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Vol. 1 No. 290

Friday, December 5, 2014

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N150

PDP didn't make me speaker, says Tambuwal }5

Seven banks control 66% of N16.7trn deposit Abdulwahab Isa

even banks out of the 23 lenders in the country control 66

per cent of the total deposit in the industry put at N16.75 trillion, New Telegraph has learnt. The remaining 16

banks, according to a report by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), accounted for 34 per cent of the industry’s

total deposit as at December 31, 2013. Although the NDIC did not divulge the identities CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

NEW TELE

Award

GRAPH

FRIDAY, DECE

MBER 5,

2014

Davido loses as Tiwa win Chan nel O Mus Savage, Kcee others ic Video Awards

BBA

Sheillah, Trezagah, the durs Ellah & t Goitse bit

Entertai nment 27

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AFRIMA for Decemset 27 show ber down

Tiwa Sav turns gra age ndma in My Darling video

Page 25

Best of show biz

Boko Haram uses cows for bombings sony nem e

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Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

DJ Caise releases Buckle Up M

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lRaids banks, bombs government buildings in Gombe

Telegraph

Travel Advisory

Your guide to local and international flights 4

Quick Read L-R: Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda; Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors' Forum and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Niger State Governor, Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu; Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke and others, shortly after a closed-door meeting between the governors and Obasanjo in Abeokuta…yesterday.

PDP govs lobby Obasanjo over Jonathan Kunle Olayeni and Johnchuks Onuanyim

ive Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday

visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Abeokuta home to solicit his support for President Goodluck Jonathan over the state of the nation.

The governors, led by Chairman, PDP Governors' Forum and the helmsman in Akwa Ibom, Chief Godswill Akpabio, during the about three-

hour meeting with the former president, held behind closed-doors, the governors, it was learnt, discussed how to find lastCONTINUED ON PAGE 6

Editorial

Let 2015 elections be

}19

Delta: Uduaghan, Clark, Tompolo head for showdown }48

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Travel Advisory

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE FIRST NATION AIRWAYS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06.50; 09:30; 11:45; 16:00 (SAT) 06:50; 11:45 (SUN) 11:45; 16:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 11:30; 13:40;18:30 (SAT) 09:00; 13:40 (SUN) 13:40; 18:30 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 14:45 (SAT) 16:15 (SUN) 14:45 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:50 (SAT) 18:20 (SUN) 16:50 AEROCONTRACTORS LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 06:50; 13:30; 16:30; 19:45 (SAT/SUN) 12:30; 16:45 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 13:00; 19:00 (SAT) 12:30 (SUN) 15:30 MEDVIEW AIRLINES LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:50; 12:00; 15:30 (SAT) 10:00; 15:00 (SUN) 17:30; 18:30 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 09:00; 14:00, 15:00; 18:30 OVERLAND AIRWAYS LAGOS-ILORIN (MON-FRI) 07:15 LAGOS-IBADAN (MON-FRI) 7:00 IBADAN-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:00 IBADAN-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 16:30 ILORIN –ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30 ILORIN –LAGOS (MON-FRI) 17:00 ABUJA-ASABA (MON-FRI) 10:00 ASABA-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 14:15 ASABA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 11:30 LAGOS-ASABA (MON-FRI) 13:00 ABUJA-ILORIN 16:00 ABUJA-IBADAN 15:00 ARIK AIR LAGOS-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 07:00; 08:00; 09:00; 11:00 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 ABUJA-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00; 20:00 (SAT) 07:00; 09:00; 11:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 (SUN) 09:00; 13:00; 15:00; 17:00; 19:00 LAGOS-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI)07:00; 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 (SAT) 07:00; 11:00; 15:00 (SUN) 09:30; 11:00; 13:30; 15:00; 17:30 PORT-HARCOURT-LAGOS (MON-FRI) 07:30; 09:00; 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 (SAT) 07:30; 11:30; 09:00; 13:00; 17:00 (SUN) 11:30; 13:00; 15:30; 17:00 ABUJA-PORT-HARCOURT (MON-FRI) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30; 16:50 (SAT/SUN) 06:45; 10:10; 13:30 PORT-HARCOURT-ABUJA (MON-FRI) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10; 18:30 (SAT/SUN) 08:30; 11:50; 15:10 AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm Lagos-Abuja/Kano 4:00pm Abuja-Kano 5:45pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kan 10:10am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 12:40pm Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm WEEKEND SCHEDULE SATURDAY Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 1:00pm Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Kaduna-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 4:00pm Sunday Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Kano 10:30am Kano-Abuja/Lagos 1:20pm Abuja-Lagos 2:40pm Lagos-Kaduna 5:00pm

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

Departure

Arrival

Lagos (LOS) to London Heathrow (LHR)

23.30hrs

05.30hrs

Abuja (ABV) to London Heathrow (LHR)

08.00hrs

14.00hrs

Flight path

Departure

Arrival

London Heathrow (LHR) to Lagos (LOS)

11.00hrs

17.30hrs

London Heathrow (LHR) to Abuja (ABV)

00.00hrs

06.00hrs

British Airways flights to Nigeria

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

Airports

Departure

Arrival

Arik Air

London to Lagos

21:30hrs

03.30hrs

Arik Air

Lagos (LOS) to New York (JFK)

23:35hrs

05:30hrs (NY time)

Arik Air

New York (JFK) to Lagos

12:00hrs (NY time)

06:00hrs (Nig. time)

Delta Airlines

Atlanta to Lagos

23:00hrs

16:00hrs

Delta Airlines

Lagos to Atlanta

22:20hrs

05:30hrs

Emirates Airlines

Lagos to Dubai

14:30hrs;

12:50hrs

KLM

Lagos to Amsterdam

23:10hrs

05:10hrs

KLM

Amsterdam to Lagos

11:30hrs

05:30hrs

Virgin Atlantic

Lagos to London

11:00hrs

17:00hrs

Lufthansa

Abuja to Frankfurt

23.10hrs

05.10hrs

Lufthansa

Lagos to Frankfurt

21.00hrs

03.00hrs

South Africa Airways

Lagos to Johannesburg

22.15hrs

03.15hrs (SA time)

Cabin Baggage

United Airlines

Lagos to Housten, Texas

22:10hrs

Air France

Abuja to Paris

23:55hrs

05:55hrs

Air France

Lagos to Paris

21:20hrs

03:21hrs

Ethiopia Airways

Abuja to Addis Ababa

20.10hrs (Nig Time)

00.10hrs (Addis time)

Ethiopia Airways

Lagos to Addis Ababa

14:00hrs (Nig Time)

18:00hrs (Addis time)

If you’re traveling in economy class, you’re entitled to bring one piece of cabin baggage and one accessory, such as a camera, small laptop or briefcase. Your bag must fit into the overhead locker, so make sure it’s no larger than 21.5 by 10 by 13.5 inches. Your bag and accessory together should weigh a maximum of 26 pounds. In business class, on the other hand, your allowance is two pieces of luggage and one accessory. Allowances for your larger bag are the same as for economy class, but your smaller bag should be a maximum of 18 by 8 by 13.5 inches. Together, the two bags plus accessory shouldn’t weigh more than 40 pounds.

Qatar Airways

Lagos to Doha

14.23hrs

Air Maroc

Lagos to Casablanca

06:25 hrs

12:45 hrs

Etihad

Lagos to Abu Dhabi

09:50hrs

Air Ivoire

Lagos to Abidjan

10:15hrs (Sun and Mon)

Cam Air

Lagos to Yaounde

15:25hrs (Mon, Tues and Wed)

KLM International travel tips KLM is a Dutch airline, based at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. KLM flies to destinations across the world, but with a focus on Europe and North America. KLM’s cabin baggage requirements vary depending on whether you hold a ticket for business or economy class. However, the allowances remain the same for both domestic and international flights.

Checked Baggage One piece of checked baggage per passenger is allowed in KLM’s economy class. Your bag’s combined height, width and depth should be a maximum of 62 inches, and your bag shouldn’t weigh more than 50.5 pounds. For some international destinations outside Europe, economy class passengers can bring two bags of this size and weight. In business class, allowances are more generous, although the size requirements are the same as those for economy class. You can bring two pieces with a business class ticket, each weighing up to 70.5 pounds.

Excess Baggage If you know you need to bring more than KLM's baggage requirements allow, you can purchase additional capacity by paying for extra bags. The fees KLM charges for this service vary according to your destination. For example, your first additional bag within France and the Netherlands costs $72, as of December 2012, while the same bag on a flight from the United States to Europe costs $100. Pay in advance online to receive a discount of 20 percent over the airport fees.

Traveling With Infants Traveling with an infant brings its own challenges, but KLM makes it slightly easier by giving infants under the age of 2, who are being carried on an adult’s lap, a small additional allowance. You can bring a small extra bag -- no larger than 21.5 by 13.5 by 10 inches and no heavier than 26 pounds -- as long as you only use it to carry the things you need for your baby during the flight. You’re also allowed to bring a small foldaway stroller as cabin baggage. If there isn’t enough room for it in the cabin, it can travel in the hold free of charge.

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Boko Haram uses cows for bombings Emmanuel Onani and Ben Ngwakwe

ecurity agents have uncovered a new strategy by Boko Haram to launch terror attacks as the insurgents have now resorted to the use of cows for bombings. The Federal Government yesterday said with this new strategy, Boko Haram strapped bombs to cows and herded the cows to human settlements before detonating the explosives. However, the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, who doubles as the Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC),who disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, did not give details on where the insurgents had employed this terror tactic. Omeri also spoke on Monday's attack on Damaturu by the insurgents, who launched another attack on Ashaka and Bajoga, in Gombe yesterday, raiding banks and bombing government buildings, including a police station. According to him, normalcy has since returned to Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, and Konduga in Borno State, which the insurgents attacked on Monday. He said: "The situation in Yobe and Maiduguri is calm... The situation has returned to normal. "Like Maiduguri, the insurgents have resorted to other means of invading society, and that is why they now use bombs; they strap bombs around human beings. "Sometimes, they strap bombs around cows, and push them to settlements. "That is why we have been calling for more vigilance and total collaboration and cooperation among citizens. "We urge all citizens to be patient, when you are subjected to searches and checks; it is something that we have to live with. "It happens all over the world, especially when we are faced with what we have." On the Federal Government's renewed alliance with Russia, in a bid to buy arms after the United States, its traditional arms supplier had frustrated efforts to acquire certain categories of arms, Omeri said: "Nigeria buys arms from all over the world and we have been buying arms from the Eastern bloc for a long time. "The AK-47 is from there. So, it is not a new thing to be turned into a

story." Meanwhile, Boko Haram militants yesterday stormed Ashaka and Bajoga in Gombe State, raiding banks and burning government buildings as well as political party offices. In Bajoga, the terrorists raided banks and set fire to a police station, government buildings and political party offices. In Ashaka, pick-up

trucks and medical supplies were stolen. Lafarge, a French-owned cement company, is located in Ashaka. A pastor, who craved anonymity, told New Telegraph that there was bombardment from the terrorists until the military and other security agents repelled the attack. A resident said the gunmen, who dressed in military uniforms, came into

Ashaka in a convoy of 20 vehicles at 7a.m. "The gunmen kept shouting 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) and firing guns haphazardly. They went into the cement factory and took away some vehicles," Samaila Adnan, an Ashaka resident, said. "They didn't touch anyone." A staff member at the cement company, who asked not to be identified,

confirmed Adnan's account and said the factory was evacuated before the attack. "Our fear was confirmed. They went into the factory and headed to the administrative building where company vehicles were parked. "They took away several Hilux (four-wheel drive) vans. They also went to the factory clinic and took away an ambulance along

with drugs. They didn't harm anybody," he said The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of Gombe Command, Mr. A. Atajiri, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the attacks. He said a combined team of security agents was able to repel the attacks. Atajiri could, however, not confirm the causality figure.

L-R: President, GE Africa, Jay Ireland; Vice-Chair, GE Global Growth, John Rice; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu and President, GE Nigeria,Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, with team members of the two companies at the signing of an agreement on oil and gas joint venture in Lagos...on Wednesday.

PDP didn't make me speaker, says Tambuwal Ibraheem Musa Kaduna

ouse of Repr e s e n t a t ive s Speaker, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, has dismissed demands by the presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he should vacate his office since he has defected from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Tambuwal, in an interview with Voice of America (VOA), monitored in Kaduna yesterday, said the demand was anchored on the erroneous belief that the party was instrumental to his emergence as speaker. He added that although he was a member of the party, he became the speaker despite the fact that he was not the party's choice

due to the support of opposition lawmakers and other Nigerians. The speaker, who has been having a running battle with the ruling party and the presidency since he defected to the APC on October 28, said the wide support he got made it possible for him to defeat House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, whom the PDP had presented for the position. The PDP, in line with its zoning policy, had zoned the speakership to the South-West while the North-East was to produce the deputy speaker. However, some PDP members, egged on by lawmakers from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), one of the legacy parties that formed the APC, had ganged up to violate the PDP zoning policy by endorsing Tambu-

wal, from the North-West, for speakership while Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, from the South-East, emerged the deputy. ‘’The mistake people are making is by saying the PDP made me the speaker. The PDP candidate was Hon Mulikat Akande-Adeola. Although I was in PDP at that time, I was not the party’s candidate. It was legislators of other parties and other Nigerians that presented me as a candidate. And I contested and won," Tambuwal added. Shedding more light on the crisis that trailed his defection, he dismissed the linkage between his new membership of APC and the turmoil in the House. He said: "People should not forget that the powers that be wanted to arrest me even on June 6, 2011, when the House was inaugu-

rated. So, the crisis is not about my defection but it was brought out by those who think that only they can do and undo." The speaker also said a contingent of special policemen was deployed in the National Assembly in order to prevent him from entering the House chambers on November 20. According to him, the policemen that prevented him and fellow legislators from entering the National Assembly and subsequently throwing tear gas canisters at them were not the regular ones deployed to guard the parliament. "The policemen that were deployed on that day were not those that used to work with us. They were new people who were brought in to do what they did on that day. That was when the real motive came out; contrary to the

explanation that the police deployed their personnel because of security reports that thugs will storm the National Assembly, the deployment was aimed at stopping me from entering the House chambers and presiding over the day’s proceedings," he stated. The speaker faulted the argument that if the policemen acted illegally by throwing tear gas at the legislators, the lawmakers were also wrong to have jumped the fence to gain entry into the National Assembly. "A man does not forcibly enter his own house. If there is a thief inside or someone who intends to hurt your family is in your house, even if he is in uniform and you did not authorise him to enter, what do you do? The lawmakers committed no offence," he stated.

News

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP suspends Bamanga Tukur Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic (PDP) has suspended the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bamanga Tukur. Also suspended is Aliyu Abuba Gurin who instituted a suit against the party and its chairman. The suspension is to last for one month. The party, in a statement issued yesterday by its National Legal Adviser, Barrister Victor Kwon, said the decision to suspend the duo was reached at the 395th meeting of the NWC held on Wednesday. Kwon disclosed that the NWC deliberated on the court case instituted against the National Chairman of the party, Ahmed Adamu Mu'azu, by Tukur. "The NWC reasoned that for instituting a claim and counter-claim in suit FHC/ABJ /821/2014; Gurin vs PDP & 3 others without first exploring and exhausting the party's internal mechanism of redress and for attempting to stop the forthcoming National Convention to nominate

the party's presidential candidate as well as regularise the position of the National Chairman and other members of the National Working Committee is unacceptable," the statement noted. It added that the suspended party members have been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee for infringing on section 58(1)(a)( b)( h)( l) of the PDP Constitution

2012(as amended). But the former National Chairman has denied instituting a suit against his successor in office. Tukur had in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Prince Oliver Okpala, said any attempt to link him with the suit is a misrepresentation of facts. "The wrongful report and misrepresentation of facts to the effect that Al-

haji Bamanga Tukur filed a case urging the court to oust Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu out of office as National Chairman of the PDP is not only untrue but gross distortion of facts relating to the case instituted and filed by Alhaji Aliyu Gurin. "Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was joined in the suit as a co-defendant in the suit and as is required in law filed his own counter affi-

davits stating his own side of the case in relation to the suit filed by the plaintiff, Alhaji Aliyu Buba Gurin. "A co-defendant in a case cannot by any imagination in law be deemed as a plaintiff who initiated and filed a suit before a law court. "Let it be noted also that at no time did Alhaji Bamanga Tukur reacted to the Court judgement and

did not inform any reporter or journalist as being erroneously reported that he 'has vowed to challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal'. "The important legal argument is how can a co-defendant who was also sued in a case by the plaintiff vow to challenge the judgement of a case he did not institute on appeal", the former National Chairman argued.

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

L-R: Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants - Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Dr. Leke Pitan, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Mrs. Tokunbo Agbesanwa and Mr. Ambode Akinwumi, during the primaries in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE 31oC

26oC

Mostlly Sunny

ABUJA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 o

37 C

22 C

Mostly Sunny

PORT HARCOURT

27o C 18oC Thunder Storms

KANO

34 C

14 C

Sunny

ENUGU

36oC

23oC

Mostly Sunny

IBADAN

33oC

22oC

Mostly Sunny

CALABAR

31o C 23oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

Seven banks control 66% of N16.7trn deposit

37oC 17oC Sunny

34oC

23oC

Mostly Sunny

of the seven big banks, New Telegraph learnt that they were among the lenders designated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2012 as Systemically Important Banks (SIBs). They are: First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria Plc and Skye Bank Plc. The banking watchdog had in 2012 identified First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, Access Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria and Diamond Bank Plc as SIBs. NDIC in the report, however, said the N16.75 trillion total deposit of the banking industry in 2013 showed 16.43 per cent growth over the N14.39 trillion recorded in 2102. Given the level of risk exposure as depicted by the N500, 000 maximum claim per depositor per bank, the corporation’s risk exposure stood at N2.20 trillion during the year under review, repre-

senting 13.11 per cent of the total industry deposit. The insured deposits of the seven banks accounted for 67.99 per cent, while the remaining banks accounted for 32.01 percent of the total insured deposits of the industry. Similarly, the corporation said there was appreciable growth in Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF), which increased by 19.48 per cent from about N425.21 billion in 2012 to N508.06 in 2013. Also, Special Insured Institution Fund (SIIF) increased significantly by about 45.0 per cent from N39.79 billion in 2012 to N57.71 billion in 2013. The corporation attributed the increase in SIIF to the provision for insurance losses of N18.29 billion for special insured institutions. The NIDIF created in 2013 had a balance of N17.60 million as at December 31, 2013. The corporation said it carried out risk assessment of 20 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in collaboration with CBN with a view to providing information on their as-

set quality and capital adequacy positions so as to assist in considering the banks’ 2012 annual accounts for approval by the central bank. Besides, it said it also

collaborated with the apex bank in monitoring 16 banks with Composite Risk Rating (CRR) of ’ high and above average’ The objective of the exercise, the corporation ex-

plained, was to determine the level of their implementation of examiners’ recommendations highlighted in the previous Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) examination report.

PDP governors lobby Obasanjo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

ing solutions to the deteriorating security situation in the country and the economic crisis foisted on the nation by the instability in the global oil market. Besides Akpabio, other governors on the delegation were Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Mallam Isa Yuguda (Bauchi) and Sule Lamido (Jigawa). The PDP governors' visit came against the backdrop of Obasanjo's recent criticism of Jonathan. The former president had, on November 22 at the Ake Festival, in Abeokuta, rated the Jonathan administration below average. A week later, Obasanjo, again, attacked Jonathan, accusing him of waging a

war against Nigerians by his persecution of the opposition and mismanagement of the economy and the anti-insurgency war. However, it was learnt that at the meeting between the PDP governors and Obasanjo, they also lobbied the former president to support Jonathan's second term bid. Akpabio was the first to arrive at Obasanjo's home at 12:25 pm in company with Aliyu, who doubles as the Chairman, Northern Governors' Forum. They were joined 30 minutes later by Imoke and Yuguda while Lamido also arrived shortly after. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Obasanjo said his recent public pronouncements considered critical of the Jonathan

administration were not intended to run down his successor. The former president said his comments were made out of genuine concern for the progress and development of the nation. Obasanjo, who observed that he had worked with many of the current political officeholders, added that the challenges in Nigeria were surmountable if the nation's leaders have "the will and courage to do something." He also cautioned against what he described as "NADECO route" in addressing the socio-economic and political crisis facing the country. Obasanjo said: "First of all, I thank my colleagues and my brothers who have CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Tambuwal, Amosun, Ajimobi, Peterside, others emerge APC governorship candidates lEight aspirants walk out in Lagos as Ambode is set to win Our correspondents

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday elected 28 governorship candidates across the country for the February 28, 2015 election. Election did not hold in Imo State because nobody is contesting the governorship election. Governor Rochas Okorocha is still pursuing his presidential ambition. Governor Babatunde Fashola and his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu, did not show up at the governorship primaries held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos State. Also, half-way to the primaries, eight governorship aspirants walked out of the venue. The aspirants include: Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Adetokunbo Agbesanwa, Tokunbo Wahab, Tayo Ayinde, Dr. Leke Pitan, Dr. Tola Kasali and Lanre Ope. Only three aspirants – Akinwunmi Ambode, Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Mr. Adekunle Disu – stayed till the end of the primaries. Despite the absence of the two party leaders, 6,000

delegates voted for at primaries. As at the time filing this report, Ambode is tipped to win the Lagos ticket. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was elected as APC governorship candidate in Sokoto State just as Senator Dahiru Tambuwal walked out of the venue while the voting was going on. In Kwara, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed was unanimously elected as the governorship candidate. The governor, who was the only candidate in the primaries, polled 2,016 votes cast from delegates across the 16 local government area of the state. Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was declared winner in Yobe State while Governor Abiola Ajimobi defeated Dr. Ayobami Adesina, the son of former governor of Oyo State, the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, to emerge winner. At the Oyo State congress, supervised by the Hon. Lumumpa Adeh-led five-man electoral committee, Ajimobi polled 4,662 votes to defeat Adesina, who polled 22 votes. Ninety votes were declared invalid. In Ogun State, Governor Ibikunle Amosun emerged as the sole candidate. Amosun clinched

his party's ticket at the primaries which took place in Abeokuta shortly after 3,861 delegates voted for him. In Rivers, a member of the House of Representatives, Dakuku Peterside, was officially declared APC governorship candidate after 3, 914 delegates cast their votes at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt. Peterside had earlier

been endorsed by party caucus against the earlier assumption that Senator Magnus Abe would fly the party's flag. A financier of the APC in Enugu State and two-time gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Okey Ezea, emerged the party candidate. He emerged unopposed at the party primaries which took place at the APC secretariat in Enugu.

He had contested for the position on the platform of Labour Party (LP) in 2007 and 2011 elections respectively. However, crisis rocked the Delta States primaries as one of the governorship aspirants, Chief Fidelis Tilije, protested against the list of delegates. At the Oshimili South Local Government Arcade, the venue of the primaries, Chief O’tega Emerhor was

declared winner. Prof. Pat Utomi did not participate in the election. In Zamfara, Governor Abdulaziz Yari was the sole candidate. Delegates at the Trade Fair Complex along the Sokoto road byepass ratified his candidacy. Gover nor Rabiu Kwankwaso’s deputy, Abdullahi Ganduje, was elected as the Kano State APC governorship candidate.

L-R: National Publicity Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed; National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Deputy National Chairman, South, Mr. Segun Oni, at a press conference on the state of the nation, in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: ELIJAH OLALUYI

PDP governors lobby Obasanjo over Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

decided to pay me a special visit. They were concerned about what you may call the situation of the nation: security, economy. "We have discussed most of them. I have raised some of the issues in my own public pronouncements in recent times; not to castigate anybody, not to bad-mouth anybody, not to run anybody down, but out of genuine concern for the situation of this country and that is the same thing that has brought them and I want to thank them. "When we look at these issues closely, very objectively and we came to the conclusion that yes, we have a bad situation, but not irretrievably bad. Something can still be done and what is now required is the will and the courage to do something when and how it needs to be done. We agreed on that. "I appreciate their coming to me because of the respect and honour they

have for me. This task is not for one man and it is not even a task for one group. It is a task that requires all hands on deck and as they have said and as they have assured me that this type of consultation, they would have with other leaders. "I am never scared by anything but I am concerned that firstly, when we had surplus, we did not remember that the rain will stop. Now that the rainy day is staring us in the face, we must be honest and courageous enough to do what is right; to let the nation know and then to take the steps that will put it right as quick as possible. "And you do not need to be an oracle or a World Bank expert or an International Monetary Fund expert to know that our economy is not what it should be and this is not the first we would hear it. "We have heard it in the past when, of course,

I came in 1999; the price of fuel was about $9 and we realised that we have a problem. We even made budget that we could not fund but we realised that we were in a serious situation and we took steps. Within two to three years, we were able to sail through, the price of fuel started moving up. "Do not forget that there was a time during the Iraqi war, price of fuel rose to $42 and then it came down to $9. The one that we have now, we do not know when it would bottom and at what price it would bottom but we can weather the storm if we take measure that we should take it and when to take it." Obasanjo, who said Nigerians had no other country to call their own, commended the PDP governors for their efforts in salvaging the nation. "This country is ours and we have no alternative. The other day, somebody told me he knows

NADECO route; I do not want to follow NADECO. It is incumbent on us to do what is right," he added. Earlier, Akpabio expressed gratitude to Obasanjo, saying the PDPled government would continue to consult him because he played a key role in the emergence of the current democracy. The Akwa Ibom governor added that the PDP governors would further consult other leaders to ensure the nation's redemption. He said: "We are from the PDP extraction and we have decided that as the party in power and the party that the country has a lot of confidence in right from 1999, he (Obasanjo) played a key role in the emergence of the current democracy and he is still playing both nationally and internationally. "The intention here is that all Nigerians are determined to reposition the country. We have no other

country than Nigeria and so, no matter the challenges we may face today, we must work together as a team to redeem the situation. "I want to thank our dear leader for receiving us and for what he said that the situation is redeemable and that we must also consult other leaders and work to ensure that the country is redeemed." Also speaking, Aliyu, who described Obasanjo as the "oracle of leadership and politics," said the nation's situation was beyond partisanship. "The issue of Nigeria is beyond partisanship. We must tell all Nigerians to rally together and let us put our nation in the right place," he added. Meanwhile, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar yesterday stated that he had fully reconciled Obasanjo. Atiku, a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was

locked in a war of attrition with Obasanjo during his their tenure. But the former vicepresident in a statement yesterday by his media office in Abuja told representatives of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria that he had reconciled with Obasanjo. He made the declaration in reaction to the anxiety expressed by the Most Reverend Anthony Obinna, Archbishop of Owerri and his counterpart from Calabar, the Most Reverend Joseph Ekuwem. The duo had expressed disappointment at the celebrated face-off between the two men when they were in power between 1999 and 2003. Also, Atiku identified waste, poor management and failure to diversify the economy by the current administration as the reason for the adverse economic impact the fall in oil prices had on the nation's economy.

News

John Edu

he General Overseer of Bethel Wondercity and founder of Roselyn Oduyemi Global Outreach, Reverend Roselyn Oduyemi, has appealed to Nigerians to embark on a prayer campaign for the survival of the country. Oduyemi expressed concerns over the increasing insecurity in the country and fears that it might signal the fulfilment of a prediction that Nigeria will break up in 2015. Oduyemi, made the observation during a courtesy visit to the New Telegraph head office in Lagos. She was received by the Managing Director of the company, Mr. Eric Osagie. Oduyemi said that the prayers should involve every Nigerian, irrespective of religious affiliation, in order to save Nigeria from doom.

national

friday, december 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Oduyemi calls for prayers to forestall war, Nigeria's break up She said: “Like the people of Nineveh, who in the face of imminent destruction got everyone to participate in a prayer for the survival of the nation and themselves, everyone in Nigeria, religious and non-religious must participate in passionate prayer to save our country from doom. We need a concerted prayer effort from all Nigerians, participating in daily prayers, at the same time, for the survival of one Nigeria.” Oduyemi noted that some years ago, a global report titled ‘Mapping Sub- Saharan Africa's Future,’ issued by a group of top U.S experts, discussed likely trends in the African region over

the next 15 years, predicting that one of the potential happening, that may accelerate the decline of Africa would be the complete collapse of Nigeria as a country, if certain steps were not taken. She explained that she has initiated a one month prayer campaign project, which would be titled ‘1-1-1 PRAYER MOVEMENT,’ which will commence on January, 1 to January , 31 2015. She said: " With recent events taking place in our country, where there are bombings every day, making parts of our nation ungovernable, violence among the political class; politicians jostling for power in 2015 and the looming crisis over

the upcoming 2015 elections, the fulfilment of this negative report has moved from the realm of probability to a very real possibility.” She said that as concerned a citizen of the nation, who had watched these developments closely, if something drastic was not done to forestall coming mayhem, war, and destruction in 2015, the evil prediction against the country may no longer be a prediction, but a heartbreaking reality. She added that the prayers will forestall impending danger. and urged all Nigerians, religious organizations, all business people, media houses and government

personnel to get involved in the task of cancelling the evil report against Nigeria, so that the peace and unity in the country would be preserved. She feared that without these prayers, “war is the likely end of the situation.” Appreciating Oduyemi for her visit and apparent love for Nigeria, Osagie, said that New Telegraph would be happy to team up with her in pursuance of a peaceful and united Nigeria. Osagie said that one of the ways New Telegraph will help would be to ensure daily publications of the prayer to the general public throughout the one month of intense prayers and supplications.

ANPPD commends Kalu on Boko Haram

frican Network for Peace, Progress and Development (ANPPD), a non-governmental organization, has commended former Governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Kalu for offering to negotiate with the Boko Haram sect, if given the opportunity. The continent Coordinator-General of the group, Prince Elias Odoemena, while briefing journalists at the end of its bi-annual general meeting held last week in Accra, Ghana , said: “While some wars are not won in the battle field, others are settled through negotiation, that is why government must dialogue with the Boko Haram sect in order to surmount the security challenge facing Nigeria’’. “Nigerians must be mindful of their speeches, any bad word or abuses against either the government or Boko Haram will not solve the problem but will ignite the battle. It is better for us to say what will accelerate the development of Africa and not what will retard the development.” “ANPPD is a group that will continue to preach peace, progress, and development in Africa. We challenge our scholars, leaders of thoughts, traditional and spiritual leaders among others to proffer pragmatic solutions to insurgency."

Court moves to get legal aid for Okah Tunde Oyesina Abuja

L-R: Senior Partner, Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba; Partner, Corporate, Commercial and Public, Mrs. Bisi Akodu and Development Law consultant, Dr. Wilfred Mamah, at a press conference to announce the firm’s Policy Dialogue series in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Ogwuche tells court: I am detained illegally Reps probe Ecological Fund office over N3.1bn contract

l Sues SSS for N100m Tunde Oyesina Abuja

he alleged mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast in Nyanya, Abuja, Aminu Sadiq Ogwuche, yesterday told the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that he is being illegally detained by the State Security Service SSS. According to him, that was since the court struck out the charge on which he was arrested and being detained. He, however, asked the court to compel the SSS to pay him the sum of N100 million as compensation for his unlawful arrest and detention without trial.

Ogwuche, through his counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, had brought an application pursuant to Order 2, Rule (1),(2),(3) of the Fundamental Enforcement Procedure rule and Sections 34,35,36,37 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution, seeking for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. Joined as defendants are the SSS and the Attorney General of the Federation AGF. But, the court struck out AGF's name, on the request of the applicant. Arguing his application, Raji noted that it was based on the request of the Federal Government that the Interpol placed a

red alert on the applicant contrary to the impression that it was the Interpol that on its own placed the red alert. He further drew the attention of the court to the fact that the charge on which Ogwuche was arrested and detained had been struck out by the court for lack diligent prosecution. He added that the charge was the foundation of the extradition order which led to the arrest of the applicant. Raji further noted that it was assumed that the state had concluded all its investigations before requesting for the extradition order.

Philip Nyam

Abuja

he House of Representatives yesterday commenced investigation into the N3.1 billion Nanka/Oko landslide erosion project in Anambra State being executed by the Ecological Fund Office in the state. That is just as it told the permanent secretary of Ecological Fund Office, Alhaji Goni Sheik, to furnish it within 21 days with details on the Nanka/Oko erosion menace. Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Hon, Uche

Ekwunife (PDP, Anambra) who presided over the probe expressed dismay with the poor implementation and incompetence of the contractor handling the project. She disclosed that the contract drawn from the Ecological Fund, showed that the sum of N2 billion was released to Anambra State Government, which is yet to be justified, while the sum of N1.1 billion was released for the phase 1 of Nanka/ Oko landslide project in the state. She said the investigative hearing was made possible following several petitions sent to the committee.

he Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday said it will work towards getting a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council to defend the alleged mastermind of the October 1, 2010 bomb blast, Charles Okah. Okah, who is facing terrorism charges before the court had earlier relieved his defence counsel, Festus Keyamo of his duties. Keyamo had represented him since the commencement of the case four years ago. A lawyer from Keyamo’s law firm, John Ainetor, disclosed this to Justice Gabriel Kolawole at the last adjourned date. When the matter came up yesterday, Okah was in court but no counsel to defend him in the ongoing trial. That prompted the court to begin arrangements to get a lawyer from the Legal Aid Council to defend Okah, so as so not to deny him fair hearing.

NEW TELEGRAPH friday, december 5, 2014

News

national

Nda-Isaiah brands PDP, Jonathan incompetent Dan Atori MINNA

Presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah, has lambasted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and President Goodluck Jonathan, saying they are incompetent. He added that it was the APC that has a divine responsibility to win the

2015 general elections to save the nation from further decay. Nda-Isaiah, who said this after casting his vote at the APC gubernatorial primaries in Niger State, disclosed that the country cannot survive another four years of an incompetent administration. According to him: "If the PDP and President Goodluck Jonathan are allowed to rule for another four years, Nigeria will not be able to survive

it again. They are incompetent. "APC has a divine responsibility to win the 2015 elections. Even if it be by default or an act of omission or by anything we do on our path to make Goodluck Jonathan continue, even if we allow him to rig, Nigeria will not be the same again for the four years he will rule. "This country cannot survive four years of this level of incompetence, four years of this level

of corruption, four years of economic collapse. I mean, it is very hard to imagine how bad those for years will be. "That is why I said we have a divine responsibility to win, not just as a party, but as a rescue mission for responsible citizens of the nation." Speaking on the agreement signed by the presidential aspirants of the party, Nda-Isaiah said the agreement was not a sign of choosing a consensus

candidate. He, however, said he was not ruling out the fact that there may not be a consensus presidential candidate of the party, stating that any of such candidate would be chosen by the aspirants themselves. "I will not rule out the prospect of a consensus candidate because even 24 hours is a long time. A consensus candidate could be chosen by the aspirants themselves,

Amosun, deputy to run against each other in 2015 face off

Ogun gover, deputy set to battle for guber seat on different platforms

Kunle Olayeni

Abeokuta

gun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and his estranged deputy, Prince Segun Adesegun, are set to clash in the 2015 governorship election as both firmed up their ambition yesterday to contest on the platform of different political parties. While the sole candidature of Amosun was ratified at the gubernatorial primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held in Abeokuta, Adesegun officially declared his governorship ambition to run on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP). The development was a fresh twist in the political crisis rocking the ruling APC, which led to the polarisation of the party and election of parallel executives along the camps of Amosun and former Gov-

ernor Olusegun Osoba. Adesegun, at a press conference he addressed in Abeokuta, said his decision to throw his hat into the ring was not to begrudge anybody. The deputy governor, who recalled his face-off with Amosun that necessitated his recent controversial open letter, said he had put all his travails behind to focus on how to take off from where the governor might stop next year. He also vowed not to resign his position, saying there was nowhere in the nation's Constitution which demands his resignation on the account of defection. He said: "Precisely in Ogun State, the centre cannot hold politically again. I have met the state executive of SDP and informed them of my intention to contest. It is a personal decision without grudge to nobody. I am actually in SDP by my own conviction. My intention is to execute the manifesto of SDP. "My duty is to take off from where he would stop. At the time former Governor Gbenga Daniel was

handing over (in 2011), I was the one that went to receive the handing over note. The governor was not there. So, things will continue. But my decision is not to fight anybody." But reacting to the declaration of his deputy to contest the 2015 governorship on SDP platform, Amosun said the development was part of the beauties of democracy. The governor wished his deputy well and prayed God to let the state continue to witness peace. Amosun clinched his party's ticket at the primaries, which took place at the ground of June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta shortly after 3,861 delegates voted for him. The primaries, which held under heavy security presence was supervised by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) led by Mr. Kehinde Mustapha. Delegates from the 20 local government areas of the state participated in the rancour-free primaries. Amosun commended the peaceful nature of the exercise and promised to do more, if re-elected, for

Onwuliri commiserates with Ashiru's family

he Minister of State for Education. Professor Viola Onwuliri, has condoled with the Ashiru family over the death of former Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, MFR. In a statement signed by Onwuliri and made available to newsmen,

she expressed shock and described Ashiru's death as a big loss to the nation. She described late Ashiru as a diligent diplomat, having served as Nigeria's ambassador to North Korea, South Africa and later as Minister for Foreign Affairs. According to her, during his tenure as Foreign

Affairs Minister, Ambassador Ashiru worked very hard to improve Nigeria"s image and presence in the international community. "During his tenure, he also increased foreign direct remittance from Nigerians abroad to $21billion and the number of missions increased to 112, she added.

