31st oct 2014

SATURDAY

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Friday, October 31, 2014

/newtelegraph

Vol. 1 No. 255

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Boko Haram consolidates hold on Mubi }6

FG withholds fourth quarter fuel allocation

lOkonjo-Iweala, PPPRA summon marketers to emergency meeting Adeola Yusuf

T

he Federal Government yesterday de-

layed the issuance of the fourth quarter fuel allocation licence, as the permits it issued for the third quarter sup-

plementary allocation, for marketers to import 600,000 metric tonnes of fuel expires today.

Nigeria imports over 80

per cent of petrol required for its domestic use as the 445,000 barrels per day refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna are

operating below capacity.

New Telegraph gathered yesterday that the delay in the approval for the fourth quarter fuel

imports permit was to sort out issues relating to subsidy on previous approvals.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

My ordeal under Amosun, by deputy gov }3

Ogun Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun

Quick Read Editorial L-R: Group Chief Executive Officer, UBA Capital, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni; Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr. Bismarck Rewane and Director General, National Pension Commission, Ms. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, at a conference on Pension Reform Act 2014 in Lagos …yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Tambuwal in danger as FG withdraws security lAPC, lawmakers kick lSpeaker opts for private security Onwuka Nzeshi, Emmanuel Onani, Philip Nyam and Johnchuks Onuanyim

F

ollowing the danger the House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal,

was exposed to as a result of the withdrawal of security personnel attached to him, ar-

rangements have been concluded by his office to contract a private security company to pro-

vide protection for the nation’s number four citizen.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Remi Oyo (1952-2014) }19 Court declares police ban on rallies illegal }8 Synagogue: Lagos says collapsed building not }12 approved

2

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

3

My ordeal under Amosun, by deputy governor Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

O

gun State Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, yesterday further opened up on the sour relationship between him and his principal, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Adesegun, in a telephone interview with reporters in Abeokuta, said the content of his recent controversial letter to the governor only revealed few of the injustices meted out to him since the inception of the Amosun administration.

In the letter, dated October 24, 2014, he had accused the governor of persecuting him by staffing his office of funds and neglecting his welfare.

He said the governor allocated old vehicles to his convoy and denied him some of his due allowances.

The deputy governor added that electricity supply to his official residence was cut seven months ago because the state government owed the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The letter has generated mixed reactions, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the Ogun State Publicity Sec-

retary of the party, Sola Lawal, saying the party is not aware of the feud between the governor and his deputy.

But Adesegun faulted their claims, stressing that the party’s leaders were aware of the discord between him and Amosun.

According to him, the APC national leadership is aware of the frosty relationship between him and Amosun and could

not claim ignorance of the situation.

He stated that if he knew his letter would attract much publicity, he could have revealed more about the undignified manner he was treated in the government.

He explained that he copied his letter to former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, some National Assembly members from the state and some APC leaders.

Adesegun said: “He (Mohammed) is my friend. If he says whatever he says, I will accept. If he says I didn’t send the letter to the national leadership of the party, I will accept.

“The letter was meant for the governor and I copied all members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, copied the three senators, seven members of the House of Representatives, our leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Alhaji

Tajudeen Bello (former State Interim Chairman of APC). I copied the state chairman, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji; Chief Olu Agemo and Alhaji Abimbola Awofeso, the leaders of the party.

“Three of them were in my house when we accepted Amosun into our party. I was the deputy national treasurer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria and also the youth leader under Chief

Bisi Akande’s leadership.

“I didn’t copy the national leadership of the party. There is nothing I wrote in the letter that the national leadership did not know about. They may not know the depth but they couldn’t claim ignorance of the way I’m being treated by the governor.

“If I knew that the letter would get to the press, I would have revealed more.”

L-R: National Organising Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha; National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu and President Goodluck Jonathan during the president’s collection of nomination form in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Tambuwal in danger as FG withdraws security CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

It was gathered yesterday that the alternative security arrangement for the speaker was being supported by his new platform, the All Progressives Congress (APC), organised labour and several non-governmental organisations.

The acting Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Suleiman Abba, had yesterday ordered the withdrawal of security personnel attached to Tambuwal because he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. The IG’s action drew flaks from APC and some House members.

The Force Headquarters, through the Special Protection Unit (SPU), provides security personnel for certain categories of highly-rated elected and public officeholders.

Tambuwal had, during plenary on Tuesday, announced his withdrawal of membership of the PDP, as he thanked members for their support since his emergence as the sixth speaker of the House

in June 2011. He then adjourned until December 3.

His defection had rattled PDP and the presidency, thereby necessitating an emergency meeting convened by President Goodluck Jonathan and attended by party stalwarts, including PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu; the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, some PDP governors and PDP members of the House of Representatives.

The meeting came hours after Tambuwal made his first public outing with the APC in Abuja, where the party held its mini-national convention to amend its constitution.

However, the IG, apparently acting on the decision arrived at the late Wednesday meeting of the PDP, presided over by the president, based the withdrawal of the speaker’s security personnel, on Tambuwal’s defection, which he said, violated section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution.

Section 68 (1) (g) says:

“A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is member if [g]. being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected.”

The police, in the terse statement said: “In view of the recent defection by the Right Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from the People Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), and having regard to the clear provision of section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has redeployed its personnel attached to his office.”

The statement was, however, silent on which court order the police derived its power to interpret the constitution and take a

decision on the defection by any lawmaker, a matter that is currently before the Federal High Court.

However, New Telegraph confirmed that only the police personnel were withdrawn as the operatives of the State Security Services (SSS) were still with Tambuwal.

A close associate of Tambuwal who confirmed this told New Telegraph yesterday in Abuja that to protect the speaker from possible harm, several groups, including nongovernmental organisations, socio-cultural organisations and the labour union had approached the speaker offering to protect him free of charge.

He said: “I want to confirm to you that the speaker is making arrangements for his own security because with what has happened, his life is no longer safe and he has to take it upon himself to provide his security.

“Already, many NGOs and even labour organisations have reached out to the speaker’s team and are strategising on how to pro-

tect the speaker so there is no cause for alarm.

“Although, we expect that before the close of work, the PDP-led government must have realised its blunders and reinstate Tambuwal’s security, we are not leaving anything to chance. I can tell you, we are not taking this impunity with levity.”

Giving more details on the issue, Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mallam Imam Imam, in an interview with a private television station, CHANNELS, monitored in Abuja, said: “As I’m speaking to you know, it is about 11.30a.m and the security details are not here. All the police officers and members of the civil defence corps who were protecting the speaker have all left the House without notice.”

Imam, in a statement later yesterday, said Tambuwal’s office received with shock and amazement the police statement justifying the withdrawal of the security personnel attached to the speaker.

The statement faulted

the IG’s argument that Tambuwal’s defection violated section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the question of whether or not there is a division or faction in the PDP has been resolved by Lord Justice Faji of the Ilorin Division of Federal High Court in suit FHC/ ABJ/CS/605/2013 in which the court held that indeed there were factions in the PDP. “Again, in suit no FHC/ ABJ/CS/ 605/2013, the Sokoto Division of the Federal High Court, Justice Aikawa in his judgment held that there was not only division, but faction in the PDP which later merged with the APC. “As the number four citizen in the hierarchy of protocol in the country, the speaker is entitled to security protection by the security agencies, therefore we see the action of the Acting Inspector General of Police as not only contempt of the courts, but a ploy to bring harm to the person of Hon Aminu CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

4

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

5

2015: I’ll not let Nigerians down, says Jonathan lPDP extends sale of nomination forms Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday picked the Expression of Interest (EOI) and nomination forms to contest the 2015 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with a promise that he will not let Nigerians down.

The president also assured that he will work with all Nigerians for the development of the country.

“What I can say is to reassure them that I will work with all Nigerians and I will always maintain that no matter how strong a president is all over the world, the president is, only one individual and you alone can’t do anything; you alone cannot change the society.

“For you to succeed, you work with people. So, if you are succeeding, that means we have a team that is working to transform this country. So, I will work with all Nigerians to make sure that we move our country to the next level.

“I always say that the days we continue to say Nigeria is a potential great country are over. Nigeria is a great country. And we just demonstrated that in the way we collectively handled the Ebola case. And the whole world is happy with us. For us, this is the time to do more in the years to come to really move the country to where we want Nigeria to be.”

The president, who is the sole presidential candidate of the party, arrived PDP national secretariat at about 2p.m, thanked the party leadership for giving him the right of first refusal as the consensus candidate, but quickly added: “I could have still picked the form if they did not give me. But giving me the right of first refusal has attracted more people that ordinarily it would have had.”

He disclosed that the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) contributed N22 million each for the purchase of his nomination forms, and expressed gratitude to them and other groups who contributed money, for believing in him.

The president, who was accompanied by Vice-President Namadi Sambo and eight state governors, was handed over his nomination and EOI forms at exactly 2:20p.m. by the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha who also confirmed that the president

had paid the prescribed fees of N22 million.

PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu said the party decided to give governors and president who are seeking second term and who have performed creditably well, the right of first refusal “and all of us know that Mr. President has done so many things. I am happy today that he has made history, that he has come to pick his form himself.

“I sometimes wonder why people want to dabble into family affairs that is surely not theirs. PDP is PDP and PDP is a family.

This is not the forum for us to enumerate. We look forward to the campaign that we will unfold to Nigerians,” Mu’azu concluded.

The governors present at the brief ceremony were Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo).

Meanwhile, the PDP has extended the sale of its nomination forms for elective offices in 2015 general election by one week.

The deadline is now November 6.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, who announced the extension yesterday, said the decision was arrived at during the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. He, however, did not give reasons for the extension.

Metuh also announced other major decisions reached at the meeting.

According to him, the NWC noted that the tenure of ward executive officers of PDP in Abia State has expired and therefore directed the Abia State executive of the party to oversee the ward congresses to be held next Saturday.

“In Anambra, the NWC noted that the tenure of the executive has expired on October 24 and directed the South-East Zonal Working Committee to oversee the affairs of the party until another congress is held,” he noted.

The scenario was, however, different in Imo State where the tenure of the state executive expires today, but the NWC approved that the Exco continues in office as caretaker committee but without voting right.

Metuh added that following the earlier resignation of the chairmen of Enugu and Delta state chapters of the PDP, the NWC directed the deputy chairmen of the chapters to immediately

take over the affairs of the party in their respective states.

“The NWC has nullified the appointment of state chairmen for Enugu and Delta states and directed

the deputy chairmen to convene a meeting within two weeks to elect new chairmen in accordance with the provisions of the PDP constitution,” the party stated.

He said the agreement reached with the governorship aspirants from Adamawa State with the national leadership still subsists and directed aspirants from the state to

exchange the forms with 2015 governorship forms without any payment.

He restated that the 2015 governorship of the state has been zoned to Adamawa Central.

Kano State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (left), receiving the party’s nomination form from APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

Tambuwal in danger as FG withdraws security CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Waziri Tambuwal.

“We are on authority that nothing in the 1999 Constitution or the Police Act confers on the police force adjudicatory powers, including the interpretation of the constitution.

“In any case, even Section 215 of the 1999 Constitution does not contemplate the issuing of or compliance with unlawful orders by the president and or the Inspector General of Police respectively.

“What the Acting Inspector General of Police has done, therefore, has no basis in law, including the 1999 Constitution which he has cited. It is a brazen act of crass impunity, gross constitutional breach and contempt of court. The Inspector General should desist from assuming or usurping the constitutional functions of the judiciary.

“The section 68(1) (g) of the constitution, which refers to a member vacating his seat on grounds of defection, which the Inspector General of Police refers to, has a proviso which has been and still is a matter for judicial and not police interpretation,” the statement added.

Another aide to the speaker said the speaker was billed to travel to

Makurdi to condole with Mr. Harris Ogbole on the death of his father when they found out that the security personnel had been withdrawn.

The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also condemned the IG’s action and called on Jonathan to show better understanding of democracy by immediately restoring the speaker’s security.

The party, in the statement in Abuja, described the police announcement as a usurpation of the role of the judiciary.

According to the APC, “the manner a person becomes the House speaker is to be found in the constitution, and no constitutional provision or legislation says membership of the ruling or dominant party in the House is a prerequisite.”

It added that as Nigeria’s number four citizen, the security detail and apparatus attached to the speaker is based on the position and the protection required for that position and in Nigeria’s best interest.

“This unfortunate use and deployment of Nigeria’s security forces in a partisan and political way portends danger and

further weakens important institutions of governance and jeopardises national security. Under President Jonathan, we now have a police force that is monitoring and making conclusions with respect to party membership, qualification, of an otherwise elected official.

This is unheard of in any decent democracy.

“Regrettably the priority of President Goodluck Jonathan on the night that Mubi, a town with a population of about two million people in Adamawa State, fell to the Boko Haram insurgents was how to illegally remove the Hon Aminu Tambuwal as the speaker of the House of Representatives,” APC said.

In his reaction, House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, warned that the presidency would be held responsible if any harm comes to Tambuwal.

He described the action of the IG as incredulous and pathetic, adding that it the height of impunity.

He also berated the Jonathan administration for allegedly persecuting the legislature and infringing upon its independence as a separate but equal arm of government while allowing the Boko Haram

insurgents to hold parts of the country to ransom.

Another House member, Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano), while condemning the withdrawal of the speaker’s security personnel, said he was not surprised as the Jonathan administration is used to impunity.

“They know the law and they break it. It was really expected. They had sworn to uphold the constitution, but they break it,” he stated.

House Minority Whip, Hon. Samson Osagie (APC, Edo), described the action as an act of desperation and despondency.

“It’s surprising that the Nigerian Police has admitted that the speaker’s security details were withdrawn on account of his defection to APC. “It smacks of crass ignorance of the constitution and parliamentary convention on the part of the Nigerian Police to declare that our own Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has ceased to be Speaker.

“It is an act of desperation and despondency for the ruling party to want to use the police to harass and intimidate the Nigerian speaker on account of his choice of political party,” he added.

News

6

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Boko Haram consolidates hold on Mubi Ibrahim Abdul Yola

H

eavy fighting between the Nigerian troops and members of the Boko Haram sect continued yesterday with several soldiers, police and civilians reportedly killed in the commercial border town of Mubi in Adamawa State, which was overran by insurgents on Wednesday.

Reports from Mubi, the hometown of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, indicates that gunshots continued unabated.

A trapped resident, Mr. Aliyu Musa, said: “We couldn’t sleep as there were bomb explosions and gunshots. The troops were bombing the town using helicopters.

“This morning (yesterday), fighting still going on in Vimtim, the hometown of Chief of Defense Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh, and there is heavy gunshots and explosion there.

“We are in a state of despair and agony for fear being killed by the rampaging Boko Haram.

Right now, corpses have lit-

tered the streets of Mubi especially around police station; there are dead bodies of slain policemen and soldiers at the Welcome to Mubi entrance gate.”

Also narrating his ordeal, another resident, Dauda Mararraba, said Mubi is in disarray. He said: “We are hiding in our homes and other places. The terrorists burnt down many places including markets, motorcycles and shops. They have since hoisted their flags on the emir’s palace. And they are in control of police stations, military barracks and institutions of higher

learning.

“The soldiers ran away.

Several people are killed including civilians. They also attacked and killed those they believed are informants or infidels.”

Hundreds of residents have fled Mubi.

“It was by God’s grace that we escaped. In fact, we never witnessed such gory incidence. It started like dream and before you know it, we just started hearing loud bomb explosion and gunshots; people could be seen scampering for their lives ,while running away, one cannot separate the soldiers from

civilians. We are all running together to save our lives,” said Ibrahim Hamid, a fleeing student of the Adamawa State University in Mubi.

Ahmad Sajoh, spokesperson to former Governor Murtala Nyako, said some of his relatives are still missing.

“I got a call from my daughter who is a 200-level student of Adamawa State University, Mubi. She was hysterical. I was in Abuja for a meeting, but her information forced me to head back to Yola immediately,” Sajoh said.

He added: “I ordered

her to leave the hostel and join her cousins to escape the town. I called my father who confirmed the story.

By the time I arrived Yola airport, the town had fallen to the insurgents. My parents are trapped while my daughter and her cousins are missing. We lost contact for the past hours.

“The IDP camp at Lamorde was thrown into confusion. The new rulers of the town had issued a decree banning all entry and exit to the town. Students who trooped to the motor park were stranded with most taking refuge in any safe place.”

29oC

33oC

25oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

21oC

14oC

Mostly Sunny

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (left) with former President of Ghana, Mr. John Kufuor, during his visit to Gowon in Abuja… yesterday

Okonjo-Iweala, PPPRA, summon fuel marketers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

KANO

37oC

18oC

Mostly Sunny

ENUGU

17o C 11oC Fog

IBADAN

31oC

23oC

Thunder Storms

CALABAR

28o C 22oC Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

37oC 19oC Sunny

21oC

14oC

Mostly Sunny

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

Thunder Storms

ABUJA

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

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, it was gathered, had summoned all chief executive officers of oil marketing and trading (OM &T) companies in Nigeria to ‘a compulsory’ meeting on Monday to discuss issues on outstanding subsidy.

Further checks showed that the Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulating Agency (PPPRA), Farouk Ahmed, is also billed to meet with the importers at another meeting on Tuesday.

Letters inviting fuel marketers to the meeting have been sent to companies such as A-Z, Aiteo, Avidor, BSR, Bovas, Conoil, Cybernetics, Folawiyo, Forte Oil, Gulf Treasures, Hyde, Integrated, Matrix, Mettle, NIPCO, Oando,

Rainoil and Sahara.

Others that have received the letter are Shorelink, Total, TSL, Mobil, Ascon, Hudson, Dee Jones, Techno and Masters Energy.

“The fourth quarter allocation is expected to have been approved yesterday and without sounding alarmist, the delay may put pressure on reserves and create a lacuna in the product’s supply in the event of scarcity.

“The Minister of Finance has called importers to a meeting on Monday while the importers are also billed to meet with the executive secretary of PPPRA on Tuesday. The two meetings are compulsory for the chief executive officers of these companies to attend,” an industry source told New Telegraph yesterday.

Spokesperson for the PPPRA, Lanre Oladele, did

not pick calls put across to his mobile phone, but a source at the agency confirmed that the PPPRA sent a notice of the meeting to the importers with a stern warning that their CEOs must attend in person.

It was learnt that Ahmed had earlier submitted and defended the allocation schedule for the fourth quarter fuel allocation to the minister.

But the source said it was unlikely that the schedule would be approved before the two meetings.

The oil marketing and trading companies in Nigeria had earlier been granted approval by the Federal Government, to import 600,000 metric tonnes of fuel, pending the approval of the fourth quarter import allocations.

The supplementary al-

location, which was just for October, will however, expire by midnight today.

Meanwhile, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC’s) Secretary General, Mr. Abdalla El-Badri, has urged the oil market to stop panicking due to the volatility in the market because crude supply and demand will return to equilibrium.

Members of OPEC, who pump about 40 per cent of the world’s oil, are not waging a price war and haven’t demanded an emergency response to the plunge in crude futures, El-Badri said yesterday at a conference in London.

While the direction of oil prices, which have collapsed about 25 per cent since June, remains unclear in the short term, the prices would have to rebound to guarantee longterm supply, he added.

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

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

7

8

News

national

friday, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

AD pegs presidential form at N5m Wale Elegbede

T

L-R: President, South-South Professionals, Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju; Professor of Corporate Responsibility/Director, the Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, Cranfield University, Prof. David Grayson; Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank; Mr. Bisi Onasanya; Dean, Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr. Enase Okonedo and Senior fellow, LBS, Mr. Kayode Omoregie, at the Firstbank International Sustainability Conference in Lagos...yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

TETFund spends N23.84billion on libraries Tony Okafor Awka

T

he Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has allocated the sum of N23.84 Billion to all public tertiary institutions in the country for library development.

The Board of Trustees Chairman of TETFund Dr. Musa Babayo, disclosed this yesterday at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, during a capacity building workshop on the Acquisition and Management of E-Library for librarians in

Onwuliri salutes First Lady on her birthday

T

he Minister of State for Education, Prof (Mrs) Viola Onwuliri has poured encomium on the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan as she marked her birthday.

In a statement she personally signed, Onwuliri described the First Lady as a selfless and passionate woman whose valuable and immeasurable contributions to nation building have continued to strengthen the husband, President Goodluck Jonathan to remain focused and committed in delivering the dividends of his administration’s transformation agenda.

The minister also described the First Lady as a matriarch, who irrespective of the daunting challenges, has used her position to advance the cause of adequate and effective women representation in government.

Public tertiary institutions.

Babayo, who was represented at the two-day workshop by Mr. Uchendu Wogu, said the Fund had proved over the years to be a veritable source of guaranteed funds for desired interventions at tertiary level of education of which library development was not an exception.

According to him, “the major objectives of TETFund is to ensure that its intervention programme build a critical mass of high quality facilities and skilled manpower that can compete globally and positively contribute towards the attainment of the government Transformation Agenda for National Development.”

Court declares police ban on rallies illegal Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

A

n Abuja High Court yesterday declared as illegal the banning of peaceful rallies of the #BringBackOurgirls group by the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mbu, now an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 7.

Delivering a judgement in the suit filed by the advocacy group, the trial judge, Justice Sunday Aladetoyinbo held that the right to freedom of association and assembly is the bone of any democratic governance, adding also that the police

have no right to ban Nigerians from peaceful protest.

The judge commended the then Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, for overturning the ban and stating the position of the law.

The court, however, cautioned the #BringBackOurGirls group to be security conscious in staging peaceful gathering and dismissed the application by the group seeking N200 million as damages as a result of the ban.

The #BringBackOurgirls group had on June 2 dragged Mbu to court for allegedly banning protests, rallies and demonstrations over the abducted Chibok schoolgirls.

The then IG Abubakar, however, overturned the

ban the following day, saying, “The force has not issued any order banning peaceful assemblies/protests anywhere in Nigeria.”

Counsel to the #BringBackOurgirls group, Femi Falana (SAN), had argued that Mbu’s ban on peaceful protests constituted an infringement of the rights of his client.

Defendant’s counsel, Simon Lough, countered the argument, saying the court did not have jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Reacting to the judgement, Mbu’s counsel, Lough, told newsmen that there was no victor, no vanquish in the judgement and that the defendant will look at the judgement and may appeal the court’s decision on jurisdiction.

Congress: Crisis hits Ekiti PDP...Senator, others cry foul

FG appoints TIB advisor for trade centre project

Adesina Wahab

T

Ado-Ekiti

B

arely 48 hours to the conduct of ward congress that will produce delegates that will vote in the Peoples Democratic Party’s primaries where candidates of the party in the State and National Assembly elections will emerge, the party in Ekiti State has been hit by crisis.

The crisis has to do with allegations of imposition of candidates on the party.

Briefing newsmen on the development in Oye-Ekiti yesterday, Senator Ayo Arise, accused the State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, of unilater-

ally imposing candidates by conniving with some leaders to draw the list of candidates and delegates for the primaries.

Arise, who is gunning for the senatorial position in Ekiti North Senatorial District, accused Fayose of compiling the list of delegates that would emerge in tomorrow’s PDP Congress, who would thereafter elect candidates to fly the party’s flags in the National and State Assembly elections at the primaries.

Arise accused Fayose of drawing the list of 26 candidates that would go to the House of Assembly, thereby denying others with similar aspirations the chance to test their popularity.

he Federal Government has appointed The Infrastructure Bank Plc (TIB) as transaction advisor for the re-development of the Independence Building, Lagos into a National Trade and International Business Centre (NTIBC).

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye, said that the appointment was made through the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment following a competitive bid procurement process and approvals of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Federal Executive Council.

Oyinloye explained that the Bank would pro-

vide a broad range of services, including the design of a transparent procurement process leading to the selection of credible bidders that will proffer a viable technical and financing solution for the re-development of the ‘’iconic Independence Building using Public-Private Partnership methodology.’’

Oyinloye said that when completed, the National Trade and International Business Centre will be an ultra-modern, mixed-use, high-rise complex which will serve as a convergence point for facilitation of trade and investments by the Federal Government in the nation’s commercial hub.

he Alliance for Democracy (AD) said it has pegged its Presidential nomination forms for the 2015 elections for N5 million, saying that the party has no plan of merging or going into alliance with any party.

Speaking at the formal opening of the party’s new secretariat in Lagos, AD National Chairman, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, said nominations forms for governorship would sell for.

N2 million, Senate N1 million, House of Reps N500 million, House of Assembly N50, 000, Local Government Chairman and Councillor N50, 000 and N20,000 respectively.

On the chances of the party during the election, Akinfenwa said the party has been repositioned and is poised to win the 2015 presidential election and take back power in Lagos.

“Our national working committee will decide on our presidential candidate next week. We will field candidates for all the offices in 2015. The AD won the governorship election in Lagos in 2007.

We are back to take back power.”

ConocoPhillips 3rd-quarter profit up on Nigeria asset sale

C

onocoPhillips, the largest United States independent oil company, yesterday reported higher third-quarter profit, lifted by the sale of its Nigerian business.

Over the last several years, Conoco has shed lower-margin assets, directing more capital to projects like shale drilling in the United States that offer higher returns and higher production growth.

According to Reuters, profit rose to $2.7 billion, or $2.17 per share, from $2.5 billion, or $2.00 per share, in the 2013 third quarter.

Excluding items such as the proceeds from the sale of its Nigerian business in July and a tax benefit, Conoco had a profit of $1.29 per share. Analysts, on average, expected $1.20, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The proceeds from the Nigerian sale were $1.4 billion.

Even as crude prices have fallen more than 20 per cent in recent weeks on increased supply and waning demand, Conoco’s chief executive officer expressed optimism about next year.

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, OCTOBER 31, 2014

News

national

9

Suit against G5 govs suffers setback again Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the five governors that defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC suffered another setback yesterday before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The trial judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole, however expressed worry over the delay in the hearing and determination of the suit.

Governors Rotimi

Amaechi of Rivers; Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara and former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State defected from the PDP to the APC after a protracted disagreement with the leadership of the PDP. The PDP, however, approached the court seeking an order to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to declare their seats vacant.

When the matter came up yesterday, the judge expressed worries at the

slow pace of proceeding after counsel in the matter asked for adjournment.

“I am getting frustrated over the delay in the matter. I quickly want to deal with this matter so that I can put it behind me”, the judge said.

Counsel to the governor of Kwara State, Yusuf Ali, SAN, told the court that he filed a motion on notice seeking to set aside the order of substituted service granted by the court to the plaintiff on June 17, 2014 to serve the court process on the defendants through a national newspaper.

He also begged the

court to set aside the originating summons for being incompetent.

He further argued that where originating summons could not be served personally on a defendant, who is not present within the jurisdiction of the court, substituted service cannot be ordered.

Ali further argued that substituted service can only be ordered where personal service within the jurisdiction is possible.

He told the court that service of the originating process or any process is a fundamental requirement for any court to assume ju-

risdiction on a matter.

“The originating summons is incompetent for non-compliance with the provision of section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act; and the originating summons is defective for not containing the necessary endorsement required by law and ought to be set aside”, Ali submitted.

The court later fixed November 18, 2014 for hearing of the application.

New Telegraph recalls that the suit have suffered several adjournments due to the fact that the issue of

L-R: Chief Pilot, Arik Air, Mr. Adetokunbo Adekunbi; Deputy Managing Director, Capt. Ado Sanusi and Managing Director, Mr. Chris Ndulue, at a press conference in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Fayose: Why I created stomach My aspiration not a do-or-die affair, says Kwankwaso the party to pick his He said: ‘’Mr Chairinfrastructure ministry Johnchuks Onuanyim Expression of Inter- man, at the convention Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

E

kiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, yesterday gave reasons why he created the Ministry of Stomach Infrastructure in the state.

The governor, who was at National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the presentation of presidential nomination forms to President Goodluck Jonathan, also said the removal of the immunity clause from the constitution will cause unnecessary distraction on the members of the executive.

He denied that he was on political vendetta by embarking on the demolition of the filling station belonging to the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly.

“I have met with the speaker, who denied ever making such statement

and claimed that the special adviser media made the statement and I want to tell you that you don’t need to muzzle people.

“I did not muzzle people to become governor.

I enjoyed the free vote of Ekiti people in the last election and if I got the vote in the whole of the 16 local government areas and in the 158 out of the 177 wards that put me in total majority in landslide, there is no basis to fight the Speaker. But don’t forget that to lead a state and to play politics in a state and in a system where the House of Assembly is majorly APC, there would be reasonable level of blackmail but I would continue to love and work with them, and let me assure you, I have gone through worst storms, so I am not bothered at all”, the governor said He said stomach infrastructure is very important in the life of a man.

Abuja.

T

he Governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso, yesterday stated that his presidential ambition was not a do-or-die affair.

The governor, who declared on Tuesday his ambition to contest the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket was at the National Secretariat of

est, EoI and Nomination forms.

Kwankwaso, at the occasion, did not present tellers but short message service alerts as evidence of the N27.5 million payment for both forms.

Speaking, he stated that he would see his coaspirants as family and strive to play by the rules to ensure a rancour-free primary.

yesterday, you said all the aspirants who have shown interest have promised to work together. ‘’It is not a do-or-die affair. I assure you we will play the game according to the rules. Our participation is to add value to the party.’’

The governor said a lot of his friends were still willing to decamp to the APC.

NJC approves Mohammed’s nomination as new CJN Tunde Oyesina

Abuja

T

he National Judicial Council, NJC, yesterday approved the nomination of Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria. His name has been forwarded to President Goodluck Jonathan.

The Council also approved the appointment of the Supreme Court

Registrar, Mr Sunday Olorundahunsi as Ondo State High Court Judge.

The Federal Judicial Service Commission, FJSC, had last week recommended Justice Mahmud Mohammed to the NJC to replace the outgoing CJN, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar.

Justice Mukhtar, who is the first female CJN will proceed on retirement on November 20 after attaining the retire-

ment age of 70.

In order of seniority, Justice Mohammed is the next most senior justice of the Supreme Court.

It has however been a tradition in the judiciary that succession will follow the order of seniority.

The council also nominated Justice Walter Onnoghen, who is next to Mohammed in seniority as the Vice Chairman of the NJC.

service is yet to be clarified.

PDP had served the first process at the National Secretariat of APC. But the party claimed that it has relocated from the said location.

Sanusi in talks with Jonathan Anule Emmanuel

E

mir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Muhammad Sanusi II, yesterday met with President Goodluck Jonathan behind closeddoors at the presidential villa.

Although the purpose of the visit could not to established, the meeting between the traditional head of the Kano Emirate and the President came barely two hours before Jonathan was accompanied by his cabinet members and aides to pick the Peoples Democratic Party PDP nomination form for the 2015 presidential election at the Wadata House in Abuja.

Yesterday’s visit by Sanusi to the Presidential Villa is the second since he ascended the throne of the Kano emirate as Emir.

After about an hour in the President’s office, Sanusi, who ascended the Kano Emirate throne last June, emerged from the meeting and declined to speak to reporters.

Coca-Cola officials, others for arraignment Nov 4 Tunde Oyesina Abuja

T

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed November 4 for the arraignment of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and their Chief Executives for criminal breach of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) Act. The accused will be arraigned before Justice Evoh Chukwu of the Federal High Court 8.

New Telegraph recalls that the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, SAN had earlier filed a one-count charge against NBC and its Managing Director and a two-count charge against Coca-Cola Nigeria limited and its Chief Executive, making them liable to jail terms ranging from three to five years, if found guilty.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

10

Metro War pushed Kano files new murder charges against 14-year-old bride Muhammad Kabir Kano

K

ano State yesterday substituted a one-count charge with a four-count charge against a child bride who is facing murder trial.

The 14-year-old Wosilat Tasiu is standing trial before a Kano High Court, Gezawa Division, for allegedly killing her 35-year-old husband, Umar Sani, and three others.

The Ministry of Justice represented by senior state counsel, Lamido Soron Dinki, sought the relief of the court to substitute the initial charge with the new one.

Dinki told the court that the accused was before the court on a one-count charge of culpable homicide.

But according to him, because those allegedly murdered were four, there is need to amend the charge.

The counsel submitted that the application for the substitution of the charge sheet was pursuant to Section 185(b) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Tasiu’s counsel, Husaina Ibrahim, told the court that though she was not objecting to the substitution of the charge against her client, she was against the arraignment of the accused.

The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yahaya, noted that there was no motion before the court, adding that whenever the motion was brought on notice, the court would attend to it.

The court granted the relief sought by the state counsel, ordering that the new charge be read out to the accused.

The charge sheet states that on April 5, at Yan Tsoro village in Gaya Local Government Area in Kano State, Tasiu poisoned a meal with a conceived intent to kill her husband.

It added that Sani, Hassan Alhassan (25), Nasiru Mohammed (13) and Indo Ibrahim (12) all partook in the poisoned meal. They all lost their lives.

me to robbery, says ex-Liberian footballer

l15 exotic cars recovered from gang Taiwo Jimoh, John Edu and Shola Adefuwa

A

professional footballer, who played in 2000 African Nations’ Cup is one of the five suspects paraded yesterday for robbery and snatching about 15 exotic cars.

The footballer, Moses Andrel, a Liberian, said he never wanted to join robbery but was forced by circumstances beyond his control.

According to him, he fled the war in his country to the Refugees’ Camp, Oru, Ijebu in Ogun State.

His modus operandi was to get employed as a driver, and later disappear with his employer’s car.

Andrel said he had disappeared with about four cars belonging to different people he worked for as driver.

The former footballer said he left Oru for Lagos in search of a football club but discovered that it was no so easy.

Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command led by SP Abba Kyarri recovered 15 cars from the

FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

The suspects and the recovered cars

chassis numbers.

The police said that the gang specialised in snatching vehicles in Lagos and other states, after which they would sell them off.

Andrel claimed that he was among the 23 players from Liberia who featured in the All African Nations Cup jointly hosted by Nigeria and Ghana in 2000.

He said: “I left Liberia in 2003 during the civil war and came to Nigeria as a refuge at the Oru Camp in Ijebu-Ode. I didn’t like the kind of life we were living at the camp. I decided to come to Lagos with the assistance of the camp officials to see if I could play with any local football club in Lagos.

“When I got to Lagos, I could not secure a contract with any club. But I didn’t want to go back to the camp. That was

how I became a driver.”

According to the suspect, he later met Nana, a Ghanaian and they became bosom friends.

On a fateful journey to Port Harcourt with his boss, Andrel ran into Nana again, who soon introduced him to robbery and car-snatching.

He said: “When I came back from Port Harcourt, the first car I made away with was my employer’s car at his Ogudu residence. I ran away with the car after I was sent on an errand. I drove the car to a designated venue, where Israel (Nana) met me and picked the car.”

Andrel said that after his first move, others became easier.

“I’ve also made away with about four cars from my working places,” he said.

The suspect said he was ar-

‘Church must preach moral values to rebuild society’ Mojeed Alabi

P ABIODUN BELLO

suspects.

According to the police, on October 20, in a follow up to car-snatching cases under investigation, five suspects identified as Mahmud Abdulakeem (48), Musa Yusuf (27), Abayomi Okanlawon Adebayo (53), Israel Nana (30) and Andrel (25) were arrested and the cars recovered.

The cars were recovered in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Benin and Abuja.

The cars are Toyota Camry with registration number MUS 861 CA, Mitsubishi Outlander (KTU 615 AV), Toyota Camry (BQ 652 AKD), Toyota Camry (MUS 353 CV), Toyota Camry (BDG 370 CP), Toyota Camry (AAA 487 CA), Nissan Pathfinder (AGB 839 RK), Nissan Murano (KRK 449 CL) and Honda Accord (KMM 115 AA).

Others are Honda Accord (LSD 394 BG), Toyota Corolla (KUJ 132 HZ), Mitsubishi Outlander (KJA 745 BH), Toyota Camry (UW 879 KJA), Toyota Avensis (ABJ 89 BK) and Toyota Sienna (FJ 611 LSR).

SARS operatives also recovered tools used for changing chassis and engine numbers and samples of fabricated

arents, guardians and teachers have been advised to be dedicated to the rebuilding of Nigeria through inculcation of discipline and moral values in the younger generation.

The advice came from speakers at the 60th anniversary symposium of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) of the Christ Church, Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Speaking on the theme of

the symposium; “21st Century Church: End Time Church,” a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Dr Isaiah Ademola, said that men of God were now more deceived than before.

He said: “Let no man deceive you by any means, even though we have seen men who stood by God but have also fallen. You should preach the word of God, the children of nowadays run away; they don’t want to listen. Many even believe that the Bible has been corrupted. The Christian

church has been divided along over 100 denominations.”

According to him, money is being preached more than the gospel nowadays.

“There has never been a time when children are more rebellious than now,” he added.

The Chairman on the occasion, Dotun Kumapayi, an architect, said this was an era where things were going wrongly.

He said: “The rapture is near.

When you talk about the time, it can be anytime. We should read the scripture always for us to be

prepared, waiting for the coming of Jesus.

“We must have a good relationship with God. The lives of this generation of elders were good. This generation is betraying us. We should preach the scripture so that people should be conscious of their behaviours.”

In his remark, the President of the association, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi, said that this was not the same church the missionary left, adding that something drastic must be done to rectify it.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

I left Liberia in 2003 during the civil war and came to Nigeria as a refuge at the Oru Camp in Ijebu-Ode

rested when he went to the bank to collect his share of the proceeds from some of the cars they had sold.

Another of the gang member, Yusuf, a car dealer in Abuja, is said to be part of those collecting the stolen cars and selling them on behalf of the gang.

The suspect, however, denied knowing the cars were stolen.

He said: “The boys were introduced to me by Muhmud Abdulakeem, whose elder brother was my boss before he died last year.”

Stating how own side of the story, Nana said he joined the gang because his wife was pregnant and he needed money to prepare for the arrival of

the baby.

According to him, after brainstorming, he decided to come down to Nigeria, in search of greener pastures.

He said: “I was desperately in need of money to meet my needs. I wanted to take care of my pregnant wife. I convinced Andrel to start bringing cars, while I would sell them.”

Another of the suspects, Adebayo, was arrested for always assisting the suspects in changing chassis numbers of stolen vehicles.

Mr Ashafa Dipo, whose Toyota Camry car marked MUS 861 CA was snatched, was at the command yesterday to take possession of his car.

Meningitis immunisation draws thousands in Enugu Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

T

housands of residents of Enugu State have been thronging centres designated for immunisation against meningitis.

The Commissioner for Health, Dr George Eze, kicked off the exercise last Thursday in Awgu Local Government Area.

Enugu metropolis and Nsukka urban town have so far witnessed the great-

est turn-out of residents.

A source in the Ministry of Health explained yesterday that the exercise involved two interventions.

