Binder1 12 november, 2014

SATURDAY

Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Vol. 1 No. 267

/newtelegraph

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

N150

INEC bows to pressure, suspends 30,027 new Polling Units }6

Corruption: I’ll step on toes

}5 lJonathan says at Eagle Square declaration lAPC: It’s insensitive to declare when Yobe is on fire

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

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Corruption: I’ll step on toes, says Jonathan Onyekachi Eze, Anule Emmanuel and Johnchuks Onuanyim ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday vowed to step on toes fighting corruption as he declared his intention to seek re-election.

The president, at the declaration for his second term bid in Abuja, described corruption as big challenge “in our national life.”

“It corrodes our efforts at development and at motivating competence in critical sectors of our national growth. We have eradicated it in the agricultural sector and we will surely eradicate it in other sectors of our economy,” he said in a speech.

But the All Progressives Congress (APC) criticised the presidential declaration, wondering why Jonathan could not defer the exercise in honour of 47 pupils of Government Senior Sciences Secondary School (GSSSS), Potiskum in Yobe State, killed by a suicide bomber on the school’s assembly ground on Monday.

The president, after listing the achievements of his administration that should earn him a second term in office, said: “I, Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, have accepted to re-present myself, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for re-election as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the 2015 general election.”

The president, at a colourful ceremony witnessed by party chiefs, PDP governors, led by Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio and cabinet members, among other dignitaries, told a large crowd that turned out to witness his presidential declaration that he took the decision after seeking the face of God and consulting with his family.

Yesterday’s declaration by the president ended many months of anxiety and suspense concerning the president’s political future in the face of clamours by various groups and individuals asking him to contest the 2015 presidential election.

The president, who arrived at the venue at 11:30a.m., in solidarity with the people, decided to alight from his vehicle at the gate to walk the remaining distance to the

state box. It took him almost 16 minutes to reach his seat, while security operatives had a difficult task protecting him.

In his declaration speech, Jonathan said his desire to face squarely the country’s challenges, particularly the insecurity in the North-East propelled him to seek another term of office.

According to him, it is only honourable for him to continue to share in the difficult moment with Nigerians and looking forward to a time when terrorism, insurgency and all forms of insecurity would have been tackled for a better future.

Apparently elated at the sight of the cheering crowd, Jonathan said: “History has shown that the part of honour of a true leader is not to walk away from his people in the face of challenges. We must stand together in adversary and overcome the threat to our development. We must defend our future.”

According to him, with the support of the citizens, his administration is more prepared to deliver on major projects that will impact directly on the lives of Nigerians.

Jonathan urged Nigerians to also support his administration towards pursuing to conclusion various developmental initiatives geared towards speedy economic reforms.

He said, under his watch, Nigerians could now freely express themselves and even attack the government without fear of molestation.

Earlier, Senate President David Mark, who led members of the National Assembly to the presidential declaration, said Nigeria needed a reliable leader like Jonathan.

“We in the National Assembly are supporting you within the limit of separation of power.

We noted your transformation agenda in the agricultural sector,” Mark added.

In his speech, Akpabio said the governors decided not to contest against Jonathan in 2015 to allow him complete his transformation agenda.

He, however, added that the route to 2015 is not going to be smooth, adding: “But we are assuring you that at the end of the tunnel, victory is yours as victory belongs to all of us as victory remains that of PDP.” Akpabio explained that the president is fighting all the problems facing Nigeria today for

a better future for the country.

Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Hassan Adamu, who spoke on behalf of PDP members from the NorthEast, said the zone would always stand by Jonathan because he had delivered on his promises, which included making fuel available for them and establishing two universities in the region.

Former Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, said the North-West geopolitical zone would remain eternally grateful to Jonathan for giving people from the zone key appointments in his cabinet.

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani said

people of the South-East would vote Jonathan for awarding the contract for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge.

Spokesman for the South-South, Dr. Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers State, expressed the gratitude of the people to the rest of Nigerians for voting Jonathan as president in 2011.

According to him, the South-South people have high confidence in him and believe too that terrorism must be put on the front burner until it is tackled.

Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who represented the North-Central, described the president as a reformist that should be given a second chance

to deliver on ongoing programmes.

On his part, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, who represented the South-West, assured the president of the support of the Yoruba.

In a solidarity message at the event, Chairman of the Presidential Declaration Committee, Dr. Haliru Bello, said Nigerians wanted the president to continue with the good work that was why they rooted for him to run again.

One major highlight of the ceremony was the invitation by Jonathan for one-minute silence in honour of 47 schoolchildren who were killed by a suicide bomber in Potiskum, Yobe State on

Monday.

However, reacting to the president’s declaration against the backdrop of the Potiskum tragedy, the APC attacked Jonathan and the PDP for going ahead with the president’s declaration for a second term in office a day after the pupils were killed by a suicide bomber.

APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described Jonathan and PDP’s business-as-usual attitude as callousness.

It said Jonathan’s declaration and the euphoria of dancing showed how insensitive the Federal Government is to the plight of victims of the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

President Goodluck Jonathan at his declaration to seek second term in office in Abuja...yesterday

Jonathan appoints Mohammed as CJN Tunde Oyesina ABUJA

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resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved the nomination of Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the next Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The National Judicial Council (NJC) had forwarded Justice Mohammed’s name to the president for

ratification following his earlier nomination by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC).

If confirmed by the Senate, Justice Mohammed will take over from Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar who will proceed on retirement on November 20 after attaining the age of 70 years.

Justice Mohammed, until his appointment, was next in seniority to Justice

Aloma Mukhtar.

Justice Mohammed, who hails from Jalingo in Taraba State, was born on November 10 1946 and studied for his Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

He graduated in 1970, after which he attended the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and was subsequently called to bar in 1971.

He began his career in

the public service with the Ministry of Justice of the defunct North-eastern and Gongola States, as well as serving on the bench in Gongola.

In 1991, he was appointed the Chief Judge of Taraba State.

Prior to being appointed a justice of the Supreme Court in 2005, he was a justice of the Court of Appeal and then its presiding justice.

News

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

INEC bows to pressure, suspends 30,027 new polling units Onwuka Nzeshi and Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday bowed to pressure and suspended its controversial plan to create additional 30,027 new polling units in the country.

The commission had in August said it has concluded plans to create 30,027 new polling units to bring the total number to 150,000.

The project, New Telegraph authoritatively gathered, was put on hold after the National Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega held a crucial meeting with the National Commissioners at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting was said to have reviewed reports from State Offices of the commission on the proposed reconfiguration and creation of additional polling units. They then resolved to put the project on hold until af-

ter the 2015 general election.

New Telegraph learnt that the decision was taken essentially because of the time constraints in its implementation and the controversy it had generated across the country.

A source at the INEC headquarters disclosed that the suspension meant that INEC continue with the existing practice of using Voting Points (VPs) to decongest polling units (PUs) while it would as much as possible relocate all PUs in unsuitable locations to more suitable locations.

In the same vein, the commission would ensure that as much as possible PUs in open spaces are moved to classrooms or suitable enclosures, such as tents.

INEC Secretary, Mrs.

Augusta Ogakwu, who announced the suspension, in a statement admitted that it was as a result of “the controversy over creation of additional polling units that has been overheating the polity, and the apparent inadequacy of time for the exercise.”

She said the suspension was “until after the 2015 general election.”

Ogakwu said the commission will continue to use Voting Points, where necessary, to mitigate population pressure in overcrowded polling units during the forthcoming elections or relocate polling units from unsuitable locations.

Before now, Jega’s move to incorporate the proposed new polling units into the work plans of the electoral body for the 2015 general election

had created tension at the top echelon of the Commission.

The project ran into controversies when it was discovered to be lopsided in favour of a section of the country.

Out of the new 30,000 polling units, the North will get over 21,000 units (85%) while the South will share the balance of about 8,000 units (15%).

It is a project that would have seen the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) having more polling units than the entire five states in the South-East geo-political zone.

In the wake of the criticisms on the project, some Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) had wanted the matter to be suspended till after the forthcoming elections. They argued that just like the proposed

delimitation of federal constituencies was earlier suspended due to its sensitive nature, the proposed polling units ought to be suspended till after the 2015 polls. They also argued that there were a lot of dangers if new polling units were brought on board very close to the elections, particularly with the complaints of lopsidedness in the allocation of the polling units and the suspicion it had generated in different parts of the country.

In addition to the internal rumble, the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters wrote to INEC and advised that the project be suspended but Jega appeared adamant at first because, according to him, the new polling units were necessary for a hitch free election next year.

27o C 25oC Thunder Storms

ABUJA

34oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

23o C 18oC Storms

KANO

37oC

21oC

Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

30o C 23oC Storms

IBADAN

28o C 23oC Storms

CALABAR

26o C 22oC Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

39oC 22oC Mostly Sunny

17oC

11oC

Mostly Sunny

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

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

L-R: Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr. Yemi Adeola; Chairman, Mr. Asue Ighodalo and Company Secretary, Mrs. Justina Lewa, at the extra ordinary general meeting of the bank in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

APC: It’s insensitive to declare when Yobe is on fire CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Boko Haram insurgency. ‘’Since this president has chosen to celebrate a national tragedy, Nigerians should also be ready to celebrate his electoral failure next year. ‘’Today, the three North-East states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe are in danger of being overrun by Boko Haram and over 650,000 Nigerians are internally displaced in those states by the insurgency. Yet, President Jonathan says he puts Nigerians first.

Lies have never worn a bolder face. The truth is that for President Jona-

than, it is Jonathan first, Jonathan second, Jonathan third and Jonathan always,” the party stated.

According to APC, by his latest act, Jonathan is only continuing along his well-trodden path of acting without deep introspection. ‘’When about 60 students were killed in the terror attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, in February 2014, President Jonathan never visited the scene to commiserate with the families of the victims.

When over 80 people were killed in the first Nyanya bombing in April 2014, President Jonathan went

dancing ‘Azonto’ in Kano less than 48 hours later.

And when almost 300 girls were freshly abducted in Chibok, President Jonathan neither acted fast enough to rescue the girls nor visited the village. His Administration even denied anyone was abducted, until 19 days after! ‘’This president has therefore established a pattern of putting his political interest above the security and welfare of Nigerians who voted him into office. This president has trampled upon the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which makes

the security and welfare of the citizenry the raison d’être of the government’s existence. It is time for Nigerians to respond in kind by trampling on his political ambition and sending him back to Otuoke,’’ it said.

The party wondered how Jonathan could, in all good conscience, even ask Nigerians to re-elect him when he has wasted the mandate given to him in the first instance.

It added that nothing shows the president’s incompetence and cluelessness more than the failure of his administration to provide security for the citizenry.

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

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NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

New electricity tariff takes off in January Adeola Yusuf

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rom January 1 next year, Nigerians will begin to pay more for electricity as the new price regime for domestic gas approved by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for power generation becomes operational.

Group Executive Director (GED) in charge of Gas and Power for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige, confirmed the takeoff date for the new price regime.

Ige said aside from efforts the government was putting into gas for power, works were also going on to ensure gas sufficiency across the country.

The price of gas-topower was raised by NERC from five cents per million cubic feet (MCF) to $1 in 2010. It was further elevated to $1.50 by 2011 and $2 by the end of 2013, before the latest increment to $2.5 in 2014. All these were done in a bid to encourage investment in domestic gas facilities.

The approval of the price review has, however, heightened fears among Nigerians about the plan

by the Federal government to increase electricity tariff by about 40 per cent.

With the new gas price, which power generation firms will begin to pay by January, electricity consumers in Abuja and highbrow area of Lagos, who used to pay N13.25 per kilowatt, will now pay N14.70.

Consumers in Eko zone of Lagos, who hitherto paid N12.87 per kilowatt, will now pay more than N15.63.

Consumers in Kano who used to pay N13.98 will now pay above N16.01 per kilowatt under the new price regime while consumers in Port Harcourt zone will now pay above N15.09 per kilowatt, up from N13.60.

With the fears over effect of gas price increase on electricity tariff hike, the NERC still perceives this “pragmatic and creative” short term approach as a measure to address the challenge of inadequate gas supply to thermal power generation plants across the country.

Operators in Nigeria’s gas sector have, according to Premium Times, always preferred the export of gas against domestic distribution, as the former does not require huge investments

L-R: Former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu; Acting British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Mike Purves and British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Andrew Pocock, during a visit to Tinubu, in Lagos…yesterday

in gas infrastructure.

But the gas producers are still demanding a further increment from $5 to $7 to bring the domestic price at par with the Henry Hub price in the United States.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke, who supervised the new gas price regime, had also said the new price benchmark would bring

PUBLIC NOTICE

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT PUBLIC DISPLAY EXERCISE ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) OF THE PROPOSED BRENTEX PIPE MILL PROJECT AT CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE. In accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act, CAP E12 LFN 2004, which makes it mandatory for proponents of all new major development activities to carry out environmental Impact Assessment of their proposed projects, the Federal Ministry of Environment hereby announces a twenty-one (21) working day Public Notice for information and comments on the draft EIA report submitted by Brentex Petroleum Services.

The Display Centers Are: • Federal Ministry of Environment Library, Conservation House (Green Building), Plot 444 Aguiyi Ironsi way, Maitama, F.C.T. – Abuja.

• Federal Ministry of Environment House (Brown Building), Independence Way, Central Business Area, F.C.T. – Abuja.

• Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Secretariat Calabar, Cross River State.

• Cross River State Ministry of Environment, Calabar, Cross River State.

• Headquarters, Calabar Local Government Area, Calabar, Cross River State.

Project Description: The proposed project will involve the construction and installation of a Pipe factory to produce standard steel pipes for the oil and gas industry at Esuk Utan in Calabar, Cross River Stat. other activities include loading arm gantry and product pipe line network, as well as office buildings.

The total land take is approximately 8.473Ha Note: Duration of Display Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 to Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

ALL COMMENTS RECEIVED SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE HONOURABBLE MINISTER, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT ON OR BEFORE 8TH DECEMBER, 2014.

SIGNED PERMANENT SECRETARY FOR: HONOURABLE MINISTER.

the gas price at par with the United States annual inflation statistics.

Meanwhile, the $16 billion Egina development in Nigeria was executed at a time of great risk and uncertainty in the world petroleum industry, Total Exploration and Production said yesterday.

Managing Director of

the company, Elizabeth Proust, said at the annual conference and exhibition organised by Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos that all efforts must be geared in the oil industry reforms to encourage more petroleum investments.

She said this was what could make the country

attain the objectives of increasing reserves.

“Clearly, we need to explore more to bring projects on line. A demonstration of the boldness of Total is the recently launched $16 billion Egina development at a time of great uncertainty in the world petroleum industry,” she said.

Boko Haram: 13,000 Nigerians flee to Cameroon, says UN

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he United Nations Refugee Agency yesterday said violence

by Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria’s northeast continues to send thousands of refugees across the border into neighbouring Cameroon.

UN High Commissioner for Refugee (UNHCR) said that some 13,000 Nigerian refugees crossed from Adamawa State after insurgents attacked and captured Mubi in late October.

The refugees fled to the towns of Guider and Gashiga in the North region of Cameroon and to Bourha, Mogode and Boukoula in the Far North.

According to local authorities in Cameroon, the vast majority of these 13,000 Nigerians have now

returned to Nigeria, saying that their final destination was Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.

However, in the days immediately following the attack on Mubi, it was reported that refugees arrived in Cameroon in over 300 vehicles including many personal vehicles, as well as some trucks and rented cars.

The Cameroonian authorities reported that they facilitated onward transit movements and provided escorts to ensure the safety of those transiting through Cameroonian territory.

On the Nigeria side, a UNHCR team confirmed that thousands of Nigerians are now being hosted at Girei in Gombe State

and at the National Youth Service Centre in Yola.

Meanwhile, newcomers were receiving assistance from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the National Red Cross Society and the International Rescue Committee.

In Yola, UNHCR has interviewed some of the people who transited through Cameroon before re-entering Nigeria.

The report added that the vast majority of them were women and children.

UNHCR said that many families were forced to flee on foot, taking few belongings with them and walking tens of kilometres before finding safety in Cameroon.

“We are also examining claims that some of these refugees may have been forced to return to Nigeria.

We are seeking assurances from both Nigeria and Cameroon that the return of these people was done on a voluntary basis.

Cameroon is hosting thousands of refugees from Nigeria and Central African Republic and we encourage Cameroon to continue with its policy of welcoming refugees,” UNHCR said.

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News

NATIONAL

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Budget review committee upholds $78 oil benchmark for 2015 budget Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

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oth the Executive and the National Assembly have amicably resolved the contentious $78 crude oil price reflected in 2015 budget proposal contained in the 2015-17 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) submitted to the National As-

sembly, New Telegraph learnt yesterday.

The two arms, it was learnt, have endorsed the price after exhaustively reviewing the precarious trend at the international oil market.

A top officer working in Budget Office, who spoke with our correspondent yesterday, said the decision to retain $78 crude oil price benchmark for 2015 budget was adopted follow-

ing intensive discussion by a review committee set up to look in to MTEF in general and $78 oil price which has attracted criticism from certain quarters.

“There is a joint review committee on 2015 budget, comprising some members of the National Assembly, Budget Office and of course the Ministry of Finance. This joint review committee has met several times and in

the last meeting, it would interest you to know that the contentious $78 oil benchmark was adopted as the best giving the present scenario at international oil market”.

He faulted reports that the MTEF had returned to the executive from the National Assembly over unresolved differences that centred on oil price benchmark.

The Chairman of the

House Committee on Finance, Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin (APC, Kano) was quoted as saying last week that the 2015 budget proposal may have to wait as the House of Representatives was set to return the 2015-17 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) forwarded to it by President Goodluck Jonathan last month..

L-R: Managing Director, Innovative Technology Literacy Service Limited, Mrs. Aderonke Bello; Managing Director, MultiChoice Nigeria, Mr. John Ugbe; Zonal Director Eti-Osa, Zone 2, District 3, Mrs. Patricia Enase and Director, Co-Curriculum Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Lagos State, Mrs. Mary Oyetunde, at the launch of MultiChoice Resource Centre at Eti-Osa Community High School, Sangotedo, Lagos …yesterday

Dangote, UBA donate $4m to fight Ebola

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Akeem Nafiu

A

intendent of Police (ASP), Mohammed Rabo Lawal.

It will be recalled that about 12 years ago, Bamaiyi and his co-appellants were charged before a Lagos High Court presided over

by Justice Augustine Ade Alabi, for the attempted murder of The Guardian’s publisher, Mr. Alex Ibru.

During the course of their trial, the accused persons alleged through their respective counsels that the trial judge, who was at the time the Chief Judge of Lagos State, demanded $10 million bribe from them.

They also alleged that Justice Ade Alabi had threatened and bullied their defence counsels severally in court by causing delays in the hearing of their motions and giv-

ing rulings as well as refusing to supply record of proceedings in the case.

They subsequently petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the issue and demanded that Justice Alabi excuses himself from the case.

At the National Judicial Council, a panel of inquiry was set up to investigate the allegation of corruption and bribery and other complaints levelled against Justice Alabi.

The three-man panel comprised Justice B. O. Babalakin, (JSC) as chairman, while Ambassador M. L. Sambo, and T.J.O. Okpoko were members.

The Justice Babalakin panel had in its 44-page report stated that Gen. Bamaiyi’s allegations

Board Chairman, Tony O Elumelu, announced the donation of $1million, to assist the fight against Ebola. He said the money will be used for three countries-Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.

He said the money will be distributed through the UBA Foundation, UBA’s corporate social responsibility arm and shared equally among the three affected West African countries. The remaining $100,000 is to be contributed to the African Union Support Mission to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA), initiated by the African Union Chair, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Wale Elegbede

UPN pegs presidential nomination form at N5m

head of the 2015 general election, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) has pegged its presidential nomination form for aspirants at N5 million. The party stated that the relatively cheap application fees of

its forms was to curtail corruption.

UPN, in a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Felix Oboagwina, noted that the nomination forms for other positions are governorship -N2.5 million;

Wale Elegbede

A

Non-Gover nmental Organization (NGO), Lagos Peace Movement (LPM), has warned the Federal Government against any acts that could threaten the peace of Lagos State.

The group urged the government to call to order agents of Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), and the SUREP over their activities in the state.

In a statement made available yesterday in Lagos, president of the group, Kola Oba, noted that Lagos, being the most populous state in the country, is home of every Nigerian family, adding that, “if the peace being enjoyed in Lagos erupts, no section of the country would be left unaffected.”

While stating that his group will continue to hold sensitization rallies and peaceful protests against any form of acts capable of undermining the security of Lagos, he noted that its group is committed to peaceful co-existence of all and sundry, irrespective of creed, religious affiliation, social status or political leaning.

$10m bribe: Appeal Court strikes out Bamaiyi’s appeal

frica Union’s efforts at containing Ebola virus in West Africa received a boost yesterday as two of Nigeria’s leading organisations, Dangote Foundation and the United Bank for Africa donated the sums of $3 million and $1m respectively. The Ebola fund was established by the AU to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Dangote Foundation, owned by the business mogul, Aliko Dangote, had spent about $5 million to evolve a twopronged strategy that directly support the Nigerian government’s Ebola containment efforts.

Similarly, UBA’s

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FG warned against undermining Lagos’ security

former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi and three others have lost out in their bid to overturn the verdict of the late Justice R.O. Nwodo of a Federal High Court in Lagos, which dismissed their case against the former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ade Alabi, over an alleged $10 million bribe.

This was sequel to the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Lagos division, which struck out a notice of appeal filed by them over the issue.

Other appellants are; former Lagos Police boss, Mr. James Danbaba (rtd); former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Al-Mustapha and Assistant Super-

Senate -N2 million, House of Representatives -N350,000, Council Chairmanship -N200,000 and Councillorship -N50,000.

The party also said that its National Chairman, Dr. Frederick

Fasehun, collected the documents for the registration of candidates to public office in 2015 from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stating that the materials will facilitate UPN’s presentation and

filing of candidates for the various polls.

“Applicants will be profiled first by their relevant chairmen, at the ward, local government, state, or national office they are interested in contesting, before these

were ‘baseless’, ‘false’ and ‘malicious’.

It equally declared that the $10 million bribe, which Bamaiyi and the others alleged that the judge demanded from them, was frivolous.

Dissatisfied, Bamaiyi and others approached a Federal High Court in Lagos for the enforcement of their fundamental human rights, challenging the procedure adopted by the investigative panel to carry out its assignment.

The defendants in the suit are; the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Attorney General of the Federation, Justice Ade Alabi, Mrs. D T Olatokun (Secretary of the panel) and the Attorney General of Lagos State respectively. ones recommend them to the National Secretariat for due diligence and the purchase of nomination forms.”

On why the applications fees were cheap, relative to charges announced by other parties, the UPN Chairman said it was to curtail corruption in public office.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, november 12, 2014

division

Chief Segun Osoba's next move will certainly unsettle Gov. Amosun and the APC Kunle Olayeni ABEOKUTA

E

ight members of the Ogun State House of Assembly, yesterday formally defected from the ruling All Pro-

18%

News

south - west

9

Eight Ogun lawmakers dump APC gressives Party (APC), to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

While five of the lawmakers defected from the APC, three others cross-carpeted from the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

Speaker of the House, Suraj Adekunbi, announced the defection of the lawmakers at the plenary session held at

The percentage of the population of men in Australia in 2012.

Source: Un.org

the Assembly complex in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Those who defected from PPN to PDP, included Joseph Adegbesan (Ijebu North II Constituency), Salmon Adeleke (Imeko-Afon), and John Obafemi (Remo North) while Remmy Hazzan (Odogbolu) and Obafemi Olowo-Oloja (Ijebu East) moved from the APC. Adegbesan, Adeleke, Obafemi, Hazzan and

3.8m

The total population of Republic of Congo (rep. 0.054% of world’s population) in 2010.

Source: Blatantworld.com

Olowo-Oloja, had earlier joined another party, Labour Party (LP), before finally crossing to the PDP. The three members who defected from APC to SDP, are Olufemi Allen-Taylor (Abeokuta South II), Oludaisi Elemide (Odeda) and Elizabeth Anifowoshe (Obafemi-Owode).

At the sitting of the House, which resumed

11.31%

The percentage of individuals using the internet in Belize in 2008.

Source: Itu.int

yesterday after a month recess, the lawmakers were also informed about the 2015 budget proposal by the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Adekunbi, stated that the governor would on Tuesday, November 18, formally present the budget to the state House of Assembly.

Reading the governor’s letter before ad-

88

The sex ratio of men to 100 women in the above 60 years group in Anguilla in 2012.

Source: Un.org

L-R: Chairman, APC Youth Forum (APYF), Mr. Ismail Ahmed; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Mr. Babatunde Irukera and APC Youth Leader, Lagos State, Mr. Sanyaolu Omotayo, at the APC Youth Summit 2014, entitled “A New Nigeria by New Nigerians” in Lagos …yesterday

journing sitting, Adekunbi said the governor would present the fiscal proposal, "in accordance with the provision of Section 121 of the Nigerian Constitution."

Ex- Osun Chief of Staff joins race for Senate Adeolu Adeyemo OSOGBO

F

ormer Chief of Staff in the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration, Elder Peter Babalola, has declared his interest to run for the Senate in Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress,(APC).

Babalola, who picked his expression of interest and nomination form for his ambition pledged that if elected, he would influence federal presence in the state through vibrant and in-depth contributions in the legislature.

Babalola who made the pledge after picking his intention form to contest Osun West Senatorial ticket at the party's secretariat in Osogbo,assured that "With my election in to the Senate , the era of bench-warming will be over.

It will be recalled that, the former governor of the state, alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke was the first member of the party to obtain his intention form to contest for the same race in the same senatorial district last week.

Assembly turns down Fayose's Pitan declares guber ambition Oyo LP flays Ajimobi over salaries Stadium, Lagos, Pitan Sola Adeyemo of the party, Hon. Taiwo appointment of council bosses Temitope Ogunbanke unveiled his Eight-point Ibrahim, said such posiAdesina Wahab Ado-EKITI

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he Ekiti House of Assembly, on Tuesday turned down the bid by governor Ayodele Fayose, to appoint Caretaker Chairmen for local governments in the state.

However, the Assembly through a resolution, approved that the state government could access N2 billion from the N220 billion Central Bank of Nigeria's Business Loan for the 36 states in the country.

The N2 billion, is from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development Fund initiated by the apex bank.

At its sitting in AdoEkiti, the All Progressives Congress (APC’s)dominated Assembly also failed to consider the screening of some commissioners-designate sent to the house by the

governor.

The Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, who read three letters from the governor, urged the lawmakers to debate them.

The Chairman, House Committee on Legal Matters and Local Government Affairs, Mr Adedeji Odu, drew the attention of other members to a court document (Writ of Summons) in a case instituted by former 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) caretaker chairmen.

According to him, the former chairmen had approached the State High Court in order for the court to interpret certain aspects of the law regarding their constitution and tenure.

Odu cited Order 54 (5) of the Standing Order of House which stated that the Assembly can not deliberate on a matter pending in the law court.

and Murtala Ayinla

F

ormer Lagos State Commissioner for Health and Education, Dr Leke Pitan, yesterday formally declared his ambition to be the governor of Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Speaking during his declaration at Onikan

blue-print and promised to continue the legacies of the former Lagos State governors; Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the incumbent governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

Pitan, promised to provide employment for 20,000 youths within his first 100 days in office as a governor.

Faseyi faults Arise Adesina Wahab ADO-EKITI

A

senatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Ekiti North, Hon. Duro Faseyi, has faulted the claim by former Senator Ayo Arise, that the last congress of the party was

manipulated in favour of some aspirants.

Faseyi, who was a member of the House of Representatives, Ekiti North Federal Constituency Two, from 20032011, also challenged Arise to prove his popularity in the impending National Assembly primaries of the party in the state.

IBADAN

O

yo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP),yesterday flayed Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s recent comment that he could no longer pay workers on schedule because of dwindling federal allocation, describing it as an excuse lacking reasoning.

Director of Publicity, Media and Strategy

tion from the governor was a clear signal that the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the state has lost focus.

The party recalled that the governor had during the 2011 electioneering campaign promised that if voted into power, the least paid worker would go home with N22,000.00 per month, but has reneged on that promise.

'Don’t make Ekiti a cloud of darkness'

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he Ekiti State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on governor Ayodele Fayose, not to deprive the people of all the electioneering promises he made, stating that situation on ground, in less than one month of his assumption of office, only portrays a gloomy picture of the future in the next four years.

In a statement by the State Publicity Secretary of APC, Taiwo Olatubosun, the party said what Ekiti had experienced in the last three weeks of the administration amounted to throwing the people into a dark plain of hopelessness that holds no promise for the economic and social well-being of the people.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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Metro Group asks IG to reopen murder case against ex-commissioner Taiwo Jimoh

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group, Ifedoore Good Governance Movement (IGGM), has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr Sulaiman Abba, to order operatives of the Federal Intelligent and Investigation Bureau (FIIB), Force Annex, Alagbon, Obalende, Lagos to reopen a murder case against a former commissioner in Ondo State.

The group, in a petition signed by its Chairman, Mr Segun Adu and Secretary, Tayo Faleyimu, said the call became imperative because the case was getting cold. IGGM alleged that the case had been frustrated and suppressed by political influence.

According to the petition, the former commissioner, in the late Olusegun Agagu administration, allegedly has questions to answer in the murder of one Major S. O. Fadeyi (rtd). The suspect was said to have murdered the deceased 15 years ago and detained for 18 months at Alagbon before he secured his release.

The suspect, who was nursing a political pursuit, had to jettison his ambition, knowing very well that the charges against him would hinder his chances. He was, however, later appointed as commissioner by the late Agagu. The petition urged the police authority to check this case file and begin investigation.

The petition reads in part: “We want IG to order crack detectives from the FIB to swing into action by reopening and conducting thorough investigation into the murder of Fadeyi.

We also want the police to come out with result. The result will be to unravel those behind the killing of the retired military officer.”

While stating that the politician had been using fake age declaration and Masters’ degree certificate, the petition added: “We are not politicallymotivated by anybody to write this petition.

Motorcyclist battles for life after cult members’ attack

Taiwo Jimoh

T

here was tension yesterday at the Adesan-Olu, Mowe in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State after some suspected cult members, in a bid to snatch a motorcycle, stabbed the rider on the neck.

The victim, Sanjo Oyetola, was attacked by the cult members at Madam Poultry Junction, where they had laid ambush for him. They pounced on the rider and in the struggle, stabbed him with broken bottles.

A witness, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the incident happened about 8am.

He said: “I was outside my shop when the motorcyclist and suspected cult members engaged in an argument. Before other traders and I could move close to the scene, the motorcyclist had been stabbed.

Blood was gushing out. We had to rush him to a nearby clinic where he is receiving treatment.”

Oyetola, who spoke with our correspondent on his hospital bed, said: “Last Friday, during the Holy Ghost night of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), I worked late.

When I was about going home after the day’s work, I decided to go to a cafeteria to eat. It was there I first met members of the cult group. They threatened to seize my motorcycle from me, but I overpowered

Oyetola on his hospital bed

them.”

According to the victim, since that encounter, the youth seemed to have marked his face. But yesterday, Oyetola said he was taking his master’s daughter to school when one of the cult members approached and threatened him.

“He wanted to seize my motorcycle. I struggled with him. Other members came out from where they were sitting.

One of them stabbed me on

FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

nity.”

The Baale of Adesan Olu community, Mr Tajudeen Adesan, said that he had made several efforts, with assistance of the police to flush out cult groups from the community, but to no avail.

He said that last year, his son was attacked and stabbed by the same group.

Adesan said some of the cult members were from Bariga and Shomolu.

Police order autopsy on corporal’s wife’s body

Dupe at the hospital before her death

ABIODUN BELLO

the neck. Some sympathisers brought me to this hospital,” said Oyetola.

The Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Mowe branch, Mr Bamidele Oyeyemi, appealed to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ikemefuna Okoye, to come to the aid of the community.

He said: “We cannot sleep with our eyes closed in Mowe anymore. Different cult groups have taken over our commu-

Camillus Nnaji

P

olice hierarchy in Lagos State has directed that an autopsy test be conduct-

ed on the body of Mrs Dupe Ikharia, who died nine days after her husband allegedly attacked her.

The husband, Corporal Lucky Ikharia, al-

legedly crushed Dupe’s legs with a commercial bus after a marital squabble.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Kenneth Nwosu, yesterday disclosed plans to conduct an autopsy on the woman’s body.

He said: “Our stand is that law is no respecter of any person, whoever disobeys the law will face its consequences.

“We are in touch with the deceased woman’s family. We have also directed them to liaise with the

State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, so that an autopsy report will be made. We heard that the woman was treated at a healing home before she died.”

Nwosu also said that the police had arrested Ikharia who, according to him, is being detained at the SCID, Panti, while a team of investigating officers has been constituted on the matter.

“We have to determine the condition under which the action was taken. If the family or any person wants to

get the right information, it is not where he (Ikharia) works,” the PPRO added.

Meanwhile, Dupe’s younger brother, Mr Segun Akhiode, confirmed that the police had stepped into the matter: He said: “I am just leaving the PPRO’s office; they have assured us they would speed up their investigation on the matter. However, we should go to Panti so that we can go for an autopsy.”

Dupe allegedly died at Dr Bones Orthopaedic Hospital, Mushin.

Metro 11

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Suspected Boko Haram spy held in Madalla Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he police in Madalla, about 30 kilometres to Abuja metropolis, are quizzing a 28-year-old Muhammad Ismaila from Kebbi State, who was arrested yesterday by the residents for allegedly spying on schools.

Ismaila, according to a witness, was arrested following a tip-off by an unnamed woman who was suspicious of his movements in the area yesterday morning, when parents were taking their

children to school. The suspect was said to have approached the proprietor of Al-Hissan Islamic School located in Madalla new site, requesting to know schools that are densely populated in the area.

Apparently sensing that Ismaila was nervous and his suspicious request, the proprietor reportedly asked him to wait while she contacted those who could give him the answer.

Rather than wait for response, Ismaila, according to a witness, took to his heels. His action attracted a crowd which gave him a chase. He was

arrested and taken to the police station.

In his account to the police, Ismaila, a dry fish trader at Wuse Market, claimed he was making inquiry about schools to guide his choice of school to enrol his children who would soon join him in Abuja before he was arrested.

However, the suspect was unable to give satisfactory answer to why he ran away before he was arrested.

A senior police officer at Madalla Police Station, who craved anonymity, confirmed that the station was already carrying out preliminary investigation on the matter.

The officer said the station had taken Ismaila’s statement and that an officer would be assigned to trace the person he claimed was his brother in Madalla to ascertain whether he was a spy for terrorists or a kidnapper.

He said: “This is just a preliminary investigation. We will investigate all he said first by tracing his residence, locate the man he claimed was his brother. The outcome of our findings will give us the basis to conclude whether he is a kidnapper or a terrorists’ agent.”

Suspicion by Madalla residents that Ismaila may have some sinister

IG, Suleiman Abba

motives came 24 hours after 47 students were killed at a secondary school in Yobe State.

The attack was carried

out by a suspected suicide bomber dressed in school uniform and detonated explosives at a packed assembly ground.

Four buses vandalised as LASTMA Nigeria needs anointed policemen, officials, drivers clash says Adeboye

The scene of the clash

Camillus Nnaji

M

embers of a police patrol team, Ops Attack, yesterday prevented a major clash between officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LATSMA) and commercial bus drivers.

The confrontation occurred at Berger bus

stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Trouble started when LASMA officials on duty prevented commercial bus drivers from parking and picking passengers on both sides of the expressway.

This, however, did not go down well with the drivers, which led to a heated argument.

This subsequently

degenerated into physical combat between the LASTMA officials and the drivers.

A LASTMA official, who craved anonymity, said: “We have had seminars on roadside parking. We have also communicated this to drivers. We have seen in the past when accidents occurred as a result of illegal parking and picking of passengers.

“It was while we were trying to do our job that the drivers gathered themselves and started fighting us. In the process, some of our men were injured.”But a witness, who gave his name as Tunde, claimed the LASTMA official was being economical with the truth.

He said: “Don’t mind the LASTMA officials; they wanted to extort more money from the drivers.

John Edu

T

he General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, yesterday said there was need for anointed policemen in the country, especially in these trying times.

Adeboye made the call at an event held at the Lagos State Command, Ikeja. The event, organised by the Christian Police Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), Lagos State chapter, Lord of Lords’ Chapel, tagged: “The Anointed Police Officer.”

He said: “Anointing can be likened to electricity which cannot be seen, but can be powerfully felt when it manifests itself.

The Nigeria Police Force needs anointing, especially at a time like this.

A time when election is around and there is fur-

Adeboye

ther need to detect crimes and prevent them. The Nigeria Police Force should be sincere in its service to the nation and to God who had committed the work into their hands.”

The end of the year programme was held to appreciate efforts of officers attached to the Lagos State Police Command. It was also held to implore them to put sincerity to their call to serve the

nation. Other guests at the event are presiding pastor of RCCG, City of David, Victoria Island, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, the Assistant-InspectorGeneral of Police (AIG), Mr Umar Manko, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Aderanti and the Chaplain Minister, Sam Jatto.

In his speech, Aderanti said: “The police force will do its best to ensure that what is expected of its officers by the Nigerian citizens will be rendered to the best of its ability and sincerity.”

Speaking on roadblocks, Aderanti said it remained banned. He urged the public to report anywhere they see roadblocks.

The commissioner said that Nigeria, at a time like this, needed the “hands of God” to be able to function properly.

Delta: Motorists, commuters groan over bad roads Robbers caught with pastor’s SUV Joe Obende Warri

M

otorists and commuters are now groaning over the deplorable state of roads in Warri and its environs in Delta State.

Some of the roads such as Walter Odeli Street, Oil Field Road, 3rd Marine Gate and parts of Effurun/ Sapele Road have been abandoned by motorists because they are no longer motorable.

First Marine Gate, Etuwewe and Giwa Amu streets are also in bad shape.

With most parts of the Effurun/Sapele Road rendered impassable, motorists have taken over the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) lanes under construction which have obviously been abandoned by the state government.

Most parts of the BRT lanes have also failed leading to traffic snarls, especially around Odibo, Water Resources and Ijakpa Junction during traffic peak periods in the morning and evening. All the dug up sections are not covered.

The situations are not different in neighbouring Effurun, Udu and Otujer-

emi.

In Effurun, deep craters now dot the PTI Road, causing vehicles to breakdown.

