Binder1 6 april, 2015 by Newtelegraphonline

A media partner of Sanctity Of Truth

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS /newtelegraph

Vol. 2 No. 411

Monday, April 6, 2015

@newtelegraph1 www.newtelegraphonline.com

12 pages of international new york times

N150

}23

Buhari: Fear grips NNPC over probe Adeola Yusuf

alpable fear has gripped the top hierarchy of the Nigerian National Petroleum

Corporation (NNPC) and its agencies over plans by the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to probe the corporation. Buhari, a former Minister of Petroleum Resourc-

es and the first chairman of the NNPC board, had, in the build up to the March 29 presidential election, alleged that the corporation runs two sets of account books, “one for

public consumption and another for insiders." But the NNPC described Buhari’s statement as "political mischief.” New Telegraph gath-

ered at the weekend that about six week to the inauguration of the Presidentelect, the issue of probe has formed the focal point of discussion at meetings by the management of the

corporation. "All of us at various divisions and parastatals of the NNPC have been told to crosscheck our books with the internal audit CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

I’m free at last, says Jonathan

lPresident: I've been caged for 16 years lIjaw leaders unhappy with him }2

Quick Read

Editorial

Redeveloping our reading culture }19 Abia North: Kalu claims victory }6

A cross-section of members of the Choir and Orchestra of the Apostolic Faith Church, during the 2015 Easter concert in Lagos… yesterday.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

April 11: Obasanjo seeks votes for APC candidates

lOba of Lagos to Ndigbo: You must vote APC

News

MONday, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

I’m free at last, says Jonathan Donald Ojogo and Anule Emmanuel Abuja

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday declared that he is now a free man after his 16 years sojourn in government, stating that he has been in the cage for almost two decades. Jonathan said he had had enough of being taken care of by the government. "I was in the hands of governments for 16 years, not in government as a parliamentarian, because if you are in the National Assembly or state House of Assembly, you take care of yourself in your house. I was in a cage being taken care of by the government. But I think it is enough. I am happy, help me to thank God for that," Jonathan said. The president spoke when he received a delegation of Christians in Abuja who paid him an Easter homage at the Presidential Villa. The president lost his re-election bid to the presidential standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28 election. Jonathan was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election. President Jonathan told his visitors that he remains the luckiest person in Nigeria with the opportunity to have served the country in the last 16 years at different levels of leadership. Since the return of democracy, President Jonathan has served as Deputy Governor and Governor in Bayelsa State, Vice President, acting President and President of Nigeria. According to him, he has every reason to remain grateful to God and the people of the country for providing him with such privilege. "This Easter period coincides with when I'm leaving, but I always say I'm one of the luckiest Nigerians. From 1999, I have been in the hands of government. I am yet to see somebody luckier than me,” he said. Speaking on the essence of the Easter season, President Jonathan noted that just like Christ sacrificed for the salvation of mankind, it was important for citizens to make individual sacrifices if the country would remain a great nation. He stated that Nigerians must be ready to make sacrifices at various levels for the incoming government of Major General Muham-

madu Buhari to succeed and advance meaningful development in the country. "So as a people, as a government, what I always believe we should ask is what sacrifice are you making? Now it is not about supporting Jonathan or government, now Buhari is coming on board, it is not about supporting Buhari or his government, but what sacrifice as an individual are you willing to make for government and for the nation?” the president stressed in a rhetorical manner. He added: "Nation building depends on the sacrifice of individuals and the patriotism of the citizens. These are two key elements. We must be ready to sacrifice for our nation." According to the presi-

dent, "If you are a businessman and you say you are supporting government but you don't pay tax, how do you expect that government to survive? That government will not survive. "To me, whenever I travel to different countries and see things work, those things didn't fall down as manna; people made sacrifice. Therefore, in Nigeria, people must also be ready to make the required sacrifice. Whoever becomes president is immaterial so long as the citizens are happy. Our children go to school, when they are sick, they go to good hospital and of course the economy blossoms." On the importance of sacrifice in nation building, President Jonathan explained that Nigeria has the lowest Value Added

Tax (VAT) of five per cent in the entire Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) sub-region. Jonathan wondered if Nigerians will accept an increase of about 12 per cent from the incoming government of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, for instance. "In ECOWAS sub-region, for example, Nigeria has the lowest VAT [Value Added Tax] of five per cent payment, other countries pay up to 12 per cent. If, for instance, Buhari decided to increase VAT from 5 to 10 per cent, will Nigerians support him? That is sacrifice and we must make sacrifice." In his remarks at the brief event, Vice-President Namadi Sambo commended the president for

the leadership he has provided the country resulting in huge infrastructural development in different sectors. Sambo noted that Nigerians will soon realise that President Jonathan is a great man who meant well for the entire country. On the recent decision by President Jonathan to concede defeat to the President-elect, Sambo said: "Your action have saved Nigeria a great crisis and made you tall in the comity of nations. "Your name will ever be put in gold not only in the history of Nigeria, but the whole of Africa. I am proud to have been your deputy, you will ever remain my teacher. I have, through these five years, gotten a PhD from you." President Jonathan had

earlier attended a church service to mark the beginning of Easter at the Aso Rock Chapel where the Chaplain, Venerable Obioma Owuzurumba enjoined Christians to emulate Christ and seek for salvation other than material things. He likened the president's action to the death of Jesus Christ which according to him was necessary to save the world. Present at the homage were the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed; the FCT Minister of State, Ms Olajumoke Akinjide; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Abuja chapter, IsreCONTINUED ON PAGE 5

L-R: Vice-President Namadi Sambo; President Goodluck Jonathan; Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammed; Minister of State for FCT, Mrs. Akinjide Olajumoke and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, during the Easter Sunday homage paid by the Christian Committee in Abuja…yesterday. PHOTO: TIMOTHY IKUOMENISAN

South East, South South shut out of National Assembly leadership Chukwu David Abuja

t is now obvious that the South-East and South-South will be missing completely in the power sharing equation of the country in the incoming All Progressives Congress (APC) government due to the failure of the two geo-political zones to re-elect any member to the two chambers of the 8th National Assembly. New Telegraph reliably gathered that the APC hierarchy had zoned the position of the President of the Senate to the SouthEast, but after the party secured victory on March 28,

it was discovered that the zone did not produce anybody in the Senate and the House of Representatives as to occupy the position of Speaker. Similarly, the SouthSouth also failed to re-elect any incumbent member of either the Senate or the House of Representatives, who would have been elected as the President of the Senate or Speaker of the House of Representatives. Although Edo North was able to elect a new person to the Senate, but by the standing rule of the apex chamber, only the ranking senators can be elected to occupy any of the elective offices in the

leadership of the Chamber. The same rule applies to the House of Representatives. In Edo and Imo states, where APC produced some members in the House of Representatives, they are also not eligible to contest for any of the positions because of the same rule, as they are all new members. In the just-concluded polls, the South-East delivered all its candidates in the Senate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the only person who would have salvaged the situation, Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra Central) lost to Uche Ekwunife of the PDP.

Therefore, this seems to have foreclosed the chances of either of the two zones to produce principal officers in the Senate and the House, thereby leaving the race to all the offices in the hands of the South-West, North-Central and NorthEast zones. Speaking with New Telegraph on the matter, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji representing Ebonyi South said: "Nobody can speculate from the outside on the matter; just hold on, when we resume, we will see how it is going to play out. "When APC met, they zoned the President of the

Senate to the South East; unfortunately, the zone did not elect anybody on the platform of the APC. Also, in the South South, the only APC senatorelect from Edo North is not qualified to take up the position according to the rule of the Senate." He also said that Senator David Mark (PDP) could contest if he wants, and if the position of the President of the Senate is zoned to the North Central again. With this situation on ground, the South-East and the South-South are going to be under-represented in the APC-led administration.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONday, APRIL 6, 2015

Travel Advisory

MONday, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

International Flight Schedule Air France

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

Flight No. AF 513 AF 3822 AF514 AF513 AF514 AF3849

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

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

Amsterdam-Lagos Lagos-Amsterdam

KL587 KL588

13:15hrs 23:05hrs

20:00hrs 05:50hrs

KLM

ARIK AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos Lagos-New York

W3 101 W3 102 W3 107 (Mon, Wed , Fri) New York-Lagos W3 108 (Tues,Thurs, Fri) Lagos-Johannesburg W3 103 Johannesburg-Lagos W3 104 Lagos-Douala - (Tues, Wed ,Thur) Douala-Lagos - (Tues, Wed, Thur) Lagos-Accra Accra-Lagos

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

-(Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun) -(Mon, Wed, Fri) -(Daily) - (Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Wed, Fri, Sun) -(Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri,Sat) -(Tue,Wed, Fri,Sat,Sun)

BRITISH AIRWAYS

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

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

Lagos-Cairo Cairo-Lagos

MS 876 MS 875

14:25hrs 08:30hrs

22:20hrs 13:30hrs

EGYPT AIR

KENYA AIRWAYS

16:00hrs

Lagos-Kigali

11:15hrs

16:45hrs

10:45hrs 09:35hrs 11:10hrs 13:25hrs 07:20hrs 17:00hrs 08:05hrs 13:35hrs 18:00hrs

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

AWB 201 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun) AWB 202 (Tue, Thur, Sat, Sun)

14:00hrs

17:30hrs

22:35hrs 15:10hrs

06:00hrs 21:20hrs

17:00hrs 06:00hrs 08:00hrs 17:00hrs 08:00hrs 15:20hrs 21:00hrs

hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs hrs

01:00hrs

hrs

3:00hrs 14:00hrs

8:00hrs 19:00hrs

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

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

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

Lagos-Doha Flight Doha-Lagos Flight

QR 1414 (daily) QR 1415

14:55hrs 07:20hrs

23:45hrs 13:35hrs

Lagos-Atlanta Atlanta-Lagos

DL053 DL 054

22:15hrs 5:15hrs

05:32hrs 16:15hrs

Lagos-Houston Houston-Lagos

UA 143 UA 142

10:10hrs 19:10hrs

6:05hrs 15.15hrs

Lagos - Addis Ababa ET900 Addis Ababa - Lagos ET901 Abuja - Addis Ababa ET910 Addis Ababa - Abuja ET911 Enugu - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Enugu ET931 Kano - Addis Ababa ET930 Addis Ababa - Kano ET931

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

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

Lagos-Madrid Madrid-Lagos

IB 3337 IB 3336

22:55hrs 16:00hrs

5:25+1hrs 20:20hrs

Lagos-Casablanca Casablanca-Lagos

AT738 AT 737

06:25hrs 02:15hrs

09:55hrs 6:00hrs

air maroc

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

12:30hrs

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

IBERIA

Abu Dhabi-Lagos

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

19:35hrs 23:45hrs

MEA 571 MEA 572

ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES

Lagos- Abu Dhabi

ETIHAD AIRWAYS

12:30hrs 18:00hrs

to Lagos)

UNITED AIRLINES

17:00hrs 4:40hrs

KQ 533 KQ 534

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

DELTA AIRLINES

11:00hrs 22:40hrs

Lagos-Nairobi Nairobi-Lagos

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

QATAR AIRWAYS

VS 652 VS 651

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

BA075 BA074 BA 082 BA 083

EMIRATES AIRLINES

Lagos-London London-Lagos

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

Middle East Airlines (Two flights weekly (Tues & Friday)

Lebanon-Lagos Lagos-Lebanon

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

RwandAir

Kigali-Lagos

Turkish Airlines

Lagos-Istanbul Nairobi-Lagos

332 333

Air Côte d'Ivoire Lagos to Abidjan Abidjan to Lagos

HF 851 (Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sun) HF 852 (Mon,Wed, Thurs, Sat)

ASKY AIRLINES

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

10:10hrs

10:50hrs

19:20hrs

21.50hrs

Flight No. KP 032 (Tue-Fri) KP 032 ( Tue-Fri)

Departure Arrival 14:00hrs 15:55hrs 16:30hrs 18:15hrs

KP 033 (Wed-Sat) KP O33 (Wed-Sat) KP O40 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP 040 (Sun-Sat) KP041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP 041 (Tue-Sat) KP O44 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP 044 (Tue-Fri) KP O45 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat) KP 045 (Wed-Sat)

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

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

Local FLIGHT SCHEDULE ARIK AIR

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

AZMAN FLIGHT SCHEDULE

WEEKLY SCHEDULE Kano-Lagos 8:00am Lagos-Abuja 10:30am Abuja-Lagos 12:40pm

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

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

News

NEW TELEGRAPH MONday, APRIL 6, 2015

April 11: Obasanjo seeks votes for APC candidates Kunle Olayeni, Muritala Ayinla and Temitope Ogunbanke

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to vote for the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections nationwide. Obasanjo, a former Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), gave the charge during his visit to the popular Itoku Market in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the weekend. He said Nigerians must repeat the feat of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, which produced Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC as President-elect.

The former president, who arrived the Itoku market about 4:30p.m. in company of his aides and political associates, visited some adire (local fabric) traders. His presence at the market was greeted with ecstasy as some of the traders hurriedly left their stores and followed him as he briskly walked to the local herb section. Addressing the traders, Obasanjo said he had not had the opportunity to visit the market since he returned from Abuja as president. He added that he decided to visit the traders in the spirit of Easter celebration. Obasanjo, who spoke in Yoruba language, said: "Since I came back from Abuja, I have not come here to say hello to you. But, it occur to me that I can do it during this Eas-

ter period and that is why I have come. How is market and hope you are all faring well?" Chants of "Sai Baba Obasanjo, Sai Buhari" rented the air as the expresident spoke and listened to the jubilant traders. But as he was returning to his waiting vehicle, the former president was accosted by reporters who sought his specific mission to the market. "Since I came back, I have not really visited any market. I have come to do two things. I have come to give them Easter greetings and to find out how they are doing in their market. "This is my community. As a member of the community, I want to know what's going on and what's happening in the community." On his advice to the traders ahead of the April

11 election, Obasanjo retorted: "They should do exactly what they did last Saturday." Meanwhile, the Oba of Lagos, Alhaji Rilwan Akiolu, has urged the Igbos in Lagos State to vote overwhelmingly for the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in the April 11 election. Akiolu warned of dire consequences if the Igbos vote for the PDP in the governorship and House of Assembly elections holding on Saturday. The monarch, who was miffed at the outcome of the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections in which the APC defeated the PDP in Lagos with a close margin, said his wish for the state to be in alignment with the Federal Government was threatened by the presidential poll. Speaking at a meeting

with Igbo leaders in Lagos, Akiolu said he was not appealing to them to vote Ambode, but asserting his authority as the paramount ruler in the state. He said it was morally right for the non-indigenes to obey his wishes on the choice of the next governor in his state. He accused the Igbo leaders in the state of betraying him by giving block votes to President Goodluck Jonathan whom he described as his son. He said: "On Saturday, if anyone of you goes against Ambode who I picked, that is your end. If it doesn't happen within seven days, just know that I am a bastard and it’s not my father who gave birth to me. "Jonathan is my son and I speak to him everyday. By the grace of God, I am the owner of Lagos for the time being. This is an undivided chair. The palace belongs to the dead and

L-R: President-elect, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); former Chief of Army Staff, General Bello Danbazzau (rtd.) and British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Pocock, during the presentation of congratulatory letter to the Buhari in Abuja...at the weekend.

Ijaw leaders unhappy with Jonathan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

al Akanji; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Ayim; Head of Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi; and Primate, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Nicholas Okoje among others. Meanwhile, indications have emerged that some Ijaw leaders are not happy with President Jonathan as they expressed disappointment that the outgoing president did not achieve much for his people. Jonathan is an Ijaw from Bayelsa State. In an exclusive chat with our correspondent over the weekend, a member of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), who is also from the South-South, though commended the

president for his adherence to democratic values, he, nonetheless, slammed him for being too slow when things matter most. He said: "We are proud that the president has finally shown to the world that from the South-South can come good values and virtues; we are proud and happy because any contrary disposition by President Jonathan to the outcome of the presidential election could have thrown the country into violence and ultimate civil disobedience. That we are proud of. "But the corollary to this is the fact that the president appears not to be a politician; he either left many things undone or attempted to do some too late and smart political entrepreneurs took advantage of him on many fronts.

"As happy as we are that he made the ultimate sacrifice, I can tell you that three out of every five Ijaw leaders are unhappy with him because he frittered away an opportunity to better the lives of his people. How many Ijaw economic giants can we count? How many Ijaws could play economic cum financial chess game in the polity? How many Ijaws were there to donate when PDP did its fund raising for the election? Honestly, we are angry with him at home because he did not take us seriously. "Rather than facing our challenges and solving them and raising the standard of the Ijaw man, the president allowed a few greedy aides aided by the First Lady to fight

sitting governors and attempting to remove some. You can imagine a SouthSouth governor popping champagne that his impeachment planned for the end of April has been overtaken by the presidential loss.” In another development, the leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) yesterday declared that its planned meeting to examine and discuss the outcome of the last presidential election was not an indication that the Ijaw ethnic nationality was planning war. National Publicity Secretary of the IYC, Comrade Eric Omare told our correspondent on the telephone that the rumours of intended resort to war by the Ijaws was misplaced and mischievous.

Omare said the position of the Niger Deltans, especially the Ijaw ethnic nationality on the Nigerian project, was beyond President Jonathan's victory or loss at the polls. "We are only meeting to examine the outcome of the last election as it affects us; we are in a position to say no, we reject or yes we accept. Those misinterpreting it are only mischievous and misplacing our position; we are meeting to review the election as it affects us as a people and that does not amount to spoiling for war because what the IYC stands for is beyond Jonathan's presidency, whether a loss or victory does not affect our position concerning the well-being of the people of the Niger Delta region," Omare said.

those coming in the future. On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos state, the person is going to die inside this water. "I'm not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi [Agbaje] is my blood relation and I told him that he can never be governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t do it in Lagos. If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you; if you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.” The monarch added that his concern was the development and progress of the state, saying "I am for the progress, growth and development in Lagos. Ambode is highly cerebral, he's a symbol and he is going to deliver the message which I the Oba of Lagos have said. And he will govern the state for another eight years. He is going on a mission and God will give him the wisdom and knowledge to fulfil that mission. Almost a year ago, I declared that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos and it will not change. From time immemorial, the previous occupiers of this house will say what they wanted after consultation with other people. And this hasn't changed and it will not change at this time.” Responding, the EzeNdigbo of Amuwo-Oriade, Lagos, Dr. Gordian Dimojiaku, assured the monarch that they will do the bidding of the paramount monarch and support the APC candidate in the governorship poll. Dimojiaku said that they had realised their mistakes. According to him, "The mistake of last Saturday is everybody; it not only the Igbos. It is not only the Igbos that were responsible for the over 700,000 votes. But we have learnt our lesson. Saturday's election is going to be a different thing and Ambode is going to win. We have been doing a lot for Ambode. Even during the recent rally held at Alaba International Market, the market was shut for the rally and many markets closed to receive. "Everybody knows that when you fail the first time, you must not afford to fail again. We are going to tell our people that Eze-Ndigbo from the 37 and 20 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas were here and that we have sworn with Oba that we are going to make sure that Ambode win the Saturday April 11 election."

News

MONday, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Abia North: Kalu claims victory, calls for release of legitimate result

minent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, has called on Abia State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Cecilia Okoh, to avert crisis by announcing him as the legitimate winner of the March 28 Abia North senatorial election. Kalu, who contested on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), claimed victory at the poll. The former governor explained that records from the polling booths show that he was leading on the aggregate before the figures were tampered with at the Independent National Electoral Commission-designated collation centre in Arochukwu Local Government area. The INEC-appointed returning officer for Abia North, Prof. Ihekweaba Chukwugoziem, had a few days ago addressed a press conference and swore an affidavit of facts to distance himself from the published Abia North Senatorial result in the media, describing it as fake. Speaking through his media team, Kalu said: "On the election day, peo-

TODAY’S WEATHER FORECAST LAGOS

33oC

26oC

Partially Cloudy

ABUJA

40oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

PORT HARCOURT

28oC

19oC

Partially Cloudy

KANO

37oC

21oC

Partially Cloudy

ENUGU

36oC

23oC

Partially Cloudy

IBADAN

29oC

18oC

Rain Showers

CALABAR

31o C 24oC Thunder Storms

MAIDUGURI

ONITSHA

39oC 22oC Partially Cloudy

35oC

24oC

Partially Cloudy

ple came out in their large numbers to cast their votes peacefully. From all indications at the various polling booths, it was obvious that Dr. Kalu was leading the contest and having satisfied other conditions, we had expected INEC to uphold the tenets of a free, fair and credible electoral process. "However, reverse was the case as some INEC officials connived with some politicians in the state to shortchange the people's will by using the backdoor to publish the forged result in national newspapers as against the official announcement and declaration by the returning officer. We will continue to express our grievance until justice is done. "We will not allow an unpopular candidate steal our mandate as we firmly believe in a transparent process." The former governor, who expressed confidence in the INEC boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega, urged him to investigate the widespread irregularities that characterised the Abia North senatorial election with a view of correcting the anomalies. While urging Abians to remain steadfast and calm, Kalu called for the release of the authentic result, adding that any attempt to uphold a biased result will undermine the credibility of the electoral body. In a similar develop-

ment, Chukwugoziem of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, the INEC-appointed returning officer for the March 28 Abia North senatorial election has again described the published election result as the

handiwork of mischiefmakers. Speaking yesterday on Channels TV, the returning officer stated that he refused to append his signature on the result sheet due to the doctoring of figures by corrupt INEC of-

ficials in connivance with some politicians. According to him, "it was glaring that there were irregularities in the result sheet. So, my suggestion is that there should be a rerun. As the duly appointed returning

officer, I am the one that should announce the result, and I am not aware that any result has been announced, meaning nobody has been declared winner of last Saturday Abia North Senatorial election."

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (middle) with a trader at Itoku market, Abeokuta…at the weekend.

Buhari: Fear grips NNPC over probe CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

department in preparation for any eventualities," a management staff of the corporation told New Telegraph on condition of anonymity. "General Buhari has not hidden his disdain for corruption and he has, at different fora, talked of his plans to probe NNPC, and many of us know that he won the election based on his anti-corruption stance. I do not need to deceive you my brother, his election is a big headache for those whose hands are not clean here," the source added. Buhari’s emergence has stirred apprehension at the NNPC, which sees itself as the target of the anti-corruption crusade of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential standard bearer in the March 28 poll. "It is natural that many heads will roll if the President-elect begins the probe of the NNPC," the source said. Spokesperson for the NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe,

told New Telegraph in a telephone chat yesterday that there was no panic in NNPC, adding that the allegation that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has gone to General Abdulsalami Abubakar to help her beg the Presidentelect, Buhari, to shelve the plan to probe her was false. He said: "Some elements are coming up with this allegation of panic in NNPC because they were shocked with the outcome of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report. They never thought that our books would be clean. Our books are clean and there is no panic of any sorts in NNPC. "It is the handiwork of some elements in the APC. They have won and we are still wondering why they would still go ahead with smear campaign. "They have even taken the campaign to a ridiculous level by publishing falsehood on Internet that the honourable minister

has gone to the General Abdulsalami Abubakar to beg that the Presidentelect should not probe her. "They have also published a picture, which authenticity is under question, of the minister in a purported house of General Abdulsalami. This is pure falsehood." Alegbe had described Buhari’s statement on the alleged two accounts as political mischief. “It is sad that General Buhari, one of the founding fathers of the NNPC, who himself has tasted of the virulent but false allegations deliberately concocted to cast the Corporation and the public sector management of the nation’s oil and gas industry in bad light, would be the one to allege that NNPC runs two sets of account books. “We find it difficult to understand how a former Head of State who has also served as Minister of Petroleum Resources could believe that NNPC keeps two sets of account

books to perpetrate fraud, knowing that NNPC is the most audited and scrutinised agency in the country,” he added. The NNPC noted that in the past one year, it has had its books scrutinised and audited by the Senate Committee on Finance and an external auditor, PwC. The forensic audit carried out on its books by PwC, the corporation said, absolved it of complicity in the $20 billion missing oil money. The Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, at a news conference, maintained that the report absolved NNPC of culpability on all counts. Dawha said the report had laid to rest the 15-month long controversy over the allegation of missing $49.8 billion. “The report has clearly vindicated our long held position that the alleged unremitted crude oil revenue was a farce from day one,” he said. On the issue of the

outstanding $1.48 billion, he explained that the amount was the balance of the book value of the divested assets that were transferred to NNPC upstream subsidiary. Dawha said the amount transferred to its subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), excluded taxes and royalties. “This does not constitute indictment; rather this value is still being reconciled with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). “It is pertinent to note that the $1.48 billion is not part of the alleged unremitted revenues from crude oil sales,” Dawha said. He explained that what the DPR sent to NNPC as the estimated value of the assets was $1.847 billion. He said out of this, the corporation paid over $300 million as a token to indicate its commitment to acquiring the assets pending resolution and reconciliation by NNPC and DPR.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

News

NATIONAL

Mutiny: Convicted soldiers may get reprieve — Investigation Our Correspondent

here are strong indications that the over 50 soldiers convicted for mutiny, cowardice and other offences against service rules, may soon have their sentences reviewed, New Telegraph's investigation has revealed. A General CourtMartial (GCM) that sat at the Army Headquarters (AHQ) Garrison, Abuja, had convicted about 50 soldiers to death by firing squad, after finding them guilty of mutiny against then General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Ahmed Mohammed. The 7 Division, which

has its headquarters in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was created specially to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. Apart from the soldiers sentenced to death by firing squad, there are others that were sentenced to various prison terms, as their offences did not attract capital punishment, even as the Army has ongoing court-

martials in many divisions across the country. However, competent military sources, who spoke with New Telegraph on condition of anonymity, said the convicted soldiers may have their cases reviewed on merit. According to one of the sources, "The convicted soldiers, as far as I know, will get Presi-

dential Pardon, as their cases may be reviewed. "Those due for retirement will be duly retired, while those who need to be paid, will certainly be paid. "I'm speaking from a position of knowledge, and I need you to get that." Asked whether the reprieve will come from the Goodluck Jonathan

administration, which is winding down or the incoming regime, he retorted: "I'm talking about them getting the pardon from the incoming government, and I expect you to understand me." Meanwhile, another highly-placed source informed New Telegraph that the Army Council sat two weeks ago.

The Army Council, which has the Minister of Defence as Chairman, considers issues relating to the Army, including complaints and ratification of death sentences arising from court-martials. The source, however, declined comment on whether the conviction last year, formed part of deliberations.

NHRC to INEC: Prepare more for April 11 elections

he National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address some of the challenges identified during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the commission, gave the advice yesterday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the advice became imperative in view of the forthcoming Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on April 11. Odinkalu, nonetheless, commended INEC for the success recorded in the Presidential and National Assembly elections conducted on March 28. “We are not asking for perfection, we are asking for improvement and Prof. Attahiru Jega, the Chairman of INEC, has shown that improvement. “INEC should, however, learn from the mistakes of the Presidential and National Assembly elections and perfect its art in subsequent elections,” he said. The chairman also urged the electorate to replicate conducts that encouraged peaceful atmosphere during the last elections in the April 11 elections. Odinkalu commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat and congratulated President-elect Muhammadu Buhari.

Picnickers having fun during Easter celebration at Water parks, Ikeja, Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

Ajimobi's administration, full of abandoned projects, says Ladoja Sola Adeyemo IBADAN

he governorship candidate of the Accord Par ty in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday chided the administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi over management of the state finances. Ladoja said the state had witnessed dwindling economic fortunes in the last three years because of the present administration’s lack of depth and vision to move the state forward. He added: “The present All Progressives Congress-led government in Oyo State cannot do better than what we have witnessed within the last three years and 10 months as it lacks the depth and the vision to move the state forward. The Ajimobi government could not

manage the resources of the state effectively as most of it were spent on frivolous projects that has no bearing on the welfare of the people. As a matter of fact, most of the projects were abandoned after spending billions of naira on them”. Substantiating his claims, the former governor said despite the promises and assurances by Ajimobi that his government would complete all the projects he embarked upon, most of the projects remained abandoned. According to him, one of such abandoned projects is the proposed Technical University and model schools. “Six model schools that were started could not move from the foundation level after demolishing existing schools. The government house Banquet Hall that was demolished with over

N800m and the abandoned Technical University projects are examples of works that were abandoned. There is also the abandoned five star hotel, Ogbomoso, OyoIseyin Road and the Saki roads that are now abandoned”. Ladoja, therefore, admonished the people of the state to be wary of the promises of the present administration in its quest to be re-elected in Saturday’s elections, saying: “The suffering of the past three years cannot be compensated with the present fake stomach infrastructure and various inducements that Ajimobi is using to deceive the people. The people of the state cannot afford another four years of suffering and retrogression". Ladoja promised that if elected, his administration would bring succour to the people in the state.

Obama commends Jega over March 28 elections Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

resident of the United States, Barack Obama, has commended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, for the conduct of the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections. The letter of commendation was last week given to Jega. The conduct of the election, the first in the country where an incumbent president easily concede victory and congratulated the winner, was made possible because of the introduction of technology by the electoral umpire. INEC introduced the use of biometric Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) and Smart Card Readers (SCRs) to reduce rigging and other electoral malpractices. The elections were ad-

judged as the most credible in the history electoral process in Nigeria. Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, who confirmed Obama's letter, however, said it has not been presented to him. "I heard about it also. May be the presentation will be done this week. The INEC Chairman is not even in Abuja now," Idowu said. He also said he did not know the content of the letter. The US and other Western countries have in the past expressed worries over the conduct of elections in Nigeria. Apart from the June 12, 1993 presidential election, which was later annulled by the military, no other election conducted in the country has met international standard. The commendation by the US president is a mark of confidence in Nigeria's electoral process by advance democracies.

News

Muhammad Kabir Kano

overnor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State has advised the president elect, General Muhammadu Buhari against embarking on probe mission on those living office now. Kwankwaso said doing so would be counter- productive and distract his attention on taking on serious issues now awaiting him. The governor told media men yesterday in his office that Buhari should learn from him, as when he came to power in 2011, instead of probing the Ibrahim Shekarau government, he concentrated on developing

Why Buhari should not probe APC plots to control Jonathan, by Kwankwaso governance at states Kano and making it great. That, he said was despite the incessant calls for him to do so, “but I refused and ensured that I helped my people. Today, we are victorious that even after four years, we are still very relevant.” Kwankwaso disclosed that the votes All Progressives Congress (APC) got from the Northern part of the country were the ones casted by the Almajiris in need of positive change for the country. He said:”We collected our Almajiri votes and hit them hard with them. All

these Almijiris you are seeing are also her children as a First Lady of the Federal Republic. But if you turn your eyes and abuse people, that shows lack of exposure.” On the issue that cost President Jonathan his seat, Kwankwaso opined that the president was misled by the chunk of advisors he had. “His advisors and people were hell bent on misleading him. I think Mr President is a good man. We had been telling him what was the right thing to do, but he refused to listen. I am sure he has

now realised that we were his friends not enemies, “ Kwankwaso revealed. He assured that the incoming National Assembly would be more qualitative than the present Assembly. “There will be a huge improvement at the National Assembly looking at the quality of people voted as members,” he stated. The governor called on the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Femi Fani Kayode and the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose to learn from the mistakes they made during the presidential campaign.

L-R: Director of Communication, Africa, India and Middle East, Michelin Tyres, Rebecca Lee; President, Mr. Nour Bouhassoun; and National Sales and Marketing Manager, Mr. Kayode Sangotayo, at the 125th anniversary conference of the company in Abu Dhabi, UAE ... recently

Fani-Kayode: My relationship with Jonathan still cordial Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

he Director, Media and Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has described the information being circulated in social media where he was reportedly saying that President Goodluck Jonathan was leaving a legacy of ‘destruction and disaster’ as false. In a statement yesterday by his Special Assistant, Jude Ndukwe, Fani-Kayode said the statement being referred to was lifted from media reports of April 25, 2013, when he was on sojourn in the All Progressives Congress (APC). “The report does not, in any way, represent Chief Femi Fani-Kayode’s opinion of President Jonathan whom he holds in very high esteem, a

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

fact that made the former Minister of Aviation work so vigorously for Mr President as Director, Media and Publicity of his campaign organization in the just concluded presidential election”, the statement added. It described the cordial relationship that exists between them as exemplary and legendary, and accused enemies of the country of trying to sow the seed of discord and create acrimony between him and the president. “We, therefore, call on all those who are behind this show of shame and advise them in the strongest terms possible, to desist from such acts of cowardice, wickedness, preposterousness and puerility as they blow no one any good wind. We also call on all patriotic and well-meaning Nigerians to ignore such reports and treat them as non-existent whether now or any other time in

the future. “Mr. President is our leader and Chief Femi Fani-Kayode holds him in very high esteem, accord him the respect he deserves and is very proud to be associated and to have worked for him. The relationship between these two great men remains cordial. No degree of campaign of calumny by misguided elements can change this very fact!”, the statement noted.

Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja.

he All Progressives Congress, APC, which won the presidential election and majority seats at the March 28 election, is strategizing to control governance at the state level. According to the APC National Vice Chairman, North East, Engr. D.B. Lawal, the party is currently preoccupied with how to win the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. The governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will come up on Saturday, April 11. Lawal, in statement issued yesterday in Abuja on the election said, “But for us to reap the full benefits of an APC Government at the centre, we must also have APC in government in the six states in our zone and all over the country. This will facilitate coordination and planning of development and infrastructure projects that will have to be embarked upon by both tiers of government. An opposition government in any of the states will destroy this synergy and put any prospect of our rehabilitation, reconstruction and reconciliation in jeopardy. Therefore, I call on all registered voters in the region to massively

come out and cast their votes for the APC on Saturday, 11th April 2015.” He lamented that his party was massively rigged out in Taraba State, as he stated “I wish to encourage our people there not to despair at all because we are confident of recovering our stolen mandates in due course. We are sure that with an APC government at the centre, the Nigerian judicial system will have no choice but to be just and transparent in the conduct of the affairs of justice. Therefore, the people of Taraba State should not despair at all.” The President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has also called on party supporters to go out and vote APC at the forthcoming elections. In a statement issued on his behalf by APC presidential campaign Organization Director of Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in Abuja over the weekend, Buhari said that while thanking Nigerians for voting him into office, there were still greater challenges of consolidating the previous electoral victory of the opposition party. According to him, the election of APC governorship and House of Assembly candidates is no less important than his own victory during the March 28 presidential election.

African leaders to meet on Boko Haram, April 8

eaders of Central and West African states will hold a summit next week to try to draw up a joint strategy against Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants, a statement from organisers said yesterday. The April 8 summit will be the first of its kind since Nigeria’s election a week ago which was won by Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader, who has vowed to rid the country of the “terror” of Boko Haram. “In the face of the mounting and increasingly bloody attacks by the fundamentalists against

Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad and the series of consequences for these countries, and the real risk of destabilising western and central Africa, the two organisations have decided to take action,” a statement from regional bloc the Economic Community of West African States said. A coalition, involving troops from the four countries has been waging offensives against the Islamists in a bid to crush the insurgency, which has now spread across borders from Boko Haram’s stronghold in Nigeria.

The meeting in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, is being jointly organised by the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). It was not immediately clear if Buhari would be attending as he will not be sworn in as president to succeed incumbent Goodluck Jonathan until May 29. The Boko Haram insurgency has led to the deaths of more than 15,000 people since 2009, UN rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said last week.

Cleric charges Buhari on inclusive governance Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he General Overseer of the Holy Ghost Power Assembly, Worldwide, Rev (Dr.) Adesola Olubadejo, yesterday charged the newly elected President of Nigeria, General Muhammad Buhari to be tolerant and embrace all political par-

ty players in governance irrespective of their political differences. The cleric, who gave the charge in his Easter message to the congregation, said Buhari is now the father of all and should see himself as the president of the country and not of the APC alone. He advised him to include politicians from other politi-

cal parties in the scheme of things to be able to make the country a united one. The General overseer of the church also commended the outgoing President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for demonstrating maturity, peace and endurance for accepting the outcome of the result in good fate . He remarked: “What

his (Jonathan) administration has done towards the betterment of the country cannot also be over emphasised, in terms of development.” He appreciated the people of the country for allowing peace to reign in the last Saturday election, saying, “ This is a sign that Nigeria is progressing politically”.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

News

NATIONAL

My life is in danger, TAN chair, Ubah cries out I’ll work harder to keep lDenies dumping Agbaje for Ambode Mojeed Alabi

he Chairman of the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN), one of the campaign platforms for the re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah has alleged threat to his life, and those of his of his family and associates and his businesses in Lagos over his support for Mr. Jimi Agbaje, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party

in the forthcoming governorship poll in Lagos State. This is even as the businessman dismissed the rumour that he, alongside his organisation has ditched Agbaje and endorsed his opponent and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, saying his preference for both the PDP and Agbaje has not changed. Ubah, who stated this in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos, said he had received series of

Buhari commends traditional leaders, others for forgiveness Johnchuks Onuanyim Abuja

he President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has commendedtraditional rulers and others for forgiving him for detaining them as Military Head of State in 1983. Buhari made the commendation in Abuja yesterday when the Emir of Borgu, Dr Halliru Dantoro and other leaders came to congratulate him for the presidential election victory of March 28. He stated that leaders such as the Emir never held it against him that they were detained and have gone to establish very strong and cherished personal relationship with him. According to him, as Commander-in-Chief in a military dispensation, responsibility for all actions of government belonged to him even where he did

direct government action in that regard, but that as leader, he had accepted such responsibility. In a speech he gave while receiving the Emir, who led his council members on a congratulatory visit, the President-Elect recalled a list of other names of obvious cases including Adamu Ciroma, a former Minister Finance and Agriculture. He said he accepted the goodwill of all such past leaders, who did not hold him personally responsible for the actions of the military government and promised the nation that as an elected president, he would ensure equity, fairness and justice for all. He thanked the Emir and his people for enduring the seven-hour journey from Borgu to Abuja to congratulate him. The Emir, in an earlier remark, had said that Buhari’s second coming was a God-sent to redeem and reunite the nation.

... He’s answer to Nigerians’ prayer, says Lagos Speaker

r Adeyemi Ikuforiji, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), yesterday urged Nigerians to rejoice as they celebrate Easter because it was the dawn of a new era for them. Ikuforiji made the call in his Easter message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rotimi Adebayo in Lagos. He said the victory of Gen Muhammadu Buhari at the March 28 polls was an answer to Nigerians longtime prayers. “Nigerians, rejoice! It is the dawn of a new day in our country. “Considering the muchanticipated turnaround that our nation is about to witness with the unanimous election of the new agent of positive change in our country. “With the long-awaited change in the leadership of our country, which the Al-

mighty God finally granted us on March 28 with Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as President-elect and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Vice President-elect. “It is now certain that the long-time prayers of Nigerians has at last been answered,’’ the speaker said. The lawmaker called on all residents of Lagos State to troop out en-masse for the forthcoming Governorship and State Assemblies polls slated for April 11. He urged them to take up the task of handing over the governance of Lagos State to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the sake of continuity. Ikuforiji assured the electorate that the party’s flag bearer, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and all other candidates of the party would embark on sustainable socio-economic transformation in the state.

calls and text messages from unknown people accusing him of mobilizing the Igbo in Lagos against the ruling party in the state. He, however, revealed that he had contacted the Police and the international community on the threat to his life and businesses, while also refuting the claim in some quarters that he had visited the Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu to declare support for Ambode. He stated; “My life, my family, and my businesses in Lagos are under severe threat in Lagos State because of the role I am playing in PDP and in my

support for Jimi Agbaje,” adding that; “I have no regrets supporting President Jonathan and Agbaje. My position and that of TAN’s support for the PDP has also not changed. Some persons have called, others have sent text messages to me saying my life and businesses are no longer safe. Some have queried why I am fighting the APC in Lagos.” Ubah, who said he was a detribalized Nigerian, said it was important for Nigerians to note that on the platform of the PDP, the Igbo were offered the slots to win national assembly poll in Lagos, saying he was reaffirming clearly that “as at today, I am a PDP member and will remain so tomorrow.

mandate – Umaru

Dan Atori MINNA

he Niger East Senator – Elect, Barrister David Umaru, yesterday promised to work twice as hard to keep the trust bestowed on him by the people of the zone. He added that he will not just be their senator but their champion. Umaru said in a chat with Journalists in Minna that “I will live their lives and feel their pains”. “By voting for me, the people have chosen to share their hopes and dream with me. They have decided that it is safe to put their faith in my ability to

fight for them. “I want them to know this: I will not just be their senator ; I shall be their champion”. He explained that he had come a long way with the Niger State electorate since 2007, adding that “ever since then, they have been short changed, but they have kept faith and persevered, believing that change is possible and truth will prevail. Today, we are singing a new song, a song of victory”. Umaru urged the people to cultivate a new spirit of patriotism and of service and responsibility while promising to provide a leadership that inspires and of accountability.

L-R: Prelate’s Chaplain, Methodist Church of the Trinity, Tinubu, Lagos, Very Red. Rufus Atolaye; Director of Media and Public Relations, Rev. Oladapo Daramola; Prelate, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Chukwu Emeka Kanu Uche and Proto-Presbyter, Very Revd. Stephen Adegbite, after the Easter Sunday Service in Lagos…yesterday. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Amosun, Isiaka bicker over N1.5bn for workers’ salary deductions Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

he Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration in Ogun State and the state governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Gboyega Isiaka, engaged in a war of words at the weekend over the release of N1.5billion by the state government for the payment of workers’ salary deductions. The state government had, last week, announced the resumption of payment of salary deductions and cooperative dues affecting both state and local government workers, saying the gesture was in fulfilment of the agreement reached between Amosun and the workers during an interactive session last month. But Isiaka described the N1.5billion released by the governor as “a Greek gift,” urging the generality of

workers and people not to be hoodwinked as the governorship election draws nearer. In a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity of his campaign organisation, Ifekayode Akinbode, the PDP governorship candidate claimed that the state government was broke and “has barely survived on sustained borrowing and loans realignments.” He noted that the government owed workers six months of salary deductions for cooperatives and 28 months of unremitted pension deductions, adding that several categories of workers had embarked on strike to protest the anomaly. He said, “Whereas, government always claimed it was financially healthy and usually resort to grandstanding whenever it was accused of being broke, we know that government has mismanaged the state’s resources in a manner so unprecedented and callous.”

Presidency: No victor, no vanquished, says Odukoya Wale Elegbede

he senior pastor of Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya has described the peaceful ending of the March 28 presidential election as a sign that God is a Nigerian. He stated that the outcome of the poll defied both local and international prediction of post-election crisis. Speaking yesterday during an Easter celebration service held in Lagos, the clergyman stated that there was no victor or vanquished between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), but the victory belongs to Nigeria. He said: “God is a Nigerian. Nobody gave us a chance to go through that election peacefully but God in-

tervened. There is no victor nor vanquished, but Nigeria won.” On the timely conceding of defeat by President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, the pastor said, “Regardless of what has been, the president has become a good reference of Nigeria. God gave him a garment of honour and the world is celebrating him. “Nigeria has entered a new phase and we hope to see the new phase reflect on Nigerians. If corruption and ineptitude are tackled, Nigeria will be there in a matter of days.” While urging for spiritual vigilance against plans of the devil before the May 29 handover date, Pastor Odukoya noted that Saturday’s governorship and state assembly election will be peaceful across the nation.

