Binder1234567890 wednesday, december 10, 2014

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NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

/newtelegraph

Vol. 1 No. 295

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

Strike: fuel price rises to N110 per litre }5

PDP calls opposition to debate

lJonathan not desperate to win, says presidency Onyekachi Eze and Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday

challenged the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to a debate on the state of the nation.

The party, which said the two leading presidential aspirants of the oppo-

sition party, Major General Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, were no match for President Goodluck Jonathan, who is the PDP's consensus candidate, also urged

the opposition to focus on issued-based campaign in the forthcoming general election.

PDP, at a news conference in Abuja addressed CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

All Progressives Congress RESULT OF KANO APC GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY 1. DR. ABDULLAHI UMAR GANDUJE - 5,588 VOTES 2. BRIGADIER GENERAL LAWAL JAFARU ISA - 126 VOTES 3. INVALID - 30 votes

TOTAL

- 5, 744 votes

APC: The big fight

}13 lIt's Buhari vs Atiku lKwankwaso, Okorocha, Nda-Isaiah also in race lFactors that will swing victory

Business }33

editorial }19

Travel Advisory Guide to local and international flights }4

2

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

3

4

Travel Advisory

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE 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 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 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 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 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 AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

British Airways flights from Nigeria (Mon - Sun) Flight path

Departure

Arrival

Lagos (LOS) to London Heathrow (LHR)

23.30hrs

05.30hrs

Abuja (ABV) to London Heathrow (LHR)

08.00hrs

14.00hrs

Flight path

Departure

Arrival

London Heathrow (LHR) to Lagos (LOS)

11.00hrs

17.30hrs

London Heathrow (LHR) to Abuja (ABV)

00.00hrs

06.00hrs

British Airways flights to Nigeria

Daily flights from Nigeria (Lagos, Abuja) (Mon - Sun) Airliner

Airports

Departure

Arrival

Arik Air

London to Lagos

21:30hrs

03.30hrs

Arik Air

Lagos (LOS) to New York (JFK)

23:35hrs

05:30hrs (NY time)

Arik Air

New York (JFK) to Lagos

12:00hrs (NY time)

06:00hrs (Nig. time)

Delta Airlines

Atlanta to Lagos

23:00hrs

16:00hrs

Delta Airlines

Lagos to Atlanta

22:20hrs

05:30hrs

Emirates Airlines

Lagos to Dubai

14:30hrs;

12:50hrs

KLM

Lagos to Amsterdam

23:10hrs

05:10hrs

KLM

Amsterdam to Lagos

11:30hrs

05:30hrs

Virgin Atlantic

Lagos to London

11:00hrs

17:00hrs

Lufthansa

Abuja to Frankfurt

23.10hrs

05.10hrs

Lufthansa

Lagos to Frankfurt

21.00hrs

03.00hrs

South Africa Airways

Lagos to Johannesburg

22.15hrs

03.15hrs (SA time)

United Airlines

Lagos to Housten, Texas

22:10hrs

-

Fly Direct

Air France

Abuja to Paris

23:55hrs

05:55hrs

Air France

Lagos to Paris

21:20hrs

03:21hrs

Ethiopia Airways

Abuja to Addis Ababa

20.10hrs (Nig Time)

00.10hrs (Addis time)

Ethiopia Airways

Lagos to Addis Ababa

14:00hrs (Nig Time)

18:00hrs (Addis time)

At the time of publication, the only direct flights between the United States and Morocco are those operated by Royal Air Maroc between New York JFK and Casablanca. This flight runs at least three times a week and often more frequently; check the Royal Air Maroc website (royalairmaroc.com) for the most up-to-date flight schedule.

Qatar Airways

Lagos to Doha

14.23hrs

-

Air Maroc

Lagos to Casablanca

06:25 hrs

12:45 hrs

Etihad

Lagos to Abu Dhabi

09:50hrs

-

Air Ivoire

Lagos to Abidjan

10:15hrs (Sun and Mon)

-

Cam Air

Lagos to Yaounde

15:25hrs (Mon, Tues and Wed)

How to Travel to Morocco From the USA Morocco takes up the northwest corner of Africa, covering an area slightly larger than California. It enjoys good weather and is rich in heritage and culture, with nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the famous medinas, or historic centers, of Fez and Marrakech. U.S. passport holders do not need a visa to visit Morocco as long as your stay is for less than 90 days. To reach Morocco, your only option is to fly.

Fly via Europe Flying via Europe really opens up your travel options to Morocco and provides the opportunity to add a European city to your itinerary. In addition to the main airport in Casablanca, Morocco has airports at Agadir, Fez, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Rabat and Tangier. These alternative destinations are accessible from a variety of European cities. For example, if you fly via Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport you can choose from onward flights to Casablanca, Nador, Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir.

Other possible transit cities include London, Frankfurt and Paris.

Flight Times Flying from New York to Casablanca is a long-distance flight, so be prepared. Your flight time is likely to be around six hours.

The flights leave New York in the early evening, but the difference in time zones means that you’ll arrive at around 6.30 a.m., feeling like it’s the early hours of the morning. From Europe, flights are a lot shorter. Expect a flight from Amsterdam to Tangier to take just over two hours, although the longer journey to Agadir in the Morocco south will take more than five hours.

Domestic Flights Once you’re in Morocco, most destinations are accessible by public transportation or rental car, making air travel an option only for the longest journeys. Rough Guides recommends considering taking a flight to Laayoune or Dakhla in the Western Sahara due to the distances involved. However, internal flights are often delayed and can be quite expensive, so it’s worth looking at Moroccan trains and buses before making your journey plans.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

5

Soldiers kill 27 Boko Haram, recover more territories Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

he military has stepped up air and land onslaughts against Boko Haram in its resolve to rout them in the NorthEast, which has been under severe attacks from the outlawed group since 2009.

Over 27 Boko Haram members have been killed in separate encounters with troops in Balmo, Hildi and Lame Forest, all in Adamawa, Bauchi and Borno states.

The Defence Headquarters' (DHQ), tweets from its Twitter handle yesterday, said troops had since recaptured the aforementioned territories.

The posts did not, however, indicate when the battles took place.

Also captured, according to the posts by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, were assorted rifles, ammunition, as well as sketches and list of communities earmarked for attacks.

The fierce battles also left six soldiers wounded, while fleeing insurgents are being pursued.

According to the DHQ, "The campaign against terrorist activities is continuing with air and land operations being conducted in various theatres in parts of the country."

On the Balmo battle, it said: "Over 20 terrorists lost their lives in this encounter, while some were reported wounded.

"Troops recovered a number of rifles and motorcycles after a stiff resistance by terrorists was crushed."

During the fierce fighting to retake Lame Forest, the DHQ said six soldiers were wounded.

"Troops in pursuit of terrorists caught up with them around Hildi. In the ensuing encounter, over seven terrorists lost their lives.

"A total of five rifles, hundreds of rounds of ammunition and arrows were recovered from them. Also recovered from the fleeing terrorists were some docu-

ments, including sketches, lists of communities apparently slated for attack," it stated.

A military source, who

spoke on the latest turning of tide against Boko Haram, said: "What you are seeing is an indication that we are getting close to

winning this war.

"When the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah, pledged that in no

time, the military will make Nigerians happy, some of you chose not to believe him.

"Any attacks by the ter-

rorists you hear now, are just isolated attacks, which they may unleash as they flee from our heightened offensives against them."

R -L: Chief host, Bishop Mathew Kukah; President Goodluck Jonathan; former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and representative of Sultan of Sokoto, the Andoma of Doma, Alhaji Ahmedu Aliyu Ogar, at the launch of Kukah Centre in Abuja...yesterday.

PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

Strike: Fuel price hits N110 per litre lNNPC cautions against hoarding, panic buying Adeola Yusuf

P

etrol yesterday sold for N110 per litre as scarcity, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), blamed on panic buying and hoarding, bit harder in Lagos and environs.

Many petrol stations did not open yesterday for business as the warning strike embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) entered its first day.

Oil workers, under the aegis of the PENGASSAN, had on Monday announced plans to shut down all oil and gas instal-

lations nationwide due to anti-labour activities of some employers in the sector.

The union, in a statement, listed anti-labour activities, which its members are protesting against, to include unjust delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and retardation of staff promotion in the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).

The strike was largely blamed on the artificial scarcity resulting from the actions of marketers, who hoarded products and the motorists who engaged in panic buying.

A drive from Ikeja

through Ojota towards Ikorodu Road showed long queues for fuel at few fillings stations that were dispensing the product.

A filling station in Ikeja was selling petrol only to black marketers who in turn sold to motorists at N110 per litre.

Another filling station in Ota also sold the product at N110 to motorists.

Although N97 per litre was still displayed on the fuel pump at the filling station, all the attendants at the station were selling the product at N110 per litre when New Telegraph visited.

“All the filling stations around here were selling

fuel this morning but now they have stopped selling fuel and we continue to wonder what suddenly happened to their stock between this morning and now,” a motorist who simply identified himself as Bolajoko told New Telegraph.

“Why must there be fuel scarcity anytime that we are approaching the festive period? We learnt that the NNPC has done what it is supposed to do and as a result, there is fuel in stock everywhere. But the question is why these oil workers picked this time for their strike must is a big puzzle? I think that something is wrong some-

where,” he said.

However, NNPC yesterday allayed fears over fuel supply in the country.

The management of the corporation and its downstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), said in a statement by NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, that it had over 32 days ample stock of petroleum products to last the nation beyond the yuletide.

It urged motorists in Lagos and its environs not to engage in panic buying and warned fuel dealers against hoarding.

Democracy is not all about politicians abusing themselves – Jonathan Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday urged members of the political class to eschew politics of quarrelling, saying that “democracy is not all about politicians abusing themselves.”

The president made the call at the official presentation of The Kukah Centre in Abuja.

He said: “I think we are over defining our democracy today by quarreling as if democracy is all about competitors quarreling like motor park workers who always quarrel.”

Jonathan added that democracy should rather

be about discussing issues and ideas on how to change the lives of the people.

“I believe that our democracy should be strengthened by robust debates on the generation of innovative ideas, development, patriotism and progress in our country," he stated.

While thanking Nigerians for all their sup-

port and steadfastness, he called on them to see the forthcoming elections period as “another opportunity for us to renew our commitment to deepening our democracy and strengthening our bond of unit.”

“Democracy is not just about political parties or politicians; no, it is not just about winning or los-

ing elections; democracy is about freedom, our development and above all the forwarding of our civilisation and encouragement of creativity.

“It is in this regard that we must seek to identify and support the growth of structures and institutes that will help to strengthen our democracy to meet our aspirations as a people,” he

added.

The president described the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Hassan Matthew Kukah, who is the brain behind the centre, is a great man with great vision.

Earlier, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, had urged Nigerians “to remain vigilant and be their neighbours’ keeper.

News

6

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Why I criticise Jonathan publicly, by Obasanjo lDefends book launch despite court injunction lEx-president is lawless, says Kashamu Tony Okuyeme, Temitope Ogunbanke and Kunle Olayeni

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday defended his criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan in public in recent time despite having access to him.

Obasanjo, at the launch of his three-volume memoir, My Watch, in Lagos, said he decided to go public because Jonathan lacked receptive ears.

The former president in his book also launched broadsides against the president, former VicePresident Atiku Abubakar; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel and former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

Obasanjo, in his speech at the occasion, said: “You will see a few letters I put in the book that were correspondences between me and the president and how I described my frustration of going privately to the president, taking up issues with him and getting no reaction.

“When I was president, I had my predecessors who would come to me, some with written notes and I would give answers and react and if I cannot give answers and react there immediately, I will say: ‘give me time, let me do something’ and I would react.

“That’s the way I believe it should be. He should be able to come, talk to me and I give you an answer.

You would see in the book some of my reactions in the past. So if you have audience but you have no receptive ears, then you must have another way of communication. That’s what has happened,” he said.

Obasanjo while reacting to a court injunction against the publication of the book secured by the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP) South-West Chairman of Mobilisation and Organisation Committee, Mr. Buruji Kashamu, said he refused to obey the court injunction because he completed the production of the book three weeks before the presentation.

“The book had been printed and published before that man went to court. I don’t regard that.

Another thing you don’t know is that the man went to court and today (the day the book was presented) was fixed for hearing.

“After that, he went to another judge to get injunction at 5pm on Friday.

What is that? If there is anything illegal, you know I won’t be part of it. We are here lawfully, legally and we will continue to act lawfully and legally,” he said.

But Kashamu criticised

Obasanjo's action and threatened to sue him for contempt of court.

Kashamu, in a statement in Abeokuta, said he had already instructed his lawyers to press criminal contempt charges against the ex-president.

He also described Obasanjo as "lawless," saying his disregard for the judiciary was "indecent and uncivilised."

Obasanjo, in the book, attacked Jonathan, Atiku, el-Rufai, Daniel and those he alleged to have worked against the progress of Nigeria.

He, however, described Buhari as someone who “would not be a good economic manager” though he would be “a strong, almost inflexible, courageous and firm leader.”

The former president described Atiku as a ‘bla-

tant and shameless liar” and accused him of being the main architect of the alleged third term saga.

Obasanjo, in an attempt to exonerate himself from the third term agenda, said: “Those who can be regarded as influential and who have publicly accused me of allegedly manipulating for a third term were Atiku Abubakar, who is a blatant and shameless liar who was behind the whole episode of turning wholesome constitutional amendments efforts of the National Assembly to a futile exercise and as a means of riding on its ashes to be a Nigerian president; Nasir el-Rufai, a brilliant man, economical with truth and without substantiating his claim in his book and has a track record of a turncoat.”

Obasanjo criticised

Daniel, saying; “Daniel is shifty, dubious and believes he is the cleverest human being on earth.”

Obasanjo also exonerated himself from any blame in the poor state of the nation despite being the sponsor of the Yar’Adua/ Jonathan presidency.

On the second term bid of Jonathan, he said: “Even if legally and constitutionally Jonathan could go for a second term, morally, ethically, he cannot because he voluntarily gave that up even before he was voted in for the first term.

I hope he was not playing a game of deceit then. If he reneges, on whatever grounds, he would have mortally impaired himself as an untrustworthy man; deceitful, selfish and unreliable, and would say anything to achieve his interests."

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

31oC

26oC

Partially Cloudy

ABUJA

36oC

20oC

Sunny

PORT HARCOURT

25o C 18oC L-R: Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe; Managing Director, Infrastructure Bank, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye and Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, Mrs. Bola Adesola, at the signing of agreement between Infrastructure Bank and a consortium of banks on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project in Lagos…yesterday.

Storms

KANO

34oC

13oC

Sunny

Jonathan not desperate to win 2015 election CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ENUGU

o

34 C

o

23 C

Mostly Sunny

IBADAN

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

CALABAR

30o C 23oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

35oC 15oC Sunny

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said the national debate should be "based on who is best for this country in terms of unity of this nation; who is best to stabilise our public policy and who is best to lead us to prosperity. On those three and other issues, we will debate whoever the candidate of APC is."

He expressed confidence that President Goodluck Jonathan will win the 2015 presidential election because of his popularity.

The party's confidence in the president's chances came just as the presidency dismissed insinuations that Jonathan is desperate

to win the next presidential election.

Comparing the president with Buhari and Atiku, Metuh said the duo combined was no match for Jonathan.

"We have a very good product to sell to Nigerians. We are today sending notice to the opposition party, the APC, to expect a crushing defeat at the poll.

"For us in the PDP, we are certain that with the grassroots support and love we enjoy from Nigerians across board, President Goodluck Jonathan will secure an emphatic victory against any presidential candidate of the APC or all the candidates put together as one," he

said.

On the national convention of the party, which commences today, Metuh said three national officers of the party who joined National Working Committee (NWC) after the 2012 national convention would be formally elected while the 3,037 delegates would also ratify the nomination of Jonathan as PDP's presidential candidate.

Those whose positions would be ratified at the convention are the National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu; National Secretary, Professor Wale Oladipo and National Auditor, Adewale Adeyanju.

Meanwhile, the presidency has dismissed in-

sinuations by the opposition that the president is hungry for power.

According to the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, Jonathan, who is seeking a second term in office, is in the race as a matter of principle.

He said at the 4th and 14th anniversary and Annual Public Lecture and Award Ceremony organised by the Nigerian Pilot newspaper and Nigerian Newsworld magazine in Abuja that the president was not a man desperate for power.

He spoke against the backdrop of criticisms of perceived clampdown

on APC members by security agents who raided the party's data centre and detained its officials.

Okupe also dismissed Buhari, considered to be the preferred candidate of the APC, saying he is no match for the president as he has no record of winning elections.

While reacting to the lecture delivered titled: Nigeria After 2015: Issues and Challenges, and delivered by former Governor of Edo State, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, Dr. Okupe said the greatest challenge that the nation would face after 2015 elections was the ability of politicians to accept the outcome of the election.

7

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Central Bank of Nigeria In furtherance of the transparency and full disclosure stance of the Central bank of Nigeria, the Monetary Policy Committee has decided that henceforth the lending rates obtainable in all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) be made public to guide business decisions. Consequently, find below the applicable rates for each of the DMBs as at December 5, 2014. The rates will also be available on the website of the Central Bank of Nigeria Deposit S/N

NAME OF BANK

Demand Savings Deposit Deposit Ave.Int Rate

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Access Bank Citi Bank Nigeria Diamond Bank Ecobank Nigeria Enterprise Bank Ltd FCMB Fidelity Bank First Bank of Nigeria Heritage Bank Guaranty Trust Bank Keystone Bank Ltd MainStreet Bank Ltd Skye Bank Stanbic IBTC Bank Standard Chartered Bank Sterling Bank Union Bank United Bank for Africa Unity Bank Wema Bank Zenith Bank

0.07 2.30 1.13 0.01 0.20 0.81 2.00 0.50 0.50 0.10 0.77 1.25 0.50 0.04 0.5-1.00 1.56 0.50

Ave.Int Rate 3.33 3.90 3.90 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.90 3.60 3.99 3.60 3.20 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.90 3.60 3.60 3.74 3.60

Lending Rate Time Deposit Ave.Int Rate 10.94 6.30 11.33 9.97 7.13 10.00 10.50 9.14 11.48 7.40 7.68 10.32 10.26 8.77 8.60 8.37 9.33 9.39 3.5-11.00 10.01 8.00

Agriculture Prime 7.00 16.00 14.00 19.00 25.00 17.50 6.00 9.00 22.00 7.00 n/a 16.28 14.00 5.50 13.00 7.00 24.00 7.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

Max. 25.00 21.00 22.00 30.00 29.00 25.00 26.00 24.00 27.00 25.00 n/a 27.00 14.00 28.00 16.00 26.00 24.00 24.00 30.00 24.00 18.00

Mining & Quarrying Prime

Max.

16.00 17.00 28.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 22.00 19.00 16.28 25.00 16.00 13.00 16.00 24.00 20.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

21.00 25.00 30.00 29.00 10.55 26.00 26.00 27.00 25.00 24.00 27.00 28.00 27.00 16.00 28.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 23.00 23.00

Deposit S/N

NAME OF BANK

Demand Savings Deposit Deposit Ave.Int Rate

l 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Access Bank Citi Bank Nigeria Diamond Bank Ecobank Nigeria Enterprise Bank Ltd FCMB Fidelity Bank First Bank of Nigeria Heritage Bank Guaranty Trust Bank Keystone Bank Ltd MainStreet Bank Ltd Skye Bank Stanbic IBTC Bank Standard Chartered Bank Sterling Bank Union Bank United Bank for Africa Unity Bank Wema Bank Zenith Bank

0.07 2.30 1.13 0.01 0.20 0.81 2.00 0.50 0.50 0.10 0.77 1.25 0.50 0.04 0.5-1.00 1.56 0.50

Ave.Int Rate 3.33 3.90 3.90 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.90 3.60 3.99 3.60 3.20 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.60 3.90 3.60 3.60 3.74 3.60

Oil & Gas Prime 13.00 16.00 17.00 17.50 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 8.00 19.00 16.28 25.00 16.00 15.00 16.50 24.00 16.50 24.00 25.00 17.00

Manufacturing

Max.

Prime

25.00 21.00 25.00 30.50 29.00 25.50 26.00 26.00 27.00 25.00 24.00 27.00 28.00 27.00 19.00 27.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 22.00 24.00

7.00 16.00 17.00 14.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 4.00 19.00 16.28 25.00 12.50 16.00 16.00 24.00 16.50 24.00 25.00 17.00

Max. 25.00 21.00 25.00 30.00 29.00 25.00 26.00 26.00 27.00 4.00 24.00 27.00 28.00 27.00 20.00 27.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 22.00 24.50

Real Estate & Const Prime

Max.

11.00 16.00 17.00 17.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 10.00 19.00 16.28 25.00 16.00 13.00 15.00 24.00 20.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

25.00 21.00 25.00 30.00 29.00 25.00 26.00 26.00 27.00 25.00 24.00 27.00 28.00 26.00 16.00 28.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 24.00 24.00

Lending Rate Time Deposit

General Comm.

Ave.Int Rate

Prime

10.94 6.30 11.33 9.97 7.13 10.00 10.50 9.14 11.48 7.40 7.68 10.32 10.26 8.77 8.60 8.37 9.33 9.39 3.5-11.00 10.01 8.00

11.00 16.00 17.00 14.50 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 7.00 21.00 16.28 25.00 13.75 13.00 16.00 24.00 20.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

Max. 25.00 21.00 26.00 33.00 29.00 30.00 26.00 26.00 27.00 25.00 26.00 27.00 28.00 28.00 16.00 27.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 25.00 27.00

Mort-gage Prime

Max.

14.00 17.00 11.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 8.00 19.00 16.28 25.00 16.00 17.00 16.00 24.00 24.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

25.00 25.00 30.00 29.00 19.95 26.00 26.00 27.00 25.00 24.00 27.00 28.00 26.00 20.00 25.00 26.00 26.00 30.00 24.00 23.00

Transp. & Comm.

Prime 15.00 16.00 17.00 17.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 12.00 19.00 16.28 25.00 16.00 13.00 15.00 24.00 20.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

Max. 25.00 21.00 25.00 30.00 29.00 25.00 26.00 26.00 27.00 25.00 24.00 27.00 28.00 27.00 16.00 27.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 22.00 25.00

Fin. & Ins. Prime 15.00 16.00 17.00 17.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 20.00 22.00 16.00 21.00 16.28 25.00 13.75 13.00 16.00 24.00 16.50 24.00 25.00 18.00

Max. 25.00 21.00 25.00 30.00 29.00 25.50 26.00 26.00 27.00 22.00 26.00 27.00 28.00 27.00 15.00 26.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 22.00 24.00

Govt.

Prime 13.50 17.00 16.00 25.00 17.50 17.00 19.00 22.00 7.00 21.00 16.28 25.00 14.00 14.50 14.75 24.00 20.00 24.00 25.00 17.00

Max. 19.00 23.00 30.00 29.00 25.50 26.00 26.00 27.00 19.00 26.00 27.00 28.00 24.00 16.00 22.00 26.00 24.00 30.00 23.00 19.00

These are the interest rates banks charge the public on loans and advances. It reflects the cost of borrowings and also includes all charges and commissions levied by banks.

Signed:

Management

8

News

NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Araraume claims victory in Imo PDP primaries Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

L-R: Former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe; former Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili; former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Emeritus Prof. Olu Akinkungbe, at the launch of a new book by the former President entitled ‘My Watch’ in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

INCENTIVES

Govt gives incentives to cushion investments of investors in ICT sector Kunle Azeez

T

he soon-to-be-licensed Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) will, among other incentives, get tax holidays of between five and seven years to cushion their investments.

The InfraCos, each in the six geo-political zones and Federal Capital Territory, are being licensed by the regulator to bridge the apparent infrastructure deficit in the nation’s Information and Com-

Broadband: FG gives seven-year tax holiday to InfraCos munication Technology sector.

This was one of the highlights of the Nigeria investment meeting at the ongoing International Telecommunications Union (ITU) World 2014 in Doha, Qatar.

According to Nigeria’s Communication Technology Minister, Dr Omobola Johnson, who disclosed the incentives, “As part of Nigeria’s drive for more investors into the blossoming ICT sector and based on the Open Access Model, which has been adopted for the licensing round, beneficiaries of the licences shall get

adequate incentives to operate in Nigeria.”

She said that the incentive shall, among others, include tax holidays to encourage the InfraCos to invest and guarantee adequate returns on investments,” she said.

Principal Partner of KPMG, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, also told the audience that the investors will be encouraged to veer into areas, where many consider being less commercially-rewarding through subsidy, saying grants may also be given out to further their interest in such areas.

KPMG is the consult-

CNS approves redeployment of over 30 Rear Admirals Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

F

ollowing the recent promotion of some senior officers in the Nigerian Navy (NN), the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin, has approved the redeployment of over 30 Rear Admirals.

The disclosure was contained in a statement

signed yesterday, by the NN's Director of Information, Commodore Kabir Aliyu.

According to Aliyu, the affected officers, are to resume at their new postings between third and fourth week of this month.

According to the new appointments, Rear Admiral JA Akinwale, who was the Chief of Administration at the Defence

Headquarters, is now the Chief of Policy and Plans, Naval Headquarters, Abuja, while Rear Admiral AOA Ikioda takes over his former office.

The statement reads: "The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Usman Jibrin has approved the redeployment of a number of senior officers in the Nigerian Navy.

Groups petition Coca-Cola's chairman over alleged abuse Dayo Ayeyemi

S

ix Nigerian human rights, non-governmental and civil society organisations have written to Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, Mr. Muhtar Kent,

over an alleged consumer rights abuses by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.

The groups are SocioEconomic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Women Em-

powerment and Legal Aid Initiative (WELA); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre); Partnership for Justice (PJ), and Human Rights Advancement, Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC)

ing firm working with Nigerian government on the planned InfraCos licensing regime.

According to Tegbe, the licensees will also be granted pioneer status as part of the incentives to boost their interest in investing in such areas or zones that may look unattractive.

He also explained that such Infracos will get such incentives that could be up to 30 per cent mark up on their capital expenditure (CAPEX) and employee tax holidays as well.

To qualify for these, Infracos will quantify their

CAPEX and what it will take to rollout and how long it will take to break even.

Speaking earlier at the forum, Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr Eugene Juwah, told the audience, including potential investors from Qatar National Bank, Global Operator, Ooredoo, Vodafone, Qatar and several diplomats that Nigeria had achieved 96 per cent teledensity with over 134 million active subscribers, and ICT contribution to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 10 per cent.

Ringim declared winner of Jigawa PDP guber primaries Dahiru Suleiman DUTSE

T

he former Chief of Staff to Governor Sule Lamido , Alh. Aminu Ringim has emerged winner in the just concluded PDP gubernatorial primaries with 1120 votes beating two other PDP aspirants who withdrew few hours to the commencement of PDP gubernatorial primaries held in Dutse.

Those who withdrew from the race were former state Commissioner for Land, Architect Aminu Kani, and former Federal legislator, Hon. Abba Anas.

Announcing the result of the primaries, the Chief Electoral Officer, Alhaji Kaulaha Aliyu, stated that a total number

of 1126 delegates were accredited for the party gubernatorial primary elections.

"Out of the total vote cast, Mallam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim scored 1120 votes, Hon Abba Anas 0 while 6 votes recorded as invalids" "Having scored the highest votes and satisfied all electoral criteria, I am declaring Mallam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim as duly elected Jigawa State PDP gubernatorial candidate for the 2015 general election" Kaulaha said.

In his acceptance, speech Ringim promised to continue from where Lamido stopped in terms of leadership with justice, fairness, accountability and transforming Jigawa to a better state of the federation.

he outcome of Monday’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election in Imo State has become a subject of controversy as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and the former member representing Okigwe Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume are both laying claims to victory.

The exercise, which lasted up to Tuesday morning, had Ihedioha declared winner by the Chairman of the Imo State PDP Governorship Primaries Committee, Hon. Tengu Tsegba, with 346 votes against Araraume and Chief Ikedi Ohakim who scored 336 and 213 votes respectively However, Araraume alleged that there were inconsistencies in the result released by the Electoral Committee in the computation of the results of the election and called for its immediate correction.

He equally demanded that he be declared the winner of the governorship primaries.

In a petition sent to the Chairman of the Imo State PDP Governorship Primaries Committee, Hon. Tengu Tsegba, Araraume claimed he actually won the governorship primaries and not Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, as announced by the Electoral Committee.

Fire guts Immigration headquarters Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

T

here was an outbreak of fire at the Headquarters of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Abuja yesterday.

According to the Public Relations Officer of Federal Fire Service (FFS), Biodun Obisesan, the fire outbreak started few minutes after 12 pm.

He said the FFS, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory's Fire Service and that of the Air Force were able to put off the fire before it could cause severe damage.

Obisesan, who said the cause of the fire outbreak was still unknown at the time of filing this report, revealed that no life was lost in the incident.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

News

NATIONAL

9

Tafawa-Balewa: Why I withdrew from presidential race PARTY LOYALTY Son of Nigeria's first PM says he withdrew for the party to focus on promoting the incubent's candidacy

Onwuka Nzeshi ABUJA

S

on of Nigeria's first Prime Minister and a former presidential aspi-

6,400

rant, Dr Abdullahi Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa yesterday gave reasons for his withdrawal from the 2015 presidential race shortly after he underwent a rigorous screening alongside President Goodluck Jonathan about two weeks ago.

Tafawa-Balewa, who had earlier picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Expression of Interest (EoI) and presidential nomination form withdrew from the race,

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

triggering speculations that he may have been financially induced or coerced to step down.

But in a chat with newsmen yesterday, Tafawa-Balewa explained that he was not bought over by anybody but decided to step down his aspiration to keep the ruling party focused on promoting the candidacy of the incumbent in the overall interest of the nation.

"I did my screening successfully, but I decid-

4.05m

The number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy in low and middle-income countries in 2008.

Source: Who.int

ed for the inner strength of the party, which I love very much and for growth of our democracy then I decided to step down. It wasn't the original intention. One, even with the withdrawal and wanting to work with President Goodluck Jonathan, you will admit that some things have been met and Nigeria's democracy will be looked at very differently.

"But I fought for some principle. In any democ-

190,000

The projected number of Americans above 65 years with Alzheimer’s in Georgia State by 2025.

Source: Alz.org

racy, you should be able to vote or be voted for.

Now that knowledge, I am sure, will be in our political dictionary for the longest while," he said He recalled that the party had before then adopted President Goodluck Jonathan as its sole candidate, stressing that his stepping down was an act of party loyalty.

As a loyal party member, Tafawa-Balewa said he was prepared to work with the ruling party in

1.5m

The number of people who died as a result of HIV-related causes globally in 2013.

Source: Who.int

support of Jonathan for a resounding victory at the polls. According to him, his support was also borne out of the conviction that the president had made some tremendous achievements within the last four years.

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee of the Progressive Peoples Alliance ( PPA) has moved to benefit from the fallouts of the recently concluded primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) in Ebonyi State.

The PPA said yesterday that it would gladly receive prominent politicians such as Governor Martins Elechi, whose aspiration to secure the senatorial ticket of the ruling party failed if they chose to pursue their dreams through other platforms.

Court fixes Dec 16 to hear request to stay Tambuwal's suit Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

L-R: Member, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Mr Ozi Salami; Chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta and Minister of Aviation, Chief Chidoka Osita, at a seminar, in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Minister issues ultimatum to rid airports of touts Wole Shadare

M

inister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, yesterday gave a one-week ultimatum to managers in the aviation industry to submit report to his office on how the country's airports could be improved upon.

The Minister equally ordered the Federal

Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to rid the nation’s airports, especially the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos of touts and touting activities.

The minister also frowned at the high level corruption in the sector, adding that both high and low level corruption in the sector has stunted

aviation growth and one that is capable of causing air crashes.

He vowed that his Ministry would aggressively fight against corruption in the Nigerian aviation industry, lamenting that this had deprived the country of lots of serious investors and huge revenues over the years.

Speaking yesterday at

the formal launching of anti-corruption intervention in the aviation industry in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Chidoka gave the airport managers two weeks to ensure sanity at the international wing of the airport.

He warned that if the airport was not rid of touting activities, he

would not hesitate to take a decisive action against the Managing Director of FAAN, Saleh Dunoma.

He insisted that the government could not afford to continuously sit down and overlook corruption in the system and warned that the government would at any moment from now come down hard on touts within at the airports.

Bank raises N50bn for Lagos–Ibadan expressway Protection of human rights

T

he N50 billion first tranche of the proposed N167 billion for the rehabilitation of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has been raised by the Infrastructure Bank.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Adekunle Oyinloye.

Oyinloye said four other banks - Access, Ecobank, Diamond and

Standard Chartered Bank – were involved in the deal by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Infrastructure Bank.

He said the N50 billion represented 30 per cent of the proposed N167 billion and a successful closure of Tranche One for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and expansion of the 127km dual carriageway.

Oyinloye also said that the bank was a leading consortium of local and international financiers and investors that provides the required funding to complete the project within 24 to 30 months.

He added that the Federal Government had made good its own financial contributions for the execution of the project.

non-negotiable, says IGP Emmanuel Onani ABUJA

T

he Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Suleiman Abba, has charged zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs), to ensure that the

fundamental rights of Nigerians and residents, were upheld at all times.

A statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Emmanuel Ojukwu, an Acting CP, quoted the IGP as giving the charge, to commemorate the 2014 International Human Rights Day.

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday fixed December 16 to commence hearing of the application seeking to stay proceedings in the suit filed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Members of Tambuwal's constituents, Kebbe/ Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, had in two separate applications asked the court stay proceedings in the suit.

Their applications for stay of proceedings were hinged on the grounds that they had filed notices of appeal against the ruling of the court which on December 1 disallowed them to be joined as codefendants in the suit.

One of the two applications seeking to be joined as parties in the suit was jointly filed on behalf of the people of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency by Chairman of Kebbe Local Government Area, Bala Konkani, and Chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Area, Sambo Modo.

The other application was filed in the name of the constituents by three members of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Abdussamad Dasuki, Suleiman Hantsi and Shuaibu Umar - representing Tambuwal East, Tambuwal West and Kebbe constituencies respectively.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

10

Metro

I love spending money on women –Robbery suspect

Jailbreak:

NEMESIS

T

A suspected robber says he usually robs female cement dealers but spends the money on women

Stories by Juliana Francis

T

he love of women seems to be the motivating factor which pushed a suspected criminal into robbery.

The suspect, Sunday Adewole, now in the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos, said that he so much loved women that he spent almost all the money he made from robbery on them.

Adewole and his partner in crime, Nurudeen Adeyoju, were arrested while robbing a female cement dealer at Ijaiye-Ojokoro area of the Lagos metropolis.

The suspects would have got away with the robbery, but for the victim’s sales girl, identified as Peju, who walked in during the robbery.

On seeing the robbers’ guns, Peju screamed, which alerted the people nearby.

According to the suspects, they mostly target women cement dealers, but sometimes attack and rob trailer drivers.

After their arrest, police recovered two guns from them.

Adewole confessed that after operation, he used his money for ‘enjoyment.’

The suspect said there was no woman on earth he could not sleep with, as long as he wanted her.

According to him, every woman has a price tag.

He said: “I once gave a woman N300,000, just because I wanted to sleep with her. I was determined to have her.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

File picture of suspected robbers

“I also spend my money on hotels. I have a particular hotel I stay at Mushin. I can stay there for three months. I pay N35,000 per day.”

Describing how they used to target and rob the women cement dealers, Adeyoju said he and other gang members, now still at large, would go to IjaiyeOjokoro to watch the women make their sales.

The gang, he added, would pay special attention to the amount of money some women sell for that day as well as where the women keep the money.

“The dealers used to keep money in car boots. The suspects monitor those with a lot of sales. Adewole is the motorcycle rider for the gang. He has a locally-made gun.

“Once the road is free, the gang goes straight to the dealer.

The gang will whip out gun and demand for the trader’s money,” a police source said.

Investigators disclosed that the gang used to attack the women every month.

“They also rob trailer drivers and conductors who parked along the road at night. If they make enough money from the cement dealers, they won’t rob

for the next three months. The biggest money they had made from robbing cement dealers in a particular month was N3.4 million,” another police source said.