According to the source, the two interventions, which are going on simultaneously in all the states of the federation, include prevention of maternal and neonatal tetanus campaign which targets women of child-bearing age, 15 to 49 years.

CDHR petitions IG, AG over attack on journalist Taiwo Jimoh

T

he Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has petitioned the Acting Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, among others, on the alleged attack on a journalist with New Telegraph newspaper, Mr Mojeed Alabi.

Alabi, according to the petition, was attacked and injured by some identified thugs allegedly loyal to a politician in Osun State.

The petition signed by the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of CDHR, Comrade Buna Isiak, accuses the member representing Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun and Orolu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Lasun Yusuff, of being behind the attack.

According to CDHR, Yusuff had, on the night of Thursday, October 2, threatened to deal with Alabi for portraying him in bad light in his recent investigative re-

Juliana Francis

T

he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has discovered cocaine valued at N131 million in ladies’ shoes and laptop bags.

Three suspects, Chinonso Joseph Ezenna, Ifeanyi Kingsley Agu and Israel Okoye were arrested in connection with the discovery. They were alleged to have smuggled the cocaine from Brazil through Abu Dhabi.

Ezenna, 28, told narcotic investigators that he was promised N2.5 million by his sponsors.

He said: “I am married and my wife is pregnant.

I used to manage a boutique until I lost everything. Out of frustration, I travelled to Brazil in search of employment.

“I smuggled the drugs for N2.5 million. My intention was to settle down and invest the proceeds in any legitimate business.”

Agu, 30, who hails from Enugu State, said he lost his father and needed money for the funeral.

He said: “I sell clothes at Aba market. I travelled to Brazil in April 2014 because my business was almost liquidating. The few months

Alabi being treated at the Mercy Private Hospital, Ilobu, Osun State, after the attack

port published in New Telegraph on Monday, September 15, entitled; Osun: Streams of dead projects.

The petition, entitled; “Attempted Murder and Criminal Wounding of Mr. Mojeed Alabi by Killer Gang of Honourable Lasun Yusuff,” reads in part: “In the report carried out by Mr. Mojeed Alabi, the project titled Aquaculture Entrepreneurship Development Centre was captured to be sited in Ilobu, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government in Osun State.

“However, the investigation carried out on

the project revealed that the project was not physically on ground despite the annual budget of N50,000,000 in 2012 and N30,000,000 in 2013 as stated in a compendium of capital projects in the South-West geopolitical zone’s appropriation acts.

“Coincidentally, Honourable Lasun Yusuff is the representative of the Federal Constituency where the project was allegedly sited.

Having read the report in the New Telegraph, Yusuff threw caution to the wind and told some members of the constituency that the

investigative report had thoroughly embarrassed him and the reporter, Mojeed Alabi, would pay for it with his life.”

The petition added that a violent stab on Alabi’s hand, which occurred on October 5, when the victim was attending an event in Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government Area, was carried out by a gang allegedly led by Olayinka Mutiu, popularly called Laredo, Ojuolape Akeem aka Baale/Esu Gongo and Saliu Waheed aka Last Born. They carried out the attack allegedly on the orders of Yusuff.

NDLEA discovers N131m cocaine in ladies’ shoes

Agu

Ezenna

Okoye

I spent in Brazil were even worse than here in Nigeria. While in Brazil, my father died and I had no money for my flight ticket. Bringing cocaine to Nigeria was my last hope of making some money. They promised to pay me N800,000.”

Okoye said that he too was promised N800,000 to smuggle cocaine to Nigeria.

“I am from a poor family. I dropped out of school in primary four owing to lack of sponsorship. I worked in a bakery in Brazil. My salary was so meagre that I lived from hand to mouth. I am single and need to settle down,” he added.

The suspects were

arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos with the cocaine weighing 14.650kg.

The Head, Media and Publicity, NDLEA, Mitchell Ofoyeju, said: “The estimated street value of the seized cocaine is about N131 million.”

The NDLEA Airport Commander, Hamza Umar, said: “Ezenna was found with 11.330kg of cocaine, Agu had in his possession 1.650kg while Okoye was found with 1.670kg. The total quantity of cocaine seized from the three suspects is 14.650kg.”

During interrogation, the suspects said they would have been paid

N4.1 million by their sponsors to smuggle cocaine.

“Two of the suspects, Agu and Okoye who hid the cocaine inside laptop bags were promised N800,000 each. They were apprehended during the inward screening of passengers on an Emirates flight from Dubai, Abu Dhabi,” said Ofoyeju.

Ezenna boarded a Qatar flight also from Dubai with 11.330kg of cocaine hidden in soles of female shoes.

The NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade, said that arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers was a continuous exercise until the country was completely free of illicit drugs.

12

News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

‘Collapsed Synagogue Church building had no approval’

T

he Lagos State Government yesterday said that the collapsed guest house within the premises of Synagogue Church of All Nations had no building permit.

The building collapsed on September12 and killed 116 people.

Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olutoyin Ayinde, made the information known while testifying at the ongoing Coroner’s inquest into the incident.

Ayinde told the inquest chaired by Mr. Oyetade

Komolafe that investigations carried out by the ministry showed that the six-storey building had no approval.

“From our records, we saw the approval in the name of Synagogue Church of All Nations dated January 26, 2004.

The approval was just for the main auditorium of the church. It was an approval for a five-floor development.

“However, on our visit to the site, we discovered

that it has been taken to the eighth floor; making the additional three floors illegal structures. For the collapsed building, we did not find anything relating to it in our records. It does not have our approval,” Ayinde added.

The commissioner also expressed safety concerns over the additional floors being constructed at the church auditorium.

“In the ongoing construction, there is a lift shaft that is being devel-

oped and one of the columns is not taking off from the ground floor. It is erected on a water tank. I don’t know if an engineer certified that but it should be investigated,” he said.

Ayinde said the ministry wrote to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to get information on the mysterious aircraft that was said to have flown four times close to the building before it collapsed.

He said from the NCAA’s response which

was used by the SurveyorGeneral to plot the flight path swath, it was discovered that the plane was flying at about 1,100ft.

Under cross-examination by the church’s lawyer, Mr. Olalekan Ojo, the commissioner admitted that the existence of a building approval had nothing to do with its structural stability.

“From the CCTV footage I watched, I discovered that the collapsed building fell asymmetrically. I can

confirm that there are cases of induced demolition of a building,” he said Ayinde disclosed that the debris from the site had been sent to the Lagos State Material Testing Laboratory for analysis and that the result was still being awaited.

Also testifying, the Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Mr. Joseph Agbenla, said he plotted the coordinates of the flight path of the Nigerian Airforce plane.

UCH graduates 196 health professionals Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

T

he University College Hospital (UCH) yesterday graduated 196 health professionals from the four federallyfunded schools of the institution.

While speaking at the 35th joint graduation ceremony of the schools in Ibadan, the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof.

Jesse Otegbayo, charged those graduating to go into the world and make impact in their chosen professions.

“You have great impact to give to your students and the patients that you will come across in the discharge of your duties.

However, do not forget your alma mata and always be good ambassadors of the UCH,” he charged the graduating students.

In his goodwill message, UCH’s Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof. Temitope Alonge, implored the graduating students to remain focused and determined.

The guest speaker, Dr. (Mrs.) Sally Adebimpe Opaleye, said the quality of healthcare delivery in the country was attributable to the quality and content of the training curricula.

L-R: All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, Chief Funsho Ologunde; Chief Henry Ajomole; Lagos State governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun and others, at the APC Extra-Ordinary National Convention 2014, in Abuja…on Wednesday

No plan to sack workers, says Ekiti govt Osun Tribunal begins Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State government yesterday denied any plan by it to sack civil servants in the state as being peddled on social media by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement by the Special Assistant, Public Communication and New Media to the Governor in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Lere Olayinka, the state government said the current exercise of trimming down the number of ministries did not indicate that it was going to sack some workers.

“Workers in the state have nothing to fear,

the ongoing exercise of trimming the number of ministries is not an indication that workers are going to be sacked,” he said.

“The exercise is intended to make the workers more effective and efficient. Workers will be deployed in a way to get the best out of them.

“Workers that have issues to clarify are those that were employed without due process after the APC lost the June 21 governorship election.

“The proposal before Governor Ayodele Fayose is the retionalsation of the number of ministries and parastatals to reduce the cost of running the government, so as to

be able to provide basic amenities for the people.

“The planned reduction of ministries and parastatals is still at the level of proposal that is yet to be considered by the governor,” Olayinka addded.

“It is also important to point out that there is no plan to turn the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to an agency under the Governor’s Office as being peddled.

“SUBEB is a creation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its funds come directly from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), a Federal Government agency. No governor can scrap it,” the statement read.

APC to Fayose: You lied again about Ekiti Teaching Hospital

T

he Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, has debunked allegations made by the state Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose about the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital.

In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon.Taiwo Olatun-

bosun, the party said the situation was far better than that painted by the governor. The statement said in part: “It is a lie from the pit of hell that only one ambulance is functional at the Teaching Hospital.

There are three functional ambulances at the teach-

ing hospital which include a Toyota, a Peugeot and a Big Ford ambulance all purchased by the Fayemi administration.

Another lie by Fayose is that the X-ray machine has broken down. There are two functional Xray machines presently

at the Teaching Hospital. One is a mobile one while the other one is very big. We urge anyone in doubt to conduct an independent verification at the Teaching Hospital and the lie of this administration will be exposed.”

pre-trial hearing Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

T

he pre-trial hearing of the petition filed by Osun State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore and his party against the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the newly constituted Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led Osun State Election Petition Tribunal commenced yesterday amidst tight security at the Osun State High court, Osogbo, the venue of the exercise.

As early as 7.00a.m, the presence of heavy security-men were felt around the venue of the sitting as combined teams of conventional and mobile police officers stationed in all the strategic places leading to the entrance of the court while politicians allowed into the venue were frisked by the fierce-looking com-

batant men.

Apart from those frisked, vehicles plying the area were also thoroughly inspected by the security operatives to discourage anti- democratic acts at the venue of the sitting.

The tribunal at the commencement of the hearing granted the prayer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw its application earlier filed, seeking an extension of time for the on-going inspection of the election materials used for the election.

Chairman of the tribunal justice, E.N Ikpejime, ruled that the application be struck out as prayed by the counsel to the petitioner, Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN).

She also cautioned a g ainst spreading falsehood over the activities of the tribunal and appealed to political parties involved in the matter to cooperate with the tribunal to be able to do its job with fair and just without any distraction.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Governorship Aspirants

2015

16, 17

20

Idagbor, Ugbo, Jeddy-Agba, Aniah battle for Imoke’s seat

13

Ahmed: Banking on scorecard for re-election

Politics

Chibok schoolgirls: 200 days of forlorn expectation

Today marks 200 days that 276 schoolgirls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, were kidnapped by the Boko Haram insurgents.

With 57 of the girls escaping from their abductors, 219 are still being held hostage by the sect. WALE ELEGBEDE reports

The kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls as seen in the Boko Haram video

A

s young girls between 15 and 19, they aspired to conclude their Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) examination by June and possibly forge ahead with their educational pursuit to higher institutions even beyond the sleepy Chibok community, a largely peasant settlement in Borno State.

But like vapour, their dreams vanished and the possibility of regaining it is gradually fading by the day. It’s 200 days and still counting, yet their abductors are still keeping them hostage,

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

the government has not succeeded in its rescue efforts and their families remain helpless on the plights of their wards.

Undeniably, the news of the kidnap went viral and subsequently shook the world, attracting global outrage and condemnation especially through the Western media which feasted on the abduction, bringing it to the consciousness of the world.

Despite the global attention the abduction has attracted, President Goodluck Jonathan and other officials of government could only mutter hordes of promises to parents and relatives of the missing girls. In fact, events of recent weeks clearly show the cloudiness of the rescue effort for the teenagers.

Prior to the abduction, the sect had continued to lay siege on three north eastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, just as pockets of attacks were recorded in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. The kidnap of the schoolgirls, however, signalled the birth of a different, frightening dimension in insurgency,

If the President got the information within 12 hours of the act and he reacted immediately, I believe those girls would have been rescued...

Unfortunately, the president had doubts

especially in the zone.

While Nigerians were still amiss about the circumstances that led to the kidnap of the girls, the Nigerian military three days after the abduction fuelled confusion in the immediate aftermath, by reportedly releasing a statement claiming that more than 100 of the kidnapped girls had been rescued.

But the Army directorate retracted the statement almost immediately following the outcry of the parents and relatives of the kidnapped girls that their children were still missing.

With conflicting statements from the Army on the number of girls missing and the uncertainty over their whereabouts, both the military and Federal Government fell to the receiving end of flak from both local and international media, which expectedly drew public indignation. #BringBackOurGirls crusade With information about the whereabouts of the missing girls sketchy, Nigerians took to

the social media to show their resentment to the lethargic response of the government. On April 23, an Abuja-based lawyer, Ibrahim M. Abdullahi, sent the first tweet using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.

The frenzy grew from there with the hashtag BringBackOurGirls gaining much prominence on twitter and other social media platforms. Spearheaded by a former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and Hadiza Bala, the initiative began to trend worldwide and at a point got the support of world figures like Michelle Obama and Angelina Jolie among others.

Though the activities of the #BringBackOurGirls movement especially its daily sit-out and protests have been categorised as political by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it has nonetheless remained the major movement keeping the momentum going 200 days after.

Operating under the aegis of CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

14

Politics

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Women for Peace and Justice, the group soon took the social media campaign to the streets, decrying the lack of active response of government to the plight of the missing girls.

Despite the uncomfortable status of the government to the growing popularity of the movement, the group met with the leadership of the National Assembly, Nigeria’s military chiefs and the Borno State governor to demand action on the rescue of the girls but was turned back from seeing the president by security agents.

The Shekau video Any doubts about the abduction of the girls was put to rest after the leader of the Boko Haram sect, Abubakar Shekau, in a video released to the public showed the missing schoolgirls, saying that his group were behind the abduction of the girls and threatened to “sell” them in the market as “slaves”.

Beaming with fury in the chilling video, Shekau revealed that the captives had all been forced to convert to Islam and “will only be released if Boko Haram members held prisoners by security agents are freed.”

Northern senators oppose emergency rule extension President Jonathan’s bid to extend emergency rule in the affected states met with stiff resistance when Northern senators resolved to vote against it.

The senators argued that its extension was not the best way to combat insurgency in the three states.

According to the chairman of the Northern Senators’ Forum, Umaru Dahiru, they were not convinced that it was only emergency rule that could make the security personnel achieve success in the area.

But one week after receiving the request from President Jonathan, the Senate approved the extension of emergency rule thereby leaving the senators from the North in the cold.

The $1 billion loan The request by President Jonathan to the National Assembly on July 16 seeking approval to borrow $1 billon to tackle the insurgency issue generated heated debate from all sides of the divide.

In a letter addressed to the Senate President, David Mark, the president spoke about the need for external borrowing to enable the upgrade of security equipment in order to fight the insurgency bedevilling Nigeria, particularly the North East.

President Jonathan said the $1 billion will also be used to train the military and other security officers, adding that, “For this reason, I seek the concurrence of the National Assembly for external borrowing of not more than $1 billion dollars including government to government arrangements for this upgrade.”

After much dilly-dallying, the Senate approved the request, following consideration of the report of the Joint Committees on Finance, and Local and Foreign Debts on the loan request at its plenary.

The chairman of the Committee on Finance, Ahmad Makarfi (PDP-Kaduna), who presented the report, said the facility was not a cash loan but for supply of military hardware to be paid over seven years.

International responses No doubt, the international community had in the last 200 days shown much interest and commitment to the search of the girls. Though some Nigerians are sceptical about the motive of some countries and their leaders for willing to render such audacious support to Nigeria, others believe that the plight of the girls is their interest and are genuinely concerned for their return to their families.

Expectations ran high about the pos-

L-R: Former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff; President Goodluck Jonathan and Chadian President, Idriss Deby, at a meeting in Ndjamena

Chibok: 200 days of waiting, intrigues and negotiations sible release of the girls when some Western countries sent their experts to the country to aid the search for the girls.

As her own measure of support for the mission, the United States of America sent an American team made up of law enforcement officers and the military, specialising in “intelligence, investigations, hostage negotiation, informationsharing and victim assistance.

In May, 16 military personnel from US African Command joined the Search and Rescue Operations. The Department of Defense also announced that it was deploying an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and 80 United States Air Force personnel to nearby Chad. Chad was chosen as a base for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights because of its access to northern Nigeria.

Addressing the Parliament, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, described the abduction as an “act of pure evil”, assuring the House that his government would do all in its power to quell insurgency in Nigeria.

Not left out, the Chinese government also extended its show of support to make available “any useful information acquired by its satellites and intelligence services.”

French President Francois Hollande also convened a summit in Paris with Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle the issue. President Jonathan attended the summit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also offered assistance to the Nigerian government. “Israel expresses its deep shock at the crime committed against the girls. We are willing to help assist in locating the girls and fighting the terror that is afflicting you,” he said.

It was later gathered that Netanyahu sent a team of intelligence experts to Nigeria, consisting of experts experienced in dealing with hostage situations.

The European Union passed a resolution on July 17, “calling for immediate and unconditional release” of the abducted schoolgirls.”

Obasanjo speaks For former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the initial disbelief about the abduction of the girls for two weeks by President Jonathan was responsible for failure to quickly rescue the girls.

Speaking in an interview, Obasanjo

said, “If the President got the information within 12 hours of the act and he reacted immediately, I believe those girls would have been rescued within 24 hours, maximum, 48 hours. Don’t forget, they are almost 300 girls. The logistics of moving them is something the sect would have encountered. Unfortunately, the president had doubts: Is this true?

Is this a ploy by some people who don’t want me to be president again? Who is doing this?”

Malala’s Response Malala Yousafzai, the teenage campaigner for girls’ education in Pakistan, flew into Nigeria to meet with President Jonathan on the plight of the Chibok girls.

The president assured Malala, who was accompanied by her father and other members of her Foundation that the abducted Chibok girls would be freed soon.

Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for campaigning for girls’ education. She met parents of the Chibok girls also within the week

where she told them that: “I can see those girls as my sisters … and I’m going to speak up for them until they are released.”

According to President Jonathan, “Terror is relatively new here and dealing with it has its challenges. The time it is taking to achieve that objective is not a question of the competence of the Nigerian government. We have had teams from the United States, Britain, France, Israel and other friendly nations working with us here on the rescue effort and they all appreciate the challenges and the need to thread carefully to achieve our purpose,” he said.

Jonathan meets with parents, relations After Malala’s visit, the president met with the parents and relations of the missing girls, as well as leaders of the Chibok community, in Abuja. The president assured them that their wards would be rescued, adding that Boko Haram will be history in Nigeria.

His words: “Our commitment is not just to get the girls out; it is also to rout

Patience Jonathan weeping while addressing the Principal of Chibok Secondary School

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

15

Members of the #BringBackOurGirls advocacy group with ministers during a protest to the Presidential Villa in Abuja

Michelle Obama

Boko Haram completely from Nigeria.

But we are very, very mindful of the safety of the girls. We want to return them all alive to their parents. If they are killed in any rescue effort, then we have achieved nothing.

“Our duty now is to take all relevant steps to recover our girls alive and our primary interest is getting them out as safely as possible. I will not want to say much, but we are doing everything humanly possible to get the girls out.”

to welcome the president at the airport.

Northern elders’ ultimatum Sometime in August, the Northern Elders Forum gave President Jonathan up to October to produce the schoolgirls or forget his 2015 presidential re-election bid.

At a press briefing addressed on behalf of the forum, an ex-Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr. Solomon Dalung, averred that the failure of the president to rescue the Chibok girls and tackle other security challenges in the land amounted to the forfeiture of his rights to ask for another mandate to lead Nigeria beyond 2015.

“In the light of our firm conviction that the insurgency and related security challenges pose threats to the 2015 elections and the survival of our nation, we strongly advise President Jonathan to bring an end to the insurgency in all its manifestations and produce the Chibok girls before the end of October 2014,” Dalung had noted.

Patience Jonathan weeps Perhaps, one of the incidents that will overlap the Chibok issue even after the release of the girls was the dramatic posture of the First Lady, Patience, to express her displeasure at the absence of Hajiya Nana Shettima, wife of the Borno State governor, at a second enlarged stakeholders’ meeting on the abducted schoolgirls.

She burst into tears after she took a roll call and discovered that the governor’s wife and those she invited were absent.

The video of the meeting which went

viral had the popular cliché, “There is God in everything we are doing. There is God o” emanated from the meeting as the First Lady was seen weeping.

The footage of the video captured Mrs. Jonathan as saying, “Principal… na only you waka come okay, when the first lady is calling you, come I want to help you, I want to help you find your missing child, will you keep quiet? Chai, chai, there is God o, the blood we’re shedding, there is God o, there is God o…!” she said, bursting into tears, removing her glasses and using a handkerchief to wipe her eyes.

Expressing shock that the Borno State government seemed to be taking the abduction issue with levity, she said before the kidnapping and the killing started in Borno, she assured Shettima of her support, but was surprised that after such incidence, Shettima did not come to see her. “After the incidence, I waited for her, she did not come. I sent for her, she came.

I asked questions, no answer. I asked her to come with the principal and parents: she did not turn up till today. To our greatest surprise, she sent a commissioner.

“The next thing I saw was women demonstrating. No woman will fold her hands while her house is on fire. She is the mother of Borno. She is the mother of these children, I am their grandmother. She should be more concerned and come to her grandma. The police, army, WAEC, government officials came with a few of their own but no parent was present to tell us their child was kidnapped or among those who escaped.

“The mother of Borno is not concerned about what is happening, her children are involved,” Mrs. Jonathan was quoted saying.

The Steve Davis revelation Australian hostage negotiator, Stephen Davis, who spent four months negotiating with Boko Haram on behalf of the Nigerian government to free the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, opened another can of worms with some of his

Principal of the Secondary Government Girls’ School, Chibok and top security officers

Governor Shettima at the villa

startling revelations that some prominent Nigerian politicians are “primary sponsors” of Boko Haram.

Davis, a 63-year-old political geography expert in an interview said that a “senior official at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sheriff and the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, are top backers of the terrorist group.”

After the revelation from Davis, the Federal Government denied claims that it hired the Australian hostage negotiator to negotiate the release of Chibok girls.

Speaking through the coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri, the government said the decision to hire a negotiator would be made public whenever they decide to do so and that they have no plans to question those alleged to be Boko Haram sponsors by Davis.

Expectedly, Sheriff addressed a press conference in Abuja to deny Davis’s accusations, professing his innocence. Same for Ihejirika who also disclaimed the terrorism sponsorship toga labelled against him by Davis. Also the CBN had denied the allegation.

Uproar over Sheriff’s presence in Jonathan’s delegation to Chad After the initiated Paris summit by French President, Francois Hollande, President Jonathan took off to Chad to meet with President Derby. The courtesy call, which apparently was part of response to the meeting, was meant to forge a stronger alliance with Nigeria’s north-eastern neighbours in the fight against terrorism in the sub-region.

While the visit itself appeared not harmful, the presence of Sheriff in the president’s entourage almost marred the visit as opposition parties vent their anger on the presence of Sheriff, noting that the former governor was recently accused by Davis, of allegedly sponsoring Boko Haram.

With pictures of Sheriff ’s presence at the N’djamena meeting surfacing on the social media, the opposition slammed the president for hobnobbing with the ex- governor who had been severally accused as sponsoring the terrorist sect.

The APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the presidency owes Nigeria an explanation, stressing that the president could not pretend not to be aware of a report sent home by Nigeria’s Defence Adviser in N’djamena in 2011, detailing the suspicious activities of Sheriff.

But in a swift response, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati said Sheriff was not part of President Jonathan’s delegation to Ndjamena, adding that the former governor only joined other Nigerians living in Chad

The politics of ceasefire Although the terms were not clear, but Nigerians woke up to see a ray of hope in the release of the girls following news that the Federal Government and the Boko Haram terrorists had agreed to cease hostilities. Announcing the ceasefire in Abuja at the end of the conference on Nigeria-Cameroun Trans-Border Military Operations, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Marshal Alex Badeh, said “the agreement to cease fire has been concluded and all involved are to comply.”

It was learnt that one of the major demands of the government is the release of the Chibok schoolgirls but the request of the sect was typically shrouded in secrecy. It was however gathered that President Jonathan’s visit to Chad laid the foundation for the not-too-solid truce.

Unconfirmed report said Chadian President Idriss Derby facilitated the entire ceasefire deal.

However, before the close of the day after Badeh announced the ceasefire, several communities in Borno State came under attack as the insurgents reportedly killed about 40 persons including the father of former speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Goni Ali Modu.

The terror group attacked the town of Shaffa in Hawul Local Government Area of Borno State, killing eight locals and injured several others, even as hundreds of others were said to have fled their homes.

The gunmen returned to the town to fight members of the Civilian-Joint Task Force (JTF) who went to pick corpses of slain persons for burial. Thereafter, a bloody gunfight ensued between them.

Not perturbed by the renege, the Federal Government on October 27, still came out to say that the ongoing ceasefire talks with the Boko Haram sect, especially on the release of abducted Chibok girls is on course and will soon yield the desired results.

Holding onto hope As Nigerians continue to wait for the return of the girls, many seem to have lost hope, while others still keep hope alive that they will still return home. However, both sides of the divide feel saddened that the issue has been turned into a political one with the ruling PDP and main opposition party, the APC, exchanging banters, while the girls continue to languish in the terrorists’ den.

After 200 days in captivity, government continues to insist that the ceasefire deal is on course, and that the Chibok girls will soon return to their families. So Nigerians hold their breath hoping for government to fulfill its promise.

16

Politics

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

LEADING GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS

Jeddy-Agba

Idagbor

Ugbo

Idagbor, Ugbo, Jeddy-Agba, Aniah Clement James writes on the race for Cross River Government House by political gladiators in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other fringe parties in the state

Clement James Calabar.

T

he race for the Cross River State Government House has began in earnest. So far, only three political parties have made their presence felt in the state; other parties, if they exist, are largely unknown to the people. The three parties are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP).

Of these three, PDP seems to attract more attention, with activities currently revolving around it. For APC, although they have been carrying out some activities, they are mostly inhouse and away from public scrutiny.

Activities within the LP are also being carried out behind the public as nothing has so far happened, even though there are unconfirmed reports that the party is into secret discussion with some members of the PDP who are contemplating defection due to fears that they might be marginalised or outrightly shut out by the leadership of the party.

Although it is difficult to put a finger on who will eventually make it to the Government House in Calabar, bearing the various interests at play, there are indications that the battle would be fought in a manner that may smear the peaceful nature of the state.

This is not predicting mayhem, but if the dramatis personae currently applying for the top job in the Government House are not persuaded to see the contest as a friendly one, and if the “injustice” being alleged by some of them are not addressed, the battle would be fought for pride and not for service to the people. If this happens, the state may likely witness a series of political crisis during the election, and a string of court cases at the end

of it all.

Already, there are indications that the procedure adopted by the leading political party in the state, the PDP, in screening its aspirants is stirring up crisis, with some members approaching the court for intervention. This is strange because, until now, everybody has been playing the loyal party man, a situation that had helped to reduce tension in the polity. But it seems all of that has changed and the state is heading towards a revolution that may challenge the authority of the leadership.

A careful observation of the evolving political scenario in the state shows that only the ruling party holds the ace.

In fact, other parties in the state seem to be waiting to take advantage of the impending crisis in the PDP to shore up their presence in Cross River State.

Having ruled the state since 1999, the PDP has not only firmed up its grip of political structures at all levels, it has whittled down the powers of opposition parties whose resources are anything but robust. So, the battle for the Government House is more within the ruling party, with others just waiting on the sideline to take advantage of the fall-out.

Having ruled the state for 15 years, the PDP sees every election as its right to win. Indeed, the state chairman of the party, Ntufam John Okon once told our correspondent that the PDP will rule the state for 60 years, a clear reference to the absence of a serious opposition party in the state. The party, which so far holds the political right to share the resources of the state to members of its family and withhold same from the opposition, now has to contend with dissents in its fold, something seen as a strange development.

Hitherto, the words of the leadership were cast on iron. However, there seem to grow some disenchantment and al-

though the leadership has been pretending that it can handle it without hassles, it does seem there is trouble hanging in the air.

As earlier pointed out, the PDP in the state will be the focus in the next few weeks. Initially, about 22 aspirants had abandoned their posts to try their luck on the governorship seat. However, many of them might be biting their fingers by now in utter disappointment and frustration. Reason being that the number has since been pruned to five, no thanks to the caucus arrangement of the present leadership of the PDP. The five are Barr. Legor Idagbor, immediate past Commissioner for works; Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, Executive Secretary of the National Planning Commission; Barr. Mike Aniah, immediate past Secretary to the state government; Hon. Larry Odey, former Speaker of the State House of Assembly; and Ben Ayade, representing the northern senatorial district in the senate. However, Mr. Goddy Jeddy-Agba, former General Manager (Crude) Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who was not listed at all but who has obtained his form insists he will contest the primaries.

Goddy Jeddy-Agba In spite of the grandstanding of the leadership of the PDP in the state, opinion polls favour the candidature of Jeddy-Agba on the platform of the party. Having recently resigned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Jeddy-Agba has been able to put a crack team together and they are doing a brilliant work, using every available medium to advertise him. Led by a former university lecturer and former Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Sandy Onor, the team traversed the entire nooks and crannies of the state to sell its principal. The impact made attracted the leadership which immediately devised a way of stopping the former NNPC manager. First, he was said not to have been a member of the party. Thereafter, he was described as a stranger who will not understand the peculiarities of the state. Then there was silence from his camp. Next thing was that

he was ill-disposed and had to be hospitalised abroad.

Just last week, Onor told a group of women in Ikom that Jeddy-Agba was in the country and will “storm the state before this week runs out.”

The truth of the matter is that, since Jeddy-Agba indicated interest in the governorship race, the political landscape of the state has never been the same. With his money and influence, Jeddy-Agba has been able to polarise the party, dividing it into units of loyalists and moles.

Although the procedure adopted by the party to screen aspirants has left him out, Jeddy-Agba, if he returns within the timeline of the process, will likely attract more sympathy than any of the five on ground. However, with the leadership bent on seeing to his exclusion, his team is preparing for the courts on one hand, while considering the option of moving to another party, probably the Labour Party (LP) on the other hand.

Even though the Director General of the team, Onor, has consistently said: “We will remain in PDP and fight to the end.”

Time is hardly on their side and movement may become inevitable.

If this happens, as it is likely to happen, Jeddy-Agba will pull a lot of heavy weights out of the PDP as he has been able to curry favour from some key members of the party, including some in the National Assembly. If the Obudu Prince moves out, he may make an impact, but it might be difficult for him to win.

Legor Idagbor When in 2012 he was removed from his council chairmanship seat to head the Ministry of Works, the media was abuzz with speculations that he was being prepared to take over from the present governor. Idagbor, a lawyer and former Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government may, indeed, become the next governor of the state.

Observers have continued to wander how, among all those who indicated interest, Idagbor was picked among the last five. In fact, unconfirmed report has it that the number has been reduced to three, with the former Bekwarra helmsman’s name still on the list. To prove his confidence, a group

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

17

LEADING GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS

Aniah

Ayade

Ochicha

battle for Imoke’s seat known as the New Agenda, on Tuesday donated an office for his campaign activities. At the event, which was virtually conducted by a former commander of the United Nations Monitoring Force in Sudan, Maj. Gen. Moses Obi, Idagbo was said to have been “rated high by all the state caucuses and senatorial caucuses.” General Obi also claimed that Idagbor’s vision for the state “has similarities with our vision of good governance.”

For this reason, Obi, who said his New Agenda was “a Non-Governmental Organisation, non-partisan,” posited that he was coming out to endorse Idagbor for the Government House in 2015. Analysts see the involvement of the respected General as very key to the success of Idagbor in the sense that he has a lot of influence in Boki, where he comes from. Also at the event, were some members of the state House of Assembly and those in the state executive council. This is also an indication that those with eagle eyes see where the pendulum is likely to swing. What this simply means is that, Idagbor had been primed to take over the Government House even before he was ferreted away from Bekwarra in 2012. If a serving member of state Exco calls him “Your Excellency,” who else will be in doubt as to the destination of the former commissioner. From every indication, therefore, Idagbor is most likely to fly the flag of the PDP in next year’s governorship election.

Fidelis Ugbo Ugbo was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in the Liyel Imoke administration before leaving for Abuja to oversee the National Planning Commission (NPC) as its Executive Secretary. It is still not clear if he has resigned from his job, but he was initially seen as the man to take over the seat of government. But that may no longer be for reasons only the leadership can tell. But Ugbo has all that it takes to run the state, having been a part of the present administration and having managed very critical situations in the past. His exposure to national politics is also an addition and this should put him in good stead to triumph at the end. During

the caucus meetings, Ugbo was reportedly rated high and that accounts for his being shortlisted. But the problem is that he may not get it for the simple reason that he is said to be allergic to spending. Besides, while Idagbor had started mobilising much earlier, Ugbo’s effort is coming a bit late and he will have to do more than necessary to rally enough support for his ambition at the primary.

Orok is both the state chairman of the party as well as the governorship candidate, a situation which explains the plight of the party in the state

Mike Aniah He was, until September 30, this year the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). Aniah, a lawyer, went into the race as a surprise entrant. He has so far remained in the race by the grace of the various caucuses and may contest at the primaries. However, in spite of his closeness to the leadership of the party, it is difficult to say he has a chance of holding the flag of the party as its candidate. This is because, without the presence of Jeddy-Agba, Idagbor is likely to emerge the candidate.

If his predecessor, Ugbo is not sure of getting the party’s nod, he does not stand a chance, even though those close to him are saying he has received the blessings of some powerful people in the state. The Obanliku born-lawyer may eventually discover that he still has a lot to learn in terms of studying the political mindset of the leadership.

Ben Ayade Prof. Ben Ayade is the senator representing the Northern Senatorial District in the Senate. He is said to be a generous person and has done a lot for his constituents. Ayade has established scholarship award for indigent students in various institutions of higher learning and has a transport scheme for the people which he subsidised.

Perhaps, taking advantage of the zoning of governorship to his senatorial district, Ayade is poised to abandon the Senate for the governorship.

Although he has a lot of goodwill, he may not get the ticket even though he might face the primaries. The same reason that will send off others is the same reason that will send him off during the primaries. Again, those who know him well say he is not a good manager. They point to his ho-

tel which has since lost its beauty and attraction, thus encouraging him to stay put in the Senate.

Lazurus Agla-Undie In Cross River State, the APC seems to work underground. Until one get’s to the party secretariat before you notice a semblance of activities going on there. However, the immediate past Legal Adviser to the party, Barr. Lazarus Agla-Undie has indicated interest to lead the party to the Government House. His posters adorn the party secretariat and he looks the likely candidate of the party. But he is unpopular in the state, having not held any public office of note. It will therefore require a lot of home work, backed by enormous resources. But unless the expectation by party members that a certain governor from geo-political zone will pump in money into the party, it will be difficult to dethrone the ruling party. The good thing, however, is that there will be a contest.

Odey Ochicha He is a former staff of the NNPC. Not much is known about him except that he has also declared to contest the governorship seat on the platform of APC. Even members of the party do not know much of him, an indication that he may not end up being the flag bearer of the party.

Benjamin Emuchay Although he is said to be interested in the governorship on the platform of the APC, Emuchay is not even known by party members. Enquiries into his person and antecedents met a brick wall as most people spoken to said they only heard the name but know nothing about the man.

Austin Orok The case of Labour Party is an interesting one. Orok is both the state chairman of the party as well as the governorship candidate, a situation which explains the plight of the party in the state. As earlier indicated, unless there is a problem in another party which will force people to look for another platform, it will be difficult for the Labour Party in the state to survive. In any case, while the other two parties have zoned the governorship to the northern part of the state, Orok, a Southerner, stands little or no chance of going anywhere.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

18

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Rotimi Amaechi’s route march

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

W

e are in a war situation barely four months to the 2015 Presidential elections.

It is time to know tacticians from the propagandists and separate the strategists from story tellers.

Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is a very lucky bloke. In our cloudy political weather, he was Speaker for Eight solid years. Not many compatriots have this as part of their credentials. Some Speakers spent a few days in office. A handful were thrown out in weeks, a few spent two, three years.

Amaechi became governor less than Five months after stepping down as Speaker. That is another plus, for many of his colleagues ended up as acting governors, a stop gap position, that gave them power for just 90 days. One, Friday Aderemi acted for a day or so.

The Supreme Court won the battle for Amaechi.

He had been chosen to fly the Peoples’ Democratic Party flag in Rivers state in the 2007 elections. But President Olusegun Obasanjo found ‘K Leg’ in the whole arrangement. Governor Peter Odili was devastated.

Odili could be rightly called Amaechi’s godfather.

The younger man got his first job as a graduate in Dr. Odili’s Pamol hospital, Port- Harcourt. When the latter became deputy governor in 1992, he took Amaechi along as an aide. Seven years later, the former number Two became Governor. His erstwhile Assistant emerged Speaker of the House of Assembly.

Odili prepared Amaechi to succeed him. Obasanjo, who ruled like an Emperor, thought otherwise. To keep it within the family, the governor went for Sir Celestine Omehia, who like Amaechi, hails from Ubima. Both are cousins.

Amaechi was right to feel bad. He moved to Ghana, from where he planned his way back. The former

Gold Coast always offered refuge to young Nigerians. Sam Ikoku and Emma Ifeajuna were there in the 1960s. It was from Ghana that the Supreme Court verdict gave Amaechi victory.

When he assumed office, there was need for some diplomacy. Amaechi took on Omehia, and was a little cold to the Odilis. Yes, there was more to their relationship. Justice Mary Odili and Mrs Judith Amaechi are both from Imo state. We now know why Amaechi was in Odili’s Kitchen Cabinet.

Amaechi began to tilt to the South-West. He set up something like a reconciliation committee. The Chairman was a retired Supreme Court Justice, Kayode Esho. The governor was named Rotimi, after legendary lawyer Rotimi Wiliams.

The Esho Committee’s Report did not go down well with the Odilis. Infact, in the first year of the Amaechi regime, Odili could have spent spent more time in Abuja than in Port-Harcourt. It was that bad.

However, Aso Villa was good to Amaechi. From President Umaru Ya’radua to his successor Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. The Rivers governor enjoyed a swell time, with First Lady Patience Jonathan referring to Judith as ‘my daughter’. That, does not need any explanation. Mrs Jonathan has Abia maternal roots.

