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N150

boko haram: we won't send troops to Nigeria –Britain

}5

NCAA review airlines' licences

32 days to go...

T

Nigeria votes

Wole Shadare

he Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has begun a review of operating licences of air-

lines, in a bid to ensure air safety in the nation's airspace.

Consequently, the aviation regulatory body has warned airlines that they risk suspension of

their operating licences, otherwise known as Air Operators Certificate (AON), if they default to carry out safe operations.

Spokesman for the

NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, said in a statement yesterday that the action was in pursuit of its oversight responsibilities as stipulated by law.

The agency an-

nounced the suspension of the operating licence of Discovery Airlines over safety issues.

Adurogboye said the airline failed to carry CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

2015

ria Nige

es vot

2015

}9, 14 & 15

Buhari didn't loot PTF, says Obasanjo }2

Quick Read

Editorial

The Baga massacre and international perspective }19 Inflation rises to 8% in December, says NBS }44 House of Reps to pass 2015 MTEF Thursday }50

Travel Advisory Your guide to local and international flights 4

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; Director-General, Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, and Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the presidential campaign rally in Ado-Ekiti…yesterday.

Jonathan: APC represents darkness

lPDP leading us to doom, opposition candidate fires back Adesina Wahab, Adeolu Adeyemo and Kunle Olayeni

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday hit hard on the All Progressives Congress

(APC), saying the party represents darkness whereas his party, the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP), stands for light.

Speaking at a rally in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, President Jona-

than described the APC presidential candidate, Major General MuhamCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

2

News

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari didn't loot PTF, says Obasanjo Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday cleared former Head of State and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), of mismanagement of public funds while he superintended over the affairs of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

Obasanjo said Buhari never soiled his hands when he served as the executive chairman of PTF between March 1995 and May 1999, adding that the investigation conducted by his (Obasanjo) administration never found the Daura-born retired general wanting.

He spoke when Buhari, in company with his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and top APC

chieftains, paid a courtesy call on the ex-president at his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

While in office, Obasanjo had set up an Interim Management Committee to probe the activities of the PTF under Buhari.

The report of the committee alleged that the sum of N25,758,532,448 was mismanaged by the AfriProject Consortium (APC).

APC was contracted by the PTF as management and project consultant.

The report further stated that the consulting firms overcharged PTF to the tune of N2,057,550,062 for their services.

There were also allegations of contract infractions by the Buhari-led PTF. The alleged N25 billion mismanagement is one of the accusations against Buhari by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the build up to the Feb-

ruary 14 presidential election.

Obasanjo's comment came barely 24 hours after he held a closed-door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at his Abeokuta home on Monday night.

However, while hosting Buhari yesterday, the former president lashed out at critics of the APC presidential candidate, saying they should focus on issues rather than engaging in red herring and trivialities while assessing him.

Obasanjo disclosed that he had to shelve his appointments outside the state in anticipation of Buhari's visit to him.

The former president said except for the inconsistency discovered in prices, there was nothing amiss in the PTF under Buhari.

Obasanjo said although his administration probed Buhari when he took over

power in 1999, he maintained that the report of the investigation was not of any material importance.

His words: "When you (Buhari) were going to become manager of PTF, we talked about it and when you finished and I took over, we looked into it. I haven't said this publicly, I would say it publicly now.

When we looked into it, there was really nothing amiss except that that organisation went from road building to mosquito net buying and all sort of things.

"And what the investigation discovered is a bit of inconsistency in prices and all that. In one area, mosquito net might have been given for N50; in another, N45. And then somebody remarked that this is fishy, we should look into it.

"And I called my brother and colleague (Buhari); I

said this and he said 'Look, we were managing billions of Naira and I tried to make sure I see everything.

But I will not say that what they have said about this is correct or not correct. But I can assure you I tried to see everything.' I said okay, 'Muhammadu, between me, you and God, was there any personal benefit for you?' And you said no.

I said that is the end of the matter!

"Although there was that investigation, its report was not of any material importance. I thought that I should say it today that I have this opportunity because I hope people will face issues rather than trivialities."

Obasanjo said despite being a card-carrying member of the PDP, he wished Buhari well in his presidential ambition.

He urged the APC presidential candidate to pay special attention to the

Front row: L-R: National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; the party's vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; the party's presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Chief Bisi Akande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when the APC leaders visited Obasanjo in Abeokuta...yesterday.

FG, judicial workers’ meeting deadlock Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

T

alks between the Federal Government and the striking judiciary workers under the auspices of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) ended in a deadlock on Monday night.

JUSUN had for the past nine days embarked on an indefinite strike to press for the implementation of the Federal High Court judgement which held that funds belonging to the judiciary should be released to heads of courts.

The meeting, according to a top source who prefers anonymity, was held at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, with the Minister of Labour and Productivity in attendance.

But the meeting did not reach any conclusion.

According to the source, the Federal Government only pleaded with the striking workers to resume because of the pending political cases before the courts.

The source, however, noted that the union is not ready to go back to work until its demands are met.

There have been trading of blames between the Federal and State Governments over the non-implementation of the court judgement which in January 2014 ruled in favour of the union.

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Jonah Otunla had said that the Federal Government was willing to release the funds but some state governments are against the process.

The AGF further stated that the state governments are responsible for the non-implementation of the court judgement.

The state government

on the other hand debunked the allegation, stating that the Federal Government had not at any point in time release any fund.

Reacting separately, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) said that the Federal Government is not in breach or violation of the judgement of the Federal High Court as such has been publicly acknowledged by JUSUN in all their statements and deliberations.

He further noted that the strike is actually directed at state govern-

ments that are yet to comply with the judgement and that federal courts are only on sympathy strike with their state counterparts.

Meanwhile, former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Coordinator of Rule of Law Development Foundation, J.B Daudu (SAN) said the demands being sought by JUSUN is not executable on ground that declaratory judgements cannot be executed under the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act. He however condemned the strike action embarked upon by the union, adding that it is unlawful.

issue of infrastructure apart from the three areas of security, economy and corruption that he (Buhari) had promised to address.

Obasanjo, who apparently reacted to the allegations that Buhari is surrounded by certain corrupt politicians, said all political parties are made up of "saints and devils."

He, however, noted that any political party that eventually succeeded in forming government should separate the wheat from the chaff by appointing people with integrity and character into political offices.

He said: "For all political parties that are trying to woo us to vote for them in the coming election; let's go away from red herring, let's go away from trivialities, let's face issues and tell the people of this country what we will do to deal with these crying problems of our country.

"Having said that, I will also say that while a party must be microcosm of a nation, you will have near saints, devils, rapists, armed robbers and a good party must have all this in them.

"But what matters is that when that party has to go into government, it must look for men and women of character. And we have them in all parties, we have them throughout the nooks and crannies of this country."

Earlier in his remarks, Buhari told the former president that the APC was interested in breaking the vicious circle of insecurity, economic downturn and corruption.

He said he would not run an inflexible government but would be dynamic in his disposition to governance.

The APC presidential candidate, who stated that he served the most lucrative appointment as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources, acknowledged the ex-president's contributions to national development.

Buhari stated that he had come to Obasanjo to convince him that the APC would do better if voted into power in the February 14 presidential election.

"We have been going around three fundamental issues: security, economy, corruption. This vicious circle is what the APC is determined to break. Because without security, there is no way the country can settle down not to talk of living in it. So many people, educated and uneducated, some said up to 60 CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

3

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Travel Advisory

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 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

Air France

Destination Abuja- Paris Paris-Lagos Paris-PHC PHC-Paris Paris –Abuja Lagos –Paris

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

Departure 23.55hrs 10.55hrs 11:00hrs 21:20hrs 11:00hrs 23:55hrs

Arrival 6:05hrs 17:15hrs 19:15hrs 6:05hrs 17:00hrs 6:20hrs

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed & Fri) W3 108 (Tues,Thurs & Fri) W3 103 W3 104 - (Tues, Wed &Thur) - (Tues, Wed &Thur) -

12:00hrs 21:30hrs 23:50hrs

18:30hrs 05:15hrs 05:30hrs

12:30hrs

16:00hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

New York-Lagos Lagos-Johannesburg Johannesburg-Lagos Lagos-Douala Douala-Lagos Lagos-Accra

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs -(Tue,Thur,Sat,Sun) 08:05hrs -(Mon,Wed,Fri) 13:35hrs 18:00hrs -(Daily) 17:00hrs 06:00hrs - (Wed,Fri,Sun) 08:00hrs 17:00hrs -(Wed,Fri,Sun) 08:00hrs -(Wed,Fri,Sun) 15:20hrs -(Wed,Fri,Sun) 21:00hrs -(Mon,Tue,Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, 01:00hrs Fri,Sat,Sun)

hrs 14:44hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

London-Lagos Lagos-London Abuja-London Abuja-London

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

17:55hrs 00:00hrs 09:00hrs 22:40hrs

11:55hrs 5:50hrs 14:35hrs 06:00hrs

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

MEA 571 MEA 572

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

Lagos-Dubai Lagos-Dubai Dubai-Lagos Dubai-Lagos Abuja-Dubai

EK 7821 (Sun-Sat) EK 7822 EK 7831 EK 7811 EK 761

21:30hrs 14:40hrs 07:35hrs 14:20hrs 23:55hrs

07:40hrs 01:05hrs 12:50hrs 19:45hrs 10:30hrs

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Accra-Lagos Abuja-Accra Accra-Abuja Lagos-Freetown Freetown-Lagos Lagos-Banjul Banjul-Lagos Lagos-Dakar Dakar-Lagos

BRITISH AIRWAYS

hrs

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday) to Lagos) EMIRATES AIRLINES

QATAR AIRWAYS DELTA AIRLINES

UNITED AIRLINES

ASKY AIRLINES

Destination Lome to Abuja Abuja-Lome- Kinshasa Kinshasa-Abuja Abuja-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Kinshasa Kinshasa-Libreville Libreville-Lagos Lagos-Lome Lome-Lagos Lagos-Libreville Libreville-Brazaville Brazaville-Libreville Brazzaville-Lagos Lagos-Lome

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri) KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Departure 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 8:20hrs 10:35hrs 13:00hr 14:40hrs 17:00hrs 7:15hrs 9:35hrs 11:55hrs 13:10hrs 14:50hrs 17:10hrs 07:00hrs 09:20hrs 11:40hrs

Arrival 15:55hrs 18:15hrs 10:00hrs 12:20hrs 14:00hrs 16:30hrs 18:45hrs 08:55hrs 11:25hrs 12:45hrs 14:10hrs 16:40hrs 18:50hrs 08:40hrs 11:10hrs 12:30hrs

Lagos to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Lagos Abuja to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Abuja Enugu to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Enugu Kano to Addis Ababa Addis Ababa to Kano

ET900 ET901 ET910 ET911 ET930 ET931 ET930 ET931

13:15hrs 09:00hrs 13:40hrs 09:40hrs 12:00hrs 09:20hrs 14:05hrs 09:20hrs

20:25hrs 12:15hr 20:10hrs 12:20hrs 20:50hrs 11:15hrs 20:50hrs 13:20hrs

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

05:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

Lagos-London London-Lagos

VS 652 VS 651

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

EY 0672 (Sunday) (Monday) (Saturday) EY 955

20.45hrs 09:50hrs 09.20 hrs 06:30hrs

07:00hrs 20:05hrs 20:10hrs 11:45hrs

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

KQ 533 KQ 534

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

Lagos-Kigali

AWB 201 11:15hrs (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 14:00hrs (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

16:45hrs

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

Lagos to Abidjan

HF 851 10:10hrs (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 19:20hrs (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

10:50hrs

IBERIA

air maroc

VIRGIN ATLANTIC ETIHAD AIRWAYS

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines Air Côte d'Ivoire

Abidjan to Lagos

17:30hrs

21.50hrs

ASKY Airlines international travel tips Earning Miles on ASKY Airlines ASKY is a Lome -Togo based airline that provides an extensive route network within West Africa. The airline provides excellent connections with Ethiopian Airlines flights serving cities in West Africa. Ethiopian Airlines and ASKY provide an end-toend service for frequent flyers enrolled in ShebaMiles. The airlines jointly provide full coverage of Africa providing full mile earning opportunity for a frequent flyer.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

5

Hoko Haram: We won't send troops to Nigeria –Britain lUN urges Nigeria to stop killings in North-East lCameroon kills 143 sect members

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

B

ritain yesterday ruled out sending troops to Nigeria to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.

The country, however, reiterated its commitment to help Nigeria fight terrorism.

The Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire, according to a report in the online edition of The Guardian of London, while responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons from the Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather, said the UK’s contribution to the

United Nations’ central emergency response fund and the European Commission’s humanitarian aid and civil protection programmes in 2014 was £1.7m, and that the Department for International Development’s budget for Nigeria was one of the biggest in the world, at about £250 million.

Teather had asked how the government was responding to the escalating security situation in Nigeria and the mass displacement of people in West Africa where nongovernment organisations were struggling to respond to the Ebola crisis.

“This weekend saw an inspiring and moving display of international solidarity in the wake of the Paris shootings,” she said, “but while we were watching the horror unfold in Paris, hundreds or possibly thousands of civilians were slaughtered by Boko Haram in northern Nigeria, with very little international attention.”

The debate followed reports that as many as 2,000 people were slaughtered by the Islamist group in Baga, Borno State last week. Witnesses have said the town, which had a population of around 10,000, was razed to the ground.

The Conservative MP John Redwood asked the minister to clarify why the west was right to try to use military force in Syria and Iraq, in rather similar situations, but not in Nigeria.

Swire said drawing such parallels was not useful. Nigeria was one of the richest countries in Africa, spending 20 per cent of its own budget on defence.

“In the normal course of events, it should be able to handle these things itself, but it cannot, and that is why we are providing assistance to enable it to do so,” Swire said.

The Labour MP David Winnick asked whether

L-R: United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Dauda Toure; Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina and UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Jean Gough, during a courtesy visit by Zerrougui to the minister in Abuja…yesterday.

there was any concern about whether the Nigerian authorities were up to dealing with the threat.

“Time and again, when the Nigerian president has been under a good deal of international pressure, and rightly so, his response has been such that one can conclude only that the commitment to fight the terrorism and atrocities in that country is not as it should be,” Winnick said.

Swire said that while the British government wished Nigeria’s institutions were stronger, “both the Nigerian government and the international community are absolutely certain that Boko Haram needs to be routed out, and quickly, before it does further damage within the country and to its vulnerable neighbours”.

Swire said the UK could not impose assistance if it had not been requested.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) yesterday called on Nigeria to restore law and order in the North-East and investigate "mass killings" of civilians blamed on Boko Haram insurgents.

UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva that this was necessary to resolve the conflict over the number of people killed in Baga, Borno State, where insurgents attacked troops from a multinational task force.

While the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Monday put the death toll at 150, other accounts said at least 2,000 people were killed.

The UN expressed concern about the "wildly dif-

Jonathan: APC represents darkness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

madu Buhari as a man who lacks the prerequisite education to pilot the affairs of Nigeria.

Jonathan said: ''Will you vote for tyrannical government and a man who does not believe in the ethics of democracy? Do you want to vote for a man who wants to scrap the office of the First Lady and relegate womanhood to the background?

"The coming election is that between light which the PDP represents and darkness which the opponent APC represents. I will want to advise that it would be a retrogression for Nigerians to leave the destiny of this nation in a man without adequate and sound education.”

He charged voters to vote for PDP in order to be freed from bondage.

The president said his administration would reduce the challenges of terrorism in the country if re-elected.

“This terrorism cannot last forever. If my administration is re-elected, terror will be minimal,” he stressed.

On unemployment, Jonathan said he would create two million jobs on a yearly basis if re-elected.

Jonathan, who said that 1.8 million youths entered into labour market on a yearly basis, said his administration would continue to tackle the issue of unemployment in the country.

The president then urged the people of the

state to vote for him during the February14 presidential election.

He said his administration’s transformation programme in the railway sector, agriculture, electricity among others, was enough to earn him a second term in office.

According to him, his administration will do more for the development of the country if re-elected.

Earlier, Vice-President Namadi Sambo had called for the support of the people during the election.

Sambo said the president’s transformation agenda in the area of electricity, education, agriculture among others, was enough for him to win the election.

In his remark, the national chairman of

the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu described the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun State as deceitful.

"It is unfortunate that the governor has not paid workers’ salaries for several months when Federal Government releases money to state as at when due," he said.

Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih charged the people of the state to vote for a lettered president.

He pointed out that "PDP stands for unity and progress while the opponent is for retrogression."

The campaign train of the president also berthed in Ekiti State where leaders of the PDP including President Jonathan, Gov-

ernors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti) and Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo) took Buhari on integrity test, challenging him to prove his academic qualifications as well as fairness when he was the country's leader.

They spoke at a rally held in Ado-Ekiti to canvass support for the reelection of the president.

President Jonathan, who recalled a song by Tony Wilson many decades ago portraying politicians as liars, said some people in the APC were out to deceive Nigerians, especially the younger generation not conversant with their antecedents.

"Our campaign is targeted at young people, especially those who are voting for the first time and are CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

fering" accounts.

The UN's plea came just as Cameroon yesterday announced that it had killed about 143 insurgents after they attacked a military camp in Kolofata.

The UN said irrespective of the number of people killed in Baga, mass killing and mass forced displacement took place in the town.

"While the exact details remain unclear, what appears fairly certain is that mass killings and mass forced displacement have occurred.

"We urge the government to act swiftly to restore law and order while ensuring that security operations are conducted in line with international law and full respect for human rights," Shamdasani said.

However, speaking on Cameroon’s clash with Boko Haram, the country's Information Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, said in the statement that the fight lasted five hours, in which a Cameroonian corporal was killed and four other soldiers were wounded, but gave no other details.

He added that the killing of the 143 Boko Haram fighters was the biggest defeat it had inflicted to date on the insurgents.

He said the battle ended after the army bombed the attackers, forcing them to retreat to the Nigerian border.

But the DHQ has described the allegation as a continuation of deliberate attempts by local and foreign sympathisers of Boko Haram to discredit the military's efforts to rout insurgency.

An editorial published on the online version of a Chadian newspaper, Al Wihda, alleged that corruption in the military hierarchy, coupled with alleged insider sabotage have been largely responsible for the perceived difficulty in winning the counter-terrorism war.

The report also accused the Cameroonian military of alleged corruption, which it claimed, is slowing both countries' efforts at ending the war.

But the DHQ rejected the report, saying it did not reflect the position of the Chadian government.

Reacting via a text message to New Telegraph's enquiry, the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said the report was a continuation of a wellorchestrated campaign by local and foreign collaborators of Boko Haram to run down the Nigerian military and portray it as inept and overwhelmed.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP leading us to doom, opposition candidate fires back CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

not conversant with the antecedents of these people. A number of people are out to deceive us and we are setting the records straight.

"We are not hypocrites and we are not going to deceive Nigerians. They believe in hounding people into prisons for no reason, we believe in using modern information technology to prevent crime and fight corruption," he said.

Fayose, who came brandishing all his certificates from primary to tertiary levels, said Buhari should prove that he is qualified to contest the presidency.

"We don't want an analogue president. These people are only good at criticising and nothing more. If their candidate is sure of himself, let him prove that he is qualified to contest," he said.

On this part, Mimiko opined: "Does Buhari have a secondary school leaving certificate? Buhari must be sure of his personal integrity. Did he swear to an affidavit that his certificate is with the military authorities?

"Ekiti and Ondo people are qualified to define who is a progressive. A progressive empowers the women and extends the frontiers of education, bridges the

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America was challenged, they turned to one great man, their ex-military general. When France was challenged, they turned to their general, Charles de Gaul. When Britain was challenged, they turned to their great general Winston Churchill.

"Today, we are being challenged, practically challenged, physically challenged, security challenged. Who do we turn to?

It is General Muhammadu Buhari. He is the one fit for the job.

"If you talk of military experience, he has got it in abundance. In terms of courage, he has it abundantly. You talk of simplicity, he has it abundantly.

If you talk of great determination in combination of vision and ability to perform, honesty and in-

tegrity, he has abundantly."

Tinubu declared that it was a shame for the PDP to question the educational qualifications of the APC presidential candidate.

"Shame on them. If they want to insult the military institution, they should change and turn to another talk," he added.

The former governor also cautioned Nigerians against falling for the promise of 10 million jobs

by Jonathan.

"Today, many of our youths are unemployed.

And only yesterday, the man promised 10 million jobs. Morning shows the day. He has spent six years and failed to create jobs for our youths, now that election is approaching, he now promised to create 10 million jobs. The person being deceived knows and

the deceiver also knows.

Their umbrella has been torn by their lies," he added.

In his address, Buhari pledged to explore the nonoil sectors to create wealth for the country, if elected next month.

The former Head of State observed that the undue overconcentration on oil sector and attendant mismanagement by successive governments plunged Nigeria into economic woes.

He said: "Our leaders have over-relied on oil money to the detriment of other sectors. Now that the price of oil has crashed, we are now facing serious economic challenges.

"Our extreme concern is the vicious cycle of insecurity, corruption and unemployment that is

confronting Nigeria now.

"We will engage in commercial agriculture and mining as well as resuscitate the abandoned agroallied industries so as to generate employment and create wealth for Nigerians."

Buhari decried the declining standard of education in the country and promised that the APC revive the education sector to ensure that Nigerian universities were accorded respect globally.

Earlier, Oyegun had commended the people of Ogun State for supporting the APC-led administration in the state.

The party's national chairman also handed over the APC flag to Governor Amosun and presented him to the people for re-election.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio (right), presenting a souvenir to the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, during a courtesy call on the governor in Uyo…yesterday

NCAA review airlines' licences Buhari didn't loot CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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IBADAN

gap between the rich and the poor and President Jonathan has done that."

While listing what he has done for Ekiti people, the President said the establishment of a federal university by his administration was not prompted by anybody, but that he felt it was the right thing to do.

He said the Presidential Job Board was creating two million jobs annually, adding that beneficiaries were expected to be employers of labour in the long run.

But former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said Buhari holds the key to unlocking the potential of Nigeria.

Tinubu spoke at the APC presidential campaign rally held at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.

At the event which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd, party chieftains, including Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; APC vice presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, took turns to rally support for Buhari's ambition.

Tinubu said the Jonathan administration had failed the country, stressing that the time was ripe for "common sense revolution" to send the president packing.

He also chided the PDP for allegedly politicising the issue of Buhari's certificates and educational qualifications.

According to Tinubu, the last six years of PDP rule had sunk Nigeria deeper into corruption.

He, therefore, urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and vote out the ruling party from power.

Tinubu said: "Today, we have to declare that every nation has a period of its own challenges. When

out certain corrective actions within one week from January 1 to 7, 2015 as raised in an earlier letter to the operator.

According to him, "Consequent upon the inability to address the issues raised, the authority in its January 8, 2015 letter to the operator declared that the Authority pursuant to Section 35[2] and [3][b] of the Civil Aviation Act 2006 and Part 1.1.3.3.3[a] [1] of the Nig. CARs 2009, hereby suspends the Air Operator's Certificate [AOC] of Discovery Airways Limited.

"The suspension took effect from January 8, 2015, the date of the letter conveying the notice.

This order would be in force pending the outcome of a comprehensive review of the Airlines operations to be carried out accordingly".

He said inasmuch as it is not the desire of NCAA to regulate any airline out of existence, the agency would view any violation of safety regulations seriously.

Meanwhile, aviation analyst, Olumide Ohunayo, has commended the committee set up by

the Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, to look at charges, fares and other factors militating against the development of the industry.

Ohunayo said the committee did a good job and brought to the fore some of the issues earlier raised by industry watchers.

“We once again progress in error and deceit.

These airlines in conjunction with their bankers will prefer to see the airlines limping than being taken to the theatre for surgical operations,” he said.

PTF, says Obasanjo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

per cent, will say Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder," he added.

The former Head of State observed that if the country could stop corruption, a lot of resources would be available to invest in infrastructure, agriculture and job creation.

"This is what we intend to do and this is contained in our manifesto. We are not going to be inflexible the way some people accused us of doing it. We are going to be dynamic as we go along and that's why I said we are here to

seek for your understanding and your support, in spite of the political card you hold," he said.

In attendance were the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Chief Bisi Akande, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Otunba Niyi Adebayo,Chief Audu Ogbeh, Chief Barnabas Gemade, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, among others.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

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NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigerian, Asian rice importers owe FG N36.56bn Bayo Akomolafe

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he Federal Government is battling to recover N36.56 billion from foreign and local rice importers, who failed to pay their duties and levies.

It was learnt that two Asian companies owe 28.399billion from the amount.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,(FMARD) in a release, mentioned the principal debtors as Popu-

lar Farm and Mills, Olam, Central Trading and Export as well as Conti-Agro African farms.

A data by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) revealed that Popular Farms and Mills, a subsidiary of Stallion Group and Olam, imported 390, 145.53 metric tons and 244,126.63 metric tons of rice respectively.

The ministry explained that Central and Trading and Export also shipped 47,138.70 metric tons and 41,120.69 metric

tons and Conti-Agro African Farms imported 10,026 metric tons as at December 3, 2014 at a preferential duty of 10 per cent and 20 per cent levy without waiting for the determination of supply gap by the interministerial committees or issuance of quotas.

The ministry noted that the importers went on to ship some rice without waiting for their quotas, saying they agreed to pay any duty and levy differential if

their eventual quota allocations turned out to be lower than what they had imported.

However, Customs data revealed that Popular Farm and Mills was owing government N19,379,949,580.03, Olam, N 9,029,472,953.08; Central Trade and Export, N5, 239,889,144 and N2,348,803,727.07 respectively while Cont-Agro African Farms owed 571,002,569.07.

Following an exercise conducted by FMARD

to allocate 1.3 million metric tons of rice quotas out of the 1.5 million metric tons national supply gap to deserving companies, it was learnt that Popular Farm and Mills was issued 89,939 metric tons from the quotas while Olam received 133, 963 metric tons at the same preferential levy .

Based on the allocation, Popular Farms and Mills exceeded its quotas by 300,204 metric tons and Olam by 110.163.63 metric tons.

L-R: Leader, National Malaria Elimination Programme, Mr. Ene Eyo; Plateau State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fom Dakwak and Permanent Secretary, Plateau State Ministry of Health, Dr. Elias Pede, at the inauguration of long lasting insecticidal treated net coordination committee network in Jos…yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

PDP accuses APC of insensitivity over Ombatse killings Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the claim by the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) that President Goodluck Jonathan is not serious about the welfare and security needs of the nation’s security agencies as unconscionable, insensitivity and crass opportunism.

The Director, Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement yesterday, said it shows how desperate the presidential candidate of APC, General Muhammadu Buhari could be in his quest to win the February presidential election.

“The crisis that led to the death of the security personnel (in Nasarawa State in 2013) in the first instance was as a result of in-fighting within the political echelons of Nasarawa State, which is controlled by the APC. “As is the case with the Boko Haram insurgency, after the APC has wilfully exacerbated a dangerous security situation through

its unguarded utterances, the party now turns around and tries to profit from further politicization of the fallout of a heinous deed in which it is complicit. ”This marks a desperate low for the APC and is tantamount to a new form of political voodoo, which involves trying to raise political capital and electoral sympathy from the deaths of our brave fallen security personnel. In view of this, we condemn in the strongest language the APC’s insensitivity and opportunism” the statement added.

It said the Federal Government had already established a mechanism to determine the immediate and remote causes of the unfortunate Ombatse killings, adding that though nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, families of the fallen security personnel have been compensated.

“Since there is still an ongoing process to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to book and forestall a recurrence, we will not join the APC in the distasteful exploitation of the deaths of our security personnel for political gains”, PDP concluded.

Emmanuel Onani Abuja

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is interrogating two serving Commissioners in Ebonyi State, as well as the state’s Accountant General, over allegations bordering on corruption and financial recklessness involving Local Government funds, New Telegraph has gathered authoritatively.

A highly-placed source at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, who spoke in confidence, named the government officials as: Mr. Timothy Ogbonnaya Odaa (Commissioner for Finance), Hon. Cele Nwali (Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy

FG targets 20, 000MW in 2020 Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

M

inister of Power, Prof.

Chinedu Nebo, yesterday stated that the target of Federal Government for power generation in 2020 is 20,000MW of electricity.

The Minister stated this in Abuja when a Chinese Consortium visited him to seek ways on how to build power training institute.

The electricity generation today is less than 5,000MW. Speaking before his guest, he expressed excitement over the Group’s capacity to participate in the entire value chain of electricity, as he tasked the consortium to help the nation develop its capacity as it strives to attain vision 20/20/20 target of 20,000MW in the next 5 years and 40,000MW afterwards.

In a statement from the Ministry’s Deputy Director (Press), Mr. Timothy Oyedeji, the Minister promised to link the group up with the sector’s training arm-National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN) for development of training modules either in Nigeria or to coordinate trainees to be sent to China for training.

EFCC quizzes Ebonyi commissioners, Accountant-General Matters), and Mr. Igbele E. N (Accountant General).

According to the source, the senior appointees of Governor Martin Elechi, arrived Abuja yesterday morning, and were immediately taken in for questioning on the matter.

They were still being quizzed as at the time of filing this report.

Specifically, the officials are being quizzed on an “Asphalt project” said to have been earmarked for the 13 local council headquarters.

It was further gathered that millions of naira was deducted at source from the councils’

account for the project.

A directive was said to have been given to the respective council chairmen, to erect “Asphalt complexes” in their headquarters.

Six of the councils were said to have complied, while seven did not.

Notwithstanding, funds were said to have been allegedly deducted from the six councils that complied and the seven that did not comply with the directive.

New Telegraph further learnt that one of the officials also gave approval for the deduction of N1 million from each of the councils, “ostensibly” for the production of Cente-

nary T-shirts in the state.

The source noted that there was no visible evidence to suggest that the Tshirts were produced, while the N13 million said to have accrued from the alleged deductions, is said not to have been accounted for.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Martins Elechi, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, confirmed last night that some officials of the state were invited by the EFCC. He said it was part of attempts by opponents of Elechi to humiliate him and force his supporters against pursuing their ambitions in either the PDP or on other platforms.

Destruction of oil pipelines injurious to economy, says NNPC Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its midstream subsidiary, the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company have stated that vandalism of oil pipeline is an economic injury to ev-

erybody, as they charged Nigerians to rise and fight against it.

The Corporation, in statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, argued that the economic effect of vandalism was greater than the gain.

Speaking in Lagos

over the weekend at the flag-off of a two-day Anti-Pipeline Vandalism Campaign in Idimu, Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos State, Alegbe, represented by the Manager, Public Affairs Department, PPMC, Mr. Nasir Imodagbe, said, apart from the huge sums of money that government loses in the form

of products losses and cost of pipeline repairs, the average citizen loses much when he has to spend endless hours on queues at filling stations and sometimes has to pay more to get products at the black market during products scarcity resulting from the breach of the pipelines by vandals and oil thieves.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Violence-free polls: APC calls for parley with PDP NO VIOLENCE

Party moves to check violence as election month approaches Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

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or a violence-free election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday again called for a meeting with the ruling Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the APC, the meeting of the leadership of the parties was to stem the rising cases of violence ahead of next month's polls.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, had suggested a meeting of the presidential candidates of the APC and PDP, where they should sign an undertaking for a violence-free election.

APC, in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,

stated that such a meeting of the leadership of the two parties will send a powerful message of zero tolerance to violence to the supporters of both parties and douse the tension that is building up ahead of the elections.

Mohammed said: “Following up on a meeting of representatives of both parties in Washington D.C., between April 7 and 8, 2014 under the auspices of the CSIS Nigeria Election Forum, at which it was agreed that a joint meeting of both parties be convened to discuss and

agree on the crucial issue of a Code of Conduct for the campaigns and the elections, we wrote a letter to the PDP suggesting a bipartisan meeting to address the issue. ''We have since been following up on the letter, the latest effort being on December 28, 2014, when we again called for the holding of the bipartisan meeting. Apart from its reply to our initial letter, the PDP has not responded to our peace overtures till date,” APC said.

The party said, however, that whether or not

the PDP signs on to such a meeting, the APC will continue to educate its members and supporters on the need to eschew all forms of violence before, during and after the election.

The party said: “It is common knowledge that our supporters were shot at while travelling to Port Harcourt for the inaugural presidential campaign on January 6, 2015. The police even prevented those of them that were hospitalized and treated for gunshot wounds from being discharged.

Revealed: 126 Reps won't return Wada threatens to sack lSix PDP senators, five lawmakers defect

Philip Nyam and Chukwu David ABUJA

S

peaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday lamented the high turnover of lawmakers in the National Assembly.

Tambuwal, who disclosed this in his address to welcome his colleagues from the Christmas and New Year break, said the next assembly of the House would be dominated

by new members.

New Telegraph investigation revealed that at least 126 members of the House will not feature at the February 14 elections following their loss at the primaries.

Also yesterday, five lawmakers dumped their parties for other parties following their inability to secure return tickets.

Tambuwal in his speech observed that "the return rate of many legislators after the party primaries was below expectation. The expertise of those who lost primaries

to re-contest the House will be greatly missed."

He also assured that crucial bills such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), the Electoral Act amendment bill would be accorded priority attention in the last months of the tenure of the House.

Meanwhile, the five defecting lawmakers include Hon. Eddie Mbadiwe (Imo) from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Hon. Ibrahim Ebbo (Niger) from PDP to APC.

appointees

Muhammad Bashir LOKOJA

G

overnor Idris Wada of Kogi State has said he will not hesitate to boot out any appointee, who works against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

He said any aggrieved member of the party should use the internal crisis resolution mechanism of the party instead of working against the party.

The governor stated this yesterday while addressing PDP stake holders at the Government House in Lokoja.

Wada equally urged stakeholders of the PDP to allow achievements and track record to influence their voting during February 14 presidential election and not to allow religion basis to force them into wrong choices.

He, however, stressed the need for all party members to work for the victory of PDP in all the elections.

NIGERIA VOTES 2015

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

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IA NIGER S VOTE 2015

NUJ holds debate for Lagos guber candidates Temitope Ogunbanke

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s part of its efforts to bring about good governance, excellence and accountability to bear on politicians, the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), will on January 28 and 29 hold a two-day live debate for all the gubernatorial candidates in the state ahead of the February 28 governorship polls.

Lagos NUJ, in a statement signed by its chairman, Mr. Deji Elumoye and Secretary, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, stated that the debate, tagged "Lagos Decides 2015" being put together in collaboration with Lagos Television (LTV) will be transmitted live on Wednesday, January 28 and Thursday, January 29 from 7pm to 9pm daily on Lagos Television and other friendly television and radio stations.

Jega: Funding no longer INEC's problem l Says elections will hold in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

I

Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and House Leader, Hon. Mulikat AdeolaAkande, proceeding into the chambers for the plenary session in Abuja…yesterday.

PHOTO:ELIJAHOLALUYI

Seadogs warn electorate against taking bribe Group calls for cancellation of Delta PDP primaries Clement James CALABAR.

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he National Association of Seadogs, Calabar Municipal chapter, has called on the electorate to shun acts capable of compromising their civic duty during the February elections.

The warning was given yesterday in Calabar at a one-day “Citizens Forum” organized by the association to educate voters on the importance of participating in the electoral process.

Speaking on the topic, “the importance of citizen participation in the electoral process and the use of the permanent voters’ card,” the guest speaker, Mr. Tony-Ray Ene, warned that any form of compromise could have grave impact on the future of the country.

Ene, a security expert, said; “In the context of election, a bribe would be a gift, kind or cash, offered to a voter or an electorate to persuade him or her to vote for the giver, who is seeking for an elective office.’’

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

W

ith barely a month to the conduct of the February general elections, the Concerned Anioma Patriotic Forum in Delta State yesterday staged a demonstration at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), demanding the cancellation of the party primaries conducted in the state last year.

The placard carrying protesters said they wanted a rerun of pri-

maries into the National Assembly in the state.

Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as: "We want a re-run of Delta NASS primaries"; "We want justice in Delta PDP", among others. The protesters blocked the entrance to the PDP National Secretariat.

The spokesman of the group, Patrick Amechi Okoh, alleged that the 2014 PDP primaries in Delta State "were done with insensitivity, lack of popular delegate vote, widespread manipulation and favouritism".

ndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has received all the funds required for next month's general elections.

Chairman of the commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, also said elections will hold in the three insurgency prone North East states.

Jega who addressed the press after the presentation of the voters' register to be used for the elections to registered political parties, however, refused to disclose the total amount voted for the elections. He said the figure has been posted to the INEC website.

Jega announced that a total of 68,833, 476 as number of voters in the INEC registered.

He explained that the release of the register is in line with the provisions of the law, which allowed for the publication of the list of voters, 30 days before the elections.

"Electoral framework requires 30 days to election. INEC will publish the register. The tradition was to make presentation to parties on the process

for the preparation of the register.

"In compliance with the requirement of the law, INEC has now formally signed off the register for the conduct of elections in 2015", Jega stated.

