They should leave the president alone and begin to address the challenges that have portrayed them as strange bed fellows with irreconcilable differences and a group of politicians who had lost touch with the reality.

“President Jonathan has already demonstrated his capacity to conduct free and fair elections in this country. If the opposition elements are desirous of making impact in 2015, they should leverage on the good template already set by the president by campaigning on issues and offer Nigerians hope not despair,” he said.

ABUJA

36 C

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23 C

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

26o C 16oC Thunder Storms

KANO

37oC

18oC

Sunny

ENUGU

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

33o C 23oC Thunder Storms

CALABAR

29o C 23oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

L-R: Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, at the launch of the National Sector Apprenticeship Scheme in Abuja…yesterday.

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38oC 21oC Sunny

23o C 18oC Rain Showers

AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30

OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00

20o C 16oC Heavy Showers

FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50

MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Atiku: Yar’Adua wooed me back into PDP Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday explained why he returned to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after losing the 2007 presidential election, which he contested on the platform of the Action Congress (AC).

The former vice president, who spoke through his spokesman, Mallam Shehu Garba, stated that he was wooed back into the PDP by the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua.

He, however, explained that his movement in and out of political parties was based on principles that democratic tenets must be maintained in political parties.

According to him, after the 2007 presidential election, Yar’Adua agreed that there were anomalies in the PDP and asked him to return to the party with a

proviso that he was going to address the anomalies.

He stated that after the death of Yar’Adua, the party went back to its root of not adhering to democratic principles.

He said: “Late President Yar’Adua had promised reconciliation but the PDP machinery crushed the idea when he died.”

Atiku stated that he is a stakeholder in the PDP as he bought the Wadata House for the party and the only one that has supporters in the PDP and other parties.

The former vice president, who stated that he is the only presidential aspirant prepared and not prompted to serve as president, called on President Goodluck Jonathan to address the issue of insurgency properly or have his name in the annals of the country as the first president to lose part of the Nigerian territory to the rampaging members of the Boko Haram.

He urged the Federal Government to seek international help to curb the menace posed by the terrorists in the country.

Reacting to outburst against Atiku by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Garuba stated: “The issue is not insulting or attacking people; the issue is that you are the first in the history of Nigeria to lose territories. Nigeria is shrinking; it’s becoming smaller. Go and redeem your records. Are you a competent government?

Are you safeguarding the territorial integrity of the country? Boko Haram might have international affiliations, why don’t we allow the world to come and help us?”

The presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) denied allegations of complicity with the South African government which seized the money

meant for the purchase of arms for Nigeria.

He described the transaction as money laundering which is a criminal offence in international law.

Atiku stated that his campaign is of ideas, describing himself as the only aspirant prepared to become president.

“People have been cajoled to become president and that’s why they perform woefully when they get to office because they were not prepared to be presidents,” he said.

On the process of selecting the APC candidate, the former vice president stated: “Whoever emerges a winner will be supported by all the other aspirants.

Consensus is dead and buried; there is a process of emergence through election. The country has been governed by people who are unprepared. Why is anybody afraid of democracy? If you are afraid of free and fair elections, there is no democracy.”

ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Terrorism: FG approves N435m to fund 2,400 students’ studies Abdulwahab Isa and Kunle Olayeni

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he Federal Government has approved N435 million to fund the education of 2,400 students under the Safe School Initiative.

The students had signed up for transfer to various unity schools in the country to complete their education in the face of Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.

The amount covers all expenses such as feeding, books and stipends to parents interested in visiting their wards in schools.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, made this known yesterday after a deliberation by steering committee members of the Initiative in Abuja.

The first batch of students are from Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states where state of emergency is enforced as a result of the violent activities of the insurgents.

According to the minister, 800 students were chosen per state. The 2,400 students will be spread to 42 unity schools across the country.

She said: “The students will go on full scholarship; all their needs will be provided.

And their parents will be able to see them because we have provided stipends. They can see

them once in a month or so, the children can also come back at very critical holiday time. We are working closely with the states in order to have this in an organised manner. Additional teachers may be needed and all of this will be provided. The schools they are going to will also receive the necessary support to be able to absorb them.”

The minister said the scheme will be extended to cover those in displaced camps, assuring that they won’t be neglected.

“We are just starting the first component of this. We have other components for students

who are displaced. They are not being neglected either. For Safe School Initiative, we are going to work with them,” she said.

Following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State by members of Boko Haram, some private sector players led by former UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and others initiated the Safe Schools Initiative, a scheme designed to make learning environment conducive in northern part of the country.

The group supported the initiative with financial commitment to the

ABUJA

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he two separate suits filled in the Federal High Court Abuja seeking the removal of Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were yesterday withdrawn by the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs, Emmanuel Onu and Ezionye Louis Ndubuisi, through their counsel, Elochukwu Nweke, hinged the withdrawal of the suits on the overriding interest of the party “and in view of fresh evidence letter and documentation from the Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) confirming the validity of the appointment of Mu’azu as acting PDP National Chairman and the ongoing constitutional process by the PDP to ratify all the anomalies we have raised in our suits.”

The aggrieved members had in their separate suits filled on September and October 13 sought the removal of Mu’azu as chairman of PDP. In their suit which had INEC and PDP as interested parties, the plaintiffs faulted the process that produced Mu’azu as national chairman of the party, saying it was not known to the party’s con-

stitution.

Mu’azu emerged chairman of the PDP in January this year, through the ratification of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, following the resignation of the former national chairman, Dr. Bamanga Tukur.

But Nweke told journalists at PDP national headquarters yesterday that the plaintiffs have filed different notices of discontinuance of the suits “at the Federal High Court, Abuja and the court have officially served all the parties thereby bringing to an end the legal challenge over the appointment of Adamu Mu’azu.”

Mark leads PDP senators on peace talks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

the meeting could not hold again because the president arrived late from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

“We have received messages again this afternoon that the meeting had been

and devices for appropriate security surveillance as well as collaboration with various security outfits and host communities were on the agenda of government to protect public schools.

According to him, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is committed to limiting disruptions to academic life in schools in areas affected by insecurity.

He said: “The prevailing insecurity situation in the north-eastern part of Nigeria has disrupted academic life in a number of our public schools.

Nigerian educational institutions and students have become endangered

due to attacks.

“We can no longer afford to underestimate the need to map out coordinated action plan for our institutions to always be on security alert. Keeping our schools and children safe is among my key priorities in the next few months.

“There is need for us to continually review security issues in our institutions so as to protect our children from harm.”

In his address, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State said education remained the most potent tool and catalyst for socio-economic, political, scientific and technological development.

L-R: Group Head, Oil and Gas Upstream, Access Bank Plc, Joyce Dimkpa; President, Sea Truck Group Limited, Jacques Rooman; Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Chief Financial Officer, Sea Truck Group Limited, Steve Assiter and the bank’s Executive Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, Elias Igbinakenzua, at the official signing of a multi-million dollar facility in Lagos…yesterday

Respite for Mu’azu as plaintiffs withdraw suits Onyekachi Eze

tune of $10 million while the Federal Government also supported the initiative with $10 million.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, yesterday said the Federal Government would deploy fresh security measures to contain the threat posed to public educational institutions by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He disclosed this while giving his keynote address at the 60th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Shekarau said the deployment of technology

rescheduled for this night.

We have been asked to converge on the Senate President’s official quarters by 7pm today (Thursday). We will move from there in group to the Villa.”

The source also ex-

plained that his colleagues were lobbying to secure automatic tickets for at least two serving senators in all the PDP-controlled states while the governors should be given the ticket to produce one candidate each.

FG releases fourth quarter fuel import permits to marketers lFolawiyo, Oando, Aiteo, Mobil top list Adeola Yusuf

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he Federal Government has released the import permits for the fourth quarter allocation three days after the expiration of the third quarter supplementary allocation, New Telegraph learnt yesterday.

Although the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA), which released the allocation to fuel importing and marketing companies (FIMC) did not mention names of the beneficiaries and the volume, it was gathered that companies such as Oando, Folawiyo, NIPCO, Aiteo and 24 others got the nod to import about 1.8 million metric tonnes of petrol.

Oando, Folawiyo,

NIPCO, Aiteo got permits to import 90, 000 metric tonnes of petrol each based on their performance during the last quarter, according to sources.

“In total, about 27 fuel importers got an average total of 1.8 million tonnes for the quarter,” a source said.

The release of the allocations, he added, followed the approval by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, but it was announced after the meeting between the Executive Secretary of PPPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed and the marketers last Tuesday.

“The decision to release the import allocations after a few days delay shows that the Federal Government could not afford

shortage of the product during the forthcoming Yuletide.

“In fact, we were told that the we could get additional or supplementary allocation before the end of the year to ensure that there is adequate supply of product in the market,” a marketer said.

Apart from facilitating an improved national petrol supply situation and stock build-up, currently put at about 35 days’ sufficiency level, the PPPRA said the latest directive was also to enable marketers to make adequate preparations towards products sourcing and importation.

The PPPRA spokesperson, Lanre Oladele did not pick calls to his mobile phone, but a staff member of the agency confirmed the allocation.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

Synagogue: Lagos justifies inquest, asks court to disregard suit Akeem Nafiu

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he Lagos State Government yesterday insisted that the ongoing inquest into the collapsed building at the Synagogue Church of All Nations(SCOAN) was predicated on the provisions of the Coroner System Law of Lagos State 2007.

Besides, the inquest was

58

set up as demanded by the public following victims’ manners of death.

It was at the hearing of a suit initiated by a lawyer, Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, who has asked the court to declare the inquest illegal.

In a counter-affidavit deposed to by one, Moradeke Oladunjoye, a Senior State Counsel with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the

The number of suspected cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea as at October 19, 2014.

Source: Who.int

government hinged the inquest on public outcry in accordance to the provisions of Coroner System Law of Lagos State, 2007.

The inquest, according to the government was not a regular court, but a fact-finding assignment to unravel what actually happened in September when one of the buildings on SCOAN’s premises went down especially as a preliminary investigation car-

10,000

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Libya in 2008.

Source: Blatantworld.com

ried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency revealed that the church never got approval for the additional structures on the collapsed building.

Also, the government argued that the applicant (Ogungbeje) lacked the locus standi to sustain the suit as he was neither a member of the Synagogue Church, nor was he personally affected by the inquest.

Further hearing in the

120,000

The estimated number of Americans above 65 years with Alzheimer’s in Arizona State in 2014.

Source: Alz.org

A cross-section of youth corps members at the swearing-in-ceremony of ‘Batch C’ in Lagos …yesterday.

Boko Haram controls five LGs in Adamawa Anule Emmanuel

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damawa State Governor, Mr. James Baba Ngilari, yesterday said the Boko Haram sect had taken over five local governments in the state and had continued to carry out deadlier attacks on towns in the state.

Ngilari, who visited the State House, Abuja, expressed worry over the security situation in his state, adding that the situation in the state is dicey.

He said his government had been trying to do its best to manage the situation and called for more assistance from the

Federal Government.

He told State House correspondents that the government and people of the state were praying that the security situation would improve so they can go about their normal lives.

“I can talk of my entire senatorial district, Mubi senatorial district.

Five local governments have been overrun; and I just got a report perhaps the insurgents are outskirts of Shanli.

“There is a semblance of movement in that area. Really, we need a lot of intervention. We need to move more troops to secure the state. Really, it is a

big challenge,” Ngilari said.

On the taking over of the hometown of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Alex Badeh, the governor said: “we shouldn’t reduce this issue of the insurgency to simply the taking over of the house of the defence chief.

“There are a whole lot of things that make you face the challenge of insecurity. What about the problem of unemployment? You know it is a whole long story.

We don’t just reduce it to the taking over of the house of the defence chief. I think it is more than that.”

matter before Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos was however stalled yesterday owing to the request by Ogungbeje for an adjournment.

The applicant, who was served with the counteraffidavit, had requested for a short adjournment to enable him file a reply on points of law.

Justice Buba consequently fixed November 10, for hearing.

-0.4%

The annual population growth rate of Latvia in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

South Africa names special envoy on bodies’ repatriation

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ith frustration mounting over the delay in repatriating the bodies of South Africans killed in a Nigerian building collapse about two months ago, President Jacob Zuma has appointed Minister in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe as special envoy to engage with authorities in Lagos and Abuja.

Radebe said yesterday that he would leave for Nigeria within the next few days.

Briefing the media, Radebe said he would “hold meetings with Nigerian Federal Government authorities as well as Lagos State authorities with a view to expediting the repatriation process”.

“Our nation will, within the next few days, mark two months since the Synagogue Church of All Nations guesthouse building collapsed. This incident remains one of the worst tragedies in the history of our country since 1994.

“It is certainly heartbreaking that the families of the 81 South Africans presumed dead continue to wait for their mortal remains to be returned home,” Mr Radebe said.

He assured that the government had committed itself to work tirelessly to repatriate the injured as well as the mortal remains of the deceased citizens from Nigeria back to South Africa. “We remain firmly committed to delivering on that commitment,” he said.

Of the 29 South Africans injured in the building collapse, six remained in hospital while the others had been discharged and are recuperating at home.

Court seals off ALGON secretariat Tunde Oyesina Abuja

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he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday sealed off the national secretariat of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria situated at No. 1, Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja.

The sealing-off was as a result of the disobedience of an earlier court order by the former

chairman of the association, Nwabueze Okafor and his team, which restrained them from carrying out any function until a pending suit before the court is determined.

The court had earlier ordered the Nwabueze Okafor-led Executive of the Association to stop parading themselves as leaders of the association.

The trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, had on Oc-

tober 15 ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice.

The plaintiffs, Registered Incorporated Trustees of ALGON, Hon. U Kassim Ibrahim (Chairman Board of Trustees of ALGON and Prince Cornelius Nnaji had joined Nwabueze Okafor, Ibrahim Dikko and Alhaji Shittu Bamaiyi Yakmut as defendants.

Amosun, Ogun Assembly sued over N2bn CBN fund Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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overnor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and the House of Assembly have been dragged before a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta over a N2billion Central

Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) development fund.

In the suit with number FHC/AB/CS/73/2014, the CBN and Ogun State Agricultural and MultiPurpose Credit Agency (OSAMCA) were also

joined as respondents.

A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Integrity and Economic Development, which filed the suit, is seeking an order restraining the governor and other defendants in the case from the disbursing the fund.

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, november 7, 2014

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Voters’ cards: APC threatens to boycott distribution in Lagos unease

There is unease in Lagos over electoral matters, from population to distribution of cards

Wale Elegbede

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he Lagos chapter of the All P ro g re s s ive s Congress (APC),

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yesterday threatened to boycott the planned distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC), scheduled to commence today in Lagos, saying that the resolution of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to postpone the exercise in nine local governments of the state would disenfranchise many residents.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC,

The sex ratio of men to 100 women in the 60+ age group in Japan in 2012.

Source: Un.org

Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, had yesterday at a parley with leadership of political parties in the state, disclosed that the commission would not conduct the PVC distribution in nine local governments owing to logistic challenges, adding that the exercise has been rescheduled for 2830, November in the affected local government areas.

The affected LGs are:

68m

The number of girls of primary-school age without access to education in the world.

Source: Unesco.org

Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Oshodi/Isol, Somolu and Surulere.

However, the exercise would go ahead in Agege, Ajeromi/Ifelodun, Ibeju/ Lekki, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Mushin and Ojo local governments.

Reacting to the development at the parley, the state chairman of the APC, Otunba Henry

83.25%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bermuda in 2009.

Source: Itu.int

Ajomale, decried the new schedule from INEC, stating that the effect would be a large disenfranchisement of the party members and residents of the state.

“We may boycott the exercise but the final decision will come from the leadership of the party.

We don’t want to be a party to the charade because our people are already sensitized ahead of the exercise in the 20 local

15,711

The number of refugees in Albania at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

governments. It’s very unfortunate that INEC postponed the exercise in 9 local governments at this crucial hour. Why is it that the largest states are the ones being affected, those smaller states like Bayelsa and others don’t have similar problem.

“And if we are not careful, the whole thing would be hijacked and that is why we are very concerned about this piece-meal exercise. In less than 24-hours, they are now coming that they are going to do only 11 local governments, what is the guarantee that they are not going to mess up the second exercise.

“Because of the exercise, Lagos state has declared a public holiday and lots of money spent on sensitization. Do you expect the state to declare another public holiday on the 28th. Is that not public funds we are wasting, don’t you think somebody will criticize us for that?, he queried.

Ayu: Nigeria’s break-up will affect black race Babatope Okeowo Akure

F L-R: Lagos White Cap chiefs: Chief Olorogun Ide; Chief Ajayi Bembe; Chief Lamina Shasi; Chief Lateef Aderigbe; Chief Ojon Olubiyi Agoro and former Lagos State Military Governor, General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd.) sitting, at the Lagos State Voters Advocacy Stakeholders’ Forum in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO:GODWIN IREKHE

Osun tribunal begins cross Fayose: My govt is open to criticisms journalists working in government, but the enexamination Adesina Wahab the state to criticise his tire state.

Adeola Adeyemo OSOGBO

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he Osun state Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, yesterday adopted 20 minutes for cross examination of each of the witness from all the political parties that will testify before the panel as proposed by the respondents during the last sitting.

The respondents in the suit are Governor Rauf Aregbesola, of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Tribunal has also granted the petitioner Senator Iyiola Omisore’s prayer to open his case on Monday November 10.

The Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime led tribunal, equally held that any objection to the admissibility of evidence dur-

ing the hearing should be filed in the submission of the Counsels and would be decided on the Judgement day.

While referring to paragraph 41(10) of the first schedule of Electoral act, the Tribunal stated further, Each of the respondents shall use 10 days, while the petitioner has 14 days to call their witnesses.”

The adjournment of the case till Monday however did not go well with Counsels to the 1st and 2nd respondents, Kunle Adegoke and Aderemi Abimbola, who opposed it and maintained that the petitioner must open his case immediately.

They opposed it and argued, “The application was purely in conflict with the allegation of the PDP that the respondents in the matter are trying to delay the hearing of the matter.”

ADO-EKITI

E

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday said his administration would be ready to accept fair and constructive criticisms from the media, assuring that his government would be ready to partner with members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to move the state forward.

Fayose, thus urged

government without entertaining any fear of reprisal.

He however advised members of the media to always ensure they are constructive in their criticisms rather than tailoring their observations about his government towards distortion of facts stating, that, that could lead to destructive tendencies which would not only have consequences on only the person of the

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, through his Special Assistant on Information, Mr. Lanre Ogunsuyi, at a forum where new officers of the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) were elected, Fayose said the present government was aware of the enormous roles played across the world by journalists, and would not do anything to undermine such roles.

Dambazau raises fears over terrorism, kidnapping Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

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ormer Chief of Army Staff, General Abdulrahman Dambazau, has raised fears over threat to the future of the Nigerian nation by the scourge of terrorism and kidnappings being witnessed in the North Eastern and

South Eastern parts of the country, particularly as they affect the education of the Nigerian child.

While delivering the 61st Interdisciplinary Discourse, organised by the Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan, titled: “Education, Security and National Development: the case of Ni-

geria”, Dambazau stated that ten percent of World children, who are currently out of school are located in Nigeria.

According to him, factors such as poverty, socio-economic constraints, street hawking for family survival continued to drive students away from school in Nigeria.

ormer Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has warned prophets of doom, who relish in predicting disintegration of Nigeria ahead of next year election to desist from such act.

Ayu said if the prediction about the breakup of Nigeria should come to pass, the whole of Africa continent and the entire black race would be in trouble.

He warned those calling for the break-up of the country to desist from such, saying the consequence of any break up of Nigeria will be too much on other African countries to bear.

The former Senate President spoke at the Fifth Convocation Lecture of the Adekunle Ajasin Univesity, Akungba Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Wednesday as part of a week-long Convocation ceremony of the institution.

Titled : “ The Break Up of Nigeria: Myths, Realities, and Implications”, Ayu said there were many amalgamations of different communities before 1914 that British officially amalgamated the country to Southern and Northern Protectorate.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Metro Lovers die Estate agent petitions IG over threat to life

Taiwo Jimoh

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orried by the increasing number of times he had observed unfamiliar motorcyclists trailing him and his family members, a businessman has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, alleging threat to life.

The man, who is an estate consultant, Prince Michael Oladunjoye, said that he would not want his death to become one of the resolved killings in the country.

In the petition dated October 20, Oladunjoye said that he had been observing motorcycle riders trailing him and his family members around Ikorodu area of the state.

He said that he was making the petition public, so that, “when the police refuse to attend to my complaint and outcry, Nigerians would know who killed me. Nigerians will at least know who killed me. I will not join the long least of unresolved murders. My killer should at least be known.”

According to the petition, Oladunjoye is an Estate Consultant to Mosenne chieftaincy family, engaged in respect of entire tract of land situated at OjuOgbe on Beach Road, Ikorodu, covered by the composite plan No.LA/1496/85, dated October 5, 1985 to the Mosenne family.

Oladunjoye said he had also been receiving threatening phone calls, warning him of his untimely death and assassination.

The petitioner said the callers warned him to quit the estate management contracted to him by Mosenne family.

According to him, at 9:30pm on October 17, he received a telephone call from a man.

He said: “We have been acquaintances in the past, so I know his number. After reaffirming that the number belonged to him, I picked the call.

He went straight to the point. He said that he and his boys would kill me by beating or shooting me to death anywhere they found me. I told him that no one had ever challenged me in Ikorodu over land property.”

two weeks to marriage

Gabriel Choba Ughelli

C

onfusion enveloped Ughelli in Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State when the decomposing bodies of two lovers simply identified as Udogi Eguke and Ese were found days after they died mysteriously in their apartment at Makolomi Street.

The landlord, Chief Alfred Onavwa, who shares the top floor of the one-storey building with one of the diseased, confirmed the incident.

Onavwa said when neighbours were concerned about Eguke’s absence the landlord called his mobile line only to

realise that it was ringing upstairs.

He said: “Getting close to the door of the private stairway leading to Eguke’s apartment, I noticed that it was locked from inside with a stench oozing out. On realising this, I invited the police who came and broke the door only to discover their decomposing bodies on the stairway.

“Their remains were later deposited at the mortuary and I was made to understand that investigation into the matter was ongoing. Even the Ughelli Divisional Police Officer was here to see things for himself.”

Investigation showed that the couple, whose marriage was already slated for November 22, had started preparation

IG, Abba

with invitation cards already sent out to guests.

When contacted, the Ughelli Divisional Police Officer, Samuel Musa, directed all comments on the matter

Man electrocuted as fire guts building

File picture of a fire accident scene

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

to the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Celestina Kalu.

But at press time, Kalu was yet to respond to calls and messages sent to her mobile phone.

A

25-year-old man was electrocuted yesterday while trying to disconnect an electricity wire when a 10-room apartment located on No. 23, Kainji Street, in

North Bank area of Makurdi, caught fire.

It was gathered that the deceased, said to be a passer-by, saw the residential building in flames and went to help the tenants evacuate their belongings, but decided to remove the fuse from the meter only to be

electrocuted.

The decision of the deceased, said to be of Jukun extraction, to remove the fuse was to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjourning houses.

When our correspondent visited the scene of the

incident, debris of burnt household items littered everywhere with only a few items evacuated safely, while victims were wailing profusely.

One of the tenants, Miss Mercy Obuchi, said she noticed a spark in the room of a co-tenant about 8am. She added that within a few seconds, the entire compound was engulfed by fire.

The landlord, Mr Jonas Onor, said he alerted officials of the state fire service who responded and helped to put off the fire.

Onor, however, said that the house was his major source of income he uses to sustain his family.

He appealed the government and individuals for assistance.

The state Chief Fire Service Officer, Mr Edwin Agbo, said his officers responded promptly to the distress call, thus saving the entire area from being gutted by the fire.

He added that the state fire service was equipped with facilities to handle fire disasters.

Agbo appealed to the people to always switch off their appliances whenever they were going out to safeguard their belongings.

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Policeman wanted to kill wife, son, self, says brother-in-law

Dupe

Camillus Nnaji

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lder brother of Mrs Dupe Ikharia, whose husband, Corporal

Lucky Ikaria, allegedly crushed her with a commercial bus at the Mafoluku area of Lagos State, said that his brother-inlaw’s attack on his sister

Six held for armed robbery in Sokoto

was premeditated.

The man, Mr Kayode Akiode, who implored the police to arrest and prosecute his brotherin-law, said that for long,

Lucky had been threatening to kill Dupe and their only child.

He said: “The intention of Lucky was to kill all members of his family. He had always said it. Police must apprehend and charge him to court. Dupe told me that Lucky threatened to kill her, the child and himself. He said he would do it, either with chemical or knife. It means he is a killer and such person is a threat to the society at large.”

On October 30, Ikharia allegedly used a bus to crush the legs of his wife.

He was also said to have gone home and stabbed their only son, David, to death. He also allegedly stabbed himself in an attempt to commit suicide.

Dupe is hospitalised at Dr Bone Orthopaedic Hospital, Mushin, as a result of broken leg and injuries she sustained in the attack.

Dupe is yet to be told that her only son is dead.

Fire razes Ibadan estate Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

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ire razed an estate located at NNPC area of Apata in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, yesterday and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

The fire was said to have started from a stove being used by a lady.

According to witnesses, the estate is over-populated as it has about 125 rooms and about 500 tenants.

They added that the houses had no kitchens for the tenants to cook.

The Principal Fire Superintendent of the Oyo State Fire Service, Mr Isiaka Adeleke, and the Caretaker Chairman of Ido Local Government Area, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela, said the residents of the state needed to be careful with the way they handle fire.

Olowofela promised government’s assistance to the victims of the fire incident.

Mrs Olufunke Oriyomi, who spoke on behalf of the tenants, called on the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi to intervene to ensure peace after the fire incident.

We must care for the poor, says Maina

Danladi Ado Sokoto

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olice in Sokoto State have arrested six suspected armed robbers who have been terrorising the residents of Sokoto metropolis.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Douglas Agbonleni, paraded the suspects and the weapons recovered from them before journalists.

Agbonleni explained that one of the suspects, Oguchuku Nwoke of Unguwar Rogo area, armed himself with a doublebarrelled gun on Trade Fair Road, Sokoto and harassed innocent people.

The deputy police commissioner said that the suspect snatched a Kasea motorcycle and was arrested by the police.

He said that the police recovered the motorcycle and one double-barrelled gun with 18 live cartridges.

Agbonleni added that a gang of armed robbers attacked one Umar Saadu and Adamu Ibrahim at Arkilla Housing Extension area.

He said that the robbers made away with Honda Henecy car and household equipment.

According to him, one of the suspects, Abdullahi Sani, had an accident on his way to Kano on Sokoto-Gusau Road at Immasa village in Tureta Local Government Area.

The deputy police commissioner explained that the suspects confessed to have participated in various operations in and outside the metropolis.

He said that already an intensive investigation had commenced and the suspects would be charged to court.

Ozoula flanked by the Head, Social Media, NCS, Michael Achimugu (left) and Head, Corporate Communications, Dana Group, Samuel Ogbogoro, at the roundtable.

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he Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Zainab Maina, has called on well-meaning Nigerians to provide for the needy in society.

According to her, credible platforms and NonGovernmental Organisations (NGO) need to be supported to ensure that such assistance gets to the desired people.

Maina made the call in Abuja at a media roundtable by the Body Enhancement Foundation founded by Princess Modupe Ozolua to high-

light activities of the organisation.

The minister, who spoke through Mr Nobis Eligius of Community Development Department, noted that situation around the world had made it imperative for the rich to give back to the needy.

Maina said that the Body Enhancement Foundation had created a credible platform to fulfil such obligations, adding that in partnering the foundation, the well-organised structure of the ministry would be made available to reach

the needy.

She said: “The ministry is concerned about the level of poverty in our society and that is why we are partnering this foundation, to ensure that we reach the needy in the society.”

In his contribution, the Comptroller General (CG) of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Dikko Abdulahi, backed the call for the well-to-do in the country to support initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of the less privileged.

The CG, who spoke through the Head of Lo-

gistics, Sani Suleiman, said arrangements had been concluded for the provision of thousands of bags of rice to the foundation to aid its philanthropic works.

On her part, Ozolua said the foundation had concluded arrangement for its programme in Bayelsa State where food items and other household materials would be provided for the less privileged, women and the aged.

She also enjoined wellmeaning Nigerians to endeavour to give to the needy.

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power

It is getting hotter in Enugu as two elephants continue their fight Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

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here has been tension in the rank of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Enugu State since the conduct of last Saturday’s ward congresses in the state.

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friday, november 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Chime, Ekweremadu battle over ward congress Reports said there is growing tension in the state, following the intrigues and maneuvering that characterised the aborted ward congresses, which has resulted in the camp of the governor, Sullivan Chime and that of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, drawing the battle line ahead of the 2015 elections.

Chairmen of the 17 local councils in the state, who are all of the PDP,

The number of probable cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Guinea as at October 19, 2014.

Source: Who.int

yesterday joined in the raging war for the control of the soul of the party, when they unanimously rejected any suggestion or move to claim that the aborted congress actually held in the state.

Also yesterday, the Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr. David Ajah, who has continued to claim that he is the acting chairman in the state as he fights the factional war on the side of the deputy senate president,

1.48m

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of United Arab Emirates in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

announced that House of Assembly aspirants should report at a venue for screening.

But the state Publicity Secretary, Dr. Okey Eze, in an interview with our reporter countered Aja, saying there was no such activity scheduled by the party.

The altercation was the first index of the growing tension as party faithful scurried into group meetings to analyse the situation, but the position of

46

The sex ratio of women to 100 men in Holy See in 2010.

Source: Un.org

the local council chiefs later capped the regime of political intrigues.

As at 2.00pm yesterday, we gathered that the screening announced by Aja did not hold while Eze said the screening exercise cannot hold when the sale of forms was still on.

On the position of the chairmen of the seventeen local government councils, he said no PDP ward congress took place in Enugu State on November 1, 2014 as claimed by

429,000

The total population of women in Fiji in 2012.

Source: Un.org

some people.

In a statement signed by the 17 council chairmen, they said they were fully in support of the leadership of the party in the state that the congresses did not hold due to the non-arrival of electoral materials and members of the electoral panel from the PDP headquarters.

They said they and the party officials waited tirelessly at the state party secretariat for the arrival of the members of the national ward electoral panel and electoral materials, which never left Abuja for the state.

APC holds rally in Aba today Peter Osondu ABA

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L-R: Chairman, Council of Ozo Ndigbo of Nigeria, Prof. Chiweyite Ejike; Secretary, Prof. Ike Oluka; Treasurer, Ozo Greg Ugwueze and Legal Adviser, Prof. Gab Agu, at the planning committee meeting of Protection of Igbo Culture Project in Enugu …yesterday

Factions in Ebonyi PDP crisis shift battle ground to Abuja Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

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he leadership crisis rocking the Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday took another dimension as the two factions in the crisis shifted their battle ground to Abuja. The crisis has been among the governorship aspirants of the party.

Although, before the crisis, the two factions had been at loggerheads over the purported adoption of former Health Minister, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, as the PDP consensus candidate in the state.

To complicate the matter, the party had on October 31, after an emergency meeting of the SEC held in Abakaliki, appointed Hon. Ben Akpa, as the substantive chairman of the party,

which resulted in some members holding parallel meetings.

A factional Chairman, Hon. Joseph Onwe, in a radio and television announcement, asked members to ignore a text message by the secretary of the party informing them of an emergency SEC meeting.

According to the announcement, he never directed the secretary to convene a meeting as only the chairman has the right to do so and not the secretary.

He maintained in the announcement that the secretary acted ultra vires to the constitution of the party and therefore, should be ignored.

The emergency meeting as allegedly convened by the secretary later held with appreciable attendance, including the state governor, Chief Martin Elechi, but Onwe was absent at the meeting.

Umeh supplicates for success at Ojukwu’s tomb Tony Okafor Awka

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head of next year’s general elections, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday paid a visit to the grave of the late Igbo leader, Chukwemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, where he supplicated, urging the spirit of Ojukwu to guide Ndigbo and APGA aright in the 2015 polls.

Umeh, who is vying for the Anambra Central senatorial seat, urged Ojukwu to cause the Igbo to embrace APGA and vote overwhelmingly for it in the elections.

He formally presented himself to the Ikemba in supplication for victory in his senatorial ambition as well as that of Ojukwu’s son, Emeka, in his House of Representatives’ ambition.

The APGA national chairman prayed Ojuk-

wu to intervene in the seeming disunity among the Igbo and brood them against political travails in the country.

He said: “The lions are roaring again, but your spirit will always shut them down.”

Addressing the crowd of supporters that thronged Ojukwu’s compound in solidarity with him, Umeh said he was at Ojukwu’s tomb to draw strength and inspiration once again for the battles ahead.

Bishop congratulates Obiano as APGA BoT chair Tony Okafor Awka

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he Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Chukwuemeka Ezeokafor, yesterday congratulated Governor Willie Obiano, on his recent appointment as the chairman of the

Board of Trustees (BoT) and leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

He urged the governor not to allow the rigour characterising such appointments distract him from carrying out the onerous task of creating a new and vibrant Anambra State.

The bishop expressed delight over the developmental strides of the governor and his resolve to give Awka, the capital city, a face-lift, especially with the on-going construction of the three flyovers at Amawbia ByPass, Kwata and at the popular Arroma Junction.

ll roads leads to the Recreation Club, Aba, today, where the All Progressives Congress (APC) will gather in what party faithful have described as operation ‘earthquake rally,’ which they said will be a stepping stone to the party’s takeover of power in the state next year.

There is, however, apprehension within the APC camp in the state that the state government, intimidated by the calibre of people attending the rally, was doing everything possible to scuttle it.

Those expected to attend the rally among others include the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, Ogbonnaya Onu, the first civilian governor of Abia State and ex-National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Senator Osita Izunaso, APC organising secretary, former Zonal ViceChairman APC South East, Nyerere Anyim and Chief John Moghalu.

Church lauds Enugu gov

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hrist Ascension Church yesterday lauded Governor Sullivan Chime for his exemplary leadership style as well as the delivery of dividends of democracy in all ramifications to the citizenry.

The church made this commendation through its Secretary General, Dr. Joseph Agha, at the Enugu Pray Until Something Happens (PUSH) prayer rally, organised by the founder and General Overseer of Christ Ascension Church worldwide, Apostle Ogbonnaya N. Godwin, at the Ascension Centre, Independent Layout, Enugu.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Power tussle

Ojudu: PDP senators suffering from self-inflicted impunity

Senate

Shettima: Progressives must defend democracy

Governorship aspirants

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el-Rufai, Ashiru, Hyet, Saeed plot to unseat Yero

Politics

Foes turn friends in Ogun KUNNLE OLAYENI writes on the reconciliation among warring parties in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

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he maxim “there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics but permanent interests” seems to be playing out in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as hitherto warring chieftains now resolved to sheathe their swords and forge reconciliation ahead the 2015 general election.

The reconciliation drive got the biggest boost penultimate week when former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, defected from the Labour Party (LP) with his loyalists and associates to the PDP. The return of Daniel, who governed the state on the platform of the PDP between 2003 and 2011, was a turning point in the emerging political realignment in the state.

After the national leadership sealed the defection of the ex-governor and notable former chieftains at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, the Ogun PDP subsequently held unification rally where the returnees were treated to a heroic reception.

At the PDP state secretariat in Abeokuta, Daniel and party financier, Prince Buruji Kashamu, who had been at loggerheads over the control of the party, embraced each other publicly to the delight of teeming party members.

The unification was witnessed by the bigwigs in the political firmament of the Gateway State. They include former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; PDP National Auditor, Alhaji Adewale Adeyanju; former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye; former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola, and Daniel’s former deputy, Alhaja Salmot Badru.

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

L-R: Martins-Kuye, Adeyanju; Daniel, Dayo and Kashamu, at the unity rally held in Abeokuta...

Others are former deputy governor, Alhaji Rafiu Ogunleye; former Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly, Mrs. Titi Oseni, Chief (Mrs.) Iyabo Apampa, Senator Ayo Otegbola, Senator Lekan Mustapha, Senator Kola Bajomo, Alhaji Sule Onabiyi, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, Hon. Razak Adewusi, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, Hon. Kayode Amusan, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, Engineer Anthony Ojesina, Hon. Lola Abiola-Edewor, and Alhaji Abeeb Ajayi, among others.

A former governorship aspirant in the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), who is often referred to as “heir” of ex-Governor Olusegun Osoba, Dr. Remilekun Bakare, was also present on the occasion with some former stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), having defected to the PDP. For once, the PDP, which had been crisis-ridden in the last seven years, appeared set to bounce back. The unification rally, which came in the heels of mediation efforts by Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, also came at a quite auspicious time when the ruling APC was beset with internal crisis.

Daniel’s return revives PDP The return of the former governor apparently reignited a sense of fulfillment in the Ogun PDP. Notwithstanding the challenges that may still be lying ahead the party, many stakeholders believe Daniel’s coming was an impetus for electoral victory.

