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Nwankwo Kanu: How I overcame heart problem } 58

BLOODY VALENTINE

BOKO HARAM SACKS GOMBE

lJonathan urges U.S to help Nigeria

}4 &5

OBASANJO EXPLODES AGAIN:

President desperate to cling to power

IG disowns Mbu’s threat to kill civilians during polls }5

My fears about rescheduled elections - Itse Sagay }34

INEC extends dates for presidential, gov campaigns. }5

lYour statements untrue, say Presidency, Fani-Kayode Kunle Olayeni

F

Abeokuta

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo exploded again yesterday, saying the Independent Na-

tional Electoral Commission’s rescheduling of the 2015 elections was a desperate bid by President Goodluck Jonathan to cling to power.

The ex-president, who spoke with reporters at his Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun

my relationship with first lady, by onyeka onwenu }18

State capital, also accused Jonathan of planning to create chaos in the country in case his secret plot fails.

Obasanjo, who faulted the rescheduling of the elections from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11, described it as a

bad precedent for democracy in Nigeria.

However, the Presidency and the Peoples Democratic Party’s Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Presidential Campaign Or-

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Media Chat: I wasn’t soft on President } 46 - Adesuwa Onyenokwe

} 17

2

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Contents | 15.02.15 BODY & SOUL

A call to soothe Proving to be a woman with many “hats,” veteran entertainer, Onyeka Onwenu (OO) turns around the National Women Development Centre to benefit Nigerian women

}18

POLITICS

Anxieties over poll shift The postponement of the elections by six weeks raises fresh anxities whether the polls will hold afterall

}31

BUSINESS

NNPC is indicted Financial experts say the recommendation of the international auditing firm that the Corporation and the National Petroleum Development Corporation should refund $1.48bn to the federation account, is an indictment

}23

FAITH

Between Amaechi and PFN One task before Nigerian journalist is the duty to unravel who is the lier regarding Gov. Amaechi’s N6billion allegation against men of God

}51

SPORT

Challenges of Nigerian football Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, speaks on the challenges of Nigerian football, his Heart Foundation, the forthcoming elections...

}58

SUNDAY

Editorial

Mbu’s dangerous orders

W

hile Nigerians were trying to adjust to news of the shift in the dates for the elections, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (Zone 2), Mr. Joseph Mbu, reportedly directed policemen under his jurisdiction to kill 20 civilians for every policeman attacked.

Mbu, who was on a visit to the headquarters of the Ogun State Police Command in Abeokuta on Thursday, was quoted as having directed policemen to shoot between 20 and 100 electoral offenders as a means of self-defence during the elections.

He said, “That’s why I said don’t touch my policemen. If you shoot my policeman, I will shoot twenty of you, I will shoot a hundred of you because we are coming to you for peace. We are not coming to you to come and kill you.

“Anybody who fires at you, fire him back in self-defence. Anybody who fires at you, fire him back in self-defence but don’t fire first. Anybody you see who is firing at other persons, fire at him because you are trying to protect that other person because the law permits you. You are empowered to stop that person from causing harm to the other person.”

Not done, Mbu also directed the policemen to arrest any governor who comes to a polling unit with an entourage.

His outrageous comments immediately drew sharp criticisms, with the All Progressives Congress saying it amounts to “sheer irresponsibility for a senior policeman to say that for every policeman, who is killed during the election, he will kill 20 civilians.”

The party also added, “Lest we are misunderstood, our party will never condone the killing of police personnel or of any law enforcement agent for whatever reason, just as we will not condone the killing of any innocent Nigerian. If a senior police officer does not know how to convey to his officers and men that they should protect themselves while also avoiding extra-judicial killing of any citizen, then the funds spent in training him have been wasted.”

Happily, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, at a meeting with senior police officers in Abuja on Saturday disowned Mbu’s comments and reiterated the fact that the Nigeria Police have “a mandate to save and protect lives, and not to kill, contrary to recent statements in the media.”

While this paper does not condone acts of lawlessness nor does it take lightly the

risks to which security agents on election duties are exposed to, it will also not at the same time encourage placing the civilian populace in danger of reckless actions by security personnel.

It is on record that Mbu has conducted himself with an air that presupposes that he is above the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Shortly after he was posted to Zone 2 from Zone 7 Abuja, Mbu broke through the Admiralty Circle Toll Plaza at Lekki, Lagos State and ordered the arrest of a toll collector and policemen on duty for daring to demand the payment of tolls by his entourage.

Mbu, who was reportedly in a long convoy which included an Armoured Personnel Carrier, justified his action and even boasted that he would never pay tolls at the point. It is also on record that Mbu placed himself above the Government of Rivers State while he was a police commissioner in that state and conducted himself with open bias for a political party.

It is quite disheartening that a police officer, who is maintained at the expense of Nigerian taxpayers, could choose to flout the very laws he swore to protect. Also, his bizarre impression of himself as being above civil authorities in a democracy must no longer be condoned by the Police High Command.

Mbu must immediately be cautioned and reminded of his mandate to respect the Constitution and protect lives and property. He must also be advised to guard his utterances so that the Nigerian people do not lose confidence in the ability of the Nigeria Police Force to conduct its affairs with the highest form of decorum and respect for law and order.

He must also be reminded of the clear mandate of the police to protect all Nigerians, irrespective of their status in the society, and to also subject himself to the laws he expects other Nigerians to obey.

Governors are elected by the people to oversee the affairs of their respective states and should not be treated like common criminals by security officials. Mbu’s threat to arrest a governor covered by constitutional immunity speaks of unbridled recklessness and disregard for the law.

We also urge the Police Service Commission to regularly remind officers and the rank and file of the imperative to always respect constituted authorities and strive to maintain the confidence of the civil populace in the Nigeria Police Force.

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

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3

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la Motilo Height: 6.5ft Phone: 0803 864 6665 Photographer

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4

SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

We won’t shift elections again - INEC lExtends dates for campaigns

I

Onyekachi Eze ndependent National Electoral Commission yesterday expressed confidence that there would be no need for any further shift in the date of the elections.

This was just as it said it had received ballot papers for the presidential and National Assembly elections, denying a claim that it was only result sheets that it had deposited in the vaults of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The commission had on February 7 announced the rescheduling of the 2015 elections by six weeks to March 28 and April 11, citing the commencement of a military campaign against Boko Haram insurgents in the North East on February 14. It said this would make it unable to provide security cover for the polls.

Consequently, it adjusted the timetable for the elec-

tions to accommodate the new date in line with section 99(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended).

According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mrs. Augusta C. Ogakwu, the last day for the presidential and National Assembly campaign is now March 26 while the governorship and House of Assembly candidates now have the opportunity to continue their campaigns till April 9.

Also yesterday, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, confirmed that ballot papers for the presidential and National Assembly elections were in the commission’s custody.

“The chairman said it during the press briefing. The ballot papers for the presidential election are ready, there is no doubt about it,” he said.

IG disowns Mbu’s threat to kill civilians

Asked to react to claims that it had only deposited elections result sheets in the vaults of the Central Bank

I

Mbu

tion, attributes of a police officer as contained in the Police Regulations, require him to exercise “tact, patience and tolerance and control of temper in trying situations.”

He also cautioned the personnel against excesses and reminded them of the dire consequences of abuse of human rights as contained in the recently released Human Rights Practice Manual of the force.

Abba restated his avowed commitment to observance of the rule of law and the respect of the fundamental rights of citizens by all police officers.

“The rule of law is the underpinning tenet of democracy which will guide police officers in the discharge of their roles in the forthcoming national elections,’’ he said.

He restated the preparedness of the force to provide the requisite security before, during and after the elections.

of Nigeria, he replied, “I don’t know about it.”

Osaze-Uzzi said what is needed is to sensitise

the people to the change in dates and the need to collect their Permanent Voter Cards.

INEC has also shifted the date for the distribution and collection of PVCs to March 8.

Elections: Why Reps didn’t stop postponement Philip Nyam and Chukwu David

C

Emmanuel Onani nspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, yesterday disowned a statement credited to the Assistant InspectrGeneral of Police (Zone 2), Mr. Joseph Mbu, that the police would kill 20 civilians for every officer attacked during the rescheduled elections.

In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said Abba gave the warning when he addressed senior officers in his office, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

Abba said the Nigeria Police has “a mandate to save and protect lives, and not to kill, contrary to recent statements in the media.”

He cautioned police officers against the use of firearms during the elections “except in extreme circumstances.”

Mbu had reportedly said, “If one of my men is killed, I shall kill 20 of them but don’t shoot first. If they shoot you, shoot back in self-defence. Anybody who fires you, fire him back in self-defence,” he said.

The remarks have drawn widespread condemnation, with the All Progressives Congress, lambasting Mbu as a barbaric and lawless officer who must be immediately cautioned.

In his statement, the IGP said in spite of provoca-

Former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu with Ex-Governor of Bauchi State and current Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, strategising on President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign.

hairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Jerry Manwe, yesterday said the House could not stop the Independent National Electoral Commission from shifting the February elections to March 28 and April 11 because its members are currently on recess as well on campaigns.

Manwe, who spoke to

Sunday Telegraph on the telephone, however, said the federal lawmakers were in support of the decision of the six-week shift since it was predicated on insecurity.

He noted that since INEC took the decision after extensive consultations with all the relevant stakeholders, there was no need to query the commission.

The lawmaker said the House was not taking lightly the information from INEC Chairman, Prof.

Attahiru Jega, that he was

advised by the military to shift the elections.

“This is a very serious issue because if the security agencies, whose duty is to protect are complaining, you cannot blame INEC for shifting elections,” he said.

Manwe also stated that with the postponement, INEC would have ample opportunity to address pending issues such as unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards.

“It is my hope that the postponement will turn out to be a blessing,” he noted.

Before the postponement, the House had raised some concerns on the level of preparedness by INEC. Hence, before it adjourned for electioneering on January 14, it asked Jega to appear before it within 48 hours to brief it on the controversy surrounding the issuance of PVCs. The House also passed a resolution, asking INEC to extend the period for the distribution of the PVCs. However, Jega could not honour the invitation due to ill-health.

Boko Haram: Jonathan urges U.S to help Nigeria P resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday appealed for more United States help in fighting Boko Haram.

Jonathan, who spoke in an interview with the Wall Street Journal in Abuja, for the first time claimed direct links between the Sunni radicals who have been waging a six-year

F

ormer Governor of Anambra State and the Deputy Director -General of the PDP National Campaign Council, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, yesterday held an interactive dinner in Dubai with Nigerians resident in the Emirate on President

insurgency in Nigeria and the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

He said, “Are they (the United States) not fighting ISIS? Why can’t they come to Nigeria? They are our friends. If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the U.S to come and assist us.”

But Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby

said there are no plans to send US troops to Nigeria.

“I can tell you that there are no plans as I speak here to send unilaterally, to send or to add U.S troops into Nigeria. There are no US troops operating in Nigeria,” he told reporters.

Kirby said the United States was in the early phases of helping establish

a multi-national task force of African nations to help Nigeria defeat Boko Haram.

Earlier in the week, Democratic Congressmen had told the Financial Times of London that U.S planes might bomb Boko Haram positions in North-East Nigeria as part of a fresh push to defeat ISIS.

Obi, Yuguda storm Dubai for President Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection campaign.

In his remarks, Yuguda, who was the first Nigerian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, said the visit was meant to share with Nigerians in the Middle East nation the good things hap-

pening in the country and to take questions on all aspects of development at home.

Yuguda described Jonathan as a Nigerian leader genuinely committed to the development of the country. He said that under his government, Nigeria

had witnessed tremendous development in all sectors, adding that in the next three years, the nation would stop the importation of rice.

Also speaking, Obi explained to the audience that Jonathan was doing his best to make Nigeria a better place.

5

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY, 2015

News

Jonathan desperate to cling to power - Obasanjo

“While I was out, I refused to make any categorical stateganisation, Chief Femi Fani- ment on this issue because I Kayode, described Obasanjo’s wanted to come back home outburst as uncharitable, and learn at first hand what actually transpired and what baseless and absurd.

The ex-president accused was going on. It turned out to Jonathan of trying to re-enact be a forced decision on INEC the political crisis created in because it was alleged that Cote d’Ivoire by its former the security chiefs were unPresident, Laurent Gbagbo. able to provide security and “We must all feel concerned as a result, the chairman of before democracy is killed. INEC had to postpone, in acThe observable and what cordance with the dictates of would appear to be happen- the so-called security chiefs. ing is that the President has “I thought, for me, that a grand plan, a grand plan that was a bad precedent to ensure that by hook or by for democracy in Nigeria. crook, he wins the election. Or It meant it doesn’t matter if it all fails, they scuttle it and what preparation or lack of create chaos, confusion and preparation any electoral unpleasantness in the whole body could make in Nigeria; country,” Obasanjo said. the final decision whether According to him, Gbagbo an election will take place on kept shifting the election date the day scheduled for it lies in in his country until he lost at the domains of the security. It the poll and refused to hand was a sad day for democracy over to opposition leader, Al- in Nigeria. hassan Ouattara, thus push“And I will say this: we ing Cote d’Ivoire into a crisis. must all feel concerned beObasanjo rejected the ex- fore democracy is killed. cuse that Nigeria’s elections The observable and what were shifted from February would appear to be happen14 and 28 to March 28 and ing is that the President has April 11 because of the Boko a grand plan, a grand plan Haram insurgency in the to ensure that by hook or by North-East, saying countries crook, he wins the election or with full scale wars still con- if it all fails, they scuttle it and ducted elections. create chaos, confusion and The former president, unpleasantness in the whole who stated that he was out country.

“Because it is the duty and of the country when INEC announced the polls post- function and responsibility of ponement, alleged that the the security officers to procommission’s chairman, vide security, the President Professor Attahiru Jega, was is the Chief Security Officer coerced to do so for obvious of the country and he is the reasons.

Commander-in-Chief and if

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

security is required anywhere anytime, it is his duty to provide it. Failure to provide it is dereliction of duty; pure and simple.

“Either the President following his own grand plan or his aides and associates are working a script, they are playing a script which must not get his endorsement if not initiated by him. What again it looks to me is that the President is trying to play Gbagbo.

“Gbagbo was the former President of Cote d’Ivoire and Gbagbo made sure he postponed the election in his country until he was sure he would win and then allowed the election to take place. He got an inconclusive election in the first ballot and I believe this is the sort of thing Nigeria may fall into if I am right in what I observed as the grand plan.

“And then in the run-off, Gbagbo lost with eight per cent behind Ouattara and then refused to hand over. All reasonable persuasion and pleadings were rebuffed by him and he unleashed horror in that country until nemesis caught up with him. I believe that we may be seeing the repeat of Gbagbo or what I called Gbagbo saga here in Nigeria. I hope not!” he declared.

Obasanjo added that Jonathan was scared of handing over to his main challenger and All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, in the event of the APC candidate’s victory. He said

this was because the President was scared of what his successor might do to him and others if he loses the election.

He said further that the President ought to have fired the service chiefs, who reportedly failed to guarantee security for the elections.

He said, “It was even made worse when the President in the media chat on the 11th of this month claimed not to have knowledge or not to have authorised it. I get worried, very worried that if the President of Nigeria is not in-charge of security, maintenance of law and order and such a decision can be taken behind him.

“Assuming that is true, then the President must be railing and not ruling and then who are the shadow figures that are ruling us? It means that one day we will find out this country would be plunged into chaos, into commotion, into confusion and the President would say, ‘I do not know about it.’ Of course, President can run but he cannot run past God,” he stated.

While pointing out that the security chiefs had over-exposed their lapses to the international community, Obasanjo argued that it would be impossible for them to end the Boko Haram siege in six weeks.

Insisting that the Boko Haram insurgency was not an excuse to postpone elections, the ex-president said countries like Syria, Iraq,

L-R: Chairman, Ogbaru Local Government, Anambra State, Chief Agolue Edoga; Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Princess Chinwe Nwaebili; wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano and Anambra North Senatorial Zone APGA candidate, Hon dubem Obaze, at the commissioning of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Secretariat in Ogbaru…recently

Bloody Valentine as Boko Haram sacks Gombe

N

igeria marked a bloody Valentine’s Day yesterday as Boko Haram insurgents launched a bloody attack on Gombe, the capital of NorthEastern state, Gombe.

Witnesses said the insurgents overran a checkpoint on the edge of the city and explosions and gunfire were

heard, BBC reports.

A security source and witnesses said the attack on the city was later repelled. Nigerian troops and a fighter jet were used in a counter-attack.

The insurgents, who fled with corpses of their colleagues, dropped a written notice, warning residents against participating in the

coming elections.

Witnesses in Gombe said they saw the insurgents fleeing in dozens of vehicles.

“We saw them leaving and some of them shouting and telling us not to be scared that they did not come to harm us; that they had come to fight soldiers,” said a villager at the outskirts of Gombe, who

spoke to journalists on phone.

“We saw some of the vehicles carrying bodies of persons that appeared to have been killed or injured.

Some of them were dropping written messages in Hausa,” the source who didn’t want to be named for security reasons said.

Reports said militants first

Afghanistan and Colombia had held elections in spite of ongoing wars.

“Boko Haram problem, as they are now, has been with us since 2009. So, to say that what we have not been able to achieve in five years, we will achieve in six weeks? Let us wait and see, that would be my own thing but when people want to make excuses, they should look for excuses that are tenable,” he added.

The former president urged Jonathan not to truncate the nation’s democracy, adding that “democracy is not the final destination but a process.”

He also enjoined the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and opposition APC to tread softly in the interest of the country, saying both parties have the responsibility of seeing to the continuation of democratic process in Nigeria.

But in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Dr. Reuben Abati, the Presidency accused Obasanjo of plotting with unnamed interests within and outside the country to thwart the elections and foist an unconstitutional Interim National Government. Abati said Obasanjo was hoping to head the said ING, but “by the Grace of God Almighty, his odious plan to return to power through the back door will fail woefully.”

He added, “We know very well that it is in pursuit of this nefarious plot that the former President continues to sow the seeds of discord

and crises in the polity by purporting to remain in the ruling party while openly consorting with the opposition, endorsing its candidates and predicting victory for opposition candidates in a manner most unbecoming of a supposed elder statesman.

“The President stands by his commitment, which he reaffirmed on national television last Wednesday that on his watch, all elections in Nigeria, will be free, fair and credible, and that all certified election results will be respected.”

In a separate statement, Fani-Kayode said, “It is simply not true that President Goodluck Jonathan wishes to remain in power at all costs and the suggestion that he has a hidden agenda or that he somehow imposed his will on INEC by getting them to postpone the elections is baseless and absurd.

“It is most uncharitable and unfair for him to suggest that President Jonathan wishes to remain in power by hook or by crook because that is not the nature of Jonathan. It is even worse for him to compare him to President Laurent Gbagbo.

“To Jonathan politics is not a matter of do or die and President Obasanjo knows this more than anyone else.

We will respond to President Obasanjo in full at the appropriate time but the truth is that we will not allow him or anyone else to distract us from the task that lies ahead.”

attacked the town of Dadin Kowa, about 40km (25 miles) from Gombe.

Ground troops with air support then battled to keep the insurgents from entering the city. Residents fled into the bush and into nearby hills.

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters later tweeted that it had repelled the attacks and that troops were in hot pursuit of the terrorists.

The attack fell on a day when presidential and National Assembly elections were earlier scheduled before they were shifted to March 28.

Incidentally, the Nigerian military had called for the postponement of the polls because it claimed that it wanted to launch a full-scale operation against the insurgents on February 14.

Gombe has previously suffered suicide attacks but this is the first time Boko Haram has launched a direct assault on the city.

Security sources told PRNigeria that the terrorists are desperately seeking other places to set up camps as they are being pursued from their existing camps in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

“In the last few weeks, Boko Haram camps in the northern parts of the states close to the borders with neighbouring

countries have been under intense pressure from Nigerian troops in cooperation with troops from the Multinational Joint task Force.

“Some of the camps have been destroyed. And as they could no longer enter Cameroon and Niger so easily, they are moving southwards, the sources confirmed.

“Eyewitnesses said the militants attacked soldiers at the security checkpoints at the edge of the town and forced their way into the quarter guard of the 301 Artillery Regiment.

“The quarter guard was burned but they could not proceed into the main barracks, which is a little far off.

“The terrorists were said to have first invaded Dadin Kowa, a town, 40 kilometres away from Gombe but as they approached the state capital, they were engaged from the air and a combination of troops and mobile policemen,” the PR agency said in a statement.

The insurgency has become a regional crisis with the four affected countries - Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon - agreeing to form a regional military force to try to contain the threat.

In response, the insurgents have stepped up their attacks in Nigeria and neighbouring states.

6

SUNDAY

The Sunday Magazine SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015

NLC’s show of shame

NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar

Yekeen Nurudeen

They knew that the ele ctions would b e inconclusive and that was why they rejected a motion for the executive to be dissolved, which would have signalled the commencement of election of new executives

T Abuja

he stage was set, the actors were ready, history was beckoning and the venue was the International Conference Centre (ICC) Abuja.

The event was the 11th Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Delegates’ Conference.

Members of 43 affiliate unions of the umbrella body of Nigerian workers gathered in Abuja between February 8 and 11.

There were 3, 119 delegates in attendance and it was the biggest in the history of the Congress.

It started like a carnival with delegates resplendent in their respective unions’ uniforms.

The presence of former NLC President and Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari; President Goodluck Jonathan who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Pius Anyim Pius and of course the Supervising Minister of Labour Tanko Turaki, added glamour to the event.

It was to be an historic event to elect new leadership that would pilot the affairs of the union for the next for years.

That, however, was not to be. The election which climaxed the 11th Delegates’ Conference of NLC which was to produce the successor of the outgoing president Comrade Abdulwahed Omar, and other officers ended in a fiasco.

The election which is best described as NLC’s show of shame was characterised

by violence and smashing as well as tearing of ballot boxes and papers. It was an inconclusive exercise.

NLC presidency was being contested by the General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Joe Ajaero; President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Igwe Achese, and the Chairman of Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), Wabba Ayuba.

Wabba was considered the most likely to clinch the seat, as he allegedly had the backing of the NLC leadership and that of

many of the unions.

But before the commencement of voting around 9pm on Wednesday, Comrade Achese opted out of the race to support Comrade Ajaero. A development, Sunday Telegraph gathered, boosted the chances of Ajaero to succeed Comrade Omar as the new NLC president.

Trouble however started during voting when some delegates allegedly from NUEE, backed by some of their counterparts from NUPENG, accused the outgoing executives of manipulating electoral process to favour Comrade Wabba.

NLC leadership was alleged to have orchestrated plans to favour Comrade Wabba to succeed Comrade Omar at the expense of Comrade Ajaero following irregularities spotted on the ballot papers which delegates alleged favoured Comrade Wabba to win the election.

New Telegraph gathered that the alleged deliberate irregularities in the printing of the ballot papers, sparked uproar among the delegates who felt cheated and resorted to smashing of ballot boxes while voting had reached 80 per cent completion.

The aggrieved delegates believed to be loyalists of Comrade Ajaero hijacked ballot boxes and other election materials and threw them all over the venue. Election was abandoned.

While addressing journalists after the stalemate, Comrade Ajaero, who urged his loyalists to maintain law and order, expressed shock at the manipulations ex-

7

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Sunday Magazine

NLC’s show of shame perienced during the election.

Comrade Ajaero alleged that delegates from the NUEE had informed him that some of the ballot booklets had Wabba’s name listed three times or more on them.

“It meant that one person was voting three times; another person also reported the same scenario not only for Ayuba Wabba alone, as there were some for Isok and there were some for Peter Adeyemi.

“But in most cases, when you saw the booklets for Joseph Ajaero, they did not have a serial number; some other booklets did not even have Joseph Ajaero printed on them, which meant the person given that booklet will not vote Joseph Ajaero, assuming he wanted to vote for me,” he explained.

He said it was difficult to believe that such manipulation could have happened in the labour movement, adding that it was to the glory of God that the process was truncated, because the delegates would have been dissatisfied with the results.

But the aggrieved NLC Presidential candidate refused to accuse the electoral committee of bias, but noted that they were in the better position to explain what went wrong.

Addressing journalists on Thursday at Bolton White Hotel during the emergency meeting of the National Administrative Council (NAC), Comrade Achese alleged that the NLC leadership who he said failed to dissolve the Comrade Omar led executives deliberately orchestrated the failure of the delegate conference, in a bid to extend the tenure of Comrade Omar.

He threatened to go to court to ensure that that the outgoing NLC President does not stay beyond the conference, which was disrupted abruptly on Thursday.

Comrade Achese added that the current executives had violated the constitution of the NLC by not dissolving the executive council led by Omar.

He alleged that they took the decision since they had fore-knowledge of the planned manipulation of the elections.

“They knew that the elections would be inconclusive and that is why they rejected a motion for the executive to be dissolved, which would have signalled the commencement of election of new executives.

“They argued that the issue of dissolution is not in the constitution of the congress, but I know for sure that it is captured in the constitution,” he insisted.

Comrade Wabba, however, in his reaction, said he was not in the premises when the fracas happened, but from reports, he heard that 23 unions had already voted.

“Basically, if somebody thinks he will not make it, he will destroy the process. If you look at what transpired in the past two or three days preceding the elections, you could see that these people were working towards disrupting the process.

“Election was going smoothly, all grievances were addressed, and suddenly from nowhere they disrupted the process, realising that they would not be able to make it,” he said.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the electoral committee led by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Dr. Nasir Fagge.

Wabba added that NUPENG and NUEE were represented on the credentials committee that screened the candidates while his own union was not represented.

“My union is the only union that was not a member and we did not raise any complaint. If there is anything that led to the disruption, I think that those unions should be held responsible,” he said.

“They argued that the dissolution is not in the constitution of the congress but I know for sure that it is captured in the constitution”, he said

He, however, stated that the General Secretary of NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, would be in-charge of the NLC pending when NLC resolved the issue at stake regarding the earlier noticed irregularities in the balloting system.

But loyalists of Comrade Wabba also alleged that Comrade Ajaero’s supporters knew their candidate was going to lose the election and thus resorted to violence.

“Despite their best efforts, they felt that they were unable to muster enough delegates to their side to beat Wabba one of them said.

“They realised that even with this collaboration, they would not be able to defeat

A scene in the aftermath of the election fiasco in Abuja

The election which is described as NLC’s show of shame was characterised by violence, smashing as well as tearing of ballot boxes and papers

Wabba. Maybe that is why their delegates disrupted the voting,” he added.

The NLC, following the disruption of the elections, convened a meeting of its National Administrative Council (NAC) where it resolved to convene a meeting of the National Executive Council on Wednesday, February 18, for the purpose of fixing a new date for the elections.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting by the Congress General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, NLC lamented the printing error that led to the distruption of the election which it noted could have been resolved amicably.

While exonnerating itself from any complicity, the Congress argued that the error affected four candidates, two each from opposing camps.

“The voting process, the last item on the agenda, commenced peacefully and in an orderly manner on Wednesday, February 11, and lasted through the night. However, on the morning of Thursday, February 12 at 8:45, a printing error was spotted in a few ballot papers by way of duplication of names. This error affected four candidates, two each from opposing camps.

“As regrettable as this error by the Credential Committee is, its degree was insignificant and could have been resolved amicably by way of vote invalidation.

However, this was not to be as some delegates who held the view that the entire process might have been corrupted, reacted sharply. This led to the suspension of the voting process.

“The National Administrative Council of the Congress swiftly met a few hours later and resolved to convene a meeting of the National Executive Council on Wednesday, February 18, for the purpose of fixing a new date to take the vote.

“As painful as this unfortunate disruption is, we are determined to work with all those concerned and the organs and friends of Congress to find a way to resolve the empasse as quickly as possible and without the current leadership exceeding the constitutionally mandated time limit of four years.” NLC said in the statement.

While watchers wait for February 18, when the new date for the election would be fixed, it is hopeful that NLC would get it right and save itself of further show of shame.

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News Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

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he senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, (Orlu zone), Chief Hope Uzodimma has declared that the postponement of the general elections by six weeks has saved Nigeria from a political crisis engineered by the All Progressives Congress.

Senator Uzodimma, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, said given the overall unpreparedness of INEC for the election, APC would have exploited the loopholes to unleash mayhem after losing the presidential election to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a statement he issued in Owerri, the Imo State

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Poll shift saved Nigeria from crisis - Uzodimma capital, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation not said that contrary to the claims of APC that the polls was shifted to confer advantage on PDP, the security agencies were well aware of the landmine laid by the opposition party if the election had gone ahead with all the challenges confronting INEC. “We know, as INEC confirmed, that many Nigerians had not collected their PVCs. Millions in the North-East would have

been disenfranchised, thus rendering the result of the election inconclusive. APC was waiting to exploit and manipulate the situation to set the nation on fire”, Uzodimma said.

He said that security chiefs were patriotic in calling for the shift of the elections to enable the country achieve a relatively conducive environment to conduct of a free, fair and credible elections.

Commending INEC for her bold decision to shift

the election, Uzodimma noted that since no law had been broken as the new dates were within the constitutional time frame, the electoral body should put her house in order and improve upon the records of 2011.

He said: “INEC should use this opportunity to distribute the PVCs to all those who registered, especially in the South-East and NorthEast where millions would have been disenfranchised if the elections had gone on

this month.”

He lambasted APC for reading ulterior motive into the postponement of the election, saying that even if the elections are conducted today, President Jonathan and PDP will still defeat the opposition.

“If the APC was confident of winning the election, why cry wolf? Would their phantom support disappear in six weeks? The truth of the matter is that APC is never being a credible alternative to Jonathan and PDP”, he

submitted.

He called on Nigerians to support INEC in its resolve to conduct a credible election that will be acceptable “even to serial losers who will always want to incite their supporters against the government”.

Uzodimma expressed confidence that President Jonathan will convincingly win the March 28, election given his unprecedented performance in all sectors of the nation’s political, economic and social spheres.

Umahi decries fleecing of Ebonyi accounts Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

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General Overseer, Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Church, Pastor Yohana Buru (middle), distributing drinks to the children of Muslims and destitute to mark the Valentine Day celebration in Kaduna …yesterday. PHOTO-NAN

Buhari/Osinbajo group accuses PDP of plans to rig election Babatope Okeowo Akure

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he General. Muhammadu Buhari/ Yemi Osinbajo Campaign Organisation in Ondo State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party of planning to rig the forthcoming general election in the state.

The campaign organisation alleged that the postponement of the elections has given the PDP state the leeway to perfect its rigging strategy. The Coordinator of the organisation, Ife Oyedele said the PDP led government at the state and federal levels have concluded plans to rig the election.

But the PDP through its Publicity Secretary, Hon Banji Okunomo said the

party needed not manipulate the election before it defeats “Noise maker All Progressive Congress at the polls.”

Oyedele in a statement made available to journalists on behalf of the Buhari/Osibajo organization in Akure, the state capital said the plans consist of mobilisation of party thugs and specially hired hoodlums to induce to attack innocent voters on the day of the election.

His words “the specific plan include the recruitment of 50 persons in each of the 3,009 polling units with the sum of N50,000 per person while 30 persons are recruited at each of the 203 wards at N30,000 each. Three coordinators are also being hired in each of the 18

local government areas at N100,000.

“The objective is to clone the uncollected voters cards and mobilise for its use so that the cards can upon attempted use on election day, be invalidated by INEC’s new technology; the card readers which ultimately invalidates the original voters data and card after. The ultimate goal is to cause confusion during the voting process and ultimately disenfranchise thousands of legitimate voters.

“Second, the paid party agents are to embark on house-to-house campaign, intimidate voters with false information and alarm about the danger and violence waiting to happen on the election date. The ultimate goal

is to undermine security, dissuade voters and ensure voter apathy on the election day. Based on the aforementioned analysis, in all, a total sum of N750m is being But Okunomo said the APC is known for crying wolf where none exist as it wants to justify its failure before the conduct of the election, saying any election won by the party is free and fair while the ones they lost are rigged.

Okunomo said the APC has always come a distant third in any election held in the state so far as the battle was always between old Labour Party and the PDP saying the coming of the two mega parties have crippled the rival political party effectively

he Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State and Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the April 11 elections, Chief Dave Umahi, has exonerated himself from being behind the recent freezing of the bank accounts for local governments in the state.

Chief Umahi also denied been involve in the refusal of Ebonyi State government to pay the salaries of local government workers, describing it as attempt to tarnish his image and bring down his person before the people of the state as the March and April elections approach.

At a news conference in Abakaliki yesterday, the Director, Media and Publicity, Divine Mandate Campaign Organisation, Chief Abia Onyike said it was clear to the general public that the insinuations were the handwork of the political detractors, as the deputy governor,

Dave Umahi has no hand in the plight of the workers.

Onyike said to the best of his knowledge, Umahi believed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission were discharging their constitutional duties of checkmating corrupt practices at all levels of government in the country.

Onyike further stated that the freezing of council’s accounts and finances should not be a genuine reason for the non-payment of workers’ salaries in the state, adding that there has always been a standing rule which stipulated that workers payment should be set aside during such exercise.

He maintained that the various banks involved in the exercise have been expressly directed to ensure that workers salaries are paid as and when due urged workers to find out the true position of things from the relevant banks.

FG seals off mining site in Ebonyi Charles Onyekwere ABAKALIKI

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he Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has sealed off a disputed mining site at Mkpuma-Akpata in Izzi Local Government area of Ebonyi State to avoid bloodshed.

The action followed a suit filed by Ezechuks Standard Link Limited challenging the claims of Jidech Mining Company Ltd to the site, a development that led to an interim injunction granted by a court, restraining all parties and other individual (s) from carrying out any activity on the site.

Following the crisis, officials of the Ministry in

the company of men of the Directorate Security Service, journalists sealed the site on court injunction restraining Jidech Mining Company Ltd from mining at the site.

The Federal Mines Officer, in-charge of Ebonyi State, Mr. Ayelabola Olubumi, acting on the court order sealed off the place to protect the mining site.

Olubunmi told Sunday Telegraph that the Federal Ministry of Mines on December 22, 2014 had written to security agencies soliciting assistance in ensuring that the court injunction was adhered to, pending the determination of the matter in court.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Shell partners GE, sets Fashola urges service chiefs to quit up hospitals in Oloibiri

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Muritala Ayinla

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hell Petroleum Development Company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with General Electric for a comprehensive healthcare project to be situated in Ogbia Local Government Area, Oloibiri and neighboring communities where crude oil was first discovered in Nigeria is proposing a fully equipped general hospital in the area.

Other facilities to be included are four primary healthcare centres with healthcare workers trained to international standards.

Speaking at a brief ceremony in Lagos, the out-going country chair of Shell companies in Nigeria Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu, said Shell is sponsoring the project to mark Nigeria’s centenary and to recognise the communities where oil was first discovered in Nigeria.

According to him, the initiative would provide universal health coverage and health system for the people of the local government, stressing that Shell is committed to sustainable initiatives that empower

communities rather dishing out hand-outs.

Sunmonu said he was particularly delighted that GE as project managers for the initiative would leverage on its global pedigree as infrastructure giants to deliver a world class project.

On his part GE Nigeria’s President and CEO, Dr. Lazarus Angbazo said beyond the provision of healthcare infrastructure, the inclusion of research and training of healthcare professionals had made the project rather unique.

Dr. Angbazo said GE was very delighted at the opportunity to deliver a project that will have a transformational impact on humanity, adding that the provision of rural healthcare solutions is one of the focus areas of GE Healthcare’s business in Nigeria.

“The impact of this project is not only on the physical infrastructure and the provision of healthcare services to the people of Oloibiri and neighboring communities, but also in the inherent employment opportunities that this initiative provides.

overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has called for the immediate resignation of the service chiefs over their inability to guarantee the security of Nigerians.

Speaking at an interactive forum with members of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Fashola said the primary responsibility of the military is to protect lives and property, wondering why Nigerian service chiefs could be bold enough to declare that they could not do so.

The governor added that what was expected of the service chief in a country that works, is for them to resign.

He explained is the path of honour as alternative for them, having failed in their responsibility to provide security of Nigerians according to the constitution was resignation.

He said: “No perfection in election planning, but it is not an excuse to do things sloppily, but the truth is that there is no perfection. But when people whose only job is to secure the nation now say they cannot secure the nation, there has been an institutional failure, no doubt in my mind.

“In a nation where things work, they should have taken the part of honour, that we have done our best, we surrender on condition; that is the part of honour.”

Fashola also bemoaned

withdrawal of security from INEC, saying that the action was no longer about service but quest to remain in power.

He lamented that it was shameful for the Nigerian Army which usually protects the whole sub-region to now require help from Cameroon, Niger and others to battle insurgents in Nigeria.

Fashola who thanked the students for undertaking to take the campaign for the Muhammadu Buhari/ Professor Yemi Osibanjo to the hinterland said the election is not about tribe and religion.

He said, “You have articulated the issues, the undertaking is to go with our conviction and clear understanding that we all know

what we are doing. This is not about tribe, not about religion, not about Christian or Muslim, it is about our liberties. Price of freedom is unquantifiable”, he said adding that what is present in Nigeria is a president for whom words now mean nothing.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the students, Mr. Gbadebo Fagbemi said the country needed total overhaul of its segments. He said to achieve the desired change they are determined to take campaign for the election of Buhari and Osinbajo into the hinterland.

The student body also threatened to organise protest today to press home their demands that the new date for election is sacrosanct.

Jonathan’s campaign team woos Igbo traders Chijioke Iremeka

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eoples Democratic Party supporters under the aegis of the Goodluck Good Governance Group (G4), yesterday wooed Igbo traders in Lagos State, urging them to cast their votes for the President in the forthcoming elections.

Addressing a great number of trader’s associations across Lagos State, the leader of the group, and Executive Secretary Petroleum Technological Development Fund (PTDF), Mr. Yemi Ajayi, said Jonathan should be re-elected to continue his good works in the country.

Wooing the traders, he said Jonathan should be re-elected based on his track record of achievements since he assumed office as the president of Nigeria in year 2010.

According to him, Jonathan has proved to be a role model for democracy and good governance since he became President of Nigeria; hence, there is the need for the traders to return him with their votes to continue his economic reforms.

Corroborating Ajayi’s claims, one of the traders and the Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Ben Aka, said Igbo traders have a stake in the election in the country, especially in the Lagos and therefore should be recognised as such.

“Jonathan is the right candidate for the country and this is

more reason we must ensure his returns to the office. Our country still needs him. He has done well and he will do more if he is given another chance to continue,” he said.

Igbos with the rest of the country, he noted, will vote Jonathan, come March 28, saying that the traders’ population, which is over 85 per cent of population of Lagos, would return him.

Highlighting their plights in Lagos, the leader of the Amalgamation of Traders’ Association of Lagos Mr. Ikenna Nwabueze mentioned multiple taxation, maltreatment, intimidation and harassment and called on Jonathan to intervene in the issues raised.

“We need to be recognised like every other tribe resident in Lagos. We are ready to vote the government that would better the lot of our people.

L-R: President, Amalgamation of Traders Association of Lagos (ATAL), Sir Virginus Odinaka; Chairman of the occasion, Engr. Ben Aka; National Coordinator, Goodluck Good Governance Group (G4), Mr. Femi Ajayi; Convener, Mrs. Chinwe Dike and Co-Convener, Sir Okaro Ifeanyichukwu, at the forum in Lagos…yesterday.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

APC slams Mbu over ‘barbaric utterances’

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he All Progressives Congress has said the Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Joseph Mbu, should be cautioned for his lawless and barbaric utterances.

In a statement issued in La-

gos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Mbu’s actions since he was posted to Lagos have neither dignified the police as an institution nor portrayed him as a well-trained law enforcement agent.

Non-indigenes want adherence to Peace Accord

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he Association of nonIndigenes resident in Ogun State has urged politicians in the country to eschew any act capable of disrupting peace and causing violence ahead of the general elections.

The association, which is the umbrella body of all nonYoruba speaking ethnic nationalities resident in Ogun State, at a press conference

in Abeokuta said rather than make the election a do-or-die affair, politicians should play the game according to the rules.

President of the group, Chief Austine Nkeze, enjoined those seeking to contest elective positions to make the interest of the country paramount, urging Nkeze, urging the presidential candidates of the

parties to be guided by the recent Abuja Peace Accord, which should be embraced at states, local governments and wards.

Nkeze called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure the distribution of PVCs to all eligible voters on time “so that there won’t be any reason to shift or postpone the dates of the elections.”

It said the temperament, comportment, utterances and actions of Mbu, a very senior police officer, are capable of inciting mass killings, violence and anarchy. ‘’Since his posting to the Zone 2 Command, this contumacious policeman has exhibited an egregious act of lawlessness by barging through the Lekki Toll Plaza without paying toll and then ordering the arrest of policemen and workers at the Plaza. Is it not an irony that a man who is trained to enforce the law is the same who is breaking the law?

The statement said “that action, as bad as it was, pales into insignificance when compared to his most recent statement in which he was basically inciting the police against the citizenry and encouraging the killing of civilians. It is sheer irresponsibility for a senior policeman to say that for every policeman

who is killed during the election, he will kill 20 civilians.” ‘’Lest we are misunderstood, our party will never condone the killing of police personnel or of any law enforcement agent for whatever reason, just as we will not condone the killing of any innocent Nigerian.

If a senior police officer does not know how to convey to his officers and men that they should protect themselves while also avoiding extrajudicial killing of any citizen, then the funds spent in training him have been wasted,’’ APC said.

The party said such language as ‘fire-for-fire’ , ‘If one of my men is killed, I shall kill 20 of them’ or ‘you have the power to stop the Governor’ is inappropriate, inciting and barbaric, especially under a democratic dispensation, and is most unbecoming of a senior law enforcement agent.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

OPINION Nigeria’s 2015 Presidential Election

John Campbell

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he success or failure of democracy, rule of law and ethnic and religious reconciliation in Nigeria is a bellwether for the entire continent. With a population of more than 177 million evenly divided between Muslims and Christians, Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and most populous country.

A 2010 Council on Foreign Relations Contingency Planning Memorandum, ‘Electoral Violence in Nigeria’ considered the potential for widespread violence associated with Nigeria’s 2011 elections and the limited policy options available to the United States to forestall it.

This assessment remains relevant today.

The 2015 elections again may precipitate violence that could destabilise Nigeria, and Washington has even less leverage in Abuja than it did in 2011. The upcoming elections are a rematch of the 2011 elections between the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan (a southern Christian) and Muhammadu Buhari (a northern Muslim and a former military chief). Tension between Washington and Abuja is higher than in 2011, largely over how to respond to the radical Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram, which is steadily gaining strength in North-East Nigeria. According to CFR’s Nigeria Security Tracker, Boko Haram has been responsible for nearly 11,000 deaths since May 2011. Nigerian domestic instability has also increased as a result of the recent global collapse of oil prices, which are hitting the government and political classes hard. Oil constitutes more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue and provides more

James Eze

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than 90 per cent of its foreign exchange. Since October 2014, the national currency, the Naira, has depreciated from 155 to the U.S. dollar to 191.