Then the tide turned. It was not really about the Okrika and Ikwerre. It had to do with the Garden City waterfront. Mrs Jonathan scolded the governor in public. Although they pretended all was well, the battle line was drawn .

Amaechi would eventually leave the PDP for the All Progressives Congress [APC]. It was a big catch by the opposition and they celebrated it. Port- Harcourt attracted more big names from the South-West. Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka loves to visit for books.

And Chief Obasanjo, who hardly agrees on anything with his famous kinsman, praised the governor as much as the scholar.

The same ex-president who discovered Amaechi’s K-leg suddenly certified the leg good to walk tall.

Obasanjo who knows inner PH like he does Ibogun, went dancing Elele bu Ikwerre, Omanelu bu Ikwerre, Ubima bu Ikwerre with the governor.

We all thought Amaechi had won the heart of the West. That would be a plus. With his Yoruba name, the South-West would play ball. His Igbo names and

marital ties were enough to woo the South –East while his South-South background was sure to work.

A key player in the South ready to serve as Vice President to a Northern candidate.

Now the battle is on. The warriors are in full control. Leading the battle is Jagaban Borgu, the Asiwaju of the Universe, the one and only Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Then there is the seasoned Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former Head-of-State.

Amaechi lost control when Chief John Odigie-Oyegun emerged as APC chairman. That was Tinubu’s masterstroke that drove Chief Tom Ikimi away. And the Rivers governor should be ready to undergo more training.

Tinubu calls the shots while Buhari fires the weapons. Do not forget the retired general commanded armoured tanks. Buhari’s storm troopers are all over the place demobilizing obstacles including those within the APC. However, Tinubu holds the aces. In Nigerian politics, Tinubu is a Five-Star general. He has taken over, marshalling his troops in the Montgomery way. The former Lagos governor is the Governor General of Nigerian politics even if Dr. Jonathan is President.

Tinubu holds the knife and shares the yam according to personal dictates.

Honestly, I do not know where Amaechi stands right now. There is no retreat, no surrender. They first brought out the battle map. Muslim–Muslim ticket was plotted. It was shot down. Now there are more strategies. Governor Babatunde Fashola is a muslim, but his wife is Emmanuela, a Christian. So a Buhari-Fashola ticket is not purely Mohammedan.

Afterall, Fashola’s children follow mummy to church.

And for political reasons, you may find Buhari attending Chief Bisi Akande’s Thanksgiving service.

We are still studying the map. It could even move to the Comrade whose home is not too far away from the Kukuruku hill. He is well known as Adams Aliu Oshiomhole. These days, he is advertised as Adams Eric Oshiomhole. To some Christians, that name is alluring. And like Amaechi, this governor is from the South-South.

In 2007, Obasanjo took Odili on a merry -go –round.

PDP became Papa Deceives Peter. I just hope APC does not sound like Asiwaju Plays Chibuike.

Buhari: All talk, no cause Abdullahi Garba

I

t was a sad day for Nigeria when General Muhammadu Buhari once again came up to declare interest in Nigeria’s presidency. His obsession with becoming Nigeria’s president as reflected in descriptions of him as “serial candidate” and “die-hard loser” underscores the national nausea he provokes every time he shows up as an aspirant.

Almost three decades after being unceremoniously booted out of power by his military colleagues who disagreed with his methods of governance, it is sickening to hear him pointing accusing fingers in his bid to whitewash his political linen. Even at over 70, Buhari adamantly ignores the toll of age and political pastoralism that has now ravaged his frail frame countering any pretence of capability to be an effective and energetic leader, if he ever was.

We only need to cast our minds back to the dark days of Buhari regime to get goose pimples from what his return to power under any circumstance may throw up because the general obviously still sees himself in the cast of a Nigerian leader even after traumatizing the citizenry in the name of “discipline”. Among other better forgotten atrocities, his regime was particularly prone to abuse of human rights, intolerance of free expression and generally inclined towards the regimented

ruthlessness of military orientation.

He churned out decrees against press freedom and even legalized the detention of critics for three months without charges. That government sanctioned the brutal crating of late Umaru Dikko in the first case of official terror by government agents who kidnapped Dikko in London and attempted to smuggle him out of the United Kingdom.

Only Buhari and his cult followers remain adamant in refusing to read the handwriting on the wall of Nigeria’s democracy under which he has been consistently turned back by Nigerian voters.

He contested the presidential polls in 2003, 2007 and 2011 and failed to win the hearts and minds of Nigerians who could never forget his approach to leadership. His heroworshipping followers remain a regional rump thereby jinxing his desperation to be seen and heard to be a nationalist. Though he is idolized by the largely illiterate followership that encourages him to seek to lead Nigeria from his clannish political base, the fact is that General Buhari started out full of contempt for politics, politicians and everything associated with them including democratic rule. He never anticipated an ambush by the schemers and plotters that surrounded him after his unceremonious exit from the army and governance and gave him the misleading impression that he could become a civilian president.

The fact that he is still beholden to the whims and caprices of his hero-worshipping cohorts is best highlighted by the unchanging faces that have accompanied the General on his ill-fated quest for presidential power in Nigeria. I make bold to say that those that dragged him to the race were political adventurers around him who have been persistent in this project and had done so severally in the past to try to reap from the fallout of his contest.

It is an indictment of Buhari’s exaggerated leadership capacity that he is unable to make references to his own tortuous tenure as Head of State but rather seeks to rubbish the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) remarkable record of achievements in various sectors across the nation.

Perhaps he has conveniently forgotten that the litany of problems of Nigeria which he dishonestly heaps on the PDP actually took root in the draconian days of dictatorship under him and his soldier-successors.

Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry, the decree that gave effect to retrench Nigerian workers limiting the powers of the courts through ouster clauses.

Others include the building of presidential guest house in Daura, his native home, giving impetus to perpetuation in power, which later was a waste until it was converted to a hospital by Umar Musa Yar’Adua, the detention of prominent Nigerians without cause. The 56 suitcases

and the flagrant violation of rules set out by the regime, especially allowing the underage son of Tunde Idiagbon travel to Saudi Arabia. It is to the credit of the PDP that it has maintained such a formidable presence across the country to underscore its popular acceptance by majority of Nigerians in spite of indiscriminate politicallymotivated blackmail and incitement by the likes of Buhari.

His high handed approach to governance has put off the vast majority of Nigerians and eventually snowballed into his retirement. From the accounts of the coupists, who ousted his regime from power they were known to have planned their onslaught against the absence of Tunde Idiagbon and had no problem arresting the General as he gave in so easily in anticipation of their expectations. Despite these glaring defects he has continued to portray himself as a populist.

If all Buhari can say in justification of his belated and misplaced interest in the presidency of Nigeria in 2015 is to recall failures of governance that he and his junta colleagues compiled as an agenda for overthrowing a democratically elected Shehu Shagari government as far back as 1983, then it is very clear that he is not only bereft of ideas but is trapped in the cocoon of his dictatorial days.

• Garba is a public commentator

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

19

EDITORIAL

Our VISION To build a newspaper organisation anchored on the sanctity of truth.

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth – Buddha

Sanctity of Truth

Our MISSION To publish a newspaper of superior value, upholding the fundamental ethics of journalism: balanced reporting, fairness, accuracy and objectivity.

A

fter a week of eulogies, tributes, prayers and outpouring of emotions, the remains of Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo, the quintessential woman of substance and one of Nigeria’s finest journalists, were finally interred last Friday at the Ebony Vaults, Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos, after a funeral mass at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church, Yaba. Mrs. Oyo died from cancer-related ailment last month in a London hospital at the age of 62.

A thorough-bred professional and a trail-blazer, Dame Remi Oyo bestrode the journalism career like a colossus, scoring many firsts and breaking, in the process, the “glass ceiling”, those invisible, artificial barriers that deny women the opportunity to advance to positions of responsibility in journalism. Needless to say, she served as a role model, mentor and teacher to so many journalists all over the country.

Aunty Remi, as she was fondly addressed by colleagues, friends and well-wishers, was also a great public servant whose public service records were unblemished. Her strength, wisdom and leadership qualities stood her out as a force to reckon with in all the places she worked.

Born to Juliana and Gabriel Oke in Taiwo Isale area of Ilorin on October 12, 1952, as the third child and only girl of four children, she

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Remi Oyo (1952-2014) obtained her primary education at St. James’ Catholic Primary School in Ilorin and proceeded to attend St. Louis Girls Secondary School, Bompai, Kano.

A Lady of unwavering commitment to excellence, she earned a Diploma in Mass Communication with Distinction from the University of Lagos and a Post-graduate Diploma in International Relations at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). She later had a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Kent at Canterbury, United Kingdom (UK).

Dame Oyo started her Journalism Career in 1973 as a cub-reporter with the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN). She later joined the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as a Desk Editor in 1981 and left in 1985 as a principal Editor being the first woman to attain such a high position in the agency before crossing over to the Rome-based Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS) as the Nigerian Bureau Chief.

She later became the global news agency’s West African Bureau Chief.

Having first served as Secretary as well as first Vice-President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mrs. Oyo was elected President of the Guild for two consecutive terms and as the first woman to hold that position from 1999 to 2003. She was appointed Senior Special Assistant (Media

and Publicity) to former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 and served in that capacity until the end of the President’s tenure in May 2007. She was also the first female to hold that position in the history of the country.

Having distinguished herself during the second term of Obasanjo’s rule, Mrs. Oyo was appointed the Managing Director of NAN in 2007, a position she held for two terms of three years, scoring yet another first as the first woman in that position.

During her tenure as the substantive head of the news agency, she brought her wealth of experience to bear on the agency by initiating projects that revolutionized the organization and made it competitive with cutting edge innovation, thereby improving on its service delivery.

In recognition of her contributions to the development of journalism in Nigeria, she was honoured with a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria.

A recipient of many awards, including the National Honour of the Officer of the Niger (OON), the National Council of Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria Merit Award, among others, she was also a recipient of the Papal honour of Dame of St. Gregory the Great, conferred on her

by Pope Emeritus, His Holiness, Pope

Benedict XVI (rtd), in recognition of her tireless work for humanity.

No doubt, Mrs. Oyo’s death has left a void in Nigerian journalism. But, we are consoled that her legacies of hard work, commitment, professionalism and patriotism would continue to serve as an inspiration for all of us in both journalism and the political establishment. It is unfortunate that Aunty Remi is no longer here, but her legacies, built on solid foundation are sure to endure at all times. The life she lived, the work she did and the positions she held will continue to live in the hearts of those who loved her dearly.

Her death from cancer, a disease that has become a new challenge to the health system in Nigeria, has brought to the fore the need for governments and well-meaning Nigerians to support scientific research for possible cure for cancer. Many people especially women both rich and poor have lost their lives to the disease, which as yet has no cure, due primarily to the failure of the authorities to mount effective nationally organized screening programmes.

Sadly, a significant number of patients in the country are unable to access and avail themselves of the few available preventive, diagnostic and treatment services because of poverty. Therefore, scaling up of cheap sustainable and effective preventive interventions against cancer will potentially decrease the burden of the disease in the country.

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

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Daily n Yemi Ajayi

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editors, Daily n Emeka Obasi, Ayodele Ojo

Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor n Geoffrey Ekenna

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Ag. Sales/Circulation Manager n Uchey Okezie

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

20

Politics

Since his endorsement for a second term by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in Kwara State, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed seems to have garnered added vigour in confronting the challenges of governance in the state. ETAGHENE EDIRIN writes

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ahmed: Banking on scorecard for re-election

A

s the political situation towards the 2015 general election continue to take shape, it is becoming clearer by the day, where the actors are facing, and how the pendulum will swing in terms of who will fly the flag of the various political parties, in the different positions to be contested. The situation in some states is crystal clear, while in others, it is still a game of give and take negotiations.

In Kwara State, before the eventual endorsement of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for re-election; the political situation in the state was tensed.

This was believed to have been mostly due to the orchestration of some people bent on manipulating the situation to their advantage.

A majority of the people, owing to the prevailing situation at the time, had thought Ahmed would not be given the ticket to serve another term, even though he was constitutionally eligible.

The reason was political: while some had alluded to a certain oneterm agreement that was to pave way for a rotation of the governorship seat, there were those who did not appreciate the governor’s works and would rather he did not have another shot at the Government House, even if he had done well. As a result of this convolution of factors, Ahmed’s opponents had gone to town justifying this stand point making his chances of securing his party’s re-election ticket at the time slim.

The silence at the time of Senator Bukola Saraki, regarded as the political leader in the state, had further supported insinuations that the former governor was also not in support of Ahmed returning to office. It was rumoured that being the only one who has governed the state twice so far, Saraki did not want a situation in which Ahmed would level up with him as a two-term governor.

Unfortunately, while this insinuation lasted, it successfully distracted the government and its supporters from highlighting the successes of the administration as its strength in over three years that Ahmed sustained the development initiative of his predecessor. But soon, relief came the way of the governor when Saraki and other party leaders, endorsed him for another term.

Since crossing what seemed his biggest hurdle, the administration has deployed to work in no other way but by showcasing its achievements in the last three and a half years. His scorecard, it is believed, is the only criteria to winning the general election.

Ahmed

Ahmed, many believe, has excelled since becoming the sixth governor of the state in 2011.

From roads, education, agriculture, energy, and health to youth empowerment and promotion of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs), he is believed to have made governance meaningful by delivering the dividends of democracy to the people.

A banker, chemist and politician, Ahmed naturally brings to his job, an inspiring vision for the state, passion for high performance and strong determination to create new opportunities for prosperity. Moreover, in demonstrating the benefits of continuity, Ahmed who is otherwise known as the Senior Advocate of Teachers has also strengthened hope in representative democracy and governance.

For instance, under shared prosperity, Ahmed has implemented several life-transforming programmes such as the Kwara Bridge Empowerment Scheme (KWABES), through which the

Ahmed appears to have upped his game and challenged his opponents to a performance test, the type observers believe none of the opponents has the credentials to level up with the governor

government has employed 5, 000 youths including 2, 000 civil servants.

The expanded empowerment scheme tagged QuickWin has seen the engagement of 5, 200 youths in the first phase with 8, 200 youths targeted for empowerment in 2014.

So far, a total of 10, 200 youths have been employed by the government in the last three years.

Also empowered are 41,000 small business owners, 100 transporters and 47 artisan groups that have allegedly benefitted from the N640 million in micro-credit disbursed under the Kwara Entrepreneurship Scheme since 2012.

In underscoring the importance attached by his administration to civil servants, Ahmed facilitated N3 billion in car loans to civil servants especially teachers. This was in addition to other welfare packages such as training and retraining, and provision of affordable housing and office accommodation implemented by the state government.

In the education sector, reforms

have been scaled up and infrastructure enhanced with the construction and rehabilitation of 400 classrooms at primary and secondary school levels, as well as the introduction of free education at senior secondary school levels including the supply of free notebooks to secondary school students.

The International Vocational Centre, Ajasse-Ipo, which is the jewel in the education sector is affiliated with City and Guilds of London and is poised to fill middle level manpower gaps while establishing Kwara State as the hub for vocational skills in the sub-region.

Not leaving behind the health sector, government has supplied drugs and equipment to no fewer than 13 General Hospitals and 43 primary health centers as well as remodeled and modernised other General Hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, Omu-Aran, Share and Kaiama to state-of-the-art facilities.

The Community Health Insurance Scheme, under which enrollees receive year round healthcare for N500, has been extended to 80, 000 beneficiaries and has been adjudged one of the most successful by the United Nations. The scheme won Kwara a prize at the first OECD-DAC Award for innovation in development.

In meeting its target of connecting all communities in the state to the national electricity grid, the administration’s rural and urban electrification project has seen 400 communities connected to the national grid.

In the area of road, the government has implemented the ‘Operation No Potholes’ launched in 2011 to ensure all gullies in the state are repaired to ensure proper maintenance. Under the state’s urban and rural road project, majority of inherited roads have been completed while 38 road projects reportedly started by the administration are at various levels of completion.

Generally, apart from being the issue in Kwara politics now, Ahmed appears to have upped his game and challenged his opponents to a performance test, the type observers believe none of the opponents has the credentials to level up with the governor.

Although the election is a few months away, observers believe it is Ahmed’s performance has been his greatest asset which may earn him re-election in 2015.

Race to succeed Imoke C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 7

Imoke

Likely scenario The political situation in the state is still evolving and the picture will become clearer over time, especially after the PDP state primaries on November 22. The outcome of the PDP primaries will then help observers know who moves to where or who stays in which party. It will also help in deciding who goes

to court and for what reason.

But one thing is clear; whoever emerges the candidate of the PDP will likely occupy the Government House. The PDP state chairman, Okon, has consistently said the party’s candidate will have the full support of the party during campaigns. This also means that apart from the party structure, which for now, is the most formidable and potent political structure

in the state, government machinery would be placed at the disposal of the party’s candidate. This, with the influence of the governor, will make things difficult for opposition parties, no matter the resources at their disposal. That is not to say however, that defeating the ruling party is impossible, but it definitely will be difficult, and for now, still farfetched in the state.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Theatre

Media

Tourism

21

As artistes, we share a duty to make life more meaningful, says Yisa

Adejumo’s Emotions, explores the female form

Ondo State scores first in five major tourism projects

22

23

24

Arts

CULTURE

Revisiting talent hunt shows Moses Kadiri

T

he idea of talent hunt show was envisaged to give Nigerian youths with talents in dancing, singing, acting, among others, a new lease of life; but years after, stories around the competition remain. Some are even yet to be heard or told.

The concept, which a corporate body started some years ago, has been bastardised; others now use ‘talent hunt’ shows as a way of driving traffic to the brand. From the stable of Nigerian Breweries Plc comes Star Quest, there is MTN Project Fame West Africa, Nigeria Got Talent, Nigerian Idols, Song Out Break, Hunting Expedition Talent Hunt Contest, Battle of the Year, among many others. In some cases about 30,000 contenders battle for 15 slots, sometimes lesser. However it seems not to bother the contenders; all they are after is fame and money. The prizes sometimes range from N5 million, N7 million, N10 million, and a brand new sport utility vehicle (SUV).

With the whooping sum of money being splashed on the competition; many youths even when they are not gifted in the particular genre, claim to have the talent in a bid to participate. For instance, what will a 50-year old man be doing in talent hunt auditions? It is all for the money? How credible are many of the talent hunt competitions in Nigeria?

Is it only to promote the brand?

What happens to the acclaimed winner years after? These are some of the questions begging for answers.

According to Nollywood

Crystals, Star Quest 2012 winners

director, Dickson Iroegbu, a lot of things are wrong with talent hunts in the country.

“Sincerely I feel there are too many exploitative talent hunts nowadays,” he said.

“However, that there are some genuine talent hunt shows. That I do not have issue with it,” he declared.

Though some of the winners are doing great outside the competition, others are still struggling. Sometimes the runner-up in such competitions end up out shinning the winner in the mainstream scene.

KC Presh won the maiden edition of Star Quest musical talent hunt competition in 2002. KC Presh beat Asa, P

Sincerely, I feel there are too many exploitative talent hunts nowadays

Square, Dat Nigga Raw, and Klint Da Drunk, all of who are now super stars in the Nigerian music industry.

Mike Okechukwu Anyasodo was tagged the swagger man because of his stage prowess during the second edition of MTN Project Fame West Africa in 2009 which he won. The contest drew the participation of over 20,000 youths across West Africa. Despite all the promises he made when he won the competition, he has released only a single. “I will still work on my own album, l am very passionate when it comes to music. For me, music keeps me going. I am going to own a record label and teach some

people music,” he said in 2009.

Yeka Onka won the first edition of Nigerian Idols; the following year it was the turn of Mercy, Moses was also a winner where he dazzled his fans with his angelic voice. Both have not made much impact in the industry. It was expected that with their emergence they will go on to make an even greater impact in the industry.

An enthusiastic fan of ‘talent hunt’ shows, Miss Chikodili Umeh said the musical band show “Star Quest has been consistent with the competition, though there are many of them thess days, others should emulate what they have done.”

AGN Lagos commences production of Theatre of Dreams Moses Kadiri

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

T

he Lagos State Chapter of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has commenced the production of 52 episodes of a soap opera titled Theatre of Dreams. The soap opera is mainly to celebrate young talents in Nollywood, and give them an avenue to showcase

the creative talents through the production.

The Chairman of the Guild Mr. Pedro Aganbi, described the production of the soap as first of its kind in the Guild.

“This is the first time the Guild is producing a soap opera and this production is 90 percent for the up-comers. It is a soap opera that is high on drama and plays on the very many different emo-

tions that lends credence to the Nigerian offerings. With skillful actors and actresses, ‘Theatre of Dreams’ is guaranteed to keep audiences asking for more. One of its kinds,” he said, noting that the Nigerian media has been taken over by Mexican and other South America originated soap operas.

“These soap operas speak of foreign stories in pretty

contemporary ways without relating anything about the attitudes and dispositions of the Nigerian way of life. Theatre of Dreams is here to change that and demonstrate that there is a definite way of telling the Nigerian story using Nigerian motifs.”

He reiterated: “Using music, CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

22

Arts

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Festivity as NUT Ikorodu inaugurates Teachers’ House, holds awards Tony Okuyeme

C

ulture was on display recently at the Methodist Primary School Complex, Ikorodu, Lagos, as teachers clad in traditional attires (Aso Ebi), danced and sang, celebrating the official commissioning of Teachers’ House Ikorodu.

The event was particularly significant and symbolic for not only the executive members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Ikorodu Chapter, but also the entire members of the union.

In his address, the chairman of NUT Ikorodu branch and the initiator of the project, Comrade Lateef Babatunde Oduguwa, said the Teachers’ House was part of the projects embarked upon by his administration, to reposition NUT Ikorodu, adding that it will serve the generality of teachers of Ikorodu, and generation of teachers yet unborn.

“Let me remind you all that when this administration was first voted into office in 2009, I did promise on behalf of my great team, a Lasting Brighter Offer to teachers of Ikorodu. I remembered vividly that a friend asked me what I meant by lasting brighter offer and my reply was short and precise, ‘a Legacy’.

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift. That is why we call it present. Today, we have a house that will serve the generality of teachers of Ikorodu; it will outlive us all and serve the generation of teachers yet unborn,” he said.

According to him, it was difficult for them to convince teachers on the need to have a second term in office having performed well as acknowledged by teachers between 2009 and 2013. “The issue of tradition, convention was brought into foreplay. However, the teachers decided to jettison all these and embraced the supreme document of our great union

which is the constitution. We are all living witnesses to the advantages of second term and above all, having experienced individuals at the helms of affairs.

“For the first time in 34 years, Ikorodu NUT hosted the state delegate conference which was adjudged peaceful and well organised. Our achievements are multifaceted and dimensional. Of course you are aware and it is evident that this Teachers’ House is one of our tangible achievements. Our members enjoy loan facilities with little or no hindrance, the welfare of our members maintains the front burner of our activities. Teachers in distress are never ne-

sports (football) and dance as an avenue of expression for the young and absolutely twitchy, ‘Theatre of Dreams’ plays on ambitions for superstardom by the young ones and balances the scope with the need for betterment through education.”

Directed by Prince Ofondu and supported by stellar crew of gaf-

Pedro

adding that it is a demonstration of the commitment of the exco to the welfare of teachers in Ikorodu.

Awards were presented to deserving individuals and organisations for their contributions to the development of teachers and Ikorodu in general. There were also solidary speeches.

Also in attendance at the official commissioning of the Teachers’ House include: Lagos State NUT Chairman, Comrade Adesegun Raheem, the Education Secretary, LGEA, Ikorodu, Comrade Taiwo Austen Oduloye, Tutor General/ Permanent Secretary, Education District 2, Mrs. Solarin Margaret Titilayo, among others.

A scene in Jaguar Nana, The Musical stage during the just concluded MUSON Festival, in Lagos

AGN Lagos commences production of Theatre of Dreams CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

glected by our team. Promotion tutorials for teachers (Primary and Secondary) have been regular under our leadership.

“I wish to say that we can only achieve greatness in the atmosphere of peace and tranquility. It is on this note that I advise that subsequent elections in ikorodu should be issue based and not character assassination. Teachers in Ikorodu are politically inclined and they know how to choose their leaders at all times.

In his address, the CEO of Homat Group of schools, Alhaji Tairu Olawale Hamzat, who was the chairman of the occasion, commended the Oduguwa ledexco for building the Teachers’ House,

fers and assistants, and enhanced with exquisite mood lighting, ‘Theatre of Dreams’ is projected to deliver excitement and verve.

The soap features newly crowned Miss AGN-EKO winner Esther Kenneth, who is playing the lead role, Ifedi Michael, Shedrack Itua, Charles Onwordi, and other talented actors are also featuring in the soap opera.

“Theatre of Dreams” has but one guarantee – solid technical quality that will deliver the numbers from a discerning population to discerning brands. More so it will arouse curiosity and invariably impact teeming viewers in terms of total recall or retrospect,” Mr. Aganbi disclosed.

As artistes, we share a duty to make life more meaningful, says Yisa

A

ctor and theatre director, Sodiq Adebayo Yisa (SAY), popularly known as Owee has joined the growing list of practitioners in the entertainment industry in Nigeria seeking for various positions in 2015 elections. In this interview, he explains why he decided to join politics, his mission and vision as well as why it is time for artistes to join, writes Tony Okuyeme.

With dozens of stage plays to his credit as an actor and theatre director, Yisa has no doubt contributed to the development of theatre in Nigeria. A respected thespian and former chief whip of the National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP), he is perhaps not new to the political terrain, especially at the association level. As he puts it, his decision to contest was born out of a desire to serve and reposition the society.

“The quality of life of a people is measured by the

volume of infrastructural facilities available to them. This has always been and remains challenging to the people of Nigeria owing to greed, corruption, indefinite vision/mission, poor enlightenment, poor maintenance culture, disregard for moral and cultural values, among others.

“We cannot allow things to continue like this. We, even as artistes, share a duty to make life more meaningful and more worthwhile for our people.

Change must come to play. I am more than prepared to initiate and drive the desired changes in our polity, starting from this level to impact on the lives of our children, the pupils, students, the workers, the retirees, the widows, the oldies, the physically challenged, the less privileged, the ex-convicts etc, by being instrumental to the positive changes they desire to make life a worthwhile experience for them,” he said.

“I represent a formidable

Yisa

group that believes that life must be lived to the fullest.

And a critical examination of my mission, my dream, clearly shows that this will not find fulfilment in any other party, but the party of the people, PDP, for what the party stands for. It is on the strength of this that I have resolved to yield to the calling from my people to represent Mushin constituency 2 as a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015,” Yisa said.

Arts

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Ebere Ameh

U

sing different media, Olusegun Adejumo, a renowned artist and Lecturer, is exploring the female form, challenging viewers to enjoy woman and womanhood in his solo exhibition which opened on Friday October 24, and runs till November 4, 2014, at Mydrim Gallery, 74 Norman Willians Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Including various degrees of nudity, the artist challenges his viewers to react, as they relish and contemplate the transformation of the girl to the woman.

“Nudity in itself is a form of clothing.

We want to find out the people’s reaction to the female forms. We engage the emotions between the viewer and the subject matter. We are challenging the viewers to enjoy woman and womanhood in a very respectable way. We want the viewers to enjoy the work, engage the work, say something about the work. If you like it, then acquire it,” Adejumo said.

“I’m an expert in anatomy. This body of work deals with the woman. I have a body of work on male forms, I have another on children. It is simply an anatomy exploration. This one involves the fascinating transformation of the woman from maidenhood to womanhood. Those changes that make a woman different from a girl,” he expatiated.

The exhibition, titled Emotions, is Adejumo’s 11th solo exhibition and his 120th exhibition since he went professional 30 years ago. Using wood, acrylic on canvas and other media, Adejumo who also works with stones and metals portrayed the beauty of the woman.

Talking about the price of the adorable pieces of art works, Adejumo who insists that he has no preferred piece, explains that money is not the object of art.

“Asking for my most preferred piece is like asking a mother to name her favourite child. She may have, but she won’t tell you. Art is priceless and money is not the object of art.”

An established Artist by all standards, Adejumo explains that art is a vocation and also a business. He explained that the future of art in Nigeria is very bright, and that one must however, learn the business of art to make it in art.

“This is just the beginning of arts in Nigeria. Though we have a small history of arts, which is not too far back, called traditional art, we now have contemporary arts, which is still young. Contemporary arts is where the western influence and or Islamic influence met with arts and it became an institutionalised field of study.

“The early sets of artists were very few. At a particular time it was only one, but before Enwonwu, there was Laseko and Aina Onogbolu and it has been building up from then till now. So the history of art in Nigeria is so young and has been building up since. You don’t own

23

Adejumo’s Emotions, explores the female form

art, until you start owning arts. It is like a country where they don’t wear shoes and you are a shoemaker. You can’t say that there is no market for shoes because nobody is wearing shoes. The onus is on you to, first of all, sensitize the people, appealing to their minds on the need for shoes. Only then can you sell.”

He decries the fact that Nigerians are still barbarians as far as art is concerned. “They are literate as in to read and write, but they have not imbibed any form of culture, they have not educated themselves. Art builds the mind, art builds the taste; art refines you.”

Explaining further, Adejumo says that education is when what you learn changes you. “You see a lot of graduates and some are even working, but they have not learnt anything. They see that all foreign countries move in a particular way but they don’t understand why. Most foreign countries have a very great respect for art. It is the dance and the performance, the bailey, the visual art and the rest of them, that improve the quality of the life that you have. So we have not gotten anywhere close, the future of art is very bright.”

The exhibitor addressed the issue of parents discouraging their children and wards from studying arts, observing that it is the country’s educational system that would rather be blamed.

“I would like to say that it is not really parents but education in Nigeria that is

to blame. Art has been removed from most of the curriculum in secondary schools. Where do you think the country is heading? Back to the stone age?

We are grooming another set of children who would not be refined, who have no respect for the fine things of life because it was never shown to them. When you have a system that doesn’t understand or appreciate art, then you know there is a problem.

“A lot of parents didn’t know what engineering was, once upon a time. Neither did they know what Architecture was, in the 40s and 50s. But their children were exposed to these things in school.

Art is a young profession that we need to educate the entire country about. We need it for our development. We will still be barbaric and not well behaved if we continue, without creating a space for art in nation building. Art refines town planning. Art refines architecture, art refines the environment.

“You can always ask artists ‘how do you want the country to be? People build cars, it is not the engineers that build it, it is the artists that first design it and engineers look for how best to translate it to reality. As a guest lecturer in universities, I am always depressed when I see the art department as against other departments. So we really do not yet have an idea of the role of art in development, but we need to first of all address it from the educational system,” Adejumo advised.

Some of the artworks on display at the exhibition

Fantasy vs. Reality: Writing for Young Adults calls for applications Tony Okuyeme

A

s part of this year’s edition of Lagos Book & Arts Festival (LABAF), the British Council is organising a workshop for adult writers looking to write fiction for Young Adults: Fantasy Vs. Reality: Writing for Young Adults.

The workshop will be facilitated by Ms Sarah Mussi, winner of the Glen Dimplex & Irish Writers’ Award for Best Children’s Book, shortlisted for Branford Boase Award, and nominated for the Carnegie Medal.

The workshop, the organisers stated, is aimed at: renewing interest, inspiration and confidence in writing

abilities; providing a greater understanding of the relevance of Young Adult fiction and particularly on the Young Adult reader, along with some context of this as a genre in the UK; providing an introduction to writing for this age group through the work of Sarah Mussi and her work.

Those eligible to apply for the workshop are: fiction writers with at least two years of writing experience (written manuscripts/work published online); writers who are interested in writing for the Young Adult age group (10-18 years old), with previous work written for this audience; and writers who are interested in getting inside the mind of a young reader.

To apply, the eligible writers must: show samples of their writing (max 500 word extract, ideally for a reader between 10-18 years old); provide a 200400 supporting statement of their interest in writing to get published, with mention of their interest in writing for a young adult audience. This may detail previous applications to publishers, professional feedback sought or other relevant opportunities pursued.

Also, the writer must be available on 13th of November 2014, from 10.00am till 5.00pm.

The workshop can only accommodate maximum 20 writers. “Fantasy is not a made up world. It is a world in which all the concerns and themes of

a young adult’s life can be explored in a safe and constructed social context. In the fantasy genre the best books have rules and regulations that the writer respects and doesn’t twist and bend just to have certain plot events occur. The fantasy genre also allows for the writer to set up quickly the perimeters of the world in which themes and issues are explored. It can be more controlled than ‘the real world’. It gets us away from phones, parents, schools and other social restrictions of the teen.

“The workshop will explore the West African context for this writing too, in which writers work and think about their audience. Sarah Mussi has spent extensive time teaching in Ghana.”

24

Tourism

Andrew Iro Okungbowa

I

n Ondo State, tourism has continued to assume top rated attention from the government and people of the state. First was the introduction of the yearly MARE Festival which was to boost tourism in the state and enliven Idanre hill and the town. Since then the festival has held consistently.

Then came the purpose–built medical tourism facility, a dedicated hospital, and the first of its kind in Nigeria. It has caught the imagination of everyone alongside other projects including the creation of enabling environment for tourism to thrive in the state and private sector participation elevated.

For the governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, the commitment to developing and promoting tourism as one of the basic economic platforms for the development of the state, is a question of passion. To demonstrate this commitment, the governor has embarked on five major distinct tourism projects.

These newly created projects are Ondo State tourism zone; a 7,500 capacity dome; mountain top amphi – theatre; a real life presentation of African society and an African theme resort with 18 – hole golf course. All of these projects, which are already are expected to be delivered on record time with the African theme resort and 18-hole golf course due for completion and commissioning in December 2014.

According to outlines of the projects released by the state government tourism authorities, the tourism zone, which is the first to be designated in the country, is a 20 kilometres stretched of virgin land which is being prepared by the state government to serve as the state’s tourism emporium.

For the state government, the zone would play host to all facets of tourism related facilities and activities.

The range include hotels by top rated international brands, shopping malls, cinemas, eateries, African themed parks and Disneyland–like amusement parks and broad way theatres, among others.

Government’s stake in the project, as disclosed by the state tourism authorities, is the provision of the land and guide lines for the development of the project while the private sector are expected to take advantage of it to develop and promote the various infrastructure needed to drive the tourism zone.

There is also the 7,500 capacity dome project being developed by the state government, and it is expected to be delivered and commissioned by the end of this year. The dome, which is being constructed in Akure, the state capital, on completion would boost the economy and social life style of the people, as it

Ezekiel Adesawe

A

lfa Okun in Igbo Efon area of Eti – Osa local government area of Lagos now wears a new look following the recent clean up exercise carried out at the beach by Sola Alamutu’s led Children And The Environment (CATE), an Non-governmental Organisation (NGO), which is dedicated to educating and enlightening the children on environment related issues. It was in partnership with Waka-About, a travel publication by Pelu Awofeso.

The one – day clean up exercise was part of the activities by CATE to mark this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD), which was celebrated globally on September 27. The exercise, which was tagged Come let’s clean up Okun Alfa, was conducted by members of CATE, children and adult volunteers from across the city of Lagos. The once unkempt beach is now looking attractive and clean enough for visitors and fun

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ondo State scores first in five major tourism projects

Idanre Hills

is expected to host different amenities, ranging from leisure, entertainment to shopping and dining out.

Another project in the pipeline, which is being handled by the state government, is the 18-hole golf course resort, an entirely African themed resort. It will be the first golf course resort in the course with such an ambience as it is meant on completion to promote Nigerian and African tradition and cultural heritage. It will also be a real hideout for people to be treated to a rich blend of African culture and entertainment with a touch of contemporary sophistication.

Idanre Hills and the old town atop the mountain are also to play host to some of the tourism projects. These include amphitheatre and a conference facility with a plush and well-fitted tree houses, while for the promotion of the culture of the people, there is what is called ‘Idanre Ana ’ (Idanre of yesterday), a recreation of the 18th century life style of the people.

The tourism authorities further stated that the recreation of this life style will be as realistic as possible and it is envisaged as a major project both for the promotion of the people’s culture and keeping alive the historical beauties of the old town. According to the plan, top

Mimiko

Over 100 exhibitors from across the various sectors of the industry including aviation, hotels and allied operators, as well as state governments and tourism boards in Nigeria, are expected to attend this year’s event

CATE offers Okun Alfa new look seekers who throng the beach in their numbers daily particularly during weekends and festive periods to engage in various fun activities in a more healthy and hygienic environment.

It was an exciting and colourful as well as fun filled day for the various participants as the organizers of the event took out time to also educate them on the necessity to maintain a healthy regime and ensure that their homes and surroundings are kept clean. This, they say also applied to tourist attractions and leisure spots as no tourist would want to patronize a dirty and unkempt attraction to avoid health challenges.

Alamutu said the exercise is a fulfillment of her passion for the environment, “as an environmentalist I am passionate and interested in cleaning up the environment, and with my partner we

are on a course to search for beaches all over Nigeria and to clean them, so that people can come and have fun just like other countries of the world.”

According to her, most Nigerian beaches that used to be clean are no longer clean because of negligence and environmental factors which have made them uninviting to tourists from within and outside the country; hence, there is the need to clean them up. She further explained that the cleanup exercise is a corporate social responsibility to save the community and also a volunteer activity to help clean up the beach and other beaches in the future.

Also Awofeso described it as a tourism initiative devoted to ensure a clean and attractive environment across the country. “This is a tourism initiative and

rated artistes, craft men and artisans would be contracted by the state government to recreate and present every facet of life of the people as obtained in the 18th century.

Idanre Ana (a retrospective community in 18th century) will be a throwback to the 17th and middle 18th century existence of the people. It will be a rich display of the pristine life style of the people of the era with live initiation, marriage and other forms of traditional ceremonies, court sessions and traditional entertainment and the general way of life of the people of the era is what visitors to the ancient community would be treated to.

Tourists of all sorts, ranging from leisure travellers, business people, scholars and researchers, historians, archaeologists to students and Africans in Diaspora would be attracted to this game changer project. what we are doing today is a cleanup excursion at Okun Alfa which many people know as Alfa beach. What we are trying to do is to make ourselves available to clean up this particular beach and community without anybody paying us and we paying anybody and we are happy that we have Nigerians who understand what we are trying to do and they are supporting us with their energy and resources.’’

Oluwaenitan Sophie, a law student of the University of Lagos who was a volunteer at the cleanup exercise said “am very passionate about gender and health, and anything health is my concern, the reason why I joined this course is that am of the opinion that we don’t have to wait for the government, in our little corners we should start doing things which will eventually make a whole lot of difference, I actually joined because I was fascinated with the thought of keeping the beaches clean. I just feel I could be a part of the change.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Felabration: What Nigerians make of it 26

Nigerian Copyright operatives raid Enugu and Ebonyi

Eva: I will share my life with the fans

27

28

25

Entertainment 500, 000 to storm Carniriv 2014, says Sam Dede

l 140 feet performing stage, other unique innovations promised Stories by Sony Neme

R

esidents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, are in for the mother of all carnivals if the words of the Director General and CEO of the Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, Dr. Sam Dede, are anything to go by.