Daniel, who stormed the PDP state secretariat amidst cheers from supporters and gun salute from traditional hunters, said he was happy to return to

My people, I’m glad to be back home. Whether they like it or not, they know that from today, we have taken back power

the PDP. He also declared that the state secretariat of the Labour Party in Abeokuta “has been reprogrammed and will be handed over to whoever becomes the governorship candidate of the PDP” in the party’s forthcoming primaries. The LP secretariat was changed to “Legacy House” in the wake of Daniel’s defection.

The former governor commended the national leadership of the party as well as the state executive committee headed by Chief Adebayo Dayo for their untiring efforts in restoring unity among the party members.

He said: “Today is a special day. All they say cannot happen has happened. My people, I’m glad to be back home. Whether they like it or not, they know that from today, we have taken back power.”

Daniel contended that it would be an uphill task for the APC to retain power in the state in 2015 because notable members of the ruling party, especially those in Matagbamole Group who are loyal to Osoba, have left in droves.

He took a swipe at Governor Ibikunle Amosun, saying his administration had allegedly plunged the state into “needless debts.” While arguing that his successor would be unable to finish ongoing capital projects across the state before next general election, Daniel boasted that the “incoming PDP government will complete and commission them.”

Kashamu reacts Kashamu, who is the chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of South-West PDP, said the event CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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Politics

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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...PDP senators’ protest

Ojudu: PDP senators suffering from self-inflicted impunity

Senator Babafemi Ojudu (Ekiti Central) is the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate Caucus

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators are victims of their party’s impunity in a democracy. That is why they are complaining. It is not about personal interest, it is about the interest of the party. It should be about our people.

Now they have seen injustice, they are fighting. We have seen injustice for more than two and half years, we wanted to fight, our colleagues did not allow us to fight.

Why must it be that it is when it affect us that we act? People should have standards. Now that they have seen that a lot of them are no longer welcome back in their homes, now that they have realised that they have made themselves slaves to the executive, they are shouting. When you present yourself as a slave, definitely, you will be treated as a slave.

That is the consequences of their actions over the years. But Nigeria voted them here to come and work. We must work.

Unfortunately, under the rules, we cannot work. That is why the opposition senators were busy shouting, Nay! Nay!! Nay!!! when the motion

When you present yourself as a slave, definitely, you will be treated as a slave. That is the consequence of their actions over the years

Ojudu

for adjournment was moved by the Senate Leader. If we are working for Nigeria, we should be seen to be doing so. Now that the PDP senators have problems with their party, president and governors, they are not allowing

us to work. We want to really work now but the system does not allow us.

It is unfortunate that the 2015 budget will be affected but we are in the minority; we have our say but they have their way. We are going to call a

meeting of our party caucus and we will discuss this. We even expected that they will call us to an executive meeting and discuss this matter. They don’t have to come in and adjourn like that.

Some of us came from our constituencies in far away places so that we could sit for this week. But here we are, we are not allowed to sit. Suddenly, conservatives of yesterdays have now turned to today’s radicals. The effects of all these would be felt in the long run by the masses.

At the moment, Mubi in Adamawa State has been taken over by insurgents. This is the time when all of us should guard our loins and fight on behalf of our compatriots who are being displaced. Go and look at the photographs of people who are running away from their homes. If you had lived in a place for about 20 to 30 years and you have to carry a small bag and run away from there, do you know how traumatic that can be? Instead of thinking of ourselves alone, we should be thinking of those people.

Interview by Chukwu David

Okwu: Senators should ambush PDP, not abandoning duties Chief Maxi Okwu is a lawyer and politician

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he issue of ticket or no ticket is an internal affair of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and National Assembly is not PDP though they have a majority.

Therefore, I will expect those who are not members of the PDP not to back the decision of the Senate. How PDP runs its primaries is stated in the PDP constitution, so the issue of the automatic ticket which the PDP senators are seeking

for is not in the constitution of Nigeria; it is an internal affair of PDP. So, let PDP deal with it. Let the members of the Senate who are not a member of the PDP form a quorum and sit.

The decision of the Senate is going to slow down democratic process and I see it as part of impunity in the land in terms of our politics. We are practicing democracy but we are not yet democratic.

Look at the situation where a governor is trying to fight his party, anoint his successor and do all sort of things; the party giving a rule and

Chief Ralph Obioha is a chieftain of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO)

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t is wrong for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the Senate to say that they will suspend their legislative duties on account of their failure to secure the support of the party delegates to contest the 2015 election.

My advice to them is to approach their party and find mechanism under which they could get the party’s ticket because they are important stakeholders in their party. But to weigh party actions with their legislative duties will betray the confidence and mandate Nigerians repose in them.

I believe it is morally wrong for the PDP members in the Senate to take

governor not ready to obey the constitution. Can you imagine?

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a role to play in curbing the impunity in our politics and disregard of party’s constitution. INEC requires a change of attitude. A governor is now a military administrator and that is what is happening in many states where Houses of Assembly are in the pocket of the governors. Some governors have also dominated the affairs of their party in their respective states.

What Senate should do is

that they should not allow PDP issue to affect national interest since they are elected into the Senate to deliberate on national issue. The only thing they can do is to put pressure on their party but it is not by boycotting Senate activities. They can make their points the way the governors pressurise the party to get a return ticket by ambushing their party. What they should do is to ambush their party too but not to refuse to perform their constitutional duties.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Okwu

Obioha: Senators’ strategy will backfire It is not democratically right for people to think that they can force themselves to be their party’s candidates during elections Obioha

such decision. They shouldn’t go in that direction and the sooner they adopt another strategy to try to get their party consent, the better for them. The direction they are going presently is very wrong.

It is not democratically right for people to think that they can force themselves to be their party’s candidates during elections. The issue is that under no circumstances should the senators use the nomination of their parties

as a blackmail to get their nomination.

If they have given good account of their stewardship for four years, their people would definitely support them to go back to the Senate.

My advice to the PDP senators is that this strategy they are trying to adopt will backfire. They should make advances to the leadership of the PDP and discuss the issues with them. The truth of the matter is that their decision which they have already put on the internet and other media has already created a negative impression.

So, for them to control and reverse the damages, they should quickly put out the statement that they were misunderstood. But the important thing is for them to go to their party and resolve with their ranks.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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...PDP senators’ protest

Aborishade: Action is a lesson to Nigeria Comrade Femi Aborishade is the pioneer General Secretary of the National Conscience Party (NCP)

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think fundamentally it shows that the ruling class in Nigeria sees power as an instrument for their own interest. They do not see their political power, or occupied political offices, to be for the purpose of improving the lot of the masses. It is all about self, the office occupier, not about the people. They have never disagreed over policy matters, but they always disagree when it comes to personal interests.

Opportunity to be nominated for election in 2015 is not enough for them to make the country ungovernable. I would have loved to see them display the same anger over the inability of the government to see to the release of the Chibok girls and several others who have been abducted.

I would have loved to see the same anger being displayed over the continued commercialisation of education.

I would have loved to see the same anger being demonstrated over blackout

Dr. Kunle Olajide is the National Publicity Secretary of the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF)

They are not concerned about the interest of the poor, but only concerned about using power to negotiate for their own selfish interest. I think it is sad, but it is also a lesson for the Nigerian people not to look up to the parties of the ruling class Aborishade

which the privatisation of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has thrown the country. I would have loved to see the same anger being invoked over poverty pervading the land.

But they are not concerned about the interest of the poor but only about

Yerima Shettima is the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF)

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he action of the senators to boycott legislative duties is to tell you that we have been enslaved as citizens of our own country because public consideration and perception does not count anymore. The case of the president emerging as the sole candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) without any opposition is a clear indication that we are far from democracy.

The Speaker of House of

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Olajide: It’s evidence of indiscipline

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he senators who are boycotting sitting in the National Assembly are lacking in their responsibility. We did not elect them into the Senate just for their own personal and selfish interest of returning to the Senate.

They are to make laws for good governance and for them to want to hold the entire country to ransom because they have some misgiving in their political party, is unfortunate.

To me, it is a sign of indiscipline in the party. So, it is not in anybody’s interest at all. So, I will advise them to have a rethink because they are coming back to meet the electorate.

The decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators is going to affect governance, particularly this is the budgetary season and we are all clamouring that they should pass

using power to negotiate for their own selfish interest. I think it is sad, but it is also a lesson for the Nigerian people not to look up to the ruling class, the capitalist parties that are ruling in various states in Nigeria today.

But fundamentally, when you look at

it, though the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators used their majority to stop proceedings in the Senate, but who supported the motion in the first place for adjournment; it was the minority leader. Even though some other opposition senators were also involved, but fundamentally, the position of the Majority Leader in the Senate ratified the official position of the opposition senators.

To me, they are all fundamentally the same; they are concerned about using their position to further their interest in terms of power, contracts and they are not concerned about legislations that will improve the wellbeing of the Nigerian people.

I generally don’t offer advice to people in power because they are adults. What they are doing is deliberate. So, to expect them to do otherwise is to expect tears from a statue made of stone. To expect them to behave rationally, and face their legislative duties, is to expect tears to come out of stone.

A typical Nigerian politician is concerned about himself; either about access to power, contract or political office, and not about the people. I have no advice for them, they cannot change.

Olajide

the budget before end of the year so that by the first month of next year, the president would have been able to give his assent. Now, they are not sit-

ting, it is going to delay the budget and slow down development processes and running of government which will be the bane of the country in terms of non-implementation of the budget and delay in passage of the budget and so on. Definitely, the decision of the PDP senators is going to affect governance.

It is not morally right for PDP senators to boycott sitting. It is unlawful and immoral. That is denying the mandate given to them by the people.

It is very wrong and it shows lack of indiscipline in political party that sponsored them and the senators themselves.

I believe the issue of people forcing themselves on the electorates for public offices is very bad and that is why we suggested at the National Conference that representatives in the legislature should be part-time. They should only be paid sitting allowances so that it won’t be attracting a lot of people who are there now because of money;

so that those who genuinely want to serve may be there. And unfortunately, nothing seems to be happening to the conference resolutions now. As long as there is so much money in that place, we will have wrong people going there.

My first advice is that the president must find a way of implementing the resolutions of the National Conference. The second advice is that those who had been elected and have the mandate of the people should ensure that we have good government and improve the lot of people not their own personal interest.

Political parties should endeavour to have ideology. There must be ideology but as it is now, it is all comers.

I will also advise the PDP senators who are boycotting the sitting to go back quickly to their business and perform their constitutional responsibilities.

Interview by TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE

Shettima: Progressives must defend democracy Representatives, Rt Hon. Aminu Tambuwal issue is another route of madness to democracy. The case of giving governors the right to succeed them and giving some automatic second term ticket show that our vote does not count anymore. It means what we are doing since the advent of democracy has come to a naught and our vote does not count anymore.

This must be seen as a clarion calls to all progressives, I am not talking about political parties who parade themselves as progressives but harbour criminals, but those who are known to be freedom fighters over the

years. This is not the type of democracy we fought for and we must rise up against these acts before it consume us all.

How can governors, senators be holding the nation at ransom for their selfish interest? Soon, the House of Representatives will do its own and it will go down to the local government level. In this case, the question is where the hope of the common man lies in this whole power show. This is a clear indication that what we are running is not democracy.

Politicians have bastardised the system and that is why we are having the problem of Boko

Haram because the genesis of Boko Haram is imposition of candidates and today we are having more trouble at hand.

Someday, if necessary measures are not taken, we may wake up and see that there is no Nigeria again.

This is a clarion call that we must all wake up and defend the tenets of democracy. To achieve that, we must fight the problem of suspicion between ethnic nationalities and also ensure that we close gaps between Christians and Muslims. We must realised that these sets of leaders

Interview by WALE ELEGBEDE

are not fighting for us but the struggle is for what comes to their pockets.

Shettima

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Politics

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

LEADING GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS

As the gubernatorial primaries in Kaduna State approach, the contest seems narrowed down to two political parties.

While the primary election in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is fairly predictable, that of the All Progressives Congress(APC) appears too close to call. Ibraheem Musa writes

el-Rufai, Ashiru, Hyet, Saeed plot to unseat Yero

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n Kaduna State, the rumour mill has been abuzz, churning out plots and conspiracy theories about the governorship race in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Clearly, Governor Muktar Yero and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, his political godfather, are the constant figures in the political equation of the state. At first, Yero was seen as the sole candidate and the only horse in the race. The governor, according to reports, will just be ratified at the primaries as the vice president had cleared all the hurdles for him.

Before long, former Aviation Minister, Mr. Felix Hassan Hyet, threw his hat in the ring, so did Senator Haruna Zego Aziz, his fellow Southern Kaduna kinsman. Similarly, Alhaji Lawal Samaila Yakawada, from the central zone, is also in the race and like Yero, the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) is Hausa-Fulani.

Consequently, Hyet, Aziz and Yakawada, by their aspiration, have deflated the purported Yero sole candidacy.

However, other rumours have been making the round but the most poignant, in recent times, has been the dark horse theory. According to reports, another aspirant will displace Yero and the presidency as well as southern Kaduna elites are said to be backing this plot. By birth, Yero and Sambo are both from Zaria and by this arrangement, other power centres are complaining of marginalisation in Kaduna State. Consequently, the vice president was asked to, according to reports, either retain his position and sacrifice Yero or vice versa. Significantly, those angling to replace Sambo as vice president, some people within the presidency and Southern Kaduna elements are allegedly behind the plot.

However, this conspiracy theory has been punctured. On October 23, Chief Tony Anenih, PDP’s Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman, came to Kaduna to reconcile feuding camps. Incidentally, the stakeholders’ meeting ended up endorsing Yero as Anenih, to people’s surprise, asked all PDP members to support him.

In addition, Anenih preached unity, forgiveness and the need to forget past grievances.

Similarly, five days later, President Goodluck Jonathan came to Kaduna, inaugurated a project at Government House and praised Yero for restoring peace in the state. To observers, Anenih and the president’s body language amounted to anointing Yero. So, Hyet, Aziz and Yakawada will slug it out with Yero at the primaries and the outcome is somewhat predictable.

Significantly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) race will equally be a keen contest. On the one hand, there is Malam Nasiru El Rufai, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister and Hon. Isa Mohammed Ashiru, Vice Chairman of House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation. Lately, former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Haruna Saeed,

Yero

el-Rufai

Aziz

Ashiru

has signified interest to contest for the APC governorship ticket. However, the contest will be a straight fight between El Rufai and Ashiru. Surprisingly, Mr. James Bawa Magaji, former deputy governor, has left APC for Labour Party in pursuit of his governorship aspiration.

As it is, the general election in Kaduna will largely be a two-party contest between APC and PDP with both angling to win the state. In addition, Southern Kaduna will hold the ace as whichever party gets its block votes will coast to victory. Traditionally, the area is PDP’s enclave but the people, according to reports, may vote for APC in the next election in protest. The area, in the last 15 years, has produced only the late Sir Patrick Yakowa, who ruled for just two years. The rest 13 years have been dominated by the Muslim North.

From 1999 to 2007, Senator Ahmed Makarfi had ruled for eight years while Sambo, before he became vice president, had governed for two years. By default, Yakowa became governor for two years and following his death, the Hausa-Fulani rule continued with the coming of Yero. In all, the Muslim North has ruled for 14 out of 16 years of democracy but incidentally, Southern Kaduna votes usually determined the governorship races.

So, another four years of PDP, Southern Kaduna argued, would increase the Hausa-Fulani dominance to 18 years. In protest, the south may vote APC. Muktar Ramalan Yero Governor Yero had been a commissioner and a deputy governor within seven years, before landing his present position. Ironically, the man has never stood for primaries, let alone general election. However, within this month, Yero will get his litmus test as he faces party delegates at the primaries. Significantly, given its structure and PDP precedent, Yero will scale the primaries in a walk. In the forthcoming primaries, 1,035 delegates will chose a candidate and out of that number, more than two-thirds will naturally vote for him.

However, the general election will be his first baptism of fire at the polls. The election, from all indications, will be a tough nut to crack for the 46-year-old governor. First and foremost, Southern Kaduna bloc votes will split in three ways, amongst APC, Labour Party and PDP. Traditionally, Igabi, Zaria and Sabon Gari local governments, including Kaduna North and South councils have always been controlled by the opposition.

And these councils, going by the Inde-

pendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) figures, have close to half of the registered voters in Kaduna State. This electoral strength, coupled with the looming Southern Kaduna revolt, is bound to rattle Yero.

However, APC may implode after its primaries and in the event of that, Yero may reap from protest votes.

Felix Hassan Hyet On August 14, political office holders from Southern Kaduna, led by Senator Nenadi Usman endorsed Governor Yero as their sole gubernatorial candidate, at Unguwan Wakili, a town on the outskirt of Zonkwa, the headquarters of Zango Kataf Local Government Area. Justifying the endorsement, Usman said that Yero has executed several projects in Southern Kaduna and has given “unprecedented appointments to indigenes of the area.”

Afterwards, all hell broke loose as several groups, Southern Kaduna elites and stakeholders dissociated themselves from that endorsement. Specifically, Hyet was livid with rage, vowing, cursing and threatening simultaneously. Categorically, the man said that he has not stepped down for anybody and will never do so. Thereafter, his posters increased

Politics

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LEADING GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS

Saeed

in number and his media visibility also improved to prove his seriousness.

Late last year, Hyet was about leaving PDP for APC but at the 11th hour, the former Secretary to the Kaduna State Government changed his mind. Politically, he is a member of Makarfi’s political dynasty and a respected elder in Southern Kaduna. In 2007, President Umaru Yar’Adua appointed him Minister of Aviation but a year later, he was given the boot, along with several others, in a cabinet reshuffle.

Quietly, Hyet returned home but at state level, the man was sidelined but he remained an activist for his people’s rights.

Right now, he is seen as a moderating influence in Southern Kaduna.

Zego Haruna Aziz An ex-Airforce officer, Senator Aziz was in the upper legislative chamber from 1999 to 2003, where he represented Southern Kaduna senatorial district.

Thereafter, Senator Isaiah Balat replaced him and Aziz, like a good party man, took his defeat in good fate. Specifically, he returned to his people and headed the Unity Forum, a group of Southern Kaduna PDP elders. Since then, Aziz has been in political wilderness but this time around, fuelled by his people’s claim of marginalisation, the former senator is aiming for the governorship. However, his aspiration is being resisted at home.

Specifically, Mr. Dare Akawu and a few others, in a palace coup, have eased Aziz from the chairmanship of the Unity Forum. Aziz, according to them, is using the platform to further his political aspiration and defeating the neutrality of the forum as a result.

However, in spite of the intra elite feud, Aziz is liked by the generality of his people but getting support outside Southern Kaduna will be an uphill task.

Similarly, clinching the party’s nomination is almost impossible.

Lawal Samaila Yakawada In the Patrick Yakowa administration, Yakawada, the SSG was the de facto deputy governor. Yakawada, on almost everything, had the governor’s ears and largely determined who got what at that time. However, times have changed and Yakawada is out in the cold.

Specifically, Alhaji Ishaq Hamza Danmahawai, from the same Giwa local government, has now succeeded Yakawada as SSG. In addition, Governor Yero, the marginalised deputy governor, has become the number one citizen in Kaduna State. Right now, Yakawada is in political Siberia but he is still in PDP. However, in spite of all odds, the ex-SSG is still defending Yakowa, explaining his policies and inclusive politics. This attitude, according to reports, has angered many

islative ladder. In 2007, he was elected to the House of Representatives and in the Green Chamber, Ashiru is Vice Chairman of the Appropriation Committee.

On February 11, Ashiru defected from PDP and the next day, he went to his Kudan hometown to register for APC. The event, for all intents and purposes, was like a campaign flag-off as most APC bigwigs graced the occasion. Specifically, almost all decampees from PDP turned out for Ashiru’s declaration. Since then, the legislator has been meeting people, pressure groups and community associations, especially in Southern Kaduna. In particular, Ashiru was in Sanga where he preached peace, visited bereaved communities and commiserated with the chiefs of the area.

Compared to el-Rufai, Ashiru has a well oiled campaign organisation, filled with seasoned politicians and field workers. However, the APC state and national executive are more favourably disposed to el-Rufai. Specifically, they see Ashiru and his group as PDP moles in their party.

But Ashiru’s common touch, accessibility and deep pockets as well as his open hands have ingratiated him to many party men. In particular, they see him as one of their own while el-Rufai represents the stiff necked establishment that they despise. Notwithstanding el-Rufai’s closeness with the powers-that-be, Ashiru may be the aspirant to beat in a tight race that the primaries promises to be.

Magaji

of Yero’s loyalists but Southern Kaduna people admire Yakawada’s steadfastness.

In particular, he is still close to Mrs. Amina Yakowa, the ex-governor’s widow.

Recently, Vice-President Sambo allegedly met with him behind closed doors, especially after the mass defections in December. Although he doesn’t have the resources to vie for any elective post, Yakawada has joined the gubernatorial race. No doubt, he is a grassroots politician, having been council chairman, Commissioner of Agriculture, gubernatorial aspirant and Yakowa’s Political Adviser as well as SSG. Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai On November 3, el-Rufai, the ex FCT Minister, formally declared for the governorship race on the platform of the APC. Intelligent, courageous and resultdriven, el-Rufai’s capacity and failings are well known. However, speaker after speaker, on the declaration day, reeled out the ex-minister’s achievements. Specifically, General Muhammadu Buhari, former Head of State and APC presidential aspirant, went a step further on the checklist. Kaduna State will not be doing el-Rufai a favour by voting for him.

Rather, the pint-sized, straight talking and controversial aspirant, according to Buhari, will be doing the state a favour by agreeing to govern it.

Coming from Buhari, this statement amounted to anointing el-Rufai. Till date, Buhari has a cult-like following across the North and his endorsement is seen as gospel truth. With a name recognition, track record of achievement and Buhari’s thumbs-up, including having the state executive on his side, as well as the discontent against PDP, el-Rufai may as well go to sleep on Election Day. However, he has the primaries to cross.

Given his God-sent mentality and his penny-wise mindset, el-Rufai may not see the need to oil delegates’palms. After all, as Buhari have said, “I’m doing you guys a favour by accepting to serve,’’ may be his standard explanation for not “lobbying delegates.” Public service and high principles are still alien to politicians, be they in PDP or APC. This cash and carry mentality of delegates may cost el-Rufai the gubernatorial ticket.

Isa Mohammed Ashiru Young, amiable and generous, little is known about Ashiru outside political circles. Ashiru, compared to el-Rufai, is a relative dark horse but the young man has been a legislator for 16 years. Right now, he represents Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives. An accountant by profession, Ashiru was in the state assembly in 1999 but after two terms, he moved up the leg-

Kaduna State will not be doing el-Rufai a favour by voting for him. Rather, the pint-sized, straight talking and controversial aspirant, according to Buhari, will be doing the state a favour by agreeing to govern it

Haruna Saeed At first, he seemed disinterested but about a month ago, Saeed, former CPC gubernatorial candidate, galloped into the governorship race. After a distinguished civil service career, where he rose to become Accountant General of Kaduna State, Saeed joined the gubernatorial race in 2007 on PDP’s platform.

However, his outing was not so impressive and in 2011, Saeed crossed over to CPC, where he became its flagbearer.

After his defeat, Saeed gave politics a safe distance as he concentrated on his business ever since.

All of a sudden, Saeed’s posters started appearing in Kaduna about a month ago. In addition, like Ashiru, he has distributed 23 campaign vehicles to all the local government areas; 19 cars more than what el-Rufai gave the state executive. However, Saeed is not seen as a serious contender for the APC ticket.

Notwithstanding, his support for either Ashiru or el-Rufai will give the beneficiary an edge.

James Bawa Magaji For close to 20 years, Magaji has been out of political contention. In 1992, he was the deputy to Governor Dabo Mohammed Lere. Two years later, the military struck and sent them packing and since then, Magaji has been in political limbo. Severally, he had attempted to go to the Senate but his ambition never went beyond aspiration.

Magaji, in spite of this, still kept close to his Southern Kaduna people, without alienating others. Amiable and easy going, the man is not an ethnic bigot but during Makarfi’s tenure, he was a vocal critic of the administration. In 2010, he became close to Governor Yakowa.

Last year, the former deputy governor declared his gubernatorial ambition but instead of PDP, he pitched tent in APC. However, he has now defected to Labour Party (LP) in pursuit of his aspiration.

Although he is the sole candidate, it is unlikely if Magaji will make any impact in the general election.

At the end of the day, the gubernatorial primaries will be different strokes for different parties. While it will be a no contest in the PDP, that of APC would be a serious contest.

18

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Tambuwal tumbles, grandmasters grumble

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

P

olitics is not about morals. You do not go into it expecting your cake all the time. Red rose signifies love. There are no sweet smelling flowers anywhere around the soap box. Politics is as old as prostitution. When there is a brawl, please do not be surprised to see dirty linens.

In the tropics, our style is hot. No politician is a gentleman. They have a way round the masses.

The corporate Group Managing Director of a blue chip company, may not have the guts to visit one of his customers in the inner city. The politician is so free. When he needs your votes, he could follow a supporter to the hinterland to bury a father –in- law.

And that is where it ends.

In power, he treats his erstwhile loyalists with disdain. I have a feeling that many politicians have no soul. It is even difficult to see the sole of their shoes. They prefer to go solo, wallowing in opulence while the poor voter frolicks with poverty.

Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, is a damn good politician.

He knows the rule and understands the game. Terror and treachery are part of the tricks. You roar like a lion and pretend like a fox. Niccolo Machiavelli’s work remains relevant. As a lawyer, I know this young man from Tambuwal knows that the rule in Nigerian politics is that there is no rule.

Tambuwal impresses me as one of the Northerners that I see as potential Presidents of this nation.

The others include Emir of Kano Lamido Sanusi Lamido, Col. Dangiwa Umar and Maj. Mustapha Jokolo.

My optimism is hinged on the fact that these men are good mixers, who have friends all over the country and could die for some of these associates if need be. Tambuwal will remain ever grateful to the

Yoruba who put him in borrowed gown. Umar quit the army on issues about June 12. Jokolo does not give a hoot about the background of the President.

Sanusi does not scar me with his perceived fundamentalism. He is more of a Lagos Boy. At times, I wonder how he feels in Kano with his Eko for Show mentality. As Central Bank governor, he only wanted to make everyone feel that, here was a Kano Prince who knew his way to the top.

Tambuwal got to the top too. Today, he is not on top of the situation. The rough political climate could just topple him and eventually, torpedo his ambitions. The Speaker may not be Frank Edoho’s guest on the Teevee show, Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, but he is on the hot seat.

You do not touch a tiger by the tail. That is what Tambuwal has done. You used the PDP to corner the Speakership and you are now speaking against the same party. You cannot eat your cake and have it.

The Yoruba were to occupy that position in 2011 but some of their representatives handed it over to the Sokoto man. It was a very smart move and he was full of glee.

Tambuwal appeared, dressed like an English gentleman, with a hat to match. Not a bowler hat, not a Panama hat, just a hat. Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was Vice- President and had a bigger hat. President Umaru Yar’adua showed a large heart and allowed the plot. Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha sauntered in, regaled like Tambuwal’s half –brother.

It was not a joke. It was a serious political issue.

But it was also a novelty. First speaker of the House of Representatives in 1955, Sir Frederick Metcalfe would have complimented Tambuwal’s gear. The first Nigerian Speaker Jaja Anucha Wachukwu’s problem could be identifying the Deputy speaker as Igbo.

The plot stood and Tambuwal won. However, he never failed to dance to the tune of those who made sure that after Olubunmi Etteh and Dimeji Lawal, another Yoruba was not going to be Speaker.

Tambuwal enjoyed the game. PDP man, backed by the opposition. They hailed him, he looked untouchable and infact, managed to keep the house going.A good politician knows how to appease the gods. One

leg in, one leg out.

Then the years marched past. Time for positioning for next elections. The opposition came together to float the APC. Tambuwal does not control an armoured personel carrier. He only controls politicians. Tall dreams, the man could have eyed the presidency. But when the big masquerades began to appear, the tide turned.

Ambition is funny. The more you , drink the more you thirst. Tambuwal may settle for the position of governor. And to actualize that, he has disengaged from the PDP. The open secret romance with APC turned to matrimony. The Umbrella has also refused to play tombola.

Tambuwal is free to go, but he must not fail to resign as speaker. That is the music they are drumming into our ears. PDP, that is. He has refused to let go.

You simplify it. A man works for Dangote Cement for three years as Managing Director, resigns his appointment to team up with Oando and insists on using the official car with the Dangote logo. No dice.

What should be done is very simple. Since Tambuwal is a man of honour, he should test the love of his APC friends. In Sokoto, something could be done urgently to put him in the House of Assembly as Speaker. Forget the law. Our politicians, all of them, cannot claim to be respecters of the constitution.

And Tambuwal should accept such offer from the APC states. It happened in the Second Republic. Following the collapse of the NPN/NPP Accord, some of the NPP ministers left the Shehu Shagari cabinet.

Dr. Ihechukwu Madubuike was made commissioner in Imo state. Chief Paulinus Amadike went back to Anambra. Chiefs Janet Akinrinade and Emma Aguma came from UPN and NPN controlled states.

They were absorbed as commissioners outside their states.

Shagari himself served as Local Government boss after he left the Federal cabinet in the First Republic.

First Nigerian Inspector- General of Police Luis Edet became a commissioner in South- Eastern state.

This is an option. There is no point threatening fire and brimstone. Tambuwal lives in a glass house. His household should not throw stones. Give unto Caesar what is his. Politics in Nigeria has no rule.

Fayose, please get going Adewale Kupoluyi

I

n the last few weeks, Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has dissipated too much energy trading words with his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, over how Ekiti , also known as the Fountain of Knowledge has been badly run and why things are bound to go from bad to worse. Fayose seems to be pre-occupied with petty matters making many people to wonder whether the governor really much to offer his people. Almost on a daily basis, the media is awash with how state resources have been wasted on white elephant projects, thus portraying the last administration as being wasteful, insensitive, ‘after self comfort’ and terribly corrupt. Ordinarily, one should not be too surprised by such actions as politicians are used to raising false alarms, discrediting their opponents and showcasing what they perceive as the dark side of their political rivals and hopefully, usually through propaganda, garner public sympathy.

Fayose had among others, accused his predecessor of spending a whopping sum of N50m on beds in the newly-built Government House and another N100m tax payers’ money on toilets and bathrooms.

Not only that, the helmsman in Ekiti has branded the N3.3b lodge built by the exgovernor as ill-conceived, misplaced and

too costly for the state to maintain.

Over the years, Fayose has remained a highly controversial person even before he became governor under the first dispensation, before his eventual impeachment from office in 2006. Even though he disagrees with his critics in that what people call his ‘youthful exuberance’ is nothing but a display of fraternity with the common man, which to him, many political elite often relegate to the background and as such, this is the best way for him to identify with the common man. While it is completely not out of place for a new government to appraise the situation on ground with a view to working towards effective service delivery and good governance, which not only promote accountability and transparency, it could also help give a clear picture of some sort of where-we-are-coming-from, where-were-are-going and what-it-takesto-get-there. But the way Fayose is going about his seems to be completely different.

Although, the statistics given by the governor himself look scary in terms of the rot in Ekiti, the scenario may not necessarily mean that the situation is completely hopeless and irredeemable.

All that is required is the zeal, focus and the team spirit to move forward. According to Fayose, the liabilities of the state include the dangling bond capital market and agricultural loan (N21.2b), other bank

loans (N15.5b), outstanding salary for two months (N3.2b), unremitted deductions for four months’ salary (N2.4b), unpaid subventions to parastatals and tertiary institutions (N700m), 2014 leave bonus (N400m), unpaid pensions and gratuities (N3.2b), unremitted withholding taxes and other deductions (N850m) and indebtedness to contractors (N10.0b), all totaling N57.45b.

Thus, based on the governor’s account, the state would have to seriously work hard to put smiles on people’s faces in view of the meager monthly dole that comes from the Federation Account, which stands at N2.3b, Value Added Tax (VAT) proceeds that hover around N650m and an internallygenerated revenue ranging from between N350 and N3.4 billion.

To move the state forward, government should painstakingly actualise the key component of its five major restoration agenda that is hinged on: virile intergovernmental relations, regional integration, effective local government administration, sustainable developmental objectives and highly professionalised public service.

Certainly, while a lot could be achieved in terms of federal-state relations because of the existing party influence in which the state is bound to enjoy with the central government with the same party platform, there is need to maintain cordial relations between the executive and the state legislators dominated by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), which appears

to be worsening by the day. This should be the priority of Fayose. He should not waste precious time on intimidating the state legislators to decamp to his party. Rather, he should see the present arrangement, where both parties have a reasonable representation in the house as good for democracy, though the APC controls more members.

Already, this tension is evident in the impeachment threats and the confrontation between the state government and the state House of Assembly with the sealing off a filling station belonging to the Speaker, Dr. Adewale Omirin. Many observers are wondering why the sudden action of the state in shutting down the station.

Secondly, regional integration is something he cannot do in a hurry. He would need to take time to study events as they unfold. Apart from Ekiti, the only state that is controlled by PDP is Ondo, which recently joined the ruling party following the recent defection of its governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko from the Labour Party.

Without sounding pessimistic, this integration would remain elusive until the SouthWest governors truly align themselves politically. I don’t foresee this happening for now. On local government administration, Fayose should prove his mettle as a truly grassroots politician.

• Kupoluyi writes from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, vide, adewalekupoluyi@yahoo.co.uk, Twitter, @AdewaleKupoluyi

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

19

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Killing of Citizen Ikechukwu Abasirim

he tragic killing of Ikechukwu Abasirim, 36, who was allegedly crushed to death by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), underscores the excesses and complete lack of respect for the sanctity of human lives by people in uniform. The death of the father of four is also a pointer to the brutality, intimidation, insensitivity and misplacement of anger exhibited by law enforcement officers all over the country.

Ikechukwu was allegedly crushed to death penultimate week by a vehicle driven by the officials of LASTMA during a hot chase, which began at Mile 2 area in Lagos State over an unknown traffic offence. The driver of the commercial bus he worked with was said to have flouted an order to “park” by LASTMA officials who accosted them. This action reportedly infuriated the officials of the agency who trailed them along the Oshodi-Apapa expressway until they were caught at Cele bus stop while waiting for passengers to disembark. In an attempt to bundle Ikechukwu into their waiting vehicle, one of the officials reportedly swept him off his feet. Consequently, he fell down, and got crushed by an official at the wheels; he died instantly.

Ikechukwu’s case is one of several other horrible situations

suffered regularly by motorists on Lagos roads. A lot has been reported by many on brutal killings perpetrated by LASTMA officials without the authorities doing anything to checkmate the heinous activities of these serial killers. Unfortunately, the leadership of the agency still continues to live in denial. Most of the time, it keeps disassociating itself from any wrongdoing even without properly investigating the cases.

Recently, it issued a statement to debunk reports that its personnel were responsible for the killing of the conductor, saying it was the police officers attached to the traffic personnel that committed the act. It also went ahead to state that none of its personnel witnessed the killing. Its explanation also maintained that the policemen attached to LASTMA are not supposed to arrest motorists who contravene traffic laws, but to protect the traffic management personnel against attack by irate motorists. The question to ask is if a combined team of officials from both agencies committed the dastardly act, is there any need to single out a group and apportion blames? After all, if they are attached to LASTMA officials, it, therefore, implies that they would work in concert with one another.

However, whether LASTMA’s officials or policemen committed the act, there is no justification for the killing of the conductor ir-

respective of the level of provocation and the gravity of the offence even in the worst military setting.

LASTMA’s combative posture, lack of finesse, unprofessionalism and brute conduct in the treatment of motorists must be summarily condemned. Its style and barbaric approach to issues is neither well-conceived nor in the interest of the people; given the fact that government’s main purpose is to protect and defend the interest of the people.

What befell citizen Ikechukwu does not certainly represent the best interest of the people. The rampaging officials of LASTMA must have it at the back of their minds that this is a democratic state not a lawless jungle; every member of this union has a right to life and rights that must not be trampled upon, but respected.

More importantly, an agency funded by taxpayers’ resources cannot constitute itself into a nuisance by being irresponsible, insensitive, and a pain in the throats of its funders. This wrong notion of raw power and uncouth behaviour must stop forthwith. And it makes sense to say that any erring official must not only be shown the way out with an immediate effect but must also face the full weight of the law squarely.

There is no doubt that the people who conceived this idea had good intentions. It is also on record that the agency performed

creditably well in controlling the chaotic traffic situation at inception before some unwholesome tendencies began to manifest in some of its officials.

They employ guerrilla approach to traffic issues by laying ambush for motorists and arresting offenders from their hideouts instead of being correctional.

Equally disgusting is the idea of dragging vehicle steering wheels with owners; seizing commercial buses for their illegal operations; forcefully puncturing tyres while vehicles are in motion without regard for the consequences on commuters’ lives, and collecting bribe from hapless motorists.

The Lagos State government must redefine LASTMA’s rules of engagement and spell out their code of conduct, while the officials of the agency must receive more adequate re-orientation on good conduct to meet up with present day realities. Its statutory responsibilities must be enforced. Traffic management is not for people who are insane, but for right thinking people who desire to make a change in their society.