New Concerns Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, political power has alternated between the predominantly Muslim North and predominantly Christian South, an informal strategy to forestall the country’s polarisation. Jonathan assumed the presidency when President Umaru Yar’Adua, a northern Muslim, died in 2010. Jonathan gave private assurances that he would finish Yar’Adua’s term and wait until 2015 to run for president because it was still “the north’s turn.” But Jonathan ran for re-election in 2011, thereby violating the system of power alternation. Following the announcement of Jonathan’s victory, the North made accusations of election rigging. Rioting broke out across the North, resulting in the greatest bloodshed since the 1967–70 civil war.

The 2015 elections are likely to be more violent.

The All Progressives Congress has nominated Buhari as its presidential candidate. The APC is stronger than its predecessors and reflects a splintering of the political classes. The government’s inability to defeat Boko Haram, the economic hardships brought on by falling oil prices and a growing public perception that the Jonathan administration is weak have fuelled support for the APC. Though the APC’s voter base is in the North, it enjoys support all over the country, unlike the opposition in 2011.

However, any incumbent Nigerian president has significant advantages: he is at the centre of extensive patronage networks; he has access to the government’s oil revenue; and he and his party

largely control the election machinery and ballotcounting infrastructure. It is uncertain whether any provisions will be made for voters in the three northern states placed under a state of emergency because of Boko Haram, as well as the estimated one million people displaced by the insurgency.

These displaced voters would likely support Buhari and the APC; their exclusion would benefit Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party. Thus despite the strength of the opposition, Jonathan remains the likely — but not certain — winner.

Policy Implications An unstable Nigeria with internally displaced and refugee populations and a government unable to quell Boko Haram could potentially destabilise neighbouring states and compromise U.S interests in Africa. Yet, the United States has little leverage over Nigerian politics, which is driven by domestic factors, and even less leverage over the Nigerian security services. Nigeria will be disappointed that the United States has not offered greater assistance to counter Boko Haram, and Washington will be frustrated by Abuja’s failure to address human rights abuses by the security services.

Recommendations ANovember 2014 Council Special Report ‘U.S. Policy to Counter Nigeria’s Boko Haram’ recommends long-term steps the United States should take to encourage a Nigerian response to terrorism that advances democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights. In the short term, vocal U.S support for democracy and human rights both during and after the elections could help discourage violence at the polls and after the results are announced. Secretary of State John Kerry, in

a pre-election visit to Nigeria, has already underscored the importance of free, fair, and credible elections to the bilateral relationship.

In the aftermath, Washington should avoid commenting prematurely on the quality of the elections. Observers from the National Democratic Institute and the International Republic Institute are likely to issue preliminary assessments immediately after the polls close. So, too, will observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth and theAfrican Union. There will be media pressure for early, official comment. But, following a close election and the violence likely to follow, the timing and content of official U.S statements should take into account the views of the vibrant Nigerian human rights community, which will likely be the most accurate.

Washington should forcefully and immediately denounce episodes of violence, including those committed by the security services. But official statements should avoid assessing blame without evidence, and they should take into account the weak ability of party leaders to control crowd behaviour.

Washington should facilitate and support humanitarian assistance. The North is already in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, with the prospect of famine looming. If the postelection period is violent, there may be need for international humanitarian assistance in many other parts of the country. The Obama administration should plan for a leadership role in coordinating an international humanitarian relief effort, including a close study of lessons learned from the Africa Military Command’s successful intervention in Liberia’s Ebola crisis.

Elections and APGA’s star cast

n one of his many seminal essays on Nigeria, Chinua Achebe poignantly observed that “Nigeria is what it is because its leaders are not what they should be.” Indeed since Nigeria began its current democratic experience, one of the most crucial tests we have had to face is the quest for a responsible and astute leadership – a leadership that represents the best the country has to offer in the management of the affairs of men.

It is interesting to note that while the country continues its search for the right set of leaders that will consolidate its democratic journey at the national level, hope looms like a rain-bearing cloud in the regions. Not surprising, Anambra State is leading the charge in this regard. Perhaps it is in fulfillment of its position as the light of the nation, perhaps it stems from the pioneering role it has always played in the history of the country.

Whatever it is; it is no longer in doubt that the fire of a silent revolution is presently aglow in Anambra State judging by the set of candidates that the ruling party APGA is presenting to the electorate in the coming elections.

Rebounding from a long period of intriguing mutation during which time its power and influence shrunk to only one state in the entire federation, APGA has stepped out of the shadows to stake a claim to the future of Nigeria through quality leadership. A quick look at the profile of the party’s standard bearers in Anambra, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Ogun and Zamfara states offers a deep insight into the party’s meticulous search for quality representation at all levels of leadership. It is almost evident that taking a cue from its Chairman BoT and National Leader, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano, whose public career took off from a strong private sector background, APGA seeks to push for a new paradigm in the leadership of Nigeria.

It is fascinating to see that among APGA’s impressive cast of candidates for the coming elections is Engr. Ernest Ndukwe who as the former Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) played an historical role in

the evolution of the mobile phone industry in Nigeria. Many thanks to Ndukwe, the Nigerian mobile phone market has experienced an astronomical growth from a paltry 45,000 lines in 2002 to 88 million in 2011 and Nigeria is now the third largest mobile phone market in the world. Today, Ndukwe, the architect of this phenomenon, is standing election in his home state of Anambra. Ndukwe seeks to represent Anambra South in the Senate. He is running against Chief Chris Ubah of PDP. In saner countries, it should be a no contest for Ndukwe. But in Nigeria, politics is a game of probabilities.

It is no less fascinating to note that after several years of weathering countless political storms, Chief Victor Umeh, the National Chairman of APGA, has finally thrown his hat into the political ring. Umeh is running for the senatorial seat of Anambra Central. This political titan packs a wealth of experience that dwarfs his rivals.

Interestingly, APC’s Senator Chris Ngige who would have provided a counter weight to Umeh has since decapitated himself politically with the ignoble role he played in the aftermath of the brazen deportation of his kith and kin by Governor Raji Fashola from Lagos. Ngige’s uneventful tenure in the Senate has also driven a long nail in the coffin of his senatorial ambition as many voters are scratching their heads to find one reason why Dr. Ngige should be given yet another chance. As it were, Chief Umeh has only himself to beat in the ensuing race.

Hon. Dubem Obaze’s emergence as the senatorial candidate for Anambra North follows APGA’s established tradition of fielding strong characters. Obaze, who is fondly known as ‘Ifeakachi,’ is a highly influential grass roots politician whose impact as an erstwhile Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Matters is still felt in Anambra State to date. Obaze has a remarkable people’s touch and a striking personality that draws people naturally to him. Like Ndukwe in Anambra South, Obaze’s would have been a no contest. In fact, not even Princess Stella Odua, former Aviation Minister, can present a challenge.

There are also Chukwuemeka Ojukwu Jnr,

Ifeanyi Ibezim, Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo, Emeka Nwosu, Godson Ezenagu, Ifeanyi Momah, Tonia Tabansi, Igwebuike Hygers Ifeanyi, Madubueze Peter Obiano and Gabriel Onyenweife, who together make up a formidable team of visionary young leaders who are passionate about serving their various constituencies in a more qualitative and purposeful way.

When these gentlemen and woman get elected, as they indeed will, there is no doubt that Anambra will witness the much anticipated rebirth and in so doing catalyze the entire South East into pushing for the fielding of the very best in elective positions.

Similarly, APGA is blazing the same trail in some key states where it is fielding candidates for various posts. Credit must go to Governor Willie Obiano and the entire party leadership for superintending over the electoral processes that threw up Dr. Alex Otti as a gubernatorial candidate in Abia State; Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho in Imo; Labaran Maku in Nasarawa; David Olufemi Bamgbose in Ogun; and Alhaji Sani Shinkafi in Zamfara. A close look at the pedigree of all the gubernatorial candidates of APGA shows an unmistakable similarity in the quest for substance and overall excellence among them. It is obvious that all the candidates have great personal stories that set them apart from their rivals in the various states where they are standing election.

After years of first class performance in the commanding heights of corporate Nigeria, Dr. Alex Otti who also made First Class in the university has followed the footsteps of his friend, Chief Obiano, and heeded the call to rescue Abia State from the abyss. Otti is running a brilliant issue-based campaign in Abia and garnering a massive support that will ease his way into the state house. Being an accomplished technocrat, Otti will no doubt transform Abia State in a very short time as his friend has done in Anambra when given the mandate. Ndi Abia will be the ultimate loser if they fail to vote him in. Capt.

Emmanuel Iheanacho has been very much a captain of a flourishing business empire and pretty much whatever else he has touched all

his life. Iheanacho is reputed be a wise man and an astute administrator who knows what it takes to offer a purposeful leadership.

All through his time in office as the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku’s zestful brilliance held Nigerians spellbound. Labaran is undoubtedly among the few young leaders in whom the hope for a better Nigeria rests. The APGA model of governance is just the blueprint that Maku needs to lift his people from the bootstraps of unbridled privations and break a new path for accelerated development. The people of Nasarawa State will bite their nails in avoidable regret if they fail to elect him their governor. Prof. David Olufemi Bamgbose joined APGA as a renowned educationist who pioneered the setting up of private colleges of education in his native Ogun State. Bamgbose has made indelible mark in the history of education in Nigeria as his Yelwa College of Education has so far produced over 10,000 teachers in its short history of existence. Bamgbose is development-minded and intensely focused.

Prof. Bamgbose will turn Ogun State into a centerpiece of overall excellence if handed the mantle of leadership.

Alhaji Sani Shinkafi is a large-hearted progressive leader whose sphere of influence stretches across Nigeria. A firm believer in the common destiny of the country, Shinkafi is known to have mastered the art of leadership by consensus. His years of experience as a great party man and consensus builder will certainly be of great benefit to the Zamfara people who are in dire need of an urbane leader in his mould to chart the course for a sustainable development.

In all, it is very fascinating to see how Chief Willie Obiano’s recent assumption of office as the leader of APGA has influenced the emergence of a crop of accomplished Nigerians seeking to make a change from elective offices. Win or lose, the symbolism of their involvement in the political process cannot easily be wished away.

The subtle message that underlines their bold ambitions reminds us that it is not enough to aspire to serve. It is also important to serve on a reputable platform.

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Sunday Mail FEBRUARY 15, 2015

You have a right to be heard! Send your letters and photographs to sundayletters@newtelegraphonline.com.

Letters should not be more than 150 words and must have the name and address of the sender.

Support SMEs for job creation

Dear Editor, I write to express dismay at the poor attention paid to the growth and development of SMEs by President Goodluck Jonathan and his All Progressives Congress challenger, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari. All we have heard are promises to create jobs for youths without any mention of how they intend to encourage the youths to generate income and help to ease the jobs crisis. With over 20 million youths unemployed, government needs to apply creative solutions to getting them off the streets. It’s not enough for the President, governors and local government chairmen to allocate billions to themselves as security votes. It is also ridiculous for governors to raise billions of naira for security trust funds whereas such money could have gone into assisting SMEs to provide jobs.

The cost of procuring one pickup patrol van is estimated at N4.2 million. This amount, if shared to SMEs at N200,000 each will assist no fewer than 21 of them. If each of them employs at least two persons, you now have 63 persons off the jobs queues. Multiply that by 200 vans for one state and you get thousands into SMEs. these loans can be interestfree or charged at not more than two per cent to ensure easy repayment. Gradually, you will find that the jobs lines will diminish and we will have a safer society.

Johnson Peters, Mafoluku, Lagos

Mbu’s refusal to pay tolls Dear Editor, It came to me as shocking news that Assistant InspectorGeneral of Police (Zone 2), Mr. Joseph Mbu, refused to pay tolls at the Admiralty Circle point on Lekki-Epe Expressway.

His explanation for not paying in his interview with Sunday Telegraph published on February 8, 2015 was quite untenable, in my view. He tried to justify his action by saying that the police are on essential duty and should not be asked to pay tolls. However, Mbu knows that the company operating that tollgate is a private firm, which also assists in funding the Lagos State Security Trust Fund. I would like Mbu to know that some of the vehicles at the disposal of Zone 2 were procured from monies realised from the trust fund. So, how can he expect to burn the candle at two ends? It does not work that way. His office has an operational budget and he should use it for the intended purposes. A senior officer of his calibre should not be seen encouraging people to flout the law. Can a senior police officer refuse to pay tolls in the United Kingdom or United States?

Jackson Ene Lekki, Lagos

Elections’ shift unacceptable Dear Editor, I wish to point out to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that his penchant for shifting elections’ dates is causing much pain to Nigerians and foreigners resident in the country. People had made arrangements and shifted their programmes from February to March to enable them to participate in the elections,e arlier fixed for February 14 and 28. However, with this shift in the dates, adjustments will now have to be made, this costs a lot of money, especially in a fragile economy like ours. I know of people who have printed invitation cards to events for March 28 and April 11, 2015, only for them to now be thinking of how to change the dates. This is in addition to the cost of printing fresh invitation cards. Our public officers should always consider the effects of their actions on the economy and the society in general before taking them.

Dele Oladele, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State

Rochas, stop Nwangene sand diggers

Dear Editor, For the past one year, sand digging machines of different sizes and shapes have been massed at the River Nwangene in Owerri, digging sand without control or any form of regulation. Our lives are endangered in this community.

Our houses, including the old FUASON Industries, are collapsing because of the activities of these sand diggers, Our attempts to dislodge these people have failed, as they claimed that they have the authority of the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, to engage in their illicit act, Please we need your urgent intervention Mr. Governor to avert a looming catastrophe in our community.

Christy Anyaehie Owerri, Imo state

TRADING DANGEROUSLY…Is this a railway or trade rail?...PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

Destruction of billboards, posters

Dear Editor, The level of violence witnessed at elections in Nigeria is an indication that we are still far away from achieving a desirable environment for credible polls. The same politicians who say elections ought not to be a do-or-die affair are the same people who sit idly by while their supporters and paid thugs attack their opponents and vandalise their billboards and posters. There must be some sort of evil force that propels people to descend on a work of art and destroy it. Such people don’t appreciate art and are actually enemies of the country. The security agencies should be up to the task of protecting the nation and its citizens by ensuring that these acts of violence are not allowed to continue. We should not allow some undesirable elements to deny us the right to peaceful electioneering.

Shammah Adah Port Harcourt

Create more polling booths

Dear Editor, I wish to draw the attention of the Independent National Electoral Commission and the public through this fast growing newspaper in the country that some communities in the Bende Local Government, Abia State are being disenfranchised in every election in this country.

We have at different times urged the state government to come to our aid. The distance of the polling booth in our communities discouraged the people from exercising their civic right. The situation has turned to the advantage to some politicians who on Election Day send their vehicles to these villages to convey them to the polling booths.

Imagine where someone who is seeking for a particular political office will provide buses to the people to convey them to the long distance polling station to cast their votes!

This development is not welcome and it is not good for the development of democracy and the right of the people to choose their leaders.

Odemenlam Ukaegbu , Bende, Abia State

Pedestrian bridges on LagosIbadan Expressway Dear Editor, I write to draw the attention of the Federal Ministry of Works to the need to construct pedestrian bridges at vital points on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The bridges are urgently needed at areas of high population density and major bus-stops. At these points, one finds large crowds of pedestrians crossing the highway with the attendant risk.

These bridges are needed at places like Berger, Wawa, Arepo, PUNCHPLACE, Magboro, Ibafo, Aseese, Olowotedo, NNPC filling station near Deeper Life campground, Mowe, Redemption Camp, Ogere, Ibadan old tollgate among others.

The construction of these bridges will reduce the risks posed to pedestrians crossing the highway. It is not proper for pedestrians to be crossing a busy expressway like this. It is even imperative now that the expressway is being expanded to accommodate more lanes. If it is difficult now for people to cross the highway, imagine when the road is expanded!

Sunday Adewale, Mowe, Ogun State

Nigerians, poor diet and exercise Dear Editor, I write to raise the alarm over rising cases of sudden deaths and lifestyle ailments among Nigerians. I want to believe that these problems mainly arise from poor diet of millions of Nigerians. Also, millions of Nigerians don’t care about exercises and simply live from day to day in a sedentary manner. Many of our foods contain calories and fat that are harmful to the body. I call on our leaders and health experts to develop a national fitness policy, which will encourage Nigerians to take their health more seriously. If government has to enforce these guidelines, so be it. It is a better option to recording avoidable deaths and illnesses. The attendant cost of hospitalisation and lost manhours is weighing heavily on our economy. Nigeria cannot afford to have a citizenry that is not fit to deliver on national goals. Corporate organisations should set aside hours and venues for fitness talks and exercises. A stitch in time, it is said, saves nine!

Nneka Obi, Onitsha, Anambra State

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Moment

L-R: Niger State Governor, Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu; Winner of Nigeria’s first culture and tourism Tv Reality Show ‘Heroes Back to the Root’, Miss Happiness Ododung and Associate Producer, Mr. Joe Onyeabor, during the presentation of Honda Accord car to Ododung in Minna …on Thursday

Winner of the 2nd Inter-house sport competition of Baptist Boys High School (mission), Abeokuta, Agboola House (Yellow), which held at Mudal Lawal Stadium, Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun State recently

L-R: Nkem Bamgboshe; host, Obiageli Ajaero; Uri Kalu and Elvira Salleras at the Customers’ Valentine Hangout organised by Essence De Beaute, Tokunbo Omisore Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos...on Saturday L-R: Nigerian Idol season 5 host, Ill Rhymz; judge, Darey Art-Alade; Manager, Sponsorships, Etisalat Nigeria, Orah Egwu; judges, Dede Mabiaku and Yinka Davies; and Executive Producer, Gary Ashley during the Etisalat Sponsored Nigerian Idol Season 5 Lagos auditions at Dream Studios, Lagos on Tuesday

A cross-section of the pupils of Baba Sidi Primary School in Bauchi, displaying their gifts during the inauguration of one block of 2 Classrooms renovated by staff of Skye bank Plc North East Region…on Friday. PHOTO-NAN

L-R: Mother of Bride, Mrs. Awa Inyang; The Couple, Mr. Jude Ujunwa Ogbuja and his wife, Chioma, during their wedding ceremony at St Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos

L-R: Head Girl, Ajegunle Senior Secondary School, Ikorodu, Miss Nofisat Aderibigbe; Treasurer, Yam Seller Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Haruna Issa; Chairman, Arewa Branch of All Progressive Congress (APC) Lagos State, Alhaji Mohammed Dandamma Yabo and Vice Principal, Oluyemisi Arogbodo, at the presentation of books to students in honour of APC governorship candidate, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, in Lagos…on Friday. PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

Anambra North PDP Senatorial candidate, Princess Stella Oduah (on tricycle middle), in a heroic welcome to Onitsha by Onitsha Okada Riders Association following her victory at the courts recently

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY, 2015

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

News

Why Obiano is committed to teachers’ welfare

T

he wife of the governor of Anambra State Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, has attributed the commitment of Governor Willie Obiano to the welfare of teachers in the state to a deep understanding of their motivations and needs as a son of a headmaster.

Mrs. Obiano made the disclosure at the commissioning of the Nigerian Union of Teachers Secretariat, built by Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon (Princess) Chinwe Nwaebili in Atani, Ogbaru Local Government Area of the state.

She told an enthusiastic crowd made up of mostly teachers, community leaders and All Progressives Grand Alliance faithful at Ogbaru that Obiano cannot afford to fail the teachers and that was why he set out early to fulfill promises made to them before he assumed office.

She said Obiano com-

menced with the adjustment of salaries of teachers at all levels to ensure fairness and balance. “I am here today to identify with what the Speaker, Princess Nwaebili has done because it is in line with the governor’s programme to ensure that teachers are comfortable in order to do their job effectively.”

Mrs. Obiano commended Princess Nwaebili for honouring the teachers with the structure and urged them to make good use of the facilities and reciprocate the gesture by voting for her and all APGA candidates in the next elections.

Earlier, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili, who is APGA’s candidate for Ogbaru Federal Constituency, said that she built the secretariat for the teachers to enable them have a conducive venue for their meetings as against the practice of clustering under trees to hold vital discussions.

Jega must go – Envoy Steve Uzoechi OWERRI

F

ormer Nigeria’s Ambassador to Congo, Chief Greg Mbadiwe has called on the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega to resign immediately following his inability to respond to allegations of partisanship and dereliction of duty leveled against him.

Mbadiwe, a lawyer and member of Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Committee on Media and Publicity, said in a statement that since it was obvious that Prof Jega has compromised himself before the

All Progressives Congress, the PDP no longer repose confidence in his ability to conduct the elections.

He said it was regrettable that Prof Jega misled the nation when he had earlier declared that INEC was ready to conduct the elections whereas “even electoral materials were not yet ready”.

He disclosed that PDP was in possession of proof of Jega’s alliance with APC to rig out PDP in the coming elections, noting that the pattern of distribution of Permanent Voters Cards was a pointer “to the unholy alliance.”

The erstwhile envoy noted that states considered to

be strongholds of PDP had been deliberately deprived of PVCs, while those in the hands of APC have had an easy and smooth distribution.

Mbadiwe said it was also disturbing that non indigenes in Lagos who are likely going to cast their votes for President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP have been denied access to their Permanent Voters Cards.

He alleged that apart from Jega colluding with APC to perpetrate these offences, the INEC boss is known to have held a secret meeting in Dubai with top APC chieftains on ways of compromising the election and disgracing PDP out of office.

He said it was not enough for Jega to claim that he cannot respond to those comments, saying that the issue at hand now bordered on integrity and honour.

“A man has been accused of bias, partisanship, incompetence and other sundry offences. If he cannot convincingly clear his name, especially when there is loss of confidence in his ability to perform his duties, the most honourable thing for him to do is to resign”, Mbadiwe insisted.

He said that PDP would explore all legal and legitimate means to force Jega out since “he can no longer discharge his duties impartially”.

7, 000 benefit from Mark’s health programme Chukwu David Abuja

P

resident of the Senate, Senator David Mark has mobilised medical personnel and other health workers to his Benue South senatorial zone to provide free healthcare services to the sick and poor especially in rural communities.

Senator Mark facilitated the two-day healthcare programmme through Uriel Foundation in collaboration with Grassroots HealthCare Foundation, both non-governmental organisations at Jesus College Otukpo, Benue State.

In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mummeh, it was revealed that at least 7,000 patients from the nine local government areas of the district were treated by the medical team.

According to the statement, the medical team comprised 75 medical doctors, 85 nurses, 14 phar-

macists, six dentists, eight optometrists and 15 administrative officers.

The free medical services rendered, the statement further noted, included but not limited to surgeries such as excision of lumps, hernioraphy and hydrocelectomy in which 15 patients were operated upon, dental services, eye treatment and distribution of 500 free eye glasses, 5,000 mosquito nets, laboratory tests as well as de-worming of over 2000 school children.

Addressing the healthcare providers and the beneficiaries, Senator Mark appreciated the donors for bringing healthcare services to his constituents, saying, “health is wealth because a healthy nation is a wealthy nation”.

In his remarks, the traditional ruler of Otukpo, Ochi’Otukpo Odu, Dr. John Eimonye expressed appreciation to the President of the Senate for facilitating the provision of health services to his subjects.

Ekiti women get N22.5m Adesina Wahab Ado-Ekiti

E

kiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has lauded the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer to indigent women in the state, saying that it would increase life expectancy and reduce maternal mortality among women in the country.

Speaking in Ado-Ekiti while distributing the sum of N22.5 million exit fund

to 2,250 beneficiaries of the scheme in the state, he said the life of the beneficiaries, who are mainly women, will improve with adequate access to healthcare delivery and other benefits.

Fayose, who applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for the scheme being executed under the Millennium Development Goals, added that the gesture would help in improving on the living standard of poor women.

Senate President Senator David Mark,(right) and President Uriel Foundation, Dr, Genevive Ndukwu at the free medical services for his constituents in Otukpo, Benue state at the weekend

FG flays planned return of BringBackOurGirls campaign Onyekachi Eze ABUJA

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described today’s planned demonstration of the BringBackOurGirls group at Unity Fountain as politically motivated.

The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said the demonstration amounted to a grave insult to the memories of those young men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces who have sacrificed their lives and who have been martyred in the fight against terror and Boko Haram in the last three years ”Ordinarily this would have been a laudable event because all of us want the Chibok girls to be freed and brought back home. However the intention of the

organisers is to also call for the resignation of the Service Chiefs and it is a subtle attempt to stir up indiscipline, strife, rebellion, dissention and discord within the rank and file of the Nigerian Armed Forces”, FaniKayode said.

He noted that a call on the Service Chiefs to resign at this point in time when Nigeria is in the middle of a war and in the heat of battle is not only grossly irresponsible but it is also dangerous and would be counter-productive.

He was of the opinion that it would have been more productive for Nigeria and more helpful to the plight of the Chibok girls if the Bring Back Our Girls organisation had encouraged the Armed Forces to do an even better job than they are already doing at the war front by commending their gallant efforts and noble sacrifice and urging them to stand firm and to do more.

“We should not be throwing stones and hurling bricks at our soldiers whilst we are in the middle of a war. Worse still today’s demonstration by the Bring Back Our Girls group is being wholly and completely funded by the APC and its leaders who see it as yet another opportunity to play politics with the sorry plight and terrible misfortunes of the Chibok girls and use it as an opportunity to discredit the President, the Government and the Armed Forces before the Nigerian people and the international community.

“We all want our girls brought back home safely but that does not mean that we should not accept the fact that our security forces are doing their best and making the necessary sacrifices. To stab them in the back at this point, despite their efforts, is unpatriotic, insensitive and uncharitable and it provides ample

evidence of a sinister and unwholesome agenda on the part of the organisers of the demonstration and their financial backers and sponsors”, he added.

Fani-Kayode noted that bringing the Chibok girls back home remains one of President Jonathan’s administration’s cardinal objectives, adding that the suggestion that the President is insincere in this matter or that he lacks the commitment to do what he has to do to effect their rescue and release is absurd and baseless.

“If the Bring Back Our Girls group are as sincere in their quest for the release of the Chibok girls as they claim they should ask Buhari to tell his friends in Boko Haram to effect their immediate release. That would be far more productive than lampooning the President or calling for the resignation of our Service Chiefs.

SUNDAY

Fashion

Timeless monochrome magic 22-43

Bed, Work & Life

Face to face with reality!

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Body Soul SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015

My relationship with Patience Jonathan -Onyeka Onwuenu

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

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Contents 15.02.2015 COVER

I was very happy that God had brought me to this place because it was like a culmination of all that I had been working towards without knowing it

-Onyeka Onwuenu

FASHION

Whether you go professional, feminine, or glamorous, a shot of black and white will definitely freshen up your wardrobe

T h e Te a m Juliet Bumah (Editor)

Vanessa Okwara (Correspondent) Wole Adepoju

} 22&43

Biwom Iklaki (Correspondent)

} 18-19

BEAUTY

I thought I have been in love but meeting Osas made it feel like I have never been in love before

Box braids are an excellent style option because you can style it in so many ways

Ugochukwu Nnakwe (Graphics)

MY PASSION

Edwin Usoboh (Graphics) +234 (0) 811 675 9770, +234 (0) 701 110 1014 julietbumah@gmail.com julietbumah@newtelegraphonline.com

} 17

} 21

GLAM DUDES Kaftans are stylish, versatile and are making their mark in men’s wardrobe

} 44

Associates

BED, WORK & LIFE “Lie? Even when there are evidences of your dealing with whores... including my s i s t e r, Kathryn? Or y o u think I didn’t k n o w you were sleeping w i t h her for

three years and paying for her services, knowing fully well that she was a whore?”

} 20

Helen Paul

Eyitayo Aloh

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Body&Soul

My parents watched as I pierced my ear - Gbenro Ajibade Tall, dark and handsome ‘Tinsel’ actor, Gbenro Ajibade is definitely a charmer. Modeling and acting are two of his greatest passions. In this interview with VANESSA OKWARA, he speaks about his budding acting career and the great love he has for his beautiful fiancé Osas Ighodaro who is also a Tinsel star You started your career as a model. How did it all begin?

That was way back in school. I was given a course I didn’t like to study-Biology Education. I hated my course up until final year second semester. Back in school then, I had this clique of friends; we used to call ourselves, CMS, which is Correct Men Syndrome because we were anti- cultism and every negative social vice. Then there was this big show that came up in school-Mr. Campus which was the first of its kind. Even though I was the only non-indigene among the contestants, I won the competition. That was where I discovered my love for modeling. It’s all about the spontaneous reaction you get on stage. I just realised I could make money from this profession, so I couldn’t wait to graduate. The day I finished my last paper, I took a night bus to Lagos.

How did you get into acting?

I knew Lagos was the heart of entertainment in Nigeria and this is where I can make it.

Modeling actually got me into acting; I started with the TV series, Tinsel which was my first.

Tinsel was your first attempt at acting?

Yes it was. I was not even going for the auditions originally.

How did you get the role for Tinsel then?

They told me I was going for auditions for a TV commercial for M-net. If they had told me it was for an acting job, I wouldn’t near that place; I would have escaped through the back door. I was doing very well in my modeling career. God blessed me so much that I could fit into both modeling for fashion and for photography. For fashion, you have to be at least six feet and I am six feet three. I didn’t believe how big the show was until they called me up after the auditions that I came through for Tinsel. Even for my character ‘Soji’ in Tinsel, there were auditions for it in Lagos, Port Harcourt, South Africa and I was lucky to be picked for it.

For somebody who had never acted before, how did you feel when it was announced you would be playing that character?

First of all, Kudos to M-net! I respect that brand so much. They saw through what we couldn’t even see. They make you see how you are like the character you play. They also put us through a series of workshops which was more or less like acting school that people pay to learn but we got it for free. This was done in four seasons. It was really fun and I am grateful for the opportunity. At the Tinsel set, you don’t just learn as an actor, you also learn as a film maker. It was indeed a big break for me.

Your name ‘Soji’ in Tinsel is more or less like your name. How do you separate your real self from your character in Tinsel?

I cannot separate myself because it was a character I and M-net used Voltron force to create. I can only separate it when I do what I call going out of the body. I was shooting the character ‘Soji’ for years. I am even used to the name. If I’m in public and I hear the name, Soji, before the real owners of the name turn, I am already turning to answer. They made sure we called ourselves by our character names.

Imagine people calling you a name every day from six in the morning till eight in the night for eight years! So it is a name that even when I sleep and I hear Soji I will wake up.

Aside the TV series, you have featured in other movies?

I did a short film titled ‘The wages’ by Waltbanger Productions; it won the best short film at the AMVCA last year. I did ‘Shattered romance’ with Juliet Ibrahim, Bryan Okwara and James Gardiner. Right now, I am doing a movie titled ‘Thirties’. For about three weeks now, I have been playing three different roles, one in Tinsel, Thirties and Gbomo Gbomo express.

The latest about your personal life is that you are engaged to Tinsel co-star, Osas Ighodaro.

How did you manage to catch such a beautiful damsel?

It was God all the way! In this my case, it is God that personally and spiritually brought her to my radar. When I first saw her, I was not really moved because I remember when Tinsel brought her down to Nigeria. They told us to come over to welcome her but in my usual stubbornness I refused to go. Eventually, we met and it was just platonic. We started off as friends. She was my friend for a very long time.

How long did you date before the engagement?

We dated for about two years What is it about Osas that made you choose her from other ladies you dated in the past?

Osas is different in every way I can think of. First of all, I have this feeling that if Osas doesn’t marry me, no other girl can marry me in this whole world.

Are you saying you have never been in a serious relationship before now?

I thought I have been in love but meeting Osas made it feel like I have never been in love before. She was my friend before we started attaching strings. I used to pick and drop her off to her dates; we were that cool before we got personal.

When is the wedding bell ringing?

Are you the one getting married? How is it your business when we get married? We can decide to just go ahead and get married without inviting anybody. Anyway, you all shouldn’t worry. We don’t want to rush but taking our time with it.

So is it going to be this year?

It can even be tomorrow morning or any time of the year.

Don’t you think you should hurry up before other bigger boys snatch her from right under your nose?

Other bigger boys? Well, unfortunately for all of them, it is me she chose. That is why I said earlier that our union is a spiritual thing; you will not understand the depth.

Describe your style.

My style depicts my mood

coupled with my experience as a model in terms of combining clothes but basically it is my mood that dictates my style.

How long have you been wearing your dreadlocks?

I have been wearing it for nine years now. I have been trimming it because I don’t want a length that I cannot manage.

Would you ever wish to take it off one day?

If any brand comes and asks me to take it off and I smile to the bank, I will readily give them the dreads. Even before the dreads, I used to braid my hair. Also, I had this long beard that was so long that I could just tilt my jaw a bit and all the hair would fall into my mouth. I was only 19 years old then. When I got the character to play at Tinsel, Femi Odugbemi the content guy at M-net, asked me how much my beard meant to me and I told him very much, he then asked me to cut it off.

It was a hard thing for me to do after growing it for a long time, but when I saw the opportunities the show will offer me in future

since M-net was showing in over 72 countries as at that time, I didn’t hesitate.

Did you experience restrictions from your parents, when you were coming into the entertainment industry?

No. Do you know I have piercings on my body? Funny enough, I got my left ear pierced in front of my parents. I was chatting with my dad when my sister, Joke, pierced my ear. My parents are cool. We are disciplined. I don’t think we have ever brought shame to them and they know we will always make them proud. But there are some things they kicked against like tattoos. I was in South Africa and was really thinking of getting a tattoo, and then I got a call from my mum out of the blues warning me against having tattoos. So I don’t have a tattoo on my body just to honour my mum’s wishes. But I can pierce any part of my body. That is my way of calming the adrenalin rush for tattoos.

How do you keep fit?

I love my body a lot so I am addicted to working out.

What is your passion?

I would say love. Love for family, friends, modeling and acting and love for music especially when I want to work out. I love working out a lot and it is more to keep fit than to get muscular.

What are your favourite wrist watches?

Right now I am wearing Aldo watches. I also have a couple Rolex watches as well. I love all kinds of wrist watches but most of the time I have to fine tune the designs to make it personal.

The elections have been shifted so we could enjoy the Valentine. So where are you and Osas celebrating the Valentine?

Election or no election, we would have still celebrated Valentine.

Osas and I love traveling, so we will be travelling out of the country for the Valentine but we have not decided which country yet. The surprise is for her and not for you guys.

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Body&Soul

My relationship with Patience International artiste cum Chief Executive Officer, National Women Development Centre, Onyeka Onwenu a.k.a Elegant Stallion, talks about her passion and drive for women of Nigeria in this interview with JULIET BUMAH What would you say Jonathan has done for women besides appointing a few as ministers?

By giving women the kind of appointments and portfolio he has given us, we are able to make the kind of contributions that are required of us. It is not just 35 per cent; it is more than 35 per cent. It is the fact that we have been given that opportunity and we are using it to make progress. Though some people have refused to see the progress he has made, some of us see it and know that he is making progress with his transformation agenda. By the way, we at the National Council for Women Development are planning a fair for women in agriculture because women are the farmers. He has improved the agriculture sector and that is why prices of foodstuff have not gone up in spite of the economic downturn. He has introduced the dry season farming programme which has made it possible for farming to go all year round. This has led to the availability of food all year.

He has eliminated corruption in fertiliser distribution. Fertiliser now goes directly to farmers who need it and not to corrupt middlemen. Railway is back with airconditioned coaches. The road network is better; the Second Niger Bridge is ongoing. I want to use this opportunity to say that the road to Arondizuogu, my town is bad. The Minister of Works has promised that he is going to start work on it. The President has achieved a lot except that he is quiet about it. Jonathan’s administration has delivered.

What exactly did you meet on ground when you assumed office at the centre?

First of all, I had to acquaint myself with what the National Centre for Women Development was all about because it seemed that it had gone into obscurity. It had been allowed to go into obscurity and what a wonderful set up it is – the idea behind it is a brilliant idea; that is for it to serve as a centre for research, advocacy and training to project Nigerian women and protect their interest. To be a gathering point, a launching pad for women to where they should be in this country. So when I came here, I was very happy that God had brought me to this place because it was like a culmination of all that I had been working towards without knowing it. But I was also slightly overwhelmed by the amount of work that needed to be done. I was very sad that it had been allowed to deteriorate. Then I realised that I cannot do it alone; it is either I have a management team that can come with me on board and work together to get the work done or I have support from the ministry that oversees this place. I get support from the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because she is so concerned about women issues. She has kept me on my toes; she has made me work harder than I probably planned to work. Her expectations from me are very high and I have to keep

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Body&Soul

Jonathan - Onyeka Onwuenu up with her because I have come close to her and seen her work ethics. She is very hardworking and hardly rests. I have learnt that by watching her over this period. She never takes no for an answer on any issue concerning women. She is my role model for that. She tells me that the stakes are very high and that this is about the Nigerian woman and this is her time, her opportunity and she has to grab it with not only her two hands, but her feet as well. This is because people are waiting to say: “See, they have been given an opportunity and they were not able to utilise it.” She keeps telling me that we must maximise every opportunity that we get. So, on what I met on ground, you know that I am not a civil servant. I come from the private sector and so I will be lying if I say there were no challenges of working with people that had a different mindset from mine. But it was either we had a collision and nothing would come out of it or we had a minor collision and at the end of the day, the person was well meaning; that the person had every intention to give more than what he/she could get and not what he/she could give as well. I must say that in my management, I have found good people who understand the reasons why I am here. That’s understanding the enormity of the task that we have been given and the opportunity that has presented itself to us to excel. I’m working with people of like minds. To say that we work 8a.m – 4p.m is an understatement; we don’t work 8 to 4. Sometimes we close at 9p.m. To us, it is whatever it takes, just get the work done. Sometimes, we resume as early as 6a.m. It has been challenging, interesting and it has tasked me emotionally, spiritually in every way but I can only say glory be to God. There has been a turnaround with the foundation we have made.

We are not there yet, but we know where we are going to. It is no longer business as usual.

How were you able to source for finance for the ongoing work at the centre, especially the renovation work at the guest house?

I tell you what, the reason we have not finished it is because the finance is not there.

The lack of funds is responsible for our inability to complete the work. But all the same, we pride ourselves with the ability to think outside the box. We have utilised the little resources at our disposal wisely.

We have realised that by being accountable; I mean every one because accountability is not just for one person, by making sure that accountability is the business of everyone. It is no longer business as usual and whatever happened here before I came is no longer happening. Everything can be accounted for. The construction of the place has allowed us to have that guest house and the multi-purpose hall, which were completely run down before I came in. We have brought it back to shape. We needed to put them back to shape so that they can yield revenue and from that revenue part of it will be used in maintaining the structures in this centre. For me, you can’t continue running them as they were being run; not having enough patronage or without maintaining them. You must take from the revenue it generated, no matter how small, to maintain it. I consider myself a gardener and when I came in here and I found that we were growing flowers, I started bringing flowers from my garden. Nobody pays for that; I transport them from Lagos and the flowers are blooming.

By the time you come back here in six months’ time, you will see new flowers blooming. That is what I mean by creativity. Whatever anybody can do that is not going to cost us some money, do it and so far we have been able to achieve. I dare say

that once the guest house is opened, we can now make more money; part of which will go to the Federal Government. The damage that was done to these facilities was such that, for example, some pipes were broken and leaking water into the walls. That was damage that if it was not repaired on time, we may end up pulling down the entire edifice which will be a lot more expensive project to embark upon. What we have done here is so that the damage will not spread further. And we intend to do what we have done with the guest house, in the hostel. As for the multi-purpose hall, we have been doing that bit by bit. We have renovated the presidential and vice presidential suites, the banquet hall downstairs has been done and the two meeting rooms have also been renovated. The chiller, we are working on it and it is improving so that people will no longer come in here and you see them on TV fanning themselves. There is still a lot more work to be done, but we are taking it bit by bit as we raise money.

We are doing the best that we can and we are hoping that people who read this will come to our rescue.

What are those things that a first timer is likely to see in the centre, aside from the guest house, the multipurpose hall and the hostel?

We do advocacy which is one of the three pillars on which this centre was founded.

We do a lot of research on women. Our library is the place where we store data about the Nigerian woman. The data is made available to any organisation that wants to know, for instance, how many women were elected into the state houses of assembly and National Assembly at the last elections.

How many contested at the just concluded primary elections on the various party platforms and how many were successful. We are also in the process of launching a phone application that is called the market place; it allows women to get information

on programmes that are designed to help them. Government has done so much for women but we have come to the realisation that women, whom these programmes are made for, do not know. So, how can we make these known to them? These are the things we are working on in the centre. We held the first ever women and girls’ summit and it was awesome. That summit was centred on girl-child education and we discussed a lot of factors – violence and so on – that work against the girl-child’s education.

We are also putting together a programme which we hope to pursue after the elections and one of those programmes is to stop violence against young girls, young women. Molestation that goes on even in the family; sometimes it is from the father, brother, uncle, cook or even the drivers.

It is when these children are left vulnerable because they are not taught the basic ideas of what molestation is all about and these innocent minds are violated. These are some of the areas we are going to have programmes that will centre on them. Then we have our ICT training which we call ‘No woman left out.’ You know that the world is changing rapidly and everything is now based on Internet and ICT. Yet, majority of our women don’t know how to use the Internet to propel themselves out of poverty. We want to be able to teach the women how to appreciate the computer, how they surf the Internet, how they can get buyers for the goods and services they produce or provide. That is one of the trainings we organise and we bring women from the rural areas, not just those in the cities. We spread our tent all over to invite and train them.

And by the time they are done with the training, you are talking to different sets of people because the training will give them a lot of self-confidence to better their situation.

We are also working towards empowering them so that after the training, they are not just walking away with what they have learnt but with what will help them explore what they have learnt. We a r e also looking into non-traditional

areas such as plumbing, carpentry, women mechanics, driving – all those areas that are not necessarily women areas.

Who pays the bill for the trainings?

There are some specific ones that are free; ‘No woman left out’ is free. There are other trainings that are free and at the end of the day we are able to give them a small amount of money that is enough for them to start off in business. They pay for some of the trainings, but what they pay just covers the materials. We are not making money from the training programmes; in fact, we put in our own money because we pay the resource persons.

How do you source for the trainees?

It is on the Internet; the information on how to enroll is on our website. You don’t need to come here to get that information.

And by the way, we train physically challenged persons free. It is not exclusively reserved for those who know somebody here.