Minister urges Shell to extend impact to Abuja Yusuf Shuaib Abuja.

ederal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has appealed to Shell Petroleum Development Company in Nigeria to extend

their good gesture to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. Mohammed made the appeal at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja when Shell Petroleum Company announced it has commenced three major projects worth N2 billion to

mark Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s centenary. The projects are a 200-seater library in Port Harcourt, Rivers State; a health project at Oloibiri, Bayelsa State and another face lift of athletics infrastructure in five secondary schools in Delta State respectively.

the people of the state. He said: "What happened today is a demonstration to what APC

stands for. We must abide by the rule of the game which says that primaries must be conducted.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT This is to inform the general public about the loss of original offer of Term of Grant and Conveyance of Approval in respect of Plot No. P87 measuring about 1.68 HA situated at District 2 of Gwagwalada New Town with File No. MFCT/LA/94/MISC 11568 issued by Ministry for Federal Capital Territory. If found please return to the nearest police station.

who based on the facts on ground is more likely to win for the party. "But so far, that has not been done and no meeting or attempts have been made on the issue at all, as it is now, all of us are aspirants preparing for the forthcoming primaries.â&#x20AC;?

change of nameS

Agbola-Oyesile

Former Mrs. Rebecca Adetutu Agbola, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Rebecca Adetutu Agbola-Oyesile. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Taofeek

Former Miss Egunjobi Bolanle Omolu, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Taofeek Bolanle Omolu. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Dosu

Former Joseph Maurice Gangbe (JP), now wish to be addressed as Joseph Dosu Oluwatoyin Gangbe (JP). All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Isibeku

Former Alaye Modupe Adefunke, now wish to be addressed as Isibeku Modupe Adefunke. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Odetokun

PUBLIC NOTICE THE GATE OF ZION GOSPEL BIBLE ASSEMBLY The general public is hereby notified that the above named ASSEMBLY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part "C" of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Awowole Rebecca Toyin 2. Awowole Oluwole Alfred 3. Awowole Oluwakayode Busola 4. Omolayo Omoniyi 5. Ogbonmwan Osamogie Charles 6. Odunubi Ayodeji Oluyinka 7. Okanla Omotola Abosede 8. Awowole Olugbenga Olayinka AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1 To preach the word of God throughout the world. 2. To deliver people from bondage. 3. To win soul for Christ. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES

PUBLIC NOTICE

UDA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UNION The general public is hereby notified that the above named UNION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.), Abuja for registration under Part "C" of the Company and Allied Matter Act 1990. The Trustees are: 1. Supol Edet Effiong Okon - Chairman 2. Engr. Raphael Antai 3. Mr. Okon Duncan 4. Engr. Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem 5. Rt. Hon. Alice Ekpenyong 6. Armstrong Uno Asuquo AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1 To help the less priviledge in the community. Any objection to the registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication. Signed: TRUSTEES

Former Adetokun Emmanuel Abiodun, now wish to be addressed as Odetokun Emmanuel Abiodun. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Akinola

Former Miss Senewo Olubukola Elizabeth, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Akinola Olubukola Elizabeth. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Obum

Former Uba Raphael Adekunle, now wish to be addressed as Uba Raphael Obum. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Olabode

Former Miss. Aduragbemi Oluwatosin Adeyiga, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Aduragbemi Oluwatosin Olabode. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Nwokoma

Former Miss Faten Peter, now wish to be addressed as Mrs. Faten Nwokoma. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Police Force, National Open University Of Nigeria and General public should note.

Amarachi

Former Othman Angwa Samira, now wish to be addressed as Amarachi O.Anagwa. All former documents remain valid. General public note.

Okorie

Former Ndubuisi Florence Nkechi, now wish to be addressed as Okorie Florence Nkechi. All former documents remain valid. General public note

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro ‘Amosun mustn’t stop developmental projects’

gun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has been advised to focus on the ongoing developmental projects across the state and ensure their timely completion rather than being distracted by the antics of political opponents. The Managing Director of Threeco Construction Company, Prince Muraina Banjoko, who gave the advice, noted that time had come for all everybody in the state to support Amosun and ensure his re-election in 2015. He said: “What Governor Ibikunle Amosun has done during this first term in office is marvellous. For instance, look at the massive road constructions going on across the state among other modernisation projects. “I am of the strong opinion and every right thinking person should be of the strong opinion too, that the governor indeed deserves a second term in office. “The Homeowners Charter programme which allows owners of properties who built without government approval not only to have the opportunity to regularise their title documents, but also obtain building plan approval and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) at a huge discounted rate is worthy of commendation. Such a governor who initiated such unprecedented idea should be encouraged to continue for a second term in office. He has changed the face of Ogun State.” ” The businessman, who described himself as non-partisan, said that since Amosun had proven to be a worthy governor through all his developmental projects, there was no need rocking the boat of administration in the state. He said: “For continuity sake, it is not advisable to have a change of leadership. The governor should be encouraged to continue with the good works he has started.”

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Officer steals N20m, draws salaries from 15 commands – Police

IG, Abba

LAW BREAKER Police accuse a policeman of committing forgery and stealing N20 million meant to pay policemen in Enugu State

Akeem Nafiu

policeman, Victor Banor, has allegedly stolen N20 million and collected salaries from over 15 different commands. Banor, who has been in detention, yesterday approached a Lagos Federal High Court presided over by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke.

The policeman, who accused the police of infringing on his fundamental right to freedom, asked the court to compel the police to release or arraign him. But the police, which opposed his application, said Banor also opened over 25 bank accounts with different names, forged documents and identity cards presenting him as a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and Superintendent of Police (SP). The police counsel, Justin Enang, said that Banor was dismissed while serving at the Umunede Police Division in Delta State, for allegedly stealing an exhibit vehicle in a criminal case under investigation. He added that the applicant escaped from detention and resurfaced at the Enugu State

Command with a falsified signature, claiming to be an SP. Enang claimed that Banor stole N20 million meant for salaries of officers of the Enugu State Police Command. He said: “After the officer-incharge of the command’s Mechanised Salary Section (MSS) retired, the applicant assumed office as the O/C MSS. It was while holding this position in March 2011 that he absconded with the money. “While absconding from office, Banor dropped a note stating that nobody should look for him because he had resigned to join militant groups in the creeks of the Niger Delta region.” The prosecutor said that several officers under the accused complained that their salaries were diverted and that he did not turn up until he was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State on April 15. He said: “When he was arrested, he claimed to be a CSP, flashing a police warrant card and demanding to be shown respect as a senior officer. “Photocopies of forged police identity cards were found on him, with ‘CSP,’ Ahamefuna Banor V. and ‘W/SGT’ Hannah Markson Banor, among other names. “Police found badges and insignia of a DCP at his home, and he absconded with a police Beretta pistol loaded with eight rounds of ammunition. “Ongoing investigation revealed a barrage of forgeries by Banor, who opened more than 25 bank accounts using fictitious names with which he had been collecting monthly salaries from over 15 command payrolls.” Enang argued that if Banor

was released on bail, he would not make himself available for trial as he would run away as usual. He had argued that many lives were still at risk since Banor had refused to produce the police automatic weapon he absconded with. But Banor said his right had been violated. However, the judge ordered the police to arraign Banor in court within two weeks. Aneke made the order in a ruling on an application by the dismissed officer, seeking enforcement of his fundamental right against the police for unlawful detention. Banor had filed the application before the court on November 11, seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights against the police. He also joined the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos, and the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), DSP Solomon Igwe, as respondents. In his application, the applicant argued that he had been held in custody for over eight months without any charge. He prayed the court to either order his release from prison, or direct the police to charge him before a court of law. Aneke, in the ruling, turned down the applicant’s bail request, owing to the gravity of the alleged offence, but ordered the police to charge the applicant within 14 days. The judge held that the continual remand of the applicant in custody was in breach of constitutional provisions which required a person to be charged within 48 hours.

‘Boko Haram adopting German Army’s strategy’ Juliana Francis

security expert, Dr Ona Ekhomu, said the terror group, Boko Haram, was deploying tactics used by the German Army during the invasion of France and Russia during the Second World War. Ekhomu, who described the method as “blitzkrieg strategy,” explained that this new terror tactics involved the rapid invasion of a state, seizure of the territory and destruction of lives and property in the captured areas. He said: “The Boko Haram

strategy is modelled after the invasion method utilised by the German Army in invading France and Russia during the Second World War. Blitzkrieg means ‘lightning war’ and it is the use of incredible speed, coordination and movement to get large mobile forces through weak points in the enemy’s defences in order to capture territories.” Reacting to the siege laid to Damaturu on Monday by Boko Haram, Ekhomu, who is the president of Association of Industrial Security and

Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), said the “blitzkrieg” strategy had been employed successfully by Boko Haram in its ambitious landgrabbing campaign in the North-East. He added: “Blitzkrieg was employed in the capture of Mubi, Hong, Michika, Madagali and other towns and local governments in Adamawa and Borno states. “Blitzkrieg is the deployment of terrorist assets in a lighting fashion aimed at overwhelming military defences and quickly capturing towns

and hoisting jihadi flags. It does not matter if the terrorists can’t hold on to the territory. To them, it is a great moral and military victory. They also often rename the cities as they did to Gwoza and Mubi.” The security expert maintained that the attempt to capture Damaturu was to show its military prowess to the world. Beyond the symbol, the terrorists would have destroyed a lot of government infrastructure such as government house and other important vital assets in Damaturu.

Metro News 11

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Kidnapping made me a millionaire, says suspect

Egidi with the guns recovered from the gang

Shola Adefuwa

suspect, Anthony Egidi, now in police custody, has claimed that the easiest way to become a millionaire was to be a kid-

napper. The 33-year-old Egidi said he had made N10 million from kidnapping. The suspect claimed he joined a kidnapping gang in Port Harcourt, Cross River State out of frustration. According to him, his gang used to

operate in Lagos, Edo and Delta states. He said: “I bought cars, four plots of land in Benin and another plot of land in Lagos. I also opened a supermarket for my wife. My wife believed I am a welder. She only got to know I am a kidnapper after the police arrested me.” The police said that Egidi was a member of five-man gang. A police source said some of the kidnappers were killed during a gun duel with the police, while those who escaped were being hunted. Investigators said that the suspects operated with two AK47 rifles and three locallymade guns, which have been recovered. Egidi was arrested on October 26 at Ekiwa in Benin by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Abba Kyari. The father of two children said that his first operation with the gang was in Delta State in 2011. According to him, the gang

kidnapped a woman adding that he was given N280,000. He said: “During the first and second operation, the gang refused to disclose the venue to me. I was blindfolded because I was new in the gang. After the second operation, we moved down to Benin to kidnap a man. I got N100,000 from that operation. After receiving the money, I believed it was a cool business. “The third operation made me a millionaire. I was given N2.8 million. The role I played was to drive the gang. I did not know where they kept the victim. It was a woman. We collected N9 million during the fourth operation. “We kidnapped a man in Benin. I was also given N1.5 million. We moved down to Delta State, between Oroku and Abeh Road. We kidnapped a man and I got N3.5 million.” Egidi explained that after making millions in the SouthEast, the gang decided to penetrate the South-West. He added: “Our sixth operation was at Eleko Junction, Ajah in June 2014. We collect-

ed N1.6 million ransom from the victim and I was given 300, 000.” According to him, in the seventh operation, the gang kidnapped a female worker with Key Stone Bank while she was returning home from office. “Seven of us went for that operation. Steve blocked the banker’s car at the back while Tony and another guy attacked her. We abandoned her car. We did not need it. We only needed her. We took her to the bush; she spent six days in the bush with us. We did not rape her. We gave her everything she requested for. We bought food for her from a fast food outlet.” Egidi said that the gang ordered the victim’s family to pay N6 million. But according to the police, one of the kidnappers was arrested when he went to collect the ransom. He did not know policemen had laid an ambush. When police got to the kidnappers’ den, there was exchange of gun fire, two gang members were shot dead, while others fled.

‘My dad almost raped me to death’ Taiwo Jimoh

middle-aged man, who lives at Oyingbo in Lagos, has allegedly defiled his 14-year-old daughter until she could no longer walk upright. The girl, simply identified as Uzor, said her father pounced on her on December 2, at their No. 4, Akintunde Street home until she found it difficult to walk. The girl, who spoke with our correspondent yesterday, said her father raped her about 6:30am after she went to live with him. She explained that she had been living with an aunt after her mother died until her father came to take her away. Fighting back tears, Uzor said: “I wanted to shout, but his weight was too much for me. My father is fat and I was struggling not to stop breathing. I was struggling to push him off.” According to Uzor, after her mother died, she went to live with her mother’s elder sister at Ogijo, an Ogun State community near Ikorodu. The woman was expected to assist the girl in furthering her education, but she did not.

Uzor

“My aunt did not enrol me in school. I used to hawk pepper and tomatoes for her. My father said he was not happy that my aunt did not enrol me in school. He threatened to take me away. He eventually came and took me to his house.” Recalling how she was raped, Uzor said: “I was in the room, sleeping when my father called me to warm soup in the kitchen. A few minutes later, he called me into his bedroom. I thought he wanted to punish me when he called me, because I am always scared of him and my

step mother. They maltreat me. “Before I knew what was happening, my father had pushed me on the bed and pounced on me. He tore off my pants and raped me. When he finally got up, I was bleeding from my private part. I could not walk. But I managed to call the attention of an elderly woman on our street.” The girl said that after the incident, her father left her on the bed and went away. The woman she alerted warned her not to tell anyone. The woman told Uzor, it was

an abomination. “Immediately I left the woman’s house, I went to a pay call centre to call Mrs. Toyosi Bello in Ogijo. I explained the incident to her,” Uzor said. According to her, she knew Bello, who is the Ogun State coordinator for the Centre for Defence of Human Rights, while in Ogijo. Bello also told our correspondent that she was in Ogijo when she received Uzor’s call. The following day, Bello said she went to the man. She said: “I observed that the woman Uzor reported the incident to, is shielding her father from arrest. “Some elderly men in the area begged me not to expose the matter to the public as that would damage the image of the little girl in future. The girl was immediately rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, unfortunately when we got there; the medical doctors were on strike.” Bello said Uzor’s father was on the run. The girl’s step-mother was arrested, but had since been released. Uzor had been taken to Project Alert, a NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO), which takes care of raped victims.

310 cattle rustled in Plateau Buhari Bello Jos

bout 310 cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen in Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State were allegedly stolen by Tarok youths from Langtang North Local Government Area on Tuesday night. The state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) said the suspected youth had attacked various Fulani settlements in Mikang, chasing the cattle out of their enclosures. The state Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji Haruna Boro Hussaini, said over 800 cattle were chased out but about 500 were found scattered in the surrounding bush while about 310 were still missing. Hussaini said the cattle were recovered with the help of the divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of the area.

Amaechi offers to renovate Port Harcourt market over nor Rotimi and other inflammable Amaechi of Rivers materials. G State has promised to The governor also renovate damaged stalls at the Port Harcourt New Layout market gutted by fire. Amaechi made the promise yesterday while assessing damaged shops and facilities at the market, in company with State Executive Council members and the Caretaker Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government, Mr Nnamdi Nwuche. Addressing traders at the market, the governor also promised to give financial assistance to those whose goods were gutted by the Tuesday night fire to enable them get back to business. He said: “We will send the commissioner for Special Duties and the commissioner for Commerce to come and get us the names of those whose goods were destroyed and government will give you some assistance to replace your goods. Government will also rebuild these shops the way they were.” Amaechi said although the stalls were not to be used as lockup shops, traders at the market went ahead and used them as lock-up stores and stored wood

promised to get a private firm to manage and run the market. He said: “When we built these stores, we did not ask you to use these ones as lock-up shops. We built them as open stores. The essence is when you finish you; carry your goods home. “Anybody who had this is supposed to only have an open space where he or she will sell and take his or her wares back home, the next day, you come back. So I do not see why you put all those woods.”

Amaechi

News

settlement

Positions are shared in Abuja as the battle for Ogun in 2015 begins Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

mid intense horse trading and power play, the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may have picked the former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, as the party’s governorship candidate for Ogun State in the 2015

2.28%

friday, december 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

south - west

Bankole, Clark's wife pick Ogun PDP slots general election. Indications to this emerged yesterday following a meeting which held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where different groups within the state chapter were represented. The meeting, which held on Wednesday night reportedly on the directive of the Presidency, was chaired by the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu'azu, and attended by some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. Former governor of

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Mauritania in 2009. Source: Itu.int

Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel and former Minister of State for Finance, Jubril Martins-Kuye as well as Bankole, attended the closed-door meeting. However, the Chairman, Mobilisation and Organisation Committee of South West PDP, Prince Buruji Kashamu, was absent. Kashamu, who is reportedly backing the candidature of another PDP governorship aspirant, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, recently criticised Mu'azu for allegedly meddling in the affairs of the party in

9,200

The number of adults and children estimated to be living with HIV in Egypt in 2008. Source: Blatantworld.com

the state. Impeccable sources told New Telegraph yesterday that other agreements reached at the meeting included the sharing of other elective positions between the Daniel, Martins-Kuye and Kashamu groups. The meeting was said to have resolved to concede the slot for Ogun Central senatorial district for the wife of foremost Ijaw leader, Dr. Bisola SodipoClark. It also handed over the slot for Ogun East to Daniel while Kashamu was

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years in Cape Verde in 2012. Source: Un.org

tipped to determine who gets the Ogun West senatorial ticket. According to the sources, the nine House of Representatives slots for the state are to be shared equally among the three camps within the party. Fifteen out of the 26 House of Assembly seats were reserved for the Martins-Kuye group, which is promoting Bankole's candidacy. The meeting also resolved that the Daniel group would fill six assembly slots while Kashamu was allotted five seats.

3.1m

The total population of Armenia in 2012. Source: Un.org

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun (right), casting his vote as a statutory delegate at the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election in Abeokuta…yesterday.

Sad primaries for defectors Babatope Okeowo Akure

fter dumping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to seek re-election as a member of Ondo State House of Assembly, Folajimi Olaseinde-Vicente, has finally lost the bid to return to the Assembly. Olaseinde-Vicente, who was elected on the platform of Labour Party (LP) in 2011 defected to the PDP alongside Governor Olusegun Mimiko, but later defected to the APC to seek re-election, having lost out in the sharing of elective positions between the old and new PDP members. But her bid to return to the House of Assembly crashed like a pack of cards as she again lost the APC primaries conducted for Ose Local Government constituency between Tuesday and Wednesday. She lost to Prince Afolabi Adedayo. However, her counterpart in the Assembly, Gbenga Edema, representing Ilaje Constituency 1, who also dumped the PDP for the APC, was lucky as he won the party's ticket to return to the Assembly. Another casualty in the APC primaries is the immediate past Chairman of Akoko Northwest Local Government, Mr. Felix Ogunmilade, who lost the bid to represent his constituency in the Assembly. Ogunmilade left the PDP for the APC to seek the party's ticket for the House of Assembly, but lost to Yusuf Babatunde Musa.

Obanikoro, Agbaje get riot act APC: Fayose collected N22bn in September Wale Elegbede

s the battle for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Lagos governorship ticket gets hotter, the leadership of the party in the state yesterday warned its governorship aspirants to desist from campaign of calumny against each other under the guise of groups and caucuses. Speaking with newsmen at the party’s secretariat, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Taofik Gani, warned that any aspirant found culpable of any form of veiled attack on other aspirants, would be sanctioned by the disciplinary committee of the party. According to Gani, the various attacks might affect the chances of the party, adding that such media attacks, though

targeted at a certain aspirant, is equally against the party. He said: “No group or individual should disguise to attack any aspirant, though it is targeted at an aspirant, it will cause bigger damage to the party. The common enemy is the All Progressives Congress (APC). They must all sheath their swords for now. “Henceforth, any press release that is made to disparage any aspirant will be investigated and anybody identified to be behind such, will be disciplined. We admonish party members to play according to the rules.” Meanwhile, the party said it has cleared seven of the aspirants to contest the governorship primaries slated for next week Monday.

Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

he All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has faulted Governor Ayo Fayose’s claims on the payment of salaries to workers and the revenue that has accrued to the state since Fayose came into office.

In a press statement by the APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said Fayose lied by saying that former Governor Kayode Fayemi, owed workers two months’ salaries, which he (Fayose) said he was not prepared to pay. The APC said Fayemi did not collect September allocation before he left

Mimiko calls for prayers Babatope Okeowo Akure

ndo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, yesterday appealed to Nigerians to stop making inflammatory statements that could further encourage terrorism in the country. The governor made the plea in his office in Akure during a courtesy visit to him by the Supreme

Nights of Saint Mulumba in Nigeria, led by Anthony Onuh. The governor noted that Nigeria and President Goodluck Jonathan needed the prayers and support of all at this critical period of dwindling resources and terrorism, urging the people to continue to pray for peace, progress and the development of the country.

in October and wondered why Fayose, who collected the September allocation, refused to pay workers their September salaries. “Fayose said on the radio programme that he has not collected any money since his assumption of office. This is a lie and wickedness to Ekiti workers. The workers deserve their pay. Fayose

cannot claim he has no money after collecting N22 billion so far since he assumed office.” Olatubosun also accused the governor of lying to the people that Fayemi took the governor’s official car away and that it was after mounting pressure on the former governor that he returned it.

'Awe must surrender' Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Jide Awe, to surrender himself for trial since a Federal High Court in Jos,

Plateau State, has vacated the order restraining the police from arresting him over a murder charge. PDP Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, said in a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday that if the APC boss had no skeleton in his cupboard, there was no need for him to be running from pillar to post in order to evade arrest.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

2015

Leading Woman

Al-Makura responsible for security failure in Nasarawa –Ewuga

Electorate’ll decide my fate, not godfather –Uboh

Politics The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accrued huge sums of money from aspirants seeking to contest the 2015 general election on its platform. AYODELE OJO and ONYEKACHI EZE report

Harvest time for PDP

his, indeed, is harvest time for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Just like in every election year, aspirants for the various elective positions thronged the national secretariat of the party and its state chapters, for over three weeks, to obtain the Expression of Interest (EOI) and nomination forms to seek election on its platform. The party had earlier released guidelines where it stipulated costs of its EOI and nomination forms. For aspirants wishing to fly its flag in the February 14, 2015 presidential election, PDP requires them to pay N22 million ( N2 million for EOI and N20 million for nomination forms). At the same time, the party demands N11 million from governorship aspirants for the two forms; N5.5 million from senatorial aspirants, N2.5 million from House of Representatives and N1.2 million from state House of Assembly aspirants respectively. The party did not make much money from the sale of presidential forms since it decided to zero its choice on President Goodluck Jonathan alone and shut out every other interested aspirant. But despite this, PDP made N46 million from the three aspirants who purchased the forms. Despite limiting its choice only to President Jonathan, Dr. Abdul Jhali Tafawa Balewa, son of the first republic Prime Minister, Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa from Bauchi State, and Prof.

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

Jonathan

Akosobo Desmo-Abiola, wife of late Chief Moshood Abiola, went ahead to purchase the forms. While Balewa paid N22 million, Abiola only paid for Expression of Interest form. PDP had waived payment of nomination fee for female aspirants seeking to contest any elective position on its platform as a way of encouraging female participation in the election process. PDP raked in not less than N6 billion from gubernatorial, senatorial, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly aspirants. From governorship aspirants alone, the figure is in the neighbourhood of N2.712 billion or more. Over 234 governorship aspirants obtained the party’s nomination forms before the November 6 deadline given by the PDP to interested aspirants to purchase the forms. Some of these aspirants are females, and therefore, paid only the N1million expression of interest form. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared vacancy in governorship position in 29 out of 36 states of the country. As a result of staggered elections in Nigeria occasioned by

Mu’azu

The least revenue earning states for the party are Gombe and Kaduna which has one and two governorship aspirants respectively

litigation, governorship election will not hold in Anambra, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Kogi and Bayelsa states in 2015. But people from these states and Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital, will still go to the polls to cast their votes for the presidential and federal and state legislators of their choice. PDP attracted more governorship, National and State Assembly aspirants because, as ruling party, there is the belief that there will be a “bandwagon effect”. That is why, apart from Gombe, and possibly Kaduna, Yobe and states, no fewer than five aspirants in each state have indicated interest to contest the PDP gubernatorial primaries. Just like in the case of presidency, PDP gave its returning governors first offer of refusal. In other words, PDP first term governors who are seeking reelection have been adopted as PDP candidate in their states. Only two of these governorsRamalan Yero of Kaduna and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe states, are the PDP returning governors. But while Dankwambo has no challenger, Governor Yero has to contend with another aspirant

for the PDP ticket. The number of national and state assembly aspirants could not be ascertained as at the time of going to press. But it is most likely that there is no legislative seat both at national and state levels that will have fewer that two aspirants. And that being the case, it’s believed that PDP might have made over N981 million from an estimated 218 senatorial aspirants and N1.8 billion from an estimated 720 House of Representatives aspirants. There are109 senatorial and 360 House of Representatives seats in the National Assembly. There are 991 seats spread across the 36 state Houses of Assembly. And given the fact that at least, two aspirants might have obtained nomination forms per seat, PDP might have made at the least, N2.3 billion. For the purpose of this write up, the focus is on the number of governorship aspirants because they can be easily counted. Despite the fact that some of them have left PDP to other parties as a result of the outcome of the delegate congresses, the fact remains that they will not be refunded CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

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

their nomination or EOI fees. An interesting aspect of this contest is the number of deputy governors seeking to succeed their bosses, notwithstanding the fact that since the return of the present democratic dispensation in 1999, only one deputy governor has succeeded his boss. Apart from the former acting governor of Taraba State, Garba Umar, eight other deputy governors have purchased the PDP nomination forms to contest the December 8 governorship primary election. Two of these deputy governors – Mukhtar Shagari of Sokoto State and Dameshi Barau Luka of Nasarawa State, refused to join their principals who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The four other deputy governors are Mohammed Musa Ibeto of Niger, David Umahi of Ebonyi, Ahmed Gumel of Jigawa, Abdullahi Gunduje of Kano, Ignatius Longjan of Plateau and Steven Lawani of Benue. Also remarkable is the governorship ambition of the sons of three former military heads of state in their respective states. The aspirants, Mohammed Babangida, son of former military president; General Ibrahim Babangida, Mohammed Abacha, son of late General Sani Abacha and Abba Mohammed, son of late General Murtala Mohammed, are aspiring to be governors of Niger and Kano states respectively. Despite the fact that some outgoing governors have adopted a successor contrary to the directive of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), some aspirants are still ready to slug it out with the anointed aspirants. In Niger State where Umar Nasko, the Chief of Staff to the governor is Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu’s preferred candidate, seven other aspirants, including the deputy governor have obtained the nomination forms. The situation is the same in Enugu State with six aspirants indicating their interest to contest the number one seat, depite the adoption of a member of the House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, as consensus candidate. State by state breakdown of governorship aspirants shows that Imo State is leading the pack with 19 aspirants; three of them females. This is followed by Delta with 17 governorship aspirants; again with three female aspirants. While PDP made N179 million from Imo State, it got N157 million from Delta State. PDP raked in N177 million and N132 million from Akwa Ibom and Benue states respectively. The ruling party made N177 million from the 16 aspirants from Rivers. In the South-West, the party got N132 million in Ogun, N121 million in Oyo, and N66 million in Lagos. Election won’t hold in Ondo, Ekiti and Osun. The party has so far made N66 million from Enugu and Kebbi states aspirants and N55 million each from Zamfara, Kano and Nasarawa states. Taraba and Sokoto each contributed N44 million to the

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

PDP rakes in N2.7bn from 234 governorship aspirants

Yero

party’s coffers while N77 million each came from Ebonyi and Borno. The party also got N88 million from Niger, N89 million from Kwara, N110 million from Katsina, N66 million from Jigawa, N87 million from nine aspirants from Abia State; N100 million from Plateau’s 10 aspirants, N88 million from Cross River. Bauchi brought in N22 million, Gombe put in N11 million while Adamawa so far contributed N165 million. Kaduna contributed N22 million while Yobe brought in N33 million to the party’s pulse. The least revenue earning states for the party are Gombe and Kaduna which has one and two governorship aspirants respectively. However, PDP has a sharing formula. According to the guideline released by the party for the nomination of candidates,15 per cent of the nomination fees will go to the state chapter while five per cent goes to zones where such money was generated. The Niger State governorship aspirants are Nasko, Saleh Darangi, Mohammed Musa Ibeto (deputy governor), Aminu Isa Kantagora, Hannafi Sudan, Nuhu Aliyu, Mustapha Bello, and Mohammed Babangida, the son of the former military president. PDP made a total of N88 million from aspirants from Niger State. In Enugu State where a member of House of Representatives, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was adopted as consensus candidate, four other aspirants including the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Eugene Odo and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Ayogu Eze are ready to challenge the governor’s candidate at the primaries. Other aspirants who picked the nomination forms from the state are Chinedu Onuh, a loyalist of the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and Samuel Maduka Onyishi, a transporter. The sum of N55 million accrued to PDP from Enugu

Dankwabo

Ihedioha

State. The party also made N55 million from Zamfara State where five aspirants, including the former governor Mahamudu Aliyu Shinkafi, purchased the nomination forms. A member of the House of Representatives, Mohammed Bello Mattawale, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gasau, Bashiru Adamu Imad and Sagir Moham-

Highlight of the money that accrued to the PDP from sale of governorship nomination forms Imo

N179m

Akwa Ibom

N177m

Rivers

N177m

Adamawa

N165m

Delta

N157m

Benue

N132m

Ogun

N132m

Oyo

N132m

Plateau

N100m

Katsina

N110m

Kwara

N89m

Niger

N88m

Cross River

N88m

Abia

N87m

Ebonyi

N77m

Borno

N77m

Jigawa

N66m

Lagos

N55m

Enugu

N66m

Zamfara

N55m

Kebbi

N66m

Nasarawa

N55m

Taraba

N44 m

Sokoto

N44 m

Kano

N55 m

Yobe

N33m

Bauchi

N66m

Kaduna

N22m

Gombe

N11m

med, are the other governorship aspirants from the state. Four aspirants, the former acting governor, Garba Umar, Musa John Jen, Dairu Dickson Ishiaku, the immediate past Minister of State for Niger Delta, and David Sabo Kenke collectively gave PDP N44 million in their bid to fly the party’s flag in 2015 Taraba State governorship poll. The contest in Akwa Ibom State is tensed. Despite allowing the aspirants from the three senatorial zones of the state to buy the nomination forms, PDP said only aspirants from Eket Senatorial District will contest for the ticket. Seventeen aspirants are vying for the sole gubernatorial ticket of the party in Akwa Ibom State. They include the anointed candidate, Udom Emmanuel, former Secretary to Akwa Ibom State Government; his predecessor, Umana Okon Umana (who has left for APC); a serving senator, Helen Esuene, Effiong Abia, Okpolu Etteh, and Mike Sabastine. Others are Nsima Ekere, Ekpeyong Ntekim, Assam Assam, Asuquo Okpo, Ime Albert Akpan, Jerome Isagagihi, Pastor Ita Umoh, Assam Ntekim, Benjamin Okoko, Prof. Richard King and Dr. Samuel Udonsek. PDP raked in N177 million from the 17 aspirants in Akwa Ibom. Senator Esuene paid only N1 million for EOI. Imo State, where the party raked in N179 million, is heavily loaded with political bigwigs. They include Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; a veteran in governorship contest, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume; publisher and renowned broadcaster, Senator Chris Anyanwu; former Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. Jude Njoku; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mike Ahamba; former Governor Ikedi Ohakim; former Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chuka Odum and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bethel Amadi. Other aspirants from the

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Obanikoro

state who purchased the N11 million nomination form include Chris Brown Amadi, Clara Njoku, Charles Amanze, Julius Kpaduwa,Charles Onuoha, Jerry Chukwueke, charles Onyeagbakor, Barr Ken Njemaeze, Ambassador Obina Adim, Ken Orji and Ifeyinwa Maureen. In Benue State where the old rivalry between the Tiv and Idoma is playing out, 12 aspirants are vying for the ticket. These include the deputy governor, Steve Lawani; two former ministers, Sam Ode and Michael Andoakaa; Eugene Adegba, Hingah Biem, Simon Anchaver, Terhemen Tazor, Gabriel Nyitse, Felix Atume, David Ker, Eugene Alegbe and Simon Anchaber. PDP made N132 million from them. The party also made N89 million from nine aspirants (one female) from Kwara State. The aspirants are former vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Shuaib Abdulraham Oba, Senator Suleiman Ajadi, Chief John Dara, Jani Ibrahim, Senator Simon Ajibola, Chief Sunday Babalola, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), Senator Gbemisola Saraki and Alhaji Hakeem Lawal, son of the former governor, Mohammed Lawal. Nine aspirants are seeking the nod of the party to fly the PDP flag in Katsina governorship election in 2015. They are Musa Nashini, Barrister Ibrahim Idah, Arc. Ahmed Aminu Yar’Adua, Engr. Kabir Barkiya, Umar Abdullahi Tsauri (Tata), Gide Aminu Yar’Adua, Engr. Musa Nashuni, Engr. Nura Khalil, Ambassador Tukur Mani, and Alhaji Tukur Jikamshi. PDP made N99 million from them. It was not too rosy for the party in Yobe where only N33 million came in from three aspirants. They include a veteran in the governorship contest, Alhaji Maina Waziri, former Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama and Ibrahim Talba. Aspirants in Jigawa State are divided into Jonathan and Sule Lamido factions despite the fact that they collectively gave PDP N66 million. In Jonathan’s camp are Alhaji Danladi Auyo, Abba Anas and Arc. Aminu Kani while Barr. Bashir Dalhatu, Aminu Ringim and the deputy governor, Ahmed Gumel, belong to Lamido’s camp. Delta State has the second highest number with 17 governorship aspirants from where

Maku

PDP raked in N157 million. The aspirants are Andrew Warri (female), Ogbuefi Ndidi Abanumi, Oghenovo Omene, Ngozi Olejeme (female), Akwara John Ewere; former Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe; former SSG, Ovie Omo-Agege; former Special Adviser to President Jonathan on Project Monitoring, Prof. Sylvester Monye; former presidential liaison officer to the House of Representatives, Esther Uduehi (female); Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Godswill Obielu, Mr. Peter Okocha, Senator Emmanuel Agariawodo, Gabriel Chukwuma Oyibode, Tony Obuh and Victor Ochei, a former speaker of the State House of Assembly. Seveteen aspirants have obtained the PDP forms to contest the party’s governorship ticket in Rivers State. The aspirants are the immediate past Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, Bek Dagogo-Jack, Ben Dimkpa, Nimi Walson-Jack, Oseleye Dennis Ojuka, Lancelort Ayanya, Dennis Oshuka and Tamunosisi Jaja. Others are Captain Nwankwo Sunday, Dumo-Lulu Briggs, Gabriel Pidomsom, Abietedoghu Bob-Abbey Hart, Senator Lee Maeba, Prince Tonye Princewill, Barrister (Mrs.) Biobele Dodiyi Odesola and Samson Ngerebara. PDP made N177 million from the 17 aspirants. Leading the pack from Ebonyi State is Governor Martin Elechi’s anointed candidate, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, the immediate past Minister of Health. Chukwu is facing a stiff challenge from the chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Igwe Paulinus Nwagu; the deputy governor, Engr. Dave Umahi; former Minister of Education, Aja Nwachukwu; Engr. Paul Okorie, Offia Nwali and Hyacinth Ikpor. The party made N77 million from the seven governorship aspirants. From Sokoto State are the deputy governor, Mukhtar Shagari; Nigeria Ambassador to Morocco, Abdulla Wali; for Minister of Youth Development, Yusuf Suleiman and Senator Abubakar Gada. PDP made N44 million from the aspirants. The party made N87 million from nine aspirants from Abia State, one of them is a female, Senator Nkechi Nworgu. The governor’s anointed candidate, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu will be facing a stiff challenge

Ugwuanyi

While PDP made N179 million from Imo State, it got N157 million from Delta State. PDP raked in N177 million and N132 million from Akwa Ibom and Benue states respectively

from other heavyweight politicians. Among the aspirants are Senate spokesperson, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu; former Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Chief Alex Otti (now in APGA); former MD of Hallmark Bank, Chief Mark Wabara, Friday Nwosu, Okay Emuchay and Uche Ogah. Twelve Oyo State aspirants gave PDP N121 million. They include former state governor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Senate Leader, Teslim Folarin, Alhaji Azeem Bolarumi, Dr. Isaac Owolabi, Taoheed Adedoja, Seyi Makinde, Prof. Soji Adejumo, Mr. Olufemi Babalola, Alhaji Hazim Gbolarumi, Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, Senator Ayoade Adeseun and Alhaji Taofeek Arapaja. The neighbouring Ogun State has 12 aspirants, which translated to N132 million revenue for PDP. Among the aspirants are former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Abiodun, Gboyoga Nasir Isiaka, Kayode Amusan, Abayomi Majekodunmi, Adeyanju Lipede, former minister, Sharafa Tunji Isola, Omoba Segun Adewale, Remilekun Bakare, Rafiu Ogunleye and Anthony Ojesina. Plateau State has 10 aspirants, which include Arc. John Alkali, former director of engineering services, Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Engr. Jimmy Cheto; Senator Victor Lar; Governor Jonah Jang’s anointed candidate, Senator Gyang Nyam Pwajok; the deputy governor, Ignatius Longjan; former PDP chairman in the state, Dr. Haruna Dabin; a female aspirant, Hon. Kemi Nshe; former Speaker of the House of Assembly, John Clark Dabwan, Mr. Nabasu Yakubu, and Air Vice Marshal Jonah Wuyep (rtd). PDP made N100 million from the state. Six aspirants are contesting in Bauchi: former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate and Aminu Amayo. Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ahmed Yayale; Senators Abdul Ningi, Adamu Gumba and Babayo Garba. This translated to N22 million revenue for the party. Cross River State has eight governorship aspirants, which include former National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Emmanuel Ibeshi; Goddy Jerry-Agba, Fidel-

is Igbo, Prof. Ben Ayade, Legor Idagbor, Mike Aniah, Barr. Joe Agi and Larry Odey. Eighty eight million naira were generated from the state. Five aspirants, immediate past Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Jimi Agbaje, Adedeji Doherty, Babatunde Gbadamosi and Dominic Adegbola have so far picked the nomination forms for Lagos State, thereby attracting N55 million to the party. PDP made N44 million from four aspirants from Kano State. The aspirants are son of former head of state, Mohammed Abacha; Dr. Akilu Indabawa, former Special Assistant on Political Affairs and Secretary, PAC Conference; Dr. Umar Mustapha, Abba Mohammed, son of former head of state, General Murtala Mohammed and Mallam Salihu Sagir Takai. From Nasarawa State PDP made N55 million. Aspirants from the state are the deputy governor Dameshi Barau Luka; immediate past Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; former Minister of State for the FCT, Senator Solomon Ewuga, John Michael Abdul and Jibrin Bala Yakubu. Kaduna State where the incumbent, Ramalan Yero is seeking re-election, PDP got N22 million. Yero’s only challenger is John Bako. In Gombe, Governor Ibahim Hassan Dankwanbo is the only aspirant, and therefore attracted only N11 million to the PDP. Kebbi State has the former deputy governor, Ibrahim K. Aliyu, former PDP state chairman, Mansur Shehu, General Bello Sarkin Yark (rtd), Abubakar Gari Malam, General Mohammed Magoro and Sani Kalgo, a member of the House of Representatives, as aspirants. PDP raked in N66 million from the aspirants. With the defection of former Borno State governor, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff to PDP, the tempo of political activity in the party is now high. Seven aspirants are seeking to fly PDP flag in the 2015 governorship. The old war-horse, Alhaji Kashim Imam who is a former Presidential Liaising Officer to the National Assembly, former Managing Director of Bank of the North, Alhaji Mohammed Bulama; younger brother of the former governor, Alhaji Mala Sheriff; former commissioner in the state, Engr. Mohammed Makinta; former chairman of the now defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP), Alhaji Mohammed Imam; Eng. Ibrahim Abuana, also a former commissioner, as well as Hon. Abba Jautau, a member of the state House of Assembly, are in the race. PDP made N77 million from the seven aspirants. With Governor James Ngillari picking the nomination form for the governorship seat, PDP now made N165 million from Adamawa State governorship aspirants. Aspirants who bought the nomination forms last August are Nuhu Ribadu, Awwl Tukur, Aliyu Idi Hong, James Barka, Andrawas Sawa, Abubakar Girei, Markus Gundiri, Ahmed Gulak, Umaru Finitiri, Ahmed Modibbo, Umar Ardo, Jerry Kumdisi and Mohammed Buba Marwa.