Udu Road, up to the DSC Expressway, is also filled up with portholes and craters.

The Director-General of Direct Labour Agency (DLA), Emmanuel Igbini, said there was little the agency, which is saddled with routine palliatives on roads in the state, could do in the face of unrelenting rainfall.

He said: “We plead for understanding. We will wait and when the rains relent, we will move in.”

Dominic Adewole ASABA

M

en of the Delta State Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), on a stopand-search duty at the defunct Asaba Toll Gate, have arrested one Adim Mowete and Efe Idahosa for snatching a pastor’s Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The suspects were driving the pastor’s Lexus 300 SUV with registration number USL705HX when nemesis caught up with them. The acting state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Roland Preston, said yesterday at

the command headquarters in Asaba that the suspects were on the verge of taking the vehicle to a receiver, one Clement Edeh, at God is Good Motor Park within Asaba metropolis when they were arrested.

He said: “The suspects led the police team to the said motor park where the said Clement Edeh was arrested.”

Preston added that on interrogation, the suspects confessed that they snatched the said vehicle from a pastor in Benin, Edo State the previous night.

According to the PPRO, Edeh, an indigene of

Benue State, who claimed to be an agent to one Hon. Sunday Adanu Aboh, Deputy Chairman of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State, confessed to the crime.

Edeh also claimed that Aboh narrowly escaped from the motor park when he sighted the police.

The police team later went to Benin and arrested one Osato Orobosa in connection with the crime.

The PPRO listed the items recovered from the suspects to include the Lexus 300 SUV, one Ado Local Government Area official number plate LG02 GMU (Benue).

12

News

concern

The result of maladministration in Abia is showing as voters show little concern

Igbeaku Orji Umuahia

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he attitude of the electorate in Abia State towards the collection of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for the 2015 gener-

Stakeholders back Ekwunife for Senate

wednesday, november 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

south - east

Apathy over PVCs’ collection worries Abia REC al elections has become a source of concern to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Jacob Jatau.

Jatau, who regretted that the commission was still recording less than 50 percent of collection in the exercise, which started over six months ago, lamented yesterday that if the current apathy

among the people continued, many of them would be disenfranchised in the 2015 elections.

Abia State was among the twelve pilot states that commenced the distribution of permanent voters cards to the electorate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in May/June this year.

98.4%

The percentage of the urban population of Guadeloupe in 2012.

Source: Un.org

According to the REC, “Six months after and only three months before the general elections, sixty percent of the Abia electorate are yet to collect their permanent voters’ cards, which is their power to choose their leaders as the cards still pile up at the various local government offices.”

The REC said the com-

N151.5m

The total capital importation value of the Oil & Gas sector in 2007.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics

mission had taken various measures to sensitise the electorate and make collection easier, yet some are still unwilling to pick their PVCs. He also assured that the PVCs of those who were recently captured would be ready before the elections, but called on stakeholders, especially aspirants to join in sensi-

188

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

Source: Blatantworld.com

tising their supporters on the need to collect their voters’ cards to enable them vote for candidates of their choice.

Jatau also said that the commission would monitor the primaries of all the political parties in the state and that where there are factions, INEC would accept only the one recognised by law.

1.4%

The annual population growth rate of Costa Rica in 2010-2015.

Source: Un.org

P

olitical stakeholders cutting across major parties like the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have thrown their weight behind the senatorial ambition of the current House of Representatives member for Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia federal constituency, Mrs Uche Ekwunife.

At a meeting which took place in Umuoji, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, the stakeholders hinged their support on what they described as Ekwunife’s quality representation which had been perceived by many as the best in the history of representation in the constituency.

Describing Ekwunife in glowing terms, the stakeholders noted her kind disposition to them as well as her hard work and assured her of their readiness to reciprocate her good gestures to them in the general elections, noting that support for her candidacy transcended party affiliation.

They however said their support would come after her party, the PDP, must have given her the ticket to fly its flag for the Anambra Central senatorial seat.

In her speech Ekwunife restated her commitment to effectively representing her constituents, noting that if she could do all they had attributed to her while in the lower

Mountain of refuse at Port Harcourt road, Aba…yesterday

Thugs attack Ebonyi factional speaker's residence Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

N

o fewer than (200) thugs believed to be loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party,( PDP), Ebonyi State chapter, yesterday allegedly attacked the resident of a factional Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku.

It was gathered that the thugs forcefully invaded into the speaker's residence and ordered

the wife of the speaker, including the children and residential servants to park out from the official lodge adding that Nwazunku is no longer their speaker.

New Telegraph gathered that Nwazunku before the attack, earlier travelled to Abuja for the official Presidential declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan that faithful day, shortly after the House sitting that led to the suspension of their two members of the House.

Otti dumps PDP for APGA Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

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governorship aspirant in Abia State on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Dr. Alex Otti, has dumped the ruling party and picked the

All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) nomination forms for the governorship elections in the state.

Also, APGA has rescheduled its activities for the conduct of its primaries to select its candidates for the 2015 general elections.

Oti, picking the APGA governorship forms for

N12 million at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja, said his decision to join APGA was borne out of his belief in the party's ideology and his determination to rescue Abia from total collapse.

He said: “I have left the PDP and to me coming to APGA is like a home coming."

Ihedioha: Ararume can go to court Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

D

eputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has called on governorship aspirants on the platform of the party, who petitioned against the outcome of the delegates’ election to quit casting aspersions on his person and appeal the outcome of the congress, if they feel dissatisfied.

He specifically called on Senator Ifeanyi Ararume,

Senator Chris Anyanwu and others that had accused him of electoral malpractices to appeal the result of the ward congresses if they are not satisfied with it.

Ihedioha’s response followed insinuations contained in the petition signed by Araraume, Anyanwu, Chief Bethel Amadi, Chief Charles Onuoha, Chief Bright Nwanne, Chief Charles Amanze , Prof. Jude Njoku and some senatorial and House of Representatives aspirants, who alleged that the congresses were skewed to favour Ihedioha.

The deputy speaker, who reacted through the

Director General of his Campaign Organisation, Chief Chris Okewulonu said: “The allegation of manipulating the election to favour the deputy speaker is not only wicked, diversionary and unsportsmanlike, but an attempt to discredit the integrity of the Peoples Democratic Party that ensured compliance with the party’s rules."

“It will therefore not be wrong to say that the allegations of bias against the party are ill-conceived and perhaps designed to portray our great party before Nigerians as one lacking in capacity to manage her affairs.”

Abaribe's kinsmen embrace Ikpeazu Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

T

he governorship aspiration of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday suffered a major setback following the massive endorsement

of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu by Abaribe’s Obingwa kinsmen and stakeholders.

Obingwa where Abaribe hails from parades other strong governorship contenders in the persons of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, who resigned his position as Deputy

General Manager (DGM) Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to join the gubernatorial contest; Hon. Eric Acho Nwakanma, a former deputy governor and Mr. Friday Nwosu, an Abuja-based legal practitioner.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Jonathan’s declaration

Governorship aspirants

Governance

Power tussle

15

16, 17

40

41

N’Assembly deserted, offices, banks shut

Pwajok, Longjan, Tapgun Lar, race for Jang’s seat

Leadership agenda for S’East youths

13

Atunwa: Withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security, act of rascality

Politics Jonathan

Mu’azu

The imbroglio between the National Assembly and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over automatic tickets is threatening the dominance of the party in the parliament in 2015. Will the party accede to their demand?

ONYEKACHI EZE asks

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his is the chamber that has done a lot to stabilise the polity. This is the chamber that stood by Mr. President and gave him all the powers to become acting president and then president. But the president has shown that the sacrifices of this set of lawmakers are not appreciated.

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY EDITOR, PoLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Mark

A test of might

“The party has ensured that more than two-thirds of the senators will not return and many will be replaced by the governors. Remember, it was the class of governors that did everything to thwart the Doctrine of Necessity.”

This is how a senator expressed the dissatisfaction of his colleagues who felt they were schemed out of contest in the ward congresses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held two weeks ago.

Before the senators embarked on a work-to-rule protest against the executive last week, members of the House of Representatives had met with the party leadership and demanded that they should be offered the right of first refusal, as was done to President Goodluck Jonathan and the two returning governors elected on the platform of the party – Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Ramalan Yero (Kaduna).

The ward congresses gave the direction to where the pendulum might swing when the primaries for the various elective offices on the platform of the PDP are held. By the calculation of the senators and House of Representatives members, the state governors, aided by President Jonathan and the party’s leadership, have seized the PDP structure.

Mostly affected in the scheming are returning senators who are in the same senatorial dis-

There is no threat to any senator where the PDP governor has interest to go into the Senate...

I think politics is about people and the people’s choice should be allowed

trict with state governors who want to go to the Senate after the end of their second term in office.

In Benue North East, for instance, Senator Barnabas Gemade saw his chances of returning to the red chamber slipping away as Governor Gabriel Suswam’s camp secured comfortable majority among the ward delegates. If the outcome of the congress is allowed to stand, Suswam will definitely fly PDP’s ticket for Benue North East senatorial zone.

Also in Akwa Ibom North West, Senator Alysious Etuok stands no chance as Governor Godswill Akpabio led in the number of delegates who will decide who represents PDP in the senatorial contest at the main election.

Even in zones where a governor is not nursing senatorial ambition, the governor’s preferred candidate has upper hand. This was the case in Cross River Central where the Senate Leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba has John Eno, chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation as his main challenger. Eno is Governor Liyel Imoke’s preferred candidate, and so, aided him to have upper hand in the ward delegates’ congresses contest.

Again, if the result of the ward delegates congress is allowed to stand, less than twothird of the senators may not return to the National Assembly.

The only senator who may have a smooth ride at the primaries is the Senate President, Senator David Mark.

Unlike members of the House of Representatives, the aggrieved senators have no bargaining power order than to embark on subtle strike. They will come to the Senate chamber, approve the proceedings for the day and then adjourn. The only bargaining power they have is to delay debate on the budget and other executive bills.

But how long will that take them? If they continue in their work-to-rule action, they will be doing a disservice to the nation and may incur the wrath of the people, because of their selfish interest, and they may likely be rejected at the polls if the party eventually gives them the ticket.

The senators have soft-pedalled a bit in their demand. A senator was quoted as saying: “We have already put our cards on the table. We have resolved that at least two serving senators must be given automatic tickets, the governors should be given the third ticket for their respective states.

“I think we are getting close to resolving the crisis. We have been told that the president would lead a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP to discuss with us.”

Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba CONTINUED ON PAGE 48

14

Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Jonathan’S presidential declaration

Lock down, carnival at Eagle Square Onwuka Nzeshi and Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

I

t was complete lock down yesterday as President Goodluck Jonathan formally declared his bid to seek a second term in office at the Eagle Square, Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

A security cordon was thrown around the area as early as 6a.m. and vehicular traffic diverted away from all major routes leading to and from the Eagle Square.

The police headquarters had on Monday announced that all roads to the Three Arms Zone would be closed to motorists except those on essential duties pertaining to the ceremony.

The Federal Secretariat buildings in the vicinity were virtually empty.

The entire bureaucracy was shut down and civil servants were on forced holidays. However, private citizens who normally transverse the area to their work places were forced to walk several kilometres to their destinations.

The two major roads on either sides of the Eagle Square were blocked with security patrol vans and ambulances belonging to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) while men of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NCDC) patrolled the routes with fierce-looking dogs.

Besides, a special police troop mounted on horses had their men at each of the entrances while some of them patrolled the perimeter fence of the arena.

The Eagle Square wore a new look. The greenwhite-red flag of the Peoples Democratic Par-

ty (PDP), banners, posters and canopies in the party’s colours adorned everywhere. Outside the main bowl of the Eagle Square was a beehive of activities as dignitaries, party stalwarts and their supporters queued at the two entry points to get screened before gaining access into the arena.

Outside the Central Business District, security was equally beefed up across the city while check points were mounted at all major entry points to the city.

Motorists and commuters particularly delegates coming from Kogi, Minna, Kaduna, Kano and other parts of the country to attend the declaration spent hours on the road due to the gridlock caused by security checkpoints on the roads.

From Bwari, Zuba and Mararaba as well as Airport roads which are the major entry points to the city, commuters and motorists heading for the city for their daily bread were left frustrated as the traffic was at a standstill for hours.

Men of the Nigerian Army and those of the Police were sighted at various spots on those entry points conducting stop and search. The gridlock which started as early as 8a.m. left many workers in the city stranded as they could not go to their respective offices.

From Kubwa express road to AYA roundabout, Ademola Adetokunbo road and other major roads in the city, many commuters were forced to trek long distance to their destinations.

A commuter who spoke to New Telegraph on Kubwa express road said he was forced to suspend his trip as the traffic was at standstill.

He noted that he left his house in Bwari around 7a.m. but was

caught in the traffic around 7:30a.m. and spent about an hour without any movement.

“I have been here for about an hour and there is no sign we will leave here soon. So, I decided to stay somewhere on the road till the traffic goes down,” he said.

Another motorist, who gave his name as Abdulrasheed, parked his Toyota Camry at the Dutsen Alhaji junction along Kubwa road lamenting that he had spent about three hours in the traffic.

In the midst of the gridlock, some traders made brisk business

hawking snacks, soft drinks and water. Others sold various items including wrist watches, wrappers, caps, shawls and other souvenirs bearing the logo of the PDP and the photograph of President Jonathan.

There were also colourful processions of men

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) and Vice-President Namadi Sambo

Senate President David Mark (third left) with the leadership of the National Assembly

Jonathan’s declaration, divinely inspired –George Felix Nwaneri

F

ormer Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has described President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration as one that has divine connotation.

George in his speech at the Abuja declaration said it was befitting that Jonathan chose the day known all over the world

as the Armistice Day (day of peace) to declare for a renewal of his mandate.

His words: “Today (yesterday) is a very unique day in the annals of the world.

I do not say this lightly. Today is a day of peace. Today is a day of harmony. For on this very day, the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month, on the Eleventh hour in 1918, exactly 96 years ago, hostilities ceased across the world.

“From the Adriatic Sea

and women dressed in different PDP branded attires matching to the arena and dancing to the rhythm of the songs blaring from the loud speakers inside the declaration ground.

It was, indeed, a heavily guarded political carnival.

to the ruins of Russia, all guns were silent, all the thunder and tremor of World War I were muted, frozen in a pact of peace and brotherhood.

“It is only befitting that this very day which is known all over the world as the Armistice Day, the day of peace, is the one chosen by President Goodluck Jonathan to declare for a renewal of his mandate. Surely, this historic coincidence is be-

yond the banal reaches of symbolism.”

Noting that there was a divine connection to the president’s choice of November 11, George added that God is speaking to Nigerians from above on the need for peace in the country.

He also urged Nigerians to reunite and support the vision and the mission of the president, assuring the support of the SouthWest to the second term bid of Jonathan.

According to him, “the president has achieved so much in transforming our roads. He is presently expanding the Lagos-Ibadan arterial road to a four-lane highway on both sides.

And from Ibadan to Oyo and down to Ogbomosho, he is rebuilding and widening the road, turning it into a pleasurable boulevard.

“We can see the same progress in the mass rural electrification projects, in the giant strides

in food production, in the widening of basic infrastructures and in the larger expanse of human development.

“Of course, no human being is perfect. And no government is etched in infallible portrait. While we in the South-West feel much more can still be done for us, we know that the fault does not lie at the centre.

Mr. President has however promised to rectify the problems on the ground.

We believe him. We know he is a man of his words. He is tested and trusted.”

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

15

Jonathan’S presidential declaration

Philip Nyam Abuja

L

awmakers, staff and other workers offering ancillary services at the National Assembly yesterday stayed away from their offices as the complex was virtually deserted following the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term in office.

Our correspondent,

N’Assembly deserted, offices, banks shut who monitored developments in the National Assembly, reports that all banks operating within the complex except Keystone Bank were under lock and key.

No lawmaker both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties was found in his office. Restaurant operators, cleaners,

recharge card sellers and shuttle bus operators did not turn up for business.

The national parliamentary building, which is always a beehive of activities, was but a ghost of itself as the road linking it from the Eagle Square (Federal Secretariat) was condoned off.

A handful of workers who insisted on finding

their way to the office found it difficult getting access to the parliamentary building. Those who were lucky had to make their way through the Aso Drive and Presidential villa axis.

When our correspondent visited the complex, all the car parks were virtually empty with a few vehicles.

Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio (third right), addressing the crowd at the declaration rally for President Goodluck Jonathan. With him are other state governors

Some of the workers, who spoke to our correspondent, expressed mixed feelings about the presidential declaration.

Alhaji Aliyu Yahaya, a staff of the Accounts Department who was in the complex observed that the event should not have held on a working day.

“As you can see, this declaration has disrupted our work today. I think the Presidential Declaration Committee should have saved us this stress by simply fixing this on a Saturday,” Yahaya said.

In his view, Dickson Alaibe, a chamber staff said he was happy that there was no work. “Well, I do not see anything wrong in what took place today. President Jonathan is a good man and nothing is too much for such a man. There is no work today (Monday) but tomorrow we will resume work,” he said.

According to Blessing Emmanuel, a staff of the

Why lawmakers endorsed Jonathan, by Mark Chukwu David Abuja

P

L-R: Ex-Internationals; Peter Rufai, Dahiru Sadi, Austin Okocha, Victor Agali and Nwankwo Kanu at the Jonathan’s declaration

No vacancy in Aso Villa, says Ogor Philip Nyam Abuja

F

ollowing the declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan for a second term, deputy leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) yesterday declared that judging by the mammoth crowd that graced the

event held at the Eagle Square, it was clear that Jonathan is accepted nationwide.

Reacting to the declaration, Ogor said: “You saw the mammoth crowd at the square today cheering our president and what does that tell you, that is a confirmation that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock come 2015.

“As I speak to you now

we are already celebrating our victory in advance because the Nigerian people just confirmed to us that victory is ours in 2015 by His grace”.

The Deputy House Leader confessed that: “I was amazed by the level of acceptance and the large crowd that turned out at the square to celebrate with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Do you need a soothsayer to confirm to you that we’ve already won the 2015 election, considering the fact that all segments of the Nigerian people including artisans, market women, just mention it were all adequately represented?

“As for me, it is celebration galore for us because our victory has been cemented.”

House of Representatives, the government should have declared yesterday a public holiday.

She said: “My brother, Jonathan is God-sent and you can see what God is doing in his life. I had expected the government to declare today a public holiday to allow people attend the declaration but all the same, I’m satisfied with what I have seen so far.”

However, Segun Adegbite, a sergeant-at-arms complained of the inconvenience being meted out to people because of the event. His words: “To me, this is not good for Nigeria. So many people have been declaring for president, governor and even senator (Senate) but they don’t stop people from coming to work.

Why is Jonathan’s own different?”

Ifeanyi Mbah said “only a day off will affect workers. I think President Jonathan is worth celebrating.”

resident of the Senate, Senator David Mark, yesterday explained why the National Assembly caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) endorsed the continuity of President Goodluck Jonathan in office for 2015.

Mark, who led PDP legislators from the National Assembly to the declaration of Jonathan, said the endorsement of Mr. President was based on his people-centred transformation programme that needed to be executed to its logical conclusion.

He said President Jonathan had demonstrated trust, dedication and steadfastness to the service of “our fatherland, even in the midst of intense security and other socio-economic challenges in the country.”

Mark listed the developments in agriculture, aviation, power, telecommunication and education among others, where, he said, the Jonathan administration needs to stay on for consolidation for the good of all citizens.

Besides, the President of the Senate pointed out that it was in conformity with advanced democracies of the world, where

performing incumbent office holders are given the right of first refusal to recontest.

Mark further opined that the laudable programmes initiated by President Jonathan might be truncated if he declined to continue in office in the next dispensation.

He assured that the National Assembly would continue to support and indeed provide the needed legislative framework for the executive under Jonathan to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people.

He, therefore, appealed to all Nigerians to close ranks and fight on a common front to defeat the terrorists threatening the peace, progress and unity of the country.

He said: “In 2010, we in the National Assembly wanted a leader who is reliable; we supported you because we believe you are, and you have demonstrated this to a very great extent with your Transformation Agenda across the various sectors being positively felt by all.

“But we want the epidemic ravaging our national security system called Boko Haram to be eradicated in no distant time and we shall support you in all ways to achieve this.”

16 Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

LEADING GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS

The stage is gradually taking shape as the gladiators put finishing touches to their strategies in readiness for the battle for the next occupant of the newly constructed Little Rayfield Government House, which is the official residence of the Plateau State governor.

Though the political tension in the state is high with kingmakers within the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) currently debating on who should succeed the incumbent governor, Jonah Jang, the opposition parties, on other hand, are anxiously waiting and scheming to gain from the expected break up within the PDP. However, there are strong indications that the battle for the soul of the state will be a twoway contest as the PDP has 12 aspirants who have picked forms so far, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) has three. MUSA PAM examines the governorship aspirants; their strengths, chances and weaknesses Gyang Pwajok He is currently the senator representing Plateau Northern in the National Assembly and one of the leading governorship aspirants of the PDP. A Berom by tribe, he hails from Jos North Local Government of the state.

A former don, Pwajok contributed immensely to the strategy and programmes of Jang administration. He was at various times the Director of Research and Documentation in the Government House, Chief of Staff and when Senator Gyang Dantong died, he was handy when Governor Jang was shopping for a replacement.

The governor gave him all the backing to defeat the likes of late former Deputy Senate President, Senator John Wash Pam and late former Military Administrator of Delta State, Col. David Dungs (rtd).

Pwajok is presently the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport as well as a member of the Committees on Health, Solid Minerals, Cooperation and Integration in Africa and NEPAD as well as Aviation.

He is likely to secure his party’s ticket for the governorship seat having been allegedly anointed by Jang. And as a youth, he falls into the category of those Jang has promised to hand over the mantle of leadership. But to succeed Pwajok and Jang would have to get ready to battle Berom elders in the northern zone and party stakeholders in the central and

Pwajok, Longjan, Tapgun,

southern zones. Already, there is crisis within the Berom tribe leading to a split between those supporting Pwajok and supporters of the deputy governor, Ignatius Longjan.

Ignatius Longjan Ambassador Longjan has been Jang’s loyal deputy since the beginning of his second term. Longjan hails from Qua’anPan Local Government of Plateau State, Southern Zone. He was the Chief of Staff to the governor during his first tenure.

After his experience and challenges with erstwhile deputy governor, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, Jang needed not only a less ambitious person, but someone he could trust so as to avoid the kind of stress he went through with Tallen, and Longjan was handy.

During Jang’s electioneering campaign in 2007, Longjan was the financial secretary of the PDP, and Jang was said to have been impressed with the way he managed funds, which is why he made him Chief of Staff.

He is working hard with the support of Jang’s close friend, Da Bulus Dareng, to succeed the governor.

Those who have worked with him closely say he is good enough to succeed his boss come 2015. Quite unassuming, the deputy governor is said to possess a fatherly disposition and is generally accepted by key stakeholders including those who earn the governor’s respect.

However, Jang’s body language for now does not suggest he is keen on handing over to his deputy. They are said to have signed an agreement in 2011 to give way to younger ones in the 2015 elections.

Jimmy Cheto Engr. Cheto is a retired director of the Federal Capital Territory Administra-

tion (FCTA). He is among those who have picked the PDP governorship nomination form to contest the primary election and he has started reactivating his political structures.

The governorship contest is not a new thing to Cheto who hails from Langtang South Local Government Area in Plateau Southern Senatorial Zone. He made an impressive outing in 2007 but lost to Jang in the primaries and later defected to Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2011 elections. He took another shot, but was defeated by Mrs. Tallen at the party’s primaries.

Cheto was recently readmitted into the PDP and granted waiver by the PDP national secretariat with others to pick the governorship nomination form. But unlike his 2007, 2011 outing, Cheto does not have a strong structure in the state and may not have the financial muscle to prosecute the governorship campaign.

Victor Lar Senator Lar is the first amongst those who picked the PDP governorship form.

He has been networking to achieve his long term ambition to govern Plateau State. He is currently the senator representing Plateau South. He defeated his mentor and political godfather, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, General Jeremiah Useni to clinch the seat in the 2011 elections. Lar had also represented Langtang North and South for two consecutive terms from 1999 to 2007 in the House of Representatives. He has also been the chairman of Langtang North Local Government.

Lar is said to have the capacity to spring surprises, but many factors are working against him as he vies for the PDP governorship ticket. Feelers suggest that he is not even accepted in his Lang-

tang home because he didn’t perform as a senator, and Jang is also not comfortable with him as a result of his doubted loyalty.

Simon Bako Lalong Lalong is the former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly during Joshua Dariye’s tenure. He hails from Shendam local government council of the state. He paid the prize of loyalty when he refused to lead Dariye’s impeachment as instructed from Abuja during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, even when he had a chance to be governor.

He and 15 other Dariye loyalists who defected to the defunct Action Congress (AC) then were sacked from the Assembly to pave way for the six-man squad that sat in the dead of the night to effect the impeachment that was later quashed by the court.

Lalong who left office since 2007 is back on the stage vying for the governorship ticket on the platform of the APC in the state. He was the first to pick the party’s nomination form, and many say he doesn’t have the financial muscle to fight the anointed candidate of Governor Jang.

However, some believe that he is counting on the support of friends including the Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi. Both men have been close friends since their days as speakers.

There is strong indication that Lalong may not scale the hurdle even if he gets the APC ticket as Plateau State has never been conquered by the opposition since 1999. Even Jang’s former deputy, Tallen, tried to unseat the PDP through Labour Party in the 2011 elections but failed.

Fidelis Tapgun Ambassador Tapgun was governor

Pwajok

Longjan

Cheto

Lar

Dalung

Tapgun

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

LEADING GOVERNORSHIP ASPIRANTS

Lar, race for Jang’s seat of Plateau State on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the General Ibrahim Babangida transition programme. He has been very active in the politics of the PDP at the national level. He was Director General in the Obasanjo/Atiku re-election campaign in 2003, and later Minister of Commerce and Industries.

He has picked the PDP nomination form to contest the party’s primaries and perhaps govern the state again. Tapgun has been networking at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja seeking the support of those that matter including President Goodluck Jonathan, but there are several factors working against him.

First, it was during Tapgun’s administration in the state that BARC FARMS disappeared without explanation, and secondly, the PDP in the state has disowned him several times, saying he is not a member of the party. Tapgun was also humiliated by the Jang-led state delegates during the PDP convention in Abuja, when they insisted that he was not the member of the PDP. John Clark Dabwan Dabwan, who is the immediate past Speaker of the Plateau State Assembly, has also picked the PDP nomination form. He hails from Mangu, Plateau Central Senatorial Zone.

Dabwan is said to have been forced by his colleagues in the state Assembly to resign his position as a Speaker when he engaged Jang in a political battle. He is well known at the grassroots, and controls the political structure of his local government area. In the last council poll in the state, Dabwan proved his political worth as his candidate won the election.

However, many things are said to be working against him; financially Dab-

Dabwan

Dabin

wan is not strong to withstand other PDP aspirants in the state. Again, many see him as somebody who doesn’t have a political structure in the state and as a result cannot make any impact in the race.

to politics.

If the governor is shopping for a successor with military background like him to hand over to then the answer is Wuyep.

Haruna Dabin Dr. Dabin is the immediate past chairman of the PDP in Plateau State. He hails from Kanke local government council, and is one of the strong governorship aspirants in the state. Dabin has served in different capacities at the national secretariat of the party between 1999 and 2011.

When crisis hit the ruling party in the state with the emergence of two factions, it was Dabin who came and estabilised the PDP structure in the state.

Having served as the longest PDP chairman in the state, there is no doubt that Dabin possesses the experience to govern the state. He has since 1999 kept faith with the PDP, and is among loyalists of the party who vowed not to cross carpet to any party. Dabin seems to have chances, but on the other hand, his ambition may not receive the blessing of Jang and again some segments of the electorate may not be favourably disposed to him.

John Alkali Arch. Alkali is the former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Housing and Environment. He voluntarily retired in 2006 to join politics but lost to Governor Jang at the primaries in the 2007 elections. He is among those who have picked the governorship nomination form.

Recently, the state PDP disowned him and some other persons for printing his posters using the logo of the party. But Alkali while briefing journalists said he still remains the most qualified member of the party since he didn’t defect to any other party like Jang did after the 2003 elections.

For now, he is strongly using the zoning arrangement in the state as his campaign strategy, but many don’t see him as a serious contender for the governorship position.

With the position of the party that Alkali is not a member of the party, it will take a miracle for him to emerge as the governorship candidate of the PDP in 2015.

Jonah Wuyep Air Marshall Wuyep (rtd), a former Chief of Air Staff, has also picked the PDP nomination form. He hails from Pil-Gani Langtang North Local government of the state. Wuyep became the 14th Chief of Air Staff on April 24, 2001 during the administration of former President Obasanjo.

Many believe that Wuyep is the plan B for Governor Jang if the anointed candidate does not work, but key PDP stakeholders may not be favourably disposed to handing over the governorship ticket to Wuyep, who they see as a new entrant

Godfrey Miri Dr. Miri is one of the PDP hopefuls for the 2015 governorship election in Plateau State. Before his foray into politics, he had served as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Bayelsa, Kaduna, Ogun, Nasarawa and Gombe states. He hails from Langtang North council of the state.

Just recently, Miri admonished youths of Plateau State not to allow an individ-

Wuyep

ual to decide their future. He also called on the people of the state to reject any candidate imposed by Governor Jang to succeed him.

With his antagonism of the governor, who controls the party structures, Miri may have to pursue his ambition on the platform of another political party if he so desires to govern Plateau in 2015.

Christopher Bature Apostle Bature is also a household name in the governorship race in Plateau State and he has also picked the PDP nomination ticket to demonstrate his seriousness. He is a former Regional General Manager at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Bature is said to be a close friend of Governor Jang, and hails from Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state. It was earlier speculated that he was Jang’s anointed but nobody knows why the sudden preference for Pwajok.

A special reception was recently held for Bature in Jos which turned into a political rally to advance his ambition, but many key PDP stakeholders see him as a new comer into politics.

Nicolas Kemi Nshe Hon. Nshe is the incumbent and longest serving chairman of Shendam Local Government of Plateau State. He has also picked the PDP nomination form. Nshe is also a grassroots politician, and had in the past given both Tapgun and Tallen tough times, especially during the 2011 elections in Shendam.

Some observers believe that Jang is pushing him to destabilise Tapgun who is also vying for the PDP governorship ticket. Those who are close to Jang say they are on real good terms, but if the governor makes good his promise to support a younger person, then Nshe’s ambition may likely see the light of the day.

Solomon Dalung Barr. Selcap is the former chairman of Langtang South local government council, and he is currently a member of the Northern Elders’ Forum. Dalung has been in the opposition since 2008.

Even though a university lecturer, he has strongly held on to the state politics.

Dalung would be among the aspirants to be strongly considered, as speculations are rife that the southern zone elders are interested in fielding him as a governorship candidate though he belongs to the opposition, which has never won the governorship race of the state.

An amiable personality, Dalung has always aspired to be a positive change agent and significant contributor to nation-building and statesmanship.

This may have informed his decision to contest the 2015 governorship on the platform of the APC. He may get the APC ticket but will have to contend with the PDP and Governor Jang who see him as his strongest critic.

Bitrus Bako Nabasu He is another PDP aspirant and hails from Bassa local government of the state.

He was the former Deputy Director, Planning, Research and Documentation (DPRD), Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

Despite his rich academic background, many view Nabasu as a new contender who is not strong in politics and so cannot make serious impact, even though he is financially strong.

For now, all the political gladiators in the state are scheming and strategising to win their respective party’s primaries, but only time will tell who succeeds Jang as the next governor of Plateau State.

Alkali

Miri

Nshe

MORE STORIES ON pageS 40-43, 48

18

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion

Northern Nigeria beyond Boko Haram

Emmanuel Tyokumbur

T

hat the Boko Haram is an aberration in the culture and religions of the people of Northern Nigeria is not in doubt. For it has been rejected, ostracized and castrated by the good people , in whose domain their nefarious activities have caused harm, killings, destruction of families and property , anger, frustration, bitterness, sorrow and acrimony .No one wants to associate with the group, because it is a source of disaster to the entire human race. The Black race looks up to Nigeria as the most populous African nation, therefore Boko Haram is also a source of international embarrassment to the Nigerian nation and humanity. Simply put, they are terrorists with no pro-life agenda save for bombings, killings, assassinations and displacement of women, men and children. It is in the light of these that the North must look towards a life after Boko Haram based on the following reasons.

Firstly, the north stands to benefit in the area of Diaspora investments and retirements. Millions of Nigerians are in the Diaspora with several thousand retiring annually with the hope of settling in Jos, Plateau State that has a clement weather, comparable to their various host countries in Europe, North America, Asia and nearby South Africa. Estate managers in this zone will attest to the influx of customers from this area. A secure Jos in Plateau State will enhance the influx of these Nigerians into the area since there is no place like home. Prior to the crisis in the north, Jos used to be home and holiday centre for nationals from many countries. As an undergraduate at the University of Jos in the late 80s and early 90s, I can readily attest to the peace and conducive weather as well as assorted fruits and vegetables associated with cold weather.

Secondly, in the area of tourism and ecotourism, Boko Haram has partially succeeded in making the north an unattractive zone in the country despite the diverse tourism and ecotourism potentials of the region. Again , Jos used to be a holiday and tourism destination for Nigerians and foreigners alike and bringing along with the visits, a whopping investment plethora and opportunities. Yan-

kari Game Reserve which later became Yankari National Park competed with the renowned tourist destinations in eastern and southern Africa. Higher institutions in the north and beyond planned, excursions to this enviable ecotourism destination.

Today, the story is different, all because of boko haram that does not want peace to reign in Bauchi and Gombe States. What exactly do they want? It is obvious the north stands to benefit more from the rejuvenation of these ecotourism sites in the absence of Boko haram that has only translated to destruction and nothing else.

Thirdly, educational exchange programmes between the northern states have suffered irreversibly from the evil claws of boko haram .As a staff of a secondary school in Ringim, Jigawa State in the 90s, I met students from all parts of the country in the boarding houses. The story is different today, no parent would want his child or ward to be assassinated by a heartless and clueless sect for no just cause as the nation has witnessed in Yobe and other parts of the North-East. Where then is the unity of the North? Where is the pride of the north to foster unity and attract people of all nations to the region for development? Such laudable exchange programmes will return to the region with the demise of the insurgent sect.

Fourthly, safety and security will return to the region after the death knell has been sounded and effected on the sect’s activities. It is globally known that there can be no development without peace.

The north needs development more than any other region in the country and this can only be achieved with prevailing peace which Boko Haram cannot offer the zone. Therefore, the sect must be rejected, repugnated, outcasted and abandoned by its secret followers and supporters. I therefore foresee a secure and safe north after the crises that have not done any one any good.

Fifthly, development will return to the region after the waterloo of the sect’s activities. Although nobody wants to be biased in assessing the developmental indices of the country, it is obvious that most investors are cautious about investing in some parts of the region. More so, as foreign investors are warned about their travel plans by home embassies based in Nigeria who tell them without minc-

ing words, about the ravaging effects of the sect’s activities in some parts of the north. Obviously, they believe their embassies ahead of the image making of the home country and the North stands to lose both in the short and long-term. Therefore, the north must brace up and reject the sect for the developmental consequences it has brought to the region.

Sixthly, education will be revived with the demise of the activities of Boko haram. Northern universities such as University of Jos , Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Bayero University Kano (BUK), University of Maiduguri (UniMaid) amongst others, used to pride themselves as cradles of Nigerian and global diversity. Specifically, ABU used to pride itself as comprising at least a student from each of the 774 local governments in the country.

Boko Haram has changed all that, especially with the hard choices prospective students and parents have to make for their wards in choosing northern universities. It is indeed saddening and a bad taste of how religion can be misinterpreted to suit a few fanatics. Whoever it is that supports the sect, does not love northern universities nor do they understand the concept of universality and diversity in a university system with global appeal.

In addition, religious harmony will return to the region as in the days of the Premier of the Northern region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, who never saw development in the parochial prism of how anyone worshipped his God. For instance, adherents of the diverse faiths will see more reason to share in the commonality of the need for international airports that will haul their agricultural products to foreign and domestic markets, as well as for spiritual rejuvenation, through pilgrimages to their various Holy Lands, wherever.

Finally, there are many good reasons why the north must begin to think about its existence after the unfortunate Boko Haram era. This is because the region as a whole, comprising North-East, North-Central and North-West Nigeria, needs development which the sect does not stand for nor offer as shown by its activities.

• Tyokumbur (emmanuel_tyokumbur@yahoo.com), Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

Peter Anieke must not die (2) Kola Johnson Continued from yesterday

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o. Certainly no - in the sepulchral imagination, grotesquely mournfullness, apparative scare chimeric re-creation and buffeting of wicked fate, expressed in the disproportionately overweening mass of flesh and tissues tethering to an abnormal behemoth obesity obfuscating the original facsimile identity of the true Peter Anieke, as he writhed in terrible pains.

Can you imagine the revulsive angst and anguish as might in righteous indignation; have spurred such celebrated symbol of soccer acclaim to bilious rejection of the trade that fetched him fame - that he would vow without compunction, to deflate any football brought into his house by any of his children.

Going through a historical magazine sometime ago, I remember having been greeted with the pitiable plight of Pa Sam Ibiam, first goalkeeper of the national team, then known as the Red Devil; and also a member of the popular U.K Tourists - first Nigerian national team go on

playing tour of the U.K in 1949.

At over 85years of age, no one remembers him. Today, he languishes in the limbo of total forgetfulness, devoid of any signal gesture of appreciation or courtesy befitting a hero, patriot and ambassador of his exalted status - not even due defrayal of his entitlement as a retired public officer in the sports ministry, where he served.

Just initiate any discussion on soccer, Pa Ibiam would quickly cut in that it doesn’t tickle his fancy.

Yet, the import of Ibiam’s case consists – as it bears pertinent need to emphasize – in his iconic symbolism as the only member hitherto living - of the history-making U.K tourists of 1949. In this would we see for those who care to know - the doting old man as a rich mine of treasure, and a living antiquity of an infinitely monumental proportion. This we however fail to see true to our familiar pattern of character.

Today, neither are they seen nor for them, any empathic identification of whatever hue. In all these, one thing is however certain; and this is an aspect to which I give it to Nigerians as deserving of great Kudos. I mean the crocodilian lachrymal that was bound to awash the honorific elegy in the ultimate advent of death.