Anywhere you are, you can get through to us. We have in-house ICT people that train these people in all aspects of computer programmes and we run some of the programmes in conjunction with reputable ICT training centres. We are accredited by the National Board for Technical Education to train some modules like computer technology hard and software, computer certifications and these are diploma programmes that afterwards, if you want to continue at the university level, you can do so. We have a data bank of all those that have benefitted from our trainings. As a matter of fact, the office of the Head of Service has marked this training centre as one of the centres for training high ranking civil servants in ICT. We have trained more than 400 staff of the Ministry of Police Affairs and over 600 from the Ministry of Defence.

Why is it that there is little or no publicity about this place and what it offers Nigerians?

The place was run down; I am not going to lie about it. It was terribly run down and we are still in the process of renovating it. So, I am not surprised that it went into obscurity. So how do you expect people to patronise such a place? But when we started the renovations, people saw that it is a very nice place in which they can hold their events and programmes. All of these are starting with this administration. I have been here for just a little over a year and within this short period of time, we have done a lot.

And what are you doing to let people know that a place like this exists?

Your visit has opened the doors and we want to use this opportunity to tell the press that they are welcomed here. And I am reaching out to Nigerians to come and see what we have done here. I would also like to encourage Nigerians to support the government of President Goodluck Jonathan because there has been a genuine, impressive transformation across the land. Whatever you feel, you cannot fault how women have done under this administration. Mr. President and the First Lady are passionate about women agenda and have been pushing it more than any other administration in this country. I would like to use this opportunity to tell my fellow women that there is no going back. It is not about us alone but about how and where this country is going and how we want to position it for our children.

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Body&Soul

with

Juliet Bumah +234 81 1 675 9770

julietbumah@gmail.com

J

Face to face with reality!

ames looks at his wife, distaste written all over him.

“To think I was living with a whore all these years without knowing it! I feel so dirty, so ashamed! You’re a disgrace to womanhood, Alice,” James says.

They’re back in their home, a six-bedroom duplex. Alice stretches out on the divan in the tastefully furnished sitting room. Her handbag rests on a delicately carved antique side stool.

“A tart will not cease to be one. That’s why you had to tell your shame to the world. A respectable wife would have confessed those horrible past to her husband in the privacy of their bedroom.

But not my shameless wife who must announce it in the presence of her equally shameless soul sister!” James hisses.

Alice merely makes herself more comfortable on the divan. She cuddles a plush cream colour teddy bear.

Her indifference seems to infuriate him the more.

“Look, you can’t pretend anymore. For the number of years I have known you, you have pretended to be a caring, gentle, unassuming soul. I just realised that you are not that. A woman who started walking the streets as a kid can’t amount to anything. You are a lie, your life is a lie. A worthless woman. Of what use is a barren woman to her husband? I’m beginning to wonder if you have a womb!” James says.

Now, that stings and Alice springs up.

“Look, saint James, for once, you hit the nail right on the spot. I’m not cool, I’m not gentle! I had to tame myself because I wanted to build a happy home. That’s why I had to take all the rubbish you gave me in this home. But right now, I ain’t gonna take any more shit from you.

I walked the streets and to survive there, you need real balls and I got it. I won’t take kindly to you calling me barren.

Anymore of such words, I’ll show why I was known as the queen of the night,” Alice says.

“Queen of the night,” James scoffs, adding, “Which respectable woman would go by such a moniker? Queen of the night!

And I met you in a church! Such pretense!

A woman dances her fruitful life away and when she’s nearing her menopause, she takes up residence in a church, looking for innocent, godly men to prey on.”

“Yes, innocent, godly men that patronize same whores and sire children by them!”

Alice huffs.

“She is no whore and even if I fail to convince you on that, at least, she’s better.

She has a womb. Unlike you that doesn’t have. It’s a proof I’m a man. A real man.

I almost thought I had problem until she told me she was pregnant. It was then I realised that my ‘churchous’ wife was the cause of our childlessness. To think that you knew you couldn’t have children and still disturbed my sleep at nights with your crocodile tears,” James spits.

Alice sits up. She has been holding her temper with difficulty. She is also aware that in her pregnant state, she has to take things easy. But she is seething with anger. It’s a good thing she hasn’t told James that she is pregnant.

“Look James, I’ll take every insult from you, but not when u tell me I don’t have a womb. I won’t take that from you, “ she tells him icily.

“So, why didn’t you give me a child.

You lied that you were pregnant. That

was why I married you. You deceived me Alice. You deceived me and made me believe your ‘I’m pregnant’ lie. You weren’t pregnant. I just realised that,” James says.

“Yes dear, I wasn’t pregnant. That pregnancy story was a lie. But you asked for it.

You were full of yourself and what your so-called virile self could achieve. You boasted that any woman you met without protection would get pregnant. You met me without sheath and I decided to oil your ego. What did your boastful self say then? You thumped your chest and said, ‘I told you!’ You would have died if after that I told you your much touted virility was a mirage.

“Why didn’t you leave me after years of childlessness? You couldn’t leave because you were enjoying my wealth...wealth acquired with money I got from harlotry, your much despised harlotry. Deny it James, deny the fact that you didn’t fall in love with my wealth! If you knew I was a whore, you would still have married me because I came as a low maintenance woman. Instead, I was the person spending on you since we got married. Look into my eyes and tell me that I looked ‘low mileage’ when you met me,” Alice fumes.

“All I know is that I hate whores. Yes, everybody knows I hate them. Was that your confession necessary? If you needed to confess, why didn’t you confess to only me? Not you’ve made me a laughingstock,” James says angrily.

Alice jumps to her feet and dashes into the kitchen. She comes out minutes later brandishing a kitchen knife.

“You hate what? You hate whores? You

stand before me and tell me barefaced lie?

Let me lay my hands on you. I will carve your face after piercing that your piggy tummy,” she screams.

James face turns ashen. He jumps behind the divan and runs round, Alice in hot chase.

“Wait for me. I will pierce that your big tummy and let out everything inside.

You call yourself a man but you cannot take care of your home. You don’t ever have money to do anything at home. But you have more than enough to spend on whores and you still have the nerve to tell me to my face that you hate whores,” Alice screams.

She realises that she doesn’t have the strength to run around. Moreover, she ought to be careful. She is pregnant and shouldn’t stress herself too much. She stops.

“Look James, you are moving out of my house today! I’ve had enough of you,” she tells him.

“No! We are not fighting dear,” James says.

“We are darling. If you don’t have anywhere to move to, then go and meet one of your whores. At least you have one with bastards for you,” she says, and adds as an afterthought, “I could do without you in my life.

“No Alice, I love you. I still do. I’ve forgiven you. We don’t need to quarrel over this. I can’t move in with any woman. I know I cheated on you but it’s only with Helen. I couldn’t leave her when she became pregnant. I’m sorry. Please put that knife away,” he says, his eyes glued to the knife in Alice’s hand.

“I hate it when men tell barefaced lies.

Your life was a lie from the first day we met. One after the other, I found out that stories of your businesses were stacked lies...even the one with Dave. Dave owns the business and was helping you out as a brother,” Alice says, her eyes fixed on his.

“It’s a lie,” James says, but without conviction.

“You stack more lies. Dave told me himself when I asked. I had always suspected you weren’t telling me the truth,” Alice says.

“Dave told you? Why? Why should he tell you that? What relationship do you have with him that will make him say that to you?

“Don’t worry your head over that.

When it’s time to tell, I will tell you every little thing you wanna know. While you are chewing on that, may I also let you know that I’m aware you were giving my money to whores that you patronize!”

Alice says slowly.

“Now, that is the lie of the century,” James says with indignation.

“Lie? Even when there are evidences of your dealing with whores...including my sister, Kathryn? Or you think I didn’t know you were sleeping with her for three years and paying for her services, knowing fully well that she was a whore?” Kathryn hurls the words at him.

James blanches. He stares at Alice.... ****************** OMG! Did Alice say that? How will James get out of this? Let’s meet here on Sunday!

•Send your observations to the email above.

21

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015

&

Stand out in box braids Vanessa Okwara

B

raiding your hair is one of the ways you can protect your hair from breakage and damages especially for African women who have relatively short hair. Box braids are in season right now and you will do well to protect your hair with stylish locks.

Box braids are those long chunky braids that can be styled in different ways to give you that bohemian look you have always craved for. Having box braids is a great way of letting your hair add some

length but it’s recommended that you have them for at least eight to 10 weeks or they’ll start to look frizzy and since they are usually chunky, it will look like untreated dreadlocks.

With the hot weather of the season, it is best to protect your natural hair with this type of braids.

The other advantage of having box braids is the endless possibilities when it comes to styling them and since most of them are waist length, you can

imagine what hairstyles you can come up with. Box braids are an excellent style option because you can change it and style it in so many different ways. Sporting the same few braided hairstyles can become dull and boring. Switch up your style and get glamourous sporting different styles with your box braids.

One of the in-styles of the box braids is the up do and braid buns.

These classy styles give you a celebrity feel as you step out for a fun evening with friends and loved ones. As the Valentine season is still on, you can sweep up your braids in this fun style

and stand out from the rest.

There is nothing juicier than being different.

When considering going for the box-braid style, make sure that your braids are at least two inches thick, and that they’re braided loosely to achieve a full look. Besides, braids that are too thin take forever to take out.

Make your braids at least waist length. The longer your braids are, the more functional they’ll be. A fat, quarter-sized knot at the top of your braid is an essential part in the look of the box braid.

The box-braid style is all about effortless freedom, so don’t fret when this low-maintenance hair style grows out.

Rocking your braid is all about freedom of expression, so when you’re finally braided up, play around with styles that compliment your face and personality and powerfully stand out, rocking your long locks!

Body&Soul

Body&Soul

22

T here’s been one overwhelming winner of fashion trends for some seasons and that is the black and white monochrome! This trend is no longer confined to corporate offices: black and white ensembles are chicer than ever before.

The monochromatic trend has a very sharp aesthetic that exudes a stylish effect that never goes out of style. It has effortlessly blended well on the red carpet as designers outdo themselves with classy designs that make the wearer look regal and divine.

The colour combo of black and white is a timeless trend indeed as it never goes out of fashion. The fusion of white and black on fabrics or simply sown together gives you an instant glam all in one swoop. Monochrome screams versatility, so whether you’re colour blocking with separates or adding a colourful accessory to your outfit, you’re already on to a winning look.

Monochrome is a must-wear trend.

Whether you go professional, feminine, or glamorous, a shot of black and white will definitely freshen up your wardrobe.

Monochrome dresses are a popular choice with A-list celebrities and fashion design-

Vanessa Okwara

ers making it a widely observed style statement.

A benefit that comes with wearing a monochrome dress is that it can make the person look taller and a little leaner. This is due to an optical illusion created by the contrasting of black and white colours that runs the length of the entire dress.

Accessories can also dress up a casual dress or dress down a formal one to help you adapt your look for different occasions.

Add colour to your black and white dress for an evening occasion. Choose a soft colour like red, nude, mint, or lavender for your shoes and your purse or clutch.

The black and white will make the soft hue pop more than it normally would.

Peep-toe heels, stilettos, or platforms would make your dress more appropriate for a fun night out. You can also make your look more formal and sophisticated with black dressy heels, chandelier earrings and a crystal teardrop statement necklace. You could also try tribal inspired jewelry that has black and white or zebra patterns. Try adding a black faux snakeskin purse or clutch to complete your outfit.

Timeless monochrome magic

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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23

SundayBusiness SUNDAY

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015

News

Oil price drop sparks fears over N4.6trn pension fund p.24

Analysts tackle NNPC over PWC audit report

Brands

Skye Bank calls for pitch on its PR account p.27

Interview

FIIRO DG: Watch that herbal alcoholic drink p.25

Jonathan

R

Paul Ogbuokiri and Chijioke Iremeka

Paul Ogbuokiri Head, Business paulogbuokiri@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

enowned global audit firm, Pricewarerhousecooper, in its recent forensic audit report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation accounts said no amount is missing but asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company to refund to the Federation Account “a minimum of $1.48bn.”

Though NNPC has said the report has vindicated it on the alleged missing $20bn, experts who reviewed the report, say the recommendation by the audit firm that NNPC and NPDC should refund $1.48bn to the Federation Account is an indictment.

The report noted that NNPC operates an “unsustainable model,” even as it noted that NNPC spends 46 per cent of domestic oil proceeds on operations and subsidies.

The report however faulted the data used by the Central Bank of Nigeria in arriving at the reported missing $20bn, saying the correct data were with the Department of Petroleum Resources and that statistics provided

by CBN did not tally with those from DPR. Former CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi had said that from January 2012 to July 2013, NNPC lifted 59,024,107 barrels of crude oil valued at $65,332,350,514.57. But it remitted to the Federation Account only $15,528,410,098.77 or 24 per cent of the amount it should have collected.

PwC also faulted CBN on grounds of double-counting and narrow coverage of revenue statistics, adding that the apex bank did not question production figures which could have provided the basis for the allegation of missing billions of naira.

“PwC therefore recommended that the NNPC model of operation must be urgently reviewed and restructured,” according to

Okonjo-Iweala

Government should take decisive action to ensure that the money returns to the nation’s covers

Auditor General Ukura Samuel’s statement. “The current model which has been in operation since the creation of the corporation cannot be sustained.”

The audit came after Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan in late 2013, alleging the NNPC had retained almost $50bn in revenue that was due to the government.

He later amended the figure to $12bn at a news briefing with the finance minister before raising it to $20bn at a February 4 meeting with lawmakers.

The NNPC denied the allegations.

But NNPC insisted that the audit “has absolved the NNPC of culpability over the allegation of nonremittance of $20bn,” Ohi Alegbe, a spokesman for NNPC said in an e-mailed statement. “The $1.48bn was never in dispute as it is made up of statutory payments such as signature bonus, taxes and royalties which are statutory payments that come with assets acquisition.”

Total crude sold during the audit period was $69.3bn and not $67bn earlier claimed by NNPC, according to the audit highlights, with the NNPC spending $8.7bn on petrol and kerosene subsidies.

Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke directed the NNPC to “defray” signature bonuses, taxes and royalties in line with audit’s recommendations, Alegbe said.

President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Chidi Ajaegbu, told Sunday Telegraph on phone that he has not seen the full report. He said the reported inconsistencies in the highlights of the report should not have been there.

Alison-Madueke

“The books of the organisation must always be clean for anybody to see anytime,” he said.

Also, a former Minister of Petroleum and erstwhile Chief Economic Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Philip Asiodu, said for such an important organsation in the life of Nigeria all its book must be tidy.

“I heard that there amounts to be refunded to the federation account, I think it is not the best,” he said.

Also speaking, renowned economist and CEO of Financial Derivatives Company, Mr. Bismark Rewane, said, “The system shouldn’t allow money to be unaccounted for. It tells you that there are inconsistencies in the system. But $1.5bn in Naira terms is over N200bn. That’s more than some states will budget for their entire year.”

“The level of impunity is just annoying. Nothing should be missing in the first place,” he said in a telephone interview.

The Head, Department of Economics, Lagos State University, Dr. Odubunmi Popoola, said the report was the reaffirmation of what had been said before. The former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Lamido Sanusi, said it earlier but there was no proof.

NNPC denied, but now I’m sure that it can’t be denied again.

“Government should take decisive action to ensure that the money returns to the nation’s covers.

These are the problems we are talking about. The fall in oil price should not have affected the country’s budget if the Excess Crude Account (ECA) has not been depleted or these money are well accounted for,” he said.

Director of Lagos Business School, Prof Pat Utomi, said, “Last year when Sanusi brought this to the public domain, many people, especially the National Assembly, said the report was wrong. This led to forensic auditing by PwC. “Today, we have the report, which says that $1.48bn is to be remitted to the Federation Account

by NNPC. What else do you want to hear? NNPC C ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 24

24

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business/ News

Oil price drop sparks fears over N4.6trn pension fund

I

Paul Ogbuokiri ndications were rife on Friday that the contributory pension fund which stood at N4.6trn in October 2014 may be at risk due to losses in the bearish Nigerian stock market. This is coming on the heels of the sharp oil price drop and massive withdrawal by foreign investors from the Nigerian capital market in the fourth quarter of 2014 and early this year.

A Facebook post by a customer of a Pension Fund Administrator, reads: “I was told today (Wednesday) by my pension fund administrators that I have really lost about N33, 769.2 in just few weeks of oil price tumbling and withdrawal of foreign investors due to the economic uncertainties. I wonder what will be left when retire.”

There had been fears that the investments made by pension fund administrators may have suffered serious losses due to the downturn in the nation’s economy.

Commenting on the development, the Managing Director, Legacy Pension Fund Administrators, Mr. Adewale Kolawole, told Sunday Telegraph that as a part of the economy, the sector cannot be totally immune to happenings in the country. He said that going by the Pension Act, there is a limited amount that can be invested in the capital market, which is not more than 25 per cent.

“Over 75 per cent of the savings is invested in other things. So, whatever is happening at the Capital market cannot affect the pension fund very much. Whatever is happening in the capital market can only make us readjust and re-plan. It cannot impact on the fund,” he said.

An official of Premium Pension Administrators said its pensions holdings were in safe hands, even as the return on investment had been above inflationary rate.

He argued that saving money in the pension fund is similar to fixing funds in a bank. He stated that such principal sum would always be there, noting that the economic environment will determine the return.

“The oil prices have been fluctuating; it did not affect the return,” he stated.

Public Relations Officer of National Pension Commission, Mr. Emeka Onuorah, said on the telephone that the pension fund is not under any threat as a result of the tumbling oil price and the low performance of the equities market.

“Only a little of it is invested in shares and, if things go bad the fund will be divested. It will not get to people’s savings.

L-R: Managing Director, Europe, Middlle-East and Africa (EMEA) Eaton, Shane Kilfoil; Regional Sales Manager, West Africa, Charles Iyo; Regional Sales Manager, Sub-Sahara Africa, Eaton, Yishay Weissman; Lagos State Commissioner for commerce and industry, Sola Oworu; President, EMEA, Eaton, Kurt McMaken and President, Electrical sector, EMEA, Eaton, Frank Campbell during the opening of Eaton West Africa Technology in Lagos.

PHOTO: SULEIMAN HUSAINI

No PFA can tamper with people’s savings. The fact is that they don’t manage the funds, pension custodians do. If you study the Pension Act, you will notice that it is one the best laws ever made in this country. The fund is effectively secured for the savers,” he said.

The performance of the Nigerian Stock Exchange remained the worst among leading African exchanges as investors delayed their return to the Nigerian market.

Against the background of the current drop in the oil price in the world market and the poor value of the Naira, foreign investors have divested many of their investments in Nigeria to the tune of N101.2 billion ($583.6 million) in October, data from the stock exchange revealed.

The investors accounted for 87.5 per cent of the N1.25 trillion of stock market transactions in the first 10 months of last year.

In the 10th month, however, they mopped out more than they invested.

According to analysts at Meristem Securities Limited, “The negative sentiment ravaging the equities market may be as a result of the recent shift in general elections, as investors’ perception towards the

stock market further deteriorates.”

However, sources close to the NSE told Sunday Telegraph that foreign investors increased the pace of outflows in recent months, selling off their stakes in banking, consumer and oil.

Analysts are of the opinion that the market may end the year on a negative trend due to the 2015 elections.

They believe that foreign investors, who are the drivers of the market, are skeptical of the likely of the economic and political future of Nigeria as the elections approach.

According to the latest polls trading figures by the NSE from major custodians and market operators on their Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI), domestic participation at the nation’s bourse increased to N167.77 billion (about $1.08 billion) in July 2014 , up 81.77 per cent from January 2014.

FPI ceded about 49.66 per cent of trading to domestic investors as foreign transactions decreased significantly from 49.28 per cent to 25.17 per cent over the same period.

Total transactions increased by 23.20 per cent from N181.97bn in January to N224.19bn in July and foreign portfolio investors’ inflows accounted for 14.58 per

Analysts tackle NNPC over PWC audit report CON TINUED FR O M PAGE 23

should remit the amount. Also, the government should put a mechanism in place to ensure that all manner of leakages in Nigerian economy are blocked.

“I’m of the opinion that the right thing should be done. There are a lot of economic blunders committed by this administration.

I’m not faulting this report. I believe that they have done well. Though some people still believe that the money is more than what has been discovered.

“We need to hold our government accountable for their actions. It is a good development like I said. We have to ensure that accountability is enthroned in this society, so that the country can develop.”

Speaking on the issue of the outstanding $1.48bn, the Group Managing Director NNPC, Dr. Joseph Dawha, had explained that the amount was actually the balance of the book value of the divested assets that were transferred to NPDC, excluding taxes

and royalties.

“This does not constitute an indictment.

Rather, this value is still being reconciled with the Department of Petroleum Resources. It is pertinent to note that the $1.48bn was not part of the alleged unremitted revenues from crude oil sales,” he at a press conference last week.

Explaining further, the GMD stated that what DPR sent to NNPC as the estimated value of the assets was $1.847bn, out of which the corporation paid over $300m as a token to indicate its commitment to acquiring the assets pending resolution and reconciliation by NNPC and DPR. On remittances of proceeds from crude oil sales into the Federation Account in the period from January 1, 2012 to July 31, 2013, Dawha said the PwC Forensic audit report was clear that NNPC remitted $50.81bn out of a total of $69.34bn. He noted that the report acknowledged that the balance was spent on petrol and kerosene subsidy as

well as the corporation’s operation costs.

He explained that both the Senate Finance Committee probe report and the PwC forensic audit report corroborated the corporation’s position that subsidy on kerosene was still in force as the presidential directive of October 19, 2009, was not gazetted in line with the provisions of Section 6, Subsection 1 of the Petroleum Act of 1969.

But a former president of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Nzekwe, noted that NNPC cannot say it was not indicted by the report when it was asked to make some refunds to the Federation Account.

“It does not matter the amount. What matters is that its books were not tidy until the former CBN governor alerted the nation. I think the organisation should look inward and make some amends, so that such national embarrassment would not repeat. But in the interim, it should go and pay what it was asked to pay,” he stressed.

cent of total transactions, while the outflows accounted for 10.59 per cent of the total transactions in July 2014.

In comparison to the same period in 2013, total FPI decreased by 39.79 per cent, whilst the total domestic transactions increased by 198.79 per cent.

FPI inflows outpaced outflows when compared to the same period in 2013 and, overall, there was a 49.60 per cent increase in total transactions in comparison to the same period in 2013. At the end of third quarter, the market capitalisation of 200 equities listed on the main board of the Nigerian bourse opened at N14.028 trillion and ended the month of September with N13.607trn, representing 3 per cent decline in percentage term.

As a result, the year-to-date decline in the ASI closed at 16 per cent. Only nine stocks appreciated compared to 25 stocks that depreciated.

Apart from the ASI, all other sectoral indicators shed closed lower. For instance, the NSE Oil & Gas Index went down by 1.9 per cent driven by Forte Oil and Oando Plc which fell by 5.0 per cent and 4.0 per cent respectively.

Similarly, the Banking Index lost 1.4 per cent due to a loss of 5.0 per cent suffered

by Guaranty Trust Bank Plc among others.

The losses sustained in Nigerian Breweries (2.0 per cent) also led to the decline in the market.

The NSE Consumer Goods Index shed 1.0 per cent, while the NSE Insurance Index and NSE Industrial Index went down by 0.3 per cent and 0.1 per cent in that order.

The plunge in the oil price has put Nigeria’s currency under intense pressure and dampened appetite for assets in Africa’s biggest economy and chief oil exporter, prompting the Central Bank to intervene repeatedly, to prop up the Naira.

The NSE All-Share Index had recorded one of the worst performances in the world in 2014 by shedding 16.1 per cent, compared to a positive performance in 2013.

Market stakeholders had hoped that the opportunity presented by the highly discounted equities would attract investors to the market in 2015 and lead to positive growth.

However, the uncertainties over the general elections and continuous decline in price of crude oil kept investors away from the market. Consequently, the market fell by 14.7 per cent in the first month of 2015.

25

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Business/ Interview

FIIRO DG: Watch that herbal alcoholic drink Director-General, Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO), Dr. Gloria Elemo, bares her mind on the development of R and D, challenges of cassava bread and sundry issues in this interview with STANLEY IHEDIGBO Can you quantify FIIRO’s impact on research and development in Nigeria?

Speaking from the perspective of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, which is the foremost research and development institute in Nigeria, a lot has been done over the past five decades or so in the utilisation of virtually all the agrocommodities available in Nigeria. Some of the celebrated achievements of these efforts in the past were that we were able to find local substitutions for some of the consumer goods and agro-commodities imported into the country. For instance, we were able to replace barley malt with sorghum malt for alcoholic beverage production and this revolutionalised the brewing industry in the 70s and 80s. Our research work on the Melina aborea contributed largely to the setting of the then Oku Iboku and Iwopin paper mills. A combination of soya bean and maize was developed into the protein-rich Soy-ogi which became a household name for weaning infants. It was also transformed into various brands of infant formulae in the market. These connote that as far back as the 70s, research and development had begun to make a significant impact on the economy and constituted a major contributor to job creation and growth in Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Significant growth was also witnessed in the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises sector in subsequent years as a result of the transfer of FIIRO’s R and D and techno-entrepreneurship development efforts to micro, small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. These include fruit juice production, soaps and cosmetics, instant pounded yam flour, ceramics products and cassava processing, just to mention a few.

The institute’s pioneering R and D effort in cassava processing in Nigeria has led to the development of over 25 commercial cassava products. One of such products of national significance is the development and production of High Quality Cassava Flour which the institute has utilised in the partial substitution of wheat flour to produce cassava bread since the 60s. FIIRO has, in the last 20 years, been involved in the training of over 2,000 master bakers in cassava bread production. There are other sister agencies making notable impact on the economy in the area of job creation as a result of their research and development activities. These areas span energy, natural medicine, biotechnology, leather, space research and so on. Unfortunately, most of their findings and breakthroughs are not recognised nationally nor are they scaled up for commercial value to the economy. This had been, so as I observed earlier, because of the import orientation of the country and reliance on oil revenue.

What are the opportunities for job and wealth creation in the R and D output in the country?

There are huge opportunities and possibilities for wealth and sustainable job creation if the governments at the local, state and federal levels continue to partner the private sector in the uptake and commercialisation of most of the our R&D results. In FIIRO, for example, we have developed more than 250 technologies from locally available raw materials and 50 of these have been scaled up to pilot plant production and packaged ready for commercialisation. The Federal Government has a huge role to play by enacting policies and legislation that will encourage the production of consumer goods from indigenous raw materials. One must admit that the current administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is doing a lot in that di-

ter than whatever Nigerians can produce.

We should believe in ourselves and I will direct it to you that every product from FIIRO that has gone to R and D went through a Nutrition Security Programme. Every food product we developed was meant for a target population. What is the deficiency nutrient of that population? Normally, it is not pressed through processing into the end products. You can be sure that whatever food you get from the institute meets specification, for specific groups or unspecified groups. For instance, we are developing food for HIV/AIDS patients. We have produced starch for school feeding programme for kids, we have biscuits and drinks. In that starch, we make sure that there are adequate nutrients, energy, minerals, vitamins and specific nutrients they need for that particular age group. So, you can be sure that the children have the touch of R and D in their food. In processing our Made-In-Nigeria goods, you can be sure that there is standard. Standards Organisation of Nigeria is there to raise the standard so that we have all the specifications we need and NAFDAC is also regulating. They ensured that there is compliance with specifications and we work closely with the two agencies to make sure that what is produced meets both food and nutritional specification.

Elemo

rection through the transformation agenda of his administration.

The support given to the partial substitution of wheat flour with cassava flour for bread and confectioneries will, for instance, revolutionalise the entire cassava value chain. The 10 per cent cassava flour inclusion policy if passed into law has the potential of generating more than three million jobs down the line across the entire value chain. I believe it is a policy that should be given serious and speedy consideration by the National Assembly. I want to use this opportunity to tell Nigerians that FIIRO has also been able to identify most of the agro-commodities available in commercial quantities in the 36 states as well as Abuja.

This effort has also been documented in a book titled: ‘Investment Opportunities in the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria,’a published by the institute. A fallout from this development was that when the Bank of Industry became aware of the book during the visit of the managing director and his management team to FIIRO, the bank subsequently came up with a product called the Cottage Processing Fund. Also, a potent benefit of research to economic development is the transformation from import substitution industrialisation to export oriented industrialisation. With the trend of globalisation and easier movement of information across borders, the free market model for industrial development has been shown to be the most effective for industrialisation.

How far has the Cottage Processing Fund served in encouraging investment in the technologies you have developed?

The fund will be accessed by limited liabil-

ity companies, enterprises and cooperative societies engaged in the processing of agricultural products either into finished food products or raw materials for industry or for the export market. The products listed by the bank include cassava, oil palm, rice paddy, groundnut, yam, maize, sorghum, aquaculture, livestock, cocoa, shea nut, plantain, cashew, tomatoes and all their individual derivatives. The fund will be deployed in the supply and installation of equipment for an estimated 1,000 cottage mills across the country; a minimum number of 20-30 mills per state, including the Federal Capital Territory. Projects are to be located in the area with comparative advantage in terms of the available agricultural raw materials within each state. The intervention is expected to create a minimum of 5,000 direct and 15,000 indirect jobs for Nigerians. This is the kind of proactive intervention that must continue to unfold in our industrial space where funding is made available to support technology uptake, enterprise and job or wealth creation for Nigerians.

Some Nigerians are playing safe in what they eat or drink, looking at the development of substandard products and adulteration of some of the goods we consume. What is your view on this?

It is because we are not producing and we are not patriotic enough to believe in Made-in-Nigeria products, that is why some people are faking the imported goods we go for. I believe that the danger is not in Madein-Nigeria products but in the supposedly imported goods that are counterfeited. We have this mentality that everything that comes outside the country, even garri, is bet-

Is the technology for processing these herbal alcoholic drinks from FIIRO? If yes, were the producers trained by the institute?

We don’t recommend any alcoholic drinks on the streets because they don’t meet standard specifications. The women selling herbal alcoholic drinks on the streets are abusing drugs and they are not recommended for anybody to take. There are rules and regulations for herbal medicine, so they are well regulated now and there are a lot of works going in that area like standardization and currently many of them are already passing NAFDAC registration.

They are passing stages of regulation; so those ones we recommend and the other aberrant ones by the roadside, even within our houses, people should be very careful about those drinks. Also, FIIRO is into herbal medicine syrup. We do a lot of extraction and have produced a lot of natural products, very good and free from chemicals.

The ordinary zobo drinks, which we drink, can easily be taken as a refreshing medicinal drink. So, we are really blessed and these have been worked on in such a way that those chemistry are manipulated in such a way that it could still be managed in the system. A lot of cases of kidney failure are being experienced now due to the unregulated, uncoordinated, unstandardised chains of herbal alcoholic drinks. We began from the area of toxicology which brings me to the area of cassava; we have been eating cassava for many years in this country. I don’t now, we want to go into a major food like bread and it is being rejected. People talk about sterilite. Sterilite in cassava is very violate and its mixture is very low in temperature. Once you harvest your cassava and you start peeling it, you are already exposing all the maxzides, and you find out that the component that is carrying the sterilite structure is being destroyed. By the time you start to put it in water, you are losing all or you are frying it into garri. I I‘m saying that there is no sterilite in the final product. If anybody tells you that there is sterilite in garri, it is not true.

The National Assembly threw out our first attempt of cassava bread. They said it was C ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 29

26

T

he Nigerian financial market went berserk as the array of disturbing news (especially in the political terrain) triggered speculations, which worsened investors’ apprehension.

The Naira tumbled 2.74% WtD, crossing NGN200/USD for the first time at the interbank market. The interbank currency market circuit breaker took effect twice, as the naira reported intraday declines greater than 2%, which resulted in temporary halts in trading during the week.

The equity market was not spared of the woes, as the All Share Index endured a smack down of -8.00% week on week (WoW), resulting in a 20.41% loss position for the year.

Twelve (12) stocks appreciated in prices while fifty-four (54) stocks depreciated for the week.

The gainers’ chart for the week was championed by AIRSERVICE, SEPLAT and CADBURY while NASCON, GUARANTY and TRANSCORP declined the most.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele visited the exchange during the week, reiterating the need for investors to not panic. Meanwhile, FX reserves plummeted by USD1.1bn in 2weeks (settling at USD33.18bn) on CBN’s resolve to support the local currency.

This report examines events in the Nigerian financial market during the week, and provides our expectations for the week ahead.

Economic Round Up: Reserves down USD1bn in February.

Nigeria’s Gross external reserves dwindled

by USD1.1bn (3.21% depreciation) in the first two weeks in February, despite CBN’s commitment to defend the currency as pressures in the currency market persist. Nigeria’s external reserves settled at USD33.18bn at the end of the week, which covers about 6 months of imports, while the CBN has, on the average, spent over USD100mn daily in an attempt to support the local currency.

During the week, the CBN Governor visited the Nigerian stock market in what was regarded by many as an attempt to reassure investors. Emefiele urged the investing public to remain calm, and ruled out the possibility of an emergency monetary policy meeting or currency floating.

According to the Debt Management Office (DMO), Nigeria raised NGN76.5bn naira (USD375.2mn) at the bond auction during the week, falling short of its NGN90bn target.

DMO noted that investors bid for yields as high as 17.5% for the 5-year paper and 19.9% for the 20-year bond. We opine that this development may be worrisome to the federal government, as revenues have been impaired by the over 50% plunge in oil prices.

We see January inflation inching up to 8.2%, as National Bureau Statistics (NBS) is expected to release January inflation figure on 17th February 2015. We think that news in the near term might remain largely unfavorable, hence financial market performance is expected to stay docile.

Fixed Income Brief: Naira in the Murk Average change on the OBB and OVN settled at 62.38% for the week, while the NIBOR CALL, 1M, 3M, and 6M tenors settled at 76.58% (+60.49%), 15.98% (+1.19%), 17.18% (+1.88%), and 17.91% (+1.36%) correspondingly.

OMO instruments worth NGN285.14bn matured on Thursday, accompanied by an OMO auction of same magnitude to normalize system liquidity. Investors’ demand was also weak, as yields at the short end of the curve increased by 0.79% WtD. WtD change on our Meri Bond Index was -2.45%, as the ‘sell’ trend persisted in the Bond market. We envisage that yields might trade sideways in the coming week, with greater possibility of closing higher, as outlook for demand remains slim.

The Naira witnessed a free fall during the week, as it breezed past the NGN200/USD FX rate mark on the back of political worries, and the placement of the Nigerian economy on negative watch list by the S&P Rating Service.

Circuit breakers were triggered on Wednesday and Thursday due to massive intraday depreciation at the interbank market. Sales of dollars totaling USD399.430mn at the RDAS window at a marginal rate of NGN168.00, coupled with several interventions by the CBN were however not enough to stop the free fall, as the pair settled mid-quote at NGN199.05/USD (a depreciation of 2.74% WoW). We expect the market to depreciate further in the new week, as the relevant factors still linger.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Financial Market knackered …CBN chief yells don’t panic!

Chart 1: Trend in NSEASI vs. 14-Day RSI

Source: Bloomberg, NSE, Meristem Research Agric Sector: OKOMUOIL bounces back The agric sector moved to the green zone as MERI-AGRI advanced by 0.02% WtD to drive YtD gains to 14.77%. The sector witnessed a growth regardless of the recent negative equities market mood.

OKOMUOIL led the gainers to reverse last week’s decline with a 9.95% gain to close the week at NGN29.29. However PRESCO and LIVESTOCK declined by 8.05% and 5.00% respectively. While, FTNCOCOA and ELLAHLAKES traded flat.

Despite the negative equities market mood, the agric sector remained resilient. We anticipate that the oscillating movement in the last two weeks in the agric sector may persist in the light of the uncertainty in the political space.

Banking Sector: Depressed in line with market In line with trading in the general market, the banking sector ended the week with a whopping WtD loss of 10.21%. There were no gainers for the week, while the top losers were GUARANTY (-19.05%), UBA (-12.28%), ACCESS (-11.33%), DIAMONDBNK (-10.26%), SKYEBANK (9.00%) and FBNH (-9.00%) in that order.

The downward slide is not unconnected to the heightening uncertainties in the Nigerian market, especially as the general elections were postponed for six weeks. During the week, some stocks (UBA, SKYEBANK, FCMB and FBNH) reached new 2-year lows, as Standard and Poor (S&P) Ratings agency placed Nigeria on its negative watch list.

We reiterate that the banking sector remains fundamentally attractive for long term position-taking. However, in the short-term, we expect sustained volatility in stock prices as investors await some semblance of stability which may come with the results of the general elections.

Consumer Goods: Heavyweights bleed profusely The sector was unable to maintain the previous week’s momentum, as the NSEFB10 index closed the week at -0.80% as against

last week’s 0.29% return. The sector also saw more counters on the decliners’ table as three stocks advanced while others dipped during the week.

CADBURY led the gainers’ chart with 10.21% WoW gain, joined by VITAFOAM and HONYFLOUR which closed with 5.23% and 0.32% WoW gains in that order. The decliners chart claimed majority of the counters, as NASCON dropped 20.53%, followed by FLOURMILL with 15.20% WoW loss. 7UP, DANGFLOUR, NESTLE, PZ, UACN, GUINNESS, UNILEVER, and NB also lost 0.12%, 10.00%, 7.30%, 6.28%, 13.55%, 11.62%, 2.83% and 9.03% WoW respectively.

NNFM, AGLEVENT and PREMBREW however remained flat during the week maintaining their market price at NGN18.05, NGN1.2, and NGN3.79 accordingly.

This negative reaction was due to the array of bad news and uncertainties in the market.

The impact was felt heavily by the sector because of foreign investors’ bias on most sector stocks as investors ran to safety pending ray of sunlight.

We however maintain our stand that the sector possesses abundant opportunities for position taking at current market prices.

Healthcare Sector: No counter survives sombre market mood The sector reversed its previous week’s performance as the sector index trended south by 0.29% to peg YtD at -19.69% for the week.

None of the stocks in the health basket recorded gains during the week, 3 stocks dragged sector performance while others traded flat.

MAYBAKER was most hit by the negative sentiment in the market as the stock shed 10.00% to settle price at NGN1.35, followed by FIDSON which declined by 8.44% (NGN2.93). GLAXOSMITH reversed the exact gain (0.25%) posted last week to invert price back to NGN40.00. All other counters closed flat for the week.

We attribute the current mood in the market to the tense political and economic space which we believe triggered further apathy on equities during the week. We however see

Top 10 Outperformers

Ticker

Current valuation metrics and statistics

WTD Return

YtD Return

Price (NGN)

MCap [NGN’bn]

P/E -TTM

P/BV

RoE

Dividend Yield

AIRSERVICE

19.30%

-47.81%

2.04

1.29

14.03 x

0.59 x

4.18%

5.88%

SEPLAT

15.30%

0.00%

385.00

213.02

CADBURY

10.21%

-31.79%

42.98

80.73

11.43 x

2.87 x

25.10%

3.02%

OKOMUOIL

9.95%

-37.61%

29.29

27.94

15.22 x

1.33 x

2.84%

3.41%

CCNN

8.97%

-21.70%

10.20

12.82

10.44 x

1.87 x

7.16%

6.86%

VITAFOAM

5.23%

-28.78%

3.42

2.80

8.91 x

0.73 x

8.12%

8.77%

ETERNA

4.76%

-40.80%

2.64

3.44

7.50 x

0.51 x

3.62%

0.00%

JBERGER

4.10%

-37.90%

44.40

58.61

9.70 x

2.79 x

4.76%

6.08%

REDSTAREX

2.63%

-16.29%

3.90

2.30

9.17 x

1.55 x

5.30%

8.97%

RTBRISCOE

2.44%

-56.46%

0.84

0.99

-11.66 x

0.50 x

0.40%

0.00%

0.00%

Top 10 Underperformers Ticker

Current valuation metrics and statistics

WTD Return

YtD Return

Price (NGN)

MCap [NGN’bn]

P/E -TTM

P/BV

RoE

Dividend Yield

NASCON

-20.53%

-56.64%

6.00

15.90

-193.71 x

3.42 x

7.43%

15.00%

GUARANTY

-19.05%

-24.17%

17.00

500.33

9.68 x

2.38 x

6.26%

1.47%

TRANSCORP

-18.57%

-33.33%

2.28

88.28

34.78 x

4.16 x

11.95%

2.19%

ASHAKACEM

-18.45%

1.48%

17.37

38.90

14.25 x

1.43 x

6.82%

2.42%

IKEJAHOTEL

-17.71%

308.97%

3.02

6.28

1.35 x

0.29 x

5.57%

0.00%

FLOURMILL

-15.20%

-57.41%

29.00

76.10

27.53 x

1.78 x

6.97%

7.24%

UACN

-13.55%

-44.78%

34.58

66.42

47.00 x

6.72 x

4.95%

5.06%

UBA

-12.28%

-60.79%

3.00

98.94

5.79 x

0.99 x

9.57%

16.67%

GUINNESS

-11.62%

-44.96%

114.00

171.67

16.33 x

5.62 x

21.25%

2.81%

ACCESS

-11.33%

-46.56%

5.32

121.74

5.81 x

0.88 x

4.55%

4.70%

resurgence in activities post-elections when some of the doubts may have been dowsed Industrial goods: Overwhelming sell sentiments mar sector mood The industrial goods sector was a major contributor to the negative mood in the market, as the sector (based on our Meri-Industrial index) lost 11.06% during the week. Although most of the stocks in the basket traded flat, the magnitude of sector loss was heightened due to the price declines recorded on large cap stocks.

CCNN was the only gainer for the week, as the stock’s price increased by 8.97% WoW. ASHAKACEM, DANGCEM and WAPCO were the laggards on flip side, shedding 18.45%, 11.20% and 10.77% accordingly.

We believe the rapid change in sector sentiment from previous week’s upbeat mood was triggered by the postponement of the country’s general elections. With heightened uncertainties in the market, we do not anticipate mood reversal in the coming week, nonetheless expect sell sentiments to temper slightly as most of the stocks in the basket have hit new lows.

Insurance Sector: Not exempted from general market swing The insurance sector was not excused from the effect of the postponement of the general elections which affected general equities market performance as no counter appreciated in price during the week. WtD return pegged at -1.49% just as YtD return for the sector fell to -3.81%.

CONTINSURE suffered the highest loss during the week as the counter waned 11.11% to close at NGN0.80, while NEM (-10.17%), AIICO (-7.41%), CUSTODIAN (-2.51%) and WAPIC (-1.96%) followed suit. All other counters traded flat.