He said the list will be published in the commission's website while copies of the register, which are in hard driver could be collected by political parties from today.

According to the INEC chairman, the commission has so far distributed over 38 million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), but admitted that there were many PVCs yet to be collected.

"To address this challenge, we have directed RECs (Resident Electoral Commissioners) to further decentralise distribution to ward level.

We have also extended the time for distribution, which is now 8:30 a.m to 5:30 p.m Mondays to Saturdays", Jega stated, adding that the commission has taken delivery of additional PVCs from the contractors and expressed the hope that the outstanding cards will be distributed before January 28.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

10

Metro Robbers attack police Adeboye inaugurates UI Zoological Garden today

Kayode Olanrewaju

T

he General Overseer (GO), the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, will today inaugurate the upgraded Zoological Garden of the University of Ibadan (UI).

The institution’s Director of Public Communication, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, said in a statement that the zoo, which he described as “National treasure” was destroyed by the down pour of August 2013.

Oladejo recalled that Adeboye, on one of his visits to the university, had donated N5 million to actualise the dream of building an educational unit where children and adults will acquire more information about existing animals within an outside the zoo.

He added that on another visit, after the Director of the zoo, Dr Olajumoke Morenikeji, showed him the new architectural design for the entire zoo which includes building of modern cages, children zoo, upgrading of facilities, sit-outs, walkways, playgrounds and plans to acquire more animals, the GO donated another N20 million.

According to him, when Adeboye visited the institution one year later and was impressed with the level of development at the garden, he donated yet another N20 million to the zoo.

Oladejo listed other eminent individuals and corporate organisations who had contributed to the upgrading and development of the garden through donation of cash and animals to include the late Alhaji Arisekola Alao, who donated a male lion called Arnold; Mr. Tony Daaboul donated another lion (Rocky); Alhaji Boladale Idowu donated a dwarf crocodile; while Mr. Kodi Ogbona donated a big baboon; ACP Egbeyemi gave two Patas monkeys and Mr. Adeniyi Oladeinde (Ladsom) donated 10 desktop computers for the new zoo library, among others.

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Babatope Okeowo Akure

D

aredevil armed robbers went on the rampage yesterday in Ikare-Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The robbers, who launched a vicious attack on a police station and a first generation bank, killed 15 people, among them four policemen.

In a well-planned operation, the robbers had divided themselves into two groups. While one group blocked the police station on Owo Road, the other attacked the bank on Jubilee Road.

The policemen were killed at their station while trying to mobilise to confront the robbers.

Other victims, including a Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ileola Gold, were killed at the scene of the operation.

Some of the victims are students of Lennon Jubilee, Ikare, who were just closing from the school.

Most of the victims, a source said, were killed while trying to cash money from ATM machines.

Others, it was learnt, were killed on the bank premises.

This is the second time within a year that robbers had raided branches of the same bank in the town.

In the first operation last year, the robbers blew up the bank with dynamite. Thereafter, banks in the town closed shops for days in

station, bank, kill 15

File pictures of banks attacked by robbers

order to guarantee their safety.

In yesterday’s attack, a resident said one group of the robbers signalled the other to begin operation.

He said: “As one of the groups was attacking the bank with dynamite, the other was engaging the policemen who were on duty to prevent them from mobilising

to the scene of crime.”

The attacks, the resident, who refused to give his name, said went on simultaneously.

The armed robbers, who dressed in mobile police uniform, came with two military vehicles around 3pm, ransacked the bank and made away with cash.

The witness said after a suc-

cessful operation that lasted over an hour, the robbers escaped through Edo Road. According to him, they snatched a vehicle on the road and killed the driver.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Wole Ogodo, said he had not been briefed about the attacks at press time.

Prostitute dies, organs missing after corporal’s threat Juliana Francis

A

policeman, identified as Corporal Ahonsi Mathew, is now in trouble for allegedly threatening to deal with a suspected prostitute.

The deceased, Joy Okoye, was said to have been found dead, with her vital organs cut off, a day after Mathew issued the alleged threat.

The corporal is attached to Iponri Police Station. He has been invited for questioning over the death of the prostitute by the Lagos State Police Command.

According to a police source, Mathew went to visit his lover, who is a prostitute at a brothel at Adeniji, Lagos.

The source said that Mathew, who has a wife and children, was on duty on the day he received a

distress call from his lover, who is also a prostitute at the same brothel with Okoye, that the deceased was fighting her.

Withoutthinkingtwice,Mathew left his duty post and dashed to Adeniji to confront Okoye.

When he got there, he allegedly threatened to deal with Okoye.

He, however, allegedly left without laying a finger on her.

But the following day,

other prostitutes discovered Okoye’s body with some vital organs removed. The prostitutes fingered Mathew.

The policeman denied knowing anything about Okoye’s death. But he was arrested and detained.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the story.

Ekweremadu fights malaria with N16m drugs’ donation

A

Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Ikeoha Foundation, yesterday presented 20,000 doses of free anti-malaria drugs to the people of Enugu West Senatorial District as part of efforts to fight malaria scourge in Enugu State.

The drugs, Artecxin Child, an Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT), for combating malaria in children valued at over N16 million were donated by the foundation, founded by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in partnership with the Afrique Biotech West Africa Limited.

Executive Director of Ikeoha Foundation, Mrs Cindy Ezeugwu, presented the drugs to the Malaria Focal Persons of the state Ministry of Health for distribution to the targeted persons in the various local government areas in Enugu West.

She said that 146 primary health facilities in the senatorial districts would be involved in dispensing the drugs under the existing Malaria Commodity Logistics System of the state.

Ezeugwu said the gesture was part of the determination of Ekweremadu to boost healthcare delivery and enhance the wellbe-

ing of his constituents.

She said: “Estimates by the National Malaria Control Programme indicate that malaria scourge accounts for 60 per cent outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 per cent childhood death, 25 per cent death in children under one year and 11 per cent maternal death.

“Based on these findings, and the urgent need for intervention, Ikeoha Foundation, in partnership with Afrique Biotech West Africa Limited, rose to the occasion by providing the anti-malaria drugs worth over N16 million.”

Ekweremadu

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

‘I wanted to use human skull for ritual’ Juliana Francis

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any people usually engage in money making rituals to become instant millionaires. But a suspect caught with a human skull told police detectives that he only wanted to make just N500,000 to buy a tricycle.

Rasheed Alabi, 38, was arrested at Igbokira, Ogun State in possession of a fresh human skull by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Lagos State, led

by Mr Abba Kyari.

He was arrested after a good citizen alerted the police about his search for a herbalist to help him with his quest to do money ritual.

The suspect, a father of three, claimed that the head recovered from him belonged to someone he used to know.

He denied killing the person, saying that he only took his head from a grave.

The farmer explained that if he had succeeded in the ritual, he would have become a tricycle owner.

He said: “I knew the owner of the head very well. He was a Hausa man and a businessman. He was buried in my younger brother’s farm. He used to buy and sell motorcycles. After his burial, I asked my brother, Muiz, if I could remove the head and sell it.

“I had never done this sort of thing before. The truth is that I wanted to use the head for money ritual. I could not find anyone to help me use the head for money ritual. I was expecting to get about N500,000 from the ritual and buy a tricycle.”

Alabi denied that any herbalist told him to use the head for

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

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Alabi with the skull

money ritual, saying that it was his ‘spirit’ that told him to dig out the head and attempt money ritual. He said: “Now that I

have failed, I have accepted my fate. Anything that happens to me now, I will accept. I have no hands in his death.”

FRSC prosecutes 100 traffic offenders Camillus Nnaji

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bout 100 traffic offenders were arraigned before a mobile court at Abigi Iwopin in Ogun State during the just ended ‘Operation Zero-Tolerance’ to traffic offences in the state.

The Commander, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mowe, Assistant Corps Commander Oludare Ogunjobi, disclosed this in an interview with our correspon-

dent yesterday.

Ogunjobi said ‘Operation Zero-Tolerance’ was carried out simultaneously across all the units of the FRSC from December 19, 2014 to January 12, 2015.

He added that the exercise was designed to ensure free flow of traffic and zero road crashes despite the high number of vehicles on the roads.

During the exercise, according to him, some traffic violators were apprehended and prosecuted at the mobile court.

He said: “We had a directive from the FRSC headquarters in Abuja to organise this exercise during the Yuletide which ended yesterday (Monday).

“We apprehended traffic violators like speed limit violation, dangerous driving, lane indiscipline, road obstructions, seat belt violation, use of phones while driving and trye violation. In all, about 100 of them were prosecuted at a mobile court and were fined for various of-

fences listed.”

The exercise, according to Ogunjobi, was a great success besides the arrests.

He added: “We recorded major success during the operation because no major crashes were recorded. Despite the very busy traffic situation, we were in control of every movement. Our team patrolled day and night.

I think we have to consolidate on the gains of this operation for continuity.”

We’ll help you, Fashola tells Balogun fire victims Muritala Ayinla

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over nor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State yesterday told traders who lost their shops and wares to Monday’s fire incident at the Balogun Market that his administration would do everything to assist them.

Speaking when he made an on-the-spot assessment to the market, Fashola blamed the incident on inadequate safety consciousness on the part of the traders.

He said government would take account of the property lost to the fire and assist the affected traders and property owners.

The governor described the incident as pathetic and promised that government would replace buildings and structures lost to the inferno.

Fashola appealed to the traders to insure their businesses, saying that was the only way to do business in modern age since disasters were sometimes inevitable.

He said: “I sympathise with you on this incident, especially you women trying to earn a living and keep body and soul together. This is indeed a very pathetic incident. Be assured that our government will stand with you at this difficult period and we will help you get back on your business and that is the reason I have come with the commissioner

Fashola flanked by Oke-Osanyintolu (left) and Fadipe during his visit to the razed market.

for Special Duties.”

Urging traders to get involved in the insurance package for their businesses in case of disasters like fire, the governor said the premium for such package was not too much for some of them to operate.

He added: “I’m working with the Iya Oloja and other market women to authenticate and verify all legitimate

FG needs to reform prison system, says cleric

losses to the incident and this will apply to all affected in all the plazas.”

Earlier while briefing the governor on the incident, the Director of the Lagos State Fire service, Mr Rasaq Fadipe, and the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the cause of the fire had not

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

been ascertained but said they suspected an electrical fault.

Fadipe said it was challenging putting the fire under control as there were too many illegal structures at the market which limited access of equipment and men to the scene.

About four multi-storey plazas, 150 shops and goods worth millions of naira were destroyed by the inferno.

he nation’s prison system needs to be restructured so that inmates can acquire skills that will make them relevant and economically independent after serving their jail terms.

The founder and General Overseer, Holy Trinity Authority Prophetic Church International, Prophet James Omitade, said this in Ado-Ekiti yesterday while donating 50 mattresses, 3.5kva generator and other materials to AdoEkiti Prisons.

The donation was part of the church’s social responsibility.

The cleric said that there was need for the nation’s prisons to be reformed in a manner that would give inmates the necessary facilities to be able to get maximum rehabilitation for them to be useful to the society after being released.

Omitade said it would do the country no good for inmates to get more hardened after jail term owing to harsh conditions of the prisons, adding that it could be catastrophic for the nation.

He said: “We have to remember that some of them are there by circumstances beyond their control. Some were not even guilty of the offences they were charged for, yet they were convicted. So, we need to give them support and show them love.

“The essence of imprisonment is for them to be reformed or get rehabilitated. I appeal to the Federal Government to provide more facilities to give them minimum comfort and skills that would make them useful to the society.

“Some of them have unique skills and abilities that needed to be tapped. Skill acquisition is very necessary for them not to be miscreants that would pose threat to the populace after being released.”

The cleric said the donation, made under “Live for Others for Them to Live Forever,” was intended to show them love and identify with them during this trying period.

Receiving the materials on behalf of the State Comptroller, the Prison’s Chaplain, Mr Ademola Adeniyi, charged individuals and corporate organisations, including faithbased bodies, to emulate the gesture.

Adeniyi described the effort as a way of helping the Federal Government in blocking some loopholes in the system to fast track economic development in the country.

He thanked Omitade for his stride in making lives comfortable for the inmates, saying the gesture would help in concretising the tie between private bodies and the government in solving the country’s societal problems.

12

News

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH - WEST

Ondo: Agagu, others dump PDP for APC DEFECTION

Gov. Segun Mimiko's return to the PDP is blessed with uncertainty

Babatope Okeowo AKURE

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gale of defection hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, as former political appointees, serving lawmakers, as well as retired top civil servants dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday.

Leading the pack was the ex-Chief of Staff to former governor of the state, Mr Femi Agagu, immediate past minister; representing Ondo, Ekiti and Edo at Federal Civil Service Commission, Hon. Victor Olabimtan; former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Taofiq Olawale Abdusalam and Eni Akinsule representing Owo/ Ose federal constituency and Niran-Sule Akinsuyi.

Others, included; Dr Banji Ajaka, Otunba Rasak Isijola, Kunle Adebayo, Dr Adeluse Obe, Tolu Fadahunsi, Ife Iji, Ola Ilesanmi, Jones Akinyugha, Jide Ipinsagba, Tola Wewe, Abiodun Jerome, Segun Adagunodo, Laitan Ayeni, Mrs Bukola

Tenabe and Akin Aibinuomo.

In all, 48 top PDP members and their supporters dumped the party for the rival APC, in a move that may alter the political calculation in the state.

Agagu, who is the younger brother to the late former Governor Olusegun, said they took the decision in the interest of the people of the state and Nigeria at large.

He said, "We have resolved to embrace change which the APC repre-

OSOGBO

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he Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday derided the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration over what it termed its lack of political knowledge of the country, saying the government could not draw a line between politics and governance of the nation.

The party in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, said, " His statutory responsibility to the states, including Osun State, had practically nothing to do with the politics of this presidential election”.

"Owing to Osun voters rejection of his bid for the presidency in 2011, President Jonathan by-passed the state purposely in the establishment of any Federal Government presence (in terms of development projects)."

To aggravate the pain of this unwholesome at-

ture of our dear state and country.

"Today is indeed a watershed in the political history of Ondo State. Never before have so many notable people chosen to desert a political party at the same time like this.

"There are several reasons for our decision but most important is the obvious fact that Nigeria needs change and Ondo state, a new direction. We need Change, which is the burden of good, honest,

diligent, prepared, tested and competent leadership.

The state Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke and Southwest Vice Chairman of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure, said the movement of the people showed that the party would win the forthcoming election in the state.

They advised the new members to work with the old members in order to actualise the dream of delivering the state to APC.

Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje and others, during his visit to the burnt Balogun Market…yesterday. PHOTOS:TONYEGUAYE

APC chides Sambo, Muazu over outburst on allocation Adeolu Adeyemo

sents and drum support for the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Professor Yemi Osinbajo as well as all the candidates of the party.

"We took this decision after lengthy sessions of consultation with friends, political associates as well as supporters in all the 203 wards of the state.

We have also received the confidence of distinguished elder statesmen, non-political young and elderly citizens who are concerned about the fu-

titude towards the state,” the APC contended “the President was here in Osogbo shortly before the August 9 governorship election to boast to the people, that if they wanted federal presence and development they should vote for the PDP.” "About three months to the election, Abuja had initiated a sinister reduction in the state’s federal allocation targeted at stretching the state government's ability to pay workers’ salaries.

PDP, in spite of that, lost the election.

And since then, the vindictiveness of President Goodluck Jonathan has escalated; punishing the state with inexplicable reduction of federal allocations that has brought the State of Osun to the very last position in the list-as at the last allocation."

"The result of this unpresidential and vengeful behavior has reduced federal allocation to Osun by about 50per cent since August last year," Oyatomi added.

Fashola to Jonathan: You, not my generation, failed Nigeria Muritala Ayinla

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agos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, yesterday bemoaned President Goodluck Jonathan over what he termed 'failed promises', accusing him of whipping up sentiments to win election for the second term.

Fashola also urged Jonathan to accept responsibility over his failure to address the challenges confronting the nation rather than point fingers to past leaders and his generation.

The governor, who

spoke at a town hall meeting of stakeholders in the transportation sector in the state, said Jonathan deceived Nigerians by clamouring that the he once had no shoe to win election in 2011, saying the latest allegation that MEND wanted to kill him was not enough to cajole Nigerians in 2015.

Fashola said it was shameful that a Nigerian President could be telling the whole world that a terrorist group wanted to kill him, saying the president would have revealed the plan to assas-

sinate him earlier and taken proper and prompt action, if it was true.

Speaking while presenting All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to thousands of transport stakeholders across the state, Fashola, who said all Nigerians could attest to the fact that late President Umar Musa Yar'Adua's administration was far better than President Jonathan's administration, said Nigerians would no longer be cajoled by any sentiment.

Oyo procures more bulldozers

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Tuesday inaugurated 99 earth moving equipment, including bulldozers, graders and low beds to all the 33 local government councils in the state to facilitate accessibility to rural areas.

While inaugurating the equipment at the Governor’s Office Car Park, the governor said that the move was aimed at promoting rural inte-

gration and development as well as ending the regime of waste of farm produce.

Ajimobi explained that the equipment would enhance movement of farm produce from the hinterland to urban centres, stressing that farm produce were hitherto destroyed due to lack of accessible roads to farmlands.

He disclosed that the procurement of the grad-

ers and bulldozers would improve road rehabilitation, especially in the rural areas at cheaper costs.

In his remarks, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ibadan North-West Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun, said that the state under the administration of Governor Ajimobi was the first to achieve such a feat in the history of the state.

NANS calls for end to Ekiti Poly strike Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ekiti chapter, has called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on members of all trade unions in the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti to call off their strike in the interest of Nigerian students.

The association noted that it could no longer continue to tolerate the protracted strike which has perpetually made students irrelevant and idle due to the trade unions' selfish interests.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Comrade Adetunji Bankole, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the association urged the striking lecturers and other non-teaching staff to call off their strike.

Adetunji said it had become imperative for the students to call on all local trade unions to reconsider their present adamant stand on the continue closure of the institution.

"Our recent investigation at the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, National Board for Technical Education, Kaduna and about eight different polytechnics in Nigeria showed that the stoppage of CONTISS 15 the striking trade unions are fighting for was a directive from the Federal Government and not a decision of the school Rector, Dr Mrs Taiwo Akande.

"We have spoken to student leaders of different polytechnics and have realised that no polytechnic in Nigeria is still paying CONTISS 15, then why should the striking staff waste students' time and resources? Why can't they face the Federal Government and stop tarnishing the image of the Rector," he said.

The association also dismissed the call for the removal of the Rector from office, saying it was ill-motivated and giving a dog a bad name in other to hang it.

"We are also advising all those clamouring for the resignation of the Rector to kindly desist from such call and stop the polarization of the institution on ethnics lines as the institution is a federal one, as we are talking, there are so many federal institutions in other states that have Ekiti indigenes as their heads, so what are the trade unions talking about?", Adetunji said.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

General election

Parliament

Ekiti crisis

Certificate scandal

Reps direct INEC to allow voters without PVCs to vote

Pressing issues as Reps reconvene

Mediation gone sour

Fani-Kayode: Buhari is not qualified to run

14, 15

16

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Politics The planned adoption of President Goodluck Jonathan as presidential candidate of South-East in the February 14 poll is tearing Ndigbo apart, writes UWAKWE ABUGU

Jonathan’s adoption tears Ohanaeze apart

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oves by associates of President Goodluck Jonathan in the SouthEast to get Ndigbo to adopt him as their candidate in the February 14 presidential election are raising dust among political leaders in the area such that it could now be seen that they are already turn apart by the development.

Jonathan, who is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had won a landslide victory in the zone in the 2011 election. However, the current situation in which some of the Igbo leaders who could make a repeat of that feat possible are at one another’s throat is a major concern to the President who needs an Igbo bloc vote to effectively grapple with the formidable challenge of the opposition All Progressives Congress(APC).

Arrayed in this battle, either for or against the endorsement of Jonathan, are protagonists and a growing army of antagonists.

And the tempo of the controversy is now increasing by the day with each side getting desperate to push through their agenda. This renewed tempo of their parallel, divergent strategies have come to the fore in the past week. And on the part of the current leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, its secretary general, Dr. Joe Nwaorgu, has given a two-week time frame within which the apex body would announce a presidential candidate it would adopt for the Igbo nation. Yet, its president-general, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph frowned at news reports which announced that Imeobi Ohanaeze, the organisation’s

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Jonathan

highest decision-making body, penultimate weekend shut down a move for the endorsement of Jonathan as made by businessman and politician, Chief Emmanuel Anyanwu. Enwo-Igariwey said the endorsement of a presidential candidate by Ohanaeze will be tabled appropriately before it within a short time.

But other vocal Igbo leaders, namely, Chief Dozie Ikedife who is a onetime president-general of Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation, Chief Chekwas Okorie who founded the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and is now founder and presidential candidate of the United Progressive Party (UPP) as well as elder stateswoman, leader of the Igbo Women Assembly who is also spokesperson for a coalition of six different Igbo groups, Chief (Mrs). Maria Okwor, have also risen to the occasion in the battle that has rolled off the ground.

Though their views are as divergent as their number increases, it is clear that it can no longer be a smooth sail for the PDP presidential candidate. Not left out in the growing opposition from the South-East to the endorsement of Jonathan for the 2015 presidential poll is the deputy secretary of the Prof. Ben Nwabueze-led Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT), Evangelist Eliot

Igariwey

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Why this desperation?

We can’t give Jonathan endorsement without a negotiated memorandum of understanding (MOU) because he keeps failing us in his verbal promises

Ikedife

Uko, who is also the founder of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM).

Yet, a chieftain of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Osita Okechukwu, who is also the spokesman of the APC in the South-East was quite categorical in his rejection of the move to feather Mr. President’s nest through the zone’s adoption of the PDP candidate.

No controversy, says Ohanaeze leader In spite of the furore and angst arising from the attempts to get Ohanaeze to adopt the president for the February 14 election, the president-general of the organization maintained that there was no controversy on the matter.

He said what was reported about the endorsement move being shut down was “negative reporting” and not what exactly happened. “We didn’t even discuss endorsement and it was not on our agenda. It was Iwauanyanwu who brought up the matter but I told him it was not on our agenda,” he stated.

But he informed that the agenda would surely come up shortly.

“We are going to meet with the appropriate agenda and very shortly.

The last meeting was not the right forum for that and when the time comes and I am holding the forte in Ohanaeze with an appropri-

ate agenda, nobody dares shut it down.”

Asked whether Jonathan would be endorsed when the matter comes up when the Imeobi Ohanaeze meets next, EnwoIgariwey said: “I am not saying it would be automatically because it is not going to be my personal decision. It will be our decision at the Imeobi.”

However, the Ohanaeze scribe told journalists while denying the report of the rejection of endorsement of the president that “we are already concluding with consultations. We will soon meet with the traditional council of Ndieze after which we will make a statement on behalf of Ndigbo. We already know the trend and probably in the next two weeks, Nigerians would know where Ndigbo stand on presidency.

“They are saying we should not take a stand; that Ohanaeze is non-partisan but I would say that Ohanaeze is non-partisan if the Igbo on their own are involved.”

He maintained that once it is political matters within the larger Nigerian federation, the organisation would take decision on behalf of the people of the zone.

Igbo leaders disagree Speaking with New Telegraph, CONTINUED ON PAGE 43

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Politics

Philip Nyam Abuja

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he House of Representatives yesterday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make provision in its election guidelines for all registered voters with either temporary voters’ cards (TVCs) or the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to cast their votes in the February polls.

Similarly, the House also resolved to probe the allegation by the Department of State Security (DSS) of the foiled plot by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to hack into the database of the INEC. The House took the decision following the unanimous adoption of a motion by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos), under matters of urgent national importance praying the House

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Reps direct INEC to allow voters without PVCs to vote lProbe alleged hacking into INEC database to direct INEC to include in its election guidelines those with TVCs as being eligible to vote.

While presenting the motion, Gbajabiamila submitted that it was becoming worrisome to every discerning Nigerian that some electorate may be disenfranchised in the February 14 and 28 general election unless the House wades into the issue of Nigerians yet to get their PVCs. He said: “INEC has been and is still issuing Permanent Voters’ Cards to eligible voters in replacement of the Temporary Voters’ Cards

issued to Nigerians about four years ago.

“The general election being just four weeks or 31 days from now, it is very unlikely that the commission will be able to distribute the Permanent Voters’ Cards to all registered and eligible voters before the elections.”

Gbajabiamila said he was “disturbed that if the current position of the commission (that

only voters with the permanent voters’ cards are qualified to vote) is not addressed, many registered and eligible voters will be disenfranchised in the general election to the detriment of the growth of democracy in Nigeria.”

He therefore appealed to the House to impress on INEC, to “include in its election guidelines for the 2015 general election provision(s) al-

lowing registered voters with the temporary voters card whose names are on record to vote during the 2015 general election.”

Meanwhile, the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by the Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor led to the decision to set up a ‘high powered committee’ to probe the matter of an alleged plot to hack into the INEC’s database.

In his lead debate, Ogor expressed dismay “that the allegations coming on the heels of an election period should not be treated with levity.”

He described the allegation by the DSS as “very serious,” observing that “the INEC data base may contain highly sensitive data. If compromised could cast heinous aspersions on the integrity of the forthcoming elections.”

Police bans street rallies, processions in Niger Dan Atori Minna

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n a bid to ensure a hitchfree elections in Niger State, the Police Command yesterday banned all forms of street rallies and processions by political parties in the state.

The state Commissioner of Police, Olusola Amore, stated this in an interactive session with gubernatorial candidates of political parties in the state.

He disclosed that this will check the use of street urchins also known as “Yandaba” boys notorious for the deployment of dangerous weapons in street fighting in parts of the state including Minna, the state capital.

He explained that the ban on street rallies by the parties and their candidates has become imperative to forestall outbreak of any sort of violence among supporters of the contestants.

According to him, “all rallies must be held in a specified venue so that the police can provide adequate security before and after such gathering.

“We will not tolerate a situation whereby party supporters will clash in the streets to trigger violence.

“Political parties must obtain permit for rallies in identified venues for adequate protection by security agencies. We will occupy rally venues without permit,” he said.

Amore said that the police will be impartial in the conduct of the gen-

eral election.

His words: “I want politicians to play according to the rules in ensuring peaceful elections.

“The law prohibits the use of inflammatory language and provocative actions or manifestation that can incite violence against another party or candidate. “Similarly, political parties and their candidates should say no to thuggery and we should have in our minds that the law equally prohibits use of private security organisations, vanguards or any other groups for the purpose of providing security during campaigns, rallies, processions or elections.”

He expressed concern over the activities of street urchins and hoodlums known as “Yandaba” which, he said, have armed themselves with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons causing mayhem in Minna and other parts of the state.

He, however, urged candidates to advise their supporters not to come to venue of rallies or polling units with cutlasses or other dangerous weapons, adding that the police will arrest and prosecute anyone caught with weapons near political rallies.

The chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrin Imam and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Musa Maali, commended the efforts of the police command in ensuring peace in the state.

Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (right) and APC Lagos East senatorial candidate, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, acknowledging cheers from supporters at a political rally organised for the physically-challenged in Lagos, recently.

PDP plans to rig elections, says El-Rufai Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

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he guber natorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Nasiru El Rufai, has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State of plotting to rig the February elections.

El Rufai, who made this allegation at the flag off of his campaign yesterday, also advised APC members to resist the temptation of playing into PDP’s game plan.

He also enjoined APC members not to insult or fight any opponent in the course of the campaign, advising them to stick to what

the party’s presidential candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, has been preaching.

According to him, “abusing anyone or fighting opponents is not in our character. We should just endeavour to cast our votes, protect and escort them and make sure that they are counted correctly.”

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) promised that APC will form the government at both the centre and in Kaduna State “so that those of them from Zaria will pack out of Government House and return home while those that are from Auchi will go back there.”

El Rufai promised to improve the education and

health sector of Kaduna State, including its infrastructure, adding that “we will not take the money of Kaduna State and give a godfather in Abuja or build houses for our parents.”

Earlier, the Deputy National Chairman of APC, Senator Lawal Shuabu, noted that Kaduna is lucky to have someone like El Rufai.

He said that the APC gubernatorial candidate will transform Kaduna like he transformed Abuja.

Shuaibu, who represented the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, pointed out that PDP presidential campaign has not come to Kaduna in spite of the fact that Vice-President Namadi Sambo is from the state, because they are ashamed of their record.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State who described himself as a Kaduna state indigene, advised the people to vote El Rufai because he will bring development to the state.

Oshiomhole, who spoke in both Hausa and English, lamented that textiles and other industries have closed shop in Kaduna state.

UPN reiterates support for Jonathan, disowns ex-scribe Wale Elegbede

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he Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has reiterated its support for the re-election bid of President Goodluck

Jonathan on February 14.

The party also distanced itself from its former national secretary, Alhaji Sokoto Abubakar, who denied

the adoption of Jonathan as candidate by the party at its recent National Convention held in Lagos.

UPN in a statement yesterday by the dep-

uty national publicity secretary of the party, Adeoye Jolaosho, said Abubakar no longer had the power to represent CONTINUED ON PAGE 42

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

15

Buhari spent more on military equiment than Jonathan – Campaign organisation Felix Nwaneri

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he Buhari Campaign Organisation, yesterday said a comparative study of spending by past governments on military hardware shows that the General Muhammadu Buhari administration spent more on defence budget than the Yar’adua/Jonathan administration.

The organisation was reacting to a statement credited to President Goodluck Jonathan during his campaign in Lagos that the Buhari regime did not equip the military.

In a statement signed by its Director, Strategic Communications, Mr. Dele Alake, the organisation said a report published in the Journal of African Macroeconomic Review, Volume 2 Number 1, titled “Comparative Regime Analysis of the Trend and Structure of Military Expenditure in Nigeria, 1980-2010” revealed that while the Buhari/Idiagbon spent 38.68 of total allocation to the military on capital items such as military hardware between January 1984 and August 1985 when it was overthrown, the Yar’adua/Jonathan administration spent 34.67 percent of military budget between May 2007 and May 2010.

According to the statement, the authors of the report; Anyawu Sarah, Egwaikhide Chris and Aiyedogbon John Olu Coris observed as follows: “Buhari/Idiagbon in 1984 also allocated 38.68 percent and 61.32 percent for capital milex and recurrent respectively. They spent approximately 16 months. The Ibrahim Babangida regime (19851993) spent 19.58 percent

on capital milex and 80.42 on recurrent milex. Abacha/Shonekan/Abdulsalam (1993-1999) regime expended 24.10 percent on capital milex and 75.9 percent on recurrent milex.

It added: “The civilian administration of Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007) for a period of eight years, spent 17.44 percent of her total milex on capital milex and 82.56 percent on recurrent milex. Yar’adua/ Jonathan (2008-2010) had so far spent 34.67 percent on capital milex and 65.33 percent on recurrent.”

The Buhari Campaign Organisation further claimed that other studies show that since Jonathan took over the reins of leadership, the capital budget for military hardware has been decreasing while recurrent has been increasing.

The statement further quoted the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and now governorship candidate for Kaduna State, Mallam Nassir El-Rufai, who analysed the 2012 defence spending as saying: “When one carefully peruses the capital budgets of the DHQ (Defence Headquarters) and Army, most of the capital spending is going towards buildings, some ammunition and vehicle spares.

“This year, we are not buying any equipment for the armoured, artillery and other mechanisation needs of the Army – at least not anywhere in the Budget. The Navy and Air Force are slightly better.

The Navy is buying two (yes only two) offshore patrol vessels and six coastal patrol boats and some spares. The Air Force intends to acquire 12 Augusta 109 helicopters, some uniforms, the reactivation of C-130, G222, Alpha Jets and

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

maintenance, and some buildings. No new fighter jets this year!”

It added that the situation is worse in the re-

cently signed Budget 2014 which allocates 90 percent of military expenditure to salaries and other recurrent needs while a meager 10 percent went to military hardware.

It said: “Nigerian academics based in the U.S put total 2014 defence budget at $5.86 billion dollars out of which total capital budget is 589.2 million dollars (approximately 10 percent at 160 Naira to Dollar). The allocation to various arms is as follows: Army- $4.36m; Nigerian Security Ad-

L-R: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega; INEC Commissioners, Dr. Abudulkadir Oniyangi and Dr. Chris Iyimoga, during a meeting with all political parties and official publication of voters register for the February election in Abuja..yesterday.

PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

South-East APC, PDP bicker over Jonathan, 2015 Uwakwe Abugu

T

he South East zonal leadership of the two main political partiesthe All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday engaged in a war of words over the superiority or otherwise of each of the parties in

the zone.

This followed the recent declaration by former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, that President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP may not secure bloc votes from the zone in this year’s election contrary to what obtained in 2015.

The spokesman for the opposition, APC in the zone,

Chief Osita Okechukwu, who spoke to journalists in Enugu yesterday, attacked the Governors’ Forum in the zone over its recent claim that Ekwueme had lost touch with realities by engaging in his recent comments. But the PDP National Vice Chairman (SouthEast), Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), maintained that his party is ready to deliver 100

per cent support of the zone to Jonathan and other candidates, who are its standard bearers.

Okechukwu said the former Vice President was right in his views and that despite the huge support the people of the zone had given the ruling party in the past 16 years, it had nothing tangible to show for it in real terms.

Alleged polls postponement diversionary – PDP Onyekachi Eze Abuja

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday, said that the allegation by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that it was working with the Department of State Services (DSS) to postpone next month’s general elections was diversionary, mischievous and unfounded.

Director of Media and Publicity of PDP Presidential Campaign Or-

ganisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said in a statement yesterday, that the election would hold and predicted that President Goodluck Jonathan will be victorious.

Fani-Kayode described the APC’s allegation as an attempt to discredit the electoral process and wreak havoc when the opposition party loses.

The statement said: “It is interesting that the APC never came out with these lies about plans to postpone the election until its cloning and hacking

viser- $5.23m to purchase security equipment; State Security Service-$2.19m to buy firearms and ammunition and the Nigeria Airforce- $1.79 million to buy M1-34/35 helicopters and another $11.6million to buy six M1-35m helicopters.

The organisation said as president, Buhari will demonstrate his patriotism and technical skill by saving Nigeria from the threat of internal insurrection and boost the morale of our soldiers.

activities were uncovered by the DSS. “Rather than address the evidences presented by the DSS, such as a video of 21 hacking tutorials, multiple registrations of individuals and underage persons, including babies and foreigners, possession of temporary and permanent voter cards, the APC is raising postponement as a red herring, hoping to distract Nigerians from its nefarious activities.

“Our Campaign Organisation categorically states that our candidate,

President Goodluck Jonathan, and the PDP-led Federal Government have no intention, whatsoever, to interfere in the workings of the INEC and therefore, dissociates them from the plan, alleged by the APC, to postpone the February 14, 2015 Presidential Election.

“We believe Nigerians are now familiar with the diversionary tactics of the APC. Before the Ekiti and Osun State gubernatorial elections, the same APC made all manner of allegations against the PDP, the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the security agencies.

“When the elections held, Nigerians saw firsthand that none of the allegations made by the APC was true. So shall it be with this new claim of a purported postponement made by the APC.” It added that the unfounded allegation of election postponement was part of the APC’s well-documented attempt to heat up the polity and create dishar mony among Nigerians.

But Akobundu in his reaction posited that APC’s threat that it would make in-roads into the South East zone during the presidential election is, to say the least, a wild-goose chase, adding that the zone remained the ruling party’s major stronghold.

Okechukwu said: “We are at a loss how on earth our revered elder statesman, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, erudite scholar and one of the shinning lights of Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ekwueme, can be out of touch with realities, because of his uncommon concern for the down trodden.

“It is our candid view that no responsible person will go out of his way to castigate Ekwueme for his patriotic concern that the Nigerian state under President Jonathan ‘s watch is sliding dangerously into a failed state.”

Akobundu on his part said: “One thing is sure.

There is no place for the APC in the South East. So, they should not hope to get any vote from the zone. The bitter truth for the party is that the five states of the South East are solidly in support of the PDP.”

16 Politics As the House of Representatives reconvenes from the Christmas and New Year break, PHILIP NYAM examines some of the issues that will be in the front burner

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pressing issues as Reps reconvene answers. The minister did not address the questions until the end of the year. But with the drastic drop in the prices of oil and the problems plaguing the economy particularly the difficulties being experienced in the payment of staff salaries, the House is expected to be keen on reviewing the interrogation of the minister on the state of the economy. This may be taken as soon as the House reconvenes.

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hen the House of Representatives resumes plenary on January 13, it will be faced with massive workload but little time to attend to before the end of the 7th Assembly. For most of the last quarter of 2014, the House could not do much due to heightened political activities. As a result, the lawmakers will have their hands full. What are those pressing issues the lower chamber will try to address before June 5?

2015 budget Shortly before the House vacated, the 2015 appropriation bill was presented to the National Assembly by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The Federal Government is proposing N4.3 trillion with the projection that Nigeria’s economy would grow at 5.5 per cent in 2015, a reduction from an earlier projection of 6.4 per cent. The N4.3 trillion budget ($23 billion) rests on benchmark oil price of $65 a barrel, down from $77.5 in the 2014 budget. With the dwindling global oil price, the National Assembly may have to recommend a realistic oil benchmark.