Also, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, must ensure that no stone is left unturned. Those behind the killing must be brought to book if found guilty and since the state authorities failed in their responsibility to protect him, his family should be compensated accordingly.

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief n Eric Osagie Deputy Managing Directors n Gabriel Akinadewo

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

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Deputy Editors, Daily n Emeka Obasi, Ayodele Ojo

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20

Politics

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP gladiators reconcile for 2015 C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

marked another milestone in the PDP’s quest to wrest power from the ruling APC. The PDP chieftain, who described Daniel as “brother and friend,” said the party would do well in the next election with the coming on board of the former governor. He, however, urged all party members to be sincere as the PDP prepares to prosecute the 2015 project.

Kashamu said: “History is being made here today. I am extremely grateful to the almighty God who has made today possible. I wish to also thank all our party leaders, elders and stakeholders for the contributions to the success of today’s event.

“Despite the efforts of our detractors, we are here today welcoming back our brothers and sisters who either left us sometimes ago or had been on the sideline. All the various interests and groups are coming together under the PDP umbrella. Now, the party is bigger and better.

“The good people of Ogun State have never had it so bad. They are yearning for change. They are waiting for the PDP to provide the much-needed change. We can no longer afford to wait and waste our time fighting ourselves. Let us come together and solidify this union.”

How the PDP crisis started The PDP rose to power in 2003 when Daniel, as the party’s standard bearer, defeated the then incumbent Governor Olusegun Osoba of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). In the years that followed, the PDP bestrode the state’s political landscape like a colossus while opposition elements went into the trenches to plot strategies to bring them back to the reckoning.

But shortly after Daniel won reelection in 2007, the PDP started experiencing internal squabbles which later transformed the party into an abyss of factionalisation. The party’s misfortunes exploded when two factions emerged with Elder Joju Fadairo and Chief Dayo Soremi as factional chairmen. Daniel’s loyalists backed Fadairo while former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other chieftains stood behind Soremi.

In the build-up to 2011, the two factions held different primaries which produced Gboyega Isiaka and General Adetunji Olurin (rtd) as their governorship candidates respectively. But the judgement of Justice Abdul Kafarati of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja eventually altered the party structure and decided the state PDP governorship candidature in favour of Olurin.

Miffed by the court verdict, Isiaka defected to the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) to pursue his ambition. But eventually, both Olurin and Isiaka lost the governorship to Amosun who vied with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) ticket.

While the crisis was festering, Kashamu had appeared innocuous on the political scene. In 2008, he introduced a non-governmental organisation, Omo-Ilu Foundation, and became a household name for empowering thousands of people with cars, cash and skills acquisition equipment. He initially had cordial relationship with Daniel but the relationship strained when the Ogun PDP became factionalised.

Kashamu teamed up with anti-Daniel forces led by Obasanjo and the battle ultimately swept Daniel and his loyalists out of the party. Kashamu later parted ways with Obasanjo over the sharing of ministerial slots and federal board appointments allocated to the party.

Obasanjo

Bankole

Akinlade

The disagreement further shredded Ogun PDP along three factions, with Obasanjo, Daniel and Kashamu seen as arrowheads.

At a time, the three groups produced Senator Dipo Odujinrin, Senator Tunde Osholake and Chief Adebayo Dayo as state chairmen respectively. Initially, the Odujinrin group enjoyed the recognition of the PDP national leadership until the rift between President Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo changed the game and dramatically turned the table in favour of Dayo-led state executive.

With the backing of Kashamu, the Dayo-led executive concretised its hold on party structures with series of judicial victories, one of which led to the sacking of some PDP national officers and notable Obasanjo’s loyalists.

so that everybody will work together.

Once we are together under same umbrella, the process of selecting who will represent our face will become easy.

This we shall do by negotiation because politics revolves around who gets what, when, where and how.

“By doing this, we cannot have a better arrowhead than Otunba Gbenga Daniel because we put our best foot forward in him to run for governorship in 2003. Remember in 1999, I took on good friend, Chief Olusegun Osoba, but I didn’t win. In 2003, we brought Daniel who won and was able to rule for eight years. So, there is no better way to start as he is back in the PDP.” Another chieftain, Chief Sule Onabiyi, said the PDP national headquarters had taken the right step by readmitting former aggrieved members into the party.

A veteran politician, Chief (Mrs.) Iyabo Apampa, contended that people of the state were yearning for change, hence the unification of PDP and LP structures.

“We have decided to put our house in order as we all know that a house divided against itself shall fall. The people are now crying for a change. I am among those who left because of the crisis but now we are going back to our roots,” she said.

While reacting, former Minister of

Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Sarafa Isola said: “What we have seen in OGD is uncommon leadership. In spite of the limitless persecutions, he stood with his people and it is the result we are seeing today. He is now witnessing and harvesting the fruits of his labour.”

Senator Kola Bajomo, who represented Ogun West Senatorial District between 2007 and 2011 on the PDP platform, said the unity in the party was already sending jitters down the spine of the ruling party in the state.

Sack of PDP National Officers The crisis in Ogun PDP spiralled into the party’s national secretariat as a suit filed by Dayo and others resulted in the removal of some PDP national officers.

Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola lost his position as the party’s National Secretary; former Ekiti State Governor, Chief Segun Oni, was removed as the party’s National Vice Chairman (South West) while Chief Bode Mustapha lost his post as National Auditor. The three chieftains were considered as Obasanjo’s men.

Their attempt to reverse the court sacking, which was tactically supported by the Presidency, had since met brickwall.

Political observers believe the development was responsible for Obasanjo’s grouse against Kashamu.

Party chieftains hail reconciliation Several PDP chieftains in the state are quite upbeat and excited about the newfound reconciliation in the party.

They noted that Daniel’s return has positive implication on the party’s chances in 2015. According to them, the remarkable fence-mending between PDP and LP would definitely alter political equation in the state.

In his reaction, a former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Martins-Kuye, said PDP has returned to its winning ways with Daniel’s comeback. He, however, appealed to various groups within the party to sink their differences and work for the collective interest of the party.

Martins-Kuye said: “We are now returning to one united, inclusive PDP. Once we come together like this, we can offer an alternative, better leadership, better political alliance that will usher in development. The most fundamental step is to put our house in order.

“I have always stood for inclusiveness

For once, the PDP, which had been crisis-ridden in the last seven years, appeared set to bounce back

Hurdles ahead 2015 But all may not have been straightened out yet in Ogun PDP. Despite the unification and reconciliation, watchers of political events in the state believe the party still has some hurdles to cross. At present, four key camps are in the party. These include Daniel, Kashamu, Martins-Kuye and those tagged mainstream members who supported Obasanjo.

While many aspirants for governorship and other elective positions have shown interest in seeking the party’s tickets, it remains to be seen how the current executive, headed by Dayo, would handle the contending interests. Though Dayo has repeatedly assured that the party would provide a level playing field for all aspirants, the sharing formula for delegates and candidates’ nomination would probably reveal where actually the interest of the party leadership in the state lies.

Already, subtle moves by some chieftains to work for the dissolution of the party executive seem to be unsettling the party at the moment. Dayo and loyalists of Kashamu are fighting hard to retain the executive whose tenure legally expires in 2016. Whether they would succeed is still a matter of time.

The three other groups appear to be enjoying some backing in Abuja.

Sources within the party said the formidable support from certain hawks at the national level informed the speed and seamlessness with which the PDP leadership firmed up the unification in Ogun State chapter.

But as the different groups battle for positions and negotiate for space in the party, Daniel is poised to emerge again as the leader of the party. This development may ultimately move the Ogun PDP structure away from the grip of Kashamu who has been the financier and de facto leader since 2011. Between now and November 29 when the party is expected to pick its gubernatorial candidate through primaries, the Ogun PDP will witness intense horsetrading and intrigues that may make or break its chances at the general elections.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Media

Culture

CBAAC hosts colloquium on Africa, the Diaspora

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Arts

Tourism

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Lara Tiamiyu: I never thought of being a photographer

Government has spoilt domestic operations, says Amusan

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CULTURE

Expert urges National Troupe to develop performances in Nigerian languages

Sir Peter Badejo and young dancers of Footprint of Africa at the forum

Tony Okuyeme

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heatre scholar, Prof Sunday Enessi Ododo has called on the National Troupe of Nigeria (NTN) to develop performances in Nigerian languages and through them connect with indigenous artistes at the grassroots. He also urged the Troupe to bring experts in Theatre for Development and Conflict Transformation to articulate for NTN a realistic and result oriented blueprint of action.

Ododo, who was the keynote speaker in the maiden Stakeholders Forum organised by the National

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Troupe of Nigeria, held at the Banquet Hall of the National Theatre, penultimate Thursday, made this call in his keynote speech which was on the theme, ‘The Performative Expression in a Conflict Environment’. The erudite scholar, Head, Department of Theatre Arts, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, and President, Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA), noted that performative expression for conflict resolution is not the conventional type the artistes of NTN are used to.

“It has its modus operandi. Workshops must be organized to train the artists who are going to act as change agents. They must be motivated too and emboldened to key into their new role as change agents,” he said.

He commended the new Artistic Director of the National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr Akinsola Adejuwon for organising the Forum, noting that it is a welcome idea that must be sustained. He therefore suggested a biannual meeting for the forum to make relevant input to the

It has its modus operandi. Workshops must be organized to train the artists who are going to act as change agents. They must be motivated too and emboldened to key into their new role as change agents

programmes and activities of the National Troupe of Nigeria.

“The beauty of performative expression is its captivating intensity to hold spell bound an audience to a recreated world of imaginative reality that an audience can hardly dissociate itself from. In other words, when a performative expression is well constructed and presented it does have a hold on its audience and capable of influencing and transforming them too. It is on this count that the role the theatre can play as a change agent and as agent of mediation in conflict resolution can be understood. If a piece of drama in itself contains generated and resolved conflicts, the performing arts therefore can interrogate the reality of our environment; engage stakeholders to find workable solutions.

Indeed, beyond the conventional theatre practice, there are theatre models that have emerged and successfully tested for conflict resolution and transformation.”

Continuing, he said: “Going through the highlight of activities of your troupe between January 2013 and September 2014, it occurs to me that the troupe when not on international circuit is more in Lagos and Abuja, especially the Presidential Villa. This to me does not sufficiently represent national tours. Besides, these outings are also mainly dance performances to entertain some dignitaries and not the generality of Nigerian people.

I doubt also if these dance performances are packaged to tell the occupiers of the presidential villa some home truth about the Nigerian reality of unemployment, lack of portable water, irregular electricity supply, hunger and poverty, high cost of living and the agony of frustrated living in country that is purportedly the largest economy in Africa and No 25th in the world. Until the NTN begin to package productions that genuinely interrogate our socio-political system, leadership and followership, national ques-

tions and integration, denied freedom and injustice in this country, and presented to the generality of Nigerians, NTN would be failing in her mandate to “ensure that productions of the Troupe are geared towards national aspirations”. It is only with good knowledge of our present reality that we can aspire to be something greater.

“The NTN most certainly has her challenges and constraints and has proven her mettle within them, but there is a lot of work to be done. And we have been assured by Mr Adejuwon that there is the required specialist human capital on ground to stimulate the desired actions. It also appears to me that the new Artistic Director shares my anxiety and that is why he is thinking out of the box; to embark on this performative expression in conflict environment to resolve crises; to raise his own funds and not depend solely on inadequate government fund; to register NTN presence in the three major regions of Nigeria; to tour the 36 states of the federation with productions; to take the annual creative workshop of NTN to the three regions of the country in order to expand its scope of participation. I must say this is a tall order but attainable. If you are able to accomplish these lofty agenda, the NTN would have lived her name as a troupe. Mobility is the defining character of any perfor ming troupe, until your national touring circuit covers the 36 states of the federation with instructive perfor mances, NTN may not pass for more than a Resident Theatre Group.”

To achieve this laudable vision envisioned by the Artistic Director, Prof. Ododo called on the National Troupe and the Artistic Director with his management team, to ensure that NTN Perfor mative expression for conflict resolution and transformation addresses the structural injustice and structural oppression that underlie people’s misery and CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Arts

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

CBAAC hosts colloquium on Africa, the Diaspora Tony Okuyeme

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frica’s cultural diversity remains a treasure largely unexplored in her continued quest for development. African culture encapsulates the totality of the learned and shared ways by which Africans have survived through the ages. It encompasses the tangible and intangible as it also incorporates the subtotal of the material and immaterial tools, art works and works of art and knowledge accumulated by the people.

Africa’s cultural heritage is enviably rich.

Hence, its relevance to Africa’s political, social and economic growth and sustainable development. Though Africa has tried so many models in her effort to drive development, it is clear that her cultures have not been sufficiently incorporated into such efforts. Since culture is a way of life, there is an urgent need to reconcile its substance with the ongoing search for effective tool for arresting the tide of poverty, unemployment and misery ravaging the continent and its diaspora. A culture compass is also desirable to entrench progressive human development, enhance creativity and increase productivity

for the common good.”

Given this background, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC), in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt Nigeria is hosting an International Conference on the theme: “Culture and the Transformation of Africa and the Diaspora”.

According to a statement signed by the Director-General of CBAAC, Sir Ferdinand Anikwe, who is the host/convener of the event, the Cultural Festival/ Colloquium is scheduled for November 26 – 28, November, 2014, at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The conference is expected to bring together Pan-Africanists, historians, academics, activists and other experts within Africa and the Diaspora.

The event will attract performances and presentations on issues and subjects of importance to Africa and the African Diaspora with focus the instrumentality of culture in the transformation of Africa and the Diaspora. It promises to have participants from global Afrocentric organizations, the diplomatic community, Universities, students and individuals of African descent in Africa, Europe, Caribbean, Asia, America, and the Americas. The

Festival would among other things feature: a colloquium, cultural parade, open theatre events: drama, dances and masquerade display; exhibition.

The keynote address would be delivered by the Chairman Africa Research and Development Agency, Kano, Nigeria, Professor Sule Bello. The event would be declared opened by His Excellency, Governor Seriake Dickson, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Objectives of the conference include: to provide opportunity to interrogate and question the concepts of culture as it relates to the experiences of Nigerians, African peoples and institutions; to offer a platform for scholars from various disciplines and different climes to interact, analyze and exchange ideas on the centrality of culture to Africa and the African Diaspora socio-economic transformation; to explore ways of restoring Africa’s traditional values by rebuilding families and communities in order to enhance our potentials for self-reliance; and to strengthen historical and cultural ties between Africa and the Diaspora.

It expected that through the conference, a platform would have been provided for harnessing the gains of cultural pluralism

CBAAC DG, Ferdinand Anikwe (left) and other guests at the first Meeting of Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports, held 27th October to 1st November, 2014, in African Union Building, Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia

Though Africa has tried so many models in her effort to drive development, it is clear that her cultures have not been sufficiently incorporated into such efforts

for sustainable development in Africa; avenue would have been provided for enhanced international exchanges on the centrality of culture to Africa and the African Diaspora socioeconomic transformation; lessons would have been learnt on ways of using Africa’s traditional values to enhance African culture potentials for self-reliance; and opportunities would have been created to further strengthen cultural ties between Africa and the diaspora.

Sub themes are: T h e o re t i c a l and Epistemological Issues; Using Culture

to Fastrack African Development; Popular Culture and Development; Culture and Management; Cultural and Heritage Management; The Nollywood Industry in the Promotion of National Development; Indigenous Knowledge Systems and National Development; and The Youth, African Culture and Development.

The organisers are calling for papers , stressing that all abstracts should include title, the author(s) name, institutional affiliation, address, telephone number and email address, and must not be more than 300 words.

National Troupe to develop performances in Nigerian languages CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 21

powerlessness in Nigeria.

“For effective result, constitute inter-professional facilitator teams consisting of artists and peace activists or conflict managers. Mixed teams of artists and peace activists offer a lot of potential for generating practices which emphasise reflective, relational and practical knowledge by employing artistic means in their contribution to conflict transformation/ resolution. Conflict transformation provides a set of modes of conduct, tools and experience based knowledge on how to intervene in a conflict system to calm tensions and create trust and safety. For such inter-professional collaboration it might be meaningful to conceptualise conflict transformation not simply as particular skills and techniques, but more as an ‘art of relationship-building’, which can be inserted into the artistic group process and production.

Theatre for conflict resolution and transformation is a very attractive project to many international agencies committed to peacebuilding. Once your inten-

tions are genuine and your programme of action with its derivable benefits are well articulated, it would not be difficult to find sponsors. The TfD experts and peace activists will be able to advise you better on this.

“NTN should return to mobile open auditions for the recruitment of artists in order to boost confidence in your recruitment process. Besides, NTN should maintain linkages with all theatre arts departments in Nigeria; engage staff students in training workshops, internship and also put in place a reward system for deserving student participant annually. Ditto too for practitioners. NTN should begin to develop performances in Nigerian languages and through them connect with grassroots indigenous artistes.

“It is important that NTN in all her activities keeps faith with the Nigerian people and should be careful not to become a propagandist agency for government. Wherever the government is doing well, tell us; wherever they are failing, tell them; if they refuse to listen and change, tell us. NTN should

My mission at the National Troupe is to reinvigorate and reposition the National Troupe for effective and efficient performing arts service delivery

also be run as a laboratory of artistic experimentation that should yield something new for the Nigerian theatre and indeed the world theatre,” Ododo said.

The Forum had scores dignitaries from the arts and culture sector, including culture administrators, royal father, theatre practitioners, filmmakers, artists, among others.

In his welcome address, Adejuwon said his mission at the National Troupe is to reinvigorate and reposition the Troupe for effective and efficient performing arts service delivery. “We shall intensify efforts aimed at popularizing the rich cultural heritage of this great country through performances that are of high artistic standard. We are poised, even though we are often being stretched to the limits due to limited resources, to execute productions as at when due.

We are also to be theatrically responsive to pressing national and international issues and to provide a vibrant forum for citizens to brainstorm and regenerate topical issues on the performing arts. National Troupe of Nigeria will also sustain the

hosting of the Annual Public Lecture and Play Reading Series which has helped to bridge the gap between theatre practice and dialectics.

“Our mission is also to revive and reinvent the Artiste in Residence Programme as a way of reaching out to accomplished artistes who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the arts. Similarly, we shall continue with the well-established Secondment Programme of the core artiste body of the Troupe. However, we shall allow for even more talents (freelance artistes) to come in on a short term basis so that they can benefit from these continuous collaborative exercise, which has proven to impart greater skills, techniques and knowledge to artistes in the different areas of the theatre as a result of the high caliber of professionals and experts in the troupe. We shall commission productions in the different areas of the theatre,” he said.

The highpoint of the Forum was the command performance of Ajoyo, a dance drama by the core artistes of the National Troupe.

Arts

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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hen Lara Tiamiyu got admission to read English in the university, her plan was to get a white collar job afterwards, and earn her salary peacefully. Then, the band wagon effect of getting white collar jobs was so strong that she did not factor in her innate creative and enterprising tendencies.

“I started making money when I was in secondary school. People wait for me to come back from school in order to plait their hair. Then it was N100 per person and the queue was long sometimes.

Hair dressing is a skill I developed on my own, no one taught me, but I longed to work in a bank or one of these corporate organizations” Tiamiyu reminisced with an air of nostalgia.

While in the university, her main objective was to come out with a good grade and get a job. However, along the line, she got fascinated with the camera lens of a colleague who was using photography to support himself in school.

Her love for the lens resonated when she completed her studies and was less eager to get her dream job. She saw herself saving instead and bought a camera.

“I have been practicing professionally for like four years and it all started with the inner urge to make people look beautiful by making them up. I have flair for hair and makeup. If I were not a photographer, I would have been a make-up artiste. That is why I decided to incorporate the two and you need to see our before and after make-up picture,” Tiamiyu enthused.

Now the CEO of La’ Royal Studios, her experience with the British Council helped to boost her morale and she has participated in a number of exhibitions and worked for both celebrities and corporate individuals since then.

“I participated in their Ebony exhibition where I sold three of my works. Happy with my work, they enlisted me as one of their official photographers. So far, I have met different people and worked for different individuals and organizations including UBA, Total Nigeria and TUSH Magazines. I covered the Beauty Africa exhibition and worked for a good number of celebrities too.”

Talking about the profession, Tiamiyu said it is lucrative but most people rush into it for the money, not out of passion. “Those people don’t come for the love of the profession, but want to use it to pay their bills. Usually, they rush out. You must have a passion for it, before you begin to think and develop the business side of it.”

Professional photography as a career has been described by industry experts as an emerging career in Nigeria.

Endorsement by corporate organizations as well as the impact created by digital technology is leading to massive investment in the picture industry. However, like

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I never thought of being a photographer – Lara Tiamiyu Despite having an eye on the corporate world, Lara Tiamiyu’s fascination with the lens pulled her to photography where she has brought her immense creativity to bear. Now the Head Photographer and Make-up Artist at La’Royal Studios, she told EBERE AMEH that she is happy she made the switch most professions, it is also male dominated. The ladies who find themselves in male dominated industries always have stories to tell and beautiful, young and determined Tiamiyu is not an exception.

“Even though we now have quite a number of females in the industry, we still face a number of challenges.

The first challenge is that most female practitioners tend to present themselves as second fiddle and it is wrong. I respect men doing photography because they are always daring, but we are more creative than them. In the field I took complete form of a guy and with my creative ability, my works are always excellent, they ignite people’s interest.

People get bewildered seeing me working with the men but the fact is, I work with them, I don’t compete with them.

“Another major challenge we face is sexual harassment. Prospective clients try to take advantage of us so as to give us jobs. Why am I struggling as a photographer if I have to give out my body to get a job? It doesn’t make sense, I should as well dress up and go stand on the street.

“On the other hand, most women are actually not comfortable with a female photographer and they really need to change that mindset. There was a time when I was consulted by a client but the wife was not really secure seeing me handle her job. She mis-

Even though we now have quite a number of females in the industry, we still face a number of challenges

construed me as a threat, that probably, I would snatch her husband.

“On the whole, I believe that as a lady, you have to work extra hard and know your onions for people to prefer your work to that of your male counterpart and give you jobs. As a photographer I have learnt to cope with forms of discrimination, and I have received accolades from clients who see my works as very brilliant,” Tiamiyu explained.

On her style of photography, Tiamiyu said her style is unique. “I am a lifestyle photographer, I love fashion portrait photography and I do street photography too. People always wonder what the person is thinking about when they see my picture. I relate with people and snap them when they are lost-intaught. I am happy when clients see themselves and usually, are surprised. As a photographer you need to think fast and be creative in identifying selling expressions. Of course almost every photographer cover weddings, and so do I.” Advising upcoming photographers, Tiamiyu who ran into debts at the beginning of her career said she clung on because of her passion for the profession, said they must love the profession to make a headway in it.

“Passion is not primarily concerned with financial gains. Whatever you choose to do must be something that brings you joy and fulfillment. I have seen people rush into a profession and had to quit after several attempts because they do not get the financial benefits. What they lack is the passion. It is important to note that, there is a harvest and sowing period.”

She advised parents to look out for what their children really like doing and help them to nurture their passion rather than being an impediment to their success.

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Tourism

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Government has spoilt domestic operations, says Amusan On the implication of foreign airlines operating outside Lagos for local operation Government has spoilt domestic operations by giving approval to foreign airlines to fly to Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Enugu and the rest. They should have allowed them to fly to Lagos only and then domestic airlines would take over the other routes. Many of them would have even combined their operations with the serious local airlines and have ticket connections with them.

Olusoji Amusan, former Sales Manager for West Africa, Lufthansa Airline, General Manager, EAS Cargo Airline, President, National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA) and now Founder and Director, Alpha First Travel and Tourism Academy, talks on issues affecting the travel industry, and points the way forward for the aviation sector, writes ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA.

Transforming the airports’ terminals It is good to improve the airports, there is nothing bad in that; but have we taken enough care of security issues? Have we taken care of the control towers, because nobody sees them? It is good painting the facade but it should not end there; and if you are painting the facade for the purpose of showmanship, of course it will be a different issue.

How about the airport facilities - the runways, the fire system and even the excavation of people, when passengers come how do they go out, and how do they come in?

The emphasis has to be, when passengers arrive in Nigeria how long does it take them to get out? How long does it take them to get their luggage? Why are there delays? These are where you need to spend money.

What I am saying is that apart from the infrastructure, the training for the people Ethiopian airlines, one of the foreign airlines operating out of Lagos and other cities. Inset: Olusoji Amusan and Aviation Minister, Chidoka Osita is crucial. There is a lot to be done at the airports more than the facade. no sanctions, then you create room cially since he is not from the indus- then you can’t do this job, because for impunities. The Minister should try, he is not biased and he should in order to sanitise the domestic opHow the aviation sector can be sanitised look at it for the sake of prosperity. be open-minded and shine his eyes. erations you have to cut the foreign to make progress in the travel industry The Minister should probe, that People will know that it is not busi- airlines short.

What I see as the way forward is how can is how he is going to learn, because ness as usual when he does that.

He needs to talk to them, call them we sanitise this industry? We must try to some of the people who have led to Then let him look at domestic opera- to a meeting and let them know that re-orientate ourselves and let us look at this the failure of the former minister tion first. How can we have sanitised the routes they are flying is wrong country. Look at our policies, we don’t even will be coming to advise him now; operation? Of course, that will affect and that you are going to cut them. obey laws. There are a lot of impunities. but he will see their true colours international operation because all But in doing so you must also give From the minister’s angle, the way forward from his probe. So he should probe these people flying everywhere are them their rights and entitlements. now is the security aspect of the airports. because the purpose of probe is to not doing the right thing.

Then face National College of Then you now come back and look at the know where he is coming from and This is not how the aviation in- Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria aviation industry. The BASA agreements to know where he is going. dustry should be, but it is an oppor- and look at their programme and that we have what are they and what are we It is not to punish or crucify but tunity for him to play his own role re-direct it by putting standard in getting from them? How are we making use to know what has taken place. That and immortalise his name, and you place. So the Minister has to been of them? There should be proper enquiries is the education that he needs, espe- are going to step on toes. If you can’t a manager. because if people don’t learn, if there are

At Akwaaba, SA Tourism cements trade partnership in African

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OUTH Africa Tourism was one of the countries which exhibited at the just concluded Akwaaba – African Travel Market - a travel and tourism trade exhibition, held at the Expo Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. For the country, it was an opportunity to expose its tourism offerings to the world and sign partnership deals with a number of the operators at the three-day event.

According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of South African Tourism, Thulani Nzima, “Our participation at this year’s AKWAABA show served as the perfect platform for us to continue building and strengthening partnerships with the outbound sector of the regional African tourism industry, and with our partners in media and the travel trade who

give South Africa fantastic support in destination marketing and sales. It also gave us the opportunity to demonstrate the best of our leisure offering to the rest of the continent and to the broader global industry that recognises the potential of Africa’s future.”

South African Tourism used AKWAABA to meet with the trade, present to them the destination’s value proposition and, most significantly, cement deals which will see South Africa’s destination offering bolstered in the consumer space. Once of such deals was the official announcement of partnership with the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA). This is expected to boost tourist arrivals growth from Nigeria to South Africa by developing a range of packages to suit the Nigerian travellers.

From Left: Mrs. Akon Eyakenyi, Nigeria’s Minister for Lands, Housing & Urban Development presenting the Best Tourism Marketing Agency award to Hloni Pitso, SAT Regional Manager, West Africa with South Africa Consul General in Lagos, Ambassador Monaisa Mokgethi (middle) at the just concluded AKWAABA Africa Travel Market in Lagos.

... Scoops prestigious Africa Award T was indeed a rewarding into Africa.

IAfrica and celebratory one for South “Winning awards for marketTourism as the country ing excellence in tourism is alwon the Best Tourism Marketing Agency in Africa Award at the travel exhibition. Nzima commended the efforts of all who have played a role in ensuring SA Tourism’s successful marketing work

ways the result of collaborative effort and partnerships with others. We would like to thank the African travel trade and media for exceptional support, for championing South Africa in their work

and for taking the message of a warm, welcoming, beautiful destination to African tourists”.

The award was bestowed by the Pan African Award Committee made up of travel professionals and journalists from across the continent. Together they endorsed a renowned online voting poll that chose South African Tourism as the Best Marketing Agency in Africa, based on market penetration and effectiveness in the region.

“South African Tourism has made a significant investment into the continent, and in particular, West Africa. Opening an office in Lagos and having in-country agencies in six other markets, was in response to the immense potential we saw in growing tourist arrivals from the continent.

“I believe what has made our entry into this market a success, is our understanding of an African consumer that is savvy and intent in their choice. To develop travel packages and deliver exceptional experiences suited to their needs has made the dissemination of this message believable and therefore impactful,” concluded Nzima.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

The glitz & blitz of Gulder Ultimate Man Reveal Party 26

BBHS: A change of tide as three men got booted

Filmmakers scramble for 2015 AMVCAs

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Entertainment Eku Edewor, Ngwekazi host Channel O Africa Music Video Awards FULL LIST OF nominees

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Most Gifted Male Cassper Nyovest, Doc Shebeleza Davido, Aye Riky Rick Ft Okmalumkoolkat, Amantombazane K.o. Ft Kid X, Caracara Sarkodie, Illuminati Most Gifted Female Thembi Seete, Thuntsha Lerole Bucie Ft Heavy K, Easy To Love Lizha James Ft Uhuru, Quem Ti Mandou Tiwa Savage Ft Don Jazzy, Eminado Seyi Shay, Irawo Most Gifted Newcomer Dream Team Ft Tamarsha, Aka & Big Nuz, Tsekede

Eku

Ngwekazi

Stories by Sony Neme

to go to the app store on their phones, download the WeChat app, create your profile, then search for Channelotv and add the account. You can vote up to 100 times! Moure information on terms and conditions are on to www.channelo.tv.

For starters, Edewor, a graduate of English and Theatre from the University of Warwick, is also a New York Film Academy, trained actress.

And for the organisers, “The choice was natural, because with her background, Eku has established herself firmly in the African entertainment industry as a talent on the rise. Whether gracing the covers of magazines or interviewing stars on 53 Extra,” “I feel incredibly blessed that I have been given a great opportunity to display how much I love what I do and I look forward to having a great night celebrating our musicians on the largest music platform in Africa,” adds an elated Eku. For Ngwekazi, “I am honoured and privileged for this awesome opportunity to be hosting Africa’s longest standing music video awards show.”

Brief bio: Born Georgina Chloe Eku Edewor-Thorley in London to Nigerian and British parents, Eku’s first job in entertainment was as a production assistant to film producer, Damian Jones (The Iron Lady, Belle). It was during this time, that she struck up a close friendship with British actress, Naomie Harris (Skyfall, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) whose talent would inspire Eku to continue chasing her dream of acting.

In 2006, she was cast as a contestant on the hit reality show, Britain’s Next Top Model and has since gone on to build an impressive résumé including appearing

Cassper Nyovest, Doc Shebeleza Emmy Gee Ft Ab Crazy & Dj Dimplez, Rands And Nairas Diamond, Number One Patoranking, Girlie O (Remix) Most Gifted Duo, Group Or Featuring Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor, YTjukutja Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg, Pluto (I Remember) R2bees Ft Wizkid, Slow Down K.o. Ft Kid X, Caracara Kcee Ft Wizkid, Pull Over Most Gifted Dance Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor, YTjukutja Davido, Skelewu Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg, Pluto (I Remember) P Square, Personally Busiswa Ft Various, Ngoku CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Sax Appeal 4: Mike Aremu, Jessy J to jazz up Abuja

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ll is set for 2014 edition of Channel O Africa Music Video Awards, CHOAMA 2014, as Nigeria’s Eku Edewor has been shortlisted as host of the event billed for South Africa on Saturday, November 29.

New Telegraph also gathered that the event, touted as one of the best music awards in the continent, is scheduled to be broadcast live from Nasrec Expo Centre in Soweto, Johannesburg venue, and that voting closes on the November 23 midnight.

The categories under considerations are The Most Gifted Artistes (male and female) parading Nigeria’s prides, Davido, Tiwa Savage and Sheyi Shay. Others are Most Gifted New Comers, Most Gofted Duo, Group or Featuring, and Most Gifted Dance among others. In all, Nigerians are well represented with some of our bests musicians on parade.

Eku, the screen beauty, model and presenter will be hosting alongside the ever versatile, seasoned TV presenter and director, Siyabonga “Scoop” Ngwekazi.

According to organisers, CHOAMA is the only public voted annual music video awards show broadcast around the continent that exclusively feature African artists. They also explained that the modality for viewers is that: “Voting takes place across a wide range of digital platforms: via the website and mobile site - voting on the website and on the mobile site [www.channelo.tv] is free.

Viwers are also allowed to vote up to 100 times on both platforms respectively; via WeChat, while voting on WeChat is free.”

They also hinted that, to vote using WeChat on your mobile, voters will have

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

ome Sunday , November 23 all roads will lead to the fourth edition of SAX APPEAL taking place at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, And event organisers has revealed that top-rated jazz artistes such as Mike Aremu, American female smooth Jazz Latino saxophonist Jessy J with Kunle Ayo, will be joined by Yinka Davis and Timi Dakolo for a night to remember.

In a chance meeting the CEO, Inspiro Productions, Mr Ayo Sadare, he informed New Telegraph that the choice of Jessy J as a co-headliner was deliberate as the American has consistently made it on top bill boards.

His words: “The show, which is Aremu’s brainchild is a Jazz concert aimed at reaching the hearts of music lovers around the world by providing quality live performances from highly talented artistes within Nigeria and from different parts of the world.”

Sadare also said, “This year’s co-headliner Jessy J has had a gangbuster career already, scoring back-to-back hits, #1 Song of the Year and a #1 Billboard Album in 2011. Five years after making her debut, she released her highly anticipated selfproduced album titled Second Chances in 2013 and reached a major milestone as she took over the reins as the producer of the new album.”

Jessy J

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Entertainment

Stories by Sony Neme

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he show had kicked off with a dance dramatization of the GUS 11 presentation by The Glorious Dawn, a drama troupe. It dovetails into a cloak wearing emissary that turned out to be Okey Bakassi, the event’s eventual compere. He comically introduced each contestant, beginning with the first two to be evicted: Blessing Eriata and Loretta Erijakpor.

One is a mother of three while the other will stop at nothing to prove she’s not a child. each were rewarded handsomely with various sums of money, and a gold necklace each that gives them the bragging rights.

The audience were entertained with a video that chronicled the GUS 11 experience; especially exciting moments, tasks and struggles, bouts of emotions and ultimately the discovery of the General’s Helmet by Chinedu Ubachukwu.

In his welcome address, Chief Obiano, an indigene of Aguleri, recalled his childhood days and the mythological tales they were told about the Aguleri jungle where Gulder Ultimate Search 11 held.

He said: “I want to confirm that the forest this exercise was carried out is a revered forest. When I was growing up, we were frightened to pass through that area.” Obiano seized the opportunity to invite Anambra citizens and friends of the state to a four day yuletide entertainment extravaganza that the state is putting together, under a convivial atmosphere as the state is now free of kidnapping and other crime that hith-

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

The glitz & blitz of Gulder Ultimate Man Reveal Party l Samantha is last woman standing lCanon, five times contestant, is viewers’ choice

Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Buffalo Souljah, Turn Up Orezi, Rihanna Jesse Jaggz Feat Wizkid, Bad Girl Patoranking, Girlie O (Remix) Shatta Wale, Everydoby Likes My Ting Most Gifted Afro Pop Davido, Aye Mafikizolo Ft May D, Happiness Diamond, Number One Flavour, Ada Ada Iyanya, Jombolo Most Gifted Kwaito Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor, YTjukutja Character Ft Mono T & Oskido, Inxeba Lendoda Big Nuz Ft Khaya Mthethwa, Incwadi Yothando Dj Vetkuk Vs Mahoota, Khaba Lenja Dj Cndo, Yamnandi Into

Drenth, Chinedu and Obiano lBlessing Eriata & Loretta Erijakpo N1,025,000) lIkenna Iwuoha & Sandra Nwagbagbiro N1,125,000), lJoshua Nwagboso N1,200,000) lIkenna Emedike N1,250,000) lSharon Robinson N 1,300,000) lNuella Iro N 1,350,000) lEvi Addoh N 1,400,000) , lSamantha Api N Last woman standing ) 1,450,000 with 2014 Ford Ecosport) lOtto Canon( Viewers choice) 1,500,000 with 2014 ford focus . lAfolabi Emmanuel & Cosy Joe (2,750,000) lChinedu Nbachukwu (winner) 10m with 2014 Ford SUV, was also crowned by GUS 10 winner, Dennis Okeke

erto made the state a no-go area for entertainment. .

In his remarks, Drenth, extended his gratitude to the state governor for his warm embrace and support for the programme.

His words: “His Excellency and the good people of

Obesere’s rape scandal hits movie location in Stop Sebe Edwin Usoboh

F

uji music star, Abass Akande Obesere has moved into movie location with his rape scandal story. The amiable selfacclaimed Paramount King of Fuji, Obesere is presently in Ikorodu, Lagos environs with a galaxy of movie stars as he commences the shoot of the rape scandal story into movie.