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Metro

Our ordeal in DSS men’s hands –Mechanics Muritala Ayinla

echanics at Alausa area of Lagos State have narrated their ordeal in the hands of gun-wielding men suspected to be official of the Department of State Security (DSS) during the presidential election. The mechanics said many of them were attacked in their shops by the DSS men who also destroyed yet-to-be estimated property. The Chairman of Motor Mechanics’ Association, Maruf Oyebode, alleged that they were attacked by DSS men on election day right

The house where the couple died

Generator fume kills couple in new home CONTROVERSY Family, neighbours disagree over the cause of death of couple in their newly built house Taiwo Jimoh

he joy of moving into their newly built house ended on a tragic note for a couple at Ibafo community in Ogun State. The couple, Mr and Mrs Tunji Lawal, were reportedly killed by generator fume. Their bodies were found in their newly built home on March 30, with the generator still running in one of the rooms. One of their new neighbours, identified simply as Mr Daniel, said that although autopsy had not been carried out, everyone knew it was generator fume that

killed them. He said: “We knocked and called their phones but they did not respond. We had to break the door. On getting inside, we saw both of them dead on bed. It was an experience I never wished to witness again. Immediately, we alerted the police and their family members.” The couple’s first born, Afeez Lawal, said he was angry that generator fume killed his parents. He said: “The incident till now is far from what I can comprehend. I have never had such an experience before. This is the first time I would be experiencing this sort of thing. When I got to our house in Ibafo, after I received a call, I saw a mammoth of crowd in the house. I was told that my parents died of generator fume. “But I told them it could not be possible. My parents could not sleep and fume would kill them without becoming aware of the danger. Usually, once my dad

falls asleep, he would wake up within an hour or two. He usually wakes up to listen to news. He had always been complaining that he didn’t sleep well.” According to Afeez, the food his mother prepared for his dad was still on the table. He added: “Most times, when the generator is inside the house, we would open the window in one of the rooms. But we have fans that work regularly. They both live and work in Bariga, while they go to Ibafo to spend their weekends. I’m still sceptical about what they said killed them because I did my personal investigation. I checked the house thoroughly. But there were no traces that the generator fume killed them. There was no sign of the fume on the wall. “The generator has always being in the room where it was during the incident. I checked their bodies. My dad had his two hands crossed on his chest, with legs on the floor, hanging from the bed. My mummy was lying

on his chest.” Afeez also said that he noticed marks of stripes on his mother’s chest. He said the stripes made him to know that something was wrong. He said: “Neighbours had to knock the door and also called their mobile phones. When there was no response for almost an hour, they resorted to breaking the door. On getting inside their room, they found both of them dead. The people that opened the door said they did not see smoke inside the house. The only thing they noticed was that the house was full of heat.” While alleging foul play, Afeez said his father was invited to head a section of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), adding that although his father declined, someone might have come after him, thinking he would change his mind. He also said that his father recently filed a suit against some people.

in their shops, saying that he escaped the bullets by a whisker. According to him, they stayed at the Mechanic Village located on ASSIBIFE Road, Alausa, Ikeja, to enable them to exercise their franchise because they registered around the area. But trouble started about 2:35 am when some SSS officials allegedly stormed their workshop with over six Hilux vehicles and shot at the parked vehicles with the aim to kill anyone sleeping in them. Oyebode said the shooting lasted for over 30 minutes. He said: “I heard that they were saying ‘where is your chairman?’ When I heard that, I took cover under a vehicle. They smashed glasses of the vehicles parked in the garages. I was really frightened when they started shooting the vehicles.” But when our correspondent visited the DSS office at Shangisha in Kosofe Local Government Area, the officers declined comment on the issue. They said it was only the head of operations in the state that could speak on the matter. Also recounting his ordeal, Ismail Adegoke, who was allegedly battered by the DSS men said: “Our workshop is located at Hakeem Balogun, Alausa, Ikeja. We have been operating there for over 16 years. We stayed back on Friday after the close of work because we registered for the election at a polling unit close to our workshop. “Aside that, larger percentage of us live in places far from Ikeja and in Mowe, Ogun State and would certainly not be able to make it to the area we all registered to vote. “After the shooting, they arrested over 45 mechanics from the workshop and took them to the DSS office at Shangisha, Magodo axis of the state.”

Kukah donates to orphanage, leprosarium Umar Abdullahi Sokoto

ABIODUN BELLO FEATURES Editor

abiodun.bello@newtelegraphonline.com

Kukah making the donation

he Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Rev Mathew Hassan Kukah yesterday donated about N1 million worth of foodstuffs to the inmates of an orphanage and Amanawa Leprosarium to enable them to celebrate the Easter. Inmates of the orphanage

received a ram while those at Amanawa Leprosarium received a cow. Both institutions also received bags of assorted grains, detergents, sugar, milk, cooking oil, sachets of ‘pure’ water. The inmates also received prepared foods and drinks among others. Presenting the items to the inmates at the orphanage and Amanawa Leprosarium, Kukah

said the gesture was aimed at assisting the inmates to celebrate Easter within their respective environment. The bishop added that the donation to both institutions was also to enable the inmates to have a sense of belonging, especially during Easter. According to him, it will also teach people to donate to inmates.

News 11

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Kidnappers’ den: Dry Easter for Ibadan residents

Houses burnt where kidnappers’ den was allegedly discovered

Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

any worshippers at Orita Aperin/ Adekile areas of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, could not attend church service yesterday in commemoration of Easter

celebration. The churches were shut for security reason because the roads leading in and out of the areas are barricaded as well as the random arrest of many residents by armed policemen since last Wednesday. The community located in the Ibadan North East Local

Government Area had been under police siege since Wednesday evening when some irate youths shot dead the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Agugu Police Station, Ike Nwosu, during the crisis which attended the alleged discovery of a house being used by kidnappers. Youths in the area had suspected the one-storey building with only a window on the first floor and wells in some of the rooms. They were said to have seen a woman enter the house with a child, but didn’t come out several hours later, thus eliciting suspicion that some nefarious acts were being perpetrated in the house. It was learnt that the original owner of the house

was lynched at Orita Aperin in the late 70s having been linked with armed robbery. It was later sold to the present owner, popularly called ‘Beat,’ who reconstructed the house and has since been using it as a block industry. When our correspondent visited the place on Thursday, it was discovered that ‘Beat’ does not live in the house and no tenant inhabits it. A wooden ladder was seen beside one of the wells. According to the irate youth, some strange people did enter and emerge from it randomly. A family, which was said to have lost a child recently, also believed he must have been kidnapped and taken into the house for ritual purpose, prompting the youth to alert the police.

Notorious child sex trafficker arrested, extradited to UK Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

peratives of Interpol have finally arrested a 36-year-old Nigerian woman, Ms Franka Asemota, for her roles in international child sex trafficking and smuggling business. The mother of one was nabbed in Benin, Edo State after years of manhunt and intelligent gathering about her escapades in the illegal trade. She was immediately extradited to the United Kingdom for questioning on her involvement in crime against humanity. Asemota is accused of being the ring leader of an international child sex smuggling gang. She was arrested was at the popular New Benin Market by men of the National Agency against Prostitution and Trafficking In Persons and other related offences (NAPTIP), who have been working with the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK since 2011. Asemota was traced to her hideout at a fancy shop located near the New Benin Market, which she has operated as a cover for her illicit trade. Police sources said Asemota was ar-

Asemota

rested for accompanying over 40 victims of sex trafficking on eight separate flights into Heathrow Airport, London, UK, between 2011 and 2012. The woman was wanted in Britain for organising a network trafficking young women, mostly aged below 18 and a little above from remote Nigerian villages into Europe using Heathrow Airport as a transit hub. The girls were promised education or jobs such as hairdressing in such European

countries as France, Belgium and Spain but were forced into prostitution. Others were raped under oaths even as their traffickers were said to have used witchcraft to terrify them that their parents would be killed, so they would not talk to the police or attempt to escape. A European arrest warrant was issued for her from the UK, when she was thought to be in Italy. She was later discovered to have relocated to Nigeria, where the NCA working with NAPTIP and the Nigeria police traced her to Benin. NCA said: “Asemota’s arrest was the result of exceptional collaboration with our partners at home and in Nigeria. This operation demonstrates our global reach and our determination to track those wanted in the UK, no matter where in the world they are.” Asemota’s arrest may have been aided by the whistle blown by a Nigerian member of the trafficking ring, Odosa Usiobaifo, of Enfield, UK, who was jailed for 14 years by Isleworth Crown Court in 2013 for conspiring to traffic for sex exploitation. In October 2014, David Osawaru, another Nigerian, was jailed for nine years for chaperoning two women in transit to Prague, Czech Republic. He had been arrested by Border Force officers at Heathrow.

Teenager sleeps with ‘mad’ woman

Peter

Juliana Francis

etectives attached to the Oke-Odo Police Station, Ile-Epo, Abule-Egba area of Lagos State have started quizzing an 18-year-old man allegedly caught having sex with a

‘mad’ woman by the roadside. The suspect, Chimaobi Peter, said he had not yet slept with the woman before her screams alerted the people. But the woman’s family members said Peter had already slept with the woman. They also alleged that he decided to have sex with the woman for a ritual purpose. One of them said: “When he was dragged off her, she couldn’t get up for more than three to four hours. She was extremely weak. There is no doubt that he used something on her.” Although police are itching to prosecute Peter, the detectives said they needed all the evidence they could get. One

of the things to do is to take the woman, identified simply as Iya Rasheedi, to Mirabel Centre, at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), for test. The trouble, however, is that Iya Rasheedi has refused to be cajoled or coaxed into going to Mirabel Centre. Some of her relatives said investigators should give them time to get one of her five children who were all married and lived in different in areas of Lagos, to come and speak to her. “Once she sees any of them. She would follow them to the hospital,” said one of her relatives. But if the test is not carried out, Peter will go scot-free.

Peter said he was drunk on the fateful day, adding that a curse was on him. Narrating his story, the suspect said he was drunk and was walking along the street when he saw the mad woman. She was stark naked. He said he was aroused by her nudity and quickly removed his trousers. As he pounced on the woman, she started screaming and struggling. Some local vigilance men heard her screams and rushed to the scene. They rescued her from Peter. “If not for the security men, maybe I would have had sex with her, notwithstanding that she was screaming and struggling. I don’t know what came over me.”

City Briefs Man held for vandalising GSM masts Uchenna Inya Abakaliki

suspected vandal, Thomas Ali, is now telling the police how his gang has been vandalising GSM masts at Umuhuali community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Ali, 28, who was arrested at the weekend by a local vigilance group in the area led by one Chief Peter Okpo, was handed over to the policemen attached to the Central Police Station (CPS), Abakaliki, with the over 120 litres of diesel which he allegedly stole from one of the GSM masts. The suspect said he embraced stealing because his business had collapsed in Lagos State. This, he added, forced him to return home where he was introduced to the act by his friend, also a vandal. Ali confessed that he had been steal diesel used for the generators powering the masts for about two months. He said: “It is my friend who introduced me to the business. He and told me it is lucrative if I take it seriously. We have been stealing diesel until the night I was arrested.” In an interview, Okpo said he was alerted about 12:40am that hoodlums had invaded GSM masts in the area and therefore laid ambush for the thieves which paid off leading to the arrest of one of them, while others escaped. He said Ali was arrested because he did not know the terrain.

Suspected serial fraudster arrested Juliana Francis

father of five has been arrested by the police at Oke-Odo Police Station, Abule-Egba, Lagos State, for allegedly being a serial fraudster. The suspect, Yemi Akintomide, 45, was said to be looking for unsuspecting artisans, with the intension to defraud them. The police believe he had defrauded many people and are calling on likely victims to visit the Oke-Odo Police Station. But Akintomide, who said he was a professional aluminium window designer, said he was not a fraudster. According to him, what led to his arrest was an unfortunate incident. A police source said: “He used to go to artisans, tell them that a certain person or company needed him to supply their products in bulk. The suspect knows that most of these artisans don’t have receipts and invoice for their wares. He would ask them to get those items. He would offer to assistant them get them if they give him money. Once he collects the money, he would disappear.” Akintomide allegedly defrauded a cobbler who reported him to the police. The suspect reportedly told the cobbler that a factory needed hundreds of shoe soles. Akintomide said he had been asked to quickly supply the soles. He, however, told the cobbler that he needed receipt and invoice before he could buy the product. The cobbler didn’t know how to go about procuring such items. He gave Akintomide money to assist him get those items for him and the man disappeared. The cobbler found him three months later in a tailor’s shop.

12 News

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

NATIONAL

Expect more surprises in 2015, cleric tells Nigerians

igerians have been told to expect more surprises in 2015 because “God is already moving through Nigeria”. Minister in charge of Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, Restoration Parish, Akute, Senior Superintendent G. F. Akinadewo, in his Easter sermon yesterday in the church, said the victory of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not of his (Buhari) making but God's handiwork “because He has heard the cries of His people”. Akinadewo told the congregation: “The victory is beyond Buhari. It is not that Buhari is good and Goodluck Jonathan is bad.

What is happening is that the hand of God is already moving and it is moving in the right direction, which is Nigeria. God was angry with Nigeria because of the persecution of the righteous, Muslims and Christians. In 2015, God is determined to do the needful and whoever is against this will be dealt with. “2015 is the year for Nigeria and Nigerians. Numbers 23:19 is already working because God is not a man that He should lie. He promised that Nigeria will be great but because of crimes being committed by people in high places, God was angry but now, He has come to establish Nigeria globally. Nigerians should expect more surprises.

April 11: CSO wants Benue REC transferred Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

head of the April 11 governorship and houses of assembly elections across the nation, a Civil Society Organisation, Centre for Social Justice , Equity and Transparency, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) to transfer the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State to avoid spoiling the Commission's integrity. In a protest letter to the

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, by the Centre's Executive Secretary, Comrade Ola Oluwasanmi, the centre wants the Commission to remove or re-post of Professor Istifanus Dafwang, from Benue State, for alleged compromise. In the letter whose copy was made available to our reporter, Comrade Oluwasanmi accused the REC of compromising with certain political bigwigs in Benue State from the opposition camp, to rig the elections.

FOR SALE

BANANA ISLAND l5Bedroom terrace apartment on 400sqm of land at Banana Island at roofing level N220m on completion OLD IKOYI l5,567m2 on webb road (olawale Daodu road) (can take up to 44 flats on 10 floors with 88 parking spaces.) N1.6B ONIKOYI ESTATE l4nos contiguous parcel of land measuring 3151square meter at B/K plot 9,10,11&12 Onikoyi Off Banana Island Highway l2plots of land measuring 900sqm each at Onikoyi, Banana Island. VICTORIA ISLAND lA parcel of land measuring 1340sqm at water cooperation road off Ligali Ayorinde 350m l2no 5bedroom terrace houses on 2 floors at plot 5, Yesuf Abiodun way, Victoria Island, Eti Osa, Lagos OSBORNE ESTATE 1 l6 bedroom detached house with 3 bedroom guest chalet, and 2 rooms BQ on a land measuring 2300sqm at obudu close. lCorner plot detached house on 1650sqm with structural defect (to be demolished) N450M LEKKI PHASE I lBrand new 2no 6 bedroom semi detached houses +luxury penthouse suit on 600m2 on admiralty road. N230 each. lBrand new 2 no 5 bedroom semi detached houses on chief Mike Ejezie Street (block 75) N160m each. l2wings of vacant 5 bedrooms duplex +3room BQ each on 800m2 on chief Augustine Anozie N120M each. lLand measuring 1317m2 on block 139 lekki right, on white sand school road, C of O l5Bedroom semi detached house on Adebisi Popoola Cresent off standard organisation road l4No 4bedroom terrace houses beside ELF Estate nearing completion. NORTHERN FORESHORE ESTATE l4 nos. 4 bedroom semi detached houses @ – N100M each

AGUNGI l3no 3bedroom flat + BQ on a block of 8nos flats at Fatai Kofo street 30m l2no 2bedroom flat +BQ on a block of 8nos flats at Fatai Kofo street 28m PINNOCK ESTATE lA parcel of land measuring 864sqm at block H CHEVY VIEW ESTATE l4bedroom semi detached with BQ at Ibukunoluwa Awosika Road 75m BADORE AJAH l2 wing of 5 bedroom Duplex house with 2 bedroom BQ each on Fiddi Close off Badore road N60m OSAPA LONDON lBlock of 4no 3 bedroom flat on 824m2 at Chika Mba Close N58M CALTON GATE l5 bedroom detached house with BQ well finished on closes B3 and 7 NICON TOWN l5bedroom detached house, 3 sitting rooms, +BQ with guest chalet C5 N280M VICTORY PARK ESTATE l2no brand new 5bedroom semi detached house behind Femi Okunnu Estate N85M each SANGOTEDO l4 bedroom detached house for sale on Okunmopo behind WADABASH HOTEL on 600m2 price call ISHERI RIVER VIEW ESTATE lA parcel of land measuring 4.687 hectares at Riverview Estate, Isheri, beside Lonex gardens. YABA l3bedroom terrace apartment with BQ at Tajudeen Olanrewaju Estate. lA wing of 5bedroom duplex and a block of 2 nos 3 bedroom at pedro shomolu C of O asking N70M ACME ROAD lIndustrial property on land area of about 14,000sqm with large bay warehouses N2.5b

TO LET

IKOYI SOUTH-WEST lA purpose built office block on 3 floors, measuring 436.71sqm lettable space on Norman William Street for long lease 5-10yrs (corporate tenant required) N18M NICON TOWN l5 Bedroom detached house + 4 bedroom BQ on 1,100m2 -10M FARAPARK l4 bedroom patio house with BQ at Farapark Estate (newly renovated) for lease asking N3.2M VICTORIA ISLAND lWell improved 4bedroom semi detached house with BQ

on Jide Oki good for office use

lA 6 bedroom detached house, sitting on a land size of

563sqm on Saka jojo street Victoria island OSBORNE 1 ESTATE l3 bedroom luxury apartment, with BQ on the ground floor within a mini-estate + swimming pool, gym etc. - $50k OKOTA lBedroom flats (Ground floor) on Onwujuobi Street off Ago Palace Way, Okota Lagos-N600/p.a SATELLITE TOWN l4 Bedroom bungalow with 2 rooms BQ at satellite town (newly renovated) for lease asking N1.2M

IMPOTANT NOTICE Are you thinking of expanding or diversifying into agric or other business in this economy? Need good solid land? Acres and hectares of land at Epe suitable for Agric Purposes, Factories, Boarding Schools, Cooperatives Warehousing etc. near Atlantic hall sec. school. Free from family disputes or govt acquisition. Now selling for 600k p/plot. Title-clean family receipt &deed of assignment suitable for obtaining C of O

CALL: KAYODE - 0803-357-9503, BEN- 0803-571-7733, OKONYE 0803-326-2279, JACOB-0803-561-4699

Please contact

No. 10, House 1 Udi Street, Osborn Estate Phase 1, Ikoyi, Lagos TEL: 08033262279, 0818-6293210, 0803-3579503, 08126308258, 0803-5717733, E-mail: benchikaco@gmail.com, www.benchikaco.com

L-R: Chief Executive Officer, Anabel Leadership Academy, Mr. Nicholas Okoye; Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa, at launch of Youth Empowerment Strategy, Oil and Gas Sector in Abuja

ASUP commends Jonathan's show of statesmanship Yekeen Nurudeen ABUJA

he leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has described President Goodluck Jonathan's concession of defeat to General Muhammadu Buhari in the just concluded presidential election as a rare show of statesmanship which would help in driving the process for a credible and seamless transition within the African continent. ASUP's President,

Comrade Chibuzor Asomugha, who stated this in Abuja yesterday in a congratulatory message to the president-elect, noted that President Jonathan has earned himself a revered place in history for placing the nation above self and for deepening the practice of democracy in Nigeria and preserving the unity and integrity of the nation at its most critical point. "In electing General Buhari, Nigerians have given vent to their overwhelming desire for the nation to move forward toward an equitable soci-

Stakeholders want INEC to probe underage voting, prosecute offenders Appolonia Adeyemi

gainst the allegations of underage voting in the north, stakeholders working to achieve violence-free polls in the country have charged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the claims and prosecute all electoral offenders found culpable. Also, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been advised to investigate allegations of electoral offence during the last presidential elections levelled against their members and sanction erring officers. These are contained in a communiqué issued after a one-day multistakeholders’ parley on ensuring credible and violence-free state-level election in Lagos State. According to the communiqué signed by the

Programme Associate of the International Press Centre (IPC), Mr. Sanmi Falobi, based on observation that some people living with disabilities (PWD) were disenfranchised as a result of poor enforcement of priority voting during the presidential election, participants recommended that on governorship elections day scheduled for Saturday April 11, INEC should announce and implement priority voting for the aged, pregnant women and PWDs. The multi-stakeholders parley was organised by IPC, Lagos under an election and democratic governance project tagged: Strengthening Citizens’ Engagement in Electoral Processes (SCEEP) being implemented across 10 states by ACTIONAID Nigeria, funded by UKAID through The Department for International Development (DFID).

ety where the rule of law is held sacrosanct and the people are placed above the selfishness and greed of the political class. "Nigerians are hopeful that the change agenda which drove the President-Elect's campaign will be pursued with disciplined diligence that will put Nigeria on the track of wholesome greatness". He said. Asomugha noted that the smooth transition represents a significant deepening moment for the country's democracy and holds the seed of promise for a vibrant

egalitarian society where the wishes of the people is supreme. The Polytechnic union also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), under the leadership of Professor Attahiru Jega for painstakingly organizing the election which is widely acclaimed as peaceful, free, fair and transparent, despite daunting challenges. He said Nigerians also deserve the commendation of ASUP for their firm belief and confidence in democracy and the unity of the country.

NSCIA seeks better relationship with CAN Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

he Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) yesterday asked the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to use the occasion of Easter to writeoff past issues that have not allowed for effective working relationship between the two groups. Addressing newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State, on the occasion of Easter celebration by Christian faithful, NSCIA Secretary- General, Professor Is-Haq Oloyede, said the two bodies must exploit the opportunities presented by the new political era to offer a new beginning for the betterment of adherents of both faiths. While noting that Easter as a religious festival commemorating a

significant landmark in Christianity serves as a springboard for spiritual renewal, religious re-awakening and general rebirth, the NSCIA expressed the hope that "this spirit of re-awakening and rebirth would be allowed to define our national course." He said: "Let us put the past behind us as we deem the largely peaceful elections, (about which the world was apprehensive) and this period an opportunity to make a new beginning in the spirit of fasting, prayer, penance and cooperation. "As a people of faith united by our common ancestor, Prophet Ibrahim, the recent history of distrust within our faith communities and weakened efforts at inter-faith communication require urgent attention of all of us."

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Lagos guber

Lawmakers

Mimiko canvasses support for Ondo PDP assembly candidates

Change Abia with your votes, Otti urges electorate

Growing list of governor-senators

Ambode’s experience will positively impact on Lagos-ICAN

Governorship poll

Senate

Politics

APC’s victory alters Senate leadership permutations

he axiom that the only permanent thing in life is change, came to focus in Nigeria’s political space on Saturday, March 28 when the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the presidential polls which was held in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The chief returning officer of the Presidential election and Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, had after the collation of the results of the polls, declared the APC candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), the winner of the big contest. He polled a total of 15,416,221 votes to defeat his closest rival and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP who scored a total of 12,853,162 votes. For the first time in the history of elections in Nigeria since independence in 1960, a sitting President was defeated in an election. With the outcome of the presidential polls, the much touted change by the opposition party has definitely come to play in the emerging new Nigeria. For instance, there is going to be change in the party that forms the national government. Therefore, the PDP will transit power to the APC at the centre. Just as President Jonathan is going to hand over the reins of political power to Buhari on May 29, power is also expected to change hands at the National Assembly and other levels of authority, where this wind of change has affected across the country. However, at the Senate, the nature of change that will take place is at the moment shrouded

AYODELE OJO

DEPUTY Editor, POLITICS ayodele.ojo@newtelegraphonline.com

With the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 presidential election, many political arrangements in the country are set to be altered. In this report, CHUKWU DAVID looks at how the victory of the opposition party is going to affect the configuration of the next Senate leadership and the fate of the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark

National Assembly Complex, Abuja

in speculations and insinuations. The reason is that the President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator David Mark, who represents Benue South Senatorial District in the North-Central geo-political region won his election back to the Senate. Initially, the unofficial arrangement was that Mark would continue as the President of the Senate for the third time while Ike Ekweremadu would also function as his deputy in the 8th Senate. But the sudden change, through the defeat of the PDP at the polls by the opposition has suddenly affected this proposal. Therefore, whatever is said

about the configuration of the next Senate now is a matter of speculation, until elections are conducted for the new leadership.

The outcome of the March 28 elections has subjected the President of the Senate to a very precarious position

South-East and South-South out of equation Going by the zoning arrangement that has always been factored in power sharing in the country, as a means of sustaining the weak unity in the country’s dichotomous ethno-religious and cultural structure, it is expected that since the President has emerged from the North-West, the Vice President, from the South-West, and the President of the Senate transiting to the minority party, the South-East

or South-South ought to produce the next President of the Senate. But at the just concluded polls, while the South-South produced only one senator-elect from Edo North, the APC will not be represented at all in the South-East in the next dispensation, following the loss of Senator Chris Ngige (Anambra Central) to Uche Ekwunife of the PDP. Therefore, this seems to have foreclosed the chances of either of the two zones producing the next President of the Senate. Accordingly, the race is now being possibly restricted to the South-West, North-Central and North-East zones. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14

Politics

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

As it is, the fundamental and critical questions agitating the minds of Nigerians, particularly political analysts are: is the APC, which will now form the majority party still going to allow Mark to coast his way through as the next President of the Senate? If no, is Mark going to accept to be the Minority Leader in the next Senate or is he going to manifest humility to sit in the Upper Chamber for the next four years as a floor member? Or is Mark going to demonstrate a show of pride by relinquishing his membership of the 8th Senate, thereby, creating opportunity for INEC to conduct a fresh election to elect a new person to replace him in the hallowed Chamber? While it is true that the PDP lost the presidential election but by the provisions and specifications of the law, David Mark still has opportunity to contest for the office of the President of the Senate. This window is open to him because the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) does not specify that the majority party must produce the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Constitution simply says that the lawmakers shall elect from amongst themselves persons to occupy the available leadership positions in each of the two legislative Chambers. This is the strong reason why Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is still occupying the office of the Speaker, in spite of leaving the PDP, on which platform he was elected to the House and defecting to the APC last year. However, a majority party may decide not to concede a major leadership position such as the office of the President of the Senate to the opposition party because of the critical nature of the office in decision-making process, especially in a fledgling democracy like Nigeria, where partisanship and other parochial interests tend to override national interest. It will be recalled that by the results of the last National Assembly elections across the country, the PDP has become the minority party in the Senate while the APC takes over as the majority party, which is in tandem with the ‘Change’ slogan of the opposition party since it came into existence through the

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ekweremadu

Saraki

Akume, Saraki, Goje, Lawan others battle for Mark’s job unprecedented merger of three former major opposition parties in the country viz: the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). The National Assembly election results show that 60 out of the 109 Senators elected to the 8th Senate are members of the APC while 49 others are PDP members. A statistical breakdown of the seats won by the APC further indicates that the party cleared 20 out of the 21 senatorial seats in the North Western states of Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna and Katsina. The party only lost a seat in the Kaduna South. The party also won 13 out of the 18 senatorial seats in the North Eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba. It further won 13 out of the 18 senatorial seats in the North Central states of Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau. Others are 13 out of the 18 senatorial seats in the South-Western states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. It also won only one seat in the entire South-South geo-political zone, which is Edo North. The APC did not however, get a single seat in the South-East, which is a stronghold of the PDP. Meanwhile, the entire 15 senatorial seats in the South-East of Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Abambra and Imo states were cleared by the ruling PDP. Others won by the PDP are, 17 seats from SouthSouth; five from South-West; five from North-Central; three from North-East and one from NorthWest. David Mark in a precarious position There is no gainsaying that the outcome of the March 28 elections has subjected the President of the Senate to a very precarious position. While the wind of change that has blown at the nation’s political scene so far has thrown many Nigerians into frenzied ecstasy of delight

It is purely a party affair; and no party will like to concede that position to the opposition party irrespective of the sentiments being expressed by the people

and merry making, numerous others are beyond their widest imaginations, thrown into a state of mourning and confusion, without knowing the immediate course of action to follow to stabilise their already shaken future political foundation. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s number three citizen might have found himself in this pathetic situation. Mark’s case is like a tumour in the head, which if you carry out a surgical operation on it, it will rupture the brain, and if you leave it, the brain will still rot. So, he has found himself between the devil and the deep blue sea; and there is no doubt that top level horse trading and lobbying will be going on now between him and the stakeholders of the APC, on how he would successfully navigate his way out of his present political quagmire and remain politically relevant in the coming dispensation. Mark’s chances If Senator Mark wants to try his luck towards leading the Senate again, he has some windows of opportunity to clinch the position. The first is if there is no agreement in the camp of the APC to produce a consensus candidate, then, when they split their votes, Mark may take advantage of the situation to emerge. Since the APC now has 60 members, if the senators strictly go partisan in the election, it means that the APC contenders will share their 60 votes while Mark will be supported by the 49 PDP members. Beyond the partisan consideration, Mark has proven to have gathered a lot of administrative and legislative experience, which enables him to control the Senate with a lot of proficiency, leading to stability in the Red Chamber in the last eight years he served as the President of the Senate. Therefore, the tendency for him to get some votes from the APC camp to his advantage cannot be ruled out. Contrary to this line of thought however, most of the

senators who have worked with him within these eight years would have naturally been suffering from monotony to continue to have him as their presiding officer. Therefore, irrespective of party affiliation, there are likely going to be members of the PDP who would crave to have a change of the person of Mark in the leadership of the next Senate. This obviously narrows his chances of being elected again to lead the Senate. There are also other insinuations and speculations being muted by analysts about the possible course of action Mark will likely take in the near future. Some, for instance, say that he will simply resign from the Senate. Those who hold this opinion, argue that, having captained the ship of the apex chamber for eight years as its President, it would be pretty difficult for him to descend and be under another man’s control. If this kind of attitude and thinking is true of Mark, then that would be interpreted as pride and also a misconstrue of public office as a place for show of ego and manifestation of selfesteem rather than a platform providing service to the electorate, who delegated their power to public office holders. One of the reasons given by those holding this opinion, particularly as the opposition party is taking over government, is that whosoever will be enthroned as the new President of the Senate might attempt to snub Mark by ignoring him or his inputs during legislative sessions in a bid to prove to him that he is no longer in control. However, investigations by New Telegraph reveals that the APC will never throw this exalted office to chance, in such a way that the PDP might have opportunity to win the seat of the President of the 8th Senate. A reliable source in the Senate, who also has firm grip of the politicking going on within the political circle, told New Telegraph that: “Things are still unfolding; I will not make a categorical state-

Politics

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

ment on the matter now. Let’s wait until after the governorship/state assembly elections, then the situation will be clearer.” The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity eventually dashed the hope of Mark’s chances to emerge in the impending Senate Presidential contest. According to him, it is the party in power that determines who gets what in the constitution of Senate leadership. The source said: “But you know that at this level, it is purely a party affair; and no party will like to concede that position to the opposition party irrespective of the sentiments being expressed by the people. But as I said earlier, things are still unfolding and at the appropriate time I will be more categorical on it. Let us just be patient and wait.” Mark’s challengers If Mark decides to defy the threatening challenges ahead of him to contest for the coveted number three office, he has a handful of contenders from the APC to face in the race. These are senators who are rumoured to have already shown interest in taking over the plum job from him come June this year. They include Senators George Akume, Senate Minority Leader (Benue North-West); Danjuma Goje, a former Gombe State governor (Gombe Central) and Bukola Saraki, a former Kwara State governor (Kwara Central), Ahmad Lawan, a former university teacher (Yobe North), Ali Ndume, a former House of Representatives Minority Leader (Borno South). Again, it was gathered that the North-East geo-political zone is placing a demand for the zoning of the office of the President of the Senate to the region. The party cleared the three senatorial seats in Borno, Adamawa and Bauchi states while Gombe and Yobe produced two senators each; while PDP won all the three senatorial seats in Taraba State. One of the senators from the zone told New Telegraph that the North-East should be given the opportunity to produce the next President of the Senate because the region was the most marginalised in Nigeria and deserved to be compensated this time around, in the spirit of equity and justice. He said: “In the outgoing assembly, the region was denied the Senate Presidency by the PDP in 2011 when Mark was returned from the North-Central zone despite opposi-

Ndume

tion from the North-East senators.” George Akume Senator Akume joined the Senate in 2007. By his re-election, he will be serving his third term and this gives him an advantage over other senators likely going to be in the race. According to the rules of the Senate, he is one of the two most ranking Senators amongst other contenders. He joined the Chamber in 2007, after serving for eight years as Governor of Benue State. He is very vocal and obviously, never missing in action during proceedings. He showed interest in the position the first time he was elected to the Senate but was disqualified by the factor of ranking. Again, the odd that might work against his ambition this time around is the fact that the current President of the Senate also comes from the same state with him. And since Nigerian politics is still rooted in sentiments of zoning or power shift, political stakeholders in the APC might insist that the office should be shifted from Benue and located in another state, even if it is the same North Central. This consideration, therefore, dims his chances in the race. Bukola Saraki Senator Saraki is the next person being considered to take over from Mark if the APC resolves that the position must be occupied by the ruling party in the in-coming government. He came to the Senate for the first time in 2011. When he was governor, he held the position of the Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). In terms of legislative experience, he is queuing behind Akume. Although he is not as vocal as Senator Akume in the Chamber, he has been deeply involved in opposition activities that contributed adversely to the weakening of the PDP in the Senate. For instance, he featured prominently in the defection saga that rocked the Senate early last year, which deteriorated and eventually diminished the numerical strength of the ruling party in the Senate. In fact, he was the leader of the 11 Senators whose defection imbroglio shook the stability of the Senate and PDP at the time. So, this role might be counted to his favour and the leadership of the APC might see him as a potential leader, who can help advance the fortunes of the party more if he leads the Senate. Therefore, if the North-Central is being con-

Lawan

sidered, Saraki stands a greater chance of receiving the anointing of the leadership of the APC. Danjuma Goje He governed Gombe State between 2003 and 2011. He was elected to the Senate in 2011 and therefore, has to queue behind Akume when ranking becomes the determining factor in the impending race to the Senate Presidency. Goje is usually seen as a temperamental person and this may work against him because the office of the President of the Senate requires someone who can tolerate and bear with people’s shortcomings and excesses. However, if zoned to the North-East, and ranking is to be considered, his ambition will suffer a setback because of the presence of one other potential candidate (Ahmed Lawan), who is older than him in the Senate. Ahmed Lawan Senator Lawan will be serving his third term in the 8th Senate. He was first elected to the Red Chamber in 2007, after being a member of the House of Representatives for one term. He was a university lecturer before joining active politics. He is vocal and controversial most times. Also, his views usually betray him as a defender of his geoethnic interests above national interest. Now that he is moving from opposition to majority party, nobody knows whether he will maintain this position, which made him stand out in the Senate in the estimation of the Northern elements. He may be considered by the APC leadership for the office of the President of the Senate, and if he succeeds, his perception and expression on national and regional issues may change to become more nationalistic, in the spirit of the clamour for change. Ali Ndume Senator Ndume moved from the House of Representatives to the Senate in 2011. He is outspoken and tends to have mastered the art of legislation to the point that he can effectively lead the Senate. However, there is nothing that suggests that the leadership of the APC will tip him for the Number three office. However, as the transition date draws close, some of these issues will become clearer and Nigerians will be better informed on what the composition of the leadership of the 8th Senate will look like.

Senatorial election Results

Senatorial District

Abia North Abia Central Abia South Adamawa North Adamawa South Adamawa Central Akwa Ibom North East Akwa Ibom North West Akwa Ibom South Anambra North Anambra South Anambra Central Bauchi Central Bauchi South Bauchi North Bayelsa East Bayelsa Central Bayelsa West Benue North East Benue North West Benue South Borno North Borno Central Borno South Cross River North Cross River South Cross River Central Delta Central Delta South Delta North Ebonyi North Ebonyi South Ebonyi Central Edo Central Edo North Edo South Ekiti North Ekiti Central Ekiti South Enugu East Enugu West Enugu North FCT Senate Gombe Central Gombe North Gombe South Imo East Imo West Imo North Jigawa North West Jigawa South West Jigawa North East Kaduna North Kaduna Central Kaduna South Kano North Kano Central Kano South Katsina North Katsina South Katsina Central Kebbi North Kebbi Central Kebbi South Kogi West Kogi Central Kogi East Kwara North Kwara Central Kwara South Lagos Central Lagos East Lagos West Nasarawa North Nasarawa West Nasarawa South Niger South Niger North Niger East Ogun Central Ogun East Ogun West Ondo North Ondo Central Ondo South Osun Central Osun East Osun West Oyo Central Oyo North Oyo South Plateau South Plateau Central Plateau North Rivers East Rivers South East Rivers West Sokoto East Sokoto North Sokoto South Taraba South Taraba Central Taraba North Yobe East Yobe North Yobe South Zamfara Central Zamfara North Zamfara West TOTAL

Candidate

Party

Theodore A Orji Enyinnaya Abaribe Binta Garba Ahmadu Abubakar Abdulaziz Nyako Bassey Akpan Godswill Akpabio Nelson Effiong Stella Oduah Andy Uba Uche Ekwunife Isah Misau Malam Wakili Suleiman Nazif Murray- Bruce Ben Emanuel Paulker Ogola Foster Barnabas Gemade Akume George David Mark Abubakar Kyari Ahmad Zannah Ali Ndume Rose Oko Gershom Bassey John Enoh Ighoyota Amori James Manager Peter Nwaboshi Samuel Egwu Sunday Oji Ogba Obinna Clifford A. Ordia Francis Alimikhena Mathew Urhoghide Duro Faseyi Fatimat Raji-Rasaki Biodun Olujimi Gilbert Nnaji Ike Ekweremadu Utazi Chukwuka Philip Aduola Goje Danjuma Bayero Nafada Joshua Moltobok Samuel Anyanwu Uzodinma Goodhope Achonu Nneji Danladi Sankara Abdulmumini Hassan Adamu Ahmed Suleiman Hunkuyi Shehu Sani Danjuma La'ah Bello Gwarzo Rabiu Kwankwaso Kabiru Gaya Yau Umar Gojo Gojo Abu Ibrahim Lamis Shehu Dikko Yahaya Abdullahi Adamu Aliero Bala Ibn Na'allah Dino Melaye Mohammed Ohiare Abdulrahman Abubakar Shaába Lafiagi Bukola Saraki Rafiu Ibrahim Oluremi Tinubu Olugbenga Ashafa Olamilekan Adeola Philip Gyunka Abdullahi Adamu Salihu Egye Mohammed Garba Aliyu Abdullahi David Umaru Olanrewaju Tejuoso Buruji Kashamu Joseph Dada Robert Boroffice Tayo Alasoadura Yele Omogunwa Olusola Adeyeye Babajide Omoworare Isiaka Adeleke Monsurat Sunmonu Buhari Abdulfatai Rilwan Adesoji Jeremiah Useni Joshua Dariye Jonah Jang George Sekibo Olaka Nwogu Osinakachukwu Ideozu Ibrahim Gobir Aliyu Wamakko Ibrahim Abdullahi Emmanuel Bwacha Marafa Abba Abubakar Danladi Bukar Baba Ibrahim Ahmad Lawan Mohammed Hasan Kabir Marafa Tijjani Kaura Ahmed Sani PDP = 48 APC = 60

PDP PDP APC APC APC PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP APC APC APC PDP PDP PDP APC APC PDP APC APC APC PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP APC PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP APC APC PDP PDP PDP PDP APC APC APC APC APC PDP APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC APC PDP APC APC APC APC APC APC PDP APC APC APC PDP APC APC APC APC APC APC PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP PDP APC APC APC PDP PDP PDP APC APC PDP APC APC APC

16 Politics Temitope Ogunbanke

overnorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has been hailed for his extraordinary leadership qualities and uncanny professionalism. According to the Ikeja District of the Institute of

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Ambode’s experience will positively impact on Lagos-ICAN Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (IDSICAN), the qualities of the APC candidate have situated him in a pole position to

SDP won’t form alliance for Ogun guber race – Odunsi Kunle Olayeni Abeokuta

head of Saturday’s governorship election in Ogun State, members of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and loyalists of former governor Olusegun Osoba, yesterday ruled out any form of merger or alliance with any political party for the election. They also insisted that the outcome of the recent presidential and National Assembly elections would not have adverse effects on the chances of SDP during the coming gubernatorial election. Candidates of the SDP, who contested for Senate and House of Representatives seats, had on March 28 lost out to their counterparts in either the All Progressives Congress (APC) or Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), prompting apprehension that the SDP may not go far in the governorship election. But addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, the SDP governorship candidate, Senator Akin Odunsi, described as “malicious, unfounded and baseless” reports that his party had formed alliance with another party for the purpose of winning the governorship. Odunsi, who was flanked by the state Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, and SDP state chairman, Chief Olu Agemo, also said the party was still consulting on whether or not to challenge the results of the March 28 election at the tribunal. He said, “Specifically

on April 3, a radio station based in Abeokuta went on air with a news item purporting that our party has merged or formed alliance with another political party. “I state categorically and emphatically that our party has neither the intention nor plan to merge with any political party. So, there is no iota of truth in the damaging radio news item which we in SDP describe as malicious, unfounded, baseless and a wild imagination which could only have existed in the authors’ mind.” Odunsi, who said the merger report was politically-motivated by spin doctors, vowed to contest the governorship on the SDP platform. He said, “The entire country has been very critical of the current administration in Nigeria. Therefore, the last presidential election was choice between continuing the way we were or having a change. “I want to say that the election that took place was more of a referendum by Nigerians as to whether the choice was to continue the way we are or to have a change. And I think the overwhelming reaction of Nigerians was in support of a change. That does not translate to the feelings of the people with regards to our state. “We are being approached by several interest groups, political groups, but we as a party have decided that we would not form any alliance, we would not drop our party name. We welcome all those who are willing to work with us.

steer the ship of Lagos into further excellence. Ambode was the focal point of an academic research lecture organised by the institute in Lagos, titled “The Effects of Leadership Quality On Public Expenditure Management: Evidence From Lagos State Treasury Under Akinwunmi Ambode As Accountant General”. The research was performed to decipher the skill-sets with which the former accountantgeneral succeeded at shouldering the financial responsibility of the nation’s largest economy for

a period of six years. According to Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago, who presented the research paper at the forum, Ambode proved to be a exemplary leader who has mastered the art of exercising the principles of leadership along the lines of accountability, transparency and prudence. “This study aims to explore the potentials of quality leadership on Public Expenditure Management (PEM) towards a better life for the citizenry. It specifically examines the effects of leadership quality on PEM performance,

Umuahia

he governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, has reminded residents of the state to be mindful of changing the leadership of the state ahead of the April 11 election as they celebrate the Easter season.

Otti urged the people of the state to use the occasion of the Easter celebration to show love to one another but be ready to vote wisely next Saturday. In a statement made available to newsmen in Umuahia, Otti further admonished the people to demonstrate greater love to the state by voting for him at the April 11 polls in order to bring about the

that this study makes us see in Akinwunmi Ambode, it has proven beyond doubt that accountants make the best leaders in the world. Lagos is blessed to have him,” Ajaegbu said. On his part, the president, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Aderemi Ismaila Bello, also shared in Ambode’s optimism in the great advantage posed by an APC federal presence, but then stressed that Lagosians must vote for the Ambode and the APC candidates to make that vision achievable.

L-R: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce (LCCI), Alhaji Aderemi Bello; President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr. Chidi Ajaegbuy and the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at a lecture in honour of Ambode in Lagos …at the weekend

Mimiko canvasses support for Ondo PDP assembly candidates Wale Elegbede

ndo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has urged the people of the state to vote enmasse for the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming

House of Assembly election to ensure promotion of peace and effective governance of the state. Speaking ahead of the election scheduled for Saturday across the state, the governor said people should demonstrate their desire to maintain and further promote the

Change Abia with your votes, Otti urges electorate Igbeaku Orji

using the 6-year tenure of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as the Accountant General (AG) of Lagos State as the focal point”. “In the comity of states in the Nigerian federation, Lagos State has distinguished herself as a state with distinct PEM credentials in the six-year leadership of Akinwunmi Ambode as AG”. In his speech, the ICAN President, Mr. Chidi Onyeukwu Ajaegbu, commended Ambode and the results presented by the study. “With 19 qualities of leadership and 16 signs of professionalism acumen

desired transformation in the state. The APGA governorship candidate described himself as a change agent. He added that a vote for him meant securing the future for the present and future generations of Abia state. According to him, ‘’In the spirit of Easter season, I call on all Abians to show love to our beloved state by voting for me and

all the APGA candidates on April 11. He said that the party’s victory at the polls would herald true redemption for the state, saying, “Our victory is your victory.’ The former Diamond Bank boss also urged the people not to allow a repeat of what happened in the March 28 election in which the party was robbed of victory across the state.

peace and growth in the state by voting for the PDP candidates jostling for seats in the state’s legislative chamber. The governor who gave the charge yesterday in Akure, the state capital, said voting for the candidates of the party would guarantee continuity of peace and prospect of the state. Mimiko debunked reports that some members of his executive had shifted their allegiance from the PDP, saying that the defection of the deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi to the All Progressives Congress (APC) had not affected the allegiance of his commissioners. He said the government is resolved to do more for the state not only to sustain and consolidate on its laudable

INDEP ELECT ENDENT NAT ORAL C IO OMMIS NAL SION

achievements, but to also register more firsts in the different sectors of governance. Mimiko thanked the people for their support, noting that if the PDP has majority in the State Assembly, it would promote mutual cooperation and sound synergy between the legislative and executive arms of government with a view to ensuring continuity of life changing programmes of his administration and peaceful society.