He also revealed that security is of top priority as the carnival is repackaged to deliver value and cement Port Harcourt’s reputation as a foremost tourist city in Africa. Dr. Dede broke the news at a media interactive forum held in Port Harcourt to announce the 2014 edition of the carnival that is billed to hold from December 14th to 20th in the oil-rich city.

The respected Nollywood star said that the 2014 edition of Carniriv, the Port Harcourt Carnival is being packaged to host an estimated number of five hundred thousand participants. He said the whole essence is to make this year’s edition as the most colourful and memorable carnival event ever in African in recent times His words: “An estimated number of over five hundred thousand participants made of residents, tourists and fun lovers, as well as representatives of corporate bodies will converge in Port Harcourt during the one week period of the carnival with estimated daily business exchanges running into several millions. Because of the traditional high influx of carnival lovers to our city during our annual showpiece event, we have put in place adequate security measures

sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Dede

2Face’s tour Naeto C, Niyiola and others

T

he 2face Live: Triple Threat Tour is a celebration of 2face Idibia’s The Ascension album as well as the newly unveiled Face to Face 10.0 and Rewind, Select and Update albums across major cities in Africa and the rest of the world.

The tour kicked off successfully on Friday, October 24th at the Ikeja City Mall and was well attended by fans and celebrities. Some celebrities in attendance Kwam 1, Weird MC, Wunmi Obey, Kenny St. Brown and Chief Tony Okoroji. Others are Ill Bliss, Terry G, Nigga Raw, Yaw, Osam and Seyi Shey.

The next edition, which is a concert, will hold on Saturday, November 1at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. It is expected to feature performances by 2face alongside MI, Naeto C, Niyola, Tony One Week, Dammy Krane, Joel and more.

The event is been put together by NM Encore and Yankeetech.

One of the participants at the last year’s Carniriv

to ensure the protection of lives and property during the entire duration of the carnival. We are also working with other stakeholders in the health and other key sectors to ensure that we create a conducive environment for our visitors,’ Chairman of the Board of Rivers State Tourism Development Agency, RSTDA, Deacon Vincent Erinwo, in his remark, assured that the RSTDA will judiciously expend every fund released by the government for the purpose of the carnival, reiterating that the carnival is a project that is dear to the heart of the Government and people of the state.

His words: ‘We at the RSTDA have being given a matching order not only to put the scare funds to the best use but to also seek for sponsorship and collaboration from both corporate and non-corporate organisations to make the carnival a self sustaining annual

exercise in line with the vision of the state government.”

Dr Dede further said, “The technical innovation of the 2014 edition of the carnival is to introduce our state-of-theart performance stage spanning 140 feet and reputed as the biggest of its kind in Africa. The stage has the capacity to hold a large collection of performers at once and withstand heavy duty equipments and stage accessories. The stage will also be deployed for the first time for the benefit of sponsors in the areas of branding and related purposes,’ he said’ On the commercial opportunities available for the 2014 edition of the Port Harcourt carnival, he said, “We have opened up the carnival for commercial exploitation from interested corporate bodies by packaging at least twelve signature carnival events into stand-alone brands for category sponsorships”

AFRIMA International Committee is ready to roll

A

ll is set for the maiden edition of the All Africa Music Awards, (AFRIMA) billed to hold in Lagos next month. Nigeria’s Minister of Trade, Industries and Investments, Olusegun Aganga, Angela Martins - African Union, and multiple Grammy Awards nominee, Femi Kuti, with ace broadcaster, Kenny Ogungbe will be joined by other notable showbiz personalities in Africa and Africans in the Diaspora.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

26

Entertainment

Stories by Sony Neme

T

he week-long Felabration has come and gone but its echoes continue to wave on. We had caught up with some fans and entertainment critics who gave candid appraisal of the celebration of one Nigerian who through his music brought the plight of the common man to the fore. below are some of the responses for your delight…

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Felabration: What Nigerians make of it

Benson Idonije: Respected Highlife music critic, artiste manager and broadcaster: Felabration has indeed assumed an international dimension. Sponsorship should now be upscaled to match fan worship.

Mike Nzeagwu, public relations practitioner: It was a wonderful experience for a great Nigeria brand like 7up to be associated with the celebration of a Nigerian legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. 7up brand as a major sponsor from the first edition has helped to sustain and promote the legacy of Fela beyond Nigeria as felabration now attracts international audience every year Dele Momodu: Ovation magazine publisher and celebrated Journalist: I have not followed the event much but the little I saw looked very wonderful. I am impressed with the organisation and the way the family has remained united.

Obi Asika: CEO, Storm Records - I would like to congratulate the Kuti family both on the premiere of Finding Fela the movie at Felabration and also for another successful outing. Felabration is a huge moment on the Nigeria live calendar

Arinze

Asika

and I know it has come to stay and it reminds us all that Fela lives!

FAJ: Celebrated entertainment journalist, publisher and CEO NEGA: Any accolade or activity that seeks to underscore the essence and legacy of Fela’s inimitable contributions to African music and philosophy is well high on my favourite list. I salute the courage, grit and drive of men and women behind the organisation - and more specially, the sponsors who dare to be different. Fans and admirers will also be thankful for this annual dance of nostalgia - and secretly wish it could be monthly.

Segun Arinze, actor, former president, Actors’ Guild of Nigeria: It’s a great way to celebrate Fela’s music legacy.

It’s almost 10 years now since Felabration started. It’s good to see us cel-

Momodu

ebrate such an icon when other greats have been totally forgotten. Kudos to his children and loyal fans for keeping the flame alive and burning.

Felabration has indeed assumed an international dimension.

Sponsorship should now be upscaled to match fan worship

Bernice Eriemene COSON: I was at the New African Shrine first day of Felabration! A documentary on the Late Abamieda ‘Finding Fela’ was premiered! I was amazed at some of the revelations on the life and times of Fela...

The guy suffered so much brutality in the hands of his own government because he was speaking his mind on the ills of the government at that time!

He was a ‘peoples” man, very humble and relates freely with his fans! He is greatly missed.

Emeka Ike, Nollywood actor, “We celebrate freedom, equity and equal right every time we celebrate Fela. Think it should be a National occasion with improved”

organization Eddie Remedies: I am happy to say that I was deeply involved with d planning of the first edition in 2003 when we had Hugh Masakela as special guest. Since then it has grown so big. This year;s edition was more explosive because Femi kuti does not joke with standards! My best regards to the entire family as we all celebrate the great one.

An award for a film journalists from Germany

T

he contributions of foremost culture and film journalist Shaibu Husseini and Publisher of High Society Magazine Charles Nwagbara, to the growth and development of Nollywood film industry has been recognized by the organisers of the annual Nollywood Film Festival, Germany (NFFG).

Shaibu, a widely travelled culture journalist was awarded the ‘Best Film Journalist and Nollywood Critic Award’ at a special gala and award night held at the SaalBau event centre, Frankfurt, Germany. Others who were honoured at the well-attended award ceremony include popular Nollywood actress Patience Ozokwo, notable comic actor Victor Osuagwu, and Managing Director of Richfield Technologies Limited Donald Peterson Festival director and Chief Executive Officer of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment Isaac Izoya explained that the award ceremony was instituted to honour distinguished off and on screen personalities who in the words of Izoya have contributed immensely to the popularity and development of the Nollywood industry. ‘

Rotimi, music producer: Felebration is a yearly celebration of a true African Legend. This year’s edition did justice to that. To the artistes and fans out there, keep believing in yourself and never give up Yinka, female musician: Thumbs up to the sponsors, well-done to all the artistes and shout-out to fans who were present.

Felabration 2014 was awesome.

Shaibu

Coke Studio grooves at UNIPORT

Officials of the All for Coca Cola campus jamz with one of the artiste

E

xcitement reached its zenith at UNIPORT penultimate week as the long awaited Coke Studio season two campus concerts swept into the campus with A-list Nigerian artistes.

Thousands of students thronged the Abuja car park at

UNIPORT despite the scorching sun, to witness thrilling live performances by dancehall virtuoso Patoranking; MMMG crew members Tekno and Selebobo and local favorite Jumabee.

Brand Manager, Colas, CocaCola Nigeria Limited, Olufemi Ashipa, who also doubles as the

Project Manager, Coke Studio Concerts shared the excitement and passion of the campus community, noting that the Coke Studio Concert was created to bring about a fusion of different music genres and styles, while giving aspiring musicians the chance of a lifetime to perform alongside established stars.

For him, “We are aware that Port Harcourt has a lot of amazing musical talents, so we decided to route our musical concert platform here to bring established and upcoming artistes together on stage to create amazing music. The Coke Studio bus, which is fitted with top-notch recording equipment will also prepare the aspiring artistes for the demands of the continually evolving music industry.”

In the spirit of the Coke Studio Concerts, the show at UNIPORT commenced with a competition to select two upcoming artistes from the institution to perform on stage with the stars.

Twenty-six year old 200 level student of Theatre Arts, Israel Ighofose, got the opportunity of a lifetime to perform with Tekno; while Suni Eke, a twentyfour year old, 200 level student of Religious and Cultural Studies, got a chance to wow the crowd with A-list artiste, Patoranking.

Selebobo kicked things up a notch as the concert got into full swing, with his popular tracks including “Selfie” and “Oroma Baby”. Tekno kept up the pace with his charm and his line-up of songs such as “Dance” and “Holiday,” while Patoranking brought the concert to a hip-

twirling climax with “Murda”, “Emergency”, and of course, his hit “Girlie O”.

A platform showcasing entertaining duets from established and upcoming musical talents, the Coke Studio Concerts, an innovative addition to the Coke Studio music show, kicked off in September and has toured major campuses in Nigeria including Lagos State Polytechnic, University of Benin, Abia State University, University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife before the outing at the University of Port Harcourt.

The Coke Studio Concert is scheduled to tour seven more tertiary institutions in 2014.

Next in line is the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) on October 31.

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide) OCT. 31 — NOV. 6 Highlights

Big brother hotshots

Laveda’s saxophone muted, Kenya’s Alusa eliminated

Ik with Tanzani’s Laveda after her eviction this week

Stories by Sony Neme

K

enya’s Alusa became the first male housemate to be evicted from Big Brother Hotshots on Sunday, and the 7th housemate altogether.

When Tanzania’s Laveda was evicted earlier in the evening, she continued the ladies’ losing streak, becoming the 6th consecutive woman to be evicted on the back of Africa’s votes.

Alusa broke that streak, but his departure also means that there are no more Kenyan housemates left to compete for the USD300 000 prize, after his compatriot Sabina left last week.

IK kicked off the show on a serious note, showing viewers how Samantha and M’am Bea had picked up their first ‘strikes’ for contravening Big Brother’s conspiracy rule.

They had spoken about their nomination choices earlier in the week, and Big Brother called all the housemates together to remind them of the rules. That sobering moment capped a tough week for the housemates, after they’d also lost their 100% wager – their first failure so far.

Once auditors SizweNtsalubaGobodo had delivered the verified votes to IK, he told viewers that the tie-breaker rule was once again going to have to come into play, as there was a tie in the country votes.

Heading into the house, he first asked Head of House Nhlanhla to reveal his ‘add’ decision before revealing the results.

The South African told IK that he’d based his decision on the housemates’ performance in the Head of House Qualifier task. He felt that Macky2 had put in the least effort because he was confident in himself and his status in the game, so he’d named the Zambian as his ‘add’ choice.

After sending the nominated housemates to safety, one by one, JJ and Laveda were left standing. IK revealed that the Tanzanian’s time in the Big Brother house was up and asked her to say her goodbyes.

When she joined him on stage, he quizzed her about relationships in the house – specifically around her interest in Permithias. “It’s been three weeks – it’s just a mystery,” she said, giving nothing away. She said that perhaps the housemates had expected her to be different and had struggled to come to terms with the way she really was.

The drama wasn’t over, though, as Big Brother told IK that another housemate needed to be evicted. Heading back into the house, IK asked the remaining 6 nominated housemates to stand. He didn’t leave them hanging on for long, telling Alusa to leave the house almost right away.

Out on stage, the Kenyan was upbeat, but said he didn’t really know why he’d been evicted.

“Maybe the fans thought they’d seen enough of me,” he said after IK offered his presence as

an ‘Emerald housemate’ from last season as a possible reason. Speaking about his verbal scuffle with Tayo, he said he’d simply been standing up for his friend JJ. When IK went back into the house for a third time, the housemates must have feared the worst – but he quickly put them at ease, telling them he was ‘only’ there to reveal the results of the Extravaganza task.

After a quick recap, he revealed that Forest Fantasy had picked up the most viewer votes after their Pantomime performance and would be immune from nomination this week.

Namibian Hip Hop star KK rocked the Big Brother stage twice during the live show, performing both ‘Katutura Kid’ and ‘Heavy’. IK also revealed the winner of this week’s StarMeter challenge, which measures the popularity of the housemates, based on social media buzz. Tayo took his second consecutive win, with the buzz indicating that viewers thought he was the sexiest housemate. The question for the coming week is ‘Which Big Brother Hotshot is the most sneaky?’, with both positive and negative sentiments being measured.

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.

Big Brother Hotshots is produced by Endemol South Africa.

Nigerian Copyright operatives raid Enugu and Ebonyi

I

n continuance of the Nigerian Copyright Commission’s committing to curbing piracy in Nigeria, a raid was conducted recently in Enugu and Ebonyi States, which led to the apprehension of several pirates, with the resultant confiscation of their instruments.

At a briefing recently, the Director General of the Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude stated “we have a regulatory and enforcement mandate to conduct anti-piracy operations across Nigeria”. He further explained that “allowing piracy to thrive directly affects the economy of a country, as it deprives several people in the value chain, the right to earn the appropriate income for their services.”

The two-day anti-piracy operation involved the destruction of cable wires and books used by the pirates in the illegal DStv distribution of content and signals.

The operation took the copyright inspectors to Asata, Uwani, Achara

Layout, Agbani Road, all in the Enugu metropolis.

In Ebonyi State, the areas covered were Oraifite Street, Water Works Road and its environs. The copyright inspectors were given security cover by a team of Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) for the Enugu operation, while fifteen (15) Mobile Policemen provided security for the Ebonyi operation.

The two operations were headed by Macfoy Akachukwu alongside other copyright inspectors. The equipment seized consisted of several decoders, smart cards, remote controls as well as other accompanying devices.

The market value of the seized equipment from both operations came up to a total ofN23.5m.

Mr. Afam Ezekude, the Director General of the NCC, urges all Nigerians and other relevant stakeholders to continue to support the Commission in its renewed commitment in the fight against piracy and its attendant challenges.

AFRIMA International Committee is ready to roll CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

As a result, the orgnisers and African Union Commission in partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment are poised for the Africa Music Summit themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa”, being one of the events line up for AFRIMA 2014.

In keeping with their objectives, the joint bodies are inviting stakeholders to the 2014 edition of Africa Music Summit holding on November 6 and 7, 2014. . It will take place at The Landmark Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria from 9am to 5pm daily.

From AFRIMA Project Officer, Bola Felix, we reliably gathered that, “In partnership with the African Union Commission, AUC, in Ethiopia, AFRIMA, a combined effort to promote the rich African music worldwide, thus reaching out to millions of fans and propelling African music to glorious pinnacle beyond the borders of Africa, is packaged to celebrate and appreciate the value and existence of quality African music

and its culture as well as promoting unity and peace in Africa through instrumentality of music and international economies.”

Distinguished guests speakers expected are: Oscar Kidjo - Benin Republic, Eric Allen Stein from the United Kindgom), and Samuel Adam Monro – Zimbabwe. Also on card are Elizabeth Lenjo of Kenya, Amr Diab of Egypt, and Christian Syren from South Africa, Laolu Akintobi (Nigeria), and. Rab Bakri (USA/ Ghana).

Delani Makhalima (Zimbabwe), Matthew Tinari (USA/Senegal), (Nigeria), Efe Omorogbe (Nigeria), Rita Ray (U.K./ Ghana), Kawesa Richard (Uganda), Tabu Osusa (Kenya), and David Mark Alexander (South Africa) among others will also be adding their intellectual dept.

28

Entertainment

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

I will share my life with the fans — Eva

Delta State born, Elohor Eva Alordiah, simply known as Eva is from a very humbly rooted Christian background. The Computer Science graduate of Bowen University is a talented young artiste that is striving for a better life, regardless of the many ill labels the society and the people in her present environment may have bestowed upon her.

Eva is a splendid vocalist with dexterity; and her unique sound blends Hip-Hop and rapper into one tightly knit package: from full of depth ballads, sometimes to controversial subject matter. She spoke with Shola Adefuwa on her music and many controversies she has had to contend with What is new with you, especially your new album, when are you dropping it?

My first project was the “GIGO EP” which is a collection of eight original songs that was released for free in November 2011. I am currently working on my debut Album, which I hope drops, hopefully before Christmas.

We have released two singles off the Album, “Deaf” and “War Coming”, produced by Gray Jonz and Tintin respectively. They are actually the only two producers I am working with on the album and it has been such a refreshingly awesome experience working with young talented producers like them.

“War Coming” is a song that focuses on the real life struggle with the self that I think everyone experiences. It is really about the fight in our soul that causes us to want more, to aspire for greater and better things.

However we are constantly subjected to circumstances that make us feel like we could succumb to the resistance any moment and give up.

I hope that when people listen to it they can connect with it in such a way that they experience the bliss and satisfaction we all felt in the studio while we were making it”. I hope that the words in the song connect in ways that uplift the listener, maybe even reawakening dreams that have been long slept on.

The song features a very talented singer/songwrite Sir Dauda, whom I really enjoyed working with. And it was produced by Tintin; our friend D’Guitar, who is one of the best guitarists in Nigeria that I have met, was also kind to help with creating the sound.

And Saeon, an excellent singer was nice to add a few backing vocals that literally took the song to new heights. I am super grateful to have such amazing and talented people around to work with me.

Do you see Cynthia Morgan as a threat despite doing same kind of music?

I think Cynthia is an extremely talented lady and she is doing super good with her music. I would much rather see her as exactly that than see her as a threat.

We are all here just doing our best work, while we can. Picking people out and tagging them as threats is setting yourself up for a battle which is not why we are here.

How many awards so far?

I was nominated “Next Rated” at the Headies 2012, “Best Female artist, Rap” at the ELOY awards 2011 and 2012 both of which i won. I also received the 2012 Nigeria Entertainment award for “Most Promising act to Watch” category, amongst others.

My single “DEAF” which we talked about earlier is currently up in “Best Rap Single” category for this year’s Headies awards.

I do appreciate every single one of this nods and plaques, it is like a warm acknowledgement of my work as an artiste and it is such joy to have that, she stated.

Is Eva fulfilled Not yet, no. I know i keep saying i have only just begun, but then again that for me is the best way to go. Fulfillment is absolute satisfaction they say. I don’t think you can be absolutely satisfied as a creative person.

We always tend to want to create even more as we go along.

LYRICS for the week

Cynthia

Morgan — I’m Taken

INTRO: Kingston property Nigerian full breed Leggo, Waddup See, listen VERSE 1: Me tell them Killing up a beat not a problem Mona talk shit me tell them shove em All of thema hate me rise above them Me get the industry on lock down in case me lost HOOK: Thema wyne it all upon me That’s why thema wyne it all upon me Em say girla wyne it all upon me Girla wyne it all upon me He calling my phon…e Leave me alon…e Keep asking on…n Leave me alon…e I’m taken Yeah boy, I’m taken Yeah man, I’m taken Yo, I’m taken Ra, I’m taken VERSE 2: When them talk bad, she badder Pon the beat pon the street ya know say she murder Lyrical assassin she fit kill no bother Mana man mana dancer godmother Me say kill them again and again Like a memory card hear me I fit save the game Cardiac arrest pon the side of me name Me all about the cheese me no care about the fame HOOK: Em say mana wyne it all upon me Girla wyne it all upon me Em say girla wyne it all upon me Girla wyne it all upon me Em calling my phon…e Leave me alon…e He be wanting some mor…e Em calling my phon…e So me say, Man I’m taken Yeah boy, I’m taken Yeah man, I’m taken Waddup, I’m taken Yeah man Me say, Mana wyne it all upon me Me say girla wyne it all upon me Em say girla wyne it all upon

me Em say mana wyne it all upon me VERSE 3: Cuss gat me burning all day The two of his two no fit care what dem say Liquor boy them wan wyne pon me waist Me no do them broke boys you know Me stay pon the rhythm pon the rhythm and the base Ya I no listen up a bit never lot a case All of them afraid while them girls them dey gbes Sipping from the poko don perry and them heys HOOK: Em say mana wyne it all upon me Girla wyne it all upon me Him say girla wyne it all upon me Girla wyne it all upon me Em calling my phon…e Leave me alon…e He be wanting some mor…e Em calling my phon…e So me say Man I’m taken Yeah boy I’m taken Yeah man I’m taken Word up I’m taken Yeah man Me say Mana wyne it all upon me Me say girla wyne it all upon me Em say girla wyne it all upon me Em say mana wyne it all upon me FREESTYLE: Kingston property Well I’m proper when I’m juice you know what I mean Me girl dey wan tools Them liking the german juice, gboa Me call it german juice Them lost the clues Twerk even if you got a big back like chus I stagger Me the one everyone choose Informal, all of thema stinking juice Mana wyne it all upon me Em say girla wyne it all upon me (2ce) Girla wyne it all upon me (4ce) Gboa!

Turn and rise

Lyrics, Compiled by Shola Adefuwa

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Pension

29

Agric

Nigeria’s pension success stimulates global media attention

Routing for Vitamin-A cassava

New research identifies fruit flies as most destructive

31

33

35

Business Telecoms: 2.6Ghz spectrum What's news

Nigeria, others’ digital future bright, says report

Spurred by increased infrastructural investments, improved connectivity and affordability, positive government interventions, and the spread of mobility, the African digital media landscape is rapidly evolving, according to global Information Technology market intelligence firm, International Data Corporation (IDC).

p.30

Failed housing scheme: Subscribers besiege NLC headquarters Subscribers to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s housing scheme have given the labour movement three weeks to refund their money.

p.30

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

auction winners emerge Dec 5 PENETRATION The sale would fast-track broadband penetration

Kunle Azeez

S

uccessful winners of slots in the 2.6-gigahertz spectrum band currently being planned for auction by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will emerge by December 5 this year, New Telegraph has learnt.

The Commission, in the Information Memorandum released on the spectrum auction, said it plans to implement the timetable already drawn for the auction process.

With this, the telecoms regulator said that the auction would help in fast-tracking the achievement of the five-fold broadband penetration target of 30 per cent by 2018.

The IM defines the process that the Commission has decided to adopt for the licensing of 2 X 70 MHz paired spectrum available in the 2.6-gigahertz band.

It also provides information on the Nigerian telecommunications market, details of the spectrum to be made available, the pre-qualification process, the auction process and indicative timetable.

According to NCC, the process for the licensing of the new spectrum is predicated on demands by operators for additional spectrum to avail them the opportunity of providing advanced wireless broadband services for the country.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, “this is in line with international trends

and provisions of the National Broadband Plan 2013-204, which proposes a 30 per cent broadband penetration target for Nigeria by 2018.

“The target to achieve 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018 is a tall order for

us at NCC and we are doing everything possible to ensure that we make available new spectrum bands to ensure that wireless broadband services are provided to Nigerians.”

New Telegraph learnt that Nigeria currently has a broad-

band penetration of six per cent with a clear plan to grow it five-folds in the next four years.

The 2.6-gigahertz spectrum offers 14 lots of 2 X 5 megahertz FDD paired spectrum in the 2.6 CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

L-R: Head, Open Programmes Unit, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), Mrs Adeola Agbato; Chairman, Alpha Choice Insurance Brokers, Mr Sunny Adeda; Chief Executive Officer, Almond Production Limited, Ms Faith Ughwode and Chairman, Insurance Consumers Association of Nigeria, Mr Rafiu Balogun, during the Insurance Consumers’ Forum in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

S’Africa ahead of Nigeria, others in agrochemicals use Dele Alao

S

outh Africa’s use of agrochemicals and fertilisers for agricultural requirements far outpaced that of Nigeria, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia and Kenya, according to a data by agrochemical solution business, Nulandis.

The data shows that Ghana

and Morocco contributed 10 per cent each, while Kenya, Egypt and Côte d’Ivoire accounted for eight per cent each. Nigeria only held five per cent of the market.

However, South Africa, according to the data, still fell behind current global standards in terms of output per hectare of land available.

Chief Executive Officer, Nulandis, Edwin Ludick, said: “This indicted a need for mass education on the correct use of chemicals and fertiliser for smallholder farmers in Africa to enhance their yields, feed the demand and compete effectively.”

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 23)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N275 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N205

l Foreign Reserves – $39.06bn as at 23/10/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Oct 23)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.76 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N250.69 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N198.30

30

Business | News

HOPE

Only 19 per cent of Africa’s 1 billion population is online Kunle Azeez

S

purred by increased infrastructural investments, improved connectivity and affordability, positive government interventions, and the spread of mobility, the African digital media landscape is rapidly evolving, according to global Information Technology market intelligence firm, International Data Corporation (IDC).

Referencing its ‘Assessment and Outlook of the Digital Media Ecosystem in Africa’ report, IDC said that the future remains bright for the continent, although key challenges such as low propensity to pay for applications and content as well as lack of ubiquitous high speed broadband infrastructure continue to hamper progress and will take a while to resolve.

“The digital picture in Africa is changing rapidly,” a research analyst for telecommunications and media at IDC East Africa, Mr Leonard Kore, said.

According to Kore, “Internet penetration is on the rise, buoyed by

Nigeria, others’ digital future bright, says report increased infrastructure investments, while the landing of undersea fiber-optic cables connecting Africa to the rest of the world has greatly reduced transmission time and costs while increasing bandwidth capacity.

“Although only an estimated 19 per cent of the continent’s one billion population is online, this situation is expected to improve as investments in infrastructure continue to gain momentum; this includes 2G and 3G network infrastructure expansion and fiber to the x (FTTx).”

Mobile usage has had a transformative impact in Africa. Other key factors include the high digital appetite for social media and the impending digital migration, while other sectors such as e-commerce have had a tough time gaining traction.

The digital disruption has significantly changed consumer behavior and service usage patterns have altered as a result, with consumers now seeking devices with intuitive interfaces, content-rich applications,

2.6Ghz spectrum auction winners emerge Dec. 5 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

gigahertz, ranging from 2500 – 2570 megahertz and 2620 to 2690 megahertz (totaling 2 X 70 megahertz) for auction.

A generic reserve price (GRP) of $16 million has, therefore, been fixed on each of the 14 lots.

According to the Commission, “the GRP is the minimum price at which a lot shall be sold, which is the Reserve Price for one Lot of 2 X 5 megahertz, and as such, each has a value of $16 million. This means each lot of 2 X 5 megahertz represents 1 eligibility point. An applicant that pays the IBD for six lots will have a total of six eligibility points.”

Meanwhile, New Telegraph had exclusively reported that government will generate a minimum of $224 million (about N35.8 billion) into its coffers, in addition to the over N300 billion it said it had generated from spectrum licensing in the last 13 years of telecoms liberalisation.

Commenting on the December 5 date, President of the Association of Telecommunications

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Mr Lanre Ajayi, said that the regulator was upbeat in ensuring that the broadband target of 30 per cent broadband penetration is accomplished.

He said that timely release of the spectrum to investors will boost the provision of wireless mobile broadband services to Nigerians, adding that over 90 per cent of the telecoms services in the country are offered through wireless means, which, he said, require adequate spectrum to support service delivery.

“Providing wireless services means you need additional spectrum that should be available to the operators so as to be able to deploy services nationwide,” he said in an interview with New Telegraph.

Also, according to telecoms industry analyst, Mr Akin Akinbo, “with solid broadband plan in place in Nigeria, the ongoing collaborations between the NCC and telecoms operators to see how more spectrum bands can be made available are a step in the right direction.”

and faster connectivity capabilities, as they spend more time online.

“The growth of digital media has had a positive impact on businesses in Africa in terms of cost reduction, increased employee productivity, and improved communi-

cation and information sharing, both internally and externally,” said Kore.

He explained: “The traditional roles of various market players are expected to evolve as telcos continue to venture into the digital media

space, while over-thetop contents (OTTs), and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) emulate telecom services at the application layer, resulting in a transition that has given rise to a friend/foe relationship among these key stake-

holders.

“Other critical issues include app and content developers seeking better compensation/business models from dominant players such as telcos, all of which must be resolved in order for the ecosystem to grow.”

L-R: Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Samsung Electronics West Africa, Mr Emmanouil Revmatas; Marketing Manager, Information Technology and Mobile, Ms Olajumoke Okikiolu and Business Development Director, Information Technology and Mobile, Mr. Daesung Ra, at the launch of Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in Lagos.

Failed housing scheme: Subscribers besiege NLC headquarters ULTIMATUM

Labour gets three weeks to refund workers’ money

S

ubscribers to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s housing scheme have given the labour movement three weeks to refund their money.

Some of the subscribers, according to the report by Channel TV, protested at the Labour House in Abuja to demand an explanation for non-payment of their money, months after the housing scheme was certified fraudu-

lent.

The NLC had, in 2013, gone into partnership with a private developer, Kriston Lally Nigeria Limited, to build 300,000 homes, 100,000 of which were to be commissioned in December, 2014.

But the project is yet to take off and the Labour Congress is alleging fraud by the developer.

Workers from different organisations, who subscribed to the NLC-Kriston-Lally ‘affordable house scheme,’ blocked the entrance to the premises of the NLC and other labour offices at the central area in Abuja, ensuring that no one went in or out.

The workers demanded to

see the NLC President and after failed attempts by other members of staff to assuage them, the president came out to address the protesters.

The NLC president said that he had taken the matter head on, with promises that the subscribers, many of who were genuine, would be refunded their money.

The subscribers paid between 400,000 and N5.5 million, being part payment for the housing units ranging from one bedroom apartment to three bedroom detached bungalows.

Many of them said that they took loans, which they service for as high as N40,000 monthly.

S’Africa ahead of Nigeria, others in agrochemicals use C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 2 9

“The farmers do not realise how much yield they are losing on their crops. Educating farmers on the correct dosages and ‘right’ timing could translate into growth for companies and provide an opportunity for chemical and fertiliser companies to make their mark through education

and supply,” he added.

Also, the data of famous agrochem consulting company, Phillips McDougall, revealed that the global value market for pesticides is projected to reach $75.9 billion by 2019, while the value is also expected to register a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.9 per cent.

“Insecticides market will reach a value of $16.44 bil-

lion by 2019, at a CAGR of 4.7 per cent. The Asia-Pacific market is projected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 5.4 per cent. China and India are the largest markets in this region.

The global fungicides market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3 per cent and is projected to generate a value of $15.69 billion by 2019,” Phillips McDougall said.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

CPS imposes huge liability on us, says Fashola p.32

31

Pension

Our next point of protest is Abuja –PHCN retirees p.32

Nigeria’s pension success stimulates global media attention SAFE HAVEN

Experts endorse the unprecedented feat in new pension law

N

igeria’s cur rent symbol of hope for workers, the Pension Reform Act, has continued to gain ground with the international community taking deep seated interest in its formulation and implementation processes.

With the assets growing rapidly, properly invested and almost 100 per cent caged against fraud, investors, financial experts and pension fund managers have continued to watch out and suggest ways in which the funds can better be invested even beyond the stipulation of the extant law under which it was put in place.

From individual discussions, seminars, workshops and other fora, the concern has been on how the over N4 trillion assets could better be invested even beyond the shores of Nigeria.

International endorsement However, beyond this agitation, the international media is also coming onboard to discuss the success story of the retirement scheme, which bill was recently adjusted by President Goodluck Jonathan in order to make it more embracing and beneficial to more Nigerians.

In its latest edition, renowned economic magazine, The Economist, takes a deep look into how the PRA 2014 is now giving hope to the average Nigerian worker.

The article titled, “Pensions in Nigeria: Fewer ghosts, more

Chinelo Ahonu-Amazu

savings,” the magazine said it was not until Nigeria obliged firms with five or more employees to provide workers with pensions in 2004 that most Nigerian workers really started accumulating cash.

Previous challenges Nigeria has spent a decade resurrecting its pension system.

Back at the turn of the century, government employees were enrolled in a defined-benefit system (in which eventual payments are fixed). It had run up unfunded liabilities of 2 trillion naira ($12.9 billion). Governments seldom put aside enough money to pay existing pensioners, let alone to cover future costs. Retirees often went unpaid. Most private companies, meanwhile, ignored their obligation to provide pensions for

For the lucky few, life has improved.

Former civil servants say they no longer have to queue for hours to collect their payments—the money goes straight to their accounts

their workers. At those that did, allegations of mismanagement and fraud abounded.

All this changed with the reforms of 2004, which not only instituted mandatory pensions at most private firms, but also converted the government scheme from defined-benefit to defined-contribution (in which the risk of poor investment returns lies with the participants, not the sponsor). The management of the government scheme was also outsourced, and a regulator created to oversee the industry. Since 2005, pension schemes’ assets have grown by more than 25 per cent a year on average, to about 4.2 trillion naira ($26 billion).

That is still a relatively small amount, especially when judged against the government’s massively expanded estimate of the size of the Nigerian economy. In April it nearly doubled its tally of GDP to $510 billion. That reduced pension-scheme assets to about five per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), compared to 170 per cent in the Netherlands, 131 per cent in Britain and 113 per cent in America.

The reforms Moreover, the vast majority of Nigerians work in informal jobs, and so do not have a pension: of a working population of perhaps 80m people, only around 6m participate in any sort of scheme. The government is trying to rectify that, too: a fresh set of reforms, passed in July, extended the obligation to provide a pension to firms employing three or more people. It also increased mandatory contributions from 7.5 per cent of salary for both workers and employers to eight per cent

and 10 per cent respectively.

As a result, savings are expected to grow further. By law, all the money must be invested in Nigeria. The intention is to build a big pool of local cash that will reduce the country’s dependence on foreign aid, loans and investment. That goal has seemed all the more pressing since the prospect of rising interest rates in America caused an exodus of cash from emerging markets last year.

Nigeria’s overwhelmed infrastructure needs billions of dollars a year in investment.

Pension schemes looking for long-term, local investments to match their liabilities could fund desperately-needed roads, ports, railways and houses.

PenCom, the national regulator, is trying to promote investments in electricity generation, perhaps via the government’s huge privatisation programme.

It also wants more forays into private equity.

As things stand, however, pension funds are shunning alternative assets. Overall, infrastructure accounts for less than two per cent of their assets, compared with 68 per cent for government bonds and 13 per cent for shares. That is partly because there are only two registered infrastructure funds in Nigeria and no dedicated infrastructure bonds, according to Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Nigeria’s biggest pensionfund administrator.

Meanwhile, for the lucky few, life has improved. Former civil servants say they no longer have to queue for hours to collect their payments—the money goes straight to their accounts.

And things have become more transparent.

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers harps on safety of pension assets

A

gainst the backdrop of the recently enacted Pension Reform Act of 2014, Nigeria’s Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, has stressed that Nigeria’s pension industry now stands on a stronger foundation, providing safety for the N4.4 trillion pension assets under management.

The company, Nigeria’s biggest Pension Fund Administrator (PFA), boasts of over one million retirement savings account (RSA) holders and assets under management in excess of N1 trillion, paying approximately N1.8 billion to almost 30,000 retirees monthly. Over

N178 billion has been paid to retirees seamlessly since the PFA commenced operations in 2006.

Speaking at a conference on pension and corporate governance organised by the company in Lagos, Dr Demola Sogunle, Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, said the new law had expanded the scope of participation in the pension scheme by Nigerians as well as strengthened compliance with its provisions, especially relating to enrolment and remittance of pension contributions.

He said, “The Pension Reform Act of 2014, among its very many laudable provi-

sions, will be instrumental in expanding coverage of the Nigerian pension system and strengthening compliance, while building a vibrant pension industry capable of supporting economic growth and development.”

Sogunle explained that private sector organisations with three employees or more were expected to register under the scheme, adding that the law also compelled an employer to open a Temporary Retirement Savings Account (TRSA) on behalf of an employee that failed to open a Retirement Savings Account (RSA) within three months of being employed.

He pointed out that whatever gaps existed in the old pension regime had been effectively plugged in the new law, making the incidence of ghost pensioners and widespread mismanagement of pension funds almost impossible. Very stiff penalties for pension funds fraudsters and employers who persistently fail to deduct and/or remit pension contributions of their employees within the stipulated time are expected to checkmate abuse.

He described as erroneous the impression often bandied in the public space that pension funds were left to PFAs, employers, individuals or

operators to handle as they wished, stressing that pension fund assets were held by Pension Fund Custodians (PFCs) who execute benefit payments and investment instructions from the PFAs duly licensed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

“The PFAs manage and administer the funds, while the PFCs have custody of the pension fund. There are sufficient legal and institutional bulwarks to protect pension funds,” he stated, adding that funds were directly credited to the RSA of beneficiaries who enjoyed unhindered access to any information relating to their pension contributions.

32

Business | Pension

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

CPS imposes huge liability on us, says Fashola COMMITMENT

Government has no choice but to ensure the comfort of its workers

Sunday Ojeme

L

agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has said that his administration’s decision to key into the Contributory Pension Scheme imposed a huge financial burden on the state.

The governor disclosed this during a Public Lecture organised by the National Association of Insurance Correspondents in collaboration with the Lagos State Government.

Fashola who was represented at the event by the Commissioner, Budget and Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, 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 Pen-

sion 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, on the 19th the Lagos State Government subscribed to the fully funded Contributory Pension Scheme.

“It imposed on us a huge liability as we needed to pay of 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,” he added.

Speaking further on insurance practice and awareness in the country, he said the operators should make use of every available opportunity to create public awareness.

He specifically advised them to participate in the ongoing coroner inquest in respect of the collapsed guest house owned by Syna-

gogue of All Nations.

The governor said one of the ways insurance practitioners could create more awareness especially as regards insurance of public buildings and buildings under construction was to take part in such activities apart from the usual public enlightenement campaign.

The collapsed guest house, which killed nothing less than 100 worshippers especially South Africans, is suspected not have the right approval and insurance cover before the unfor-

tunate incident.