The signal culture of ingratitude to our sports hero as notoriously waxed already

to behemoth dimension in the particular hemisphere of our own nation-space, becomes more particularly galling in the context in which such code of compensation is seen as standards metaphor writ large in other spheres of national endeavors.

Reason for this is not far-fetched. Sports today is the only universal language, with a transcendental supranational over-reach - cutting across race, tribe, sex, and creed.

Whereas Karl Marx, the communist ideological progenitor did once adduce religion as the opium of the masses - today, the world of sports; football in particular, has beaten religion to it, and hands down too. It has taken the centre-stage far and above religion - as the dominant opium of the masses.

The furious zeal and zest with which the average man on the street identifies with foreign leagues, clubs and football stars is simply amazing to say the least. Its better witnessed or seen, than imagined. Words indeed fail to adequately express it.

Yet, it would surprise you to know that the greater chunk of these soccer confessors and devotees comprise the stark illiterates who elevate their fanatical identification with the exotic alien foreign league beyond giddy religiousity - which the more accentuates the upper hand opium of soccer in the contemporary order - above the marxist postulated opium of religion and its supra-national transcendentalism as

the only universal language intelligibly comprehended and understood by all, irrespective of tribe, nationality, race, colour, sex, creed or religion.

In the past, such was the scenario, even in the hemisphere of the indigenous Nigerian league, oozing as it were then, remarkable Vigor and Vitality.

The magic to this is not far-fetched. It would be found in the committed patriotism of the Aniekes. the Ilerikas, the Olumodejis , the Opones and co. These are exemplary role models who in their days, played out their heart, for love of the game and sheer love of father land.

Today, it’s a shadow of the good old days.

Dedication, patriotism and the likes have gone to the dogs, if not vanished into thin air. How else could it have been with our notorious code of national appreciation, as exemplified in the disappointing metaphor of the Peter Anieke treat?

What inspirational appeal does this project to the present generation who are ready to extract even more than their pound of flesh - even with their tardy disposition to national call - comfortable as they are, in the habitat of their familiar foreign post. Peter Anieke must not die or else, Nigeria would be worse off for it.

Concluded • Johnson is a writer and journalist.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

19

EDITORIAL

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

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

Sanctity of Truth

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

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Defection: Time to stop this immorality

I

n every democracy, freedom of association is one of the fundamental rights granted every citizen by the constitution. This freedom is clearly spelt out in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Chapter IV, Section 40 of the Constitution provides that: Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.

Politicians often make reference to the above provision whenever they are caught hobnobbing with persons from other political parties or are suspected to be indulging in some anti-party activities. And they always exercise this freedom in the build-up to general elections, particularly when they suspect attempts to short-shrift them in their political parties and are, therefore, shopping for a new platforms to protect their interests and secure their political future.

In the past one year, the polity has witnessed well-choreographed movements, a.k.a defections, of politicians from one political party to another as part of the positioning for the 2015 general elections. These movements have occurred among elected state governors and members of the legislature at both the federal and state levels.

The most significant of these

cross-party movements occurred when five governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following months of disagreement with the ruling party. This was closely followed by the mass defections of 37 members of the House of Representatives and 11 members of the Senate loyal to the five governors to the APC. The climax of the defections came with cross-carpeting of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal also to the APC. It is instructive that while the five governors appear to have got away with their switch of political allegiance to the opposition party, the legislators who followed their footsteps are currently in a fierce battle for survival. This is because the constitution, which guaranteed freedom of association for both groups, has some provisions that tend to limit the freedom of the legislators from jumping ship.

Section 68 (g) of the Constitution states that “a member of the Senate or the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat in the House of which he is a member if being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected.

Ordinarily, this section of the Constitution should have served its rightful purpose of instilling discipline and ensuring party loyalty

among legislators but the drafters of the Constitution injected a proviso which all defectors have capitalized upon to a point of mischief.

The same constitution in the same Section 68(g) states thus: “Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously elected a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”

We think that this latter proviso is like building a fortress and creating an unmanned exit point at the back.

The result is that thieves would raid and plunder that castle at will knowing that there is a ready exit route where there are no guards. Obviously, this proviso is the sole reason some lawmakers change their political parties like a woman changes her undies.

Some politicians have exploited this provision to a ridiculous point and in the process have displayed absolute lack of discipline and respect even for themselves.

Elected political office holders are supposed to be custodians of the sacred mandate of the people and should not be allowed to treat the same people with disdain. In the same vein, the political parties are supposed to be platforms for advancing democratic ideals and nurturing responsible leaders who would in turn provide good governance and service to humanity.

We view the recent defection of Tambuwal as the height of this inglorious trade of political prostitution and lack of respect for the electorate and the political party system, not least because in his 11 years of political sojourn in the National Assembly, Tambuwal has changed political parties a record five times.

However, as the legal battle over Tambuwal’s eligibility to remain House Member and Speaker unfolds, we urge the parliamentary caucuses of both the PDPand the APC to remain law abiding and allow the judiciary to interpret the constitution and decide the fate of those whose defections are being challenged in courts.

But we think that without prejudice to the outcome of the various suits pending before the courts on the issue of defections, there is an urgent need to further amend the 1999 constitution to delete the offensive proviso in Section 68(g) because it has been thoroughly exploited and roundly abused by elected parliamentarians who ordinarily are the guardians of democracy.

Similarly, stringent provision should also be made for state governors to lose their seats once they dump the political parties that brought them to office. Those who cannot be loyal to their political parties are not likely to be loyal to the electorate who, on the basis of their party manifesto, gave them the mandate in the first place.

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

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

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Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

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Deputy Editors, Daily n Emeka Obasi, Ayodele Ojo

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Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

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Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

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Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

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20

Arts

C

ourage, loyalty, steadfastness, devotion to a cause, community service, astute political leadership, and grassroots mobilisation skills.

These and many other attributes form the core of the repackaged biography of Alhaji Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, a political leader in the pre-independence and immediate post-independence period in Nigeria’s political history. The 196-page book written by late Dr. Olajire Olanlokun who once served as chief librarian of the University of Lagos was launched on October 16, 2014 in the hall of Ogun State Television, Abeokuta, at a grand occasion attended by top politicians, academics, professionals, businessmen, community leaders, students and others.

The book, first published in 2005 was recently revised with more contributions from members of the family and associates of the subject of the biography. The new effort was coordinated by one of the colleagues of the late author, Dr. Taofiq M. Salisu. The book is divided into 12 chapters which cover the early life, early involvement in party politics, parting of ways of Chief S.L. Akintola with his colleagues in the Action Group (AG), the war of brothers in AG, legal battle for Premiership and post-Emergency politics in Western Nigeria.

Other issues covered by the various chapters of this major work on Nigeria’s political history, particularly the early experience of Nigerians in political party administration, the practice of parliamentary system and regionalism, include first post-independence regional elections, post-election developments, Owu chieftaincy tussle, the last political activities of late Adegbenro as seen by his associates and the concluding remarks by the author.

Like every good biography, the book goes beyond the story of a man.

It is the reproduction of the history of Nigeria and the politics of an era in which Alhaji Adegbenro found himself and operated in. The author, while writing about the early life of the subject, takes us through the history of the early settlement of the people of Owu quarters in Abeokuta and some of the villages in present day Ewekoro and Ifo local government areas in Ogun State.

From the second chapter, the book takes us through the political life of late Adegbenro and it continues in that line till the end, except for

TONY OKUYEME tony.okuyeme@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Book Review

Leadership, service, Adegbenro’s footprint in Nigeria’s political history

Book title: Resilience in Leadership Author: Olajire Olanlokun Number of pages: 196 Year of publication: 2005

It was obvious that Awo, who was a good judge of men’s character and values, had seen Adegbenro as the man for the moment

Reviewer: Yusuph Olaniyonu chapter nine which dwells on the tussle over the Balogun of Owu and Ekerin of Egba chieftaincy titles. Even then, the chieftaincy tussle was in itself a form of local politics.

From the second chapter, the importance of this book in correcting historical misstatements and clearing long held misrepresentations becomes obvious as it makes it clear that unlike the falsehood that was often spread on the so-called ‘cross-carpet’ story of the constitution of the 1952 Western Regional Assembly, the members including Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Adegbenro and others were elected as independent members who later, for the purpose of the election of first Premier

chose whether to team up with the Action Group led by Awo or NCNC led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

It is also necessary to relate how this book helps to authenticate the claim that the debates in the Western Regional parliament were so enriched and with great depth so much that the quality was comparable to what obtained in Westminster, London. The copious use of quotes from contributions of the Nigerian legislators to parliamentary debate helped to demonstrate this.

Incidentally, from chapter three of the book, the reader is taken into the details of the Western Region crisis where late Adegbenro led the proAwolowo forces in battling the break-away faction of the AG led by Chief S.L. Akintola. No doubt, the story on this crucial development which was to determine Nigeria’s first attempt at democratic rule after independence was written from the perspective of the political tendency to which the subject of the book belonged.

It is interesting reading in chapter four about how Adegbenro was chosen to become the new party deputy leader over and above many top party leaders who were earlier considered in the race for who succeeded Chief Awolowo as Premier of the Western Region. It was obvious that Awo, who was a good judge of men’s character and values, had seen Adegbenro as the man for the moment. The time then required a deputy leader whose virtues included loyalty, resilience, consistency, humility, piety and ability to ignore the lure of the lucre.

In his account of the ‘Legal Battle for Premiership’, the author also devotes good number of pages to dissecting court papers. This is one section that students of Nigeria’s constitutional law will continue to find useful and relevant. The next two chapters are about the 1964 and 1965 regional and federal elections. The author gives elaborate account of the events, claims and counter-claims by the protagonists and antagonists. He also makes use of good quotes from the speeches, broadcasts, press releases and other relevant documents from both parties. These, at least, provide the opportunity for those who will want to make impartial judgment on the events of that tumultuous period to have some materials that can help them make informed

decision. This is in spite of the fact that the totality of the arguments in the book tends to promote the ‘Awolowo story’ on the Western Region crisis. And this is understandable.

Historical events like the Action Group crisis which resulted from the Jos meeting in 1962, ‘Operation Wet e’ political crisis following the 1965 elections, the Agbekoya crisis of 1968, the January 1966 military coup, among others, got good coverage in terms of events leading to, the real event and the aftermath. The author also uses memorable pictures which help to put faces to so many names of prominent pre and post-independence political actors in Nigeria.

However, much as one will recommend this book to students of history and political science, present and aspiring politicians as well as others who are interested in learning about Nigeria in her teething period of nationhood, there is so much work yet to be done in the area of proof-reading the text. There are so many spelling errors which sometimes are not only embarrassing but also altered the intended meaning of the author. Similarly, the author does not seem to have any respect for punctuations.

And this is a major minus for the easy, free-flowing narrative style adopted in the presentation of the facts.

Also, on page 143 is a great omission as the author claims that “Akintola’s biographer even maintains that there was no shred of truth in the official results as the election was shamefully rigged”. However, in the references listed on page 157, not only is the name of the quoted author, Osuntokun, wrongly spelt, the page being referred to, is missing. So, how does one cross-check the veracity of the claim?

These are however errors that should be eliminated in the next re-print. Overall, the book ‘Resilience in Leadership: A biography of Alhaji D.S. Adegbenro’ by Olajire Olanlokun is a good contribution to the body of knowledge on Nigerian history and politics. It is hoped that many authors will take the challenge to write the biographies of many of our past and present political actors. Such efforts will help not only lighten the too many dark alleys in our polity; it will also enrich the intellectual content of the power game in the polity.

Olaniyonu is Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ogun State.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

21

Interview

Facilities

Developing nations contribute less to climate change, says UNN don

Minister tasks higher institutions on govt’s investment

24

25

Education Plateau varsity: Struggling to survive FAILURE

Nine years after the establishment of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, the school is being threatened due to non-accreditation of all its academic programmes Musa Pam Jos

S

takeholders are worried that efforts and resources invested in the establishment of Plateau State University, Bokkos, may have turned out to be a waste.

Specifically, the workers and students are not happy that over nine years after the establishment of the university, none of its academic programmes is accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), and hence threatening the fate of the students.

Established on April 29, 2005 by the administration of Senetor Joshua Chibi Dariye, the then Governor of Plateau State, the Ivory Tower has since inception been confronted with one crisis or another.

In 2007, the academic activities at the institution were suspended for dearth of infrastructural facilities and lack of permanent members of staff, but were only reopened in 2010.

The university was established primarily to offer quality education, as well as complement the University of Jos which had been overburdened by admission requirements, especially from its catchment areas of Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara and Bauchi States.

With the calibre of scholars that constituted the University Implementation Committee, led

by Prof. John Wade, who later became its pioneer Vice-Chancellor,

kayode olanrewaju Editor, education

kayode olanrewaju@ newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

The university’s administrative block

as well as Prof. Ochapa Onazi as the Chancellor, and Prof. Daniel Saror as the Pro-Chancellor/ Chairman of Council, stakeholders expressed shock at the state of the institution.

To them, why such high hope that climaxed the birth of the institution, which offers courses in different fields of learning such as Arts/Humanities, Environmental Sciences, among others, has suddenly disappeared, leaving in its trail despair.

Besides, they expressed regret that the university which took off with great expectations by establishing international linkages with some well-known and reputable universities within and outside the country to achieve its dream, is today in its present state.

However, they blamed the state government, which is the proprietor of the university and the Governing Council, led by its Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Prof. Sam Ale, alleged to be an in-law to the governor, for the woes betiding the state-owned institution.

While tracing one of the major problems confronting the university to that of government interference with highest rate of turn-over of vice-chancellor, the stakeholders lamented how a university that has produced four vice-chancellors in less that 10 years of its establishment can make a head way.

The university which has Prof

Gov. Jang

Our major concern is the accreditation of our university and its academic programmes

Wade as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor between 2005 and 2010, also has Prof. Nenfort Gomwalk, who took over as Acting Vice-Chancellor between 2011 and early 2013, while Prof. Doknan Decent Sheni, who was suspended last week by the state Governor and Visitor to the university, Jonah Jang, was appointed in 2013.

But, the Visitor to the university and governor of the state, Jonah David Jang suspended Sheni on October 30, 2014 with immediate effect and appointed Prof. Stephen J. Mallo, in acting capacity, with the mandate to commence preparation for accreditation of all academic programmes and faculties of the university.

Part of his mandates is also to stabilise the system and harmonise all the organs of the university for a harmonious working relationship.

But Sheni’s suspension has continued to generate ill-feelings among members of the university community, who are challenging the government’s action.

Now, members of academic staff of the institution under the aegis of the Academic Staff Forum, have condemned the action of the governor, describing it as a direct affront on university autonomy.

While addressing journalists in Jos, the state capital, the Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Gilbert Yalmi, alleged that the suspension of Prof. Sheni was a culmination of a running battle

between the embattled ViceChancellor and the Pro-Chancellor, over who presides over the Tenders Board, especially the disbursement of the TETFund grants to the university in clear disregard for the Procurement Act. According to the lecturers, the suspension order slammed on Sheni was contrary to the law setting up the university because the university council was not consulted.

They also argued that the action was not based on any investigation more so as a Visitation Panel constituted by the state government is still sitting and has not submitted any report.

Besides, the Forum, which also noted that another cause of disagreement was the reappointment of the governor’s kinsman, Prof. Davou Dabi, as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in clear violation of the university’s law.

The lecturers, however, described the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor as a confirmation of the age-long threat by the governing council to take over the administration of the institution.

They said: “The suspension order does not stipulate a time frame within which it remains effective nor did it state any process of investigation for its cause, more so that the suspension order and the government release were contradictory. While the government’s release alleged ‘inappropriate conduct’, the government on the state’s television station added ‘financial misappropriation’ to its allegation for suspending the Vice-Chancellor.”

Meanwhile, the 400-Level students through their leaders, Alex Lutnaan and Mishael Nunkop, have cried foul over the government’s action, and are expressing worry over the non-accreditation status of the university’s academic programmes. They have threatened not to write their final examinations until full accreditation of their courses is carried out by NUC and other professional accreditation bodies.

The students condemned the suspension of Prof. Sheni, saying it was purely political on the part of the state government and the Council.

They said: “Our major concern is the accreditation of our university and its academic programmes. Some of the identified CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

22

Education

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ajasin varsity graduates 6,341, offers jobs to First Class Babatope Okeowo Akure

T

he owners and management of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) have assured graduates with First Class of automatic employment as Graduate Assistants in the university.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Femi Mimiko disclosed this during the fifth graduation ceremony of the institution, where no fewer than 6, 341 students received their scrolls for first degree, higher degrees and post-graduate diplomas.

He said the programme, under the Graduate Fellowship Scheme, which was instituted by the university, had been rejuvenated and expanded in scope by his administration to offer graduates with Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) of 4.0 points and above, a place in their Departments as a Graduate Assistants.

Mimiko, who pointed out that about 50 of such young men and women, trainee academics, all over the world have benefitted from the scheme, added that the university pays their way through Master’s degree programme and PhD, within or outside the country.

Giving the breakdown of the graduat-

The VC, Mimiko (right) congratulating Oluwaseun Fapohunda, overall best graduating student

ing students, the Vice-Chancellor hinted that of the 6, 341 graduands, 26 bagged First Class degrees; 1,414 obtained Second Class Upper Division; 3,505 obtained Second Class Lower Division; 993 had Third Class and 54 graduated with Pass degree, while 412 graduands who received Postgraduate Degrees, out of whom 10 bagged PhD. The university also conferred Honorary Doctorate Degrees (Honoris Causa) of the university on two eminent Nige-

rians.

They are the Osemawe and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae.

Mimiko, who told the gathering comprising top government functionaries, led by the state governor and Visitor to the university, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, that his administration at inception was confronted the challenge of redeeming the

Plateau varsity: Threatened by neglect CO NTINUED FRO M PAG E 21

factors militating against the university’s accreditation process include, inadequate funding of the university by the state government, under staffing, inadequate infrastructure and skill acquisition plan.

“Our fundamental concern at this time in the history of our stay on the campus, is not the suspension of the ViceChancellor or neither the appointment of an Acting ViceChancellor, but any decision of government that will serve the good of all students, most especially one that regards the accreditation of the university.”

A Senior Lecturer at the university, who did not want his name in print, also expressed dismay over what he described as retrogressive development at a time other universities are striving to position themselves in the world map as centre of academic excellence, the university is changing leadership without recourse to the university’s extant law.

He lamented that the university, at present, is being run as a family business as if the purpose is to give the government apologists absolute control of the university’s affairs.

His words: “What is happening here is a pity because what the founding fathers of the university envisaged was that it would complement the efforts of UNIJOS, which since 1975, has been the only federal university in the state. States that established their own universities after PLASU have surpassed us in many respects.

Bauchi, Gombe, Nasarawa and Jigawa, among others have all established solid foundations for their universities.”

But, to the Commissioner

Sheni

for Education, Dr. Nanle Dashen, all the issues raised about the university are within the ambits of the governing council of the institution to address.

According to him, since the university has autonomy and which has carved it out from the bureaucracy of the Ministry of Education, the governing council is there to address the matter.

And, unless there is a policy issue that the government should address, only then can the government come in to address or solve such issues.”

All efforts by New Telegraph to contact the Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council proved abortive as he was not available for comments.

Meanwhile, a Federal High Court sitting in Jos has declared as null and void the suspension of Prof. Danjuma Sheni, as the Vice-Chancellor of the university.

In the judgement, the court also ordered the state government to appear in court on November 17 to explain the

justification for suspending the Vice-Chancellor.

Sheni, through his Counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN), had challenged his suspension in court, asking it to enforce his fundamental rights to fair hearing under the Fundamental Human Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules as provided for in Section 36 of the 1999 constitution.

Justice Ambrose Allagoa, who gave the ruling last on Thursday, ordered all action against the Vice-Chancellor be put on hold pending the full determination of the suit.

The university workers’ unions and students described the government’s action as not only punitive, but unnecessary and unwarranted meddlesomeness in the affairs of the university.

New Telegraph also gathered that a meeting of the Council was relocated to the Government House to allow a suspended member of the Council participate in the meeting after a court had restrained him from parading himself as a member of the academic staff.

Investigations by the New Telegraph also revealed that after the tenure of Gomwalk and the appointment of Sheni the story of the university has not changed as the lecturers are leaving in droves when their courses are not accredited.

Apart from the non-accreditation status of the university, despite appeals and reports of the visitation panels set up by the NUC and the state government, the university is yet to add additional block to the existing infrastructure, neither has it recruited fresh members of staff to address the reason for the initial closure.

academic integrity of the university by placing academic programmes and the operations of the university on the right course.

His words: “We started off by consciously and deliberately instituting a merit-driven admission policy. We overhauled all our academic programmes, making them more relevant and useful to our publics. We liberally funded training programmes for our lecturers and staff at all levels to hone their capacity; expanded facilities available for teaching and research; placed our examination and assessment processes on a much more transparent platform; and emphasised the rights and privileges of students while not neglecting their duty.

In all regards, we mainstreamed quality assurance.”

He added that one of the most vexing challenges his administration inherited was result processing, saying in the past, students were not able to access their results promptly.

The Vice-Chancellor noted: “We worked to change that story. We moved from OMR sheets for examinations in our large classes to the CBT. By mid-2014, JAMB had found our facilities in this regard compelling enough to accredit the university as a centre for its CBT examinations and registration purposes.”

TETFund receives outstanding public institution award Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

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he Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG), Centre for Transparency Advocacy, a civil society coalition has named the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) as “The Most Outstanding Public Institution 2013-2014” for effective and efficient service delivery as voted by Nigerians.

According to the Executive Director of ISDMG, Dr. Chima Amadi, the group explored the benefits of the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act, to scrutinize over 400 public institutions on their service delivery process.

He stated at a dinner organised in Abuja to unveil the various categories of winners of the ISDM awards, that TETFund emerged the overall best public institution in the country after a very competitive voting exercise, which generated thousands of votes via SMS, e-mail and questionnaires by Nigerians.

Amadi explained that the award was in recognition of the revolutionary intervention activities TETFund played and still playing in the fight to restore the lost glory of the Nigerian tertiary education system.

“These organizations have shown that the Nigerian spirit when properly kindled is in-

Babayo

surmountable; proved that the panacea for our under-development lies within us as a people; fore grounded the belief that our nation is blessed with human capital necessary to lift it out of the doldrums,” he said.

Amadi noted that the group has been assisting the government and the people in ensuring that effective services are rendered by government institutions especially those that have been mandated with specific statutory functions.

While responding after the award on behalf of TETFund, the Chairman of Board of Trustees of the Fund, Dr. Musa Babayo, recalled that TETFund has so far in its intervention programme in the nation’s tertiary education system disbursed over N27 billion.

Besides, he noted that the fund has delivered over 30,000 educational infrastructure projects in all the tertiary institutions in the country.

Education 23

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Airtel donates materials, cash to 2014 NICEGA

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etermined to promote youth and sports development in the country, one of the nation’s leading telecommunications services providers, Airtel Nigeria, is supporting this year’s edition of the Nigeria College of Education Games (NICEGA) with cash and other materials.

The 2014 edition of the inter-college tournament, which kicked off this week is being hosted by Niger State College of Education, Minna.

Speaking on Airtel’s support , the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, noted that sports does not only serve as vehicle through which thousands of Nigerian youths could discover their talents and achieve their dreams, but it is also an activity which keeps youths away from vices.

He said: “At Airtel, we are deeply passionate about providing op-

portunities and platform through which Nigerian youths can discover their skills. Airtel has been in the forefront of youth and sports development in the country over the years and we believe that there are still millions of untapped talents needing the right opportunities and support for discovery and exposure. This forms the bedrock of our resolve to continually strive at creating avenues.”

Airtel’s Regional Operations Director, North, Mr. Wole Abu presented the cash and materials to the Chairman, Organising Committee of NICEGA and also the Provost of Niger State College of Education, Prof. Farouk Haruna Abdulrasheed.

The items presented include branded gifts items such as Tshirts, wrist bands, bandana and fez-caps among others.

Abu also spoke of Airtel’s plans to provide other items including

banners and Airtel branded canopies at the venue of the competition to add colour to the event and create awareness about the games.

It is on record that Airtel Nigeria has continually sponsored laudable initiatives, among which are the Airtel Rising Stars football tournament, Airtel One Mic, Nigeria’s Got Talent and the newly introduced Airtel Trace Music Star with the aim of empowering Nigerian youths towards achieving their dreams and potentials.

More than 90 colleges of education across the country are expected to participate in this year’s edition of NICEGA in 18 games, including football, volley ball, table tennis, basketball, scrabble and athletics, among other sports.

The maiden edition of the games which was formerly referred to as NATCEGA was hosted by Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri in 1978.

The pupils with their kits

NBC gives back-to-school kits to 5,000 pupils Flora Onwudiwe

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ome 5,000 pupils from some selected primary schools in five states of the federation have become beneficiaries of “Back-toSchool” kits donated by Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC).

The 5,000 pupils were selected from Christ Assembly Primary School, Ajegunle, Lagos, while others were from schools in Aba, Kaduna and Enugu States, as well as Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

The gesture is part of efforts by NBC, manufacturer of Coca Cola, Fanta, Sprite soft drink and Eva Water, to fulfill its commitment and investment towards promoting education and enhancing the pupils’ learning.

NBC’s aim at the beginning of new school year is to motivate the pupils to excel in their academics, as well as taking off some of the financial burdens that the new

school session always placed on parents and guardians.

According to the NBC Managing Director, Mr Ben Langat, who was represented by the Director of Human Resources, Mrs. Grace Omo-Lamai, NBC’s investment in education was borne out of the company’s commitment to contributing to the sustainability of the communities where it operates.

Towards this end, he added that no fewer than 5,000 pupils in public primary schools are benefiting from the initiative the year.

Lagos State Education Commissioner, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye was represented by the Director of Education, Zonal Office, Mrs. Abiola Abiodun Omole, said “the laudable initiative will remain indelible in the hearts of the children”.

She, however, thanked the management of NBC for its continued support for education in the state and the country at large.

In his remarks, the Education

Secretary, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA), Mr. Adewale Adeogun stressed the importance of the back-to-school kits to pupils, saying “it is evident as it instills a sense of pride and confidence in the pupils.”

He expressed gratitude to NBC for its investment activities in Apapa, one of the company’s host communities.”

The Board Secretary Abia State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Kenechukwu Ugochukwu Nwosu thanked the management of NBC for contributing to the development of the young ones in Ohabiam Community Primary School I & II in Aba. During the presentation of the items to pupils of Kuchinguro Community Primary School, Abuja, Alhaji Ibrahim Wanbi, the District Head of Kuchingoro community, expressed profound gratitude to the company for the kind gesture.

Dankwambo, FRSC boss decry poor policy implementation Oladele Oge and Moses Oyediran UNN, Enugu

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ombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Boboye Oyeyemi, have decried poor implementation of policies, calling on the government at all levels to create more awareness on policies implementation.

The duo, who spoke during this year’s edition of the annual public lecture of the Department of Public Administration and Local Government of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) noted that it is doing so that they could restore peoples’ confidence in government.

In the lecture, entitled: “Governance and Public Policy Process: Transforming Nigeria into a truly Modern Society,” Dankwambo noted that the country has always had good policies but failed in implementing them.

He, however, stressed that regular training and re-orientation of government officials saddled with implementation of policies have become imperative to make them agents of development as the policies are bedrock through which government perform their duties to the public.

“It is worthy to note that it is through good governance and institutional procedures that development goals are achieved,” he said.

The governor wondered that most public policies in the country including the transformation agenda are usually faced with challenge of how to improve the competency of policy makers to be attuned with modern ways of doing things.

He commended Federal Government’s efforts to provide infrastructure, subsidise agriculture as well as eradicate poverty, even as he underscored the long years of military rule, which he said was the major challenge to the country poor policy implementation. saying: “Since the return of democracy in 1999 the political class has failed to address the popular needs of the people as a result has continued to fan embers of discord and heightened regional and religious division as well as corruption”.

The governor expressed appreciation to UNN for finding him worthy to deliver the lecture and pledged the assistance of Gombe state in addressing issues that would enhance teaching and learning in the university.

Ozumba, UNN VC

24

Education | Interview

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Developing nations contribute less to climate change, says UNN don It is real that climate change and its attendant effects are with us.

Could you shed more light on this global concern?

Well, climate could simply be better understood in relation to weather which is used frequently in our day-to-day language. In specific term, weather is the day-to-day atmospheric condition of a given locality. For instance, we often say the ‘weather is wet today’ or the ‘weather was hot yesterday.’ Climate on the other hand refers to the long-term common or average weather condition of a place for upwards of 30 years. Of course, we can talk about desert climate, cold climate and dry climate, and so on. Climate includes patterns of temperature, humidity, wind, rain and other seasons.

Climate change, therefore, refers to changes in the usual climate we are used to or expect in a place. The patterns of expected climate is changing around the world, that is, becoming less and less predictable. Changes in climate are occurring progressively with disruptive effects in the environment and on the conditions of life in our earth planet.

Scientists have observed that climate change in our time is progressing more rapidly than it did in the last 2000 years.

With the growing concern for climate change, what then would you say are the possible causes?

There have been a lot of debates about the causes of climate change, either immediate or remote. And indeed, two important causes have been debated by scientists.

While some believe that climate change may be due to natural variability in climate resulting from changes in the earth’s orbit around the Sun or as a result of human activities, there is however, increasing consensus among scientists that the major causes of climate change are human activities. The United Nations Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its report of 2007, noted that more than 90 per cent of global warming or climate change in the last 60 years had anthropogenic origin, which means they are caused by human activities. Human activities resulting from emission of more Green-House gasses such as Carbon dioxide (CO2 ), Chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), Methane (CH4), water vapour and Ozone from anthropogenic activities lead to accelerating global warming. Scientists have estimated that the level of CO2 in the earth’s atmosphere rose from 280 parts per million (ppm) in pre-industrial era to 392 ppm in 2012. As these gasses increase in the earth’s atmosphere, more heat is trapped below the atmosphere leading to increasing temperature on

Prof. Hyacinth Ichoku is a Health and Environmental Economist and a member of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) of the Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (ACCAI-UNN). He speaks with KAYODE OLANREWAJU about the problem of climate change, its impacts and the possible adaptation and mitigation strategies to cushion its effects. dicted that these changes may likely continue with very severe adverse effects on people’s health.

To what extent does climate change concern Nigerians?

Let me start by emphasising that climate change bridges the balance in ecosystem and greatly affects where and how people live, as well as how and where animals and plants live. It affects plants growth and food production.

For example, irregular rainfalls or increasing heat may influence the usual timing of farmers’ planting season and cause poor harvests and food insecurity. Many useful crops are today going into extinction as a result of climate change; as some of them will bud but fail to produce seeds, while strange diseases are affecting and killing the animals. More specifically, desertification is threatening many communities in Northern Nigeria, while dangerous gully erosions, caused by unusual heavy rain falls, are swallowing many residential buildings in the SouthEastern part of the country.

We all witnessed how flood ravaged many communities in the country in 2012. Even though Nigeria and other developing nations contribute little to the causes of climate change; we suffer the impact more. That is why ACCAI-UNN is leading the campaign to sensitise Nigerians on climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Ichoku

the earth’s surface.

If it is true that climate change has constituted a threat to human existence, and what evidence do we have that the climate is changing?

Yes, of course it is a real threat and the evidence is everywhere. Changing climate has been characterised by rising levels of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses in the earth’s atmosphere.

The trapping of these gasses in the atmosphere increases the temperature of earth causing wide impacts such as observed rising sea-levels, melting snow in temperate regions, irregular rainfalls, increasing heat levels, drought and floods, decreasing freshwater supplies, and washing off of coastline, among others. It has been pre-

Many useful crops are today going into extinction as a result of climate change

Could you explain some of the activities of ACCAI-UNN? ACCAI-UNN stands for Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, University of Nigeria Nsukka. It is made up a team of experts from different disciplines ranging from agricultural economists to plant scientists, environmental lawyers, bio-resource engineers and economists, as well as geographers, among others. It is approach is trans-disciplinary.

The Centre is currently headed by Prof A. Achike. Indeed, its main objective is to build the human capacity needed to address climate change issues and adaptation strategies that meet African’s unique needs through university-based curriculum for conventional post graduate degrees (PGD, M.Sc. and PhD). And, also shorttraining courses for a wide range of professionals from all sectors. Other mandates of the centre are to encourage and implement action-oriented research activities into climate

change adaptation technologies that will help to improve the climate change mitigation and adaptation capacity of the African peoples.

Besides, centre includes various communities within the African region in its programme execution and implementation of research findings; and to provide basis for adaptation of international best practices in climate change issues and forge collaborations with similar or related facilities across the world.

ACCAI-UNN undertakes the above mandates under its education, research and training/ outreach structures. It also provides a platform for scholarship programmes, under one of its ancillary programmes called Trans-disciplinary Training for Resource Efficiency and Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (TRECCA).

TRECCA is a European Union funded exchange programme involving seven universities in Africa including the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Under this programme, students who qualify will go to one of the participating universities to further their studies at Masters and PhD levels. The project is supported by Open Society Foundation (OSF) of the United States, under their Higher Education Support Programme (HESP).

What could people do to cushion the impact of climate change?

There are several actions that could be undertaken both as individuals and as a group to slow down the speed of climate change. Many of these actions are costless, while some others may be more expensive. For instance, we can reduce the use of fossil fuel such as coal, natural gas, oil, etc. When we burn fossil fuels, we increase the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When we use our electric generators and drive our vehicles - cars and lorries, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to green-house effect and global warming. Therefore, when we reduce the use of coal, burning of bushes and use of firewood, we are helping mitigate the impact of climate change.

More importantly, research has shown that more than half of the carbon dioxide we emit into the atmosphere comes from vehicles and generators.

Therefore, we need to choose more fuel efficient cars, more efficient energy systems such as solar panels to reduce emission of unhealthy gases into the atmosphere. We should also help our environment by replacing our usual 40, 60, 100 watts bulbs with more efficient and energy saving white bulbs.

Every single year you use the florescent efficient bulbs, you stop about 100 pounds of carbon dioxide from getting into the atmosphere. Nigerians should plant trees and vegetation around their homes and stop cutting down of existing ones. Therefore, we must stop the habit of cutting down trees, deforestation, and burning bushes.

Education | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

FUTA students promotes agriculture Mojeed Alabi

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s part of efforts to redirect the interest of young ones to the field of agriculture as the potential source of national wealth, some students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) have introduced an initiative, requiring fellow students as well as senior academic staff of the university to be commited to agriculture.

The programme, tagged: “Transforming Face of Agriculture in Africa,” is a brainchild of a Postgraduate student in the Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology, Titilayo Femi Kings.

The project involved the signing of a banner with the inscriptions such as:

“I believe in Agriculture”; “I study and will practice agriculture as a career”; “Agriculture is life”; and “Agriculture is what I do”, among others.

According to Kings, the project was designed to inspire the young ones as well as children in to developing interest in agriculture.

“The concept of the banner signing is to get students motivated, change their wrong perception about agriculture as a profession for unsophisticated people and make them identify themselves as proud agriculturists.”

The programme, which held at the Hilltop Auditorium of the university, was opened with a red carpet session, which gave youths and dignitaries opportunity to sign the banner.

The Chairperson of Ondo State

Wealth Creation Agency (WECA), Mrs. Bolanle Olafunmiloye, enlightened the youths on the opportunities available to those interested in agricultural businesses.

She also outlined processes to be followed in order to access some of the opportunities provided by the state government to empower youths to own their own farm businesses.

The participants, in a communiqué read by Femi-Kings noted that agriculture remains the bedrock of any economy and for a nation to thrive, it must be accorded adequate priority.

Besides, they argued that structures and incentives should be put in place to ensure a succeeding generation that would take over the practice and profession of agriculture in the country.

One of the building projects. Inset: Dr. Ibiyeye-Ladipo

Minister tasks higher institutions on govt’s investment

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call has gone to workers and students in institutions of higher learning in the country to reciprocate government’s huge investment in the education sector by showing more commitment towards their responsibilities and development of the system.

The call was made by Education Minister, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau while inaugurating a seven-storey multipurpose building complex at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Yaba, Lagos.

The minister, who noted that it was through such commitment that the future of the country could be guaranteed through knowledge, challenged them to shun strikes and moves that are inimical and that could stagnate the development of the sector.

Towards this end, he appealed to both academic and non-academic staff members to be more committed to their work, while the students should take their future more seriously.

The four building complexes inaugurated by the Minister were constructed by the YABATECH management through capital votes and government direct funding interventions to the college. While restating his administration’s determination to put an end to incessant strike in the sector, the minister commended the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Margaret Kudirat Ibiyeye-Ladipo for judicious use of government’s funds and for harnessing resources within her disposal for the good of future genera-

tions of the country.

The building commissioned are the seven-storey multipurpose complex (housing 94 office spaces, three seminar rooms, a committee room, a penthouse and a banking hall); a 1,300-capacity auditorium; a 2,000-capacity lecture theatre; and a registry and bursary building complex dedicated for the use of staff of the units.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee of Chairmen of Federal Polytechnics, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, praised the Minister for ending the oneyear-old strike by the academic staff of polytechnics and colleges of education almost 24 hours after his assumption of office.

His words: “We are aware of the frantic effort the minister has put into eliminating all forms of discrimination against products of polytechnics and especially the migration of staff on CONTISS 15. I want to say that you are an asset to the education sector and I am not surprised because you are a man of integrity.”

Babatope, however, lauded the Rector for her visionary leadership and for rising beyond gender considerations to the extent of “redefining the future of Yabatech.”

Earlier, Dr. Ibiyeye-Ladipo thanked the minister for undertaking the impact assessment visit to the college and for taking time out to commission the projects.

She said: “Your visit at this time has further demonstrated the pro-active nature of the Minister and your genuine concern for the educational development of the country.”

Besides, she expressed gratitude to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund), which she said was of immense benefit to the college in terms of capacity building and human capital investment.

This would be the third time in a succession that top government officials would laud the Rector and her management team for their prudence spending and making government money work for the society.

The Senate Committee on Education during one of inspection visits to the college in July 2012 commended Dr. Ibiyeye-Ladipo for prudent and judicious application of funds for infrastructural development of the institution.

Also, on September 10, this year, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Education praised the Rector and her management team for proper management of funds allocated to the college, which according to them, has impacted positively on the overall development of the college.