Politics 17

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Akpabio

Jang

Kwankwaso

Wamakko

Danladi

Goje

Egwu

Akume

Despite the defeat of some serving governors in the March 28 senatorial election, the number of former state chief executives will be growing in the 8th Assembly. CHUKWU DAVID reports

n the party primaries that preceded the 2015 general elections, 10 serving governors actually picked the tickets of their various political parties to contest for the Senate. But after the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections, which took place in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, only six of them were successful. Four of them crashed out. The successful governors are: Theodore Orji of Abia State; Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Jonah Jang of Plateau State; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State and Abubakar Danladi, who is the Acting Governor of Taraba State. The losers are: Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi State; Gabriel Suswam of Benue State, Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State. Coincidentally, it is interesting to note that the four losers are all members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Governor Suswam lost Benue

Growing list of governor-senators North East senatorial election to incumbent Senator Barnabas Gemade. Gemade was a member of the PDP, but when Suswam insisted on dislodging him from the Senate, he decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and defeated the governor at the poll. Gemade polled 140, 715 votes to beat Suswan, who scored 118, 603 votes. It is believed that most of those that were defeated lost to the current sustained clamour for change in some of the states while those that scaled through were either assisted by the power of incumbency or the same factor of change going for them as a result of their impressive performance in governance in the last eight years. One of the factors responsible for the embarrassing crash of Suswam is the negative public opinion which his administration has attracted from the people of Benue. He is widely accused of running an anti-people government. Civil servants in the state, for instance, Suswam as an insensitive leader, who does not care for the welfare of the citizenry. The major grouse of the civil

The increased number of ex-governors in the Senate is definitely going to reshape the way the Upper Chamber conducts its business

servants against the governor is the non-payment of their salaries for upward of six months. Suswam is also said to be owing pensioners; a situation that subjected the people to untold suffering. Therefore, when he sought their support at the senatorial election, the aggrieved workers saw it as an opportunity to take their pound of flesh. In addition to non-performance in office, Suswam is further accused of arrogance and disrespect for elders in Benue State. The rude manner with which he allegedly forced out the former governor of the state and his godfather, Senator George Akume from the PDP, and his recent encounter with Gemade, which compelled the elder statesman to leave the ruling party, which he was its former national chairman, must have provoked the electorate to pay the governor in his own coin at the right time. In Kebbi State, Governor Saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;idu Dakingari, who also lost his Senate bid, was defeated by the candidate of the APC candidate, Bello Argungu, who scored 139,197 votes while Dakingari got 70,148 votes. However, his failure to win the

Senate seat cannot really be attributed to bad governance. Instead, he appears to have fallen a victim of the orchestrated movement by the North to use the broom of the APC to sweep out every trace of the PDP from the region. It can be observed that the four governors who were humiliated at the polls are all members of the ruling party as well as from the northern zone of the country. Also, amongst the six serving governors who succeeded in their ambition to continue with their political career in the 8th Senate, only Kwankwaso and Wamakko are of the opposition party. The other four are members of the PDP, which by the unprecedented turn of events during the last Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s polls will be the minority party in the Senate in the next political dispensation. Jang and Danladi were perhaps able to succeed because the whirlwind of the APC has not got stronghold in their states. However, the fate of the two states appears to be hanging in the balance when the opposition forms the next government because there is CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Opinion The supremacy of grace Dominik Umosen

opefully, the superior example of outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan readily and most graciously conceding defeat, instead of fretting and threatening to render the country ungovernable, will provide the template for future leaders. In his vintage humility, the zoologist from Otuoke ignored the temptation to borrow from the antics of his traducers, including the menacing multitude of Judases who exploited his political naivety to firm up the conspiracy that made his electoral rout swift and comprehensive. Yes, the opposition has every reason to roll out the drums in celebration of their hard-won ‘electoral victory’ which, documents allege, could not have been possible without the sympathy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) whose leadership simply ignored evidence of fraud in the North-West. But that is not the point. Our concern is that the unprecedented statesmanship of conceding defeat readily, rather than ape billy goat that must necessarily huff, puff and fret, even for the fun of it, the beauty in this superior example pre-empted the possibility of anything ugly likeGen. Muhammadu Buhari’s unfortunate statement in 2011 which sparked riots and led to the killing of innocent citizens by miscreants; social dregs whom the same president rehabilitated via the almajiri education initiative which Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, most regrettably, wrote off as useless. Beyond the momentary disappointment of reflecting on the unmitigated disaster of investing confidence in rabble-rousing turn-coats and po-

litical barracudas who pretended to defend their principal while conspiring to restore the political supremacy of the north, folks will certainly remember, with nostalgia, this commendable example by President Jonathan which makes Gen Buhari look like a most awkward alternative. Especially in the north, ample evidence of treachery as a legitimate political weapon abound. In the long-running plot to retrieve power, virtually all those the president considered allies betrayed him, including party chairman, Adamu Muazu; Defence Minister, Gen Aliyu Gusau; National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau. Non justified his exagerated political clout. Chairman of the Presidential Campaign Organisation in the North-West and governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido and his equivalent in the South-West and governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko allegedly collaborated in the robust conspiracy to restore the presidency to the north, among other political loud mouths who exploited Dr Jonathan’s political naivety to create more enemies, thus weakening his position. For the sake of President Jonathan’s superior love for his country, one can discountenance the argument that his concession of defeat was hasty and capable of ruining the PDP’s chances in the remaining elections. This view was prominent in the Oshodi\Isolo area of Lagos where the unprecedented electoral victory of non-indigenes (three Igbos) in the national assembly elections was recorded. Blundering into elections with a multitude of enemies and cauldrons of seething rage as the behemoth without a soul (PDP), did only compound the charge of naivety or unrealistic optimism. But because this naivety was ordained, Gen Buhari se-

cured the collateral benefit of breaking Gen Olusegun Obasdanjo’s often intoxicating record as the only former military ruler to return as civilian president. Corollary to the substantive issue of naivety, in retrospect, historians shall review and include widespread disaffection from imposition of candidates during PDP governorship primaries as factor in the party’s humiliation in Benue and Akwa Ibom, among others. But as President Barack Obama of America noted, superior love for his country, rather than uncompromising partisanship, persuaded President Jonathan to demonstrate the example which elevates him far above his contemparies. The raging argument about what role, if any, Gov Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State played in the political deconstruction of Dr Jonathan, including the zone’s automatic forfeiture of its unutilized four years to hold the presidency, has been eclipsed by the global acclamation which the president’s exemplary conduct has won for the country. After the euphoria of victory, time will come for realistic assessment of the Nigerian political situation, especially the unresolved political tyranny of the North-West, under which massive electoral fraud like minors and multiple voting, were perpetrated with the connivance of INEC. Nigeria has a date with a ghost from its past- restructuring- which Buhari must confront as his first real challenge in office. Hiding under fiat to trample upon the wish of Nigerians is no longer fashionable as he will soon discover. The enduring legacy that President Jonathan has given the country is that of conceding defeat gracefully. This is the anchor of his unprecedented example as leader. This rare parting gift will keep Nigerians busy until the roving ghost comes knocking to drown the futility of inter-zonal alliance to destroy this provocative political status quo.

Promoting unity through Sports Fred Nwaozor

port can be defined as any form of usually competitive activity that requires physical effort and skill, which through casual or organized participation, tends to maintain or improve the said ability and skill; and also provides entertainment for the participants as well as the spectators. Indeed, sport has been confirmed as the only common language spoken by entirety irrespective of age, background, race, status, or social affiliation, due to its universality, entertaining nature and unique economic value. This is why it is being referred to by most people as one of the backbones of the socio-economic state of any nation. Generally, there are thousands of sporting activities in existence, from the one requiring only two participations, to those with hundreds of simultaneous participants, either as a team or competing as individuals. Sport is basically recognized as an activity that is based on physical athleticism or physical dexterity. However, a number of competitive but nonphysical activities claim recognition as mind sports. Sports are usually governed by a set of rules or customs, which serve to ensure fair competition and allow consistent adjudication of the winner. Winning or victory can be determined

by physical events such as scoring goals or crossing a line first; it can also be determined by judges who are scoring elements of the sporting performance using either objective or subjective measures including technical performance or artistic impression. In organized sport, records of performance are often kept; but for popular sports, the information might be widely announced or reported in sport news. Suffice to say; sport is also a major source of entertainment for non-participants. Thus sport which often draws overwhelming crowd at its venue, also reaches wider audiences via broadcasting. In recent years, there has been an increase in the application of the term ‘Sport’ to a wider set of non-physical challenging activities to include electronic games owing to the large scale of participation and organized competition witnessed in the sector. But the truth of the matter remains that this set of sports are not widely recognized by mainstream sport organizations. Against this backdrop, there are opposing views on the necessity of competition as a defining element of a sport, with almost all professional sports involving competition and governing bodies requiring competition as a prerequisite for the recognition of any sporting activity by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) or SportAccord. Other bodies advocate widening the definition of sport to include all physical activities. For instance, the Council of Europe recog-

nizes all forms of physical exercise or calisthenics including those done just for fun, as sports. Considering the overall impact of sport in both individual and national development, there is no gain reiterating that sports have contributed immensely in the uplift of the socioeconomic state of most individuals, communities or nations across the globe through various avenues such as rejuvenation of physical fitness, human capital growth, provision of entertainment, and most importantly promotion of unity, just to mention but a few. It is noteworthy that, the physical fitness and thorough entertainment derived from, either participation in or observation of, sporting activities have continually helped tremendously in sustaining as well as uplifting the healthy living status of the individual in question thereby helping to intensify the number of available manpower in the affected country. Also, the recent total commercialization of sports has enabled the activity to be universally recognized as a lucrative profession. No doubt, most human capital developments witnessed among several youths or young ones are mainly attributed to sports or the entertainment industry at large. Taking the Nigerian football league as a case study; on the average, a player on a monthly basis smiles to the bank with not less than half a million naira (N500,000). In addition, sports have succeeded

in booming the global broadcasting industry due to its lucrative nature, which has made many potential investors to venture into broadcasting. It is worthy to note that most media firms, regarding both the print and electronic, were established for the sole purpose of transmitting or publishing sporting activities having acknowledged by the prospective investors, the financial implication of such investment. Among all, the level of unity that is being derived from sports cannot be overemphasized. Several sport participants or organizers can attest to the fact that, sport has been the major engine room behind international unity among most countries. Survey shows that presently sport remains the only tool that truly unites the gathering or meeting involving millions of individuals from diverse backgrounds, races, or affiliations. Surely, it is only a dummy that is yet to know that it is only absolute unity that guarantees thorough peace and development among any group of persons, which is one of the paramount desires of any society. Today Monday April 6, the world over is commemorating the 2015 International Day of Sport. On 23rd August 2013, the Sixty-Seventh (67th) session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly decided to proclaim April 6 of every year as the Int’l Day of Sport for Development and Peace. • Nwaozor ( frednwaozor@gmail.com), is aPublic Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist (+2348028608056)

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

EDITORIAL

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

A media partner of

Sanctity of Truth

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

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

Nigeria’s most authoritative newspaper in politics and business

Redeveloping our reading culture

t is often said thatif you want to keep information from a Nigerian, hide it inside a book. It sounds crude and unreal but the reality of today’s Nigeria seems to give credit to the statement. One of the challengesof modern day Nigeria is the evolvement of technology. But the adoption of technology has done greater damage to the psyche of Nigerians, particularly the youth. Many youths have been entrapped by the allure of the Internet and smart phones to the detriment of reading. This has also affected their ability to write. The culture of letter writing is dead in Nigeria. In the days of yore, secondary schools made it compulsory for students to read a minimum of three books, among them novels. Each student would also be made to summarise what heor she had read. This was one of the ways teachers in those days exposed their students to wider knowledge beyond the classroom teaching. Ability to read, therefore, is ingrained in the youth from early stage. It is often said that what you read determines your outlook. Reading enhances individual’s intellectual and socio-economic development and elevates his spirit. It helps to correct morals and individual’s ineptitude.

Many youths have been entrapped by the allure of the Internet and smart phones to the detriment of reading Reading is essential to a nation’s overall development. No country has ever grown without developing the intellects of its citizens. But many things have always stood on the way of developing the intellect of Nigerian citizens. Many corporate organisations are busy promoting mundane things among students, especially on the campuses of the nation’s citadels of learning. Many corporate organisations sponsor shows of different hues. They organise fashion shows, dance competitions, beautiful pageants, etc on the campuses. Winners of these competitions win mouth-watering prizes, including cars, millions of naira and at times other allowances. But these multinationals do not have a thought for sponsoring academic competitions.For academic, sometimes the most

the best student in a particular field wins may not be more than N50,000. Most chairs endowed inthe universities offer prizes as ridiculously low as N10,000. Government policies arealso not encouraging the development of reading ability. For instance, the Federal Government has just introduced a tariff of over 50 per cent on imported books. The breakdown of the policy is import duty: 20 per cent; Surcharge: 7 per cent; Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS):0.5 per cent; Levy: 30 per cent and VAT: 5 per cent. In the thinking of the government, the policy will encourage local production of books.But the thinking, in the least, is an absurd. It is estimated that over 90 per cent of books being read in the country are imported. It is yet to be seen how the publishing firms in the country will be able to fill this gap. Outside that, the policy is also a negation of the United Nations’ 1954 Florence Agreement, which states that there should be free flow of educational, scientific, and cultural materials into member nations.It also states that member nations must allow for free flow and exchange of knowledge and ideas for the development of mankind. The agreement was further corroborated by the Nairobi pro-

tocol of 1976. Unfortunately, Nigeria is a signatory to both agreements. But it is not too late to refocus attention on efforts to encourage reading culture. It, however, requires collective efforts of the three tiers of government, corporate organisations and all other stakeholders. The government needs to encourage the establishment of libraries in every school, including public and private, from primary school upwards. The existing libraries should also be equipped with modern books. There is also need for the development of e-libraries while those in the tertiary institutions, in particular, should of necessity be linked with their counterparts in Europe and America. Teachers should also encourage excursions to libraries. Corporate organisations also need to redirect their focus on sponsorship of academic programmes. Winners must also be adequately rewarded. These are some of efforts to redevelop reading culture in Nigeria. This is necessary for the socio-economic and political development of the country. After all, it is anenlightened citizenry that can readily be mobilised for the attainment of political, social and economic goals of Nigeria.

DAILY TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY LIMITED Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief

Eric Osagie

Editor n Yemi Ajayi

Managing Editor n Suleiman Uba Gaya

Editor, Saturday n Laurence Ani

Editor, Sunday n Emeka Madunagu

Deputy Editor n Emeka Obasi

Deputy Editor n Ayodele Ojo Bureau Chief, Brussels n Leo Cendrowicz

Bureau Chief, Washington DC n Marshall Comins

Editorial Coordinator, Europe n Sam Amsterdam

Ag. Bureau Chief, Abuja n Onwuka Nzeshi

News Editor n Geoffrey Ekenna

Business Development Manager n Taiwo Ahmed

Sales/Circulation Manager n Oyebanji Abiodun

Head, Graphics n Timothy Akinleye

Head, Admin. n Robinson Ezeh

Politics

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

17 ex-governors make 8th Senate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

the tendency for the party to use its incumbency advantage to take over the remaining states in the North. Now, these governors who have won senatorial seats will be coming to meet their counterparts in the Senate by June. Already, the likes of Senators Abdullahi Adamu, Bukola Saraki, Shaaba Lafiagi, Kabiru Gaya, Ahmad Sani, George Akume, Joshua Dariye, Danjuma

Goje, Maina Ma’aji Lawan and Bukar Abba Ibrahim are former governors in the Senate, who are lucky to be re-elected. Former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu also succeeded in winning his election to represent Ebonyi South in the Senate. Consequently, these additional ex-governors join their colleagues in the Senate, their number gets significantly swollen to the point that they can become a force to reckon

with in the Red Chamber. It is possible that they may form a caucus of exgovernors in the Senate and use it as a pressure group to their advantage. They may also decide to use their position to direct course of events in the Chamber. For instance, they can decide to hold the Senate to ransom in making certain decisions that either affect them directly or the interest of their constituents. Therefore, the increased number of ex-

governors in the Senate is definitely going to reshape the way the Upper Chamber conducts its business. The presence of these former state chief executives might introduce positive or negative developments or both in the 8th Senate, which will be inaugurated on June 6, 2015. As at present, by the existing tradition and rules of the Senate, any person who is elected to the Chamber for the first time will not be entitled to certain privileges en-

joyed by the old members who were re-elected. Accordingly, the Senate has classified its members into ‘ranking and nonranking’ members. The ranking members are those who are serving their second term and above in the Red Chamber. The first timers, by this tradition, are virtually seen and treated as “junior senators” in some respects. This discriminatory treatment, however, sometimes breed acrimony and division between

the old and the new senators. For instance, a nonranking Senator cannot be appointed as a Committee Chairman, neither can he or she be elected as a presiding officer such as the President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Minority Whip and so on. The implication of this is that, when you are elected to the Senate for the first time, you are essentially going to sit down and learn the art of legislation for four years, without necessarily being entrusted with any serious legislative responsibility. This is irrespective of whatever high public positions you may have held in the country in the past. But there is a likelihood that these former governors might agitate for a change of some traditions that are not favourable to them as new members of the Senate. They may, for instance, argue that since they have served in their respective states as governors, they should not be treated as people without experience in terms of assigning responsibilities to them. It will not be out of place to imagine that they may gang up and raise an agitation that some of their colleagues (former governors) be elected as principal officers or appointed as chairmen of some of the standing committees in the Senate. Looking at their number, if they determine to fight for a course in the Chamber, it seems that the leadership of the Senate may not ignore them because they can influence a lot of things. On the other hand, the ex-governors in the Upper Chamber might also elect to play the role of elder statesmen, whose opinions and conducts can help to enrich and deepen democracy. If they choose to work on the positive side, they can act as agents of stabilisation in the Senate. In the past eight years, the Senate has evolved into a relatively stable, peaceful Chamber. The reason for this is because the Chamber is dominated by people who have acquired experience in various fields of human endeavour before joining the institution of lawmaking. In this regard therefore, the coming of the former governors might be a blessing to the Senate, democracy and Nigerians in general.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Insurance

Credit to corporate sector increased in Q1 2015 – CBN

Stock Watch

Unilever Nigeria: Competition stifles profits

Money Line

Nigeria best for insurers’ growth, says Pwc

Interview

Specialised knowledge required to tackle fraud, corruption –Mayungbe

42-43

Business What's news

Customs import N3bn vessels from Turkey to tackle smuggling Two sea going vessels have been imported from Turkey by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its Western Marine command to boost anti-smuggling operations in the nations waters, especially the Western and Eastern parts of the country.

p.22

Animal plague eradication from Nigeria, others to cost N1.54trn There are plans to wipe out the devastating animal disease known as ‘Peste des Petits Ruminants’ (PPR) by 2030 at the cost of $7 billion (about N1.54 trillion)

p.22

The Business Desk Ayodele Aminu

Deputy Editor (Business)

Bayo Akomolafe

Asst. Editor (Maritime)

Sunday Ojeme

Asst. Editor (Insurance)

Tony Chukwunyem

L-R: Managing Director, WAPCO Operations, Mrs. Adepeju Adebayo; Managing Director/CEO, Ashaka Cement Plc, Mr. Leonard Palka and Director, Human Resources and Organisation, Lafarge Africa Plc, Mrs. Fidelia Osime, during the Businessday Nigeria’s Top CEO award in Lagos. PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Nigeria loses $800m annually to gas flaring

igeria’s revenue dips by at least $800 million annually due to continuous gas flaring in the country. This, according to a report

by First Bank Nigeria Capital (FBN Capital), was disclosed by The Great Britain in a new report. The development came as the Federal Government deployed a new satellite gadget to track gas flaring by the international oil companies (IOCs). “The Britain reckons that some $800 million worth of Nigeria’s gas a year goes up in smoke,” FBN Capital said. This gas, the report continues, could help solve the power inefficiency, which is holding back Nigeria’s economy across board. “Because the industry has failed to build the infrastructure to pipe gas to domestic con-

INFLATION RATE February 2015.........................8.4% January 2015...........................8.2% December 2014.........................8%

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

TECHNOLOGY FG deploys US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration satellite gadget to track gas flaring

Asst. Editor (Money Market)

Dele Alao

Industry & Agric Editor

Dayo Ayeyemi

Adeola Yusuf

Property Editor Energy Editor

Wole Shadare Aviation Editor

Chris Ugwu

Capital Market Editor

Abdulwahab Isa Finance Editor

Kunle Azeez

Senior Correspondent

Chuks Onuanyin Energy

Nnamdi Amadi Reporter

Johnson Adebayo

Asst Production Editor

sumers such as power plants, much of it is simply flared and burned,” the report said. A source at the Presidency had earlier told New Telegraph that the Ministry of Environment had already briefed President Goodluck Jonathan on the modalities to ensure that $2 billion (N360 billion) fines are slammed on erring oil compa-

N360bn Being fines that were expected to be imposed on oil firms for gas flaring

nies over gas flaring in Nigeria’s oil rich region between January 2012 and January 2014. These fines are paid without short-changing government and the companies. Minister of Environment, Laurentia Laraba Mallam, who led the ministry officials and consultants to the meeting, the source said, told President Goodluck Jonathan that the ministry had commenced the use of a satellite tracking system to get accurate volume of gas flared by these companies during the time under review. “This effort is to bring in over N360 billion ($2.2 billion) in two CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Rates Dashboard EXCHANGE RATE (BDC as at Apr. 3)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N210 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N318 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N230

l Foreign Reserves – $29.778bn as at 1/04/2015

Source: CBN

EXCHANGE RATE (Interbank as at Apr. 3)

USD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N199 Pounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N300 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N220

Business | News

WEAK Obsolete watercrafts prevent officers from fighting crime in the creeks Bayo Akomolafe

wo sea going vessels have been imported from Turkey by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its Western Marine command to boost anti-smuggling operations in the na-

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Customs import N3bn vessels from Turkey to tackle smuggling tions waters, especially the Western and Eastern parts of the country. The vessels, worth N3 billion, arrived the country last week. In 2012, the Federal Executive Council approved N3 billion for the service to enable it purchase two gun boats. The vessels, christened

‘Customs Pride’ and ‘Group of Nine’, berthed at the Port and Terminal Multi-services Limited (PTML)’s terminal, Apapa. The Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Yusuf Umar, who disclosed this, described the acquisition of the vessels as a landmark achieve-

ment. He noted that the vessels were the first to be acquired by the service. The Comptroller said that the vessels would boost the command’s war on smuggling activities on waters. He explained: “Mere seeing the vessel on water will send signals to smugglers, including

those stealing our oil and other smuggling activities on waters because we can pursue them with this kind of vessels to any length.” Umar said that an elaborate ceremony to commission the vessels was being planned by management. “We are awaiting fur-

L-R: Head, Brands, Sterling Bank Plc, Mrs. Peju Ibekwe; Head Education Unit, Sterling Bank Plc, Miss. Adeola Alli; Executive Director, Caleb Group of Schools, Dr. Dolapo Ogunbanwo, and Mrs. Folasade Abiola of Financial Institution Training Centre, at the Parenting Workshop organised by Caleb Group of Schools in collaboration with Sterling Bank Plc.

Nigeria loses $800m annually to gas flaring CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

years in fines on the air pollution,” he said. The fines are to be slammed on the international oil companies (IOCs) and their local counterparts who flare gas illegally through operations between the periods under review. “A new satellite gas tracker, which was procured from the Unites States (US) has been deployed and the ministry has assured that this online gadget will ensure accurate measurement of volume of gas flared by these companies,” the source said. The new gas flare tracker is an online map showing data from a US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration satellite that will observe natural gas fires when orbiting over Nigeria. The measurements it records will feed into estimates of how much gas is burned, its carbon

dioxide content and its potential value. “It has the ability to calculate the amount of unpaid fines owed by facility owners estimated at $1.1 billion per year,” Mallam was quoted byBloomberg to have said at an event unveiling the system in Abuja. While it was outlawed in 1984, the burning of gas that occurs in oil deposits “is still a major cause of human and environmental issues across the country,” she said. If harnessed, the minister said, the flared gas could meet 40 per cent of energy needs in Nigeria. Africa’s biggest oil producer struggles to generate enough electricity to keep the lights on for over two or three hours a day in some parts of the country. The tracking system will paint a “stark picture of the extent of gas flaring in this country,” Britain’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, said at the event.

ther directives from the headquarters on when the Comptroller-General will commission the vessels. This is a landmark achievement by the Service,” he said. Built in Turkey, the vessels are equipped with communication gadgets such as high radar to enable it pick distant signals. Before the purchase of the two vessels, Customs had complained that its patrol boats were too weak and obsolete to fight smugglers on the creeks waterways. The service noted that most of the watercrafts were debarring officers from going deep into the waters to curtail smuggling. It said: “When you talk of the waterways, this is a specialised area, you need marine boats and seafaring vessels in order to be able to tackle the waterways. The service has realised that all our marine boats and vessels are all obsolete; we decided to make case for the supply of new and modern ones. “But you know these things are capital intensive, they have to go to the Federal Executive Council, but this management has succeeded in getting approval of the Federal Government to purchase new boats and vessels.

Animal plague eradication from Nigeria, others to cost N1.54trn PROJECT The campaign will make PPR the second animal disease to be eradicated

Dele Alao

here are plans to wipe out the devastating animal disease known as ‘Peste des Petits Ruminants’ (PPR) by 2030 at the cost of $7 billion (about N1.54 trillion) The disease, a lethal plague for domestic animals like goats and sheep, is the scourge of rural households in vast swathes of the developing world, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and New Zealand, among others. Ministerial delegations, along with over 300 participants from across the continents, representatives of regional bodies and international organisations, drawn up by FAO and the World Organisation for Animal Health

(OIE) and presented at a meeting organised by the two institutions with the Government of Cote d’Ivoire agreed to a plan to control and eradicate PPR. The campaign will make PPR only the second animal disease ever to be eradicated, after rinderpest in 2011. PPR is estimated to cause over $2 billion in losses each year, mostly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, and its elimination will improve food and nutritional security for billions of consumers and especially the over 300 million vulnerable households who keep sheep and goats in the affected regions. Director-General, FAO, José Graziano da Silva, said: “We have a plan, the tools, the science and the partners. Eradication of PPR is not only within reach, but also in our hands. With OIE, we have agreed to establish a joint secretariat for the implementation to be hosted by FAO.” Also, Director General, OIE, Dr Bernard Vallat, said: “We can mobilise now public

and private components of national veterinary services worldwide to influence our strategy. Improving animal health is our duty and our passion.” Annual savings generated by eradication are expected to quickly pay back the investment required. FAO and OIE believe that this could be done in less time if they have the strong support from governments, partners and regional organisations. Moreover, the campaign will produce very significant collateral benefits, both by boosting the goods and services of the national veterinary systems that can control other livestock diseases such as brucellosis or foot-and-mouth disease and because eradication of the PPR threat will unleash greater investment in the sector, improve nutrition and secure people’s livelihoods. Demand for meat and milk from small ruminants in Africa is expected to rise by 137 per cent from 2000 to 2030 and even more in Asia, according to FAO.

INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

In collaboration with

Sanctity of Truth

In The Mideast, Byzantine Alliances

“It isn’t gloomy to go through. It’s kind of fun to get your feelings out there.” KARLY KOCH

A 20-year-old who expressed her dying wishes

By MARK MAZZETTI and DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL KIRBY SMITH FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Early Death, Their Terms A guide assuages teenagers’ fear of not having a significant legacy. By JAN HOFFMAN

Tumors had disfigured AshLeigh McHale’s features and spread to her organs. A year ago, AshLeigh, 17, flew from her home in Catoosa, Oklahoma, to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, with thin hope of slowing her melanoma. A social worker stopped by her hospital room, and they began a conversation that would be inconceivable to most teenagers: If death approached and AshLeigh could no longer speak, what would she want her loved ones to know? The social worker showed AshLeigh a new planning guide to help critically ill young patients express their preferences for their final days — and afterward. If visitors arrived when AshLeigh was asleep, did she want to be woken? What about life support? Funeral details? Who should inherit her computer? Or Bandit, her dachshund? When she died in July, AshLeigh was at home as she had requested. Per her instructions, she was laid out for the funeral in her favorite jeans, cow-

Most seriously ill teenagers want to discuss end-of-life plans. Karly Koch, 20, top, and with her mother, Tammy. girl boots and the white shirt she had gotten for Christmas. Later, the family dined, as AshLeigh had directed, on steak fajitas and corn on the cob. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d had to make these decisions during our extreme grief,” said her mother, Ronda McHale. “But she did it all for me. Even though she got to where she couldn’t speak,

AshLeigh had her say.” A national push to have endof-life discussions before a patient is too sick to participate has focused largely on older adults. Recently, providers have begun approaching teenagers and young adults directly, giving them a voice in these decisions. “Adolescents are competent enough to discuss their end-of-

INTELLIGENCE

WORLD TRENDS

Venezuela’s long affair with baseball. PAGE 24

At work in a war zone in Ukraine. PAGE 25

life preferences,” said Pamela S. Hinds, a contributor on pediatrics for “Dying in America,” a 2014 report by the nonprofit Institute of Medicine. “Studies show they prefer to be involved and have not been harmed by any such involvement.” There are no firm estimates of the number of young patients facing life-threatening diseases at any given time. Cancer, heart disease and congenital deformities together account for an estimated 11 percent of deaths among adolescents in America, about 1,700 per year. And thousands live with the uncertainty of grave illness. “If you are one of the children for whom this matters, or one of their parents, this is a huge opportunity,” said Dr. Chris Feudtner, a pediatric palliative care physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. But shifting from hushed talks with parents to conversations that include young patients has met some resistance. Many doctors lack training about how to raise these topics

Continued on Page 26

WASHINGTON — Already struggling to navigate the chaos engulfing much of the Middle East, the United States is now dipping its toe into another conflict. In Yemen, the Obama administration has NEWS ANALYSIS been supporting a Saudi-led military campaign to dislodge Iranian-backed Houthi rebels despite the risks of an escalating regional fight with Iran. But in Iraq and Syria, the United States is on the same side as Iran in the fight against the Islamic State, contributing airstrikes to an Iranian-supported offensive on Tikrit even while jostling with Iran for position in leading the operation. The Obama administration’s negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program have alarmed Saudi Arabia and Israel. In response, the Saudis, Egypt, Jordan and most of the Persian Gulf monarchies have agreed to

It is difficult to tell who backs whom as battlefields multiply. form a combined military force to counter both Iranian influence and Islamist extremism, a gesture many analysts attributed in large part to suspicion of Washington over its dealings with Tehran. The United States finds itself trying to sustain a growing patchwork of strained alliances and battlefields that Tamara Cofman Wittes, a researcher at the Brookings Institution in Washington and former senior State Department official, calls a puzzle. “But whether that puzzle reflects the lack of a coherent policy on the administration side or whether that puzzle simply reflects the complexity of the power struggles on the ground in the region — well, both are probably true,” she said. Corrupt and dysfunctional Arab autocracies that had stood for half a century in places like Egypt, Syria,

Continued on Page 26

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

ARTS & DESIGN

Starving sea lion pups wash ashore. PAGE 31

A Tolstoy is Putin’s cultural aide. PAGE 34

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

Sanctity of Truth

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

O P I N I O N & C O M M E N TA RY

EDITO RI A L OF THE TI ME S

Staff members of the Seattle Mariners’ summer academy packing to leave Venezuela. The academy has moved to the Dominican Republic. Four other American baseball academies are expected to follow suit early next year.

Women With Pamphlets China’s growing crackdown on political dissent is stirring global protests and demands for the release of five women’s rights advocates arrested as they sought to hand out leaflets as part of a campaign against sexual harassment on public transportation. The women were taken into custody ahead of International Women’s Day, March 8. They have been held on suspicion of “picking quarrels and provoking troubles” — a classic authoritarian premise for crushing free speech. In truth, the five activists are affiliated with the Beijing Yirenping Center, a dedicated nongovernmental organization that focuses on discrimination suffered by various groups, including women, the disabled, and people with H.I.V., hepatitis and other illnesses. As the government faced mounting international protests, the situation grew worse with a raid on the offices of Yirenping by Chinese security agents, who confiscated files and computers and locked workers out of the center. The arrests have prompted global rallies and petitions as well as diplomatic complaints. Samantha Power, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, has called for the women’s release and a commitment from China to face up to their grievances, not muzzle them. Since President Xi Jinping took power two years ago, scores of human rights defenders have been jailed in a crackdown across the spectrum of legitimate protest, from academia to the Internet to organizations like Yirenping. Rights groups say the attempt to throttle government criticism and other speech has been the worst since the deadly Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. President Xi should see that there is no place for such government thuggery in his campaign to modernize China. He has the chance to build a legacy embracing the advancement of human rights. Instead, he appears to be succumbing to the history of Communist Party leaders who fear citizens’ protests as a prelude to subversion. The Yirenping women stand as a noble opportunity for China, not a threat.

FERNANDO LLANO/ASSOCIATED PRESS

INTELLIGENCE/IBSEN MARTÍNEZ

Leaving Fields of Dreams In cruelly polarized Venezuela, mired in a disastrous economy and swept by criminal violence, baseball culture has been a haven of joyful civility, togetherness and tolerance. Now even that bridge over the sectarian abyss seems to be collapsing. Only weeks ago, the Seattle Mariners announced they were moving their summer league baseball academy to the Dominican Republic. The four remaining academies — those of the Philadelphia Phillies, the Detroit Tigers, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago Cubs — are expected to follow suit early next year. For Venezuelan baseball fans, this is a national disaster. A baseball game in Venezuela is not a relaxing outing at the park. It is a raucous ritual where all social classes and political persuasions mix in one of the few neutral grounds left in the country. Fernando Pérez, a former player with the Tampa Bay Rays who holds a degree in American Studies from Columbia University in New York, wrote an essay for Poetry magazine about his experience in the Venezuelan league: “I write from Caracas, the murder capital of the world, where I’ve been employed by Ibsen Martínez is a Venezuelan playwright and novelist. His latest novel is “Simpatía por King Kong.” Send comments to intelligence@nytimes.com.

INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY NANCY LEE Executive editor TOM BRADY Editor ALAN MATTINGLY Managing editor The New York Times International Weekly 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES: nytweekly@nytimes.com SALES AND ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: nytweeklysales@nytimes.com

the Leones [the city’s home club] to score runs and prevent balls from falling in the outfield. At the ankles of the Ávila Mount, amongst a patch of dusky high-rises, the downtown grounds of el Estadio Universitario [Caracas’s largest ball park] packed beyond capacity are ripe for a full-bodied poem. A mere pitching change is an occasion “para rumbear” [dance to the rumba]. … The game isn’t paced necessarily by innings or score. It’s marked by the pulsating bass of the samba band that trail bright, scantily-clad, headdressed goddesses strutting about the mezzanine.” The Venezuelan Summer League, an all-rookie circuit, was established in 1997 by several American major league teams seeking to develop the local talent pool. By 2002, 21 academies were functioning and producing impressive results: In 1994, only 19 Venezuelans played with a Major League Baseball team. In 2010, 90 Venezuelans regularly appeared in big-league games. Today, 120 years after the first game was staged in a Caracas railway yard, Venezuelans take pride in their 102 countrymen who were in spring training camps preparing for the new season. Hugo Chávez, long before he became the Comandante, worked as hard as any poor Venezuelan boy to escape poverty by becoming a big-league pitcher. Though he often enlivened his hourslong harangues with baseball jargon, his Bolivarian revolution contemplated — for a short while — a plan to abolish professional baseball, as Fidel Castro (another failed baseball player) did in Cuba in 1960. The deafening uproar from militant chavista grass-roots groups put an end to that idea. In 2008, 10 years into the

Chávez era and against a backdrop of insecurity and bewildering currency controls, the Houston Astros, who came to the country in 1989, shut down their facilities and moved to the Dominican Republic. The remaining organizations gradually began to cut back on the academies. The growing costs of security to prevent the many armed robberies were one of the many concerns teams had. These defections deprive underprivileged and talented Venezuelan youngsters of opportunities. Though the odds against making the big leagues are high, the chance of reward is great. (The average major league salary is $3.2 million; the league minimum is $480,000.)

Tension threatens Venezuela’s favorite pastime, baseball. The public safety situation has deteriorated precipitously; Venezuela had the second-highest homicide rate in the world last year. Many high-earning Venezuelan stars, such as the Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, who was abducted in 2011 and narrowly escaped death during an air rescue operation, have moved to the United States. In February, with mounting tensions between Caracas and Washington, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro ordered most American diplomats to be expelled. United States citizens traveling to Venezuela will now need visas, raising concerns among local fans that this might keep United States players away

from our winter league, a topnotch training ground for professionals for more than 70 years. Without los importados (the imported ones), as American professional ball players are affectionately called, our winter league would lose a great deal of its luster. The story of baseball in Venezuela has nothing to do with the many United States military interventions in the region. In the early 1890s, sons of the Venezuelan elite, returning from studies abroad, introduced the game in what then was a poor country ravaged by tropical fevers, endless civil wars and ruthless tyrants. Cuban political émigrés then living in Caracas also played an important role in the development of Venezuelan baseball. Nemesio Guilló, a well-to-do Cuban sent by his parents to Alabama in 1858 to study at Springhill College, is credited with bringing the first bat and baseball to Cuba in 1864, while the American Civil War raged and Cubans were still subjects of the Spanish king. Spanish colonial authorities soon outlawed the game, deeming it subversive, but independent young Cubans favored baseball over bullfights, and the Spanish monarchy. Similarly, Venezuelans of all social classes found in baseball a compelling example of modernity, egalitarianism and freedom. As it has in many Caribbean countries, baseball is as much a part of Venezuelan popular culture as it is an all-American sport. One can only wonder what the hemispheric political landscape would now be if, instead of becoming a delirious autocrat who squandered his country’s vast oil wealth, Hugo Chávez had fulfilled his teenage big-league dream.

THE NEW YORK TIMES IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE FOLLOWING NEWSPAPERS: CLARÍN, ARGENTINA n DER STANDARD, AUSTRIA n LA RAZÓN, BOLIVIA n FOLHA, GAZETA DO POVO AND JORNAL O POVO, BRAZIL n GUELPH MERCURY, THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR, TORONTO STAR AND WATERLOO REGION RECORD, CANADA n LA SEGUNDA, CHILE n EL ESPECTADOR, COLOMBIA n LISTIN DIARIO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC n SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, GERMANY n PRENSA LIBRE, GUATEMALA n LA REPUBBLICA, ITALY n ASAHI SHIMBUN, JAPAN n DIARIO DE YUCATÁN, EL NORTE, EXPRESO, MURAL, NOVEDADES DE TABASCO, REFORMA AND SÍNTESIS, MEXICO n EL DIARIO, MEXICO AND UNITED STATES n EL NUEVO DIARIO, NICARAGUA n NEW TELEGRAPH, NIGERIA n CORREO, PERU n MANILA BULLETIN, PHILIPPINES n TODAY, SINGAPORE n EL PAÍS, SPAIN n UNITED DAILY NEWS, TAIWAN n THE OBSERVER, UNITED KINGDOM n THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, UNITED STATES

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Sanctity of Truth

WORLD TRENDS

A Ukrainian Plant Refuses to Close By ANDREW ROTH

AVDIIVKA, Ukraine — The armored Mercedes-Benz pulled up to a factory chimney discharging an endless column of milk-white steam and out stepped Musa Magomedov, the broad-shouldered, 45-year-old general director of the Avdiivka Coke and Steel plant. “When the bombing started he did everything right; he ran for the nearest tunnel,” Mr. Magomedov said, standing where a young mechanic and father of two died in a February rocket strike, five strides from safety. “We tried to fix him up, but he

Workers camp on the grounds to keep a vital factory going. died in the ambulance before he could reach the hospital.” Caught on the front lines of a grinding artillery war since last July, Avdiivka’s several thousand workers have held on, stubbornly returning to work every day despite 160 rocket and artillery strikes, periodic blackouts, an endless list of repairs and, worst of all, the deaths of five colleagues. An act of heroism in Ukraine’s civil war, but also one of pragmatism: If the plant, the largest coking operation in Europe, ceases operation, it will almost certainly be for good. Coke, the fuel used in steelmaking furnaces in Ukraine, is

a purified form of coal, produced by special ovens. When the furnaces cool, they crack, and the cost of repairing and restarting them could run to $1 billion or more. Those in the business like to say that a coking plant can be shut down only once. “We are like a shark,” said Mr. Magomedov. “It has to swim all the time because if it stops, it drowns.” Avdiivka Coke and Steel sits on the Ukrainian side of the front lines, just eight kilometers from the ruins of Donetsk International Airport. The area is one of several focal points where two cease-fires have gone largely unheeded. No hiding place above ground guarantees safety at the plant, a sprawling 52-year-old behemoth that produces blast-furnace coke, as well as dozens of chemical products, electricity and heat. After repeated attacks, rain pours through a gaping hole in the machine-room roof. Mortar rounds have slammed into the coke ovens. One rocket strike nearly obliterated a turbine. Another ruptured a gas pipe, igniting a nine-hour blaze. Prime Minister Arseniy P. Yatsenyuk has named the factory a strategic asset for Ukraine’s ailing economy. The steel mills of Mariupol, an industrial hub, run on coke. “They are purposely bombing Avdiivka in order to destroy the coking plant, to stop the Mariupol factories,” he said during a February news conference. “To leave 30,000 people without work and to provoke a social explosion, to leave us as a government without currency.” Political views within the fac-

BRENDAN HOFFMAN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES; BELOW, THE NEW YORK TIMES

Avdiivka Coke and Steel in Ukraine faces artillery attacks, and five workers have been killed.

300 KILOMETERS

BELARUS US

RUSSIA Dnieper R.

Avdiivka

UKRAINE

Do Donetsk MOL OLDOV OL VA VA

Berdyansk er Mariupol Ma ariupol

ROMAN MANIA BUL ULGARIA

Black Sea

tory are mixed. Many workers, hailing from territory controlled by the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic, sympathize with the separatists. Others, including Mr. Magomedov, favor the government. But the plant continues to pay salaries and is a

lifeline for the thousands who work there. Despite the danger, the factory is considered one of the safest places in the area. Because roads to the plant are contested and the nearby towns where workers live lack electricity and water, nearly 2,000 employees are living on the factory grounds, sleeping on cots meters from where they work. Anna Skvortsova, a personnel director, grew up in Avdiivka. But for the last several months she has been living in the factory’s Soviet-era nuclear bomb shelter. She moved there after two shells crashed through the roof on the second floor of the factory’s administrative building. Ms. Skvortsova, who had just left the room to speak with a colleague, was thrown to the ground. If she had been at her desk, she said, she

would have been killed. Since the bombing began, 600 have quit or taken leave, while 324 others agreed to come in periodically, Mr. Magomedov said. But thousands more stayed on full time, for their salaries, for their safety, or out of loyalty to the plant. Pavel Zhelavy, a grizzled foreman, has been working at the plant for 36 years. When he planned to retire, he was asked to stay on as an adviser. He moved in last month. “There are two reasons I’m moving in. First, I’m almost always needed here. Second, because it’s cold in my house,” he joked. He had moved his family to an apartment well behind the lines. But now he needed the money to pay the rent. “We don’t need a cease-fire,” he said. “We need peace.”

Strongman’s Troops From Chad Rout Boko Haram in Nigeria By ADAM NOSSITER

NDJAMENA, Chad — Idriss Déby, the president of Chad, speaks in a soft mumble, wears glasses and is to be found in the quiet inner recesses of a giltedged, marble presidential palace — under crystal chandeliers and vaulted arches that seem part Renaissance, part Vegas — at the dusty center of his country’s capital. Yet he is undeniably one of Africa’s most formidable strongmen. His men once whipped Colonel Muammar el-Qaddafi’s fighters in a desert battle, and he has survived numerous rebel assaults and coup attempts. More recently, his forces have successfully battled the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram and Al Qaeda’s regional affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Still, in discussing his military’s victory in the Boko Haram stronghold of Damasak, in Nigeria, Mr. Déby showed no hint of triumphalism. He was impatient: His men were stuck, still awaiting any sign of Nigerian forces who could come take over. He does not want to be holding Nigerian territory, he said. “We want the Nigerians to

The leader of the opposition in Chad said the president had ‘‘superequipped the army’’ instead of developing the country. EMMANUEL BRAUN/REUTERS

come and occupy, so we can advance,” Mr. Déby said. “We’re wasting time, for the benefit of Boko Haram.” The president says he took up the war against Boko Haram reluctantly, and mostly as a bid for economic survival: Chad is a landlocked country, dependent on land trade routes through the militant group’s territory. In the process, he has embarrassed Nigeria — a small-country president coming to the aid of a bigger one — and he has overshadowed the militaries of Cameroon and Niger that are less well equipped, while earning the gratitude of the West.

Those leaders once shunned him for his shaky human rights record, low corruption ranking, nepotism and brutal police force. In fact, those conditions have not changed. His country ranks fourth from the bottom on the United Nations Human Development Index of 187 nations, with life expectancy and schooling levels at the bottom. The Chadian elite connected to him enjoy huge villas, looming above the battered one-story dwellings of ordinary people. Last month, video images showed his police officers whipping demonstrators. Yet Mr. Déby, 62, is a pariah no more. While his soldiers occupy

towns in Nigeria recently ruled equipped the army.” by Boko Haram, his up-to-date Mr. Déby won the admiration helicopter gunships are bombing of the West in 1987, when as the the terrorists in other places. At commander of Chadian forces least three important towns in he sent his men’s trucks racing Nigeria’s northeast — Damasak, through the desert to outflank Dikwa and Gamboru — have Colonel Qaddafi’s Libyan forces been taken by the Chadians. And with a swift pincer movement. his troops are in northern Mali These days, the commander bristaking on Al Qaeda in the Islamic tles at Nigeria’s lack of coordinaMaghreb. tion with his forces, and the largWith billions of doler country’s apparent immobility. lars in oil revenues The Nigerians resince the early 2000s, military spending at main dismissive of least double that of their neighbor, insistmost African couning that it is they who are carrying the load tries, and 40 years of against Boko Haram. tough civil wars, most Yet Nigerians’ disof which Mr. Déby has personally taken part satisfaction with their Idriss Déby in, he has built a forown leadership was apparent in national midable fighting maelections on March 31 chine. when the president, Goodluck Equipped with Sukhoi warJonathan, was defeated by Muplanes and French light tanks, the army is made up substantialhammadu Buhari, a former genly of fighters from Mr. Déby’s etheral who once ruled with an iron hand there. nicity, the Zaghawa. Analysts say the Nigerians “When Déby is gone, this puzhave joined the fight against zle will fall to pieces,” said Saleh Boko Haram, with the help of Kebzabo, the longtime opposiSouth African mercenaries. But tion leader. “It’s not a national they still view Chad as an indisarmy,” he said. “Instead of developing the country, he’s superpensable force.