The sector’s apex regulator, Nigerian Insurance commission (NAICOM), released another five year road map for the development of the sector. The framework is a follow-up to the first development plan rolled out in 2011, and expected to be implemented from 2016 to 2020. The sole purpose of the policy is to consolidate on achievement made so far in the sector.

Considering the hostile events surrounding the investment environment, we preach caution as we anticipate further dip until the coasts are clearer.

Oil and Gas: SEPLAT closes positive amidst bearish market In the midst of the general bearish market performance, the Oil & Gas sector closed the week 0.38% up as the significant gain posted

by SEPLAT was sufficient to boost performance. However, sector’s breadth tilted in favour of decliners, as two stocks appreciated in price against three that depreciated.

SEPLAT sustained its positive momentum, as price significantly increased by 15.30% to close at NGN385.00. The main driver of this performance remains the proposed business combination with Afren Plc. Following the expiration of the extended deadline, SEPLAT is required today, (13th February) to announce a firm intention to make an offer for Afren or otherwise.

Investors’ negative sentiments on ETERNA subsided during the week, as it recorded a price appreciation of 4.76%. We believe the positive sentiment is majorly attributable to bargain hunting by investors looking to take advantage of the depressed stock price.

On the converse, OANDO, TOTAL and FO closed the week in the red zone, shedding 9.58%, 7.23% and 3.81% in that order.

We remain upbeat that counters in the Oil & Gas space will rebound to the previous gaining streak when the general negative sentiments against equities subside. However, global oil prices which remain in the struggle to find support pose a significant risk to our expectation.

Services sector…AIRSERVICE Soars.

The services sector followed the lead of the equities market, as Market breadth (2.33x) skewed in favour of the decliners with 7 stocks advancing against 3 decliners.

AIRSERVICE led the gainers with a 16.77% increase in share value to close at NGN1.95.

RTBRISCOE and REDSTAREX also appreciated by 6.33% and 0.52% respectively.

On the flip side, IKEJAHOTEL dipped the most by 17.44% to close at NGN3.03 thereby reversing its positive run in the previous week. NAHCO (7.98%), CAVERTON (4.75%), LEARNAFRICA (4.72%), TRANSEXPR (4.21%), ABCTRANS (3.64%) also recorded loses in that order.

27

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Brands

Skye Bank calls for pitch on its PR account

S

Dele Alao kye Bank Plc, which recently acquired Mainstreet Bank Limited from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, has thrown open its public relations business for agencies to handle on its behalf.

Though details of the appointment such as when the pitch was held or to be held and when PR agencies that were invited, among others, were still sketchy as at press-time, sources told Sunday Telegraph that The Quadrant Company and some other agencies were contacted. A top official of Skye Bank, who confirmed this story, however, said that no agency had been picked. “I cannot mention the names of the agencies because nothing has been concluded. The process is still going on,” he quipped.

The reason for contracting its PR out may not be unconnected with the lender’s takeover of Mainstreet Bank, which presents new communications challenges.

Skye Bank, not known to have worked with any Public Relations agency, maintains Top of the Mind Awareness (TOMA) with its popular Hakuna Matata (Don’t worry) campaign. It was a very successful campaign, as it became an anthem in virtually every home and ring-tone of several phones until ‘Say Yes’ replaced it.

Calls to the Managing Director, The Quadrant, Bolaji Okusaga, did not go through, as he was said to be on vacation.

Though The Quadrant Company witnessed the exit of some staff in recent times, it, however, has a rich pedigree.

Incorporated as a full service Public Relations firm in 1989 and the first full-fledged PR agency in the country, it is a unit company of the Troyka Group, West Africa’s largest marketing communications conglomerate

Glo unveils telecoms platform for Immigration officers

C

omptroller-General of Immigration, Mr. David Parradang has praised Globacom for providing an effective communications platform for the officers and men of the Immigration Service.

Parradang said the Glo Immigration CUG which was launched in Abuja on Wednesday had equipped its officers with a special communications package that would allow them to communicate with fellow servicemen and their families with ease and at almost no cost.

While launching the package in the Office of the Comptroller General in Abuja, the Deputy Comptroller General of Immigration (Ops and Passport), Mr. Muhammad Babandede, who represented Parradang, stated that it was always difficult to communicate when resources were scarce, thereby allowing situations that could have been salvaged to get worse.

The package comes with very cost-effective and convenient facilities that allow men and officers of the service to make calls free of charge with fellow officers and with their families upon payment of a minimal monthly service charge.

The offer, which is ultimately for the entire NIS staff, commenced with an initial 5000 units. They are to be spread across all formations and departments of the service around the country, including in the remote areas of the North-East where officers are deployed to secure the borders.

The essence of the Immigration special telecommunication package is to enable service staff to send or receive alerts and reach out to critical stakeholders, particularly those in distress, without being encumbered by the non-availability of recharge cards, even in the remotest part of the country.

and internationally affiliated to FleishmanHilliard – one the leading global communications consultancies and member of the Omnicom Group since 2004/2005.

On the African regional level, TQC has had solid ties with Arcay Communications,

a South Africa-based communications network, since 2000.

TQC has executed briefs pan-Nigeria; through its relationships with FleishmanHilliard and Arcay Communications.

These international affiliate relationships

provide TQC with a deep reservoir of generic and specialist experience and technical know-how, as there is continuous mix and knowledge exchange across the relationship via regular cross posting of personnel and internships.

L-R: Head of Engineering, Med-view Airline, Lookman Animashaun; Captain Mohammed Mwondha; Mr. Abdul Rahman Shaibah (Crew); Managing Director/CEO, Med-view Airline, Alhaji Muneer Bankole and Captain Stephen Fevrier during the arrival and reception of a new Boeing 737-400 aircraft in addition to the fleet of Medview Airline in Lagos.

PHOTO: TONY EGUAYE

How Udeme Ufot emerged APCON chair I t is no longer news that the Group Managing Director, SOU&U, Udeme Ufot, has been appointed as the new chairman of the country’s apex advertising regulatory authority, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria.

Udeme was appointed barely a fortnight ago.

His appointment, however, ended controversy over the earlier appointment of Ngozi Enioma, who was said to have been picked in violation of the provisions of the law establishing APCON. Last year, then Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, had acknowledged the government’s error in the appointment of Enioma and promised that the mistake would be corrected.

APCON is under the supervision of the Ministry of Information.

However, what will be of interest to many concerned stakeholders is how Udeme emerged after about two years of impasse at the APCON House, Iganmu,

Lagos.

The advertising regulatory body experienced a leadership vacuum following the expiration of the tenure of Lolu Akinwunmi as the APCON chairman. He took over from Chris Doghudje in August 2010 and his tenure expired in August 2013.

Before the sudden appointment of Enioma and the consequent reversal, notable advertising practitioners such as Willy Nnorom (now late) and Funmi Onabolu were being touted as likely candidates to take over from Akinwunmi, who is also the Group Managing Director, Prima Garnet.

Checks by Sunday Telegraph revealed that Ufot’s “intimidating records and the resolves of Heads of Advertising Sectoral Groups (HASG) to ensure a core professional takes over the mantle of leadership,” ensured his emergence as the new APCON chairman.

The HASG includes Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN),

Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Media Independent Association of Nigeria (MIPAN) and Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN).

“He (Udeme) has been an industry leader with a huge wealth of experience,” President, AAAN, Kelechi Nwosu, told our reporter.

Ufot, who is highly respected for his contributions to the marketing communications industry in Nigeria, has been a member of APCON council for many years where he chaired a number of subcommittees in the associations.

Speaking shortly after his appointment, Ufot promised to promote the growth of the industry.

“There is a lot of work to be done and it requires sacrifice. With the experience of the council members, APCON will continue to regulate and encourage competitiveness within the industry. It’s a challenge and an opportunity to make a change,” he said.

AAAN seeks curbs on political adverts

T

he Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) says it is dismayed at the high level of unhealthy smear campaigns by political parties and shadow interest groups across various media channels.

President, AAAN, Kelechi Nwosu, said some of the adverts were “in obvious disregard of the advertising code and ethics of Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) and the AAAN.” Specifically, he said most of these political advertisements were exposed without going through the vetting procedures and consequent approvals from the Advertising Standards Panel (ASP) of APCON. “Our concerns are that the professional values of advertising practice and indeed public sensibilities, as well as the very stability of the polity have been severely undermined by the continued character as-

sassinations, wanton abuses, unrestrained attacks, threats and counter threats that have become the bane of the political communication building up to the elections,” the AAAN president said.

He said AAAN as a non-partisan but patriotic association, committed to the promotion and consolidation of democratic ideals, implores the various stakeholders: political parties, candidates, interest groups, traditional and religious leaders to temper their campaign messages and public utterances with decorum.

‘We will all become losers, if the continued improper politicking and unbridled bloodlust for power overheats the system and tilts the polity into chaos and anarchy. Then there would be no Political Prize to be won; only reversals and crisis that would seek to prise us apart as a nation and plunge our generation and possibly

those yet to come into a dark age. These are trying times for our dear nation, which demand a high level of maturity, tact, and discipline from everyone,” he stressed.

Kelechi, however, urged media houses and the relevant regulatory bodies that have a role to play in moderating and channelling political campaigns and public discourse to institute stronger editorial controls that give ultimate priority to the public good and national interest.

“Extreme caution must be applied, so as not to ignite the polity, especially now that we’re a few weeks away from the elections.

“Elections will come and go but Nigeria and Nigerians will remain one. Let’s keep it that way by shunning violent and improper rhetoric, and by comporting ourselves as Nigerians first, and political gladiators second, during and after the election.”

28

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

SundayBusiness/Brands

MediaReach’s foreign partner, OMD, is ‘Global Media Agency’

O

ne of the leading source of news for marketing, media and advertising professionals, AdWeek magazine, has announced OMD as the Global Media Agency for the year 2014.

OMD is the foreign partner to MediaReach in Nigeria.

In a statement, OMD said it was delighted with the award, especially for the second consecutive year and for the sixth time in the last 10 years.

The agency added that it was easy to get such awards one off but challenging to retain them.

“OMD has done it for the second time, the first instance being two consecutive years in 2008 and

2009,” it said.

The agency noted that the feat was made possible by its entry: ‘Best in Class Work,’ put together to delight its clients, with a strong performance-led framework of Insight, Ideas, Results.

OMD said a thorough understanding of consumers enabled the entry, with digital as an integral element.

The agency said: “This work not only retains our existing clients but also attracts New Business Wins, the latest one being Heinz.”

OMD said Innovation and Thought Leadership has, over the years, been its maxim with a platform such as IdeaXchange, a weekly global webinar for its employees across the region to bring talent across

markets at par in full throttle on various platforms like Social, Content, etc.

As a result of this, OMD was the Most Awarded Global Media Network Cannes Lions 2011-2013.

This was corroborated by the Gunn Report, which the agency has topped for eight years in a row.

“Our consistency is reflected in the number of awards we win across the regions for Creativity, Innovation & Effectiveness,” the agency stated.

With Global Footprint having presence in 86 countries across the five continents, OMD hires over 8350 employees, with priority objective of having the most strategic, analytical, innovative, energetic and genuine talent,” the agency added.

In Nigeria MediaReach OMD is the leading Media Agency with a market share of 32.1 percent.

MediaReach OMD was the only media agency that represented Nigeria at the

Cannes Young Media Lions in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014. It has also been instrumental in publishing Media Facts Book annually for over a decade, with the objective to organise the information in the West & Central Africa region and make it easily accessible and useful to all. MediaReach OMD continues to be a thought leader to pioneer various initiatives at an industry level including both syndicated and proprietary researches, the latest be-

ing Nigeria Media Index, an upscale survey to get a thorough understanding of consumers and various product categories in Nigeria.

Adweek is a global news platform for marketing, media and advertising professionals. It delivers insightful, forward-thinking content across various platforms, including a weekly print magazine, an iPad app, daily newsletters, social media, original videos, events and awards.

Winners emerge in StarTimes promo Charles Ogundiya

M

ore subscribers have emerged winners of the StarTimes Christmas promo draw held recently in the Iju-Ishaga, Lagos office of the pay Tv brand.

Speaking at the event, StarTimes Public Relations Manager, Israel Bolaji, said the promo was part of the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that more Nigerians enjoy the best of digital television entertainment.

“StarTimes is spreading the reach of digital television through this promo by ensuring every Nigerian has access to rich digital TV entertainment that is affordable and available to every Nigerian.

“StarTimes is all about bringing family entertainment to everyone in the family, parents’ young adults,

and children. That is why we have collaborated with Bedmate on the promo to make sure families have a comfortable TV experience,” he said.

Mrs. Omoyemi Akinwunmi, one of the Star prize winners of a set of Bedmate sofa, while expressing her happiness, said: “I wasn’t expecting to win since I didn’t buy the decoder because of the promo. It’s my first time using StarTimes and I don’t regret it. StarTimes Brands and Marketing Manager, Mr. Habeeb Somoye, said: “StarTimes currently covers 36 cities and we hope to cover more cities to ensure we reach out to subscribers in every part of the country.

“StarTimes has a diverse range of rich local and an international content to bring a wholesome television experience.”

Omnicom global revenue beats $15.3bn

T

he second largest agency holding company in the world and with several affiliate agencies across the world, including Nigeria, Omnicom, has recorded an increase in worldwide revenue of 5 percent to $15.3 billion.

Also, the agency’s organic revenue was up 5.7 per cent, and net income passed the $1 billion mark, with an 11.4 percent rise to $1.1 billion.

The holding company nearly doubled its 2013 full-year revenue growth of 2.6 percent, according to the company’s last full-year report.

In the fourth quarter of

2014, worldwide revenue increased 3.4 per cent to $4.2 billion compared with the same period in 2013. Organic revenue was up 5.9 per cent.

Net income for the quarter increased 9.7 per cent to $329.5 million compared with the same period last year.

On the earnings results, Chief Executive Officer, Omnicom, John Wren, said: “The strong margins were ‘on plan’ and grew despite currency declines.”

Diluted net income per common share in the fourth quarter increased 15 percent to $1.30 per share vs. $1.13 per share during the fourth quarter of 2013.

Left: Representative of Comptroller-General of Immigration, Deputy Comptroller –General of Immigration, muhammed babatunde receiving a line and handset from Globacom’s Head of public sector, Babatunde Amunikoro: being part of the Close User Group (cug) package launched on Wednesday in Abuja

Firm winds up Nigerian Idol 5 Edwin Usoboh

F

ranchise owners of Nigerian Idol, Optima Media Group, has announced the conclusion of the nationwide auditions for one of the leading TV music reality shows, which commenced a month ago in Benin, Edo State.

This, according to a statement, is coming on the heels of the successful staging last weekend of the last leg of the auditions at the company’s Dream Studios, Lagos.

The Nigerian Idol auditions train berthed in five designated Nigerian cities between January 10 and February 9, accompanied by the celebrity judges the trio of Afrobeat sensation and Delta-born Dede Mabiaku; renowned vocalist and singer, Yinka Davies; and R’n’B hit maker, Dare ‘Art’ Alade.

The auditions presented windows of opportunities for first-hand assessment of the thousands of youths with music talents who had thronged the respective venues to compete for places in the next phase of the competition.

A total of 100 most outstanding contestants will be pooled from the auditions.

After a series of group performances to be hosted in Lagos, this number will further be pruned down towards arriving at the final 12.

Executive Director, OMG, Ugochi Pedro, said: “It was not a surprise to see the hundreds and thousands of immensely talented youngsters that turned up at the centres.

We are glad to have created for them a global platform to showcase their music potential.”

A remarkable highlight

of the auditions was the award of a flight ticket by the judges to Ameh Igiri, a contestant at the Abuja auditions.

The 24 year-old Ediba native, in Cross River State, had failed to scale the first screening hurdle at the Port Harcourt centre.

Spurred on by some quiet confidence and sheer resilience, she travelled from her residence in Enugu State to the Abuja auditions courtesy of a friend who picked up the bill.

Ameh was also the first contestant at the Abuja auditions to be awarded a Golden Ticket by the judges, thus making her one of the top 100 contestants for the top 12 slots.

The Golden Ticket is usually awarded to any exceptional talent identified by the judges in a unanimous decision.

There were about 30 golden tickets won from

the five auditions centres.

Nigerian Idol is in its fifth season after a successful debut in 2010 won

by Yeka Onka. In the following years, which saw the emergence of Mercy Chinwo, Moses Adigwe and Zebili Evelyn (Evelle), it has grown in popularity and followership on the basis of the unique platforms it offers to young Nigerians with exceptional music talent. It is the only music TV reality show in Nigeria with a global appeal that currently cuts across 46 countries.

Nigerian Idol focuses on discovering Nigerian youths with talent in music and giving them a unique platform to take shots at stardom. The eventual winner goes home with N7.5 million cash reward, a brand new car, a recording deal worth N7.5 million and some high-end devices.

29

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

My perception of poverty Success Nuggets Victor Okwudiri 08037674300 (SMS only)

P

overty is commonly defined as the inability to afford the basic necessities of life - food, clothing and shelter. However, I believe that there is more to poverty than that. This belief of mine is the essence of today’s discourse.

The question, therefore, is: what is poverty? Asked in another way, what constitutes poverty? Here we go.

•Lack of knowledge Ordinarily, I should have simply said ‘ignorance,’ but I chose to state this first point as ‘Lack of Knowledge’ because I want the word ‘knowledge’ to reflect here.

The greatest source of wealth is knowledge. Knowledge in this context does not necessarily mean ‘class room’ knowledge, though that cannot be ruled out when talking about knowledge.

Friend, if you know, people will seek you and will give you money or some other value in exchange for your knowledge.

Before I proceed to the next

point, I wish to state here that there are three levels of progression in the journey of success.

They are: • knowing; • being; and • having I consider it imperative to offer a brief explanation of the above and the connection between the three levels of progression.

Knowledge is simply ‘Information.’ Now, information forms a man, whereas a man who is not well informed (in his chosen area of endeavour) is deformed in a sense.

Information makes a person. So, when you know, you become. When you become, people will patronise you. Let’s take a medical doctor for instance. When a person studies medicine, he acquires knowledge in that field.

With that knowledge, he becomes a medical doctor or even a consultant. Then, he will operate at the level of having, because people will seek him for who he is (a medical professional).

It is unfortunate, however, that some people today, especially young people, want to re-arrange the process from bottom to top - having, being, then knowing. That is akin to placing the cart before the horse.

Friend, if you must be successful, never be tired of knowing. Always seek to learn new things. After all, the difference between learning and

Friend, if you must be successful, never be tired of knowing.

Always seek to learn new things. After all, the difference between learning and earning is a tiny ‘L’.

earning is a tiny ‘L’.

Have you ever considered why people with higher degrees are paid more in establishments, even in cases where the real work is done by people with lower degrees?

It is not that a degree necessarily translates to expertise or competence. The simple mystery is that the more you LEARN, the more you EARN. Little wonder the word is called ‘knowledge’ = know + L + EDGE. It just shows that to know gives you an EDGE. Forget the ‘L’ in between. It is just an initial for ‘Learn’. So, if you ask me to tell you the meaning of knowledge, I will say it simply means, “learn to know, so you will have an EDGE.” Think about it.

To be continued.

Components of true wealth The Big Picture Julian Atufunwa 08032810713 (SMS only)

I

n life the things that are of great value are usually invisible and abstract. Examples are air, love, peace, health, etc. These are ingredients of true wealth. Those that understand the meaning of true wealth live a simple rewarding life.

When we talk or hear of wealth, the first thing that comes to our mind is ‘money,’ lots and loads of money.

But the question is: Is money true wealth? Money is good no doubt; it is the source of good things. Money isn’t necessarily wealth but you can have money if you have true wealth.

Components of true Wealth • The God factor: The ‘G’ Factor is the key to success in life; true wealth is filling that space in your heart that nothing else can occupy but God. Money without God ends up a waste. I actually listed this as number one because it is very vital.

Peace in the midst of crisis is your faith in God. • Strategic Relationship: Man was created for synergy not to be isolated. There are God-ordained relationships and networks that will help you build a balanced life. I do not agree with the word ‘self-made.’ no one is self-made; we are dependent

on one another. True wealth is having a quality relationship with your family and friends. I read about a story by Aurora Winter, where she said: “Most of us are focused on making more money, if we had a bit more or lot more, things would really be good, so we put off taking our family vacation, we put off time with our children; with hope that one day, after we have made money we will do all that and one day she said, she suddenly achieved financial freedom and then felt impoverished because she lost her family.” The financial goals she had been pursuing suddenly became worthless. True wealth is having people that share your moment of pains and joy.

• Experiences of life: Many times you hear word like ‘wealth of experience.’ You cannot buy experience with money. Challenging and pleasant experiences play great roles in our life. It makes life interesting. Wisdom comes from wealth of experience.

• Ability to help others: It is human nature to be selfish but there are heights of joy you cannot attain until you shift focus from always helping yourself to assisting others. Life is all about love. I once read a story of a man who was saddened by the plight of poor people around him. He could not stand the sight of people suffering so much without help; so he asked God, “Why do you allow all these to happen? Why not do something to help suffering people?” God answered him and said: “I have done something already, I Made You.” We are supposed to be the solution to people’s problems.

True wealth is giving.

• Health: Health is wealth. Health

is a state of physical, psychological, emotional and mental wellbeing. The loss of health is the loss of all form of happiness in man. How healthy is a man with trillions of dollars diagnosed with an incurable disease? Health is true wealth.

•Skills/talents/knowledge: Your wealth is tied to your ‘well’ within (Emmanuel Olumide). Skills and knowledge make you stand before kings. It is true wealth because it cannot be taken away from you.

•Self esteem: Knowing who you are is wealth. When your true identity is tied to what you have, you are caught in the web of unhappiness. Your life does not consist of material possessions. Your true value is not outside but inside.

Characteristics of a person with a weak self image a. Pessimistic outlook on life. b.

Lack of confidence in social skills - Remember you are as good as anybody else. c. Extreme sensitivity to the opinions of others. d. Self-consciousness about status, appearance, performance. e. Striving to become something or somebody - you are already someone special. f. A critical and judgmental view of others - only small people see others as small. g. Defensive in conversation. h. Developing clinging relationships. i. Inability to accept praise. j. Depending on material possessions for security.

Shifting responsibility to others in negative situations.

Business/News

MTN may acquire Telkom

A

frica’s biggest wireless network, MTN Group Ltd. is exploring whether to pursue an acquisition of a majority stake in landline provider Telkom SA SOC Ltd. to challenge Vodacom Group Ltd.’s dominance in South Africa’s telecommunications market, according to people familiar with the matter.

Bloomberg quoted anonymous sources as saying that MTN had held exploratory discussions in recent months about a possible offer for Pretoria-based Telkom. A bid isn’t imminent as a final decision hasn’t been made. With a market value of $3.4bn and about 40 per cent owned by the state, Telkom controls South Africa’s largest landline network and also sells mobile-phone packages.

Johannesburg-based MTN has been seeking a transformational deal as revenue shrinks in its home market, where it trails crosstown rival Vodacom in terms of subscriber numbers. Vodacom, controlled

by Vodafone Group Plc, is seeking antitrust approval to acquire broadband company Neotel Pty Ltd. to push its Internet offering to small and medium-sized businesses. MTN has more than 155m mobile-phone customers on the continent, and is valued at $31.8bn.

After South Africa’s government, Telkom’s biggest investor is state-worker pension fund manager the Public Investment Corp., which holds an 11.4 percent stake, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The government may sell non-strategic assets including a 13.9 percent stake in Vodacom as it seeks to raise 20 billion-rand to help state utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. fund construction of new power plants amid frequent power cuts because of inadequate supply, people familiar with the matter said earlier this month.

Watch that herbal alcoholic drink

C ON TI N UE D ON PAGE 29

toxic and could cause diabetes; just because they think that we are adding starch to starch. It is not so, it is a substitution, so the carbohydrate content remains the same. Incidentally, we went into the laboratory and we did what we called GI, meaning Glycemic Index.

It was to find out how the body system was relating to glucose and carbohydrate metabolism. Diabetes is not caused by food. It is a metabolism disorder that is managed by carbohydrates in your food and we discovered that the GI is low. So, cassava bread is safer and better for the management of diabetes patients.

There is this agricultural association that alleged that it came to you with a sample of castor seed oil extraction equipment they brought from Israel, so that FIIRO would replicate the same machine for them.

But your office told them that they cannot replicate the equipment.

What are the challenges?

Thank you very much for that brilliant question.

We have various extraction equipment and machines that have been developed for various oil seeds in the institute. These range from soy bean seed, oil bean and others to extraction seed oil. For castor seed oil the group didn’t need to go to Israel for seed oil extraction equipment. Rather, they should come to us and let’s look at it together.

We designed parameters for castor seed oil in-house and what we do because we are an agency producing these machines, we do all the R and D; we do the designs and the prototype, even the industrial scale.

Again, what we do is to train; we have a group of certified fabricators and that is another line of job creation in Nigeria. These fabricators come from time to time for our fabricators workshop.

The workshop designs parameters and training is given to the local fabricators to enable them to produce these equipment. I quite agree with you that our equipment does not come out as fine as imported ones because of the finishing problems. We have identified the problems and we are getting close to the solutions. In fact, we are going to have a workshop with the Bank of Industry, when we will be bringing our partner from the United Kingdom to come and speak on the finishing of the machinery. One thing I want to tell you is that the machinery and equipment that are built in FIIRO in Nigeria are for Nigerian products for Nigerian specification.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Life

Scenes from the installation of legal luminary, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), as the Enobakhare of Benin Kingdom (placing him in the highest class of chiefs called Eghavbonore led by the Iyase - Traditional Prime Minister); conferment with Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Goodluck Jonathan; and induction with his wife, Josephine, into the Third Degree of Knights of St. Mulumba, by the Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Bishop G. G. Dunia.... recently

SUNDAY

31

Politics SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015

The Sunday Interview

Itse Sagay: We can’t return to June 12 era p.32-33

Interview

Shift in election dates best for democracy -Oramah p.35 ‘Our Constitution does not recognise ING’ p.37 Massallah: Umeh is APGA’s problem p.38 I will run an inclusive govt, says Ribadu p.39 Why Niger State will vote continuity –Ndayebo p.40

Jonathan

Uncertainty surrounds rescheduled polls There are still fears that the general elections may not hold despite assurances by President Goodluck Jonathan that May 29 date for swearing in of a new president is sacrosanct.

ONYEKACHI EZE, TUNDE OYESINA and TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE chronicle the issues and possible grounds for doubt

W Biyi Adegoroye biyi.fire@yahoo.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Buhari

ith the rescheduling of this year’s general elections by six weeks, Nigerians and indeed the international community are looking forward to March 28 when the electorate will cast their votes in the first set of the elections.

Going by the new timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the governorship and state House of Assembly elections will follow on April 11. In between the two sets of elections, is Easter. But there are still apprehensions that the elections may not hold despite the assurances of President Goodluck Jonathan that the May 29 swearing in is sacrosanct.

Even before Prof. Attahiru Jega announced the new dates, speculations were rife that there were plans to postpone the elections. The All Progressives Congress, which raised the alarm, accused the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party, of plotting the extension so as to regain lost grounds.

But observers believe that these developments were leading the nation to the precipice, and possible reoccurrence of the June 12, 1993 crises.

INEC, had, while fixing the earlier dates for the

polls, observed that ”the tenure of office of the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors of all the States of the Federation except Anambra, Bayelsa, Kogi, Edo, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states and the membership of the national and state assemblies will expire on May, 28, 2015. Consequently, the earliest date for elections into the offices shall be on December 29, 2014 and the latest date for the elections shall be on April 28, 2015”.

Thus, by virtue of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), elections into the said offices shall hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder.

This, by implication means that INEC will still be in order if the conduct of elections is on April 11. This is about 47 days before the expiration of the tenure of the incumbents, which is still accommodated by the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended) and the 1999 Constitution.

In choosing February for the conduct of the polls, INEC had wanted a situation where all elections disputes are completed before the swearing

in to avoid a situation where tax payers’ money was used to prosecute election disputes. But this appears to have been defeated.

Jega had cited the special military operation in the North-East against the outlawed Islamic sect, Boko Haram as the reason for shift in the polls date. He had observed that the NSA, Col. Dasuki (rtd) called his attention to recent developments in four North-East states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe currently experiencing the challenge of insurgency.

On the surface, these reasons appear to be genuine. But there are some undercurrents which need to be explored.

Section 135(3) of the 1999 Constitution states that ”If the Federation is at war in which the territory of Nigeria is physically involved and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the period of four years mentioned in subsection (2) of this section from time to time, but no such extension shall exceed a period of six months at any one time.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 201

The Sunday Interview

Itse Sagay: My fears abou I was extremely shocked and disappointed because this postponement has never happened before under any civil government in this country

Constitutional lawyer and former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Benin, Prof. Itse Sagay, speaks with CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on a number of issues, including the postponement of the general elections and its possible aftermath How do you feel about the postponement of the elections?

Well, I was extremely shocked and disappointed because this has never happened before under any civil government in this country.

The only case I now where attempts were made to postpone elections but couldn’t succeed was in June 12, 1993 elections. The attempts failed, though, subsequently, there was an annulment.

Also, people have been quoting 2011 but it was Attahiru Jega himself that initiated that. That came from INEC. So, it wasn’t the case of anybody putting pressure on them from outside.

That appeared genuine and also acceptable but in this case, it’s quite clear that it’s the government itself, that’s, the government of the ruling party that initiated it and put terrible pressure on INEC to the extent of getting our military to expose themselves by writing directly to INEC. For me, it’s very difficult to eliminate political agenda from what happened this time. What is more? You consider that war against Boko Haram has been going on for five years and how come the capacity to end it in six weeks has arisen? There are a lot of questions to be asked in this matter. All I can say personally, like most

Nigerians, is that we are very skeptical about the real motive behind this extension because it was not an extension sought by the INEC. It was imposed on INEC when the military can come together and say you are on your own if you decide to have an election because we can’t guarantee the safety of anybody. So, this put INEC in a very serious situation that it has to extend the dates. I’m extremely unhappy about it and suspicious that there might be other things which will follow afterwards, which we don’t know yet.

Would you rather blame INEC for the shift in election dates?

I blame the government. I blame the PDP. I blame the President. I blame all of them because they shouldn’t have allowed this to happen. I think we Africans should, by now, have developed to a level where when we are in power, we should foresee and envisage the possibility that we could be out of power one day. This is basically the core problem that we are facing, not only in Nigeria, it’s an African problem. See Robert Mugabe, for instance, over 90 still clinging to power. So, it is an African

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ut rescheduled elections disease. I think Nigeria is an advanced country in the sense that we are people very exposed to knowledge and development all over the world.

I don’t think that there is any country around that is well advanced in social media and technology as we are in Nigeria. So, Nigeria should go beyond this backwardness. We are very advanced and as a country of such, we will not have that backward African posture of sit-tight leadership. We should accept that if we get into government, today, and after four years we should vacate the office.

As an African man, I should be able to say, if I win or lose in election, I will go back to find out what made me fail and prepare for the future. Let us take it the way of other advanced countries. For them, it’s not a matter of life and death. If I lose, I will go and re-strategise. That is the only way we can move forward as a nation.

But what I see here is the fear of loss of power.

This is behind all these. But these things are not right. Being in or out of power is not the end of the world.

Do you consider the new dates for the elections a violation of the country’s Electoral Act? No, it’s not in violation of any Electoral Act or any law at all. What the constitution and Electoral Act require is that, the election will not take place earlier than 150 days to the hand over date, which is May 29, and not later than 30 days to May 29. So, as long as the elections take place before April 29, then it is within constitutional provisions. But it’s not the constitutional validity that we are quarrelling about, we are only worried about the motive behind it – the human element, moral element and political agenda that are involved in it. What we are saying is that by now, we would have been civilised enough not to have things like this in mind but go straight to election and accept the result, whatever it is. In other words, what I read today on the President’s position about the election encouraged me and that is the spirit. He said if he loses the election, he will leave office. That’s the spirit. If he leaves, nothing will happen and this will not be the end of the world for him. If he wants to go to Otueke, Otuoke will still be there for him and if he wants to stay in Abuja, Abuja is there too.

If he wants to contest in the future, he can still do so. The world is still open before him. It will not be the end of the world to lose an election.

In this regards, how would you interpret Section 135 (2) and (3) which talks about tenure extension for the President?

If Nigeria is at war and that war involves the territory of Nigeria and we are fighting to reclaim our territory, that’s not the best time to hold an election. So, in a situation like this, there will be an application for a resolution by the National Assembly to extend the life span of the government, which is struggling to sustain its integrity as a country to extend its life by six months. If after the six months and the situation has not ended and there is still a need for further extension, the tenure will be extended by another six months until the situation is brought under control.

How real is the likelihood of an interim government in Nigeria?

The issue of interim government is a distraction and it doesn’t arise. Under the constitution, as I told you, the present government would have been extended because the government is trying to push back some foreign bodies encroaching on its territory. It’s the government in power, whose authority will be extended by six months and this includes the National Assembly and state houses of assembly. So, there will not be any interim government. There is nothing interim about this. If you call that interim, fine, but it’s the same government that remains in power for the six-month extension.

But if you mean a real interim government arrangement, it has to be a new arrangement for people to come and negotiate on how to rule. People will be chosen across the parties and who will be the President, determined accordingly. But there is no provision for that in the constitution and it’s strictly unnecessary.

Going by the dates of the elections do you see elections petitions being concluded before the handover exercise?

It’s obviously impossible. The current provision for such cases is six months and the six months’ time limit for the tribunal is not enough. There are a lot of bad electoral cases, where people, who rigged election, got away with it because of the time limit. Of course, you can trust lawyers for doing negative things for money. They bring in all manner of applications and artificial proceedings. I call them ‘artificial’ because they are not natural. So, in the middle of the proceedings, the cases will clock six months and they will apply for the court to strike off the case based on time limit. This is so because the court has no jurisdiction after six months. That’s what has been happening.

Since PDP legislators introduced that provision into the constitution, nobody has won any electoral case in the country. So, if this had been the provision when people like Kayode Fayemi, Rauf Aregbesola and Adams Oshiomhole were rigged out of elections, they would have lost out based on the time limit. Six months is not enough, not to talk of one month. If you calculate April 29 and May 29, it’s one month.

So, in your view, what time will be most appropriate for the hearing?

My view is that there should be no time limit for it. We have to reverse that provision and l personally, I would say that the Supreme Court, has in the sense, short changed the country by way it interpreted those provisions. If I were a member of the Supreme Court, I would declare that provision on the Electoral Act and also in the Constitution, limiting the election petitions to six months, null and void and illegitimate because, we have a superior provision of principle of fair hearing in the Constitution. For you to be able to alter that provision, you will need about 75 per cent majority and that is not what happened in this case. In other words, I will regard that position, limiting electoral petition period to six months as null and void because it conflicts with the principles of fair hearing. If anybody argues that ‘fair hearing’ is in the Constitution and the other places, I will tell you that the principle of ‘fair hearing’ is a superior principle to that of someone defending an electoral process. It’s one of the fundamental principles in the Constitution and anything that reduces its effectiveness, even within the same constitution, is null and void that is my argument.

Is it possible to have another extension of the election dates?

Technically possible! In other words, you can technically say, instead of March 28, let’s extend it by one more week. That can happen and that’s a legal possibility but the important thing is that none of the elections will go beyond April 29, because that is 30 days in question. Anything from April 29 means we have exhausted the law and we are going into sheer illegality and a major crisis. So, it doesn’t go beyond that. All the elections must not go beyond April 29.

Peradventure it lingers beyond April 29, what happens?

If it happens, I guarantee you that there won’t be any election. If it goes beyond that, there will not be any election.

And if there is no election, what happens?

Your guess is as good as mine. So, it must not

If there is another shift, I guarantee you that there won’t be any election. If it goes beyond that, there will not be any election happen because we would have departed from the Constitution, departed from democracy, departed from the rule of law and we are going into the jungle at that stage. So, it mustn’t happen. I have heard the President reiterate that there will be a handover on May 29, irrespective of who wins. We all have our political preferences but above all, the rule of law and our democratic rights must be sustained while obeying the constitution. If anybody wins, fine.

That is democracy but not to extend beyond April 29. Jega and the security adviser to the President have also said there will be no more postponement. I accept that in good faith for that is how we can keep our democracy.

Fears are heightened and there are rumours of history repeating itself. Do you foresee the incidence of June 12, playing out in this prevailing scenario?

Well, my hope is that people should have a sense of history. We all know what we went through and we ended up with Gen. Sani Abacha. We know how we suffered and how the country was terrorised under him. I don’t think that even the worst enemy of Nigeria would want us to go through that again. I would like to say that there will be no more June 12. There is consensus, no more June 12. There will be elections that will produce results. We will all abide by the results and move on.

What is your view on the alleged interference by the international community in Nigeria’s domestic issues, especially in her elections?

It’s the ant-infested firewood that calls for the visit of the lizards. Where we are is where we put ourselves. We cannot complain about the international interest in Nigeria because we don’t have a good record of democracy. We don’t have a good record of integrity, honesty in our electoral system. We have had the worst elections in the history of humanity. The cases of the recent 2007 and 2011 elections were terrible disasters and international observers were there. They saw what happened and remarked there was no election. An election, at the end of the day, where over 11 governorship elections were set aside. So, the world is alert about the misconduct and misbehaviours that Nigerian politicians are capable of. They aren’t going to stand around because Nigeria is too important to fail. It’s not because we are the biggest economy on the continent, which I don’t believe because you don’t just sit down in your office and cook up a figure. We are the biggest country in Africa with over 170 million population, which is about one fifth of the whole population of Africa.

It has a very vibrant population which has to be stable; because in case of any crisis, we will overrun many West African countries and there will be more Nigerian refugees there than the normal population. We can’t afford it and the world knows that. The international community knows that it is cheaper to contain an issue and prevent it from happening in Nigeria because they will be called upon when it happens. So, they have an interest in seeing that we keep on the straight and narrow road.

So, nobody should complain about that. If we had behaved well, if we had not conducted ourselves disgracefully and fraudulently in the past, the world would not take an interest in what happens here. We are the cause of the international community’s interest in Nigeria and we have to accept it. Let them to come in

and poke their noses as much as they like until we can establish a record of clean elections, good democracy, good governance, good integrity, and honesty. Once we have shown this, the world will not only remove their noses from Nigeria but they will invite us to join them to poke our nose in other countries that have the same problem.

In the light of the foregoing, what is your view on Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade?

There is no anti-corruption war in Nigeria right now. Look at the governors who left office since 2007, no case has been concluded. Look at the petroleum subsidy, those who went and collected money without supplying fuel, they are all going about freely. There are so many cases that I don’t need to mention, even the ones that the National Assembly challenged the Ministry of Petroleum for spending billions on chartered planes. Nothing is happening in this sector; we all agree to that.

May be you would like to comment on the $1.48bn oil money, which PriceWaterhouseCoopers asked NNPC to remit to the Federation Account?

Yes, that one was audited and that is why we know about it. It shows you that if we had remained careless, that money would have gradually disappeared out of sight. So, we need to have a strong and aggressive programme against corruption, accountability, corruptibility and others involving accountability. You know our people are very anxious to see transparency. After voting, they stay back and see the votes counted. That is how we want to see the country run in a transparent manner. By this, the masses will confirm that everything was done above fault.

What are your fears for Nigeria in the wake of elections’ postponement and other underlying factors in Nigerian politics?

I think we have all accepted the postponement of the election. We are not happy about it but everybody wants peace and we are looking forward to the new dates to discharge our duties to the country and move on. Well, I’m very encouraged with the media chat of the President. Before then, I was depressed by the things I read on social media but he has reassured the whole nation that we will keep to the handover date. We will respect the outcome and the country will move on. Once that is done, there will be some calming down in the country. Once we can get through that, we will successfully begin to establish ourselves as a future developing democratic country.

So, I’m not afraid or worried, given the new circumstances. The tensions are easing and I think whoever loses will accept the outcome and work harder for the future. My only plea is that I heard and read in the papers that armed soldiers were parading around Bola Tinubu’s house, which is not necessary if we are looking for democracy. We don’t need to intimidate people and frighten people. Soldiers are Nigerians and we are all Nigerians. When there is a new government, it’s for all Nigerians and not for the soldiers or civilians. Let us see it this way so that at the end of the day, we will be looking forward to the advancement of the country. Let’s not intimidate anybody.

Prof. you started with expression of uncertainty regarding the postponement. What exactly were you talking about? Are you having any premonition of something?

You see, I don’t really have any premonition of anything but just like every other Nigerian, including you have felt. We have heard and read so many things about the elections in the papers and on social media, so everybody is skeptical about the whole thing. But with Jonathan’s media chat, a lot of things have been debunked and I believe him. So, there no fear anymore.

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Politics

Uncertainty surrounds rescheduled polls C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 1

Jega’s tenure The possibility of appointing an interim or a new INEC Chairman is also on the card.

Though, this has been denied, but in the circumstance where the election exceeds June, Jega may not be available to conduct the polls.

This is because his tenure will expire in June this year, and it is most unlikely that he will be reappointed.

Last week, there were insinuations that Jega would begin his terminal leave on March 1.

But this has been denied. Those raising the alarm hinged their reasons on a federal civil service circular issued by former Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali entitled, “Three Months Pre-Retirement/Terminal Leave.”

The circular, said: “It has been observed that the mandatory notice of retirement for officers who are due to retire is not being observed as provided for in the extant rules. Accordingly, it has become necessary to reiterate the provisions of Public Service Rules (PSR) 100238 which states that officers are required to give three months notice of their retirement from service terminating on the effective date of their retirement”.

And there was already a precedence. Jega’s predecessor, Prof. Maurice Iwu whose tenure was due to expire on June 13, 2010 was ordered to proceed on his terminal leave by the then Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan on April 28, 2010.

But both the presidency and INEC dispelled the rumour of forced leave for Jega. President Jonathan as well as Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Boss, Kayode Idowu, explained that Jega’s appointment was not guided by civil service rules.

Litany of suits Prior to the postponement, several suits have been filed at the courts which pose a great threat to the said elections. Some of them were seeking to stop the presidential candidates of both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, while PDP candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, faced an eligibility suit on allegations that he is in his second tenure as the President.

There is also a suit against the APC candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), seeking his disqualification on alleged forgery of his school certificate. Others are the suits seeking to postpone the election and to compel INEC to use temporary voter registration cards for the electorate. Some of the suits are pending before the court.

However, a major puzzle which stakeholders have found difficult to resolve is whether the court can dispose of all the cases before March 28 and what happens, in the event that the court disqualifies the two major contenders. Indeed, the current state of confusion reminds many Nigerians of a re-occurrence of the June 12, 1993 era where the courts and some groups of Nigerians like the Association of Better Nigeria scuttled the election.