According to the Director, Public Relations, Mr. Charles Oni, with the newly commissioned projects, Dr. Ibiyeye-Ladipo’s administration has so far executed no fewer than10 building projects on the two campuses of the institution.

25

Foundation partners Lafarge to mark Literacy Day Mojeed Alabi

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non-governmental organization that is focused on youth education and empowerment, Ovie Brume Foundation (OBF), in partnership with Lafarge Nigeria, is set to mark this years’ Literacy Day with literary competitions scheduled to take place in three geo-political zones of the federation.

The competition, which is meant to assess reading, writing and spelling abilities of the pupils, will attract participants from selected schools from various regions across the country.

According to the organizer, the first two winners from each region will then proceed to represent the region at the finals.

According to the Foundation’s Executive Director, Mrs. Iwalola Akin-Jimoh, the North East zonal competition was held on November 1 in Gombe; while that of South West region will hold in Ibadan on November 6 and the SouthSouth zone is billed for Port Harcourt on November 13.

The grand finale of the competition is expected to take place in Lagos on December 3.

Akin-Jimoh said: “The competition is organised to mark the World Literacy Day which is held annually in September, as a day set aside by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to celebrate literacy in the world. The aim mainly is to eradicate illiteracy globally.

“We are also celebrating the results from our Books on Wheels Project that was carried out in different Lafarge sites around the country.

Books on Wheels is one of the many literacy programmes put together by the Ovie Brume Foundation to develop writing skills, promote reading culture and improve the vocabulary of public primary school pupils within the country.”

According to her, about 250 primary school children have so far benefitted from the Books on Wheels Project. Their reading skills at midline show an increase in reading levels ranging from nine per cent to 63 per cent in about four months of implementing the intervention.

26

Education

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Mind Builders School awards scholarship to six pupils

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t was a dream come true for no fewer than six pupils of Mind Builders School, Ikeja, Lagos, as they were awarded scholarship for their sixyear secondary school education.

The scholarship is a reward for excelling in their entrance examination into the secondary school arm of the school.

The pupils, who all radiated joy, smiled and walked elegantly with their shoulders high as they walked to the podium to receive their scholarship awards.

The pupils are Olawore Mercy, Quadri Oluwaferanmi, Ailuelohia Oseghale, Adigun Boluwatife, Akinsola Oluwadamilare and Dawodu Moyosoreoluwa.

Presenting the scholarship to them, the Chairman of Board of Directors of Mind Builders School, Mr. Bosun Falore, said the scholarship award scheme into the junior secondary school arm of the school was part of school’s corporate social responsibility, which aimed at promoting and rewarding excellence among the children.

“The scholarship will as well relieve parents and provide a solid foundation for brilliant pupils in order to make them stars in the future,” he said.

Falore, while insisting on the need to keep the recipients on the toes and that they should not play away their time, said the pupils’ excellence should be sustained throughout their six years education in the school in order for the school to continue the award.

The school’s Head, Administration/ Human Resources, Mr. R. Titiloye, said the pupils attained the feat through their performance in the 2014/2015 entrance examination into the school.

The scholarship was presented to them during the school’s 2013/2014 prize-giving day, where several prizes were awarded to the pupils of the schools for the outstanding performance in their subject areas and other categories.

He said three of the pupils - Ailuelohia Oseghale, Dawodu Moyosoreoluwa and Adigun Boluwatife – are from Mind Builders Primary School; while Olawore Mercy, is a from Children Companion, Ogba, Lagos; Akinsola Oluwadamilare is fromSunnydale School, Ikeja and Quadri Oluwaferanmi from Trinity Primary School, Move, Ogun State.

At the ceremony were members of the school’s Board of Governors, PTA executive members and some of the parents of the awardees.

Beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme, from left: Olawore, Quadri, Ailuelohia, Adigun, Akinsola and Dawodu

Business educators seek removal of research barriers Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

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f the Association of Business Educators of Nigeria (ABEN) has its way, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) should remove all barriers inhibiting legitimate access to funds for research, training and infrastructure development in the nation’s institutions.

The association, in a communiqué issued at the end of its 26th annual national conference in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, condemned the spate of instability in higher education sector, saying that incessant labour and student unrest had handicapped efforts to produce qualitative business educators.

The communique signed by the association’s National President, Dr. Titus Umoru, an Associate Professor, therefore called on government to put in place adequate legislation to regulate use of internet and social media without infringing on freedom and rights of citizens.

The conference observed that Business Education facilities were inadequate in quality and quantum in most Nigerian institutions, lamenting that they are often poorly maintained where they are available.

The group said while it recognised

the potentials of social media as instruments for projecting business education, it however said that there was need for parents and guardians to monitor their children and wards so that social media are employed for acquisition of knowledge rather than for engaging in vices.

The association held that Nigeria is moving towards a period when social media would hold centre stage in socioeconomic development, even as called on stakeholders to see Facebook and other social media as veritable instruments for social and economic changes anywhere in the world.

Part of the communiqué read: “The association calls on teachers, parents, governments and the larger society to address problem of social vices, especially among the youth. The national cancer of corruption has been compounded by continued pervasiveness of other financial crimes, robbery, kidnapping, thuggery and political brigandage in the society.

“A decadent nation cannot long endure, just as a termite-infested plank cannot last for long. Families, governments, the clergy and all other major national institutions should do more to inculcate the ideal national mores in our youths especially by providing examples of integrity and moral rectitude for youth to emulate”.

EDUPEACE

with Mahfouz A. Adedimeji (08066372516, sms only)  Dr Adedimeji is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, Unilorin

Loving money, losing life

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t is well-known that the love of money is the root of all evils but many Nigerians do not pretend that they love money. Not only Nigerians, in the world today, money is an object of worship. In music and movies, money is idolised and deified.

There is something fundamentally wrong with our psychic wiring these days. There is this erroneous belief that anything that doesn’t yield money is valueless.

The awkward philosophy is that there is no free service and you cannot do anything for nothing.

Unfortunately, this idea has seeped into the academia. Those who should be promoting ideas that ignite value are now blinded by the quest for lucre. The “New Telegraph” editorial of Monday, October 27, 2014 captioned “The NUC directive on PhD” puts it poignantly: “Too bad that the old virtue of discipline is now lost in many of our tertiary institutions; lecturers have become excessively materialistic just as the larger society has lost its well-cherished values and moral ethos”. Too bad indeed!

Our society is doomed because of materialism and consumerism. The insecurity in the country today and the loss of thousands of human life are traceable to the love of money and power.

The richer you are, the more powerful you become. Our leaders have become power-drunk after stealing our common patrimony and before our eyes, the future is being mortgaged.

Politics is thriving because it is a big business that transforms people’s lives from abject poverty to stupendous wealth. Everybody wants to “run” for one political office or another because of the money and power associated with it.

To achieve the end, human lives become collateral damage. Instead of loving people and using money, our rulers across board love money, use, misuse and abuse people.

However, we should use money to save life because money is illusory but life is sacred.

We live to make money and buy things that do not ultimately belong to us.

No one really owns anything as we are going to

Politics is thriving because it is a big business that transforms people’s lives from abject poverty to stupendous wealth leave this world sooner or later, empty-handed. The following viral message is worth re-sharing, enjoy it and rewire your thinking about money and life: “When we die, our money remains in the bank… Yet when we are alive, we don’t have enough money to spend.

In reality, when we are gone, there is still a lot of money not spent.

“One business tycoon in China passed away. His widow, left with $1.9 billion in the bank married his chauffeur. His chauffeur said, ‘All the while, I thought I was working for my boss… it is only now that I realize that my boss was all the time working for me!!!’

“The cruel reality is: it is more important to live longer than to have more wealth. So we must strive to have a strong and healthy body. It doesn’t really matter who is working for who.

“In a high end hand phone, 70% of the functions are useless! For an expensive car, 70% of the speed and the gadgets are not needed. If you own a luxurious villa or mansion, 70% of the space is usually not used or occupied. How about your wardrobes of clothes? 70% of them are not worn! A whole life of work and earning…70% is for other people to spend. So we must protect and make full use of our 30%.

“Go for medical checkups even if not sick.

Drink more water, even if not thirsty. Learn to let go, even if faced with grave problems. Endeavour to give in, even if you are in the right. Remain humble, even if you are very rich and powerful.

Learn to be contented, even if you are not rich.

Exercise your mind and body, even if you are very busy.”

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

27

The Mega City ...for the love of Lagos

MEGA CITY EVENT

MY CITY, MY WORLD (Animashaun)

LIFE IN THE CITY

Gov. Fashola inspects Marine Beach, Epe

People feel better in Lagos

Iworo town seeks attention

In Lagos today, most schools in highbrow areas of the state get better attention from the government. They are in good shape. But that is not the lot of many others in adjoining towns and villages. Some of them are in a sorry state as EZURIKE UGOCHUKWU observed when he visited Methodist Primary School, Gberigbe, Ikorodu, recently.

Gberigbe Methodist Primary School

A school for the ‘fittest’

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he had an exercise book in her left palm, a pencil in her right hand, struggling to write and dragging for space in the crowded classroom. So many other pupils have their legs outstretched and books placed on their thighs. Oluwaseun Ogunremi (not her real name) is seen copying from the blackboard whilst standing.

There are no stools or desks to write on.

The compound is unfenced and dilapidated structures appear to be the pattern of the school. It is indeed in Lagos State today.

Perhaps, oblivion of what basic academic environment ought to be, Ogunremi and her fellow leaders of tomorrow in stoic resignation, kept copying from the board amidst noises from various corners of the class.

Those are the students of Methodist Primary School, Gberigbe, in Ikorodu Local Government Area, founded in 1954. The school is a paradox of the much-touted provision of infrastructural facilities for the enhancement of qualitative education in Lagos State.

The situation, makes a mockery of the educational sector, and might be clear evidence that improved educational system in the state may not be for all yet.

For a school as old as fifty-years to be ditched in this decrepit state casts doubt in some of the programmes of the government and its various ministries. Is the wind of Lagos mega city only blowing across and within the highbrow areas of Lagos State?

Moving along the road-from IkoroduSabo market through Gberigbe to Imota, where the Lagos State public works Cooperation (LSPWC) has its asphalt plant, one is forced to behold the site of a derelict building winking and scratching

OLUWATOSIN OMONIYI CO-ORDINATOR

tosin.omoniyi@newtelegraphonline.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

IN NUMBERS 57,183 Total student enrolment of UNILAG

55%

Male students

One of the classrooms occupied by the headmistress

your eye for attention. At first, one may think it is an ancient family house or church building bequeathed from those ancient tribal wars.

The heart-rending aspect is that one of the classrooms in the wretched classrooms block serves as the Headmistress’ office. A casual look round the block raises the doubt that the whole building is in use. But on closer inquiry, one gets convinced that it houses the headmistress’ office. The building has also, the school’s visual screening site board hung on one part of the rectangular classroom wall.

One does not need a building expert to know that the building has outlived its usefulness and another one needs to be erected in its stead. The Zinc sheets and timber wood used in roofing the house have started falling off, and are now a threat to the pupils’ lives. The paints on the wall have peeled off while wall plaster is crumbling also. The house has no ceiling on them anymore, thereby dislodging the room from temperature control; exposing the headmistress and the kindergarten pupils that also use the classroom block to the scorching effect of the sun and sweltering in the congested classroom.

The school staff make do with any raiser they lay their hands on as tables and chairs. The story is neither different with the pupils as most of them congest on the few weak and wobbling

desks and chairs in the classroom.

The other newer classroom blocks are crowded also, making effective control of the pupils difficult, if not impossible for the teachers. There is no functional borehole or pipe-borne water in the school. The children resort to defecating outside, undoubtedly, raising the chances of epidemics in their vicinity.

Yet, matured adults are being molested and extorted on daily basis by KAI and other law enforcement agents for urinating indiscriminately around the area. Now, the children are supposed to effortlessly inculcate that value. They are rather pushed to it. Forgetting once more the words of William Wordsworth that, “ the child is the father of man.”

The countless problems of Methodist Primary school, Gberigbe, are one in a million of cases of neglect to public schools by the governments. Some parents interviewed, cried that the uneven floor of the classrooms exposes their pupils to high danger. They wonder why such a Primary school along a highway could not be fenced. A parent whose two children are in the school and a resident of the area Mrs. Titilayo Ojo, narrated how miscreants in the community invade the school compound unobstructed in any provoked uprising and tussles occasioned by- land dispute that has continued unabated in the area.

“If I have alternative, I will take my

45%

Female students

children away from this school. You can see, the school has no security. The compound is so open, the children could even stray away. Anybody can come into the compound at will. Oftentimes, lunatics have sacked the children from their classes. There is always tension in this area because of land dispute. Last month, there was stampede. People in the cause of seeking for safety ran in and across the school compound creating panic among the children. Many attempts to have Parents Forum meeting (Parents Teachers Association) were obstructed in the community.”

She retorted further, “Our children complain that the water reservoir-bucket in the school is never enough to serve them in their toilet; that is why they urinate and defecate outside whenever they are pressed. This school has no borehole; they depend on buying water.”

One of the truck drivers, whose truck is parked opposite the school and who wouldn’t want his name mentioned, motioned to our reporter and pleaded for the conveyance of his message to the government on the state of insecurity in the community.

He said: “With the way things are in this country today, how could these little children be schooling in a desert like this?

God forbid, the children could easily be CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

28

News | Mega City

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

A tale of abandoned Ipakan recreation centre Ipakan Community Sports and Social Development Youth Centre, a once enviable sporting centre, which many in the community Refer to as a stadium, located beside the sea shore in ljede Local Government Area, lkorodu, Lagos is now a shadow of itself. MOSES KADIRI reports.

T

he recreation centre has been in a bad state since July, 2014. The entire roof which shades sun for fans and other personalities, who use the facility has been destroyed by wind and storm, wreaking havoc in the centre of the stadium. Things have totally fallen apart in the Sports and Social Development Youth Centre. The community laments the lack of assistance to repair and reposition the centre to its former glory.

The spot where spectators seats were, has been taken over by weeds. The weeds at the entrance point to centre, have grown to several heights; possibly reptiles and other dangerous animals are now the habitats of the centre. Coupled with the damaged roof, this has prevented social activities in the centre.

At both ends and around the centre, the scenario is the same. Since its abandonment, nothing has been happening in the centre. The height of the weed at the back of the centre is the same as the football pitch. Weed is the sole owner of the pitch. The wall fence in the centre has been destroyed; likewise the road to the centre, is an eyesore. The road has been washed away. No thanks to the sand dredging activities within the area, heavy trucks loaded with sand from the dredging site ply the vicinity, to and fro to at every interval, supplying sand to buyers, and the road project-the construction of Ikorodu road. This has also caused damage to the road. Sources said the mini-stadium records large turnout of people, who use the centre for one sporting activities to the other; the community plays sports competitions using the facility; and lots of petty traders sell items ranging from water, soft drinks, and other items to the people, who use the centre either for training, football activities or other things.

“This is the only recreation centre that serves so many communities within this vicinity and beyond. There is no other

The abandoned recreation centre

centre in this town or the neighbouring village,” Mr. Ahmed Balogun declares.

He pointed his right finger to the centre, and said: “The place that you are seeing is a stadium; it has been abandoned since wind blew the roof away about four months ago.

Since the incident happened, nobody has come to repair the stadium. The state of the place is nothing to write home about, the centre is a no go area presently; you can see for yourself that weed has taken over the place; if nothing is done, the place will remain like this, because nobody is going there anymore,” he said.

Another indigene of Ipakan community, Mr. Rafiu Shakiru, collaborated Ahmed’s statement. He said the centre is where young people in the community use as training ground. “lt is a recreation centre where people come to play football; so many people come here for training, people play football here while other people use it for one sport or the other,” he said.

He recalls that social activities, when the centre was alive, were on the high side. He noted that people were very excited using the sport centre. “The place was so beautiful back in the days; the pitch was well kept, the roof that has been blown away by the wind protects people from sun light; l can tell you because l know how it was in the past, it is a lovely place to be; people who use the centre were happy coming here to

A sign post at the recreation centre

engage themselves in one area of sport to the other.”

Shakiru hinted that the centre is not only meant for the community, but for anyone who wants to use the centre.

“People come all the way from Apapa in centre of Lagos to lpakan stadium; they bring vehicles with lots of people to train in this place; if you come here when this place was alive, you will understand what l am talking about. When l mean busy, this place was so busy in the past. There were so many activities in the stadium mostly during weekend, that people in several groups came to the stadium to either do exercise, play football , and several people in the community will come and watch people playing football,” he said.

With the deplorable state of the centre, some of the youths in the area are calling on the appropriate authorities to restore the centre by repairing the roof, fence and other aspect that need maintenance in the centre.”

One of the residents in the community, Aromole Salami, calls on the state government to revisit the damaged mini stadium for the community. “We will be happy if the state government can fix the place for us; this is the only centre in the area where our youths go for one sporting event or the other. We cannot underestimate the way sports is going in the country, and around the world. Who knows what they will become tomorrow,” he asked.

A school for the ‘fittest’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

kidnapped within the vast corners of the school, and nobody will know. Look at this building, is it not a shame? When they pass through this place, they close their eyes.” Not still done, the driver in an emotional laden voice concludes: “If I were this headmistress, I will leave this school. Last time we heard, she fail down from the pako(skeletal wooden chair in that her wretched office). If you peep into that office block, you will shed tears.”

Mega city went round the school compound and saw how the environment look; giving credence to the claimed-decaying buildings, unfenced compound and wrecked furniture.

A security man in the school,

Mr. Kashinmawo Taiwo, bemoaned the difficulty he faces because of the unfenced compound. He said: “We are supposed to be four security men here, but look, I am the only one doing the job in the whole compound. You can see, I never knew when you entered the compound because every corner is road. If there were gates here, it would not have been possible. Communal clash is increasing here. The government should come and help us secure the students here.”

The chairman of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school, Prince Amos Olukoroje, expressed displeasure over the lack of facilities in the school; he decried the level of abandonment of the school by the government. ”We had written many let-

The headmistress office

ters to both the state and local governments about this school.

They did not do anything. The school has no fence. Is primary school, where small children attend school, not supposed to

be given more attention in the area of security? The pupils sit on bare floor. No chair; no desk.

The classrooms are congested.

They stay over 100 children in a class. The headmistress has

no office, the teachers have no chairs, and neither do they have desks”, he concluded.

The Lagos State CommisCONTINUED ON PAGE 29

Life | In The City

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

29

Iworo town seeks attention Elijah Samuel and Ezekiel Adesawe

F

rom the Roundabout in the Badagry municipal, it takes about 45 minutes to journey from the expressway into Iworo. The trip is fairly tortuous as the only access road into the vast area which accommodates several villages and towns under Badagry Local Government, is an undulated path of varying degree of dilapidation. Clusters of residential buildings dot the pathway amidst swamps.

Most of the residents are Awori; and they are mostly peasants, whose mainstay is in mat-weaving and basket-making.

Although a few of them are involved in juggling vocations, they are striving hard to escape from penury which has pervaded the agrarian community.

The king of Iworo, Oba Joseph Oyediran (Oniworo of Iworo) bemoaned the underdevelopment of his people and domain. While citing the absence of basic amenities and infrastructure as causes of the sustained squalor, he appealed for urgent government’s intervention at all tiers; as this will hasten the needed development. ”The Iworo men are mainly involved in farming and fishing. Coconut, sugarcane, raffia (for matmaking) and plantain constitute our major economic crops. Some of our women are involved in trading and mat-weaving.

“The development is not really measuring up to what we desire. Because of the deplorable condition of our road, many people who perhaps, could facilitate fast pace of our development are discouraged.

Apart from this, we lack power supply and potable water. The continued absence of these basic amenities have contributed to the underdevelopment of our community.

“We are making pleas that the governments at all the tiers come to our aid especially in the construction of our road, so that Iworo can be opened up for right investment that will in turn develop the abundant natural resources maximally,” Oba Oyediran posited.

Underscoring the importance of education in the process of emancipation and empowerment, Oba Oyediran pleaded for government’s intervention in the provision of industries through which indigent students can have means to support their quest to education.

He said: “The children are really trying

to go to school but their parents’ insolvency is threatening their right to education; some have lost their parents; many are going and have had to go to school through selfeffort. Glory to God that today we have graduates who are doing exploits in their chosen fields.

Mat-weaving and basket-making constitute integral part of the local industry of Iworo town. It is an age-long vocation.”

Joel Peter is a native, who engages himself in extra hard work for subsistence. Apart from being a plumber by vocation, he is an active evangelist of the gospel, who is also involved in the business of making baskets to eke out a living for more than 15 years.

According to him, the business is a thriving vocation in the town, mainly because of the rural status of the town.

He also disclosed that the vocation is seasondriven as “we have more sales during the rainy season when fishermen need baskets to carry their fishes from the river after catch”.

The process of basketmaking, which is a relatively tedious one, starts from the bush where the various materials used are acquired from. But the profit accruing from the vocation can barely sustain the artisans: a person hardly produces more than two pieces in a day.

But the vocation somewhat offered succour as, according to Peter, “the business has helped some teenagers in the community to keep busy after school, thereby getting stipends for themselves.

The durability of their product and capacity of production is relative.

As revealed by Peter, “we make up to five baskets every day. The baskets can last up to a year before disposal. It depends on the usage and the quality of material used”.

If the process involved in basket-making is tedious, mat-weaving is more tedious as revealed by artisans.

Janet Joel is another resident, who works so had in order to meet up with the demands of her vocation. Having spent more than 50 years in the art of mat-weaving for a living, she has had most of her productive years practicing a vocation which takes her whole life and offers so little.

She explained: “The mats are made from “isin” (raffia) which we gather from swampy areas in

Peter at work

We lack power supply and potable water.

The continued absence of these basic amenities have contributed to the underdevelopment of our community.

the bush. The raffia are brought home and spread in an open space, so that they are dried under the sun. Thereafter, they are cut into small bits and sizes, dyed and fastened together with threads.

The fastening is the weaving done manually with the hands. With this kind of labour-intensive technique, one wonders what quantity can be produced in a day and for how much.

Joel responded: “We make one per day and one is sold for N300. Therefore, we try to make as many as possible before the market day which holds every week in order to make more money.

We go to the Iworo market every nine days.

“We are tired of this business and we want the government to help us out of it. We want them to help us create more jobs here. This job that we do is very strenuous and it is affecting our bodies. We are only persevering in doing this job so that we can continue to get means to subsist.”

But the Iworo community craved the intervention and collaboration

Finished baskets ready for sale

of the governments to evolve viable local industries that will encompass various rural vocations of the people of the town.

Through this, they believe the abundant natural resources in their domain can be maximally utilized, and the speedy development of infrastructure will be enhanced.

“Let the government show mercy by coming to establish small scale industries, so that our children can have means of liveli-

hood. Or, let the government provide accessible funds, so that some of our children can establish. No doubt, if all these are provided, this community will be lifted out of its destitute of development,” Oba Oyediran appealed.

Peter said; “In order to make business grow, we have on several occasions called on the government especially the local government to support us in large scale production”.

The crumbling Methodist Primary School CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 2 8

sioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, during her 2014 Ministerial Press briefing to commemorate the 3rd year, second term in office of this present administration, eloquently said: “Government is not unmindful of the fact that quality teaching and learning could only be attained in a conducive atmosphere. Hence, the improvement in the provision of infrastructural facilities in

our schools has continued to receive government’s attention…”

No doubt, our governments dream lofty dreams-but to what extent do those dreams translate to reality? At what point does mouth watering latent promises become concrete and align to that belief that-a decent learning and working environment boosts the morale of students and teachers, raises enthusiasm, discourages absenteeism, influences cognitive,

social and emotional development.

By and large, some prescient observers are of the opinion that government’s attention often times focus on establishments and schools on urban areas.

All efforts made by New Telegraph to get the reaction of the office of State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, proved abortive as the chairman neither picked our correspondent calls nor replied the text message.

30

The Mega City

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

UPCOMING EVENTS

Social Innovators Programme & Awards

Organiser: LEAP Africa Date: November 13, 2014, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Venue: Lagos City Hall, Catholic Mission St. Lagos Island, Nigeria.

Marriage Harmony Empowerment for Married and About-ToWed Couples

Organiser: The Lord’s Anointed Christian Centre International Date: November 15, 2014, 10:00 AM -1:00 PM Venue: Hotel Bellissimo,

1st Africa Foreign Exchange Market Revolution

Organiser: Lead Global Market Trade Ltd Date: November 2014, 11:00 - 13:00 Venue: Lagos Oriental Hotel, 3 Lekki - Epe Express Way, Lagos.

African Internet Summit 2014

Organiser: American Internet Business School and Afrinet Business Solutions Date: November 17, 2014 and November 22, 2014 Venue: Protea Hotel Oakwood Park, Lagos, Nigeria.

MEGA CITY EVENTS GOV. FASHOLA INSPECTS MARINE BEACH, EPE

INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (middle); Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (2nd right) and Managing Director, LOPEK, Mr. Kayode Oladeji (2nd left).

Gov. Fashola’s inspection as part of his statewide projects inspection in Kosofe, Ikorodu and Epe axis.

L-R: Mr. Oladeji; Area Engineer of Epe, Engr (Mrs) Odufote Abimbola; Gov. Fashola and Dr. Hamzat.

Gov. Fashola, (middle), Dr. Hamzat (2nd right), Mr. Oladeji (2nd left) INSET: The Marine Beach during his inspection.

BOOK PRESENTATION OF MEMOIRS OF MY ENGINEERING CAREER AND REFLECTION ON NIGERIA (1960-1999), A BOOK WRITTEN BY ENGR. VICTOR ADETUNJI HAFFNER, AT THE MUSON CENTRE, ONIKAN, LAGOS.

My City, My World People feel better in Lagos

O

ba Kamorudeen Ishola Animashaun, the Oba of Epe land said he likes everything about Lagos State and its’ city.

In terms of infrastructure, development and planning, he adjudged Lagos to be classic and number one in the country. “And I like that,” he emphasised.

He stated that the State is sensitive and atten- Animashaun tive to its citizens. The issue of the flood for instance, he pointed that it has been reduced to the barest minimum unlike before that people were groaning. And especially the case of the ravaging Ebola virus disease which was deadly, the leadership of the State was spontaneous in response to the people. “Really, Lagos is concerned about the sons and daughters and people of the State.

Aside being a well planned State, the leaders are visionary and projective about the State and it’s environing,” he said. Typical examples he noted are in terms of collapsed building, fire incidence, e.t.c. “See the way the emergency ministries in charge tackle the problems proves to me that the State government is very concerned about its citizen. People feel good and well in Lagos; the traffic for example is well managed by LASTMA and RSS. That is why other states emulate Lagos State because it is well ahead,” he said. For the State to maintain its level of development and discipline, he emphasised that there must be continuity just like Fashola from Tinubu who continued on the platform the later built. “We indigene of Lagos State must come together, For Lagos State not to be disappointed, there must be continuity,” that he believe makes Lagos unique. The city, he critiqued is over developed. Hence, he urged the State government to spread its developments and ministries to rural areas like Epe, Ikorodu, Badagry e.t.c. so that people in these areas can feel the impact and dividend of the government alongside it’s development to make them feel that they are Lagosians.

The glory of Lagos is returning ba Sefiu Olatunji AdeOKingdom wale, Olu Epe of Epe likes Lagos

in the sense that the leaders have been very efficient starting from Ahmed Tinubu to Babatunde Raji Fashola. They have been very efficient; they have been Engr. Titi Omo-Ettu (left) and the Author, Engr. Victor Adetunji Prof R.I. Salau (left) and Amb. O.O. Fafowora

Photo: Suleiman Husani doing their work. They Haffner have improved Lagos Adewale MOVIE PREMIERE OF DAZZLING MIRAGE AT THE MUSON CENTRE tremendously are still improving. “Gradually, they are returning the glory of Lagos,” he said. I prayed that the next governor of Lagos State will follow suit in their foot step for continuity of the good work going on in the State.

According to Kabiyesi Adewale, Lagos is the nerve centre of Nigeria. And the early contact He explained that the early contact of the European with the Portuguese since 18th century in Lagos has made the State to become the commercial centre point of the country. The other side of attraction is that Water that is surrounding Lagos which he believed is very useful for fishing. The leaders of Lagos, Olu Epe of Epe Kingdom boasted are so visionary that they are already decentralizing the State. But he believed the leaders could do more in terms of electricity supply.

Regarding other aspect of development, he believes the government is already doing that in Epe in terms of the seaport, free Trade Zone and the airport that government is building.

Gbenga Adeyinka 2nd right, Kunle Afolayan middle and other guests on attendance Yomi Fash Lanso and Joke Silva at the event

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

The Investor

Insurance

Telcos’ success story stirs more distribution channels

Bearish equities: Where are the market makers?

35

34

31

Maritime

FCT Watch

IPSAS as tool for transparency, probity in public accounting

Concessionaires move against monopoly at port

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36

Business What's news

Infrastructure firms: MainOne, Zinox, others scramble for licence As Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) continues with its activities to deepen broadband services through proposed licensing of seven infrastructure company (InfraCos) each in the six geopolitical zones and Abuja, no fewer than four players in the industry have joined in the race for the Lagos/South West licence slot.

p.22

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Godson Ikoro

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi Property Editor

Adeola Yusuf Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

UNDERSERVED

Over 60 per cent of telecoms coverage is in cities with only 20 per cent in rural areas Kunle Azeez

F

or various reasons, some telecoms subscribers in Nigeria have dumped about 48.4 million telephone lines, which were hitherto connected and active on various mobile networks in the country.

New Telegraph gathered that the increasing profile of the number of inactive telephone lines in the country might have constituted a major encumbrance to the nation’s telecoms industry growth.

According to the latest industry data released by the telecoms regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria currently has 181.6 million telephone lines connected on the various mobile networks.

New Telegraph however learnt that of the figure, about 48.4 million or 26.6 per cent were inactive, while the actual active phone lines stood at 133.6 million or 73.4 per cent.

The inactive phone lines represent the aggregate figure on the networks of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) operators, the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and fixed wired/wireless networks in the country.

“The incidence of inactive telephone lines, which we are recording in the country is, to some extent, a drawback on the industry,” said Chief Executive Officer, AAA Infotek Limited, Mr Akin Akinbo. “This is because, assuming those lines are kept active by their users and are loaded with airtime to access both voice and data services, it would have further boosted the industry’s growth in terms of revenue generation by the operators, which the telcos, in turn, use to invest in

48.4m telephone lines inactive, says NCC and expand their networks.”

According to Akinbo who spoke by phone with New Telegraph, “increasingly, more Nigerians are jettisoning some

telephone lines and activating new ones, depending on what it is that the new network is offering the subscriber in terms of superior value.”

Also, President of the National Association of Telecoms Consumers (NATCOMS), Mr CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

L-R: Mother of the winner of Sterling Bank Essay Competition, Mrs Ilina Okpala; winner, Miss Julia Okpala; Managing Director/CEO, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Yemi Adeola and Nicole Okpala, during the award presentation ceremony to the winner of Sterling Bank Essay Competition 2014, at the Lilygate Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Investors lose N493bn in four consumer products’ firms Chris Ugwu

F

our top consumer product companies quoted in the Nigeria’s capital market recorded a loss of about N493.02 billion between July and November 10, following massive sell-off that pervaded

the equities market lately.

The stocks are Nestle Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. This is even as the Nigerian stocks became the world’s worst performing market this quarter. Selling panic by local

investors had compounded the pressure of foreign portfolio investors who were exiting the market.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange All Share Index fell for a 13th day last Friday in the CONTINUED ON PAGE 32

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....................11.57% Prime Lending Rate...........16.93% Maximum Lending Rate...25.83%

EXCHANGE RATE

(Parellel As at Nov. 7)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N173 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N278 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N216

l Foreign Reserves – $38.07bn as at 6/11/2014

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Official As at Nov. 7)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N156.80 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N249.43 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N196.04

32

Business | News

BROADBAND

The licensing of new ICT infrastructure firms will drive broadband Kunle Azeez

A

s Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) continues with its activities to deepen broadband services through proposed licensing of seven infrastructure company (InfraCos) each in the six geo-political zones and Abuja, no fewer than four players in the industry have joined in the race for the Lagos/South West licence slot.

According to sources, companies which have joined the contest include two major players - MainOne Cable Company and IHS Consortium who are registered members of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).

Others also doing the bidding for the InfraCo licence are Zinox Telecoms (an arm of Zinox

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Infrastructure firms: MainOne, Zinox, others scramble for licence Group) and Trussnet Limited.

It was gathered that the four firms had submitted bids for the licence to NCC about two months ago, even as sources at NCC said that the Commission is currently working on the evaluation modalities for the process that will eventually bring out the winner.

“After the evaluation, NCC is expected to conduct the auction that will eventually pick one of the four firms as the InfraCo for the Lagos region,” the NCC source told New Telegraph.

The commission had earlier announced that it would be licensing seven InfraCos for the country, stressing that six will be for the geo-political zones each in Nigeria, while Lagos will have one operator because of its peculiarity.

Also, the commission, which hoped to complete the processing by December or early 2015, had ear-

lier stated that it would commence the licensing with the Lagos and North Central regions in the first phase of the licensing.

Reports say that the eventual winners of the Lagos and North Central regions’ bids are expected to deploy Metropolitan Optic Fibre Infrastructure and Associated Transmission Equipment on an open access, non-discriminatory price regulated basis in the state and region respectively.

The Executive Vice

Chairman of NCC, Dr. Eugene Juwah, had stated that the Open Access Model has been considered as a strategic means for the deployment of optic fibre backbone transmission infrastructure network in Nigeria, which is expected to bridge the current broadband gap in the country, facilitate the development of local content and deliver cost effective services to households and businesses.

Juwah said that the success of the process

would address the challenges of fibre deployment in towns and cities, promote infrastructure sharing, reduce right of way issues and transform the beneficiary states to smart states, among others.

New Telegraph learnt that the activities of the InfraCos shall be complimentary to the existing integrated operators that offer end-to-end services and long distance operators offering whole sale services.

The InfrCos shall specifically bridge market

gaps in the metropolitan and regional fibre segment as well as provide end-to-end transmission services, to be available at point of access (PoAs), to access seekers.

Strictly, the InfaCos shall deal with wholesale wireless last mile operators, retail service providers (RSP), independent operators/ wholesale operators who require to lease transmission services and other access seekers such as vertically integrated operators.

48.4m telephone lines inactive CONTINUED FRO M PAG E 3 1

Deolu Ogunanjo, believes that some subscribers had subscribed to certain networks simply because there were not better alternatives as at the time of doing such subscriptions.

“The interesting thing is that today, the telecoms regulator has completely deregulated the industry such that there is healthy competition in the sector, offering wider choice to the subscribers. For instance, a subscriber can decide to leave network ‘A’ and move to network ‘B’, which offers, maybe, cheaper tariff rates and better value propositions.”

However, New Telegraph learnt that another trend, inducing inactive lines growth, is the introduction of mobile number portability (MNP) by the industry regulator last year.

“Mobile number portability could also be a reason for growing rate of inactive telephone lines being experienced on mobile networks,” said President, Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Mr Gbenga Adebayo.

In the same vein, Corporate Services Executive, MTN Nigeria, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, noted that the beauty of mobile number portabil-

ity lies in its ability to provide wider choices for telecoms consumers.

“We have seen a situation where the ‘multisimming’ nature of Nigerians is changing gradually. For instance, a consumer, who hitherto uses one telephone line and prefers another network because the existing network is not serving him better does not need to throw away the existing line and then go and buy the new line.

Rather, he can simply migrate to the new network without changing his phone number,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NCC, in its industry statistics, the latest of which was released for the month of August this year, maintained that teledensity in the country has increased to over 94 per cent, indicating that, despite the inactive telephone profile, more Nigerians are still getting hooked to telephone services in the country.

Though over 60 per cent of telecom coverage is concentrated in the urban centres of the country, according to the Chief Executive Officer of Swift Networks, Mr Charles Anudu, the government has demonstrated its resolve to making telephone access available to the rural dwellers, especially in areas considered lesscommercially viable by the telecoms operators.

L-R: Deputy Managing Director, Arik Air, Capt. Ado Sanusi; Managing Director, Mr Chris Ndulue; Chairman, Mr Arumemi Johnson and Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Fulvio Rustico, during Italian Ambassador visit to Arik Air in Lagos.

PHOTO: ADEYANJU OLOWOJOBA

Investors lose N493bn in four firms CO N TI N U ED F RO M PAGE 31

longest streak of losses since January 2009. The gauge was down 19.5 per cent this quarter, the biggest among 93 indexes tracked by Bloomberg.

The naira, which rallied 2.5 per cent against the dollar on November 7 after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold foreign exchange, declined as much as 2.8 per cent.

Meanwhile, checks by New Telegraph showed that Nestle Nigeria Plc, which occupies fourth position in market capitalisation, led the league with a loss of N229 billion or 25.3 per cent to close at N681.684 billion on November 10 as against N911.554 billion recorded at the end of June.

Unilever Nigeria followed with a drop of N102.149 billion or 50 per cent to close from N204.297 billion to N102.148 billion on Monday.

Cadbury Nigeria Plc depreciated by N81.589 billion or 54 per cent, from N150.256 billion to N68.667 billion, while PZ Cussons Plc declined by N79.412 billion or 53.3 per cent to close at N69.483 billion at the time of filing this report on Monday from N148.895 billion on June 30.

The low sentiment in the market has been on the in-

crease following upset in the financial market arising from insecurities; build up to 2015 elections, Ebola crisis, recapitalisation fever and drop in oil prices, among others.

Financial analysts believed some of these factors sent a shock wave to both local and foreign investors and created uncertainty in the investment environment, which led to retreat on the part of the bargain hunters.

Managing Partner of Dependable Securities Limited, Mr Chineyem Anyanwu, who spoke on these developments, said the forthcoming 2015 elections and the security challenges being faced by the country contributed to the low returns of the market.

According to him, the situation scared some foreign investors, including the local investors, from putting large volume of their income into the market.

“A good number of investors have put their money into election campaigns. In fact, I anticipate that the market will bounce back fully and perform better as from the beginning of next year,” he said.

Some operators also believe the recapitalisation directive has, as usual, sparked up share dumping by market

speculators.

Managing Director, Lamberth Securities Limited, Mr David Adonri, said thatjudging by the political situation as the general election draws near, the market may remain sluggish throughout the fourth quarter.

Also speaking at the Monthly Economic News and Views at Lagos Business School Executive Breakfast Session recently, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives Company Limited, Mr Bismark Rewane, said that the slide of the NSE ASI will continue as there is lack of positive news in the market.