Politics

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Al-Makura responsible for security failure in Nasarawa –Ewuga Senator Solomon Ewuga is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State. He is representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. In this interview with EMMANUEL CHEKE, he speaks on his plans to develop the state if voted to power in 2015. Excerpts: There are insinuations that you have stepped down from your governorship aspiration for another aspirant. How true is this? Stepped down for who? And all the time, all they are saying is on the social media. They said I went to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC); you know it was from the same source. I don’t want to worry myself about that, because people start worrying when they are afraid. If I want to step down, I am in a position to say it formally; I don’t need a spokesman to do that. So, the person doing that, I don’t know him. I have a media team; I have a campaign organisation, so it doesn’t make sense to me. The people who say it, why are they so worried about me stepping down? Maybe they are afraid of your popularity or they perceive you as a threat to their aspirations That is what I am saying, let them go and work instead of going to the social media. We are talking about delegates, they are the ones enticing delegates. So you are very much in the race? I have not stepped down and I am not stepping down for anybody. You are working on a social media response, and the responses are more than the person who initiated it. It is only one person who did it but the people that countered him are so many. So, there is no iota of truth in the story in the social media. I have a media team and it has responded, and I think that is the way things should work. Let us have a system, I would just want us to work through a system, so that there will be some element of truth, belief and order. If my media team speak, I have spoken. If they are putting a spin, the time for me to put a spin has not come because I am in a superior position, I don’t want to take them on. If you have problems, that’s when you fight, I am not fighting anybody. This is the third time you are coming

out for the governorship contest, are you not worried looking at the avalanche of aspirants contesting against you? I am not worried because I have gone through it in the past and I know what it is like to win and lose. But some don’t know because they don’t know what it feels like to stand for elections, some of them have not even contested as a local government councillor, some of them think they have money and money would do it for them, but governorship election is a different ball game. How would you tackle the security challenges confronting the state if you emerge as governor of the state in 2015? It is a simple thing; firstly, talk to the communities, secondly, remove the mercenaries. We have to find a way of relocating them, and once you do that, you find the prerequisite of advancing the interest of the state, if these two things are addressed. It is the failure of the actions of the chief security officer of the state that has caused all these things. He has failed in his duties to address specifics as they relate to security. As the chief security officer of the state, what has he done? He has avoided the victims of the crisis, rather he is blaming the people who have nothing to do with it. He has never condemned the crisis; he has never condemned those who are perpetrating the crisis but has always condemned those who are the victims. I have never seen this kind of situation. The last time he spoke, he said elements that want power. He is the first element that wants power because he is the governor of the state. So, I think it is the failure of the person on the seat and we will address it when we come on board. What will you do to get the support of others if you emerge as the flag bearer of the party? The primaries is a period of crisis in the party; this is the time when other members of the party will appreciate what it takes to win an election. Once we do that, we will sit down and talk, nobody does it alone, it is a collective interest as represented by the party, and that is why the party is the platform upon which we are seeking to run. So, the first thing is that the party has its own healing process that we would definitely manage, and we will approach the party and seek to make them understand. We are also putting through individual interests as it relates to all the aspirants that we have been talking to. I have been talking to quite a good number of them. So, it is a collective interest that we are manifesting as individuals. It is not an isolated thing. Your opponents are capitalising on your recent indictment by a Commission of Enquiry that investigated the killing of security operatives in Alakyo, to dim your chances of be-

Ewuga

coming governor of the state. What is your take on that? I appeared before the panel as a witness and when I appeared the state government paid me money. And under our law, a witness cannot be a victim for indictment, but if the governor decides to take that through because he is afraid that I would stand an election now that I am standing, he is the one that I will defeat. That one is no problem. If they think that is an issue, that does not matter, let them go to court. Apart from the security challenges in the state what other things will you remedy if you become governor of the state? Nobody has the right formula. All of us have the collective will to get together to see that we solve the problems. But some of the issues include youth restiveness and unemployment. These must be addressed through skill acquisition and capacity building so that people can employ themselves based on the opportunities arising from the processes that have been put on ground by the Federal Government. So, we can key into them, get all those things and see how we can initiate projects for the youth and reduce unemployment. Skill acquisition is very important. From there you can create a co-operative arrangement that will ensure that people are not only employed but get involved in programmes that will be of sustainable values not just today but continuously. Are you in support of a state of emergency being canvassed by some people to be declared in Nasarawa State? State of emergency is a different matter, the failure of executive does not create state of emergency; it can only become a necessary tool of managing crisis, that is

when you declare state of emergency. But this one is a kind of crisis that can be handled and what we need to do is to have a proper security appraisal and the necessary state capacity to deal with it.

It is the failure of the actions of the chief security officer of the state that has caused all these things. He has failed in his duties to address specifics as they relate to security

Are you in support of the extension of emergency rule in the three states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno. The issue of emergency in these three states allows the military to go and restore ordinary process towards managing the crisis that has been continuous. So, supporting the emergency can no way affect the way those governors run the system. It only makes the military to be sure that they are not going to undermine the values which are on ground. Fundamentally, what we need is security of lives, but unfortunately the matter is not operative. But in the last few weeks, the military has made tremendous progress and I think they wouldn’t want anybody to come and raise the issue of fundamental rights. I think the emergency has a legal implication towards the management of the crisis and that is where I support it, but if it works out, so be it, if it doesn’t work out, the act of declaration of the fact that the country is in war would automatically make emergency operative. So, doing it has a legal implication. In fact, the president has the right to declare war for three months before informing on the ways through which such things could be done. What is your massage to the other governorship aspirants in the state? You know there are two circumstances for the ones in PDP. It is an internal matter, so let’s wait and see how we will go about it. For the other ones in APC and other parties, we will know what to do, let them be ready when the time comes.

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NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

How prepared are you for the senatorial primaries with heavy weights? I am well prepared for the race. I have prepared for the primary election of my party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the general election next year. For over six weeks, I have been consulting and meeting with the delegates, one on one. I have done my home work very well and I am rest assured that victory is certain both at the primary election and the general election. I am 100 per cent sure of victory. I have my selling points to the delegates based on my performance when I was in the House of Representatives. What I did for the people of my constituency are there to speak for me; they are enough to convince them on why they should vote for me. I have educated them on my blueprint for the development of the senatorial district when I get to the Senate and based on my performance, they gave assurance of their support. So, the delegates will vote for me. What makes you feel that you are the best for the seat next year? When I was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011, I concentrated basically on infrastructural development and other people-oriented projects. I was sure then that they will impact positively on the lives of the people of my constituency. I floated empowerment programmes some of which can be visibly seen and touched. I completed some water projects in so many communities and provided science equipment, including furniture in some primary and secondary schools in my constituency. I also equipped the health centres for efficient service delivery by providing free drugs. The youth were not left out of my empowerment programmes. So many of them got employment, especially into the police force through my efforts. As part of my constituency projects, so many women were given loans on micro-credit condition to trade and start off businesses of their choice. I also ensured that they were granted agric loans. With these things in place, which I have said earlier are my selling points, the good people of Anioma will vote for me at the primaries and during the senatorial election proper next year. I am sure I will coast to victory. You are aware that politics in Delta State is not only full of surprises but a game of conspiracy. How do you hope to wriggle your way through? I am not aware of any conspiracy game. What you are talking about is strange to me. What I know is that everyday our people become politically conscious of their environment, they become aware of the happenings around them, especially in the political space. The terrain I found myself in 2006, for example, is no longer the same with where I find myself today. Since I noticed this, I swung into a wide-ranging consultation. What am I saying? Our people have become critically aware and conscious of the intrigues in politics. They now ask questions concerning their common destiny from those they voted into political offices on trust. They want to know how it is being done and where. They now know that their

Electorate’ll decide my fate not godfather –Uboh Hon. Doris Uboh represented Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She is presently aspiring to represent Delta North Senatorial District in 2015. In this interview with DOMINIC ADEWOLE, she speaks on her efforts to return to the National Assembly

Uboh

don’t know what that means.

Leading Woman votes must count and should not be counted for those who did not win. They now know that their representatives must deliver on their electoral promises and account for every kobo they receive in the name of the constituency. They now know that a representative that fails to deliver should be voted out. I am happy for the new development. If I had failed in all these areas when I was in the House of Representatives, representing an inch of the senatorial district for four years, would I be able to rear my head for the senatorial seat now, definitely not? But because I know what it takes to give quality representation, I decided to offer myself for the service of my people. I am happy for the new development in the politics of today. For the primaries, the good people of the senatorial district who now have a different orientation about how politics should be contested and won, will in a few days send me to represent them in the Senate. I am very happy for the awareness. If there is conspiracy game in the politics of the state therefore, I am not aware. As a matter of fact, I

I have taken my campaigns to the people who will decide my fate and not to any godfather... power belongs to the people, the electorate

Shortly after you lost your re-election bid in 2011, speculations were rife that you fell out with the powers that be in the state and your party. Now that you are contesting under the party, does it mean that you’ve retraced your steps? That is the figment of imagination of those peddling the rumour. I did not fall out, either with the governor of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan or with my party. Dr. Uduaghan remains my governor; I am very loyal to him and the party. I belong to PDP and I will always be in PDP. My believe is that if at all there is a problem within my house, I will not break down the house but strive to repair it. So, I remain a bona fide member of PDP in Delta State. I did not fall out at any point with anybody. You sound like somebody who has a godfather somewhere; do you have one for the forthcoming election? I strictly believe in the philosophy of democracy – the government of the people by the people and for the people. I have taken my campaigns to the people who will decide my fate and not to any godfather. Besides God, who is the author and finisher of our faith, the God that blesses after Paul must have planted and Appollo waters, power belongs to the people, the electorate. I am taking my campaigns to the delegates. So, mine

is power to the people by God, the Father. Are you aware that the race has tore the senatorial district apart following the face-off between the wife of the former national chairman of your party, Mrs. Mariam Ali and the former state chairman, Chief Peter Nwaoboshi? I am not really bothered about who is in the race. I’ll give you an example. I remember when Barrack Obama came out to contest to be American president against Hilary Clinton, who has a political juggernaut like Bill Clinton, her husband, and former president behind her. That is where I draw my inspiration from. We are all Delta northerners; we all are qualified, and we all in our capacities can vie to occupy the seat. The only difference is that I am the best candidate among my equals for the seat now. I won’t be stained by their crisis. But the political arrangement of your party does not favour your Ika constituency. People are saying it is supposed to be the turn of Aniocha South Local Government to produce Delta North Senator. Are you in the race as a spoiler? How did they come about that? The arrangement they’re talking about, if there is anything of such, depicts a foul-play. So, if it could be Aniocha South, why not Aniocha North, Oshimili South or Oshimili North? Let me educate you on this. There is no inequity in my ambition. There should be no bickering or feeling of being shortchanged on account of my bid to represent my people. So far, Ndokwa nation has done it for three tenures when Senator Patrick Osakwe, their son, was in the Senate for 12 years. Thereafter, every other council area in the district jostled for the ticket, and that was how an Ika man, a political juggernaut, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the present senator, won. If those distorting the contest to suit their permutations want to go by equity, they should have seen that Senator Okowa, an Ika man like me, has done only one term, meaning that we still have eight years left. We need two terms more. So if the party really wants to go by the definition of equity, other council areas will wait for eight more years, then the seat can rotate to other council areas like the Aniocha South you gave as example. That is equity. What will you do for your people at the Senate? I will improve on what I did before. I will represent them faithfully and accountably with the fear of God. I will make sure that what belongs to them gets to them. I will make sure that Anioma people have fruitful representation, which was exactly what I did in 2007 to 2011 for the Ika Federal Constituency. I will simply put in my best.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Eulogising Enyeazu: Jereyef Jerry

Emissary EMEKA OBASI

emobas2003@yahoo.com 08094457557 (sms only)

eores do not come easy. Many great men succeeded because they dared where others dreaded. Heroics and dreams go together, when you aim high, you go for it. Inhibitions are for men of little faith. Little is said about Sir Jerry Enyeazu in Nigerian sports circles. I think, it took President Goodluck Jonathan to even recognize that perhaps, this name must not be forgotten even if he lies in a grave somewhere in Abia state. Enyeazu could have been born an Ngwa man. But the name turned things around beyond the shores of Nigeria and the mountains of mother Africa. Penultimate Sunday, as Enyimba won their fourth Federations Cup, my mind was on the man who started it all. Retaining the trophy was good news and papers celebrated it. I want to go beyond celebrating Enyimba’s victory. Readers have to be fed with the story behind Enyimba and many more. The Elephants did not just fall from the sky, they are part of a success story that should be converted to an award winning thriller. I will not talk about Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu here. His story will definitely come in another form. He woke Enyimba from slumber. Kalu cured Enyimba and took them to the sky. Nigerians will continue to remember that name for rescuing us from African football Ebola in 2003. Today belongs to Enyeazu. He actually started as an athlete, running and jumping, before ending up as a national athletics coach. The Jimmy Omagbemis, the Abdul Kareem Amus, the Emmanuel Ifeajunas, they passed through him. It was in administration that Enyeazu shone like a Thousand stars. He was a foundation member of the Nigeria Olympic Committee[NOC] as Assistant Secretary. Then in 1958, the man moved to the East-

ern Region as pioneer director of the Eastern Nigeria Sports Commission, until 1967. At the end of the war, Enyeazu emerged as the first East Central State Director of Sports, from 1970 to 1972, when he was appointed Director of the National Sports Commission[NSC] . In 1976, new Imo state governor, Lt. Commander Ndubuisi Kanu wrote a personal letter, begging Enyeazu to leave his plum job as NSC boss to return to Owerri as Director of Sports. That sounded like demotion. The man, for love of challenge and his people, sacrificed his juicy post in Lagos. Now, this background is just the beginning of the Enyeazu story. It all manifested in l970 when he formed Enugu Rangers football club. The Coal city team had greats like Godwin Achebe, Ernest Ufele, Luke Okpala, Mathias Obianika, Keneth Abana, Teddy Anikputa, Cyril Okosieme and Dominic Nwobodo. They won their first national laurel, the Amachree Cup in 1971. Three years later, The Flying Antelopes, won their first Challenge Cup, thanks to goals from Kendo Ilodigwe and Ogidinma Ibeabuchi. They also won the league to become Nigeria’s first ever double champions. In 1975, they were double champions again. To cap it all, in 1975, Chimezie “Watch me” Ngadi’s brace made Rangers the first team to win the Challenge Cup thrice consecutively. That record still stands today, 38 years after. In 1976, Enyeazu set out to establish one football club in Imo. The turn out overwhelmed him. Instead of one, two clubs, Spartans of Owerri and Enyimba of Aba, were born. Spartans would later change name to Iwuanyanwu National. Now they are called Heartland. In 1990, the Naze millionaires became the first team to win the league thrice consecutively, having triumphed previously in 1988 and 1989. Enyimba equalled that record in 2003.Iwuanyanwu were double champions in 1988. Enyimba joined that league in 2005. Enyimba advanced beyond all other Nigerian teams when they won the CAF Champions’ League in 2003. Nigeria’s first, coming after 36 years of participation. The Elephants retained the cup in 2004.They also won the CAF Super Cup in 2003, and again in 2004. Till date, no other Nigerian team has achieved that feat. Enyeazu went beyond soccer to set up a female handball team called Grasshoppers. Made up of stars from the

blues like Rose Otuonye, Alaoma Abia[now Eke], Nnenna [Barry White] Ekezie and Hyacintha Anyaehie among others, they also became African champions and reigned for so many seasons. Even in the states, Enyeazu’s teams were unbeatable. At the first National Sports Festival, Lagos ’73, the East Central State soccer squad, Spartans [from where the Owerri side got the name] defeated dreaded Mighty Jets of Jos 1-0 in the final. Goalie Emma Okala was simply at his best saving a penalty. Patrick Ekeji and Nwabueze Nwankwo were some of the other golden Spartans. With the Atuegbu brothers, Sule Kekere and Ismaila Mabo, Jets were rock solid. In 1975, the Spartans retained the gold medal. Christian Chukwu led the charge.And as Murtala Mohammed came, new states were created a year later. Enyeazu moved to Imo and formed the Trojans. With Harrison Mecha and Tony Ukeachu, they won the soccer gold at Kaduna ’77. Felix Owolabi’s Kaduna settled for silver. At Oluyole ’79, the Trojans won the soccer gold again with players like Godwin Ebomuche, Goddy Agbarakwe and Emma “Terror’ Ajunwa. Trojans were set for a third gold medal at Bendel ’81, but lost out to Ogun state on technical grounds because of sudden change of rules by the organizing committee. So players like Chimezie Nwanaga and Alex Opara were denied the premier medal. If we break it down, the result is that Rangers have won the Federations Cup Five times, the Premier League Six times and were Africa Winners Cup holders in 1977. Heartland have in their kitty, Three Challenge Cup titles and Four League trophies. For twin brother Enyimba, you have Two Africa Super Cup titles, Two CAF Champions’ League trophies, Four Challenge Cup laurels and Six League titles. Spartans and Trojans won Four Sports festival gold medals while Grasshoppers won several continental and national honours. One thing stood out. All these teams were founded by the same person- Jerry Enyeazu. And whenever they won a trophy for the first time, they almost in all circumstances retained the cup. The Wollof of Senegal speak Jollof. And when you do well, thank you is Jereyef. Today, we should all say that to Enyeazu. He will hear from the grave. And I can see him smiling.

Muhammadu Buhari: The stepbrother ‘Mama’ created Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama

s a Southerner, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) is one of the stepbrothers “Mama” created for us. And now that we are engaged in another attempt at clearing the pathway (Election) to ‘Papa’s Foundation’ we are being reminded of all the things ‘Mama’ told us about our stepbrothers and their mother. The things that should make us dread them as our lifelong enemies. Being children of the same patriarch or so, perhaps our stepbrothers from the North have also received similar warnings about us. These words of premonitions no doubt have succeeded in turning us apart; allowing backbiting, greed, corruption, profligacy, oppression, strife, mutual suspicion, sectionalism, sectarian violence, religionism or religious dichotomy and prodigality to determine how we relate with each other and manage our common patrimony. With these estranged thoughts and actions, we have all consciously or otherwise wandered away from taking care of ‘Papa’s uncompleted house’ - leaving it in such a deplorable state, only to be reminded of our failings by the threats that confront us in our various attempts to walk away from reality. But as we become more endangered

by imminent obliteration of our foundation and heritage, the thought of returning back to start rebuilding ‘Papa’s foundation’ is coming into reckoning once again. However, it is enlivening for some of us to be aware of the possibility of living in harmony and purging ourselves of all those things that beset our mutual progress. This possibility, we are conscious would make us stand tall against all challenges within the complexities of human existence. Yes! A dream Nigeria is possible only after we have all agreed to jointly clear the pathway that would take us back to ‘Papa’s abandoned building site’: The building project where the founding fathers have erected the Nigerian-foundation; the ideal place we can harmoniously correct the structural-foundation as deemed fit, before erecting the ‘House’ that can truly represent our common pride and heritage: the dream ‘House’ which would rightly be referred to as the ‘giant of Africa’. Now that we are again being made to wallow in this thought, what keeps threatening our harmony to decisively commence rebuilding the ‘Nigerian House’ is our fixation to what ‘Mama’ told us about our stepbrothers and their mother: Those reverberating stories that portray our stepmother (Mama’s mate) as a terrible witch and our stepbrothers as our strongest adversaries, who would never wish us well.

And because ‘Mama’ is such a ‘huge figure’ that we ought to heed her advice or warnings, it has infused in our consciousness a strong sense of danger and regret that could come from uniting with our stepbrothers to rebuild the ‘Nigerian House’. This divisive sentiment of eventually being sidelined from enjoying the benefits of the rebuilt ‘Nigerian House’ is the gnawing doubts which weigh down on collective interests, and regretfully is also the strongest point that divisive elements use to retard the necessary developmental works on Nigeria, in order to keep maintaining their status as rent collectors at ‘the desolate Nigerian site’ while wielding strong political, social and economic influence against all others who are deprived of their equity claim to ‘Papa’s patrimony’. To a large extent therefore, the question keeps lingering: Should we, once and for all take a risk by joining our stepbrothers to rebuild the ‘Nigerian House’? Or should we stick to our fears and allow ‘Papa’s now desolate foundation to become completely washed away? These interestingly are the questions that keep begging for attention. However, a good number of us still retain vivid memories of how a particular ‘stepbrother’ in the person of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari distinguished himself by protecting our heritage against the

fangs of some of his own siblings who were collaborating with our siblings to ravage ‘Papa’s property: On December 31st 1983, Gen. Buhari took a swiping action against his own ‘sibling’ a Northerner, Alhaji Shehu Shagari when he ousted National Party of Nigeria (N.P.N) from governance owing to acclaimed prevailing corrupt practices of the regime. In any case, this was another action ‘Mama’ also nullified as that of a bully, who was traumatizing others to save ‘Papa’s wealth for only himself and eventually his siblings. ‘Mama’ may have been wise to admonish us on the safety of abiding within the comfort of only our own full siblings. But over the years, ‘Mama’s wisdom has not passed the fail-safing test of compulsorily compelling her biological children to keep catering for one another. And ‘Mama’s wisdom also did not provide an alternative place of comfort for her other children when they are ironically being oppressed by those they share maternal biological relationship. Today as it has turned out, ‘Mama’s admonitions about our stepbrothers have in more ways provided a self-serving excuse for those who have always appropriated the right of representing the other siblings to themselves and cronies. • Ogbeide-Ihama wrote in from Benin City.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

EDITORIAL

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he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, has said the security challenges in the country should not be the basis for postponing the 2015 elections. Tambuwal, who said he was opposed to such proposal, argued that if war torn countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq could conduct elections, the security situation in Nigeria should not be used as an excuse for shifting the elections. The Speaker, who spoke recently in Kaduna shortly after being screened to contest the governorship primaries by officials of North-West zone of the All Progressive Congress, APC, maintained that all that was needed was for the Federal Government to squarely address the issue of insecurity before the elections. According to the Speaker, there was no reason whatsoever for anybody to cancel the forthcoming election, adding that those charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and property of Nigerians should be up and doing. Without mincing words, the proponents of this political suggestion and calculation are only trying to fly a kite and test the waters, thereby gauging the reaction of Nigerians to this contraption. This proposition is in gross violation of sections 136

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Let 2015 elections be and 180 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the authentic legal document guiding the present democratic experiment and which also guarantees two maximum terms of four years for elected executives. Anything that is not in consonance with the overriding interest of the wishes and aspirations of the people will not portend any good. The unfortunate idea to postpone the forthcoming 2015 general elections will help in no small measure to plunge Nigeria into greater and deeper crisis than it is presently witnessing. As it is a sly plan to foist the interest of a small clique of the circulating elite on the generality of the people through the backdoor. Those who are presiding over the affairs of Nigeria ought to have learnt some important lessons from history; however, those who are deaf to the dictates of history will sooner than later become part of the relics of history. The ill–advised agenda will only attract public odium and international opprobrium, condemnation and outcry. The international community will see frown on this, in spite of the numerous challenges the country is passing through at the moment. Also, it will go a long way to further dent the image of the country amongst the comity of nations,

thus capable of having dangerous implications for the burgeoning economy of the country. The idea for tenure elongation is strange to democratic ethos and practices, this is because, the essence of public service and seeking political office is to serve the people and not any narrowing interest. Therefore, if any political office holder has served the generality of the people creditably well, there will be no need to exercise any fear as they would be returned to power by the people. It is only where those in offices have ulterior motives that political scheming and manipulations are surreptitiously and clandestinely done. It is also important to point out that, Nigeria is far too complex a country for this kind of antidemocratic agenda to be affected and actualized. This kind of plan is not only antithetical to democracy, it inhibits growth, it encourages bad governance, it discourages accountability, probity and prudent management of the national economy, it breeds corruption and stunts development. There is no doubt that two terms of four years each is more than enough time and opportunity for any responsible and responsive leader to make any meaningful impact in the life of people. Everywhere we have sit-tight regimes especially in Africa, it

has been tales of woe, as growth and development have eluded such country. If there are no periodic elections, there cannot be sustainable democratic culture and democracy will be endangered. Since Nigeria gained political independence in 1960, this is the fourth democratic republic that the country will be experimenting with, and we would have thought that by now political gladiators would have learnt their lessons and mapped out concrete plans to bail out the country and the people from the socio-economic miasma and political turmoil. Tenure elongation or any other political contraption is an illwind that will blow no one any good. It will bring the country to it’s knees as this idea would elicit widespread unrest and concomitant economic downturn. Nigeria is a country guided by laws; therefore, we must all be law-abiding. To this end, the 2015 general elections should go on as planned and must not be postponed for whatever reasons. If not, it would undo so many good things that have been done over the years. Those nursing this ignoble idea should have a rethink and look at the larger picture of Nigeria in the overriding interest of the generality of the people. The fact is the 2015 elections must hold.

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Politics

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Alison-Madueke and the OPEC presidency Uche Ugboajah

ike a bolt out of the blues, news broke on November 27 that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has elected the Nigerian Minister for Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke as its new president. She was elected at the 166th meeting of the OPEC Conference in Vienna, Austria, and will assume office from January 2015 to succeed Libyan Vice Prime Minister for Corporations, Abdourhman Atahar

Al-Ahirish. Mrs. AlisonMadueke before her election as the new president of the organisation began the year as the alternate president of OPEC. True, Alison-Madueke is not the first Nigerian petroleum minister to be elected OPEC President. Indeed, the late Rilwanu Lukeman, Prof. Jibril Aminu and King Edmund Daukoru all have been elected to the position before. However, the election of the Nigerian current petroleum minister as the new head of OPEC holds greater significance in many respects. For Nigeria as a country, the as-

cendancy of her Minister of Petroleum Resources as the leader of OPEC, in no small measures, defines not only the greater visibility of our country as a major global player but also more importantly, her emerging leadership role in the strategic global oil politics, especially in an era of falling global oil prices. AlisonMadueke hinted that much after her election when she stated that: “The strategy the Federal Government of Nigeria intends to deploy to cushion the effects of the fall is to develop the country’s gas infrastructure for domestic use.”

It is equally important to note that the emergence of Alison-Madueke as the head of OPEC now lends weight to the credibility of the federal cabinet under President Goodluck Jonathan at a time opposition politicians are using every trick in the book to rubbish the achievements of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. It is not only an irony but also a soul-searching thing for us as a people that the international community, as represented by the member nations of OPEC, is recognising the nation’s petroleum minister by

giving her higher responsibilities at a time that some of our politicians, goaded on by the opposition, are barracking and antagonising her at home. Recall that AlisonMadueke has been facing tough times at home from the opposition elements who have become very uncomfortable with the bold reforms she is pursuing in the petroleum industry, which are aimed at ensuring that the greater number of our people benefit from the exploitation of the oil deposits in our land. Those who, for many decades, have been

benefitting from the irregularities, fraud and the poor administration of the oil sector would have none of these people-oriented reforms and have sworn to frustrate all the efforts of the minister. This, perhaps, explains why Alison-Madueke has been summoned time and again to the National Assembly over frivolous matters and baseless allegations just to intimidate and get her to back down from seeing those laudable reforms to their logical conclusion. Alison-Madueke’s Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) that has been gathering dusts at the National Assembly is perhaps the easy casualty of her frosty relationship with the legislature, especially from the opposition elements, especially the All Progressives Congress (APC), who have been vehemently opposed to her revolutionary changes in the oil sector. Moreover, the newly-elected OPEC president ranks, arguably, as the most impactful and visionary petroleum minister in the country. Apart from the ambitious PIB, AlisonMadueke, more than any of her predecessors, has been strong-willed in promoting local content in the industry and thereby growing local capital and the economy. She has also more than any previous minister pursued the policy of eradicating gas flaring with the seriousness of purpose that the matter deserves in the interest of the Nigerian economy. However, at the personal level, Alison-Madueke with her new position is scoring another first as the first woman to be elected President of the oil cartel. Before her rise at the Cartel, Alison-Madueke holds the record as the first Nigerian female Minister of Petroleum Resources. She was appointed for the first time by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to the transport ministry in July 2007. She became Minister of Mines and Steel Development on December 23, 2008 and after the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan became acting President in February 2010, Alison-Madueke was appointed Minister of Petroleum Resources. It is pertinent to add that the newly-elected OPEC president holds the record so far as the longest serving minister in President Jonathan’s cabinet and that is not down to sheer luck alone. With the way she has admirably managed the sector on which the nation’s economy is footed, it is not any surprise that this delectable Amazon has been duly recognised globally to lead a critical international organisation like OPEC. •Ugboajah, a political scientist, wrote from Abuja

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Theatre

Media

Orange your neighbourhood these 16 Days

For tourism to grow, private sector must engage govt positively, says Essien

Timi Dakolo, Dammy Krane, thrill at Thermocool anniversary party

Arts

Tourism

CULTURE

Moving Nigeria forward, creative industry takes centre stage lOnabrakpeya calls for National Endowment for Art

L-R: Okonjo-Iweala, Duke and Ovia at the event

Tony Okuyeme

he significance and contribution of the creative industry in Nigeria was again brought to the fore last Friday night, as hundreds of practitioners and other stakeholders in the industry gathered for “An Evening With President Goodluck Jonathan” tagged “Creativity Moving Nigeria Forward”, held at Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was indeed a unique gathering of who is who in the various genres of the art, especially the performing art, Nollywood, music and the visual art, as well as in the literary art. Top Nigerian comedians and broadcasters were not left in the celebration of the industry that has brought fame and fortune to the nation. The evening was marked by breath-taking performances by actors, musicians and comedians. As a mark of honour for the victims of the insurgents attack on Kano earlier on that day that left many people dead, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was absent at the event, as he mourned with the families of the deceased. The Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Minister, Chief Edem Duke, in his welcome address, condemned the bomb blast in Kano which left several people dead. A minute silence was observed for the victims. According to Duke, Nigeria “is more important than any other, than any individual or group. The spirit that has brought us

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@newtelegraphonline.com

together will continue to see us through. We must all, with one determination, make up our minds in our little corners, whether by prayers, whether by information to the security agencies, whether by standing up against the insurgency we will move this nation forward to ensure the transformation we desire and ensure that our children and our children’s children, will find a wonderful country to live in,” he said. “Mr President has asked me to express his appreciation to the creative community. Today, the Nigerian movie industry has become the big second largest in the world and it only took the men and women sitting in this room tonight to ensure that that is achieved. Indeed, through our movie industry, jobs are created but more importantly we have broken the boundaries of geography; our movie industry has moved us into the homes of people in every continent of the world. Truly you have taken the collateral of our culture, you have moulded it into mysterious stories, epic stories, stories of love and you have won hearts and minds for Nigeria. And I say to my colleagues, it is only when culture gets there that business begins to come.” Duke also commended the contributions of fashion designers, and musicians who today, according to him, have redefined music on the continent of Africa and beyond, and Nigerian artists whose works have brought fame and honour to the country. The Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, who represented the President said Jonathan has promised to continue to support the creative industry, which has been a reference point anywhere in the world. The relevance of the industry, she said, has made it a major challenge to Jonathan’s administration to continue to support the industry by ensuring appopriate funding and struc-

Sunny Ade (4th right), Zakky Azay (1st right), Segun Arinze (2nd right), Waje and others performing at the event

tures are in place to enable growth. According to her, the creative industry contributes 1.4 per cent of the country’s GDP (about N1.2 trillion) and 200,000 jobs directly and one million jobs indirectly. She also said that Project Act Nollywood, a N3billion grant programme, which was launched last year would now be extended to the other creative sub sectors. OkonjoIweala disclosed that the Federal Government was identifying worthy films to co-produce and so far there had been 26 beneficiaries who have received N215 million for film projects. In his remark, renowned artist, Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya used the opportunity to express his appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan for the support and gift he extended to him during his 80th birthday. He then called on the federal government to establish a National Endowment Fund for arts, and a befitting National Gallery of Arts. The president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Prof. Remi Raji, urged the president to support Nigerian writers more as they are also very important members of the creative community. A photographer, Mr George Osodi, called for more effective copyright laws and stronger sanction against defaulters.

It was not all about speeches as several performances ensured that there was no dull moment. The series of performances began with KSA’s evergreen unity song, Nigeria Yi Ti Gbogbo Wa backed by Sani Danja, Waje, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Osita Iheme (Pawpaw), Rita Dominic, Kate Henshaw, Segun Arinze, Ben Ogbeiwi, among others. Timi Dakolo also ignited the night with his beautiful performance. The audience was also feted with performances by Lara George, known for her soothing gospel music did her hit song, Dansaki, Asa who did E ki ra fun MamI, and Sani Danja. Other acts who thrilled at the event, include Waje and Omawunmi. Highlights of the night also include Onyeka Onwenu, Omawuni and Waje’s performance of Onyeka Onwenu’s Ekwe. Other performances of the night also include choreography, traditional dances and Sunny Neji in Face Me. While Cobhams added flavour with his dexterity on piano. Comedy was not left out as Akpororo thrilled with ribcracking jokes, before Dbanj hit the stage. A documentary, “The Creative Influence” which highlighted the emergence of the Nigerian Contemporary Art, and another documentary, 100 Years of Nigerian Music showcases the trajectory of

the Nigerian music industry, highlighting the contributions of the maestroes like late Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Orlando Owoh, Osita Osadebe, Dan Maraya Jos, Sunny ade, Ki de Ultimate, Ayuba, Atawewe, Saheed Osupa, Obesere Christy Essien Igbokwe, to new generation of artistes like, Remedies, Plantashion Boiz, 2face, and Wizkid among others, were screened. There was also the screening of a documentary on the movie industry, Forward Nigeria. Dignitaries at the event include the founder of Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia, renowned artists, Mr. Kolade Oshinowo, Mr. Bisi Fakeye, Dr. Kunle Filani, veteran actor, Mr. Olu Jacob, Tee Mac, Ras Kimono, Odia Ofeimun, former president of National Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) Mr. Greg Odutayo, President of Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Mr. Zik Zulu Okafor, Nollywood stars, Mr. Zack Orji, Alex Osifo, Patience Ozokwo, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Steph Nora-Okereke, Shan George, Fred Amata, film makers Teco Benson, Madu Chikwendu, Fidelis Duker, Lanceslot Imasuen, among others. Top Nigerian comedians at the event include Ali Baba, Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st, Ayo Makun (AY), Klint De Drunk, among others.