The production forecast for oil was set at 2.27 million barrels per day, down slightly from last year’s assumption of 2.38 million.

The proposed budget will therefore be the main project of the House in the first few weeks of its resumption because the general election are just five weeks away and agencies involved in the electoral process would need funds to execute the election. As part of its preparations to attending to the budget, copies of the document have been circulated to lawmakers to study ahead of the resumption.

Electoral Matters on alleged haphazard distribution of permanent voters’ cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the imminent disenfranchisement of eligible voters in some states of the federation.

Apart from these reports, the public petitions committee headed by Hon. Uzo Azubuike (PDP, Abia) submitted several reports on various petitions from individuals to the House.

But as many reports that have been submitted by some of these committees, many important issues on which the committees sat or investigated are still hanging.

Reports In the last three and half years, the House has conducted series of investigations some of which their reports have been submitted while some other reports are yet to be tabled before the House.

Similarly, some of the submitted reports have not been considered and adopted by the House. Hence, on resumption, the House would have to expedite action on these reports to ensure that they are dispensed of before the expiration of the lifespan of the current House. Some of the reports submitted so far include, the report of the House Committee on Banking and Currency on the urgent need to halt the increase in capital base for Bureau De Change by 250 per cent; report of the Committee on Legislative Budget and Research on mapping of capital projects in the 2014 Federal Government budgets; report of the Committee on

The PIB The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one of the most crucial bills whose fate still hangs in the balance. It is indeed the oldest bill in the National Assembly. Its history is synonymous with the current democratic dispensation traversing all the Assemblies till date. At the beginning of the 7th House, the PIB came up again and the leadership not oblivious of the controversy it generated decided to set up a 26-member ad hoc committee to conduct public hearings, collate varied views on the proposed legislation and make appropriate recommendations.

Although, the committee headed by the Chief Whip, Hon. Ishaku Mohammed Bawa (PDP, Taraba) was inaugurated in 2012, the zonal public hearings across the six geopolitical zones held in April 2013. The hearings, which held on April 22 and 23, 2013 in

Tambuwal

Okonjo-Iweala

the various zones had Ilorin hosting the North-Central public hearing, and Kaduna the North-West, while Gombe hosted the NorthEast. Lagos was the host of the South-West while Port Harcourt the South-South and Enugu played host to the South-East. The final public hearing took place in Abuja shortly after the zonal hearings.

Till today, the report of the ad hoc committee is being expected.

With the pressure from Nigerians, the report is likely to be tabled before the House for debate. The leadership of the House has already given assurances that the bill will be passed before the 7th Assembly winds up.

The Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is one of the most crucial bills whose fate still hangs in the balance

Okonjo-Iweala’s 50 questions In December 2013, the House Committee on Finance led by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) posed 50 questions on the state of the economy for the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Although, the minister had addressed the questions in 2014, the committee however returned an unsatisfactory verdict on her response and rather reinforced the questions.

In a letter addressed to the minister entitled “Re: state of the economy: observations, request for additional information and invitation to investigative hearing,” the committee said after a detailed analysis of the response provided by the minister, it was discovered that some questions were ignored, misunderstood, partially answered or not answered at all. In all, the lawmakers said 39 of the 50 questions were not answered satisfactorily.

A request for additional answers to 39 questions was forwarded to the minister for fresh

Probe of Service Wide Votes Another critical assignment before the House Public Accounts Committee is the ongoing investigation of the expenditure from the Service Wide Votes between 2010 and 2013. This investigation has been on going since late 2013 and sordid revelations have so far been made. The committee is yet to wind down.

Besides these, the House is currently investigating several other areas in different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

It would need to round off such probes before the proclamation of the new Assembly.

Probe of Madaki The investigation of Hon. Aliyu Madaki (APC, Kano) over allegations of $50,000 bribery to stop the motion for the investigation of $9.3 million arms deal seized in South Africa is also expected to come up.

Madaki had alleged that PDP members in the House had received $20,000 each to vote against the motion brought by Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Abdulrahman Suleiman Kawu (APC, Kano) calling for the investigation. The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which was given two weeks to complete its work on the matter did not even commence sitting until the end of the year.

It is likely that this investigation would not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. This is a serious allegation and the House would want to put the records straight because it is capable of smearing the collective image of the House.

Pending bills The current House has introduced a total of 668 bills but only 101 were passed. In other words, the House has presently a total of 567 bills to work on in the next five months. Considering the tedious process involved in the passage of a bill, the House would want to speed up its commitment to attending to these bills.

Closely related to this is the magnitude of bills forwarded to the president for assent, which have not be assented to. There are indications that the House may have decided to override the president’s assent should he fail to sign the bills by the end of the first quarter of this year.

There are other issues that may crop up as soon as the House reconvenes.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Ekiti crisis: Mediation gone sour The 26-member Ekiti State House of Assembly has been polarised since last November when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members removed Dr. Adewale Omirin of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Speaker and elected Dele Olugbemi in his stead. Allegations and counter-allegations of various kinds have been the order of the day, prompting the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, to wade in. ADESINA WAHAB examines how far the mediation effort has gone

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hen on Tuesday, January 6, the news made the round that the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr. Taiwo Lakanu, would meet the leader of the 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin, the expectation was that a window has opened for the resolution of the crisis that has engulfed the Assembly since last November.

It was in November 2014 that the seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the Assembly removed Omirin as Speaker and elected Dele Olugbemi as replacement.

Omirin and his APC colleagues have gone to court to challenge that action and other steps taken by the PDP lawmakers. Also, the APC legislators have not been able to sit in the Assembly’s chamber and have not been visible in the state, courtesy of an allegation of threat to life.

CP Lakanu, who reportedly called some APC lawmakers a number of times on phone to meet and discuss the issue, was happy when Omirin called on the night of January 5 that he would heed his invitation the following day.

But signs that the meeting might not be fruitful as expected emerged in the early hours of January 6 when Wole Olujobi, the media aide to Omirin, sent a statement out that some people attempted to assassinate his boss the previous night. While Omirin was at the police headquarters meeting Lakanu, the APC went to town with a press statement, reiterating Olujobi’s

Omirin

claim. It was signed by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Taiwo Olatubosun.

Omirin emerged from the meeting to give the assurance that he would try as much as possible to guarantee peace in the Assembly and that the other side should also be made to sign such undertaking. When asked about the alleged assassination attempt, he said he was unaware of any such attempt. Olujobi followed up late that night to say his boss did not deny the assassination attempt claim. He probably reacted to a posting on facebook by an aide to Governor Ayo Fayose, Lere Olayinka, where he said there was confusion in the rank of the APC over the alleged assassination attempt.

The following day, Omirin, at a press session in his hometown, Aisegba-Ekiti, Gboyin Local Government Area, gave an explanation of what happened.

He said: “Thanks for clarifying things from me. I never denied that any attempt was made but I did not see anybody. I came from Idanre to Ado-Ekiti for a meeting and as soon as I arrived the house, I got a phone call that some Fayose boys were around that area.

“The CP came and said I did not call him that I would be in town and I said there was no need for that and he said my safety was his concern and he took me to Pathfinder Hotel for safety and there I stayed till Tuesday morning, and from there I left for the police headquarters for the meeting. I wrote an undertaking at the police headquarters that I do not intend to kill anybody as Fayose said I wanted to kill two persons.

“We have an abnormal situation in Ekiti and our last sitting was done in good faith. I learnt that the governor and Owoseni Ajayi, the Commissioner for Justice, petitioned the CP that we wanted to cause trouble and that we should be arrested. That is uncalled for. We are not bringing thugs to Ekiti.”

Olugbemi

Elders in the state are not talking, why this loss of voice?... This is a just cause and we will not back out.

We are not on exile, we are in Ekiti but being hindered from performing our duties

Omirin also clarified that he did not write an undertaking that he and his colleagues would not go to the House of Assembly.

A day after Omirin’s briefing, 12 of his APC colleagues, led by his deputy, Tunji Orisalade, also briefed the press in AdoEkiti. Orisalade accused the PDP of flooding the Assembly with non-legislators and thugs who have been given the order to attack them.

“We know that they have flooded the House with nonlegislators and hoodlums. We don’t want any blood been shed and that is why we went to court but unfortunately the system is slow and that is why we have not got what we wanted. Lawyers and elders in the state are not talking, why this loss of voice?

Nobody is talking out of fear I presume. This is a just cause and we will not back out. We are not on exile, we are in Ekiti but being hindered from performing our duties,” he stated.

But to another member of the group, Churchill Adedipe, the Police Commissioner ought to have brought the issue of their petition to the fore when he had Omirin in his office for a parley.

To Olugbemi, the APC lawmakers are only trying to whip up needless sentiments.

His words: “They are saying some people attempted to kill Omirin, let them come out with proof. Was his car shot at?

Was his house attacked? Did anybody mob him in town or anywhere? They said they saw some strange faces in the area he has his house in Ado-Ekiti, are they saying they know everybody living in that area? Or that people who have their own houses there should not go there because Omirin is living in the

area?

“All that they are saying is mere cheap propaganda and the people of the state have seen through their deceit. What failed them in the June election that with a sitting governor they could not win a local government is still what they are clinging to. They are the ones who want to hold the state to ransom but we said no way.

“Omirin has gone to court, he has gone to the police to sign an undertaking, then, let him be honourable enough to wait for the outcome of the court case and keep faith with his undertaking.”

As if to stoke the fire of crisis the more, a day later, it was alleged that Omirin led some of his APC colleagues to attempt a break in at the Assembly Complex at about 11:30p.m.

Olugbemi, who raised the alarm, said the intention was for the lawmakers to hold an illegal sitting.

He said: “This is an ignominious act that should be condemned by all the stakeholders in the state. Why should the APC members decide to sit at the Assembly by 11:30p.m. in the night, when they have refused to attend meetings with us in the daylight.”

Olugbemi explained that at around 7p.m. when he got the information of the planned invasion, he ordered that security should be beefed up around the Assembly Complex.

“The runaway lawmakers had planned to steal the mace, sit and destabilise the state, why couldn’t they wait for the court to decide on the suit they filed over Omirin’s impeachment?

Nothing except nefarious and ulterior motives would have necessitated the coming into the Assembly of the former speaker and others. This is the same House they refused to visit in the daylight, which have now become their tourist centre in the dead of the night just because they wanted to carry out some devilish plans.

“Let them come out of their hiding and move round in the afternoon rather than roaming around in the night to break into the hallowed chamber of the Ekiti State House of Assembly,” he added.

With the allegations and counter-allegations of threat to life, attempted break in of the Assembly Complex, the police being accused of bias and the same police expected to conduct investigation into all these, it may take a long time before peace is restored into the hallowed chamber of Ekiti State House of Assembly.

Also, the bitter reality may be that the 26 APC and PDP members of the Assembly may not be able to sit together again until their term elapses on June 6.

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion Endemic poverty in the midst of plenty (2) Continued from last Wednesday Jide Ayobolu

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n 2013, Nigeria was ranked 153th in the UNDP Human Development Index, and despite the reported growth in the Nigerian economy, the country did not make the list of 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa that recorded more than two per cent annual Human Development Index, HDI gains since 2000. The report listed Angola, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Tanzania as among African countries that made the greatest strides in HDI improvement since 2000. Nigeria in recent years has recorded high growth rates, averaging seven per cent, yet poverty remains high and unemployment is not easing.

Yet, the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides in section 16(1b) that, “government shall control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity”, while section 16(2d) states that, “suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, and unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens”.

But government has not been able to do any of this, and since 1999 to date, Nigeria has never had it so good, in terms of revenue from oil as a result of upsurge in oil prices at the international market. So, how can Nigeria that is the sixth largest

oil producing country in the world, now be the 12th oil producing nation? This is totally unacceptable, indeed, it is a good riddance to irritating rubbish.

The 2011 Index of African Governance scored Nigeria 49 per cent in the area of education. This is less than the continental average put at 51 per cent.

The 2011 Little Data Book on Africa, compiled by the World Bank, puts gross primary school enrolment vis-a-vis relevant age group at 93.1 per cent, but puts gross secondary school enrolment (percentage of relevant age group) at 30.5 per cent. The implication of this is that while almost all children of primary school age are enrolled in primary school, only 30 per cent of them proceeds to secondary school. The number of out of school children in the country is put at over eight million.

Also, the 2010 Global Monitoring Report of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has this to say about the nation’s state of education, “Sub-Saharan Africa has registered remarkable progress since 1999 in reducing its out-of-school population by nearly 13 million, down to 32 million in 2007. Yet the deficit remains large: one-quarter of the region’s primary school age children were out of school in 2007, and the region accounted for nearly 45 per cent of the global out-of-school population. Nigeria alone represented over 10 per cent of the global total.” Yet, the government has the responsible to do more to better the lot of education in our clime but it is just clueless. Furthermore, Daily Trust of Thursday, January 27, 2011 reported Nigeria’s high poverty level as gathered by governmental and non-governmental organizations in Nigeria. The report quoted that over 12 million youths as poor because they have no means of livelihood. It is dangerous to development.

The Punch of February 14, 2012 reported the Na-

tional Bureau of Statistics to have said that 112.519 million Nigerians live in relative poverty conditions.

This figure which was contained in the 2010 poverty profile report of the agency represented 69 per cent of the country’s total population. Fears hovered that the figure might increase to 71.5 per cent in 2011 as the 2010 figure showed data collected from 20 million households having an average of between four to six family members. According to the report, the North-West and North-East recorded the highest poverty rates in the country in 2010 with 77.7 per cent and 76.3 per cent respectively. The South-West geopolitical zone recorded the lowest at 59.1 per cent.

Among the 36 states of the federation, the report stated that Sokoto had the highest poverty rate (86.4 per cent), while Niger had the lowest at (43.6, per cent). As at 2004, Jigawa State had the highest poverty rate (95 per cent), while Anambra, with a poverty rate of 22 per cent, was the least povertystricken state. It is important to pose such problems, namely that, what impact is the very huge annual budget having on the socio-economic wellbeing of the people? How are government policies ameliorating endemic poverty in the country? What is the relationship between economic mismanagement and poverty? In what ways, does corruption engender ubiquitous poverty in the polity? Has poverty become a way of life in the country?

In the country today, it is indeed an enveloping ecology of poverty which is indicative of the cluelessness of the government at different levels in redeeming the pathetic situation in the country.

The fact is that, grinding poverty is too widespread and if adequate care is not taken, it can grind the country to a halt.

Concluded

Kalu and the Jonathan evermore slogan Rubby Obinna

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hen Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, the former Governor of Abia State, visited Gen. Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), at the latter’s Hilltop mansion in Minna two weeks ago, IBB was said to have told Kalu to keep supporting President Goodluck Jonathan. In affirmative response, Kalu said, “Jonathan evermore.”

If this news was not well covered and published in many media outfits, the detractors of Kalu would not have believed that Kalu still matters in the politics and discourse of the country.

Those in this line of thought were of the belief that since Kalu decided to allow peace to reign in his home state of Abia by withdrawing his intent from his Abia North senatorial pursuit that he was finished politically.

But that was not true.

I can say that Kalu after withdrawing and the subsequent meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, at the Presidential Villa on December 16, 2014, perhaps decided to pipe low and allow the governor of Abia State, Chief Theodore Orji, continue with his politics of witch-hunt, while Kalu continues to strategise.

Whatever was the outcome of that meeting! Many of us know that Kalu is an asset to the PDP of which those like the president who knows his worth would do everything to persuade him not to hop out of the party

that he had tremendously boosted.

Especially now that the 2015 presidential election is at hand, President Jonathan and the leadership of the ruling PDP cannot afford to lose Kalu.

Notwithstanding whether the political foes of Kalu like it or not, he has taken a stand. I say this because I can remember in July 2014 when Kalu was taking what analysts had called an extensive press and policy tour of the U.S.-Africa Political and Business Summits in Washington D.C., where he hosted and convened with the Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Ade Adefuye, amidst corporate and policy leaders at his residence in Potomac, Maryland. He said, “Our nation is as open to malleability and evolution as any geopolitical actor.”

It was evident that Kalu could not have given Jonathan his support if the country has not transformed to a pliable nation where people were allowed to express their opinions on diverse issues without any forms of witch-hunt or vendetta. While Kalu supports Jonathan, he has also been shaping ideas that could better the country and its citizens among which was his calling on President Jonathan to host a meeting in Abuja with what he referred to as the ‘N9’.

In the words of observers: Kalu believes an amalgamation should take place between the esteemed BRICS echelon of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa with that of the dynamically rising M.I.NT. cadre of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey. According to Kalu: These nine

countries should convene after the U.S.-Africa Summit as these nations hold the potential to dramatically re-shape our contemporary global economy.

The fearless Kalu was quoted to have closed his remark, saying that “…the world is changing; yet American foreign policy with regard to Africa has not. I call on President Obama to lead a business delegation to Nigeria and see first-hand that new opportunities abound”.

In his capability, Kalu would do anything that is positive to support Jonathan and proffer solutions on how his government could move forward. I was not disappointed when on January 8 this year, Kalu again reaffirmed his support for Jonathan by also throwing his weight in commending Jonathan’s utterance that some elder statesmen should watch their tongues.

Newsmen had supposed that Kalu who said that elders were supposed to be peacemakers and not troublemakers was referring to former President Olusegun Obasanjo; not General Ibrahim Babangida, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Alhaji Shehu Shagari or Chief Ernest Shonekan. However, in the words of Kalu: “I share the same view as the president that some elder statesmen who should respect themselves are not doing so from their utterances. But those statesmen definitely do not include Babangida, Abdulsalami, Shonekan and Shagari.”

While that lasts, it is high time the PDP did not sweep the admonishment

of Kalu under the carpet that though party might win the presidential election, it will not gain majority in the National Assembly and government in some states. His reason was that, “PDP is the problem, but we will be able to sort things out. The nation will never be the same, though PDP will form the national government, they will not form the National Assembly.

It is going to be a problem delivering PDP in some states but President Jonathan must win in Abia and other parts of the country.”

Kalu was not happy that the country was unnecessarily heated up. His encouragement to achieve a peaceful atmosphere was that all fraying nerves needed to calm now, especially those of politicians needed to calm down and stop heating up the polity.

Kalu who hates ignominy had warned that it was impious when matured people come to wash their dirty linen in public.

I must thank Kalu for his resilience but especially for the support he has never refrained from giving to Jonathan. Many of us observers knew that Kalu was not looking for any remuneration whatsoever but in seeing that what was right was done and imbibed by all. Kalu should continue to extend his ‘long hands’ to receiving Jonathan at any given time, just as he had done at Enugu during this year’s tour of Jonathan to South-East, as he flagged off his presidential re-election campaign in the zone.

•Obinna writes from Ohaji, Imo State.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

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The Baga massacre and international perspective

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he United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon has condemned penultimate week’s brutal attack on the border town of Baga near the shores of Lake Chad between Nigeria and Chad Republic. During the attack which displaced the headquarters of the Multi-national Joint Task Force comprising Nigerien, Chadian and Nigerian soldiers, about 2000 people, including women and children, were massacred by the insurgents whose capacity for bestiality has become legendary.

Refugees who managed to escape the spectacular carnage recount horrifying tales of horror, including pregnant women being slit open with utmost abandon by the rampaging insurgents and children being strung together by their shirts and shot together to escalate the spine-chilling notoriety of the deranged fundamentalists whose sheer savagery has revolted mainstream muslim faithfuls.

Reacting to the horrific event which has shocked the world and lampooned the combat-readiness of member countries of the joint multi-national task force, Mr Moon pledged the preparedness of the world body to assist the Nigerian government and all affected countries in the fight to bring an end to the scourge of

terrorism in the region. In the pledge of assistance which was issued in New York via a statement issued by spokesman, Mr Stephane DuJamic, the United Nations scribe ‘condemned the killing of hundreds of civilians, women and children in the border town of Baga between Nigeria and Chad’, stressing that providing assistance was a top priority for the U.N. ‘Only yesterday,(penultimate weekend), it was reported that a 10-year-old-girl was used to detonate a bomb at a market in Maiduguri, killing no fewer than nine people’, the statement said, adding that ‘the situation in Nigeria and the region remains a top priority’ and a reminder of the depravity of Boko Haram.

This show of international solidarity with countries under the frightfully-lengthening shadow of the murderous fundamentalists who are allegedly sponsored from the Islamic Republic of Iran, dovetails into the observation by the Catholic Bishop of Jos, His Lordship Ignatius Kaigama, that the international community is not demonstrating commensurate concern for the dangers posed by the sect. According to Kaigama, the international community is not showing enough concern for the threat to peace and principles of civilized conduct posed by the group, compared to the outrage expressed for the rash of religious

fundamentalism in other parts of the world.

While canvassing greater international support for Nigeria in her ant-terrorism drive in line with rising global apprehension for the menace of religious fundamentalism, Kaigama reminded that the reality of this menace constituted a threat not only to Nigeria and other countries in the sub region under the shadow of religious fundamentalism but also the cherished essence of civilization against which the growing bloodletting is sworn.

Against this background therefore, the pledge by Mr Moon that support for Nigeria and other countries in the region under the spectre of Boko Haram insurgency is ressuring since any threat to civilised values of freedom and choice as constituted by terrorism is threat to global peace.

The international community can not be frigid in rising in condemnation of the uncommon savagery posed by religious fundamentalism in the Middle East, for instance, while demonstrating half-hearted support for Nigeria in her fight against her peculiar manifestation of this variance of international terrorism which is allegedly funded from the same Middle East.

Terrorism is a global menace which demands a global alliance to fight and liquidate as the senseless

massacre of ordinary cartoonists in France amply demonstrates.

Religious fundamentalism, the Charlie Hebdo magazine massacre has affirmed, signposts intolerance of the most vile and irrational variety which the rest of the civilized world can not tolerate.

The fundamentalist recommendation that individual freedom must be abridged, circumscribed and rigorously regulated by a so-called benevolent theocratic overseers is not only absurd but patently dangerous. It is unarguably ridiculous to imagine that civilization could be propelled or sustained by the often warped interpretation of some all-knowing theocratic suzereigns whose anachronistic arrogance belies their pathetic ignorance.

There is transparent logic in His Lordship Kaigama’s observation that the international community is not doing enough in terms of support for Nigeria and neighbouring countries in their fight against the increasingly complex menace of Boko Haram insurgency, compared to global focus on the activities of the Islamic State(IS) insurgency in Syria and Iraq. The international community should resist the delusive argument that terrorism in Africa’s most populous nation is her problem alone, instead of a self re-energising threat to world peace which this development constitutes.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING CO. LTD. Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Eric Osagie

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

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Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

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Arts

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Book Review

In the footsteps of pioneer

amazons of Biu D r Bukar Usman, retired civil servant, history, language and folklore buff, has already established himself as an intellectual and a prolific writer of note with the dozens of books he has written over the last two decades. As someone who has decided to dig into his roots and project the history and values of his people, starting the Biu Emirate Studies Series affords him the platform to document the rich history of his native Biu and that emirate’s journey to find itself.

The first in this series, Girl-Child Education in Biu Emirate comes across as something that Dr. Usman is really passionate about.

The amount of research that has gone into producing this book and the quality of the finishing (and these have become Dr. Usman’s trademark, I dare say) have made this an outstanding work already.

But when one buckles down to the content, an interesting parallel emerges.

Biu, as we know, is in Borno State, the heartland of Boko Haram ravaged territory where the terror group has attacked schools, massacred schoolboys and abducted and held for months hundreds of schoolgirls.

But as is graphically demonstrated in this book, the cultural forces militating against girl-child education are not new but have been prevalent right from the beginning. The initial battle, as this book demonstrates, has been largely fought and won, save for a few, if in some places still significant skirmishes, until recent unfortunate developments in the guise of insecurity and the targeting of students and

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Book title: Girl-Child Education in Biu Emirates: The Early Years Author: Bukar Usman (PhD) Publishers: Klamidas Year of Publication: 2014 Pages: 136 Reviewer: Abubakar Adam Ibrahim

schools in the on-going insurgency.

Girl-Child Education has only 136 pages and seven chapters. But it can be broadly categorised into two parts, the first documents the history, background and challenges of girl-child education in Biu (and education in this context, refers to formal education of girls, for Dr. Usman demonstrates that there were socio-cultural channels by which girls were educated to fill their society defined roles in Biu before the advent of colonial influences) while the second part of the book serves up a profile of the pioneer girls that ventured into formal schools in the late 1930s and how most of them fared in their family and professional lives.

But when one considers that Biu Division was created in 1918 and a school for adults was established by a colonial officer in that year (p26) and between 1923-57 some 23 schools were established, it is surprising to note that it was only in 1938 that Malama Hauwa Kachalla Yamta became the pioneer girl student at Biu Central Primary School (p42).

It is true that the people of the North shielded their wards from western education due to cultural and religious reasons, but it is also true that western education was rather late in arriving the North, thereby setting the region at a disadvantage.

But for the girls in Biu Emirate, their challenge wasn’t altogether different from others in the region. Getting a formal education was considered to be at odds with the culturally defined roles women were expected to play in society, and in Biu these

It is true that the people of the North shielded their wards from western education due to cultural and religious reasons, but it is also true that western education was rather late in arriving the North

included being farmhands and ultimately housewives and mothers, and for these roles, there were longstanding cultural methods of orientations.

The general perception that western education was in itself deviant did not help. As Dr. Usman noted, the first students to be sent to school were mostly the stubborn boys that were mostly considered ungovernable and when some of them refused and fled to escape being educated, girls were conscripted in their place as the colonial administration had a policy that everyone working under it must send a child to school.

And this is in spite of the fact that Biu Emirate happened to be more receptive to western education than other more conservative regions of the north. And where traditional rulers have been known to

oppose western education, the case in Biu was remarkably different.

“Traditional and Islamic education, which preceded the British incursion, continued to thrive but the Kuthli (now Emir) of Biu, under the new colonial arrangement, had become the arrowhead of the recruitment of children into the fledgling primary schools set up by the British administrators. His guards, without parental per mission, arrested a number of school-age children on the streets of Biu, took them to the Emir’s palace from where they were immediately sent to school.” (p5) The role of Mai Ali Gugur, the 25th Kuthli of Biu in leading this revolution is further documented on page 83, and to him, not only the women but the people of Biu should erect

a monument (if there isn’t one already).

The profiles of the pioneer female students of Biu Emirates, which Dr. Usman painstakingly chronicles and presents is not only a testament to the achievements of the women of Biu Emirates, against considerable odds, but a beacon of hope to girls and women especially in the north east in the trying times that we’ve found ourselves.

Many women and girls of this age will find this a valuable vault of material to inspire girl-child education and advocate women’s right to an education.

Bukar Usman’s book is an invaluable material for those passionate about women education and historians as well. A truly commendable effort from one of the most prolific writers and researchers abound.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

FCT Watch

Govt earmarks 13 export goods as replacement for oil

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21

Money

The Investor

Maritime

Ikeja Hotels Plc’s ownership crisis deepens

Maritime operators fret over shipping sector in Q1

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How banks effect N65 charge deductions on ATM use

Business What's news

Investors in top consumer goods lose N166bn in six days Following massive sell-off that has persisted on the local bourse, investors in two top consumer goods companies - Nestle Nigeria Plc and Unilever Nigeria Plc - lost about N165.701 billion during the first six trading days in the New Year.

Nine ships to ferry N5.6bn fish to Lagos Port PREDICAMENT There is a dilemma over government’s import policy on fish

Bayo Akomolafe

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p.22

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

o fewer than nine vessels are jostling for berthing space to discharge 25,623 metric tons of fish valued at N5.6 billion ($30,747, 600) this month.

A ton of fish from The Netherlands was $1,200 per ton on Freight on Board (FoB) last month.

The commodity would be discharged at the ENL Consortium terminal in Lagos Ports Complex, Apapa.

At the terminal, MV Green Brazil is expected to discharge 2,900 metric tons of fish.

Others expected at the terminal are MV Breiz Klipper, 3000 tons; MVGreen Nova, 4,000 tons; Harengus 1,300 tons; MV Frio Vladivostok, 1000tons; MV Alma, 3,300 tons; MV Cape Belle, 3,400 tons; MV Sliver Horn, 1,880 tons and MV Slumner Flower, 4,847.

Last month, there was massive importation of fish by the country from Netherlands.

About 750,000 metric ton of mackerel fish valued at $900 million were imported from the country through the premier port, the Lagos Port Complex.

It was learnt that shipment to Nigeria was on high demand, following sudden increase in fish import quota by the Federal Government.

Miffed by the massive importation of fish into the country and abuse of quotas last quarter, the Federal Gov-

 FG to review import quota

ernment declared that only established importers with significant investments in cold storage facilities and established supply chains would be given import allocations.

It added that the fish import

quota would be reviewed in order to cut down the increment on the price of fish in the country.

Following a study by a committee of the fisheries sub-sector headed by Professor Doyin

Salami of the Lagos Business School, it was also discovered that the dichotomy in fish price hinges on the neglect of big importers and a subsequent allocation of import quota to individuals and companies with little or no track record CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Teachers Establishment and Pensions Office(TEPO), Mr. Nurudeen Ojora; Permanent Secretary, Parastatal Monitoring Office, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo; Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commissions (LASPEC), Mr. Rotimi Hussain and Executive Director, Finance & Investment, Dr. Adekunle Wright, at the Commission’s 7th Pre-Retirement Seminar for core civil servants due to retire in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Telecoms: ‘Big Four’ holds 98.07% market share ...As smaller operators’ turnaround dims Kunle Azeez

S

maller players in the Nigerian telecoms sector may be facing extinction in coming years as the four major players in the industry

dubbed ‘Big Four’ continue to dominate the market.

According to available data obtained from the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the four telecoms opera-

tors currently control 98.07 per cent of the total telecoms market in Africa’s largest economy.

The major operators, MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat, CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE November 2014........................7.9% October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3%

LENDING RATE InterBank Rate....................12.57% Prime Lending Rate...........17.93% Maximum Lending Rate...26.83%

EXCHANGE RATE (Parallel As at Jan. 08)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N182 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N390 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N205.50

l Foreign Reserves – $46.5bn as at 8/01/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Jan. 08)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N253.09 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N197.70

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Business | News

SELL-OFF Tensions leading to the 2015 general elections dampen stock market Chris Ugwu

F

ollowing massive sell-off that has persisted on the local bourse, investors in two top consumer goods companies - Nestle Nigeria Plc and Unilever Nigeria Plc lost about N165.701 billion during the first six trading days in the New Year.

Investigation by New Telegraph revealed that Nestle Nigeria Plc, which occupies third position in market capitalisation, led with a loss of N158.134 billion or 24.5 per cent to close at N643.835 billion on January 12 as against N801.969 billion opening figure on January 5 when the financial market began business this year.

Unilever Nigeria followed with a drop of N7.567 billion or 5.9 per cent to close from N135.442 billion to N127.875 billion on Monday.

A financial expert said that year 2015 is expected to be a mixed one for the equities market as the outcome of a plethora of external and internal events unfold following the uncertainty in the Nigerian business environment The Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) Limited, Mr. Bismark Rewane, who stated this in a presentation he made at the FDC monthly publication, said that a possible interest rate hike in the US and the possibility of a sustained period of low oil prices were significant risks.

He noted that the outcome of the 2015 elections would also determine investors’ participation and sentiments, adding that the anticipated loosening monetary stance of the CBN post elections

Investors in top consumer goods lose N166bn in six days would also have its impact on price and currency stability.

“With stocks currently trading at their multiyear lows, we expect an upward trend in the beginning of the year.

The anticipated loose monetary stance will be expected to channel additional liquidity to the stock market,” he said.

However, investors’ sentiment will be weighed down by political tensions leading to the 2015 general elections. The tension between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the major opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), is expected to lead to a lull in the equities market as investors, mostly foreign, evaluate the electoral process and outcome while fearing post-election violence.

FPIs are expected to remain wary of the local bourse until the elections are concluded and possible violent fall outs curbed,” Rewane said.

He noted that oil prices were projected to trend between $50 and $70, adding that this would be negative for the Nigerian economy and, in turn, the capital market.

“We expect oil stocks to bear the brunt of declining oil prices given the thinning out of the sectors profitability. Investors are likely to favor other sectors,” he said.

Rewane said that the CBN was likely to embark on a monetary policy easing in H2 2015 to stimulate the economy.

“As the US economy gains traction, we expect an increase in interest rates in 2015, this event is expected to have a negative effect on emerging and frontier economies. As a result, we expect heavy portfolio reversals, as inves-

Nine ships to ferry N5.6bn fish to Lagos Port in January CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

in fish importation.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, had explained that the ministry would work to clear any distortion in the market.

Adesina noted that fish import quota for the third quarter of 2014 was increased in order to address anomalies discov-

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

ered by the committee.

He explained that the plan of government was to reduce the import bill and encourage investment in aquaculture.

The minister urged the Federal Department of Fisheries to support efforts at helping the companies fall in line with reform objectives of government, which have far reaching benefits for local fish production.

tors will opt for safety and security in a much developed market. This may lead to a sell-off in local equities as foreign investors exit. However, we expect the effect to be cushioned by increased participation of local investors as stocks become increasingly attractive.

“The state of insecurity in the country, especially in the north eastern part, continues to be worrying. Its effect continues to weigh on the profitability of consumer goods companies as consumer spending in these areas remain weak. It has also increased the cost of do-

ing business in these areas,” he said.

Rewane noted that profits that would be declared, if any, in the financial year 2014 by most companies were likely to be below investors’ expectations, adding that most sectors such as banking, consumers, oil & gas and

conglomerates will not be insulated.

“One of the positives apart from the obvious that the Nigerian economy has to be less dependent on oil is that prices in the stock market may have hit rock bottom. Current stock prices appear attractive at the moment, but we advise cautious investing with a focus on long term value as opposed to speculating and searching for short term gains.

We also expect some volatility over the coming months until after elections.

L-R: Area Manager, Mainland 1, Ecobank, Mr. Chima-Nwafor John; Head Teacher, Cherubim and Seraphim Primary School, Ikorodu, Mrs. Kudirat Olabode; Area Manager, Ecobank, Mainland 2 , Mr. Waheed Alimi and Manager, Ikorodu Branch, during the presentation of cartons of anti-malaria repellent creams to pupils of the school in Ikorodu, Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

‘Big Four’ holds 98.07% market share CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

which operate in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology segment, currently have a combined subscriber base of over 132 million of the total 134.5 million active mobile subscriptions in the country.

However, operators in other technology segments of the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and the fixed wired/ wireless segment control 1.79 per cent and 0.14 per cent market share respectively.

According to latest official data, while MTN has a total of 58.3 million subscribers, Globacom controls over 26 million, followed by Airtel with over 26 million subscribers, while Etisalat has 19.8 million mobile subscriptions on its network as at the third quarter of last year.

This represents about 44 per cent; 21 per cent; 20 per cent and 15 per cent market shares for MTN, Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat respectively.

Analysts, however, said that the dominance of GSM operators in a country where over 90 per cent of services is deployed through wireless/ mobile means, smaller operators, mostly in the CDMA and fixed markets, which

have been facing dwindling fortune, boast of slim chance of survival.

Reacting to the development in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, an industry analyst, Mr Akin Akinbo, said: “It is not that other operators in the CDMA and fixed line segments have any limitation in their technology, but by the look of things, Nigerians have developed penchant for GSM services in the past years and neglected CDMA and fixed line services, especially with regard to voice service provisioning.”

Akinbo further stated that the dominance of GSM networks might have created a scenario, where it becomes very difficult for any fixed network or CDMA network to match the level of competition in the sector.

“Though competition is good in the sector, but I can tell you that what we see today is such that the bigger operators are getting bigger everyday and the smaller ones are getting smaller by the day while some have even run out of business,” Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Gbenga Adebayo, said in a telephone in-

terview.

“The competition is sniffing out life from the smaller operators,” he added.

He said that there was a myriad of challenges being faced by telecoms firms, ranging from multiple taxations, multiple regulations and vandalism, among others.

“This is in addition to the consistent declining revenue which operators have to contend with as Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) is falling, coupled with the increased capital expenditure (CAPEX) for network expansion,” Adebayo, a telecoms engineer, said.

The NCC, in September 2014, had declared 13 telecoms firms inactive due to their poor financial performance.

The list of inactive operators, according to the Commission, include one national carrier, one GSM operator, five Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) operators and six fixed/fixed Wireless operators.

The operators include NITEL, MTel, Starcomms, Reliance Telecoms (Zoom Mobile), Intercellular, MTS First Communications, WiTel, O’ Net (Odua Telecoms), Rainbownet, Monarch Communications, Xs Broadband, Webcom, and Disc Communications.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

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FCT Business Watch Govt earmarks 13 export goods as replacement for oil Amadi Nnamdi Abuja

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he Federal Government said it had already marked out 13 National Strategic Export Products meant to replace petroleum products, which prices have continued to tumble at the international markets.