The governor said individuals and government had a responsibility to manage risk, for the betterment of lives and those of the people being served.

He said, “We are often impervious to the risks we face on a daily basis. Risk here being the probability or the threat of damage, loss, injury or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, the consequences of which may be avoided through preemptive action.

Premium Pension hails retired board member’s commitment

T

he Board, management and staff of Premium Pension Limited, one of the pension fund administrators in the country, have sent forth one of its retiring directors, Mr. Ibrahim Alhassan Babayo, at a colorful luncheon ceremony held in Abuja recently.

A statement made available to New Telegraph said Babayo retired from the board of the company after successfully completing his tenure.

In his remarks at the occasion, the chairman of the company’s board, Mr. Aliyu Dikko, described Babayo as a very productive person who always worked with enthusiasm to uplift the company.

He, “Babayo was an asset to the company, we would continue to profit from his wise counsel. The acquisition of our head office has his strong imprints as he worked tirelessly to achieve that feat.”

Also commenting, a member of the board, Mr. Nelson Nweke, described retiree as a versatile person who is highly professional and resourceful.

Speaking on behalf of the management, the company’s managing director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Wilson Ideva, thanked Babayo for his immeasurable contributions

and inspirational disposition towards to the management. He expressed his pleasure working with him, describing him as a special person whose advice the company immensely benefitted from.

Responding, Babayo thanked the foundational board members of the company for the solid foundation laid for the company to thrive in terms of good corporate governance. He expressed his deep appreciation for the warm reception accorded him as well as the cooperation of other board members over the past few years.

Mr. Alhassan Babayo joined the board of Premium Pension Limited on the 19th August, 2011.

While on the board he served as Chairman of the Board Information Technology Committee and also as a member of Board Audit, Establishment and Nominating committees.

The occasion also served as an opportunity to welcome back reappointed directors of the board in the persons of Architect Yunusa Yakubu and Mr. Usman Zarma. The chairman described them as hardworking founding fathers of Premium Pension Limited.

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Dr. Demola Sogunle; Head, Business Development, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited, Mrs. Nike Bajomo; Guest Speaker, Dr. Christopher Kolade and Head, Research and Corporate Strategy, National Pension Commission, Dr Farouk Aminu, at a conference on pension fund and corporate governance organized by Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Our next point of protest is Abuja –PHCN retirees

F

ollowing its peaceful protest carried out in Lagos early in the week, members of the National Union of Pensioners (PHCN chapter) have resolved to take the next demonstration to President Goodluck Jonathan’s doorstep in Abuja if their demands are not met soon.

The retirees, who gathered in Lagos on Monday to press home their demands for gratuity and severance package, said they could no longer bear the brunt of hardship deliberately imposed on them by the Federal Government amid unchecked corruption by government officials.

In a chat with New Telegraph, the spkesperson of the union’s factional group, Mr. Olu Ayeni, lamented that the president’s inability to deal with the rampart corruption in his administration had placed pensioners in the current pitiable situation.

Ayeni, whose group has been agitating for severance package similar to what the PHCN workers received prior to the privatisation of the electricity body, said it took

Ayeni

their protest on Monday to compel the Federal Government to pay part of the arrears of pension owed them.

He said, “President Jonathan may mean well for this country but the problem of corruption being perpetrated by those within the corridors of power is making his efforts meaningless.

“We are taking our next protest to Abuja. We will continue to push until our demands are met. We are not asking for pension payment.

What we are after is for the government to pay our gratuity and severamce package.

Just Imagine because we protested on Monday they now managed to pay one month of the arrears they have been owing.”

He said the image of the country was going down in the international community because of the attitude of corrupt politicians, saying that the media should do more to expose corruption so as to forestall it from consuming the entire country.

He further lamented the recent trial and sentencing of some soldiers to death by the military high command, saying that the soldiers were being punished when the government had failed to question how the budgets for defence had been spent over the years.

“Another $1 billion loan has just been approved by the lawmakers to fight insurgency. What happened to the defence budgets for the past years? The corruption is widespread.”

That is why they cannot meet our demands even after privatising PHCN and selling everything to themselves,” he added.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

US, Holland, others set for Nigeria poultry show p.34

33

Agric

Fruits, vegetables to generate 43% industry revenue, says Institute’s DG p.36

Cassava plantation. INSET: Cassava tubers

Routing for Vitamin-A cassava Consumed by over 300 million people in Africa, cassava has been marginalised in several debates because of myths and half-truths about its nutritional value and role in farming systems. But, a new effort has proved its nutritional value writes DELE ALAO

T

he greatest burden of cassava is the stigma of being considered an inferior, low-protein food that is uncompetitive with the glamorous crops such as imported rice and wheat.

This perception is, however, changing.

Deputy Director (Operations), HarvestPlus, Dr Wolfgang Pfeiffer, said: “But the perception about cassava is changing. With Vitamin A cassava, we are not talking just about a crop that is rich in starch, but about a crop that has one of the Vitamins that are most important for human development.”

“Demand for the varieties is up and we have engaged farmers for multiplication. Our strategy is to get planting materials available to farmers so they can consume these nutritious varieties and improve their health,” he added.

Vitamin A deficiency is a malady in Nigeria affecting about 20 per cent of pregnant women and 30 per

cent of children under five years, elsewhere in Africa, the statistics are no better. A lack of or a deficiency of Vitamin A lowers immunity and impairs vision. This can lead to blindness and even death.

Beginning Popularly called yellow cassava, Vitamin A cassava was bred by a coalition of partners, including International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Imo State, and International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and released in Nigeria in 2011.

The first wave consisting of three varieties was disseminated to hundreds of thousands of farmers across the country. Farmers’ adoption of the varieties is on an impressive scale and the appeal for the varieties has fuelled their spread for research trials to other African countries including Republic of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Cameroon and Ghana.

Country Manager, HarvestPlus Nigeria, Paul Ilona, who estimated that about two billion people suffer from hidden hunger in which Vitamin A is an integral part, said that HarvestPlus and its partners were working on several staples to address hidden hunger.

Why cassava?

Ilona gave insights into why cassava had been chosen for biofortification in Nigeria.

He highlighted the fact that the crop’s easy accessibility to resource-poor farmers made it a preferred candidate for use as a vehicle to convey Vitamin A to target beneficiaries - women and children under five.

Besides, other factors such as food preferences, the number of people consuming cassava and cassava-based products, and the size of the population of those in need of Vitamin A were also considered in the selection of cassava and Nigeria as a pioneer country.

Since the roll out of the varieties, there has been remarkable progress and stakeholders are excited over the development.

The excitement A Director with the Federal Ministry of Health (Micronutrient Deficiency Control), John Uruakpa, said: “We are glad that HarvestPlus is complementing our efforts to address Vitamin A deficiency.”

He was optimistic that the adoption and consumption of the yellow cassava varieties would give a further push to on-going efforts to address Vitamin A deficiency.

Current efforts besides biofortification include the fortification of commodities such as flour and sugar, promotion of dietary diversity and the use of supplements (drugs).

Targeting commercial farmers brings sustainability for the Vitamin A project in Nigeria

Support Project Leader, Cassava Weed Management Project at IITA, Dr Alfred Dixon, said that the Institute would continue to collaborate with HarvestPlus, especially in the area of breeding, to ensure that improved varieties were made available to farmers.

He also pledged IITA’s commitment to work with HarvestPlus in the area of weed science to address the menace of weeds in cassava farms.

Also, Executive Director, National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Julius Okonkwo,

expressed NRCRI’s support for bio-fortification.

He described it as one of the most economically viable options for reaching the poor and addressing Vitamin A deficiency.

Okonkwo commended the HarvestPlus team in Nigeria for the support given to NRCRI over the years.

Next?

The New Telegraph gathered that HarvestPlus activities in 2015 will be more private sector-driven with more commercial farmers coming on board. The distribution of free cassava stems would continue through the farmer-tofarmer scheme, spreading into spill-over states where the dissemination of Vitamin A cassava is yet to commence.

“Targeting commercial farmers brings sustainability for the Vitamin A project in Nigeria. To ensure that Vitamin A cassava products become a household item in Nigeria, marketing activities to create demand and promote supply are critical activities for next year,” Ilona said.

HarvestPlus in conjunction with its 16 partners aims at establishing 3,000 sales outlets in Nigeria for Vitamin A cassava stems, fufu, gari flakes, cassava tubers and packaged products targeting children and adults.

As it were, the bio-fortified cassava which is rich in Vitamin A is becoming widespread in Africa, driven by increasing awareness of its health and nutrition benefits; and the variety is changing the description of cassava – a root crop often referred to as “Africa’s best kept secret.” But, how far can the country catch up?

34

Business | Agric

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

US, Holland, others set for Nigeria poultry show INVESTMENT Foreign investors eye Nigerian markets Stories by Dele Alao

T

he United States of America, Holland and Germany are among countries that have indicated interests in the Nigeria Poultry Show.

The fifth edition of the show scheduled for Abeokuta, Ogun State, next week, will attract repre-

sentatives from about 61 countries.

Southwest President of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Olufemi Faniyi, who described the show as a major international event, said that it would identify investment possibilities within the Nigerian poultry sub-sector.

“The 2014 show will look to identify investment possibilities within the Nigeria poultry sub-sector, bringing together foreign investors, government and agricultural policy agencies, financial and insurance agencies, public and private inves-

tors and poultry products marketers,” he said.

Faniyi noted that the norm was that an international event of such magnitude is held at the same venue and time of the year annually.

“This is so that international visitors will quickly adjust to coming to the same venue, at the same time of the year and plan ahead,” he said.

The PAN president noted that PAN facilitates the event in conjunction with Netherland- Africa Business Council and Dutch Poultry Centre.

FG, NB partner to boost hybrid sorghum

I

n line with the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), to improve upon the country’s agriculture potentials, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigerian Breweries Plc to drive development and commercialisation of high quality sorghum varieties in the country.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, lamented that despite being the largest producer of food sorghum in the world, Nigeria was yet to harness the crop’s potential to drive economic input.

He said that one of the objectives of the agreement

was to increase the number of out-grower farmers engaged by Nigerian Breweries Plc from the initial 250,000 to 2.5 million and access to high quality sorghum varieties.

The minister who commended the research activities of the brewery giant in the development of a sorghum hybrid with the capacity to yield four metric tons per hectare against the average yield of 0.5 metric tons, said that the expected outcome of the partnership include the formation of production and purchase clusters, increased production to 13 million metric tons by 2015, improved nutrition, as well as linkage with processors and markets.

15,000 Katsina farmers to benefit from modern agric training

A

Poultry farm

WAAPP partners UI on sustainable food production COLLABORATION Two institutions move to boost food production

I

n other to ensure a sustainable food production and reduce poverty in the country, the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Nigeria and University of Ibadan (UI), have pledged to collaborate to achieve the goal.

At a meeting between both institutions in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Ibadan, Prof Emmanuel Iyayi, who lauded WAAPP for the impact it is making in other universities, said that he was particularly happy with the visit as it would pave the way for the participation of UI in WAAPP.

National Project Coordinator of WAAPP, Prof. Damian O. Chikwendu, said that he was in the university as a follow-up visit that would enable him inspect available facilities and straighten out areas of likely collaboration between his organisation and the institution. “We are here in the university to see how we can work with you, particularly in areas of aquaculture and in poultry farming as well as in other spheres that may be of interest to you,” he said.

He treasured the efforts of the Head of Fishery and Aquaculture Management Department of the university, who is also the representative of Council for Agricultural Research and Development in Central and West Africa (CORAF/WECARD), Prof.

Emmanuel Ajani, for bringing the impact of the regional body to the university, noting that WAAPP-Nigeria’s prior-

ity focus in Nigeria include aquaculture, poultry, cassava, maize and rice, among other.

WAAPP-Nigeria’s area of mandate from the regional body is, however, in the area of aquaculture, just like it is cassava in Ghana, animal husbandry in Niger Republic and rice in Mali. WAAPP-Nigeria, he also said, is thus committed to doing anything possible to promote aquaculture.

The entry of the University of Ibadan into the WAAPP-Nigeria brings to 14, the number of universities collaborating with WAAPP in the implementation of the regional projects. Other collaborating institutions include 15 agricultural research institutes, 12 colleges of agriculture, 26 state Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), many of Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIPs) and a host of reputable and highly resourceful private investors.

bout 15,000 farmers in Katsina State have been selected from the three senatorial zones as beneficiaries to be trained in modern agriculture practices.

This is part of the state government’s measures to drive increased agricultural output and ensure food security.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Alhaji Musa Adamu, who highlighted the current achievements of the present administration towards advancing the agriculture sector, said that 5,000 hectares of farms each in Dutsin-ma, Funtua and Mai’adua, had been established by government to accommodate youths who were recently trained in Benin Republic.

The commissioner pledged government’s support to ex-

pand production through the purchase of farm produce of the state farmers.

He said that government had established livestock, fisheries, bee-keeping, irrigation and seeds production centres on the three farms and has begun earning revenue from the Dutsin-ma centre from sales of vegetables, fish, poultry, animals and grains.

The commissioner noted that 60 youths of the state had been sponsored by government for training at the Songhai Farms, Port Novo – Benin Republic in a bid to eradicate poverty, create employment opportunities as well as advance agricultural productivity.

The beneficiaries of Songhai Agricultural Initiative, he said, would be given free seeds, subsidised fertilizer and pesticides.

Enugu distributes 19,700 palm seedlings to farmers

T

he Enugu State government has concluded arrangements to distribute a total of 19,700 improved palm seedlings to farmers in the state.

They will be distributed freely.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Mike Eneh, while flagging off the semiwide groove rehabilitation programme of the Federal Government at Udi, said that over 500 farmers in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State have benefited from the seedling.

The Regional Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Uche Nwafor, said that semiwide groove rehabilitation programme of the Federal Government in partnership with the Enugu State government was aimed at making

Nigeria to reclaim her place as the largest producer of palm oil in the world.

Under the programme, the beneficiaries are expected to replace the old palm trees with new ones by planting them beside the old ones, while the old palm trees will be cut down after a year of planting the new ones.

Eneh said that a total of 19,700 improved palm seedlings are to be distributed to farmers free of charge, noting that government was determined to change agriculture for the better.

The beneficiaries praised the scheme, which, they said, would go a long way in reactivating palm plantations across the country. It was gathered that the maximum maturity duration for the palm seedlings is three years.

Business | Agric

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

35

Zamfara gets N144m agric tools’ hiring centres BOOST FG encourages farmers in Zamfara State with mechanisation equipment Stories by Dele Alao

A

s part of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), the Federal Government has commissioned four agricultural equipment-hiring centres worth N144 million in Zamfara.

The development is to boost mechanised agriculture in the state.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, at the

inauguration in Gusau, noted that Zamfara State is the first in Nigeria to benefit from the agricultural equipment hiring centres’ initiative.

“Four Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprises (AEHC) are being established in Zamfara State, one to be located in each of the three senatorial districts, while the fourth will be located in Gusau, the state capital.

The four centres will be fully equipped with 20 units of tractors and power tillers each and various harvest and post-harvest equipment. The total cost of the equipment for four AEHEs in Zamfara State is N144 million. The equipment are being deployed to Zamfara State through the state chapter of the Tractor Owners and Operators As-

sociation (TOOAN) to render emergency mechanisation intervention support services to farmers in Zamfara State,” the minister said.

He added: “The Federal Ministry of Agriculture will support farmers across Zamfara State to have access to subsidised mechanised services from these agricultural equipment hiring enterprises. Given the recent communal clashes that led to the destruction of farm produce and death of traction animals, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, will pay for 100 per cent of the mechanisation services for the farmers between now and the end of the dry season. A total of N 193 million has been approved to support free mechanisation

services for farmers in Zamfara State, through the Growth Enhancement Scheme.”

Adesina, who noted that farmers in Zamfara State would enjoy huge benefits, said that the tractors will be used to cultivate an average of 8,000 hectares, covering ploughing, harrowing and ridging tillage operations.

“The mechanisation services will boost food production in the Zamfara State by an additional 32,000 metric tons.

Over 1,000 jobs will be created for the youths,” he said.

The minister said that farmers in the North had benefited from the GES scheme, as they represent 75 per cent of the scheme’s beneficiaries.

On his part, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Zamfara branch, Mr

Saidu Abdulsalam, said that there were over three million people in the state and 90 per cent of them are farmers with 250,000 family farms.

Also, Executive Director, Wholesale and Finance, Bank of Agriculture, Mr Waziri Ahmadu, said that the centres would enhance efficiency, increase food production and raw materials for industries.

The director said that BOA was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to replicate same landmark achievement in Kebbi State.

Ahmadu said that the bank had resolved to align its budget with the principles of Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government to further boost agriculture in the country.

Lagos empowers farmers with farm inputs

L

agos State government has commenced the distribution of farm inputs to farmers across the state to help boost food production.

This is part of the state government’s empowerment programme, which cut across fishing, piggery, sheep rearing, egg marketing, poultry and horticulture, among others.

The initiative, tagged “Agricultural Value Chains Empowerment” will benefit about 3,000 residents of the state.

Since the commence-

New research identifies fruit flies as most destructive

A fruit fly

Oyo to spend N125m to boost cocoa FUNDIND Experts seek more funds for research

T

he Oyo State government has said that it is ready to spend N125 million to boost cocoa production for the 2014/2015 planting season.

According to the General Manager, Cocoa Development Unit, Oyo State, Gabriel Kehinde, while N110 million is for the commencement of Youth Empowerment Programmes in Cocoa Production, N15 million is for one million cocoa seedlings for free distribution to farmers.

He added that government distributed 640,000 and 350,000 metric tonnes of free seedlings to farmers in all the 33 local government areas of the state in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The general manager

ment of the empowerment programme, distributions of inputs have been made in the various divisions in Lagos, with 747 beneficiaries receiving their inputs in fishing, piggery, sheep and goat, egg marketing, feed mill, poultry feed, fish feed, cassava, aquaculture, rice, pepper soup, fish marketing, coconut, vegetable, horticulture and butchery.

Centres had been provided in Badagry, Odogunyan, Epe and Agege areas of the state for easy access to the items.

identified some challenges facing cocoa production to include inadequacy of suitable land, oil boom of the early 90s, which led to the rural-urban drift of farmers and old age of cocoa trees, requiring replanting.

Also, Oyo State Chairman of the Cocoa Farmers Association of Nigeria (CFAN), Alhaji Muniru Oladayo, lauded government’s efforts at subsidising agro-chemicals to farmers by 50 per cent, but declared that the chemicals were not readily available to the true farmers.

He said: “One of the problems facing cocoa farmers is that while the majority of agro-dealers prefer to buy from suppliers on credit, these suppliers insist on ‘cash and carry’ transactions. As a result, the chemicals and other agricultural supplies needful for ample farming production do not readily get to the real farmers. This manner of business will not in any

way favour the farmers and we urge government to intervene,” he said.

Also, Akin Agunbiade of the ECOWAS Human Rights Farmers in Oyo State urged government to encourage agricultural researchers and institutes by making adequate funds available to them.

“The diseases and pests against cocoa are enormous, yet we believe that if researches are well funded, we could have a way out. Researchers should be encouraged to develop disease-resistant and pestresistant cocoa seedlings, in addition to developing those that mature within a short period of time,” he said.

In the same vein, the Oyo State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Olumide Ayinla, said that cocoa production could be rescued from extinction by encouraging the younger generation to take to it.

F

our of the world’s most destructive agricultural pests are actually one and the same fruit fly, according to the results of a global research effort released recently.

Experts said that the discovery should lead to the easing of certain international trade restrictions and also aid efforts to combat the ability of these harmful insects to reproduce, experts said.

The so-called Oriental, Philippine, Invasive and Asian Papaya fruit flies, the study shows, all belong to the same biological species, Bactrocera dorsalis, which is causing incalculable damage to horticultural industries and food security across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and parts of South America.

The international collaborative effort, involving close to 50 researchers from 20 countries, began in 2009 and was coordinated by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It followed an integrative approach, examining evidence across a range of disciplines.

According to Jorge Hendrichs from the Joint FAO/ IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture in Vienna, the ability to precisely identify pests is central to pest management, including quarantine measures or bans applied to internationally traded food and agriculture products such as fruit and vegetables.

“Keeping exotic fruit flies out is a major concern for many countries. The study’s findings mean that trade restrictions linked to the Oriental fruit fly should now fall away in cases where the insect is present in both the importing and exporting country,” he said.

The study’s lead author, Mark Schutze, from the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), said: “This outcome has major implications for global plant bio-security, especially for developing countries in Africa and Asia. For example, the Invasive - now Oriental - fruit fly has devastated African fruit production with crop losses exceeding 80 per cent.”

36

Business | Agric

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

IITA, DFID discuss agric innovations, food security diversification Experts seek economic policy to promote non-oil sector

F

ood security and livelihoods in the South Western region of Nigeria was the focus of a parley between scientists and development specialists who met at the Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) headquarters in Ibadan, Oyo State, recently. They also aim to address the obstacles behind it.

Participants at the one-day focus group discussion came from IITA and UKAid Department for International Development (DFID).

In his welcome address, Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Capacity Development, Kenton Dashiell, said that IITA has developed new modalities and technologies to address these development issues and get these innovations to the end users.

Responding on behalf of DFID, the regional coordinator of the South West Region, Dr Adesina Fagbenro Byron, thanked IITA for providing knowledge on agricultural research but noted that more needs to be done on disseminating the results of this research.

Referring to agriculture as an existing “diamond,” he said: “I hope this meeting will start the process of ‘washing’ the diamond and to also solve the information use gap and defi-

ciency in agriculture as well as food security in the south west of Nigeria.”

He added that DFID’s economic growth policy promotes support for non-oil growth and will further push for agricultural growth in the region.

Also, the facilitator, Dr. O.A.K. Adesehinwa of the Institute of Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T), thanked IITA for championing the cause of agricultural research and food security in Africa and Nigeria in particular.

He commended the institute for actively engaging the youth

in agriculture by changing their orientation towards the vast business opportunities in agriculture.

He said that if government in the south west could adopt the model of the IITA Youth Agripreneur (IYA), agriculture would move to the next level as less focus will be on oil and gas, which have been the major sources of income for government in the last few decades.

The meeting was attended by several IITA scientists who presented on the innovations on food value chain on crops such as soybean, yam, maize,

Agricultural Commodity Prices Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat

Price 540-4 373-0 1045-0 404.6 34.23 359-2 12.190 608-6

Change +7-0 +7-6 +34-6 +23.0 +1.27 -4-0 +0.055 +4-6

Contract Dec 14 Dec 14 Nov 14 Dec 14 Dec 14 Dec 14 Nov 14 Dec 14

Time(ET) 13:04 13:04 13:04 13:04 13:04 13:01 12:59 13:04

Price 65.99 138.10 193.85 16.40 2950 24.95 1.8960 0.1635 2937.00

Change +0.73 -1.40 -2.75 +0.17 +14 -0.14 -0.0275 +0.0022 -6.00

Contract Dec 14 Nov 14 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14 Jan 15 Dec 14 Mar 15 Dec 14

Time(ET) 13:04 10/29/14 10/29/14 10/29/14 10/29/14 10/29/14 12:42 11:37 07:42

Price 168.375 234.975 90.500

Change -0.900 -0.750 -1.550

Contract Dec 14 Nov 14 Dec 14

Time(ET) 13:04 13:03 13:04

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

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

and cassava. IITA scientists included Drs Antonio Lopez and Ranjana Bhattacharjee who presented on yam; Mr Remi Adeleke on soybean; Lawrence Kaptoge and Dr Silvestro Meseka on aflasafe and maize; Dr Richardson Okechukwu on cassava value chain; and Dr Alfred Dixon, head of the Partnership Coordination Office.

IYA representative, Ayodeji Idowu, in his presentation, advocated youth support and involvement in agriculture.

He reported that the IYA model is being replicated in DRC and Tanzania and in the

north-eastern part of Nigeria with the just-concluded training of youths in Borno State.

The interactive sessions revealed gaps in knowledge on the value chain benefits in some crops, especially yam.

At the end of the meeting, a key consensus was that government should be encouraged to engage the youth in agriculture and also be committed towards food security and agriculture.

Participants agreed that if even one per cent of the oil subsidy is earmarked for agriculture, there will be a huge difference in the sector.

Fruits, vegetables to generate 43% industry revenue, says Institute’s DG

D

irector General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Abuja, Dr. Husseni Doko Ibrahim, has said that canned fruits and vegetables sales are expected to generate about 43 per cent of industry revenue this year.

Ibrahim said this in Kaduna in a paper presented at a 3-day national workshop and exhibition on Post-Harvest Management and Value Chain Financing organised

by Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) in collaboration with the RMRDC. Represented by the Direc-

tor, Special Duties/Head of Food and Beverages Division of (RMRDC), Usman Argungu Hassan, Ibrahim said that Nigeria alone consumes about 50 per cent of the total volume of fruit juice sold in Africa, following the ban placed on the importation of fruit juice brands into the country in 2002 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He said: “Fruit and vegetables processing industry’s most important products are canned fruits and vegetables, sales of which are expected to generate about 43.0 per cent of industry revenue in 2014. The canned fruits and vegetable products include

pickled and brined fruits and vegetables, canned jams and jellies, canned tomato-based sauces, pickles, relishes and sauerkraut, among others.”

President of Kaduna State Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Dr Abdul-Alimi Bello, said that since the Nigerian economy is developing and businesses are booming, there is the need to depend less on import. He said that development efforts in the past have sought to promote aggregate output not only to feed the growing population, but also to provide raw materials for domestic agro-industries as well as exports.

Experts to address changing market conditions

A

gricultural economists from Purdue University, United States, will offer farmers and livestock producers some timely guidance on rapidly changing market conditions and a look ahead to the 2015 season in a free webinar today.

Director of the Centre for Commercial Agricul-

ture and professor of agricultural economics, Jim Mintert, said that the webinar, called “The Changing Business Climate for Agriculture: The outlook for 2015,” is the first in a series of informational programmes this fall and winter designed to help participants better under-

stand fluctuations in commodity prices, land values and rental rates.

There will also be discussion of what moves the market, along with sound financial and farm management strategies to cope with a complex and challenging economic environment.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

37

Auto Beat

Chevrolet, Isuzu honour top Sub-Saharan Africa dealers

Paul Ogbuokiri

G

eneral Motors Africa has honoured the region’s top-performing and longest-serving dealers at an inaugural annual awards evening held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Attended by GM dealers from across Sub-Saharan Africa, the awards were presented by GM South Africa (GMSA) Vice President of Operations, Ian Nicholls, and Vice President of Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing, Brian Olson.

“It gives us great pleasure to be able to honour our best dealers from various SubSaharan Africa markets, without them, we would not have been able to grow our market share and brand presence. Their dedication to creating customers for life deserves the highest recognition,” said Olson.

Olson further said in a statement that the Top Market Share Award was presented to Zimbabwe’s Autoworld, who achieved a 14.5 per cent market share in 2013, with the Chevrolet Trailblazer leading sales. In 2014, Chevrolet and Isuzu are the most popular brands in Zimbabwe, with September year-to-date market share at 19.5 per cent.

He said the Top Sales Volume Award was presented to Angola’s Vauco, with the Chevrolet N300 and Spark being their most popular vehicles.

According to Olson, these are important achievements when one considers that the company operates in markets where used

grey import vehicles form 70-90 per cent of sales. “Many of these vehicles have not been engineered or tested for operation in the harsh conditions found on the Af-

rican continent. This exposes consumers to questionable reliability and costly repairs. Our products are designed to meet market-specific requirements and operate

safely in these tough environments. This allows us to provide a three year/ 100 000 km warranty for added peace of mind for our customers,” he said.

Road accidents kill 14 Nigerians daily –NGO

O

ut of the 400 lives lost to road accidents daily in the world, Nigeria contributes 14, the President, Coalition of NonGovernmental Organizations in Nigeria, Mr. Adenusi Patrick has said He said he was worried that Nigeria attaches little value to the lives of its citizens, that is why little is been done in the area of adequate enforcement of the Don’t Drink and Drive campaign on Nigerian roads He said the onus lies on the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in the different parks in the country to ensure that their drivers comply with the law that bans drinking before or during driving.

This is coming on the heels of the DDD Capacity Building Workshop organised

by Nigerian Breweries in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission at NB Plc headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday.

Secretary General of Yaba branch of NURTW, Chief Yakini Kareem, had called on the organisers of the workshop,

to help them acquire the alcohol testing machines for use in the parks. According to him, NURTW Lagos State Council has banned the hawking of alcohol in and around Motor Parks in the state and that ban is being fully enforced across the state.

“We also check our drivers to ensure that they don’t drink alcohol before taking to the steering. But if they drink from their homes before coming to work and manage to compose themselves, there is no way we can dictate that they took alcohol before driving, That is why we need help to acquire the machine that dictates the level of alcohol in somebody’s system.

Financial Secretary of NURTW, Mr. Ayinde Oni, said the Union agreed to the suggestion that it can acquire the machine for the parks, saying the parks were able to buy and deploy bomb dictators in their parks to save the lives of passengers from terrorist attack.

The smallest of the machines which according to Adeniusi is what the parks need is not more than N45, 000.

Meanwhile, the Unit Commander, Surulere, FRSC, Mrs. Oyeniyi Ramat said

the Commission has been engaging in series of enlightenment, park rallies and workshops to educate the drivers on the need for them to observe safe driving campaign including the DDD. Ramat who represented the Lagos sector commander, Corps Commander, Uche Umiji, said the efforts of the Commission in 2013, resulted in reduction of deaths on Nigerian roads to 15 per cent and fatality to 25 per cent.

She said that the Commission has not failed in enforcement, but noted that the agency lacks the equipment to enable it effect total coverage of all road users in the country. She said the machines the Commission uses were from the World Bank.

CRS/Sustainability Manager, NB Plc, Emete Tonukari, said the workshop is part the company’s corporate social responsibility programme, adding that would continue to improve on its engagement with FRSC in ensuring that Nigerian roads are safe.

She said the company, which is Nigeria’s number brewer started the project.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

38

Feminique

Marcus-Bello: From Cape to Cairo, still dreaming Accomplished, yet humble, Folake Macus-Bello is one woman who does not allow her achievements to becloud her sense of service, diligence and honesty. Having served her country in many capacities, including as a commissioner and an ambassador, this amazon is taking a break from politics to fulfil her dream of being an entrepreneur and an academic. In this interview with EBERE AMEH, she discloses her other plans and readiness to help the Nigerian woman succeed

T

all, elegant and vivacious, Folake MarcusBello is one woman you cannot afford to ignore.

Even in her signature low cut, she still towers above the rest in every way, yet is humble and ready to help in anyway.

As an accomplished politician she served her country with all diligence as the commissioner for women affairs and social welfare in her home state, Ogun and as the High Commissioner of Nigeria to Zambia, among other capacities, leaving indelible marks of professionalism and selfless service in her trail.

Her honesty and matter-of-fact personality has made many wonder how she was able to thrive, conquering grounds in politics.

No wonder she has voluntarily taken a break from active politics so that, according to her, “she would be able to see and say things as they are and most importantly, pursue other interests.”

“I’m taking a break because life is functional, you keep changing with the time. For now, I want to leave, to fulfil my dream of being an academic – I’m back at school pursuing my third degree. I’m also taking the break to go into entrepreneurship, coming from a long line of entrepreneurs.”

After her tenure as commisioner to Zambia, Marcus-Bello who holds a B.sc in Political Science went back to school to obtain a degree in Law and another on Peace and Conflict Studies, when others would have been cap-in-hand lobbying for positions in Abuja.

An African to the core, her dif-

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ferent jobs and positions, coupled with interest has seen her travel to many African countries and other countries across the globe and still counting. She plans to tour Africa and do a documentary on African History. Though she still wants to go for her PhD and she would subsequently do a diploma in Photography to equip her for the task ahead.

“I’ve had the opportunity of travelling and I don’t want to talk about my journey to other parts of the world. I’m a total African both in my person and my dressing and I’ve visited more African countries than I have other parts of the world.

I’ve done about 38 countries in Africa and I’m still counting. I will not rest until I do the 58.

“The fact is the history of Africa is not properly documented.

If you look at it, it is usually foreigners who write about Africa, foreigners who publish about Africa, who write our history.

Photography will further sharpen my tool to travel, write and document about my continent.”

Now back into entrepreneurship, following in the footsteps of her industrious mother, she urges the Nigerian government to look into the difficulty entrepreneurs face in accessing loans.

“It seems like foreigners are getting an upper hand in the loan structure of Nigeria. We don’t know why, and we think it should be looked into. Is it that there is something that Nigerians are not doing right or that they are not ready to go into big business? Let it be more open, easier and more accessible to Nigerians too,” Macus-Bello advised.

An ardent advocate of modesty and propriety in dressing, she totally disagrees with the recent craze for provocative dressing and the slogan, using what you have to get what you want, insisting that such women do not go far.

Her promotion of African heritage through her dressing with adire to anywhere and everywhere is a culture worth emulating. “I still do it because I want to show women that you can be simple and still be elegant. Some women that have not fed their families go all out to do asoebi of 40,000 and

I’ve visited more African countries than I have other parts of the world.

I’ve done about 38 countries in Africa and I’m still counting. I will not rest until I do the 58.

100,000 naira.

I think w o m e n should confidently live within their skins.”

Marcus-Bello She gives back to society through a lot of charity, and adoption.

She adopted a set of twins who are just six years old and say they are her bundle of joy.

“They have nobody else, we have no history of where they are coming from and they wake up every morning and they call me Mummy and I’m their world. They give me so much satisfaction and joy. For me, it’s not enough to go to church and give a 10 percent. It’s much more than that. It’s a commitment and everybody should give back in whichever way no matter how little. Of course I have pets, I love dogs but of what use is wasting one’s resources on pets when babies are homeless? I’m looking forward to those children being properly raised, having their own homes and becoming the future leaders of Nigeria.”

Though she is taking a break from active politics, she encourages women to aspire into political offices even though it is still difficult in Nigeria, promising to be there for them.

“It is difficult because you need the funding. Second, you need the support of everybody

and it is obvious that a lot of people don’t understand when women go into politics. I’ve said it several times; for a woman to go into politics here, you have to be ready for different names you will be called - a witch, a home breaker, somebody who indulges in all sorts of negative practices, name it. But I am optimistic that a time will come when women will be further appreciated.”

Macus-Bello, who advocates for independent candidature, hopes that even if the Nigerian woman can’t get into active politics, the people who are there should consider giving the women appointive positions.

“I have been a part of campaigns and I have seen that it is not easy, you have to give it your all. Women have the capacity but the position of the Nigerian woman politician is taking the dimension of racial discrimination that happens in some other countries. I’m still available for women who want to go. I’ll give them free consultancy, show them the road map, but for now I’m taking a rest to fulfil my other dreams,” the Ambassador said.

Feminique 39

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Sole proprietorship, what has that got to do with sex?

A

lot. But first let me say a very big thank you to all those who responded to last week’s poser via email and sms. The responses were overwhelming. They were as diversified and controversial as the topic itself. All the actors (man, woman and child), had their own passionate supporters club. Space would not allow me to reproduce all the various comments. But I have decided to pick two from each sector that seem to capture the viewpoints of each supporters club.

The Man View one Sir, a woman’s breasts belong to her man. In the book of Proverbs, Chapter 5, verses 18 and 19, especially verse 19, the bible admonished man to let the breasts of his wife satisfy him all the time; meaning that he owns them.

The children own the breasts only for a time and for a period, after which the ownership reverts to the man.

The woman does not own her breasts, she only keeps them in trust to satisfy her husband and her children, and in the case of the latter, the ownership is temporary; after which it becomes a taboo or an abomination for them (the

children) to go near them.

I therefore conclude that the only benefit a woman’s breasts add to her life is to enhance her beauty and probably also add to her femininity.

From the foregoing therefore, a man’s access to his wife’s breasts commences from the time such marital union is consummated till death do both part. Thanks. View two.

‘The woman is the custodian . So. she should be appreciated by the others. She is the owner of the land,(her body) but not the house(breasts) that was built on it’.(I love that) ‘Without the man and the baby to make use of the breasts, they are useless to her.

The Woman. View one.

‘The woman owns it. She is the landlady. It is her property.

She is only letting it out to the man and the baby. She can decide to allow them the use of it if they are nice and appreciative. She can also punish both of them (whether they like it or not) by withdrawing them.’

View two. Dr. Taiwo. Your article last week was thoughtful. I agree with you that a woman can use her breasts, both as a reward and for punishment. Can you do that with what does not belong to you?

Definitely not. So you men

Ebere Ameh

I

have never seen the MD in that mood before. Even after the way we parted in Abuja? To say that I was shocked at his pleas and confessions would be putting it mildly.

When I got a call from him on Monday morning to ‘come up and attend to a file’, I sensed trouble because I was almost sure there was no file. Dutifully, I went and truly, he brought a file. As he drew close to explain better, what he wanted me to do, but his closeness was becoming too close and he was getting incoherent.

‘Sir, I didn’t get what you sai...,’ but he held my hand before I could complete the statement. It was as if he had been waiting for the right moment to say why he really called me.

“Ego, why are you doing this to me? I love you much more than you can comprehend. I had longed for a day when it shall be just the both of us. Please, say yes to me. Marry me and ...” he rambled on. That word ‘marry’ hit me again like a thunderbolt and I looked up, straight in his face, ready to give him a response he would not like but good enough, he cut in.

‘My dear, you look troubled. What is the matter?,’ he asked perplexed at my demeanour. Why won’t I be troubled when he is troubling me with his yeye proposal. If I should remarry, it shouldn’t be this pot bellied married man. But he is still my boss, I have to be careful what I say.

What do I tell him now?

“Oh! it’s my dad, he had a prostrate operation and we’ve been running helter skelter to get him out of hospital.

‘Oh my! I’m so sorry about his ill health. What about your siblings?, he

should not deceive yourselves.

We women own the breasts.

I have good breasts. My husband loves them. When he misbehaves, I don’t even allow him to see them, not to talk of touching or sucking them(laugh). So women, don’t allow men to confuse us with grammar as they usually do.

The breasts are ours. Given to us by God himself. But let us use them wisely. Not for Top or Bottom power.’

The Baby. View one. Sir, the babies are the owners. Breasts are for breastfeeding. That is why, whether the breasts are small or big they still produce breast milk. I am married with four children and gave them all breast milk successfully, even though I have small breasts. My husband is an Oshodi Isale man. My breasts don’t really entice him. And me neither. Thanks.’

View two. ‘You men sef. The baby owns the breast. Do you men need the breast milk?

Both men and women only use the breast as a sex tool. Not for the purpose designed by God. Sir, I enjoy your articles about sex education. Thank you’ Interesting, aren’t they?