He noted that political tensions will heighten and increase country risk, causing Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) to significantly reduce their exposure to the local bourse.

He noted that political tension and the decline of crude oil prices would sustain the pressure on the naira.

“CBN will offer attractive rates in order to mop up the excess liquidity that will drive capital from equities to fixed income securities, which may lead NSE ASI to slide below 35,000 points by the end of the month,” he said.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

33

FCT Business Watch

IPSAS as tool for transparency, probity in public accounting Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

A

mind boggling disclosure by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, that over 60,000 ghost workers were expunged from government’s salary list attests to the of rot and corruption embedded in the civil service before now.

Even though the minister was optimistic that the ghost workers had been outrightly weeded out of government’s pay roll and the case transferred to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Tribunal (ICPC) for investigation and prosecution of the culprits, a few Nigerians who might have computed the huge funds siphoned through such porous accounting standard prevalent in the public sector are bound to be upset.

Iweala’s chilling revelation at the recent ministerial press briefing only brought to the fore the urgent need for MDAs to imbibe and embrace the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) to prepare their yearly account.

IPSAS as accepted accounting standard for MDAs The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is taken as the best designed global language for preparing company accounts most appropriate for private sector that are profit making. IPSAS has been globally accepted as the new drive to ensure uniformity in government accounting records world over, Nigeria inclusive. At the international scene, IPSAS is being adopted for efficacy in preparing accounts of government agencies.

Countries are evolving strong mechanism aimed at checking corruption and other unwholesome financial impropriety. This is in line, with the desire to facilitate detection both hidden and glaring inconsistencies in the management of liabilities and uproot fiscal opacity prevalent in many developing countries which Nigeria falls within the category.

IPSAS and sound legislation There is no doubt that the adoption of IPSAS as a format for preparing account of public sector has been applauded as the way to go due to its potency to block leakages. Stakeholders have lauded its adoption but the major hurdle remains effective implementation of the laudable accounting standard. There is need for a legislative framework to guide the

AGF, Jonah Otunla

accountants to abide strictly by the standards of IPSAS. However, the absence of a proper law to back the implementation of IPSAS, a system that promotes checks and balances in governance, and affords citizenry the opportunity to be part of the government as well as present an evidence-based platform to measure economic growth, income and expenditure is desirable .

Some countries had already keyed into IPSAS backed with appropriate legislation. The system is already adopted by countries like Algeria, Albania, Afghanistan, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Cambodia, Cayman Islands, China, Cyprus, East and Southern Africa, France, India, Jamaica, Morocco, Malaysia, Norway, Zambia, Pakistan and Uganda worldwide, besides continental bodies like the African Union and the European Union.

In Nigeria, experts have made strong case for adoption of IPSAS as accounting principle for preparing public accounts.

The need for IPSAS for preparing public sector account was reinforced recently at the 42nd Annual Accountants Conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Countries are evolving strong mechanism aimed at checking corruption and other unwholesome financial impropriety

One of the cardinal recommendations at the conference was that, “Public sector financial management systems must provide reliable information to decisionmakers for good governance and accountability. It is in this respect that participants welcomed the move by the government to adopt IPSAS as a basis for financial reporting in the public sector.

Markets and economies function properly when participants have trust in the financial statements that drive activities and decisions in the capital markets.

The Conference urged chartered accountants to continue to develop their professional capacity for generating credible and reliable financial reports that present a true and fair view of the results of the performance of reporting entities. Financial markets in which investors have confidence are the foundation for strong economies and accelerated development.

Giving it more credence, the President of the Instituten, Adedoyin Owolabi, said, “It is the quest for transparency in governance that has necessitated the call for the preparation of financial reports by all tiers of government with IPSAS. “Expectedly, IPSAS would help check a major defect of the cash basis of financial reporting particularly as it relates to the smooth tracking of assets created with public funds.”

The Chairman of the Finance Commissioners’ Forum, who is the Commissioner of Finance in Ebonyi State, Timothy Odah, added his voice to the growing calls for the adoption of IPSAS at the annual conference in Enugu.

He praised the AccountantGeneral of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, for keeping the country’s account intact through IPSAS. However, the commissioner added that the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) 2007 “provides for prudent management of the nation’s resources, ensure long-term macro-economic stability of the national economy, secure greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within a medium term fiscal policy framework.”

Particularly, Part XI 48(1) reads, “The Federal Government shall ensure that its fiscal and financial affairs are conducted in a transparent manner and accordingly ensure full and timely disclosure and wide publication of all transactions and decisions involving public revenues and expenditures and their implications for its finances.”

Benefits to economy Adoption of IPSAS for prepar-

ing public accounts has tremendous advantage to the economy.

There is a general consensus that adopting IPSAS standards benefits the economy, as compliance would become obligatory.

Both the public and private sectors would be closely controlled in a manner that is appropriate and in line with the yearning to improve both the quality and comparability of reported financial information.

This is so because IPSAS keeps track on cash flow statements, the effects of changes in foreign exchange rates, borrowing costs, revenue from exchange transactions, leases, construction contract, impairment of non-cashgenerating assets, disclosure of financial information about the general government sector, revenue from non-exchange transaction (taxes and transfers) and financial reporting in hyperinflationary economies, among others.

Experts opined that revenue leakages would be blocked while cases of corruption associated with diversion of government resources would be minimized.

Besides, the need to ensure economic growth and transparency in government business and other such ventures would attract foreign investment and international confidence in the polity. The prime accounting body in Nigeria recognises this and has taken a bold step in making recommendations to the government to ensure its effective implementation and financial status in public sector.

An accountant at the just concluded ICAN meeting in Abuja argued that there was need for appropriate legislation for IPSASb, adding that IPSAS would guide the country to improve transparency and financial performance and productivity. This is besides escalating the development of the accounting profession in the Nigerian public sector.

Secretary to the Commission, James Nongo, said, “Fighting corruption is not easy and since IPSAS will ensure an accounting reporting system that will checkmate corruption and fraud, we should not expect the buy-in of all the stakeholders.”

He suggested that government should sponsor the required bill to the National Assembly in the direction of bringing into reality or better still amend the FRA 2007 with a particular clause, specifically detailed to IPSAS, so as to make government finances far more transparent and accountable as well as bring the private sector on the appropriate path of appreciable responsibility to meet stakeholders’ demands.

34

Business | Insurance

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Telcos’ success story stirs more distribution channels

Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Fola Daniel

MOBILE COVER

More Nigerians are taking advantage of insurance benefits provided by telecommunication operators

Sunday Ojeme

T

he success so far recorded with the involvement of mobile telecommunication operators in the distribution of insurance products through mobile phones is becoming infectious, as the underwriting industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), is fine-tuning its regulatory policies to accommodation more distribution channels of insurance products.

Airtel Nigeria recently recorded more than 130,000 customers barely two weeks after the GSM provider launched the scheme in conjunction with an insurance provider.

The Airtel insurance scheme, which has revolutionised the telecommunications and insurance sectors, offers Nigerians life and hospitalisation cover with many benefits based on monthly airtime recharge.

It was expected to hit 200, 000 customer milestone in three weeks after launch.

NAICOM’s optimism NAICOM had earlier revealed that no fewer than 600,000 Nigerians had subscribed to microinsurance products through the mobile network providers.

The commission said at least 100,000 telecommunication subscribers were being registered on this scheme every month since October last year.

While Airtel is offering its airtimebased microinsurance product called Padi4Life also in partnership with FBN

Managing Director, MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki

Managing Director, Etisalat Nigeria, Matthew Willsher

Chairman, Globacom, Mike Adenuga

Insurance, MTN is offering its own insurance service with Mansard Insurance called MTN Y’ello Cover.

The Commissioner for Insurance Fola Daniel, during a recent outing in Lagos said the fine-tuning process would soon be concluded to pave ways for the introduction of more robust distribution channels.

According to him, “We are pleased to note that NAICOM has begun the process of fine-tuning some of its regulatory policy frameworks, aimed among others to increase insurance penetration through principle based supervision, that when completed, will open up more distribution channels and other intermediation services for the purpose of insurance market growth.”

He called on operators to brace-up and embrace partnerships that will engender developments of new valued added products.

Insurance operators have been capitalising on the deep penetration and wide mobile telephone usage to make insurance available to more Nigerians both in urban and rural areas. The partnership, apart from creating more awareness on insurance, has also provided alternative channel of purchasing policy for Nigerians, who, hitherto, were too busy to embrace risk transfer mechanism.

telephone as a means of selling insurance in Nigeria and Africa is the right thing that will move the industry forward to a better insurance business.

scene of any incident involving insured items without visiting the offices of the insurance company or speaking to an agent.

The underwriting outfit had earlier introduced the online insurance platform that gives customers the opportunity to source quotes, learn about products, buy insurance policies, file and manage claims from the comfort of their homes or offices without the intervention of an agent.

Telcos’ initiative At the last Africa Insurance Organisation (AIO) conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Daniel expressed appreciation to the management of MTN for also deploying insurance to 100,000 persons monthly in Nigeria.

Daniel said so far the MTN had assisted in deepening insurance penetration across Nigeria, stressing that other service providers should emulate MTN. He said if they put in similar efforts the industry would be doing a minimum of 250,000-customer coverage leading to rapid growth in the industry.

According to him, deploying information technology (IT) and using the

Custodian’s push Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited has a mobile insurance application that enables customers to take charge of their insurance transactions from start to finish on their internet enabled device such as phones, iPad and computers.

The mobile app, Custodian Direct is a self-service insurance product that allows the existing and prospective customers of Custodian to purchase and manage their insurance policies from any internet enabled device.

Using the application, customers can manage their insurance policies, submit and track claims and generate their insurance certificate and policy documents without relating with any agent. The application helps customers take pictures and file a claim at the

Insurance operators have been capitalising on the deep penetration and wide mobile telephone usage to make insurance available to more Nigerians both in urban and rural areas

Airtel/Cornerstone In the same vein, Airtel Nigeria, Cornerstone Insurance Plc and MicroEnsure have also unveiled a free insurance product that will offer customers life and hospitalisation insurance products.

The product, which is tagged Airtel Insurance, comes with increasing benefits based on monthly airtime recharge and packaged to deliver affordable insurance services and encourage insurance culture among Nigerians.

According to the Chief Commercial Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Maurice Newa, the initiative became necessary since majority of Nigerians especially the middle and low income earners in Nigeria could not afford most available insurance policies due to income levels and complicated insurance processes.

He said the Airtel Insurance plan on the other hand was designed to make affordable insurance available to everyone in a simple manner.

“In line with our vision to enrich the lives of Nigerians and offer them quality services, Airtel Nigeria collaborated with two very reputable insurance organisations to package this innovative product which guarantees our customers quality, affordable and accessible insurance services. This further corroborates Airtel’s commitment towards creating a robust platform that helps customers accomplish their professional and personal success and goals in life,” he said.

Business | The Investor

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Chris Ugwu

T

he Nigerian equities market has no doubt, faced a lot of crises this year. Issues that have continued to depress the local bourse include the build-up to 2015 elections, which has increased the level of political risks and fuelled the sell-off motive of both local and foreign investors.

These are in addition to the security challenges that have engulfed the Northeast region of the country.

35

Bearish equities: Where are the market makers?

External factors The external factors are, however, the most worrisome in the current bear run in the local bourse. They include the sudden decline in oil prices and the inability of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to continue to defend the naira.

According to analysts, another external factor is the formal termination of quantitative easing by the United States Federal Reserve Bank. This is expected to reduce the level of liquidity available to foreign portfolio investors, as well as increase their borrowing costs, thereby reducing the arbitrage.

The combination of all these factors have succeeded in pulling back the stock market into limbo as sell pressure continues unabated to the extent that as at last Friday, the market, which opened high at N14.027 trillion in market capitalisation and 42,482.48 in index at the beginning of trading on July 1, 2014, closed at N11.001 trillion and 33,216.31 index points. These resulted to cumulative a loss of about N3.026 trillion or 28 per cent.

Regulatory efforts It is however pertinent to note that a lot of measures had been put in place by both the Securities and Exchange Commission (NSE) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) since 2008 to revamp the market.

Some of the measures are improved trading platform, market transparency, corporate governance drive and improvement in the timeliness and content of market information and/or companies’ reports.

Additional incentives in the areas of competitive transaction costs, stricter enforcement of listing and trading rules and regulations, as well as expansion of market depth are other areas that have attracted investors to the market and above all, market making process, which is believed not to have made the desired impact.

The NSE’s attempt to help deepen the equities market had resulted to taking the giant stride on the back of what was done during the administration of the former NSE DG, Professor Ndi-Okereke Onyuike’s inauguration of 10 market makers.

A market maker is a dealing firm, which maintains firm bid and offer prices in a given security by standing ready to buy or sell that security. All over the world, market makers play a very important role in both the equity and bond markets. They stabilise the market by standing ready to intervene at moments of scarcity or excess supply of securities. It is naïve, unrealistic and detrimental to investors to operate an automated stock market without the active participation of market makers.

The NSE Chief Executive Officer, Oscar Onyema, who regarded the development as another milestone in the history of the Nigerian capital market, said the 10 stock broking firms were selected from a list of 20 that had applied last year.

In preparation to the commencement of the programme, 10 market makers were appointed on April 4, 2012.

NSE building

They include Stanbic IBTC; Renaissance Capital; Future View Securities; Vetiva Capital; ESS/DunnLoren Merrifield; WSTC; Capital Bancorp; FBN Securities; Greenwich Securities and CSL Stockbrokers.

Onyema had said: “This is a great milestone and a major step in the direction of turning the market around to bring liquidity and depth back into the market. We will continue to move forward on this. The companies selected went through a very rigorous process and met the minimum net capital requirement of N570 million; we also examined their compliance history and looked into their operational capabilities including their technology and processes.”

Operators’ evaluation Although the initiative was supposed to lift the stock market significantly, the recent downturn in stocks movement raises concern on the impact of the market makers on the local bourse. Operators believed the performance would have been better but for some challenges, which include lack of funds on the part of some market makers to move the market as expected and investors’ apathy on the equities.

The President, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Sir Sunny Nwosu, said that the impact of market making had not been felt in the equity market; otherwise the bear run that has characterised the trading activities recently would have been averted.

Nwosu noted that there was still a lot of gap in the equities market that investors were yet to take advantage of, adding that many stocks in the mar-

ket had very good net asset value, but their current price on the floor of the Exchange was selling far below their net value.

Speaking in the same vein, Chairman, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Boniface Okezie, also agreed that there was little or no impact on the market since the appointment of market makers.

He said: “Market makers have not impacted positively on the activities

There can’t be marketmaking without securities lending, and up till now, securities lending has not started. So, invariably, there can’t be marketmaking

of trading in the local bourse. We all can see the rate at which activities are dwindling in the stock market.”

A senior broker, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also scored the performance of the market makers low, stressing that some of them had not performed at all and that their activities, relative to the entire market, had been minimal.

In terms of challenges limiting them, he said: “One major problem they have had is incompleteness of the procedure for market-making.

“For instance, there can’t be marketmaking without securities lending, and up till now, securities lending have not started. So, invariably, there can’t be market-making.”

He added: “Once the liquidity is not there, market-making will be neither here nor there. And the fact that the banks are so risk conscious makes them unwilling to support the market makers.”

Conclusion For the market making process to take firm root in the capital market, it must have capacity to meet shortfall in supply and satisfy demand in situations of extreme volatility.

Besides, there is also the need to allow credits back to the capital market.

The current CBN policy, which has made lending for capital market activities unprofitable for banks, should be amended to allow for responsible lending to market operators. This will not only encourage retail investors, but will also make it possible for the licensed market makers to have the financial resources to carry out their role of creating market liquidity.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

36 Chamber worries over delay in cargo clearance by Customs p.37 Diversion of oil and gas-related cargo from one port to another is now a subject of contention among 26 concessionaires. The plan by IntelS Nigeria Limited to obtain undue advantage of handling oil and gas cargo was contrary to the concession agreement and runs at variance with the spirit of competition and efficiency in the Nigerian seaports, BAYO AKOMOLAFE reports.

Maritime

NIMASA generates N9.7bn to federation account p.38

Concessionaires move against monopoly at port

P

ort concessionaires have kicked against the plan

by Intels Nigeria Limited to have exclusive right to handle oil and gas cargoes in the port sector.

The operators, under the aegis of the Seaport Terminal Operators Association (STOAN), and made up of 26 concessionaires at the nation’s sea ports allege that the company is distorting information relating to cargo handling in order to obtain undue advantage over other concessionaires.

According to them, oil and gas cargo nomenclature coined by the company is not known anywhere in the world.

The issue The concessionaires explain that the definition of general cargoes in the concessioning agreement between government and all other parties, which binds all concerned does not admit the definition INTELS is trying to smuggle into it.

“Cargoes are classified as General Cargoes, Bulk and Containerised Cargoes. It is a known fact that pipes, dismantled rigs and other related cargoes recently being christened by INTELS as “oil and gas cargoes” fall under general cargoes. The terminals at concession in 2004 were delineated as internationally known in the industry as (i) Container terminal (ii) Bulk terminal (iii) Multipurpose (or General Cargo) terminal,” they noted.

The terminal operators allege that the company has insisted that oil and gas cargo must be handled only at the ports of Onne, Calabar and Warri, which are INTELS’ terminals.

Restriction They said that only INTELS, out of the 26 port concessionaires, operate in Warri, Onne and Calabar ports to which the proposed amendments to the law relate.

The concessionaires alleged: “To INTELS, pipes, dismantled

Containers stacked at the Lagos Port, Apapa

rigs are all oil and gas cargoes and not general cargoes that they are known to be all over the world.

“Vessels carrying pipes and related cargoes meant for other terminals have been diverted to INTELS terminals at the instance of INTELS. In an attempt to justify this apparent absurdity, INTELS flaunts a copy of the purported terminal classification which they claim to have obtained from a government agency that gives them the exclusive right to handle all so called “oil and gas cargoes.

“In our considered view, there must be a level-playing field for all investors. Every port terminal operator has made and continues to make huge investments in their respective terminals.”

Also, counsel to STOAN, Femi Atoyebi, claimed that expertise must be left to be determined by the shipper who has an inalienable right and freedom to choose his port of discharge.

Problem He feared that INTELS’ grand design was to ensure that every concessionaire of multipurpose (or general cargo) terminals in Lagos and Port Harcourt for example, could no longer handle general cargoes meant for their terminals, but which INTELS are now unilaterally re-classifying as “oil and gas cargoes” and so must be diverted to their terminals.

“This is not a subject of negotiation as it is exclusively a business decision for commercial expediency and convenience,”

they said.

This is not a subject of negotiation as it is exclusively a business decision for commercial expediency and convenience

Proposed Bill Atoyebi stressed: “We are aware that the Senate Committee on Trade recently proposed an amendment to a bill on the “Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority Act, Cap. 05 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2011,” to provide for the Designation and Establishment of Oil and Gas Free Zones and Special Investment Areas and Related Matters.

Section 12(5) (a) of the proposed bill reads: In consideration of the substantial investment in Oil and Gas Free Zones, all oil and gas related cargoes must be handled only at an approved oil and gas concessioned ports. However, investors are free to choose ports of discharge of their cargoes within the designated terminals at Onne, Warri and Calabar ports.”

He said that all stakeholders who were at the Senate public hearing raised objections to this aspect of the proposed Bill. He alleged that only INTELS refused to air its views publicly on the day.

He noted: “It is apposite to state that the operations of free zones relate to the manufacture, re-configurations and provisions of services for export and it has nothing to do with ports and their functions. As has been clearly settled by the appropriate Senate committee as set out above, the classification of ports and cargoes do not have any nomenclature as oil and gas.

“It is to be noted that the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) whose responsibility it is to de-

lineate terminals did so in 2004, handed over the terminals in 2006 to our clients further to the execution of the Concessioning Agreements, which are still extant.

“Is this not trying to create a monopoly for INTELS, which was one of the foremost declared objectives of government in the privatisation of our ports?

Senate’s intervention However, the Senate Committee on Privatisation, after an extensive visit to the terminals, addressed a position paper to the Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar, on the issue. They stated that “Terminals in Eastern Ports, in particular, are all general cargo terminals with their respective operations specified in the appendices to their lease agreements. Terminal operators are, therefore, entitled to undertake the operations in respect of which their Gross Minimum Tonnage (GMT) projections are based and upon which they bided and won the concessions.

“That the lease agreements contain the operations which each Terminal is entitled to undertake and none was designated for any special purpose. The distinction as to oil and gas cargo, therefore, does not arise under the terms of the lease agreements.

“That the diversion of oil and gas related cargoes from one port to another and/or one terminal to another is contrary to the concession agreement and runs contrary to the spirit of competition and efficiency which the ports reforms seek to engender.”

Business | Maritime

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

PROBLEM Stakeholders grumble over new system of trade facilitation at ports Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has expressed concer over the delays in cargo clearance being experienced through the Customs

Chamber worries over delay in cargo clearance by Customs Pre- Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR).

The chamber noted that queries were often raised to cripple their business.

Chairperson, Freight Forwarding Trade Group of the LCCI, Julie Ogboru, said in Lagos that some operatives of the Nigeria Cus-

toms Service (NCS) had not shown enough professionalism in handling matters relating to the PAAR. She noted: “During the regime of Risk Assessment Report (RAR), if you had a problem or your duty was jacked up, you could call the managing director at

COTECNA, a service provider, to lay your complaint.

“He would listen and only give you the duty after examination of the cargo, but customs will say that once you have been queried, you must go and pay before anything.’’

Ogboru stressed that the

L-R: Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode; SA to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe; Minister of Transport, Senator Idris Umar; Omotayo Omotosho and Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Habib Abdullahi, at the Public Affairs Forum organised by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs in Abuja recently.

problem involving PAAR, especially on valuation, should be handled more proactively than what the customs operatives were doing.

She noted that it took weeks for the PAAR to return whenever it was sent back due to a query.

Ogboru said: “When your PAAR is queried and is sent back for re-assessment, you have to keep calling - for some time up to two weeks or you are forced to go to Abuja.’’

Also, a customs agent, Mr. Uchu Block, said that it was discouraging that the PAAR issued by the same customs officers would be queried, adding that this was not the best way to support international trade.

But, the National Public Relations Officer of Customs, Mr. Wale Adeniyi, explained that the timeframe in returning a queried PAAR depended on the nature of the query.

“We cannot be talking about the time a PAAR, which was queried, will be returned because it depends on a number of factors which include the issue to be addressed.

“It also depends on how fast the owner responds to what is requested of him or her to do,’’ he said.

Ship owners urged to put house in order M aritime Industry analyst, Mr. Earnest Onyesosi, has said that members of the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association (NISA) should put their house in order to develop the shipping sector and deviate from tearing their association over the issue of eligibility of the winner of

an election adjudged absolutely free, fair and transparent.

He said that anyone going into an election knew that except you were being elected un-opposed, one would either win or lose.

Onyesosi stressed: “This is what frightens me every time the country is approaching

NIMASA to support Nigerian Army over maritime domain security

T

37

he Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has assured the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, of its cooperation on securing the Nigerian maritime domain.

NIMASA’s Director General, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, gave the assurance and commended the professionalism of the officers and men of the Nigerian Army in combating insurgency even in the face of unwarranted criticisms when the commander, 9 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier David Lubo, paid a familiarisation visit to the agency.

While commending the detachment of Nigerian Army personnel posted to the agency’s Maritime Guard Com-

mand, he said that piracy and sea robbery had taken violent dimensions, employing the use of firearms.

In a statement by the agency’s Deputy Director, Mr Isichie Osamgbi, the director general noted that the agency was not empowered to bear arms.

“This necessitated the agency to enter into Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant security agencies with a view to properly respond to these incidences,” he said.

Lubo, however, expressed readiness to partner with NIMASA to enforce security within the provisions of the law.

He was satisfied with the manner the agency handled the welfare of troops deployed to it.

any election because Nigerians are mostly bad losers.

A NISA member, Akin Olaniyan, said that the two other contestants for the post of NISA presidency were not eligible to contest in the first instance.

He noted that the former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Temisan Omatseye, joined NISA only four months before contesting the presidential seat, just like the gentleman shipping magnet, Greg Ogbeifun, who first joined the association in 2009, resigned in 2011 and came back only in 2013 and yet was allowed to contest despite a strong constitutional prescription that anyone contesting must have been an active participating NISA members for not less than two years.

He said: “In which association do you allow that kind of thing? obviously it cannot be an association that has existed for 12 years. Yet the association allowed it, bending the rules backwards in a bid to accommodate everybody in the spirit of encompassing dynamism. The truth of the matter is that many of the association members did not know Mr. Omatseye as much

as they should, hence his low record of only six votes.

But a stakeholder and analyst, Anthony Emeordi, pleaded that NISA members should not allow their association to be destroyed over an election that has come and gone.

“Given all that the press have written, I am still of the strong opinion that the issue of eligibility is not what we should be talking about now.

After a contest, there are two issues you can raise.

“If they had won, would we be raising the issue of eligibility of a loser? Of course not.

But they have lost, so whatever they are doing now, is the dog in the manger.

“If they cannot raise issue of fraud, then they should know we have since passed the issue of eligibility.

“If fraud is detected, good.

But it’s not fraud; and these are the same people who agreed to abide by the results of the election, then they should just bid their time and wait for the next election. They should not give the impression that they want to destroy their association; but rather than do that, they should go and register a parallel body to pursue their goals.

Look, this is already obvious from some of their utterances.

“The election has since come and gone. If there was going to be any observation, it should be before election.

You cannot come and raise issue of eligibility after losing.

They had ample time to raise observations, they did not.

The election was postponed by a whole week, they did not talk of eligibility. They had opportunities of raising eligibility challenges before election. So, why destroy the body?”

When Captain Labinjo was contacted, he declined comment, saying he would neither talk nor leak any aspect of his statement before the appeal panel to the media.

Meanwhile, the Appeal Panel set up by the Nigerian Indigenous Ship-owners Association, on Thursday, upheld the election of Capt. Dada Olaniyi Labinjo as President of the NISA. The Appeal Panel came into being following the protest which attended the October 24, 2014, election, in which Labinjo’s co-contestants raised observations of eligibility issues against the winner.

The association has also affirmed Captain Taiwo Franklin Akinpelumi as the Lagos Co-ordinator, following the resignation of the former cordinator.

38

Business | Maritime

Lagos Channel Management invests in human capital

COMPETENCE Firm emphasises competence for workers Stories by Bayo Akomolafe

T

he Lagos Channel Management (LCM) said it had invested so much on human resources in the last three years in order to raise both the standard of the equipment and those who would operate them to an acceptable, international standards.

Managing Director of the dredging firm, Mr Danny Fuch, explained that the management embarked on the exercise when it was not possible to find the people with the right competence and knowledge.

He said that the company had employed and trained a multitude of local people.

He said that training of people had been a continuous exercise by the company.

Fuch stressed: “We have sent them to training schools in Ghana and elsewhere to raise their knowledge and competence.

“You don’t call it capital investment, but you call it capacity development. Over 90 per cent of these people from inception also know that we need to train them, educate and retrain them and raise their level of certification. These have gulped a lot of money.

“But in real sense, our contract did not specify that we are to train Nigerians. Our contract is to manage the fleet of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) tugboats up to international standards so that they can operate.”

However he declined to

mention the amount spent on training, saying it was a continuous programme.

Also, to ensure safety of ship on the Lagos channel, he explained that the company had provided four additional pilot cutters in batches of two.

“We are not managing any towage in the port. We are only called to take over and manage a fleet consisting of six tugboats and one pilot cutter that belongs to the NPA. “The contract is therefore to

T

manage six tugboats, three pilot cutters, four more vessels.

And our major capital investment is our knowledge, our expertise. In other words, the capital is the human beings, the machine and the human resources to make the goals work,” he said.

Fuch explained: “Although it is not our responsibility, but because we are partners to the NPA and we noted from time to time that there was stress and pressure as a result of increas-

ing demand in the port. And because what they gave us to manage were not able to fully meet the increasing demands.

“Four additional pilot cutters were bought so that we can supply and meet the demand.

So, the capital investment is mainly and basically in the human resources, not in assets, because this was not what was requested by the contract.”

Speaking on the number of ships handled by the company, he explained that before

money is paid to the company

by NPA, the company must present detail information of the job done.

Fuch noted: “Before we are paid anything, we always first furnish the number of the ships we handled, their names, the date they came in or leave and other relevant data; including the names of the pilot, the names of the tugs that attended to it what terminals it visited; what ships left, before it berthed.

Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, presenting a plaque to Brigadier General David Lubo, Commander 9 Brigade Nigerian Army Ikeja when General Lubo paid a familiarisation visit to the agency recently.

Customs generate N62bn in Apapa he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area 1 Command, has generated N62 billion between September and October.

The command raked in N30.5 billion in September and N31.5 billion October.

The revenue profile showed that the amount recorded in October was N1 billion higher than what the command generated in September.

In October, the command also generated N15. 3 billion into the federation account.

This includes import duties and other fees. Under the non-federation account, the command generated N16.2 billion from port levy, rice levy, five per cent Value Added Tax, among other duties.

However, levies on rice and wheat grain generated the highest income of over N6.7 billion Between January and May, 2014, this year, the command generated a total of N114.9 billion revenue, which covers remittances into the federation and nonfederation accounts.

Also, the command transfers no fewer than 150

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

containers weekly to Inland Container Deports (ICDs) in Kano and Kaduna, 40,000 containers to Ijora Container Terminal as part of measures to check cargo congestion at the Lagos Port.

A total of N53.9 billion was paid in January into the federation account from the amount. In January N9.3 billion was paid, N9.7 billion paid in the month of February, N9.1 billion paid in March while N13.9 billion and 11.9 billion were paid in April and May respectively, even as the rest, which cover fees and levies were paid into the non-federation account.

A total of N19.1 billion was collected in January, which declined to N17.1 billion in February.

The figure increased marginally again to N19.2 billion in March and rose to N29.3 billion but declined marginally again to N28.2 billion in May, 2014.

Also, a total of N51.5 billion was collected on import duty for the five month period while the five per cent Value Added Tax VAT, accounted for N23.4 billion during the period under review.

NIMASA generates N9.7bn to federation account

N

igerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) said that over N9.7billion was remitted to the Federation Account as operating surplus in 2013.

It also explained that the figures in recent media reports were not in consonant with what had been recorded with the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Director General of the agency, Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, said that NIMASA was reacting to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Finance, which fingered NIMASA as the biggest defaulting government agency in remitting operative surpluses into Federal Government’s coffers at the end of a fiscal year.

He said that NIMASA is mindful of the critical role of financial resources in actualising the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and had continued to con-

tribute its statutory quota towards making the government’s programmes a reality.

In a statement, the agency’s Deputy Director/Head Public Relations, Isichei Osamgbi, quoted the director general as saying that the latest remittance for the year 2013 was way above its projection.

Akpobolokemi stressed that the agency was committed to actualising its mandate, working with more advanced technology, like the recently launched Satellite Surveillance System that is capable of monitoring vessel activities in the country’s maritime domain.

The House Committee Chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin had said during an oversight visit of the Committee to the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) headquarters in Abuja, said that the agency was among other agencies of the Federal Government

that default in remitting operating surplus.

He said: “You are mentioning NCC and others, what about the NNPC, which is the biggest culprit in this conspiracy against the country? AMCON, NIMASA have all been on our radar for so many years. They claim to be operating at a loss. The rate of non-remittances from the NNPC alone is ridiculous.

“As for AMCON and NIMASA, they have been claiming to run at a loss year-in year-out, but now that AMCON is making profits from the sale of banks and other businesses, you should follow them up and ask for their financial statements and record of their remittances.”

He added that NIMASA, which has never been in the habit of paying into the account, also paid the sum of N1.3 billion last week into the revenue purse after some engagements.

Telegraph Faces 39

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

L-R: Head, Engineering, Med-View Airlines, Lookman Animashaun; Managing Director, Alhaji Muneer Bankole and Acting Head of Flight Operation, Capt. Godfrey Ogbogu, at the company’s staffs interactive session with the Managing Director in Lagos…at the weekend.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: First Vice President, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Segun Ajibola; President/Chairman of Council, Mrs. Debola Osibogun; Supreme Court Judge, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad and Administrator, National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Rosaline Bozimo, at the 14th National Seminar on Banking and Allied Matters for Judges in Abuja…recently

L-R: President, Mgbidi Peoples Union (MPU), Lagos Branch, Mr. Ifechuhwu Ukwuegbu; Chairman, National Assemble on Legislative Matters, Abuja, Nze Okezie Ekezie and Immediate Past President, MPU, Mr. Innocent Nwafor, during the Association’s Day/launch of their 8th Magazine in Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

L-R: Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Yero; Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki; Niger Governor, Babangida Aliyu and Managing Director, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Dr. Shetima Ali, at the inauguration of Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation building in Kaduna …yesterday

L-R: Hon. Aramide Odutan; Hon. Badmus; Hon. Funmi Tejuosho; Lagos State APC governorship hopeful, Mr. Akin Ambode; Hon. Fibisola Akande; Hon. Adebimpe Akinsola and Hon. Omowumi Edert, during Ambode’s consultation with members of the Lagos State House of Assembly in Lagos.

Imo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Mrs. Cellina Okoh (left), presenting the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, at the INEC distribution of Permanent Voters Card (PVC) exercise in Imo State.

L-R: Marine Services Manager, Oando Marketing, Samson IbhaguI; Flag Officer Commanding, West Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Alade; Chief Executive Officer, Oando Marketing, Abayomi Awobokun; Rear Admiral Uwadiae; Commodore Deji Sunmola and others, during FOC West courtesy visit to Oando Marketing in Lagos…at the weekend.

L-R: Director, Public Affairs and Communications Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Clem Ugorji; Chairman, Editorial Board of The PUNCH Newspapers, Mr. Segun Adediran and Editor, New Telegraph, Yemi Ajayi, during the 2014 edition of the Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA) in Owerri, Imo State.

40 Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Leadership agenda for S’East youths The need for Nigerian youths to be given the opportunity to impact positively on the society took the centre stage at the recent inauguration of the South-East states executives of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) in Owerri, Imo State. FELIX NWANERI reports

I

f there is one major challenge that has faced Nigeria in more than half a century of her existence as an independent nation, it is incompetent leadership.

This is so legendary from all indications in an emerging world order that emphasises clear-headed and able leadership.

With a few exceptions, Nigeria has been struck by a string of leaders, who had succeeded in running Africa’s most populous country, and perhaps, most endowed nation aground, while less endowed nations that got independence at the same time with her, have continued to make giant developmental leaps.

The leadership deficit has of late triggered an advocacy for a new leadership that can take bold steps and initiate time-tested policies capable of taking the country out of the woods.

This quest for a new Nigeria was at the front burner at the recent inauguration of the SouthEast states executives of the Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) in Owerri, Imo State. The executives are to pilot the affairs of the forum in the five states of the geo-political zone – Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. A non-governmental organisation, NYPF, was conceived by a group of Nigerian young professionals to promote innovative ideas for economic and social development and leadership that is accountable. It has members spanning across the globe, and connects young Nigerians in an international peer network.

As an organisation made up primarily of young, dynamic and upwardly mobile individuals, it aims at harnessing Nigeria’s economic, political and social resources using contemporary managerial and administrative techniques. It also aims to support governments at all levels, as well as international organisations to build a sustainable future for the country’s teeming youths.

Speakers at the inauguration, who were drawn from both the public and private sectors, were of the consensus that there is the need for Nigerian young professionals to come together and galvanise themselves to take part in the politics and governance of the country.

Deputy Speaker of the House

L – R: National Chairman of NYPF, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia conferring with National Secretary of the association, Dr. Nuhu Attah and South-East Chairman, Mr. Chima Anyaso during the inauguration ceremony.

of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who was special guest of the event, particularly urged members of the group to help get Nigeria out of the woods.

Lamenting that Nigeria is still ranked among less developed countries of the world despite her huge potential, Ihedioha said: “The challenge of our economy is very critical, we should think of how our economy would be less dependent on oil. It is very important because that is the only way we can survive as a country.”

Ihedioha also lamented the way the country’s politics has been taken over by blackmail ahead of the 2015 general election. “Our country and politics is suffering from unnecessary blackmail and there is no way we can move forward with this brand of politics,” he said, admonishing youths to form quasi-legislative bodies to ensure accountability by those in power.

A former member of the House of Representatives and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant for Imo East Senatorial seat, Chief Chris Asoluka, who spoke on “Changing roles of young professionals in the polity,” charged members of NYPF never to relent in their quest for change.

According to him, “all what the group needs to do to realise its set goal is for members to keep improving themselves, as no army can stop an idea whose time has come.”

He decried the way politics has become an all-comers affair and admonished politicians to see politics as a call to duty and not a door-die. “Politics is so sacred to be left in the hands of ‘professional politicians.’ So, professionals must be encouraged to take part in state craft,” he averred.

National chairman of NYPF, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia, decried that Nigerian youths are not being given opportunities in politics and governance. “The future and destiny of Nigeria lies in the hands of youths, but it is a pity that the country’s youths despite their population have not been given the opportunity to impact positively on the society.”

Charging youths to take their destiny in their hands, he revealed that NYPF has mobilised

Our country and politics is suffering from unnecessary blackmail and there is no way we can move forward with this brand of politics

over 15 million young Nigerian professionals at home and in the Diaspora within its two years of existence, especially in the area of getting them to actively participate in the process of nation building.

“We are committed to contributing to Nigeria’s development through human capacity building.

NYPF periodically provides for its members, full range of capacity development programmes through seminars, workshop, training and development services. Our capacity development programmes offers interactive learning experiences through group and individual discussions and exercises. Several delivery styles are used to create an environment for inspiring, thought provoking, and engaging discussions. Comprehensive learning techniques are also used to foster awareness, understanding, and appreciation of organisational capabilities, teamwork, and performance,” he said.

Siasia also disclosed that NYPF has initiated an Education Intervention Scheme (NEIS) designed to serve Nigerian students in rural areas who are at risk of poor educational conditions. The purpose of the scheme, he explained, is to provide additional educational support materials, instructional resources, and financial aid to help students and schools who are performing poorly obtain the necessary academic support to boost their performance in the shortest possible time.

The South-East chairman of the group, Mr. Chima Anyaso, in his address stressed the need for positive change in Nigeria, adding that young people must be in the driving seat of that change.