The alternative products are capable of stabilising the economy, said the Minister of Trade and Investments, Mr Olusegun Aganga .

The minister described the initiative as part of the spirited moves by the government towards reviving the dwindling national economy with emphasis on rapid growth of the nonoil sector for export.

Aganga disclosed this during an unscheduled inspection

and a meeting he held with the Executive Director of Nigerian Exports Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr.Olusegun Awolowo, and members of the management team in Abuja.

While unveiling plans by the Federal Government to diversify the economy, Aganga listed the 13 National Strategic Export Products (NSEP) in three categories as agro industrial- palm oil, cocoa, cashew, sugar and rice); mining related-cement, iron ore/metals, auto parts/ cars, aluminum and oil and gas, industrial products- petroleum products, fertiliser/urea, petrochemical and methanol.

He noted that originally 12 products were identified, but that the number got increased because the Executive Director of NEPC made a very strong case for the inclusion of cashew in the list.

Aganga, however, charged

NEPC to deploy its capacity for kick-starting the diversification of the country’s economy in line with government’s agenda.

Aganga said he chose NEPC and SMEDAN for his first visit in the New Year because of their potential and strategic importance for diversification of the economy, job creation, poverty alleviation and inclusive growth.

The strategy to be deployed in that regard, according to him, requires that NEPC identifies products that are being imported by countries from other exporting nations and to develop the products with sound logistics built around them.

The essence, the minister stressed, is to deliver them cheaper to the neighboring countries, being an export oriented investment strategy.

He said, “In doing this, we must recognise our neighbors’

L-R: Acting Director, Enforcement and Compliance, Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Eric Elujekor; Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services, Zakawanu Garuba; out-going Director-General, Ms Arunma Oteh; Acting DirectorGeneral, Mounir Gwarzo and Acting Executive Commissioner, Operations, Mr. Abatcha Bulama, at the formal handing over ceremony in Abuja.

FG to empower women with N3bn Yusuf Shuaib Abuja

A

s part of Federal Government’s initiative to empower women, the sum of N3 billion has been planned for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop good programmes for girls and women in Nigeria.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, dropped the hint recently in Abuja adding that the fund would incentivise the MDAs in designing helpful programmes for the women.

She stated these while signing a Memorandum of

Understanding with Procter and Gamble, Nigeria on the Growing Girls and Women In Nigeria (G-WIN).

She said that it was at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan that the project was captured in the budget.

In her words, “It was him with whom we discussed the idea that the budget could be used as a more powerful instrument to do more for girls and women because when you empower a girl you empower a nation.

“Investing in women is smart economics. Investing in girls is smarter economics because you catch them early. So, it was a very result-oriented thing. If in your ministry you have a

programme for girls and women, if you are willing to go even further for more results for them, you will be incentivise through additional budgetary resources. And the president in the 2014 and 2013 budget, supported us to make provisions for about N3 billion to experiment with this approach.

“We have never tried it before and we did not know that other countries have ever tried it. It looks like this was one of the first attempts. So, that is how G-WIN started and we heard that the Ministry of Women Affairs was very delighted to work with this and be a part of it and so were other MDAs.”

developmental needs, support them and collaborate with them in areas of their comparative advantage.

“For you to have sustainable relationship there must be symbiotic relationship.

“The new strategic focus is not just agriculture but rather commodities based industrialisation. This will help our economy to diversify quickly

and sustainably. Such strategy will help build industrial sector that can diversify our economy in just few years.”

Aganga tasked Awolowo on the need for NEPC to work towards earning big income for Nigeria by focusing on products and services that would yield quick results in a few years with a view to assisting Nigeria earn foreign exchange.

Owners of structures on NNPC’s right of way get quit notice T he Federal Government has warned those who encroached on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) right-of-way to vacate such locations.

The Public Affairs Manager of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr Nasir Imodagbe, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Imodagbe said government was set to clear all structures obstructing the oil pipelines’ “Right of Way” across the country.

He said the mandate of PPMC was to clear obstructions to secure the company’s right-of-way. The spokesperson, who decried the high level of encroachment on the rightof-way, said that there would be no compensation for anyone whose structure is demolished.

He said that those encroach-

ing on the stretch were illegal occupiers of government land because they had no approval from government before they built on the pipelines’ rightof-way.

He explained that oil pipelines passed through the way and that no structure was expected to be on it.

He said any structure on it is illegal, adding that demolition had already been carried out on the stretch in Lagos and some areas in the northern part of the country.

He said those who encroached on the company’s right should therefore stay clear and not wait for the demolition team to arrive.

While stressing that government was poised to reclaim the entire oil pipelines right ofway, he stressed that the aim was to stem the activities of vandals on the pipelines.

RMRDC to host national SMEs’ summit in Abuja Amadi Nnamdi Abuja.

F

ederal Capital Territory, Abuja, is set to host a national summit on raw materials for the small and medium enterprises clusters to boost industrial and economic growth in the country.

The event is scheduled for January 21 to 22, 2015 and is being organised by the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in collaboration with the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI).

The Director-General/CEO of RMRDC, Dr. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, in a statement made available to New Telegragh, said the summit, themed; “Raw Materials Based Clusters Initiative: Imperative for Nigeria’s Sustainable Industrial Development and Economic Growth,’’ was part of strategies aimed at accelerating the pace of de-

velopment of micro-small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country.

According to him, the event is to inform, educate and expand understanding and knowledge on the economic and industrial significance of clusters; influence policy decisions of the state apparatus towards cluster development and the needed resources as well as entrench clustering as a key development strategy in synergy with all relevant organisations.

He added that it was also meant to inform the participants on the regulatory requirements of existing and emerging clusters and the need to ensure best practices in their operations.

It is also meant to talk about stakeholders on raw materials and product quality standardisation in clusters; draw-up policy framework on raw materials-based clusters for MSMEs development, and promote competitiveness for products in the domestic export markets.

24

Business | Money

Godson Ikoro

T

here are strong indications that a large number of the banking public are yet to understand the dynamics of the remote on-us charge of N65 recently introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). About four and half months into the implementation of the policy, most customers are yet to come to grips with the policy.

The incessant complaints by various bank customers who feel that the banks are not respecting the central bank’s rule on the new charge has prompted the re-visitation of the N65 ATM charge per transaction.

Customers experiences Mr. Edwin Adegoke, who runs a dry cleaning services complained to New Telegraph that each time he goes to First bank’s ATM to withdraw money, he was charged N65 per withdrawal. If he withdraws N20, 000, five times, a total of N100, 000, he was charged N325. Although his account is domiciled with GT Bank at Adeniyi Jones Avenue Ikeja, Lagos, he considers it too far away than First Bank and Standard Chartered Bank which are located at a stone throw from his office and within a walking distance.

Noting that CBN rule said that the charge should apply after the first three withdrawals, his argument is that First Bank was not respecting the rule, insisting that it should have charged him N130 instead of N325, and based on that, he reckoned that First Bank was cheating its ATM users and should be investigated.

Asked whether he had gone to any other bank other than First Bank to withdraw money within the month, he said that he had cause to run to Skye Bank, Adeola Odeku at Victoria Island to withdraw money to offset some bills. He also withdrew from FCMB, Ogba branch where he drew N20, 000, in two withdrawals before coming to First Bank.

Similarly, Hamisu Isa brought similar complaints against First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

He said not only does FCMB charge him for transfer, they issued him a second ATM card after he got the first one, he could not withdraw or transfer money with it. And he complained at the customer service unit at Ogba branch; they gave him another card which enables him to transfer but makes withdrawal impossible. Hamisu said he was still carrying both ATM cards.

Any time he does the transfer, he is charged N65. Using both cards has not been easy for him.

“In fact, there was a day I took the ATM card that does not open instead of the active one to withdraw. When I got to First Bank near my office, I discovered that it was the transfer only card that I had, I could not make payment which made me lose a business opportunity,” he said.

He also lamented that FCMB charges him commission on turnover on salary account which is a savings account.

Oluwole Ajanuku, who heard the complaints of Hamisu , corroborated it and went further

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

How banks effect N65 charge deductions on ATM use

GMD, First Bank, Bisi Onasanya

to say that he too does not understand the N65 remote on-us charge.

Asked to narrate how he had been using his ATM since September 1, he said that though his account is domiciled at Union Bank, each time he needs money, he goes to the bank nearest to him because Union Bank has only one branch in Maza Maza and it would cost him more money and time to go to where his bank is located.

He added that banks generally were exploiting their customers, saying he said had never withdrawn any money without being charged, wondering if the banks were keeping the CBN rule on remote on us.

In his words, “Banks are always exploring different avenues to excessively extort money from their customers. If it does not come as administrative charge, SMS charge, withdrawal on us charge, or maintenance charge, it will come as commission on turnover even on a salary account.

“Banks, he believes, “are exploiters, QED,” he emphasised.

Response lenders New Telegraph’s efforts to reach out to FCMB and First Bank proved abortive. Even text messages sent to the General Manager, Corporate Communication, First Bank, Mrs. Folake Mumumey, and several phone calls were rebuffed.

FCMB promised to get back, saying that they were engaged at the at the hometown founder’s place. They were yet to revert at press time.

As a recap of the remote onus ATM charge, reintroduced by the central bank in collaboration with the Bankers Committee on September 1, 2014, bank customers are encouraged to go to any branch of the bank where their accounts are domiciled to make free withdrawals, irrespective of the number of times.

But if a customer had cause to withdraw from any other bank, the remote on-us charge

MD/CEO, FCMB, Ladi Balogun

rule allows him to make the first three withdrawals free. Then the fourth withdrawal irrespective of the bank will attract N65.

It is not for individual banks.

The lack of understanding and the cost implications for the use of ATMs made the bank to opt for alternative channels, like the Point of Sale (POS).

Banks are always exploring different avenues to excessively extort money from their customers. If it does not come as administrative charge, SMS charge, withdrawal on us charge, or maintenance ...

Customers rejection Available statistics from the Banking Payment Supervision of CBN showed that the volume of ATM transactions nosedived from N344.934 billion in August 2014 to N311.805 billion in October due to patronage of other channels like the POS. According to Head, Payment Systems Policy and Oversight Division, Mr. Musa Jimoh Itopa, the POS volume of transaction rose from N23.346 billion in August 2014 to N28.154 billion in October 2014.

The reintroduction of ATM charges compelled bank customers to use their card to pay for purchases at supermarkets, buy fuel and even recharge cards are purchased electronically.

Indeed, the argument for the return of ATM charges stemmed from the practice of customers who turned the ATMs into their personal wallets.

Explained Dipo Fatokun, CBN Director of Payments, the CBN in collaboration with the Bankers Committee resolved to transfer the payment of N100 fee on Remote-on-us ATM cash withdrawal transaction to the issuing banks with effect from September 17, 2012. The N100, he explained, was never removed but was transferred to customer’s bank to pay.

The action was necessitated by the need to promote and encourage the usage of ATMs by the banking public nationwide and specifically to help the poor financial inclusion. After a year review of the effect of the removal of the ATM cash withdrawal fees, it was discovered that customers’ withdrawal

behaviour had changed. It was discovered that customers who used to cash withdraw from their bank’s ATMs now changed to withdraw from the nearest ATMs even if not their banks.

Fatokun said, “If somebody needs N500 or N1000, he would go to an ATM to withdraw such that in a day, some people can patronise ATMs up to five times and this has created a huge financial burden on the banks that issued the cards, since they have to pay N65 for every transaction their customers do at other bank ATMs. The resultant effect was that ATM services became very poor and sometimes unavailable due to outright decline of transaction authorisation from the issuing bank.

This had tremendous impact on the interoperability because transactions done by customer through other banks ATM were being rejected. Banks agitated that the cost of maintenance had grown and hitting the roof tops and threatened to provide poor services if the costs continued to grow.

Given the foregoing argument, the CBN and the Bankers Committee resolved to charge the minimal fees for remote-onus transactions to cover the cost of ATM Maintenances.

As a rule, a customer should go to his/her own bank, where his account is domiciled. For example, if it is Union Bank, customers should at all times plan their movement to enable them patronise any Union Bank branch where ATM services are available.

Where the customer is constrained by time and distance, he or she could use any other bank, maybe to mitigate their emergencies. The customer is allowed to withdraw from other banks, up to three times within a month.

The fourth withdrawal from a bank other than Union Bank will attract a fee of N65, and as frequently as the customer withdrawals, the respective bank will continue to charge the customer like First Bank did to Adegoke.

More sensitisation The lenders’ watchdog should continue the sensitization of the general public through seminars and workshops as well as routine oversight activities on ATM operations by the CBN and cooperation and the stakeholders.

Conclusion Customers should endeavour to make their ATM withdrawals from the issuing bank. Alternatively, they should evaluate the cost of accessing the location of their banks and know how much they are going to withdraw and pay, whichever is lower.

If it is going to cost you N500 to get to where your bank is located, you can quietly go to the bank nearest to you to use their ATM at the cost of N65 and save N435.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

The Mega City

25

...EXCLUSIVE LAGOS MAGAZINE

Transformation of Broad Street

Commercialised Broad Street (inset) Broad Street in 1951

LIFE IN THE CITY Changing times in retail supermarkets MY CITY MY WORLD ‘Nothing interests me about Lagos’

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CO-ORDINATOR

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Elijah Samuel

F

rom its rudimentary beginning, it has been a beehive of multicoloured activities during and beyond the colonial era. Broad Street, a notable importance in the emerged phases of history in the state of aquatic splendor, dated right back to the colonial reign, and this is evident in both the socio-religious and commercial development of not only Lagos but the country as a whole.

As mainly a residential area, Broad Street was mostly settled by the slave returnees from Brazil whose population size steadily grew through the multiplication of families. Located in Lagos Island, it has gradually crept from its humble beginning to become one of the most scenic commercial hubs that can be found not only in Lagos, but also on the world commercial landscape. Its remarkable transposition has also seen to the translation

www.nairaland.com

of most of the archaic structures that were once the pride of that corridor.

Although a few obsolete buildings still stand, the street is now dotted with extremely tall buildings and others which now house many of the banks and corporate organisations.

Apart from these, there are other places for businesses like eateries, stores for household items etc. Because of the high traffic which the voluminous business transactions going on in Broad Street and other adjoining streets had overtime attracted, movements have become hectic around the area. This, of course, has made the state government to deploy traffic control mechanisms like traffic lights and personnel to the area in other to mitigate the effect of traffic hiccups on business transactions A recent observatory visit by New Telegraph to the Broad Street revealed that more drastic actions still have to be taken to enforce discipline and maximum compliance to the environmen-

tal and traffic laws in the area. There is normalcy from the early hours of the morning till about shortly after the midday. From then, traders and commercial bus operators compete for space to display their wares and bid for commuters respectively. These activities, which start from Kakawa point of Broad Street, spread and take half of the road up till the exiting point at Apogbon.

Although many factors have been identified responsible for the transformation of Broad Street, civilization and pecuniary consideration played significantly. In a nostalgic recall, Mr. Ademola Adedigba who was born and bred on the Island stressed the sights and events that conferred enthralling experiences of the pre and post-independent Broad Street.

“I was already at Christ Church Cathedral School on Broad Street before 1960 when we got independence and CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

26

Life | In The City

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Changing times in retail supermarkets Retail outlets are gradually pushing local markets out of business.

The in-thing now is retail supermarkets, where Nigerians go to buy items like meat, fish, tomatoes, household items, though they still patronize local markets, But only a few.

MOSES KADIRI and RUTH OKOCHA visited Shoprite inside Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, to find out the drive for retail products. The findings are overwhelming

Inside shoprite

T

imes are changing and it will not wait for nobody.

Despite the fact that the economic situation is unfriendly, which has deepened the hole in peoples pockets, it is not an excuse for not following the global trend in retail supermarkets.

And as the world continues to evolve, human beings will do the same. Whether we like it or not, no one can stop evolution. The best anybody can do is to brace up and follow the trend if you don’t want to be left behind.

Interestingly, there are three of such retail supermarkets position in strategic places in Lagos, Megacity. Shoprite, The Palms, in Lekki, Lagos, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Surulere, Lagos, and Shoprite, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. On daily basis, these one-stop shop records huge crowds. There’s only one aim-shopping. The atmosphere on this day at Ikeja Shoprite was cozy; the harmattan makes it enjoyable. Lagosians will savour the moment while it last, no doubt.

The Ikeja shoprite has its own ambiance, the influx of people, the long stretch of cars in the parking lot decorated with paving stone. Other cars were seen struggling to go into the outlet, not minding the parking fees which reads in minutes, and seconds; the flashes of light from phones, clicking of camera sound; intermittent noise from children on the elevator to those doing window shopping; mothers holding their children in one hand, and a tray on the other hand, picking items on the shelves; the patronage is mindblowing. Shoprite is enticing.

Andrew Alokwe, Administrative Clerk, Shoprite, affirms

the attraction to the retail supermarket as a general knowledge in Lagos where everybody goes for classy and affordable lifestyle.

The reception, hospitality customers receive is one among many factors people throng the outlet to shop. “If there is somewhere you can buy this paper for instance for N10 in the market and there is somewhere else you can get it for N50, but when you get to that place, the reception, the way they welcome you, the air conditioner, the environment, you will not mind paying the money for the items. Nigerians are usually carried away by such packaging and conducive environment,” Alokwe emphasized.

He reiterated that customers put lots of things into consideration before patronizing Shoprite. “It is based on personal opinion, the goods here are very cheap; some think it is a foreign establishment and that also contributes to the drive; it is also based on what people see that made them to come here. There is also the quest for quality product; Ipodo, Ikeja market people want quality product.

People want quality service, the way you attend to me will make me want to come next time to shop, but if you treat a customer in despicable manThere is the ner, that customer will be conquest for quality templating whether to come or go to somewhere else,” he said. products and “The other thing is the ambiquality services ance. It is cool, nice, friendly, a place where people can easily go to shop without any form of harassment, unlike our local markets. A typical market woman will tell you that this item is N100 and you respond can l pay N70. Before you know what is happening, she starts

insulting you and calling you all sorts of names, which is different from the Shoprite setting. The prizes are on the item you want to buy. All you need do is pick the item and head to the cashier, make payment and get receipt. Off you go.”

He added that Shoprite is the first of its kind. “l do not think there’s any other retail outfit that has gained more publicity like Shoprite in Nigeria. Maybe, outside the country, you talk about Wal-Mart, and the rest of them, but in Nigeria, Shoprite is one of its kind.”

During the festive season,

the last Christmas and New Year celebration, the crowd in the spot is unprecedented. People struggled to gain entrance to the retail outlet. Curtailing such issues, Alokwe disclosed the Shoprite foresaw such and measures were put in place.

“To ensure that customers did not stay too long before making their payment, we made sure that all the T’s where customers make payment are open from number 1-25 to accommodate people, so that more people can be on a particular cashier, CONT INU E D FROM PAGE 28

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

27

From a sublime beginning to a crowded commercial hub

Old B

Busy Broad Street CONTINUED FROM PAG E 25

during 1963 when Nigeria became a republic. It was an area that was really enveloped in serenity, the kind that you find in reserved areas because the place was sparsely populated. Despite the fact that you find companies like Kingsway, and a few banks on the street, there was still coolness in the

atmosphere. Honestly, it was a beauty to behold unlike the kind of rowdiness we have around there today.

“The socio-religious activities around Broad Street made Broad Street exciting because crème-de-la crème members of the society were usually attracted to the area through the regularly held religious and social gatherings. Night life was great then as there was relative assuring security

and free movement of people which was also aided through uninterrupted power supply everywhere,” Adedigba said.

Pointing to the factor of education as the agent of change, he noted that “what led to the transformation of the area cannot be divorced from civilization that accompanied Nigerians who traveled abroad for studies. The need to replicate the modernity of the western

By the late 70’s and the turn of 80’s, Broad Street had largely become a commercial hub from what it was originally earmarked to be

Freedom park on Broad Street

Another section of Broad Street

r o ad

S tr e e

t

world ushered the necessity to let some of the ancient structures in the area give way. Gradually, corporate companies and financial institutions started coming to buy properties which were converted into the several magnificent buildings that now occupy the Broad Street landscape.”

Elder Abiodun Assogba, a fashion executive who had been visiting and transacting business on the Island since over three decades, added that the prospects for huge monetary benefits played prominently in the emergence of Broad Street as it is known today.

He said that the monumental quantum of commercial activities and relations facilitated the decision of corporate organisations and financial institutions to cite their headquarters and offices on Broad Street. The property owners, he added were also propelled by the consideration for huge monetary gain in the disposal of their residential buildings. “It was on this steady but gradual property disposal that Broad Street transposed from being a serene residential area into the upbeat commercial community that it is known today. By the late 70’s and the turn of 80’s, Broad Street had largely become a commercial hub from what it was originally earmarked to be,” he said.

However, as Broad Street stands today, playing vital role in the Central Business District of the Lagos Island, it behooves the relevant authorities to find how total sanity can be enshrined in the area so that the anticipated benefits accruable there from can be maximally appropriated.

28

Life | Mega City

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

making payment, and our security personel mount different sections of the store to ensure that shop lifting is minimal.”

No doubt, attention is shifting to retail outlets in the country, which is gradually taking toll on the local market. This is really having negative effect on local market patronage, and with the issue of cashless policy embarked upon by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, it makes it easier for people to walk into any retail shop with their debit card, ATM and pay, using POS device without carrying cash, which the local market, that woman selling fish, and tomatoes don’t have.

Some customers at Shoprite bared their minds on why they prefer shopping at the spot, not minding the distance than going to local market. Oladipupo, who simply wants to be identified by his first name said he prefers Shoprite because of the product quality. “The reason why I always come here to shop is because their prices are cheap, compared to the prize you get some items in the market. Again, their products are good. They sell quality, and the authenticity is there.”

He notes that the spot is strategic where people can easily have access to. “I came to pick some items in lkeja and I said, let me come here and pick something for my family; the location is good. Anyway, my place is not far from here and lkeja is a centralized area. It is a commercial centre, where people come to do lots of things, coupled with the name, Shoprite. It attracts people to the place.”

A customer, who pleaded

Agege market

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Down time for local markets

Shoppers inside the Ikeja City Mall

anonymity but resides in Agege, Lagos, where there are lots of market spread around the vicinity, abandoned all the markets to shop in Shoprite. “The reason is because the prizes are reasonable, and the

goods are very good.”

Alhough, Silva Osareme resides very close to the outlet, she only came to watch a movie and decided to pick some items in Shoprite. “I actually came to watch a movie and

it is being delayed. That is the reason why I came here to pick one or two things before l can go and watch the movie.”

Comparing Shoprite’s prize to the local market, the items prices varies. Items in local market are much cheaper than those in Shoprite, though not all the items.

For instance, Bobo drink for little children which is sold at the rate of N50 in local market, goes for 44.99 at Shoprite; Air wick drummer air freshener in local market is N120, but it is 109.99 in Shoprite; Cabbage, which is sold between N400 and500 depending on the size is sold for N869.99 in Shoprite; Malta Guinness is sold for N100, in local market it is N109.99 in Shoprite; disposable cup goes for N500 at the market, but it goes for N579.99 in Shoprite; Duracell battery is sold for N700 at the local market, in Shoprite it is sold for N799.99; Amstel Malta with bottle in Shoprite is N109.99, local market do not sell with bottle, and without bottle in local market is N100; Ribena Black Currant in Shoprite is N239.99, local market is N250; Lucozade Boost is sold for N 279.99, in Shoprite, but local market is N250; Chi Exotic Pineapple and Coconut Nectar is sold N291.99 in Shoprite, local market is N250 respectively. It is however a matter of preference, convenience and affordability for customers.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

29

Poor attitude to safety, responsible for collapsed buildings – Ayinde Town Planner Toyin Ayinde is the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State. In this interview with MURITALA AYINLA, he gives reason for frequent incidences of building collapse in the state, his achievements in office, efforts of the government at eliminating the bottleneck in getting building approval in Lagos and other sundry issues. Excerpts: Getting building approval is a difficult task for many prospective landlords in Lagos State, what have you done to reduce the bureaucratic bottleneck in processing building approval? hen people occupy offices, there are a number of things that may be noticed and other that may not be noticed because they are actually intangible result. There are things that you may just know that there is an oral of change. So, it is not all of it that you can count in terms of physical achievement, some may just be psychological and I will give an example.

I know for a fact that before I came in as an honourable commissioner, it was almost impossible for you to bring in an application to the town planning office and they will be able to tell you how long it was going to take to process it. That was because discretion had been taken away from officer who ordinarily should have been able to take decision. Over time we have been able to rebuild the confidence of the officers and allow people to do their work with limited interference. That for example, is intangible but the applicant may know it a as form of result. For example before I came into office I processed a six-floor approval for five years and if right now you can process a fifteen-floor approval for between 3 and 5 months, you able to see the difference. This is not to say that there are no applications that take longer than that.

All of that will depend on the amount of information that the applicant was able t provide because the application can get clog on the way if the applicant failed to submit some documents. For example, if it is found that the statutory requirement like taxes have not been paid and when an applicant is assessed he goes away for another six months to go and sort out his tax papers. The application waits. Whenever he sorts out his tax papers, the application may not just jump back to the queue. It is like when driving on the road and you discover that you need to check something in your car, as you park; various other vehicles have past y o u .

When you get back to the road, the first t h i n g i s that you can’t achieve the speed you are on immediately. The second thing is that so many vehicles have gone ahead of you that will now clog the way, so you may not get to the destination as far as you think.

W

But how come it takes years for people to get approval despite the innovation you introduced?

That is where I’m coming to. It happens when people do not submit the required documents at the right time.

Then that clogging is as a result of in-

adequate information provided by the applicant. So we have been able to improve service delivery in terms of that. One of those things that I will say I introduced is presubmission screening that is; you screen application before they are brought in. The idea is to remove the clogging in the processing period. What this allows us to do is to look through your drawing before we make any assessment charges.

So, we look through your drawings proposal. If there is anything you need to amend, we give them back to you. We will keep giving them back to you until you have drawing that we can process and the ideas is that once we have certified that those drawings are approvable, we put them in what we expect to see is to have them out following due process. So, it removed the usual comment on the application. Sometimes the owners of the application may not know that there are comments on their applications for months because they would not check. So, once we have eliminated that, we move faster.

Beyond the reducing the clogging in the building approval application, what else have you done to improve the standard?

I have also ensured collaboration of other professionals in the construction industry in the planning process. Before, it didn’t matter who was screening the architectural drawing but now we have insisted that architect must be the one screening drawings and signing off to their functionality and safety and the aesthetical provisions. We have also ensured that they are making use of our engineers, the mechanical and electrical

engineers in all of these plans so that we can have a very safe development. One other thing we are trying to do is to raise the standard of practice; the practice at the public sector level. If we go back a few years and look at the model city plans that we have prepared in-house then and compare with the ones prepared now, you will notice that there is a far difference. What this means is that if at the public sector we able to raise the standard, it means the private sector can’t bring rubbish here. They also know that to bring anything here you must bring what makes sense, what is functional and aesthetic. So we have been able improve on the quality of work as far is building plans are.

But it is one thing for a state to have a good megacity; it is another to have the political will to implement it. What are you doing to ensure that the plans won’t be a mere paper work but implemented even when you must have left office?

Thank you. One of the things you must realise is that planning is often the business of government but development is the business of everybody. So, if for example, I planned that there should be 25-floor buildings; it is not government that will bring those 25-floor buildings there, it’s the private sector and other people who come.

So, implementing is in the hands of every one of us.

But how we will ensure that what we have planned is what is being implemented. This is one of the reasons we look at plans that are brought in for approvals. We look at the professionals handling the projects because it involves profes-

Ayinde

sionalism to get the result of what we have on paper on ground. So, it is not government alone that will build.

In the area of physical development and relocation of some structures, what have you been able to improve?

We look at the relocation of OkoBaba to Agbowa Ikosi Ejirin. On that project, we can estimate that about 70 percent is completed. The plan now is to start the movement of the saw millers by April this year. We have had some hitches but based on our last discussion at the executive council, we will begin a phase movement. Initially, we were looking at completing everything before we start moving. Oko Baba itself didn’t develop once. Oko Baba plank market is about 80 years old. Then, Isale Igangan project is another flagship model of urban regeneration project that we have embarked upon. The model is clustering together small family lots. And in the case f Isale Igangan Phase 1, we have pulled about 11 families together to build one whole building of about 11 floors. Right now the project has been completed and it is finishing works that are going on now. We also have the phase II that we are working on. We have relocated the whole of the families. We paid them relocation fees and we brought down the buildings. We are also finalising the regulations backing up the 210 law, we have to update your regulations to meet the requirement of the new law.

What are you doing to minimise the frequent incidences of collapse building in Lagos?

Incidents of collapse building will not be because of who is in office. Collapse of building will be the ability of our system to recognise a value of life.

If we recognise a value of life, it will influence how we build our houses. If you look very well, you realise that that it is rear to see a building constructed by a renowned construction company to collapse. Buildings that collapse are those built in piece meal. In Nigeria, we build incrementally. There are very few people in Nigeria who build from foundation and to completion level nonstop. So, what people have resulted to is self-help.

On their meagre salaries they go to purchase land because the landlord is demanding N250,000 and above per annum, they decide to buy their own land. Once such a person buys the land, he will not realise that the N250,000 won’t buy the whole cement and the iron rods needed. Hence you want to build according to the money you have. The tendency is to see how you can maximise the little CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

30

Life | Local Government Watch

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ashade market: Where adults queue for food Ezekiel Adesawe and Ruth Okocha

M

ost people passing through Ashade, along Guiness road in Agege area of Lagos State would wonder why there is constant holdup on that road. After New Telegraph visited the scene, the reason behind the occurrence was found.

Along this road is a food vendor popularly called Amala joint by its customers. When Daily Telegraph arrived the scene, luxurious vehicles were parked outside this local joint. A closer look at the exterior part of the joint, it is obvious that people from different works of life, cultural background, beliefs and occupation queued up with plates in their hands waiting to receive their soups and goat meats, while those in the interior were settled enjoying the various delicacies in front of them and one wonders what the attraction could be.

In the Ashade market, the restaurant has expanded to three different shops, where four women are stationed in one of the shops used as a kitchen for cooking

while two other women are in another of the shops, which doubles as the arena where foods are dispensed out and where the customers conveniently enjoy their food.

Meanwhile, a man is right beside the food vendors to receive cash from the customers. Another man takes charge of clearing dishes after use and serving water to the customers.

After a brief chat with the customers, different amazing reasons were discovered to be the attraction. According to James David, a tricycle driver, he likes the place; the food is good. He also said he likes everything about the place and that it was his brother, a fellow kekenapep driver, who introduced him to the place. Since then, he has been, a regular customer.

A woman, who simply gave her name as Tolanikawo, said the food she likes to eat here is tasty and delectable; hence, she always enjoys her time eating at the restaurant. She went further to say that she comes there, at least, thrice a week from Oshodi and this time, she came along with a

Queuing to purchase food

friend. She also said of all the available dishes, she enjoys Amala.

One of the regular visitors of the restaurant, who does not want to be mentioned in print, pointed out that the local restaurant with regards to its location, close to companies and in the heart of Ashade market, has drawn in different calibre of people within and beyond the boundaries of the state. He went further to trace that before the owner of the restaurant started the business, there were other small shops around that sell local dishes but they were soon forced out of business when she started, owing to her ingenuity in making local dishes.

According to him, the owner has been able to win the hearts of her customers, because of the popular goat meat that she sells, and this has invariably made her employ more hands to assist her in attending to the numerous customers that wait in turn to be attended to at her

restaurant.

Dr. Olatunji Vincent, is a civil servant based in Abuja for 10 years. But whenever he comes around to Lagos, he will not miss coming to this restaurant for any other, on the grounds that “the location is convenient and the foods here have local touch. It’s a local place, quite small, it has no air conditioner. That’s the reason you eat and as well sweat. I have been eating here for five years now.”

For the past three months, Alhaji Usman Ahmed has been enjoying a local delicacy known as Amala, which is common among the Yoruba people. While responding to the reason he prefers the restaurant, he said, “they give me the taste that I want. Despite the fact that I am a Hausa man, I like eating Amala here every day, except for days they don’t come.

I live here in Agege but I travel down to Abeokuta for business; still I make sure I come here to eat my favourite food.”

Poor attitude to safety, responsible for collapsed buildings – Ayinde CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

fund you have and that is where people begin to manage materials. So, where you need 10 bags of cement, you will want manage 8 or 7 bags in trying to cut corners. You will fail to realise that you are reducing the quality of the building. You are also reducing the safety of that building and once you lose safety, you are endangering man’s life. That is why I said that if we can place value on the life of man. If you are building and you have consideration for the safety of those who will live in the building, you will ask your engineer to do the right thing. When considering the likelihood of the collapse of a structure, you should not consider the loss of the materials alone but the loss of lives. That is what will determine our getting out of collapse issues.

Building a house in Lagos is seen as a major obstacle by some residents. To those dreaming of building a house in the state, what are the steps they need to take?

We must learn to follow process; a child born in a day doesn’t become a man. The year he enters the university is not the year he will graduate. We must all understand that there is a process to life. So, I don’t know where we got the idea of microwaves; the ideas of getting everything done in a hurry.

That is really our problems. We hurry too much and we hurry into problems.

Now, people shouldn’t buy land first and then begin to ask where they are supposed to do the plan. They should ask: What do I need to do to buy land? Where will I have get land that is suitable for the building? Those questions alone

will unravel a number of possibilities regarding whether there is land and who owns the land? Does the land belong to the government or private individuals? If it is government, what is the land zoned for? Is it industry or market or recreational area? Or is it residential area? Is the land an acquired area or a committed acquisition or free of government scheme? If the land belongs to the government for example, you are in trouble because you can’t get title document. So, people are supposed to first investigate even before they buy land.

The question is: Who owns it? What is it zoned for? That is when you can know what you can develop on it. If you know who owns it and what the land is zoned for and it meets your requirement that is when you can purchase the land. It is assumed that there is a survey of that place telling you the size of it. So, a land surveyor would have been involved. When you get the perimeter survey from the land surveyor, you will now give it to your architect who now takes it for a design. A good architect will like to know your site because land is not homogenous.

But how many Nigerians can engage the service of the experts in building?

That is the problem! For building not to fail, you need to engage the service of the experts. There are houses that in their bathrooms the water cannot drain. So, when you take your bath in the bathroom you need to use broom to sweep the water, such a house has failed.

Failure is not just in term of the crack in the building. The building fails the moment it is not achieving its function.

Many people look at the cost of engag-

the project. When we were confronted with the issues of abandoned buildings, a lot of the owners said it was funding that stopped them from continuing on the project but they said they had guards. So, it is difficult for government to takeover building that has a guard.

There are times that some of the building may have court case on them, so when there is a legal suit on a building, you can’t take it over.

Ayinde

ing experts. It is like the cost education and ignorance. That is why some people have not only lost the building but also lives during incidence of collapse building.

What is the state government doing over growing number of abandoned buildings in the state and the threat to the security of lives and properties of the residents?

The question we should ask ourselves is what is abandoned? Often times we assumed some buildings are abandoned but when you get there, you will discover that the owner put a guard in such buildings. I said earlier that we build incrementally in Nigeria.

That is why are some buildings are left for sometimes? It is because the owner don’t have sufficient fund to complete

Is it right for people live in a building under construction especially in storey buildings whose lower floors are already occupied?

Ideally, it not right but we are still looking at it. If you look at even some of our churches, they take the building construction to certain level and put zinc to cover it to enable them to continue with the church service until they get money for decking. Then, they worship under the decking until the building is completed. When you look at the safety of a construction environment it is not ideal for anyone to be living there. May be one can conduct some activities there and move out and that is why in the case of the churches it is big different. They won’t live there they will just conduct service and get out. It is dangerous to live in building under construction because once construction is on certain things can be thrown out such as: Nails, stones and granite etc.

What advice do you have for those who are indulging in this habit?

My advice for them is that construction environment should not be living environment. When construction on let it be on as construction and when it is finished people can move in.

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Poster-war: Residents sue for peace Posting of posters and bill boards are an essential inalienable part of electioneering process anywhere in the world, and it’s the preserve of political parties to maximally appropriate the privilege of that intrinsic provision. But efforts to exercise that fundamental part of the electioneering process in the Centre of Excellence seems to be under threat as the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Police and The Lagos State Advertising Agency,LASAA, are engaged in an altercation which intends to curtail that freedom. ELIJAH SAMUEL presents the residents’ standpoints on the simmering Alhaji Kamar Abdullahi his is election time and everybody has the right to paste posters. It’s part of the politicking. So, the state government should realize that and not try to stop persons going about the politicking business, at least for the next two months. Let them try to give this orientation to LASAA, the agency responsible for the regulation of poster-pasting in the state.

T

Matthew Olarinde Everybody wants to be seen as being alive to assign responsibilities. The police are defending the right of the citizens. Again, the political parties are all trying to outsmart one another in the political game through the ongoing electioneering process.