In a chat with the media at one of the locations at Sabo, Ikorodu, Obesere said he decided to turn the rape scandal story into movie because he had promised his fans and admirers that they would get to see the whole truth of the rape scandal in the movie.

FULL LIST OF nominees

Hear him: “I’ve promised my fans that the rape scandal issue will be shot into movie for people to see and know the truth of the whole matter”.

The movie with a working title of “Stop Sebe” is produced by a veteran filmmaker, Adio Majester and directed by Abbey Lanre will be starring Akin Olaiya, Olaiya Igwe and Adio Majester.

Most Gifted R&B

Anambra State ensured that GUS 11, turned out to be the best reality show that the Nigerian people have ever seen.”

After all the speeches came the moment of truth as each contestants were called out for honour.

They came in this order: Blessing Eriata and Loretta Erijakpor :One is a mother of three while the other will stop at nothing to prove she’s not a child.

They came into the jungle as individuals but their fates were tied long before they made it to the jungle.

Some people call one the Jungle Mama and we like to call the other the Baby of the Jungle!

Ikenna Iwuoha is also known as the Man of the People and, Sandra Nwagbaghiro was born to make the world an interesting place. They came… they saw … but they conquered themselves. One would

like to be remembered as the Builder and the other the Hairy Girl and we will never forget them.

The fifth evicted contestant, Joshua Nwagboso, is described as a man with a mind of his own.

He is also called Jungle Professor, but he wants to be remembered as the Multitalented Warrior yet he can’t shoot an arrow!

Doctor Ikenna Emedike wants to be remembered as the Emissary… he claims he’s a king without a crown but we all know he needs more than his medical skills to survive in the jungle.

Sharon Robinson is a dancer by profession and ambitious by nature.

She is also known as The Happy One. She was Unpredictable until she returned with the General’s Axe. She climbed over the CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

Channel O Africa Music Video Awards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

on Big Brother Africa All Stars, hosting the 2013 Miss Nigeria competition, and the Elite Model Look Nigeria competitions (in 2010 and 2011), just as she also recently wrapped shooting the movie, When Love Comes Around.

On his part, Siyabonga, of Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, had gained interest in Arts at a tender age. He had cut his teeth in the industry when he presented the pop culture magazine show Street Journal. Since then, he alongside Nonhle Thema became the face of M-Net’s Vuzu when the youth channel launched in 2009 co-hosting the weekday celebrity news

magazine show, V Entertainment.

Mbombo, as he is fondly known, also has impeccable fashion sense, and it came as little surprise when in 2010 he was named GQ’s Best Dressed Man. 2011 proved to be a big year as he and his close friends and business partners – Lungile Radu, Thomas Gumede and Simphiwe Mhlongo launched their production company, Parental Advisory Productions, which is responsible for shows like Forever Young, Mo Love and Goal Diggerz Season 3.

A few months later Scoop launched his clothing label Pieces by Pap – a street wear brand that gathers inspiration from African themes with an international feel.

2Face Ft T Pain, Rainbow Jimmy Nevis Ft Kwesta, Balloon Gb Collective Ft Brian Temba & Reason, Chocolate Vanilla Donald, Crazy But Amazing Niyola, Toh Bad Most Gifted Hip Hop Cassper Nyovest, Doc Shebeleza Khuli Chana Ft Da L.e.s & Magesh, Hape Le Hape 2.1 Phyno, Alobam K.o. Ft Kid X, Caracara Aka, Congratulate Most Gifted Southern Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg, Pluto (I Remember) Cassper Nyovest, Doc Shebeleza Aka, Congratulate Zeus, Psych K.o. Ft Kid X, Caracara Most Gifted West R2bees Ft Wizkid, Slow Down Davido, Aye Burna Boy Ft D’banj, Won Da Mo Olamide, Turn Up Dr Sid Ft Don Jazzy, Surulere Most Gifted East Sauti Sol, Nshike Diamond, Number One Navio, No Holding Back Eddy Kenzo, Sitya Loss Elani, Kookoo Most Gifted Video Of The Year Emmy Gee Ft Ab Crazy & Dj Dimplez, Rands And Nairas Davido, Aye K.o. Ft Kid X, Caracara Burna Boy, Run My Race Tiwa Savage Ft Don Jazzy, Eminado Dr Sid Ft Don Jazzy, Surulere Riky Rick Ft Okmalumkoolkat, Amantombazane Cassper Nyovest, Doc Shebeleza Sarkodie, Illuminati Dj Clock Ft Beatenberg, Pluto (I Remember) Aka, Congratulate Diamond, Number One

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide) NOV. 6 — NOV. 14 Highlights

SMS Voting

BBHS: A change of tide as three men got booted

To vote via SMS: Text the keyword ‘Vote’, followed by the name of the housemate to the short code number for your country. For example SMS “Vote Uti” to 22626.

SMS’s are charged as applicable per specific network tariff. VAS rates apply. Free minutes do not apply. Please note that you can vote 100 times by SMS per mobile number during each voting period.

The SMS numbers for each country are:

Stories by Sony Neme

T

he fear of gender cleansing was last Sunday allayed as three male housemates of the on-going Big Brother Hotshots were sent parking from the reality television show. On the exit seat were Rwanda’s Arthur, Ghana’s Kacey Moore and Namibia’s Luis. T hey were evicted in an allmale BBHS hat-trick, which is a reversal of the consistent all-female eviction since the drama commenced. Their departure on Sunday has, therefore, left 16 housemates in contention for the USD300 000 prize.

Interestingly, the fourth eviction of the season was also the first that had not featured any of the ladies, with sole female nominee Sheillah surviving this week IK had revealed the results of the Extravaganza Task, and his announcement sent Team A – Downtown Beats – into raptures as they celebrated immunity from nomination this week.

According to information from organisers, MulitChoice Africa, “Their survival in the city drew the most viewer votes with Butterphly, JJ, Id-

ris, Luis, Tayo, Sipe. Sheillah and Mr. 265 and KC Moore dumbfounded.”

With the results in – and verified by auditors SizweNtsalubaGobodo – IK took viewers into the house and asked Head of House JJ to reveal his ‘add’ decision. The Zimbabwean was forthright, telling the continent that he had added Frankie to the nomination list.

“I feel like Frankie has a little less respect for me as a man. I have had a few questions about that maybe it was because of my age. We sorted that out about a day ago, so no hard feelings,” he said.

With that reveal out of the way, it was time to send somebody home. After sending the housemates to safety, one by one, IK revealed that Arthur had been evicted. Out on stage, the upbeat Rwandan told IK that hehad initially held back on showcasing skills other than his comedic talents, but that over the course of the last month, he felt that Africa had gotten to see his full array of artistic skills.

IK then revealed to viewers that Big Brother had instructed him to head back into the house and send two more housemates home. Back inside, IK revealed that Kacey Moore and Luis had been

evicted.

Home sick Kacey Moore said, “Tonight I am having an early Christmas because I am seeing my daughter and my wife, I am the happiest man in the world!”

His fellow evictee Luis was far more upbeat, and laughed when IK showed him a clip of the Namibian singing about Mira. Luis told him. “From that point on, it was all about her, I don’t take anything back”. He told IK that Idris or Tayo would take the money Nigerian dancehall and reggae superstar Patoranking performed twice during the show, first wowing the audience with ‘Alubarika’ and then returning later with his smash hit ‘Girlie O’ Nominations again took place immediately after the eviction show, but the housemates will only discover their fate during Monday’s nomination show (20:00 CAT on AfricaMagic Showcase & Maisha Magic and 21:30 CAT on AfricaMagic Family, AfricaMagic World on GOtv).

Stay in touch with Big Brother Hotshots on social media - follow @bigbroafrica on Twitter, @bigbro_africa on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/bigbrotherafrica.

Nigeria Operator

Tariff

Short Code

MTN

N 75

34350

Globacom

N 75

34350

Starcomms

N 75

34350

Etisalat

N 75

34350

WeChat Voting Voting on WeChat is free. To vote via WeChat on your mobile phone, go to your app store and download the WeChat app. Create your profile, then search for BigBrotherAfrica and add the account. You can then start voting on WeChat, up to 100 times per mobile phone number during a valid voting period.

Website and mobile site voting Voting on the website and on the mobile site is free and you are allowed to vote 100 times per cellphone number on the website and again 100 times per cellphone number on the mobile site during a valid voting period.

Visit www.bigbrotherafrica.com for more information and for the terms and conditions.

GOtv

A scene from Broken Angel

Telemundo Where is Elisa Friday, 7 November, Javier gets nervous when Gisela questions him about his relationship with the Altamiras. Gisela tries to convince Mariano to rethink the towers plan.

Broken Angel Thursday, 13 November, Humberto threatens to kill Vicente for lying to him about Willy’s death.

After overhearing him, Father Milton advises Vicente to call the police.

Ik, an evicted BBHS and Pathoranking

A Place In The Stars premieres today

T

he much-expected feature film, ‘A Place in the Stars’ premieres today, Friday, November 7, at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The flick produced by Native Filmworks Limited features some of the best actors in Nigeria and and some from the Diaspora. They include awards winning actor, Segun Arinze, Gideon Echeand Okeke. Others are respected practitioners like Dejumo Lewis, Yemi Blaq, Femi Branch, Matilda Obaseki, Ju-

lian Mcdowell, Armajit Deu and Amaka.

Directed by the internationally renowned film maker, Steve Gukas, ‘A Place in the Stars’ is a riveting story of illicit drug trafficking, violence, turf wars and conscientious dilemmas. A Place in the Stars is an account of one man’s choice between conscience and the pull to get rich or die trying.

Set in 2006 Nigeria, A Place In The Stars tells the story of Kim Dakim (Gideon Okeke), a young lawyer with a case and a client that leaves him professionally

conflicted. Kim is in possession of information that could save lives, if he would only pass it on.

Faced with the deathly consequences of crossing ‘industry’ kingpins, including the toughest of them all, Diokpa Okonwo (Segun Arinze); and with millions to earn if he would only turn a blind eye, Kim battles conscience and professional responsibility as he determines which way to turn.

For the promoters the pacesetting movie premiere is set to replicate the blockbuster movie in style and tone.

Channel ED Art Today Art today brings you the latest in fashion, fine and contemporary art and music that will inspire you. Tune in on the 07 November at 7:40pm Sony Entertainmnent I am Legend After a biological war, Robert Neville is the last healthy human living on Earth, but he is not alone.

The other humans have become vampire-like mutants, and all are hungry for Neville’s blood. By day, he is the hunter, stalking the sleeping undead through the abandoned ruins of civilization.

By night, he barricades

himself in his home and prays for the dawn...Starring Will Smith, Willow Smith and Alice Braga. I Am Legend airs on the 08 November at 7pm Crossing Lines Crossing Lines is a unique action-packed global crime drama. The series taps into the charter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate cross-border crimes and ultimately bring global criminals to justice.

Season two features several high-profile guest stars, among them The Matrix and Vegas actress Carrie-Anne Moss and Irish actor Ray Stevenson (Thor, Dexter).

Sony Max Rude Tube Rude Tube presents the Top 50 of the world’s most popular, brilliant, inspired, funny and bizarre internet clips. From rare gems to mega-million-hit blockbusters, this countdown reveals the ever changing face of the YouTube revolution: a world in which you can now watch almost anybody, doing anything, whenever and wherever you want. Catch season 6, 07 November at pm

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Entertainment

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Filmmakers scramble for 2015 AMVCAs

Stories by Sony neme

F

ilmmakers are in a rush to present their best as AfricaMagic, in association with MultiChoice and proud sponsors Amstel Malta, announced the call to entry for the 2015 edition of the AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCAs). Entry for the AMVCAs is free and the closing date for submissions is the 31 October, 2014.

The prestigious initiative honours film and TV talent across the continent. A special announcement was screened on all AfricaMagic channels on Wednesday, September 3 at 20:00 CAT, when entry for the awards was officially opened.

The organisers explained that, AMVCAs was created to celebrate the contribution of African filmmakers, actors and technicians in the success of the continent’s film and television industry and with the success of the 2013 and 2014 editions, preparations are in top gear for the 2015 edition.

Regional Director for M-Net (West), Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said in a press release made available to New Telegraph, that: “The African movie and television industry is brimming with exciting talent, and at AfricaMagic we contribute to the industry by not only giving these talents the platform to showcase their art and celebrating their achievements, we also encourage them to keep honing their craft.”

She stated that, “This year,

Wangi

a number of awards in different categories will be presented ranging from acting and directing to scriptwriting and cinematography. Other categories will include: editing, make-up, sound, and lighting amongst others.”

Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, John Ugbe, expressed his delight at the growing success of the AMVCAs. In his words: “There have been two editions of the AMVCAs and so far, the improvement that this award has brought to African film production cannot be ignored. For us at MultiChoice, the success of these awards further showcases our commitment to recognising the amazing skills that exist in this ever-growing industry.”

He further said that, “Our continued investment demonstrates our dedication in helping unearth and celebrate talent in the whole continent. I have much confidence that the next edition in 2015 will leave an even bigger impact on the African film production industry than the previous two.”

Brand Manager, Amstel Malta, Miss Hannatu AgeniYusuf could not hide her excitement as she said: “As the number one premium Malt brand in Nigeria, Amstel Malta is again pleased to be part of this year’s AMCAs. It is truly a unique platform which aligns perfectly with the brand’s essence, encouraging and also rewarding young ambitious Africans. Last year on this platform, Amstel Malta launched its new campaign, tagged ‘the journey’.

This year, the brand is set to allow consumers to witness the joys of being focused on their goals and even beating their best, while on their journey to success.”

The first edition of the AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards ceremony took place in Lagos in March, 2013, and was broadcast live to DStv and GOtv audiences across the continent. The event drew big names from across the continent’s TV and film industry and saw the Best Actor and Best Actress in a Drama awards going to Nigerian OC Ukeje and Ghanaian Jackie Appiah, in the respective categories.

Heritage Bank partners US film market on African Film

N

ollywood and Hollywood are in for a fresh romance as Heritage Bank announces plan to participate at the 2014 edition of the celebrated American Film Market (AFM) and Conferences. The event is holding between November 5 and 12 in Santa Monica, United States of America. The Nigerian bank is participating as one of the key international corporates to drive new vision for Africa’s fast developing film industry.

According to Group Head, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Fela Ibidapo, “Heritage Bank will be joining some of the world’s renowned corporate organizations who value wealth creation and preservation to promote intellectual discourse on innovative ways to improve and preserve the growing African Film industry at an exclusive Roundtable Workshop tagged: African Productions: The Possibilities and the Challenges.

He noted that needed investment flow into Africa over the years has eluded the Film and TV industry, adding that Investor Knowledge Gaps and Risk Perceptions are largely responsible for this. The AFM “Focus on Africa Initiative”, he

observed, would bridge these gaps and drive investments into African Film and TV. “The Roundtable is part of a series of premium event lined up for this year’s edition of the American Film Market (AFM) and Conferences. It is going to bring together stakeholders in films produced in Africa with cross-cultural appeal, thereby initiating business opportunities that can impact the untapped potential of the African film industry. The talk-shop will witness robust exchange of ideas and technical-know-how

on ways of fast-tracking the development and promotion of the African film industry through co-production”.

Ibidapo further stated that “Heritage Bank is therefore excited to be part of this unique frontier event. The Bank continues to look for platforms, partnerships and counterpart funding to investors seeking to take advantage of the Nigerian angle to Film and TV. Heritage Bank believes that the 2014 AFM marks the transformation of African content to truly global standards”.

Gulder Ultimate Man Reveal Party CO NT INU E D F RO M PAGE 2 6

egos of the male warriors one after the other like they were nothing but a single wall sent her tumbling down and out of the jungle.

Charming Noela Iroh was next to leave the jungle. Some know her as the Heartbreaker others call her the Maiden Of The Jungle but she wants to be remembered as the Pretty One. While in the jungle this model slash warrior was awarded the best graduating student in her department. Evi Addo eviction meant left Samantha Appi

standing alone in the midst of four men Samantha called the Underdog. She was the smallest, the most pragmatic of the contestants, and possibly the strongest woman in the history of the show.

She brought her knowledge of Niger Delta terrace to bear as the forest was more like a natural habitat, as she outwits contestants after contestants and conquered challenges and obstacles one after the other.

And it became clear that the Amazon came for the Ultimate Prize and nothing else.

LYRICS for the week

My

Darlin

— Tiwa Savage

my darlin my darlin my darlin my darlin o my darlin my darlin my darlin my darlin o my darlin my darlin oh oh yeah yeah na tiwa savage eh eh, mavin my darlin my darlin baby fresh on the beat, be killing them all my darling darling whatz up hmm hmm baby you too much e o….my darlin my darlin i love you…..my darlin my darlin i no know where i for dey eh….. my darlin yeah e my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin oh baby i love you uh uh uh….. my darlin, my darlin i go do anything for you…..my darlin, my darlin i no know where i for dey……my darlin yeah eh my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin o alaroka won gbadun….eyi yi yi yi yi yi won gbadun oloruka mi a gbadun….a gbadun alaroka won gbadun…..yeh, won gbadun oloruka mi a gbadun…..hmm wagbadun every morning baby love say he wants his sugar love so i give him doro love baby let me give you some more, baby love say he wants his sugar love so i give him doro love hmm hmm baby you too much e o….my darlin my darlin i love you…..my darlin my darlin i no know where i for dey eh….. my darlin yeah e my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin oh baby i love you uh uh uh….. my darlin, my darlin i go do anything for you…..my darlin, my darlin i no know where i for dey……my darlin yeah eh my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin o oh baby i love you uh uh uh…. my darlin, my darlin i go do anything for you……my darlin , my darlin i no know where i for dey yeah without my baby today eh eh eh my darlin my darlin o verse 2 : baby mi nisho, oya nisho nisho telemi kajo, kajo kajo i do anything for love, for love and baby this loving is forever ah

baby mi nisho, nisho telemi kajo, kajo kajo and boy i’ll always love you right even when the road is ro-ro ro-rough every morning baby love say he wants his sugar love so i give him doro love baby let me give you some more, baby love say he wants his sugar love so i give him doro love hmm hmm baby you too much e o….my darlin my darlin i love you…..my darlin my darlin i no know where i for dey eh….. my darlin yeah e my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin oh baby i love you uh uh uh….. my darlin, my darlin i go do anything for you…..my darlin, my darlin i no know where i for dey……my darlin yeah eh my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin o oh baby i love you uh uh uh…. my darlin, my darlin i go do anything for you……my darlin , my darlin i no know where i for dey yeah without my baby today eh eh eh my darlin my darlin o every morning baby love say he wants his sugar love so i give him doro love haba baby let me give you some more, baby love say he wants his sugar love so i give him doro love hmm hmm baby you too much e o….my darlin my darling i love you…..my darlin my darlin i no know where i for dey eh….. my darlin yeah e my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin oh baby i love you uh uh uh….. my darlin, my darlin i go do anything for you…..my darlin, my darlin i no know where i for dey……my darlin yeah eh my darlin without my baby today eh eh eh…..my darlin my darlin o oh baby i love you uh uh uh….my darlin, my darling i go do anything for you…don’t ask me why, don’t ask me why i no know where i for dey yeah without my baby today eh eh eh my darlin my darlin o ha ha ha eh eh eh i love you darlin, what’s up my darlin darlin what’s up oya make we catch up oya make body get up my darlin darlin what’s up oya make we catch up oya no dull oya

Lyrics, Compiled by Shola Adefuwa

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Pension

Agric

Brands & Marketing

Lagos Water Corporation retirees battle management over benefits

Mechanised farming: Private sector to the rescue?

Cement: Price war erupts as Dangote, BUA stir market

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Business What's news

Telcos not liable for poor services in Abuja, says NCC The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the lingering poor quality of services being experienced in Abuja is not the making of the telecoms firms.

Rather, the Commission puts the blame on the action of government, which has failed to grant further permits to the telecoms operators to build additional infrastructure in the past five years.

p.30

Digital TV: Nigeria faces N700bn capital flight LOCAL CONTENT Unless the switchover devices are manufactured locally, Nigeria will resort to importaton

ing by all countries around the world. Nigeria’s National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has also been making efforts to ensure that Nigeria meets the deadline set by

the global telecoms regulator, though some analysts say Nigeria is moving at a snail speed, which cast doubts on the country’s ability to meet the deadline.

“All other things being equal, by July 31 next year, all analogue TV transmission in Nigeria will cease. Essentially, CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Kunle Azeez

A

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

s Nigeria crawls towards achieving the 2015 deadline for global switch from analogue to digital television, the country is also at the verge of losing a whopping N700 billion as a result of the migration exercise, New Telegraph has gathered.

The losses will set in from the importation of set-top boxes or decoders from foreign countries, which will cost Nigerian viewing households an estimated N700 billion.

Last year, the Minister of Communications Technology, Dr Omobola Johnson, had hinted that government was mulling local production of the set-top boxes.

However, New Telegraph’s checks reveal that nothing seems to be on ground to show that government was serious about its proposed local manufacturing of the boxes.

Set-top boxes, similar to the decoders being used for pay-tv services, are devices that covert current analogue signal to digital signals and would be necessary to be able to access digital television contents by next year.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) had set June 17, 2015 date for switch off of analogue broadcasting to digital broadcast-

L-R: Alhaja Mulikat Ogunlola of Tukawon Ventures; Guest Speaker/Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprise, Bank of Industry (BoI), Mr Waheed Olagunju; Mr A. B. Toyin of Corporate Communication Department, BoI; Mr. Samuel Olaniyan of RMRD and Mr Kola Adewole of Strategy Planning Department, BoI, at the 2014 Raw Material Exhibition Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Lagos .

Consulting business in Nigeria grows by 35% to N16bn

• Overtakes South Africa Sunday Ojeme

T

he decision by most Nigerians and foreigners to venture into consulting in the country has started paying off as latest report by researchers revealed that the

wide-spreading business grew by 35 per cent in 2013.

The report also revealed that the amount spent on consulting in recent times rose to over N16 billion ($106.5 million) According to the report by leading global consulting market analysts, Source Infor-

mation Services (Source), consulting in Nigeria’s financial services and technology, media and telecoms sectors both grew by 35 per cent in 2013.

“With Nigeria’s GDP recently overtaking South Africa for the first time, West Africa saw an enormous growth (up 26 per CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE September 2014.....................8.3% August 2014............................8.5% July 2014.................................8.3%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................11.57% Prime Lending Rate...........16.93% Maximum Lending Rate...25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Oct 31)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N170.50 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N278 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N217

l Foreign Reserves – $38.76bn as at 29/10/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Oct 31)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.76 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N252.02 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199.32

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Business | News

DELAY

Authorities in the capital city have not granted approval for further telecoms infrastructure expansion Kunle Azeez

T

he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that the lingering poor quality of services being experienced in Abuja is not the making of the telecoms firms.

Rather, the Commission puts the blame on government, which has failed to grant further permits to the telecoms operators to build additional infrastructure in the past five years.

Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, stated this when the management of Daily Trust newspaper, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf, paid the commission a courtesy visit in Abuja.

Speaking on some of the problems facing telecoms firms in the provision of efficient services, Juwah, who was represented by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr

Telcos not liable for poor services in Abuja, says NCC Tony Ojobo, admitted that there are drop calls on mobile networks.

According to Juwah, the drop calls thus affect quality of service delivery, stressing that this has come about because operators, especially in Abuja, have had the misfortune of not expanding their infrastructure, especially Base Transreceiver Stations (BTS) in the last five or more years, because they have been denied permit by the Federal Capital Territory to do so. In addition to these, he said, is the high cost of acquiring land in Abuja.

“But the NCC has intervened on their behalf and in a question of months, the situation will improve significantly,” he assured, adding that without adequate site permit, it will be difficult to have robust services.

Meanwhile, Juwah has said that the Commission is open to everybody, who desires information “because we have nothing to hide.”

In a veiled reference to

Nigeria faces N700bn capital flight CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

all our existing TV stations such as Channels, NTA, state tv stations and several others will cease to broadcast signals that can be directly received on our television sets,” said Chief Technology Officer, Computer Warehouse Plc., Mr James Agada.

According to him, the world is transiting to digital TV broadcasting and July 31, 2015, has been set as Nigeria’s cut-over date.

“Every television signal will have to pass through a set top box or decoder before being received by a television set,” he explained.

Agada said that the most obvious impact is that Nigeria will have to spend an estimated N700 billion to purchase decoders if they plan to continue watching television.

“The big question is how will this come about? Can Nigerian families really afford this, should they spend that much and what can anyone do to ameliorate the expenditure. The elephant in the room question is will it all be worth it?” he asked rhetorically.

The expert, however, said that CWG and its partner, SES, are collaborating to provide

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

necessary satellite link to operators in the digital television era.

He said: “To answer the question on whether the migration will be worth it, let us look at the digital satellite TV service currently in the works from CWG and SES. SES is one of the leading communication satellite operators in the world. Its fleet of satellites includes the Astra 2G craft, whose footprint on the ku-band covers Nigeria and the rest of West Africa with high fidelity signals.

“SES also has considerable expertise in digital broadcast including operating the HD+ high definition service in Germany as well as being the partner of choice for a variety of other operators.

SES’ expertise extends beyond satellites to also include content management and integration into worldwide content distribution networks.

“CWG has been SES partner in data communications for the past 20 years. CWG operates both a teleport for the upload of signals to SES satellites as well as a Tier 3 Data Centre that provide hosting services for storage and management of content and signals.”

a minor story written in one of the national dailies, Juwah said: “We at NCC are very receptive to the press who report what we do. We always tell the truth because we

have nothing to hide.” He advised journalists to always seek the Commission’s inputs, especially if they have to publish contentious issues.”

Juwah noted that

misconceptions come from reporters, who do not crosscheck with the Commission, advising that such a situation does not augur well for the newspaper, those

who read it and those reported.

He said: “We are always available to work with the media, so please always seek our own side before you publish.

L-R: Mrs Sally Mbanefo (DG of NTDC), Valentine Ozigbo, MD/CEO, Transcorp Hotels Plc and Graham Cooke, founder of World Travel Awards (WTA), during the presentation of the WTA trophy to Transcorp Hilton Hotel at the Excel Centre in London.

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 9

cent to $123m) in consulting - even if from a small base.

Spend on consulting in Nigeria has risen to $106.5m,” the report said.

It also revealed that new banking regulations have put banks under pressure and led them to turn to consultants - to help navigate the new requirements. The expense of compliance has also put banks under cost pressure, so, efficiency programmes and operating model reforms have also driven work.

In technology, media and telecoms, Nigeria has overtaken South Africa in terms of mobile market size. Dealing with competition and the threat of consolidation while also increasing market share and maintaining profitability, is driving demand for consulting support.

The Source report also says that a critical piece of the African market that is frequently in flux is the amount of money coming in from the outside.

In 2014, foreign investment is on the upswing with levels expected to finally surpass the previous highs achieved before the financial crisis.

This money – so important to African development – will be coming from a number of sources, with aid agencies, big multinational corporations, institutional investors, and private equity interests all expected to be highly active

Consulting business in Nigeria hits to N16bn this year. This infusion can be expected to have a huge and positive influence on the consulting market.

The report maintained that West Africa’s wealth of natural resources, growing middle class, strong manufacturing base, and good levels of foreign investment all had a positive impact on levels of consulting.

The report also found that East Africa enjoyed a very good 2013, with the consulting market growing 18 per cent to $89million – and the market looks more likely to speed up than slow down. Source predicts growth of over 20 per cent for East and West Africa in 2014.

In contrast, the report found that South Africa – the undisputed heavyweight champion of the African consulting market – had a difficult year. Slowing GDP growth, a pre-election hiatus in the runup to May 2014, and instability triggered by a wave of strikes in the mining sector, have all taken their toll. Both domestic and foreign investment has suffered as a result, and this led to consulting in Southern Africa only growing by 2.5 per cent to $1.101million.

Head of Nigerian MC Practice from KPMG, Bisi Lamikanra, said, “Foreign direct investment was a driver of growth, mainly via private

equity companies investing in high growth sectors and businesses.”

A senior editor at Source, B.J. Richards, however, urged caution, adding, “The booming Nigerian market does come with its share of complications. Ebola is currently affecting parts of West Africa – Sierra Leone and Liberia, most significantly – which means that consultants are minimising travel around the region, reducing the opportunities available to them. Nigeria is also not an easy place to do business – getting paid can be a challenge, and next year’s elections could be a disabling influence. It is certainly a market that’s somewhat high risk, though currently it’s also high reward.

“For the foreseeable future, things are unquestionably bright for the big multinational consulting firms, and brands that have become wellestablished here are in a good position to move beyond their initial African hubs to establish a wider presence.

“With so much business to be had, local consultants also want in on the game, and competition from local firms seems to be on the rise. However, larger firms are benefitting from this increase in local capacity by partnering with these small firms to support delivery to their clients.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

CPS: PenCom reviews investment regulations p.32

31

Pension

Corporate governance: Kolade flays constant leadership changes p.32

Lagos Water Corporation retirees battle management over benefits DISTRESSED

The pensioners are embittered by their inability to discuss issues with the management of LWC

….as govt promises to resolve conflict

Sunday Ojeme

T

he long drawn battle between retired workers of the Lagos State Water Corporation and the management of the corporation over non-payment of several benefits has received the attention of the state government.

The retirees, who have been battling the management under the leadership of Shayo Holloway, an engineer, alleged in a petition to Governor Babatunde Fashola, that the management had schemed them out of all forms of benefits, which amounted to about N500 million as at 2013.

In a chat with New Telegraph, the Chairman, Association of Retirees, Lagos Water Corporation, Mr Leo Onayemi, said that the whole amount including bonds and other emoluments started accumulating since 2010.

He said: “There is this lump sum that has been there since 2010 and as at 2013, it amounted to over N500 million. I believe by now, it is getting close to about N1 billion. We have been doing everything to get the attention of the group managing director but it has not been successful.”

Onayemi, in the petition, also drew the governor’s attention to the allegation that the water corporation management had failed to maintain the life insurance policy in favour of the employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee as enshrined in Section 15 of the Lagos State Pension Reform Law. He said: “It is glaring that the GMD of Lagos Water Corporation has no regard for the Lagos State pension Reform Law. He has dismissed the law with impunity. He has refused to budget for all the staff of the corporation on a yearly basis as regards staff bonds, insurance, taxes, etc, which naturally would have been approved by the Lagos State Government under the able leadership of Babatunde Fashola, who has never defaulted in paying as

LWC facility

at when due, the retirees that are directly under state government.”

He also alleged that the GMD had resorted to reengaging some retired management staff of the corporation as a ploy to scuttle any form of collective agitation by the embittered members of the association.

“We all say capital No to this re-engagement, especially that of the management team. The GMD should allow the young ones to grow in the system and contribute their own quota to the development of the corporation,” he added.

On the way forward, Onayeni recommended that a dedicated or consolidated fund should be created and managed by a special committee to ensure funds for the corporation workers on a yearly basis. He also suggested that direct deduction from statutory allocation or subvention due to the corporation; using the corporation’s Group Account Revenue to offset all the backlogs of entitlements of the retirees in payments of their bonds, insurance and five per cent redemption fund to the relevant authority as at when due including paying the pension deductions of staff to the appropriate Pension Fund Administrator.

Responding to the petition, the governor, through the Commissioner for Budget and Plan-

Fashola

ning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, said he would look into it and other grievances of the retirees.

He stressed that the corporation’s problem was peculiar because it did not fall in the same circle with other organisations, which currently enjoy

The GMD should allow the young ones to grow in the system and contribute their own quota to the development of the corporation

full retirement benefits.

New Telegraph recalls that Lagos State has been well disposed towards the regular payments of benefits to all its retirees across board.

Recently, Fashola disclosed that the Contributory Pension Scheme had imposed a huge financial burden on the state’s finances.

He said before the pension reform by the Federal Government in 2004, the state’s pensioners faced the risk of a life of penury due to the unfunded nature of the Pay as you Go Pension Scheme in the public service and the lack of provision of pension arrangements for employees in the private sector.

He said, “The risk of the elderly not having financial independence and dying in poverty was real and to eradicate this risk, the Lagos State Government subscribed to the fully funded Contributory Pension Scheme.

“It imposed on us a huge liability as we needed to pay off 7.5 per cent of basic salary, housing and transport allowances as monthly pension contribution; fund the Retirement Bond Redemption Fund Account with five per cent of employees monthly total emolument figure to provide for accrued pension rights, being entitlements for years spent in service before the commencement of the contributory pension scheme monthly; pay the

annual premium to guarantee the life assurance cover as stipulated in the law and which is intended to provide a death benefit of at least three times the annual total emolument of each employee.”

He said the state was, however, committed to making Lagos State Government a government that cared for the welfare of the people, and was prepared to stand with them through difficulties occasioned when certain risks crystallised.

“We remain resolute in our desire to identify areas that may hinder the peace of mind of the populace and hence we have invested billions of naira towards ensuring that the retirees receive monthly income as pension from their pension provider who could be the Pension Fund Administrators or the life assurance companies who provide annuity for the lifetime of the retirees.

“As a government, we are responsible for the wellbeing and welfare of the people we serve. We have a responsibility to provide social security for both the young and the elderly; a responsibility to provide security of life and property and also a responsibility to ensure that the infrastructure put in place are properly maintained in a way and manner that the state can be described as having a ‘developed economy status,” Akabueze said.

32

Business | Pension

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

CPS: PenCom reviews investment regulations CIRCUMSPECT

The National Pension Commission has been very careful with its investment decisions to forestall the funds from running into crisis Sunday Ojeme

F

ollowing the successful implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme coupled with the fast growing pension assets said to be in the region of N4.5 trillion, the National Pension Commision (PenCom) has taken steps to widen the scope of investment in order to further grow the funds.

Disclosing this during a sensitisation programme in Lagos, the Director-General, PenCom, Mrs. Chinelo Ahonu-Amazu, said that the commission had commenced the process of reviewing its investment regulations with a view to facilitating the investment of Pension funds in bankable infrastructure in the country.

In the last two or three years, some financial and investment experts had called on the commission to broaden the scope of investment out-

side the one stipulated by the Act setting up the scheme. The regulator has, however, been meticulous in this regard so as to ensure the safety of the funds and also forestall it running into problems similar to that of the Defined Benefit Scheme.

She also used the opportunity to appeal to state and local government authorities in the country to key into the CPS for the good of their workers.

During a previous outing in Lagos, she disclosed that the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) had invested about N2.64 trillion in Federal Government securities, an amount representing 63 per cent of the total N4.3 trillion as at the end of March 2014.

She also said that the proportion of the pension assets to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had grown from 1.4 per cent in 2005 to 9.5 per cent in 2013, adding that the industry now had an average yearly growth of 30 per cent.

“We seek to get pension funds to play a more active role in the economic development of the nation by, for instance, assisting in solving the huge infrastructure gaps in terms of roads, power supply and housing. However, we

Research shows need for ‘flexible’ retirement products

R

etirees facing longer retirements should seek full financial advice on the widest range of product options open to them from April, according to provider LV, which commissioned a major piece of research it says points to the need for “flexibility” to cope with changing circumstances.

The insurer commissioned Opinium to survey over 2,000 adults online in October, with results published November 3 including responses showing that within the first five years of retirement, almost a third of retirees will see their general health deteriorate.

Significant regional differences exist in terms of health deterioration in retirement, with the figure rising to 44 per cent of retirees living in Scotland, closely followed by retirees in Yorkshire and Humberside with 43 per cent.

Moreover, the research found close to one

in 10 British retirees had contracted a ‘serious’ illness within the first five years of retirement.

The need to financially support others was also cited as one of the key changes retirees’ face, with 28 per cent stating that they had financially helped family members.

Retirees in London were most likely to have provided their families with financial support (39 per cent), with those in Wales least likely to have been called upon (15 per cent).

Living arrangements also commonly changed in early retirement, with 24 per cent of retirees significantly updating or renovating their home or garden, whilst 21 per cent had moved home.

Richard Rowney, LV’s Life and Pensions Managing Director, said: “Although retirement is often seen as a time to take your foot off the pedal, there are often life changes that occur that could lead to financial upheaval.

must emphasise that any investments that pension funds partake in must be through safe investment vehicles,” Amazu said.

On the call to state and local government to enroll their workers, she said that the Commission had established functional offices in the six geo-political zones and now strategically positioned to facilitate and offer the needed technical assistance to state and local governments who are prepared to operate the CPS. The director-general also affirmed that the payment of pension under the CPS had been

prompt and consistent since 2007.

Ahonu-Amazu said, “From a story of about N2 trillion in pension deficit under the defunct defined benefits scheme as at 2004, it has accumulated large pool of investible fund of over N4.5trillion pension assets as at June 2014 with more than 6.2million contributors that have been registered since the inception of the Act in 2004.”

Recalling the need for the 2014 amendment of the Act, she said it became necessary in order to be more embracing irrespective of

the achievements of the PRA 2004.