Sanctity of Truth

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

WORLD TRENDS

Facing Early Death, But on Their Terms Continued from Page 23 with teenagers. Until recently, most clinical teams believed that adolescents would not understand the implications of end-oflife planning and that they might be psychologically harmed by such talk. Sometimes when providers do make the attempt, parents or patients may abruptly change the subject, fearful that they are signaling that they have abandoned hope. Yet research shows that avoiding these talks exacerbates the teenage patient’s fear and sense of isolation. In a 2012 survey ex-

A guide allows teenagers to have a meaningful legacy. amining end-of-life attitudes among adolescent patients with H.I.V., 56 percent said that not being able to discuss their preferences was “a fate worse than death.” In a 2013 study, adolescents and parents described such talks as emotionally healing. Teenage patients can guide, even lead, their medical care, Dr. Feudtner said. Including them in the discussions acknowledges a terrible fact that patient and family members struggle to keep from each other: the likelihood of death. “Then people can be together,

as opposed to alone,” Dr. Feudtner said. The teenage patient can address intimate topics, including “the scariest aspects of the human condition — mortality and pain — but also love, friendship and connection.” Karly Koch, a college student from Muncie, Indiana, has been treated for many serious illnesses, including Stage 4 lymphoma, all related to a rare genetic immune disorder. Her older sister, Kelsey, died of the condition at 22. Last spring, Karly, then 19, developed congestive heart failure. As Karly lay in intensive care at the National Institutes of Health, a psychotherapist who had worked with the family for years approached her mother, Tammy, with the new planning guide. “Do we talk about dying?” Mrs. Koch recalled wondering. “Maybe Karly hasn’t thought about it — do we put it in her head? “We had already buried a child and had to guess what she wanted,” she continued. “So we wanted Karly to have a voice.” Karly’s reaction? “She said it wasn’t like we were telling her something she didn’t already know,” Mrs. Koch said. The guide used by Karly Koch and AshLeigh McHale is called “Voicing My Choices.” It is the first guide created for — and largely by — adolescent and young adult patients. The intention was to create a way for them “to make choices about what nurtures, protects and affirms their remaining life and how they wish to be remembered,” said Lori Wiener, a principal investigator

After a bone marrow transplant, Karly Koch is out in the world again. Karly at her church in Muncie, Indiana.

MICHAEL KIRBY SMITH FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

on the research that led to the planning guide. In the two years since its introduction, more than 20,000 copies have been ordered by families and medical centers from Aging With Dignity, the nonprofit that publishes it. “Voicing My Choices” has also been translated into Spanish, Italian, French and Slovak. In straightforward language, the guide offers young patients check boxes for medical decisions like pain management. Another section asks about comfort. Favorite foods? Music? What gives you strength or joy, the guide asks. What do you wish to be forgiven for? And who do you wish to forgive? “These are the things that are important to know about me,” one list begins. AshLeigh, who would dance and sing down the aisles of Walmart, wrote: “Fun-loving, courageous, smart, pretty wild and crazy.” Devastating disease can leave anyone feeling powerless, so a means to assert some control

ONLINE: BEFORE I DIE

A video on the dying wishes of some young people: nytimes.com Search early death can be therapeutic. For adolescents, who are exploring and defining identity, Dr. Feudtner said, “you can express who you are, what you are and what you care about.” By offering young patients opportunities to write farewell letters, donate their bodies to research and create rituals for remembering them, the planning guide allays one of their greatest fears: They are too young to leave a meaningful legacy. There are no standards for when and how to introduce a critically ill teenager to end-of-life planning; there are only intuition and experience. Many pediatric cancers have favorable prognoses, Dr. Feudtner said, and raising the topic prematurely may provoke anxiety and fear.

More often, though, doctors postpone the discussion too long, until the patient is too sick to take part. Dr. Maryland Pao, a psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health, recalled the despair of a mother whose dying son could no longer speak. “I have no idea what he wants,” the woman told her. “He’s 17, but we never communicated about this.” Last July, Karly Koch had an experimental bone marrow transplant. Her family calls that date her “re-birthday.” With 12 medications a day and a surgical mask, she is out and about in Muncie. Karly takes classes to become a physical therapy assistant. She delights in “normal people” activities. Her parents keep Karly’s copy of “Voicing My Choices” in their bedroom cabinet. “It isn’t gloomy to go through,” Karly said. “It’s kind of fun to get your feelings out there.” “Now, looking at it,” she continued, “I think I’d like to add some things.”

Byzantine Goals and Contradictory Alliances Emerge in the Mideast Continued from Page 23 Iraq, Yemen and Libya lost credibility because they had failed to meet the needs of their citizens. But no new model has emerged; instead, an array of local players and regional powers are fighting skirmishes across the region as they vie to shape the new order. “We’re trying to beat ISIL — and there are complications,” one senior Obama administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We have a partner who is collapsing in Yemen and we’re trying to support that. And we’re trying to get a nuclear deal with Iran. Is this all part of some grand strategy? Unfortunately, the world gets a vote.” The Saudi-led military campaign against the Houthis has led to fears of a burgeoning proxy war among the Middle East’s big powers. But it is unclear how, or if, Iran will directly respond to a campaign led by a coalition of Sunni nations against a Shiite militia force. Some Middle East experts caution that the Houthi rebels are Helene Cooper contributed reporting.

KHALID MOHAMMED/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Smoke rising from Tikrit, where the United States and Iran have similar aims. But in Yemen, they are on opposite sides. hardly puppets of Tehran, and that Iran spent years largely ignoring the group’s struggles in Yemen. “The Saudis and the Sunnis have made this a sectarian issue,” said Stephen Seche, a former American ambassador to Yemen. “This military campaign is the Sunni world saying to Iran: Get out of our backyard.” Saudi officials argue that Iran has orchestrated the Houthi military advance so they can exert

influence on yet another Middle Eastern capital and destabilize Saudi Arabia’s southern border. Adel al Jubeir, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, told reporters that there was evidence that Iranian Revolutionary Guard operatives and Hezbollah fighters had embedded with the Houthis. Leslie Campbell, the regional director of Middle East and North Africa programs at the National Democratic Institute, a

nonprofit that promotes democracy, said that it was hard to ignore the notion that the Saudi-led offensive in Yemen was in part a message to the United States as it negotiates a nuclear deal with Iran and finds, to some degree, common cause with Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq. The message, he said, is “if you all want to make friends with Iran, have a good time; this is what you’re going to get.” “The challenges facing our national Arab security are grave, and we have succeeded in diagnosing the reasons behind it,” said the Egyptian president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, without specifying those reasons. The administration had held up Yemen as a model of a successful counterterrorism campaign, only to see the American-backed government in Sana crumble. In Yemen, Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, the administration talks as if it is supporting the orderly transitions to state building, but its actions are in fact helping to dismantle the central states, said Peter Harling, a researcher with the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit based in

Brussels and Washington. In each case, local players like the Islamic State or the Houthi movement have stepped into a power vacuum to stake their own claims, but none have the credibility or wherewithal to unify or govern. But Washington, Mr. Harling said, insisted in each case on maintaining the fiction that its favored local player had a viable chance to rebuild an orderly state — whether moderate rebels in Syria, the Shiite-dominated government in Baghdad or the Hadi government in Yemen. Few disagree that the continuing tumult in the Middle East has scrambled American priorities there. This has led many to argue that the Obama administration’s policy for the region is adrift — without core principles to anchor it. Some experts said that there cannot be an overarching American policy in the Middle East at the moment. “I would be more concerned if we had some sort of overly rigid policy,” said Barbara Bodine, another former American ambassador to Yemen. “It is messy. It is contradictory. That’s foreign policy.”

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Sanctity of Truth

WORLD TRENDS

The Way We Write Today!?!J It has often been lamented in this age of texting and Twitter messages that people — especially young people, who usually face the brunt of blame for LENS such things — have lost the art of spelling and writing because of 140-character digital laziness. But that doesn’t mean people have lost the ability to get their message across. They are simply doing so in ever-changing ways. Take emojis, those little smiley faces, gestures and critters that have become such a popular form of expression. We may have hearted NY since the popular tourism logo was introduced in 1977, but these days we can also give

Communicating with a thumbs-up or a smiling poop. a thumbs-up, a wink, a laugh or even a tear in just one tap of a finger. And they are used so much that there are calls for more to be created — to expand the vocabulary, as it were. Writing in The Times, Damon Darlin pointed out that because emojis are a Japanese invention, they portray sensibilities from that culture that do not necessarily translate to an American way of life. “There is just too much I can’t express because the symbols don’t exist,” he wrote. A classic case is the unchi-kun: “the smiling poop emoji,” which looks more than a bit random to Western eyes. Yet the character has “appeared for decades in Japanese commercials, in bedrooms as children’s plush For comments, write to nytweekly@nytimes.com.

toys and even as candy,” Mr. Darlin wrote. More useful in America, he suggested, would be the likes of a friendly fingers-crossed signal for good luck, a less-friendly middle finger held up to express the opposite, and maybe a pickup truck to add to the symbols for public transportation. There have also been calls for more culturally diverse symbols, and Apple has responded by adding some 300 new emojis, including a variety of skin tones, with its new operating system this spring. As if all that weren’t enough to try to make sense of, even traditional keyboard symbols have taken on new meaning. It can be hard to convey a tone of voice in a silent text message, so we raise the mood with exclamation marks. (It works!!) “These days, it’s as if our punctuation is on steroids,” Jessica Bennett wrote in The Times. If friends respond to a text message with a question but no question mark, it feels cold, she wrote. And the same could be said for exclamation marks: “When my girlfriends don’t use an exclamation point, I’m like ‘What’s wrong, you O.K?’” Jordana Narin, a 19-year-old student in New York, told The Times. Such practices have become a way for people to convey their individual voices: One prefers extra periods, another likes dashes or ellipses. It could also be a way of staying one step ahead of the competition: the computer as scribe. “Because, these days, a shocking amount of what we’re reading is created not by humans, but by computer algorithms,” Shelley Podolny wrote in The Times. Financial reports, sports articles and merchandising have become the realm of computer-generated writing. The Los Angeles Times even uses algorithms to augment its reporting on homicides. What is lost, of course, is human insight. Could this have been written by a machine? Would you even know the difference?!?!? I should hope so … TESS FELDER

Apple responded to calls for more culturally diverse emojis and added 300 new ones this spring.

ULI SEIT FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

HENDRIK SCHMIDT/DPA, VIA AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE — GETTY IMAGES

A German’s actions have led a mourning nation to ask which of its processes may have failed.

Jet Crash Tests Germany’s Culture By ALISON SMALE

BERLIN — Even in the nightmarish aftermath of the plane crash in the French Alps on March 24, Carsten Spohr, the former pilot who runs Germany’s Lufthansa airline, was sure of one thing: the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, 27, was “100 percent” fit to fly. Mr. Lubitz, after all, had been through the respected Lufthansa training system — “one of the best in the world,” Mr. Spohr said. But there was more to the story. Days later, Lufthansa disclosed that Mr. Lubitz had informed the company of his depressive episodes in 2009, when he sought to rejoin the flight school after a monthslong pause in his studies. Germany, which in recent years has been Europe’s economic powerhouse, has come to define itself as orderly, rule-driven and well-engineered. From Mercedes-Benz cars to its tidy towns, Germany purrs excellence. Now Mr. Lubitz — born and raised in one of those pretty towns — has upended that well-ordered world and challenged other assumptions built into German life. As Mr. Spohr noted, the co-pilot’s terrifying deed was a singular, perhaps unstoppable, disaster. Yet somehow the system failed. Any nation would be jolted by such an act. But this one raised questions distinct to Germany. In a society that prizes process, did the system lack the ability to spot warning signs that could have stopped Mr. Lubitz before he flew a jetliner into a mountainside, killing himself and 149 others? What, if any, responsibility should German society bear? And 70 years after the end of World War II, should Germans insist that protecting privacy trumps open debate that may help avoid the worst of human behavior? Writing from Montabaur, the Rhineland town of some 15,000 where Mr. Lubitz was born and raised, a journalist for the online

edition of the respected weekly Die Zeit, Karsten Polke-Majewski, described the hostility of residents to prying questions and pondered the discomforts of self-examination. “What can friends, neighbors or fellow club members really know about the life of a 27-yearold man who already lived in Bremen, in America and Düsseldorf?” Mr. Polke-Majewski wrote, referring to Mr. Lubitz’s time in pilot training and his more recent residence near big Ruhrland airports. “What would one’s own teachers have said about this reporter eight years after high school graduation? “And yet,” he added, “is the warning that has been issued so loudly about how this is all just speculation not simply a way to avoid the bitter truth, because one does not want to pose any more questions?”

Weighing privacy safeguards against learning the truth. Germans’ determination to guard their privacy is a legacy of Nazi and Communist rule, when the state spied on citizens. The strength of German feeling emerged clearly in 2013, when the former contractor Edward J. Snowden revealed the sweep of United States intelligence monitoring millions of Germans and other Europeans. Mr. Snowden, considered a traitor by some people in the United States, became a hero to many Germans, whose vigorous debate about surveillance and data protection bolsters the resistance of some to allow digital technology freer creative rein. When Mr. Spohr was asked to explain the gap of many months in Mr. Lubitz’s training, he cited the confidentiality of medical records. The airline later said it had received some medical records

from Mr. Lubitz in 2009. As The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung noted in a report on Mr. Lubitz’s mental state, the man described by hometown acquaintances as “quite normal” was actually anything but. “No one believed that the enemy could sit in their own cockpit,” the newspaper observed. “The psychological entry tests which Lufthansa says are passed by only one in four applicants seemed too incorruptible for that.” Lufthansa and other European airlines moved swiftly to adopt a practice that many commentators noted was common in the United States: that two people must be in the cockpit at any time, with a cabin crew member taking the place of a pilot if the pilot has to leave briefly. That was a clear response to mounting calls for improved safety. But resentment of the news reporting that can lead to such a change lingered. Mass media attention first descended on the town of Haltern am See, which lost 16 10th-graders and two teachers who were returning from an exchange program in Spain when the Barcelona-Düsseldorf flight crashed. Teenagers cited their right not to talk to the media. A Facebook page written by students at the Joseph-Koenig high school warned: “The reporters at the school are asking the names of the victims, please don’t give them any information, otherwise the families will have even more to contend with!” The battle between preserving privacy and providing information reached notable extremes after the French prosecutor named Mr. Lubitz. The next day, some German broadcasters were still blocking out his face. But the country’s best-selling daily newspaper, Bild Zeitung, took up half of its front page with a photograph of Mr. Lubitz running a half-marathon in 2013. “Andreas Lubitz, 27, The Amok Pilot,” screamed the headline. “He deliberately flew 149 innocent children, women and men to their deaths.”

Sanctity of Truth

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

WORLD TRENDS

Testing Psychedelics for Prisoners By SIMON ROMERO

JI-PARANÁ, Brazil — As the night sky enveloped this outpost in Brazil’s Amazon basin, the ceremony began simply enough. Dozens of adults and children, all clad in white, stood in a line. A holy man handed each a cup of ayahuasca, a muddy-looking hallucinogenic brew. They gulped it down; some vomited. Hymns were sung. More ayahuasca was consumed. Then the dancing began. Such rituals are a fixture across the Amazon, where ayahuasca, commonly called Daime or referred to as tea, has been consumed for centuries and entire religions have coalesced around the concoction. But this ceremony was different: Among those imbibing from the holy man’s decanter were prison inmates. “I’m finally realizing I was on the wrong path in this life,” said Celmiro de Almeida, 36, who is serving a sentence for homicide at a prison four hours away. “Each experience helps me communicate with my victim to beg for forgiveness,” said Mr. de Almeida. The provision of a hallucinoLis Horta Moriconi contributed reporting.

gen to inmates in the middle of the rain forest reflects a quest for ways to ease pressure on Brazil’s prison system. The inmate population has doubled since the start of the century to more than 550,000, straining prisons rife with human rights violations and violent uprisings. One of the bloodiest prison revolts in recent decades took place in the nearby city of Pôrto Velho, in 2002, when at least 27 inmates were killed at the Urso Branco prison. Around the same time, Acuda, a prisoners’ rights group, began offering inmates therapy sessions in yoga, meditation and Reiki, a healing ritual. Two years ago, the volunteer therapists at Acuda had an idea: Why not give the inmates ayahuasca as well? Acuda had trouble finding a place where the inmates could drink it, but they were accepted by an offshoot of Santo Daime, a religion that blends Catholicism, African traditions and trance communications with spirits. “Many people in Brazil believe that inmates must suffer, enduring hunger and depravity,” said Euza Beloti, 40, a psychologist with Acuda. “This thinking bolsters a system where prisoners return to society more violent

Prisoners at a temple in Brazil after drinking a hallucinogenic tea that some say be could transformative. than when they entered prison.” At Acuda, she said, “we simply see inmates as human beings with the capacity to change.” Judges and wardens allow about 10 inmates to live in the Acuda building. They also practice meditation and ayurvedic massage. “It’s certainly novel among prisoners, but ayahuasca has great potential because under optimal conditions, it can produce a transformative experience in a person,” said Dr. Charles S. Grob of the University of California, Los Angeles. But he cautioned that the brew could exacerbate the illnesses of people being treated with antipsychotic medications. The supervisors at Acuda, who obtain a judge’s permission to take about 15 prisoners once a month to the temple, say they are mindful of the risks. Acuda’s therapists consume the

‘Dancing Grannies’ Reined In

Austin Ramzy contributed reporting from Hong Kong.

brew with the inmates. Many people in Brazil remain unconvinced. “Where are the massages and the therapy for us?” asked Paulo Freitas, 48, a factory manager whose 18-yearold daughter, Naiara, was kidnapped, raped and murdered in Pôrto Velho in 2013. Others question whether consuming Daime can help lower re-incarceration rates. Luiz Marques, 57, an economist who founded Acuda, said the organization hoped to reduce recidivism, but the more immediate goal was “expanding the consciousness” of prisoners

about right and wrong. Here in Ji-Paraná, the inmates appeared to experience a range of reactions after drinking the ayahuasca. Some were stonefaced. Others seemed lost in contemplation. One was constantly in tears. “We are considered the trash of Brazil, but this place accepts us,” said Darci Altair Santos da Silva, 43, a construction worker serving a 13-year sentence for sexual abuse of a child under 14. “I know what I did was very cruel. The tea helped me reflect on this fact, on the possibility that one day I can find redemption.”

Lynched Kabul Woman Now Seen as a Martyr By JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN

By ANDREW JACOBS

The offenders usually emerge at dusk, in public plazas or parks, as they sashay to Chinese pop tunes with their synchronized dance moves. In recent years, these packs of “dancing grannies” have descended on tranquil neighborhoods across the country, occasionally provoking virulent responses. In 2013, a Beijing man seeking to chase off retirees dancing near his home was arrested after he fired a shotgun into the air and set three Tibetan mastiffs on the group. That same year in the city of Wuhan, neighbors dumped feces from the upper floors of a building onto a troupe of gray-haired women below. Last year in Wenzhou, residents pooled $42,300 to buy a sound system to blare warnings to dancers about violating noise pollution laws. Now, the Chinese government has has begun issuing rules that aim to regulate the public dancing and foster “healthy, watchable, scientific and wide-ranging” dancing, according to the state news media. An expert panel has issued 12 model routines to be taught nationwide. “Dancing in public squares represents the collective aspect of Chinese culture, but now it seems that the overenthusi-

LALO DE ALMEIDA FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

SIM CHI YIN FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

As public dancing has spread, the Chinese government has begun issues rules to standardize the routines. asm of participants has dealt it a harmful blow with disputes over noise and venues,” Liu Guoyong of the General Administration of Sport, told the China Daily newspaper. In Beijing, where tens of thousands of women flock to parks and plazas after dinner, the news was met with disdain. “That’s ridiculous,” said Xiao Kai, 50, taking a break from a dance. “Why does the government need to get involved?” A commentary in the Xinmin Evening News said, “The biggest tragedy is not the square dance by grannies, but the fact that grannies have nothing else to do than square-dance.” Public dancing in China took root in the 1990s, its ranks fed by women who are forced into retirement in their mid-50s. On a recent night along a highway known as Second Ring Road, there was a waltz group, a troupe whose participants danced to songs popularized during the Korean War, and scores of routines whose detrac-

tors call the “zombie dance” because their participants shuffle with arms held in front of them. Asked about noise complaints, one 58-year-old dancer laughed and did a little jig. “The louder the music, the more fun it is,” she said. Many women described how their lives had been transformed after taking up dance. “I used to be quick to lose my temper, but now nothing bothers me,” said Yu Xiuhua, 64, a former paper mill worker. “When I dance, I forget all my cares. And I can also hike up mountains with little effort.” Some critics have said the dances being developed are too challenging, with one newspaper suggesting that public dancing could be dangerous if practiced for more than an hour at a time. As she took a break from a dance, Wang He, 47, scoffed at the suggestion that dancing might be unhealthy. She said, “It’s much better than sitting at home and just watching TV.”

KABUL, Afghanistan — On that day in March, a student had seen mullahs sell good-luck charms and visitors convinced that prayers offered in the shrine were bound to come true. Over a family dinner, the student, a 27-year-old woman named Farkhunda, vowed to return to the shrine and speak out against what she deemed superstitious and un-Islamic behavior. That decision — and what awaited her at the shrine — has convulsed Kabul. When she returned there and began chastising people, an attendant at the shrine countered with a dangerous accusation: This woman, he shouted, had burned the Quran. A sparse crowd quickly became a mob of hundreds, and the men railed at her, beat her, set fire to her body. But a week or so later, Farkhunda had been transformed from a woman so despised that officials had defended her lynching, into a celebrated martyr. “Farkhunda was a true Muslim, a religious hero,” said Shahla Farid, a member of a commission appointed by the Afghan president to investigate Farkhunda’s death. “Here a woman challenged a man and defended Islam.” The shrine attendant who falsely accused her now sits in jail, as do more than two dozen other men accused of a role in her death, which was captured in numerous cellphone videos. Jawad Sukhanyar contributed reporting.

Banners depicting Farkhunda’s face grace the spot where she was killed. And her family, first told to flee the capital for their own safety, has proudly taken her name as their surname. The country’s Religious Affairs Ministry has pledged to rid shrines of fortune tellers and peddlers of good-luck charms. For some women in Kabul, the despair and terror they felt upon watching Facebook videos of the lynching have given way to a cautious hope. “She has improved the status of women in Islam and in our community,” Ms. Farid said. “I believe Farkhunda is now giving more hope to more women.” But Ms. Farid allowed that her female students were less optimistic. When a new school year opened recently, only two of the 30 enrolled female students appeared. Then she heard from female students who said they were afraid to be in public after watching how quickly the mob had formed against Farkhunda. “How can I sit here in class with boys? I’m afraid of them,” Ms. Farid said, recounting what students told her. And some women say that focusing on Farkhunda’s vindication in death, rather than her victimization in life, is to miss the point. “This is heartbreaking — she was innocent and she was a woman,” said Fawzia Koofi, who is also on the presidential fact-finding commission into Farkhunda’s death. “This happened to her because of her gender.”

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

Sanctity of Truth

MONEY & BUSINESS

Kodak Struggles to Envision a Viable Future After Film By QUENTIN HARDY

Of the roughly 200 buildings that once stood on the 525-hectare campus of Eastman Kodak’s business park in Rochester, New York, 80 have been demolished and 59 others sold off. Terry Taber, 60, and a loyal Kodak employee of 34 years, still works in one of the remaining Kodak structures, rubble from demolition not far from its doors. Mr. Taber oversees research and development at Kodak. Many people might be surprised to know that Kodak is still in business at all, much less employing someone in the hopeful-sounding enterprise of developing new technology ideas. But if the film company, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2013, has any light in its future, Mr. Taber is likely to have something to do with it. In basement labs, some of the 300 scientists and engineers who work for Mr. Taber are studying nanoparticle wonder inks, cheap sensors that can be embedded in packaging to indicate whether meats or medicines have spoiled, and touch screens that could make smartphones cheaper. Much of this is old stuff, left over from the company’s glory days. But Mr. Taber’s boss hopes that somewhere in those projects there might be a nugget of gold. “I’m mining the history of this company for its underlying technologies,” said Jeff Clarke, 53, who became Kodak’s chief executive last year. Mr. Clarke has no delusions that Kodak could bring those technologies to market on its own; it will need corporate partners to make actual products. “We’ll never be able to prosecute the value of our intellectual property with Kodak-branded sales,” he said in an office in the same tower where George Eastman once looked out on his global tech empire. What happens after a tech company is left for dead but the people left behind refuse to give up the fight? Kodak is digging deep into a legacy of innovation in the photography business and

NATHANIEL BROOKS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Kodak has thousands of patents. One technology may replace touch screen sensors. seeing if its remaining talent in optics and chemistry can be turned into new money in other industries. Once a household name as big in its day as Apple and Microsoft have been for later generations, Kodak was part of everyday life, its film — sold in a yellow box — recording births, vacations, weddings. And then Kodak became a cautionary tale about what happens when a tech company is slow to change. For Kodak, the advent of digital photography was ruinous. Today, it has $2 billion in annual sales, compared with $19 billion in 1990, when consumer film was king. It now has 8,000 employees worldwide; it had 145,000 at its peak. Since emerging from bankruptcy, the company has mostly served niche film markets — there are still a few directors who refuse to shoot digital. Much of its revenue comes from legacy busi-

ONLINE: IN DEVELOPMENT

A video details the decline of the film industry leader: nytimes.com Search Kodak

nesses. For Kodak’s new chief executive, along with veterans like Mr. Taber, the key to survival is in its research legacy, thousands of patents and a coterie of scientists who are making new discoveries. At the research lab, a laser prints a 256-count mesh of silver wires, thinner than a credit card, in one second. That technology could be the basis of a new kind of phone screen, cheaper and more useful than the touch screen. It is work that Mr. Taber and his veteran team are clearly proud of. “People ask me why I’m still here,” he said. “It’s because I see the possibilities.” But look closer. That laser runs

on Windows 2000, an operating system Microsoft basically discontinued a decade back. And most of the security badge photos carried by employees have ghostly stripes, a mark from decades of swiping the office security panels. If any future is coming for Kodak, it had better hurry up. Mr. Clarke is impatient. He came to Kodak a year ago and says he was shocked that the company had done so little to capitalize on the work of its scientists. Kodak’s technology for packaging sensors, he noted, was developed years ago. No one had figured out what to do with it. “We missed enormous opportunities,” he said. Kodak has a market capitalization of about $800 million. He noted that GoPro, a maker of cameras for extreme sports, is worth more than six times as much. With about $750 million in cash, a 2014 net loss of $114 million and

possibly more losses this year, the company needs partners to help develop and sell what Mr. Clarke thinks Kodak can offer. Among his partners for future business is Bobst, a $1.3 billion Swiss company that makes machinery to manufacture cardboard boxes. Bobst is interested in using Kodak’s digital printing technology to personalize packaging, said Jean-Pascal Bobst, the chief executive. “It could be revolutionary for corrugated boxes.” Another partner is Kingsbury, a machinery company in Rochester, that is working on the screens.Much of the technology, like the packaging sensors, existed inside Kodak long before Mr. Clarke arrived. Last summer, Mr. Clarke created a new division, Kodak Technology Solutions, to incubate more businesses. Kodak diversified into pharmaceuticals, paying $5.1 billion for Sterling Drug in 1988. Kodak’s researchers invented digital photography and put the technology in professional cameras in the 1990s. There were plans to move to digital consumer cameras, but the cash Kodak made on traditional photography made it complacent. By 2001, even before smartphone cameras, film sales started to fall by 20 percent to 30 percent every year. A huge expenditure to get into home printing, a last bid for the consumer, failed. Commercial film is a dwindling business. The 3.5 billion meters of film Kodak manufactured as late as 2007, enough to circle the earth about 88 times, has shrunk 96 percent. At an October meeting of 80 employees, Mr. Clarke was asked when Kodak’s 20-plus years of layoffs would end. “My answer, of course, was ‘Never,’ ” he recalled. “No individual company can say that things aren’t going to change.” In December, Mr. Clarke made good on his word, with more restructuring and layoffs.

Helping Africans Buy From the World By CLAIRE MARTIN

Last year, when Tunde Adebayo needed three inflatable bouncy castles for his event-planning business in Lagos, Nigeria, he turned to an online shopping service called MallforAfrica. “In Nigeria we’re sometimes skeptical about online businesses,” Mr. Adebayo said. So he tested the service with an inexpensive purchase. Now he frequently shops on the site. Chris and Tope Folayan, brothers who grew up in Nigeria and attended college in the United States, founded MallforAfrica in 2013. The company makes it easier for Nigerians to place online orders for American and British products that are difficult to find in Nigerian stores and that online retailers do not offer directly to most African consumers because of customs duties, shipping costs and the fear of fraud. The company is part of a grow-

Catering to buyers who crave American and British goods. ing tech industry in Nigeria that is attracting foreign investors. As Nigeria’s middle and upper classes have grown, so has the appetite for foreign goods. Mr. Folayan said he conceived of MallforAfrica in the early 2000s. Whenever he was preparing to return to Nigeria to visit family and friends, they would send him money to buy American products for them. “I was taking more than three bags,” he recalled. In 2011, he developed a web app for buying American and British products and asked friends and family to test it. The company now sells prod-

ucts from more than 120 online retailers, including Amazon, Bloomingdale’s and J. Crew. This year, it began shipping to customers in Kenya and Ghana. Customers place and pay for orders through the company’s website or mobile app. MallforAfrica then makes payments to other retailers on the customers’ behalf. The items are delivered to a warehouse in Oregon. From there, the company ships the merchandise to Africa. The entire process takes from four to 15 days. Mr. Folayan estimates that his company sends about four metric tons of products to Africa each week. Costs are kept down by shipping orders together in large containers to take advantage of bulk rates. MallforAfrica charges customers a fee of 3 percent to 5 percent of the cost of the product. Its annual sales for 2014 were $15 million to $20 million, accord-

THOMAS PATTERSON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

MallforAfrica ships products including electronics from a warehouse in Oregon to customers in Nigeria. ing to Internet Retailer magazine. One of the company’s biggest challenges is Nigeria’s reputation for fraud. “When the word Nigeria is mentioned, everyone stays alert, looking for a fraud angle,” Mr. Folayan said. To thwart fraudulent credit

card charges, MallforAfrica issues its own debit cards. Customers load funds on the cards before they start shopping. Customers present identification and sign paperwork verifying receipt of the goods. His goal, Mr. Folayan said, is a thriving business based on “zero fraud.”

Sanctity of Truth

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

MONEY & BUSINESS NEWS ANALYSIS

Takazumi Fukuoka is one of many Japanese who spend all their income, a problem for the retirement system.

Soaring Dollar Hurts Emerging Economies By NEIL IRWIN

KO SASAKI FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

In Japan, Saving Is Out of Style By JONATHAN SOBLE

TOKYO — Takazumi Fukuoka should be just what Japan needs to get its economy moving again. An art director at a small online media company, he has a free-spending social life, and as a part-time D.J., he often buys records in the music shops of Tokyo’s trendy Shibuya district. He eats and drinks out regularly, too. But his salary has barely budged in recent years. So he is spending every yen he earns. “I’m not saving,” said Mr. Fukuoka, 30. “There are people my age who are married with kids and have their own houses, but I don’t have any of that.” It is an increasingly common refrain in Japan — and one that complicates efforts to revitalize the country’s economy. The country’s savings rate, long one of the world’s highest, is now below zero. By comparison, the savings rate in Germany is forecast to be near 10 percent this year. For decades, many Japanese hoarded cash, especially after World War II, when protections like unemployment insurance and public pensions were scarce. Now Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is trying to inject life into the lackluster economy, in part by getting people to spend more. Yet stagnant wages mean many cannot do so without shortchanging their futures. Japan’s large aging population — a quarter of the population is now over 65 — is already spending savings, and younger people aren’t filling the void. About 40 percent of unmarried adults do not save, nor do 30 percent of families, according to the Central Council for Financial Services Information, a research group. A decade ago, the ratio for both groups was about 10 percentage points lower. Japan’s drop in savings has coincided with an erosion in pay and job security for many workers, especially younger ones. Recently announced pay in-

creases at Toyota, Panasonic and others apply to unionized, full-time employees. Many who don’t belong to that group aren’t spending more; they just have less to set aside. Now, there are growing fears about the ability of an overburdened pension system to support them in retirement. Mitsuaki Yokoyama, who writes best-selling books on how to save, promises to help readers with low incomes stabilize their finances. In the past, his audience was people in their 50s and 60s. “Now there are more young people,” he said. “Their salaries aren’t going up and they don’t know what to do.” Japanese households saved nearly a quarter of their incomes in the mid-1970s. While the savings rate declined after

Security erodes, compromising a Japanese recovery. that, it remained persistently higher than in other countries even through the 1990s. The decline has accelerated recently, as baby boomers have retired and begun to live off money they set aside during their working lives. Wages have been stuck at the levels of two decades ago. “Between my wife and I, we have two incomes, so I feel like we should be able to save more,” said Kozo Shimoda, 37, who manages the online shopping site of an apparel company. “But our savings isn’t increasing, so I don’t feel satisfied or secure.” The national household savings rate slipped to minus 1.3 percent in the last fiscal year, according to the government. The situation adds an extra layer of complexity to the task facing Mr. Abe.

Japan isn’t about to run out of spare cash soon. About 1,400 trillion yen, or $11.5 trillion, of household financial assets remain tucked away. Japanese businesses have replaced households as avid hoarders of cash. In an era of slow growth, they see few investment opportunities, so profits simply pile up in the bank. Corporate cash reserves now amount to about 40 percent of the Japanese stock market’s value, twice the ratio in the United States. One goal of Mr. Abe’s economic program is to get this idle cash back into the hands of individuals in the form of wage increases or higher returns to investors. The prime minister has lobbied hard on the pay issue, brokering meetings between executives and union leaders and dangling the prospect of corporate tax cuts as a reward for wage increases. Most experts say it would be a good thing if businesses hoarded less and spent more. But Mr. Abe’s aim is a delicate one, because the same pile of savings is supporting the country’s huge government debt. Naohiko Baba, the chief Japan economist at Goldman Sachs, worries what will happen if households and companies stop saving. At the equivalent of two and a half years of economic output, Japan’s debt load is the heaviest in the world. Yet about 90 percent of the debt is held locally, meaning that Japan is, in effect, lending to itself. Economists say that is one reason Japan has avoided the kind of bond market pressure that has sent less indebted countries like Greece into crisis. Mr. Baba said Japan could run short of the savings it needs to fund the debt locally by about 2020. After that, it would need to turn to foreign investors — a potentially destabilizing shift. “Once we have to rely on foreign investors to finance the debt,” he said, “that could be the beginning of a disaster for Japan.”

In India, a leading electric utility, Jaiprakash Power Ventures, is selling off facilities and negotiating with lenders to avoid a default, having increased its debt thirtyfold in six years. In China, one of the country’s largest real estate developers, the Kaisa Group, is threatening to pay only 2.4 cents on the dollar to its creditors in the face of corruption investigations and a mass resignation of executives, leaving would-be Chinese home buyers stuck in the middle of a multibillion dollar standoff. And in Brazil, bankruptcies among sugar producers have been driven not just by falling sugar prices, but by debts they owe in dollars, which are becoming more expensive practically by the day compared with the Brazilian currency. The soaring value of the American dollar is threatening emerging economies where companies have taken on trillions’ worth of dollar-based debt in recent years. The dollar rally has been driven by decisions by the Federal

Debts in dollars get costly for companies outside the U.S.

what degree their corporate sector is naked or exposed.” Companies in emerging markets that are primarily exporters might be O.K., because their revenue is in dollars, and so it should keep pace with rising debt service obligations. But for those focused domestically, like real estate developers or electric utilities, a more expensive dollar can make it much more costly to service debts. Money coming in is in a local currency like the Indian rupee or the Malaysian ringgit, and it suddenly takes a lot more of it to pay debts owed in dollars. Hyun Song Shin, who heads research at the Bank for International Settlements, argues that a rising dollar has an effect of tightening the supply of money across the global economy. A Malaysian compaThe Dollar Rises Against Other Currencies ny doing business Percent change from May 1, 2013, versus United States dollar with a South Korean company will 0 frequently carry out transactions in dollars, not ring–10% gits or won. Dollars will now Indonesian be available on Rupiah more stringent –20 Mexican terms. Clearly, Peso decisions made by Indian Janet Yellen, the Rupee Fed chairwoman, –30 and her Washington colleagues can have a big effect on Brazilian Real –40 transactions even July Oct. Jan. April July Oct. Jan. March when no American ’13 ’13 ’14 ’14 ’14 ’14 ’15 ’15 companies are involved. Source: Bloomberg THE NEW YORK TIMES To some, that creates echoes of the crises that Reserve, whose actions are havcrushed East Asian economies ing outsize, often unpredictable, in the late 1990s and Latin Amereffects across the globe, owing to the dollar’s central role in the ican economies in the early global financial system. Years 2000s. of low-interest-rate policies In those cases, there was also from the Fed have encouraged a currency mismatch that sent companies in these fast-growing the economies of South Korea, economies to borrow dollars Indonesia, Thailand and Argenbecause they could do it more tina into a tailspin. cheaply than if they took out The biggest difference is that loans in their local currencies, private companies, not governlike the Indian rupee or Braments, have incurred debt in a currency not their own. zilian real. By September 2014, The rising dollar and falling there were $9.2 trillion of such emerging-market currencies cut dollar loans outside the United both ways. As companies that States, up 50 percent since 2009, gorged on dollar debt run into according to the Bank for Intertrouble, falling currency values national Settlements. make exporters more competiThe dollar is up 25 percent against a basket of commonly tive on global markets. used international currencies. The International Monetary “Now that the dollar has Fund projects that emerging strengthened and rates are on economies worldwide will grow the rise, it presents a risk and 4.3 percent this year, compared a challenge to many emerging with 2.4 percent for the admarkets in that their debts have vanced economies. become more onerous, more As Raghuram Rajan, the Reburdensome,” said Hung Tran serve Bank of India’s governor, of the Institute of International told Bloomberg Television, “BorFinance, an association of globrowing in dollars is like playing Russian roulette, especially al banks. “The challenge for if you’re borrowing relatively authorities in emerging market short term.” countries is to understand to

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

Sanctity of Truth

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Along California’s coast, only 720 of the 1,450 sea lion pups found on the shore have survived.

Starving, Sea Lions Wash Up on Shores By JACK HEALY

CAPISTRANO BEACH, California — By the time Wendy Leeds reached him, the sea lion pup had little hope of surviving. Like more than 1,450 other sea lions that have washed up on California beaches this year, in what experts call a growing crisis for the animal, this 8-month-old pup was starving, stranded and hundreds of kilometers from a mother who still needed to nurse him and teach him to hunt and feed. The pup had lain on the beach for hours, becoming the target of an aggressive dog before wriggling onto the deck of a million-dollar oceanfront home, where the owner shielded him with an umbrella and called animal control. In came Ms. Leeds, an animal-care expert at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, which like other California rescue centers is being inundated with calls about emaciated sea lions. “It’s getting crazy,” she said. Experts suspect that unusually warm waters are driving fish and other food away from the coastal islands where sea lions

breed and wean their young. As the mothers spend time away from the islands hunting for food, hundreds of starving pups are swimming away from home and flopping ashore from San Diego to San Francisco. Many of the pups are leaving the Channel Islands, an eight-island chain off the Southern California coast, in a desperate search for food. But they are too young to travel far, dive deep or truly hunt on their own, scientists said. This year, rescuers are reporting five times more sea lion rescues than normal — 1,100 in February alone. The pups are turning up under fishing piers and in backyards, along inlets and on rocky cliffs. One was found curled up in a flower pot. “There are so many calls, we just can’t respond to them all,” Justin Viezbicke, who oversees stranding issues in California for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said on a conference call with reporters. “The reality is, we just can’t get to these animals.” Many are sick with pneumo-

PHOTOGRAPHS BY KENDRICK BRINSON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

nia, their throaty barks muted to rasping coughs. Parasites have swarmed their digestive systems. Some are so tired that they cannot scamper away when rescuers approach them. “They come ashore because if they didn’t, they would drown,” said Shawn Johnson, the director of veterinary science at Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. “They’re just bones and skin.

Warming seas force mothers to hunt for food far from home. They’re really on the brink of death.” Researchers say they worry about the long-term consequences of climate change and rising ocean temperatures on a sea lion population that has evolved over thousands of years to breed almost exclusively on the Channel

Islands, relying on circulating flows of Pacific upwellings to bring anchovies, sardines and other prey. “The environment is changing too rapidly,” said Sharon Melin, a wildlife biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service who found that pups on the islands were 44 percent underweight. “Their life history is so much slower that it’s not keeping up.” For now, rescue and rehabilitation groups like Pacific Marine Mammal Center, in Laguna Beach, have the feel of big-city emergency rooms. Volunteers and staff members pull up with crates of freshly beached sea lions to be weighed and examined. They warm the coldest ones in saltwater baths and try to coax them back to health with smoothies of herring, Karo syrup, salmon oil and other nutrients. Many have rebounded, gaining weight and graduating from indoor holding pens and tube feedings to eating small fish and romping in outdoor pools. The gaunt new arrivals lie forlornly inside, lethargic and scrawny.

The death rates are sobering, and staff members say they have to make quick and sometimes painful decisions to euthanize the pups unlikely to survive. Of the 1,450 sea lions scooped up from the shores, about 720 are now being treated, Dr. Viezbicke of NOAA said. On Capistrano Beach, Ms. Leeds hauled the quaking sea lion into a kennel, accepted a $20 donation from the homeowner who had called in the report and headed down the highway to a fishing pier where a lifeguard had spotted another pup in the sand. This one was cool to her touch with unsteady breathing, so she piled both animals into the same kennel so they could keep each other warm. They seemed to bond: When Ms. Leeds reached toward one, the other snapped at her hand. Within the hour, veterinary workers would decide that both pups were too starved and sick and had to be put down. For the moment, the two curled up together like a pair of brown socks for the ride back to the rescue center.

Every Drop Slips From the Bottle By KENNETH CHANG

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts — If a glue did not stick to the inside of the bottle, you might think it must not be a very good glue. But clinging glue has annoyed generations of parents and children attempting to scoop out the last bits with their fingers. LiquiGlide, a company started by a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and one of his students, has come up with a solution: a coating that makes the inside of the bottle wet and slippery. The glue slides to the nozzle or back to the bottom. The company said Elmer’s Products Inc. had signed a licensing agreement for the use of such coatings in glue containers. LiquiGlide has also licensed its technology to a packaging company in Australia. The idea there is to make the inside surface of paint can lids slippery so paint would slide back into the can instead of sticking to the lid.

Textured surfaces and lubricants ease a liquid’s slide. The technology could also have major environmental payoffs by reducing waste. In a few years, “we expect it to be ubiquitous,” said J. David Smith of LiquiGlide. Tests by Consumer Reports in 2009 found that much of what we buy never makes it out of the container — up to a quarter of skin lotion, 16 percent of laundry detergent and 15 percent of condiments like mustard and ketchup. “It’s pretty crazy, getting mayonnaise out,” said Kripa K. Varanasi, a professor at M.I.T., who is the co-founder of LiquiGlide. Dr. Varanasi did not set out to solve the problem of clingy glue or mayonnaise, but was thinking

of industrial challenges, like preventing ice formation on airplane wings and allowing more efficient pumping of crude oil. When liquids flow through a pipe, the layer of liquid along the pipe wall typically sticks, not moving. Farther from the pipe wall, the liquid flows, fastest at the center. “Different layers of water are sliding past one another, and therefore there is friction, which is viscosity, and that is why you need to pump it,” said Neelesh A. Patankar, a professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, who is not involved with LiquiGlide. The trick is to find a way around the so-called no-slip boundary condition. Dr. Patankar and others have been investigating superhydrophobic surfaces. A hydrophobic surface repels water; a superhydrophobic surface heightens the effect, repelling liquid more completely. Inspired by lotus leaves, the surface of a superhydrophobic

A Massachusetts company has developed a way to make the inside of containers slippery, reducing waste. LIQUIGLIDE INC.

material looks rough under a microscope. Water rolls up into balls, sitting on the tips of the rough surface, but mostly on air trapped between the droplet and the rough surface. The droplets roll off easily. Dr. Patankar and his colleagues have shown that with a clever choice of texture, trapped water vapor could serve as the persistent layer separating the water from the surface. LiquiGlide’s approach is similar, but it uses a liquid lubricant. The lubricant binds more strongly to the textured surface than to the liquid, and that allows the liquid to slide, and the

textured surface keeps the lubricant from slipping out. For food applications, the coatings are derived from edible materials. A mayonnaise bottle could be coming this year, the founders say. Easier-to-squeeze toothpaste could arrive in 2017. The company is also exploring coatings for petroleum storage tanks and pipelines. That could reduce the energy needed to push materials through the pipes, and speed up cleaning of tanks, with fewer chemicals. “There are significant savings,” Dr. Varanasi said, “from a sustainability perspective.”