Anyaso regretted that the zone, which used to boast of some of the brightest brains in Africa, has left its politics and governance in the hands of people who have no business being in government.

His words: “History will support the fact that people of the South-East of Nigeria boasts of some of the brightest brains the black race can show and our resourcefulness in all sectors since recorded black African history is without bounds.

“Unfortunately today, the bulk

of our best people are in the private sector. They have deliberately shunned the public sector thus, leaving a situation where in many occasions, ignorant people regulate and chart the way for the wise. Sadly, this unfortunate phenomenon has not always being so.

Once upon a time, the people of this zone put excellence first before anything else.

“Misfits and charlatans belonged to the very back of society and had no business in the affairs of governance. I am talking about the time when politicians or public office holders of Igbo extraction were distinguished and perfect gentlemen. The likes of the legendary Nnamdi Azikiwe, Michael Opara, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Jerome Udoji, Pius Okigbo, Sam Mbakwe, Jim Nwobodo, Ebitu Ukiwe, Ndibuisi Kanu, Ike Nwachukwu and Senator Arthur Nzeribe, among others.”

Against this backdrop, Anyaso revealed that the mission of the NYPF in South-East is to ensure that young professionals come out and participate in government, beginning with the 2015 elections.

“We would pass the message that professionals are better equipped to change Nigeria. There are no two ways or shortcuts. We have tested politicians and their cohorts and it is clear that so much more is left to be desired. We would encourage young professionals to join political parties in numbers and take the front seat in the decision making processes at all levels.

“They must bring to bear their competence in their respective fields of endeavour to pilot the machinery of governance. We would also send the message to our people that young people, who have genuinely excelled in business and other professional occupations in this tough business climate of ours, are better positioned to lead or proffer solutions to the social, political and economic advancement of this great country,” he said.

Another important crusade, which Anyaso said the group would be championing, is to pass on the message to politicians that youths of the South-East would no longer be available to politicians as tools of violence and destabilisation.

Politics 41

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Atunwa: Withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security, act of rascality action.

The issue of whether or not he is entitled to defect to another party with or without consequence is a matter solely to be interpreted by the court. The rules are clear that once he is a Speaker, he should remain the Speaker and should have all the necessary security details.

He has not been impeached; he has not been removed. No court has declared his seat vacant. Nothing of that nature has occurred. For me, it is an act of gross rascality by the Federal Government and particularly by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

For me, it is most unfortunate. It is improper and unconstitutional. He, as we speak now, remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives and therefore, entitled to all the appurtenances of that office regardless of party affiliation.

Alhaji Razaq Atunwa is the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly. In this interview with BIODUN OYELEYE, he speaks on the failure of anti-graft agencies to tackle corruption in Nigeria and the withdrawal of security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. Excerpts:

On the inability of EFCC, ICPC to tackle corruption It is embarrassing to say the least that we have become as corrupt as we are in Nigeria. All of this boils down to leadership. From the top downward, this government has witnessed an increase in the indices of corruption.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police have clearly been incapable of addressing the issue of corruption, largely because those people engaging in corrupt practices are in high places of authority.

When EFCC even with the best desire in the world wishes to address this issue of corruption and tackle people in high offices, they are incapacitated because those are the very people that will lobby the powers that be to stop them from performing their functions. Until we have a president that has zero tolerance for corruption, we will not get anywhere.

When we have a president that says what we call corruption is mere stealing, I am afraid we are in trouble in this country. Until we get rid of that president and replace him with a president that has zero tolerance for corruption, the EFCC of this world with the best intention will get anywhere.

Nigeria not working It baffles the mind when you have a Minister for Finance saying that Nigeria is not broke, yet the governors are complaining of dwindling federal allocation. Clearly, Nigeria is not working. Clearly, Nigeria is not functioning. There is no rhyme or reason where any Nigerian, according to international standard, should live on less than a dollar per day. I am very assured that most people live on less than N200 a day. That is the level of poverty in this country, yet we have a Minister for Finance who says we are not broke; who says everything is hunky-dory; everything is working well.

Atunwa

In Nigeria, we have fallen into a trap where people in position believe we are dealing with pettiness and personality. Nobody including the president is sitting down to think well, because day to day, we do not see any cogent economic policy from the Federal Government.

All we see is today if we are not attacking Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, for defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), withdrawing his security details; tomorrow we are attacking Senator Bukola Saraki for saying that there is corruption in the oil subsidy regime etc. Nobody in this Federal Government is dealing with matters of national importance such as unemployment, corruption, instability and insecurity.

On withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security details First of all, I must congratulate the Speaker for his action in joining the APC. I think, he is the man who put his money where his mouth is. He is a man who stands for righteousness, and what is right. He believes in it and he has taken the necessary and right

He has not been impeached; he has not been removed.

No court has declared his seat vacant. Nothing of that nature has occurred. For me, it is an act of gross rascality by the Federal Government and particularly by the Inspector General of Police (IGP)

Jobless minister The Minister for National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman, has an obsession for attacking Senator Bukola Saraki. I read in an interview in one of the dailies recently what he had to say. He is a minister for the entire nation. I do not think it is proper; it is rather not decorous for him to be attacking personalities.

I cannot fathom a developed system in a developed world where a minister will be discussing and attacking personalities. I do not think that the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the United Kingdom (UK) or Secretary of State in the United States discussing personalities, whatever party affiliations they may have.

I ask myself the question: Doesn’t this minister have any work to do? He does not have files on his table to treat?

Doesn’t he have the ministry to run?

This country has issues to deal with.

We are sixth in the world in terms of oil export. We are 10th in terms of export of natural gas, yet this country is economically regressed. Eighty per cent of government revenue comes from oil and gas.

Yet we have neither adequate infrastructure nor progress to boast of; our economic growth is stunted and this is largely due to corruption and lack of transparency. The Transparency International Corruption Perception Index of 2013/14 rates Nigeria among the top 25 in the world of most corrupt countries. It says that the country’s budgetary provisions and processes are zero in terms of openness and transparency.

The World Bank tells us by its latest report that 80 per cent of the revenue of government which is mostly oil and gas benefits less than one per cent of the population. That means that Nigeria is very rich, but the masses are poverty stricken. These are issues that the minister should address.

Our human development index is rated by the World Bank as 156th out of 187. It means that we are at the bottom in terms of human development. These are issues directly related to growing our economy which the minister should concern himself with rather than doing that, he busies himself discussing Saraki dynasty. I think the president should create a ministry for Saraki and then he can be posted there.

42 Politics

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kolawole Daramola is the grandson of the first Auditor General of the Federation, late Chief Michael Adeyemi Daramola. In this interview with Wale Elegbede, the chartered accountant, who is vying for a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), speaks on his ambition and the desire of his party to maintain its winning streak in Lagos State. Excerpts: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defeated your party in Ekiti through the instrument of what is now called ‘stomach infrastructure’. Is your party looking in that direction as well?

It’s only in Nigeria that such term thrives; there shouldn’t be a term of that nature. Though ours’ is a young democracy and we have many people living below poverty line, but we still see the way developed countries manage their affairs.

Stomach infrastructure is a temporary solution to poverty but not a long term solution for this generation and those coming after it. We must put policies in place that encourage rapid development that can create jobs. We need to set long term target for ourselves as a nation and not through the deception from the PDP called stomach infrastructure.

What informed your decision to vie for the House of Assembly ticket on the platform of the APC? The need for real change. I am a practicing accountant with over 10 years in the private sector. I want to bring fresh ideas and governance via a different perspective. If you look at the field of

Wale Elegbede

F

acts have emerged on how one of the governorship aspirants in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, Emmanuel Georgewill outsmarted former Minister of State for Education, Nyesome Wike in the just concluded delegates’ election ahead of the governorship primaries in the state.

According to sources, following reports that 16 governorship aspirants had threatened to boycott the exercise because of Wike’s involvement, the Wike group presumed that it was a collective decision, not knowing that Georgewill was not amongst.

It was gathered that the Wike group had planned that it would only go to the election with its people and have total control of the machinery since others had opted out.

Ironically, Georgewill, whose campaign group – The New Dawn – boasted of about 620 delegates sensed that the Wike group had some other plans outside the party’s arrangement and therefore mobilised its delegates by securing for them the delegate forms.

“By the time the Wike group

‘PDP’ll cease to exist in Lagos after 2015’ Our party will continue to soar in Lagos because the people can see the redefinition of governance and even the opposition talks glowingly about the various service delivery Daramola

contestants, it is more of the same politicians that don’t have the people’s interest at heart. They vie for elective positions without the people’s actual needs at heart. They do a borehole in their community and they say they are working rather than ensuring that quality infrastructure is in place for generations to come. We need real change and that is what I represent.

What is your major focus if elected as a lawmaker?

My major focus will be education, and improving the quality of our infrastructure and ensuring that the state resources are being utilised where they should. When we talk about education, it is not providing free JAMB or WAEC

forms but ensuring that right from the primary school level, our schools are equipped with the basic tools that a child will need to excel on a global scale today.

If the children are the future of tomorrow, they need to be prepared to compete against others not just in Nigeria but all over the world.

There is a reason a lot of technology companies go to China and India to pick up top talents because the foundation is strong. That will be my focus. Building a solid foundation so that the youth can compete globally for employment opportunities not just in Nigeria. That is youth empowerment How confident are you to emerge as your party’s standard bearer?

I am very confident that I will emerge as the APC House of Assembly candidate in Kosofe Constituency II. Kosofe constituents are yearning for change and when you look at my profile politically and professionally, I am the best person to represent my constituency in the next dispensation.

I am an accountant by profession, I studied in the United States and have a double bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance and a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Maryland and also a Master of Science degree in Project Management from the same university. I started my career as a financial analyst for JP Morgan Chase Bank in New York, from there I went to the Middle East to support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan before I returned to Nigeria. Upon my return, I moved to Warri, Delta State, where I was dutiful engaged in both the private and public service. I come from a family of serving people even though I am in the private sector, I always look for ways to better the lot of my people and serve them.

Don’t you think the APC in Lagos is under the threat of the PDP in the 2015 elections?

PDP doesn’t exist in Lagos State and God willing they will cease to exist after 2015 at the federal level as they have been a huge disappointment to Nigerians in all ramifications. This same PDP at the federal level has not made any impact on us in Lagos. People have seen what the APC has done in the past 15 years. Our party will continue to soar in Lagos because the people can see the redefinition of governance and even the opposition talks glowingly about the various service delivery in Lagos State. Though the opposition is trying to foment issues where there is none with all kinds of reports over who our flagbearer would be, but I can assure that the APC still remains one indivisible party and there won’t be any polarisation or implosion as being envisaged by the PDP. Our core principles as a party are free and fair elections predicated on objective guidelines. The best and the right man would emerge from the primaries and by the grace of God, we will win the general election in 2015.

Rivers: Intrigues as Georgewill outwits Wike got to the secretariat to purchase the forms for their own people there were no more forms, the Wike group presumed it was their group that had bought the forms since others had boycotted.

“Upon arriving at the venue, the secretariat refused to accredit the Wike delegates because they didn’t have forms and so, Georgewill whose delegates had the forms were accredited and held the election with absolute majority on its side,” a source said.

The source noted further that the development led to the Wike group resorting to selfhelp, a move that prompted the Georgewill group approaching the Appeal Panel which though allegedly commended the New Dawn for a job well done, but however advised it to put together more facts to be able to secure justice.

Meanwhile, a meeting put together by political leaders in the state chapter of PDP with a view to seeking a peaceful means of selecting a governorship candidate for the party seems to have charted a path

for the party’s primaries.

At the end of the meeting which lasted for several hours and chaired by First Republic Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark in Abuja, the leaders were said to have agreed to urge President Goodluck Jonathan and the party leadership to make zoning a key determinant of who becomes the next governor of the state.

A source privy to the outcome of the meeting said it was the belief of many that the resolution of the meeting might have scuttled the governorship aspiration of Wike, who is from the same place – Ikwere – as Governor Chibuike Amaechi, whose tenure is expected to terminate next May. The source said, “According to the PDP elders, should Wike get the PDP ticket and get elected governor for another eight years, the Ikwerre would have governed the state for 16 years, a scenario the other ethnic groups, notably the Ijaw and Ogoni consider impossible.”

The elders, according to sources, also recommended that in addition to senatorial

districts, the riverine/upland structure of the state be key considerations in the zoning that would determine who succeeds Amaechi. They further proposed that the “illegal” ward and local government executives of the party be axed for caretaker committees.

In taking this decision, it was gathered that aside Felix Obuah, state PDP chairman and his secretary, no other party po-

Wike

sition was upheld by the court order that sacked the Chief Godspower Ake executive.

Others at the meeting were Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas, Alabo Dagogo Fubara, notable lawyer, B. M. Wifa (SAN), Senator Silas Nuniel, Barrister Obi Njoku and leader of Niger Delta Volunteer Force, Alhaji Mujaheed Dokubo- Asari, among other prominent Ijaw, Igbani, Ikwerre and Ogoni political leaders.

Politics 43

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Ernest Omoarelojie

O

n November 12, 2008, Adams Eric Aliyu Oshiomhole, was sworn-in as executive governor of Edo State. It was a special moment for the state and its people for several reasons. Remarkably, it was the culmination of the resilience of the people, who voted and stood by him when anti-democratic forces tried to rob him of the mandate they gave willingly to him, and the judiciary that resisted machinations of the powers that be to give a verdict in favour of a popular choice.

The nation became better for it as the judiciary stood resolute on the side of the people. In addition, it was a turning point for the entire state as it marked the beginning of what is now popularly referred to as the ‘new narrative’.

While making the solemn pledge to turn the state around like never before, he underscored his desire to be a people’s governor by seeking their consent to be referred to as “Comrade Governor.”

Uniquely, his pledge was an unambiguous desire to give the state a fresh breath in terms of people-oriented, physically verifiable development projects that will stand the test of time. The pledge became necessary because the supposedly democratic administrations before him ruined and wrecked the state economy without any attempt to upgrade basic public infrastructure on the pretext that the state had no money.

A few years into his administration, Oshiomhole eroded the no-money myth by proving to be a man of his words.

Decades after the historic performance left by Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, who, as military administrator of old Bendel, left a telling record of infrastructural development, Oshiomhole recreated that long gone era as structures, after hope-rising structures began to fill available spaces in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

It was not a surprise that the people decided to give a unanimous second term endorsement in all 18 local government areas despite subterranean subterfuge by those put to shame by his performance.

Importantly, Oshiomhole was not given an unassailable second term approval by the people on flimsy grounds.

Between his inauguration and the end of his first term, they witnessed an unprecedented, self-evident and widespread development projects spread across every sector, including economy, education, works, health, environment/public utilities, etc, in every senatorial zone, every local government area and every town.

With him, the people became convinced that the state had truly become a very positive new narrative.

Before the coming of his administration, Edo State economy was in ruC O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 1 3

confirmed the meeting and said it was to address “fundamental issues affecting democracy in Nigeria arising from ward congresses of our party. The issue needs to be addressed very urgently by relevant PDP stakeholders for the interest of our democracy.”

The meeting was held last week but no agreement has been reached. The party is still insisting that the appeal panel set up to hear complaints arising from the congress should be allowed to complete its assignment.

But, the Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio said the governors’ senatorial ambitions are not a threat to the re-election of the returning senators.

Akpabio said there are 109 seats in the Senate whereas only

Oshiomhole: Six years after

Oshiomhole

ins. Though oil revenue was high, the greater part of whatever accrued from it found its way into the pockets of those elected by the people. It didn’t matter to them that the people they represented suffered. For instance, roads and public schools became so wrecked that an urgent surgical revival was needed to avert total collapse. Midway into the administration, roads in the city centre, including Akpakpava, Five Junction, Mission, Airport, Sapele roads, etc, became self-evident proofs that the administration meant business. Further from the capital, there are too many to be mentioned here. In addition, the administration embarked on a deliberate renovation and reconstruction of public schools, public health institutions and streets, designed and completed with covered drains, walkways, street lights, etc, also in all the 18 local government areas. The health sector witnessed the same level of turn around.

Remarkably, the administration kept the momentum despite dwindling returns from federation allocations and internally generated revenue.

With the accruing monthly allocations from the federation on the decline, from N3.8 billion to N2.8 billion, the administration took to the internally generated revenue option which moved up

Public schools in the state only compared with poultry farms before the advent of the Oshiomhole administration. At best, most of them had no roofs, making teaching and learning near impossible tasks during rainy seasons

from its less than N300 million revenue before the advent of the administration to its present status of between N1.4 to N1.5 billion.

In the education sector, the new narrative is known as the red roof revolution.

Public schools in the state only compared with poultry farms before the advent of the Oshiomhole administration. At best, most of them had no roofs, making teaching and learning near impossible tasks during rainy seasons.

All that has changed as the administration went on a deliberate education rebirth policy that resulted in the rehabilitation of old and construction of new school buildings. The new structures are found in all the 192 wards of the state. Education is not only free for both primary and secondary schools, the administration also made transportation free for all uniformed children both in private or public schools riding on the Comrade buses.

Definitely, Edo State ranks as one of the state with the best network of roads.

However, they were hardly motorable until the current administration took effect. Since then, things changed for the better as roads from the capital down to the local governments have become a beauty to behold in terms of their look and functionality. Among others, Akpakpava, Five Junction, Mission, Airport, Sapele roads, are proofs of the changes the administration brought to bear on roads reconstruction and rehabilitation.

Oshiomhole has taken upon himself some ambitiously near impossible task and turn them around. The Azura/Edo Independent Power Project and Edo Water Storm project are obvious examples.

The former is a $100 million project and the first Nigerian power project to benefit from the World Bank’s risk guarantee status, covered by the global bank’s Partial Risk Guarantee structure for developing needs of emerging global markets. It is very credible evidence that the state is a viable centre for global investment hob.

The latter is a vast labyrinth of huge drainage system under construction to serve as a permanent solution of the endemic drainage challenge in the state capital. It is designed to empty the water deluge from all over the city to either the Ogba or Ikpoba River. For all his efforts, the Benin crown prince, Eheneden Erediauwa, described Oshiomhole’s performance in the following words. “I don’t know of any governor that has developed Edo State in terms of infrastructure as Oshiomhole.”

•Omoarelojie writes from Benin City, Edo State

A test of might nine PDP governors are aspiring to go to the upper chamber of the National Assembly.

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

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

prevail,” he insisted.

The governor, however, expressed the belief that the controversy between the National Assembly and the party will be amicably resolved.

“I do know that whatever is happening now between the Senate and the party or the presidency remains internal affairs of the PDP which we will resolve as a family,” he added.

Members of the House of Representatives are also demanding automatic tickets from the party.

Like the senators, they also lost out at the ward congresses.

One of them was quoted as saying: “Very few of us are sure of returning to the House because our governors have already pencilled down those that

will take over our seats.”

But the situation in the House is such that the party leadership and the presidency may require the assistance of members of PDP caucus to resolve. This is the bargaining power the members have.

At a meeting with the PDP leadership on November 3, the lawmakers told the party that for them to sign the impeachment notice of the embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, they should be given automatic tickets.

“We are also insisting that we won’t sign for the House to reconvene until the issue of our tickets is sorted out by the party,” the member further disclosed.

National Publicity Secretary

of PDP, Olisa Metuh, admitted that the issue of automatic ticket was extensively deliberated on at the meeting with the House members and said a committee with representatives from each of the six geo-political zones was set up to address all issues relating to automatic tickets.

PDP members in the National Assembly have expected that they would be fairly treated given the fact that they were the first to adopt Jonathan as the sole presidential candidate of the party. They also played a role in the 2010 political impasse that eventually saw Jonathan transmute from vice president to acting president. But what they failed to understand is that when the president or the party is faced with the problem of choice between them and the governors, the later comes first.

44

Business | Money Line

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Falling oil prices: Aganga forecloses cut in spending DIVERSIFICATION

Nigeria should diversify her economy away from oil

T

rade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga has said that Nigeria won’t cut spending while crude prices remain above the benchmark used for this year’s budget.

“Through a coordinated approach between the monetary and the fiscal side of things, I think we can wade through this,” Aganga said in an interview with Bloomberg in Abuja. “I don’t see any immediate cuts in spending because everything is still above the benchmark.”

Nigeria based its 2014 budget on an oil price of $77.50 a barrel and a daily output of 2.39 million barrels. Africa’s biggest economy and most populous nation of about 170 million people relies on oil for 70 percent of government revenue and 95 percent of export earnings. Average crude prices among members of the Organisation of

Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have dropped below $80 a barrel for the first time in four years. Brent crude, which compares with Nigeria’s light crude, traded at $81.87 a barrel as of 12:44 a.m. in London, the lowest in four years.

The naira fell to an all-time low of N170.25 against the dollar on Nov. 6 as foreign investors exited the market amid tumbling crude prices, prompting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to intervene by selling dollars. Slumping oil prices may curb Nigeria’s ability to keep defending the naira, according to Samir Gadio, head of African strategy at Standard Chartered Plc. The immediate impact of lower oil prices is to cut the amount of money that accrues above the price used for the budget, which goes to the Excess Crude Account (ECA), Aganga said. The fund currently has a balance of $4.11 billion, according to the Finance Ministry.

The strategy outlined

by Aganga is based not only on the assumption of “oil price remaining above the budgeted benchmark but also on an output target being met,

something, which historically has not occurred,” Gareth Brickman and Catherine Bennett, analysts at ETM Analytics in Johannesburg, said in an e-mailed note yesterday.

“The medium-to-longterm strategy here is more about how we diversify the economy of the

country away from oil,” Aganga said. “And that journey started a few years ago.”

Under an industrialisation plan being implemented by the government, automakers including Nissan Motor Corp., Volkswagen AG, Seoul-based Hyundai

‘Some lenders under scrutiny’ Abdulwahab Isa Abuja

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through its forensic audit mechanism has detected some breaches in its Ibadan branch, New Telegraph has learnt.

Some unnamed Deposit

Description

TTM

Naira slips on strong foreign demand for dollars

N

igeria’s foreign exchange reserves fell to a four-month low of $37.9 billion as of Nov. 7, down 3.99 percent month-onmonth after the Central Bank

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

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

FGN Bonds Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

FX

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

Money Banks (DNBs) according to information, are culpable, the source hinted our correspondent last night.

Though details of the breaches remain sketchy as the time of time of filing this report, the source said some lenders are culpable and are currently being investigated. He however, declined to reveal the identities of the banks.

The development, he said has necessitated the apex bank to embark on movement of staff across its 37 branches.

Though necessary control measures are said to have been put in place, the source said any officer found culpable would face disciplinary committee.

The source added that detailed investigations are on-going with a view to identifying the cause and extent of the breaches.

Nigeria’s forex reserves hit four-month low of $37.9bn

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

the pressure on the country’s currency, according to Aganga.

“If we keep on importing cars, that is one direction,” he said. “We must invest in assembly and increase our local content, and be part of the global value chain for the auto industry.”

CBN spots audit breach in Ibadan branch

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

Motor Corp., India’s Tata Motors Ltd. (TTMT) and Toyota Motor Corp. (7203), have either set up assembly plants or shown interest in investing in Nigeria.

Such investments will help Nigeria cut an import bill of $6.5 billion a year for cars and their spare parts, reducing some of

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

of Nigeria (CBN) sold dollars to banks to prop up the value of the naira currency.

Data published by the apex bank yesterday showed the reserves were at $39.55 billion on Oct. 10. In July they stood at $37.89 billion.

The banking watchdog last week said it will continue to defend the local currency, which has fallen 6 percent so far this year on concerns about lower oil prices and an exit from the local debt and equity markets by offshore investors.

Meanwhile, the naira weakened slightly on the interbank market yesterday due to strong demand for dollars from foreign in-

vestors.

The local currency according to Reuters news, closed at N168.40 to the dollar, compared with N168.20 the previous day.

Traders said the CBN had intervened in the market to buy naira, providing some support, but not enough to lift the currency.

They said they expected the interventions to continue, and to provide dollar liquidity.

Traders also said two energy firms had sold dollars, but not enough to push up the naira. They said Saipem - a local unit of Italy’s Eni sold $10 million, while Chevron sold $45.5 million.

Bank stages customer forum

A

ll is now set for hosting of the second in the series of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited customers’ forum in the commercial city of Aba, in Abia State.

The confab, which is being organised by the bank nationwide, is billed for November 13, 2014.

The interactive session, which is themed, ‘Taking Customers Trade Business to the Next Level’’, according to a statement from the bank, will have the ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde, as the guest speaker. He will speak on the topic, ‘Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) – Challenges: Present and Future’.

The forum will also have in attendance top executives

of FCMB. The FCMB customers’ forum is aimed at further sensitising stakeholders in international trade business and on the maritime industry.

It will focus on the PreArrival Assessment Report (PAAR) scheme, which was introduced by the Nigerian Customs Service in 2013 to fast-track the clearance of cargo and reduce costs at the nation’s ports.

The forum also provides FCMB with an opportunity to connect with its customers, enlighten them and deepen their knowledge on international trade business as well as the initiatives being implemented by the bank that will take their businesses to the next level. These initiatives are in line with the government’s international trade policy.

Business | Financial Market News

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

45

11-Nov-14

The FMDQ Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixed income securities and instruments in the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

Bonds

Price

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

NA

NA

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

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

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

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

535.00 563.89 452.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 600.00 371.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 130.00

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

4,675.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,625.81

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

Description

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

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.45 1.76 2.46 2.71 2.80 3.55 4.63 4.95 7.21 9.34 14.05 14.53 15.03 15.70 19.68

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

Bid Price

Offer Price

10.74 12.08 12.57 12.76 12.76 12.84 12.82 12.94 12.76 12.81 12.83 12.82 12.81 12.78 12.76

10.38 11.99 12.50 12.69 12.70 12.72 12.74 12.85 12.71 12.76 12.78 12.77 12.75 12.73 12.72

97.11 101.45 105.20 93.48 92.13 94.04 110.80 78.76 116.70 107.40 113.98 97.85 71.55 81.30 95.60

97.26 101.60 105.35 93.63 92.28 94.34 111.10 79.06 117.00 107.70 114.28 98.15 71.85 81.60 95.90

#

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

24-May-10 03-Apr-12 09-Dec-11 20-Apr-12 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 3.00 112.22 116.70 66.49

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

0.53 1.27 2.08 2.44 2.65

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00

13.35 12.91 14.45 13.70 13.75

93.31 105.21 101.53 98.83 95.97

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 06-Jan-21

0.80 0.64 0.93 0.93 2.44 1.48 3.14 2.31 3.90 2.31 2.31 2.69 2.95 5.03 2.91 3.47 6.04 6.14 3.62 3.65

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.74 1.00 1.00 1.94 1.44 1.95

14.62 13.74 14.40 13.41 18.29 12.30 14.58 14.41 13.88 13.61 17.39 13.75 13.78 13.94 15.51 13.83 13.89 14.82 14.28 14.80

98.40 100.18 100.03 102.47 84.25 102.30 98.52 99.39 100.33 101.88 93.79 101.64 104.09 101.95 98.33 102.45 98.42 100.64 100.70 100.68

322.97

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

319.16

Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

8.50 4.18 6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00 16.23 80.00 27.51 11.40 87.00 5.00 4.78 4.79

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Corporate Bonds Aa/Agusto

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014

GTB µ NGC

Nil

17.00 NGC 31-DEC-2014 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015

Bbb-/Agusto A-/Agusto

*UPDC

BB+/GCR

*CHELLARAMS

*FLOURMILLS

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto

NAHCO

Nil A-/DataPro†; BB-/GCR AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR A/Agusto; A/GCR Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR Nil A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A/GCR A/GCR

14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017

UBA

BBB-/GCR

12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015

14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016

FSDH

A/GCR

471.18 463.20

*C & I LEASING *DANA# *TOWER#

18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018

#

*TOWER UBA

14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018

*LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS#

MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019

*DANA

15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019

NAHCO

15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020

STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC

13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

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

18-Dec-09

13.50

13.17

18-Dec-14

0.10

5.21

14.60

99.81

01-Apr-10

17.00

2.00

31-Dec-14

0.14

8.71

18.38

99.67

17-Aug-10

10.00

3.61

17-Aug-15

0.52

4.88

15.63

97.72

09-Dec-10

12.00

13.62

09-Dec-15

0.60

1.00

11.60

100.64 101.31

06-Jan-11

14.00

0.60

06-Jan-16

0.67

2.63

13.07

29-Sep-11

13.00

15.00

29-Sep-16

1.88

1.00

13.15

99.72

25-Oct-13

14.25

5.53

25-Oct-16

1.95

1.34

13.64

100.99

30-Sep-10

13.00

20.00

30-Sep-17

2.89

1.00

13.77

98.18

30-Nov-12

18.00

0.73

30-Nov-17

1.70

1.88

13.65

107.78

09-Apr-11

16.00

6.30

09-Apr-18

1.91

3.48

15.69

100.70

09-Sep-11

18.00

2.90

09-Sep-18

2.08

5.20

17.65

100.92

09-Sep-11

16.00

0.80

09-Sep-18

2.08

5.06

17.51

101.84

22-Sep-11

14.00

35.00

22-Sep-18

3.86

1.35

14.22

99.31

18-Oct-13

15.75

2.40

18-Oct-18

2.18

2.29

14.81

101.80

17-Feb-12

17.00

0.41

17-Feb-19

2.27

6.11

18.69

97.35

01-Apr-14

16.00

4.50

01-Apr-19

3.14

2.16

14.95

102.56

14-Nov-13

15.25

2.05

14-Nov-20

6.01

2.76

15.65

98.47

30-Sep-14

11.93

0.10

30-Sep-24

9.89

1.00

13.89

89.60

30-Sep-14

13.25

15.44

30-Sep-24

9.89

1.00

13.89

96.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

144.16

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

143.27

Supranational Bond AAA/S&P

IFC

Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P

AfDB

10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018

11-Feb-13

10.20

12.00

11-Feb-18

3.25

1.00

13.81

90.76

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.47

1.00

13.94

91.71

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Issuer

24.95 22.77 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

5.30

5.15

107.57

108.39

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

4.44

4.21

102.28

103.08

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

5.63

5.51

105.04

105.89

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

BB-/Fitch; BB-/S&P

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,574.41

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

8.55

8.55

103.30

103.30

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

4.90

4.90

103.75

103.75

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.83

6.83

101.00

101.00

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

9.21

8.59

93.16

94.92

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

6.17

5.85

99.42

100.52

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

10.25 APR 08, 2019

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

9.68

9.68

102.00

102.00

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

6.25 APR 22, 2019

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

6.57

6.57

98.78

98.78

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

9.22

8.98

98.28

99.16

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

8.11

8.11

99.75

99.75

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

AFREN PLC III

6.63 DEC 09, 2020

09-Dec-13

6.63

360.00

09-Dec-20

8.11

8.11

93.00

93.00

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC II

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

24-Jun-14

9.25

400.00

24-Jun-21

9.35

9.17

99.75

100.63

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK LTD

8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

23-Jul-14

8.00

450.00

23-Jul-21

8.35

8.35

97.25

97.25

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.45

8.24

100.55

101.60

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 4,732.77

**Treasury Bills DTM 9 16 23 30 44 51 58 65

FIXINGS Maturity 20-Nov-14 27-Nov-14 4-Dec-14 11-Dec-14 25-Dec-14 1-Jan-15 8-Jan-15 15-Jan-15

Bid Discount (%) 8.10 8.60 7.90 9.00 10.10 10.30 10.00 9.85

Offer Discount (%) 7.85 8.35 7.65 8.75 9.85 10.05 9.75 9.60

Bid Yield (%) 8.12 8.63 7.94 9.07 10.22 10.45 10.16 10.03

Money Market

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.5417 11.9401 13.0798 14.0366

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

Tenor

Rate (%)

OBB

10.54

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.79

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

168.50 167.84 168.11 168.73 169.91 171.10

168.60 168.08 168.42 169.35 171.04 172.74

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 10.25 12.81

A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; AA-/GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro A/Agusto A-/GCR

46

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS IV 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 consummating the 06-JAN-2021 lon15.00 NASARAWA

Business | Financial Market News

HIGH OPTIMISM

Bargain hunters break the jinx of panic sales

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 rebound may 06-Jan-14

12.50 8.50 13.00 4.18 14.00 6.27 15.50 7.37 10.00 57.00 13.75 29.92 14.00 25.00 14.00 34.14 14.00 9.00 14.50 14.96 14.00 11.13 15.50 27.00 15.50 16.23 14.50 80.00 14.75 27.51 14.75 11.40 13.50 87.00 15.00 5.00 14.50 4.78 ket capitalisation, rose by 15.00 4.79

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19 02-Oct-19 22-Nov-19 12-Dec-19 10-Oct-20 27-Nov-20 31-Dec-20 31-Dec-20 ous day, 06-Jan-21

0.80 4.44 14.62 98.40 0.64 3.23 13.74 100.18 0.93 4.46 14.40 100.03 0.93 3.48 13.41 102.47 2.44 5.59 18.29 84.25 1.48 1.00 12.30 102.30 3.14 1.79 14.58 98.52 2.31 1.80 14.41 99.39 3.90 1.00 13.88 100.33 2.31 1.00 13.61NEW TELEGRAPH 101.88 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 2.31 4.78 17.39 93.79 2.69 1.00 13.75 101.64 2.95 1.00 13.78 104.09 5.03 1.00 13.94 101.95 2.91 2.74 15.51 98.33 3.47 1.00 13.83 102.45 6.04 1.00 13.89 98.42 6.14 1.94 14.82 100.64 3.62 1.44 14.28 100.70 the banking sub-1.95 46 stocks gains 3.65 14.80recorded 100.68

Nigerian stocks rise by N148bn

“The gest losing streak since prove short-lived if oil 1.3 per cent as market sector of the financial while 13 others depreci471.18senJanuary 2009 prompted prices don’t stabilise or timents extended463.20 gaining services sector was the ated in value.

Oando Plc topped Stories Chris Ugwu by concern that lower oil recover. After the eupho- streak following investors’ most active during the Corporateby Bonds day (measured by turn- the day’s gainers table prices would curb reveria, most people will want high optimism.

13.50 GUARANTY TRUST 18-DEC-2014 18-Dec-09 13.50 13.17 18-Dec-14 0.10 5.21 14.60 99.81 Aa/Agusto GTB per cent to he bulls maintained nue in the17.00 country . to take profits. 01-Apr-10 That’ll Consequently , the All- over volume); 0.14 with 145.68.71 with10.20 µ NGC 31-DEC-2014 17.00 2.00 31-Dec-14 18.38 99.67 NGC Nil The resurgence is likelead to another downtheir grip on the Share Index gained 445.91 million shares worth N1.6 close at N19.67, while PZ 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 17-Aug-10 10.00 3.61 17-Aug-15 0.52 4.88 15.63 97.72 Bbb-/Agusto *UPDC perceived basis12.00 points or 1.32 billion Plc followed 12.00 FLOURMILLS bot9-DEC-2015ward trend,” he said.

A-/Agusto market activities, 09-Dec-10 13.62 per 09-Dec-15 exchanged 0.60 by in-1.00 Cussons 11.60 100.64with *FLOURMILLS ly due to the 06-JAN-2016 However, cent14.00 to close at 33,670.75 jostled toming-out14.00 of CHELLARAMS most of the market vestors deals. close at BB+/GCR as investors *CHELLARAMS 06-Jan-11 0.60 06-Jan-16 in 1,6410.67 2.63 10.17 per 13.07cent to 101.31 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 29-Sep-11 13.00 15.00 re29-Sep-16 1.88banking1.00 N19.28 13.15 33,224.84 the as against Volume in the per share.99.72 FBNH for shares on the back stocks. That’s driving in- watchers believed NAHCOof 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 A-/Agusto 14.25Monday, while 5.53 the 25-Oct-16 1.95 largely1.34 Plc with 13.64a gain 100.99 bulls corded of 10.14 blue chip companies.FSDH vestors to take opportuni- resurgent of the25-Oct-13 sub-sector was 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 A/GCR 30-Sep-10 13.00 20.00 30-Sep-17 2.89 13.77 UBA rally market ties quickly ,” Sewa Wusu, to sustain market driven by activity in the1.00 per cent The local bourse capitalisation of closed at98.18 N10.54 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 BBB-/GCR 30-Nov-12 18.00 0.73 30-Nov-17 1.70 1.88 13.65 107.78 *C & I LEASING after weeks of loss was ended up massive sellequities appreciated by an analyst at Sterling Capishares of Diamond Bank per share. # MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 Nil 09-Apr-11 16.00 6.30 09-Apr-18 1.91 3.48 15.69 100.70 *DANA off the BB-/GCR previous*TOWER day, N14818.00 billion or 1.32 Plc and GTBank On the Chamtal Markets Limited # MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 evidence that confidence A-/DataPro†; 09-Sep-11 2.90 per 09-Sep-18 2.08Plc. 5.20 17.65flip side, 100.92 # is returning to market cent as market sentiment Also, other financial pion Breweries led losers’ MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 AAA/DataPro†; A+/GCR 09-Sep-11 16.00 0.80 09-Sep-18 2.08 5.06 17.51 101.84 *TOWER 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 A/Agusto; A/GCR 22-Sep-11 14.00 22-Sep-18 sub sector, 3.86 boosted1.35 with 9.72 14.22 green. 35.00 in spite of security chal- remained services per cent99.31 to close UBA 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018lenges that had 18-Oct-13 Bbb+/Agusto; BBB+/GCR 15.75 2.40 2.18 14.81RT Briscoe 101.80 fol*LA CASERA posed Meanwhile, a turnover by18-Oct-18 activity in the shares of2.29 at N9.94, MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 BBB-/DataPro†; BB+/GCR 17-Feb-12 17.00 17-Feb-19 2.27 18.69 *CHELLARAMS# threats to investment in of 280.7 million 0.41 shares FBNH Plc, followed with6.11 lowed with a drop97.35 of 9.09 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 Nil 01-Apr-14 16.00 4.50 01-Apr-19 3.14 2.16 14.95 102.56 *DANA the country . worth N3.7 billion in 5,118 a turnover of 67.6 million per cent to close at 60 kobo, 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 A+/Agusto; A-/GCR 14-Nov-13 15.25 2.05 14-Nov-20 6.01 2.76 15.65 98.47 NAHCO The key market perfordeals was recorded in the shares valued at N504.7 milwhile Portland Cement 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 A/GCR 30-Sep-14 11.93 0.10 30-Sep-24 9.89 1.00 13.89 89.60 STANBIC IBTC trading.