She said that the amended act had provided wider coverage for private sector employee and upward review of the minimum rate of pension contribution while also reviewing upwards the sanctions and penalties against infractions of the provisions of the Act. According to her, the application of the CPS by states and local governments has also received a boost under the PRA 2014 by setting a standard which state governments are re-

quired to comply with for the benefits of their respective employees.

She also pointed out that the new act made provision for voluntary participation in the CPS, thereby paving the way for the coverage of the informal sector.

“Furthermore, the PRA 2014 made provision that allows contributors seeking to own their primary homes, to apply part of their retirement savings account balance balances as equity contribution for residential mortgage, subject to the guidelines issued by the commission,” she added.

L-R: Head, Youth Segment, Etisalat Nigeria, Elvis Daniel; Director, Consumer Segment, Oluwole Rawa; Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Professor Abayomi Akinyeye; Acting Director, Retail Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Lou Odunuga and Sub-Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Dr. Ayo Yusuff, during the launch of Etisalat Experience Centre (Cliqhub), in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Corporate governance: Kolade flays constant leadership changes

R

enowned corporate organisation manager, Dr. Christopher Kolade, has condemned the constant transfer of chief executive officers of corporate organisations and heads of institutions, saying that such an action remains a hindrance to good corporate governance.

The boardroom expert disclosed this in Lagos during a lecture on ‘Pension Fund and Good Corporate Gover nance,’ organised

by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers.

Kolade, who was the pioneer Chairman of the Federal Gover nment’s Subsidy Re-Investment and Empower ment Pro g ramme (SURE-P) before resigning under

unclear circumstances, said good corporate governance required that those entrusted with positions should be people who have accepted the responsibility to justify the authority given to them and also present themselves for accountability.

He said, “A system of easy transfer makes good corporate governance difficult in government. CEOs must have commitments to building institutions where they are.

“By the time they are moved from one place to the other, they start learning a new culture thereby starting all over. So it is the system of management that makes it difficult to practice good corporate governance.”

The former Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain

also affirmed the importance of stakeholders in any organisation’s drive for good corporate governance, saying that every stakeholder must receive fair returns for each input with the organisation ensuring that all interests are managed equitably.

“Don’t sacrifice the interest of one at the expense of another,” he added.

Also speaking, the Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Chinelo A h o nu - A m a n z e, said lack of good corporate governance necessitated the paradigm shift in pension administration.

“The essence was just to ensure there is no stress in accessing benefits after retirement,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Oil palm: FG backs PZ Wilmar on backward integration p.34

33

Agric

Govt to raise financing in water sector p.35

A tractor on the farm

SOLACE The Federal Government appears to have found succour in the private sector handling agriculture mechanisation Earliest days The realm of farming, also called agriculture, is necessary on absolutely all fronts. Without this, food would never be harvested and living would have ceased to exist. The ability to grow plants and food sources is one that has kept the human race alive for generations.

Checks showed that the earliest history of agriculture dates back to over 10,000 years ago.

During these early days, the process was called protofarming. There was a behavioural shift at that point in time that transformed from that of gathering and hunting to that of growing and harvesting. During the Ice Age in 11,000 BC, the earth was rendered barren.

Therefore, new means of growing and producing food had to be devised. At the time, tuber seeds could grow despite these conditions and sustained those who survived.

Industrialisation As the time continued to evolve and change and useful machinery was being developed, so also the world of agriculture evolved. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, many machines were invented that could make growing and harvesting much simpler and also require much less manpower.

Therefore, mechanised agriculture is the process of using agricultural machinery to mechanise the work of agriculture,

Mechanised farming: Private sector to the rescue? greatly increasing farm workers’ productivity. In modern times, powered machinery has replaced many jobs formerly carried out by men or animals such as oxen, horses and mules.

However, the country is yet to tap fully into the potentials of mechanised farming. In an interview granted a national daily recently, Dr. Ahmed Adekunle, Chairman, Advisory Ministerial Mechanisation Committee set up by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, lamented that Nigeria’s agriculture mechanisation was among the world’s lowest.

The committee then was charged to draw up a road map and design a private sector-led framework on agricultural mechanisation aimed at ensuring that Nigeria became self-sufficient in food production and save the nation the trillions of naira spent yearly on food importation.

On the sorry state of agricultural mechanisation, Adekunle was quoted to have said: “It will take an average of N30,000 per day for hiring tractor services nationwide. When you go to South West, tractorisation per day is about N40,000, South-South N45,000, North is a minimum of N20,000 to N25,000.”

Rising Hope In other to address the challenge, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, had, in August, launched the private sector driven Agricul-

Our next focus is to mechanise agriculture and free our farmers from reliance on hoes and cutlasses

tural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHE) to mark the beginning of a revolution in the mechanisation of Nigeria’s Agriculture.

To this end, Dr. Adesina, last week Wednesday, in Gusau, Zamfara State, commissioned the first of the agricultural equipment hiring enterprises.

“Our next focus is to mechanise agriculture and free our farmers from reliance on hoes and cutlasses. We are doing this through a new program that will aggressively privatise the commercialisation of agricultural machineries in Nigeria. The days of corruption in tractor procurement and supply by government are now over. Just as we ended the corruption in the fertilizer and seed sectors, we have now ended decades of corruption in government-controlled procurement and distribution of tractors. In the past, government used to buy and distribute tractors to state governments. As with the case of seeds and fertilizers, most of the tractors never got to the farmers. In most cases, these tractors were old, refurbished and sold back to government,” the minister said.

He added: “Let me state it very clearly that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development no longer buys nor distribute tractors, as has been the practice for decades. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development now supports the private sector to drive the mechanisation of Nigeria’s agriculture.”

Dr. Adesina said that between 2014 and 2016, the Agricultural Mechanisation Fund will establish a minimum of 1,200 Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHEs) across the nation.

“The Centres will provide 6,000 units of tractors and their implements, 15,000 power tillers and over 20,000 planting, harvest and post-harvest equipment. The centres will be used to mechanise four million hectares of farmland in the country and expand food production by an additional 20 million metric tons. The centres are projected to create over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs for youths,” he said.

He added: “The full roll out of this program is being implemented in stages. We have already started the process to establish the first set of 118 units of Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises across the country.

They will have 590 units of tractors, 500 power tillers and 500 harvest and post-harvest equipment.”

Executive Director, Wholesale Finance, Bank of Agriculture (BoI), Waziri Ahmadu, lauded the initiative and assured the minister of the bank’s readiness to work closely with the ministry.

He further said that the bank is partnering relevant stakeholders in financing agriculture mechanisation. He cited the on-going efforts of the bank in Kebbi State to finance agriculture mechanisation.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

34

Business | Agric

Oil palm: FG backs PZ Wilmar on backward integration

PARTNERSHIP PZ Wilmer’s efforts to boost palm production gets FG’s backing

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

fforts by PZ Wilmer to boost palm oil production in the country have received the support of the Federal Government.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, made this knwon when the management of PZ Wilmer paid a courtesy visit to him in Abuja.

The minister noted that the Federal Government was com-

mitted to supporting private sector investment in backward integration to make Nigeria self-sufficient in oil palm production.

Adesina emphasised the role private sector could play in putting Nigeria back to its rightful place by “building the foundation for Nigeria to be what it should be. He urged the management to develop a robust small-holder scheme so that technical know-how

could be passed on to small scale holders.

Meanwhile, the purpose of the visit, according to the Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons - the joint-venture partner - Mr. Christos Giannopoulos, was to give him an update on oil palm plantation project being executed by the company in Cross River State.

The 26,000 hectares project is part of an integrated endto-end value chain in oil palm

production and processing.

According to Giannopoulos, so far, over 1.9 million high yield tenera variety seedlings have gone through various stages and were replanted.

“It will, in the not too distant future, close the supply gap of crude palm oil in the Nigerian economy. Furthermore, it will supply raw materials to its 1,000 ton/day refinery,” he said.

On his part, the Managing

Director, PZ Wilmar Nigeria Plc, Mr. Santosh Pillai, told the minister that the company was working with Cross River State Government and the Department for International Development (DFID) in evolving smallholder schemes in Nigeria.

In that regard, according to him, some farmers were sponsored to visit plantations in Ghana to learn and share experience.

NARITA hybrids trials show potential he Ugandan National the current low yield in T Agricultural Research smallholder farmers’ fields.

Organisation (NARO) and This in turn has had a

L-R: Managing Director, PZ Wilmar Nigeria Plc, Santosh Pillai; Chief Executive Officer, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Christos Giannopoulos; Vice Chairman, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Tunde Oyelola; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; General Manager, External Affairs, Mohammed Tahir and Director, Corporate Affairs and Admin, Yomi Ifaturoti, during a visit by the management of the firm to the minister in Abuja.

Firm trains workers on improved cotton farming SKILLS Workers undergo training for better performance

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orkers of Funtua Textile Limited (FTL) have, in the last two years, been engaged by the company for the cultivation of improved cottonseeds in their respective farms. This is aimed at enhancing yield and quality of the produce.

The company’s Human Resource Manager, Alhaji Ibrahim Mu’azu, said that

Cotton field

the workers are being supported with free quality cottonseed and interestfree loan for cultivation expenses and other farming inputs.

He said that the initiative is aimed at complementing the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

Mu’azu noted that a lot has been achieved on increased yield and quality cottonseed as well as production of quality cotton free of adulteration.

He said that workers were educated on modern farming techniques and how to grow cotton on their individual farms, adding that the loan was to be paid in instalment within 12 months.

“The company has also introduced the use of grey cotton bags during picking and packaging to prevent the adulteration experienced when using polythene bags which lowered the price of Nigerian cotton at international mar-

ket due to mixtures. The act of contamination and adulteration of cotton with polythene bags, water, solid materials with the aim of increasing weight has subjected Nigerian cotton to various forms of degradation and forced it to be sold below premium price as obtained by other countries,” he said.

He explained that from the two years of the company’s farming support initiative, a lot has been achieved especially in promoting the production of high quality cotton with increased yield as pure picking and packaging has been achieved.

This, he said, ensures Nigeria’s cotton’s acceptability on world premium price in the international market.

Given the level of the success of the programme, the company planned to extend the farming support to neighbouring communities to ensure wider support and to encourage production, high yield and quality cotton for increased gain.

the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) have released the first report on the preliminary performance trials of the first ever hybrid varieties of the East Africa highland banana, jointly developed by the two organisations for food and juice.

From the trial results, these hybrid varieties known as NARITA (NAROIITA), performed better than the local check across all traits being evaluated.

For example, 96 per cent of the hybrids had a bunch weight greater than that of the local check. The bunch weight varied up to 28.4 kg, with an overall mean of 18.3 kg.

The hybrids were developed from over 20 years of research to address the major threats to the crop’s production in East and Central Africa, including pests (banana weevils and nematodes) and diseases (Fusarium wilt and black Sigatoka) that resulted in

negative impact on food security and the income of millions of smallholder farmers. In Uganda, for example, banana occupies the largest cultivated area among staple food crops with more than 75 per cent of farmers growing it.

The evaluation of 25 out of 27 existing NARITA hybrids (18 for food and seven for juice), was conducted at Namulonge in central Uganda.

The hybrids were evaluated for performance, adaptability and stability against local East Africa highland bananas.

Preliminary results therefore show that these hybrids have potential to increase banana production in Uganda, Tanzania and the highlands of East Africa.

Further testing is now planned in Uganda and Tanzania across multiple locations and involving farmers to assess performance on farmers’ fields.

Mechanised farming: Private sector to the rescue?

CONT INU E D FROM PAGE 33

On his part, the National President, Tractors Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN), Elesa Bitrus Yakubu, said that the bold step would now encourage the youth to get involved in agriculture.

“Even the young ones will now be attracted to agriculture since machinery has been provided. What government is doing will reduce the cost of land preparation by the Nigerian farmers,” Yakubu said.

The TOOAN president noted that provision of agriculture mechanisation on a sustainable basis is best done by the private sector.

Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Oyo State, Olumide Ayinla, lauded the efforts but cautioned that government should monitor the private sector for optimal performance.

“It is a good thing for government to say the private sector should be in charge of the country’s agriculture mechanisation.

It must, however, be stated categorically that government need to monitor this private sector as well. So that the machinery will get to the right stakeholders,” Ayinla said.

As it were, the next few months will determine the success or otherwise of the scheme.

Business | Agric

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

35

Govt to raise financing in water sector PROCUREMENT Cumbersome water project procurement processes need to be removed Kenneth Tyohemba Abuja

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s 2015 deadline target for the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) enters the last lap, the Federal Government has said that it will intensify its financial commitment to the water sector to help bridge the gap in the National Water Resource

Master Plan.

Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe, stated this in Abuja while declaring open the 26th annual conference of Nigerian Association of Hydrogeologists (NAH), with the theme “Water Resources Development in Nigeria and the Millennium Development Goals.”

Represented by Director General, Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA), Mr John Shamanda, Ochekpe, noted the vital role of the water sector to the achievement of MDGs and water value chain.

She, however, expressed worry about the perceived fear that the world would be facing water crisis by 2020, pointing out that efforts to ameliorate

such a crisis would include acquisition of both hydrological and hydrogeological data, management of ground water basins and systematic study of basin aquifers.

Earlier in a welcome address, President, NAH, Chief Dom Nwachukwu, said this year’s theme was carefully chosen to x-ray and assess the impact of water resources development towards achieving the set goal by 2015.

Nwachukwu also called for a strong financial commitment and political will at all levels of government to ensure that institutional structures such as the State Ministry of Water Resources, River Basins Development Authorities, among others,

are supported to achieve their mandate.

He further cautioned on the effect of climate change with accompanying hazards such as flooding and rising global temperature.

Nwachukwu also decried the under-utilisation of the human capacity development of hydrogeologists and hydrologists, which according to him, are instrumental to the proper planning and coordination in the development of the country’s water sector. He maintained that things must be fixed up if Nigeria can successfully attain the MDGs. He said: “The cumbersome and unwieldy procurement processes prior to the execution of water projects in Nige-

ria ought to be removed.”

He added that about 70 per cent of the available water resources of Nigeria are tranbounndary and called for partnership with all stakeholders within the catchment region to ensure sustainable management.

In its communiqué, the association called on government to urgently address the deteriorating state of water supply infrastructure, with the aim of improving access to potable water supply, even as it also wanted much importance to be attached to gathering of quality, reliable and verifiable data for the purpose of planning, design and execution of water projects across the country.

FG, Osun partner on agric infrastructure sun State Commissioner O for Agriculture, Mr Wale Adedoyin, has disclosed the

intention of the state government to join forces with the Federal Government to facilitate increased availability of agricultural infrastructure in the state.

The commissioner said that the establishment of more facilities and infrastructure in the state has become a necessity to guarantee advancement in agricultural productivity as part of measures to ensure food security and harness the empowerment opportunities available in the sector for the benefit of the people.

Citing the various projects established in the state by the Federal Government to include cassava production, provision of storage facilities and provision of modern equipment for food processing, he noted the need for more to be done.

On the efforts of the present administration in the state to unlock the potential of the sector, the commissioner said that Governor Rauf Aregbesola had approved the establishment of more farm settlements, which would be prepared and allocated to prospective young farmers for the production of both food crops and livestock.

He added that the state government had also provided facilities in some farm settlements located in Ede, Ife and Ilesha, among others, for use by young farmers.

The commissioner said that the farm settlements were designed to provide job opportunities for youths, as well as increase availability of food for local and external consumption.

He assured of government’s readiness to provide beneficiaries access to farm inputs, credit facilities and security for the farm.

Water dam

Kwara fish farmers lose N200m to heavy rain F

ish farmers in Kwara State have lost fish worth over N200 million to the resultant flood from the heavy downpour experienced between September and October this year.

The farmers also decried the productivity of Nigeria’s fisheries sector, which has hit a momentary set back.

State Chairman, Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Mr Ajibola Olawale, stated that over 1,000 fish farmers from both the Association of Fish Farmers and

Aquaculturist of Nigeria (AFFAN) and his association were affected, adding that the heavy downpour also resulted in the destruction of several fishponds.

He lamented that the fishes given to the farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) and many others had been lost, adding that many fish farmers who secured loans to start their business were now indebted to their various financial institutions without any hope.

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat

Price 532-4 364-2 1016-6 374.7 33.23 346-6 12.450 592-0

Change -5-6 -3-2 -9-4 -2.5 -0.45 +1-2 +0.015 -3-6

Contract Dec 14 Dec 14 Jan 15 Dec 14 Dec 14 Dec 14 Jan 15 Dec 14

Time(ET) 07:44 07:44 07:44 07:44 07:44 07:23 07:30 07:44

Price 63.12 136.90 188.50 15.82 2893 24.30 1.8820 0.1568 2875.00

Change -0.50 +1.15 -1.70 +0.05 -12 +0.17 +0.0235 -0.0025 -6.00

Contract Dec 14 Jan 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Jan 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14

Time(ET) 08:16 08:16 08:15 08:15 08:16 08:15 11/04/14 11/04/14 03:49

Price 166.700 237.150 88.050 21.56

Change -0.475 -0.225 unch +0.11

Contract Dec 14 Nov 14 Dec 14 Nov 14

Time(ET) 08:16 08:16 08:16 07:44

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Sugar #16 CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa

Meat Commodity Live Cattle Feeder Cattle Lean Hogs Class III Milk

Fishponds

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price.

Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency.

Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

36

Brands&Marketing COMPETITION Competition hots up in cement market Stories by Dele Alao

N

igeria’s cement market once again attracted more attention and generated debates in many circles during the week.

Cement manufacturing giant and major player, Dangote Cement, announced a 40 per cent price cut of a bag of cement to N1,000.

This is coming a few months after the market was excited, following the introduction of the 42.5 grade, otherwise called Dangote 3x.

At the launch of the latest product from the stable of the amphibious cement firm, the Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Devakumar Edwin, said that the launch by Dangote was to show the company’s commitment to the safety of human lives rather than maximising profits. He said that incidences of building collapse in the country do not only destroy lives and properties, but also bring about huge economic loss to the nation.

Describing the features of the Dangote 3X 42.5 cement and the differences between the 32.5 and 42.5 cement grade, the Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Oare Ojeikere, stated that the 42.5 cement grade is 30 per cent stronger than the 32.5 cement grade, adding that 3X is designed to the block maker’s specification.

He said that a higher grade of cement is vital in putting an end to building collapse in the country, adding that it is about time Nigeria joined other countries in the sub-region to move away from 32.5 cement grade to 42.5 cement grade.

The introduction of Dangote 3X, with a claim that it is “the real cement” to use in constructions generated much controversy that has not really abated.

Cement: Price war erupts as Dangote, BUA stir market

Bags of cement. INSET: L-R: Abdulsamad, Dangote

The weapon Now, Dangote has launched another marketing warfare, employing price as a weapon. Over the years, price has been used as a weapon to fight competition in the market place. And when this happens, it is called a price war.

A price war is an event whereby two or more companies continually lower prices to undercut each other.

According to marketing experts, engaging in a price war is a competitive strategy, usually to capture market share.

“Falling prices tend to attract more customers. Some companies may choose to sell a product or service at a loss, however, in order to capture market share and outpace competitors. In some cases, this might lead to antitrust violations,” the experts argued.

Wikipedia describes price war as “commercial competition characterised by the repeated cutting of prices below

Coca-Cola stages concert

C

oca-Cola has organised another fun-packed edition of Coke Studio concert at Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH).

According to the Brand Manager, Colas, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Olufemi Ashipa, CRUTECH marked the seventh university campus to experience the Coke Studio concert.

He said in a statement that the essence of the concerts was to bring the excitement of the televised Coke Studio music sessions right to the youths, the primary focus of the platform.

On the CRUTECH leg of the concert, Ashipa said: “What we witnessed here

gime,” he said.

He added: “We still believe that more can be done to bring down the price even further for the benefit of Nigerians.”

Efforts to get official reaction from Lafarge, a major competitor, on whether the firm will also announce a cut in price did not yield positive result as at press time.

But, an official who craved anonymity said that “the company would not discuss the issue of pricing on the pages of newspapers.

Though, some distributors said that it would take some time before the new price could take effect, many have, however, expressed satisfaction with the slash.

was amazing. Their orderly conduct and participation was very impressive. One could tell from the level of the excitement that the students were pleased with the Coke Studio concert.”

He added that the concert and the music platform is truly celebrating and promoting the continent’s music industry.

Just as witnessed in other campuses, the Coke Studio concert at CRUTECH also provided a coveted opportunity for some of the brightest talents from the institution to perform and get the chance to collaborate with the established artistes on stage.

those of competitors.”

It adds: “One competitor will lower its price, and then others will lower theirs to match. If one of them reduces its price again, a new round of reduction starts.

In the short term, price wars are good for buyers, who can take advantage of lower prices.”

Announcing the new price regime, Edwin said that the company had pegged the Dangote 32.5 cement grade at N1,000 per 50kg bag, while the higher 42.5 grade is to sell for N1,150 per bag.

The new prices exclusive of the Value Added Tax (VAT) represents about 40 per cent discount on the prevailing market price of the product, which is currently sold for N1,700 irrespective of the grade, across the country.

“We recognise the need for a dramatic increase in the response to the huge infrastructure and housing deficit in the country, and one of the ways of addressing the issue is bringing the price of building materials down to much

more affordable levels, especially cement, which is within our own control. This is part of our own contribution to the transformation agenda of the Goodluck Jonathan administration and the attainment of key milestones in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” he said.

BUA concurs Barely 24 hours after the announcement, another player in the industry, BUA Group, joined the fray.

The Chairman of BUA Group, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, urged all cement producers to emulate Dangote and bring down the cost of cement.

“There is absolutely no reason for a bag of cement to cost so much. While it is true that we have infrastructural challenges, it is not so much as to make the cost of cement so expensive. On our part, I have already directed all our plants to follow suit and implement the new price re-

Experts’ perspective Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr Muda Yussuf, described the slash as good for a healthy competition.

He added that it would force other manufacturers of cement in the country to review their cost price as well.

Also reacting, former spokesperson of Dangote Group, Joseph Okonmah, said: “This is good development. It will bring about huge infrastructure development in the country. The overall winner is the Nigerian consumer.”

On the argument in some quarters that the reduction in the price might result in drop of profit margin, an official of Dangote Group, who preferred anonymity, said that the cut will rather improve profit margins as more sales are expected.

It is not, however, clear as at the time of filing this report if the cut in price is just a short term promotional strategy or long term.

Dana among Nigeria’s top 50 brands

D

ana has been listed as one of the top 50 brands in Nigeria following its immense contribution to the nation’s economy.

The emergence of Dana, according to a statement, follows the outcome of the research findings and evaluation of notable brands by BrandNigeria journal.

Coordinator of the Top 50 Brands in Nigeria, Mr Taiwo Oluboyede, noted that as Nigeria becomes a haven for foreign direct investment, there is the need for verifiable information about the top players in the economy to be made available.

He said that operating in the world stage requires a new line of thinking as well as means of communication and engagement and the Top 50 Brands in Nigeria has created a platform for companies to proactively engage their target market for feedback.

Head, Corporate Communications of Dana, Samuel Ogbogoro, said that Dana is committed to service as all the activities of all the companies within the group are geared towards improving the wellbeing of the populace.

“We are happy to be so recognised as one of the top brands in Nigeria and our

strategy is to continuously reinvest in the economy,” he said.

He added: “Dana Group has a diverse range of strategically-positioned subsidiaries that give the group the flexibility and versatility to keep ahead of local competition. With interest spanning across different sectors of the economy such as automobile, steel, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), pharmaceutical, aviation, as well as properties and shipping services, the group continues to contribute to the national economy as well as providing direct and indirect employment opportunities.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

37

Auto Beat

Dynamic Duo win Ranger Odyssey 2014

Paul Ogbuokiri

J

ohan Retters and Oan de Waal are winners of Ranger Odyssey 2014.

The announcement was made at the special awards event held at De Rust Outdoor near Hartbeespoort Dam recently – thus coming full circle back to where their Ranger Odyssey experience first began during Boot Camp in August.

As the winners, each of them will get to drive an Odyssey-spec Ranger for a year along with R5 000 worth of fuel per month.

Retters and De Waal were united during the team selection at the start of the main event on September 7, 2014, in Kamanjab, Namibia. This dynamic duo competed together over the ensuing 12 days, on the tough 2 500 km route and through numerous special tasks to take the overall victory.

“Ranger Odyssey 2014 was a tough test of both man and machine,” says Mark Kaufman, Ford’s Vice President Sales, Marketing and Service.

“The rugged Kaokoland pushed everyone to their limits, but Johan and Oan excelled throughout the event and are deserving winners. They are great ambassadors for the Ranger and truly embody the Odyssey’s spirit of adventure due to their active outdoor lifestyles.”

Johan Retters (41) from Limpopo is an avid outdoor enthusiast, regularly venturing off the beaten track on 4x4 trips, as well as riding motorcycles and quads.

Team-mate Oan de Waal is a 23-yearold adventure athlete from Pretoria, specialising in obstacle course racing, both locally and internationally. He is also an active rock climber.

During the Ranger Odyssey expedition the 20 contestants, divided into 10 teams, were scored daily by the instructors on driving techniques, camp craft, team work, vehicle maintenance, technical knowledge on the Ford Ranger as well as general knowledge on the areas visited. Several special tasks were also staged during the trip including winching and vehicle recovery exercises.

The route for the 2014 event focused on the Kaokoland region in the far north-western corner of Namibia, renowned for its remote and extremely challenging 4x4 trails.

Along with the treacherous Van Zyl’s Pass, the 14-vehicle convoy followed the Kunene River that forms the border between Namibia and Angola, traversed the Zebra and Baynes Mountains, and snaked along the Khumib, Hoarusib and Hoanib River bed 4x4 trails.

The driving challenges and scenery in this remote and largely unspoiled corner of Namibia were simply spectacular, making the Ranger Odyssey a true life-changing experience for all of the contestants.

Porsche earning up in Q3, thanks to Spyder

P

orsche AG remained on its successful course during the first nine months of the 2014 fiscal year, with deliveries, revenue and profit all again going up.

A total of 135,642 delivered sports cars represented an increase of 13 per cent. Revenue grew by 17 per cent to 12.24 billion euros and operating profit rose by two per cent to 1.93bn euros. At 21,950 employees, staff numbers also reached a new high. A year ago the number of people working at Porsche was still 18,882. The year-on-year growth is 16 per cent.

Lutz Meschke, Member of the

Executive Board - Finance and IT at Porsche AG, emphasized the company’s profitability, which continues to be strong. “Despite our very high expenditures, for example for the new drive system technologies and expansion investments for Porsche’s sustainable growth, our operating profit is continuing to show a year-on-year increase after nine months of 2014, and with an operating margin of 16 per cent we are continuing to hit our strategic target.” The financial situation would not change significantly in the final quarter of 2014, added the CFO, looking ahead. “I anticipate

that we will end the 2014 business year with an operating profit slightly above that of last year,” predicted Lutz Meschke.

The Chairman of the Executive Board at Porsche AG, Matthias Müller, gave as the reason for the high development costs for new technologies the pioneering role that Porsche has vigorously sought and now taken on in respect of the new, modern plug-in hybrid vehicles. “With the Cayenne S E-Hybrid, the Panamera S E-Hybrid and the 918 Spyder, we now already offer three plug-in models, the only brand in the world to do so

in the premium segment”, stressed the CEO. Porsche was thus sending a clear signal to customers all over the world and also providing clear input into the public debate on reducing CO2 emissions. Matthias Müller: “The emissions regulations set a particularly significant challenge to us as a sports car manufacturer, but we have accepted this challenge in good time, as it is our aim to produce what at any given juncture are not only the sportiest vehicles in the competitive environment but the most technologically advanced ones as well,” he said.

38

Feminique

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Henrietta Williams: In the name of the father ...and the Pope

Beyond being an Obstetrician and gynaecologist of international repute, Henrietta Williams is also an ardent activist with a bias for maternal mortality and all forms of human trafficking. The president of the Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (ACMPN), she was the first African to be certified as a Medical Consultant in Naprotechnology. Back from a conference in Rome, at the instance of the Pope, she had a chat with EBERE AMEH about the evolving trend in human egg trafficking, natural family planning, among other issues

T

he saying that the offspring of a snake cannot afford to be short is very apt in describing the life of Dr Henrietta Williams. Though born with a golden spoon in her mouth, to the family of Louis and Margret Edet, the first Nigerian Inspector General of Police, and well married to the Legal luminary, Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams SAN, Dr Henrietta can afford to wallow in affluence, but she chose to tow the humanitarian footprints of her parents.

Edet was very charitable and helped in the rehabilitation of children orphaned by the Biafran war. Together with Margaret, his wife, who later founded the Police Officers Wives Association, POWA, they built an orphanage for them at Calabar and did quite a lot to improve the lives of the poor.

In accordance with her father’s wish, Margaret and Louis Edet (MLE) Foundation was established to carry on with their good works, especially in the area of reducing maternal mortality.

“We established the foundation in their name because he was doing quite a number of humanitarian works. I collected a posthumous centenary national award given to him in recognition of his works and service to Nigeria. The foundation tries to fund women health issues because he was very much interested in women issues as his grandmother was a local midwife,” Williams said.

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Currently, the foundation has been to many states, spreading the good news of natural family planning and helping infertile couples conceive without stress using Naprotechnology, a new Women’s Health Science of which she is an expert.

“They invited us to Bayelsa, and so impressed were they at Yenogoa that they invited us to come back and cover the creeks of Bomadi. We’ve been to Edo, Delta, Niger, Abuja, Kogi and we are planning to go to Enugu soon.”

A devout Catholic, Williams received specialised training at the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha Nebraska, U.S.A.. and qualified in 2004 as a certified Fertility Care Medical Consultant in the new Women`s Health Science called Naprotechnology which provides holistic fertility care that is acceptable to women of all religions and cultures. She is the first African to be certified as a Medical Consultant in Naprotechnology, the Nigerian Programme Director for the postgraduate training of doctors and midwives in Naprotechnology, and has successfully implemented the only training programme for Naprotechnology in Africa.

So far, Williams has dedicated herself to integrating the harmonious unity of faith into medical science to provide holistic and culturally acceptable medical services that will improve the quality of life of African families.

Irked by the gover nment’s investment on, and the procurement of contraceptives as a means of curbing child and maternal mortality, and controlling the population, she argued that contraceptive is Williams not the women’s problem, neither

What is reigning now is trafficking of human eggs.

Exploitation of the highest order!

is overpopulation the problem with Nigeria.

“First, I want to note that Nigeria is not overpopulated, but underdeveloped. Second, the problem of child and maternal mortality, which we have is not solved by contraception but by good governance which will amount to better health care, and improved quality of life for the people. Third, contraceptives have adverse side effects which are very detrimental to the health of women and their families. There are various natural, safe and more effective ways of planning the family which do not destroy lives, health, and marriages as contraceptives do,”Williams intoned.

Looking for all avenues to improve women’s reproductive health, Dr Williams has started a programme with an organization made up of Catholic gynaecologists.

“In conjunction with Maternal Care International, an Irish organization made up of Catholic gynaecologists, we have started a little programme in Nigeria geared towards reducing maternal mortality. We gather gynaecologists in Nigeria and we try to set up an institute for maternal health, specifically for the reduction of maternal mortality. It’s programmes are targeted towards reducing maternal mortality because they are not happy with what is on ground.”

As the head of the Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Williams was invited to an international conference at the request of the Pope for the purpose of fur-

thering investigation into the practice of human trafficking.

Entitled “Trafficking in Human Beings: Modern Slavery,” the conference held at the Vatican city.

“What is reigning now is trafficking of human eggs. Exploitation of the highest order, they approach young girls, give them a paltry sum of N50,000 and inject them to harvest their eggs, which they sell to biotechnology industries. They also sell them for somatic-cell nuclear transfer and all sorts of things.”

Williams is poised to start the fight against this new trend in trafficking in conjunction with some Americans. According to her, the business is thriving in Lagos and Aba, where secondary school students and undergraduates are lured and at times, reportedly kidnapped for the ignominious act.

“We are worried because the effects are dire but the children who collect N50,000 do not know. Some of them die as a result of hyper stimulation, some become permanently infertile, and all sorts of things.”

On the baby factory conundrum, which is becoming a menace in the country, Williams said that the Pope is very much interested in eradicating it.

“I brought it to their knowledge in Rome and Pope Francis is very much interested. It was even in the communiqué that there are baby factories in Nigeria and commissions have been set up that are now looking into all aspects of human trafficking.”

Talking about the challenges she is facing in her numerous humanitarian activities, Williams says that human resources is a major challenge.

“The greatest challenge is human resources. Though the awareness of natural family planning is gradually catching on, we need to train more people because as I am getting older, I have only succeeded in training about ten doctors and 15 practitioners. And for a population of 150 million, that is nothing, although I know we are just starting.

Of course funding for training is also a challenge because the training programme is quite expensive.

If we get people to sponsor doctors and nurses to go for the training, it will go a long way.”

Williams who has received several awards including the highest chieftaincy titles of Ada Idaha ke Efik Ebrutu by the Obong of Calabar, and The Erelu Amona Apesin of Egba Land said that every woman has a right to information and services on family planning, and a right to choose the way she wants to plan her family.

Feminique 39

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Why women don’t enjoy sex SHOULD WOMEN ENJOY SEX? I shouldn’t have added the second heading, except that a recent survey I conducted threw up some amazing results. There are a lot of Nigerian men who believe that women cannot and or should not enjoy sex. They should only give and not take. That is why they are so brutish, harsh and totally insensitive during sex. In fact, in most cases they commit marital rape. Unfortunately, most women have also been brainwashed to believe that sexual enjoyment is only meant for men.

This is absolutely wrong.

Women Can And Should Enjoy Sex. Why then don’t they? Here are some of the most important reasons. This is a must read for every man and woman.

Male Chauvinistic Attitude: This I have discussed above. To most of us men, a woman that shows she enjoys sex, must be a call girl, Prostitute, harlot, whore.

Culture: Do you know what female circumcision is? Do you know why? It is the cutting of the girl’s clitoris, before she attains puberty. This barbaric practice used to be

very prevalent in most African countries. Thank God it is dying out now. Due to pressure from healthcare providers, women’s lib etc. The clitoris as you may or may not know, is one of the most sensitive erogenous zones in a woman. So by cutting it, they are ensuring that,the woman’s feeling and enjoyment of sex would be totally abolished or at least drastically reduced.

Religion: Up till today, a lot of our religious leaders still believe that it is sinful for women to enjoy sex. They are to consider it as part of their marital duties only. Even if the man beats her silly and behaves as a beast during sex, she should just endure it. Her rewards are in heaven. The greater the sexual abuse, the more the reward in heaven.

Hence she should continue to suffer in silence. Or better still continue suffering and smiling, courtesy, Fela.

No Foreplay Before Sex: This is amazing. Both parties are guilty of this, although, the man, more than the woman. Most women don’t initiate it or encourage their men to practice it. Women if you really want to enjoy sex, you must

Ebere Ameh

T

he first time we met, Daniel actually struck me as one who is a bit arrogant. He irritated me enough that I mentioned him to George in a “Can you believe this guy?” kind of way. The fact that he left his family in the UK to come back alone to Nigeria, made me see him as the most irresponsible of men. But another fact that he and Grace were the only people that called me after I attended the New Beginning made me let down my guard with him a little.

His continued calling and pinging, presented him as a caring and generous man. That also heightened my curiosity. I couldn’t help but be curious about his past and his plans.

To my surprise, his wife actually refused to come back after experiencing life on a fast lane in the white man’s country. ‘Some women can be so myopic,’ I thought as I listened to his tale of woe.

“Still fresh from the university, I got married to Nneka and I was lucky to be listed by my company, among those going to the UK for a cross posting the next year,” Daniel narrated.

“We had Favour, our second child there and decided to stop at the two.

Nneka was a stay-at-home mom and before I knew it, she started keeping bad company. Though I cautioned her, she took no heed,” he continued.

“To my utmost chagrin, I caught her in a compromising way with a young lad one day and in anger, I not only raised my voice, I also slapped her. But that was it, she called the authorities and before I knew it, I was picked up. Thrice she got me arrested for raising my voice at her and I threatened to deal with her when we get back to Nigeria. Though I retracted my words and begged her to come

learn and practice foreplay.

Dry Sex: What I mean by this is that your vagina is not wet. Your vagina is not lubricated. If you have sex with a dry vagina, you will not enjoy it. You will not be comfortable.

You will have pain. You might even end up with cuts, bruises and wounds that will hurt you for days. You might even notice bleeding from your vagina after sex. This is very common although a lot of women try to deny and ignore it. Occassionally, it might be so bad as to need a doctor’s attention. Why suffer in silence? My dear, if you are dry, it means that you are not ready. Tell him and continue with foreplay. Both of you will enjoy the sex better in the long run.

Variations: Do you practice variations with your husband/lover? By this I mean different sex positions, oral sex, bathroom, kitchen, sitting room sex etc? Candlelight sex?

Distractions: Do you allow distractions to occupy your mind during sex? Do you think and worry about money, children, work, your beauty etc during sex? You can’t solve those problems during sex and thinking about them will

Women if you really want to enjoy sex, you must learn and practice foreplay.