Arts

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Timi Dakolo, Dammy Krane thrill fans at Thermocool anniversary party Tony Okuyeme

he Zainia Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos came alive last weekend as Thermocool, Nigeria’s leading household appliance company, rewarded its loyal stakeholders for standing by the company all through its 40 years of its business operations in Nigeria. The powerhouse of home electronics and appliances hosted clients, distributors, captains of industries, government official and celebrities to an evening of merrymaking, dance and celebration. Scintillating tunes and performances were dished out by Timi Dakolo, Dammy Krane, and Sound Sultan; thrilling the audience with their brilliant performances ensuring there was no dull moment. Other performances include: Immaculate, Kanwulia, Young Grace and Sisiano Dance Troupe. The event has been organised by Thermocool to thank

its customers and loyal distributors of the Thermocool range of product over the years. Excitement got buzzing at the event with a raffle draw for guests to win fantastic prizes. Speaking at the event, Managing Director, Thermocool, Mr. Panos Katsis, expressed his delight at the continuous support the company has enjoyed from its stakeholders and Nigerians as a whole. “We are very honoured to be here to celebrate, recognize and reward our esteemed partners who have consistently demonstrated great loyalty to our company with their unflinching support to our growth and aspirations over the past 40 years. Your immense efforts have contributed to the phenomenal growth of the company, and we are indeed proud and thankful to be associated with you” Katsis said further, “when we started out in Nigeria in 1974, we were aware of the potentials in the Nigerian market. We recognised the

Sisiano dance troupe performing at the event

Sound Sultan

need, the desire of Nigerians to enjoy life; run their businesses and personal chores with relative ease and as an innovative company, we sought to fulfill these needs by providing world class products that were technology relevant in that era and even surpassing it”. “As we celebrate these past four decades, we are glad to make a bold re-commitment to an en-

during partnership and relationship, and also a renewed pledge to our Nigerian customers that we will not waver in our resolve to constantly ensure that through all of family best moments “we will always be there” providing support through our world class innovative range of household appliances for an enhanced lifestyle” Katsis added. Dammy Krane

Ultima Studios partners 960 Group for quality production Moses Kadiri

ltima Productions has announced its partnership with foremost company, 960 Music Group to position artistes with the right songs, production, promotion, packaging, develop and design brand round artistes. The latest artiste on the bill is Geoffrey Oji. The ceremony was held at Rodizzio Lounge, located at Isaac John Street, G.R.A. Ikeja, Lagos. The event also included the unveiling of Patrick Mathias (a.k.a. Password) on management and promotions deal. Password is the Creative Director of Geoffrey Oji, who is the current Project Fame winner. The CEO of 960 Music Group, Mr. Mark Redguard, described the partnership as a milestone for the company. He noted that there are lots of platforms in the country whose artistes find it difficult to establish themselves, sometimes they get discourage, and end up working independently. “What we did was to reach out to Ultima Productions which has one of the strongest music development platforms in Nigeria and say to them apart from the business that they do why don’t you work with a company like 960 Music Group that

L-R: Password , Ojonoka Agudah (PR 960 Music) and Geoffrey

has strong relationship with songwriters, producers, promotion, branding among others,” he said. “And that is one of the reasons we brought Password on the project. He is an established songwriter and a star producer who has won many things. He is the writer of Davido’s Gobe, General Pype’s Champion, Praiz’s Mercy. Password has a number of copyright behind him which reveals he is an established writer. He is not a copywriter who is known for a month or two in the club and you don’t get to hear anything again; Pass-

word is unique. We want to start up with strong copyright; once we have achieved that we move on to strong production, Password offers both side strong songwriting, and production. l think mainly because he is already an artiste.” Already, Geoffrey has about five songs which are yet to be released and collaborations with big wigs in the music industry waiting to be unveiled. The idea, according to Redguard, is to come out with series of hit songs that can be turned to album. Password revealed that

working with Geoffrey Oji has been a great experience. “We have done a couple of songs already,” he disclosed, stressing that one of the things he wanted to do as a songwriter and producer when he first met Geoffrey was to be sure if they could work together. “The other thing we look out for is what song will suit his identity, because he is a great performer, and singer,” Password said, noting that the whole concept is to be able to put together both his voice, and creativity to work so that at the end of the day they can make a good brand out of him.

“So far it has been a smooth process; you will hear the same Geoffrey in Project Fame that everybody likes. What we will do is that we will maintain consistency with the Geoffrey you saw in Project Fame... we are trying to establish someone what will rock the club, wedding ceremony, who can sing you to sleep.” Though many winners of talent hunt projects in the country are hardly seen or heard after the competition, but Geoffrey whose ability is to entertain the audience with strong vocals, said he is bringing something different to the table. “I believe that personality differs, and l am different. I hope to bring into the entertainment industry a new personality. Bring my work to the face of the people. Basically what l am trying to do is not to outdo out myself; l will just be myself and try to reach to people the way l am, to let them know me for me and 960, Ultima Studios are making it happen; it is really fast. “The 960 are very serious people who understand the industry. Working with them is really a blessing. l like what l am seeing around them so far. I thank God for connecting me with such people, and also Password, the songs that l have so far are songs that can take me to any length in life, but what l believe that will be the extra to all these things that l have already is God. He is by my side, and l believe that l will go places,” he projected.

Media

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Orang e y o neighb ur o u r hood these 1 6 Days Ebere Ameh

s the United Nations calls on all to “Orange YOUR Neighbourhood” in 16 Days of Activism Against GenderBased Violence, the US Consulate kick started theirs with notable Nigerians, activists and Nollywood actors, all speaking up for a future free from violence against women and girls. F rom November 25th, which is the Inter national Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through December 10th, the Inter national Human Rights Day, the United Nations is calling on all and sundry to go orange and rise up ag ainst GenderBased Violence. With the theme for this year’s pro g ramme From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World, Dehab Ghebreab, the Deputy Consular General re-echoed the words of Ban Ki-Moon, the UN Secretary General telling everyone to go Orange, and organise orange events in our communities. On the significance o f t h e o r a n g e c o l o u r, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,

U N W o m e n Executive Director says during the flag of f of the event in New York; “We need this eye-catching colour everywhere so that the message is loud and clear: we all need to work together to stop violence against women and girls right now.” The prog ramme at the consulate started on a solemn note with the film The Desert Flower, Directed by Sherry Hor mann streamed to the astonishment of all who came to appreciate the degree of violence women endure in many cultures across the globe. Set in Somalia and London, ‘Deser t F lower’ is about the life of Waris Dirie as she overcomes the struggles of poverty and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) she had to face in her native country of Somalia. Through flashbacks, Hormann chronicles Waris’ life after from when she was 13 years old. It shows her harrowing experience when she escaped an ar ranged mar riage to a man old enough to be her grandfa-

ther wh e n s h e was 13-years-old. She later found her grandmother who sensed that war was imminent in Somalia, sent her to London to work as a maidservant for a representative at the Somalian embassy. When the Somalian regime is later overthrown, Waris decided to live on the streets of London than to retur n to her family. She providentially found fame when she enrolled in a modeling agency to make ends meet. Desert Flower’ is a deeply moving and dramatic life story that raises concer n and aims to create change that is based on Waris autobiography published in 1998. In her speech shor tly after the film, Ghebreab pointed out that gender based violence is a global issue which cuts across borders and impacts on all people and societies regardless of ethnicity, race, socio-economic status and religion. Backed with a robust

R-L: Saheed Balogun; Dehab Ghebreab, Joe Odumakin, Rhonda Watson, Benny Uche, during the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at the US Consulate, Lagos.

We need this eyecatching colour everywhere so that the message is loud and clear: we all need to work together to stop violence against women and girls right now

statistics, she notes that domestic violence continues to occur in every region of the world, with the majority of the world’s women experiencing violence inflicted by an intimate partner at some point in their lives.

The Executive Director of Women Arise, Dr Joe Odumakin during her presentation titled The Bitter Truth about Domestic Violence: The Way Forward, identified three levels of Gender based Violence as Violence within homes, Violence within the community and Violence perpetrated against women by the state. Backed with good statistics and real life case studies, she insists among other things, that the patriarchal and the culture of silence, engender gender based violence and must stop. Other speakers at the e ve n t i n c l u d e F u n m i Oluyede, who represented the founder of ACTS Generation, Mrs Leila St. Mattew Daniel; Grace Katafe, who re presented Mrs Abiola Akiode of Women Advocates Research and Docum e n t at i o n C e n t re, a n d Titi Akosa Titilope Akosa of the Centre for the 21st Century Issues. Saheed Balogun, who led about 30 Nollywood actors, including Bayo Bankole of Boy Alinco fame, on his part, urged producers of local movies to highlight gender-based violence using the language the people understand.

Tourism

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

For tourism to grow, private sector must engage govt positively, says Essien Mr. Bassey Essien is the Chief Executive Officer of international Style Weeks Limited, an emerging market development company with interest in the tourism sector of the Nigeria economy, and in media and marketing. Early in the year, the company held a two-day workshop in tourism in Lagos with focus on financing, and hopes to cap this with a presidential summit on tourism. In an interview with ANDREW IRO OKUNGBOWA, he speaks on developments within the tourism industry and why the industry is still at its lowest level. Constructive engagement with the government is crucial There is so much ignorance about tourism. Everything is about chance but in the real world of business you must invest and know what is happening in your environment before you begin to take decisions. You must know what policies are there and must see how do we influence policies positively? Only a few people know how to influence policies in this country. The more organised sectors, the banking sector for example or telecoms sector, are constantly engaging with the government. But in this place (tourism), it is a constant battle with the government. Maybe both sides don’t even understand themselves but the truth is that they should be partners in progress. We are hoping that if we stick Southern sun ikoyi it through and work closely with government there is a possibility that more serious arms of government, particularly from the financial sector would key into what we are doing. A call on the legislators to come on board The national assembly and state assemblies would also have to do certain things right. If you don’t do it that way it is not going to grow; it

Essien

is not going to reach its full potential. So what we are saying is that in 10 years legislation is key for the environment to be more - friendly while the investors are protected. Our focus We want to achieve a few critical things: one is to sensitise government to the issues and opportu-

nities in the sector. They need to see the opportunities in clear economic terms, tweek the policies and then funding. Two, we are also looking at infrastructure, how one, two or three states can take off; it is apolitical and nothing to do with politics. Look at Edo, how massive the culture is; this is

what sustains some countries, we need to engage the private sector and the legislature to ensure that we have an environment in place that would grow tourism. Growth in aviation will support tourism The aviation ministry is part of this, and of course, there is a lot of

improvement in our aviation. If you look at the works ongoing at the terminals in all the airports across the country, for me, it is very encouraging. They are not perfect, and not like what you see in Dubai, but the truth is that for the first time we are seeing that happening in so many years. And that is going to support tourism tremendously because people can move from one place to another and our airports are being equipped with the state of the art equipment, technologies and people with the expertise to run them to ensure that our airports and air space are safe.

La Campagne Tropicana Beach voted best resort in West Africa

A Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort has been voted the best beach resort in West Africa. The award was part of the highlight of activities during the just concluded 10th edition of Akwaaba, a travel and tourism trade exhibition held in Lagos, Nigeria. Receiving the award at the event, the president of La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort, Wanle Akinboboye, thanked the organisers of Africa travel awards for the honour, as it was in recognition of the excellent service culture, quality product and devotion to the promotion of Africa culture and heritage by the resort. He further pledged the commitment of the management of the resort to building on the gains of the resort and that the general public and travel operators’ confidence in the product would not be compromised. He

called for continued patronage of the resort in its effort at entrenching its presence in the industry and across the continent. The Africa travel award by Akwaaba is in recognition of the innovative and excellent services and products offered by various organsiations and operators in the industry. About 15 organisations and individuals in different categories were honoured. Located in Ikegun Village, Lekki, Lagos, La Campange Tropicana beach Resort has a serene natural scenery spread across the sandy beach of the Atlantic Ocean as well as the admixture of mangrove forest, fresh water lake and palm trees, making the resort a picturesque paradise enclave. The facilities are upscale with high end value and captivating outlook while boosting a blend of African

elements and sophisticated ambience. You are treated to a warm Africa traditional hospitality and the age – long culture of Motherland, ranging from visual arts, music, dance, drama, and games, as well as cuisines. Some of the services and leisure activities on offer include honeymoon, family, religious and corporate body retreat packages, safari and nature trail, beach games, swimming, basketball, volley ball and football, hydropower bike, boat cruise, massage and spa treatments, horse riding and clubbing.

R-L: The President of La Campgagne Tropicana beach Resort, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye receiving the award from the South Africa the South Africa Consul General in Lagos, Ambassador Mokgethi Monaisa while the Minister of Housing, Lands and Urban Development, Mrs. Akon Ekayeni and the Charge d’ Affairs of Republic of Rwanda, Ambassador Protogene Nsengumuremyi look on

Southern Sun Ikoyi’s cracking festive Season offer s the yuletide season beck- Season Offer”, the hotel is cilities designed to provide a A ons, Southern Sun Ikoyi promising a lot of fun. It says truly memorable time.” has announced its leisure pack- “let us spoil you this festive Part of the season offerings ages for the season, promising its numerous guests and the travel public an exciting and frolicking moment. Tagged “Cracking Festive

season. Relax in our stylish, contemporary setting, enjoy traditional Christmas food, superb accommodation, and a range of services and fa-

is special discounted accommodation rate with buffet breakfast for two; a Christmas day brunch and New Year day brunch.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Award

Davido loses as Tiwa Savage, Kcee others win Channel O Music Video Awards

BBA

Sheillah, Trezagah, Ellah & Goitse bit the durst

Entertainment You & I With Monalisa set to roll

Stories by Sony Neme

he buzz has been all for a while. I am stepping out to make a difference on a talk show with a clear difference in Africa”, that was how multi-awards winning actress, Monalisa Chinda, started out as she explained how thrilled she was while announcing her innovative television show- “You and I with Monalisa”. The dazzling beauty bared her mind at a media parley with selected entertainment editors at Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday. She explained that though there are lots of talk shows in town, hers will be coming with a difference as she has spent five years on the project, just as she said hosting the show will not affect her acting career. Her words, “I am a professional. And I know how to manage my schedules. Hosting this show will in no way affect my acting career.” from a sneak preview of what is to come, viewers are in for a real deal as the actress is ready to treat viewers with the best of her world as she brings her wealth of movie experience to bare. In the preview were clips of wife battery, wife infidelity, child abuse and rape among others. She further said that social issues, tears and laughter are among what viewers should expect from the Niger Delta Development corporation sponsored shows. According to her, “You & I with Monalisa” is an unconventional weekly talk show that employs engaging interactive debates intermeshed with drama to address everyday social and trending issues. Each episode will commence with beautifully acted out scripts followed by endearing discussions with distinguished guests.” She added that since we are in a big society, the show aims to record unique changes and

promote an on-going debate through the idea of open source interactions. Our guests take on critical social

issues with fresh perspectives and insights to highlight possible solutions to a particular dilemma.

Monalisa

For her, “You and I with Monalisa” hopes to: inspire, educate, empower and entertain; give hope and encourage people who are disillusioned about the realities of life; and provide a medium to elevate its audience towards reaching their full potential and becoming the citizens they desire to be.” The ingenious talk show is set to inspire millions of viewers across television, electronic and social media platforms globally. Her words: “You and I with Monalisa” is brought to you in partnership with the niger Delta Development Comission (NDDC). NDDC was established in the year 2000 with the mission of facilitating the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful. For the President of Association of Movie Producer, Zik Zulu Okafor, who was one of the main brains behind the project, “There is going to be more of dramatising each segment before getting a personality to discuss issues raised. Reality television issues are not like magazine’s, and they have a different theme. It is about life and living. It is a maze. It will be entertainment at its best. Take my word for it.” He also said that from research there has never been any talk show that comes with drama before now. That he said is the clear difference that the show will be bringing to the table. Target audience, according to Ms Chinda is for people from 18 to 70, “It has been in my mind as a young adult. and channels it will be shown are on free to air as well as pay tv.”

DJ Caise releases Buckle Up video onths after releasing mate, Ice Prince in collabo- video with colorful visuals club favourite, Buckle ration. M as Buckle Up gives everybody Up; Chocolate City’s DJ Caise The synergy between the a reason to loosen up. It also sony neme

Editor, entertainment sony.neme@newtelegraphonline.com

is out with visuals to this hit single, which features Emmyace. Buckle Up is a high tempo dance hall track that follows up on DJ Caise’s two previous successful singles Number One featuring Waje, and Crush that has label

two; DJ Caise and Emmyace births a heavy street beat urging the listener to get up and dance. The video, shot at Elegushi private beach, was directed by Tee Tash of Visionaire pictures. It is surely a fun

features cameo appearances by Dice Ailes & Moti Cakes. Interestingly, DJ Caise will soon be premiering his own talk show where he gets to reveal never before heard things about his celebrity guests.

AFRIMA set for December 27 show down

Delani

ll Africa Music Awards, AFRIMA, and the African Union Commission, AUC, are set to close the year with a show-stopping awards ceremony on Saturday, December 27, at the prestigious Grand Ballroom, Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

Tiwa Savage turns grandma in My Darling video

iwa Savage who is still reveling in her year old matrimony blizz with hubby, Tee Billz despite widespread rumours of breakup has thrown up a video for her fans. Instead of going all syrupy about love and romance, the Eminado crooner played the role of a nostalgic grandmother in the video.

Entertainment

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Davido loses as Tiwa Savage, Kcee others win Channel O Music Video Awards

7 years old pioneer music video platform, Channel O, held its annual Music Video Awards for 2014 in Johannesburg in South Africa penultimate week. The event ended on a very disappointing note for Nigeria’s musical export, Davido, as he lost in all the categories he was nominated. However, it was a sweet story for his compatriots – Tiwa Savage, KCEE and others who returned with honours. On the other hand, Diamond and Cassper Nyovest where the shining stars as they went away with most of the awards. Tiwa Savage emerged the Most gifted female from her hit song Eminado, Olamide became Most Gifted West category for his hit single ‘Turn Up’ while Kcee became the Most Gifted Duo for ‘Pull Over’ ft Wizkid. Davido, Cassper Nyovest and Skhanda Republic commander K.O, had earned impressive five nominations each. According to an apparently excited Channel O Africa Manager, Leslie Kasumba, in his statement before the event, “2014 has been an incredible year for music and our strong performance lineup is testament. We have tons on surprise performances in store, as we celebrate the talent that fuels our diverse music industry. This year’s Channel O Africa Music Video Awards is once again going to be a night to remember”.

Full winners list below... Most Gifted Male Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza Most Gifted Female Tiwa Savage Ft Don Jazzy – Eminado Most Gifted Newcomer Diamond – Number One Most Gifted Duo, Group Or Featuring Kcee Ft Wizkid – Pull Over Most Gifted Dance Busiswa Ft Various – Ngoku Most Gifted Ragga Dancehall Buffalo Souljah – Basawine Most Gifted Afro Pop Diamond – Number One** Winner Most Gifted Kwaito Uhuru Ft Oskido & Professor – Y-Tjukutja Most Gifted R&B Donald – Crazy But Amazing Most Gifted Hip Hop Aka – Congratulate Most Gifted Southern Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza Most Gifted West Olamide – Turn Up Most Gifted East

NEXIM Bank, SLOT for 2014 Legends Of Nollywood

he third edition of “Legends of Nollywood”, an annual award ceremony aimed at recognizing and honouring great individuals that have shaped the Nigerian movie industry is scheduled to hold on December 6th 2014, at the Banquet hall of National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. Interestingly, needed supports are coming from top corporate organizations and government parastatals for the Legend of Nollywood awards. As you read this, the NEXIM Bank, SLOT and the Aruma Otteh led Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, have signified their intention to partner the awards this year.

Obazele

Organisers of Legends of Nollywood Awards, said at a press conference, penultimate week that the event which began on Wednesday will be concluded on Saturday, December 6. According to the founder of the awards, Mr. Paul Obazele, “Besides the award ceremony, there was an autograph signing event by some top Nollywood stars and a movie show for the less privileged at of the National ArtsTheatre , Iganmu, Lagos.” Obazele rekindled memory with a list of television dramas of the 70s and 80s, including actors and broadcasters that held sway at that period, saying that their vision and artistry paved the way for what today is regarded as Nollywood. His words, “The Nigerian movie industry has had a rich history as a result of the untiring zeal and creativity of the pioneers who overcame enormous odds and challenges to birth an industry that has gained global recognition. The legends and veterans of the industry are known as the Legends of Nollywood. They need to be recognised and acknowledged for their body of works,” he said. Reciting a part of the National Anthem, Obazele said the awards project is to ensure that “The labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.”

Get into festive mood with GOtv

Diamond – Number One

Cassper Nyovest – Doc Shebeleza

t is the season to be jolly and GOtv is going all out to provide families with a diverse programming mix of romance, sports, drama, news and local and international movies this festive season. This month, E! presents “The Best of the Kardashians”, an exclusive marathon featuring a collection of viewers’ favourite episodes. According to PR Manager, GOtv, Efe Obiomah “Telemundo, Fearless Heart takes a dramatic turn as Vicente decides to reveal the truth to Miguel, handing him evidence that points to Fernanda. With all the wining and dining that go with Christmas, mums can look to AfricaMagic Family to get some cooking tips from My MA’s Kitchen.” Obiomah also stated that kids can holiday with Winnie the Pooh and friends on Disney Junior while JimJam brings music-filled and enchanted tales including Snow White and Gulliver’s Travel. For her, “Sony Entertainment Television takes us back in time with Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park and Monster-in-Law, starring songstress, Jen-

nifer Lopez and American fitness guru, Jane Fonda. For more edgy programming, tune into Sony Max to see how men’s courage are put to the test in “Total Blackout”. Hosted by Jaleel White, ‘Urkel’ from Family Matters, contestants battle one another in a series of challenges, taking place in complete darkness. The contestants will see nothing but the audience will see all.” Football buffs are not left out. For the best local and international football leagues, stay tuned to SuperSport Select 2, to catch selected games from the BPL, Italian and Spanish leagues live on GOtv including - Fulham vs Watford, Liverpool vs Sunderland, Granada vs Valencia, and Napoli vs Empoli.

Most Gifted Video Of The Year

Joe EL out with Onye (Eji kolo)

t has been an amazing year for Mr Lover Lover - Joe EL. Hence another Brand New Music from him titled - Onye (Eji kolo), the kind of music that both young and old can identify with. Back to back Joe EL has been dropping mouth-watering joints this year. Oya Now featuring Oritse Femi has two nominations at the Headies “Best Collaboration” and “Best Video” while the NMVA Oya Now is nominated “Best Afro Beat” and “Best Video by a new artiste”. On the other hand You Are In Love is also nominated at the Nigeria Music Video Aawards as Best RnB. Joe EL is also nominated at the Ben TV Awards “Best Collaboration” for Hold On” featuring 2 Face Idibia, as well as Next Rated at this Year’s Kush Awards. The video of this new song has already been shot in Cape Town South Africa, by godfather productions, and would be released soon. Onye (Eji kolo) was produced by Legendary Producer “Ojb Jezreel” with Live Guitar from Ace guitarist: Fiokee

Entertainment 27

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

CinemaWatch (Radio/TV/Events Guide) dec. 5 — dec. 12 Highlights

Sheillah, Trezagah, Ellah & Goitse bite the dust l Voting to decide Big Brother Hotshots’ winner heats up Stories by Sony Neme

heillah, Trezagah, Ellah & Goitse are out just a week short of a shot at the USD 300 000 prize on Big Brother Hotshots as they were sent home in a heartstopping quadruple eviction on Sunday night. Their departure means that eight housemates are left in the game – and one of them must be named as the winner next Sunday! Viewers must now choose between Tayo (Nigeria), Butterphly (Zimbabwe); Idris (Tanzania); JJ (Zimbabwe); M’am Bea (Ghana); Macky2 (Zambia); Nhlanhla (South Africa) and Sipe (Malawi)! Next week’s two-hour live show will start an hour earlier, at 19:00 CAT so as to pack all the drama of season 9 into one sizzling episode. Macky2 revealed his Head of House ‘add’ decision to the already nominated housemates, with Ellah declaring “I knew it” as he had explained

that he based his decision on whom he felt was a strong competitor. The Ugandan was spared - in the first round of evictions, at least - as IK revealed that Sheillah and Trezagah had been evicted. Joining him on stage, the Botswanese said that she’d known ‘something was up’ when she wasn’t nervous for the first time this week. She declared her ‘thing’ with Nhlanhla as “very complicated” and that it wasn’t “a relationship”. Trezagah said he felt “so bad” at falling so close to the finale and explained that he’d moved during the ‘freeze task’ – the only reason he was up for eviction in the first place – because he thought the task was over, and that he was being pranked again. IK went back into the house and revealed that someone else was going to be evicted. He read out two more names – Ellah and Goitse – taking the number of evictees to four. The Ugandan could consider

herself particularly unlucky to be sitting on the stage with IK, rather than sipping celebratory champagne inside the house with the finalists, as she never received a single nomination on Monday and was only up for eviction because Macky2 had added her to the list. Five housemates were tied on 1 country vote after Africa voted this week, so the tiebreaker rule came into effect, sending the four contestants with the lowest percentage vote for all countries, home. Since JJ picked up a higher percentage vote, he was spared and sent into the final. Conversely, Tayo picked up the most country votes (4), followed by Idris (3) and Sipe (2). Big Brother celebrated the work done by the Friends of the Global Fund Africa this week, naming them as winners of the USD 100 000 ONE Africa Award – in keeping with the housemates’ theme for the past week.

SMS Voting for BBA

o vote via SMS: Text the keyword ‘Vote’, followed by the name of the housemate to the short code number for your country. For example SMS “Vote Uti” to 22626. SMS’s are charged as applicable per specific network tariff. VAS rates apply. Free minutes do not apply. Please note that you can vote 100 times by SMS per mobile number during each voting period. The SMS numbers for each country are: Nigeria Operator

Tariff

Short Code

MTN

N 75

34350

Globacom

N 75

34350

Starcomms

N 75

34350

Etisalat

N 75

34350

WeChat Voting Voting on WeChat is free. To vote via WeChat on your mobile phone, go to your app store and download the WeChat app. Create your profile, then search for BigBrotherAfrica and add the account. You can then start voting on WeChat, up to 100 times per mobile phone number during a valid voting period. Website and mobile site voting Voting on the website and on the mobile site is free and you are allowed to vote 100 times per cellphone number on the website and again 100 times per cellphone number on the mobile site during a valid voting period. Visit www.bigbrotherafrica.com for more information and for the terms and conditions.

GOtv

A scene from Fearless Heart

Telemundo Broken Angel Friday, 5 December, Santa’s lawyer goes to see Begoña and lets her know that Santa was released from prison..

IK with Ellah and Goitse

AFRIMA set for December 27 show down CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 25

This is in partnership with AUC as they will be rewarding excellence in music and media at the event. We reliably gathered that the event is coming with the African Music Summit themed “Reviving the Business of Music in Africa” that is slated early on the same day at the same venue. According to organisers,

Otv signals in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital territory (FCT) and its environs received a boost on Friday, November 21 with its coverage reaching suburbs and bordering towns. Among the new towns and suburbs covered by the low-cost digital terrestrial pay-TV are - Dawaki, Dutse, Gwagwalada, Karu, Kubwa, Nyanya, New Nyanya, Keffi and Mararaba both in Na-

“The Summit is a platform for African and global music industry stakeholders to network and deliberate on how the music industry can be nurtured and structured to be a major contributor to national and continental economies.” The awards project opened entry submission in 31 categories on May 15 and closed on July 21 with an impressive total of 2,025 entries for assessment

by African artistes, professionals and journalists. That was after the AFRIMA nominees list unveiling in Lagos, on September 23. Thereafter, the public and AFRIMA Academy voting began through www.afrima.org on September 30 and public voting was extended by three weeks allowing African music fans and followers more time to vote for their favourite artistes.

Fearless Heart Friday, 5 December, Vicente decides to reveal the truth to Miguel, handing him evidence that points to Fernanda. AfricaMagic Family Big Brother Hotshots finale comes up on Sunday, December 7, at 19:00 AfricaMagic Family. After nine weeks in the house with eight housemates left it’s time to announce who will walk away with the title of the ultimate Hotshot as well as the cash prize of

GOtv extends coverage to Abuja suburbs sarawa state, and Suleja in Niger state. Speaking at a commemorative event held at the Utako Modern Market on Wednesday 26 November, Elizabeth Amkpa, GOtv’s general manager said: “In support of the digital migration, the price of GOtv decoders has been slashed to N2 900 in the GO

Gaga festive offer. This season special presents an exciting time for TV lovers in Abuja environs to join in the digital television revolution”. For N2900, subscribers get a GOtv decoder including 1 month subscription to GOtv Plus. At the expiration of the one month, subscribers can continue to watch 41 ex-

citing channels on the GOtv Plus bouquet for a monthly subscription of N1500 or downgrade to GOtv for N1000 monthly. GOtv was launched with the latest approved DVB-T2 decoders and caters to a variety of tastes for different members of the family. GOtv channel lineup in-

USD300 000. Channel ED On Channel ED, channel 65 at 3:00pm on 10 December. Eye On Africa Wired for Growth - A look at the Information Technology systems in Rwanda to promote economic growth. The Mysteries Of The Brain Deep brain stimulation is a treatment that can provide therapeutic benefits to people who have Parkinson’s. The method involves placing electrodes at the heart of the afflicted region of the brain via a small hole drilled in the skull. Catch this exciting documentary on the mysteries of the brain. On Channel ED, channel 65 at 3:30pm on 11 December

cludes - AfricaMagic Family, AfricaMagic Epic Movies, AfricaMagic World, AfricaMagic Yoruba, AfricaMagic Hausa, BET, Blackbelt TV, E! Entertainment, Telemundo, Televista, Discovery World, Nat Geo Wild, eTV Africa, Vox Africa, Select Sports, Al Jazeera and CNN, Channel O, MTV Base, Disney Junior, Nickelodeon, JimJam, Islam Channel, One Gospel, and Sound City.

Photo | News

L-R: Mother of the groom, Mrs. Ndanusa; groom; Mohammed Ndanusa; bride, Rakia Ahmed and mother of the bride, Mrs. Fatima Usman, at the wedding reception held for the couple in Abuja.

L-R: Managing Director, Chemical & Allied Products (CAP) Plc. , Mrs. Omolara Elemide; Marketing Manager, Mr. Dominic Oladeji; Finance Director, Mrs. Adeline Ogunfidodo and Managing Director, Wow Road Shows Limited, Mr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, at the flag off ceremony for the 2014 Dulux Mobile Room Makeover Activation in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Unit Commander, RS 2.14, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Sadiq Alao Abdulrahman (right), with other officials of the command, during Estates Residents (Banana Island) Ember Month campaign in Lagos.

L-R: President, Greenwealth Club of Nigeria, Mr James Akpobi; Mr Joseph Ude; General Overseer, Wonders of God Church, Dr. John Aire and Parish Pastor, The Father’s House, RCCG, Pastor Tony Kalu, at the unveiling of Santa Treat in Lagos recently. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

L-R: Franchise Administrator, Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, Mr. Wale Olaopa; Coordinator, Mr. Sola Ajidagba; Group Managing Director, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi and General Manager, Retail, Mr. Ademola Ifagbayi, during the inauguration of the company new branch in Lagos.

L-R: Managing Director, DDB, Ikechi Odigbo; President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu; President, Advertising Association of Ghana, Mr Joel Nattey and Vice President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Kayode Oluwason, at the 2014 LAIF awards in Lagos.

L-R: Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Sir Peter Idabor; Miss Chika Mokwuogu and Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri , during an advocacy visit by NOSDRA to NOA in Abuja.

L-R: Class Governor, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mr. Folorunsho Oluwatayo; Head of Department, Graphics, Mr. Fidelis Gboyega Ogunojemite; Representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Okikiola Adegoke and Photographic lecturer, Mr. Olushola Akeredolu, at the Photography Graduating Exhibition, entitled: Drawing with Light’ held at Yusuf Grillo Art Gallery, School of Art, Design and Printing, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Labour

Agric

NAGAFF backs out of future strikes at Lagos port

Moves to save Nigeria’s N16bn tomato imports gather steam

Firm floats new technology to powdery products market

Business What's news

Group backs telecoms subscribers’ compensation The National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has supported the move by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) ordering telecoms operators to come up with compensation plan for subscribers on their networks.

p.30

Why airlines don’t employ local pilots –Operators ATTITUDE Attitudinal problems of Nigerian pilots liable for preference for their foreign counterparts

ence would be to engage Nigerian pilots only,” he added. Shettima, however, called on the Nigerian Civil Aviation

Authority (NCAA) to look into these issues and adopt appropriate measures to curtail the tuenover of pilots and engi-

neers in the sector. Chairman, Airline OperaCONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Wole Shadare

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

igerian airlines shun indigenous pilots because of their attitudinal problems, Chairman, Skyjet Aviation Services Limited, Dr. Kashim Bukar Shettima, has said. He stated that the situation has led to joblessness of over 3,000 pilots who are not engaged by airlines operating in Nigeria. The airline chief told New Telegraph that Nigeria has enough trained pilots to fly the nation’s aircraft, but noted that a lack of commitment has compelled operators to recruit foreign pilots. He said: “The Nigerian pilot’s lack of enthusiasm in developing careers and willingness to frequently jump ship in the quest for greener pastures, high pay and sometimes failing to honour the obligation of the training bond signed with the operator have made airline operators to look elsewhere. “Recently, a pilot approached me for employment, he was employed and trained, but surprisingly he left our services for another company after incurring substantial amount on his training. The question is, how do we help our people with such attitudinal problems? If not for attitudinal problems of Nigerian pilots, which is discouraging, our prefer-

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Amaka Onwughalu; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Timothy Oguntayo and the Chief Executive Officer, Medivision Limited, organisers of Bankers Games, presenting a trophy to Oguntayo during a visit to Skye Bank.

Nigeria, others may outpace Chinese economy in five years Sunday Ojeme

igeria has been listed among 14 African countries with economic potential to overtake that of China in the next five years. With the continent’s economy predicted to grow by 50 per cent from $1.1 trillion to $3.7 trillion by 2019, a report released by Deloitte last month

says now is the time for businesses to invest in Africa, as those that wait too long risk missing out. The report pointed out that with high growth economies such as China, India and Brazil showing signs of slowing, businesses are increasingly looking to the fast growing markets of Africa to offset this reduction. “Indeed, over the next five

years, 15 African countries, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, are likely to outpace Chinese growth,” said the report. It further hinted that until now, Africa’s economic story had been focused on natural resources and commodity exports, adding that in 2013, eight of the continent’s 12 fastest CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

Rates Dashboard INFLATION RATE October 2014............................8.1% September 2014.....................8.3% August 2014............................8.5%

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

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Nov. 28)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N182.50 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N286 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N226

l Foreign Reserves – $36.85bn as at 27/11/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Nov. 28)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N168 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N262.80 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N209.54

Business | News

PROTECTION

Consumer protection gets increased voice as regulator takes on telecoms firms Kunle Azeez

he National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has supported the move by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) ordering telecoms operators to come up with compensation plan for subscribers on their networks. Speaking in a telephone interview with New Telegraph, NATCOMS President, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, said: “The move is a laudable one and it is in order and in line with international standard for consumers to get adequate protection when their consumer rights are trampled upon.” He also urged the Commission to constantly analyse the complaints of the subscribers and use them as critical inputs to know where the shoes pinches the subscribers and impose appropriate sanction on the operators in order to keep them on their toes. “One thing still stands: When subscribers pay for service, they must be able to get value for their money,” he said. The NCC had issued

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Group backs telecoms subscribers’ compensation an ultimatum to telecoms operators in the country till January 31, 2014, to come up with compensation plans for their subscribers. Telecoms operators in Nigeria currently have over 134.5million active telephone users on their networks with a large number of them often complaining of poor data and voice services at some occasions. As such, the ultimatum is coming following an avalanche of consumer complaints received by the regulator over poor services received by some subscribers on mobile networks. According to the Director of Consumer Affairs Bureau of NCC, Mrs Maryam Bayi, who announced the ultimatum, operators are to reveal comprehensive compensation plan that would be made available to any subscriber with valid complaints of poor service. Bayi stated that the compensation pact will stipulate the compensation that a customer is entitled to whenever there is a breach of service that is rendered to them by an operator. She said: “We have given them an ultimatum that by January,

they should let us know what kind of compensation plan they have come up with so that we can publish and tell consumers what they can be compensated for. We will tell them that if they are not compensated, they should report to us. “If for any reason they deplete your credit bal-

tors of Nigeria (AON), Capt. Noggie Meggison, also added his voice to the menace, stressing that until there is a policy that would guarantee the engagement of indigenous pilots, the latter would continue to roam the streets. He recalled that as far back as 2008, the country had about 1,140 private flying clubs, stressing that Nigeria with about 170 million people have just two training schools and not a single flying club. Also, in August this year, Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Limited, Capt. Akin Oni, was quoted as saying that Nigerian pilots were not employable as a result of inadequate flying hours, inability to pass competence tests, and low quality training from overseas training institutions. He said that the rising unemployment rate among young indigenous pilots might be difficult to check because many of them do not have the mandatory 150 hours required to attest to their competence on any aircraft. Meanwhile, there are over 1,000 foreign pilots engaged by both local and foreign registered airplanes flying in Nigeria and 500 foreign aircraft engi-

and you had not been able to utilise the service, they should be able to give it back to you or allow you to roll over. Now they auto-renew their subscribers and roll over their data plans.” To this end, Bayi said that a 12-man Industry Consumer Advisory Forum, (ICAF), headed by

the Director General of the Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Ifeyinwa Umenyi, have been mandated to review the general consumer code of practice regulations by the Commission as well as facilitate consumer protection, information and educational programmes.