Apparently, LASAA wants to display its relevance during this season and also impress the paymasters. Anyway, displaying of posters and billboards is on activity that cannot be separated from electioneering process in the world. The APC as the ruling party should be tolerant of other political parties and their candidates, so that the electioneering process may end peacefully.

OTUNBA GEORGE OLUMUYIWA I see the whole thing being politicized. Although there is a subsisting rule that the state cannot and should not be defaced, what led to the ongoing poster-war was the barrage of complaints to the Commissioner of Police about the discriminatory treatment being meted to them by agents of the state government.

We know it’s all about the brouhaha between the APC and the PDP, but they should let common sense prevail in this period when Nigerians are expected to exercise their franchise. The Federal Government, through the police should be careful, while LASAA should not victimize any candidate. They should allow this democracy to work by creating level-playing ground for all the participants.

SIR EMEKA NWOKEDI My position is that before now, Lagos State has created laws guiding advertorials and advertisement posters.

So, if there is a procedure to acquire permission for pasting of posters, let that be followed. But the state govern-

Wall of posters

ment should not also deprive members of the public, irrespective of political affiliation, the right to exercise their right which must be done within the confines of the law. This is necessary, so that there will be orderliness and sanity. We should follow process and be mature in politics like in the advanced democracies of the world.

ABIODUN ASSOGBA The state government always bears the brunt of removing posters and bills which are always associated with exercise like this.

Whether those posters belong to their party members or those of the opposition parties, the grudge is that those things are defacing the state.

I think this is what the state is fighting against. If they have rules guiding such activity in the state, let such be complied with, irrespective of party affiliation, so that the peace of the state can continue to be safeguarded.

ADEMOLA ADEDIGBA Honestly, the pasting of the posters is truly defacing the city. But because this period is the time for electioncampaign activities, poster and bills that have to do with electioneering cannot be dissociated from the political parties involved. On the whole, let everything be regulated without any discrimination.

ALHAJI SANNI MOHAMMED We are not happy with the present situation of things in the country. That’s why we must guard this ongoing democratic effort that is intended to make peaceful change in the polity possible.

We should be careful on the

issue of pasting and removing of election posters in the state.

There should be a unified and non-discriminatory regulation on the issue of posters in the state. Let us continue to maintain the harmony and peace of coexistence. This guarantees the assurance of diverse survival endeavours that we make on daily basis within the state.

The beauty of democracy is the availability to make choice of who will govern or represent the people. The will and the freedom of the people must not be circumvented.

AYODE LONGE There needs to be research, engagement and litigation to resolve the issue. The opposition needs to do a survey of its posters being removed or defaced, and thereafter try to compare its findings so as to know how many of APC’s posters are being removed or defaced. A report of its findings can then be written and published.

Again, they should endeavour to find out what the Lagos State laws say about pasting of posters in Lagos; they can objectively analyze and publicize their findings in their report.

Yet, I believe the opposition can sit with the LASAA and agree on what is possible or what it is ready to concede considering that we are in the period of election. If these don’t work, they should go to court. Anything outside of this will amount to a violation of the rule of law. I believe the Police should abide by the rule of law and not constitute itself into interpreters and enforcers of the law.

I believe that people should be allowed to paste their posters but there should also be an agreement on how to clean up after the election.

31

My City, My World ‘Nothing interests me about Lagos’ Ezekiel Adesawe Olatunji Viincent Dher.ishas a public servant, been in the

Lagos metropolis for quite a number of years but for some reasons he detests, he has relocated to Abuja with his family.

Although he still comes by to Lagos for business and Vincent other things. To him, Lagos is just too rough and traffic too much. Lagos has a lot of bad roads that have been over stretched and has led to a failure of effective road network. There is no good water system that will serve the whole of Lagosians, not only the water system but also the power supply is nothing to write home about. Actually, there is nothing interesting to me about Lagos state. If I have my way, I won’t come to Lagos again, I prefer my Abuja.

If we are to really look into the problem, there is no one particularly to be blamed for the predicament of Lagos state. For me, Lagos has decayed over time and unfortunately nothing really is done to revive it.

Take for instance; when the former governor of Lagos state, PA Lateef Jakande, was in office, he proposed a metro line that would have, if it was executed, solved the issue of transportation that has now become the nightmare of lagosians today.

Another thing that disinterests me about Lagos state is that the resources is not commiserate with the population available. Lagos is dealing with the issue of over-population. An average Nigerian wants to live in Lagos, perhaps for business, education, pleasure, and many other things, but the resources is not able to serve everyone, and that is the problem.

The rate at which Lagos state is going, it is unprecedented and there is no way the state will improve, not even without enough resources.

Land with many varieties – Wellington Ruth Okocha ellington Francis was born many W years ago and now a

businessman in Lagos, to him Lagos is a land with so many varieties, He believes it is the centre o f business in Nigeria, both for local and multinational firms, it is a place Wellington where anything can happen, I can say that the Lagos state government is really working, from infrastructural development to educational reform in the state. I would like to remind you of the recent reduction of Lagos state university school fees, although it was done after several consultations and confrontation by the University students.

Also, another fascinating thing about this state is that the government has continued to transform Lagos state into a mega city. Even as it is reducing and combating corruption. Though a lot still needs to be done but I think they are trying the best they can. The government has also been able to create job opportunities through the initiative of the governors and commissioners.

However, the local governments in Lagos state still need to do more to inspire genuine development but at the state level, they have really tried.

In the aspect of security, the state government has immensely contributed to the safety of lives and properties, if you take a look at the situation in the North, it is different from what we have here Lagos On the other side of the coin about Lagos, which is a matter of fact, the cost of living in Lagos is on the high side right now, may be due to the economic situation of the country and finally, the health aspect of the state is not palatable at all, I think a lot should be done in that aspect.

32

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

UPCOMING EVENTS

Offshore West Africa (OWA) 2015

Organiser: PennWell Date: January 20, 2015, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Venue: Eko Hotel and Suites 1415 Adetokunbo, Ademola Street Victoria Island, Lagos

International Educational Fair 2015 Organiser: MOD Education Date: January 17, 2015, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Venue: Multiple Locations Lagos, Benin, Abuja, Uyo, Port Harcout Lagos

Winning Edge Women Conference Organiser: Winning Edge Foundation Date: January 16, 2015, 4:00 PM Venue: Tafawa Balewa Square Lagos Island, Lagos

All Champions Transformational Summit 2015 Organiser: GEMSTONE Speakers Network Date: January 15, 2015, 4:00 PM -10:00 AM Venue: Lagos, Nigeria

January Home Theater Friday

Organiser: Nollywood Workshops Date: January 16, 2015, 6:00 PM -9:00 PM Venue: Co-Creation Hub Nigeria 294 Herbert Macaulay Road Lagos

Bankable BusinessPlan Workshop (BBW) 2.0

Organiser: Kinetic Associates Date: January 17, 2015, 8:00 AM -3:00 PM Venue: 33 Awolowo way Ikeja, Lagos 23401 Nigeria

MEGA CITY EVENTS CHIEF JOHN ODEYEMI SON’S WEDDING IN LAGOS

The new couple Akinloye and Adeola at their wedding held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Victory Chapel, Magodo GRA Phase11, Lagos.

L-R: Mrs. Abimbola Popoola, Mr. Abiola Popoola chairman of the occasion, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa,Chief John Agboola Odeyemi and Chief Mrs Kofoworola Odeyemi Grooms Parent’s; Alhaji Remi Bello and His wife Alhaja Nike Bello with the Bride’s Parent’s Dr. Mrs Olabo Osude and Arc.Adekunle Osude.

PHOTO;SULEIMAN HUSAINI

SENATOR GANIYU SOLOMON’S BIRTHDAY IN LAGOS

The celebrant, Sen. Ganiyu Solomon and his wife, Aderonke

Politics Editor, ThisDay Newspapers, Olawale Olaleye and Lagos State All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant, Tokunbo Wahab

WEDDING CEREMONY OF OLUWAKEMI DAUGHTER OF VICE ADMIRAL ADEKEYE

Adeniyi Sefiudeen Balogun and his wife Oluwakemi Aminat, cutting their wedding cake, at the wedding reception.

from left: Alh, Bilikisu Bolaji Balogun, Groom’s Mother. Alhaji Muahmmed Balogun, Groom’s Father, Vice Admiral [Rtd] Ganiyu Adekeye, Bride’s Father and Hajia Fatimah Adekeye. Bride’s Mother, at the reception.

PHOTO;SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Business | The Investor

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Chris Ugwu

I

t is no longer news that Ikeja Hotels, like any other hospitality industry, is faced with many challenges including instability in power supply, security, negative global publicity and the effects of the general issues facing the growth of tourism in Nigeria. What is news is that the fight within the Ibru family over the ownership of the hotel in which the late Alex Ibru has significant shareholding is getting messier by the day.

The hotel is one of those companies in hospitality market that have remained under cost pressures on many fronts as it struggles with high financial leverage and tight top-line. While the turnover witnessed low growth and the company held tightly to operating expenses, finance expenses has continued to weaken the bottom-line as it has remained susceptible to the challenges facing the hospitality industry in Nigeria.

Financials Ikeja Hotels Plc has continued to struggle with lower revenue and declining bottom-line as it recorded a 60.4 per cent drop in pre-tax profit during the financial year ended December 2013.

A cursory look at its second quarter 2014 financials showed that the company posted 17.4 per cent drop in revenue during the half year ended June 30, 2014, as it continues to grapple with operating challenges.

In a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the financial statement for the first six months through June 2014, showed that the company’s revenue fell by 17.4 per cent to N2.73 billion from N3.20 billion the same period of the corresponding year of 2013.

The company recorded a loss after tax of N41.561 million during the period under review as against profit of N527.790 million posted in the comparable period of 2013.

The controversy However, the crisis over the ownership of the hotel deepened following convergence of some shareholders at an “Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Ikeja Hotel Plc” at Sheraton Lagos Hotel on Tuesday, January 7, 2015, to remove the Chairman of the company, Goodie Ibru.

A group led by Mrs Maiden Ibru, widow of late Guardian publisher, Mr Alex Ibru, had on account of the order of a Federal High Court, Lagos, held a botched Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM) outside the Sheraton hotel premises.

On the other hand, the other members of the Ibru family, led by Mr Goodie Ibru, through an ex-parte injunction from the Federal High Court, Abuja, restrained Mrs Ibru from calling an EGM or representing her late husband’s investment vehicles holding shares in Ikeja Hotels Plc. Goodie Ibru’s group said that its ex-parte motion was as a sequel to litigation between the children of Alex Ibru’s first wife, Mrs Helen Ibru, and those of his second wife, Mrs Maiden Ibru.

But some shareholders of the hotel, against a court order, on January 7, purportedly sacked Goddie Ibru as the chairman and director of the company over alleged corporate governance infractions.

Also at the EGM, the shareholders appointed Mr Olumide Braithwaite and Mr Tunde Sarumi as directors of the company.

They also appointed KPMG Nigeria Ltd to carry out a forensic audit of the management of the company from 1999 to 2014, when Ibru was chairman.

33

Ikeja Hotels Plc’s ownership crisis deepens

Goodie

The shareholders also mandated KPMG to carry out a forensic audit of the share register and verification of the funding and payment for the shares of the company by holders, directly or indirectly, amounting to two per cent or more.

Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), also a shareholder in the hotel Mr, Rasheed Olaoluwa, presided over the meeting as interim chairman appointed by the shareholders.

The meeting was held amidst drama as the shareholders were barred from entering the premises of Sheraton Hotels following a court injunction granted a faction of the Ibru by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Shareholders grouse According to the General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Adeleke Adebayo, the frustration on the part of shareholders that they have not gotten commensurate value for their investment for so long triggered this incident.

“People are simply demanding for a restructuring of the board and for more accountability. There are lots of issues in Ikeja Hotel which ought to be addressed.

For the past six years, no dividend has been paid. In this EGM, KPMG has been appointed to carry out forensic audit based on what has been happening to the company over the years. We want to act with the professional report.”

According to him, “there was a court order obtained earlier in December 2014 to convene this meeting. The shareholders are resident mostly in Lagos. All the principal actors are residents in Lagos.

The residence of the business is in Lagos. Somebody now went to Abuja to get an injunction. That injunction that he even got does not vacate injunction that exists. It does not say that this meeting should not hold, he said.

The President, Nigerian Solidarity Shareholders Front, Timothy Adesiyan, said: “We are rescuing this company from the hands of a cabal. We are legally authorised to hold this meeting.

We want to remove the virus that is eat-

Maiden

Ikeja Hotels Plc has continued to struggle with lower revenue and declining bottom-line as it recorded a 60.4 per cent drop in pre-tax profit during the financial year ended December 2013

ing deep into this company.

The President, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, said: “For the past six years, no dividend. We only received 10 kobo dividend in 2009 which was paid in 2010 and Goodie occupied the whole eighth floor. Let them give way so that we run this company to profitability.

“We want a change, the company must be salvaged from this mess. For the past five years, no returns, even the people that contributed immensely to the growth of the company, you did not put them on the board. We have three companies as subsidiaries but they refused to pay dividend.

Embattled chairman’s reaction Mr Goodie Ibru described his purported removal as the chairman of Ikeja Hotels Plc as false and misleading.

At a press conference recently in Lagos, Ibru said the EGM that removed him was not properly convened.

“We have over 14,000 shareholders, none of whom were issued with the notice required by section 220-222 CAMA 2004; nor were they afforded the opportunity to appoint proxies to vote in their stead. The fact that a purported notice

was published in The Guardian newspaper is not sufficient.

“I should also point out that I was not personally served with notice of intention to remove me nor was I afforded the opportunity to make a statement in my defence, both of which are my rights under CAMA 2004,” he said.

Ibru noted that the purported EGM mounted illegality upon illegitimacy with such reckless disregard for due process as to scandalise anyone with even the most passing familiarity with the capital markets.

“Even more seriously, the requisition sought to hold their meeting in contempt of not one but two restraining orders from Nigerian courts - the first from Suite No. LD/114/2013, brought by the first three children of my late brother Alex Ibru, and the second from Suit No.FHC/ABJ/PET/17/2014, brought by my sisters Mabel and Grace Ibru.”

He noted that the purported EGM was requisitioned by the publisher of The Guardian newspaper, Maiden Ibru, ostensibly acting as the representative of Dadifoll Limited, RFC Limited and Alurum Limited, which, according to him, form part of the Estate of her “husband and my brother – the late Alex Ibru.

“My brother’s estate has not been admitted to probate; it is, in fact, the subject of dispute. Also in dispute is Maiden Ibru’s right to represent the companies and trusts of which it consists. There is litigation surrounding these issues on-going at Lagos State High Court, the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja, and the Federal Court of Appeal; and the litigation includes Suit No. LD/114/2013 brought by my nieces, the first three children of my brother Alex,” he said.

Ibru noted that the Federal High Court had issued an order restraining Maiden Ibru from representing the companies comprising Alex Ibru’s estate in the affairs of Ikeja Hotel Plc. “More particularly, the order restrains her from holding the EGM purportedly fixed for January 6, 2015. This order is an addition to another order from the Lagos State High Court in Suit No: LD/114/2013 restraining her from meddling in the estate of Alex Ibru.

“Maiden Ibru and representatives of certain other shareholders acted in contempt of these court orders, and attempted to force themselves onto the premises of Sheraton Lagos Hotels to hold this illegitimate and unlawful EGM. It should go without saying that any resolution passed at these farcical proceedings should not and cannot be recognised, and we will be challenging them accordingly.

The architects of this carnival have characterised it as a popular revolt by aggrieved shareholders against an overbearing board. This is deeply misrepresentative of the truth,” he said.

Conclusion The hit at the top-line level, according to market watchers, was caused by operating challenges such as increased competition from new entrants like Intercontinental Hotel and others in the whole of Lagos metropolis. However, there is need for quick resolution of the current crisis rocking the company to enable it remain competitive in the industry.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

34

Maritime

NPA, VIO to partner on truck breakdowns p.35

Customs realise N284bn from Tincan Port p.35

Aerial view of the Lagos Port complex, Apapa.

It may not be business as usual for the maritime operators in the first six months of the year due to the economy downturn and elections in the first quarter of the year. However, experts in the sector have predicted that shipping business would pick from July, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports.

Maritime operators fret over shipping sector in Q1 had led to more positive shortterm prospects for crude oil tankers. In the clean segment, the estimated supply growth for 2015 is 4.6per cent over the 4.3 per cent in 2014.

S

takeholders have said that the down turn in the nation’s economy would affect the maritime industry this year.

They explained that the old policies put in place by the Federal Government may not play significant role to move the port sector forward. Some of the policies include ban on importation of rice, wheat, fish and more tariff on used vehicles.

The National President, Nigerian Institute of Freight Forwarding (NIFF), Dr. Zebulon Ikokide said stakeholders in the sector should tighten their belts to face the challenges that they may likely face in the first quarter.

He explained that politicians and policy makers would prefer to focus on the forthcoming elections rather than the economy.

Ikokide stressed that business activities may not pick up until the second quarter of the year.

He added that waivers being granted on palm oil importation and other imports would affect the economy because of the weak Naira.

Ikokide urged government to review its policies on rice, sugar, palm oil and maize importation to enable the local farmers compete.

Also, the Managing Director of Okpoto Logistics, Mr Samuel Elem said that importers may face hard time because of the

MD, NPA, Habib Abdullahi

Customs CG, Abdullahi Dikko

current exchange rate.

He noted that lack of policy implantation will continue to whittle the sector down.

According to him: “Government planned to ban importation of rice in 2015 without commensurate local production. Now, importers of used vehicles will pay more from January 1, 2015.”

Shipping outlook More ships are expected to berth at the major seaports in Nigeria this year, due to the improve navigation channel. For, instance, in the third quarter of 2014, a total of 1,405 oceans going vessels called at all Nigerian Ports as against a total of 1,366 vessels that called at the same period in 2013 representing an increase of 2.9 per cent The total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of all ocean going vessels in the third quarter 2014 amounted to 38,047,705 metric tons representing an increase of 9.8 per cent increase over the GRT of 34,640,530 Metric tons in the same period of 2013.

The total Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of all ocean going vessels in the third quarter of 2014 amounted to 38,047,705 metric tons

Container ships This year, container ships are expected to keep getting bigger, breaking previous size records for both individual ships and the average size across the fleet. Already, the average Twenty Equivalent Units (TEU) capacity of a 2014-newbuild has increased to 7,400 TEU, up from 6,600 TEU in 2013. In 2015, the scheduled average is 8,000 TEU. Last year, Nigerian Ports Authority recorded 277,694 TEUs of laden container throughput, showing a growth of 3 per cent over 269,625 TEUs achieved in 2013.

Dry bulk fleet Also, the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMC), the largest of the international shipping associations representing ship owners said the dry bulk fleet will expand by 5.1per cent.

It said tankers segment would grow by 1.7per cent as against the 1.3per cent in 2014.

The council observed that three years of low supply growth

Tanker market The crude oil tanker market started 2014 on a very positive note, with a five-year-high for earnings in the first quarter. The export of crude oil from Nigeria has shifted to the Far East. U.S import of crude oil from the country has been reduced to zero level.

This means that product tankers, the final quarter of 2014 contrasts greatly with the dull and flat market we have seen for most of the year. Despite US oil product export growth slowing down, it remains a positive story overall.

Freight transport According to a study by the Business Monitor International (BMI), there would be strong growth in freight transport volumes in Nigeria in 2015 and beyond due to strong real Gross Domestic Products (GDP) growth, increasing demand for consumer goods by an expanding middle class and a growing manufacturing sector. This it was learnt would all raise intermodal container volumes. The study explained that in 2015, the port of Lagos tonnage throughput forecast would increase by 5.9 per cent and to average 5.3 per cent to 2019.

Also, it said that the country’s ongoing population growth would power this. The growth in demand is driving investment into the sector, with substantial interest not only in developing new ports and expanding old ones, but also reinvigorating the country’s dilapidated rail network. Road and airfreight infrastructure are also seeing new investment.

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

35

NPA, VIO to partner on truck breakdowns NEW ORDER

of breakdown of containerladen trucks on the nation’s highways.

Port Manager at Lagos Port Complex (LPC), Nasir Mohammed, explained that the NPA was tired of trucks dropping containers on the highways, instead of warehouses.

He said that the authority would strictly enforce the implementation of minimum standard for trucks coming into the ports from this month.

Mohammed added: “We will stop rickety-looking trucks that do not meet the standard

Port authority moves against rickety container trucks Stories by Bayo Akomolaye

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he Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has resolved to engage the expertise of Lagos State Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) and Federal Road Safety Corps, as part of efforts to reduce the rising incidences

required of them from entering the ports.” He explained that the need to bring in the duo of FRSC and VIO was to ensure the entrenchment of professional counsel in the exercise.

“We are worried that trucks come into the ports to pick consignments and they breakdown on roads. We at NPA are interested that you do not only pick from the ports, but also take it safely to the owners’ warehouse or end users conveniently.

“We are not happy seeing trucks breaking down on the

roads everywhere around the country. The implementation of the minimum standard ought to have begun last year, but for the interventions and pleas from some critical stakeholders, which pleaded that, they needed more time to comply.

“We had set out to achieve full implementation last year, but along the line, we had request and complaints from critical stakeholders like the shipping companies, clearing agents, haulage companies who argued that they needed minimum time to comply and it was the last quarter of the year when importation was much.

Mohammed noted that the stakeholders had agreed to minimise full implementation of the policy to about five issues

from 2015.

He said: “The same complaint was given to us in the first quarter of 2014. We are not ready to listen to that anymore. We will turn a blind eye, because we need to improve our haulage and logistics sector.

The port manager emphasised the importance of the professionals to the implementation, adding that they would ensure objectivity and neutrality of the authority.

“When this implementation commences, we will involve VIO and FRSC. They are the critical stakeholders and we realise that we have not engaged them, but now, they must be carried along because they are the ones expected to regulate the activities of the truckers and their trucks,” he added.

IMB worries over compensation for pirates

T Members of staff of APM Terminals Apapa Limited with the children of Compassionate Orphanage, Igando, Lagos - one of the orphanages the company donated items to during Christmas.

NPA tasks workers on safety, acquires fire equipment

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igerian Ports Authority (NPA) has acquired some multi-purpose fire equipment to secure the port facility and cargo.

The equipment includes six rapid response mini fire engines, ten fire water tankers and two Bronco Sky lift (Hydraulic Platform).

Managing Director of the authority, Mallam Habib Abdullahi, also assured stakeholders in port

sector of their safety and security.

He reiterated his commitment to the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, especially in the area of safety of life and property in the maritime sector.

Abdullahi explained that the procurement of the equipment was part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the

authority.

He praised the management of Tin Can Island Port for “blazing the trail of excellence.”

In his remarks, the General Manager, Health Safety and Environment, T. Talabi, an engineer, said that the equipment were of the highest standards and could take the authority to the highest level of safety within and outside the port.

SHIPS AND CARGO EXPECTED AT LAGOS PORT IN JANUARY, 2015 SHIP

AGENT

PORT

MSK CALABAR MSK CADIZ MSK CARDIFF LORRAINE MOL NALA MOL SEABREEZE NORTHERN DIVISITY PRETTY KEEL TOUR POMEROL SEAGRACE MARIA KATHERINAS KOTA NILAM THOCO CELEBRATION

MSK NIG MSK NIG MSK NIG MSK NIG MOL MOL MOL NURA NOSAK PEAK PIL PIL RED TRANS

HARENGUS GUILIANA

SUPERMARITIME SUPERMARITIME

TONNAGE / UNIT APMT 650FCL APMT 600FCL APMT 600FCL APMT 442FCL APMT 600FCL APMT 350FCL APMT 400FCL ENL 30000MT ABTL 4000MT NOJ 12000MT APMT 390FCL APMT 129FCL ABTL/ENL/ 6014.400MT GDNL ENL/SFM 1300MT GDNL/SFM 4000MT

FRIO VLADIVOSTOK STAVENGER BREEZE COSCO FUZHOU MED BALIC

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6/01/15 18/01/15 12/01/15 12/01/15 5/01/15 8/01/15 20/01/15 7/01/15 7/01/15 6/01/15 7/01/15 13/01/15 10/01/15

249.12M 249M 249M 222M 228M 200M 244M 180M 119M 183M 209M 180M 142M

7/01/15 8/01/15

109M 127M

6/01/15 31/12/14 12/01/15 5/01/15

144M 180M 231M 124M

CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT B/RICE ETHANOL ATK CONT CONT SODA ASH F/FISH SODA ASH F/FISH PMS CONT AGO

he International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has joined other maritime organisations in condemning a decision to compensate convicted Somali pirates.

It was learnt that the criminals were responsible for taking hostage thousands of seafarers who were subjected to unprovoked violence and sometimes torture. Some seafarers have also been murdered while carrying out their lawful business on the high seas.

But last month, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered France to pay thousands of euros to the pirates, who attacked French ships in 2008. The pirates were captured by French military on the Somali coast after they hijacked two French yachts in separate attacks.

French authorities held one group for four days and the other group for six days and 16 hours before they were taken to France to stand trial.

The ECHR said that the pirates should be paid compensation because they were not immediately brought before a French court and were kept in custody for 48 hours after arriving in France. According to the judge, this was a “violation of their rights to freedom and security.”

IMB, however, said that there were practical complexities when dealing with the crime of piracy that needed to be fully appreciated.

“There are practical difficulties with respect to the gathering of evidence and transporting of the alleged perpetrators when a crime is committed at sea, thousands of miles from where the court proceedings take place, compared to a crime committed ashore,” said an IMB spokesman.

The IMB said that it was worried about the message the ECHR decision might send to other pirates and the implications it may have on shipping and seafarers’ safety.

It stated: “We hope this does not discourage the European navies from taking the required actions necessary to keep piracy suppressed along these vital international trade routes.”

A BBC report said one of the men would be awarded €9,000 and the others sums up to €7,000.

The ECHR’s decision has been criticised by seafarers’ support group, the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP).

MPHRP’s Director, Roy Paul, said that this decision would be unbelievable if the European Court of Human Rights didn’t make it.

Two liners unite for Tincan, Lome, others service

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wo shipping lines, China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) and Pacific International Lines (PIL) have teamed up to deploy 12 panamax vessels for Tincan, Lome Tema and Abidjan ports service.

The new China-West Africa service will commence next week Tuesday from Shanghai.

Seven of the vessels will be provide by PIL and five by CSCL. In a joint statement, the two

companies said that the service will make calls at Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen, Shekou, Nansha, Singapore, Lome, Tincan, Tema, Abidjan, Colombo and Port Klang.

It added: “As a lead carrier to Africa, PIL offers two other direct China-West Africa services, one direct service from India/Middle East and three feeder services to complete its West Africa network.”

36

Business | Maritime

APM Terminal donates to less-privileged children

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lobal terminal operator, APM Terminals Apapa Limited, has donated goods worth millions of naira to select orphanages and motherless babies’ homes in Lagos.

The orphanages visited by the company’s staff shortly before Christmas include Compassionate Orphanage, Igando; Citadel of Grace Mission, Igando; Precious Pearl Orphanage, Egbeda and Centre for Destitutes’ Empowerment, Idimu.

These homes expressed appreciation to the management and staff of APM Terminals for identifying with the underprivileged.

At the Citadel of Grace Mission, Sister Christy Iyile, the proprietress lauded the terminal operator for using the festive season to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged.

“We thank the management of APM Terminals for always showing support for the needy, we thank them for their cooperation. I believe God will pay them back in torrent, they have always been supporter of the less privileged,” she said.

Also at Precious Pearl Orphanage, the Proprietress, Vivian Adoga, said: “APM Terminals has always been good to us. They have always celebrated with us and may God be with them. The children also show their appreciation to them and wish to tell them that they will prosper in their endeavours.”

Leader of the APM Terminals team and CSR Coordinator, Uduak Ekpo, said that the visit and donations were aimed at sharing the joy of the season with the children of the various homes.

“We give donations not during festive period alone. We give donations as the needs arise, but this donation is significant because it is done during the festive period when people are celebrating and sharing with their love ones.

“We decided to share happiness with them also. They should know that they are also part of the society and must be showed love and treated with care,” Ekpo said.

In the past, APM Terminals has made series of donations to other homes including Pacelly School for the Blind, Surulere; Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice, Surulere; Modupe Cole Memorial Child Care.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Customs realise N284bn from Tincan Port INCREASE Pre-Arrival Assessment report boost Customs’ revenue at Tincan

T

he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N284.29 billion revenue from Tin Can Island Port in 2014.

This revenue was higher by N44.13 billion

over the N240.15 billion realised by the command in 2013.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Chris Osunkwo, a superintendent, said that the revenue accrued from import duties paid on general cargo and vehicles, which was enhanced by the introduction of the Pre-arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) regime introduced by the Customs in December 2013.

PAAR is a scheme

introduced by Nigerian Customs in December, 2013 to improve trade facilitation in Nigerian ports and borders.

He noted that the introduction of PAAR, has boosted revenue generation since January last year.

Osunkwo stressed that despite the implementation of increased tariff on new vehicles by the Federal Government last year, vehicle business still thrives at the port.

According to him, “PAAR is number one to this result. To a very large extent, PAAR has contributed to our revenue collection. Among the objectives of PAAR are facilitation of trade and ensuring compliance. So, PAAR has enabled us to facilitate trade without compromising control. Since PAAR started in December 2013, the story has changed positively. Our revenue has always been on the increase.”

He added that the quality leadership of the Customs management also motivated officers to redouble their efforts, which contributed to the successes recorded by the command.

“A leadership with measurable and defined goal, focus, motivation brings about result like this. If you provide the right leadership with enabling environment, motivated work force, then you get optimal results,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

37

38

Photo | News

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yahaya Miya; Governor Isa Yuguda and National President, Arewa Youth Forum, Alhaji Gambo Gujungu, during the Arewa Youth Forum in Bauchi.

PHOTO-NAN

Traditional rulers at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Gombe.

L-R: Members, Buhari/Osinbajo Youths Squad (BOYS), Daramola Oladimeji; Balogun Adeniyi; Coordinator, Comrade Abiola Ojo; Media Coordinator, Rasheed Muideen Babatunde and Secretary, Orekoya Abiola, after a press conference to sensitise Nigerian youths to support Buhari/Osinbajo in Lagos.

L-R: Alumnus and Lead Facilitator, Geb Igboko; Director of Executive Degree Programmes, School of African Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, USA, Stephanie Hedge; Associate Director of African Studies, Prof. Paul Lubeck; Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; Associate Dean, SAIS, Dr. Melisa Trotta; Director of Executive Education, Lindsey Waldrop and Director General, National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS), Dr. Ladi Hamalai, at a meeting with Senator Ekweremadu in Abuja.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

L-R: Daughter of the late Spiritual Leader/Founder, Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ayo ni o, Miss Tosin Fakeye; widow, Mrs. Grace Fakeye; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; other children, Mr. Olumide Fakeye and Miss Imelda Fakeye, during the Governor’s condolence visit to the family in Lagos.

L-R: Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc., Nnamdi Okonkwo; Lagos State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Ben Akabueze and Executive Director, Lagos and South West Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ikemuefuna Mbagwu, at the bank’s Special Thanksgiving Service in Lagos .

L-R: Presenter, All Eyes on Africa TV Show, Kemi Fadojutimi; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and former Special Adviser to the governor on Federal Matters, Idiat Babalola, during the presentation of a congratulatory letter on behalf of Martin O’Malley, State of Maryland, United States of America, in Osogbo.

A cross-section of members of the Technical Working Groups of Nigerian Research and the Education Network (NGREN), during their inauguration in Abuja.

39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Leisure Arcade NUTS

NTPuzzle

By Kaycee

Purim Word Search Find the hidden words associated with Purim T N G E

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NTJokes BIG MAN POSE A young businessman had just started his own firm. He

SUDOKU - Answer to No 33

SUDOKU - No 34

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CHURCH WEDDING

How to play

Sudoku

ALIU EROJE

CHIEF CARTOONIST aliu.eroje@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

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.

At a Wedding in a Church, the Pastor said to the Congregation; “Is there any Man or Woman here who knows anything that will make this wedding not to go on? You may say it now or forever remain silent.” A man quickly stood up from the back and started walking towards the altar. The Bride fainted, the Groom ran out of the church. The Pastor gave the man the microphone to say what he wanted to say. He said Pastor, please show me the way to the toilet, I want to shit.

40 Politics Former Aviation Minister and Director of Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, justifies why the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, is not qualified to contest the February 14 election

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Fani-Kayode: Buhari is not qualified to run

I

t has been brought to our attention that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), either by error of omission or commission, may be engaged in acts that do not, in every material particular, support the advancement of democracy, the rule of law and the strict adherence to the letters and the spirit of electoral laws in Nigeria.

The inability of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, to present even the minimum requirement of just a leaving school certificate questions his moral and other credentials for pursuing the position of the president of Nigeria. The current shocking disclosures bring to the fore how and what qualifications were used to recruit him into the military, without a minimum school leaving certificate, where he rose to the rank of a General and even became the Head of State through a military coup that truncated a democratically-elected government in 1983.

Beyond the moral burden of human rights abuses and other sundry anti-democratic practices in his public records, we find that even in other spheres of democratic practices and, in particular, on the matter of due processes, his disdain for democratic conduct has not changed. Academic qualification is a threshold issue that cannot be waived for any citizen no matter how highly-placed and irrespective of whichever region such individual comes from except as provided by the constitution. Thus the question must be asked; is Buhari or any other citizen qualified to contest election into the office of the president without meeting the minimum constitutional requirement?

A perusal of the Nigerian constitution at section 131 unequivocally states that; “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if: (a) He is a citizen of Nigeria by birth (b) He has attained the age of forty years (c) He is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and (d) He has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. It is to be noted that section 131 (d) is a specific directional order for all candidates to show proof of education up to a minimum standard not below school certificate or its equivalent.”

But from what INEC has published, Buhari has not submitted

Buhari

any personal particular of minimum school leaving certificate for the 2015 election and, shockingly, from INEC documents displayed in all constituencies, he also did not submit anything in 2011 and never referred the electoral umpire then to the Secretary of the Military Board as well as previous elections he contested as evidenced in all available INEC records until this current discovery.

If the constitution did not require proof, it would not specify a minimum. To strengthen this claim the extant Electoral Act directs that such proof must be sworn to by each candidate at a Court under section 31 (2) to (5) viz: (2) “The list of information submitted by each candidate shall be accompanied by an affidavit sworn to by the candidate at the Federal High Court, High Court of a state or the FCT, indicating that he has fulfilled all the constitutional requirements for election into that office.” (3) “The Commission shall within 7 days of the receipt of the personal particular of the candidate (emphasis here is personal particular and not INEC form given to fill nor court document like affidavit) and publish same in the constituency where the candidate intends to contest.” (4) A person may apply to the Commission for a copy of nomination form, affidavit and any other document submitted by a candidate at an election and the Commission shall, upon payment of a prescribed fee, issue the person with a certified copy of the documents within 14 days.” (5) “Any person who has reasonable grounds to believe that any information given in the affidavit or any document submitted by that candidate is false may file a suit at the Federal High Court, High Court of a state or FCT against such person seeking a declaration that the information contained in the affidavit is false.” (6) “If the court determines that any of the

Fani-Kayode

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

Academic qualification is a threshold issue that cannot be waived for any citizen no matter how highlyplaced... except as provided by the constitution

information contained in the affidavit of any document submitted by that candidate is false, the court shall issue an order disqualifying the candidate from contesting the election.”

It should be noted that for elections to the office of the president and for the purpose of display of particulars of candidates for all presidential elections, the entire country is taken as one constituency i.e. the 774 LGAs of the 36 states including the FCT where these particulars have been displayed. Nigerians who have perused the affidavit of nomination as submitted by General Buhari and as published in all INEC offices, as well as the copies of his similar INEC documentations for 2011 election, could see clearly that General Buhari who claims to be a man of integrity has not been true to Nigerians. It can be seen, as indicated in section 31(6), that there are reasonable grounds to believe that a false deponent was declared in the affidavit where it indicates that all documents relating to the personal particulars of General Buhari are with the Secretary of the Military Board. First in the INEC Form CF 001 for 2015 filled by General Buhari at section C of the form, the instruction on the form clearly states “Attach evidence of all educational qualifications.” This was not done.

Yet an affidavit was sworn otherwise. Curiously, he did not refer INEC to this board in 2011 in his records available for anyone who cares to see how Buhari has, in breach of the constitution of 1999, contested elections without meeting the mandatory constitutional requirement and has been treated preferentially.

The question to ask INEC: is Buhari above the law of the land or should we suspend or amend the law to accommodate him? It is common knowledge that the military board like any other bodies do

not keep or retain original copies of personal particulars of individuals such as birth certificates, passports, and academic credentials of any personnel, especially retired personnel after over three decades. It must be stated that INEC erred in law by publishing the name of a candidate without receiving the personal particulars of the candidate within seven days of receiving his nomination forms as indicated in section 31(3).