Fadeyi

spoil your enjoyment.

So ladies, do you have other issues that stop you from enjoying sex? Please tell us and maybe we can help. Cheers.

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship.

He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@

Ego: Diary of a single mom ...We hit Danny’s home at last

with me when my assignment was over, she would not listen.

Now she has got a freight and forwarding job and is feeling on top of the world. I’m only afraid my children would take after her,” he said, looking into my eyes as if in search of answers.

After the praise, the worship and the word, the remaining part of the evening at the New Beginning was discussions about Angela’s divorce suit and her unflinching quest for the custody of her children. It all reminded me of Daniel’s plight too. Should I

suggest divorce to him? Should I keep mute and allow time to sort things out for him? How could I get involved with a guy with such a tangled past?

The look in his eyes when I suggested divorce in his apartment at VGC shows he is still in love with his family. Having visited me several times, he asked that I know his place when the programme ended unusually early on Sunday. I now see why he is not that interested in the New Beginning, he is not yet single after all.

“Divorce would have been good but I’m afraid she will insist on having it there and I will lose all my fortune, including the kids who are still underage to her. Nigerian men don’t know what they enjoy,” he said as he went in to get some drinks.

I followed, with the intention of helping out and changing the topic to anything like the weather or his house or whatever. Oblivious that I was tip toeing behind, he bumped into me as he turned around to ask me to come along.

Impulsively, he grabbed me in a bear hug and lifted me back to the sofa where he started all those his kisses and those his flirty talks that make me giddy with desire. Despite everything, Daniel has a gift of the gab and has a way of filling a key emotional vacuum in my life.

We kissed, cuddled and nestled forgetting the drink we planned to get. I wanted him badly but I had something within which kept telling me that it wasn’t the right time.

“Danny! the drinks!, I chirped, tickling his sides so he could lose his grip. Jumping up, he quickly pulled me and hand in hand, we went for the drinks. I can’t believe I was almost skipping like a school girl. I had forgotten what it was like to laugh so heartily and feel so carefree.

It was evident that his only goal that Sunday evening was making sure I had a good time, and I was more than happy to go along. Though we were both pregnant with desire, I told him the timing was not ideal.

That night, as we said good-bye, it felt like a bittersweet missed opportunity, but I still think I was right.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

40

Islam

E X HORT A TION Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. to Us must ye return.

(QURAN 21:35)

14 Muharram 1436 AH

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Conversion to Islam and getting married to a Muslim Woman QUESTION

I Want to Convert to Islam and Marry a Muslim Woman: What to Do? ANSWER

Salam Dear Brother, thank you for your question and for contacting us to ask About Islam. We praise Allah for guiding you to feel inclined towards wanting to revert to Islam, and ask Him to guide you to quickly enter its fold, give you steadfastness upon it, and thenceforth grant you a pious wife, and the pleasure of your parents regarding your life decisions. Ameen.

We also thank you for contacting us in order to seek advice about what to do.

Go ahead without further delay The first thing that you have to do, is to rush forth in entering Islam ‘officially’ by going to a masjid and declaring your shahadah, or testimony of faith, in front of the imam. Please do not delay this blessed step for even one more day. You can perhaps ask your benign Muslim neighbor to take you there, or you could go yourself.

Despite the official public declaration of the testimony of faith being a necessity of entering Islam, I’d like to say that if you even repeat the shahadah to yourself in privacy, and as long as you believe in your heart that there is only one god, Allah, and that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the messenger of Allah, then you are already a Muslim! All praises to Allah.

Be realistic - It won’t always be easy Your concern about your parents’ pleasure with your decision to become a Muslim, and to marry a Muslim woman in the future, is indeed praiseworthy. It is one of the distinguishing traits of righteous believers who have taqwa, i.e. who are conscious of Allah’s approval for all their actions, which they always seek to please their parents, and dread and strive to avoid their parents’ disapproval or anger with them regarding anything in life.

TO BE CONTINUED

Ka’abah Saudi Arabia

Nigeria begins assessment of 2014 Hajj ILLEGAL PILGRIMS Saudi has arrested 250 citizens, expats for smuggling pilgrims Adeola Yusuf

T

he National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has begun the assessment of the just concluded Hajj, in which 15 Nigerian pilgrims lost their lives.

New Telegraph gathered from the NAHCON office that the assessment is in preparation for a report on the pilgrimage, which will be submitted to President Goodluck Jonathan.

“The commission does this

assesment after the Hajj rites every year. This is to critically examine areas that need improvement for the next Hajj,” an employee of the commission who is not allowed to speak to press told this newspaper.

This came as the Saudi Arabia passport police arrested 250 citizens and residents for smuggling illegal pilgrims during the just concluded Hajj season.

The Passport Department received reports of 216 citizens and 34 residents smuggling in pilgrims without Hajj permits.

They were allegedly charging pilgrims to transport them to the Holy Sites so they could complete their Hajj rites.

Punishments issued to these smugglers included confiscation of vehicles, fines,

suspension and deportation for those who are not Saudis.

Not all of the arrested individuals were penalised as some were released due to lack of evidence and others confessed to their crime.

The department holds Hajj services companies and associations responsible for reporting any illegal pilgrims who enter the country without a permit or remain in the country after the duration of their Hajj visa.

Failure to do so will subject the organisation to a fine of SR25,000 for the first offence, SR50,000 for the second, and SR100,000 for the third.

The illegal pilgrim will be subjected to a fine of SR15,000 and deportation on the first arrest; a fine of SR25,000, three

months imprisonment and deportation if caught a second time; and a fine of SR50,000, six months imprisonment, and deportation on the third arrest.

The anti-forgery unit caught three individuals trying to travel using forged passports.

One of them entered the country on a Hajj visa and remained in the country for two years as an illegal expatriate.

The other two entered the country for Umrah and remained in the country afterward.

The individuals are currently being prosecuted by the unit.

The Passport Department at King Abdulaziz International Airport also detained two individuals for trying to leave the country with stolen passports belonging to pilgrims.

Cleric reminds Muslims of death, good deeds

C

hief missionary, Young Muslims Brothers and Sisters (YOUMBAS), Ogun state and Republic of Benin, Sheik Najeemdeen Adesina Yusuf, has tasked Muslims to always adhere to Quranic injuctions on good deeds and kindness to all human beings.

This, he said at a sermon, Friday Khutbah, would be achieved when Muslims fear Allah and remember the day that they would return to Him all the time.

He said: “Allaah, the Almighty-enjoins us to remember Him frequently and perform good deeds because forgetfulness is a disease that leads to neglecting virtuous deeds.

“He says in Surat Taha verse 115: ‘And We had already taken a promise from Adam before, but he forgot; and We

found not in him determination. One’s good deeds should be based on one’s belief in Allaah The Almighty, and we must frequently remind ourselves of the reward for righteous deeds which encourages us to perform them.”

Every human being, he continued, “should always remember that he has been instructed to compete in virtuous deeds.

Allah The Almighty says in Surat Hadid verse 21: “Race one with another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord.

“The following are a few factors that serve as incentives to perform righteous deeds in order to gain blessings in this world and eternal reward in the hereafter.

“Visiting charitable and humanitarian organisations en-

courages a Muslim to perform virtuous deeds.

“Learning about how much our pious predecessors would cry whenever they missed out on a chance to perform virtuous deeds.

“The Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: ‘The people of Paradise do not regret anything more than regretting an hour they spent (in this life) without mentioning Allaah’ (At-Tabaraani). Sa’eed At-Tanookhi used to cry if for any reason he had missed a congregational prayer. Ibn Mas’ood, said, “I never regretted anything more than regretting a day which passed in which I did not increase (upon) my virtuous deeds.

“Remembering that life is short makes a Muslim exert extra efforts in performing

virtuous deeds; the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: ‘Rush towards the performance of virtuous deeds before you are afflicted with trials as dark as the night’ (Muslim).

“Reading books that soften the heart, mention virtuous deeds and encourage people to perform them.

“Knowing that encouraging others entitles you to the same reward as theirs, as the Prophet (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasalaam) said: ‘He who revives a deed from Islam (which people forgot or abandoned) gets the same reward as the one who (subsequently) performs it’ (Muslim).

UNDERSTAND FAITH

YOUR

CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

41

Crime

My son is alive, says mother of missing undergraduate Juliana Francis

“I

pray every day for my son Kelvin. I believe he’s still alive and is out there somewhere, but sometimes, I get so scared.”

Those were the halting words of Mrs. Bridget Iwelu, whose 19-year-old son; Master Emeka Kelvin Shoremekun disappeared into thin air since last year.

Iwelu said her son “disappeared” from his hostel in June 2013, adding that she and her husband Michael Iwelu had not been impressed with Police handling of the investigation at Awka. The boy is a 200level student of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ifite, Awka, Anambra State.

The family of Kelvin believes he was kidnapped because they had received call from a concealed phone number, threatening them and demanding money.

Recalling what the callers said, Bridget said: “They said Kelvin was sick. They said they needed money to buy him some drugs. I asked for their account number, but they said no, that it could be used to trace them. They later said they would call back in December, but they never did.”

Indeed, after Kelvin’s parents reported the case at the Nigeria Police Force, Area “C” Command, Awka, Anambra State, being the nearest Police Station, Kelvin the Divisional Police Officer(DPO), they met, handed them over to the Deputy Crime Officer, (DCO), who gave them ists’ abode. Rather, they picked Kelvin’s two women police. Michael described girlfriend, Ada, asked her to write a statement and told her to go. the women police as “old women.”

Since then, the investigation has been The women, however, allegedly refused to move on with the investigation swept under the carpet. The desperate except money was given. Michael said parents tried the police at the Federal he gave them N5000 which they insisted Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Adeniji Adele, Lagos State, but had to go was for fuel.

At the end, the police did not use the home defeated after it dawned on them car, but boarded motorbikes. Michael that they were spending too much there, with no significant breakthrough. also paid the fare for the motorbikes.

Recalling the genesis of how her boy They however refused to effect the arrest of one Shedrack, an alleged cultist, disappeared, Bridget said: “It all started whom it seemed had the missing links last year. I thought I was going crazy. You to the growing puzzle of Kelvin’s disap- ought to have seen me.” pearance.

According to her, in June, 6, 2013, KelThey even refused to venture into vin called that she should send him a reShedrack’s vicinity, saying it was cult- charge card. She sent him an MTN N200.

Bridget

Later, she saw his missed call and tried to call back, but his phone remained switched off.

“When I got home in the evening, I called him, but it was still switched off. I tried the next day and the day after that, but it was still the same story.”

Beginning to worry, she called Ada, Kelvin’s girlfriend. The lady said she was not in town but would check on Kelvin once she got back to school.

“Ada called me in the evening; she said she went to Kelvin’s room and only saw his phone on the mattress and there was no SIM card inside,” said Bridget. “I called my husband. He tried the number, it was the same thing. My husband travelled the next day.”

CRIME QUOTE

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

“Can you imagine a whole country like Nigeria with its armed forces? Not one inch of territory recovered from the terrorists? How can you now convince me that this government has the capacity to recover an inch, if in the last five years they have not recovered one inch?

Government must rise up to its responsibility of protecting its citizens otherwise the whole of this country can be overrun.”

– Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar

Michael said that when he got to Awka, he located Ada and Kelvin’s room-mates. They said they had not seen Kelvin for some time. They said Kelvin went out with some guys. They also said Kelvin is a friend to Shedrack.

Michael said: “I told them to take me to Shedrack, but they refused, saying he stays in a bad neighbourhood. I told them to give me direction.”

When Michael got there, he met some tough looking guys who tried to stop him from going further into the compound. They told him that there were two persons bearing the name Shedrack in the compound, demanding he described the specific one he was looking for.

Michael said: “I said the one that is Kelvin’s friend. Shedrack then came outand told me he did not know any Kelvin. I left. The next day, I came back to Lagos. A week later, I went back to Awka. I went to Enugu to meet my friends, whom decided to go with me.

When we got there, my friends interrogated Shedrack. He still denied knowing Shedrack.”

Michael was beginning to lose his cool over Shedrack’s persistent denial that he did not know Kelvin after everyone said Kelvin was always with him.

Michael and Shedrack resorted to arC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

42

Crime

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Police clueless about missing undergraduate C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

guing, with Michael telling him to say the truth and Shedrack maintaining his story.

“We had issues. I slapped him. He now said he knew Kelvin, but that it was a long time he saw Kelvin last,” said Michael. “I went to the station and reported the matter to the police. Funny enough, Shedrack was not invited by the police, not to talk of even writing a statement.”

Bridget, thinking she would succeed where her husband, failed to discover anything, travelled to Awka.

When she got to Awka, she called Ada. The lady came late in the evening, forcing Bridget to lodge in an hotel.

Bridget said: “In the morning, Ada said she was going to work. She said she would come in the evening. I called her in the evening, but her phone was switched off.

I called the next day, the same thing. I left Enugu.

I was on my way back to Lagos when I called again and her line went through. I asked her what happened, she said she had exams.”

Bridget’s journey to Awka, just like Michael’s, was futile. But she, however, succeeded in printing 300 posters of Kelvin and pasted them everywhere, praying and hoping for a miracle. When she got to Lagos, she approached NTA and the story, with the picture of Kelvin was air for three weeks.

Michael said that they tried to get in touch with Nnamdi Azikiwe University authourity, but the school was on strike.

Since then, Bridget and Michael had not gone back to the school. They, however, soon received a call from a concealed number, threatening to kill Michael if he dared to show his face in the school again.

Bridget said that last year November, another person called her younger brother, Ayo and made further threats.

She said: “The caller said that they heard that Kelvin’s dad went to the school and slapped somebody, that if he tries it again, he would not leave the school alive.

“After they called in the evening time, we said we wanted to speak with Kelvin. They said they would call again in December. But they didn’t.

We now went back to Awka. We told the police that somebody called us.”

Even with all these

IGP, Abba

details given to Awka Police, the case continues to grow colder.

Surprisingly, for reasons nobody could ascertain, Ada, according to Kelvin’s parents, had kept hold of the boy’s phone after she removed it from his room.

Our correspondent called Ada, asking if she knew anyone behind Kelvin’s disappearance.

She said she didn’t. She, however, refused to say if she was dating Kelvin or not. She described Kelvin as, “a good kid,” but was not happy that his mother wanted to declare him missing without consulting her. Before the question of Kelvin’s phone could be asked, she cut off, saying she wanted to call Bridget.

One of Kelvin’s roommates, Felix, said he did not think Kelvin was into cult activities, adding that the missing boy, however, has a lot of friends belonging to AXE and AIYE cult groups.

Our correspondent also gathered further from the school that Kelvin allegedly went out with Ada before his disappearance. It was also said that Ada is not just older than him, but more ‘exposed than him.’

According to sources in the school, the warm, lively Kelvin became withdrawn after his admission into the university and subsequent relationship with Ada. He was said to have withdrew from some youngsters in the school whom people thought were his ‘blood brothers.’

It was also gathered

The search for the whereabouts of Kelvin is not as hopeless as the lethargy of the Police would make the matter appear

that he frequented Ada’s place and became friendly with some boys at Abagana town. He was into secretive business with his friends in Abagana, a business he said could fetch good money, but needed very little capital.

Almost running out of ideas, the parents sought the assistance of a lawyer; Jiti Ogunye.

The lawyer petitioned the Inspector-General-of Police, demanding proper investigation of the case.

The police spokesman in Anambra State, Mr. Uche Eze, said there was no police station or command in Anambra State called ‘Area C,’ adding that Kelvin’s parents should go and verify the station where they reported the case, to make fact finding easier.

A member of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command, who has investigated kidnapped cases successfully in Nigeria, described this particular case as ‘sweet and easy.’

According to him, “to crack this case is quite easy. What the police in Awka ought to have done was to arrest all the friends mentioned, especially the cult members. Kelvin’s girl friend should have been arrested and detained for holding unto his phone.

The phone is part of evidence and instrumental in locating the boy or finding out what happened to him.”

The lawyer stressed: “Kelvin was forcibly taken or lured out of his room, and since then

had not been seen. He had room mates, class mates and “friends”, who could be grilled and thoroughly investigated in order to discover the truth about his disappearance. Profiled cult gangs in the university could be screened to determine whether any one of them was responsible for the kidnap/abduction of Kelvin. The Nnamdi Azikiwe University Authority ought to have been made to answer certain questions.

Kelvin had a cell phone, the call-log of which could be obtained for the purpose of investigation and conducting intense scrutiny of his call and SMS history, in spite of the removal and “disappearance” of the SIM card.

“Three months after his disappearance, some unknown persons called his family on a cellphone claiming that he was with them, and that “he was fine’. That call could be traced to the person or area where the call was made; and voice-matching and comparison could be undertaken. In the circumstances, all these could provide vital clues and leads, but the Police have failed to act.

“The search for the whereabouts of Kelvin is not as hopeless as the lethargy of the Police would make the matter appear. Kelvin did not vanish into thin air. He did not fall victim of ritual murderers while wandering on the streets. He was taken from a school hostel, a place where we think, without playing police, investigation ought to have started. Unfortunately, beyond the perfunctory and lazy first steps taken by the Police, no further step had been taken by the Police.

“The attitude of the Police in Awka to the plight of our client and other members of her family over this matter cannot be right. We pray that you constitute an Inspector-General Team from the Force Headquarters to take over this case and comprehensively investigate same, with a view to securing the release of Kelvin from where he is being held captive, and bringing his abductors to justice.”

The last time the journalist spoke with Ogunye on this issue, he revealed that the IGP has constituted a team to reinvestigate the disappearance of Kelvin. Right now, Kelvin’s anxious parents are waiting for a miracle.

The 3rd Eye Boko Haram: Diplomatic approach, the way forward (1) Ethelbert Oney

T

he application of diplomacy is one of the counter-terrorism strategies, if properly managed, can be a vital tool to end the hostilities of the Boko Haram sect. A well coordinated diplomatic approach can bring permanent peaceful settlement hence the present strategy of military offensive is becoming more controversial as I initially commented.

The video evidence involving men with the Nigeria Army uniform engaged in an inhuman and degrading treatment of suspected members of the sect does not show much difference from the original perpetrators act. Although, to non practitioners of terrorism, ‘the only good terrorist is a dead terrorist’ however this saying is now overshadowed by the human right Acts and rule of law.

Within the context of diplomacy, is the notion of peace enforcement, an application of force to further peacemaking.

The use of force should not be confused with war in this context; it generally takes the form of persuasive peacemaking. The key difference between peacekeeping and peace enforcement is the intended goals and the gravity of the forces applied.

The secret of applying diplomatic approach as a counter-terrorism measure and its success is dependent on proper management of the environment, which is the primary responsibility of the government. The purpose of our counter-terrorism strategies should be to mitigate and change the emotional attitude of the Boko Haram members, supporters and sponsors. It should focus on preventing and persuading the support structure of their organization to drop their arms. For diplomacy to succeed the government must balance its approach and use of differing forums; prevent the overuse or under-use of any existing mechanism.

Peacekeepers should focus on preventing our law enforcement agencies and the (BH) terrorist group from violently engaging one another into further warfare. Peace enforcement, under the over arching premise of peacemaking, is the active engagement of the forces to implement and achieve the provisions of diplomatic process. Within the context of terrorism like we face from the dreaded Boko Haram sect, peace enforcement should be synonymous with our counterterrorism strategies.

• Ethelbert Oney is an Intelligence & Security Expert ethelbertoney@zissltd.com (08067764342 SMS only)

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

CBN moves to cut interest rate, limits banks’ placement to N7.5bn

MORE LIQUIDITY CBN’s restrictions swell interbank naira liquidity Godson Ikoro

Restricts dollar sales as naira falls

I

n a bid to reduce interest rate and make more cash available for lending to the real sectors, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday issued fresh guidelines on the operation of Standing Deposits Facility (SDF), setting the maximum remunerable daily placements by banks at N7. 5 billion.

It also banned the sale of dollars to importers of telecom equipment, power generators and finished products, at its foreign exchange auction.

In a statement ref: FMD/ DIR/ GEN/CIR/05/020 on guidelines for accessing the CBN Standing Deposit Facility, signed its Director Financial Markets Department, Mr. E.U. Ukeje , the lenders’ watchdog also set the remunerable SDF rate at 10 per cent per annum.

The new policy takes immediate effect.

Explaining the rationale behind the policy change, the apex bank said that it has observed that banks and discount houses have more deposits in the SDF, which is constraining the process of financial intermediation.

Consequently, it said that in order to encourage the banks to increase the lending to productive sector of the economy, the guidance of operation of SDF became necessary.

It said that henceforth, any deposit by a bank or discount house in excess of N7, 5 billion shall not be remunerated, emphasising the provisions are without prejudice to the line subsisting MPR corridor.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the SDF remains operative as a monetary policy tool but patronage of facility shall subject to the above modifications”, the apex bank said.

In this regard, CBN said that the MPR corridor remains at plus or minus 200 basis points around the MPR; SDF shall attract an interest rate of 10 percent per annum up to the limit of N7.5 billion, while any deposit over and above the maximum will attract zero interest rate.

In another development, the apex bank also excluded six transactions for the Retail Dutch Auction (RDAS) Window.

In another circular signed

by O.I. Gbadamosi, Director of Trade and Exchange Department, sent to all authorised dealers and the public, the apex bank excluded the importation of electronics, finished products, information technology, generators, telecommunications, equipment and invisible transactions from sources forex from the RDAS window. It said

they should get their forex from the interbank market.

The regulator said that this has become necessary in order to maintain the existing

DEEP POCKET Dangote’s personal fortune equal to 4 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP

N

igeria enjoys a perfect rice-growing climate over a vast area yet it is the world’s second biggest importer of the staple, often from countries in its warm, wet tropical latitude like top exporter Thailand.

It’s one of those baffling Nigerian paradoxes, like the fact that it is Africa’s top oil producer yet suffers frequent fuel shortages; or that it is sitting on the world’s eighth largest gas reserves but can only produce a few hours of power a day.

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

stability in the foreign exchange market and to further strengthen the various policy measures already initiated by the CBN.

The naira hit a new intraday low of N170.5 against the dollar yesterday, falling 1.87 percent as the stock market continued to slide.

Dangote to produce a million tonnes of rice

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

43

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Nigeria is second biggest rice importer As with the other bottlenecks holding back Africa’s biggest economy, decades of bad governance and corruption lie at the root of Nigeria’s agricultural dysfunction.

But unlike oil, where reform remains deadlocked by vested interests, the government is making serious efforts to clean up the farming sector and attract investment.

Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote thinks he can resolve the rice conundrum. He plans to do this by investing in farmland and mechanising farming practices in a country where many farmers still depend on pre-industrial tilling techniques.

“Everything you need for rice is here, but unfortunately for a long time no one was interested,” he told Reuters in a telephone interview. Not having enough land was the first obstacle that faced him after he thought of the idea.

He was surprised at how easily that got solved, as the governments of Jigawa, Niger, Kebbi, Edo and Kwara states between them offered 50,000 hectares to Dangote Industries.

“I think this is enough for us to grow and process up to a million tonnes of rice in the next four years,” he says. “I believe this is just the beginning.”

To back up his optimism, he points to his past success in producing cement.

Dangote grew his company over a decade from a relatively small cement import business to a behemoth that manufactures nearly 30 million tonnes of the stuff a year, makes up a third of Nigeria’s stock exchange and now has factories in various stages of completion across the continent.

For decades Nigeria was one of the world’s biggest cement importers. “We (Nigeria) were producing less than 2 million tonnes of cement,” in 2004, the tycoon says.

Ten years later and Nigeria as a whole now produces some 40 million tonnes a year, said Dangote, whose cement empire worth an estimated $20 billion has earned him the label “richest black person on the planet” from Forbes maga-

zine.

This month, Dangote Cement even had to cut prices to make up for falling sales amid oversupply.

Like cement, demand for rice among Nigeria’s 170 million population is huge, so he won’t need to think about export. Dangote estimates the current rice deficit at 2 1/2 million tonnes a year.

Nigerians eat rice in outsized portions and no party is complete without mountains of bright orange “jollof ” rice - a West African style of cooking the grains in tomato paste, onions and fiery peppers. Parboiled, not white rice, is favoured.

President Goodluck Jonathan made local production of rice a signature promise before he was elected in 2011.

His government has an ambitious target to import zero rice by the end of 2015, using incentives for farmers like free fertiliser and tax breaks for investors. Jonathan will seek another term in February.

Agriculture Minister Akinwumi Adesina has cleaned up corruption in government handouts of imported fertiliser, which has been hampered by fraud and an inefficient supply chain stretching from the port to the remote villages where it ends up. That was a major obstacle to development of the sector.

Dangote says his own factories will soon be producing more fertiliser than Nigeria could ever need - 2.8 million tonnes a year - which would cut out the need for imports altogether.

His plans for a 400,000 barrel-per-day oil refinery and petrochemical plant remain on track, he added.

Rice smugglers from neighbouring Benin, Niger and Cameroon are the biggest threat to his business model, Dangote complains, but it still stands to be highly profitable.

But with a reputation as a ruthless monopolist, with interests in everything from food milling to petrochemicals and a personal fortune equal to 4 percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), is Dangote not getting too big? He expects some will say that.

Business | Financial Market News

44

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

6-Nov-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 563.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 371.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 130.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,675.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,656.40

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.46 1.78 2.47 2.72 2.82 3.56 4.64 4.96 7.23 9.35 14.06 14.54 15.04 15.71 19.70

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.86 12.31 12.12 12.17 12.17 12.21 12.23 12.32 12.52 12.55 13.00 13.04 13.09 12.78 12.49

10.51 12.22 12.05 12.10 12.10 12.10 12.15 12.23 12.46 12.50 12.96 12.99 13.03 12.73 12.45

96.98 101.10 106.20 94.73 93.41 95.72 113.00 80.67 118.00 108.90 112.73 96.42 70.15 81.30 97.50

97.13 101.25 106.35 94.88 93.56 96.02 113.30 80.97 118.30 109.20 113.03 96.72 70.45 81.60 97.80

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.55 1.28 2.09 2.45 2.66

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

13.62 13.96 14.29 13.17 13.16

93.02 103.95 101.62 99.76 97.10

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

320.99

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.82

4.44

15.61

97.65

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.66

3.23

14.29

99.76

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.94

4.46

15.71

98.81

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.95

3.48

14.73

101.21

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.45

5.59

17.76

85.08

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.50

1.00

12.99

101.34

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.15

1.79

13.98

100.00

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.33

1.80

14.01

100.12

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.91

1.00

13.23

102.26

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.32

1.00

13.21

102.70

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.32

4.78

16.99

94.50

14-Feb-19

2.70

1.00

13.16

102.94

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.96

1.00

13.18

105.52

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

5.04

1.00

13.33

104.18

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.93

2.74

14.92

99.67

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.48

1.00

13.21

104.13

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.00

27-Nov-20

6.06

1.00

13.48

100.07

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.15

1.94

14.43

102.21

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.63

1.44

13.65

102.44

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.66

1.95

14.17

102.41

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.18 468.73

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.12

5.21

15.95

99.63

µ

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.15

8.71

19.33

99.49

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.54

4.88

15.87

97.53

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.61

1.00

12.03

100.37

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.69

2.63

13.72

100.86

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.90

1.00

13.25

99.56

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.97

1.34

13.64

101.02

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.90

1.00

13.17

99.56

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.71

1.88

14.01

107.24

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.92

3.48

15.75

100.58

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.09

5.20

17.49

101.18

#

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.09

5.06

17.35

101.83

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.88

1.35

13.58

101.19

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.20

2.29

14.54

102.26

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.28

6.11

18.34

97.95

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.15

2.16

14.35

104.06

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.02

2.76

15.23

100.06

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.90

1.00

13.71

90.46

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.90

1.00

13.71

97.52

A/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

144.36

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.27

1.00

13.19

92.22

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.49

1.00

13.27

93.79

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 23.21

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.24

5.08

107.91

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

108.78

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.40

4.18

102.44

103.20

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.54

5.41

105.66

106.57

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,580.04

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

8.57

8.57

103.30

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.91

4.91

103.75

103.75 101.72

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.54

6.54

101.72

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

9.14

8.69

93.35

94.63

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.01

5.85

99.95

100.54 102.00

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.68

9.68

102.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.45

6.45

99.25

99.25

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

9.15

8.74

98.54

100.04

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.11

8.11

99.75

99.75

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

8.11

8.11

93.00

93.00

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

9.35

9.17

99.75

100.63

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

8.21

8.21

97.95

97.95

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.44

8.23

100.57

101.66

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,744.06

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 49 56 63

Money Market

FIXINGS Maturity 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.65 10.60 10.60 10.55 10.80 10.80 10.85 10.80

Offer Discount (%) 10.40 10.35 10.35 10.30 10.55 10.55 10.60 10.55

Bid Yield (%) 10.67 10.64 10.67 10.64 10.91 10.96 11.03 11.01

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5833 12.4538 13.2763 14.3206

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

O/N Tenor Call 1M

10.29

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 12.47

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

170.00 168.67 168.94 169.56 170.75 171.94

170.10 168.91 169.25 170.19 171.88 173.59

Rating/Agency

Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.55 1.28 2.09 2.45 2.66

Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

13.62 13.96 14.29 13.17 13.16

93.02 103.95 101.62 99.76 97.10

Agency Bonds 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

320.99

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

Business | Financial Market News

Sub-National Bonds

45

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.82

4.44

15.61

97.65

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.66

3.23

14.29

99.76

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.94

4.46

15.71

98.81

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.95

3.48

14.73

101.21

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.45

5.59

17.76

85.08

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.50

1.00

12.99

101.34

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.15

1.79

13.98

100.00

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.33

1.80

14.01

100.12

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.91

1.00

13.23

102.26

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

12-Dec-13

14.00

PANIC

Nigerian stocks lead in global losses

A-/Agusto *BAYELSA Panic sales of shares A/Agusto EDO A+/Agusto; A+/GCR *DELTA in trigger colossal slide A-/Agusto; A-/GCR NIGER A/Agusto; A-/GCR† *EKITI equities A-/Agusto

*NIGER

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

Loses N484bn in a day 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

Stories Chris Ugwu Aa-/Agusto;by AA-/GCR LAGOS

S

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

tocks on the*OSUN Nigerian Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS Stock Exchange (NSE) A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI the A/Agustoyesterday declined *EKITI A-/GCR most among *NASARAWA global marTOTAL VALUE kets onOUTSTANDING speculation the counTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION try’s currency will be devalued because of lower oil prices, Corporate Bonds culminating in four Aa/Agusto GTBconsecuA/Agusto

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 tive declines this week.

At15.50 theGOMBE close02-OCT-2019 of transactions, 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 the NSE’s 14.75 OSUNmarket 12-DEC-2019capitalisaOSUN tion 14.75 lost aII 10-OCT-2020 whopping N484 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 billion, unprecedented in the 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 history 14.50 of EKITIExchange II 31-DEC-2020 since the 15.00 crash NASARAWA market in06-JAN-2021 2008.

“Foreign investors are exiting the market,” Pabina Yinkere, head of research 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 at Lagos-based Vetiva Capi-

4.2 per cent,09-Dec-18 the most since 14.96 2.32 March 201012-Dec-18 and the most 11.13 2.32 27.00 14-Feb-19 2.70 among 93 global indexes moni16.23 02-Oct-19 2.96 tored by Bloomberg.

80.00 22-Nov-19 5.04 Specifically, at the close 27.51 12-Dec-19 2.93of 11.40 10-Oct-20 3.48 business, the NSE All-Share 87.00 27-Nov-20 6.06 Index closed at 34,494.42 from 5.00 31-Dec-20 6.15 35.958.38 recorded the previous 4.78 31-Dec-20 3.63 4.79 while the 06-Jan-21 3.66 day, market capitali471.18 of equities declined to sation 468.73 N11.425 trillion from 11.909 trillion, representing a drop 18-Dec-14 0.12 of13.17 N484 billion or 4.2 per cent,

14-Feb-12 15.50 told tal Management Ltd., 02-Oct-12 15.50 Bloomberg by phone.

“They 22-Nov-12 14.50 don’t want 12-Dec-12to be stuck 14.75in Ni10-Oct-13 the naira 14.75 geria when will be 27-Nov-13 13.50 devalued.

The fall in the oil 31-Dec-13 15.00 price has given a challenging 31-Dec-13 14.50 15.00 outlook06-Jan-14 to the economy .”

The Exchange’s All Share Index fell an 11th day in the longest stretch of losses since 18-Dec-09 13.50 January 2009. The gauge slid

as 1.00 market sentiment remained 13.21 102.70 negative.

4.78 16.99 94.50 1.00 13.16 102.94 At the close of transac1.00 13.18 105.52 tions five stocks appreciated 1.00 13.33 104.18 in 2.74 price, as against 49 that 14.92 99.67 de1.00 104.13 preciated in 13.21 value.

1.00 13.48 Lafarge Africa Plc100.07 (WAP1.94 14.43 102.21 CO) and Ashaka Cement 1.44 13.65 102.44 Plc, 1.95 14.17building 102.41 makers of the material, fell 9.7 per cent, leading decliners. Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc dropped to the low15.95 99.63 est5.21 since November 2012.

Nil

µ

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.15

8.71

19.33

99.49

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.54

4.88

15.87

97.53

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.61

1.00

12.03

100.37

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.69

2.63

13.72

100.86

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.90

1.00

13.25

99.56

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

14.25 5.53 25-Oct-16 1.97 restige Assurance Plc who lost 13.64 their lives101.02 in the Prestige Assurance’s un- 1.34 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 2.90 1.00 13.17 99.56 has posted four per audited financial statements ill-fated Dana aircraft that 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.71 1.88 14.01 107.24 cent drop in 16.00 post-tax for the for the 09-Apr-18 half year ended crashed 15.75 on June 100.58 3, 2012 09-Apr-11 6.30 1.92 June 3.48 09-Sep-11 2.90 09-Sep-18 2.09 slide 5.20 17.49 101.18 have received insurance nine-month 18.00 ended Septem2014 also had its profit 09-Sep-11 0.80 09-Sep-18 2.09 5.06 17.35 101.83 ber 30, 2014. 16.00 by 41 per cent from N336.255 claims totalling $5.05millio 22-Sep-11 14.00 35.00 22-Sep-18 3.88 1.35 13.58 101.19 (N821million).

A cursory million18-Oct-18 in June 2013 to 2.29 18-Oct-13 15.75look at the 2.40 2.20 14.54 102.26 financials in a filing with N198.407 million within the The Managing Direc17-Feb-19 2.28 6.11 18.34 97.95 17-Feb-12 17.00 0.41 01-Apr-14 16.00 Stock Ex4.50 01-Apr-19 in 2014.3.15 2.16 14.35 104.06 same period the Nigerian tor, Prestige Assurance 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 15.23 100.06 change (NSE) showed that In the same vein,6.02 Gross 2.76 Plc, Mr. Anand Mittal, who 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 30-Sep-24 9.90 1.00 13.71 90.46 the company’s Premium Income (GPI) disclosed13.71 this, said97.52 “as of 30-Sep-14 13.25 net earn15.44 30-Sep-24 9.90came 1.00 ings declined from N344.786 August 11, 2014, we have 144.16 down by 28.3 per cent to stand made advance payments million in 2013 to N330.630 144.36 at N1.690 billion at the end of million during the period the half year in June 2014, as to 106 passengers and final under review, accounting against11-Feb-18 N2.360 billion3.27 for the 1.00 payments13.19 have been made 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 92.22 for a loss of 11.25 four per cent.12.95 same period in 2013. 4.49 to 68 passengers’ relatives.”

10-Jul-14 01-Feb-21 1.00 13.27 93.79 The company’s gross The Chairman of the He explained that two 24.95 premium income equally out of the 68, who collected 23.21 company, Dr. C.S. Sankey, shed eight per cent from had late last year during the final claims, were relaOutstanding Value billion in 2013 to the firm’s tives vicIssueN2.933 Date Coupon (%) Maturity Annual Date BidGeneral Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) ofBidthe Price ground Offer Price ($mm) Meeting in Lagos, said that tims, while the rest were N2.684 billion in 2014.

Prices & Yields a Dana aircraft that crashed relatives of the passengers 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 in 201228-Jan-21 5.24 107.91 abroad the aircraft.108.78 in Lagos, and killed 5.08 all passengers on board and 4.18 The managing director 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.40 102.44 103.20 others on ground, was the noted that 30 per cent of the 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 most tragic 12-Jul-23 event the 5.54 firm 5.41 105.66 or $30,000 106.57 per total claims, head, was expected to be 1,500.00 had ever witnessed in its paid within 30 days of the 1,580.04 61 years of existence in the country. loss as the initial liability, The chairman also said while the balance was to be 01-Feb-11 11.50 450.00 8.57 8.57 103.30 that as 01-Feb-16 the lead underwriter paid after103.30 the presentation 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 4.91 4.91 103.75 103.75 for the crashed plane, it rec- of letters of administra25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 6.54 6.54 101.72 101.72 ognised the need to 9.14 ensure 8.69 tion by the victims’94.63 family 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 93.35 members. that the insurance obliga08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.01 5.85 99.95 100.54 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 tions to 08-Apr-19 102.00 102.00 the the families9.68 of the 9.68 According to him, 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 deceased 22-Apr-19 6.45 met.