NSE day’s13.25 lion in 1,093 deals. cent to 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024mance measures, the A/GCR 30-Sep-14 15.44 30-Sep-24 9.89 1.00 Plc shed 13.897.84 per96.60 STANBIC IBTC At the close of trading, close at N4.82. uinness Nigeria ter to about 20 million All Share Index and marJust as in the previTOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 144.16 willCAPITALISATION at its 64th people in 14 states. We TOTALPlc, MARKET 143.27 Annual General will continue to do so as Supranational Bond recomMeeting (AGM) a corporate citizen,” SavAAA/S&Pfor approval, IFC 11-Feb-13 10.20 12.00 11-Feb-18 3.25 1.00 13.81 90.76 mend a divi- age said. 10.20 IFC 11-FEB-2018 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P 10-Jul-14 11.25 12.95 01-Feb-21 4.47 1.00 13.94 91.71 On the 11.25 outgoing mandend of N4.8 billionAfDB to be TOTAL VALUE paid toOUTSTANDING its shareholders. aging director of the hareholders of Sterling 24.95 as the Directors may deem programme, in such tranches, TOTAL CAPITALISATION The MARKET Chairman, Board company, Mr. Seni Adetu, Bank Plc yesterday at 22.77 fit, and in respect thereof, the series or proportions, at such of Director, Guinness Ni- Savage said that Adetu, an Extra-Ordinary Gen- Directors be and are hereby coupon or interest rates, withOutstanding Value Description Date Coupon Maturity Date to Bid Yield (%) Offer (%) maturity Bid Price Offer Price at geria Rating/Agency Plc, Mr. Babatunde Issuer who assumed the office eralIssue Meeting (EGM) in(%)Lagos, further authorised appoint inYield such periods, ($mm) Savage, who said this at a about two and a half endorsed the proposal by the such advisers, professionals such dates and time subject FGN Eurobonds Yields pre-AGM media briefing years, has performed lender’s Board of Directors to and parties that they deem to Prices such &terms and conditions, 6.75 JAN 28, 2021 07-Oct-11 6.75 500.00 28-Jan-21 necessary , upon such terms inBB-/Fitch; Lagos yesterday , noted well to the admiration of raise fresh capital. including through 108.39 a book B+/S&P 5.30 5.15 107.57 building process or other that the dividend transmembers of the Board of As part of special resoluand conditions that the DirecBB-/Fitch; FGN 5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-18 4.44 4.21 102.28 103.08 lates to N3.20k per 50k. the Directors of the comtions12-Jul-13 at the (EGM), 5.13 sharehold- 500.00 tors may deem appropriate” process(es) all of which shall BB-/S&P BB-/Fitch; approved: “That be5.51as the Directors may deem He noted that the com- pany and other relevant ers authorised :”That 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 6.38 subject 500.00They also 12-Jul-23 5.63 105.04 105.89 BB-/S&P pany has being discharg- stakeholders. to regulatory approvals, the without derogation from fit and subject to the approval TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 1,500.00 ing its duties as a responHe therefore wished Directors be and are hereby the above, additional capital of the regulatory authorities” TOTALcorporate MARKET CAPITALISATION sible citizen, him success, as he takes authorised to issue up to 1,574.41 up to USD200 million or its Addressing journalists on adding that this year, the up a new career respon7,471,698,113 ordinary shares equivalent in Naira be raised the proposed capital raising Corporate Eurobonds firm has provided two sibility. of 5001-Feb-11 kobo each from the Com- 450.00 through any or a combination at the sideline of the EGM, the 11.50 FEB 01, 2016 11.50 01-Feb-16 B/Fitch; B-/S&P AFREN PLC I 8.55 8.55 103.30 103.30 boreholes in Ikorodu, LaThe brewery company pany’s share capital by way of the following: equity, global Managing Director/ Chief Ex7.50 MAY 19, 2016 19-May-11 7.50 500.00 19-May-16 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I 4.90 4.90 103.75 103.75 of Special/Private Placing gos and Ijebu Ode, Ogun had fired Adetu and7.25apdepository receipts, quasi eqecutive Officer, Mr. Yemi AdeJUL 25, 2017 25-Jul-12 7.25 350.00 25-Jul-17 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC 6.83 6.83 101.00 101.00 State, under its Water of pointed John O’Keefe. to Messrs.

Silverlake Investuity, convertible loans, meola said: “We raised N12 bil6.88 MAY 09, 2018 09-May-13 6.88 300.00 02-May-18 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC 9.21 8.59 93.16 94.92 Life, a Corporate Social Adetu was said to 6.00 have ments Limited or such other 400.00 dium term08-Nov-18 notes, bonds6.17and lion through rights issue and NOV 08, 2018 08-Nov-13 6.00 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC 5.85 99.42 100.52 we raising Responsibility (CSR) identified investor 300.00 any other 08-Apr-19 debt instrument 10.25 APR 08, 2019 08-Apr-12 strategic 10.25 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II creditably led the busi9.68 9.68are currently 102.00 102.00 N20 platform. ness and successfully at a 22-Apr-14 price of N2.656.25 per share 500.00 (s), whether secured or 6.57 unse- billion in private placement, 6.25 APR 22, 2019 22-Apr-19 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC 6.57 98.78 98.78 “The the expansion or such other price8.75 as the Di- 200.00 cured, senior or subordinated totaling N32 billion, thereaf8.75 May 21, 2019 21-May-14 21-May-19 B/Fitch; B/S&Ptwo boreholes DIAMOND BANKcompleted PLC 9.22 8.98 98.28 99.16 8.25 AUG 07-Aug-13 8.25 provide portable FIRST water rectors may determine in the 300.00 project and commenced a 07, 2020 by way of 07-Aug-20 a public offering, ter tier 2 of another B-/Fitch; B/S&P BANK PLC 8.11 8.11we will do 99.75 99.75 6.63 in DEC 09, 2020 09-Dec-13 6.63 09-Dec-20 B/S&P AFREN PLC III major transformation 8.11 8.11 million, 93.00 93.00 interest of the Company and 360.00 toB-/Fitch; about 200, 000 people. rights issue, private place$200 which is likely to 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 24-Jun-14 9.25 24-Jun-21 B-/Fitch; B/S&P ACCESS PLC II company’s 9.35 100.63next While the company hasBANK the Route-tosubject to other terms and 400.00 ment either as a standalone be9.17done by 99.75 first quarter 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 23-Jul-14 8.00 23-Jul-21 B-/Fitch; FIRST BANK LTD 8.35 97.25 97.25 up till B/S&P date provides waConsumer. conditions and at such times 450.00 transaction or by way8.35 of a year.

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

T

Guinness Nigeria to pay N4.8bn dividend

G

Sterling Bank gets owners’ approval for fresh capital

S

B-/S&P

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

8.45

8.24

4,760.00 4,732.77

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

100.55

101.60

11-Nov-14

The FMDQBills Daily Quotations List (DQL) comprises market and model prices/rates of foreign exchange ($/N) products, fixedFIXINGS income securities and instruments the OTC market. The use of this report is subject to the **Treasury MoneyinMarket Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards) FMDQ OTC PLC Terms of Use and Disclaimer Statement on www.fmdqotc.com.

DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) 9 20-Nov-14 16 27-Nov-14 23 4-Dec-14 FGN Bonds 30 11-Dec-14 44 25-Dec-14 Issuer Rating/Agency 51 1-Jan-15 58 8-Jan-15 65 15-Jan-15 72 22-Jan-15 79 29-Jan-15 86 5-Feb-15 93 12-Feb-15 100 19-Feb-15 107 26-Feb-15 NA NA 114 5-Mar-15 121 12-Mar-15 135 26-Mar-15 142 2-Apr-15 149 9-Apr-15 156 16-Apr-15 163 23-Apr-15 170 30-Apr-15 177 7-May-15 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 268 6-Aug-15 296 3-Sep-15 TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

8.10 8.60 7.90 9.00 10.10 Description 10.30 10.00 4.00 23-APR-2015 9.85 13.05 16-AUG-2016 9.50 15.10 27-APR-2017 10.05 9.85 27-JUL-2017 9.60 9.35 31-AUG-2017 10.15 10.70 30-MAY-2018 10.40 16.00 29-JUN-2019 10.70 7.00 23-OCT-2019 10.60 16.39 27-JAN-2022 10.70 14.20 14-MAR-2024 10.65 15.00 28-NOV-2028 10.60 10.65 12.49 22-MAY-2029 10.70 8.50 20-NOV-2029 10.80 10.00 23-JUL-2030 10.95 12.1493 18-JUL-2034 10.30 10.45 8.70

7.85 8.35 7.65 8.75 9.85 Issue Date 10.05 9.75 23-Apr-10 9.60 16-Aug-13 9.25 27-Apr-12 9.80 27-Jul-07 9.35 31-Aug-07 9.90 30-May-08 10.15 29-Jun-12 10.45 23-Oct-09 10.35 27-Jan-12 10.45 14-Mar-14 10.40 28-Nov-08 10.35 10.40 22-May-09 10.45 20-Nov-09 10.55 23-Jul-10 10.70 18-Jul-14 10.05 10.20 8.45

NIBOR

Bonds

8.12 8.63 7.94 9.07 10.22 Coupon (%) 10.45 10.16 4.00 10.03 13.05 9.68 15.10 10.27 9.85 9.82 9.35 10.42 10.70 10.71 16.00 11.05 7.00 10.96 16.39 11.09 14.20 11.09 15.00 11.06 11.13 12.49 11.21 8.50 11.35 10.00 11.54 12.1493 10.84 11.32 9.36

Tenor O/N 1M Outstanding Value 3M 6M (N'bn)

535.00 23-Apr-15 563.89 16-Aug-16 452.80 NITTY 27-Apr-17 20.00 27-Jul-17 Tenor Rate (%) 100.00 31-Aug-17 1M 9.0671 300.00 30-May-18 2M 9.9753 351.30 29-Jun-19 3M 10.2482 233.90 23-Oct-19 6M 10.7979 600.00 27-Jan-22 9M 11.0140 371.68 14-Mar-24 12M 11.0826 75.00 28-Nov-28 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 NIFEX 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 Current Price ($/N) 130.00 18-Jul-34 BID($/N) 168.7500 OFFER 4,675.13 ($/N) 168.8500

4,625.81

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

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums Rating/Agency Issuer **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Modified Duration Buckets TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Sub-National Bonds A+/Agusto A/Agusto A-/Agusto A+/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto A/Agusto A+/Agusto; A+/GCR A-/Agusto; A-/GCR A/Agusto; A-/GCR† A-/Agusto A/Agusto; A-/GCR

Description

Issue Date

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 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding Value(Bn) Volume(Bn)

<3 3<5 >5 KADUNA *EBONYI Market

1,048.40 1,089.44 12.50 KADUNA1,004.41 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI3,142.25 30-SEP-2015

*BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO

14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019

1,016.68 951.30 1,093.25 3,061.23

Coupon (%)

24-May-10 0.00 03-Apr-12 17.25 BOND 09-Dec-11FMDQ FGN 0.00/16.00 20-Apr-12 0.00/16.50 06-Jul-12 0.00/16.50 Weighting by Weighting by Mkt Outstanding Vol Value

33.21 31.08 35.71 31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 100.00 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12

Rate (%) 10.5417 11.9401 13.0798 Maturity Date 14.0366

33.36 34.67 12.5031.96 13.00 100.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50

OBB

Bucket322.97 Weighting

319.16

0.33 0.31 8.50 0.36 4.18 1.00

6.27 7.37 57.00 29.92 25.00 34.14 9.00 14.96 11.13 27.00

Tenor

Spot O/N 10.79 7D Offer REPO 14D Yield TTM (Yrs) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) 1M (%) Call 10.25 2M 0.45 10.74 10.38 1M 12.81 3M 1.76 12.08 11.99 3M 13.50 6M 2.46 12.57 12.50 6M 14.36 1Y 2.71 12.76 12.69 2.80 12.76 12.70 NOTE: 3.55 12.84 12.72 4.63 12.82 12.74 :Benchmarks 4.95 12.94 12.85 * :Amortising Bond 7.21Bond 12.76 12.71 µ :Convertible 9.34Management Corporation 12.81 12.76 AMCON: Asset of Nigeria 14.05 12.83 12.78 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 14.53Mortgage Bank 12.82 12.77 IFC: International 15.03 Finance Corporation 12.81 12.75 LCRM: Local Contractors Receivables Management 15.70 12.78 12.73 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling Company 19.68 12.76 12.72 O/N: Overnight UPDC: UAC Property Development Company WAPCO:West Africa Portland Cement Company

Outstanding Value (N'bn) 24.56 3.00 INDEX112.22 116.70 66.49

10.54

Maturity Date

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

14.51 30.14 55.34 31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 100.00 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18 04-Oct-18 09-Dec-18 12-Dec-18 14-Feb-19

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.53 1.27 2.08 2.44 2.65 Implied Yield

12.34 12.78 12.79 0.80 0.64 12.72 0.93 0.93 2.44 1.48 3.14 2.31 3.90 2.31 2.31 2.69

# Risk Premium (%)

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 1.00 Implied Portfolio Price

119.4991 133.5225 102.8226 4.44 3.23 117.9013 4.46 3.48 5.59 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

Price 168.60 168.50 167.84 168.08 168.11 168.42Price Offer Bid Price 168.73 169.35 169.91 171.04 97.11 97.26 171.10 172.74 101.45 101.60 174.86 178.31 105.20 105.35 182.47 190.56 93.48 93.63 92.13 92.28 94.04 94.34 110.80 111.10 NA :Not Applicable 78.76 79.06 # :Floating Rate Bond 116.70 117.00 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 107.40 107.70 113.98expired 114.28 †: Bond rating N/A :Not 97.85 Available 98.15 71.55 71.85 81.30 81.60 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 95.60 95.90 UBA: United Bank for Africa

Valuation Yield (%) 13.35 12.91 14.45 13.70 13.75 INDEX

1,135.00 1,130.62 1,202.18 14.62 13.74 1,125.85 14.40 13.41 18.29 12.30 14.58 14.41 13.88 13.61 17.39 13.75

Indicative Price 93.31 105.21 101.53 98.83 95.97 YTD Return (%)

13.4998 13.0617 20.2177 98.40 100.18 12.5855 100.03 102.47 84.25 102.30 98.52 99.39 100.33 101.88 93.79 101.64

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012

Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014

Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012

Business | Capital Market

47

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at November 11, 2014 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Bonds)

Activity Summary on Board DEBT Federal

Bond Name 16.00% FGN JUN 2019 Federal Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Symbol FG9B2019S3

DEBT Board Totals

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 110.60

1

Bond Activity Totals

Quantity Traded 400 400

Value Traded 466,356.28 466,356.28

400

466,356.28

400

1

FINANCIAL SERVICES Other Financial Institutions UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

466,356.28

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC PHARMA-DEKO PLC. Pharmaceuticals Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Livestock/Animal Specialties Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol OKOMUOIL PRESCO

No. of Deals 64 27 91

Current Price 29.79 26.06

Quantity Traded 340,695 722,651 1,063,346

Value Traded 9,646,648.13 18,824,479.06 28,471,127.19

Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 48 48

Current Price 2.44

Quantity Traded 2,469,035 2,469,035

Value Traded 5,991,626.86 5,991,626.86

3,532,381

34,462,754.05

Quantity Traded 129,500

Value Traded 169,645.00

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Diversified Industries A.G. LEVENTIS NIGERIA PLC.

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

CONGLOMERATES Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Diversified Industries CHELLARAMS PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

139

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol AGLEVENT

Symbol CHELLARAM TRANSCORP UACN

No. of Deals 6

No. of Deals 2 76 83 167

CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Building Structure/Completion/Other COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

Current Price 1.31

Current Price 3.95 3.43 44.62

167

Page

1

of

Quantity Traded 2,000 5,848,717 589,020 6,569,237

Value Traded 7,520.00 20,058,135.15 26,157,226.18 46,392,526.33

6,569,237

46,392,526.33

Symbol COSTAIN

No. of Deals 23 23

Current Price 0.85

Quantity Traded 262,760 262,760

Value Traded 218,004.87 218,004.87

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 67.20

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Value Traded 63,840.00 63,840.00

Real Estate Development Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 11.92

Quantity Traded 228,606 228,606

Value Traded 2,807,952.70 2,807,952.70

492,366

3,089,797.57

Quantity Traded 200

Value Traded 100.00

CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals CONSUMER GOODS Automobiles/Auto Parts DN TYRE & RUBBER PLC EQTY Activity Summary on Board CONSUMER GOODS Published by Automobiles/Auto The Nigerian Stock Parts Exchange © Automobiles/Auto Parts Totals

46

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol DUNLOP

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.50

Current Price 141.75

Quantity Traded 51,282 51,282

Value Traded 7,249,662.93 7,249,662.93

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR MULTITREX NASCON

No. of Deals 3 81 37 36 1 25 183

Current Price 6.55 6.01 55.42 3.40 0.50 7.66

Quantity Traded 5,242 6,528,427 521,549 832,209 500 592,366 8,480,293

Value Traded 32,657.66 39,234,446.27 28,904,245.58 2,796,863.64 250.00 4,530,133.00 75,498,596.15

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 50 82

Current Price 38.38 925.00

Quantity Traded 344,626 199,328

Value Traded 13,225,155.88 182,661,085.04

Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals

Symbol 7UP

Daily Summary (Equities)

Page

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products--Diversified Food Products--Diversified Totals

of 13 Value Traded 100.00

3

of

Symbol

No. of Deals 132

Current Price

Quantity Traded 543,954

Value Traded 195,886,240.92

Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. Household Durables Totals

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 21 11 32

Current Price 3.95 0.97

Quantity Traded 434,092 494,046 928,138

Value Traded 1,731,775.21 457,408.94 2,189,184.15

Personal/Household Products P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC. UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 85 35 120

Current Price 19.28 28.35

Quantity Traded 1,474,909 372,233 1,847,142

Value Traded 28,305,257.37 10,547,400.45 38,852,657.82

15,300,177

817,564,076.06 Value Traded 9,849,243.26 210,697,843.66 100,787,859.80 4,577,105.68 785,511,662.22 21,004,223.95 24,047,675.33 145,596,371.74 28,173,040.06

CONSUMER GOODS Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 FIDELITY BANK PLC Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 GUARANTY TRUST BANK PLC. SKYE BANK PLC STERLING BANK PLC. UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. Activity Summary on Board EQTY Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014

Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 FINANCIAL SERVICES Published

by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Banking UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Activity Summary on Board EQTY

FINANCIAL SERVICES Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services AIICO INSURANCE PLC. CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC LASACO ASSURANCE PLC. MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MUTUAL BENEFITS ASSURANCE PLC. N.E.M INSURANCE CO (NIG) PLC. PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. STANDARD ALLIANCE INSURANCE PLC. WAPIC INSURANCE PLC Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Micro-Finance Banks Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © FORTIS MICROFINANCE BANK PLC NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC Micro-Finance Banks Totals Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

691

Quantity Traded 2,984,702 2,984,702

Value Traded 1,494,098.02 1,494,098.02

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price

Quantity Traded 151,000 12,700

Value Traded 688,560.00 154,840.00

Page Quantity Traded 163,700

7 of 13 Value Traded 843,400.00

No. of Deals 13 13

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 1,000,900 1,000,900

Value Traded 500,450.00 500,450.00

Telecommunications Services MASS TELECOMMUNICATION INNOVATIONS NIGERIA PLC Telecommunications Services Totals

Symbol MTI

No. of Deals 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 4,304,900

Value Traded 2,152,450.00

1

4,304,900

2,152,450.00

26

8,454,202

4,990,398.02

Quantity Traded 2,169,689 224,283 100,392 1,552,504 1,407,608 2,000 2,000 387,750 2,107,266 7,953,492

Value Traded 50,568,047.54 1,660,702.26 3,666,529.40 17,893,041.66 239,518,577.28 1,760.00 3,040.00 1,894,310.00 168,187,379.47 483,393,387.61

OIL AND GAS Published by The Nigerian Exchange © Petroleum andStock Petroleum Products Distributors TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 Hospitality Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 TANTALIZERS PLC Hospitality Totals

Value Traded 75,077.50 4,594,664.55 268,260,649.80 1,603,175,417.55

Symbol

No. of Deals

Current Price

Quantity Traded

Value Traded

Symbol AIICO CONTINSURE CORNERST HMARKINS LASACO MANSARD MBENEFIT NEM PRESTIGE STDINSURE WAPIC

No. of Deals 38 11 1 1 1 11 4 21 5 1 42 136

Current Price 0.80 0.85 0.50 0.50 0.50 3.00 0.51 0.71 0.50 0.50 0.58

Quantity Traded 2,680,789 1,780,020 920 99,880 900 2,039,000 325,223 1,486,109 20,500 105 1,799,967 10,233,413

Value Traded 2,144,831.20 1,533,567.20 469.20 49,940.00 450.00 6,112,544.35 165,863.73 1,055,137.39 10,250.00 52.50 1,043,604.42 12,116,709.99

Symbol FORTISMFB NPFMCRFBK

No. of Deals 1 3 4

Current Price 5.42 0.89

Quantity Traded Page 5,000 60,500 65,500

Value Traded 5 of 13 28,250.00 54,160.00 82,410.00

No. of Deals 25 33 795 147 1 40

Current Price 2.98 3.90 10.54 3.42 0.51 27.30

of

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Quantity Traded 150,155 4,776,329 12,602,874 145,622,867

CWG NCR

Symbol No. of Deals ASHAKACEM 162 BERGER 24 CAP 15 CCNN 79 DANGCEM 50 DNMEYER 1 PAINTCOM 1 Daily Summary (Equities) PORTPAINT 20 WAPCO 140 492

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

No. of Deals 6 6

Current Price 1.55

Symbol AVONCROWN BETAGLAS VANLEER

No. of Deals 1 4 1 6

Current Price 1.59 22.05 12.08

Page Quantity Traded 38,000 38,000

8 of 13 Value Traded 56,240.00 56,240.00

Quantity Traded 1,000 20,300 3,000 24,300

Value Traded 1,590.00 426,338.00 34,440.00 462,368.00

8,015,792

483,911,995.61

504 Symbol JAPAULOIL

No. of Deals 5 5

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 106,100 106,100

Value Traded 53,050.00 53,050.00

Symbol OANDO

No. of Deals 147 147

Current Price 19.67

Quantity Traded 1,541,076 1,541,076

Value Traded 30,193,474.63 30,193,474.63

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL

No. of Deals 55 34 123 43

Current Price 49.23 3.12 202.65 161.50

Quantity Traded 172,181 1,210,144 543,054 152,695

Value Traded 7,675,023.64 3,848,440.78 108,774,630.58 23,900,755.82

Symbol TOTAL

No. of Deals 16 271

Current Price 159.00

Page Quantity Traded 23,679 2,101,753

10 of 13 Value Traded 3,926,589.10 148,125,439.92

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 16 16

Current Price 508.53

Quantity Traded 43,282 43,282

Value Traded 22,010,195.46 22,010,195.46

3,792,211

200,382,160.01

Daily Summary (Equities)

439 Symbol RTBRISCOE

No. of Deals 22 22

Current Price 0.60

Quantity Traded 1,329,133 1,329,133

Value Traded 805,166.47 805,166.47

Symbol REDSTAREX

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 3.83

Quantity Traded 343,000 343,000

Value Traded 1,315,500.00 1,315,500.00

Symbol TANTALIZER

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 2,000,000 2,000,000

Value Traded 1,000,000.00 1,000,000.00

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities)

Quantity Traded 3,665,895 3,665,895

Value Traded 10,630,424.50 10,630,424.50

42 42

2.90

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

No. of Deals 2 48 50

Current Price 1.51 4.13

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 0.63

Quantity Traded 159,290 159,290

Value Traded 100,442.70 100,442.70

Specialty SECURE ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY PLC Specialty Totals

Symbol NSLTECH

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 7,000 7,000

Value Traded 3,500.00 3,500.00

Symbol AIRSERVICE NAHCO

No. of Deals 3 31 34

Current Price 1.83 4.84

Quantity Traded 15,200 698,968 714,168

Value Traded 26,448.00 3,351,550.90 3,377,998.90

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 7 7

Current Price 4.02

Quantity Traded 117,540 117,540

Value Traded 469,479.20 469,479.20

SERVICES Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC. Printing/Publishing Totals

13

Current Price 24.15 7.60 36.60 11.65 170.16 0.91 1.60 4.82 78.10

Symbol CUTIX

IKEJAHOTEL

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Transport-Related Services AIRLINE SERVICES AND LOGISTICS PLC Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 Transport-Related Services Totals Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

SERVICES Totals on Board ASeM Activity Summary OIL AND GAS Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CAPITAL OIL PLC Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

EQTY Board Totals

Symbol CAPOIL

Page Quantity Traded 5,000 1,316,074 1,321,074

11 of 13 Value Traded 7,200.00 5,097,019.19 5,104,219.19

179

9,657,100

22,806,730.96

5,117

280,504,171

3,738,077,030.96

200,000

100,000.00

No. of Deals 1 1

OIL AND GAS Totals

Value Traded 288,623.48 4,551,908.08 357,773,183.70 98,736,315.13 6,205.68 40,570,323.15 of

Current Price 0.50

Symbol COURTVILLE

OIL AND GAS Totals

Current Price 0.50 0.99 21.07

6

4,386,725.42

52

Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals

No. of Deals 2 39 270 (Equities) 1,641

Page

1,133,281

Current Price 2.20 3.10 49.00 1.64 0.90 2.48

Current Price

Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. Activity Summary onPLC. Board EQTY MOBIL OIL NIG

Symbol UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK Daily Summary

Quantity Traded 97,329 1,233,936 34,176,700 29,044,090 12,168 1,485,650

Value Traded 209.00 491,237.50 2,959,007.80 292,323.90 639,147.22 4,800.00 4,386,725.42

No. of Deals 1 6 15 13 16 1 52

No. of Deals 8

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 OANDO PLC Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals

Quantity Traded 1,209,947 36,176,414 5,803,152 2,677,957 31,979,896 7,852,979 10,171,827 28,547,950 3,673,387

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC

Quantity Traded 100 151,150 60,755 180,190 739,086 2,000 1,133,281

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER NEIMETH PHARMDEKO

Symbol

ICT Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © IT Services IT Services Totals

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Energy Equipment and Services Totals

Current Price 8.15 5.84 18.00 1.69 24.60 2.68 2.39 5.18 7.67

4

2,120,089,866.93

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

Symbol No. of Deals ACCESS 68 DIAMONDBNK 118 ETI 49 FIDELITYBK 81 GUARANTY 400 SKYEBANK 135 STERLNBANK 98 Daily Summary (Equities) UBA 326 UBN 55

Page

223,557,424

2,874

4.56 12.83

Packaging/Containers AVON CROWNCAPS & CONTAINERS BETA GLASS CO PLC. GREIF NIGERIA PLC Packaging/Containers Totals

13

Current Price 1.76

1 7

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Building Materials ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC CAP Daily Summary asPLC of 11/11/2014 CEMENT CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PAINTS AND COATINGS MANUFACTURES PLC PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Activity Summary on Totals Board EQTY

No. of Deals 32 32

No. of Deals 19 58 20 93 190

Value Traded 2,788,770.17 504,715,329.39

ICT Totals

Value Traded 2,228,165.26 71,406,727.16 3,358,032.60 420,894,709.07 497,887,634.09

Symbol CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

13

Quantity Traded 217,891 434,546 113,968 2,682,763 3,449,168

Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Food Products--Diversified CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC.

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC

NCR (NIGERIA) Activity Summary onPLC. Board EQTY

Current Price 9.94 165.00 30.00 156.89

Current Price

Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. Daily SummaryHONEYWELL as of 11/11/2014 FLOUR MILL PLC Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 MULTI-TREX INTEGRATED FOODS PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC Food Products Totals

COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

2

No. of Deals 2

Quantity Traded 1,585,771 67,635,644

HEALTHCARE Totals Daily Summary as of 11/11/2014 ICT Printed 11/11/2014 15:18:12.012 Computer Based Systems

Page Quantity Traded 200

Symbol

No. of Deals 52 1,093

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals

Daily Summary (Equities)

AGRICULTURE Crop Production OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals

Symbol UBCAP

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 200,000 200,000 Page

1

Value Traded 100,000.00 100,000.00 12 of 13

ASeM Board Totals

1

200,000

100,000.00

Equity Activity Totals

5,118

280,704,171

3,738,177,030.96

Daily Summary (ETP) Exchange Traded Fund

Name NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Symbol NEWGOLD VETGRIF30

No. of Deals 1 2 3

Current Price 1,888.00 15.35

Quantity Traded 12 100,000 100,012

Value Traded 22,656.00 1,531,500.00 1,554,156.00

ETF Board Totals

3

100,012

1,554,156.00

ETP Activity Totals

3

100,012

1,554,156.00

13

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Page

13

of

13

News

48

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-SOUTH

Labour Party woos defectors in Cross River Clement James Calabar

L

L-R: Deputy Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Basil Ganagana; Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the state Chief Judge, Justice Abiodun Smith, at the swearing-in and inauguration of members of the Local Government Service Commission and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Asaba…on Monday

Speaker: State Assemblies to enjoy financial autonomy soon FREEDOM

Governors’ grip on state assemblies will be over as soon as the 1999 Constitution is amended Tony Anichebe Uyo

T

he Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel

Ikon, yesterday said state assemblies across the country will soon begin to enjoy financial autonomy as currently enjoyed by the National Assembly.

Speaking with newsmen in his office yesterday, the speaker said the clause that will ensure financial independence of state assemblies hasbeen included in the current amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.

It will be recalled that the National Assembly in 2012, held public hearings on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution across the country, where the issue of financial autonomy for state assemblies and local governments was articulated by the people.

Ikon, who is the chairman of the Conference of Speakers of Nigeria, commended the National Assembly for listening to the cry of the people and

taking a step to insert the clause in the proposed amendment, which was recently handed over to state assemblies through his office.

Speaking on the perception of members of the public that the governor has pocketed the state assembly, the speaker said the government under Chief Godswill Akpabio, has done so well that it will amount to madness for anyone to oppose him.

DESOPADEC warns contractors against shoddy jobs Gabriel Choba Ughelli

T

he Board of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission (DESOPADEC) yesterday advised contractors handling the commission’s projects to execute according to specification and complete their jobs within the stipulated

time or be sanctioned.

The board through its Commissioner representing Ethiope West, Sapele and Okpe Local Government areas, Chief Henry Ofa, gave this warning while inspecting completed and ongoing projects in Sapele, frowned on the shoddy jobs done by the contractors handling the health

centre at Ibada-Elume as well as the slow pace of work going on at the six units of toilet block at Ufuoma Mixed Secondary School, Sapele.

He advised the contractors to revisit their sites immediately and execute their jobs according to the bill of quantity given to them or risk the revocation of their contracts.

Ofa also listed Adaka Secondary School, Ugborhen, Jakpa-Elume, where inspections were carried out on 20 tonnes of solar water project and same at Ibada-Elume with distribution points, solar street light, including six units of classrooms blocks and another six units at Elume community.

NANS gives Oshiomhole, workers three-day ultimatum Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

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he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B, yesterday issued a threeday ultimatum to the Edo State government and striking workers of the various state-owned institution of higher learning in the state to resolve their differences and reopen the institution or face full scale crisis in

the hands of students.

The striking workers under the aegis of Coalition of Association of Edo State-Owned Tertiary Institutions led by its President, Comrade Fred Omonuwa, had on Monday held a prayer session over the protracted strike action and the refusal of the state government to yield to their demands.

The prayer was to seek God’s intervention in the over two months old sit-at-home order by the

workers to press home their demands, part of which is the agitation for the government to pay them the six months’ salary arrears owed them and other sundry issues.

But NANS, in what seems like lending support to the workers at the end of their meeting with executive members of the Joint Campus Committee and Students Unions’ Presidents of the various institutions, said they were tired of

staying at home.

Spokesperson for the students and Deputy Coordinator NANS, Zone B, Comrade Love Obazee said: “Nigerian students are tired of staying at home and want to return to our campuses with immediate effect.”

The communiqué said the government and the various unions should resolve those issues that had destabilised academic activities in the various campuses.

abour Party in Cross River State yesterday unveiled its guidelines for the party, with an invitation to those who may want to leave the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to use its platform in the 2015 elections.

Chairman of the party, Mr. Austine Ibok, made this known yesterday in Calabar while interacting with stakeholders on how to reinvigorate the party in the state.

Ibok said the party will open its arms and welcome any aspirant “with credibility, capacity, popularity, and accessibility,” explaining that it would be repositioned “to contest every available position” during the forthcoming elections.

Ekere, Oron leaders forge alliance Tony Anichebe Uyo

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governorship aspirant and the immediate past Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Nsima Ekere, and Oron leaders have agreed to work together to produce an acceptable arrangement that will accommodate the interests of Ikot Abasi and Oron federal constituencies in the 2015 gubernatorial election.

Ekere had offered a hand of fellowship to the Oron nation in March, during the Town Hall meeting for Ikot Abasi federal constituency, when he said the governorship seat should be specifically zoned to Ikot Abasi and Oron federal constituencies since they were the only two

federal constituencies in Eket senatorial district yet to produce a governor.

He followed it up by visiting Oron with a delegation of leaders of Ikot Abasi federal constituency to meet Oron leaders two months later.

Speaking during a visit to Oron Think Tank, Oron Union and Council of Traditional Rulers, Ekere restated the need for further dialogue to achieve a common ground on the issue, pointing out that both federal constituencies shared the same political and infrastructural challenges.

He described Oron agitation as a genuine one and lauded the people for having well-defined and organised socio-political structures.

Navy urges parents, stakeholders to invest in education Clement James Calabar

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he Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Obiora Medani, has called on parents and stakeholders in the educational sector to invest in the education of their children.

Medani said this yesterday in Calabar at the closing ceremony of FOC’s maiden debate and quiz competition between Nigerian Navy Primary School and Navy Officer Wives Association (NOWA) Primary School Calabar.

The topic of the debate was; “Parents are more to be blamed for the poor academic performance

of their children.”

At the end of the debate, the Nigerian Navy Primary School, which spoke against the topic won with 76 points against their opponent’s 74 in the quiz and debate categories.

Represented by Commodore Obi Ofodile, Medani said the Chief of Naval Staff, ViceAdmiral Usman Jibrin, has keyed into the educational agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the agenda was to improve the standard of teaching and learning in the nation’s educational sector.

The naval chief therefore called on parents and stakeholders to wake up to the challenge of improving the country’s educationw standard.

NEW TELEGRAPH wednesday, november 12, 2014

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north

Bishops want politics suspended for Boko Haram breather

With bombs and rockets flying up and down, maiming and dehumanising people, catholic priests say politics could wait Ibrahim Abdul YOLA

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he Catholic Bishop of Yola, Most Rev Dr. Nemuel Babba, has led other priests of the church

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in calling on the Federal Government to suspend all political activities in the country in order to enable efforts to be concentrated on fighting the Boko Haram insurgency, which has claimed several thousands of lives in the North-Eastern parts of the country.

The position of the priests, was contained in a communiqué issued and signed by Most Rev Dr Stephen Dami Mamza, Catholic Bishop of Yola, Most Rev Dr. Nemuel Babba, LCCN Archbishop,

The number of fixed-telephone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants of Benin Republic in 2012.

Source: Itu.int

Rev. Dr. Samuel Dali Danti, EYN President and Bishop Amos Yakubu LCCN Bishop, at the end of a one day meeting held at Bishop Shehaan Pastorial Center.

The communiqué read in parts “The Christian leaders are worried over the recent takeover of six local governments in Adamawa State namely; Madagali, Michika, Mubi North, Mubi South, and parts of Hong and Maiha Local Governments by the insurgents.

“We are also worried that the Christians are

106

The number of confirmed cases of EVD in the past 7 days in Guinea as at October 19, 2014.

Source: Who.int

been systematically eliminated by members of the Boko Haram Islamic extremists. We are forced to believe that the whole attack is a deliberate plan to exterminate Christians living in the affected areas,” the statement noted.

The communiqué further noted that many Christian parents and brothers are slaughtered in the presence of their wards and wives because they profess the Christian faith while all existing Churches in the captured territories were complete-

7.38m

The total population of men in Guatemala in 2012.

Source: Un.org

ly destroyed by the Islamic Insurgents.

“We reject in strong terms insinuations from certain quarters that the insurgents are mere bunch of trigger happy miscreants whose intentions are to settle certain scores with the government owing to the towering revelations of attacks mostly targeted against Christians. We are therefore tempted by these circumstances to believe that the whole onslaught is a deliberate attempt to exterminate Christians in

the captured region.’’

It noted, that even though there were scores of non Christians that were killed by the insurgents, it is not enough to convince the Christian community that the insurgency is not targeted at Christians alone since it is no longer a hidden fact that all non Christians who decided to stay back in the wake of the insurgency are all enjoying normal life and going about their lawful businesses without any threat or hindrance in the captured territory.

26,338

Ugba promises free education in Benue

The total area (in sq. km) of Rwanda.

Source: Worldfactsandfigures.com

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

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governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State in the 2015 general elections, Prof. Steve Torkuma Ugba, has promised to introduce free education at all levels in the state if elected governor.

Ugba noted that the system would be made operational right from the nursery to the tertiary education to assuage the pains which parents are passing through in the payment of school fees of their children.

He spoke to journalists in Makurdi yesterday on why he intends to re-contest the forthcoming governorship election, reiterated his determination to improve the level of infrastructure in the state.

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State being welcomed from Abuja, despite the fear of insurgency in the state.

Kwara police boss wades into PDP congress crisis APC stakeholders endorse Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

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he police in Kwara State, have waded into the crisis rocking the Kwara South Senatorial District of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) That is following widespread disagreement over the outcome of the recent delegates’ congress of the party.

Stakeholders of the party in the state are at logger-heads over allegation that some powerful elements allegedly doctored the result of the congress to favour a particular gubernatorial candidate who is believed to have become the ‘anointed’ by the Presidency.

But despite the intervention,and denials by party leaders, former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Associa-

tion (NBA) Ilorin branch, Alhaji Salman Jawondo insisted there were widespread manipulations in the delegates congress and that it was meant to favour an aspirant from Kwara central.

It was gathered that the commissioner of police, Mr. Salihu Garba decided to call a meeting of stakeholders after the party’s Vice chairman (South), Chief Gbenle Adeyemi was attacked by angry members protesting his alleged role in the attempt to doctor the outcome of the congress to favour a particular candidate.