But Adeyoju said the gang used part of the money to buy three motorcycles specifically for robbery.

The number plates of the operational motorcycles were turned upside down, so that policemen would not be able to detect the numbers.

The suspects disclosed that when the Lagos State Government banned the operations of commercial motorcycles, they decided to rent an apartment near Ijaiye, the base of their operations.

Aside from robbing the women of their money, they also used to snatch their gold jewellery. They sell the cheapest gold taken from the women for N160,000.

“Once we enter a cement shop, we would order all the people in the shop to lie face down. We will collect the money and ride away on our motorcycle,” Adeyoju said.

The gang met its waterloo after it robbed a cement dealer and not satisfied with dispos-

sessing her of N200,000, it started to search her handbag, looking for gold jewellery.

Adeyoju said: “I had already collected N200,000 and was searching for more money and gold when one of her salesgirls walked in.”

According to the police, the salesgirl, Peju, walked into the shop and noticed that her boss was facing the wall, while Adeyoju was behind her.

“The woman was shouting Jesus! Jesus! The salesgirl thought her madam was praying. It was when she noticed the suspect, Adeyoju, searching her madam’s handbag that she knew the woman was being robbed. The suspect did not know Peju was behind him, until she asked what was going on. Adeyoju turned round and pointed his gun at her.

A police source said: “Scared at seeing the gun, Peju took off shouting. Even when Adeyoju ordered her to stop or he would shoot, she did not hear or could not obey. Adeyoju ran out of the shop and jumped on the motorcycle manned by Adewole who had heard the commotion and had started the motorcycle, ready to zoom off.

Moro suspends Minna prison’s top officials he Federal Government yesterday suspended the Controller of Prisons, Minna, Niger State, Musa Maiyaki, and some other top officials of the prison.

The suspension, which was ordered by the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, followed the recent attack on the prison by gunmen where over 275 inmates were freed and some officials were injured.

Moro said the officials were suspended pending the outcome of investigation into the attack on the Medium Security Prison, Minna.

The National Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Prisons Service, Mr Ope Fatinikun, said that Moro gave the order following recommendations of the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr Peter Ekpendu.

Gunmen stormed the facility late on Saturday and freed the inmates while they injured some prison officials.

Nobody knows for sure the men behind the attack, but members of the dreaded Boko Haram sect had often times attacked prison facilities in the country.

The attack on Minna Prison came barely a month after gunmen used explosives to blow open the prison in Lokoja, Kogi State.

In that attack, the assailants killed one, injured many and set 144 inmates free. Before these two attacks, other prisons had also been attacked.

Those suspended over the latest attack are Maiyaki, the Officer-in-Charge of the prison, ACP Mohammed Ibena and other officers who were on duty on the day of the attack.

Ekpendu has also ordered the immediate transfer of 55 officers and men of the zonal and state headquarters, Minna, to Medium Security Prison Minna and Old Prison Minna to beef up security in the two prisons.

On Monday, Fatinikun said that 108 inmates who escaped from Minna prison had been recaptured, while 166 were still being hunted.

Moro

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Missing children: How maid deceived me – Nurse

Raphael and Michael

Camillus Nnaji

A

nurse working with Mr and Mrs Elvis Eshareghara, parents of the missing Michael

and Raphael, has disclosed how the maid deceived her before disappearing with the children.

The nurse, who gave her name as Abigail, told our correspondent that her duty was to

care for Eshareghara’s mother, down with stroke.

According to her, on the fateful day, the maid, identified as Juliet, told her she was taking the children to bed upstairs.

Abigail added that the former maid, identified as Vivian, left without prior notice; that was when the family secured the services of the 24-year-old Juliet.

She said: “I was off duty on November 27 when another nurse who stood in for me told me that Vivian had left. The family expected her for three days but when they did not see her, Madam (Mrs Jite Eshareghara) contacted another agency for another maid. That was how Juliet, the one who ran away with the children, was employed.

“Before Juliet came, Vivian’s luggage had been thrown outside. When I resumed, I asked Juliet where she was from but she lied and told me she came from Calabar, Cross River State while she is from Osun State.”

Abigail added that last Sun-

day, Juliet said she wanted the children to sleep early so that they could wake up early the following day, being Monday.

She said: “That Sunday was Mr Elvis Eshareghara’s birthday.

Madam and her husband decided to go out for a dinner. When they came back about 8pm, they went upstairs only to find the rooms empty; their children and the maid were nowhere to be found.

That was how Raphael and Michael got missing.”

Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said that the police were already searching for the children.

He said: “The most important thing is to find these children alive and send them back to their family. We are reaching out to the public and the media.

The police will undertake a holistic investigation. We will find these children.

“We commend the efforts of the parents who have also taken the search to the Department of State Security (DSS).”

Fashola angry as Lagos registers 2.5m residents Muritala Ayinla

O

nly 2.5 million of the estimated 21 million Lagos residents have so far registered in the ongoing residents’ registration exercise by the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).

This was even as Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday decried low turnout of residents for the exercise, saying that government might be forced to close the registration

by June 2015 to save cost.

Fashola also unveiled the Lagos State Resident Card produced for the registered 2.5 million residents at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa.

The governor wondered why the residents had not responded to the exercise as expected, even after the government had said that the registration was to enable it to plan properly.

Fashola regretted that huge resources were being expended on salaries of ad hoc staff and running of the agency without corresponding turnout of residents for the exercise.

The governor said that despite the introduction of several options to make the exercise conducive for the residents and the ad-hoc staff, only a few residents had taken the advantage to register.

He said: “What we did not do, was to say everybody should come and register in three days and close up and that is why you still see that people are not responding as we expect them to,

Fashola (2nd right) being presented with his resident card by the Chairman, House Committee on Science and Technology, Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King (2nd left), the General Manager, LASRRA, Ms. Yinka Fashola and Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr Adebiyi Mabadeje

but at some point in time, maybe sometime in June 2015, we would close down this exercise.

“We have run it for over a year now and its costing a lot of more because we have to pay staff.

“But what we wanted to avoid are the problems we are going through today with PVCs because what is often rushed is usually very difficult to control.

“So that is why we had stationery registrations, mobile registrations, online registrations, in order to make it convenient for all of us to do so. I don’t believe that the people of Lagos deserve to be treated the way Nigerians have treated us. We just close

down and everybody starts rushing, lose working hours, shut down business because we want to take a card, we can be better organised than that.”

Fashola, who wondered why the registration exercise was not being taken seriously, said that in civilised societies photographs of criminals were released a few minutes after crimes were committed.

This, according to him, is only possible because structures such as registration which captures fingertips and facial details of citizens are available.

He said: “I feel embarrassed every time we get figures from

outside our country telling us how many people we are, telling us how many children are out of school, and the first thing I ask myself is how did they get these numbers? And sometimes, they are unable to defend their positions, because we have proceeded with estimates.”

On her part, the General Manager of LASRRA, Ms Yinka Fashola, called on those yet to register to do so to enable the state to plan adequately for them.

She said over 1,700 staff were employed to kick start the agency and that a total of 2.5 million people had been registered so far since inception.

APC convention: Lagos redirects vehicles Camillus Nnaji and Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Government yesterday said warned motorists of possible traffic congestion during National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) holding in the state today and tomorrow.

The Commissioner for Transport, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, who gave the warning in a statement, said the convention would hold at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere from 10 this morning till 4pm tomorrow.

He said: “Due to the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Convention holding on Wednesday December 10, and Thursday December 11 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, vehicular movement around the venue will be affected and congestion expected especially along Funso Williams/Western Avenue, Surulare, Yaba, Alhaji Masha and Costain areas.

“In this regard, vehicles from Lagos Island to Surulere will be directed to exit and to link Surulere via Eric Moore, while vehicles from Ikorodu Road, Mushin, Yaba and the Mainland to Surulere will be directed to Ojuelegba to link Surulere via Itire Lawanson Road or at Iponri via Bode Thomas.”

According to him, vehicles moving away from Surulere to Agege Motor Road, Mushin and Ikorodu will be directed to Bode Thomas, Eric Moore, Akerele Road, Itire Lawanson linking Western Avenue and Agege Motor Road at Ojuelegba roundabout.

The commissioner added that vehicles from Surulere to Alhaji Masha and Shitta driving to Lagos Island and Apapa would be diverted to Bode Thomas and Eric Moore to link Eko Bridge.

He added: “Partial closure and diversion will also take place at these roads: Funsho Willians/ Western Avenue from Olumegbo to the National Stadium, Funsho Williams/Western Avenue from Alaka to National Stadium.

“Parking of vehicles will only be permitted at the National Stadium while pedestrian access to the convention will only be granted to accredited APC members, observers and media personnel.”

12

News

INTRIGUES

Politics is different from diplomacy, that is why a pharmacist could floor an elephant Wale Elegbede

A

mid tense horse-trading, delegates of the Lagos Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , late Monday night, elected Jimi Agbaje, as the party's standard bearer for the governorship election in

4.85m

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH -WEST

Why Agbaje defeated Obanikoro 2015.

And at the end of the primary election, Agbaje polled 432 votes to beat his closest rival, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro who had 348 votes. Other aspirants beaten by Agbaje, in the exercise were Ambassador Tokunbo Kamson, who scored 46 votes, and the duo of Babatunde Gbadamosi and Engr. Adedeji Doherty, who both polled 21 votes respectively.

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions of Belgium in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

A lot of intrigues, permutations, mudslinging and persuasion, had characterized the exercise that was nearly disrupted by some thugs allegedly instructed by a powerful bloc of the party in apparent support for one of the popular aspirants.

According to sources privy to the intrigues that played out during the exercise, the emergence of Agbaje, aside being a product of the effort and

N16.8m

The total capital importation value of the Transport sector in 2008.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

influence of the party's former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, also had a silent thrust of support from the presidency, without Obanikoro knowledge.

"The problem was that Obanikoro did not read the presidency's body language very well. The presidency needs him more in Abuja but when he began to overate himself, Abuja only told George to let him be and continue to

300m

The estimated number of acute illness caused by malaria annually.

Source: Unesco.org

do what he knows how to do best," the source said.

Some few months back, President Goodluck Jonathan, was said to have during a meeting with aspirants and leadership of the PDP in Lagos said he does not have any candidate but gave a hint about a certain aspirant.

After the parley, the veiled statement from the president was translated by many analysts

$28m

The total amount of endorsements of Cristiano Ronaldo (Soccer) for 2014.

Source: Forbes.com

L-R: Second Vice-President, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Mr. Balogun Olasunkanmi; Deputy President, Chief Wasiu Afolabi; President/Founder, Dr. Frederick Fasehun and Second Vice-President, Mr. Lateef Lawal, at the inauguration of the new OPC executive, in Lagos‌yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Fresh crisis rocks Ekiti over female Reps emergence Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

T

here are indications that crisis is now brewing within the Ekiti chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over alleged plans to withdraw the party's ticket from the winner of last Sunday's House of Representatives primary election in Ekiti Central Federal Constituency, Mrs. Eniola Ajayi.

Ajayi, who was Commissioner under Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of the state, defeated male counterparts to emerge victorious.

New Telegraph, however, gathered that Ajayi's ticket may be withdrawn and given to another aspirant, Hon. Sunday Ibitoye who

came third in the election.

APC leaders are said to be considering the Ibitoye option because Ajayi is from Iyin-Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government, the same LG with Gbenga Olofin from Igede-Ekiti, who is also being touted to become the party’s Senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central.

Ibitoye hails from Ado-Ekiti which is regarded as having figures during election prompting the decision by the party leadership not to leave anything to chances.

During the primary conducted for the federal constituency on Sunday, Ajayi polled 262 votes beating the State House of Assembly Majority Leader, Mr. Churchill Adedipe, who polled 193 votes to the second position.

to portend the support of Abuja for Agbaje, who many also believe enjoys much of backing from a South-West governor who recently defected to the PDP. The source continues: "Agbaje's candidature was never in doubt from the day George took him (Agbaje) to the presidency. One of the conditions given by the president was that George should ensure they keep their house in order, hence, the much touted reconciliation between George and Ogunlewe.

"Agbaje's personality is what the president bought into but nobody was ready to push off Obanikoro just like that, especially with his weight in the state. They just allowed the balls to roll till Monday because they did want any litigation to flaw the primaries, otherwise it could have been a consensus for Agbaje."

Meanwhile, a stalwart of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, has expressed the resolve of leaders of the party to reconcile the aggrieved aspirants who lost in the Monday's governorship primaries to ensure that the party forge a common front for the general election.

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday to herald the victory Agbaje, George, who supported the aspiration of the PDP candidate, denied allegations levelled against him that he manipulated the process in support of Mr Jimi Agbaje.

Health workers disown national strike Alasoadura, Boroffice win Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

T

he Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) in Ekiti State, has said its members will not join the ongoing industrial action embarked upon nationwide by health workers.

In a press statement cosigned by the State Chairman, Comrade Sola Ojo

and the Secretary, Comrade Toyin Ofere, which was made available in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the union said it decided to back out of the strike in deference to the State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, stressing that the decision was borne out of the appeal of the state government and in consideration of the peculiarity of the health sector in the state.

APC Senate tickets Babatope Okeowo AKURE

I

Mr Ifedayo Abegunde to clinch the ticket.

Also, the Chairman senate Committee on Science and Technology, Pro. Robert Ajayi Boroffice, emerged winner of the APC's ticket to return to the Senate for the second term as he defeated a member of House of Representatives, Mr Ganny Dauda and Dr K. B Shaba to clinch the ticket for the Ondo North senatorial district.

PDP faults INEC over primaries

mmediate past Commissioner for Finance in Ondo State, Chief Tayo Alasoadura, yesterday won the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senatorial election for Ondo Central senatorial district.

He defeated the incumbent House of Representatives member for Akure South and North,

E

Ondo workers embark on strike

kiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over its rejection of the House of Representatives primary election results conducted by the party in Ekiti North Federal Constituency II. The party said, INEC as an observer has no right under the Electoral Act to reject results of duly con-

ducted primary election, saying; "primary election is purely an internal affair of political parties."

The PDP, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday by the State Secretary, Dr Tope Aluko, said the business of INEC in such an exercise was that of an observer.

Chief Thaddeus Aina, won the primary election held on Sunday, defeating other aspirants.

Babatope Okeowo AKURE

W

orkers in Ondo State under the umbrella of Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), yesterday began a twoday warning strike over unpaid salaries and entitlements.

The workers also said they would embark on full scale industrial action as from next week Monday if their requests were not met by the government.

All the offices and courts in the state were under lock and key when New Telegraph visited yesterday.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014

Muhammadu Buhari Banking on popularity

Atiku Abubakar

Fighting on a familiar turf

Rabiu Kwankwaso

Rochas Okorocha

14, 15

15

14, 15

16

Trying luck with APC presidency

13

A gamble at the presidency

Politics Buhari

Atiku

The All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its convention today to elect its presidential standard bearer, write FELIX NWANERI and ETAGHENE EDIRIN

T

oday is a day of decision for the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the party elects its presidential candidate for the 2015 general election in Lagos. The primary election is billed for the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

In the race for the ticket are five aspirants – former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso; Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah.

The Electoral College The fate of the five aspirants will be decided by 8,000 delegates from across the country. The Electoral College for the primaries, according to guidelines released by the party, includes all members

Kwankwaso

Okorocha

2015 presidency: Decision day for APC of the Board of Trustees (BoT).

Others are national chairman and members of the National Executive Committee (NWC); serving and past presidents and vice-presidents who are members of the party; serving and past governors and deputy governors who are members of the party; serving and past members of the National Assembly who are members of the party; serving and past speakers, deputy speakers and other principal officers of state Houses of Assembly who are members of the party.

Also on the delegates’ list are members of the States’ Working Committee (including those of the Federal Capital Territory); all party chairmen and secretaries of local government areas and local council development authorities; all elected chairmen of local government councils and local council development areas who are members of the party and three elected delegates from each local Date of Birth

government area and local council development areas.

The contenders Ahead of today’s contest, the aspirants have traversed the length and breadth of the country, mobilising party leaders, members and delegates on why they should be entrusted with the party’s mandate. They also met with governors elected on the platform of the APC. While all of them could be said to have what it takes to be their party’s standard bearer and even lead the nation, Buhari and Atiku, no doubt are the leading contenders. The duo, more than the others, has consulted widely on their ambitions, and it is expected that the contest would be a two-horse race.

The contest would have been a northern affair if not for Okorocha’s late entrance into the race. Buhari and Kwankwaso are from the North-West (Katsina and Kano, respectively); Atiku from the

Public Offices Held

ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Presidential Attempt

CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Buhari

Atiku

Kwankwaso

Okorocha

Nda-Isaiah

November 25, 1946

October 21, 1956

September 22, 1962

May 1, 1962

Diploma

Master’s Degree

Advanced Diploma

B.Sc

lMinister for Petroleum and

lDeputy Director of Customs and Excice lVice President

lDeputy Speaker, House of Representatives lGovernor of Kano State lMinister of Defence lPresidential Envoy to Somalia and Darfir

lGovernor of Imo State

Fourth time

Third time

First time

Third time

lGovernor North-Eastern State

Natural Resources lHead of State lChairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF)

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS

North-East (Adamawa); Nda-Isaiah, North-Central (Niger) while Okorocha is from the South-East (Imo).

In the past electoral contest, both Buhari and Atiku had been involved; the former military head of state had the upper hand.

In the 2007 election, Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the now defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), polled 6,605,299 votes against Atiku’s 2,637,848. The former vice-president ran on the platform of the defunct Action Congress (AC).

The late Umaru Yar’Adua, who was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won the poll with 24,638,063 votes.

No doubt, today’s primaries of the APC will be a straight fight between Buhari and Atiku.

December 17, 1942

Education

AYODELE OJO

Nda-Isaiah

First time

14

Politics

WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

Buhari: Banking on popularity Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, goes into today’s presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the favourite. FELIX NWANERI examines his chances of picking the opposition party’s ticket

F

ormer Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari is not new to the presidential race. The Katsina State-born General had never hidden his ambition to return to the position he occupied between 1983 and 1985, even after three unsuccessful attempts since the country returned to civil rule in 1999.

The first attempt was in 2003 on the platform of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), but he was defeated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He was back in 2007, also on the platform of the ANPP, but was defeated by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who hailed from the same state with him.

In March 2010, he left the ANPP to form the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). It was under this platform that he contested the 2011 presidential election against President Goodluck Jonathan. He scored 12.2 million votes against Jonathan’s 22.4 million.

The intrigues and power play which characterised the election, especially the collapse of an alliance between the CPC and then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), forced Buhari to declare at the eve of the presidential poll that he will not seek any elective office again. “This campaign is the third and last one for me since after it I will not present myself again for election into the office of the president,” he said.

He, however, made a detour last year, when he said that he will remain in active politics until the polity is sanitised and people enjoy the fruits of democracy at all levels of government. The rescission unsettled some elements in the North who have been waiting to step into his shoes.

It became clear that the former military ruler will take another shot at the presidency shortly after the formalisation of the merger of leading opposition parties – ACN, CPC, ANPP, and registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31, 2013.

Though the ambition was then said to be at variance with an earlier understanding that Buhari and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (principal promoters of the merger arrangement that gave birth to the APC) would not run for any

Buhari

elective office to give the party a semblance of a new beginning, Buhari’s supporters vowed there was no going back to his bid.

Buhari is of the view that the PDP-led Federal Government had failed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

According to him, since 1999, the PDP has presided; the country has been on steady decline as well polarised.

It was against this backdrop that he unveiled a Nine-Point Agenda, which he said will salvage Nigeria from the increasing rot in all critical sectors of the polity if elected as president come February next year.

His agenda is hinged on the protection of lives and property; pursuing economic policies for

shared prosperity and immediate attention on youth employment; quality education for development, modernity and social mobility; agricultural productivity for taking millions out of poverty and ensuring food security, and reviving industries to generate employment and “make things” not just to remain hawkers of other people’s goods.

Others are: Developing solid minerals exploitation which will substantially attract employment and revenue for government; Restoring honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best; tackling corruption which has become blatant and widespread, and respect for the constitutional separation of powers among the executive,

It is believed in APC circles that Buhari is “strong enough” to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential poll

legislature and judiciary and the rights of citizens.

He is going into today’s contest banking on his popularity, particularly in the North, where he enjoys a kind of cult-followership and the support of APC governors. The former head of state had before his declaration, held meetings with all the party’s governors, who are said to be rooting for him after a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis.

It is believed in APC circles that Buhari is “strong enough” to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the presidential poll.

This conviction is predicated on the General’s electoral strength as demonstrated in the previous elections especially that of 2011, in which he garnered about 12 million votes despite lean resources and six months of the formation of the CPC. Buhari won in 12 out of the 19 northern states of Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara. Jonathan won in seven states of Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Adamawa.

The calculation is that Buhari’s candidature will guarantee APC substantial votes in the NorthWest and North-East as well as South-West, where Tinubu holds sway. The three zones have a total 44.8 million registered voters, and which accounts for about 61 per cent of total registered voters of 73.5 in the 2011 election.

No doubt, Buhari is the favourite for the APC presidential ticket, but it would be too early to draw a conclusion, as politics remains the doctrine of the possible.

Buhari was born on December 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State.

He joined the Nigerian Army in 1962. In 1976, he became the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. He had earlier served as Governor of the then NorthEastern State. Buhari served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

Kwankwaso: Trying luck with APC presidency Temitope Ogunbanke

G

overnor of Kano State, Engr.

Rabiu Kwankwaso, is trying his luck for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket today.

He is one of the five governors that defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Ordinarily, his colleague governors are expected to rally round him. But that may not be possible today.

Kwankwaso’s plans are: restoring peace and security, economic restoration, war against corruption, education and healthcare, giving women a more prominent place in the nation, among others

will form the nexus of his government if elected president.

At his presidential declaration on October 28, held at old Parade Ground in Abuja, Kwankwaso said: “The first priority of this country at this moment is restoring peace and security in every corner of the land. Lives and properties of our citizens must be protected and secured. Boko Haram and all forms of insurgency must be defeated. My experiences as Nigeria’s Defence Minister and as Special Adviser on war-torn Darfur and Somalia have shown me that securing a nation and fighting and defeating armed insurgents is only achievable if the forces are professionally mobilized, properly kitted and equipped, highly spirited, and correctly armed with

intelligence and munitions.

“The second priority of this country, my compatriots, is killing the cancer of corruption that has eaten so deeply into the very fabric of our value system. The impunity with which corruption is being perpetrated, promoted, and protected by the present PDP administration leaves no patriotic Nigerian in doubt that the government is working deliberately and with determination to impoverish Nigerians. We must stop them. We must save our country.

“The economy of Nigeria is another priority area that my government, if elected, would focus on. We will cut cost of running government and eliminate all forms of wastages like we have done in

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014

15

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

Atiku: Fighting on a familiar turf ETAGHENE EDIRIN writes on the presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, his strengths and weaknesses

A

s aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) file out to grab the party’s presidential ticket for the general election scheduled to hold February 14, 2015, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar will bring all he has, in terms of political experience and knowledge, to bear, to ensure he stays ahead of the four other aspirants vying for the same ticket.

Although Atiku is not new to the intricacies associated with politicking, nor has he been resting on his oars in the run up to the primary, it will be a tough battle for him, considering the array, and strength of aspirants he is faced up against in the party.

Having served as the second elected vice-president of the country from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he has gone on to vie for the presidential post twice. He is on his third missionary journey to be president.

Over the years, Atiku, asides from being the number two citizen, has never hidden the fact that he wants to move up on the political ladder by presiding over the affairs of the most populous black nation in the world.

It is no longer news that he tried to turn the tables against his former boss, Chief Obasanjo in the run up to the presidential primaries of the PDP before the 2003 presidential election.

This pitched him against Obasanjo, who was to later become a stumbling block to his ambition of occupying Aso Rock. His second term as vice president was marked by a stormy relationship with Obasanjo. In 2007, it took a judgement of the Supreme Court to allow Atiku contest after he was initially disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The INEC released the final list of 24 aspirants for the 21 April presidential

Kwankwaso

Kano. It is possible. We must reach there with the support of all. Yes we must.”

The incumbent governor of Kano State was born on October 21, 1956 at

Atiku

election, with Atiku’s name conspicuously missing from the ballot. INEC issued a statement stating that his name was missing because he was on a list of persons indicted for corruption by a panel set up by the government.

Atiku worked in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for 20 years, until he retired in 1989 to go into full-time business and politics. In business, he has done quite well, with interests in several sectors of the economy.

In relation to the 1999 poll, and the success of Obasanjo in that election, it was widely implied that Atiku played a major role in the success story of the PDP, by deploying the full strength of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), which was under his control, and which had fused into the PDP. It was argued that the former PDM, and by extension, Atiku, played a major

role in PDP winning the 1999 presidential election.

Atiku’s main strength lies mostly in his political structure which he has built over the years, and the fact that he is financially capable of prosecuting a presidential race, from the primary stage to the election proper. He has also worked tirelessly to ensure that he gets the support of majority of the delegates scheduled to vote at the primary.

Asides winning the Adamawa governorship election in 1998, Atiku has never won any elective office on his own strength. In November 1991, although he won the governorship primaries of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), he never went on to contest in the election, as he was disqualified by government from contesting the elections.

He has been inconsistent in choos-

Kwankwaso village in Madobi Local Government Area of Kano State. He had his early primary education at Kwankwaso Primary School, Gwarzo and attended Wudil of Craft School between 1970 and 1972 and proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic where he did his National and Higher National Diploma. He also attended Middlesex Polytechnic between 1982 and 1983, and Loughborough University of Technology (1983-1985) in the United Kingdom where he got his Master’s Degree in Water Engineering. He was an active student leader during his school days and was an elected official of the Kano State Students Association.

He served as a civil servant for 17 years in various capacities in Kano, especially at the Kano State Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA), where he rose through the ranks to become Principal Engineer.

Kwankwaso was elected member of the House of Representatives in 1992 representing Madobi Federal Constituency.

His emergence as Deputy Speaker in the Green Chamber during the aborted Third

Republic brought him to the limelight of national politics. In 1994, he was elected delegate to the constitutional conference which fashioned out the constitution that later ushered in the Fourth Republic.

In 1999, Kwankwaso contested and won the governorship of Kano State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He governed the state from 1999 to 2003 with a massive focus on educational development of the state. His re-election plan in 2003 was aborted by the victory of Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, the incumbent Minister of Education, who contested on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). After losing the election, Kwankwaso was appointed as Minister of Defence in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet in 2003. He resigned his ministerial position to contest the election in 2007 but lost the governorship election. He was later appointed the Presidential Special Envoy to Somalia and Darfur by the Obasanjo administration. Kwankwaso was re-elected and sworn in on May 29, 2011. His tenure will end in May 29, 2015.

ing the platform from which to launch his campaign for the presidency. Atiku has been in and out of different political parties in a bid to achieve his dream, even returning to a party he had dumped and castigated. In the 2007 election, having quit the PDP, he ran on the platform of the Action Congress (AC), but lost the election, placing third after Umaru Yar’Adua of the PDP and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP).

He was to return to the PDP where he again contested for the presidential ticket of the party alongside President Jonathan and Sarah Jubril. He lost out garnering 805 votes to President Jonathan’s 2,736. Not long after, Atiku again jumped ship, leading some governors to form a splinter New PDP, which later metamorphosed into the APC. This has portrayed him as an unserious contender without principle, or loyalty, save for his ambition, who would take anything, or mix with any group, good or bad, in a bid to win the presidential election.

Being tagged a serial contender, coupled with a number of allegations of corruption and inappropriate conduct levelled against him, especially during his days as a customs officer, has gone a long way in casting doubts on his person.

For Atiku, the fact that he has a strong political structure is a plus.

And he has gone round the country, carrying out a massive campaign, selling himself to the party faithful. His political structure which has been in place since the days of Shehu Musa Yar’Adua will work well in his favour, as the organisation commands some level of followership, especially in the northern part of the country.

His first foray into politics, though operating from behind-the-scenes, was in the 1980s, when he worked on the governorship campaign of Bamanga Tukur. In 1989, Atiku was elected a national vice-chairman of the Peoples Front of Nigeria, the political association led by Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, to participate in the transition programme initiated by then military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida.

The fact that Atiku is contesting against the likes of Gen. Buhari is a major threat to his ambition. Buhari who has contested the presidential election since 2003 has a support base akin to a cult followership. Buhari’s supporters are die-hard believers that he is the only person who has the moral capacity to govern the country and face the corruption scourge plaguing the country in the face. And a lot of these supporters are within the party, and form part of the delegates that will elect a flag bearer for the party.

To grab the ticket, Atiku would have to convince party faithful that he is a moral agent, with the capacity to fight corruption, which has been widely described as the bane of Nigeria’s development Another issue that will serve as a threat to the chances of Atiku clinching the APC presidential ticket is the fact that most of those in contention for the ticket are also Muslims from the northern part of the country, which has been agitating for the presidency, arguing that Goodluck Jonathan has cheated them out of the office of the president. This, no doubt would split the number of votes from that region.

16 Politics

WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

Okorocha: A gamble at the presidency Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, is one of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Except the unexpected happens, not much is expected from the governor in the presidential race, writes STEVE UZOECHI

B

efore 1999, Rochas Okorocha has been in the Nigerian socio-political space. Okorocha, a businessman was a Commissioner in the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and a member of the National Constitutional Conference.

When democracy was restored in 1999, Okorocha competed in the Imo State governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but lost to Achike Udenwa. He moved to the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), where he made an unsuccessful bid for the Presidency in 2003 and promptly returned to the PDP where President Obasanjo compensated him with an appointment as Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs.

Through Okorocha’s political journey in Nigeria, one thing has been common place in his political style – carpet crossing.

Okorocha is largely not perceived as a loyal party man, his political allegiance to any party tends to change as speedily as his political interests.

Okorocha is a rabid party hopper.

However, what is yet undetermined is if his penchant for switching parties is borne out of desire to seek out better platform to negotiate for his people or to negotiate for himself.

A gifted orator who is also endowed with the uncanny ability to spin political sentiments against any political opponent no matter how formidable. Okorocha loves to be in-charge and not very well disposed to taking directives from people he perceives as less competent.

Re-igniting his presidential ambition,

Temitope Ogunbanke

T

he entrance of Sam Nda-Isaiah, the publisher of Leadership Newspapers Group, is one of the surprises in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential race.

His aspiration is to change the course of Nigeria history forever. “I want to be the president that will change the course of Nigeria history forever. Nigerians from everywhere yearn for change. They cry for a new direction because the country cannot continue on this path, that is why I want to be President,” he said during his presidential declaration on November 4.

He also promised to unite the whole of Nigeria as quickly as possible, tackle insecurity problem and provide employment opportunities to Nigerians.

Sam has toured several states to sell his candidacy to the delegates.

He has demonstrated seriousness in his presidential bid. He is confident he would win today, but he is the least most-sought-after among the five presidential aspirants.

Okorocha

Okorocha formed the Action Alliance (AA) in 2005 apparently with the sole purpose of becoming the presidential candidate for the AA in the 2007 presidential election.

Of course, the AA project failed and he again returned to the PDP. In September 2007, from running for presidency, Okorocha indicated that he was interested in becoming the PDP National Chairman.

After Governor Ikedi Ohakim defected from the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to the PDP in July 2009, Okorocha denied that Ohakim had taken over the PDP in the state, saying he was named as leader since he was governor, but a proper PDP congress should be held to decide.

Very close to the 2011 governorship election, Okorocha decamped from the PDP to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and literally demanded for the party’s governorship ticket.

At the time, Okorocha said he was doing Imo a great favour by suspending his presidential bid to run for governorship.

According to him, Imo needed urgent rescue and this was what prompted him to venture into the gubernatorial race in

2011. Consequently he promised to speedily rescue Imo from maladministration, pledging to serve only one tenure and thereafter go back to pursuing his presidential ambition.

To run for governorship, he needed the ticket of APGA. The state leadership of the party at the time was not very well disposed to an Okorocha candidature but he forced it on them.

Through the instrumentality of Chief Ralph Uwazurike, leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Okorocha received the blessing of the then national leader of the party, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Okorocha emerged the governor of Imo state in 2011.

Within the period he was in APGA, party loyalists repeatedly lamented his leadership of the party in Imo State alleging that the governor has by far underfunded the party. He exploited and made use of the party until the 2015 general election came into view. With his fixation on his presidential ambition, he again dumped his party with little or no scruples.

On March 2, 2013 Okorocha led an infinitesimally minority APGA group and decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okorocha has in the last 15 years crisscrossed PDP, UNPP, ANPP, PDP, AA, PDP, APGA and APC. This has made Okorocha one of the most unstable political players, showing an apparent lack of commitment to any political ideal or ideology.

Okorocha’s political actions often seem to be tied to interests that are sometimes less than public interest. This is believed to be one of the reasons the APC in Imo State has so far presented no governorship aspirants, talk less a governorship candidate to the public while Okorocha is canvassing delegate support for the presidential primaries of the APC. Seemingly bidding for the APC presidential ticket, Okorocha who warned that APC will lose the presidential election if it does not field him as its flag bearer, has severally averred that the greatest threat to APC is not the PDP but how it will choose its presidential candi-

date. Okorocha, who insists that he is the best man for the APC ticket, often boasts that none of the other contestants has ever provided free education in either the country or in any state while he has been providing free education for Imo State and will do so for the entire country if elected president.

Most stalwarts in his party seem to take his bid for the presidential ticket with a pinch of salt and according to an elderly chieftain of the party who craved anonymity, “Okorocha is the most unlikely candidate for the APC presidential ticket and he knows this. Incidentally, his name is not even on the bill for possible vice presidential candidates. He most likely has a card up his sleeves and is merely confusing the politically gullible.”

It is believed that if Okorocha’s presidential ambition turns a misadventure, he may still be granted the party’s platform, seemingly being the sole governorship aspirant and candidate of the party in Imo State.

As governor, Okorocha has the resources to prosecute his presidential ambition; as a businessman with linkages across the geopolitical zones of the country, he has the reach but what is still doubtful, is his control and influence within the national party structure.

Long before now, the leadership of the APC are clearly tilted towards the north as far as the presidential ticket of the party is concerned and with Okorocha being a lone voice in the South-East, backed by poor delegate strength, it will take extraordinary effort and manoeuvrings to gross enough votes to topple the likes of Muhammadu Buhari or Atiku Abubakar in the bid for the APC presidential ticket.

Okorocha was born on September 22, 1962, in Ogboko, Ideato South, Imo State.

He attended Juladaco High School, Jos (1976-1981). He studied at the University of Jos (1990-1991), obtaining a diploma in Public Administration. He returned to the University of Jos (1993-1994) to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Public Administration.

He has held position as President, Nigeria Red Cross Society.

He is the Chairman, Progressives Governors Forum.

Nda-Isaiah: An eye on presidential seat It is doubtful if he would be able to deliver delegates from his home state, Niger.

With his involvement in the APC primaries, he has gained more political recognition. But he is not in the radar of most delegates.

Sam was born on May 1, 1962 in Minna, Niger State. He attended Christ Church School, Kaduna, between 1968 and 1974; Government College, Kaduna, 1974–1979; and the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, 1979-1983, where he studied Pharmacy.

At the University of Ife, he was the national editor-in-chief of the “Student Pharmacist”, the official publication of all the pharmacy schools in Nigeria.

On graduation as a pharmacist, he worked at the Minna General Hospital, after a stint at the Kano Specialist Hospital. He did his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme at the General Hospital, Ilawe Ekiti, and the State Hospital, Ikere Ekiti, both in Ekiti State, in 1984. In 1985, he joined Pfizer

Nda-Isaiah

Products Limited where he worked until 1989 when he resigned and launched into serial entrepreneurship.

Nda-Isaiah was a member of the Daily Trust Editorial Board as well as

a member of the committee appointed by the Kano State Government to revive The Triumph, the state-owned newspaper.

Sam’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish the Leadership Group in 2003 with less than N1million. He started with Leadership Confidential, a subscription-only authoritative and elitist newsletter. It was successful. A year later, he started Leadership, first as a weekly newspaper, after launching “Nigeria: Full Disclosure”, a compilation of his articles. He is highly respected for his Monday column in the Leadership Newspaper, through which he has established himself as a pro-good governance exponent.