Suit against Jonathan The renewed suit against President Jonathan seeking to stop him from re-contesting in the March 28 polls began on Monday, February 9 when Justice A.R Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted an order of referral of the suit challenging the eligibility of Jonathan. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division was approached for the interpretation of Sections 135 (2) (a) (b) and 137(1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended as it relates to tenure of a President.

An appeal is still pending on the suit challenging the judgment of Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi of an Abuja High Court which had earlier dismissed the suit of one Cyriacus Njoku, the first person to approach the court to challenge the eligibility of Jonathan to recontest.

Earlier in August 2014, the Supreme Court had dismissed another appeal brought a PDP member, Dr. Umar Ardo, which sought to

Jega

join in the Court of Appeal suit that challenged Jonathan’s eligibility. The apex court held that Ardo could not join in the suit on the grounds that he was not a party at the lower court and that he did not show any way he would be affected or injured if Jonathan sought another term.

However, the battle was renewed when two plaintiffs who claimed to be presidential aspirants – Adejumo Ajagbe and Olatoye Wahab approached the court seeking the disqualification of Jonathan on ground that he is spending his second term.

Plaintiffs in the fresh suit, Professor Tunde Samuel, Dr Junaid Mohammed, Mr. Razak Adeosun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu are praying the court to restrain President Jonathan from contesting the office of the President of Nigeria in the general elections.

The plaintiffs through their counsel, Yusuf Ali who led other five SANs are contending that by the provisions of Sections 135 and 145 of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan is not eligible to contest for the election having taken oath of office as President more than twice.

Though, eight days after the suit filed by Ali , the court on Wednesday, February 11 struck out the suit because the plaintiffs brought an application for discontinuance. However, the striking out did not bring about an Uhuru as Sunday Telegraph reliably gathered that plaintiffs withdrew the suit at the Federal High Court to enable them file a fresh one before an Abuja High Court.

According to the source, the prayers sought in the fresh suit to be filed at the Abuja High Court is the same as the one withdrawn.

In their suit, relying on Sections 135 to 146 of the 1999 Constitution, the plaintiffs contended that Jonathan cannot take the oath of office more than twice as President. They also submitted that under the Constitution, any President of Nigeria cannot be in office beyond eight years of two terms.

The plaintiffs are asking the court whether having regards to the intention and general scheme of the Constitution, especially the provisions of sections 1 (1) &(2), 135 (1)& (2), 137(1)(b), 140 (1) &(2),142 (1)&(2) and 146(1)(3) (b)(c) thereof, it is constitutional, lawful, legal and permissible for a person to occupy the office of the president for a cumulative and or aggregate period of more than eight years.

Two other lawyers and another Nigerian, Mase Acho, Saeeq Sarki and Murtala Abubakar, are also challenging the eligibility of Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, to seek re-election.

The plaintiffs in both suits are asking the court for, among other prayers, an order restraining the INEC and the AGF from allowing Jonathan and his deputy, Alhaji Namadi

Col Dasuki

Sambo, to seek re-election for their respective offices in 2015.

They argued that by virtue of constitutional provisions, the oaths taken by Jonathan and Sambo following the death of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 and their subsequent re-election in 2011, both of them were deemed to have completed the two terms allowed by law.

The parties in the second suit, numbered, FHC/ABJ/CS/661/14, are President Jonathan, Sambo, the PDP and INEC. Jonathan’s reaction President Jonathan, speaking through the Legal Director of his campaign organisation, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, blamed the flurry of suits on the agents of the APC . He however affirmed the organisation’s readiness to defend the cases in court.

Kayode further described the suit as a political game play being played for the umpteenth time, affirming that “we will meet in court,” saying that the case is a flagrant and desperate abuse of court process.

He said: “A presidency expires after every four years, irrespective of who started or concluded the tenure. Thus Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution relates to the tenure of an elected President or the Vice- President who may conclude the tenure where the elected president could not conclude his tenure. That is the purpose of Section135 (2).

“The other constitutional issue is the meaning that may be given to Section 137(1) (b) which provides that: ‘A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President, if (b) he has been elected to such office at any two previous elections”.

Suit against Buhari If the suits against President Jonathan bother on eligibility, Buhari is contending with four suits of certificate forgery. He is accused of giving false information to a public officer wherein he deposed in his affidavit that his school certificates are with the military.

Kick starting the legal attack on Buhari is the Coalition of Concerned Lawyers of Nigeria which on January 25 called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate the alleged perjury and forgery of school certificate by Buhari.

Speaking through its leader, Chief Amaechi Nwaiwu SAN, the coalition noted that the University of Cambridge result sheet attached to the school result released by Government College Katsina has an alteration on the Mathematics column which suggests an attempt at concealment.

The coalition further noted that Section 131 of the Constitution as amended provides for

qualification for election as President adding that Nigerians have the right to ensure that persons contesting to rule them are qualified.

“Where there is an allegation of forgery, the Nigerian Police has the powers on a complaint to investigate, interrogate and prosecute any person found to have committed forgery of a document or committed perjury.

Meanwhile, the fourth legal action seeking to disqualify Buhari was filed on February 4 at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The fresh suit filed by Dr. Ayakeme Whiskey is seeking an order declaring Buhari ineligible to contest the February 14 election.

Joined as first and second defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS68/2015 are INEC and Buhari.

To the APC, these are moves by the PDP and its presidential candidate, President Jonathan, who it described as mastermind of the legal challenge to Buhari’s eligibility. The party further stated that the PDP and Jonathan were doing everything possible to make sure that the elections were postponed.

Suit to stop elections Another suit is the one before the Federal High court sitting in Abuja, seeking to stop the forthcoming general elections. The plaintiffs in the suit, Asogo Torkuma Venatius, Ola Solomon Oluwasanmi, Sunday Attah and Philip Agbese in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/ DW/2015 are praying the court to postpone the elections until all eligible voters have collected their Permanent Voters Card.

Listed as first and second defendants are INEC and Attorney-General of the Federation. In the suit filed through their counsel, Amobi Nzelu, they are also asking the court to order the use of temporary voters card for those who are unable to collect their PVC. Suit to stop use of PVC As some parties move to stop the elections, so also another party has approached the court seeking to stop INEC from making use of the PVC for the exercise The plaintiff, Society for Advancement and Protection of Public Rights, had dragged INEC and Attorney General of the Federation before the court seeking an order restraining the electoral body from preventing every willing Nigerian who does not have the Permanent Voters Card from voting.

The group also wants the court to restrain INEC from using card reader or other programmable machine which may or have the effect of interfering with the constitutional right of any registered voter to vote at the general elections.

It is asking for a declaration that INEC has CONTINUED ON PAGE 35

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Politics Interview

Shift in election dates best for democracy -Oramah The Director General of Progressive Friends Foundation, a non governmental organisation devoted to good governance, Chief Pat Ifeanyi Oramah, has frowned at the criticisms that have followed the recent postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Arguing that the shift in dates was the best decision the electoral umpire could take in the prevailing circumstance, he urged the politicians to devote their energy towards achieving crisis-free polls. Oramah, in this interview with VANESSA OKWARA said the focus of electioneering campaigns should be on how to improve the welfare of the citizenry and not on character assassination of seekers Oramah of political offices What role has PFF been playing in the ongoing electioneering exercise?

Let me first make something very clear: Progressive Friends Foundation is not affiliated to any political party, but we recognise and promote positive electioneering and good governance, in addition to advising the politicians and making whatever efforts we can to educate and guide the electorate. That is why we applaud the recent decision by the INEC to shift the elections to new dates - a move which we believe is not only in the interest of the nation’s democracy, but will give the commission enough time to prepare adequately and organise credible polls.

But that same decision by INEC has drawn a lot of flaks from across the country…

No, no, no. It depends on who you are talking to. All well-meaning citizens who know what is good for the country, have been applauding the postponement from February 14 to March 28. Those who have been berating the commission and alleging manipulation are not being sincere. What is the point rushing into the elections when millions of people were yet to collect their permanent voters’ cards, ad-hoc staff not trained and INEC seemed un-ready?” INEC took the best decision given the circumstance. There was nothing sacrosanct about February 14 and there is nothing wrong with March 28 provided

Elections still doubtful C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 3 4

no power to deprive or deny any Nigerian, who is eligible to vote by virtue of Sections 77(2) and 117(2) of the 1999 Constitution the chance to vote in any elections organised by INEC on the grounds of non possession of PVC or for any.

All round condemnation

Reacting to the avalanche of cases and dangers associated with it, human right lawyer and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), is of the view that the disturbing developments in recent times in Nigeria ahead of the general elections are clear signals that democracy is about to be truncated in Nigeria as it was done with the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election by General Ibrahim Babangida-led regime.

His words: “Few days ago, two former military heads of state spoke against military coup d’etat. The Senate President, David Mark, also said in September last year and it was well reported that; ‘election is not on the table, not on the agenda now. We are fighting war.’ The National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki, who is canvassing for postponement, and has had his way, was Aide De Camp to Babangida. He and Mark were among the two Colonels that said over their dead bodies would Babangida hand over to Chief Moshood Abiola. Those who plotted the June 12 annulment are back. We are warning

them, enough is enough.”

A public analysts and Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) chieftain, Bisi Adegbuyi, said the body language of the incumbent government is worrisome, noting that some of its actions may be a ploy to ensure that elections don’t even hold as scheduled.

“The body language of the incumbent government is worrisome. They keep telling us that they will conduct a free and fair election and a new government would be put in place in May 29. That is what they openly tell us but we don’t know their minds. They say something in public and do the opposite under the cover of darkness. They have used the military to reschedule the election under the flimsy excuses that they want to quell insurgency in the North-East within a period of six weeks. They want to do what they could not do in three years in six weeks. I am worried in the sense that that may be a ploy to ensure that elections don’t even hold.

“The present government should be careful and let history guide them appropriately. President Jonathan should be reminded that it is better for him to emerge as statesman by joining the enviable and honourable club of ex-presidents that conducted elections, lost and freely handed over power to the opposition that has won.

I want to appeal to President Jonathan that he should be mindful of history and cautious of the roles he will play. I hope he will choose the path of honour, conduct free, fair and credible elections and if the opposition wins, he hands over to opposition.”

the electoral act is not violated. So, we advise those shouting wolf to re-appraise the situation to see that the nation was saved what would have amounted to chaotic elections.

From PFF’s point of view, what was the real reason for the shift: security report or need for better preparations for the polls?

Both are very convincing reasons. Either of the reasons was enough reason to shift the elections. But, we believe that the insurgency in the north-east, which must have formed the crux of whatever security report officially presented to INEC, was very critical.

How do you see the campaign by various parties so far?

As should be expected, just before the announcement by the INEC boss, Prof. Attahiru Jega, campaigns had reached a crescendo as the political parties intensified efforts at swaying the electorate in their favour. The intensity hit fever-pitch and almost bordered on desperation. In the process, and very unfortunately, some of the politicians left issues and resorted to name-calling, unnecessary overheating of the polity and violence. The new dates for the elections have also helped to douse tension to an extent.

Talking about violence, is your organisation disturbed by the many cases of violence in parts of the country as the parties campaign?

My organisation, the Progressive Friends Foundation holds the view that if the spate of violence is not stemmed immediately, Nigeria may find itself returning to the dark days of the 60s and 80s where electoral violence set our political and economic development back by decades. PFF recognises the fact that no single party has a monopoly of violence. We imagine that an attempt at retaliation would only escalate the ugly situation. PFF has observed with concern the unwarranted attacks on political opponents, particularly, the ones that took place in Katsina and Bauchi, as well as other parts of the country where loss of lives and properties were reported.

We therefore advise political parties to caution their supporters to eschew violence in order to save this country from crisis. The insurgency in the North-East has imposed enough hardship on the people. The emerging political violence can only worsen an already fragile.

What would you say should be the focus of their campaigns?

PFF would want to remind political parties that their focus should be on how to improve the welfare of the people. The emerging violence is compounding the welfare deficit of the people.

PFF has also noted the attacks directed at both the office and person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and observed that nowhere in the world is such acceptable.

We would want to remind that until he leaves office as dictated by the Constitution, President Goodluck Jonathan remains our President and deserves every respect due his office.

Politicians should conduct themselves in ways that after the campaigns/elections, there would still be Nigeria for both winners and losers.

PFF is also not unmindful of the fact that, first and foremost, men of God are Nigerians and have every right to be concerned with how the country is governed. We however worry that some of them seem to be using the pulpit for political campaign thereby forgetting that their congregations could be made up of adherents of opposing political views.

This, in itself, portends grave danger in the event that disagreement ensues among them.

We advise that it would be in their best interest not to pitch members of their congregations one against another. They should do well to differentiate their personal opinions from their jobs as men of God! PFF observes the tendency to politicize the reduction of pump price of fuel by the Federal Government. We find this rather absurd and unfortunate. First, let us dimension the reason for the relative higher prices of petroleum products in Nigeria. Yes, the crude price slumped to less than $50 per day. But we still import our finished products in the face of nonfunctional refineries. In other climes where resources are better managed, over the years, time was taken to ensure that their facilities work. In such climes, product prices are much lower. The questions to be asked are, “why are our refineries not working? Who is to be blamed for the decay that caused by decades of non-attention? What did previous governments do to stem the situation? What is the present government doing about it? Is it fair to blame this administration on this?”

If all previous governments did what they were expected to do, our refineries should be functional now and the price of these products would have been lower as is obtained in other countries. It is important that all these are taken into consideration before we take positions.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

Why Jonathan must not sack Jega

A

lmost every Nigerian of voting age including members of the international community look forward to the country having credible, free and fair elections this year. The level of interest that stakeholders continue to express in the coming polls which will now hold on March 28 and April 14 respectively have no doubt generated a tense political atmosphere.

Indeed, since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999, the 2015 elections appears to be one of the most keenly contested, especially at the presidential level. At this level, there are two major contenders – President Goodluck Jonathan and Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari - who are popular in their own right,

Obaze

with their supporters not being very sure which way the pendulum could swing.

The competitive nature of the election has thrown up politics of bitterness and some level of suspicion from the two major parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressive Congress, raising concerns of attempts by either of the parties to outsmart the other, putting forward antics to win at the polls.

The recent extension of dates for the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission is one of such issues that has ignited quarrels between these two dominant parties.

But for the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, the decision to shift the 2015

Villa Notes emmyanule@yahoo.com

Anule Emmanuel

elections was a product of consultations and advice from security agencies whose role in guaranteeing the safety of lives and property before, during and after the polls as well as protecting election materials remains critical. As far the electoral umpire is concerned, it was fully prepared for the elections, even better than it was in 2011 but for the advice from the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.),and the service chiefs.

What is interesting is the fact that even President Jonathan says he was not consulted before the decision to shift the polls was taken. As such, it means he only had an inkling of plans to shift the polls from the briefing by Jega during

the last National Council of State meeing, which held at the Presidential Villa.

Unfortunately, however, the lines of criticisms and condemnation over the election shift from the opposition APC, civil society groups and a few members of the international community, including the United States, hinges on suspicion about an alleged plan by the President and his party to manipulate the polls.

As far as the opposition is concerned, the President and his party only succeeded in intimidating the electoral umpire in order to make some additional gains and strategies to rig the coming elections.

President Jonathan has already attempted to exonerate himself from these allegations. While speaking during the last presidential media chat, he said, “Of course! I was not consulted and I did not want to be consulted. In 2011, INEC didn’t consult me before shifting the election. If they had consulted me, I wouldn’t have wasted my time and government resources.”

He continued: “The security services did not consult me. If they should tell INEC probably for one reason or the other to adjust within this period, ordinarily for me, it is not supposed to be an issue.”

One only wonders how possible it would be for Jega to keep the President out of the real picture of the issue.

It is only germane that the INEC boss would quietly brief his employer, the level of independence of the electoral umpire notwithstanding, on his challenges.

What is worrisome currently is the counter allegation that is coming from the PDP that the INEC chairman may have been romancing with the leadership of APC, with a view to rigging the elections. Some handlers of the President have also accused the INEC boss of deliberately making the Permanent Voter Cards scare in areas perceived to be strongholds of the PDP. As events unfold in the coming weeks of the 2015 elections, Nigerians will watch carefully to understand which of these allegations either from the APC or from the PDP would come to past.

While this happens, the credibility of the March polls is what the citizens expect. If at the end of the day, President Jonathan proceeds to take any step away from retaining Jega to complete the process for the elections which he started three years ago, he would have proven those who flew the kite of suspicion of attempts to temper with the entire process right. Of course, this would leave a bold fault line on the result of the presidential election.

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Politics / Interview

‘Our Constitution does not recognise ING’ Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa is a human rights lawyer and the Principal Partner, Lekki-based Adegboruwa and Co in Lagos. He speaks to CHIJIOKE IREMEKA on the postponement of election and its implications declared certain elections as inconclusive. The case of Anambra State governorship election is still very fresh in our minds. This is why it should have been better to give enough time between the election and the hand over date.

Olu-Adegboruwa

How true is this statement by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that the commission is not culpable for shift in elections?

I truly believe that a number of factors are responsible for the postponement or rescheduling of the elections. In that regard, INEC has its own portion of the blame, just like all the other organs and officials of the state involved in the polls shift. Specifically, the reason proffered so far, for shifting the election, is that of insecurity.

INEC claims that it could not secure sufficient commitment from the military authorities, for the protection of voters and INEC staff to be deployed for the elections. But beyond this, I am aware, and I believe that all Nigerians are also aware, that INEC was not fully prepared for the election. This can be easily confirmed from the shoddy preparations made for the election itself, at least, from the point of view of production and distribution of Permanent Voter’s Cards. It would have been improper to disqualify such number of Nigerians, who were yet to collect their PVCs. So, the responsibility for shifting the polls goes to INEC and the security agencies that could not guaranty security.

Are the new election dates not a violation of the electoral law, going by the 60 and 90 days clauses?

The new polls dates of March 28 and April 11, do not violate the provisions of the Electoral Act. The requirement of the law in relation to election is that elections should be held not later than 30 days to the hand over date of the new administration. The hand over date is May 29 and since the last election is fixed for April 11, that is clearly in excess of 30 days. The other requirement is that the timetable and preparation for elections, display of voter’s register, etc, should take place not later than 90 days before the election. The voter’s registered was displayed last year, well ahead of the 90day stipulation.

To that extent, the new dates announced for the elections are not in violation of the law. But my concern, however, is that the new dates are too close to the hand over date and they do not seem to anticipate electoral challenges of a possible rerun, in the event that a clear winner does not emerge at the first ballot. In many instances in the recent past, INEC had

How would you interpret the Section 135 (2) and (3) of 1999 Constitution in relation to the situation at hand?

Section 135(2) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that a President shall vacate office upon the expiration of four years from the date he was last sworn in. In our present situation, May 29, 2015, will make it four years from May 29, 2011, when the President was first sworn in as President.

Section 135(3) of the Constitution states that if the Federation of Nigeria is at war, and the President considers that it is not practicable to hold elections, the National Assembly may by resolution extend the tenure of office from time to time, but not exceeding six months at a time.

In this section, certain conditions must coexist, the most important one being that the Federation of Nigeria must be at war. The relevant question to answer here is this. What is the federation of Nigeria?

Sections 2 and 3 of the 1999 Constitution define the Federation of Nigeria as consisting 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and 774 local government councils. It is therefore, pertinent to state that the 36 states are not presently at war with each other, neither are the local government councils. What we have is that a certain group of persons, disgruntled and dissatisfied with the state of things in Nigeria, are waging war against three states of the federation. The other 33 states have since joined forces to team up with those three states to curtail the insurgency. That is not a war within

the federation. The Boko Haram insurgency does not qualify to declare that there is war in the federation of Nigeria.

The second condition is that there must be a decision of the President that the federation is at war and because of that, it is impracticable to hold elections. The President has constantly stated that the elections will hold. So, there will be no need to consider tenure extension.

The other condition is that the National Assembly is the only organ empowered by law to extend the tenure of any government. The present National Assembly, that refused to extend emergency rule, will not likely extend the tenure of this present government.

How possible is an interim government in Nigeria based on what is happening?

I cannot put anything beyond politicians.

So, if there is a perception that there may be an interim government, that may well be true and it may not be true. The fact is that the 1999 Constitution does not recognise an interim government. The only system of government recognised and sanctioned by the Constitution is that of a democratically elected government and since an interim government does not qualify as such, it will be an illegal contraption that will not command the legitimacy of the people of Nigeria, to be in power.

Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution states clearly that the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall not be governed, nor shall any person or group of persons, take control of the government of Nigeria or any part thereof, except in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

Since the Constitution does not anticipate or recognise an interim government, anyone CONTINUED ON PAGE 39

PDP, Jega and credibility issue INEC Diary ezekatchy@yahoo.co.uk

Onyekachi Eze

W

hat is clear to every Nigerian is that the 2015 general elections, which were earlier scheduled for February 14 and 28 have been rescheduled by six weeks. The elections will now hold on March 28 and April 11.

What is however, not too clear to them is the reason(s) why they will have wait for six agonising weeks to elect their representatives at state and national levels.

It is agonising in the sense that the politicians, especially members of the two leading political parties - the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the main opposition All Progressives Congress have, in the course of scouting for votes, infused so much fear and tension in the people that they wish the elections had been conducted and forgotten.

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, gave as the reason for rescheduling the polls, the letter he recieved from the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), informing him that the military would not be available to supervise the elections until six weeks, because of the military campaign against the Boko Haram

insurgents in the North-East.

Jega had told Nigerians that the commission was “substantially ready for the general elections as scheduled, despite discernible challenges being encountered with some of its processes like the collection of Permanent Voter Cards by registered members of the public.”

According to Jega, INEC’s level of preparedness was sufficient to guarantee the conduct of free, fair and credible elections as scheduled for February 14 and February 28 but for the NSA’s letter.

“Compared with 2011 when, within a short time, we conducted general elections that were universally adjudged free, fair and credible and the best in Nigeria’s recent electoral history, our processes are today better refined, more robust and therefore capable of delivering even better elections”, Jega had boasted.

Based on this reason, the general perception was that INEC was pressurised by the presidency and ruling PDP to reschedule the elections. The main opposition APC believes that ruling party wanted a shift in the date to allow it regain its lost grounds.

Perhaps, it was based on these allegations that made PDP came up with another version of probably the reason why the elections were shifted.

The PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, the Director General of PDP Presi-

dential Campaign Organisation, Senator Ahmadu Ali and the Director, Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, at different press conferences, said Jega was economical with the truth.

Presenting facts and figures to substantiate their claims, the PDP leaders tried to prove to Nigerians that INEC was not prepared for the elections because the PVCs were not distributed, card readers were not fully distributed and tested, ballot boxes were reported to be inadequate while training of ad hoc staff to be used to conduct the elections, had not been concluded.

Jega had admitted that as at February 5, 2015, the total number of PVCs collected was 45, 829, 808, representing 66.58 per cent of the total number of registered voters.

The commission said a total figure of 68.8 million voters are expected to cast their votes in the general elections. By this figure, about 23 million people were yet to collect their PVCs less than nine days to the general elections.

There is no doubt that more people would have collected their PVCs given the fact that the distribution had been extended till February 13, a day before the first set of the elections. But the question is, would INEC have distributed 23 million PVCs in nine days when it took the commission about six months to distribute 45.8 million PVCs?

There is always the argument that no President has been elected by the majority of registered voters.

In 1993 presidential election, which was adjudged the most credible election, only 14 million out of 60 million registered voters cast their ballots. Even in the most recent 2011 presidential election, out of INEC’s 73.5 million registered voters, only 39.5 million voters were at the polling booths to cast their votes. Therefore, what is the noise of waiting for everybody to collect his or her PVC before the elections could hold?

There is the need to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. The traditional voters may be the ones denied their PVCs if the election were to hold without the distribution of the PVCs. So those making this claim may not be sincere to this set of people.

But then the letter from the NSA has provided INEC the alibi to reschedule the polls even if the commission was not ready for the elections. Why did he choose this time to write such letter?

The military, until recently, had not been part of our electoral process. Admitted that given the present security situation in the country, it is advisable to involve them in the conduct of elections. But care should also be taken to avoid militarisation of the process, because that was probabaly what the NSA letter tend to achieve.

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics

Massallah: Umeh is APGA’s problem Alhaji Sadiq Massallah is the Deputy National Chairman, North, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. He speaks with BUHARI BELLO on the leadership crisis in the party and why APGA has become a regional party Why has APGA been in crisis since its formation in 2002?

I happen to be the Deputy National Chairman of the party after the expulsion of our erstwhile chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie. APGA as a party is crisis-ridden.

If you are to go down memory lane, the party has been crisis-ridden since it was established. When the party was registered in 2002 some powerful Igbo leaders felt such a big party was not supposed to be in the hands of Chief Okorie and all of us.

So, they masterminded a coup through our erstwhile National Secretary, Alhaji Saidu Baba.

I learnt that the then former Senate President, Chief Chuba Okadigbo, was interested in seeing that this party was taken away from Chief Okorie.

So the day before our first convention, there was an attempt by Alhaji Saidu Baba to push away Chief Okorie. We later joined Chief Okorie to quell the rebellious act of Alhaji Baba and some others. So little did we know that the party would not be itself till today.

We continued with Chief Okorie until there was another ‘coup’ by Chief Victor Umeh who was sponsored by Governor Peter Obi. So from the day we pushed Chief Okorie out till date, the party has been crisis-ridden. It should be recalled that sometime in 2012, I laid a similar movement against Umeh who was then the leader of the party and we accused him in a 13-point query against him. We suspended him and a com-

mittee was set up to investigate him, but he refused to honour our invitation. He has been chairman of the party for 11 years and he has refused to allow anybody to function in his constitutional role in the party.

He is the chairman, he is the administrative secretary, the treasurer, the cashier and he is everything. So I led this movement in order to bring the party back to the foundation of internal democracy that we are all clamouring for in the party. It is unfortunate that till today, there are factions in the party.

Are you comfortable with the way Chief Victor Umeh has been handling the affairs of the party?

Not at all; I have never been comforta b l e with t h e

way Umeh has been handling the affairs of the party. You see, the party is now like a personal estate of Chief Victor Umeh and his ilk and it is not a national party. He has manipulated happenings in the party.

The party is popular only within Anambra State. He did not want the spread of the party nationwide. We tried to make the party to look national but he did not want that. So nobody is comfortable with him; he is a dictator and we are rather concerned about the inability of INEC to caution him. He is alleged to have influenced some INEC staff and that is the reason INEC is condoning Umeh. This is a serious issue.

Is there any effort by the party to reprimand him?

Yes, that was why we suspended him and set up a committee at the national level. Yes, we held a convention in 2013 in Awka, Anambra State and before then, we had our primaries in the states. They were witnessed by INEC officials but unfortunately, INEC did not consider our convention in Awka to be the binding factor in the party. Rather, INEC officials connived and continued to deal with Umeh - which is illegal because the convention supersedes anything else. So they did not recognise the convention after they had witnessed it and a report was made by the party’s monitoring group.

So today, one would be wondering why the judiciary and INEC have not been helpful when they are supposed to be impartial in ensuring internal democracy in all the political parties. Unfortunately, Umeh had been doing what we don’t understand with the courts. Today, a court will give a judgment and tomorrow the same court will rescind or set aside that judgment in favour of Umeh.

Are you implying that he influenced the judgments?

Of course; this has happened times without number and it is unfortunate that Umeh singlehandedly maneuvered INEC, the judiciary and the media. This man has contravened all the constitutional provisions that there would be only two term of four years. Shamelessly and arrogantly, this man has even extended it by four months and INEC is watching him without taking any action. His tenure expired on January 1 2014. If we are to put aside the convention of 2013, his time expired on December 1, 2014 and he stayed there until January 17 when he went to extend this for four months. At the same

time, he is seeking a senatorial seat. Which relevant section of the party’s constitution recognises that? It says that anybody who wishes to contest an election should resign his/her position in the party first before stands for any elective office. Yet INEC is watching! So, one wonders if INEC is condoning his illegalities for obvious reasons.

Why do you think INEC is condoning him?

This is a clear disrespect for the rule of law. We are governed by the constitution of our party and that constitution has not been amended or changed. INEC has this constitution; and if any political party is going contrary to the provisions of that constitution, it should be addressed to the letter.

What possibility is there for APGA to become a national party because many Nigerians see it as an Igbo party?

You see, the problems of APGA are not insurmountable; but the problem of APGA is Chief Umeh. He has narrowed the party to Anambra. If you look at me as a Hausa man from the North, we formed this party not as an Igbo party but as a national party.

If they had shown this attitude at the registration stage, IINEC will not have registered the party. The national chairman is from Anambra State. The Chairman, Board of Trustees and the National Leader are all from Anambra State and if you look at the whole thing, it is a one-man show. The primary function of any political party is to project itself nationwide in accordance with the Electoral Act. We made this allegation in 2012 and now it has manifested itself.

We intend to make APGA a national party but unfortunately Umeh is not disposed to that. For instance, the only time he ever funded the state chapters was when he gave out N250,000 to each to open offices and you know quite well that a party cannot function without offices at the state level. We are doing our best to make the party a national party today. In 2012, we made an allegation against Umeh for squandering proceeds of the sale of nomination forms in APGA. This matter has not been addressed. The allegations are still there. We suspended Umeh, hoping that INEC would address the matter but INEC looked the other way Considering the level of internal democracy, can you today say that APGA is measuring up in this regard?

No, APGA lacks internal democracy and that is the reason why the Chief Umeh-led national leadership has no deputy national chairman or any of the National Working Committee members as a deputy in any capacity. Everything revolves around Umeh and the national secretary which is a constitutional problem in the party. The officials who were elected with Maxi Okwu were not allowed to function despite the court order by Justice Abdul Kafarati because of the problems in the party. Umeh went to another court and the earlier judgment was set aside. Umeh today continues in office on flimsy grounds which are not helping our democracy because the judiciary and INEC are not helping matters.

What are your expectations from the elections?

Massallah

Nigeria needs a lot of prayers and I cannot anticipate any trouble for now because we are matured enough to accept whatever is the outcome of the election. Nobody will be there to intimidate one another. Nigeria belongs to all of us and people should imbibe the principle of accommodating one another and ensuring a level playing ground for all of us and that is the way to go.

39

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Politics

I will run an inclusive govt, says Ribadu Biyi Adegoroye, Ibrahim Abdul Lagos/Yola

F

ormer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Adamawa State, Mallam Nuhu Ribade has promised to run an inclusive government if voted into office in the April elections.

Apparently, basking in the euphoria of home support from the state, Ribadu in a tweet also promised to collaborate with the Federal Government to enhance security of lives and property in Adamawa, whose peace has been disturbed by activities of the insurgents in the North-East.

In the area of healthcare, Ribadu said his government will focus on promoting healthcare delivery system that will utilise community-based resources. “We will focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and other facilities.”

“We will reduce cost of governance, blocking existing leakages, because we are inspired by who we are, united for a better society and guided by the people of Adamawa to serve the people,” he said, adding that to achieve this, “we must think clearly, act decisively and change our behavior to transform the 24-year old state,” he said.

Basis for confidence Ribadu’s current excitement is not baseless.

The initial doubts and permutations that greeted his candidacy following activities of aggrieved members of the ruling PDP in the state who were bent on scuttling his chances, are being replaced by accolades and support.

Things have begun to change now, with many of the former aspirants pitching tent with and giving support for the anti corruption czar. The campaign train of the party until a couple of weeks ago was filled with acrimony and division. Though, it wasn’t surprising, considering the controversies that surrounded the PDP primaries which almost brought the party to its knees, witnessing many defections to other parties.

It could be recalled that at the height of the squabbles, some of the party members moved to the Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Movement just like dozens of others defected to the All Progressives Congress.

This development as well as the struggle for power in the aftermath of the impeachment of the former governor of the state, Admiral Murtala Nyako culminated in more defections.

The PDP, hitherto, a coalition of divergent interest groupings almost witnessed an implosion, compelling the party to conduct its primaries eventually in Abuja from where Ribadu emerged.

Today, with the firm resolve of the National Working Committee of the party to stand by the Abuja exercise, normalcy is gradually returning to the party. Everyone is being whipped into the line to support the party’s candidate.

Realising the benefits derivable from a common front, most of those hitherto aggrieved members have now returned to the fold in the general interest of the party.

Elders’ endorsement Few days to the visit of President Goodluck Jonathan to Yola, the Adamawa State capital, Ribadu’s chances began to soar, as prominent

members began to rally round the candidate.

For instance, in what could be described as turn of events, the former national Vice Chairman of the PDP, Senator Paul Wanpana Vimtim, and a major stakeholder in Adamawa politics described the candidacy of Ribadu on the platform of the PDP as the best option for the state in the present dispensation.

Speaking to pressmen in Yola, Wanpana said the party was working round the clock to reconcile all contending interest groups in the party with a view to ensuring total victory in the forthcoming general elections.

Describing Ribadu as a committed public servant, the party stalwart urged the party members and electorate to look beyond the circumstances of the emergence of the candidate on the platform of the party as it was all an internal process. ‘’Ribadu has the capacity to impact positively on the development of the state if elected, considering his public records as an anti-corruption czar,’’ he said.

Wampana stated that the party’s reconciliation committee, of which he was a member, would reposition the party, making it stronger to win the elections, adding that the party and its candidates stood better chances than the opposition.

The reconciliation according to Wampana was a turning point as most of the aggrieved stakeholder appeared to shelved their protests.

Corroborating this point, Senator Jonathan Zwingina said such protests are usually normal processes when primary elections are conducted and that such protests are not limited to the party.

He recalled that in 2011, a candidate who had not taken part in the primary process, was unilaterally imposed on other candidates and elections took place.

Zwingina was emphatic that Ribadu participated in all the processes of the primary election and he won. ‘’It does not matter where the election took place. All the legal conditions were met and appeal to the party supporters to close rank and approach the general election with unity and solidarity.’’ ‘’I’m sure that the people of Adamawa are desirous of development, only Ribadu, is capable of making any difference out of the current crop of governorship candidates.”

Jonathan’s support Supporting the processes that produced Ribadu as PDP candidate at the presentation of flag to him at the presidential rally, recently in Yola, President Jonathan described him

Ribadu

as an internationally connected public officer and a security expert that the government can used to draw international support to check the current insurgent ravaging the North-East. ‘’We believe that Ribadu would be of tremendous assistance to check Boko Haram.

He has a pedigree of public service,” he said.

Sen. Zwingina said the PDP campaign has since gathered more fillip, hiting the roads in the final run to the election, ‘’We are engageing in a robust campaign which is taking us through the state to sell our candidate to our people, and we can tell you that he is a good product” Another PDP stalwart, Seth Crowther, said the Nuhu Ribadu ‘s campaign is beginning to gather momentum as major stakeholders who were hitherto aggrieved are gradually returning into the fold.

“The likes of Sen. Grace Bent, Ahmed Fintiri, Joel Madaki and a host of others, are back. We would win this election neatly and it would surprise people,’’ he said.

The fact is that Ribadu stands taller than all the other candidates. We have to move this state forward. We cannot afford to make the state stagnant for another eight years.’’

Also speaking on the issue, a community leader in Numan, Chief Yoila David, said,

‘’although we are not expected to be partisan as we are the father of all. I can tell you that Ribadu has my blessings, because only he out of all the candidates can be trusted with public patrimony. He is anti- corruption crusader of international repute. ‘’In my chiefdom, we are development minded and we think such a man (Ribadu) can engender the development we needed.

The era of ethnicity and religious politics are gone, we want social infrastructure like roads, clean water, improved agriculture facilities and hospitals,” he said.

Be that as it may, Ribadu has a lot of homework to do, particularly on the issue of Fulani political dominance, though the PDP flagbearer has nailed the final coffin on the supposed Fulani ethnic agenda that has fuelled insinuations of disunity in the state.

Ribadu said that those propagating any Fulani agenda in the state were bush men who have nothing to hold dear than ethnicity.

He also has the same sour grapes for those who fear the agenda because according to him, “those who are afraid of the agenda are also guilty of the same thing as they both fan the embers of disunity for no just cause, thereby overheating the polity unnecessarily,’’ he said

‘No room for interim government’

involved in such a plan will only be plotting a coup against the federation and the people of Nigeria.

In the light of all the above, I passionately appeal to all proponents of such idea, of an illegal interim government, to jettison it and allow the elections to go ahead as scheduled.

Power belongs to God and nothing should be done to give the impression that human manipulation and strategy can guarantee power.

Given the new practice direction, will it be possible to conclude election petitions before the handover ceremony?

The present position of the law is that all cas-

es relating to elections should be determined and concluded within 180 days. This is the requirement of the Constitution and being the organic law, it overrides all other laws and practice directions. Given that elections will hold on March 28 and April 11, it is difficult to imagine that all cases of election petitions will be concluded before the handover date of May 29.

What should happen is that the person announced and returned by INEC as the winner of any election should be sworn in to assume office, so that there will be continuity in government. Then, the cases will continue and any one declared by the court

as winner, will automatically take over the reins of power, if he is not the one already sworn in. The bottom line in all these is that there should be an end to elections and transition programmes. As we are presently, everything is on hold. Politicians have abandoned their offices for campaigns, no new policy decisions are being taken and investors are wary and cautious. Nigeria is presently at a standstill. This is so much a price to pay for democracy, and as such, all Nigerians should look forward to a definite conclusion of the electoral process, so that the wheel of progress of Nigeria, can be put in its proper shape.

40

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Politics / Interview

Why Niger State will vote continuity –Ndayebo Danladi Ndayebo is Niger State’s Commissioner for Information, Communication and Integration. In this interview with DAN ATORI, he speaks on the achievements of Governor Babangida Aliyu and preparations for the elections in the state

Ndayebo

The 2015 elections are around the corner, amidst anxiety over the growing influence of the All Progressives Congress.

Observers say there is a mass movement against the Peoples Democratic Party.

How prepared is your party?

Did you say mass movement? Well, I haven’t seen that in Niger State but I know for a fact that the All Progressives Congress is an amalgam of some opposition parties that we in the Peoples Democratic Party are very familiar with. The APC is the product of the merger of All Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, some All Progressives Grand Alliance members and some PDP dissidents.

And don’t forget that these are parties that we have defeated individually in the past. So, if you ask me, I would say that the APC as currently constituted in Niger State does not in any way pose a threat to the chances of PDP in the state. Members of the APC are people we have defeated in previous elections and we will defeat them again in these elections.

A lot has been said about the possibility that the popularity of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, will rub off positively on the opposition party’s candidates, especially the APC governorship candidate in the state.

What is your take on this?

Honestly, I prefer that journalists or whoever is making such an analysis to base them on concrete evidence and not on mere conjectures. Elections are not won through hypothesis that are formed on speculation, rather on activities of party faithful and supporters who vote their preferred candidates based on evidence that is on ground. For instance, the good people of Niger State have been voting PDP because of the good work that we have been doing. The electorate has been voting for us consistently because of our robust policies and programmes.

The ruling party has become a household name because Dr. Babangida Aliyu’s adminis-

tration has left developmental imprint that are difficult to ignore. Our priority in education, health, agriculture, infrastructure and social security has seen progressive achievements in the last seven and a half years.

Also, our Ward Development Projects which ensure that each of the 274 wards in the state receives N1m monthly is a huge success story.

Under the initiative, each ward takes full responsibility for proposing to the state government development projects that the Ward Consultative Forum feels deserve priority attention. These are all the good things that will continue to make PDP the preferred choice of the people of Niger State and not any bandwagon effect that you think the candidature of Gen. Buhari will create. The people of this state will vote for the PDP in all the elections.

The recent defection of the Deputy Governor, Hon Ahmed Musa Ibeto, to APC is said to have ruffled feathers in PDP. Don’t you think that the development can affect your party’s chances at the polls?

This question has already been addressed by the Chief Servant himself. His immediate reaction to the defection of his deputy is that the development will not change anything; both in terms of their relationship and the fortunes of the PDP at the upcoming polls. But having said that, let me reiterate that Niger State is a PDP state and nothing will change that. Suffice it to say that the party has a formidable structure; the type that no any other party has.

Our presence is felt in all the 274 wards in the state. An instant revelation, like I mentioned earlier, is the Ward Development Project which ensures that development gets to the grass roots. As we speak, we have about 7,000 projects spread across the 274 wards in the state, depending on the needs of each ward.

Now, tell me why PDP won’t win this year’s elections?

The current administration under the leadership of Dr. Aliyu has done a lot better for his people and this cuts across all the critical sectors of the state’s economy. We shall continue

to do all the things that have made Niger State a home for all. We shall continue to stamp our seal of excellence on all spheres of human endeavour so that whoever comes here would want to remain here forever.

Let me also assure you that, if elected, the PDP administration of Umar Nasko will consolidate on our landmark achievements in all the sectors of the economy, with a lot of attention on agriculture. You know that from 2007 to date, we procured 400 units of tractors and distributed to the Tractor Hiring Units Implementation programme in the 25 local government areas and the aim is to boost agricultural production. We also revitalised agricultural extension infrastructure by renovating nine centres across the state and distributed 100 motorcycles to facilitate the movement of the extension workers. This has given meaning to the lives of our rural farmers and would be sustained by the Nasko administration by the grace of God. The people of Niger State should also expect more work to be done at the Niger Rice Investment Consortium (NSRIC) Project which we established in order to boost rice production and position Niger State as the major producer of high quality rice in the country. I recall that to get the project off the ground, we established and equipped five agricultural equipment hiring centres of the NSRIC Project in the rice producing communities which are Doko, Jima, Mambe, Ndaloke and Gaba.

Irrigation programme has also enjoyed a boost with the re-activation of 16 schemes across the state to boost all year farming.

We have also registered over 270,000 farmers under the Growth Enhancement Support programme.

It is because of our modest efforts that the state was selected as one of four additional phase II states for the implementation of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II) in collaboration with the World Bank and French Development Agency. And I can go on and on to justify our belief that the electorate will return all the candidates running on the

platform of the PDP. How are your government and PDP managing the discontent in the fold in the aftermath of the primaries which has since led to the defection of some hitherto loyal members?

You see, there is no big organisation anywhere in the world, whether political or otherwise, that does not have problems. Our great party has got its share of problems. I know some of our party men are not very happy with the outcome of the primaries but a lot of efforts have gone into reconciling and bringing back aggrieved party faithful. I am glad to inform you that these efforts are already yielding fruits. But let me also say that the party expects that all those who lost out in the primaries will accept the will of God; since in any contest, there can be only one winner.

But beyond fence mending, I insist that our major selling point is the fact that we have performed wonderfully well in all the key sectors of the economy. Our healthcare delivery services are among the best. In the last seven and a half years, we have been providing free medical services for children under five, pregnant women (up to 40 days post-delivery) and for those over 70 years of age.