Although spokesman for the police command, Mr. Ajayi Okasanmi denied knowledge of the intervention by his boss, sources who were involved in the crisis confirmed to our reporter that but for the moves

by Garba, the situation might have degenerated into a bigger crisis.

Chairman of the party, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo also denied allegations of manipulating the outcome of the congress to favour any aspirant.

Said the source: “It was the CP that brought us together otherwise the matter would have been worse. Gbenle was beaten, his phones and car were seized after the congress in his federal constituency because it was gathered that he was working with some people in the state executive committee to work the outcome of the election to favour a candidate from Ilorin. They were able to see some of his messages and our people from Kwara south are really not happy with him.

But the matter has been settled.”

Shettima’s second term bid Ahmed Miringa MAIDUGURI

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takeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Borno yesterday endorsed Governor Kashim Shettima as the party’s sole candidate for the 2015 general elections.

At the endorsement ceremony for the governor’s second term bid held at the multi -purpose hall in the Borno state Government House, hundreds of the APC stakeholders commended the governor for what they described as excellent service to the people of the state.

It could be recalled that 28 Lawmakers from the state had last week purchased the APC gov-

ernorship nomination and expression of interest form for governor Shettima to re-run.

The party’s stake Holders forum also witnessed the presence of federal and state legislators, past and serving local government Chairmen, APC’s state executives and local government level amongst other party faithfuls, who unanimously gave their nod to the governor’s candidacy in the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The endorsement saw all the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which has fused into the APC, unanimously backing the governor as the party’s flag bearer, with the praises of the governor of the governor over his achievements

Gambari tasks politicians on nation building Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

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mir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday urged Nigerian politicians to re- commit themselves to acts capable of enhancing nation building.

The traditional ruler, who is also Chairman Kwara State Traditional Council, made the call while speaking with journalists at a special prayer marking his 19th year anniversary on throne as the 11th Emir of Ilorin.

He charged government at all levels to endeavour to always embark on programmes that can further uplift the standard of theie communities stressing that there cannot be any meaningful development amidst bad leadership.

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WORLD | News

YOBE BOMBING

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Kalu commiserates with Yobe Zambia bids final farewell to president

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former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Kalu, has sympathized with the families of the students who were killed in a bomb attack on the Government Science Secondary School in Potiskum, Yobe State on Monday.

Kalu, in a statement signed by his aide, Mr. Sam Amsterdam said,

“It is with a heavy heart that I send my condolences, my thoughts and prayers, to the victims of Potiskum and their families; those whose lives are forever altered following the devastating attack of yesterday. We need to be ever-vigilant today of the depraved tactics of this militant cabal.” “While I implore our citizenry to have faith in the diligent

efforts and words of our government, we must continue to support our security operatives with timely information on the perpetrators of this ugly act that has already affected the daily lives of Nigerians on the whole.” In the interim, our hearts again go out to those lost so far before their time in Yobe, he added.

UPP, NUT condemn attack Yekeen Nurudeen Abuja

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he United Progressive Party (UPP) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers yesterday condemned Monday’s attack on Government Secondary School, Potiskum in Yobe State, which killed over 46 students of the school.

The UPP and the NUT described it as outrageous, wicked and barbaric. The NUT particularly asked the security agencies to stop the ugly trend of bombing in schools. The UPP, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its National Secretary, Bello Umar, said it received with shock the news of

the heartless massacre of over 46 students of the school by the Boko Haram sect.

While calling for a stop to what it called madness, UPP said the attack on the school was unfortunate at a time the nation was still mourning the slaughtering of 82 people by a suicide bomber at Old Market Road in Potiskum on November 3.

“UPP strongly condemns the killing of these innocent students at a time the nation is still mourning the slaughter of 82 people by a suicide bomber at Old Market Road in Potiskum on November 3. This madness must stop. Enough is enough” it said Similarly , the National

President of NUT, Comrade Michael Ologba Olukoya, said the union was particularly outraged over the attack. Olukoya, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, recalled that the Monday’s attack has made it the fifth of such gruesome attacks on schools, leaving so many students dead and scores of others maimed and injured. “The leadership of NUT is outraged by the inability of the nation’s security operative to sufficiently address the frequent bombing incident in schools, which has again occurred at Government Science Technical School, Potiskum, Yobe State with over 50 fatalities and over 70 injured.

Step up military campaign now, says Ekhomu Juliana Francis

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ollowing the killings of 47 students in the Government Senior Secondary School in Potiskum, Yobe State, the President of Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON) Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has advised the Federal Government to halt all political campaigns in the North East of the country and declare war on the Boko Haram terrorists, with emphasis on intensifying military campaigns in the areas under emergency rule.

The security expert said that the carnival atmosphere that ac-

companied political campaign rallies would make mockery of the memory of innocent school students slaughtered by Boko Haram in the Potiskum attack and several other recent school attacks, including the abduction of the over 200 school girls from Chibok, Borno State.

Ekhomu said that politicking in the states under emergency rule was insensitive and detracted from the military effort. He said that since Boko Haram has a penchant for attacking large crowds, political rallies could come under person borne IED (PB IED) attacks or Vehicle Borne IED (VBIED) at-

tacks.

Ekhomu deplored the lack of security awareness in schools.

He cited the September 2014 suicide bombing attack at the Federal College of Education, Kano, which claimed 17 lives and the bombing of the School of Hygiene in Kano in June which killed eight. In February 2014, BH terrorists attacked Government Secondary School Buni Yadi, Yobe State with IEDS and Molotov cocktails killing 49 students in that horrific attack.

Also in February 2014, 25 students were killed in an attack against a Christian School in Shuwa, Adamawa State.

UNICEF condemns school bombing, seeks punitive action against perpetrators Appolonia Adeyemi

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NICEF has condemned the cruel bomb attack which occurred at the Government Science Technical School, Potiskum in Yobe State.

In a statement issued from New York yesterday, UNICEF called on those with the responsibility and power to bring the per-

petrators of this cruel act to justice, and to uphold their responsibilities to protect children.”

The attack which killed 47 school children while injuring over 76 others was allegedly carried out by the terrorist group, Boko Haram. The massacre has triggered global outrage.

A suicide bomber masquerading as student jof the Government Senior

Science Secondary School, Potiskum in Yobe State detonated a bomb-laden vest strapped to his body killing himself and his victims.

According to the statement, “These repeated and relentless attacks on children and schools are attacks on the future of Nigeria, a country that already has the largest number of children out of school in the world.”

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ens of thousands of Zamb ians turned out at a state funeral yesterday to bury president Michael Sata who died in a London hospital two weeks ago. Mourners packed the capital city’s 50,000-seater Heroes Stadium for a final service before burial at a special graveyard reserved for heads of state.

One of Sata’s sons Gerald, gave his father a moving send off, taking to the microphone to sing “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross. Overtaken by emotion, mourners dressed in black or outfits bearing the late president’s portrait, openly wept as Gerald

Sata sang. Michael Sata died at the age of 77 while undergoing treatment for an undisclosed illness. He is Zambia’s second leader to die in office.

In 2008 Levy Mwanawasa died in France after an illness. Sata, nicknamed “King Cobra” for his acerbic tongue, has been replaced by Vice President Guy Scott until an election is held within 90 days after his death.

Scott born of British parents and Africa’s first white leader since South Africa’s apartheid era cannot run because Zambia’s constitution bars candidates of direct foreign lineage. Sata came to power in 2011 elections on populist promises to transform

the copper-rich country within 90 days by tackling corruption, lowering taxes and creating jobs.

But Sata’s critics say that by the time he died, the former policeman, trade unionist and taxidermist had transformed into an authoritarian populist as his anti-graft crusade targeted political adversaries.

He made it to the presidency after four attempts at the polls.

Sata who rose from cleaning railway platforms in London to the country’s top job, died after serving three of his five year term.

The funeral is being attended by regional leaders from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia and Mozambique.

Hong Kong protesters told to clear streets or risk arrest

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ong Kong’s acting chief executive yesterday called on pro-democracy protesters to clear sites which they have occupied for more than six weeks and warned holdouts they could face arrest, a move that could swell protest numbers.

Hundreds of student-led demonstrators are camped out in two key districts of the Chinese-controlled city where they have pitched tents and set up supply stations on roads bisecting some of the world’s most expensive real estate. Hong Kong media reported that authorities could start removing protesters as early as Wednesday.

“To those who are unlawfully occupying the roads, we call for you to leave the areas quickly and peacefully,” said Carrie Lam, acting leader while chief executive Leung Chun-ying attends the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Beijing. The protesters are demanding fully democratic elections for the former British colony’s next chief executive in 2017 instead of the vote between pre-screened candidates that Beijing has allowed. Hong Kong media had speculated that China was waiting to clear the protesters until after the APEC summit ends yester-

day. U.S. President Barack Obama was due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday before flying out.

Lam spoke a day after a court ruled that police could arrest protesters who defy authorities trying to clear camp sites. Lam did not provide a timeframe.

“As the place where the whole movement began, Admiralty is likely to be the last area to be cleared because people will come out again real quick if the police touch the nerve of the movement,” Matthew Ng, 21, said from his tent in the district next to government buildings.

The Flags of China and Hong Kong are seen above tents outside the Legislative Council Complex at an occupied area in Hong Kong yesterday

Ten Indian women die, dozens sick after mass sterilisation

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en women have died in India and dozens more are in the hospital, some in critical conditions, after a state-run programme that pays women to undergo sterilisation went badly wrong, officials said yesterday. Sterilisation is one of the most popular methods

of family planning in India, where the government provides cash and other incentives to try to control the country’s one billion-plus population, but rights groups say the system is often abused.

More than 60 women fell ill after undergoing the surgery over the

weekend in the central state of Chhattisgarh, and 10 have now died, local official Sonmani Borah told AFP. “With two more deaths reported today (Tuesday), the death toll in the family planning operation-related case has gone up to 10,” Borah told AFP by phone.

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Sports News

51

International Sport

Enyeama, Uche boost Eagles camp

Team cohesion, key to Congo fall – Oboabona

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Sport

Did you know?

That Kevin De Bruyne and Cesc Fabregas have more assists (both 9) in the league this season than any other player in Europe’s top 5 leagues.

INJURED MIDFIELDERS:

Keshi broods over options Adekunle Salami

Keshi

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uper Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, is worried stiff over the players to be fielded in the midfield for the crucial Africa Nations Cup qualifier match against Congo on Saturday.

The Congo/Nigeria match is a must-win encounter for the Super Eagles who are placed third with four points in the group that has South Africa as the leaders with eight points. Congo are second on the table with seven points.

Keshi is however looking at the fitness level of the players likely to start for Nigeria in the midfield in the match which promises to be dicey for both sides.

Authoritative camp sources told our correspondent that the Eagles coach was looking for a creative player who could control the middle to commit the Congolese in crucial areas.

Victor Moses is back from

injury but Keshi left him out claiming he is not fit enough to play on artificial turf. Injured Babatunde Micheal just left hospital on Monday and will be out for three weeks.

Mikel Obi, a regular in the team is also just returning from injury and will have to be examined by the team doctors. Nosa Igebor is not in the team and so only Ogenyi Onazi is the regular player in the middle who is 100 per cent ready for the encounter.

“The Big Boss is worried but he is hopeful of working with the players he has in the camp. We are going to see a different Eagles on Saturday in terms of formation and faces. It is now left for those invited to prove themselves,” the source revealed.

It was also learnt reliably that the coach was planning to have not less than four players in the middle. If

Mikel manages to be fit for the game and Onazi picks a shirt as expected, two ‘unsung’ players are expected to break into the team.

Turkey-based Raheem Lawal, England-based Omatsone Aluko and Hope Akpan will have to battle for the slots available along with Tony Edjomari of Nasarawa United.

“It is a big issue but we expect that the coach will find a solution after some training sessions. The Congo match is crucial, there is no room for error and this is why the coach is really worried about his options,” the source added.

Congo defeated Nigeria 3-2 in Calabar and the Eagles need to beat the Congolese by a two-goal margin on Saturday to have any hope of qualifying for the 2015 Nations Cup. Nigeria won the last edition of the continental football showcase held in South Africa after beating Burkina Faso 1-0 in the final.

Mikel

Babatunde

2015 AFCON: Nigeria, Kenya on standby The Sport Team

l CAF disqualifies Morocco

Adekunle Salami Deputy Editor, Sports

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sports

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sports Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sports Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sports Correspondent

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Hayatou

Emmanuel Tobi

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he Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Morocco will no longer be hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2015.

In a statement published on CAF’s website, the governing body

acknowledged Morocco’s insistence of having the tournament moved to a later date due to fears over the potential spread of the Ebola virus.

However, as has been stated several times in recent weeks, CAF have no interest in entertaining any such requests.

With this in mind they have already sounded out a number of potential replacements for the role of host nation, with the likes of Nigeria and Kenya tipped to fill the breach.

As a result of Morocco’s refusal to host the tournament on the originally stated dates, CAF have decided to exclude the country’s senior side from taking part in the tournament.

Moses

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SPORT

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

Enyeama, Uche boost Eagles camp Emmanuel Tobi

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uper Eagles camp received a major boost on Tuesday with the arrival of skipper Vincent Enyeama of Lille Metropole of France and Villareal of Spain’s Ikechukwu Uche at the Bolton White Apartment abode of the team ahead of the crucial Nations Cup qualifier against Congo next Saturday in Pointe Noire.

The two players effectively missed out in the day’s evening and only training session but should be available for Wednesday’s session that will again be conducted by Head Coach, Stephen Keshi.

Before then, all the invited players like Elderson Echejile, Efe Ambrose, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike, Juwon Os-

haniwa, Kenneth Omeruo, John Mikel Obi, Austin Ejide, Raheem Lawal, Godfrey Oboabona, Hope Akpan, Omatsone Aluko, Sunday Emmanuel Aaron Samuel and Ogenyi Onazi had lunch with the technical crew before the team set out for the Goal Project site of the National Stadium for the day’s business.

The training proper lasted from 4-6pm with Keshi taking charge of affairs. Home-based stars, Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Osaguona Ighodalo, Friday Edjidegborie, Solomon Kwambe, Kingsley Sokari, Emem Eduok and Gbolahan Salami were all in full flight during the session.

After some tactical sessions, Keshi chose to play the probables against the possibles to the delight of a sizeable number of fans at the arena.

Uche

Anichebe eyes full fitness after hernia surgery Ifeanyi Ibeh

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igeria and West Brom striker, Victor Anichebe, is keen to use the upcoming international break to improve his fitness and boost his chances of securing a regular place in the starting-11 at his English Premier League side.

Anichebe, last Sunday, after recovering from hernia surgery he underwent over a month ago, made his first league start since August as West Brom slumped to a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United.

The Nigeria international played the entire 90 minutes of the game and told his club’s website: “I have been in and out through injury for a little bit, so it was good to play.

Ajibade Olusesan

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he future of the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation will be determined today when the Election Appeals Committee makes the ruling on the September 30 polls.

The committee headed by Okechukwu Ajunwa has received some appeals against the election which threw up Amaju Pinnick as the President of the federation.

Former NFF board members, Suleyman Ma’azu, from northwest, who contested the NFF vice-presidency, is among those who have appealed against the elections but the prayers of Barrister Iyke Igbokwe at the appeals committee have created much furore.

The legal practitioner submitted a 13-point appeal against the election of Felix Anyansi-Agwu and the entire process, arguing that the exercise be cancelled because it was hugely flawed and fresh polls be staged for justice and fair play. Igbokwe contested against Anyansi-Agwu for board membership.

Our correspondent has lear nt that top officials in the NFF have pressed the panic button and have been activating their contacts in the corridors of powers to avert a fresh crisis in the football house.

Emmanuel Tobi

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Why I rejected $7000 World Cup bonus –Dike

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igeria’s U-20 Women National Team star, Courtney Dike, has explained why she rejected the $7000 bonus payments at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals in Canada.

The Oklahoma State University student wrote in a mail: “I would like to respond to what I have been reading on the internet about rejecting bonuses.

“I am delighted to play for Nigeria whenever called upon. I

nicipal in Pointe Noire, which has a capacity for over 13,000 spectators.

“They want to make sure everything goes fine after they received a warning from CAF following some incidents when they hosted Sudan, and as a result of this only 11,000 tickets have been made available for the local fans,” an official said.

In September, Congo beat Sudan 2-0 in Pointe Noire.

They are now second in Group A with seven points from four matches, while Nigeria are third on four points.

Konyaspor target Yobo

Yobo (left)

knew before leaving for the U-20 World Cup that I would not accept any bonuses. Acceptance of prize money is against NCAA regulations (the division 1 collegiate governing body) in the US, so that is the main reason for rejecting it.

“Knowing this beforehand, I still chose to represent the country because I believed the experience would be more valuable than the money, and I was right.”

“Over the international break, I need to go away, come back and be as fit as possible. I don’t feel as sharp and fit as I was at the start of the season but that will come.

“I have the medical team here, they have helped me a lot and I have guys in America I have worked with a lot.

I’mnotscaredofEchiejile,Oshaniwa,saysAkas

11,000 fans to cheer Congo after CAF warning NFF Elections: Appeals committee C set for rulings ongo will only let in 11,000 fans for Saturday’s crunch AFCON qualifier against Nigeria after they received a warning from CAF over a crowd incident in a recent game.

There was an emergency meeting at the weekend involving the country’s minister of sports, the Congolese Football Association and the authorities of Pointe Noire to address this issue.

It was after this meeting that it was agreed that only 11,000 tickets will be sold for this highprofile Group A match to be played at the Stade Mu-

Anichebe

urkish club, Konyaspor, has been linked with Nigeria international Joseph Yobo in the January transfer window. The former Super Eagles captain has been without a club since the summer after his contract with Fenerbahce expired.

Konyaspor manager Aykut Kocaman previously worked with Yobo at Fenerbahce and is hoping he will be able to convince the 34-year-old to join him at Konyaspor.

Yobo previously spent 10 seasons at Everton before moving to Fenerbahce.

The centre back spent four seasons with the Istanbul giants winning the league in his first season.

The former Marseille player who spent last season on loan at Norwich City in the Premier League, has made 101 appearances for the Nigerian national team.

Akas

Charles Ogundiya

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ome-based Super Eagles left back, Chima Akas, has underlined his readiness to challenge established Super Eagles stars, Elderson Echiejile and Juwon Oshaniwa if given the opportunity.

The former 3SC of Ibadan star who had a superlative outing against the Black Meteors of Ghana maintained that the experience

garnered at the U-23 Eagles helped him during last week’s friendly.

“I have played in front of big crowd before so you cannot say I will have stage fright while playing for the national team, he told New Telegraph.

“I am ready to challenge the duo of Echiejile and Oshaniwa if given the chance. No doubt they are my seniors in the team, but I am charged up to give them a run for their money.

“I have shown what I can do with my performance in the game against Ghana and if given more opportunities I know I will be better and the country will enjoy my input in the team,” the Sharks of Port Harcourt defender said.

“Also I was part of the last U-23 team under Coach Austin Eguavoen, although we failed to qualify for the final stage, we however gained a lot of experience,” he said.

Governor’s Cup Tennis splashes N13m on African players Ajibade Olusesan

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he organisers of the 2014 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Invitational have announced a prize money of N13.8 million (about $84,000) as the tournament serves off on November 17 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

Vice chairman of the LOC, Engr. Afolabi Salami, who represented chairman of the LOC, Chief Pius Akinyelure, told a press conference in Lagos yesterday that “our prize money is over $84,000 whereas our regular two-week Futures tournament has a total prize money of $80,000, added hospitality which includes accommodation and breakfast at the Eko Hotel and Suites for our foreign invited players and a N10,000 daily subsi-

dy in lieu of accommodation for Nigerian players for the period they remain in the championship.”

He said that the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, has sent invitations to top class Futures players-32 each for Men and Women’s Singles and 32 each (16 pairs) for the Men and Women’s Doubles.

He said there would not be preliminaries and entries are restricted to invited players.

Vice President of the NTF, Yemi Owoseni, lauded the organisers and the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, for hosting the competition despite the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Diseases. He said although this year’s edition is an abridged version, the determination not to skip it was commendable.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS 53

NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

Arsenal chase Dani Alves, Pedro

A

rsenal are allegedly planning to launch a sensational swoop for Barcelona duo Dani Alves and Pedro in

January.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to shell out £30m on the pair in an attempt to halt his team’s recent slump, according to The Express.

Alves is said to have emerged as Wenger’s top choice to fill the rightback role following Mathieu Debu-

chy’s long-term injury and Calum Chambers’s transition to central defence.

Pedro, who plays on the wing, was tipped to leave Barcelona following the arrival of Luis Suarez, but Arsenal could face competition for his signature from Liverpool and Manchester United.

It was recently reported that Wenger will be granted an additional £20m to solve the club’s defensive crisis.

Dani Alves (left) and Pedro

Nadal to receive treatment for back problem

Moyes joins Real Sociedad on 18-month deal

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D

avid Moyes has become Real Sociedad’s new head coach on a contract until the end of the 2015/16 season.

The Scot has signed a deal until the summer of 2016 and returns to football six-and-a-half months after losing his job as Manchester United boss.

Moyes had been considering Sociedad’s offer for some time and joins a club third from bottom in La Liga following a poor start to the season that cost Jagoba Arrasate his job.

But Sociedad were in the Champions League as recently as last season, when they were drawn in the same group as Moyes’ United, who won at

afael Nadal’s doctor says the 14time Grand Slam winner will receive stem cell treatment on his ailing back.

Angel Ruiz-Cotorro told The Associated Press that “we are going to put cells in a joint in his spine” next week in Barcelona.

The Spanish tennis star was already side-lined for the rest of the season after having his appendix removed last week.

Ruiz-Cotorro, who has worked as a doctor for Nad-

Moyes

Old Trafford and drew in Spain.

The San Sebastian-based club has a history of appointing British managers, and Moyes is following in the footsteps of Welshmen John Toshack and Chris Coleman.

Nigerian League Rendezvous

with charles Ogundiya

charlesog2001@yahoo.com,

08098042287

League faces further postponement

T

here are strong indications that the Nigeria Professional Football League 2013/2014 season might suffer another postponement.

The season earlier scheduled to end on November 9, was postponed to Sunday, November 16, by the League Management Company, but might suffer another setback.

The bone of contention is the rescheduled match involving Giwa FC and Nasarawa United that was earlier awarded to Nasarawa albeit a walkover.

The LMC twice moved the rescheduled game because Giwa failed to turn up at match venue before performing the walkover ritual.

The decision of the LMC was however

upturned by the Nigeria Football Federation Organisation & Disciplinary Committee and subsequently ordered for a replay in Abuja.

Nasarawa however said they were not going to honour the match because the game was rightly awarded to them because of Giwa’s failure to come for the game.

Speaking with League Rendezvous, a top official of Nasarawa United who craved anonymity accused the League body of compromising the rules of the game.

“The rules are clear; if a team failed to show up for their game there will be a walkover. We don’t want to believe the League body has order a replay of a game in which official walkover formalities were performed,” the official said.

Season of protests

l Bayelsa, El-Kanemi join train fee, salaries and back log of

P

layers of Bayelsa United and El-Kanemi Warriors have joined the number of clubs that have so far protested unpaid wages in the league.

On Tuesday, the two clubs marched to their respective government house to protest unpaid sign-on

match bonuses owed them.

This will be the second time this season for Bayelsa United while El-Kanemi Warriors are protesting for the first time.

Some of the players of El-Kanemi Warriors who spoke with our correspondent said that they

al for the past 14 years, said Nadal’s back pain is “typical of tennis” players and that the treatment is meant to help repair his cartilage and is similar to stem cell treatment Nadal received on his knee last year. He said Nadal was expected to return to training in early December.

Nadal experienced severe back pain during the final of the Australian Open in January when he lost to Stanislas Wawrinka. “(Nadal) has a problem typical in tennis with

a back joint, he had it at the Australian Open, and we have decided to treat it with stem cells,” said RuizCotorro who revealed that stem cells were recently extracted from Nadal for a cultivation process to “produce the necessary quantities.”

Nadal

Akwa Utd players lament unpaid allowances

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kwa United players have again cried out over unpaid salaries and allowances. The players are irked that despite the official announcement by governor Godswill Akpabio that N200m has been released to offset the outstanding wages and other entitlements, they have not received any money.

Some of the players who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity said they just heard about the money but nothing has happened in concrete terms.

According to a player, the situation remains dicey as they can’t go back to the governor after he announced that the money has been given to the

were owed 70% sign-on fee, seven months’ salary and 14 match bonuses.

“We are on our way to the government house right now to protest and let the governor know what we are suffering,” a player said.

“We are expecting 70% sign-on fee, we have not been paid seven months’ salaries.

“Even 14 match bonuses Elkanemi’s Aloma Idris and have not been paid.

Crown’s Benson Omoduku

management.

“We are tired already. The management only told us to be patient and promised to pay us this week, but as I am talking to you now, we are yet to get anything,” one of the players said.

Another player believed someone in the management could have put the money in his account to generate quick funds through interest accrued from fixed deposit for some days or months.

The player said; “What they have been telling us is to exercise patience that the money will be paid this week. I am of the opinion that someone is already making gains from the money. Hopefully they will pay before the end of the week.”

54

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014 NEW TELEGRAPH

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NEW TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

There was no basis for ceasefire with Boko Haram The

Gauntlet

LAURENCE ANI

laurence.ani@newtelegraphonline.com 0803 811 4560 (sms only)

Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh... Chief of Defence Staff

E

ven in the week that footage of persons injured in Boko Haram attacks protesting against the neglect suffered at state-owned hospitals was airing, the government was cozying up to the terror group that inflicted the horrific injuries in the form of a silly ceasefire.

Silly because apart from the fact it was serially breached, it weakened flanks which had earlier been fortified by Nigerian troops and exposed them to attacks as we have seen in the past few days.

As usual, the consequences of that thoughtless order for our troops to literally lay down their arms in face of apparent danger were not borne by the army chief or his fattened boss - the chief of defence staff who announced, tongue-in-cheek, that he takes responsibility for the catastrophe wrought by the doomed ceasefire without adding he would resign as a result. The brunt fell on soldiers and relatives who spend every waking hour thinking of their safety.

Of course, any hope that the president would step in as he should to ensure that someone paid dearly for putting Nigerians in harm’s way is banished by the typically perfunctory statement that “those behind this dastardly act would be caught and brought to book”.

In the early 1980s, a scourge simi-

lar to the terror inflicted on the nation by Boko Haram emerged in the north. At the root of that scourge was a sect called Maitatsine. Their goal was just as evil and they pursued it with the fervour of a zealot. But they were eventually crushed by the government of then President Shehu Shagari. Today, hampered by the desire to be politically-correct, we’re seeing so much dithering from the government. If there were no such fixation, the government would have been quite circumspect in signing up to a ceasefire with a terrorist group that so gleefully flaunts its atrocities.

But when can there be a situation we consider a sufficient ground for negotiation between the state and Boko Haram?

The British government’s protracted negotiation with the Irish Republican Army and other groups involved in Northern Ireland’s struggle for primacy is often the reference cited most by individuals who rationalise talks between the state and groups that terrorise the society.

While this may be considered a fitting reference given the notoriety of the IRA which, for several decades, set off bombs in Northern Ireland and on English soil that claimed thousands of lives, the bigger picture is dimmed by the scrupulous process that culminated in the Good Friday Accord.

Although its militant wing oper-

ated in the shadows, the IRA still had a spokesperson who carried out negotiations on its behalf. That face clearly had the IRA’s mandate to issue commitments to deals such as ceasefire agreements and there were no pretensions about that even if he was more or less leader of the group’s political affiliate, Sinn Fein.

In the case of Northern Ireland, the IRA broke ceasefire only when the British government or any other fractious group it was contending with failed to abide by terms already agreed upon - not whimsically. Each failed talks usually spawned a new cycle of violence, yet they ironically inspired a revived desire to commit to a peace deal. It was such collective desire that eventually yielded the enduring peace between the IRA and the British government christened Good Friday Accord.

Also, as a prelude to the talks, the British government created the Commission for Victims and Survivors of the Troubles. This commission dealt with issues relating to compensation and other necessary services for victims and survivors that would help assuage their pain. Its creation was driven by conviction; not established as an afterthought as seen in the Nigerian experience where the commission actually set out with a mandate to solicit donation from the public!

The peace deal shielded ex-IRA operatives from prosecution which was an incentive towards the group’s renunciation of violence and eventual decommissioning of arms. But a few months ago, the leader of Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, was arrested in connection with the murder of a woman in 1972. The woman who the IRA later accused of passing on information to the British Army was abducted from her home in the presence of her screaming children, driven to an unknown location and shot in the back of her head.

There is a profound lesson to be learnt from the probe of Adams’ role in that murder as the Nigerian government totters between false pride and the humbling realization that our armed forces have been crippled by years of corruption and nepotism: a peace deal does not entirely make anyone who masterminds a carnage such as setting off a bomb at a school assembly immune to prosecution. Another important lesson is that an absence of contrition makes any offer of amnesty for Boko Haram a choice that is impossible to rationalize.

Yet, I strongly oppose the military high command’s quixotic expectations from soldiers who, as it is, are compelled to confront the insurgents with obsolete arms like the Browning machine guns which emerged to be largely faulty only when soldiers awaiting deployment took them to a shooting range. As someone whose sibling is at the frontline, I expect those in charge of our military to demonstrate the kind of patriotism they demand from soldiers. Procuring defective weapons is no less atrocious than fleeing a battle scene in face of superior firepower - an offence for which many soldiers have been sentenced to death via court martial.

And The Final Word ... The Absurd I spent the better part of last weekend driving around Apapa, the Lagos neighbourhood that is home to the seaport, in search of the unit where I had carried out my voter-registration. It was supposed to be a simple affair: find the polling unit where your registration was done and collect your permanent voter’s card. Only that such matters tend to lose their simplicity when Nigeria is involved.

I could neither locate my polling unit nor anyone for that matter. I ended my fruitless search and went home utterly dejected. Not even the clarification from INEC that the exercise will hold in Apapa and some other councils on November 28 struck any reassuring note given the large number who still couldn’t collect theirs in areas where PVCs were issued.

... The Foul Tackle The bullying inclination of the Confederation for African Football is never too far away to glimpse. This time it is evident in its decision to consider sanctions against Morocco for its refusal to host the Africa Cup of Nations in January due to concerns about possible spread of the Ebola virus. The worries expressed by Morocco should not be discountenanced.

CAF should take the pragmatic step and consider a shift in date and not punish Morocco for putting public health above other considerations such as prospective commercial deals from sponsors which seem to matter more to CAF.

... The Narcissist It’s hard to imagine how an ordinarily demure personality like Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, succumbed to the narcissistic urge to don outfits emblazoned with his photograph even at public forums.

For a man whose first few months in office have largely been described as remarkable, you wouldn’t expect such attitude that breeds deification among the masses. Soon, everyone in Obiano’s cabinet would be wearing attires bearing the governor’s image. But, wait a minute, didn’t he actually copy that inclination from his predecessor?

... The Cheery Africans have grown so accustomed to haranguing the West for failing to respond to emergency situations which do not particularly trouble people in the latter region. The outbreak of the Ebola virus is just one example of this feeling of helplessness. We just couldn’t understand why pharmaceutical companies can’t cast away protocols and ship Ebola vaccines to Nigeria. There’s an implicit indictment of indigenous research institutes in such mindset.

Understandably so. That is why the announcement by the supervising minister for health, Dr. Khaliru Alhassan, that Nigeria would soon commence clinical trial of Ebola vaccines developed by its researchers is such an uplifting tale.

Follow me on Twitter @AniLaurence

Sanctity of Truth

On Marble

Most men would rather deny a hard truth than face it.

– George R.R. Martin

Laurence Ani There was no basis for ceasefire with Boko Haram

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2014

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}55

The dynamics of political annointing

I

n Nigeria, the politics of regime and leadership change is complex. Its complexity is imbedded in the fact that the processes and procedures for such a change do not necessarily conform to the rule books or the processes and procedures outlined in the Constitution and the Electoral Act. For some of the big political actors, the rule books in the main are secondary to the ingenuity of the Nigerian political elite to dictate the direction of political events irrespective of the rule book. The rule book only comes in when their strategists are forced to interpret the rule book to conform to their positions and things they have already done. In the absence of that, the rule book must be undermined and the opposition and or opponents forced to go to Court and remain in court until the tenure of the regime is over or only enjoy the crumbs of the unexpired residue of the term of office of manifests concretely when they are on a mission to cut corners with democracy and the electoral process.

This complex mental makeup of some Nigerian politicians is vividly exemplified in the politics of ward congresses and the election of delegates that will in turn elect those that will be the candidate of political parties for the various offices. For some of them, the ward congresses are just a formality because some of the candidates have already been endorsed, anointed, zoned in, adopted by consensus and or given the option of first refusal. The congresses are therefore a mere ritual to fulfill the intendment of section 87 of the Electoral Act 2010(as amended) which makes it mandatory that Political parties shall organize party primary elections for the election of their candidates or the affirmation of the said candidates.

But come to think of it, why are second term governors insisting on anointing, endorsing, and zoning in and or giving the option of first refusal to the aspirants they consider as their “boys”, loyalists, cronies and, or close associates?. What are they afraid of ? What do they want to protect? Why are they afraid of allowing a level playing field for all the aspirants in accordance with the dictates of internal democracy? It is difficult to discern.

Some of the second term governors still claim to be neutral in the choice of successors but send their wives and commissioners to accompany their favoured aspirants to purchase nomination forms. Some of them “zone in” their favoured aspirants and zoned out those they consider as opponents.

Some of them just called a meeting of the party and announced the person that will be the next “Governor” of the State. Some of them started early and sacked Commissioners, Secretaries to State Government and Chief of Staff that nursed political ambition without experiencing the anointing of the governor.

Then you ask the question, what do they intend to achieve by shut-

Hard Choices FESTUS OKOYE ESQ.

festokoye2003@yahoo.com 08054480565 (sms only) ting others off ? They want to retain complete dominance of the State or the affairs of the State? History does not support any of these. In a few instances, genuine loyalty and mutual respect still exists between some of the godfathers and their godsons.

But history points to a different direction.

It baffles me therefore that second term Governors have refused to submit to the lessons of history relating to the choice of successors. If they do, they will not be jumping from pillar to post undermining internal democracy in their parties, creating an atmosphere of fear and silence and squandering state resources to keep everybody in check. I say this because, the evidence of history is there for all of them to see and learn from. This evidence is self evident and the exceptions are just exceptions and inconsequential in the final analysis.

In Zamfara State, Alhaji Ahmad Sani, Yariman Bakura, single handedly picked Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi his then Deputy Governor as the Governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) for Zamfara State for the 2007 general elections. He skewed the entire party structure in his favour and other aspirants buckled under the weight of incumbency. Sani assisted Shinkafi to win the 2007 Governorship elections in Zamfara State. Later in 2008, Shinkafi defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and thereafter the State turned into a battle ground.

In Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzo Kalu singlehandedly picked the current governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji who served as his Chief of Staff, as the Governorship candidate of the PPA. Theodore Orji made history as the first Governor to win an election while in detention and was sworn in on the 27th day of May 2007 as the Third Governor of Abia State. His benefactor protected him and when he stabilized himself and his regime, he sought liberation and claimed that unless he got that liberation, he may not achieve anything for the people of the State. He moved from PPA on whose platform he was first elected, birthed briefly in APGA and ended up in PDP. I presume that he got the said liberation and the rest, as they say, is now history.

In Enugu, the story is the same. Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani between 1999 to 2007 picked his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Sul-

Nnamani

livan Chime to succeed him as the Governor.

The list is quite long but all tell the same story of betrayal after anointing and pliant candidates and aspirants turning into lions after election. The stark reality therefore, is that that pliant loyalist may be a chameleon andsor a tiger and will hibernate and do anything to get sponsorship and endorsement and will seek liberation thereafter.

In seeking liberation, some of them once elected, go the extra mile. Some run their benefactors out of town.

Some get security agencies to be on their trail. Some use state resources to hound them and project them in bad light.

It is therefore disconcerting that some second term Governors are muzzling other voices in their States just to anoint a favoured candidate.

In other words, they have veered off their calling by engaging in anointing which is the exclusive province of pastors and those in the spirit.

Some of them carried out zoning on their own and zoned out people they do not want. Others attempted the option of first refusal but were told that only a sitting President is entitled to the option of first refusal. Some are doing consensus and all sorts of options, all aimed at undermining internal democracy in the various parties. How then can democracy grow in the country when those that swore to protect and defend it are its

major enemies? It is unfortunate that the legal framework that that will guarantee internal democracy and the free choice of the people is still weak. Amendments to the Electoral Act have not cured and or plugged the existing lacuna that has been continuously exploited by the Political Parties and those that run them. The judiciary has attempted to shock and awe some of the parties and their candidates but it has not really worked. The parties know and believe that the judiciary will still insist and maintain its stand on non interference in the internal affair of political parties.

The Nigerian Supreme Court has said and maintained that “a court of law has no jurisdiction to adjudicate on the issue of which candidate a political party should nominate or sponsor for an election. The exercise of this right is the domestic affair of the party guided by its Constitution.

Since there are no judicial criteria or yardsticks to determine which candidate a political party ought to choose, the judiciary is therefore unable to exercise any judicial power in the matter. It is a matter over which it has no jurisdiction. The question of the candidate a political party will sponsor is more in the nature of a political question which the courts are not qualified to deliberate upon and answer. If a court could do this, it would in effect be managing the political party for the members thereof.

While there is wisdom in the stance of the Supreme Court, it must also be acknowledged that there is the need for institutional political hygiene in the management of political parties in Nigeria and the Supreme Court must give leadership in that direction. We cannot keep on insisting that political parties have the right to do as they wish irrespective of the interest of their members and the growth of Nigerian democracy.

We must separate the ideal from the current reality of the weakness of the structures of the political parties. The right of choice is a cardinal principle of representative democracy. The members of the different political parties must be in a position to participate in various forms of election without intimidation, coercion and other unwholesome democratic practices. The manipulation of the membership register of political parties, presenting the members with a fait accompli and reducing members of political parties to mere observers is antithetical to electoral democracy.

Governors, political parties and the owners of the parties should allow the members of the parties have a say in the nomination of candidates. Nigerian democracy can only grow when all the key stakeholders internalize its principles, values and culture. Cutting corners with democracy will not work and has never worked. The lessons of history are there for all to see and learn from.

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by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.