Sanctity of Truth

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Thermal Images Provide a Look at the Invisible By JOHN MARKOFF

The thermal imaging systems used by the French police to find the two brothers suspected in the Charlie Hebdo massacre back in January are based on a rapidly evolving technology now turning up in hospitals, airports and even smartphones. Like GPS, thermal imaging was once used exclusively by the military and law enforcement. In 2013, a Massachusetts State Police helicopter used thermal imaging to locate the Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, after a homeowner reported that the fugitive was hiding in a boat in his yard. Last June, a military surveillance aircraft equipped with infrared sensors played a key role in the hunt for Justin Bourque, who had killed three police officers in Moncton, New Brunswick. The cameras found him hiding in deep brush late at night. While humans see reflected light, all objects that surround us — other people, animals and even “cold” objects such as ice — give off heat, radiation beyond the visible spectrum that can be imaged in the form of a “heat signature.” A human body usually gives off more heat than the surrounding field, so it stands out. Unlike night-vision devices, which amplify small amounts of visible light, thermal imaging cameras rely on sensors known as microelectromechanical systems, or MEMS, to make images from heat. Thermal imaging cameras are made up of a large array of exotic MEMS devices, as well as specialized optics. Conventional glass and plastic lenses cannot be used because they block heat. These

Screening for Ebola in South Korea included a thermal camera monitoring passengers for elevated temperatures.

CHOE JAE-KOO/YONHAP, VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sensing the heat thrown off by leaky pipes and fugitives. cameras require lenses manufactured of transparent silicon. Long used by the military for surveillance, thermal imaging has raised privacy concerns. In 2001, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the use of sensors by the police to detect

marijuana plants growing inside a home violated civil liberties because it constituted an unreasonable search. Even so, the technology has found its way into low cost-commercial applications where there are no clear legal barriers. Essess, a software company started by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has equipped a fleet of vehicles with thermal imaging sensors that make it possible to quickly map energy efficiency in neighborhoods and commercial buildings.

At FLIR Systems of Wilsonville, Oregon, the world’s largest maker of thermal imaging gear, military and government customers once accounted for 70 percent of sales; today that figure is roughly 30 percent. The company, which had $1.5 billion in revenue in 2013, makes thermal imaging cameras that cost less than $300. “Our target is the do-it-yourself homeowner,” said Andy Teich of FLIR. The company also sells a thermal imaging system that connects to smartphones so homeowners can hunt for air

leaks and plumbing problems. Thermal imaging technologies have also become part of the arsenal used to halt the spread of disease. Infrared cameras at airports detect high body temperature as passengers pass through airport terminal checkpoints. The cameras, which can detect minute changes in body temperature, were initially used in Southeast Asia in response to outbreaks of SARS and bird flu. More recently they have been used to alert officials to people who might have contracted Ebola.

Memories Seem to Fade to Make Room for Stronger Ones By PAM BELLUCK

What happens to forgotten memories — say, old computer passwords and friends’ old phone numbers? Scientists have long held two theories. One is that older memories do not diminish but get obscured by new memories. The other is that older memories become weaker, that pulling to mind new passwords or phone numbers degrades old recollections. If old memories stay strong and are merely obscured by new ones, they may be easier to recover. That could be positive for someone trying to remember an acquaintance’s name, but difficult for someone trying to lessen memories of abuse. Now, a study claims to show that people’s ability to remember something and the pattern of brain activity that cognition shows appear to diminish when a competing memory gets stronger. Using brain scans, authors of the study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, appear to have identified neural fingerprints of specific memories, distinguishing brain activity patterns produced when viewing a picture of a necklace, say, from a

picture of binoculars. The experiment, conducted by scientists in Birmingham and Cambridge, England, involved several stages with 24 participants first trained to associate words to two unrelated pictures. They then completed tasks in a brain scanner. First, they were shown a cue word and asked to recall the image they had been trained to link to that word so that image would become the dominant memory. For example, if “sand” was associated first with Marilyn Monroe and then with a hat, scientists wanted participants to indicate that they were recalling Monroe. Each cue word was sprinkled into the test four times, so scientists could see if participants looking at the word “sand” increasingly chose Monroe over the competing memory of the hat. They did. Next, scientists wanted to see what happened to the hat memory. They showed people two different pictures of Monroe and two hat pictures, asking them which version they had been trained to recognize. If the hat memory had not degraded, scientists reasoned, people would pick the right hat as often as they picked the right Monroe.

To measure success, scientists devised a standard: how well people recalled the correct picture of an unrelated famous person or object. These were images they had been shown early on but would have no reason to recall well because they had not been cued to remember them. For faces, a standard was two pictures of Albert Einstein, and people picked the right Marilyn Monroe about as well as they

A study shows how recollections dim with competition. picked the right Einstein. For objects, a standard was two pictures of goggles. People were better at remembering the correct goggles than they were the correct hat. Brice Kuhl, a professor at New York University who was not involved in the study, said that those competing recollections get weaker. “You might think it would be better or at least the

same” as the standard pictures “because you’ve just actually had a reminder for the hat, the cue word.” That people had trouble remembering the right hat, he said, makes it less likely the hat memory was just obscured by Monroe. “It’s pretty hard to think that your inability to pick the right hat has anything to do with Marilyn Monroe at that point.” Next, researchers obtained a “neural signature” in the prefrontal cortex as participants viewed each picture six times, said a study author, Maria Wimber. Matching those signatures to brain patterns from the cue word test, researchers saw that when the word “sand” was first shown, people’s brains reflected both Monroe and hat patterns, but with subsequent “sand” cues, their brains produced fewer hat traces. “We watched the memories being suppressed, actively degraded,” Dr. Wimber said. “It’s not just that the target memories get stronger; the other memories get weaker.” That interpretation is not necessarily accepted by proponents of memory overshadowing and similar theories. “I buy that the brain patterns become less and less similar to

the hat,” said David E. Huber of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. “Their interpretation of that is that the memory of the hat has been degraded. It’s also possible that increasingly, you’ve learned to think about something other than the hat.” Dr. Huber noted that while people performed below the standard level at picking the right hat, it was surprising they were not better than standard with Monroe. Dr. Wimber said that had surprised her, but her theory is that mental blurring occurs “the more often you bring a picture back to mind,” so details get lost. Kenneth Norman, a neuroscientist at Princeton University in New Jersey, who was not involved in the study, said therapeutic applications of memory weakening could include extinguishing fears of something like snakes. “If you show someone a cartoon image of a snake, cute, funny,” he said, “in the moment you’ve caused liking the snake to overcome not liking the snake. If you want to actually weaken a memory, what you need to do is flush it out. It’s the process of the memory coming to mind as a competitor, but losing the competition.”

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

Sanctity of Truth

N E W YO R K A R T S

Central Park’s History, Told in Colored Rope By RANDY KENNEDY

CHANG W. LEE/THE NEW YORK TIMES; BELOW, NICOLE BENGIVENO/THE NEW YORK TIMES

The Whitney, Branching Out By CAROL VOGEL

When the Whitney Museum of American Art opens its new building in Manhattan’s meatpacking district on May 1, it’s the big things everyone will notice first: the sweeping views west to the Hudson River; the romantic silhouettes of Manhattan’s wooden water towers; the four outdoor terraces for presenting sculptures, performances and movie screenings; and the tiered profile of its steel-paneled facade, reminiscent of the Whitney’s Modernist, granite-clad Marcel Breuer building on Madison Avenue, which had been the museum’s home since 1966. Its new home, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano, offers 4,650 square meters of galleries, unencumbered by structural columns. “The game changer is the space,” said Donna De Salvo, the Whitney’s chief curator. In its former home, only the fifth floor — some 718 square meters — was reserved for the permanent collection. Now, 1,900 square meters are dedicated to its holdings, which have grown from 2,000 works 49 years ago to 22,000 pieces. Although the Whitney calls itself a museum of American art, for most of its life it hasn’t had a concrete definition of just what that means. Every bit of the new gallery space will be devoted to searching for the soul of American art, using the most in-depth presentation of the museum’s collection ever. In addition to the Whitney’s signature works — Alexander Calder’s “Circus,” Edward Hopper’s “Early Sunday Morning,” Andy Warhol’s “Green Coca-Cola Bottles,” Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Summer Days” and Jasper Johns’s “Three Flags” — the opening show will include many areas of collecting that the museum has sought to strengthen in recent years. There are more examples of film and videos by a younger generation of artists, like Cory Arcangel and Paul Chan. There will be more minority artists, more female artists, a more comprehensive collection of prewar photography and more examples of artist collectives, like Asco, the Chicano collective from Los Angeles.

The Whitney Museum of American Art will open May 1 in a new building designed by Renzo Piano.

Beyond the $422 million building and the rich display of its holdings, there is one small detail that says much about the museum’s vision: the wall labels. They will say where the artist was born and where he or she died. “Although people have always taken for granted that the Whitney is a museum of American art, we’re trying to signal in a concrete way that who an American artist is has always been open to question,” said Scott Rothkopf, a Whitney curator. “Besides, the United States is a country of immigrants, and immigration is one of the most pressing topics in the world today.” Eighty-five years ago, when the heiress and sculptor Ger-

Vast spaces opening to a more inclusive set of artists. trude Vanderbilt Whitney founded the institution, the notion of what could be called American art was as amorphous as it is now. In 1931, to mark the opening of the museum’s first home, on Eighth Street in Greenwich Village, The New York Times praised what it called the “elastic policy that has governed the purchasing of works of art,” adding that “no attempt has been made to apply any hard-and-fast rules as to what art is manifestly American.” Mr. Rothkopf said, “It’s still a melting pot of artists who have either been born here or lived and worked in the United States for a

substantial period of time.” Even the title of the inaugural show — “America Is Hard to See,” taken from a 1951 Robert Frost poem and a 1970 movie directed by Emile de Antonio about Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 presidential campaign — further underscores the difficulty curators have had deciding what constitutes American art now. Among the more than 650 pieces, there will be examples ranging from the early 20th century to those made recently. Included are works by artists who are not American by birth but have resided in the United States, including “July 4, 1967,” by the Japan-born conceptualist On Kawara. The curators traveled the world to see how places like Tate Britain in London and the Phillips Collection in Washington organized their collections. And they studied places like the Centre Pompidou in Paris to see how they presented broad arcs of Modernism. “We didn’t want to tell a textbook story of canonical movements,” Mr. Rothkopf said, “but be more complex, adding artists who challenged conventional art history.” A rigorous editing process went into putting together a new handbook, the first one since 2001. Rather than just have one image on the cover, the handbook features a mosaic of work by artists including Asco, Hopper, Yayoi Kusama, Alice Neel, Jack Goldstein and Peter Hujar. Like the new Whitney itself, said Dana Miller, curator of the permanent collection, it is intended to be a reflection of “the melting pot of what American is and what art making is today.”

As a pastoral sculpture socked into the heart of a metropolis, Central Park has fascinated and provoked artists for decades. Claes Oldenburg hired gravediggers to excavate and refill a hole in it, to form an “invisible monument.” Christo and Jeanne-Claude put orange gates in it. Diane Arbus used her camera to draw deeply from its well of the weird. So when Tatiana Trouvé, a highly regarded sculptor who works in Paris, was asked by the Public Art Fund to create a work relating to the park, her instincts told her to dream big. The piece she made, “Desire Lines,” is — in a manner of thinking — the size of the park itself. It is composed of kilometers of colored rope that, if unwound from the various-sized wooden spools that hold them, would stretch along every centimeter of the 212 paths, by Ms. Trouvé’s count, that snake through the park’s 341-hectare rectangle. Like the Borges story about a map so large and detailed it corresponds precisely to the territory it maps, Ms. Trouvé’s installation plays in the netherworld between the real and the represented. That seems only fitting because, as she said in an interview recently, she came to know the park first through studying maps and pictures and only later set foot in it. “It was very interesting to me because you could see that it was not just land, but all the pipes and cables and lights and everything that is needed to run it,” she said. “It’s like a big machine, a lot of which you don’t see. So making this, for me, was like making a sculpture on top of another sculpture.” As she said this, she was standing inside an old Park Avenue storefront, converted last year into an exhibition space by the Gagosian Gallery, which represents Ms. Trouvé. In the middle of the space stood a small-scale model of “Desire Lines,” three black metal racks full of spools of cord, like something you might see being pushed in a cart through the garment district. On tables were long rectangular handdrawn maps she had made of the park’s sinuous paths, accented with copper and tin. The park installation is the

first public commission Ms. Trouvé, 46, has completed in the United States. For over two years, she worked on the Central Park project. (She likes to work mostly in solitude, with the occasional help of an assistant and fabricators for complex objects.) She wanted the park and its paths to function both as physical spaces and evocations of culture. So she dived into what she called “the wide world of marches,” and used metal tags to assign each of her 212 spools — thus, each of the park’s paths — a political march or a walk from history or art or song. “The places in the park already have these names that make it into something like a history of modern society: the Engineers’ Gate, the Women’s Gate, the Artists’ Gate, the Warriors’ Gate, the Farmers’ Gate,” she said. And so, for example, she designated one path as an analog of the March 7, 1965, civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The

A sculptor who works in Paris knew to think big. path from the Scholars’ Gate around the Dairy and past Cop Cot represents the “Hands Up, Walk Out” national marches staged on December 1, 2014, to protest the death of Michael Brown and other police killings of unarmed people. And another path represents the October 21, 1967, March on the Pentagon. But the walks also traverse more poetic ground, like Philippe Petit’s tightrope walk between the World Trade Center towers; or the artist David Hammons’s “Phat Free,” a 1995 performance in which he kicked a bucket down a deserted New York street at night; or Frank Zappa’s “Winos Do Not March.” “There are so many artists who have done work about walking, it’s sad to me that I can’t use all of them here,” Ms. Trouvé said. Brightening, she added that she very well might, someday: “I could keep working on this for years.”

SAM HODGSON FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Tatiana Trouvé, with ‘‘Desire Lines’’ in Central Park, which she says is ‘‘like a big machine.’’

Sanctity of Truth

THE NEW YORK TIMES INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

ARTS & DESIGN

Contest Gives Poetry A Nudge in Ireland By DOUGLAS DALBY

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES HILL FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

On Culture, a Tolstoy Adviser By RACHEL DONADIO

YASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — On a sunny afternoon, Vladimir Tolstoy, a great-great-grandson of Leo Tolstoy and an adviser on cultural affairs to President Vladimir V. Putin, strode up the birch-lined path that leads to the family compound where his forebear wrote “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina.” It is now a state museum. At each step, he was greeted by staff members heading home for the day. “Good evening,” Mr. Tolstoy said with a warm smile. “Good evening,” the museum employees responded. “Please send our best regards to our czar and tell him we respect him very much,” one woman told Mr. Tolstoy. Friendly and feudal, the scene at this estate 200 kilometers south of Moscow captured something of the mood in Russia, where Mr. Putin is regarded as a czar, especially outside the big cities, even as the liberal intelligentsia reviles him. It also reflects the benefits for Mr. Putin of enlisting the support of a member of an illustrious family in his efforts to rouse national pride. Tapped by Mr. Putin in 2012, Mr. Tolstoy, 52, has emerged as the more conciliatory, highbrow and Western-friendly face of Kremlin cultural policy. He works with Russia’s culture minister, Vladimir Medinsky, who is known for aggressive assertions of Russian superiority and conservative values. Mr. Tolstoy said he had worked to remove language from a policy draft that was leaked last year stating that “Russia is not Europe.” But he is clear in his support of Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea, a territory many believe should not have been ceded to Ukraine in 1954. “Leo Tolstoy was a Russian officer who defended Russia in the Fourth Bastion in Sevastopol,” he said, speaking through a translator. “For us, in our mind, this has always been Russia.” He was referring to the siege of Sevastopol in 1854-55 in the Crimean War, in which Russia fought the allied forces of France, Britain, Sardinia and the Otto-

Vladimir Tolstoy at the estate where his forebear wrote. Above, Yasnaya Polyana, now a museum, has been kept much as it was when the novelist Leo Tolstoy died in 1910.

man Empire and ultimately lost control of the city. “As a descendant of the Russian officer Leo Tolstoy, I cannot have any other attitude toward that,” he added. Mr. Tolstoy was raised in a middle-class family and trained as a journalist. In 1994, he was named director of Yasnaya Polyana, which is centered on the house where the novelist wrote and has been preserved as it was at the time of his death, in 1910. Mr. Tolstoy’s wife, Ekaterina Tolstaya, is now the director. Mr. Tolstoy said that Mr. Putin had offered him the post after a

A Kremlin voice for national pride, but one kept in balance. meeting of museum directors in April 2012 at which Mr. Tolstoy criticized the government’s cultural strategy. “When the meeting was over, the president asked me to stay for a bit and asked if I was so critical, could I do this job better?” Mr. Tolstoy said. Now, he briefs Mr. Putin and acts as a bridge between Russia’s cultural world and the Kremlin. On a recent day, he was fielding calls from Irkutsk, Siberia, for help with funeral arrangements for the writer Valentin Rasputin, whom Mr. Tolstoy said he regarded as the best writer of the past half-century. He was known for

his vivid portrayals of the environmental devastation caused by industrialization in rural Russia and for his conservatism: He called for prosecuting the punk activist group Pussy Riot after its performance in a Moscow church and inveighed against perestroika, the liberalization initiated under Mikhail S. Gorbachev before the Soviet Union disintegrated. Mr. Tolstoy described himself as a moderate who could “find balance” between traditionalists and liberals looking westward. “On the one hand, Russia is open for cooperation,” he said. “And on the other hand, we have our own perspective on good and evil.” Victor Erofeyev, a writer who has been critical of Mr. Putin, said he thought Mr. Tolstoy reflected a growing tendency to see Russia as purer than the West. “They really believe in it,” he said. “It’s not like during Communist times under Brezhnev” when “people say, ‘I love Communism,’ but we never believe in it. Here they play with a notion of Russia in a more delicate way. They say, ‘You know, Russia is still is a country of big culture, it’s a country of big human relationships, friendship, love affairs and so on, and that’s why we are more interesting than the West.’ ” As dozens of visitors flocked to Yasnaya Polyana, there was snow on the ground and the birch trees caught the afternoon light. In Tolstoy’s novels, “there are no characters who are complete villains,” his great-great-grandson said. “All of his characters are real people.”

DUBLIN — Since the days of the bards, when poets served as aides-de-camp to medieval chieftains here, Ireland has built a reputation as a birthing ground for legend and verse. “Bards were the Mad Men of their day — they were the Madison Avenue spin doctors and makers of political fables for their leaders,” said Declan Kiberd, a professor of Irish studies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. Like the church and the farm, though, poetry holds a lesser place in Irish society today, despite the legacy of Yeats and a love for Seamus Heaney, the Nobel laureate whose 2013 funeral was televised. So, to rekindle interest, RTE, the national broadcaster, ran a contest to find Ireland’s best-loved poem written in the past 100 years. The winner was announced by the president of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins: “When all the others were away at Mass” by Heaney, relating a quiet moment when he and his mother peeled potatoes: I remembered her head bent towards my head, Her breath in mine, our fluent dipping knives — Never closer the whole rest of our lives. To the organizers of the contest, declaring a winner was not as important as creating a national conversation about poetry. RTE received 445 nominations from the public and then enlisted a jury to cull a list of 10 for the final vote. The list was noteworthy as much for its omissions as its inclusions — no “Lake Isle of Innisfree” or “On Raglan Road,” although other works by Yeats (“Easter 1916”) and Patrick Kavanagh (“A Christmas Childhood”) got the nod. “The jury’s brief was to choose those poems that told a story of Ireland over the past century,” said Sarah Ryder, executive producer of arts at the network. In Bellaghy, near Heaney’s birthplace, a visitors center is being built to honor the poet. “We suffered a chasmic blow” when Heaney died, said Peter Fallon, the founder of Gallery Press, the foremost

Irish poetry publishing house, “but people are writing extraordinary poems, and I have faith in the art form.” Like other arts organizations that depend on government grants, Gallery Press has suffered since economic austerity took hold in 2008. Support for the arts fell to 75.9 million euros in 2014, from 92.3 million euros (about $97.6 million) in 2011, a disproportionate drop compared with other areas of public funding. “I think in many ways we have rolled over too easily and accepted the cuts — I believe we should be more strident in putting our case to government,” said Maureen Kennelly, director of Poetry Ireland, which promotes the art form. Professor Kiberd said that he was not surprised by the inclusion of many works that have been, at some time, part of early education in Ireland. “Popular poems are often those we re-

In the land of Yeats, reviving an interest in verse. member from our school days for what went on around us at the time — like certain music, they remind us of the intensity of youth,” he said. He said he generally supported the competition as a way to revive the interest of those who abandon poetry once they pass through school gates. Ms. Kennelly said she supported the competition as an awareness-raising exercise even if “most poets probably wouldn’t agree with the idea of poetry as competition.” But Mr. Fallon, of Gallery Press, was mildly critical. “It will probably gain us more publicity in the short term even if my engagement is with the long term.” He added: “Immediate responses to current affairs may be articulated by journalists, but these are fireworks as against the slow burn of poetry, and I would rather take my heat from the slow burn.”

PAULO NUNES DOS SANTOS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

Oscar Wilde, John Millington Synge and Sean O’Casey — on posters in Dublin — help promote the arts.

Business | Money Line

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Tony Chukwunyem

Credit to corporate sector increased in Q1 2015 – CBN

esults of a survey of credit conditions in the first quarter of 2015 conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have revealed that credit to the corporate sector increased during the period and will likely further go up in the second quarter.

The survey results posted on the apex bank’s website showed that lenders reported increased demand for corporate credit across all sizes of firms in Q1, 2015. According to the survey, “the overall availability of credit to the corporate sector increased in Q1, 2015 and was expected to also

Boost Lenders cite increase in capital investments

increase in Q2, 2015. The most important factors contributing to increased credit availability were changing sector specific risk, changing economic outlook, market share objective, changing appetite for risk and changing liquidity positions. Lenders also reported that commercial property prices

positively influenced credit availability of the commercial real estate sector in both current and next quarters. “The lenders reported that the demand for secured lending from small businesses in Q1, 2015 were higher in comparison with other business types. The most signifi-

Sterling Bank to boost agric funding in 2015

terling Bank Plc has restated its commitment to the strategic growth of the agricultural sector by increasing the proportion of loans allocated to it from the total loans earmarked for disbursement to various sectors of the economy from five per cent 10 per cent in 2015. The bank will also be willing to partner with major stakeholders – both private and government in the sector to ensure that farmers begin to see agriculture more as a business. Speaking at the 2015 conference organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the International

Association of Research Scholars & Fellows (IARSAF), the bank’s Group Head, Agric Finance, Mrs. Bukola Awosanya, stated that the five per cent allocated to the sector in 2014 was fully disbursed to the various sub-sectors across the value chain for the financing of various projects nationwide. Awosanya who disclosed that the bank is a major financier of one of the largest rice mills in Nigeria as well as a state of the art soya bean oil milling plant, stated that the bank had also provided fund to financing poultry businesses. Awosanya who also led a delegation from the bank to the Deputy Direc-

tor General, Partnership and Capacity Development of IITA, Dr. Kenton Dashiell, said that the decision of the bank was informed by the need to provide adequate funding in alignment with the on-going reforms in the sector aimed at repositioning it as an attractive business proposition, an input provider for the manufacturing sector and a key foreign exchange earner for the country. President of IARSAF, Mrs. Bunmi Ibitoye, who commended the bank for its contribution to the growth of the sector in Nigeria called on other corporate bodies to emulate Sterling Bank by pro-

viding funds to support research works being carried out by professionals in the field to solve major issues confronting the sector. Ibitoye also urged banks to encourage the sector by granting loans to small farmers at affordable interest rates which “today stands as a major problem confronting operators, especially start -ups”. She also called on government to provide the basic infrastructure that would guarantee easy movement of inputs to the farm area, better storage of harvest and efficient transport of harvests to the market to ensure that farmers optimize their investments.

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

N16,833,244.57 N16,509,472.5m 8.2 0.0000 13 10.899 7.96 17.01 US$61.39 US$29,778,223,398

Description

TTM

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

1.21 2.53 3.22 5.39 7.98 16.47

Tenor (Days) Call 7 30 60 90 180 365

Rate (%) 11.9167 12.3333 12.6667 12.9167 13.2167 13.5000 13.7500

NIBOR

Bid Price 90.20 99.25 104.10 109.35 114.15 76.60

A Offer Yield 13.01 13.40 13.47 13.49 13.44 13.59

Price 90.35 99.40 104.40 109.65 114.45 76.90

Tenor (Months) 1 2 3 6 9 12

Rate (%) 12.1827 12.2737 12.3744 12.8521 12.8535 13.8443

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

Bid 12.10 12.10 12.05

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

NITTY

Yield 12.86 13.33 13.35 13.42 13.38 13.53

Money Market Offer 11.85 11.85 11.80 Offer 163.38

cations approved in Q1, 2015 increased,” the survey stated. In addition, the results showed that demand for unsecured credit card lending and an overdraft/ personal loan from households increased in the current quarter, and it is expected to further increase in the second quarter. “However, demand for unsecured credit card lending from small businesses was expected to decrease in Q1, 2015, while demand for overdraft/ personal loans from small businesses was expected to further increase. In spite of the tightening in the credit scoring criteria in total unsecured loan applications in Q1 2015, the proportion of approved households’ total loan applications improved in the current quarter,” the survey stated. The results also showed that secured loan performance, as measured by default rates and losses given default, improved in the review quarter. According to the survey, lenders expected improved performance as both default rates and loss given default are expected to further fall in Q2, 2015. The survey also stated unsecured loan performance on credit card loans and overdraft/personal loans to households, as measured by default rate and losses given default also improved in Q1 2015 and were expected to further improve in the next quarter.

Bob Diamond’s African Banking plan runs into headwinds

Dec, 2014 Dec, 2013 Feb, 2015 2/5/2014 24/2/2015 11/6/2013 Dec, 2013 Dec, 2013 24/2/2015 1/4/2015 Source:CBN

FGN Bonds

cant factor cited by lenders as the main driver of change in the demand for lending was increase in capital investments in Q1, 2015. Increase in inventory finance is expected to be the main driver in the next quarter.” The survey results, however, showed that secured credit to households decreased in Q1, 2015 though it was expected to increase in the next quarter. The results attributed the decrease to changing liquidity positions and tight wholesale funding conditions. It also reported that the availability of unsecured credit to households increased in Q1, 2015 and it is expected to increase further in Q2, 2015. The survey said the increase was caused by changing cost/availability of funds, market share objectives and changing appetite for risk. Similarly, the results showed that demand for secured lending for house purchase and consumer loans increased in Q1 2015 and was expected to increase further in Q2, 2015. “Despite lenders stance in tightening the credit scoring criteria in the current quarter, the proportion of loan appli-

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

Rate (%) 11.33 11.63

NIFEX Spot ($/N)

Bid 163.4000

Offer 163.5000 Source: FMDQ

tlas Mara, an investment company focusing on investing in African financial institutions that was formed by the former Barclays executive Bob Diamond and Ashish Thakka, a young Dubaibased entrepreneur, has run into headwinds just one year after it made its first investment on the continent. According to the Wall Street Journal, the exBarclays chief company is facing allegations of overpaying some of its managers and failing to disclose information about Diamond’s personal investment in one of the banks the listed investment firm has bought a stake in. Some investors and corporate governance experts are questioning why Diamond withheld crucial information regarding his personal shareholding in one of Atlas Mara’s acquisition targets until months after Atlas Mara offered to buy it. “From a governance

standpoint, having the investor on both sides of the transaction is problematic and obviously raises some questions about the transaction,” Charles Elson, chairman of corporate governance at the University of Delaware, told Wall Street Journal. Atlas Mara’s Chief Executive John Vitalo, however, refuted any claim of poor corporate governance at the firm, adding that its objectives were “100 percent intact”. Diamond’s first investment in BancABC worth $210 million early last year also seems to have been a bad pick according to analysts. The bank, which has huge bad loans exposures in Zimbabwe — a country whose economy is quickly deteriorating due to poor politics, fell below the minimum capital requirement in Tanzania. Its top management team left in a huff in December last year claiming they were unhappy with what they saw as bureaucratic processes imposed by Atlas Mara.

Business | News

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria’s Sovereign Wealth Fund gets global rating

he Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has been ranked second out of 51 global sovereign wealth funds under the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute transparency index ranking for 2014. The new ranking,published recently,showed the authority upgraded from four points to nine out of a possible 10 during the second quarter of 2014, making it the only African Fund to be so ranked. Managing Director/ CEO of the Authority, Uche Orji, while pre-

AfDB grants FirstRand $100m to boost Africa’s trade finance Tony Chukwunyem

he African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $100-million unfunded Risk Participation Agreement (RPA) for FirstRand Bank Limited as part of efforts to boost trade financing in Africa. In a statement, the AfDB said the initiative was launched to support African banks, which often face major hurdles in obtaining credit support from international confirming banks to undertake sizeable transactions largely due to their relatively small capital bases. Under the agreement, the two parties will share the default risk on a portfolio of trade transactions originated by issuing banks in Africa and confirmed by First Rand across vital economic sectors such as industry, services, agribusiness and manufacturing. The AfDB said the initiative would foster financial sector development and deepen regional integration, while providing risk mitigation for trade-related transactions handled by African banks. According to the statement, the three-year facility is a 50/50 risk sharing arrangement that will enable First Rand to match AfDB’s undertaking in every transaction and at its peak, will have a portfolio size of $200 million. The initiative is targeted at supporting over $1 billion of trade in equipment, raw materials, intermediate and finished goods over the 3-year period.

senting extracts of the 2014 financial result and performance in Abuja, said that the new rating lept NSIA from global joint 33rd to global joint 2nd out of 51 Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) ranked by the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute (SWFI). Orji expressed surprise with the rating, saying that considering the young age of NSIA, the recognition might have come as a result of its commitment to Santiago principles on in-

dependence, openness, transparency in all its operations, including letting its stakeholders know what was happening in the business. “Our responsibility is to keep the investments safe and keeping Nigerians informed about what is going on. Many people see this as a mark of transparency,” Orji said. “We have decided to be as open and transparent as possible with our shareholders. If it impresses somebody and we are recognised

with a ranking, great. But, that’s not what we work towards, rather to ensure that at any point in time, the people know where their money is being invested,” he said. Highlights of the financial results for the period ended December 31, 2014, Orji said, showed net income growing by over 3,024 per cent from N505.7million to N15.8 billion, while total revenues grew by 267 per cent from N1.96 billion to N7.2 billion. Though Orji said that

the full report would be published in the next couple of months, he also reported a significant change in the fair value of assets, which rose to about N10.5 billion as opposed to a loss of N19.5 million in 2013. He said investment securities also grew 161.6 per cent from N45.1 billion to N118billion, while borrowing, which stood at N1.4billion in 2013, was fully liquidated, with the authority investing N13.6 billion in subsidiaries and associ-

ates during the year under review. Two of the subsidiaries – NSIA Motorways Investment Company and KG Brussels – he said, were consolidated in the books along with a stake in the Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company. Orji said that the Authority’s strong financial performance came primarily from investments in secondary interests by private equity, developed market-long only equities and absolute return hedge fund investments.

Business |Stock Watch

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Unilever Nigeria: Competition stifles profits TOUGH TIMES Full year numbers came in behind consensus estimates Chris Ugwu

hallenges of erratic supply of public electricity, weak logistics, insecurity and other high costs of operations attributable to poor infrastructure have continued to make the business operating environment difficult, especially the real sector of the economy. However, while it is accepted generally that the overall economic and business climate is a mixed fortune due to mounting economic challenges, Unilever Nigeria Plc is not insulated. Although its share price movements have remained fairly firm, it is, however, susceptible to the challenges facing the manufacturing businesses in Nigeria. Unilever has continued to get its fair share of the mixed fortune as 2014 full year results saw its pre-tax profits dropped 58 per cent to N2.8 billion. Market analysts had also predicted that the company’s profit was likely to decline in 2014 following a disappointing start in the year. And just as expected, the company’s full year financials released at the end of 2014 showed that the manufacturing firm recorded a decline in most key performance indices. According to analysts, the current overall results reflected Unilever’s natural vulnerability to volume slowdown in its sizable HPC segment as pressures mount on consumer discretionary incomes. They noted that although the onset of electoral cycle could raise prospects about an uptick in sales, the intensifying competition from cheaper priced substitutes would likely result in subdued revenue growth in coming quarters. However, market sentiments for the shares of the company have remained relatively firm on the back of improved product rebranding, introduction of new product packing across a wide spectrum and increased market penetration. Stockbrokers attributed investors’ sustained confidence in the stock to continued sales; marketing and distribution efforts as well as its strong presence across Nigeria. The company has also continued to retain the top spot in the personal and household products

sub-sector of consumer goods sector in terms of share price and market capitalisation to what financial analysts believe will be sustained in the next few years. The share price, which closed at N49.99 per share in May 31, 2014, has recorded a dip in growth that when the closing gong rang on Thursday, the share price stood at N44.45, a decline of N5.54 or 12.46 per cent year to date. Financials Taking a cue from the loss in the 2013 financial year, Unilever began year 2014 on a negative trajectory as it reported a 46 per cent decline in its pre-tax profit for the first quarter ended March 30, 2014. In filings with the Nigeria Stock Exchange, the company’s pre-tax profit went down by 46 per cent from N2.021 billion in the Q1 of 2013 to N1.089 billion in the review period of 2014. Also, post-tax profit declined 40.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2014 as the company declared N750.629 million compared to N1.264 billion reported in same period of 2013. Similarly, revenue dropped 2.8 per cent from N14.233 billion in the Q1 of 2013 to N13.834 billion in the review period of 2014. The company continued with bad numbers with a report of 49 per cent drop in pre-tax profit during the third quarter ended September 30, 2014. According to information from the Exchange, the company’s profit before tax declined to N2.546 billion from N5.037 billion in the same period of last year, indicating a loss of 49 per cent. Revenue also dropped to N43.632 billion, compared with N45.614 billion last year, a drop of four per cent. The full year 2014 financials also showed a negative rout as Unilever reported a revenue of N55.7 billion, representing a seven per cent drop from the N60 billion reported in 2013. Pre-tax profits dropped by 58 per cent to N2.8 billion from N6.79 billion posted in 2013. The drop in profits was affected by the drop in top-line revenue as well as increase in operating expenses for the period. Profit after tax also dropped by 79 per cent to N2.4 billion for the year compared to N4.7 billion reported a year earlier. Earnings per share also dropped by 49 per cent to 64 kobo from N1.25 posted in 2013. Unilever also proposed a dividend payment of 10 kobo per share payable to shareholders who are included in the register before Aril 13-17, 2015. The dividend payments represent a paltry 15.6 per cent dividend payout.

MD, Unilever Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh

Share price movement of Unilever Nigeria Plc 2014 May 31

N49.99

Jun 30

N54.00

Jul 31

N49.00

Aug 31

N49.00

Sept 30

N46.85

Oct 31

N36.10

Nov 30

N35.79

Dec 31

N35.80

2015 Jan 31

N34.50

Feb 28

N34.21

Mar 13

N42.20

Apr 2

N44.45

Nigerian consumer goods firms are still experiencing a challenging time

Looking ahead The Chairman, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Chief Nnaemeka Achebe, had said that the company would focus on long-term profitability. Achebe, who is also the Obi of Onitsha, said at the company’s 89th Annual General Meeting in Lagos, that as the company continued its sustainability journey, it is evident that it would have to sacrifice short-term profitability to build a more enduring business and fully harness the opportunities that the Nigerian market portends. He assured Unilever’s shareholders that the company’s plan for growth would lead to greater returns. “As we maintain single-minded focus on our consumers and customers, strengthening our core categories, driving cost and complexity reduction with vigour, building people capability and a fit organisation, and leveraging our Unilever Sustainable Living Plan for growth, we are confident that all these deliberate thrusts can only translate into evident value addition in the longer term for all stakeholders.” Achebe explained that although the company’s results for the 2013 financial year were reflective of short-term effects of deliberate investment strategy to achieve a more sustainable future, the fundamentals remained strong. According to him, the performance shows that the company is emerging as a sturdier consumercentric organisation, which is better fit to compete for consumers of the future. Despite expressing optimism about the company’s performance in 2013 and its future growth, Achebe lamented the tough environment in which it had to operate. For instance, he said, the business environment continued to

be challenging throughout 2013 with Nigeria experiencing further slide in the ease of doing business index. He also said that power generation cost rose to astronomical heights, affecting not only the cost of production but also putting increased pressure on the disposable income of consumers. Analysts’ opinion While reacting to the results, analysts at FBN Capital Limited, said: “Compared with our estimates, Q4 sales and PBT were behind by 14 per cent and 66 per cent respectively, while PAT was ahead by 46 per cent, once again owing to the tax credit and OCI (we forecasted zero for the OCI line).” They noted that the difference in PBT was on the back of net interest charges coming in 83 per cent higher than what was forecast. “Full year numbers all came in behind consensus estimates. Nigerian consumer goods names are still experiencing a challenging time given the insecurity in northern Nigeria, competition in southern markets and continued pressure on consumer spending. Unilever introduced Rexona and Pepsodent into the Nigerian market in the first half of the year. We believe this led to high marketing costs initially, but suspect that the company may be easing off on this given the deteriorating macro environment. “Year to date, Unilever shares have gained 4.7 per cent, outperforming the NSE ASI which has shed -13.2 per cent. We still find the shares relatively expensive. On our published estimates, they are trading on a 2015E P/E multiple of 55.1x (compared with an average of about 30x for our universe of consumer goods stocks) for a 2016E EPS growth of 12.2 per cent y/y,” they noted.

Insurance

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Nigeria best for insurers’ growth, says Pwc

Managing Director, Custodian & Allied, Wole Oshin

Commissioner for Insurance, Fola Daniel

Group Managing Director, Leadway Assurance, Oye Odukale

CONFIDENCE Robust reforms, population size and economic rating spur optimism

Nigeria has attracted a large number of foreign investors into the insurance sector as a result of recent robust reforms

Sunday Ojeme

xperts at PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc) have recommended Nigeria as the best market for underwriters who intend to grow their businesses within the African continent. A report by the agency suggested that South African insurers looking for growth in the rest of Africa needed to move fast as they could expect strong competition from large European insurers chasing the same markets. While reviewing the industry percentage contributions and market value, the renowned agency observed that Nigeria had the biggest economy, but that insurance premiums make up only 0.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “This makes it an attractive market for insurers seeking growth,” said the report. Nigeria has attracted a large number of foreign investors into the insurance sector as a result of recent robust reforms engendered by dynamic regulatory commitments. One of the latest deals was French insurer AXA’s $250 million purchase last year of a majority stake in Mansard Insurance, which offers life and general insurance. Available records reveal Nigerian as controlling the third largest insurance market in Africa with over N250 billion gross premium written in 2013, which is still a far cry from what it should be. In recent time, especially in the past four years, a significant growth has been recorded in the sector mainly because of the reforms initiated by the

Managing Director, NEM, Tope Smart

$50bn

Value of life insurance premium in Africa in 2013

regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), coupled with the will to follow the process to the letter. On the strength of the reforms, investors, local and foreign, are beginning to make inroads into the sector, although with utmost caution and skepticism. More investors are certain to emerge in the next few years considering the confidence the international community has in the incoming government of the newly, elected President Muhammadu Buhari. Victor Mugoto, PwC long-term insurance leader for Africa, said that large European insurers like AXA and Prudential have substantial balance sheets, sophisticated models and are

experienced in pricing risk. This gives them an advantage over local insurers who have tended to shy away from insuring infrastructure projects and rather let the business be written outside of Africa. “There is a lot of development that needs to happen and we need to run very quickly because the European insurers, like AXA and Prudential, have very sophisticated models and are very experienced at underwriting more sophisticated risk, and they are very quick to get to those new risk areas.” Sanlam, Old Mutual, Liberty and MMI are all expanding their operations on the rest of the continent, in search of growth as South Africa’s economy expands at a sluggish 1.5 per cent to two per cent Yet the rest of Africa’s contribution to the value of new business for the insurers decreased by seven per cent in 2014, said Dewald van den Berg, PwC director of the financial services division. This was partly due to currency fluctuations while competition also played a role, he added. Margins also

Chairman, NIA, GUS Wiggle

reduced in the rest of Africa. Only Sanlam was able to maintain its new business margins at the same level as the prior year, van den Berg said. Sanlam was also “ahead of the pack” with 22 per cent of the value of new business coming from its rest of Africa operations. The insurer has the largest operations in the rest of Africa, with businesses in 14 countries, excluding SA. Sanlam has R2.5 billion to spend on acquisitions in the rest of Africa or other emerging markets as it aims to earn 30 per cent of net operating profit from outside SA by the end of 2015. Old Mutual’s rest of Africa businesses made up 14 per cent of the value of new business last year, said Van den Berg. The insurer, listed in both Johannesburg and London, operates in seven African countries besides SA and has R1.4 billion to spend on expansion across the rest of the continent. MMI’s rest of Africa operations accounted for six per cent of the value of its new business and Liberty’s three per cent. MMI has operations in 12 African countries and R1bn for potential acquisitions in SA and on the rest of the continent. Liberty is found in 15 African countries. The short-term insurance industry in the rest of Africa has more potential for growth than long-term insurance, said Mugoto. Life insurance premiums in Africa totalled $50bn in 2013, making up 1.9 per cent global market share. This had not grown from 2012, according to Swiss Re. Nonlife insurance stood at $22bn in 2013, accounting for 1.1 per cent of the world’s market share. This was also flat compared to the year before. South Africa’s insurance penetration is among the highest in the world, with premiums at 15.4 per cent of gross domestic product in 2013.

Business | Insurance

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

NCRIB congratulates Buhari, lauds Jonathan OPTIMISM Peaceful poll will impact positively on the economy Sunday Ojeme

he Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has commended the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, for emerging victorious in the presidential election after a dogged fight. A statement by the President of the Council, Ayodapo Shoderu, also applauded the electoral process for ensuring that the wishes of Nigerians counted at the polls. He said that the peaceful conduct of the election and emergence of a new President had paved the way for the socio-economic and political stability of Nigeria. He also commended the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, for creating an enabling environment for further deepening of the democratic process, noting that he had by so doing joined the prestigious league of the global statesmen and eminent fellows. Shoderu noted that the result of the election was already impacting positively on the economy, given the response

of market forces to the political process. He said, “There is an inextricable link between politics and economy and whatever affected one would definitely affect the other.” He challenged the president-elect to start giving serious thoughts to strategies for growing the nation’s economy through the provision

infrastructural development and creation of jobs to enhance quality lives for Nigerians and by so doing increase their disposable income. Shoderu, further stated that since no economy could develop without taken into cognizance the place of insurance and risk management, the incoming government must

has further depleted the resource at the disposal of the victims and national economy in general. Shoderu reaffirmed the place of insurance in mitigating such losses and called on marketers all over the country to embrace insurance as a proactive risk mitigating device. The NCRIB recalled that the Council had

made clarion calls to market women and men to always imbibe insurance and utilisation of the services of insurance brokers for their assets during the Council’s delegation visit to the Iyaloja of Nigeria, Madam FolasadeTinubu-Ojo.

PenCom to upgrade ICT infrastructure

L-R: Vice President, Nigerian-Spanish Association, Mr. Lynn Nedd; Spanish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Alfonso Barnuevo Sebastian De Erice; President, Nigerian -Spanish Association, Chief Olusola Dada and Administrative Secretary, Mr. Jide Bibiresanmi, after a meeting of the association in Abuja .... recently.

Mansard Insurance gets performance award ansard Insurance Plc’s outstanding performance has again been recognised as it was selected as one of the publicly listed Growth Strategy Leaders in Nigeria for the year 2015 awards season. The award was presented by MSY Analytics, (a teaming partner and Nigerian representative of global research and growth consulting giant, Frost & Sullivan). According to MSY Analytics, in arriving as the award winner, a weighted scoring methodology, performance and financials of all publicly traded companies on Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as of December 31, 2014 were evaluated across several metrics such as total shareholder returns, revenue growth and profitability growth. From within this pool, were selected elite group of 10 top companies per industry and Mansard ranked number one in the insurance industry.

see to it that insurance is given its pride of place in all strata of government operations. In another development, the Council has commiserated with victims of the recent Balogun market fire incident where properties worth millions of naira were destroyed. The President of the Council stated that the incident

The organisers further disclosed that emerging and frontier markets represent over 50 per cent of world GDP and over 2/3 of global growth and thus a strategic focus area for investors around the world. While African continent is home to several of these markets, Nigeria (a key frontier market) enjoys a unique position as the largest GDP in Africa. Moreover, Nigerian stock market was among the 10 best performing markets around the world during 2013 and is expected to be an attractive market for both domestic as well as global investors for coming decades. While receiving the award, Mr. Taiwo Adeleye, the head of Mansard’s Marketing and Corporate Communications Group, appreciated MSY Analytics for the honour accorded Mansard and noted that Mansard had remained the biggest insurance company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange for several years.

n a bid to render more efficient services to the stakeholders, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) has commenced moves to upgrade its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. To this end, the commission has requested for proposal for the supply and installation of ICT infrastructure and MPLS based broadband network for the commission. The deadline for the submission of the bids from prospective bidders expires on April 17. The opening of the technical bids and the qualifying financial bids will take place immediately thereafter. While late submissions shall be rejected, the commission emphasised that it reserves the right to annul or cancel the bidding process at any time without incurring any liabilities and assigning any reason thereto.