We have constructed and equipped three ultra-modern hi-tech general hospitals in the three senatorial zones of the state located in Gulu, Sabon Wuse and Nasko. Government has also embarked on the construction of a 134-bed neo-natal and maternity wing as part of the expansion of Minna General Hospital with funding support from SURE-P special projects directorate.

Don’t also forget that between 2007 and now, we have constructed over 200 primary healthcare centres across the state in partnership with the MDGs office. This is aside from the renovation of all existing general hospitals and primary healthcare centres in the state.

We have done so much and therefore I have no doubt that we will sweep the upcoming polls.

41

FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Life

Some IDPs at Damare,Yola

Gifts, promises as politicians beg displaced persons for votes Ibrahim Abdul

“I

Yola

f you vote me, I will bring change to your lives.

We, the displaced communities, have to wake up from our slumber. We need change!” Such are the views that echo across the various Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps in Adamawa State, as politicians struggle to outdo one another in their bid to woo voters ahead of the elections.

Infact, prior to the rescheduling of the polls, the IDP camps, especially the central facility at NYSC Damare Camp, was an attractive campaign ground as contestants from the insurgency-ravaged northern part of the state, employed all kinds of strategies in a bid to outdo each other, by rendering assistance to the IDPs. During a visit to the camps, it was observed that many politicians tried to capitalise on the pitiable conditions of the IDPs by piling them with gifts and promises, all in a bid to seduce them into supporting their candidacy.

“With the onset of fresh electioneering, politicians have ostensibly turned many of the IDP camps into campaign grounds as they visit them. They also show concern for the plight of the teeming numbers of displaced persons taking refuge in them,” an official of one of the camps told Sunday Telegraph.

An IDP, who simply identified himself as Dauda, stated that though no open campaigns were being made, “the fact that many of the politicians trooped to the camps with praise singers mostly dressed in the colours of their political parties was enough to tell any discerning mind that the visitation was a political gimmick wrapped in a show of human compassion.”

He recalled the IDPs began to notice the politicians as the October 11, 2014 governorship by-election drew nearer. However, their visits reduced for a brief period when an Abuja High Court truncated the administration of then Acting Governor, Umaru Fintiri, and reinstated a former deputy governor, Bala Ngillari, as the substantive governor of the state.

Am aid worker, who declined to be identified, corrobo-

We are here in this pathetic situation due to the failure of the politicians to protect us even though they are fully aware of the incursion of these insurgents into our territories

rated this assertion, when he said that politicians besieged the camps in the buildup to the botched election.

Sources in the camps also revealed that after the brief hiatus, occasioned by the court’s verdict, the politicians suddenly started visiting again after the Independent National Electoral Commission lifted the ban on electioneering.

It was so glaring that many among the contenders for various elective positions, from Madagali, Michika down to Gombi, suddenly became aware of the existence of the camps.

Without warning, the camps turned into political grounds where subtle messages were passed across to the IDPs. Some even travelled the extra mile to locate those in the host communities in Yola-Ganye and beyond. But the message was not lost on the IDPs as some of them told our correspondent that they understood the game of the politicians.

An IDP in Damare NYSC camp, who identified herself as Jummai, said politicians did not care about their existence when they first arrived. Nobody seemed to care about them as they were left to wallow in isolation and abandonment, she declared.

In her words, “Before campaigns for political posts started, only the federal and state governments came to our aid. This made us feel rejected as hardly anyone cared about our existence in the camp.”

Like Jummai, a Yola-based analyst, Mallam Usman Santuraki, argued that the visits were a gimmick used by the politicians to warm their way into the hearts of the IDPs and

to receive global acclaim for their show of concern.

But one issue that arose was that in the wake of the intense Boko Haram annexation of many local governments of the state was that many politicians relocated their families to safer havens, leaving the IDPs who had nowhere to relocate to their fate.

“After the success recorded by Nigerian troops in liberating the occupied towns, and with the approach of the elections, the politicians suddenly remembered that the IDPs are around the corner; hence reincarnating a new wave of visits and donations to the various IDP camps scattered within the state,” he said.

Also speaking, another IDP at the Girei camp popularly known as ‘Chairman,’ advised the IDPs to separate trustworthy politicians from deceitful ones, adding that they can never be deceived by the “political Donations of relief materials they are getting from the politicians.”

To this end, he called on the IDPs to vote according to their conscience during the coming elections.

“They should ensure that they vote people of integrity, reputation, character and proven track record instead of those who pretend to be in love with them to attain and fulfill their selfish motives,” he said.

Another IDP, Markus Habila, said that right from the outset, he was not moved by the items donated by the politicians as they were “mere Greek gifts and deceit” being deployed by the politicians to make the IDPs to cast their votes for them.

“We are here in this pathetic situation due to the failure of the politicians to protect us even though they are fully aware of the incursion of these insurgents into our territories.

“I always made it categorically clear that for us to get things right and for this present situation to be salvaged, we should do away with sentiment and vote people of proven integrity regardless of their financial, religious, creed and other differences.

“As for me, I will never vote any politician based on the relief materials he or she brought to me but for the goodwill he or she commands from me,” Habila said.

42

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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NEW TELEGRAPH

Money Line

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Afromedia: Incapacitated adverse regulation by

37

Interview

Okonjo Iweala, a mismatch economy, says Enwegbara for Nigerian

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Front row: L-R: European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker; Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu; former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy; Mali's President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita; French President, Francois Hollande; Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel; Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas and Italy's Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, at a solidarity march against terrorism in Paris...yesterday.

PHOTO: ReuTeRs

TRAvEl Advisory Your guide to local and international flights 4

Feb 14: APC blows hot

lDSS' story on hacking senseless, says Lai Mohammed Temitope Ogunbanke

T

he All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday faulted the re-

port of the Department of State Services (DSS) that it planned to inflate its membership data as well as hack into the Independent

National Electoral Commission (INEC) database through the creation of party membership forms and cards to match INEC's

voters register across the country.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lagos, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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DEGRADATION

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42-43

Bodo spill: N16 billion Group faults Shell’s compensati on

Communities in the NigerDelta have been drastically affected by activities of oil companies

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Food price drops in index December

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Insurance

Claims: Policyholder’s Leadway conflict with deepens

38

What's neWs

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12, 2015

Naira walks tight rope knocks CBN as ICAN

35

Business

Customs miss 2014 revenue target by N223bn

The Nigeria Customs (NCS) revenue Service has fallen billion or by 19 one year. per cent in the N223 last

17, 20

ShE TTI Borno mA, Gov.

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Kalu to pDp, apc: elections not Do-or-Die

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Vol. 1 No. 327

Monday, January 12, 2015

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hagari Why S i’s coup : a t i a K Lawal ’t stop Buhar couldn

ry , Janua Sunday

SATUR DAY

NIGERIA’S MOST AUTHORITATIVE NEWSPAPER IN POLITICS AND BUSINESS

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Body&Soul

Suave stylish Kaftans Vanessa Okwara

M

en’s traditional wears are taking modern twist with designers coming up with mouthwatering collections to tempt even the most conservative male to take up traditional attires.

Kaftans are trending now and Nigerian designers like Yomi Casual and Kimono Kollection, a label headed by Hakeem Balogun, are creating amazing designs for this style of clothing.

Kaftan is a modification of the robe or tunic which has been worn by several cultures around the world for thousands of years. The kaftan is often worn as overdress, usually reaching to the ankles, with long sleeves. Over the years, Kaftan has acquired different styles, purposes, and names depending on the culture and the styles have evolved even more.

In these modern times, designers make fitted kaftans with Ankara, damask, satin, linen or brocade; they can also be

embroidered or left plain depending on your choice. Kaftan sleeves may be either long or elbow length.

It can also reach the ankle in length or slightly below the knee depending on personal style.

Kaftans are stylish, versatile and are making their mark in men’s wardrobe.

They are great when worn as part of your casual wear and for warm weather. They look great when paired with trousers, jeans or shorts. They can be dressed up for special occasions with the right shoes and complimentary accessories for men like classy shades, wrist watches, long chains or beads depending on the occasion. You can look suave in kaftans that feature embroidered stripe styles. Complete your look with matching trousers and leather moccasins, loafers or brogues. You can add a dash of head gear representing your tribe to give your attire a different twist and step out looking like a true African gentle man.

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Body&Soul

A

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth this Valentine

ce comedian, Klint the Drunk posted this joke on his twitter account and it got me laughing and thinking at the same time. It said ‘’your boyfriend buys you a blackberry passport for Valentine and you buy him 2 white handkerchiefs, a white singlet and boxers.

Is he an ‘Atilogwu’ dancer?’’

Funny isn’t it, but it all goes to show that what you give or don’t give on Valentine’s Day can be criticised, analysed and even blown out of proportion to the extent that it can make or mar that relationship. Gifts are more or less vehicles used to convey how much you love and appreciate your significant other during a season such as Valentine’s Day. So what kind of gift did you receive yesterday from your loved one as the world celebrated Valentine’s Day? Did it surpass your expectation or were you grossly disappointed?

Valentine’s Day is all about expressing love in varied ways to the one you love.

If love is all about sharing, why do people still make a big fuss over the kind of gifts they give or receive on Valentine’s Day? Love is never selfish or self-seeking, but come February 14th of every year, people stand guard to scrutinize the gifts their lover gives to them. Haven’t you heard it’s wrong to look a gift horse in the mouth?

Its bad habit to squeeze your face or to be critical of a gift you received at no cost.

The simple truth is that a gift never comes with a price tag. It should be given and taken in the spirit of the season and not assessed by its value. When it comes to someone you love, what he/she gives you on Val’s Day should not be as important as

CONNECT NG vanessaonsunday@yahoo.com the loving thoughts the person had when purchasing the gift, don’t you think so?

When you start guessing how much a gift is worth, you end up removing the romantic lustre off that gift; making Valentine’s Day look like a bargain season rather than a love season.

After every Valentine’s Day, you’ll hear such complaints as: he didn’t buy me the kind of phone I wanted; I wanted my husband to buy me an expensive lace but he only brought Mr. Biggs meat pie home; I was expecting my girlfriend to get me a shirt or gold cufflinks I subtly mentioned to her last week but she only gave me a pair of stockings!

Why I am saying this? A lot of breakup and heartbreak occur after every Valentine’s Day and a large percentage of the quarrel is caused by the kind of gift received or the total lack of it. After every Valentine’s Day, you’ll hear such complaints as: he didn’t buy me the kind of phone I wanted; I wanted my husband to buy me an expensive lace but he only brought Mr. Biggs meat pie home; I was expecting my girlfriend to get me a shirt or gold cufflinks I subtly mentioned to her last week but she only gave me a pair of stockings! All these complaints end up causing rifts in relationships.

However, it is important to say that although it may be disappointing not to get the kind of gift you were expecting, don’t take it to heart. Just because your hubby or girlfriend gave you a cheap and generic present should not lead to a breakup. That he/she did not get you an expensive gift may say more about their bank balance and the fact that you need to be more understanding of his/her financial situation.

Suffice it to say that not getting a good gift for that person you profess to love on Valentine’s Day when you could readily afford it is more or less a capital offence. Also,

when you neglect to put up an important love message or the picture of your love on either your Facebook wall, BBM or any other social media you are both addicted to could even land you a jail sentence.

(Laughing) What you do on Valentine’s Day to show your love for that person should be far more important than what you brought as a gift. On a day such as this one, you’ll agree with me that it is the little things you do that makes the day very special and not necessarily the gifts you bring. If you have not yet done something special for the love of your life, Valentine is not over till the clock strikes midnight today; so make concerted efforts to do something extra to keep the love flame alive.

To really make most of the day, try not to keep celebrations just for the evening.

Instead, get up a bit earlier and start the day with breakfast in bed, drop little love notes, cards, sexy SMS messages that will excite your love. Then you can send gifts by courier than hand delivery to serve as a pleasant surprise and so many other creative things your imagination can come up with to let him/her know that you are thinking of them and looking forward to your plans later. That way you keep the love flame aglow while you wait for the evening session where you express your love in the most graphic way possible.

When it comes to gifts, it’s the thought that counts and not necessarily the value of the gift given. Don’t inspect it to make sure it matches some standard you have or how much it costs but rather learn to be grateful!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

•Send your views to the email above!

History, legacy, posterity and other literary ponderings

A

Yoruba adage states that whatever we do today, becomes a story for tomorrow. This adage underscores the effect our actions have on how we are remembered as individuals. There is a reason why the Yorubas believe that saying for the oral traditions is made up of legends of great men and the not so great. The great men have griots sing of the good works they do while those who do what is bad, wrong and unpopular are still remembered, but with disdain. I am just curious as to what kind of literature the current political and elite class will generate for the future for the political intrigue in Nigeria will make for a fascinating literary piece be it a novel or a grossly intense thriller.

Just when people had accepted that for once, lover’s will take second place to the ballot box on February 14, the magical charade known as Nigeria’s political terrain swung into action and we are faced with postponed expectations that have done nothing but heightened the hypertensive state of the populace. The truth is, February 14 has not been rescued for lover’s (well, it is a foreign concept in Nigeria anyway), but the state of uncertainty elongated.

I am putting myself in the place of the griot and thinking of my song for the current political class and I see the first verse emerge. Bumpy roads lead to my home and yet my leader claim he has tarred over 200,000 Km of road. In search for alternative, and I see the man who cut three of my peers down in their prime and whipped my brothers into line, literally. I really do not have a choice. It is not the book I want to write, not the song I planned singing, but like the griots of the past, it is the song

its production. The Popular literature of the people will be produced and history will confirm that it is the story of neglect, of power abuse and systemic failure; the true story of a fading giant.

Re: In Search of alternate care for movie and sports stars history has forced upon my lip, the book the political legacies have inscribed on my blank pages.

I am asking here, is anyone thinking of history? Thinking of legacy? What of posterity? Is anyone thinking of the books their grandchildren will be forced to pick and read of the atrocities they heaped on their fellow men while they had the power to change? Are the people making

Just when people had accepted that for once, lover’s will take second place to the ballot box on February 14, the magical charade known as Nigeria’s political terrain swung into action and we are faced with postponed expectations that have done nothing but heightened the hypertensive state of the populace

decisions based on stomach infrastructure thinking of the shame it will bring on them?

Perhaps I am overthinking this. Perhaps, they are not concerned as all the publishing houses have been shut down and the ones left are controlled by this elites and as such their legacies will be written by their cronies and that is what their children will read. Think again people; history always has a renegade and there is always the revolutionary who turn things on his head and asks the difficult question.

Social media has also changed the way we read and what we read. The news people want are now being produced by the readers themselves. Saints are now recognized as sinners while the people search and, where necessary, beautify their own saints. We are no longer deceived by a tripod of eggheads in charge of our economy and yet trillions go missing with all of them pointing accusing fingers at each other. We are no longer amused by an illiterate, opportune to be married to power and thinks she controls everyone. No! The literature we want is being produced by the power that cannot be bought and whatever we try, the chapters will not be changed, the words will not be altered and no court injunction can stop

What I love most about this article is that you prescribe solutions. It is one thing to see the problem and point fingers, it is another to suggest solutions to solve the problem. The crux of the matter, the root of the tragedies is the system in place in regards to healthcare. You hear of preventable deaths everyday of both young and old, rich and poor just because of the poor standard of care, lack of medical amenities and ultimately lack of health insurance system. There is neither private nor government health insurance system in place.

Even those who can afford the premium cannot buy a policy because you cannot buy a product that doesn’t exist.

The deaths of celebrities and politicians only underscore this anomaly, then everyone starts blaming their colleagues and/ or seemingly successful family members or friends for not paying for treatments.

Meanwhile, the cross shouldn’t have been theirs to bear in the first place. In spite of these senseless deaths, those who can effect the change are still apathetic to it because each person believes herself invincible and hopes and prays that God would not let such illness or death be their portion. Until they build good hospitals, build a system of healthcare insurance system, life insurance system, tragedies like these would be as common as mosquitoes in Nigeria.- Emmanuel Olawale (LL.B). Columbus, Ohio.

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul with

Wole Adepoju 07037763410

Shina Eddo’s Cave Bar steps up

T

oast of strip clubs in Lagos, Cave Bar, tucked inside the GRA, IkejaLagos has stepped up with intimidating re—engineering which may have put some panache on the interior of the massive club.

The brain behind it, Shina Eddo, popularly addressed as the Czar said the reengineering which is his baby, cost him creativity, money and time. “With what I have just done, I have re-affirmed that I am the Czar to beat in this business.”

His stance appears to have found some truth in the startling effect of his creativity which really dazzled some regular guests so much that they had to marvel aloud, wondering what could have informed this interesting innovation.

Adesuwa Onyenokwe replies critics

T

No worries for Remi

Adikwu-Bakare

P

etite and beautiful woman, Chief Remi Adikwu-Bakare, is one woman whom many pray to be like. That is not because of anything other than her success streak and growing influence within and outside of government circles. The elegant woman can be referred to as a woman of substance and one who knows how to position herself to be relevant.

She was a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State but opted out when others would not buy into her governorship dream. She found succour in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s government where she was made the commissioner for commerce.

She, however, dumped the party in 2007 in order to pursue her governorship ambition in another party, Peoples Progressive Alliance; but that too did not work out. Being a woman on her feet, she had nothing to lose as she moved on with

her life even as she continued to record successes in her private endeavours. She has since relocated to Abuja and been able to find her way into the PDP mainstream. She was few months back appointed into one of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election committees. However, what has been taken off her impressive personal and public life is the issue which has made her pitch tent differently from her estranged husband, Chief Olakunle Bakare.

What Celeb Lounge noticed of the woman some weeks back at a private event at Magodo area of Lagos was that she was not given to worry over something many thought should be eating her up. Clad in a beautiful blue knee length gown that looked splendid on her and a black pair of slip ons, she never ceased to wriggle her waist to the blaring hip hop tunes from the speakers.

V glamour girl and publisher of Today’s Woman magazine, Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe, came out during the week to defend her alleged ‘soft’ approach while moderating last Wednesday’s media chat with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also on the panel with beautiful broadcaster were three journalists – Ibanga Isine, Deji Badmus and Ibrahim Sheme.

Reactions on social media during and after the chat indicated that many viewers were incensed at what they believed was Adesuwa’s attempt to shield the President from tough questions and to help clarify his comments.

However, she took to her blog to explain that she handled the chat in accordance with her established style for over 30 years.

She denied insinuations that she did not allow the interview to flow more freely with her alleged interjections.

Writing on her blog, she stated: “Adesuwaaaaaa!!!! My sister screams in an email to me while I was hosting the media chat with president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, saying ‘why are you making it easy for Mr. President?’ And she wasn’t alone… Going by the tons of messages and tweets I have so far received since I hosted the media chat last night in Abuja.

These are interesting times! I am particularly pleased because we are more concerned and aware of our surroundings, the political climate, and how it affects us all making us more vocal and participatory.

However there are down sides to this. One of them is the penchant for people to come to conclusions and expect everyone else to feel the same.

Wouldn’t you want to know on which side my sentiments lie? All my friends know.

Media chat or not…”

a living testimony that being ambitious and knowing how to pursue one’s dreams are worthy ventures.

Through his interest in tourism and hospitality, young and vibrant Austin sits atop a handful of relaxation and fun centres.

These include a popular bar and restaurant located in the highbrow area of Ikeja G.R.A, Lagos, Londoner; Pool bar, Yaba; and the strip bar which gave him out to the public, Kas Bar. The chairman of West Africa Projects, Rotary Club D9110, Austin became popular on the society scene when he floated the Gentlemen’s Bar in Opebi, Ikeja, before he eventually moved to another location.

The ambitious dude, Celeb Lounge can reveal, has moved onto something new as he recently signified and concluded plans to run for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly. Austin is vying for the Aniocha South constituency seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. This true lover of humanity claims his mission in politics is to effect a genuine change. The hospitality guru noted that his decision to serve his people is inevitable because he has grown tired of complaints about everything happening in the polity. He also decided to take action after realising that sitting on the fence means charlatans will continue to run the polity. Basking in the euphoria of the success recorded as a Rotary president in 2009, Austin is hopeful of effecting a change, if elected.

Nude bar proprietor, Austin, seeks public office

Ambode relishes Coliseum’s reception

W

ith lots of success to show for it, young and dynamic Delta Stateborn Austin Eneduwa George is

woleadepoju@yahoo.com

T

he unimpeachable Governor of The Coliseum, Ken-Calebs Olumese, remains the only person who has the

singular honour to have hosted a large number of dignitaries from all spheres of life at the prestigious arena. Unconsciously, this event automatically places whoever that is hosted at this arena in a new class. The latest inductee into this level is no other person but the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. The chartered accountant turned politician was hosted at the Grand House Reception penultimate Sunday.

The event, which was like doing a formal business in an informal environment and style, started with a session where the governorship hopeful was accorded the opportunity to mix with attendees and take photographs on the red carpet. It was time for the business of the day after the introduction of protocols as veteran broadcaster cum actor, Taiwo Obileye, did the impressive citation of the man at the centre stage. During the interactive session which was anchored by the publisher of Encomium magazine, Kunle Bakare, the APC governorship candidate gave an impressive account of himself while other items lined up for the day were observed.

The event which was a presentation of Mainland Business League had other comperes that included Gbenga Adeyinka, Cynthia Yinkere, Azuh Arinze, Jennifer Eliogu and Ehi Braimah.

However, what appeared to be a source

of concern to the audience was the conspicuous absence of many APC chieftains and other relevant personalities whom many had expected would be on ground to cheer the gubernatorial hopeful.

Meanwhile, the height of the night of fun which could not but be noticed was when Olumese bared his mind on where his political loyalty lies. There has been talk about where he belongs since he has freely and openly fraternised with members of different political parties. Tension had also mounted on the heel of the fact that Olumese had a week earlier hosted the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, at the same arena. Olumese eventually cleared the air when he declared his support for Ambode.

Ibrus celebrate Elsie

O

ne of Nigeria’s wealthiest businessmen, Olorogun Michael Ibru, may have withdrawn into his shell but his enterprising nature makes him the owner of one of the biggest conglomerates in the country.

This conglomerate known as Ibru Group, has remained vibrant and flourishing.

While age has ushered Olorogun into his shell, his better half who stood as the woman behind his successful exploits,

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Body&Soul

Thinking

Elsie Nelly Ibru, long departed for the great beyond.

Due to her love for her wards and selfless dedication to humanity while she lived, it was only natural that her good memories would live with those she left behind. It was in the spirit of her sweet memories that a remembrance programme was held in her honour 25 years after her demise. It was a successful event penultimate Saturday, when children, family members, associates and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the virtuous Elsie, whose pet name was ‘Auntie.’ The starting point of the event was All Saints’ Anglican Church, Yaba, where a memorial service was held in her honour. The train of events later moved to Habour Point Event Centre, Victoria Island for a reception.

The chief host, Olorogun Oskar Ibru, played the part of the perfect host as he stood at the entrance of the reception venue, welcoming guests. He remained up and doing, attending to guests while the programme lasted. His siblings among whom are Elvina and Obukeme were also on hand to ensure a successful outing. The event which was by all standards one to beat was anchored by popular comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka, and a number of other entertainers. Among them were G-Note band, Slizzy, T-Mac. The height of the performance was when wave-making singer, Flavour Nabiana, mounted the stage.

Elsie Nelly Michael Ibru was born on December 1st , 1927, in Calabar to Mr. Krupp of Hamburg, Germany and Elean Bope Nkouta of Bantanga, Cameroon.

She lived for 62 years and it was a busy period of fulfillment and dedication to God and mankind. As a humanitarian, she worked for the society of the blind which opened the Pacceli School for the Blind.

Tokunbo Modupe swings into action

P

ublic Relations expert and inspiration behind flourishing PR firm, TPT, Tokunbo Modupe, has in the last few years been linked with partisan politics; even though he has not signified his intention to run for any public office or been given any political appointment. All that has linked him with politics is based on the cordial relationship he shares with Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

Slim built and handsome Tokunbo

is said to be holding a public brief for Ondo S t a t e w h i l e s o m e are saying he’s the one Mimiko is grooming to take over from him when he leaves office. None of these could be substantiated because Tokunbo has never been involved in political activities or made public statements in that regard. All that could be said to be a thing of the past as Tokunbo has now swung into action as a politician. He’s said to have been holding political meetings. It is now confirmed that he is a member of President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team in the state.

Amosun pledges support for movie makers

M

support.

Movie makers under the aegis of Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria had invited the governor to chair their first general meeting which was held at Cultural Centre, Abeokuta. The governor was ably represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Yewande Amusan.

In his speech, the president of the association, Dele Odule, on behalf of the association, sent words of appreciation and good will message to the governor. On another note, Odule urged members to help move the association forward as well as the entire movie industry by being professional in their work. He also admonished the producers not to relegate the veterans to the background as they still have so much they can offer to the movie world and the society at large.

Maureen Ahize savours marital bliss

M

aureen, wife of influential Lagos big boy, Chief Charles Ahize, cannot but be thanking her stars for placing her in a privileged position when it was time to quit spinsterhood. Many single and married ladies would wish they were in Maureen’s shoes because of the comfort she currently enjoys.

Prior to when Charles took Maureen to the altar after his broken first marriage, he pampered her as if she

o v e makers in Nigeria now have an ally in Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who has promised to provide them with necessary

was the only lady on earth.

Critics were waiting for the time when Maureen would not get such a treatment after she had been finally taken, but the love and affection from her hubby only waxed stronger. Beautiful Maureen, with love from her husband, cash and other material things at her beck and call has been enjoying marital bliss with her daughter. Looking splendid, Maureen was among the guests at D’Banj’s 10th year anniversary.

Aloud

) 0807 270 9777

paulhelenproductions@yahoo.com

with Helen Paul

Touch not my anointed…

‘T

ouch not my anointed, and do my prophet no harm…’ that verse of the Holy Bible, to my understanding, doesn’t mean that pastors cannot be criticisewhen they have done something visibly wrong. But Nigerians are so religious to the extent that pastors are regarded as invincible, and shouldn’t be criticised when they are wrong. What that verse simply means is that you shouldn’t plan evil against your fellow human.

You shouldn’t crucify Mr A for an offence, and look the other way when a ‘Pastor’ commits the same offence.

I’m amazed at how Nigerians can be very religious, most times hypocritically. I get irritated when some people are enmeshed in this holier than thou syndrome. But just like my Uncle, Tuface Idibia rightly said, ‘Nobody holy pass.’ Interestingly, God is not interested in the number of days you go to church or mosque, or whether you sleep on mountains day and night. His priority is your heart; how dirty or pure is it? Are you among those frequent church goers, or you are even a church worker, yet your behaviour to fellow humans are not Christ-like It reminds me of the story of those who asked Jesus Christ, “When did we see you hungry and we refused togiveyoufood…” and He replied them, saying that in as much as they have failed to feed their fellow human who is in need, they have equally done the same thing to Him. The lesson from that story is that God will not come down from heaven so that we can show Him how strong we love Him. But since our fellow humans are created in His ‘image’, they deserve to be shown undiluted lov Nigerian polity is currently heated, no thanks to the general elections that are underway. Campaigns are going on here and there, and the politicians are employing every available vessel to reach out to the masses. And as political animals, everybody is involved in politics one way or the other. Entertainers and pastors are no exception.

The society is quick to condemn individuals or entertainers, but when pastors do the same, nobody talks. We have seen the roles being played by some pastors in the ongoing political campaigns so far,

but nobody is criticising them. But entertainers are being crucified for campaigning for politicians. A pastor can romance two presidential candidates from different parties and nothing is wrong with it, but if an entertainer dares that, it becomes a big issue. It is only in Nigeria that we are quick to condemn people, except pastors.

I’m not against pastors. As a matter of fact, many of them are my fathers and mothers, and I’m sure they are reading this, but I need to reiterate that myfellow Nigerians need to work more on their faith in God more because pastors have failed us in many endeavours. But I know one man who never fails –Jesus. That is why we need to renew our faith and strength in Him. I have realised that faith in God is what we need –that is the only thing that can give us consolation.

George MacDonald said, “A perfect faith would lift us up absolutely above fear. It is in the cracks, crannies and guilty faults of our belief, the gaps that are not faith, that the show of apprehension settles and ice of unkindness forms.”

Unanswered questions can be unsettling. I have faith. Some might even say it is strong. I know who God is, and I believe His word is true. I try my best to trust Him, even when life does not make sense. However, there are these crevices deep in the recesses of my soul, where fear resides. I can envision the kind of faith I want to have. I can foreshadow the kind of woman I want to be . . . but I always seem to fall short. I never meet the standard I have engrained in my mind. I have a good relationship with God now, but it has not always been that way. Life beat me up pretty bad before I was broken enough to recognize my need for Him.

A perfect faith would lift us up absolutely above fear. It is in the cracks, crannies and guilty faults of our belief, the gaps that are not faith, that the show of apprehension settles and ice of unkindness forms

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

Miscellany Alley

Life is rich sometimes and painful at other times, but it is mostly full.

Let’s share our experiences on this page, after all, everyday is an opportunity to learn...send yours to julietbumah@gmail.com

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A ll that was on his m n, without pitter-patte ind, in spite of the ro the shaking and to wake them f tiny or semi large fe profuse sweatin et g, w u er p e the words of from sa a monotono the man who us existence d reveries or ha d br ai nw ashed him. So , they must the saddest. it goes be Bu to say that the ments in m t with the many achiev people who ac edical techn etual ly ex pl od e them ologies, man couples hav e y senselessly, thin selves however good. Than overcome this issue fo k at the time that kG r they are doing Maureen O od! greater good. N kpi 45yrs o thought for the Delta State ones who will fo rever mourn the vacuum they le ave behind. Amazin g selfishness! N ot to mention wic ked!

Abdul A. 26yrs Kaduna

Health Wellness Natasha Ellah

a d a u k uon s und ay@gm ai l . co m

U

dara season is here, and on every road corner and in traffic, you can find the sweet, almost spherical fruit being sold. When I was little, my sister and I would wait impatiently for the udara season, as ‘agbalumo’ was one of her favourite Nigerian fruits. When picking which to buy from the street hawkers, we would look for the ones with the stems almost falling off, as that would indicate how ripe and sweet they would be. Eating them is also fun as the beanlike seeds are coated in a slippery layer that needs to be chewed off carefully so that the seeds do not go flying out the mouth!

The fleshy fruit, which is native to Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Uganda, is used an ingredient in soft drinks and may be fermented and distilled for use in wine making. The English name for Udara is White Star Apple while in Uganda it is called Nkalate or Mululu. Its generic name, Chrysophyllum albidum, is based on the Greek words for gold ‘Chrys’ and leaf ‘phyll’ and refers to the leaves of some of the species that are often covered with golden hairs underneath.

The seeds and leaves have been used traditionally in managing symptoms of several diseases ranging from diarrhoea, diabetes, stomach-ache, vaginal bacteria infections and even heart attacks. This is probably because an extract in the seeds was found to possess an anti-microbial substance called Eleagnine that

rgery Penis Su en I was a h w ck in ditor, Dear E l in Abuja ba me d ir e g it is le nd v sing e love? y boyfrie woke up one m How lovely is tru , 0 1 0 ed 2 been us gos. We am to Few words have word. My from La rning at 5:30 hurl‘l’ e th e o lik d globally early m ices yelling an r. We lentine passed o e people, even as va keries, jewraised v s at each oth r and ba yesterday, many shops, boug insult a while longe igin oe dg up ellery shops, sh stayed them an f the made to ies er in d w e en n o ev d te t tiques, an just lis the raunchies more normally do ey th t e as a h m uc a m g c n as be gli the year. The Then it gan to in the course of insults. hen the man be y pedte , es at ol oc ch s, amount of cake heated w you wan cut m ! she d trinkets that o “ dies, lingerie, an scream, e o! una come d on ld d gifted wou n m a o C !” o ? will be bought an nis y penis nomic levels. shed an cut m friend and I ru out have been in astro ught would w y fo o d d e B Lovers who ha and on. dow and peek t step to make up, or o win e th have found a way dared n to by en afflicted ene. We ld fight them c s e th those who have be o ta ing” measures stayed a who h the “belt tighten out o! n pass na. So we hing find ld ou w s, tc rie t a la or slashed sa dey bea stened while w ver of with or just up li a k r ea d b br n e to Th a way put a and unfold. day. Whatever e drama ours went out ere be scares on the th d ye jo en le b th op h pe d y ig an n e m a , n se us the ca our e rauco marDay, world-reuelled th . Today, we are at I the Valentines q s ge ria ar M th ce day. nowned lovers’ was pea I keep joking en he eddings took h d were blessed, w gaged and ried an ff his penis w o e en place, girls wer will cut e. Lol l this, we find m many more, in al vely love. wrongs gbaje, 32yrs a lo Paula A the true heart of s Lagos Cate Benson 31yr om Ib a Akw

He who dares udara, wins! inhibits bacteria growth. The extract from the leaves were shown to contain anti-platelet and hypoglycemic properties. The research by the African Journal of Biotechnology highlighted that further research needed to be carried out to investigate more into the anti-platelet property of the leaf, as it has the potential to be used

in more commercial avenues for decreasing the formation of blood clots for individuals prone to heart diseases.

It was found that the nutritive values are slightly higher in the sour tasting Udara fruits but the sweeter/riper fruits are more appealing to consumers, like my sister and I. The more bitter variety has a higher calorie content -about 100 calories. The sweeter Udara fruit contains about 86 calories, making them ideal for snacking in between meals or on the go. In order of nutrient content, Vitamin C has the highest presence, with Calcium, Vitamin A and Phosphorus also present in decreasing amounts. There are traces of Vitamin B1 and B2, which are great for metabolism. It contains 7% protein and 11% carbohydrate with 4% being fibrous which is great for digestion. Compared to the average chocolate bar which contains between 200-300 calories and is composed of mostly processed sugar and fat, the unassuming agbalumo is not only cheaper, but gives you the added vitamins, minerals and fibre that are needed by the body.

Eat local, eat in season and enjoy another amazing African fruit. After all, he who dares the udaras wins!

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SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Wine & Dine

Body&Soul

Watermelon delight 1 Ibukunoluwa Kayode

K

nown for its nutritious value and refreshing properties, watermelon juice is the best way to beat the dry season.

Watermelon is surprisingly good for the health.

Recent research shows the benefits embedded in the sweet tasting melon; and particularly in drinking it as a fresh juice, can have some significant healthy advantage.

If you’d like to help protect your heart, skin and body from cancer, then have more lycopene rich food like watermelon. The lycopene substance present in this fruit will help protect your s k i n

from UV damage that can lead to aging, wrinkles and skin cancer.

The benefits of watermelon makes it a preferred choice for a healthy diet.

Try a watermelon diet — eat or juice watermelon and slim down if you need to lose weight, it’s a very good fruit juice to tone down weight.

It is an important addition for a low-fat, lowcholesterol diet due to its natural water.

Watermelon juice can be prepared fresh throughout the year. The sweetness, fleshy texture and juicy pulp of watermelons make it a favourite for dessert and salad dishes. It can be taken before, in between and after meals. It’s a fruit juice with no side effects when indulged.

The delicious fruit comes in

several appealing colours, including red, pink and orange. It contains natural water and less sugar or sodium that helps hydration, besides being excellent sources of vitamins.

The lycopene substance present in watermelon is an antioxidant that helps prevent many diseases. It helps to neutralise the ‘free radicals,’ roaming molecules that cause tissue and organ damage in the body.

Among its list of numerous nutritional value, is its ability to minimise risks of strokes and other ailments like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, colon cancer and asthma.

To be continued...

Perfect fluffy pancakes Biwom Iklaki

I

t is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While this may be true for some, it is impractical for others. Some because they barely make it in time to grab their laptops and car keys before they are dashing out the door. This pancake recipe is the classic tasty and healthy one that most people may have forgotten how to make. You may pre-mix and refrigerate or prepare and store in refrigerator packs to take with you to work.

Throw in a few fruits if you are one of the healthy Willies who stick to their diet plan for the

year (for those who still have weight loss in their New Year resolution).

INGREDIENTS ¾ cups milk 2 tablespoons white vinegar 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 egg 2 tablespoons butter, melted Cooking spray PREPARATION Mix your milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to ‘sour’.

Mix your dry ingredients-flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg and butter into ‘soured’ milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray or a drizzle of 1 table spoon olive oil. Pour ¼ cupsful of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface.

Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side. Serve with fresh berries, some cream and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. Be mindful of portions.

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SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Body&Soul

The Prince’s Valentine

Hero of the week

Yellow House shine at school’s sport competition T

his week, we celebrate many heros at the 2nd Inter-house sport competition of BBHS Abeokuta (mission). It was a huge success with Agboola House (Yellow) emerging first position.

It was held on Thursday 29th January, 2015 at the Mudal Lawal Stadium, Asero, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

Bowen House (Red) won the March past trophy with their fabulous costume and was the 3rd Overall winner. Aloba House (Green) got the 2nd overall position while Pinock

O

nce upon a time there was a little Prince, and he wanted to give a valentine to a little Princess who lived in a neighboring kingdom. She was a very beautiful little Princess indeed, for her smile was as bright as her golden hair, and her love for her subjects was as deep as the blue of her eyes.

“What kind of a valentine shall I get for the Princess?” the Prince asked.

“A heart, your Highness; nothing but a heart will do!” said the Court Wise Man. “A beautiful heart, your Highness; nothing but a beautiful heart will do!” said the Court Ladies.

“A priceless heart, your Highness; nothing but a priceless heart will do!” said the Court Chancellor.

So the Prince started out to get a heart valentine for the little Princess that would be both beautiful and beyond price, and he did not know where to find it.

Before long, though, he came to a jeweller’s shop that was full of pretty, costly things to wear. There were pins, and bracelets, and necklaces made of silver and gold, and set with rubies, and sapphires, and emeralds, and diamonds.

“This is the place to find a valentine for the little Princess,” thought the Prince, and he selected a diamond heart hung on a gold chain as thin as a thread for the little Princess to wear about her neck.

The Prince gave the jeweller his bag of

gold and started out of the shop with the diamond heart in his hand. But he stopped at the door, looking at the heart. It was dull, and no longer shining. What was the matter with it, he wondered. (www.apples4theteacher.com)

What town in England makes terrible sandwiches?

Ans: Oldham!

What kind of hair do oceans have?

Ans: Wavy!

What do you mean by telling everyone

that I’m an idiot?

Ans: I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was supposed to be a secret!

Why are goldfish red?

Ans: The water turns them rusty!

What is the best hand to write with?

Ans: Neither - it’s best to write with a pen!

MOYIN & FRIENDS

LITTLE LINDER

Red house winner of the march past

Cross word puzzle

Gags Where do tadpoles change?

Ans: In a croakroom!

House (Blue) came 4th. Bowen House (Red) won the Relay (junior) event’s trophy and with Agboola House (Yellow) won the Relay (Senior) event’s trophy.

The host, Deacon Olufemi Adebajo, a man with big dream, was credited for the success of the event for motivating the members of staff to give their best cooperation.

To God be the glory, it was a wonderful event to discover new talents in tracks and outdoor sport.

By Ayo Oyerinde

08034407393

By eei

SUNDAY

Faith 51

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Sermon The Lent of human limitations p.54

Interview Nigeria needs serious prayers now – Omoniyi p.53

Sermon Favour opens doors of impossibilities p.57

Rev. Ezechukwu

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N6bn allegation: Who is telling the truth?

Tai Anyanwu

Tai Anyanwu Head, religous Desk titus.anyanwu@newtelegraph online.com

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Amaechi

he build-up to this year’s general elections has thrown up some worrisome developments. This is the first time electioneering in Nigeria falls short of a normal contest based on political ideologies.

Some social observers have described it as a celebration for the reckless; where major actors attack the personality of opponents. The desperation to establish a power base among religious bodies this time around, on the part of politicians, also reinforces the view that politics and religion are actually inseparable.

For instance, it is evident that politicians extend their campaign frontiers to the church of God. Some analysts argued that since

political heavyweights now recognise the church as a place where they could get blessings to amass votes and actualise their ambitions, the house of God has become the new haven.

Some other Christians have insisted that politicians should not pollute God’s Holy sanctuary with their lies and corruption. Paul Udo, a concerned Nigerian told our correspondent that: “Ours is a country where people disregard the truth just to justify their selfish interest.” He did not find it funny either that politicians have found an in-road into the churches.

Udo added that, while some uses the cover of not wanting a candidate to islamise the country, the rumour mills equally have it that Christian leaders have secretly assured President Goodluck Jonathan that they would impress it

upon their congregation to support his re-election bid.

“While these remain mere rumours, what is true is that turning the church and religious bodies into campaign grounds has left the house of God desecrated,” Udo pointed out.

While church leaders were trying to ruminate on the sudden surge of politicians in the churches, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Ameachi, threw a bomb shell when he alleged that some pastors collected N6 billion from politicians whose handbills they have been sharing in the churches telling the congregation not to vote for an Hausa man and neither for a Muslim whose intention is to Islamize Nigeria.

Ameachi said: “Tell them to return the N6 billion they collected.

They should return it to the federal

government coffers. The falsehood is that Buhari wants to Islamize Nigeria; tell them we are too educated to believe that. I am a Catholic and no Catholic priest has told me that story in the church. If he does, I will ask him how that can be possible.”

He noted that: “If any pastor tells you that; tell him that nobody can Islamize Nigeria. The truth is that some respected men of God have commercialised the church using the name Jesus Christ falsely.

They should stop commercialising Jesus Christ. He is our Lord and Saviour.”

He added that: “You know what Jesus Christ did in the temple to those who wanted to desecrate God’s holy temple, ofcourse we knew he chased them away. We CONTINUED ON PAGE 52

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

N6bn allegation: Who is telling the truth? shall chase away those pastors who have collected money from PDP to tell us lies. We shall chase them away on behalf of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Ameachi stated.

At the opening session of the 13th Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), RCCG General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, did not hide the embarrassment Ameachi’s allegation caused the church.

He warned that any Pastor, who must have accepted such gratification to influence the outcome of the election, should return such before the anger of God comes upon them.

The respected Pastor however challenged the River state governor to name those Pastors who allegedly collected the N6 billion gratification, and asked the PFN to institute an inquiry to determine the veracity of Ameachi’s claims.

In a swiftly response, the leadership of PFN maintained that Governor Ameachi’s allegations lacked merit and was absolute falsehood.

Some Ministers of God from orthodox churches have also expressed worries over the implications of the allegation levelled against the church of God. Corps Officer of the Salvation Army, Kano state, Stephen Ezechukwu said in his reaction that: “As a Priest/Pastor, such unholy arrangement was unknown to any of us until the accuser came up with his allegation.