Sam is an alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore and also of the School of International and Public Affairs of Columbia UniCONTINUED ON PAGE 41

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014

Borishade: Atiku has better chance of winning APC ticket Don’t you think not voting state by state will make the process disorderly?

They can call them state by state and bring like three ballot boxes and when the ballot boxes are filled they go and pour them somewhere and return. We are not going to label boxes state by state. What we are saying is that they can call them state by state but not voting state by state.

Dr. Babalola Borishade is the Director-General of Atiku Campaign Organisation. He spoke with ETAGHENE EDIRIN on today’s All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primaries and their resolution to remain in the party despite the outcome. Excerpts: How far have you gone in your preparations for this election?

We have visited 35 states of the federation basically for two reasons; to strengthen the party structure and to tell the delegates that we are interested. People have been asking us why we are not interested in consensus candidate, and our reason is that there is no better consensus than the decision of over 7,000 delegates. Should we lose the election, we will have no option but to remain in the party and work for the party.

Do you see your principal, Atiku Abubakar winning the APC presidential primaries?

To be realistic, I believe that we have 65 to 70 per cent chances of winning. The beauty of it is that our momentum is growing, there is no state we are in control of before now that has been taken away from us. But we have been encroaching into states that where we were not in control. So, conservatively, I will say we have between 65 and 75 chances.

Any state we are not sure of, we consider it on the other side. We are not sure of Kwara, for example because Kwara has a leader who himself has already decided what he wants to do. In Imo we know that Rochas Okorocha is running but we went there to see if we can share the votes with him. Even in Kastina, we went there to look for delegates. Whether we will get Kwara or not depends on what the outcome in our meeting with their leaders will be.

You spoke as a politician, always optimist, maintaining that your principal will remain in APC regardless of the outcome of the primary election.

Will you be faithful to that?

I have told you that we have two objectives; one is to create a strong alternative choice of a party and that is already under our belt. APC is now strong enough to challenge Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

So, half of our objective has been achieved. Having actualised that objective, we are not going anywhere. We are going to stay put and support whoever emerges from this primary election.

I told you that we have achieved one objective and the only way to reinforce that objective, is to sup-

How popular is Atiku in Adamawa where his candidate lost?

There is nobody who contested governorship in Adamawa who is not his candidate. If you remember, the candidate that won in Adamawa was with us when we started campaigns until he chose to run. This other young man you refer to as his candidate is somebody that has the family history, who believed that he could leverage on the family and Atiku said go ahead. And people said he is Atiku’s candidate because he used Atiku’s vehicles for his campaign.

Borishade

port whoever is conscripted as a winner, regardless of the person and status. It is a collective leadership. It must not be the brightest person but somebody who knows how to manage human capacity resources.

I think the concept of leadership is colligating if we are going to make progress. The president can rely on people around him, but he must have that unique capacity to put the people together despite the challenge. That is what leadership is all about. So, I’m saying that regardless of who wins in this convention, Atiku will remain in APC and work very hard for that person.

On what condition will you leave the party?

There is no condition. If we had thought of any condition under which we won’t accept, we wouldn’t have signed.

Even if the process is fraudulent?

I want to believe all will go well, because we are in the process and have been screened and agreed on the delegates. So, we will go to the convention centre, unless we go there that day and they say there is no voting and anoint somebody, then that ceases to be the APC that Nigerians are looking for.

What is the relationship between Atiku and APC party leadership, particularly governors?

They are in the same boat and they have what I call reconcile objective. That objective is to create an alternative party for Nigerians.

They have common interests. So the governors, the party leadership and whoever is in APC are in for the same objective.

To be realistic, I believe that we have 65 to 70 per cent chances of winning

Even the aspirants are interacting very well and everybody is reconciled to the fact that they are going with one voice if they are going to challenge the incumbent.

I can assure you, things are working out well among the leadership of the party.

When you talk of personal relationship with the governors, what we observed as we go around is moral dilemma of the governors.

These governors had made promises to Major General Muhammadu Buhari when he stood as the only person to contest against President Goodluck Jonathan. But when other people started joining APC and the party was growing and many options became available, it became an issue. To be honest with you, it will take the performance of those who later joined to reverse that initial conception.

But there are signals that the leadership of the party is leaning towards Buhari?

I have told you the reason is that moral burden. You are underrating Nigerians; you believe that one governor sitting down somewhere, will tell the entire delegates from his state to vote for a singular person and they will do that.

But that is not a new thing considering the power of the inner caucus People are getting wiser; the governors themselves are struggling. If Bola Tinubu will tell you what he went through to be able to secure Akinwunmi Ambode, then you will understand. Things are changing and you cannot take people for granted. This will be a secret ballot; we are not going to vote state by state.

Have you seen the delegates’ list?

Will I be talking to you if I haven’t seen it? But I tell you that there are three states where there are issues, where they want to bring in unelected chairmen, like Osun and Lagos.

Can you count on the neutrality of the party leadership when it seems they are bent on delivering Buhari?

One thing that I need to clarify, is this generic meaning to the leadership of the party. I think we need to be clear about it. Bola Tinubu is one of the leaders of the APC. When it was Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), his words were final but this party has grown bigger and leadership is not selective.

You cannot mention the leaders of the party without mention of Atiku. All the leaders have a candidate they prefer. That is why the issue of consensus became so difficult because if the leaders who are going to decide on consensus have a problem with that, then what are the criteria for assessing a consensus candidate? And that’s why democracy allows primaries, and the constitution of the APC has said go to primaries, make it free and fair and the outcome of it becomes binding on everybody.

Buhari came in through Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) structure; what structure did Atiku come in with?

The uniqueness of Atiku’s candidature is that he transcends all these structures you have mentioned because of his long years of service. When he was appointed vice president in 1999, he arranged meetings with governors of other states who were not in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). And Obasanjo looked at them and said which party did you say you are from?

MORE STORIES ON pageS 41-43

18

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The counter-insurgency brouhaha Jide Ayobolu

W

hen the Boko Haram insurgents atrociously abducted about 300 Chibok school girls in April in a gestapo-like style. The security agencies were caught pants down unable to respond swiftly and appropriately to the provocative assault on the territorial integrity of the country. Far more Worrisome, is the indifferent attitude of the Federal Government to the whole shebang. It kept an undignified silence on the abduction and initially denied the fact that anybody was kidnapped. This is in spite of the availability of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), State Security Service (SSS), the military intelligence and other forms of intelligence gathering mechanisms at the disposal of the government.

When the government eventually agreed that indeed the innocent and innocuous girls were kidnapped; it was done half-heartedly, in a very sluggish and annoying manner.

The government instead of moving quickly to negotiate and rescue the girls- the leaders of tomorrow, government foot-dragged on the matter and traded unnecessary blames with the opposition, claiming that the enemies of the government must have hidden the girls to distract the government from the discharge of its mandate.

It was not until the abduction of the girls was confirmed by the international community that government pretended to have woken up from its deep slumber. Even when the international community offered to assist the country out of the glaring security quagmire, the government rebuffed them, until very much later and when they eventually came to bail out the country from the hopeless situation, their presence and motives were politicised, thereby rendering them impotent.

The assertion by government that it has spent billions of naira on the military and the counter-terrorism operations pales into insignificance as nothing tangible has been achieved so far. It is sad to state that, on a daily basis, the Boko Haram insurgents invaded villages, towns and local government areas sacking communities, with the atten-

The second school is of the view that, because of the 2015 elections, the government is aware that the North-eastern part of the country is one of the very strong bases of the opposition, therefore, if it quickly ends the activities of the insurgents and election holds, there is every likelihood that the government in power will lose scandalously dant horrendous bloodbaths and hoisted their flags with impunity, while proclaiming their independence. Also, insurgents have at various times, invaded military barracks and police stations, burnt down hostels while students were fast asleep, markets are pillaged while women are raped and taken away. To make matters worse, the military officers on the battlefields have fled several times, abandoning their weapons, saying the insurgents have superior fire power.

Without mincing words, the government have abdicated its responsibility and treated the abducted girls with disdain and disrespect. Yet, the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stated explicitly and unequivocally that, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. In this regards therefore, the government has failed the girls, their parents, the coun-

try and indeed itself. In spite of all this, the government is more preoccupied about how to win the 2015 election at all cost. The question that arises therefore is, for what purpose?

More so, when it has obviously failed woefully in its key responsibility to the people and country. And, there is no silver lining whatsoever in the horizon.

From the foregoing therefore, it is imperative to underscore the fact that, there are two prominent, mutually reinforcing and closely intertwined schools of thought about the counter-insurgency brouhaha. The first school contends that, the government and the military are clueless about how to go about putting an end to the insurgency in the country as well as rescuing the helpless and hapless abducted school girls. The government is thoroughly confused as well as green and it is only engaging in conjectures and wild-goose-chase, there is no roadmap to anywhere on the subject matter.

The second school is of the view that, because of the 2015 elections, the government is aware that the North-eastern part of the country is one of the very strong bases of the opposition, therefore, if it quickly ends the activities of the insurgents and election holds, there is every likelihood that the government in power will lose scandalously, hence, the uncharitable necessity to prolong the war on terror in that axis of the country, so that, elections will not take place there, and if elections must hold at all, it would be under sole administrators appointed by the Federal Government.

One recurring issue that keeps cropping up is that, assuming some of the kidnapped girls were daughters of some very important people high up in government, would government have responded in such a lackadaisical manner, treating the matter with kid-gloves? It is disheartening to note that, the president has not even deemed it fit to visit Chibok and this only shows the levity with which the matter is handled. Yet the president would expect the people of Chibok and indeed the North-eastern part of the country to vote en masse for him.

But the fact is that, Nigeria is greater than any individual or groups of individuals, and the point must be made that governance is all about the overriding interest of the country at any given point in time, therefore, the menace of Boko Haram must be brought to an end immediately and the Chibok girls rescued and rehabilitated.

Opposition politics and determination of an incumbent Segun Ojomo

T

he strength of the opposition in the Nigerian polity is becoming enhanced with the attraction of what could be described as corrivalry by the present crop of political office seekers in a bid to ensure that power changes hands, come 2015.

It is no longer news that at every opportunity given either at occasions or fora, a good number of intending candidates in the opposition have declared their intention to rally support for whoever emerges the flagbearer at their respective contesting states during party primaries prior to the general elections.

Before this time, it was common that contestants, after losing in the primaries, adopted the principle of leaping into the opposing political party for a show of dissaffection or to engender hope that their otherwise lost ambition in their former political party could be rekindled on their new platform.

This present solidarity cue is highly noticeable within the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in which an intending presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in a highly commendable fashion, was bold and consummate to declare that he would not, for any reason, shelve his presidential ambition on the platform of the APC while also promising to accept wholeheartedly the outcome of the oncoming presidential primary elections.

It is no longer news that at every opportunity given either at occasions or fora, a good number of intending candidates in the opposition have declared their intention to rally support for whoever emerges the flagbearer at their respective contesting states during party primaries prior to the general elections Also at the recent declaration for presidency by Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso of Kano State, a sitting South-South governor had declared that it did not matter if Kwankwanso did not emerge as the presidential flag bearer for the APC as the main issue was to unite and take over power in 2015.

Worthy of mention is also the presence of major contenders in the presidential race in the APC in the persons

of retired General Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar at the formal declaration by the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, to run for a second term in office which undoubtedly is another show of corrivalry in Nigeria as well as an indicator of the importance of the North-Central state in the contention for power between the two major political parties in Nigeria.

At Ahmed’s declaration in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, it was a show of solidarity as the event was fully graced by serving governors of Sokoto, Kano, Rivers, Edo, including the erstwhile governor of Ekiti State.

In his speech at the occasion and amidst hailing and accolades from a large crowd, Governor Ahmed humbly thanked stakeholders and his supporters for their unflinching solidarity, stressing that they were not present for him but for their faith in Kwara and his administration’s proven capacity.

While emphasising his establishment of Government of Continuity, he mentioned a number of achievements of his administration viz: provision of jobs for 10,200 youths; N700 million in micro credit scheme for 14,000 small businesses; expanded and free education to secondary school level and the rehabilitation of hundreds of classrooms; remodelling, modernisation and equipping of hospitals in Ilorin, Offa, Share, Omu-Aran and Kaiama leading to provision of healthcare

for about 85,000 Kwarans which has earned the state global recognition including the OEC prize in Paris, France.

Others are the connection of 400 communities to PHCN and the provision of potable water within 800 metres’ radius in the state; completion of key inherited projects in the state’s senatorial districts and the provision of N215 million in revolving micro credit to 170 out grower farmers across the state.

He was quick to deliver that stressing on the achievements of his administration, by 2015, all homes would have pipe-borne water through the ongoing project.

He thanked APC party leaders in the state and, especially, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki for his endorsement and his trust in him, while reaffirming his belief in the political structure laid down by the Turakin Ilorin which he said had given hope to the hopeless and democratised access to political power exemplified by his attainment of governoship position despite being a son of a humble police officer.

With the mammoth crowd that attended his reelection rally, Ahmed has really sent shockers to the camp of his opponents. How the election will go next year will depend on his determination to return to the Government House and the strong will of his opponents to wrest power from him.

• Ojomo wrote in from Ilorin, Kwara State

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

19

EDITORIAL

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Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

National Assembly and impeachment threat

I

n the last few weeks, there have been reports of moves by some members of the House of Representatives and the Senate to start impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan.

Some of these reports claim that the impeachment bid is being spearheaded by members of the opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives, and Senators belonging to both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC. Already, over 120 members of the House, belonging mostly to the APC, have reportedly signed the impeachment register, while in the Senate, 63 members have appended their signatures.

Even though the relationship between members of the House of Representatives, and the Presidency was not too cordial, especially after Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal defected from the PDP to the APC, what triggered the impeachment bid was the incident of November 20.

Tambuwal who emerged Speaker in June 2011, against the directive of his then party, the PDP, and with the backing of some rebel members and those of the opposition, had been seen as too close to the APC since it was registered last year.

Tambuwal who emerged Speaker in June 2011, against the directive of his then party, the PDP, and with the backing of some rebel members and those of the opposition, had been seen as too close to the APC since it was registered last year On October 28, Tambuwal announced his defection to the APC during plenary and adjourned till December 2.

However, he reconvened the House on November 20 to consider a request by President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of the state of emergency imposed on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

On that day, members, including Tambuwal, met the gates to the legislative complex locked against them by the police, and were also reportedly teargassed.

The police said they were acting on “an intelligent report”

suggesting the likely invasion of the complex by political thugs.

The members found their way into the chamber, and after a short session, some very angry representatives opened the impeachment register.

One of the APC members spearheading the impeachment, later reportedly based it on the President Jonathan’s “incompetence, corruption and unprecedented impunity.” The said member also reportedly gave indication that they were working with some members of the Senate who felt the President should be removed.

In the Upper chamber, the impeachment bid has been traced by some reports to PDP Senators who were said to have been promised automatic return tickets by the party and the Presidency, only to have the promise withdrawn after governors of the party, some of whom were also interested in coming to the Senate, intervened.

These aggrieved PDP Senators were reportedly approached by their colleagues in the opposition APC to join forces with them.

In the two chambers, however, there have been voices against the impeachment bid. In the House of Representatives, the spokesperson, Zakari Mohammed reportedly said there was

no official move yet to impeach the President, while Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe who speaks for the upper chamber, said the Senate is not aware of any such move.

Also, one of the APC members of the House, Oyetunde Ojo (Representing Ekiti Central Constituency II), was reported in newspapers on Monday as saying members who signed the register to impeach the President did so as an expression of anger, because they were shut out of their chambers.

We at the New Telegraph condemn the purported impeachment bid by some members of the House and Senate, as we consider it as ill-timed, and plainly in pursuit of person gain.

We believe that moving to impeach a President few weeks to the general elections in which the said head- of- state would be standing for re-election, is antithetical to democratic tenets, and may be a way to prevent the electorate from having an opportunity to pass their verdict.

Also, in other democratic climes, a President fighting a war, as ours is ,against a virulent insurgency in parts of the North, is rarely threatened with impeachment. And if at all, not on the basis of trivialities bordering on pursuit of personal gain.

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

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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

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Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed Sales/Circulation Manager n Abiodun Oyebanji Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

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20

Arts

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Book Review

Rich nuggets of practical experiences for African devt

L

ast Thursday December 4, 2014, a new book titled: Africa: The Game Changers & Dynamics of Power, was presented to the public as part of activities marking the 60th birthday anniversary of a veteran publicist, retired public administrator, author and politician, Femi Adelegan whose technocratic instincts have kept him in the ‘’corridors of power’’ for over two decades. Written by an experienced bureaucratic player, the compilation is a comprehensive review of some fundamental issues in the governance of African nations from the perspective of a participant-observer in governments, by a personality who has been able to assimilate and acquire a great deal of practical knowledge in governments. Adelegan’s very wide exposure places him in the class of conscientious commentators, creative counsellors, and intellectual advocates of change, who has paid his dues and discharged his duties remarkably well, so efficiently, and so charmingly, in the various sensitive political positions in which the author has served the nation.

An overview of Adelegan’s new 16-chapter publication indicates that in the past six decades, there has been an increased resolve by successive African leaders to open a new vista in the continent’s life, including the resolve of political leaders to institute various mechanisms designed to promote the concept of best governance practices and carry out necessary reforms that are crucial ingredients of a new dawn; and that Africa’s political leaders are trying strenuously, and sometimes violently to reposition the continent. The publication notes that in the diverse natured and complex political entities, there have been political readjustments for the purpose of promoting good governance, which is obviously the solution to the myriad of problems confronting African nations.

Published by Messrs Terrific Investmen and Consulting, the book has its foreword written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who notes that “Pervasive corruption, sometimes

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

aided by the developed nations, is an obstacle to the realisation of the key objectives of African nations”. Terrorism and conflicts have become pronounced and have assumed dangerous dimensions. Underdevelopment has also been promoted largely by incoherent implementation of policies, and institutional reforms, for the enforcement of rules and regulations introduced for the economic and political transformation of Third World countries. But all hope is not lost. “Of notable importance is the increasing political awareness of Africans, who are becoming very much interested in accountability, transparency and good governance. Indeed, Africans are now determined, more than ever before, to take their fate in their own hands, in order to advance socio-economic and political development, which is the most potent way of developing the continent.”

Perceptively, Adelegan, in the book AFRICA: The Game Changers & Dynamics of Power, treats issues pertaining to political governance in Africa, and suggests the necessary changes that should be firmly embedded into the process of governance in the continent, which is believed to be at the threshold of its breakthrough. The compilation treats diverse issues on the economy of Africa that could be addressed by African nations for sustainable growth, including the role of African entrepreneurs, various

Without any doubt, Adelegan has enriched this book with rich nuggets of practical and theoretical experiences; utilizing the wide experiences acquired from his long walk in the corridors of power in Nigeria for over two decades and as a publicist, bureaucrat, writer and politician

TITLE: AFRICA: The Game Changers & Dynamics of Power Author: Femi Adelegan Publishers: Terrific Investments & Consulting No of Pages: 333 Sized 10x8 Previewer: Kayode Oladeji

acts of philanthropy, redistribution of income, as well as the requirements and need to embrace corporate social responsibility more than ever before by rich African entrepreneurs.

The preface, contributed

by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, a former United Nations Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, notes that “the author highlights such important requirements as the need to reawaken political leaders on the importance of good governance to societal development, encourage efforts towards the re-evaluation and proper utilization of the economic fortunes of Africa and the Black race, and also stimulate actions towards the reduction of the digital divide that impacts the black race through the proper implementation of the globalization agenda. The new book treats issues that could heighten cooperation between developing and developed nations, and also make them embrace the needed changes that must be constructed into the process of governance and international relations; and particularly, recommends improvements in the political and bureaucratic systems of African nations.”

Emeritus Prof. Michael Abiola Omolewa who served as the President of the 32nd Session of UNESCO General Conference in his prologue asserts that “This invaluable book locates the essence of the commitment and realities of the regenerative efforts of the African Union that is at the vanguard of energising

Africa for the attainment of common set-goals and objectives of member-nations. “Furthermore, this compilation suggests the necessary changes that should be firmly embedded into the process of governance. It is most gratifying that Femi Adelegan has been able to identify the types of institutional arrangements that are essential for socio-political and economic development of Africa; and reinforces the consensus about the immediate and long-term goals of the continent.

“The author articulates Africa’s democratic experiments and major political upheavals, and also suggests practical ways of eliminating problems of chronic poverty, poor political strategies, and the imbalance in the global economy, from a broad comparative and development direction.”

Themes and sub-themes of the new compilation on Africa include examination of the problems of the continent, military intervention and conflicts, the role of the elites, peace building and sustenance, Globalization, the importance of good governance to democracy and development, evolving an enduring democratic culture and projections on the future of Africa. Adelegan’s background and broad horizon have evidently aided the practical and theoretical information contained in the publication. The author remarks that “From my outing as a media practitioner engaged in agenda-setting and shaping other people’s opinions and views, to my appointment as Chief Press Secretary to four governors of Osun

State, Nigeria, from January 1994 to January 2000; on to my duty tour as the Chief Private Secretary/Special Adviser on Policies, Programmes and Plans Implementation to the governor of Osun State, Nigeria, from June 2003 to November, 2010, I have been able to acquire a rich blend of knowledge and maturity, that should ordinarily assist my quest to demystify governance, what governments do, and the roles of occupants of political offices. “I have been able to keenly watch governance procedures and major actors in Governments, locally and abroad, from several prisms, and from the sidelines.

Additionally, I have been involved in decision-making in governments as an active participant in the process of political and economic development.”

The author concludes that ‘’Africa really has no real reason to be poor, had there been conscientious efforts, dedication and commitment on the part of Africans to build the continent as progressive societies, and also implement several initiatives capable of turning the situation around, while confronting serious challenges attributable to a poor governance culture.’’

Prof. Gambari captures the essence of the publication in his observation that “Without any doubt, Adelegan has enriched this book with rich nuggets of practical and theoretical experiences; utilizing the wide experiences acquired from his long walk in the corridors of power in Nigeria for over two decades and as a publicist, bureaucrat, writer and politician,’’ and goes ahead to recommend the book as essential reading for students and practitioners of politics, international relations, and history; as well as politicians and global power players in this era of globalization.

Similary, Prof, Omolewa expressed happiness that the book is being written at a time the global community is becoming more committed to multilateralism, and UNESCO is prepared for the Post-2015 global agenda commended this publication to the global community for reading, for a better understanding of Africa’s problems, potentials and endowments. Omolewa says: “I feel convinced that those who share the aspirations of African nations, in particular, everyone who cherishes our joint commitment to building a peaceful, prosperous and more progressive polity, would find this book very revealing, refreshing and rewarding.” Personalities invited for the book presentation include top government functionaries, leaders of political parties across the board, key players in both the public and private sectors, and members of the academia.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Advice

Partnership

Shekarau tasks students on character building

UNN partners Abia State for development

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Education

Private varsities unite for TETFund intervention MIXED REACTIONS

Stakeholders are divided over the allocation policy of TETFund intervention. While private universities are demanding their share of the funds, ASUU and NANS have warned the Federal Government from acceding to the request

l ASUU, NANS, ERC condemn request

Mojeed Alabi

P

rivate university owners and operators are reuniting in a fresh move to demand their share of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) allocation, set aside by the Federal Government for the development of federal and state tertiary institutions, the policy which excluded private universities.

However, the private universities are now clamouring for a change in its nomenclature, calling on lawmakers to review the laws establishing the fund so that the list of the beneficiaries could accommodate their institutions.

They hinged their position on their contributions towards opening up university education access to Nigerian youths who might have been denied admission by the public universities due to limited admission space.

Besides, they argued that contributions to the fund were mainly driven by the private sector of the economy in which they play a pivotal role.

Following the monumental decay of all tiers of education in the country, especially in the ‘80s and the frequent industrial

KAYODE OLANREWAJU EDITOR, EDUCATION

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Okojie, NUC Scribe

actions characterising the school system, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), advocated for taxation on assessable profits of all companies in Nigeria as alternative sources of funding for the universities.

The recommendation was a product of a Commission set up by the regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida on the Review of Higher Education in Nigeria, otherwise known as the Gray Longe Commission, saddled with the mandate to review the postindependence Nigerian Higher Education after the Lord Ashby’s Commission of 1959.

The Longe Commission recommended among others the funding of higher education through earmarked tax to be borne by companies operating in Nigeria. An implementation committee under the chairmanship of Professor Olu Akinkugbe was constituted and an agreement to that effect was signed between the Federal Government and ASUU on September 3, 1992, on funding of universities.

Bogoro

The Longe Commission recommended, among others, the funding of higher education through earmarked tax to be borne by companies operating in Nigeria

Adeyemi

In January 1993, the Education Tax Act No 7 of 1993 was promulgated alongside other education related decrees, which imposed a two per cent tax on the assessable profits of all companies in Nigeria. This was meant to rehabilitate decaying infrastructure, restore the lost glory of education and confidence in the system as well as consolidate the gains thereto; build capacity of teachers and lecturers; teacher development; development of prototype designs, among others.

Known as Education Tax Fund (ETF), it was mandated to operate as an intervention fund to all levels of public education, be it federal, state and local, a policy which was in place till May 2011, when the Act establishing it was repealed and replaced by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act, limiting its funding intervention to tertiary education alone.

Prior to the current call for the inclusion of private universities in TETFund intervention, by the Proprietor of Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Chief

Dear readers, as from next week (Dec. 16th), your well-read EDUCATION pull-out will now be published every Tuesday

Michael Ade-Ojo, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities in Nigeria (CVCRPU) had in May 2013 at its 29th meeting held at the Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, set up an advocacy and enlightenment committee comprising the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. James Kayode-Makinde as chairman, while Vice-Chancellors of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado- Ekiti, Prof. Sidi Osho; and Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Prof.

Adebayo Odebiyi were members.

According to the then Chairman of the association and former Vice-Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Prof.

Timothy Olagbemiro, their decision was in reaction to the comment made by the then Education Minister, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, who had labelled private universities as mere business entities, already making profits and so not entitled to any form of financial aid from the Federal Government.

Osho, who was visibly angry with the Minister’s position, said at the meeting: “It is important to let the world know that what we CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

22

Education

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Skyflyers School, pupils rise against HIV/AIDS Zainab Balogun

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hough the curtains have been lowered on the activities marking this year’s World AIDS Day, the management, staff and pupils of Skyflyers International School, Ibafo, Ogun State are happy that they were well sensitised about the spread of HIV/AIDS. The private school joined the rest of the world last week to organise an awareness campaign against the spread of the dangerous disease, which has continued to ravage the world.

Part of the activities lined up for the day, was a lecture, entitled: “HIV Then and Now,” which was delivered by the Director of Emmercy Diagniostic Centre, Mr. Ariyo Emmanuel, who traced the genesis of the disease, the danger associated with the virus, and the various

means of contacting the dreaded disease.

While disabusing their minds against the widespread belief that HIV/AIDS is a death sentence and that anyone having it should be avoided or stigmatised, Emmanuel said the virus could only be transmitted through infected blood, sexual intercourse and from mother to child.

The medical experts, who warned the children against casual sex or unprotected sexual intercourse, however explained that the virus could be effectively managed with Highly Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), Gene Therapy and broadly neutralizing antibodies.

In his remarks, the Director of the school, Mr. Chijioke Asuoha, said December 1 of every year was set aside by World Health Organisation (WHO) as the International HIV/AIDS Day globally to remind ourselves that HIV/AIDS is still on

rampage and therefore the people must be vigilant and keep working in sensitizing the people about the scourge.

Towards this end, he said the day, which has become a tradition in the school, is to call on members of the society, the government and corporate organisations to wake up from their present state in their fight against HIV/AIDS. Asuoha urged members of the society, both young and old to live responsibly and avoid premarital and extra-marital sex, adding that people should refrain from lifestyle that make them predisposed to HIV/AIDS disease.

With the theme of this year’s celebration, “Support, Partner and Serve,” the school marked the day with lecture on HIV/AIDS; students’ media talk show on HIV/ AIDS; drama, quiz competition, cultural and choral songs.

A cross section of graduating students for the award of higher degrees at the University of Ibadan (UI) during the 66th Foundation Day and convocation ceremony of the the university.

FUTA student wins N.5m in cashless campus challenge Mojeed Alabi

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400-Level undergraduate of the Department of Transport Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ajijola Gbolahan has won N500,000 in the just concluded Verve Cashless Campus Challenge.

He beat 399 other students from over 20 campuses across the country to win the cash prize.

Ajijola’s entry in the competition, which was a creative mobile ticketing payment platform aimed at resolving the usual payment problem associated with campuses, was adjudged the best among numerous others presentations by other students at the grand finale of the event, held at Verve International Head Office, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The 11 finalists comprised three students from FUTA, including Ojo Oluwole, Michael John and Ajijola Gbolaha; with two students each from the University of Ilorin and University of Port-Harcourt, while University of Calabar, University of Lagos, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Makurdi produced one student each.

In addition to the cash prize, Ajijola and other winners would be given the opportunity to deploy their concepts in their respective campuses to popularize the concepts for students to imbibe the cashless policy.

The competition, which was designed to increase students understanding of the cashless society policy, was aimed at enabling them proffer innovative and practical solution to payment problems within their various campuses as well as promote and drive their campuses towards a cashless economy.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, while congratulating Ajijola and the staff and students of the Department of Transport Management Technology, said the feat was in tandem with the excellence that FUTA has come to be noted for.

Mixed reactions trail private varsities’ demand for TETFund support CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 21

are doing is far beyond making profits. If the Federal Government could budget about N400 billion for education, I wish to state here that what ABUAD alone has spent so far is about N80 billion. This is to show our importance but if the Minister of Education now thinks otherwise and downplays our roles, we must correct that impression and demand for our true position within the system. This is sad and quite unacceptable.”

Responding, the TETFUND’s Executive Secretary, Professor Sulaiman Bogoro said: “By our law, we cannot fund private tertiary institutions but the institutions could partner public ones to benefit from the fund.

What government does all over the world is to provide enabling environment for private universities to thrive and not to fund them.”

But to the former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Prof. Michael Omolewa, the contributions of private institutions to the education industry cannot be overemphasized.

Meanwhile, he added that the history of education globally gives credence to the importance of private investors in education especially the missionaries.

Omolewa, therefore, urged stakeholders and policymakers to take a holistic view of the demand by private owners with a view to making the best decision in the interest of Nigerians and education development.

However, the current Chairman of CVCRPU, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi of Bells University of Technology in Ota, Ogun State insisted that private universities should be considered for the intervention since they are key players in the nation’s human and economic development.

He noted: “After due process might have been followed with justification and a repeal of that section of the law, private universities would benefit. Do not forget that private universities came into being after the establishment of TETFund. It is my belief that once there is an understanding and convincing evidences that private universities are not established for profit motives but are major players in manpower, economic and hu-

Ade-Ojo

man development in Nigeria, there would be an automatic shift in position.

“Nevertheless, CVCRPU will continue with its established line of communication with TETFund. We share a common goal of improving the quality of education in Nigeria and we are sure the laws will be amended soon to accommodate us because the TETFund monies are contributed by private institutions.”

But ASUU, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Educa-

tion Rights Campaign (ERC), a non-governmental organisation, have kicked against the demand by the private universities, warning the Federal Government from acceding to such request.

In an exclusive interview with New Telegraph, the Chairman of the Lagos Zone of ASUU, Dr. Sola Nasir, said the demand by the private universities could not in any way be justified, saying TETFund was a product of series of struggles by ASUU to provide alternative funding for the ailing public universities.

He said in his reaction: “When ASUU was struggling with the Federal Government to create this alternative funding where were the private universities? How could they take from the public wealth to fund private pockets? The clamour is unjustified and cannot be supported by any iota of evidence.

In fact, if done it will be a travesty of justice.”

Nasir, a lecturer at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, said it would be wrong to compare Nigeria with countries such as Finland where private univer-

sities are supported with public funding.

Similarly, the Chairman of South-West chapter of NANS, otherwise known as Zone D, Ashefon Sunday, queried that on what basis would the private universities be entitled to government funding, saying the private institutions have done more harm to the education sector than good.

Ashefon threatened that if Federal Government should attempt to consider their request, the union would mobilise against it by shutting down all private universities in the country.

He said: “How can you defend such a fraudulent request when infrastructures in public institutions are in comatose.

We are still taking lectures under trees and science students continue to improvise laboratory tools. Power is a major challenge hampering meaningful researches, yet, those who established private universities on their own still want to reap from where they did not sow.

Funding private universities will only amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Education 23

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Shekarau tasks students on character building ...Reassures stakeholders on access, quality Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

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ducation Minister, Malam Ibrahim Shekerau has challenged students in tertiary institutions across the country to develop worthy characters along with skills that would enable them contribute maximally to the development of their father land.

The Minister gave the advice at the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State while interacting with students shortly after the Impact Assessment tour and commissioning of some projects in the institution.

“Degrees are being conferred on you at the end of your study after being found worthy in character and learning,” he stressed.

The Minister assured the

students that the Federal Government is committed to providing conducive learning environment in the tertiary institutions, citing the establishment of the new universities with state-of-the art facilities as part of such commitment.

Shekerau enjoined the students to see themselves as very privileged few and as such should dedicate their time towards acquiring character and competencies that would enable them to reach the echelon of their career pursuit.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Muhammad Bashir Omenesa, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its concern for the development of the education sector, particularly university education.

He also expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution for creating a conducive and peaceful envi-

Shekarau

ronment for the students to acquire knowledge, noting: “As a way of encouraging academic excellence, the Vice-Chancellor has introduced a scholarship scheme. So far, about 461 students have benefitted from the scholarship scheme.”

The Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, is one of the 12 new fed-

eral universities established

by President Goodluck Jonathan administration, which commenced academic activities in the 2011/2012 calendar year with 219 pioneer students across three faculties.

In a related development, the Minister has expressed the federal government’s determination to overcome the challenges of access and quality at all levels of education.

According to him, such determination could only yield result if the current government’s effort in the development of infrastructure and human capital is sustained.

Shekarau, who spoke after Impact Assessment Tour and commissioning of projects at the Federal College of Education, Katsina, Kastina state, said that in line with the transformation agenda of the present administration, the Federal Government has invested

UNN partners Abia for growth

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he management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has unfolded plans to partner the Abia State Government as part of efforts to expand and deepen the linkage programme of the university.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof.

Benjamin Ozumba, disclosed this when he led other principal officers of the university on a courtesy visit to the Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefula Orji.

Speaking during the visit at the Government House, Umuahia, the state capital, the Vice-Chancellor said the visit was to develop partnership between UNN and Abia State in different fields including agriculture and personnel development.

The Vice-Chancellor lauded the leadership qualities of the Governor, especially in his role as the Chief Executive officer of the state and Chairman of SouthEast Governors’ Forum.

“The University of Nigeria is very proud of your achievements in the areas of reconstruction of schools, e-library and the medical programmes of his administration that has helped to cushion high infant and maternal mortality rate in the state,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor implored the governor to extend the state’s

ir Vice Marshall Joe Ehigie will chair the 2014 Annual Dinner/Dance of the Edo College Old Boys Association (ECOBA), Lagos Branch, scheduled for Saturday December 13.

The Publicity Secretary of the association, Mr. Charles Igbinidu, who disclosed this in Lagos, said the annual event; holding at the Ruby Gardens, Lekki, Lagos will be a platform for the re-union of old students of the oldest secondary grammar school in old

Don offers tips to students on economic hardship Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

A

Orji

Ozumba

hand of fellowship to the university, adding that the institution had shown interest in the development of states in the South-East.

In his response, the Governor commended the Vice-Chancellor and his team for the visit, stating that the trip was a demonstration that the Vice-Chancellor knew how to get what he wants.

“I want to place on record that you are the first Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria that has paid me a courtesy visit, with this I want to assure you that you

will do well in your tenure,” the governor said.

He expressed the readiness of the state to partner the university in any discipline, maintaining that Abia State had all the human and material resources to foster the partnership.