This is indeed a tragedy illustrating what Nigeria has become, that an individual is so powerful that the law has to be ignored to accommodate him. Certainly, INEC printed nomination forms or High Court affidavits are, in no way or by any stretch of definitions, the same as personal particulars such as school leaving certificate.

The Nigerian constitution has now been finally rubbished and no longer respected. What is even more tragic is the fact that one or two otherwise respected Yoruba political elites are the ones in the vanguard of the promotion and defence of Buhari in this rape of the Nigerian Constitution.

This is the same Buhari who had shown disdain for the SouthWest when he sent people to ransack the home of Pa Awolowo without a court warrant. And the same man who felt that because Lagos is in the south and would develop too fast ahead of the north, cancelled the metro-line project and went ahead to pay millions of United States dollars in compensation that was more than what was needed to have the project completed for Lagosians.

It is a paradox that the so-called leader of Buhari’s team claims to be from Lagos. The whole essence of the provision of the law, as quoted above, for citizens to apply for certified copies of such personal particulars is now defeated. How could citizens obtain from INEC a certified true copy as required by law when INEC has been referred to the Secretary of Military Board? That the candidate, General Buhari, from records available has perpetuated this contempt and disdain for due democratic process, in a serial form since the beginning of this democratic dispensation, shows that our democracy is in trouble because it is now the rule of men and not the rule of law. This shameful development, when added to the weight of his record of civil rights abuses while in office, shows he is an incorrigible, anti-democratic character who has complete disdain for due process and the rule of law.

That INEC saddled with a statutory duty to promote good knowledge and practices of democracy (Section 1(2) of the extant Electoral Act) published as a candidate in all its offices the affidavit of a candidate whose personal particulars it did not receive within the prescribed time frame by law is most unfortunate, to say the least.

Our conclusion: Buhari, from the above, is not qualified to contest the 2015 presidential election.

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

For the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the presidential campaign rally in the state on Friday, January 9 was a big boost to his aspiration, reports UWAKWE ABUGU

Jonathan’s rally boosts Ugwuanyi’s aspiration

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ast Friday’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential campaign rally in Enugu State was a day of glory for the party’s governorship candidate in the state, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Apart from President Goodluck Jonathan, Ugwuanyi’s candidacy also took centre stage at the event held at the main bowl of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu metropolis.

So much went for the governorship candidate during the rally.

And the two gospel singers who performed on the occasion, Felix Ndukwe and the Delta State-born Sammy Okposo, had set the tone earlier for the candidate, to take the shine off most politicians who graced the event.

The huge crowd that had gathered at the stadium had waited for hours. The event had been billed to commence at 10a.m. and by 9a.m. the venue was almost half filled. But incidentally, President Jonathan did not arrive the venue till past 2p.m. During this long wait, the gospel artistes and the masters of ceremony had a swell time showcasing personalities and it was within this period that they led the people of the state into celebrating the party’s governorship candidate fondly called Gburugburu, (a personality that looms large).

Whereas the singers intermittently sang his praises as well as that of Jonathan, the masters of ceremony spoke of a perceived hope embedded in his emergence, especially his attribute as humility personified.

For the first time at such a huge gathering of Enugu people with their guests, Ugwuanyi’s wife, Monica, was introduced to the people. And the anchor person, Mr. Ndudi Chude, who introduced her, dramatised the introduction.

Beyond recognising her presence and drawing the people’s attention to her, he had called on her to stand up and greet the people.

That charge created a dramatic reaction from a large section of the crowd, especially those who sat within the state box adjacent the press gallery.

Spontaneously, a good number of persons stood up even before her. And they did that in apparent curiosity. Like her husband, Mrs. Ugwuanyi does not advertise herself. As a result, even some associates of her husband had not met her before that day. Contrary to the usual lifestyle of most politicians in Nigeria, Ugwuanyi, who is also a quiet philanthropist, prefers to operate behind the scenes of society’s usual hurly-burly, among the rich and flamboyant.

It seems his wife has long since imbibed that lifestyle.

When Jonathan stormed the

R-L: Ugwuanyi, President Jonathan, Mu’azu, Sambo and Governor Chime acknowledging cheers from the crowd during the flag-off of the presidential campaign rally of the PDP, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Friday.

stadium at 2:17p.m., he was in company of Ugwuanyi, Vice-President Namadi Sambo, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, and the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu. Others were Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and PDP chairman, Enugu State, Chief Ikeje Asogwa among others, all dressed in similar cream coloured traditional apparels with hats to match. It was during this time that Ugwuanyi grabbed the occasion as his day of glory.

Triumph over primary election controversy When the real flag-off ceremony rolled off the ground, Mu’azu, who was called up to the podium after Asogwa and Governor Chime had presented their addresses, literally lifted the governorship candidate’s profile higher than expected by cursory political observers. Ugwuanyi, whose gubernatorial ambition has set a popularity record yet to be attained in the state in the past decades, was described by the national chairman of the party, as “one of the most popular candidates I have ever met in this period of electioneering in our country.”

Mu’azu called on other aspirants who ran against Ugwuanyi to join hands with him and the party, while also urging the candidate to work with all party faithful, whether they had run against him or not. Mu’azu formally handed over the party flag to him, declaring that it was a flag of victory from the party.

Mu’azu did not end there. He also called for support for Governor Chime, a passionate supporter of Ugwuanyi’s candidacy.

And he said: “Enugu has become the headquarters of PDP in this

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

The immediate effect of handing down a clean bill of health to Ugwuanyi in the presence of the people of the state... sent cold shivers into the camp of the opposition

zone because under Chime, we have a complete dedication to our party and we thank the people of the state for their support for the party. Words are not enough to express our gratitude to you for your loyalty to PDP.” When he addressed the mammoth crowd, President Jonathan capped the approval of the party’s hierarchy for the Enugu governorship candidate. The President alluded to the governorship primary election in the state and called on all those who lost to Ugwuanyi to be true partymen, by rallying round Ugwuanyi to ensure victory for the party. And he similarly charged the governorship candidate to ensure that those who ran against him are co-opted into the scheme of things during and after the elections.

These pronouncements by Mu’azu and Jonathan went a long way, to lift the rating of the party within the political environment of Enugu State. Apart from the immediate effect of handing down a clean bill of health to Ugwuanyi in the presence of the people of the state, such a boost coming from the apex leadership of the PDP sent cold shivers into the camp of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The opposition party in the state had a few days before the presidential rally, seemingly gloated over the prospect of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shutting out the PDP from the 2015 governorship election in the state, since, according to it, the PDP had three persons laying claim to its ticket in the state.

Consequently, supporters of Ugwuanyi who abound in their numbers across the state, have redoubled their various forms of

campaign for the candidate. The result is that a few PDP faithful who had tended to develop cold feet following the stance of some aspirants, who failed to take part in the primary election that held at the same Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, are now said to have left their position of fence-sitting.

Brief speech, rapt attention Ugwaunyi’s brief speech at the occasion attracted the most rapt attention at the rally. The reason was simple. The candidate in his usual quiet style is not given to frequent speech making at public events, a sharp contrast from the mien of some of the aspirants who ran against him known to be given to voracious speechmaking, each time the occasion offered itself.

Because Ugwuanyi would not allow his public office to change his cherished quiet philanthropy, and aversion to drawing undue attention to himself, a good number of persons had erroneously thought he was incapable of speaking in public.

However, when he spoke at the rally, he commanded not just the required diction but exuded ample confidence in a manner that earned him the ovation of the mammoth crowd. Playing on the word associated with Mr. President, he dramatically told the people that he wished them good luck. Yet, he capped the remarkable speech by also turning to the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, with a pledge of a wonderful gift. And the gift, he said, was the prospect of the first ever female deputy governor of Enugu State since the creation of the state, if he wins the election, in the person of Hon. Cecilia Ezeilo, a member of the Enugu State House of Assembly, who is his running mate.

42 Politics EMMANUEL MASHA writes on the campaign flag off of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in Port Harcourt on January 8

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Buhari’s promise of change in Rivers

B

efore Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he had met Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi in Port Harcourt, where he solicited for support in his quest to pick the APC ticket and wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the February 14 election.

In fact, before Buhari chose Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, some had expected Amaechi to emerge as the former Head of State’s running mate. But Amaechi’s emergence as the Director-General of Buhari’s campaign organisation would somehow see Buhari returning to Port Harcourt to officially flag-off his presidential campaign.

The venue was the Adokie Amasiemeka Stadium, along the road that leads to the Port Harcourt International Airport. It was the second time the stadium was being used for political rally, the first time being late last year when the governor celebrated his seventh year in office.

Expectedly, thousands of party supporters trooped out to receive Buhari, Amaechi, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, the state’s APC governorship candidate, and other party leaders. They were transported to the venue by hundreds of buses, which lined up along both sides of the busy airport road. Some party faithful sang, danced and turned the event to a carnival of sort.

Buhari expressed readiness to transform Nigeria’s ailing economy, provide jobs for the masses, and tackle insecurity in the North-East caused by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Buhari said: “The fundamental issues facing this country are insecurity and the problem of economy which was being made worse by corruption. I assure you that we are going to finally assemble a competent team of Nigerians to efficiently manage the country.

“I am appealing to you; the damage done to this country is great. The level of unemployment, level of insecurity is intolerable. The journey has begun. It will take time, it will take patience, it will take support from you to make sure that we succeed.”

He commended Amaechi for accepting to be the Director-General of his campaign organisation, and urged party supporters to pick their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) in preparation for voting in February.

For his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal told the mammoth crowd that he defected from the ruling PDP to the APC,

L-R: Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal; National Chairman, All Progressives Party (APC), Chief John Oyegun; Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Presidential candidate, Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, at the party’s presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

because Nigeria would make progress faster with the APC, just as he said that the ruling PDP, under the Jonathan-led administration, was not serious about government business.

He said: “I am impressed by what I am seeing here today. This is a clear testimony that Rivers and indeed the good people of Nigeria will come out en masse and overwhelmingly vote the candidates of the APC.” Tambuwal declared that Buhari’s records “speak for him.”

He added: “When I defected to the APC, many people were surprised that how can I leave a ruling party to an opposition party…we don’t deserve the current type of leadership that we have at the centre and Nigeria deserves better leadership. By the grace of God, that will be exemplified by General Muhammadu Buhari.”

In his remarks, Amaechi said that the needed change in Nigeria would come from Buhari. He used the opportunity to comment on the attack on party supporters in Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

I assure you that we are going to finally assemble a competent team of Nigerians to efficiently manage the country

He said: “I hear today that members of the APC from Asari-Toru (Kalabari) and Khana (Ogoni) LGAs (of Rivers State) were shot at on their way to this place (Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium). The PDP members believe in guns. We believe in God and man.

“We shall stand and face their bullets. We shall stand and face their guns. The fact that they shot you, brings to the fore the argument we put forward that currently, the government in power cannot protect you and I. If the government could protect you and I, why were we shot at?

Who bought guns for those people, who shot at our members?

APC’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, in his address said that the party chose Buhari to move the country forward, noting that in the past, Buhari fought against corruption and indiscipline.

He said: “Train of change is setting out from Rivers State.

Great people of Rivers State and Nigeria are you happy? Who is your president? Buhari. The crowd chorused. Let me present

to you the President-in-waiting of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Do you want electricity, do you want better security, do you want to wipe out corruption?

“Then, take a good look at General Buhari. He is as straight in character as his figure is in figurative terms. Take a look at his vice. These two people were deliberately chosen. Gen. Buhari was ahead of his time. His time has finally come. If you want corruption wiped out, who do you vote for? If you want discipline in this country, who do you vote for?” Buhari. The crowd again chorused.

Also present at the flag-off were former Anambra State governor, Senator Chris Ngige; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai; former PDP national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbe; former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chief Tony Momoh, other national leaders, party faithful and supporters.

It was at the flag-off that the party’s governorship flag was presented to Peterside.

UPN reiterates support for Jonathan, disowns ex-scribe C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 4

the party, having been voted out at the National Convention last Friday.

Abubakar had said no one had been mandated to express UPN’s support for Nigeria’s seating President Jonathan in the next election.

“Up till last week, all officers in the National Executive Council held their position in the interim capacity, including our former

National Secretary, Alhaji Sokoto Abubakar, and even the National Chairman, Dr. Frederick Fasehun.

“But the National Convention, assembling in Lagos last week, has established a substantive National Executive, and the National Convention dropped Sokoto from being part of the new setup.

And that action is weighty,” Jolaosho stated.

According to Jolaosho, the

National Convention chose a new National Secretary in the person of Dr. Yusuf Alli, from Bauchi State, in the place of Sokoto.

Jolaosho cited Article III Section 3(11) of the party’s constitution, which empowered the National Convention “To conduct elections into the National Executive Council of the Party.”

By virtue of the election, Abubakar ceased to be the

party’s National Secretary, he pointed out.

The party affirmed its support for President Jonathan. “President Jonathan’s endorsement arose from popular acclamation at the National Convention. The National Convention had representation from all the local government chapters and senatorial zones and states from the entire 36 states and Abuja,” he said.

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Jonathan’s adoption tears Ohanaeze apart CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

most of the Igbo leaders betrayed a growing frustration of the South-East in the face of alleged unfulfilled presidential promises to the people of the area, especially during the electioneering of 2011. Former Ohanaeze leader, Dr. Ikedife, based his opposition to the planned endorsement on principle. According to him, “my view is that Ohanaeze is a socio-cultural organisation and should concern itself with its avowed assign-

ment promoting the culture and welfare of the people of the zone.”

He contended that: “Ohanaeze is made up of people from a diverse political leanings. Its leaders should not get involved in clear partisan political affairs but should be concerned about free and fair elections.”

Okorie appears one of the most vocal critics against the endorsement of Jonathan by Ohanaeze, yet he has given the president a window of opportunity upon which he could secure the

votes of Ndigbo. But first he accused Iwuanyanwu of being desperate in his passion for the said adoption.

He said: “It is unfortunate that the likes of Chief Iwuanyanwu have become desperate in this matter. Why this desperation? We can’t give Jonathan endorsement without a negotiated memorandum of understanding (MOU) because he keeps failing us in his verbal promises.”

Besides, he seemed to agree with Dr. Ikedife on the propriety or oth-

erwise of Ohanaeze endorsing the candidate of one political party. And he flashed back to the events of 1999 when the apex organisation under its former leader, Prof.

Ben Nwabueze, had endorsed Dr. Alex Ekwueme after he was denied PDP ticket even when most odds had favoured him.

He said Igbo people had voted the PDP candidate during that presidential election.

Further berating Iwuanyanwu for the alleged desperate moves for Jonathan’s endorse-

ment, he pointed out that in August when the World Igbo Congress held abroad, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) member had thrown up the issue but that he was shut down and that during the Igbo Day celebration in Awka, Anambra State, he also raised the issued to no avail. Okorie also informed that “towards the tail end of last year, Iwauanyanwu had also presented the matter but Dr. Chris Ngige and I tackled him and forestalled that, and then, this last one he did some days ago.”

On the window of opportunity left for the president, he said if there would be an MOU between his UPP and the PDP, he could align if such a negotiation would take care of the alleged huge neglect suffered by the South-East under Jonathan presidency.

Okechukwu, known for his criticism of the ruling party, derided the Ohanaeze scribe and his explanation that the endorsement could come in two weeks. He contemptuously asked the Ohanaeze chieftain to explain to the appropriate quarters that whatever inducement made available could not get the Igbo leaders to endorse the PDP presidential candidate.

He towed the line of Ikedife to the effect that the organisation’s scope does not cover the realm of partisan political affairs and that nobody should be endorsed.

Although the coalition of six Igbo groups for which Chief (Mrs.) Okwor spoke has offered to give Jonathan a second chance also on negotiated agreement demanding the physical presence of the president before Igbo leaders, the import of their earlier stance calling off Igbo support for the PDP candidate has not been lost on the people. For instance, it could be recalled that the coalition had after a careful appraisal of the administration of President Jonathan in the past six years threatened to withhold their support for him for allegedly taking Ndigbo for a ride. They would not understand why revival of the railway tracks which is one of the president’s focal achievements was not functional in the South-East.

Comrade Samuel Edeson, the coordinator of the South-East Self Determination Coalition, who spoke on behalf of the groups said: “Mr. President has failed to fulfil all the promises he made to the people of the SouthEast despite the bloc vote given to him by the people of the zone. He promised that by the first quarter of last year, cargo will be landing here in the SouthEast from different parts of the world, but nothing has come out of it. Our people still pass through the rigours of travelling to Lagos to clear their goods.

Mr. President may have to do more to pacify the people of South-East to earn their votes as South East has remained one of his traditional safe havens since his presidential contest in 2011.

44

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Non-oil sector to catalyse economy in 2015 OPPORTUNITY

Nigeria should look inwards and develop other mineral resources to boost revenue Godson Ikoro

A

s the price of crude oil continues to plummet leading to revenue shortfall of 45 per cent and deficit financing and depletion of the nation’s external reserves, the non-oil sector will be the major catalyst in the political economy of the nation, Managing Director Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), Mr. Bismarck Rewane, has said.

According to him, economic growth will be weaker but outlook remains positive at anticipated one per cent growth while non-oil sector will be the major catalyst in the political economy of the nation.

He predicted that political instability may undermine consumer confidence and deter investors in Quarter 1.

He also foresees further devaluation in the short term, given the persistent decline in oil prices.

However, he argued that the authorities might wait until after election, highlighting that inflation would be double digit in 2015, rising between 10 – 12 per cent.

In the FDC synopsis 2015 outlook, he described the year 2015 as a year citizens would first experience pain before gain.

He divided the year into four distinct parts namely Q1, for electoral cycle budget; Quarter 2, for post-election dispute resolution and judicial intervention and lameduck; Quarter 3, handover and celebration and supplementary budget and quarter 4, the real work begins and 2016 budget submitted.

Furthermore, he said that the market structure of crude oil was such that oil market is controlled by the OPEC cartel, which appears to be losing grip as the shale oil makes inroad into the market.

Rewane believes that OPEC can only succeed if they deploy discipline, develop swing producer and consolidate the bar-

rier to enter into the cartel.

Consequently, oil supplies will continue to grow, and slower demand especially in China will continue.

He said given that export revenues were down, and imports sticky, the naira would continue

to be under pressure and could cross the N2OO1$ band.

But after elections, MPR will be reduced cumulatively by 1.5 per cent per annum.

Rewane said that the double digit inflation would be driven by the hike in electricity tariff,

…as Naira slumps

Godson Ikoro

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday reviewed the daily trading rules by increasing the maximum net open foreign-exchange trading positions banks can hold at the end of each business day from zero to 0.1 per cent of shareholders’ funds unimpaired by losses.

It would be recalled that the Central Bank rule that dollars purchased from its window must be utilised within 48 hours was blamed for crushing currency trading in the economy.

In a circular REF: TED/ FEM/FPC/GEN/01/001 dated January 12, 2015, and signed by Mrs.O.L Ahuchaogu, Director of Trade and Exchange, the apex bank extended the utilisation period to 72 hours from 48 hours.

As at N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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

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

Specifically, the circular stated: “In addition, banks are required to utilise funds purchased from the autonomous /interbank Foreign Exchange market within 72 hours from the value date failing which such funds must be returned failing which such funds must be returned to the CBN for repurchase at the bank’s buying rate.

“Accordingly, banks now have 72 hours to use dollars bought in the interbank market before they must sell them back to the institution, up from 48 hours previously.”

On December 18, the lenders watchdog tightened rules on foreign currency trading as the naira slumped and crude prices plunged. The central bank raised interest rates to a record 13 per cent in November to stem outflows and Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, proposed cutting this year’s budget by eight per cent.

Interbank trading dried up

last month after the bank introduced the tighter rules.

The regulator reduced the daily foreign-exchange positions for banks from one per cent of shareholders’ funds in December to stop speculation against the naira, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said on January 6.

N i g e r i a ’s r e s e r ve s dropped 20 per cent in the past 12 months as the central bank sold dollars to banks and traders to shore up the local currency.

Meanwhile, the naira weakened as much as 1.8 per cent before paring the decline to trade 0.3 per cent lower at 181.90 per dollar by 12:17 p.m. in Lagos. While the currency is up 0.8 per cent this year, it fell 10 per cent in the past three months, the most among 24 African currencies tracked

by Bloomberg. Brent crude has fallen almost 60 per cent since June to $45.72 a barrel yesterday.

Festive season pushes inflation to 8% in December

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

main five per cent GDP, Exchange rate N2001$ -N20051$, Interest rate (MPR), 11 per cent per annum inflation, 12 per cent, oil prices $60pbd and external reserve $28bn, saying that Nigeria will be stronger, steadier and smarter in 2015.

CBN reviews daily foreign currency trading

Economic Indicators M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

devaluation of 15 per cent of the naira and 70 per cent import duty on cars, expected wage review, lower commodity prices and a decline in petrol and diesel by 10 per cent.

He concluded that in 2015, leading economic indicators would re-

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

T

he National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that inflation rose marginally to 8 per cent in December from 7.9 per cent recorded in November as prices of food items recorded a slight markup due to the yuletide season.

However, for consecutive 24 months, inflation has held at a single digit range.

Confirming the figure in its monthly inflation report released yesterday in Abuja, NBS attributed the one per cent increase in December rate to the faster pace of price that occurred during the festive season.

The report said that food prices edged slightly higher in December as a result of the festive period, adding that the food sub- index rose by 9.2 per cent (year-on- year) up from 9.1 per cent recorded in November.

This was the first uptick in rates of food prices observed in four months. While higher increases were recorded in the Meat, Fish, and Dairy

groups, the Food sub-index was weighed upon by slower rises in the Bread and Cereals, Oil and Fats, and Fruits groups.

According to NBS, the pace of advances recorded by the “All Items less Farm Produce” or Core sub-index slowed for the first time since August 2014. The Core sub-index eased in December, increasing by 6.2 per cent, after increasing by 6.3 per cent in the previous four months. While prices increased in most divisions that contribute to the Core sub-index, slower increases were recorded in the communication and, recreation and culture groups.

On a month-on-month basis, the highest price increases were recorded in the fish, “potatoes, yams and other tubers;” meat, and “coffee, tea and cocoa” groups. The average annual rate of change of the food sub-index for the twelve-month period ending in December 2014 over the previous twelve month average was 9.5 per cent. The 12-month rate of change has held steady for seven consecutive months.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

45

13-Jan-15

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

535.00 581.39 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 414.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 178.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,783.63

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,367.09

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.27 1.59 2.29 2.53 2.63 3.38 4.46 4.78 7.04 9.17 13.87 14.35 14.85 15.52 19.51

12.07 15.10 15.40 15.46 15.46 15.45 15.42 15.45 15.43 15.43 14.34 14.22 14.09 14.78 15.21

11.50 14.99 15.32 15.38 15.38 15.33 15.33 15.34 15.36 15.37 14.29 14.16 14.02 14.71 15.16

97.82 97.15 99.37 88.57 87.18 87.81 101.80 72.14 104.00 94.00 103.88 89.51 65.57 71.20 81.00

97.97 97.30 99.52 88.72 87.33 88.11 102.10 72.44 104.30 94.30 104.18 89.81 65.87 71.50 81.30

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

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 2.70 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.36 1.22 1.90 2.27 2.48

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

15.40 17.45 17.29 16.39 16.45

94.72 99.84 98.03 96.06 92.76

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

322.67

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

309.74

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.63

4.44

18.67

96.45

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.47

3.23

16.86

99.09

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.99

4.46

19.63

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.99

3.48

18.66

97.44

19-Apr-17

2.26

5.59

20.98

80.91

95.33

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR‡

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.53

1.00

16.16

96.98

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.96

1.79

17.24

92.69

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.14

1.80

17.16

94.73

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.72

1.00

16.45

93.30

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.34

1.00

16.41

96.63

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

12-Dec-18

2.34

4.78

20.19

89.36

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.52

1.00

16.46

96.26

A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.77 4.86 2.83

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.46 16.45 18.19

98.17 93.57 92.84

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.10

10-Oct-20

3.39

1.00

16.45

95.86

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.87

1.00

16.46

89.08

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

5.96

1.94

17.40

91.29

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.55

31-Dec-20

3.63

1.44

16.89

94.04

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.56

06-Jan-21

3.66

1.95

17.40

94.02

97.07

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

460.61 423.12

Corporate Bonds Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.35

4.88

17.55

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

9.34

09-Dec-15

0.66

1.00

15.30

98.43

BB/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.42

06-Jan-16

0.74

2.63

17.14

98.03

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.71

1.00

16.22

95.30

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.78

1.34

16.59

96.45

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.71

1.00

16.46

92.61

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.73

1.88

17.11

102.33

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.74

3.48

18.71

96.43

A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

1.90

5.20

20.49

96.49

#

1.90

5.06

20.35

101.78

AAA/DataPro†; A/GCR

*TOWER

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.69

1.35

16.80

92.45

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.01

2.29

17.61

97.27

BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

18.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.10

6.11

21.46

94.52

Nil

*DANA#{r}

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

2.96

2.16

17.61

96.53

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.84

2.76

18.22

89.53

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.71

1.00

16.33

78.83

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.71

1.00

16.33

85.17

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

124.44

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

116.10

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.08

1.00

16.45

85.33

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.30

1.00

16.45

84.73

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 21.21

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

7.64

7.32

95.75

97.28

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

6.63

6.19

95.37

96.70

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

7.82

7.63

91.13

92.24

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

1,411.27

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

48.72

35.67

72.06

80.34

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.99

6.99

100.63

100.63

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

11.20

11.20

91.50

91.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

11.86

11.21

86.63

88.25

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

8.82

8.59

91.01

91.72

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

26.84

23.76

59.43

65.08

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

9.20

9.20

89.75

89.75

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

14.07

13.52

83.08

84.65

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

9.97

9.97

92.00

92.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

19.71 11.92 11.36

19.71 11.56 11.36

55.50 88.13 84.00

55.50 89.63 84.00

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.22

9.62

92.21

94.91

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,001.59

**Treasury Bills DTM 9 16 23 30 37 44 51 58

FIXINGS Maturity 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15

Bid Discount (%) 8.70 10.61 10.25 10.27 10.20 10.37 11.20 11.20

Offer Discount (%) 8.45 10.36 10.00 10.02 9.95 10.12 10.95 10.95

Bid Yield (%) 8.72 10.66 10.32 10.36 10.31 10.50 11.38 11.40

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 9.5000 13.0378 13.9506 15.2959

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

8.08

O/N Tenor Call 1M

8.79

REPO

Rate (%) 8.50 13.85

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

183.50 184.09 184.37 185.05 186.30 187.54

183.60 184.19 184.51 185.50 187.28 189.01

***LCRM

0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

116.70 66.49

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.67

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

309.74

20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

2.27 2.48

1.00 1.00

16.39 16.45

96.06 92.76

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.63

4.44

18.67

96.45

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.47

3.23

16.86

99.09

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.99

4.46

19.63

95.33

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.99

3.48

18.66

97.44

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR‡

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.53

1.00

16.16

96.98

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.96

1.79

17.24

92.69

30-Sep-18

2.14

1.80

17.16

94.73

04-Oct-18

3.72

1.00

16.45

93.30

09-Dec-18

2.34

1.00

16.41

96.63

12-Dec-18

2.34

4.78

20.19

89.36

14-Feb-19

2.52

1.00

16.46

96.26

02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19

2.77 4.86 2.83

1.00 1.00 2.74

16.46 16.45 18.19

98.17 93.57 92.84

10.22

9.62

92.21

94.91

46

Business | Financial Market News

A/Agusto

Market operators outline leeway for Gwarzo

Stock market falls by N115bn A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

10.20

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡

*GOMBE LAGOS

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12

15.50 14.50 14.75

16.23 80.00 26.62

the jinx of bearish run 5,148 deals was recorded 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 10-Oct-13 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 that had pervaded the in the day’s trading.

27-Nov-13 Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR‡ LAGOS market for the 13.50first LAGOStime IV 27-NOV-2020 The banking sub secEquities drain as KOGI 31-Dec-13 A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 in the New Year. tor of the financial ser31-Dec-13 A/Agusto *EKITI 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 sentiments turn red*NASARAWA Consequently , the Allvices sector was the06-Jan-14 most A-/GCR 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 Share Index shed 344 active during the day TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE (measured by turnover TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION basis points or 1.15 per cent to close at 29,889.86 volume) with 154.2 milStories by Chris Ugwu Corporate Bonds basis points10.00 asUPDC against lion shares worth N1.005 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC 30,234.72 recorded on9-DEC-2015 billion exchanged by in12.00 FLOURMILLS A-/Agustohe Nigerian stock 09-Dec-10 *FLOURMILLS Monday while mar-06-JAN-2016 vestors in 1,836 deals.

14.00 the CHELLARAMS BB/GCR market yester06-Jan-11 *CHELLARAMS 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 NAHCO ket capitalisation Volume in the sub-secday closed negaof 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agustotive as activities 25-Oct-13 FSDH by equities depreciated by tor was largely driven 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 30-Sep-10 UBA activities in the shares of N115 billion or 1.15 per on A/GCR the shares of blue 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 *C & I LEASING cent to close lower at Access Bank and GTB Plc. chip companies lowered MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 09-Apr-11 Nil *DANA as against down momentum to send MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 Also, other financial 09-Sep-11 A-/DataPro†; B+/GCR *TOWER N9.895 trillion MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 09-Sep-11 A/GCR *TOWER N10.010 trillion services, boosted by acas market theAAA/DataPro†; bulls back to trenches 14.00 UBA in II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR gain.

22-Sep-11 UBA sentiments closed the tivities in the shares of after a day’s LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 18-Oct-13 *LA CASERA red territory.15.75 The stock market had FBNH Plc, followed with MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 17-Feb-12 BBB-/DataPro†; BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS opened the trading week Meanwhile, a turnover a turnover of 72.5 million 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 01-Apr-14 Nil *DANA shares shares valued at N494.5 on A+/Agusto; a positive note the 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 NAHCO of 307.9 billion T.bills+1.20 in STANBICmillion IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR N3.1 182D billion previous day, breaking in 975 deals.30-Sep-14 STANBIC worth IBTC

NEGATIVE A/Agusto

T

#{r}

#

#

#

#{r}

A/GCR

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

STANBIC IBTC

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

T

30-Sep-14

13.25

changeBond (NSE) Supranational

has concluded plans to organ10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 11-Feb-13 10.20 iseAaa/Moody's; its firstAAA/S&P investor forum ment. The main objective of the Embassy 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 AfDB for 10-Jul-14of Nigeria 11.25 in Nigerian in the Diaspora in the forum is to facilitate portSwitzerland, Nigerians in DiTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE keeping with its mandate of folio investments and inspire aspora Organisation (NIDO) TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION promoting and influencing Diaspora-led investment for and Capital Bancorp Plc. the economic growth and de-Issuersustainable economic growth, He noted that the Coupon forum, Description Rating/Agency Issue Date (%) velopment of Nigeria. by encouraging the Diaspora which will be hosted as a FGN Eurobonds The forum, which is expect- to actively participate in in- side event to the 2015 World ed BB-/Fitch; to take place on Monday vestment efforts in NigeEconomic07-Oct-11 Forum (Davos), 6.75the JAN 28, 2021 B+/S&P 6.75 in January 19, 2015 in Switzer- rian capital market,” he said. Zurich, Switzerland, would BB-/Fitch; JUL 12, 2018 platform for5.13 parland is targeted at Nigerian FGN Onyema added5.13that the provide a12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; in Switzerland and forum would impress upon Diaspora ticipants to constructively 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 BB-/S&P across Europe. the Diaspora that there were engage in capital market TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE The Chief Executive Officer attractive opportunities avail- issues and gain an indepth TOTAL MARKET of The NSE, Mr. CAPITALISATION Oscar Onyema, able in the Nigerian stock understanding of capital explained that the Exchange market for them to make in- market investments options, Corporate Eurobonds vestments. recognised Nigerian Diaspora challenges01-Feb-11 and opportunities.

11.50 FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 11.50 as a rich resource withGTBANK unlim“We have the 7.50 companies Adeeko19-May-11 noted that economMAY 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I 7.50 itedB+/S&P investment potential. that can help to grow ic outlook25-Jul-12 for Nigeria in7.25 2015, 7.25 JULwealth 25, 2017 ACCESS BANK PLC “Diasporas present wonas well as give 6.88 local busiinvestment opportunities MAY 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 09-May-13 6.88 in derful to help nesses and owners capiNigeria’s08-Nov-13 capital market, 6.00 the NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch;opportunity B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 6.00 10.25 APR 08, this 2019 AFREN NiPLC II 10.25 theB/Fitch development of the investor 08-Apr-12 protection efforts tal they need to continue B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLCgrowth,” he said. 6.25 APR 22, 2019 22-Apr-14 6.25 by the NSE, capital market gerian economy by investing May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC 21-May-14 8.75 asset balancing through The NigerianDIAMOND Stock According to 8.75 the Head, cycles and 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC 07-Aug-13 8.25 Exchange, as they can help Corporate Services Division, through diversification were 6.63 DEC 09, 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 09-Dec-13 6.63 attract sufficient and stable NSE, Mr. Bola Adeeko, the some of the topics that would 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC II 24-Jun-14 9.25 access toB/S&P internationalFIRST investwith be addressed.

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 B-/Fitch; BANK LTD event is in collaboration 23-Jul-14 8.00 B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

14-Aug-14

8.75

124.44 116.10 12.00 12.95

24.95 21.21 Outstanding Value ($mm)

500.00 500.00 500.00

1,500.00 1,411.27

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

10-Oct-20

15.44

NSE lures Diaspora investors

TOTAL CAPITALISATION heMARKET Nigerian Stock Ex-

F

ollowing the persis- well-trained SEC com3.39 1.00 missioners, 16.45 95.86 tent depression in directors, 27-Nov-20 5.87 1.00 16.46 the nation’s equity deputy directors89.08 and oth31-Dec-20 5.96 1.94 17.40 91.29 market, some market oper myriad of profession31-Dec-20 3.63 1.44 16.89 94.04 erators that for94.02 strategy 06-Jan-21 have agreed 3.66 1.95 als available 17.40 for the market to regain and operation by any DG its pride of place as a of SEC,” he said.

Speaking in the same center for capital formation, the acting Directorvein, the Chief97.07Execu17-Aug-15 0.35 4.88 17.55 General of Securities of 98.43 Lambeth 09-Dec-15 0.66 1.00 tive Officer 15.30 and Exchange0.74CommisInvestment 06-Jan-16 2.63 Trust 17.14& 98.03 29-Sep-16 1.71 Mounir 1.00 Co Limited, 16.22 95.30 David Mr. sion (SEC), Mr. 25-Oct-16 1.34 Adonri, 16.59 described 96.45 the Gwarzo, must1.78redirect 30-Sep-17 2.71 1.00 16.46 92.61 the market to shore up acting DG as an insider 30-Nov-17 1.73 1.88 17.11 102.33 investors’ confidence. in SEC and fully abreast 09-Apr-18 1.74 3.48 18.71 96.43 in what is happening at They argued that re09-Sep-18 1.90 5.20 20.49 96.49 09-Sep-18 5.06 the commission.

20.35 101.78 activating the1.90 market to 22-Sep-18 investors’ 3.69 1.35 16.80 92.45 Gwaregain confiAdonri advised 18-Oct-18 2.01 2.29 dence ws urgently needzor to17.61 redirect97.27 most of 17-Feb-19 2.10 6.11 21.46 94.52 ed01-Apr-19 to save the stock marhis efforts into 96.53 reactiva2.96 2.16 17.61 ket from total 5.84 collapse. 2.76 tion of market 14-Nov-20 18.22primary 89.53 30-Sep-24 9.71 1.00 so that 16.33 78.83 The Managing Dithe stock market 30-Sep-24 Crane 9.71 Securi1.00 would 16.33 85.17 more start seeing rector, ties Limited, Mr. Mike offer for subscription.

Eze, in a chat with New The Managing DirecTelegraph, said for his tor of Perfecta Securities appointment to bring Limited, Mr. Emma Eze, 11-Feb-18 3.08 1.00 16.45 85.33 succor comatose 01-Feb-21 to the 4.30 1.00 said the 16.45 new helmsman 84.73 economic situation in should put aside the rethe market at the mo- capitalisation of stockment, he must come broking firm currently up with being pursued by the Maturity Date enlightenment Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price programmes that would commission by restoring & Yields bring investors back toPrices investors’ confidence. the stock market.

“He95.75 should put 28-Jan-21 7.64 7.32 97.28 aside “For Munir Gwarzo, the recapitalisation pro12-Jul-18 6.63 6.19 95.37 96.70 who takes over as actcess for now, the issue of new capital requireing DG of SEC, a lot 12-Jul-23 7.82 7.63 91.13 92.24 is expected from him ment will not reactivate particularly bearing in the market, what will mind the fact that he has reactivate the market is a superlative training ad- restoration of investors’ vantage of both being an confidence.