L-R: Group Head, e-banking, Heritage Bank, Tobe Nnadozie; Group Head, Ivory Banking, Rabi Momoh; Executive Director, Manilla Banking, Niyi Adeseun; Group Head, Business Services, Wumi Adeniyi and Group Head, Retail Banking, Davidson Regha, at the launch of the first mobile POS in Nigeria, entitled ‘Heritage porta POS’ in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Why airlines don’t employ local pilots CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

ance; they should be able to replace it and even with something extra because they must have disrupted your business. If you show them how negatively they have affected your business, they should be able to provide compensation for that. “If for instance, you subscribe to data service

neers employed in the country, according to aviation officials. On incentives to airlines, Oni noted that governments of some countries have developed some incentives for their airline operators in relation to parking fee, landing and fuelling. To him, the non-incentive from Nigerian government is responsible for why many airlines do not exist today. He said: “I feel that government should subsidise some of these charges for indigenous investors/ operators. The tendency of the Nigerian Government to patronise foreign airlines does not grow our economy and should such inclination continue, it is impossible for the aviation sector to develop in Nigeria. “It is a fact that many people do not understand the workings of aviation sector, as it is not a money making machine. Everything about aviation is money, whether you fly or park the aircraft, you must pay bills. It is a mandatory requirement to employ Nigerians at the point of processing AOC, which we must comply with, but then, how do you generate revenue when the enabling atmosphere is not conducive. I have to fly or to maintain an aircraft to generate income for the company,” he added.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

growing economies were not dependent on oil or mining. It said: “In future, it will more likely be driven by consumers as rising incomes and urbanisation support growth in domestic demand. This transformation coincides with the growth of the African middle class: a more optimistic, connected and brand conscious population.” As part of the report, in October 2014, Deloitte surveyed 2,000 young African consumers across four of the fastest growing consumer markets; Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Consumers were surveyed using mobile phone devices and asked about their mobile usage, level of confidence in their personal financial situation and country’s economy, their preference for branded products in different product categories and what is important to them when choosing where to shop for food or clothing. Prior to Deloitte’s report, renowned economic researcher, PricewaterhouseCoopers, had pro-

Nigeria, others may outpace Chinese economy jected that Nigeria had the potential to be the fastest-growing economy and ranked 13th among the world’s top 20 economies from now to 2050. The report stated that with a projected Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of nearly $4 trillion by 2050 and an annual average real GDP growth rate of around six per cent, as well as a youthful and growing working population, Nigeria is projected to rank 13th among the world’s largest economies by 2050 if it can realise its full potential. A partner at PwC Nigeria, Andrew S. Nevin, said: “Nigeria’s projections for population, education levels and technological progress are very strong. Nigeria lags behind with regard to its investment rate, however, productivity is lower in Nigeria due to weaker infrastructure and institutions, as well as an over-reliance on oil revenues. By investing in these areas and diversifying its economy, Nigeria

can realise its full potential by 2050. “Over the past decade, the private sector has played an enormously positive role in sectors like telecoms, retail, and financial services in Nigeria and throughout Africa. For Nigeria to realise its potential, it is going to require governments at the state and federal levels to play their role in fostering the right type of environment, including improvements in the rule of law, greater transparency and strengthening of the health and education systems, and enabling the development of key sectors, with power being the most important. Many strides have been made in this regard and they need to keep coming.” Head of Consumer Business Research at Deloitte, Ben Perkins, said, “Right now Africa is where South East Asia was 30 years ago – on the cusp of a consumer boom.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Swiss hotel to boost employment in Nigeria p.32

Labour

Employers, graduates connect through GIS p.32

NAGAFF backs out of future strikes at Lagos port LOSS Avoidable industrial actions cost Nigeria huge economic losses Sunday Ojeme

he National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) has vowed not to participate in any form of industrial action at the nation’s port in the future. Specifically, the association said it would not participate in any strike targeted at APM Terminals as it is inimical to the well-being of the nation’s economy just as it was wrong to blame the shipping company for problems occurring at the seaport. NAGAFF said in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Simeon Nwonu,

that, “The after effect of the needless strike that crippled Apapa port for eleven days is the tonic NAGAFF needed to do things differently because we cannot continue this way. “It is sad to note that an avoidable circumstance may have cost the Nigerian economy well over N40 billion, excluding the aspects of ships waiting time in our ports during the strike. “For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the alleged non-compliant against APMT operations is not peculiar to Apapa port. The issue of arbitrary charges is a matter that affects almost all the terminal operators in Nigerian ports. This matter, at present, is being handled by the Nigerian Shippers Council as the commercial regulator. “We are aware that a case is pending at the High Court between the terminal operators and Nigerian Shippers Council with regard to arbitrary charges. In a civilized society where the

rule of law is observed, there was no reason for the strike because it was in contempt. This is aside the fact that NSC wrote a letter to all stakeholders that there is no need for such strike since a similar matter was pending in court. “It is our belief that he who goes to equity must come with clean hands. AP Moller is a world class terminal operator and an investor in Nigeria that requires the support and protection in our country. If the agency of government that had the schedule to administer our ports had performed well, it is obvious that our ports may not have been concessioned.” The association said that the operation of APM Terminals Apapa, which it described as a world class terminal operator, may be hampered by several factors including the non-compliant attitude of the importers and agents. The statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that AP Moller is a world-

class terminal operator that may be currently frustrated due to the non-compliant attitude of stakeholders to import regulations. The Nigerian seaports like any other all over the world is a transit area for goods and persons. What we see today is that ports are being used as warehouses and thereby distorting the entire system in ports administration and management. “The impunity with which port users are doing things is frustrating, leading to harsh sanctions by the terminal operators. If we do not obey and enforce our laws, it is our belief that we shall continue to complain. “As a reference point, section 31 of CEMA (Customs and Excise Management Act) is very clear as to the dwell time of cargo in the port which shall not exceed 30 days and thereafter such goods are moved out of the

World Maritime University trains NIMASA staff

L-R: Head, HNI & High Value Acquisition Strategy, Airtel, Zainab Baruwa-Abiola; Vice President, Data and Innovation, Airtel, Mr. Nitin Anand; Managing Director, Intel, Olubunmi Ekundare and Vice President, Value Added Services, Airtel, Francis Ebuehi, at the media launch of Airtel’s Catapult-a-Startup entrepreneurial initiative in Lagos…yesterday.

o effectively address the challenge posed by inadequate and unskilled manpower to the economy, the Industrial Skill Training Center (ISTC) of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) said it had resuscitated and commenced its one year vocational training programme. According to the ITF/ISTC, part of the main objective of the resuscitated vocational training programme is to provide a broad based hands on training that will effectively address the dearth of appropriate skills and manpower in Nigeria’s economy. The Deputy Director/Training Manager of the ISTC, Mr. Olasupo Abimbola, said that the modules for the pro-

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

port control for further action including but not limited to processes leading to auctioning. In our opinion, it is our view that APMT is not our problem but what we have is a self inflicted injury.” NAGAFF also charged the Nigerian Ports Authority to exercise its powers to create the environment for a userfriendly port. The statement furthert said: “A very good example and experience is that of the Nigeria Customs Service which by the special grace of God has retrieved their statutory function from the service providers after several years of battle with the help of freight forwarders of Nigeria. We do hope that Nigerian Ports Authority will take advantage using their oversight functions duty to ensure that our ports are friendly and competitive.”

enior and mid-level managers of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), last month, attended a Corporate Executive Development Program (CEDP) at the World Maritime University (WMU). The program focused on the latest developments in maritime management on the international level including international maritime conventions, regulations and policies, governance, risk management, human resource management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), organisational behavior, control measures, and management of change. Topics of discussion included high profile issues ranging from climate change and ballast water management to piracy and maritime governance. Learning objectives for the program were aimed at strengthening leadership and motivating change

while handling conflict and crises to enhance overall human capacity of the national maritime and port administrations to contribute to a better global performance of shipping. The course was team-taught by WMU faculty including Professors Olof Linden and Daniel Moon, Associate Professors Michael Baldauf, Yoshinobu Takei, Aref Fakhry, Michael Manuel, and Ilias Visvikis, Assistant Professors Dimitrios Dalaklis and Lisa Froholdt, and Research Assistant Raza Ali Mehdi. NIMASA has engaged WMU for a variety of professional development courses over the past few years and several alumni are employed at the agency, two of whom participated in the CEDP; Aliyu Lawan (M.Sc. 1994 SM), Chief Cabotage Officer, Invoicing, and Ikioumoton Fredrick Ugo (M.Sc. 2011 MEOM), Assistant Director Shipping Promotion.

ITF commences long-term devt programme gramme had been carefully selected to address acquisition of necessary knowledge in order to enable participants set up businesses of their own. He said the resuscitated one year vocational training programme would also allow the participants to become more employable and also choose and follow a career path in the industrial and governmental sectors of the African economy. The ITF/ISTC, he said, had also introduced its quarterly modular training programme. While pointing out that over two million youths would be trained annually under the

scheme’s various vocational training initiatives, Abimbola explained that the training programme, which would be held at the ISTC’s training center at Oregun, Lagos, was fully backed by the new DirectorGeneral of the ITF, Dr. Julliet Chukkas Onaeko. The long term vocational training programme, Abimbola pointed out, would lead to the award of ITF/ISTC Certificate of Competence (COC) in chosen trade areas that include computer hardware maintenance and repairs, computer programming and application, electronics and computer networking and

mechanical machining and maintenance. Other trade areas of training that will lead to the certificate of competence award, according to the ISTC training manager, are in foundry works, autotronics/auto mechanics works, electrical installation and maintenance at domestic at industrial levels, industrial automation technology, welding and fabrication works and refrigeration and air-conditioning works. Harping on the need for employers and industrialists to train their workers with ITF and why job seekers must take up the ITF/ ISTC training

opportunities, Abimbola noted that the ISTC had well over 30 years experience in technical and vocational skills training, having begun training activities since 1983. According to him, “ITF certificated trainees are well sought after by both local and international employers of labour, moreso, the centre blends its curriculum with life-long skills such as safety and health.” The center, he said, also offered entrepreneurial development programmes that give its trainees edge over others and prepare them for self-development and employment.

Business | Labour

JOB CREATION Building more facilities will create room for training and jobs Sunday Ojeme

anagement of the newly unveiled hospitality resort in Asaba, Delta State, Swiss Spirit Hotel, has concluded plans to transfer the Switzerland model of hotel management skills to its Nigerian hotel workers. This will be achieved through its expansion plans to open more outlets in Kano, Makurdi and Owerri, among others, in the next coming months. Disclosing this in Asaba, Managing Director of the Hotel, Dr. Wasiu Babalola, said the commissioning of the hotel marked the culmination of a long process in ensuring that international brands were available where people thought it was not profitable due to economic considerations.

Employers, graduates connect through GIS

he Project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), Mr. Peter Papka, has said that the scheme is giving participants requisite job experience to gain employment easily. Papka, who disclosed this at the opening of orientation programme organised by Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) for interns and representatives of firms participating in the scheme, said the graduates were now gaining permanent employment through the scheme. Papka, who was represented at the event in Osogbo, Osun State, by an administrative officer for the scheme, Mr. Johnson Iyiola, said that the scheme was giving participants the needed job experience to attract employers. He said the GIS, which was a major part of the social safety net provided by the SURE-P, had created a bridge, which Nigerian graduates were now using to cross from graduation to the workplace with ease. According to him, graduates who have participated in the scheme are now engaged and contributing their own quotas to the development of the nation.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Swiss hotel to boost employment in Nigeria He said: “We are determined in offering quality and standard services that complements the status of our customers as we give value for money spent.” Babalola said it was about two years ago that the management identified the potential for international hotel development in all state capitals beyond Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and that Delta State has emerged as the first capital city in Nigeria to have Swiss Spirit Hotels brand, al-

though others are currently being developed in Nigerian cities such as Kano, Makurdi and Owerri, among others. He said: “With headquarters in Switzerland, Swiss International was created in 1982. The company is offering licensed arrangements for hotels and management services, ranging from full operational management, technical services, and marketing, sales, revenue and distribution management. Swiss International also

offers the luxury brand “Royal Swiss” and the midmarket brand “Swiss Inns, Hotels and Suites.” He noted that the management of Swiss International is in Asaba with Swiss Spirit Hotel and Suites for a full hospitality business, adding that their team of experienced and dynamic professionals was committed to providing residents of Asaba and beyond with hospitality solutions with a Swiss touch. The hotel, which marks a positive turn in hospital-

ity business in the state, is expected to redefine the atmosphere of entertainment and pleasure generally as well as measuring up with the fast infrastructural development. The General Manager of the hotel, Mr. Lee Hess, explained that the hotel consisted of 48 ultra-modern rooms, world class banquet and conference facilities, a fully equipped gym with fitness instructors and therapists in addition to other first class amenities for the comfort

and enjoyment of tourists and other categories of clients. He said, “Swiss Spirit Hotel and Suites is committed to creating a memorable experience for all guests and we promise to exceed our guests’ expectations.” The hotel management, according to Lee, will continually upgrade and improve its level of services and will be the first to implement the latest trends in the ever-changing hospitality business.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Cocoa exporters decry 30% increase in cost of trade to EU p.34 SALVAGE Stakeholders meet to address sordid state of the industry Dele Alao

riven by the passion to improve operations in the tomato value chain, the Growth and Employment in States -Wholesale/Retail Sector project (GEMS4) hosted a one-day workshop for its private sector stakeholders. The workshop, held at the NECA House in Ikeja, Lagos, featured technical and plenary sessions with in-depth deliberations

Agric

Moves to save Nigeria’s N16bn tomato imports gather steam geared towards unlocking the financial and production capacity inherent in the tomato industry Nigerians, early this year, learnt that the country spends N16 billion annually on importation of tomato paste. Immediate past governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who disclosed this at a forum in Kano, observed that the amount was equivalent to the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri

rail project allocation in the 2014 budget. Sanusi, while inaugurating the National Tomato Technical Working Group (NTTWG) in Kano, said that there was a huge deficit in the supply of tomato required in the country. “The demand for tomato is currently estimated at 2.3 million metric tons per annum, while the output is 1.8 million metric tons. Due to lack of good storage facilities and poor

Tomatoes

Japanese agency partners Nigeria on rice

apan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is partnering Nigeria in developing the agriculture sector through rice production with over 3,500 Nigerians benefiting from its training programme abroad. JICA’s Chief Representative, Mr. Seki Tetsuo, said this at a one-day seminar titled: ‘Agribusiness and Investment’ organised by JICA Alumni Association of Nigeria in Abuja. Tetsuo said that JICA specifically targets the rice sub-sector as a result of the comparative advantage that Japan has developed in rice production and processing over decades. He stressed the need for diversification of the economy with efficient rice production for Nigeria where agriculture accounts for over 40 per cent of the gross domestic product and employs over 60 per cent of the population. Tetsuo, who was represented by the agency’s Senior Representative, Mr. Kodama Hiroshi, said that JICA has two major activities for the Ni-

Nigeria targets 200,000 tonnes of fish p.35

gerian rice sector. He said: “The first is the Rice Post-Harvest Processing and Marketing Pilot Project (RIPMAPP) in Nasarawa and Niger states. The objective of RIPMAPP is to improve the quality of post-harvest rice produced in these states, through the introduction of simple technologies that improve the parboiling and processing activities of small and medium scale actors. Through this project, it is our hope that these processing activities will increase their productivity and transform their activities into sustainable rice processing businesses.” “The second activity that we are involved in is known as the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD). CARD is a regional initiative led by several stakeholders including JICA, AfricaRice, FAO, IFPRI, World Bank, IRRI, with the overall goal of doubling rice production in the African continent over a ten year period. CARD currently has 23 member countries including Nigeria,” he added.

developed marketing channels, up to 50 per cent of the tomato produced is lost,” Sanusi said. Sanusi added that the working group was established to sensitise value chain actors in tomato industry, with a view to developing and boosting the production, processing, marketing and consumption of the commodity. Intervention Manager for the Department for International Development (DFID) funded GEMS4 Project, Richard Ogundele, said that the organisation was working in partnership with key stakeholders to harness financial investments in various operations across the tomato value chain which include production, processing, packaging and distribution. The workshop expressed worry that up to 50 per cent of tomato produced in the country was lost due to lack of storage and under-developed marketing channels, when in actual fact the country is the second largest producer of tomato in Africa and 13th in the world. The workshop focused on improving primary handling operations from farm to processing centres, improvement and expansion of support services like structuring farmers organisations, improving technical and managerial skills, agricultural extension and training, storage and transportation, all within the tomato industry.

It also called for the inclusion and empowerment of women to facilitate the development of the industry by playing more significant roles. Also in Kano, the World Bank Group, in partnership with Dansa and DFID, met with the private sector stakeholders at a two-day workshop organised for various stakeholders in the tomato industry. As expected, the meeting was conveyed with a view to explore ways to develop the tomato value chain with regards to ways and processes of improving market for tomatoes as one of Nigeria’s most valuable agriculture exports. Furthermore, the event was aimed at equipping participants on how to explore the tomato industry and unlocking financial investments in production, processing, packaging and distribution; improved primary handling operations from farm operations to processing centres and support services among other issues. Meanwhile, the supervising Director of Dangote Tomatoes farm in Kadawa, Alhaji Abdulkareem Kaita, has said that the Dansa tomatoes company is at 98 per cent completion stage and that it would commence operation soon. He added that the company had already given farmers hybrid seeds that would ensure high yield and bumper harvest.

Olam assures northern farmers of more inputs PROMISE Farmers’ productivity enhanced

asking in the euphoria of its 25th anniversary, one of the country’s leading agricultural commodity marketing company, Olam Nigeria Limited, has restated its commitment towards farmers in the northern part of the country in the provision of inputs. Senior Branch Controller North of the company, Mr. Archit Tiwari, an Indian, who noted that the company trades in sesame, cashew, shea-nut, cocoa, sorghum, cotton, among others, said that the company purchased over 100,000 metric tons of sesame from farmers in the North while about 150,000 farmers are involved in the

crop’s farming. He said sesame farming in the country was neglected before the company started and it had become the darling crop of many famers in the North. Tiwari reiterated the company’s commitment to continue to boost farming in the North. He said that the key to prosperity of the North was in agriculture. “We will continue to do our best to revive and make the sector lucrative for all. The training and farming inputs we are providing to farmers have greatly impacted positively on farming in the country,” he added. The company’s zonal manager overseeing Kano, Adamawa, Borno and Gombe states, Alhaji Bello Adamu, said despite the security challenges facing the North, their offices in the North

East are still functioning. He noted that with the commencement of the company’s rice mill in Nasarawa State, the country would soon stop importing the commodity. “We are the first multinational company to go into rice farming and processing in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transform the agricultural sector,” he said. Also speaking at the occasion, the Branch Manager of Dawanau market in Kano, Mukhtar Ahmed, said that the company is planning to establish sesame plant in Kano and that 4.5 acres of land has been acquired for the purpose. “It is the only commodity company in the country that does not discriminate against Nigerians in terms of staffing,” he said.

Business | Agric

SAD Local companies groan under heavy cost

ocoa processing companies in the country have expressed worry over the cost of exporting their products to Europe, which they said has been inflated by 30 per cent. The increment, they added, was occasioned by the stalemate in agreeing to new trade terms with the European Union (EU). Nigeria is yet to sign the

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Cocoa exporters decry 30% increase in cost of trade to EU Economic Partnership Agreement protocol on free trade by the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. The Federal Government, in May, rejected the proposed trade agreement with the EU because it requires abolition of import duties for manufactured goods from Europe, saying it would lead to dumping

of goods and loss of jobs. The move, according to government, makes cocoa butter and cake less competitive. Cocoa butter and cake exports, they said, are charged from 4.2 to 6.1 per cent of Freight-on-Board (FoB) values as taxes at EU ports without an agreement. The processing companies in

the south west cocoa-growing region have a combined installed capacity of 155,000 MT a year. Since 2011, the companies have run at 25-27 per cent capacity. Nigeria, the fourthbiggest producer, produced 350,000 tons of cocoa in the 2013-2014 season.

Ebonyi: 2,068 farmers get WAPP seedlings T

he West African Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAPP) has said that about 2,068 farmers in Ebonyi State have been given improved-certified and foundation seeds. Leader of WAPP’s delegation to Ebonyi State, Mr. Hassan Isah, said that the team was in the state to assess the impact of its programmes on farmers. He added that WAPP’s objective was to promote agricultural productivity and integration among countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Isah noted that WAPP was in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Agricultuiral Development Project (ADP) in promoting community-based agricultural enhancement and facilitating accesses to genetic materials. Also speaking when the WAPP team visited him, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Romanus Nwasum, said that the organisation’s intervention would greatly solve the problem of certified seed supply. Nwasum said that at the

A farmer spreading cocoa seeds for sun drying

Plateau firm showcases improved rice seedlings

omarey Venture has exposed farmers to its latest varieties of rice as part of this year annual Romarey Seeds Farmers Field Day celebration. The celebration is an annual event meant for farmers that use improved seeds provided by the company to showcase their farm produce and give account of the level of yield they recorded before visiting agricultural experts, government officials, traditional and other stakeholders. The company also takes advantage of the meeting to do an exposition of new, improved seeds and practical demonstration of the quality and expected yield of crop. This year’s event featured a tour of the demonstration farms of the company by farmers and visiting stakeholders and the exhibition of new farming techniques and implements for the farmers who danced throughout the event and sang in appreciation of the good harvest recorded. Though Romarey has mandate on the production, multiplication and distribution of rice, soya beans, Irish

potatoes, yam, sorghum and maize, improved seeds and seedlings, attention at the event was centred on rice which is the most popular crop being produced in the company’s catchment area. Conducting the stakeholders round the 10 hectares Romarey rice demonstration farm near Shendam, Plateau State, the Chief Executive Officer, Romarey Venture, Mr. Nathaniel Yabwahat Longmut, said that farmers engaged by the firm planted all the varieties of rice seen on the farm. “The first one here is Faro 44, although it was planted a bit late and after the plantation water accumulated in the area, the little shortage experienced here had helped in maintaining the atmosphere and luckily, you can see the high yielding and good quality of rice,” he said. He added: “This other one is the upland rice variety, which is called Faro 59. It is a good variety and matures earlier, in just 90 days you can cultivate it. The one you are seeing here was planted after we had earlier planted the Faro 44, but you can see that this one matured before

the Faro 44. If you observe, the land here is high and the other side is low. The one on the high and dry area is mature and gives high yield. That shows that it does not need much water, what this variety needs is normal water or rain that we need for maize and sorghum and it will grow well.” He said that his company has different types of quality rice seeds that produce the long, medium and short rice varieties including L19, which, he said, is known as Faro 60 that has high yield but matures in 120 days and has good milling quality. Longmut described the variety as one of the best for farmers that are not well patronised due to inadequate publicity. “The rice on this farm is from a seed called Faro 61 or L34 and they all come together with L19 and they were developed by the Africa Rice Centre. If you observe, the plant is not long like other seeds, but it is fantastic. This seed of rice spreads and booms more than L19; if you plant one seed, it reproduces in many numbers in one place,” the CEO said.

Government’s incentive to encourage exporters of agricultural items with subsidies, ranging from five to 15 per cent, has not come into effect. It was gathered that a backlog of applications, since 2011, is still awaiting approval at the Finance Ministry.

last National Council on Agriculture meeting, the issue of certified seeds was highlighted and statistics showed that the availability of the seedlings to farmers was poor. He noted that the problem, however, became how to fill the gap to ensure that the farmers easily access the seedlings for improved production adding, “we are blessed in Ebonyi to access such quality of seedlings from WAPP.” Speaking earlier, the Programme Manager of the Ebonyi State ADP, Mr. Sunday Ituma, noted that the WAPP assistance to farmers will enhance food production in the state. According to him, I,988 farmers accessed certified seeds while 80 accessed foundation seeds as the state also accessed 800 bundles of improved cassava cuttings from WAPP while also distributing 8,000 yam seedlings to farmers in the state. “Government also accessed N28 million which it disbursed to farmers as the certified seeds will round off to 7,000 metric tonnes of rice paddy for rice production,” he said.

Agricultural Commodity Prices – Grains Commodity Wheat Corn Soybeans Soybean Meal Soybean Oil Oats Rough Rice Hard Red Wheat Spring Wheat

Price 606-4 382-2 999-4 358.2 31.71 314-6 12.175 638-4 664-6

Change -12-0 -3-2 -8-0 -5.7 +0.04 +2-4 -0.045 -13-6 +6-0

Contract Mar 15 Mar 15 Jan 15 Jan 15 Jan 15 Mar 15 Jan 15 Dec 14 Dec 14

Price 60.04 147.00 186.05 15.26 2869 24.29 1.8395 0.1524 2859.00 0.5938 332.90

Change +0.36 +0.20 +1.10 -0.07 unch -0.01 +0.0055 -0.0035 -37.00 +0.0020 +3.10

Contract Mar 15 Jan 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Jan 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Mar 15 Jan 15

Time(ET) 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:30 08:30 07:36 12/02/14

Softs Commodity Cotton #2 Orange Juice Coffee Sugar #11 Cocoa Sugar #16 CME Coffee CME Sugar #11 CME Cocoa CME Cotton #2 Lumber

Time(ET) 08:33 08:32 08:33 08:33 08:33 08:05 03:56 12/02/14 12/02/14 12/02/14 08:30

Commodities trade on different exchanges with different trading sessions. Change always shows from the previous close price. Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET. Source: Bloomberg

Business | Agric

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

8,000 farmers benefit from cassava initiative LIFT Latest step leads to higher cassava yield

o fewer than 8,000 farmers in Oyo State have benefited from the Federal Government’s High Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) initiative flagged-off in the state. At the flag-off ceremony held recently in Oyo town, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, said that all the promises made by government on the HQCF initiative would be fulfilled in the state. The minister added that one HQCF processing factory would be established at Ilora and another at Ayete as promised. Adesina, who was represented by Adebayo Lasisi, the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, said that the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda was on course and had been recording great success as the country had begun exporting agricultural products. Each farmer was given four litres of herbicide per hectare

of farmland cultivated, three bags of fertilizer per hectare and 60 bundles of cassava stem per hectare. Also, N80,000 per hectare of cassava farm was presented to each farmer of which N52,000 is grant and N28,000 is loan. Earlier, the state chairman, Nigeria Cassava Growers Association (NCGA), Muyideen

partnership agreement between the International Fish Resources Park (IFRP) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development that will ensure production of 200,000 tonnes of fish is underway. The Board Chairman, IFRP, Mr. Olusegun Mogbojuri, said that the country was on a sure path to becoming self-sufficient in fish production. Part of the agreement with the ministry, Mogbojuri said, included the establishment of fish resources parks in each of the six geopolitical zones. Mogbojuri put the capacity of each park to be established at between 2,500 and 3,000 factories with a production capacity of 200,000 tonnes of fish when fully operational. Mogbojuri, who is also the Agricultural Attache to the Consulate of Malta in Nigeria, said that the parks would empower no

Fish pond

sava farmers in Oyo State and South-western Nigeria appreciate the agricultural support programme of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina,” he said. The NCGA chairman said that the commendation became imperative as the HQCF initiative was the first of its

kind for cassava farmers since 1987 when the association was formed in the country. Those present at the distribution ceremony included Rufus Babatunde. the Zonal Manager, Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme and Olukemi Olusesi, Manager, Bank of Agriculture in Oyo town.

Cassava tubers

Nigeria targets 200,000 tonnes of fish A

Adekunle, said that the association had already planted 8,431 hectares of farmland for the HQCF programme. Adekunle said that in the state, 22 local government areas were allotted improved cassava stems, fertilizers, chemicals and tractors for NCGA members to enhance the HQCF programme. “Cas-

fewer than one million persons as they would simplify aquaculture for the citizens to produce fish in a secured environment. He said that while oil spill in the Niger-Delta region was being tackled, other technologies that could guarantee sufficient production would be introduced via the park initiative. According to the chairman, the park initiative was a mandate from Malta’s Consul to Nigeria in order to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries. He said that Malta had expertise in maritime and fisheries, which Nigeria could benefit from. Adding that some multinationals, including IES-GMB of Germany, had offered to finance the project in Nigeria with ¤2 billion, adding that more financiers could be accommodated so as to fully develop the fishery sub-sector. Mogbojuri commended the ministry and the University of Abuja for their contributions to maritime and fisheries. He added that the IFRP provide modern teaching and research facilities that could help to upscale technology in the institutions. “I am excited, looking forward to more achievement as Nigeria is on the path to join the league of nations that are self-sufficient in fish production,” he said.

Firm floats new technology to powdery products market INNOVATION Many producers set to benefit

Nigerian fir m, LS Scientific, in conjunction with German-based Haver and Boecker, is introducing into the Nigerian powdery products market, advanced filtration and particle size analysis technology, which will benefit producers of detergents, cocoa beverages, sugar, salt, powdered milk, cement, fine sand, cosmetic powder. The company says the new technology will enhance filtration and particle size analysis and deliver the highest attainable and requisite precision, which is key in the production

of granulated and powder products. The company said in a statement: “Filtration basically involves the use of shakers and seives to make for uniformity in size of particles, which often enhances quality of these products. For example, cement has to be extremely fine to be able to provide optimum adhesive strength when mixed with water to create durable mortar. In the same vein, milk and cocoa beverages need to be produced to certain fineness to be able to melt evenly when mixed with water. “So, when these products are of uneven particle sizes, there tends to be inconsistency which comes in the form of lumps in the case of milk and beverages, hence customers translate this into low quality,” it added. Haver and Boecker, LS

Scientific partners, are masters in filtration and particle size analysis technology, bulk loading and bagging. “With 2015 just around the corner, great efforts are being made to increase stock level so as to benefit the West African Market with good pricing and increased support services with this growing relationship,” a statement from the company said. The statement added: “Some key players in the cement, sugar and food & beverage industries already benefiting from the LS Scientific/Haver and Boecker partnership are excited about the prospects of getting spares readily in the market. Though there is customer support at the moment, it will be taken to the next level in the coming year.”

Expert tasks farmers on wise spending A

n agriculture extension expert, Mr. Durojaye Omole, has advised farmers to spend money realised from the sale of their farm produce wisely and refrain from spending their proceeds in acquiring more wives. Omole, who gave the advice in Ekiti, said that most farmers in the state recorded bumper harvests, a development he hoped

would improve their living standard if the proceed is well spent. He appealed to them not to follow the paths of some farmers in the habit of marrying more wives whenever they had a successful farming season. He said: “They should use the money on valuable projects and spend it on the education of your children instead of wasting it on un-

productive venture.” Omole also called on the farmers to plan for the next farming season, make seeds and other planting items available ahead of the season among others. He further cautioned the farmers to beware of fraudsters who might want to dupe them of their money on pretense of assisting them.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Islam

EXHORT A TION And You Lord has decreed that you worship none except Him, and to your parents, good kindness and respect. Whether one or both of them reach old age while with you, say no word of disrespect or disgust to them, but speak to them, a noble word. ( QURAN 17:23)

13 Safar 1436 AH

UNDERSTAND YOUR FAITH

Offering Salah in English QUESTION

Is it allowed for a new convert to Islam to observe Salat in English language? ANSWER

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear brother in Islam, we are really impressed by your question, which shows how concerned you are about the affairs of your fellow Muslims and your interest to abide by the Shari`ah in all details of your life. May Allah help us all lead a righteous life based on Islam! Bear in mind that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Prayer is the cornerstone of religion…” Prayer stands as the second pillar of Islam after testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His final Messenger. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no true god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing Prayer, paying the Zakah, making the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (Hajj), and fasting the month of Ramadan.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari) Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: “Prayer (the word as commonly understood by the English speaking people) is of two kinds in Islam: One is the formal daily act of worship called Salah, and the other is the more informal act of remembrance of Allah through supplications, entreaties, meditations, etc. The second is variously called dhikr and du`a’. Whereas the formal act of worship (i.e., Salah, including the obligatory, recommended and the optional) must be said in Arabic, which is the language of the Qur’an, the informal prayers can be said in any language of one’s choice. TO BE CONTINUED

Participants at Fatima Charity foundation Democratic Symposium in Lagos.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Kano Mosque’s attack: Boko Harams are non-Muslims, Sultan insists ATTACK The Sultan of Sokoto advises muslims to unite against terrorism Adeola Yusuf

he Sultan of Sokoto and leader of Muslims in Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar Sa’ad III, has the attack on faithful at the Kano Central Mosque, insisting that Boko Haram insurgents are not Muslims. Over 120 people were feared dead after two suicide bombers and several gunmen launched an attack during the Juma’at

prayers at the Central Mosque last Friday. The Sultan who condemned the deadly attack on Muslim faithful, during the Post-2014 Hajj Conference organised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria at the National Mosque, Abuja, rallied Muslims all over the country to stop the perpetrators. “Various sects in Islam in this country,” he said, are “to rally round one another and bring to an end insurgency in this country.” According to the Supreme leader of Muslims in Nigeria, those “behind all the attacks are not Muslims. I do not believe those perpetrating these are Muslims because if they are Muslims they are not professing what Islam teaches.”

He added: “In the world over, it is the duty and responsibility of government to provide security for the citizenry. This is the time for all the various sects in Islam in this country to rally round one another and bring to an end insurgency in this country.” This came as Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II, also declared that last Friday’s deadly attack at the Central Mosque at his palace was planned for two months. The Emir, who was out of the country during the attack, visited the scene upon his return on Saturday. He directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned. “From all indications, they (attackers) have been planning this for at least two months”,

Associated Press (AP) quoted Sanusi as saying, but gave no details. “I have directed that the mosque be washed and cleaned and prayers should continue here”, he said and vowed: “We will never be intimidated into abandoning our religion, which is the intention of the attackers.” The police, however, insisted that 34 people died and not 125. The claim contradicts the high number of bodies deposited at mortuaries at Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Sir Muhammad Sanusi Specialist Hospital, Sheikh Muhammad Jiddah General Hospital, Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.

Scholar underscores importance of knowledge in Islam ANNIVERSARY Hasbunallahu Arabic school marks 67th anniversary in Lagos

n Islamic scholar, Ustaz Muslim Babatunde Mahmoud, has underscored the importance of knowledge in the lives of Muslims. Mahmoud who is a Khalifafa of Hasbunallahu Arabic and Islamic School said this during the 67th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the school in Lagos. The celebration was, ac-

cording to him, necessary in order to appraise the contributions of the school to the society as well project it for growth. He said: “Knowledge is very important in Islam and it is a duty on all Muslims to seek knowledge as far as China. “Due to the immense contributions of this Arabic school to the community in particular and Islam in general,this gives us the impetus to roll out the drums and celebrate the 67th anniversary of the school.” The event also witnessed the turbaning and conferment of merit awards to per-

sonalities, who contributed immensely to the growth of the school since its birth. Congratulating the awardees, Mahmoud said the school considered them for recognition not on their contributions alone but also on the strength of character, integrity and selflessness. He also charged awardees to use their new status to project Islam in good light and nurture a generation who would use the religion to build the nation in a way Nigerians would be proud of. According to him,the awardees should be role models and

must not rest on their laurels in their contributions to the school and Islam in general. He added: ’’You should be good ambassadors of Islam in thought and indeed. The new status conferred on you is a wake up call to you to redouble your contributions to Islam and humanity.You should shun violence and acts that can promote rancour in the society.’’ The cleric promised that the school would continue to be a shining example of Islamic citadel of learning as well as a builder of social integration of Muslims in the country.

Feminique Dr. Grace Ongile is the United Nations Women representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS. An advocate of women empowerment and a world free of violence, she had a chat with EBERE AMEH where she disclosed her passion for women emancipation and the plans of the UN and EU for women caught in the web of violence

ven before her Master’s thesis on “Determinants of Female Labour Force Participation Rates in Kenyan Urban Areas,” and a PhD research work on “Gender and Agricultural Supply Response to Structural Adjustment Programmes in Kenya”, Grace Ongile always had concern for women. Growing up as a girl child in her country, Kenya, Grace saw that the roles men and women played were different, and that women worked harder. She also observed that it doesn’t end there; despite their hard work, when it comes to a certain level, the decision making level, they are not at the table. “I have always had interest on issues of gender, looking at issues of men and women. Why are women half the population or close to half and yet during election we come out to vote but later, we are not at the table again? It was interest that led me to my line of study and researches. I decided to pursue my studies on gender to try to really understand the differences in gender roles. And I studied up to the highest level to help me understand all these issues.” With a PhD in Economics from the University of Man-

EBERE AMEH ebere.ameh@newtelegraphonline.com

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Gracious Ongile, the Kenyan driving ECOWAS women chester, UK, Grace was appointed the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, a United Nations entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Saddled with a broad mandate which include; Providing strategic policy coordination, partnership and representation on issues affecting women in Nigeria, ensuring that the principles of Gender Equality and women’s empowerment are integrated in the UN’s and donors programmes in Nigeria and resourced; Providing leadership and quality oversight in strengthening ECOWAS in developing policies and implementing programmes that are gender responsive; Coordinating and collaborating the UN country team on gender equality; Providing leadership and quality oversight in strengthening Governments Institutions, particularly the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Devel-

opment and other key line Ministries and Institutions, Grace has carried on with so much zeal that looking back is what she is not contemplating. “I’m full of energy, you won’t understand. In the last few weeks I’ve been in Adamawa, Plateau, Lagos and I just came back from Gombe. I have a passion and I keep praying to God that we need to work together as women, address our problems and challenges together, without having class and cultural issues.” A Kenyan national, now in Nigeria, what drives Grace is an indescribable passion to transform the lives of Nigerian women and those in the ECOWAS sub-region for good. “I am a Kenyan national and I have been in Nigeria long enough to see that the problems are so similar. What drives me is the desire to see that we start making impact as women. I want to see a change. I want the statements like ‘women cannot work for themselves’, ‘women are divided’ to stop. Those are stereotypes to make us really divided. Together, united, we can succeed.” Despite her energy a n d

pass i o n , Grace who is working assiduously to first and foremost, enlighten women on the fact that they have rights, is also faced with a couple of constraints that sabotage the successful implementation of the beautiful policies championed by the UN Women. “There are cultural barriers and the fact that women are yet to speak out about the problems they are facing. This time, it is

not about challenging the men, but really, the fact that women must come out and speak out, whether at the household level or elsewhere. The key point is that women are not talking about the key things that affect them. “Another critical challenge is that the laws and policies are not in place yet. Because, if these laws are in place, then it is easy for the law to take its full course when an abuse or a breach in human right is established. Ultimately however, women must learn to talk at all levels because that silence, to me, is actually the greatest challenge.” Currently, the UN Women with the support of the European Union is in the process of implementing a programme to the tune of 10 million Euros, for the next three years, on women involvement in peace and security. With three states of Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe used in the pilot, Grace says they are looking forward to ensuring that it is replicated later in other states and even other parts of the continent. Though Grace is happy, practising what she studied and seeing to the emancipation of women, she has come to see that there is so much work to be done. “On the one hand I feel I am understanding those issues from the academic perspective but also the reality of it is that it has opened my eyes to really see that there is a lot more to be done. Having my hand on the practicality has opened up a new dimension. As I move around doing my work, I find that there is so much gap and so much to be done for women.” Grace who has the full support of her family in the great work she is doing, says she does not want to be praised. ‘If women’s lives change for good because of my work, I will be the happiest person on earth,” she intoned.

As I move around doing my work, I find that there is so much gap and so much to be done for women.