Now to the headline. Sex and relationship is not about sole ownership. It is about shar-

Sex and relationship is not about sole ownership. It is about sharing. It is all about give and take. That is the only way the relationship can be fulfilling.

Fadeyi

ing. It is all about give and take. That is the only way the relationship can be fulfilling. So We All Own The Breast.

See you next week.

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@ gmail.com or 08114483395 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom Help! I have fallen for Daniel

asked, looking rather worried.

‘It’s just the two of us, my younger sister who is in her final year in the university and I. ‘You should have told me.

Please give me a minute,’ he said and dashed towards his drawer.

Thank God, I’ve been able to distract him by changing the topic. Let me run out before he starts his pleas again. ‘Sir, I will look at the file and get back to you,’ I said making towards the door.

‘No, hold on a minute,’ he said and handed a cheque of N300,000 to me. ‘Sir, for? I I didn’t .....’

‘Shhh’ , he motioned with his index finger on his lips. ‘Please, do take good care of him,’ he whispered in my ears. A knock on the door made him leave me and scamper for his seat. Thank God for that knock, I left as soon as Joy, his secretary entered.

Have I made a mistake collecting the cheque? But I didn’t beg him. Does he want to use money as a bait for me? That would be a big mistake. I have entangled myself, I thought as I drove home.

Mummy! mummy! Tosin shouts tugging at my skirt. ‘We

have finished our homework. Uncle Daniel helped us,’ Tobi was too busy ransacking my bag to say a word.

‘Daniel? Is he around?’ I asked Tosin who has ran after Tobi to share the muffins I bought on my way.

‘You didn’t tell me you were coming,’ I queried heartily when I saw Daniel at the porch, reclining on the rocking chair. ‘Where did you park your car?’

‘Aren’t you asking too many questions?, welcome me first,’ he said as he stood up to meet me. ‘Who should welcome the other? I’m just coming in,’ I said smiling.

The ray of the setting sun beamed on him, showing his masculine features, his greying beard sparkled.

In a twinkle of an eye, Daniel swept me off my feet, carrying me straight to the sofa in the living room, in an unexpected but special welcome. My scream would have created a scene had anybody been around. ‘You asked for it, you got it,’ he said as we landed on the sofa together, laughing excitedly.

Suddenly he became solemn, holding me to his chest, confessing how much he missed me, how he has found a great friend in me. ‘I missed you Ego. I couldn’t wait till Sunday before I saw you again,’ he said, looking into my eye, with his hands on both my cheeks. He lowered his face, his mouth close to mine but retreated, apologising.

‘You don’t have to apologise,’ I said, grabbing his cheeks as we got locked up in a long and classic French kiss. ‘I love you Daniel and I missed you too,’ I said as I held him even more tightly. Stroking my hair, he lowered his chin on my head and we gisted until the children knocked.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

40

Islam UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Conversion to Islam and getting married to a Muslim Woman

E XH O R T A T I O N

07 Muharram 1436 AH

“And your Lord has decreed that you should not worship any god except Him, and enjoined Man goodness (Ihsan) to his parents. Whether one or both of them (parents) reach old age [while] with you, say no harsh words to them and do not repel them but speak to them a noble word.” QURAN 17:23

Muslim leader, cleric renew calls for Hijra public holiday

QUESTION I want to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim woman: What do I 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 convert 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 neighbour 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.

That being said, you should not let the fear of your parents’ disapproval of your becoming a Muslim, and of eventually marrying a Muslim woman and settling down with a family of your own that is Muslim and openly act upon the tenets of Islam in a Muslim-majority country, keep you back from actually doing both these things openly.

It will not always be easy for you after becoming a Muslim. Many convert to Islam naively assume that once they become Muslim, their life will be all rosy and happy. That is not always the case.

TO BE CONTINUED

(Sitting L-R) Operations Manager, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Mallam Ma’aruf Ahmed, Executive Director, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, with a group of Zakat beneficiaries in Lagos... yesterday

NEW PARADIGM National President, IPAN has said that Hijra has gone beyond place to place migration Adeola Yusuf

A

Muslim leader and a cleric have thrown their weight behind calls by Muslim Public Affairs Convention (MPAC) for the federal government to declare every first day of Islamic calendar as a public holiday.

Asiwaju Muslumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Khamis Olatunde Badmus and the Spiritual

Head, SALAM Praying Centre, Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Adeboyega Lawal said at different fora to commemorate Hijra 1436 that this should be done in line with the spirit of justice and fairness.

Badmus said in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Dawood Ajetunmobi, that the Federal Government should emulate the government of the State of Osun in declaring Muharram 1st as public holiday.

His view was echoed by Sheikh Rahman-Lawal who described Hijra as one of the greatest landmarks in the history of Islam, “as it raises people’s conscience to see clearly that Islam is the way of life, which pays attention to and re-

forms every facets of human existence.”

Rahman-Lawal who is also the National President, Islamic Progressives Association of Nigeria (IPAN) stated this in a lecture to mark Hijra1436 A.H. in Ibadan, Oyo state.

He said: “Today, Hijra may not refer to mere migration from one place to another, but to any migration that strikes off on a new path and allows one to become a better person.

Hijra is a process of transfer to a better situation, so Hijra should be in every ramifications of our lives.”

The Prophet Muhammed (SAW) was, according to him, persecuted by the Mecca chiefs and he migrated by divine instruction to Medinah, where

he established Islamic Ummah where the Prophet (SAW) dispensed justice among his companions in accordance with the rule of the Quran and Prophetic Sunnah.

Sheikh Rahma-Lawal added that Hijrah also marks the time when Islam as an Ideology was transformed from idea to practice-in terms of Da’wah mission (spread of Islam by inviting others to Islam, to the position of global power with a strong brotherhood world-wide.

According to the Islamic preacher, Hijra is a search for an environment more favourable to continuous and constructive efforts towards achieving a better life. Hence, after, reaching Medinah, the Prophet undertook an all-embracing process to establish a faithful and strong society, this being a significant aspect and important lesson to learn from Hijra.

Meanwhile, Badmus commended the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for sustaining the declaration of Muharram first as public holiday for the Muslim populace to celebrate the new year just as January 1 is declared as public holiday for the Christian folks.

Recalling that Islam has been in existence for the past 1,436 years and Muslims have been using Hijrah Calendar since then in line with the injunction of Allah as stated in the holy Quran, he added that the significance of the Hijrah celebration does not lie in the physical relocation from one place to another as the name connotes but a renewal of dedication in the service of almighty Allah.

Abia pilgrims chair decries FG’s imbalance in Hajj allocation Kunle Olayeni

T

he chairman, Abia State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Suleman Ukandu, has urged the federal government to review the allocation of Hajj slots to states in the country.

He said that the imbalance in the current allocation to each of the 36 states of the federation was unjust and not equitable.

Ukandu, who is also the National Publicity Secretary of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), made the appeal in an

interview with New Telegraph in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Although Ukandu commended the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for recording substantial improvements in handling the country’s preparation for the annual holy pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, he expressed dissatisfaction with the distribution of slots.

According to him, the current quota system for the Hajj exercise was inimical to the interest of states in the Southern part of the country.

He said, “Nigeria is a federal system, we are not oper-

ating subordinate units. What we are operating is coordinating units and each tier of government has its own power granted by the constitution and it is assumed that there is equality of states in the Nigerian context.

“The allocation has been marred by irregularities, suppression and cheating; where a local government in Kano will be having 1,000 pilgrims, a state in the entire South East and South-South made up together will not boast of 2000 pilgrims. The entire South as a whole does not have up to 8,000 pilgrims out of the 66,000 con-

ventional seats allocated.

“When we are saying this, it’s because we are mindful of the federal structure. We want to straighten the structural institution of governance in Nigeria.

“So, our recommendation is that the issue of allocation of slots must be reviewed and all the states concerned should sit together and come up with equitable measure.”

Ukandu lauded the strategies employed by the federal government to combat the dreaded Ebola virus disease which enabled Nigerian pilgrims to participate in this year’s Hajj.

l

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

41

Crime

Arraignment of dogs: Lawyers differ on law Juliana Francis

T

here’s nothing new in owners of dogs that kill or mauled victims being arraigned in court, especially in other climes.

Nigeria may, however soon become, the first country where dogs that attack, and inflict bodily harm would be charged to court instead of their owner.

Indeed, in the USA, a couple that owned two dogs that killed 46-year-old jogger, Craig Sytsma was charged to court.

Prosecutors filed second-degree murder charges against the couple.

The dogs fatally mauled jogger in rural Michigan. Lapeer County Prosecutor Tim Turkelson issued the warrants against 45-year-old Sebastiano Quagliata and 44-year-old Valbona Lucaj.

The couple was also charged with possessing a dangerous animal causing death. Craig Sytsma, of Livonia, was brutally mauled on July 23.

In October, 21, 2014, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, paraded two dogs- Jack and Gadaffi- which attacked a four-yearold boy.

The Police boss also vowed to charge the dogs to court. This declaration generated a lot of discussions in many circles. Many people asked if dogs could be charged to court. Others openly scoffed at the idea, stressing that even developed countries had never charged a dog to court before.

The four-year-old victim, Omonigho Abraham, almost died after his scalp was eaten by two Alsatian dogs on September 25.

The dogs chewed the skin and exposed the victim’s skull during the attack which happened at Adegboyega Street, Akesan Estate, in the Igando area of Lagos. The dogs were said to have dragged the boy through the compound for more than one hour while policemen and sympathisers watched helplessly at the entrance of the house, fearful that the dogs might turn on them if they attempted to res-

Kayode Aderanti, Lagos CP

The dogs, Jack and Gadaffi

cue the boy.

The police later arrested the two dogs. The victim’s elder brother, Osemudiamen, who witnessed the attack of his brother, said that they were riding bicycles in the compound when Jack and Gadaffi started barking at them.

Osemudiamen said: “My elder brother and I quickly ran upstairs and locked the door while Omo (Omonigho), who could not run fast, was left behind. When he got to the door, he knocked that we should open for him and as we did, one of the dogs forced his way into the house with him. We all ran out. Bobby jumped down from upstairs and I also jumped. But Omo could not jump, so the dogs attacked him.”

Presently, Omonigho is still battling to stay alive at the hospital.

Lawyers who spoke on the likelihood of dogs being charged to court described it as a novelty idea, while another said it was nothing new.

Barrister Gerald Abonyi said:

The victim, Omonigho Abraham

“Such law has been in existence. Dogs, man-eating lions can be charged to court. The direction of human rights has gone beyond only human rights.

There are also animal rights now. The universal declaration of human right

CRIME QUOTE

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

“He soon began to threaten me with a knife to have sex with him and when I refused, he brought out his gun, warning that he would kill me if I shouted. Then he began to rape me every night …

I had never had sex before; it was very painful and I cried bitterly because I was bleeding afterwards.”

15-year-old Boko Haram victim

sand the additional protocols of 1966 and 1967 have gone beyond protection of only human rights.”

Abonyi said that the rights of animals had been recognised as existing rights under international law. He said that the culpability of the dogs had to be ascertained and this could be done in court once they were arraigned.

The lawyer further explained that the court will also try to find out if the owner of the dogs negligently allowed them loose to cause harm to others.

“The law has a way to deal with such owners,” said Abonyi. “If it’s found out that those dogs used to be pets and something happened on that day that made them to be erratic on that day, then it will be determined in court. The dogs would be arraigned and circumstances will determine what transpired on that day.

“You don’t just put a dog down.

If they’re found culpable, the court will make a judgement. They can be taken away from that environment and quarantined in a proper environment where dogs are kept. The court can also arrive at a conclusion that the dogs are vicious or that they are no longer fit to be kept in a human environment. The court can make an order for the dogs to be put to sleep.

Mind the language. The language is put dogs to sleep. It means to kill them.

There is a procedure to putting dogs to sleep. You must follow international best practices. You don’t just line up a dog and shoot it. No! The dogs are entitled to legal defence.

“The court can’t go ahead to pronounce those dogs guilty or not without a proper legal representation. If the court did not get a legal represenC O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

42

Crime

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Dog taken to court in Spain

The 3rd Eye The strategic insights of Boko Haram & assessment (2) Ethelbert Oney Continued from last Friday

T

Omonigho before and after attack C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

I don’t know how dogs would be charged to court and how the charges would be read to the dogs. And I don’t know how the dogs will respond when they are asked whether they are guilty or not guilty

tation for the dogs, it would be a mistrial. Those dogs must be properly defended by legal counsel in a court of law.”

The barrister explained that the owner of the dogs would be called to testify and the court would seek expert opinion in the matter.

“The expert opinion will be a veterinary doctor, who will determine the state of the dog. The court will determine the circumstances surrounding that attack, attempting to find out things like; did the child provoke the dogs?

Are the dogs allergic to something that the kids did? Were the dogs starved of food? All these would be taken into consideration to determine the state of the dogs.”

Another lawyer, Titus Eze said he had never heard of dogs being charged to court, describing it as a novelty.

“I’ve not heard of it, not just in Nigeria, but anywhere in the world,” said Eze. “Can the plea of

the dogs be taken? I don’t know how dogs would be charged to court and how the charges would be read to the dogs. And I don’t know how the dogs will respond when they are asked whether they are guilty or not guilty.

“I don’t know what law the police are going to charge the dogs with. It’s strange. If you take someone to court, the charges will be read. If it’s High Court, they’ll ask the person, guilty or not guilty? If the person is taken to a Magistrate’s Court, he would be asked if he wants to appeal in the High Court or not. The person will be given options. The charges will be read and the person will be asked if he understands the charges.

But for a dog, I don’t know how it will respond to a charge after it has been read.”

Mr. Emeka Ngige, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), also said that he had never heard of such an occurrence.

Ngige believes that Aderanti meant something else, not that the dogs would be arraigned as many Nigerians thought.

Ngige said: “I don’t think it’s charging the dogs to court that the CP meant. I believe he meant getting an order to put the dogs out of circulation. If they just shoot and kill the dogs, the owner may pick offence. They can get a court order for the dogs to be killed.

“We have a law on animals, but I can’t cite it off-hand now.

It’s like in Spain, where a nurse contracted the Ebola virus. The nurse had a pet dog living with her. When the woman was quarantined, they told the woman and husband to sign a paper so that the dog could be killed. The couple refused, saying the dog was very dear to them. The dog was finally taken to court, where an order was given for the dog to be killed.

“The dog was killed. It was done for the safety of people. I think that’s what the CP had in mind, not that he wants to charge the dogs to court, where counsels will argue. The police just need an order to eliminate that dog. There’s no precedent I know where a dog had been charged to court.”

Owners of dogs that killed, sentenced

D

iane Alexis Whipple (January 21, 1968 – January 26, 2001) was a lacrosse player and coach, who is best known as the victim of a fatal dog attack in San Francisco in January 2001. The dogs involved were two Presa Canario dogs named Bane (male) and Hera (female), owned by neighbours living in the same apartment building.

On January 26, 2001, after returning home with bags of groceries, Whipple was attacked by two large dogs in the hallway of her apartment building. The dogs, named Bane and Hera, were owned by neighbours Marjorie Knoller and her husband, Robert Noel.

Just prior to the attack, Knol-

ler was taking the dogs up to the roof; Bane – and possibly Hera – attacked Whipple in the hallway. Whipple suffered a total of 77 wounds to every part of her body except her scalp and bottoms of her feet. Another neighbour called 911 after hearing Whipple’s screams. Whipple died hours later at hospital from “loss of blood from multiple traumatic injuries (dog bite wounds).”

Bane was euthanised immediately after the attack; Hera was seized and later euthanized in January 2002.

In March 2001, a grand jury indicted Knoller and Noel. Knoller was indicted for second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter, Noel was indicted for involuntary manslaughter, and “both also faced felony charges

of keeping a mischievous dog.”

At trial, Knoller argued that she had attempted to defend Whipple during the attack.

However, witnesses testified that Knoller and Noel had repeatedly refused to control the dogs; a professional dog walker testified that, after she told Noel to muzzle his dogs, he told her to “shut up” and called her offensive names.

The jury found both Noel and Knoller guilty of involuntary manslaughter and owning a mischievous animal that caused the death of a human being, and found Knoller guilty of seconddegree murder. Their convictions were based on the argument that they knew the dogs were aggressive towards other people and that they did not take sufficient precautions. Whether they had

actually trained the dogs to attack and fight remained unclear.

On appeal, Knoller was awarded a new trial on the seconddegree murder count, based on the ruling that “implied malice” requires a defendant to “subjectively know that his or her conduct had a high probability of resulting in death.”

As of early 2004, both Knoller and Noel had served their terms for the manslaughter conviction and Knoller was out on bail while her conviction was under appeal. In May 2005, the Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s call for a new trial on the second degree murder count, and Knoller appealed to the California Supreme Court.

Culled from Wikipedia

his can help in dealing with both the root causes and motivations at the same time. The reason this preventive strategy is very imperative is that it can be used to stop this group from further violence against innocent citizens. This transition should require an institutional and cultural attitude that will be nurtured and embraced by both parties by effectively mitigating the symptoms of radicalization and recruitment through brainwashing.

The second strategy, persuasion should aim to delegitimize and discredit Boko Haram organization and sponsors by eliminating the logistical and financial support base they use to muster their capabilities and reach. When a country is faced with threats such as we now do, it is necessary to exhaust all counterterrorism options available before engaging the military. Concession or peace process in reality is a complex counter-terrorism mechanism, which had rarely and effectively worked as expected with the exception of the IRA under the Tony Blair administration in Britain and Colombia.

The third strategy denial, is a core consideration if properly employed through a complementary process relying on effective counterterrorism strategy, while maintaining certain inalienable freedoms.

Denial is the quintessential dimension for counter-terrorism operation. It serves to harden as many potential targets as possible, interrupt terrorist financial and logistical support, and disrupt terrorists’ operational networks through effective cooperation and security operative’s visibility.

The final strategy, coordination, involves the coordination of the various intelligence and security services as they target to combat Boko Haram, as well as synchronization and reconstruction efforts at all levels.

This strategy is the culmination of tying together the tactics of counter-terrorism with the tools of lasting solution. Peace process or concession should be in our agenda because our intelligence gathering capabilities, threat assessment and our counter- terrorism methodologies, have made less progress than anticipated. They have moved towards nationalist terrorist agenda by taken over few areas in the Northeast.

• Ethelbert Oney is an Intelligence & Security Expert ethelbertoney@zissltd.com (08067764342 SMS only)

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

43

How to tackle threats to economy, by Rewane AMCON redeems N866bn bonds today

OIL LEAKAGE Government should intensify efforts to prevent oil leakages and pipeline vandalism

desire for an expansionary interest rate policy to boost growth, he said that it may not be prudent to adopt such a policy at this critical time.

Furthermore, he said the fiscal policy on the other hand, would have limited impact in curbing economic risks.

However, he said the government can intensify efforts to prevent oil leakages and pipeline vandalism. This according to him, will help increase the country‘s oil production, thereby minimising the impact of falling oil prices on revenues and external reserves.

Consequently, he said that the government should also intensify efforts at strengthening the non-oil sector while pending developments in the agriculture and power sectors should be carefully analysed to determine the way forward.

Besides, he said there should be better collaboration of national and regional governments in tackling the Boko Haram menace, since crimes are perpetrated through interstate and country borders.

Nigeria‘s economic indicators he inisited, have remained positive and relatively stable so far in 2014. However, the threats of increased risks from excess market liquidity, decreasing oil prices, changes in global monetary policies and security unrest may affect the stability of some economic variables.

Godson Ikoro

I

n a bid to tackle the threats to the Nigerian economy, the Federal Government should maintain the current its restrictive stance, prevent leakages in oil production and strengthen the non-oil sector, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Financial Derivative Company (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane has advised.

The Nigerian economy is faced with persistent threats from excess liquidity in the money market, decreasing oil prices, changes in global monetary policy and security unrest. Specifically, the direction of oil prices, which have collapsed about 25 percent since June, still remains unclear.

Rewane, who made this call in his FDC bimonthly bulletin, argued that the CBN‘s monetary policy will be a very useful tool in managing the risks to the exchange rate and inflation.

According to him, the current restrictive policy stance has been effective so far in achieving the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) objectives.

Although there is a strong

“We expect the CBN to continue to pursue a contractionary monetary policy, which will help in mitigating the risks to inflation and the exchange rate.

The Government should also intensify efforts at preventing leakages in oil production as well as strengthening the nonoil sector in order to boost revenues”, he advised.

On the security, he said,

Union Bank posts N8.3bn Q3 PAT

U

nion Bank of Nigeria Plc yesterday posted a profit before tax of N8.3billion in its nine months unaudited Group and Bank financial results for period ended 30 September 2014.

A statement from the bank stated that the PBT rose 22.06 per cent over the N6.8billion posted for the corresponding period of in 2013.

According to the result, which was prepared on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the profit after tax also increased by the 6. 6 per cent to N 8.1 billion from the N7.6billion recorded for the corresponding period in 2013.

Commenting on the Bank’s third quarter activities, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Union Bank, Emeka Emuwa, said: “Our third

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Sabiu Mustapha

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

Jalingo

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

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

quarter activities were focused on continuing and consolidating our transformation efforts to ensure we maintain strategic focus in key areas and deliver operating results according to plan. Building upon the transformation work already in progress over the past 18 months, we have hired a transformation director to institutionalise and lead the Bank’s Transformation Management Office, which coordinates, centralises and tracks transformation workgroups to ensure transformation achievements are embedded and delivered. The bank continues to rebuild its retail business and we have hired senior product specialists to strengthen our retail offering to compete in today’s marketplace. The launch of our “Unionfacts” advertising campaign in September signals confidence in our enhanced retail offering, technology platforms and processes and our ability to deliver and meet customer needs. We will continue to invest in our people and platforms with a view to delivering innovation and superior service in the short to medium term.”

Also commenting on the

bank’s financial performance, Other highlights of the result showed that gross earnings, N74.8billion (N79.9billion Q3 2013), interest income, N56.2billion (N60.6billion Q3 2013) while net interest income N38.4billion (N44.4 billion Q3 2013).

The net operating income N52.7billion (N51.3billion Q3 2013) while the operating expenses was N43.8 billion (N48.3 billion Q3 2013).

The group result also showed that the loans and advances to customers (net): N276.98 billion (up 42 percent from N194.97 billion Sept 2013; N229.54 billion December 2013).

The customer deposits was N503.0billion compared with N482.7 billion December 2013, total assets: N979.1 billion (N971.7billion Sep 2013; N1.003trillion December 2013) while shareholders’ equity was N195.7billion (and N192.2billion December 2013).

The bank’s net interest margin 7.81per cent, loan/deposit ratio: 60.2per cent, while the non-performing ratio stood at 5.8 per cent, return on earnings was 5.4 per cent.

Small-scale enterprises in Taraba get N2bn CBN loan

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

that the crisis can also be better managed through greater collaboration of national and regional governments.

On the inflationary trend, he said the inflation rate declined to 8.3per cent in September 2014 after six consecutive months of increase, adding that the moderation in inflation may be attributed partly to an increase in food supply from the harvest

season.

In addition, he said the decline in most global commodity prices has helped to curtail imported inflation, stressing that while global commodity prices remains low for the rest of the year, a downward trend in inflation may be distorted by a growth in money supply as the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) writes off N866billion in bonds today.

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted N2billion loan to various individuals operating Micro, Small or Medium enterprises in Taraba State.

The loan was shared to beneficiaries through the Taraba Microfinance Bank Ltd. While flagging-off the disbursement of cheque to deserving beneficiaries in Jalingo, the state Acting Governor Alhaji Garba Umar, commended the effort of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for initiating the programme. ‘’ I congratulate Mr. President Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his Economic Empowerment Vision and for creating enabling environment upon, which CBN was able to launch this scheme’’ he said.

“This scheme was launched as part of the transformation of Mr. President by supporting

State Governments in assisting the poor, especially women and rural dwellers to obtain the much desired capital to boost Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, which will in the long run improve the grassroot economy and create wealth’’ he added.

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (MSMEDF) is an intervention scheme initiated in 2013 by President Jonathan through the CBN with the broad objective of channeling long-term low interest funds to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector of the Nigerian economy.

The loan is classified into Micro, SMEs with maximum amount of N500,000.00 and N5,000,000.00 to be accessed respectively and of which 60 percent of the fund is allocated to women and 40 percent to men.

Under the scheme, each state government including FCT is allowed to access up to a billion through Microfinance Banks for onward lending to boost economic activities in various states of the federation.

Business | Financial Market News

44

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

30-Oct-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)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

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

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

0.48 1.80 2.49 2.74 2.84 3.58 4.66 4.98 7.24 9.37 14.08 14.56 15.06 15.73 19.72

11.02 12.32 12.56 12.65 12.65 12.70 12.70 12.76 12.65 12.63 12.75 12.76 12.77 12.70 12.71

10.68 12.22 12.49 12.58 12.58 12.59 12.62 12.66 12.59 12.58 12.71 12.71 12.72 12.65 12.67

96.79 101.10 105.30 93.65 92.30 94.37 111.30 79.24 117.35 108.45 114.54 98.21 71.71 81.75 95.90

96.94 101.25 105.45 93.80 92.45 94.67 111.60 79.54 117.65 108.75 114.84 98.51 72.01 82.05 96.20

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,675.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,638.83

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.00 0.56 1.30 2.11 2.47 2.68

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.95 13.70 14.12 14.49 13.62 13.64

99.97 92.75 103.77 100.98 98.56 95.80

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.84 0.68 0.96 0.97 2.47 1.52 3.17 2.34 3.93 2.34 2.34 2.72 2.98 5.06 2.95 3.50 6.08 6.17 3.65 3.68

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

15.79 14.41 15.94 14.96 18.21 13.07 14.46 14.38 13.72 13.58 17.36 13.65 13.66 13.76 15.40 13.69 13.72 14.65 14.14 14.65

97.47 99.57 98.60 101.02 84.21 101.24 98.81 99.40 100.80 101.99 93.84 101.90 104.36 102.63 98.58 102.82 99.10 101.32 101.11 101.08

18-Dec-14 31-Dec-14 17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24

0.13 0.17 0.56 0.63 0.71 1.92 1.99 2.92 1.73 1.94 2.11 2.11 3.90 2.22 2.30 3.17 6.04 9.92 9.92

5.21 8.71 4.88 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.35 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76 1.00 1.00

16.32 19.86 15.94 12.13 13.85 13.39 13.79 13.66 14.13 15.89 17.69 17.55 14.07 14.82 18.67 14.83 15.48 13.65 13.65

99.52 99.35 97.40 100.35 100.79 99.33 100.78 98.43 107.11 100.31 100.80 101.81 99.77 101.72 97.34 102.87 99.10 86.88 97.84

11-Feb-18

3.29

1.00

13.68

91.00

Bid Price

Offer Price

Agency Bonds AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 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

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,295.96

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 16.23 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.18 464.12

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto BB+/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR

GTB NGC

µ

*UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA # *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS # *DANA NAHCO STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

18-Dec-09 01-Apr-10 17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

13.50 17.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 16.00 15.25 N/A 13.25

13.17 2.00 3.61 13.62 0.60 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.73 6.30 2.90 0.80 35.00 2.40 0.41 4.50 2.05 0.10 15.44

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

143.50

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

IFC

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

12.00 10.92

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

5.19

5.03

108.24

109.08

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.33

4.10

102.69

103.48

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.51

5.39

105.92

106.75

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,584.23

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

8.61

8.61

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

4.09

4.09

105.04

105.04

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.55

6.55

101.72

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

9.08

8.55

93.50

95.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.17

5.87

99.41

100.45

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

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

9.21

8.84

98.32

99.65

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.10

8.10

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

8.19

8.19

92.60

92.60

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

9.13

8.91

100.75

101.88

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

8.20

8.20

97.95

97.95

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.43

8.23

100.57

101.61

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,750.89

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 56 63

FIXINGS Maturity 6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15

Bid Discount (%) 10.60 10.65 10.35 10.70 10.50 10.80 10.80 10.95

Offer Discount (%) 10.35 10.40 10.10 10.45 10.25 10.55 10.55 10.70

Bid Yield (%) 10.62 10.69 10.41 10.79 10.61 10.94 10.98 11.16

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.4750 12.5347 13.3235 14.1003

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.25

O/N Tenor Call 1M

10.50

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 12.01

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

165.50 165.59 165.85 166.50 167.63 168.80

165.60 165.82 166.16 167.11 168.70 170.43

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

28-Dec-11 24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

(Yrs)

Premium (%)

Yield (%)

Price

0.00 0.56 1.30 2.11 2.47 2.68

1.00 2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

11.95 13.70 14.12 14.49 13.62 13.64

99.97 92.75 103.77 100.98 98.56 95.80

Agency Bonds 0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) 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

AMCON FMBN

NA

***LCRM

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,301.32

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,295.96

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

31-Oct-14 24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

Business | Financial Market News

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 17.00 16.00 15.25 N/A 13.25

14-Aug-14

8.75

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 16.23 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.84 0.68 0.96 0.97 2.47 1.52 3.17 2.34 3.93 2.34 2.34 2.72 2.98 5.06 2.95 3.50 6.08 6.17 3.65 3.68

15.00 5.53 20.00 0.73 6.30 2.90 0.80 35.00 2.40 0.41 4.50 2.05 0.10 15.44

29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24

1.92 1.99 2.92 1.73 1.94 2.11 2.11 3.90 2.22 2.30 3.17 6.04 9.92 9.92

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.43

45

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

15.79 14.41 15.94 14.96 18.21 13.07 14.46 14.38 13.72 13.58 17.36 13.65 13.66 13.76 15.40 13.69 13.72 14.65 14.14 14.65

97.47 99.57 98.60 101.02 84.21 101.24 98.81 99.40 100.80 101.99 93.84 101.90 104.36 102.63 98.58 102.82 99.10 101.32 101.11 101.08

1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 3.48 5.20 5.06 1.35 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76 1.00 1.00

13.39 13.79 13.66 14.13 15.89 17.69 17.55 14.07 14.82 18.67 14.83 15.48 13.65 13.65

99.33 100.78 98.43 107.11 100.31 100.80 101.81 99.77 101.72 97.34 102.87 99.10 86.88 97.84

8.23

100.57

101.61

Expert to business leaders: Embrace sustainability Stories by Chris Ugwu

D

irector, Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility at the Cranfield School of Management, Cranfeild University, Professor David Grayson, has called on business leaders in Nigeria to begin TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE to integrate sustainability to TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION their corporate strategies.

Corporate Bonds Grayson made this call while Aa/Agusto GTB speaking on the challenges and NGC Nil opportunities of running susBbb-/Agusto *UPDC tainable business *FLOURMILLS in emerging A-/Agusto BB+/GCR markets yesterday *CHELLARAMS at FirstBank µ

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR BBB+/DataPro†; BB+/GCR A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR BBB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR

NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA # *TOWER# *TOWER#

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

International Sustainability Conference held at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.

He noted that investors, customers and others are demanding sustainability, as a condition for determining whether or not they wish to do business with a particular organisation.

He said despite operating challenges, a number of business leaders across the globe are championing new thinking 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 of creating learning to become 17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 major catalysts for change in 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 their12.00 industry sectors FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015so as to pave14.00 theCHELLARAMS way for a06-JAN-2016 just and more 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

Seven-Up joins high priced stocks

T

UBA

he Nigerian *LA Stock Ex- Plc, Guinness Plc, Mobil CASERA *CHELLARAMS change (NSE) yester- Plc, Nestle Plc, Nigerian *DANA day included Seven- Breweries Plc, SIM Capital NAHCO Up Bottling Company Plc Fund, Skye Shelter Fund, STANBIC IBTC to the league of high priced Nigerian Energy Sector STANBIC IBTC TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE stocks.

Fund (NESF) and Total Plc. TOTAL CAPITALISATION TheMARKET Exchange’s Head of To date, the nine initial Market Surveillance, Mr. stocks have remained in Supranational Bond Abimbola Babalola the programme and three 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC stated that analysis of the others have joined. Lafarge TOTAL the OUTSTANDING VALUE trading activities of Seven- Africa Plc became the 10th TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Up indicated that in the last stock on the programme Rating/Agencythe company Issuer while Seplat Petroleum Description six months has met the criteria set by Development Company Plc FGN Eurobonds the Exchange and thus has and Forte Oil Plc became JAN 28, in 2021 BB-/Fitch;included B+/S&P been among the the 11th and 12th6.75 stocks the programme. Thus, SevHigh BB-/Fitch;Priced Stocks.

FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 BB-/S&P In 2012, with the roll en-Up will be the 13th stock BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 out of market making, the to join the programme.”

BB-/S&P NSE pilot proHead, Market OperaTOTALintroduced OUTSTANDINGaVALUE gramme under which stock- tions of The NSE, Mr. Ade TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION brokers could move prices Ewuosho, explained that Corporate of High Eurobonds Priced Stocks with in “the past, to move the B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I FEB 01, 2016 10,000 shares. price of any stock11.50 upwards B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I MAY 19, 2016 According to Mr.GTBANK Babalola, or downwards, 7.50brokers B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 “these high priced stocks are needed to have a volume of B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 6.88 MAY 09, 2018 50,000 shares and above. securities that have traded B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 6.00 NOV 08, 2018 an average of N100AFREN or more Effective November B/Fitch PLC II 10.25 APR 08, 3, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH 6.25 will APR 22,be 2019 per share in four out ofBANK thePLC 2014, stockbrokers B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC May 21, of 2019 last six months period. able to move the8.75 price B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 The pilot programme Seven-UP, in addition to the B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 began with nineACCESS stocks, existing high priced stocks, B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC II 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 namely, Dangote Cement with 10,000 shares”.

FIRST BANK LTD B-/Fitch; B/S&P 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 #

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

strengthening communities and promoting environmental sustainability across the nation and the world at large.

“This is consistent with our belief in banking that serves the common good. Our corporate responsibility and sustainability investments have always been devoted to forging partnerships with people and institutions at 471.18 the vantage position of finding 464.12 lasting solutions to the economic, social and environmental is13.17 18-Dec-14 0.13 sues facing people and commu2.00 31-Dec-14 0.17 nities,” Onasanya said.

3.61 17-Aug-15 0.56 He highlighted the bank’s 13.62 09-Dec-15 0.63 0.60 06-Jan-16 0.71 partnerships with the United

sustainable world.

Grayson also called on the authorities to create enabling environment for business sustainability through intervention and incentives to business establishments in the country.

Group Managing Director/ CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, noted that for more than a century and two decades, the bank has been at the forefront of driving national economic 18-Dec-09 growth, empowering13.50 people, 01-Apr-10 17.00 expanding educational 17-Aug-10 10.00opportunities and learning,12.00 improv09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 14.00 ing healthcare and wellbeing,

Nations Global Compact and the Nigeria Sustainable Banking Practices led by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as typical examples of its measurable longterm commitments to ensuring a better world, for this generation and succeeding generations.

“In furtherance of our bank’s position as a sustainability thought leader, the FirstBank Sustainability Centre in partnership with the Lagos Business School, serves as a fulcrum for 5.21 16.32 99.52 knowledge creation, knowledge 8.71 19.86 99.35 dissemination and knowledge 4.88 15.94 97.40 application on sustainability 1.00 12.13 100.35 2.63 issues,” 13.85 related he said. 100.79

Skye Bank’s profit drops by 15%

S

kye Bank Plc has record- during the corresponding pe- to N30.877 billion in 2013. ed 15.3 per cent decline riod in 2013, representing a “Our half year 2014 rein its pre-tax profit for the marginal growth of 1.3 per sults showed moderate imthird quarter ended Sep- cent. provement in the various tember 30, 2014.

Similarly, the bank’s performance indices. The In a filing with the Nige- total liabilities including cautious growth of our rian Stock Exchange (NSE), deposits grew to N1.016 business lines coupled with 144.16 trillion during the review the bank’s profit before tax a continuous improvement 143.50 period from N996.221 bildropped from N14.562 billion in our operational processes in 2013 to N12.333 billion in lion the previous year, an and enhanced efficiency are 2014, indicating of 1.9 per cent. signposts to a promising 11-Feb-13 10.20 a fall of 15.3 12.00 increase 11-Feb-18 3.29 1.00 13.68 91.00end per cent.

In the International Fito the financial year.

12.00 The bank’s gross earn“With gross earnings of 10.92 nancial Reporting Standards ings also declined by 4.8 per (IFRS) compliant result sub- N63.9 billion, we reduced Outstanding Value Issuecent Date to N17.126 Coupon billion (%) Date Bid Yield yes(%) Offerour Yield (%) Bid Price mittedMaturity at the Exchange from interest expenseOffer byPrice 24% ($mm) N102.044 billion recorded a terday, the bank attributed year-on-year to close at N20.7 Prices & Yields year earlier. the growth in its total assets billion compared to N27.2 bil07-Oct-11Skye Bank 6.75 500.00 to its various 28-Jan-21business 5.19 5.03 as at 108.24 had reported devel- lion June 2013, 109.08 in line that its profit before tax opment12-Jul-18 activities in diverse with our operational strate12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 4.33 4.10 102.69 103.48 gy of increasing the volume dropped to N7.266 billion in sectors of the economy.

12-Jul-13 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.51 5.39 low cost 105.92 the half year6.38 ended June 30, Explaining the reasons of funds in 106.75 our de2014, as against N10.545 1,500.00 bil- for the decline in its profit, posit portfolio. lion during the correspond“Our loan impairment 1,584.23 the bank attributed the deing period in 2013. velopment to its aggressive charge increased by 100% Profit after tax also de- approach to loan provision- year-on-year to N5.0 billion; 01-Feb-11 11.50 01-Feb-16 8.61 103.30 103.30 creased to N5.786 billion 450.00 as ing in the earlier part8.61 of the being a deliberate policy of 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 4.09 4.09 105.04 105.04 against N8.428 billion the year (an increase of 100 per aggressive provisioning early 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 6.55 6.55 101.72 101.72 previous year. cent to02-May-18 N5.010 billion from in the year93.50 to enable a95.00 fairly 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 9.08 8.55 sustained position and avoid The lender however, anN2.511 billion in June 2013), 08-Nov-13 6.00 400.00 08-Nov-18 6.17 5.87 99.41 100.45 high-figure concentration nounced a growth in its total to streamlining 08-Apr-12 10.25 300.00 with a view 08-Apr-19 9.68 9.68 102.00 102.00 in 22-Apr-14 6.25 quarter end500.00 provisioning 22-Apr-19on a quarter 6.45 6.45 last quarter.