Orji, who noted that UNN had done a lot in human resource development, noted that the history of the university and its achievements have continued to rings a bell in the heart of people, especially in the South-East.

ECOBA to hold annual dinner A

in infrastructure development and re-training of teachers at all levels of the education system.

He noted that issues of access and quality, as well as teacher education as well as strategies to address them were extensively discussed at the just concluded National Council on Education meeting, adding that the implementation of the recommendations would go a long toward improving standards in the system.

Among the projects the commissioned by the Minister include a 150-capacity lecture theatre; a two-storey lecture hall for the School of Primary Education and Early Childhood; School Education; a storey building complex for the School of Secondary Education, and a multi-purpose hall.

Others were three operational vehicles - an ambulance, a Hilux van and water tanker.

Mid-Western Region.

According to him, the annual dinner of the association has continued to strengthen the bond among the former students with a collective goal of lifting the school to higher levels for the benefit of students on one hand and the society on the other hand.

Igbinidu advised members of the association to attend the dinner as it would provide a veritable platform for business networking at this period when

several businesses are experiencing economic hardship.

His words: “The event will not only serve as a catalyst for development of the school, but will also avail old boys the opportunity to leverage and broaden the frontiers of their businesses for improved turnovers”.

Edo College was established in February 1937 in Benin City, as the oldest secondary school in the defunct Mid-Western Region.

university lecturer, Dr. Kayode Arogundade has advised students to embrace the spirit of hard work and to exercise patience in order to achieve the desired results, if they want to survive the harsh economic conditions under which they study.

Delivering a lecture in Ado-Ekiti as part of activities to mark the International Students Day, he also urged them to be constructive in the agitation for their rights and dealings with the authorities for them to achieve their goals.

In the lecture entitled: “The challenges of students in a poverty-ridden economy: The prospects and solutions”, he admonished the students not to be downcast by the harsh economic situation under which they study, but rather to let it bring out the creativity in them.

In his remarks, the President, Federation of Ekiti Student Union (FEESU), Abayomi Oluwayomi, said the students were appreciative of the steps being taken by the state government, and commended Governor Ayo Fayose for given education and issues relating to students top priority despite the challenges facing the state.

He recalled how Governor Fayose and Hon. Kehinde Odebunmi accorded maximum attention to students’ issues in the build up to last June governorship election.

He also implored the governor to look into the issues of tuition fees, bursary and scholarship award and take steps that would bring smiles on their faces.

The Convener, Mr. Deji Oso, said the students had no doubt that the governor, who he said empathises with the lessprivileged, would take appropriate steps to ameliorate the plight of the students.

The governor, who was represented on the occasion by the Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Education, Mrs. Kofo Aderiye, said the administration would do everything humanly possible to restore the lost glory of education in the state.

24

Education

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NMEC restates FG’s commitment to literacy Musa Pam JOS

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he Monitoring Officer of National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Nonformal Education (NMEC), Mrs. Habiba Haruna has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to make education accessible to all Nigerians irrespective of their socio-economic and cultural affinities.

Haruna, who spoke at Pankshin Local government Area of Plateau State, said literacy was the only way out of poverty and diseases in any society.

She noted: “Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education is one of the means through which the Federal Government intends to reach those who are not privileged to acquire conventional education. The govern-

ment believes strongly that literacy is one sure way of bringing people out of poverty, diseases and hunger and it is pursuing it with all vigour.”

Haruna, while restating that the Federal Government was poised to ensure that every citizens have unfettered access to education at all cost, pointed out that Pankshin Local Government Area is one of the three Local Government Councils selected by the Commission in conjunction with UNESCO and other international organisations for the monitoring of literacy programmes in the state.

She listed the two other council areas to include Qua’an Pan and Wase, whose literacy centres would be harnessed to improve on the programme.

According to her, NMEC will access the facilitators (teachers) and the learners, including the drop-outs and those without formal education, the materials and facilities (function-

al and non-functional) for learning purposes.

“We shall collect all the data and write our report on what we met on ground here for prompt action,” Mrs. Haruna stressed.

The Director of Social Services at the LGA, Mr. Patrick Mancha, who stood in for the Council Chairman expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and NMEC for the mass literacy programme, which he said had helped in a long way to transforming the well-being of the people.

Mancha described the choice of Pankshin Local Government for the exercise as a rear privilege, even as he thanked the duo for its selection.

According to him, literacy brings about peaceful co-existence among the communities and that with literacy there will be peace not only Plateau State, but also in the nation as a whole.

OFFAPOLY re-appoints deputy rector, registrar, bursar

Dr. Olaosebikan

T

he Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State Governing Council, led by Hon. Okey Ezenwa has ratified the re-appointment of three principal officers of the polytechnic for second term.

Their re-appointment was ratified at the council’s seventh Regular Meeting.

Those, whose re-appointments were ratified, are the Deputy Rector (Administration), Dr. Kuburat Ayodele Olaosebikan; the Registrar, Alhaji AbdulHamid Raji; and the Polytechnic Bursar, Mr. Paul Kehinde Adegbemi.

The re-appointment, which is for the second and final term of office, a statement by the institution’s Head, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Mr. Wole Alawode said, would take

Alh Raji

Mr. Adegbemi

effect from April 9, January 2 and March 15, 2015 respectively.

Olaosebikan is a graduate of the Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI), where she obtained BA in English in 1983.

She obtained her Post Graduate Diploma (PGD) in Education at the University of Port-Harcourt in 1989, and her Masters in Communication Arts at the University of Ibadan in 1999, as well as her PhD in Communications from Atlantic International University, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States of America.

She joined the polytechnic in 1992 as a Lecturer I from where she rose to become a Chief Lecturer.

Meanwhile, AbdulHamid is an alumnus of the University of Ilorin

(UNILORIN), where he obtained his B.A (Hons) in History between 1980 and 1983, and MPA programme in 1985. He holds a Certificate in Public Relations from Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, which he obtained in 1990.

He was appointed the Registrar of the polytechnic on January, 2010.

Adegbemi attended the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where he obtained his B.Sc in Finance in 1982, and the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) between 2006 and 2008 for his Masters in Business Administration.

A member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Adegbemi joined the polytechnic in 1992 and was named the polytechnic Bursar in 2009.

UI VC showers encomium on Osundare

U

niversity of Ibadan (UI) ViceChancellor, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, has congratulated Prof.

Niyi Osundare on his conferment with the 2014 Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM).

He described Osundare, the sole winner of this year’s NNOM award “as a foremost African poet.”

The Vice-Chancellor said the conferment of the prestigious award, on the poet, is a testament to his excellence in literary creativity and exceptional human rights activism.

A statement by the university’s Director of Public Communication, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, noted that Os-

undare is an academic with excellent credentials and an exceptional international reputation, an amiable mentor, humane teacher and astute administrator, who contributed to the enviable status of the Nigeria’s premier university’s Department of English, which he served as Head of Department.

The Vice-Chancellor stressed that Osundare served as Head of Department of English, Faculty of Arts, with distinction, saying: “I agreed with the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian National Order of Merit, Prof.

Etim Essien that Professor Osundare had proved his worth in literary, aca-

demic and sundry human spheres.”

Adewole said: “On behalf of Council, Senate, congregation, management, staff and students of the University of Ibadan, I warmly felicitate with you. Ibadan is proud of you as a great academic, compassionate administrator and worthy alumnus.”

UI says you have upheld the traditions of excellence, discipline and forthrightness laid by the founding fathers of our institution as a golden legacy. You are a role model and an inspiration, both to younger colleagues and to students. You are the quintessential UI icon. Keep up the good work.”

AAUA receives ethical award • VC named ambassador of ethics, conscience Kayode Olanrewaju

T

he Centre for Ethics and Self Value Orientation has ranked Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State as the Most Ethically Responsible State University in the South-West.

The organisation also conferred on the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko, the Ambassador of Ethics and Conscience Award.

The Vice-Chancellor was decorated with a gold medal in Public Administration, during the visit of the group to the university.

In his remarks, the Executive Director of the group, Prince Salih Yakubu said the group is a non-governmental organisation, with the mission to expose corrupt leaders and to contribute to the development of the nation.

“This is carried out through the administration of questionnaires and opinion poll, without the awareness of the subjects (organisations),” he noted, recalling that the group conducted a secret investigation on the administration of Prof. Mimiko and the level of interaction between the lecturers and students in classrooms.

“After the investigation, I am pleased to announce to you that you are a man of ethics and value,” Yakubu added, expressing regret that the country is yet to achieve the vision of its heroes past because of bad leadership.

He congratulated the ViceChancellor for making himself outstanding, noting that no fewer than 12 Vice-Chancellors in the country had become recipients of the award.

As part of the award, the group also volunteered to organise a two-day training workshop for 100 members of staff of the university on CONTISS 1-13 on the topic: “Understanding the Fundamental of Governance Ethics and Public Service Value Mentality.”

In his response, Mimiko thanked the group for considering him worthy for the award, saying “I must confess that I feel greatly humbled by the honour. On behalf of myself and my family and the university community, I express my profound gratitude to the distinguished members of the Centre for Ethics and Value Orientation”.

At the event were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Rotimi Ajayi; Registrar, Mr. Bamidele Olotu and the University Bursar, Mr. O. T. Akinterinwa.

Mimiko

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

The Mega City

25

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

Gridlock in front of Nigeria Flour-Mills company, Western Avenue, Apapa, Lagos

LIFE IN THE CITY Diamond Bank wants more investment in music MY CITY MY WORLD ‘Lagos is profitable’

Apapa: Hell is here!

It is one of those ironies of the Nigerian nation. Apapa, a city in Lagos is the cash cow of both the state and federal governments. That is because it houses the nation’s biggest sea ports and allied industries. But going to Apapa on an ordinarily day is like a trip to hell. Courtesy of poor roads, indiscipline, greed and blatant extortion, Apapa is an area people avoid as OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI reports.

T OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CO-ORDINATOR

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

ravelling from any part of Lagos State into Apapa, the port city of the state could be grueling. It’s crowded with trailers, trucks and oil tankers. It’s permanently traffic locked. Commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada, meander through the thick traffic, contesting the road with heavy trucks. It is indeed breathtaking with the madness of movement of the motorcycles and trucks. Accidents of between both are never lacking on the Apapa-Wharf road. Motorists and commuters la-

ment the harsh environment within which they operate. From Nigeria Flour Mills for instance, it will be considered a miracle any day there is a thorough-fare. Tankers, trailers and commercial buses are constantly falling due to deep ditches around the place, thereby causing massive traffic yam. For commercial bus drivers and passengers passing through at that moment, it is a most pathetic situation as they were seen flagging different shades of handkerchiefs, wiping their sweat inside the hot weather. That is

the story of Apapa, the commercial headquarters of Lagos State and the engine room of Nigeria’s maritime activities.

From the Oshodi end of the OshodiApapa expressway to around Whirmer/Coconut bus stop, the traffic is a bit free flowing even at a very slow pace.

But movement within Apapa, from Western Avenue, Leventis, Liverpool, Burma and Tin can, is hellish. In fact, last Wednesday, a trailer fell vertically along the Western Avenue, causing a very thick grid lock. Even with the presence of officials of Road Safety and LATSMA, there seemed to be no effect of their presence.

Sources within Eleganza complex along Apapa/Wharf area told New Telegraph that the gridlock has made the plaza to lose many of its tenants. The source said most of the offices within the complex are empty. “More worriCONTINUED ON PAGE 27

26

Life | In The City

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Squabbling over a task force The decision by the Federal Government to introduce a taskforce to control traffic on its roads, starting with Lagos State, is likely to pitch the FG against the Lagos state government who already has its own agency known as the Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA, reports EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU.

I

n Nigeria, creation of many uniformed men in different names, with different ideologies but almost same objectivebringing sanity to the system is common. But the reality of these created organisations achieving their objective is debatable. Instructively, most of these agencies begin to emerge towards the build up to elections. This development is rife in all the states of the federation, being more visible in cosmopolitan cities.

In Lagos state today, it’s believed that more than twenty governments recognised and unrecognised uniformed agencies patrol the roads, running after vehicles either controlling traffic or strategizing themselves to apprehend and extort unsuspecting motorists. Such agencies include, LASTMA, Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, Vehicle Inspection Officers, VIO, neighbourhood watch, among others.

Many Lagosians may have not known the impending danger or unfolding drama that is about to play out in the state in a matter of days as the “SURE-P Federal Taskforce Officers prepares to take over control of traffic in all Federal Government Roads in Lagos State soonest.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, recently, at the fifth anniversary of uniformed voluntary clubs in Lagos State at the Police College, Ikeja, urged Lagosians to resist the men of the federal taskforce. According to the governor, he labelled them as ‘illegal’ and further said the taskforce were constituted to create confusion in the state. He said its only LATSMA and Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, that are authorised by law to control and manage traffic in Lagos State.

The legitimate and exclusive right of control of traffic on the Federal government roads in Lagos state ignited a serious rumpus between the officials of LASTMA and the trainee men of the SURE-P/FERMA Federal taskforce men. According to a FERMA official at the pedestrian bridge of the former toll gate along the Lagos-Ibadan express way who anonymously spoke to New Telegraph narrated how he

Officials of the Federal Task Force

Officials of LASTMA

was nearly lynched by men of the Federal taskforce that utilised the advantage of the nearness of their office to the toll gate.

He said: “I was personally attacked by the men of the Federal taskforce. They nearly killed me.

They brandished gun and their charms at the seven-up junction.”

Another senior official of FERMA who also pleaded anonymity, said “though they are recruiting graduates, they are being trained for election purposes. How could a trainee be molesting an already trained officer? We had expected them as educated people to improve on the lapses left behind and try to form a synergy with us in order to tap from our years of experiences.”

The officer said further that, “we are aware that people don’t like us because we try as much as possible to enforce traffic laws. Some of them don’t even want progress in Lagos State.

The Federal taskforce were accusing us of corruption, but an evening newspaper had it that they pay as much as N25, 000 for their recruitments” An official of FERMA at the state secretariat when contacted declined comments on issues concerning Federal Taskforce

The taskforce is not only for traffic control and management, there are other units of assignment to the taskforce.

and FERMA. According to him, the matter is before the Nigerian police for investigations.

Coordinators of the Federal task force, Alhaji Abdurazak Rafiu (aka Arthur) had refuted some of the claims of the government and categorise his organisation as ‘legal’, saying they are not thugs.

In his rebuttal to the state government accusations on the agency, the National director publicity of the sure-P Federal Taskforce, Mr. Olawale Oyegbo recalled that the taskforce is not only for traffic control and management, there are other units of assignment to the taskforce as; recovering of federal government property,enforcement, right of way and set back.

He stated that this is part of the efforts of the present administration to create three million jobs, that the choice of Lagos for the take-off of this Federal taskforce, is because Lagos has all the tribes and religion in Nigeria inhabiting in it and that the job is for all eligible Nigerians without any bias. “The Federal government of Nigeria approved that the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme , SURE-P, which is Sure-P/Ferma Federal taskforce should start from Lagos, and the moment it starts in Lagos, that means that it has spread because in the State, we have people from different ethnic groups”, he said.

“There was a court injunction before now stating clearly that LATSMA should basically leave the Federal roads, that they should go to the state roads.

We are not bias. We are still under the same government and the same country.”

The director said their agency want to give traffic management and control in Lagos state a human face, that they want to restore confidence in the people rather than turning themselves bully and heartless beings since according to him, vehicles could

break down at any time just as human beings could. He said they are not an agency created to generate revenue for government on the highway.

Olawale added that the agency is not going to beg or take bribes from the citizen. Rather, people should expect to see unique things. “That is what people should expect from us. We are employing classical-intelligent officers, PhD holders, Master’s Degree holders, intellectuals, and people from all walks of life under the Federal taskforce.

Whenever you come out to the road, LATSMA will in one way or the other find fault even if you have all the records, they must extort you. No help! However, we are receiving the same type of vilification Civil Defence received at her early stage. The commendation we received the last time we experimented the deployment of our men on the road, was so encouraging.”

However, Lagosians, even those around the Ikosi area where the Taskforce has its office claim ignorant of their existence. A tow van driver at the toll gate, Mr. Gbenga Odewunmi, said, “I don’t know about the Federal task force. Its only LATSMA and VIO I know. And I am not aware whether LATSMA fought with anybody around here, I am hearing it for the first time.”

Mr. Owolabi John, an automechanic at the toll gate LagosIbadan believes they are same extortionists. “We saw the federal taskforce the other day near their office trying to control traffic. What conviction do we have that this Federal Task Force will not change and be worse than LASTMA when they final come on board.”

As the two agencies of government prepare for a fight which they do not know who will win, Lagosians appeal to them to thread with caution because the Nigerian atmosphere is already charged.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

27

Commercial hub, suffering hub CO NTINUED FROM PAG E 25

some is that most of the tenants are moving out of the plaza,” he said. According to the source, the major problem comes more from the gate of the port where most of the tankers and trucks queue up to load whatever they have come for. He explained that the port agents don’t open the gate on time for the drivers of these trucks and trailers to go in and load. Most times, they purposely cause the traffic because of extortion from the agents. The source added that most of the trucks load and park at Burma road and that is because government is repairing the Tin-Can road, thereby causing diversion to the Western –Avenue to Wharf road.

Jeremiah Bassey, a commercial bus driver, told New Telegraph that the traffic disturbs most of the commercial drivers a lot. “The main problem for us is the tankers and bad road, especially from Illasa and Ballot,” he said.

Although, there have always been traffic on the road, in the past three months, the surge of traffic now has become horrendous. Instead of five trips per day, Bassey says he no longer goes beyond three trips per day. “After delivering N8, 000 to the owner of the bus, he is only left with a meager N2, 500 unlike before that he did the five trips, makes N25,000 daily and closes by 8pm.

Shuaib Hassan-, a motorcycle rider said, okada riders were the worst hit. “It is as if they don’t want us around and yet they need us most to get through the thick traffic. Police disturbs us from taking one way, and on the other hand, the heavy duty trucks crush us often,” he said. True to Hassan’s claim on the crush of okada riders by the truck drivers, last week Wednesday, in a very hot weather, a heavy duty trailer, in a bid to move forward, hit an okada boy in front of him. His claim was that he didn’t see the motorcycle because his trailer was too big.

Touts are not left out of the factors of the traffic jam of Apapa. They extort from both commercial motorists, motorcycle riders and the truck drivers. While doing this, they constitute traffic nuisance to all motorists.

According to Linus Okereafor, a commercial bus driver, the major challenges on Apapa road are the trailers and the bad pot holes. “That is why our vehicles get spoilt often and we can’t charge passengers more than necessary. If not, they would protest”, he said. The road condition is disadvantageous to him, concerning the number of trips he makes daily. He complained that he now make two to three trips, instead of the six trips he usually made daily. He, however, urged both the Federal and Lagos State governments to come to their aid by making the roads motorable. He also suggested the es-

A riverside along Tincan road

tablishment of rail that government once suggested. He said that the rail would help clear goods and ease traffic congestion within the environment.

Emmanuel Mbafo, a motor parts trader, pleaded with the government to make decency of the place. He suggested that government should create a special task force that would enforce the observation of rule of law among the road users; else they should remove the terminal port that is the major cause of the traffic.

“The roughness on this road simply shows that we don’t have a government and if we do, it means that they are callous and insensitive because this is a place that generates revenue for both the state and Federal Government. So, why can’t they make the place decent and conducive for all?

It shows they are both only interested in what the place can generate and not the condition of the place and the people therein,” he lamented.

Mbafo also suggested that the terminal port can be relocated to the outskirt of the town or both governments should make it a night affair to ease movement. He explained further that most people working in Apapa/Wharf often get sacked because of lateness to work. They substitute for people living around the area and many of them are not qualified or good at the job. “That is another reason why robbery and crime cannot go down in this part of Lagos,” he said.

Jelili Olushola, a property manager in Apapa, said there can never be discipline in that axis of Lagos regarding the trailers and tankers. He said

One of the ongoing roads construction on Apapa Wharf area

most of the tankers and trucks are owned by government top officials; as such, the drivers find it difficult to be law abiding. “It is baffling especially when you think you are talking to a human being and you discover that the person is an animal. The touts also have their beautiful side; they try to help in organizing but some of the drivers don’t listen at all. They are just hell bent on taking one way, thereby causing mayhem.

So what do we do?”. He asked.

Apapa is the home of a major container terminal. The ter-

minal was owned and operated by the Federal Government of Nigeria until March 2005, when it was sold to the Danish firm A. P. Moller-Maersk Group for about US$1 billion. Adjacent to the container port is the Tin Can Island port, which has Ro-Ro facilities. It also houses some refineries like the Bua Group, Folawiyo Towers, a big banking software company, Neptune Software PLc, among many others. It was gathered that the Federal Government had once started the process of evacuating cargo from the

nation’s seaports by rail. The pilot project, it was gathered, was supposed to start in Lagos Ports Complex, LPC, Apapa, which is the busiest in the country and also home to Apapa Container Terminal, ACT, the largest container terminal in Africa.

The exercise was scheduled across the nation’s seaports situated in Port Harcourt, Warri, Lagos, Sapele, Onne, and Calabar. But whether it actually took off or stopped midway remain in the realm of speculation.

28

Life | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

When charity begins abroad for ministry For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Complex of Ibiye, a surburb in Badagry, time has stopped. What promised to be a hopelifting investment for the community is now an object of ridicule. As MOSES KADIRI, found out, the complex is now anything, but what it was meant for.

T

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs- a sprawling complex, which is called Ibiye Village located at Iyanu Ibiye, along Lagos- Badagry expressway, was supposed to open up the community, create commerce, employment for Nigerians, and the people in the area. But years down the line, the over 500 hectares of land has been abandoned and left to rot away by the government.

Today, the large hectare of land, which is worth several billions of Naira has been taken over by weeds, and other wild animals.

The sight of the imposing complex sends shivers to the spine of a visitor, who observes the neglect of once glorious power house of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Nothing is happening there anymore. It is like a grave yard. The offices have been shattered, the roofing sheets fallen apart; the place is not only abandoned for rodents but serves as hideout for criminals to perpetuate evil activities. Some residents in the area complained of the continued abandonment of the complex.

Others said it poses security risk to the settlement. Yet, many suggest that the hectares of land could be turned to something else that would benefit the community. When Megacity visited, it saw that some parts of the land has been taken over by farmers. They now use the complex for farming products like tomatoes and vegetables. Megacity also learnt that land grabbers have sold most of the land for bidders. “My brother, this place is supposed to the biggest project by the government in the entire Badagry area of Lagos State but look at the rot. The place has been abandoned; people now use the place for driving school, because the land is very big; you can see for yourself that some people have even turned the place to football pitch, something that government would have beat its chest and said yes, we have something that can benefit the people.

The whole place is now upside down; no security, people just go into the place confidently, and do whatever they like,” Pastor Francis Uzoigwe of Voice of Calvary Pentecostal Mission said.

Mr. Emeka Obi, who has been living in Ibiye for the past 25 years said. “Few years ago,

Entrance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ibiye village

a young boy hanged himself inside the complex. He killed himself because he was owing someone N12, 000. The person threatened him that if he did not pay, he will kill him. Instead of him to wait and see or even plead with his creditor, he took his own life.”

The community bemoans the lack of development in the area despite its popularity. “Ibiye is not a small town,” John Okwudiri notes. “You will not believe that there is no government primary and secondary school in Ibiye; the only primary school here is Salvation Army Primary School built during the British slave trade. Nigerian government has not built school here.

It is only the white people that built the school. Some people cannot afford to send their children to school because of transportation. The only government school in this area is very far.

It is at Magbon on your way to Badagry. “They will tell us to vote. When we do that, we will not hear anything from them anymore. We need social amenities like water, road, and drainages. I will take you to the only road in this place. Vehicles do not pass the road because of the bad state; if you try to force your way through, you must be ready to face the consequences, the vehicle will not go through. Water has divided the road.” He reiterated: “Ibiye is very big but there is nothing to show for it. Why can’t government use about six or 10 plots of the land that has been abandoned to build school for us in this community?”

Some commercial motorcycle riders in the community urged government to intervene and develop Ibiye. “There is nothing we are enjoying in this community; our roads are not good. This is really affecting our business; l cannot count how many times l have taken my bike to repair because of the bad roads. From

Abandoned office taken over by weeds

Government is supposed to build a seaport here because ships come to the sea side, but nothing of such is happening.

Ibiye bus stop coming inside, people have to make use of the wooden pedestrian bridge that was constructed by the people in the area. The reason is because water has taken over the road, and we cannot cross over to the other side because of the water with our bike. Election is coming again, they will promise us everything and they will not fulfil,” Bukola Bello said.

Another resident, Mrs. Sandra Uche, suggested that a seaport ought have been built in Ibiye. “Government is supposed to build a seaport here because ships come to the sea side, but nothing of such is happening.

Government just hates the people here for nothing sake,” she cries. “Those place you saw beautiful houses, the houses would have been built here (on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

because government has taken over the land.”

Further inquiries revealed that the complex has not been functional for several years.

Some of the residents said they are not aware if the complex has ever functioned since it was built. With the continued neglect of government projects in the country, it casts doubt on the government of the day’s commitment to the peoples’ needs.

Ambassador Ogboli Ode, spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abuja, said he is not aware of the development.

“I have never heard of the abandonment or the existence of such place; please send me the address and l will send someone there to confirm. I am only aware of the ministry relocation to Abuja and the place was turned to Foreign Service Academy.”

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

29

MA Kitchen: Bringing America to Nigeria The proprietors returned from their sojourn abroad and looked for what to do. The wife stepped up a family idea and it turned to a big kitchen. EZEKIEL ADESAWE was there.

M

oremi Alatade kitchen is less than a year but its tremendous and exceptional services have made it a haven to those who want to enjoy a nice meal in the heart of Ikeja, especially on Fridays.

Just before Salvation busstop on the right side of Toyin Street in Ikeja is the Moremi Alatade kitchen playing host to guests. It has an extensive list of delectable and rich delicacies, and in the bar section are foreign wines mixed with Nigerian brands.

Some of the delicacies comprise different varieties of rice, swallows, assorted meat, fishes and drinks consisting of palm wine, Hennessey, Jack Daniels, Remy Martin, Red label, Magic moment, among others. On the inside of the restaurant is an artistic touch of its owner, who is an artist by profession.

MA as it is often called, offers a different class of foods, uncommon to other restaurants like Sea rice, Basmati rice and Chinese rice. It is also a good place for lovers of palm wine, as they would find enough to drink. Although the restaurant looks high-priced, its products are surprisingly cheap for an average guest at the restaurant.

Odumosu Adesoji, comes to the kitchen often despite the fact that there are other alternatives available to him. He prefers Mo-

remi Alatade kitchen because he enjoys the food as much as he enjoys relaxing after every meal in the serene environment.

He said:“I come to MA kitchen because of the serenity of the environment, the moderate price of what they offer, which makes it affordable. The food is well prepared and managed effectively, as well as friendly staff. I hardly go elsewhere to eat because I am satisfied with what I eat here.”

One of the customers who gave her name simply as Taiwo, has been eating at the restaurant since April this year and has always enjoyed eating swallows at the restaurant with her friend, Nike. According to them, they don’t go anywhere else to eat during lunch hours because they find the best of food at affordable prices.

Goke Olubusi is the Managing Director of the restaurant and he revealed that the restaurant actually metamorphosed from a little family thing started by his wife after they relocated from the United States of America.

He said: “The idea came from so many things. We lived abroad and thought of bringing the idea to Nigeria. The idea of a restaurant where everything you eat tastes like you are home.

We want the environment to be comfortable for everybody.

A section of the Kitchen

That’s why, for instance in the bar area, most of the drinks are from abroad but we do blend them with Nigerian products.

“We make sure people come in here to have a nice time and still feel at home. Disk Jockeys are here to entertain our guests Wednesday to Saturday, especially on Friday, which is always party all night. The name of this restaurant is my wife’s name and also

her grandmother’s name. She didn’t want us to use the name but I insisted that we use the name. We have been into this for quite a while but we officially opened this place February 14th this year and we have been receiving bookings. Also, we are working in hand with our suppliers, so, we can make our foods cheaper. We believe the market is not only for the rich but for everyone.”

He added.

Self employment: Lagos to offer N110m soft loan Muritala Ayinla

L

agos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has promised that his administration, in partnership with the Chair Centre, would provide a soft loan of N110 Million for 1,100 trainees under the beauty, photography and agriculture sectors. That is in his determination to reduce the unemployment rate and make Nigerian youths become employers of labour.

This, Fashola believes, would go a long way in addressing unemployment problems in the country, saying most of the trainees under the After School Graduate Development Centre, AGDC, programme do not have money to procure equipment.

Speaking at the fifth edition of the Youth Stakeholders Forum, organized by the State’s Ignite Enterprise and Employability Project in partnership with the After School Graduate Development Centre (AGDC), Fashola added that the Chair Centre owned by the Chairman of AGDC, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, has come up with an idea to provide a seed sum of N10Million that would be available to 100 trainees at N100,000 each over

a 26 month period.

He urged all those who intend to apply for the soft loan online to have a business plan in place and that the mindset of the trainees should be about identifying that there is a problem to which a solution is being proffered through the proposal.

He explained that the State Government has decided to support the initiative by providing an additional N100 million that would be available to 1, 000 trainees, thus making the seed sum a total of N110 million that is available to 1,100 trainees.

He reiterated that the first six months would serve as a moratorium period when the business is expected to gain a foothold and be steady and that for the following 20 months, the lucky person would pay back N5, 000 monthly to offset it.

Fashola maintained that the fund would be managed through a micro finance bank but that each of the beneficiaries must realize that the soft loan can indeed solve the problem of collateral because with the transaction, the trainees are building their collateral before the financial institution. He reminded them that as each of the beneficiaries pays back and the

loan is rolled back, it is opening new doors to others, who have not benefitted and allows the trainees to create a credit history with the financial institution. He noted that the intervention and several other ones have been made possible with the usage of tax payers’ money by the ruling party in Lagos State, which is the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that if the people want a continuation, they know what step to take during the next general elections.

Taking a retrospective look at how the AGDC programme evolved, the Governor said it was about finding solutions to people, who graduated but have no basic work experiences that could make them employable.

He stressed that one of the first steps taken by the State Government when it opted to support the programme that was originally conceived by Awosika was to start giving young people the opportunity to convert skills.

Fashola said the AGDC intervention has brought about several positive developments such as in the operation of the Primary Health Care Centres, where the trainees are working and have helped to achieve an increase in the level of immu-

nization for children in Lagos.

He added that for the past five years, Lagos State has remained Polio free because no child has been infected as the immunization coverage of the state has been very extensive.

He reiterated that when similar problems reared its head with the performance of students in public schools in selected science subjects, the state government provided conversion training for graduates in the selected subjects, who taught students in the deficient subjects.

The governor stated that the measure has brought about improvement in performance of students in public examinations from an initial 7 per cent to 11 per cent, 18 per cent, 21 per cent, 38 per cent, 41 per cent and this year, 45 per cent.

He noted that he finds it rather puzzling that Nigeria complains of lack of electricity when it has several graduate engineers, who are without work and that this informed the resuscitation of the technical colleges, where skills could be impacted by experts such as the recently opened Skippers Electrical plant located at the Government Technical College Ikotun. He said other aspects

already being taken care of by the Technical Colleges are the Samsung Centre in Agidingbi, where the trainees are immediately provided employment after graduation, as well as the one in Epe, which is powered by Julius Berger to train people in tiling and masonry.

Fashola said even for waste management, new vistas have been opened at the main landfill sites in Olusosun and Soluos, where methane gas is being extracted, bottled and sold, adding that from waste products like sachets and papers, government is embarking on recycling.

According to him, over the last few years, government has built new roads, schools, hospitals and courtrooms but that such infrastructure do depreciate and that for some discerning people, such areas needing maintenance represent sources of opportunity to be productive.

He added that when he recently signed into law the bill creating the facility management company, it was about ensuring that all the schools, general hospitals, Maternal and Child Care hospitals and stadium that are under them would be maintained through a process that would create jobs for people.

30

Life | Local Government Watch

To the out gone Chairman of Ojo Local Government Area, he may be contented that he ran a good race, waiting for his crown or otherwise. However, today is that tomorrow people wait for as EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU observed during his visit to Ojo Local Government Area recently.

H

onorable Prince Yinka Mursiq Durosinmi needs no introduction in Lagos State especially in his Ojo Local Government Area, LGA. Today, everybody especially cleaners adjudged him the best.

However, all these are history because his tenure as the OJo LGA helmsman expired last month following which Governor Fashola thanked the LGA Chairmen and directed them to hand over to their various LGA staff immediately.

As the tenure of Lagos LGA Chairmen inaugurated in 2011 winds up, the real assessment devoid of sycophancy has just begun. Many others said, he tried in giving the local council a face-lift. They see him as the best L.G.A chairman in the history of the council. Records have it that he registered students free of charge for General Certificate Examination, GCE, in his LGA, he sank boreholes, he built ultra modern hall and Secretariat for the council etc. To some residents, especially traders around the Alaba International Electronics Market and residents of Sariki road areas, he has done nothing.

According to Alhaji Wahab Rasak a resident of Ifelodu area of Sariki Street in Ojo, the Chairman has done nothing. “We don’t see traces of being in Ojo LGA at all. See our roads here; the gully is nothing to write home about, even keke Marwa (tricycle)finds it difficult to glide through the road. This Ifelodu road ought to be a major road, it leads to many areas –Alaba International Market, Alaba Rago, Badagry and many other places; but it’s being abandoned. We need road, gutters and bridge but he didn’t care,” he said.

Eugene Obiezu, Public Relations Officer, PRO, of Alaba

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ex-Ojo council chair in the eyes of the people international Market Electronics Association, feels the market has not fared better in this out gone administration. He believes that the huge revenue the LGA rakes in daily from the market did not reflect on the market. “The local government neglected us. Look at our road from Volkswagen junction to Alaba market here; our containers fall on daily bases. The inner roads here are nothing to compare with. One of us had his container fall down in front of his warehouse last time.” The PRO bared his mind on other issues bothering on extortion.

“Our containers are subjected to various illegal levies; our customers too. If our roads were good, our patronage would have also increased. The maintenance work going on now on our road, is as a result of understanding we had with the state Government recently.”

A trader that has his shop along the Ojo LGA headquarters road through to Alaba Market who simply gave his name as John believes that; all the Chairman achieved was to deplore his men into extorting them (Alaba traders) he said.

He added that, “we heard the portion of land earmarked for Motor Park (situated between Alaba Rago junction in the market and the Pako Bridge) has been sold between N15m and N20m either in plots or meters each,” he alleged.

However, whichever side the pendulum swings, it’s believed he has made some impacts.

According to Ossy Otiekwe, a newspaper vendor, the out gone chairman designed this secretariat as it is today. He stated that he built roads, sank boreholes built public toilet. He even built the flower garden in the secretariat. “He tried remarkably,” he said. Otiekwe expressed that if there were areas or Communities the wind of his developmental train never got to, it could be that the Councilor representing that area did not make a proper presentation of the people’s needs to the Chairman he said.

To Tudor Sakiru, a business centre operator within the mili-

Entrance of Ojo Local Government secretariat

Dilapidated Seriki street in Ojo

tary base Ojo, Prince Yinka has tried so much in developing the Ojo local government. He believes nobody can take that shine from him. He said, “you can’t satisfy everybody. In the area of social infrastructure, he has not done much here in the upland. Though, he has his attention mostly in the riverine area he came from.”

A civil servant at the Ojo Local Government Headquarters who preferred anonymity, strongly believed

25, 000 residents empowered in Lagos East Muritala Ayinla least, no fewer than 25,000 Acaltresidents across the five LoGovernment and 11 Local

Council Development Areas in Lagos State have been empowered with vocational skills and tools.

The Local Government include: Epe, Ibeju- Lekki, Ikorodu, Kosofe and Somolu and 11 Local Council Development Areas such as Agboyi-Ketu, Bariga, Eredo, Igbogbo- Baiyeku, Ijede, Imota, Ikorodu North,

Ikorodu West, Ikosi-Isheri, Ikosi- Ejinrin, and Lekki.