Feminique 39

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Why women need to menstruate

his is a follow up to last week’s article. As I said last week, normal menstruation occurs during a woman’s child bearing age. Menstruation is a selfcleaning process of your womb by your body. Your womb is the home of your baby during pregnancy. Your womb is where your baby grows. Your womb also tries to protect your baby as much as possible from harm. Every month or at the beginning of your menstrual cycle, your womb prepares itself in anticipation that pregnancy will occur. The lining of the womb grows and becomes thicker. More blood and blood vessels are directed to the womb. This building process is done by every animal internally or externally. The birds build their nests where they hope to lay their eggs. Some animals such as turtles and fish dig holes to deposit and hide their eggs for hatching and protection. But after all said and done, fertilization oc-

curs when the sperm meets the egg. This results in pregnancy. Or if it does not occur, then no pregnancy. When pregnancy occurs, your womb continues to grow and expand as the baby grows inside you. But when pregnancy does not occur, the womb gets rid of the extra lining. It sheds and discards the tissues, blood vessels and blood. This is what is known as menstruation. It is a cleaning up process. It is totally natural. Your womb wipes the state clean so that it can start another process. This occurs regularly approximately on a monthly basis. It could be a little bit longer or shorter than a calender month. This depends on your menstrual cycle. That is why when a woman presents to us with Amenorrhea (no menstruation ), the first thing we do is to test for pregnancy. It is only if the pregnancy test is negative that, we start looking for other causes. Now you know why men do not

Ebere Ameh

here is palpable fear among all in the office nowadays. The much talked about downsizing seems imminent. There are even rumours that a list of those affected has been sighted by Joy, Oga’s secretary but she is reluctant to disclose the people affected. On Thursday, we had a seminar anchored by the prestigious Hanniel Synergy, a prestigious Human Resources Company on Life after Jonathan Consulting. “We don’t need all those seminars,” one angry staff noted during lunch on Friday. He is sitting with his friend at the table next to mine, discussing the current situation in the company. “They should go ahead and do their worst, as long as they pay us our severance packages.” “Its ok, I think they are just trying to give those that will be affected a soft landing,” his colleague said. “My dear, no matter how hard they try, the landing will be anything but soft. I don’t care anymore,” he said, rocking his wine glass in between his fingers and gazing absent mindedly at the table mat. “Ego! she was talking to you,” Joan pushed me gently with her elbow. I was chatting with Kate and Joan after lunch when I got interested in the conversation of the guys at the next table. I was so engrossed that I took no notice of what was happening on my own table. “Oops! Sorry my dear, I was so engrossed in thought that I didn’t hear you,” I responded apologetically. “Aren’t you leaving yet?” Kate asked. “No, a friend sent a message that I should hold on a bit for him.” No friend sent any text message. I still have about 30 minutes to resume and just needed some time alone to think. Though I stayed back, I got so confused that I didn’t know what to think again. As I gazed, wondering

menstruate. We do not have a womb and so cannot get pregnant. A final word. There is a condition known as Anovulatory menstruation. The normal assumption by most people is that any woman who menstruates must have ovulated (brought out an egg) before then. This is not always true. There are cases when menstruation occurs without ovulation. This is usually a factor that is excluded when a woman is being screened by her doctor. Menstruation finally stops naturally, when a woman attains the age of menopause. This age has a very wide range. It depends on the individual’s hormonal system. But it is usually above 40 and below 50. Whatever the case, please don’t assume. Let your doctor confirm it. So that you don’t end up like one of my neighbours. She was nursing a baby at the same time as her eldest daughter. Wonders shall never cease and miracles will always occur.

So that you don’t end up like one of my neighbours. She was nursing a baby at the same time as her eldest daughter

Fadeyi

Dr. Taiwo Fadeyi is a Western trained medical practitioner and one of the very few certified Sexologists in Nigeria. He is also a marriage counsellor and would be bringing his immense knowledge and experience to bear in writing this column. Make it a date with him every Friday for that expert advice on sex and relationship. He can be reached on drtaiwofadeyi@ gmail.com or 08033148899 (sms only)

Ego: Diary of a single mom Downsizing fear grips all

what will be my lot if I am affected, with two little kids and no husband, Nnamdi came in with his friend. After exchanging the current common banter on the looming layoff and chats about

the weather, I made to leave so they could eat their food when Nnamdi called out. “Ego! how is your driver doing? Hope he’s good?” “Oh yes,” I responded with a smile. “His only problem is that

he is damn too careful. You know, one has to be smart and fast at times on Lagos raods. Having known his weakness, we leave some minutes earlier nowadays to make up for his lapses, if I may call it so.” “African man! when a driver is rough, we complain, when he is careful we complain too. Haba! he exclaimed amidst laughter. “I understand sha, age is not on his side. You can’t expect him to be like George who is still young and full of life.” “He is so excited about his new job that I sympathize with him. Yea, because if for any reason this downsizing affects me, he will also automatically lose his job,” I responded. “Downsizing is not for young and hard working staff like you. Its for those old redundant staff who rose through the ranks,” his friend said, trying to allay my fears. If only he knew that I have stepped on a sensitive toe and may be witch hunted, he would be praying for me instead. “I understand my dear. The problem is that at times, exercises like these are opportunities by some evil minded executives to witch-hunt or get even. Let’s keep praying for them to spare us,” I said on my way out. Can you guess who I bumped into at the first floor? The MD! As if he knew I just thought about him now. If I had known, I’d have remained at the restaurant. Though he seemed like in a hurry, it was unlike him to just brush past me and say ‘How are you?’ in response to my greeting. I’m in trouble. Is he still hurting from my refusal to marry him? Will that play up against me in this downsizing exercise? But he can’t really expect me to marry him? Well, Monday, all the fears will be laid to rest as letters will be given to the affected staff.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Auto Beat

Coscharis brings Land Rover to your doorstep

Paul Ogbuokiri

oscharis Motors, the sole franchisee of Jaguar Land Rover brands has announced a new favourable price ownership scheme for its Discovery and Freelander two variants. The scheme, the first of its kind, allows customers a zero interest spread payment for one year as Coscharis pays the interest on behalf of the customer during the this holiday period. According to the DGM Sales, Ufuoma Umukoro, this favourable ownership scheme is a first in the Nigerian auto industry as it is not the usual financing scheme where customers will have to incur some interests or hiding charges that inflate the actual prices of the vehicles. “For Coscharis, we are offering the Discovery for N15.5million and the Freelander 2 for N7.5million with the option to choose between your interests being paid for one year, lease or cash transaction. This gives the customer the freedom to own the Discovery interest free and spread payments over 12 months”. He further enthused that the company’s existing customers can attest that the N15.5 million cost is the best price they can get for lump sum payment but with this promotional scheme, customers can spread payment for one year without any interest. Consequently, Coscharis is responsible for the interest accruable.

In addition, customers also get complementary monetized vouchers to use at GrosVenor Integrated Shirt Limited, the sole franchisee of Grosvenor London who have obtained the Royal Warrant of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II which makes it an official shirt maker of the British Royal. The voucher is redeemable in either of GrosVenor’s outlets in Lagos and Abuja. Furthermore, buyers will receive gift vouchers to spend at Q.Med Diagnostic Centre and Make Me. As part of the holiday offering, the General Manager, Marketing, Abiona Babarinde stated that “all buyers will

...And the winner is BriscoeFord Paul Ogbuokiri

riscoeFord, an authorized Ford dealer in Nigeria, has emerged the winner of the 2014 Nigeria Auto Journalist’s Awards (NAJA) held at Eko Hotel and Suites Victoria Island, Lagos recently. Briscoford won same award last year as a result of its contribution to environmental cleanliness and prevention of communicable diseases. New Telegraph learnt that the during 2014 Ford’s Global Week of Caring exercise in Lagos, the company donated several items to the Lekki Residents Association amongst other charitable deeds. Reacting to the award, the Managing Director/CEO of R.T. Briscoe Nigeria PLC, Mr. Seyi Onajide said, “it is a reward for our decision to ensure we give back to the society wherein we operate and a demonstration of our commitment to sustainable

environment”. He further expressed gratitude to the organisers for also recognising the enduring efforts of Ford Motors Corporation at adding value to living not only through acts of kindness, but also constant improvement and production of trendy and environmentally friendly vehicles sold in Nigeria by BriscoeFord through an award of the ‘Most Improved Auto Brand of the Year 2014’. The award night has become a landmark and highly coveted by both auto dealers and other stakeholders alike in the industry. Brand competition shifts from the market to the venue and dealer principals and other personnel mirror their performance and activities through the caliber and number of awards received at the event. The event also presented a veritable opportunity for highly placed Executives to interact, network and share ideas on how to move the industry forward amidst the challenging business climate.

also enjoy One year free registration, free road assistance, special discount for fleet purchase, extended service plan for 3 years or 100,000km (whichever comes first) and free delivery anywhere in Nigeria.” The aim of the promotional scheme is to ease ownership of the these premium variants for corporate and retail customers and to reward actual customers especially during this festive season. It is one of the company’s strategies to ensure that Jaguar Land Rover customers enjoy their Christmas and New Year seasons with peace of mind. Coscharis Motors as the sole importer of Jaguar Land

Rover in Nigeria offers a comprehensive warranty backed by a region-wide sales and service network responsible for the provision of world-class sales, maintenance and parts back-up.

FERMA to relaunch operation zero potholes Sunday Ojeme

he Managing Director of Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Mr. Gabriel Amuchi, has said the Agency is mobilising to relaunch the operation zero potholes programme to make all arterial Federal roads motorable nationwide for this yuletide period. A statement made available to New Telegraph said he made the disclosure in Kabba, Kogi State while on an inspection tour of some federal roads in the state. According to him, FERMA engineers are being mobilised to utilise the dry season to achieve massive road repairs. This is to re-enact the “safe passage” initiative carried out in 2012/2013. It would be recalled that the operation zero potholes campaign was a huge success in the reduction of the number of bad roads in the country. While in Kogi State, Amuchi inspected the failing expansion joints on Murtala

Mohammed Bridge at Kotonkarfe. According to him, the bridge is an old one with an old design; heavy traffic on the bridge has necessitated continuous maintenance. He assured that with the Transformation agenda of the government on the road sector, the Agency would not wait till any bridge collapsed in the country. The FERMA boss was also on the Lokoja – Okene road where he assessed failed sections of the road at the Federal College of Education, Okene. He instructed the contractor to speed up work this dry season, taking into cognisance that the road is a major transport link with high traffic volume which connects the North and the South. The MD was also in Kabba to inspect a bridge at the Ahmadu Bello University, College of Agriculture campus. He said the agency was positioned to take proactive steps in ensuring that roads across the country would be given necessary attention during this dry season.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leisure Arcade NUTS

NTPuzzle

By Kaycee

Food web word search

MAMA LASISI

By Aliu Eroje

MOYIN & FRIENDS

By Ayo Oyerinde

y e m n e e p t i o t g i y f e a e e e n i t u f c r h a b i t a t p n a o s e e t p g o r e m u s n 0 c e s d r v h r v o e c o s y s t e m P r e d a t o r d o i i e d t u i m r p p d n s n e h i i v o c e c c n n a v t 0 a f P g n m s e s r i e h a o t t e n e u o m e a e a f e t i s a r a p x s d y t i s r e v i d S p e c i e s t t C d i c e y e g m h y s r o v n t i n o i t a t P a d a a m r s n n o e n e m a e r s y m e p L o e c i e r i c i m e r n s g f c o n f c p i n a v t r u v o i c r 0 0 P t m u r m m p r s t n e v v a e o m u a s d o n r i d a u i e i o v n d p L r i o i m i i m s n t s b r e e w o a e n r h b a o g r r y C r e n s e s t i a P n c V c e n e t w e a g a b e i o g a m c s a s v a n d h p e n e r o m r d c i s V 0 s e a i t e r o v i n m o g i e s r t t t m r y

adaptation

endangered

habitat

parasite

camouflage

energy

herbivore

population

carnivore

pyramid

host

predator

community

environ-

interact

prey

consumer

ment

mimicry

producer

decomposer

extinct

nutrients

scavenger

diversity

food chain

omnivore

species

ecosystem

food web

organism

NTJokes SUDOKU - Answer to No 5

Barber’s Shop

SUDOKU - No 6

3 7

2 7

9 5 5

6 8

How to play

Sudoku

ALIU EROJE

CHIEF CARTOONIST aliu.eroje@newtelegraphonline.com

The barber looked around the shop full of customers and said, “In 2 hours.” The guy left. A few days later the same guy stuck his head in the door and asked, “How long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looked around at the shop and said, “About 3 hours.” The guy left.

A guy stuck his head into a barber’s shop and asked, “How long before I can get a haircut?”

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.

A week later the same guy stuck his head in the shop and asked, “How long before I can get a haircut?” The barber looked around the shop and said, “About an hour only.” The guy left. The barber turned to a friend and said, “Sunday, please help me. Follow that guy and see where he goes. He keeps asking how long he has to wait for a haircut, but then he doesn’t ever come back”. A little while later, Sunday returned to the shop, laughing hysterically. The barber asked, “So where does that guy go whenever he leaves here?” Sunday looked up, with tears in his eyes and said, “To your wife at home”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Crime

How gunmen robbed for six hours, ate in victims’ home Ogijo, a border town between Lagos and Ogun states is a developing community under Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State. The town is under armed robbers’ siege, writes SHOLA ADEFUWA

esidents of Ogijo in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State have become petrified with fear, following series of robbery attacks witnessed almost on daily basis in the area. According to some residents who spoke with our reporter, the robberies started with the bandits tailing residents to their homes as they return from their offices, then metamorphosed into bandits knocking on residents’ door. They soon got bored with that method and resorted to another deadlier strategy. This time, they would come to victims’ homes, cart away all valuables, including furniture, into the victims’ vehicles and disappear. This latest stunt is giving residents sleepless nights. Many residents have become recipients of this new robbery style. A victim, who does not want his name in print, said: “They trail you when you’re returning from office. They’ll enter your home with you and rob you. Robbers, who used to knock, would just head straight to your door. They’ll knock and thinking the person might be a visitor, residents are tricked to open their doors. The robbers then storm into apartments and robbing unsuspecting residents. Now, they’ll rob you, collect your property and cart them

Okoye with some suspects

Abba

away in your car!” There is tension in the area as residents refused to mention their names and did not allow their pho-

tographs to be taken. According to them, they are suspecting that some of the armed robbers are living within the community. They also believe that some of the robbers, who are suspected cultists, are working with some unscrupulous police officers in the town. The residents implored Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Okoye Ikemefuna, to tackle the insecurity in the area with high level of seriousness, adding that the daredevil robbers have turned the community into Automated Teller Machines (ATM), where they attack and rob whenever they are financially down. Mrs. Adenike Bilewu, who braved all odds, recalled one of such robberies as she once a victim. She said that robbers stormed her home on September 25 and operated for over six hours. They even sat to eat and drink. She said: “I was in the sitting

CRIME QUOTE

JULIANA FRANCIS CRIME Editor

juliana.francis@newtelegraphonline.com

“Soldiers have been complaining that they are illequipped, in spite of the trillions spent on defence budget in the last three years. If you consider the foreign revenue Nigeria has generated since 1999, you will be shocked at how inefficient and corrupt PDP has been. Soldiers have been saying they are ill-equipped, yet trillions have been voted for defence in the last three years.” Presidential aspirant, All Progressives Congress, APC, General Muhamadu Buhari (rtd)

room, watching television with my niece when my husband came back from work around 10pm. We didn’t know that five men had scaled the fence into our compound and were waiting to follow him into the house. “They were armed with axes, machetes and two guns. After getting inside, they ordered us to lie face down. They asked us if we had huge amount of money in the house. While three of them kept watch over us, two ransacked the house. When searching, they found two car keys in the room and asked us to identify them. They packed all our clothes, wedding rings, three ATM cards, camera and other valuables into our two cars and went away with them.” Bilewu recalled that around 11:30pm, the bandits, who were operating unchallenged and without any sign of being in a hurry, became hungry and leisurely asked if there was any food in the house. “I told them we didn’t have any food, except fruits and drinks. They ate our fruits and washed it down with drinks. After taking their dinner, they asked us for our ATM Personal Identification Numbers (PIN). We gave them wrong PINs. Immediately, they had a short meeting and came back to us. One of them said, ‘two of our gang members will go and withdraw money from those accounts. If we discover that the PIN is incorrect, we will kill you all!’ Immediately, we gave them the correct PINs. After giving them the PIN, one of them told the rest not to go to the C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 4 2

Crime

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Security expert x-rays ways to avoid falling victim to kidnappers Temitope Sobowale

etermined to make Nigeria a safer society, renowned security expert, Dr. Ona Ekhomu has penned down his horrifying experience in the hands of kidnapping, highlighting steps on how to avoid falling victim of kidnap for ransom. Ekhomu who recently launched the book, “Kidnap: Face to Face with death,’ revealed that the book will give survival technics if someone is held captive. Ekhomu said: “The book is a seminal contribution to the field of security awareness and public safety. It is a compelling and riveting narrative of the events surrounding how I was kidnapped in October, 18, 2013 in Edo State. My wife was seized by the hoodlums in that ambush, but she was later rescued by Joint Task Force in Delta State. Unfortunately, two members of the travel party were callously murdered that day by the kidnappers.” Former Editor, Saturday Punch Newspaper, Mr. Kayode Olawuyi, said of the book, “It will give you tips on what and what not to do in the face of death-how to control the muzzle of a gun, among other skills. It will encourage and challenge you to a life of faith. It’s one book that everybody who cares about personal and corporate security should have and read.” The Director of Defence Information, Brig-General Chris Oluko-

Ekhomu

lade, who was at the book launch, assured Nigerians that the menace of insurgency in the country would soon be over. Olukolade, who stressed that the army needed the support of Nigerians, added that kidnapping was another form of terrorism. He also ceased the opportunity to urge Nigerian media to join hands with the army in ending terrorism in the country, noting that terrorists were now employing propaganda war. His words: “This book is one of the ways we can fight terrorism and kidnapping in the country. Every threat to terrorism is of concern to security planners and the army is not taking any crime lightly. Concerning the propaganda that is being spread, that the Nigerian army is withdrawing from the battle field

against, insurgents, I would like to say, that this is one issue that we’ll not want to join issues with anybody over. All we can assure you is that the operation to stamp out terrorism from the country is ongoing and it is achieving the desired results and at the appropriate time, we’ll see the reversal of what is presently a setback.” Chief Mike Emeka Uwaka, an aspiring governor of Delta State who was the chairman at the public presentation of the book, said that when security platform, “is developed for Nigeria, everything will fall back in place.” Mr. Babatola Adeyemi described the book as a good tool on security, which should serve, not only security experts, but also the general public. ‘‘This book is not meant for security experts alone, but also for students, law makers,” said Adeyemi. ‘‘It’s a good collection of amusing information, which can also help to get rid of kidnapping when the information contained therein is carefully and virtually applied by the people.” Commissioner of Police (rtd), Mr. Olayinka Balogun, who is now a consultant on security matters to Ogun State Governor, said that since everyone wanted to develop, people must be security conscious. Brigadier S.Yaro who represented the Chief of Army Staff said that there are many security challenges in the country. He added: “We must prepare to fight in case we find ourselves kidnapped.”

‘Robbers chased from Lagos are now here’ C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 4 1

bank, that he believed us,” narrated Bilewu. Satisfied that they had looted the house completely, the robbers left around 4am with their victims’ two cars – a green coloured Toyota Highlander with registration number FST502AJ and a black coloured Nissan Pathfinder with registration number KRD383BM. But before they left, they tied the entire household with ropes and abandoned them. By the time help finally came, it was already 9am. The woman said: “I quickly ran to Ogijo Police Station to inform them about the robbery. My husband also visited the bank, to check if the robbers withdrew all the money in our accounts. The money they cashed from our accounts was around N500,000.” Another angry resident who refused to disclose his name, said: “I tell you, armed robbers have turned our area into market square. What happened was that Ogijo usually had a vigilante group that monitors our area. It was then headed by

a very powerful man called Elekunmefa. The area was peaceful, but the leader of the group complained that the so-called indigenes were obstructing his duties in that most of the robbers are their children and when caught, their fathers stand against the vigilante group, even in the law court, to ensure they are let off the hook. “In annoyance, the man relocated to Shagamu and is today the head of Ogun State Vigilante Service. Immediately he left the area, armed robbery descended

The robbers may become scared at the presence of policemen. But the police are just there, behaving as if they have compromised

on the community, operating with impunity both day and night,” he said. According to him, two months ago, around 6pm, robbers attacked a poultry feed mill and carted away handsets, laptops and workers’ salary. He narrated: “After each incident, the police usually asked us the same question: ‘who do you suspect?’ People of Ogijo are tired of the police and such questions! Every month, we pay vigilante fee. But despite all that, the security in Ogijo is zero! I think the Commissioner of Police needs to come to our aid. Ogijo is an important town to both Lagos and Ogun states! Vigilante group here is trying, but they seem to be incapacitated. It has reached a level whereby people have started moving out of the area, seeking accommodation elsewhere. I pity those who build houses here because they have nowhere to go. As for we tenants, when we are tired of this place, we’ll relocate.” The residents said that they had constantly reported each robbery incident to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ogijo Di-

visional Police Station and the police repeatedly refused to do anything. A resident spat: “If the police can even start patrolling the area, we’ll feel a bit safe! The robbers may become scared at the presence of policemen. But the police are just there, behaving as if they have compromised!” Investigation revealed that Ogijo is a large community, having over 130 communities/villages under it, but with only one police station. “The DPO has been there for over six years now. Maybe he needs to change his tactics of security operation or ask for more policemen,” said a resident. “One police station is not enough to police Ogijo. We have over 130 villages or communities, depending on what you want to call it. Moreover, all the armed robbers chased away from Lagos State are hibernating in Ogun State and Ogijo in particular to seek safe havens.” Attempts to speak with the Ogun State Police spokesman, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi over the matter was unsuccessful as calls made to his phone numbers did not go through.

The 3rd Eye Social effect of Boko Haram on Nigerians (1) Ethelbert Oney

oko Haram took the central stage of our national discourse before the Ebola virus disease scourge. The issues arising from the sect’s activities could be felt anywhere in the world. We are a country with different religious and cultural backgrounds with Christianity and Islamic as dominant regions. Nigeria has remained the focus of the world powers. We started our journey of socio-political development according to the aspiration of our colonial masters, whose ‘divide and rule’ system of administration we became a victim. Although, there have remained series of social political challenges – political instability, ethnic problems, Biafra war, oil allocation saga, under-development, leadership tussle, national conferences and other manifold problems – yet we have remained as strong as ever, until the Boko Haram sect emerged. The Nigerian society was recently considered to be the most happy and peaceful society, but since 2002 after the birth of Boko Haram, and particularly the inception of the current administration, we have witnessed great twist due of terrorism on our social fabric and political system. Presently, Nigeria is confronting the Islamic sect in different manifestations. Terrorism is the result of extremism, which manifests in different forms. The ultimate sufferers of the terrorism are the innocent citizens, who have actually nothing to do with the complicated new extremist order. Nigeria became a frontline country in war against terrorism since the June 16, 2011 bombing of the Nigerian Police Headquarters, Abuja and the August 26, 2011 UN Building also in Abuja. These attacks have shaken our social fabrics, hampered our social network progress and shackled our political system. The sect has not only destroyed the social fabric of the society we live in, but also has harmed the world peace to a large extent. No doubt, this organisation upsets humanity on the whole and creates unrest in our society, particularly in the North East part of Nigeria. After the NPF and UN Building bombings, the phenomenon of BH drastically changed the social and geopolitical scenarios of Nigerians. Terrorism is like a tree, and extremism provides balanced food to grow the tree properly. The groups allegedly involved in terrorism are the branches of this tree. It is the materialization of the violence that has been an integral part of human history. Human beings have witnessed several furious wars and massacres in almostevery civilization and every part of the world from ages to ages. • Ethelbert Oney is an Intelligence & Security Expert ethelbertoney@zissltd.com (08067764342

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Business | Money Line

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

New oil price assumption realistic –Experts INFLATION Inflation, which has been relatively stable at around 8 per cent is imminent Adeola Yusuph

with agency reports

igeria’s new oil price benchmark of $65 a barrel is workable, analysts have said. The finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo –Iweala yesterday announced that the Federal Government had cut its oil price forecast on which its 2015 budget is based by 11 percent to $65 a barrel from $73, in light of lower world oil prices. The cut in the government’s oil benchmark was the second in a month, from an original estimate of $78 a barrel. Brent crude continued to fall on world markets, slipping below $69 a barrel yesterday. A much lower oil price will make it harder for the Federal Government to meet its spending plans next year, stretching its already shaky finances. “It ($65) is definitely more realistic,” said Bismarck Rewane, CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, adding that at about $12 lower than the actual “gives them more headroom.” But the next question is: what

are you going to give up, from a long list of expenditure items, especially in the run up to the election? That’s where the real trick will be.” Rewane’s view was corroborated by Bayo Alamutu, a petroleum engineer, who maintained that a fuse may ensue on which ministry is expected to bear the shock from oil benchmark cut. “Naturally, the ideal thing to do is to slash spending on recurrent expenditure. This can best be achieved if political office holders are made to cut down spending on their aides. With this, excessive spending would be cut and this will make the budget to easily absorb the shock from this $65 per barrel new cut oil benchmark,” he said. The allure of Africa’s biggest economy to foreign investors has been growing, especially for buyers of its attractively priced debt, but they worry about its tendency to squander its oil windfall in bloated government spending and patronage. Nigeria’s oil money is distributed between three tiers of government - local, state and federal. The federal budget usually assumes a conservative benchmark price, so money over and above that is deposited into an oil savings account But Okonjo-Iweala insisted Nigeria still has funds to pay salaries and keep debt obligations. However, with crude likely to fall, the government would

Credit Default Swaps to fund N59.5trn mortgage needs Godson Ikoro

lans are underway to enable insurance companies in Nigeria work in concert with the primary mortgage banks (PMBs) to design Credit Default Swaps (CDS) to aggressively fund the estimated N59.5 trillion required to meet the mortgage needs of Nigerians, Director, Special Insured Institution Department, Mr. Joshua Etopidiok, has said. He stated this while fielding questions from journalists at the just concluded two-day workshop on recent developments in the banking system, organised by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation, (NDIC) in Katsina State. Etopidiok, who presented a paper, on “Mortgage financing in Nigeria: issues and challenges,” said that in order to strengthen consumer protection, borrowers’ needs should be aligned with those of lenders if the market should thrive at the optimum rate. In his paper, he listed the challenges in the sector to include inadequate funding, delay in obtaining governors’ consent on mortgages, inefficient land tenure and titling systems, cumbersome foreclosures and protracted litigations and lack of uniform mortgage underwriting standards. He averred these challenges

have resulted in “dead capital” that requires urgent resurrection. Accordingly, he stressed the need to deepen the secondary mortgage market through the issuance of mortgage-backed securities (MBS) that may be credit enhanced by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) but leaving it neutral. He insisted that the Nigerian mortgage industry requires a vibrant primary mortgage market that is best served by well-supervised primary mortgage banks. In this regard, he said that to reduce financing cost for developers, local and state governments can de-risk projects by committing to purchase affordable units or guaranteeing qualified tenants, adding that land use Act should be amended to make land titling less cumbersome. More so, he said that there should be advocacy for strong systems and institutions to check abuses, adoption of proper organisation processes and uniform underwriting standards, macroeconomic stability, government intervention funding and concessions It would be recalled that Nigeria is faced with a myriad of challenges and foremost of them, is inadequate habitable houses for Nigerians especially the middle and lower income earners.

increase taxes on luxury items and ban non-essential government travel to cut expenditure. Okonjo-Iweala has sought to keep the benchmark low and accumulate savings, but the Excess Crude Account (ECA) has nonetheless declined by billions of dollars to around $4 billion over the past two years even while oil prices were at record highs, partly because of distributions to powerful governors. Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer, counts on oil sales for 95 percent of its foreign reserves, which fell to $36.8 billion by Nov. 28 from $44.6 billion a year earlier, according to latest central bank data. Other oil exporting countries including Russia and Mexico have also said they expect oil prices to be lower next year than

assumed in their budgets, which may be revised. For Nigeria, fiscal problems risk reigniting inflation, which has been relatively stable at around 8 percent, and are a headache for President Goodluck Jonathan as he seeks a second term in a presidential election in February. Nigeria depends on oil for around 75-80 percent of government revenues and a more than 30 percent drop in oil prices has hammered its finances since June. Meanwhile, the naira weakened slightly yesterday, staying below the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new target band. The naira is under pressure as falling global oil prices have depressed Nigeria’s foreign reserves and the central bank

is struggling to keep the currency in a new target band set last week when it devalued the currency by 8 percent to protect its reserves. The naira, according to Routers News, closed at N180.10 to the dollar, staying outside the new target range of N160-N176 to the dollar, and weakening slightly from N179.90 at Wednesday’s close. Dealers said trade was calmer yesterday after the apex bank intervened three times on Wednesday to lift the currency nearer to the target band. For the first time since the devaluation on Tuesday last week, the banking watchdog did not intervene yesterday to support the naira, but dealers said that did not necessarily mean that pressure on the currency was easing.

GTBank, Zenith, Access, Stanbic, Diamond’s buy ratings upgraded Consequently, RenCap said it has upgraded Guaranty Trust Bank by its buy rating to TP NGN28.70, (from Hold, TP NGN33.00). Similarly, the Zenith Bank buy rating was upgraded to TP NGN25.00 from NGN28.50), while Stanbic’s buy rating was upgraded to TP NGN35.40. In the same vein, Access banks buy rating was upgraded to TP NGN11.31 from NGN13.00) just as Diamond bank’s rating shot to TP NGN8.30). On the other hand, Rencap lowered its TPs for FBNH, UBA, Skye, FCMB and Fidelity to re-

Godson Ikoro

enaissance Capital RenCap has made adjustments to its forecasts on some of the banks (Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, Stanbic, Access Bank and Diamond bank) under its coverage. In a report made available to New Telegraph, RenCap said that following its extensive discussions with these banks as well as operators in other sectors, on the falling oil prices, it has conceded that the Nigerian macro outlook is challenging.

flect its forecast adjustments. The company said that given Nigeria’s significant dependence on oil, it has revisited the implications of recently weaker oil prices for Nigerian banks and conclude that this time is different to the 2009 crisis. The key sectors that led the Non Performing Loans (NPL) build-up during the last crisis, it said have significantly reduced in proportion, and risk management has considerably improved between the banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the nature of credit growth itself, is significantly different.

Economic Indicators As at M2* CPS* INF IBR MPR 91-day NTB DPR PLR Bonny Light Ext Res**

N14,737,618.7m N16,509,472.5m 8 0.0000 12 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$109.9 US$42,604,781,796.6

Description

TTM

4.00% 23-Apr-2015 13.05% 16-Aug-2016 15.10% 27-Apr-2017 16.00% 29-Jun-2019 16.39% 27-Jan-2022 10.00% 23-Jul-2030

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 2/5/2014 1/20/2014 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 1/20/2014 2/5/2014 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

Treasury Bills Maturity Date 08-May-14 07-Aug-14 22-Jan-15

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

Bid Spot ($/N) 163.28 THE FIXINGS –NIBOR,NITTY and NIFEX of February 6,2014

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Open-Buy-Back (OBB) Overnight (O/N)

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

4-Dec-14

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate or up to date. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information.

Bonds FGN Bonds

Price

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.05 16-AUG-2016 15.10 27-APR-2017 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.70 30-MAY-2018 16.00 29-JUN-2019 7.00 23-OCT-2019 16.39 27-JAN-2022 14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 27-Jan-12 14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

4.00 13.05 15.10 9.85 9.35 10.70 16.00 7.00 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 573.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 396.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 150.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,730.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,539.57

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

0.38 1.70 2.40 2.64 2.74 3.49 4.57 4.89 7.15 9.28 13.98 14.46 14.96 15.63 19.62

14.10 13.80 13.84 13.83 13.83 13.84 13.86 13.84 13.78 13.50 13.27 13.26 13.26 13.44 13.15

13.68 13.69 13.77 13.76 13.76 13.72 13.77 13.74 13.71 13.44 13.22 13.21 13.20 13.39 13.10

96.29 98.85 102.45 91.38 90.02 91.53 107.05 76.27 111.60 103.60 110.89 95.07 69.37 77.70 93.00

96.44 99.00 102.60 91.53 90.17 91.83 107.35 76.57 111.90 103.90 111.19 95.37 69.67 78.00 93.30

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 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.47 1.21 2.01 2.38 2.59

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

17.03 16.21 15.80 14.82 14.83

92.55 101.27 100.13 97.43 94.48

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

314.66

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.74

4.44

18.70

95.83

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.58

3.23

17.65

98.23

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.87

4.46

18.60

96.11

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.87

3.48

17.62

98.37

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.37

5.59

19.41

82.71

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.42

1.00

14.86

98.66

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.07

1.79

15.63

96.11

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.25

1.80

15.61

97.28

14.00

9.00

04-Oct-18

3.83

1.00

14.84

97.54

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018

04-Oct-11

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018

09-Dec-11

14.50

14.96

09-Dec-18

2.25

1.00

14.81

99.42

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018

12-Dec-13

14.00

11.13

12-Dec-18

2.25

4.78

18.59

91.69

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*ONDO

15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

14-Feb-12

15.50

27.00

14-Feb-19

2.63

1.00

14.83

99.38

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*GOMBE

15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019

02-Oct-12

15.50

16.23

02-Oct-19

2.88

1.00

14.83

101.66

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019

22-Nov-12

14.50

80.00

22-Nov-19

4.97

1.00

14.83

98.84

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019

12-Dec-12

14.75

27.51

12-Dec-19

2.85

2.74

16.57

96.03

A/Agusto

*OSUN

14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020

10-Oct-13

14.75

11.40

10-Oct-20

3.40

1.00

14.84

99.81

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020

27-Nov-13

13.50

87.50

27-Nov-20

5.98

1.00

14.79

94.98

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020

31-Dec-13

15.00

5.00

31-Dec-20

6.07

1.94

15.73

97.19

A/Agusto A-/GCR

*EKITI *NASARAWA

14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Dec-13

14.50

4.78

31-Dec-20

3.56

1.44

15.28

98.02

06-Jan-14

15.00

4.79

06-Jan-21

3.59

1.95

15.79

98.02

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

471.68 450.83

Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto Nil

GTB NGC

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.04

5.21

20.78

99.67

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.07

8.71

23.94

99.37

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.46

4.88

19.24

96.16

*FLOURMILLS

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.53

1.00

15.46

97.69

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.61

2.63

17.02

98.34

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.82

1.00

14.81

97.15

A-/Agusto

FSDH

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.89

1.34

15.14

98.53

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.82

1.00

14.83

95.84

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.84

1.88

15.69

104.31

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.85

3.48

17.29

98.35

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.01

5.20

19.00

98.78

AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.01

5.06

18.86

101.85

A/Agusto; A/GCR

UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.80

1.35

15.19

96.58

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.12

2.29

16.09

99.65

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.20

6.11

19.92

95.32

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#{r}

Nil

*DANA

16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.07

2.16

16.00

100.07

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.95

2.76

16.55

95.16

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.82

1.00

14.28

87.73

A/GCR

STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.82

1.00

14.28

94.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.08

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

139.96

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.19

1.00

14.84

88.51

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.41

1.00

14.85

89.07

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

24.95 22.15

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.55

5.36

106.16

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

107.18

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.66

4.39

101.51

102.40

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.85

5.71

103.47

104.45

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,555.74

Corporate Eurobonds B/Fitch; B-/S&P

AFREN PLC I

11.50 FEB 01, 2016

01-Feb-11

11.50

450.00

01-Feb-16

8.39

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.78

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

7.47

99.48

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

10.05

9.55

90.98

92.35

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

7.08

6.58

96.35

98.01

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.67

102.00

102.00 95.50

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

7.47

95.50

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

10.64

9.97

93.44

95.70

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.12

99.75

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

10.71

82.25

9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

10.33

10.03

95.13

96.50

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.28

92.88

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.22

8.81

96.75

98.75

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,760.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,596.15

**Treasury Bills DTM 7 21 28 35 42 49 56 63

FIXINGS Maturity 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 5-Feb-15

Bid Discount (%) 12.20 14.60 14.60 14.50 14.15 14.05 13.90 13.70

Offer Discount (%) 11.95 14.35 14.35 14.25 13.90 13.80 13.65 13.45

Bid Yield (%) 12.23 14.72 14.77 14.70 14.38 14.32 14.20 14.03

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 21.0833 15.0245 15.3885 16.0104

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

25.50

O/N

26.50

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 25.50 16.21

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

180.10 173.45 173.73 174.37 175.59 176.81

180.20 173.69 174.04 175.00 176.74 178.50

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

4,539.57 Description

Issuer

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.47 1.21 2.01 2.38 2.59

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

17.03 16.21 15.80 14.82 14.83

92.55 101.27 100.13 97.43 94.48

Agency Bonds 0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 09-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 20-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Business | Financial Market News 46 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

322.97

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

314.66

Sub-National Bonds

Stock market extends losing streak A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.74

4.44

18.70

95.83

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.58

3.23

17.65

98.23

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.87

4.46

18.60

96.11

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.87

3.48

17.62

98.37

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.37

5.59

19.41

82.71

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.42

1.00

14.86

98.66

A/Agusto

EDO

14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017

30-Dec-10

14.00

25.00

31-Dec-17

3.07

1.79

15.63

96.11

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

*DELTA

30-Sep-11

14.00

34.14

30-Sep-18

2.25

1.80

15.61

97.28

A-/Agusto; A-/GCR

NIGER

A/Agusto; A-/GCR†

*EKITI

LAGGARD

14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018

Sustained sell pressure *ONDO A/Agusto; A-/GCR *GOMBE takes toll on the local Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR LAGOS A/Agusto; A-/GCR *OSUN bourse A/Agusto *OSUN

A-/Agusto

*NIGER

A/Agusto; A-/GCR

Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR

LAGOS

A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro

KOGI

A/Agusto

*EKITI

A-/GCR *NASARAWA Stories by Chris Ugwu

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE he Nigerian equities TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

market for the fourth day plunged further GTB following massive sell NGC Nil Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC on the off that had persisted A-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS local bourse in recent times. BB+/GCR *CHELLARAMS Market watchers believe it A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO isA-/Agusto not yet time for investors to FSDH Corporate Bonds

Aa/Agusto

get respite investment 14.00 NIGER IIfrom 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 depletion, as low sentiment 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 might persist given the current 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 upset inGOMBE the 02-OCT-2019 financial market 15.50 14.50 LAGOS arising from22-NOV-2019 fall in oil prices, 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 devaluation of the naira and 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 the build up IVto27-NOV-2020 2015 elections. 13.50 LAGOS 15.00key KOGIbenchmark 31-DEC-2020 The indices 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 remained in the red, as activi15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021 ties in the shares of blue chip companies dragged down the equities market. Trading activities on the 13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 floor17.00 of NGC the31-DEC-2014 Exchange the pre10.00 UPDCalso 17-AUG-2015 vious day closed in the 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 negative following negative 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 sentiments investors. 13.00 NAHCOof 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 Consequently, the All-Share

Index dipped 04-Oct-11 79.89 basis 14.00points or 0.2409-Dec-11 per cent to 14.50 close at 14.00 33,175, 12-Dec-13 as against 33,255.67 re14-Feb-12 15.50 corded02-Oct-12 the previous day, 15.50 while 22-Nov-12capitalisation 14.50 the market of 12-Dec-12 14.75 equities depreciated by N27 10-Oct-13 14.75 billion27-Nov-13 or 0.24 per cent, as mar13.50 31-Dec-13 15.00 red. ket sentiment remained 31-Dec-13 14.50 Meanwhile, a turnover of 06-Jan-14 15.00 541.4 million shares worth N7.6 billion in 4,198 deals was recorded in the day’s trading. Just18-Dec-09 as in the previous day, 13.50 the banking 01-Apr-10 sub-sector 17.00of the 17-Aug-10 10.00 financial services sector was 09-Dec-10 12.00 the most active (measured by 06-Jan-11 14.00 turnover volume); with 29-Sep-11 13.00 303.7 million25-Oct-13 shares worth14.25 N5.1 bil-

lion by investors 9.00 exchanged 04-Oct-18 3.83in 14.96 deals. 09-Dec-18 2.25 1,514 11.13 2.25 Volume in12-Dec-18 the banking sub27.00 14-Feb-19 2.63 sector was largely by 16.23 02-Oct-19 driven 2.88 80.00 22-Nov-19 activities in the shares of 4.97 ET1 27.51 12-Dec-19 2.85 Plc and GT Bank Plc. 11.40 10-Oct-20 3.40 Also, other financial servic87.50 27-Nov-20 5.98 6.07 es5.00 sub sector,31-Dec-20 boosted by activ4.78 31-Dec-20 ity in the shares of FBNH3.56 Plc, 4.79 06-Jan-21 3.59 followed with a turnover of 471.68 68.2 450.83million shares valued at N460 million in 893 deals. The number of gainers at 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.04 the trading session 2.00 close of 31-Dec-14 0.07 3.61 24, while 17-Aug-15 0.46 was decliners closed 09-Dec-15 0.53 at13.62 29. 0.60 06-Jan-16 0.61 Ashaka Cement Plc led the 15.00 29-Sep-16 1.82 5.53 25-Oct-16 gainers’ table with 10.22 1.89 per

cent 1.00 to close 14.84at N24.58 97.54 per 1.00 99.42 share, while14.81 ABC Transport 18.59 91.69 Plc,4.78 Ikeja Hotels Plc, and Beta 1.00 14.83 99.38 Glass Nigeria 1.00 14.83 Plc followed 101.66 1.00 a gain 14.83 98.84cent with of five per 2.74 16.57 96.03 each to close at 63 kobo, N3.99 1.00 14.84 99.81 and1.00N1.68 per share respec14.79 94.98 1.94. 15.73 97.19 tively 1.44 15.28 On the other hand, 98.02 Presco 1.95 15.79 98.02 Oil Plc led the price losers’ table, dropping 4.99 per cent to close at N28.34 per share, while Nascon Nigeria 99.67 Plc fol5.21 20.78 lowed loss of 4.96 8.71 with a 23.94 99.37 per 4.88to close19.24 cent at N7.48. 96.16 Cham1.00 15.46 97.69 pion Breweries Plc shed 4.95 2.63 17.02 98.34 per1.00 cent to close at N9.40 14.81 97.15 per 1.34 15.14 98.53 share.