I believe the allegation is out to ridicule the church that brought civilization to Nigeria. It is unfair to give the church a wrong outlook as not being civil enough to know or to do the right thing without being bribed or tipped before doing the right things in the society.”

Ezechukwu added that: “The first implication is that the host of hell (Devil) will be celebrating that it is messing up the dignity of the Church, as associating

Adeboye

it with bribery and corruption in a country She is doing all she can to purge of the same.”

He stressed that; the ungodly political class would have more reasons and opportunity to find in roads into the church to lure her into a compromised life style to which she did not originally belong. “We do know that our fundamental basis is the Truth; this truth has the power to set any nation free from everything including political failure caused by the errors of having the wrong persons in sensitive political position/offices.”

He warned that no sensible person would drag the entire church into such a mess.

The Director of Catholic Communications, Reverend Monsignor Gabriel Osu, on his part, said that, it was unthinkable that supposedly men of God would stoop so low as to collect inducement to campaign for or against any politician.

He said: “I do not have all the details with me.

Adefarasin

Perhaps, Governor Rotimi Ameachi in view of his privileged position has security reports to that effect. If that is so, it is very unfortunate and condemnable. I challenge him to list the names of those men of God who have been compromised.

If he does not give names, then people might think everyone is involved. For instance, I do not expect any Catholic priest to descend so low to collect money to campaign for anyone. There is supposed to be decorum and high integrity in the house of God and for the one who is called to be the servant of God. If you recall, Governor Ameachi was quoted as saying thus: “I am a Catholic, but no Catholic priest has told me that story right now in the Church because I will ask him how?”

That would tell you that no Catholic priest is included in the alleged scandal. But, like I have always said, it is not right for a man of God to be politically induced. He is supposed to be the father of all. By openly taking sides, he would be belittling his

position. He is to act in advisory capacity and not to take sides. Unfortunately, these days, some people are even ready to sell their conscience for money.

“I want to align myself with Pastor Enoch Adeboye who said, the pastors who allegedly collected the money should quickly return it and seek God’s forgiveness.

But, note that, the statement may not necessarily mean that Pastor Adeboye concurs that the allegation is a fact. Beyond all these, however, we need to ask these questions: Who are these pastors? Did they collect the said money on individual basis or as a group? When was the money given? Who are witnesses to the transactions? I want to appeal to those who have answers to these questions to please furnish us with information so as to douse the tension and desist from overheating polity. May God save Nigeria,” Osu prayed. Evangelist Godswill Uchenna Okafor of the Ebenezer Methodist Church, Akowonjo, Lagos, lent his own voice too,

when he said: “I pity the River state governor, who is chewing what he cannot swallow. He is inviting the wrath of God upon his life for making false allegation against men of God in this country.

“I am convinced that no man of God collected a dime from any politician and for what reason would they do that,” he queried.

The Chairman of the PFN in Cross River state, Bishop (Dr.) Emmah Isong, told journalists that though no money has been given to pastors as alleged by Amaechi, the Director General of the Buhari presidential campaign lacks the moral authority to alleging that pastors were given money to campaign against the political interest of the APC. He insisted that Amaechi was being hypocritical concerning the allegation he levelled against pastors in the country.

“My first answer to that would be that the governor did not mention names. Pastor (Enoch) Adeboye himself on the 4th of February at the TREM (The Redeemed Evangelical Mission) Headquarters in Lagos, in front of six thousand pastors challenged whoever made the allegations to mention names. And up till date, no name has been mentioned as the brain behind the heinous allegation of collecting

N6 billion to share to the pastors.

Isong noted that if N6 billion was shared to pastors to mobilise Christians for the elections, people like Adeboye, whom I call one of the most important Christians in Nigeria, with the largest church armed with voting power, has not collected a penny.

He vowed that being the number one Pentecostal and chairman of PFN for over eight years now, I have not also collected any penny from anybody, Isong averred.

The Chairman of CAN South Western Nigeria, Bishop Magnus Atilade, challenged Governor Ameachi to publish names of those who might have collected the alleged N6 billion from the PDP. He said: “As a Christian leader, I want Governor Ameachi to tell us who is involved. We are interested,” he said.

At press time, Ameachi hasn’t published the names of the ministers of God who benefitted from the N6 billion gratification from the PDP to campaign against the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

But how seriously could the defence of Pastors be taken considering the fact that many of them have been perceived to live materialistic lives?

Group cautions politicians, clerics

A

non-governmental organisation devoted to good governance, the Progressive Friends Foundation, has called on political parties in the country to conduct their campaigns without any violence.

The group said political parties have, rightly, intensified efforts at swaying the electorate in their favour.

“The intensity is now at fever pitch that is almost bordering on desperation. In the process, some have left issues and resorted to name-calling, unnecessary overheating of the polity and violence. PFF holds the view that if this is not stemmed immediately, Nigeria may find itself returning to the dark days of the 60s and 80s where electoral violence set our political and economic development back by decades. PFF recognises the fact that no single party has a monopoly of violence.

We imagine that an attempt at retaliation would only escalate the ugly situation. PFF has observed the unwarranted attacks at political opponents,” the group said in a statement signed by its Director General, Chief Ifeanyi Oramah.

The group also condemned cases of political violence in parts of the country and cautioned political parties to educate their supporters on civil conduct.

“The ongoing insurgency is foisting enough hardship on the people. The emerging political violence can only add to that. PFF would like to remind political parties that their focus should be on how to improve the welfare of the people. The emerging violence is compounding the welfare deficit of the people,” the statement said.

PFF also deplored attacks on the noted the attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan.

It expressed dismay at reports that some clerics had used their churches for political campaigns. It noted that such conduct could pitch memebrs of their churches against each other.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Nigeria needs serious prayers now – Omoniyi How long have you served as a pastor?

I started my pastoral vocation about 28 years ago. I was a civil servant and worked in the Ondo State Ministry of Commerce and Industry before I got the call God. I have no option than to answer the call. I graduated in Mass Communication from Lagos State University. I come from a Christian background, but my parents were not born-again; because they still partake in other things like traditional worship.

Shepherd in charge of Celestial Church of Christ, Mosan I Cathedral, Lagos, Superior Evangelist Julius Omoniyi, speaks on his life as a pastor in this interview with STANLEY IHEDIGBO

The politicians should do their homework very well through their campaigns.

There should be no violence, no matter for how long the elections are postponed.

Christian leaders have to be prayerful for God to deliver this country

How did you get saved?

I was born into an Anglican family. I became a member of Celestial Church through a friend. Since then I have devoted my life to Christ.

What has been your experience as a minister of God? Being a pastor may be sweet at some times and bitter at other times. So, whatever comes one’s way, as a minister one has to accept it because he works for the Almighty God, who knows the beginning and the end of our lives.

There is no minister of God who doesn’t encounter problems. If problems do not come from outside the fold, members of the church would cause problems to arise from within. The most difficult work to do is ministering in God’s vineyard, because you are leading people of different characters, languages, attitude and behaviour.

Can you recall the most challenging time in your ministry?

It was around 1994 when I started a church and when it was time for me as a pastor to rest a little and reap the reward.

But in 1997, God told me to leave the church for another place and start a new church. Then, it was difficult for me. As a human being, it was difficult for me to start struggling afresh. But I thank God for where I am today. If you obey God, in totality, you will see the hand of God doing wonders and miracles for His people.

Tell us a bit about your prophetic ongoing programme?

We started seven weeks of prophetic Sundays, on the first Sunday of January. The programme will be concluded this Sunday (today). It is mainly about prayer, because we believe that when we pray, God can do a new thing in our lives. So, we invited different ministers of God to preach the word.

There were also prayers, deliverance, ministration and other activities.

Nigeria is seen as country with many churches yet indiscipline, insincerity and corruption abound. How do you feel about that?

It is a very serious issue. Christians are supposed to be role models. But if you go to some churches today, you find out that men of God and their followers exhibit corrupt tendencies. How can corruption stop, when ministers of God are also corrupt?

We need to pray more in this country. I believed with the prayer of the saints, God will surely deliver this country from corruption.

Some pastors allow their members to dress in a manner that might be considered to be indecent. What is your take on this?

It is an act of indiscipline. God Himself will not tolerate indiscipline or approve of His children dressing half-clad in the church. That is why in Celestial Church of Christ, we don’t allow people to dress

Faith

Omoniyi anyhow they like. This is because we have a mode of dressing where men and women cover themselves properly to the glory of God. Is it scriptural to ordain a woman as a bishop?

What the Bible tells us about women is that they should be silent in the churches.

The word of God doesn’t permit a woman to lead the body of Jesus.

What about the case where the founder of a church passes on and his wife takes over the ministry and their children become members of the Board of Trustees?

It is part of the problem we are seeing in Christendom. You see, God may call you as a man but not your wife. Although the Bible says that husband and wife should

be one, that doesn’t give the woman the opportunity to replace her dead husband in the ministry. She can be the women leader while another committed person who has the calling of God would head the church.

In my own opinion, according to the word of God, it is not right.

What is your counsel regarding the tension generated by the postponement of the elections?

This is the time all Nigerians need God the most. We need to pray harder and I believe that by the special grace of God, everything is going to be alright in this country. I urge all politicians in this country to be patient and calm because governance is not a do-or-die affair. Whoever God wants to be a leader in this country, he or she will emerge. The politicians should do their homework very well through their campaigns. There should be no violence, no matter for how long the elections are postponed. Christian leaders have to be prayerful for God to deliver this country.

What is your opinion about President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent visits to churches in the country?

There is nothing bad in what he is doing.

He has been going to churches, thanking them for their prayers for the nation, and requesting for more prayers as the country prepares to elect a new leader. It is only that we Christian leaders don’t maintain our status in this country. We are the people they should run to when there are problems. It is a good thing that a sitting president is coming to identify with the body of Christ. It shows that his leadership is anchored in God. For me, even if the President is going to churches and they prayed for his re-election, there is nothing bad in that.

I advise that the other candidates can also do the same thing, go to churches and ask for prayers for election. However, Christian leaders should not be partisan. We should perform our civic rights as citizens of this country by casting our votes.

Where and how did you meet your wife?

I met my wife in the church before I became a pastor. We were just members of the same church. We met and started a relationship that led to marriage.

How did you propose to her?

Just as an African man proposes to a woman. I said that I wanted to take our relationship to the next level and she agreed.

Do you find time to take her out regularly?

We do go out occasionally. As a minister, I always attend to people’s prayer needs.

I come to church every day. I told you that a pastor’s work is the most difficult job. It involves more time, all the time.

Have you ever cooked for your wife?

As a man of God, I don’t need to lie to you. The only time I cooked for my wife was when she was not strong after child birth. And I am not against other pastors who cook for their wives. I do help her with domestic chores.

What is your favourite meal?

I love pounded yam because I am Ekiti man.

Miracles mark Mount of Glory programme Esther Albert

G

eneral Overseer of Mount of Glory Christ Apostolic Church Worldwide, Lagos, Prophet Samuel Oloruntola, has described the ongoing twin programme – Seven Anointing Sundays and the prophetic and impartation service of his church, as a harvest of miracles.

Oloruntola, who was speaking to Sunday Telegraph, explained that diverse miracles were recorded during the programme to the amazement of many participants.

“Many people have been blessed through this anointing service. Women who were barren for years are now pregnant. Many other testimonies have been received from different people.

“God instructed us to have seven Sundays of anointing services. God promised us that this year is a year of testimonies and we strongly believe in these promises.

Oloruntola

“From different parts of the world, people thronged the auditorium. Each day, they religiously attended different programmes packaged to help the participants receive different blessings.

“There are other powerful programmes and they are full of miracles. There is Solution Hour, which comes up every Wednesday at 9a.m. Solution Vigil comes up every last Friday of the month. There is also men’s vigil which holds every Monday,” the cleric said.

Also speaking, Assistant Pastor Ayoade Oluyemi of Ejigbo branch said the programme was packaged based on divine instruction.

The assembly pastor in Ejigbo Branch, Abiodun Bamigbade, added, “God is using the seven Sundays anointing services to reposition the church and also to prepare the entire congregation for a glorious Year.”

The programme will end on March 1.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

The Lent of human limitations Firm Faith:

Right Reason Most Rev.

Emmanuel A. Badejo fradebadejo@yahoo.

0803 949 4219 (SMS only)

The morning after The Bible is replete with exhortations about the strong and secure. Beware!

Whether the issue is a flight to pleasure through drugs, alcohol or sex, the time always comes when every human flight of fantasy comes back to land. That landing, for good or for bad, depends very much on the nature of the choices we make in the process of flight. You cannot sow rice and reap cassava; if you sow a storm you reap a whirlwind. What you sow is what you reap, as the Bible affirms (2 Cor. 9:6, Gal 6:7). Remorse time has an uncanny way of wiping away the dusty film of self-deceit from our eyes. Reality then stares us in the face. It is sometimes called ‘the morning after feeling;’ the kind that follows the unreasonable adventure of a February 14. It can even be the feeling that hits a whole nation when its government, after years of planning and promising prompt and pristine elections, turns around days before the event to announce a postponement. Just like that! Hopes and aspirations crumble like a matchstick house, like dreams emptied of all logic and self-assurance.

How could it happen after all the grandstanding? All assailed by the ‘morning after feeling’ somehow realise that God

alone always counts and can always be counted upon.

The leeway of Lent At such times of the collapse of human confidence, the discerning mind must rediscover that summoning voice that never ceases. God seeks His own again and again. “Where art thou?” God asked Adam and Eve and He still asks that question today. They felt a sense of shame because of the options they took, as the Bible says, because “they were naked;” rendered so by their own disobedience and self-deception. Lent is God’s mechanism to revive our moribund hopes and resurrect our dead. The present circumstances of Nigeria remind us that we have for too long applied the treatment for rashes to cure our real ailment, the leprosy of sin. So, with all our brilliant speeches and schemes about democracy and institutions, we have largely failed to treat the miserable corruption and inefficiency of the man at the centre of it all. Houses are never built from the top except perhaps in computer software and graphic drawings. Piece the picture of the man on the paper correctly together and you cannot err with the map of the world on the flip side; even of a piece of paper shredded into a thousand pieces. So, God calls us all to a moral and spiritual self-renewal: “Come let us reason together. Though your sins be as scarlet they will be white as snow.”

(Is. 18:) So, it is time again to return to God, the refuge of the hopeless (Ps. 16).

Repentance is always relevant Will there ever come a time when repentance gets outdated in human life?

Most unlikely! There is always a Prodigal Son out there needing to return home

Ashes signify the nothingness that accompanies all human endeavours, a fact which nudges us to remember the primacy of the spirit over the flesh, the spiritual over the material. “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has no gain” (Jn. 6:63). The Creator himself summarized the futility of human adventure against the divine will

Lk.15). There is a Father as well, ever willing to take back His son and set him on the right track. Why not be the prodigal who says: “Yes, I shall arise and return to my Father?” In the Church, that return is powerfully signalled by the signing with ashes. Ashes signify the nothingness that accompanies all human endeavours, a fact which nudges us to remember the primacy of the spirit over the flesh, the spiritual over the material.

“It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh has no gain.” (Jn. 6:63).The Creator himself summarised the futility of human adventure against the divine will. He said, “Man, you are dust and unto dust you shall return.” At funeral services, we hear it repeatedly: “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” It would have all been a hopeless end, had God himself not promised a Saviour who would turn it all right

round. From the ashes and dust of our finiteness, the love and power of Jesus Christ resurrects our human soul. So says the traditional hymn: “In the cross be my glory ever. Till my ransomed soul shall find rest beyond the river.” That ransomed soul of the sinner is like gold which brings joy even among the angels in heaven (Lk. 15:7).

The ashes and the gold So, Lent is a period of transformation. On Ash Wednesday, we recall the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the benefits which we reap from it.

Jesus Christ attracts the mercy of God to us. We are then empowered to live like those who “have come out of the great persecution; they have washed and made their clothes white in the blood of the lamb.” (Rev.7:14). Such is the power of the saving intervention of Christ which, during Lent, beckons on those who have yet to experience it.

That is the point at which our ashes turn to gold. St. Paul puts it well in his letter to the Romans: “By this baptism in his death we were buried with Christ and, as Christ was raised from among the dead by the Glory of the Father, so we begin walking in a new life.” (Rom 6:4).That new life makes a sweet but challenging demand of us all. It was a favourite theme of Saint Paul as he put it to the Corinthians: “However we carry these treasures in vessels of clay, so that his all-surpassing power may not be seen as ours but as God’s (2Cor 4:7). So it is, that God’s transforming power redeems our human decadence and weakness whenever we heed that universal call to holiness: “Change your ways, the kingdom of heaven is close at hand” (Matt 3: 2). There is no better time than now to say “yes” to our salvation.

Heaven has windows Insight Rev.

Femi Akinola

www.thehebrewsng.com

01-790 3163; 0808 584 5864

“T

he sky over your head will become an iron roof, the ground under your feet, a slab of concrete. From out of the skies God will rain ash and dust down on you until you suffocate.” Deut 28:23-24 (MSG) This scripture opened my understanding to the fact that there is a portion of heaven over every individual.

Every man has his portion of heaven (over his head) with an entry and exit route called ‘window;’ the condition of that window is automatically the condition of your life. Until the heavens declare the glory of God upon your life, you will continue to pay unnecessary dues to the portfolio of darkness.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Ps 19:1 (NIV) In that heaven, there is a portion that is yours and its condition is a direct reflection of the condition of your life.

The condition of your heaven…

The condition of that window of your heaven will determine your status in life, that is whether you are going to be poor or rich in life, be a master or a servant, a celebrity or a liability, a philanthropist or a beggar. The condition of this window would tell whether you would be a success or a failure.

Beloved, until that window of your heaven is opened, struggling, begging and murmuring continue regardless of the intelligence, hard work, title and even the connections you might think you have.

The opened window In my search through the Word of God, there was no record of the windows of heaven opened except once and this was in the days of Noah when it rained heavily for 40 days and 40 nights. “…and the windows and floodgates of the heavens were opened and it rained upon the earth forty days and forty nights.” Gen 7:11-12 (AMP) After this incident, it was recorded that the windows were shut and there was no record of these windows being opened again. In this dispensation, there is a proven Biblical way to open this window; I mean there is passcode recognised by the Godhead for the windows of your heaven to be opened.

This is through your tithe.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not

This shows that as you comply fully with the law of tithing, your window of heaven will open on its accord. This goes on for every stream of income God allows to pass through your hands

open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” Malachi 3:10 When this reality from God’s word dawned on me, I became full of life and understanding too. I then began to see reason why so many are languishing, even in the church today because of their ignorance. Whenever you drop or pay your tithe, never you think you are helping the Pastor or your church; it is God’s ordained precept for you to experience open heavens, even in the midst of scarcity. There is no alternative to tithing, neither is there a shortcut. Your tithe is a debt you owe and you must pay it. If you refuse to pay it according to Biblical injunctions, the devil will collect it from you. If you don’t do it willingly, it will be taken

from you forcefully.

Our church is a tithing church and this we do without restraint. This alone among other things is the thriving secret of the church and we have never ceased to experience His wonders and open heavens. While some are feeding fat on their tithe, they are no better than slaughter houses. They treat the issue of tithing as a mere Old Testament doctrine.

You do not pray to open that window of your heaven; the window of your heavens doesn’t answer to prayers but your tithe. I was thinking there is only a window in the whole of heaven but God made me to understand that in heaven, there are several windows.

“There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.” John 14:2 (THE MESSAGE) Jesus in His closing remarks reassured His disciples of the provision of the Father and this also communicates that there are many windows in God’s mansion. This shows that as you comply fully with the law of tithing, your window of heaven will open on its accord. This goes on for every stream of income God allows to pass through your hands. This equation then tallies with the scripture above (for every tithe you drop on any stream of income, there are windows in heaven that open on their own accord for your prosperity). As you connect to this revelation, your window of heaven shall be continually opened in Jesus name.

To be continued next week.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Riding on your storms Mystery ofAnxiety Bishop

John Ogbansiegbe

0803 341 6327

“The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet.” He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers. Bashian languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.” (Nahum 1:3-4) A storm is the violent commotion of the atmosphere. It is an outbreak, a violent wind, a tempest or violent rush. A storm is a calamity or an attack, especially a sudden attack. It is a sudden collapse, and an unexpected sudden failure.

The storms of life are the unpleasant experiences of life. A storm is anything that affects your peace. A storm is anything that shatters the fulfillment of your dreams in any area of your life. There is the storm of miscarriage. There is the storm of affliction, sickness and disease. There is the storm of demonic attack and demonic oppression. There is also the storm of business and financial failure. There is the storm of examination failure, demotion, depravity and hindrances.

There is the storm of dying minute disappointments and sudden calamities like

accident, capital loss of money to robbers, dupers, and terminal sickness.

Storms by their nature come with an intimidating sound and violent noise. It comes with a boisterous wind and tempest.

It also comes with a hurricane. The consequential effects of storms have always been disastrous. It comes with such an unbearable fierceness and commotion that their victim will have no other option, but to be afraid, disgusted, miserable and frustrated.

Most people who are victims of such calamities, become frightened and terrorised.

They fret and fidget at every little problem.

They change their confessions in Christ.

They feel disappointed and frustrated.

They also feel like giving up hope. No matter what you are passing through now, hold unto God in faith. Hold yourself for a while and stand on the promises of God, and you shall surely ride on your storms.

This was why the word of God declared: “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb 10:35) Spiritually and figuratively speaking, if by faith you can stand on the word of God together with the potency thereof, and look beyond the problems, mountains and obstacles before you and begin to see, claim and confess the victory, glory, blessing and miracles ahead of you, you shall see yourself riding on your storm. To this end, the word of God declares in respect of this attitude as it was manifested in our Lord Jesus Christ and states thus: “... Who for the joy that was set before him endured the

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) How does it come? It comes by hearing and hearing the word of God cross, despising the same, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) If you imbibe this attitude towards the storms of life, you shall realise that behind every shadow, there is light somewhere.

You must begin now to look beyond your present problem, in order to see what God is about to do for you. There and then, you shall enjoy a triumphant ride on your storms. Go ahead and look beyond those intimidating looks, those impossibilities, those failures and beyond the disappointments. Go ahead and look beyond the tragedies and calamities. Look beyond the barrenness, scanning or laboratory result of your health or womb. Look beyond the delayed marriage and loss of that huge amount of money. Look beyond those things that are terrorising you. Look beyond those things that have taken away your sleep and appetite. Look beyond the cause of that emotional pain, bitterness and distress.

As you do so, you shall victoriously ride on your storms. Your obstacles shall then become your stepping stone to greater

Faith

heights.

When you have applied these principles, you shall be laughing, when you are expected to be crying. You shall be happy when you are expected to be sad. You shall be eating well, when you are expected to lose appetite. You shall be sleeping soundly, when you are expected to be awake and worried. You shall be healthy, when you are expected to be sick. You shall be moving about in happiness, when you are expected to be sick and poor. You shall be moving about in happiness, when you are expected to lock up yourself in a room; in melancholy and frustration. Why? Because you are no more seeing the problems before you, but you are now seeing the joy and glory ahead of these problems. Remember, your vision is your possession because there is always a provision for your vision.

Ride on these storms, stand on the promises of God, and arm yourself with faith.

This is because faith is the vehicle or horse with which you shall rise to the top, and beyond your storms, while the word of God shall be your platform or ground of action.

Fear and doubts will knock your engine, puncture your tyres and damage your car, if you allow them. The Bible says, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) How does it come? It comes by hearing and hearing the word of God. In view of the foregoing spiritual position, the word of God also says: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are eternal.”

(2 Corinthians 4:8) This has always been the style, attitude and methodology of God.

The true Church and the false Church (2) the of

Oracles God

Frank Oboden Olomukoro frankolomukoro@yahoo.com

0703 362 1866

A worth while comparison • The Holy Ghost or certificates?

Between the original church (true church) and modern Christianity (false church), there exists an enormous difference. Everything that existed in the early church is lacking in the denominational church; and everything that is in established organiSed Christianity (denomination) today was not present in the original church.

The proclamation of the gospel in the earliest days of Christianity was according to the Word. The Apostles were instructed by the Lord Himself and were placed under the leading of the Holy Spirit. But the proclamation of the gospel by denominations is by the qualifications of certificates, diplomas and degrees for church planting and growth instead of the Holy Ghost.

(Acts 1:8, Acts 2:1-14) • Defining Features of the true Church & false Church The original church is a living organism; Jesus Christ being the head of the church ruling the church from His throne in heaven by revelation. But the denomination is a rigid organisation with one basic feature of being guided by human creeds and dogmas rather than the divine authority of the Word of God. Hierarchy is another significant feature, with a strong emphasis on status accentuated by the use of titles that are sometimes even blasphemous as they ascribe to mor-

tal man the honour due only to the God of heaven. Religious titles and prefixes such as Pope, Cardinal, Archbishop, General Overseer, General Superintendent, President and Chief Apostle are indeed off-scripture. Others include Supreme Evangelist, Arch-Deacon, Deaconess, Pre-Eminence, His Lord, His Holiness, His Grace, Holy Father etc. lift supposed servants of God above the spiritual offices recognised by the scriptures. (Simply Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Teachers, Pastors).

• Worship and prayers Worship and prayers in the true church are only by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus spoke of this in John 4:21-24 in His dialogue with the woman He met by the well in Sychar, Samaria when He said unto her, “Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: We know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit (Holy Ghost) and in truth (Jesus Christ): for the father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in truth.”

True worship is connected to the teachings of Apostolic doctrines but vain worship is defined by Jesus Christ thus: “Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7.

Worship in the organised churches tends to be ceremonial and lithurgical rather than inspired while the Pentecostals though not appearing as formalistic as their Orthodox kindred, still attempt to manipulate the Holy Ghost as it were by their programmes of activities as evidenced in their study guides or teaching manuals. True worshippers under

the denomination cannot worship God simply as dictated by His word but as believed and taught by the denomination to which they belong. They even attempt to organise prayers in vain repetition and in a stereotyped manner, a thing that is impossible because prayer is spontaneous. Rivalry and competition to outdo one another in mode of worship, membership, structures, programmes of activities and methodology are characteristics of organised religion because the source of inspiration is not from one place but different headquarters, different traditions and creeds. But God wants us to stay free, so we can just preach the Bible the way it is written and believe it just that way in line with the fulfillment of prophecies for our time.

•The Binding tie of Doctrinal teaching The true church built by the Lord was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost by the Baptism of the Holy Spirit on all 120 disciples and all that believed later on. The church which is universal consists of men and women whose hearts have been circumcised and are aflame with fire which made them saints while living, not made saints years after death. Romans 16:1-2 “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the LORD, as becometh saints…” They continued in the apostolic doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and in prayers. (Acts 2:42) “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the Chief corner stone.

The true church of the Lord Jesus Christ was inaugurated in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (AD33) with the outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit (Joel 2:25). However, the Roman Catholic (universal) church emerged in Rome, in AD 325, about 300 years after the death of the apostles of Jesus Christ when the

physical Roman empire metamorphosed into a spiritual Papal Roman order under the Leadership of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, and not the Holy Ghost.

• Baptism by name or titles All that receive the gospel are first baptised by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. Examples of thousands baptised correctly, apart from me the writer/ preacher, abound in Acts 2:38-41, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:1-7 etc. But the denominations baptise some by immersion, by sprinkling of water or by pouring of water with or without the signs of the cross across the face in the titles of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Where is this example in the entire Bible? Not a single one except those from the traditions of church practices.

True Water Baptism started on the day of Pentecost, with 3,000 souls being baptised on the same day without baptismal classes and examination. But this is not the practice by the denominational churches whose method of water baptism started after a heated debate by 1,500 delegates at the famous council of Nicea, in a town known today as Iznik in Northwestern Turkey under the leadership of a Roman emperor, Constantine in 325 A.D. (11) The Godhead or The Holy Trinity The true church teaches the Godhead, a scriptural exposition from Genesis to Revelation identifying Jehovah of the Old Testament as Jesus Christ of the New Testament. The One Lord God of the Old Testament is the same Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament. The Jehovah God worshipped in the Old Testament is the very Lord Jesus Christ worshipped too by the wise men, demons and a host of others, (Matt 4:8) confirming the first commandment of Exod. 20:1 that only God deserves worship; identifying Jesus Christ, the Messiah as Jehovah in the flesh.

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FEBRUARY 15, 2015 SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Faith

Understanding the secrets of financial blessings (3) The Voice of Dominion by

Bishop David Oyedepo

7747546-8 (SMS only)

L

ast week, we examined among other things, a qualifier for financial blessings. Also, I gave you an example of the Macedonian Church, whose addiction to giving resulted in strange financial fortune.

Apart from that, we looked at the need to be empowered over self, to maintain a giving life. This week, I will be showing you some basic truths about money, benefits of giving

and why we are blessed.

Some Basic Truths About Money: Recognise that money is part and parcel of living. As soon as a child is in the womb, it starts consuming money. This is so right from conception to childhood and from childhood to adulthood. So, money is an essential part of life.

Money was so essential that Jesus could not do without it, during His earthly ministry. Note, from adulthood to the grave, you need money!

Giving is God-ordained gateway to financial favour. If you are not a giver, you are not entitled to financial fortune. However, love is the essential facilitator for giving. The proof of our love for God is in our giving to the poor and needy. There is no substitute to giving for anyone that must enjoy financial fortune. You are giving to access financial

fortune and you need giving to sustain financial fortune. You need the giving grace (2 Corinthians 8:7).

There is an anointing that empowers us to walk in God’s statutes without stress (Ezekiel 36:27). That is the anointing of love, which empowers our obedience of scriptures without stress (Romans 5:5; John 14:21).

Benefits of Giving: •Recognize that the giving covenant gives us things that money can’t buy. Money can’t deliver you in times of trouble; but giving to the poor delivers you from trouble.

•It will keep you alive and make sure you are immune to sickness. Money can’t buy you all these; but giving grants you access to them.

•Every giver is endowed with discretion

and intelligence (Psalm 112:5).

•Giving secures your posterity (Psalm 112:1-3).

•You can give your way to a super healthy life.

•Apart from material returns, giving is heaven’s joker! That is why no true giver ever gets stranded!

You can give your way out of poverty, lack and want (Proverbs 10:22).

You are not where you are by your physical strength; you are where you are by your giving.

Why We are Blessed: God delights in our financial fortune and riches. However, at the root of man’s challenges is spiritual ignorance. Hosea 4:6 says: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…. Behind the affliction of the afflicted is basically spiritual ignorance. Everyone’s ignorance is his mountain.

In Genesis 12:2-3, the Bible recorded that God told Abraham that He would make him a great nation and in him shall all families of the earth be blessed. In Genesis 22:17-18, the Bible recorded: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed…

And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

1Timothy 6: 17-18 says: Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

The Bible says: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Cor. 9:8).

From the above four scriptures, we are primarily blessed to be a blessing.

Until you open up to be a blessing in your life, you have shut God’s channel for blessing you in life.

So, abundance answers to a giving heart. Without a giving heart, you have placed a limit to God’s blessings on your life. You don’t grow big to manage well; you manage well to grow big! So, start giving from where you are. That is how to move to the next level!

Friend, the grace to be a blessing to others is the birthright of children of God. You become a child of God by accepting and confessing Jesus as Lord. If you are not yet a child of God, you can do so by saying this prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. Forgive me of my sins. From today, I accept You as my Saviour and Lord. Thank You for saving me. Now I know I am born again!” I will conclude this teaching next week.

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Faith

Identify your past Youths the hope of Tomorrow

Rev. Eugene Ejimkonye Chukwu

revejimchukwu@gmail.com

07031176209 (SMS only)

M

oses was chosen by God and counted as the only person who could stand in Pharaoh’s majestic palace and announce, “Let my people go.” This was possible because he refused to let his past determine his present and future statue. “So don’t be paralysed by your past. If God used Moses, He will use you. Only take the following corrective measures and your life will be repositioned to achieve your divine destiny.

Measures to correcting your past mistakes: Identification of the past mistakes: One major disease that kills does not know the disease itself. The possibility of correcting any mistake is finding out the mistakes you made. “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord saying, we have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God and also served Baalim.” (Judges 10:10) When the children of Israel were undergoing defeat and suppression at the hands of their enemies, they reasoned and identified the source of their suffering which was idol worship. They identified the mistake as “forsaking their God and serving Baalim.”

It was easy for them to start the correction because they were able to identify what actually was the mistake they made. Brother/ Sister, you must identify what exactly was your mistake before any other measure.

Can you think back concerning whatever suffering or problem you are passing through and find out the cause? This is the first step.

Confession of such mistakes: “He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13) If your mistake must be forgiven and blotted out, you must confess it. Confession simply means owning up to what you have done as being wrong and expressing it e.g. Admitting that you are guilty of those crimes or mistakes. He that covereth his sins shall not prosper. For some people who

suffer persistent financial instability and health insecurity, it could be as a result of their struggle to cover their sins. Open up and admit your faults and God will have mercy on you.

Determine to forsake those things that caused you such mistakes and you would have succeeded in identifying and confessing those mistakes. Then the next thing is to draw a conclusion that you will not make such a mistake again. You say to yourself that you will never make this type of mistake in your life again. Believe God as you are making the statement repeatedly. Remember, being determined is making a firm decision to do something and not letting anything or anybody to prevent you from doing it. This means that once you are determined not to make such a mistake again, no power or circumstance can make you to do it. But before this determination can firmly work out you must have done something.

Take action to back up your decision and determination. The scriptures say that “faith without works is dead.” For your discovery, confession and determination to work out effectively, there must be ‘action.’ Identify your mistake, confess your mistake, determine not do it again. Then, start right away to practise and don’t it happen again. A young boy impregnated a girl and because he was not prepared to marry her, he forced her to abort the child.

After that incident, he was grieved by the fear of unpreparedness. Then, he decided not to make such a mistake of impregnating another person. Few months later, he impregnated another girl and gave her money for abortion. After that, he took a decision not to make such a mistake. This time, he was determined but after few months, he impregnated another girl. This pained him because he was hasty in taking a decision, but he had not discovered the origin of his problem. All his decisions and actions had been false. When he was worried about what his life was becoming, he then embarked on tracing the genesis of his peculiar mistake. Later, he discovered that his problem was that he was too close to those girls and easily went on with them.

First, he has identified his mistake as being too loose with girls. As soon as he discovered this, he said to God, “I am sorry for my evil deeds and now I am tired of this life, God forgive me.

Kneel and win Word of Life

Bishop

Moses Kattey

moseskattey@yahoo.co.uk

0808 770 7486

H

e staggered not at the promise of God. Through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. And being fully persuaded that what he had promised he was able also to perform (Rom. 4:20-21).

Do not forget the subheading of this ‘guarantee’ for those who kneel down to God regularly: the guarantee for those who kneel down to God regularly is that God has promised to ensure that you will never kneel down to the devil or to your enemy. In order words, you will always win so kneel and win.

The devil or the enemy can never again bring you back to your knees, if you kneel to God always. The devil can defeat or bring the people on their knees who refuse or fail to kneel down to God regularly. The enemy may appear to have power over those who kneel down to God regularly, but on the long run it will be discovered that it is impossible.

No man can serve (kneel down) for God and mammon (Matt. 6:24) I have a great sense of victory each time I kneel down to God in prayer. I know that when I kneel I won. Kneel and win.

If you do kneel, you will also have a sense of victory or winning.

If you kneel down to God, you will experience the peace and inner victory Moses and the Children of Israel experienced in the battle with Amalek.

• Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

• And Moses said unto Joshua, choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amale: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in one hand.

• So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

• And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

• But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

• And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exo. 17:8-13).

Kneeling is synonymous with the lifting up the hands of Moses while the battle was going on. The Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit will give you a sense of winning or victory as you kneel down to pray or praise God. This sense of victory is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

As you kneel down to God and pray or praise Him something happens somewhere in your favour. As you kneel down to God, your enemies lose somehow somewhere.

Some spirit beings or angels fight successfully on your behalf.

And it came to pass when Moses held up his hands, that Israel prevailed, and when he let down his hand Amalek prevailed (Ex. 17:11). By extension, when you kneel down and have a sense of victory, you prevail.

Kneel and Win. What is in the kneeling down?

The highest honour you can give to a deity or any god is to kneel down for him. In the same way, the highest dishonour and disrespect you can give to God is to kneel down to any other god or deity.

• In kneeling there is praise • In kneeling there is adoration • In kneeling there is loyalty • In kneeling there is submission • In kneeling there is supplication • In kneeling there is pleading for mercy • In kneeling there is worship • In kneeling there is lordship • In kneeling there is honour • In kneeling there is thanksgiving • In kneeling there is blessing • In kneeling there is trust • In kneeling there is salutation • In kneeling there is service • In kneeling there is victory • In kneeling there is reward Can you now understand why Satan demanded for Jesus to kneel down for him?

Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, if you will only kneel and worship me”.

Favour opens doors of impossibilities Taming your Emotions Bishop

Lawrence Osagie 0806 325 0667 www.powerlineministriesinc.org mail:powerlineministries@mail.com

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nd in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth. To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.

And the Angel came in unto her and said, hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee, thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

And the angel said unto her, fear not Mary, for thou hast found favour with God. And behold thou shalt conceive

in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Then Mary said unto the angel, how shall this be seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that Holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, shall also conceive a son in her old age and this is the sixth month with her, who was called the barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible – Luke1:26-37.

What a good news! I am excited with great delirium. I cannot but feel on top of the world to read in the above text that with God nothing shall be impossible. It is most profound that the angel of the Most God gave this message to a mortal soul who lived with an enviable historic record in this world.

. Favour is the power of God that brings a relegated individual out of the dungeon and makes a prince out of the person

What an encouragement to note that with God nothing shall be impossible.

Mary did not just get the news for herself but that of her cousin who had been nicknamed a barren woman because of circumstances of life. She had already conceived and now it was six months.

The angel spoke with clarity to prove the supremacy of God beyond doubt. For when Mary did see Elizabeth there was live evidence that Elizabeth had already conceived. The wonders of favour!

With favour on your side anything can happen. Favour is what brings a man that is relegated out of obscurity to limelight. Favour is the power of God that brings a relegated individual out

of the dungeon and makes a prince out of the person. With favour working in your life there is absolutely nothing you cannot become. Of Jesus we learn, “He increased in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and man.” (Luke2:55).

And the result of this manifestation is that even the sea waves and boisterous wind cease, the raging storm ceased with immediate alacrity. And at the tomb of Lazarus, death could not resist His injunctions. At the sound of His voice he that was dead and buried came forth full of life and vigour. (John 11:43-44) The wonders of favour! And let me tell you authoritatively that as you read this article and follow in this glorious study, favour is going to come upon you in a new dimension in the name of Jesus. If there is anything that has worked for me so far in this life, it is what I am teaching you now. That is why I know that anyone that is connected to me in ministry and as many as believe the call of God upon my life will sing a new song and dance the dance of liberty. And I feel so certain that everyone that saw your shame will see the glory of God upon your glorious life this time.

SUNDAY

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Sport SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2015

Why Nigerian football is troubled – Kanu

Niger 2015

Amunike: Chile 2015 is our target p.59

Golf

Ghana understudying Nigerian PGA p.61

Football

Ideye powers West Brom into FA Cup quarters

Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu, speaks on the challenges of Nigerian football, his Heart Foundation, the forthcoming elections and other issues in this interview with CAMILLUS NNAJI

p.59

How has life generally been after your football career?

Thank God for a long footballing career. I want to thank Him again for giving me the talent that made me stand out. Only God knows why He gave me this talent. I keep praying and thanking Him because football has exposed me to many people from all walks of life, various cultures and countries. I reached a height that people, many youths in Nigeria and across the world, see me as a role model. Kids want to be like Kanu; they are looking up to me. I have fans who stood with me right from the beginning, I want to thank God for them too.

One who starts something must bring it to an end one day. I needed to quit playing football when the time arrived. Kanu cannot be on the football pitch forever. This is the reality. But having stopped playing, football remains my profession. I have to give back to the society by developing the game from the grass roots. I have to be closer to Kanu Heart Foundation so as to put more smiles on the faces of children and adults with heart problems. I have been able to know more things I did not know when I was playing.

Deputy Sports Editor Dapo Sotuminu

© Daily Telegraph Publishing Company Limited

Nigeria did not feature in the Nations Cup and this is strange to millions of soccer loving fans.

In other words, some things are not being done right in Nigerian football, as a surgeon in the theatre, how would you treat Nigerian football?

That we were not in the Nations Cup was a good indication about how football is being run in this country. I think I can analyse the good, bad and ugly sides of Nigerian football. The Good is that we have an abundance of talents, raw

talents and we keep producing them. Nigeria is a country blessed with football talents like Brazil. On the streets of Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Owerri, all over the country, there are raw and fresh talents begging for recognition. The bad is that some of us who are talented and ready to play for Nigeria have come and gone. We have different footballers, different mentality and attitudes to national assignments. Kanu, Okocha, Finidi, Rufai, Babangida, Babayaro, all of us believed in taking the country to the next level and money came second. Those to take over are not there. Nigerians don’t see them responding to duty as we used to. The Ugly is not qualifying for the Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea. We were crowned champions in 2013 and in 2014, the African champions could not qualify. This is an ugly situation for the players, the managers; the administrators of football, the journalists, sports businesses, our football rating and of course the players themselves.

So, what can we do?

Like I said, Nigeria has rich football talent. We need to discover them, we need to go back to those competitions and football festivals that brought some of us out. We had the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria, Adebajo Cup, local government cup competitions, inter-class and house competitions.

A player should pass through all these stages and many more to get spotted. I passed through all these, from school sports, LGA cups, U-17, U-23, Dream Team and the Super Eagles. Coaches then were like scouts, you may not even know they were watching you. But they would see a good player and without favoritism and tribalism invite him to the national team. Now a

player is playing in China or Qatar, the coaches hear that, more still when they say he is scoring goals, he will be invited immediately and placed in the Super Eagles. That is the result we have - short-cuts to success which has not taken Nigeria football to its glorious days.

Check for instance, Kelechi Iheanacho, he was my boy in Owerri, we assisted him and I saw the quality in him playing at Uzi layout in Owerri day in day out. I personally took Kelechi to under 17 and you can see the talent was an instant hit with personal awards as MVP in the Under-17 World Cup and a contract with Manchester city. All ex-players should be involved in this programme of hunting for talents. The minister of sports has to engage us to get to the grass roots where Nigerian football flavour is.

You are leading the pack by creating the Presidential Cup which was inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Yes, we set up the Presidential Cup in response to this. Our objective and mission is to go back to different communities in Nigeria and hunt for raw talents. I’m the chairman while we engaged explayers like Babangida, Babayaro, Oparaku, Lawal and coaches Amodu and Ikhana in this project. The minister of sports on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated the Presidential Cup last year and he became the Grand Patron of the Presidential Cup. On January 7, 2015, we did an investiture of the President and he endorsed this as a good grass roots project.