Local inves01-Feb-16 48.72 35.67 72.06 80.34 operator and also having tors’ 100.63 confidence is num19-May-16 6.99 6.99 100.63 ber one because foreign worked at several levels 25-Jul-17 11.20 11.20 91.50 91.50 as02-May-18 a regulator11.86 as well. 11.21 investors are not 86.63 88.25 help“A lot needs to be 08-Nov-18 8.82 8.59 ing the 91.01 market.

91.72 What 08-Apr-19 26.84order to 23.76 concerned 59.43 65.08 foreign indone by him in 22-Apr-19 9.20 9.20 vestors 89.75is profit.

89.75 cover lost grounds.

As a Recapi21-May-19 14.07 13.52 83.08 seasoned technocrat, he talisation would84.65 be easier 07-Aug-20 9.97 9.97 92.00 does not need the servicto embark on if92.00 there is 09-Dec-20 19.71 19.71 55.50 55.50 es24-Jun-21 of consultants from 11.92 11.56 positive 88.13sentiment 89.63 in the outside 23-Jul-21 SEC in 11.36place of 11.36 market,” 84.00 he said.

84.00

Further analysis of 14.75 trading showed 11.10 the day’s 13.50 87.50 that UBN Plc topped the 15.00 5.00 day’s 14.50 gainers’ table with 4.55 7.01 per at 15.00 cent to close 4.56 N9.01 while Skye Bank 460.61 Plc followed with 423.12 five per cent to close at N2.31 per share10.00 and ABC Trans3.61 port Company Plc9.34with 12.00 a gain14.00 of 3.77 per cent to 0.42 13.00 close at 55 kobo per15.00 share.

5.53 AcOn14.25 the flip side, 13.00 20.00 cess Bank Plc led the los18.00 0.64 ers with a drop of 8.60 16.00 6.30 per cent N4.78 18.00 to close at2.90 while16.00 AG Leventis0.80shed 14.00 cent to close 35.00 at 5.15 per 2.40 N1.2915.75 per share and Dia18.00 0.41 mond16.00 Bank trailed with 4.50 5.11 per at 15.25 cent to close 2.05 N4.4611.93 per share. 0.10

*OSUN

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 2.26 5.59 20.98 NEW TELEGRAPH 80.91

13-Jan-15

4,001.59

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 **Treasury Bills FIXINGS Money Market Foreign & Forwards) 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 upExchange to date. (Spot We do not guarantee DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBORfor the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability 9 22-Jan-15 8.70 8.45 8.72 16 29-Jan-15 10.61 23 5-Feb-15 10.25 12-Feb-15 10.27 FGN Bonds 30 37 19-Feb-15 10.20 44 26-Feb-15 10.37 Rating/Agency Issuer Description 51 5-Mar-15 11.20 58 12-Mar-15 11.20 4.00 23-APR-2015 65 19-Mar-15 10.77 72 26-Mar-15 12.10 13.05 16-AUG-2016 79 2-Apr-15 12.25 15.10 27-APR-2017 86 9-Apr-15 11.30 9.85 27-JUL-2017 93 16-Apr-15 11.40 9.35 31-AUG-2017 100 23-Apr-15 11.90 10.70 30-MAY-2018 107 30-Apr-15 12.55 16.00 29-JUN-2019 114 7-May-15 12.50 NA NA 7.00 23-OCT-2019 121 14-May-15 13.00 16.39 27-JAN-2022 128 21-May-15 13.45 14.20 14-MAR-2024 142 4-Jun-15 14.00 15.00 28-NOV-2028 149 11-Jun-15 12.50 12.49 22-MAY-2029 163 25-Jun-15 12.90 205 6-Aug-15 12.80 8.50 20-NOV-2029 233 3-Sep-15 12.85 10.00 23-JUL-2030 324 3-Dec-15 12.75 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 338 17-Dec-15 13.25 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 359 7-Jan-16 13.65 *for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

10.36 10.00 10.02 9.95 10.12 Issue Date 10.95 10.95 23-Apr-10 10.52 11.85 16-Aug-13 12.00 27-Apr-12 11.05 27-Jul-07 11.15 31-Aug-07 11.65 30-May-08 12.30 29-Jun-12 12.25 23-Oct-09 12.75 27-Jan-12 13.20 14-Mar-14 13.75 28-Nov-08 12.25 22-May-09 12.65 12.55 20-Nov-09 12.60 23-Jul-10 12.50 18-Jul-14 13.00 13.40

Bonds

10.66 10.32 10.36 10.31 10.50 Coupon 11.38 (%) 11.40 4.00 10.98 12.40 13.05 12.58 15.10 11.61 9.85 11.74 9.35 12.30 10.70 13.03 16.00 13.01 7.00 13.59 16.39 14.12 14.20 14.81 15.00 13.17 12.49 13.69 13.79 8.50 14.00 10.00 14.38 12.1493 15.10 15.77

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION #

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Agency Bonds 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 Total Outstanding Modified Duration Buckets Porfolio Market Value(Bn) ***LCRM 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 FMBN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

OBB

8.08

O/N

8.79

REPO

Tenor TTM Call (Yrs) 1M 3M0.27 6M1.59

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 581.39 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 10.3493 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 11.6107 100.00 31-Aug-17 3M 11.7178 300.00 30-May-18 6M 14.0817 351.30 29-Jun-19 9M 14.1778 233.90 23-Oct-19 12M 15.7852 600.00 27-Jan-22 414.68 14-Mar-24 75.00 28-Nov-28 NIFEX 150.00 22-May-29 Current Price ($/N)20-Nov-29 200.00 BID($/N) 591.57 183.9000 23-Jul-30 OFFER ($/N) 184.0000 178.00 18-Jul-34

4,783.63

Coupon (%)

Rate (%) Bid Yield 8.50 13.85 12.07 14.28 15.32 15.10

Tenor

(%)

Bid ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M Yield Offer 2M (%) 3M 6M11.50 1Y14.99

2.29 15.40 15.32 2.53 15.46 15.38 2.63 15.46 15.38 :Benchmarks 3.38 15.45 15.33 * :Amortising Bond 4.46 15.42 15.33 µ :Convertible Bond 4.78Management Corporation 15.45 15.34 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 7.04 15.43 15.36 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 9.17 15.43 15.37 FMBN: Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria 13.87 Finance Corporation 14.34 14.29 IFC: International 14.35 14.22 Management 14.16 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables NAHCO: Nigerian 14.85 Aviation Handling 14.09Company 14.02 O/N: Overnight 15.52 14.78 14.71 UPDC: UAC19.51 Property Development Company 15.21 15.16 NOTE:

WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

FMDQ FGN0.00 BOND INDEX 24.56

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 Weighting by 09-Dec-11 Outstanding 20-Apr-12Vol 06-Jul-12

32.63

17.25 Weighting

by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

34.38

2.70 112.22 Bucket Weighting 116.70 66.49

<3

1,014.76

1,034.18

3<5

1,371.42

1,365.98

43.09

46.46

>5

565.38

769.57

24.28

19.16

309.740.24

2,951.56

3,169.73

100.00

100.00

1.00

Market

Sub-National Bonds

(N'bn)

Value

Rate (%) 9.5000 13.0378 13.9506 15.2959

Offer ($/N)

183.50 183.60 184.09 184.19 Price 184.37 184.51 185.05 185.50 Bid Price Offer Price 186.30 187.28 187.54 189.01 97.82 97.97 191.82 194.72 200.94 206.40 97.15 97.30

99.37 99.52 88.57 88.72 87.18 87.33 NA :Not Applicable 87.81 88.11 # :Floating Rate Bond 101.80 102.10 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 72.14 72.44 104.00under review104.30 ‡ : Bond rating 94.00 94.30 †: Bond rating expired 103.88 104.18 N/A :Not Available {r} :Issuer 89.51 in receivership 89.81 65.57 65.87 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 71.20 71.50 UBA: United Bank for Africa 81.30 81.00

4,367.09

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M Outstanding

0.33

322.67

0.43

Maturity Date

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 % Exposure_ 09-Dec-16 Mod_Duration 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

13.76

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.36 1.22 1.90 Implied Yield 2.27 2.48

15.26

# Risk Premium (%)

2.63 2.27 Implied 2.00 Portfolio 1.00 Price 1.00

117.2331

Valuation Yield (%)

15.40 17.45 17.29 INDEX 16.39 16.45

1,113.48

Indicative Price

94.72 99.84 YTD Return 98.03 (%) 96.06 92.76

11.3475

46.14

15.43

119.4696

1,011.62

40.10

14.89

86.6712

1,013.34

1.1623 1.3338

100.00

15.19

110.7769

1,057.82

5.7822

A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.63

4.44

18.67

96.45

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.47

3.23

16.86

99.09

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

4.86

30-Jun-16

0.99

4.46

19.63

95.33

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

5.73

30-Jun-16

0.99

3.48

18.66

97.44

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR‡

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.26

5.59

20.98

80.91

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

25.73

30-Jun-17

1.53

1.00

16.16

96.98

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

2.96

1.79

17.24

92.69

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.14

1.80

17.16

94.73

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.72

1.00

16.45

93.30

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

13.73

09-Dec-18

2.34

1.00

16.41

96.63

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

APGA may drag INEC to court over PVCs ‘APC showed its Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he leadership of the Imo State chapter of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may head to court to seek redress if efforts to get the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) for its supporters by January 31, fail.

Speaking with newsmen in Owerri, the Chairman of the party, Peter Ezeobi, lamented

3,000

the non-availability of the PVCs, especially in areas considered to be APGA strongholds.

He said: “Beside the fact that our governorship candidate, Emmanuel Ihenacho, myself and a lot of other APGA loyalists have not been able to secure our PVCs, the non-availability of the PVCs in areas like Owerri Municipal and Owerri North, areas known to have been voting for APGA since 1999, the issue becomes worrisome.”

Ezeobi added that with elections around the cor-

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

ner, and the attendant anxiety, the leadership of the party was compelled to lodge a complaint at the INEC office in the state.

Expressing concern that INEC may end up disenfranchising many eligible Nigerians, Ezeobi said: “We are not praying for a situation where the electoral process would be truncated; or where elections would be marred by violent reactions owing to disenfranchisement of eligible voters. We are simply calling on INEC to do the needful; expedite action and redress the

63.6%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Austria in 2006.

Source: Itu.int

current situation.”

The party’s Legal Adviser, Mr. Ikechukwu Ikeji, noted that given the election timeline, the party would give INEC the benefit of the doubt till January 31, to address the issue.

“Disenfranchisement is a constitutional matter, hence after January 31, we may be compelled to institute an action in court and seek legal remedy to the denial of our constitutional right and the inherent subversion of the will of the people owing to their disenfranchisement,” he said.

31.2m

The total population of Oceania region in 2000.

Source: Un.org

strenght in owerri’ Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

C

hieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Chijioke Nkwopara, has said that the party’s rally in Imo State on Monday “was a bold and clear statement by the party on who actually controls the Imo electorate.”

He said: “We have all been witnesses to rallies in Imo State, but there had never been anything like this. The APC presidential candidate, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, never at any other time before now received such massive reception in any part of the South-East.

“The acceptability of the APC; its candidates at both national and state levels, is unprecedented in the history of opposition politics in Nigeria.”

Nkwopara said APC means well for Nigerians, adding that the determina-

tion of the party to provide the needed change will transform the country in the real sense by stimulating growth in the critical sectors of the economy.

Commenting on the activities of the opposition in Imo State, Nkwopara said: “Our party is on course with visible and verifiable life-changing developmental projects recorded in the state by Governor Rochas Okorocha.

“As a matter of fact, we are too busy to be distracted by the now too familiar antics of the opposition parties, especially the PDP. We are totally absorbed and committed to our resolve to deliver on our mandate and that we shall do,” Nkwopara.

While expressing confidence in the victory of the party at all levels, the party chief urged the Imo electorate to vote for APC and diligently guard and ensure that their votes count.

New Igbo-Eze North chairman resumes Uwakwe Abugu Enugu

T

L-R: Women Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Enugu State, Lolo Ngozi Nwankwo; South-East spokesperson, Comrade Osita Okechukwu and Deputy Chairman, Comrade Alphonsus Udeh, at a news conference in Enugu …yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

PPA’s Udensi promises free education Norman Obinna

A

bia State Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) governorship candidate, Sir Chikwe Udensi, has assured the people of the state of free education at all levels as well as bursary for students of tertiary institutions, if elected in next month’s election.

Udensi, who gave this assurance in Arochukwu

yesterday, also pledged to rebuild dilapidated schools as well as equip them with computers to ensure that pupils and students are exposed to modern information technology earlier.

He also promised teachers a better welfare package even while saying he would pay their salaries promptly. He said his administration will ensure the restora-

tion of dignity and pride that are associated with the teaching profession.

“Education bridges the gap between the socalled rich and the poor.

It is the best legacy any proactive government can give to its people.

“My administration will not only ensure free education at all levels, but will also ensure that books and educational materials are subsidised so that ev-

Anambra North women throw weight behind Obaze Okegwo Kenechukwu Onitsha

A

t least 5, 000 women from Anambra North senatorial district have thrown their weight behind the candidacy of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Dubem Obaze, in the February 2015 senatorial contest in Anambra State.

The women, who were drawn from the seven local government areas that

make up the district, gave this promise at a banquet organised at Ochuche Umuodu, Ogbaru Local Government, the country home of Obaze.

It was a day set aside

by Obaze to remind the womenfolk in the senatorial district that they have a duty to perform if he must win the senatorial contest.

The women, demonstrating their unreserved love and support for the

former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, arrived at the venue early when the Director, Operations, Dubem Obaze Campaign Organisation, Hon. Emeka Asonya, led other APGA leaders to the venue of the ceremony.

Also in attendance was the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. (Dr.) V. N. Chukelu and the wife of the candidate, who all addressed the women.

ery Abia child will have access to qualitative education,” Udensi said.

The PPA candidate further said that the bursary will include students doing post-graduate studies even as his government would work out modalities to assist Abia first class graduates further their education abroad to enable them compete effectively with their contemporaries from other countries.

here was jubilation in Enugu-Ezike, the headquarters of Igbo-Eze North Local Government yesterday as the new chairman of the council, Mr. Celestine Ezugwu, assumed office to fill the lacuna created since last December, when the former council chief, Mr. Bonaventure Onuh, was impeached.

The stalemate that arose from the impeachment of the former chairman had made the local council remain without a chief executive since last December 15.

But the issue was resolved late on Monday with the swearing in of the Vice-Chairman of the council, Mr. Celestine Ezugwu, as the new executive chairman.

Officials of the local government, who had been bewildered by the development, were happy at the turn of events

yesterday.

The new chairman was sworn in by Governor Sullivan Chime, who urged him to be up and doing in his new assignment to render effective service to his people just as he implored him to work closely with the councillors as well as the people he was appointed to serve, adding that his services to his people would determine how long or short he would stay in office.

The governor, however, regretted the circumstances that resulted in the impeachment of the former chairman, saying this was the first of its kind in local government administration in the state.

The new council boss told the governor that his new appointment was a call to diligent service and that as he was warmly welcomed by the staff, he would do his best to further the cause of the council and the staff.

ASUU seeks Fashola’s intervention in LASU crisis Mojeed Alabi

T

he Lagos zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) comprising the University of Lagos, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Federal University of Agriculture, FUNAAB, Abeokuta, Lagos State University, LASU, Ojo, and Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, has called on the Visitor to LASU and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde

Fashola to wade into the crisis plaguing the University.

LASU is currently witnessing a fresh crisis, bothering on the factionalisation of the ASUU. The union made the request yesterday afternoon at a media briefing in LASU where its Chairman and lecturer at the OOU, Dr. Adesola Nasir traced the recent factionalisation of ASUU-LASU chapter to the antics of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor,

Prof. Oladapo Obafunwa to run down every opposition to his “dictatorial regime.”

Nasir said, “This would commence the process of instituting permanent peace at LASU. To us, it would be a sure way to have firsthand information on the state of the university.

We feel that refusal to do this would mean that the visitor supports the oppression and maladministration at LASU. For now, we still feel otherwise.

48

News

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

South-South PDP threatens expulsion of defectors Gabriel Choba Ughelli

A

head of the February general election, the South South Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Cairo Ojugbo, has issued a 48-hours ultimatum to all defected members of the party following the outcome of the party’s primaries across the states to return or face

5

expulsion from the party.

He said, “No matter the grievances one may feel, it is not enough to decamp to opposition parties in order to desperately actualize political ambitions, such move is against the party’s ideology’’.

Ojugbo, gave this warning yesterday during the party’s governorship campaign flag-off and presentation of party’s flags to candidates of

The number of suspected deaths of Ebola virus disease infection in health-care workers in Liberia as at October 19, 2014.

Source: Who.int

the party at the Oghara Township Stadium in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State. He warned that failure of those who defected to return within the stipulated time, would lead to the removal of their names from the party’s register.

Earlier, the party governorship candidate in the state, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa vowed that his administration would vigor-

375,217

The total number of active fixed wired or wireless lines of Nigeria in August 2013.

Source: Itu.int

ously pursue the industrialization of the state to the envy of all when elected.

Okowa urged all Deltans to vote for the PDP at all levels, assuring that his government would face the area of technical education with all seriousness to create youths that are self-reliant. He boasted that the party would win landslide in the forthcoming elections, as there was no party that can match the

62

The life expectancy of men at birth of Cambodia in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

PDP in the state.

“We will ensure accelerated industrialization of the state. This is why we will ensure that the Warri industrial business park started by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan is completed. My administration will partner with private business investors to ensure that we create two industrial bases that will absorb our unemployed youths”, Okowa said.

0.41%

The percentage share of passenger air travel of Ilorin airport of Nigeria’s total air passengers in 2013.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

L-R: Leader, Nkonbin Women Forum, Mrs. Ntukea Ikana; President, Calabar Municipality Chapter, National Association of Seadogs, Mr. Fabian Avoh and Chairman, Cross River State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Etim Okon-Edet, during a Citizens Forum organized by NAS on voters’ education, in Calabar…yesterday

NDE advocates use of Nigerian fabrics Clement James Calabar

T

he National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Cross River State, has said it was looking forward to seeing Nigerians make effective use of made-inNigerian fabrics in order to encourage the growth of local industries in the country.

The State Coordinator of the Directorate, Mr. Edem Duke, gave this advice on Tuesday in Calabar, at the flagoff of the training of 50 women in the use of Adire materials (tie and dye fabric) for the making of clothings, ladies’ handbags and shoes.

The two-week training programme, Duke said, was part of NDE’s mission of providing employment for the people of the state. ``This programme is another effort by the NDE to stamp out unemployment in the State and the country at large, ‘’ he explained.

He said that the task of job creation, has become more challenging now than ever, noting that it requires a more concerted effort to stem the tide.

According to him, the idea of training women on the making of ladies’ handbags and shoes was because of their passion for fashion.

Diigbo, Pyagbara bicker over control of Ogoni Emerhor: Why I want Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

F

ormer factional leader of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Goodluck Diigbo and current leader, Legborsi Pyagbara, are set for a battle over who controls the nationality in determining which of the two main rival political parties, the PDP and the APC, the region should embrace.

While Diigbo has declared an independent state of Ogoni, on the grounds of the marginalization by the government, MOSOP has dismissed such move, saying that it was illegal for Diigbo to make such call, considering that he lacks support from the people, and lacks the power to take such drastic step for the Ogoni.

Diigbo, who contested the 2011 governorship election in Rivers State

under the Hope Democratic Party, HDP, was the factional leader of MOSOP between 2009 to 2013, when the group’s former leader, Ledum Mitee, handed over to Legborsi Pyagbara.

He recently declared himself Ogoni President, and appointed people to run the affairs of the “country.”

He has also “abolished” MOSOP, arguing that it failed to achieve

political autonomy for the Ogoni, declaring that it has been replaced by the Independent Civil Society Commission (ICSC).

On January 4, 20015 when MOSOP marked the Ogoni Day and celebrated its 22nd anniversary at the Birabi Memorial Grammar School ground, Bori-Ogoni, Diigbo was sworn-in in absentia as the first elected leader of Ogoni in Teyork, his community.

Oshiomhole’s critics should hide faces in shame, says Idahosa Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

A

former member of the House of Representatives and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Mr. Osagie West EhiogeIdahosa, yesterday chided all those opposed to the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, saying they ought to cover their faces in shame given the gov-

ernor’s track record of achievements in the state.

Idahosa, who stated this in a chat with newsmen yesterday in Benin, said that despite the criticisms against Oshiomhole by the PDP, the governor has given the state a face lift in the past six years.

He said, “There is no question as to whether the governor has performed, even though, you want to deny the governor some credit because he is in the APC

while I am in the PDP but conscience will not allow you to completely deny him the credit.”

The PDP stalwart, therefore urged the governor to ensure that a credible candidate succeeds him in office come 2016 in order not to drag the state backward.

The former House of Representatives member and Edo South senatorial aspirant in the PDP primaries noted, “When you fly into Benin for

example, and take an aerial look of Benin you will see that things have changed, it is no longer what it used to be. ‘’When you go out of Benin and go to the Local Governments and you see what you see there, you cannot in your quiet moment appreciate him,” Idahosa added.

I have been tempted to deny him some credit myself especially when I got angry and left the APC for the PDP.”

to govern Delta

Biyi Adegoroye

T

he Delta State All Progressives Congress’ governorship candidate, Otega Emerhor, has said that his desire to govern was born out of passion for development and the need to ensure the state gets optimal benefits for the revenue which accrues to it.

Emerhor, said that as a turn-around expert in the financial system, who had revitalized many companies and returned them to profitability through management of human and material resources, he would replicate that in Delta and make the state one of the best in the country if elected in the February polls.

He lamented the level of development in the state, stating that it is not commensurate with the volume of funds which accrued to it in the past 16 years, and called on the

electorate in the state to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party for its inability to match the level of income which was accrued to the state with development, and give the APC a chance to prove its worth.

Speaking at a media chat in Lagos, the renowned businessman regretted that the state was begging for infrastructural development including massive industrialization to accommodate the army of unemployed youths.

“PDP is not going to offer anything new; it has been in administration for 16 years. We cannot carry on with the status quo. I represent a new vision for Delta State. Delta State is blessed with a lot of resources, but these were not well utilised in the last 16 years of PDP rule.

The indices of development are very poor and there is a huge deficit of infrastructure; this cannot continue,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Ahmed urges FG to fulfill pledges on Kwara roads Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

K

wara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on the Federal Government to live up to its electoral promises by repairing all federal roads in the state to protect the sanctity of lives of Nigerians.

The governor also appealed to the Federal Government to refund the money the state government spent on the construction and rehabilitation of federal roads across the state, to free up more funds to finance developmental needs of the state.

A Government House statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji

Wahab Oba, quoted the governor as making the appeal in a condolence message on the death of three members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Ilorin depot and another woman in two separate automobile accidents along the Ilorin-Old Jebba road in Ilorin.

Describing the deaths as painful, shocking and unfortunate, Governor Ahmed said the three IPMAN members were employers of labour with deep impact in the provision of job opportunities to the people and noted that the fourth person, who was reportedly hit by a learner-driver in her shop was also a contributor to the Kwara economy in her own way.

News 49

NORTH

Gaidam: God will expose those behind Yobe attacks Hassan Jirgi DAMATURU

Y

obe State governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has described the two female suicide bombers, whose dastard acts, killed many innocent souls and got 47 others injured, as barbaric and unacceptable.

He said God will soon expose such workers of evil.

The governor spoke when he visited the scene of the bomb blasts in Potiskum, Yobe State.

He condoled with the families of the victims and prayed for the repose of their souls.

According to him, “The state government will try everything pos-

sible to provide support for the 47 injured people for them to recover fully.

We will also pay all the medical bills,” he said.

Governor Gaidam also urged the people of the town and Yobe State in general, to continue with their prayers for the state and the nation. He said such prayers are capable of bringing normalcy to the country.

“The effect of insurgency will be over sooner or later, Almighty Allah will expose those behind of the attacks.”

The governor also promised that his administration will foot the bills of the 11 victims that have been referred to the Federal Medical Centres in Birnin Kudu and Nguru in the state.

Presidential poll: PDM asks members to make their choice Muhammad Kabir KANO

T

he Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) yesterday called on their members and supporters to make their choice of presidential candidates in the February elections as the party would not field any presidential candidate in the polls.

The PDM said it is not presenting any presidential candidate and is not in any way supporting any of the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari or that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Goodluck

Jonathan.

It also urged its members in Kano State to ensure that their votes were cast for an honest, dedicated and committed candidate with prudent management track record as the president of the country this year.

Speaking with reporters at the Kano NUJ Press Centre on Monday, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDM, Bashir Ishaq Bashir, who was with his running mate, Aliyu Abdullahi Sumaila, said they have long decided as a party not to present a presidential candidate, but this does not mean they were not capable of producing one.

Benue CAN boss seeks change in Nigerian currency Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

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isturbed by the corruption in the polity, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Benue State, Archbishop Yiman Orkwar, has advocated the change in the nation's currency by the Federal Government.

Orkwar decried the high level of corruption in high places, saying many politicians in the country have stolen public money and stashed such in their homes while majority of Nigerians are languishing in penury.

Orkwar, who is the General Overseer of All Nations Evangelism Ministries, said for the Federal Government to show concern in fighting

corruption, it should print new naira notes, stressing that by so doing, those that have been hoarding money, will be easily dealt with.

In a statement by his Media Aide, Deacon Ortindi Barka, the cleric expressed regrets over the way majority of Nigerians have been languishing while their leaders, who were entrusted with the country’s common wealth, have embarked on unprecedented embezzlement of such wealth.

He urged political office holders to repent or face the wrath of God, while also calling on Nigerians to have confidence in God, assuring them that; “God will arise and set them free from bondage, oppression, injustice, impunity, poverty, hunger, deprivation and disease.

L-R: National President, Naval Officer's Wives Association (NOWA), Mrs. Lami Jibrin; Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Usman Jibrin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Keneth Minimah and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, at the inauguration of hostel rooms and classrooms at NOWA Education Centre in Karshi, Nasarawa State …yesterday.

I will rescue Yobe, says Waziri PROMISES

Ex-Minister pledges to harness Yobe's wealth for the people of the state Hassan Jirgi DAMATURU

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ormer Minister of Police Affairs and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Yobe State, Adamu Maina Waziri, has said that he would rescue Yobe state if voted into office in February.

Waziri spoke with New Telegraph shortly after he was presented with the flag of the PDP to contest in next month’s general election.

He said he is better equipped to lead the state with his perspective, saying he has better credentials and ideas to beat incumbent Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to him, Yobe

State needs someone who is qualified, exposed and experienced to govern the state.

“What Yobe needs is a qualified governor, no matter where he comes from, it is good to do justice to the state with the election, qualified and experienced people should be the governor of the state this time around.

Waziri said: “My agenda for the state is to harness the wealth of Yobe for the people of the state, the problem we have in this clime is lack of creativity in governance,” said Waziri.

He added that his relationship with both the party and the grassroots is unrivaled; “the truth is that it is my passion to serve humanity, that has encouraged me to throw my hat into the ring,” he said.

However, his resolve to contest the Yobe State governorship on the PDP platform was to take the state to the next level of development.

‘River Basins yet to be fully harnessed’ Ibrahim Abdul YOLA

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s experts continued to lament about the food insecurity being experienced in the country, the Managing Director of the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority (UBRBDA), Aliyu Jijjiwa, yesterday said the potentials of the country’s river basins are not fully harnessed despite the huge investments in the sector.

Experts had earlier noted that the problems militating against optimal utilisation of the river basins include funding gaps, slow execution of projects and policy som-

ersaults, which affects timely completion of dam construction projects and irrigation canals.

Speaking with newsmen in Yola, Jijjiwa said river basins, which were conceived to boost food production across the country by providing irrigation water through dams have remained under-utilised, stressing that, “when fully utilised, they have the potential to feed the nation.”

According to him, for the river basins to attain their maximum capacity utilisation and restore the glory of the nation towards food sufficiency, efforts must be directed at regularising the issues and problems enumerated above.

Group to organise guber debate in Adamawa Ibrahim Abdul YOLA

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etermined to enhance the quality of leadership in the next general election in Adamawa State, two organisations, Gotel Communications and T. C. Consult Services, have organised a debate for the governorship candidates of the parties

that will participate in the February general election.

The debate, which is the second of its kind to be organised in the state is tagged; “The Great Debate,” which seeks to provide a platform for the electorate to make informed choices of their future leaders based on their qualities will take place on February 7, 2015.

50 News

WORLD | News

Over four million Nigerians involved in double registration –INEC

Terror victims mourned in France, Israel

Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said over four million Nigerians were involved in double registration during the 2011 nationwide registration exercise.

It, however, said the offenders would not be immediately prosecuted because of the work load but have recommended to the National Assembly for the creation of Electoral Offences Commission that will prosecute election offenders.

Chairman of the INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega said the commission was fully prepared to conduct better elections in February than it did in 2011 and called for support from election stakeholders.

Jega, who spoke during a briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the commission would still make use of youth corps members in the conduct of the elections, but added that because of the large number of ad hoc staff required, they will be complimented in some states by students of tertiary institutions.

He disclosed that the commission has gone far in the recruitment of its ad hoc staff, who will undergo training on the conduct of the elections.

The Director, ICT department in the commission, Egnr. Chidi Nwafor, who explained the processes of preparing the voters’ register, disclosed that a total of 119,973 registrations centres were used by INEC to register 73.5 million voters in 2011, which were later subjected to Automated Finger Identification System (AFIS) during the clean up exercise.

Reps to pass 2015 MTEF Thursday

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hey came by the thousands -- in France and in Israel -- to cry, to honor and never to forget. Mourners remembered those laid to rest yesterday as beloved sons and daughters who became terrorist targets in three attacks last week in France.

They died at the hands of three Islamist extremists who tried to use religion to justify their slaughter.

“He was killed by false Muslims,” said Malek Merabet, whose brother Ahmed -- also a Muslim -- was one of three French police officers killed in the attacks. “One must not

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

confuse extremists with Muslims. Mad people have neither color nor religion.”

French authorities on Friday killed the three people directly behind this wave of terror. It began two days earlier with the massacre of 12 at the offices of the satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine, continued Thursday with police officer Clarissa Jean-Philippe’s slaying in the Paris suburb of Montrouge, and climaxed the next day with a hostage siege at a kosher grocery store that killed four. Since then, many around the globe have joined France in rallying against the Islamist terror threat. That spirit was in evidence

Sunday in Paris when world leaders joined an estimated 1.5 million people marching in defiance of the killers and in solidarity with one another. But if Sunday was a day for unity, Tuesday was a day to grieve.

That’s what happened in Jerusalem, where Israeli leaders joined thousands to remember the four victims of the eastern Paris grocery store siege and to support their loved ones as they were buried. The four men -- Philippe Braham, Yohan Cohen, Yoav Hattab and François-Michel Saada -- were shot dead Friday. “I’m crying,” Braham’s wife told the mourners. “But I know that you all cry with me.”

lSenate defers debate on budget Philip Nyam and Chukwu David Abuja

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ndications emerged yesterday that the House of Representatives is planning to expedite consideration of the 2015 appropriation bill and may pass the 2014-16 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)

by Thursday.

The House will today begin debate on the general principles of the proposed budget.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, who announced this at the plenary of the

House yesterday advised all members to study the budget details circulated to them ahead of the exercise today.

Earlier, the House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola had moved a motion calling for the postponement of commencement of debate on the budget. She argued that the essence was to allow members enough time to study the budget details for the consideration of the budget.

After the motion was adopted, Speaker Tambuwal urged his colleagues to carefully peruse the

budget proposal, which has already been circulated to them preparatory for today’s debate.

New Telegraph, however, gathered reliably that the House leadership has resolved that the MTEF be passed by tomorrow to pave the way for the early passage of the budget.

A principal officer who spoke to New Telegraph disclosed that “in view of the fact that we are barely 40 days to the general election, it is incumbent on us to pass the budget quickly to allow time for the lawmakers to prepare for elections.

Senate confirms Nnanna as CBN Deputy Governor Chukwu David Abuja

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he Senate yesterday unanimously confirmed the appointment of Joseph Okwu Nnanna as a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Nnanna’s confirmation followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions presented by Senator Isa Galaudu, which recommended his confirmation.

This was consequent upon President Goodluck Jonathan’s letter to the Senate last year, through which he forwarded the name of Nnanna and implored the Upper Chamber to expeditiously confirm his appointment.

Urhobo groups flay Jonathan’s endorsement Biyi Adegoroye

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rhobo Media Group, an association of media men of Uhrobo ethnic nationality, has condemned the recent endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan and the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chief Great Ogboru, by the leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), declaring that it as a reversal of the union’s earlier stance.

At a media briefing last week, President of UPU, Chief Joe Omene, had after a meeting with President Jonathan, rejected the presidential candidate of the All Progressives

Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for allegedly refusing to grant him audience and promised to deliver one million votes to PDP/Jonathan.

But the group said this resolve by the union was at variance with the famous reaffirmation of UPU’s resolve to implement the Uvwiamuge Declaration of 2014, by ensuring that Urhobo bloc votes go against the PDP/President Jonathan should the party refuse to field an Urhobo for the 2015 governorship election.

In a statement signed

by Prince Daniel Ekiugbo and Comrade Isaac Mesere, president and

publicity secretary of the Urhobo Media Group respectively, the UMG described the declaration

by Omene as a setback to the determination of the Urhobo nation to regain the governorship seat in Delta State, and a negation of its earlier stance.

In 2014, there was ‘the Ovwiamughe Declaration,’ under the leadership of Gen. Patrick Aziza when in an oath, all Urhobo interest groups pledged to cast the over one million bloc votes of the Delta majority ethnic group to the APC at all levels in the coming elections should the PDP failed to give its Delta guber ticket to an Urhobo.

Police officers carrying the coffins draped in the French flag of the three officers killed in the recent Islamist attacks.

Pardon possible for Al Jazeera journalists, says Egypt’s minister

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gypt’s President Abdel Fattah alSisi could still pardon three jailed Al Jazeera journalists who are now facing a retrial if he deems it appropriate, the country’s foreign minister said yesterday.

Canadian-Egyptian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian Peter Greste were sentenced last June to seven to 10 years for spreading lies

to help a “terrorist organization” - a reference to Egypt’s outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Sisi said in November the issue of a presidential pardon was under discussion. Egypt’s High Court ordered a retrial of the men on Jan. 1.

Asked about a presidential pardon, Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri said: “All avenues are on the agenda in the context of the president’s constitutional and legal rights.”

“So in principle that is also an avenue that might be pursued but that is the prerogative of the head of state when he deems it necessary or appropriate to do so,” he told Reuters during a visit to the United Nations’ Africa headquarters in Nairobi.

He said the fate of the three, who include Greste, a Nairobi-based journalist who was detained on assignment in Cairo, now depended on the retrial process.

Islamic State must be wiped out, says French Defence Minister

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slamic State fighters must be wiped out, France’s defence minister said yesterday, indicating that Paris would not pull back from military operations overseas after 17 people were killed by home-grown militants in Paris last week.

After the United

States, France has the largest number of planes and troops involved in the coalition fighting Islamic State, which last year took control of large swathes of Iraq and Syria.

It also has about 3,500 troops and special forces operating in the SahelSahara region hunting

down al Qaeda-linked militants.

France intervened in Mali to oust Islamist militants from its former colony in January 2013 and Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian noted that two years later French forces were now fighting the “same threat” on home soil.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Sports News

International Sport

Iheanacho, Nwakali to miss AYC

Ronaldo: I want to equal Messi's awards

52

Sport Charles Ogundiya

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ormer international, Bright Omokaro, has attributed the inability of Nigerian players to attract good contract outside the country to greed and insincerity.

Reacting to the recent transfer debacle of Dolphins of Port Harcourt striker, Emem Eduok, Omokaro said clubs across the world are now wary of Nigerian players because of their unprofessionalism.

According to him, signing for two different clubs shows greed and indiscipline.

“Obviously it is greed and indiscipline of the highest order. That is one of the problems of Nigerian football, we are not sincere and straightforward in what we say and do.

“In our days we were always very sincere, today’s players lie so much. When someone helps them today, they betray the person because of money. They display a high level of unprofessionalism, have a very low mentality, and football

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AFCON 2015 Black Stars depart for Malabo

54

Did you know?

That most away wins in a season was Chelsea 2004-2005

Transfers: Greed bane of Nigerian players – Omokaro has gone beyond that.

“Why would you sign for a club and still sign for another club if not for greed? If a club offered you N5,000, and you agreed, then you are bound by the terms of the contract. The player apparently believed he was still in Nigeria where he could get away with any anomalies; such things don’t happen in other African countries let alone in Europe,” the former New Nigeria Bank defender said.

He cited the case of former junior international, Phillip Osondu, who signed for a club while giving the false impression that he was a young player even when he was already a mature

man, as another example of insincerity on the part of Nigerian players.