A/GCR

UBA

13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.82

1.00

14.83

95.84

BBB-/GCR

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.64

30-Nov-17

1.84

1.88

15.69

104.31

Nil

*C & I LEASING *DANA#{r}

MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.85

3.48

17.29

98.35

A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR

*TOWER#

MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.01

5.20

19.00

98.78

MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.01

5.06

18.86

101.85

14.00

35.00

96.58

C&I Leasing’s H1 profit rises by 53% AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR

*TOWER

II 22-SEP-2018 UBA &I Leasing Plc has posted Marine14.00 of UBA C&I Leasing Plc, 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 *LA CASERA 52.5 per cent increase in Wisdom Nwagwu, explained MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 *CHELLARAMS DANA II 1-APR-2019 Nil net earnings for *DANA the half that the16.00 company’s objective 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR NAHCO year ended June 30, 2014. is to explore the nation’s ma182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC The company in a filing rine sector. 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR STANBIC IBTC with the Nigerian VALUE Stock ExAccording to Nwagwu, TOTAL OUTSTANDING change (NSE) CAPITALISATION said its second marine sector is a specialTOTAL MARKET quarter net earnings grew ised industry that needs exSupranational Bond from N174.913 million in pertise and technical know10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P IFC 2013 to N369.005 million, ac- how. 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P AfDB counting for an increase of He described the vessel TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 52.5 per cent. identified as “Barrak DeTOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Its gross earnings rose by fender” as the latest, adding Description 3.6 per cent to N6.343 billion Rating/Agency Issuer that it contained a lot of gadduring the six months to gets including bullet proof FGN Eurobonds June 30, from N6.112 billion that would assist to counter BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P recorded during the compa- pirate attacks. 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 BB-/Fitch; rable period of 2013. Nwagwu added5.13that FGN JUL 12,C&I 2018 BB-/S&P The company had re- Leasing was poised to act as BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 BB-/S&P acquired a new secucently leading security service proTOTAL OUTSTANDING rity patrol vessel VALUE valued at vider for oil majors not only TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION $8.5million. in Nigeria but also beyond Manufactured by Viet- the shores of the country. Corporate Eurobonds nam based Damen ShipHe said the 11.50 unveiling FEB 01, 2016 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I yards Limited, theGTBANK vessel is was the latest in 7.50 theMAY series, 19, 2016 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P PLC I designed to strengthen the adding that the vessel could 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC marine operations of C&I 6.88 MAYmiles. 09, 2018 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLCmake up to 30 nautical 6.00is NOV 08, 2018 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC Leasing marine operations Nwagwu said: “It meant 10.25 APR 08, 2019 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II especially in the area of se- to service the oil major in the 6.25 APR 22, 2019 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC curity along the waterways. area of security provision. 8.75 May 21, 2019 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC Speaking at the unveiling 8.25built AUG 07, the 2020 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC Damen Shipyards 6.63We DEC 09, 2020 AFREN PLC III ofB-/Fitch; the B/S&P vessel in Lagos, Genvessel in Vietnam. com9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 B-/Fitch;Manager, B/S&P ACCESS BANK PLCmitted II about $8.5 million.” eral Petroltech A/Agusto; A/GCR

Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR

BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR

#{r}

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 8.75 AUG 14, 2021

Lafarge gets approval to acquire minority stake in Ashaka

22-Sep-11

22-Sep-18

3.80

1.35

15.19

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.12

2.29

16.09

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.20

6.11

19.92

95.32

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.07

2.16

16.00

100.07

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

5.95

2.76

16.55

95.16

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.82

1.00

14.28

87.73

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

9.28

92.88

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

9.22

8.81

96.75

98.75

afarge Africa Plc, one gered Mandatory Tender per cent drop in profit after 30-Sep-14 13.25 15.44 30-Sep-24 9.82 1.00 14.28 94.60 of the leading cement Offer (MTO), in accordance tax during the nine months 144.08 producers, has secured ended September 30, 2014. 139.96 with Section 131 of the Inthe approval of Nigeria’s Se- vestments & Securities Act In filings with the Excurities and Exchange Com- (No 29 of 2007) and Rule change, the company’s profit 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.19 1.00 14.84 88.51 mission (SEC)11.25 to proceed on 445 of the Securities4.41 & Ex- after tax went down by 37 per 10-Jul-14 12.95 01-Feb-21 1.00 14.85 89.07 a mandatory tender offer to change Commission’s Rules cent from N50.524 billion in 24.95 acquire equity stakes held by and Regulations, which rethe Q3 of 2013 to N31.757 bil22.15 minority shareholders in its quires that a MTO be made lion in the review period of Outstanding Value Issue Date Coupon (%) Maturityshareholders Date Bid Yield (%) Yield (%) Bid Price Offer Price majority-owned subsidiary , to all other of aOffer2014. ($mm) Ashaka Cement Plc. public company by any party Revenue however, rose & Yields N159.396 billion from The board of Lafarge Af- that acquires 30 per cent or toPrices 07-Oct-11 500.00 more of28-Jan-21 5.55 that 5.36 106.16 107.18 N154.169 billion previously , rica Plc said 6.75 it had already the shares in notified the board of Ashacompany ,’ a notice from the indicating a growth of 3 per 12-Jul-13 5.13 500.00 12-Jul-18 4.66 4.39 101.51 102.40 cent. ka Cement of its intention company to the NSE stated. 12-Jul-13 6.38 500.00 12-Jul-23 5.85 5.71 103.47 104.45 to proceed with the takeover Lafarge Africa said it Lafarge Africa Plc, for1,500.00would announce the terms bid by sending the tender merly Lafarge Cement Wap1,555.74of the Tender Offer, within documents to all minority co Nigeria Plc, had recently shareholders in Ashaka Ce- a week. announced the completion ment. On July 9, 2014, the comof its acquisition of Lafarge 01-Feb-11 11.50 450.00 01-Feb-16 8.39 8.39 103.30 103.30 This development is comgroup’s shareholdings in Lapany secured the approval 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 4.78 4.78 103.75 103.75 farge South Africa Holdings of shareholders to consoliing on the heels of its com25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 7.47 7.47 99.48 99.48 pletion of the cement operations Limited (LSAH), United 09-May-13 6.88block trade 300.00 date its02-May-18 10.05 9.55 90.98 92.35 Ce08-Nov-13 400.00 in Nigeria 08-Nov-18 7.08 SA, 6.58 96.35 98.01 in respect of 6.00 58.61 per cent with Lafarge ment Company of Nigeria 08-Apr-12 300.00 08-Apr-19 9.67 9.67 102.00 102.00 South African to emerge top Limited shareholding10.25 in Ashaka Ce(Unicem), Egyptian 22-Apr-14 6.25 500.00 22-Apr-19 7.47 7.47 95.50 95.50 ment and thus8.75 seeking to accement21-May-19 manufacturer not Cement Holding BV, Ashaka21-May-14 200.00 10.64 9.97 93.44 95.70 only in Nigeria, but in the quire stakes held by minority Cem Plc (Ashaka) and Atlas 07-Aug-13 8.25 300.00 07-Aug-20 8.12 8.12 99.75 99.75 09-Dec-13 6.63the company 360.00 09-Dec-20 sub-region. 10.71 10.71 82.25 82.25 shareholders of . West African Cement Company Limited 24-Jun-14 400.00 24-Jun-21 10.33 96.50 “This block9.25 trade has trigLafarge had recorded 37 10.03 (Atlas). 95.13

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

99.65

4,760.00

4-Dec-14

4,596.15

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 **Treasury Bills FIXINGS“AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” Money Market constitute professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided basis and may not be accurate or (Spot up to &date. We do not Foreign Exchange Forwards) DTMaccuracy, timeliness, completeness, Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) (%) Tenor Rate (%) on the basis of the Information. guarantee the performance or fitness for a particular purpose of anyBidofYield the Information, neither do NIBOR we accept liability for the results of any action taken FGN

7 21 28 Bonds35 42 49 56 Rating/Agency 63 70 77 84 91 98 112 119 126 133 NA 140 147 154 161 245 273

11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15 22-Jan-15 29-Jan-15 Issuer 5-Feb-15 12-Feb-15 19-Feb-15 26-Feb-15 5-Mar-15 12-Mar-15 26-Mar-15 2-Apr-15 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 NA 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 6-Aug-15 3-Sep-15

12.20 14.60 14.60 14.50 14.15 14.05 13.90 Description 13.70 13.80 4.00 23-APR-2015 13.60 13.05 16-AUG-2016 13.95 15.10 27-APR-2017 12.95 9.85 27-JUL-2017 13.90 14.00 9.35 31-AUG-2017 12.05 10.70 30-MAY-2018 13.75 16.00 29-JUN-2019 13.50 7.00 23-OCT-2019 13.70 16.39 27-JAN-2022 13.07 13.00 14.20 14-MAR-2024 13.65 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.95 12.49 22-MAY-2029 12.95

11.95 14.35 14.35 14.25 13.90 13.80 13.65 Issue Date 13.45 13.55 23-Apr-10 13.35 16-Aug-13 13.70 27-Apr-12 12.70 27-Jul-07 13.65 13.75 31-Aug-07 11.80 30-May-08 13.50 29-Jun-12 13.25 23-Oct-09 13.45 27-Jan-12 12.82 12.75 14-Mar-14 13.40 28-Nov-08 12.70 22-May-09 12.70

8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.00 23-JUL-2030 12.1493 18-JUL-2034

20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

*for the Amortising bonds, the average life is calculated and not the duration

12.23 14.72 14.77 14.70 14.38 14.32 14.20 Coupon (%) 14.03 14.18 4.00 14.00 13.05 14.41 15.10 13.38 9.85 14.44 14.63 9.35 12.54 10.70 14.44 16.00 14.20 7.00 14.46 16.39 13.80 13.75 14.20 14.52 15.00 14.18 12.49 14.34

Bonds

8.50 10.00 12.1493

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

4,730.13

**Exclusive of non-trading t.bills TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,539.57

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums

Description

Modified Duration Buckets

Porfolio Value(Bn) 0.00 FMBMarket 24-MAY-2015 Volume(Bn) 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM1,031.18 09-DEC-2016 1,026.68 0.00/16.50 LCRM1,045.67 II 20-APR-2017 951.30 0.00/16.50 LCRM1,010.11 III 06-JUL-2017 1,138.25

Agency Bonds FMBN

<3 ***LCRM 3<5

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

>5 Market

Issue Date

Total Outstanding

3,086.95

3,116.23

Weighting by 24-May-12Vol Outstanding

03-Apr-12 32.95 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-1230.53 06-Jul-1236.53 100.00

Coupon (%)

Weighting by Mkt 0.00 Value

17.25 33.40 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 33.87 0.00/16.50 32.72 100.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Bucket 24.56 Weighting

3.00 112.22 0.33 116.70 0.31 66.49 0.37

322.971.00

26.50

Tenor

REPO

Call(Yrs) TTM 1M 3M 0.38 6M

Rate (%)

Bid25.50 Yield (%) 16.21 16.05 14.10 16.82

Tenor

Spot 7D 14D 1M Offer Yield 2M (%) 3M 6M 13.68 1Y

1.70 13.80 13.69 2.40 13.84 13.77 2.64 13.83 13.76 :Benchmarks 2.74 13.83 13.76 * :Amortising Bond 3.49 13.84 13.72 µ :Convertible Bond 4.57 Management Corporation 13.86 13.77 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 4.89Government of Nigeria 13.84 13.74 FGN: Federal 7.15 Mortgage Bank13.78 13.71 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria IFC: International 9.28 Finance Corporation 13.50 13.44 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 13.98 13.27 13.22 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 14.46 13.26 13.21 O/N: Overnight 14.96 13.26 Company 13.20 UPDC: UAC Property Development 15.63Africa Portland 13.44 13.39 WAPCO:West Cement Company 19.62 13.15 13.10 NOTE:

Outstanding Value FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX(N'bn)

Issuer

Rating/Agency

25.50

O/N

Maturity Date

535.00 23-Apr-15 NITTY 573.89 16-Aug-16 Tenor Rate (%) 452.80 27-Apr-17 1M 13.7945 20.00 27-Jul-17 2M 13.9707 3M 13.9945 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 14.1207 300.00 30-May-18 9M 14.2738 351.30 29-Jun-19 12M 14.3905 233.90 23-Oct-19 600.00 27-Jan-22 396.68 14-Mar-24 NIFEX 75.00 28-Nov-28 Current Price ($/N) 150.00 22-May-29 BID($/N) 180.0125 200.00 20-Nov-29 OFFER ($/N) 180.1125 591.57 23-Jul-30 150.00 18-Jul-34

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE #

OBB

Rate (%) 21.0833 15.0245 15.3885 16.0104

Maturity Date

% Exposure_ 24-May-15 Mod_Duration

03-Apr-17 14.18 09-Dec-16 20-Apr-17 29.51 06-Jul-17 56.31 100.00

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Implied Yield 0.47

1.21 13.82 2.01 2.38 13.80 2.59 13.42 13.59

Risk Premium (%) Implied 2.63 Portfolio Price

2.27 117.7855 2.00 1.00 130.0245 1.00 100.3221 115.1429

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

180.10 180.20 173.45 Price 173.69 173.73 174.04 174.37 175.00 175.59 176.74 Bid Price Offer Price 176.81 178.50 180.70 184.25 96.29 96.44 188.59 196.85

98.85 99.00 102.45 102.60 91.38 91.53 NA :Not 90.02 Applicable 90.17 # :Floating Rate Bond 91.53 91.83 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 107.05 107.35 76.57 †: Bond 76.27 rating expired 111.90 N/A :Not111.60 Available {r} :Issuer in receivership103.90 103.60 110.89 111.19 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 95.07 95.37 UBA: United Bank for Africa 69.37 69.67 77.70 78.00 93.00 93.30

Valuation Yield (%) INDEX 17.03

16.21 1,118.72 15.80 14.82 1,101.00 14.83 1,172.94

Indicative Price YTD Return 92.55 (%)

101.27 11.8722 100.13 97.43 10.0998 94.48 17.2941

1,099.51

9.9514

314.66

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto

KADUNA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015

31-Aug-10

12.50

8.50

31-Aug-15

0.74

4.44

18.70

95.83

A/Agusto

*EBONYI

13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015

30-Sep-10

13.00

4.18

30-Sep-15

0.58

3.23

17.65

98.23

A-/Agusto

*BENUE

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-11

14.00

6.27

30-Jun-16

0.87

4.46

18.60

96.11

A+/Agusto

*IMO

15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016

30-Jun-09

15.50

7.37

30-Jun-16

0.87

3.48

17.62

98.37

A+/Agusto; A+/GCR

LAGOS

10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017

19-Apr-10

10.00

57.00

19-Apr-17

2.37

5.59

19.41

82.71

A-/Agusto

*BAYELSA

13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017

30-Jun-10

13.75

29.92

30-Jun-17

1.42

1.00

14.86

98.66

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

News 47

SOUTH-EAST

Chime steps down for Ekweremadu GENTLEMAN In a selfless move, Enugu governor keeps PDP intact by giving Deputy Senate President green right Uwakwe Abugu ENUGU

hat looks like the picture of candidates expected to emerge for the

National Assembly elections ahead of the People’s Democratic Party’s primary elections for National Assembly aspirants tomorrow played out at a shadow primary election held at the Government House, Enugu, through a Governor Sullivan Chime convened stakeholders parley for the two Senatorial districts in Enugu State. The Governor was said to have announced his withdrawal from the Senatorial race for the Enugu West Senatorial district,

which had pitched him against the incumbent Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu at the meeting a move which was said to have been made to bring about peace in the party. It was also gathered from Government House sources at the meeting, that the major reason for the governor’s decision to step down from the Senatorial race, was as a result of the recent intervention of President Jonathan Goodluck, in the rivalry between two political bigwigs in the state. According to the sourc-

es, the President’s truce made Chime tow the line of a statesman by shelving his ambition even after being screened by the party for the primaries. The truce made by the President’s intervention in the bitter political feud between Chime and Ekweremadu is said to have brought about peace into the affairs of the PDP in the state, a situation which led to the peaceful state assembly primary elections last Saturday. It was however learnt that some chieftains of the

party who are still not comfortable with the truce that has brought an end to the factional war within the party particularly, those siding with Ekweremadu are said to be spoiling for another version of trouble aimed at further polarising the party ahead of the primary elections. State Publicity Secretary of the party, Dr. Okey Eze, confirmed that the consultations took place, saying it would help to engender another peaceful exercise on Saturday.

L-R: Enugu State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Party, Comrade Alphonsus Ude; elected Enugu governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezea; Chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye and state Women Leader, Mrs. Ngozi Nwankwo, at the party’s governorship primaries in Enugu …yesterday

Okorocha puts Imo APC Tension in Ebonyi over PDP Reps’ primaries guber primaries on hold Charles Onyekwere Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

he scheduled governorship primaries of the All Progressive Congress (APC), across the federation failed to hold yesterday in Imo state owing to what is said to be the Presidential bid of the incumbent governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha. Efforts at getting any official explanations for the failure of the primary election in the state, was unsuccessful as at the time of going to press. But an impeccable source at the party office confided in our correspondent on strict conditions of anonymity that the failure of the primaries to hold, was not unconnected with the involvement of the state governor in the party’s presidential race. He said, “Though the committee that will supervise the primary election is already on ground, the primaries may not hold until next week when the fate of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s presidential

bid would have been determined. As you all know, the governor is eyeing either the presidential or vice presidential ticket of the party. It is too much risk to hold the Imo APC governorship primaries now. Putting it off is the only way to ensure that the governor does not lose both ways.” He noted that if the governor’s presidential efforts turn out positively, the Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere or his Chief of Staff, Sir Jude Ejiogu may get the mandate to fly the party’s governorship flag in 2015 There were actually conflicting views about the development in the state by APC officials. When New Telegraph contacted the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Emma Oguchienti, he told our correspondent that he was out of town and was not aware of the details of the exercise in the state. He could not tell the venue of the exercise or the number of aspirants for the primaries, He referred our correspondent to the party office.

ABAKALIKI

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries election for the House of Representatives slated to hold this week nationwide, is being threatened by uncertainty bothering on internal conflict that had engulfed the party in the past few months Ebonyi State. Reports said that the electorate in the State are apprehensive over the political impasse that had continued to rock party. The state had been engulfed in intra party tur-

moil for the past months following governor Martin Elechi’s choice of Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, as his possible successor in 2015. Elechi, said that the state government considered the situation as one that calls for concern in the political evolution of the state. “The time calls for faith and steadfastness in the confidence that every conflict has an expiring date and that the truth will never be a permanent casualty,” he said. Speaking through his spokesman,Dr. Onyekachi

Eni, while briefing newsmen yesterday in Abakaliki, the governor said that government was studying the input and recommendations made by a select group of stakeholders and elders of the state set up to resolve the crisis. “Apart from the efforts of the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party to resolve the internal conflicts within the party,a number of stakeholders and elders have tabled far-reaching recommendations before the state government which it is currently attending to,” he said.

‘Why we’re clamouring for Oduah’

former gubernatorial aspirant in Anamabra state, Dr Alex Obiogboru, has explained the reason why the people from Anambra North Senatorial district are clamouring for former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah as their choice candidate for the Senate, stating that it was because they believe she would give them effective representation.

Obiogboru, said the people have been disappointed by their past leaders elected into the Senate, some of whom he said could not even propose any bill for the four years they claimed to have served the people. This time, according to him, the people want a strong and intelligent politician with professional background that could effectively represent them by attracting

projects and other social amenities to the zone. He said Oduah, fits the personality they crave as their representative as they believe she would strongly speak for them with the knowledge of what the people of the district want, adding that with the experience gathered as a successful business woman and her stint as Minister of Aviation, she is the right person for the job.

Plot to attack NWC officials uncovered Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

group, known as concerned Ebonyi PDP youths (CEPY),said plot to attack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Working Committee officials designated for the conduct the December 8 2014 primaries for the House of Representatives aspirants in Ebonyi State has been uncovered. The plan was to attack them on their way from Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu to Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. The Ebonyi PDP Youths made the revelation yesterday in a press statement made available to newsmen in Abakaliki. Explaining that the ploy is tailored to disrupt the primaries and cause confusion among the party faithful and the state in general. National President of the group, Comrade Ebele Okum explained that they had remained peaceful in the face of the confrontation, noting that they would not sit and watch agents of impunity drag the State into anarchy.

Abia assembly speaker loses out Igbeaku Orji UMUAHIA

hairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State Senator Emma Nwaka, has charged successful candidates at the just concluded party primary for House of Assembly not to be carried away by their victory, saying that is just the beginning of the journey to the election. Nwaka stated this position, even as only eight out of the 24- member house were returned. The results showed that all the principal officers of the House including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker Leader and Whip were not returned to the House as 16 new members picked the party’s ticket. The old include, Hon Chukwudi Ogele, Isuikwuato; Hon Emeka Ejiogu, Umuahia North; Hon Martins Azubuike, Isiala Ngwa North; Hon Emeka Alozie, Osisioma Ngwa South; Hon Blessing Nwagba, Aba North; Dr Kate Maduako, Aba Central; Hon Blessing Iheasimuo, Aba South and Tony Mezie Nwaubani.

News

Crisis rocks Delta APC governorship primaries Dominic Adewole ASABA

he governorship primary election of the Delta State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday may ended unceremoniously. One of the frontline governorship aspirants of the party, Chief Fidelis Tilije, who was to engage Chief O’tega Emerhor, a former Senatorial candidate of the party, staged a workout, alleging fraud. Emerhor, lost to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, after the death of Senator Pius Ewherido. Before now, three aspirants, including Professor Pat Utomi, were shortlisted by the party. New Telegraph, however, gathered at the Oshimili South Local Government Arcade, the venue of the primary elections that Utomi, had since withdraw from the race. Tilije, surrounded by his teeming supporters yesterday, alleged that out of the 4,000 accredited delegates for the exercise, over 1,000 were missing. He vowed to seek redress in court against the winner of the election, as he described the fraud about to be perpetrated as a ‘rape of democracy’. “This is a rape of democracy and a daylight robbery. The accredited delegates here are not more than 3,000, whereas over 4,000 are supposed to be here.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

Delta: Uduaghan, Clark, Tompolo head for showdown

merging indications have revealed that a fresh showdown is looming in the Delta State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following disagreement over the party’s convention scheduled for this weekend. The battle is between forces loyal to the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan , and those loyal to three other party bigwigs; Chief Edwin Clark, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo and Senator James

£1.46m

Manager. According to sources, the three are plotting to ensure that the governor does not emerge as the senatorial candidate against their preferred candidate, Chief James Manager. It was also learnt that the three bigwigs of the party in the state, are unhappy with the clout the state governor has wielded in terms of favouring Anthony Obuh as the gubernatorial nominee, and have therefore pitched

their tent with Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, as their preferred aspirant. The senatorial primaries will take place on Sunday, December 7 while the gubernatorial primaries will follow on Monday December 8. Some party members were surprised by the latest moves on the part of Clark because they thought that tension between him and Uduaghan had normalised after years of frosty relationship. “We thought that the el-

N13.9m

The average yearly salary of Germany’s The total capital importation value of the Bundesliga players in 2013-2014 season. Drilling sector in 2008. Source: Soccernet.com Source: National Bureau of Statistics

der statesman had changed and was at peace with the governor,” said a party chieftain, who preferred to remain anonymous. Investigations, also revealed that the reason for the current rivalry is that the governor, who is the leader of the PDP in the state, is believed to control the delegates, the ploy, which said to be employed by the governor to emerge the senatorial candidate. That makes it almost a coronation for him to win the senatorial seat and

2.28%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Mauritania in 2009. Source: Itu.int

also for his gubernatorial nominee to sweep the state’s gubernatorial slot. “The problem is that they want James Manager not only to become the senatorial candidate, but they also expect that once he gets to the senate, he will become the senate leader,” said the party chieftain. The source continued, that “the calculation is that the senate leader and the president of the country can work together as kinsmen.”

The percentage of the population of women above 60 years in Bahrain in 2012. Source: Un.org

L-R: Rivers State APC governorship aspirant, Mr. Peterside Dakuku; Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Otelemaba Amachree; Deputy Governor, Mr. Tele Ikuru and Governor Rotimi Amaechi, at the APC governorship primaries in Port Harcourt …yesterday

Rivers APC adopts Peterside as guber candidate Bendel breweries’ workers demand three years arrears Emmanuel Masha Port Harcourt

overnor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has lauded the Senator representing Rivers SouthEast senatorial district in the Senate, Magnus Abe for his intellect, saying that the lawmaker was eminently qualified to be the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Amaechi, who stated this at the party’s governorship primaries at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, said that Abe and former Foreign Affairs Minister, Odein Ajumogobia were the two sons of the state he respects for their intellect. He also said that the adoption of Hon. Dakuku

Peterside, as the party’s consensus candidate did not mean that “my bosom friend (Abe) is not qualified, but because the party agreed on the choice of Peterside. “I told them that Magnus is qualified to be governor, the same way I told them that my deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, is qualified,” Amaechi said, adding that equity demands that the next governor comes from Rivers South-East senatorial district, where Abe and Peterside come from. He said that he expects Peterside, to continue where he stops as governor. The APC, has also officially declared Peterside, its governorship candidate after a primary where 3, 914 delegates cast their votes.

He was declared winner by the party chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya. In his acceptance speech, Peterside said he would make the state greater by consolidating on the achievements of Amaechi, just as he promised to make the state the envy of Africa. He said: “My desire to be governor of our dear state is a product of deep commitment to serve and a passion to expand economic opportunities for all our people. My aspiration is not about the pomps, pecks and priveledges of office, but out of a decision to make Rivers greater. “I have been challenged by this passion and believe that a greater Rivers State is possible if we all join hands.”

Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

ore than 300 distressed workers of the Bendel Brewery Limited, in Edo State, yesterday called on Governor Adams Oshiomhole, to revive the company which has stopped operations in the past three years

The workers also demanded for the payment of 36 months (three years) salary arrears and 39 months arrears accruing from 39 months workers pension scheme as well as nonpayment of leave transport grant (LTG) since 2009 owed them by the state government. Besides, they also

asked for the payment of their tax deductions from unpaid salaries not remitted to government; non implementation of National Joint Industrial Councils (NJIC), since 2010, non-payment of terminal benefits to retirees and non-payment of overtime arrears since July 2012 as well as several other demands.

Enahoro’s kins fear language may go extinct Oluwatosin Omoniyi

he Esan kindred of late elder statesman, Chief Anthony Eronmonsele Enahoro, have expressed the fear that their language and cultural values may go into extinction if urgent steps were not taken to ensure that it is vigorously taught in schools.

Rising from a National Conference with the theme ‘Esan & National Development’ held under the aegis of Ikolo Esan, an umbrella socio-cultural organisation floated to promote the interest of the people, recently in Ekpoma, Edo State, they expressed fear that the Esan language may die because their children

are not being sufficiently encouraged to speak the language. “Esan language is now threatened because it is not widely spoken, it is now dying because people believe it is some status symbol to speak English. Unless our people speak Esan, it will die like Latin. At least you can still learn and read Latin.”

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

News 49

NORTH

Shiite leader blames FG for killings in the north Muhammad Kabir Kano

ano State leader of Shiite Islamic Movement, Sheik Mahmud Muhammad Turi, yesterday rejected the Federal Government’s position that it has no hands in the ongoing bombings and killings in the North East

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part of the country, saying the government was responsible for the killings in parts of the north. The Sheik, who was speaking on behalf of the National Leader of the Shiite Movement in Nigeria in Kano, said: “Today in Nigeria, people cannot differentiate between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram sect, because the Boko Haram

The total area (in sq. km) of Fiji. Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

campaign is against Western education, and it is on record too that troops in uniform went and killed several university students for no reason. “I don’t believe that the government can exonerate itself, because if you look at the ammunition and heavy weapons been used by the Boko Haram sect, the very ragtag insurgents cannot

£28,011

The average weekly salary of Germany’s Bundesliga players in 2013-2014 season. Source: Soccernet.com

have access to such and cannot be responsible for what is happening.” Turi further added that; “Nobody will ever believe that the Federal Government is not behind what is happening, they should take full responsibility. Can they explain how soldiers in full uniform will storm our gathering; kill innocent people in Zaria and Yobe? Are they not

465

The number of pending asylum seekers of Luxembourg at the beginning of 2010. Source: Blatantworld.com

Boko Haram themselves? He said we need to speak out against tyranny, repression and injustice, ‘if government cannot protect life and property what is their business, what is the importance of that government that cannot protect lives and property, that government should quickly pack its things and go.” The group, which is

The percentage of the population of men above 60 years in Cape Verde in 2012. Source: Un.org

organising a mass movement from across the federation to Zaria on Saturday, noted that they are doing that as part of the commemoration of the death of the late Hussain, adding that they are not seeking police or any security permission, because they are relying on the freedom of gathering and association as provided by the constitution.

Alhassan is Taraba APC’s sole governorship candidate Sabiu Mustapha JALINGO

Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal (right), casting his vote during the APC primary election in Tambuwal, Sokoto State…yesterday

hree All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants in Taraba State yesterday boycotted the party’s governorship primaries for alleged lack of credibility. In a joint press conference yesterday in Jalingo, the aspirants alleged that the state executives of the party had refused to carry them along in the process leading to the exercise. The aspirants include, Dr. Suleiman Julde, Alhaji Tumba Ibrahim and Mr. Yusufu Akirikwen. Akirikwen, who spoke on behalf of other aspirants, said it was unfortunate that the party executive would hide the list of delegates and the national officers that had come to conduct the primaries from them.

Ahmed warns troublemakers about 2015 polls Niger, abode for human traffickers, says NAPTIP Biodun Oyeleye Ilorin

wara State governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed, yesterday warned troublemakers in the state to shun any tendency that may lead to violence as the 2015 elections approach. He said those promoting violence are “enemies of progress and must be shunned by all right thinking people and others who crave

good governance.” According to Ahmed, “Only those who are afraid to test their popularity in a free and fair election and are therefore frightened of defeat, sponsor thuggery and other forms of violence.” The governor gave this warning during the flag-off of the 17-kilometre Arobadi-Megida road project in Moro Local Government area of the state, estimated to cost about N911m. He also warned those

who may want to cause trouble, instigate violence or import thuggery into the state under any guise that “the people of Kwara reject them now and will reject them at the polls in 2015.” Speaking on road projects, Governor Ahmed said road construction and rehabilitation are key components of his administration’s strategic infrastructure development programme under the Shared Prosperity Initiative.

Assembly aspirant, INEC officers beaten at APC secretariat Cephas Iorhemen Makurdi

he Benue State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abba Yaro, yesterday allegedly invaded the state secretariat of the party with hefty thugs and beat up the House of Assembly

aspirant for Guma constituency, Mike Utsaha, to a pulp for contesting the election and emerging unopposed at the primaries. This was just as another aspirant for the House of Assembly elections for Gboko East and a close ally of the former governor of the state, Mr. Simon Abua, on Tuesday,

allegedly confiscated electoral materials and burnt them, rendering the primaries without result or evidence. When New Telegraph visited the APC secretariat yesterday, it was deserted, while efforts to get the reaction of the state chairman were unfruitful as his lines were dead.

Dan Atori MINNA

he National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) yesterday identified Niger State as a source location for the recruitment of children for labour exploitation. NAPTIP Executive Secretary, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy Agba, said children from the state are regularly trafficked to other

parts of the country for child labour. Speaking at a oneday community dialogue/sensitisation programme on human trafficking in Minna, Agba observed with dismay that the human traffickers go deep into the nooks and crannies of the villages, targeting unsuspecting families to source for their victims. Agba, who was represented by Mr. Ameaze Onigwe, lamented that parents are often in de-

nial as to the real effect of trafficking and child labour, stating that they often rationalise trafficking their children on the grounds that it will give them better opportunities. According to her, “We advise parents to have a rethink as these children are often exploited and passed through immense and dehumanising circumstances once they leave the comfort of our homes and the safety of our protection.

Lamido: Bureaucracy, nepotism bane of good governance Dahiru Suleiman Dutse

igawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has attributed the failure in leadership in the country to vices associated with nepotism, and bureaucracy, among others. “It is a pity that leaders of today have put personal interests above

public interests, hence the collapse in the system and in institutions.” Speaking at the Government House, Dutse, while receiving the 17-member committee of Arewa Youth Forum on a courtesy visit to him, the governor picked holes in the leadership of the country. According to him, antagonistic bureaucracy

has separated leaders from doing what is right and feasible; rather they pursue misplaced priorities with less impact on society just to achieve their personal interests. “Leadership today is far deviated from that of yester years due to antagonistic bureaucracy, resulting in poor governance, as well collapse of its institutions.”

News

WORLD | News

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Foremost poet, Osundare wins AU seeks donation to fight 2014 National Merit Award   Ebola in West African countries Anule Emmanuel

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday conferred on celebrated poet, Professor Niyi Osundare, the 2014 National Order of Merit Award. Osundare was decorated at the Presidential Villa as the 71st recipient of the award.   Jonathan presented Osundare with a medal and certificate during the brief ceremony. He is expected to

receive a cash reward of N10 million, which comes with the award. Jonathan, while speaking during the ceremony said the cash reward would be wired to the recipient electronically. Jonathan pledged that his administration will continue to stick with excellence and merit in taking decisions that affect the progress of the nation.  The President described the award as the highest and the most prestigious honour Nige-

ria bestows on its citizens. The award is given to Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora for their intellectual and academic contributions to national and international significance.   Jonathan also said that since its establishment in 1979, the integrity of the award has been preserved through a rigorous and painstaking assessment in fields of science, engineering and technology, medicine and humanity.