Jonathan put a presidential seal on it such that any President after him will take over its patronage. All schools have to participate. We will have festivals to discover talents.

The idea is such that we produce players who will pass through the ranks - U-17, U-20, U-23 and the Super Eagles. Age will not determine selection, because in football age cannot decide what you can do. If you have the talent, you have it. We have to give them the opportunity to express their skills in the national teams. By this initiative, Kanu and colleagues are trying to give back to the society, the process that brought some of us to limelight in football.

You said President Goodluck Jonathan adopted this initiative wholeheartedly. Does that suggest that he is a president with a policy vision for the youths?

Obviously, yes, not only by adopting the Presidential Cup Competition. Jonathan is a lover of sports and youths. He is the only President we ever had that departed from handshake policy as reward for athletes. He has rewarded sporting excellence with cash, lands, cars, national honours and scholarships. The President has created an enabling environment that helped our sports men and women to win laurels for Nigeria. Jonathan is the first President to organise a retreat on sports. He has done so well and I endorse him for continuity because Nigerian youths and athletes, entertainment artistes will benefit more. He has done so well in agriculture, education, aviation, health. Let us rally around him and vote him back to power. Some of my foreign partners now have the confidence to invest in Nigeria’s economy.

What can you make of the administrative aspect of football in Nigeria?

Administration is very critical and key to the survival or demise of

59 any project. In Nigerian football, we have not been getting it right. That is looking at the history of football management in this country. NFF President, Pinnick Amaju, is still new. Nobody should begin to judge him now; he has to settle down and do his job. But over the years, the history of football management in Nigeria and Africa in general has been poor and unprofessional. In the first instance, those who have nothing to deliver in football have invaded the administrative seats.

Think about what match bonuses and FIFA grants have caused; think about a situation where common jerseys were not provided during international matches. The NFF chairman and sports minister should come together and marry their ideas together. They should understand each other well. Football is not run from a distance.

Most football chairmen are not on ground in their respective states, running football. You cannot live in Abuja and run football in Lagos.

As FA chairman, you have to lead the grass roots project in your community. You have to be involved in discovering players in your state. But in Nigeria, the state FA chairmen elect the NFF president.

When he is elected, obviously, he must have his own style, bring in his personnel. But they should not abandon the good works of their predecessors. They should build on those achievements because of continuity. Leadership is all about coordinating human and material resources to achieve positive results. Whoever is the NFF president should understand that he is coordinating the passion of over 100 million football fans in Nigeria. All stakeholders should come together and carry the good news of peace and unity. When the head is bad, the body will be rotten.

Let us talk about your pet project, Kanu Heart Foundation. Has it been fun and challenging performing this humanitarian task?

Just like you put it, Camillus, the project has been ‘fun;’ that is fulfilling and challenging. At the early stage, it was a dream to help as many Nigerian children and Africans alike, especially indigent ones who suffer heart problems, to receive surgery. Since its inception in the year 2000, the foundation has recorded 99 per cent success rate.

This is fulfilling when you check out the statistics and find out how many children are okay. Not everybody that enters the theatre comes out alive. When I entered during my operation, I prayed and gave my life to God, and He saved me.

Sometimes, some cases are bad, they don’t come out alive. Sometimes when raising money to treat some people, they die; sometimes at the airport, they die; in some cases, when they are at the point of entry at the hospitals, they die. When I helped the first beneficiaries perform the first open heart surgery in the UK and they got better, I was so pleased. That was shortly after I had my own operation in the United States. In the course of running the foundation, some challenges have been coming up. We wanted to build a cardiac specialist hospital, which is still in the pipeline. But, we are not getting the support. Those who pledged money during the launching of the cardiac hospital project in Abuja have not fulfilled their promises. We need everyone’s support to save more lives

In terms of the high success rate of the foundation, can all patients drawn from all parts of the country sing the same praises?

You will confirm from the coordinator of the foundation, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, on the basis of selection. In the first place, the Kanu Heart Foundation is for all Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion or gender. We have, according to Abia, over 300 children on the waiting list and selection is on first come first served.

How are you looking at developing local content in medical emergencies like cardio issues?

We are developing new partnership in Africa and Nigeria. We have a partnership with a cardiac hospital built by an Italian NGO in Sudan. Recently, we secured a partnership with University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. The charges are highly subsidised. We have received and signed an MOU on that. This means instead of capital flight, which runs into millions in going to India, UNTH will invite some expatriate cardiologists to team up with Nigerian doctors to perform open heart surgery in Nigeria. Again, we have to give it to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In medical facilities, some of them are now world class, look at those ones at UNTH, look at the cardiac renal centre at Gbagada in Lagos, the Federal Government pumped in over N400 million for purchasing equipment.

In what measure is the foundation supported in treating heart patients?

The support has not been as expected, considering the number of patients on the waiting list. According to Abia, he receives five patients a day making enquiries about how to get surgery. From all over the country, he receives another four or five calls. This shows that the issue is becoming an epidemic. The foundation has received support from some banks and individuals who want to sponsor one, two or three patients. According to the World Health Organisation, reports, one in every five deaths in women is caused by a cardio crisis.

One in every four deaths is in men.

The reports state that heart disease kills three times more women than breast cancer. I think where more effort should be made is in the area of training of doctors and nurses to use these facilities. The nurses need adequate training in caregiving. The nurses are very critical to heart patients; these patients require care and understanding. We need to re-orientate the attitude of some nurses to their patients. The foundation has been proactive on this issue. We hold health summits at least thrice a year. Experts from Nigeria and abroad engage in medical lectures, free diagnosis and education on the importance of nutrition and exercise to a heart patient.

Papilo, what message do you have for your fans?

I want them to believe in themselves, in whatever they do. I thank all of them all over the world. Sometimes, people will not eat because they want to watch Kanu playing for club or country. Thank you very much. We created the good image of football which I am part of. In the same way, they have to keep doing what they know how to do well in order to make a living.

Amunike: Chile 2015 is our target

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he Golden Eaglets of Nigeria will be targeting a semifinal place and qualification to Chile when they take the first kick at the CAF-U17 Niger 2015 Championship against the hosts Niger, today.

The Eaglets have won FIFA’s junior tournament four times, in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013 and want to be at Chile 2015 to defend the title they last won at UAE 2013.

The Eaglets chief coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, said yesterday in Niamey: “In the first instance, we are privileged to be here and are grateful for this opportunity.

Our objective of coming here is to

go to Chile and hopefully we will do our best to achieve that but in football, you cannot predict anything. But we must be optimistic and focused and know what we have to do on the field of play.

“To go to the World Cup, we have to work hard. We must know how to play with the ball and without the ball and if players understand this and interpret it on the field of play, we will be looking forward to Chile,” the ex-Super Eagles star and 1994 Nations Cup winner added.

He asserted that all eight finalists were capable of attaining good results and cautioned against taking any team lightly.

“All the teams here deserve respect and every team’s objective is to go to Chile. So we have to work hard as everyone will do and hopefully, Africa will have the best teams to represent us in Chile,” Amunike said noting that with the high temperatures in Niamey at this time of the year, his squad ‘was well conditioned’ in Sokoto which has similar weather conditions as well as their early arrival in the Nigerien capital.

The Eaglets face the hosts Niger in the Group A and tournament opener before other fixtures against Guinea and debutants Zambia.

Aiyegbeni’s goal wrecks McClaren Y

Yakubu

RESULTS

FA Cup Result West Bromwich 4 - 0 West Ham Blackburn 4 - 1 Stoke Derby County 1 - 2 Reading Crystal Palace 1 - 2 Liverpool Germany - Bundesliga Dortmund 4 - 2 Mainz Leverkusen 4 - 5 Wolfsburg Bayern 8 - 0 Hamburger M’gladbach 1 - 0 Cologne Hoffenheim 2 - 1 Stuttgart Werder Bremen 3 - 2 Augsburg Frankfurt 1 - 0 Schalke Italy - Serie A Sassuolo 1 - 3 Fiorentina Spain - Liga BBVA Almeria 2 - 2 Real Sociedad Sevilla 3 - 0 Cordoba Real Madrid 2 - 0 Deportivo France - Ligue 1 Marseille 2 - 2 Reims PSG 2 - 2 Caen

akubu Aiyegbeni, the striker for whom Derby County manager, Steve McClaren paid £7.5 million when he was in charge at Middlesbrough, came back to haunt him by coming off the bench to score the goal that took Reading into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. The 32-year-old Nigerian striker, who had started on the bench after breaking his nose on his Reading debut against Leeds in midweek, used his strength to hold off Derby defenders before sweeping home a low left-footed shot with eight minutes remaining.

But Yakubu, a free transfer signing from Qatar club Al-Rayyan on deadline day who scored 25 Pre-

mier League goals for Middlesbrough before moving to Everton, had the last word.

A replay would have been a reasonable outcome for Derby, who coped well enough with their disadvantage, but Yakubu dashed their hopes with his first goal in England since May 2012.

A replacement for Mackie with 20 minutes remaining, Yakubu showed his qualities of strength on the ball and a eye for goal were still intact as Robson-Kanu’s pass sent him charging towards the Derby goal. Holding off several challenges, he kept balanced enough to sweep the ball beyond the reach of Roos to complete a memorable afternoon for Reading’s travelling fans.

Ideye powers West Brom into FA Cup quarters

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uper Eagles striker, Brown Ideye, from all indications has overcome his goal drought since joining West Brom in the English Premier League. Yesterday, he scored a brace to help his club beat West Ham 4-0.

Ideye cartwheels after one of his two goals.This victory gives West Brom their first FA Cup quarterfinal since 2008 after Ideye’s two goals, recording four goals in three games.

The Nigeria international striker - who has found form following the recent appointment of Tony Pulis at The Hawthorns - scored either side of James Morrison’s first-half stunner to help seal progression against 10-man West

Ham. Signed for 10 million pounds from Dynamo Kiev in July but yet to shine, applied a simple finish to give West Brom a 20th-minute lead and James Morrison added a second before the break with a stunning long-range strike.

Ideye headed his second, and fourth in his last three matches, in the 57th minute and Saido Berahino completed the rout after West Ham substitute Morgan Amalfitano was dismissed for a poor challenge and a shove to the face of Chris Brunt.

“Right now I am very happy for the team and for myself for the two goals today,” Ideye said after the match.

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Sport

RODGERS’ CONFESSION: Jordan Ibe’s an incredible talent

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he emergence of teenage winger, Nigerian-born Jordon Ibe, is clear evidence that Liverpool FC investment in the youngster is paying off.

Last weekend, the 19-yearold star made only the second Premier League start of his career and put in a manof-the-match performance in the 224th Merseyside derby game.

Ibe, who the Reds bought from Wycombe Wanderers three years ago after 11 firstteam appearances, justified manager Brendan Rodgers’ decision to recall him from a loan spell at Derby last month with his promising display.

The coach said: “He is an incredible talent. I saw him as a 16/17-year-old a couple of years ago and I thought, this guy has everything to go really far. He came in and proved that and with that performance he will be staking a claim for the starting XI. His raw attributes - his pace and power - and his ability to beat people for pace with the ball is frightening at times.

“That, coupled with the hard work he puts in, combined with the experience he has had on loan and getting games, has helped him come back stronger. He always seems confident when he goes out to play. He is a great player to have in our squad. That is what this club has been building over the last three years. They are still all young players and that is what is great from our point of view.”

He added: “Imagine these player developing over the next few years and what he is capable of and it is a massive thing for Liverpool and we will reap the rewards of that.”

Ibe’s excellent performance has been described as an assured display which has given the 19-year-old a “springboard” to become an important player for Liverpool.

The Liverpool coach stated that: “Maybe I have too much belief in young players, but I see

enough on day-today to know the character of the player. I think there is just part of me that thinks you never know until you throw in a young player and it doesn’t matter what the game is.

“If you b e l i e v e in them enough and they have the tactical awareness of the game and col- l e c t i v e l y they know the team is with them, it can really push them on in their development. It is easy for me to put an experienced player in, but you look at the talent on show with some of the British boys.”

He added: “This is a real, real springboard for Jordon Ibe. He has always showed flashes and come on in games and you have wondered: ‘Can he do it?’ He showed last weekend that confidence and temperament was outstanding - that will really help his development and push him on.”

The Liverpool boss also revealed that he had only told the youngster he was playing against Everton the day before the game to prevent anxiety.

“He only found out that he was playing on Friday for a Saturday game. I was looking at him when I announced it and, sometimes if you tell them too early, they have all week to worry about it, they don’t eat and they don’t get their flui d s on

board.

“We were going to do our tactical play and pattern of work at Anfield so he found out then.”

Rodgers believes Jordon Ibe can become a ‘big player’ for Liverpool after handing the 19-year-old a surprise start in the 0-0 draw against Everton.

Winger Ibe caught the eye by hitting the post with a long-range effort as he put in a man-of-the-match performance.

“You don’t know until you put a young player in,” added Rodgers. “He only turned 19 in December and he is one who can be a big player. He

puts a shift in a works and can only get better and stronger. It was a great to see him perform so well.”

English football legend, Steven Gerrard, also talked about the Nigerian-born star after watching him play in a league game. “Ibe is simply fantastic. He only found out he was playing 24 hours to a game a crucial game and to prepare for a big match like this and be man of the match, it was a very sensational performance.

“He was very unlucky not to get the winner with that unbelievable strike in the first half so he’s got a big future and, if he keeps working hard, he’s got a terrific future.”

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Ghana understudying Nigerian PGA

Golf Weekly Remembering Charlie Sifford

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Ifeanyi Ibeh

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mos Korblah, Tournament Director of the Professional Golfers’ Association of Ghana, has stated that the body is taking notes from its Nigerian counterpart and looking at possible areas of collaborations.

Korblah, who is also one of the leading golfers on the Nigerian tour, said: “In Ghana, we cannot compare the level of development of professional golf to that of Nigeria. They are ways ahead in terms of organisation, the quality leadership and tournament.”

He added that professional golf in Ghana will develop at the heels of their Nigerian counterpart and that is why they have started to find ways at replicating what the Nigerian PGA has done.

“We are re-working our PGA constitution framework and the Nigerian PGA’s document is serving as a good model for what we hope to develop. Some members of our executives are also hoping to host or perhaps visit the Nigerian body to understudy it with a mind of proposing some other areas of collaboration,” he added.

Korblah apart from winning the Nigerian Open at Ikoyi Club in 1993, has spent the last nine years as a member of the Nigerian PGA and by that gained a lot of insight into the workings of the Nigeria professional golf body, which he says is enviable.

“Today, apart from South Africa, Nigeria is a natural destination of any African professional golfer that is worth his mettle. They have a tour that is international in structure. I have won here many times and led the order of merit in the last three years and I am still welcomed.”

Emos Korblah

Families of late golfers get insurance benefits Ifeanyi Ibeh

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Umoh Edet

he Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria has redeemed its pledge to the families of three of its members who passed on last year by issuing the life insurance benefits due them.

Umoh Edet of the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja; Pender Umuebu of the Ikoyi Golf Club, Lagos and Richard Diette-Spiff of the Air Assault Golf Club, Port Harcourt, Rivers State passed on in 2014.

Edet’s death was particularly shocking to the golfing community as he slumped and gave up the ghost while playing football on Sunday, February 23.

The former President Cup champion was up until his death an assistant resident professional at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, and one of the foremost players on the PGA. Born in 1982, Edet was Nigeria’s number one golfer in 2011 and also represented the country at the qualifying tournament for the World Cup of Golf in 2011, in Seri Selangor, Malaysia.

Before that, in 2010, he won the Tour Partner Championship, at the Ikoyi Club, with a spectacular chip from the 18 hole bunker that went straight into the hole. Later that same year he won the PGA Championship at the IBB Golf Club and returned in 2011 to lift the President Cup. He left behind a wife and four kids,

including a set of twins that were only given birth to on February 12, 11 days before his passing.

And speaking at the presentation ceremony, Festus Makelemi, Director of the PGA said: “This is to further communicate that we have not forgotten them and the moments they spent with us are indelible.

“We may not have gratuity to offer your late family members for been professional golfers; this is our own measure to support you in this trying times, and we hope it will help douse the immediate tension your families are facing,” added Makelemi.

Makelemi then proceeded to present a cheque of one million naira each to the families of the late golfers.

Operations Director of the PGA, Dominic Andrew, in a bid to curb the number of deaths in the golf scene, said the body is looking at educating its almost 200 members on health issues and first aid in critical health condition.

“We are sportsmen,” said Andrew.

“Apart from the fact that we are fit, we are also exposed to some other health challenges.

“So, in brief moments that we spend at tournament venues we have highlighted how to deal with health issues.”

The insurance policy which the PGA took up for its members also covers disability, even as the body is looking at ways to secure more comprehensive insurance benefits for its members.

fter Charlie Sifford became the first black man to join the PGA tour in 1961, he was met with death threats. He was 38 years old, a sixtime National Negro Open winner, and past his prime when he was finally accepted into the organisation, which had previously codified itself as whites-only in its bylaws.

Spectators and sometimes, fellow pros, would sabotage his games by moving a ball that had fallen just adjacent to the brush well into it. They directed racist slurs at him, left excrement in the green cups. Sifford was denied entry to clubhouses and hotels, and encountered hostility from tour organisers and sponsors, instances he recounted in his 1992 autobiography “Just Let Me Play.”

But Sifford, who died recently at age 92, persevered, even winning a couple of tour events, the 1967 Greater Hartford Open and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, always accompanied by his trademark cigar. In 1975, he won the PGA Seniors title.

“His love of golf, despite many barriers in his path, strengthened him as he became a beacon for diversity in our game,” PGA of America President Derek Sprague told ESPN. “By his courage, Dr. Sifford inspired others to follow their dreams. Golf was fortunate to have had this exceptional American in our midst.”

In November, President Obama honored Sifford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. He was the third golfer to be bestowed with the honor, after Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

When Sifford was just a young caddy on the whites-only golf courses of Charlotte, North Carolina, he made 60 cents a day. Sifford told reporters he would pocket 10 cents for a cigar, and give the remaining 50 to his mother. Eventually, the cigar just became part of his legend — most of the time it wasn’t even lit, he said, just a talisman made ever-present out of habit. He learned to play on municipal courses in Philadelphia, and fell in love with the game.

The symbolism of Sifford’s presence could hardly be overstated, given golf’s image of conservatism and exclusivity. To many, it still remains the sport of the powerful, prestigious, and wealthy, one that mandates a collared shirt, one where sod, rather than carpet, mutes knocks at glass ceilings.

He became the first black man to be inducted into Golf Hall of Fame, welcomed by Gary Player. Sifford was awarded an honorary degree from the University of St. Andrews in 2006, and was often addressed with the honorific “doctor.”

“I think it’s really appropriate that Dr. Charlie Sifford, his name will replace the name of Revolution Golf Course, because in fact, Dr. Sifford is the revolution,” Anthony Foxx, then-mayor of Charlotte, said at a dedication ceremony in 2011. “I grew up thinking the sport was for someone else. But

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Tam David-West’s distortion of history and facts C O N T I N U E D F R O M PA G E 6 4

SHAGARI’S DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED GOVERNMENT Prof. David-West made heavy weather of, and regarded as ‘disinformation,’ my statement that “on the 31st of December, 1983, Buhari overthrew the democratically elected Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.”

His argument, a very surprising and disingenuous one at that, is that “Shagari was overthrown by the Nigerian Army, not

by Buhari as a person. The Armed Forces later selected him to be the Head of State – against other officers who were also interested to be the Head of State.” Hear, hear, hear! The Professor was merely trying to, albeit unsuccessfully, distinguish between six and half a dozen, or between Hamlet and the Prince of Denmark.

My simple reply to him on this, to show him how he pointedly stood history on its head in being Buhari’s unrepentant apologist, can again be found in the universally acclaimed authoritative Wikipedia.org. Wikipedia states: “Muhammadu Buhari has denied his role in the December 1983 coup. However the example of the late Major Bamidele betrays Buhari’s complicity in the December 1983 coup. Nigerian military historians Max Siollun and Nowa Omoigui note that when Major Bamidele got wind of the coup to oust Shagari, Bamidele reported the issue up the chain of command to his GOC 3rd Armored Division (Major General Buhari) who was allegedly in on the plot. To prevent Bamidele from leaking the plot, Buhari ordered the arrest and detention of Bamidele for 2 weeks. Bamidele wasn’t released until the successful execution of the coup. Learning from this unfortunate experience, Bamidele didn’t report any rumors of the so-called Vatsa coup (between 1985 and 1986) and was executed for it. [19] Bamidele’s words to the Special Military Tribunal that tried and convicted him are: “I heard of the 1983 coup planning, told my GOC General Buhari who detained me for two weeks in Lagos. Instead of a pat on the back, I received a stab. How then do you expect me to report this one? This trial marks the eclipse of my brilliant and unblemised career of 19 years. I fought in the civil war with the ability it pleased God to give me.

It is unfortunate that I’m being convicted for something which I have had to stop on two occasions. This is not self adulation but a sincere summary of the qualities inherent in me. It is an irony of fate that the president of the tribunal who in 1964 felt that I was good enough to take training in the UK is now saddled with the duty of showing me the exit from the force and the world.”

Maj-Gen. Buhari’s Supreme Military Council (SMC) observed a minute of silence for the slain Brigadier Bako during the SMCs first meeting, saying Bako has been shot and killed when his troop arrested Mr. Shagari in Abuja.

So, my dear Professor can see that not only did Buhari approve of the coup as a senior military officer who called the shots as the GOC of the Armoured Division, he even got detained, an officer who thought he was performing a patriotic duty to a senior officer in charge of the Armoured Corps.

All because the officer apparently knew too much, and was obviously pokenosing into matters masterminded by he (Buhari) and others. No one can erase history, no matter the attempts at embellishment, or even of sympathetic lachrymal effusion.

PROF DAVID WEST’S ALLEGED ACQUAINTANCE WITH ME In stating his acquaintance with me, the erudite Professor wrote: “I am fairly familiar with Chief (he so insists) Mike Ozekhome. He is a brilliant activist lawyer. He is now one of Jonathan’s

Jonathan

lawyers and constant apologists. Both of us had some rather unpleasant encounter in the 1980’s in Lagos. He was the defence counsel in a libel case I instituted against his client in a Lagos High Court. In the course of the trial he sent to the court a new statement of defence in which he cited a said NSO document, which he claimed had to do with me. I reported (objected) this to the Chief National Security Adviser. The Chief Judge and the trial judge, Justice Balogun. He tried to make a case of contempt of court against me. He failed. Ozekhome’s chamber (sic) was searched by the Security Agency. He was detained briefly. The chamber (sic) was locked up for some one week.

However, I continue to respect him as a counsel. I did not lose the case.”

This story as he narrated above, is obviously slanted in Prof. West’s favour. First, he is wrong to say: “I am fairly familiar with Chief (he so insists) Mike Ozekhome.” No, I am not the one insisting on being called a Chief. It is my rightful entitlement, in the same way he earned his Professorship. It will therefore not be right for me to arrogantly and disrespectfully address him as ‘Mr. Tam David West.’

The traditional rulers across the length and breadth of Nigeria, (North, South, East and West), including the revered Oba of Benin, Oba Erediauwa, have since 1989 (26 years ago), conferred on me, various respected traditional chieftaincy titles, for what they consider to be my modest contributions to human rights, democracy, rule of law, good governance and national development. I did not pay one kobo to earn any of them. They were the ones who pronounced me a Chief.

I am not therefore the one insisting on it. It is self evident. So much on this.

The correct historical perspective of the ‘unpleasant encounter’ Prof. West and I had in 1986 is not as he narrated. It is rather, as follows. I was Counsel to Thisweek Magazine, the precursor of Thisday Newspaper, published by the same Media Czar, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, and its top management staff. Prof. West had gone to Court against Thisweek Magazine, Nduka Obaigbena and Soji Omotunde, alleging libel on his alleged role on the ‘MT Tuma’ vessel acquired by NNPC in 1985, under his tenure as Minister

Buhari

of Petroleum and Energy. The article he complained about was titled: ‘A Hole in the purse: $140m debt to NNPC going bad.’ He, therefore, through his Solicitors, Kusamotu, Olojo and Co., sued the above defendants at the Lagos High Court in suit No. ID/817/86.

While the case was pending before Justice A.L.A.L Balogun of the Ikeja High Court, my chambers brought a motion for amendment of the statement of defence, based on fresh documents made available to me by the management of Thisweek, affirming the Professor’s role in the whole saga. I was not the author of the documents. I did not even have custody of them, as there was no front loading then as have it now. I merely cited them in the amendment, waiting for the opportunity to tender them during evidence viva voce. As he gleefully confessed in his write up under reference, Prof. West used his connections with his Military Establishment friends (he has only just laboriously justified the military intervention of Buhari to oust the democratically elected Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari), to report me, a privileged Counsel in a civil matter, to the National Security Adviser, to the effect that I possessed classified documents. I had none whatsoever. And they found none. This petition was copied to the very Registrar of the High Court hearing the case, thus bringing it to the presiding judge’s knowledge. But he did not copy me with a petition that he wrote against me, to apprise me of its contents and afford me a fair hearing. What happened next?

I was, based on his petition, promptly arrested and detained by the State Security Service at its Awolowo Road, Lagos office, after my Chambers had been thoroughly searched and ransacked. Nothing incriminating was however found on me, or in my chambers. I was later released unconditionally, after days of rigorous interrogation, but not until my Chambers had been brutally shut down and closed to legal business for over one week by Prof.

West’s tyrannical friends in the Military Establishment. I thank him for his Public confession.

I then promptly brought contempt proceedings against him for interfering with the course of justice through intimidation

and the use of security agents, to have an edge over and steal a match on Thisweek, its top management staff and myself. Prof.

West, in his writeup, has just beaten his chest and imperiously said he did not lose the libel case. But he did not win it either.

He simply, but happily, allowed the matter to die quietly after the mandatory statutory retirement of the trial judge, Justice Balogun, an act that also ended the contempt proceedings against him at the Court of Appeal, Lagos in Appeal No.CA/L/402/88.

If he genuinely believed in his cause, he would have gallantly pursued it with vigour before another judge. And so, the story published against him by Thisweek Magazine about 1986, on the MT Tuma vessel, remains unchallenged and uncontradicted, till date, to the best of my knowledge.

I still hope that one day, he would find it necessary and decent to apologise to me for wantonly interfering in my professional duties, uberima fidei, to my clients. He need not grandstand over it.

I have my utmost respect for Prof. David West as a social critic who intervenes now and again, on burning national issues, even if from an easily predictable perspective. But, his penchant to go abusive and stigmatise those who hold different opinions on, or contrary views to, his pet political project, as being apologists of the sitting president, is unacceptable. Are he and his employers trying to throw a blanket regime of intimidation, silence and stultification of plurality of ideas on Nigerians? This will never be condoned or tolerated. I would rather go back to the trenches against anyone, however highly placed, who attempts to muzzle my opinion, or that of other Nigerians, on any national issues. I did it, before. I can do it again, if any one, no matter how highly privileged, attempts to foist a regime of terror and fear on Nigerians and deny them of their hardearned freedoms and liberties, especially of speech. As I am not a card carrying member of any of the existing political parties, no one can gag me in any way, as to how, when, why and where, I exercise my freedom of speech, in so far as I do so within the confines of the Law. Certainly, Prof. Tam David West cannot.

• Follow me on twitter @ MikeozekhomeSAN

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Teacher, don’t teach me nonsense...

I

use the title of irreplaceable Fela’s 1986 Album as a metaphor for the baleful role Britain has always played in Nigerian politics. It is a historical fact that imperial Britain never saw anything good in Nigeria, especially if that good had to be seen from the prism of what was happening in Southern Nigeria or what Southern Nigeria was doing. It started with the disingenuous way this dying power cobbled an agglomeration of disparate nationalities into one incongruent, self-destructive entity called Nigeria simply for the ease of the exploration and exploitation of its natural resources.

Feeling resentment towards what became Southern Nigeria - the Igbo for their uppity and the Yoruba for their disloyalty - it created a country in which it gave three quarters of the landmass to what became Northern Nigeria. It then went further to devise a system of political administration of the country that placed greater emphasis on the geography of political contenders - where individuals came from and the size of their constituencies - rather than on the character and substance of such contenders. And that’s how it came to be that the wily, seemingly subservient but extremely ambitious Hausa-Fulani, as both the spiritual and political heads of the expansive North, were placed on top of the administrative ladder in Britain’s Nigeria.

The incessant convulsions that inevitably resulted from this forced, unplanned cohabitation of disparate cultures and faiths seemed only to serve Britain’s interest even better. First, the beneficiaries of this skewed nature of our federation could not but constantly take dictation from London on how to maintain their unearned grip on power. Second, as we fought and killed one another so remorselessly, it helped Britain to justify its wicked policies in its Africa’s colonies, where everything was done to undermine the viability of political systems so blacks could be projected to the rest of humanity as incapable of ruling over themselves.

Britain’s sinister, disruptive policies in Nigeria came to a head during the Civil War when this wicked, cold-hearted country, claiming Nigeria as its sphere of influence in Africa, lied to the rest of the rest of the conniving white world that the Eastern rebellion was merely the result of the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s ambition to create a fiefdom for himself. On the basis of this unpardonable lie, it proceeded to bring together otherwise ideologically irreconcilable enemies, the United States and Soviet Union, to aid Nigeria to crush Eastern Nigeria’s agitation for freedom and independence and re-establish Hausa-Fulani political hegemony over the rest of us. And for the next 40 years or so, Britain stood aside, sniggered and cheered at the same time as it helped a cabal of its making to mismanage the country to the advantage of British companies and their Western allies, which frittered billions out of the country. Or is there any discerning Nigerian who does not know that Britain was opposed to power shift from the North to South because Her Majesty’s country does not trust to give it free reign over Nigeria?

Or that if there must be power shift at all, it must be given to somebody ‘acceptable’ to the North? Which was why they brought Obasanjo out of prison and made him president over and above a much better candidate, Chief Olu Falae, an internationally acclaimed economist.

So, when an establishment, M16-funded magazine (it calls itself a newspaper) like The Economist uses such condescending language as ‘awful’ to describe our choice of presidential candidates in the forthcoming election, we know where it is coming from. When it suggests that the ‘least awful’ of such choices we should make should be Buhari, we also know

Sunday

Felix Oguejiofor Abugu

abugufex@gmail.com 08076290498 (sms only)

Obama

Cameron

where it is coming from - it is a mindset we are already familiar with. Buhari may not have much to offer as a politician but he is not an ‘awful’ choice; those who chose him as their party’s flag-bearer are among the best in the land, so he cannot be that ‘awful’ as the disdainful The Economist would want us to believe.

Neither, of course, is President Jonathan in any way an ‘awful’ choice.

Why is Jonathan such an ‘awful’ choice, in the estimation of the ‘authoritative’ The Economist? Expectedly, the magazine mentions two principal reasons. One is the insurgency in the North, which it says has claimed 18,000 lives while 1.5m people have been displaced. To be sure, every one of us in Nigeria is sad about the atrocities of Boko Haram. But, the British can never deny that the heady religious/inter-ethnic crises that have rocked Nigeria from as far back as 1953 and culminating in the more organised Islamist terrorism of today, were hatched by them as a weapon of intimidation and suppression in the hands of Northerners against Southerners whenever and wherever the latter dared to question the authority of Northerners. Other-

wise, let the British tell the world why a motion for self-government moved by a Southerner would result in the massacre of Igbo and Yoruba residents of Kano in 1953. In any case, why should the current insurgency, which started way back in 2002, far before Jonathan became President, be used against him; never mind that the government has done so much to contain the Islamists, who are proudly backed by elements in our midst, in words and deeds? Would The Economist or any other person sincerely accuse this government of just sitting down and doing nothing about Boko Haram?

The British intelligence magazine may pretend all it can, but we know that its backers know that the war against insurgency is grossly sabotaged and who the saboteurs are.

And, by the way, what has Britain done to help Nigeria fight Boko Haram? British troops are in Iraq, Afghanistan and other terror-challenged parts of the world, but its most important ex-colony in Africa is under constant terror attacks and all it does is sit back and use its imperial magazine called The Economist to badmouth government’s efforts. While mighty America and its lapdog Britain watched, al Qaeda mutated into ISIS and threatens to overrun Iraq, Jordan and Syria, prompting responses from a coalition of countries through aerial bombing ISIS targets.

Still, ISIS is anything but defeated. If the United States and its allies, which have been fighting to stamp out terrorism in some allied countries, including Somalia, have not been able to do so since 2011, why would The Economist expect Jonathan to expeditiously defeat Boko Haram in Nigeria even when it has been established that rather than help to defeat the Islamists, elements within and outside the Nigerian political establishment work very hard to sabotage government’s efforts? But, that’s just by way of argument. Nigerians are optimistic that sabotage or not, Boko Haram will sooner than

“Why is Jonathan such an ‘awful’ choice, in the estimation of the ‘authoritative’ The Economist? Expectedly, the magazine mentions two principal reasons.

One is the insurgency in the North, which it says has claimed 18,000 lives while 1.5m people have been displaced”

later be defeated, given the renewed onslaught against the group.

The Economist cited the $20b missingoil-money allegation by former CBN governor and Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, as one of the high points of the incidence of corruption in the Jonathan Administration. I am surprised that the ‘authoritative’ know-it-all The Economist would still bandy such allegation. I had expected the magazine to go for something fresh and more concrete or at least quote the exact figure that Sanusi later gave as the actual amount of money he alleged was missing. Or did The Economist not know that Sanusi later reversed himself and said that only half of that amount, that is only $10b, was missing?

Though still a huge amount of money to be lost to corruption, every reasonable person knows that once Sanusi faced the National Assembly and reversed himself, there was nothing credible again about the allegation: it was all politics a la Lamido Sanusi. Indeed, the $20bn saga was, for want of a better way to put it, the silliest populist posturing by the former CBN governor who never hid the fact that he was more interested in becoming the Emir of Kano than being the CBN governor.

The Economist’s comment about the economy is the most absurd. It declared: “The single bright spot of his (Jonathan’) rule has been Nigeria’s economy, one of the world’s fastest-growing. Yet that is largely despite the government rather than because of it...!” Haba! The economy is growing at an impressive rate but that is in spite of the government of the day? Would The Economist say this of Mr. Cameron, the British Prime Minister, that the British is growing but the government of the day has nothing to do with it? How jaundiced! Lai Mohammed or Joe Igbokwe couldn’t have done a better job for the APC. We know it: no matter how much we try, the white establishment will never give credit to the Blackman for anything. This government has halved food imports into Nigeria in less than four years; dismantled the fertiliser subsidy mafia; grown the economy at a princely 6-7 per cent a year and rebased it to become Africa’s biggest economy, given youths entrepreneurial training and financial support to set up businesses more than any other government in our history; upgraded our airports to international standard; built new roads and rehabilitated old ones across the country; built 14 new federal universities, built schools for the northern rejects called almajiris, something that no government in Nigeria in the past 50 years ever thought about, and all these happened in spite of the government of the day? This is extreme shallow thinking on the part of the so-called authoritative The Economist and it is just a pity.

The Economist editorial on Nigeria reminds one of the shabby treatment meted to Barack Obama in the United States.

Despite restoring America’s economic glory after the gloomy years of the WASP Prince George W. Bush, Obama is never given credit for anything. Why? Because he is black.

But, time has come for these fellows to leave us alone. The besting of the West

by Asia in most spheres of human endeavour at the moment should tell these people that they have nothing to teach the world any more, not even black Africa. Britain especially is a dying power (a third rate power as one Indian Prime Minister described not too long ago) and should stop pretending that it still owns Nigeria and can dictate to us as it pleases.

What kind of country would advise a former colony to do away with a performing president and settle for a candidate whose leadership and managerial pedigree are nothing to write home about? On what grounds must we vote for Buhari instead of Goodluck Jonathan? Because the cynical, north-loving and south-hating Britain says so? Not any longer! So, old teacher, don’t teach me nonsense.

SPORT Amuneke: Chile 2015 is our target

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FELIX O. ABUGU

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My right of Reply:

Prof. Tam David-West’s distortion of history and facts THE SETTING

In his ‘Buhari: The Politics of Lies, distortion, disinformation,’ published on pages 53 and 54 of Daily Sun Newspaper of February 9, 2015, the Professor of Virology, Tamunoemi (there is God) Sokari David-West, unnecessarily attacked and disparaged me for two minute errors which he deliberately blew out of proportion and took out of context in a formidable write up that I had serialised for three consecutive weeks in my weekly column in Sunday Telegraph Newspaper, ‘The Nigerian Project.’

In my serialised writeup titled: ‘Let the Security Debate Begin,’ I had done character sketches of, and set an agenda of debate for, the then six presidential aspirants of the two leading political parties, the ruling PDP and the main opposition, APC. I wrote on Sam Nda-Isaiah, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Because I do not know any of these aspirants intimately, I did rigorous research on them, employing generously, some ‘who is who’ biographies, encyclopedia and some online platforms, such as Wikipedia.org.

It was a fair attempt, as a Nigerian patriot, to throw up their strengths and weaknesses, and set the agenda for their debate on Nigeria’s security challenges, without approving or disapproving of any of them. I was not judgmental.

The Vile Language Employed by Prof. Tam David-West.

Why the Buguma-born 79 year old nearoctogenarian Professor, born on August 26, 1936, would still find it comfortable to use such vile and uncouth language as ‘blatant shameless lie;’ ‘Embarrassing laziness to research;’ ‘I don’t ever suffer fools gladly;’ and ‘I am always impatient with liars and their stock-in-trade, lying …..;’ to disagree with two minute items in a bulky write up that spanned three weeks, beats my imagination.

He could have vehemently disagreed (his right), even with modulated temperate language. He did not. He chose to use expletives on me. But why?

Oh, I know why. Prof Tam David West was Gen. Buhari’s anointed and adopted Minister of Petroleum and Energy, between 1984 and 1985, when the General was overthrown in a coup d’etal by Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, who retained him (West), as Minister of Mines, Power and Steel in 1986. He was later dismissed from office by Babangida for allegedly contributing to the economic adversity of the country; but was discharged and acquitted by the Special Appeal Court on 8th August, 1991 (See? I will not deliberately distort history to make a cheap point).

For a person who once stated in separate interviews that he would tell his father to go and sit down if he were to dare contest an election against his idol, Buhari, and that 100 Jonathans cannot be compared with Buhari, his idolisation and canonisation of Buhari as a god is total. That is why he should be forgiven his unconscionable misstatements and hyperbolic demagoguery.

Me a liar and a fool, with an embarrassing laziness to research? No Prof, I am neither of

The

Nigerian Project

MIKE OZEKHOME san, ofr mike.ozekhome@yahoo.com 08128444555 (sms only) these. I deny them with every emphasis at my disposal. I am a very research-oriented, hardworking and acclaimed author, not just on Law, but on national discourse. My sterling performance at the 2014 National Conference where I spoke only for Nigeria as an indivisible corporate entity and was pronounced the Cicero of the Conference by the Conference leadership, put a lie to his unfortunate claims. I had performed the same feat at the 2005 National Political Conference and during the 2009 Vision 2020 Conference. My antecedents, strong views on national issues, sterling human rights and pro-democracy credentials during successive Military dictatorships, and even under the present democratic government, remove the wind from the sail of the Prof’s unfounded allegations that I am now one of Jonathan’s apologists. I am not. I have only acted for the Attorney General of the Federation in some cases. I have never acted as a Counsel for Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as an individual.

But, even if I did, that would be my right.

It would not extenuate my qualities which he extolled. Thus: “he is a brilliant activist lawyer” and “however, I continue to respect him as a Counsel.” I thank him for his kind words. God bless him.

Even at that, it would have been my fundamental right to be Jonathan’s apologist (even if I were, which is denied), in the same way the Professor is an unrepentant apologist of Buhari and Governor Chibuike Amaechi, a man he had supported to be Governor of Rivers State under the PDP for about six years, but which party, he now gleefully vilifies as leprous. So much for such double speak. A classical case of approbation and reprobation. Talk is indeed cheap!

David-West

The Professor went too far. I will respect his age and social critic disposition and so would not join him in his needless vitriolic vituperations. I would rather discuss the issues raised by him, seriatim.

NATIONAL SECURITY ORGANISATION Anyone harbouring no mischief will easily discern that the word ‘Nigerian,’ rather than ‘National,’ in my write up, was a typographical error, commonly referred to as the ‘Printer’s devil;’ for, what we had statutorily, was and still is, ‘National Security Organisation’ (NSO). Consequently, no typographical error can change the name which is embedded in a Statute (decree then). I will therefore not

BUSY BODY

waste my precious time and ink on needless semantics.

As regards its origin, it is conceded that there was an error in saying, “… and founded a secret Police Force, the Nigeria Security Organisation (NSO).’ But, the Professor carefully took this portion out of the whole context, for, preceding it, in the same sentence which he did not in any way contradict, are the words, “Buhari banned strikes and lock outs by workers and …”.

Yes, I repeat that it is conceded that Buhari did not midwife the NSO. But, he, it was, who gave the otherwise moribund organisation its fierce teeth and overbearing antipeople prominence. Hear Wikipedia.org: “The NSO became particularly notorious during Buhari’s so called War Against Indiscipline crackdown in spring 1984.

A series of repressive measures, led by NSO Chief, Mohammed Rafindadi, was carved out. Of these, repression against journalists, opposition figures, government officials (the Foreign Ministry saw a purge of those considered “disloyal”) and the 25 month imprisonment of musician Fela Ransome-Kuti are especially remembered.”

‘Notorious’ is defined as “widely known, especially for something bad; ‘infamous.’ So, although NSO was founded by Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976, it was Gen. Buhari who gave it its infamous notoriety. Can Prof.

David West deny that? Can he detract from Wikipedia’s clear historical facts? Can he now rewrite history for his master?

It was for these reasons that Gen. Babaginda who overthrew Gen. Buhari heeded Nigerians’ agony and dismantled the behemoth anti-people Gestapo-like organisation, breaking it down to three more humanistic organs - Directorate of State Security Service (DSS), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA). There is, therefore, on this score, no “blatant shameless lie,” or any “embarrassing laziness to research,” nor are there any “fools” that you will not “suffer gladly,” or “liars and their stock-in-trade” that you would be impatient with. Such vulgarity.

Even a school Head Master will not address his primary school pupils thus.

OVERTHROW OF ALHAJI SHEHU C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 6 2

By Aliu Eroje

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: EMEKA MADUNAGU.