99.25 99.25 asset the second by the Exchange 21-May-14 8.75 It recorded 200.00 quarter21-May-19 9.21com8.84 98.32 basis for easier ed June 30, 2014. earnings improved by99.65 5% to 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 8.10 8.10 99.75 99.75 parison, as well as marginal a total asset of N1.131 trillion N5.8 billion compared to N5.5 09-Dec-13 6.63 360.00 09-Dec-20 8.19 8.19 92.60 92.60 during the period as against increase in operating expense billion of the corresponding 24-Jun-14 9.25 400.00 24-Jun-21 9.13 8.91 100.75 101.88 period in 2013.” the N1.116 trillion it reported billion compared 23-Jul-14 8.00 450.00 of N30.882 23-Jul-21 8.20 8.20 97.95 97.95 4,760.00 4,750.89

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

30-Oct-14

The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixedFIXINGS income securities and instruments the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the **Treasury MoneyinMarket Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

FMDQ OTC DTMPLC Terms of Use and Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) 7 14 21 FGN Bonds28 35 42 Rating/Agency 56 63 70 77 84 91 98 105 112 119 NA 126 133 147 161 175 189 280 308

6-Nov-14 13-Nov-14 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 Issuer 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 NA 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 9-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 7-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15

10.60 10.65 10.35 10.70 10.50 10.80 Description 10.80 10.95 4.00 23-APR-2015 10.70 13.05 16-AUG-2016 10.90 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.00 9.85 27-JUL-2017 10.80 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.10 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.90 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.30 11.00 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.80 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.90 14.20 14-MAR-2024 11.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.90 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.30 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.40 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.75 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 10.55

10.35 10.40 10.10 10.45 10.25 10.55 Issue Date 10.55 10.70 23-Apr-10 10.45 16-Aug-13 10.65 27-Apr-12 9.75 27-Jul-07 10.55 31-Aug-07 9.85 30-May-08 10.65 29-Jun-12 10.05 10.75 23-Oct-09 10.55 27-Jan-12 10.65 14-Mar-14 10.75 28-Nov-08 10.65 22-May-09 10.05 20-Nov-09 10.15 23-Jul-10 10.50 18-Jul-14 10.30

10.62 10.69 10.41 10.79 10.61 10.94 (%) Coupon 10.98 11.16 4.00 10.92 13.05 11.16 15.10 10.24 9.85 11.10 9.35 10.38 10.70 11.25 16.00 10.64 11.41 7.00 11.22 16.39 11.35 14.20 11.51 15.00 11.45 12.49 10.84 8.50 10.99 10.00 11.72 12.1493 11.58

NIBOR

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M Outstanding 6M

(N'bn)

Value

535.00 23-Apr-15 563.89 16-Aug-16 NITTY 452.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 20.00 27-Jul-17 1M 10.7819 100.00 31-Aug-17 2M 11.0879 300.00 30-May-18 3M 11.1171 351.30 29-Jun-19 6M 11.1393 9M 11.3997 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 11.6446 600.00 27-Jan-22 371.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 Current Price ($/N) 23-Jul-30 BID($/N)591.57 165.4500 130.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 165.5500

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,675.13

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

4,638.83

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

#

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

AMCON

0.00 AMCON 31-OCT-2014 (SR.5 TR.1) Market Total Outstanding 0.00 Porfolio FMB 24-MAY-2015 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 1,046.88 1,016.68 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 1,095.10 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,011.37 1,093.25

28-Dec-11 Weighting by 24-May-10 Outstanding 03-Apr-12Vol 09-Dec-11 33.21 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-1231.08 35.71

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

OBB

10.25

O/N

10.50

REPO Tenor Rate (%) (%) TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield Call 1M 0.48 3M 1.80 6M

10.25 12.01 11.02 13.12 12.32 13.94

Modified Duration FMBN Buckets

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

3,153.35

3,061.23

100.00

0.00

Weighting 0.00by Mkt Value 17.25

0.00/16.00 33.20 0.00/16.50 34.73 0.00/16.50 32.07

100.00

978.35 24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 0.33 66.49 0.31 1,301.320.36

Bucket Weighting

1.00

1,295.96

Tenor Spot 7D 14D Offer Yield 1M (%) 2M 3M 10.68 6M 12.22 1Y

2.49 12.56 12.49 2.74 12.65 12.58 2.84 12.65 12.58 3.58 12.70 12.59 :Benchmarks 4.66 Bond 12.70 12.62 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 4.98 Bond 12.76 12.66 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 7.24 12.65 12.59 FGN: Federal Nigeria 9.37 Government of12.63 12.58 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 14.08 12.75 12.71 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.56 12.76 12.71 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 12.77 Company 12.72 NAHCO: 15.06 Nigerian Aviation Handling 15.73 12.70 12.65 O/N: Overnight 19.72 12.71 Company12.67 UPDC: UAC Property Development NOTE:

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

Agency Bonds

NA

Rate (%) 10.4750 12.5347 13.3235 14.1003Date Maturity

31-Oct-14

% 24-May-15 Exposure_ Mod_Duration 03-Apr-17

09-Dec-16 14.62 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-1730.14 55.24

100.00

#

Risk Premium (%)

0.00 1.00 Implied 0.56 2.63 Portfolio 1.30 2.27Price 2.11 2.00 12.44 118.8587 2.47 1.00 12.66 133.5544 2.68 1.00 12.68 103.0566

Implied Yield

12.64

117.7821

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

165.50 165.60 Price 165.82 165.59 165.85 166.16 166.50 167.11 Bid Price Offer Price 167.63 168.70 168.80 170.43 96.79 96.94 172.53 175.95 101.10 101.25 180.01 188.02

105.30 105.45 93.65 93.80 92.30 92.45 94.67 NA :Not94.37 Applicable 111.30Rate Bond 111.60 # :Floating ***: Deferred 79.24 coupon bonds 79.54 117.35 117.65 †: Bond rating expired 108.45 108.75 N/A :Not Available 114.54 114.84 98.21 98.51 71.71 72.01 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 81.75 Bank for Africa 82.05 UBA: United 95.90 96.20

Valuation Yield (%) 11.95 13.70 14.12 14.49 1,128.92 13.62 1,130.89 13.64 1,204.91

INDEX

1,124.72

Indicative Price 99.97

YTD92.75 Return (%) 103.77

100.98 12.8915 98.56 13.0888 95.80 20.4912

12.4716

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17

0.84 0.68 0.96 0.97 2.47 1.52 3.17

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79

15.79 14.41 15.94 14.96 18.21 13.07 14.46

97.47 99.57 98.60 101.02 84.21 101.24 98.81

Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014

46

Business | Capital Market

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009

Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009

Daily Summary (Bonds)

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at October 30, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary (Equities)

Activity Summary on Board EQTY HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals AGRICULTURE Totals Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 CONGLOMERATES

Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC. CHELLARAMS PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC ActivityUSummary on Board EQTY A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals CONGLOMERATES CONGLOMERATES Totals

Published

by The Nigerian StockESTATE Exchange © CONSTRUCTION/REAL Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 4 13 5 22

Current Price 0.50 31.35 30.45

Quantity Traded 154,900 47,223 6,160 208,283

Value Traded 77,450.00 1,410,895.43 178,330.00 1,666,675.43

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 39 39

Current Price 2.98

Quantity Traded 1,416,375 1,416,375

Value Traded 4,211,678.52 4,211,678.52

1,624,658

5,878,353.95

61 Symbol AGLEVENT CHELLARAM Daily Summary SCOA TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 6 1 (Equities) 1 162 51 221

Current Price 1.45 3.95 4.67 4.39 53.00

221

Quantity Traded 120,000 5,000 240 19,625,490 657,327 20,408,057

20,408,057 Page

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

13

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 0.91

Quantity Traded 516,803 516,803

Value Traded 470,498.73 470,498.73

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 67.20

Quantity Traded 250 250

Value Traded 15,960.00 15,960.00

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 14.00

Quantity Traded 47,600 47,600

Value Traded 636,655.00 636,655.00

564,653

1,123,113.73

CONSTRUCTION/REAL Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014ESTATE Totals Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. JOS INT. BREWERIES PLC. Activity Summary on Board NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. EQTY Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Food Products Totals Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 Household Durables Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. Activity Summary on Board UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC.EQTY Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS CONSUMER GOODS Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 ACCESS BANK PLC. Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 DIAMOND BANK PLC 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. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC

25 Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS Daily Summary INTBREW JOSBREW NB

Quantity Traded 49,800 142,064 283,400 12,000 1,674,428 2,161,692

Value Traded 707,160.00 24,171,909.93 8,977,332.50 24,240.00 274,428,226.26 308,308,868.69

Symbol 7UP

No. of Deals 68 68

Current Price 173.00

Quantity Traded 1,051,946 Page 1,051,946

Value Traded 181,376,746.89 2 of 13 181,376,746.89

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON

No. of Deals 1 131 46 13 25 216

Current Price 6.55 6.74 61.40 3.85 8.10

Quantity Traded 1,250 6,271,567 238,187 934,180 204,411 7,649,595

Value Traded 7,787.50 42,517,595.82 13,205,965.27 3,601,186.20 1,687,925.38 61,020,460.17

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 19 82 101

Current Price 47.40 980.00

Quantity Traded 77,377 281,802 359,179

Value Traded 3,310,651.56 272,168,784.35 275,479,435.91

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 8 1 9

Current Price 4.37 1.23

Quantity Traded 93,438 1,000,000 1,093,438

Value Traded 398,563.60 1,230,000.00 1,628,563.60

No. of Deals 18 54 72

Current Price 26.41 36.10

Quantity Traded 102,206 278,434 380,640

Value Traded 2,699,260.46 10,056,424.40 12,755,684.86

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol PZ UNILEVER

663

Quantity Traded 3,000,000 4,071,230 876,020 2,000,000 2,286,658 2,375,790 2,000 191,042,147 Page 203,812 1,322,261 2,000 1,900 14,449,980 6,249,660 227,883,458

No. of Deals 3 3

Current Price 0.94

Quantity Traded 57,000 57,000

Value Traded 54,460.00 54,460.00

Symbol RESORTSAL UNHOMES

No. of Deals 2 2 4

Current Price 0.50 0.50

Quantity Traded 94,480,000 21,502 Page 94,501,502

Value Traded 47,240,000.00 10,751.00 5 of 13 47,250,751.00

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

No. of Deals 35 18 517 95 5 25 61 756

Current Price 3.02 3.80 11.70 4.00 0.55 30.40 1.89

Quantity Traded 1,265,736 934,498 36,902,427 21,368,909 49,230 3,851,984 1,985,306 66,358,090

Value Traded 3,875,065.14 3,551,192.40 431,536,625.10 82,045,532.40 27,433.80 116,137,006.95 3,757,997.68 640,930,853.47

684,035,776

4,274,778,314.90

Quantity Traded 196,317 374,000 8,315 353,000 79,500 410,100

Value Traded 427,878.40 1,244,800.00 415,673.00 640,580.00 79,550.00 1,057,423.40

Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS PLC UNION HOMES SAVINGS AND LOANS PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC.

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

2,038 Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

No. of Deals 6 10 8 15 10 11

Current Price 2.20 3.32 54.00 1.81 1.02 2.61

Page

Value Traded 70,541,813.23 7,670,759.92 2,317,569,824.77 20,926,974.72 153,170,553.49 24,939,386.82 4,971,817.96 146,658,468.91 13,073,464.47 52,250.00 Value Traded 86,632,544.42 145,464,910.83

Value Traded 1,500,000.00 3,399,556.87 832,279.00 1,000,000.00 1,172,363.96 1,187,895.00 1,000.00 573,074,476.00 4 of 13 110,058.48 1,018,029.36 1,000.00 969.00 7,224,990.00 4,346,863.22 594,869,480.89

of

Quantity Traded 12,000 12,000

Value Traded 6,000.00 6,000.00

Telecommunications Services

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 20,000

Value Traded 10,000.00

1

20,000

10,000.00

4

48,500

24,745.00

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEMon PLC Activity Summary Board EQTY BERGER PAINTS PLC INDUSTRIAL CAP PLCGOODS Activity Summary on Board EQTY Building Materials CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC INDUSTRIAL GOODS DANGOTE CEMENT PLC Building Materials DN MEYER PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol

No. of Deals 32 9 18 No. of Deals 20 45 No. of Deals 1 2 63 190

Current Price 31.34 8.00 41.90 Current 13.50 Price 214.95 Current Price 1.00 5.01 108.21

Quantity Traded 802,182 21,883 243,729 Quantity359,183 Traded 1,003,005 Quantity Traded 2,010 Page 14,091 1,112,625 3,558,708

Daily Summary (Equities) ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP Symbol CCNN DANGCEM Symbol DNMEYER PORTPAINT WAPCO

Value Traded 25,160,917.92 174,197.76 10,215,741.06 Value Traded 4,750,156.57 215,116,552.32 Value Traded 1,909.50 7 of 13 70,570.83 125,250,721.98 380,740,767.94

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 20 20

Current Price 1.59

Quantity Traded 657,636 657,636

Value Traded 1,062,203.73 1,062,203.73

Packaging/Containers BETA GLASS CO PLC. Packaging/Containers Totals

Symbol BETAGLAS

No. of Deals 8 8

Current Price 21.00

Quantity Traded 624,350 624,350

Value Traded 13,036,445.00 13,036,445.00

4,840,694

394,839,416.67

218 Symbol ALUMACO

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 7.75

Quantity Traded 6,119 6,119

Value Traded 45,097.03 45,097.03

Symbol

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 68,900 68,900

Value Traded 34,450.00 34,450.00

Daily Summary (Equities) MULTIVERSE

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals Published byAND The Nigerian Stock Exchange © OIL GAS

Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Energy Equipment and Services Totals

3

75,019 Page

79,547.03 of 13

8

Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,586,800 Page 3,586,800

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 245 245

Current Price 22.80

Quantity Traded 4,522,393 4,522,393

Value Traded 104,506,183.85 104,506,183.85

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 5 14 72 19 1 18 129

Current Price 49.23 3.61 215.00 170.98 56.00 166.00

Quantity Traded 13,141 129,820 261,649 12,343 200 20,812 437,965

Value Traded 614,604.57 466,462.44 55,976,886.38 2,087,354.92 10,640.00 3,333,033.26 62,488,981.57

Exploration and Production Symbol No. of Deals SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD SEPLAT 19 Exploration and Production Totals 19 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 544.59

Quantity Traded 117,372 117,372

Value Traded 63,926,675.25 63,926,675.25

8,664,530

232,715,240.67 Value Traded Value3,715.20 Traded 3,715.20

SERVICES SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

415

Value Traded 1,793,400.00 of 13 1,793,400.00

9

Symbol Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price Current Price 0.90

Quantity Traded Quantity Traded 4,320 4,320

Symbol TRANSEXPR

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 1.29

Page Quantity Traded 29,000 29,000

Employment Solutions C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Symbol CILEASING

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 211,500 211,500

Value Traded 105,750.00 105,750.00

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. Hotels/Lodging Totals

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST

No. of Deals 57 1 58

Current Price 2.68 3.51

Quantity Traded 5,601,576 250 5,601,826

Value Traded 15,192,122.16 835.00 15,192,957.16

Symbol DAARCOMM

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,000 4,000

Value Traded 2,000.00 2,000.00

Symbol ACADEMY UPL

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 1.38 4.15

Quantity Traded 4,200 450 4,650

Value Traded 5,796.00 1,777.50 7,573.50

Symbol ABCTRANS Symbol

No. of Deals 4 No. of Deals 4

Current Price 0.66 Current Price

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 2 24 26

Current Price 1.83 5.15

Quantity Traded 80,646 Quantity Traded 80,646 Page

Quantity Traded 18,280 548,310 566,590

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 10 10

Current Price 4.21

Quantity Traded 30,690 30,690

Value Traded 122,760.00 122,760.00

108

6,533,222

18,284,789.41

3,816

740,912,831

5,893,299,734.79

Quantity Traded 7,000,000 7,000,000

Value Traded 3,500,000.00 3,500,000.00

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Courier/Freight/Delivery

Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 Media/Entertainment Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 DAAR COMMUNICATIONS PLC Media/Entertainment Totals

2,991,672,769.54

6

Current Price 0.50

TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.85 0.95 0.50 0.54 0.50 0.50 3.00 0.54 0.78 0.50 0.51 0.50 0.67

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 1

OIL AND GAS Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AFRICAN ALLIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC AFRINSURE 1 AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 37 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 5 GUINEA INSURANCE PLC. GUINEAINS 1 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 18 LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. LASACO 2 LAW UNION AND ROCK INS. PLC. LAWUNION 2 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 25 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. MBENEFIT 5 N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. NEM 26 Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 NIGER INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 1 Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 2 UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANY PLC UNIVINSURE 2 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 54 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Daily Summary (Equities) 181 Micro-Finance Banks Activity Summary on Board EQTY NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES

Symbol CHAMS

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Quantity Traded 8,298,192 1,253,366 124,947,702 10,728,903 5,872,221 10,060,575 2,147,899 29,322,970 1,597,642 104,500 Quantity Traded 94,125,724 6,776,032

295,235,726

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL PLC. Daily Summary as ofNIGERIA 30/10/2014 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009

Current Price 8.50 6.12 18.90 1.95 26.08 2.50 2.33 5.00 8.20 0.50 Current Price 0.94 21.00

1,094

Value Traded 8,745.00 8,745.00

Integrated Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

840,569,760.12 3 of 13

3,865,904.80

Quantity Traded 16,500 16,500

Mining Services MULTIVERSE PLC Mining Services Totals

No. of Deals 117 15 80 65 137 (Equities) 111 27 210 49 4 No. of Deals 27 252

Banking Totals

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK ETI FIDELITYBK GUARANTY Daily Summary SKYEBANK STERLNBANK UBA UBN UNITYBNK Symbol WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

12,696,490 Page

1,421,232 Current Price 0.55

NATURAL RESOURCES Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 Metals Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 ALUMINIUM MANUFACTURING COMPANY PLC Metals Totals

Current Price 14.94 170.00 31.50 2.12 166.00

Value Traded 3,865,904.80

No. of Deals 2 2

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 6 45 (Equities) 25 2 119 197

Quantity Traded 1,421,232

60

Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 ICT Totals

Symbol COSTAIN

Current Price

Symbol COURTVILLE

MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA Daily Summary PLCas of 30/10/2014 Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009 Telecommunications Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014Services Totals

121,140,548.51 of

No. of Deals 60

HEALTHCARE Totals

Value Traded 175,960.00 18,800.00 1,065.60 86,231,863.30 34,712,859.61 121,140,548.51

1

Symbol

Printing/Publishing ACADEMY PRESS PLC. UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Activity Summary on Board Printing/Publishing Totals EQTY

SERVICES Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation

Road Transportation Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals

EQTY Board Totals Daily Summary as of 30/10/2014 Printed 30/10/2014 14:58:09.009

Daily Summary (Equities)

10 of 13 Value Traded 37,410.00 37,410.00

Value Traded 52,422.40 Value Traded 52,422.40 11 of 13

Value Traded 33,286.80 2,726,914.35 2,760,201.15

Activity Summary on Board ASeM OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Symbol

No. of Deals 1 1

Daily Summary (Equities) CAPOIL

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Current Price 0.50

OIL AND GAS Totals

1

7,000,000

3,500,000.00

ASeM Board Totals

1

7,000,000

3,500,000.00

Equity Activity Totals

3,817

747,912,831

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

12

of

5,896,799,734.79

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

13

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 1,928.00 17.08

Quantity Traded 10 10 20

Value Traded 19,280.00 170.65 19,450.65

ETF Board Totals

3

20

19,450.65

ETP Activity Totals

3

20

19,450.65

13

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Enugu speaker picks guber nomination form Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

A

new twist was yesterday played out in the Enugu State governorship race, as the speaker of the state assembly, Hon. Eugene Odo, candidate, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, announcing that he has picked his nomination form to run for the office of governor next year on the platform

of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Odo, who flew into Enugu from Abuja, after picking his form caused a stir, as he disclosed that on November 29 when the party holds its primary election, Governor Sullivan Chime who had, along with leaders of the PDP in the state engineered the emergence of Ugwuanyi as consensus candidate, would likely vote for him, Odo. Odo, was one of the few aspirants who had

refused to step down for Ugwuanyi on the day he got his first adoption as a consensus candidate from the PDP caucus of the Enugu North senatorial zone to which the slot was zoned by the state chapter of the party.

However, it was gathered that a day after Ugwuanyi’s first adoption in the series of endorsements by various levels of PDP caucuses in the state, he had met with Odo at Nike Lake Resort Hotel where

the speaker allegedly agreed to support the consensus arrangement that favoured his opponent.

When New Telegraph asked him about the reported agreement between him and Ugwuanyi, the speaker answered evasively, saying that as a lawyer, he would not divulge the content of what he discussed with Ugwuanyi.

He spoke to newsmen in the presence of scores of his supporters made up mainly of the mem-

bers of a political pressure group- the Nsukka United Front(NUF) in the Conference Room of the State House of Assembly, also saying his relationship with Governor Sullivan Chime has not severed even with the position he has just taken to run against the governor’s political traffic.

Responding to the question as to why he was going against the consensus arrangement

even when he was there when the decision was taken, Odo said there was nothing wrong with consensus but that it was the process that was the issue, adding that the best way to achieve consensus would be in the primary election that would hold November 29.

According to him, on that day Ugwuanyi emerged “my simple response is that, of course, we were there in the meeting but you know that the view of the majority, of course, would certainly have its way but if you had reported well, you would know that we equally had our reservations.”

Anambra emerges president’s schools debate winner Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

A

L-R: President, Masters Energy/Abia governorship aspirant, Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah; wife of Kogi State governor, Farida Ijeoma Wada and Campaign Manager, Abia Rejoice, Empire Kanu, at a briefing with would-be delegates for the upcoming PDP primaries election in Umuahia, Abia State …yesterday

Umeh picks senatorial nomination form Tony Okafor Awka.

N

ational Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, yesterday formally picked the nomination and expression of interest form for the 2015 Senatorial race for the Anambra Senatorial District .

A mild drama however happened at the APGA state secretariat Awka, as Umeh rejected the N3.5 million from Chairmen and Councillors in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state presented him to offset the cost of his nomination form.

Turning down the offer, Umeh said he did so on the ground that he had already procured his own bank draft of the same amount for the same purpose.

APGA youths in the state had earlier approached him for the similar offer but he also

turned it down.

He collectively advised them to channel the money to other areas to help his campaign, especially in purchasing bus for his campaign organisation.

Umeh, who was accompanied by an array of supporters sent a note of warning to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) not field double or triple candidates in the next election as was their tradition in past elections He vowed that APGA would ensure that candidates fielded in such circumstance would be disqualified, expressing worry that up to now the PDP not started selling nomination forms to contestants apparently to commit fraud.

He said ‘I want to use this opportunity to put on notice the national chairman of PDP not to field more than one candidate in the next election. The time has past when they fielded multiple candidates.’

Igbo leaders decry state of Alaoji power plant Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

T

he Igbo Socio-Political Association, representing people of Igbo extraction worldwide also known as Igboezue, has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to give reasons why the Alaoji Power Plant covering Aba/Ariaria Business District completed since 2013, is yet to be commissioned.

The association in a statement titled “Alaoji Power Project: Transgres-

sion or Transformation”, issued by its National Leader, Chief Chekwas Okorie, lamented that the non-commissioning of the power plant has assumed a dimension of political intrigues being played out highly influencial politicians within the presidency, which president Goodluck Jonathan cannot prevail upon, a scenario he described to be laced callousness, insensitivity and extreme marginalization among other societal.

The Alaoji Power Proj-

ect was concessioned under fomer Olusegun Obasanjo administration to Geometrix Company Limited, a private Power construction firm.

The project covers nine Local Government Areas in Abia State, otherwise referred to as Aba/Ariaria Business District.

Igboezue, lamented that Igbo nation has been victims of deliberate official transgression programme as against transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Former NCC boss, Obi’s aide, join Anambra senatorial race Okegwo Kenechukwu

F

ormer chairman of Nigeria Communication Commission, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe and the immediate past Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters under Governor Peter Obi’s administration, Chief Dubem Obaze, yesterday declared their interest to contest the 2015, sena-

torial election in Anambra South and Anambra North senatorial zone in the National Assembly.

The duo made the declarations, after picking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA’s) expression of interest forms at the party secretariat in Awka, amidst crowd of supporters.

In a remark shortly after picking form, the former NCC Boss, said

it was his intention is to be a Senator of international repute and a legislator that is forth right.

His words, “our party needed some rein enforcement and strong support from the National Assembly, because APGA represents some ideal for any Igbo man”.

“The Senate position is not for gate crashers or boys, it is for men and women of international repute and integrity.”

nambra State has emerged the overall winner the annual President’s School Debate among public schools across the country, which end yesterday in Abuja.

This year edition, tagged 54th Independence Anniversary Inter Basic School Debate was attended by participants from 16 states.

Anambra, which was represented at the debate by Denis Memorial Grammar (DMGS), Onitsha outwitted Kaduna state in the final of the debate titled “ Legislators should work on part time basis” The overall winner went home with a trophy and a cash prize of N300,000 donated by the Nigerian Port Authority while the first and second runners up got N250,000 and N200,000 respectively.

While Kaduna state opposed the motion, Anambra state on the other hand supported the motion.

Master Chigozie Udeoji, of team Anambra, also emerged the overall best speaker of the championship.

Speaking at the end of the event, National Coordinator of President’s Schools Debate, Elder Dare Oritu, expressed delight at the successful hosting of the debate, which he said is aimed at promoting academic excellence in secondary schools in Nigeria.

He said that the performances of various participants have vindicated that the quality of Nigerian education is not dwindling.

48

News

SOUTH-SOUTH

14 aspirants battle Wike for Rivers PDP’s guber ticket

F

ourteen aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Rivers State yesterday declared their readiness to run for the party’s governorship ticket in a move to checkmate the purported imposition of the immediate past minister of state for education, Barr. Nyesom Wike.

The aspirants, who indicated their interest to upset the party’s game plan, were said to

have unanimously insisted on the zoning of the governorship ticket to the same zone, which the incumbent governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, hails from was unjustifiable, stating, that the move was to favour Wike to succeed his kinsman in the 2015 elections.

At the rally, the Felix Obuah-led executive of told members that the party’s ticket is open to all aspirants except those who he alleged were being used by the

opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), pretending to be members of PDP. The aspirants, who expressed their resolve to challenge what the alleged as the party’s decision to impose a candidate on them, made their declaration under the umbrella of Rivers Mainstream Coalition at the Liberation Stadium, Elekahia, as they stressed that there is need to rotate the governorship in the interest of peace, justice and equity.

The situation however degenerated into chaos as some gunmen, stormed the venue of the rally shooting sporadically, in what was said to attempt scare supporters of other aspirants away. Particularly, supporters of one of the aspirants, Captain Nwankwo Sunday were said to have been shot at as they were coming to the rally. They were in buses when they were attacked at Chokocho in Etchie local government area.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

change of nameS Ezekiel Former Michael Nnamdi Kabadi now wish to be addressed as Michael Nnamdi Ezekiel. All documents bearing my former name remains valid/authentic. General public take note

Ezekiel

Former Mrs. Elizabeth Folawe Kabadi, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Folawe Ezekiel. All documents bearing my former name remains valid. General public take note

Nnamdi

ormer Miracle Nnebuogo Kabadi, now wish to be addressed as Mary Chibuogo Nnamdi. All documents remain valid.

General public, take note

Kollere

Former Albishir Hafsat Usman now wish to be addressed as Kollere Hafsat Usman. All former documents remain valid.

General public, take note

Ezenwanezi

Former Miss Edith Onyinye Emenike now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Edith Onyinye Ezenwanezi. All former documents remain valid. General public, take note

Johnson

L-R: Director-General, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu; President, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacob and Deputy Director, Food, Safety and Quality Control, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE Dr. Yemisi Asagbara, at a workshop in Lagos…yesterday.

Edo PDP lawmaker challenges C’River govt moves to avert Benin chiefs over crisis crisis in Akpabuyo Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

A

lawmaker representing Orhionmwon Constituency, in Edo State, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Friday Ogierhiekhi, yesterday challenged and some other Benin chiefs Chief David Edebiri, to show concrete proof of any steps taken by leadership of the Benin Forum towards resolving the political impasse among the warring groups in the state House of Assembly.

Ogierhiakhi, who spoke with newsmen in Benin City against the backdrop of the statement credited to Edebiri on the crisis rocking the Edo state house of assembly during the town hall meeting held on Monday, faulted Edebiri’s claim that the forum and people of Edo south would ensure that the three PDP legislators

from the area would not be reelected come 2015.

Edebiri said, “Having exhausted all the legal options, and they are still remaining stubborn, we have a way of dealing with such people. But one assurance I can give you, Mr. Governor is that we will pray that in their new place (PDP) they should sponsor them as candidates, if any of them win his election, don’t greet me anymore”.

He added that, “I hear three of them are aspiring to go to the House of Representative. If it’s the time they do deposits in elections, they will lose their deposit. Up till yesterday, I was still speaking with these boys, but they refused to heed all reasonable advice.

Incidentally the three suspended people, members of the House of Assembly are from my own area, from Edo South and we in Edo South have not been sleeping over this matter”.

Clement James CALABAR

T

he Cross River State government, has said it would ensure that the Calabar-Bakassi road, which offers access to Akpabuyo Local Government headquarters is rehabilitated before the end of the tenure of the incumbent governor, Senator Liyel Imoke.

The State Security Adviser, Mr. Rekpene Bassey, disclosed this position on Thursday in Akpabuyo, during his visit to the area to pacify youths who had, on Wednesday, barricaded the road, causing traffic gridlock, and stopping civil servants living in the area from going to work.

While appealing to the youths to remain calm, Bassey assured them that the State Government and relevant authorities were doing everything possible to put the road in good condition.

“This road is a federal road and the state government is doing everything to ensure that the road is in good order. We are reaching out to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and I can assure you that soon, something will be done,” Bassey said.

On Wednesday, Youths from various Communities in Akpabuyo Local Government Area blocked the Ikot-EdemOdo/Ekondo axis of the Akpabuyo/Bakassi Federal Highway.

One of the Youth Leaders, Mr Edet Asuquo had said that their action was in protest over the bad condition of the road which had caused untold hardships to the people of the area.

Asuquo had described the road, especially the Ikot-Edem-Odo/Ekondo axis as a death trap, adding that several vehicles including heavy duty trucks have often fallen on the road.

Former Miss Arowosafe, Olayemi Lydia now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Johnson, Olayemi Lydia. All former documents remain valid. General public, take note

Obieme

Former Abia Ifeoma Rebecca now wish to be addressed as Obieme Ifeoma Rebecca. All former documents remain valid. General public note

Adeniyi

Former Oguntola Rachael Iyabo now wish to be addressed as Adeniyi Rachael Iyabo. All former documents remain valid.

General public note

Lawal

Former Miss Alasade Kehinde Florence now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Lawal Kehinde Florence. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, lautech, nysc and General public note

Amachineke

Former Prophet Joseph I. Amachukwu now wish to be addressed as Prophet Joseph I. Amachineke. All former documents remain valid.

General public should please take note

James-Louis

Former Aminat AnnaLouis Mochi now wish to be addressed as Aminatu James-Louis. All former documents remain valid.

General public note

Shobowale

Former Miss Oluwatosin Olufunke Olaniyi now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Oluwatosin Oluwafunke Shobowale. All former documents remain valid.

General public note

PUBLIC NOTICE

Obingwa Cargo Drivers Association The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSOCIATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part ‘C’ of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2004.

The Trustees are: 1. Chikanele Ohuche (Chairman) 2. Chibuzo Paddy Ubani 3. Okechukwu Onyencho 4. Uchenna Ezenwoke AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To promote the welfare, peace and unity of cargo drivers in Ehere modern market, Obingwa – Aba 2. To help members who are needy of assistance in their profession.

Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Chikanele Ohuche (Chairman)

PUBLIC NOTICE

PRAYER GROUP OF GOD MINISTRY The general public is hereby notified that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2004.

The Trustees are: 1. Prophet Joseph Ezesinachi 2. Mr Chukwuemeka Ezesinachi 3. Mr Charles Ukah 4. Mrs Rebecca Okonkwo 5. Mrs Oluchi Ezesinachi 6. Mr Kelo Ileka AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To evangelize the lost soul and to raise standard lives & souls for Christ.

2. To spread the Gospel of salvation of Christ.

3. To carry out missionary work and give also to the needy.

4. To preach the word of God to all humanity.

5. To promote Christian literature, publication of books and distribution of tracts.

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: Moses Olusegun

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, OCTOBER 31, 2014

News 49

north

Members chide APC leadership in Jigawa Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

A

s preparations continue ahead of the 2015 general elections in Jigawa State, members of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC)

have berated the leadership of the party in the state, saying the leaders are not forthcoming in the build up to the elections.

Members of the party have been asking ‘where is our party,’ as activities of the party have been few and far between.

Olawoyin ready for Reps Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

T

he former Chairman of Offa Local Government in Kwara State and immediate past Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Olawoyin, yesterday described as mere politics, claims that the state has been neglected by the Federal Government in the development of the country.

Speaking with newsmen at the PDP secretariat in Ilorin shortly after picking the party’s form to contest the House of Representatives primaries,

Olawoyin, however, said there was the need for the Federal Government to increase its presence in the state, especially in the provision of amenities.

Olawoyin, who was also a former commissioner in the state, said his aspiration was based on the need to correct the existing alleged neglect of the people from his zone in the scheme of things.

He added that the situation demands the emergence of a candidate considered the best, promising to ensure that the neglect being suffered by his zone is corrected through proper legislation.

Investigation by New Telegraph showed that for some time now, members of Jigawa State executive of the APC have been accused of deserting the state as far as the activities of the party are concerned.

Speaking on the issue, APC spokesman, Mallam Shehu Dutse, said it was sad that ‘our party officials in the state are very inactive in gingering the party in almost all the 27 council areas of Jigawa State towards the 2015 elections.’

According to Dutse,

5%

“If not the recent gathering to distribute vehicles and motorcycles for mobilisation by one of the gubernatorial aspirants, Badaru Abubakar, our party is yet to champion any other party activity.”

He also cited the example of the selling of nomination forms for aspiring politicians, asking ‘when will our party, the APC start selling such forms for the elections,’ he queried.

Asked whether the party is not sure of its popularity, Dutse said the APC has lots of support-

The percentage of development aid allocated to sanitation and drinking water in developing countries in 2010.

Source: Unesco.org

ers all over the place, but is only faced with leadership problems, since most of the leaders are shy of their responsibilities and commitment.

He said unless and until our leaders uphold their civic responsibilities diligently, it will be hard for the APC to defeat the ruling PDP in the state.

New Telegraph reliably gathered that Jigawa APC executive only come into Dutse for specific functions.

Most of the party’s offices remain close for unknown reasons, only

13,000

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

running skeletal services with or without administrative staff.

This habitual elusiveness of the APC state officials has scared aspirants of the party away as many are eager to know their fate in the party.

But commenting on the issue, Jigawa State APC spokesman, Hon. Yusuf Miga, debunked media reports that the party leadership was weak, adding that ‘we are not in a haste to tackle administrative functions as far as party affairs are concerned.’

27.73

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Latvia in 2008.

Source: Itu.int

Yero reels out achievements Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

K

aduna State Governor, Mukhtar Yero, yesterday reeled out his achievements in Kaduna Central since he became governor in 2012. He said yesterday that he has completed 12 roads in the zone while five others are at different stages of completion.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at a stakeholders’ declaration of support for Yero/Bajoga ahead of the 2015 elections, the gov-

ernor said his administration has completed most of the 22 roads projects that were awarded by the late governor, Sir Patrick Yakowa, adding that the rest are at different stages of completion.

Governor Yero further said that his government is building 14 primary healthcare facilities at the cost of N231.8 million across the zone, which comprises of Kaduna South, Kaduna North, Igabi, Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Giwa and Kajuru Local Government areas.

Dasat to battle Mwansat Musa Pam Jos

F

ormer Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Civil Service, Mr. Emmanuel Dasat, has formerly declared his intention to challenge the former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Istifanus Mwansat, in the 2015 Pankshin South constituency election.

Mwansat was elected

in 2007 to represent Pankshin South in the House of Assembly, but his constituents seems not satisfied with his style of legislation, and have taken another step to unseat him.

It was in this regard that Dasat has been endorsed by the people to contest against Mwansat for the House of Assembly seat on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP).

NLC sets up committee Buhari Bello Jos

P

lateau State council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has inaugurated a 30-man committee in the 17 local government areas of the state towards the success of the

2015 general elections.

Inaugurating the committee yesterday, NLC Chairman in the state, Jibrin Bancir, said the aim of the committee is to ensure that credible and better candidates emerge during the primaries in each of the political parties.

Secretary General, Pan-African Writers Association, Prof. Atukwei Okai (right), presenting literary books to Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, during a courtesy visit on the governor, in Minna…yesterday

‘I will address decay in Niger’

promise

Sani Bello assures of a new Niger State Dan Atori MINNA

F

or mer Commissioner for Commerce and Investment in Niger State, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, yesterday declared his intention to contest the governorship election in the state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He declared his intention in Kontagora with a pledge to address infrastructural and institutional decay in the state, which he said was brought about by lack of selfless leadership.

Bello told party stalwarts and supporters

that he would ensure massive job creation for the teeming youths, uphold the dignity of women and the girlchild as well as other vulnerable persons in the state.

The governorship hopeful further said that an APC government under his leadership would also chart new course for economic growth and foster peaceful and harmonious co-existence among the diverse people of the state.

He lamented that the state is lagging behind in such areas as youth employment, infrastructural provision, adequate health services and affordable housing.

The governorship aspirant said “the current position of the state’s resources, its finances and management, have denied it the opportunity of boasting of good network of roads and industries.”

Ahmed tasks business educators Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

K

wara State Governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, has charged members of the Association of Business Educators of Nigeria (ABEN) to come up with solutions to problems associated with training and graduating skilled

manpower in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The governor spoke at the opening ceremony of the 26th Annual National Conference of the association, hosted by the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, with the theme; “Critical Incidents in the Nigerian Educational System: Challenges to Business Education.”

Yahaya eyes Senate Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

A

former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Works and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for Kwara North senatorial district, Alhaji Yinusa Yahaya, has condemned the way those who succeeded him in the lower chamber of the National

Assembly allegedly failed to continue with federal projects initiated during his tenure.

Yahaya, who was a twoterm lawmaker for Edu/ Patigi/Moro federal constituency between 1999 and 2007, bared his mind while speaking with newsmen after picking his expression of interest and nomination forms at the PDP secretariat in Ilorin.