Court hears suit on AGN’s crisis December 17 Akeem Nafiu

ustice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court in Lagos will on December 17, hear a suit filed by a Nollywood Actor, Emeka Ike, against The Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), over leadership tussle.   Hearing of the case was stalled yesterday owing to the appearance of a new lawyer for the

AGN.   During yesterday’s proceedings, Ike’s lawyer, Malcom Omirhobo, expressed his reservations at the appearance of Nelson Amaechina, as the new lawyer for the AGN.  Omirhobo in his submissions over the issue told the court that Amaechina had no right of audience in the suit, on the ground that he was new and had never

appeared in the suit.   “My lord, I want to bring to the notice of this court that my learned friend has no locus or right of appearance in this suit and cannot be heard; he is an interloper. He has not been the lawyer appearing for the respondents in this matter, and there are no processes or documents before this court, evidencing a change of counsel’’, he said.

……..Jonathan charges volunteers on professionalism Appolonia Adeyemi

he African Union, AU, has appealed to the general public to contribute to the Ebola Fund specifically launched to raise financial assistance for the containment of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, in West African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Already, the AU Commission in collaboration with the Private Sector has raised more than $34 million U S dollars to fight the disease in West Africa. Nigerians who are interested in donating to the fund are directed to send a new message:

STOP EBOLA’ to 7979 on an Airtel telephone line and for each text message sent, the sum of N100 would be immediately deducted and remitted to the Ebola Fund. Giving the breakdown of donations from the private sector to the Fund so far, Chairperson of the AU Commission, Doctor Dlamini Zuma said, “we met with the private sector and realised as follows: MTN group - $10 million, Dangote group - $3 millon, Econet $2.5 million dollars, Afribank $1 million dollars, CocaCola $1 million dollars, United Bank for Africa $100,000 dollars, African Development Bank

$10 million dollars. Meanwhile, one of the leading service providers in the country, Airtel, donated 250 phones and lanterns to the volunteers. The company also promised every member of the contingent free airtime for telephone calls to their relatives. The donations were announced in Lagos state by Chairperson of the AU, Dr. Zuma at the launch of Africa against Ebola Fund. The fund came following increased calls for financial aid by the A U to bring continued agonies arising from the disease in the West-African region to an end.

Gemade withdraws from PDP senatorial race Chukwu David Abuja

ormer National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday announced his withdrawal from the PDP primary election scheduled to hold on Sunday.  Gemade stated this in a letter dated December 2nd, 2014, entitled

“PDP primary elections for Senate 2015: Withdrawal” and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.  New Telegraph gathered that Gemade, who is currently representing Benue North East Senatorial District on the platform of the PDP, might defect to the All Progressives Congress to actualise

his ambition of returning to the Senate in 2015.  In his letter, which was made available to New Telegraph, the politician, who is obviously aggrieved, complained seriously about lack of internal democracy in the party as well as nontransparency and absence of level playing field in the way the party’s primaries were being conducted.

Bi-Courtney tasks Minister on airports privatisation Wole Shadare

i-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, managers of the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2 have lauded the objective appraisal of the MMA2 as the best airport terminal in the country.  The Minister made the appraisal at a briefing with the media on Tuesday, further affirming

that none of Nigeria’s airports ranks among the best 10 in the world, stressing that he was not satisfied with the dismal rating of the country’s aerodromes. Just recently, Bi-Courtney invested over N1billion to upgrade its facilities after initially spending N500 million to bring the terminal to international standard.  Spokesman for BiCourtney, Dipo Kehinde

stated that Chidoka’s appraisal confirming MMA2 as the only Airport terminal with high rating in the country, listed the benefits of privatization and commended the Minister for his objective appraisal, his refusal to mislead the country on the true state of the nation’s Aviation industry, and the positive steps he has taken to arrest the decay in the sector.

2015: Why I want to govern Lagos, by Rhodes

gubernatorial aspirant in the Lagos State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, Mr. Akintoye Branco–Rhodes has rolled out a five-point agenda to better the lots of Lagosians, if elected as governor come 2015. The five-point agenda

includes qualitative education, affordable housing, qualitative healthcare, better mass transit and more stable electricity. Branco-Rhodes also promised to compensate and re-absorb all sacked LASU students as one of his priority on assumption of office.

Branco-Rhodes, who was the Lagos State governorship candidate of the National Advance Party (NAP) in 2003 election, expressed high optimism that his party the PDP, would clinch the coveted governorship seat by upstaging the APC.

Tents set up by pro-democracy protesters are seen at an occupied area outside government headquarters in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong student protesters consider pulling up stakes

ne of the main student groups leading pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong said yesterday it was considering ending more than two months of street demonstrations in the Chinese-controlled city. The Hong Kong Federation of Students will decide in the next week whether to call on protesters to pull up stakes despite having failed to achieve their goal of ensuring open nominations

in the election for the city’s next leader in 2017. “Some people wish to stay until the last minute and we respect that - but we cannot occupy without meaning,” federation spokeswoman Yvonne Leung told local radio. “We will decide within the next week whether to stay or retreat.” The federation is one of several groups driving the protests in the former British colony. Some members of another stu-

dent group, Scholarism, have gone on hunger strike while leaders of the pro-democracy “Occupy Central” movement surrendered to police on Wednesday and called on students to retreat. Student leaders held talks with Hong Kong officials in late October but failed to break the deadlock after the government said their demand for open nominations was impossible under the laws of the former British colony.

Julia Bunting named President of the Population Council

he Population Council’s Board of Trustees has selected Julia Bunting as the Council’s next president. Currently, Ms. Bunting heads the Programmes and Technical Division of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). She will assume the role of Council presi-

dent, March 2015. “For more than 60 years, the Population Council has changed the way the world thinks about important health and development issues. Julia’s leadership skills, tremendous contributions to our field, and deep knowledge of the issues that are central to the Council’s mission make her an outstand-

ing choice to lead this great organization,” said Mark Walker, chairman of the Council’s Board of Trustees. Ms. Bunting’s tireless commitment to the health and well-being of women, their families, and communities and her strategic approach to policy change have had significant global impact.

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Siasia clears air on Eduok’s age controversy

Sport News

NFF re-affirms Nigeria, Brazil friendly

International Sport

Sport News

Hewitt dedicates league win to Hughes

Sport Charles Ogundiya

ormer coach of the Nigeria Under-20 team, Tunde Disu, has blamed the Nigeria Football Federation and coaches for lack of continuity in the national team. Disu, who attributed the decline in Nigerian football to the inability of officials to integrate players that have shone in junior competitions into the national team, also blamed the coaches for their attitude of waiting for readymade materials for the national team. The former national teams’ technical director cited examples of some countries that have taken the advantage of their junior teams to excel in world

Did you know? That Neil Armstrong originally wanted to take a football to the moon - but Nasa deemed it to be un-American.

Disu faults NFF over continuity football. “If you look at some of the countries performing well in world football today, the core of their teams were the players that have made impact at junior level from the U-17, U-20 and U-23. “Only in Nigeria you will be hearing that a particular player is not ripe for the national team despite excelling at the junior level. “It is important to start integrating them gradually into the team because they would have gained a lot of experience playing in various junior national

Only in Nigeria you will be hearing that a particular player is not ripe for the national team despite excelling at the junior level

teams. You cannot say a player that was at the Junior World Cup has no experience,” he said. Speaking further, the Technical Director of the Lagos State Junior League said countries like Spain, Germany, and Switzerland have players that have excelled at junior level forming the core of their team. According to him, national team coaches are too lazy to develop new talents that would blossom to stars. Disu said: “Our coaches are lazy, some of them cannot point to a play-

er they have developed during their career as a coach. Sometimes they have claimed that time was too short for them to work on the players. “But if you look at some of the competitions Nigeria participated in, you will agree with me that they have the whole time to get the materials available ready for the competition. “AFCON comes up every two years while the World Cup comes up every four years. If you believe that period is too short for you to get the players needed to get you results, then you don’t have any business been in the national team as a coach.”

FRESH CRISIS HITS NFF Ajibade Olusesan and Comfort Chukwu

ust as Nigerian football was still struggling to come to terms with the disappointment of missing the Africa Nations Cup finals, another crisis has reared its ugly head as the Election Appeal Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation is divided over its report. After about two months of hearing on the appeals filed by Barrister Iyke Igbokwe who was challenging the outcome of the Warri elections, the committee has come out with two different reports. All members of the five-man committee except their chairman, Okey Ajunwa, on Wednesday, released a report validating

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

l Appeal committee splits as Football House dismisses Ajunwa’s reports

Pinnick

The NFF Executive Committee had the power to stop the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee from hearing the appeals, because the Electoral Code was clear on timing

Mikel (left)

the September 30 election that brought in the Amaju Pinnick-led board. But Ajunwa, on Thursday, addressed the press, dissociating himself from the earlier report and gave a verdict that nullified the election. Ajunwa, who is the only dissenting voice in the committee, also ruled that fresh elections must be held within seven days at a neutral ground, preferably the Federal Capital Territorial, Abuja. However, the Nigeria Football Federation has dismissed Ajunwa’s report, opting instead to adopt the

verdict delivered by the members of his committee. Speaking in Abuja on Thursday, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, praised the members of the committee for a thorough job, and opined that the dissension of their chairman has no effect. “It is a committee that was put in place, and the principle of committees is known all over the world. The chairman of a committee has a casting vote; when there is a tie among the members. In this case, all the other members

voted to uphold the NFF 2014 Elective Congress in its entirety, and that made the chairman’s dissenting voice to be meaningless. “The NFF Executive Committee had the power to stop the NFF 2014 Electoral Appeals Committee from hearing the appeals, because the Electoral Code was clear on timing. The appeals must have been submitted within 14 days after the election, and the hearing must have been done 14 days after the appeals. Everything was supposed to have been concluded, in this case, by 24th October 2014, as the

last appeal was presented on 10th October, but the first sitting of the committee took place on 29th October.” Meanwhile, the NFF has already conveyed the committee members’ report to the world football governing body, FIFA, and the continental body, CAF, according to a press statement released by the media director of the soccer body, Demola Olajiire. The statement also read that the minister of sports, Tammy Danagogo, also has a copy of the verdict. Similarly, the Senate and House of Reps Committees on Sports have also endorsed the reports of the committee. Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Adamu Gumba, said: “In any judicial body, the opinion of every member counts. The chairman merely reads the decision, which may be against his own considered view and position. A ruling is either unanimous or split, and even when the chairman’s position is in the minority, he has no choice but to read the majority decision.” Chairman of the House of Reps’ Committee on Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya added: “It is a moot point. The decision of the majority is what the House Committee on Sports will stand by. Any other claim is minority opinion that does not have any leg to stand on.”

SPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Siasia clears the air on Eduok’s age controversy

NFF re-affirms Nigeria, Brazil friendly lSays March 29 date still intact

Emmanuel Tobi

resident of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has dismissed a report in a section of the media that the much –anticipated international friendly match between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Selecao of Brazil scheduled for March 29, 2015 had been cancelled. “It is not true that the match had been cancelled. There is nothing like that. What people are probably not clear about is the fact that Brazil will play France around the same period. “Brazil will play France on March 26, while they will fly to Nigeria to play the Super Eagles at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium on March 29. The two games and dates are

Eduok will be gladly welcomed to fight for a spot in the U-23 team being assembled once he resolves the age irregularities and controversies around him. “The player came and never trained with the team as he said he was down with injury, and sought for permission to go and get himself properly treated before he returned; a request which I granted as I want the best from my players.” Siasia told journalists in Abuja. Speaking further, the coach said he invited Eduok based on the fact

quite different,” Pinnick mbattled Dolphins clarified on Thursday. FC Striker, Emem He stated further: Eduok, has received “We are working hard the backing of the coach at ensuring that we utiof the Nigeria U-23 team, lise all the FIFA–free Samson Siasia, concerndays for international ing the age controversy he friendlies next year. is currently enmeshed in. There are about 10 of Siasia absolved Eduok those dates and we will of any blame as he finget opponents for the Sugered Dolphins FC and per Eagles for each and the League Management everyone of them. Company for improper “We have firmly put handling of the vital inforbehind us the Eagles’ mation of the new Super failure to qualify for Eagles sensation. the 2015 Africa Cup of According to Siasia, Nations. Our focus now Eduok is on building a much stronger team through giving opportunities to foreign–based players who had either been on oach Samson Siasia has in- bers of the victorious 2013 FIFA U-17 the fringes or previously vited 47 foreign based play- World Cup Golden Eaglets team shut out, and also takers with Manchester City led by captain Musa Muhammad, ing a good look at those striker Kelechi Iheanacho lead- Isaac Success, Taiwo Awoniyi, players on the domestic ing the pack to the camp of the Musa Yahaya, amongst others. scene who have shown national U-23 men’s football team. All the players are expected some promise.” The list includes former mem- to arrive the FIFA Goal Project camp of the team from Saturday, December 6 with the NFF stating that they will not be responsible for the flight tickets of those invitThe Nigeria internation- les injury which left him out ed for the screening exercise, but ull City manager Steve Bruce has saluted Nige- al’s superb individual effort for a year. will refund those selected after the “In my experience it takes exercise. ria winger Sone Aluko after cancelled out Romelu Luan impressive display in a 1-1 kaku’s first-half goal, which another eight-10-12 months Other notables invitees are draw at Everton on Wednes- had put a rampant Everton to get back playing, especial- Dominic Iorfa (Wolves FC, Engdeservedly ahead. ly when you rely on twisting land), Moses Odubajo (Brentford day night. “It’s been a frustrating and turning like Sone. Aluko came off the bench FC) Sunday. Abalo (Rio Ave, Portu“It’s good to see him repro- gal), Michael Olaitan (Olympiakos, early in the second half and time for Sone, but now he’s soon after left Sylvain Dis- 100 percent fit - which has duce the form from when, for Greece), Lucky Omeruo (Birkirkara tin chasing shadows in the always been the big issue,” me, he was easily the best FC Malta), Imoh Ezekiel (Alarabi player in the Championship penalty area before finishing said Bruce. SC, Qatar) and Alex Iwobi( Arsenal “He had a horrible Achil- when we got promoted.” past Tim Howard. FC, England).

that he knew the player was part of the team country’s at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup and is aware that he is under the stipulated age. “But when his name was sent to the for clarification, like we did with the names of all the players invited from the Premier League, we noticed that the date of birth on his license sent to the LMC showed him to be 23 years of age, so the problem is between his club and the LMC, which I think should be sorted out in the interest of the player.”

…invites Iheanacho,46 others for trials

Hull City boss hails super-sub Aluko

Ajunwa’s verdict, a futile exercise -Committee members Comfort Chukwu Abuja

member of the Nigeria Football Federation Election Appeal Committee, Dotun Coker, has described the ruling of the chairman of the committee, Okey Ajunwa, as a mere academic exercise in futility. Two members of the committee - Coker and Tunde Aderibigbe – told New Telegraph on Thursday that the action of Ajunwa was a calculated attempt to embarrass the entire committee and the NFF. Ajunwa singlehandedly addressed the media on Thursday nullifying the election of NFF president, Amaju Pinnick and his vice, Seyi Akinwunmi. He went ahead to order for a bye election within the next seven days in Abuja. However, Coker and Aderibigbe argued that Ajunwa had no right to make pronunciation all alone on behalf of all other members. Coker said: “The committee consists of three members and two substitute members. The chairman does not have the right to nullify those elections, whereas the members endorsed the elections. Ajunwa’s ruling could not have been legitimate

since the two other members did not agree. “The members of the committee came up with a verdict upholding the elections. Ajunwa was expected to act in the capacity of the chairman of the committee, where the two sides disagree but what he has done is against the electoral code.” Aderibigbe who also spoke to our correspondent, said the committee on Wednesday passed a vote of no confidence on Ajunwa over misconduct. He said: “On the 13th of November, Ajunwa told us that Shehu Dikko withdrew his petition and he signed on it, only for us to demand for the withdrawal letter from him on Wednesday and he told us that he had returned it to Dikko. That was strange. How can a professional do that? His conduct was suspicious. We mandated him to provide the letter and prepare his report, we waited for him on Wednesday, he didn’t show up, so we presented our report to the NFF.” “Every petition was looked at extensively but he went back to do something else. A lawyer of his repute does not know the procedure of an appeal committee which the NFF constituted. The first thing he should have done was to present his report to the NFF but he went to the public, that speaks volume.”

Iwobi

1960BET partners League Bloggers Award Charles Ogundiya

ne of the leading Sports betting company in Nigeria, 1960BET, has come on board as the headline sponsor of the 2014 edition of the League Bloggers Award. The end-of-season event billed to hold at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, on December 15 will honour outstanding play-

ers, coaches and clubs in the recently-concluded Nigeria Professional Football League 2013/14 season. The CEO of LBA, Ojeikere Aikhoje, described the partnership with the industry-leading bookmaking firm as a win-win situation for the two organisations. “We have entered into a game-changing partnership with 1960BET for the

2014 award. It is a start of an enduring relationship with 1960BET for us at the LBA. The partnership with 1960Bet is a win-win situation for both parties. “It is a special kind of relationship that will surely open new vistas in our goal to reward the best actors in the Nigeria Professional Football League,” Aikhoje said.

UjiricelebratesMandelawithall-starbenefit Ifeanyi Ibeh

oronto Raptors President and General Manager Masai Ujiri will honour his hero Nelson Mandela alongside some of the world’s biggest sports icons on Friday night in Toronto (early hours of Saturday Nigerian time), on the first anniversary of the late icon’s passing. The event will be an evening-long celebration of the late former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner as well as a fundraiser for the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Ujiri’s organization, Giants of Africa.

The tribute will begin with a panel discussion inside the Toronto Raptors practice court before the team tips off against the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA fixture. At the event, NBA legends Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson and Dikembe Mutombo, along with UN Goodwill Ambassador and 1999 Miss Universe winner Mpule Kwelagobe, will discuss Mandela’s determination to inspire positive change and teach the world to rise above adversity regardless of situation. “We are fortunate to honour Mandela this Friday,” said former Nigeria international, Ujiri, in a press statement.

Ujiri

“So much of what the world needs and deserves is what this great man was about. He knew that sport had the power to change the world and what a better place to celebrate this man then at this game in Air Canada Centre.”

INTERNATIONAL SPORT 53

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Hewitt dedicates league win to Hughes leyton Hewitt has paid tribL ute to Phil Hughes by dedicating his International Pre-

Pellegrini hails ‘improving’ Aguero

anchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini believes the sky is the limit for in-form striker Sergio Aguero. The Argentina international was at his brilliant best at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday, scoring two goals and setting up another as City came from behind to beat Sunderland 4-1 in the Premier League. Aguero now has 19 goals in all competitions this season and Pellegrini believes there is plenty more to come from the former Atletico Madrid man. He said: “I am very happy for Kun because he is working hard. I always say he is too young. He is only 26 years old and I think he can improve every day. He wants to do it and at this moment, it is difficult for defences to stop him. He is playing a very high performance but there are so many years left for him to strengthen. “Before he started scoring in these games in a row, I thought he was in the top five players in the world. I am very happy for him because he’s play-

ing well as well as scoring.” The Chilean however added: “This team is not just about Aguero though. He is a very good player but the team have come here again and played the same way we did last season - we dominated the game and we have players in high performance.

Aguero

Police raid Sneijder’s home

he home of Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder was reportedly raided by police last week. Dutch media are speculating that the authorities were searching for drugs in the property, which is owned by Sneijder and his wife Yolanthe. Reports have claimed that police didn’t find anything incriminating during their

SportL

search of the building in Vleuterweide, but the public prosecutor would not comment on the reasons behind the raid. According to Dutch television show Shownieuws, Sniejder and his other half are considering taking legal action against the police. The search is said to have been carried out last Friday night.

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mier Tennis League victory to the Australia batsman. The 25-year-old passed away at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney last week, just two days after being struck by a ball during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Former world number one Hewitt, who partnered countryman Nick Kyrgios to help Singapore Slammers on the way to their first victory of the event, revealed after his triumph that Hughes’s funeral, which took place on Wednesday, hit him hard.

ifestyle

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE Team P GD 1 Chelsea 14 22 2 Man City 14 17 3 Southampton 14 14 4 Man United 14 8 5 West Ham 14 6 6 Arsenal 14 7

Pts 36 30 26 25 24 23

7 Swansea City 8 Liverpool 9 Newcastle 10 Tottenham 11 Everton 12 Aston Villa 13 Stoke City 14 Sunderland 15 C/Palace 16 West Brom 17 Hull City 18 Burnley 19 QPR

14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 14

22 20 20 20 18 16 15 14 13 13 12 12 11

20 Leicester

5 0 -2 -3 2 -10 -4 -10 -5 -6 -6 -12

-13 -10

Late Hughes

“I sat and watched the whole funeral – it was one of the toughest things I’ve sat through,” he told reporters in Singapore. “I can’t speak how tough his family and friends are doing at the moment and the Australian cricket team but it’s really knocked the whole nation, not just the sport but the people in Australia as well.

Albertini backs Torres to shine

ormer AC Milan and Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini is confident misfiring striker Fernando Torres can rediscover his goalscoring touch in the near future. Torres joined Milan this summer on a two-year loan deal from Chelsea but has failed to replicate the form he displayed during his time

Torres (left)

Waidi Akanni Ex-Super Eagles defender

Best food: Eba with Egusi Soup Best drink: Coke Best colour: White Best city visited: Cape Town, South Africa Best club supported: Arsenal and NEPA FC of Lagos Best car: Mercedes Benz Best designer: Vivid Imaginations Best perfume: Jean Paul Gaultier Best music: Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) Best actor: Dezel Washington Best actress: Jennifer Lopez Best competition ever attended: Moscow 85 World Youth Championship (U-20) Best Jersey No: 4 Best Boot: Adidas State: Lagos State Hometown: Surulere Best Match: 3-2 win against Russia at Moscow 85 WYC Worst Match: Nigeria 1-0 loss to Cameroon in Yaoundé in 1989 (1990 World Cup qualifier)

with both Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. The Spain international has scored just one goal in ten league appearances for the Rossoneri and has not started in Milan’s last three Serie A games. “If you want to see the real Nino (Torres), then you have to wait,” Albertini told Tuttosport. “The current Torres is not the one we all knew. He is coming off two seasons in which he played very little, so it’s not easy to find oneself after that. “Fernando must be aware of what he has gone through, he must rediscover self-confidence and belief in himself not just through words, but through action.

SPORT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Guinea football thrives despite Ebola adversity

ew would disagree that the Guinean national team had to overcome more than its fair share of obstacles in recent times. Most glaringly, the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus forced the Syli Nationale to play their home games of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at a neutral venue. But when the 16 best African teams gather early next year in Equatorial Guinea to contest the finals of the showpiece event of African football, Guinea will be amongst them, having been drawn into Group D along with the west African trio of Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Cameroon. The achievement of qualifying is not the only good news for their football fans as the side has climbed in the FIFA/CocaCola World Ranking and the team is currently ranked 38th in the world – a position they last obtained in January 2009. Rebuilding process Guinea’s highest-ever standing was in August 2006, when they were ranked 22nd in the world. Since then the football fortunes in the country have slumped and in January of this year they

were ranked 61st globally. For Coach Michel Dussuyer, the recent improvement - the team climbed 17 places from 55th in October to 38th - is the result of a planned strategy. “Since the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012, we had to rebuild the team. This occurred for many different reasons. Some players retired, others had long-term injuries, others lacked game time. As a result, we now have a much younger team than three years ago, but it helped us create a new momentum for the Syli Nationale.” In October, Guinea’s chances of qualifying for the AFCON finals seemed remote. The team was at the bottom of Group E and needed to win their two remaining matches against Togo and Uganda. The Togolese were the first to feel how seriously the Guineans were of reaching the finals as Seydouba Soumah scored a hat-trick and the visitors won 4-1 in the Togolese capital of Lome. The final group game against Uganda, which was played in Morocco, was a winner-takeall affair, as both sides would be guaranteed a place at the finals with a victory. The Cranes though had a slight

Guinean players jubilating after scoring a goal.

advantage as they had beaten Guinea at home in Kampala and thus would have qualified with a draw. Again it was Soumah who scored one of the goals as Guinea secured the all-important 2-0 victory. Dussuyer believes qualifying for the finals is particularly important given the difficult situation the country finds itself in due to the Ebola epidemic. “Making it to the finals can give some joy to Guineans. We always had in the back of our minds to give some joy to the people of Guinea. The epidemic struck the country hard. People had terrible times, we knew the national team could warm their hearts. I had lots of messages of support after we qualified. It was a real blast of joy in the country, especially because we were in a difficult situation before the last two games.” An eye to the future

The French coach, who is in his third stint with the national team, is confident that the improvements made to football in the country are sustainable. “Football has changed for the better during the last two or three years. There were new investments in clubs and the teams signed foreign players, who brought extra quality to the League. So standards have been rising, and young Guinean players found a new motivation and could get better working conditions and increased wages. This effort now has to be confirmed on the long term.” Dussuyer, who will be coaching a team for the fourth time at the Cup of Nations finals, having twice before been there with Guinea and 2010 with Benin, says that they want to go further than at their last appearance in 2012. “Our first goal is to

reach the quarter-finals. It is possible, provided we remain very humble and focused. I want my team to be true to our identity and our principles, which are to produce good football, to play our game and not to “adapt” to our opponents. We need to channel the desire and the generosity of the squad.” Dussuyer believes that their experience in overcoming all the obstacles to qualify for the finals will come in good stead in Equatorial Guinea. “We even had to play our home matches at a neutral venue. But we knew this from the start and realised that it would be more difficult to qualify. I think it helped me bond the team together. In a certain way, we turned adversity into strength and we want to use this in Equatorial Guinea,” the coach said. Culled for FIFA.com

NEW TELEGRAPH FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Tear down those walls Vantage

Point

EMEKA MADUNAGU emeka.madunagu@newtelegraphonline.com

“M

r. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall.” These were the unforgettable words of then United States President Ronald Reagan in 1987 as he advised his Soviet Union counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev, to destroy the Berlin Wall. At the time, the Berlin Wall separated West Germany from East Germany. As the wave of glasnost – openness and freedom – and perestroika – economic restructuring – swept through Communist Europe in the mid-1980s, it was clear that the waves would soon hit the Berlin Wall. For those conversant with history, the Berlin Wall was built in 1961 by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) to cut off access by land from West Berlin (and by extension West Germany). It was the Socialist East Germany’s way of protecting its ideological values and blocking out any infiltration from the West. It was also its way of preventing its people from crossing over to the West. In effect, the Berlin Wall was the dividing line between Capitalism and Communism. It was also the symbol of the Cold War, which sharply affected how nations conducted their domestic and foreign policies. Thousands who tried to cross the line lost their lives. However, the time came when the people of East

Germany could no longer bear the sight of a wall that divided them from their kith and kin across the border. Gradually, Communism began to lose its allure and Capitalism began to gain global appeal. The people demanded a more liberal system while Communism no longer possessed the economic power to sustain its mass-oriented objectives. Gradually, East Germany was forced to allow its citizens to cross the dividing line to visit the more prosperous West Ger many. Of course, it was only a matter of time before the Berlin Wall crumbled and Germany was once again united. The circumstances that led to the construction of the Berlin Wall will form the topic of another discussion. But suffice it to say that Nigerians need to learn from the destruction of this wall and apply the same lessons back home. Too many things still divide us as a people and we must begin to tear down these walls to attain our full potential as a nation. Let me use this illustration: It was wrong for the National Assembly to have been constructed with forbidding walls in the first place. The National Assembly is the bastion of democracy because it is the national headquarters of the totality of all Nigerians. All constituencies in Nigeria gather under one roof (or dome) at the National Assembly to delib-

It’s so galling that Nigerian politicians, in the Fourth Republic, have deliberately deepened our fault lines, for selfish political advantage. Instead of tearing down every Berlin Wall, they have made them stronger and higher erate on issues affecting them as one nation. Also, many protests that led to momentous decisions in the Fourth Republic took place at the National Assembly. One of the most striking was the protest by the Save Nigeria Group for the National Assembly to invoke the Doctrine of Necessity to make Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President, in the absence of ailing President Umaru Yar’Adua. It was strange that the federal lawmakers never saw the anomaly in the construction of the National Assembly. They perhaps felt comfortable with the fact that there were enough walls and big gates as well as armed policemen to keep ‘unwanted’ ordinary Nigerians away. Recall how policemen and protesters had had a running battle at the gates of the National Assembly on different occasions. It was all good until November 19, 2014, when the same police that had kept guard at the gates of the National Assembly elected to keep the lawmakers away. It was unbelievable that the policemen lobbed canisters of teargas at the lawmakers that accompanied the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to the National Assembly.

Right before their eyes, what they had accepted as okay for ‘ordinary’ Nigerians was being visited on them! Thus, for the first time, the National Assembly decided to set up its own police and place the security of the complex under the watch of the Sergeant-at-Arms. On a visit to the United States Congress in 2008, I saw a complex ready to welcome lawmakers and visitors alike. Even with the enhanced security presence, in the wake of the 2001 terror attacks, the U.S Congress was still a welcoming place to visit. Can the same be said of the Nigerian National Assembly? Well, the essence of this piece is for our leaders to begin to examine areas where they have either created or strengthened Berlin Walls of division. It’s so galling that Nigerian politicians, in the Fourth Republic, have deliberately deepened our fault lines, for selfish political advantage. Instead of tearing down the Berlin Walls, they have made them stronger and higher. Using religion, ethnicity, class and other agents of segregation, our leaders have kept the people deeply divided. The deportation saga which some state governments engaged in readily comes to mind. It was so shocking reading how fellow Nigerians were justifying the deportation of their compatriots. It is so bad that 54 years after independence, we still think in primordial terms. You hardly find people talking about the collective or national interest these days. As I watched our respected lawmakers scaling the gates of the National Assembly on November 19, what came to mind was the fact that they were learning their lesson the hard way. Had they made access to the National Assembly much easier, they would not have had to suffer the indignity of being shut out of their chambers. It is not too late for Nigerian leaders to drop their divisive tendencies and work to unite the people. Nigerians should also resist the temptation to hide behind any Berlin Wall erected by politicians and ethnic and religious champions to keep us permanently divided. As we move through the election season, one thing should be clear in our minds: national interest. If we destroy our nation on the altar of divisive politics, we will not have any other country to call our own. I often wonder why people would engage in bloody fights on behalf of politicians. Just take a look at how people have been killed or attacked since the primaries of political parties began. Meanwhile, the same politicians are busy imposing their children and wards on the electorate. One Berlin Wall Nigerians must tear down is that of ignorance. I want to implore Nigerians to closely examine what politicians are offering them in the form of manifestoes. I have seen some ridiculous propositions that I wonder what motivates the thinking of politicians. Do they think Nigerians are fools when they make some laughable promises? Too often, we allow ourselves to get carried away by ethnic or religious affinities with politicians that we elect to overlook their glaring deficiencies. That’s why you would find people arguing for a president from one part of the country or the other as if that is the cure-all for our problems.

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

They say marriages are made in Heaven. But so is thunder and lightning.

– Clint Eastwood

Leisure & Puzzle

Emeka Madunagu Tear down those walls

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The ‘two worlds’ in Nigeria

he announcement of a new austerity regime by the finance minister Dr. Mrs. Okonjo Iweala, who also doubles as Coordinating Minister for the Economy, was both depressing and sobering to the majority of Nigerians. I have always felt, despite pretensions by many to the contrary, and in spite of the bogus claims attending the so called rebasing of Nigerian Economy, that the country for several years now has been headed, definitely so, towards a tragic crash. The Naira, Nigeria’s currency is on a free fall. Nigeria was touted to have the largest economy in Africa, and the 26th largest in the world. The spurious statistics that indicated growth in some aspects of the economy had not factored in the dwindling living standards of the citizenry and the pauperisation of the masses. The manifest symptoms of impending catastrophe are all too transparent not to be noticed. The currency is devalued, and prices of goods and services have skyrocketed. The magic we thought that the neo-liberal economists, the agents of International Capital, who are the guardian angels of our economy, would bring to stabilize the ship of state had vanished like quicksilver, leaving Nigerians forlorn and down cast. The announcement itself, a product of what we have always considered as serial mismanagement of Nigeria’s economy has also generated and strengthened the adversities across the land. Undoubtedly, what Nigerians have been served by disciples of neo-imperialism as panaceas for our myriad problems are anti-development recipes all aimed at annihilating the masses. Development in Nigeria should be clearly disaggregated between government development and people’s development. Government development, which is the dominant development paradigm in Nigeria, that is if you permit that usage, refers to the manipulation of national resources for the satisfaction of very highly placed government officials (elected and appointed) and their bureaucratic accomplices. It only caters for the interest of the political and bureaucratic elites, to the utter neglect of the generality of the populace. In this type of neo-liberal policy, which has been on for too long in Nigeria, the government only remembers the populace in a tokenistic manner, by their disdainful release of crumbs from the masters table as democracy dividends or projects. Government development is about the settlement syndrome where cronies, family members, and other members of the entourage of political office holders eat from the resources of the state. The political elites suffer from bulimia as they drown themselves and dry the national pot. The few projects that are usually celebrated and commissioned were done at outrageously exorbitant prices, and yet poorly executed. These projects only serve to line the pockets of the custodians of state power, their spouses

Ivory Glory NKEMDILI NNONYELU aunnonyelu@yahoo.co.uk 08122801926 (sms only)

Okonjo-Iweala

and their agents. Nigeria’s ruling class since 1960 survives on corruption, and manipulation of the state for sustenance of class interest. I must say that this propensity to swoon over national resources and consume them from all fronts is not peculiar to the Jonathan Administration. It has been a basic trait of Nigeria’s national leadership since 1960. 54 years after flag independence in 1960, when the imperialist Union Jack was lowered in preference to the Green White Green national flag, Nigeria continues, though paradoxically, to grapple with challenges of poverty and social inequality, in the midst of plenty. Today in Nigeria, more than 80 percent of Nigerians are living in poverty, managing to survive with less than 2 dollars a day, about 75 percent of Nigerian youths are unemployed, while many sections of the populace are ravaged by very common ailments that ordinarily should be handled by primary Health Care Centres. The ease with which Nigerians are visited with untimely and avoidable deaths go to show the continued decline of public governance over the years. The different projects of the governments at national and state levels have all disregarded the people in the development matrix. That is why there is a huge disconnect between what the government is doing and the reality on the ground. I have said severally that this doctrine of government development is immune to, or unaf-

fected by political complexion and affiliation. Nigeria’s ruling class do not discriminate in their exploitation of the people. The sooner Nigerians realize this, the better. When the parties criticize themselves, it is, in the opinion of discerning Nigerians, the kettle calling the pot black. Their quarrels usually are not about the people, but rather about which faction or arm of the ruling class will capture political power, pocket and privatise the national wealth, while leaving the people in misery. All the developmental initiatives including the ruling plans, in the 1960s and 1970s, the different manifestations of the Structural Adjustment Programmes under the military, Obasanjo’s privatization policies till the Transformation Agenda are all one and the same, anti-people. This is why Olusegun Obasanjo’s latest attempt to rubbish the Jonathan administration must be seen for what it is, simply narcissistic and egotistical. All the sins Obasanjo accused Jonathan of committing, were perfected in his days as president. Therefore Obasanjo and Jonathan, and other previous Nigerian leaders are culpable of neglecting and abandonment of the people. While Jonathan’s style may be nambypamby, Obasanjo’s imperial, roughneck disposition has no place in a democracy. Yet, Jonathan needs to apply caution, and listen to the wise counsel by the Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka as scathing and scarifying as it seemed, before the nation experiences even greater turmoil following the incendiary actions of some public officials. Soyinka has moral authority, and is seen by many perspicacious Nigerians as one of the few with the moral license to speak truth to power. Therein lies the difference between Obasanjo and Soyinka’s comments. Their ancestry is different, one crudely political, the other intellectual. One represents the very rich, the other the irrepressible mouthpiece of the poor and downtrodden. Now to people’s development, this type of development has been elusive and evasive in all of Nigeria’s troubled history. It is that type of development that recognizes Nigerian people as the reason behind, and the centre of, all developmental programmes and policies. The human condition, the welfare of the people, their lives and standard of living occupy a pre-eminent position in the checklist of actions taken by any responsible government. The power of the people is recognized in all spheres both in the fact that

sovereignty resides with them, and also that the people are the target of developmental drives. People’s power is used to decide who amongst the people shall be called upon to render national service. Elections and appointments into positions, in such a scenario would no longer be seen as come and chop, but an invitation to serve. People centred development shall start with confronting the challenges of chronic underdevelopment, uprooting the institutional obstacles that have stood in the way of economic and political freedom of Nigerians. It will start with creating the enabling environment, the building of relevant and necessary infrastructure that will unleash the hitherto imprisoned potentials, talents and creativity of the mass of the populace. This model of development requires a complete severing or delinking of the society from its dependency on western capital solutions to national problems. In the intricate globalised and capitalist world, it will be foolish to expect that western apologists will lead us out of the woods, when in truth, they, with their internal collaborators are actually the reasons why Nigeria has stagnated and not made any progress, but rather, is on a steep decline. Pragmatic people development politics demands that the people initiate programmes that are mass oriented with the force of a social movement, take over the driver’s seat of the state vessel, and use it to improve the welfare of the masses from within. Populist political movement with pan Nigerian outlook, owned by majority of deprived Nigerians, not the parties that have excluded Nigerians by asking poor folks to pay millions of naira to purchase party nomination forms, shall be the vanguard on which the new nation is to be built. The current primaries of major political parties in Nigeria are to a large extent against the people, and nominees from this process cannot be expected to be, and act as true representative of the people. At best, they remain emissaries of the Nigerian 1st world – representing the interest of “Government people”. While the people gnash their teeth, groan under the mindless plunder of the common patrimony of the Nigerian people, the Nigerian state continues as a veritable instrument of oppression. The people, inhabitants of Nigeria’s second world must gird their loins and say no to this destruction of their future. The national vacancy of people’s power is what all Nigerians in the second world must seek to fill as a matter of urgency. After all, ultimate sovereignty rests with the people, and it is through the consent of the people that Government itself obtains legitimacy at least in a democracy (no matter the variant bourgeois or socialist). Apart from very few episodic, half hearted interventions, people’s power in Nigeria has hibernated for too long. We need it now, as a bulwark to fascism, and as a vehicle for true national emancipation.

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