IMF finds gaps in US insurance regulation

nited States financial regulators have made significant progress in improving oversight of the banking industry but have work to do to close gaps in insurance regulation, the International Monetary Fund said in a pair of reports released last week. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Federal Reserve’s new program for supervising large insurance firms is “proceeding slowly” and “needs to strike out in its own direction,” the report said, nodding to the fact that the US central bank still hasn’t drafted rules for the insurance companies it’s tasked with overseeing as a result of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law. The IMF also found “gaps in governance and risk management requirements” between federal and state insurance regulation. The federal and state agencies overseeing the sector lack “uniform high standards of regulation and supervision as well as comprehensive market oversight,” it said.

The IMF, which doesn’t have regulatory authority in the US, conducted the reviews as part of its program for assessing global financial regulators. The last US review was conducted in 2010. The new report’s findings could increase the pressure on the Fed to start outlining its rules for insurance firms after years of delay. For its part, the Fed has said it is developing the rules. It asked for public input on insurance capital standards last year. State insurance regulators, who still oversee much of the industry, maintain their oversight has been effective in protecting policy holders. The IMF’s findings regarding the US agencies overseeing the banking sector were more positive. Even though the Dodd-Frank law left a fragmented regulatory structure with multiple federal agencies, those agencies “have improved considerably in effectiveness” and “stepped up their supervisory intensity” – trends that have manifested themselves

in improved bank risk management, the IMF found. The IMF did identify some shortcomings, though. It called on regulators to clarify differences between the responsibilities of executives and boards of directors (in the wake of stepped-up oversight of boards) and for new restrictions on banks’ “risk concentrations,” like exposures to a given asset class or counterparty. It also said US agencies could do a better job of coordinating their work, for instance by developing a common process for identifying problems at banks and for prioritizing which problems need to be fixed first. The banking-sector focused report contained a response from US authorities promising to review the recommendations carefully. “Action will be taken, where permissible, on items that enhance communication and information sharing among the agencies and ensure more effective oversight of systemic risk,” the response said.

Business | Financial Market News

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

2-Apr-15

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

Bonds

FGN Bonds Issuer

Rating/Agency

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

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 15.54 13-FEB-2020 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 15.00 28-NOV-2028 12.49 22-MAY-2029 8.50 20-NOV-2029 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 ^12.1493 18-JUL-2034

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs)

Bid Price

Offer Price

23-Apr-10 16-Aug-13 27-Apr-12 27-Jul-07 31-Aug-07 30-May-08 29-Jun-12 23-Oct-09 13-Feb-15 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 15.54 16.39 14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

535.00 581.39 476.80 20.00 100.00 300.00 351.30 233.90 54.00 600.00 499.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 254.50

23-Apr-15 16-Aug-16 27-Apr-17 27-Jul-17 31-Aug-17 30-May-18 29-Jun-19 23-Oct-19 13-Feb-20 27-Jan-22 14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.06 1.37 2.07 2.32 2.41 3.16 4.24 4.56 4.87 6.82 8.95 13.66 14.14 14.64 15.31 19.29

13.53 14.09 14.01 13.99 13.99 14.04 14.12 14.12 14.12 14.14 14.11 16.52 16.87 17.28 15.42 14.05

10.94 13.97 13.93 13.91 13.91 13.92 14.03 14.01 14.04 14.07 14.05 16.46 16.80 17.18 15.35 14.00

99.44 98.70 101.87 91.99 90.74 91.65 105.78 76.64 104.82 109.60 100.44 91.80 76.60 53.66 68.42 87.39

99.59 98.85 102.02 92.14 90.89 91.95 106.08 76.94 105.12 109.90 100.74 92.10 76.90 53.96 68.72 87.69

Bid Yield (%) Offer Yield (%)

5,023.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

Price

4,673.25 Issuer

Agency Bonds FMBN ***LCRM

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.14 0.88 1.69 2.05 2.26

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

16.51 17.14 16.00 14.98 16.84

97.64 100.21 99.92 101.86 95.32

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

0.41 0.50 0.77 0.77 2.05 1.31 2.75 2.13 1.93 2.12 2.12 2.31 3.06 4.64 2.71 3.17 5.66 5.75 3.41 3.44

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80 1.00 1.00 4.78 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.44 1.00

19.02 17.95 19.29 18.31 14.98 15.36 15.81 15.78 14.98 14.98 18.76 14.99 15.04 15.12 15.01 15.05 15.13 15.13 15.50 15.06

97.44 97.73 96.37 98.01 91.48 98.14 96.03 96.98 98.49 99.13 92.26 100.88 101.04 97.93 99.43 99.30 93.90 99.44 97.48 99.77

17-Aug-15 09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20 30-Dec-21 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24

0.38 0.44 0.52 1.49 1.56 2.50 1.52 1.52 1.94 1.94 3.47 1.79 2.13 2.75 5.62 6.75 9.50 9.50

1.00 1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76 1.13 1.00 1.00

15.53 15.62 17.36 15.04 15.36 15.00 15.90 15.02 14.98 14.98 15.07 16.28 20.09 16.18 16.89 15.27 15.31 15.31

98.01 98.49 98.40 97.36 98.48 95.96 103.39 101.26 104.73 101.58 97.18 99.23 96.68 99.63 94.14 104.80 83.33 89.84

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

322.38

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

320.77

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto ‡ /Agusto A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB-/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro ‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 15.50 IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 14.00 EDO 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 13.50 LAGOS 27-NOV-2020 15.00 KOGI 31-DEC-2020 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 15.00 NASARAWA 06-JAN-2021

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11 04-Oct-11 09-Dec-11 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 02-Oct-12 22-Nov-12 12-Dec-12 10-Oct-13 27-Nov-13 31-Dec-13 31-Dec-13 06-Jan-14

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00 14.00 14.50 14.00 15.50 15.50 14.50 14.75 14.75 13.50 15.00 14.50 15.00

8.50 2.16 4.86 5.73 57.00 25.73 25.00 30.81 9.00 13.73 10.20 27.00 16.23 80.00 25.70 11.10 87.50 5.00 4.55 4.56

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

454.33 438.50

Corporate Bonds ‡ /Agusto BBB-/Agusto BB/GCR A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; B+/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 A/GCR

*UPDC *FLOURMILLS *CHELLARAMS NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER# UBA *LA CASERA *CHELLARAMS# *DANA#{r} NAHCO UBA STANBIC IBTC STANBIC IBTC

10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016 13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

17-Aug-10 09-Dec-10 06-Jan-11 29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Dec-14 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

10.00 12.00 14.00 13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.25 16.45 11.93 13.25

2.50 18.75 0.42 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.64 6.30 2.54 0.70 35.00 2.40 0.36 4.50 2.05 30.50 0.10 15.44

162.73

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

160.06

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

2.86

1.00

15.02

89.07

11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021

10-Jul-14

11.25

12.95

01-Feb-21

4.75

1.00

15.12

86.17

Bid Price

Offer Price

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION Rating/Agency

24.95 21.85 Issuer

Description

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value ($mm)

Maturity Date

Bid Yield (%)

Offer Yield (%)

6.75 JAN 28, 2021

07-Oct-11

6.75

500.00

28-Jan-21

5.78

5.55

5.13 JUL 12, 2018

12-Jul-13

5.13

500.00

12-Jul-18

5.14

6.38 JUL 12, 2023

12-Jul-13

6.38

500.00

12-Jul-23

6.06

FGN Eurobonds

Prices & Yields

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

FGN

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

1,500.00

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

1,533.51

104.73

105.88

4.83

99.95

100.87

5.90

102.03

103.04

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

124.92

48.00

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC I

7.50 MAY 19, 2016

19-May-11

7.50

500.00

19-May-16

6.54

4.58

101.00

103.13

B+/S&P

ACCESS BANK PLC

B/Fitch; B/S&P

FIDELITY BANK PLC

B+/Fitch; B+/S&P

GTBANK PLC

B/Fitch

AFREN PLC II

B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P

ZENITH BANK PLC

B/Fitch; B/S&P

DIAMOND BANK PLC

B-/Fitch; B/S&P

FIRST BANK PLC

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

AFREN PLC III ACCESS BANK PLC II FIRST BANK LTD

B-/S&P

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

7.25 JUL 25, 2017

25-Jul-12

7.25

350.00

25-Jul-17

6.88 MAY 09, 2018

11.28

92.00

09-May-13

6.88

300.00

02-May-18

6.00 NOV 08, 2018

12.91

11.18

85.01

89.00

08-Nov-13

6.00

400.00

08-Nov-18

10.25 APR 08, 2019

7.54

7.08

95.24

96.63

08-Apr-12

10.25

300.00

08-Apr-19

6.25 APR 22, 2019

39.35

43.63

22-Apr-14

6.25

500.00

22-Apr-19

8.56

92.24

8.75 May 21, 2019

21-May-14

8.75

200.00

21-May-19

8.25 AUG 07, 2020

14.27

13.32

83.20

85.83

07-Aug-13

8.25

300.00

07-Aug-20

6.63 DEC 09, 2020 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021

13.44

80.00

09-Dec-13 24-Jun-14 23-Jul-14

6.63 9.25 8.00

360.00 400.00 450.00

09-Dec-20 24-Jun-21 23-Jul-21

25.16 13.64 11.33

25.16 13.02 11.33

45.50 81.89 84.50

45.50 84.17 84.50

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

14-Aug-14

8.75

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.87

10.42

89.63

91.50

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

4,760.00 3,773.11

**Treasury Bills^ DTM 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 63

FIXINGS Maturity 9-Apr-15 16-Apr-15 23-Apr-15 30-Apr-15 7-May-15 14-May-15 21-May-15 4-Jun-15

Bid Discount (%) 9.66 13.03 12.92 13.10 9.84 12.50 13.64 13.29

Offer Discount (%) 9.41 12.78 12.67 12.85 9.59 12.25 13.39 13.04

Bid Yield (%) 9.67 13.09 13.01 13.23 9.93 12.68 13.89 13.60

Money Market Tenor

NIBOR Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 10.3750 14.4561 15.9700 16.7460

Rate (%)

Foreign Exchange (Spot & Forwards)

OBB

9.50

Tenor

Bid ($/N)

Offer ($/N)

O/N

10.17

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M 3M

199.05 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 205.60

199.15 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31 207.21

Tenor Call 1M

REPO

Rate (%) 9.50 10.00

^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

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

14-Mar-14 28-Nov-08 22-May-09 20-Nov-09 23-Jul-10 18-Jul-14

14.20 15.00 12.49 8.50 10.00 12.1493

499.68 75.00 150.00 200.00 591.57 254.50

Description

Issuer

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 Agency Bonds

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017

FMBN

REGULATION

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE

LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA NIGER *EKITI *NIGER *ONDO *GOMBE LAGOS *OSUN *OSUN LAGOS KOGI *EKITI *NASARAWA

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved new rules in pursuance to Section 313(1) of the Investments and Securities Act 2007. Section 313(1)VALUE empowers TOTAL OUTSTANDING TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION the Commission to, from time to time,Bonds make rules and reguCorporate ‡ /Agusto for the purpose *UPDCof givlations BBB-/Agusto *FLOURMILLS ing effect to the Act as well as BB/GCR *CHELLARAMS

100.74 92.10 76.90 53.96 68.72 87.69

Issue Date

Coupon (%)

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Maturity Date

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

# Risk Premium (%)

Valuation Yield (%)

Indicative Price

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

0.00 17.25 0.00/16.00 0.00/16.50 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 112.22 116.70 66.49

24-May-15 03-Apr-17 08-Dec-16 19-Apr-17 06-Jul-17

0.14 0.88 1.69 2.05 2.26

2.63 2.27 2.00 1.00 2.85

16.51 17.14 16.00 14.98 16.84

97.64 100.21 99.92 101.86 95.32

Business | Financial Market News

SEC approves new rules 12.50 KADUNA 31-AUG-2015 to amend and revoke the rules 13.00 EBONYI 30-SEP-2015 and regulations so made. 14.00 BENUE 30-JUN-2016 In 15.50 a notice obtained from IMO 30-JUN-2016 10.00 LAGOS 19-APR-2017 the Commission’s website, the 13.75 BAYELSA 30-JUN-2017 New Rules Amendments 14.00 EDO and 31-DEC-2017 14.00 DELTA 30-SEP-2018 approved by the Commission 14.00 NIGER II 4-OCT-2018 include Code of Conduct for 14.50 EKITI 09-DEC-2018 14.00 NIGER III 12-DEC-2018 Rating Agencies, Code of Con15.50 ONDO 14-FEB-2019 duct for Underwriters, Code 15.50 GOMBE 02-OCT-2019 14.50 LAGOS 22-NOV-2019 of Conduct for Trustees, Rule 14.75 OSUN 12-DEC-2019 on Trading in unlisted securi14.75 OSUN II 10-OCT-2020 ties, Rules on27-NOV-2020 Securitisation 13.50 LAGOS 15.00 KOGI and Rules on31-DEC-2020 National Investor 14.50 EKITI II 31-DEC-2020 Protection Fund 06-JAN-2021 among other 15.00 NASARAWA amendments. In furtherance of the Commission’s mandate to regulate 10.00 UPDC 17-AUG-2015 and develop the Nigerian capi12.00 FLOURMILLS 9-DEC-2015 tal market and in particular, its 14.00 CHELLARAMS 06-JAN-2016

NAHCO FSDH UBA *C & I LEASING *DANA#{r} *TOWER# *TOWER#

13.00 NAHCO 29-SEP-2016 14.25 FSDH 25-OCT-2016 13.00 UBA 30-SEP-2017 18.00 C&I LEASING 30-NOV-2017 MPR+7.00 DANA 9-APR-2018 MPR+7.00 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 MPR+5.25 TOWER 9-SEP-2018 14.00 UBA II 22-SEP-2018 15.75 LA CASERA 18-OCT-2018 MPR+5.00 CHELLARAMS II 17-FEB-2019 16.00 DANA II 1-APR-2019 15.25 NAHCO II 14-NOV-2020 16.45 UBA I 30-DEC-2021 182D T.bills+1.20 STANBIC IA 30-SEP-2024 13.25 STANBIC IB 30-SEP-2024

29-Sep-11 25-Oct-13 30-Sep-10 30-Nov-12 09-Apr-11 09-Sep-11 09-Sep-11 22-Sep-11 18-Oct-13 17-Feb-12 01-Apr-14 14-Nov-13 30-Dec-14 30-Sep-14 30-Sep-14

13.00 14.25 13.00 18.00 16.00 18.00 16.00 14.00 15.75 18.00 16.00 15.25 16.45 11.93 13.25

company’s profit before orte Oil Plc, at the accounting for a decline of income tax increased 152 weekend, added a to- 7.94 per cent. UBA CASERA tal of 217,080,184*LAunits However, its revenue per cent to N4.19 billion *CHELLARAMS rose 32.8 per cent to compared to N1.66 billion of shares to the outstand*DANA ing shares of the company N170.127 billion during the recorded in H1 2013. NAHCO UBAfive Revenue grew by 33 per resulting to one for year as against N128.027 bilSTANBIC IBTC cent to N79.61 billion combonuses. STANBIC IBTC lion posted in 2013. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE With the supplemenThe company said it pared to N59.96 billion reTOTALlisting, MARKET CAPITALISATION tary the new total would pay a dividend of N2.5 corded in the same period outstanding shares of the per share compared with in 2013 Supranational Bond IFCthe 11-FEB-2018 AAA/S&P 11-Feb-13 company now stood at N4.00 naira10.20 paid previous The company during IFC 11.25 AFDB 1-FEB-2021 Aaa/Moody's; AAA/S&P 10-Jul-14 AfDB 1,302,481,103 units, accordreview year, as well as a bonus share the period under TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE ing to Forte Oil in an issuer’s for every five held. launched new repackaged TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION announcement to the NigeIt also reported a 61.6 per lubricants and aggressive rian Stock Exchange (NSE). Issuer cent growth in pre-tax profengagement Description consumer Rating/Agency Issue Date Shares of the compa- it during the third quarter activities to boost market FGN Eurobonds share and has continued ny, on Thursday, surged ended September 30, 2014. JAN 28, 2021 07-Oct-11 BB-/Fitch; B+/S&P expansion in the compaby 10.13 per cent to N215 The company’s 6.75 profit BB-/Fitch;N195.22 recorded on FGN from before income tax grew by ny’s retail network at stra5.13 JUL 12, 2018 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P Wednesday’s session, gain61.6 per cent to N5.20 billion tegic locations to improve BB-/Fitch; 6.38 JUL 12, 2023 12-Jul-13 BB-/S&P ing N19.78. compared to N3.219 billion market dominance. TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE Forte Oil had reported recorded in Q3 2013. It said it achieved a TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION a 7.94 per cent decline in Revenue grew by 33.06 111.05 per cent YTD share pre-tax profit during the per cent to N122.580 billion price appreciation in H1 Corporate Eurobonds 11.50 bilFEB 01, 2016 01-Feb-11 B/Fitch; B-/S&Pended December AFREN PLC I compared to N92.125 from N92.87 to N206.30 full year MAY 19, 2016 19-May-11 B+/Fitch; B+/S&P GTBANK PLC I lion recorded in the7.50 31, 2014. same and also an inclusion into 7.25 JUL 25, 2017 25-Jul-12 B+/S&P ACCESS BANK PLC In a filing with the Nigeperiod in 2013. the Morgan Stanley Capi6.88 MAY 09, 2018 09-May-13 B/Fitch; B/S&P FIDELITY BANK PLC rian thePLC The company had re-08, 2018 tal International (MSCI) 6.00 NOV 08-Nov-13 B+/Fitch;Stock B+/S&P Exchange, GTBANK 10.25 APR 08, 2019 08-Apr-12 B/Fitch AFREN PLC II ported 152 per cent growth Frontier Market Index, company’s profit before in6.25 APR 22, 2019 22-Apr-14 B+/Fitch; BB-/S&P ZENITH BANK PLC in pre-tax profit during the come tax dipped to N6.006 one of the world’s leading 8.75 May 21, 2019 21-May-14 B/Fitch; B/S&P DIAMOND BANK PLC half year ended June 2014. billion compared to N6.524 equity index provider 8.25 AUG 07, 2020 07-Aug-13 and B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK PLC DEC 09, 2020 09-Dec-13 In a filing with the6.63 Nigebillion recorded in the inclusion into the Nigerian B-/Fitch; B/S&P AFREN PLC III 9.25/6M USD LIBOR+7.677 JUN 24, 2021 24-Jun-14 B-/Fitch; B/S&P PLC II comparable period ofACCESS 2013,BANKrian Stock Exchange, the Stock Exchange’s league of 8.00/2Y USD SWAP+6.488 JUL 23 2021 23-Jul-14 B-/Fitch; B/S&P FIRST BANK LTD #

#{r}

8.75 AUG 14, 2021

ECOBANK NIG. LTD

8.50 C20, LFN, 31-Aug-15 0.41 Cap 2004; be a legal 2.16 30-Sep-15 0.50 person with perpetual succes4.86 30-Jun-16 0.77 5.73 and may sue 30-Jun-16 0.77 sion and be sued in 19-Apr-17 2.05 its57.00 name; be for the purpose of 25.73 30-Jun-17 1.31 compensating investors whose 25.00 31-Dec-17 2.75 30.81 30-Sep-18 2.13 losses are not covered under 9.00 04-Oct-18 1.93 the Investor 09-Dec-18 Protection Fund 13.73 2.12 10.20 12-Dec-18 2.12 administered by Securities 27.00 14-Feb-19 2.31 Exchanges and Capital Trade 16.23 02-Oct-19 3.06 80.00 4.64 Points; have22-Nov-19 a Board which 25.70 12-Dec-19 2.71 shall consist of the Board of 11.10 10-Oct-20 3.17 87.50 27-Nov-20 5.66 Directors of the Fund and shall 5.75 be5.00 responsible31-Dec-20 for the Adminis4.55 31-Dec-20 3.41 tration of the Fund and have 4.56 06-Jan-21 3.44 a Secretariat from which day to 454.33 438.50 day activities of the Fund shall be carried out, among others.” 2.50 0.38 The acting17-Aug-15 Director General

12.50 duty to31-Aug-10 ensure the protection 30-Sep-10 13.00 of investors in the capital 30-Jun-11 14.00 mar15.50 ket, the30-Jun-09 Board of the Securities 19-Apr-10 10.00 and Exchange Commission ap30-Jun-10 13.75 proved 30-Dec-10 the establishment 14.00 of a 30-Sep-11 14.00 nationwide fund known as the 04-Oct-11 14.00 National Investor Protection 09-Dec-11 14.50 14.00 Fund. 12-Dec-13 14-Feb-12 15.50 According to the SEC, the ap02-Oct-12 15.50 14.50 proproved 22-Nov-12 rules by the Board 12-Dec-12 14.75 vide details of management of 10-Oct-13 14.75 27-Nov-13 13.50 from the fund, disbursements 31-Dec-13 15.00 the fund and other matters re31-Dec-13 14.50 lating thereto. 06-Jan-14 15.00 “The Fund shall be a Company Limited by Guarantee duly incorporated under the 17-Aug-10 10.00 Provisions of the Companies 09-Dec-10 12.00 and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA) 06-Jan-11 14.00

Forte Oil lists additional 217m units of shares

B-/S&P

100.44 91.80 76.60 53.66 68.42 87.39

320.77

Stories by Chris Ugwu

14.05 16.46 16.80 17.18 15.35 14.00

322.38

Apex regulator raises the bar to ensure protection Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto of investors in theKADUNA capital A-/Agusto *EBONYI BBB+/Agusto *BENUE market ‡ /Agusto *IMO TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

A+/Agusto; A-/GCR A-/Agusto A/GCR BBB-/GCR Nil A-/DataPro†; B+/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 A/GCR

14.11 16.52 16.87 17.28 15.42 14.05

4,673.25

Rating/Agency

8.95 13.66 14.14 14.64 15.31 19.29

5,023.13

TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR† ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A-/GCR BBB+/Agusto; A-/GCR Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR BBB-/Agusto; A-/GCR BBB-/Agusto Aa-/Agusto; ‡ /GCR A-/Agusto; BBB+/DataPro ‡ /Agusto A-/GCR

14-Mar-24 28-Nov-28 22-May-29 20-Nov-29 23-Jul-30 18-Jul-34

0.44 0.52 1.49 1.56 2.50 1.52 1.52 1.94 1.94 3.47 1.79 2.13 2.75 5.62 6.75 9.50 9.50

250.00

14-Aug-21

10.87

erger Paints Nigeria Plc has posted a 27.3 per cent decline in profit before tax for the full year ended December, 31, 2014. According to reports from the 162.73 Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), 160.06 the company’s pre-tax profit dropped from N342.7 million in 12.00to N249.2 million 11-Feb-18 during2.86 2013 the 12.95 01-Feb-21 4.75 period under review. 24.95 Profit after tax equally 21.85 dropped by 42.2 per cent to Outstanding Value N148.8 million from N257.5 milMaturity Date Bid Yield (%) ($mm) lion a year earlier. However, the company’s 500.00 28-Jan-21 had set 5.78in dwindling fortune with the third quarter of 2014 500.00 12-Jul-18 5.14 as earnings were compressed 500.00 12-Jul-23 6.06 by weak sales, leading to a dip 1,500.00 in pre-tax profit by 41.2 per cent 1,533.51 during the nine months ended September, 30, 2014. 450.00 01-Feb-16 The company , in a filing 124.92 with 500.00 6.54 the Nigerian 19-May-16 Stock Exchange, 350.00 25-Jul-17 11.28 said that its third quarter 300.00 02-May-18 12.91 net earnings08-Nov-18 decreased from 400.00 7.54 300.00 08-Apr-19 in 2013 39.35 N154.464 million to 500.00 22-Apr-19 8.56 N109.407 million accounting for 200.00 21-May-19 14.27 a300.00 drop of 41.207-Aug-20 per cent. 13.44 360.00 Its pre-tax 09-Dec-20 profit equally25.16 fell 24-Jun-21 to400.00 N160.892 million down13.64 41.2 450.00 23-Jul-21 11.33

10.20 11.25

Coupon (%)

6.75 5.13 6.38

11.50 7.50 7.25 6.88 6.00 10.25 6.25 8.75 8.25 6.63 9.25 8.00

14-Aug-14

09-Dec-15 06-Jan-16 29-Sep-16 25-Oct-16 30-Sep-17 30-Nov-17 09-Apr-18 09-Sep-18 09-Sep-18 22-Sep-18 18-Oct-18 17-Feb-19 01-Apr-19 14-Nov-20 30-Dec-21 30-Sep-24 30-Sep-24

1.00 2.63 1.00 1.34 1.00 1.88 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 2.29 6.11 2.16 2.76 1.13 1.00 1.00

15.62 17.36 15.04 15.36 15.00 15.90 15.02 14.98 14.98 15.07 16.28 20.09 16.18 16.89 15.27 15.31 15.31

98.49 98.40 97.36 98.48 95.96 103.39 101.26 104.73 101.58 97.18 99.23 96.68 99.63 94.14 104.80 83.33 89.84

10.42

89.63

91.50

Berger Paints reports 27% drop in pre-tax profit

8.75

FMDQ Daily Quotations List

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

18.75 0.42 15.00 5.53 20.00 0.64 6.30 2.54 0.70 35.00 2.40 0.36 4.50 2.05 30.50 0.10 15.44

4.44 Securities 19.02 and Exchange 97.44 of the 3.23 17.95 97.73 Commission (SEC), Mr. Mounir 4.46 19.29 96.37 3.48 Gwarzo, had 18.31 promised 98.01 Nigeri14.98 91.48 ans1.00 that the commission would 1.00 15.36 98.14 continue to ensure that the mar1.79 15.81 96.03 15.78 96.98 ket1.80 remains vibrant in order to 1.00 14.98 98.49 attract investors both 99.13 locally 1.00 14.98 18.76 92.26 and4.78 internationally . 1.00 14.99 100.88 Gwarzo, who gave the assur1.00 15.04 101.04 1.00recently15.12 97.93 ance when he received 1.00 15.01 99.43 members of the Chartered In1.00 15.05 99.30 1.00 of Stockbrokers 15.13 93.90 stitute (CIS) at 15.13 99.44 the1.00 Commission’s headquarters 1.44 15.50 97.48 in Abuja, said15.06 that the current 1.00 99.77 management would strive to develop domestic investment from retail and institutional 1.00 15.53 98.01 investors

per cent from N227.15 million in the same period last year. Turnover decreased by 5.7 per cent to N1.817 billion during the nine months to September 30 from N1.921 billion recorded during the comparable period of 2013. Addressing stockbrokers 15.02community 89.07 and1.00 investment at 15.12 86.17 the the1.00 company’s fact behind figures, the Managing Director, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tor Nygard,Bid noted thatOffer with the Offer Yield (%) Price Price aim to regain its dominance in Prices & Yields Nigeria and reach out to other 5.55 104.73 Africa, 105.88 markets in West plans have by the 4.83 been concluded 99.95 100.87 company to build a fully au102.03 5.90 103.04 tomated paint manufacturing plants its Oba Akran premises in Lagos. Nygard explained that in 124.92 the company 48.00 48.00 2012, entered 4.58 a commercial 101.00 103.13 into arrange11.28 92.00 ment with the biggest92.00 heavy 11.18 85.01 89.00 duty manufacturing 7.08 coating 95.24 96.63 39.35 43.63 43.63KCC company in South Korea, 8.56 92.24 Corporation, to jointly92.24 serve 13.32 83.20 85.83 the13.44 Nigerian 80.00 and West African 80.00 Marine and protective coatings 25.16 45.50 45.50 13.02 81.89 84.17 market. 11.33 84.50 84.50

2-Apr-15

4,760.00 3,773.11

The DQL contains data relating to, amongst other things, market and model prices, rates of foreign exchange products, fixed income securities and instruments in the financial market (the “Information”). The Information does not constitute **Treasury Bills^ FIXINGS Money Market Exchange (Spot Forwards)the professional, financial or investment advice. We attempt to ensure the Information is accurate; however, the Information is provided “AS IS” and on an “AS AVAILABLE” basis and may not be accurate orForeign up to date. We do not &guarantee DTM Maturity Bid Discount (%) Offer Discount (%) Bid Yield (%) Tenor Rate (%) NIBOR accuracy, timeliness, completeness, performance or fitness for a particular purpose of any of the Information, neither do we accept liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the Information. 7 9-Apr-15 9.66 9.41 9.67 14 16-Apr-15 13.03 21 23-Apr-15 12.92 28 30-Apr-15 13.10 FGN Bonds 35 7-May-15 9.84 42 14-May-15 12.50 49 21-May-15 13.64 Issuer Description Rating/Agency 63 4-Jun-15 13.29 70 11-Jun-15 13.17 4.00 23-APR-2015 84 25-Jun-15 13.50 91 2-Jul-15 13.59 ^13.05 16-AUG-2016 105 16-Jul-15 13.69 ^15.10 27-APR-2017 112 23-Jul-15 13.60 9.85 27-JUL-2017 119 30-Jul-15 13.59 9.35 31-AUG-2017 126 6-Aug-15 13.53 133 13-Aug-15 13.59 10.70 30-MAY-2018 147 27-Aug-15 11.80 ^16.00 29-JUN-2019 154 3-Sep-15 13.39 7.00 23-OCT-2019 161 10-Sep-15 13.55 NA NA 15.54 13-FEB-2020 175 24-Sep-15 13.65 182 1-Oct-15 13.72 ^16.39 27-JAN-2022 196 15-Oct-15 14.50 ^14.20 14-MAR-2024 245 3-Dec-15 12.55 15.00 28-NOV-2028 259 17-Dec-15 13.09 12.49 22-MAY-2029 280 7-Jan-16 13.45 294 21-Jan-16 13.65 8.50 20-NOV-2029 308 4-Feb-16 13.42 ^10.00 23-JUL-2030 322 18-Feb-16 13.64 ^12.1493 13.80 18-JUL-2034 336 3-Mar-16 TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE 350 17-Mar-16 13.37 357 24-Mar-16 13.46 TOTAL MARKETbonds, CAPITALISATION *for the Amortising the average life is calculated and not the duration

12.78 12.67 12.85 9.59 12.25 13.39 Issue Date 13.04 12.92 23-Apr-10 13.25 13.34 16-Aug-13 13.44 27-Apr-12 13.35 27-Jul-07 13.34 31-Aug-07 13.28 13.34 30-May-08 11.55 29-Jun-12 13.14 23-Oct-09 13.30 13-Feb-15 13.40 13.47 27-Jan-12 14.25 14-Mar-14 12.30 28-Nov-08 12.84 22-May-09 13.20 13.40 20-Nov-09 13.17 23-Jul-10 13.39 18-Jul-14 13.55 13.12 13.21

13.09 13.01 13.23 9.93 12.68 13.89 Coupon (%) 13.60 13.51 4.00 13.93 14.07 13.05 14.25 15.10 14.19 9.85 14.22 9.35 14.19 14.30 10.70 12.39 16.00 14.19 7.00 14.41 15.54 14.61 14.72 16.39 15.72 14.20 13.70 15.00 14.43 12.49 14.99 15.33 8.50 15.14 10.00 15.50 12.1493 15.81 15.34 15.50

Bonds

Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

Rate (%) 10.3750 14.4561 15.9700 16.7460

9.50

Tenor

O/N

10.17

Spot 7D 14D 1M 2M Offer3M Yield 6M 10.94 1Y

REPO

Tenor Call

Maturity Date

TTM (Yrs) 1M 3M 0.06 6M

NITTY

535.00 23-Apr-15 Tenor Rate (%) 581.39 16-Aug-16 1M 12.1032 476.80 27-Apr-17 2M 13.8784 20.00 27-Jul-17 3M 14.1178 100.00 31-Aug-17 6M 14.6766 9M 14.8472 300.00 30-May-18 12M 15.3503 351.30 29-Jun-19 233.90 23-Oct-19 54.00 13-Feb-20 NIFEX 600.00 27-Jan-22 Current Price ($/N) 499.68 14-Mar-24 BID($/N) 199.0000 75.00 28-Nov-28 OFFER ($/N) 199.1000 150.00 22-May-29 200.00 20-Nov-29 591.57 23-Jul-30 254.50 18-Jul-34

OBB

Rate (%) 9.50

Bid10.00 Yield (%) 10.50 13.53 11.00

Bid ($/N)

(%)

1.37 14.09 13.97 2.07 14.01 13.93 2.32 13.99 13.91 :Benchmarks 2.41Bond 13.99 13.91 * :Amortising µ :Convertible 3.16 Bond 14.04 13.92 AMCON: Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria 4.24 14.12 14.03 FGN: Federal Government of Nigeria 4.56 Mortgage Bank 14.12 14.01 FMBN: Federal of Nigeria 4.87 14.12 14.04 IFC: International Finance Corporation LCRM: Local Management 6.82Contractors Receivables 14.14 14.07 NAHCO: Nigerian Aviation Handling 8.95 14.11 Company14.05 O/N: Overnight 13.66 16.52 Company 16.46 UPDC: UAC Property Development 14.14Africa Portland16.87 16.80 WAPCO:West Cement Company 14.64 17.28 17.18 15.31 15.42 15.35 19.29 14.05 14.00 NOTE:

199.05 201.81 202.13 202.87 204.24 Bid Price 205.60 206.28 99.44 220.29

Offer ($/N)

Price

199.15 201.93 202.28 203.37 205.31Price Offer 207.21 213.47 99.59 226.27

98.70 98.85 101.87 102.02 91.99 92.14 NA :Not Applicable 90.74 90.89 ^ : Market Prices # : Floating Rate Bond 91.65 91.95 ***: Deferred coupon bonds 105.78 106.08 76.94 ‡ : Bond76.64 rating under review †: Bond104.82 rating expired 105.12 N/A :Not109.60 Available 109.90 {r} :Issuer in receivership100.74 100.44 91.80 92.10 NGC: Nigeria-German Company 76.60Bank for Africa 76.90 UBA: United 53.66 53.96 68.42 68.72 87.39 87.69

5,023.13 4,673.25

Risk Premium is a combination of credit risk and liquidity risk premiums **Exclusive of non-trading t.bills

Rating/Agency

Issuer

Agency Bonds FMBN Modified Duration Buckets

***LCRM

TOTAL OUTSTANDING VALUE TOTAL MARKET CAPITALISATION

Description

Issue Date

0.00 FMB 24-MAY-2015 17.25 FMB II 03-APR-2017 Porfolio Market Total Outstanding 0.00/16.00 LCRM 08-DEC-2016 Value(Bn) Volume(Bn) 0.00/16.50 LCRM II 19-APR-2017 0.00/16.50 LCRM III 06-JUL-2017 1,431.09 1,409.48

Coupon (%)

FMDQ FGN BOND INDEX

24-May-12 03-Apr-12 Weighting by 09-Dec-11 Outstanding Vol 20-Apr-12 42.01 06-Jul-12

0.00 17.25

0.00/16.50 44.48 0.00/16.50

24.56 2.40 Bucket 112.22 Weighting 116.70 66.49 0.42

322.380.33

Weighting by Mkt 0.00/16.00 Value

3<5

1,159.46

1,099.68

32.78

36.03

627.18

846.07

25.22

19.49

3,217.73

3,355.23

100.00

Market

Outstanding Value (N'bn)

0.25

320.771.00

Maturity Date

24-May-15 03-Apr-17

% Exposure_ 08-Dec-16 Mod_Duration

19-Apr-17 19.93 06-Jul-17

Avg. Life/TTM (Yrs)

0.14 0.88 Implied1.69 Yield 2.05 14.08 2.26

# Risk Premium (%)

2.63 2.27

Valuation Yield (%)

105.6282 2.85

16.51 17.14 16.00 INDEX 14.98 1,183.45 16.84

Implied 2.00 Portfolio Price

1.00

Indicative Price 97.64 100.21

YTD Return 99.92 (%)

101.86 6.8244 95.32

38.46

14.12

109.2172

1,089.78

7.6250

41.61

14.91

73.2831

1,030.00

2.2823

100.00

14.44

98.6482

1,114.72

5.6420

Sub-National Bonds A/Agusto A-/Agusto BBB+/Agusto ‡ /Agusto A+/Agusto; ‡ /GCR ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto ‡ /Agusto; A+/GCR

KADUNA *EBONYI *BENUE *IMO LAGOS *BAYELSA EDO *DELTA

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

31-Aug-10 30-Sep-10 30-Jun-11 30-Jun-09 19-Apr-10 30-Jun-10 30-Dec-10 30-Sep-11

12.50 13.00 14.00 15.50 10.00 13.75 14.00 14.00

8.50 2.16 4.86 5.73 57.00 25.73 25.00 30.81

31-Aug-15 30-Sep-15 30-Jun-16 30-Jun-16 19-Apr-17 30-Jun-17 31-Dec-17 30-Sep-18

0.41 0.50 0.77 0.77 2.05 1.31 2.75 2.13

4.44 3.23 4.46 3.48 1.00 1.00 1.79 1.80

19.02 17.95 19.29 18.31 14.98 15.36 15.81 15.78

97.44 97.73 96.37 98.01 91.48 98.14 96.03 96.98

Business | Interview

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Specialised knowledge required to tackle fraud, corruption –Mayungbe Dr Richard Mayungbe is the Country Representative of the Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants (ICFA) in Nigeria. In this interview with Tony Chukwunyem, he sheds light on forensic accounting and how the profession can help to check corruption. Excerpts:

Mayungbe

A few weeks ago, PriceWaterHouse (PwC) submitted the much awaited forensic audit report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). What is the difference between an ordinary audit and a forensic audit? The difference is that the word forensic means suitable for legal purposes; suitable for the use of tribunals, court of law or for public debate. The idea of calling it a forensic audit is to give it a flavour that whosoever wishes could leverage on it for litigation purpose. But from the look of things now, the document has not been made public; that is, it has not been released for public consumption, although it has been submitted to the president. Except we activate the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act to be able to lay hands on it, nothing can happen. Then, for the ordinary audit, it is just to check whether it conforms to the laid down rules and regulations of the organisation. In fact, in forensic audits, the first step is that we give it a two-way test. First, we determine whether the transaction(s) satisfy common sense and then whether it satisfies business sense. If it does not satisfy these two tests, the transaction would certainly satisfy fraud sense.

But the general impression is that it is the methodology of carrying out the audit that determines whether it is forensic or not? No, it is the definition. When the definition differs, certainly, the method will differ. Like I said earlier, the ordinary audit is just to ensure that the transaction complies with laid down internal control procedure. But in forensic audit, we go a step further by subjecting the transaction to the tests that I mentioned earlier. For instance, if somebody says he spent N50 million drinking tea in the office, we want to ask, does this transaction satisfy common sense for you to spend N50 million drinking tea in the office. Ok, if it is to entice some stakeholders, what is the organisation really after? That is why we say if it does not satisfy common sense and does not satisfy business sense, certainly, it satisfies fraud sense. That is just the difference. Apart from the controversy over the NNPC audit, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Professor Chukwuma Soludo, also alleged that trillions of naira have been unaccounted for in the last six years, an allegation that the Federal Government has denied. As a forensic accountant, how did you

The moment the man at the top sends signal that he won’t tolerate corruption, everyone will toe the line

react to the issue? It is not enough to do simple arithmetic and come up with the difference between figures A and figure B. There must be incontrovertible evidence; reliable evidence, to back up your claims. There could be mathematical calculations suggesting that some amount of money is missing. But we have to go a step further by justifying that position with valid evidence. The forensic accountant does not assume; we work by providing evidence. Apart from the investigative aspect of forensic accounting-you know we go to court as well - and when we go to court, we present evidence. We don’t go there on assumption. I have not lost any case in Nigeria as far as prosecuting fraudsters is concerned, because my evidence is usually watertight. So, it is good Professor Soludo raised the issue, but let us take it a step further. Unfortunately, forensic accounting is not an area where you display showmanship; when you do it, you do it discreetly. This is because as the saying goes, when something is hurting somebody, it is at the same time providing pleasure to another person. But you want to go and expose the latter. If you do showmanship with it, you could be putting your life on the line. So, that is why in forensic accounting, in expert witness presentation in court, you don’t even allow the press to take your pictures. You give your evidence and quickly disappear from the scene. If a civil society group wants us to take it a step further, we can work with them, get all the relevant evidence and drag the institutions mentioned to court.

But even before now, we have other similar allegations of missing monies such as the N2.8 billion controversy and the Gulf War windfall. Have forensic accountants played any role to try to address these issues or is it that you are not part of the system? Well, forensic accountants are new. For instance, the Institute of Certified Forensic Accountants of Canada (ICFA) came to Nigeria barely five years ago. You cannot give what you don’t have. A specialised knowledge is required to tackle fraud and corruption. Do not forget that fraud and corruption is a global problem. Other countries have, a long time ago, taken the bull by the horn. But we are just a few forensic accountants here. Through our Institute’s efforts, we have trained about 200 forensic accountants so far in Nigeria. But the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has created a faculty to produce forensic accountants locally apart from the efforts of foreign professional bodies and people like us who are training accountants in that field. The problem is that for fraudsters to be able to mess up the system, they would certainly have some level of financial literacy. That is why a forensic accountant cannot just be the traditional accountant. He has to upgrade beyond the level of the traditional accountant so that he can understand the psychology of a fraudster. Something motivates the fraudster; something motivates the corrupt man. Let me go technical a little bit: when we deploy what we call the fraud triangle, which indicates what motivates or puts pressure on the fraudster to commit fraud, then the opportunity for the fraud itself being available, and the fraud environment, the justification for the fraud. That

Business | Interview

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

is looking around to see the position of government as far as citizens’ welfare is concerned. Let us begin from the pressure. Certain things put pressure on people to help themselves (let me use that word) with their employers’ money or government’s money. One of it is the peer group in the society. For instance, you have two people; one is a university graduate while the other did not even attend university. But because of the disjointed nature of our economic system, the one who did not attend university is making it faster than the man who went to school. And when they go to the village and the community wants to construct a borehole, the man who went to school cannot give more than N5,000 whereas the other man, well, let us just say he will say he is a businessman- of no particular business anywayis able to contribute almost the whole amount required for the project. The man who went to school will look at himself and say ‘what is the essence of going to school?’ Several years, several degrees and nothing... So that peer group pressure now bears on him; he is now looking for an avenue to measure up. He will be looking for any opportunity to make money so that he can save his face in the village by being able to contribute more money. Then when you look at it you will see that in the African society, the first child is the torchlight. The pressure from the family is on the first child especially if he is the male first child. So because the pressure is so much on him and his income is not elastic, he begins to look around the organisation to see what he can do to help himself. In the process, he begins to borrow from his employer’s money or from his employer’s assets - whether he is in accounts, cash office or the storeinventories. He gets to develop light fingers. Then there is also the character of the individual, for instance, personal indulgences. There is what we call the four Bs of pressure under the personal indulgences. The first B is borrowing. You could see a man borrowing so much that he can borrow all his salaries for one year, he is in big debt. Under that load of debt, he begins to look for ways and opportunities where he can help himself. The second B is betting (gambling). There are people who are so engrossed in betting, they can bet their own lives. Such a person always wants to bet more believing that when he wins a jackpot, it will wipe off all his arrears

Mayungbe

of losses. The third B is beer. This includes substance abuse, drug abuse, whatever you abuse. Once a man is trapped in substance abuse, he can no longer be trusted. Some highly placed Nigerians are in that situation. They promise, promise and promise. When you now later confront them and say sir, you promised this, you promised that, they will be surprised and will ask when they made such promises. It is the effect of beer, everything is packaged under beer - substance abuse, drug abuse - whatever. The fourth B stands for Boobs, synonymous with women. When a man is so trapped in that indulgence, every minute of the day, he is in the midst of women, show me that kind of a man and I would tell you he is already a failure. So, those are the four Bs in addition to all I have said that form the pressure on people to commit fraud. Then, there is also the issue of the opportunity for fraud itself. If you have poor internal control, or your internal control is non-existent, you have virtually created room for fraud to occur. Then when there is no check and balances, you have people who do almost everything by themselves. When you entrust someone with so many responsibilities - for instance, the man who writes the voucher is the man who holds cash, is the man who pays, I mean he would help himself. Another good example are these Personal Assistants that politicians have all over the place; they create room for them to perpetrate fraud at their own level. This is because they function as the accountant, treasurer, secretary and so on, for the politician. The last part of the fraud triangle is the justification. People always want to justify their actions. They give excuses such as ‘I have to steal because government does not take care of us; I have to steal because at old age if I don’t help myself now that I am still in service, what will happen to me’? It is justification for fraud. Government and companies create avenue for that justification. If you don’t pay your staff very well, you don’t have c a r e e r plans

for them, you don’t have their interests in mind, and you are seeing what you do with money! You have created a room to justify fraud. Those are the ways by which ignorantly, we encourage fraud.