Speaking at a two-day retreat organised for the staff of his Legislative Offices in Abuja and Lagos, the Senator representing the District, Gbenga Ashafa, said that the over 25,000 residents were empowered to reduce the level of poverty in the state.

The retreat, which took place at Jibowu area of the state with the theme: “Achieving High Performance Always” was the first of its kind

and also featured series of interactive sessions.

The senator explained that the retreat was aimed at reorientating and appraising achievement and of the office on the lives of the constituents in the past three years.

He said: “ The retreat is to sit down and have a rethink, access what we a have been able to do and get ourselves prepared for the events that we are going to encounter in 2015 general elections.

“It goes even beyond the elec-

Hon. Yinka made his impact felt in the council especially in his second tenure.

“He was paying workers salary regularly. Though the money comes from Alausa to him, but as soon as he gets the money, he pays. He tried his best to build roads here such as the NEPA road.” A security guard in the Council headquarters could not see reason to condemn Hon. Yinka even though he has left. The security man thumbed up for him.

tions. We want to be able to interact with one another and serve as example for other political gladiators, so that APC will be able to sweep resounding votes all over Nigeria. We have done well and we have to do more”.

He added that the election retreat was very timely saying that: “What we are doing is to update our staff and reappraise what we have done that have given us the edge over our opponents and prepare our minds against challenges that we are likely to face and give APC the optimum victory in 2015. The training is part of the factor to be used.”

According to the lawmaker, adequate and proper planning would contribute a long way to his success in the forthcoming election if all hands are on the deck to make things work.

“I believe that in view of the forthcoming 2015 general elections and its aftermath, a retreat of this nature is necessary to successfully position us to deploy a more effective approach in administering time and resources for a robust, more service-oriented second term and for the overall benefit of the people of Lagos East Senatorial District,” the lawmaker added.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Diamond Bank wants more investment in music

My City, My World ‘Lagos is profitable’

Moses Kadiri

Oluwatosin Omoniyi

D

B

iamond Bank Plc, has advocated for increased support and investment in the entertainment industry. The bank noted that with increased investment and efficient management, the industry could significantly reduce youth unemployment and boost foreign exchange earnings for the country.

According to the bank, with the current situation where most operators in the industry lack the requisite specialised management skills to efficiently manage the business of entertainment, it is necessary that corporate organisations and investors come to the rescue by investing in the industry and helping to install reliable and businessfocused management. Speaking at this year’s Nigerian Music Video Awards (NMVA) ceremony in Lagos, Ikechukwu Omeife, Team leader, Media Relations, Diamond Bank, said the budding talents in the industry require adequate support in order to fulfill their potentials. “Our bank believes in the youths of this country and their creative talents and potentials. We believe all these must be properly harnessed. The entertainment industry is a huge industry that has the capacity to absorb a good number of unemployed in the country.

These youths require corporate support and that is why we have been supporting this award for the past three years. We hope other organisations will do likewise by supporting this and other related events, so we could jointly lift up

L-R: Mr. Udoka Oguamanam, Corporate Communications, Diamond Bank Plc. congratulating Mr. Sammie Okposo, a recipient of the award for the Best Gospel Music Video category at the Nigerian Music Video awards ceremony.

this industry,” he said. Omeife recalled that the products of the industry have received global attention and recognition with the country’s music and its videos becoming very popular abroad.

Udoka Oguamanam, another official of the bank, noted that the bank’s interest in youths has driven it to come up with different initiatives targeted at harnessing their unique creative talents. He said the on-going #YouNeedANewBank contest, where young people are expected to remix the bank’s theme song for an opportunity of winning a music record deal and

cash prizes, was one of such platforms to encourage them.

Winners at this year’s NMVA include Gbade Adetisola, who won Best Use of Visual Effects; Mya K won Best video by Minor; Niyola carted home the Best R’n’B Video and Mr Songs won the Best Pop Extra Video. Others are MC Galaxy-- Best Use of Dance in a Music Video; Nikki Laoye -- Best Soft Rock / Alternative Video; Sammy Okposo -- Best Gospel Video; Kemi Adetiba -- Best Director; Timi Dakolo -- Best Cinematography; Oritsefemi -- Best Afro Beat Video; Joe El -- Best Video by A New Act.

an area surrounded by coconut trees. About 20 miles towards the border of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin, Coconut Beach is accessible through the Lagos-Badagry expressway. The beach, which has the historical reputation of

being a centre for slave trade in the 1800s, is pleasant and fascinating, and it provides excellent holiday relaxation. Visitors who are unaccustomed to the tropical sun are advised to wear hats as it can be rather warm at mid-day.

Coconut Beach I

f it is a sunny vacation day, and you want to get lost from the fast lane of the urban life? Coconut beach is the perfect getaway. It is a beautiful beach in the coastal town of Badagry, west of Lagos.

The beach is attractively set in

Cocount beach

31

asirat Modupe Giwa, a Lagos based ophthalmologist ,is a proper Lagosian and so does her philosophy of life reflects.

It is all about Lagos city and its lifestyle.

According to her, she has lived all her life in Lagos except when she Giwa went to Ibadan for medical training. But there is this particular sentimental attachment to the State.

“Not only that, there is also the environmental and spiritual attachment to the State for me,” she said. For Rotarian Giwa, as she is fondly called, the totality of Lagos makes the State and its city unique. The totality, she explained in terms of general Housing, transport and accessibility to educational and health facility, even with its chaotic traffic, “all of these shows why Lagos is on top and at it best. More reason I can’t live outside the State,” she said. When comparing, Rotarian Giwa Compared Lagos to New York of America, more because of it chaotic nature. She said that every ethnic group in Nigeria is represented in the country, “in fact, the whole of West African sub-region is well represented in Lagos,” she said. Rotarian Giwa further stated that, for one to live and be successful in Lagos, then the individual has to be strong and hardworking. Because that is the main quality that even an ordinary sachet water seller used in excelling. To add value to Lagos, she pointed out that it has to do with the law of the land and there should be some constitutional amendment, because there are structures that put pressure on the services that Lagos State government renders. She explained that the State government is being owned by Federal government in terms of seaport, airport and all heavy trucks ply the State roads which needs serious maintenance.

‘Lagos comes with its uniqueness’ Elijah Samuel ukmon Taiwo Odubiyi, Baale of IdiAraba recalled with nostalgic enrapture the fascinating sceneries of Lagos in the days when the city, with a manageable population size, had serene ambience.

Lagos is the center Odubiyi point of several migrations that took place many centuries ago. And of course, it attracted the benefit of being pacesetter in the socio-economic development of not only the southwest, but Nigeria on the large scale.

There were many beautiful places in Lagos where the people could relax in those days before the country got independence. The Island was adorned with fascinating sceneries that were beautiful to behold. Also, the Bar beach, Maroko and a few more other places offered rejuvenating experiences to many of us who visited these places during those tranquilized days.

We used to derive great delight when we visited the Marina and saw white men in the boats moving around. It was even compelling that these experiences had to be used as subjects of essays in school then.

Although Lagos is really being transformed, in the midst of an explosive population, I miss those enthralling sceneries of those days when Lagos population was at a manageable size.

Except I’m giving a privilege to go on Holiday for a few weeks, I can’t live elsewhere than Lagos. There is no place like Lagos; it comes with its uniqueness.

Because Lagos is accommodating, visitors most times don’t want to leave, and even if they left, they always long to come back.

L

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The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Unofficial Christmas Party

Organiser: No Surprises Events Date: December 12, 2014, 5:00 PM - Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 2:00 AM Venue: The New Landmark Centre, Oniru, Off Ligali Ayorinde Street, Victoria Island, Lagos

Scepters Global CEO IConference 2014

Organiser: Scepters Date: December 16, 2014, 7:00 PM - December 18, 2014 at 11:00 PM Venue: Intercontinental Hotel, Kofo Abayomi St Lagos

Productivity Enhancement Series (PES 101)

Organiser: League of Young Professionals, Nigeria Date: December 13, 2014, 8:30 AM- 4:00 PM Venue: Ellis Suites Limited, 22/ 26 Oremeta St., keja, Lagos

Drama @Road Runners Theater In The Club Organiser: Flash Art- Entertainment Date: December 14, 2014, 7:00 PM-10:00 PM Venue: ROAD RUNNERS Lounge, Moore road, Ibikunle by Herbert Macaulay way Yaba,

Real Estate Market Trend Analysis

Organiser: School of Estate Date: December 11, 2014, 10:00 AM- 2:30 PM Venue: 70b Olorunlogbon St., Anthony village, Maryland, Lagos

National Youth Empowerment Summit

Organiser: House of Cedar Date: December 17, 2014, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Venue: The Arts Theater University of Lagos, Yaba, Lagos

MEGA CITY EVENTS 2014 YOUTH STAKEHOLDERS’ FORUM, OREGUN, IKEJA, LAGOS

L-R: Commissioner for Commerce & Industry, Mrs. Olusola Oworu, Gov. Babatunde Fashola, Chairman, Ignite Enterprise & Employability Project, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Special Adviser on Commerce & Industry, Mr. Seye Oladejo and Executive Secretary, Lagos State Technical and Vocational Education Board (LASTVEB), Engr. Olawunmi Jasper at the 2014 Youth Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Lagos State Government in conjunction with Ignite Enterprise & Employability Project and the After School Graduate Development Centre (AGDC) at Ten Degrees Event Centre, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

Gov. Fashola, SAN (middle) being presented with portrait frames in appreciation of his support for the Enterprise & Employability Project by Mr. Gabriel Eyelade (left) and Bamisedun Fatima (right) during the 2014 Youth Stakeholders’ Forum.

PRE-AWARD NETWORKING MOMPRENUERS XMAS EXHIBITION FORUM

L-R: Publisher, Working Moms Africa Magazine, Mary Ikoku; Chairman, Anabel Group, Mr. Nicholas Okye; Chief executive Officer, Leap Africa, Ndidi Nwuneli and Adesuwa Onyenokwe, at the pre-award networking of Momprenuers Xmas Exhibition and Forum at Eko Hotel, Lagos

Mrs. Ngozi Oguguah (left) and Morayo Afolabi-Brown

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

WEDDING RECEPTION OF MR. TAIYE AND MRS. EVITA BOYO

L-R: Groom Father, Dr Adegoke M.Ayoade; Bride’s Mother, Revd. Magdalene Boyo; The Couple, Mr and Mrs Oyebade Ayoade; Groom’s mother, Mrs. Florence Ayoade and Bride’s father, Dr. Henry Boyo, at the Wedding ceremony between Ayetu Naa-Koekoe Boyo and Oyebade Akanbi Ayoade at Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Lagos West Opebi Circuit, Lagos.

L-R: Engr. Ben Atseyinku; Apollo Oseragbaje and Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu

PHOTOS: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

FCT Watch

Action Aid faults Nigeria’s budget process

35

33

The Investor

Maritime

Capital market’s vulnerability to oil shocks

Customs’ revenue hits N950bn in 11 months

36

37

Business What's news

Italian liner to deploy N84bn roro ships on Lagos, other routes Italian shipping group, Grimaldi, has introduced a fleet of six new-generation, larger capacity, Roll –on Roll- off vessels on West African routes.

Investors lose N274bn in Nestle, Unilever in two months SELL-OFF Investors lost N1.18 trillion last month

lion or 33.4 per cent to close at N132.831 billion from N177.247 billion, last Monday.

Meanwhile, statistics from the local bourse showed that the market capitalisation dropped by N1.18 trillion to

close at N11.404 trillion in November against N12.579 trillion achieved in October.

During this period, the AllShare Index lost 3436.94 basis points or 9.04 per cent to close at 34.543.05 compared with

37.979.99 posted in October due to the price depreciation.

According to the NSE, a total of 9.08 billion shares worth N100.4 billion were transacted CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Chris Ugwu

p.34

Group to FG: Reduce nation’s debt The Federal Government has been urged to prepare and approve the Second National Implementation Plan (2014-2017) of Vision 20:2020 and check the bloated national indebtedness in excess of $65 billion.

p.34

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

F

ollowing the market depression that has persisted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), investors in two top consumer goods companies - Nestle Nigeria Plc and Unilever Nigeria Plc - lost N274.287 billion between September 30 and December 8.

Also, investors lost N1.18 trillion last month, following sell pressure caused by the drop in oil price at the global market.

Global oil prices have plunged more than a third since June, prompting monetary policy makers to devalue the naira for the first time in three years and threatening to erode public finances in Nigeria that relies on crude sales for 70 per cent of government income.

These made Nigerian stocks to become one of worlds worst performing equities market in recent times.

Panic sales by local investors had compounded the pressure of foreign portfolio investors who were exiting the market.

Investigation by New Telegraph showed that Nestle Nigeria Plc, which occupied the fourth position in market capitalisation, led with a loss of N229.87 billion or 36.2 per cent to close at N634.125 billion on December 8, as against N863.995 billion recorded at the end of September.

Unilever Nigeria followed with a drop of N44.417 bil-

L-R: First Vice President, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN),Mr Rotimi Olaniyan; Executives Director, Promasidor, Mr Katchi Onubogu; President, NIMN, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye and Chairman, Body of Fellow, Dr IFY Uraih, during the Best Marketing Student award in Lagos.

Nigeria needs $1.23bn to develop 860,000mts of sugar demand Bayo Akomolafe

N

igeria would need $1.238 billion to meet 49 per cent or 860,000 metric tons of the total sugar demand by 2020, New Telegraph has learnt.

Currently, Nigeria’s total sugar production is 30,000 metric tons, while annual demand

is 1,994,175 metric tons.

A study by the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) revealed that the country still depends on refined imported raw brown sugar from Brazil worth over $500 million annually despite the measures taken by government to encourage local production.

At the beginning of last

year, a new sugar tariff regime was introduced, making raw sugar imports to attract a 10 per cent import duty and a 50 per cent levy.

Other incentives are the zero per cent import duty on machinery and spare parts for local sugar manufacturing CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3% August 2014............................8.5%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Dec. 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N188 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N291 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N229.50

l Foreign Reserves – $36.44bn as at 5/12/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Dec. 5)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N169 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N264.50 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N208.49

34

Business | News

RELIANCE Nigeria depends on Brazil for sugar Bayo Akomolafe

I

talian shipping group, Grimaldi, has introduced a fleet of six new-generation, larger capacity, Roll –on Roll-

Italian liner to deploy N84bn roro ships on Lagos, other routes off vessels on West African routes.

Each of the new ships is set for deployment on Grimaldi’s Central Express Service linking

Investors lose N274bn in Nestle, Unilever CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

by investors in 93.875 deals against 7.02 billion traded in 85.372 deals in October.

The financial services sector emerged the toast of investors during the period, accounting for 7.37 billion shares worth N52.24 bilillion traded in 50.692 deals.

The low sentiment in the market has been on the increase following upset in the financial market arising from drop in oil prices at the global market, devaluation of the naira, insecurities and build up to 2015 elections, among others.

Financial analysts believed that some of these factors sent shock waves to both local and foreign investors and created uncertainty in the investment environment, which led to retreat on the part of the bargain hunters.

The group Chief Executive Officer of UBA Capital Plc, Oluwatoyin

Sanni, while speaking on a paper titled: “Sustaining Capital Market Recovery” at the Capital Market Correspondent Association of Nigeria (CAMCAM) workshop in Lekki, Lagos, last weekend, observed that some international and local investors have withdrawn their investments in anticipation of the outcome of the election.

She noted that the drop in oil price and perceived policy inadequacies also affected the international investors’ confidence. He added that the relatively low daily traded values and low turnover velocity are still hindrances to large investors.

Sanni said that the Nigerian economy is greatly exposed to geopolitical, geo-economic and currency risk, which is forcing foreigners to withdraw from investing, stressing that the insecurity in the country is also a challenge to the Nigerian market recovery.

Nigeria needs $1.23bn to develop sugar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33

industries; five-year tax holiday for sugar investors in the sugar value chain and 20 per cent duty and 60 per cent levy for imported refined sugar.

About 98 per cent of sugar imports come into the country raw and is refined locally, while the remainder of imports is refined sugar.

It was revealed that over 90 per cent of raw sugar was imported from Brazil, while eight per cent is sourced from other countries.

Dangote Sugar’s installed refinery capacity of 1.44 million tons and the BUA Group’s capacity of 720,000 metric tons are the major companies refining sugar in Nigeria.

But the country’s sugar refineries depend exclusively on brown sugar from Brazil at five per cent duty.

According to the

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NSDC report, Nigeria has a land potential of over 500,000 hectares of suitable cane fields that can produce over five million metric tons of sugarcane that when processed, could yield about three million metric tons of sugar.

Floated in 1993, the NSDC’s its first task was to arrange the privatisation of the country’s nationalised sugar companies, but the rehabilitation of the estates was very slow due largely to the huge capital required and a lack of electricity to run the sugar mills.

The only active sugar producer in Nigeria is Josepdam Sugar Company.

The rehabilitation of the other sugar estates remains stalled at various stages.

The council’s study revealed that Flour Mills of Nigeria and other new investors were just expanding capacities.

Hamburg, Amsterdam, Tilbury and Antwerp to Lagos, Lomé, Cotonou and Tema.

The vessels, which were equipped with forklift vehicles and tug masters, represent an investment of close to $500 million, a spokesman for the Naples-based shipping company said in a statement.

Each vessel will have a capacity of 1,100 Twenty Equivalent Units (TEU ) and 3,000 linear metres of rolling cargo compared with the 750 teu and 2,200 linear metres offered by the existing fleet.

“The six new vessels will replace the chartered-in tonnage, which has complemented our

own fleet over the last two to three years, as well as other older owned tonnage,” it added.

The first unit, the Grande Lagos, started operating in October while her sister ship, the Grande Tema, will enter service in December.

The remaining four units will be delivered in the course of 2015, at three-month intervals.

They will also provide scope for Grimaldi to transfer some of the existing tonnage on this service to its Southern Express, MediterraneanWest Africa and North America-West Africa services, thus enabling an increase in frequencies.

Deploying new and big-

ger vessels on West African routes reflected the fast-growing economies of several African countries and an increasing need of ocean shipping services for both the import and export of goods, the spokesman underlined.

He said: “The region is importing rolling cargo such as cars, vans, trucks, both new and second hand as well as industrial products in containers and project cargo. Northbound cargo (-ex-West Africa) is largely made up of containerised food commodities such as cocoa beans and coffee, and also timber.”

Since the mid 1970s, the Grimaldi Group has been

the largest carrier of vehicles between Europe and West Africa. On these routes the Group operates 22 modern Multipurpose Ro/Ro Car Carriers, each of them able to accommodate about 2,500 lane metres of rolling cargo, up to 2,500 cars and 850 containers on the weather deck.

Ships are fitted with their own deck cranes to handle containers, project and oversized cargo.

With a departure every two days from Northern Europe, the group offers a set of four different services – Northern Express, Central Express, Southern Express and Eurocargo Express, which directly serve a total of over 20 ports in the region.

L-R: Regional Head, Personal Banking, Lagos & South West, Ecobank Nigeria, Folake Aina; Beverly Naya; Online PR Strategist; Olatomi Kolawole; Tomi Odunsi; Business Intelligence, Personal Banking, Ecobank, Helene Ize-Iyamu and Product Manager, Mortgages and Inventory Finance, Adebayo Osikomaiya, at the Financial Planning & Wealth Management workshop for women in Lagos.

Group to FG: Reduce Nigeria’s debt Godson Ikoro

T

he Federal Government has been urged to prepare and approve the Second National Implementation Plan (2014-2017) of Vision 20:2020 and check the bloated national indebtedness in excess of $65 billion.

Lead director, Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), Mr Eze Onyekpere and a member of CSJ Tribunal, Kalu Onuoha, made this call in Lagos at the end of Fiscal Tribunal organised by the CSJ with the support of the Ford Foundation Office for West Africa.

In a communiqué issued by the duo at the end of their two-day deliberation, they insisted that there was nothing to show in terms of infrastructure and human capital development for the nation’s $65 billion indebtedness.

While imploring the Fed-

eral Government to reduce the dissonance between federal and state budgets and high level national development frameworks in virtually all the sectors of the economy, they urged the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to supervise the expenditure and finances of government so as to ensure that a full account is made to the legislature and its financial control is maintained in accordance with the Finance (Control and Management) Act. The tribunal argued that with the expiry of Vision 20:2020’s First National Implementation Plan 2010-2013 and the absence of a followup implementation plan, which should have been the NIP 2014-2017, national planning seems to be in a state of void.

It noted further that essentially, budgets are not

linked with the overarching national blueprint of Vision 20:2020. Besides, it noted that the poor funding and lack of financial autonomy for the office of the AuditorGeneral, reduces the capacity of the office to promote compliance with the rules, transparency and accountability and value for money in fiscal governance.

Accordingly, the communiqué said that the future MTEFs should be backed by Medium Term Sectoral Strategy (MTSS) and full consultation with all relevant stakeholders.

Furthermore, it stressed that MTEFs should contain the macro-economic projections for the next three financial years and their underlying assumptions; and an evaluation and analysis of the macro-economic projections for the preceding three financial years.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

35

FCT Business Watch Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

A

global organisation established to tackle poverty, the Action Aid, has advised the Nigerian government on measures to achieve effective budgeting and how to avoid budget overlap.

The body noted that incessant cases of late passage of Nigeria’s budget has hampered implementation, especially the capital budget, a development that caused budget implementation to be extended to the end of March of the following year.

These views were contained in a document entitled “Analysis of national frameworks on budget in Nigeria,” a copy of which was obtained by New Telegraph in Abuja.

Taking cognisance of budget preparation in Nigeria starting with the executive formulating the proposal, it said that preparation for

Action Aid faults Nigeria’s budget process budget is a process that often starts late in Nigeria.

“The lateness in the commencement of the budget cycle may not be unconnected with the absence of a comprehensive and integrated budget calendar. Although the adoption of Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) introduced the strategic planning mode in Nigeria, the budget timetable seems not to have changed with the introduction of MTEF process.

“Government needs to publish a comprehensive budget calendar that specifies when budget tasks are to be completed and the timelines for the different phases of the budget cycle. Stakeholders need to be aware of when key budget tasks, events and decisions will occur so they have an opportunity to plan and participate in the process. “The

preparation of a calendar helps ensure that all aspects of the budget process have been considered and adequate time has been provided,” it advised.

Drawing comparison between Nigeria’s budget process and other countries, including the USA, Netherlands, Scotland and South Africa where specific timetables are adhered in budget processes, the Nigerian government, it said, could simplify her budget process by sticking to structured timetable.

“It is therefore recommended that the budget preparation stage be commenced much earlier, say by January (which is 12 months ahead of the fiscal year of the budget).”

The Action Aid document on Nigeria’s budget analysis reflects views and opinions of Nigerians on budget planning by government.

“Some of the respondents opined that the current budget cycle in Nigeria does not take into consideration local needs and contemporary weather situation,” it said.

Besides sticking to definite time to kick-start budget pro-

cess, the global body has advised on timeliness of budget presentation to the National Assembly, approvals and the use of interim measures should the budget fail to be enacted before the start of the financial year.

‘NOTAP saves N27.4bn from technology transfer’ Keneeth Tohembeth

T

he National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has saved N27.4 billion for the country from its intervention in the process of evaluation and registration of technology transfer.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Abdu Bulama, gave the figure in Abuja while presenting the scorecard of his

ministry and the agencies under it. He noted that the money would have been lost as unremitted due to over-invoicing of technology transfer fees.

He assured that the plan to establish Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Park in Abuja was on course.

According to him, his ministry was working with experts within and outside Nigeria to establish a model science and technology park known as SHESTCO Silicon Valley.

Why we gave out free decoder –StarTimes Keneeth Tohembeth

O

President, Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Abdulwahid Omar (left) and Managing Director, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, Mr Ben Langat, during Omar’s visit to the company in Lagos.

SMEs products to empower grassroots –Jaiz Bank Abdulwahab Isa

J

aiz Bank Plc has said that its Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) products are aimed at empowering people at the grassroots.

The bank said that the products are specifically tailored to suite people with smaller income, explaining that the products afford a group of five small scale enterprises opportunities to secure up to N500,000 to grow their businesses within a limited period.

Jaiz Branch Manager, Bello Road, Kano, Abdullahi Mansur Imam, made

these disclosures at the justconcluded Kano trade fair where the bank’s products and service were showcased to participants and visitors.

The SME product, Imam said, is besides its conventional products such as savings account (Mudaraba), lease and acquisition finance (Ijara-Wa-Iqtina) and corporate and trade financing (Murabaha), unveiled at the fair.

SME was uniquely conceived to finance marketdriven products and encourage the growth of local enterprises.

Imam said: “The SME product is currently on a

test-run and is designed to meet the yearnings and aspirations of our esteemed customers, especially those at the grassroots.

“To access the SME product, five businessmen or women would have to form a group and they must demonstrate appreciable trust and confidence between themselves.

“The five of them must also have individual places of trade where they operate their businesses. The bank will rely on the assurance of their mother body or association because that is the only assurance as we don’t request for collateral.”

ne of the pay-tv service providers in Nigeria, StarTimes, said that its recentlylaunched free decoder offer was aimed at driving the country’s transition from analogue to full digital television transmission.

Public Relations Manager StarTimes, Mr Israel Bolaji, made the clarification while commenting on the recently launched “StarTimes Seasons Jolly and StarSat Family Fiesta’ promos.

He stressed that the initiative was borne out of the company’s mission and desire to ensure that Nigerians key into the global direction and mandate for digital television experience for all. He said with the free decoders initiative, every Nigerian gets to access favourite local and international TV contents and more on a more quality audiovisual platform for maximum entertainment and comfort.

“StarTimes is bringing its rich digital broadcast capacity, experience and structure to support the Federal Government and the industry in facilitating and ensuring smooth switchover process.

“Our vision is to support Nigerians migrate successfully from analogue to digital television transmission and to revolutionise the digital broadcasting industry by providing digital

pay-tv service that is quality, but affordable for all Nigerians.

StarTimes recently announced its ‘Season’s jolly’ promo, through which it is giving away one free decoder to everyone who subscribes for one month unique bouquet or for two months classic subscription. In the StarSat Family Fiesta’ promo, a free StarSat HD satellite decoder plus dish is being given out to everyone who recharges for three months Smart bouquet on StarSat from November 18, 2014 to January 31, 2015.

StarTimes existing subscribers, he said, would automatically be entered into a raffle draw upon the renewal of their subscription for two months through any of these methods: promo cards, online recharge and non-promo cards.

According to him, new customers would also automatically qualify for the draws upon the payment for any of the classic, unique or the StarSat smart bouquet, which comes with a free decoder.

He added: “During the promo period, there would be a 50 per cent discount in the second month of subscription every time our subscribers recharge their decoder for the ‘Season’s Jolly Promo’ and also stand the chance of carting away other mouth-watering instant prizes,” Bolaji said.

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Business | The Investor

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Capital market’s vulnerability to oil shocks Abdulwahab Isa

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thriving capital market depends on a number of fundamentals that are active at a given time. A buoyant economy, which enjoys a relative macroeconomic stability, easily radiates such buoyancy to the capital market.

Similarly, an economy challenged by unstable macro indices also impairs the growth of the capital market. Consequently, Nigeria’s capital market derives both its growth and dwindling moments from nation’s economy performance.

With the meltdown of 2007 and 2009 over, Nigeria’s capital market started witnessing tremendous growth both in all share index and capitalisation until a couple of months ago when oil prices began to tumble at the international market.

Impact on capital market The continuous fall in the price of crude oil has dealt a big blow on virtually all aspects of the Nigerian economy including the capital market. This was triggered by several factors such as gluts in oil supplies by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members and the US cutting back on its oil demand. A combination of these developments led to low oil prices - a scenario that put Nigeria and other oil exporting countries’ economy on edge.

The crash in the prices of oil at the international market has also affected the growth of capital market, resulting in declines in all the key indicators, the Nigeria Stock Exchange All Share Index (ASI), the Market Capitalisation, and Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs).

This is not unusual, because there are close correlation between oil prices and capital markets.

Coordinating minister of the Economy and Minster of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo- Iwela, could not conceal the thereat posed to the capital market by the steep fall in oil prices.

Speaking recently at the 4th Annual Capital Market Committee retreat in Abuja, she said the country has seen declines in a number of indicators within the capital market including the NSE ASI, market capitalisation, and FPIs. “This is really not unusual as there is some sort of close correlation between oil prices and capital markets. The NSE All Share Index slid by about 18 per cent, from 41,135.75 points at the beginning of October to 33,875 points as at November 24. This is similar to the 18 per cent decline in the NSE equity market capitalisation from N13.6 trillion as at the start of October to N11.2 trillion as at November 24, during which period oil prices fell by about 19 per cent.

“Foreign Portfolio Investment has also seen a reversal as it decreased by 32 per cent in the month of September 2014 to October 2014. Of the N153 billion

Okonjo-Iweala

Onyema

decreases, over 65 per cent was attributed to FPI outflows”, she said.

Measures to stabilise market The Minister, who admitted that Nigerian economy was under threat, reeled out measures taken to shield the economy against the volatility. These included belt-tightening measures and imposition of extra taxes on the consumption of luxury items.

“As you have seen, we have now taken strong measures to stabilise the economy and the market has responded positively.

Also, looking at our bond yields, the yields for our international and domestic bonds have also gone up by a few hundred basis points. Our 5 year 2018 Eurobond is up by 233 basis points in the month of November, reflecting that investors still have confidence in our economy,” Okonjo- Iwela stressed.

She was very specific on what is being done to support the capital market, which according to her, plays a pivotal role in economy development.

“I want to re-emphasise government’s commitment to supporting the capital markets given the prominent role the market plays as the bedrock of investment in the country. Thus, in addition to the fiscal and monetary measures, which I have already discussed, government gazetted and implemented the VAT exemptions for stock market transactions and we are working on the stamp duty waiver. We are also working on deepening our stock market through strong encouragement of listing our big companies such as those in the telecommunication, oil and gas sectors, and consumer goods sector,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

“In the medium to long-term, we shall be looking at other support for NSE market makers, for example, to enable them compete with counterparts from Europe and US by allowing them to

We are also working on deepening our stock market through strong encouragement of listing our big companies such as those in the telecommunication, oil and gas sectors, and consumer goods sector

Aruma Oteh

confidently provide liquidity in the markets. In addition, we may need to set a minimum threshold for pension fund investment in the equity market. Currently, only about 10 per cent of the 25 per cent allowable pension investible funds are invested in the capital market. We believe that a minimum threshold would go a long way in improving liquidity in the market.”

The minister said all the measures listed to protect the market would be complemented on sound corporate governance.

She recalled that the NSE recently developed a Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) for listed companies in partnership with the Convention on Business Integrity (CBI) in a bid to raise the overall level of competitiveness.

To realise the dream, she said the Exchange will now support the Direct Market Access (DMA) as an interim step to sponsored access for the West African Capital Market Integration (WACMI) programme whose main objective is to enable brokers that are not registered market operators in Nigeria to participate in the market by granting them remote access to the NSE’s trading facility through a local Dealing Member Firm.

Looking ahead There is no doubt Nigeria’s capital market has attained some level of recovery after the burst of 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Investors’ confidence has been restored and this has translated to growth in all indices.

The Director-General of SEC, Ms. Aruma Oteh said that through reforms initiated to reposition the market, remarkable progress in all spheres had been recorded. The domestic bond market, she said has attracted different categories of issuers including State governments, government agencies and companies.

“Current bond market capi-

talisation is put at N9.95 trillion comprising N4.10 trillion of FGN bonds, N4.35 trillion of AMCON bonds and N1.5 trillion for state government and corporate bonds while the market has attracted triple-A rating from issuers like the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) both of whom have issued naira-denominated bonds.

Given the reforms and works that had been done on Nigeria capital market, Oteh said by 2025 the market could play a far greater role in actualising Nigeria’s aspirations than it currently does.

She added that to achieve feat, the market must be repositioned to grow in a strategic and organised manner.

“This informed our decision to leverage cooperation within the Capital Market Committee (CMC) to set up industry-wide committees to examine the state of our market and chart its future path. The result of this exercise is the development of a 10-year master plan for the Nigerian capital markets with specific blue prints for capital market literacy and non-interest capital market products. This is in line with global best practice as we have learnt from successful examples from peer emerging markets,” she said.

Conclusion Since the capital market derives its robustness from the overall wellbeing of the economy, there is a need for Nigeria to consider diversifying the economy from reliance on monoproduct.

There is a consensus that before macro-fiscal and monetary policies can be stabilised, supportive policies for capital market development, continued structural reforms, and good economic policies to sustain the sources of growth, are measures needed to retain the economy on growth pedestal.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

37

Maritime

Customs arrest 2, impounds N30m frozen poultry p.38

FG to ban foreign vessels from Nigeria p.38

Customs’ revenue hits N950bn in 11 months ciation of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Apapa chapter, Fred Ajuzie, traced the server failure to the volume of documents processed during the day.

Despite the challenges faced by the Nigeria Customs Service in the first quarter of the year when its new scheme, the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) was introduced, a total of N950.1 billion has been generated into the federation account between January and November, 2014, from the N5.6 trillion imports into the country in the last 11 months, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports

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he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a 23.4 per cent improvement in its revenue generation over last year’s N769.3 billion.

Also, NCS saved the country N36.9 billion from the one per cent Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) charged on import by service providers before the NSC took over the implementation of the Destination Inspection Scheme in December, 2013.

According to Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area 1 Command, Comptroller Charles Edike, PAAR had helped the economy to grow in the last 11 months.

PAAR is a dynamic and consistent risk management platform being utilised by Customs and other regulatory agencies, including commercial banks for classification, valuation, price verification and added value in a modernised risk-management environment to remove the inefficiencies involved in destination inspection system.

The gain Edike said that despite the initial teething problem, customs was able to overcome the challenges.

He noted that the service had so far received 201,330 requests for PAAR out of which 188,424 were finally released and 108,169 uplifted with a total Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) of N5.6 trillion.

Edike explained that the new clearance procedure had not only increased the revenue profile of the service, but had helped in reducing the cost and time of goods clearance at the port.

He stressed that the service had gained the recognition among the customs administrations and World Customs Organisation (WCO) as a result of the

Customs’ defence But the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, explained that the time-frame in returning a queried PAAR will depend on the nature of the query.

He said: “We cannot be talking about the time a PAAR, which was queried, will be returned because it depends on a number of factors which include the issue to be addressed.”

Dikko

successes recorded since the introduction of PAAR. Problems He, however, noted that the biggest challenge of the new clearance procedure was noncompliance to trade regulations by importers as a total of 14,259 PAAR had been rejected.

“We see a lot of inconsistencies, sometimes the details of goods being imported are not in the Form M; quantity of items not clear, quantity of items imported cannot enter the container, Bill of Lading number already utilised in previous shipment; Bill of Lading number and dates not in the document; conflicting currency name; conflicting importer’s name in the document and conflicting number of packages,” Edike said.

He pointed out that Customs had to improve on the technology it was using sometime this year when it experienced some delay in the system.

Edike said that the non-compliance of importers was the reason why some PAAR documents were queried.

He noted: “The biggest challenge is about compliance. Your PAAR will not be queried so long as you are transparent and don’t cut corners. But when you want to cut corners, your PAAR will be queried because the system is robust enough.”

He added that many people were not aware that an experienced officer could detect whether an importer was lying about his declaration or value based on the document presented without going to the terminal to inspect the goods.

The teething problem hindering the success of PAAR is the constant break down of the system. The network, which works twice in a week, is not good to achieve the six hours cargo clearance

Importers’ agony Before the breakthrough from the teething problem, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) had complained about the delays caused by Customs’ PAAR. The chamber noted that queries were often raised to cripple their business.

The Chairperson, Freight Forwarding Trade Group of the LCCI, Mrs. Julie Ogboru, said that some operatives of the Nigeria Customs had not shown enough professionalism in handling PAAR. She stressed that it took weeks for the PAAR to return whenever it was sent back due to a query.

“When your PAAR is queried and is sent back for re-assessment, you have to keep calling, for some time, up to two weeks, or you are forced to go to Abuja, she added.’’

Up till Q3, Customs agents under the aegis of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) had been licking their wounds over the implementation of the scheme.

They noted that customs officials were using the scheme to extort licensed customs agents on the quantity and value of cargoes.