6.45 99.25passengers 99.25 number of in persons were 21-May-14 8.75 200.00 9.15 98.54 100.04 The21-May-19 company had how- 8.74 the crashed plane was 147, 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 8.11 8.11 99.75 99.75 ever, 09-Dec-20 reported recently while the93.00 crew members 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 8.11 8.11 93.00 fewer than made the99.75 number of those 24-Jun-14 400.00 that no 24-Jun-21 9.35 106 9.17 100.63 CEO, NSE, Oscar9.25 Onyema 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 relatives 23-Jul-21 8.21 8.21 97.95 to be 153.

97.95 on the plane of the passengers

NGC

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

Dangote Cement to slow CAPEX next year

D

Prestige reports 4% drop in net earnings

P

25-Oct-13

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 *TOWER angote Cement ex- week lowered cement pric14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR UBA pects to slow its capes in Nigeria by about 14 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR *LA CASERA ital BB+/GCR spending next percentMPR+5.00 to N1,150, in order CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; *CHELLARAMS 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 Nil year to around $700*DANA million, to boost volumes after it 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A-/GCR NAHCO asA+/Agusto; it completes most of its said sales for nine months 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC African expansion projects. to September fell by 1 per 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC According to VALUE Reuters cent to 9.8 million tonnes TOTAL OUTSTANDING news, company’s Chief and reported a 1.5 percent TOTALthe MARKET CAPITALISATION Executive, Mr. Edwin Deva- rise in pre-tax profit.

Supranational Bond kumar said Africa’sIFCbiggest But the cut in cement pric10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P cement operation budgeted es has seen its share price 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB shed 1.7 per cent since last toTOTAL spend around $1.4 billion OUTSTANDING VALUE this year, as itCAPITALISATION ramps up its Monday to hit a 14-month TOTAL MARKET cement works from Sen- intraday low of N188.53 on egal toRating/Agency Zambia, the bulk ofIssuer Wednesday. The stock, which Description which are expected to begin makes up a third of NigeFGN Eurobonds production this year. ria’s market capitalisation JANyear.

28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P Dangote embarked on an is down 4.6 percent6.75 this expansion outside its homeFGN Its $600 million5.13cement BB-/Fitch; JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P market to tap into infra- plant in South Africa has BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 Devastructure growth and has started production, BB-/S&P invested more than $5 bil- kumar said while it has TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE lion in MARKET projects.

It has proj- started the process of comTOTAL CAPITALISATION ects in Cameroon, Ethiopia, missioning its Senegal Corporate Eurobonds plant. Ethiopia will start Kenya, Niger and Zambia.

11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I “This year we may end the commissioning process 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I up with a CAPEX of close to next month, he said.

7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC $1.4 billion though we expect Devakumar said6.88 a cement MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC itB+/Fitch; to come down next year to factory in Sierra Leone 6.00 NOVwas 08, 2018 B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 10.25 month APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II around $700 million,” Devascheduled to start this 6.25 APRhold 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P BANK PLC but it has been put kumar told Reuters,ZENITH adding on 8.75 May 21, 2019 DIAMOND BANK PLC itB/Fitch; was B/S&P growing its direct de- due to ongoing Ebola crisis 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC liveries to customers to gain in the country, adding that 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III market share. project would start whenJUN 24, 2021 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLCthe II 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK Dangote Cement thisLTD the crisis abates.

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

B-/S&P

#

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

14-Aug-14

8.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION **Treasury Bills The FMDQ Daily

Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, Maturity Bid Discounton (%)www.fmdqotc.com.

Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) the FMDQ DTM OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement

7 13-Nov-14 10.65 14 20-Nov-14 10.60 21 27-Nov-14 10.60 4-Dec-14 10.55 FGN Bonds 28 35 11-Dec-14 10.80 49 25-Dec-14 10.80 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 56 1-Jan-15 10.85 63 8-Jan-15 10.80 70 15-Jan-15 10.80 4.00 23-APR-2015 77 22-Jan-15 10.55 13.05 16-AUG-2016 84 29-Jan-15 10.75 15.10 27-APR-2017 91 5-Feb-15 9.90 9.85 27-JUL-2017 98 12-Feb-15 10.90 9.35 31-AUG-2017 105 19-Feb-15 10.30 112 26-Feb-15 10.90 10.70 30-MAY-2018 119 5-Mar-15 11.00 16.00 29-JUN-2019 126 12-Mar-15 10.90 NA NA 7.00 23-OCT-2019 140 26-Mar-15 11.00 16.39 27-JAN-2022 147 2-Apr-15 11.05 14.20 14-MAR-2024 154 9-Apr-15 11.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 161 16-Apr-15 11.10 168 23-Apr-15 10.30 12.49 22-MAY-2029 175 30-Apr-15 11.01 8.50 20-NOV-2029 182 7-May-15 10.40 10.00 23-JUL-2030 273 6-Aug-15 10.85 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 301 3-Sep-15 10.30 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE #

10.40 10.35 10.35 10.30 10.55 10.55 Issue Date 10.60 10.55 10.55 23-Apr-10 10.30 16-Aug-13 10.50 27-Apr-12 9.65 27-Jul-07 10.65 31-Aug-07 10.05 10.65 30-May-08 10.75 29-Jun-12 10.65 23-Oct-09 10.75 27-Jan-12 10.80 14-Mar-14 10.75 28-Nov-08 10.85 10.05 22-May-09 10.76 20-Nov-09 10.15 23-Jul-10 10.60 18-Jul-14 10.05

10.67 10.64 10.67 10.64 10.91 10.96 Coupon 11.03 (%) 11.01 11.03 4.00 10.79 13.05 11.02 15.10 10.15 9.85 11.23 9.35 10.61 11.28 10.70 11.41 16.00 11.33 7.00 11.48 16.39 11.56 14.20 11.54 15.00 11.67 10.81 12.49 11.63 8.50 10.97 10.00 11.81 12.1493 11.26

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Issuer

14-Aug-21

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

100.57

securities and

NIBOR

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 10.5833 12.4538 13.2763 14.3206

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

O/N

10.29

Tenor

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 563.89 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.1106 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 10.8049 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 11.1109 6M 11.1610 300.00 30-May-18 9M 11.3403 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 11.3930 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 371.68 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 150.00 22-May-29 BID($/N) 200.00 167.6500 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 167.7500 591.57 23-Jul-30 130.00 18-Jul-34

101.66

6-Nov-14 Money Market instruments in the OTC

REPO

TTM Call(Yrs) 1M 3M 0.46 6M 1.78

market.Foreign The use of this(Spot report is subject to Exchange & Forwards)

Rate (%)

Bid10.25 Yield (%) 12.47 13.41 10.86 14.28 12.31

Tenor Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 6M 10.51 1Y 12.22

2.47 12.12 12.05 2.72 12.17 12.10 2.82 12.17 12.10 :Benchmarks * :Amortising 3.56Bond 12.21 12.10 µ :Convertible 4.64Bond 12.23 12.15 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.96 12.32 12.23 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 7.23 12.52 12.46 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 9.35 Finance Corporation 12.55 12.50 IFC: International 14.06 13.00 Management 12.96 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.54 Aviation Handling 13.04 Company 12.99 O/N: Overnight 15.04 13.09 13.03 UPDC: UAC Property Development Company 15.71 12.78 12.73 WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company 19.70 12.49 12.45 NOTE:

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

170.00 170.10 168.67 Price 168.91 168.94 169.25 169.56 170.19 Bid Price Offer 170.75 171.88Price 171.94 173.59 175.72 179.19 96.98 97.13 183.37 191.49 101.10 101.25

106.20 106.35 94.73 94.88 93.41 93.56 NA :Not Applicable # :Floating Rate Bond 95.72 96.02 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 113.00 113.30 80.67 80.97 †: Bond rating expired 118.00 118.30 N/A :Not Available 108.90 109.20 112.73 113.03 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 96.42 96.72 UBA: United Bank for Africa 70.15 70.45 81.30 81.60 97.50 97.80

4,675.13

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

8.23

4,656.40

Agency Bonds Modified FMBN Duration Buckets

8.44

4,744.06 FIXINGS fixed income

Bonds

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills Rating/Agency

250.00

4,760.00

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 Total Outstanding Porfolio Market Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,050.96 1,016.68 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM1,104.97 III 06-JUL-2017 1,012.46

1,093.25

3,168.38

3,061.23

24-May-10 Weighting by Outstanding 03-Apr-12Vol

09-Dec-11 33.21 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-1231.08 35.71

100.00

0.00by Mkt Weighting Value 17.25

0.00/16.00 33.17 0.00/16.50 34.87 0.00/16.50 31.95

100.00

24.56 3.00 112.22 0.33 116.70 66.49 0.31

Bucket Weighting

0.36

322.97

1.00

320.99

24-May-15 % Exposure_ Mod_Duration 03-Apr-17

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

#

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

09-Dec-16 14.55 20-Apr-17 30.18 06-Jul-17

0.55 1.28 2.09 12.21 2.45 12.43 2.66

2.63 Implied Portfolio Price 2.27

12.66

2.00 119.5475 1.00 134.9219 1.00 103.3918

13.62 13.96 14.29 1,135.46 13.17 1,142.47 13.16 1,208.83

100.00

12.53

118.5556

1,132.10

55.27

Implied Yield

INDEX

Indicative Price

93.02 YTD Return (%) 103.95

101.62 13.5457 99.76 14.2468 97.10 20.8832 13.2102

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.82

4.44

15.61

97.65

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.66

3.23

14.29

99.76

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.94

4.46

15.71

98.81

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.95

3.48

14.73

101.21

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.45

5.59

17.76

85.08

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.50

1.00

12.99

101.34

46

Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041

Business | Capital Market

Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Daily Summary (Equities)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at November 6, 2014

Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Daily Summary (Bonds)

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 15.10% FGN APR 2017 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals

Symbol FG9B2017S2 FG9B2019S3

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 2 1 3

Current Price 109.50 116.50

3

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 310 300 610

610

3

Value Traded 341,250.07 367,074.07 708,324.14

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

708,324.14

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties

FEEDS PLC. Daily SummaryLIVESTOCK as of 06/11/2014 Livestock/Animal Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 7 3 10

Current Price 31.35 26.12

Quantity Traded 57,800 102,020 159,820

Value Traded 1,721,862.00 2,664,762.60 4,386,624.60

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 2.70

Quantity Traded 221,113 221,113

Value Traded 597,005.10 597,005.10

AGRICULTURE Totals

19

380,933

HEALTHCARE Totals Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041 ICT

Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals IT Services

Activity SummaryWAREHOUSE on Board EQTY COMPUTER GROUP PLC

IT Services Totals ICT Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Stock Exchange © Published by The Nigerian Processing Systems Totals

4,983,629.70

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary Board EQTY Published

by The Nigerian on Stock Exchange © CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. JOHN HOLT PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

Page

Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM JOHNHOLT TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 1 1 1 141 16 160

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014Construction Totals Infrastructure/Heavy

Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

Current Price 1.45 3.95 1.03 3.41 47.03

160

1

of

11

Quantity Traded 2,249 2,000 300 26,293,563 32,519 26,330,631

Value Traded 3,103.62 7,520.00 294.00 89,669,549.83 1,387,121.55 91,067,589.00

26,330,631

91,067,589.00

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 15 15

Current Price 0.86

Quantity Traded 661,208 661,208

Value Traded 569,057.77 569,057.77

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 67.20

Quantity Traded 5,000 5,000

Value Traded 319,200.00 319,200.00

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 12.01

Quantity Traded 397,351 397,351

Value Traded 4,772,185.51 4,772,185.51

1,063,559

5,660,443.28

Daily Summary (Equities)

30

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals Packaging/Containers Activity Summary on Board BETA GLASS CO PLC. EQTY Packaging/Containers Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Tools and Machinery NIGERIAN ROPES PLC Tools and Machinery Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041 NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. EQTY Food Products--Diversified Totals CONSUMER GOODS Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Current Price 12.18 0.92 161.00 31.50 143.45

Quantity Traded 100,750 13,700 956,497 185,110 3,024,677 4,280,734

Value Traded 1,197,135.00 13,152.00 151,072,587.24 5,610,428.40 434,123,116.89 592,016,419.53

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 52 52

Current Price 135.00

Quantity Traded 974,509 974,509

Value Traded 131,449,042.35 131,449,042.35

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM

No. of Deals 4 118 15 7 20 8 172

Current Price 6.55 5.43 61.40 3.48 7.32 18.96

Quantity Traded 2,300 6,475,802 22,862 85,769 57,649 435,874 7,080,256

Value Traded 14,329.00 35,172,639.11 1,333,540.46 298,476.12 400,204.27 8,269,121.20 45,488,310.16

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 58 86 144

Current Price 34.82 883.50

Quantity Traded 1,147,739 336,187 1,483,926

Value Traded 40,006,299.26 297,244,501.79 337,250,801.05

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 9 8 17

Current Price 4.30 1.02

Quantity Traded 105,200 Page 215,000 320,200

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 27 118 145

Current Price 19.43 29.80

Quantity Traded 133,331 3,492,884 3,626,215

Value Traded 2,453,800.10 104,161,190.69 106,614,990.79

17,765,840

1,213,469,392.88

Quantity Traded 25,446,731 31,115,802 6,058,639 11,188,838 33,124,641 11,741,298 339,701,561 57,811,064 2,592,634 107,000 Quantity Traded 9,119,397

Value Traded 193,395,720.60 171,457,817.02 106,514,591.76 20,291,795.48 820,198,277.21 28,946,867.98 741,242,028.15 244,927,128.88 18,072,684.41 53,500.00 Value Traded 8,413,112.12

Daily Summary (Equities)

873 Symbol No. of Deals Current Price ACCESS 121 7.60 DIAMONDBNK 46 5.51 ETI 88 17.58 FIDELITYBK 80 1.80 GUARANTY 374 25.00 SKYEBANK 96 2.50 Daily Summary (Equities) STERLNBANK 74 2.18 UBA 298 4.21 UBN 55 6.82 UNITYBNK 3 0.50 Symbol No. of Deals WEMABANK 46 Current Price 0.95 342 1,623

20.50

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM NIGERINS PRESTIGE SOVRENINS WAPIC

No. of Deals 23 56 25 5 46 6 7 1 16 185

Micro-Finance Banks FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC.

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

of

No. of Deals 4 1 105 26 207 343

ZENITHBANK

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

2

Symbol CHAMPION GOLDBREW GUINNESS INTBREW NB

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 DIAMOND BANK PLC Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041 ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANKon FOR AFRICA PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY UNION BANK NIG.PLC. FINANCIAL UNITY SERVICES BANK PLC Banking WEMA BANK PLC.

Page

2,580,947,626.08 4,934,461,149.69

Current Price 0.80 0.88 3.00 0.50 0.68 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.61

Quantity Traded 2,686,801 322,735,138 172,099,611 1,159,750 3,374,783 92,400 99,400 5,000 479,105 502,731,988

Value Traded 2,149,450.71 302,837,572.68 516,260,345.20 579,875.00 2,306,054.55 46,200.00 49,700.00 2,500.00 303,313.05 824,535,011.19

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 5.42 0.92

Quantity Traded 2,700 107,833 110,533

Value Traded 15,120.00 99,206.36 114,326.36

No. of Deals 29 22 489 56

Current Price 2.60 3.42 9.96 3.38

Quantity Traded 290,820 1,616,500 39,389,546 28,232,958

Value Traded 756,772.00 5,529,812.00 392,724,221.75 89,875,345.44

Page

Page

11

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors OIL AND GAS PLC CONOIL Petroleum ETERNA and PLC.Petroleum Products Distributors FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

4

5

of

of

No. of Deals 21 23 11 8 63

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041 Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Value Traded 7,190.50 1,175,840.82 20,213,048.52 510,282,231.03

1,237,824,705

6,269,392,718.27

Quantity Traded 1,383,200 459,579 240,477 55,154 2,138,410

Value Traded 4,406,057.00 22,512,669.36 394,382.28 48,308.28 27,361,416.92

2,138,410

27,361,416.92

Current Price 0.51

Quantity Traded 1,548,900 1,548,900

Value Traded 779,568.86 779,568.86

Current Price 3.13 49.00 1.64 0.91

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 20 20 Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 4.80

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 4,560.00 4,560.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000,000 Page 1,000,000

Value Traded 6 500,000.00 of 11 500,000.00

26 Symbol ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN DANGCEM DNMEYER WAPCO

2,549,900

1,284,128.86

No. of Deals 10 1 32 2 3 1 35 84

Current Price 24.77 8.00 40.40 11.56 198.45 0.95 80.88

Quantity Traded 418,032 6,000 178,674 602 11,368 774 6,848,656 7,464,106

Value Traded 10,361,152.64 45,600.00 6,858,024.12 6,452.90 2,255,979.60 735.30 553,942,247.28 573,470,191.84

No. of Deals 5 5 (Equities)

Current Price 1.55

Quantity Traded 32,815 32,815

Value Traded 52,154.00 52,154.00

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 21.00

Quantity Traded 10,150 10,150

Value Traded 223,807.50 223,807.50

Symbol NIGROPES

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.46

Quantity Traded 500 500 Page

Value Traded 3,545.00 3,545.00 7 of 11

Symbol CUTIX

Daily Summary

93

7,507,571

573,749,698.34

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 11 11

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 641,153 641,153

Value Traded 320,576.50 320,576.50

Symbol

No. of Deals 133 133

Current Price 17.82

Quantity Traded 2,392,404 2,392,404

Value Traded 42,690,893.28 42,690,893.28

Symbol CONOIL Symbol ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 9 No. of Deals9 52 4 4 26 104

Current Price 49.23 Current Price 3.50 194.75 170.50 56.00 152.00

Quantity Traded 11,423 Quantity 347,500 Traded 265,207 964 1,500 52,962 679,556

Value Traded 534,253.71 Value Traded 1,202,225.00 53,158,106.35 156,148.72 79,800.00 8,172,706.40 63,303,240.18

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 544.59

Quantity Traded 37 37

Value Traded 19,143.32 19,143.32

Daily Summary (Equities) OANDO

Page 3,713,150

252

8 of 11 106,333,853.28

Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 0.75

Quantity Traded 95,087 95,087

Value Traded 68,462.64 68,462.64

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 4.00

Quantity Traded 14,574,158 14,574,158

Value Traded 58,296,282.00 58,296,282.00

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals 18 1 19

Current Price 2.76 3.51

Quantity Traded 3,382,522 100 3,382,622

Value Traded 9,336,113.52 334.00 9,336,447.52

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 9 9

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 40,100 Page 40,100

Value Traded 9 20,050.00 of 11

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.51 4.15

Quantity Traded 19,939 1,100 21,039

Value Traded 28,712.16 4,345.00 33,057.16

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 2,172,889 2,172,889

Value Traded 1,303,806.20 1,303,806.20

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 6,000,000 6,000,000

Value Traded 3,000,000.00 3,000,000.00

No. of Deals 2 67 69 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 1.83 4.83

Quantity Traded 16,500 1,711,202 1,727,702

Value Traded 28,710.00 7,761,893.05 7,790,603.05

Current Price 4.00

Quantity Traded 99,750 99,750

Value Traded 380,096.50 380,096.50

28,113,347

80,228,805.07

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Hotels/Lodging Totals SERVICES

Media/Entertainment DAAR COMMUNICATIONS Published by The Nigerian Stock ExchangePLC © Media/Entertainment Totals

Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Daily Summary as ofTotals 06/11/2014 Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041 Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

11

Quantity Traded 13,510 42,633 12,602,403 82,188,370

63

Published The GAS Nigerian Stock Exchange © OILbyAND Totals

Value Traded 3 430,279.00 of 11 219,550.00 649,829.00

124,786,209 652,793,814

Symbol FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

OIL AND GAS Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 Energy Equipment and Services Printed 06/11/2014 14:48:41.041 JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 0.53 28.14 1.61

2,528

ICT Totals INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP PLC CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Daily Summary as of 06/11/2014 Building14:48:41.041 Materials Totals Printed 06/11/2014

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONSUMER GOODS Published byBeverages--Brewers/Distillers The Nigerian Stock Exchange © CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GOLDEN GUINEA BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

No. of Deals 2 10 108 716

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

708,324.14

610

Symbol ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Support and Logistics

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals SERVICES SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 13 13 144

Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © EQTY Board Totals

Equity Activity Totals

20,050.00

4,188

Page 10 of 11 1,327,388,046 8,373,531,675.60

4,188

1,327,388,046

8,373,531,675.60

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 1,872.00 15.30

Quantity Traded 9 38,435 38,444

Value Traded 16,848.00 589,305.50 606,153.50

ETF Board Totals

4

38,444

606,153.50

ETP Activity Totals

4

38,444

606,153.50

11

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

11

of

11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-SOUTH

Ebola: 300 corps members barred from Bayelsa Chris Ejim YENAGOA

N

ational Youth Service Corps (NYSC), members numbering about three hundred of the Batch B Corps have been barred from traveling into Bayelsa State, for fear of the deadly Ebola Virus outbreak in some parts of the Country, as the orientation camp programme opened in Kaima community camp

of the NYSC in the State.

The three weeks orientation programme, however opened with a total of 1,446 corps members posted to the State.

The State Coordinator on NYSC, Mr. Anthony Ekeocha, noted that the 300 corps members tagged 2014 Batch B Stream 2 were unable to participate in the programme due to the travel warnings on the recent Ebola outbreak in some

parts of the Country.

Ekeocha, noted that though the last few days of interaction with Youth Corps members have shown that it will be successful. He urged the to brace up to the challenges and adjust to life in order to achieve the intended goals of the exercise by obeying all rules.

Earlier in his speech,the Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson enjoined the

corps members to use the opportunity of the orientation to learn more about the people, culture and languages of the people of Bayelsa to enable them adapt and interact freely with their host communities.

The Governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education Mr. Dein Benadoumene, described Bayelsa as a land of opportunities for creative

and resourceful minds and urged the corps members to take advantage of the opportunities created by the many people orientation programmes of the state government.

Governor Dickson assured the corps members that the state government has put in place adequate welfare and security measures to guaranteed their safety throughout their stay in camp and in the state.

L-R: Zonal Controller, Nigerian Depositors Insurance Corporation [NDIC], Port Harcourt, Mr Festus Ekechi; President, Lifetime Caring International Foundation Orphanage Home, Lucky Abaadam; his wife, Abigail and Director, Research, NDIC, Dr. Jacob Afolabi, during a visit of the corporation to the home in Port Harcourt …yesterday

16 PDP guber aspirants advised to sheath swords Emmanuel Masha PORT-HARCOURT

T

he Rivers State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has disclosed that the sixteen protesting governorship aspirants seeking the disqualification of the immediate past minister of state for education Barrister Nyesom Wike from the governorship race would not have their way on the issue.

The party’s chairman, Bro. Felix Obuah, who stated this in a statement, urged the aspirants to sheath their swords to strengthen the party, advising that the aspirants to make themselves popular among the grassroots rather than seeking the disqualification of another aspirant.

He said: “the aspirants should divorce their selfish, wrongly coordinated and unpopular aspirations into building the party in the

state and reclaiming the lost mandate, a process we believe has been initiated and championed by the former Minister.

“It is also important we appeal to the gover norship aspirants and other petitioners, regarding the just conducted ward congresses of the Party, which success cannot be denied, as it was most peaceful, fair and massively participated in by Rivers people, to heed the decision of the Ward Congress Appeal Panel which has been duly communicated to them.

“We believe that if they are truly loyal and committed members of our great party, they should respect the decision of top authorities and structures of the Party, with no exception to issues relating to the Party Congresses.

He noted that the just concluded ward congresses in the State were successful and peaceful.

Rivers APC seeks non-indigenes’ support Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

T

he Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has commenced moves toward adequately securing votes of non-indigenes of the state, as it held crucial talks with the leadership of the Indigenes Political Forum (NIPF), an umbrella body of non-indigenes residents in the state.

The party, through its Contact Committee led by Hon. Dakuku Peterside, met with the leadership of NIPF in

Port Harcourt, to strategize on how to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

Dakuku, who received 622 non indigenes that decamped to APC from PDP at the event, commended them for the move, and assured them of the party’s readiness to treat them as owners/ founders of the party.

He said that the APC was focused on good governance, defeating corruption and ensure that the programmes of Governor Chibuike Amaechi were sustained.

He said: “To show his seriousness towards the non indigenes in Rivers State, Governor Amaechi appointed one of you into the State Executive Council, Barr. Chuma Chinye, as the Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Chief Ade Adeogun as Sole Administrator of the Waste Management Authority, with other sensitive offices offered to non indigenes.

“With such a government that caters for each of you in this form, it is your duty to ensure that such a government is encouraged and motivated to do more.”

NDDC contractors decry non-payment of fees Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

C

ontractors handling various projects on behalf of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), yesterday called on President Goodluck Jonathan, to prevail on the Managing Director of the commission, Mr. Dan Abia, to pay up money for the execution of contracts for the commission since 2012.

In a statement by Prince Robinson Brasin, Chief Executive Officer, Robin-Bee Nigeria Enterprises on behalf of other contractors stated that they have executed projects for the commission since 2011 and 2012, but are yet to get paid for all the contracts up till date.

The statement revealed that bank interest has almost gulped up both the capital and

benefits of the jobs they executed; adding that banks may seize their properties at the end due to the refusal of the commission to pay up their contracts money.

Prince Brasin, who is the National Chairman of South South for Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organization stated that he knew President Goodluck Jonathan to be a president that listens to the people.

A’Ibom 2015: Ekpenyong applauds zoning Tony Anichebe UYO

A

s the governorship primary election for aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Akwa Ibom State, slated for November 29, 2 draws near, a chieftain of the party and former deputy governor of the state, Obong Christopher Stephen Ekpenyong, has lent his support to the zoning principle adopted by the party, stating that flouting the order could jeopardize the chances of the party at the polls.

In a chat with New Telegraph in Uyo, the former deputy also warned against what he described as imposition of candidates during the polls, declaring that such idea would work against the chances of the party in the State.

Commending Governor Godswill Akpabio, for his adherence to the party’s zoning principle as laid down by the PDP since 1999, Ekpenyong, underscored the importance of peace and harmony as the essential prerequisites for development in the polity, but warned against unnecessarily overheating the system by those he described as trouble makers.

Monarchs warn against sabotage Tony Anichebe UYO

I

n the quest of the Oron nation the third largest ethnic group in Akwa Ibom State, to produce the next governor of the state, royal fathers from the state, under the aegis of Council of Oron Traditional Rulers have threatened to penalise any indigene of the town who may want to jeopardise the interest of the ethnic group in the 2015 elections.

Angered by what they described as gross intentional neglect and marginalization of Oron nation by the past and present administrations in the state in terms of infrastructural development and political appointments”, the royal fathers across the five local government areas of oro nation, converged on the ancestral “Obio Ufere Oron” in Okobo local government area resolving to invoke the gods of the land on any Oron son or daughter who indulges in antiOron politics, as the PDP governorship primaries scheduled for November 29 approaches.

48

News

friday, november 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

north

Suswam, Gemade renew political battle rivalry

Governors’ love for the Senate is creating division all over the country and Benue is feeling the heat

Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

T

he just concluded ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State ended last week

4%

with Governor Gabriel Suswam and the former National Chairman of the party, who is also the senator representing Benue North East, Senator Barnabas Gemade, renewing battle for the soul of the senatorial district.

The congress just like in any other in states of the federation was held without hitches even as pockets of irregularities were recorded in some areas.

The exercise, which began on a faulty note due to the late arrival of

The percentage of men population above 60 years in Burundi in 2012.

Source: Un.org

materials for the exercise, bred bad blood in the state with members pointing accusing fingers at each other.

Members accused each other of tampering with the results of the exercise. Besides that, some persons were reportedly killed in the exercise while others were beaten to pulp.

For instance, in the Benue South senatorial district, three people were feared dead and many others, including the Chairman of Ado

2.91

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of India in 2010.

Source: Itu.int

Local Government, Mr. Alex Ogaba, were injured while allegedly attempting to snatch sensitive materials meant for the exercise.

Meanwhile, mixed reactions yesterday continued to trail the exercise with both Suswam and Gemade trading blames and attacking each other on the conduct of the exercise.

Miffed by the manner the congress was held, Gemade swiftly petitioned the electoral committee over the cancellation of

635

The number of pending asylum seekers of Zimbabwe at the beginning of 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

results in Konshisha. He accused Suswam of hijacking the exercise and the materials meant for the exercise.

He expressed surprise that 48 hours after congress, fresh ward congresses were ordered in Konshisha, allegedly at the instance of the governor, who he said, is a candidate in the election.

He accused the Chairman of the party, Dr. Agbo Emmanuel and members of the state working committee of conniving with returning officers posted

67.2%

The percentage of the urban population of Dominica in 2012.

Source: Un.org

A cross-sections teachers recruited under Batch D1, by the Adamawa State government, protesting near the Government House over the non-payment of their salaries in Yola…yesterday

Kaduna APC boss accused of favouring el-Rufai Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

C

hairman of Kaduna State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was yesterday accused of promoting the interest of Malam Nasiru el-Rufai, above that of other gubernatorial aspirants, especially the Deputy Chairman, Malam Danladi Wada.

Making the accusation yesterday while addressing a press conference, the deputy chairman accused Mr. Barnabas Bala Bantex, the Kaduna State chairman of the APC, of submitting the name of el-Rufai ‘as a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), without due consultations with the relevant organs and

stakeholders of APC in the state.’

“We consider the submission of el-Rufai’s name as a BoT member as a clear indication of preference for one out of the many gubernatorial aspirants, which is in itself is quite unbecoming of a leader,” Malam Danladi said.

The deputy state chairman, who spoke on behalf of aggrieved members of the state executive, also alleged that Bantex and a clique had organised a fund raising dinner for el-Rufai on November 2.

According to him, “It is most unfortunate that the chairman would undertake to organise such a vital event without due consultation, thereby making it such a terrible embarrassment for the party.”

Pwajok: My aspiration not do-or-die affair Musa Pam Jos

P

lateau State governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Gyang Nyam Pwajok, has said that his ambition to contest the seat is not a door-die affair.

Pwajok spoke yesterday in Jos after returning from the PDP National Secretariat, where he submitted his nomination form to contest the governorship position in the state.

According to him, Plateau electorate is determined to vote the best candidate for the governorship seat and their voice will be the final verdict.

Pwajok, who is the first from the state to submit his nomination form, advised all those contesting the seat with him not take it as a do-ordie affair; saying politics should be played like a game that at the end of every session, the teams would embrace each other.

He debunked rumours and denied insinuations that he is swapping his senate seat with that of the governorship seat, saying he was elected for the senate and the position is not personal and that so is the governorship position, which he said, is not also personal.

He said it is the electorate that will decided who should be in what position and not the decision of an individual.

to the area to divert the election materials to unknown destinations.

But, Suswam yesterday debunked allegations by his rival in the exercise, saying it is not true that he hijacked the exercise.

The governor told journalists in his office that he was in his village on the day of the congress, describing the allegation as unfounded.

PDP may lose Jigawa to APC Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

F

ollowing complaints of irregularities in the just concluded Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congress in Jigawa State, in which members of the party are calling for the cancellation of the results, reports from the state said the party may lose Jigawa to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

New Telegraph investigation revealed that such discontentment may plunge the party into “serious crisis of confidence,” especially among party big-wigs, which may result into factions among the Saminu Turaki-led faction and the Governor Sule Lamido faction.

It was gathered that Hon. Abba Anas Adamu, who spoke on behalf of the three aggrieved PDP stalwarts, asked how would the leadership accept the purported congress, having first denied members forms, only to surreptitiously sell such to those favoured by Governor Lamido.

Wuyep bemoans oil theft Musa Pam Jos

F

ormer Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Jonah Wuyep, has described oil theft, pipeline vandalism and communal clashes as well as insecurityinduced terrorism, as the key factors challenging Nigeria’s efforts at attaining economic prosperity.

He said the country’s national economy, which is dependent on oil and gas, is in danger, considering the insecurity challenges facing the country.

Wuyep spoke during the first Lowland MicroFinance Bank Annual and Financial Reports held at Mabudi, Langtang South Local Government of Plateau State.

Jang, Tapgun in face-off Buhari Bello Jos

F

ormer Governor of Plateau State and Campaign Director General of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid, Fidelis Tapgun, yesterday berated Governor Jonah Jang and the leadership of PDP in the state for

not giving them a decent reception when his group returned to the party.

“It is never a PDP decision not to receive us back in to the party. The PDP at the national headquarters is fully aware of us as members, but Governor Jang and the state leadership of the party do not want to see our faces, because our return has intimidated them.”

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, november 7, 2014

News 49

national

First Lady bemoans neglect of rural women Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

L-R: General Manager, Corporate Communications, Skyway Aviation Handling Company Ltd. (SAHCOL), Mr. Basil Agboarumen; Head of Public Affairs, Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB), Mr. Tunji Oketunbi and Deputy General Manager, Public Affairs, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Mr. Sam Adurogboye, at the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents’ (LAAC) 20th Annual Seminar with the theme: Aviation Infrastructure and Policy as Stimulus for Economic Growth in Nigeria held at the NCAA Annex, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Reps to return MTEF to Jonathan Philip Nyam Abuja

P

resentation of the 2015 budget proposal may have to wait as the House of Representatives is set to return the 2015-17 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) forwarded to it by President Goodluck Jonathan last month.

Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin (APC, Kano) disclosed this during the committee’s oversight visit to the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) office in Abuja.

Although, Jibrin said the decision to send back the MTEF/FSP was predicated on the emerging reality of the new oil price regime, it may not be totally unconnected with the current faceoff between the House and the Presidency over the withdrawal of security details attached to Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.

He said: “The House is returning the MTEF to the executive arm of government so that the Federal Government will re-present it properly with attention to be paid to more savings so that agencies like the NSIA can be better

supported.”

According to the committee chairman, “everything was good when crude was selling at $110, not now when it is free falling. We want to see how the situation can be mitigated.”

He expressed the willingness of the House to collaborate with the NSIA in its bid to ensure stability of the economy and further grow it.

“We are aware that you are faced with two critical challenges of the legal instrument setting you up and your need for more funding,” he noted, pledging that his committee will mobilise the leadership and members of the lower chamber to smoothen out the fine points of the legal issue.”

He said more funds needs to be injected into the authority “so that there will be no panic when the price of crude oil again slide down in the international market.”

It will be recalled that President Jonathan had last month submitted the 2015-17 MTEF/FSP to both chambers of the National Assembly, in which $78 was projected as oil benchmark while total earnings from oil and gas sales for 2015 was fixed at N7.286 trillion and N3.717 trillion is being proposed for crude oil sales.

Dangote now world’s 23rd richest man resident of Dangote Mike Adenuga, owner hiatus.

P Group, Aliko Dangote, of indigenous telecoms Gates has raked in an has moved 20 spots from company Globacom, was extra $9 billion in the last his earlier position of 43rd richest person in the World to being the 23rd richest man in the World, while also retaining his position as the Richest Man in Africa according to the influential Forbes Magazine.

The mogul, who has interests in cement, sugar, flour and beverages, is now worth $25 billion and is also the first black man to be named among the 25 richest people in the world.

PVC: Edo declares today work-free Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

E

do State Government yesterday declared a public holiday for today (Friday) November 7, 2014 in the state.

The Public holiday is to enable registered voters the opportunity to collect the Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) ahead of next year’s general elections.

The distribution of the PVC will hold from today, Friday November 7 to Sunday November 9, 2014 according to INEC’s time-table.

Perm Sec to battle Aliyu for senatorial ticket Dan Atori MINNA

B

arely three weeks after a consensus was reached by the Niger State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zone B, zeroing the

senatorial race of Niger East to Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu, a retired federal permanent secretary, Alhaji Idris Adamu Kuta has emerged to slug it out with the governor for the primaries.

Kuta submitted his

nomination form yesterday in Minna.

According to Kuta in an interview after submitting the form, “I am ready to take the gauntlet because I believe I am eminently qualified to vie for the position”.

next to Dangote on the list with a wealth of $4.6 billion, maintaining 325 position in the world, while Folorunsho Alakija, with $2.5 billion, was 687 in the world and Abdulsamad Rabiu ranks 1372 in the world, with $1.2 billion.

American billionaire, Bill Gates has reclaimed the title of world’s richest person from telecom mogul, Carlos Slim Helu of Mexico after a four-year

one year and has been at the top of the list for 15 of the past 20 years.

Spanish clothing retailer, Amancio Ortega (best known for the Zara fashion chain) retains the number three spot for the second year in a row, extending his lead over Warren Buffett, who is again number four.

Dangote has also been named the world’s 68th most powerful person.