It is the collapse of corporate governance that gives birth to all these vices that we know as fraud, abuse of power, stealing

There is much concern about the high level of corruption in the country. What would you suggest is the most effective way of tackling the problem? Do professionals have any role to play? In the first place, what is the definition of corruption? If you go to Transparency International’s website and look up the meaning of corruption, it says, “Corruption is the abuse of power entrusted to a senior government official or a senior corporate official on behalf of others. So, that is just the meaning of corruption - an abuse of authority given to someone on behalf of some many others. He now turns that authority into an opportunity to enrich himself. It does not stop at small theft, it goes beyond that. In addition, it is corruption that gave birth to fraud. This is because it is the collapse of corporate governance that gives birth to all these vices that we know as fraud, abuse of power, stealing and so on. But to be able to tackle corruption, we have to begin from the point of knowledge. You cannot fight corruption without knowing the psychology of corruption. Like I explained earlier, something motivates people to do certain things. We have to look at the foundation of those ‘stimulants’. Why are people so i n t e re s t ed? People are interested because the room

for corruption is wide open. In fact, it is an open door policy; go in there, take your own and come out and nobody is going to ask you anything. Have you seen the outcome of the fuel subsidy scam? Without any judicial sanction, it’s like people will feel that they can always find themselves out of the net and go back to business. How many of those corrupt people has government really prosecuted and prosecuted diligently? We all saw that Ibori escaped justice in Nigeria, but he could not escape justice outside Nigeria. What is responsible? Here, we are just politicising everything. And you cannot politicise corruption; you cannot politicise fraud, otherwise, it’s a motivation for others to tow the same line. Professionals can play a significant role by setting the tone. But really, to tackle corruption, the tone should be set at the top. The anticorruption, anti-fraud community, we are ready to partner with government to tackle corruption. But we have not been invited. But what is your reaction to the argument that structural constraints are hindering forensic accountants from tackling corruption? There are no structural constraints. The only problem is that forensic accounting is new here and both people and government are not yet deploying it. We have trained some government accountants and we have trained a lot of private sector operators. We have proved to the financial community that they cannot behave with immunity. The first thing to do in an anti-fraud and corruption movement is to train the people so that they can understand the language of the struggle. It goes beyond the traditional accounting. In fact, we usually say it in the anti-fraud community that why the traditional accountant looks at the figures, the forensic accountant looks behind the figures. And why we look behind the figures because of the two tests that I had earlier mentioned: does this transaction satisfy common sense or does it satisfy business sense? If it does not satisfy either of the two, then it must certainly satisfy fraud sense. So, our first approach is to get players in that sector. The second thing is to preach the gospel to institutions and gover nments so that whoever is at the top can set the tone that fraud and corruption is not welcome here. The moment the man at the top sends the signal that he won’t tolerate corruption, everyone down to the man at the gate will toe the line. If you preach the gospel and it is accepted and everyone knows that corruption kills the society, everybody pays for it. If the fish starts to rot, it starts from the head.

Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015

Business | Capital Market

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Daily Summary (Bonds)

No Debt Trading Activity

Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

The Nigerian Stock Market Exchange as at April 2, 2015 Daily Summary (Equities)

Daily Summary (Equities) Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Activity Summary on Board EQTY AGRICULTURE Crop Production FTN COCOA PROCESSORS PLC OKOMU OIL PALM PLC. PRESCO PLC Crop Production Totals Livestock/Animal Specialties LIVESTOCK FEEDS PLC. Livestock/Animal Specialties Totals

Symbol FTNCOCOA OKOMUOIL PRESCO Symbol LIVESTOCK

No. of Deals 2 42 31 75

Current Price 0.50 28.29 28.50

No. of Deals 37 37

Current Price 2.48

AGRICULTURE Totals CONGLOMERATES Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Diversified Industries Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 JOHN HOLT PLC. S C O A NIG. PLC. TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATION OF NIGERIA PLC U A C N PLC. Diversified Industries Totals

112 Symbol JOHNHOLT SCOA TRANSCORP UACN Daily Summary

No. of Deals 2 1 547 233 (Equities) 783

Activity Summary on Board EQTY CONGLOMERATES Totals CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Building Structure/Completion/Other

Current Price 0.94 4.44 3.59 36.02

783

Quantity Traded 7,000 555,882 531,340 1,094,222

Value Traded 3,500.00 15,846,316.76 15,267,911.36 31,117,728.12

Quantity Traded 1,226,511 1,226,511

Value Traded 3,010,836.59 3,010,836.59

2,320,733

34,128,564.71

Quantity Traded 3,500 120 92,068,232 24,814,005 116,885,857

Value Traded 3,290.00 506.40 322,812,897.19 918,486,798.89 1,241,303,492.48

116,885,857

1,241,303,492.48

Page Quantity Traded 836,034 836,034

No. of Deals 18 18

Current Price 0.70

Infrastructure/Heavy Construction JULIUS BERGER NIG. PLC. Infrastructure/Heavy Construction Totals

Symbol JBERGER

No. of Deals 57 57

Current Price 50.26

Quantity Traded 518,258 518,258

Value Traded 26,199,255.90 26,199,255.90

Real Estate Development UACN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT CO. LIMITED Real Estate Development Totals

Symbol UAC-PROP

No. of Deals 62 62

Current Price 11.40

Quantity Traded 935,342 935,342

Value Traded 10,298,660.64 10,298,660.64

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Symbol UNION HOMES REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST (REIT) UHOMREIT UPDC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST UPDCREIT Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 CONSTRUCTION/REAL ESTATE Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 2

Current Price 45.22 10.00

Quantity Traded 46 493 539

Value Traded 1,976.16 4,930.00 6,906.16

2,290,173

37,087,986.50

Quantity Traded 3,978,072 576,687 2,074,666 13,211,506 181 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 31,610,490.29 80,888,366.36 47,393,224.74 2,292,590,848.11 631.69 Value Traded

CONSUMER GOODS Beverages--Brewers/Distillers CHAMPION BREW. PLC. GUINNESS NIG PLC Activity Summary on Board EQTY INTERNATIONAL BREWERIES PLC. NIGERIAN BREW. PLC. CONSUMER GOODS PREMIER BREWERIES PLC Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Beverages--Brewers/Distillers Totals

Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Beverages--Non-Alcoholic 7-UP BOTTLING COMP. PLC. Beverages--Non-Alcoholic Totals Food Products DANGOTE FLOUR MILLS PLC DANGOTE SUGAR REFINERY PLC FLOUR MILLS NIG. PLC. HONEYWELL FLOUR MILL PLC NATIONAL SALT CO. NIG. PLC N NIG. FLOUR MILLS PLC. UNION DICON SALT PLC. Food Products Totals Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Food Products--Diversified Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 CADBURY NIGERIA PLC. NESTLE NIGERIA PLC. Food Products--Diversified Totals Household Durables VITAFOAM NIG PLC. VONO PRODUCTS PLC. HouseholdGOODS Durables Totals CONSUMER

Activity Summary on Board EQTY Personal/Household Products Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange P Z CUSSONS NIGERIA PLC.© UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC. Personal/Household Products Totals CONSUMER GOODS Totals Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printed 02/04/2015 FINANCIAL15:09:25.025 SERVICES Banking ACCESS BANK PLC. DIAMOND BANK PLC ECOBANK TRANSNATIONAL INCORPORATED FIDELITY BANK PLC GUARANTY BANK PLC. Activity SummaryTRUST on Board EQTY SKYE BANK PLC FINANCIAL SERVICES STERLING BANK PLC. Banking UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA PLC UNION BANK NIG.PLC. UNITY BANK PLC WEMA BANK PLC. ZENITH INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC Banking Totals

139

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) CHAMPION GUINNESS INTBREW NB PREMBREW Symbol

103 58 51 249 1 No. of Deals 462

7.38 139.00 22.87 166.25 3.61 Current Price

19,841,112

Page Quantity Traded 27,364 27,364

Current Price 4.27 7.72 36.82 3.30 8.19 18.05 12.46

Quantity Traded 268,361 5,510,262 2,281,572 2,248,399 6,287,123 10,447 907 16,607,071

Value Traded 1,145,206.27 42,924,486.00 84,689,369.94 7,373,901.20 51,826,601.33 197,970.65 10,766.38 188,168,301.77

Symbol CADBURY NESTLE

No. of Deals 41 16 57

Current Price 40.00 936.60

Quantity Traded 925,044 56,914 981,958

Value Traded 37,267,554.64 53,305,652.40 90,573,207.04

Symbol VITAFOAM VONO

No. of Deals 45 2 47

Current Price 4.12 0.89

Quantity Traded 5,408,581 100,000 5,508,581

Value Traded 21,569,950.77 89,000.00 21,658,950.77

Symbol PZ UNILEVER

No. of Deals 42 48 90

Current Price 29.19 44.45

Quantity Traded Page 288,000 653,474 941,474

Value Traded 3 8,359,374.98 of 13 28,226,605.24 36,585,980.22

Value Traded 303,803,151.91 181,599,268.60 238,824,866.90 288,969,166.01 4,212,750,825.76 63,445,307.89 20,932,294.87 Value Traded 577,279,932.94 44,953,992.76 343,525.00 4,008,407.72 2,813,624,596.74 8,750,535,337.10

Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Symbol No. of Deals AIICO INSURANCE PLC. AIICO 34 CONTINENTAL REINSURANCE PLC CONTINSURE 7 CORNERSTONE INSURANCE COMPANY PLC. CORNERST 1 Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © PLC GREAT NIGERIAN INSURANCE GNI 1 CONSOLIDATED HALLMARK INSURANCE PLC HMARKINS 2 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY INSURANCE COMPANY PLC INTENEGINS 7 MANSARD INSURANCE PLC MANSARD 4 N.E.M INSURANCE NEM 5 Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 CO (NIG) PLC. NIGER15:09:25.025 INSURANCE CO. PLC. NIGERINS 3 Printed 02/04/2015 PRESTIGE ASSURANCE CO. PLC. PRESTIGE 1 SOVEREIGN TRUST INSURANCE PLC SOVRENINS 2 WAPIC INSURANCE PLC WAPIC 81 Insurance Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals Daily Summary (Equities) 148

Current Price 1.02 0.94 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.55 3.05 0.75 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.58

Quantity Traded 2,623,996 138,145 1,000 Page 5,000

Other Financial Institutions AFRICA PRUDENTIAL REGISTRARS PLC CUSTODIAN AND ALLIED PLC FBN HOLDINGS PLC FCMB GROUP PLC. ROYAL EXCHANGE PLC. STANBIC IBTC HOLDINGS PLC UBA CAPITAL PLC Other Financial Institutions Totals

Symbol ACCESS DIAMONDBNK Daily ETISummary FIDELITYBK GUARANTY SKYEBANK STERLNBANK Symbol UBA UBN UNITYBNK WEMABANK ZENITHBANK

2,793,880,274.49

Pharmaceuticals EVANS MEDICAL PLC. FIDSON HEALTHCARE PLC GLAXO SMITHKLINE CONSUMER NIG. PLC. MAY & BAKER NIGERIA PLC. Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

OIL AND GAS Energy Equipment and Services JAPAUL OIL & MARITIME SERVICES PLC Published by TheSummary Nigerian Stock Exchange © Totals Energy Equipment Services Activity on and Board EQTY

Integrated Oil and Gas Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors CONOIL PLC ETERNA PLC. FORTE OIL PLC. MOBIL OIL NIG PLC. MRS OIL NIGERIA PLC. TOTAL NIGERIA PLC. Petroleum and Petroleum Products Distributors Totals Exploration and Production SEPLAT PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LTD Exploration and Production Totals Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printed OIL 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 AND GAS Totals SERVICES Automobile/Auto Part Retailers R T BRISCOE PLC. Automobile/Auto Part Retailers Totals

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

Courier/Freight/Delivery RED STAR EXPRESS PLC SERVICES TRANS-NATIONWIDE EXPRESS PLC. Courier/Freight/Delivery

Current Price 4.00

Quantity Traded 15,000 15,000

Value Traded 57,000.00 57,000.00

Symbol CHAMS

No. of Deals 21 21

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 70,899,057 70,899,057

Value Traded 35,452,128.50 35,452,128.50

70,944,446

35,524,323.00

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol No. of Deals Current Price Daily Summary (Equities) ASHAKACEM BERGER CAP CCNN Symbol DANGCEM DNMEYER PORTPAINT PREMPAINTS WAPCO

51 36 25 14 No. of Deals 143 1 6 1 115 392

21.40 9.06 34.00 12.60 Current182.00 Price 0.83 3.46 10.93 93.00

Symbol CUTIX

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.66

Quantity Traded Page 646,954 456,435 143,008 92,907 Quantity Traded 14,905,334 12,528 129,000 22 6,545,949 22,932,137 Quantity Traded 50,000 50,000

Value Traded 83,000.00 83,000.00

22,982,137

3,350,788,305.06

Quantity Traded 2,500 2,500

Value Traded 1,750.00 1,750.00

2,500

1,750.00

393 Symbol THOMASWY

No. of Deals 2 2

Current Price 0.73

Daily Summary (Equities) Symbol No. of Deals Current Price JAPAULOIL

7Value Traded of 13 14,100,078.15 4,137,134.40 5,336,110.22 1,171,800.99 Value Traded 2,685,404,207.38 10,398.24 446,340.00 228.58 640,099,007.10 3,350,705,305.06

Quantity Traded 260 Page 260

Value Traded 130.00 of 130.00 13

1 1

0.50

Symbol OANDO Symbol

No. of Deals 811 No. of Deals

Current Price Current 17.60 Price

Quantity Traded 39,115,792 Quantity Traded

Value Traded 683,950,541.14 Value Traded

Symbol CONOIL ETERNA FO MOBIL MRS TOTAL

No. of Deals 40 28 76 38 7 27 216

Current Price 39.50 3.20 215.00 175.00 50.54 180.07

Quantity Traded 303,929 1,565,090 270,171 111,124 7,700 572,712 2,830,726

Value Traded 12,186,079.73 5,150,764.70 55,802,674.24 19,239,831.67 351,514.00 105,577,270.43 198,308,134.77

Symbol SEPLAT

No. of Deals 40 40

Current Price 443.99

Quantity Traded 111,339 111,339

Value Traded 49,319,995.69 49,319,995.69

42,058,117

931,578,801.60

Quantity Traded 50,220 50,220

Value Traded 39,673.80 39,673.80

Quantity Traded 22,500

Value Traded 85,050.00 632,695.65 Value Traded 717,745.65

811

39,115,792 Page

1,068 Symbol

No. of Deals 2 2

Daily Summary (Equities) RTBRISCOE Symbol REDSTAREX TRANSEXPR Symbol

No. of Deals 2

Current Price 0.79 Current Price 3.60

683,950,541.14 9 of 13

Road Transportation ASSOCIATED BUS COMPANY PLC Road Transportation Totals

Symbol ABCTRANS

No. of Deals 15 15 Daily Summary (Equities)

Current Price 0.59

Quantity Traded 850,388 850,388

Value Traded 508,478.92 508,478.92 Value Traded 250.00 250.00

Specialty Activity Summary on BoardTECHNOLOGY EQTY SECURE ELECTRONIC PLC Specialty SERVICES Totals

Support and Logistics CAVERTON OFFSHORE SUPPORT GRP PLC Support and Logistics Totals

Value Traded 12,333,538.32 53,847,236.52 625,389,395.58 232,159,568.06 52,380.00 573,030,430.98 16,022,771.47 1,512,835,320.93

863,145,490

10,281,603,446.20

CONSUMER GOODS Food Products MCNICHOLS PLC Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Food Products Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 500 500

Symbol NAHCO

No. of Deals 87 87

Current Price 6.75

Quantity Traded 1,979,328 1,979,328 Page

Symbol CAVERTON

No. of Deals 14 14

Current Price 3.30

Quantity Traded 269,696 269,696

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol MCNICHOLS

CONSUMER GOODS Totals

Equity Activity Totals

Exchange Traded Fund

Name LOTUS HALAL EQUITY ETF NEWGOLD EXCHANGE TRADED FUND (ETF) STANBIC IBTC ETF 30 VETIVA GRIFFIN 30 ETF Exchange Traded Fund Totals

Value Traded 13,027,870.01 13,027,870.01 11 of 13 Value Traded 869,343.18 869,343.18

178

6,106,054

18,742,168.79

1,174,365,294

18,753,819,209.57

Quantity Traded 9,800 9,800

Value Traded 15,540.00 15,540.00

Current Price 1.55

9,800

15,540.00

2 9,006

9,800

15,540.00 18,753,834,749.57

1,174,375,094

Page

Daily Summary (ETP) Symbol LOTUSHAL15 NEWGOLD STANBICETF30 VETGRIF30

10 of 13 Value Traded 840,325.75 840,325.75

9,004

No. of Deals 2 2

ASeM Board Totals

Page Quantity Traded 1,672,453 1,672,453

Symbol NSLTECH

SERVICES Totals

Quantity Traded 4,301,371 12,739,612 64,872,850 72,020,670 97,000 17,798,871 10,436,151 182,266,525

Quantity506,759 Traded 529,259

Value Traded 311,500.00 54,903.38 366,403.38

Transport-Related Services NIGERIAN AVIATION HANDLING COMPANY PLC Transport-Related Services Totals Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange ©

Quantity Traded 250,000 12,310 262,310

Current Price 2.84 4.16 9.54 3.18 0.54 31.00 1.53

No. of Deals 1 1

Current Price 1.27 4.70

No. of Deals 111 23 985 253 2 57 159 1,590

Symbol CWG

No. of Deals 7 6 13

Symbol AFRIPRUD CUSTODYINS FBNH FCMB ROYALEX STANBIC UBCAP

Page

Value Traded 250.00 250.00

Symbol LEARNAFRCA UPL

Activity Summary on Board ASeM

Value Traded 579,260.00 8,812,549.52 18,971,288.56 807,243.06

Quantity Traded 500 500

Printing/Publishing LEARN AFRICA PLC UNIVERSITY PRESS PLC.

Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Printing/Publishing Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Value Traded 5 100,000.00 of 13 100,000.00

Quantity Traded 267,200 2,581,774 375,402 486,291

Current Price 0.50

Value Traded 2,352,263.80 1,386.10 18,428.20 2,372,078.10

Quantity Traded 200,000 Page 200,000

Current Price 2.20 3.41 51.04 1.66

No. of Deals 1 1

Quantity Traded 489,640 415 1,845 491,900

Current Price 0.50

No. of Deals 6 61 32 23

Symbol OMATEK

Current Price 5.13 3.51 9.63

No. of Deals 1 1

Symbol EVANSMED FIDSON GLAXOSMITH MAYBAKER

Value Traded 14,944.50 14,944.50

No. of Deals 17 1 5 23

Symbol RESORTSAL

Value Traded 1,730.00 1,730.00

Quantity Traded 29,889 29,889

Symbol IKEJAHOTEL TOURIST TRANSCOHOT

EQTY Board Totals

Quantity Traded 1,000 1,000

Current Price 0.50

Hotels/Lodging IKEJA HOTEL PLC TOURIST COMPANY OF NIGERIA PLC. TRANSCORP HOTELS PLC Hotels/Lodging Totals

Value Traded 3,696,636.79 3,696,636.79

Current Price 1.82

No. of Deals 4 4

Current Price 0.50

Quantity Traded 3,518,300 3,518,300

No. of Deals 1 1

Symbol COURTVILLE

No. of Deals 9 9

C & I LEASING PLC. Employment Solutions Totals

Current Price 1.06

Symbol MORISON

29,180,096.74

Symbol CILEASING

Courier/Freight/Delivery Totals

No. of Deals 13 13

5,029

3,722,227

1.24 Current Price

294,500.00 348,168.32 168,850.00 100,125.00 175,000.00 100,000.00 192,500.00 10,275,348.06 14,436,151.38

Value Traded 8,025.60 29,178,366.74

12 No. of Deals 14

Symbol NPFMCRFBK

FINANCIAL SERVICES Totals HEALTHCARE Medical Supplies MORISON INDUSTRIES PLC. Medical Supplies Totals

589,000 634,603 54,500 133,500 350,000 200,000 385,000 17,798,236 22,912,980

INDUSTRIAL GOODS

Building Materials Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange © ASHAKA CEM PLC BERGER PAINTS PLC EQTY Activity Summary on Board CAP PLC CEMENTGOODS CO. OF NORTH.NIG. PLC INDUSTRIAL Building Materials DANGOTE CEMENT PLC DN MEYER PLC. PORTLAND PAINTS & PRODUCTS NIGERIA PLC PREMIER PAINTS PLC. LAFARGE AFRICA PLC. Building Materials Totals

OILIntegrated AND GAS Oil and Gas Services OANDO PLC Integrated Oil and Gas Services

Value Traded 2,648,060.80 130,599.20 500.00 4 of 13 2,500.00

Quantity Traded 10,560 3,721,227

126

NATURAL RESOURCES Totals

2 of 13 Value Traded 4,410,273.50 4,410,273.50

Current Price 0.73

Activity Summary on Board EQTY

NATURAL RESOURCES Paper/Forest Products THOMAS WYATT NIG. PLC. Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 Paper/Forest Products Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

2,452,483,561.19

43,907,560

No. of Deals 3 125

INDUSTRIAL GOODS Totals

No. of Deals 26 125 147 29 146 3 2 478

1,147

Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 ICT Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025

Electronic and Electrical Products CUTIX PLC. Electronic and Electrical Products Totals

Symbol DANGFLOUR DANGSUGAR FLOURMILL HONYFLOUR NASCON NNFM UNIONDICON

Quantity Traded 45,448,227 39,581,040 12,233,013 139,611,889 141,078,747 23,397,193 8,680,296 Quantity Traded 121,204,001 4,026,811 687,050 3,732,725 114,566,693 654,247,685

Micro-Finance Banks Totals FINANCIAL SERVICES Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services RESORT SAVINGS & LOANS©PLC Published by The Nigerian Stock Exchange Mortgage Carriers, Brokers and Services Totals

IT Services COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP PLC Daily Summary as of 02/04/2015 IT Services Totals Printed 02/04/2015 15:09:25.025 Processing Systems CHAMS PLC Processing Systems Totals

Current Price 161.00

Current Price 6.67 4.45 19.51 2.07 31.88 2.64 2.39 Current Price 4.92 11.00 0.50 1.11 25.05

Micro-Finance Banks

Computers and Peripherals OMATEK VENTURES PLC Computers and Peripherals Totals

No. of Deals 13 13

No. of Deals 258 139 (Equities) 70 357 752 213 67 No. of Deals 602 48 4 46 721 3,277

Activity Summary on Board EQTY NPF MICROFINANCE BANK PLC

ICT Computer Based Systems COURTEVILLE BUSINESS SOLUTIONS PLC Computer Based Systems Totals

Symbol 7UP

Daily Summary (Equities)

Symbol NEIMETH

HEALTHCARE Totals

of 13 Value Traded 583,163.80 583,163.80

Symbol COSTAIN

COSTAIN (W A) PLC. Building Structure/Completion/Other Totals

HEALTHCARE Pharmaceuticals NEIMETH INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS PLC Pharmaceuticals Totals

No. of Deals 1 1 1 2 5

Current Price 10.82 2,317.00 94.80 16.41

Quantity Traded 5,000 20 1 1,010 6,031

Value Traded 54,100.00 46,340.00 94.80 16,024.10 116,558.90

ETF Board Totals

6,031

116,558.90

ETP Activity Totals

6,031

116,558.90

Photo | News

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Members of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, light their candle from Paschal Candle Light with Rev. Edward Pemida, during the Easter Vigil at the Church in Abuja. PHOTO-NAN L-R: Director of Deanery, Epe Catholic Women Association, Mrs. Philomena Oniga; Founder, Joan Agha Foundation, Revd. Father Christopher Arabi; Mrs. Joan Agha and Publisher, TW Magazine, Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe, at an outreach programme at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Ibowon, Epe, Lagos.

L-R: Minister, Wesley Methodist Church, Nigeria Cathedral, Iperu, Remo, Ogun State, Revd. Michael Femi-Adebanjo; newly presented Lay President, Diocese of Remo Central, Methodist Church Nigeria, Brother Muyiwa Osho; his wife, Yemi and newly presented Lay President, Diocese of Remo, Methodist Church Nigeria, Sir Lawa Odutola, at the installation of Sir Odutola and Osho, as National Chief Patrons, Association of Methodist Brigades, at Wesley Methodist Church Cathedral, Iperu.

L-R: Chancellor of Lagos West, Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Justice Babasola Ogunade; the Lord Bishop, Rt. Reverend James Odedeji; his wife, Lydia and Bishop of Jebba, Rt. Reverend Sunday Adewole, at the Sunday Easter service, in Ikeja, Lagos. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Children celebrating Easter at Wonderland park in Abuja .

PHOTO-NAN

A cross-section of the Catholic faithful renewing Baptismal promises, during the Easter Vigil at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Gwagwalada in Abuja. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: Lagos State Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Henry Ajomale; Governor Babatunde Fashola; Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Kayode Opeifa and other party chieftains, during the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s governorship campaign rally at Agege, Lagos.

L-R: Secretary, Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Segun Babatope; Pastor Jerry Asemota and Chairman, Land Committee, Pastor Alfred Ogene, at a press conference on the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Easter Retreat in Ogun State. PHOTO: GODWIN IREKHE

News

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH-WEST

Impeachment: Police on red alert as Fayose threatens fire Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

kiti State Police Command has put its officers and men on the alert following the tension generated by the alleged moves by the All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the state House of Assembly to remove Governor Ayo Fayose. The Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, who disclosed this in a telephone chat yesterday, said the command had

to take proactive steps to forestall any breakdown of law and order, saying the Command would ensure 24 hours security surveillance would be put in place, particularly around the House of Assembly Complex and other hot spots. He said: “Security personnel have been placed on the alert while high visibility patrol is being conducted around Ado-Ekiti. “We knew the tension generated must have caused some apprehension, but we are being proactive because the security

of lives and property and general peace of the people is our top most priority. “We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure the safety of our citizens and for everybody to go about their normal business without fear or harassment.” Already Governor Fayose has threatened that no political usurper could take away the political mandate which the people of the state gave to him on June 21, last year, urging the people of the state to be on the alert to defend the mandate and watch out for

politicians who were plotting to gain through the back door what they had lost in electoral contest. Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday through one of his aides, Lere Olayinka, Fayose said, “Ekiti people who are the owners of my mandate will defend it against political usurpers, whom they had rejected twice in the last nine months.” The governor was reacting to political undercurrent in the state which climaxed at the weekend with an online publication of an Impeachment Notice

against him by the APC members of the House of Assembly, led by Adewale Omirin. Fayose, however, urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to sustain his judicial integrity by resisting attempts by the opposition to make use of the third arm of government to destabilize Ekiti, especially in their desperate attempt to change the outcome of the elections. Fayose, who described the noise of impeachment and the Supreme Court judgement being made

by the APC as a plot to distract him from concentrating on governance and the coming Saturday’s House of Assembly election, called on members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state not to be distracted from their goal of delivering all the 26 Assembly seats in the state to the party. He said: “Sovereignty belongs to the people and the people of Ekiti State on June 21, 2014, surrendered their sovereignty to me to be their governor for four years.

Assembly election: PDP, APC in plot to disgrace Mimiko Babatope Okeowo Akure

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; his wife, Florence; her mother, Mrs. Victoria Amudoaghan and Deputy Governor of the state, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, during a thanksgiving service to mark Mrs. Ajimobi’s 56th birthday in Ibadan ...yesterday

Easter: Aregbesola wants religious leaders to pray for President-elect AdeoluAdeyemo Osogbo

sun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday charged Christians and people of other faith to remember the incoming administration in prayer, especially in critical areas of needs in the country such as insecurity, hunger, unemployment, decayed infrastructure, corruption which had all held Nigeria down. Aregbesola,whomadethe appeal in his Easter message to Nigerians, signed by his

Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, also tasked Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for the President-elect, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, to bring the positive change to Nigeria. According to him, “Nigerians are tired of mere promises, they want concrete actions. They want to see in practical terms that government is committed to fighting insecurity and restoring the country to its past glory. This is what the APC government is committed to and so, Nigerians should pray for successes in these areas.

PDP to Buhari: Don’t be swayed by electoral victory Babatope Okeowo Akure

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ondo State, Chief Supo Ijabadeniyi yesterday called on the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari to prepare for the challenges of meeting the desires and needs of Nigerians as he sets to take-over the mantle of leadership on May 29. Ijabadeniyi who also doubles as the party’s

legal adviser while congratulating Buhari for his electoral victory, said the President-elect must be ready for the ensued humiliation should he fail to bring the much touted change. According to him, the same change would be used against him by the people of Nigeria in 2019, insisting that failure of his administration to bring about the much acclaimed change would incur humiliation and rejection the same way the ruling party was voted out of power.

APC Osun seeks mass votes in Osun guber election Adeolu Adeyemo Osogbo

he Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the weekend, canvassed a repeat of the 2011 elections in the state by voting en masse all its candidates to the State House of Assembly with a view to ensuring smooth cooperation between the executive and the legislature. The party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, who made the appeal in Osogbo in a statement, charged them to turn out en masse

‘to finally end the PDP scourge.’ He said: ‘Now, with Buhari and the APC set to take-over power in Abuja, Osun’s fortune will definitely change for the better. To then become careless and allow any PDP candidate into the state House of Assembly will amount to ingratitude to God and inadvertent choice to jeopardise the future of the state. ‘Osun should not allow itself to make that kind of tragic mistake. ‘Every vote for the PDP will not only be wasted, it will be seen as a rejection of the economic and special progress.’

head of the April 11 House of Assembly election, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has signed a formal agreement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure victory for the APC’s candidates come Saturday. Similar agreement, which was entered into between the aggrieved PDP members and the APC, gave the rival party the victory in the Presidential and the National Assembly election held on March 28. While the ruling PDP lost the presidential election, it also managed to win one of the three senate seats and four of the five House of Representatives seats. However, Jimoh Ibrahim-led faction signed the accord to ensure total victory for all the APC House of Assembly candidates during the forthcoming April 11 election in the state. The agreement tagged “Igbotako Accord” was signed by APC Chairman, Hon. Isaacs Kekemeke, and factional PDP chairman, Dr. Olu Ogunye, and the convener of the meeting , Jimoh Ibrahim. The ‘Igbotako Accord’

concluded that the APC and the PDP had decided to work together for the success of all the APC candidates in the April 11 House of Assembly election. The leaders in a communique signed at the end of the meeting held at Igbotako home of Ibrahim called on all citizens of the state to vote en mass for the APC candidates contesting for the Ondo state House of Assembly election with a view to halting what they described as ‘apparent drift in governance’ of Ondo state. Besides, the meeting which deliberated on the political, economic situation and the political realities in Ondo state concluded that a united front of both APC and PDP in the state was required to restore the hope of the people in governance and stop further economic and social slide in the state. This, according to the leaders necessitated the call for all citizens in the state to vote for APC candidates as a way of strengthening the legislative arms of government in the Sunshine state. The media Committee of the APC in its reaction said the accord would give total victory to the opposition party in the state.

Rep: Buhari’s victory divine, surpasses human understanding Sola Adeyemo Ibadan

he re-elected member of the National Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state, Hon Segun Odebunmi, has described the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28 election

as a divine arrangement which surpassed human understanding. Odebunmi, who is representing Surulere/ Ogo Oluwa Federal constituency in Ogbomoso, said in a congratulatory message to Buhari that, “I join the rest of the world in congratulating you, and would want to urge you to rule with the fear of God. Handle Nigeria as an indivisible entity and ensure the good legacies

of the outgoing administration are sustained so as to enhance continuity and progress of the country. This is because your victory surpassed all human understanding. It is divine”. While wishing him successful tenure in office, the former council chairman urged Buhari not to renege on his campaign promises, particularly, the fight against corruption and insurgency and

unemployment, among the youths. Odebunmi used the medium to congratulate Christian faithful for the Easter celebration while urging them to continue to pray for peace and progress of the nation. “We need prayers as a nation and we have to continue to pray for true liberation as a nation and genuine development that will move our nation to another level”.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

News 47

SOUTH - EAST

Another mass exodus hits Ebonyi Labour Party Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

ith less than one week to the April 11 2015, governorship and state House of Assembly elections, another mass exodus at the weekend, has hit the main opposition Labour Party(LP) in Ebonyi state, as over 10,000 supporters have joined the People’s Democratic party (PDP). Briefing newsmen yesterday in Abakaliki, a former Commissioner

of Information and Orientation, also a media Director of Heritage Campaign Organisation of the governorship candidate of LP, Dr. Chike Onwe said that after due consultations, he decided with his supporters to join the "Divine Mandate" of the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Dave Umahi, for equity, fairplay to ensure that power shifts to Ebonyi south zone of the state come 2015. Onwe stated that it became necessary for him to take the decision

following the discovery of the developmental initiatives inherent in the PDP governorship candidate, adding that before the election the party would win more souls. "From my personal interaction and engagement with Engr. Dave Umahi, I am convinced that he will build on the

foundational legacies of Governor Martin Elechi while also working hard to expand the development frontiers for every Ebonyi person to maximize his potential. "Therefore in response to the dictates of conscience and the demand of reasons, I wish to join Umahi to pursue the dream of consoli-

dation on the gains we have already recorded as a people so as to take Ebonyi to another level. "As I appeal to the understanding admirers for this shift, I call on my friends and supporters to join me in this critical decision." The defection followed the deadlocked meeting between Governor Ele-

chi and the three major opposition parties which held at the Government House in Abakaliki. It was gathered that already, 9 strong opposition LP supporters across the 13 local government areas of the state, last week, denounced their membership of LP and pitched tent with the PDP.

Feel free with Ndigbo, Catholic bishop tells Buhari Tony Okafor AWKA

he Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor has urged the Presidentelect, General Muhammadu Buhari to feel free and work harmoniously with the Igbo-speaking tribe in his reign despite the low ballots he recorded in the area in the elections. The catholic prelate stated this at weekend

while fielding questions from journalists at St. Patrick Catheral, Awka, Anambra State while presenting relief materials to the less privileged in the diocese in the spirit of the Easter celebration. He said the indigenous Igbos would hardly constitute any problem for any leader as they would always mind their business, even as he counseled that opposition makes leaders to sit up.

APC membership won't be all-comer affair now, says Ngige Tony Okafor AWKA

pparenty, basking in the euphoria of the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 28 presidential election, Senator Chris Ngige representing Anambra Central District yesterday said those planning to join APC in the state would be screened before admission. Speaking during a reception organised for him by members of

his party in the state at in Awka to mark APC's presidential victory, Ngige stressed that membership of the APC henceforth would not be an all-comer affair. He maintained that old members of the party would always enjoy priority far above new entrants. The APC chieftain noted that the bane of the PDP was opening its gate too wide for all comers which, he said, brought the confusion that eventually buried the party.

Anambra CJ wants financial autonomy for judiciary Tony Okafor

AWKA

hief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi has restated the importance of judicial independence through financial autonomy in a democracy., saying it would enhance fairness in justice delivery. He noted in his address of welcome during the 4th Annual Chief Judge’s dinner and maiden award night held in Awka that

the judiciary, as a component part of the government, occupies a peculiar position where it is expected to act as an arbiter between the executive and legislative arms. Justice Umeadi highlighted that the aim of instituting the Judge’s Dinner Night was to create a platform for the three arms of the government in Anambra State to interact with a view to discovering areas of improved synergy for smooth running of government machineries.

Bishop of Okigwe Diocese, Rt Rev. Edward Osuegbu (right), presenting an award to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate of Imo State, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, during an investiture organised by The Cathedral Church of St. Barnabas, Okigwe, Imo State

Okorocha, our only link to mainstream politics — Ekechi Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

irector, Election Planning and Monitoring in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Theodore Ekechi, has called on the Imo electorate to support Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and re-elect him on April 11. He argued that only the re-election of Okorocha will guarantee Imo and indeed Ndigbo a place of relevance in the national politics of Nigeria. Ekechi made the assertion during an interactive session with newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

According to him, Okorocha has steered Imo State and indeed the South East to the path that would offer political relevance to the Igbo man, adding that some Igbo regional leaders have continued to mislead Ndigbo with unfounded tales that merely seek to deepen the ethno-religious divide in our polity. Said he, "At a time everybody in the Southeast believed in the bandwagon; at a time our selfstyled leaders clamoured and believed only in the establishment, Okorocha, like the wise man from the East he is, looked beyond the immediate and saw in the distance, what others could not see. He saw that the future of Nigeria lies

on the change initiative the APC offered." Ekechi, who was a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the Okorocha administration regretted that all the tales of Islamisation and ethnic bigotry were nowhere in the short or long term plans of the party which he is privy to. He stressed: "As I worked with the leaders in moulding some of action plans of the party, I could not find any sign of Islamisation or ethnic bias anywhere and it hurts to recall how some of our leaders have deceived and misled our people. Today we know of Senators and members of the house of rep-

resentative who want to jump ship. They are the same people that have feasted on the intelligence and sensibility of Ndigbo. Now, they want to cross carpet. They are welcome." Condemning the alleged violence and manipulation that marred the presidential election in Imo, Ekechi argued that the Igbo did not vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the actual sense; only that a few leaders did not allow Ndigbo to express their republican nature. He however maintained that, "only a return of Governor Rochas Okorocha on April 11 can ensure we are not disconnected from mainstream politics in Nigeria."

Ebonyi PDP predicts victory Odoh: it’s better to lose for guber, assembly elections election than cheat Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

he leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ebonyi State has disclosed that the party would emerge victorious in the governorship and state house of assembly elections, across the 13 local government areas of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Abakaliki and made available to journalists by the state Publicity Secretary, Apostle Benjamin Obaji, who said that the victory recorded at the just concluded presidential and National Assembly polls was a clear indication for the party to clinch power in the upcoming elections.

Uchenna Inya ABAKALIKI

he Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Ebonyi Central Zone in the just concluded National Assembly elections, Prof. Benard Odoh has said that it is far better for one to lose an election than resort to rigging to secure victory.

He was reacting to the March 28 National Assembly elections in the country. Odoh who regretted that the election was marred by fraud, said he is consulting with his party and legal team to chart the next line of action. He said he contested the election to provide quality leadership for the people but was rigged out.

48 News

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

SOUTH - SOUTH

Ogbemudia, group laud Buhari over victory WHAT HAPPENED? PDP told to strategise for future elections Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

s goodwill massages from s t a ke h o l d e r s and leaders continue to pour in for the All Progressives Congress President elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, the West African Region of the Commonwealth Medical Association and two time governor of old Midwest Region and later Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia yesterday congratu-

l Ex-Governor tasks PDP on self examination lated all Nigerians for the successful conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, March 28, 2015. Ogbemudia said with Buhari’s emergence, the country should brace up for the new change under his leadership. In a statement he personally signed and made available to reporters in Benin, Edo state capital, Ogbemudia also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding victory to his rival in the contest and urged members of the PDP to, "look inwards" and strategise for future elections.

He said, “I have known him (Buhari) since 1963 when he was commissioned into the Nigerian Army. I had the privilege to see some of his confidential reports written by his commanders in which he was described as a young officer with boundless energy, and willing to continue when others are tired.” He called on the PDP to reflect on what led to the defeat. "To my party, the PDP, this is an opportunity to begin to demonstrate capacity as a viable and credible alternative in the service of the nation. A peep into what went

wrong is called for” “The President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan by his conduct, has demonstrated both sportsmanship and statesmanship”. Meanwhile, members of the Commonwealth Medical Association in a statement signed their President Dr. Osahon Enabulele said, “We also heartily congratulate Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Presidential elections.” “We highly commend President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for mid-wifing an election

that has been widely acknowledged as a substantially transparent, free and credible election.” “In particular, we hail the uncommon display of statesmanship and humility by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) in courageously accepting defeat at the Presidential election, and by so doing stabilizing the Nigerian polity and averting any post-election crisis. We are convinced that by his exemplary gesture, he has enthroned a progressive democratic political culture in Nigeria.” “We call on the President-elect, General Mu-

hammadu Buhari rtd to sustain the tidal wave of expectations and legitimate aspirations of the long toiling people of Nigeria.” “Based on the President-elect’s antecedents in Nigeria’s quest to eradicate corruption and institute discipline and integrity in governance, we expect the President-elect and his team to work hard to restore public confidence in governance through institution of an all-inclusive and participatory government, the elimination of corruption and insecurity, strict adherence to the rule of law, restriction of Government’s funding of travels for foreign medical treatment by political and public office holders."

Urhobo, Isoko hails Jonathan Gabriel Choba UGHELLI

social political group under the aegis of Urhobo/Isoko for Change, UIC in Delta State has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his timely concession speech which it described as statesmanlike and possibly saved the country from being plagued with crisis following the outcome of the election. The group also congratulated the Presidentelect, Retired General Muhammadu Buhari for his victory in the presidential election, saying that the victory was well-deserved and urged him to bridge the unity gap between the south and northern Nigeria.

National Coordinator of Urhobo/Isoko for Change, Hon. Williams Onohwakpor, in a statement yesterday, said it foresaw the positive change in all spheres of the nation’s economy. They expressed confidence that General Buhari’s government would not disappoint Nigerians who voted him to victory. “We wish to thank President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for his acceptance of the outcome of the elections. He is truly an honorable man and a hero. We also joyfully wish to congratulate General Buhari as President-elect. APC has come to govern not to rule. “The people of Urhobo and Isoko nations are desirous of working closely with the incoming administration and APC government."

Jonathan’s campaign coordinator in Edo defects to APC Cajetan Mmuta BENIN

arely one week after President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid for second term, the Presidential election to General Muhammadu Buhari, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the 2012 gubernatorial election in Edo state and coordinator of Goodluck to Goodluck Campaign Organization (G2G), General Charles Airhiavbere has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The defection took place yesterday in the state capital, Benin City. Airhiavebre expressed strong desire to support the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to win more seats during

the April 11 state house of assembly polls and to also ensure that the state gains maximally from the APC-led Federal Government under the Presidentelect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who will be sworn in on May 29th this year, which signals the tenure of Jonathan. Speaking at a press conference held yesterday in Benin the state capital, Airhiavbere said “I have decided to join the team of change that has come to the nation in the last election of March 28th, 2015, so that Edo state will continue to enjoy the benefits of the party at the center.” According to him, “Any politician who means well for this state will ground their arms of hate and join the change train of the APC government ably led by Governor Adams Oshiomhole”.

Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty, King G.N.K Giniwa (left) and Labour Party Governorship candidate, Prince Tonye Princewill, during Princewill's visit in Korokoro Tai community…yesterday

Eket leaders back Udom for governor Tony Anichebe UYO

lders and Leaders from Eket Senatorial District of Akwa Ibom State have risen from a stakeholders’ meeting in Eket to reiterate their unflinching support and solidarity to the candidature of PDP Governorship Candidate, Udom Emmanuel ahead of next Saturday’s Governorship elections. The elders, who are from all the 12 local government areas of the three federal constituen-

cies in the district, noted that despite the outcome of the last elections, Akwa Ibom people should hold their heads high for their near 100 percent support for the PDP, which saw the party emerge victorious in all the national assembly seats in the State. The chairman of the occasion and former Minister of Lands and Housing, Chief Nduese Essien said the senatorial district will not joke with the opportunity that has come its way after 25 endless years of waiting and will leave no stone unturned in acquiring massive

votes for the PDP in the governorship and House of Assembly elections. “Just as the Northerners embarked on aggressive mobilization just to reclaim power, we are also not leaving anything to chance as we will make sure everyone comes out and vote for our son, Udom and other PDP candidates, come April 11 because this is our God-given turn,” he said. Also speaking, the State Deputy Governor, Lady Valerie Ebe, commended the Eket Senatorial District stakeholders for their unity and coop-

eration, adding that such bonding which saw to the success of the party in the senatorial district during the recent national assembly election, will translate to another round of victory for the party in the state on April 11. Speaking for Eket Federal Constituency, Gen Anthony Etukudo (rtd) said his people had always supported PDP governorship candidates from other senatorial districts of the state since inception and will vote overwhelmingly for Mr Emmanuel, who happened to be their son and brother.

Buhari'a victory, turning point in nation's democracy — Women leader Joe Obende WARRI

omen Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Dr. (Mrs.) Janet Oyubu, has described the emergence of General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd.) in the March 28

presidential election as a turning point in the nation's democratic system. Oyubu, who made the remark when she addressed scores of APC women from the three senatorial districts in the state at the weekend, commended the active role they played during the presidential election

where Buhari emerged victorious and enjoined them to do same in subsequent elections. The victory of the president-elect, according to her, had opened ways for all APC candidates in both the governorship and House of Assembly elections, urging them to vote wisely in Saturday election.