The stakeholders said that since the beginning of the year, there had been constant breakdown of the server.

It was learnt that network was so bad that it hardly work twice in a week.

They noted that the six hours clearance assurance declared by customs would not succeed without the system working.

The Chairman, National Asso-

Anti-trade issues Members of ANLCA complained that virtually all customs units were operating independently at cross purposes in the cargo clearance process, which retards cargo delivery. This leads to demurrage and high rent at the various ports.

They explained that there were incessant interferences of cargoes by Customs Investigation Unit (CIU) based on low value, as well as inflation of values payable on consignments at various commands, saying that this is highly criminal.

Wrong implementation Former Chairman of the Tin Can chapter of ANLCA, Dr. Farinto Kayode, alleged that there was re-routing of PAAR document by Customs officers.

He alleged that Customs agents paid extortion fee of N30,000.

Also, Customs agents in the association noted that only shipping lines and terminal operators were benefiting from the poor server by slamming various charges on consignments pending in their terminals.

The stakeholders concluded that the inefficient server would not make the six-hour cargo clearance introduced by NCS work as envisaged.

Ogboru said: “The teething problem hindering the success of PAAR is the constant break down of the system. The network, which works twice in a week, is not good to achieve the six hours cargo clearance and so I don’t know how the PAAR will succeed without the system working. If the system is perfect, we will not have any problem with the PAAR.” She added that the solution to the problem was for customs to have an independent server.

Also, NAGAFF Chairman, Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML), Terminal Chapter, Mr. Cosmos Ndimkora, said that the system failure had become a regular occurrence, noting that agents experienced it towards the end of every month.

38

Business | Maritime

FG to ban foreign vessels from Nigeria

F

oreign vessels purchased outside Nigeria without local content input from local ship builders will not be allowed to participate in coastal shipping from 2015, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), had declared.

Executive Secretary of the board, Ernest Nwapa, who disclosed this, explained that the new policy was aimed at developing local capacity in line with the local content initiative of the Federal Government.

He disclosed this at the $900 million Load out celebration of the Domestic Supply Obligation (DSO) Meren Gas Gathering Compression Platform (GGCP) and Sonam NonAssociated Gas Well-head Platform projects fabricated by Nigerdock at the Snake Island, Lagos.

The executive secretary said that the new policy had become necessary because many Nigerian companies have developed the capacity to manufacture high quality vessels that meet international standards.

Sifax Group rewards long service

S

ifax Group Nigeria Limited has rewarded six of its employees for their long service.

The staff, who have spent between 10 and 15 years in the organisation, were rewarded with gifts at a ceremony held at the Rockview Hotel in Apapa, Lagos.

Those who benefited from the long-service award are Mr. Adesoji Ilesanmi Ayorinde, Miss Blessing Thompson, Mr. Obadare Abayomi, Mr. Olaoluwa Ayodele, Mr. Isikalu Samuel Olawunmi and Mr. Adesokan Rasaq.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Group Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, who was represented by Mr. Ezekiel Ajewole, explained that the long service award was an opportunity for Sifax Group to celebrate commitment, excellence, painstakingness, happiness and challenges, as well as acknowledging the spirit to serve among staff.

Afolabi said: “We need to be committed to this company, and for people that have been here for the past 15 years, I think we need to congratulate them, it means that there is something good we have seen in them.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Customs arrest 2, impounds N30m frozen poultry Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested two smugglers in connection with N30,595,050 frozen poultry along Asaba-Onitsha and Calabar roads.

They were discovered in two trucks, which comprised 685 cartons of frozen poultry concealed within 4,400 cartons of Lacasera apple drinks and 50 bags of locally made animal feeds.

In a statement, the Public Relations Officer of the unit, Onuigbo Ifeoma, said that the officers and men of the NCS, FOU Zone ‘C’ along the Asaba/ Onitsha and Calabar axis, impounded the products respectively.

The Customs Area Controller of the unit, Victor Dimka, disclosed that a Renault truck was used by the smugglers to conceal 450 cartons of the imported frozen poultry with the 4,400 cartons of Lacasera apple drinks, while a Mercedes Benz

truck with number plate XU 465 PHC was used to convey 235 cartons of the imported poultry with fifty bags of locally made animal feeds.

He decried the incalculable damage being inflicted on the nation’s economy as a result of unabated smuggling of prohibited products into the country.

The controller added: “We will continue to make this zone very hot and uncomfortable for smugglers to remain in business and we are not mincing words about this.

Dimka stressed that two suspects were arrested in connection with the contraband, saying that they were undergoing intensive interrogation as a prelude to their prosecution in court.

He noted that all the suspects arrested in connection with smuggling activities who were on bail would not go free until the determination of their cases in court. The comptroller explained that those found to have contravened the law would be jailed.

He affirmed that the determination of customs

to reposition for greater challenges as officers and men were undergoing capacity building training at the Command and Staff College Gwagwalada, while others are being trained abroad.

The Area Controller expressed delight at the desirable and cordial synergy between the NCS and other sister agencies such as the Nigeria Police, State Security Service (SSS), Nigerian Army, National Drugs Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), amongst others.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

L-R: Former Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak; Senator Silas Jonathan; National Secretar,y Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Adewale Oladipo; and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Aliyu Hong, during a security meeting on the Adamawa governorship primaries election in Abuja... on Saturday.

L-R: President, Federal Government College, Port Harcourt Old Students’ Association, Lagos Chapter, Chike Onuorah; Mrs. Biodun Olaniyi and Managing Director, Cosmos Trade Nigeria Limited, Tunji Olaniyi, during the presentation of award by the Association in Lagos.

L-R: Raymond Ihyembe; Vice Chairman, International Chamber of Commerce, Nigeria (ICCN), Chief Anthony Idigbe; Chairman of the occasion, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Chairman, ICCN, Mr. Babatunde Savage, and Mrs. Dorothy Ufot, at the Chamber’s annual dinner in Lagos.

L-R: Managing Director, Richbon Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Assumpta Muonagolu; Vice President, Xiamen XGMA International Trade Company Limited, China, Mr. Sahm Yap and Chairman/CEO Richbon Nigeria Limited, Chike Muonagolu, at an interactive session with the media in Lagos.

Photo | News 39

L-R: Managing Director/CEO, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde; Chairman, Chief Kolawole Jamodu and Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Mr. Uaboi Agbebaku, at the Court Ordered meeting of shareholders of the company in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Comptroller General of Prisons, Dr. Peter Ezenwa Epkendu [left], with the Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, at a briefing on the jail break in Minna…at the weekend

Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima (right), addressing Nigerian citizens rescued from Cameroun…recently.

L-R: Deputy Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan-Atlantic University, Mrs. Nneka Okekearu; Director, Mr. Peter Bamkole; Dean, Lagos Business School, Dr. Enase Okonedo and Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Willsher, during the graduation of the Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management Programme in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

40

Leisure Arcade NUTS

NTPuzzle

By Kaycee

Look for these words in the diagram below Affordable homes

Jobs

Nutrition

Gardens

Living wage

Safe water

Healthcare

Maternal health

Tax credits

W N E A L D U T 0 S P A K E H

MAMA LASISI

By Aliu Eroje

p 0 J T 0 I B S R X A B Y T D A I A 0 N K Q U 0 w S E L F E S T C G B U Y P J R K A I L S F I H S W S H w H 0 E F V U A E R A C H T L A E H W P I F F R T P F J I U T L I Y W N S E S U I I N D S A B A C s G 0 W

MOYIN & FRIENDS

By Ayo Oyerinde

M N Y W A E N K N S S L W Y A R 0 H P D R P S N E D R A G T U P W E E C E z T F I F G X E 0 S J T Z X F Q R W D K E F R T w A C M A H 0 0 L T R W B T D M 0 S P T 0 u w Y C T X G N S E M 0 H E L B A D R 0 F F A

SUDOKU - Answer to No 9

SUDOKU - No 10

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How to play

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ALIU EROJE

CHIEF CARTOONIST aliu.eroje@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

WAFFI There was this day I entered a bus going from Ketu to Ojuelegba in Lagos, and a guy entered after me. He was well-dressed and looked sleek, what we call ‘ a butter- boy’.

When it was time to pay, the following conversation ensued:

8 7

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The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes (also called blocks or regions) contains the digits from 1 to 9.

A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row , column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells. A region has thicker lines surrounding it. This simply makes it easier to play the game.

“How much is the t-fare?”, he asked the conductor in a British accent.

“Wetin you talk?”, the conductor asked back, with raised eyebrows. I didn’t blame the boy, as the guy was almost inaudible.

The cream young man repeated himself twice before someone came to his rescue and “interpreted” for him. He gave the conductor five hundred naira, and was expecting change but the conductor simply ignored his out-stretched hand and faced the other passengers.

The young man waited patiently until the conductor was through with the others, before demanding (again in that British accent) for his change but the conductor continued ignoring him. When the bus was descending the bridge and approaching the final bus stop, the young man requested for his change again, and met with a brick wall. I was about to wade into the situation when I heard from the cream young man, “Wetin dey do you sef ? Abi I no wait enough? You wan make I forget am abi? You think say I be JJC for Lagos? You better give me my money before I break ya jaw!”

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES Dr. ‘Femi MeyungbeOlufunmilade is the Head of Department, International Relations and Strategic Studies, Igbinedion University, Okada. In this analysis, he argues that former Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari is the best choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC)

T

oday, Wednesday, December 10, will remain unforgettable in the annals of opposition politics in Nigeria for the simple reason that it would signal whether a golden opportunity to turn Nigeria’s fortunes for good use or not. Today, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, the main opposition force in Nigeria – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – is conducting a primary election to decide who would fly the party’s ticket in the February 2015 presidential election. There are five aspirants in the list of contestants, namely, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), former Head of State; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President; Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, Kano State Governor; Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Imo State Governor; and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Publisher, Leadership newspaper.

Each of these gentlemen who are achievers in their respective professions and are respected public figures and there is no tangible reason why one would imagine that they, individually, are lacking in what it takes to lead Nigeria to true transformation. Not even the seemingly least experienced of the contestants can be lightly set aside on this score; for, some great leaders are never discovered until they are opportune to mount the saddle of leadership.

We don’t need to travel abroad for examples. Outside the legal profession where he rose to wear the coveted silk robe, the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, was unknown to most Nigerians until he was elected governor in 2007. Today, he is adjudged an exemplary performer and a model to his peers in the arena of governance at state level. Similarly, Mallam Nasir ElRufai was not so well known to Nigerians and not many could certify his leadership capability until he was appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, whereupon he exhibited uncommon administrative acumen in restoring the almost lost glory of the Abuja Masterplan.

In corollary, the critical question today is not about who is competent among the APC’s presidential hopeful, rather, it is about who is most likely going to bring victory to the APC. To answer this question, I conducted a study the outcome of which is available to major stakeholders of the APC. The study is titled, “Opposition Victories in Africa: How it Can Happen in Nigeria.” This study is a comparative

Buhari as APC’s best bet

L-R: Presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah; Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State; former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari, displaying their certificates, after screening by the APC Presidential Screening Committee, in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

analysis of eight African countries where the opposition had won presidential elections at different times. By this, we do not mean an intra-party transfer of the baton of power such as happened in Nigeria in 2007 when President Olusegun Obasanjo handed power over to his party member, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. Rather, we refer to an inter-party change whereby, upon the defeat of a ruling party’s candidate, power is ceded to an opposition candidate, as was the case in Zambia (1991), Ghana (2000), Senegal (2000), Kenya (2002), Benin Republic (2006), Sierra Leone (2007), Ivory Coast (2010), and Malawi (2014).

Certain common denominators were found in a good number of the countries under review. But before I summarise each of the denominators here, I should underscore the fact that the greatest lesson of this study is that incumbency is not such a great electoral asset to a ruling political party as we tend to imagine anymore, here in Africa, not America or Europe alone. Incumbency has been demystified elsewhere in Africa where the leaders loomed larger than life than as we have it in Nigeria. And, the addendum to that lesson is that if the right steps are taken by the opposition in Nigeria, victory is attainable.

In the study, there were five denominators, namely, “tested candidates”, “coalition strategy,” “complementary candidates,” “mass discontentment,” and “international pressure”. For the present purpose, however, we shall limit ourselves to the first denominator only, that is, “tested candidates”.

In at least four of the countries under review, the candidates that brought victory to the opposition had previously contested the presidential election a number of times ranging from one to four.

In other words, they were tested veterans in the rigours and hassles of presidential election. Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal in 2000 was contesting for the fifth time before he won. Having contested in 1992 and again in 1997, Emilio Mwai Kibaki of Kenya was in the contest for the third time in 2002 when he won, while John Kufuor of Ghana had vied against an incumbent Jerry Rawlings in 1996 before he emerged victorious in 2000. In Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma had contested

against incumbent president, Tejan Kabbah, and lost in 2002, before taking a second shot against Kabbah’s vice president, Solomon Berewa, which he won in 2007. In Zambia, where alternative parties had been more or less hindered till the clamour for multi-party election reached a crescendo and prevailed in 1991 with Frederick Chiluba winning, there was nobody of consequence who had passed through the presidential election turf as a candidate and strong enough to challenge Kaunda.

Yet, the opposition, realising the strategic nature of fielding a tested candidate, made Chiluba its flag bearer. The wisdom in this was that, although Chiluba had never contested a presidential election, he was nonetheless a nationally renowned labour leader who had emerged the president of Zambia’s apex labour union, Zambia Congress of Trade Unions, through competitive election. Thus he had a nationwide campaign structure and ardent supporters on the labour platform, aside the party he had formed a year before the 1991 election, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy. Nobody else, outside the ruling party, was considered stronger than Chiluba to wrest power from Kaunda who had cut the image of a ‘father of the nation’ and was like a king on the throne.

Looking at the experience of opposition parties that have attained power in Africa, the APC can be said to have a “tested presidential hopeful” in terms of consistency in vying for president, as well as the percentage of votes secured.

The person in reference is Muhammadu Buhari. He takes the credit for consistently posing the greatest threat to the stranglehold of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

If Buhari would not be the presidential candidate of the APC, it must not happen through his defeat at the primary election. It should be because Buhari himself steps down today

on power in the current democratic dispensation. He has contested thrice – 2003, 2007, and 2011 – and he is the runner-up candidate each time. In Africa, he is behind Abdoulaye Wade’s attempts who had tried and failed four times before winning, and in terms of frequency till date, he is at par with Emilio Mwai Kibaki of Kenya who had made three attempts, albeit winning at the third in 2002.

Coming to the percentage of votes scored, the 32.19% and 31.98% Buhari secured in 2003 and 2011 respectively fall in the same range with the votes secured by the leading opposition candidates in three of the foregoing African cases before the affected candidates forged coalition arrangements with other candidates to win the run-off. The cases are as follows: Abdoulaye Wade, 31.01% in year 2000; Yayi Boni, 35.78% in 2006; Alassane Ouattara, 32.07% in 2010. The Buhari’s percentages are also in the same range with the 36.4% that brought Peter Mutharika to power in Malawi in the first round of ballot in May 2014. The 2011 election was remarkable for Buhari because he had contested on the platform of a party that was registered only a couple of months before election: the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The point is, then, the party was not the issue. The issue was Buhari, and like Yayi Boni, he could still have pulled as much votes as he had then as an independent candidate if there had been provision for that in Nigeria’s electoral law.

A Buhari candidacy, undoubtedly, holds the greatest prospect for an APC victory in 2015.

Nevertheless, if Buhari would not be the presidential candidate of APC it must not happen through his defeat at the primary election. It should be because Buhari himself steps down today, in which case, he would, as a matter of good faith and commitment to the party’s victory, convince and mobilise his teeming, fanaticallyloyal supporters, in their millions, across Nigeria to give every necessary support to the party’s flag bearer. This is the only way the political weight of Buhari that was the major attraction for the parties that merged with the CPC to form the APC can be harnessed for the 2015 election. One is not implying that Buhari should be seen as superior to any other aspirant. Rather, one is arguing that his political weight is crucial to APC’s victory in 2015 and that reality must be factored into the emergence of a presidential candidate today at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Nda-Isaiah: An eye on presidential seat C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 6

versity, New York. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors; Vienna-based International Press Institute; World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and an executive member of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN). He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Edusoko University, Bida, and of the

newly reconstituted Heritage University in Kaduna.

Sam Nda-Isaiah is also a senior member of the International Praise Cathedral and founder of the Praise Business Fellowship.

In May 2013, he was conferred with the Grand Commander of Great Ife, the highest honour conferred by the Ife Alumni on its members. He is a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES

2015 presidency: Decision day for APC C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

Buhari’s electoral strength For Buhari, his strength lies in his popularity, particularly in the North, where he enjoys a kind of cult-followership. This, perhaps, explains why the party is more disposed to having its presidential candidate from the region though it has persistently maintained that the position is opened to all the six geo-political zones.

The Katsina-born General, running on the platform of the hastily-formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), demonstrated his electoral strength in the 2011 presidential election by garnering about 12 million votes. He won in 12 out of the 19 northern states of Bauchi, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Borno, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP won in seven states of Kwara, Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Adamawa.

Jonathan secured 22.3 million votes to emerge as president.

The calculation of the APC strategists is that Buhari’s candidature will guarantee APC substantial votes in the North. This may have informed the support his ambition is enjoying among the APC governors and the party leadership.

On the other hand, some believe that a Buhari candidacy is unlikely to fly due to his age. The former military ruler would be 73 next year. Those who hold this view are of the opinion that APC would require a strategy that would throw up completely new candidate at the presidential election to unseat the ruling party.

There are also others who have reservations about his candidacy following the perception the public has about him as a religious fanatic. Buhari’s efforts to erase such misconception about his personality have not succeeded much in this direction.

Atiku’s strength Atiku’s strength lies in his mobilisation ability. He has become an institution in such a way that he has become a rallying point for many. When it comes to politics, the former vice-president is not less a master strategist, and the blueprint he intends implementing if elected as president, shows he is prepared for the job.

Having been vice-president for eight years (1999 – 2007), the Turaki Adamawa believes that he has garnered experience more than any of the other aspirants.

Unlike Buhari, Atiku has a deep war chest to finance his ambition.

However, Atiku has one of the party’s chieftains, Senator Bola Tinubu, to contend with in actualising his ambition. The former Lagos State governor and APC’s arrowhead in the South-West is likely not to have forgotten the way the former vice-president dumped him and his followers, who rallied behind him during his battle with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, shortly after the 2007 elections. His aspiration is also said not to have the support of some APC governors, who will determine, to a

Tinubu

Odigie-Oyegun

large extent, where the votes would swing. Atiku also has some of the governors in his camp.

Kwankwaso, Okorocha in the race For Kwankwaso, he is unlikely to make a strong showing given what many has described as his “limited political scope.” The Kano State governor’s popularity hardly extends beyond his home state. He is also seen as not being “strong enough” to defeat Jonathan in the North.

Same goes for Okorocha, who was before now not in the picture for the presidential race.

No doubt, the Imo State governor will be facing an uphill task as most analysts believe that the power sharing formula of the party favours the North for the presidential ticket more than the South-East, where he hails from.

This assumption is based on the fact that the North and even the South-West are the key partners in the merger deal that led to the formation of the APC and that anything short of a presidential candidate of the party from either of the two regions will mar its chances of winning in the forthcoming election.

The bulk of the party’s votes are expected from both regions, as its legacy parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), ANPP and Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) had the South-West (ACN) and North (CPC and ANPP) as their strongholds before the merger.

Nda-Isaiah testing waters For Nda-Isaiah, he may just be testing the waters. He is not known to have contested for any political position before now, so there is no way the APC leadership and delegates will look his way given the premium the party has placed on the 2015 presidential contest.

Governors’ support One major bloc that will determine today’s outcome are the APC governors. Going by their influence, the governors will sway support to their preferred candidate.

His strength lies in his popularity, particularly in the North, where he enjoys a kind of cultfollowership

Fayemi

It was learnt that some of the APC governors are more comfortable with the Buhari candidacy. In fact two of the governors – Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi – have been intensifying efforts to be Buhari’s running mate in the even that he wins the ticket today.

The preference of some of the governors for Buhari was evident during his October 15 declaration at the Eagle Square, Abuja where four of them – Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo) attended the event unlike a situation whereby none of them was present at Atiku’s declaration on September 25.

“We are confident that with Buhari as APC presidential candidate, President Goodluck Jonathan will be in for a big battle. You know Buhari does not have money, but we have resolved to deliver the party ticket to him and provide the needed logistics. All things being equal, the Buhari candidacy is a done deal,” an APC governor told New Telegraph.

Some of the governors have stepped up mobilisation for the former military ruler who had contested the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections on different platforms.

It was learnt that some of the governors mobilised funds for Buhari to match the heavy war chest of Atiku.

A source told New Telegraph that Amaechi mobilised the party structures in the South-South for Buhari.

Atiku’s offensive “Despite the support of some of the governors for Buhari, Atiku is unfazed. This is a man who has been in the presidential race for 20 years. Atiku is a political warhorse who has impressive strategies to pursue his political ambition. So, no one can underrate him in the contest and mobilisation,” a member of the Atiku Campaign Organisation told New Telegraph last night.

Why Buhari banks on the support of some of the governors and

party leaders to clinch the ticket, Atiku had intensified his campaign in the past months. He has visited 35 of the 36 states to mobilise delegates for this election.

As at last Monday, Atiku secured about 4,000 rooms for delegates in Lagos hotels.

It was learnt that the former vice-president actually demanded a secret balloting with the hope of securing the support of the delegates. It was also learnt that most of the delegates from the North were conveyed to Lagos in chartered aircraft and checked into hotels.

Choice of running mate In the meantime, the choice of a running mate has also thrown up several political calculations and permutations, as individuals, groups and blocs within the party have continued to promote their interests and the need to have their candidate as a running mate to whoever eventually emerges as the party’s flag bearer.

To this end, several groups are flying kites to get a feel of how Nigerians would react to any particular candidate being picked as running mate. The party’s enthusiasts have at different fora suggested a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

This has thrown up heated debates among Nigerians.

Some have also thrown up names of some APC governors as possible choice of running mates.

The permutation is that if the presidential candidate emerges from the North, then the running mate will have to emerge from the South. So far, the names of Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos) and former Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) are the prominent names that have been thrown up.

Amaechi and Oshiomhole are being projected as a means to divide the votes of the South-South and whither down the number of votes that may accrue to President Jonathan, while Fayemi and Fashola are being projected given their level of

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DecEMBER 10, 2014

APC PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES performance in their respective states.

Legacy parties and presidential candidates So far, there is nothing to suggest that the contest will not be an open one, but it should be noted that not every APC legacy party is used to the process of primaries to pick its candidates for elections. For instance, in the 2011 presidential election, Buhari was adopted by the CPC as its presidential candidate without primaries; same for the ANPP, which opted for Ibrahim Shekarau.

In the ACN, other candidates in the race for the presidential ticket dropped out for former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nuhu Ribadu.

Level playing ground In the meantime, the party’s leader-

I remain the best choice, says Atiku

ship has promised that it will provide a level playing ground for every aspirant.

The Convention Planning Committee of the party assured of adequate security during the event, assuring delegates and aspirants of the preparedness of the committee to conduct a hitch-free convention.

The committee said it is collaborating with the Lagos State government and relevant security agencies to put in place measures that will ensure that delegates are secured and less bogged down by traffic congestion.

National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement said that “the arrangements include but not limited to diversion of traffic in some routes and restriction of vehicular movements in some areas.

F

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar, has declared that he remains the best choice of the delegates at today’s convention.

Atiku called on the delegates to pitch their tents with him in the quest to

begin the arduous task of pulling the country back from the brink and setting it on the path of progress, economic rejuvenation and development.

“Let us put an end to continuous poverty, austerity and insecurity by making a sound choice for the APC. The envisaged change starts today

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OwERRI 5, Rotibi Street, Owerri lmo State Steve Uzoechi Tel: 0803 540 3883 PORT HARCOURT 37, lkwere Rd, Port Harcourt, Rivers State Emmanuel Marshal Tel: 0703 197 3865 ADAmAwA Ibrahim Abdulaziz 0803 608 3297 ASABA Dominic Adewole 0803 434 9280 BAyELSA Chris Ejim 08032556608 BORNO Ahmed Mohammed Mari 0806 008 8822 CROSS RIvERS Clement James 0803 547 7050 EBONyI Charles Onyekwere 07032878736 EDO Cajetan Mmuta 0803 713 6664

EKITI Wahab Adesina 0810 885 3793 GOmBE Williams Attah 0803 604 7966 KADUNA Ibrahim Musa 0803 451 3786 KANO Mohammed Kabir 0803 451 7813 NIGER Daniel Atori 0803 583 6019 OSUN: Adeolu Adeyemo 0803 391 5294 PLATEAU: Musa Pam 0803 241 6557 UmUAHIA: Igbeaku Orji 0806 344 3131 yOBE: Hassan Jirgi 0810 361 5693

by the choice that you make,” he said.

He urged his party not to leave any stone unturned in its quest to ensure free, fair and credible presidential primaries that will provide the impetus for enthroning the change that Nigerians have clamoured for.

Atiku’s charge to the APC is contained in a press statement issued by his media office in Lagos yesterday.

“I do not need to overemphasise the importance of today’s event and the impact which the choice you make at this historic event will have on both our party and the nation at large,” Atiku told the delegates.

He stressed that the choice the delegates will make on today at the APC’s national convention will set the country on the path of enthroning the muchneeded change for socioeconomic and political progress and development.

“The choice you make the aspirants you choose to fly the flag of our party at today’s (Wednesday) presidential election will make the difference between victory and defeat for our party. It will also determine whether the teeming population of Nigerians will get the political change they are yearning for to give them the opportunity of a better life,” Atiku said.

He charged the delegates to be guided by the fact that for the past 16 years, the people of Nigeria have been forced to live under the most oppressive and despicable system of governance during which the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rode rough shod over the nation and used the nation’s resources as they liked.

“The result of PDP’s misrule and disregard for the people of Nigeria is the sorry state in which we find ourselves today and we cannot afford to thread this path again,” Atiku said.

He assured the delegates that he will make good on his commitment as enshrined in his policy document in critical areas of infrastructure, education, health, social services and employment in particular to the teeming army of unemployed youth.

He bemoaned that austerity is the clearest indication that the so-called transformation agenda of the Jonathan government has failed.

44

Business | Money Line

SPECULATION

People are taking positions, thinking that the market is still far from where it should be

N

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Overnight rate, naira fall on CBN action The bank last month banned the sale of dollars to importers of telecom equipment, power generators and finished products at its foreign exchange

igeria’s overnight lending rate fell to 50 percent yesterday, from a record high of 70 percent the previous day after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) refunded naira to dealers who participated at a dollar auction but did not win bids.

The apex bank has been struggling to keep the naira within a new target band of N160-N176 against the dollar it set after it devalued the currency by 8 percent last month, to halt a decline to its foreign reserves.

Dealers have to fund their naira account with the banking watchdog two days in advance to be able to participate at the bank’s twice-weekly forex auction. The CBN sold $199.9 million at its auction on Monday, lower than the previous $289 million.

The shortage of dollars sold at the auction pushed extra demand to the interbank market, dealers said, causing the naira to weaken 0.27 percent yesterday from its previous close.

auction.

“People are taking positions ... thinking that the market is still far from where it should be. But liquidity is still very

T

he Federal Government has inaugurated a N45billion integrated, state-of-the-art sugar project in Sunti, Niger State, North-West Nigeria.

Wholly owned by Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) and comprising a 16,500 hectare sugarcane estate and mill, the project, according to a statement, is part of the Ministry of Industry and Investment’s approved Backward Integration Programme (BIP) for the production of local sugar. The venture is in line with the provisions of the National Sugar Master Plan.

Already, the company has invested N16 billion while the entire project is expected to be completed and commissioned before the end of 2016. When completed, the project is expected to produce 100, 000 metric tons of sugar annually; create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs, gen-

erate 10MW of electricity, produce animal feed and fertilizer as a by-product and save the country over $50m annually in Foreign Exchange.

Speaking during the inauguration yesterday, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, said the event represented a major milestone in President Goodluck Jonathan’s economic diversification efforts.

He noted that the implementation of the National Sugar Master Plan was an integral part of the Nigeria Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP).

Aganga, who expressed satisfaction with the current level of implementation of the new Sugar Master Plan, said the country was on course towards achieving economic diversification. He said that the Federal Government would continue to provide the conducive environment and right incentives to attract

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

and sustain investments across the country.

Having gone round the multi-billion-naira facility, the minister said: “I can say that the company has fully embraced the new Sugar Master Plan and is fully implementing their Backward Integration Programme as approved by my ministry.

One striking thing about the company’s BIP is that they are doing the sugarcane plantation side by side with rice production, thereby, keying into commodity-based industrialisation and importsubstitution.

“This is in line with Federal Government’s strategies for diversifying our nation’s economy, and we are on course towards achieving that. We will continue to provide the conducive environment and right incentives to attract and sustain more in-

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

vestments across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.”

In his remarks, the Chairman, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumantaros, commended President Jonathan and Mr. Aganga for initiating and implementing the new Sugar Policy. He said that the company would continue to take advantage of government’s investment-friendly policies and incentives to invest more in the country.

He said, “Today is a proud day for us. We are proud because we have been able to invest and build something out of nothing because of the Federal Government’s new Sugar Policy. However, due recognition must be given to President Jonathan and Minister Aganga for their courage and commitment in initiating the sugar policy and staying the course with its implementation.”

Etihad has stake option, says South African Airways CEO

F

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

was not enough to quell demand.

ExxonMobil also sold $50 million, to buy naira to fund its local obligations, dealers said.

FG unveils N45bn sugar project in Niger

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

scarce,” one dealer said.

The banking watchdog sold an undisclosed amount of dollars late onto the market, but dealers said the intervention

ast-expanding Gulf carrier Etihad Airways PJSC has the option of taking a stake in unprofitable South African Airways, as the latest in a string of purchases that included a multibillion-dollar investment in Alitalia SpA. Etihad, one of three Middle Eastern carriers transforming the airline industry with vast fleets of wide-body planes, could buy a minority holding, acting SAA Chief Executive Officer Nico Bezuidenhout said yesterday.

For South Africa, a deal would also advance the biggest assetsale programme in a decade.

James Hogan, Etihad’s CEO, is pursuing a unique strategy of snapping up stakes in ailing carriers, feeding traffic to its hub in Abu Dhabi while providing financial support, economies of scale and managerial advice for members of his so-called equity alliance. South Africa is seeking investors for a business that Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown said is “technically bankrupt,” while seeking funds to help solve a power crisis.

“Etihad as a carrier is well known to take minority stakes in various entities and that option would be available to Etihad,” Bezuidenhout told reporters in Johannesburg, adding that a potential deal could also include closer commercial ties.

While ownership limits mean Etihad does not have outright control of the carriers, the stakes give it sway to improve management and influence strategy. At Air Berlin Plc, the German short-haul and leisure carrier trying to overcome losses, Etihad is directly participating in a financial rescue.

SAA according to Bloomberg news, is surviving off state-guaranteed loans and has presented a 90-day rescue strategy to the government that includes 1.3 billion rand ($113 million) in annual savings and a review of some long-haul routes.

The carrier will save 507 million rand by immediately reconfiguring its network, 250 million rand from suppliers and around 300 million rand from restructuring aircraft leases, Bezuidenhout said.

SAA will not target job cuts during the three-month strategy proposal.

South Africa also wants to sell stakes in companies to help raise at least 20 billion rand to finance a bailout of power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. (TKG), Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene said Oct. 22.

The government sold 20 percent of SAA in 1999 to Swissair, which pioneered the concept of an alliance anchored via minority stakes, only to buy the shares back in 2002 when the European carrier went bankrupt.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

45

9-Dec-14

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

NA

NA

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 573.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 396.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 150.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,516.26

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.37 1.69 2.38 2.63 2.73 3.47 4.55 4.87 7.14 9.26 13.97 14.45 14.95 15.62 19.61

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

14.70 14.15 14.26 14.22 14.22 14.15 14.10 14.04 13.98 13.80 13.15 13.10 13.04 13.46 13.15

14.26 14.04 14.19 14.15 14.14 14.03 14.01 13.94 13.92 13.74 13.11 13.05 12.98 13.41 13.10

96.21 98.35 101.60 90.63 89.28 90.76 106.20 75.73 110.60 102.00 111.65 96.08 70.44 77.60 93.00

96.36 98.50 101.75 90.78 89.43 91.06 106.50 76.03 110.90 102.30 111.95 96.38 70.74 77.90 93.30

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.45 1.19 2.00 2.36 2.57

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

16.78 17.02 16.17 15.22 15.23

92.85 100.36 92.27 96.86 93.85

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

304.79

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.73

4.44

18.84

95.82

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.57

3.23

17.27

98.52

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.85

4.46

19.13

95.63

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.86

3.48

18.16

97.85

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.36

5.59

19.80

82.15

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.41

1.00

15.48

97.82

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.06

1.79

15.98

95.33

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.23

1.80

16.00

96.61

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.82

1.00

15.12

96.77

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.73

1.00

15.21

98.51

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.23

4.78

18.98

91.03

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.61

1.00

15.22

98.59

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.87

1.00

15.20

100.84

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.95

1.00

15.04

98.15

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.84

2.74

16.95

95.25

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.39

1.00

15.16

99.00

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.97

1.00

14.98

94.29

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.06

1.94

15.91

96.51

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.54

1.44

15.59

97.23

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.57

1.95

16.09

97.25

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.68 447.59

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.02

5.21

24.17

99.70

µ

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.06

8.71

27.11

99.29

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.45

4.88

19.11

96.27

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

1.02

1.00

15.98

96.43

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.60

2.63

16.74

98.49

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.81

1.00

15.24

96.52

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.88

1.34

15.55

97.90

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.81

1.00

15.21

95.04

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.83

1.88

16.11

103.68

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.83

3.48

17.71

97.75

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.00

5.20

19.37

98.20

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.00

5.06

19.23

101.85

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.79

1.35

15.48

95.82

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.11

2.29

16.47

99.03

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.19

6.11

20.30

94.70

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.06

2.16

16.35

99.27

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.93

2.76

16.74

94.50

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.81

1.00

14.56

86.40

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.81

1.00

14.56

93.20

BB+/GCR

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

138.90

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.18

1.00

15.18

87.77

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.40

1.00

15.07

88.44

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.99

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.70

5.51

105.34

106.39

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.85

4.55

100.90

101.87

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.00

5.87

102.46

103.39

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,543.51

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

8.37

8.37

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

4.76

4.76

103.75

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.47

7.47

99.48

99.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.31

9.32

90.32

92.98

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.30

6.87

95.65

97.05

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.67

9.67

102.00

102.00 95.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.47

7.47

95.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.17

9.99

95.00

95.63

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.14

8.14

99.75

99.75

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

10.72

10.72

82.25

82.25

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

10.34

10.12

95.13

96.13

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.30

9.30

92.88

92.88

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.53

8.85

95.38

98.63

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,591.05

**Treasury Bills DTM 16 23 30 37 44 51 58 65

FIXINGS Maturity 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15

Bid Discount (%) 18.20 17.85 17.20 15.50 14.35 14.80 14.90 15.00

Offer Discount (%) 17.95 17.60 16.95 15.25 14.10 14.55 14.65 14.75

Bid Yield (%) 18.35 18.05 17.45 15.75 14.60 15.11 15.26 15.41

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 61.4333 18.0363 17.0376 17.0800

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

55.83

O/N

59.42

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 63.33 17.29

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

183.50 184.21 184.63 185.61 187.50 189.32

183.60 185.00 186.05 190.26 196.62 196.75

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.73

4.44

18.84

95.82

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.57

3.23

17.27

98.52

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.85

4.46

19.13

95.63

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.86

3.48

18.16

97.85

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.36

5.59

19.80

82.15

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.41

1.00

15.48

97.82

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.06

1.79

15.98

95.33

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.23

1.80

16.00

96.61

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.82

1.00

15.12

96.77

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.73

1.00

15.21

98.51

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.61

1.00

15.22

98.59

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.87

1.00

15.20

100.84

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.95

1.00

15.04

98.15

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.84

2.74

16.95

95.25

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.39

1.00

15.16

99.00

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.97

1.00

14.98

94.29

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.06

1.94

15.91

96.51

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.54

1.44

15.59

97.23

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.57

1.95

16.09

97.25

46

Business | Financial Market News

OBSTACLE

LAGOS The penalty regime A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro KOGI A/Agusto *EKITI created by the Bill A-/GCR *NASARAWA is detrimental to TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE businesses TOTAL MARKET investing CAPITALISATION in Nigeria Corporate Bonds

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LCCI seeks removal of private firms’ conversion, listing bills 471.68 447.59

immediately able to New Telegraph, 13.50 withdrawn.

GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 18-Dec-09 The bill17.00 seeks to pro- said that admittedly , the NGC 31-DEC-2014 01-Apr-10 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 vide for the private com- 1999 Constitution vests Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 A-/Agusto by Chris Ugwu 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS panies whose Stories shareholdthe National Assembly 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 BB+/GCR 06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMSers’ funds exceed N40 with power to make laws 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO he Lagos Chambillion or its annual turnregulating the ownership 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 25-Oct-13 FSDH ber of UBA Com- over exceeds N80 billion and control of business 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 or its total assets exceed merce and Inenterprises operating 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING N80 billion, to convert to in Nigeria, however, dustry (LCCI) the MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA#{r} MPR+7.00company TOWER 9-SEP-2018proposed bill breaches 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR *TOWER# public liability has called for immedi# TOWER 9-SEP-2018representations made 09-Sep-11to AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR *TOWER ate withdrawal of the and get itsMPR+5.25 shares listed 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 UBA proposed private compain the Stock Exchange attract foreign investors 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA nies’ conversion and listmarket, thereby promotand negatively affects Ni# MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS ing bill presently before ing growth for both the geria’s reputation.

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA#{r} the National company 15.25 andNAHCO theII 14-NOV-2020 NigeIt added that14-Nov-13 it is A+/Agusto; A-/GCR Assembly NAHCO. Reacting to the STANBIC devel-IBTC rian capital counter-productive to the 182Dmarket.

T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 13.25in STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC opment, the association The LCCI a press re- drive for foreign 30-Sep-14 investTOTAL OUTSTANDING said the bill would VALUE do the lease signed by its Direc- ments because foreign inbusiness climate in Nige- tor General, Mr. Muda vestors prefer to operate TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION ria no good and should be Yusuf and made avail- under stable economic Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

µ

T

Supranational Bond

policies.

13.50 13.17 “The proposed 17.00 2.00 bill 10.00 would negatively 3.61 impact 12.00 investment 13.62 and on local 14.00 0.60 the broader economy . It 13.00 15.00 would lead to consider14.25 5.53 able loss of revenue to the 13.00 20.00 government and break up 18.00 0.64 of companies to circum16.00 6.30 2.90 vent18.00 the requirement of 16.00 Also, the Nigeri0.80 the bill.

14.00 35.00 an Stock Exchange may 15.75 2.40 not have the depth and 17.00 0.41 liquidity needed for 16.00 4.50 the investment arising 15.25 2.05 out of the mandatory0.10 listing 11.93 13.25 companies.

15.44 of these 144.08 “It would negatively affect the business 138.90 environment by creating

AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

Stock market remains bearish

N

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

igerian equities market regressed yesRating/Agency Issuer terday, as the bears dominated transactions, comFGN Eurobonds pelling the twin market perBB-/Fitch; B+/S&P formance measures, the NSE ASI and market capitalization BB-/Fitch; FGN toBB-/S&P drop by 0.43 per cent.

BB-/Fitch; Market watchers have conBB-/S&P tinued to attribute the negaTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE tive trajectory to sell pressure TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION occasioned by the crash in oil prices atEurobonds the global market, Corporate devaluation of theAFREN naira B/Fitch; B-/S&P PLCand I uncertainty in the political B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I terrain.

B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC TheB/S&P key market perforB/Fitch; FIDELITY BANK PLC mance measures, the NSE B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLCAll Share capiB/Fitch Index and market AFREN PLC II B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P BANK PLC talisation, droppedZENITH by 0.43 per B/Fitch;as B/S&P DIAMOND BANK cent market sentiment re-PLC B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC mained on the negative note.

B-/Fitch; B/S&P PLCAllIII Specifically , theAFREN NSE B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II Share Index depreciated by B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD 143.3 basis points or 0.43 per ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

1.83

1.88

16.11

103.68

09-Apr-18

1.83

3.48

17.71

97.75

09-Sep-18

2.00

5.20

19.37

98.20

09-Sep-18

2.00

5.06

19.23

101.85

22-Sep-18

3.79

1.35

15.48

95.82

18-Oct-18

2.11

2.29

16.47

99.03

17-Feb-19

2.19

6.11

20.30

94.70

01-Apr-19

3.06

2.16

16.35

99.27

9.53

8.85

95.38

98.63

G

reenwich 5.93 Secu-2.76 payment 16.74 system 94.50 that secure rities Limited, a1.00 facilitates 9.81 14.56 86.40 and 30-Sep-24 9.81 14.56 cash deposits.

93.20 fully owned sub-1.00 seamless sidiary of Greenwich “The system allows Trust Limited yesterday, you to commence tradunveiled a new online re- ing immediately your tail trading Portal, which cash deposit is con11-Feb-18 3.18 15.18 87.77 allows investors access1.00 firmed.

‘Mytradebook’ 01-Feb-21 4.40 1.00 15.07 88.44 their stockbroking port- eliminates delay in jobfolio using internet- bing orders, receiving enabled mobile devices notifications for executfrom any part of the ed transactions, accessMaturity Date Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price world, without interfac- ing account statements ing with a broker. and portfolio valuation,” Prices & Yields The trading platform the statement said.

28-Jan-21 “Mytradebook” 5.70 5.51 105.34 106.39 Greenwich Securities tagged is12-Jul-18 a virtual securities noted that application of4.85 4.55 100.90 101.87 trading platform that fers the investor online 12-Jul-23users online 6.00 102.46 access 103.39 gives ac-5.87 real time to the cess to trade securities largest market in West on the Nigerian Stock Africa as well as direct Exchange (NSE) from interface with National any location.

Association of SecuriThe company in a8.37 ties Dealers (NASD).

01-Feb-16 8.37 103.30 103.30 statement, said the tradIt affirmed that 19-May-16 4.76 4.76 103.75 103.75variing processors can be7.47 ous asset classes such 25-Jul-17 7.47 99.48 99.48 likened to trading dias equities, fixed in02-May-18 10.31 9.32 90.32 92.98 rectly on the floor and exchange08-Nov-18 7.30 of the6.87 come 95.65 97.05 Exchange, adding that9.67 traded102.00 funds (ETFs) 08-Apr-19 9.67 102.00 can 7.47over in-7.47 be traded 95.50 on the95.50 it22-Apr-19 offers control portal.

21-May-19 10.17 as ac-9.99 The investor 95.00 95.63 also vestments as well can 07-Aug-20 99.75 99.75 holdings cess to quality8.14 research8.14 view his/her 09-Dec-20 10.72 10.72 and evaluate 82.25 resources. the82.25 portfo24-Jun-21 10.34 95.13 96.13 It noted that the plat-10.12 lio performance,” Green23-Jul-21 9.30 9.30 92.88 92.88 form uses a world-class wich added.

30-Sep-24

Outstanding Value ($mm)

500.00 500.00 500.00

1,500.00 1,543.51

450.00 500.00 350.00 300.00 400.00 300.00 500.00 200.00 300.00 360.00 400.00 450.00 250.00

14-Aug-21

4,760.00

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

30-Nov-17

14-Nov-20

12.95

8.75

for going expen24.17public is 99.70 sive and onerous 99.29 and not 27.11 19.11 every investor or96.27 would15.98 whether 96.43local be investor 16.74 98.49 or foreign has the tem15.24 96.52 perament for such,” the 15.55 97.90 association said.

15.21 95.04

Firm inaugurates online trading platform

24.95 21.99

cent to close at 32, 932.41, as Plc and Seplat Petroleum Plc against 33,075.71 recorded the depreciated by 5 per cent each Description Coupon (%) previous day. to closeIssue at Date N3.61, N8.17 and The market capitalisation N359.91 per share respectiveof equities equally fell by ly. Okomu Oil Nigeria Plc fol6.75 JAN 2021 to 07-Oct-11 6.75 per lowed with a drop of 4.98 N47 billion or 0.43 per28,cent cent to close at N26.70, while close at N10.8725.13 trillion from JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 5.13 N10.919 trillion recorded the Champion Breweries Plc fell 12-Jul-13 6.38 at previous day. 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 by 4.95 per cent to close At the close of trading, only N8.07 per share. seven stocks appreciated in Meanwhile, a turnover of price as against 40 others that 354.2 million shares worth depreciated in value.

N7.5 billion in 4,482 deals was in the day’s trading.

PZ Cussons11.50 Nigeria Plc, recorded01-Feb-11 FEB 01, 2016 11.50 The banking sub-sector which led the gainers’ table, 7.50 MAY 19, 2016 19-May-11 7.50 of advanced by 10.14 cent the financial services 7.25 sector 7.25 JULper 25, 2017 25-Jul-12 to close at N33.03 per09,share, was the09-May-13 most active 6.88 (mea6.88 MAY 2018 while Portland sured by turnover volume); 6.00Paints NOV 08, 2018fol08-Nov-13 6.00 million shares lowed with a 10.25 gain of20194.38 with 177.8 APR 08, 08-Apr-12 10.25 22, 2019per 22-Apr-14 6.25 per cent to close6.25atAPRN5.00 worth N2.8 billion exchanged 8.75 May 21, appre2019 21-May-14 8.75 share. Wema Bank Plc by investors in 1,628 deals.

8.25cent AUG 07, 07-Aug-13 8.25 ciated by 4.21 per to2020 close Volume in the banking 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 09-Dec-13 6.63 at 99 kobo. sub-sector was largely driven 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 24-Jun-14 9.25 in the shares of Reversing the day’s gains, by activities 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 8.00 shares of Transcorp Plc, UBN GTB Plc 23-Jul-14 and Access Bank Plc.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

undesirable and 18-Dec-14 0.02 unnec-5.21 essarily cumbersome 31-Dec-14 0.06 8.71 17-Aug-15 regulation and0.45scrutiny4.88 09-Dec-15 1.02 under1.00 on the companies 06-Jan-16 CAMA, SEC 0.60 and NSE2.63 29-Sep-16 1.81 1.00 rules and regulations.

25-Oct-16 1.88 1.34 Moreover, the procedure 30-Sep-17 2.81 1.00

12.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

B-/S&P

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH 2.23 4.78 18.98 91.03

9-Dec-14

4,591.05

The DQL contains securities and instruments in the Money financialMarket market (the “Information”). The Information does not **Treasury Bills data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income FIXINGS Foreign Exchange Forwards) constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or (Spot up to &date.

We do not DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) guarantee the completeness, performance or fitness for a particular the Information, neither do NIBOR we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

16 accuracy, timeliness, 25-Dec-14 18.20 17.95 purpose of any of18.35 FGN

23 30 Bonds37 44 51 Rating/Agency 58 65 72 79 86 93 107 114 121 128 NA 135 142 149 156 240 268 359

1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 Issuer 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 NA 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15 3-Dec-15

17.85 17.20 15.50 14.35 14.80 Description 14.90 15.00 4.00 23-APR-2015 14.39 13.05 16-AUG-2016 14.85 15.10 27-APR-2017 14.00 14.50 9.85 27-JUL-2017 14.00 9.35 31-AUG-2017 13.85 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.65 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.50 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.23 16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.15 14.20 14-MAR-2024 12.85 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.91 12.49 22-MAY-2029 13.25 8.50 20-NOV-2029 12.75 10.00 23-JUL-2030 13.50 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

17.60 16.95 15.25 14.10 14.55 Issue 14.65Date 14.75 23-Apr-10 14.14 16-Aug-13 14.60 27-Apr-12 13.75 14.25 27-Jul-07 13.75 31-Aug-07 13.60 30-May-08 13.40 29-Jun-12 13.25 23-Oct-09 12.98 27-Jan-12 12.90 14-Mar-14 12.60 28-Nov-08 12.66 22-May-09 13.00 20-Nov-09 12.50 23-Jul-10 13.25 18-Jul-14

18.05 17.45 15.75 14.60 15.11 Coupon 15.26 (%) 15.41 4.00 14.81 13.05 15.34 15.10 14.48 15.06 9.85 14.60 9.35 14.48 10.70 14.30 16.00 14.17 7.00 13.91 16.39 13.86 14.20 13.56 15.00 13.66 12.49 14.51 8.50 14.07 10.00 15.57 12.1493

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding Value

Bonds

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

(N'bn)

OBB

Rate (%) 61.4333 18.0363 17.0376 17.0800

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 573.89 16-Aug-16 452.80 27-Apr-17 Tenor Rate (%) 1M 14.3735 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 14.6050 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 14.6132 300.00 30-May-18 6M 14.6449 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 14.7420 233.90 23-Oct-19 15.0212 12M 600.00 27-Jan-22 396.68 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) 591.57 184.2250 150.00 18-Jul-34 OFFER ($/N) 184.3250

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

55.83

Tenor

Spot O/N 59.42 7D 14D REPO Tenor Rate (%) 1M Offer Yield TTM Bid63.33 Yield (%) Call(Yrs) 2M (%) 1M 17.29 3M 0.37 14.70 14.26 3M 16.81 6M 1.69 14.15 14.04 6M 17.24 1Y 2.38 14.26 14.19 2.63 14.22 14.15 NOTE: 2.73 14.22 14.14 :Benchmarks 3.47 14.15 14.03 * :Amortising Bond 4.55 14.10 14.01 µ :Convertible 4.87Bond 14.04 13.94 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 7.14 13.98 13.92 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.26 13.80 13.74 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 13.97 13.15 13.11 IFC: International Finance Corporation 14.45 13.10 13.05 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 14.95 13.04 12.98 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 15.62 13.46 13.41 O/N: Overnight 19.61 13.15 Company 13.10 UPDC: UAC Property Development

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

183.50 183.60 184.21 Price 185.00 184.63 186.05 185.61 190.26 Bid Price Offer 187.50 196.62Price 189.32 196.75 96.21 96.36 194.23 198.56 98.35 98.50 206.06 213.54 101.60 101.75 90.63 90.78 89.28 89.43 NA :Not 90.76 Applicable 91.06 # :Floating Rate Bond 106.20 106.50 ***: Deferred 75.73coupon bonds 76.03 110.60 110.90 †: Bond rating expired 102.00 102.30 N/A :Not Available 111.65 111.95 {r} :Issuer in receivership 96.08 96.38 70.44 70.74 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 77.60Bank for Africa 77.90 UBA: United 93.00 93.30

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

4,516.26

#

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

#

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM Buckets Modified Duration

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Porfolio Market Value(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 Volume(Bn)

24-May-12FMDQ FGN0.00 BOND 03-Apr-12 17.25 09-Dec-11 0.00/16.00 Weighting by Weighting

by Mkt 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 Outstanding Vol Value 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50

INDEX24.56

3.00 112.22 Bucket116.70 Weighting 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 % Exposure_ 20-Apr-17 Mod_Duration 06-Jul-17

0.45 1.19 2.00 2.36 Implied Yield 2.57

2.63 2.27 2.00 Implied 1.00 Portfolio Price 1.00

16.78 17.02 16.17 15.22 INDEX 15.23

92.85 100.36 92.27 YTD Return 96.86 (%) 93.85

<3

1,024.46

1,026.68

32.95

33.43

322.970.33

14.03

14.21

117.3697

1,114.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION3<5

1,441.30

1,347.98

43.26

47.03

45.48

13.94

124.4263

1,053.59

5.3594

598.56

741.57

23.80

19.53

304.790.43

40.49

13.39

93.0925

1,088.41

8.8415

3,064.31

3,116.23

13.76

114.6449

1,094.76

>5

Sub-National Bonds

Market

100.00

100.00

0.24

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

A/Agusto

1.00

100.00

31-Aug-15

0.73

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.57

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.85

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

A+/Agusto

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

4.44

11.4773

9.4759

18.84

95.82

3.23

17.27

98.52

4.46

19.13

95.63

0.86

3.48

18.16

97.85

19-Apr-17

2.36

5.59

19.80

82.15

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.41

1.00

15.48

97.82

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.06

1.79

15.98

95.33

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.23

1.80

16.00

96.61

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.82

1.00

15.12

96.77

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Ucha secures Ebonyi APC guber ticket Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

A

National Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh (middle) and Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke and others at the APGA Anambra Central senatorial primaries...

154,000

The total population of Channel Islands in 2012.

Source: Un.org

DRAMA Ex-Enugu governor is still wondering why his children are exposing him to ridicule, 35 years after he broke up with Mukosolu Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

F

ormer Governor of old Anambra State, Senator Jim Nwobodo, has alleged that his late eldest son’s corpse Dr. Nwobodo Jnr. is still missing about a month after his death, accusing his children of stage managing a veiled interment of the body, when in real term, they had stolen the corpse.

17.3m

The total population of men in Afghanistan in 2012.

Source: Un.org

43.95

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Belgium in 2008.

Source: Itu.int

Missing corpse: Nwobodo disowns children The ex-governor, who expressed dismay over the development alleged that the body of his late son is yet to be found since some unknown persons whom he alleged as his late son’s younger siblings took his corpse away about a month ago., vowing not to have anything to do with that burial again.

Nwwobodo’s eldest son, Dr. Ifeanyi, a medical doctor passed on recently and was to be buried on Friday, 5th December 2014, but the younger siblings of the deceased removed the corpse to an unknown

place, stalling the burial.

While speaking to Journalists yesterday on the incident, Nwobodo, said, “As I speak to you people now, I don’t know where the corpse of my son is, it shows the character of their mother.

“Please I want to make one appeal to the media, I have only one wife (Patricia), I divorced this woman (ex-wife) before I became governor (in 1979). Please don’t write that I have two wives; save me the embarrassment of matrimonial problem, the Church would not have wed us if

I had another wife.

“The children don’t have my flesh and blood in them because if they do, there are certain things they will not do. My children who have my flesh and blood (children of Patricia) lavish love on me and not to steal the corpse of their brother, it’s unheard of, it’s an abomination,” he lamented.

Continuing, he said, “After that day (December 5th, 2014), as far as I’m concerned I have completed the burial, I will never be part of it again”, he stated.

‘Atiku, Buhari, others no match for Jonathan’

A

political pressure group, the Special Interest group, (SIP), for president Goodluck Jonathan has said that the 2015 general elections would be a walk-over for the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential candidate, President Good

luck Jonathan because of the lack of quality opposition to his ambition.

The Enugu State Coordinator of the Chief Ebuka Orji,while speaking on the election warned Nigerians not to be swayed by the empty promises of some politi-

cians who he described as being desperate in taking over the leadership of the country, an effort which he said would only take Nigeria backing ward.

He said Jonathan believes in the ideology and philosophy of a person like President Barrack

Obama, stating, “ In overcoming the challenges we have today, it requires a new vision for tomorrow so that we will move forward together or not at all. For the challenges we face are bigger than party politics and bigger than politics.’’

Anambra CP commends politicians on peaceful primaries Tony Okafor Awka

A

nambra State Police Commissioner, Mr. Hosea Karma, has commended politicians in the state for their peaceful conduct during the just concluded party primaries.

Karma, who took over as the Commissioner of police in the state about

four months ago, said before the primaries, he was worried on how to handle the situation because of the volatile nature of the State politics, noting that against all expectations of crisis, politicians deserve commendation for their conduct .

He said “I brought my wealth of experience to bear and God helped that

the primaries turned peaceful” , adding that he appeealed them to keep the peace during the primaries and after. I implored the politicians to play politics with maturity and shun every form of violence as there would be none to govern if the people are killed. I urge them to play according to the rules, so that they will have people to govern after

2.24m

The total population of Latvia (rep. 0.032% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

the election”.

He enjoined the youths in the state to shun advances by politicians to use them as thugs,.

“These politicians will abandon you at last after achieving their selfish interest. Therefore, be wise and do your civic responsibility without any form of monetary or material inducement.”

for mer Senator, Julius Ucha has emerged as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in next year’s governorship election in Ebonyi State, in a controversial primaries that lasted for two days.

Ucha, who had earlier while briefing Journalists protested over an alleged foul play by the national leadership of the party later won the primaries.

In an intruguing contest, Ucha polled 891 votes to defeat his closest rival,Chief Austin Igwe Edeze, who got 848 votes.

Announcing the result, the Chairman of the electoral committee, Mr. Goefrey Yilleng, noted after the exercise that there was no victor and no vanquished, as he urged them to come together to ensure that APC wrestled power from the ruling PDP come 2015.

Umeh is a paper weight, says Ngige Tony Okafor Awka

T

he Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial district on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Chris Ngige yesterday described his opponents in the race for the 2015 general election as nomatch, saying that his bid to return to the upper legislature not threatened.

Ngige, who spoke with journalists in Awka , Anambra State, over his emergence as the candidate of the party for next year’s elections said his political credentials and achievements were enough to clear his opponents out of his ways.

The APC legislator, is expected to contest the 2015 race with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance,(APGA), Sir Victor Umeh, who secured his party’s ticket recently.

The battle for the Peoples Democratic (PDP), being awaited have Mrs Uche Ekwunife, Annie Okonkwo. Obiora Okonkwo, Sylvester Okonkwo as aspirants.

Ngige, whose emergence came through 1,832 votes out of 1, 834 votes cast, said APC was ready to stake its pride in the election, saying that the party would not only win the Senatorial district but would likewise annex the Anambra North and South Senatorial zones.

He said that as an incumbent, he had reference to make of the achieve-

ments he had recorded in the past three and half years he had been in the Senate to the 57 communities that make up his senatorial zone, especially in the areas of power, education and scholarship, water supply among many others, including bills and motions he had sponsored in the Senate.

He said that he had no strong challengers in the election, saying that in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), no candidate had emerged, while Chief Victor Umeh, the APGA candidate , according to him is not a match to him.

“I have not been found wanting in my duties in the Senate. I am not a bench warmer. Let them come forward and do the battle. I am not a stranger in the game. It is a thing I know how to do very well ” Ngige said.

He said that his affirmation by the delegates was in the spirit of the wind of change blowing across the nation signalling the dead of the ruling PDP, saying the party had failed this country in the last 16 years it had been in power.

He further contended that the PDP had failed to address the urgent need for infrastructural facilities in the country, especially roads, water, stressing that Second Niger Bridge has become a mirage under successive PDP governments, while major expressways and power sector in the South East are in terrible state.

48

News

Edo SSG resigns from Oshiomhole’s govt Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

L

ess than 48 hours after the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial primaries held on Monday in Edo State, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, yesterday announced his resignation from the state executive council.

With Ihonvbere’s sud-

346

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH - SOUTH

den resignation, the worst is yet to be heard from the controversy that trailed the outcome of the APC primaries.

Strong indication merged yesterday of the possibility of aggrieved leaders and other contestants, who were schemed out of the contest, to leave the ruling party en masse.

Already, Governor Adams Oshiomhole has accepted the resignation of Ihonvbere from the cabinet as Secretary to the State Government.

The number of existing ETU (Ebola Treatment Unit) beds in Sierra Leone.

Source: Who.int

Oshiomhole, however, thanked the former SSG for his services to the government and the state. He also wished him well in his future endeavours.

It will be recalled that Ihonvbere, who was among the aspirants that contested the Edo North APC senatorial primaries, scored 815 votes to come second as against 831 votes polled by Alimikhena Francis, while Senator Domingo Obende, who sought for a second term ticket, scored

76

The life expectancy of men in Cayman Islands at birth in 2006.

Source: Un.org

198 votes.

It was gathered that Etsako/Owan ethnic political agenda played itself up against the minority Akoko Edo people during the epic battle.

The senator is the first one from Akoko Edo, which prides itself as the oldest council in the nation’s 774 local government areas to represent the area at the senate after the tenure of Senator Yisa Braimah, who hails from Owan federal constituency.

1.56m

The total population of Gabon in 2012.

Source: Un.org

Bassey wins C’River PDP Southern senatorial ticket Clement James CALABAR

A

fter last Sunday’s unsuccessful attempt to conduct the Southern senatorial primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State, Chief Gershom Bassey, has won the poll to contest the 2015 election.

He beat the incumbent, Prince Bassey Otu and the former Chairman of the party, Ekpo Okon, in a rescheduled primary election at the U. J. Stadium in Calabar, an election which was keenly contested.

Gershom polled 135 votes to emerge the winner while Prince Otu could only garner 99 votes to place second. Okon got 76 votes while one vote was declared invalid by the returning officer, Alimi Abdul-Razaq.

The battle for the senate in the south had generated so much controversy and tension, with the first attempt on Sunday suspended due to what the election committee said was security reasons.

Sunday’s botched election almost degenerated into crisis as the deputy governor was allegedly assaulted.

Nwuche loses Rivers East senatorial re-run primaries Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

F

ormer Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, yesterday lost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to contest the Rivers West senatorial district in the 2015 election to Osinachi Udeozo.

While Udeozo pulled a total of 326 votes, Nwuche scored 44 votes, and the third contestant, Willy

Pepple, got one vote.

The returning officer, Prof. Blessing Didia, who announced the result, said a total of eight votes were voided at the primaries.

Nwuche had stormed out of the venue, alleging that the state’s leadership of the party had put in place measures to rig the election for a particular candidate.

He, however, waited after the Chairman, Felix Obuah, had a few words with him. He still left before the election ended.

Ndoma-Egba demands cancellation of senatorial primaries Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson (left), receiving a certificate on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan from Prof. Steve Turner, shortly after being inducted as a fellow of the International Society of Comparative Education, Science and Technology (ISCEST) during their maiden international conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Chukwu David

Again, Delta North primaries end in fiasco

S

Dominic Adewole ASABA

T

he botched Delta North senatorial district primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday again ended in fiasco.

The election was shift-

ed from last week Saturday to yesterday, following security advice and the logjam that allegedly trailed its conduct.

Pandemonium that broke out in the course of the exercise yesterday, forcing the three-man electoral panel to abandon the election halfway and flee the scene.

APGA candidate vows to replace Uduaghan Dominic Adewole ASABA

T

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Delta State, Emmanuel Ibordor, yesterday said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan will hand over to him next year.

The governorship hopeful, who vowed to defeat the candidates of the ruling Peoples Demo-

cratic Party (PDP), Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and the All Progressives Party (APC) candidate, O’tega Emerhor, said his emergence has already sent fears across their party divide.

Speaking at APGA headquarters after emerging as the consensus flag-bearer of the party in Asaba yesterday, Ibordor said the people have come to realise that his acronym, Green Delta, is laden with desire.

The Chairman of the panel, Mr. Raphael Kukuh and his members staged a walk-out on the delegates after sensing fraud.

Trouble started after delegates of seven out of the nine local government areas, comprising the senatorial district, cast their votes.

The crisis later com-

pelled the security operatives at the Cenotaph - the venue of the exercise, to disperse those brewing trouble with tear gas.

Wife of the former National Chairman of the party, Mrs. Marian Ali, in anger, staged a protest and also walked out of the venue.

Princewill: Dakuku, Wike are Amaechi’s boys Emmanuel Masha PORT HARCOURT

O

ne of the aggrieved governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Tonye Princewill, yesterday described the party’s governorship candidate, Nyesom Wike and the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dakuku Peterside, as politicians imposed on the people

by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

Princewill said the PDP gubernatorial primaries in Rivers State were carried out to ensure that the aspirations of the Ogoni and Ijaw were misplaced and made irrelevant.

“Wike and Dakuku, two Amaechi boys, are not a choice, they are a smart imposition and Rivers people should be given the real option to reject them," he said.

ABUJA

enate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has appealed against the Cross River Central senatorial primary election conducted on Sunday, in which he lost to his opponent.

The retuning officer, Mr. Uko Inaku, announced yesterday that Ndoma-Egba lost the poll to John Owan Enoh of the House of Representatives by 217 to 37 votes.

This was as the Cross

River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, decried the process of picking candidates for election by the political parties, describing them as ‘far below the standards of the 2011 election which he said is not encouraging.”

In a letter dated December 8 and addressed to the Electoral Appeal Panel, Ndoma-Egba gave detailed report on how the primary was characterised by irregularities and blatant flouting of the electoral laws, which was supposed to guide the primaries.

‘I’ll work with others to lift up Edo’ Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

T

he senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo South and Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Mr. Samson Osagie, yesterday pledged to work collaboratively with other lawmakers towards the realisation of the popular Gelegele Seaport that has become the subject of past politicians, who represented the state and senatorial zone at the National Assembly.

He said the port, properly harnessed, can launch the state into an economic and commercial hub for states in the South-South geo-political zone and neighbouring northern and eastern states to tap from.

Speaking during a press conference to appraise his victory and the party’s primaries held on Monday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, he said with his emergence as the APC flag bearer, his attention would now be focused on ensuring the party’s success in 2015.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

News 49

NORTH

PDP guber aspirants discredit Kwara primaries Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

E

leven out of the 12 gubernatorial aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State yesterday condemned the alleged subversion of the primaries by some members of the party’s executive committee and vowed to resist any attempt to impose any candidate on them ahead of the 2015 general election.

The gubernatorial pri-

93

maries were cancelled at about 9.00pm by the Chairman of the party, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, who cited the breakdown of law and order at the voting venue as reason for the decision.

But the 11 aspirants, who addressed a joint press conference in Ilorin yesterday, alleged that Oyedepo and three other key members of the party were acting out a script to impose a candidate on the party. Oyedepo had at various times denied this allegation. The aspirants

The sex ratio of women to 100 men in Faroe Islands (Malvinas) in 2006.

Source: Un.org

alleged that the delegates’ list grew from an initial 709 during accreditation to about 1,500 moments to the commencement of voting.

They also claimed to have observed that over 700 persons with allegedly fake delegates’ tags arrived in several buses, escorted by the police attached to some key members of the party, adding that it was that discovery that led to commotion at the venue as the allegedly fake delegates started throwing chairs and causing commotion.

5.92%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Bhutan in 2007.

Source: Itu.int

The aspirants, who attended the press briefing include Senator Simon Ajibola, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, Alhaji Jani Ibrahim , Prof. Shuiab AbdulRaheem and Engr.

Sunday Babalola. Others are Alhaji Kale Belgore, Deacon John Dara, Alhaji Bio Ibrahim, Mallam Sanusi Abdullahi and Alhaji Hakeem Lawal.

Excerpt from the joint statement released by the aspirants reads: “You would recall we all gathered yesterday alongside

17,363

The total area (in sq. km) of Swaziland.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

the delegates of our great party, PDP, from across the 16 council areas of the state to elect a standard bearer that will fly the ticket of our party in the 2015 general election.

“It is unfortunate, ridiculous and undemocratic that some anti-democratic and anti-people forces successfully disrupted and botched the peaceful and transparent process that began at the Stella Obasanjo Multipurpose Centre, where delegates were accredited according to their councils.

35%

The percentage of pregnant women tested for HIV in low and middle-income countries in 2010.

Source: Who.int

L-R: Chairman, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Mr. John Coumantaros; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga; Chief Executive Officer, National Sugar Development Council, Dr. Latif Busari and others, at the inspection of the National Sugar Master Plant at the Sunti Golden Sugar Estate, Niger State…yesterday

Jatau wins Bauchi PDP governorship primaries Yuzarsif Alhassan Bauchi

A

lhaji Auwal Jatau yesterday emerged the winner of the Bauchi State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries, which paraded five contestants.

Those who contested the primaries include Hon. Ibrahim Adamu Gumba, who was the former senator representing Bauchi South senatorial district; the former Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Muhammad Pate, the former senator representing Bauchi North senatorial district, Hon. Babayo Garba Gamawa and the former Commissioner of Water Resources, Alhaji Bappah Azare.

However, the election which started about 12.55am was concluded around 6.30am.

The Chairperson of the electoral committee, Miss Stella Omo, declared Alhaji Auwal Muhammad Jatau as winner in line with Electorate Act. She said: “By the power conferred on me as the electoral committee chairperson of this election, I hereby declared honorable Jatau Mohammed Auwal as the winner and as the candidate of the PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial election.”

Responding to his election, Jatau thanked God for giving him the opportunity to win the PDP primary election.

PDP primaries: Ibeto, Bello three others reject result Wali picks Sokoto ticket as Dan Atori MINNA

N

iger State Deputy Governor, Ahmed Ibeto and three other aggrieved aspirants who lost the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries in the state have rejected the results, describing it as a charade.

Speaking on behalf of the aspirants in a joint press conference in Minna on Monday, Engr. Mu-

stapha Bello said Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu’s attitude violated the rules and guidelines of the party’s primaries.

He said: “The whole exercise was a charade and kangaroo. The party guideline says elections must be transparent and an open secret ballot, but to our surprise, the governor went straight to the agent of his endorsed candidate and signed his ballot paper.”

Bello added: “We all know it was a design, be-

cause the governor can read and write. After the governor did that, the delegates from Agaie lined up in front of the favoured candidate’s agent to fill their ballot papers and be approved by him.

“Even when I tried to object, I was not listened to. Each time the local governments were called, they all went to the same person, whereas there are other agents around.

“I concluded that it was a planned process, the

outcome was that they allocated results in figures to us just to ridicule us.

“We have refused to accept the report and we have asked our agents not to sign the report sheet. We remain obedient to the party, but we will not accept this kind of irresponsibility.”

Also, the deputy governor said he personally spoke with the electoral officials that what was happening was outside the guidelines of the party.

Ex-Benue speaker floors Aondoakaa, others

Pwajok wins Plateau governorship PDP primaries

Cephas Iorhemen

Musa Pam

Makurdi

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rstwhile Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly and Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant, Mr. Terhemen Tarzor, yesterday won the party’s governorship primaries to contest the 2015 general election Tarzor, who contested

with eighteen other aspirants, scored 517 votes out of a total of 974 to beat incumbent Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani; former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa and former Minister of State for Trade, Industries and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, among others.

Jos

T

he senator representing Plateau State Northern senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Gyang Nyam Pwajok, yesterday won the governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 435 votes out of 799 valid votes cast.

Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjan, who is the closest and strong contender with Pwajok, got 163 votes while Senator Victor Lar, scored 109 votes.

Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Alhaji Abdullahi Ohoma, while declaring the result, said out of the total 818 accredited delegates, 794 delegates voted and five votes were void.

Shagari protests result

Umar Danladi Ado Sokoto

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mbassador Abdallah Wali has emerged winner of the Sokoto State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries that was marred by protests and boycott.

Wali scored 547 votes while Abubakar Gada, polled 193 votes as declared by the electoral panel Chairman, Senator Usman Umar Dukku.

In his remarks, Wali

pledged his loyalty to the party, thanked and commended the delegates and the electoral panel for their tireless work throughout the process.

The Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Mukhtar Shagari, who scored a single vote, had left the venue earlier, protesting against the conduct of the poll.

Shagari complained that he was not satisfied with the whole process, the procedure and the arrangement of the primaries.

Umar raises the alarm over imposition of candidate in Taraba Temitope Ogunbanke

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he Garba Umar Gubernatorial Campaign Organisation yesterday warned against awarding the state governorship ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to a new aspirant that did not participate in the party’s screening process.

The organisation in a press statement signed by its Campaign Director-General, Ahmed Yusuf, said the aspirant did not buy the nomination form and neither was he screened for the election.

The body said the aspirant also never declared any interest in the primaries at the beginning.

50 News

WORLD | News

NCAA sacks 187 workers over ‘illegal’ recruitment Wole Shadare

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gale of retrenchment yesterday swept through the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) leading to the sack of 187 workers.

It was also learnt that a former Acting Director General of the agency, was also suspended for aiding massive recruitment in the agency without following due process.

One of the workers sacked had presented his sack letter to the media yesterday, noting that he was suspended, pending an investigation being

conducted by the Ministry, questioning the alleged recruitment racketeering that was said to have been carried out in the aviation regulatory agency.