50

News

WORLD | News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria has achieved 70% of MDGs Protesters set Burkina Faso says Gbeneol parliament ablaze Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, Dr. Precious Gbeneol, has said that the Federal Government has achieved over 70 per cent of the requirements stipulated by the United Nations for countries to meet the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.

She made this disclosure through her media aide, Desmond Utomwen, following the pre-implementation workshop of the 2014 Conditional Grants Scheme to Local

Governments the Federal Government would not decline in its mandate.

According a statement made available to New Telegraph, while the number of those who have access to clean drinking water, has improved from 57 per cent to 60.7 per cent; the number of those who use good sanitation facilities has also seen slight remarkable improvement from 31 per cent to 33 per cent.

The statement read in part: “Nigeria has achieved more than 70 per cent of the MDGs requirement. The last statistics NBS gave us was

57 per cent. This current one that the NBS is going to publish is 60.7 per cent. There is therefore a significant improvement in the number of these who have access to clean drinking water.

“The number of those, who use good sanitation facilities has also seen slight remarkable improvement from 31 per cent to 33 per cent

by NBS statistics. Nigeria has satisfied MDG 8, whose indicators say that the number of people who have access to internet facilities within the country has increased tremendously from 35 per cent to the current 55 per cent.

A

t least one person was reported dead in clashes after demonstrators stormed assembly in protest against vote to allow the president another term.

Anti-government protesters in Burkina Faso have set parliament ablaze in a surge of violence that forced the government to at least temporarily scrap a vote on constitutional amendments that would allow President Blaise Compaore to extend his 27-year rule.

At least one person was

killed in yesterday’s violence, according to news agencies.

Hundreds of people broke through a heavy security cordon and stormed the National Assembly building in the capital, Ouagadougou, ransacking offices and setting fire to cars, before attacking the national television headquarters.

Police had tried to control the crowds using tear gas, but the demonstrators were able to push through the barricades and make their way into parliament.

The crowd then headed

towards the presidential palace as a government helicopter flew overhead, shooting teargas at protesters.

Security forces fired live rounds and tear gas at protesters near the presidency in the Ouaga 2000 neighbourhood, Reuters reported.

Lawmakers had been due to vote yesterday on a government plan to change the constitution to allow Compaore, who took power in a coup in 1987, to stand for reelection again next year, when he was due to stand down.

CNPP lauds Jonathan’s on re-election funds Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

T

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for openly declaring the donations he so far received for his re-election bid.

National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr Osita Okechukwu, said the President’s action

was in line with the spirit of openness and the doctrine of transparency. Jonathan had, at the PDP Secretariat acknowledged that many groups and individuals across Nigeria raised the funds with which he purchased the PDP Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms.

According to Jonathan, the contributors to the fund included the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors

Forum, Transfor mation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), Central Markets Traders Union to Otuoke Community Stakeholders, as students from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The CNPP, however, challenged Jonathan to extend the gesture further by openly declaring his assets, as his predecessor, Umaru Musa Yaradua of blessed memory did.

Activist declares 40 day-hunger strike Ladi Patrick Abuja

A

group under the auspices of Youth Mountain of Hope has embarked on a 40-day hunger strike as a result of lack of jobs for Nigerian youths.

The National President of the group, Chikeze Erege, who was on a one-man stage protest at the premises of the National Assembly yesterday in Abuja,

berated government on the high level of corruption which he said has culminated in an alarming unemployment rate, especially amongst the youths of the country.

Erege said he wants to bring it to the government’s notice that he has embarked on the hunger strike in respect of Nigerians wallowing in jails in different parts of the world for crimes they never committed, all in search of greener pastures outside the shores

of Nigeria since there is no enabling environment for them to thrive in their homeland.

He called on government to kill corruption from the grassroots to the top because according to him, ‘this is the major predicament Nigeria has found herself in today, which in turn has led many youths to engage in social vices that are detrimental to their personal wellbeing and socio-economic growth of the country.

Working Moms Award holds in December Ebere Ameh

A

ccess Media Limited, organisers of the prestigious Working Moms Awards has announced December 6 2014 as the date for their annual awards.

Scheduled to hold in Lagos, the award aims to recognize mothers, who strive between the herculean task of working in the ever challenging corporate world, and at the same time striking a balance at the home front.

With the theme Achieve

and Succeed, the Conference is the largest and highest profile event for the ‘Working Moms’ community – from the career climbing to new start-ups to those mums managing highly successful, global enterprises event ever held in Nigeria and will attract Over 500 delegates and will feature high level speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, members of the press and supporters.

The Conference, which will feature inspirational ‘Mompreneurs’ sharing their success stories;

they will Showcase Mini Exhibition, an exclusive networking function will also have inspiring workshops with leading career and business experts in the areas of Marketing/Branding, ICT, Business Planning, Finance, Sexual abuse, Setting Goals, and Work life Balance.

The 2014 edition of the Awards will commence with The Moms Conference in the morning, while the “Moms Ball and Awards” event will take place in the evening.

Rampaging Burkinabe protesters yesterday

PHOTO: www.businessinsider.com

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, says he’s proud to be gay

T

he Chief Executive Officer of Apple, Tim Cook, has admitted being gay. The public declaration, in an essay written for Bloomberg Businessweek, makes Cook the highest-profile business CEO to come out.

Cook said that while he never denied his sexuality, he never publicly acknowledged it, either.

“So let me be clear: I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me.”

The executive said that for years, he’s been open with many people about his sexual orientation and that plenty of his

Cook

PHOTO:www.wxyz.com

Apple colleagues know he is gay.

Cook wrote in the column published yesterday that it wasn’t an easy choice to publicly disclose that he is gay, but felt that his declaration could potentially help others.

I’ve come to realize that

my desire for personal privacy has been holding me back from doing something more important,” he wrote.

Three days ago, Cook challenged his home state of Alabama to better ensure the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

Alabama is among the states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, and it also doesn’t offer legal protections on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Cook is a native of Robertsdale, Al., and attended Auburn University.

The announcement is a “huge deal,” said Richard Metheny of executive search firm Witt/Kieffer.

Kim Jong Un executes 10 officials for watching soap operas

N

or th Korean leader, Kim Jong Un is seeking to erase the remaining influence of his dead uncle, executing about 10 senior Workers’ Party officials on charges from graft to watching South Korean soap operas, according to an aide to a South Korean lawmaker.

The deaths, by shooting are part of Kim’s late,st round of purges, said Lim Dae Sung, a secretary to ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee

Cheol Woo who attended a briefing at the National Intelligence Service yesterday in Seoul. Kim had Jang Song Thaek, his uncle and de facto deputy, killed in December last year. Lee didn’t say when the executions took place, or who the officials were.

Kim, who returned to the public gaze with a cane this month after six weeks out of view, had a cyst removed from his right ankle in September or October, Lim said yesterday. A foreign doc-

tor invited to the isolated nation performed the surgery, Lim said by phone, adding that the condition could recur due to Kim’s obesity.

Kim, believed to be about 30, exercises dynastic control over North Korea’s 1.2 million troops and nuclear arms programme, having taken over the 24 million-strong nation after his father, Kim Jong Il, died in December 2011. His period of seclusion prompted speculation about his health and grip on power.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Sports News

Sports News

Ghana in coaching dilemma for Nigeria friendly

Mascherano beats Messi to Barca award

52

53

Did you know?

Sport O

That Sammy Ameobi’s goal eight seconds after coming on as a substitute in Newcastle United 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspurs was the fastest scored by a substitute in English Premier League history from open play

Nigeria escapes FIFA hammer

Ajibade Olusesan nce again, Nigeria has avoided FIFA ban after football club proprietor, Chris Giwa, on Thursday, withdrew the case he instituted against the Nigeria Football Federation from the court.

The world football governing body had given the country until Friday to withdraw football matter from the civil court or be slammed with an outright ban.

But on Thursday, Giwa withdrew the case after President Goodluck Jonathan waded into the latest crisis that has engulfed Nigerian football.

According to reports, the President called a truce meet-

51

l Giwa withdraws case from court ing where he was able to prevail on Giwa to take that action. Our correspondent learnt that NFF bigwigs had to make some concessions which included incorporating Giwa’s supporters into the various committees of the football body.

However, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, has heaped praises on President Jonathan for his fatherly role in the promotion of peace within the Nigeria football family.

“President Jonathan’s keen personal interest and fatherly

role has enabled the eventual peaceful resolution of a disturbing crisis, and I wish to express the heartfelt appreciation of the entire Nigeria football family to His Excellency.

“We are all very grateful to him as he has once more demonstrated his well – known love for our football and we can never thank him enough,” Pinnick said in Abuja.

The NFF supremo also commended the efforts of Vice President Namadi

Sambo, GCON, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, Sports Minister Tammy Danagogo, and others who resolved the crisis.

“I want to assure President Jonathan and all top Government officials who played one role or the other in the resolution of the crisis that the NFF is now much stronger and able to confront the challenges of developing the game to take our football to new heights.

“The football family is also more united and we assure the Giwa group that we will sit down and see how and where

they can make lasting contributions to the development of the Nigeria game,” Pinnick added.

Nigeria has avoided a looming FIFA axe after the group led by Ambassador Chris Giwa opted to discontinue its case at the Federal High Court, Jos when hearing was about to resume on Thursday.

The move has effectively killed off the court case and means the Amaju Pinnick –led NFF Executive Committee can continue to administer Nigeria football without any interference or hindrance, which was the demand made by FIFA in its letter of Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

The country has therefore beaten the deadline of mid –day of Friday, October 31st, 2014 given by FIFA.

Keshi in ‘back door’ return l I’ll think about it, says Keshi l Amodu quits, backs Eagles crew

Emmanuel Tobi and Comfort Chukwu

A

nother twist emerged in the Nigeria Football Federation crisis on Thursday as feelers from the NFF Glasshouse revealed that President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered the reinstatement of sacked coach, Stephen Keshi, and his technical crew.

New Telegraph scooped that Jonathan after a meeting with NFF President Amaju Pinnick and Chris Giwa at the Aso Rock Villa on Wednesday night ordered that Keshi be re-instated.

The president said: “But somehow, because of certain internal crises at the Nigeria Football Federation, we tend to lag behind.”

According to a top management staff who pleaded anonymity:

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

“Keshi is one of the baits that were used to settle the NFF crisis between Giwa and Pinnick. The President who was also not favourably disposed to his sacking also wanted him back. Keshi is back as Nigeria coach and he will be the one to lead the Super Eagles against Congo and South Africa next month.”

Meanwhile, Coach Shaibu Amodu has expressed his readiness to quit as Eagles interim coach while pleading passionately with the leadership of the NFF to allow Keshi handle the Super Eagles for the two remaining matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

In a letter addressed to Pinnick through the Chairman of NFF Technical Committee, Amodu said, “As Technical Director of the NFF, I am ready and willing to help build a better relationship among Keshi (with whom I have enjoyed good working relationship in the past and who is still very close to me), the players and the NFF Technical Committee.

“I am assuring that I will offer whatever assistance is required by Keshi and his crew for the remaining two matches, and also to be there to offer advice, suggestions and in the efforts

towards building a stronger Super Eagles team after the qualifying race.”

In a related development, Keshi has revealed that he would soon make his decision on his recall known to the NFF. “I am very happy with the decision. I will try and reflect and see if I am going to take the job or not.

There are a lot of things to think about, I will discuss it with my family, but I am so happy with the president because he has taken his time to think about Keshi,” he said.

He added that: “If I wanted to leave Super Eagles I would have done that and gone to Equatorial Guinea before I came here, Aminu Maigari knows about this.

The kind of offer I have here can’t be compared to what I had in Equatorial Guinea but I decided to come because it is my country and if the number one citizen of this country asks me to stay put, who am I to say no.”

He however frowned at Nigerian football fans for not believing in the Super Eagles.

“The problem is that Nigerians don’t have faith in the team, and because the journalists don’t like Keshi they don’t say anything good about the team,” he said.

If I wanted to leave Super Eagles I would have done that and gone to Equatorial Guinea before I came here, Aminu Maigari knows about this

Keshi

52

SPORT

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ghana in coaching dilemma for Nigeria friendly

Ronaldo

G First Bank players (Left) in action at the African zonal qualifiers

Africa Champions Cup: First Bank target third Africa trophy Ifeanyi Ibeh

R

eigning champions of the NBBF Zenith Bank Women’s Premier League, First Bank, have set their sights on winning a third African title at next month’s Africa Champions Cup for Women, holding in Tunisia.

The tournament holds from November 28 to December 7 in the Tunisian capital of Tunis with First Bank and Premier League arch-rivals Dolphins joining 10 other clubs to slug it out for the coveted trophy.

First Bank, who finished in second place behind Dolphins at the FIBA

Africa Zone 3 qualifiers concluded at the weekend in Burkina Faso, were African champions back in 2003 and 2009, in Mozambique and Benin Republic respectively.

And speaking at the end of the tournament in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou, coach of First Bank, Adewumi Aderemi, expressed his desire to lead his side to glory in Tunisia.

Aderemi said: “We picked one of the two tickets for the final round as against the situations in the past where FIBA Africa has had to grant us wildcards owing to our pedigree,” said the veteran Nigerian coach.

“But having secured a

direct ticket this time our aim is to lift our game and make our management and country proud.

“We want to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and FIBA Africa Zone3, and our simple goal is to win our third title because we believe we are due for it having won the title twice in the past, both of which were recorded on away soil.”

First Bank won the Nigerian league title for ten consecutive years before their record streak was punctured by First Deepwater in 2010. Aderemi however led the side to victory in 2014, seeing off Dolphins in a thrilling final earlier this year in Lagos.

hana are in a coaching dilemma ahead of next month’s friendly against Nigeria.

The Local Black Stars are expected to engage their Nigerian counterpart in an exhibition exercise to officially open the ultra-modern Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo on November 7.

But the team will be without their substantive coach Maxwell Konadu who will be preparing his side ahead of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations quali-

fier against Uganda.

With the Ghana FA yet to appoint Kwesi Appiah’s replacement, Maxwell Konadu’s attention will be divided as the match comes off just seven days before the Black Stars tackle the Cranes in a crucial qualifier in Kampala.

The situation means a replacement must be found to take charge of the team ahead of the high-profile friendly.

The match is timely for Ghana as players of the side are seeking matches to be active with the start

league hanging in the balance.

With the Local Black Stars seeking action to keep players active, the match has come as a timely boost for the side as they prepare for future assignments.

Nigeria last met Ghana in a competitive game in the semifinals of the African Nations Championship) hosted by South Africa in January and the Black Stars ran away with a 4-1 victory after penalty shootout. That game ended goalless in duration time.

Appeal committee shifts hearing till Nov 12 Comfort Chukwu Abuja

T

he Appeal Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation elections has postponed the hearing of the petitions against the outcome of the September 30 polls till November 12.

Barrister Iyke Igbokwe and Muazu Suleiman who contested in the election had approached the appeal committee to challenge the outcome of the election asking the committee to quash the results of the polls.

But after listening to their submission on Thursday in Abuja, the committee chairman, Barrister Okey Ajunwa, adjourned the hearing to November 12. Ajunwa said that the committee would invite the respondents in the case for their own submission before giving a judgement.

“There is no cause for alarm, we are going to invite the other parties to come and state their own position on the matter. I can assure Nigerians that we are going to do justice to this case and if there is enough evidence we can cancel the election,” he said.

All-Uniform Games organisers target Olympic medalists Charles Ogundiya

T

he organisers of the Nigerian All-Uniform Games holding in Kaduna have said the target of the competition is to raise athletes capable of winning medals for the country at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

According to the coordinator of the competition, which comes to an end on Friday (today), Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, who also doubles as the technical director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria, security men and women in Nigeria are planning to take back their rightful position in the country’s sports.

“In the past, people in uniform were the ones dominating sports in the country, so it is high time we take back our rightful position.

“We are planning and strategising that all security services in Nigeria should be able to produce an Olympic medalist in 2016.

“The plan is to use the Games to bring all the services together and identify the world beaters in these services and thereafter apply high performance training and support system on them to be able to make the podium in 2016,” he said.

The four-day championship featured eight sports, namely athletics, boxing, judo, taekwondo, wrestling, shooting, swimming and golf.

Akwa Ibom plans grand opening for stadium Charles Ogundiya

A

s part of efforts by the Akwa Ibom state government to give a befitting opening to the newly constructed Akwa Ibom International Stadium, the state has announced the stadium commissioning planning committee.

Major features of the committee include responsibilities that cut across Technical, Logistics, Media and Publicity, Sports content, Venue and facilities, security, protocol and ceremonial, Medi-

cal and secretariat.

The mobilisation committee has the commissioner for sports, local government and women among others. While the sports content committee has Commissioner for sports, ace journalist, Paul Bassey, permanent secretary and Director of Sports.

According to a press release, the event will have President Goodluck Jonathan in attendance.

The event also promises a lot of excitement that will showcase the best of Akwa Ibom culture.

Director of Promotions and Sponsored Assets, Globacom, Mr. Achuthan Kutty (second left) receiving the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick ( second right) at the Glo Heaquarters in Lagos. They are flanked by the First Vice President, Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Seyi Akinwumi (left) and the Director of Customer Care, Globacom, Maria Svensson (right).

Pinnicks visits Glo, eyes sustainable football culture

P

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, has promised that his board will give Nigeria a sustainable football culture.

The NFF President stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of Globacom in Lagos on Thursday alongside his first Vice President, Seyi Akinwumi and the director of marketing, Mr. Adama Idris.

“We congratulate Glo. We believe you should get double or tripple the value of what you have invested in football. We also appreciate Dr. Mike Adenu-

ga who is the Pillar of football on the continent and a rallying symbol. We promise a symbiotic relationship that would be mutually beneficial, and henceforth you will see visibly what your funds are being used for. We want to glow in every way,” the NFF President said.

Welcoming the NFF President earlier, the Director, Promotions & Sponsored Assets, Achuthan Kutty, congratulated him on his recent election and promised Globacom’s continued support to the Nigeria Football Federation at all times.

SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Mascherano beats Messi to Barca award

B

allon d’Or contender Javier Mascherano has been named Barcelona’s player of the 2013-14 season.

Lionel Messi had won three of the previous four editions of the ‘Memorial Aldo Rovira’ but he was beaten to the prize by his fellow Argentina international, who demonstrated

impressive consistency at the heart of the Blaugrana defence during a turbulent campaign that ended without the Catalans winning a major honour.

“I thank all of you who voted for me to receive this prize,” Mascherano is quoted as saying by the club’s official website. “We’ll try to continue doing things as well as we have

until now, with the same dedication while trying to stay faithful to what a club like this demands, which is a lot.”

The award is named after Aldo Rovira, a Barca club member who tragically died in an accident in 2009. The recipient of the accolade is decided by a jury of prominent figures from Barca and the Catalan media.

The versatile Mascherano, who is also deployed in midfield by Barca, arrived at Camp Nou from Liverpool in 2010.

The 30-year-old was linked with a move away from Catalunya at the end of last season but he signed a new contract on June 7 that binds him to the Blaugrana until 2018.

Lagos Squash Classics: England, Egypt emerge top seeds Emmanuel Tobi

E

ngland and Egypt have been seeded as the top teams in the men and women for the second edition of the Lagos International Squash Classics which serves off on Monday November 3 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The two nations were ranked tops following the rating of their players globally.

For England, Adrian Grant will hoist Britain’s flag in Lagos while the British-born is rated 24 in the world, while Egypt’s Heba El-Torky, who is ranked 28 in the world is the top seeded female player in the tournament.

Among the eight players seeded for the competition, other seeded male players apart

Raul joins New York Cosmos

F

ormer Real Madrid and Spain forward Raul has joined New York Cosmos for the 2015 season on a “multi-year” contract pending a medical, the North American Soccer League club said on Thursday.

As part of the deal, the terms of which were not disclosed, Raul, 37, will also become a technical adviser for the club’s youth academy, which he will take over on a full time basis when he retires

Mascherano (right)

NFF crisis: Danagogo hails President Jonathan’s intervention ports Minister and Chair- the president in the sport which S man National Sports Com- unifies the country led to the inmission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, vitation of the warring factions has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his timely intervention in the crisis rocking the Nigeria Football Federation which he said will be resolved before the expiration of the deadline given by FIFA to avoid its hammer falling on the country.

The minister said during the beginning of the retreat for the President Cup which he declared open in Abuja on Thursday that the interest of

in the NFF for a truce meeting which would lead to true reconciliation of the parties.

“I can assure you that Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief as the president, who is a strong supporter of our national teams met with the warring parties to ensure that Nigeria is not banned by FIFA”, Dr. Danagogo said to a resounding applause from the audience at the ceremony at the Media Centre of the Abuja National Stadium.

R

Kiprop

England’s Adrian Grant

CAF rates Akwa Ibom Stadium high

I

t is now of ficial.

The 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying cracker between the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana of South Africa will take place at the Akwa I b o m I n t e r n at i o n a l Stadium, Uyo. Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, Mr. Fred C re n t s i l , wh o w a s mandated by the Confederation of African Football to inspect the facility, has given the infrastr ucture very high marks.

World champions lead Obudu race cast eigning world mountain running champion, Isaac Kiprop of Uganda and winner of the 16th WMRA World Cup final, Petro Mamu Shaku of Eritrea will be among the cast of elite runners who will be competing for the $50,000 top prize on offer at the 10th Obudu international mountain race which holds next week Saturday at the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obudu, Cross River state.

Kiprop won the men’s senior race title at the 30th edition of the World Mountain Running Championships in Casette di Massa, Italy last month leads a strong Ugan-

from playing, Cosmos said on their website.

“Everyone throughout the soccer world knows the Cosmos name and the legacy of the players that played for this team previously,” Raul said.

“They helped establish soccer in America and I’m honoured to follow in their footsteps,” he added.

“I believe in this club’s vision and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

from Grant, are Egypt’s Omar Abdel Meguid, Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal, South Africa’s Shaun Le Roux, Egypt’s Karim Ali Fathi, Pakistan’s Farhan Zaman and his compatriot, Danish Atlas Khan as well as Wales’ Peter Creed. The only Nigerian playing from the main draw is Babatunde Ajagbe.

Egypt’s El-Torky will lead other top female from the globe to the $40,000 prize money tournament, which has the sanction of Professional Squash Association and Women Squash Professional Association.

Qualifiers for the tournament will commence on Monday November 3 with 16 players competing for the four slots available in the main draw.

The prize money in men’s category is $25,000 while the women will jostle for the $15,000 prize money at stake.

dan team that will also include the duo of Daniel Rotich who finished runner-up to Kirop in Italy last month and Kibet Soyekwo who came third to complete an Ugandan clean sweep of medals at the championships.

Petro, who together with his country man, Teklay Weldemariam raced to gold and silver medal glory at the 28th edition of the World Mountain Running Championships in Vallecamonic, Italy two years ago and claimed the gold medal at the 16th WMRA World Cup final will also lead a strong Eritrean team to the championships.

“You guys have a wo n d e r f u l f a c i l i t y here. It is one of the best I have seen anywhere around Africa and elsewhere. It is of the same standard and mould as Soccercity (the main stadium in Johannesburg that hosted the final match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals) with a lower capacity.

“I am particularly a m a z e d t h at t h e re are provisions for the physically –challenged persons. Everything is taken care of here. I

am hugely impressed,” Crentsil said in Uyo on Thursday.

The CAF official inspected the stadium as well as hotel facilities in the Akwa Ibom State capital, in company with the NFF’s Assistant Director of Competitions, Mr. Bola Oyeyode.

NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick had, after inspecting the magnificent facility three weeks ago, announced that the venue would host the Super Eagles, Bafana Bafana clash.

Vettel’s brother starts racing career

Vettel

S

ebastian Vettel’s younger brother Fabian Vettel is kicking off his own motor racing career.

Vettel, once photographed as a child playing with a remote control car in the F1 paddock, is now 15 and embarking on a foray in Poland’s Volk-

swagen Golf Cup. Germany’s Sport Bild said the young Vettel tested a car at the Lausitzring in Germany, saying afterwards: “It was faster than I expected, although it just looks like a normal Golf.

“For me it was the first time I’ve driven a race car with gear paddles, but the brakes were the most impressive. I did my laps with no problems and had a lot of fun.”

Sport Bild said Vettel jr’s outing was a precursor to the 2015 season, which takes place mostly in eastern Europe with the more than 300hp cars.

54

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

55

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

Of bank loans, alms and defections Vantage

Point EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com

T

he hoopla that greeted the recent announcement by All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, that he secured a bank loan to purchase nomination forms from his party was hardly surprising. A good look at the criticisms that trailed the announcement showed that Nigerians have become quite conscious of developments in the polity and would be very willing to take up any matter they feel strongly about.

Yes, it was proper for Nigerians to have criticised Buhari for making recourse to the bank to fund his political ambition. Afterall, it is right for people to ask a politician why he decided to take a loan at an outrageous interest rate to fund a risky win-or-lose venture.

To me, political parties in Nigeria should not make the process a matter for the highest bidder. I found the comment by APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that the high nomination fees charged by the party, especially for its presidential ticket, was meant to separate the men from the boys rather strange.

By placing a high monetary value on the nomination process, political parties cheapen rather than strengthen it. Even Buhari complained about the high cost of the forms, showing that it was not something as easy as turning the process into a class contest.

It was in the same light that I found President Goodluck Jonathan’s recourse to alms (or is it donations) to purchase his form somewhat ridiculous. When has it become fashionable for ordinary Nigerians, including widows and unemployed youths, to fund a politician’s quest? My immediate response was: Tell it to the marines!

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party put together N22 million, in a season of dwindling allocations to their states.

Some of these governors have not even paid workers’ salaries; yet they could raise money to fund Jonathan’s purchase of nomination forms.

It only exposed the hollowness of our leaders and their penchant for showmanship at the expense of deep and quality thinking.

Curiously, none of the critics of Buhari’s loan has spoken out against Jonathan’s recourse to alms to fund the purchase of forms.

What does that show us? Our leaders find different ways to milk ordinary Nigerians dry while they pretend to be in solidarity with their sad condition.

Let me say straight off that neither Buhari’s loan nor Jonathan’s alms make good sense to me. You don’t adopt ridiculous methods to fund political ambitions.

All that could have made sense was for some wealthy friends of both men to come out and say they were funding

the ambition of their choice aspirant.

Simple!

This is one critical area that the Independent National Electoral Commission needs to look into. Funding of nomination processes shouldn’t be turned into an affair for moneybags so that our young democracy can grow.

Though elections are not for the fainthearted, the process should also not be devalued. Emphasis ought to be placed on the value that each aspirant intends to add to nation and not how much cash he or she can throw around. I know of instances of politicians who sold their properties and borrowed heavily to fund their aspirations and ended up in huge debts. Some were financially ruined and have been unable to find their feet.

This also makes corruption attractive as public office-holders with the ambition to get another term in office would readily loot the allocations to their offices.

INEC needs to consult widely on this issue in order to preserve the sanctity of the electoral process and make it more value-driven.

I also find repulsive the fact that political parties have abandoned the agelong practice of funding their activities through membership dues and sundry fundraisers. I challenge any party in Nigeria today to publish its statement of accounts and show Nigerians how much it has made from membership dues. How much tax have they paid on finances generated from membership dues and fundraising activities? Nigerians would like to know.

I find it quite ridiculous that the PDP made provision for only one presidential nomination form for Jonathan and shut out other aspirants. The rush to endorse him ahead of the commencement of INEC’s 2015 elections timetable was unlawful and immoral. For a party willing to show that it abides by the Rule of Law, it shouldn’t have shut out other willing contenders like Dr. Abdul Jahil Tafawa-Balewa, the son of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasuba Duke-Abiola, widow of the late Chief MKO Abiola, from the race.

Both aspirants went through the process of paying for the requisite forms at their respective banks only to get to the PDP National Headquarters and be told that they could not be given forms. It was all the more spiteful for them to be told that only one set of forms was provided for the presidential ticket.

Now, this belies President Jonathan’s claim to inclusiveness and transparent governance. I’m amazed that women’s groups have not marched in protest at the exclusion of one of theirs by the PDP. It shows how poorly we rate sensitive issues like gender discrimination.

Duke-Abiola’s case is a clear viola-

INEC needs to consult widely on this issue in order to preserve the sanctity of the electoral process and make it more value-driven tion of Part II Article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

It states: “States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right: (a) To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies; (b) To participate in the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government; (c) To participate in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country.

Nigeria signed this convention on April 23, 1984 and ratified it on June 13, 1985. Duke-Abiola’s case should interest women groups in Nigeria and around the world, especially at a time that Brazil’s female president, Dilma Rousseff, has just secured a second term after a keenly contested runoff.

She garnered 51.6% of the total votes cast to beat her male rival, Aecio Neves, who got 48.4%.

Though the margin was slim but it showed that Brazil is a nation that

Jonathan

Buhari

has got over primordial sentiments and discrimination against women.

No wonder Brazil is a major economic power in the world today.

Since the PDP allowed Dr. Sarah Jibril to contest its primaries in 2011, why did it shut the door against Duke-Abiola? Was it for fear of an Abiola coming to power in Nigeria? Was it for fear that she might upset some calculations?

Whatever the reason, it is a minus that the ruling party in the nation has not been able to overcome discrimination and exclusion in any form.

This brings me to the issue of defections. On Tuesday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, defected from PDP to APC. He said he had to take the step to ensure his political survival and strengthen the nation’s democracy.

The hurried withdrawal of his security aides by the presidency follows a pattern of pettiness which began under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Anytime Obasanjo had any issue with a public office-holder, the first thing he did was to withdraw that person’s security. What was the intent? To expose that person to danger? The current government has followed that same pattern of pettiness. No wonder Nigeria is a laughing stock in the international community because of the high level of hypocrisy and disregard for basic rules by its leaders.

Other sitting elected officials have defected from PDP and their security was not withdrawn. The minute Tambuwal did so, the presidency went into over-drive. Whoever gave the order for the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security aides has added to the poor rating of this administration in the international community. People with a sense of mission know that where there is a dispute, you take the most sensible option of going to court.

But for the Inspector-General of Police, Abba Suleiman, to now assume the role of an interpreter of the law, when we have a Mohammed Adoke as the sitting Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, is quite unfortunate. It amounts to one thing: Leaders taking the laws into their hands.

The same thing was done to Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso, when he announced Mallam Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano. Perhaps, the intention was that the people of Kano could be stirred into violence and then invade the Government House, Kano to attack the governor. Sadly for them, their plan failed as Sanusi was widely accepted by the people of Kano.

This is one of the reasons for the call for state police. We cannot continue to live in a country with a federal police.

The police must be decentralised so that we can stop living with this lie that Nigeria is not ripe for it.

When will our leaders learn? Time will tell.

BTW: When will Nigerian football cease to be a problem to the international community? It’s so bad that CAF President, Issa Hayatou, recently told Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, that Nigeria’s recurring football crisis had become an embarrassment to the international community. It’s a crying shame that successive governments and Nigerian football handlers have been unable to straighten out the challenges of the sector. It has all been about selfish interests. I hope reason prevails someday!!!

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

I love new clothes. If everyone could just wear new clothes everyday, I reckon depression wouldn’t exist anymore.

– Sophie Kinsella

World Record

The Mosque of Uqba (670 AD) aka the Great Mosque of Kairouan, Tunisia, is one of the oldest mosques in the world.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2014

N150

Education for liberation in Nigeria

C

ontemporary watchers of Nigerian Educational system are almost unanimous in their condemnation of the crises in the educational sector, and its inevitable corollary, the declining standard or quality of education. The effect of the continuing rot started manifesting early in the late 1980s both as brain drain of academics and professionals emigrating abroad, and in the form of Nigerian students enrolling in universities elsewhere in Africa, Europe, Asia and America. The latest in this preferred admission destination is Ghana, that has converted Education into a veritable source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). In the last count, about 8 billion naira of Nigerians’ hard earned money is in custody in Ghana, mainly from tuition, accommodation and sundry charges paid

by Nigerian students in Ghana. In those days of Ghana must go, where Ghanaian nationals resident in Nigeria, were forced to leave under the Shagari Presidency, who would ever imagine that Nigeria’s Anglophone brothers will in less than 2 decades, turn to be an exemplar of quality education and good governance. Togo and Benin Republic have also become places of interest for young Nigerians seeking University education.

This is not to overlook the number of Nigerian students in Europe, Asia and the Americas. It is not the number departing our shores for higher education that is the source of anxiety, but the fact that there is a growing awareness that our schools are anything but schools. From primary to university, the sorry and despicable state of affairs stare you in the face. Primary and Secondary public schools are no more than poultry houses, lacking in all the basic and necessary facilities, infrastructure and personnel. Even the private institutions that have become business centres, carry and go certificate factories, do not provide any appealing alternative.

Nigerian school system is a shambles, the quality of its products eliciting unsavory remarks from employers. In truth, what is being observed in the education sector is not an isolated or episodic event. It is tied intricately to the larger society, or the Nigerian social system. It has a history.

Nigerian University system, although a product of colonialism, took off on a high pedestal. The University College Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Universities of Lagos, Ife and Ahmadu Bello University, and other Universities founded in the 60s and early 80s were known to have produced quality graduates even by global standards, could compare with other universities abroad. Infact, in those days, some universities in America, Philippines, and India were unrecognized in Nigeria. While education in the colonial era was used by nationalists for political and even cultural emancipation, this unfortunately could not be sustained following the long period of militarization of the polity, the corruption and criminalization of the state, the building of hatred, mutual suspicious and intensification of the divide between Nigerians arising from malignant ethnicity, and religious bigotry.

The universal primary education scheme succeeded in expanding access to education, but quality of what is being taught became suspect, as overnight teach-

Ivory Glory NKEMDILI NNONYELU aunnonyelu@yahoo.co.uk 08122801926 (sms only)

Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Education (Nigeria)

Prof. Jane Nana Opoku-Agyemang, Minister of Education (Ghana)

ers emerged from New Teacher Training Colleges to fill in the gaps. School enrolment increase did not go side by side with expansion of facilities. Proliferation of universities and other tertiary institutions took place without adequate preparation.

Critical areas that required attention in term of manpower development, curriculum relevance and the overall objectives of education were not addressed. The result has been very poor funding of education, and a consequential deterioration of facilities, de-motivation of personnel, and desertion of schools. As the society regressed, so also was education adversely affected.

More than 10 million Nigerians of school going age are out of schools. Nigerians are being ravaged by palpable ignorance, superstition and illiteracy, where 55 per cent of about 85 million Nigerians are stark illiterates. Average life expectancy is about 47 years, while more than 130 million Nigerians live below the poverty line. ’’Brief Illness’’ and several other diseases continue to send millions of Nigerians to their untimely deaths. The situation in the country over the years has become so tragic that the country is variously described as the ‘‘grave yard’’ ‘’refugee camp’’ or den of corruption’’ The net effect of all these is reflected in the palpable loss of self confidence, dignity and efficacy.

In response to the afore stated decay, university staff unions namely; Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); and Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have come together to convene the mother of all Summits in Abuja that will give birth to a new system of education for Liberation in Nigeria. The conference attracted

the cream of Nigerian academics from the over one hundred and twenty universities in the country. The summit was chaired

by Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, of Havard University USA, while Prof PAI Obanya was the keynote speaker. Conspicuously missing in this historic harvest of ideas was the Minister of Education, and the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission. Participants were dismayed that an epochal event, as game changing as the current summit, could not compel the attention of the managers of Nigerian Education system, then of what use would the report of this summit be. Dipo Fashina, the covener (chairman) of the Planning Committee set the tone with his inspiring welcome address, reiterating on the theme of the conference. The gist of the discourses centred on a philosophy of education that will fully free the individual, group and society at large.

The new concept of liberating education that is being advocated shall arm the individual with the qualities to understand the environment better, his place and role, his capacity and willingness to identify with other progressive social forces to dismantle oppressive social system. It is the type of self reliant education that releases the creative energies of the individual, enables him to confront the apparatuses of domination, freeing himself and the society from multi-faceted bondages, while allowing him the opportunity of a voyage of discovery and self realization. It shall challenge and dethrone the existing “apartheid” between public and private primary and secondary schools, and the offensive narrative of pedagogy of the oppressed that Nigerian public schools have come to symbolize. Liberating education shall indeed transcend the current practice of certification of ignorance, or crass creden-

tialism, where acquisition of certificates through all type of examination, no matter how shoddy and irrelevant, has become the driving mantra.

Education for liberation shall seek to deconstruct, or rather reconceptualise education, promoting a new philosophy of education founded on new ethical values and precepts with a fundamental questioning of the Nigerian State – its cronyism and clientelism, its rentier character driven by unbridled and comprehensive corruption of the political and Civil Service elite. In this type of education, efforts are made to think out of the box, and move beyond the usual conventional methods of Course delivery. Liberation Education will question the whole essence and goal of education – education of whom, by whom and for what purposes? The political economy of education shall be unraveled with a view to making it a vehicle of freedom and transformation of society, no longer for the perpetuation of inequality. This new form of education shall be all inclusive and all embracing.

Given the enormity of the task, the depth of the decay, I am not deceived that the ensemble of social and political forces will very easily welcome the realization of this new form of education, that will liberate the head, mind and soul.

Entrenched stakeholders in government and other business circles, even within the rank of the university unions will put up stiff resistance. The rate at which we compromise values, abandon struggles is sickening. Nigeria is perhaps the easiest country to govern. We are too complacent, even complicit, as we easily join the tribe of oppressors. Nigerian political elite agree on one thing, the contintued impoverishment of the masses, despite pretensions to the contrary and the disused, worn out phase “Dividend of Democracy”.

Decades of bad governance of making citizens slaves have ensured that Nigerian citizens are now voiceless acquiescing only to banal sentiments as in the immediacy of stomach infrastructure. If the current efforts at repositioning Nigeria’s educational system are to succeed, then ASUU and its sister unions must do a soul searching.

Its leadership must rise above majority of its members that may want to drag it back and reverse the hand of clock. After all, the union itself must note that while government is the major culprit in the rot that has eaten deep into Nigerian educational system, some of its members, are willing accomplices. The case of the Accreditation exercises where some universities indulge in sharp practices borrowing all necessary items – infrastructure, personnel, and patients in some cases, to scale through the hurdle of Accreditation is instructive. Some Accreditation Teams condone this obvious perversion of a process that should strengthen quality and standards. ASUU and its allies must prepare to wean themselves properly of any debilitating moral burden. To revolutionize education as the union seeks to do, outcome of the Summit must produce a new pedagogy that stimulates the critique of established practices, beliefs and values even widely accepted truths. If need be, the Unions must get ready to be involved in political actions that will change permanently the specter of education in Nigeria.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322,

by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.