"We have started moving forward and there is no going back. We must ensure that APC takes over from the PDP henceforth. Gone are the days when APC is an opposition party, rather we will continue to dominate the political system in the country," stressed the APC chieftain.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Cephas Iorhemen MAKURDI

alpable fear has gripped the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State following the massive cross-carpeting of its strong supporters to the All Progressives Congress, APC. New Telegraph observed over the weekend alone that, since the victorious outcome of the presidential election in which the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari defeated President Goodluck Jonathan in a PDP in the state, the political calculations have changed automatically with the exit of many from the PDP. Already, the residence of PDP governorship candidate, Terhemen Tarzoor, which used to be busy, is being gradually deserted to those of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume and the governorship candidate of the APC, Chief Samuel Ortom at the Judges Quarters in Makurdi, which have become a beehive, as hundreds of supporters including those making in-roads to lobby for juicy positions crowd at

Court strikes out suit against guber candidate Mohammed Kawu BAUCHI

Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi, has struck out a suit challenging the eligibility of the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar over alleged irregularities in the recent party gubernatorial primary elections. The suit was filed by an aspirant in the last APC governorship primary election in state, Comrade Mohammed Abdullahi Tanko Ningi, challenging the competence of the last primary elections conducted by the party. Ningi had alleged irregularities and over voting in the primaries and prayed the Court to stop Abubakar from parading himself as Bauchi APC governorship candidate. He also wants the Court to stop APC from submitting his name to the electoral body, and the electoral body not to recognize Abubakar as the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s candidate for the elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was coopted as defendant in the suit against Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar.

News 49

NORTH

Fear grips Benue PDP over mass defection to APC the gates and premises to join the bandwagon. New Telegraph observed that Governor Gabriel Suswam, over the weekend, lost two of his aides in Gwer West, Mr. Anta Igbaato, alias Galadima and Francis Nyibiam, who led many others to defect to the APC. The defectors said the PDP has outlived its usefulness, hence the need for an alternative platform to

address the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Ortom, who received the defectors, expressed happiness that the chieftains had responded to the spirit of change sweeping across the country and enjoined those still outside to also move in. He pledged that if elected into office, his administration would provide critical infrastructure, such as good roads, por-

table water, electricity and health care as well as implement the free and compulsory primary and secondary education enshrined in the APC manifesto. New Telegraph further observed that a former youth director for the Suswam campaign organization, Chief John Akperashi, has also fixed tomorrow April 7, 2015 for his decamping ceremony,

while the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa (SAN), the re-elected member of the House of Representatives for the Ukum, Katsina-Ala and Logo constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Udende and the state Deputy Governor, Chief Steven Lawani have reportedly concluded arrangements to decamp to the APC.

L-R: Director, Partnerships Coordination, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Emmanuel Alhassan; Kogi State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Idris Omede; Vice-Chancellor, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Prof. Hassan Isah and Deputy Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Tony Okpanachi, at the ground-breaking of Ecobank-NACA Youth Friendly Centre in Kogi State Universityâ&#x20AC;Śrecently

Party leaders threaten to invade Adamawa INEC Ibrahim Abdul YOLA

ggrieved PDP leaders from Michika/ Madagali Federal constituency in Adamawa State have threatened to invade Adamawa State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) if it fails to announce the result of the federal constituency within 48 hours.

The PDP leaders led by Mr Francis Zaman, who was the PDP collating agent of Pallam/ Kojoti ward, vowed that "If nothing is done, about the results in the next two days, the REC should prepare to host us in his office until our demands are met,". The group, speaking to newsmen in Yola, noted that it was compelled to issue the threat because almost one week after the

election held, the results were yet to be released despite the fact that the election was peaceful and hitch-free. It noted that there was no justification for INEC to refuse to announce the overall result as the results of 25 out of the 26 wards of the constituency have been duly collated and announced with the exception of that of Pallam/Kojiti ward which they alleged

to have been snatched by the APC candidate, Umaru Duhu and others. They further said there was no way the result of that Pallam/ Kojiti ward could change the overall result, considering the difference that existed between the leading candidate Adamu Kamale and Umar Duhu, whose scores in the collated results were 9,357 and 6,777 votes respectively.

Unongo drums support for APC Jang expresses gratitude to on Saturday voting PDP, Cephas Iorhemen Plateau citizens they should go and vote MAKURDI

ith five days to the conduct of the governorship and state assembly elections, Second Republic Minister of Steel, Dr. Paul Unongo, has advised the people of Benue state to go out enmasse and vote for the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates as they did during the Presidential and National Assembly elections. "I want to advice eligible voters in Benue not to waste their votes

APC en-mmase because APC already controls the Federal Government and Benue is totally underdeveloped; so only APC government can deliver the state from the shackles of poverty", said Unongo. Fielding questions from journalists in his Makurdi residence at the weekend, Unongo said the people of the state have more to gain if they voted the APC, which he said has already won majority of seats at the national level.

Musa Pam JOS

overnor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State has expressed gratitude to the electorate in the state as well as the Peoples Democratic Party for electing him as two-time governor and now as Senator-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Jang, in a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state at the weekend in Jos, said it has not

been easy as a governor, but yet there were many successes and achievements that the state should be proud of during his administration. "My dear citizens of Plateau State, today as I address you, it is with gratitude to the Almighty God and to you all, for the wonderful privilege of leading this state and the Peoples Democratic Party as a two-time elected governor and now as Senatorelect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Salary delays worry Bauchi APC governorship candidate Mohammed Kawu BAUCHI

ith less than a week to the gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly elections, APC governorship flag bearer in Bauchi State, Barrister Mohammed Abubakar, has assured of prompt payment of civil servants' monthly salaries, pensions and gratuities for the retiring ones. Abubakar at the State 2015 Gubernatorial Debate held at the Bauchi Radio Corporation (BRC), expressed worries over delays in the payment of monthly salaries to civil servants in the state. Abubakar assured them that if elected as governor in next Saturday elections, he will, on assumption of office, reverse the trend and ensure that each and every civil servant and pensioner receives his/her remuneration and entitlement as and when due. It would be recalled that civil servants in the state are presently being owed one month salary with the state government while the backlog of unpaid gratuities of retirees amounted to over N11 billion with no hint for its settlement.

Saraki: We need political resurrection in Nigeria Biodun Oyeleye ILORIN

he chairman, Senate committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr Bukola Saraki yesterday asked Nigerians to be ready to make the sacrifices that will bring about socio-political resurrection for the country. Saraki, who made the call in an Easter message signed by his media aide, Bamikole Omishore, noted that, by historic effect, Easter corroborates quite well with the present situation of Nigeria, adding that such lessons should not be lost on the people of the land. His words: "Nigeria needs socio- political resurrection in order to return hope to her people. For this to come to life, we all need to make huge sacrifice and place this nation on a high priority. "As we share love and kind gestures this season, I urge us all to continue walking in path of God in all endeavours during and after the period".

WORLD | News

MONday, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Pope, thousands brave rain for Easter in St. Peter's Square

n an Easter peace wish, Pope Francis yesterday praised the framework nuclear agreement with Iran as an opportunity to make the world safer, while expressing deep worry about bloodshed in Libya, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Nigeria and elsewhere in Africa. Cautious hope ran through Francis' "Urbi et Orbi" Easter message, a kind of papal commentary on the state of the world's affairs, which he delivered from the central balcony of St. Peter's Square. He had just celebrated Mass in rain-whipped St. Peter's Square for tens of thousands of people, who huddled under umbrellas or braved the downpour in thin, plastic rain-slickers. Easter day is "so beautiful, and so ugly because of the rain," Francis said after Mass about Christianity's most important feast day. He expressed thanks for the flowers which bedecked the square and which were donated by the Netherlands, but the bright hues of the azaleas and

other blossoms seemed muted by the gray skies. Francis made his first public comments about the recent framework for an accord, reached in Lausanne, Switzerland, and aimed at ensuring Iran doesn't develop a nuclear weapon. "In hope we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed to in Lausanne, that it may be a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world." Decrying the plentitude of weapons in the world in general, Francis said: "And we ask for peace for this world subjected to arms dealers, who earn their living with the blood of men and women." In the same Easter spirit, President Barack Obama attended a spirited Easter service at a historic black church yesterday, in keeping with the first family's tradition of visiting local Washington area congregations. The president, his wife Michelle and their two teenage daughters attend-

ed the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, its pews filled with congregants who could barely contain their excitement over the visit. "How fitting that on the day we celebrate the rising of our Lord and Savior, we also welcome our sitting president," Pastor Howard-John Wesley said

to applause from enthusiastic worshippers, whom he urged to keep their cell phones in their pockets and purses. "This is not selfie time," he said to laughter. "Let the brother worship in the house of God." The congregation, including the president, rose to their feet during a rous-

ermany's aviation regulator said yesterday it had no previous knowledge of Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz's struggle with severe depression before the disaster in the French Alps. A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Office (LBA) told AFP that parent company Lufthansa had given it "no information about the medical background" of Lubitz, who prosecutors allege deliberately crashed the plane last month, killing all 150 people on board.

In particular, Lufthansa physicians who examined Lubitz did not make the authorities aware of an "earlier phase of serious depression", said the LBA, which issues pilots' licences. It said it first learned of Lubitz's mental health problems when it gained access to his file at Lufthansa's Aeromedical Center, March 27, three days after the crash. The LBA spokeswoman was confirming a report in the Weltam Sonntag newspaper. The report said Lubitz had been examined

Residents flee clashes in Palestinian camp

reached the southern Damascus suburbs of Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem, which are under rebel control. Al-Dimashqi and Syrian state TV said as many as 2,000 people have left the camp. The activist said that many of those who fled the camp are staying in schools or abandoned homes. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in Ramallah that residents of Yarmouk have been victimized by Syria's civil war. Government forces and different rebel factions are clashing and "we pay the price," he said. He added that the Palestine Liberation Organization in Damascus has

the message, retweeted by the Alfred Baptist Church from its own Twitter account. The president and his family, rather than selecting one church to frequent as some other presidents have, have attended various Washington area churches from time to time.

German regulator unaware of co-pilot's depression

Faithful wait in the rain for Pope Francis' arrival to the Easter Mass in St.Peter's Square at the Vatican yesterday

undreds of residents of a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital Damascus fled yesterday amid shelling by government forces and clashes between Islamic State fighters and Palestinian militants, activists said. An activist based in an area just south of Damascus, Hatem al-Dimashqi, said many residents started fleeing the Yarmouk camp after midnight as the fighting let up. The camp has been subjected to intense shelling and airstrikes by the government. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and alDimashqi said those who fled the camp have

ing hymn sung by the choir, with Obama bobbing his head, clapping, and swaying to the accompaniment by a live band. One congregant couldn't refrain from posting a tweet. "Y'all...I'm worshipping on Easter Sunday with the First Family. I...LOVE... my...church. The Resurrection is indeed real," read

formed a "cell to handle this tragedy and they are trying to work it out with the least losses." Abbas said: "We are in touch with our brothers there to find a way out and protect our people." Islamic State militants stormed the camp on Wednesday, marking the extremist group's deepest foray yet into the capital. Palestinian officials and Syrian activists said they were working with rivals from the al-Qaida affiliate in Syria, the Nusra Front. The two groups have fought bloody battles against each other in other parts of Syria, but appear to be cooperating in the attack on Yarmouk. The Nusra Front said

in a statement Sunday that it is not participating in the battles and is taking a neutral stance. The statement added that Nusra opened its offices and welcomed all those who don't want to take part in the fighting and gave them refuge. The Observatory said the fighting has killed 26 people since the clashes first broke out. In Damascus, Anwar Raja, the spokesman for Damsascus-based Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command, which supports embattled Syrian President Bashar Assad, said several pro-Assad factions have united to defend the camp.

at least six times by Lufthansa doctors since 2009 but after a psychological test was ordered that year, no further mental health evaluations were carried out. The newspaper quoted Lufthansa as saying that it declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation into the crash

of the flight which was bound for the western German city of Duesseldorf from Barcelona. Lufthansa chief Carsten Spohr has said the airline was unaware of any health issues that could have compromised Lubitz's fitness to fly, calling him "100-percent airworthy."

Law graduate named Kenya's massacre killer as country mourns

enya yesterday began three days of national mourning for the 148 people massacred by Somalia's Shebab militants at a university as authorities identified one of the gunmen as a smart law graduate. Hundreds packed Nairobi's Anglican cathedral where Archbishop Eliud Wabukala said Easter services were overshadowed by "great and terrible evil" as police patrolled outside. "These terrorists want to cause divisions in our society, but we shall tell them, 'You will never prevail,'" the archbishop said. Flags were at half mast and although President Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to retaliate "in the severest way possible", there have also been calls for national unity. Kenyatta said people's "justified anger" should not lead to "the victimisa-

tion of anyone" -- a clear reference to Kenya's large Muslim and Somali minorities. Authorities meanwhile announced that they had identified one of the four dead Shebab gunmen as an ethnic Somali Kenyan national who was a A-grade pupil and law graduate -- highlighting Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab's ability to recruit within Kenya. Interior ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka said it was "critical that parents whose children go missing or show tendencies of having been exposed to violent extremism report to authorities". The militants attacked the university in the northeastern town of Garissa at dawn, lining up nonMuslim students for execution in what Kenyatta described as a "barbaric medieval slaughter".

Bomb kills policeman in Cairo, militant dies in firefight

policeman was killed in a second straight day of bombings in Cairo and the leader of a militant group targeting police and soldiers around the capital died in a separate incident, security sources said yesterday. Egypt is facing an insurgency based in North Sinai that has killed hundreds of soldiers and police since the army toppled Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013 following mass protests against his rule. Most attacks have taken place in the Sinai Peninsula, a remote but strategic region bordering Gaza, Israel and the Suez Canal,

but smaller-scale bombings have become increasingly common in Cairo and other cities. A bomb explosion on a bridge leading to the upscale Cairo district of Zamalek, which hosts several embassies, killed one policeman, security sources said. Two more officers and a civilian were injured, they said. The force of the explosion, which the sources said was planted in or near a car, left a crater in the ground. Saturday, two bombs exploded near a police station in the residential Imbaba district across the Nile River from Zamalek, causing no casualties.

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

News

International Sport

Emenike escapes death in Turkey

Ronaldo hits five as Real Madrid rout Granada 9-1

Football

Martins, Ighalo, Anichebe score

Nigeria League Focus

Sport

Enyimba, Kano Pillars crash out of Champions League

Did you know? That the April 4 EPL match between Manchester United and Aston Villa recorded the largest attendance this season, with 75,397 fans on hand to watch United beat Villa 3-1

Grant Hackett earns World Championships swimming spot

lympian Grant Hackett has earned a spot on Australia’s World Swimming Championships relay team after six years away from the sport. The 34-year-old, who won 1500m freestyle gold at the 2000 and 2004 Games, returned to training six months ago after coming out of retirement. He needed a top-six finish in the 200m final at the nationals in Sydney to win a place at July’s tournament in Russia. And he finished fourth in a time of one minute 46.84 seconds. Hackett rose to prominence at the same time as Ian Thorpe and endured a long-standing rivalry with his compatriot, who won nine Olympic medals, including five golds, 10 Commonwealth Games titles and 13 World titles. Thorpe himself made an unsuccessful comeback bid for the London 2012 Olympics, at the age of 29.

Nigerian’s team at the Commonwealth celebrating.

Hackett

The Sport Team Adekunle Salami Group Sport Editor

Emmanuel Tobi Assistant Editor, Sport

Ifeanyi Ibeh Sport Correspondent

Ajibade Olusesan Sport Correspondent

Charles Ogundiya Sport Correspondent

INSET: Gloria Asumnu

President-elect urged to focus on other sports Adekunle Salami

igeria’s President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), who won the election of March 28, has been charged to name a sport minister who will not be football biased. Over the years, followers of sports, especially in the last 16 years of democracy, have been complaining about the way ministers of sport get carried away with the popularity of football. This happen at the expense of other sports that are also in need of attention in various ways. A member of the media committee of the Confedera-

tion of Africa Football, Paul Bassey, should ordinarily be drumming up more support for football. Bassey however noted that the best thing the President–elect can do for millions of sports followers in Nigeria was to ensure that other sports were not neglected as witnessed over the years. He said: “We need a minister who will understand sport the way it is all over the world and not a minister that will come and learn on the job. “More importantly, the President-elect should be able to ensure that the minister picked for sport will be able to develop the entire sector instead of over-concentrating

on football. “Football can fend for itself if we work hard towards it. Volleyball, handball, squash, basketball and lots more need attention but this has not been the case. “Another big issue is the inability of the sports ministry to develop athletes in various disciplines from the grass roots. This is necessary to catch some budding athletes young” Another sport analyst, Godwin Dudu-Orumen, stressed that it was crucial for General Buhari to name a minister of sports that has vision for the sector. Dudu-Orumen said; “So many things that are wrong in sports are unattended to be-

cause the sports ministers always concentrate on football. No one cares what happens to other sports but football is being over-pampered. “We also expect that facilities should be privatised for effective maintenance but this is not the case. It is important for the president-elect to give a direction in this regard this time for sport to move on better. “At the Olympics games, football can win only one gold medal and there will be about 40 players and officials involved in achieving that but with less than 10 athletes and officials, other sports like boxing, wrestling, swimming, gymnastics and others can record multiple medals.”

Sport

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

Emenike escapes death in Turkey Ajibade Olusesan

uper Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike, escaped death after Fenerbahce ‘s bus was attacked by gunmen while returning from away league match against Godfrey Oboabona’s Rizespor on Saturday. Fenerbahce’s team bus was shot at by attackers armed with shotguns, leaving the vehicle’s driver wounded but the players, including Emenike and staff, unharmed. The driver was hospitalised with wounds he suffered from the attack and doctors have since confirmed that a metal object was found in the driver’s head, which was bleeding

profusely upon his arrival. Emenike who did not start the match was introduced in the 57th minute when the visitors had already completed their 5-1 demolition of their hosts. Location of the shooting at Trabzon led to suggestions by Fenerbahce’s vice president Mahmut Uslu that Trabzonspor supporters were behind the attack, though there is no evidence to support such assertions. There has been no love lost between Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor in the aftermath of the 2010-2011 season, when the former won the title ahead of the latter despite being embroiled in a match-fixing scandal.

Beach Eagles draw Seychelles, Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire • As Nigeria battle B’Faso for CHAN ticket Emmanuel Tobi

N Emenike (left) in action for Fenerbahce

Tennis: Nigeria wins Togo ITF/CAT Tournament Ajibade Olusesan

igeria tennis players proved their dominace in West and Central African tennis by winning seven gold and one bronze medal to emerge the overall winners of the ITF/CAT U-16 Championship concluded at the weekend in Togo. Oyinlomo Quadri was the star player of the double-phased tournament as she upset three better rated opponents en route her winning the U-14 girls’ singles. She accounted for the exit of the number one seed, Kaita Aishata of Mali 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal before capping a glorious outing with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Carmene Kpadonou of Benin in Saturday’s final at the Stade Omnisports, Lome. Nigeria’s great showing at the weeklong tournament which featured five countries was highlighted by the coun-

Quadri

try’s winning of the boys’ and girls’ U-12 where Mathew Abamu and Toyin Asogba respectively defeated Suleiman Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire and Patricia Wamba of Cameroon 6-2, 6-1 and 6-3,3-6, 6-4. Meanwhile, Nigeria will also be seeking glory as the ITF/CAT U18 Championship serves off in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday with Russian-born Melissa Ifidzhen leading a strong Team Nigeria. The 16-year-old former Russian U12 champion will be making her debut for Nigeria at the tournament which will have more than 20 countries in attendance. Other members of the team are Elizabeth GarosPam, who arrived Cairo alongside her dad from her London base on Friday. South Africa-based Adetayo Adetunji, Angel Macloed and Sunday Emmanuel complete the team to be led by Coach Mohammed Ubale.

igeria Beach Eagles have been drawn against Seychelles, Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire in Group A of the 2015 African Beach Soccer Championship scheduled for the April 14-19, 2015, at the Roche Caiman Sports Complex in Victoria seychelles. The draw which was conducted by CAF at its Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday, also pitched Senegal, Morocco, Ghana and Madagascar in Group B. The Indian Ocean Island, hosting their first ever continental championship since the 2001 African U-17 Championship, will play the Beach Eagles of Nigeria on the opening day.

Egypt and Cote d’Ivoire will battle it out in the other Group A fixture. In Group B, Senegal will play Morocco whilst Ghana will be up against Madagascar. The finalists will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in July in Portugal. Meanwhile, Nigeria will battle Burkina Faso for one of the three slots of West Africa Zone B for next year’s African Nations Championship in Rwanda. The Eagles will host the first leg during the weekend of October 16-18 with the second leg scheduled for October 23-25. Other West Africa Zone B fixtures will see Ghana battle Cote d’Ivoire while Togo confront Niger for the last ticket.

Olumudi shines in America, relishes 10km gold Charles Ogundiya

ogi-born Nigerian long distance runner, Aderonke Olumudi, continues her impressive performance in the United States of America over the weekend, winning gold medal in the 10 kilometers women’s category of the third GE Irving Marathon. Olumudi, who last month, won women’s silver and bronze medals at the Longview Marathon and the Bearathon Marathon races both in the US, surpassed her personal best to nick the top prize in Dallas in time of 40minutes, 35 seconds. In the men’s category, Kenyan runner Barnabas Kipyego claimed the gold medal after he finished the race in a time of 33 minutes: 35 seconds. The 20-year-old expressed delight at the quality of exposure gained so far while participating in the US races despite weather challenges and aims to shine in her final race of Lake Minneola Half Marathon. “I came from Nigeria. I sponsored myself here to race. This is my first time in the U.S., and I’m not used to running in the cold like this. It is much warmer in my country,” Olumudi told local media in US. “I’m very excited and really happy to have achieved this finally. Though, it was tough running against top runners from the world over including Kenya. “I’m grateful to God and all those who believed in me. I’m fulfilled winning the gold medal and believe many more gold medals will follow by his grace,” she said.

Celebration of Buhari’s victory stalls DStv Basketball league in Kaduna Ifeanyi Ibeh

he victory celebration of the president-elect, Muhammad Buhari, in Kaduna has forced the Nigerian Basketball Federation to postpone the Week 2 match of the Dstv Premier Basketball between Kada Stars and newlypromoted FCT Rocks, Abuja. The postponement became necessary following the directive of the Kaduna State government to shut down all public places. According to the statement released by the state government, “We have issued a directive closing down all public places in Kaduna due to casualties recorded during celebrations of the outcome of last week’s elections and also the subsequent vandalisation of some public places including Murtala Square, home court of the Kada Stars.” No date has been fixed yet for the game, says NBBF’s Assistant Secretary Mr. Onyeka Emeka.

Lagos Islander’s Tunji Awojobi (right) trying to dribble past Union Bank’s Micheal Udo during the 2015 DStv Basketball League at the National Stadium, Lagos, at the weekend. Lagos Islander won by 59-54 points. Photo by DStv.

International Sport 53

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

Ronaldo hits five as Real Madrid rout Granada 9-1

ristiano Ronaldo well and truly stole the show in Real Madrid’s 9-1 win over Granada on Sunday with an eight-minute hattrick as part of a five-goal masterclass. The Portuguese superstar is running out of achievements to notch up in Spain, but he netted his fastest treble in a Real shirt, and his first since December, within 38 minutes of a wonderfully clinical display.

Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, twice, were also on target for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in Madrid, while Diego Mainz put through his own net to compound Granada’s misery late on. Bizarrely given such an emphatic scoreline, Real were far from their fluent best early on. However, from the moment they led after 25 minutes when Bale’s recent upturn in form continued with a well-taken opener

under pressure, they never looked back. Having coolly rounded goalkeeper Oier, Bale registered his fifth goal in four outings for club and country to set the ball rolling, before Ronaldo took centre stage and almost single-handedly put Granada to the sword. The returning James Rodriguez supplied his first before the Ballon d’Or holder made the most of two Oier errors to register his 24th, and quickest, Liga hat-trick.

rsene Wenger believes Arsenal have left it too late to catch Chelsea despite extending their winning run to seven games. Saturday’s 4-1 demolition of Liverpool - thanks to goals from Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud - moved the Gunners up to second in the table. Wenger’s side now lie within seven points of leaders Chelsea having been 14 points behind two months ago after defeat against Tottenham - their last loss in the league. But with only seven games remaining and the Blues having a game in hand against bottom club Leicester, Wenger fears there are not enough games left for his side to overhaul Mourinho’s men. “If there was 15 (league) games to go, you would not complain,” Wenger said. “We had a very slow start this season, when we had many important players out together, and we Ronaldo celebrating with dropped too many points. “For the title we need to be perfect team mate, Gareth Bale and Chelsea not to be perfect, so let’s focus on what we can master which means our own performance.”

Wenger

after refusing to host the 2015 finals last January and February because they feared visiting supporters could bring the deadly Ebola virus into the country. Football officials from the north African kingdom appealed the decision at the Swit-

RESULTS

team in the top four, starting with City. “One of the important games this season was against Arsenal when we tried to compete with them toe to toe and gave a very good account of ourselves against a top team,” Pardew said. “We have done very well against the teams that are in and around us and played well in those games. “Against the top teams Southampton, Liverpool, Arsenal - we have been really close without toppling any of them.”

TEAMS

PTS

PREMIER LEAGUE

1 Chelsea

30 37

Burnley 0 – 0 Tottenham

2 Arsenal

3 Man Utd

Sunderland 1 – 0 Newcastle

4 Man City

30 34

5 Liverpool

6 Tottenham

Leicester 2 – 1 West Ham

7 Southampton 31

Man Utd 3 – 1 Aston Villa

8 Swansea

-2

Swansea 3 – 1 Hull City

9 West Ham

WBA 1 – 4 QPR

10 Stoke City

-4

Chelsea 2 – 1 Stoke

11 Everton

-3

12 C’ Palace

30 -5

SERIE A

13 Newcastle

-16

14 West Brom

-15

15 Sunderland

-20 29

Cagliari 1 – 3 Lazio

16 Hull City

-14

Genoa 1 – 1 Udinese

17 Aston Villa

-22

Verona 3 – 3 Cesena

18 Burnley

-23

Inter 1 – 1 Parma

19 QPR

-20 25

20 Leicester

30 -20 22

CAF confirms Morocco to compete in Cup of Nations onfederation of African Football (CAF) executives agreed to allow Morocco to compete in the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifying competition. Morocco were barred from the 2017 and 2019 tournaments

single event is 12 by Navratilova, in Chicago – but Williams was not thrilled by the suggestion she might manage four more in Miami. “I hope not because I would still be here and I would be how old?” the 33-year-old said, counting on her fingers. “No. Let’s pray that I don’t get to 12.” She added: “It feels really good to have eight under my belt. I can’t say I thought I would win eight, especially in the beginning of the week.”

PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

Crystal Palace vow to beat Man City

Serena proud of eight Miami titles

erena Williams played some magnificent shots to win her eighth Miami Open title but was horrified at the thought of winning four more. Williams enjoyed a 6-2, 6-0 win over Carla Suárez Navarro in just 56 minutes on Saturday to become the fourth woman in the open era to win the same tournament eight times, joining Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf. The most titles won at a

We can’t catch Chelsea –Wenger

rystal Palace will set out to attack Manchester City on Monday, with manager Alan Pardew confident his side can upstage their highly fancied visitors. Palace host a City side desperate to reclaim second spot in the Premier League after both Arsenal and Manchester United won on Saturday. Pardew’s men are 12th in the table, having claimed victories in three of their last four league fixtures. And Pardew feels the London club can finally trump a

Serena

zerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and won the case last Thursday. CAS said the twotournament ban should be lifted and a $1 million (920,000 euros) fine reduced to $50,000. A statement issued after CAF executives led by

president Issa Hayatou met in Cairo cleared 1976 African champions Morocco to compete. “CAF has committed to implementing the decision and will comply with this ruling despite the contradictions observed in the CAS decision,” it read in part. CAF president, Issa Hayatou

Arsenal 4 – 1 Liverpool Everton 1 – 0 S’hampton

Roma 1 – 0 Napoli Atalanta 1 – 2 Torino

Palermo 1 – 2 AC Milan Sassuolo 1 – 0 Chievo Fiorentina 2 – 0 Sampdoria Juventus 2 – 0 Empoli

LIGA BBVA Real Madrid 9 – 1 Granada Valencia 0 – 0 Villarreal Getafe 2 – 1 Deportivo Sevilla 2 – 0 Bilbao Cordoba 0 – 2 Atletico Almeria 1 – 4 Levante Malaga 1 – 1 Sociedad Eibar 1 – 2 Vallecano

BUNDESLIGA Dortmund 0 – 1 Bayern Munich Frankfurt 2 – 2 Hannover Leverkusen 4 – 0 Hamburger

Sport

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015 NEW TELEGRAPH

EAGLES ROUND-UP

Martins, Ighalo, Anichebe score Ajibade Olusesan

uite a number of Nigerian players were on score sheet for their clubs abroad last weekend. Obafemi Martins, Odion Ighalo and Victor Anichebe top the list of the goal scorers. Martins scored his third goal of the season as Seattle Sounders beat Dynamo 1-0 on Saturday. Martins’ goal came in the 39th minute. Super Eagles defender, Leon Balogun, was also on target for German Bundesliga 2 side, Darmstadt 98, on Sunday as they beat Bochum 2-0. The defender hit the target in the 77th minute to record his fourth goal of the season. In England, Anichebe came off the bench to score for West Brom, on Saturday in Baggies 4-1 loss at Queens Park Rangers. The injury-prone striker has managed five goals this season, two in the league and three in the FA Cup. Ighalo was in action for his English Championship side, Watford, and his goal rescued a 2-2 draw for his side against Derby

Musa, Ideye stopped, Echiejile, Onazi missing Ajibade Olusesan

Anichebe (middle), vying with QPR players...Saturday

County on Saturday. He scored in the 76th minute, Watford’s second of the day and the player’s 18th league goal. The new Super Eagles player has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season. Former Eagles striker, John Utaka, also registered his name on the score sheet in the Turkish Super League when he scored for Sivasspor in

their 3-1 at Eskisehirspor on Saturday. The former Lens forward has now taken his season’s tally to three. Former Golden Eaglets star, Macaulay Chrisantus, hit the double as his Greek second division side, AEK Athens, spanked AOT Alimos 3-0. The former Sivasspor of Turkey forward scored in the 10th minute the 48th

minutes to take his tally to three since he joined the team last January. Similarly, striker Eugene Salami returned to scoring ways in Czech Republic when he ended a six-month goals’ drought as FK Teplice defeated Mlada Boleslao 5-0. The former Niger Tornadoes striker scored his side’s fifth goal just a minute after he was introduced.

hmed Musa played for 90 minutes but he could not prevent CSKA Moscow from succumbing to a 2-1 win against Zenit on Sunday. The Nigerian striker failed to add to his 10 league goals. Brown Ideye suffered the same fate in England when he could not breach QPR’s defence in West Brom’s 4-1 loss on Saturday despite being on the pitch throughout the encounter. Although the striker’s compatriot, Victor Anichebe, scored West Brom’s only goal in the heavy defeat, Baggies faithful had hoped Ideye would add to his four league goals. Anthony Ujah also played the full 90 minutes for Cologne in their German Bundesliga tie against Freiburg but failed to hit the bull’s eyes as his side lost 1-0. In France, Elderson Echiejille was benched for the entire match duration as Monaco forced Saint Etienne to a 1-1 draw at the Stade Louis II. Both Emmanuel Emenike and Godfrey Oboabona did not start for Fenerbahce and Rizespor respectively when the two sides clashed in the Turkish league on Saturday. Fenerbahce had scored all their goals in the 5-1 demolition of their hosts before Emenike was introduced in the 57th minute. Still in Turkey, Raheem Lawal was in action for 63 minutes in Eskisehirspor’s 3-1 home loss to Sivasspor on Saturday while Efe Ambrose made his mark when introduced in the 75th minute of Celtic’s 2-0 win over St Mirren on Saturday in the Scottish league. In Spain, Ike Uche was not listed by Villarreal in their goalless draw at Valencia, the same fate Isaac Success suffered in Granada’s humiliating 9-1 defeat at Real Madrid on Sunday.

NIGERIA LEAGUE FOCUS

Enyimba, Kano Pillars crash out of Champions League • As Wolves progress in Confederation Cup Stories by Charles Ogundiya

nyimba of Aba on Sunday failed to qualify for the next round of the CAF Champions League after losing 2-0 at Smouha of Egypt. The former champions were edged out 2-1 on aggregate after they managed just a 1-0 victory in the first leg in Aba two weeks ago. Despite holding on till the 80th minute of the game, the two-time winners of African’s biggest club competition conceded a penalty

and allowed their hosts to complete the job at the last minute of the match. Nigeria League Champions, Kano Pillars, earlier on Saturday, also failed to progress to the next round of the tournament despite winning 2-1 against Mohgreb Tetouan of Morocco. Goals from Tony Edjomariegwe and Rabiu Ali helped Kano Pillars to secure a 2-1 win against 10-man Tetouan at the Sani Abacha Stadium, but failed to overturn a 4-0 deficit suffered two weeks

ago in Morocco. Meanwhile, in the CAF Confederation Cup, Warri Wolves overcame the high altitude in Ethiopia to snatch a draw in their game against Dedebit. The Seasiders, who defeated the Ethiopians 2-0 in the first leg match played at the Warri Township Stadium, thus advanced with a 2-0 aggregate score. Wolves will now face DR Congo club, FC MK Etanchéité, who qualified at the expense of Ahli Shendi of Sudan.

Federation Cup: Qualifiers emerge across the nation

eams that will represent each state in the 2015 Federation Cup emerged over the weekend across the country, with some top teams missing out. Nigeria Premier League side, Warri Wolves of Delta are the biggest side that will be absent in this year’s competition after losing out in the semi-final to giant killers, God-

stime. Other big casualties are ABS of Ilorin and Kogi United. In some of the finals played at the weekend, Akamkpa United defeated Black Cats 2-1 in Cross Rivers state, while Shooting Stars were 2-1 winners over Crown in Oyo State. In Kwara State, Kwara United defeated Kwara Football Academy 4-3 on penal-

ties after the regulation time ended 2-2. Enugu Rangers defeated Inter FC 3-2 to become the Enugu state champions. Prime FC on Sunday evening, defeated Ajiroba Ooni FC of Ile-Ife, 3-0 to win the 2015 Osun State Federation Cup final, with Kaduna United overcoming ABU FC 1-0 to emerge Kaduna State champions.

Warri Wolves player Osadiaye Joseph (right) in action against a Dedebit player

Nath Boys, Christ Ambassadors in Lagos FA final

he Winners Golden Bet/Lagos FA Cup final will hold today at Agege Stadium with two non-league sides, Nath Boys FC and Christ Ambassador FC confronting each other in the men’s final, while COD Ladies trade tackles with FC Robo in the women’s final. The two finalists in the men’s category on Friday at Agege

Stadium left bookmakers and analysts wondering, after overcoming their more illustrious opponents, Eko Akete and First Bank in the semifinal. Assistant General Manager of Winners Golden Bet, Deji Beecroft, expressed satisfaction with the organisation of the Lagos FA Cup since the kick off last month.

Interview/Features 55

NEW TELEGRAPH MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

player? I’d describe it as a huge stroke of luck to have been able to play for such special clubs throughout my career. Liverpool, Real and Bayern are definitely part of the sport’s aristocracy. I feel extremely privileged, even though the kind of football I play is a little more ‘working-class’.

I want to create history with Bayern –Alonso Rarely has a player settled so quickly and seamlessly into a world-class team as Xabi Alonso has at Bayern. But how is the Spaniard finding life in Munich, and what does he still want to achieve after European glory with Liverpool and Real Madrid?

Xabi Alonso, having now spent seven months with Bayern Munich, do you speak German yet? A little, but I can’t understand the language particularly well so far. I’m having three hours of language lessons a week though, so it’s getting easier all the time. By next year I’d like to be able to give interviews in German too. That says a lot about your constant readiness to learn and your curiosity for other clubs and countries. Why did you decide to go to Germany for another adventure after five years with Liverpool and five years with Real Madrid? After beating our city rivals Atletico in the Champions League final last year, it seemed like the time had come to do something different again. We had managed to win la décima, Madrid’s long-awaited 10th victory in Europe’s greatest club competition, a contest that has captivated the fans since the European Cup days. I thought the time was right to try something new with one of the world’s best teams and in one of the best three leagues in Europe. And I was grateful to Real for letting me go even though I had a contract that was due to run until 2016. Was Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, who won the Champions League twice with Real’s great Spanish rivals Barcelona, one of the key reasons why you chose to begin a new chapter of your

outstanding football career in Munich? There were many good reasons to move to Bayern, and Pep Guardiola was definitely one of them. How did it feel to arrive at Sabener Strasse and begin training with the squad? I immediately realised how Guardiola’s unique intensity has enabled him to achieve so much in his relatively short career so far. To be able to learn even more about football under his guidance is incredibly motivating and offers a great challenge. He’s a rigorous thinker and worker, very analytical, a great tactician and a methodical innovator. Pep understands everything about the game. He doesn’t force his way of thinking on us players; instead he convinces us about his ideas. If you can manage that as a coach, you know your players will push themselves even further and fight even harder for the team’s shared goals. If all goes well for Bayern, you could win the treble by the end of the season: the Bundesliga, German Cup and UEFA Champions League. Does the idea of becoming the second player after Clarence Seedorf to win European football’s biggest trophy with three different clubs give you added incentive? That would be fantastic, but my first priority is to go about my job one week at a time and contribute to the collective success of the team in whatever way I can. How have you settled in, both at Bayern and in Munich?

Very well. Just like at Liverpool and with Real, I managed to slot into the team quickly. I had the luck and pleasure of arriving in Munich on August 29, 2014, and being in the starting line-up for the club’s 1-1 draw away to Schalke the very next day. I immediately felt at home out on the pitch when I realised that I trusted my new team-mates. That feeling is very important for a player who sees as much of the ball as I do. And how is life in Munich for you, your wife and three children? It’s easy. The city is beautiful, the people are friendly, and although the club is the biggest in Germany, there’s a great family feel about it. It’s wonderful to see how close the fans are able to get at training. I didn’t experience anything quite like that in either Liverpool or Madrid. Bayern gives the impression of being a perfectly organised club where everything is thought through and organised down to the very last detail. Did that surprise you? Not really. Everything is set up so well, just like you imagine Germany to be as an outsider. Your hometown club and the place where you began your professional career, Real Sociedad, is synonymous with tradition, while Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are all representative of footballing heritage, greatness and success. Is the fact that you have only ever played for teams with such proud histories a matter of coincidence or a consequence of your quality as a

The essence of my game has always stayed the same, even though I’ve become a more mature player as my career has developed

Do you think so? Although your style of play sometimes looks straightforward and unfussy, it can’t be easy to deliver such precision and organisation as consistently as you have. The essence of my game has always stayed the same, even though I’ve become a more mature player as my career has developed. I like to act as a kind of relay between attack and defence right in the centre of action, keep the play flowing, play plenty of passes and maintain a sense of order on the pitch. I try to open up the space my team-mates need in attack to score a goal, while in defence my aim is to close down the areas where our opponents could pose a threat. Your seemingly dominant way of taking control of a game says a lot about your sense of responsibility and your skills as a provider. At first glance, it almost appears as though you are surreptitiously captaining a team packed with leaders. I’ve never been captain at any of my clubs, not for a single game – nor have I ever had to be. When I arrived at Liverpool, greats such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher or Sami Hyypia had already been there for a long time, much like Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos at Real Madrid or Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Manuel Neuer at Bayern. Of course it’s a matter of respect to acknowledge that and deliver impeccable performances on the pitch. Much like at the start of my years with the Reds and Real, the first priority upon arriving at Munich was for me to adapt to my new team – not the other way around. Your football expertise has been nurtured by some of the sport’s best coaches: Rafael Benitez, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, Luis Aragones and Vicente del Bosque. Could you wish for anything better in this respect? Of course it would be fantastic to come out on top in the Champions League once again with Bayern and Guardiola, who also has the opportunity to win Europe’s biggest club trophy again. It’s particularly appealing given that I have the most amazing memories from the “Miracle of Istanbul”, where Benitez led our Liverpool side back from a 3-0 deficit at halftime to 3-3 after 90 minutes, then guided us through extra time all the way to penalties, which we ended up winning 3-2. I was also delighted with Ancelotti’s masterstroke a year ago, when we won the Madrid derby against Atletico in the Champions League final after extra time. Unfortunately I was suspended for that match after picking up my third yellow card of the campaign in Real’s 4-0 secondleg win over Munich. Nevertheless, I still played my part in what, for the time being, is the most recent major success I’ve been able to celebrate in my career.

On Marble Give me liberty or give me death. – Patrick Henry

World Record

Sanctity of Truth

Robert Pershing Wadlow (1918 - 1940), a.k.a. Giant of Illinois, at 8 feet 11 inches (2.72m) is the tallest person in recorded history.

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2015

N150

Taking worship beyond politics GUEST COLUMNIST Fred Nwaozor

he hilarious nature of a certain circumstance might make one to behave childishly; thus, hilarity could be misleading. Notwithstanding, it pays to appear differently sometimes. I must be unequivocal while tendering my critique in this piece if I sincerely wish to actualize the primary object of the aforementioned theme. In other words; for posterity sake, I’m expected to be candid. I pray no witch or wizard would make me truncate the anticipated whole content of this epistle. Yes I call it an ‘Epistle’ because it is a sort of open letter I was directed by the holy ghost to send to the leaders of the Christendom in its entirety, which I am a bona-fide member. I write as a concerned individual being a member of the above mentioned global community. Surely if I truly cherish the said family, I’m expected to do anything humanly possible to ensure that normalcy is restored whenever I see the leaders whom we address as ‘spiritual and ordained men’ derail or act outrageously. Believe me, no single member of this holy entity can afford to witness our cherished and God-sent spiritual overseers dancing Hi-life music when we expect them to dance to the tune of Country song. Well, that’s by the way. Electoral matters, in a concise term, are issues relating to political pursuits or strides. It is obvious that politics as a profession is definitely as old as the world, if not older. This implies that there is an element of politics in all individual regardless of their affiliation. On the other hand, we ought not to forget that politics is a distinct profession meant for or being practised by a group of persons. Suffice to say; everyone belongs or is affiliated to a certain profession irrespective of age. And every profession is strictly designed for a given purpose, all for the good of mankind. But the annoying part is the situation whereby someone would interfere in other people’s profession or transcend to one that doesn’t match his/ hers, or one that is totally contrary to his/her calling. To commence with; the church is a holistic institution meant for the liberation of mankind from all forms of bondages or to strengthen or uplift one’s faith as well as bring him nearer to his salvation. Considering the current political situation in Nigeria, you would notice that most church leaders or clergy men have either stylishly or wholly ventured into the situation in question thereby generating strident sounds or series of unwarranted cacophony.

Pope Francis

Arcbishop Nicholas Okoh

Pastor Enoch Adeboye

Pastor Lazarus Muoka

The duty of the church in a scenario like this is to pray vehemently and vigorously for the various persons involved and the nation at large; but on the contrary, you would observe that

If I may ask; when did the church abruptly turn to a civil society? If the church is never a civil society organization, then how can their leaders be acting like frontiers of a civil group

most of the so-called men of God have gotten it wrongly. Some have completely delved into politics, unknowingly or deliberately, all in the name of ‘Monitoring the politicos in order to create a conducive environment for the ordinary people.’ This is exactly the hilarious nature of the ongoing scenario, which had succeeded in making my person laugh childishly. If I may ask; when did the church abruptly turn to a civil society? If the church is never a civil society organization, then how can their leaders be acting like frontiers of a civil group? I’m just thinking aloud. The role of the church in any given society is plain and boldly written; it is meant to sanctify, pray, advise, and above all, liberate the members of the concerned society. In this regard, personally I’m of the view that the idea of a church organizing debate for political aspirants is totally out of place. Rather, a church could be invited over to observe or better still sanctify a certain political debate or gathering, but not standing in as the organiser or the chief host. Every institution or or-

ganisation has a calling, or is called for a particular purpose; and as its pursuit progresses, it is expected to adhere strictly to the motive of the said calling, so that it won’t be abused. I want to disabuse us of the notion or intuition that the President of a country has the right to preach gospel to the congregation in any church he worships since he is the ‘Number one’ citizen of his country. Being the number one in that country doesn’t make him a clergy man, or vice-versa; therefore he mustn’t be seen as one who can fit in such position unless he is as well qualified. There are no two ways about it. Without mincing words, the recent interference of the church in political/electoral matters has really succeeded in constituting nuisance to our noble nation, thus such unwarranted and appalling attitude must be put on hold to avoid an astonishing catastrophe. I’m quite sure you wouldn’t need an exegesis for this critique. Think about it! • Nwaozor ( frednwaozor@gmail.com), is a Public Affairs Analyst & Civil Rights Activist (+2348028608056)

Printed and Published by Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Ltd: Head Office: No. 1A, Ajumobi Street, Off ACME Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja-Lagos. Tel: +234 1-2219496, 2219498. Abuja Office: Orji Kalu House, Plot 322, by Banex Junction, Mabushi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Advert Hotline: 01-8541248, Email: info@newtelegraphonline.com Website: www.newtelegraphonline.com ISSN 2354-4317 Editor: YEMI AJAYI.