A letter from the NCAA signed by the Director General of NCAA, with reference number NCAA/ DG/GEN/Vol.1.11/2014 dated October 3, 2014, titled, “Suspension of your appointment”, directed the former DG to handover all NCAA property, including his identity card to the head of department while further development on the matter will be communicated to him in due course.

The two paragraph letter read in part, “I refer to your appointment and subsequent resumption to duty and to inform you that the Ministry of Aviation directed that your appointment be suspended with immediate effect, pending the completion of an investigation being conducted by the Ministry”.

“In the meantime, you are directed to hand over all NCAA property, including your identity card to your Head of Department while further developments on the matter will be communicated to you in due course, please”.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Party endorses Merkel

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hancellor Angela Merkel’s party has elected her resoundingly to a new two-year term as its leader, underlining her strength as she boasted about balancing Germany’s budget for the first time in 46 years.

The conservative Christian Democratic

Union said 96.7 percent of delegates at a convention voted yesterday for Merkel as chairwoman.

The 60-year-old Merkel, who has no serious rivals or evident successor, ran unopposed.

Merkel highlighted the strength of the economy in her conference speech and said the most

remarkable achievement was next year’s budget, under which Germany plans to get by without new borrowing for the first time since 1969.

Merkel said: “The state has lived above its means for decades and we are putting an end to that now. That is a historic achievement.”

Adamawa PDP delegates may shun convention Ibrahim Abdul Yola

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takeholders of the Adamawa State chapter Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday threatened to boycott tomorrow’ national convention of the party in Abuja. They alleged that the national leadership of the party imposed unpopular candidates, “against the wish of the people.”

The position of the

stakeholders was made known yesterday during a press conference. “It is our collective view that anything short of cancellation of this kangaroo primary election by the NWC of our party will leave us with no option but to follow the views of the entire great majority of the people of Adamawa State.

“We therefore resolve to abstain from the national convention of the party scheduled for

tomorrow,”said Chief Joel Madaki, suspended state chairman of the party.

Madaki said party members regreted the way and manner the party threw it into confusion, “with the flagrant and open abuse of the rule and law with impunity with regard to party primaries and is a thing of serious concern that is heading to the complete eradication of the party in the minds of our grassroots supporters.”

Rep’s supporters protest at PDP headquarters Philip Nyam Abuja

S

upporters of a member of the House of Representatives, representing Southern Ijaw federal constituency, Hon. Henry Daniel-Ofongu, yesterday protested to the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja. DanielOfongu lost out at the Bayelsa PDP primaries conducted at the weekend.

A strong ally of President Goodluck Jonathan, Hon. Daniel-Ofongu lost to Nimbofa Ayawei, who got 49 votes. Daniel-Ofon-

gu got 24 votes. The protesters under the aegis of the Southern Ijaw Political Vanguard submitted a protest letter addressed to the National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu alleging that the Bayelsa National Assembly primaries was marred by violence and intimidation of delegates.

The petition co-signed by the group’s Chairman, Dr. Michael Amaegberi and its Secretary, Mr. Lovely Sogo read in part: “The House of Representatives primary election in southern Ijaw was marred with the use of thugs and hijacking of electoral per-

sonnel and materials by Mr. Nimibofe Ayawei and his supporters.

“He (Ayawei) hired the services of ex-militants to intimidate and threaten delegates. We, therefore, demand that Mr. Nimibofe Ayawei should be disqualified in line with the provision of the PDP rules and electoral Act, and Hon. Henry Daniel-Ofongo be declared the party’s candidate for the 2015 National Assembly elections in order to discourage thuggery and intimidation.” Only one representatives from Bayelsa got his ticket to contest in 2015.

CSU seeks involvement in IPPIS development Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

T

he Nigeria Civil Service Union has asked the Federal Government to involve it in the development of payment software for civil servants.

The union, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Comrade Gerald Ukeni, said the existing software was developed without stakeholders input. It said that the Inte-

grated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) was in line with global practices but it was developed without considering challenges that might arise.

“The introduction of Integrated Payroll and Personal Information System (IPPIS) by the Federal Government as a mode of computing and payment of workers emolument and other charges have positively contributed in the control of wastages experienced by government in the past.

“While commending the government for the introduction of the software as demanded by the present age globally, it is, however, instructive to observe that the software for IPPIS was developed without involving trade unions. Besides, IPPIS was developed without forecast of the challenges that may rise and how to cushion them. This has resulted into plunging workers and trade unions into untold hardship,’’ the statement said.

German Chancellor and chairwoman of the Christian Democrats,CDU, thanking delegates for their standing ovation after her speech at the covention in Cologne, Germany.

Mugabe fires deputy, seven ministers

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imbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has fired his deputy, Joice Mujuru, and seven government ministers, his cabinet secretary said yesterday, in the latest twist in a power struggle over the choice of his successor.

The move took place days after Mugabe, 90, publicly rebuked Mujuru, who was seen just months ago as the most likely to take his place when he dies or retires.

The chief secretary to the cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, said in a statement that Mujuru had been dismissed because of conflicts of interest

and conduct “inconsistent with the expected standard”.

Two gover nment sources said Mujuru and several ministers aligned to her received dismissal letters on Monday night.

State security minister and long-time Mugabe ally, Didymus Mutasa, was also sacked, along with Francis Nhema, who heads the indigenisation ministry in charge of a black economic drive that forces foreign firms to sell majority stakes to locals.

Mugabe did not immediately name their replacements. The news appeared to seal the political fate of Mujuru, seen by

some in the Zimbabwean business community as a common-sense leader who could have helped restore ties with the West that fell apart during the latter half of Mugabe’s 34 years in power.

Mujuru, who was also dismissed as Mugabe’s deputy in the party last week, gave statements to the yesterday editions of two private daily newspapers dismissing the accusations against her. “The allegations that I, alone, or together with various distinguished comrades have sought to remove His Excellency R G Mugabe from office are ridiculous,” Mujuru said.

Brutal CIA questioning didn’t work, report says

S

enate investigators delivered a damning indictment of CIA interrogations yesterday, accusing the spy agency of inflicting suffering on prisoners beyond its legal limits and peddling unsubstantiated stories that the harsh questioning saved American lives.

Treatment in secret prisons after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was worse than the government told Congress or the public, said the report from the Senate Intelligence Committee, the first official

public accounting after years of debate about the CIA’s brutal handling of prisoners.

Five hundred pages were released, representing the executive summary and conclusions of a still-classified 6,700-page full investigation. President Barack Obama declared the past practices to be “contrary to our values” and pledged, “I will continue to use my authority as president to make sure we never resort to those methods again.”

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the committee

chairman, branded the findings a stain on the nation’s history. “Under any common meaning of the term, CIA detainees were tortured,” she declared, commanding the Senate floor for an extended accounting of the harsh techniques identified in the report.

Tactics used included weeks of sleep deprivation, slapping and slamming of detainees against walls, confining them to small boxes, keeping them isolated for prolonged periods and threatening them with death.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

51

Sport News

International Sport

No excuses if City fail, says Zabaleta

Okocha returns to Bolton Wanderers

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I won’t quit now –Nkwocha

Sport

Sport News

Did you know?

In American football, the NFL requires that all stadiums be built facing north/south so the sun never interferes with a play.

Forget AFCON failure, focus on U-23, Sadi tells NFF

Charles Ogundiya

F

ormer international, Dahiru Sadi, has called on the Nigeria Football Federation to forget about Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and focus on building a new team.

Speaking with our correspondent, Sadi said plans must be put in place to build a new team that would rule the continent and the world in the nearest future.

“First thing now is to carry out a holistic review of our team; look at Germany, there was a time their team was not doing well and a total restructuring was carried out. Look at their national team today, they have recorded considerable successes in the world in recent time.

“We should stop dwelling on the past, it is time we move forward because we have so many things ahead of us.

“I believe the focus should be on the Under-23 team ahead of the All Africa Games and the Olympics in two years’ time,” he said.

Sadi who is the President of the Association of Nigerian

Footballers is of the opinion that the NFF should embark on a long term developmental plan to move the country’s football forward.

He said: “Recently, I heard the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, saying he has short, medium and long term plans to develop

our football, and my advice to the federation is to focus on the long term plan to take our football higher.

“If we must take our football back to the zenith, Nigerians must give this NFF a chance so that we can achieve results.

“A new team must be

built around the U-23 and the U-20 so that we can have a side that will last for years.”

On the attitude of current players, the former Ranchers Bees of Kaduna midfielder said the players were not as committed to the national team, hence

Pinnick

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

his call for a new team of committed players He said: “They (players) have a poor attitude towards the national team, something I can’t really understand given that we have a bunch of average players playing for the national team now.”

Efe Ambrose (right)

Special athletes slam Pinnick over neglect Ifeanyi Ibeh

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resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has been accused of relegating his other position as chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission to the background since becoming the number one man in the NFF. Pinnick has been the boss of the Delta State Sports Commission for some years now and oversaw the state’s emergence

as a force to be reckoned with at the National Sports Festival.

Physically challenged athletes have been in the forefront of Team Delta’s national dominance but these special athletes now feel neglected by Pinnick since his emergence as head of the NFF. “He used to cater to all our needs; not just our salaries and camp allowances but so many other things,” said a Delta athlete, who spoke on the condition of

anonymity.

“We were supposed to have the National Sports Festival this year, but even before it was moved to next year, we didn’t even have enough competitions to get us in shape for the championship.

“We are the reason Delta has been number one in Nigeria but he doesn’t care about us anymore; all he cares about is football,” lamented the athlete.

Another physically challenged athlete representing

Team Delta also told New Telegraph: “We heard they spent millions of naira to organise the last NFF elections. We are not saying they shouldn’t spend that much on football but all we are saying is they should organise competitions for us.

“With only N5m they can organise a good competition. That is the only way we can make extra money to augment the salary that we get but if there are no tournaments we won’t get any prize money.”

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Falcons need miracle to qualify – Okpodu

Ifeanyi Ibeh

F

ormer Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Sam Okpodu, is of the opinion that the reigning African champions will need to be at their best in order to progress to the knockout rounds at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Super Falcons will slug it out in Group D with two-time world champions, the United States of America; Sweden and Australia for a place in the second round at the World Cup in Canada.

It is a group that has already been classified as the toughest of the 24-team tournament, but Super Falcons coach, Edwin Okon, was quoted as saying that he does not require any information on his group stage opponents, adding that his side only needs to prepare very well for the tournament.

The Super Falcons coach even went ahead to predict that his side would emerge top of the group and possibly go all the way in Canada.

Okpodu agrees that “preparation is everything in football” but insists that the Super Falcons have to show an acceptable level of respect to their group stage opponents; something he believes the Americans, the Swedes and the Aussies will

equally be granting the reigning African champions.

“I think he (Okon) was quoted out of context as I don’t think he could have said exactly that as everyone knows how tough the modern game is,” said Okpodu.

“All the teams in that group have equal chances of progressing to the next round.

So you have to be absolutely prepared in order to move ahead.”

The United States have won the World Cup on two occasions and will be looking to enter the record books at the end of next year’s tournament by becoming the first team to win the trophy thrice.

Sweden, on the other hand, finished as runners-up in 2003 and earned third-place finishes at both the inaugural edition, in 1991, and at the last edition in 2011, while the Australians have reached the quarterfinals in the last two editions of the tournament.

“They all have to be at their best, not just in one game, but in all of their games.

These are some of the world’s best football playing nations and none of them can afford to take any of their opponents for granted,” continued the former Nigeria international.

“It is going to be a tough tournament The Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire for all the teams and I think it would take AWC match a miracle for our team to top the group.”

You can’t bribe me, Siasia tells players Ifeanyi Ibeh

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oach of the national U-23 men’s football team, Samson Siasia, has warned intending players not to give money to anybody in a bid to secure a place in his team, insisting that only players worthy of donning the country’s shirt will be included in his plans.

“Do not give money to either my assistants or any agent with the hope of making this team. If I find out, the player will be dismissed from camp,” warned Siasia, while addressing players after Tuesday’s training session.

“I did not mandate anybody to collect money on my behalf. Anyone who falls prey to such cheats will be sent out of camp forthwith. Money cannot buy you a place in my team.

Instead, your talent and discipline will take you to the top of your career.

“As long as you hold the passport of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, you are eligible to play for this country. I was spotted and selected through this type of process. I’ll also like to give young ones like you the chance to play for our country. It is your country, too,” added the former Super Eagles star.

Siasia stated that he has been fair to all who have taken time to try out their luck with the team, adding that he has been “overwhelmed” by the number of players who turned out

for the screening exercise.

A number of overseas based players, such as Aminu Umar of Turkey’s Samsunspor and Sweden-based Samuel Ayinoko of Angelholms FC, are also around for the screening exercise, and Siasia said that there would be no sacred cows as only their fitness and form will determine their stay in camp. ‘’You can only secure a place in the team with dedication, hard work and discipline,” continued Siasia. “Nobody is superior to another player in this camp.”

He however applauded all the players in camp and advised those who could not make the team to try harder as not all players who turned up would be selected.

Meanwhile, the team will this weekend travel to Bauchi to play a series of friendly games.

Siasia

NFF will partner investors to boost football -Pinnick Charles Ogundiya

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he Nigeria Football Federation has said it will continue to identify with any genuine individual or corporate body interested in developing football especially at the grassroots level in the country.

The president of the soccer-ruling body, Amaju Pinnick, stated this at the final match of the Sir Kessington Adebutu Under-18 football championship in Sagamu.

Represented by the

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ll the teams participating at the fourth edition of the annual beach soccer championship, COPA Lagos, and the officials for the competition, will arrive today.

In a statement made available to New Telegraph, players of FC Barcelona’s beach soccer team will be the first to touch down in the country aboard Royal Air Maroc alongside the cheerleaders expected to thrill spectators at the tour-

female Under-18 category.

He pointed out that he was happy when one of his products, Dele Alampasu, who was a member of the team that won the last Under 17 FIFA World Cup for Nigeria in the United Arab Emirate, became a household name through the grassroots competition.

The final match contested between Imeko Afon local government and Sagamu local government ended in a lone goal victory for the Imeko Afon boys despite playing for most part of the match with 10 men.

Top50:CampMilohailsinclusionof females Ifeanyi Ibeh

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anaging Director, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Dharnesh Gordhon, has expressed his organisation’s delight with the inclusion of female players at this year’s Milo Top 50 Basketball Camp, holding in Lagos.

From 2003 to date, the Top 50 Camp, the brainchild of former Nigerianborn basketball star, Masai Ujiri, has served as an avenue to develop promising Nigerian players with over 80 of the campers going on

COPA Lagos: Teams, refs, arrive today CharlesOgundiya

Chairman of Ondo Football Association, Otunba Dele Ajayi and his Ekiti state counterpart Joseph Ayodele, Pinnck reiterated the determination of his board to push the development of the round leather game in the country. He pledged his support for what Chief Adebutu had been doing to develop football in Lagos and Ogun states.

Earlier in his speech, Chief Adebutu commended the organisers for putting together a beautiful tournament, pledging to extend his gesture to the

nament venue and three beach soccer delegates.

“13 FC Barcelona players and officials, three beach soccer delegates, five cheerleaders and two referees will arrive the international wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard Royal Air Maroc as early as 5.25am.

“Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal’s beach teams will arrive later in the evening by 3.10pm aboard Askye Airline,” read the

to attend high schools or universities in the United States, and over 100 attending Nigerian universities.

In addition, close to 30 former participants have played on the Nigerian Junior National team, but females have never been allowed to take part in the camp until now.

“I am particularly delighted that for the first time, the exceptional female players will also get the chance to participate in the Milo Top 50 Basketball Camp,” said Gordhon.

“This is a testament to our

statement.

The statement added that there would be a media parley with all the captains of the participating teams by 6.30pm same day at the Southern Sun Hotel, Lagos.

The tournament will hold from December 12 to 14, 2014 at the Eko Atlantic Beach in Lagos.

Meanwhile, one of the sponsors of the competition, FCMB, will on Thursday, in partnership with Beach Soccer World Foundation, engage its management, staff, and customers, as well as officials of FIFA, in a beach cleaning exercise.

commitment to gender balancing; giving equal opportunity to both boys and girls to excel in sports.”

The female players at this year’s Milo Top 50 Basketball Camp, which got underway on Sunday, and ends on Tuesday, were drawn from the recently concluded Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship.

Under the supervision of coaches drawn from Nigeria, South Africa and the United States of America, the girls, as well as the boys, were taught the basic rudiments of the game.

“This is a further testament to our commitment to finding and nurturing sports talents at grassroots level in Nigeria,” continued Ghordon. “The Milo Top 50 Basketball Camp facilitates the chances of the talents that have been discovered to further develop their skills through world-class coaching, get spotted by scouts, and to be recruited for the teams and leagues that the scouts represent globally.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 20144

Judge delays Pistorius decision

Man City’s Zabaleta celebrates a goal with teammate Sergio Aguero

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South African judge has delayed a ruling on whether to allow an appeal against Oscar Pistorius’s five-year prison sentence, saying she wanted more time to consider the case.

After listening to arguments from the prosecution and defence, Judge Thokozile Masipa adjourned the appeal hearing until Wednesday, saying: “I want to think about it.”

The Paralympian athlete was jailed for five years in October for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, whom he killed in February 2013.

Prosecutors are seeking to overturn Pistorius’ acquittal on murder charges. His lawyers are

Ronaldo

No excuses P if City fail, says Zabaleta

opposing the appeal request.

Pistorius was not in court when prosecutor Gerrie Nel outlined his case, telling the judge - who had presided over the original trial - that she had misinterpreted the law when she ruled Pistorius did not intentionally shoot Steenkamp.

He added that the judge had failed to sufficiently consider that Pistorius had fired four shots ‘through a locked door into a small toilet cubicle from which there was no room to escape’ Steenkamp was shot dead in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year. He said he feared there was an intruder in his home but he did not intend to kill.

Pistorius And full-back Zabaleta says City should expect to win in Italy on Wednesday.

“Of course, because we have the players to beat Roma,” he is quoted as saying by The Guardian. “If we don’t beat them and we don’t go through it would be bad for the team because we want to be there. You never know, football is like that sometimes.

“You’re in the best moment and then you have a bad game. But when the confidence is high, you have

ablo Zabaleta believes Manchester City will have themselves to blame if they fail to make the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League.

City head to Roma in Group E on Wednesday knowing they must cannot afford to lose.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men must win and hope CSKA Moscow lose to Bayern Munich, or earn at least score draw in the event of a defeat for the Russian side.

more trust in yourself and we’re playing more as a team - that’s important to win it.”

City were held to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in September, but have now gone on a five-match winning run, and Zabaleta feels the Etihad Stadium outfit will be a tougher proposition for Roma this time around - despite the absence of in-form top scorer Sergio Aguero, who sustained a knee injury against Everton at the weekend.

Woman arrested over death We were lucky to win – Van Gaal of Nigerian teen M

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22-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal stabbing of a promising Nigerian footballer, Joel Adesina, in a fight in east London.

Fifteen-year-old Adesina, a winger with Bardag FC Yellows, was found stabbed in the abdomen on a road at 23:00 GMT on Friday. He was taken to hospital but died at 02:12 the following day.

An 18-year-old man arrested at the scene has been released with no further action to be taken, police

said.

The BBC reported that detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have witnessed an altercation in Padbury Court, just before the stabbing, between a group of male youths on foot and the occupants of a car. Adesina was part of the group on foot, police said.

The BBC quoted a police spokesperson saying: “Anyone who may have witnessed this altercation or have information which could assist the investigation is asked to contact the police as soon as possible.”

McIlroy wins Golf Writers award ory McIlroy has won the Golf Writers Trophy for R the second time in three years following a stunning season that saw him claim two major championships and play a leading role in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory.

The world number one was the overwhelming choice for the prestigious award following votes cast by members of the Association of Golf Writers.

The Golf Writers Trophy was first awarded in 1951 and is given to the European who has made the most outstanding contribution to the sport during the year.

Previous two-time winners include Nick Faldo, Padraig

McIlroy

Harrington, Tony Jacklin, Sandy Lyle, Bernhard Langer and Annika Sorenstam. The only players to win it three times are Seve Ballesteros and Lee Westwood.

Germany’s Martin Kaymer finished runner-up following his wins in the US Open and the Players Championship, with Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team voted into third place.

Man United’s Robin van Persie celebrates a goal

anchester United manager Louis van Gaal conceded his team were fortunate to claim a 2-1 Premier League win at Southampton.

Robin van Persie capitalised on defensive lapses from the home team in each half to help United chalk up a fifth consecutive victory despite a ragged display.

And Van Gaal told Sky Sports: “We lost the ball too easily in the first half, I think. We didn’t have good positional play. The only chances that Southampton created were when we lost the ball.

That was not good, despite our good result. We got a present from Southampton “We needed confidence on the ball, which we didn’t have - I said that at half-time. I think Southampton played better than Manchester United but we were the lucky guys.

“I want them to show the confidence that we have shown on the training ground - this week we have trained fantastically.

“But I I didn’t see it on the matchday and that’s the most important hour. You have to show yourself on the matchday.”

West Ham can win EPL title – Carroll A

ndy Carroll sees no reason why West Ham cannot win the Premier League title this season.

West Ham are flying high in the Premier League, sitting fourth in the table after upstaging 10-man Swansea City 3-1 at Upton Park on Sunday.

While many believe West

Ham will drop off the pace over the Christmas period, Carroll said he believes the London club can mount a sensational title challenge and go all the way.

“I think there is no limit, we can go all the way to the top,” the 25-year-old said.

“We have a great squad and I can’t say we are going to

Djokovic wary of youngsters

W

orld number one Novak Djokovic believes the days of a ‘big four’ in the men’s game could be numbered due to an emerging crop of talent.

The Serbian star has competed for the top prizes with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

There were four different Grand Slam winners in the

2014 season, including firsttime champions Marin Cilic and Stanislas Wawrinka, and Djokovic believes this is a sign of things to come.

“It’s really unpredictable, it’s going to be hard to say who are the clear favourites to win the Grand Slams,” said Djokovic. “Obviously Cilic, Wawrinka and some new names who have been

give up, now we are in the top four. We have got a great team and we can go all the way.

“I think with the team we have got and the manager [Sam Allardyce], the way he is playing and coaching everyone, it is fantastic and I don’t think we will be giving up at all.”

Djokovic

winning Grand Slam titles and challenging the best and winning against the best in the big events, they have proven to everybody that it is possible.”

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Okocha returns to Bolton Wanderers Ifeanyi Ibeh

F

ormer Super Eagles captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, will return to Bolton Wanderers for the first time since leaving the club eightand-a-half years ago after agreeing to take part in Kevin Davies’s testimonial game next summer.

Davies and Okocha were teammates at Bolton Wanderers up until the time the Nigerian legend featured in his last game for the former Premier League side in a 1-0 win over Birmingham City in May 2006.

And a message posted on a Twitter account set up to promote the testimonial match wrote on Monday: “Delighted to announce

that the best player I have ever played with Jay Jay Okocha will be returning to Bolton for my testimonial!!”

Okocha joins a long list of stars such as El-Hadji Diouf, Fabrice Muamba, Ivan Campo, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Youri Djorkaeff who are confirmed for the game, which will be played between an ex-Wanderers XI and a celebrity all-star side on either July 31 or August 1 next year.

Neil Lennon’s first team also hope to organise a game on the same day against a top European opponent.

Okocha’s former teammates, Jason McAteer, and Fernando Hierro, are also considering an appearance, depending on work commitments.

Adekunle Salami

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Okocha

Dala Tennis: Babalola, Lawal advance to second round

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bdulmumuni Babalola and Shehu Lawal recorded wins on Tuesday as most of the seeded players progressed at the ongoing Dala Hard Court Tennis Championship in Kano.

Reigning CBN Open champion, Babalola, who crashed out in the first round of the NPA Championship in Abuja last week, made sure thunder didn’t strike him twice as he trounced Jonah Samuel 6-2, 6-1 just as Lawal was made to sweat before recording a come-from-behind 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Hamidu Abdulahi.

Both players who at a point placed

a stranglehold on the domestic scene by claiming series of national titles were joined by Nigeria’s no1 ranked player, Clifford Enosoregbe.

The newly-crowned NPA Open champion had a tough time battling Albert Bikom and it was unsurprising that the game was decided by a rubber with Enosoregbe winning 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

Henry Atseye’s poor physical condition cost him a place in the next round as he retired against Sunday Emmanuel with scores at 2-0 in the opening set while Onyeka Mbanu edged Jinadu Owolabi 4-6,

FIFA reaffirms Pinnick as NFF boss

6-4, 7-6 (4) in the most exciting match of the day.

Other players that progressed to the second round are Monday Igbinovia, a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Jonathan Okwudili; Chinedu Akagha who defeated Mohammed Mohammed 6-2, 7-5 and Emmanuel Idoko who got the better of his contest with Pekun Akingbade 6-0, 6-7, 6-4.

In the women’s singles, Ronke Akingbade advanced to the next stage by beating Pauline Ebijimi 6-1, 6-4. And she is joined by Patience Onebamhoin who forced Bukola Olowu to retire while leading 3-0 in the first set.

he Federation of international Football Association on Wednesday reaffirmed Amaju Pinnick as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation.

FIFA in a letter dated December 9, 2014 and signed by Jerome Valcke acknowledged the letter of the NFF on the ruling of the majority members of the NFF Appeals Committee on the elections held in Warri on September 30.

The world football body stated in the letter addressed to the General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, that it has endorsed the report of the majority members of the appeals committee.

“We note the majority decision of the Electoral Appeals Committee to uphold in their entirety the result of the NFF Elective Congress held in Warri on 30 September, 2014.

“We are therefore pleased to be able to start working with the new office bearers headed by the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick. We will contact you in the coming days to organise an introductory meeting between Mr Pinnick and the FIFA President in Zurich,” the letter read in part.

It will be recalled that two members of the appeals committee- Dotun Coker and Sani Muhammed - on Wednesday last week released a report endorsing Pinnick as the winner of the NFF election. The report was contrary to the one released 24 hours later by the chairman of the committee, Okey Ajunwa, who ordered fresh elections for the post of president and vice-president respectively.

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NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Why cheap oil spells trouble for Nigeria

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he prospect of cheap oil is usually cheered by consumers and businesses, but it could spell trouble for Nigeria. As oil prices plunge around the world, the glee felt by truck drivers in Kentucky, machine factory owners in Spain, and oil heating families in Sweden is being met with alarm in Nigeria.

Nigeria is particularly dependent on oil. It accounts for 75% of government revenue and 95% of exports, helping propel the country to become Africa’s biggest economy earlier this year. So oil’s dramatic price fall threatens the entire economic edifice.

How bad is it? Earlier this year oil was selling at well over $100 a barrel. The price of Brent Crude has now fallen $67.53 a barrel, the cheapest it has been since October 2009.

The result has been an oil glut, which is likely to continue for a while after Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – which Nigeria is a member of – agreed last week not to cut their output target of 30 million barrels a day. That means prices will continue to remain low, delighting consumers, but hurting those who rely on oil exports.

The reasons for this are many.

The continuing ailings in the Eurozone, and China’s slowdown have been big contributing factors, as has the shale boom in the United States, which has transformed the country’s energy market.

The switch has been especially noticeably between the US and Nigeria. Seven years ago, some 40 million barrels of Nigeria oil arrived in American ports every month. But last July, not one drop was transferred, having been completely replaced by local US production. According to Robert Windrem, an investigative reporter with NBC News, “The big fat zero was a milestone not only on the United States’ journey toward energy independence, but a signpost pointing to a new world.”

It essentially means that Nigeria has lost its entire share of the US market.

And the situation could get even worse. According to a Citigroup analysis of the oil trade issued in November, overall US oil imports have fallen from 13.4 million barrels a day to 4.7 million barrels a day.

While some officials and producers insist that Chinese exports will replace US purchases, the slowdown across East Asia, along with Chinese push for nuclear energy makes that talk seem empty.

Nigeria is, of course, not the only major oil exporter set to lose as prices fall. Others, like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia and Venezuela are all hurting. All will have to adapt, probably by cutting public spending, if they hope to avoid or prevent a collapse of public finances.

But the effects are already being felt in Nigeria. The naira touched a new record low of 183.05 against the dollar penultimate Monday, driven by concerns over a sustained low oil price and expectations foreign investors would demand more dollars to pull out of

World View LEO CENDROWICZ Bureau Chief, New Telegraph, Brussels

Nigeria is, of course, not the only major oil exporter set to lose as prices fall. Others, like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia and Venezuela are all hurting

An oil rig

Okonjo-Iweala

Alison-Madueke

local assets. Deutsche Bank says Nigeria needs an oil price of $120 a barrel to balance its budget.

The central bank is struggling to keep the naira within its preferred band even after devaluing the cur-

rency by last week in a bid to halt a decline in the foreign reserves, of which oil sales account for around 95%. It has also raised interest rates by a percentage point to 13% and slashed its target rate for the naira against the dollar by a further 8%.

Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has warned that the government could be forced to cut non-essential spending, raise more revenue and spend half of its $4.1 billion sovereign wealth fund - down from $11.5 billion at the start of 2013 - to cover budgetary shortfalls. And it comes as the Boko Haram violence continues to flare, prompting the government to take out a billion dollar loan from Western banks to finance the efforts to fight the insurrection.

All of which adds up to a combustible mix. Nigeria needs to find some answers soon, preferably ones that do not assume a continuing dependence on oil.

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

It is never too late to be what you might have been.

– George Eliot

Leo Cendrowicz Why cheap oil spells trouble for Nigeria

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The Rule of Law in the 2015 elections

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number of Nigerians are apprehensive about the future of constitutional democracy.

Many are also nervous about the 2015 general elections. This fear, this apprehension and this sense of foreboding appears to be cyclical.

However, the current anxiety appears to have been heightened by a combination of factors and issues that are similar and at the same time dissimilar.

There is general apprehension that the country is drifting and that the political elite appear oblivious to this fact and are complicit in the drift.

There is apprehension that the sovereignty of the country has been terribly compromised and that the persons in control of the levers of power are playing politics with it rather than maintaining and protecting the territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is a certain level of apprehension that the type of rhetoric and hate speech emanating from the political elite is a recipe for genocide and yet there does not appear to be any let in their rhetoric or any form of moderation. There is a certain sense in the land that the democratic process has been compromised and that unless something is done and done urgently, the process may come to grief.

There is no doubt that the observance of the rule of law and due process are imperative for the sustenance of democracy. And in a constitutional democracy the Constitution is the most fundamental document that articulates its shared values, interests, aspirations, fears and challenges. As the Supreme Court of Nigeria pointed out in the case of A.G., Ondo State v.

A.G., Fed “...Our Constitution is an organic instrument which confers powers and also creates rights and limitations. It is the supreme law in which certain first principles of fundamental nature are established. Once the powers, rights and limitations under the Constitution are identified as having been created, their existence cannot be disputed in a court of law. But their extent and implications may be sought to be interpreted and explained by the court in cases properly brought before it. All agencies of government are organs of initiative whose powers are derived either directly from the Constitution or from laws enacted thereunder. They therefore stand in relationship to the Constitution as it permits of their existence and functions.

Where then does the rule of law and due process fit into the parameters and ambit of constitutional democracy? The Rule of Law is a pillar of constitutional democracy. Under the rule of law, everything must be done according to law. Government must also be conducted within the ambit and parameters of recognised rules and principles that restrict discretionary powers. It also presupposes that there should be equality of all citizens before the law. What is important is that those who believe in it do things and carry out actions claiming

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE

festokoye2003@yahoo.com 08054480565 (sms only)

Jega, INEC boss

that their actions are in accordance with the rule of law and due process.

Those that do not believe in the rule of law and due process also call in aid of the rule of law and due process in trying to rationalize what they have done or failed to do.

There is no doubt that in the electoral process, we have not done well with our fidelity to the rule of law and due process. This is glaring in the way and manner we have handled the issue of internal democracy in the parties. It is evident in the way we handle party primary elections. It is evident in the way and manner we try to corrupt the electoral process to return predetermined outcomes. It is evident in the way we try to corrupt and or bully members of election petitions tribunals. It is evident in the way we use violence and intimidation to make sure that the votes of the people do not count.

As we move towards the 2015 elections, it is important and imperative that we return to the rule of law and due process. It is important that we sustain Nigerian democracy and still have a country called Nigeria after the 2015 elections. There are danger signals and risk factors to the successful conduct of the said elections. It is important for us to be aware of these risk factors, design programmes and mechanisms to arrest or degrade them or alternatively prepare for the outcomes and consequences.

The first is the logistical chal-

lenges of the Independent National Electoral Commission. The Commission is battling with the challenges of distribution of Permanent Voters cards, the registration of new voters, the creation and or non creation of additional polling units, perceived Internal dissention, infiltration of the Commission by people with clearly defined partisan interests. How these issues are handled will impact on the ability of the Commission to deliver free, fair and credible elections in 2015.

The second challenge revolves around the issue of Insurgency. By far the most potent challenge to the conduct of the 2015 elections and its credibility remains the issue of insurgency. A section of the political elite believes that insurgency is a creation of the Northern establishment as a counterweight to the militants of the Niger Delta. Coterminous to this, they also believe that insurgency is a potent force to harass the first Niger Delta President, show him as incompetent and engineer extra constitutional takeover of government. A section of the political elite also believes that the Military and other security forces have the capacity to put down the current insurgency but have been hampered by the Presidency that wants to rally round the South-South, South East, South West and Northern Minority Christian population using religion and the rise of religious fundamentalism for purposes of the elections. There is also the issue of the quantum of votes in the three States of the North East under a State of Emergency. The three States are known to lean towards the opposition political parties and therefore, it is to the advantage of the President and his party if elections are not conducted in the said States. The flip side of it is that the opposition parties will also be up in arms in accepting the outcome of results that excludes a large percentage of the voters from the North East of Nigeria. The third is that insurgency can escalate leading to calls for the postponement of the 2015 elections or the invocation of the doctrine of necessity.

The fourth is the potentials of PreElection Violence. Some of the Political Parties and their leaders have no regard for internal party democracy.

The politics of first refusal, zoning, consensus, adoption, anointing and the rest are all mechanism designed to subvert and circumvent internal democratic processes in the nomination of candidates. This politics

of manipulation and exclusion has heightened tension and led to violence in some of the States.

The fifth is the issue of hate Speech and inciting utterances. Some candidates are engaged in ethnic and religious profiling to gain political advantage. Some are calling on their supporters to kill “cockroaches”.

The sixth challenge is the partisan posture of the security agencies.

In Nigeria, we are gradually luring security agencies that ought to be insulated from partisan politics and partisan political posturing into our electoral process. We are gradually tainting them and making the Nigerian people view them differently.

Some of them are compromised and act and behave as if they are under the direct control and influence of a Political Party. The conduct of the security agencies will be a major issue with the 2015 elections.

The seventh is the challenge of eligibility. Is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria qualified to run in the 2015 elections? Is he attempting to run for a third term in office? Will his tenure end in two years after the 2015 elections? Has the Supreme Court decision in the case of Marwa v. Nyako(2012)6NWLR(Part 1296)199 that the Constitution has only created a tenure of 4 years and no more settled the matter of the eligibility of the President?. Will those that believe that it is “their turn” accept the disqualification of President or the annulment of his election if he eventually wins?

However, as the 2015 election draws closer, a more dangerous and invidious threat to the holding of the election and its success is now in the cards. Five scenarios and possibilities emerge from the security and electoral challenges in the various States of the Federation. The first is that Nigeria will surmount its security and logistical challenges and hold substantially free and fair elections in all the Local Governments and States of the Federation. The second is that elections will hold in most of the States and may not hold in a cluster of States and Local Governments. The third is that Nigeria will witness sustained crisis in most of the States before elections and or the electoral management body may face serious logistic challenges and utilize section 26(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) to postpone the election and appoint another date for the holding of the postponed election. The fourth scenario is a determination that Nigeria is at war and this may lead to the invocation of section 64(2) of the Constitution to extend the life of the current regime by six months.

My submission is that if we must sustain democracy, all the stakeholders in the electoral process must return to the rule of law and due process. There are no half measures.

You cannot cut corners with the rule of law. Fidelity to the Constitution and the rule of law is not an act of optional charity.

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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.