PUBLIC NOTICE

GODSTIME EDU-CARE FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named foundation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Ekhomu Felicia Izehinosen 2. Ekhomu Goodness Eseose 3. Rev. Samson Ekhomu 4. Erharhire Joe 5. Iyile Christy Omoyae

- Chairman - Secretary

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To assist the less privilege.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE FILIP BEARERS FOUNDATION

The general public is hereby notified that the above named FOUNDATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

The Trustees are: 1. Lanre-Akinsiun Modupe Oluwafunmike - Chairman 2. Akinsiun Olarewaju James - Secretary 3. Akade Joy Omoyeme AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To provide women with relevant resources that will make them to impact their community and the nation at large.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: TRUSTEES

he First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan yesterday expressed dissatisfaction with the standard of Nigerian Women especially those at the grassroots.

Jonathan, who was in Ilorin, Kwara State, to launch the state’s chapter of her NGO, Women For Change and Development Initiative, therefore reaffirmed her determination to uplift the standard of Women in Nigeria. The event also witnessed the distribution of various items of empowerment to women from across the 16 local government areas of the state.

The First Lady gave her commitment to helping Nigerian women while paying homage to the Emir of llorin, Alhaji lbrahim Sulu-Gambari, in his palace before heading for the Kwara State stadium venue of her programme.

change of nameS

Obieme

Former Uduak Bassey Humphery now wish to be known as Uwem Bassey Humphery. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

Ajayi-Shoremi

Former Ajayi-Akano Halimah Sadiat Yewande now wish to be known as Mrs. Ajayi-Shoremi Hallimah Sadiat Yewande. All former documents remain valid. Lagos State Civil Service Commission and general public note.

Dominic

Former Miss Ekaette Mfon Udom, Now wish to be known as Mrs. Ekaette Joseph Dominic. All former documents remain valid, Federal Ministry Of Education Abuja, Fed. Science and Tech. College Uyo, Qua Iboe Church, Aka-Itiam Uyo Suptcy and General public note.

Lateef

Former Miss Olubiyi Olamide Oluwaseun now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Lateef Olamide Oluwaseun. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Onyedikachi

Former Ngozi Olugu Kalu now wish to be known as Mrs. Ngozi Onyedikachi Kalu. All former documents remain valid.

General public note.

Greene

Former Miss Obiageli Nkiru Nwajuaku now wish to be known as Mrs. Obiageli Nkiru Greene. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

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WORLD | News

Reinstate Tambuwal’s security, NANS tells IGP Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, to reinstate the security personnel of Speaker of House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal that were withdrawn as a result of his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was as NANS cautioned that the IGP should not turn the Police to an arm of the ruling party, noting that the Police

have no constitutional right to interpret the law but to enforce it. The students’ umbrella body in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its newly elected President, Comrade Tijani Usman, described as undemocratic and an affront on Nigerian people, the withdrawal of security operatives of the House of Representatives Speaker.

It noted that the IGP does not have any constitutional right to withdraw the security personnel attached to the office of the Speaker because he defected to another party. “Our political history is replete with stories of defection and people have the right

to determine where they choose to belong.

The constitution did not say the Speaker must come from the ruling party. Where was the Inspector General of Police when Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly defected from the Labour Party to PDP? What happens to Section 109 (1) (G) of the constitution which is the same as 68 (1) (G) under which the IGP claims to act upon? As far as we are concerned, the action of Inspector General of Police is capable of undermining our democracy and the exalted office of the Speaker” it said.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

100,000 workers protest Belgian labour reform

O

ne of Belgium’s biggest postwar labour demonstrations brought about 100,000 workers to the capital yesterday to protest government free-market reforms and austerity measures that they claim undermine Belgium’s vaunted welfare state.

For two hours, the demonstrators peacefully marched down the main thoroughfares of central Brussels to protest government policies that will raise the pension age, contain

wages and cut into public services. Violence marred the end of the march, with police firing tear gas and the water cannon to break up incidents. No casualties were immediately reported.

“They are hitting the workers, the unemployed.

They are not looking for money where it is, I mean, people with a lot of money,” said Philippe Dubois, who came from the industrial rust belt of Liege. The unexpectedly massive march opens a monthlong campaign by the trade unions against the businessfriendly governing coali-

tion and is to be capped with a nationwide strike on December 15.

Despite the opening of government-led talks with employers and unions later yesterday, Socialist trade union leader Rudy De Leeuw vowed to continue the protests for weeks on end. Belgium has a long postwar tradition of collective bargaining between employers and workers, and successive coalition governments representing a full scale of public opinion often have been able to contain social disagreements.

2015: APGA writes INEC, PDP over multiple candidates Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

T

he National Leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the possibility of PDP fielding multiple candidates for each electoral position in the 2015 general elections in

Anambra State.

The letter, which was signed by the APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, urged the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Muazu to do everything to ensure that the party does not willingly or negligently allow the party to parade multiple candidates for the coming elections just as he threatened that APGA and its candidates will go to court to seek the disqualification of the PDP and its purport-

ed multiple candidates for the National Assembly and State Assembly elections in Anambra State in 2015.

Umeh, in the letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, stated that “We write to bring your attention to another unfolding ugly situation of the PDP likely going to field multiple candidates for each of the elective position to be contested in the forthcoming 2015 general elections in Anambra State.

AMOHN urges government to take PHC seriously Esther Albert

T

he President of the Association of Medical Officers of Health in Nigeria (AMOHN) Dr. Segun Ayodele, has urged the stakeholders, including government, to build alliances for the sake of repositioning the country’s primary health care. He said that is towards improving the health of the people.

Ayodele said this during the annual scientific

conference held yesterday in Lagos. He said that primary health care facilities lack adequate technical manpower, infrastructural facilities and the ones available are largely dilapidated.

He said the purpose of the conference was to highlight the pivotal role of Primary Health Care in the nation’s health care delivery system and the challenges of PHC in Nigeria.

Since the inauguration of national health insur-

ance service in Nigeria in 2015, the scheme has only covered about 4.2 per cent of the citizenry.

He further said that the recent Ebola outbreak and response in Nigeria underscores the concept of primary health care.

He said: “The Medical Officers of health of the two states, Lagos and River states where the outbreak occurred played significant roles in the response both in the crisis phase and sustenance phase of the campaign.

AUN kicks off fourth annual homecoming Kayode Olanrewaju

T

he fourth annual homecoming of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State, which will focus on the university’ activities and achievements, has been kicked off.

The week-long homecoming celebration, according to the university’s Alumni Relations Coordinator, Mr. Peter Paya, would be dedicated to celebrating the 10

years of the American University of Nigeria from inception in 2004.

He said that AUN alumni in private enterprises and multinational companies within and outside the country, as well as in top graduate schools around the world would have a mentorship forum with seniors and juniors in one of the events tagged: “Alumni Success Galore.”

Other activities lined up for this year’s homecoming include enter-

tainment by artists such as Patoranking, Sheyi Shay, Skales, Ayo J, and DJ Bally; a professional career fair; Mr. & Miss AUN pageant, as well as community service to engage returning alumni.

Some of the events for the campus community, Paya noted, were planned by the Campus Activities Board, which is made up of students and the Office of Student Activities and Involvement.

A worker holds a fake axe during a national trade union demonstration in Brussels.

Burkina Faso leaders meet to discuss transition

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pposition leaders and members of civil society met yesterday in Burkina Faso to establish ground rules for a transitional government and what they expect from its leader. The desperately poor West African country’s president of 27 years, Blaise Compaore, resigned last week amid mounting opposition to his bid to seek yet another term in office.

Compaore never identified a potential successor and his departure created a power vacuum that the military has filled, at least temporarily.

International envoys are pressing Burkina Faso to quickly designate

a civilian leader for a transitional period until new elections can be held, and the African Union has threatened sanctions if that doesn’t happen soon.

Talks two days ago failed to designate a leader, but diplomats said some progress had been made. All sides have agreed that the transition should last one year and elections should be held in November 2015.

“I believe that in days, rather than in weeks, we will be able to reach an agreement and install a transitional government,” Ghana’s president, John Dramani Mahama, said late Wednesday after meetings ended. “I am certain that we will not

reach the stage where the international community will have to impose sanctions.”

Mahama, who currently chairs the regional bloc of West African states, known as ECOWAS, was mediating talks along with the presidents of Senegal and Nigeria. Yesterday, the opposition and other prominent leaders met to determine their criteria for a transitional leader and to describe how they would like the transitional period to proceed. ECOWAS held an emergency meeting yesterday to discuss the crisis in Burkina Faso as well as the Ebola outbreak.

US-led air strikes hit al Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria

U

S-led coalition that was set up to fight Islamic State bombed the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front and another radical faction in northwest Syria overnight, rebels and residents said yesterday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said a series of air strikes had targeted Nusra Front, including in Idlib province in northwest Syria, where last week the organization routed Western-backed Syrian rebels. One strike on a base near the north-

ern city of Aleppo killed at least six Nusra fighters, the Observatory said, adding that the hardline Islamist group Ahrar alSham was also hit overnight.

It was the second time the Nusra Front, long one of the most effective groups battling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, had been hit in the U.S.-led air campaign, which was launched to “degrade and destroy” Islamic State -- a separate hardline Islamist group that has clashed with the

al-Qaeda affiliate. Several commanders are believed to have been killed in the original strikes against Nusra in September, including Kuwaiti-born Mohsin al-Fadhli -- also known as Abu Asmaa alJazrawi -- reputedly a former member of Osama bin Laden’s inner circle.

Residents yesterday said one of the air strikes targeted a car used by Nusra commanders, near an Internet cafe in the Nusra-controlled town of Sarmada, close to the Turkish border.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Sports News

Sports News

Mayweather tops money list yet again

Sammy targets playing with Shola at Eagles

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Sport

Did you know?

That Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has become the joint top scorer in Champions League history with his goals against Ajax in Amsterdam on Wednesday.

Quadri ranked Africa’s best table tennis player Ajibade Olusesan

N

igeria table tennis sensation, Aruna Quadri, is now the highest ranked African player after he moved to number 30 in the latest world ranking.

The Nigerian is the biggest mover in the November ranking released by the International Table Tennis Federa-

tion on Thursday as he moved from number 73 to 30 in the world.

Quadri, who stunned the world after beating three top rated players at the last World Cup in Germany, has overtaken Egypt’s Omar Assar as the highest ranked African player.

The achievements of the Oyo State-born player have already attracted the attention of Africa Table Tennis Federa-

tion as its president, Khaled El-Salhy, described the run as a good development for the continent.

He said that this would improve African chances of having more slots at the World Championship and Olympic Games.

“I am happy that Quadri is making Africa proud and for us this is a good development for the continent as this will

surely improve our chances of having more slots for Africa in major competitions like the Olympic Games. We will continue to support the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) in their quest to churn out more players like Quadri and we hope other players in the continent will take a cue from the performance of Quadri at the World Cup,” ElSalhy said.

Quadri

Eagles ready for Ghana clash

lNew players excite coaches

Ighodaro action for Nigeria

Adekunle Salami, Uyo and Emmanuel Tobi

The Sport Team

Adekunle Salami l Deputy Editor, Sports Emmanuel Tobi l Assistant Editor, Sports Ifeanyi Ibeh l Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan l Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya l Sports Correspondent © Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

H

ome based Super Eagles players have expressed confidence as they battle the Black Meteors of Ghana in an international friendly as part of activities for the inauguration of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium today.

Team captain, Chigozie Agbim, maintained that they are poised to give the Uyo fans a memorable match while ap-

plauding the team spirit in camp.

“We are fired up for a victory against Ghana and the level of competition in camp will bring out the best in us when we play on Friday,” Agbim informed New Telegraph.

At Thursday’s evening training that lasted almost three hours, the players were grilled on quick counter attack, fast breaks, robust defending and the need to avoid unnecessary infringements on the opponents. Assistant Coach, Daniel Amokachi, was the one dishing out the instructions, with the assistance of Coach Hyandonou Valere and Ike Shorunmu.

The training which was held at the Practice Pitch of the International Stadium in Uyo, was to later throw up some of the stars that will be on parade during today’s game. Apart from established professionals like Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Osaguna Ighodaro and Gbolahan Salami, there was an excitement in the play of Enyimba of Aba midfielder, Kingsley Isokari and Nigeria league hot shot Mfom Udoh.

The coaching crew kept sealed lips about their start list but acknowledged that some new discoveries have been

made that will be sent into the main team. “But I will have to discuss that with the Head Coach,” declared Amokachi on Thursday.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan, will lead Ghanaian leader, Dr. John Dramani Mahama and Ivorian Head of State, Dr. Alassane Ouattara to the stately Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo this evening, with Governor Godswill Akpabio, as Chief Host.

Apart from Presidents Jonathan, Mahama and Ouattara, a number of governors from across Nigeria are expected, while President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and some executive committee members and management staff arrived in Uyo on Thursday evening.

Similarly security has been beefed up at the 30,000 – capacity venue, which has a bullet –proof state box with 70 seats, as security men were seen mounting strategic places including all the entrances into the stadium.

Also, the influx of visitors into the quiet city of Uyo has made accommodation to be of high demand as most of the hotels have been fully booked since Wednesday.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mayweather tops money list yet again

l rakes in $105m for 72 minutes’ work

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loyd Mayweather is once again the world’s topearning athlete of the year, despite spending barely more than an hour in the ring.

The undefeated 37-year-old star fought just twice in the last 12 months, but despite his lack of

endorsements he raked in enough from the bouts against Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana to collect an astonishing $105 million - or £66m.

Perhaps most surprising of all, however, is how he makes so much: while the other top earn-

Toure eyes revenge over Chelsea olo Toure says Liv- Jose Mourinho’s men.

K erpool will be out for “They cost us the revenge when they face league, and now we have Premier League leaders Chelsea at Anfield on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers’ side appeared on course to pip Manchester City to the league title last season, only to then suffer a moralesapping 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea in April following Steven Gerrard’s costly firsthalf slip that allowed Demba Ba to open the scoring.

Ahead of this season’s first meeting between the two sides, Liverpool trail Chelsea by 12 points.

Yet former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Toure, who impressed in Tuesday’s 1-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Real Madrid, is relishing the opportunity to do battle with

ers make a huge chunk of their money through endorsements, the boxer’s money all comes through earnings. His huge deal with Showtime TV guarantees him at least £25m per fight, but he also makes a huge amount working as a promoter for other fighters.

Mayweather’s cash haul was enough to see him overtake Tiger Woods at the top of Forbes magazine’s latest rankings of the world’s best-paid athletes, £16m ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo on £50m.

Basketball superstar LeBron James was third on £45.2m, just ahead of Lionel Messi on £40.5m.

Another NBA legend, Kobe Bryant, rounded out the top five on £38.5m, with Woods right behind in sixth place.

the chance to beat them – I can’t wait for that, honestly,” said the Ivorian. “Is it a chance for payback? Definitely. It’s a very important game when you think what they did to us last season.”

He added: “It’s a great chance to end any argument about them [Chelsea] being invincibles. But the most important thing is we want to win the game. With the squad they have of course they can go through the season unbeaten, but it’s not only the quality. It is about mentality.

“Every game is challenging and sometimes things don’t go well for you but you need to be able to come back and carry on fighting.”

Messi happy to equal Raul’s record

B

arcelona star Lionel Messi described equalling Raul’s UEFA Champions League goalscoring record as a “happy moment”.

Messi scored his 70th and 71st goals in the competition as Barcelona ran out with a 2-0 win over Ajax, with the latter sending him level with Real Madrid great Raul.

“It’s a happy moment for me,” he said. “I think it’s great but the most important thing was to get the three points so that we will be

mayweather

Glo Premier League final matches hold Nov 16 Emmanuel Tobi

T

he League Management Company has confirmed that the final matches of the Globacom Premier League will now hold on November 16 across all the centres.

Sunday, November 9, was earlier slated to be the final day of the 2013/14 season as the change is now expected to take into consideration the controversial match between Giwa FC and Nasarawa United.

Nasarawa walked over Giwa last week only for the LMC to order a replay on Thursday, which Nasarawa

said they would not honour.

War ri Wolves, who are in a close race with Giwa and Nasarawa for a ticket to next year’s CAF Confederation Cup, have threatened they will not be in Lafia to take on Nasarawa should the Lafia club fail to play the controversial match against Giwa in Abuja.

The shift in dates will also allow for all the clubs to enjoy the services of some of their best players, who will feature in a friendly on Friday against Ghana at the brand-new Akwa Ibom Inter national Stadium in Uyo.

Musa, Enyeama, 23 others for GLO-CAF Awards Emmanuel Tobi

S

uper Eagles’ duo of Ahmed Musa and Vincent Enyeama top the list of 25 players in the main award category as the Confederation of African Football on Thursday announced the nominees for the 2014 African Player of the Year and the African Player of the Year (based in Africa) in the Glo-Caf Awards.

20 players were nominated for the African Player of the Year (based in Africa) with Ejike Uzoenyi of Rangers Interna-

Musa’s CSKA run excites Amokachi, Eagles A

Musa

hmed Musa’s exciting displays in the colours of Russian side, CSKA Moscow, have been a source of inspiration to the Super Eagles and their coaching crew ahead of the two important Nations Cup qualifiers against Congo Brazzaville and Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Assistant Coach Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi, declared after lunch on Thursday, that watching Musa show class in the Champions League encounter against English side Manchester City on Wednesday night, in the 2-1 win away from home, gives him confidence that

able to qualify for the next round.

“We secured the points, therefore I’m happy.”

Messi said he would remember every one of his goals, but highlighted those scored in finals in 2009 and 2011.

“I don’t remember one goal especially. I always want to score and in the end it’s the sum total of them all that I will remember,” he said. “As I’ve always said, goals in finals are the best and most powerful Messi memories.”

the Super Eagles will scale the hurdle for Morocco 2015.

“We are lucky that most of players who are not injured at the moment are on form and that should give us an edge over our opponents in our remaining games”, he declared.

Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, who spoke on behalf of other officials and the players said most of the players who spoke to him after watching the game, said they see Musa and his other team mates like Ikechukwu Uche and Emmanuel Emenike, seeing Nigeria through in the qualifiers.

tional, the only Nigerian shortlisted in the list.

Other players shorted listed for the main award include the Ghanaian duo of Asamoah Gyan and Kwadwo Asamoah, Senegalese duo of Dame N’doye and Sadio Mané, Emmanuel Adebayor of Togo, Seydou Keita of Mali, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Mohamed El Neny of Egypt.

Others are Gervinho of Cote d’Ivoire and his fellow countrymen: Wilfred Bony and Yaya Toure as well as Fakhreddine Ben Youssef and Ferdjani

Sassi from Tunisia.

Also listed are Algerian quartet of Islam Slimani, Raïs M’Bolhi, Sofiane Feghouli and Yacine Brahimi.

The winners of the two categories will be decided by votes from the Head Coaches and Technical Directors of the National Associations affiliated to CAF taking into consideration the performance of the players for their national teams and clubs from January to November, this year.

The Glo- CAF Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, January 8 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Legends give kudos to Gotv boxing night Charles Ogundiya

S

ome of the legends present at the press conference to herald the first edition of the GOtv sponsored boxing event, has showered encomiums on the sponsor for their initiative.

According to some of the sport’s greats like Obisia Nwankpa, the coming of GOtv into boxing has given them hope that the sport will reign in Nigeria again.

Nwankpa, popularly called Golden Gloves in heyday said, with the competition, boxers would be able to showcase their potentials while also calling on other

sponsors to join the train.

“With today’s event, boxing to me is like a backsliding Christian that rededicated his life again to God. I am happy that boxing will live again with the coming of GOtv boxing night,” he said.

Another boxing legend, Joe Lasisi, appreciated the sponsor while also calling on some individuals that have been sitting on the fence to come on board and develop boxing in Nigeria.

Lasisi said; “The potentials are abound in Nigeria waiting for who to harness them, and I am sure the time has come for boxing to thrive again in the country.”

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

SportL

NEW TELEGRAPH

www.newtelegraphonline.com/Sport

WITH Tobi Emmanuel

0805 400 5669

princetobby@yahoo.com tobi.emmanuel@newtelegraphonline.com

ifestyle

Godfrey Oboabona Ex-Super defender Best food: Rice and stew Best drink: Coca-Cola Best colour: WhiTe and Black Best city visited: Miami Best club supported: ARSENAL Best car: BMW Best designer: Guicci, Armani Best perfume: D & G Best music: Nigerian music Best actor: Nicholas Cage Best actress: Omotola Ekiende Best competition ever attended: Brazil 2014 World Cup Best Jersey No: 2, 14 Best Boot: Nike

Sammy targets playing with Shola at Eagles Emmanuel Tobi

N

ewcastle striker, Sammy Ameobi, has expressed the desire to play with his elder brother Shola Ameobi for the Super Eagles.

The Ameobis played together at Newcastle United up till Shola’s summer departure and Sammy would love to link up with his elder sibling on in the international stage.

Shola went to the summer’s World Cup with Nigeria, who have reinstated coach Stephen Keshi for the final two African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa later this month.

The Super Eagles are on four points in Group A behind South Africa on eight points and Congo on seven.

“I’m looking to get involved in the national team. Hopefully, I can do that. I’d just like to play alongside Shola again.

“I’m looking forward to that, but the most important thing is playing here for Newcastle.

“If I get an opportunity, I need to take it. If Nigeria happens, it’s a bonus.”

However, Shola – who joined Turkish club Gaziantep as a free agent in August after a 14year first-team career at Newcastle – has not featured for Nigeria since the World Cup. Meanwhile, Sammy who scored his first Premier League goal six seconds after coming on against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane late last month is confident of scoring more goals in the season.

“For me, it’s important I build on the Tottenham game,” said Ameobi. “It’s far too easy to just do it once and then fall back out of the squad again.

“I want to start for Newcastle every week, so I’ve got to make the most of this opportunity and make sure I don’t slip up.

NSA: Oshoala, Oparanozie battle for best player award

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s the countdown begins for the third edition of the Nigerian Sports Award scheduled to hold on November 13 in Lagos, two members of the Nigerian Women Football team -Super Falcons, Asisat Oshoala and Desire Oparanozie are set to battle for the Footballer of the Year (women) award.

The player who were members of the Super Falcons that won the just concluded African Women Championship

Sammy

MTN, Chevron, others for Corporate Soccer

T

elecommunication outfit, MTN Nigeria, Chevron and 12 other corporates and multinational companies have been invited to participate in the second edition of the Corporate Soccer Championship billed for November 22 and 23 at the Campos mini stadium, Lagos Island.

Other companies expected for the champi-

onship include Chevron, Banwo and Ighodalo, Eko Support, UBA, Guinness, Exxon Mobil, Brilla Fm, Xodus Group, Etisalat, Total and Ministry of Justice.

According to the chief executive officer, Corporate Soccer Nigeria, Onome Obruthe, the championship is aimed at fostering cordial relationship among

corporate bodies in the country and to promote business.

The winner will take on the winner of the Ghana version of the Corporate Soccer Ghana at Lizzy Sports Centre, Accra in December.

Obruthe added that all necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free championship, adding that

in Namibia are nominated for the category alongside Courtney Dike who was part of the Falconets team to the last FIFA U-20 Women World Cup in Canada.

Both Asisat and Oparanozie proved their mettle at the African Women Championship to lay claim to the prestigious award. While Oshoala emerged the tournament Most Valuable Player, Oparanozie claimed the Golden Boot Award as the highest goal scorer in the tournament.

the competition will go a long way in helping in the development of the game of football. ‘’This championship is aimed at promoting healthy rivalry and foster cordial relationship among corporate bodies in the land and for their effort, the winner will be in Ghana for an international corporate soccer game against the winner of the Ghana version of the championship,” he revealed.

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

Imposition of candidates and Nigeria’s future Vantage

Point EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com

Jega

I

t’s the election season once again and Nigerian politicians are at their best, jostling and aiming for one thing or the other.

It’s no surprise that a lot of high drama has been going on in different power centres, beginning from the Presidential Villa to the National Assembly and the various political parties, down to the states and federal and state constituencies. This is the season when as a politician, you have to decide whether you are in the right or wrong address.

Just like someone told me recently, you have to be in the right neighbourhood to be recognised. So, for those seeking to enhance their current standing or safeguard their political future, this is the time to ascertain whether they have been living in the right postcode (like Americans say) or it’s time to upgrade.

Usually, as a set of elections draw close, politicians evaluate their positions and either consolidate or seek new (or for some greener) pastures.

That’s why it comes as no surprise that there has been a rash of defections in recent months and weeks, by

all manner of politicians. Some have done so out of the sheer need for political survival or to get back at interests whom they regard as threats to their ambition.

Given the adversarial nature of Nigerian politics, especially since the current journey began in 1999, one cannot be surprised at the high level of defections or change of address by politicians. The Nigerian system of politics is such that some people (or godfathers and godmothers) sit in their bedrooms and believe they can determine who gets what and who becomes what. So, in the end, the conspiracy of the godfathers and godmothers draws only a few privileged fish into the net and leaves many others stranded. As such, many aspirants mortgage their properties, empty their bank accounts, borrow and (if they are in office), cook up spurious contracts to gain sufficient financial muscle to go into the election battlefield. Already, the situation in the states where governorship elections are due to be held in 2015 is tense, as anointing goes on side by side with declarations by courageous aspirants that they will not be pushed aside.

Thus, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party senators have gone on strike (did somebody say work-to-rule?) to press for automatic seats and protest their party’s decision to hand over the structure in states controlled by the platform to the governors.

I understand that the senators have sent word to President Goodluck Jonathan that they will settle for nothing less than two automatic tickets in their respective states. So, the governors can pick the third ticket or hand it over to their protégé.

As such, our democracy is in danger of becoming less competitive and boring. Things are so bad now that it is difficult for the people to assess the aspirants by their messages. Instead, what the parties and their godfathers and godmothers at various levels are doing now is to simply anoint favoured aspirants and prepare the ground to them to ‘scale through’ the forthcoming primaries.

The recent PDP ward congresses were quite chaotic across many states.

It was so clear that the situation had been decided in some states. The situation is not different in the rival All Progressives Congress where aspirants are spoiling for a showdown with leaders of the party. Nothing wrecks a growing democracy more than what I choose to call the ‘trivialisation of leadership.’ Leadership ought to be a call to service; a patriotic duty for which adequate preparation has to be made.

A careful study of the lives of great leaders in vibrant democracies shows how they prepared for years, going step by step up the ladder of politics before attaining enviable heights. In Nigeria, it’s an ‘enterprise of the unwilling,’ as people are just pulled out of their private lives and pushed into the arena.

This reminds me of the story of a wealthy man who wanted a husband for his only daughter and called for interested bachelors to apply. He told them that they would get some juicy prizes if they passed the test. On the said day, they were asked to gather at a swimming pool. The hopeful bachelors were asked to merely swim from one end of the pool to the other. Whoever came first would marry the wealthy man’s daughter.

Just as they were getting set to jump into the pool, some crocodiles and dangerous reptiles were thrown into the water and they all fled. However, attention quickly turned to a fellow who was in the pool, navigating his way across the dangerous pool. He was able to get to the other end of the pool and clambered out, angrily.

The next thing was that he marched around, demanding to know who pushed him into the pool. Of course, everyone burst into laughter. Bringing it to the Nigerian situation, we find that sitting public office-holders pull people from relative obscurity into exalted political offices, without considering their suitability for such positions. Of course, some have performed well while many others have been a monumental disaster. What does this mean for our nation? We keep turning on one spot like the barber’s chair while our nation suffers. That is one reason for the dearth of quality thinking in government. When people who are not properly groomed or prepared for leadership are foisted on the people, what results is a disaster.

Now, when you exclude genuine aspirants by closing the space for open

When people who are not properly groomed or prepared for leadership are foisted on the people, what results is a disaster primaries, why do you then complain that they are defecting? Why all the drama about defections when it is clear that our political parties and their leaders are not ready to allow openness and transparency in the process used in selecting candidates?

As the days go by, I expect that we will witness more defections from ‘unprofitable addresses’ to ‘profitable’ ones. What is needed is a political system that encourages genuine aspirants to test their strength at open primaries so that only the best emerges. I have heard the argument that given the capacity of Nigerian politicians for betrayal, the godfathers and godmothers choose people whom they can trust.

But the argument falls flat on its face when viewed against the background of serial betrayals by anointed aspirants when they get into office.

Everywhere you go in Nigeria, there are examples of how candidates turned their backs against those who went to great lengths to foist them on the people. Why should such an atrocious system be sustained? In whose interest?

To what end? Does the end really justify the means? We cannot continue to wallow in the mud this way and expect some divine turnaround. The earlier we wake up to reality, the better for us.

This brings me to the awful story of one of the greatest betrayals of the 20th Century. This is the story of how Blaise Campaore betrayed his friend, Thomas Sankara, 27 years ago. Sankara died in a needless coup engineered

by Campaore, who then took over the reins. He had his way for 27 years but one day, the people felt they had had enough. The greedy Campaore felt he could continue to have his way but unfortunately for him, the show had come to a shocking end. Campaore was demystified and fled in an armed convoy away from the presidential palace in Ouagadougou. What a shameful end for a traitor!

BTW: When will President Jonathan visit the troubled North-East Nigeria? I was pleasantly surprised to see him in a sharp suit on a visit to the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, some days ago. Our President looked more like he was attending a business meeting than like some on a trouble-shooting mission. He was there along with two other African leaders to negotiate a quick return to civilian rule in the West African nation. However, Jonathan disappointed millions worldwide by opting out of a publicised visit to Chibok, Borno State. The Chibok grils have been missing now for over 200 days; yet our President has refused to fly into the town or to any other part of troubled North-East Nigeria to commiserate with the people traumatised by the Boko Haram insurgency. I wish to appeal to him to have a change of heart and visit the people. Afterall, that will show that the entire nation is still under his leadership and that he is not ceding any inch to the insurgents.

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

Emeka Madunagu Imposition of candidates and Nigeria’s future

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

– Charles Dickens

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2014

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Tambuwal: De-ideologisation of politics Ivory Glory A minu Tambuwal’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has again turned attention to the nature of politics, character of politicians and the state of governance in Nigeria. The gale of defections has reached its crescendo as the 2015 Elections approach.

The Nation may still witness more of these defections or cross-carpeting from the opposition to the ruling party, and from the ruling party to the opposition. It is a merry go round if not whirl wind that hurts Nigerian politics irreparably. This criss-crossing indicates a total lack of principles in what one has done over the years, a denial of one’s self and wholesale repudiation of the individual’s and groups’ political activities. It gives Nigerian politics a mercenary character that is laced with charlatan ideals; if charlatanism can ever have self propelling features. In Nigerian politics, fair is foul, and foul is fair. What matters to the average politician is the opportunity for self aggrandizement and primitive accumulation. All manner of reasons are given, and devious plans are made, to have access to public office, remain there for live, and steal the nation dry. Forget the talk or sermon about national service.

Nigerians are not deceived. I have said here severally in this column, at the risk of sounding monotonous, that as long as the Nigerian State continues to be a wealth mine, dispensing favours and privileges, as long as access to state power is used for pecuniary gains and satisfaction of mercantile interests, as long as the state remains a pot of corruption, so long shall we continue to see the foxy, wily, Shenanigans in the name of politics, with defection being its chief symptom. Politics without character is the one without ideology.

Nigerian politics is big business, giving credence to the dearth of genuine entrepreneurship. All “successful” business barons, one way or another, are linked to state business. In Nigeria, contracts are given twenty times above what it should cost elsewhere in other lands, sentencing the nation on permanent palpitations. This is the underlying reason for the unity of purpose between the political class bureaucratic elite (top cadre civil servants) and the business groups (contractors-agents of the preceding two groups). When they quarrel, it is not over the essence of governance, but the manner of appropriating the national wealth to themselves alone. This conspiracy of thieves is what has withheld Nigeria’s development. Politics without ideology is the bane of politics in Nigeria. What then is ideology?

The word ideology was coined in the twilight of the 18th Century by Count Antoinne Destutt De Tracy as embodying a science of ideas. It simply refers to an organized collection of ideas. Therefore, ideology is a set of ideas that sanction a set of norms. It expresses the way a given people perceive themselves, and how they would want to be seen by the outside world.

It is a coherent, well articulated system of beliefs, practices and objectives, or clearly

NKEMDILI NNONYELU aunnonyelu@yahoo.co.uk 08122801926 (sms only)

defined ideas that provide insight into the nature of society. Ideology encapsulates widely held ideas or assumptions by members of society, which of course sign post what members of society see as the ideal.

Political ideology refers to “certain ethical set of ideals, principles, doctrines, myths or symbols of a social movement, institution, class or large group that explain how society should work, and offer some political or cultural blue print for a social order. A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power, and to what ends it should be used (see Wikipedia). Thus two main dimensions are evident in the afore-stated definition.

First, it is goal oriented, and second, the ways of realizing the objectives are clearly spelt out. In the United States for instance, whose bourgeois variant of democracy, Nigeria tries to imitate, there are two dominant political parties (a) Democratic Party (b) Republican Party. These parties are well delineated by their ideologies. For instance, the Democratic Party follows a liberal platform, it is leftist, also supports increase regulation and worker protection, increase social spending, decrease spending on defence, liberal immigration policies, ban on death penalty, increase in bureaucracy and size of government, increased taxation for the upper class, Prochoice policies towards abortion, legalization of same-sex marriage, total government control of Health Care etc. On the other opposing side, are the Republicans – strictly conservative and rightist, also encourage private participation in business, decrease in taxation and also in social spending, while propagating increase in

What do Nigerian political parties stand for? How do you differentiate PDP from APC, other than saying that one is in power today at least at the centre, the other is not?

Tambuwal

military expenditure (armaments, arms etc), death penalty, cut in the size of government, decrease in minimum wage, privatization of social security, deregulation and free market reforms.

What do Nigerian political parties stand for? How do you differentiate PDP from APC, other than saying that one is in power today at least at the centre, the other is not? Nigerian parties are not distinguished ideologically. This is a product of ideological confusion, or a total lack of ideology in the development or formation of these parties. It is very difficult, if not implausible to see somebody leaving his political platform to another in the United States. In Nigeria it is the order of the day, as the parties in foolish fanfares celebrate defections, unwittingly exposing their emptiness and lack of any worthy political value. In Nigeria, the tendency to replicate Napoleon’s observation several years back, that the difficulty with politics, that it is devoid of any ethics, value and morality, all too obvious. I thought this would only be true in the Hobbessian era. Politics and principles need not be antithetical or polar opposites. If anything, they should go together. Nigerian politicians indulge in, or exhort the Machiavellian thesis that politics has nothing to do with ideals and ethics, and incapable of respecting the tenets of morality – and seem to all agree that the end justifies the means. Any surprise then, that in their naked pursuit of power, many have been killed, some sold off, clans and communities destroyed. All in the name of politics. Power, power power, that is the game and all that matters. The devaluation of our collective humanity continues, on a

national scale, at all levels. It is all too easy to see why treachery, betrayal, bad faith and bad blood characterize politics in Nigeria. It is the politics of the belly, crude and uninspiring, unedifying and worthless.

Aminu Tambuwal’s defection should be understood in the light of the general undercurrents of political deception, demagoguery and chicanery. I am not at all surprised at the turn of events. My surprise however is with the PDP that appeared to be shellacked and crest fallen.

Tambuwal’s speakership ran against the train of thought of the PDP, indeed was thrown up by the opposition, then led by the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN). Although as leader of the green Chambered House of Representatives with a great deal of panache, bringing stability, some modicum of respect, integrity, and independent mindedness to the House, his latest action, it must be noted, is not to advance democracy as he claimed, but to satisfy his private, personal and selfish ambition. It is not for me to determine the legality or otherwise of his actions, for the courts are amply empowered to do so, my take is that it is in keeping with long established precedence.

Having said this however, it is wrong for the Nigerian Police to withdraw in a gestapo like style the Police and security details of Aminu Tambuwal. To all intents and purposes, he is still the speaker, until the members of the House of Representatives or the Courts say no. The Speaker of the House of Representatives should not be put in harms way just to advance political ends. It is therefore an affront on the Democratic process for the police to act obviously outside their mandate. The Inspector General of Police must rise above the fray of political partisanship and restore the security of the Speaker. How did this start? In the build up to political independence in 1960, Elections were held in the then different regions, where the National Council of Nigerian Citizens was to form the Parliament in the Western Region House of Assembly with Zik as leader, but in a most shocking and repulsive manner, most elected members of NCNC decamped overnight having being wooed by the new ethnic champion of the West, Obafemi Awolowo. Zik was left with no option, than to rush back to the east where he also planned and schemed Eyo Ita, then leader, out of office. Recall also the cross carpeting under the Second Republic where some serving Senators were wooed to move over to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and even Governor Abubakar Rimi moving over to NPP. Since 1999, the beginning of this Republic, defections have almost become a daily occurrence. Even a sitting VicePresident, Atiku Abubakar decamped from the PDP to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to become their Presidential flag bearer. The courts supported him.

He retained his position until the end of the Obasanjo Presidency. Only because, in Nigeria, the President is so powerful, that he is akin to the State; the Nigerian president may one day defect to an opposing political party. If that happens, it shows not only the level of absurdity in Nigeria, but the desperation of Nigeria politicians. In Nigeria, don’t rule out anything. All are possible in the name of politics.

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