He however called on the Nigeria Football Federation to quickly find a solution to the trend while also commending the body for the action taken regarding the Eduok case.

Omokaro said: “Such decisions will serve as a deterrent to other players,” said the man popularly called ’10-10’ in his playing days, “I supported Pinnick’s decision to send him out of the camp in the first place, he was later recalled, but I heard a lot of people condemning the act; how do you take a stand on such issues in the future? It will serve as deterrent to others.”

AFCONmiss:Eagleswillbounceback-Adamu Emmanuel Tobi

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IFA executive committee member, Amos Adamu, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Super Eagles to bounce back to reckoning, stating that Nigeria will be sorely missed,

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Adamu

having failed to qualify for the biennial tournament, as the 2015 AFCON begins this weekend in Equatorial Guinea.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with New Telegraph at the 2014 Glo-CAF award in Lagos, the former sole administrator of Nigeria Football Federation stressed the need to put in place plans to ensure that Nigerian football dominated on the continent again in the next few years.

“I believe that when we put in more effort we will see Nigeria at the top of the game again irrespective of the fact that we didn’t qualify for the Cup of Nations; that at any rate is the way of football because sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.

“I personally will not blame the coach for Super Eagles, AFCON miss, because at the time of the qualifiers, we didn’t have a functional Federation in place as we were either in court or trying to avert FIFA’s ban.

We have to put all these behind us and support the new NFF President Amaju Pinnick who is doing a nice job trying to organise the whole game,” Adamu said.

He added that: The future of Nigerian football is very bright I believe that when Nigeria returns, no nation will be able to stop us. Nigerians should enjoy good football during the AFCON even though the Super Eagles will not be playing good football will be appreciated anywhere.”

Emenike (left)

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Iheanacho, Nwakali to miss AYC

Eagles now to play Yemen, as Sudan opt out

l As Man City hang on to teen stars

Ifeanyi Ibeh

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elechi Iheanacho and Chidiebere Nwakali will not feature for Nigeria at the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal after their club, Manchester City, informed the Nigeria Football Federation that they would not make both players available for the tournament coming up in March.

The AYC serves as the qualifiers for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup, holding in New Zealand, and both Iheanacho and Nwakali were among the nine overseasbased players called up by Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba for the eight-team tournament in Senegal.

Both players, who featured for the victorious Nigerian side to the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, had earlier

been given a Thursday deadline to join up with the country's U-20 team at their Kaduna training camp.

But in a mail sent to the NFF on Tuesday and signed by the scouting and recruitment operations manager of the reigning English Premier League champions, Fergal Harkin, the Manchester-based side said Iheanacho was currently injured and might not be fit until the middle of March, while Nwakali was about to be loaned

out to a yet-to-bedisclosed European club.

“With regard Kelechi Iheanacho, he is currently injured. We believe he will be fit around the middle of March but you can keep in contact regarding his recovery,” read the mail in part.

“For Chidiebere Nwakali, we are currently in the process of agreeing his loan deal to Europe and he will not be available to meet up with the national team until further notice.”

Emmanuel Tobi

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he Super Eagles will now take on Yemen on Saturday, January 17 in Dubai after Sudan pulled out of the friendly encounter earlier scheduled to take place on the same date and at the same venue in the United Arab Emirates.

The Sudanese, who gave no reasons for their sudden withdrawal, were scheduled to play Nigeria in Dubai on January 17 and Finland on January 22, also in the Emirati city.

But the Nigeria Football Federation moved quickly to replace the Sudanese with the Yemenis, who will also play against the Fins on January 22.

Meanwhile, the Super Ea-

Salami off to Serbia to join Red Star Belgrade

Basketball: March takeoff date for new season Ifeanyi Ibeh

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he 2015 season of the DStv Premier Basketball League for men, as well as the Zenith Bank Women’s Basketball League, will commence in March.

According to a statement from the secretariat of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, action will get underway in the Premier Basketball League on March 6, while the first jump ball of the Women’s Basketball League will take place on March 15.

The men’s league will, as has become the norm for over half a decade, see the 16 Premier League teams split into the Savannah and Atlantic Conferences with the top four teams from each conference going on to the post-season playoffs, while the women’s league will be played in phases, with the opening phase taking place in Abuja from March 15 to 25.

The NBBF, in the statement, stated that the start of the season was moved to March to accommodate the upcoming general elections taking place across the country in February.

Iheanacho

ITTF Africa: Egypt’s Assar vows to stop Nigeria Ajibade Olusesan

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ormer Africa number one player, Omar Assar, has warned Aruna Quadri that he will not stop his country from sweeping medals at the forthcoming International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championships holding in Cairo next week in Cairo.

Although he predicted a tough challenge in Cairo, the

Assar

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he 2015 season of the Nigeria Women Football League will hold from February 28 through October 7, the chairperson of the league body, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, announced yesterday (Tuesday).

Onyedinma said events lined up in the NWFL 2015 league season calendar, would

be strictly adhered to unless occasion demands for adjustment.

On NWFL 2015 congress, she noted that the venue was not determined yet due to election and the on-going campaigns which were making it difficult for the league to get state sponsorships.

“There are states that want to host us, like Akwa Ibom but the political situation and

up details of his transfer to Red Star Belgrade in Serbia.

A statement by the Eagles stated that as a result of Salami’s departure, there are now 19 players available for Saturday’s match against Yemen, which replaced Sudan.

"I am excited already and appreciate God for what he has been doing in my career.

I am so happy that a big team like Red Star Belgrade are interested in my services,” Salami said.

“I will be in Serbia for a medical after which I will sign the deal."

Salami scored 17 goals last season in the Nigeria Premier League for Warri Wolves.

The ex-3SC and Sunshine Stars striker has 11 caps for Nigeria with two goals.

2011 All Africa Games gold medalist said he was optimistic that Egypt could hold sway at home.

“I hope it will be a very tight competition between all teams and players and I wish Egypt Salami will dominate all events. But we respect all our opponents arri Wolves striker Gboand we will not play to the gallahan Salami has left the lery,” he said.

Eagles squad in Dubai to firm The Mediterranean Games champion believes the presence of Quadri-inspired Nigeria as well as Congo Brazzaville and Tunisia would pose a major challenge to Egypt. “We will surely face tough challenge from ational athlete, top teams especially Nigeria, Andrew Ifiok, a Congo Brazzaville and Tunisia product of the Akwa and I believe this will add a speIbo m S t at e N N P C / cial flavour to the tournament.”

Mobil Schools AthletAssar, who is yet to play to his ics Championships, optimum in the last one year, behas ear ned an acalieves he can re-enact his form demic scholarship in Cairo. “I am looking forward t o s t u dy B u s i n e s s to performing my best at the Administration at tournament especially as it is the Middle Tennesholding in Cairo s e e U n ive r s i t y i n the United States of America.

Ifiok was first spotted at the 2007 edition campaigns have not allowed of the NNPC/ Mobil them to consider our proposal, Schools Athletics but we have Abuja as second C h a m p i o n s h i p s by option," she said. for mer African long She added: "The Nigeria jump record holder, Football Federation and the Yusuf Alli, and was Sports Minister have promsubsequently admitised to support us for the ted into the Univeryear's programmes. sity of Lagos to study Onyedinma also cleared the Physical Education. air on the status of Adamawa A n e l at e d I f i o k Queens saying the club will said: “This is a dream not go on relegation despite come true. I have been

Women League commences February 28 Comfort Chukwu

gles, who lost by a lone goal to Cote d’Ivoire last Sunday in Abu Dhabi, are already in Dubai to prepare for the game against one of the world’s lowest ranked sides.

The Yemenis are currently ranked 176th in the world, according to the latest FIFA rankings. Their best ever position was the 90th spot they occupied back in August 1993, while their worst was 186 in April 2014.

From 2012 to date, they have played 28 international matches, winning two, drawing six, and losing 20, including their last match in November against Saudi Arabia at the 2014 Gulf Cup of Nations. Their last victory came in March, a 2-0 win over Nepal in a friendly played in Doha, Qatar.

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Mobil Schools Athletics star, Ifiok, gets US scholarship dreaming about this for so long that I do N not know what to say.

I am so excited.”

Ifiok also expressed his g ratitude to all those who played a role in helping him achieve his dream of studying in the US, most notably the C ro s s R ive r S t at e Gover nment, coaches Alli, Lee Evans and Er nest Tche, as well Paul Bassey, the sports consultant to Mobil Producing Nigeria. He also reserved special thanks for NNPC, Mobil and Nigerian coach, Tony Osheku, who facilitated the scholarship.

Ifiok, who now competes in both the 200 and 400 metres events, will head out to the US this week.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Ronaldo: I want to equal Messi's awards

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eal Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to win another Fifa Ballon d'Or and catch current record holder Lionel Messi.

The Portugal international beat the Barcelona forward and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the 2014 edition of the prestigious award during Monday's annual Fifa gala in Zurich.

However, he is not satisfied with his three wins just yet and

Khan gives Mayweather ultimatum MIR KHAN has given Floyd Mayweather five days to decide whether he intends to fight him at some point in 2015.

Khan has been chasing Mayweather a long time. Last year he was infamously snubbed by the American in favour of Marcos Maidana – the Argentine slugger Khan beat in 2010 – despite proving the more popular opponent in a farcical online vote.

“I want to fight in May and I want the Mayweather fight

but it’s not getting any closer,” Khan told the Daily Mail.

“I’ve answered all the things Mayweather wanted me to do.

He wanted me to fight at welterweight, I did that; he wanted to do a vote, I won the vote; he wanted me to beat a top guy in the division and I gave Devon Alexander a beating he’d never had before. “There is a lot of money in a fight with me, not just in America, but he’s trying to avoid me. He’s avoiding two names in boxing, Manny Pacquiao and Amir Khan.”

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esc Fabregas has no doubt Chelsea have moved on from the shock defeat to Tottenham on New Year’s Day and are back on track.

The Christmas and New Year period proved to be especially tough for the Blues as they played four league games in the space of 11 days and the busy schedule caught up on them when they suffered a 5-3 loss to Tottenham on January 1.

Jose Mourinho gave a number of first-team regulars, including Fabregas, some time off to recover from the schedule and

Messi didn't deserve second place, says Kroos M

adrid midfielder Toni Kroos feels his compatriot Manuel Neuer should have come second in the Ballon d'Or vote behind Cristiano Ronaldo, rather than Barcelona attacker Lionel Messi.

The Argentina international amassed 15.76 per cent of the votes to narrowly pip the Bayern Munich shot stopper - who collected 15.72% of the votes - to second place, but Kroos

feels Messi did not deserve to finish ahead of the World Cup winner.

"It’s surprising and a little unfair that Neuer finished behind Messi," Kroos told Sky Sport News.

"I thought it would be a close call between Manuel and Cristiano.

"Neuer was the best goalkeeper by a long way and Cristiano was the best outfield player.

It was between the two of them really.

"Manuel would have been a worthy winner, but Cristiano deserved it, too."

Kroos was one of four Germany international to make the top 10 of the 2014 Fifa Ballon d'Or, finishing ninth with 1.43 per cent Messi (right) of the votes.

Third-placed Neuer, Thomas Muller (fifth) and Philipp Lahm (sixth) complete the German foursome in the top 10.

Kane can reach highest level,says Spurs legend

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ohn Scales has backed Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane to reach the highest level.

The 21-year-old Spurs striker has scored 16 goals and made two assists in 22 appearances in all competitions for the north London side this season.

And former Spurs defender Scales is amazed by the England Under-21 international’s form over the festive period.

“Harry Kane has been fantastic this season, he has burst on the scene and scored a few goals and you wonder whether he can sustain it,” scales

it also. All of us deserved it.

"It brings up so many different emotions and I'll use this award as motivation to continue working hard to win more individual and team honours.

"This year is a new challenge - 2015 has already started, there are new titles to be won and little by little, game by game, we are going to see if we can be successful again.

"I am ambitious, I always want to win more and I am always working hard to be better.

Fabregas: Chelsea back on track

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo hands a microhpone to Barcelona's Lionel Messi at the FIFA Awards on Monday

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has now set his sights on drawing level with Messi, who has lifted the trophy on four occasions.

"This is an unforgettable moment, but I'm not going to stop here. I want to catch Messi," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by Marca.

"It was my eighth time here.

It’s always me and Messi and one more. You can never be sure of anything, but I thought I had a good chance. I think I deserved it, but Messi deserved

they looked fresh as they overcame Newcastle 2-0 on Saturday.

The defeat to Tottenham came as a shock to the team but Fabregas believes it is important to learn from it and move on.

“There is never complacency at Chelsea, we just want to win every game. Of course that’s not possible through the season, there are many, many games,” he is quoted as saying in the London Evening Standard.

“You can always have a bad day and things that won’t go your way. But we are ready. Some of us had a little break.

Fabregas

Bayern, Barca, Juve defences best in Europe

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ayern Munich, Barcelona and Juventus have Europe’s best defences, with the reigning Bundesliga champions leading the Huawei Team Ranking ahead of the Liga giants and Massimiliano Allegri’s outfit.

The Allianz Arena side has conceded just four times in 17 league games - an aver-

age of 0.24 per match - with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer – who came third in the vote for the Fifa Ballon d’Or - keeping 13 clean sheets in the process.

Juventus and Barcelona, meanwhile, have been impressive at the back as well with an average of 0.50 goals conceded per match so far this season.

Sharapova to spearhead Russia in Fed Cup

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orld number two Maria Sharapova will spearhead Russia in their Fed Cup opening round match against Poland in Krakow from February 7-8, national Olympic team manager Vladimir Kamelzon said Tuesday.

Four-time champions Russia are trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2014 season, when they lost 4-0 to Australia in their

opening round clash.

Kamelzon added that in addition to fivetime Grand Slam winner Sharapova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 23rd in the WTA rankings, and four-time Grand Slam title winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, ranked 27, will also play, along with world number 83 Vita Diatchenko. "Sharapova's participation is guaranteed," Kamelzon told

Sharapova

the R-Sport Agency.

"Kuznetsova and Pavlyuchenkova will likely play the doubles.

Lazio star’s dad arrested for murder he father of Lazio's in-form at- house.

No official statement or reaction T tacking midfielder Felipe Anderson has reportedly been arrested on has yet been made public.

Kane (left)

told Sky Sports.

“But he has, and he has kept going, showing great maturity and

he looks the real deal.

He’s got all the attributes to make it at the highest level.”

suspicion of double homicide.

Sebastiao Tome Gomes, 51, turned himself in to Brazilian police after allegedly chasing a love rival, who was riding a motorbike, in his Fiat. Both drivers then apparently lost control of their vehicles and crashed into a nearby house. The motorbike rider died instantly, as did a 61-year-old woman who was asleep inside the

Anderson has enjoyed a breakout season with Lazio, scoring five and assisting five in his last quintet of appearances for the improving side, according to WhoScored.com.

The creative 21-year-old has played a key role in pushing Stefano Pioli's team to third in the table, their most realistic finishing position behind Juventus and city rivals Roma.

54

SPORT

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

COUNTDOWN TO 2015 AFCON

Black Stars depart for Malabo lAs Waris rues miss

G

hana will leave their camping base in Seville, Spain, on Wednesday night and head to Equatorial Guinea for the start of the Nations Cup. Head coach Avram Grant and his charges are expected to have camped for 10 days by that time.

They are expected to arrive at their base in Mongomo the following day, four days before their Group C opener against Senegal.

Ghana played against Dutch Eredivise side SC Camburr and Portuguese second-tier side Olhanense in a pre-tournament friendlies.

Black Stars will also play Algeria on January 23 and South Africa four days later.

Meanwhile, Striker Abdul Majeed Waris has expressed his disappointment at missing the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations due

to injury.

The Trabzonspor player picked up an injury three weeks ago during a league match and could not recover in time.

“Sad I can’t make it to AFCON due to injury.

I was looking forward to this but I know God’s plan for me is bigger than what I want. Destiny can always be delayed but can never be changed. I wish the team well,” Waris posted on his Facebook

Black Stars of Ghana

Both players sustained a muscle injury in a warm-up friendly against Algeria in Radès on Sunday evening.

As a replacement for the two strikers, national coach Georges Leekens called up CA Bizertin’s Edem Rejaibi and Espérance Tunis’ Haythem Jouini.

Tunisia will face Cape Verde, Zambia and DR Congo in their Group B of the event.

Algeria’s Bentaleb ready for challenge abil Bentaleb is refusing to get carried away by Algeria’s impressive form in qualifying for the African Cup of Nations ahead of his country’s first game at the tournament finals.

The 20-year-old midfielder reported for international duty following Tottenham's 5-3 win at home to Chelsea on New Year’s Day and is set to remain with the Greens throughout the forthcoming competition in Equatorial Guinea.

Having represented his nation with distinction at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, Nabil played his part in a highly successful

Bentaleb

African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in the months that followed – Algeria winning five of their six matches en route to the tournament finals.

“Of course I was gutted to leave Tottenham for a while, but my country is counting on me,” said

Nabil, who has scored once in 17 first team appearances this season.

“I have to assume my duties and play for my country and that’s what I’m doing.

“The qualifying campaign is different from the actual tournament, so we have to give it our best and hopefully we can manage to do something.

“We have tremendous players, we have very good talent and we are still a young side, but we have a few experienced players who we can take some lessons from.

“We have to keep our feet on the ground, work hard and hopefully it will go right for us.”

Official mascot 'Chuku Chuku' unveiled

T

he official mascot for the 2015AfricaCupof Nations has been unveiled.

The mascot is a squirrel called Chuku Chuku and has itsfootontheofficialMarhaba and points its two indexes to the sky.

In the 2012 edition of the tournament co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, the mascot was called Saima Gorilla.

The new mascot is present at the entrance to the stadium in Bata.

Seydou Keita closes in on Maha’s record

Mazembe's boss hails team’s contribution to AFCON M T P Mazembe president Moses Katumbi says he is very proud to have the largest number of player’s at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

The DR Congo league champions will be represented by nine players at the competition that will be held from January 17 to February 8 in Equatorial Guinea.

"I am very happy with the contributions that we at TP Mazembe continue

to make to African Football," Katumbi said.

Mazembe's roll at the Africa Cup is led by veteran DR Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba including his Leopards team mates, defender’s Joel Kimwaki and Jean Kasusula.

Black Stars winger Solomon Asante, Cote d'Ivoire striker Roger Assale and Malian defender Salif Coulibaly will also represent Mazembe at

aul Pogba's agent Mino Raiola has reP vealed that the France international could leave Juventus in the not too

distant future.

The 21-year-old recently signed a new deal with the Serie A champions until June 2019, but his representative has stressed that his long-term future does not lie in Italy.

"He will not stay in Italy much longer," Raiola told Sport Mediaset.

"It all depends on Juventus to be honest. We have just signed a new deal and we are happy, but if the right moment comes along to leave we will not let it pass. striker Yaya Sanogo has Athersenal joined Crystal Palace on loan until end of the season.

he Carthage Eagles have suffered a major injury blow to their attack ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, Equatorial Guinea 2015.

The Tunisian Football Federation confirmed that international forwards Saber Khalifa and Fakhreddine Ben Youssef have been ruled out of the continental showpiece on Monday.

N

Pogba will leave Juventus, says Raiola

Arsenal’s Sanogo joins Crystal Palace on loan

Tunisia replace injured duo

T

Transfer News

the Africa Cup. Zambia's trio of striker Given Singuluma, midfielder’s Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala, who has just finished a six month loan spell at Swiss club Grasshopper, complete the list .

"It has taken years of passion and dedication to build this team and having the highest number of players at AFCON makes us really proud,” Katumbi said.

ali skipper Seydou Keita is one cap away from former goalkeeper Mahamadou Sidibé’s record of 99 international appearances for the Eagles.

The former Barcelona midfielder will have the opportunity to equal the record of ‘Maha’ on Wednesday in Libreville against South Africa in Mali’s second pre-AFCON warm-up friendly.

The Eagles kicked-off their preparation for the continental showpiece with a 2-1 victory over Gabon’s Ligue 1 outfit FC Akanda on Sunday, with Keita scoring the opener for Mali.

The 21-year-old has made only five appearances for the Gunners this term, while his last start came in the 4-1 win at Galatasaray in the Champions League group stage on December 9.

As revealed by Goal, he was at the club's training ground on Monday for a medical and to finalise terms.

"When the Arsenal manager spoke with me about Crystal Palace I was very happy because I want to play more games," Sanogo told Palace's official website.

Hernandez rejects MLS offers

anchester United forward Javier M Hernandez, who is currently on loan at Real Madrid, has reportedly

rejected two offers from the MLS. The Mexican international joined Real Madrid on loan last summer, but has struggled to make his mark at the Bernabeu.

According to AS, the 26-year-old has been presented with offers from Chicago Fire and Los Angeles Galaxy, but the striker is not ready to finish his career in European football.

Atletico Madrid keen on Mario Suarez’s stay tletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has ASuarez played down speculation linking Mario with a move away from the Vicente

Calderon this month.

The Spanish midfielder is believed to be a transfer target for a number of Serie A clubs, but Simeone has said that the 27-year-old is "an important player" for the

Spanish side.

"Mario is an important player for us and we've no intention of letting him go," the Argentine told Sky Sports News.

Ibanez set for new Valencia deal

obert Ibanez is reportedly on the verge R of signing a new long-term deal at Valencia.

The 21-year-old has been with Los Che since 2000, but has only made four league appearances for the Spanish outfit.

That said, the Spaniard is highlyregarded at the Mestalla and has been tipped to make the breakthrough over the second half of this season.

According to Super Deporte, both parties met on Monday to discuss the new deal, which is expected to run until the summer of 2018.

West Ham United close in on Egwuekwe

est Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Nigerian W defender Azubuike Egwuekwe, who

currently represents Warri Wolves in his home country.

The 25-year-old has claimed that he has an offer from the Premier League, and reports in Nigeria have identified West Ham as the club in question.

I t was gathered that West Ham are also offering a £15,000-a-week wage for the big central defender, while Warri Wolves are asking for €300,000.

Egwuekwe, who is currently with the Super Eagles ‘B’ team ahead of a friendly against Sudan on Saturday, hinted last week he had received an interest from an EPL club.

News Feature 55

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

Beastly politicking in Abia Ebere Wabara

W

hen public office holders are desperate as they are wont, they throw caution to the winds and indecorum takes over, Onlookers begin to see the beastliness in man in conformity with animalistic characterizations.

Recently, Abia First, the campaign organization of Dr. Alex Otti, governorship candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, wrote an open letter to the InspectorGeneral of Police “on harassment, intimidation and vandalism in Abia State.” Expectedly, the appeal expressly pointed the finger at the state government for the threat to peaceful existence in the state by wilful indulgence in the above summative tripod of imminent cataclysm.

If as Gov. Theo Orji deludes himself that the opposition in the state is a “paper tiger”, why then do rambunctious agents of government embark on such bohemian assignments to destabilize the swelling oppositional forces and frighten them out of resistance? Such disruptive tendencies only embolden the opposition. In the instant case, government is understandably alarmed that if the APGA candidate is not cut short now, his victory will be landslide.

And the only way to checkmate him now is to employ beastly antics.

If I were a member of the outgoing government team, the best strategy should have been to allow each bird to perch. And in a delusionary situation where those in power erroneously believe that victory is certain for them, there should be no need for a tribe of gangsters and official touts as have become common legacies in Abia State.

The electorate should be allowed to make their preferences. Harassment, intimidation and vandalism have circumscribed impact on the outcome of polls as enlightened voters will always exercise their discretion no matter the combative hostility from government or its pugnacious representatives.

From the realities on ground, the government is afraid that Otti’s popularity and antecedents are such that anyone in other camps should lose sleep over the likely outcome of next month’s governorship contest. Definitely, Abia needs a consummate financial and management expert like Otti to redeem it. Based on Otti’s pedigree, I may not blame anyone trying to derail his unstoppable campaign train. But in doing this there should be some responsibility and maturity, if not candour.

The alleged brazen acts of lawlessness contained in the petition to the number one cop diminish the state government and further endear its victim to sympathetic electors.

The destruction of opponents’ billboards with the supervision by officials of the state government and free agents of hooliganism cannot change what has been destined to happen. The unexpected will take place if only God is asleep!

How can anyone explain the dismal potentialities of a Gov. Orji-anointed successor? The bleak prospects will be the gloomiest in human history!

Indeed, we have classes of governors.

Take Lagos as a case study. Despite being a predominant colony and spring of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the symbol of change, the banners, posters and billboards of President Goodluck Jonathan and those of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Jimi Agbaje adorn the entire landscape, which

Otti

Ikpeazu

is indicative of political maturity that births tolerance and sportsmanship in these matters. The enduring aspect of the Lagos example is that on most of the boards both parties’ candidates’ posters are displayed in juxtaposition that you will think they belong to the same party! This cannot change the fact that the next governor of Lagos State and candidate of mine is Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC. In a few instances where posters are torn by miscreants they are those of Gen. Muhamadu Buhari for reasons best known to them.

You move from Lagos to Katsina, one of my all-round referential states.

It will astound you whether the ruling party in the state is the PDP or the APC! Frankly speaking, there is nothing that suggests or gives inkling that Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, an aviation lawyer, is a staunch and respected member of the PDP. He carries on so accommodatingly of the opposition that you will think he belongs to the opposition. Alas, the PDP is the ruling party! Yet, oppositional vociferousness and ubiquity of the articles of the APC in the historic state of Generals are such that there is no way there could have been peace in the place if it had a Gov. Orji in the saddle. There would have been a state of emergency!

The same thread runs in Jigawa and Kano states.

Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Delta State is like a melting pot of political parties! You do not know which one has more presence. The only possible distinction is that the PDP and the APC clearly have higher stakes in the multi-

ethnic state. In spite of this cocktail of political associations, no state functionary goes about abusing incumbency power to dismantle opponents’ campaign materials as obtains stupidly in Abia State. As far as my friend Emma is concerned, the more the merrier as his achievements speak volumes for him.

So, there is no need for vicious bullishness in order to cage the opposition or forestall any takeover of the state by another party. If you are as confident as Uduaghan who has taken Delta beyond oil, you will allow the electorate to determine who takes over governance in May. Desperation comes when there are innumerable skeletons in the cupboard and there becomes absolute and uncanny need to foist a stooge which is what is the calamitous script in Abia.

It is unfortunate and saddening that the South East zonal offices of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) and the National Broadcast Commission (NBC) have not deemed it unfit to report the unprofessionalism going on in the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia to their national offices. Apart from brazenly dedicating the station to Gov. Orji’s inanities, the current trend is to foolishly focus on the governor’s candidate for the February governorship election, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, whose jingles and advert placements are aired intermittently 24/7 without any mention of Dr. Otti or other candidates in the same race with Ikpeazu, just the same way listeners are embarrassed at intervals of five minutes all through the day and night with Ochendo this, Ochendo that!

The state newspaper, The Ambassador, has turned itself to a provincial ragsheet with daily front-page pictures of either the governor or his wife! This is deliberate, wicked and the summit of professional misconduct. My prayer is that APGA or APC should win in Abia State so that on Monday, June 1, 2015, this hellish bunch of shameless and unprofessional broadcasters will be ignominiously shown the door for their disservice to humanity because of peanuts or fleeting job guarantees from their expired benefactor. The code of ethics and conduct does not allow such blacking out of all other parties in preference for an establishment arrangement. If the BON and the NBC cannot call these deviants to order, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO) and allied unions should evolve ways of civilizing these locals who do know the irredeem-

Are we in a banana republic where mendacious “Ochendoism” is the darkest order of the day and where oppositional rallies are laughably disallowed amid a display of intoxicative power crudity despite its transiency?

able damage they are doing to their careers and professionalism through their current public barbarism, in the long run. The on-going crudity and unmitigated recklessness in BCA impugn on the practice of standard broadcast journalism in the country.

The jaundiced broadcast craziness in a public medium like the BCA does not even happen in private radio stations!

Why should any governor audaciously supervise and superintend over this kind of scurrilous behaviour or allow his proxies, agents, party scoundrels, hangers-on, associates, apologists, patronage seekers and other nondescript followers (two of whom want to be a judge and commissioner even if for one month respectively at all costs) to dismantle billboards of a prospective successor different from his unpopular lackey? Again, what is there to be hidden via a stooge arrangement if the right things had been done as opposed to the legendary institutionalization of leadership poverty and anemic governance?

Why would any responsible government disrupt meetings and events of supporters of Dr. Otti with security agents and thugs the same way and manner this writer was unprecedentedly abducted last year? What is this abuse of power in a democracy all about? Even during military dispensations these kinds of bestialities never took place! And the intriguing dimension is that this latest political heinousness is going on without anyone saying anything. Rather, the Federal Government and a dying newspaper based in Illasamaja, Lagos, in dire need of drips and oxygenic therapies, among other fortune-seeking associations and professional (?) sub-groups are busy patronizingly bestowing meaningless and worthless awards and preposterous recognitions on Gov. Orji—for a fee, of course, from the public till! My overwhelming happiness is that no sane person takes these phony bestowals seriously beyond their theatrical value.

Again, why should hooligans obviously at the instance of the government display their pugnacity in areas they claim are the PDP “strongholds”?

Who gave them the psychotic effrontery to balkanize the state into restrictive political party territories? Are we in a banana republic where mendacious “Ochendoism” is the darkest order of the day and where oppositional rallies are laughably disallowed amid a display of intoxicative power crudity despite its transiency?

Let me end this article with a brief extract from Abia First: “…We need to state clearly that there is a limit to provocation coming from people who we expect should be engaging the electorate on their programmes, if any, rather than resorting to savagery.” This fleeting political brigandage should not punctuate the twilight of the Ochendo locust era. I just hope that those the petition was addressed to will act dispassionately and expeditiously. A stitch in time saves God’s Own State—not just nine! The emerging signs from Umuahia are quite ominous. Any PDP lawless bird that says other (lawful) birds with inalienably enshrined constitutional rights should not perch must have its wings scorched, burnt beyond recognition and irredeemably cremated either by the APGA or the APC in my state! And so shall it be, by God’s grace.

•Wabara (ewabara@yahoo.com/08055001948) is the media adviser to Dr. Orji Kalu.

Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.

– Sam Levenson

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

Rome’s Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant’Angelo was completed in 139 AD and converted to a fortress around 400 AD. It’s still a fortress (and a museum) today.

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015

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Electoral process and persons with disability Hard Choices O n the 11th and 12th of December 2014, I attended a National Conference organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission on persons with disability and elections. The organizers wrapped the conference under the theme of “Inclusive Participation of Persons with Disabilities in 2015 general elections”.

Prior to the said National Conference on Inclusive Participation of Persons with Disabilities in the 2015 General Elections I have attended a couple of programmes organized by or for persons living with disabilities. It is in some of these programmes that you will realise that the negative media and societal casting of persons with disability as those in need of charity or medical attention or the dregs of society is not correct. You will realize that those that are focused on are not representative of persons with disability.

I say this because some of the persons with disabilities are well schooled. Some of them are lawyers, medical doctors, engineers, scientists, academicians and political scientists. Some of them are holding sensitive positions in various establishments and yet are treated as less human. Some of them are also holding positions not commensurate with their qualifications and positions in life only on grounds of their disability. Some of them have accepted their fate and others very bitter at the society for treating them in a manner that is belittling rather than seeing them as persons that are entitled to equal rights and should not be discriminated against.

At various times, the challenges of persons with disability have been framed as persons in need of welfare and charity. At other times issues around them have been framed in terms of people in need of medical attention. At other times their challenges have been seen as a social problem. It is only recently that their issues are being framed from the rights based approach. In other words, they are now being seen as people deserving of equal rights and opportunities and should not be discriminated against.

This shift is still tentative as there are attitudinal, institutional and environment barriers to the enjoyment of rights by persons with disabilities.

Who then are persons living with disability? The Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability states that “Persons with disabilities include those who have longterm physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.

This definition is very broad and covers the challenges of persons that may not even be aware that they have challenges. This is because impairment can be serious or minor. It can also grow from minor to serious. The input is that impairment is impairment no matter its gravity.

As Nigeria gets set for the 2015 general elections, it is important to return to the challenges of persons with disability in assessing the electoral process. By Article 29 of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons

FESTUS OKOYE

festokoye2003@yahoo.com 08054480565 (sms only)

Attahiru Jega, INEC boss

with Disability, State parties shall guarantee to persons with disabilities political rights and the opportunity to enjoy them on an equal basis with others.

State parties also agreed to ensure that persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others, directly or through freely chosen representatives, including the right and opportunity for persons with disabilities to vote and be elected, inter alia, by: (i) Ensuring that voting procedures, facilities and materials are appropriate, accessible and easy to understand and use;(ii) Protecting the right of persons with disabilities to vote by secret ballot in elections and public referendums without intimidation, and to stand for elections, to effectively hold office and perform all public functions at all levels of government, facilitating the use of assistive and new technologies where appropriate; (iii) guaranteeing the free expression of the will of persons with disabilities as electors and to this end, where necessary, at their request, allowing assistance in voting by a person of their own choice.

State parties also agreed to promote actively an environment in which persons with disabilities can effectively and fully participate in the conduct of public affairs, without discrimination and on an equal basis with others, and encourage their participation in public affairs, including: (i) Participation in non-governmental organizations and associations con-

cerned with the public and political life of the country, and in the activities and administration of political parties; (ii) Forming and joining organizations of persons with disabilities to represent persons with disabilities at international, national, regional and local levels.

Unfortunately, some State Parties signed the Optional Protocol with no intention whatsoever of implementing their main intendment. They only pay lip service to the problems and challenges of persons with disability in order to be politically correct. This is noticeable in the electoral process where persons with disability are hardly allowed to participate in political activities and find it harder to even vote during elections due to the peculiar challenges of our electoral process.

In the peculiar case of Nigeria, the legal framework casts issues of persons with disability in futuristic terms. For instance, section 56 of the Electoral Act, 2010(as amended) provides that a voter who is blind or is otherwise unable to distinguish symbols or who suffers from any other physical disability may be accompanied into the polling unit by a person chosen by him and that person shall, after informing the Presiding Officer of the disability, be permitted to accompany the voter into the voting compartment and assist the voter to make his mark in accordance with the procedure prescribed by the Commission.

By subsection 2 of section 56 the Commission may take reasonable steps to ensure that voters with disabilities are assisted at the polling place by the provision of suitable means of “communication”, such as Braille, large embossed print or electronic devices or sign language interpretation, or off-site voting in appropriate cases.

The operative words in section 56(2) are “may take reasonable steps”. This does not take into consideration the issue of accessibility and security of the polling units and shows that the legal framework is not disability friendly. It is therefore clear that the legal framework is not disability friendly and no serious effort has been made to address in a concrete and comprehensive manner the challenges of persons with disability especially in the electoral process. It is not right and we know it is not possible to expect persons with disability to be comfortable in an electoral environment that is not friendly and our electoral environment is far from being friendly.

In the short term, persons with disability must frame their own issues and sell to the Nigerian public. Unless this is done, the negative framing and casting of persons with disability will continue.

It is also important for the electoral management body in conjunction with the national body of persons with disability to audit the polling units in the various states to ascertain how many are disability compliant in terms of accessibility and security.

The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) should also insist that political parties should lower tension in the polity and tone down on their hate language.

When violence breaks out in the polling units, persons with disability may be the worst hit considering their peculiar challenges. It is also important to amend section 51 of the Electoral Act to provide for priority voting by persons living with disability and also make the language of section 56(2) of the Electoral Act mandatory.

In the long term, Persons with Disability must seek constitutional amendment to provide for proportional representation in the electoral process.

I believe that the recommendations from the National Conference organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission are broad and far reaching.

The conference recommended among other things that: • The Government and corporate organizations should note that disability issues transcends charity and is a matter of rights of Persons with Disabilities.

• INEC should make proposal to National Assembly for a legislation compelling political parties to reserve certain percentage of Executive Positions for PWDs • NEC should produce electoral materials in Braille forms to enable PWDs participate actively in the electoral process.

• INEC should step up Voter Education especially with PWDs as the 2015 general elections draws closer to ensure that they are well informed on their rights and responsibilities.

• The Independent National Electoral Commission should come up with a policy to ensure that Albinos and people affected

by Leprosy are exempted from queuing up during accreditation and voting to reduce their health risks.

• The National Conference should be replicated at the State level to accommodate majority of the PWDs who reside in the State.

• INEC should ensure that security agencies are PWD sensitive and responsive especially during electoral exercises.

• INEC should make it a policy to eliminate the time lag between accreditation and voting period to reduce the hardship faced by PWDs during elections.

• NEC should ensure that polling units are located at secured places and easily accessible to PWDs • INEC should establish a policy on the mainstreaming of PWDs into the electoral process instead of treating PWDs issues on ad hoc manner.

• INEC should appoint only PWDs as Desk Officers in the States as a way of showing its seriousness towards mainstreaming of PWDs into the electoral process.

• INEC should provide adequate training to the Desk Officers and Electoral Personnel on how best to be PWDs friendly and responsive.

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322,

by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.